text:
Mickelson and the Sports Star Tax Migration
If Lefty moves to a state with no income tax like Florida, he'll find he has plenty of elite athlete company.
America's top-grossing golfer Phil Mickelson drove himself into a bunker on Jan. 20 when he said that federal and California state tax hikes had made him contemplate making "drastic changes" in his life—including, it was widely assumed, moving to a no-income-tax state such as Texas or Florida. But he was only stating publicly what many professional athletes are mulling privately.
No doubt they'll keep their thoughts private, too, given the uproar that ensued. The golfer known as Lefty outraged lefties by noting that a tax burden of more than 60% seemed excessive. Didn't he know that athletes—unlike Hollywood celebrities—are supposed to keep their politics to themselves? Mr. Mickelson quickly apologized for teeing off his critics. "Finances and taxes are a personal matter," he said. In any event, Mr. Mickelson certainly wouldn't be the first athlete to consider relocating for tax purposes.
Last week, Lefty's rival, Tiger Woods, acknowledged that he left California for Florida in 1996 when he turned pro because of the difference in state tax. California's top marginal rate then was 9.3% for individuals earning more than $32,000. The move was particularly farsighted given that rates on high earners in California have since soared.
In November, voters in California approved a ballot measure raising the top rate on income over $1 million to 13.3% (the increase applies retroactively to last year). According to SportsIllustrated.com, Mr. Woods grossed $56.4 million in 2012. As a Floridian, he will keep about $7.5 million that he otherwise would have owed to the state of California. His net tax savings over his 16-year career come to about $100 million. Mr. Mickelson last year earned $60.7 million. Paying the 13.3% California rate, he will owe the state $8 million.
"The day California passed the tax increase, I received three calls from concerned athletes," accountant Steve Piascik, president of Piascik & Associates, told me. His firm is one of the largest representatives of professional athletes in the country.
Mr. Piascik isn't urging his clients to pack their bags just yet, but he says that some are considering moving to reduce their tax liabilities. And several of his clients, whose names he won't disclose, have already ordered their lives around the tax code: They play for teams in California but live elsewhere for tax reasons.
Former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim right fielder Torii Hunter (who recently signed with the Detroit Tigers) lived in Prosper, Texas, during the baseball off-season. The main reason he "moved to Texas is because it doesn't have state income tax," the outfielder told the Orange County Register last year.
The benefit of living in a state without an income tax can be diminished by the "jock tax" that states impose on money earned by athletes when they're playing or training in the state. (Luckily for baseball players, spring training is in no-tax Florida or low-tax Arizona.) But in sports like tennis and golf where athletes can train anywhere in the world, a preponderance happen to migrate to states without an income tax.
For instance, Serena and Venus Williams grew up in Compton, Calif., but moved with their father to Florida in the early 1990s. Many of the top teaching pros in tennis set up shop in Florida. Note also that parents can afford to pay more for their children's training in states without income tax, since the parents keep more of their earnings.
The Williams sisters currently reside in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., not far from 23-year-old pro golfer Michelle Wie. Upon graduating from Stanford University last year, Ms. Wie moved with her parents from Palo Alto, Calif., to Jupiter, Fla. Farther up the Florida coast in Coral Gardens lives 19-year-old Sloane Stephens, who unseated Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarterfinals last week.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Sam Querrey, the second-highest-ranked American in men's tennis, has followed his parents to Las Vegas—Nevada also has no income tax—from Thousand Oaks, Calif. Like Mr. Querrey, rising golf talent Nick Watney spent his formative years in California but has put down roots in Las Vegas.
For journeymen and up-and-comers, California's tax rates can be a major handicap. A few hundred thousand or even a million in prize money isn't such a fortune when an athlete has to pay for travel, coaches, accountants, agents and miscellaneous training-related expenses. Uncle Sam also skims his "fair share" off the top—and that share is rising.
Federal tax rates on income above $400,000 jumped this year to 39.6% from 35%. Meanwhile, ObamaCare levies a new 3.8% surtax on investment income and raises the Medicare tax by 0.9% on wages over $200,000. Limits on itemized deductions for high earners have also been reinstated, which will raise many athletes' marginal rates by one to two percentage points.
Mr. Mickelson was merely reading the wind when he floated the idea of making "drastic changes." PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, a former adviser to President Jimmy Carter, noted during the Mickelson brouhaha that "there are businesses relocating out of California because they can operate better in states that have lower tax rates." He also noted: "Generally, people making decisions based on the tax rates in California, on top of the federal tax rates, is not a unique thing."
No kidding. About 3.5 million Californians have migrated to other states over the past two decades. Almost anywhere they chose to go would allow them to enjoy greater returns on their labor. Is it really surprising that athletes like Mr. Mickelson might be keeping an eye on the leaderboard?
Ms. Finley is an editorial writer for the Journal.


