text:
Central 41, Agawam 12: In a penalty and injury-filled game, Central came out on top thanks to three defensive touchdowns and beat Agawam 41-12 Friday night. Sacoy Malone led the Eagles offensively with 144 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. It was Central's sixth straight victory. Game Story | Stats & Box Score
Putnam 48, Amherst 0: Melquawn Pinkney deserves all the headlines he gets. But Putnam's defense is worthy of its undefeated record, too. Pinkney rushed for 224 yards and four touchdowns in three quarters of play, and Putnam outgained Amherst 500 yards to 51 yards en route to a 48-0 victory Friday night at American International College. Game Story | Stats & Box Score
Belchertown 20, Frontier 8: Senior Chris Ladd ran for three first half touchdowns to give the Belchertown Orioles a 20-8 win over tough Frontier in chilly Deerfield last night. Belchertown improves to 6-2 for the season while the Red Hawks drop to 3-4 overall. Game Story | Stats & Box Score
South Hadley 55, Cathedral 26: A potent rushing attack propelled the Tigers, as they averaged 17 yards per carry on the night. Connor Doran was at it again, leading all rushers with 12 carries for 212 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was his 2nd consecutive game with at least 3 rushing touchdowns. Game Story | Stats & Box Score
West Springfield 34, Chicopee Comp 0: The Ty Mann show played on and on Friday night at chilly Clarke Field as the West Springfield Terriers devoured the Chicopee Comp Colts, 34-0 to remain unbeaten in the Suburban League while continuing to own a share of first place. West Side's nifty senior quarterback scored on touchdown runs of 1 and 18 yards while delivering a pair of paydirt strikes covering 41 and 12 yards. The hosts moved to 5-3 overall and 4-0 in the league while Comp remained winless (0-7, 0-3). Game Story | Stats & Box Score
Pioneer 24, Easthampton 0: For Pioneer Valley Regional's football team, payback was a dish best served in the cold. Friday night's 24-0 victory over Easthampton returned the Super Bowl favor for the Panthers. Led by the stout running of Curtis Weaver, Pioneer was able to flex their offensive muscle to gain the victory. Game Story | Stats & Box Score


text:
By BEN
Web: nj.com/ben
Phone: 856-451-1000, ext. 556
Cellphone: 856-237-6645
U.S. Army: RA13815980
The column that asks when are we going to see photos of the Salem High girls soccer team in the paper?
Good afternoon!
We've checked out South Avenue and Henry Street in Bridgeton twice now during the day and found no one standing around.
Maybe there has been a cease fire.
You have to love Debbie Boykin-Greenberg.
The head of the board of directors of the Bridgeton Library has faith in everyone.
She probably gets that from her mother, the famous Pauline Boykin.
The always smiling Debbie will meet with reps from the Cumberland County Library Thursday to decide just what is going in the new downtown library.
Board of Directors Vice President George McLaughlin believes the library use will grow because the libraries in the eastern side of Cumberland County have thrown in with Gloucester County.
"That made the western side mad,'' said McLaughlin.
Warren Robinson has decided to put his latest book filled with photos of Bridgeton World War newspaper clippings on sale.
He wasn't going to, but we said it was too valuable not to.
"I'm not interested in making money,'' said the man who's big in genealogy.
You can have yours for $15.
One headline: "Marine Sends Card to Father From Japanese Camp in Philippines.''
It was Cpl. Vito Pepitone.
Another: "Tony Corona Wounded Second Time Following Anzio and French Action; Driven To Hospital By Brother Jack.
Photos: PFC Henry Knipe and Sergeant Fred Annarilli. PFC Angelo Bucci died from wounds.
You'd have to be Jay Gandy and sit in the libary all day looking at microfilm get all this stuff.
An average of seven photos per page.
We're starting to sound like one of those infomercials from TimeLife for a decade of songs.
Call 856-451-5148.
—"Mr Hummel,
"I would like to use your column to notify all of the upcoming open house of Downe Twp Fire-Rescue Co.
"This event will be on Mon Oct 28, at 5:30 p.m. at our Newport Station, located at 14 Hall St., in Newport.
"There will be fun and exciting activities for adults and children alike. All of our fire, rescue, and dive team equipment will be on display.
"There will be a demonstration of police arson/explosive K-9s, blood pressure checks for adults, fire safety house simulator, and of course Freckles the Fire Dog.
"Light snacks/refreshments are also provided. Please come out and join us for this event, rain or shine.
— John Marcucci,
Downe Twp Fire-Rescue Co. #1
Station 39
We've been contacted by a Penns Grove man whose father was killed in World War II.
He didn't know where he was killed.
He didn't know how he was killed.
He didn't know where he was buried.
He was able to find out all this information.
"I was able to find out within 500 yards where he was killed and within 15 minutes when he was killed,'' he told us.
Getting the info involves the IPDF (Individual Personnel Deceased File) through the Freedom of Sunshine Act.
He spent 15 minutes looking up Francis William Meyer and found out he was a reservist from Connecticut, although born in Massachusetts.
Let's all meet at the Bridgeton Amish Market today and see what Steve Lapps has to offer.
He's the Amishman with the white hair and the white beard behind the barbecued ribs.
Not to be confused with the man who used to run it.
Steve is new to the area and has the stamp of approval from Jonas King, the face of the Amish Market, of Dutch Family Restaurant.
He's also better looking than Jonas.
MY KIND OF TOWN: Where we need Wayne Ernst to expand to the Amish Market.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
hehe I love the BLT's... I am Queen Bee Nibbler.
The weekend.
Fri 7/24 (Day 32)
1st AM: Banana (had leg cramps waking me up all Thurs night)
B: HB Egg, chicken breast, almond/berry mix
S: Carrot-walnut bread, HB egg
L: Egg drop soup, steamed chiken & veggies
S: 2 tbl almond butter, some walnuts
D: (at the Diner): Pot roast w/brown gravy, carrots, salad
Sat 7/25 (Day 33)
B: Banana, 4 strawberries, carrot-walnut bread
L: Salad
Birthday party/picnic at Mom's
Appys: shrimp, couple of cheese & crackers, couple pcs salami & pepperoni, olives
D: Marinated steak, lg. baked potato w/butter & sour cream
Dessert: berries & cream, ice-cream cake
4 glasses wine
Sun. 7/26 (Day 34)
B: Banana
Brunch: Spinach/fetta omelette, bacon
D: Pork chop w/sauteed cherries, fried tomato
S: Smoothie(3/4 cup unsweet choc almond milk, 1/4 cup heavy cream, 5 lg frozen strawberries, 1/2 frozen banana, 2 tbl coco powder)
BLT's (Bites, Licks, Tastes) throughout the day, 2 tsp almond butter, chiken cube (while I was cutting it up for this weeks salad, couple cubes of melon and a couple berries (as I was preparing them for freezing), few cherries (while preparing to sautee them for dinner)
hehe I love the BLT's... I am Queen Bee Nibbler.
BLT's are my favorite way to eat but it's not very functional..
Mon 7/27 (day 35)
