text:
The truth will out
Relapse to recovery
Life's good
Them something us two
I'm deeply philosophical about this. Belly full of rum. We go one up, we get a man sent off, we re-shape and somehow with it hold onto hope until we give it all away before half time. We re-shape again for the second half and once again look more than the sum of our parts, but its still too big a task for us.
Hello Goodbye
Like a hellmouth erupting in Sunnydale, it's all kicking off. Except there's no Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Just a bald headed bloke armed with a shrewd grin on his face and some pound notes stuffed in his pockets. Stakes are high. Everyone is holding their hands up to their beating hearts. It's not all done and dusted just yet.
Bassong to Norwich. Not unexpected. A player that cost us £8M and has gone for considerably less. Did not have the best of times at Spurs. Started well, faded, didn't really get a look in. Not a shocker his career in Lilywhite amounted to cameo appearance and grunts of frustration. Marginalised and now gone.
Dawson leaving for QPR (bid accepted) for £5.5M / £7.5M / £9M (depending on source) is one that leaves me with a heavy heart. I love big Daws. His smile, his endeavour. The way he played so majestically alongside Ledley King. Not so great alongside others. A confidence player that many of us wanted to see cement that centre-back position and armband. He came close.
The fact he was the make-weight in the deal that saw Andy Reid sign for us is wonderfully ironic. A great servant to the club, I know that's a cliché, but he was. Struggled with injuries, not the quickest player but one with heart and effort and a player that wore the shirt with pride and celebrated like a supporter when we won. I will miss the bloke dearly. He lives local to me. Last time I saw him in my local Boots I just gave him a knowing glance. Next time, I'll risk a restraining order and hug the big lug. Good luck Michael. Loyal to Spurs. Shame we're not as loyal to him as he has been to us. I guess with Vert, Kaboul and Caulker (and the experience of Gallas) along with the high line pacey tactic, he doesn't fit into the new system. Villas-Boas putting the team first, sacrificing sentimentality for progress. Which is a good thing, but equally a little sad. I said good luck already, I'll say it again. Let's hope we're covered then, what with 38 league games and Europa League and domestic cups. That good luck stretches to Villas-Boas also.
Moving on...
Adebayor finally signs. Yes, it's not a dream. It's happened. He even tweeted about it. Unless his account was hacked again. But no, it's done. For £5M. With City set to fork out the same amount in wages to the player. Modern football is very confusing and very expensive. For some. Levy seems to enjoy the game. It means we have strength up top for WBA on Saturday. Adebayor gave us assists and goals last season. We'll have to wait and see if VB was serious about having Harry Kane as his 3rd choice. If so, then we have our three strikers for the season. Except when you look at them, it still feels weak in depth. We need another forward. A striker, a more robust intelligent poacher. Okay, so now I might be dreaming.
As for midfielders, Huddlestone and Jenas linked with loan moves away although these persisted as rumours with no follow up after the 'stories' broke. Luka Modric mean while first made an appearance in Spanish football newspaper Marca, only to then be revealed as a three year old photograph that had been photo-shopped. Then an appearance on the Madrid official website, hidden away but discovered before being removed. Image below (courtesy of Sibs who was quick to screen-grab it):
We await for official confirmation. Then the only thing that matters. Movement for a replacement.
Good day for the chairman. Good window in fact if you add up the money so far which you hope goes back towards supporting the coach as an ample war chest - Corluka £5M, Niko £4M, Pienaar £4.5M, Bassong £6M, Daws £9M (tbc) and Modric, £35M with any luck.
A step forward for the club, moving closer to fixing up the squad but still plenty of question marks. All to be resolved, answered with time.
Ten days time. Tick tock.
Calm before the storm
I'm travelling, or will be shortly, so depending on whether I get drunk at the hotel bar and then decide to rant via iphone about our lack of apparent decisiveness with < insert complaint here > or perhaps not I probably won't blog anything of any real consequence until I'm back. There's hardly much newsworthy content doing the rounds at the minute. I guess I could make some up?
Not long to go before the start of the season, slightly longer till the closure of the transfer window. Seems it's shaping up to be a three-tier summer of activity. We got the new coach in early followed by two signings. That was tier one, giving us assurance and confidence. Villas-Boas has supposedly let players know if they have a place in his plans, the ones that don't will be sold (that's if anyone can match Levy's valuation of them). That was tier two, an assessment and clean-up. We all know long term dynamic changes in formation and methodology will come in the course of the season playing out. Villas-Boas has already, on a number of occasions, cited the fact that not too much will change initially. The most important aspect of all of this involves the work done on the training pitch and we won't know the level of impact until we visit Newcastle.
Tier three is where we find ourselves right this second. Ideally, the club will bring in two more players before the start of the season. Adebayor being the most likely one, the other also a forward. Basically nothing has changed from last week and the week before that. Everyone is waiting for something to happen. I've sat back and enjoyed the Olympics, not something I expected to do as I was quite cynical with it all beforehand. Not even sure why I was like that, perhaps the whole Stratford bid clouded my patriotism in the build up to it. I've always been a big fan of track and field, so happy this summer has included a fair amount of distraction. No such entertainment elsewhere. Tabloids, Twitter and ITK twits continue to regurgitate the same rumours with their suggestive cryptic clues. It's not that I'm bored, just anxious to see the season kick start.
As for Luka Modric, the longer the saga drags on the more concerned I become. I've blogged about this before, that there has to be a cut off date with this. If we can only buy certain transfer targets off the back of selling Modric to Madrid then there has to be a point in the summer, in the next couple of weeks where Levy's stance is final; "Bid 'today' or else the player stays". We can't sell him days before the deadline then expect to sign a replacement - unless there's a very definite domino effect waiting to play out. The easiest way to handle all this, as a fan, is to admit we (as fans) know nothing about what is transpiring behind closed doors. All we can do is have faith that the type of players we think we need are the very same type the chairman and coach are targeting. I think we can agree that is definitely the case. Otherwise we're doomed to the indignity of 5th spot :trollface:
In the meantime, I'll be on Twitter thanks to free hotel wi-fi, laughing at allegedly hacked footballer accounts and people generally wetting their panties in anticipation for something, anything.
The Fighting Cock podcast is also back this week, so look out for episode one of season two on Thursday/Friday. I won't be on it, but there's a guaranteed wealth of drunken philosophy that will cater for your listening needs. I have to wait until next week before I rejoin the glory hole of Spurs. Not forgetting the return of the 'Ultras' (to be renamed), following the Spurs youth team on their travels. We took 200 to Charlton last season for a FA Youth Cup game. More of the same this season including the NextGen series, including Barcelona at the Lane (although I'll hazard a guess the Spurs training ground fixtures are behind closed doors) - we'll keep you posted on the details.
Calm before the storm then. I guess we best enjoy it. It's going to go mental once the Kraken is released.
(Kraken is a metaphor and not a £20M striker)
DML Supa Liga
Fantasy Football and me, do not go hand in hand. Full of confidence on day one, by Christmas I'm out of the race like a much maligned Spurs side of the 1990s. I blame other distractions such as Football Manager but the reality is, I lose focus faster than Harry Redknapp in the midst of flirting with England. However, you lot appear to want this back again, so knock yourselves out:
Code to join the DML Supa Liga is: 195141-56816 (via Fantasy Premier League 2012/13)
May the most obsessed geek win.
More Hot Spurts
This is the best team you've ever played for
This is how things have panned out so far this summer. A player is linked. We're then told by an assortment of sources that he's about to sign, there's a deafening silence whilst the same news sources repeat the same story but with different headlines, followed by another silent moment before he does actually sign . We then have to wait an extra few days for his medical meaning it's still not actually official. Then an additional two days for Spurs to catch up and officially declare it's done and dusted. Looks like we're about to dance the same jig, to the tune that saw Sig and Vert skip into N17 gleefully...this time a not so old friend returning on a more permanent basis. Adebayor is set to sign. I think. £5M / £6M fee and apparently a wage-structure busting pay packet (or perhaps a lump sum signing on fee), who knows? Levy does, whilst the rest of us continue to scratch chins waiting to find out how we've managed to pay him 100k + per week. Because even though we don't know what is going on behind the scenes we're still going to base our analysis on rumours.
I'll stop dancing that jig if it turns out we've got a bottomless pit and can now afford to pay the tax on behalf of the players we pick out for preferential treatment. For now, I'm hoping the player can return and improve on his performances from last season which were more than decent. He scored a fair few, assisted marvellously and fitted into the style of play – a team player not an individual dependent on everyone else to carry him around. Okay, so he did mis-fire, was unlucky with disallowed goals and did not get half the support in the pen box he should have got. But all these tactical deficiencies we hope to see corrected in the next year. Now he's on a permanent contract for us, he'll have to excel. I don't buy into the lazy dysfunctional version of Adebayor and I'm certain neither has our chairman. There's no culture of comfort at Spurs these days. That counts for something and should not be undervalued.
