text:
Friday morning broke bad, dark clouds swirling from the west, not with the threat of a storm, but the promise of one — much like the mood of the nation when many Vietnam veterans returned home from their service.
Men who watched the generation before them return from war to parades and accolades were fortunate if all they faced was an absence of that; anti-war sentiment ran high in the latter years of the conflict, and many found themselves ostracized.
Just as Friday's weather will give way to sunnier days, the nation's feelings and attitudes about those who served in Vietnam have changed over the decades. But one thing that had not was their ability to get a state tag recognizing their service.
That changed after Bob Hughes, a local attorney and Vietnam veteran, discovered the oversight and contacted State Rep. Jimmy Patronis. Patronis fixed that with legislation he attached to another bill, and Friday some 50-70 veterans gathered in the Bay County Commission chambers to see Hughes receive the first Vietnam tag issued by the state.
"Maybe it's appropriate there's a monsoon going on out there," Hughes told his fellow veterans. "And I'm holding an umbrella today, but I wasn't supplied one back then and doubt you were, either."
Click for photo gallery from Friday's ceremony
Hughes spoke of the nation's mood some 40-plus years ago, of his return to a reception for which he was unprepared. He shared a memory from his return to the country in 1970, when he walked down an Atlanta street in uniform.
"People got off the sidewalk to get away from that uniform," he recalled.
He talked not just about the veterans and their battles, but the ones fought by their families as well.
"I'm reminded by my wife, who's sitting back there this morning, the families suffered, too," Hughes said, pausing to push back tears.
Patronis followed Hughes at the podium, his emotions also on display as he thanked Hughes and the veterans for their service and for giving him the opportunity to be involved in this.
"What an oversight on the part of a citizen-led legislature," Patronis told the veterans.
Patronis had a little fun pointing out that Florida's statute books are voluminous and he isn't going to pretend to have read every law on the books, including, until recently, the one pertaining to specialty tags.
"But Bob had read it," Patronis said. "And he reached out to me."
Patronis said he was humbled to be speaking before the veterans, and it showed, because for those of us who haven't served — speaking for myself — I can't pretend to know what sacrifices are involved. And when it comes to combat — and that's a very clean word for what the people who actually had to fight went through — I'm even further removed in my ability to understand.
My first memory of war is when I was about 8. The nightly TV news talked about "guerilla" warfare and I was confused, thinking it involved "gorillas." That may seem silly to insert here; I do it because it speaks to the inability of my generation to truly understand what Vietnam veterans went through and what Friday's ceremony — and the recognition that comes with it — meant to them.
I do know everyone I spoke to — such as Tom Green, who saw the heavy stuff — intends to get a tag. And I know every veteran I remember seeing, such as Tom Green, was proudly sporting their insignia and medals and hats signifying they served.
So maybe it is like Hughes said near the end of his talk, before Patronis and Florida Highway Patrol Maj. Warren Fast presented him the first tag issued in the state.
"Maybe we had to go through that," he said, "So people now know they can detest the war into which we're thrust … but they can never again, and won't ever again, treat our troops like some of us were treated back in those days.
"I think, maybe, our time has come."
And for 30 minutes or so the storm outside was forgotten — and perhaps some inner storms still faced by some of those veterans after decades abated just a little more.
Mike Cazalas is editor of The News Herald. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com or 850-747-5094.


text:
To find a doctor, call 800-667-5356 or click below:
Find a Doctor
Request an Appointment
En Español (Spanish Version)
| Causes
| Risk Factors
| Symptoms
| Diagnosis
| Treatment
| Prevention
The heart is divided into four chambers that help circulate blood through the body. The top two chambers are called atria. The bottom two chambers are called ventricles. Two valves are between the upper and lower chambers. Tissue called the septum divides the chambers. The tissue grows as the fetus develops.
An atrioventricular septal defect is present at birth. It occurs when any of the tissues that divide the septum do not grow completely. This leaves one or more holes. It may also leave one leaky valve instead of two separate valves.
This condition is caused when the septal tissue fails to grow correctly as the fetus develops in the womb.
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
Risk factors that increase the chance that a baby will be born with a ventricular septal defect include:
Symptoms include:
Your doctor will ask about your baby's symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
Most types of congenital heart disease can be identified by listening for a heart murmur.
Your doctor may need pictures of your baby's heart. This can be done with a
Chest x-ray
Your doctor may need information about how your baby's heart functions. This can be done with:
A doctor may recommend any of the following treatments for your baby:
It may not be possible to prevent the condition because the exact cause is unknown. A septal defect can be identified, watched, and treated early in pregnancy and childhood:
Last reviewed July 2013 by Michael J. Fucci, DO; Michael Woods, MD
All EBSCO Publishing proprietary, consumer health and medical information found on this site is accredited by URAC. URAC's Health Web Site Accreditation Program requires compliance with 53 rigorous standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audits. To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Editorial Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | SupportCopyright © 2008 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
© 2015 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
617-667-7000 | TDD: 800-439-0183 | Maps & Directions

subset: commoncrawl


text:
June Pearl™ Barbie® Doll
Release Date: 12/1/2003
Product Code: C5324
Our tribute to the June birthstone brings happy wishes for your very special month. June Pearl™ Barbie® doll wears a spectacular gown trimmed with chiffon and sparkling with glitter. A lovely stole wraps around her shoulders. Her necklace features a graceful faux pearl pendant.
Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.
Collector Photos
No one has uploaded any photos.


text:
Tahoe Verde Mobile Home Park neighborhood in South Lake Tahoe, California (CA), 96150 detailed profile
Discuss Tahoe Verde Mobile Home Park neighborhood (subdivision, block, or community) on our hugely popular California forum.
Back to: South Lake Tahoe, CA, California, California smaller cities, California small towns, All cities.
City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site. Use at your own risk.


text:
Online Dental Provider Directory
Find a dentist
» Search for a dental provider in your network
Confirm the dentist is in your network
» Contact your dental provider network
While we take great care to make sure our provider directory is complete and accurate, it is for reference only. Information is subject to change without prior notice. Changes do occur frequently, so we can't guarantee directory information is always current.
Note: The Principal does not guarantee all services provided at a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) dental office will be provided by a PPO provider. Services by a non-network provider, will be paid at non-PPO benefit levels. You may be responsible for payment of all or part of the fees for those professional services that are not paid or covered by your benefit plan.


text:
Geometric Earrings
Style # 218300
Textured detailing with glossy contrast and geometric shapes make these bebe earrings a great way to glam up an outfit.
- Metal
- Imported
Rated 4 out of 5�by 1 reviewer.
Rated 4 out of 5�by Bebegirl86 Nice earrings but heavy These earrings caught my eye right away and I couldn't wait to get these in the mail with the rest of my order. They are really nice but BIG, they were bigger than I thought they would be. Still, they look great but are a little heavy. I hate heavy earrings so these will be reserved for nights out. Beautiful earrings though, I just wish they were a little bit smaller and lighter July 31, 2013
1-1 of 1


text:
OpenID Login
Not a member? Register Forgot Password?
GamerDNA Login
Not a member yet? Register.
Winter!: Prepare for holiday gaming!
Game Night!: This weekend! https://www.facebook.com/events/317792721696252/
New Releases: What upcoming games are you looking forward to?
Answer this question....: Eyup or Nope?
So Gamers...: how is it going?
Fercberk...: Ask us a question or two on our Facebook Page! http://www.facebook.com/gamerDNA
Need Help?: Ask us a question or two on our Facebook Page!
Facebook!: Gamers! Check out our Facebook page!
Youtube!!!: Check out our Youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/smg1170?feature=mhee
Gamers......: meh
Closing in:
Member actions:
WTF, I've loved the three Atelier Iris games and Mana Khemia, but what the hell have they done...
OMG, Monolith made it!! Finally! A TRUE, GREAT, AWESOME jRPG based on Dragonball!!! It's just...
Wow, this game is amazing, it's just soooo good!
The presentation, the graphics, the MUSIC, and...
Yay, Rome #1 in Serie A, halfway through the championship!
Mission 3-2! It's so damn long though O_O I'll try it again later!
The number of players who play "Bad Company" that also play "Bad Company 2."
gamerDNA®, Contents are Copyright 2006–2015 PLAYXPERT LLC and Live Gamer Inc. gamerDNA and the gamerDNA Logo are trademark and property of Live Gamer Inc.


