text:
May 2006 Newsletter
- Student of the Month - Recommended Book - Events - Testing - Video Technique - Upcoming Events - Dietary Supplement -
Student of the Month
- Yemi Okuseinde -
When did you first become interested in martial arts?
Actually, I've been interested in martial arts as far back as I can remember, literally. I recall watching Saturday Afternoon Cinema on Fox 5 -- they had kung fu classics like "5 Deadly Venoms" and "Master Killer." I tried to do many, many things like the movies. However, without tripwires, pretty much all of my attempts ended painfully, embarrassingly, or both. Then I saw "Enter The Dragon" and I was instantaneously hooked. My formal training began at age 18 with some basic Wing Chun, and I've had an amazing experience since then. I actually did not start prior to that because most of the martial arts in my home area were Japanese arts, and I was determined to take some form of Kung Fu.
When did you start training at PAMA and what was your reason for choosing this academy?
I started training at PAMA in the summer of 2001. I chose PAMA at the recommendation of Sifu Kevin Seaman of the East West Academy of Cortland, NY. At the time, I was taking a Muay Thai physical education class at my alma mater, Cornell University. I asked Sifu Kevin if there were any Martial Arts schools in New Jersey that offered Jun Fan. He instantaneously referred me to Sifu Tucci. As soon as I took the first class, I was hooked. Since then, I have slowly -- sometimes very slowly -- stepped up my training.
Which styles do you train at PAMA? What's your favorite and why?
I train 5 styles at PAMA: Jun Fan, Kali, Silat, Muay Thai, and Mixed Martial Arts/Grappling. It is very hard to choose one as my favorite, because they have all given me so many challenges and gratifications. However, there is something about Jun Fan that just intrigues me. Perhaps its the mythos surrounding Sijo, or the sheer versatility of the art itself, but the power and unique grace of Jun Fan keep me coming back.
People have different goals at PAMA, such as conditioning, attribute development, or learning techniques. What is your main goal right now at PAMA?
My main goal at PAMA right now is to integrate the various styles that I take into something personal and unique. I want to be able to move comfortably through all ranges (i.e kickboxing, trapping, grappling) as well as with various weapons from the 12 areas of Kali.
What are you hobbies and interests outside of PAMA?
I try to be a well rounded person, so I have a number of interests. I play the flute. I love to read. I enjoy following soccer and am avidly looking foward to the World Cup. I also am currently enjoying the NBA playoffs.
Anything additional that you would like to add?
I just want to take this opportunity to express my thanks to everyone at PAMA for helping me to grow as a martial artist and a person. I think that I am part of something special whenever I come to class because people are willing to exchange insight on techniques, ideas, and expression of self through martial arts. I sincerely hope and pray that PAMA will continue to grow and prosper for many, many years.
Sifu Recommends a Book
- Bruce Lee: Artist of Life -
Bruce Lee was an intense man with such sheer concentration of energy that no one who encountered him, on screen or in person, could help but be drawn to him and his enthusiasm for life and knolwedge. A voracious and engaged reader, Lee wrote extensively, synthesizing the thought of East and West into a unique personal philosophy or self-discovery. Bruce Lee, Artist of Life explores the development and fruition of Bruce Lee's thought about gung fu, philosophy, psychology, poetry, jeet kune do, acting and self-knowledge... (excerpt from back cover)
- Welcome Home Celebration For Guro Amy Tucci -
On Saturday, April 15, a beautiful spring evening, PAMA family and friends gathered to warmly celebrate Guro Amy Tucci's return from Germany. Everyone was so happy to see her again, welcoming her back with lots of hugs as soon as she came in! As usual, the PAMA family generously brought all kinds of delicious appetizers, entrees, and desserts for everyone to enjoy. And of course, no PAMA celebration would be complete without a rollicking musical performance by Sifu Rick, Russ Kiernan, and Ken Brunson. Guro Amy sat in to rock on the drums for a few songs. As a finale, everyone joined in for the performance of Paul Simon's "Late in the Evening." Undoubtedly, everyone had a wonderful time, joyfully celebrating with Guro Amy late into the evening!
Click here to see all the photos taken this evening.
Click here to see all the photos taken this evening.
Click here to see all the photos taken this evening.
Click here to see all the photos taken this evening.
- Sifu Rick Featured in Martial Arts Illustrated, Britain's Number 1 Martial Arts Magazine -
Check out the April edition of Martial Arts Illustrated for a great article written by London's Laurence Sandum (see March Feature). Grab a copy while it's still on newstands!
- Communiversity -
On April 29, 2006, PAMA held a martial arts demonstration during the Communiversity Fair in downtown Princeton. The weather was beautiful and the turnout was great. This year the demo interweaved martial arts performed by 6-8 year olds, 9-13 year olds, and adults. Arts, including Jun Fan kickboxing, Kali, mixed martial arts (MMA), and Thai boxing, were shown. The 6-8 year olds demonstrated beautifully their Gung Fu in the Sil Lim Tao form. The 9-13 year olds showed their Jun Fan kickboxing skills and double olisi (stick) training. The kids did great and we are proud of them. There was a mixed martial arts match between Kurt Komoda and Ben Brophy. It was a great fight, filled with reversals and multiple takedowns, which amused the crowd. Bernie, the judge, called it a tie in the end. The adults demonstrated numerous areas of Kali, including staff, double stick, stick and dagger, and single dagger. The demo concluded with the ferocious art of Thai boxing. Everyone had a great time and the crowds loved it! Great job, guys!
Click here to see all the photos taken at Communiversity.
Click here to see all the photos taken at Communiversity.
Click here to see all the photos taken at Communiversity.
Click here to see all the photos taken at Communiversity.
- Fit Fest at Princeton University -
PAMA once again participated in Princeton University's Fit Fest. There was a booth at the event as a promotion of fitness to the campus community. Instructors Neil Acevedo and Mary Jo Colli gave a demonstration as well as instructed a workshop.
- 12 Month Jun Fan Test -
Congratulations to Greg Smith for overcoming an eye injury and passing his Level 2 Jun Fan test. Great job!
Video Technique
- Learn a Technique from Sifu Rick -
Sifu Rick defends against a round kick, then enters trapping range, and finishes with an Attack by Combination in kickboxing range.
Video 1: regular speed - slow motion
Upcoming Events
- Sifu Rick will be conducting a certification workshop in the Filipino Martial Arts on July 5 and Jeet Kune Do on July 6 in Las Vegas. There will also be a free seminar on July 8. For more information, visit the Martial Arts Supershow website.
- PAMA's Chul Choe will be competing at the Muay Thai Championships on May 13. Come and show your support. For more information, visit Strike Zone
Dietary Supplement
- Del-Immune V™ -
What is Del-Immune V™?
Nature's way to a healthier immune system.
Our intestinal tract is home to 70% of the immune system. Lactic acid bacteria (lactobacillus) present in the intestine plays an active and important role in the regulation, development, and processing of our immune system.
Lactic acid bacteria within our intestine are digested to produce cell wall fragments that initiate the process for stimulating the body's natural immune response. The reason for this response is due to proteins and other biological substances that are contained within the cell walls (see electron microsopic views of actual cell wall fragments). The immune system does not respond to the presence of whole lactic acid bacteria until digestion occurs and cell wall fragments are produced. This is the process for the natural immune response.
Each capsule of Del-Immune V® contains 2+billion cell wall fragments of lactobacillus rhamnosus (found naturally in the intestine) to immediately and naturally launch the work of the immune system.... natures way!
Information taken from Del-Immune V™ website
Visit the Del-Immune V™ site for more information.
Video/Pictures: Mary Jo Colli, Mike Lee, Amy Tucci
Stories: Neil Acevedo, Mary Jo Colli, Mike Lee, Lisa Melendez, Ray Ng


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We may have just come through the most jolly season of the year and a retailer's dream, but do you feel like you've just survived the apocalypse and your family priorities are all out of focus? Let's face it. None of us were born naturally generous. I have my first grandson now and believe me, when he wants something, he … [Read more...]
31 Days: The Day I Flunked my Homeschool Kid
It was just one of "those" mornings. The type of day that had been happening over and over for several months in our homeschool life. I went to check schoolwork and either it wasn't turned in, printed or couldn't be found. One day I even had the tried and true excuse that the dog ate it and it was actually true. Letting go of … [Read more...]
Organizing Home and Work with Sharpie Markers
"This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Sharpie, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #StaplesBTS http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV" Over the years as a homeschooling family we've collected a lot of stuff. Twenty years of homeschooling STUFF. Everything from school papers to … [Read more...]
Celebrating the Homeschool Mom
Most of you probably know our family has homeschooled a very long time, twenty years to be exact, with only three more years to go! These years have been a commitment of time, resources and emotions. Homeschooling is a joyous life experience for the whole family, but it can also be isolating, frustrating, exhausting and time … [Read more...]
Day in the Life of a Homeschooler
Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a homeschooler looks like? I can tell you one thing for certain. No two days are ever the same! The day might include schoolwork in the bedroom, with a kitty for company. A certain person loves to read the comics so anytime he has to wait for me he has the newspaper in hand … [Read more...]
Breakfast and Homeschooling
(My son racing through his morning routine to get to his favorite part: the comics!) As a homeschooling, work at home mom, I certainly have the option of cooking a good, traditional breakfast for my kids. Sorry to shatter the illusion, but it doesn't usually happen. My husband would rather sleep than eat and I get up to work and … [Read more...]
How to Create Your Own Unit Study
How to create your own unit study, that is the question! As a homeschooling mom of 19 years I've put together many different studies on varied topics through the years. I thought I'd share a little bit about the process I use. One of the most fun things we do at least once a year is a unit study night. Usually it correlates with our history or … [Read more...]
How to Know if you're a Mean Mom?
You know you're a mean mom when...... You let your child suffer natural consequences. Leave the bike out in the rain? Yep, it rusts. Say something ugly to your sister? No, she doesn't want to play with you now. You make your child eat leftovers (or heaven forbid, a meat sandwich instead of peanut butter and jelly). You make your … [Read more...]
Real Life Homeschooling: Coupon Math
How do you teach practical math skills? Watch as real life and homeschooling intersect with coupon math! As a frugal mom, I try to stretch our money as much as possible, and I also want to teach my children how to use their money wisely. When Harris Teeter had Super Doubles going on one week we jumped on it! I have found that I need to … [Read more...]
Spirit of America
Last Friday we went to the Spirit of America production sponsored by the Department of the Army at the coliseum in our town. It was a musical, drama, re-enactment and staged production honoring our country and the armed services throughout its history. It was a free presentation designed to draw in people of all ages, both veterans and children … [Read more...]
Maneuvering through College Expenses
My son Joshua has completed his first year of college and survived to tell about it. As his homeschool mom I was nervous as to how he would do academically, being our first to attend college. He did great, and I'm proud of the diligence he showed in juggling his newfound freedom and responsibilities. However, we did discover that said son needed … [Read more...]

