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Life After Craig Lewis: Let us move on
Casualties of War
Calm After the Storm
Back At It
We Need Jesus More than Ever
We Need Life More than Lyrics
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The Ambassador Online
[dropcap]#1.[/dropcap]I would like to share with you some devotional thoughts behind my new EP, "Hors D'Oeuvres" that dropped on last week. But first, check out the lyrics below that I will be expounding on. "Turn this light out… and so it begins…"
I'mma be a waiter/ I can take the order/
How about that bread of life, how 'bout living water/
You didn't ask but here's an offer/
Come and get up on these hors d'oeuvres
This is just a hors d'oeuvre
This is just a hors d'oeuvre
A little rhyme—all word!
This is just a hors d'oeuvre
Anybody out there hungry/
Anybody want to feed their soul?/
Anybody out there want these/
Lyrics that I got…either fast or slow?/
Anybody got that tummy to taste God's better than tightest flow?/
Wanna ride like a HUM-V? We can ride high on the righteous road/
If the answer's "yes," you don't gotta press nothing, sit back ingest/
I'm bringing this truth around. You can just sit back and rest/
If the answer's "no"—cool—I'm still gonna come your way/
Feel free to just let it go by, or try the array upon my tray/
No, you didn't ask for it/ but the Chef wanted you to have more/
You know I had to get them scriptures out, Should've seen how I dug in like Hacksaw/
No frontin' like a back door/… No sushi but that's raw/
There's a place to r.i.p but, to get in He's key like a passport./
I'm spittin' it, hoping you're getting' it. This is written real earnestly/
In fact this life is an hors d'oeuvre, but there's eternity/
A little rhyme—all word/
More to come…But here's an hors d'oeuvre.
Come and get up on these Hors d'oeuvres
This is just an hors d'oeuvre
A little rhyme—All word
This is just an hors d'oeuvre[/note]
Picture yourself at a black-tie affair/
You in the building and everyone's there/
Photo shoot fresh even black-died your hair/
Some of you rockin' some jewels—kind of rare/
What could make things even better to you?/
You're thinking you know—Great cooking could/
They bring something that u didn't order
but this is ok cause it's "looking good"/
And it's free…/How can it be?/
It's from the Chef…this is complimentary/
This is the way that I look at the truth I'm wanting give to the people I meet/
It's not the fact that you asked, it's something I think that you need/
I figured I'd give you the option–you can take it or leave/
Nobody can make you believe/ nobody to make you receive/
Just A little rhyme—All word
There's more to come… But here's an hors d' oeuvre.
Imma be a waiter/ I can take the order/
How about that bread of life, how 'bout living water/
You didn't ask but here's an offer/
Come and get up on these hors d'oeuvres
This is just an hors d'oeuvre
This is just an hors d'oeuvre
A little rhyme—all word!
This is just an hors d'oeuvre
Imma be a waiter/ I can take the order/
How about that bread of life, how 'bout living water/
You didn't ask but here's an offer…
Recently, I have been contemplating the nature of both the message and ministry which our Lord has entrusted to us who have placed saving faith in Him, and been sent into the world as His representers. It was the risen Christ who dispatched Spirit empowered believers into the world, which He described as the sending of "sheep in the midst of wolves" (Matt 10:16).
Apparently, Jesus means for His servants to brace for some kind of certain hostility, and some measure of opposition. The "beef" that we face is usually due to the message we preach and the ministry we do for the sake of Jesus. So in light of this reality, what would lead us to offer the world anything from the Master's table? What if they disrespect it, or mock it, or refuse it? Thus the concept of "the hors d'oeuvres." Hors d'oeuvres are usually not requested, they are just available for the public based on the Chef's desire to provide them.
I'm reminded of a similar thought in the book of Isaiah, "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price (55:1). Later, the Lord explains that the way to eat freely, not by coercion, but in response to the gracious offer, is to "Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live…" (2-3).
Our message is from the Chef—and He has prepared truth to feast on, and eternal life to consume. We must come to grips with the fact that Hip-hop, like the entire world, has no innate appetite for the gospel, or the God who offers it.
In light of this reality some have concluded that we should not give the gospel to them. In fact, within Christian Hip-hop circles and some "seeker oriented" ministry circles, gospel-centeredness seems like an obvious counter-productive method of missional engagement. Often, when the gospel is too present, or the exaltation of Jesus and His principles too forefront, people will say, "that's for the church." The inference is that it must be for the church because the world would never want that.
To this logic, I say "NO!" The elevation of Christ, and the offer and explanation of His good news is as much for the world as it is for the church. The imperative nature of our call to "go and make disciples of all peoples" means that God, our Chef, has provided that which people are free to take or leave, but it is very much intended for them to partake of and find life.
As hors d'oeuvres are given freely for enjoyment, so the crux of our message and ministry is offered regardless of whether it has been requested or not. We offer it, expecting it to be received as an acquired taste. We believe, as Jesus told the Pharisee, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (Jn 6:44).
Jesus Himself is an acquired taste, and without an appetite for Him due to the drawing of the Father, people will not desire anything that makes too much of Him. Thus, the hors d'oeuvres concept applies. We dare to keep Jesus on our menus, and on our tables—not because people want it, but because God says that "repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations…" (Lk 24:47).
To go even further, we persistently offer Him because Acts 4:12 declares that "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." People can go on iTunes and order what they want, but as for me and like-minded believers we say, "Come and get up on these hors d'oeuvres!"
Recently, I had the chance to read an article in XXL Magazine, which had the potential to excite me because it focused on Christian rap, but in the end somewhat disappointed and even grieved me. Internally, I was restless until finally deeming it necessary to respond for the sake of the glory of Christ, the benefit of His people, and the benefit of the mission to reach hip hop with the gospel. This is in no way meant to be adversarial or contentious, even though it may be kind of controversial. In light of my own flaws and inadequacies, and the tender nature of the subject matter, I have been hesitant to publicize my thoughts, but at the end of the day I concluded that this is what I do. Using hip hop artistry as a ministry, I proclaim the gospel, explain the gospel, and contend for the gospel even at my own peril. I confess, like pastor John Piper, "Some controversy is crucial for the sake of life giving truth. Running from it is a sign of cowardice. But enjoying it is usually a sign of pride." He goes on to say, "Humility loves Christ exultation more than Christ-defending confrontation…" (Piper, Contending for Our All). I say, "yes and amen!" So I am not trying to "win" an argument, but rather seize a teachable moment. Leveraging this moment at this time makes good sense, especially since the issue at hand has a lot of buzz among "fans" of hip hop and Christian hip hop.
I intentionally wanted this dialogue to play out publicly because I see and sense a shift happening among those who are long time participants and supporters of what is known as Christian rap. I see the impact of some questionable thinking and acting that is affecting so many people that similar to Paul in Galatians 2, I find it beneficial to publicly draw attention to some of these matters.
My hope is that this stimulates thought, maybe sparks dialogue, and by grace provides a mature voice among a people group so young and impressionable. You may or may not know that I (The Ambassador, formerly of The Cross Movement) have given a considerable amount of my adult life to what I have seen as a missionary opportunity among the hip hop generation. As an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ and a participant of the Christian rap community, I take a special interest in matters that relate to both Christ and hip hop. I rejoice when the hip hop community does well, and hurt when we don't. I in no way want to cause drama, but the silence, if not the absence of leadership, is making me feel compelled to say something. I am not privy to any major voice of influence speaking to us today, though I know I am not the only one. The world's recent intrigue with Christian rap must be met by godly, biblically literate servants who will rightly inform them of the mind of Christ and His ways. These times call for people who both know the Scriptures and the culture enough to address issues that pertain to it. I am no one in particular, but I have joined with many others who have long been laboring and praying that the "world" would become familiar with God's "urban house of representatives." If hip hop needed a witness of Christ, we determined that by grace we would avail ourselves. Now, there seems to be an unprecedented level of awareness of Christians who use hip hop in one way or another, so it seems as though God is answering the prayers. Every time I look up, some mention of either a Christian who does hip hop, the genre of Christian hip hop itself, or a pastor who engages hip hop-related issues is in the "headlines" of the secular community. Sadly, when I listen to their commentary of us, I find a few things that just don't sit well with me. I'll highlight a few statements from the XXL article and respond to them.
(XXL) "Christian rap just can't win."
This is how the article starts and what an opening line! It hit me in the gut like a body shot from Mayweather, because XXL expresses the sentiments of almost all secular hip hop analysts and loyalists, and far too many Christians as well. Straight-up, no chaser; they get down to brass tacks—Christian hip hop is not a "winner." Whatever you or I may have thought about it, at least from XXL's perspective, (and I'm sure they represent the perspective of many others) Christian hip hop has been weighed in the balance, been found wanting, and has been de-legitimized. Throughout the article several critiques are provided to substantiate this premise, but, they happily report, there is a small group of people who are wising up to this fact and doing what it takes to start "winning." These are producers and rap artists who are distancing themselves from the whole "Christian hip hop thing," and becoming the new face of a "new God flow."
It becomes very apparent from the article that "winning" is simply determined by whether or not the mainstream hip hop world embraces you. The logic is straight forward:
By XXL's standard, Christian rap is stigmatized by its "preachiness, heavy handedness, and religious upfrontness," and consequently has ensured its mainstream failure. However, XXL also seems to believe that with the right adjustments, rappers who abandon that sinking ship may find the "win" that they are truly looking for.
While I'm not certain how much history they have surveyed, what collection of artists they have considered, or what efforts they have evaluated to arrive at this judgment, I can see why they feel pretty confident in their conclusion. As the article reports, and a number of interviews and online discussions confirm, there has been an increase in the recent "shedding" of Christian labels by many artists. This probably gives XXL the comfort that they are not far off in their assessment. Artists who formerly held the banner of not only a personal Christian faith, but also explicit Christ-centered presentation are abandoning that "brand" like it's the plague. After reading this article, I thought to myself, "Why wouldn't the secular hip hop community assume that 'Christian rap' can't win when so many in the Christian hip hop community seem to agree?" XXL goes on to praise a small contingent of what they call "religious MC's" who they report have adopted a new approach (though it's really very old), opting to create art that's much milder and "just dope." While mainstream hip hop seems to claim to have no problem with rappers believing in God, they do seem to perceive Christian rap as "over-doing-it!" Since the mainstream has rejected that fanaticism, they recommend that truly talented artists and producers who want to reach as far as they possibly can, wisely avoid, or get out from under the box of corny Christian rap if and when they can.
The views of XXL reflect the views of many, and as I read this article I wondered if they had been informed and affirmed by Christian hip hop "insiders" who share a similar view. This article is all about what XXL, and I believe what many Christians, see as the "wisdom" and benefits of "shedding" the Christian label, and "refusing to do Christian rap music." To my knowledge there has been no public tweaking or rebuttal of this article by any of the artists, and that saddens me some, but I also know how the media can edit things in and out, and obscure the truth. However, I also have been a part of enough conversations and debates to know that this is rapidly becoming the popular view of Christians in hip hop. This debate about the Christian rap label and the pros and cons of Christ-centered content has taken place for well over a decade, and we have always been divided on it. The surprise to me is that in this XXL article, some of Christian hip hop's most notable figures are being reported and even praised for dropping the very thing that they have actually been instrumental in putting on the map. Even though some are shifting away from it now, their very presence in this article, and some of their notable achievements, indicate that Christian rap does have some commendable qualities and admirable participants. Christian rap may not "win" in the sense of overall mainstream acceptance, but it certainly has made enough noise to catch the attention of the mainstream. Furthermore, it has not been Christians doing merely "positive" music, or merely "good" music that has gotten the attention of the music industry, but rather Christians who have gained a serious following because of their radically passionate commitment to Christ. Up until now, the "winning formula" has been a combination of artistic skill, talking about "real issues," and a strong, explicit, passionate representation of Jesus and His gospel. XXL has announced that a change has come. I guess the question is, "is that change a good thing or not?"
(XXL) "Mainstream hip hop fans shun the genre for trying to hammer God through their ears."
Ok…now the substance of the indictment begins to surface. Mainstream hip hop fans are said to shun the whole Christian hip hop genre because mainstream fans don't like God being "hammered through their ears." I'm not even sure who exactly they would say is guilty of this, but I find that this is often the claim when Jesus is boldly presented and offered to the public. Of course, I'm sure there are some cases of extremists out there, but Christian hip hop's most high-profile and most sterling examples would not be guilty of "hammering God through people's ears," though that may be the perception. Interestingly, hip hop in general does hammer content through people's ears all the time. The radio plays the same songs over and over again—hammering us with redundant themes. Instead of "God," however, it just happens to be sex, money, ego, swag, objectification of women, and many other things. So the "hammering" is not the real problem, but I would say that it's the content. Mainstream hip hop is turned off from Christian hip hop most fundamentally because the mainstream is turned off by the Christian God. Kanye West was right about this in Jesus Walks—"you say I can rap about anything except for Jesus." It was true then, and it is true now. When Jesus is being glorified, and not just mentioned; boasted in, and not just discussed; emphasized, and not just alluded to, the mainstream is turned off. Couple this reality with the very real "baggage" of the Christian hip hop movement and it becomes easy to see why the mainstream is turned off.
While we can do things to make matters worse, even the best Christian with the most skill, nicest demeanor, most considerate tone, and most diplomatic approach will meet the same outcome that the perfect Christ himself met—rejection. This ought to not really be surprising because the Bible prepares people for this kind of reaction. Those who belong to Jesus Christ have been told that the world will not embrace you but rather shun you, simply because He chose you (Jn 15:18-19).