B: HB egg, chicken breast, almond/berries, 2 coffee w/HC & splenda
S: Plum, HB egg
L: Salad w 1/2 cup chicken & RWV, 1/2 cup cantelope, macadamia nuts
S: Celery w/almond butter
Pre W/O: Prograde w/8oz water
Post W/O:Prograde w/8oz water
D: Smoothie: 3/4 cup almond milk, 1/4 cup HC, 1 cup frozen necterines/peaches, 1 tsp flax oil, 1 packet splenda
Had a really tough CF WOD-push presses and 4-400 yard runs. Finish time: 15 minutes. I was exhausted but exhilarated! I'm going to take it a little easier today. Maybe just a walk later.
For the leg cramps, take Magnesium daily. I guess almost 80% of Americans are lacking it. Your body won't absorb Calcium or Potassium without it.
Mmmmm.....Celery w/ Almond Butter. I like that snack!
Grock on!
I've been taking a 25 mg tab of magnesium every morning. The bottle says take up to 4 tabs a day but I read that over doing it cause some nasty gastro side effects so I've been reluctant to take more. I'm thinking of adding a 2nd tab with lunch to see how that works out, anything to stop the cramping...
Tue. 7/28/09 (day 36)
B: chicken breast, berry/almond mix (thought I would try a smaller breakfast. It seems I eat a lot more than others I see posting here.)2 coffee w/HC & splenda
S: Banana, coffee w 50/50 & splenda
L: (with a client unexpectedly): Chicken noodle soup, beet salad
S:HB egg, carrot sticks, coffee w 50/50 & splenda
D: 2 baked chicken legs, 3 figs, cucumber & dill salad
S: Strawberries w 1/4 cup whipping cream
I realized I'm not takimg 25mg mag every morning, it's 100mg which equates to 25% RDA. Upped it to 2 tabs this am as I still had killer leg cramps last night. I also had another banana this morning because I could hardly walk from the soreness in my calf. 31 grams of carbs from 1 banana is a killer. I need to get this under control. I wonder if not staying hydrated enough has anything to do with it. I know that 6-8 8oz glasses of water daily is arbitrary BUT if that's what your body is used to and then you dial it back a little does your body respond in negative ways? I'm adding the 6-8 back in for a while + 200mg mag & a banana every couple of days. I'm just going to keep playing until I get the combo right but in the meantime the cramps, resulting soreness and loss of sleep is making for a pretty cranky grokette today.
Another observation. I haven't really noticed that I feel any different eating primally. I've completely cut out grains (on a regular basis-had some last night)and am working on the sugar/carb thing so I'm not eating as cleanly as most who are here but I eat cleaner than the general population. The point is I don't feel any differently eating right BUT (again with the capital b-u-t) I surely know when I've eaten wrong! I really feel like crap the next day. Today being a prime example becuase last night I was out to dinner and a show after work and aside from the leg cramp thing I feel crappy from the food and have been **starving** all day. It's loke having a hangover. Carb craving? My imagination? Who the heck knows! All I do know is that bad eating suddenly makes me feel bad! I know that sounds like bitching but I'm actually pretty happy about it becaue it's even more incentive to stay on track.
Wed. 7/29/09 (day 37)
B: 2 scram eggs, chicken breast, berry/almond mix, 2 coffee w/HC & splenda
S: Banana, coffee w 50/50 & splenda
L: 4 cups salad w 1/2 cup chicken & RWV, 1/3 cup macadamia nuts, 2coffee w 50/50 & splenda
Sbecuase I don't know how else to classify it) 1 coffee w 50/50 & splenda,
D: (@ Sebastians) 1 pizza-bread stick, lobster/avacado cocktail served w/4 very thing waffle cut potatoes fried, pan seared sea scallops over Jersey fresh corn & peas in sweet cream sauce, strawberries & blueberries over vanilla ice cream w/whipped cream, 2 merlots, 2 jamacian coffee
And just as an aside we saw Jason Alexander last night in his 1 man show. Bleeping hillarious!!! DH and I were actually on stage as part of the show for a couple minutes and haven't stopped laughing yet. Today kinda sucks but boy was last night a hoot!
Thur. 7/30/09 (day 39)
1st am: Banana
B: HB egg, chicken breast, 1 cup strawberries
S: 1 cup grapes, 1/4 cup walnuts
L: egg drop soup, steamed chicken & veggies, plum
Pre W/O: celery w/almond butter
Post W/O: Prograde w/8 oz. water
D: Salad w/sundried tomato dressing, smoothie3/4 cup almond milk, 1/4 cup HC, 1 cup frozen berries, 1 scoop whey protein, 1 tsp flax oil)
6-8oz waters, 4 coffee (1 w/HC rest w/50.50)
Walked & CF WOD
The weekend:
Fri. 7/31/09 (day 40)
B:HB Egg, chicken breast, almond/berry mix, 2 coffee w/HC & splenda
S:Macadamia nuts
L:Egg drop soup, steamed chicken & veggies, 3 squares Green&Black 85% Organic Dark Chocolate
S:1 cup cheeries
D:2 chicken legs, wax beans w/diced tomato-garlic & fresh herbs
4 water, 3 coffee w. 50/50 & spelnda
Sat. 8/1 (day 40)
B:Chopped HB egg w/avacado & 1/3 cup walnuts, sliced tomato, 2 coffee w/HC & splenda
Pre W/O: Prograde w/8oz. water
Post W/O: Prograde w/8oz. water
Brunch:Brooklyn omelette (3 eggs, lox, capers, onions, sun dried tomato), 1/2 cup bluberries, bacon
S:1/2 cup watermelon, 3/4 cup homemade trail mix
D:Salad w/SDT dressing & 1 slice organic pepper-jack cheese
S:Plum (caved into my sweet tooth craving)
6 water, 2 coffee w.50/50 & splenda, 3 coors lite
Sun. 8/2 (day 41)
B:Chopped HB egg w/avacado & 1/3 cup walnuts, 1/2 cup blueberries, 2 coffee w/HC & splenda
S: 3/4 cup trail mix
L:Greek salad w/grilled chicken & anchovies (passed on the stuffed grape leaves), 1 coffee w.50/50 & splenda
D:4 slices roast beef w/roasted onions
Munchies (late last night-boy did they hit hard!) handful of macadamia nuts, 2 tsb almond butter
1 1/2 diet snapple (I don't plan on replacing them after I finish the bottles I have)
Monday 8/3/09 (day 42)
B:1 scram egg, chicken breast, berry/almonds, 2 coffee w/HC only--no sweetener (working on those goals)
S:HB egg, sautéed cherries..(I eat when I'm stressed and Monday from the minute I walked into work was huge stress-I recognize the problem but I have to learn to control it better. Part of the solution is to recognize it while it's happening and not in hind sight like this)
L:4 cups salad w 1/2 cup chicken & SDT dressing, plum
D@ Provisios)Salad w/sliced melon, goat cheese & pine nuts, grilled salmon over broccoli rabe & sautéed veggies Zinfandel, 1 cappuccino
Dessertafter the show):raspberry truffle latté
No workout today
Tuesday 8/4/09 (day 43)
B:HB egg, chicken breast, almond/berry, 1 coffee w/HC
S:More stress eating..HB egg, plum, 1/3 cup walnuts
L:4 cups salad w. 1/2 cup chicken & RWV dressing
S:celery w/almond butter
Pre W/O: Prograde w 8oz. water
D:2 slices roast beef, 12 cherries, salad w/chicken, sunflower seeds & SDT dressing
Crossfit WOD: front squats w/KB 3x5 (3@25x5), ring pushups 3x6(BW), 1-arm rows 3x6 (1@25-1@35-1@35x10), back extensions 3x6 (BW), 4 sets of 25/50/25 runs
Today's quoteto help me achieve goal #4):You can't cross the Grand Canyon in two steps-sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. Believe in yourself!
I don't know if the Challenge journals are supposed to replace these or not so for now so I'm going to keep both.


