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Get your torch and pitch fork ready because something tells me that there's going to be some disagreement with this column, which really kind of surprises me since I've always thought that it was pretty straightforward when it came to what the Thunder is missing, what flaws they have and how all of that has and will bite them again in the future.
The reason I'm surprised by there being disagreement with this is that, well, every team has flaws. There is no such thing as a perfect team without weaknesses. The trick is for that team to play to such a way or in such a style that minimizes their weaknesses and enhances their strengths. And as we saw in yesterday's article, the Thunder certainly play very well to their strengths and maximize their talent (you could even argue that they have played a little above their experience and talent level this year).
And just to refresh, the Thunder's defense, their elite scorer in Kevin Durant and their road record give them three reasons why a higher seed really doesn't want to match up with them in the playoffs.
But there are two factors that the Thunder lack when it comes to making a deep run in the playoffs and these two factors almost always end up costing a team a series, either early on or deeper in the playoffs.
But before we get to that I'd like to discuss why one of the factors I've always looked at in the playoffs is not one of these five.
Experience is often looked at as being essential to making a deep playoff run and there's certainly credibility to that statement, but it's my opinion that experience itself is not the end all, be all, determiner when it comes to postseason success. Talent is.
Obviously experience is a huge bonus and having experience in the playoffs will only help a team in the future, but there are too many instances where one team had greater talent and less experience and wound up beating a team with much more playoff experience (the Magic's run last season, the Golden State upset of Dallas a few years back, and even the Nuggets 4-1 destruction over the Mavs last year), which shows that as far as being comparable to talent and efficient execution on both ends of the court, postseason experience is a little overrated as an x-factor.
In fact, to use that Golden State example, sometimes having absolutely no experience or expectation about what is supposed to happen is a good thing. It removes self-doubt and disbelief. That almost naive idea of "Why can't we beat a #1 seed who outclasses us at almost every position on the court?" becomes your greatest strength instead of the crippling weakness most individuals associate with being too young and inexperienced, AS LONG AS the intensity and composure of the playoffs does not get the best of that young and inexperienced team. And that is a BIG if.
That being said, if all things are equal in a matchup in terms of talent, coaching and execution, I'd absolutely prefer a group of inspired and tenacious players who have been there before and know what they're doing than the wide-eyed newcomers because they won't be shell-shocked if they get down a few games, but I'd like to think the Thunder wouldn't either (the optimist in me says, "hello") so that is why experience is not one of the five factors.
But here's the two that are…
Factor No. 4
Offensive Execution in the Half-court – Sorry run and gun, you won't be having fun in the playoffs
Since almost everything I type here will be evidence based support for why these factors will make it hard on the Thunder to advance out of the first round and beyond in the playoffs, I'm going to do without the Precedent portion of these factors.
If you play fast during the regular season, odds are you'll also have a fast exit from the postseason. Why? Because the game slows down in the playoffs, transition offense slows to a crawl. Sure it still takes place however it is significantly reduced to the rare exception in a game that will be almost entirely run via a half-court chess match.
Up goes intensity, up goes defense, down goes run and gun.
This conundrum has inspired the quintessential Kobayashi Maru of NBA basketball: Would the Phoenix Suns have been the exception that either broke or proved this rule and won a championship if Big Shot Rob had not hip-checked Nash into the scorer's table and Amare had not dabbed his toe across the silver line that separated the bench from the court.
Obviously, we'll never know. But I'd lean more towards them being the exception that PROVED the rule, that run and gun teams will never go deep in the playoffs than the team that revealed it to be false.
Of the Top 10 teams in Pace last season, only two made it out of the first round: the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers. Expand it to the top half of the league in Pace andonly three teams made it past the first round (Orlando checked in at #12).
Where do the Thunder check in at this season? Try #13 in Pace.
Obviously that alone is not a death sentence for a first round exit for the Thunder, sure the odds would be against them in the form of a 62.5% likelihood that they would not advance past the first round while being in the upper half in the NBA in pace, but those aren't impossible odds…right?
Well here's the kicker, I'm not just talking about pace when it comes to Offensive Efficiency in a half-court set, the other side of this equation is how efficient you are at putting the round ball through the iron ring. And you'll see that of those three teams who advanced past the first round, the Nuggets, Lakers and Magic, that were in the top half in the league in Pace, also happened to be pretty ridiculous when it came to their ability to efficiently score the bucket overall.
Of the Top 7 teams who led the league in Adjusted FG% last year (here's where we get to remove the anomaly that is the Phoenix Suns, who somehow led the league in Adjusted FG% last year but didn't make the playoffs…Factor No. 1, anyone?), FIVE (of the six who made the playoffs) advanced past the first round and FOUR advanced past the second round (Orlando was matched up with Boston so one of them had to go down).
And if you are paying special attention to that last number you'll realize that the the four teams who made it to the Conference Finals, and thereby the two that went on the NBA Finals, were all in the Top 7 in Adjusted FG% over the regular season.
Better yet, only one team out of the Top 10 in Adjusted FG% made it past the first round last year, that being the Houston Rockets who checked in at #13 last season.
Where do the Thunder clock in at this season?
Try tied for 22nd. Yes, they are in the Bottom 8 in the league, in Adjusted FG%. They are the only Western Conference team in the bottom half who would make the playoffs today if the season ended.
But hey, I'm not all doom and gloom. That's a fantastic step in the right direction from last season, when the Thunder were the WORST team in the NBA in Adjusted FG% (that .017 increase makes all the difference!).
So even if it spells trouble for their opening playoff series, the Thunder are absolutely making progress on the offensive end. We might just not get to reap the benefits of it until next season's playoff run.
Of course even that might be dependent on them addressing the last factor (definitely not last in importance) of playoff basketball that undoubtedly WILL hurt the Thunder in the playoffs.
Factor No. 5
Post Presence – There's no use in arguing over it, no sense in fighting it; it's just the way it is people
You don't go deep in the playoffs without a dominant post presence on both ends of the court. That's just the reality of the situation. ESPECIALLY if you're team is matched up against a legitimate post presence on both ends of the court. There's really no point in any of us dignifying a rebuttal to this fact with a response.
I'm sorry to be the one to state the obvious and not focus on the Thunder's improved "team mentality" shot-blocking and offensive rebounding, but here's the deal: the Thunder is a jumpshooting team who allows the third highest amount of shots in the immediate vicinity of the hoop (three feet and in–it seems like commenter justin was channeling some of this article yesterday).
Or in other words, the Thunder routinely has to settle for more difficult shots on offense since they don't have a true post presence to dump the ball into and get easy looks at the basket (the closer you are the easier the shot, as we all know) AND the Thunder allow the third most looks at the easiest shot in the game on defense.
Do you know what that spells? Early NBA summer vacation.
Scoring gets harder in the playoffs. So the more dependent you are on difficult shots, the harder it is going to be for you to put the ball in the basket.
The fact of the matter is that a legitimate post presence on both sides of the ball directly affects the other four factors of playoff basketball.
- Your defense becomes that much more improved at eliminating mistakes when you have a shot-blocking threat anchored in the post to help out when a teammate gets beat on a dribble-drive. Did I mention defensive rebounding woes being gone, too?
- Your elite scorer will get more open looks and have an easier time getting to the hoop with a legitimate post threat on the block because he will demand attention (if not a double team) when the ball is dumped down low, thereby freeing up your elite scorer to make the other team pay by getting buckets
- Your ability to win on the road becomes easier because your entire offense does not revolve around jumpshooting, which means that if you're jumpshot is off, you can ACTUALLY STILL have a legitimate shot at winning the game (this seems foreign to me!) because you can get higher percentage looks at the basket and keep the other team from getting second possessions off of a missed shot on their own court, which we all know pumps up the crowd, thereby amplifying the home court advantage.
- And lastly, your half-court offense skyrockets in efficiency with a post presence down low. There's no run and gun with a post presence on the offensive end unless he's the trailer on a very rare run out in the playoffs. His job is to be on the block, to be a mere 3-6 feet away from the rim in the half-court set. And simply put, there's just not a more efficient shot in the NBA than one that takes place within three-to-six feet of the rim.
To sum all that up, a post presence just makes everything easier on a team in all facets of the game. It frees up your offense to be multidimensional so a team can't figure you out in one game and then own you the rest of the series. It anchors your defense so that a team can't simply over power you down low, can't get unaltered or free looks at the rim without a legitimate shotblocker or earn extra possessions off of a great defensive possession on your part with offensive rebounds.
And that's the thing I think everyone is forgetting about, a playoff series is not one game where anything can happen. It's a best-of-seven, grind out, I know you and you know me, slugfest. Every flaw is visible, if not severely exposed and taken advantage of from game one. The more one-dimensional and flawed you are the harder you're going to make it on yourself to advance.
But I'll end by saying this, if we have learned anything it about this Thunder team it is that you should check your expectations at the door and just go along for the ride because it's been a pretty good one thus far since none of us have a definitive clue about this team's ceiling.
And that 3 out of 5 still means the Thunder have a pretty good shot once they reach the place where amazing happens and anything is possible.