For those who don't know much about the history of Christian hip hop let me testify quickly. Many recognize the group Cross Movement as one of the pioneers of Christian hip hop even though there were many groups that preceded us (hats off to them). When initially forming the group, passages like John 15:18-21, and a host of others, plus personal experiences, caused us to brace for the strong potential that we would have to accept a place on the margins of mainstream hip hop culture until God would choose to change that reality. We also knew that God, in His sovereignty, may not change it, and possibly we could always exist on the periphery of the mainstream. In those days, Christianity was not viewed favorably in hip hop, and it became clear that the mainstream would never let hip hoppers make Jesus Christ and things related to Him the centerpiece of their content or the subject of their anthems. Contrary to the claims, most Christian rappers don't say "Jesus" in every line, and do rap about generic issues and topics that the average person can relate to. But as soon as Christ comes into the picture as more than just a passing reference, they "get the boot" by the culture. I remember us trying to be considered "just rappers" without the "Christian" label, but when our rhymes were evaluated, people would classify us as something different than "just rappers." We stopped fighting it. The life changing good news about who He is and what He's done on the cross is foolishness to some, a stumbling block to others, and just plain irritating and irrelevant to most—hip hop included. So, we proceeded with the understanding that the mainstream would probably never fully accept us because even when we rapped about "regular stuff," we would do it from Christ's perspective. Well, eventually this commitment to stay the course strengthened an already existing, but small genre. There are now rappers, dancers, Internet sites, radio show hosts, and fashion designers, etc., who do it for Jesus Christ's glory above all else. None of us want to be marginalized by the mainstream, but that's what often happens. We accept the fact that this is what can happen to those who want to honor Christ in more than just a cliché way. Each one will have to decide how to deal with this reality. XXL suggests that the way to do it is to get on board with those who get rid of the labels and just rap.
(XXL)…But times are changing. Heavyweight producer Boi-1da [pronounced "Boy-Wonda"] (Drake, Eminem, Nas), former Clipse member Malice—reborn as No Malice—and a host of upstarts including Lecrae, Trip Lee, Bizzle and Thi'sl are among those helping to give Christian rap a new baptism by fire. That's because they refuse to be labeled as "Christian rappers" doing "Christian rap." Instead, they insist they're Christians trying to make dope rap music, which may or may not include biblical messages."
I've been saying this for years, and I continue to say this emphatically—if a person wants to be just a "regular rapper" THEY ARE PERFECTLY FREE TO DO THIS! THIS IS NOT A SIN! The label "Christian rapper" is the least of the issues—though I believe there is some importance to it. My concern is more about what XXL reports as "the host of upstarts" doing something new and better for Christian rap by "refusing to be labeled as Christian rappers doing Christian rap." This seems like an attempt to now separate these artists from the community that gave birth to them without explanation or qualification. As I already mentioned, at least a few of the people they are referring to in this article have made their most noteworthy mark by becoming icons of the Christian rap era. If mainstream hip hop is ready to remove the label, and still allow Christians to be as Christ-centered as they once were, then by all means remove the label. However, judging from the rest of this article, I don't think that is the case. The whole reason Christian rap exists is to provide a context where the most unashamed proclamation of Christ is welcomed and not quenched.
It's not new for Christians to seek to be considered unlabeled people who provide unlabeled services, in hopes that the "world" would recognize the "dopeness" of their natural abilities. It's also not new to witness artists go from Christ-centered, Christ-exalting "art," to a more general and sometimes ambiguous form of presentation. Everyone knows that advocating Jesus and His recipes for life and godliness, will not "work" based on the way the world defines "work." I wish the secular hip hop world would just acknowledge the truth, especially in regard to the quality of both "Christian rappers," and "rappers that happen to be Christians." There are good and bad versions of both. XXL seems to only have commendation for the person who believes in Christ, but not the one who also centers on Him. Christian "believing" is ok…just not Christian "doing." God in the heart is ok…God spilling out of the heart is not as welcomed. Perhaps it goes outside the intention of the article, but XXL doesn't communicate even the possibility that Christian rap has been, or can be done well. It has been done skillfully, tactfully, professionally, and relevantly, all while still remaining to be saturated with Christ. It's true that it will probably never be a mainstream favorite, but it could receive more honorable mention. The only positive thing that XXL did have to say about Christian rap was that it now has a "fighter's chance" because of the new trend of leaving it, or in their words "shedding" it. XXL goes on to further critique Christian hip hop…
(XXL) "In the past, Christian rappers were either too didactic, too distant from the culture or too corny… And in hip hop, a genre that rewards braggadocio, outlaw behavior and more, heavy handed topics weren't welcome."
This opinion of Christian hip hop should go un-criticized because XXL is entitled to their point of view, however isn't it just ironic that hip hop rewards "bragging" and "outlaw behavior," while shunning Christian rap for its "heavy handedness?" The truth is that mainstream hip hop has been the hub of a ton of vices that indeed have colored the entire genre and caused some people to think only negative thoughts about it. The broader "secular" society, not to mention the religious community, has often had to distance itself, and even shun secular hip hop. Hip hop's defense regarding this has historically been, "Not all of us are the same," or "What about the positive examples?" In the XXL article Christian rap is not given that same courtesy. Not all are "too didactic, distant, or corny." Why can hip hop welcome profanity, immorality, violence, materialism, etc., and not welcome a "sub-genre" because it's too didactic, or supposedly too distant from the culture? Sorry to "beat a dead horse" but again I think the truth is obvious—there is a double standard here. The mainstream can detect a Christian who is "in but not of" the culture. When the Christian in hip hop simply talks about acceptable topics, avoids anything perceived to be too offensive, walks in step with the styles and trends, steps up their swag, and displays artistic talent above everything else, he/she is acceptable to the mainstream. This kind of Christian is exactly like everyone else and therefore able to be embraced like everyone else. This confirms what Jesus said, "…if you were of the world, the world would love you as its own…" (Jn 15:19).
While it is clear that the Christian rap label is a liability in the mainstream, Christians now have to decide what they will do with it. Do we keep it because it has become so embraced by so many, or do we shed it because it limits our mainstream acceptance? We should note that the Christian rap label is not inherently spiritual, and its absence is not inherently compromising. While according to this article, the label is a stumbling block to mainstream acceptance, I personally would caution against believing that "shedding the label" will ultimately be sufficient for the mainstream. The label of "Christian rap" can disappear, but if too much of the presence of Christ and His gospel remains, the mainstream will still shun you. So actually, more than the label has to go, but also the emphasis on Jesus, His glory, and His mindset has to go as well. We can be as relevant and creative as we want, but if our ideas and allegiance can be traced to Christ, we will ultimately be seen as a Christian who's rapping "Christian stuff." Even if they don't label you as a "Christian rapper," they will see you as something different. Everyone would like to believe that they will be the exception, and perhaps someone will. But overall, the mainstream will not embrace too much Jesus.
Those of us who accepted the label have traditionally said that the label has merely served to forewarn people that Jesus and things related to Him would be showing up in a way that is not "normal" or even welcomed by the mainstream. The label was more of a description at first that explained why Jesus was getting so much shine in our life and rhymes, and why appeals were being made on His behalf. The producer Boi-1da rightly noted that Jeezy's rap is not called "drug dealer rap," and Lupe's rap is not called "smart rap." However, most people do describe them that way. It's not a genre, but it is a primary description of their raps because the description fits. The same is true with Christian rap even though it does also have an official genre. None of us want to be confined by it, but most of us know we can't escape being defined by it because "it is what it is." There really is a movement that is growing like wild fire. There is a community of rappers and rap enthusiasts that like to hear more than just lyrical capability, but want to hear the word concerning Christ through the medium of the music, fashion, and more. Whoever has an ear to hear, let them hear. The mainstream does not have to accept it, but we wish they would.
(XXL) "The Toronto hitmaker believes talent stands out above everything, and that the new class of Christian-tinged hip hoppers has mastered the balancing act between cool and compassionate."
XXL goes on to describe what they call "the new class of Christian-tinged hip hoppers." For the mainstream, this is the acceptable Christian—the "Christian-tinged" one. The word tinge means "imparting a trace or slight degree of some color." In other words, the mainstream will only accept those who display a "hint of Christianity," those "slightly colored" by their faith. They will not allow "fanatics" or people who are as passionate for Christ as Wiz Khalifa is for weed. They will not allow a person to be as redundant with biblical truths as Jay Z is about money. You cannot glorify spiritual wealth like Kanye does material wealth, and you can't be as focused on God's love as Young Money is on lust. Under normal circumstances, a truce has to be made with the mainstream— keep God and God-related things to a minimum and we will not shun you. We will even give you magazine space, website exposure, and paint you in a favorable light to our constituents. Supporting this idea is the following statement made by producer Boi-1da…
(XXL) "Now rappers are staying up with the times and not trying to force God down [fans] throats. And that's for the better…"
I believe that's the main issue right there. Jesus is too polarizing a figure, and He either draws you near or pushes you away. We've already commented on how by their own standard, secular rap shoves a ton of data "down everyone's throats." Admittedly, the "shoving" is done cleverly, stylishly, and many times with lyrical brilliance. People are free to either take it or leave it. Are Christian rappers really forcing God down anyone's throat? Or, or are they simply making much of Christ and inviting "fans" to join them in experiencing the joy and delight of who He is and what He's done. That's what any rapper "worth their salt" does—try to bring the crowd in. People want the life of the rapper if the rapper paints a compelling picture of a life worth having. People wear the clothes of the rapper if the rapper wears the gear in a compelling fashion. Christian rappers are not doing anything different; they're just focusing on different things, boasting in different things, and seeking to rally people around different things. To be reduced to merely talking about our lives, which every rapper does, talking about our neighborhoods, and giving a few moral tips on how to live a little better, is to shift from the noble work of ministry to the normal work of industry. That's not "wrong," it's just a downgrade, in my opinion. I do recognize that this is what has to be done to please the masses and not get shunned. I'm reminded of what Paul said, "…am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or, am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal 1:10) Even Paul knew you can't do both even if you wanted to. (Ouch…this is too convicting for me and I'm writing it!)
Here is where I get "preachy!" This is in no way intended to dis XXL. They are merely reporting on what they have seen and heard from some of their observations and sources. This is written more toward the generation of hip hoppers and hip hop consumers who may have an interest in Christ and/or Christian rap. I would hate to see you shrink back from the one who called you, or adopt the views of people who do not have the mind of Christ. I pray you will not cherish the world's embrace and exaltation to the point where theology ceases to inform the strategies you either personally use, or applaud. Christians have always tried to "reach more people," and that is a good thing. But the Scriptures have given us the parameters for that mission. The Lord has a people; let us be His witnesses, who seize every available platform to present this world the good news that they may not readily see as such unless the Spirit of God opens their eyes. In the Bible, Israel praised height, strength, and wealth, and the Gentiles praised status, wisdom, and skill. Hip hop praises these, and similar things, but God has always chosen to bring those things to nothing so that people would not rest their confidence in anything other than Christ. The story of Christian rap is amazing in and of itself. God has been good to us. Truly, God can take the "foolish and weak things" and do extraordinary things. As Christian rap has carried that good news into the world, countless numbers of people have been transferred from darkness to the kingdom of the beloved Son (told you I was getting preachy). Even some of the top, more honored rappers (who used to be known as Christian rappers), are in large part, who they are today because of God's grace and great work among Christian rap. Stand firm people, and let's take back the narrative. Let's give XXL something new to write about. To God be the Glory.
"And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
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Use this page to discuss script 39 matchit: extended % matching
- Add constructive comments, bug reports, or discuss improvements (see the guideline).
- Do not document the script here (the author should do that on vim.org).
- This page may be out of date: check the script's vim.org page above, and its release notes.
This appears to be the same plugin which is distributed with the official Vim runtime, in $VIMRUNTIME/macros/matchit.vim. See :help matchit-install.
It is very useful when edit the html file use vim to speed up the production effiency
Vim 6.3.82 is working fine, but Vim 7.0.237 couldn't work if not manually type in/source let b:match_words=...
- Vim 7.0.237 is really old (though not quite as old as 6.3.82). Try upgrading. Vims 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 all work fine with matchit.vim. --Fritzophrenic 15:22, February 21, 2011 (UTC)
Vim 7.3 : Matchit makes pressing % on ( or { or [ or ] or } or ) and other things not work in javascript files and files when there is <script>javascript code()</script>. Plugin is unstable and should not be used.
- The first statement here, that matchit.vim breaks (, {, and [ is only partially true. I did just experiment and discovered that by default, pressing % on these has no effect. However, this is not a defect in the plugin itself. This is a misconfiguration of the b:match_words variable, which a simple glance at the help file for matchit.vim would have discovered. Adding the following to an after/ftplugin/html.vim file will "fix" the issue:
let b:match_words .= ',{:},(:),[:]'
- Arguably, the default settings ought to contain these values, however I would hardly call the plugin "unstable" and recommend against using it because of something as trivial as this. The plugin is stable and useful enough to be included in the standard Vim installation's runtime. Always consult the help before assuming the behavior of a plugin or a Vim feature is a bug. --Fritzophrenic 14:29, July 1, 2011 (UTC)
Vim 7.0.235 : Ruby's "<stmt> if <expr>" construct is inappropriately matching end statements because of the way it searches backwards. A simple fix might be to require the if to be the first non-whitespace element on the candidate matching line.