Pie in the sky
So Everton are supposedly on the verge of resigning Stephen Pienaar. Told you so. Yeah, that's right, I'm coming across all smug because the one time I decide to share some info it pans out exactly how I told it. What? What? Come at me bro, I can do ITK. Yeah, what? In fact anyone can. Especially black cab drivers in London who might say pick up a chairman of a football club and end up being told the dramatic story of how a player left a club for the riches on offer, desperate to do so only to then find himself wanting to escape from the hellish reality and return back to his former club. Bill Kenwright painted this exact picture months back, explaining that money rules the brains of footballers and there is simply no competition when it comes to the top four or five clubs signing the best the rest have. The irony with Pienaar, and it's common knowledge based on just following Spurs last season, is that Harry didn't want him and didn't really know what to do with him. A Levy signing, and yet apparently we're about to make a profit on him if we do sell him back (probably not really when you consider wages spent) but still...only Tottenham can make a mountain out of a mole hill and then build a rabbit hutch in it's place (that isn't meant to make any sense much like this transfer saga).
Midfield Merry-go-round
We're still waiting to see which club wins the race for Luka. After Villas-Boas revealed its down to which the one that meets our valuation of the player, we can only wait and see if that club is Real Madrid and the fee is £35M - £40M. Because let's face it, that's the best possible scenario. Luka goes abroad, we get a massive wedge of cash to go loopy with. The suggestions continue to persist that he's definitely on the way to La Liga so the questions are:
a) Do Madrid have the money?
b) Do they need to lighten their squad first to make room for him?
Yes and probably.
Once it's done then we sign Joao Moutinho. Easy right?
Armada strikes
We are (according to the press over in Spain) interested and willing to meet the buyout clause for Atlético Madrid's Adrián López Álvarez whilst the ITK community persist with the dream of being rocked by Falcao. The latter is brilliant and prolific and possibly out of our league (in the kindest way possible, he will fancy himself as Champions League pedigree and will cost an absolute bomb to the tune of £40M). Adrián is a couple of years younger and will be considerable cheaper (at just under half the price). I think someone has gotten wind of our inclination to spend and are trying to drum up some business and hype for their clients. Those pesky footie agents. When Villas-Boas left Porto he was instantly linked with returning to his former club to steal Falcao away for an alleged £26M (release clause). Then the player was cited at £80M. An obvious reconnection then...in the world of fantasy. I'm assuming he's got a new contract and a new release clause thesedays. So...Strurridge anyone?
Rafa isn't going to take a bite out of the Hamburg
He's leaving. He's not. It's because of his wife. Wife denies it on Twitter. Back and forth, it won't go away. But yesterday the player said he is happy at Spurs and doesn't want to leave. That's not to say it's completely his decision but I'm hoping we do keep him. If anything because he loves it against the Woolwich. VB wants to challenge on all fronts? If he's serious we need depth and we need quality and Rafa is an outstanding player. He might suffer from bouts of inconsistency, fitness issues but the words 'galvanise' and 'talismanic' were made for him. Belief is such an important commodity and he has it in abundance.
Fryers is hot property
Apparently he's left Man Utd and left Fergie fuming and is on his way to Spurs. Utd wanted £6M for him (supporters I've spoken to don't rate him at that price) and we'll end up paying considerably less. Hence the fuming. Although the fuming is more likely related to the mini-exodus of Utd yoof that have recently moved on from the club. Fryers is nineteen, plays left back and centre-back. Did I mention Fergie is fuming? Probably worth signing him just for that.
Walking tall
Loved Kyle Walker's attitude, talking about the changes at Spurs and the ambition to improve as an individual and as a collective. Again I ask, where is the player revolt? Also loving Jan Vertonghen's comments on the 'perfect fit' in relation to Villas-Boas pressure and possession football and being at Tottenham. Nice feeling that, players wanting to play for the shirt.That's something that at times is undervalued by us. May as well enjoy it when we've got it.
Bale and Adebayor
In his post-match interview Gareth Bale stated 'confidence is building'. There is little argument from me that you can't expect a team to snap out of bad form in a single game, at least not in our case when we've slumped to three losses on the trot followed by two draws. We've hardly been calamitous (bar one game in particular), but we've lacked fluidity and direction, usually just trying really hard without any essence of discipline. The court case and the England job have been influential (something I've preferred to avoid accepting) and the fact that up until this blip we had not actually suffered one beforehand (when losing previously, we'd bounce straight back). Trying to exorcise our demons was one of gradual progression, equalising late on against Stoke and then applying congested tactics away to Chelsea before growing in stature to almost nick the game. The Bolton cup game saw the return of our expressiveness and swagger with the players and team looking comfortable and instinctive in movement. And then it all worked itself out in the Swansea game.
As a collective, we're rejuvenated. One or two in that collective have been pivotal at times this season and are now rediscovering their old form (mojo) just in time for the run in.
When Spurs struggled so did Gareth Bale. I'm a staunch defender of the player. I'm not going to patronise you and suggest that players should not be immune to criticism but at times there is no balance to some of the arguments put forward. Some love to love him when he's playing well but seem quick to shoot him down when he doesn't, mostly to do with taglines such as 'believing the hype' and having an 'ego'. I guess the thinking is he does what he wants on the pitch to the detriment of the team. The reality is that he's young and level-headed but is also ambitious and wants to be the best in the world. We've got a player who has the potential to be able to believe that without a laughing track accompanying him. If he's encouraged or instructed to play on the right, swap wings or play centrally then he's not going to say no to it. Harry Redknapp has to take responsibility here as there is no doubt that roaming/free-role play will make him a better player in the long run but he has to be managed correctly and not simply given the license to play inside every game regardless of opponent.
A confident Bale would still create and be effective centrally but one lacking assurity (from himself and when surrounded by subdued colleagues) is hardly going to set the world on fire no matter the position he takes. Hence why we've all been screaming for back to basics. Bale, on he left. One up front. Modric in the middle. Get them doing what they're good at because at this moment in time the team is more important than any one player. But any one player can excel when he's playing in a team with equally confident team mates.
Bale mixed it up when the opportunity allowed him to against Swansea but the vast majority of his work was down the flank. Now perhaps against sterner opposition (as we've witnessed) the power and the glory is not always forthcoming (hence the central experiments). Again, this is down to coaching and making sure Bale is not overly impressionable off the back of the hype. When he's running low on confidence and attempts to run at goal all on his own that's not him pretending to be Ronaldo. That's him over-thinking, over-complicating matters because he's not quite in synch. It's a cheap shot to simply yell 'ego'.
Believing ones hype doesn't necessarily mean they think they can do as they wish and thus do so with arrogance. There is no disputing his technical skills, physical presence and his pace. He should be attempting new things all the time but he shouldn't be forgetting what he's solid at. He should continue to believe in the hype because it's not really hype. It's belief. This is about the desire to be the best. I guess in some ways it is about ego. But he's not parading himself as anything other than Gareth Bale. The beast has to be leashed but there are moments when he has to be unleashed. The owner needs to know exactly when to restrain and when to let go.
The most complete forward in the league? I don't care about anyone else, he's the most complete forward at Spurs and that's all that matters. We've been crying out for a player like him. Sure, perhaps the player in our fantasy dream world scores 30 goals per season but the reality is that such players are hard to come by and due to the system we play, we can only have one up top. Which means as important as goals are, being a team player is doubly important.
Sure, he can go missing and have off days. Because of his role (as forward) this is far more apparent but let's not pretend he's the only player that suffers from dips. Fact is, he assists. Fact is he allows others to come into offensive positions by virtue of his holding play and movement. If there's a player out there who will cost the same and score more whilst being able to offer the same link-play as he does then I suggest we sign that player. Otherwise, we make sure we sign the one we've got on a permanent contract and concern ourselves more with our second and third strikers (for the long term).
Even Berbatov (one of the finest players we've had in recent years) was accused of being lazy. The imperfections are always there but it's what they offer when they play to their best that matters and how they can still be influential when perhaps a goal is not forthcoming. Ideally, Adebayor should be scoring more. Questions will continue over his (sometimes) lacking first touch and his reluctance to bury the ball first time (didn't have a problem on Sunday). But if you take a look around the Prem there are few if any potentially available players that could do the job for us, the job he's doing.
Adebayor is a piece that fits into the puzzle. There is nothing to say we can't get ourselves a better puzzle, but we'll have to lose a piece first for that to happen.
Harry Redknapp was wrong
Tottenham 5 Newcastle United 0
If there was a performance that defined the word galvanised this was it. Harry's court case, the England job, the White Hart Lane faithful, the players...everything fused together perfectly to drive forward an emotive and at times wonderfully majestic game of one-sided football that illustrated what is so good about this Spurs side.
Patience is not a virtue that is often allowed to settle in amongst all the hyperbole and drama at any given club. We all knee-jerk in some way. Sometimes more subtle than the next person, but we're all guilty of it. It's simply self-doubt in an opinion or in someone or something. You react to it without properly processing every eventuality. One of the common trends of complaint and concern this season has been our squad depth. This was under the microscope recently during the month of January, resulting in players leaving the club and a couple arriving. Replacements for back up players when we all craved top drawer signings.
We scoffed. Scratched our heads. Fickle and forgetful considering the last time we misbehaved like that was when Scott Parker was signed. It's almost like we reset our pragmatism each time. We're actually a very decent side. We should revel in that far more than we do and have confidence in that fact. In Harry we trust, finally we trust him.
