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PlantFiles: Agave
Agave nizandensis
Family: Agavaceae (ah-gav-AY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Agave (a-GAH-vee) (Info) Species: nizandensis (ny-zan-DEN-sis) (Info) 3 members have or want this plant for trade. Category: Height: Spacing: Hardiness: Sun Exposure: Danger: Bloom Color: Bloom Time: Foliage: Other details: Soil pH requirements: Patent Information: Propagation Methods: Seed Collecting: | Click thumbnail to view: By Xenomorf By Xenomorf By palmbob By Xenomorf By palmbob By palmbob There are a total of 9 photos. |
1 positive
1 neutral
No negatives
Gardeners' Notes:
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Mesa, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Hallettsville, Texas


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#34396026 -
cucina in un ristorante
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Long hard timesSubmitted by Christina Jordan (not verified) on Wed, 04/02/2008 - 10:32am.
Lots of people fuss about truck drivers being on the road like if they own it. I do not. without out these truck drivers your life on east street would be over. No clothes would make it to your favorite store. No food would make it to the grocery store. The high gas price you pay would not be filling you tanks if a driver does not bring it to the station. without them civelization would stop. People no longer know how to plant and soe to servive anymore. These guys need a break and I for 1 support them 100%.
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You're leaving Wedding Paper Divas to see the Deal of the Day at our parent site, Tiny Prints.
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"I personalized these cards into navy with our wedding date, time, and place. The paper and envelopes are so thick and the thermography is so beautiful. They came in a stunning box and were all wrapped together. I would definitely 100% order from here again, and recommend to a friend. So glad I did this… I can't wait for all my family and friends to see how beautiful this work is!"
"I purchased 25 of these to go with my suite a couple weeks before mailing my invitations out and used it for sharing the wedding rehearsal and dinner information. They turned out beautiful! The only thing other ladies need to know is the card is slightly wider than the invitation itself. I was afraid it wouldn't fit inside the inner envelope. But it did! The other is the navy ink appeared slightly darker than the navy ink on the invitation, RSVP, and Reception cards I received a few weeks earlier. But since the enclosure was an after thought, the possibility that there could be a variation in shade never occurred to me. My suggestion to other brides is to order everything together to avoid this from happening to your suite if you choose an ink color other than black. Also, don't use the FedEx option for faster service. It's not worth it!"
"This card is truly perfect. Not only is it the perfect size, but made of sturdy paper. So elegant and classy, which was the theme I was looking for! I would recommend this save the date to anyone. I'm so happy I decided to go with this design!"
"I love our save the dates! They came out perfectly. I wasn't super crazy about the paper, but that is the paper I selected with the cheapest price. I do love them though! Also came in super fast. Can't wait to order my invitations!"
"My cards came very fast! I was so suprised at how professional their delivery was. It came in a big box all my cards were perfect and that goes for My envelopes too. Everyone that had received them has called me saying how much they loved our save the dates and raved about the quality of the card. We are deffinetly using wedding paper divas for programs and our invitations!"


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Pender Humane Society having facility issuesThe Pender County Humane Society is in limbo. It has to be out of its old shelter where it has resided for 12 years by midnight, but the new shelter isn't ready yet.
Disclaimer: Comments posted on this, or any story are opinions of those people posting them, and not the views or opinions of WWAY NewsChannel 3, its management or employees. » |
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text: Family Craft Night Family and friends of all ages are invited to come and express their crafty creative side. Join us for a fun-filled time. Franklin Library March 28th 5:00 to 7:00 PM All supplies will be provided. Refreshments will be available. Registration is required and you can sign up at either library.


text: VILLARREAL have clinched a deal to take defender Fabricio Coloccini on loan from Milan for the whole of next season. The 21-year-old Argentine spent last term on loan at Villarreal's Primera rivals Atletico Madrid, making a total of 27 league appearances, and has now secured a rapid return to La Primera. Coloccini arrived in Spanish football with Alaves after joining from San Lorenzo in his homeland. An impressive first season with the Basque outfit earned him a permanent move to Milan, though he struggled to make an impression at the San Siro leading to his recent loan spells. Meanwhile, Villarreal have also opened negotiations with Milan-owned striker Jose Mari after agreeing a season-long loan deal with the Serie A outfit. Jose Mari also spent last season at Atletico on a temporary basis with Coloccini, but it is thought the striker's demands are some way off what Villarreal are prepared to offer.


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Sweet Jojo Designs Camel Paisley Brown / Beige Area Rug
This product has additional required/recommended options. To configure, add to your cart.
The Camel Paisley Floor Rug will help complete the look of your JoJO Designs room. This hand tufted, super soft rug will feel as good as it looks! This rug has a non-slip backing so it can easily be used in the bedroom, bathroom, or any room in your home.
36" x 30" x 0.5" Size
Sweet Jojo Designs Camel Paisley Brown / Beige Area Rug
Weights & Dimensions
36" x 30" x 0.5" Size
Additional Weights & Dimensions
Product Type: Area Rug | Construction: Machine made |
Technique: Tufted | Primary Pattern: Paisley |
Primary Color: Brown / Beige | Lifestage: Adult |
Border: Yes
| Material: Cotton |
Reversible: No | Rug Pad Needed: No |
Eco-Friendly: No | Outdoor Use: No |
Product Care: Spot Clean | Country of Manufacture: India |
Product Warranty: 1 year |
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Sweet Jojo Designs was founded in 2000 and is operated by women who understand the needs of the modern mom. With this in mind, they have created many of their crib bedding ensembles as complete 9 piece sets, the largest offered by any manufacturer. Browse their fun and fashionable styles, colors, patterns, and collections to find the perfect set for your child or new baby!Sweet Jojo Designs Camel Paisley Brown / Beige Area Rug
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Just a few years ago, intractable arrhythmias — difficult-to-treat heart rhythms — required a heart transplant. Now, many can be corrected in the electrophysiology laboratory at Children's.
The electrophysiology service diagnoses and treats irregular heart rhythms in Children's state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization laboratory.
"When a child's heart beats too fast," says Dr. Jack Salerno, Children's electrophysiologist, "we can use radiofrequency ablation to cauterize a small area of tissue that prevents the irregular heartbeat from recurring."
Slow heart rhythms can be corrected with an implantable pacemaker. Heart rhythms that can cause sudden death are treated with an implantable defibrillator, which shocks the heart into beating normally.
Children's was the first to establish a pediatric electrophysiology program in the Pacific Northwest.
Learn more:
2.13.15 - On the Pulse
Seattle Children's is my home. From the previously trademark blue bubble letters, the giraffes (which were recently replaced...cont.
2.12.15 - On the Pulse
The first thing Dr. Michael Cunningham noticed was the crowding. Hundreds of African mothers and their young children,...cont.
2.11.15 - On the Pulse
Children who need a heart transplant face a frightening waiting game before a donor heart becomes available. They must live...cont.


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NCAA Football
College Football Rankings 2014: Top 25 NCAA Playoff Standings for Week 14
Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Mississippi State all won their respective matchups Saturday, and for the first time in weeks, there wasn't a complete upheaval of the Week 14 College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings.
Despite the Associated Press ranking the Seminoles as the No. 1 team in the nation and the Amway Coaches Poll tabbing them at No. 2, the College Football Playoff voting committee still has FSU listed at No. 3 overall.
Let the debate continue.
Here are the Week 14 College Football Playoff, Associated Press and Bleacher Report Top 25 polls and a preview of this week's most important matchup.
Week 14's Most Important Matchup
While Alabama is playing Auburn in the Iron Bowl, Oregon is squaring off against a tough Oregon State team and Florida State is taking on in-state rival Florida, the biggest game of the weekend will be the Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. the Ole Miss Rebels.
The Egg Bowl.
The top three ranked teams in the nation should win their matchups with relative ease, but Mississippi State has a tough test against Ole Miss in a crucial matchup. With the Bulldogs' playoff hopes on the line, quarterback Dak Prescott and the entire roster must come prepared for a battle.
The Rebels and the Bulldogs have a long and storied history against each other, but there have been few times in the past that there has been more on the line. Mississippi State enters the game as the No. 4-ranked team in college football, and Ole Miss is currently ranked 19th overall.
Ole Miss is 18th on the Week 14 Associated Press Top 25 poll:
Regardless of where the Rebels are ranked, the team still has an immense amount of talent on both sides of the ball and will give the Bulldogs a serious challenge. Not only is Ole Miss hosting the game, but the Rebels also were victorious the last time the teams played at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Ole Miss has lost three of its last four games, but the competition in the SEC is incredible. After beating Alabama and Texas A&M, the Rebels lost to LSU, Auburn and Arkansas, the latter loss being a 30-0 upset in Week 13.
On the other hand, Ole Miss has the top-ranked defensive unit in the nation in terms of points allowed per game with 13.5. The Bulldogs will have a tough time breaking through the Rebels defense.
Here is Bleacher Report's Week 14 rankings:
Mississippi State has an elite defense as well. The unit is ranked 11th in the sport and is only allowing an average of 18.4 points per game. After watching the Rebels get shut out by Arkansas last week, the Bulldogs defenders can't wait to get on the field against Ole Miss.