text:
Taking back the city
'Night Out' walkers experience a real city police drama
August 7, 2013
In an ironic twist, a group of about 40 people taking part in a "National Night Out Community Walk" in Williamsport Tuesday night were escorted around a scene investigated by city police while they......
Funny, I don't see anyone making these walks around 4 blocks around Little League Boulevard???? You want to make a stand against crime, you can start there with your demonstrations.
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They have been going to take back the city since 1985!
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it doesnt matter the color of your skin or the nature of your origin. there are criminals and good people in all of the ethnicities. oh i cant spell it, anyhow, only god should be doing the judging. who are we to judge. what if all of the white people in williamsport were doing and selling drugs and shooting people every day. you would see the same thing. whites blacks latinos would be rallying against CRIME, not color. it just seems apparent tho that every shooting and drug dealing seems printed with an ethic name attached to it, with a philadelphia address in the long run.. we are not to judge tho, because like i said, no matter where you are from or the color of your skin there are good and bad in EVERYONE. good for the neighborhood watches. be suspicious of EVERY strange activity and report it. the 125 thousand im about to read about could be spent on a few more cops instead of lighting and cameras. pfft
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You asked why, I gave you a plausible answer. I am sure those who's properties were lit afire don't consider arson "petty."
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Please, I don't think petty arson counts here. They were holding signs that read "Stop the killing," but were not in a high crime area. I can't even believe you compared arson to murder. If I remember correctly, these arson cases were mainly started in a garage or vehicle.
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This may be why ScienceisKing "Some 11 arson-related fires that remain unsolved have taken place in Newberry, one this year."
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Wwhickok we had these same problems when we first started in MD. Once everyone gets more organized and start working together, it gets to be much easier to recognize anything suspicious. This is not a program that takes a lot of effort. It's just something a lot of people aren't used to doing because they are very busy with their own lives. Patience will bring positive results.
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Whomever disagreed with my post, I'd be interested in hearing your explanation as to why.
I'm not for one second suggesting racial profiling or anything of that nature is acceptable, all I'm saying is, if you're new to the Neighborhood Watch or you aren't familiar with your neighbors, you may be quick to make false judgements. I think at some point in our life, it's fair to say we've all been guilty of this in some way, small or large.
What I'm saying is, if you're genuinely trying to do the right thing, not just showing bias towards certain people, it's not wrong. There's going to be some hiccups at first, that's the way it is with anything usually. That's just my opinion. This type of thing, as Cap said, absolutely requires us to get to know each other, to get familiar with one another, to know the 'routine' of your neighborhood. This will allow us to know what's out of place, suspicious, and potentially criminal, and what's not.
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Why were they walking in the Newberry section? Newberry is one of the safest areas of the city. These groups should be targeting high crime areas such as the 4th, Cemetery, Scott, and Memorial street area.
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Wwhickok, well said. This is a new initiative and it will take time for citizens to get educated and for them to become familiar with their own neighborhoods. Sadly enough, many of us don't even know what goes on in our neighborhood, or even who lives in our neighborhoods. The false alarms will be more frequent at first, but they will lesson as citizens become more familiar with their surroundings and begin to work together with their neighbors. This program not only allows more eyes and ears to the police, but it is also a chance for neighbors to come together and learn to trust each other and count on each other.
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First of all, when the cops are called and they respond in these situations, frankly should approach them under the assumption there is no wrong doing, however be prepared for the discovery there is.
The reason I say that is because frankly, there's going to be a lot of reports that end up being non-issues, however some of them are going to lead to real arrests. I understand it's frustrating and perhaps offensive to people but you've got to understand that the citizens here, have no idea who they can trust when they don't know you, so when they see something that looks even remotely suspicious, they're going to assume it is. It's the self-defensive mechanism in peoples' brains, it's instinct. Perhaps some of us would react differently but it doesn't make those who react in this way wrong.
1 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Is anyone else bothered by the "mistaken identity" angle in this story? The police commendably responded to a crime-watcher's suspicions, but I can easily picture a situation getting ugly because a well-intentioned community member jumped to a conclusion. The person on the stoop didn't help matters by scooting out the back door, but there's a big difference between a dangerous fugitive and a simple bonehead.
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Who cares about anonimity? If you see something wrong report it.Case closed. Unless you've got something to hide?
5 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Time for people to stop with this anonymous stuff anyway....time to 'man up' and stop hiding because you want a safer community....exactly what's wrong with a safer community...the thugs aren't anonymous...time for the good people to be bold and brazen TOO!
13 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Nothing is "anonymous" any longer. You might be able to find a pay phone and call in from there, but if there are surveillance cameras nearby, you could still be discovered.
3 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Go to the Williamsport Police website. They have a form on there that you can fill out and submit online for crime tip reporting. It is anonymous and I doubt they will be tracking your IP address. They appreciate any help they get.
6 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
You couldn't use your own computer or phone and be anonymous, you could be easily traced.
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The police should have an anonymous text/e-mail crime tip line.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Nearly 7 innings of great baseball from the pitching and defense, ruined in 4 batters. That was a debacle deep-fried in a disaster served with a chaser of Cubbery.
20/20 Hindsight: After 6 innings of one run ball, 71 pitches and retiring 14 of 16 since the 2nd inning, Lou lifts Carlos Silva. Silva apparently did have some right shoulder tightness. Fair enough. Lou replaces him with another sinker baller in Justin Berg, who takes 7 pitches to get through the 7th. I think it's safe to say the Reds weren't handling the sinker too good by this point. Lou even double switched Marlon Byrd so the pitcher's spot in the lineup wouldn't come up in the top of the 8th. Naturally, you still must replace Berg because he worked an entire inning. He cannot possbly handle the rigors of sitting on the bench for 10 minutes to face the bottom of the lineup after retiring the Reds 4-5-6 hitters. Not when such bullpen lynchpins like Esmailin Caridad and John Grabow can be called upon. Lou goes with Caridad, working for the third straight day and Caridad takes Gomes 0-2 and then loses him on a walk. He does the same with Ramon Hernandez(hint to Lou that he might not have it tonight) and then him and Ramirez get confused on how to take an out when the other team gives it to you, followed by throwing a pitch up and over the plate when Koyie sets-up low and inside on Drew Stubbs. Game over.
This idea of defined roles in the bullpen is neat and all, when you actually have players worth defining. The Cubs have Marmol to close and 6 other guys. Play the match-ups and ride the hot hand. Nobody in that pen besides Marmol is deserving of the benefit of the doubt or entitled to any set role at the moment.
The Good: Carlos Silva was...um...brilliant! Who expected that? The defense did make some fine plays behind him. Ryan Theriot is off the schnide. Mike Fontenot goes 4/5.
Minor League Watch: Jay Jackson got the start for Iowa and goes 5 innings, but gives up 3 runs on 2 home runs. He does strike out 4. Hoffpauir and Dubois go deep in the 5-2 loss. John Gaub gives up 2 runs in an inning of work. At AA, Tony Campana goes 3/4 with a BB and 2 stolen bases out of the leadoff spot and Brandon Guyer goes 2/4 with 2 SB's. Castro goes 1/5. On the pitching side, Ryan Buchter strikes out the side in his inning of work and Jake Muyco picks up the save as Tennessee wins 5-4. Vitters, LeMahieu and Burke each go 1/4 for Daytona with Vitters making an error and getting picked off. Chris Rusin gets tagged for 6 runs in 4 innings in a 7-0 loss. I don't believe Daytona has an extra base hit yet. Jose Valdez goes 3/4 with 2 SB's, plus getting caught once and getting picked off after going 2/4 on Opening night. Peoria loses 5-4 though, although Jeff Antigua strikes out 5 in 5 innings, giving up 2 runs.
Next Up: Z tries to redeem himself against Aaron Harang.
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On the bright side, this will keep Marmol from being overused.
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I'm already in assume-the-worst mode. Silva looked extremely uncomfortable after throwing one of those pitches to Votto. Expecting to learn today or tomorrow that there is problem beyond tightness in the shoulder. Hell of an effort by him last night, however.
Also wondering if Ricketts's recent declaration that Lou's fate is squarely in Hendry's hands would make Hendry more or less likely to replace him if the Cubs get off to a dismal start.
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I thought it looked on TV like he was a little ticked when Larry came and told him he was coming out. And he told the paper he was fine:
"His shoulder stiffened," Piniella said and then repeated twice.
When asked how his shoulder was, Silva replied: "Good. I was ready to go out. They took me out. I was ready to go out."
He added that the only time he felt stiffness was when he tried to field a groundball earlier in the game and fell to the ground.
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Actually, Homer was pitching for the other team last night.
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That homerun must have been so bittersweet for dusty.
He got the hr, but the damn bases were clogged.
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Not only was it clear Caridad didn't have it, but he was throwing a tantrum out there on the mound. And from what I saw, the pitches he was complaining about WERE balls. Gameday shows the same thing, all of his strikes were called strikes (or hit) and all of his balls called balls:
Then today the newspaper has this:
Caridad seemed to blame home-plate umpire Doug Eddings.
"He didn't call strikes," Caridad said. "I throw a strike, and he doesn't call it a strike. I don't know why."
Yep, all Eddings fault. Keep telling yourself that...
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It's always a good idea to piss off or alienate the umpires when you're just starting off in the bigs. This where Maddux could be useful in tutoring the youngsters on the fine art of patronizing the umps.
The Reds did everything they could to try and give us this game.
This bullpen will be the epitaph of the 2010 team unless changes are made early enough. Disappointing...but predictable. Let's get a win today.
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note Rob's pic of Caridad has an "I" on his hat
Smiley soon to be wearing it again when Jeff Gray is ready
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Not sure Caridad will be the first to leave. He is an 8th-inning reliever, after all. Berg pitched the 7th. When does Samardzija come in, when the starter gets knocked out in the 3rd?
It's less demoralizing to have a young guy blow a save than an older guy like Gregg, who isn't going to get better.
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If taking out Berg was necessary, Samardzija would've been a reasonable choice, given how poorly the Reds had done against Silva and Berg. Samardzija would've been basically more of the same, and he hasn't pitched since Monday. He does seem to be our long reliever at the moment (since Marshall has been so dominant and pitched himself into a high stakes role).
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I don't think it was. I think Lou forgot that he'd used Caridad two days in a row, and he forgot that pitchers can go more than one inning when they are pitching well.
Have I mentioned that I think Lou is dumb or at least doesn't put that much energy into managing?
Everything is all screwy, Theriot is not hitting much, but playing brilliant D. Fontenot is hitting. All very silly.
I'm thinking "Caribad" for a nickname, but it's almost too obvious. I'm not real pleased with it. Any other good nicknames we could use for him?
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S-"mail in"...Is Mile Long...Hairy Nads?
That's all I got
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I'm not very optimistic about this team and wasn't even though they had a decent spring training record. They're pretty weak up the middle (although Theriot seems to have discovered his inner Castro), which is never good, they don't have the explosive offense that can quickly turn a game around, and they really pretty much appear to have almost no viable relief pitching other than Marshall and Marmol. And even Marmol reminds me too much of The Wild Thing sometimes, although he's got better stuff and could be a really dominant reliever if he could harness it completely.
That said, if they can manage a nice little 2 game winning streak they go home with a .500 road trip.
The lineup is less than awe-inspiring to begin with, but they've also underperformed this week. You're not likely to score many runs when your leadoff hitter has a .118 OBP and your number 3 hitter isn't doing much with the bad (Lee really didn't get on the board until last night). Meanwhile, our #5 hitter does have 2 homeruns, but they are his only two hits, and the guy behind him is Soriano.
Most of these guys are going to put up better overall numbers than they have right now (except Lee, whose OPS looks good after last night's game). We've got a lot more guys underperforming this week than overperforming (Fontenot? Nady?), so the losses shouldn't be surprising. The bullpen is worrisome, but I expect to see guys like Cashner, Grey, Stephens, Schlitter, and Patton mixed and matched in there until they find the most effective bunch (I'd still prefer that to trading for any overpriced relievers). I also wonder whether Silva or Gorzo could be dependable out of the pen, since Lilly should be back soon.
And did anyone else think what Len and Bob had to say about Soto sitting on the bench last night was ridiculous? Soto has to hit or he'll be replaced by Hill because he can't perform as poorly as last year and stay in the lineup? Did anyone mention his .240-ish BABIP to Lou last year? Does everybody else have the same deal? Riot's not hitting either, right now--will he be replaced by Castro on Monday if he doesn't get his average up to .300 this weekend?
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I didn't hear what Len and Bob said but today Lou was quoted, "Look, let's just leave it that we need Soto to swing the bat, and we'll leave it at that," he said.
Lou overall seems impatient this year -- he already seems ready to give up on Grabow as a set up man, probably not a bad thing, just sayin'.
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Lou is impatient for a good reason. He's fighting for his job, he's going to make other people, including rich pampered free agents, fight for theirs.
I like this competition stuff. Theriot/Castro, Piniella/Sandberg, Soto/Hill, Mesa/Naples, Fukudome/Nady, Soriano/Colvin. Only good can come of this.
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Lou is impatient for a good reason... I like this competition stuff... Only good can come of this.
Impatience rarely leads to good decisions. So some bad can come of this "competition" if Lou is impatient.
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With Nady apparently ready to play the OF (sort of--he didn't look all that good in RF last night), Colvin isn't going to get all that much playing time. Lou isn't going to rotate two outfielders in there that much. Nady gets the start last night, so Lou won't play Colvin today--doesn't want to sit Fukudome two games in a row. Might be time soon to send Colvin back to AAA so he can get his ABs and Adduci or Fuld can begin their 5th outfielder careers.
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Wow..it's been a week. Patience, is a virtue.
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Z's ERA is exactly 10 times higher than Harang's, and Harang's ain't exactly pretty.
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soriano for gold glove...
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Colvin hits that homerun twice. Just sayin'.
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Time for Grabow to kick us in the nads.
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woo etc.
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Marmol had a wicked slider today. Nice to get in the win column for Z.
Also interesting that Lou went all defense in the bottom 9th, including Hill for Soto and Colvin for Soriano.
I wonder if he'll do the Hill switch with any regularity?
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11 sliders, 2 fastballs...he's relying very heavy on it early this year.
at least 1 of the 2 fastballs he threw he had control over.
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crunch: if someone can hit one of his sliders, then he is fighting strong odds.
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If he were to call fastballs, Marmol would be throwing 100 MPH, it just wouldn't be fair.
Hill caught Marmol eleven out thirteen appearances last September. In three of those, Hill came off the bench to "relieve" Soto. It's why I thought the Cubs needed a third catcher--there's nobody behind Hill when he comes in to "close." Last year they had Fox.
In any case, it's a tough situation for Soto, being first-string but playing second fiddle. What other first-string catcher comes out when the closer comes in?
I hope Soto bounces back, and he probably will, but I don't think his future with this team is long term.
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Is Jeff Baker the emergency catcher? Fontenot? Marmol?
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add Randy Wells to the emergency catcher list
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Today's fun fact:
Cubs Left on Base: 0
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Frank Thomas blame the Sox loss on the early start today and extra inning game the night before.
Which the Twins, who won today, were in last night also.
Keep up the good work, big skirt.
Re: Cari-DOH!
I'll blame it on countering the Twins ace with Freddy Garcia. I don't care how many innings they played last night, that dog just ain't gonna hunt.
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mauer only ph last night
Cubs win!
nice! 2-3
But more importantly, at the moment Milton Bradley is 1/19 with one home run his only hit, same as last year but worse, he's struck out 8 times.
And, oh, the irony, he's been dropped to fifth in the order.
And...was accused by Ranger fans of giving them the finger yesterday.
Re: Cari-DOH!
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And just butchered a ball hit to him in left field.
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"nice! 2-3
But more importantly..."
really? =p
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no-no no-mo, shoppach single
Twins started Mauer at catcher this morning after last night's game as well.
Mauer didn't start last night, he came into the game as a ph for Butera in the 11th and walked and scored the winning run (now that's how legends are made)
Re: Cari-DOH!
from Paul Sullivan on sunday...Cari-bad just might be the umpire's nickname for him:
As for Caridad, Piniella had to explain to the rookie that it's not in his best interest to accuse the umpire of squeezing him on the two walks that led to the Drew Stubbs' game-winning grand slam. Umpires don't take kindly to rookies questioning their strike zones in the media.
Re: Cari-DOH!
more Sullivan...Marmol's now the wise veteran.
Marmol has only three-plus years of big league experience, but he spent Saturday morning counseling Esmailin Caridad after the rookie blew Friday night's game. It was his first big failure as a big leaguer, and Marmol played the role of a wise veteran.
"He learned from that," Marmol said. "We learn from our mistakes. We have tomorrow. He needs to forget stuff."
Recent comments
Mark Gonzales @MDGonzales
Soler likely to return Sunday, Maddon says
Right now, I'd like to see the Mets first, Giants 2nd.
I believe that since most of the team from last years' NLCS is on the squad this year, they will really amp their game up even more to kick their ass in payback for 2015.
The Giants just do not have the depth in years past, and I think all things equal - and at Wrigley - they could handle them.
I do not want to see the Cards, period. Or their fans, media, or Joe Buck.
I don't want to play Braves in the first round. Any friggin team in the league can win 3 of 5..I hate the first round. Furthermore, I wanted to play the Marlins in 2003 and the Mets over Dodgers last year.
With that said in reverse order:
3. Cardinals: It will be devastating to lose in the first round, but even worse to their main rival. It is increased incentive for the Cardinals, especially after last year. Cards would have nothing to lose, Cubs have everything to lose.
2. Giants: Rotation in the playoffs scare me a bit, but what a lousy team.
1. Mets--because of the losses in the rotation
2. Giants--because they're not the team they were BUT they maybe have bullshit even-year magic?
3. Cardinals--because rivalry and not making the playoffs hurts them more than losing in the NLDS plus getting eliminated by them in the playoffs would make for horrible sports commentary next throughout next season.
Who's asking?
CLE/DET rained out last night already, possible rain-outs in New York (vs. Baltimore), Boston(vs. Toronto) and Philly(vs. Mets) this weekend too.
Not only games involving playoff spots that would need to be played, but any that involve home field advantage.
I got the first one! Second one I'm not even sure what even/odd betting is.
any opponent preference for NLDS?
Mets are down to 1 great pitcher instead of 4. Syndegaard may pitch Sunday which means if Mets win the WC game, he'd be set up for Game 1. There's a chance they clinch a spot by Sunday so he'd pitch the WC and then we'd probably get Colon for Game 1. They've certainly had the hottest bats over the last week and month out of the WC options.
A couple of Cub related puzzles.
Can't teach height and thinness
Hopefully Pirates don't call up A. Lincoln.
j.buchanan going friday...should be...baseball...or something like it.
Wow. I didn't know they could do that.
Nice for Willson, not so much for Addy.
Game is officially called...also officially a tie.
Stats count, no make-up date of course.
Yeah -- seeing the weather -- I hope KB and Rizz are inside, wrapped in blankets and drinking hot chocolate.
rain delay...thanks obama.