No van der Vaart so no 4411. Saha upfront with Adebayor in a traditional 442. Kranjcar retaining his place. Defoe and Lennon returning on the bench. The galvanised effortless movement and attacking prowess was beastly. Every player alive and hungry. We've questioned and debated the form of Adebayor, excusing his lack of goals because of the way he fits into the system we play but still we've shown concern for his quiet performances as of late. Isolated at times and with a despondent first touch. Yet against Newcastle he was electric. Unplayable. Four assists. Two for Saha one for BAE. Took the fifth goal for himself. Adebayor with eight assists for the season (edit: It's ten assists apparently). The option of playing two upfront when Rafa is unavailable is now enticing. Trust.
The new founded double act working tirelessly, running into space, into the channels looking for the ball, looking for each other. Saha, a wealth of experience knowing where to position himself. Along with every other Spurs player out there, they made a point. They made three points.
We showed everyone watching what Redknapp has crafted at Spurs when Spurs turn up at full pelt.
Benoit in the 4th, Saha in the 6th, Saha in the 20th, Kranjcar in the 34th. Saha's second a joy to behold in terms of team work. Over on the bench Harry was displaying pure emotion, releasing the stress of the court case with each goal scored celebrated like he was punching the bitter face of the HMRC.
The home crowd boisterous and proud singing their support for the manager. After the Wigan game (the support sang for Harry) this game finally witnessed a genuine embrace from the stands. A bear hug Martin Jol would have been proud of. One Harry fully appreciates. It's almost surreal, hearing 'We want you to stay' when at times we've been quite withdrawn for vocal support for him by name. Mainly due to the fact that he has distanced himself from Tottenham ('them') and the fact that he has very much always prioritised his brand name above and beyond all. He probably still does but you can not detach yourself from a club completely without the consequence of forging an affiliation with its fans.
We know Harry, we know he's about looking after number one but he's let his guard down a little. Just enough for us to finally invite him in. It's a very poignant moment this. And deserving for the successful restructure of a club that was a mess and massively under-performing when he first arrived.
Newcastle had an effort or two in the first half but nothing that looked like puncturing our defence successful. If there was a criticism to be aimed at us I would suggest we need to start looking at taking free kicks instinctively rather than attempting to craft some ilk of masterpiece from a set piece. But that's been a long running issue with us. Corners included. At half time and at 4-0 the most telling stat belonged to the aforementioned Adebayor. Four assists, so lazy he couldn't be arsed to score any himself. Until the second half.
The second half was not as rampant and bullish as the first. But it was still one of comfort and joy. In the opening forty-five we dominated with concise effective possession. We were clinical and brutal in our approach. You can question Newcastle's positioning but to take advantage you still have to endeavour to do so. Which we did with pace and tempo, relentless punishing tempo. Sometimes it just clicks altogether perfectly. Even with the players missing and the ones on the bench we did not look like weakened in any way. We welcomed back our manager and reminding him that there is more quality to work with in N17 than there is with the Three Lions. If he fancied staying put.
As for the second half not being rampant. Luka and Niko continued to work their socks off. Parker dominated Perch and Guthrie (mismatch) with his tenacity and commitment. Newcastle desperately missing Tiote and Cabaye. Even when we started to give the ball away a little, we never looked like a side that was concerned with the pace of the game slowing down. The fifth arrived on the 64th minute mark, Saha header with Adebayor hooking the volley into the net and then getting tickled for his effort in celebration whilst holding his knee on the ground. One or two other half chances here and there. The crowd continued to sing Harry's name. Lennon and JD replaced Bale and Saha. Nelsen came on for King. There was even time for a superb reflex save from Friedel from Ba.
Perfect evening. Handshakes all round.
The back line was powerful. BAE brought the crazy. You almost forgot we had King and Dawson there. In control and composed. So good, you didn't even notice them. Apart from Benny. He always makes sure you notice.
Parker and Modric the perfect middle two. With Livermore performing so admirably and Sandro an option, we look to be fit and ready for the battles we face in the coming weeks. Parker was back to his best, tackles and distribution. Luka is Luka. A gem, a wonderful rare gem, a thing of beauty and priceless.
Bale solid, hard working without the individualistic quirks.
Kranjcar equally solid continuing his form from the Liverpool game, defending/attacking. Team player.
Adebayor's best performance in Lilywhite. A Godzillaesque impact on the game, smashing down the black and white skyscrapers that Alan Pardew has built.
Saha a revelation. Levy and Harry's moneyball transfer tactic coming up trumps again. If he stays fit and performs with this level of movement/intelligence then we have the rejuvenated kick we'll need to make this second half of the season as successful as the first half. Defoe looked lively when he came on, fitting into the style of play Saha left when he was replaced. All three should keep each other motivated enough to compete for a place up front.
At the final whistle, with Newcastle outclassed, and everyone Lilywhite gleeful, we could all look back at what was further proof that the progression of Harry Redknapp's Tottenham continues to gather pace More than it's already gathered. Ambitious. Daring is achieving.
A team of brilliant individuals that play for each other and the unit. A team that plays for their manager. A team that can adapt formation when necessary. A team, on form, easing to victory over one that lacked any cohesive shape and simply failed to contain and compete sufficiently enough to make a fight of it. To bully a side like this is a requirement if you aspire for the progression to continue.
Suddenly, there is no knee-jerking looking at our squad. We have an option to play Niko who will retain possession well and link with Luka when discipline is required with a touch of cross-field vision. Lennon is now back if we wish to exploit space and stretch with width. With three forwards available we can rotate in a 442 and still have the option to play the 4411. With one defeat in 30 or so home games we have set the benchmark for ourselves to complement our possession by scoring goals and killing teams off. We've bossed many a game and not done that. It's so much easier when you're clinical because you can seek to push the game beyond the opposition in no time at all.
As for the gaffer, he wont be able to say no England. Its the pinnacle (for him). However, sometimes, an epiphany can change all that. Hoping he had one yesterday.
Harry Redknapp was wrong.
This season is the best we've ever had it. Last season was evolutionary as was the one before. It's continued into this season without the slumps and loss of confidence. Just strength solidified from one game to the next, momentum held close to our pumped out chests as we crow at ear-bursting levels. Tottenham, a big club in a big league.
Fantastic players, freedom of expression, brilliant football. That's as good as it can get for anyone.
You should love your club unequivocally no matter its stature or position. But you should never feel guilty if you lust for something more. Our tradition and our style, the Tottenham way...we're oozing it at the moment. Not in cameos like so many seasons in the past but in sustained form. Long may that continue. Because when you strip away all the want for silverware and top four what truly matters at the end of it is the joy your team gives you. This team doesn't fail to disappoint and I can't smile without it.
Harry Redknapp was wrong but it still makes him right.
Love the shirt.
Midfield majesty from magical Modric
Spurs 4 Liverpool 0
What a fantastic performance. I'm of course referring to club chairman Daniel Levy retaining wantaway Luka Modric (who should perhaps take note of Fernando Torres and his diminishing stature) who held firm with his summer transfer stance. If you wanted evidence that the Croatian deep-lying Worzel Gummidge had finally stuck his head on the right way, then our spanking of Kenny's ordinary boys is the perfect illustration of how important it was to say 'no' and laugh off the derisory bids. Attempting to imagine a Spurs side without Modric is admittance of languishing outside a top four challenge. Such is the importance of his forward-thinking industry and inter-play. He remains paramount to us contending for CL qualification, in a season that will perhaps end with defining conclusion in how we set-up to enter the summer period before the 2013 campaign.
Wasn't just Luka who majestically roamed the midfield with supreme confidence. Scott Parker worked to perfection alongside him in the middle to break up play and dig deep doing the less glamorous work required for us to dominate possession and thus create in the final third.
You can cite Liverpool's lack of quality, their inability to place us under any pressure and their implosion as further reasons for the comfortable win but then it was a win that was never in doubt. They lacked shape and ideas and only excelled in petulance and off-field delusion. Work in progress for sure.
In my match preview I asked Spurs to 'Release the Kraken'. Wasn't quite a Kraken. More of a baby Godzilla learning it's trade in the Tokyo suburbs before heading towards the skyscrapers. From the opening exchanges, we placed down a clear marker stating 'we're going to win'. This alone made me gleeful. We looked hungry, we played with urgency and the only frustration (be it one we all clearly lived with without complaint) was that it remained 1-0 for so long. Unlike in other games (oh so many) I had no ominous feeling we'd be dragged back to 1-1 at any given point during proceedings.
When we took the lead early on with the scorching effort from Modric, I lost myself momentarily in his celebration. That wasn't a fake smile or pretend joy from the little man. He looked genuinely happy and wanted to share it with the fans. Stopped short of kissing the badge (thank God). And that's all it takes. A moment. Just a single moment. In this case a superb goal and an equally imperious performance to lay to rest all the disgruntlement in a bed of fickle and apology. We sort of forgot about the Chelsea saga in the seconds that followed the goal and will give him the benefit of the doubt that he will kick on from here and give us the ilk of loyalty that screams 104 passes, 92% pass completion.