The real strength of Mississippi State is the offensive unit.
Led by Prescott, the Bulldogs have the 40th-ranked passing attack (264.9 yards per game) and the 19th-ranked ground game, averaging an impressive 246.8 rushing yards per game. After a heartbreaking loss to the Crimson Tide in Week 12, Mississippi State bounced back with a 51-0 beating on Vanderbilt.
With the Bulldogs understanding the magnitude of the situation, the team will bring its best on the road and hand Ole Miss another heartbreaking loss. Mississippi State will be playoff bound with a victory Saturday, and the program deserves it after a great 2014 season.
Predicted Final Score: Mississippi State 30, Ole Miss 20
Stats via ESPN.com.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Georgia Football: Is Georgia Tech a Worthwhile Foe in the CFB Playoff Era?
Affectionately known by the moniker Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, the rivalry between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is one of the South's oldest (and once, one of the bitterest) in-state rivalries.
But despite meeting more than 100 times on the gridiron, this matchup will not remain viable for the Dawgs in the College Football Playoff era.
Not too long ago, Georgia Tech boasted one of the proudest programs in college football. National championships in 1917, 1928, 1952 and 1990 made the Yellow Jackets a program worth envying. As such, they were an ideal rival for the Bulldogs.
As of late, however, the disparity between the ACC and the SEC and a current reign of Georgia dominance has brought the merits of this late-season game into question—especially within the context of the new College Football Playoff.
Conference Separation
South Carolina head coach and quote-machine Steve Spurrier once said (per Mike Herndon of AL.com) that Georgia had more rivals than any team in the nation. "Georgia has so many rivals," he insisted. "It's difficult for them to have a big rivalry game every week."
Spurrier's commentary was somewhat in jest (he listed Vanderbilt as one of the Bulldogs' greater enemies), but there was truth in his statement.
Georgia and Florida have been bitter SEC rivals for decades. Georgia and Auburn lay claim to being the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry. The Georgia vs. Clemson game was instrumental in shaping the college football landscape for much of the 1970s and 1980s.
Now, the Bulldogs and Spurrier's Gamecocks tend to have epic divisional battles. And even as the Tennessee Volunteers program has struggled in recent years, there's been no love lost between the Vols and the Dawgs.
In light of that superfluous set of rivalries, Georgia Tech is easy to miss. Though games with Clemson are now intermittent, the rest of the Bulldogs' most hated foes present much more meaningful opposition, if for no other reason than conference allegiance.
The Gators, Gamecocks and Volunteers hail from neighboring states in important recruiting grounds and compete for the same division crown as the Bulldogs every year. As this weekend perfectly demonstrates, a win (or a loss) to Georgia Tech does nothing for Georgia's chances within the Southeastern Conference.
And Auburn, Georgia's permanent cross-division opposition, is meaningful as a conference game and also as a grudge match between the SEC East and the SEC West.
At best, a victory over Georgia Tech gives the Bulldogs an opportunity to conquer an ACC team, but given the recent trajectories of both conferences, that is hardly meritorious. By any measure of ranking, the SEC is deeper than the ACC and presents a better product.
Lopsided Rivalry
Even in-state bragging rights have fallen by the wayside over the preceding decades. It's easy to note Georgia's 12 wins over Georgia Tech over the past 13 seasons, but although that streak is strong, it's not an outlier.
Dating back to 1957, Georgia has completely dominated this series.
And while both schools share—in theory—the same recruiting territory, the combination of Georgia's dominance in the rivalry and Georgia Tech's option-specific offense keeps the Yellow Jackets from ever truly competing with the Bulldogs' ability to sign elite prospects.
Ultimately, wins are expected for Georgia in this rivalry. Losses are bound to happen—and to be clear, one could occur this year—but they're viewed more as frustrating missteps than disappointing indictments of the state of both programs.
A Georgia loss to Georgia Tech is perceived as both an upset and—for Georgia fans at least—a reflection of a lack of diligence by the better team.
That trend manifests itself, for better or worse, in a general indifference from many of the Bulldog faithful.
To be sure, most Dawg fans want to beat Georgia Tech. But they also want to beat everyone on the schedule. And for the majority of Georgia fans, Tech is no longer the most significant rival of the Bulldogs.
A recent poll conducted by 247Sports illustrates this point clearly. At the time of publishing, 53 percent of voters tabbed Florida as Georgia's biggest rival. Georgia Tech raked in less than 23 percent of the votes.
For Georgia, fans' indifference may be reflective of a threat greater than an actual loss to Georgia Tech: the threat of committee indifference.
Currently, Georgia Tech is positioned 16th in the College Football Playoff rankings. Accordingly, a convincing win over the Yellow Jackets could propel the Bulldogs forward.
But such high polling position is not necessarily the norm for Georgia Tech.
Over the preceding five years, Georgia Tech has been ranked (by the Associated Press) only twice at the time of this season-ending matchup. And the Yellow Jackets were ranked higher than the Bulldogs at kickoff just twice from 2004-13.
This year, a win over Georgia Tech could prove beneficial. But it's not hard to picture a scenario in which a game—even a win—against the Yellow Jackets could negatively impact the Bulldogs' playoff scenarios.
In fact, combining this year's SEC scenarios with last year's edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate paints such a picture.
If Missouri loses to Arkansas, Georgia will advance to the 2014 SEC Championship Game. Hypothetically, the Dawgs could upset an opponent from the SEC West and still be on the outside looking in as far as the CFP is concerned—regardless of the status of Georgia Tech.
But a game like last year's—a double-overtime victory over an unranked Georgia Tech squad—would certainly hurt the Bulldogs from the perspective of committee sentiment.
In light of that, reexamining the validity of this annual rivalry could be a prudent move. After all, the positives of a win over Georgia Tech now might be outweighed by the potential negatives of the game—regardless of the outcome.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Top Recruits Who Will Be Impacted by Result of the Florida-Florida State Game
While rivalries are always hotly contested among fanbases, most prospective recruits don't share the same fervor until they actually pick a school.
For example, there will be a number of recruits at this weekend's matchup between Florida State and Florida who are considering both schools.
Both schools will fight desperately to earn a victory over their hated rival, but for most recruits, the final score will have a minimal moment on their final decision.
However, that's not to say the result can't have an impact.
A win by Jimbo Fisher and the Seminoles would reinforce their standing as the most dominant program in the state.
On the other hand, the Gators—who were the last team to defeat the 'Noles back in 2012—will look to erase the frustration of a two-year spell filled with disappointment by sending outgoing coach Will Muschamp off with a victory.
Which top recruits will be watching the action between the Seminoles and the Gators closely?
*Recruits listed in alphabetical order.
For Jalen Hurd, Tennessee, Anything Less Than a Bowl Game Is a Disappointment
Tennessee breakout star freshman running back Jalen Hurd is seeking more.
Never mind that the Vols are one of the nation's youngest teams, having played 24 freshmen, or the fact that they've navigated one of the toughest schedules. All that matters is if they beat lowly instate rival Vanderbilt this weekend in Nashville, they'll make the program's first bowl game since 2010.
That game will essentially be Hurd's homecoming. The Hendersonville native is jacked up about the possibility of getting a program-projecting win in his backyard.
"It's everything for us; it's a live-or-die situation," Hurd told Bleacher Report on Tuesday evening after practice. "Especially with it just being at home, it makes it something else. It's amazing.
"All we're thinking about is that sixth win. So, whoever's in our way is what we're focusing on right now. That sixth win means everything. We're trying to get Tennessee back to a bowl game, which is where they should be. So every day we're preparing to get that win."
If the Vols don't win, well, that's going to be catastrophic. It will mean they've failed to go to a bowl game yet again and ultimately finished with a sideways step from a season ago.
Simply put, it's unacceptable to everybody.
For a player with the drive and motivation of Hurd, this season already has fallen short of his own immense expectations, and by association, those of the team he expects to put on his young shoulders.
From a personal perspective, regardless of whether Hurd views this year as a success or not, it has been. Despite starting just seven games, he has 756 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He's also the team's second-leading receiver with 33 catches for 217 yards and two more touchdowns.
Tennessee's offense flows directly through the 6'3", 228-pound goliath of a runner, and more often than not, he produces. How he goes, the offense goes.
At times such as the fourth quarter against South Carolina when the Vols needed a big play, they leaned on Hurd. He took a screen pass, broke two tackles and sprinted 21 yards for a touchdown on a fourth-down play that ultimately provided the catalyst for a comeback win.
He's that kind of player, and he already is a leader and a monster talent.
Kentucky's coach Mark Stoops compared him to Adrian Peterson. During ESPN's telecast of the Missouri game, analyst Kirk Herbstreit likened him to Hurd's childhood idol, Eddie George.
Despite the personal accolades, Hurd doesn't dish much on goals, but there is a huge one remaining.
"My expectations were more than what I've done so far," he said. "I definitely expected to do more and to do more as a team, but you just adjust to what you have. But one of my biggest goals was to go to a bowl game. This game means everything for us. This team [Vanderbilt] is what's standing in our way, and we have to get this win."