text:
The History of baseball in the United States can be traced to the 18th century, when amateurs played a baseball-like game by their own informal rules using improvised equipment. The popularity of the sport inspired the semi and fully professional baseball clubs in the 1860s. By the following decade, American newspapers were referring to baseball as the "National Pastime" or the "National Game." The first attempt at forming a "major league" produced the National Association, which lasted from 1871 to 1875. In response to the shortcomings of the National Association, the current National League was formed in 1876. After a series of rival leagues were organized but failed, the current American League, evolving from the minor Western League of 1893, was established in 1901.
In the early part of the 20th century, known as the "dead-ball era," baseball rules and equipment favored the "inside game" and the game was played more violently and aggressively than it is today. This period ended in the 1920s with several changes that gave advantages to hitters. In the largest parks, the outfield fences were brought closer to the infield. In addition, the strict enforcement of new rules governing the size, shape and construction of the ball caused it to travel farther when hit. The first professional black baseball club, the Cuban Giants, was organized in 1885. Subsequent professional black baseball clubs played each other independently, without an official league to organize the sport. Rube Foster, a former ballplayer, founded the Negro National League in 1920. A second league, the Eastern Colored League, was established in 1923. These became known as the Negro Leagues, though these leagues never had any formal overall structure comparable to the Major Leagues. The Negro National League did well until 1930, but folded during the Great Depression.
From 1942 to 1948 the Negro League World Series was revived. This was the golden era of Negro League baseball, a time when it produced some of its greatest stars. In 1947, Jackie Robinson signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the color barrier that had prevented talented African American players from entering the white-only major leagues. Although the transformation was not instantaneous, baseball has since become fully integrated. In 1948, the Negro Leagues faced financial difficulties that effectively ended their existence.
Pitchers dominated the game in the 1960s and early 1970s. In 1973 the designated hitter (DH) rule was adopted by the American League, while in the National League pitchers still bat for themselves to this day. The DH rule now constitutes the primary difference between the two leagues. During the late 1960s, the Baseball Players Union became much stronger and conflicts between owners and the players' union led to major work stoppages in 1972, 1981, and 1994. The 1994 baseball strike led to the cancellation of the World Series, and was not settled until the spring of 1995. In the wake of the 1994 players' strike, functions that had been administered separately by the two major leagues' administrations were united under the rubric of Major League Baseball.
The earliest known mention of baseball in the United States was a 1792 Pittsfield, Massachusetts ordinance banning the playing of the game within of the town meeting house. In 2008 a diary by William Bray was discovered by local historian Tricia St John Barry in Surrey County Council. The diary describes how a teenager is playing baseball in Guilford. The entry in the diary dates back to Easter Monday 31 March 1755. This is the earliest known reference of the word "Baseball".
Went to Stoke Ch. This morning. After Dinner Went to Miss Jeale's to play at Base Ball with her, the 3 Miss Whiteheads, Miss Billinghurst, Miss Molly Flutter, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Ford & H. Parsons & Jelly. Drank Tea and stayed till 8.
The discovery means that England can claim to be the founder/inventor of the sport baseball. A shocking discovery, as it has been believed for centuries that Americans had invented the sport.
Another early reference reports that "base ball" was regularly played on Saturdays on the outskirts of New York City (in what is now Greenwich Village) in 1823.
The first team to play baseball under modern rules were the New York Knickerbockers. The club was founded on September 23, 1845, as a social club for the upper middle classes of New York City, and was strictly amateur until its disbandment. The club members, led by Alexander Cartwright, formulated the "Knickerbocker Rules", which in large part dealt with organizational matters but which also laid out rules for playing the game. One of the significant rules prohibited "soaking" or "plugging" the runner; under older rules, a fielder could put a runner out by hitting the runner with the thrown ball. The Knickerbocker Rules required fielders to tag or force the runner, as is done today, and avoided a lot of the arguments and fistfights that resulted from the earlier practice.
Writing the rules didn't help the Knickerbockers in the first known competitive game between two clubs under the new rules, played at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey on June 19, 1846. The self-styled "New York Nine" humbled the Knickerbockers by a score of 23 to 1. Nevertheless, the Knickerbocker Rules were rapidly adopted by teams in the New York area and their version of baseball became known as the "New York Game" (as opposed to the "Massachusetts Game", played by clubs in the Boston area).
In 1857, sixteen New York area clubs, including the Knickerbockers, formed the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP). The NABBP was the first organization to govern the sport and to establish a championship. Aided by the Civil War, membership grew to almost 100 clubs by 1865 and to over 400 by 1867, including clubs from as far away as California. During the Civil war, soldiers from different parts of the United States played baseball together, leading to a more unified national version of the sport. Beginning in 1869, the NABBP permitted professional play, addressing a growing practice that had not been permitted under its rules to that point. The first and most prominent professional clubs of the NABBP era were the Cincinnati Red Stockings in Ohio, which lasted only two years. Businessman Iver Whitney Adams then courted manager Harry Wright and founded the "Boston Red Stockings" and the Boston Base Ball Club January 20, 1871.
The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, which still exists, was established in 1876 after the National Association proved ineffective. The emphasis was now on "clubs" rather than "players". Clubs now had the ability to enforce player contracts, preventing players from jumping to higher-paying clubs. Clubs in turn were required to play their full schedule of games, rather than forfeiting scheduled games once out of the running for the league championship, as happened frequently under the National Association. A concerted effort was made to reduce the amount of gambling on games which was leaving the validity of results in doubt.
At the same time, a "gentlemen's agreement" was struck between the clubs to exclude non-white players from professional baseball, a bar that remained until 1947. It is a common misconception that Jackie Robinson was the first African-American major-league ballplayer; he was actually only the first after a long gap. Moses Fleetwood Walker and his brother Welday Walker were unceremoniously dropped from major and minor-league rosters in the 1880s, as were other African-Americans in baseball. An unknown number of African-Americans played in the major leagues by representing themselves as Indians, or South or Central Americans. And a still larger number played in the minor leagues and on amateur teams as well. In the majors, however, it was not until the signing of Robinson (in the National League) and Larry Doby (in the American League) that baseball began to remove its color bar.
The early years of the National League were tumultuous, with threats from rival leagues and a rebellion by players against the hated "reserve clause", which restricted the free movement of players between clubs. Competitive leagues formed regularly, and also disbanded regularly. The most successful was the American Association (1881–1891), sometimes called the "beer and whiskey league" for its tolerance of the sale of alcoholic beverages to spectators. For several years, the National League and American Association champions met in a postseason championship series—the first attempt at a World Series.
The Union Association survived for only one season (1884), as did the Players League (1890), an attempt to return to the National Association structure of a league controlled by the players themselves. Both leagues are considered major leagues by many baseball researchers because of the perceived high caliber of play (for a brief time anyway) and the number of star players featured. However, some researchers have disputed the major league status of the Union Association, pointing out that franchises came and went and contending that the St. Louis club, which was deliberately "stacked" by the league's president (who owned that club), was the only club that was anywhere close to major league caliber.
In fact, there were dozens of leagues, large and small, at this time. What made the National League "major" was its dominant position in the major cities, particularly New York City, the edgy, emotional nerve center of baseball. The large cities offered baseball teams national media distribution systems and fan bases that could generate revenues enabling teams to hire the best players in the country.
A number of other leagues, including the venerable Eastern League, threatened the dominance of the National League. The Western League, founded in 1893, became particularly aggressive. Its fiery leader Ban Johnson railed against the National League and promised to build a new league that would grab the best players and field the best teams. The Western League began play in April 1894 with teams in Detroit (the only league team that has not moved since), Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Sioux City and Toledo. Prior to the 1900 season, the league changed its name to the American League and moved several franchises to larger, strategic locations. In 1901 the American League declared its intent to operate as a major league.
The resulting bidding war for players led to widespread contract-breaking and legal disputes. One of the most famous involved star second baseman Napoleon Lajoie, who in 1901 went across town in Philadelphia from the National League Phillies to the American League Athletics. Barred by a court injunction from playing baseball in the state of Pennsylvania the next year, Lajoie was traded to the Cleveland team, where he played and managed for many years.
The war between the American and National caused shock waves throughout the baseball world. At a meeting at the Leland Hotel in Chicago in 1901, the other baseball leagues negotiated a plan to maintain their independence. On September 5 1901 Patrick T. Powers, president of the Eastern League announced the formation of the second National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, the NABPL or "NA" for short.
These leagues did not consider themselves "minor" -- a term that did not come into vogue until St. Louis Cardinals GM Branch Rickey pioneered the farm system in the 1930s. Nevertheless, these financially troubled leagues, by beginning the practice of selling players to the more affluent National and American leagues, embarked on a path that eventually led to the loss of their independent status.
Ban Johnson had other designs for the NA. While the NA continues to this day, he saw it as a tool to end threats from smaller rivals who might some day want to expand in other territories and threaten his league's dominance.
After 1902 both leagues and the NABPL signed a new National Agreement which achieved three things:
The new agreement tied independent contracts to the reserve-clause national league contracts. Baseball players were a commodity, like cars. $5,000 bought your arm or your bat, and if you didn't like it, find someplace that would hire you. It set up a rough classification system for independent leagues that regulated the dollar value of contracts, the forerunner of the system refined by Rickey and used today.
It also gave the NA great power. Many independents walked away from the 1901 meeting. The deal with the NA punished those other indies who had not joined the NA and submitted to the will of the 'majors.' The NA also agreed to the deal to prevent more pilfering of players with little or no compensation for the players' development. Several leagues, seeing the writing on the wall, eventually joined the NA, which grew in size over the next several years.
At this time the games tended to be low scoring, dominated by such legendary pitchers as Walter "The Big Train" Johnson, Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, and Grover Cleveland Alexander to the extent that the period 1900–1919 is commonly called the "dead ball era". The term also accurately describes the condition of the baseball itself. Baseballs cost three dollars apiece, a hefty sum at the time, equaling approximately 65 inflation adjusted US dollars as of 2005; club owners were therefore reluctant to spend much money on new balls if not necessary. It was not unusual for a single baseball to last an entire game. By the end of the game, the ball would be dark with grass, mud, and tobacco juice, and it would be misshapen and lumpy from contact with the bat. Balls were only replaced if they were hit into the crowd and lost, and many clubs employed security guards expressly for the purpose of retrieving balls hit into the stands—a practice unthinkable today.
As a consequence, home runs were rare, and the "inside game" dominated—singles, bunts, stolen bases, the hit-and-run play, and other tactics dominated the strategies of the time.
Despite this, there were also several superstar hitters, the most famous being Honus Wagner, held to be one of the greatest shortstops to ever play the game, and Detroit's Ty Cobb, the "Georgia Peach." Cobb was a mean-spirited man, fiercely competitive and loathed by many of his fellow professionals, but his career batting average of .366 has yet to be bested.
For his part, Merkle was doomed to endless criticism and vilification throughout his career for this lapse. In his defense, some baseball historians have suggested that it was not customary for game-ending hits to be fully "run out", it was only Evers's insistence on following the rules strictly that resulted in this unusual play. In fact, earlier in the 1908 season, the identical situation had been brought to the umpires' attention by Evers; the umpire that day was the same Hank O'Day. While the winning run was allowed to stand on that occasion, the dispute raised O'Day's awareness of the rule, and directly set up the Merkle controversy.
Contrary to what many of baseball's administrators were willing to acknowledge, gambling was rife in the game. Hal Chase was particularly notorious for throwing games, but played for a decade after gaining this reputation; he even managed to parlay these accusations into a promotion to manager. Even baseball stars as legendary as Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker have been credibly alleged to have fixed game outcomes. When MLB's complacency during this "Golden Age" was eventually exposed after the 1919 World Series, it became known as the Black Sox scandal.
After an excellent regular season (88-52, .629 W%,) the Chicago White Sox were heavy favorites to win the 1919 World Series. Arguably the best team in baseball, The White Sox had it all: a deep lineup, a strong pitching staff, and a good defense. Even though the National League Champion Cincinnati Reds had a superior regular season record (96-44, .689 W%,) no one, including gamblers and bookmakers, anticipated the Reds having a chance. When the Reds triumphed 5-3, many pundits cried foul.
At the time of the scandal, the White Sox were arguably the most successful franchise in baseball, with excellent gate receipts and record attendance. At the time, most baseball players were not paid especially well and had to work other jobs during the winter to survive. Some elite players on the big-city clubs made very good salaries, but Chicago was a notable exception.
For many years, the White Sox were owned and operated by a tight-fisted tyrant named Charles Comiskey, who paid the lowest player salaries, on average, in the American League. The White Sox players all intensely disliked Comiskey and his penurious ways, but were powerless to do anything, thanks to baseball's so-called "reserve clause," that turned most players into decently-to-well paid slaves that had no recourse for the often rough treatment shown them by owners.
By late 1919, Comiskey's tyrannical reign over the Sox had sown deep bitterness among the players, many of whom could not even support their families comfortably. Players rife with financial difficulties made easy targets for gamblers looking to have games thrown in order to win bets.
In late September 1919, a little man named Abe Atell, allegedly at the behest of Arnold Rothstein, came to several of the players with a plan to "fix" the games. The players were to be paid between seventy-five hundred and thirty thousand dollars each for their part in the "fix." Needing money to feed their families, eight of the White Sox players agreed to participate in what became known as the Black Sox Scandal of 1919.
Although the throwing of the World Series had not really been obvious, rumors swirled that some of the players had conspired to purposefully lose the game(s.) As happens, the rumors begat a grand jury investigation into the allegations. Eight players (Harold "Swede" Risberg, Arnold "Chick" Gandil, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, Oscar "Happy" Felch, Eddie Cicotte, George "Buck" Weaver, Fred McMullin, and Claude "Lefty" Williams) were ultimately indicted and tried for conspiracy.
The Negro Leagues were American professional baseball leagues comprising predominantly African-American teams. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning 1920 that are sometimes termed "Negro Major Leagues".
The first professional team, established in 1885, achieved great and lasting success as the Cuban Giants, while the first league, the National Colored Base Ball League, failed in 1887 after only two weeks due to low attendance. The Negro American League of 1951 is considered the last major league season and the last professional club, the Indianapolis Clowns, operated amusingly rather than competitively from the mid-1960s to 1980s.
Some of the increased offensive output can be explained by the 1920 rule change outlawing tampering with the ball, which pitchers had often done to produce "spitballs", "shine balls" and other trick pitches which had 'unnatural' flight through the air. Umpires were also required to put new balls into play whenever the current ball became scuffed or discolored. This rule change was enforced all the more stringently following the death of Ray Chapman, who was struck in the temple by a pitched ball from Carl Mays in a game on August 16, 1920 (he died the next day). Discolored balls, harder for batters to see and therefore harder for batters to dodge, have been rigorously removed from play ever since. There are two side effects. One, of course, is that if the batter can see the ball more easily, the batter can hit the ball more easily. The second is that without scuffs and other damage, pitchers are limited in their ability to control spin and so to cause altered trajectories.
Still, in the past, rule changes favoring the batter had led to batting average increases, but not to widespread changes in hitting styles. The "inside game" might have continued to dominate but for the activities of one remarkable player. At the end of the 1919 season Harry Frazee, then owner of the Boston Red Sox, sold a group of his star players to the New York Yankees. Amongst them was George Herman Ruth, known affectionately as "Babe". The story that he did so in order to fund theatrical shows on Broadway for his actress lady friend is unfounded. No, No, Nanette was indeed first produced in 1925 by Harry Frazee, though the sale of baseball superstar Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees had occurred five years earlier. In the lore of the Curse of the Bambino, Frazee supposedly financed the production by selling Ruth, yet drawing a line five years apart from the sale's proceeds to the production costs of the musical are circumstantial at best.
Ruth's career mirrors the shift in dominance from pitching to hitting at this time. He started his career as a pitcher in 1914, and by 1916 was considered one of the dominant left-handed pitchers in the game. When Edward Barrow, managing the Red Sox, converted him to an outfielder, ballplayers and sportswriters were shocked. It was apparent, however, that Ruth's bat in the lineup every day was far more valuable than Ruth's arm on the mound every fourth day. Ruth swatted an unprecedented 29 home runs in his last season in Boston. The next year, as a Yankee, he would hit 54 and in 1921 he hit 59. His 1927 mark of 60 home runs would last until 1961, and, because of two record books (one for 154 game season and one for 162 game season), longer still.
Ruth's power hitting ability demonstrated a new way to play the game, and one that was extremely popular with the crowds. Accordingly, the ballparks were expanded, sometimes by building outfield seating which shrunk the size of the outfield and made home run hitting more practical. In addition to Ruth, hitters such as Rogers Hornsby also took advantage, with Hornsby compiling extraordinary figures for both power and average in the early 1920s. By the late 1920s and 1930s all the good teams had their home run hitting "sluggers": the Yankees' Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx in Philadelphia, Hank Greenberg in Detroit and Chicago's Hack Wilson were the most storied. While the American League championship, and to a lesser extent the World Series, would be dominated by the Yankees, there were many other excellent teams in the inter-war years. Also, the National League's St. Louis Cardinals would win three titles themselves in nine years, the last with a group of players known as the "Gashouse Gang".
The first radio broadcast of a baseball game was on August 5, 1921 over Westinghouse station KDKA from Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Harold Arlin announced the Pirates-Phillies game. Attendances in the 1920s were consistently better than they had been before the war. The interwar peak average attendance was 8,211 in 1930, but baseball was hit hard by the Great Depression and in 1933 the average fell below five thousand for the only time between the wars.
1933 also saw the introduction of the All-Star game, a mid-season break in which the greatest players in each league play against one another in a hard fought but officially meaningless demonstration game. In 1936 the Baseball Hall of Fame was instituted and five players elected: Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner. The Hall formally opened in 1939.
Rickey was not the first executive to attempt to bring black players into Major League Baseball. In the early 1920s, New York Giants' manager John McGraw slipped a black player, Charlie Grant, into his lineup (reportedly by passing him off to the front office as an Indian), and McGraw's wife reported finding names of dozens of Negro players that McGraw fantasized about signing, after his death. Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bill Bensawanger reportedly signed Josh Gibson to a contract in 1943, and the Washington Senators were also said to be interested in his services. But those efforts (and others) were opposed by Kenesaw Mountain Landis, baseball's powerful commissioner and a staunch segregationist. Bill Veeck claimed that Landis blocked his purchase of the Philadelphia Phillies because he planned to integrate the team. While this is disputed, Landis was opposed to integration, and his death in 1944 removed a major obstacle for black players in the major leagues.
Rickey himself had experienced the issue of segregation. While playing and coaching for his college team at Ohio Wesleyan University, Rickey had a black teammate. On one particular road trip through southern Ohio his fellow player was refused stay in a hotel. Although Rickey was able to get the player into his room for that night, he was taken back when he reached his room to find his fellow ballplayer upset and crying about this injustice. Rickey related this incident as an example of why he wanted a full de-segregation of the nation, not only in baseball.
Robinson was an exceptional talent, although perhaps not the greatest in the Negro leagues at the time, and he also had the inner strength to withstand the racism and abuse from both fans and players which he would be expected to face. He stood up to the pressure magnificently, and played well enough to win the first Rookie of the Year award. Later that same year, four more black players made it to the majors. The following year, the 1948 major league champion Cleveland Indians featured Hall-of-Famers Larry Doby and Satchel Paige. Paige, who had pitched more than 2400 innings in the Negro Leagues, sometimes two and three games a day, was still effective at 42, and still playing at 59. His ERA in the Major Leagues was 3.29. In 1997, Major League Baseball retired Robinson's uniform number (42) from use by all teams.