subset: commoncrawl


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seriously , creeds to consider . ]
reality sets in ;lack of an response from you, make our prospects
less than encouraging . I for my part , can do no more.
Ricardo wrote:
OPN thanks would love to view. links ?
ricardo wrote:your post did not express/ show . the music or what ever. thanks.


text:
What's New
* Fullscreen iPhone 5 support!* iOS 6 fixes!
App Description
☆ Universal Djembe drmms using Ratatap Drums' cutting edge engine! ☆The harder you hit the drums, the louder they sound. Swirl your finger around for slower or faster rolls. The drum sound varies slightly from hit to hit, just like real drums. With the fastest response time of any drum app, it feels incredibly good to play.
Choose from one of the four included Djembe sets. Unlock a hidden bonus set.
☆ The harder you hit the drums, the louder they sound! A first for an iPhone app!
☆ The fastest response time -- more than 60% faster than the competition!
☆ Professionally recorded drum sounds at 44.1khz high fidelity!
☆ Natural drum rolling -- the faster you drag your finger, the faster the roll!
☆ Realistic modeling of drum strikes so drum rolls blend and repeat hits don't sound like machine guns!
☆ Pitch bending depending on where you hit the drums!
☆ Try our "Dueling Djembes" so two people can rock out with their own set on one device!
☆ So much more!
"Ratatap Drums is exactly what you need and whatever you want it to be, all at the same time. It is the complete package and absolutely fun at the same time. If you are into music or percussion, this app is a must buy." - AppAdvice.com Review (Ratatap Drums)
App Changes
September 29, 2012 New version 1.9
November 30, -0001 Initial Release


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Lanzhou Train Ticket Office
The city of Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, is a famous city on the ancient Silk Road, situated in what came to be known as the Gansu Corridor in China's northwest, on the border with what the emperor called his "Western Regions". Gansu Province was the last lush – and perhaps civilized, at least as regards creature comforts – part of China before one traversed the Yumen Pass (aka the Jade Gate), beyond which lay arid desert: the Gobi to the north and the Taklimakan "straight ahead", i.e., due west.
Lanzhou boasts the largest railway junction in this part of China, namely, the Lanzhou Railway Station, with over over 60 departures to major Chinese cities daily, including to Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Jinan, Nanjing, Shanghai and Qingdao, as well as to Xi'an (ancient Chang'an, home, as indicated, to the Terracotta Warriors) to the southeast, and to Urumqi to the northwest, on the northern rim of the Taklimakan Desert, where the desert meets the entrance to the ancient Urumchi Corridor that follows an alternative Silk Road route that skirted northward around the Tian Shan Mountains and on eastward to Samarkand in Uzbekistan, before linking up again with the southern Silk Road route.
Lanzhou Railway Station is located on the southern edge of the city center. Visitors can of course purchase train tickets at the railway station as well as at many railway ticket offices elsewhere round about the city and in the nearby upland, with the greatest chances of finding an alternative railway ticket office in the following districts: Qilicun, Tunguan and Xigu. There is currently no ticket delivery available in any of these ticket offices, but there is probably not that much demand for it either, given that one can normally purchase one's train tickets at Lanzhou Railway Station with minimal wait times.
Where to Buy Train Tickets in Lanzhou
- All
- Anning District
- Guancheng District
- Qilihe District
- Xigu District
1.Train Ticket Office in Lanzhou International Tourism Co. Ltd of Xigu
- Address: 75 Gongyuan Road, Xigu District, Lanzhou
- Chinese Address:
- Opening Time: 08:30-15:30
2.Train Ticket Office of Lanzhou International Tourism Co. Ltd in Yumen Street
- Address: 281 Yumen Street, Xigu District, Lanzhou
- Chinese Address: 兰州市西固区玉门街281号
- Opening Time: 08:30-15:30
3.Train Ticket Office of Xigu
- Address: 75 Gongyuan Road, Xigu District, Lanzhou
- Chinese Address: 兰州市西固区公园路75号
- Phone: 0931 7551316
4.Train Ticket Office in Lanzhou International Tourism Co. Ltd of Anning Wanxin Road
- Address: 83Wanxin Road, Anning District, Lanzhou
- Chinese Address: 兰州市安宁区万新路83号
- Opening Time: 08:00 -18:00
5.Train Ticket Office in Lanzhou International Tourism Co. Ltd of Anning
- Address: 754 West Anning Road, Anning District, Lanzhou(in the Changfeng Hotel)
- Chinese Address: 兰州市安宁区安宁西路754号(安宁长风宾馆内)
- Opening Time: 08:30-15:30
6.Trian Ticket Office of Anning
- Address: 296 East Anning Road, Anning District, Lanzhou (in the ICBC bossiness hall )
- Chinese Address: 兰州市安宁区安宁东路296号(工行营业厅内)
7.Trian Ticket Office in Jinlun Hotel
- Address: 72 Hezheng Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou.
- Chinese Address: 兰州市城关区和政路72号
- Phone: 0931 4921111-378
8.Train Ticket Office of Yantan
- Address: 2316 Nanhe Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou
- Chinese Address: 兰州市城关区南河路2316号
- Phone: 0931 4961168
9.Train Ticket Office in Anding Gate
- Address: 441 Baiyin Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou
- Chinese Address: 兰州市城关区白银路441号
- Phone: 0931 8122948
10.Train Ticket in Jinlun building
- Address: 156Hezheng Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou
- Chinese Address: 兰州市城关区和政路156号
- Phone: 0931 4927252
11.Train Ticket Office in Lanzhou International Tourism Co. Ltd of Qilihe
- Address: 464 East Xiaoxihu Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou
- Chinese Address: 兰州市七里河区小西湖东路464号
- Opening Time: 08:30-15:30
12.Train Ticket Office in Lanzhou West Railway Station
- Address: 127 Dunhuang Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou(in the ICBC business hall)
- Chinese Address: 兰州市七里河区敦煌路127号(工行营业厅内)


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Monday, June 17, 2013 12:03 AM
I have worked successfully with my clients for more than two decades. I can assist you in all areas of your life, whether you are trying to reunite with your lover, bring a new lover into your life, improve your finances, increase your wealth, save a dying business, whatever your need could possibly be there is an esoteric solution to your problems! Do not hesitate, stop the insane procrastination and get the help that you need and deserve! Read what my clients have to say. http://www.malewitch.com/my-clients/ Reunite with your lover www.malewitch.com/pages/reuniting-lovers.html Call me at my Atlanta number 678-918-3333 I am a Witch, and a gifted Psychic-Healer, and will be glad to evaluate your case. Blessed Be, Phelan
• Location:
Brooklyn, Atlanta, GA
• Post ID: 37979432 newyork