Though Hurd and others shrugged off any extra motivation with this game being back in their old stomping grounds, UT coach Butch Jones acknowledged there may be a little something extra.
Said Jones, according to UTSports.com:
The great thing about staying at home and representing your home state institution is you play in front of your family and friends every home game in Neyland Stadium in 102,455. But I know it will be special, they get to go back to Nashville. But again, they are very, very mature, a lot of them have played [there] before in high school, so I don't see that being any clutter or any distractions at all.
Hurd is used to tuning out distractions. His even-keeled demeanor off the field contrasts drastically with his violent running style. Even during a recruitment where everybody in the nation wanted him, Hurd ended things early by pledging to UT in March of 2013 before signing 11 months later.
He never wavered; he just wasn't one who lived for the drama.
Hurd believed in Jones, wanted to be part of the program and became the jewel of a top-notch recruiting class and a recruiter that pulled together a star-studded group. Hurd reached iconic status before he ever arrived in Knoxville, and he has lived up to the massive hype.
"Definitely I was a fan of Tennessee growing up," Hurd recalled. "My grandparents followed it very hard. They're diehard UT fans. They've always supported me, anywhere I wanted to go, but when I finally came here, they were ecstatic. It's crazy just being here with all my hometown friends in the state I grew up in. It's amazing representing them every day."
Several of his classmates from the same area felt the same way. Defensive end Derek Barnett and wide receiver Josh Malone (among others) all hail from the Midstate.
Jones again is recruiting well in Nashville, Murfreesboro and the corridor between the two cities. That talent-rich area was largely ignored by Derek Dooley, but Jones made it a priority. It's returning players who are providing the program's backbone.
Hurd already is looked upon by Vols fans as a trailblazer who believed in Jones before there was any tangible proof of something to believe in. He's perhaps the most beloved Vol already, and he is blossoming into a star.
"It's a blessing just being here," Hurd said, "and even being on a pedestal...you've just got to take a step back and look at it that way and know that you're working hard for family, for your coaches, for everybody here and for your teammates."
The fruits of that hard work are hard-earned wins, and they've been hard to come by this year. The Vols need one more for all the struggles to pay off. Even if Hurd has bigger aspirations for his days at UT than just making a bowl game, getting to the postseason is the first step.
After that? Well, Hurd doesn't talk too much about personal goals, but he's got an ultimate vision for this program.
"I can't speak too much on goals, but all I know is I'm going to put everything I have into this program and try to get this team to a national championship," he said. "I'm going to do everything I can do."
All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats gathered from UTSports.com, unless otherwise noted.
Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
College Football Rivalry Games with Biggest Heisman Implications
Welcome to crunch time.
With just two weeks remaining in the 2014 college football regular season, we've reached the point where awards are won and postseason berths are earned. From now until Dec. 6, every FBS program gets one last chance to make the most of its season, and players get a final shot at impressing voters.
The nation's focus will be trained on the chase for the four College Football Playoff berths, which will be awarded Dec. 7. The Heisman Trophy race is also tightly contested: Oregon's Marcus Mariota and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon lead the field in the race to pick up the stiff-arm trophy on Dec. 13. Final votes are due Dec. 9, but this week, the final full week of the regular season, will be important, too.
Rivalry games abound across the map, with teams who just plain don't like each other facing off for bragging rights and playoff positioning. They also have the potential to affect the Heisman race. Here's a look at this weekend's games which could impact the chase for the Heisman Trophy. The players spotlighted are all included in ESPN's Heisman Watch and will play big roles in their rivalry games.
After Clutch 5-Star Commit, Which Top Targets Should UCLA Push for Next?
UCLA just signed Keisean Lucier-South, a 5-Star defensive end, as per 247sports. The Bruins class is shaping up to be a dandy with several top prospects leaning towards UCLA.
Bleacher Report College Football Analyst Michael Felder discusses how Jim Mora can round out his already stellar recruiting class.
How good can the Bruins be next season?
Watch the video and let us know!
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
After Clutch 5-Star Commit, Which Top Targets Should UCLA Push for Next?
More Than Just the Kick-6: Relive the Greatest Iron Bowl Ever
The 2013 Iron Bowl was arguably the best edition in its long, storied history. From the national-championship implications and the back-and-forth scoring to the wild finish, this game had it all.
Bleacher Report caught up with key media members and officials as they told the story of the game from their perspective.
Was this the best college football game of all time?
Check out the video and let us know!
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Notre Dame vs. USC: Which Team Will Rebound and Build Momentum for 2015?
One of the best cross-country rivalries takes place in Week 14: Notre Dame vs. USC. With both teams not in the championship picture, they now shift their focus to the future.
Bleacher Report College Football Analysts Michael Felder and Adam Kramer debate which program has a brighter future.
Which team is better equipped for 2015?
Check out the video and let us know!
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
College Football Playoff Standings: Week 13 Rankings and Bowl Game Projections
Just like that, there are two weeks left in the 2014 college football season. The postseason picture is becoming clearer as November begins to fold into December. While the playoff field still has to be figured out, bowl pictures are starting to take form.
Here's how the two major Top 25 polls looked after Week 13. The following slides contain bowl projections heading into Week 14. Click on the links below to view the latest College Football Playoff, Associated Press and USA Today Top 25 polls.
The Best 'Do-Over' Games for Top 10 College Football Teams
What if each college football team got a mulligan?
Imagine Nick Saban, standing on the sixth tee box (the one at Ole Miss) and snap-hooking his drive out of bounds (aka Blake Sims throwing an interception on the final drive versus the Rebels). Instead of dropping and taking a penalty stroke, he looks back at Hugh Freeze and says, "I'll take a mulligan here."
Smiling slyly, he re-tees his ball, spanks it right down the middle (erasing the pick, resulting in a Tide score three plays later) and walks down the fairway, ultimately scoring a birdie and his third consecutive win over Freeze.
In this alternate universe, one-loss teams become the undefeated and two-loss teams magically have only one loss.
Here's a look at when each top-ranked team would have used its mulligan this season. Just as important as the timing is the reason why the do-over is necessary, common threads that tell us as much about the future as they do about the past.
Auburn vs. Alabama: Assessing Each Team's Key to Victory in 2014 Iron Bowl
How many times have you watched the replay of Auburn's Chris Davis' game-winning return of an Alabama missed field goal to secure a 2013 Iron Bowl victory this week? Ten? Twenty? Well, there's a reason for all of that reminiscing—this is one of the most exciting college football games every year, and there will be no exception in 2014.
You aren't fired up yet? Well, maybe this will help:
Last year, the Tigers took down the No. 1 Crimson Tide, ending their hopes of a BCS title. This year, Alabama is the nation's top-ranked squad once again, and a win could propel the team into the first-ever College Football Playoff. Will Auburn play spoiler once more?
Before Auburn attempts to repeat history and Alabama gets a shot at redemption on Saturday, here's a look at the biggest key to victory for each team in this year's Iron Bowl.
Alabama: Get out of the Gate Quickly
The Crimson Tide's offense was a work in progress early in the season, but quarterback Blake Sims really came into his own, and Alabama is averaging 35.0 points per game as a result. However, Sims and Co. need a quick start to gain an early lead on the Tigers, forcing them to play from behind.
When Alabama has trailed early in conference games this season, results haven't been good. Ole Miss was the first to get on the board against the Crimson Tide, and the Rebels went on to win that game. Later in the season, LSU jumped out in front early. While Alabama won that game, it was forced to do so in overtime.
In both of those instances, Alabama didn't score until the second quarter. That cannot be the case against a dangerous Auburn offense on Saturday.
The Tigers are a run-first team. When they fall behind, they are taken out of their comfort zone. That was the case earlier this season when Dak Prescott got Mississippi State out to an early lead against Auburn. It forced the Tigers to pass more frequently, and the end result was Nick Marshall completing 17 of his 35 passing attempts for two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Mississippi State won that game handily by clamping down on defense after gaining that early lead, and Alabama is built to do the same.
This shouldn't be an issue for Sims in the Iron Bowl. Of his 19 touchdown passes this season, eight have come in the first quarter. He's also completing 67.7 percent of his passes in the opening quarter of games this year, over 7 percent more than any of the other three.
Auburn: Fire Up the Defense
Auburn isn't exactly the team you think of in terms of defense; however, that's going to have to change for the Tigers if they are to take down Alabama yet again.
This season, Auburn's defense can be described as porous. The Tigers are ranked 40th in scoring defense, 74th against the pass, 38th against the run and 52nd in total defense. Those aren't good numbers to begin with, but the problem here is that they've been worse against SEC opponents.
Over their last five conference games, the Tigers have allowed at least 31 points in each. If Auburn gives up that many points to Alabama, a victory will be practically out of reach against a Crimson Tide defense ranked second in the nation, allowing an average of just 14.5 points per game.
One big way to slow Alabama down will be to contain wide receiver Amari Cooper. Tigers defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson spoke with Joel A. Erickson of AL.com about the team's plans to double-cover the prolific wideout.