As mentioned, never felt Liverpool threatened us. We oozed belief and determination. Bale gave Skrtel a torrid time. Parker (as mentioned) worked his socks off and Adebayor led the line in the manner that was desperately missing so many times last season. Walker was admirable going forward. Kaboul made up for some lacklustre early season disasters. Who was in goal for us? I don't remember him having much to do. As for the four-four-two formation - it won the day heaping embarrassment on the Anfield club. Worth mentioning two on the trot for Ledley, who was impressive. Let's make sure that knee is willing and able for the NLD.
Without wishing to get too carried away, feet firmly on the ground.
Liverpool fans will argue they were woeful. I'd still argue we simply never gave them a chance to get any type of grip on the game. The two red cards (be it claims of inconsistency from the ref) pretty much summed them up. Untidy and frustrating. What's important is we looked up for it, wanted to win and won. It's always strange how we manage to look better when up against eleven men but we persevered in the end to give the score-line a dominant feel to it (and claw back some of that negative goal difference). Ade displaying simplicity in front of goal with great technique and link up play. And a brace. JD with a lovely finish. Can I use my favourite word about the side being galvanised? Confidence really does breed success.
Criticisms? Set-pieces still in desperate need for a re-boot.
It's just one game, just three points. But its testament to the fact that unlike the visitors we are not in the midst of a rebuild. We stagnated last season and now need to reclaim that guile we are capable of and push on from there. It's hardly implausible to aim for 4th or even 3rd. You have to believe, otherwise just call it a day.
Lennon. Huddlestone. Sandro. Gallas...all still to return. Rafa already back (he's always back earlier than he should be). Sandro and Gallas might be available to start against Stoke in the cup. Bit of positivity makes everything looks so much brighter, doesn't it?
Well done Spurs.
dml: You can also stream or download it here (make sure you have a Quicktime plug-in installed).
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How can I help my husband tolerate the sound of our baby crying?
My husband gets annoyed every time our twins cry. He's even freaked out to the point of running away and locking himself in the bathroom. He's helped me comfort them occasionally, but if they don't stop crying immediately after he picks them up, he gets angry. I've tried to talk to him, I've yelled at him ... with no results. He says the sound of a baby's cry is comparable to fingernails scratching a blackboard. What should I do?
Posted: 07/19/2004 by a BabyCenter Member
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Sometimes I think, maybe I am wrong, some men don't understand. My husband sometimes gets the same way. I would just ask him very specifically what bothers him about the crying. If there is a reasonable explanation maybe you can help him get over it. He helped make the babies too. If it is just because he is annoyed, tell him to get over it, nicely. He should help. Mothers get fusterated at the crying too, but we deal with it. Helping soothe a baby is bonding with them. They learn they can trust you and depend on you.posted 07/26/2004 by fiveam
A tip for quieting a baby quickly: Put your mouth right next to his/her ear and go SHHHH. The louder they are crying the louder you should SHHHH. I didn't think it would work until I tired it myself. Tell your husband to try this while rocking or swaying with your baby.posted 07/26/2004 by jo081880
A babie's cry can trigger a lot of emotions. If your husband feels helpless and out of control, you might help him by showing how to soothe your babies. For newborns up to 4 months I recommend the techniques described in the book "The Happiest Baby on the Block". They are also great for new daddies! If your husband doesn't like to read, get the video or DVD. He will feel like a pro if he can help them to stop crying in minutes! It really works. Tip: Check your local library.posted 07/26/2004 by Angeltouch24
I had the same problem and I found things to work better when I tried to UNDERSTAND his position and help him through it with LOVE rather then place demands on him or yell at him (like the "just deal with it" attitude). Try to help teach him how to sooth the baby. Start small - before your baby (or your husband) gets too upset and give suggestions on how to help. Maybe something like, "Ok, rocking didn't work so sometimes I take the baby outside to give her something new to look at, or try boncing her on my knee." If the baby calms even a little bit, tell your husband that he did it (reward his small success) and take over to finish the job until he can handle it all himself. Assure him that the baby is OK, just trying to tell us what she needs and we need to try to figure it out. Once he has a few successes he will probably melt with his new ability to calm the baby. My husband got angry because he was frustrated that he could not stop the baby from crying. The more he tried, the angrier he got. When I helped talk him through it and/or taught him new ways to comfort the baby, he felt much more in control and more confident to soothe the baby, and then was much more willing to help. Don't get bitter about his attitude because it can only make things worse. Once he feels understood, loved and accepted despite his weakness (I'm sure he knows it is a weakness), then he will be more willing to try harder. Good Luck. Our situation is MUCH better, but there are still times (very rarely) when I have to say to my husband, "Honey, your anger and stress is stressing me out. Please go outside for a walk and let me deal with this on my own." He can calm down with fresh air and I can calm the baby without a stressed out, grumpy man around. However, he can usually sooth the baby now that I helped teach him how. Most importantly - do it all in love!posted 07/26/2004 by Kristannabel
My husband has a hard time as well when our boys cry without stopping. I think that a lot of it stems back to the fact that men want to fix things. It does not always work that way with a baby - you can't just fix it and move on. Many times when our youngest cries, as when our oldest used to, my husband will look at me and say "what's wrong with him???" I always answered, "I don't know, he's not whispering it in my ear and just leaving you in the dark :)". My husband is a great dad and we have learned that there are times when he needs to remember that babies cry and our stressing out about it does nothing but stress them out further. Keep talking about it with your husband and see if maybe there are times when it bothers him more. For my husband, night time is the hardest so I deal with it then and then he does it during the day. Communication is the key and sometimes letting them read books that talk about your situation will also help. Good Luck.posted 07/26/2004 by pets4
My husband used to get disappointed when our daughter cried and I would end up always doing the walking, rocking, shushing/singing, etc....it was exhausting because she is premie and cried alot! After talking with him several times..he has gotten better....THANK GOD! Now she will calm down most of the time when either one of us holds her....but sometimes I'm the only one who can soothe her. We also know a little boy who SCREAMS whenever his mom takes a shower because she is the only one who did anything with him; especially when crying. Tell him these stories and maybe he'll realize that he would like to have a better relationship with your children!!posted 07/26/2004 by a BabyCenter Member
My husband wasn't sure what to make of our baby's crying when she was a newborn. Sometimes he would feel frustrated if he couldn't comfort her. I explained to him that crying is her way of communicating. That she's not saying she's mad at him, but she's saying "I don't feel well" or "I'm tired"... Realizing that helped him not taking her crying personally. It also helped him understand that she's trying to communicate what she needs or wants and then he was better able to problem solve.posted 07/26/2004 by Hope Fulfilled
Also, try taking a baby massage class together. It really can help a lot. If you think that the babies have gas and that's what is upsetting them, try Gerber Gas Relief Drops and bicyling the babies legs. It helps the work the gas out. Then GENTLY push their knees to their tummies to try to squeeze the gas out. They may grunt a bit, but they shouldn't scream about it. It might take a couple rounds of this leg work to move the gas, but it does work. It's worked with all three of my kids. Most babies love to dance to up-beat music, my kids did best with classic rock, big band and swing. And then sometimes, babies just want to be held. Try to help your husband be patient with your babies and try several things to calm them before you step in to take over. I think that a lot of the time parenting comes more naturally to women and it's more of a learned thing with men. Just teach him how to take care of them. I'm sure that he'll be more willing to help once he has learned to calm them with fairly regular success.posted 07/26/2004 by a BabyCenter Member
Sounds like he needs to stop acting like a child himself and finally be a responsible adult. No one likes to hear babies cry, but that what they do to communicate and your husband needs to suck it up and deal with it. I'd would keep a close eye on him if he gets angry with it though...posted 07/26/2004 by Duncanslady2000
My husband was the same way with our second child (the first didn't bother him as much). Tell him babies cry and he has to deal with it, then give him a set of headphones so he can crank his music and "dance" with the baby and it will soothe both of them. The best part is that this too will pass, babies will settle as they grow and he will handle it better with time.posted 07/26/2004 by a BabyCenter Member
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Since Fox didn't air their usual Sunday animation block of THE SIMPSONS, KING OF THE HILL and FUTURAMA, there were only three shows that made their way to primetime this week. Tied with five other shows for 104th, WBs THE PJS scored a 1.4 rating/2 share. Tied with four other shows for 110th, UPN's GARY & MIKE scored a 1.3 rating/2 share. Tied with four other shows for 115th, UPN's CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH scored a 1.2 rating/2 share. These ratings and shares represent primetime TV in the U.S. on broadcast networks for the week starting Monday, March 18 through Sunday, March 25, 2001. A rating is the percentage of households that tuned into the program in the entire universe of TV homes. The universe estimate for the 2000-2001 television season is 102.2 million TV homes. Each rating point represents one percent of that universe, or 1.022 million TV homes. Translation: THE PJS, with a 1.4 rating, was viewed in just over 1.43 million (1.4 x 1.022 million) households. A share is the percentage of homes with TVs being used at that given time.
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.


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Indulge yourself 150m from the famous Manly beach with this 2 bedroom beach apartment. Purpose fitted & designed as hotel style living.