subset: commoncrawl


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Oakland's Andre Ward is rated the No. 2 boxer in the world -- regardless of weight class -- and he wants to get paid like it.
That's at the heart of a lawsuit the 29-year-old WBA super-middleweight champion recently filed to free himself from his contract with longtime promoter Dan Goossen.
During an interview with this newspaper last month, Ward hinted at the mindset that led to his legal action.
"I'm not going to be around another 10 years, maybe not even another six to seven years," the 2004 Olympic champion said before his most recent bout. "This is 20 years (in boxing) -- 10 years as an amateur, coming up on 10 years as a pro. I've got to make my mark now."
And his money.
But his move against Goossen doesn't come with the promise of a happy ending.
Injuries have limited Ward to two fights over the past two years, Ward is risking further interruption to his career by engaging in a legal battle with the man who helps arrange his fights. And those who closely follow boxing question whether Ward can come close to reaching the financial status of Floyd "Money" Mayweather -- the sport's biggest star -- even if he wins the chance to switch promoters.
Mayweather, the unbeaten light middleweight, is coming off a September fight in which he was guaranteed $41.5 million even before receiving his share of what was a record $150 million in pay-per-view sales.
"Floyd Mayweather is the only fighter that does that today," Dan Rafael of ESPN.com said. "Nobody else comes close."
Ward was paid $2 million for his unanimous decision over Edwin Rodriguez in an HBO fight on Nov. 16, and he has earned an estimated $10 million over the length of his pro career. But he never has fought in the boxing mecca of Las Vegas despite a 27-0 record, and he still awaits his first pay-per-view bout.
"That's the only way the truly big money comes," said Kevin Iole, a boxing writer for Yahoo! Sports.
Ward's attorney hopes to give him that opportunity by using a precedent established by former boxer Oscar De La Hoya in a 2001 case against his promoter.
Alan Rader, a Los Angeles lawyer who specializes in business litigation and entertainment industry disputes, will argue that Ward's three separate agreements with Goossen-Tutor Promotions over a span of nine years constitutes a continuous contract that violates the California Labor Code. That code limits personal services contracts to seven years.
The question will be whether a judge agrees that De La Hoya's case against Top Rank applies in Ward's situation.
"The De La Hoya case would scare me if I was Dan Goossen," Iole said.
Goossen, reached by phone, would only say, "I'm very disappointed in Andre."
Ward did not respond to an interview request by this newspaper, and Rader said he was instructed by his client not to comment.
This is Ward's second attempt this year to free himself from Goossen, who has been his promoter since he turned pro in 2004.
In June, Ward lost an attempt through arbitration to void his contract that extends at least through September 2015.
Now the two parties are butting heads again, threatening their ability to work together on creating Ward's next fight.
Ward told the Los Angeles Times in an email that the legal process "should have no bearing on my getting back in the ring as soon as possible."
Both sides are hoping for a fast resolution, partly because Ward can't afford to risk fading from view. Injuries to his hand and shoulder allowed him to fight just once after December 2011 until his bout with Rodriguez last month.
That one fight was regarded as perhaps the best of his career -- a dominating victory over light-heavyweight Chad Dawson in September 2012. But Ward couldn't capitalize on the momentum.
Whether Ward has the star power to generate a rich pay-per-view fight remains unclear. He is a great technical fighter but doesn't boast a big knockout punch.
Compared with the flamboyant Mayweather, Ward is perceived as vanilla -- a family man who attends church, stays out of trouble and avoids attracting attention with his mouth.
"He's not Floyd Mayweather, standing out there waving his money around," Rafael said. "He's the guy you'd want as your neighbor, but not necessarily the guy you want to spend $50 or $60 to watch on pay-per-view."
Iole, who has followed Ward's entire pro career, said both fighter and promoter get some blame for Ward's relatively low profile.
"Part of his issue is himself," Iole said. "I've covered Floyd Mayweather since his amateur days. I see how hard Mayweather works to market and promote himself. Andre Ward doesn't do that."
Ward always has taken the approach that results -- not antics outside the ring -- should define him for fans.
"I'm not going to throw chairs, I'm not going to cuss, I'm not going to do that kind of stuff because you don't have to do that," Ward said in a 2009 interview with this newspaper. "You don't have to act like that, and you don't have to live like that in order to be successful."
Another of Ward's "problems" is that there are few legitimate rivals left in the super-middleweight class. He has beaten five of the next nine fighters ranked below him.
"Destroyed them all," Rafael said.
The notable exception is Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the 27-year-old from Mexico.
"That's a fight that needs to happen," Ward said last month.
Iole said Chavez is "not even on the same planet" with Ward as a boxer but suggested that his popularity could create the opportunity Ward covets.
"The most honest way to judge a fighter's worth," Rafael said, "is to put him on pay-per-view and see how many people buy it."
Follow Jeff Faraudo on Twitter at twitter.com/JeffFaraudo.