According to some baseball historians, Robinson and the other African American players helped reestablish the importance of baserunning and similar elements of play that were previously deemphasized by the predominance of power hitting.
The PCL was huge in the West. A member of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, it kept losing these great players to the National and the American leagues for less than $8,000 a player.
The PCL was far more independent than the other "minor" leagues, and rebelled continuously against their Eastern masters. Clarence Pants Rowland, the President of the PCL, took on baseball commissioners Kenesaw Mountain Landis and Happy Chandler at first to get better equity from the major leagues, then to form a third major league. His efforts were rebuffed by both commissioners. Chandler and several of the owners, who saw the value of the markets in the West, started to plot the extermination of the PCL. They had one thing that Rowland did not: The financial power of the Eastern major league baseball establishment.
No one was going to back a PCL club building a major-league size stadium if the National or the American League was going to build one too, and potentially put the investment in the PCL ballpark into jeopardy.
Up to this time, major league baseball franchises had been largely confined to the northeastern United States, with the teams and their locations having remained unchanged from 1903 to 1952. The first team to relocate in fifty years was the Boston Braves, who moved to Milwaukee in 1953. In Milwaukee the club set attendance records, and more teams moved: the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore, and the Philadelphia Athletics to Kansas City.
Beginning with the 1994 season, both the AL and the NL were divided into three divisions (East, West, and Central), with the addition of a wild card team (the team with the best record among those finishing in second place) to enable four teams in each league to advance to the preliminary division series. However, due to the 1994 Major League Baseball strike (which canceled the 1994 World Series), the new rules did not go into effect until the 1995 World Series.
As of 2008, there are 16 teams in the National League and 14 teams in the American League.
By the late 1960s, the balance between pitching and hitting had swung in favor of the pitchers. In 1968 Carl Yastrzemski won the American League batting title with an average of just .301, the lowest in history. That same year, Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain won 31 games — making him the last pitcher to win 30 games in a season. St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Bob Gibson achieved an equally remarkable feat by allowing an ERA of just 1.12.
In response to these events, major league baseball implemented certain rules changes in 1969 to benefit the batters. The pitcher's mound was lowered, and the strike zone was reduced.
In 1973 the American League, which had been suffering from much lower attendance than the National League, made a move to increase scoring even further by initiating the designated hitter rule.
The first legal challenge came in 1970. Backed by the MLBPA, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood took the leagues to court to negate a player trade, citing the 13th Amendment and antitrust legislation. In 1972 he finally lost his case in the United States Supreme Court by a vote of 5 to 3, but gained large-scale public sympathy, and the damage had been done. The reserve clause survived, but it had been irrevocably weakened. In 1975 Andy Messersmith of the Dodgers and Dave McNally of the Montreal Expos played without contracts, and then declared themselves free agents in response to an arbitrator's ruling. Handcuffed by concessions made in the Flood case, the owners had no choice but to accept the collective bargaining package offered by the MLBPA, and the reserve clause was effectively ended, to be replaced by the current system of free-agency and arbitration.
While the legal challenges were going on, the game continued. In 1969 the "Miracle Mets", just 7 years after their formation, recorded their first winning season, won the National League East and finally the World Series.
On the field, the 1970s saw some of the longest standing records fall and the rise of two powerhouse dynasties. In Oakland, the Swinging A's were overpowering, winning the Series in '72, '73 and '74, and five straight division titles. The strained relationships between teammates, who included Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue and Reggie Jackson, gave the lie to the need for "chemistry" between players. (This A's dynasty also single-handedly reintroduced the mustache into baseball). The National League, on the other hand, belonged to the Big Red Machine in Cincinnati, where Sparky Anderson's team, which included Pete Rose as well as Hall of Famers Tony Perez, Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan, succeeded the A's run in 1975.
The decade also contained great individual achievements as well. On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth's all-time record. He would retire in 1976 with 755. There was great pitching too: between 1973 and 1975, Nolan Ryan threw 4 "no-hit" games. He would add a record-breaking fifth in 1981 and two more before his retirement in 1993, by which time he had also accumulated 5,715 strikeouts, another record, in a 27-year career.
Another major change that had been occurring during this time was the adoption of the pitch count. Starting pitchers playing complete games had not been an unusual thing in baseball's history. Now pitching coaches watched to see how many pitches a player had thrown over the game. At anywhere from 125 to 175, pitchers increasingly would be pulled out to preserve their arms. Bullpens began to specialize more, with more pitchers being trained as middle relievers, and a few hurlers, usually possessing high velocity but not much durability, as closers.
Along with the expansion of teams, the addition of more pitchers needed to play a complete game stressed the total number of quality players available in a system that restricted its talent searches at that time to America, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The national networks began televising national games of the week, opening the door for a national audience to see particular clubs. While most teams were broadcast, emphasis was always on the league leaders and the major market franchises that could draw the largest audience.
It brought with it increased attention for individual players, who reached super-star status nationwide on careers that often were not as compelling as those who had come before them in a less media intense time.
As player contract values soared, and the number of broadcasters, commentators, columnists, and sports writers also soared. The competition for a fresh angle on any story became fierce. Media pundits began questioning the high salaries that the players received. Coverage began to become intensely negative. Players personal lives, which had always been off-limits unless something extreme happened, became the fodder of editorials, insider stories on television, and features in magazines. When the use of performance-enhancing drugs became an issue, the gap between the sports media and the players whom they covered widened further.
With the development of satellite television (particularly direct broadcast satellite services like DirecTV) and digital cable, Major League Baseball launched baseball channels with season subscription fees, making it possible for fans to watch virtually every game played as they played.
Baseball memorabilia and souvenirs, including baseball cards, exploded in price as networks of adults became more sophisticated in their trading. This would explode yet again in the late 1990s, as the Internet, and the website eBay provided venues for collectors of all things baseball to trade with each other. Regionalized pricing was wiped away, and many objects, baseballs, bats, and the like began selling for high dollar values. This in turn brought in new businessmen whose sole means of making a living was acquiring autographs and memorabilia from the athletes. Memorabilia hounds fought with fans to get signatures worth $20, $60, or even $100 or more in their stores.
Beyond the staple billboards, large corporations like NIKE and Champion fought to make sure that their logos were seen on the clothing and shoes worn by athletes on the field. This kind of association branding became a new revenue stream. In the late 1990s and into the dawn of the 21st century, the dugout, the backstops behind home plate, and anywhere else that might be seen by a camera all became fair game for inserting advertising.
By the 1970s a new generation of sports agents were hawking the talents of players who knew baseball but didn't know how the business end of the game was played. The agents broke down what the teams were generating in revenue off of the players' performances. They calculated what their player might be worth to energize a television contract, or provide more merchandise revenue, or put more fans into seats.
The athletes signed shoe deals, baseball card sponsorships, and commercial endorsements for products of every size and shape.
Salaries began to climb to such astronomical levels that the relationship between the average fan and the players began to change. Mike Piazza, in a famous negotiation with the Dodgers went public with his complaint that he was only going to get $81 million from the Dodgers not the $88 million he sought. For the legions of people who made less than $30,000 a year who came out to watch the home team, it was too much. Piazza was booed every time he came to bat. In a short while he was traded to Florida, then was acquired by the New York Mets.
Sky high salaries also changed many of the strategies of the game. Players rarely were "sent" down to the minors if they failed to perform. Who could justify paying a slumping player millions to sit in Toledo where the major league fans couldn't pay their way? Other players in the Triple-A level of the minor leagues, who used to rise on merit, became trapped under these overpaid "stars." Also, in order to make the media happy, trades, rather than call-ups, became the order of the day. It was much better to buy someone else's shortstop who was a known quantity to the national sports media than to take a chance on a player with no name value and no visibility if you were in a major market ballclub.
Tactics on the field changed too. Risky moves that could get players hurt, and sideline millions of dollars in payroll on the disabled list, became less common. Stealing home, a popular tactic of great stars of the day like Ty Cobb or Pete Rose, became infrequent occurrences.
The perception of players by the general public changed from larger-than-life heroes to a more cynical view of many of them as spoiled and overpaid. This was fed by the growing legions of television reporters, commentators, and print sports writers who also started asking questions about what justified the kind of money being paid to these players.
Free agency added gasoline to that fire as well. With players seeking greener pastures when their contracts came up, fewer players became career members of one ballclub. In the modern era, it is almost unusual to see a player stay with any one club for more than a few years if they are good enough to command a better salary.
Players with any ability increasingly gravitated towards the money. Large market clubs like the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, and the Chicago Cubs given big revenues from their cable television operations signed more and more of the big name players away from mid-sized and smaller market baseball clubs that could not afford to compete with them for salaries.
The crux of the 1981 dispute was about compensation for the loss of players to free agency. After losing a top-rank player in such a way the owners wanted a mid-rank player in return, the so-called sixteenth player (each club was allowed to protect 15 players from this rule). Losing lower rated free agents would have correspondingly smaller compensation. The players, only recently freed from the bondage of the reserve clause, found this unacceptable, and withdrew their labor striking on June 12. Immediately, the U.S. Government National Labor Relations Board ruled that the owners had not been negotiating in good faith, and installed a federal mediator to reach a solution. Seven weeks and 713 games were lost in the middle of the season, before the owners backed down on July 31, settling for much lower ranked players as compensation. By then much of the season had been lost, and the season was continued as distinct halves starting August 9, with the playoffs reorganized to reflect this.
Throughout the 1980s then, baseball seemed to prosper. The competitive balance between franchises saw fifteen different teams make the World Series, and nine different champions during the decade. Also, every season from 1978 through 1987 saw a different World Series winner, a streak unprecedented in baseball history. Turmoil was, however, just around the corner. In 1986 Pete Rose retired from playing for the Cincinnati Reds, having broken Ty Cobb's record by accumulating 4,256 hits during his career. He continued as Reds manager until, in 1989 it was revealed that he was being investigated for sports gambling, including the possibility that he had bet on teams with which he was involved. While Rose admitted a gambling problem, he denied having bet on baseball. Federal prosecutor John Dowd investigated and, on his recommendation, Rose was banned from organised baseball, a move which precluded his possible inclusion in the Hall of Fame. In a meeting with Commissioner Giamatti, Rose, having failed in a legal action to prevent it, accepted his punishment. It was, essentially, the same fate that had befallen the Black Sox seventy years previously. (Rose, however, would continue to deny that he bet on baseball until he finally confessed to it in his 2004 autobiography.)
The players officially went on strike on August 12, 1994. In September 1994 Major League Baseball announced the cancellation of the World Series for the first time since 1904.
The cancellation of the 1994 World Series was a severe embarrassment for Major League Baseball. Although there were few signs of the predicted "outrage" on the part of the fans, attendance figures and broadcast ratings were lower in 1995 than before the strike.
On September 6, 1995, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. played his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking Lou Gehrig's 56-year-old record. This was the first high-profile moment in baseball after the strike. Ripken continued his streak for another three years, voluntarily ending it at 2,632 consecutive games played on September 20, 1998.
In 1997, the Florida Marlins won the World Series in just their fifth season. This made them the youngest expansion team to win the Fall Classic (with the exception of the 1903 Boston Red Sox and later the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, who won in their fourth season.) Virtually all the key players on the 1997 Marlins team were soon traded or let go to save payroll costs (although the 2003 Marlins did win a second world championship.)
1998 was what many consider to be one of the game's greatest seasons. St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire and Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa that year engaged in a home run race for the ages. With both rapidly approaching Roger Maris's record of 61 home runs (set in 1961), seemingly the entire nation watched as the two power hitters raced to be the first to break the record. McGwire reached 62 first on September 8, 1998, with Sosa also eclipsing it later. Sosa finished with 66 home runs, just behind McGwire's unheard-of 70. However, recent steroid allegations have marred the season in the minds of many fans.
That same year, the New York Yankees won a record 125 games, including going 11-1 in the postseason, to win the World Series as what many consider to be one of the greatest teams of all time.
McGwire's record of 70 would last a mere three years following the meteoric rise of veteran San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds in 2001. In 2001 Bonds knocked out 73 home runs, breaking the record set by McGwire by hitting his 71st on October 5, 2001. In addition to the home run record, Bonds also set single-season marks for base on balls with 177 (breaking the previous record of 170, set by Babe Ruth in 1923) and slugging percentage with .863 (breaking the mark of .847 set by Ruth in 1920). Bonds continued his torrid home run hitting in the next few seasons, hitting his 660th career home run on April 12, 2004, tying him with his godfather Willie Mays for third place on the all-time career home run list. He hit his 661st home run the next day, April 13, to take sole possession of third place. Only three years later Bonds surpassed the great Hank Aaron to become baseball's most prolific home run hitter.
However, both Bonds' accomplishments in the 2000s have not been without controversy. During his run, journalists questioned McGwire about his use of the steroid-precursor androstenedione, and in March 2005 was unforthcoming when questioned as part of a Congressional inquiry into steroids. Bonds has also has been dogged by allegations of steroid use and his involvement in the BALCO drugs scandal, as his personal trainer Greg Anderson pled guilty to supplying steroids (without naming Bonds as a recipient). Neither Bonds nor McGwire has failed a drug test at any time since there was no steroid-testing until 2003 after the new August 7, 2002 agreement between owners and players was reached. McGwire retired after the 2001 season.
The 1990s also saw Major League Baseball expand into new markets as four new teams joined the league. In 1993, the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins began play, and in just their fifth year of existence, the Marlins became the first wild card team to win the championship.
The year 1998 brought two more teams into the mix, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Arizona Diamondbacks, the latter of which become the youngest expansion franchise to win the championship.
For the most part, the late 1990s were dominated by the New York Yankees, who won four out of five World Series championships from 1996–2000.
A memo circulated in 1991 by baseball commissioner Fay Vincent said, "The possession, sale or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance by Major League players and personnel is strictly prohibited ... [and those players involved] are subject to discipline by the Commissioner and risk permanent expulsion from the game.... This prohibition applies to all illegal drugs and controlled substances, including steroids… Some general managers of the time do not remember this memo, and it was not emphasized or enforced.
Ephedra, a Chinese herb used to cure cold symptoms, and also used in some allergy medications, sped up the heart and was considered by some to be a weight-loss short-cut. Overweight pitcher Steve Bechler, who wanted to stay on the Baltimore Orioles roster, took just such a shortcut. He collapsed on February 17, 2003 while pitching, and was soon pronounced dead. Bechler's death raised concerns over the use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball. Ephedra was banned, and soon the furor died down.
The 1998 home run race had generated nearly unbroken positive publicity, but Barry Bonds run for the all-time home run record provoked a backlash over steroids, which increase a person's testosterone level and subsequently enable that person to bodybuild with much more ease. Some athletes have said that the main advantage to steroids is not so much the additional power or endurance that they can provide, but that they can drastically shorten rehab time from injury.
Commissioner Bud Selig imposed a very strict anti-drug policy upon its minor league players, who are not part of the Major League Baseball Players Association (the PA). Random drug testing, education and treatment, and strict penalties for those caught were the rule of law. Anyone on a Major League team's forty man roster, including 15 minor leaguers that are on that list, were exempt from that program. Some called Selig's move a public relations stunt, or window dressing.
In a Sports Illustrated cover story in 2002, a year after his retirement, Ken Caminiti admitted that he had used steroids during his National League MVP-winning 1996 season, and for several seasons afterwards. Caminiti died unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack in The Bronx at the age of 41; he was pronounced dead on October 10, 2004 at New York's Lincoln Memorial Hospital. On November 1, the New York City Medical Examiners Office announced that Caminiti died from "acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates," but coronary artery disease and cardiac hypertrophy (an enlarged heart) were also contributing factors.
In 2005, José Canseco published Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big admitting steroid usage and claiming that it was prevalent throughout major league baseball. When the United States Congress decided to investigate the use of steroids in the sport, some of the games most prominent players have come under scrutiny for possibly using steroids. These include Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Mark McGwire. Other players, such as Canseco and Gary Sheffield, have admitted to have either knowingly (in Canseco's case) or not (Sheffield's) using steroids. In confidential testimony to the BALCO Grand Jury (that was later leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle), Giambi also admitted steroid use. He later held a press conference in which he appeared to affirm this admission, without actually saying the words. And after an appearance before Congress where he (unlike McGwire) emphatically denied using steroids, "period," slugger Rafael Palmeiro became the first major star to be suspended (10 days) on August 1, 2005 for violating Major League Baseball's newly strengthened ban on controlled substances, including steroids, adopted on August 7, 2002, starting in the 2003 season. Many lesser players (mostly from the minor leagues) have tested positive for use, as well.
In 2006, the Commissioner of Baseball tasked former United States Senator George J. Mitchell to lead an investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball (MLB) and on December 13, 2007, the 409-page Mitchell Report was released ('Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball'). The report described the use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) in MLB and assessed the effectiveness of the MLB Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Mitchell also advanced certain recommendations regarding the handling of past illegal drug use and future prevention practices. The report names 89 MLB players who are alleged to have used steroids or drugs.
Baseball has been taken to task for turning a blind eye to its drug problems. It benefited from these drugs in the ever-increasingly competitive fight for airtime and media attention. MLB and its Players Association finally announced tougher measures, but many felt that they did not go far enough. (See: List of Major League Baseball players suspended for steroids)
Various baseball pundits, fans, and even players have taken this as confirmation that Bonds uses illegal steroids. Bonds never tested positive in tests performed in 2003, 2004, and 2005, which may be attributable to successful obfuscation of continued use as documented in the 2006 book Game of Shadows.
Routinely in today's baseball age we see players reach 40 and 50 home runs in a season, a feat that even in the 1980s was considered rare. The need of pitchers to combat the rise in power will likely lead to a pitching revolution at some point in the future. Many modern baseball theorists believe that a new pitch, such as the infamous gyroball, will swing the balance of power back to the pitcher. However, the gyroball is still something of a phantom pitch--the only pitchers allegedly able to throw it are Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Boston Red Sox and a college pitcher named Joey Niezer. However, during the 2006 World Baseball Classic, Matsuzaka admitted that though he has tried to throw the gyroball, he cannot do so on a consistent basis. A pitching revolution would not be unprecedented--several pitches have changed the game of baseball in the past, including the slider in the 50's and 60's and the split-fingered fastball in the 70's to 90's. Since the 1990s, the changeup has made a resurgence, being thrown masterfully by pitchers such as Trevor Hoffman, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Johan Santana.