text:
Sure she's still shopping at her favorite King's Road boutiques, but the Duchess of Cambridge is making a marked move toward a sexier, more daring style – and she's leaving quite an impression.
"High-level glamour is becoming more of the norm for Kate due to her role," her stylist pal Nikki Pennie, editor-at-large of StyleHaul, says in the new issue of PEOPLE. "She is becoming more playful, putting her hair in gorgeous updos to complement certain dresses. She is clearly enjoying the process and becoming more confident."
She's doing it single-handedly, too. Kate does her own makeup and doesn't have an official stylist, according to palace sources. She also doesn't accept free gifts from designers and chooses her outfits herself.
"She is becoming more and more confident, which I think is exciting to see," says Stewart Parvin, a couturier to the Queen. "The way she does her hair, the way she does her makeup is getting better and better and she has this new inner glow."
For more on Kate's sexy new styles, why she's making bolder choices and photos of Princess Diana's own fashion evolution, pick up this week's PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday


text:
Friday, July 1, 2011
Flip Floppin' Over Ice Cream :)
11 comments:
- Mister Pineapple Man said...
these are all tooo cute!
- July 1, 2011 at 9:57 AM
- Cocinandocongusto said...
I am happy with your gallets. They're beautiful. Excellent design.
María José (España)
- July 1, 2011 at 10:12 AM
- Rosanne said...
I LOVE THESE! Great work as usual!
- July 1, 2011 at 10:17 AM
- jeanettesbakeshop said...
i love these!!!!! especially the flip flops!!!! and how you did the lines on the ice cream cones!!! soo realistic! you are so talented!! never seize to amaze me pam!! :))
- July 1, 2011 at 1:29 PM
- amalia said...
Sooo darling!!! Love the shape of your ice cream cones!!! Is that the new Wilton cutter set?? I can't seem to find them around here!!! Love the flip flops too!!! Have a great Holiday weekend!
- July 1, 2011 at 5:16 PM
- Carroll's Cookies n Crumbs said...
Those are FAB FLOPS!!!! I love the tropical flower patterns on them. Just when I focus on feet, I see your ice cream treats. Those are scoops of deliciousness. They have so much texture with the waffled sugar cones and then the swirl of soft serve ice cream. Great summer cookies, Pam!
- July 2, 2011 at 7:54 AM
- Cristin (Pinkie) said...
LOVE these! I'm inspired to make ice cream and beach cookies! Beautiful job Pam! Thanks for sharing!
- July 2, 2011 at 11:13 AM
- Lora said...
Fantastic! I love the designs on the flip flops.
- July 2, 2011 at 1:51 PM
- Cookiecrazielady said...
Thanks Amalia. The cutters are both from Ecrandal. The soft serve cone is here:
and the waffle cone is a single scoop from Ecrandal....but the only one I can find on there site is a double scoop:
- July 2, 2011 at 7:46 PM
- Paty_rolon said...
I love it
- July 5, 2011 at 5:20 PM
- Mona_49 said...
Your Flip Flops are amazing. I have been asked to teach a group of girls how to do cookie decorating and cake decorating at another church. There will be nine girls. This will be for two hours and I was thinking that a dozen cookies for each girl should be enough. Last December I had a cookie decorating party at church for the kids and their families. Ended up with 53 people. Had dad's, and grandpa's. This year I will be doing a Gingerbread house decorating contest. I love baking cakes and cookies and your site is such a joy. I really feel that God gives each of us gifts to share with other's and mine is baking
and cooking. I do an Enchilada dinner each September for a fund raiser for the church and this year I will be making my own Tortilla's. Again thank you for such a wonderful site.
- July 18, 2011 at 10:34 AM