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January 10, 2008
Mother pens memoir on life with heroin addict son
Rita Lowenthal raised her family in a nice Jewish home, lived in a nice Jewish neighborhood and belonged to a nice Jewish temple. So how did her son become a heroin addict at age 13?
The need for an answer to that question, as well as a desire for closure, is what inspired Lowenthal to pen "One-Way Ticket: Our Son's Addiction to Heroin" (Beaufort Books, $14), a memoir that compiles her experiences and correspondence with her son and his journal entries while in and out of San Quentin State Prison.
Despite years of treatment, Josh Lowenthal never broke the heroin addiction that eventually took his life in 1995.
"It looked like our family had all the blessings, so I wanted to figure out what happened," Lowenthal said.
At a time when celebrity drug use and failed rehab attempts are all too prevalent -- and even joked about -- "One-Way Ticket" illustrates the cruel reality of drug addiction. "It is a disease, and it needs to be treated that way," said Lowenthal, who wants to make the idea of knowing or loving an addict less shameful.
She first noticed a shift in her son's behavior when he was 13, when the family lived in Pittsburgh. Along with her first husband, David, and their older son, Mark, Lowenthal quickly dismissed the change as teenage arrogance that would be addressed after the bar mitzvah.
"In 1969, Josh was 12, crazed with excitement about The Beatles, long hair, guitars, jazz and psychedelic paints that transformed his cute little boy's bedroom with the cowboy bedspreads into a teenage den," Lowenthal said. "He was beginning to bring home different, somewhat older friends, and he quit saying 'goodbye' in favor of 'one mind.'"
Heroin was the furthest thing from her mind.
"Josh always appreciated a thrill and was always looking for the next excitement," she said. "He was fun to be around. We never thought it would come to this."
After the family became aware of the problem, Josh would spend the rest of his life in and out of recovery and rehabilitation centers.
Because he started using at such an early age, Lowenthal believes Josh's body and mind never had the chance to fully develop independently of heroin, thus making the path to sobriety increasingly difficult with age.
Josh never liked many of the facilities, Lowenthal said. He went AWOL from several institutions, many of which preached "tough love," an idea that had little effect on Josh and a concept extremely difficult for Lowenthal to embrace.
In a journal entry from 1985, Josh wrote about a particularly frustrating rehab experience: "This rehab is no good. Better off in jail if I want to be clean. I don't know if I could stand to brown nose my way through this for months ... more concerned with table manners than wrenching guts.... One thing is for certain, if I could be successful in this program I wouldn't need it."
Looking for a fresh start, Lowenthal and Josh moved to Los Angeles after her marriage ended. She found work as a professor in social work at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), while Josh struggled to find a college that would accept him. But no matter where they moved, "he was never far from drugs," Lowenthal said.
Of all the treatment facilities, both Josh and Lowenthal acknowledged that Beit T'Shuvah was by far the most effective and encouraging.
"They know relapses will happen; they only hope the addicts will return to the program when they do," Lowenthal said.
After frequent relapses and periods in and out San Quentin for petty theft, Lowenthal explains that Josh was finally realizing the futility of his addiction. While he craved a normal life, Josh was scared by a world without drugs -- a sentiment expressed by many addicts close to full recovery.
In an unsent letter to his brother, Mark, written just a year before his death, Josh shows a disturbed, yet more self-aware, side while serving time at San Quentin:
"Realistically, I expect that in approximately two-and-a-half more years on parole, the state will probably squeeze another year out of me. Six months out, six months in, seems nearly unavoidable.... I imagine with hindsight that, more or less, we all reflect on -- with misgivings -- precious time squandered as so much spare change."
Lowenthal said she sensed that Josh was extremely close to ending the nightmare of his addiction. In a video interview with Beit T'Shuvah, recorded one week before his death, Josh admits, "Like I said, I've been a junkie for 25 years. I'm 38, and I'm tired, and it's over. These are my friends.... This is the end of the story -- at least for the moment."
She believes Josh committed suicide when he overdosed on heroin, although no note was found.
Lowenthal is now retired from HUC-JIR, as well as from the USC School of Social Work, where she was a charter member of the Betty Friedan Feminist Think Tank. She worked on the 2000 ballot initiative, Proposition 36, which changed California's law to permit substance abuse treatment, as opposed to a jail sentence, for first- and second-time offenders guilty of nonviolent, simple drug possession.
She currently serves on the board of the Progressive Jewish Alliance as chair of the Drug Policy Committee of the Criminal Justice Task Force, in addition to being a member of the Community Action Committee of the Progressive Christians Uniting.
While Lowenthal has learned to turn her depression into political action, she said she's still haunted by her tragic loss of Josh. For many years while Josh was using, her only comfort was a statement made by her son, which she said had become like a mantra for her: "There is nothing you can do, Mom; you can't compete with heroin."
JewishJournal.com is produced by TRIBE Media Corp., a non-profit media company whose mission is to inform, connect and enlighten community © Copyright 2016 Tribe Media Corp.
JewishJournal.com is produced by TRIBE Media Corp., a non-profit media company whose mission is to inform, connect and enlighten community
© Copyright 2016 Tribe Media Corp.

subset: commoncrawl


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For all his success in the boardroom, Donald Trump's life in the bedroom has been messy at best. The real estate magnate married his first wife, Ivana, in 1977, but things got rocky after Trump's affair with actress Marla Maples surfaced in New York City tabloids. "You bitch, leave my husband alone!" Ivana (pictured) told Maples on a ski trip in Aspen, Colo. Ivana's warning fell on deaf ears, and in 1992, Trump left her with a reported $25 million settlement and married his mistress one year later. His marriage to Maples was even shorter-lived, and the couple divorced in 1999. These days, Trump's married to Slovenian supermodel Melania Knauss. Together in marital bliss since 2005, this relationship's proving the third time really is a charm so far anyway.
Next Trump Mortgage


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Abilene Gun Downby Jory Sherman
Silas Colter is as cold and cunning as any other lifelong lawbreaker. After he suckered in Dan and Jed Brand to help drive stolen cattle to Abilene, the scheme went bad, with Colter killing Dan and two lawmen -- and leaving Jed to hang. Now, he's assumed Jed's identity to cut a swath of blood through the West. To avenge his brother and clear his name, Jed hunts the vicious Colter across the plains, dodging bounty hunters and a relentless U.S. Marshal whose motives are as personal as Jed's. All Jed knows is that if he ever wants to see the end of the Owlhoot Trail, someone's going to have to die....
Apache Sundown (Shadow Rider #2)by Jory Sherman
He is a loner in black astride a jet black horse, and administering hard justice at the presidents behest. War hero, half-Indian, all killer, his name is Zak Cody but he's called... SHADOW RIDER. Driven equally by his duty to his nation's leader and by his need to avenge his father's murder, Zak Cody is on the trail of the goldhungry killer who made him an orphan. But while he's taking down his adversary's hired guns every step of the way, their leader, Ben Trask, continues to elude him. And Trask is brewing up a poisonous stew of betrayal, death, and lies with the powerful help of someone at Fort Bowie-a plan that will bring about the terrible slaughter of a proud but volatile native people. The death storm is rolling relentlessly in-and Cody must battle time, bullets, and savage nature to reach the one man who might help him prevent a massacre-the warrior named Cochise!
The Arkansas River (Rivers West, #6)by Jory Sherman
Eastward, as far as the eye could see, stretched the Great Plains. Westward rose the Rockies, snowcapped shadows against the sky. In the middle flowed a mighty river-- silent, glistening, and turbulent--the bloodline of a wide and wild land. Three hard, tough men staked their claims on its potent shores; Jake Stonecipher, pioneer merchant, seeking his fortune--yet finding a war. Will Burke, a mountain man as savage as the wilderness itself. And Francisco Serrano, determined to carve a fertile ranch out of the stubborn soil. Three men blazing trails, forging a future...building lives as bold-- and as treacherous--as the Arkansas River.
Blood Sky At Morning (Shadow Rider #1)by Jory Sherman
THE AVENGING ANGEL Zak Cody roams the frontier, a half-Indian loner in black, armed with a Walker Colt and credentials from the U.S. President, Ulysses S. Grant. White man's cruelty hardened him at a young age, the Civil War made him a hero... while duty and conscience made him a killer. Those who inhabit the harsh, beautiful, blood-red land between Tucson and Fort Bowie have never seen the like of the Shadow Rider, who appears out of nowhere and vanishes just as suddenly in the desert heat. Now death and lies surround him again. Apache are under siege for murders they didn't commit. Cody's riding hell for leather into a war where nothing's what it seems. But his mission is to get to the truth... and to kill the cause of the bloody chaos ... even if it means laying down his own life.
The Dark Landby Jory Sherman
Vengeance drives an ex-Confederate cavalry officer to do the unthinkable: fight alongside his old enemy-the Union Army.
Death Rattleby Jory Sherman
Cattle rancher Brad Storm once survived a rattlesnake bite and exacted vengeance on his enemies. Because of that, he's known as Sidewinder. In the employ of a detective agency, Brad represents law and order, but to outlaws, he's as lethal-and unforgiving-as his namesake.
Ghost Warrior (Shadow Rider #3)by Jory Sherman
Zak Cody moves like a shadow across the land. An avenging angel appointed by the president, he dispenses justice swiftly, brutally and without mercy! THE APPROACHING STORM A rebellion is brewing in the New Mexico territories. An Indian who rides with white men-a Navajo renegade using the name of a legendary fallen warrior-is stirring up fear and rage and bloodlust. Under orders from President Grant, Zak Cody-the enigmatic enforcer they call "Shadow Rider"-heads into the unknown to confront the killer and make things right. But on bloody ground where, without motive or warning, an Indian raiding party has set upon defenseless victims, things are not what they seem. Cody senses that a snare is being set- and many more, guilty and innocent alike, will die if he can not avert the slaughter. His only hope is to spring the trap himself, and if the Shadow Rider's death is the consequence ... so be it.
Nest of Vipersby Jory Sherman
A STING SO DEADLY After weeks of casing a ranch for its prized remuda, a gang of horse thieves pillage everything--leaving the owner's wife dead. Before the distraught man can drown himself in booze, Harry Pendergast of the Denver Detective Agency offers him a chance for vengeance. Because this time, the victim is Brad Storm...aka the Sidewinder. It seems that Brad's ranch isn't the only one that's been brutally hit. There's a huge reward to track down the powerful thieves. But the hunt won't be easy, taking the Sidewinder into dangerous territories and bloody battles. So when a showdown in Wild Horse Valley becomes imminent, Brad hatches a plan--one he hopes will have the villains recoiling in fear before the Sidewinder strikes back.
Ralph Compton: The Cheyenne Trailby Ralph Compton Jory Sherman
Chip Chippendale met Ransom Barnes after the War Between the States, when the two cowboys drove a herd up from Texas together.