text:
Conductor's Stripe & Locomotive Nursery Bedding Collection
$29 - $79
All aboard! Inspired by classic conductor's overalls from the turn of the century, our cotton crib bedding features the original's yarn-dyed railroad stripes in natural and navy, using a special indigo overdye process for vintage appeal. Finished with tough double-needle stitching in contrasting thread.
- Bumper has stripes on all sides with matching piping, ties in natural-colored denim and stitched corners to help position bumper in crib
- Ties should always be positioned outside of the crib and secured tightly; bumper should be removed when baby can sit up or pull to a standing position
- Crib skirt has vertical stripes with natural-colored denim appliqu�s running along the bottom hem
- Quilt's 100% polyester fill provides loft and warmth; sham has envelope closure
- Quilt and sham are quilted in a classic diamond pattern and washed for superior softness, imparting a gently distressed look and feel; due to the inherent nature of distress washing, each will vary in color
- 100% cotton
- Machine wash
- Bumper, crib skirt, quilt and sham are imported; crib sheet is made in Portugal
- Crib sheet is Oeko-Tex® Certified
- View bedding dimensions
Shown in navy.
Product Not Available
We're sorry. This product is no longer available
Please continue browsing.


text:
Symphony visits the SteelersPosted by on December 19, 2012 – 2:34 pm
Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra stopped by the Steelers practice facility on Wednesday morning prior to practice for their annual Christmas visit.
Cornerback Ike Taylor served as the maestro, conducting them in some carols, while Max Starks and Drew Butler did their part as well added some musical talents to the group.
Posted in Community, Holidays, News, Player | Comments Off on Symphony visits the Steelers
Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.