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Locations of pipelines of concern
November 10, 2013
Lycoming County has been among the state's busiest areas for natural gas activity in recent years, leading to the construction of pipelines, including more than 100 miles of gathering line....
"In addition, she'd like to see a standardization in state best practices for pipeline design and construction."
Regulated pipelines follow one of the following standards ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) B31.4 or ASME B31.3. These incorporate other various reference standards. These standards dictate the design calculations for the type of pipe being installed (metallurgy, pipe diameter, wall thickness, and populated area). The pipe is manufactured and inspected to meet the standards. The construction practices, inspection requirements, testing methods, operating procedures, etc are also included.
These standards have broadened and used improved technologies to provide a safer pipeline. Items like HDD (horizontal directional drills) have been used to improve the ability to go deeper when crossing rivers and streams so there is less chance of a change in the river stream exposing a line. SMART pigs have been used to monitor the integrity.
3 Agrees | 5 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
The biggest problem is when people don't follow the one call procedures and during digging damage the pipe and or it's external coating that weaken the pipe or eventually lead to external corrosion and a leak.
The standards help provide a safe pipeline. I would suggest that these organizations referenced in the article (League of Women's Voters, etc.) sit down with an experienced engineer to go through the standards to see how comprehensive they are.
4 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Given pipeline issues in the past, I don't blame them. As for concerns in the rural areas, when are you all going to realize they don't care. You are to be sacrificed for the good of the cause, money. Do what I did and leave.
9 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
So League Of Women's Voters used GRANT money to ask questions? What a waste of funds. Get off your sorry butt and ask people face to face at meetings. It shows me the absolute waste/fraud of our grant system.
8 Agrees | 8 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
They can have all the regulations in the world, but they're no good if they aren't enforced. And -it's "League of Women Voters."
7 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Mary Wolf is a Paid Liar for the Industry that values the bottom line of Profit over safety time after time!
9 Agrees | 6 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
At the onset of this pipeline activity, many local residents expressed their concerns and were systematically ignored by the local elected officials (i.e. shills). We were assured by these political hacks that these pipelines would be built with "the most stringent safety and environmental standards". In other words, our elected officials lied. Now, they want the PUC to oversee these pipelines, but what this article does not mention, is that if the PUC regulates these pipelines, they would have to be considered "public utilities" and be afforded "eminent domain". That is going to be the trade off. There is no political will to impose any "regulations" on this industry without that will force them to spend one dime more than they have to, without making it back somewhere else. That is why "regulations" won't work.
8 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
These are the issues and the discussion the state should have had BEFORE the pipelines were laid. It too little, too late, and will do nothing to protect those people in rural areas where these pipelines have already scared the landscape and our way of life.
9 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Yeah, there were no pipelines in Pennsylvania before the gas industry came here.
0 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
It seems those most opposed to the gas industry typically blame the gas companies for putting profit ahead of all else. In particular they are accused of indifference to the local environment and working with slipshod practices and procedures. They don't care is the mantra. Let's see, if there is a pipeline failure who pays for the repair? The gas company. Fines? The gas company. Damages to private property? The gas company. Personal injury? The gas company. Lost production? The gas company. Bad PR? Yep, the gas company takes it on the chin. I for one would not care to answer to the board of directors or my investment bankers for the losses these calamities would produce. If you folks were completely honest you would admit you just want things the way they always were. Let the fuel that keeps you warm in the winter come from somewhere else.
2 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
There has been a oil pipeline through lycoming county including my property for years or hasn't anyone noticed or they just don't care? Who cares it's all good the pipelines are not just halfass welded together by uncertified idiots if you think they are just go and try getting a welding job on the pipeline once you'll find it easier to board a plane with a knife. And ps again rick it's really easy to pack up and leave when you had no play in the gas business here however just about every town in PA is getting bonus money from the gas being pumped and that you can be thankful for us people like myself with over 200 acres in play
0 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
The pipelines are going to go wherever they (gas companies) want them to go. The state is going to not be so vigilant because after all, they`re making a fortune from this.
3 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
There have been 27 pipeline accidents in the US in 2013.
There should be more regulations put in place for the 500,000 miles of gas and oil pipelines that exists in the US.
2 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Gas prices at all time lows and they are making a fortune off it? You are a naive idiot plain and very simple now take a moment take it all in the hit disagree
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Garben, I did have land even sold the mineral rights with the sale. I chose not to lease. Your comment does say it all, money. I bet if you had split estate and did not get a penny from that well 500 Yards from your kitchen window you would be singing a different
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
County officials have no handle on how and where the pipelines are being layed. The state should have had some regulations in line before they ever allowed the gas industry to bear their ugly head in this state. Now it is too late and with no regulations on the pipelines, it is a dangerous situation for everyone living in the areas of the pipelines. Once again this state has turned it back on the citizens all for the mighty big bucks.
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Hey once again we hear from Erik...the gas industry cheerleader...same old same old...quite tired of it actually!
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
exlocal...the gas industry will find a way around paying for any mishaps they cause...just look at Dimock and the state of Wyoming, and now the people in rural areas of this state and North Dakota. They come in and rape the area and could care less why type of damage they cause. The only reason more people of not up in arms about it is because they are listing to the gas industry propaganda on billboards and tv ads. Why do you think they hide behind the tree lines in rural areas...so no one sees they doing their illegal dumping, etc. We see it everyday...roads with weight limits and they haul their illegal heavy loads in the middle of the night, etc. Why do you think the gas industry after all this time is still not willing to disclose everything they are shooting in our grounds...I am betting it is because they would be shut down if anyone really knew the toxic recipe.
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Pinecr take a moment to read and understand what your posting as one can clearly understand you as much as the new healthcare law
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
And Rick had you had enough land in play you'd be singing a different tune but such a small amount isn't worth it
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
There are those who get up every morning and make things happen and some just sit around wondering what happened where do you fall in this?
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Unclefracker- I have worked with Anadarko and Mary Wolf on a project that concerned my property and i have to disagree with you on your comment. They did what they said they would do in my case and were upfront and honest the entire way throught the process, they actually were a benefit to help me through my issue. Just one case but they did what they promised and the outcome was good for all.
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No minimum purchase. First time buyers only. Click here to activate.
Health Concerns Skin Balance is a Chinese herbal remedy for flea allergies, inhalant allergies, skin and coat problems. Skin Balance can be used for minor cases like localized itching to serious cases such as eczema or psoriasis. These conditions are thought to be caused by heat, dampness, and toxins. Skin Balance is designed to treat skin inflammation. It is able to do four things: eliminate toxins, evaluating, reduce heat and dampness, and to nourish the skin through nourishing the blood.
Therapeutic Actions
Chinese Therapeutic Effects
Available in 90 tablets.
Tablets too big for your pet? Try the All-in-One Pill Crusher & Splitter.
Please Note: This formula is ok for cats but due to pill size, consistency and taste, it may be difficult to administer.
Review Rating: 4
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer: Health Concerns
Shipping Weight: 0.22
Active Ingredients - Barbat Skullcap Ban Zhi Lian, Oldenlandia Bai Hua She Cao, Gentian Long Dan Cao, Rehmannia Root Sheng Di Huang, Viola Zi Hua Di Ding, Siler Fang Feng, Lonicera Jin Yin Hua, Lysimachia Jin Qian Cao, Coptis Root Huang Lian, Tang-kuei Dang Gui, Bupleurum Chai Hu, Carthamus (Safflower) Hong Hua, Senna Leaf Fan Xie Ye, Rhubarb Da Huang
Inactive Ingredients - Vegetable Gum, Silicon Dioxide, Stearic Acid, and Cellulose
Please Note: This is a human supplement, not one designed specifically for pets; however, it is completely safe and effective for use on your pet. Our holistic veterinarian has reviewed and recommended the following usage instructions:
Suggested Use
The reviews below are presented for informational purposes only and are not intended as an endorsement of any product. The information is not intended to be a substitute for visits to your local veterinarian. Instead, these testimonials offer the reader information and opinions written by pet owners and/or veterinarians concerning animal health and products that they have used.
(based on 62 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
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Reviewed by 62 customers
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By Herding Dog Runner
from Wisconsin
About Me Long-time Pet Owner
Comments about Health Concerns Skin Balance:
My 3 year old English Shepherd suffered from what seemed to be a seasonal allergy during the summer months after he reached 1 year old. This past fall/ winter I noticed he continued to scratch and chew on his feet after the first frost/cold weather arrived. As well, Benadryl no longer seemed to offer him relief. Just as I was about to take him to the vet for an allergy test, I ran across this product on the Only Natural site and decided to give it a try. At the same time, I took him off the high-quality grain free kibble he ate, and switched to a raw diet. (I had always fed my 2 English Shepherds raw each day, but supplemented it with kibble.) I don't know how much of his improvement is due to Skin Balance and how much is due to the raw diet, but I feel the combination of the two have made a large, positive difference. His itching and chewing has decreased by 90%, and I currently don't feel there is a need for allergy testing or prescription medications. I give him 2 pills three times per day. (He weighs 60 pounds.) If all continues to go well, over time I plan to decrease the dosage to 2 pills twice per day, and possibly decrease further during the winter months. This product is definitely worth a try, along with a possible change in diet.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
By Wheatensmom
from Fort Wayne, IN
I used this along with the homeopathic remedy when my dogs had increased itching after dealing with fleas. This definitely helped but I had to put up with some noxious gas while the dogs were taking it.
(10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)
By Love ALL Animals
from Tampa, Florida
I highly recommend this product. This stuff is amazing! I am sooo glad I tried it! My little rat terrier has had terrible skin rash/allergies for a few years now. ... itching constantly, chewing her fur and skin off. Each year the vet put her on antibiotics and steroids for months. This year they stopped working! The only alternative was a very powerful drug that suppresses the immune system or weekly injections that may or may not work. I was so stressed out. I love my little dog and hate to give her something that may harm her in the long term.It only took two days of taking Skin Balance to see a big difference in her skin. The redness wasn't angry looking, and she cut way back on the itching. Now only ONE WEEK later her skin is healing up really well and looks so much better!! I will bring this to my vet to show her and I also plan on adding skin and coat multi vitamins to my dogs diet.
(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
Ineffective for my dog
By Pit Bull Mama
from Washington, DC
I have been battling my pit bull's bad skin allergies for years. Changing her diet helped- for a while- but this year she started to itch and lick constantly again and even began losing patches of fur. Due to the good reviews this product got, I had high hopes, but unfortunately it did not get any results. Back to the drawing board for us!
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
Not practical
By dmdalgal
from hawaii
This product seemed to relieve some of my Dalmatian's foot chewing and back scratching, however it is completely impractical. The dosage is 3 pills, 3 times a day, in between meals. I was messing with this all day. Feed in the morning, wait a couple of hours, give 3 pills, wait a couple more hours, give 3 pills, feed dinner, wait a couple of hours, give 3 pills. Each pill has to go in cheese or something she'll eat. 90 pills only lasted 2 weeks at that rate. Plus I have two so I couldn't give one cheese without giving the other. I also didn't see any improvement in the the coat. This is just too time consuming. I would start working and forget so then she'd only get it twice a day since you can't give with their meals. Really ridiculous. If you work outside the home, this will never work for you. It's an all day thing. Both me and my husband work at home and this was still a pain! At one point he said, my gosh, how many times a day are doing this! I will look for something I can either put in with the meals (which I already make from scratch) or something that doesn't have to be given all day long.
Merchant response: If we may, we disagree. Most Chinese Herbals require 3 times a day. We recommend before work, after work, then before bed.
Great result
By Ella
from IL
My 10 years dog developed an allergy; was licking his leg till wound. Doctor suggest steroids... I found this medicine and decide to try it. My dog respond to it very good, he stopped licking himself and his wound healed. We both very happy! My dog didn't like a taste of the pill - I smashed it and mix it with his food and this way it worked...
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
Actually works!
By Lexie
from Texas
This worked surprisingly well for my German Shepherd, who suffers from wretched allergies in the summer. We had her on the maximum dose of Benadryl for 3 weeks but finally gave up because the scratching just wouldn't stop. We've been giving her 6 of the Health Concerns Skin Balance pills a day for almost 2 weeks now, and the scratching has been greatly reduced. She has gone from scratching every 1-3 minutes to scratching only once every hour or two.
(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Dont' think it did much of anything.
By DEE
from Milwuakee, WI
I bought this to try to decrease my dogs constant itching but I saw no improvement. I suppose if you just wanted a natural suppliment to a dog who doesn't have skin problems you could use this but in that case use a less expensive fish oil pill. This did not help to decrease my dogs itchy coat and that is why I purchased it.
(5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
By Minner
from Charleston, WV
My dog Haley has terrible allergies from early spring until late fall. She scratches and tears out hair. Also, she gets sores on her body that eventually peel away and make her feel miserable. Plus, when this is happening, she tends to go to the bathroom in the house during the day while I'm at work.When I received the Skin Balance pills, her itching and bathroom problems had been going on for almost 2 weeks. About 2 days after I started giving her the Skin Balance, no more bathroom accidents in the house and the itching and scratching stopped!!! I am absolutely amazed at the results. I thought I would have to wait at least a few weeks to see any type of results. I plan to continue giving her the Skin Balance probably forever. I have recommended this to several friends who have dogs with other skin issues. The pills are a little large, but I use a natural lunchmeat (no nitrates) and Haley will take any pill (even one that is larger than this one), so administering the pills is not a problem for me. Haley loves it, because she now gets some lunchmeat in the morning, when before she only had to take pills in the evening. She weighs about 28 pounds and I am giving her 2 pills twice a day right now. I plan to continue this dosage until the first bottle is finished. After that, I may lower the dose if she seems completely cleared up.I've tried SO MANY different things for her skin allergy problems and nothing has worked. I am so grateful that I took a chance on Health Concerns Skin Balance herbs!!!!!
Stopped the Itching!
By Mary
from Fremont, CA
This stuff is awesome. It helped my dog go from itchy all the time with a dull, moth eaten looking coat to healthy and itch free. I use this as well as Inflamzyme daily in conjunction with B12 Aquapuncture from my holistic vet. I never thought I would get his itching under control but this did it. Yay!
Images shared by Mary
Itch Free Hovawart playing Tug
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on January 27, 2013 - 1:00 AM
Drunken drivers kill far more than guns do
Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook, we have seen both our state and federal governments rush into passing legislation, hoping to prevent future killings. It remains to be seen if these rules, regulations, background checks, etc., will help reduce these statistics.
Let's take this cure a step further; last year there were approximately 30,000 fatalities involving motor vehicles. Alcohol was involved in about one-third of these accidents.
Perhaps we should have background checks on all those buying liquor? Or a drink at a bar? Did they have a DUI, DWI or some related felony in their past? Certainly all those could not be "good people who made choices" – oops – "mistakes."
Larry DeAeth