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ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center released thirty-eight baby Spiny Softshell turtles the center had been caring for over the winter. The Spiny Softshell turtle is threatened in Vermont and ECHO has been working with Rare Species Biologist Steve Parren to raise turtles each year to give them a better chance of survival. It is believed that there are only 300 individuals left in Lake Champlain at this point in time.
For more information:
Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas
Pictures of the turtle release


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Definition of medium in English:
noun (plural media /-dēə/ or mediums)
1An agency or means of doing something: using the latest technology as a medium for job creation their primitive valuables acted as a medium of exchange
More example sentences
- A common answer is 'anything that can be used as a medium of exchange'.
- To use TV as a medium of education will yield rich dividends.
- The meetings provide a medium for local councillors to raise the issues of their electorate on a more intimate basis with Council officials.
1.1A means by which something is communicated or expressed: here the Welsh language is the medium of instruction
More example sentences
- It provides education for children using the Maori language as the medium of instruction.
- Secondly, the Commission recommends Mother Tongue as the medium of instruction for elementary education.
- English is the official language and the main medium of instruction from preschool to tertiary levels of education.
2The intervening substance through which impressions are conveyed to the senses or a force acts on objects at a distance: radio communication needs no physical medium between the two stations the medium between the cylinders is a vacuum
More example sentences
- Second, the gene provides the physical medium for sharing genetic information from generation to generation.
- Air, the lubricating medium, is forced into a reservoir surrounding the bearing.
- Moving in a fluid is complicated by the fact that forces applied to the medium cause it to move.
2.1The substance in which an organism lives or is cultured: grow bacteria in a nutrient-rich medium
More example sentences
- Typically, by the end of batch culture nutrients in the medium would be considerably depleted.
- The world ocean is what laboratory scientists would call a culture medium, the largest petri dish known to mankind.
- Alkaloid levels were determined both in the roots and in the culture medium after a culturing period of 28 d.
3A particular form of storage for digitized information, such as magnetic tape or discs: moving or copying backed-up data through a hierarchy of different mediums
More example sentences
- In most cases, magnetic disk storage will be the medium of choice for several key reasons.
- This means shifting data between storage mediums in an effort to provide the ideal levels of access, protection, and recovery at the lowest possible total cost.
- A signal from a storage medium is processed in a data channel to form digital data.
4A liquid (e.g., oil or water) with which pigments are mixed to make paint.
Example sentences
- We carry a large range of dry pigments, oils and mediums.
- When a pigment has a high scattering power in relation to the medium, the paint will be dense and opaque in appearance.
4.1The material or form used by an artist, composer, or writer: oil paint is the most popular medium for glazing
More example sentences
- The other pieces were in ceramic, the medium for which the artist is best known.
- And woodblocks have remained the dominant medium for Japanese print artists until our days.
- Concrete is one of the artist's favorite mediums.
5 (plural mediums) A person claiming to be in contact with the spirits of the dead and to communicate between the dead and the living.
Example sentences
- Such beliefs are not confined to rural areas; in the cities there is a network of spirit mediums who claim to contact the dead.
- This work, by Professor Richard Wiseman, involved asking five mediums to contact the dead relatives of five volunteers.
- He asserts that this work supports the mediums ' claims that they are actually communicating with the dead.
spiritualist, spiritist, necromancer, channeler;
fortune teller, clairvoyant, psychic
6The middle quality or state between two extremes; a reasonable balance: you have to strike a happy medium between looking like royalty and looking like a housewife
compromise, golden mean
1About halfway between two extremes of size or another quality; average: John is six feet tall, of medium build medium-length hair
More example sentences
- He was described as a man in his late 30s, taller than average, of medium build with short dark hair and who spoke with no discernible accent.
- She had a slim build and medium length, fashionably styled blonde hair.
- She has fair medium length straight hair and blue eyes.
average, middling, medium-sized, middle-sized, midsize, moderate, normal, standard
1.1(Of cooked meat) halfway between rare and well-done: I wanted my burger to be medium
More example sentences
- Alan Connolly was a right-arm fast medium bowler, tall in stature and powerfully built.
- He was a hard-hitting batsman and an excellent opening medium pace bowler.
- His fielding alone makes him stand out from the crowd and there is also the option he gives us with the ball as he can bowl medium pace or off-spin.
- sense 5 of the noun.Example sentences
- The true scientific use of the pendulum is not to be confused with mediumism or the subconscious mind at all.
- The study of mediumism and related phenomena shows us that many mediums assessed as genuine, later began to lose their powers and took to cheating due to the pressure to go on producing results.
- But anyhow; using a Ouija-table or practising table-tilting is one way to try to develop mediumism, or to get the first contact from the other side.
- sense 5 of the noun.Example sentences
- In 1921 a journalist, James Douglas, had a photo of himself taken by medium William Hope, of the Crewe Circle mediumistic group, that, when developed, showed the presence of a spirit extra.
- During a mediumistic reading the medium usually produces a large number of statements and the sitter has to decide whether these statements accurately describe his/her deceased friends or relatives.
- It is hoped that future tests of mediumistic ability will employ the type of blind judging methods that have been developed, and frequently employed, in past tests of mediumistic ability.
- sense 5 of the noun.Example sentences
- The three-part BBC series aims to lift the veil on mediumship - asking whether mediums spread false hope, exploit the vulnerable or simply tell people what they want to hear.
- It is the most commonly used method behind such mysteries as mediumship, palmistry, astrology and a host of other varieties of 'psychic' reading.
- For Mrs Howard her 'gift' for mediumship was discovered out of a tragic loss she suffered more than 20 years ago.
Late 16th century (originally denoting something intermediate in nature or degree): from Latin, literally 'middle', neuter of medius.
mediocre from late 16th century:
Mediocre is from Latin mediocris used to mean 'of middle height or degree', but literally 'somewhat rugged or mountainous', from medius 'middle' and ocris 'rugged mountain'. Medius also gives us medium (late 16th century) and intermediate (Late Middle English), while meridian (Late Middle English) goes back to Latin meridianum 'noon' from medius dies 'middle of the day'.
Words that rhyme with mediumtedium
For editors and proofreaders
Syllabification: me·di·um
Definition of medium in:
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text:
Start Date: Apr 01, 2009
End Date: Mar 31, 2014
Studies will focus on the various dietary factors found in foods commonly consumed by children, such as infant formula, fruits, rice, milk, and soy, to determine their long-term health effects in infants and children. We will analyze how the early exposure to protein sources and fruits normally consumed by infants and children prevents the initiation of and protects against chronic diseases by altering tissue differentiation, inflammation, and/or oxidative status. We will use animal models to mechanistically address the molecular and cellular pathways regulated by intake of various dietary factors (such as in soy foods, berries, grains and milk) in mammary tissue, aorta, liver, adipose tissue, pancreas, and skeletal muscle; identify tissue and serum biomarkers of healthy status associated with these diets; and provide new molecular targets and processes underlying chronic diseases that may be influenced by proper nutrition. Additional work will be undertaken in an observational study of infants from birth to age 6 years, The Beginnings Study. Breast-fed, milk formula-fed, and soy formula-fed children are studied for growth, development, body composition, and metabolism. In addition, bone development, and immune system development and function will be studied in children, and animal models will be utilized to explore molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of early dietary exposures. The rat model will be used to understand the parental genetic transmission of the susceptibility to high fat feeding to future generations and underlying molecular, biochemical, and endocrine mechanisms, in the offspring. Work will be accomplished by evaluating critical periods of development and vulnerable stages of life (i.e. the nutritional status of women at the moment of conception; nutritional and developmental issues during pregnancy and lactation) and the development of eating behaviors during childhood, adolescence, and later stages of life.