But when Chip first laid eyes on Wyoming, he knew he was home, and the two friends split off on different trails.NEW ENEMIESEach man went on to own his own ranch, but when Ransom's home is attacked and burned by a marauding band of Cheyenne warriors, he is faced with ruin--and makes matters worse by gunning down the Cheyenne leader's son. A target of the most vicious renegade on the high plains, Ransom turns to his old friend Chip. And Chip never forgets his friends--even if it means making a few enemies.
Ralph Compton The Ellsworth Trail (Ralph Compton #21)by Ralph Compton Jory Sherman
A longhorn traildrive becomes a road to revenge for ramrodder Jock Kane, out to avenge the death of his bride by chasing down her killer-Jock's own brother, Abel.
Ralph Compton The Palo Duro Trailby Ralph Compton Jory Sherman
Dagstaff has to drive 4,000 longhorns over a thousand miles up the Palo Duro trail, facing furious storms, Comanches, treacherous rivers-and a hired killer among his drivers.
Ralph Compton the Amarillo Trailby Ralph Compton Jory Sherman
Doc Blaine needs to drive 3,000 head of cattle from Texas to Kansas, and needs his sons Jared and Miles to help. Unfortunately, his sons are in love with the same woman-and have vowed to kill each other on sight...
The Savage Curseby Jory Sherman
The John Savage trilogy comes to an explosive conclusion. At long last John Savage has cornered Ollie Hobart-the man who murdered his family. But will the price of his vengeance be too high?
The Savage Gun (Thorndike Western #1)by Jory Sherman
John Savage watched helplessly as his family and all of his friends were murdered by outlaws. Now, armed with the pearl-handled Colt pistol his father left him, he's going to bring these killers to justice.
Savage Hellfireby Jory Sherman
Spur Award-winning author John Savage has destroyed the gang that murdered his family. Now he wants to work the land his kin died for-and find some measure of peace. But his desire for retribution is now a dark compulsion he can't shake. And the only way he can take back his legacy is to send one remorseless band of outlaws straight to fiery, blazing hell.
The Savage Trail (Savage Gun #2)by Jory Sherman
John Savage continues his relentless pursuit of the outlaws who murdered his family. But the gang's leader, Ollie Hobart, has even greater ambitions - -even if it means inciting war between the United States Cavalry and the Indian nations of the Western plains.
Savage Vengeanceby Jory Sherman
John Savage is on the trail of a merciless killer who has kidnapped the daughter of the woman he loves.
Shadow Rider: Apache Sundownby Jory Sherman
Driven equally by his duty to his nation's leader and by his need to avenge his father's murder, Zak Cody is on the trail of the gold-hungry killer who made him an orphan. But while he's taking down his adversary's hired guns every step of the way, their leader, Ben Trask, continues to elude him. And Trask is brewing up a poisonous stew of betrayal, death, and lies with the powerful help of someone at Fort Bowie--a plan that will bring about the terrible slaughter of a proud but volatile native people. The death storm is rolling relentlessly in--and Cody must battle time, bullets, and savage nature to reach the one man who might help him prevent a massacre--the warrior named Cochise.
Shadow Rider: Ghost Warriorby Jory Sherman
A rebellion is brewing in the New Mexico territories. An Indian who rides with white men--a Navajo renegade using the name of a legendary fallen warrior--is stirring up fear and rage and bloodlust. Under orders from President Grant, Zak Cody--the enigmatic enforcer they call "Shadow Rider"--heads into the unknown to confront the killer and make things right. But on bloody ground where, without motive or warning, an Indian raiding party has set upon defenseless victims, things are not what they seem. Cody senses that a snare is being set--and many more, guilty and innocent alike, will die if he cannot avert the slaughter. His only hope is to spring the trap himself, and if the Shadow Rider's death is the consequence . . . so be it.
Sidewinderby Jory Sherman
Cattle rancher Brad Storm was tracking one of his herd when fate set him within striking distance of a rattlesnake. Bitten and poisoned, he sent the serpent to meet its Maker but then lost consciousness. Saved by a Hopi medicine who believes Brad has inherited the spirit of the snake, he is given a new name -- Sidewinder. Brad doesn't believe in spirits, but when rustlers torch his ranch, steal his cattle, and kidnap his wife, Brad embraces his new identity.
Six-Gun Law (Vigilante #2)by Jory Sherman
The Spur Award-winning author continues the saga of The Vigilante.
 Having killed the men who murdered his parents, Lew Zane wants to put the violence of the past behind him. But the cycle of violence continues when the family of the men Lew killed kidnap Seneca Jones, the love of his life.
Snake Eyesby Jory Sherman
The body of a sheep rancher is found headless, with a warning from a cattle baron known as "Snake": if the ranchers and their families don't leave the mountains, they will all die. The dead man's cousin demands justice, so he pays a visit to the Denver Detective Agency and acquires the services of Brad Storm, also known as "Sidewinder". So, armed with a new double-ought buck nicknamed "Snake Eyes", Brad heads to the mountains to hunt for a man just as deadly as he is...
The Sundown Manby Jory Sherman
When his parents were slaughtered by Arapahos, Jared Sunnedon and his sister Kate made it out alive, only to be taken prisoner. Then and there, they vow that if they are ever separated, they'll never give up the search for each other. After Kate is captured by Utes and sold off, Jared makes good on his promise and escapes. And there's no man alive and no stretch of wasted desert that's going to come between Jared and the only family he's got left.
Sunset Riderby Jory Sherman
Young Johnny Stagg's father had given him one piece of wisdom to live by-when you find yourself outnumbered, outgunned, or out of luck, head into the setting sun. Safety's always over the horizon. But Johnny's father was dead. Murdered in cold blood. Johnny has taken his vengeance upon the man responsible, but not without incurring the wrath of a crew of outlaw curs who aim to reunite Johnny with his father. Now, Johnny's riding hard west-hunted by a bloodthirsty band of murderers out to wreak their own revenge. But Johnny Stagg is going to lead them straight through hell to do it...
The Vigilante: Santa Fe Showdownby Jory Sherman
When a corrupt sheriff murders the woman Lew Zane loves, he takes it upon himself to deliver the only brand of justice the "lawman" understands.
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Surgical Specialties Corp. will close its production facility in Berks County next year, shifting work to Mexico and leaving nearly 300 people looking for another job.
The decision to close the facility in Exeter Township was made to improve the company's long-term competitive strength and provide cost savings, as well as the ability to operate more efficiently, Mark Sherman, the company's vice president of human resources, told 69 News on Monday.
The Exeter location employs 265 people. Sherman said the company plans to help the displaced employees by offering severance packages based on their years of service and training sessions to build their resumes, job searches and interview skills.
Surgical Specialties, founded in 1971 and based in Berks County, has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals since 2006.
According to its website, the company specializes in the design and manufacture of suture needles, sutures, microsurgical cutting instruments, eye garters and ophthalmic cannulas.