text:
Andrew Espinoza Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Plans Examiner Supervisor Office (210) 207-0152 email
The goal of the MEP staff is to review each set of construction documents with precision and promptness. Currently the MEP reviews are limited to commercial projects located throughout the city and surrounding areas. The staff provide plan review based on the following codes:
2012 International Mechanical Code 2011 NEC 2012 International Plumbing Code
City of San Antonio amendments to these codes are located at the following: Adopted Code Amendments Adopted Code Amendments When MEP work is being proposed, the following require engineered MEP plans from a professional engineer licensed in the state of Texas: 1. All group A (Assembly) � Theaters, restaurants, bars, churches, Stadiums, etc. 2. All group E (Educational) � Day cares, grades 1st - 12th, religious educational rooms, etc. 3. All group I (Institutional) � Care facilities, assisted living facilities, social rehabilitation facilities, etc. 4. Buildings and structures over one story (Commercial). 5. Buildings and structures 5,000 square feet or more in area. 6. Electrical plans must be engineered when the total load exceeds 100 KVA single phase, 150 KVA three phase, or over 600 volts. For smaller projects outside the scope of the above, your MEP design will be reviewed by the Minor Plans Review team. Please refer to the Minor Plan Review website for more information. The following are requirements for submittal to Plan Review for engineered MEP projects: MECHANICAL HVAC equipment and schedules: Show locations, type, capacity, energy efficiency, and weight/support of all heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Rated Enclosures: Show or specify wall construction and opening protection where rated enclosures are required (heaters, boilers, etc., over 400,000 BTU; air conditioners over 100 HP, etc.). Special Equipment: Show special equipment such as kitchen hoods, garage ventilation, paint booth exhaust, automatic fire suppression, etc. Fire or Smoke Control: Define in specifications or on plans special use of equipment in conjunction with fire or smoke control. Penetrations of Rated Assemblies: Show method of opening protection and note referenced listing or refer to drawings containing same information. Special Requirement: Show appurtenances and required details such as flue vent type and size, expansion tanks, blow down systems, protection devices, means for combustion air and special use equipment. Air Distribution System: Show all duct runs, fire/smoke dampers where applicable, sheet metal gauge thickness for medium and high velocity systems, type and class of non-metallic duct, etc. 2009 International Energy Conservation Code Compliance/Calculations for Mechanical Equipment. Using the COMcheck software, provide Mechanical Reports/Certificate http://www.energycodes.gov/ ELECTRICAL Utility Site Plan: The site plan should include location of all electrical equipment external to the building envelope, such as: power poles, overhead or underground electric lines, service equipment, pad mount transformers, generators, signs, pole lights, and exterior building lights. Riser Diagram: The riser diagram should be a complete and comprehensive one-line diagram, including all service equipment, panels, transformers, generators, and fire pumps. The riser should also include all conductor sizes, over current protection sizes, conduit sizes, and ground fault protection at the service if applicable. Grounding Detail: The grounding detail can be incorporated in the riser or detailed separately; either format should include all conductor sizes, ground rod size, and location of bond. As a minimum the grounding electrode system shall consist of a concrete encased electrode, cold water bond, structural steel bond and grounding electrode. All methods of grounding/bonding should be sized and installed as per NEC article 250. Interior Electrical Layout: The power plan should include the locations, circuiting, and wiring methods, of all electrical equipment such as panels, transformers, disconnects, elevator equipment, receptacles, etc, The lighting plan should include the location of all fixtures and switches or other method of control (occupancy sensor, contactor, photo cell, time clock, etc,)All 2009 IECC requirements such as bi-level switching, occupancy sensors, master switches, etc. will be required where applicable. Load Analysis: The load analysis should be calculated as per NEC article 220, and will need to include and indicate any existing load to assure adequate capacity of a common service, panel, load center, etc. Panel Schedules: The panel schedules should include frame sizes, main lug or main breaker, feeder size, number of circuits, all overcurrent protection sizes (including main), NEMA classification of enclosure, and indication of any arc fault, ground fault, or shunt trip type breakers. Fixture Schedule: The fixture schedule should include a fixture description, number of lamps, maximum lamp wattage, installed lamp wattage, and number of fixtures. IECC Lighting Compliance Certificate: The 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is enforced. Com check- EZ versions 2000, 2001, and 2007-90.1and 2009 are accepted. For more information on obtaining necessary forms you may visit http://www.energycodes.gov/ Preparation of Electrical Drawings: A signed and dated Texas P.E. seal will be needed on plans when required by the Texas Engineering Practice Act, or when plans meet the requirements of Section 10-92 (e) of Chapter 10 of the City Code. All plans not requiring a P.E. seal will need a signed and dated architectural seal or the name and master number of the master electrician responsible for the plans. Additional Electrical Notes: 1. Once CPS Energy has approved two services to one structure, the required two hour fire barrier that separates the areas served by each will need to be indicated on the appropriate architectural drawings as well as the electrical drawings. 2. Rooms containing large equipment as defined by NEC article 110.26 (c) (2) will need to indicate the correct door swing and hardware. This information will need to be shown on the appropriate architectural drawings as well as the electrical drawings. 3. Disconnecting means for heating equipment covered in article 424 of the NEC and for Refrigeration equipment found in article 440 of the NEC will be required to be independently supported off the unit. This requirement will also apply to the required servicing 120 volt receptacle outlet. Please reference Section 10-93 (1) (e) & (f) of Chapter 10 of the City Code for more details. 4. Exterior lighting designs on all commercial structures in addition to meeting NEC requirements will also need to be in accordance with section 35.396 of the Unified Development Code (UDC). Please see the Electrical FAQ for more information. PLUMBING Plumbing Fixtures: Show fixture numbers and locations and provide basis for number of fixtures. Include water closets, urinals, lavatories and drinking fountains. Building Drain System: Show the under-floor system of the drain waste and soil piping, indicating pipe sizes and slope. Provide riser diagram for multiple fixtures. Plumbing Riser and/or Isometric: Provide diagram of installation for waste, vent, and water piping for multiple fixture installations. Building Utilities: Show the sanitary building sewer, storm sewer system, water service, gas service and all connections to the public utilities. Materials: Indicate all piping materials. Water System: Provide known water pressure and supply pipe sizes and calculations of water system, water heater data, and hot water system and accessories (expansion tank, vacuum relief, safety devices, etc.), backflow prevention requirements, pressure reducing valves, etc. Venting System: Show pipe sizes, size of vent through the roof and connection to building drains. Special Requirements: Show all required appurtenances, such as grease interceptors, sump pumps, sewage ejectors, sample ports, backflow preventers, backflow valves, and special fixtures. Provide appropriate calculations. Gas Piping System Diagram: Provide schematic diagram of gas piping system Including system operating pressure. Developed lengths, gas outlets with stated demand in CFH.
Contact MEP Staff:
Mechanical,Electrical, Plumbing, Plans Examiner Supervisor Andrew Espinoza firstname.lastname@example.com 210-207-0152
Senior Plans Examiner Valerie Gleason Valerie email@example.com 210-207-2035
Mechanical Plans Examiner Roger Cortez Roger Cortez firstname.lastname@example.com 210-207-7842
Plumbing Plans Examiner Bruno Fey email@example.com 210-207-0133


text:
Chihuahuas will delay home opener until April 28
POSTED: Friday, February 7, 2014 - 8:45am
UPDATED: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - 9:45am
El Paso, TX (KTSM) — MountainStar Sports Group announced Friday morning that after discussing the ballpark project with the City of El Paso Project Manager, they have elected to move opening day for the El Paso Chihuahuas to April 28, 2014. The original home opener was set for April 11th.
MountainStar says that the original opening home stand, which was set to be played April 11-14 will now be played against the Reno Aces in Tucson.
"While there was a possibility that the home opener could be played on April 11th, we want to ensure we can offer the quality ballpark experience that El Paso deserves and that we are ready for all aspects of family-friendly fun," said Alan Ledford, President of MountainStar Sports Group.
Ledford said that the adjustment of the home opening date will allow construction crews the critical time required to prepare the ballpark for "a great experience" on April 28th. Public safety components, concession spaces, and state-of-the-art amenities will be finalized during this time. The Chihuahuas will play on the road for the four games that were originally scheduled here in El Paso.
"We have one chance to do opening day right and we owe it to the community to make sure that first impression of every detail in the ballpark is unforgettable," added Ledford. This is as much about the whole ballpark experience as it is about playing baseball. April 28th will be worth the wait."