"We'll do it some, absolutely," said Johnson. "Of course, there's a lot of different ways you do it. What everybody calls double-zone, just two deep, try to have somebody over the top, try to disguise what you're doing."
Keeping Alabama's offense from lighting up the scoreboard will work in similar fashion to how Auburn took down Ole Miss and its stout defense. While the Rebels did put up 31, the points were spread out over the course of the game, allowing the Tigers to continue running the ball, racking up 248 yards and three touchdowns on 46 carries and coming away with a win.
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Arkansas vs. Missouri: 2014 Battle Line Rivalry TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates
For the first time since 1963, the Arkansas Razorbacks and Missouri Tigers will play in the regular season.
There is no sexy bid for the College Football Playoff on the line. But there is Arkansas as one of the most dangerous teams in the nation and already bowl-eligible. There is Missouri's quest to win the SEC East and play in the title game.
There is the birth of the Battle Line Rivalry.
In what promises to be a brutal affair between two like-minded SEC members, a tradition will be created. While not the biggest game on Friday's slate, this one is the most deserving of attention from fans around the globe.
Trench Warfare
The cliche "something has to give" certainly applies when looking at these two teams.
Missouri does the majority of its offensive damage on the ground thanks to the efforts of tailbacks Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy. The former has 858 yards and nine scores, the latter has 689 and three.
The nation knows about Arkansas' elite ground attack at this point. It is the main reason the Razorbacks have made it through a schedule that includes Auburn, Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State, LSU, Ole Miss and Missouri to become bowl-eligible:
"I know this, we're playing as good as anybody," Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said, per The Associated Press, via FoxSports.com. "I'm sure there's a team or two that would be a matchup issue for us, but we're playing really good … If you just put us in a room right now with anybody, I think we could hold our own very, very well."
Author Zach Law puts one aspect of the impending physical matchup into perspective:
The biggest caveat of all? Both teams rank 16th nationally with an average of just 20.2 points allowed per game.
That said, the number is certainly more impressive for the Razorbacks given the aforementioned schedule and the fact the unit has now shut out LSU and Ole Miss in back-to-back games.
Regardless, something truly will have to give Friday.
Ruining the Party
If there is one player set to take the field in Columbia who can ruin how this game figures to play out, it is Tigers sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk.
That sounds strange to say provided the fact he is the guy who tossed four interceptions on 21 attempts in a 34-0 loss to Georgia earlier this season. But Mauk has turned up his play a notch and has seven touchdowns to just one interception over the course of his last four outings.
His most recent was impressive, too, as SEC Network illustrates:
Granted, Mauk has not completed better than 60 percent of his passes in seven games and counting, but if there is a way to counteract what may be gaudy rushing totals by Arkansas, it is scores through the air by the sophomore.
Whereas Arkansas ignores the passing game because it can (and will Friday with quarterback Brandon Allen injured), Missouri at least attempts to get Mauk going each time out for his propensity to score in a hurry.
If Mauk can ride recent momentum gained by saving his team's SEC East title hopes, this one may not exactly be a ground-based affair.
When: Friday, November 28, 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
Television: CBS
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: N/A
- Spread: Arkansas (-1.5)
Team Injury Reports
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
The Razorbacks are about to shock the globe again.
Missouri's defense ranks well, but keep in mind that both of the team's losses this season have come against the strong rushing attacks of Indiana and Georgia. Both programs were able to bruise their way to a minimum of 210 yards and three scores on the ground apiece.
Now think of what that deep, physical Arkansas attack will do to the unit.
Look for the Razorbacks to have a field day in Columbia.
Prediction: Razorbacks 28, Tigers 20
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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Bowl Projections 2014: Playoff Predictions After Release of Week 14 Poll
There may be plenty of hype that surrounds the weekly release of the College Football Playoff rankings, but nothing changed in the top seven on Tuesday.
Alabama, Oregon and Florida State are still in perfect position to finish as the top three, while Mississippi State, Baylor, TCU and Ohio State are right in the thick of the race for the No. 4 spot. So what does that do for the playoff projections?
Read on to see the latest playoff picks from StatMilk, the national championship odds from Odds Shark and my own playoff projections.
StatMilk and Odds Shark Playoff Projections and Odds
*Odds to win the national championship are courtesy of Odds Shark, as of Tuesday night at 10 p.m. ET.
Scott Polacek Playoff Projections
Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State
Rose Bowl: No. 2 Florida State vs. No. 3 Oregon
Championship Bowl (in Arlington, Texas): TBD (semifinal winners)
Alabama, Oregon and Florida State making the playoffs in this hypothetical is fairly self explanatory at this point.
They were the top three teams yet again in Tuesday's new poll, and, assuming they all win out, the Crimson Tide would be SEC champs with wins over Auburn, Mississippi State, LSU and the SEC East champion, the Ducks would have wins over UCLA, Stanford, Michigan State and the Pac-12 South champion and the Seminoles would be the one undefeated power-five conference team remaining as ACC champs.
There may be some criticism surrounding Florida State because it wins so many of its games by close margins, but quarterback Jameis Winston put that in perspective, via Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel:
Well, you know, we were downgraded every time we blew someone out last year, so think of the irony of that. If we win the game close, we're bad. When we blow someone out, we're bad. But the thing is, we're a team, we're a family at Florida State.
What everyone else thinks about us, that's none of our business.
The surprise here is the No. 4 spot, especially since I have consistently put Baylor there in recent bowl projections.
The reason for that change is because the Buckeyes were still ahead of the Bears in the most recent poll, and that will weigh large in the near future. Baylor didn't pass Ohio State when the Buckeyes struggled with Indiana, which means it may not have another opportunity to jump Urban Meyer's bunch in the future polls.
If Baylor wins out and beats Kansas State, its resume will be close enough to TCU's that the head-to-head victory from earlier in the season will finally come into play. That would ultimately put the Bears ahead of the Horned Frogs.
However, the Buckeyes are ahead of those Bears, and in this scenario, they beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The Badgers have climbed to No. 14 in the rankings and will likely be even higher by the time the conference title game rolls around. An Ohio State win over Wisconsin will be seen in the same light as a Baylor win over Kansas State, so the Bears will not jump the Buckeyes in the last rankings.
That leaves Mississippi State.
As of now, the Bulldogs are getting credit for being in the SEC, but the selection committee will grant more credit to conference champions at the end of the season. If all of these teams win out, the Bulldogs won't even be SEC West champions, let alone SEC winners.
The Buckeyes will get the necessary boost from knocking off a formidable Wisconsin team (and Heisman Trophy candidate Melvin Gordon) to leapfrog Mississippi State and hold off the Big 12 contenders.
Don't just assume Ohio State will beat Wisconsin, though. Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports noted that Gordon is at his best when the stakes are highest:
However, J.T. Barrett and the Ohio State offense will outscore Gordon and the Badgers and make a final impression on the selection committee.
Get ready for a Nick Saban and Meyer showdown in the College Football Playoff.
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College Football Week 14 Schedule: TV and Live Stream Info for Every Game
The pageantry and tradition surrounding annual clashes with hated rivals is one of the few sacred things remaining that separates big-time college sports from professional ones.
College football fans will be treated to a number of crucial rivalry showdowns in Week 14 with much more than bragging rights on the line. There are four spots up for grabs in the initial College Football Playoff, and the top contenders will all be tested in Week 14 by some of their most hated opponents.
With that in mind, here is a look at the entire schedule with broadcast information.
The schedule and viewing information is courtesy of CBSSports.com. For games without national or regional coverage on a major network, check local listings.
Live Stream Resources
Just in case you are inexplicably doing something Saturday that isn't sitting in front of your television and watching these games (you get a pass if you are actually at one in person), here is a look at the various live streams available.
ESPN: WatchESPN
SEC: CBSSports.com
Fox: Fox Sports Go
BTN: BTN2Go.com
Pac-12: Pac-12.com
ABC: ABC Live
CBS: CBSSports.com
Week 14 Playoff Viewer Guide
That is an overwhelming amount of games, channels and live streams, even for this late in the season. Perhaps it would be easier to digest with something of a viewing game plan revolving around the games featuring playoff contenders.
Thanksgiving is easy because there is only one game. TCU heads to Texas to take on a suddenly resurgent Longhorns team that has won three in a row and has its eyes set on ending TCU's title hopes.
Texas' defense is 24th in the country in points allowed per game, so if there is going to be an upset, it will start on that side of the ball.
Friday is also fairly straightforward in terms of what you will be watching. Stanford and UCLA square off in an afternoon clash that should fit in perfectly with your morning shopping schedule. Come back from the Black Friday specials to watch Brett Hundley tear apart a mediocre Stanford team that has lost two of its last three.
ESPN Stats & Info noted that the Bruins are rolling on offense, which is bad news for the Cardinal:
Saturday is where your remote-control skills will be tested.
Michigan and Ohio State kick things off at noon ET in one of the most storied rivalries in not only college football but all of sports. Fans were treated to a brawl, ejections and a game-winning two-point conversion attempt in the final minute of last year's game, so this is must-see viewing for fans who consider themselves college football fans.