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STATESBORO, Ga. - Five Hatters won in singles competition as the Stetson women's tennis team began competition at the Georgia Southern Invitational on Friday.
Senior Lindsey Cable defeated Huekinghaus of Kennesaw State by a score of 6-3, 3-6, 10-4 in first round action of the 2A bracket in the Hatters' final tournament of the fall.
Sophomore Eveline Lepinay, in the 2B bracket, also won her first round match. She toopped Bizinos of Jacksonville State in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
In the 3B bracket, freshman Carolina Meregalli didn't lose a game, defeating Grandison of Savannah State by a count of 6-0, 6-0.
Freshmen Marta Gonzalez and Isabella Fernandez also won in first round play. The former came from behind to win 4-6, 6-4, 12-10 over Emory's Kelly, while the latter won 6-2, 6-0 over Cmilijic of Jacksonville State.
Seniors Diana Bukajeva and MayaBlue Stauffer-MacDowell lost first round matches in the 1A and 3A brackets, respectively. Sophomore Andrea Crespo lost her contest in the 1B bracket.


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A girl who is most likely to turn heads. Whether this is because it is good or bad depends on the type of chalia. Chalia is usually a girl, and outstandingly beautiful. although it could be a boy, with side burns, and body odour.
'wow, you turned heads back there, your such a chalia!'
от jodiejodiejodie 30 март 2008
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Saturday, May 3, 2014
Teachers, small business owners, non-profit employees, veterans and emergency preparedness officials from across South Carolina will arrive in the Lowcountry for the states first two-day GoogleFest on June 17 and 18.
The third annual conference is free and open to the public at Trident Technical College in North Charleston.
Whether its help to boost the bottom line at a small businesses, inspire innovative learning, or reach supporters in new ways - online tools are critical. Thats why Googlers will be on hand to help show tips and tricks that are already helping so many succeed.
When we launched GoogleFest here a few years ago, we werent sure how the community would react, said Eric Wages, Site Operations Manager at Google SC. But interest has grown every year, so we had to expand to two days this year just to keep up with demand.
Participants will learn to effectively utilize the cloud to enhance their productivity, no matter their line of work, by receiving first-hand training. Theyll cover everything from apps like Google Earth and Google Body, to word processing and document review via Google Docs and Drive.
Googlefest continues Googles commitment to South Carolinas community.
Googles data center in Berkeley County is a $1.2 billion investment that plays an important role for the company. Googlers support the communities in which they live and work through grants, educational initiatives and events. Learn more about the Lowcountry data center at Google.com/BerkeleyCounty.
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This is an archival or historical document and may not reflect current policies or procedures.
March 2010
In This Issue:
Apply Online for Medicare in Less than 10 Minutes
Disability Hearings Backlog Reduction Plan Working
Extended Service Teams Help States with Disability Claims
Our Budget Makes Things Happen
Apply Online for Medicare in Less than 10 Minutes
Patty Duke is back — and this time she's brought the entire family! Social Security has reunited the cast of The Patty Duke Show for a series of public service announcements to promote our new online application for Medicare.
Watch the spots at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly.
Your clients who want to apply for Medicare can visit www.socialsecurity.gov and select the Retirement/Medicare link in the middle of the page. The whole process can take less than 10 minutes.
Disability Hearings Backlog Reduction Plan Working
The number of pending Social Security disability appeal hearings is down to 697,437 cases — the lowest level since June 2005, and down more than 71,000 cases since December 2008, when the trend of month-by-month reductions began. The average processing time for hearing decisions has decreased to 442 days, down from a high of 514 days at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2008.
"This remarkable progress shows our backlog reduction plan is working," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "With ongoing support from the President and Congress as well as the efforts of our hardworking employees, I am confident the hearings backlog will continue to diminish."
Learn more by reading the press release at http://socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/hearings-backlog-0310-pr.htm.
Extended Service Teams Help States with Disability Claims
This month, Social Securitys first Extended Service Team (EST) is open for business in Little Rock, Arkansas. This team is providing adjudication support to states most adversely affected by the flood of new initial disability claims.
The Arkansas EST is staffed with 100 new hires who are a mix of disability examiners, medical consultants, and support staff. Social Security is training 180 additional employees for three new ESTs in Mississippi, Virginia, and Oklahoma. These states have a history of high quality and productivity, as well as the capacity to hire and train significant numbers of additional staff.
The strategy behind ESTs builds on Social Securitys success with National Hearing Centers, where cases are handled electronically from all over the country. The centralized units have reduced the hearings backlog and improved processing times at some of the hardest-hit hearing offices.
For more information, read our press release at
Our Budget Makes Things Happen
Due to the downturn in the economy and the aging of baby boomers, more Americans than ever before are turning to Social Security. Congress understands this and recently provided the agency with resources to improve service to the American people.
Looking ahead to fiscal year (FY) 2011, Social Security will continue to focus on the primary goal of eliminating the hearings backlog by the end of FY 2013, while we complete claims and hearings. At the same time, we will broaden and strengthen our service delivery channels, and we will continue to invest in service and infrastructure improvements that will help us meet tomorrow's challenges.
Learn more about our FY 2011 budget overview at www.socialsecurity.gov/budget.
Alzheimer's Association Honors Commissioner Astrue
The Alzheimers Association has given Commissioner Astrue its 2010 Humanitarian Award. The honor is made each year to a public official who has made a significant contribution to help those who are struggling with Alzheimers disease.
President Barack Obama said, I congratulate Mike for receiving this honor, and I know he joins me in admiration for the tremendous work that the Alzheimer's Association does every day."
Harry Johns, President and CEO of the Alzheimers Association, stated, On behalf of all the individuals who now wont have to go through a long decision process and multiple lengthy appeals to obtain their benefits, the Alzheimers Association is proud to honor Commissioner Astrue for establishing this initiative which helps to ease the burden of so many families.
To read more, read the press release at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/humanitarian-award-pr.htm.
Subscribe to Social Security Update today and you'll always be in the know when it comes to Social Security news. All we need is your e-mail address.
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If you recycle and try to make less waste, you can easily end up with more in the recycling bin and yard waste bags than what is in your trash can.
Considering curbside recycling didn't even exist in most communities a quarter century ago, this is an amazing development.
With the inclusion of corrugated cardboard and paperboard in curbside collections, we can now recycle all our paper-based packaging, every scrap of printed paper and all our bottles and cans.
Since it is illegal to burn recyclables in mandated recycling communities, it also means that there's not much left in the trash to legally set ablaze.
Like all recycling, it's important to do it properly. Flatten boxes, stuff them in a larger box and place them next to other recyclable paper. Save a large cereal box, stick it under your sink and place your flattened paperboard in the box. Set the "box of boxes" out for collection with your paper.
The greasy bottom to your pizza box still goes in the trash. But just about every other piece of cardboard, both at home and work, now gets recycled. In fact, for the first time, what you recycle at home is identical to what you recycle at work.
It's easy, too. In fact, in many ways some recycling is easier than putting it in the trash bag. Simply replace some of your trash cans with recycling containers. Many folks keep a small paper recycling receptacle near the computer or the place where homework or bill paying is done.
Place a recycling container for your bottles and cans in or near the kitchen. Remember that none of your bottles and cans need to be separated from each other either. Just rinse them out and toss them into the bin.
Despite the apparent convenience and ease of recycling, we are still struggling to get everyone on board - both in the home and in the workplace.
Sometimes we complain about our trash and recycling haulers. The hauler compliance is now 85 percent. But only about 50 percent of residential dwellings are recycling. It seems likely that more than 1 in 10 don't even have waste recycling service.
And probably less than a third of businesses and institutions are recycling everything they should. Many are recycling cardboard, but not anything else.
Yet there are many success stories in places where they don't even have to recycle.
The Martinsburg Area Recycling Center has already sold 250 memberships, even though they have to pay a small fee to help pay for collection costs. And many businesses are going above and beyond the call of duty. Now if we could just find a way to make that enthusiasm contagious.
More information on the May 4 electronics and special recycling event at PNG Field at the Blair County Ballpark is available at www.ircenvironment.org.
John Frederick (email@example.com) writes on environmental issues every other week.