text:
CABOT, Vt.— The Vermont State Police said a 10-year-old Cabot boy was killed Saturday afternoon after he suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Police did not indicate the circumstances of the shooting, or if others were involved in the incident.
In a written statement, police said they received a 911 call at approximately 4:50 p.m. Saturday afternoon, reporting the shooting. The boy was transported to the Central Vermont Hospital in Montpelier where he was later pronounced dead.
Detectives with the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations in conjunction with officers of the Vermont Fish and Game department conducted a preliminary investigation and determined the shooting was not suspicious and at this time the incident is considered an accident.
An autopsy will be conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Burlington to determine the final cause of death and the formal identification of the victim.
Cabot is in east-central Vermont between St. Johnsbury and Montpelier.
The incident remains under active investigation.


text:
A question we get asked all the time, is "How should I define the sales process for my business?" Given that sales stages in Base are customizable, we've consulted with a lot of companies on this topic. Typically, executives and sales managers just need a little coaching to arrive at the stages that are right for their business. By defining an optimal sales process, you'll make sure your entire sales team is speaking the same language – and that your reports will be accurate so you'll know what your team has to work on in the future.
The ideal sales process gives reps a series of regular steps to follow, while allowing them enough space to get creative (and close the deal!) when the time is right.
Not only does a set sales tracking blueprint give your reps a repeatable path to success, but it also means consistency for your company. When your pipeline is predictable, you'll be in a better position to forecast the health of the bottom line and prepare for the future.
In addition, a formal process gives you clear-cut comparisons for your reps. It will be clear which ones are excelling and which are struggling. On the flip side, a clearly defined set of stages will ease the burden of training the new additions to your team. They'll have a framework to point them toward success rather than learning everything by trial and error.
Start With The Basic Steps To Your Sales Process – Then Tweak
Across industries and reps, most sales processes include a few common steps. Those standard stages are prospecting, qualifying, quoting, and closing. This is a great framework to start with for just about any business. To fill in the details for each step, ask yourself what needs to happen to move a deal to the next stage. Make the universal answers a part of that stage's definition.
At the very beginning of a deal, your reps are prospecting. They are feeling out customer needs, looking for people who have strong potential to be clients. This is the initial matchmaking stage. What types of meetings or conversations are always a part of this step? What should your reps look for in identifying a good prospect?
After qualifying, the potential client has needs and budget that your company can work with. How do you confirm this compatibility? What does the client need to know about your business, or about your products and services? How can you convey that information to them? Will you schedule a demo, give a presentation, or set a meeting?
Next up is the quote stage. At this point, the parties are negotiating the final details for a deal. Once you're here, what goes into creating and delivering a proposal? How can you best position yourself to win in the home stretch? And after the quote, the final steps are in the closing stage. What has to happen to meet the requirements of both parties? What can you do to clinch the deal?
Think About How You Can Close Deals Faster
As you start crafting a sales process, give plenty of thought to what happens for closing a deal. What actions are essential to winning any sale for your business? These steps might be something specific to your field or to your company. For instance, a test drive is essential for successful car sales, and you'll never sell a wedding dress without the bride trying it on first. Be sure to include those unique elements in your formal process so that your sales team doesn't overlook their importance.
CRM software can be your best friend
Ashley Verrill at Software Advice adds that a CRM can be your best friend, as long as reps aren't bogged down with data entry. "I hear it all the time," says Verrill. "'I don't want to spend my time in data entry. I want to spend my time selling.' I definitely hear these objectives, but used correctly CRM systems can actually create more time that you can use for selling. I'm a huge fan of David Allen's "Getting Things Done," mantra. One of the tactics he suggests is to get everything out of your head so you're not distracted by trying not to forget something. CRMs give you the means for doing this.
I used to tell my sales team, own your task lists. They're there for a reason. Map out your sales process and create a list of tasks for every step in that journey. Have these ready in a task list so when you complete one step, you can immediately choose the next milestone and set a deadline. Not only does this keep you on track, but it tells you immediately where that contact is in your process. This way when they call you; you're not trying to pull up some context between emails, post-it notes and Dropbox files. Also, by having an exact map for that sales cycle you can tweak certain steps in the process and see if that speeds the time to close. Another famous business consultant Peter Drucker once said, "What's measured, improves." In other words, you can't get better at what you do unless you know what is and isn't working."
Keep the sales process easy to follow
The process you set out for your reps should be a series of steps they can and want to use. Overloading them with minutiae and micromanagement could have the opposite effect. You'll also want to ensure that reps have all the tools they need to execute each step so that they get the best results possible.
Speaking of reps, make sure you loop them in as you develop a formal process. Check in with your top performers to see how they win deals. Ask them for feedback so that you give them a roadmap that will be effective in the field. Plus, getting reps involved from the get-go will increase the odds that they will use the defined steps once the process is formalized.
Make sure the sales process matches how customers buy
Finally, the best way to define a successful process is to be attuned to how your customers buy. After all, the process is aimed at turning contacts into clients, so it should cater to what best suits them. Think of your sales process as a form of customer assessment. What do they need? How can you give it to them? When are they ready to buy? How much will they purchase, and how often? Can you offer them value?
At Base, we included a highly visual sales tracking solution that allows you to customize sales stages according to your company's needs and easily track opportunities as they move through the process.
Defining your process is a great way to satisfy everybody. A sales system that balances the needs of the company, reps, and customers will give you all the best chances for success. What success have you had in defining your sales process? Are there any stages unique to your industry that make it work for you? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
We also wrote an ebook titled Understanding Your Pipeline and Tracking Sales Effectively, for those of you who want to get deeper into the topic.