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Madoff Fuels Apocalyptic 'Dreams'; 'Newsies' Triumphs: Review
Jarring thumps and an unnatural, sickly-colored sky are upending the high-priced calm of cocktail hour in a wealthy Connecticut enclave at the start of "Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling," Adam Rapp's extraordinary, unsettling new play at the Atlantic Theater Company in Manhattan.
Although the words "Bernard Madoff" are never uttered, "Dreams" paints an apocalyptic vision of lives affected by the Ponzi schemer. Not only among the high-flying rich in whose dining room we spend the next 85 minutes, but among the disenfranchised as well.
Canada geese are bashing themselves against the windows of the expensively appointed home where Dr. Bertram Cabot (Reed Birney) and his wife Sandra (Christine Lahti) are having drinks with Bert's best friend since Yale, Dirk Von Stofenberg (Cotter Smith).
Awaiting the arrival of Dirk's wife, Celeste (Betsy Aidem), and grown son James (Shane McRae), recovering from a recent suicide attempt, Sandra flirts shamelessly with the virile Dirk ("I've always been so impressed with your physique") in front of the passive Bertram.
She also corrects the pronunciation of the young woman serving them, whom Sandra refers to not as the maid, but as "kind of like our own little continuing-ed program. Berlitz French, state capitals, Shakespearean sonnets."
Truly Weird
It's not until Sandra and Bert's otherworldly daughter, Cora (Katherine Waterston) arrives -- in black, barefoot and vaguely wild-looking -- that things turn truly weird. She's completing an "art project" that involves taking samples of arm hair and claims that a lioness is being kept in the basement near the billiards annex, the aquarium, the gym and the sauna.
Left alone for a moment, Cora asks Dirk, "You've had quite the lucky streak lately, wouldn't you agree? All that business with everyone losing their money. The king of the jungle got caught, but somehow all the other animals got away scott-free."
Neil Pepe urges with restraint his pitch-perfect cast through Rapp's surrealistic trip, echoing Edward Albee and Len Jenkin, as the four adults careen toward an inevitable conclusion.
"Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling" is so over-the-top you may be tempted to dismiss it as a cartoon. Be warned; it's likely to linger with you, like a fever dream whose impact quietly expands in the hours after you've left the theater. I haven't forgotten a second of it.
Through Oct. 30 at 136 E. 13th St. Information: +1-212-279-4200; http://www.atlantictheater.org. Rating: ****
A musical version of the Disney Company's "Newsies" has been long aborning in the wake of the 1992 movie about the newsboys' strike of 1899. That's when street hawkers demanded decent pay from the publishers of papers put out by moguls including Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst.
Despite tunes by perennial Oscar winner Alan Menken, working with lyricist Jack Feldman, the movie was a flop in theaters. It went on to become a hit in home-viewing iterations.
Harvey Fierstein ("La Cage aux Folles") has rewritten the book, Menken and Feldman added more songs, and the result is making its debut at the reborn Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey.
It's no "Lion King." There's not a memorable song in the lot, and the smiley-faced optimism may compel you to reach for the rotten tomatoes.
Still, it is good-hearted, pro-labor, paint-by-numbers family entertainment, with several exceptional things going for it:
Foremost is the exuberant choreography by Christopher Gattelli. Never mind that the boys break out in dance at the oddest times -- just after, say, they've been beaten to a pulp by the bosses' thugs. The tap-dancing ensemble numbers are terrific.
Then there's Tobin Ost's imposing design, three massive girdered towers that act according to their own choreography and lend a scrappy urban feel to the proceedings, especially in the wonderfully variegated lighting by Jeff Croiter.
Finally, there's the assured staging by Jeff Calhoun, a Tommy Tune protege. Working with an attractive cast led by Jeremy Jordan (who will play Clyde Barrow beginning next month on Broadway in Calhoun's production of "Bonnie & Clyde") as the boys' ringleader, Calhoun paces the show fleetly. There's talk of a move to Broadway. Catch it at the Paper Mill after a fall drive and save your money for family dinner.
Through Oct. 16 at 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, New Jersey. Information: +1-973-376-4343; http://www.papermill.org Rating: **1/2
What the Stars Mean: **** Do Not Miss *** Excellent ** Good * So-So (No stars) Avoid
(Jeremy Gerard is an editor and critic for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)


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If you are a big fan of mainstream and hard rock wrestling, this news is something that you will definitely wait for!
After leaving WWE for the nth time, The Rock's huge comeback in 2013 was revealed to the public. This smashing news was spilt by Dwayne Johnson himself through the social networking site Twitter. The Rock replied to one of his fan tweets saying that he will be filming three movies this 2012 but he is definitely looking forward to get back on the ring, and quoted "Miss that electricity though, man.??? Dwayne Douglas Johnson, better known for his ring name "The Rock???, is a professional wrestler who appeared on WWE Raw.
To keep up with the hype of this big WWE announcement, they will most likely find a way for The Rock to vindicate his name and claim the title once again as he gets back to rocking the world of Wrestle Mania. After all, this is where he truly belongs.
With that said, fans and spectators are now watching every breath of The Rock and are anticipating that he will be opening the January 2013 Royal Rumble match. The game of all games, this is where The Rock could also get the opportunity to steal the championship belt in the upcoming Wrestle Mania XXIX to be held at East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Now the question is, who would The Rock is facing at the end? Many are speculating that he will be joining the ring withanother wrestling superstar Borck Lesnar for the WWE Championship. This possibility will definitely gain a huge wave of gasps considering that this will be the first time they will be up against each other after their Summer Slam 2002 bout which was a decade ago! This will definitely be the rematch of the century in the history of professional wrestling.
After gaining mainstream popularity in the world of professional boxing, Dwayne "The Rock??? Johnson sashayed into Hollywood with quite a lucrative career and has made several films that earned him even more success. Some of his notable big screen appearances on Hollywood movies are from The Scorpion King, Gridiron gang, The Rundown, The Game Plan, Get Smart, Race to Witch Mountain, Tooth Fairy, Faster, and fast Five.
The Rock was born in May 5, 1972. He was the son of the African-American wrestler Rocky Johnson. Coming from a family of wrestlers, his grandfather High Chief peter Maravia was also a well-known Samoan wrestler.
Despite his strong looks and aura, Dwayne Johnson has successfully portrayed a positive image among kids which landed him child-friendly roles on many Hollywood flicks. Now that The Rock has unraveled his comeback plans, his career is back on track in the world of smack down once again. And yes, let us all say it: "Do you smell what The Rock is cooking????
If you are interested to watch WWE matches, please take a look at our ticket availability.


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First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Seventh Grade
Eighth Grade
Ninth Grade
Tenth Grade
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are a coherent progression of learning expectations in English language arts and mathematics designed to prepare K–12 students for college and career success. The CCSS communicate what is expected of students at each grade level, putting students, parents, teachers, and school administrators on the same page, working toward shared goals.
Milestones: Students Demonstrate the Math, Reading, and Writing Standards for Grades K-5


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Popular Diets
Section #1 Strength Training
We're going to use lunges as a way to stretch the lower body and get some strength training in at the same time. When it comes to lunges, form is extremely important.
For the starting position, stand up straight with your shoulders back and your chin up. Take a large step forward with one leg while lowering your hips so both knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Whichever foot you have taken a step with, make sure that knee is directly above your ankle. The other knee should not be touching/resting the floor but barley grazing it.
Now, push back up to the starting position through the only the heel of the foot you took a step with. Repeat with taking another step on the opposite leg. Do this for a total of 10-12 steps on each leg. When you're done with these, take a 1-2 minute breather before moving on to the next section.Next Prev Slide 2 / 8
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Fuse Creativity System Project Guide: Fun Party Themes, Idea for Handmade Cards, And More Paper Crafts from Fiskars
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Positive Message Card
By: Sherry Lynn for Creations From My Heart
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Let someone know they are loved with this lovely craft idea. The Positive Message Card is a simple way to put your creativity to good use. Learn how to make cards with this easy card craft.
Hear Sherry talk about this Positive Message Card on FaveCrafts Radio. Read our blog post to learn more about the March 2, 2011 FaveCrafts Radio show.
- Cardstock or Card
- Sewing Machine and Thread
- Clock Decal
- Button
- Rubber Stamps
- Brown Ribbon
- I started by making the card. After I attached the striped paper to the front of the card, I used my sewing machine and added a zig zag stitch round the outer edge. If you have a sewing machine, try this it's a lot of fun and adds some texture to your project. Next step, I added an oval frame that held the words "You are Loved".
- I mounted the clock decal to a piece of chip board and inked the edges. For an extra embellishment I added a button to the center of the clock.
- I made 5 cards and labeled them. I gave my boys each a card and my in-laws each a card and asked them to write something that special that they loved about my hubby.
- I just used some rubber stamps to put the names on the cards...
- To the top of each card I stapled a simple brown ribbon. This can be used to pull out the card. I attached a pocket in the inside of the card and used another frame to hold the words..."Words of Affirmation"
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Green has calming qualities, but mint green is the more modest, insightful and kind-hearted side of green. Do you think that is why it is such a hot color this spring?
– angela
Photo Credits:
Row 1: Pinned via We Heart It | Photo by Laura L. Ruth
Row 2: Mini cake by The Happy Home | VW pinned via Happiness Is…