Despite Michigan's struggles, the players have one thing on their mind, as junior Joe Bolden said (via Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com):
It's the biggest rivalry in all of sports, it's the last Saturday in November. You get to go back to your home state, see a lot of people who don't like you anymore. It's a meaningful game. Throw out the records, the point (spread). It's a football game.
And it's played just like every other football game, and at the end of the day, you'll see who's better.
Things get really interesting at 3:30 p.m. ET when Florida takes on Florida State, Ole Miss squares off with Mississippi State, and Baylor battles Texas Tech.
Baylor has the top-scoring offense in the country, and Texas Tech has the 126th-scoring defense in the nation, so the recommendation here is to watch that game first. It will likely be over by the end of the first quarter, and you can direct your attention toward the other two games.
Keep an eye on the Florida and Florida State contest early, but that is the one you want to turn on in the fourth quarter. After all, Florida State has survived close calls against Oklahoma State, Clemson, Notre Dame, Louisville, Miami and Boston College that all came down to the final minutes. The Seminoles also had to come back against North Carolina State and have provided some of the best late-game drama in all of college football this year.
In between the beginning of the Baylor game and the end of the Florida State one, focus your attention on Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
This may be the most important game on the schedule since Ohio State, Baylor and TCU are all in the mix with the Bulldogs for the No. 4 spot. It represents a chance for Mississippi State to put some style points up against a respected but reeling opponent. The Rebels have lost their last three SEC games, and their once-vaunted defense allowed a combined 65 points against Arkansas and Auburn.
Mississippi State could put up a crooked number and impress the selection committee.
The nightcap features games between Oregon and Oregon State and Alabama and Auburn.
The Crimson Tide are seeking revenge after losing on a 110-yard missed field goal return in the final seconds last season. It ended their national and SEC championship hopes, and Nick Saban will surely have a motivated football team going against an Auburn squad that got its doors blown off by Georgia in its last SEC game.
From a competitive standpoint, the SEC clash figures to be closer, but the Ducks beat the Beavers by a single point last year. Quarterback Sean Mannion has the all-time Pac-12 record for passing yards in a career, and he will test an Oregon secondary that has been burned before this season (allowing 41 points to California comes to mind).
Still, Marcus Mariota and the high-flying Oregon offense figures to bury an Oregon State defense that allowed 30 points to Hawaii, 35 to USC, 31 to Colorado, 38 to Stanford, 45 to California, 39 to Washington State and 37 to Washington.
That means you will probably have the Auburn and Alabama game on to finish the day. Here's to hoping fans are treated to an equally thrilling finish in that game as they were last season.
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Arizona State vs. Arizona: 2014 Territorial Cup TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates
The stakes have never been higher in the Territorial Cup between the Arizona State Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats.
Literally—both teams rank among the top 13 in the nation, meaning this is the first time in the epic in-state rivalry's history that both programs are ranked for the showdown. More importantly, both sit at 9-2 and are part of a three-way tie at the top of the Pac-12 South.
Again, it does not get bigger than this. Arizona State has won three of the last four in the series, but both teams enter with prolific offenses that promise a shootout is set to unfold in the desert.
(In)Experience Factors
Some were ready to consider this a down year for the Wildcats.
After all, the team is led by freshmen at both quarterback and running back. Anu Solomon has been a great surprise under center, though, throwing for 3,216 yards and 15 touchdowns to seven interceptions.
It helps that tailback Nick Wilson is already one of the nation's best, having rushed for 1,085 yards and 12 touchdowns on a 6.0 per-carry average. That said, it is the quarterback who most scares Arizona State coach Todd Graham.
"Man, he's done a tremendous job,'' Graham said, per Doug Haller of AZCentral.com. "Just a great operator of the offense, and his ability to extend plays, he really has a great knack for that. He's very elusive in the pocket, and you can tell he has a mastery of what they're trying to do. He does a great job."
As a result, the Wildcats come in at No. 22 with an average of 36.2 points per game. One problem—the more experienced Sun Devils trump that with an 18th-ranked offense that averages 37.2.
Senior quarterback Taylor Kelly has had a bit of a rough season thanks to a foot injury, but still has 1,730 yards with 18 touchdowns to five picks. He is rounding into form just in time, having thrown for nine touchdowns to three interceptions over the course of his past three outings.
Kelly has his own elusive lead back in junior D.J. Foster, who averages 5.7 yards per carry and has 968 yards and nine scores on the year.
In short, this has the look of an offensive shootout, although the experience gap may prove critical. This is especially the case with Solomon's status up in the air due to injury, meaning Jesse Scroggins, who has attempted seven career passes, would be the starter.
Getting Defensive and Territorial
The hiccup for both teams, of course, is a thing called defense.
The visitors rank 65th in this regard, the hosts 54th. Both share a common loss to the UCLA Bruins, which says all that really needs to be said about both units.
Arizona State was on the wrong side of a 62-27 outcome in which quarterback Brett Hundley threw for four touchdowns and the defense allowed 225 rushing yards and two more scores. Arizona let Hundley run wild for 32 total yards, and the Bruins found 271 yards on the ground.
Both offenses will clearly run through the ground game Friday, although Arizona appears to have a distinct advantage in that the Sun Devils struggle to contain dual-threat quarterbacks. Of course, this notion relies on Solomon actually being active and effective on a short week.
Still, that appears to swing things slightly in Arizona's favor, although it is important to point out that the series favors the visitor. As of late, at least, with the road team holding an 8-6 record in the last 14 contests.
As the Wildcats seniors play at home for the last time, they can only hope that trend does not hold true.
When: Friday, November 28, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
Television: Fox
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: N/A
- Spread: N/A
Team Injury Reports
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
If the home team were fully healthy, this one would likely play out a little differently.
But the Sun Devils are the ones finally getting to full strength and hitting their stride. Kelly is going to shred a defense that struggles in most aspects and counteract whatever the Wildcats can throw at him.
Solomon or not, the Wildcats offense will be a bit one-dimensional in its approach. Wilson is a great player, but the freshman is not at a point where he can do it all on his own.
That brings up the decisive factor—experience. Kelly and Co. have been down this path before.
Prediction: Sun Devils 36, Wildcats 30
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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Arizona State vs. Arizona: 2014 Territorial Cup TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates
Stanford vs. UCLA: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More
Owners of a five-game winning streak, the only thing that can stop the UCLA Bruins from playing in the Pac-12 title game is a 6-5 Stanford Cardinal team.
It is not as easy as it sounds.
The Cardinal have taken down the Bruins three times over the course of the past two seasons. The gritty defense that has given Brett Hundley and Co. fits is alive and well. That said, the dual-threat quarterback has turned up his play in recent weeks.
In a battle of opposite strengths to close the season, Stanford wants nothing more than to play the spoiler. UCLA has its eyes on bigger things. One of Friday's marquee showdowns is of the can't-miss variety.
Tempo Talk
Hundley and the Bruins are at their best when they can jump out to an early lead and never look back.
In fact, the Bruins have losses to Utah and Oregon this season. They were down 7-0 after one frame against the former and 8-0 against the latter. For one reason or another, the Bruins are at their best when playing with the lead.
That just so happens to be the perfect counter to Stanford. Out of necessity more than anything this year, David Shaw's team is at its best with the lead. It simply cannot fall behind and play catch-up—especially without its best offensive weapon come Friday, as NFL.com's Bryan Fischer points out:
Ty Montgomery is the team's leading receiver with 61 grabs for 604 yards and three scores. The next closest has 28 catches. As a result, the Cardinal rank 89th in scoring this season.
Stanford has certainly had the recipe to shut down the Bruins in recent years, though. It is something Bruins coach Jim Mora is quite aware of, in fact.
''We just have to play better,'' Mora said, per The Associated Press, via FoxSports.com. ''If that's the common thread, yeah, we have to play better. We have to protect the ball. We have to take care of our quarterback.''
If Mora's team can strike first in the face of the nation's seventh-ranked defense, it puts itself in a great position to avoid the upset and see title hopes realized.
The task falls on one man.
The Focal Point
Of course, that man is Hundley.
For Hundley, this is rather simple—foot to the pedal and never look back. He has completed 72.0 percent of his passes this season for 2,873 yards and 20 touchdowns to five interceptions. As one of the nation's premier dual-threat players, he also has 566 yards and eight scores on the ground.
Stanford has given Hundley serious issues in the past, but it is critical to point out that he should be in great form considering Friday may be his last home game before he jumps to the pro level, as noted by College GameDay:
Where Hundley lands in the pros is a debate for another day, but he surely feels like he has something left to accomplish when it comes to facing the Cardinal. Last season alone in a loss, Hundley tossed two picks and was sacked four times.
The UCLA offense simply will not move against Stanford without a great performance from Hundley. Few better options exist for him as a going-out party than blowing away the Cardinal, but there is a big difference between talking about it and doing it.
When: Friday, November 28, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Television: ABC
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 50
- Spread: UCLA (-4.5)
Team Injury Reports
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
It is hard to see how Stanford goes on the road without its best offensive player and pulls off this upset.