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Dinning table for 4 people.
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Terms and Conditions of Temporary Holiday Accommodation
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Art Print
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Analysis Of The Dimensional Metrology Market In Emerging Economies
NEW YORK, April 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Analysis of the Dimensional Metrology Market in Emerging Economies http://www.reportlinker.com/p01158733/Analysis-of-the-Dimensional-Metrology-Market-in-Emerging-Economies.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Machine_Tool_and_EquipmentNeed for Low-cost Equipment will Fuel GrowthThis research service analyzes the dimensional metrology market in Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC). The market is segmented into coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and optical digitizer scanners (ODSs). A detailed analysis of growing regional market participants and an assessment of their market shares are provided for each country. This research service also evaluates the key drivers and restraints and the competitive landscape. The base year is 2011, and unit shipment and revenue forecasts are provided to 2016. Furthermore, conclusions about future trends in the market are included. Executive Summary• This research study covers the dimensional metrology market, which is comprised of both the coordinate measuring machines (CMM) and the optical digitizer and scanner (ODS) markets in Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC).• In 2011, the mature BRIC CMM market generated $X million in revenue, and a relatively stable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of X percent is expected to 2016. Bridge-type machines captured Xpercent of the total market in 2011.• The BRIC ODS market is in a nascent stage and generated $X million in revenue in 2011; Overall, this market is expected to have a Xpercent CAGR to 2016.• Technology presents high entry barriers; However, companies with a strong research and development (R&D) background and focus have the potential to enter the CMM market.• China is predicted to remain the biggest market in the BRIC cluster, and a combined total of $X million in revenue is expected for the CMM and ODS markets in China by 2016.• Research indicates that leading market participants are Hexagon Metrology, Carl Zeiss, and Faro Technology.• Low-cost CMMs and ODS applications are expected to create more demand for dimensional metrology and attract new clients. CEO's Perspective1. Low-cost CMMs and ODS applications have significant growth prospects.2. A direct presence in BRIC is the key approach for market visibility.3. Creating awareness about dimensional metrology at all levels will increase market opportunities.4. Heavy investment in research is required to make low-cost CMMs and scanner applications.5. Dimensional metrology manufacturers must partner with governments to generate business opportunities, especially in Brazil and India. DefinitionsThe product segments included in the CMM market include: Bridge-type Machine — this has a horizontal frame supported by two vertical columns. The machine arm is vertically suspended to measure the work piece. Gantry-type Machine — this has housing that covers the entire structure, which must measured, inspected, or scanned. This machine is well suited for inspection applications in the automotive, aerospace, and heavy transportation industries. Horizontal Arm Machine — This has flexible, vertical support and a horizontal arm that supports the probe. Articulated Arm Machine — This is a portable device with articulated or multi-axis arms. The probes can be placed in different directions, which increases flexibility. End-user industries are divided into the following segments: Automotive — Includes the various industries involved in the automotive supply chain, such as component manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Aerospace and Defense — Includes aerospace, defense, and military applications, such as commercial and private aviation spacecraft, military, and defense labs. Heavy Engineering and Machine Shops — Includes all energy, industrial manufacturing applications, and machine shop and metal fabrication work. Others — Include electronics and medical devices. Geographic Regions Covered The geographic focus of this research is restricted to Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC). Key Questions This Study Will Answer- CMM Market• Which country is most preferred for current profits and future growth?• How are companies meeting the needs of end-user industries?• What does the competitive landscape look like?• Which country appeals to all participants?• Which end-user segment presents the most growth opportunities?- ODS Market• Which country is most preferred for current profits and future growth?• How are companies meeting the needs of end-user industries?• What does the competitive landscape look like?• Which country appeals to all participants?• Which end-user segment presents the most growth opportunities? Table Of Contents1. Executive Summary2. CMM Market Overview3. CMM Market• External Challenges: Drivers and Restraints• Forecast and Trends• Market Share and Competitive Analysis4. Brazil Breakdown5. Russia Breakdown6. India Breakdown7. China Breakdown8. ODS Market Overview9. 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$7.9 million renovation transforms Stewart Army Lodging
July 29, 2010
By Bob Mathews, Stewart-Hunter Family and MWR Marketing
Story Highlights
- Fort Stewart updates, renovates Army lodging
<b>FORT STEWART, Ga. </b> - Guests who have stayed often in Army Lodging at Fort Stewart over the years have a word for newly renovated building 4950:
That was not among the words used to describe the three-story building before a $7.9 million, 18-month renovation project transformed it into a warm, more modern and welcoming facility on Coe Avenue.
"The building didn't meet Army Lodging standards," said Connie Parks, Lodging manager for Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield. "Our Soldiers deserve this renovation."
The phased-in renovation work at what once was a bachelor officers quarters was done one wing at a time, so badly needed rooms in the other two wings would be available for Soldiers and their Families. The work began in mid-October 2008 and was completed in late April of this year.
Two major additions are a sprinkler system and an elevator.
Crews from Stellar Construction in Jacksonville gutted each of the 99 rooms of building 4950, which was built in 1977.
Cinderblock walls now have sheetrock, painted with warm, inviting colors and graced with scenes of nearby Savannah. Once-exposed conduits are inside the walls. The bathrooms are new. New kitchenettes were installed. Hallways were enclosed and now are air-conditioned. There's a new laundry room. The building is wired for Wi-Fi. All-new furniture and fixtures were added at a cost $780,000.
"Our rooms have a kitchen sink, a cooktop, a refrigerator, cabinets and a microwave," Parks said. "A part of the Army Lodging standard is to provide pots and pans, and our rooms have a full complement of kitchen items, including microwave cookware."
What once served as a day room on the first floor became a continental breakfast area.
"That made our continental breakfast area compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act," Parks said, adding that the breakfast area previously was on the second floor of another building. "That made it difficult for our Soldiers who couldn't walk stairs."
The breakfast area is near the building entrance, where a new storefront, automated door welcomes guests.
The average stay at Army Lodging on Fort Stewart is about two weeks to a month.
Some building 4950 guests are Soldiers from the Warrior Transition Unit and their length of stay could vary between a month to a year or longer, she said.
For Warriors and other guests coping with physical challenges, building 4950 now offers six ADA-compliant rooms.
Prior to the renovation, there were none in this building. This brings the total ADA rooms to nine on Fort Stewart.
"(The renovation) was money well spent, Parks said. "It needed to happen. The reason we are here, is to take care of Soldiers and Family Members."


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Ron Vinder grew wary of stock-picking almost as soon as he landed on Wall Street. It was 1988, and Vinder was hitting the phones 12 hours a day for Lehman Brothers, pushing the firm's favorite stocks. The long days earned him decent commissions but also the knowledge that clients weren't making much money.
Twenty-four years later, Vinder, now a leading financial advisor at UBS Financial Services, eschews individual stocks almost entirely. Instead, he relies on exchange-traded funds, using them to carry out carefully tailored asset allocations. "The more asset classes that you introduce into a portfolio, the less risk and the better the return you'll have over a long period of time," Vinder says with a quiet confidence.
Named to Barron's annual list of Top 100 Advisors in 2011, Vinder ranks 77th in this year's tally, with assets under management totaling $2.9 billion and a median account value of $25 million.
The Idea: "The more asset classes you introduce into a portfolio, the less risk and the better the return." Brad Trent for Barron's
He explains his strategy to prospective clients right away, and his 110 clients have learned that he won't be calling with stock picks, or even to change allocations. "My whole investment philosophy is coming up with the right strategy and sticking to it," he says.
The approach can at times make clients antsy: Sitting back passively in the markets goes against human instinct. But as Vinder knows well, human instinct isn't always right. "Whenever an asset class does well, that's when individuals want to buy more," he points out. "And they want to sell what's doing poorly."
It's that kind of bad timing, coupled with high management fees and inefficient tax planning, that prevents most investors from even matching the returns of the S&P 500, he says.
Vinder builds portfolios in the same way that Moneyball hero Billy Beane crafted the overachieving Oakland Athletics: unbound by emotion or conventional wisdom, and armed with decades of historical data. Vinder determines a client's income needs and then uses his data to determine the asset combination with the highest return and lowest possible risk. The result is the "efficient frontier."
Once a year, Vinder's six-member New York-based team rebalances clients' portfolios, shedding some of the best-performing assets and buying more of the underachievers. "It kind of forces you to buy low and sell high, which is what everyone strives to do but doesn't," he says.
VINDER, 45, ARRIVED AT UBS in 2009, after four years at Merrill Lynch and 10 at Morgan Stanley. Today, he sits on the 23rd floor of IBM's former headquarters on Madison Avenue. From his corner office, the advisor has a bird's-eye view of midtown Manhattan and one of its busiest crossroads.
A few days before we visited Vinder at his office, the advisor had met a new client with approximately $30 million in assets. He built the 53-year-old a model that's 40% equities, 55% fixed income and 5% cash. That's the efficient frontier for this client; the average allocation across his client base comes to 50% equities, 43% fixed-income; 5% managed futures, and 2% cash.