text:
By Kathleen Brooks. The opinions expressed are her own.
A new dimension to the currency crisis is upon us. First there was the two-speed growth – with richer, predominantly Northern European economies performing well while the weak south was on the cusp of recession. But in recent months an even more worrying divide has started to emerge in youth unemployment.


text:
WALTHAM — The Celtics had about 90 minutes to get a feel for each other, with their first of two practice sessions for Tuesday taking place Tuesday morning. There was little impact, and "a lot of five-on-zero," said head coach Brad Stevens of the initial workout.
Jaylen Brown, who admitted he got little sleep Monday night due to excitement, showing up to the practice facility three-to-four hours early Tuesday, doled out a pass from the elbow to the perimeter with precision and showed good finesse around the rim while partnering up well with Jonas Jerebko during pass-and-shoot drills.
"It was good, I'm just glad to be out here," Brown said. "I'm learning a lot, a lot of different things today. It's exciting, you know first day of practice it's a new journey. I'm happy to be here and I'm having a good time."
A frequent topic of conversation was the iPads the team hands out so players can take a look at plays. Each player is distributed one of the tablets and it is frequently updated with plays and schemes for them to study.
"Probably just as much time as I spend at the gym, probably twice as much," Brown said when asked how much time he'll spend going through the iPad. "Understanding the game and just trying to speed up that learning curve. Everybody plays the game differently so just trying to speed up my learning curve and learn as much as possible so I can be ready.
"I'm looking forward to the new challenge but I know it's going to take time, but that's a very important thing is speeding up my learning curve."
Brown added that it is similar to being at school and that Stevens is like the professor.
Having been through multiple camps before and already having an established rapport across the league, the big thing for Al Horford was working on learning the plays and the system.
"It was a little different, just starting to get used to some of our concepts, getting familiar with the offensive system, but a lot of energy, a lot of positive energy," Horford said. "Guys were ready to go from the beginning."
Other practice notes
— Though playing non-contact, Kelly Olynyk (who is still nursing a shoulder injury) looked confident both shooting and playing around the rim. He had no issues finishing dunks with authority but also stepped back and drained multiple 3-pointers.
— Players and Stevens alike noted that the initial drills were to be done at roughly 40 percent, but ended up being performed a much higher intensity. Isaiah Thomas said that if that was 40percent he was interested to see what 100 percent would be like. Stevens jokingly brushed it off as a misjudgment of what was and was not 40 percent.
WALTHAM — The Celtics had about 90 minutes to get a feel for each other, with their first of two practice sessions Tuesday. There was little impact, and "a lot of five-on-zero" said head coach Brad Stevens in describing the morning's events.
Jaylen Brown, who admitted he got little sleep Monday night due to excitement, showing up to the practice facility three-to-four hours early Tuesday, doled out pass from the elbow to the perimeter with precision and showed good finesse around the rim while partnering up well with Jonas Jerebko during pass-and-shoot drills.
"It was good, I'm just glad to be out here," Brown said. "I'm learning a lot, a lot of different things today. It's exciting, you know first day of practice it's a new journey. I'm happy to be here and I'm having a good time."
A frequent topic of conversation was the iPads the team hands out so players can take a look at plays. Each player is distributed one of the tablets, which are frequently updated with plays and schemes for them to study.
"Probably just as much time as I spend at the gym, probably twice as much," Brown said when asked how much time he'll spend going through the iPad. "Understanding the game and just trying to speed up that learning curve. Everybody plays the game differently so just trying to speed up my learning curve and learn as much as possible so I can be ready.
"I'm looking forward to the new challenge but I know it's going to take time, but that's a very important thing is speeding up my learning curve."
Brown added that it is similar to being at school and that Stevens is like the professor.
Having been through multiple camps before and already having an established rapport across the league, the big thing for Al Horford was working on learning the plays and the system.
"It was a little different, just starting to get used to some of our concepts, getting familiar with the offensive system, but a lot of energy, a lot of positive energy," Horford said. "Guys were ready to go from the beginning."
— Though playing non-contact, Kelly Olynyk, who is still nursing a shoulder injury, looked confident both shooting and playing around the rim. He had no issues finishing dunks with authority but also stepped back and drained multiple 3-pointers.
— Players and Stevens alike noted that the initial drills were to be done at roughly 40 percent, but everyone elected to go at a much higher intensity. Isaiah Thomas said that if that was 40 percent, he was interested to see what 100 percent would be like. Stevens jokingly brushed it off as a misjudgment of what was and was not 40 percent.
When Gerald Green took part in his first professional Media Day, he was fresh out of high school in Houston, 19-years-old and a member of the Celtics. He was once again a member of the Celtics when he took the podium Monday, much different than the kid who took the podium 11 years ago.
"I was fresh out of high school so I didn't really know any better," said Green. "Now, this is my 12th season professionally so I'm very mature now. I still got a lot in the tank. Legs feel good, everything feels good about myself. I feel like I've learned so much about myself. I feel like I'm way better defensive player. I know I'm a way better defensive player than when I first came here. I know all the schemes and terminology. I just can't wait for [camp to begin]."
Green exited Boston as part of the trade that brought Kevin Garnett to Boston after his second professional season. Since his departure, he's become the epitome of a journeyman, playing for seven NBA different teams, along with a two-year stint in Russia.
"It's a great feeling to be back. I've been telling everyone since I've been back that I never really had hard feelings. Shoot, I would trade myself for Kevin Garnett, too," he said. "There's never been any hard feelings at all. I don't think I left on bad terms. For me to be back here to be playing for the city that has drafted me after all these years, after all of the years that I've learned, it's good to finally be back."
The stint in Russia vtook a toll on Green. While the situation geographically was not ideal, it was further affirmation that he was an NBA player, not someone with NBA experience that should be buried overseas.
Since his time in Russia, he has been a serviceable contributor, averaging 11.4 points per game with a 42.1 percent field goal percentage since coming back to the States in 2011.
Not only did he return as a more experienced player, but also as a changed teammate.
"You know, when I was in Russia in the freezing cold, eating soup, not really eating right because I didn't like the food out there. There was a point where I felt like I was an NBA player. I didn't want to be out there anymore. I didn't want to play overseas or play in Europe. I wanted to be an NBA player. It was something I had to change for myself," he said.
"I always used to sit here and point the finger at what everyone else was doing. At that point, I just told myself, 'What could I do to change? What could I do to change myself? What could I do to change off the court and on the court to be a better basketball player?' That's what I tried to do. It worked out for me. I got a 10-day call up in New Jersey and I haven't looked back since."
Aside from being the team that drafted him, there was a lot going for Boston when Green decided to make a return. His kids still live in the area, and since playing together in Phoenix, he's been close with Isaiah Thomas. With a few other teams showing interest in the swingman, however, the close contact with Thomas and his family was enough to coax the veteran back to where his journey began.
"There were a few other teams, but not too many. There were a few other teams I could have decided to go to, but like I said, with my kids being here, [Thomas] being here, great coaching staff, I've already been here before, the odds were way more for going to Boston so that's the way I went."
He added when asked about Thomas' impact, "Me and Isaiah always talk. We talked in the summer time. I go to his camps that he has in Seattle. I wasn't able to go this past summer because of playoffs but we actively talk all the time. During free agency, I remember Danny gave my agent a call and said, 'Hey, we might be interested in you.' Then I talked to Isaiah and said, 'Hey, what's up? I might be going to Boston.' He was like, 'Man, you need to come here.' I was like, 'Let's make it happen,' so we made it happen."
Green has made his living as a swingman that can score off the bench — and all things considered, he should be able to fill that role this season. But he is still in a bit of a limbo that goes with the territory of being a veteran journeyman who's on a team-friendly deal. There is no set role for him entering camp, and as seasoned of a player as he is, he knows it's about being professional at this point.
"Obviously they told me a lot of scoring. Somebody that can score off the bench. Somebody who can fill the need of athleticism," he said when asked about what he's been asked to provide.
"I'm a veteran player so what I'm going to do is be professional. Whatever role they give me, I'm going to do it. If it's starting one night, coming off the bench one night, not playing another night, whatever it is, I'm going to be a professional about it. I'm going to make sure these young guys get their work in like how I was when I was young. I'm just going to make sure this team has got it together and are ready for this battle that we're going to have to go through. It's an 82-game battle before we get to the war."
Terry Rozier appears to be ready to take on a larger role with the Celtics this season. The confident young point guard is coming into his own, and his teammates have noticed the strides he's made throughout the offseason.
Rozier points to the playoff opportunity he received against the Hawks last year as a catalyst to his newfound confidence. He played five games, averaging 4.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 19.8 minutes. It was the kind of experience Rozier — as a rookie — believes he needed.
"I feel that anytime a rookie can get on the floor and play in the playoffs, it feels like a boost going into the next season. So that definitely played a big factor," Rozier said at Monday's media day. "I'm just excited for next season.
[I'm] just mainly more comfortable out there. I know that myself, if I'm comfortable playing this game that I love, then I'll be fine. I can just about play with anybody. So just slowing my mind down and just being comfortable out there and just relax and play."
One teammate who has noticed Rozier's great offseason is Marcus Smart. When he was asked about the team's vacant sixth man role, Smart mentioned Rozier as one of the lead reserves the Celtics have coming off their bench.
"With the absence of Evan, he's going to be missed here. The things he brought to the team, he created his own jump shot. He created for others," Smart said. "Everybody else understands the role that he left us with and we have to step up as a team, I have to step up as an individual, but this team has to step up. And there's a lot of players. We've got guys coming off the bench like Terry Rozier, who's been real good in the offseason. And as you guys saw in the summer league, he's been playing his butt off."
Even Al Horford — who has only played with Rozier for a month — is impressed with the strides Rozier has made. In talking about the Celtics' young players, Horford singled out the second-year guard as one of his teammates who improved their game from last season.
"There's a lot of the younger guys who were very, very athletic," Horford told reporters Monday. "Guys that have definitely gotten better — Jae Crowder came in and played with us one day and his 3-point shot has gotten better. That was good to see. I was encouraged by Terry as well. He's looked good all month. It just excited me to see that a lot of these guys are making progress in their game."
WALTHAM — The Celtics have a wealth of riches in the backcourt.
Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley come into camp as the two players projected to be the starting backcourt, with Terry Rozier and Demetrius Jackson in the wings.
Then there's Marcus Smart. The 22-year-old point guard in his third year out of Oklahoma State could be in store for a breakout season.
One reason the Celtics let Evan Turner leave for greener pastures in Portland is because they think they have the perfect sixth man candidate to step in and take his place. It would appear Smart will get a chance to fill that role early on in the season.
Along with teammate Avery Bradley, he is considered one of the best and most physical perimeter defenders in the East. He has also shown the ability to handle bigger bodies in the low post (like when he was called on to slow down Atlanta's Paul Millsap in Games 3 and 4.)
This could be the year Smart takes that next step. But as it stands now, he'll still likely be doing it as the first man off Brad Stevens' bench. And that's OK with him.
"If that's what this team needs me to do, then that's the role I'll take," Smart said Monday during media day. "With the absence of Evan, he's going to be missed here. The things he brought to the team, he created his own jump shot. He created for others. Everybody else understands the role that he left us with and we have to step up as a team, I have step up as an individual, but this team has to step up. And there's a lot of players.
"We've got guys coming off the bench like Terry Rozier, who's been real good in the offseason. And as you guys saw in the Summer League, he's been playing his butt off. Everybody has to step up and everybody understands that."
Smart knows full well that to reach his full potential as a sixth man, he needs to work on his offense, in particular his shooting, something he repeated Monday during media day.
"My decision-making, coming off ball-screens, working to get into the lane and finishing. And as everybody knows, still working on my jump shot and becoming a more consistent shooter," Smart said. "As I get in the paint, different looks [coaches] have been thrown at me. Working with these coaches, they throw different looks. If a guy does this, make this read. This read is that read what this happens and things like that.
"It feels good to be back, to be around this organization, these players, this group of guys and this coaching staff. We've got us some new additions to the team, with Al and Gerald and those guys. It feels good to have them out there. I think I speak everybody when I say we're excited and I'm excited to get it started [Tuesday]."
With the key additions and the team relatively healthy coming into camp, Smart senses the heightened expectations.