Hundley is simply too hot right now for the Cardinal to completely contain. Over the course of his last two outings alone, he has thrown for five scores with one pick and added another three scores on the ground.
UCLA is fully in stride with the Pac-12 title game in sight while Stanford is just happy to be bowl-eligible. That says it all in regard to how this one will play out on a short week.
Look for Hundley to come out firing and not let the Cardinal get close to taking back the lead.
Prediction: UCLA 23, Stanford 14
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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College Football Playoff Rankings 2014: Week 14 NCAA Championship Predictions
For the second week in a row, the Alabama Crimson Tide are atop the College Football Playoff rankings following Tuesday's release. Coach Nick Saban's powerhouse from Tuscaloosa is in prime position to win its third national title in four years.
However, Alabama is no lock to remain there with an Iron Bowl rivalry clash against Auburn on deck for Saturday, which serves as the headliner of Week 14's action.
The Top Seven teams in the playoff standings didn't change from last week, but the top teams all face considerable tests against underdog adversaries that are fully capable of pulling an upset. On the other hand, the superior teams should pull through at this late stage of the season, so the top of the NCAA standings may look identical once more in the next edition.
Below is a complete look at the current Top 25 rankings, along with predictions as to which teams will be in the Top Four following Week 14.
Predictions for Top Four
1. Alabama
Considering how Auburn dashed the Tide's national championship hopes in such heartbreaking fashion in last year's Iron Bowl, it's only fitting Alabama gets a shot at revenge in Bryant–Denny Stadium.
The Tide have yet another savvy, veteran quarterback in fifth-year senior Blake Sims, who adds the dimension to make plays with his legs that his predecessors have lacked. Sims keeps the opposing defenses honest enough to open running lanes for T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry.
AL.com's Andrew Gribble notes how Sims has been quite the playmaker this year:
Meanwhile, Saban has once again assembled an elite Alabama defense, one filled with NFL-caliber talent and ranking second in the country, conceding just 14.5 points per game.
ESPN's Chris Fowler offers some hope for the underdog visitors:
Auburn has the ninth-ranked rushing attack in the country, yet the Tide give up just 2.76 yards per carry, per NCAA.com. Something will have to give, and considering the fact that the Tigers have lost two of their past three matchups with ranked teams, Saturday's game should go in Alabama's favor.
There is just too much physicality on the Tide's side for them to drop a second straight game to Auburn, especially at home. They will confine Tigers QB Nick Marshall to the pocket (as was done with Mississippi State's Dak Prescott), likely with mush-rushing tactics to coerce Marshall into mistakes.
Sims' decision-making is second to no QB in the SEC, and that will allow Alabama to protect home field and get into the conference championship game with a big victory.
2. Oregon
It's not as if the Ducks can take Oregon State lightly when they travel to Reser Stadium in Saturday's "Civil War" clash.
The Beavers are scrapping for bowl eligibility and have upset Arizona State this year. They are a foe to be reckoned with, particularly with so much pride on the line.
But Oregon State won't be able to tame Ducks Heisman Trophy front-runner Marcus Mariota in all likelihood. Mariota has been shredding defenses all year and should feast on Oregon State's 91st-ranked scoring defense.
Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports highlighted just how impressive Mariota has been over the past two years:
The selection committee shouldn't dock Oregon any style points if it wins ugly in Corvallis. The Ducks haven't even come close to defeat since a disappointing loss to Arizona at home. They went on the road in the next game and knocked off UCLA in a victory that's looking better by the day.
As long as Mariota is at the offensive controls, Oregon ought to be a shoo-in for the Top Four. The Pac-12 Championship Game could even vault the Ducks into the No. 1 spot if Alabama falters ahead of them.
3. Florida State
The possibility of having the Seminoles third and Oregon second—or the other way around, doesn't matter—is tantalizing to say the least.
Seeing Mariota do battle with reigning Heisman winner and national champion counterpart Jameis Winston would be must-see TV. It would also help determine which young man will be chosen as the first QB in the 2015 NFL draft (assuming both leave school early).
Casting that aside for a second, what Florida State has done as a team this year is nothing short of remarkable. ESPN's Heather Dinich documented what coach Jimbo Fisher had to say about his team's standing among college football's best:
Being slotted below two one-loss teams will only further fuel the Seminoles' quest for a repeat, which they seem determined to accomplish despite a number of close calls along the way.
Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com captured the resilience FSU has shown:
Boston College threw the ball just 12 times in the Seminoles' 20-17 victory this last Saturday. Between the Florida Gators' run-heavy offense and Georgia Tech's triple-option attack, FSU will deal with the ACC title game, and there could be tougher sledding ahead.
In the face of massive expectations, distractions on and off the field and scoreboard deficits, the Seminoles keep coming back for more. So many contributors have stepped up along the way that it won't be a surprise when Florida State skates by and remains among the four playoff teams when the final standings are released.
4. Mississippi State
While the Top Three appear to be a bit more solidified, Mississippi State's hopes of staying in the Top Four hinge largely on what others do. Should Alabama fall to Auburn—the Tide wouldn't in this scenario—the Bulldogs would get a shot to play for the conference championship.
But with just a road trip to Ole Miss remaining, coach Dan Mullen's team doesn't control its own destiny. Mike Greenberg of ESPN explains in his analysis:
Big 12 contenders TCU and Baylor are nipping at the Bulldogs' heels, and the Bears have a great shot to leap over everyone in front of them by beating No. 12 Kansas State in their regular-season finale.
Then there's Ohio State, whose rise to sixth in the standings has been catalyzed by freshman QB J.T. Barrett. The Buckeyes have the benefit of a conference title game where they'd probably match up with a quality adversary in Wisconsin and make their own case to get in.
The lone loss to Alabama is nothing to be ashamed of, but it took away from the mystique surrounding dual-threat Bulldogs signal-caller Prescott and the meteorically rising Mississippi State program. It now needs help just to remain in the Top Four beyond next week's release.
While it will look good for the Bulldogs to knock off the Rebels in the Egg Bowl—and they will, by a comfortable margin—Prescott will need to orchestrate a truly dominant win to leave a lasting impression for the selection committee.
Otherwise, Mississippi State will be relegated to a high-profile bowl game. That would be a great step in the right direction for Mullen and Co. but not what fans were ultimately hoping for after such a promising start.
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New Balance 574 "Pique Polo" Pack – Red by Zack Schlemmer 0 Comments
So far, if you all are looking for online retailers, you can check Bows and Arrows and Moda 3.
April 17, 2012 BY Aaron Hope / 21
Paul Bunyan represents the rugged lumberjack in all (North) Americans, so it's no surprise that a Made in the USA New Balance 574 inspired by his legend was a big hit when it released last fall. NB now turns to a different 'Tall Tale' who made even more of an impact on our culture for reasons not the least of which is that he actually existed. The NB574 'Johnny Appleseed's red suede reflects its inspiration as subtly as the man for whom they're named continues to affect our daily lives as a result of his early nineteenth century seed spreading. These are arriving now in the US so check with your local NB retailer and check out some additional images below in the meantime. Photos: Kicktures
Filed under: Just Released New Balance Running
Tags: New Balance 574
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Thread: how i get my pf money
Views: 19370 | 11-18-2008 #1
how i get my pf money
sir ,
i left the previous job last year, now i want to withdraw my money from my pf account......pls guide me how i get my money
11-18-2008 #2
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Re: how i get my pf money
Manohar ji
To withdraw the PF you need to fill & submit PF withdrawal form the forms are Form 10c and Form 19,
1st case: You can take the same forms to your old company and with the help of your HR dept you can fill it and get the form signed from the authorized person. After that submit the form in PF office, you will get an acknowledgement receipt. 45 days(normal course) from that your money will be credited to the bank account number you specify in the form u r filling in (you will need the MICR code of the bank for that) or you can opt for money order also. You will get a letter from the pf office before the money gets credited to your account. It will have the details of how much will be credited
Forms available here: EPFO
2nd Case:If the company is closed and the employer is either not traceable or refused to sign the subscriber to the fund can still submit his claim for settlement through other means. It is the duty of the employer under the Act & Scheme to help Employees' Provident Fund organization to settle the Provident Fund dues of his employees. He has to complete the prescribed application within 5 days of receipt [para72 (5)] forms & hand over it to the member when he leaves the service. When a member finds it difficult to get the form attested by the employer, he can get the attestation of any of the following officer & send to the Provident Fund office:
1.Manager of a bank.
2.By any gazetted officer.
3.Member of the Central Board of Trustees./ committee/ Regional Committee (Employees'
Provident Fund Organization).
4.Magistrate/ Post/ Sub Post Master/ President of Village Panchayat/ Notary Public.
For complete details please see the blog of Taurus Sir:
RTI India - taurus
Possibly this info will be of good help to you
Revert back if you still have any doubts, members will definately help you out .
06-04-2009 #3
want to knoww
Provident Fund Information and my balance
want to knoww
06-04-2009 #4
know the pf status
dear all
i m a new member in rti, i want to know the balance available in my pf account, and how can i claim it?