text:
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Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) cause late-onset Parkinson's disease (PD), but the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and the normal function of this large multidomain protein remain speculative. To address the role of this protein in vivo, we generated three different LRRK2 mutant mouse lines. Mice completely lacking the LRRK2 protein (knock-out, KO) showed an early-onset (age 6 weeks) marked increase in number and size of secondary lysosomes in kidney proximal tubule cells and lamellar bodies in lung type II cells. Mice expressing a LRRK2 kinase-dead (KD) mutant from the endogenous locus displayed similar early-onset pathophysiological changes in kidney but not lung. KD mutants had dramatically reduced full-length LRRK2 protein levels in the kidney and this genetic effect was mimicked pharmacologically in wild-type mice treated with a LRRK2-selective kinase inhibitor. Knock-in (KI) mice expressing the G2019S PD-associated mutation that increases LRRK2 kinase activity showed none of the LRRK2 protein level and histopathological changes observed in KD and KO mice. The autophagy marker LC3 remained unchanged but kidney mTOR and TCS2 protein levels decreased in KD and increased in KO and KI mice. Unexpectedly, KO and KI mice suffered from diastolic hypertension opposed to normal blood pressure in KD mice. Our findings demonstrate a role for LRRK2 in kidney and lung physiology and further show that LRRK2 kinase function affects LRRK2 protein steady-state levels thereby altering putative scaffold/GTPase activity. These novel aspects of peripheral LRRK2 biology critically impact ongoing attempts to develop LRRK2 selective kinase inhibitors as therapeutics for PD.
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Nerd Shirt Dialectic
July 22, 2009
I am ambivalent about this shirt from Forever 21:
On the one hand, it's sort of cute. On the other hand, it's sort of poking fun at nerds (I believe those glasses have tape on them).
The shirt also implies that the wearer is not a nerd (otherwise, it would say "more than I love math class" or "more than we nerds love math class" or "more than other nerds love math class," if by chance the speaker, though a nerd, were overpowered by love).
Here I appeal to the time-honored comedy tradition that one may only tell jokes about one's one disadvantaged group: if you're not a nerd, can the nerd-talk.
Also, who wants to be loved by someone who's bad at math? Dear god, not me. Of course, who wants to be forever 21? Probably people who are bad at math.
Brooklyn Gentrification Reaches New Heights!
April 14, 2009
I was in the soup aisle at Sunac Natural Foods last night. Sunac is a large, 24 hour health food grocery store located at Union and Metropolitan, right near the L train stop at Lorimer. I go there often after my Monday night shows at Pete's Candy Store. Sure, it's a little expensive, but it's very convenient.
Prior to last night, the most outrageous prices I had seen in the store were $18 for almond butter, and $20+ for Burt's Bees various hand/foot/body/face/shaving goop.
Next to the carton of vegetable stock I was thinking of purchasing were unassuming looking cans of "Whole Truffles" and "Truffle Juice."
I thought, oh, how tasty (I imagine — I'm not totally sure what truffles actually taste like). You can buy truffles and their juice at the grocery store and put them in soup (I guess). I picked up the Whole Truffles:
And the Truffle Juice?
Not a mistake. In the 'burbs, Walgreens keeps pregnancy tests and Mach 17 Time-and-Space-Bending Razors behind the counter because those things cost, like, $18. The $99.99 cans of truffle juice were just sitting on the shelf. Next to beans.
To think, just a few years ago this neighborhood was all falafel and pierogies.
"Weekly Barracking"
March 31, 2009
I thought you might enjoy this picture I took on W. 25th St, between 6th and 7th Avenues.
"Barracks" are, of course, military dormitories. My father once served a stint as a military policeman, and he was in charge of policing some barracks, in which resided any number of young soldiers and sailors whose hangovers caused them to not show up for work, which in the military is a quite serious infraction (hence the military policeman).
"Barracking," however, can also be used (mostly in the UK) to mean jeering or heckling, or sometimes cheering (in favor of).
In this ad, the implication seems to be that your car will be housed in a "barracks" — i.e., a parking garage. And perhaps it will be retrieved for you with military efficiency?
Metrocard Math
March 2, 2009
The MTA has proposed a plan that would cause the price of the monthly Metrocard to go up from $81 to $103, an increase of over 27%. So I did some research.
An unlimited monthly Metrocard is good for 30 days from the day you begin using it; it also has an expiration date on the back, assuring that you begin using it by a date about one year from purchase.If the cost is going to go up so astronomically, why not just buy a year's worth of cards in advance, and save $264?
In fact, other than the law against it, there's no reason a person couldn't buy a large quantity of $81 Metrocards and sell them over the next year for, say, $95. People would totally meet you in a dark alley to save $8, and you'd make $14 on every sale. If you had $5,000 to invest in $81 Metrocards, you could buy 61 of them, with change left over. Selling each at a $14 profit would make you $854. That's a 17% return on investment, which, if you are an average American, is not enough to keep up with the APR on your credit cards, but is certainly superior to the performance of the rest of the financial sector right now.
But even if you're uncomfortable with Metrocard scalping, isn't the logical move for every monthly Metrocard user who is able to purchase 12 at once for his personal use?
If you don't have $972 all at once to pull this off (fancy that), compare the APR on your credit card to the $22 savings you'll gain every month. For instance:If you have a credit card with an APR of 18%, divide 18% by 12 to get the monthly periodic rate of 1.5%.Now say you buy 12 monthly Metrocards this month. Your balance is $972. Your finance charge is $14.58 — a fine savings over the $22 extra you'd have to pay for a new Metrocard. But it gets better! Because, if you simply pay to the card some amount of money in between the $81 you would have paid anyway, and the $103 you're avoiding, the balance will go down, and your savings will increase every month! Said another way, the first month, you're paying finance charges on all 12 cards, but the second month, you're only paying finances charges on 11 cards, etc….
In actual numbers: The first month, when you owe $972, let's take the money you would have paid for the $81 Metrocard and pay that to the credit card, and then let's also be responsible and take care of that $14.58. So far, you've saved $7.42. The second month, you owe $891 (the original $972, minus the $95.58 you paid). Your finance charge is $13.37. Go ahead and pay $81 plus the $13.37 to the card — you've saved $8.63, or a cumulative total of $16.05! The third month, your balance is $729 and your finance charge is $10.94. Pay $81 plus the finance charge, and you've saved $11.06, or a cumulative total of $27.11! And this is allowing for a credit card with a usurious 18% APR!
Of course, few people pay off their credit cards with the discipline they originally intend when making large purchases in the first place. However, if you actually just have $972, you should really go buy a dozen Metrocards (or, if you're less than halfway through a card now, maybe just 11 cards, to be safe).
Update: Don't do that. I stand by all the math above, but I've been informed that the MTA is onto this plan, and will set "sunset dates" by which cards purchased at the old price must be swiped. I imagine that if you wanted to (illicitly) Metrocard-scalp, you could probably still do it for a month or two until the dates kicked in.
I hope you've enjoyed today's consumer math post.
You may also enjoy How to Obtain Free Unlimited iTunes By Admitting That You Have an Addiction and are a Total Fucking Yuppie About It and What Happens When Math Teachers Read the Fine Print.
NYC Photo Post
February 28, 2009
I read the first two lines of this quote on my Starbucks cup and thought immediately, "It's diversity! The next thing on this cup — clearly diversity. I'm reading your mind, unchallengingly inoffensive corporate-pandering Starbucks cup!"
Yep. It's diversity.
And this — this is the front window of an HSBC on fiftysomethingth street. It says "This vestibule cannot be used as a thoroughfare." What percent of the people for whom this message is intended do you think actually understand it?
Of Watch Batteries, Notaries, and Laissez-Faire Economics
September 15, 2008
Does anyone know where I can get a watch battery changed in Manhattan? (Note: In my experience, all watch batteries are changed by Korean-American small business owners. Am I wrong?)
My inability to find a place to have a watch battery replaced also reminds me of my incredible difficulty finding a notary public when I need one. I mean, there are lots of notaries public in the outer boroughs, often located in those shops that say something on the awning about "business services" and contain, inside, one creaking Xerox machine, one computer offering internet access in five-minute increments, and some vague promise to help you with your immigration paperwork.
But it is very hard to find a notary in Manhattan. Now, don't be an asshole who Googles "notary public Manhattan" and posts the link. Seriously, try actually going and getting something notarized. Half the places you call are like "Oh, we don't really do that anymore." The other half are like, "The notary is only in on Tuesdays." The internet will lead you to believe that Kinko's offers notary service. They do — provided by one guy, at one Kinko's (the one in the Empire State Building), whenever that guy happens to be working. I have something I need notarized, and I've been carrying it around for weeks, hoping to walk past a business offering said service. In Murray Hill, I did find an H&R Block with a sign about notary service; I went in, and was told, "Oh, he's not here today." Of course.
Do you know why this is? Because it is illegal to charge more than $2 for a notary signature. Therefore, businesses have little incentive to offer the service. It is simply not profitable. THIS IS WHY COMMUNISM DOES NOT WORK. Imagine if it were illegal to charge more than seventy-five cents for coffee — I would certainly not be able to patronize a Starbucks on every corner (something I very much like to do), because there would have been no profit motive to build the stores. And don't be an asshole who posts that you wish it were illegal to sell coffee for more than seventy-five cents and you liked Manhattan back in the good old days before Giuliani when all the chain coffee shops were actually crack houses in which junkies drank Cafe Bustelo that they brewed inside the empty skulls of crime victims. I will beat you with a carafe of soy milk in one hand and skim in the other.Communism doesn't work.
The notary dearth is the Soviet bread line of Manhattan.
problems you didn't know you had
December 22, 2007
I once read in a business book a (possibly apocryphal) tale that went as follows:
A big news story came out about how there were a shocking number of rat parts in commercial cat food. One company decided to capitalize on this by coming out with a product called "NO-RAT CAT FOOD."
Despite the fact that it was, indeed, the only cat food guaranteed to have no rat parts, it sold terribly and was discontinued — it seemed people didn't like to see the word "rat" on their cat food, even in the context of "Really, there are none in here!"
I mention this because I have purchased a bottle of fish oil capsules that claim to have a gelatin coating that doesn't dissolve until the capsule reaches the lower intestine.
The claim on the label? "NO MORE FISH BURPS!"
I can't believe I own a product that mentions something called "fish burps."
Misogynistic Advertising of the Week
December 19, 2007
I find this repulsive. I have no problem with wanting to look good naked, or with shows dedicated to that purpose. However, all of the women here are naked and terrified, and that gross, facelifted man is fully-dressed and hideously smug. I know he's gay, but I'm not any less repulsed. Gay men do not get a free pass to tell women to hate their bodies. Or — as is apparently the case — to pilfer clothing.
Certainly one could get across the message about looking good naked by picturing some attractive, lean, muscled men and women, perhaps the trainers who might help you look good naked. Only semi-repulsive might be an ad featuring both men and women looking terrified at the unattractiveness of their naked bodies. Also, all three of those women are way better-looking than creepy Botox-forehead-man. Maybe he needs a show called "How to Hide in Seclusion Until Your Plastic Surgery Relaxes."
Click to enlarge: "The intelligence you require, with the beauty you desire."
This I just find … disappointing. The Blackberry Curve? It's … curvy? It's both smart and beautiful, like a desirable woman you can put in your pocket and use to view miniature Excel spreadsheets? What? I think I'm more just disappointed that Blackberry thinks women don't want to buy Blackberries, and are best used as a trope for selling Blackberries to men.
Also, E = 36-24-36^2 is just stupid. If those were your measurements, your hips would be 1,296 inches around, which is equivalent to 108 feet. Also, your hips would be 36 times greater around than your bust, which is taking the pear shape to a bit of an extreme.
Blackberry: We're bad at math and think mini-computer-phones are like having sex!
Good work, guys.
American Apparel hates women
December 13, 2007
I'm also kind of tired of reading the Onion on the subway and having people see the back page American Apparel ad and assume that I am reading porn. A couple weeks ago I had some greased-up bridge-and-tunnel guy sitting with two friends on an otherwise totally uncrowded train see the back of my reading matter and say in a super-sleazy manner, "Well well, what are you reading?"
"The Onion," I said. And then I realized that this woman, pictured, was on the back page performing some hideous hipster contortion. She's not even making it look easy. Or attractive. Or fun. Or like a good reason to buy leggings. I think they keep her in the basement, with only plaster reindeer for entertainment, and kept alive on a diet of PBR and ironically-purchased Hostess snack cakes.
Update from the Comments: Check out this video.
turned away from Britesmile
November 19, 2007
This morning, I got up early for my appointment at Britesmile, a teeth-whitening center. I made coffee, knowing it would be my last cup of coffee for 24-48 hours (almost certainly closer to 24, as I'd be surprised if I made it to the very low end of the recommended abstention period).
I arrived at Britesmile, filled out some paperwork (I had prepaid for the appointment online, to get a discount), and sat in the waiting room reading the copy of Bust I'd brought with me.