"The goals for this team is: The sky is the limit. As long as we work hard and do what we're supposed to do and stay together, anything is possible is the words of the great KG," Smart said, channeling Kevin Garnett's spirited yell after Game 6 in 2008.
Smart insists that the Celtics are in position to challenge the defending champion Cavaliers.
"We're right there. We have the right pieces," Smart said. "Any team can be beat on any given night. We've just got to come out, as long as we believe in ourselves and stick together, anything is possible for this team."
Smart also believes there's a tremendous focus and sense of purpose, even with so many new faces. At just 22, Smart is in a position where he can start to take some leadership of the team, even with the likes of Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley and Al Horford on board.
"First off, this team understands and knows, and we've been talking about it, this is a new season," Smart said. "We haven't done anything yet. We've got to continue to stay hungry. When we start getting complacent and listening to the outside and everything and what everybody's projections say, and you start letting it creep in and you start letting things come in and interrupting what you're trying to do. Like I said, we have to stick together and keep our mindset right and stay hungry.
"Something that's unacceptable for this team is not sticking together, allowing distractions to get in and interrupt what we're trying to do," Smart said. "That's what every team will tell you trying go for that banner, that next one. We have the right pieces to get it. The question is: Are we going to keep doing the right things from Day 1, from Game 1 to Game 79, 82 and into the playoffs. Are we going to continue to do the right things?"
WALTHAM — Brad Stevens knows there's a ton of work to be done between now and the beginning of April.
That's why he laughs when he's asked about what his expectations are for making the playoffs and advancing this season.
Entering his fourth season, Stevens has taken his team from 25 to 40 to 48 wins and playoff berths in each of the last two seasons. The natural assumption, with the additions of free agents Al Horford and Gerald Green and first rounder Jaylen Brown, is that a 50-win season with a deep playoff run is in store.
Then the Celtics coach, on media day on Monday, reminded everyone of what he told his team before the media session began.
"See, I'm a basketball coach so I don't really – I know certainly I want to do my job as well as I can to make sure that we are improving every day and are striving for that ultimate objective. We have a long way to go to be considering talking about any of that stuff.
"And to be quite frank as I told our team real briefly before we walked out here, there was not a lot of room between finishing tenth and second last year in the East. Ultimately we want to be the best, we want to be among those considered the best. There's a lot of hard work ahead of us, and it's day by day. I don't feel any more pressure from what ultimately happens. I'm making sure that practice tomorrow is structured right."
To Stevens' point, the Celtics finished tied with the Hornets, Hawks and Heat with 48 wins. The ninth place team were the Bulls with 42 wins and the tenth-place Wizards won 40. The 40 wins would've been good enough for seventh seed two seasons ago, the spot the Celtics found themselves in. But not last year. And the East is quickly improving.
"My expectations never change," Stevens said. "It's all about getting tomorrow and making sure we're as good as we can be. It's a very simple, boring process but it's the way that I go about it. And I think that the results take care of themselves."
What would be a successful season?
"Being better the next day. That's my perspective," Stevens said in his best Bill Belichick tone. "The one thing I've been asked about – last week I got asked about a number of wins goal, I got asked about a playoff goal or a playoff rounds goal or whatever the case may be – right when you define something as success and you reach it, you don't go any further. You set the limit for your team.
"And I'm certainly not into setting ceilings. And I think that's why you focus on what you can do and try to put your best foot forward. And go into that next game, and if you do that you can win the game. And that's my job."
Was last season a success?
"We got better. But I think there are things we can hopefully continue to improve. For me it's about continuing what we're trying to improve."
Speaking of Belichick, the Patriots coach praised him on Sunday. A day later, Stevens said his conversation with the Patriots coach was enlightening on several levels.
"I think that coaches – and I've said this when Pop [Gregg Popovich] said stuff, I think they're really nice when asked. I haven't taught any of those guys anything. I think the reality is that I really enjoy being around high achievers, people that strive for continuous growth and are always challenged to meet the next challenge," Stevens said. "And I think that whether it's in coaching or whether it's in business or higher education, whatever the case may be, those type of people inspire me. So I will eat up whatever they're telling me. And I certainly appreciate Bill's willingness to open his doors to me and let me learn from him, as others, and I've gotten a chance to be better by being around."
Will all that knowledge add up to Stevens leading his team deep in the playoffs this season?
"So, again, you're talking about success in different terms than I think about that," Stevens said. "And I know you have to talk about it, and ultimately I think it's easy to talk about in terms of objective numbers. I understand that. I understand the desire to write about it or argue about it, whatever the case may be.
"But it's not where I am. We have to work on getting good for practice tomorrow so we do it right so that we can start to build to have a chance to even be in that discussion. I mean, at the end of the day it's hard to make the playoffs and it's hard to be good against the best teams. It's hard to be good against every team in this league. Every team is capable of playing exceptional basketball on a given night. That's why you have to prepare to do so as much as you can."
WALTHAM — Isaiah Thomas has been in the NBA long enough to know just how important health and conditioning is during the offseason. At Monday's media day, he told reporters how the changes he's made will make him a better player this year.
Entering his sixth season, Thomas sounded like a seasoned veteran in discussing the changes he's made in his eating habits and sleeping pattern as he aims to extend his career to the age of 40.
"I changed my diet," Thomas said. "I hired a personal chef back home, and I'm eating vegetables for the first time since when my dad used to make me. I eliminated fast food. You guys have heard it before — I want to play until I'm 40, and I know it starts with little things like that. Last week I got in contact with Dr. Z [Charles Czeisler] over there at Harvard, the 'Sleep Doctor.' I'm trying to learn how to sleep longer and sleep more. Not only am I going to eat healthier, I'm going to get a lot of sleep. Instead of watching TV and playing video games, I have to learn to get more sleep. That will help me be a better basketball player. Those are the little things I am trying to figure out. The older I get, the more I'm trying to figure those little things out to be a better basketball player. It's not all on the court."
Thomas also admitted that he's still bitter over last year's first-round playoff exit against the Hawks. He explained how he's never given so much effort on the basketball court like he did in the playoffs, and that he's using last season as motivation heading into the 2016-17 season.
"Whole offseason that's all I thought about," Thomas said. "Losing that series left a bad taste in all of our mouths. We want to get past that first round. I do, I know that. I want to go further. We have a good team, and people to make that happen. Last season hurt me especially because that's the first time I can say I gave everything I had. I had no more left in me, and that's why I hurt so much. Having everybody back for another year, we're looking for bigger and better things. What that may be we don't know, but hopefully we can jell faster than we did last year with the additions we have on this team."
Despite the Celtics being bounced out of the playoffs in back-to-back appearances, Thomas believes the C's are good enough to compete against the best teams in the league. And he is confident his team can reach new heights this season.
"We're not that far away — not a championship, we're not that close — but we know we can compete with everyone in this league, whether it's Cleveland or Golden State," Thomas stated. "Those top teams. We know we're right there. We just have to put it all together. We know we're a special group. There's a lot of anticipation and expectations, but we're not worried about that. We're worried about things we can control. We have to be ourselves, whatever is your role do it at the highest possible level. We have a great group of guys."
Entering his third season with the Celtics, Thomas is very familiar with the city's passion for hard work and knows that one's effort can go a long way when you're playing for the C's.
"Once you put on that Celtics uniform you know people aren't satisfied with getting to the first round or whatever. They've seen greatness," Thomas explained. "They have all those championships for a reason. Once you come on this practice court or go play in the Garden, if you play every game like it's your last, then people in this city and community are going to love you."
WALTHAM — All the Celtics of recent memory have heard is that they're just missing "that" piece. There's no exact definition of what that piece is, but there is belief that Al Horford is said piece.
He can run the floor, play defense in the low post, step out and shoot 3-pointers, play strong around the rim and grab rebounds in the process — nearly all things the C's needed to address this offseason. And while his addition came at the cost of $113 million over four seasons, it appears that if he continues the trend that has defined a successful nine-year career, he will help the Celtics take another step forward.
"He's going to open the floor for everybody," said Avery Bradley during the Celtics' Media Day on Monday. "He's a great player on the offensive end, defensive end. He knows how to play the game of basketball. To have him be a part of this team, I'm just happy about it."
Added Celtics president Danny Ainge (who was exceptionally giddy throughout his press conference), "As much as anything he's been very consistent over his career. Shooting the ball, playing multiple positions. He's a guy that fits in with our system with big guys handling the ball a lot."
With the hefty contract he's signed, and the track record he's had in his career, the 30-year-old Dominican is being fancied as the shepherd to take the Celtics to the promise land.
And while it may be steep to put that all on Horford — especially on a team-centric squad like the Celtics — his all-around skill should fit into the Celtics' system.
"We're not asking Al to be anything more than him," said head coach Brad Stevens. "He's a good fit for how we play on offense. He's a good fit for how we play on defense. He's a professional. He has a routine. He works hard at his craft. He's a guy that guys can follow by example."
The decision to come to Boston started even before the free agency period for Horford. In fact, it came well before this season even ended.
"Even though I was with Atlanta last year and we beat the Celtics in the playoffs, I was very impressed with how hard the guys played, and how good the team could be under Coach Stevens," Horford said. "What I saw, it just really intrigued me.
"In the free agency process — at beginning I would say I was really comfortable with Atlanta. As time went on and I met with the Celtics, it just became real to me. Looking at my career, going into my 10th year, I wanted to be able to be a part of something special and win a championship. And with the type of guys that we have, we have that opportunity."
Horford noted that the banners hanging amongst the rafters at the TD Garden have always been overwhelming, even since he was a rookie. Tucked away in the corner of the Celtics' practice facility in Waltham, Horford sat along the 17 banners that preceded, while each scoreboard and shot clock illuminated with the number 18.
Leading up to this moment, however, he could tell something was different even during the postseason. While fans nearly booed Dennis Schroeder out of Atlanta for a spat with Isaiah Thomas, the same people were surprisingly benevolent with the arguably then-Hawks' most valuable player.
That was for a good reason.
"The fans here, they can get pretty intense," Horford said. "But I did notice that the fans would say, 'You're going to be here next year', things like that. I did notice that people weren't coming at me like in the past. It's a very smart fanbase and they were kind of aware of the possibility, so they caught me a break."
In the meantime, Horford is just going to get going Tuesday, see how he fits in and not try and build Rome in a day.
"We have some great leaders here already," Horford said. "I want to be able to help our team grow, get acclimated as fast as I can, and just help us be a better team. I want us to grow. I took a chance on coming here, and I believe in the guys we have here, the organization, and the potential that there is here."
Danny Ainge on Paul Pierce's last season "I'll believe it when I see it" pic.twitter.com/aSOv8WowE1
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) September 26, 2016
WALTHAM — Danny Ainge had the chance to pay tribute to a pair of all-time greats that combined to bring home one title to Boston and nearly another.
Hours before Monday's media day in Waltham, 38-year-old Paul Pierce announced that this season would be his last in the NBA after 19 seasons.
"Well, first of all, I think Paul could play for a few more years, but I'll believe it when I see it," the Celtics president of basketball operations said. "Paul loves the game. He loves basketball and I think that it's hard to see him walking away. I know there will come a time when he will. He's one of the great Celtics of all-time, he's a great competitor.
"The thing that stands out more to me than anything about Paul — after all the great shots and great plays and everything else he did here — was just watching him, sitting right outside my office, seeing him come in at midnight and work on his game, work on his conditioning. He really loved the game and took it very seriously."
Ainge was also asked about Kevin Garnett, who announced his retirement last week.
"I think I said in a statement that KG had as big an impact as anybody that I've been around in an organization," Ainge said. "I think the thing that stands out the most to me about KG is just his team-first mentality. He never wanted it to be about KG. He never wanted his individual success to trump team success. He lived that in his day-to-day practice, and that's something that I'll remember about him."
Will the numbers 34 and 5 wind up in the rafters?
"That's for future discussion," Ainge said. "I won't answer that yet because we haven't really discussed it internally. That's a decision that Wyc and Rich will ultimately make. You guys know the answers to those anyway. We'll just let the other people make those decisions, make those calls."