06-04-2009 #5
Re: how i get my pf money
hello ambrish ,
Thats was very useful info . To add to that , I have another query .
In my scenario , the employer is hostile and not co operating with the pf withdrawals to any of the employees .
So lawfully second option would apply to us . The employer has deposited the PF up until Sept 2008 only and Lot us have resigned after that . Would it be a problem for us if we mention the actual reliving date ? would we still get the PF money ? Other scenario is to go and put the reliving date to match with the PF submitted month . bUt in that case we will not be able to recover the rest of the PF money for the duration of the work .Is there a way out for this . Please help
06-04-2009 #6
PF Account Status
How to find out my account balance in my PF account online ?
06-04-2009 #7
epf balance
iam T.shanmukha Rao epf account in chenai region Pf no :-TN/17277/2637 please help me for balance enquiry right now how much balance
t.shanmukha rao
06-04-2009 #8
- Posts
- 16,662
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- ambrish
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- RTI Activity - Stats
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Re: how i get my pf money
Dear Member/s
Online faciltiy is available for accounts maintained at PUNE, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kerala regional offices of EPFO.
For details please see the blog/s of Taurus Sir
If ur a/c is maintained with an office where online facility is not available please see this blog ( by JPS Sir): http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/blogs/...rough-rti.html
Dear Arun
Mention the actual date of reliving. u ll get the contribution up to that date.


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Went for my birthday, got free champagne on our arrival into bar risa just for sending a message on Facebook to get on guestlist, the DJ made a fuss of us as soon as we walked in, music was great and we ended up staying in there all night!
Went for my birthday, got free champagne on our arrival into bar risa just for sending a message on Facebook to get on guestlist, the DJ made a fuss of us as soon as we walked in, music was great and we ended up staying in there all night!
A friend organised my hen evening here the average age of the party was 45 10 mature lady's that like to enjoy ourselves where told in the half time that if we did not stop heckling we would be throw out for shouting London and i'm Irish is heckling I don't think these comedians will go far in there career.... More
Booked food and drinks for some Friday night fun...having been to a Comedy Club at the Yorkshire Playhouse on a Sunday last year, was looking forward to starting the weekend off with fun. 1. Do not confuse the Friday night at Bar Risa's (alleged) night club with the fantastic venue at The West Yorkshire Playhouse. They are different events and... More
Not a bad place but seriously needs to get the floors into the ladies bathroom fixed. I was in no way drunk as I am pregnant and nearly went flying due to the chunks missing out of the floor that didn't even have any warning signs and watched another girl do the same thing. At least get some warning signs... More
Had my hen doo here and it was well organised nice food and good comedians xx great night overall xx
Many people watch stand up on TV or at established clubs like the Comedy Store in London and hope for the same at Jongleurs. Don't expect it unfortunetly. The stand up is usually vulgar and terrible, the food is awful and they cram you in like sardines for really poor quality comedy from amature "we just need somebody cheap" entertainers.... More
First time at the Jongleurs on Saturday 19 Sept. Had a great night and will definately go again. There were 6 comedians most were really good although you do need to be broad minded for some of the jokes! The show was fast paced and the comperes were excellent. The food was Ok. Typical fast food but for just over... More
Anyone who is thinking of Going on a Stag Doo to Leeds and visiting Jongleurs comedy club - DON'T BOTHER!!! Check out theIr Website: "Eat, drink, laugh and dance all in one venue at Jongleurs for the ultimate stag night" What they don't tell you is that you're not allowed to talk, and not allowed to give any light hearted... More
Dont waste your money with this establishment very rude staff and not good value. As in the title.
Me and my partner went to jongleurs for his birthday and we had a really good time. I was a little nervous as i had read loads of bad reviews about it but we had a right laugh! the comedians were really funny and had us in stitches! the drinks were a little pricey though at 12 pound a pitcher.... More
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Wrapped in Love from Ashley Brooke Designs on Vimeo. Wrapped in Love: DIY Ribbon Vase We are so excited to have Ashley of Ashley Brooke Designs here to share a how-to VIDEO with you! Yep, she made this fabulous video so turn on the speakers and get watching! You'll be whipping out the ribbon as soon as you this cute craft. Ashley said, "Valentine's Day is a favorite holiday here at … { read more }
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{Gold Glam} New Year's Party
Gold Glam New Year's Party from Holee Molee Hostess Gold and glitter are a dynamite combo, especially for a New Years Party! Jenny of the entertaining site Holee Molee Hostess shared with her New Years pictures. Jenny chose gold as one of her wedding colors so she knows all about how to use it as a fun color scheme. Adding in feathers, yarn, and tissue, she created various textures for a … { read more }
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The Morning After Hostess Gifts Whether you're the hostess or the party-goer, we all know the next morning can be painful whether it's the cleanup or a hangover and for some, it's both. Now that it's the season for holiday parties, what better hostess gift then the ingredients for either bloody mary's (a.k.a. the hangover remedy) or mimosas? It's a thoughtful and simple way to say "thank you". … { read more }
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How to Make Cupcake Truffles
Though I am much more of a small, gift store type of person, there are occasions when one must enter a Wal-Mart. A search for gold glittered letters I had previously seen there was today's occasion to enter the mega-store. Though I didn't have luck with the letters, I did run across these cuties - Cupcake Truffles. I about died. Love. Had to show ya'll! Rich chocolate with a smooth center and … { read more }


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Forum List » Value Ideas and Strategies Share and discuss value investing ideas and investing strategies. Meredith Corporation: Printing Cash But For How Long?
Posted by: Frank Voisin
(IP Logged)
Date: November 28, 2011 07:09AM
Meredith Corporation (MDP) is a media and marketing company that is geared toward women. The company publishes twenty magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, Parents, American Baby, Fitness, and More, as well as 120 special-interest publications such as American Patchwork & Quilting, Country Gardens, and Diabetic Living. The company also owned a collection of twelve network-affiliated television stations and one AM radio station. Moreover, the company has been actively embracing technology with tablet editions of many of its leading magazines and 35 company-owned websites.
I'll start with the most attractive aspect of MDP: its cash flow. Meredith Corporation - Cash Flows, 1994 - 1Q 2012 There are several things to note here. First, the company has enjoyed strong and consistently growing cash flows throughout the period presented. Second, the company has relatively low capital demands, translating to strong free cash flows. To provide some context, I note that the company has generated on average $180 million in free cash flow over the last five years, which compares to a current market capitalization of $1.21 billion for a free cash flow yield of 14.9%. As I'll show shortly, cash flows have grown largely in line with revenue growth, but for now I will note that the free cash flow margin has been extremely consistent in the 11 – 14% range for the last decade. Meredith Corporation - Capital Structure, 1994 - 1Q 2012 Here we see that the company has been using the bulk of its cash flow to paying down debt, which has declined by approximately 56% since 2006 from a D/E of 81% to a much more reasonable 32%. Perhaps even more attractive for shareholders, the company has consistently paid a healthy dividend since the late 1980s. In the period presented, the company paid out more than $425 million in dividends. The company currently has a dividend yield of 5.67%. Meredith Corporation - Historical Revenues, 1994 - 1Q 2012 This chart shows the relative stability of margins over the last half decade, save for a non-cash impairment in 2009 of $295 million. The gross margin line represents the company's profits after "Production, Distribution and Editorial" which is the nearest relation to cost of goods sold. I present it merely to show the relative efficiency with which the company has generated revenues in relation to this key line item. One thing to note is that a little over one third of the company's operating expenses result from paper, printing and postage costs which the company has little control over. Additionally, the company is somewhat at the whim of the US Postal Service (USPS) which has increased shipping rates in five of the last six fiscal years. It is well known that the USPS still has not solved its own financial troubles, which increases the likelihood of further rate hikes in the future. The company does not break out postage separately, which somewhat limits our analysis. One bright spot is the potential to shift more subscribers to the tablet edition of the company's magazines, which will eliminate the variability of paper, printing and postage costs for a (slightly smaller) commission to Apple or Amazon. The bulk (~55%) of the company's revenues are derived from advertisers. Given advertisers' interest in being seen, it is important to keep an eye on the company's circulation, as a sustained decline in circulation could portend future declines in advertising revenue. The following chart shows the company's revenue split between Advertising, Circulation and "Other" which includes brand licensing, book sales, etc. Meredith Corporation - Revenue by Type, 1994 - 1Q 2012 Here we see one of the main concerns about MDP. Paying attention to its circulation revenues (the red portion of the bars), we see quite substantial declines beginning in 2006, amounting to a 27% reduction. Unfortunately, the company does not provide circulation data for individual magazines, so again our analysis is necessarily limited and we are unable to determine whether the problems are limited to select magazines or whether this is a broad decline. The company does provide information on advertising pages among the larger magazines, but it would be helpful to have subscription information to match up. With respect to advertising revenues, it is worth noting that, heading into an election year in the United States, we might expect demand for advertising to increase. I note this not because it will have any effect in the long-term, but that dramatic improvements in revenue sometimes act as the necessary catalyst to draw the market's attention, even if the improvements are only temporary. One more thing to note is that the company has a dual class share structure, with Class B shares being entitled to ten votes each versus just one vote per common share. Class B shares represent just 19.5% of the economic value of the company, but comprise 70.8% of the voting rights, and the ownership of Class B shares is restricted to the company's founding family. I am never a fan of this type of structure, but given the company's use of free cash flow in the past, I am somewhat less worried here. One thing worth noting is that in addition to a strong dividend, the company also has an active share repurchase program. However, despite the decline in share price the company does not appear to be interested in being more aggressive than it has historically: Quote:Ok, so where does this leave us? With MDP, I see a historically strong performer in terms of free cash flow currently operating with one of the best balance sheets it has ever had. Though I am unimpressed with the dual class share structure, I have seen nothing but shareholder friendly actions in terms of both dividends and share repurchases. I worry that the company will ratchet up debt like it did in 2005 for a large acquisition which would add considerable risk, and I worry that the company's ad revenues will decline should circulation continue to decline. If you can get past these risks, and believe that historical free cash flows are sustainable, even in a no growth scenario, the company's shares would be worth significantly more. What do you think of MDP? Author Disclosure: No position Talk to Frank about Meredith Corporation Stocks Discussed: MDP,
Re Meredith Corporation Printing Cash But For How Long
Posted by: Dr. Paul Price
(IP Logged)
Date: November 28, 2011 02:56PM
Print magazines are almost obsolete. They are offering subscriptions for less than their actual cost of printing and distribution simply to keep advertising revenues which are drying up rapidly. This is a dying industry just as record/CD stores were and bookstores are today. Stocks Discussed: MDP,
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Surprise flooring under layers of ugly vinyl
Did I mention layers? And layers? I lost count, but I think the demo guys took off 4. All ugly beyond belief. I live in a funky 1939 house with minimal character and am putting in a pretty modern kitchen. I'd been planning---and have actually ordered---linoleum (Armstrong Bamboo Tan) as the flooring, but we have uncovered what appears to be doug fir, mostly in good shape (but someone of course painted it..)