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If you're a fan of family sitcoms, you have surely noticed the surge in recent years of hilarious little oddballs, or what a writer for Vulture.com calls "awesome kid weirdos."
These characters, best exemplified by Manny on "Modern Family" and Brick on "The Middle," are unabashedly offbeat. For the most part, they don't seem to care that their peers and relatives are continually perplexed by their quirks. They just float through life on their own wavelength, stealing plenty of scenes along the way.
One of the new standouts of TV's kid weirdo club is Bert on the ABC freshman sitcom, "Trophy Wife." But the 9-year-old who plays him -- San Jose's Albert Tsai -- would rather not use the word "weird" to describe his alter ego.
"I just think he's very unique," Albert said during a recent phone interview. "Plus, he's really bright and funny."
On "Trophy Wife," Bert is part of a complex family tree. He's the adopted Chinese son of attorney, Pete (Bradley Whitford), and Pete's second spouse, loopy hippie Jackie (Michaela Watkins). Now, Pete is on his third wife -- a reformed party girl named Kate (Malin Akerman), who is struggling to provide good parental guidance to Bert and the two kids from Pete's first marriage.
Yes, it's complicated, but it's also a lot of fun. "Trophy Wife" is one of the fall's brighter new shows and pint-size Bert is a key reason. Whether he's having strange dreams ("Kate, could a doctor steal my uterus?"), shifting into coffee-fueled hyperactive mode, or valiantly trying to overcome his klutzy ways on the soccer field, he succeeds at provoking laughs and melting hearts.
In the process, Albert is winning over critics and viewers. Make a quick run through Twitter and you'll find a number of glowing compliments:
"No actor has made me laugh as much as Albert Tsai this season. Comedy genius in a tiny package." (@GetAClueTV).
"I think 'to Bert' should be a verb. 'He was out there Berting it up.' Why is Albert Tsai so fantastic?" (@Vasugi).
"That little Albert Tsai is a laugh riot!" (@dsrbroadway).
It's high praise for a kid actor who had only one TV guest spot on "How I Met Your Mother" before landing the "Trophy Wife" gig. During auditions, Albert impressed producers so much that they rewrote the part for him. Yes, Bert was originally supposed to be Caucasian.
Albert, whose parents are sales business executives in the semiconductor industry, was bitten by the acting bug as a 7-year-old at Silver Oak Elementary School. That's when he played a doctor "who was hard of hearing and mixed up his words" in the school's production of "The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Junior."
Soon afterward, Albert was enrolled in acting classes. He attended the International Presentation of Performers (iPOP) in Los Angeles, where he earned "Child Actor of the Year" honors.
"I love acting because you're able to experience different peoples' lives and make people laugh," he says.
As it turns out, Albert has a lot in common with his "Trophy Wife" character: "They're both smart, funny and love animals," he says. On the other hand, he would never guzzle coffee like Bert did in a recent episode because "that's a drink that belongs to adults."
When not in front of the cameras, Albert, who already has his heart set on attending Stanford, can often be found with his nose in a book. He enjoys history and biographies of famous entrepreneurs. Among his favorites: Walt Disney."I want to be like him and build a company that brings a lot of happiness to people," he says.
For now, Albert will concentrate on bringing happiness to TV viewers and he'll be doing it for a while. "Trophy Wife" received a full-season order.
AMAZON WANTS YOU: Netflix gets some high-profile competition in the realm of video streaming on Friday when Amazon Studios debuts its first original sitcom, "Alpha House."
Written by "Doonesbury" creator Garry Trudeau, the 11-episode show stars John Goodman as a Republican senator who rents a house with three other GOP colleagues (Clark Johnson, Matt Malloy and Mark Consuelos). The cast also includes Cynthia Nixon, Amy Sedaris, Wanda Sykes and Julie White.
Next Friday, Amazon premieres "Betas," a satire set in Silicon Valley that follows four friends attempting to strike it rich with a mobile social networking app.
Unlike Netflix, which releases every episode of its shows at the same time, Amazon is offering the first three episodes as an enticement to sign up for its free-shipping membership service. They'll be available for free via Amazon Instant Video online at amazon.com/AIV. After that, one episode of each show will become available weekly to Amazon Prime subscribers.
Amazon greenlit the two comedies after releasing 14 initial pilots this spring.
Contact Chuck Barney at firstname.lastname@example.com.
'Trophy Wife'
When: 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays
Where: ABC


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The Hannibal Community Theatre is presenting an old-time traveling theatre production, Henning Nelms' "Only an Orphan Girl," by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.
Performances began at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, and will continue at 7:30 p.m. today, Feb. 2, at St. John's Lutheran School gymnasium.
A matinee performance is scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3.
Additional 7:30 p.m. performances will be on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8 and Feb. 9, at the school.
The play is being directed by Jim Dewey. He described it as old-fashioned melodrama with plenty of opportunities to boo the villain, cheer the hero, laugh, sing and play along.
Special musical performances are planned by the Mississippi Mud Daubers Barbershop Quartet, Sam Walker and her Penny Whistle, a banjo playing preacher and more musicians.
Admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for children age 12 and under.
Location, ST | website.com


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RANDOLPH – Randolph resident and historian Harriet Chase brings her love of the area to the Gifford Medical Center art gallery Jan. 30-March 27 with a show of local photographs.
She is calling the show "photo-art" after learning to apply graphics to her photographs.
"I first learned computer graphics and was pleased with the simple effects that a few enhancements could give to a really nice photograph," Chase says. "None of these enhancements ever overpower the image itself, but subtle actions that perhaps highlight an area, a frame consistent with the picture or a computer 'matting' make a good photograph all the nicer." Continue reading


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Monday, March 2, 2009
Spezza Going Nowhere
Alas, sanity still reigns in Ottawa.
Bryan Murray poured cold water on the year-long Jason Spezza trade rumours today by saying that he won't move the centre, who's no-trade clause becomes effective July 1st.
This should be interpreted as good news, though some will surely be disappointed that a blockbuster isn't around the corner.
Even if Murray wanted to dump his franchise player, he wouldn't be able to get proper value for him in almost any scenario imagined.
No team is going to trade Ottawa their number one centre for Jason Spezza. If they have a number one centre, they have no need for Spezza anyways, so Murray would have to settle for quantity over quality. He might get a good second line centre and some prospects or he could maybe get a number one defenseman.
But then the Senators would be a team without an elite centre, guaranteeing a further erosion in the standings and you've just replaced one problem with another.
No matter how good Boston is doing this year, they made a poor trade when they sent Joe Thornton to San Jose for a handful of lesser players, most of whom now play elsewhere with little fanfare.
It was simply good luck for Boston that John Muckler let Zdeno Chara walk for nothing, and that Don Waddell did the same with Marc Savard, combined with some good drafting that allowed them to get over the Thornton mistake.
There would probably be no similar golden road for the Senators were they to trade Spezza. In order to replace him, they would have to draft a number one centre and let him develop for five years. These types of players rarely hit free agency because most GM's are locking them up to long contracts, similar to what Spezza signed here in Ottawa. The chances of a Marc Savard type player hitting free agency is slim to none.
The fact is, Ottawa made its choice to build their team around Spezza and it's too late to back out now unless you decide to rebuild from scratch.
If you trade Spezza, then you have to get rid of Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson as well because you would be carrying those huge contracts on a team that has no chance to win.
Love him or hate him, Spezza is going to be dishing pucks for the Senators for a long time.
5 comments:
Spezza is one of the few classy items in our organization, only the "troubled" wanted him gone.
My "fear".......Procrastination....
everyone knows what we want and what they are worth....start completing the deals. No one knows for sure how to be a successful seller...but I can tell you how to be an unsuccessful seller...leave it too late!!!
If you are buying and you don't get your man it's no big deal...Mucks would tell us we didn't "Him" anyway. However,if you are trying to move free agents..."Don't fuck around!" "It's time!"
Mr. Murray experience is a great teacher...use yours!
- March 2, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Good to hear! Spezza is the most talented player on the team, and the most exciting to watch when he is on his game.
I just heard on TSN that the Sens would like Pascale Leclaire and that Columbus wants Vermette in return.
If this happens, I am going into overdrive to have Murray fired. Leclaire has a $3.8M ticket for the next two years. He has never won a playoff series. He has never won a playoff game. He has never been in the playoffs. And, he makes more than Gerber.
To me, this smells like Martin Gerber, The Sequel.
On top of that, they want our most versatile player, in Vermette.
I think that there are enough goalies available this summer that it will be a buyer's market. Goalie salaries, aside from the top-tier, are gonna go down.
I think that we could nab Bulin Wall for less than $3.8M. I would rather go in that direction.
I would rather even bring back Sugar Ray Emery. He would address the goaltending and give the team some much needed swagger.
- March 2, 2009 at 8:18 PM
8:18PM.....You are right.
TSN and Bruce have the worst contacts out side of Nick "the Greek" Kypreos.... I think I have better access and everyone I know is retired.
Forget the goal tending till the summer.
To the task at hand.... Don't wait any longer, finalize Kuba and Neil on Tuesday.
That leaves Wednesday to give Schub to Tampa. Go find these guys who were thinking about #21, put TIM on that. Give Bell to Buffalo if they will take Gerbs.
PS: Don't come back with the same team next year or you will not draw as well as Bingo! We are running out of do-overs.
- March 2, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Thank you for an excellent post - a clear, concise explanation of the stupidity driving the "trade Spezza" movement.
A healthy and much needed dose of common sense.
Very sad that certain local media lack the brain function to come to a similar conclusion. If he's traded at all, it would have to be in the off-season at the draft as part of a complete team overhaul. That kind of major re-tooling can only be done in the off-season.
Murray, Spezza and anyone with a clue understand this. Unfortunately, those without a clue believe Murray and Spezza are just complacent. Embarassing.
Keep up the great posts.
- Jalen
- March 3, 2009 at 11:02 AM
- hambown said...
Huzzah. Now if Murray can hurry up and trade our pending UFAs so that all we've invested in them doesn't go to waste, I'll be able to relax for a minute.
Waiting until the very end of the deadline is making me crazy. If they don't get dealt, then what? Murray doesn't have the $$$ to spend resigning them both. We need a goalie for next year, plus a defender (Preissing is on waivers j/k.), plus he wants to resign Comrie, plus, plus, plus. Plus!
- March 3, 2009 at 12:50 PM