Eventually, I was taken to a little cubicle, put into a reclining dental chair, and ultimately visited by a cute Asian dentist-guy with great teeth and cool glasses. I almost commented that I'm sure they don't hire ugly dentists at the 5th Avenue Britesmile.
The dentist and I had a long discussion about the coffee thing, during which he debunked my theory that, if I just had to have some coffee, iced coffee through a straw would be less staining than the hot, sipped variety. He reiterated the advice to stick to "white or clear foods and drinks." He assured me that vodka would be fine.
Then he got to looking at my teeth. He had this object that looked like a ruler with a bunch of teeth attached to it (I could just imagine Pugsley Addams bringing the thing to geometry class), ranging in color from gross to white. The dentist looked disappointed.
Turns out my teeth were already at the whitest shade, and they just couldn't get any whiter. (Apparently all those celebs with blindingly white teeth have veneers, also known as the fake shells you get glued to your teeth after an evil dentist has ground your real teeth down to pointy stubs).
"I'll write a note on your paperwork, then you just take it downstairs to get a refund," he said. And sure enough, the lady at the front desk just gave me a refund. So consider that an endorsement of the good business practices at Britesmile.
The whole experience did, however, take about two hours of my life — the longest I've ever spent traveling and sitting in a waiting room in order to receive a compliment.
(Insert horrible joke here about being "refused service for being white.")
$300 richer than I'd expected to be, I celebrated with a big fuckin' Starbucks.
Next stop: lipo clinic?
Naughty FreshDirect Copywriters
November 16, 2007
Seriously, did they think no one would notice?
"You'll never take it in the can again"?
Maybe, actually, you'd want some hydrogenated oils for that.
I see that not all comedy writers are on strike.
(Also, it's "the perfect complement", not "compliment").
How to Obtain Free Unlimited iTunes By Admitting That You Have an Addiction and are a Total Fucking Yuppie About It
November 8, 2007
I spend what some might consider an shameful amount at Starbucks, and I'm fine with that.
In fact, as I am such a frequent customer, I've become quite brazen in my interactions with the store — I think nothing of purchasing a beverage at one Starbucks and deciding, four blocks down the street and two Starbucks later, to enter another Starbucks* and add some milk, or use the bathroom.
*(This really only makes sense in Manhattan, with its walking culture coupled with a high Starbucks density. In fact, one of my little tricks is that, if I'm walking somewhere and want both a Starbucks egg sandwich and a drink, it's hard to carry both while eating the sandwich, so I'll buy the sandwich at one Starbucks, eat it over the next five blocks, and then duck into the next Starbucks for the drink. This, again, is a simple solution to a trivial life problem that applies only in Manhattan. I discovered on my last trip to Virginia that nearly all Starbucks have drive-throughs, so outside Manhattan I imagine you'd just order both at the same time and put the drink in your cup holder, and then attempt to eat your Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon Breakfast Sandwich while piloting your SUV).
To continue — I've even gone into one Starbucks to complain about a drink made at another Starbucks, and sure enough, the barista at the new Starbucks has uncomplainingly made me a replacement drink. (A note to "Mai" at the Grand Central Starbucks: "sub choco" is NOT the correct register code for a "one pump" mocha. "Sub," as in virtually any non-Naval context, means "substitute." A one-pump mocha is still a mocha, just somewhat less so. "Sub choco" means to substitute chocolate for espresso, resulting in a drink most of us call "chocolate milk," which was great when I was five, but, when administered to a twenty-eight year old woman in a hurry, prompts swearing on the S train and all the way uptown on the 1 train. Mai, you're like the bartender who assumes all your customers want to be served Shirley Temples. They do not).
In any case, I enjoy what some might call
"perfectly legal scams," which I've written about in the post what happens when math teachers read the fine print, in which I obtain both unlimited thank-you network points and unlimited free phone cards via a Victoria's Secret magazine-selling operation.
Starbucks currently has a promotion wherein purchasing a Starbucks card nets the buyer two free songs on iTunes. Now, logging into some website and entering some long code to redeem two free songs hardly seems worthwhile. But, see … I know how much Starbucks I'm likely to consume over any future period. I don't mind paying for it in advance if I will consequently accrue a reasonable benefit.
"Why couldn't I just buy 100 one-dollar cards, then?" I asked the lady at the register.
"Well, it's a five dollar minimum per card," she said.
"Great," I replied. "I'll take ten."
Once the cards are purchased, one simply registers the cards on the Starbucks website (three at a time), receives an iTunes code for each card, and enters the codes into iTunes. iTunes will store the credits, to be redeemed anytime from now til February.
I have since completed this entire process … er, more than once. I've decided that eight cards is really the maximum a person can buy without rudely holding up the whole line for an undue amount of time.
So, my next 60 iTunes songs are free. And all I had to do was to admit the fact that I'm totally going to spend $150 on Starbucks anyway.
I like to think that Starbucks' corporate offices know me, that they're watching me as a sort of archetype of the Thinking Caffeine Buyer. That everyone in the marketing department wears a little bracelet: "What Will Jen Do?"
I'm hardly getting supersized on edamame
June 22, 2006
I am a little embarrassed at just how much I like McDonald's lately.
For years (including years of veganism, years of bodybuilding, and years of snobbery, all with some overlap), I would've died before walking into the place.
However, they have salads. The fruit and walnut salad is delicious. It has yogurt dipping sauce, and it is often the only acceptable thing to eat in, say, the Boise airport, or even in various parts of Manhattan late at night.
The grilled chicken Caesar is an acceptable standard, and the new "Asian salad" is, of course, not very Asian, but it's exactly the sort of faux-Asian you expect from McDonald's (kind of like when you get a grape lollipop, you expect fake-purple-grape, and would actually be kind of weirded out if it tasted anything like actual grapes), and, by Jove, it contains toasted almonds and edamame! I ate my first one in wonder: I am eating edamame … from McDonald's! Next I shall demand a little chevre on mixed field greens and a nice Pinot Noir (with a straw, no doubt).
The new iced coffee — also tasty, and welcome, although my attempt to order certainly went better than these people's endless quest for a McDonald's iced (not banana) coffee.
McD's — for whatever cynical, profiteering, PR damage control reasons — has taken this healthy business to the point of Dr. Dean Ornish on McD's website advising yoga for reducing stress.
However, the problem with the new healthy-McDonald's for most people is that you might walk in wanting a salad, but the place smells like bacon double cheeseburger.
It's like if someone opened a combination church and strip joint, and put a big sign out front that said "Save your soul!", but inside it just smelled like pussy and Alizé.
what happens when math teachers read the fine print
January 18, 2006
So, my bank enrolled me in this "thank you points" program wherein I receive one point for every $2 spent with my signature or for every $3 spent with a PIN. In a month or two, I've racked up some 848 points (not sure if they're counting online bill paying — otherwise it seems like I must have started with some kind of bonus number of points).
Anyway, to prevent scamming, the program specifies that if if you buy something and return it, the points you received will be subtracted. However, my experience with debit purchases has been that when you return something, you get your refund in cash. I can't see how the bank would really know about it. So couldn't I rack up points by buying things with debit and returning them?
For instance, last month I bought a $150 dress at Banana Republic and then returned it (I was going to wear it to my birthday party but then I took it home and couldn't get it to work with a strapless bra), and was somewhat surprised to receive $150 in cash. I could buy and return a $150 dress, um … every day. I could buy the dresses three at once and then return them. Now, I have to imagine that the store would have some limit on the amount of money they'd hand someone in cash as a refund, maybe a few hundred dollars. So, three dresses it is. That's $450 and 150 points — per day.
In just 167 days, I would have 25,000 points, which I could redeem for a 2 GB iPod Nano or a $250 student loan rebate (that's really in the list of prizes). Hmmn.
I once had a similar idea for a (perfectly legal) scheme involving the Victoria's Secret catalog and their free magazine offers. Oh wait, that's stored in my email box, from six years ago (for real, yo):
How to Get an Unlimited Number of Free Phone Cards and Interesting Other Items1. Obtain one of those Victoria's Secret catalogues which offers free shipping and returns on orders over $100. Sign up on victoriassecret.com, and they would be happy to send them to you on a regular basis.
2. Call and order $100 worth of merchandise. Pay for it by credit card, getting free shipping. When they ask if you want to join the free magazine program, say yes. Select your two magazines. They carry over 600 titles (beauty, fitness, cooking, e-business, home repair, etc.)
3. When you receive your merchandise, return it all. The purchase price is refunded to your credit card, and, again, Victoria's Secret pays the shipping.
4. Around the time you start receiving magazines, you will receive a card from the magazine program telling you how to cancel — or, should you forget to cancel, how to have any credit card charges refunded.
5. Call and attempt to cancel your magazines. They will offer you a free 20 minute phone card or an Entertainment book (containing, among other things, three $5 off a $25 purchase coupons to Borders) for continuing to receive your magazine, with the continued option to cancel at any time, or to have any credit card charges refunded should you forget to cancel. Select your free gift — one per magazine. (Plus, of course, free magazines).
6. Call back the next day and attempt to cancel your magazines. They will offer you a free 20 minute phone card or an Entertainment book… (etc.)
7. Repeat as necessary.
As far as I can tell, there is no limit to how many times you can call and accept a free gift in exchange for NOT cancelling your magazines. As for Victoria's Secret, after you ordered $100 worth of stuff and returned it a couple of times, they might stop giving you free shipping, but by then you could have gotten TONS of free phone cards. Plus, if you frequently order from Victoria's Secret anyway (as I do), then you get more magazines every time you order.
Isn't that neat?
In my own defense, while I have called the magazine program many times to get free phone cards, I have never taken advantage of the free returns by ordering things I never meant to keep; all of my Victoria's Secret orders were real.
UPDATE: So, I just called again and got more free phone cards. So far, the company has shown no signs of not wanting to send me an infinite number of them.
The problem with their incentive program, of course, is that it offers a material reward every time you maintain the status quo, and there are few limitations on how many times I can maintain the status quo in three months.
When I call up, they ask which magazine I'm calling about — at first, I sort of figured that they wouldn't send me free gifts more than once for each magazine, so I would wait for the recording to name the various magazines, and select a free gift for each one. I have now realized that that is not necessary. I can select the first-listed magazine each time, and punch in the appropriate buttons before the recording-lady finishes talking, bringing the whole process down to about a minute. So, theoretically, by spending an hour on the phone — during which I could very likely do other unrelated things, like eat lunch, or actually read the magazines — I could get 60 free 20 minute phone cards, worth $5 apiece.
Maybe I should start reselling them on eBay?
Maybe I should just take this up full-time. If I found a way to resell my $5 phone cards for, say, $3, I could still make $180/hour, in exchange for agreeing to receive free magazines which I enjoy reading.
Also in theory, if I spent only one hour per day on the phone, I could get 5,400 free phone cards, with a retail value of $27,000, per magazine (I get three months per magazine to request the cards).
Working full-time over three months, I could obtain 43,200 phone cards, for 864,000 minutes of long-distance domestic calling time, with a retail value of $216,000.
If I order from Victoria's Secret at least once every three months (and I can always order more than $100 worth of merchandise in order to get free shipping and returns, and then return it all), I can enroll in the program indefinitely.
Doing this over the course of one year, I could obtain 175,200 free phone cards, for 3,504,000 minutes of long-distance domestic calling time, with a retail value of $876,000.
some sugar in my smoking?
June 30, 2005
Yesterday I bought a coffee from a street cart and it came in one of those cups with advertising printed on it (maybe the coffee carts consequently receive the cups for free?)
I have sometimes gotten cups that were a little weird, like one with a bright blue Colgate ad, but then again, I've also posted here about Freshdirect's peculiar but astute cross-marketing wherein, when you buy coffee, the bottom of the page says "Customers who bought this product also purchased: Half and Half, Crest Whitestrips."
This cup, however, was garishly bright yellow, pictured a happy face with a cigaratte coming out of its mouth, and was an ad for an online discount cigarette outlet. I don't want to walk around holding an ad for that! Even if it's run by Native Americans!
It took me a minute after buying the coffee to realize just what I was holding, and it seemed too frivolous to go back and request another cup. I mean, if I had been in an actual store, I would certainly have complained.
That, of course, is one of the benefits of Starbucks or other corporate leviathans — if I don't like my drink at Starbucks, even if only because I ordered something made with, say, caramel, and I don't like caramel, I can go back up to the counter and tell them the drink is terrible, and they'll toss it out and make me a new one. Your risk is absorbed. And if I want my drink in an extra-big cup, or super-insulated in two cups, or half-skim with a Santaria blessing over it, they'll even hold back on the eye-rolling while complying.
The cigaratte cup, though … how unappetizing! What's next? Maybe the pro-lifers could sponsor a bloody-fetus cup. How persuasive!