text:
Reverend Jesse Jackson was present, serving as a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, when Martin Luther King was shot and killed in Memphis, Tenn.
This Tuesday, 43 years later, Jackson will take part in a celebration of King's life and work with an appearance and lecture at Millersville University.
Jackson, the president and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, has long championed the advancement of progressive causes, such as various equal rights and peace movements. In addition to his highly visible public profile in the United States, Jackson has also been active in international events, including negotiating the release of captives held by the Syrian, Cuban and Iraqi governments.
The topic of Jackson's speech will be "With Justice for All: Human Rights and Civil Rights at Home and Abroad."
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE: Marauder Court, Student Memorial Center, 1 S. George St., Millersville
COST: Free
INFO: 717-872-3090 or www.millersville.edu/calendar


text:
small breast support group - (I need it even if they don't)
Mar 30 2008, 04:40 PM
Post #3581
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 714
Oh, and I personally detest the bra store clerks, no offense to anyone here who may be one or knows one. If they are a B-Cup or larger, they just. Don't. Get it.
Mar 30 2008, 04:39 PM
Post #3582
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 714
This is a funny thread, one that makes me chuckle at my own silliness...
There was the time I checked myself out naked in a mirror, seated on the floor, and I realized I did indeed have that under-breast crease when I was slouched down! Even then, I pass the pencil test, though! Ha.
And just what is up with that pencil test? I read about that as a teen, not realizing it was kind of a joke, and actually tried it--I let go of pencil, it went crashing down. Was the pencil supposed to magically suspend itself under my practically nonexistent breasts?
Mar 30 2008, 04:09 PM
Post #3583
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 1,011
From: back home
Vendetta, I know what you mean about putting your shoulders back. That's what I always believed, and why I slouched so much. But I've realized that even though while standing up straight, the breast tissue does get more spread out, making them look smaller, they still somehow look better, maybe because the person on the whole looks better, and more confident? And also because the breasts, no matter how small, stick out a bit more. I was afraid to stand up straight for the longest time, but, you know... fuck that.
Mar 30 2008, 05:53 AM
Post #3584
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 182
The sales girl also told me to go to the sport store to look for training bras...
Well, about posture, I realise that when I put my shoulders back, my breasts just disappear.I am left with two nipple rings hanging from my ribcage lol so that doesn't work for me...
I miss my old me.
Mar 29 2008, 05:45 PM
Post #3585
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 714
"if we were all happy with ourselves, there would be less fixing (aka money spending) going on."
EXACTLY! The people who "fix"--plastic surgeons, for example--make out like bandits and we buy right into it (pun intended).
I agree on finding bras in the teen girls section. That's typically where I buy mine.
Oh, and a tip I wanted to share with you all--I just bought a bikini bathing suit online from Venus.com. Their "enhancer triangle bra" bikini top in an A fit me well, and was nicely padded--More padding than I typically go for, but surprisingly natural looking. Makes me look like I really have a B cup, without that obvious "I AM WEARING PADDING!" look. (As for the bottoms, do measure yourself and order according to their size chart, not what you normally wear. I ordered a bottom about 3 number sizes below my usual size, and it fits perfectly.)
Mar 29 2008, 03:00 PM
Post #3586
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 622
From: Deep South, U.S.A.
I've had similar bad experiences.
When I was being measured for my ballgown, the women measured my breasts three times because they were sure that they had made a mistake. They thought that no one could possibly have a bust that small (less than 30"). According to my measurements, I would be a 30AA, so good luck to me finding that. I ordered a petite version made to my measurements, but they can only cut the bust down to a certain degree (the bodice was entirely beaded) so when I received the dress, it still gaped at the chest. The boutique had a little old lady who did the alterations. When she saw me the first thing she said was "You need boobs." then she left the room to return with two full cup size bra pads, and shoved both INSIDE my bustier. So as though the rest were not humiliating enough, I got felt up by a grumpy little old lady.
Also, a note on lingerie salesladies. I know a girl who worked at Victorias Secret as a "trained fitting expert" and she knew nothing. She attended a half hour vidoetape and then just made it up as she went along. I would guess that the majority of girls working there are the same, they just don't care.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/crinolinecreations Handmade accessories for the SuperCute!
Mar 29 2008, 12:06 PM
Post #3587
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 819
From: detroit rock city
vendetta: i may have posted this in here before, but i had a similar experience my senior year of high school. i went in for a fitting of my dream prom dress, only to have the lady respond to me with disappointment and two shoulder pads per boob. i was like, are you kidding me? i was seventeen with small boobs, i didnt want to show up at my prom with padding that equaled up to a b or c cup. the experience itself was humiliating, but could you imagine how obvious that would have been had i kept the dress? it's like she didnt even care.
edie: awesome point. varying sizes of boobies are normal. horrible that we're made to feel like we've got to be something other than what we are.. but then that's the influence of the media for you. if we were all happy with ourselves, there would be less fixing (aka money spending) going on. bs. stand tall, stand proud.
We adore chaos because we love to produce order.
- M.C. Escher
Mar 29 2008, 11:48 AM
Post #3588
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 1,011
From: back home
Vendetta, sounds to me like those women were quite rude and insensitive. I've had similar experiences; I was even sent to the teen section when I asked for AA bras. It can be humiliating, but hold your head up high. And A is NOT an uncommon size. In my experience A through D cups are all common, both on women and at lingerie stores. Outside of those sizes it's harder (my quest for AA ended when I was pointed towards the training bras).
I usually don't wear an A cup either, only when my boobs are a little PMS-y, and even then I only buy ones that are made a bit smaller. If you have H&M where you are definitely try them. Calvin Klein bras are sometimes made small too. Some great websites were posted here, too. But I still don't have much experience buying bras- especially not "real" ones. It was only last year that I realized I could wear a real, underwire bra. I was excited at first, but I realized they're pretty uncomfortable when you're not used to it and don't really need it. Still, as silly as it is, I felt validated being able to walk into a lingerie store and request a size that they would actually have.
So, I've been walking around naked a lot recently (roomies were out of town), and I realized how truly important posture is. My posture is notoriously bad, so I'm not trying to lecture, and I know we've heard it all before, but damn. When I was in high school I slouched way down, on purpose even. For one thing, I was 5'10" by the time I was 14. An even bigger reason, though, was that a friend of mine, who also had really small breasts, had this trademark slouch. I thought it made her boobs look bigger because it made her shirt fold underneath them and gave her a bit of an "underboob." And boys liked her (but probably more because she was pretty and blond and had a nice ass!). So I copied her. I've since realized it was dumb, but I only truly realized how much posture matters in my walking around naked. When I stand up straight the little breast tissue I have stands up and out on my ribcage, and my nipples point to the sky! Not to mention the tummy naturally tucks in, and even your face looks so much better when the head is high and neck elongated. It's yet another thing that I'm making a conscious effort to change. Not only for looks, but health and confidence also.
Mar 29 2008, 07:16 AM
Post #3589
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 182
There is no such thing as petite shops around here and my quest for A cups ended here, as I went to ALL lingerie stores and only found ONE A cup bra. The look on the face of the seller when she came into the fitting room and saw the bra on me... priceless. I told her before I thought that was too big and she looked at my chest and said "no, it's fine". I laughed and replied that what she was seeing was not my real chest. It all ended with them giving me the most padded B-Cup bras on store saying something to each other like "but she has nothing, it has to have padding" and explaining to me that the padding was going to give me some shape and so on... So I haven't even tried them all and when they asked from outside how was it going I just said... There's way too much tissue on these and got out of there.
I put on some weight. Now I've got a big ass, big hips and thighs and a bigger belly than chest. Argh.
Mar 29 2008, 12:38 AM
Post #3590
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 460
From: the galatic center
(ETA: sorry to barge in on the discussion)
Hello small breast busties,
I haven't read the latest posts, I will, but I wanted to say that the last time I posted I hadn't read the full posts of what was expressed and because of that I went on my tirade about small breasted women being sexy, when really, I think it was out of context. You girls KNOW that already, but insecurities come up and that is what this thread is for. I was at work and there were some pictures posted that were not work appropriate so I didn't read them, and I posted from work, ignorant.
I still have (eta: 2% of the time) insecurities but (eta: when I have them) I pretend NOT. Edited to add: I still will not be posting too much around here, I just wanted to let express myself b/c I had misunderstood what folks around here were posting.
You all rock.
(Continue with discussion)
Earth: A Satanically ran planet where 98% of it's inhabitants are unquestioning, conformist idiots who are totally controlled and manipulated by the Satanic governments of the world and have been made complacent by said governments, through rigorous brainwashing.
Mar 28 2008, 11:35 AM
Post #3591
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 431
From: the depths of my soul
yeah, karategrrl is right. sometimes i put on an A cup and i'm like, 'are you freakin' kidding me?' i really think you should go to a specialty/petite shop. and sometimes i'm a AA and other times i'm an A, i try not to obsess about the arbitrary number/letter assigment of my breasts and focus on the breasts themselves.
"To lose everything at the edge of such a glorious eternity is far sweeter than to win by plodding through a cautious, painless, and featureless life."
Mar 28 2008, 11:25 AM
Post #3592
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 714
Don't feel bad, Vendetta. In my experience, bra sizes vary as much as women's clothing sizes. In my experience, MOST A-cups have no business being labeled as such. I think it really depends on the manufacturer.
Mar 27 2008, 07:52 PM
Post #3593
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 182
So today i've found an "only child" A cup at Dim. I tried it on. It didn't fit, it was too big. So I guess I'm not even an A cup. I knew there was a reason that I had never tried to find that out. Well, then I guess I don't need a bra. Maybe that's a good thing. Or not.
Mar 27 2008, 07:52 PM
Post #3594
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 182
So today i've found an "only child" A cup at Dim. I tried it on. It didn't fit, it was too big. So I guess I'm not even an A cup. I knew there was a reason that I had never tried to find that out. Well, then I guess I don't need a bra. Maybe that's a good thing. Or not.
Mar 27 2008, 05:54 PM
Post #3595
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 366
I dont hold it against them, i hold it against me.
on the subject of young girls' body image- mad
Mar 27 2008, 05:50 AM
Post #3596
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 182
Yap.. all my younger cousins have bigger boobs than me and I even have this 16 year old who has those awesome knockers. I was the last girl on my school class to develop boobs and well, they never really developed. I just know that at some point girls stopped talking about it, maybe because the late bloomer never grew anything. But at that time I just didn't care, I was so into boy stuff and music, I really never cared about girl stuff until late. But I do remember stuffing my bras and starting wearing padding at like 17 years old and I'm sure I did that unconsciously because I never thought at that time "shit I don't have boobs". At 23 years old, it was like someone turned on some button that has been off almost my entire life. At least, I've been pretty happy about it longer than the majority. I guess that's a good thing.
Mar 26 2008, 02:40 PM
Post #3597
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 873
Personally, I'm happy to offer the body-image support I didn't have at that stage of life. Not to mention it gives me hope to know that there are younger ones out there who look deep enough inside for support as they are, rather than turning to surgery and other unhealthy methods to find "satisfaction" with themselves, which I think is the media message we are shoveling to people at a younger and younger age all the time.
Hear, hear!
Mar 26 2008, 12:04 PM
Post #3598
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 714
i take comfort in the fact that while they may have the 'womanly' body, i have the 'womanly' experience!
This is true. I was just thinking this morning how hard it was as a teen--I was trying so hard to fit in and didn't have the boldness to do so many things I don't even blink at doing now. Nothing against the younger ladies, though--they have their evolving to do, just as we all do at each stage of life.
Hope everyone knows I was joking with my last post. To all the younger lovelies on the board, we are all so happy to have you here. Personally, I'm happy to offer the body-image support I didn't have at that stage of life. Not to mention it gives me hope to know that there are younger ones out there who look deep enough inside for support as they are, rather than turning to surgery and other unhealthy methods to find "satisfaction" with themselves, which I think is the media message we are shoveling to people at a younger and younger age all the time.
Mar 26 2008, 09:57 AM
Post #3599
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 431
From: the depths of my soul
i try not to hold it against those girls (like my cousins, who are 15 and both much bigger than me although they complain) because i think every girl that age is disastisfied with her body. plus, they are under the same pressure and media inundation as we are. but still, it IS very annoying. i take comfort in the fact that while they may have the 'womanly' body, i have the 'womanly' experience!
"To lose everything at the edge of such a glorious eternity is far sweeter than to win by plodding through a cautious, painless, and featureless life."
Mar 25 2008, 02:43 PM
Post #3600
Hardcore BUSTie
Posts: 714
theres something about the fact that there are children around looking more womanly than me that makes me feel embarassed. Its a bit of a strong word but I find it a little humiliating
And annoying! the little buggers all complain that they are "small," too. Harumph! Damn kids...
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THOSE MYSTERY BOOMSJanuary 28th, 2014 at 8:46 pm by Kevin Orpurt under Kevin Orpurt's Blog, Uncategorized
I've been getting several reports lately about people hearing loud, mysterious booms. There is no apparent source and the booms are strong enough and loud enough to shake houses, rattle windows, upset animals and create overall confusion. Many of the reports I've had are from southeast Illinois. Lawrence County, Richland County and Crawford County have been among the most frequent reporting locations. There are two aspects of these booms that are of interest. The first is that they are being heard all over the globe, and the second is that NOBODY seems to know what is causing them.
One name given to these booms is, "Seneca Guns". It's a word first used to describe them in a short story written by James Fennimore Cooper in the 1800s. Yes, these booms have been heard for more than a century and probably longer.
Some scientists believe they might be caused by shallow earthquakes that are too weak to be registered on seismographs. Others think the booms may have an atmospheric origin similar to thunder, but the sounds have been heard when no clouds or storms are around. Some speculate they might be caused by meteors entering the atmosphere, but a meteor big enough to cause a boom would likely be large enough to be seen. There is a faction that believes that the booms are being caused by cloaked UFOs or secret military aircraft. It is true that some of these booms have been admittidley caused by the military, but those are few and far between. One interesting point is that similar booms were reportedly heard in the months prior to the Great New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-1812.
So, the question remains whether these booms come from the earth, the sky or some other unknown source. The bottom line is that they are heard all over the globe, have been heard for a long time and nobody knows where they come from. The booms, for now, remain a true mystery.
If you've experience these booms, I'd like to know about it. Let me know when and where and also what you think might be going on. Perhaps together we can find an answer. Contact me at: firstname.lastname@example.com