text: Music that combines elements of a strong feeling of love, nostalgia for the good old days is great for trailers, feature films (as the main theme), TV and radio productions. This treck is an uplifting and motivational pop rock track evoking the feeling of success and fulfillment. Great for corporate and inspirational business projects


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Apathy stalks LEPC preparedness efforts
March 6, 2010 - By Wayne Sheets Contributing Business Writer
What do the floods of 1985 and 1996 in Randolph County and Hurricane Katrina have in common? Each brought to light either a lack of planning or that planning efforts attempted were met with apathy o......
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The study of all aspects of counterfeiting and how to do it and get away with it. How to produce the best counterfits not only of money but of any brand product. Include analysis of object to be counterfited to see how it is made also how to make a perfect copy.
John is studying counterfeitology.
Deep blue 2012 tərəfindən 23 Yanvar 2010
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What Will Baby Boomers Drive?
The oldest Baby Boomers are either calling it a career or planning to retire soon. Does that mean U.S. roads will soon be choked with folks who've decided to spend their golden years driving huge sedans 20 mph below the speed limit in the passing lane?
It may seem predictable that Boomers reaching their golden years will clean out a spot in the garage for a large, American-made sedan, but statistics say that's not necessarily true.
While some aging Boomers will certainly choose to tool around in cars traditionally associated with older age, others will drive a diverse group of cars ranging from the Toyota Avalon sedan to the Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster, the Porsche 911 coupe to the Chevy Corvette convertible.
In fact, experts who follow the auto industry say crossovers are the real up-and-comers.
"The crossover segment is exploding," said Gary Lang, corporate manager of product planning for Toyota. "We saw this coming years ago. It's what both the younger and older consumer is buying. If you don't tow or go off-road — and most don't — a car-based crossover is better in every way than a truck or truck-based SUV."
Experts also say the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger are can't-miss favorites among Boomers intent on reliving their youth — who have money to spend now that they didn't have then.
While they haven't hit the market yet, plug-in hybrids that can travel 40 miles or more before needing a recharge are also high on Boomers' want list, mostly because they represent the newest technology and will be offered in limited numbers, thus guaranteeing that "Hey, look at me" reaction.
Which cars are already the most popular among Boomers? The answer depends on who you ask.
George Pipas, a sales analyst for Ford, says the most popular vehicles among Boomers are the top sellers industry-wide, because "Boomers represent a large and disproportionate number of sales, and [they] are the ones who have the money to spend."
At more than 70 million strong, Boomers as a group do buy the most vehicles: Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla, Dodge Ram, Honda Civic, Chevy Impala, Nissan Altima and Honda CR-V.
CNW Marketing Research, which specializes in why people buy the cars they do, compiles a list of best-sellers among that older set of Boomers, based both on brand and on individual model. When it comes to make, the brands whose largest percentage of buyers are Boomers are Jaguar, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Cadillac, Acura, Toyota, Audi, Lexus, Porsche, Buick and Chrysler.
In contrast, Mazda buyers are the youngest, followed closely by Toyota's Scion nameplate. Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Lotus, Ferrari and Maserati have a high percentage of Boomer buyers, but they represent extremely low sales.
"It's safe to say the higher the age, the bigger the sedan," Lang said. "Mature buyers go for larger sedans and youth don't. It's also true that, for Boomers, image is more important than the car itself."
Part of what creates that image is showing that Boomers have money and are ready to spend it.
"Boomers buy cars to look younger and reward themselves, because they have the money to reward themselves," said Tom Libby, J.D. Power's senior director of industry analysis. "They buy a high percentage of luxury and sports cars."


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Delta Force Black Hawk Down. A Novalogic game preceded by Delta Force Task Force Dagger, Expansion pack available called Team Sabre. Used to be a great game but now its just full of hacks. Also said as DF:BHD
DFBHD used to be good game etc...
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Laptop Lunches Bento Buddies$19.99
Laptop Lunches Litterless Lunch ... top quality, easy to use & toxin-free.
The Laptop Lunches Bento Box Systems are a parent favourite, helping make waste-free lunches a breeze. Whether your child's daycare or school requires a waste-free lunch or not, using a bento box system is a great way to help teach your little one about doing one's part for the environment early. Easy to use for both parent and child, the Laptop Lunch System includes a lunch box and a handy carrying case to hold everything you need for packing a healthy, waste-free lunch. Quality materials mean you won't need to replace broken, cracked or damaged lunch boxes year after year making Laptop Lunches a worthwhile investment.
Why parents and children love Laptop Lunches:
- Removable inner containers can accommodate a variety of food sizes.
- Tray-like feel makes lunch fun.
- Tested 100% lead-free by the manufacturer.
- Sealable lid prevents wet foods from leaking onto other foods.
- Open the lid and eat right out of the box! No need to remove inner containers so no chance of them getting lost or tossed.
- Quality materials - no need to replace broken, cracked or damaged lunch boxes year after year.
- The insulated tote will keep your lunch fresh for hours!
- Additional items are easily packed in the expandable front pocket and there's even a collapsible side drink pouch to slide your drink bottle (not included - we recommend the Klean Kanteen Kids Stainless Steel Water Bottle).
- Dip container for sauces, salad dressings, and dips makes eating vegetables fun.
- Ideal for school lunches and for packing a healthy meal during travel.
- Children take ownership of special lunch boxes which results in better care & fewer lost articles.
- Single unit eliminates the mess of jumbled containers.
- Convenient size fits in backpacks and most lunchboxes.
- Durable plastic containers (not lids) are microwave safe.
- Containers and lids are dishwasher safe (top rack).
- Free of phthlates, bisphenol A (BPA), PVC, and lead.
- Made in the USA (lucnch boxes) & China (tote bag) with fair wages paid using fair labour practices.
Don't mistake other litterless lunch systems for the same quality and toxin-free nature as Laptop Lunches. The LapTop Lunch Bento Box System is a complete lunch kit made of materials built to last year after year. Worried about your kids loosing or tossing lunch containers? You'll be surprised how children care for their Laptop Lunch system. In our experience, children take pride in ownership of their own lunch box when they know the lunch box belongs to them (unlike mom's food storage containers!). To make things easier, there is no need to take the small containers out of the box! Simply open the main lidded container and your child eats right out of the lunchbox. The pieces fit together like a puzzle, so it's rare for children to remove containers from their individual compartments. We started with the Laptop Lunch system with our 2.5 year old (now almost 7!) and she has always loved using it. It's easy for her to carry, easy to help mommy pack and easy for her to use at lunchtime. Can you tell how much we LOVE this system?
Your Laptop Lunch Box System includes:
- Bento Box that seals contents well so there is no mixing of foods.
- Four (4) individual inner containers, two (2) with lids.
- One (1) extra small container for dips, salad dressings and sauces.
- Carrying case made with 100% post-consumer recycled fabric.
- Standard: 10" x 8.5" x 3.5"
- Wide: 12.25" x 8.25" x 3.25"
- Dual Compartment Tote: 9.5" x 7.25" x 7.25"
The Laptop Lunch Bento Box System is ideal for families who embrace the bento box concept for its function and sustainable style, but value the insulation and appeal of the traditional lunchbox. This brand new Bento System 2.0 is ideal for work, school, and travel. The insulated carrying case keeps foods fresh, and the sturdy containers prevent squishing. Don't leave home without it!