text:
We recently bought a new self-cleaning oven, and we waited a few months before trying out that feature. When they say extreme temperatures, they mean it. This wasn't like setting the oven to the highest temperature setting for cooking a pizza or something. This was enough heat to warm the entire house on a winter's day. I had no idea a home oven could even get that hot and survive.
The oven was probably not as dirty as it could have been, so the smoke situation was at least bearable. I wouldn't recommend doing it at all if your kitchen's ventilation is not spectacular. We had a screen door to the outside only a few feet away from the oven, and we could close off the kitchen with a swinging door. Even with that, the rest of the house definitely got smoky. I'd recommend using a box fan or two to draw the smoke away from the oven while it's in self-cleaning mode.
The other consideration we discovered is time. Once the oven is locked down and heated up, the self-cleaning cycle can last for hours. Be sure you have that much time to spend, since leaving the oven unattended may not be such a good idea. The oven door will not unlock until the oven has cooled down almost completely. I will say that the end result is an easily wipeable pile of ash instead of a greasy combination of burnt food and caustic oven cleaner. If you can survive the hours of smoke and heat, I'd say the self-cleaning option is worthwhile if your oven is not excessively dirty in the first place.


text:
Ferraris Felipe Masssa and Red Bulls David Coulthard on their early exits from the Italian Grand Prix; BMW Saubers Robert Kubica on his difficult pit stop; and Hondas Jenson Button on his second point of the season. All 22 drivers review Sundays action
Fernando Alonso, McLaren (1st):
To win at Monza for the first time is very special. Sometimes everything goes in the right direction; this weekend was one of those times and we were able to keep up the momentum. My start wasnt perfect, and I had to defend my lead coming in to the first corner. In the second corner I was a bit worried as I thought Lewis (Hamilton) and I would touch but fortunately this did not happen. The safety car could have caused us a few problems as it was important for our strategy to open up a gap as soon as possible. However it was a perfect afternoon today with the car and the team working really well, and to win in front of the enthusiastic Italian Formula One fans is very emotional.
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren (2nd):
Obviously I didnt get the best getaway and Felipe (Massa) managed to shoot past me. I outbraked both him and Fernando (Alonso) into Turn One, and I almost thought I was going to get past, but then Felipe clipped me and sent me over the second chicane. I was suffering vibrations on my tyres in the first stint, so I opted to pit earlier to play it safe. Once we knew that Kimi (Raikkonen) was on a one-stop strategy it was key to really optimise my second stop. Unfortunately I came out behind him, but I knew I was faster on the new tyres, if only for a couple of laps, and so I just took the opportunity when I caught him up. It was really important for me to get that place back, not only for my position in the Championship, but also for all the team. We had the one-two in qualifying yesterday, and to maintain this in the race was the icing on the cake. They have all done a fantastic job.
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari (3rd):
"This was definitely a tough race for me because of the pain I felt in my neck after yesterday's accident, which was bad enough to make it hard for me to hold my head steady under braking. Having said that, today we were not really quick enough. We knew it would not be an easy weekend, as we had already realized that in last week's test, with Friday and yesterday confirming it. The car was not bad in the first stint but then we were not strong enough. Hamilton's overtaking move? I tried to defend my position but he was definitely quicker than me. In the final stages I slowed to save the car for the next race. We were keen to win in front of our fans but we did not manage it. At least I got onto the podium. Now we tackle another fascinating circuit at Spa-Francorchamps where I think that we and our closest rivals will be more evenly matched."
Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber (4th):
My start, as such, wasnt bad, although Kimis was even better. Before the first corner it was very busy in front of me, and in the second corner I was on the outside line and lost a position to Kimi there. Anyway, this would have happened sooner or later, because he only stopped once. The early safety car period helped all those who were on a one stop strategy or wanted to pit late. Part of our strategy was to gain advantage over the one-stoppers or late-stoppers during the first stint. This obviously didnt work out because of the safety car. Besides this, I had a very good race with perfect pit stops. Now we can start thinking about reaching the magic 100 constructors points, which would be a great success in what is only our second season.
Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber (5th):
The race was okay for me. In the first laps when the car was lighter we were really quick, but I think we could have had a better performance when the car was heavy, so perhaps this is something we have to work on. For the pit stop I didnt arrive straight so the car slid down from the jack when the guys were changing the tyres. Then after the stop we couldnt get the jack out from under the front wing, so it cost me a lot of time, but fortunately in the end it didnt change anything for the team. After that first stop I was behind Heikki Kovalainen and it was not possible to stay closer than six or seven tenths, as any closer than that and I was losing downforce. After the second stop I was in front of him and then I had to get by Nico Rosberg. I had new tyres and a pretty light car, while because of his one stop strategy he was on old tyres, so I went very quickly out of Parabolica, which was not easy after you spend so much time behind someone. However, I braked much later and was able to get by.
Nico Rosberg, Williams (6th):
It was a good weekend for us. We showed a competitive pace and weve been happy with our performance all weekend. The teams made good progress following the test here last week, and the hard work paid off with a really a big step forward. Well done to Toyota as Monzas an engine track and we held our own. Its also great to get more points for both the championships.
Heikki Kovalainen, Renault (7th):
I was on the limit every lap today, and we just didn't have the pace over the full race distance to make up any ground. I got a fantastic start, passed Kubica and was fighting with Heidfeld going into the Curva Grande, but he put me on the grass and I had to back off, which meant I lost a place to Kubica as well. After that, it was quite a lonely race. I passed Robert at the first stop, and kept him behind me for the middle stint, but we just didn't have enough pace to come out ahead of Rosberg after my last pit-stop. Everybody did a good job today, and there were no mistakes at all. But unfortunately, this was the maximum we could do.
Jenson Button, Honda (8th):
It was nice to get a point today but it was a frustrating race for me as I had so much understeer on the first stint. We run such low front wing around this circuit that it is very easy to lock the front tyres, particularly at Parabolica, and I flat-spotted the front right which meant I was losing grip through every right-hand corner. This meant that I couldn't fend off Rosberg and the long first stint of 33 laps compromised me even further. So it was frustrating as we could have had a better result but we did our very best this weekend and a point is definitely some reward. The team have done a great job and everyone is in good spirits, so I'm pleased to have got another point for them. They really deserve it.
Mark Webber, Red Bull (9th):
I had a pretty good start and a good scrap with Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg over the first few laps. I tried to be as consistent as possible on the heavy load fuel I was running, and to keep the best rhythm I could, but it wasnt easy as the car wasnt that easy to drive. It was one of the most difficult races Ive done in terms of inconsistent balance, so we need to improve that and sort out some of the reliability issues that are still affecting us. Its disappointing to only finish ninth after the effort weve put in over the last few weeks.
Rubens Barrichello, Honda (10th):
It was a good race today but unfortunately all of the cars in the midfield also had a competitive race and there were five cars racing within about ten seconds. We had a good pace and I put in some really good laps on the prime tyres but unfortunately my challenge for a better position was over when Webber was just able to get out ahead at the second pit stop. However we have been better all weekend which is down to some really hard work from the team and I look forward to having more competitive races for the remainder of the season.
Jarno Trulli, Toyota (11th):
It was a pity that we made such a poor getaway because our pace was good today and we could have made the points. Unfortunately once again we had problems at the start. I lost three positions and from then on it was a different race. The car was competitive and consistent but after the first few corners I was in traffic for the rest of the afternoon. I was quicker than the cars in front but it was impossible to overtake here. This shows that when the gaps in the midfield battle are so tight, one little detail can make all the difference and you need to get everything right. We still have a lot of work to do but first we must look for a better result in Spa.
Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault (12th):
I made a really good start, then got blocked out by several cars - and ended up losing position to Davidson because of it. Coulthard hit the back of my car on lap two I think, and it damaged the rear endplate on the left hand side. I also had understeer all through the race, so the balance wasn't perfect. In the first stint, I was losing time behind the Aguri, but it was only near to the pit-stops that I had enough extra pace to pass him into turn 1. After that, we all had pretty much the same strategy, and there was nothing much to do to gain positions. So we turned the engine right down, and looked after it because I have to use it again in Spa. Hopefully, things will go better for us there.
Alexander Wurz, Williams (13th):
It was a difficult first stint for me. We went with a very aggressive strategy but having a heavy fuel load had a negative effect on my rears and I just couldnt get the speed I needed. It all comes down to my qualifying position. Making a mistake on Saturday means youre chasing it during the race, but I like the challenge.
Anthony Davidson, Super Aguri (14th):
After a reasonably good start everyone was fairly well behaved into Turn One, but Vettel made contact with the rear of my car which damaged the diffuser. The car seemed to be quite good on a heavy fuel load and I was able to challenge Wurz in the Williams and also Fisichella. I then overtook him when he made a mistake round Parabolica and we had a good fight, which was probably the highlight of my race. Then as the fuel loads came down I think that we just struggled for speed a bit and it was hard to keep the faster cars behind me, but I managed to hold off Ralf (Schumacher) in the Toyota right to the end, so I am happy enough with that.
Ralf Schumacher, Toyota (15th):
That was a very disillusioning result for both of us. It didnt work very well and it was a struggle for us today. Jarno managed to handle it better than me this weekend but I could see that the race here in Monza would not be our strongest race. We still have some problems with kerbs and that makes a big difference at Monza. The first corner is always chaotic here but today it went relatively smoothly for me. Of course even if youre at the back you still push hard and I tried to drive as quickly as possible. We have much to analyse but now we must turn our attentions to next race. We had a good test at Spa so we can aim for a better result there.
Takuma Sato, Super Aguri (16th):
On the way to, and also on the grid, I felt the brake pedal had gone really soft and I clearly had a problem, but at that time there was nothing we could do. I tried to warm up the car on the formation lap and then the front brakes caught fire when I got back to the grid and there was a lot of smoke, which I was really worried about it. I didnt have a good feeling about the brakes, but into Turn One I was able to make up some places. My front brake was really fading and I was struggling with the car as it locked the rear wheel a lot. I couldn't stop because the front didn't have any bite and as a result I lost a few places. The safety car then helped me to cool down the brakes and they came back to reasonable level. After that I was able to recover my race, overtake a few cars and push my way through. On the last stint the option tyre came into reasonable grip and I was able to do a good lap time, but overall it was a tough race.
Vitantonio Liuzzi, Toro Rosso (17th):
The most positive thing from this weekend is that we saw the chequered flag again. In the race we did not have enough pace to get ahead of the cars in front. From my point of view I had a good race, although I had a bit of understeer in the first stint, which cost me a lot of time. My second stint was quite strong. Our pace was not too bad after we improved the car on Saturday morning, but in qualifying we did not get the most out of the car. We struggled to stay with other cars when we were in their slipstream as I really lost a lot of downforce when I was near to other cars. All we can do now is to look forward to trying again in Spa.
Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso (18th):
My start was okay and then I saw David (Coulthard) coming up my right hand side, which forced me to go round the outside and then in the second chicane, unfortunately I ran into Davidson. It was partly my fault. I was happy the safety car came out as I didn't lose too much. But later, I had a big problem with the brakes and we will have to find out what caused it. I was hardly able to stop the car and at this high speed track you need to have confidence in the brakes. Today was a bit frustrating, after I had a good day yesterday.
Adrian Sutil, Spyker (19th):
Today was not such a good day, but we did at least get to the finish with the new car. The car balance was not great and at the start it was difficult to keep the temperature in the tyres under the safety car so I had a bad first stint. The second stint was a little bit better but I still had some understeer with the car. It's not been the best weekend but we'll be better in Belgium I'm sure.
Sakon Yamamoto, Spyker (20th):
Today from the start we were fighting with the other cars and we had made the most of the two stop strategy. I could push and keep up with the field without problems, but in the end we lost a bit of time compared to the others. I am quite happy to make it to the end with the B-spec car and for the next race I will keep pushing and look forward to it.
David Coulthard, Red Bull (DNF):
I touched the back of Fisichellas car in the middle of the first chicane and broke my front wing. When I accelerated, the downforce pushed the wing underneath the front of the car and broke the steering. I went straight off the track and into the tyres, that was the end of the weekend.
Felipe Massa, Ferrari (DNF):
"I am very disappointed. It's horrible to see your chances go in the early stages because of a reliability problem. There was something not working with the rear suspension: coming into Ascari I could feel a problem under braking and came into the pits, thinking it might be due to a puncture. However, once the tyres were changed that was still undriveable and I had to retire. We must tackle the coming races with the same spirit. Here we were competitive and I think that will be the same in the near future. This is very disappointing but these things happen in racing."