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Westport In The Media
a focus on quality ...the difference is in the details
A Cornerstone of Commitment To You
Westport's brokerage services together form a cornerstone of our commitment to ensuring our customers an enjoyable, convenient and hassle-free yacht ownership experience.
The Services Provided By A Central Agent
The role of the Central Agent is similar to that which is performed by the multiple listing agent in real estate. Once a Central Agent is selected, the seller is no longer obligated to speak with other brokers or prospects. Instead, the Central Agent manages the flow of information and communication to and from all other appropriate brokers and agents as well as members of the buying public. The Central Agent positions the yacht for maximum exposure in the appropriate markets in an effort to procure a sale.
Once negotiations are entered, the Central Agent confirms the validity of the buyer and ensures that proper deposits are in place. In short, when an owner of a yacht chooses a Central Agent, he has selected one individual to represent his interests and should expect the following:
Since there are many nuances to the appropriate and responsible representation of a yacht, we would expect to discuss any questions you may have regarding this very significant role in the marketing of your yacht. We look forward to assisting you and to producing an expeditious sale.


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How to Use the Various Shades and Styles of Sarcasm
Posted on March 14, 2010 | 52 Comments | Permalink | Email Article | Tweet
Perhaps it would be best to delete all of the grammar-error comments after any errors are fixed (or even not post them if the changes have already been made, since there's a delay from the moderation process anyway), rather than force me to read through 257 of the SAME FREAKIN' "[X]-SHOULD-BE-[Y]" COMMENTS which have been addressed just to find the few comments relevant to the comics, other than grammatically! It's REALLY DAMN ANNOYING!
Sorry, just had to get that off my chest! Keep up the great work Scott!
(And now I think I have an idea for my first tattoo: A tattoo of a tattooist tattooing a baby! :-P )
yeah, if the baby were a boy, he could just have his foreskin lopped off (and "they don't cry at that either").
tramp-stamp.. hahahaha =)
As someone whose mother made her wait until 12 to get pierced ears, I can assure you it hurt like hell. I was rather jealous of the girls who'd had it done as babies and could wear whatever earrings they wanted but now I see the wisdom in my mother's decision. The memory of the pain kept me from stupidly adding additional holes to my body.
LOL, good one! Loved the 2nd panel.
I will really try out these techniques.
I think it is a wonderful idea to get all your bodyparts pierced as early as possible just to be compatible to as much as possible cultures later on in your life. Nothing says more "my sense of cultural fashion is timeless" than having your child stapled from early on. You might consider to have their lobes and lips stretched too, as the african continent is on the rise.
OMG baby tatoos! Best. Idea. Ever
You spelled "judgment" wrong in the fourth panel.
Comedic Genius. This was one of your funniest yet. I loved it!!!
Yes! Forcefully and painfully driving decorative metals through soft parts of the body for purpose of sexualizing your infant is really GREAT idea! (am I doing it right, Mr. Meyer?)
When I have figurative kids that I'm actually never going to have, they're all getting itty-bitty tramp stamps, regardless of gender, because I'm just mean like that. XD


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by Stephen Pile
Eleven years ago, Pile—the founding member of the Not Terribly Good Club of Great Britain—published The Book of Heroic Failures. It was such a success that it finally forced his ouster from the very club he formed. Pile nonetheless continued to compile his list of life's great incompetents, many of whom can be found in the pages of this very funny follow-up.
Cannibals in the Cafeteria casually introduces us to the best of the inept and the brightest of the incompetent:
•Glynn de Moss "Scotty" Wolfe, who, in 1986, set a world record with 26 divorces (he divorced his 23rd wife on the grounds that she used his toothbrush). In his lifetime Wolfe, 80, has shelled out more than $l million in alimony and keeps a supply of wedding dresses in his closet. He is now wed to the former Daisy Delgado, 15.
•During World War II, a Japanese kamikaze pilot survived II suicide missions. Although he left with only enough fuel for a one-way trip and no ammunition, the pilot returned safely each time. He later wrote a biography in which he claimed the planes he flew were unsafe. He died at 93.
•In 1974 the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued 80,000 promotional buttons for a pre-Christmas campaign. The buttons bore the words FOR KIDS' SAKE, THINK TOY SAFETY. All the buttons were withdrawn when the commission found they had sharp edges, parts easily swallowed by a child, and paint that had a dangerously high lead content.
Cannibals in the Cafeteria is a quick, relaxing read. Pile keeps the items concise and writes them in a straightforward, underplayed manner that brings the humor of the situations to the fore. His portraits show a band of miscreants so sympathetic they defy the adage—They can win for losing. (Harper & Row, $15.95)
Picks and Pans Review: Cannibals in the Cafeteria
updated 03/05/1990 AT 01:00 AM EST
•originally published 03/05/1990 AT 01:00 AM EST
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Dispatchers say fire crews and EMS are on the scene of a house in Fort Smith.
Firefighters are trying to put of the blaze at South 17th Street and G Street.
No word on any injuries or the cause of the fire.
For more information tune into 40/29 News at 9 p.m. on the Arkansas C.W. and on 40/29 News at 10 p.m.


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NCDOT: Rock slide shuts down highway; More slides possible
Geologists called to assess risk
UPDATED 11:10 AM EST Jan 31, 2013
A rock slide has closed one lane of Highway 74 West in Haywood County.
Pictures of rock slide
A North Carolina Department of Transportation worker at the scene said it happened at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A big boulder can be seen on sitting on the shoulder of the road. There were also smaller rocks and even trees that came down in the slide.
DOT crews closed the right lane of the highway until a geologist can determine the threat if another slide no longer exists.
Copyright 2013 by WYFF All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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A Review of the Cubs 2014 DraftSubmitted by WISCGRAD on Fri, 12/26/2014 - 7:24am
Following on my previous two poss on the 2012 and 2013 drafts, here is an overview of the Cubs 2014 draft and where the players are now. Here again it only shows those draft picks who signed with the Cubs and lists their draft number, current age, position, current organizational level, and a brief snapshot of their 2014 performance. Another positoin player, Kyle Schwarber, is the headliner here; but the Cubs drafted 10 pithcers in the first 12 picks, many of them teenagers. While most debuted at low levels and only played the last part of the summer, there is a lot to like about the level of success of many so far.


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No, it's not the name of some SubText special version, but it's...
SubText submarine carved inside a pumpkin to celebrate Halloween.
Yesterday evening I spent almost 3 hours digging inside the pumpkin, drawing the layout (outlining it from a print of the logo), and then carving with a knife to get the submarine shape.
2007 OpenSource Carved Pumpkin
This is the blog of Simone Chiaretta, an Italian .NET developer, architect, Microsoft MVP, ASPInsider, Subtext core member, ASP.NET MVC lover with a passion for mountain climbing.
Want to know more? Keep reading...
I also wrote a book about ASP.NET MVC and a news feed reader for Windows Phone 7
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by: Michael Steffes
Could the Seahawks be looking to bring back Kenny Lucas? Brad Briggs, who authors "Inside the Bears" for the Chicago Sun-Times is hearing that. The Bears had Lucas in for a visit today, and he mentions in this blog post that "it is believed that Seattle, Lucas' original team, also has interest in him." A very interesting development indeed.
Lucas left Seattle the year that Tim Ruskell arrived. It was a very difficult situation, if you recall. Walter Jones, Matt Hasselbeck, and Shaun Alexander were all free agents at the same time and Ruskell prioritized those core players, managing to keep all three. Lucas, however, took big money from Carolina in the first week of free agency. He was a quality player for the Hawks, and has been both good and bad during his stint in Carolina. Mostly, he mirrored the Panthers' performance–or more specifically, their pass rush's performance. As with every corner on that team, he has been hung out to dry in the years Julius Peppers (and with him the Carolina pass rush) was underperforming.
Clearly, Lucas did not get the interest he was hoping for since being released by the Panthers. If he is going to accept a lesser deal, it might as well be some where he is comfortable I suppose. A Bears writer saying it is "believed" Seattle is interested isn't even close to confirmation the Hawks want Lucas back, but this does open up an interesting line of discussion. So have at it, Addicts!
My thought is that Lucas is worth a look on a short term deal. I am in favor of the team putting its draft mostly to the offensive side of the ball, so getting a biggerish (made up word!), veteran corner gives the team another option if Kelly Jennings proves that an improved front seven doesn't help cure his falling down problem. Adding Lucas does that without using another high pick on a corner. However, if the team didn't bring him in, I wouldn't cry either. END


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The Latitude of Via della Pigna is 41.897. The Longitude of Via della Pigna is 12.478. The Latitude and Longitude of Via della Pigna is 41.897 and 12.478 respectively. 41.897 Latitude and 12.478 Longitude can be mapped to closest address of Via della Pigna, 00186 Rome, Italy.
Via della Pigna is located in sub-locality, Rome locality, Province of Rome District, Lazio State of 00186 Country.
© 2011-2016 distancesfrom.com. A softUsvista Inc. venture!