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As a newspaper photographer, I've had the pleasure to cover several New Jersey Special Olympics Summer Games. These events are true demonstrations of what sports should be about.
About 3,000 athletes from more than 100 countries will compete in seven Olympic-type winter sports - alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and speed skating, from February 7 to13,. Twenty-four of these athletes will be from the Garden State.
Held in the mountains of Boise, McCall and Sun Valley, Idaho, the 2009 World Games are expected to be the largest World Winter Games in the history of the movement.
I should have photos and biographies of each of the New Jersey athletes soon. I'm also working on arrangements to get results, stories and photos onto the blog as the action happens.
For now, here is a list of the athletes, their sport, age and hometown.
Sal Cangialosi, 25, Green Brook
Patricia Michaels, 33, Scotch Plains
Junichi Kusakawa, 23, West Windsor
Ann Marie Lammerding, 33, Hamilton
Rebecca Scheick, 18, Ewing
Kristen Clark, 31, Bernardsville
Suzanne Comi, 31, Berkeley Heights
Ryan O'Rourke, 20, Newton
Michael Dellaira, 19, Wrightstown
Brian Eitzen, 31, Williamstown
David Fountain, 19, Medford
Na-een Fuller, 19, Lawnside
Peter Harmon, 20, Willingboro
Deshand Jackson, 21, Camden
Leslie King, Jr., 22, Willingboro
Kevin McCormac, 24, Eastampton
Chris McCormac, 29, Eastampton
Steven Rodenbeck, 25, Marlton
Paul Rodenbeck, 30, Marlton
Sean Silver, 35, Sewell
Derrick Spicer, 19, Robbinsville
Christopher Thorpe, 24, Willingboro
Andrew Vanderpoel, 26, Mt. Holly
Brian Vasquez, 16, Pennsauken


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Central Michigan University kicker Andrew Aguila kicked three field goals -- including the game-winner from 42 yards out with three seconds left -- and hit a pair of extra points in the Chippewas' 29-27 win at Michigan State University.
Aguila also provided the onside kick that Bryan Anderson recovered, setting up the game-winning field goal.
That's the third time Aguila has earned the honor in his career. The kicker was recognized as one of three national Stars of the Week as recognized by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, the sponsor of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award.


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German tuning house, Prior Design have taken the BMW 1 series in hand to give it a new look. This wide body kit is being offered for the BMW 1 Series Coupe that upgrades the aesthetics of the vehicle to give it the 1M appearance.
The PDM1 aerodynamic kit is adapted for both coupe and convertible models and comes with front and rear bumpers, side skirts, front fenders and rear widening. This tuning kit is compatible with all 1 Series E82/88 models except the 1M Coupe. The aftermarket specialists have revealed that these kits are made of Dura Flex with add on parts made of PU-RIM. The kit is priced at €2,999 (US$4,000) with the A rear trunk spoiler coming in for an additional €299 (US$400) along with quad tailpipe exhaust system and choice of alloy wheels. The PDM-1 Widebody Aerodynamic Kit ensures additional speed.
For performance tuning, customers will have to opt for G Power or another BMW tuner due to the fact that prior Design does not take care of straight six with 340 bhp.


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CENTREVILLE, MI — St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wenzel has easily won the GOP primary on his way to another term in office.
He will be unopposed in the Nov. 6 election as no Democrat has filed.
On Tuesday, Wezel got 3,916 votes to challenger David Hassenger's 2,149 votes.
The candidates also faced each other four years ago, when Wenzel ousted Hassenger from the seat.Hassenger's eight-year role as drain commissioner ended in 2008 when he was defeated by Wenzel. Looking back on the 2008 vote, Hassenger said he did not campaign – not because he didn't take seriously Wenzel's candidacy, but because he's not a politician.
For years, the drain commissioner's position was a 28-hour-a-week post, but county commissioners a few months ago upped it to a 40-hour-a-week job and boosted the annual salary from about $33,000 to $47,500.
Wenzel, 52, is a 1978 graduate of Sturgis High School and earned a degree in accounting from Glen Oaks Community College.


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GB potential evapotranspiration dataset
A few weeks ago I wrote about a method to derive incoming solar radiation for different latitudes. This was to help a GIS Masters student who's looking to derive an equation for propwet that can be used to show the effects of catchment management changes. As an intermediate step the student also needed to calculate potential evapotranspiration. He did this on a catchment basis for Scotland. PE data is commercially available in the UK from the Met Office as part of their MORECS data.
Feeling inspired from my radiation success I've extended my previous efforts to calculate PE on a 5 km grid for Great Britain. I followed the methodology outlined by Kay and Davies, which only required temperature data (section 2.1.2) – extract below. To make life easier I followed the suggestion that sensible results can be obtained on a monthly aggregation. For temperature I downloaded the 1969-1999 long term average data available from the Met Office as part of their UKCIP09 assessment. This comes in a raster format, one grid for each month.
The early grid and centroid steps taken are as described on my external radiation post, beyond that I carried out the following operations in QGIS to prepare the data:
- Buffered an outline of the GB coast (vector/geoprocessing/buffer)
- Selected centroids only within the buffer (vector/data management tools/join by location) to ease the processing time
- Used the point sampling tool plugin to sample the 12 temperature raster layers and named the columns jan, feb, mar, etc.
- Converted the British National Grid projection to a WGS84 (right click layer, save as)
- Added lat/long data to the attribute table (vector/geometry tools/add geometry columns)
- Tidied up the table to have a column order of x,y,jan,feb,mar… etc. (table manager plugin)
- exported result as a csv file (right click layer, save as).
From this point I worked in R. I find the RStudio package very useful and do my code writing in RStudio or geany.
# import latitude lat_raw = as.matrix(read.csv("~/filepath/MO_grid_pts.csv",sep=",",header=1)) # strip null temp data lat_raw_na=na.omit(lat_raw) # prepare latitude lat_len = nrow(lat_raw_na) lat_rad = lat_raw_na[ ,2]/180*pi lat = matrix(lat_rad, nrow=lat_len, ncol=365) # matrix of days, row number from lat j = matrix(c(1:365), nrow=lat_len, ncol=365, byrow=1) # calculate extraterrestial radiation in Mj/m2/day sigma = .409*sin(.0172*j-1.39) ws = acos(-tan(lat)*tan(sigma)) dr = 1+.033*cos(.0172*j) Ra = 37.6*dr*(ws*sin(lat)*sin(sigma)+cos(lat)*cos(sigma)*sin(ws)) # mean Re by months jan = rowMeans(Ra[,1:31]) feb = rowMeans(Ra[,32:59]) mar = rowMeans(Ra[,60:90]) apr = rowMeans(Ra[,91:120]) may = rowMeans(Ra[,121:151]) jun = rowMeans(Ra[,152:181]) jul = rowMeans(Ra[,182:212]) aug = rowMeans(Ra[,213:243]) sep = rowMeans(Ra[,244:273]) oct = rowMeans(Ra[,274:304]) nov = rowMeans(Ra[,305:334]) dec = rowMeans(Ra[,335:365]) # Calculate mean daily PE by month lamda = 2450000 rhow = 1000 Re_Mj = cbind(jan, feb, mar, apr, may, jun, jul, aug, sep, oct, nov, dec) Re = Re_Mj*1000000 Ta = lat_raw_na[,3:14] x = Re/(lamda*rhow) y = (Ta+5)/100 PE_mday = x*y PE_mmday = PE_mday*1000 # Total PE per month days = matrix(c(31,28,31,30,31,30,31,31,30,31,30,31), nrow=lat_len, ncol=12, byrow=1) PE_mmmonth = PE_mmday*days # Total PE per year PE_ann = rowSums(PE_mmmonth) # add x,y columns PE_monthly = cbind(lat_raw_na[,1:2], PE_mmmonth) # output results write.csv(PE_monthly,"~/filepath/PE_monthly_sum.csv",row.names=FALSE)
If you spot a mistake – please let me know!
As a check I plotted up the monthly daily averages for a single location using this code:
# Send result to a png file png("~/filepath/PEyear.png",width=500,height=400) # adjust margins par(mar=c(5,5,2,2)+0.1) # margins: bottom, left, top and right plot(PE_mmday[1,], xlab="Month of year", ylab=expression(paste("Potential evapotranspiration (mm/day)")), type="l") dev.off()
Here is the output:
I also opened the monthly totals sheet in QGIS and plotted up July:
I'd be really interested to see how this compares to the Met Office MORECS data, so if anyone from the Met Office would like to do a comparison – please get in touch!
The data is available to download here.


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Ever heard the saying "if only I knew then what I know now I would have done things differently?" This is usually something you hear from a person who felt that they let an opportunity pass them by and that is the premise behind our Guide to Personal Solutions (GPS) program. GPS is a program designed for young adults in their 20s and 30s that is intended to help provide a solid foundation for their financial future.
GPS is an opportunity for young adults to meet with a financial professional and have them look at what they are doing (or not doing) and provide them with a blueprint as to what is going well and what potential changes need to be made. For a onetime payment of $399 we will spend 2 hours with you (and your spouse, if applicable) to
Our GPS program includes a review of:
- Current Savings and Spending Habits.
- Insurance Programs: Life, Disability, Health, Auto, Homeowners, etc…
- Mortgage
- Credit / Debt Profile
- Retirement Plan
- Income Taxes
The purpose of the program is to allow young people a chance to avoid the common mistakes that are typically made over the course of one's lifetime by educating them ahead of time as to what they should be doing. It gives them the opportunity to ask the questions they need answers to, get professional guidance as well as a qualified second opinion as to whether or not they are on the right road financially. At the conclusion of the meeting participants will receive a handy reference and resource guide to help them on their financial journey.
This program is affordably priced at $399 and can make a great gift for parents worried about their children's future, a family with children, newlyweds starting a life together, a college graduate just out of school or a grandparent wanting to assist a grandchild.
Contact us today to learn more about how our GPS program can help point you in the right direction! Click here to get started.