text:
Gavin Ware came to Mississippi State with a good amount of potential on the basketball court.Â
In his freshman season, he has made a big impact. Much of that's due to the fact that there are only seven healthy scholarship players, but nonetheless, he has given the Bulldogs a lift in the post.
The 6-foot-9, 270-pound former Starkville High School player came to MSU a little overweight. It didn't take long for head coach Rick Ray to get him in the shape to play college basketball.
"He is in the best condition he's ever been in in his life," Ray said. "That really helps him as far as his mobility, being able to move around and get some of those passes."
There is no doubt that Ware looks better than his senior year at Starkville High School. The freshman is averaging 8.3 points per game, 6.9 rebounds and is shooting 53 percent from the field.Â
Ware has also been selected as Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week after scoring 22 points and pulling down 13 rebounds against Central Arkansas in a 79-72 win in Jackson on Dec. 22, 2012.
"He has good hands," Ray said. "When I first got here and started working with him, his hands were never a problem. He has really good hands and that's one of the the things you look for in post guys."
When Ray arrived at MSU, he brought a motion offense with him. Ray tried to use the whole playbook, but with inexperienced and young guys, it was hard for them to comprehend.
Ray has taken a different approach, especially with Ware.
"The thing that has helped out Gavin the most, I simplified some things in our motion offense for him," Ray said. "I thought sometimes he was in the center of a tornado. He was always looking for somebody to screen and he was always late. Now he knows what he is doing and he can concentrate on setting that one single screen. When he ducks in he is such a big body that it is hard for anybody to prevent him from getting some sort angle on his duck in. When he sets a screen, he also provides an angle for himself to post as well."
In Ware's last two games he has scored 21 points and made 7-of-11 field goals. His play may help open some things on the perimeter.
"When I duck in, that brings people into me and that gives open opportunities out to the guards," Ware said.
With such little depth, the Bulldogs struggle with a pressing defense. MSU played an Arkansas team and a Florida team that like to use full-court pressure.Â
It has limited the Bulldogs scoring.
"At the end of the day, when teams are pressuring you or you're having a hard time of scoring, the closer you get the ball to the paint, the more opportunities you have to break down a defense," Ray said. "Whether that be with guys who can dribble-drive into the paint or you can just simply post-feed the ball into the paint. Gavin Ware gives us that post presence."
MSU started out 2-0 in the SEC. Since then, it has suffered four losses.Â
The Bulldogs (7-1, 2-4) have a chance to get back to .500 in the SEC. MSU plays Texas A&M (12-7, 2-4) tonight at 8 p.m. inside Humphrey Coliseum. It can be seen on CSS. They return home Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. tip against LSU.
"These are two winnable games as coach said so all we have to do is just believe in that and in ourselves," Ware said. "We have to believe in ourselves."
The Bulldogs struggled early in the season. Against South Carolina and Georgia, MSU seemed to leave the bad start behind and were turning over new leaf.
"One thing coach pointed out is when we won our first two SEC games and then lost our next two, we were going back to our old habits that we'd played with early in the season," Ware said. "Now is not the time to go back to those old habits. We have to progress. In the Florida game, there was speculation that Florida was better than us and we still had to play hard and give our best effort on the court."
The Aggies have lost their last four games as well so it will be a battle for both teams to remain in shouting distance of the leaders in the SEC.
Texas A&M is led by Elston Turner who is averaging 15.7 points per game. Fabyon Harris and Ray Turner are both averaging just over 10 points per contest.View more articles in:


text:
Recently Added Businesses
Map Search
Business Resources
- Find a Broker
- Map Search
- What Is a Business Worth?
- The Value of a Business: Get to the Heart of the Matter
- Normalizing the Statements Isn't Always Normal
- Valuing a Business from a Buyer's Perspective
- Common Mistakes in Business Valuation
- What Is a Company Worth?
- How Can the Professional Business Broker Help?
- Why Use A Business Broker To Sell Your Business
International Professional africabrokers.
International Professional


text:
Video: Tags: Karmapa Lama
A tag is a word or phrase that helps you find video clips with similar content. View all tags »
Displaying 1 result.
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly | Karmapa Lama | PBS (#1145)
HIs supporters believe he may one day succeed the older Dalai Lama. 07:21
Displaying 1 result.
Video Collections
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
This series provides in-depth coverage of the top religion and ethics stories of the week as well as religious and ethical perspectives on domestic and foreign events and the arts. Hosted by veteran journalist Bob Abernethy, the series...


text:
View large image
Sold out
The RonHill Base Thermal 200 Half Zip Tee is designed to keep you warm and comfortable during training. Made from regulite fabric, this half zip tee is stretchy, lightweight and breathable. It's designed to wick sweat away from your body to help you stay drier and more comfortable while you exercise. - A.D.
Key Features:
Please check the stock availability notice on your item when placing your order. This item is: Sold out
Please remember to add postal time (2-3 working days) to obtain a complete estimate of delivery to your door.
You will receive an email to confirm when your item has been sent.
You can also check the status of your order and individual items by accessing your account details and following the prompts.
Please allow 10 working days from dispatch of your order before notifying us of any late deliveries.
It may be advisable to check with your neighbours to see if a parcel has been left with them, check any outhouses you might have where it may be left if it cannot fit through your letterbox and contact your local sorting office to see if the item has been returned to the depot as undelivered and awaiting collection.
Please see our returns policy.
No more then 1000 characters long please.
There are currently no reviews.
RonHill Men's Base Thermal 200 Half Zip T-Shirt - Black/Fluorescent Orange
Select image


text:
Showing 1-25 of 14 results
Korg Sledgehammer Pro$30.004.5 stars
5th May 2015 | 12:09
Not the cheapest, but in terms of accuracy, the Pro is the way to go.
Korg Nuvibe$499.004.5 stars
Korg SDD-3000 Pedal$399.004.5 stars
5th Aug 2014 | 07:02
Korg Pitchhawk-G$39.995 stars
19th May 2014 | 11:01
It may not be the smallest headstock tuner on the market, but the PitchHawk is ...
Korg Pandora Stomp$179.004 stars
Korg TMR-50$99.002.5 stars
Korg Pitchblack Poly$175.004.5 stars
Korg Pandora Mini$225.004 stars
15th Jul 2011 | 06:16
A diminutive but immensely practical pocket-sized practice tool for headphone use.
Korg Pitchjack GB-1$30.004 stars
2nd Jul 2008 | 05:43
Useful tuners that will find their way into many guitarist's 'tool kits'.
Korg Pandora PX5D$04 stars
28th Jan 2008 | 11:36
The PX5D is a useful tool for any guitarist at a very reasonable price.
Korg PX4A$04.5 stars
3rd Jan 2008 | 12:49
These two units are great for anyone who wants to do a bit of silent ...
Korg AX5G$04 stars
Korg AX3G$04 stars
3rd Jan 2008 | 09:46
Versatility is what the AX3G is about and Korg has come up with a unit ...


text:
The following is an archive of a post made to our
'vox-tech mailing list'
by one of its subscribers.
hi there,
has anyone played around with programming the PIC controllers (like the 16C84
or 16F84) on linux?
"The following addresses had permanent fatal errors..." firstname.lastname@example.com
-- Mailer Daemon www.dirac.org/p
Hosting provided by:
Sunset Systems
Sunset Systems offers preconfigured Linux
systems, remote system administration and
custom software development.
LUGOD: Linux Users' Group of Davis
PO Box 2082, Davis, CA 95617
Contact Us
LUGOD is a 501(c)7 non-profit organization
based in Davis, California
and serving the Sacramento area.
"Linux" is a trademark of Linus Torvalds.


text:
Anne Bagchi
Anne has over six years of experience in Technical Writing and Web Designing. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in English, a Master's Degree in Linguistics and recently completed a Technical Writing certification from UC Berkeley (Extn). Anne researches news and press releases related to Oil, Gas, Heavy Oil, Copper, Lithium, Zinc, Lead, and Aluminum on a daily basis.


text:
Something to laugh at these days we need all we can get.
Arguing with your Boss is like wrestling with a pig in
After a while you realize that while you are getting
dirty, the pig is actually enjoying it.
It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it
creative problem solving.
25 years ago we had Bob Hope , Steve Jobs , and Johnny Cash today we have no Hope no Jobs and no Cash !
I can fix broke but i can't fix stupid !
Here's mine
He must have disturbed the bee hive something he said I presume.
Originally Posted by york56
He must have disturbed the bee hive something he said I presume.
No.That's what he looks like without make-up.
Ive got an Obama one thats hilarious but doubt it would be accepted.
They call him Obonga (that should give you a hint right there) in it.... Yes? No? Cross bridge when I get to it?
I wouldn't mind. Probably best not to though.
Forum Rules


text:
Dhamma Ireland
Vipassana Meditation
Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka
in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Old Students Login
Each person who has completed one 10-day Vipassana Meditation course as taught by S.N.Goenka, in any country, becomes an old student and can access Old Students Regional Websites around the world.
A login and the password are required to proceed further. If you do not have them yet, please contact the nearest centre to get the necessary information.


text:
Strategically located in vibrant key cities and idyllic sanctuaries, Meritus Hotels & Resorts combines timeless elegance and contemporary design with its signature Asian grace, warmth and care.
Featuring world-class accommodation, exquisite cuisines by award-winning chefs, and state-of-the-art meeting facilities, Meritus Hotels & Resorts brings the best of Asian Hospitality to business and leisure travellers.
JetPrivilege members can earn 500 JPMiles during their stay at the Group's 5 select premier properties across Asia.
Back to JetPrivilege Partners
© Jet Airways (India) Ltd.


text:
Buy Tickets NYFF51: Motion Portraits
Show From Series
Saturday, November 16
Sunday, November 17
Monday, November 18
Tuesday, November 19
Wednesday, November 20
Thursday, November 21
Friday, November 22
NYFF51: Motion Portraits
September 28, 2013 – October 11, 2013
Along with political advocacy pieces, cinema verité immersions and historical investigations, portraiture is now a dominant strain in documentary filmmaking. Here are eight vastly different approaches to the form of the cinematic portrait. Read more »


text:
2013 Lamborghini Aventador Roadster revealed
'The most exciting Lamborghini ever built'
Lamborghini has released full details of its highly anticipated Aventador Roadster.
At the heart of the Aventador Roadster is the same V12 6.5-liter normally-aspirated engine featuring stop/start system, cylinder deactivation, and connected to a 7-speed automatic transmission. With the roof up, it needs three seconds to complete the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) on its way to a top speed of 217 mph (349 km/h).
Because of the new roof, the car's rear pillars had to be redesigned to provide additional strength when driving without the roof. These also provide extra ventilation to the power unit and offer more rollover protection.
Lamborghini's engineers have installed a powered rear windscreen that can control airflow over the vehicle, as well as the level of noise coming from the engine that passengers can hear while driving with the roof down. On top of the front windscreen is a wind deflector that promises to "deliver almost complete calm" in the cabin when the roof is removed.
In addition, the engine cover now features a "spinal column" with two lines of hexagonal windows, while the scissor doors have a chamfered edge for the frameless windows, providing a tight finish into the carbon fiber roof.
Some of the Roadster-exclusive features include 20- and 21-inch (front/rear) alloys that lower the vehicle's weight by 10 kg (22 pounds), along with a bespoke two-tone finish. The car seen in these official photos is wearing an Azzuro Thetis paintjob, a throwback to the paint used for the 1968 Miura Roadster.
The 2013 Lamborghini Aventador Roadster will go on sale next summer at a starting price of 300,000 EUR before taxes.