The new client's stocks are split into small-, mid-, and large-caps, and further divided into growth and value categories—all through ETFs. In total, the portfolio uses 25 ETFs. Vinder looks for ETFs with the lowest possible fees, which means one less obstacle in matching the index's return.
The client gets exposure to traditional overseas markets through iShares MSCI EAFE EFA -0.42603953646898435% iShares MSCI EAFE ETF U.S.: NYSE Arca 58.43 -0.25 -0.42603953646898435% /Date(1461963600000-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 26709053 AFTER HOURS 58.43 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 933831 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap N/A Dividend Yield 1.7400616121855212% Rev. per Employee N/A More quote details and news » (ticker: EFA). Emerging markets is split between the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets EEM -0.43427909669947884% iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF U.S.: NYSE Arca 34.39 -0.15 -0.43427909669947884% /Date(1461963600020-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 81290757 AFTER HOURS 34.39 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 5191921 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap N/A Dividend Yield 2.9127013666763593% Rev. per Employee N/A More quote details and news » (EEM) and Vanguard MSCI Emerging Markets VWO -0.2% Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF U.S.: NYSE Arca 34.93 -0.07 -0.2% /Date(1461963600000-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 15622777 AFTER HOURS 34.98 0.0600000000000023 0.143143429716576% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 11753 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap N/A Dividend Yield 0.6527340395075866% Rev. per Employee N/A More quote details and news » (VWO). Bond holdings include PowerShares National Muni Bonds PZA 0.0772499034376207% PowerShares National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Portfolio U.S.: NYSE Arca 25.91 0.02 0.0772499034376207% /Date(1461963600000-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 521235 AFTER HOURS 25.81 -0.0199999999999996 -0.38595137012736397% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 200 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap N/A Dividend Yield 3.3003473562331145% Rev. per Employee N/A More quote details and news » (PZA), iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond LQD 0.10815307820299501% iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF U.S.: NYSE Arca 120.33 0.13 0.10815307820299501% /Date(1461963600030-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 2907403 AFTER HOURS 120.33 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 17150 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap N/A Dividend Yield 3.23779606083271% Rev. per Employee N/A More quote details and news » (LQD) and the SPDR Barclays Capital High Yield Bond Index JNK 0.170261066969353% SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF U.S.: NYSE Arca 35.3 0.06 0.170261066969353% /Date(1461963600012-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 14034360 AFTER HOURS 35.3 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 7891 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap N/A Dividend Yield 6.156985835694051% Rev. per Employee N/A More quote details and news » (JNK), which currently yields 7.1%.
There are no hedge funds in the mix and not much in the way of alternatives; he keeps up to 5% in managed futures accounts.
History bodes well for the approach. The average return from a diversified set of ETFs designed to track the markets returned 72% from 2002 through 2011, Vinder says. And that, of course, was a notably flat period for stock prices. Maybe the Lost Decade wasn't so hard to find after all.
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A journal of the workings of this archetypal tourist destination and of the sheer hard labour involved in keeping this very special place afloat. It is dedicated to the workers of the lagune who showed such good humour and grace and who rarely minded being photographed. My apologies to all the many of those who do not appear in this volume.
Self-taught, late starter, eclectic - looking for the hidden, unusual, absurd, funny and the beautiful aspects of human life and nature.
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Roman Holiday Published May 11, 2014
PALESTINE Published August 30, 2013
Roma is for lovers Published May 07, 2013
Manchester & Blackpool Published February 10, 2011
Berlin 2009 Published August 14, 2009
Kölner Eindrücke - Cologne Impressions Published June 09, 2009


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Professional Resume WritersHundreds of people around the country get hired every day and we believe that you deserve to be among them. That's why the mission of our Company is to create the resume or CV that will make the employer consider you as the best candidate to fill the open position. We offer you resume written by experts and give more opportunities for interviews. Choose the career level and allow our experienced writer to help you on the way to your success. Our exclusive first-rate resume writing services give you a head start over the other candidates. At Resume Writing Lab we have all the options to meet your needs in the process of looking for a job of your dream.
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Solo Sara Bareilles makes big impression in small room
The voice of Sara Bareilles could fill, and has filled, venues larger than the Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center Auditorium, which sold out its 435-seat capacity when she stopped there Friday night.
Bareilles was in the midst of her first-ever solo tour and evidently wanted the intimacy of a smaller venue - combined, perhaps, with the assurance that if she failed, she would do so in front of a smaller crowd. »Read Full Article(2)
Smart staging makes good 'Company' at Theatre Unchained
Putting aside the juicy tax breaks, is marriage worth it?
That's the question on the table in Stephen Sondheim's "Company," and to paraphrase from another Sondheim show, the answers in this great master's work are never easy. »Read Full Article
Top of the Charts: Pharrell Williams celebrates seventh week on top
Seven is the lucky number all around this week, as Pharrell Williams celebrates his seventh consecutive week on top of the Billboard Hot 100 and all of the top seven positions remained locked in position this week. Watch the video for Williams' big hit single below and then let's reset our decades and travel way back in time to see the songs that were the biggest in the land this week in 2000, 1990, 1980 and 1970.
No. 1 hit April 14, 2014 »Read Full Blog Post
On Tap Today: Milwaukee Day, Morgan Freeman and the Brewers
Hey, it's Milwaukee Day. And on this fine 4/14, local band Decibully reunites.
Time flies when you're watching movies. Marcus Theatres celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Shawshank Redemption" with showings beginning today. »Read Full Blog Post


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The Stock Market Game is a curriculum-based teaching tool that allows students to invest a hypothetical $100,000 online stock portfolio to learn about long-term saving and investing.Despite the troubling pirate news off the coast of Somalia as well as the earthquake in Italy, there were some positive headlines last week regarding the economy here at home. The markets rallied last Thursday in light of news from Wells Fargo (WFC - Get Report). The company announced it expects total revenue for the first quarter to grow by an estimated 16% to $20 billion. First-quarter earnings will not be reported until April 22, but the news shot the Dow up 246 points to close at 8,083, and the Nasdaq composite, and S&P 500 also posted positive gains.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is ready to become prime minister after a March 2 presidential election which his chosen successor is virtually sure to win.
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, russian-federation
A top leader of Burma's rebel Karen National Union (KNU) who was also a key figure in the democracy movement has been shot dead at his home in Thailand, Thai police and political exiles said.
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, thailand, burma
Posted| Updated
Zimbabwe's annualised inflation rate rose to a record 66,212.3 per cent in December, dealing another blow to President Robert Mugabe's efforts to pull the once prosperous African nation's economy out of a deep crisis.
Topics: world-politics, business-economics-and-finance, economic-trends, government-and-politics, zimbabwe
The Chinese Government has accused the United States of fabricating allegations of espionage.
Topics: world-politics, china, united-states
Iran has postponed a fourth round of talks with the United States in Baghdad on improving security in Iraq, giving no reason for the delay, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said.
Topics: world-politics, iraq, iran-islamic-republic-of, united-states
Posted| Updated
A huge security operation is taking place in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, where tens of thousands of people are attending separate rallies organised by the country's bitter political rivals.
Topics: world-politics, lebanon
Posted| Updated
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has welcomed Thursday's employment figures, but has warned that a tight labor market will put pressure on the economy.
Topics: federal-government, business-economics-and-finance, economic-trends, community-and-society, unemployment, government-and-politics, australia
The Senate has set up an inquiry into housing affordability.
Topics: federal-parliament, government-and-politics, housing, parliament, australia
Posted| Updated
The brother of Jose Ramos Horta says the United Nations security forces failed to adequately protect the East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta.
Topics: world-politics, east-timor
The Federal Senate has agreed to look at legislation to cut Australia's alcohol toll.
Topics: federal-parliament, government-and-politics, parliament, alcohol, australia
Posted| Updated
Police say they will not be able to recover the bodies of two men killed in a plane crash over the Kennedy Ranges in Western Australia's Gascoyne region until tomorrow.
Topics: air-and-space, accidents, disasters-and-accidents, gascoyne-river-6705, australia, wa
Neighbourhood fireworks will be allowed during the Queen's birthday long weekend in June, but the ACT Government says the public can expect tighter regulations.
Topics: states-and-territories, government-and-politics, canberra-2600, act, australia
Cricket Australia (CA) says players who take part in unofficial events such as the Indian rebel Twenty20 league risk having their contracts torn up and being frozen out by selectors.
Australian Cricket Captain Ricky Ponting is expecting Friday night's one day match to be an emotional one ahead of wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist's retirement from international cricket.
Topics: onedayseries, sport, cricket, perth-6000
Posted| Updated
The Prime Minister's plan for a 12-month pay freeze for federal politicians has been labelled a stunt by some in the Coalition even though Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson supports it.
Topics: federal-government, business-economics-and-finance, economic-trends, government-and-politics, australia
Posted| Updated
ASX Limited says individual investors who may have been spooked by the recent volatility on the Australian Stock Exchange are unlikely to affect overall share market participation.
Topics: stockmarket, business-economics-and-finance, company-news, economic-trends, markets, australia
The new Solomon Islands Government has lifted an entry ban on the former police commissioner and Australian Shane Castles who served as head of the Solomons police force from 2005 to 2007.