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Welcome to Glock Talk
Why should YOU join our Glock forum?
- Converse with other Glock Enthusiasts
- Learn about the latest hunting products
- Becoming a member is FREE and EASY
If you consider yourself a beginner or an avid shooter, the Glock Talk community is your place to discuss self defense, concealed carry, reloading, target shooting, and all things Glock.
Saftey Seminar for handguns in Ajo and Tucson
Discussion in 'Tactics and Training' started by threefeathers, Apr 6, 2013.


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Every time we go out into the woods for an outing with our scouts we should expect that some planning and preparation has occurred. In a Backpacking style troop this is an absolute must.
You are walking away from your cars and comfort items, you are sustaining on what you bring on your back, you are relying on map and compass or at least familiarity with the trail system you are trekking on, you need to have the skills to collect and treat water, build small fires, and pack your pack. You need to understand the usage of the items you take with you and try to make each item doe multiple tasks.
So planning and preparing yourself (and your Scouts) for a backpacking adventure is extremely important. As our troop prepares for a trip to Philmont next year, we are refining our skills now. It helps that each camp out we use the Backpacking style of camping and test those skills often.
So start with the basics, gear, physical conditioning, skills, and attitudes.
Gear is an important part of planning and preparing. What kind of gear to meet the conditions, terrain, weather, and skill level of the group. How big is group and what will be they be doing when they get to their destination.
Individual gear pretty much starts with the backpack. Proper fitting is important and the right style of pack based on skill level, body type, and load carried needs to be considered.
Stoves, cook kits, mess kits, and personal items need to be shaken down and evaluated based on the needs of the group and individual. We will go into those item in detail in a later post.
Shelter is another consideration that needs to be carefully thought out. Notice I did not say tent. I said shelter. Technology and design have met with the outdoors to provide lightweight alternatives to tenting. Hammock camping is quickly becoming popular in the backpacking community as well as tarp and bivy camping. Light weight tarps and bivy sacks provide excellent options for shelter. They are lighter, easier to set up, and allow the camper more options for set up configurations and places to camp. No longer are you restricted to 10×10 platform or level ground when using most tarps and hammocks. Philmont has still not got on board with the LNT aspects of Hammocks, but I am sure that in the future they will come around.
I will get into shelter more down the road also.
Physical conditioning is a major part of the backpacking experience. Each individual of the crew must be able to shoulder his load and when needed take a part of the groups gear. Good conditioning reduces the chance of minor injury and fatigue. Being in good shape also allows you to enjoy the trip a lot more. instead of walking with your head down and slugging your way to the camp site, you will be able to walk head up and see the trail. You will have a more enjoyable time in camp also. Being less tired when you arrive, you can spend more time hanging out and having fun instead of a quick trip to the sleeping bag.
Skills and attitudes are a topic for another post as they need some attention. Lets leave it here for now. Every backpacker must possess the skills needed to sustain in the wilderness. You can not rely on your fellow hikers for everything and at some point you will be counted on by the rest of the crew.
Ok.. look for more on this in future posts..
Have a Great Scouting Day!
Monthly Archives: September 2011
Backpacking- Planning and preparing
Every time we go out into the woods for an outing with our scouts we should expect that some planning and preparation has occurred. In a Backpacking style troop this is an absolute must.
When did things change?
I just came home from the High School. I volunteer to work the concession stand during the JV Football games so the parents of JV players can watch their sons play. There were a couple other Dads working with me and during the slow periods of the game, we had a chance to watch the game. The JV player played their collective hearts out, but still came up short when the last tick of the clock passed.
The discussion that I had with the other Dads though was priceless. The other night at our Troop meeting I talked during my Scoutmaster Minute about having heart… About never giving up and never letting failure get the best of you.
Today, those Dads and I asked each other when things changed. Not that "when I was a kid" it was harder… but when I was kids giving up was not an option. And it should never be an option now. Our Varsity Football team has had a rough couple years, and I can see why there is frustration and bitter feelings, but this year they are 2-2 and have a promising schedule. So why give up? They got down in the last game and many of the players just gave up. Lost cause? Never. Going to lose anyway? Then go down with a fight!
You see failure is something that is easy. It becomes an attitude and once you fail and do nothing about it.. it is so much easier to allow it again. The next thing you know it is a habit. With teenagers this needs to be nipped before it gets out of hand.
Life is hard and the sooner we expect our kids to be winners the better. Failure is not an option in life. Winning is everything.
Or let me explain.
Winning comes in many forms. The Score is not always the measure of a win. Follow me here. The JV team lost the game today 38-34. They were down with 9 minutes left in the game. They could have given up. But they stayed in the game and played until the whistle blew signaling the end of the game. They had the ball with 14 seconds left and were driving down the field. One more play and they had a chance to win the game. They fell short on the score board, but they did not get beat. They walked into the locker room knowing that they played the game well and in the end… had a chance to win. This chance will become the building block that will lead them to victories in the future. The point here is that those players will not go away without learning from a missed tackle, a dropped ball, or a bad throw. Yes ladies and gentlemen… when you make mistakes you live with the results. A missed tackle leads to a score for the other team or a much-needed first down that leads to your loss.
That is life. Not everyone gets a participation ribbon, and not everyone wins every game, but failing to try will lead to failure.
So when did things change? When did it become ok to quit? When did it become ok not to give 100%? When did "Doing your best" not really mean your best? Think about that… what does BEST mean? It dies not mean I gave it a shot.. it does not mean I tried, but it got to hard so I quit. It means BEST.
Here is how Best is defined:
adj. Superlative of good.
1. Surpassing all others in excellence, achievement, or quality; most excellent: the best performer.
2. Most satisfactory, suitable, or useful; most desirable: the best solution; the best time for planting.
3. Greatest; most: He spoke for the best part of an hour.
4. Most highly skilled: the best doctor in town.
adv. Superlative of well2.
1. In a most excellent way; most creditably or advantageously.
2. To the greatest degree or extent; most: "He was certainly the best hated man in the ship" (W. Somerset Maugham).
1. One that surpasses all others.
2. The best part, moment, or value: The best is still to come. Let's get the best out of life.
3. The optimum condition or quality: look your best. She was at her best in the freestyle competition.
4. One's nicest or most formal clothing.
5. The supreme effort one can make: doing our best.
6. One's warmest wishes or regards: Give them my best
I think that it would serve our young people to look at that definition and see if they, when they say they did their best are they at least within the definition?
So I wonder when things changed. No one would ever dare give up when I played ball in school. Our team mates were our friends, they were the guys that we knew we could count on, we knew they would never give up. I don't see that in all the kids today. They are more concerned about themselves and not their team mates. Life lessons missed. In life they will need to be dependable, they will need to be counted on. Giving up now will set them up for quitting later.
Maybe it's just me and those two other Dads in the snack shack today.. but hope was restored watching that JV team.
This is all just as relevant in Scouting. Quitting on a patrol, giving up when the challenge is to hard, not finishing when you are being counted on. All of these tests of character beg the question, when did things change?
"I'll never give up; cause if I do; I give up on the ones beside me; I'll never give up; cause if I do; I give up on the ones who believe in me; if the person next to me is down; I will pick him up; and he the same; I'll never give up; I'll believe in the cause; I'll fight to the end; and WE WILL WIN!… THIS IS THE RAIDER PROMISE" –
This is the Raider Promise, they say this before and after ever game, wouldn't it be nice if everyone made a promise to never give up, to help other people at all times, to live a set of values, to be a good member of a team or patrol. Wouldn't it be nice?
And you wonder why I think sports are valuable…
Have a Great Scouting Day!
Where do we go now?
Its been a month since I posted my last podcast. I won't go into too much detail here, but lets just say that "the tribe had spoken" and it looked like I was being voted off the island so to speak.
The good news is that my Scouting life is going great and some great local Scouting friends got me back on the right track.
So Show 94 is out and in the show we talk about my Troop getting the annual plan finished and things are looking up for Scouting around our area.
Take a listen to the show and let me know what you think. There are many ways to send us feedback. Leave a comment here, drop us an email, shoot us a voice mail and use PTCMedia.net to leave feedback.
I spent some of today making muffins on the backpacking stove, a video is coming soon on that. A real quick, easy, and yummy idea for the trail.
If you have never baked with your backpacking stove.. the time is now.
Listen to the podcast HERE
Have a Great Scouting Day!
The Light at the end of the Tunnel
Tonight, under the leadership of the new SPL and a handful of Patrol Leaders and interested Scouts, the Troop finalized its Annual Plan. This years planning seemed to take a bit longer, but looking back at the last few years, the goal has always been to get it completed by the end of September. The Committee chair sat in on this years plan, she gave the boys the nod at the end of the plan suggesting that it was all "doable". As I guided the new SPL through the process, it became obvious that he is in need of more training.. and that's a good thing, he is ready, but him and I will be spending some quality time together developing leadership skills.
Having said that the plan is outstanding! I am really happy with it and look forward to one heck of a year of adventurous Scouting!
Caving at Dead Horse cave, backpacking a section of the new Oregon Coast trail, a kayak float down the McKenzie river, making Pulk sleds and snowshoeing a section of the Historic Barlow trail, a sweet backpack trip up to Table Mountain in the Gorge just to name a few of the trips planned. By the end of the session the Scouts were on 9 foot hover and ready for the coming year. It was all I could do to keep them from not getting to deep into the weeds, but the excitement was clear.
We talked a little about our Journey to Excellence and what elements they would be helping with. Recruiting and retention will not be an issue. We have put 2 new Scouts in during September and 6 more will be crossing over in November. This on top of the group that will be crossing in February and March. We plan on dropping some Scouts that have decided to remain inactive, and we will be moving two young men into Assistant Scoutmaster positions as they are about to turn 18. I am glad that they are not taking their Eagle and running.