text:
You listen to Alanis Morisette? God, you're such a Fag! I love it, though. This is completely retarded, but it made me laugh.SoCo makes me psychoAnd, bitter, like a limeZima gets me date-rapedWine makes me feel sublimeBud tends to make me giggleIt's fun to lose one's classBut, I do not like the jiggleThat it adds onto my assBacardi makes me swoonCaptain Morgan makes me singJager clouds my judgementTill I cannot see a thingTequilla makes me festiveIt also gets me hotWhen I start to feeling restiveIn the bushes, I will squatVodka knocks my rockerSweet gin unpins the sinnerJack Daniels makes me wrestle withAnd, sorely lose my dinnerBut, when I've had too much to drinkMy business becomes risque And, coffee makes me pleasantIf it's spiked with Irish whiskay If guns are made for shooting, then skulls are made to crack. You've never seen a better Faig than with a bullet in his back.
PLUTOSo, is this what death is like?I was gazing at the starsWhen I got hit by a carAnd so I diedOn the spotStupidlyNow I find myselfTied to a funny fluffy fuchsia chairOn PlutoWatching the same music videoOver and over againAll day long(Not that there are actually days and nights here:The sun is hardly bigger than any other star)And here with me is a guy namedFranzWho says he was aCatholicAnd he'd much rather be in Hell nowWaltzing with MephistoThan here enduringIcelandic pop musicAnd here is also a guy namedCharlesWho says he was aBuddhistAnd he'd much rather be back on EarthAlreadySo he could writePoemsAbout the breathtaking beauty ofNordic areolasAnd here is also a guy namedHowardWho says he was very much hoping forAbsolute nothingnessAnd he's extremely disappointedMostly because he can't die ofIntestinal cancerOr anything elseAnymoreAnd me?As long as I can hear somePopular musicsI just don't care at all"This future racing toward us paralyzes the wallet and the brain"
I will not dieNoThe ambitious young manThat I amTodayWill only changeAnd it is an old manWrinkledTiredResignedWho will dieInstead of meIn the endAnd it won't matter muchBecause he will only be good atStirring memoriesOld shames andOld gloriesAnd pictures from the time of his youthThat will give him the impressionOf seeing countless ghostsFor the self is only aPointOn a pathThat is to sayNothingOrAt mostA vague ideaThat fades as soon as we start to grasp itI analyse myselfAnd it makes meBecome someone elseI elude myselfAnd I will elude myselfForeverC'est la vieI will not dieNoThat old manTiredResignedWill die instead of meTo be insulted by these fascists is so degrading
In reply to: So he could writePoemsAbout the breathtaking beauty ofNordic areolas
So he could writePoemsAbout the breathtaking beauty ofNordic areolas
Will you please write a little poem about Nordic nips? Tomb of the Utimately UnknownI have never heard the criesOf a bare and beaten YouthFor, I am far too soft and unprepared,I'm told,To hold that blood capsule of TruthInside the center Of a Virgin palmYet, still I feelHis fuzzy head, thereCradled in my armInviting Him to thieve my warmth from me,In servitude;Entreating Him to suck the light of life within my breast,Which hollows more each second Following the end To gasping breathsIn turn, the blade invading my own chestIn reverent RemembranceBrine, it is the wineI am but the chaliceDread, it is the breadFuzzy, green inside my womb;The maliceAlthough,This feud, this horror, is not tactileI have only viewed the war through futilePink, plastic binocularsWith roseate-tinged lensMagnificent!Their lack of meaningful MagnificationOh, Our damned nation!WitnessesStanding by to each and everyHaunting, Reminiscent coronation We are too magnanimous!I've been thankfulI was not delivered To this rotting earth;A gun sewn into the carnation, Silken lining of my fleshNot rigid, StarkAs flesh is made to be inPassionFruit will never answer from the soilIrrigated with the cardinal waterThe crops dusted with blood of ChildrenGristle of Man Degraded to tallowTheir bristle braided into wickWe light the CandleFan the fire with our palms,The wounds,That, which we cannot lickTheir waxy facesLifted bodiesSallow,Hallowed, StatuesqueBut, in the flamesThey're dispossessedThey deliquesceTo nothingnessA miracle is lifeThe elegy Is not so eloquently lyricalEach pure manifestation;Made to wither or be plucked, at randomPlagued by infestationThe red bells Roll in on themselvesThe toll is for whomeverWe are All The SlavesThe BlindThe EndVirgins can't be saved, forever I have a couple of fag women I go hunting with. - Altoid
I'll think of something, don't worry.To be insulted by these fascists is so degrading
When it was never saidit was for the bestto come off second bestand stand in the corner like a manwho words had already failed twice in an eveningand proceeds to finish his drink and leavehis only wish to be forgotten along with his deeds,both good and bad,and be reborn in another placewith new skin and fresh bonesto make the same mistakes in the years still to comethat had already passed him byspent alonein hindsight, squanderedlike a meandering metaphor straying too far from the original conceptonly to reveal the concern that 25 is now closer than 18I bet people can't wait to read my memoirs
What a shameless way to bump your own thread, young man!NINE YEARSSo you're in love with meAnd you know I don't careBut how could you guessThat in nine years from nowI'll still be your best friendAnd I'll be smoking your Thai cigarettesGulping your Burgundy winesCutting my lips on your stubbleAnd stroking your not-so-sexy paunch(Today you're so thin!)All night we'll be doing these thingsThat our mothers wouldn't approve ofAnd that our girlfriends don't need to know aboutMine will callAnd I will say I'm too drunk to get homeAs I notice how much my jaw hurts alreadyLater onOther parts of me will hurtI will marvel at your velocityYou will marvel at my voracityAnd in the end you will look at meIn that special wayThat says"No girl could ever please me like you just did."And that will make me feel so warm inside(The oxytocin rush, I will think)But todayWe're just two virginsOn some silty beachKnee-deep in the AtlanticFrustratedConfusedUntannedAnd all we do is make each other unhappyWhile others have all the funThe most beautiful words in the English language are not 'I love you,' but 'It's benign.' | Mon Espace
My muse deserves betterthan to see her offerings subjected to the slings and arrows of outrageous Frenchmenyet I don't carebecause he is a queerand his poetry is shitI bet people can't wait to read my memoirs
You just wish you'd been a gay Bukowski instead of a drunken whoreski.The most beautiful words in the English language are not 'I love you,' but 'It's benign.' | Mon Espace
Stay,Copper moonOur grins both agape in recessionAuburn heads tilted sideward in mirrored expressionI am caged in your gilt, amber glowYou seem still, but I know,By and by, you must goGaze,Bloodshot eyeFor the sunlight does threaten the deepsFarther, still, from this night, the pearl crimson moon creepsI shall keep you some desperate wayYou are gone, but I pray,By and by, that you stay "we went to pizza hut after school and lived the rockstar life for the first time that day." - 13athroom