Topics: world-politics, law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, solomon-islands
The four-day match between Queensland and Western Australia has ended in a nail-biting draw, denying retiring Bulls paceman Michael Kasprowicz a fairytale finish.
Topics: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, perth-6000
Posted| Updated
West Australian Police have taken over investigations into allegations Western force half-back Matt Henjak broke the jaw of team-mate Haig Sare in a fight at a Fremantle pub.
Topics: rugby-union, law-crime-and-justice, crime, assault, sport, super-12, fremantle-6160
Posted| Updated
Racing Victoria chief executive Stephen Allanson has resigned over a betting scandal.
Topics: horse-racing, sport, vic, australia
Cricket Australia (CA) is still deciding whether to tour Pakistan next month amid safety concerns.
Posted| Updated
Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawardene says his team has a great chance of victory in Perth on Friday because he believes Australian players have lost their self belief in close matches.
Topics: onedayseries, sport, cricket, perth-6000, australia, sri-lanka
The Tasmanian Cricket Association expects a crowd of 8,000 for the domestic one day cricket final at Bellerive Oval on Saturday week.
Topics: sport, cricket, hobart-7000
The Federal Opposition has accused Kevin Rudd of being a part-time Prime Minister for not holding Question Time on the Friday of each parliamentary sitting week.
Topics: federal-parliament, government-and-politics, federal-government, parliament, parliament-house-2600, australia
Posted| Updated
The South Australian Government is urging Steve Bracks to put a freeze on tariffs to stop other car makers going the way of Mitsubishi.
Topics: automotive, state-parliament, alp, liberals, states-and-territories, adelaide-5000, sa, clovelly-park-5042


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Month: February 2011
MEMS News Updates
MEMS News Updates
Join BSAC for a Miniconference on Extreme MicroEnergy Harvesting and Storage
Contributed by John Huggins, Executive Director, Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center, UC Berkeley
As the more accessible methods for micro energy (microwatt-hour to watt-hour) harvesting and storage become commercialized, the research community will focus on extremes in efficiency and cost breakthroughs and exploration of entirely new methods and applications. Make no mistake; there is plenty of exciting new ground to be covered! We will in this session profile the space of current and anticipated micro energy harvesting needs and approaches suitable for sensing, computing, and communications.
The Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center will conduct this afternoon- through- evening conference and reception at the Leeds Certified Green David Brower Center on the edge of the beautiful UC Berkeley campus on Wednesday March 9th.
MEMS News Updates
ncorporating low-voltage die-based MEMS pressure sensors into device and equipment designs for measurement linearity and repeatability, with minimized power consumption and extended service life.
MIG Welcomes New Members, HP & Xsens
MEMS Industry Group is pleased to welcome our newest members:
More information on MEMS Industry Group and our members can be found at www.memsindustrygroup.org
Workshop on Intelligent Sensor Hub Call for Papers
Originally posted on Freescale's Smart Mobile Devices Embedded Beat Blog
Contributed by Mike Stanley
Last summer, Freescale broke ground with the announcement of its MMA9550L Xtrinsic Motion Sensing Platform (see Evolving Intelligence with Sensors). This chip represents a new class of device which is sometimes referred to as an intelligent sensor hub. Collectively, the industry has just scratched the surface of the things to be accomplished with these devices. There's a lot of opportunity to contribute from product, application and architectural perspectives. To help accelerate that trend, Freescale is one of the sponsors for the First International Workshop on Intelligent Sensor Hub (WISH 2011) to be held August 21-27, 2011 in Nice/Saint Laurent du Var, on the French Riviera. Held under the auspices of IARIA and hosted by SENSORDEVICES 2011, WISH 2011 is soliciting papers and tutorials from academia and industry on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to:
- Sensor data fusion
- Distributed sensor data processing
- Controllers and wireless sensor networks
- Motion sensing platforms
- Micro-Kalman filters
- Inertial Navigation
- Improved user interface
- Process control
- Robotics & Automation
- Remote monitoring/pointing devices
- Mobile and portable devices (phones, tablets..)
- Medical applications
- Industrial applications
I should mention that I'm a member of the Technical Program Committee for WISH 2011, and plan to contribute one (or more papers) to the workshop. I hope you do too. Submissions need to be in by March 23, 2011, so please don't wait. Submit your entry for WISH 2011 now at the IARIA paper submission website.


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Is That Lil' Kim? Rapper Shocks Fans With Transformation to Blonde White Woman
- 09:06 AM, Apr 25
LACMA 2013 Art and Film Gala Honoring Martin Scorsese and David Hockney Presented by Gucci
Photo credit: Brian To / WENN
To fit your screen, we scale this picture smaller than its actual size. The original picture size is 769x1000 pixels and this photo has been viewed 1026 times since November 02, 2013


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Critique My Shot
A few weeks ago we created a post that showed a few shots from what I believe will be our most popular Fstoppers video yet. I am currently editing the video and I hope to have it finished some time next week. Until then I thought it would be fun for you guys to critique my favorite shot from the shoot and then when the video launches we can see if your opinions change. Please visit the new critique section of our forum here and let the bashing begin.


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A re-imagining of the Oblivion mod Legend in the Sky, bringing a castle complex above the plains near Whiterun. A single journal holds the key to unlocking the mysterious hidden past of the castle. Features a fully functioning player home for all archetypes obtained through a custom quest.


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Daily Palin: Stripper Boots Edition
DUR: GOP needs to get smart, says The Young Turks. "Obama won because he's smart. . . . I enjoy having a beer with my brother in-law, but I wouldn't want him running the country. He's an idiot! Sure, people like a candidate they can relate to, but when it comes down to the crunch, Americans want smart leaders, not drinking buddies." Joe Six Pack, we hardly knew ye.
TROOPERGATE CONTINUES: Somebody doesn't like Kim Elton. And it's not Sarah Palin! Oh, it is just some blogger. "Surprise. Surprise. President Barack Obama has done a nationwide search and appointed the Chairman of the Troopergate investigation as Director of Alaskan Affairs at the Interior Department. Is this a case of political payback for a smear job well done on Governor Sarah Palin??? Yes!"
FIRST DUDE WINTER SPORTS CORNER: Todd Palin's legacy: ushering the contiguous U.S. into the awesome world of the Tesoro Iron Dog. "at 1,971 miles (3,172 km), it is the longest snowmobile race in the world. The 2008 event featured a record forty teams competing for a $100,000 purse, with $25,000 awarded to the winners and attracted worldwide attention when 4-time winner Todd Palin's wife, Sarah, campaigned for vice presidency of the United States.
THE TRIG-AIN'T-HER-BABY RUMORS CONTINUE. The Immortal Majority parses Lorenzo Benet's Trailblazer and suggests (as reported previously by rumermongering liberal bloggers): Trig ain't her baby. Could page 185 finally reveal the truth?
A few minutes before leaving work on March 5, Sarah held a press conference in her Juneau office and finally announced her pregnancy. She said. "Expect a new member of the first family," and then she headed out to a reception at the Baranof Hotel with her family to dine on king crab. reporters stood there in disbelief. In fact, Sarah had to announce the pregnancy in three different ways before anyone knew what she was talking about. "That the pregnancy is so advanced astonished all who heard the news," the Daily News reported, "The governor, a runner who's always trim, simply doesn't look pregnant." Not even her staff was aware until the same day, "I thought it was becoming obvious," Sarah said, "Clothes getting snugger and snugger." (Emphasis mine, pg. 185)
So, Bristol Palin pulled a Britney and got pregnant twice in a row? Does this make her more or less qualified to be a teen pregnancy spokesmom? Discuss.
STRIPPER BOOTS: YEA OR NAY? The Mormon Times, for some reason, speculates as to whether or not men actually like women who wear "stripper boots." Sarah Palin is involved, somehow.
Ann Cannon on her favorite boots: "They're soft and brown and dressy, and whenever I wear them I feel exactly like Posh Spice—that is if Posh Spice was a size-12 middle-age Mormon lady, who bought all her clothes at Target."
I love Ann Cannon and her stripper boots. But Cannon's teenage son does not like her stripper boots, which has totally thrown Cannon's Palin theory for a loop. Cannon writes" "I thought that was one of the reasons men liked Sarah Palin so much—because she always had those sexy stripper boots on whenever she and Todd got off the airplane."
My God, Cannon, you've cracked the code!
Photo by Bright Meadow


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The experience was everything and more. Recommend it 100%
Amazing! This was a great tour. The tour guide for the walking portion was full of knowledge and showed us so many things. The glass factory tour was okay - you see a quick demonstration then it is really more of a selling for them (I know that's typical). I would recommend signing up for the Gondola ride that the main guide offers to organize.
Very nice trip for the "first time taste of Venice". Made the best of the short time (1 day): Good timing , watched noon hour in St Mark's Square, well informed guide during the walking trip, nice demo at the glass factory, got time to peek into St Mark's (the mosaics are amazing), the tour guide (Laura) was helpful in booking a gondola. Although a very hot and crowded summer day - we made the best of it!