So now its up to the Scouts to work toward their next rank and keep camping. This will be a great year of Scouting.
With the trip to Philmont just around the corner and all the new Scouts in the Troop, the buzz is contagious, you can feel it in the room. We have 41 Scouts on the "active" roster and growing.
I suppose tonight the SPL and his PLC saw a light at the end of the planning tunnel. When they got the idea that what they were producing was going to a fantastic year of Scouting it became less a chore and more like seeing the camp ground after a long day on the trail.
I am real proud of those guys, they put in the work and are seeing the results of their dedication and persistance.
I am sure we will be talking a lot more about this in the coming months.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
The BigFoot Challenge
As we move into the Fall season Scout Troops everywhere are packing into the woods for great adventures. Winter will soon be here and so Fall is a great time to reinforce the Leave No Trace Principles with the Scouts (and Adults) of your unit.
No matter what style of camping your Troop does the principles of Leave No Trace apply.
LNT.org is a great resource for you if you are just learning Leave No Trace or just need to brush up or see whats going on in the organization.
One of the cool things that LNT.org has is the Bigfoot Challenge. Check it out using the link.
The idea of the program is reducing your footprint.
Last year at the National Jamboree I made a commitment to do the Bigfoot challenge and have been teaching, coaching, and mentoring our Scouts to Leave No Trace. Part of our challenge was to get a Leave No Trace Trainer in the Troop… yes.. the youth position. The BSA has added a lot of Enhancements to its Leave No Trace Program and every unit should be taking advantage of it.
So back to the Bigfoot challenge… The challenge simply asks that we do simple acts of environmental activism.. now this does no mean that you have to wear tie die or sandles.. but it does mean, in a Scouting context, that we act responsibly in the outdoors and are good stewards of our environment, particularly the outdoors that we enjoy when we go camping.
Simple little things like teaching our Scouts how to better plan and prepare to reduce the amount of trace we take out into the woods, using the "Bearmuda" triangle when setting up camp to reduce impact and animal issues, better ways to clean up dishes and cookware, using the patrol method to reduce to impact of large groups.
The Bigfoot Challenge also offers the change to win prizes.. and wait for it… Yes there is a patch available at the LNT.org website.
So take the Bigfoot challenge…
Teach a Scout, Be an example, Join Leave No Trace and remember to reduce your footprint.. after all Bigfoot has been doing it for years!
Have a Great Scouting Day!
This past weekend our Troops plan was to float a portion of the Deschutes River in Central Oregon. We all knew going into this activity that there was risk as well as the opportunity to challenge our selves. What we could never plan for was how well the Scouts did in the adventure leading to the adventure.
The Big River Campground is three and half hours away from our meeting hall, so we left a little earlier than we typically do to give us time in the day light to set up camp and relax for the night.
An hour out of town one of the cars in the convey starts "acting up", so we pulled over, checked out and pushed on. Two hours into the trip that same car came to its final leg in a town called Madras. The car was finished, could not move. So we parked it and started planning on first how to recover the car and then second how to keep moving to camp. We decided to leave the car where it sat, right behind the Sonic. The owner was kind enough to let us keep it there. The next part was a bit more of a challenge. We had to transport 4 Scouts and a Driver to Sunriver… another hour and half.
We squeezed one more small Scout into a seat belt and left the remainder at the Sonic with the driver. The rest of the Troop moved on to the campground.
On the return to the Sonic from the campground one of the ASMs that was the shuttle car struck a deer on the highway. The deer was extremely hurt and so a call to 911 sent the State Police to the scene. They took car of the deer filled a report and the ASM was on his way back to Madras. Not a scratch on his car.
They loaded up the car and turned around heading to camp. By the time they arrived in camp it was 3 AM.
So where are the Scouts during all of this… well most of them do what all Scouts do when they get in the car… sleep. But what was surprising was the first year Scouts that proved that they wanted to be helpful. They volunteered to stay back. They helped unload, move and reload gear, they seemed to be everywhere doing everything. Hats off to them.
The adventure on the water was amazing. We floated the river returning back to camp around 6:30 PM. Needless to say spending a day on the river, a lot of the boys having a limited amount of sleep made for a real quiet night in camp on Saturday.
On the way home we rearranged all the kayaks and stopped into Madras to get the broken down car. We got it into the boat trailer, again the Scouts of the Troop giving 100% in chipping in to help as went and got the Troop Cheese Burgers and Fries.
We ate and returned home. Stories to tell and adventure had by all.
That's what its all about.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
Whats the Main thing
Monday night another young man joined our Troop. He is a 6th grader, never been in Scouts before and looking for adventure. I met him and his parents and he joined right into the gathering activity fitting in with his new Patrol mates as if he'd been in the Troop for years. His parents had some concern, I mean, what parent wouldn't be a bit aprehensive about send their son off with strangers. In the course of our conversation I asked them what they wanted their son to get out of Scouting. Fun, life lessons, adventures? What was it that they considered when they brought their kid to us?
The first thing they talked about was their boy growing to be a bit more responsible and independant. Then they talked about life skills and fun. They understood that in Scouting their son will develop leadership and responsibility. They asked about service to others and character building. In short.. they asked all the right questions.
They want their boy to one day earn his Eagle award, but that was not the main thing. They want him to have fun with a group of young men that have a common interest and shared values.
You see, sometimes we get so caught up in merit badge extravagangzas and how many seat belts we need for a camp out that we forget that main thing. What is it? Citizenship, Character, and Fitness. The program is centered on those three things and when you keep them in the middle and build your unit around that… well it grows, its active, and it a fun place to be. The other night at our Troop meeting we welcomed a new Scout. He is number 41 on the roster. We have had our share of gains and losses, but in the end they come back to a fun unit that is full of adventure, fun, and lessons for life. all of that wrapped up in the main thing.
As our new parents watched as the Scouts did a Kayak relay in the parking lot Monday night, they commented on how friendly the Scouts were and how they all seemed to be a good group of boys. Thats the character of our unit, and it comes from staying focused on the main thing. The rest will come.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
11 days
It has been 11 days since I last posted.. Announcing a winner to the SMMPhoto contest. 11 days since I have really sat at the computer and gave the time to jot something down of significance. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites are great ways to let the world know about our minute by minute world changing activities like loosing pounds, winning an online chess game, or showing off a wonderful sunrise, the Blog to me is not that forum and I reserve the time for the blog to share something I think worth sharing.
With that.. 11 days have gone by since anything of significance.. unless I count the great time that I have been enjoying over the last two weeks.
Spending time with the Patrol Leaders Council last week, preparing for a Kayak trip down the Deschutes River with the Troop this coming weekend, wrapping up the final details for our newest Eagle Scout, playing golf and shaving a few strokes off the long game.
Its Football season, and that absorbs lots of my attention. My youngest son stepped on the Football field on September 2nd under the lights of the stadium and made his starting debut as the Quarterback of the Reynolds High School Raiders.. he's only a Sophomore and over the last two weeks he has made a name for himself on the field demonstrating that passion and hard work will pay huge rewards on the field.
School has started and now the house is once again full of friends, home work, and the drama of school life as 2 Seniors and a Sophomore kicked off yet another academic year. Eagle Projects, Band practice, Football, and conditioning for the upcoming Wrestling season have taken over the lazy days of summer.
Time spent with family and friends have kept me away from the computer and surfing the web, and you know it felt great.
This morning my two buddies and I played a great round of golf. We walked the course joking and making fun of each others game. It was a great time spent with friends. As we walked the course we talked a little about how life has changed since 2001. Our kids have grown up a lot, our jobs never changed, our families got bigger, and aside from an all expense paid trip to Iraq and the loss of some good people, our lives up here in the Northwest really just went on. We have really felt the impact of watching ground zero transform into a monument. Besides the visit to the Pentagon during the National Jamboree, the pain felt in Washington DC did not ripple its way out West.
This week there has been a lot of build up about the anniversary of September the 11th. A tragic day in the history of America but what are we supposed to do. I propose we never forget about what happened, but not just what happened, but who did it and why. We should never forget it and never forgive it. We should fight these distributors of terror, these cowards that have no honor, every day until they are all gone.
One of the ways we fight them is by not letting them disrupt our way of life and our will to be free. We when compromise and dismiss the fact that these terrible beasts are out there to hurt us we let them win. We need to fight and fight and fight. I will fight them every day. I will never forgive them and never forget what they have done to my country. And most of all.. I will not let them win.
If this offends you.. I am don't know what to tell you… I am not sorry.
What these animals did to our Country is no different than what the Japanese did on December 7th, 1941. And we destroyed them. We won.
We have to make this 10th Anniversary of the 2001 Attack on America a resolution to win.
So remember where you where that day. Remember how you felt. Remember the lives lost, the damage done.. then resolve to get on with our lives and win this war on terror. I AM NOT AFRAID!
To make this Scout like.. a Scout is Brave.. a Scout is Loyal.. and a Scout makes a promise to do his duty to GOD and COUNTRY.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
The SMMPhoto contest!
The winner of the first SMMPhoto contest is Dominic Galloro!
There were many great pictures submitted.. but this one seemed to capture the spirit of summer camp and the adventure of Scouting for me. Three guys with a common goal.. just blowing their lungs out.. and the fire is still not that big!
You don't have to be the next Ansle Adams to win at shooting Scouting pictures.
I want to thank everyone for sending in your pictures. This was a tough decision given the big number of pics I had to look through. I was glad to see that everyone had a great Summer Camp season and more importantly the Scouts had fun!
And I suppose that is what this winning picture shows me.. these three guys are having fun. Oh and I know that the big stick over the fire pit.. yeah.. there will be some poking going on with that later.. right guys…
OK.. Dominic send me your contact information and I will get the book in the mail to you!
Have a Great Scouting Day!