text:
By JOEL COLEMAN
Starkville Academy football coach Jeff Terrill knows a thing or two about the process of rebuilding a football program.
After all, the veteran leader is currently in the midst of his quest to return the Volunteers to prominence, something that seems to be at hand following SA's perfect 4-0 start to the 2011 season.
With his recent experiences, Terrill has a good understanding of where Hillcrest Christian stands coming into tonight's 7 p.m. district game in Jackson.
The Cougars (1-3) entered this year under first-year head coach Darrow Anderson having won just one game over the course of the previous three seasons.
Though Terrill admires the job Anderson is undertaking at Hillcrest, that doesn't mean the Vols are overlooking the Cougars.
"They're probably where we were last year," said Terrill of Hillcrest. "But we do see them getting better each week in film and thought they played well last week.
"We tell our kids that we respect everyone. So we're just focusing on trying to get better ourselves."
Through its four games this season, the Vols seemingly are improving weekly, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
That much was evident last week in SA's 42-14 win on the road at Leake Academy when the Vols put up 457 yards of total offense, 396 of those coming via the rushing attack.
Included in that was 185 yards and four touchdowns on the ground by Ryan Mann and 115 rushing yards, 61 passing yards and a touchdown through the air for quarterback Drew Pellum.
"Offensively last week, I think you really just have to credit our offensive line," said Terrill. "We were excited to go to Leake, a traditionally-strong program, and have success and be able to get a win."
SA's defense kept up it's solid work against Leake as well, bending but not breaking.
The Vols are allowing, on average, just six points per game coming into tonight.
Despite SA's stinginess, the Vols defense will face a stiff test from Hillcrest in the form of senior running back T.J. Knowles.
On a team limited when it comes to experience, Knowles is the offensive catalyst.
Earlier this year, in Hillcrest's win over Adams County Christian, Knowles carried the ball 37 times for 357 yards.
"He's a very talented running back, about as good as we've seen," said Terrill of Knowles. "If you stop him, you've done an awful lot to their offense. He's got great speed and great determination. He's just a good player."
If the Vols can contain Knowles and maintain their own recent offensive production, SA has a chance to hit the midpoint of the regular season unbeaten one week ahead of a much-anticipated showdown on the road at Jackson Prep.
Yet you won't catch the Vols or Terrill looking at things that way.
Terrill declined any comment on next week's contest against Jackson Prep, other than to emphasize his team's singular mindset for tonight.
"There's only one team we're playing this week and that's Hillcrest," said Terrill.


text:
We Sell Calgary
Focusing on Unique Homes & Urban Condos
Welcome to RushtonProperties.ca. No matter where you are in your real estate journey you have come to the right place. We have three goals here:
1. To show off the incredible homes we have been hired to sell
From a selling point of view we offer our clients an integrated approach to Real Estate marketing; combining traditional marketing tactics such as print advertising and direct mail with a powerful digital marketing strategy that utilizes blogs, social media, key word campaigns and this website www.RushtonProperties.ca.
More on our Marketing Services...
2. To make buying a condo, loft, townhouse or penthouse ridiculously easy (& fun)
There has never been a better time to buy a home in Calgary! Whether you are a first time buyer or an experienced investor, moving up, downsizing or looking for pre-construction there are a plethora of options available for you. We offer some of the most dynamic search options available in the market today. Check out our Collections Page where you will find info on Calgary's Loft culture, Townhouses and Luxe Penthouses as well as all current listing for these three unique categories. Sign up for our auto-listing notification and never miss a hot listing again.
More on finding your new home...
Calgary's Quickest Condo Search
Looking for something else? Search all Calgary Real Estate or, Check out our Map Search
3. To change the perception of the Real Estate Industry
I am truly passionate about the Real Estate Industry and I owe many of the best things, people and experiences in my life to the fact that I choose (or was chosen, depending on how you look at it) to become a Realtor in 2006. However, there are many things about my industry I do not love...Gandhi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world" Now, I don't believe I am Gandhi-like by any means but I do believe in being the change I wish to see in my industry. From transparency and professionalism to work ethic and hustle to a customer-centric and fun atmosphere. When you choose to work with Rushton Properties we recognize you have a choice in the Realtor you choose to represent you. We will work daily to reassure you that you made the right choice.
More about RushtonProperties...
Featured Calgary Condo Buildings
Colours by Batistella
135 13th Ave SW
McGill Block Lofts
812 8th Street SE
317 19th Ave SW
138 18th Ave SW
Manhattan Lofts
220 11th Ave SW
Le Beau
328 21st Ave SW
La Rive
108 25th Ave SW
Orange Lofts
535 8th Ave SE
Aurora Lofts
1800 26th Ave SW
Elements of Mission
208 Holy Cross Lane SW
Casel on 17th
2505 17th Ave SW
Riverfront Pointe
315 & 325 3rd Street SE


text:
Toronto Raptors (14-23) at Brooklyn Nets (22-15), 7:30 p.m.
(Sports Network) - Don't look now but the Brooklyn Nets are creeping up the
Atlantic Division standings and have taken flight since P.J. Carlesimo took
over coaching duties.
Brooklyn targets its seventh straight win when it welcomes the Toronto Raptors
to Barclays Center Tuesday night in a matchup between division inhabitants.
The Nets improved to 8-1 under Carlesimo with a 97-86 triumph over the Indiana
Pacers on Sunday as Deron Williams led the charge with a team-high 22 points
and nine assists. Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez scored 20 and 15 points,
respectively, for the Nets, who are unbeaten in the New Year and have won
eight of nine overall.
"This was a big game for us, we had won five in a row, but most of them were
against teams under .500," Williams said. "This was a good test for us, a good
challenge against a good team. I'm glad we came ready and stepped up our
Brooklyn has won five in a row at home and owns a 14-7 record in their new
digs this season. The Nets are 10-3 against teams from the East at home and
14-0 in games played against teams with a record below. 500.
The Nets have steadily improved under Carlesimo, scoring 101.8 ppg in the last
nine as opposed to 94.5 ppg under Avery Johnson, and sit two games behind the
New York Knicks in the Atlantic. After tonight's game the Nets will start a
home-and-home series with a trip to Atlanta on Wednesday.
On the injury front for Brooklyn, forward Gerald Wallace (ribs) did not play
against the Pacers and is questionable versus Toronto. He is averaging 9.8
points and 5.5 rebounds this season.
Toronto just went 3-3 on a recent homestand and look to rain on Brooklyn's
parade. The Raptors had won two straight and 10 of 13 games until sustaining a
107-96 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday.
DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed five rebounds, while
Amir Johnson contributed 22 points and 14 boards for the Raptors. Jose
Calderon had 21 points and Ed Davis netted 20 in the loss.
"We got off to a great start, but our second unit got us out of rhythm,"
Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "Our second unit has to learn how to come in
and keep it going."
Johnson is averaging 18.3 points and 10.8 rebounds since cracking the starting
lineup Jan. 6 versus Oklahoma City. Davis is posting averages of 13.3 points
and 8.0 rebounds in that span, too. DeRozan averaged 16.2 ppg during the
recent homestand and leads the Raptors with 17.9 ppg this season.
The Raptors will return home this evening for a showdown with Chicago
scheduled for Wednesday.
Toronto has lost both of its meetings with Brooklyn this season and six of
nine overall in the series. DeRozan is averaging 18.0 ppg in the two games
against the Nets.


text:
Google Drive on the web
You can change a number of settings in Google Drive on the web.
- Open Google Drive at drive.google.com.
- Click the settings icon in the top right .
- Select Settings.
- Depending on the version of Google Drive you're using, you may see the following options:
- Convert uploads
- Language
- Manage apps
- Opt-in/Opt-out of offline
- Locale
- Time zone
- Bold any updated items
- Show right-to-left controls
Google Drive settings carry over to the Google Docs editor home screens by default. To adjust a setting from within the Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides home screens, click the menu icon > Settings.
Google Drive for your Mac/PC
You can change a number of settings in Drive on your Mac or PC.
- Click the Google Drive icon .
- On a Mac, the icon is usually found in the menu bar at the top right of your desktop screen.
- On a PC, the icon is usually found in the taskbar in the bottom right of your desktop screen.
- Click the overflow icon in the top right .
- Select Preferences.
- Change any of the desired settings from the list below.
Under "Account":
- Disconnect account: Connect your Google Drive desktop folder to another Google Account (not recommended).
- Get more storage: Purchase additional Google Drive storage.
Under "Sync options":
- Only sync some folders to this computer: Select which "My Drive" folders to sync to your computer. De-select the folders you don't want to sync.
- Sync shared items: Add files and folders from "Shared with me" to "My Drive" to sync to your computer.
Under "Advanced":
- Start Google Drive automatically when you start your computer: Launch Google Drive and start syncing "My Drive" to the Google Drive for desktop folder on your computer.
- Send crash reports and usage statistics to Google: Send information to Google to help us prioritize features and improvements we should work on.
- Proxy: Switch between "Direct connection" and "Automatically detect proxy settings".
- Bandwidth settings: Choose how much bandwidth Drive leaves for other programs on your computer (in kilobytes per second) or choose "Don't limit" to choose the fastest rate.
- Misc: Show file sync status icons.
Matt is a Docs & Drive expert and author of this help page. Leave him feedback below about the page.