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- Date:17 Apr 2011
- Kick-off:16:00
- Venue:Wembley Stadium
- Attendance:75,064
- Etherington (10) Huth (16)
Jones (29) Walters (67)
Walters (80)
Live Commentary
- 91:52 +1.52
Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Glenn Whelan, Robert Huth takes a shot. Jussi Jaaskelainen makes a comfortable save.
- 91:02 +1.02
Ricardo Fuller takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Cahill. Short corner taken by Glenn Whelan from the left by-line.
- 89:34
Danny Pugh is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
- 86:45
(Stoke) makes a substitution, with Danny Pugh coming on for Matthew Etherington. Corner taken right-footed by Glenn Whelan.
- 85:43
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ricardo Fuller by Gary Cahill. Gary Cahill is shown a yellow card. Matthew Etherington crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, Zat Knight manages to make a clearance.
- 83:43
Kenwyne Jones goes off and Ricardo Fuller comes on. Outswinging corner taken by Matthew Taylor, Kevin Davies challenges Ryan Shawcross unfairly and gives away a free kick. Thomas Sorensen takes the direct free kick.
- 80:42
A goal is scored by Jonathan Walters from close range low into the middle of the goal. Bolton 0-5 Stoke.Assist by Andy Wilkinson.
- 79:35
Jonathan Walters challenges Johan Elmander unfairly and gives away a free kick. Johan Elmander takes the direct free kick.
- 78:35
Corner taken by Matthew Etherington.
- 77:29
Jermaine Pennant challenges Matthew Taylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dean Whitehead replaces Jermaine Pennant. Jussi Jaaskelainen restarts play with the free kick.
- 73:54
Jermaine Pennant fouled by Paul Robinson, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Robinson is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. Glenn Whelan takes the direct free kick.
- 72:20
Rodrigo Moreno joins the action as a substitute, replacing Fabrice Muamba. Kevin Davies challenges Ryan Shawcross unfairly and gives away a free kick. Thomas Sorensen takes the free kick.
- 71:26
Corner taken left-footed by Matthew Taylor to the near post, Glenn Whelan manages to make a clearance. Corner from the right by-line taken by Matthew Taylor, Kenwyne Jones manages to make a clearance.
- 70:06
Unfair challenge on Johan Elmander by Robert Huth results in a free kick. Matthew Taylor fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, blocked by Kenwyne Jones. Shot by Matthew Taylor. Thomas Sorensen makes a save.
- 69:08
Inswinging corner taken by Matthew Taylor, comfortable save by Thomas Sorensen.
- 67:29
Jonathan Walters gets on the score sheet with a goal from long range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bolton 0-4 Stoke.The assist for the goal came from Glenn Whelan.
- 66:40
Foul by Mark Davies on Jermaine Pennant, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Marc Wilson.
- 63:37
Free kick awarded for a foul by Chung-Yong Lee on Matthew Etherington. Jermaine Pennant delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing. Jonathan Walters takes a shot. Save made by Jussi Jaaskelainen. Kenwyne Jones has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the goal.
- 61:26
Marc Wilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Robinson. Direct free kick taken by Jussi Jaaskelainen. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Matthew Taylor from the right by-line, Header from close in by Gretar Rafn Steinsson misses to the right of the target.
- 61:08
Kenwyne Jones takes a shot. Blocked by Zat Knight.
- 58:28
Corner taken left-footed by Matthew Etherington from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Kevin Davies. Kenwyne Jones takes a shot. Jussi Jaaskelainen makes a comfortable save.
- 57:00
Unfair challenge on Chung-Yong Lee by Matthew Etherington results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jussi Jaaskelainen. Foul by Gary Cahill on Kenwyne Jones, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Marc Wilson.
- 54:35
Mark Davies produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
- 52:50
Ryan Shawcross fouled by Johan Elmander, the ref awards a free kick. Thomas Sorensen takes the direct free kick.
- 51:51
Foul by Chung-Yong Lee on Rory Delap, free kick awarded. Marc Wilson takes the direct free kick.
- 49:11
Fabrice Muamba handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Thomas Sorensen takes the direct free kick.
- 45:01
Martin Petrov leaves the field to be replaced by Mark Davies. (Bolton) makes a substitution, with Matthew Taylor coming on for Ivan Klasnic.
- 44:05
Foul by Andy Wilkinson on Martin Petrov, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
- 41:51
Kevin Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc Wilson. Marc Wilson restarts play with the free kick.
- 40:38
Glenn Whelan fouled by Ivan Klasnic, the ref awards a free kick. Marc Wilson takes the free kick.
- 34:10
Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Robinson on Ryan Shawcross. Free kick taken by Thomas Sorensen.
- 32:23
Johan Elmander has a drilled shot. Thomas Sorensen makes a comfortable save. Kenwyne Jones produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
- 31:27
Unfair challenge on Ivan Klasnic by Rory Delap results in a free kick. Ivan Klasnic takes the free kick.
- 29:32
Kenwyne Jones finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bolton 0-3 Stoke.Assist by Jermaine Pennant.
- 27:28
Outswinging corner taken by Chung-Yong Lee from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Jonathan Walters.
- 25:26
Gary Cahill fouled by Kenwyne Jones, the ref awards a free kick. Jussi Jaaskelainen restarts play with the free kick.
- 25:02
Ivan Klasnic takes a shot. Comfortable save by Thomas Sorensen.
- 24:17
Short corner taken by Chung-Yong Lee.
- 23:29
Robert Huth challenges Fabrice Muamba unfairly and gives away a free kick. Martin Petrov crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Kenwyne Jones manages to make a clearance.
- 22:21
Robert Huth fouled by Kevin Davies, the ref awards a free kick. Thomas Sorensen restarts play with the free kick.
- 16:40
A goal is scored by Robert Huth from outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bolton 0-2 Stoke.
- 10:42
Matthew Etherington scores a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bolton 0-1 Stoke.
- 9:31
Effort on goal by Kenwyne Jones from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
- 9:00
Unfair challenge on Glenn Whelan by Johan Elmander results in a free kick. Thomas Sorensen restarts play with the free kick.
- 8:18
Johan Elmander takes a shot. Comfortable save by Thomas Sorensen.
- 7:19
Robert Huth gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Johan Elmander. Martin Petrov crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, clearance by Marc Wilson.
- 6:18
Gary Cahill produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.
- 5:15
Corner from the left by-line taken by Martin Petrov, clearance made by Robert Huth. Corner taken left-footed by Martin Petrov from the left by-line to the near post, Glenn Whelan manages to make a clearance.
- 4:42
Marc Wilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Chung-Yong Lee. Direct free kick taken by Gretar Rafn Steinsson.
- 2:29
Free kick awarded for a foul by Fabrice Muamba on Kenwyne Jones. Matthew Etherington restarts play with the free kick. Corner taken by Matthew Etherington played to the near post, Fabrice Muamba manages to make a clearance.
- 1:33
Free kick awarded for a foul by Zat Knight on Kenwyne Jones. Jermaine Pennant crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Gretar Rafn Steinsson makes a clearance.
Match Preview
Trotters target cup triumph to honour Lofthouse Bolton's management and players have emphasised their determination to lift the FA Cup as a fitting tribute to the late Nat Lofthouse. Former England centre forward Lofthouse, who died in January, scored two goals the last time the club lifted the trophy. That was in 1958 when a Manchester United side decimated by the Munich air disaster were beaten at Wembley. On Sunday Bolton return to the stadium when they face Stoke in the semi-finals of the competition. Manager Owen Coyle believes they need to be professional, not emotional, if they want to honour Lofthouse in the correct way and progress further. Coyle said: "It would be lovely thing to come to fruition but to do that you have to play out of your skin and earn the right. "There is a big obstacle to overcome first if we are to get to the final as this is a very good Stoke side. "You can understand how everyone feels about Nat's passing but we have to make sure come the game we are fully focused." Lofthouse was an "absolute legend", according to full-back Paul Robinson, who echoed the thoughts of the players in wanting to do right by arguably Bolton's best ever player. Robinson said: "To be at his funeral and see the turnout was an unbelievable moment to be involved in. "To see the fans lining the streets just showed what an absolute legend the man was. We will be trying to rekindle the memories that he had in lifting the cup and scoring the goals. "It will be special for us on Sunday. Hopefully the atmosphere won't play a factor in it and we just focus on ourselves and what we need to do." Coyle will make one enforced change as on-loan Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is ineligible. Rodrigo and Ivan Klasnic are among the contenders to replace Sturridge, who scored a brace in the victory against West Ham last weekend. Midfielder Mark Davies is expected to be included in the squad after returning to training following an ankle problem. Stoke manager Tony Pulis is happy to put out the welcome mat for the class of 72 and hopes their unexpected success will rub off on the current crop of players. That team became part of local folklore by lifting the League Cup, thanks to beating hot favourites Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley. It was heralded as the start of a golden era but the club have failed to deliver a major trophy since then. Things may be about to change, however, and Pulis wants his side to recreate history. The Welsh boss has no problems embracing the past. In fact he relishes the opportunity to meet and greet the club's legends. He took time out this week to visit Terry Conroy, scorer of the first goal against Chelsea, as he is recovering from a vascular aneurism. Conroy is normally a familiar figure at the Britannia Stadium and the training ground but others also hold still Stoke dear to their hearts. Pulis, in his second spell at the club, said: "I went round to see Terry as he has been brilliant since I first came here and we wish him well. "A lot of the lads pop in. Banksy (Gordon Banks), Denis Smith, Jimmy Greenhoff, Mike Pejic. If they want to come in for a cup of tea, have a bit of lunch and watch us train, they don't have to ring up. It is lovely to see people who still care for this club." Pulis believes it is that kind of family atmosphere that makes Stoke strong today. Not only are they in the last four of the competition, but they look certain to stay in the Barclays Premier League for a fourth successive season. He said: "We do not like people who do not blend in. That is part of what we try to do. It starts with hard work and togetherness. "If we don't get that from players we usually move them on because the rest of the group demand it, not just me." Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen will be recalled as he has been a regular in previous rounds with usual number one Asmir Begovic on the bench. Striker John Carew could come into contention following a four-match absence with a back problem.
- Jussi Jaaskelainen
- Gretar Rafn Steinsson
- Zat Knight
- Gary Cahill
- Paul Robinson
- Johan Elmander
- Fabrice Muamba
- Chung-Yong Lee
- Martin Petrov
- Ivan Klasnic
- Kevin Davies
- Adam Bogdan
- Matthew Taylor
- Mark Davies
- Rodrigo Moreno
- Tamir Cohen
- Marcos Alonso
- David Wheater
- Thomas Sorensen
- Andy Wilkinson
- Robert Huth
- Ryan Shawcross
- Marc Wilson
- Jermaine Pennant
- Rory Delap
- Glenn Whelan
- Matthew Etherington
- Jonathan Walters
- Kenwyne Jones
- Carlo Nash
- Ricardo Fuller
- Danny Pugh
- Salif Diao
- Dean Whitehead
- John Carew
- Abdoulaye Faye
Match Report
Five-star Stoke roar into final Rampant Stoke booked their FA Cup final debut and a meeting with Manchester City on May 14 after demolishing sorry Bolton 5-0 in the biggest semi-final annihilation in 72 years. Matthew Etherington, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones shredded the hapless Trotters with a three-goal blitz inside the opening half hour, with former Bolton player Jon Walters adding two more in the second half to match Wolves five-goal hammering of Grimsby in 1939. It means no poignant final for Bolton in the year Nat Lofthouse passed away but that, after three previous last-four failures, the Potteries outfit will finally get to experience the world's oldest cup competition and, win or lose, will be playing in the Europa League next year providing City claim a Champions League berth. Stoke boss Tony Pulis will want more though. After all, he was the fall-guy when City overhauled his Gillingham side in that famous 1999 Second Division play-off final in the same stadium which will play host to next month's showpiece. There were a significant number of empty seats at the Bolton end, which was something of a disappointment considering the Trotters were trying to reach their first final in over half a century. Maybe those missing few thousands had a premonition about what was to unfold. Maybe Bolton's players had got stuck in the M1 carnage and this was a group of imposters, so unlike the team that has represented their club all season. Either way, by the final whistle there were many, many more. What made matters even worse was the fact major question marks could be raised over Bolton's involvement in all three Stoke goals that effectively wrapped up victory with an hour still to play. Owen Coyle will have nightmares about the manner his side conceded possession close to their own penalty area for the first. Instead of simply booting the ball downfield, as surely their opponents would have done in a similar situation, they tried to pass their way out of danger. It just made matters worse. Etherington seized on a loose ball, spotted an opportunity and whistled a shot into the bottom corner. Jussi Jaaskelainen must have experienced an awful sense of deja-vu six minutes later when he was plunging towards the same side of his goal with equally little chance of preventing the net behind him bulging. This time Gary Cahill was at fault. Generally such a calming influence at the heart of Bolton's rearguard, the England international managed to get only a half-hearted header to Andy Wilkinson's high ball. Robert Huth has scored a number of goals for Stoke. None could have been sweeter than the first-time half-volley that left Jaaskelainen completely helpless once more. Coyle sensed the bewilderment amongst his players but was powerless to help. And when Martin Petrov lost possession to Jermain Pennant deep inside the Stoke half, the Bolton boss could only watch in complete disbelief as the former Liverpool man streaked forward 70 yards without a tackle being made on him before he slipped a pass through to Jones. The bulky marksman, a club record #8million signing by Pulis last summer, steadied himself before burying his shot past Jaaskelainen. In stark contrast to Bolton's desolation, Stoke's supporters were beyond ecstatic. For those present old enough to remember the last two of those three semi-final failures, in 1970 and 1971 - the other was in 1899 - the feeling of satisfaction was great indeed. Jones denied Etherington the opportunity to lash home a fourth and Jaaskelainen stopped a goalbound Walters effort. But any more would have been greedy for the Potteries outfit. Coyle made a couple of changes at the break, with Petrov one of the men replaced, and shoved Johan Elmander into a more attacking role after being bypassed totally in midfield. The move was akin to re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic as Stoke just resumed their attacking offensive. Jones spurned a couple of opportunities as Bolton laboured, then he, along with Jon Walters and Ryan Shawcross managed to pass up a chance when it seemed easier to score. Any fear Stoke had lost their nerve was quickly dispelled as Walters rammed home from 25 yards. And when the man who battled his way back through the lower leagues after being dumped by Bolton in 2004 drilled the fifth past Jaaskelainen nine minutes from time, it merely completed Stoke's perfect day.