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As the Trinidad and Tobago national soccer team prepared for tonight's match against El Salvador at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, the team chose to train locally at New Jersey City University's Thomas M. Gerrity's Athletics Complex.
Trinidad and Tobago practiced at NJCU's natural grass facility this past Saturday, before its opening game in the group stage of the 2013 The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup. Trinidad and Tobago tied El Salvador, 2-2.
"It's always an honor when any national team chooses our facility for their training program, especially in preparation for such a prestigious tournament as the Gold Cup," said Patrick Snyder, the head men's soccer coach at NJCU. "Our grounds crew does a great job all year keeping our grass fields in game condition. We've been fortunate over the years to be a desired location for many teams to train and we are proud to showcase our outdoor complex to the public."
Along with Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador's match, Red Bull Arena also hosted Group B's other two teams tonight in Haiti and Honduras, with Honduras winning 2-0.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup has been held in the United States every two years since being founded in 1991 and determines the regional champion of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The United States and Mexico have met in the championship match each of the past three tournaments, with Mexico entering this year's Gold Cup as the two-time defending champions.
This is not the first time a prominent soccer team has practiced at NJCU'S complex. In the past, the United States U-17 Women's Soccer National Team, the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer, and national teams from Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, and Panama have all called NJCU home for at least one day.


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ROCKFORD — Two Rockford area brothers recently opened The Rockford Shirting Company.
The in-house, design company offers limited edition tees and hoodies. CEO Ryan Scribner also says a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Rockford charities, shelters and organizations voted on by customers via social networks.
For information: firstname.lastname@example.com, teespring.com, facebook.com/therockfordshirtingcom.
Location, ST | website.com


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Companies serving Uruguay
Current filtering criteriaYou can remove a filter by clicking on the x
Employees number: 1-10 ×
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Serving: Uruguay ×
ATN Engineering B.V.
based in Stadskanaal, NETHERLANDS
ATN Engineering is a supplier of machinery for the recycling of WEEE. Such as refrigerators (up to 130 per hour with an efficiency of 99.6%), air conditionings (all gasses new and old with maximum safety), televisions ( up to 60 per hour with a minimum of dust), flat screens (automatic systems), gas treatment plants for all the gasses from refrigerators and AC units, ...
Primara Test- und Zertifizier-GmbH
based in Kaufbeuren, GERMANY
Primara Test- und Zertifizier-GmbH as an independent test laboratory and certification body of electrical products opens you the door to national and international markets.Our main claim is the sustainable development of safety and quality of your products and the smooth, uncomplicated and fast handling of conformity assessment.Our Services:Product testing (product ...
Kuhn Associates Sustainability Advisors LLC
based in New York, NEW YORK (USA)
We provide companies throughout the product supply chain with strategies and tactics to manage the intersection of environmental sustainability and profitable business. Subject matter expertise includes greenhouse gas emissions, chemicals/toxins, water quality and quantity and waste management. We work across many industries and most clients have a global profile. Our ...
H2O International, Inc.
based in Deerfield Beach, FLORIDA (USA)
H20 International is a progressive U.S. based company manufacturing and distributing worldwide a full range of water filters and water purifiers for domestic, commercial and industrial applications. As active members of water quality associations, we are aware of the latest developments within the industry. The use of KDF® 55, a patented and NSF listed media along with ...
maki Consulting GmbH
based in Stephanskirchen, GERMANY
We offer life cycle method related services at the interface between industry and policy and particularly in the context of the European Commission's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and it's International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook and Data Network, which we have helped to shape from 2005 to 2012. Drawing on our experience of over 15 years ...
Corporate Climate
based in New York, NEW YORK (USA)
ABOUT CORPORATE CLIMATECorporate Climate's primary purpose is to help businesses understand the return on investment (ROI) implications when considering implementing sustainable technologies and solutions. This information is delivered through podcasts, videocasts, webinars, periodic newsletters, and an annual E-Magazine comprised of the best Green ROI initiatives of the ...
Goldswallow Ozone Sterilizer
based in Shenzhen City, CHINA
Welcome to the home, school & office air and water filter specialists! Problems with excessive smoke, dust,germ, air and water pollution in your home, school, office or business? What you need is an environment free of air borne allergies at the right cost. A good air purifier is the key to preventing allergy related illness amongst those you treasure and trust most or ...
LinkCycle, LLC
based in St Cambridge, MASSACHUSETTS (USA)
LinkCycle, founded at MIT, revolutionizes environmental data collection, analysis, and sharing, for your products and services. Follow 3 simple steps of Strategize, Measure, and Integrate, through our consulting and software solutions, to discover the easiest path to environmental sustainability. We provide consulting and software solutions in the following areas: ...
Spill Doctor (SA)
based in Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
The Jesbra Group, now trading as Spill Doctor in Africa, represents some of the worlds industry leading providers of environmental, safety and health products. With over a decade of international experience and 25 years operating in Africa, Spill Doctor has consolidated a range of internationaly recognised products that both our regional and international clients regard ...


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Flights to Budapest arrive at Ferenc Liszt (formerly Ferihegy) airport, 20km from the centre; bus and metro connect into Budapest, but most convenient is the airport bus that will take you straight to your accommodation. Several budget airlines now fly to Balaton airport – the closest town is Keszthely, with a regular bus service to and from Balaton Airport.
Most international trains arrive at Keleti pu in Budapest, although Nyugati pu and Déli pu also handle international arrivals (see "Arrivals" in the Budapest section). Global or One Country InterRail passes are valid on all trains. International buses are generally operated by Eurolines, or Volánbusz, its Hungarian associate, with their two main terminals in Budapest.