Magnificent trip..awesome guide..comfy shuttle bus..we really enjoyed Venice ❤
Awesome way to see Venice if you don't have so much time. Both the local guide and the tour leader were great. You really should do this. The agency plans everything out for you. Venice is soooo beautiful
The tour was organized and the guide was very informative!
Loved this day trip, the guides were very nice and the day was planned perfectly with activities.
Very very nice - Really love it. I wish if I had more time to spend in Venice - I was just in love with the place. I enjoyed also the visit to the glass factory , the Gondala ( It is must ) and the food ( A big Yum )... Thanks to Viator to make it real since my time was limited.
like it
The driver and guide were all very friendly, knowledgeable and gave us a memorable tour of the city and it's history. They were very professional, polite, patient -- I learned a lot and saw so much that I wish I can meet them again on my next trip to Venice. Great job Zani Tours!
Tour guide was very good and informative during ride. She provided information that was helpful for shopping and touring Venice.
Sunday October 28th , was bit wet and windy, we lost two umbrellas in this trip, but after all it was very interesting and funny ,
our Tour Guide Laoura , was very informative and helpful , and our city guide Cynthia also was very informative and helpful ,
Visiting Venice , was very inspiring and romantic remembering stories from history and literature
And learning about practical solutions the people of Venice have founded to protect themselves and their city .
After all , yes I will revisit Venice with Zani Viaggi .
Despite the 3.5hours bus ride per way, a good trip to Venice within a day.
The day trip to Venice was unforgettable, amazing. We were provided with a local tour guide on arrival who explained the city and its history before going to the glass factory and then a gondola ride arranged by our tour. It is definitely worth a visit and we wish we had more time to explore this beautiful city
Richard P Australia
It was a good way to see Venice without having to stay there. The bus trip was good and our guide was great explaining the history of Venice and sights on the way. I would give the stop on the way a miss and bring some goodies with you. Enjoyed all aspects of the tour at Venice. I would suggest that you offer the tour with Gondola ride as a booking option rather than collecting fees and numbers on the bus ride there.
despite the heavy traffic on the road, venice lived up to our expectations!!
Excellent value for the price. Venice is well worth the visit, wonderful sites, and the tour guide speaks English well. Would do it again!
Our timing for this trip was great, with it being very early spring the crowds were down compared with what we were told it was like closer to summer; even then, it was busy but very easy to get around. Really well organized, local guide excellent and very engaging. I was a bit nervous about the glass blowing tour after previously being on similar typed tours where you were really pressured to buy, fortunately, this was not the case here, and we really enjoyed it - an added bonus. As with all our tours on this trip, it was well organized, well thought out and ran to time.
Really great trip! Only confusion was that my peers and I were under the impression that a gondola ride was included. It was not, however our tour guide got us a really great deal with a company (15 euros a person). Overall, beautiful city and excellent trip - definitely recommend!
An excellent day trip if you can't spare the time to actually stay in Venice. A good mixture of guided tour and free time.
Great sight seeing and worth the money. One of the best ever, my family so happy :) eventhoght I lost my son :(, but it safe city.
Just wonderful!!! The tour guide talked a little too much. For a better deal buy gifts on the way back to the bus in the end
great day had a blast with a fun guide would reccomend to anyone..
Excellent day trip to Venice!
Sharif A Jordan
City of Romance tour was great and the guide also were nice, very helpful and gave us a great infomration about this amazing city, Simply you need to go to vinece and this is the best tour you can take to achive this dream and make it come true. Highly Recommended this very well organized tour.


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NewsOK Blogs / Thunder Rumblings
Thunder 119, Jazz 111
News, notes and observations from Sunday's 119-111 win over Utah…….
- The Russell Westbrook-Deron Williams matchup was the highlight of the game. And you could tell it would be good from the opening minutes. Both players went at each other from the start and wouldn't give the other an inch. Westbrook tried to back down Williams on multiple possessions early and it didn't really lead to his own offense, but it generated some buckets when he found players off cuts. Westbrook was much more effective with his scoring when he attacked hard on drives to the basket.
- Then coach Scott Brooks played spoiler and put Thabo Sefolosha on Williams midway through the second quarter and ruined all the fun. Westbrook and Williams still stole the show, though, even while they weren't guarding each other. Then Sefolosha picked up his fourth foul with 9:37 left in the third and it was on again.
- Aside from the entertainment of the individual matchup, Westbrook controlled the game beautifully against Utah. He made nice passes, hit rhythmic pull-ups and played solid defense, although most of it came when he switched onto Wes Matthews. This was one of the best performances I've ever seen out of Westbrook. If you took the names off the back of the jerseys and didn't know anything about the Thunder, tonight you would have thought Westbrook was the franchise player and Kevin Durant was the sidekick. That's how good Westbrook was. And with the Thunder running more and more of the offense through him, we could begin to see Durant become less of the main option as the season winds to an end. There will be plenty of sets that are run specifically for Durant, but Westbrook is starting to look extremely comfortable taking charge and running the show. That can only be a good thing for the Thunder, especially if Durant continues to develop the ability to consistently take over games down the stretch.
- To my last point, Westbrook had 30 points and 11 assists and Durant had a game-high 35 points. Those numbers illustrate how Durant still can get his even if he's not the focal point of the offense.
- Durant settled for jumpers early on C.J. Miles and missed his first three attempts. Then he made his next three and caught him with the rip move and before you knew it led all scorer's with 11 points after one quarter and had 20 at the half.
- The hands-down play of the game came with 4:24 remaining when Durant found Jeff Green for an uncontested dunk plus the foul that stretched the lead to 13. Starting from the left win, Durant spun left on Miles, crossed over Carlos Boozer and worked back right across the lane to draw the help side defense, then found Green all by his lonesome. When they talk about the things a 6-foot-10 guy isn't supposed to do, rewind and look at how he created that bucket.
- The Thunder started the third quarter12-for-12 from the field. OKC didn't miss until Kyle Weaver missed a 3-pointer with 2:18 remaining in the period. The Thunder finished the period 14 of 17 from the field.
- OKC shot a season-high 60.3 percent from the field. Good thing, too, because the Jazz drained 11 of 19 3-pointers and shot 50.6 percent on their end. This was not one of the better played defensive games on the Thunder's part.
- With the win, the Thunder clinched the tiebreaker over the Jazz after taking a 3-0 series lead. Keep an eye on that in case Utah stumbles and OKC keeps streaking. Although the Jazz wouldn't have to stumble very far. Tonight's win pulled the Thunder within a half game of Utah for the fourth seed and home court advantage in the first round.
- Make that five straight wins for the Thunder. One peak at the schedule suggests OKC has a very good chance to at least tie its season-high nine-game streak. Up next, at Charlotte, at Toronto, at Indiana and back home against a battered San Antonio squad. Things can get really interesting in the next week.
- In his postgame press conference, Brooks, for what seems like the first time, actually acknowledged how good his team is: "We're a good team. I don't know how good we will end up this season…I would say we're a good team. We want to be one of the better teams in the league but it's going to take time."
- 20th sellout of the season for the Thunder tonight. I'm told there are a good amount of tickets left for the four-game homestand that follows the three-game road trip. Get on board, people!
- Kyrylo Fesenko wasn't very successful dunking the basketball tonight. He missed his first attempt and had his second one blocked by Weaver before converting his third one. Later, Nick Collison prevented an easy dunk with a nice play on the ball but was whistled for the foul. And when Fesenko goes to the line, it ain't pretty. Dude was 2-for-8 from the stripe and all six of his misses were atrocious.
- Serge Ibaka looks like he's learning to keep his hands off the rim. Collison threw up a shot early in the fourth quarter and Ibaka jumped high above the rim but restrained himself and didn't touch it. Good to see he is learning.
- Ibaka's three blocked shots weren't bad either.
- I would have loved to see how the Thunder would have fared against the Jazz with Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Price healthy and in the lineup. Kirilenk0 can change the game for Utah on the defensive end, Okur spaces the court on the offensive end and makes teams rotations become much tighter and Price would have kept a D-Leaguer off the floor.
- This could be the 4-5 seed matchup, and it would be a very good one. I'm starting to wonder if the Thunder's 3-0 record against the Jazz this season, however, has some Thunder fans overconfident about OKC's chances in a playoff series. Maybe I'm the one who's delusional. Golden State swept Dallas in 2006-07 and then beat them in the first round. So it's possible we could have a similar situation on our hands.
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Sports Cars
Category page
11,127pages on
this wiki
this wiki
Sports Cars in the Grand Theft Auto Series. Sports Cars have good performance, and are generally cheaper than Super Cars, but are better than regular road cars. For GTA V Vehicle Class Sports, see Sports Vehicle Class.
Pages in category "Sports Cars"
" The Stinger Z29 is a sports car in Grand Theft Auto 1. It resembles the Chevrolet Corvette C4...
Stinger Z29
" The Jefferson is a vehicle in Grand Theft Auto 2 that can only be found in the Industrial...
" The Beast GTS is a sportscar found in Grand Theft Auto 1. It is based on the Dodge Viper GTS...
Beast GTS
" The Jugular Jug Swinger is a sports car in Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 and Grand Theft Auto...
Jug Swinger
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