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Sleek, stylish, compact. A genius stroller in a little black dress.
"This buggy is perfect for me and my 2 girls to cruise the city streets of NYC. I love how smooth the ride is and the fact that I am not pushing a "double-wide" down the sidewalk! Highly recommended!" - Esther, verve owner
Not currently available in this region.
The verve ™ stroller is HOT! because:
- sleek, urban styling - with four wheels
- extraordinary feather-light handling in single or inline mode
- dual front wheel suspension system with airless front tyres
- triple-recline verve double kit , with a NEW sleep-ideal layback mode (sold separately)
- follow-the-sun hood with flip-out visor
- 6 position adjustable handle height
- push button handle brake - at your fingertips
- contoured, ventilated seat system with luxuriously soft, padded seat liner (removable)
- one-hand seat recline - for both main seat and double kit
- ultra-adaptable, compact, auto-lock fold that stands upright
- folds with double kit attached
- globally safety certified
- car seat compatible with our range of verve travel systems


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Yeast Style Guide
STYLE: Pyment (Grape Melomel)
Aroma: Depending on the sweetness and strength, a subtle to distinctly identifiable honey and grape/wine character (dry and/or hydromel versions will tend to have lower aromatics than sweet and/or sack versions). The grape/wine character should be clean and distinctive; it can express a range of grape-based character ranging from a subtle fruitiness to a single varietal grape character (if declared) to a complex blend of grape or wine aromatics. Some complex, spicy, grassy or earthy notes may be present (as in wine). The honey aroma should be noticeable, and can have a light to significant sweetness that may express the aroma of flower nectar. If a variety of honey is declared, the aroma might have a subtle to very noticeable varietal character reflective of the honey (different varieties have different intensities and characters). The bouquet should show a pleasant fermentation character, with clean and fresh aromatics being preferred. Stronger and/or sweeter versions will have higher alcohol and sweetness in the nose. Slight spicy phenolics from certain red grape varieties are acceptable, as is a light diacetyl character from malolactic fermentation in certain white grape varieties (both are optional). Standard description applies for remainder of characteristics.
Appearance: Standard description applies, except with regard to color. Color may range from pale straw to deep purple-red, depending on the variety of grapes and honey used. The color should be characteristic of the variety or type of grape used, although white grape varieties may also take on color derived from the honey variety.
Flavor: The grape/wine and honey flavor intensity may vary from subtle to high; the residual sweetness may vary from none to high; and the finish may range from dry to sweet, depending on what sweetness level has been declared (dry to sweet) and strength level has been declared (hydromel to sack). Natural acidity and tannin in grapes may give some tartness and astringency to balance the sweetness, honey flavor and alcohol. A pyment may have a subtle to strong honey character, and may feature noticeable to prominent varietal character if a varietal honey is declared (different varieties have different intensities). Depending on the grape variety, some fruity, spicy, grassy, buttery, earthy, minerally, and/or floral flavors may be present. Standard description applies for remainder of characteristics.
Mouthfeel: Standard description applies. Wine-like. Some natural acidity is usually present (from grapes) and helps balance the overall impression. Grape tannin and/or grape skins can add body as well as some astringency, although this character should not be excessive. Longer aging can smooth out tannin-based astringency. Overall Impression: In well-made examples of the style, the grape is both distinctively vinous and well-incorporated into the honey-sweetacid- tannin-alcohol balance of the mead. White and red versions can be quite different, and the overall impression should be characteristic of the type of grapes used and suggestive of a similar variety wine.
Ingredients: Standard description applies. A pyment is a standard mead made with the addition of grapes or grape juices. Alternatively, the pyment may be a homemade grape-based wine sweetened with honey, or a mead mixed with homemade grape-based wine after fermentation. A spiced pyment (hippocras), or a pyment with other ingredients should be entered as an Open Category Mead.
Comments: There should be an appealing blend of the fruit and honey character but not necessarily an even balance. Generally a good tanninsweetness balance is desired, though very dry and very sweet examples do exist. See standard description for entrance requirements. Entrants MUST specify carbonation level, strength, and sweetness. Entrants MAY specify honey varieties. Entrants MAY specify the varieties of grape used; if specified, a varietal character will be expected.
Commercial Examples: Redstone "Pinot Noir" Mountain Honey Wine
Wyeast Strains:
4028 - Red™
4632 - Dry Mead™
4783 - Sweet White™
4946 - Bold Red / High Alcohol™


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The 5 Biggest Lies Everyone Tells About the Super Bowl
We're just a few short but somehow still agonizingly long days away from one of the greatest events in all of sport. I'm speaking, of course, about Super Bowl Sunday.
It's a bittersweet day, really. On the one hand, the Super Bowl is on, which means all sorts of life laws are temporarily off the books. So that's fun. On the other, with the exception of March Madness (and my beloved Winter Olympics this year), it's going to be a long drive until we come across any sporting events that matter between the conclusion of the game and the kickoff of the 2014-2015 season. Yes, I do realize baseball is on during this time, and of course I don't think of soccer as a sport, but thanks for asking on both counts.
Anyway, like any major event that's been happening for an extended amount of time, there's no shortage of myth and lore surrounding the Super Bowl. You can hear me talk about some of the shadier myths on this week's Unpopular Opinion podcast ...
... where I'm joined by my comic friends Jeff May and Laurie Kilmartin.
Or you can just read me talking about them right here. It's going to be a blast either way. You might even consider doing both!
Here are the five biggest lies everyone tells about the Super Bowl.
#5. There Are Only 11 to 13 Minutes of Actual Game Play
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This statistic, more than any other, is held over the heads of fans as proof positive that the sport of American (a synonym for quality in retail circles) football is one of boredom and inactivity. Even worse for those who might argue otherwise, that "fact" didn't come from some random anti-sports blog or whatever. No, it came from the Wall Street Journal, and since when do they deal in reporting faulty numbers?
The problem with their argument is that, for the "11 to 13 minutes" number to ring true, a person would have to completely and totally fail to understand not only how football works, but just how sports work in general. For starters, they're talking about the time between when the ball is snapped and when the play is whistled dead. In other words, only when the ball is in the air or moving can we consider that actual sports action is taking place. After all, the ball isn't whipping around in the air, so what could possibly be happening? Here's a good basketball example of why that's a stupid notion:
Larry Bird does a whole lot of things before that inbound pass is thrown that set him up to be in a position to steal it. That, in turn, wins the Celtics that game. By the "only when the ball is moving" standard, none of that counts as "game play." Not only is it absurd to suggest that the moments immediately prior to the ball being snapped are just meaningless stand-around time, you could argue that what happens before the ball is snapped is actually more important in football than the play itself. There has not been a play drawn up yet that cannot be successfully defended, provided you get everyone in the right position doing the right thing at the right time. If you're in the wrong position to defend the play called, though, you have problems. Speaking of defense, here's Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu enjoying some leisurely pre-snap stand-around time:
The play clock in the NFL is 25 seconds and, for all sorts of reasons, the ball is usually snapped with just a few seconds remaining. All of the predicting and planning and positioning that must happen on each play happens in those 20 seconds or so, all while the opposing quarterback does everything within the rules to make that defense lose focus or guess wrong. Here, look at this baffling montage:
That's Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning repeatedly yelling the word "Omaha!" from the line of scrimmage during the Broncos' recent playoff win over the San Diego Chargers. On five separate occasions during that game, the Chargers defense jumped across the line before the ball was snapped. That's a 5-yard penalty each time. Deadspin has video of all five penalties, along with a fascinating explanation for what's happening. Basically, most of the time when Peyton Manning would yell "Omaha" the ball would be snapped on the next word. Every once in a while, though, they wouldn't snap the ball immediately after, and it caused the defense to jump five separate times in one game. They'd done it three times total in the 17 games prior.
And that's a bunch of meaningless bullshit to the Wall Street Journal. Meaningless bullshit that, in their reporting on the "11 minutes of play" story, accounted for another 67 minutes of broadcast time.
No one could ever look at Brett Favre that long for no reason.
Keep that in mind the next time you make them your go-to source for sports facts.
#4. Cold Weather Equals Lower Ticket Prices
Oh, hey, look at that, football purists: You finally got your stupid outdoor Super Bowl! You must be so relieved. Here's hoping they bring back those leather helmets at some point, too.
The general thinking behind holding the Super Bowl indoors or at least in traditionally warm weather areas is that, by taking the elements out of the equation, neither team gains any real advantage. In a cold weather environment, for example, a team that plays in the Midwest is going to have an advantage over a West Coast team in that they're more accustomed to playing in inclement weather.
Also, I imagine part of it has to do with the fact that losing the Super Bowl is probably one of the most crushing defeats in all of sports. If you find yourself on the business end of that, at least you can take comfort in knowing you got to spend a few weeks being media darlings in Miami or something. The loser this year will have to take comfort in knowing that, hey, at least they got a trip to New Jersey in the winter out of it! That barely qualifies as consolation, if at all.
Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images News/Getty Images
The architecture is nice!
There's another perceived benefit that proponents of a cold weather Super Bowl like to throw around, which is that it will lead to lower ticket prices. On the surface, it makes sense. People love football, but not nearly as much as they love staying the fuck inside when the weather turns terrible, as it often does this time of year in New York, which is where this year's game will be played. So, are those lower ticket prices happening yet?
Unfortunately, the short answer is "no." Sure, if you're reading this right now, and I mean right now as I'm writing this, which is Tuesday, January 28, then yes, ticket prices have fallen, and it might be due to weather, but there's a lot of smoke and mirrors at work that make that so.
For one, the NFL set the face value prices way higher this year. The thinking was that prices would lessen the gap between face value tickets and those that end up on the resale market at sites like StubHub by making them unaffordable for everyone, apparently.
Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images
At least dreaming is still free.
So any perceived drop in price is coming from a much more substantial height than in previous years. The most expensive face value Super Bowl ticket this year is $2,600. It was just $1,250 last year. Even if prices are dropping from where they started, the average Super Bowl ticket this year is still $3,715, which is well above the average of the past two years. Sales are also up 33 percent.
If anything, the idea that cold weather equals lower prices (and the subsequent reporting that it has) is a myth perpetuated to excuse charging WAY more for tickets just because the game is in New York. Any drop that's happening right now will probably have righted itself by the time you read this on Friday. If ticket scalpers are panicking at the thought of not being able to sell tickets due to inclement weather, they'll just as quickly realize they had nothing to worry about and jack those prices right back up as game time approaches.
Of course, for most people, "cold weather equals cheaper Super Bowl tickets" will be the last they hear of the story. So, for the NFL and whatever people of New York actually benefit from having a Super Bowl played in a completely different state across the river, the ruse was a total success. They got people to pay way more for tickets, all while making it seem like they'd taken the most drastic measure of all to keep ticket prices low.
#3. The Super Bowl Brings Sex Trafficking to Town
Digital Vision/Digital Vision/Getty Images
I know most of you are tired of me saying this, but let's change gears and talk about prostitutes for a second. Fathers, if the Super Bowl is coming to town, lock your at-risk teen in the attic for a week, because the sexual predators of the world will be descending on your city hoping to sign your princess up for a career in the world's oldest profession.
Except no, they aren't. Not this year, and not any year. The hysteria-inducing idea that thousands of women and girls are kidnapped and forced into prostitution to meet a nearly insatiable need for available hookers at major sporting events has been repeatedly debunked by groups who do nothing but research the effects and ramifications of human sex trafficking.
From most indications, it seems that the idea of major sporting events leading to a massive influx of hookers and pimps dates back to a report about the 2004 Athens Olympics that claimed sex trafficking "doubled" in that country when the Olympics came to town.
Oli Scarff/Getty Images News/Getty Images
Could people think of nothing else to do in a beautiful locale like this?
Among the various problems with the claim is that "doubled" in this case means a jump from around 90 to something more in the neighborhood of 180, all at a time when brothels were actually legal in Greece. Prohibitionists were fighting to change that and, more importantly, label any sex-industry activity as "sex trafficking." A lot of the citations and arrests made in the run up to the Athens Olympics were just violations of zoning laws intended to keep the robust and legal sex trade out of the line of sight of tourists who might frown upon such a thing, legal or not.
In plain speak, sex trafficking crimes doubled, but it was because of a technicality, not because the Olympics were in town. A similar trick was used to come up with another famous statistic that claims there were 133 sex trafficking-related arrests at the 2011 Super Bowl in Dallas.
Nicole Cordeiro, Wikipedia
In that case, every "vice"-related arrest in the two-week period before and after the game was considered sex trafficking. So if you were arrested for drugs, it was counted as a sex trafficking stat for scare tactic purposes.
Nevertheless, this is a rumor that refuses to die. One ridiculous claim set the number of women forced into the sex trade during the 2010 Super Bowl in Miami at more than 10,000. That's the kind of number that gets thrown around regularly whenever this urban legend pops up. Those numbers would basically make every Super Bowl the 9/11 of sex trafficking. That just does not happen. There's no other way to put it.