The color of the linoleum was very important to me; it goes with the creamy color of the Caesarstone countertops (the now-discontinued Jerusalem Sand) and sets off the dark wenge cabinets. I don't think the doug fir will go, but I'm also loathe to slather it w/ the cement-like underlayment that is necessary to get a level base for the linoleum.
Anyone have any ideas about whether or not I can stain/bleach/oil or otherwise treat the doug fir to bring it into the creamy tan colorway? Or if having a well-used, rustic floor with a sleek Euro-style kitchen would just look out of place?
I have the name of a good wood floor guy from my contracter who I can talk to, altho I'm pretty sure I know what he will say.
All thoughts welcome!!
Doug fir was often used as a subfloor to linoleum in older homes, so don't assume it's "finish quality". That would be fine as an aesthetic though, as some of the most successful of modern kitchen juxtapose the rough and rustic against the sleek and modern. You might want to beat it up and stain it even more than it is!
Doug fir also has that orangey pink tone that will be VERY difficult to take to a neutral beige tone though. Whitewashing with some green and gray in it might do the trick. But you'll have to find a pro who can do that unless you're willing to experiment a bit yourself.
Or you might want to revisit your color palette to be able to use the natural tones in the wood to work with your dark cabinets. It CAN work, if you get the other elements right. Maybe whiter on the counters instead of beiger, and some subtle color for the walls like a pale lilac or turquoise. Heck, even a big bold shot of color can go with rustic and modern! Just not a yellow beige with orange pink.
Hmmm, having more thoughts...
I just used an elastomeric coating on my outside deck and it really looks great; maybe something like that? Or just painting it? That way I'm not destroying the floor and I'm getting the color I want. Of course, I'd be losing the lovely business of the linoleum, which prevents every crumb from showing.
when we had a situation like that crop up.....original southern heart pine in a kitchen after removal of "modern flooring"....I wasn't sure what to do, so because it was not too big an area -10 by 14 approx, I just got down and starting working a few planks to see what would happen. Sanded lightly,[didn't have to be stripped], tried some natural stain, then satin polyurethane. Discovered the polyurethane-even the clear had a subtle shading that it delivered which evened out the coloration a bit-so I omitted even natural stain. 4 coats of polyurethane-these days they are waxing the floors I know. In your case-is it a manageable size?-get some marine stripper and plastic scraping tool, as to not gouge the wood and just take the paint off a few planks-it's a lot easier than you think-just messy-work with the grain and go slow.See what you have and look at it for a few days-try some satin polyurethane-water base and see what happens to the tone-it sands off easily if you want to try something else. i've enjoyed the floor-the doug fir is a little more linear-it could well work with a contemp style-the natural coloration can be beautiful...I'd never bother with worrying about the perfect stain color any more with floors in particular when you have something original like that.There will probably be a bit of the paint left in some of the crevices-that might make it more interesting. If you discover you want to proceed after a little test,you can probably get a pro to strip it if you're not into the work yourself or if you want a more pristine result.
Had Doug fir in an old apartment. We didn't know what it was til we refinished it. Looked like orange and lemon sherbet with raspberry swirl. Except shiny. Ugh-ly. Pretty soft, too. At least the original builders had the sense to use maple around the perimeter of the room and the fir only in the middle where your rug would cover it.
You can make it look better if you want to. But you can't lay sheet linoleum right over it if that's what you were thinking.
Geez, I was just leafing through some magazines while getting my hair done and saw a FANTASTIC modern house with rustic dark-stained wood floors, the kitchen had pale grey lacquer? shiny sleek cabs and a lighter countertop and it was really stunning. It was a rehab of an old building. Maybe it could work for you?
We unearthed Douglas fir floors in our bedrooms and had them refinished, much to the dismay of the flooring guys. We had them stained sort of a chestnut color and they were my favorite floors in the house (unfortunately they were destroyed during our remodel and had to be replaced). Anyway, I loved their texture and look, but I'm not sure how you would get them to color you're talking about.
Ha, I saw this earlier and came back to write pretty much what Hollysprings said. So, yeah--that. We have doug fir subfloors too, but they were definitely not designed for prime time (original blueprints called for cement tile--sadly long gone!) It was a really common subfloor wood in the West in the early 20th century because it was so inexpensive.
A couple of other thoughts:
- Fir is beautiful (many of our neighbors have refinished their fir floors) but it is very soft. One neighbor has a large dog and another has a young child; both floors have taken a beating (the dog floor in particular). That's the primary reason we covered ours back up. Better to keep it safe for someone who might want it in the future! I agree that I don't think it would be easy/possible to get it to tan; fir tends towards orange/red. You can stain it but it looks strange (I think, at least--our new-old fir door has a light tan stain of some sort that is supposedly helping to even the grain where there was some variation, but I think just makes it look yellow on top of the reddish fir tones...bleh).
- If you like linoleum, you might look at Marmoleum Click; this is what we chose specifically because it doesn't get glued down, so someone could take it up in the future and refinish the fir. Don't know how their colors compare to Armstrong's, though. We do have another neighbor who laid sheet Marmoleum on the fir, so it can be done but obviously not if you want to preserve the floor for refinishing later. If it's already painted, though, it may not be in great shape underneath. (Ours is a mess and would require some board replacement to refinish; possible but $$. The original builders took no particular care in nail placement or matching grain since it wasn't intended to be used as a finished floor.)
Thanks for the input, guys. The contractor is bringing his belt sander today, so we'll take a look at the color and test the hardness. I pretty much agree with everyone's thoughts that I will never get the color of the doug fir the way I want it (and changing the countertop isn't an option), and I definitely don't want "orange and lemon sherbet with raspberry swirl. Except shiny." (You are too funny, marcolo.) I did look at Marmoleum Click, but the colors weren't quite right.
So, this morning I am thinking that I should either paint it or possibly put a plywood base down before the floor guys put the Matrix underlayment down, that way I'm not destroying the potential of someone else using the wood. However, I do live in the Clampett's house in a neighborhood of large multi-million dollar homes (there are 2 teardowns being rebuilt right now; I'm so sorry for everyone on the street that I'm adding to the overflow of workers and trucks), so my guess is that the next owner will just tear my little house down and build something else. Still, it would make me feel better to not destroy the doug fir...
Other link that discussed douglas fir flooring:
Here is a link that might be useful: Douglas Fir flooring
Also take a look at a quality floor paint like farrow and ball. I see in homes and apartments in London and a colleague whose house in Germany was older than 100 years had a ultra modern kitchen with Gaggenau and page pol and a painted floor. Looked great!
Well, the contractor and I looked more closely today, and there are a lot of spots that are damaged and need work. He also had to pull up a section of the floor with rotting boards, so it looks like the doug fir is not usable after all. I also talked to the flooring guy and he said that I was mistaken about the underlayment; it's a plywood-like material, so we won't be ruining the floors any more than they are already by putting a lino layer on top.
So, it looks like the lino is still a go. Thank you all for your invaluable assistance; I'll probably be back with another question soon!