text:
Posted: Jun 10, 2010 7:54 AM by Andrea Fontenot
Source: Associated Press
An appeals court has upheld the manslaughter charge and sentence imposed on Daniel Pegues, who was accused of killing an off-duty sheriff's deputy.
Pegues was found guilty in the shooting death of Calcasieu Deputy Alan Inzer.
The attorney for Pegues argued that he was denied a fair trial because the court twice refused to change the trial venue and that the 40-year prison term he received was excessive.
The appellate court said the attorney for Pegues, who was charged with second-degree murder, didn't present sufficient evidence to warrant a change of venue.
The appeals judge says the sentence didn't abuse discretion in imposing a 40-year term.


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The Kenneth Brown Award Gathers a Jury in Hawaii
February 27, 2007
Notes from Robert Ivy, FAIA, Editor-in-Chief
You might not choose to fly to Hawaii and find yourself locked up a semi-darkened room for two days, but last weekend that's where we found ourselves. It was worth the trouble. The Kenneth Brown Award, the subject of our weekend-long jury as established by the University of Hawaii, honors architects and their work located in Asia/Pacific—a broad region. We judged 90 projects from throughout Asia—from India and Bangladesh to Hawaii—and the quality of the work was outstanding from virtually every country we saw. While I find that we have seen much work in a typical jury in the states, that was not the case this time.
Our languages or accents differed somewhat, but the language of architecture bridged between us. Other judges were Kerry Hill from Singapore and Australia (who has designed the majority of the Aman hotel projects) and Itsuko Hasagawa, a respected female architect from Japan.
In the course of events, each juror gave a public lecture. We met the local architectural leadership at events, (AIA president, etc.) including a reception and a dinner. We held a seminar with students, to talk and to see their work. The award bears the name of Kenneth Brown, a living descendant of the original Hawaiians who has been a leader in the state's development and had been trained as an architect at Princeton.
The jury merely kicked things off. After our deliberations (and choices, after two days), the university will host a pan-Asia conference simulcast between the U of Hawaii and Tongji University in Shanghai to discuss the winners this June. Five hundred have attended from Hawaii alone. The entire process was well organized by Kazi Ashraf; American architects should become more aware of the program on the mainland, as our interest level in work across the Pacific continues to grow. Ken Frampton was the lead juror three years ago for the last cycle and the Japanese architect Shuhei Endo won.


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Located in the Heart of the Gulf Coast of Florida — you will find Riverwoods Plantation in Estero, Florida, reach us toll free at 1-877-659-0906. We are surrounded by beautiful beaches and boast our own boatyard on the Estero River which meanders into Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, Southwest Florida's new Gulf Coast University is just a few miles away. Estero a Village with a Vision. Click here for more information:
Riverwoods Plantation — We are a senior resident-owned RV Condo Association located in the Florida Gulf Coast community of Estero and are proud to have been voted by the National Community Association into their Hall of Fame in the year 2000 after receiving a first place awards in 2011 and 1998 in the Large Communities category by the Community Association Institute. In 2010 Riverwoods Plantation was awarded the Community Association Institute "Humanitarian Community of the Year" for our exemplary service to our local community.
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