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Definition of Malagasy in English:
noun (plural same or Malagasies)
1A native or inhabitant of Madagascar.
Example sentences
- The rebels themselves were responsible for the deaths of 550 Europeans and of approximately 1,900 Malagasies.
- Between them, they provided the Malagasy with the Bible in their own language.
- The Malagasy, as the inhabitants of the island are known, are mainly descended from the Malay / Indonesian and Polynesian seafarers who were the first arrivals somewhere around 500 ad.
2 [mass noun] The Austronesian language of Madagascar, a group of dialects spoken by some 10 million people.
Example sentences
- In the classroom, Malagasy replaced French as the language of instruction and lessons focused on Malagasy, rather than French, culture and history.
- Other languages of this type may include Albanian, Malagasy, and Toba Batak.
- Campbell is not only fluent in Malagasy, but also in the less familiar European languages (Welsh, Norwegian) in which some of these records are written.
Relating to Madagascar or its people or language.
Example sentences
- The flowers are usually identified as poinsettia, which in the Malagasy language is Madagasikara, the local name for Madagascar.
- The effect is that of a sophisticated and exotic storytelling folk music sung in the Malagasy language.
- The lamba hearty, then, continues to be a means of signaling a distinct Malagasy identity, within Madagascar and abroad.
Variant of Madagascar; earlier forms included Malegass, Madegass, because of dialect division between the sounds -l- and -d-.
Words that rhyme with Malagasybassi, Brassey, brassie, chassis, gassy, Haile Selassie, lassie, Manasseh, massé, massy, sassy, Tallahassee
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: Mala|gasy
Definition of Malagasy in:
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text:
Definition of classify in English:
verb (classifies, classifying, classified)[with object]
1Arrange (a group of people or things) in classes or categories according to shared qualities or characteristics: mountain peaks are classified according to their shape
More example sentences
- These groups are classified into three cultures: those in the interior, the countryside, and the coastal regions.
- These shares are classified by their back-end or contingent deferred sales charge.
- A successful insurance policy allows individuals to be correctly classified into a risk category.
1.1Assign to a particular class or category: elements are usually classified as metals or non-metals
More example sentences
- As a result people coming from countries on the list cannot be classified as asylum seekers because, by definition, none of its citizens can be considered under threat.
- For the first time in the five-year history of the Classic, it is being classified as a Category 1 event by the World Professional Darts Council.
- For a pothole to be classified as 'Category One' it would have to be four inches deep, or be assessed by an expert as being dangerous on other grounds.
categorize, class, group, put into sets, grade, rank, rate, order, organize, range, sort, type, codify, bracket, systematize, systemize, stratify, catalogue, tabulate, list, file, index;
assign, allocate, consign, place, put;
brand, label, pigeonhole
archaic assort
2Designate (documents or information) as officially secret: government officials classified 6.3 million documents in 1992
More example sentences
- There are exceptions to protect the privacy of individuals, but the state's power to classify documents as national-security secrets is strictly limited.
- We have learned to our dismay how quick government officials are to classify information, even when it is already in the public domain.
- Only the president, the premier or cabinet members acting as proxy for either of them can classify a document as 'top secret.'
- Example sentences
- We've made no move to become more concrete or classifiable in our sound.
- My sense is that under the imprint, she gives herself more room to explore material not classifiable as or forced into the mystery-thriller-crime-novel genre.
- Altogether, the film is funny, sensual, intellectual, quirky, and not easily classifiable in terms of its genre.
- Example sentences
- The racial and sexual tensions of the late eighteenth century led to a narration of nature that included the classificatory schema that developed into the natural sciences.
- Of course, it's still subject to a range of objections and qualifications, but so is any classificatory system.
- As a taxonomist, he was only too familiar with the fragility of classificatory schema.
Late 18th century: back-formation from classification, from French, from classe 'class', from Latin classis 'division'.
Words that rhyme with classifypacify
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: clas|sify
Definition of classify in:
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West blast: Sen. Barbara Boxer calls for action from governors, EPA and OSHA
update: In Austin, Gov. Rick Perry today wrote the White House and FEMA to appeal the denial of a "major disaster" declaration for West.
Victims are lining up to sue. More on that here.
And EPA agreed with Sen. Boxer that "it is imperative" to reduce risk of tragedies at chemical plants, and vowing to work closely with her, and with state and local authorities "to seek stronger protections to safeguard public health." The agency said it is reviewing the 1997 alert "to determine any necessary updates for the safe management and storage of ammonium nitrate."
WASHINGTON — A key senator this morning is calling on the nation's governors to ensure the safe storage of ammonium nitrate, in response to the deadly April blast at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas.
Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., held a hearing June 27 into the tragedy, which left 15 people dead and flattened hundreds of homes and much of the small town near Waco. She held a news conference at the Capitol to discuss her conclusions.
"OSHA should be doing more inspections, there's no doubt about it. EPA should change their risk management plan… we all have to do more," she said.
The West Fertilizer Co. plant hadn't been inspected by the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration since 1985, and experts testified to Boxer's committee that the tragedy could have been prevented or at least mitigated in any number of ways. (Hearing coverage here.)
Concerns range from storage of explosive material in wooden containers and buildings to a lack of fire codes and sprinklers. Lax zoning rules that allowed homes, schools and even a nursing home to spring up within a potential blast zone made the risk of injury, death and property damage far greater.
"Ammonium nitrate can explode when it is heated or contaminated and threatens the lives of first responders and people in communities located near facilities that handle this material," Boxer wrote to Texas Gov. Rick Perry and the nation's other governors, urging them to adopt "all available measures" to prevent explosions. "Ensuring proper controls on ammonium nitrate can be lifesaving."
Alluding to Perry's aversion to federal intrusion on state affairs, Boxer quipped that governors should appreciate the offer of friendly advice rather than a Washington mandate.
At the hearing, Boxer jousted with a top official from the Environmental Protection Agency, which has for 11 years ignored a recommendation to add ammonium nitrate — the substance that detonated in West — to a list of hazards requiring a local emergency plan. The head of the federal agency that investigates industrial accidents and which issued that recommendation, the Chemical Safety Board, told senators that firefighters who rushed to tamp down a fire that eventually led to the huge blast probably didn't realize the danger.
"It's inexcusable that EPA hasn't updated their alerts since 1997 on this issue," Boxer said Tuesday. "It's outrageous, and they're wrong…. People died here. This is not some bureaucratic mistake."
She also announced that she will hold another hearing on the West tragedy in September or October to keep a spotlight on the issue.
Her prodding of governors, she said, is intended to promote immediate steps pending action from federal agencies. She declined to mention any legislation she might propose, but did lament a shortage of funding for OSHA inspectors.
"We know what has to be done. Ammonium nitrate has to be stored in a separate facility…and protected from fire, and then people will be protected. It's not rocket science here," Boxer said.


text:
Debra Wood, RN
There are no specific lifestyle changes to manage
non-Hodgkins lymphoma
. However, the following tips may help you manage side effects of treatment:
Support from family and friends is also important at this time. Some patients find it helpful to discuss concerns with people facing similar challenges.
The American Cancer Society
can refer you to
support groups
in your area.
Lymphoma. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
website. Available at:
Updated March 15, 2013. Accessed April 30, 2013.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
. Updated April 29, 2013. Accessed April 30, 2013.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. National Cancer Institute
website. Available at:
Accessed April 30, 2013.
Last reviewed March 2015 by Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP
Michael Woods, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved.


text:
FDA rejects Novo's Tresiba
13.02.2013 - The FDA has rejected market authorization of Novo Nordisk's long-acting insulin Tresiba and demands a complete new cardiovascular safety study.
The FDA asked the Danish insulin-maker to complete a cardiovascular safety study of the long-acting insulin in 7,500 patients before granting market authorisation. The decision on Tresiba comes just a few weeks after the European Medicines Agency had given the green light for the once daily insulin degludec.
The move of the US regulatory agency came somehow unexpected after its endocrinologics and metabolic drugs advisory panel overcame its initial doubts over the increased risk of stroke and heart attacks and said it would accept a post-marketing study on cardiovascular risk.
Most analysts don't expect Novo to have databefore 2016, offering market leader Sanofi more years to sell its blockbuster Lantus without a challenge from Tresiba. Sanofi made about 20% of its revenues with Lantus (US$6.6bn) last year – more than 50% of the global diabetes market. The FDA's complete response letter also caught Novo's related Ryzodeg in the regulatory net, which was also backed by the expert panel.
© eurobiotechnews.eu/tghttp://www.european-biotechnology-news.com/news/news/2013-01/fda-rejects-novos-tresiba.html


text:
What does race have to do with it?
Published: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 3:10 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 3:10 p.m.
I haven't seen a petition for Louisiana to secede from the union, but if there is one, I'm ready to sign it and vote for President Jindal.
I predict that in the next four years most of those 65 million disciples of Barrack Hussein Obama won't be bragging about who they voted for.
The 12 items Wayne Thibodeaux listed in his letter tell me he doesn't like being a Louisianan.
While he still can, he might want to consider a move.
As we all know, Louisiana and most of the United States did not carry Obama in the presidential election.
Do you think the states that elected him can survive on their own?
If Louisiana closes all oil and gas production to the U.S. and puts a toll on the Mississippi River, what do you think will happen to the U.S. economy?
What has race to do with any of this?
I would gladly leave the union to regain control of our wetlands and rivers from the U.S. Corps of Engineers. If the U.S. won't help us, get out of Louisiana and let us do what we know we have to do to survive and protect ourselves from natural disasters.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
Need Help? Call 1.866.472.4001
Roll Over Image to Zoom
Reclaimed Wood Letters
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- Overview
Spell out your style with decor that makes a real statement. Hand carved from reclaimed pine, these graphic block letters are painted and distressed by hand for a timeworn look with timeless appeal.
- 16.25" wide x 1" deep x 24" high
- Made of wood.
- D-ring mounts.
- Sold individually.
- Dimensions + Care
- Wipe with a soft, dry cloth.
- Shipping Info
Please allow approximately 5-7 business days for delivery. Delivery estimate includes monogrammed and gift-wrapped items.
PBdorm Ship to Store is now available! Go here for details and we will ship your PBdorm order to a Williams Sonoma Inc. store near your college for pick up.
- Final Sale
Final-sale items, identified by a price ending in $0.99, cannot be returned. Once placed, your order for any final sale items cannot be canceled.


text:
Monday's feature takes a look at the breakout seasons by @RKMadden00 and @Mr_WalkOnAir
Click here for the original story.
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Men's Converse Chuck Taylor Dual Collar High Casual Shoes
Buy Online & Pick Up In-Store
It doesn't get more All-American than a classic pair of Converse. The Men's Converse Chuck Taylor Dual Collar High Casual Shoes are back with a new layer of awesome to super-size your Chucks game.
A multicolored dual upper design featuring two collars, two tongues, and (you guessed it) two lace closures delivers double the swag, so your individuality and style shines. A breathable canvas upper keeps feet comfortable, while the lace-up style allows for a secure, personalized fit. The classic diamond-shaped rubber outsole and toe cap give these kicks extra durability, while the dual collar and high ankle offer extra support with a subtle twist.
- UPPER: Canvas
- OUTER: Rubber


text:
News 12 at 6 o'clock / Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It looks like two more cases of tuberculosis are about to be confirmed at Butler High School. This comes as 75 students and teachers test positive for exposure.
"Just because you have a TB test positive [for exposure] doesn't mean that you have the disease," noted Richmond County Health Director Ketty Gonzalez at Wednesday afternoon's news conference.
So far, 500 students and teachers have been tested. There is only one confirmed case of TB at this time, but there are two others who seem to have an unconfirmed "clinical cases" of the disease.
"We are in the process of confirming two additional cases," Dr. Gonzalez said.
The health scare at Butler High School started about a month ago when school officials began testing students and faculty.
"The safety of the children must come first," said Richmond County PTA President Monique Braswell.
Perhaps more alarming is the fact that more than 50 test takers have not come back to learn their results.
"Parents, please go back to get your results. Whether you think they are positive or negative," Braswell pleaded. "If they are positive, you are endangering the lives of other people, and if they are negative, then that's a great thing for everyone else."
Braswell says the school system did not get off on the right foot with their response. She says the less-than-optimal initial response caused some parents to consider removing their kids from the school.
The mission now is to answer one big question to parents and students liking.
"Is the school safe?" we asked Student Services Director Carol Rountree.
"The school is absolutely safe," Rountree said. "We are continuing to be very aggressive in all of our maintenance. Tuberculosis can be managed. That this is not something we should be afraid of."
The Richmond County Health Department says there is no need to panic.
"I am confident that everything is under control," Gonzalez said.
Those 75 students who tested positive for being exposed to the disease will now undergo further tests to determine if they have the disease. All students who tested negative will be retested in the next eight to 10 weeks as a precaution.