text:
Students are encouraged to use eServices, a password-protected service for viewing VCU student records online, to check the status of their financial aid application and award package. Students also may register for classes, print bills and more. The eServices Web site is located at www.eservices.vcu.edu/.
Comments/feedback about this site | Bulletin (catalog) archives/printer-friendly bulletins | About these bulletins
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Contact us: email@example.com
Last update: 4/25/2007


text:
$245 million face-lift for S.D. flattop
Overhaul work adds defensive weapons, upgrades bathrooms, sleeping areas and communication systems on carrier Vinson
What do you get in a $245 million overhaul of an aircraft carrier?
The Carl Vinson, the only Navy flattop currently assigned to San Diego Bay, recently finished a six-month appointment with the hammer and the paintbrush. That white wrapping that made the 1,092-foot ship look mummified this fall kept work debris from dropping into the bay.
The Vinson emerged with two new 20 mm guns for defense of the ship, new computerized control of the all-important engines that stop jets upon landing, beefed-up bandwidth for emails home and new bunks for a quarter of its sailors — in addition to other things that were too classified for the Navy to discuss in detail or display.
This is the kind of work the Navy must do to ensure that a 30-year-old aircraft carrier makes it to age 50 — the expected life span for a multibillion-dollar public investment.
Glad to be done, the crew has taken the ship out for a spin twice since early February when work finished. The new gray paint looks shiny when the sun hits it.
All hands at work
It wasn't an easy summer and fall for Vinson sailors. Just about all 2,800 crew members had to help with hard labor.
As one example, sailors trained in intelligence work and air operations stripped one large living area — called a "berthing" in Navy parlance — down to the bare walls. Then they repainted and installed new bunks and lockers.
Capt. Kent Whalen said he is proud of his crew, which laid 140,000 square feet of new linoleum tile throughout the ship. They were joined by 900 technical workers from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and 100 civilian contractors.
"We overhaul our own 'heads' — our own bathrooms, if you will. Take the deck out, get all the mold off the ceilings, to the bare metal. Put new paint on it, put in new stainless sinks, countertops and showers. Make it nice," Whalen said.
"You might have people who are supposed to be working on computer systems down there grinding paint off of steel," he said, adding that the Navy saves money when sailors, not civilians, do the work.
It probably wasn't what these sailors dreamed of when joining the Navy. Still, some are pretty pleased with the overall results.
They've already fired the new self-defense guns, officially referred to as the Close-In Weapons System or CIWS (pronounced cee-whiz).
They look like Gatling guns, six barrels each, firing 75 rounds a second. Traditionally, these weapons functioned as a carrier's last defense against incoming missiles.
The Vinson hasn't carried the system for the past few years. Now it is back and upgraded, with thicker, longer barrels for accuracy.
And there's a new heat-reading camera that enables a sailor to pinpoint and manually fire at approaching boats and targets on the shore. That means the CIWS can protect the ship when it is docked at foreign ports. Previously, the gun only shot at incoming targets.
Fire Controlman 2nd Class Paul Sannes was at the manual controls when the gun fired recently.


text:
Following on the heels of this post to the SitePoint blog (about "roughtime"), Akash Mehta has posted his own version of providing users with something a little different - relative time.
I understood the merits of the approach, but it struck me that a relative time might be a little more useful for many situations. For example, in a fast moving discussion, a short timestamp (e.g. 8:30 AM) as well as a verbal summary of how long ago the time was (e.g. "4 hours ago", "20 minutes ago") are most useful to the user. [...] Now, I figured this could be achieved very easily in PHP - and it could.
His code is included showing a series of if/else comparisons that change the values to their hour/minute/second counterparts. He also recommends the PEAR Numbers_Words package to help with readability.


text:
Congratulations! Now your baby will probably begin to stay awake longer during the day and sleep more at night. Probably — but the range of normal is still very wide.
Your baby's sleep phases are much the same as your own: drowsiness, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, light sleep, deep sleep, and very deep sleep. Your baby might start sleeping through the night now — but the definition of "sleeping through the night" at this age is a stretch of only 5 hours!
Since babies are more alert and aware of their immediate surroundings during the daylight hours, they're more inclined to sleep during the night, especially if parents fight the urge to play or talk to their baby during nighttime feedings or diaper changes.
Your baby is adapting to the sleep-wake cycle that parents favor, and the baby's stomach is growing and holding more breast milk or formula. At 3 months of age your baby will likely sleep about 15 hours out of each 24-hour period, and two thirds of that sleep will take place during the night.
Most babies will have settled into a daily sleep routine of two or three sleep periods during the day, followed by "sleeping through the night" for 6 to 7 hours after a late-night feeding.
If your baby is sleeping a lot when you want him or her awake — or vice versa — encourage wakefulness during the day while also allowing your baby to have distinct sleeping periods. You also can rouse your baby for the late-night feeding at a time that suits your sleep schedule. For instance, if your baby gets sleepy after the 7 p.m. feeding and sleeps until 2 a.m. before feeding again, wake the baby to feed at 11 p.m. and then put him or her down to sleep until an early-morning feeding at 5 or 6 a.m. It may take a few nights to establish this routine, but it will happen if you're consistent.
If your baby wakes during the period that you want him or her to be sleeping, keep activity to a minimum. Change or feed your baby in the dark, and don't play with the baby. Your little one will start to get the message that you're a bore during the night, so he or she might as well just go back to sleep.
Again, not all infants keep to the same timetable. If you have questions or concerns, check with your doctor.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that healthy infants be placed on their backs to sleep, not on their stomachs. The incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has decreased by more than 50% since this recommendation was first made in 1992. It is now also recommended that premature infants sleep only on their backs.
It is thought that some babies sleeping on their stomachs may have a greater tendency toward sleep obstruction and rebreathing their own carbon dioxide because they're less likely to rouse themselves to change head positions. Another possibility is that they may suffocate on softer bedding if they're lying face-down.
Once your child is rolling over on his or her own, around 5 to 6 months of age, you no longer need to worry about sleep positioning. If you have difficulty getting your baby to sleep on his or her back before this age, though, talk to your doctor.
Always keep sleep safety in mind. Make sure your crib meets current safety standards. Don't put anything in the crib that can interfere with your baby's breathing — stuffed animals, blankets, or soft pillows can fall on a baby's face and become a problem. Although bumper pads were widely used in the past, they are no longer recommended. A study, using data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), found a number of accidental deaths appeared to be related to the use of bumper pads in cribs and bassinets. The AAP and other pediatric organizations strongly discourage the use of bumper pads in cribs to avoid accidental suffocation.
Also, avoid items with cords, ties, or ribbons that can wrap around a baby's neck, and objects with any kind of sharp edge or corner. Babies can also get tangled in hanging mobiles, so remove them as well. Don't forget to look around for the things that your baby can touch from a standing position in the crib. Wall hangings, pictures, draperies, and window blind cords are potentially harmful if within baby's reach.
Many cultures endorse cosleeping. But studies indicate that there is a greater incidence of SIDS in households where the infant slept in the bed with the parents. Use of substances that decrease the parents' awareness, such as alcohol, also may allow a parent to roll over onto the baby.
If you haven't already, try establishing a bedtime routine that will be familiar and relaxing for your baby. Bathing, reading, and singing can be soothing for parents and babies and signal an end to the day. Be consistent, and your baby will soon associate these steps with sleeping.
Remember: if part of your bedtime routine is to rock your baby for half an hour, then whenever waking during the night your baby is going to expect and need that step to get back to sleep. Ideally, your baby should be put into a crib or bassinet while drowsy but still awake. This way your baby will learn to fall asleep on his or her own.
Although it may be hard at first, some experts suggest this is also the age to start letting your baby fuss for a few minutes when he or she wakes during the night. Your baby may simply be in a phase of light slumber, even though you think your baby is totally awake. Some babies squirm, whine, and even cry in their sleep before putting themselves back to sleep.
Unless you suspect that your baby is hungry or ill, try to see what happens if you leave your baby alone. It will help you all in the long run if your baby can develop the skill of going back to sleep without your help.
If your baby's sleep habits concern you, speak with your doctor, who can reassure you or get to the root of a physical problem that may have no other symptoms besides crankiness or sleeplessness.
Either way, the doctor can help get you on the right track . . . the one that leads to more quality sleep for your baby and for you!
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: September 2011
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995–2014 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved.
Find out by selecting your child's symptom or health condition in the list below:
In This Issue
Download Summer 2015 (PDF)
Enjoy heartwarming stories about mothers and patients and learn more about the amazing work done by the doctors and nurses at Seattle Children's. Consider making a donation in honor of a woman you know, love or admire at www.seattlechildrens.org/mothersday.
Play Video
Protect your kids from certain cancers and other diseases caused by human papillomavirus, or HPV. Get your girls and boys vaccinated when they are 11 or 12, or as soon as possible if they're already 13 or older. The vaccine is a series of three doses. Be sure your child completes the whole series for the best protection. If you have questions...
Vaccine is the best way to prevent seasonal flu. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine each year, whether it's as a shot or as a nasal spray. Your healthcare provider can help you choose the right form. Get the vaccine for your family as soon as you are able, and be sure to ask anyone who takes care of your child to get the...


text: Sathyajith aka "Sathya" or "cpg" loves working on computers, and actively participates in many online communities. Sathya is a Community Moderator on Super User, a collaboratively maintained Q&A site which is part of the Stack Exchange network. Sathya also contributes to and is a Super Moderator at Chip India Forums. While not writing SQL queries or coding in PL/SQL, Sathya is also a gamer, a Linux enthusiast, and maintains a blog on Linux & OpenSource. You can reach Sathya on twitter. Sathya Bhat has written 129 articles for us and can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com.