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on February 22, 2013 - 1:51 AM
, updated February 22, 2013 at 1:52 AM
Whether you ask Nate Mall about the trim work, fireplace mantel or unique railing, he has all the answers. That's because in the custom-designed house he shares with his wife, Darlene, he took on interior carpentry work himself.
The maple and stainless steel cable railings alone took him three months to complete, Darlene pointed out.
The process of building their home began after the couple bought the country property five years ago.
"I knew I wanted a center-entrance house with an open floor plan, inspired by the Mission style but with a modern twist. I like that Mission is kind of a classic look, that it's timeless. That's what I was going for. I didn't want a house that you would look at and say, 'Oh, that was built in 1980 or 1990,' " said Nate, who hired award-winning Southtowns architect Jay Braymiller.
Among the features: a large kitchen opening to a living room with coffered ceiling and two-sided gas fireplace; window bump-outs that take advantage of the magnificent views and create more visual interest on the home's exterior; a "switchback" stair design that enabled a small third-floor "lookout" space to be created; and a large mudroom – complete with stall shower.
"When you do these custom houses, like this one, they are truly custom. It is laid out to fit their lifestyle, how they like to entertain, and as detailed as how they deal with their dogs on a daily basis," Braymiller said.
Throughout the home, contemporary lighting fixtures dazzle, while a color scheme is a study in contrasts – with bold accents juxtaposing with soft neutrals.
That's where color whiz Jason R. Kruszka of Kruszka Interiors enters the picture.
"The impact of color comes from the neutral background. I took a minimal approach to how much bold color was used. It's a less-is-more approach," said Kruszka, who not only coordinated the colors but actually painted them on the walls.
Furthermore, he said, "when you are dealing with an open floor plan, the colors need to enhance one another."
The kitchen is painted Starry Night, a brownish color by Ralph Lauren that looks black at night. An accent wall in the eating area, however, is a pale yellow color called Climbing Lily, also by Ralph Lauren. Another accent wall – this one Benjamin Moore Black – can be found in the master bedroom. The other walls are white.
Most striking is the orangey Terracotta Pot by Ralph Lauren on the front wall of the home, near the stairs. Nearby neutrals include Farrow & Ball's String No. 8, a delicate tan in the upstairs hallway, and Mizzle No. 266 – think evening mist – in the entryway. The trim work throughout is painted white with a grayish tint to match the frames of the Marvin Integrity windows.
Other highlights:
• Working with a kitchen designer, the couple went with an open plan that features a combination of white painted maple cabinets on the wall and dark-stained cherry cabinets on the island. Also found here: granite countertops in the working areas, stainless countertop on the dining side of the island, stainless appliances, farm sink, oil-rubbed bronze hardware and a backsplash of glass, stainless and stone.
• In the living room, a slate gray modular sofa has a low profile, so as not to obstruct window views. Also found in this room: burgundy leather chairs, a trunk that belonged to Nate's grandfather and a wool rug in a blend of ivory, grays and black.
While the couple did not share how much they have invested in the house, they noted that they saved a bundle by having Nate do interior carpentry work – although they did hire framer John Kruszka (no relation to Jason Kruszka) and other professionals along the way.
"I've always been handy and can visualize how something is going to look," said Nate, who owns Axent, a landscaping business.
He was helped by his father and a woodworking friend, and referred to books and websites.
The couple also bargain-shopped for fixtures, furnishings and more, noted Darlene, a self-employed court reporter.
A bathroom vanity came from Mr. 2nds bargain outlet; a guest bedroom set from Big Lots. Decorative accessories – including whimsical animal accents throughout – were found at stores such as Pier 1, Target and T.J. Maxx. Lighting and other purchases came from DirectBuy.
There's still work to be done, including landscaping. But the bulk of the project is behind them.
"A good project always starts with a good client, and they were great to work with. Nate challenged my ideas, which always makes the project better. It really is a collaboration between the architect and the homeowner – and the site. In this case, I think we hit some real high notes," Braymiller said.
email: email@example.com


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I'll believe it when I see it but until then you still have zero credibility in these matters. Your track record dictates a different response.
Crosby and Ovie play two different games, so of course the "evidence" is going to be different. Ovie lays questionable hits and Sid dives.
So just because I like Crosby I have no credibility?
You are being ridiculous. Let's just talk about Ovechkin, unless you have nothing else to defend him with besides pointing at my Crosby stance and say I have no credibility?


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As part of Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget, the state may close 26 Department of Health centers - including the one in Blair County - within a few months.
"The goal of the modernization plan is to increase access to services by mobilizing staff into communities and not having them bound by bricks and mortar," stated department spokeswoman Holli Senior.
SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, which represents department employees, opposes the plan, which will mean elimination of 73 jobs, including 26 nurses, according to a union source and Susan Templin, school health consultant for the department's South Central District, which includes Blair.
The Blair office - which employs two nurses and a clerk typist - will fold into the Huntingdon County office, according to Senior.
She cited union agreement protocols in declining to say whether any of those local workers will lose their jobs, but she said no community health nursing positions providing direct service will be eliminated.
Other local offices will be affected: The Fulton County office will fold into Bedford County, Somerset will fold into Cambria, and Jefferson will fold into Clearfield, said the union source.
The "new model" will take advantage of "well-attended senior fairs, legislative-sponsored health expos and other community health events ... where people can easily find us," as part of an effort to ensure the department is "providing services where people live and work and to those who need them most," Senior said.
Some centers now receive only a handful of walk-ins per week, she said.
The centers' "core services" involve sexually transmitted disease services, HIV services, animal bite investigations, disease investigations, immunizations, and tuberculosis screening and case management, Senior said.
The streamlining will include community health assessments by nurses, using data collected by agencies already required to do that work, so the department can "better identify populations we can serve that currently do not come to state health centers," Senior said.
The union doesn't buy the department's optimism.
"I have a hard time being able to believe" that services will remain as robust after the changes, Templin said.
In placing workers at greater distance from their home territories, the department will damage its responsiveness, according to the union.
Community events are not the way to deliver immunizations routinely, Templin said.
And center closings - some of which, including Blair's, is set for the end of this month - may also violate a 1996 law that ended an attempt to privatize the system, according to the union source.
The changes include elimination of technical consultants like Templin, who advise school nurses. Nurses are the only qualified medical personnel in their school complexes, and they must deal with students with serious medical issues, she said.
Templin disputed the notion that the centers as currently set up are redundant with other agencies. She doesn't know what other agencies would have enough personnel to handle disease control during floods and other disasters or to the spread of diseases among clients without health insurance or regular doctors.
Templin expects to lose her job in the realignment.
She isn't "whining," she said. "We [just] don't want to see the public receive the short end."
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038. The Associated Press contributed to this story.