text:
An Eye on the Lower Muskingum: Watertown descendant famous
March 30, 2013
Jacob Peters was born in Germany and immigrated to Watertown Township in 1833 in search of better opportunities for his family. A close study of his descendants shows he succeeded....
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text:
Driscoll Hall
Driscoll Hall
Driscoll was designed with friendliness in mind. Fully-furnished double bedrooms with community bathrooms on each wing. All-female residence hall. Each bedroom has a sink and vanity. The average room size is 14' X 14', and a typical room comes with 2 twin beds, 2 closets, 2 desks, and 2 ethernet ports. Armoires are provided in place of closets. A limited number of single rooms are available. Both floors have large, open lounge areas. DirectTV-broadcast television is available on the 2nd floor. There is a community kitchen complete with large refrigerators and a stove on the 2nd floor. A laundry room is available on the 1st floor. Maximum capacity for this building is 50 residents.
Example Floor Plan


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This article was featured in our Spring 2014 Update Community Newsletter.
It's not often you find just the right health care provider to join a clinic and a community. The Chelsea Health Center, remarkably, has two amazing new fits.
Dr. Amanda Hepler and physician assistant Rebecca Savidge, both family medicine providers, have joined the Route 110 health center as long-time physician assistant Starr Strong prepares to retire and family medicine physician Dr. Brian Sargent transitions to full-time emergency care at Gifford.
Rebecca is a Chelsea native. Dr. Hepler has a love of rural medicine.
"Dr. Hepler has a passion for rural primary care and will solely be working at the Chelsea Health Center while Rebecca is a young but experienced physician assistant who is a native of Chelsea and literally 'grew up' going to the Chelsea Health Center as a child. She truly understands the community," notes Dr. Josh Plavin, the Medicine Division medical director at Gifford and a former Chelsea doctor.
Chelsea office manager and nurse Travis Worthen notes that patients are excited to have the duo aboard and to see Rebecca "coming back to her roots."
Dr. Hepler's experience, especially with the unexpected that can arise in a rural clinic, such as logging and farming injuries, is especially appreciated.
Both are also kind, thorough and accommodating caregivers, says medical secretary Deb Stender.
Dr. Hepler and Rebecca already see themselves as "a lasting fit" and as a team that both works well together and that hopes to improve care. They will do so by being at the clinic for more hours, meaning more opportunities for care and faster turnaround times on things like medication refills and lab results.
They also both have experience working with electronic medical records and are looking forward to seeing Chelsea make the transition, which will be more seamless thanks to their know-how.
"We are excited to welcome our new providers and announce expanded availability in Chelsea," Dr. Plavin says. "We have developed a wonderful team, which I hope will be caring for patients in Chelsea for years to come."
An open house was held Thursday, May 1 from 4-6 p.m. at the health center to welcome Dr. Hepler and Rebecca to the community and to wish Starr and Brian well.


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I am going looking forward to checking out the tulip display at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. I love tulips but find that they are not as easy to grow as daffodils in my garden. First of all, critters like to eat the bulbs. There are also some tulips that perennialize (come back every year) better than others. The tulips that form fewer, larger bulblets rather than many, smaller bulblets, work better as perennials but are usually smaller plants.
In fact many people grow tulips as annuals, although my co-worker Susanne Howard, horticulturist at the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station, grows several perennial types in her garden. She advises to "plant tulips in well drained soil 8 inches deep in fall, before the ground freezes. You also need to allow the plants to die back naturally after they flower so the nutrients and carbohydrates can go back into the bulb."
Although we enjoy tulips now, we have to wait until fall to plant them in our gardens. Remember that spring flowering bulbs are planted in the fall, while summer flowering bulbs are planted in spring. I consider tulips my most romantic flower. My boyfriend bought them for me for Valentine's Day by mistake. He thought they were roses. I put the beautiful pink tulips in a vase and day by day they changed to eventually arch out looking like they were trying to escape! It was then I learned that tulip stems actually continue to grow after they are cut, which means that you get a bouquet that actually moves.
To extend the show as well as having tulips for bouquets for a longer time, you have several types of tulips to choose from that bloom at different times.
Very early tulips: These tulips begin bloom as early as late March. Water lily tulips are 4-12 inches tall with pointed petals that open wide. Tulipa greigii has green leaves with maroon markings and grows 6-20 inches tall. Emperor tulips are 12-15 inches tall.
Early tulips: This group begins blooming around mid-April. Single early tulips are fragrant and grow 10-18 inches tall. Double early tulips are peony flowered and grow 10-12 inches tall. Tulipa praestans grows 8-12 inches tall and bears several flowers on each stem.
Midseason tulips: Triumph types grow 18-24 inches tall and come in many colors including bicolors. Tulipa tarda has star-like yellow flowers with white edges at a mere 4-6 inches tall. Darwin hybrids have large flowers on 24-inch tall plants and are earlier than the familiar Darwins.
Late tulips: This group blooms through May. Darwin tulips are the ones that we are most familiar with. They have large flowers on 24-30 inch tall plants and come in many different colors. Cottage tulips are usually egg-shaped with pastel flowers on 22-30 inch tall plants. Double late tulips have peony-like flowers on 8-24 inch sturdy stems. Rembrandt tulips have streaked petals on plants that are about 2 feet tall. Although Rembrandt didn't exactly paint many flowers, these tulips were often subjects of Flemish and Dutch still life paintings of the 16 and 1700s, where the artists often mixed them with other flowers that bloomed at different times.
Page 2 of 2 - Lily flowered have long curving petals that turn outward at the tips, while the parrot tulips have large fringed, ruffled petals in bright and beautiful colors. So you have many different colors and shapes of tulips to choose from. Whether you like tulips for your still life paintings or your romantic bouquets, enjoy their beauty now and in the weeks to come. And, if you get a chance, run up to the Missouri Botanical Garden to see all of the tulips in bloom. That is my plan!
Location, ST | website.com


text:
ALAMEDA -- The Raiders admitted to a $6.5 million mistake Monday, an offense for which the penalty would be much worse for general manager Reggie McKenzie were it not for the good fortune of having Terrelle Pryor dropped in his lap.
Matt Flynn, acquired last April Fool's Day to be the Raiders starting quarterback a day before Carson Palmer was shipped to the Arizona Cardinals, was released Monday.
"I don't know exactly what the reason was, it just didn't work," Raiders coach Dennis Allen said at his weekly news conference. "Terrelle came in here and took over the job. He's earned the position he's in. We just felt it was in our best interest to move on from that."
Releasing Flynn completes the transaction made with the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle gets the Raiders' fifth-round pick in 2014, and with Flynn off the Raiders roster, a conditional 2015 pick is erased.
The deal is made even worse in that McKenzie restructured Flynn's contract to deal with the salary cap this season, guaranteeing him $6.5 million in 2013.
Owner Mark Davis surely isn't happy to be paying that kind of money for a guy who was moved aside last week in favor of undrafted free agent Matt McGloin and now will be paid for sitting on a couch.
Having signed with Seattle as a free agent last year and then losing his job to Russell Wilson, Flynn was paid more than $14 million for starting exactly one game for the Seahawks and Raiders.
The saving grace for McKenzie, who was not available for comment, is the presence of Pryor. The improvement of the last pick made by Al Davis -- in the 2011 supplemental draft -- has been as remarkable as Flynn's play has been abysmal.
The Chargers win was another Pryor revelation -- an 18-for-23, 221-yard, two-touchdown performance with no turnovers that delivered a 135.7 passer rating -- the highest for the Raiders since Rich Gannon had a 138.9 in Week 3 of his MVP season in 2002.
"He's probably leaps and bounds better than we thought he'd be at this point in time," Allen said.
Flynn played his way out of the starting lineup at the end of the exhibition season, in part because of elbow tendinitis but mostly because of increasingly shaky play that included one practice sequence when he turned the ball over on three straight plays.
The Raiders were content to let him be the backup, as Seattle did the year before. That was until Flynn was put back in the lineup against Washington on Sept. 29 when Pryor was having symptoms from a concussion the previous week and things went awry.
With the help of a blocked punt for a touchdown and an 18-yard touchdown pass from Flynn to Mychal Rivera, the Raiders took a 14-0 lead. Flynn then had an interception returned for a touchdown, couldn't move the ball and lost two fumbles, and the Raiders lost 24-14.
"When Flynn got another opportunity last week and wasn't able to deliver, I think they just weren't willing to deal with it," free safety Charles Woodson said in a Sirius XM radio appearance. "It just kind of mounted up against him, and it didn't work out."
It didn't help that Flynn, perhaps understandably, wasn't putting the best face on his demotion.
That became apparent when Pryor was asked two games into the season if Flynn was the same helpful teammate he'd been in the quarterback room as the starter and said: "I can't really worry about or think about whether guys are still dwelling on stuff. I've got a job to do, and my butt's on the line."
Unless the Raiders sign a veteran quarterback, and they were reportedly to visit with David Carr, it affords fourth-round draft pick and practice squad player Tyler Wilson a chance to move up.
Given that Flynn's release has no future salary cap implications, the Raiders are out the $6.5 million and little else as Pryor's presence acts as a deodorant for a malodorous transaction.
For more on the Raiders, visit the Inside the Oakland Raiders blog at ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders.
Raiders (2-3) at Kansas City (5-0),
10 a.m. CBS
Makeshift offensive line overlooked in Raiders victory. PAGE 2