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Located on the tropical island of Phuket, surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the Andaman Sea, Phuket International Hospital is one of the largest private hospitals in the region and in partnership with the Phuket International Aesthetic Center, is the largest provider of plastic surgery on the island. Extensively remodeled in 2007, Phuket International Hospital offers sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic care with specialties in plastic surgery, aesthetics, general medicine and surgery.
Phuket International Hospital was founded in 1982 and was the first private hospital to open in the area. Phuket International Hospital treats thousands of patients each year and has undergone extensive reconstruction and remodeling during 2007. We now have the enviable reputation of providing high quality and cost efficient hospital services, coupled with the warmth and caring nature that only true Thai hospitality can provide.
Our in-patient accommodation offers you premier facilities ranging from tastefully decorated private rooms, VIP suites and our international ward. Our private rooms offer en-suite, phone, satellite television and balcony. All rooms are air-conditioned, have a bedside table for toiletries and a closet for personal belongings.
Additional information on Phuket International Hospital can be obtained from our website www.phuketinternationalhospital.com


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Back in 1968 when Andy Warhol predicted everyone would one day be "world-famous for 15 minutes," one-quarter of an hour hardly seemed long enough to achieve international fame.
Celebrity in just 900 seconds? Yikes.
But now, 15 minutes is an eternity. If you can't reach legendary status in less than 2 or 3 minutes, you're out of luck. Or maybe you're just not trying hard enough.
Warhol never could have imagined just how prescient his words would become. Anyone with a camera, cellphone, or webcam now can earn instant, worldwide renown with the flick of a switch.
Don't think so? Remember "David after the Dentist," the little boy videotaped by his dad after some minor dental surgery? Since first appearing in 2009, David's struggle to awake from anesthesia has garnered almost 117 million views. When the 7-year-old asked, "Is this real life?" the world giggled.
How about Charlie, the finger-biting British baby who made his big brother howl with pain and about 506 million viewers howl with laughter. Then there's GloZell and her outrageously hilarious attempt at the "Cinnamon Challenge" that drew more than 25 million views. And who can forget the "Double Rainbow" that brought photographer Hungrybear9562 to tears and 36 million viewers to tears of laughter.
All of those highly watched videos lasted less than 3 minutes. Take that, Andy.
Once upon a time, people expected to see their pictures in the newspaper only twice in their lifetimes: when they were married and when they were buried.
How times have changed. People today can't seem to get enough attention. And they'll often do anything to get noticed even if they get hurt -- or hurt others in the process.
The rapid explosion of social media has given the look-at-me generation more than enough platforms for exhibitionism. Concoct some crazy idea, grab your cellphone and voila – you're viral in minutes and appearing on "Today" or "Nancy Grace."
The quest for worldwide YouTube domination has led some folks to completely lose all sense of personal boundaries and privacy. Why would anyone think a video of them going to the bathroom or eating a Whopper would be appealing? Apparently someone does: the first video garnered about 13,000 views and the second almost 87,000. Looks like some videographers and viewers have too much time on their hands.
I must admit that some of the fame-grab videos are fun to watch, especially if they include adorable infants or baby animals. But I always find myself wondering why a parent would deliberately expose their child to the world's gaze. Aren't they worried about wackos? And truth be told, those videos hang around a lot longer than goofy family photos.
The worst consequence of our obsession with fame has to be the growing cesspool of stomach-churning reality shows. As if "Dance Moms," and "Buckwild," weren't bad enough, the new crop of reality shows includes such doozies as "Double Divas," about bra fitting; "Duck Dynasty," about duck callers turned millionaires; "Gypsy Sisters," about the American gypsy subculture; and "The Sisterhood," about a group of Atlanta preachers' wives.
I can hardly wait. Just when it seems we can't sink any lower into reality repulsiveness, along comes another real stinker that somebody, somewhere must be watching.
Technology has made it a lot easier to make videos and post them instantaneously. But there has to be a bigger reason for our Too-Much-Information tendencies. Do we overshare because we care or because we just crave attention? Did we tell this new generation that they were so wonderfully wonderful a little too often that they now think everything they do is terrific?
I enjoy catching up with friends and hearing about their families on Facebook. I've never even minded those chatty holiday letters. But we need to find some kind of middle ground in our crazed quest for fame. What ever happened to privacy? Mystery? Subtlety?
At the rate we're going, spying by Big Brother will be the least of our problems. It'll be the webcam of our little brother or the neighbor's brother we have to fear.
I think even Andy Warhol himself would have called for a sanity check in our endless pursuit of self-exploitation. Fifteen minutes? That's so 20th century. Try 15 seconds.


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Hawkins' No. 55 national ranking makes her the first Bronco in program history to reach the top-60 in the national rankings; the previous best was Frederika Girsang, who was ranked No. 62 nationally in the season-opening ITA poll in 2003. Kerstin Pahl ranked No. 98 at the start of the 2008 spring dual match season, and Rattiya Hiranrat was ranked No. 109 at the start of the 2005-06 season. The Broncos have been nationally ranked in double much more frequently and recently, with the duo of Hiranrat and Noriko Saruta reaching a program-best No. 37 in the Feb. 22, 2005 poll.
Hawkins went 4-3 in singles play in the fall, winning her first four singles matches of the season. Her last win of the fall was the biggest of her career, and perhaps the best in Bronco history; she defeated No. 12 Petra Niedermayerova 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the first round of the Hoosier Invitational hosted by Indiana. It is believed that Hawkins' win represents the highest-ranked singles player ever defeated by a Bronco.
The senior from Portage, Mich. enters the season with a record of 88-61 overall as a Bronco; when also considering her freshman season played at Memphis, Hawkins boasts a career record of 115-84, including a 56-38 record in singles play.


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Over the past 25 has years the Endangered Species Act has been critical tool to protect species? It has played a major role in slowing the rate of extinction, but has not been effective in ensuing the recovery of listed species. Of the roughly 1300 listed only 23 have been "delisted or removed from the species list since 1973: 7 due to extinction 12 due to "data error (should not have been listed in the first place), and the remaining species benefiting from other activities such as the banning of DDT.
The Endangered Species Act, which was passed in 1973, is enormously powerful. In other laws federal agencies are required to provide protection to species where practicable, But the Endangered Species Act elevated protection of all species to one the U.S. government's highest priorities. This protection is absolute. No equivocation. "The Act is widely regarded by its proponents as one of this country's most important and powerful environmental laws and an international model. (Stroup 2)
How can such a powerful tool have such inadequate results? The answer is that the Endangered Species Act ignores the fundamental economic problem of scarcity. Resources for saving species are inevitably limited. They are scarce. It is obvious that we can't set aside the entire United States for wildlife habitat, and we can't even set aside a large part of the United States without interfering with it's users. The current Endangered Species Act represents an effort to avoid or disregard that fact. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the government agency that is the major upholder of the Endangered Species Act, has too often acted as though there are no limits, as though they are exempt from the problem. Their actions have had contrary results.
The Endangered Species Act calls for FWS biologists to control how land is used any time they consider it important for listed species. They decide whether farming, or logging, or


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In my spare time, I enjoy running, reading, a good cup of coffee, and oh yeah, listening to "Glory of Love" by Peter Cetera. Would I normally admit that? No, it had been a closely guarded secret of my heart. But I do enjoy it - as well as many other '80s songs by Chicago, Hall & Oates, Starship and Don Henley.
Why should I be ashamed of such music? Mainly, because of the cheese factor. It's the synthesizers, the bad lyrics and, if you look back a bit, the horrible music videos. (Why, oh why, did they have to have such haircuts and blazers? So much permed hair.) But it's also the fact that I make it worse by adding freestyle dance and motion to it. I close my eyes, sing at the top of my lungs and float about the room. Like I have to move it to the next level of awfulness. But when I hear the words, I don't hear cheese. I hear what I heard when I was a little girl: Beautiful music.
"I am a man who would fight for your honor/I'll be the hero you're dreaming of/We'll live forever, knowing together that we did it all for the glory of love."
Article Photos
Wow, I mean, wow. That is pretty bad. But instead of that realization, I will close my eyes and remember thinking what I did when I was eight: That I will meet my true love someday and it would be THAT momentous. And when I was younger, I never cared if the lyrics were clichd or super dramatic. I just cared that it could tell a story, I could imagine what they were saying and be transported to another place with the art. It didn't hurt that it was featured in Karate Kid II, a sweet, sweet movie.
But it's not just music that I get secretive about. Magazines like Glamour or Cosmopolitan fit in that category. Or gossip websites with all the dirt on various celebrities. Books that have no substantial content and are instead filled with frivolous characters that make it their life mission to gossip and find a man.
It's the television shows and movies that I would switch off in an instant if someone caught me watching them. Scandalous. It's anything on Lifetime, a reality show or something on the Hallmark Channel. Dude, so many awful (but really, really good) shows on there.
And the chick flicks. Whether it's from the past or it's a nowadays romance with horrible reviews - I will probably say something awful about it. And afterwards, when no one is looking, I will go and watch it in the dark with my popcorn (turning my head every once and awhile to make sure I don't know anyone in the theater). And when the movie is done, I will probably be the first to criticize it and make fun of the film (while I had laughed, cried and thoroughly enjoyed it). Am I horrible? Yes. A complete hypocrite, I know.
So what is so bad about these guilty pleasures? Why can't we just enjoy them without the fear of being made fun of? Because we are vulnerable, sensitive beings and although we hate to admit it, depend on the thoughts of those around us.
Instead, we must be high-browed, sophisticated and ignore these lower forms of entertainment so that we don't stick out like a sore thumb. And all the while, pretending that we enjoy everything everyone else does, we lie about the little things in life that give us a smile. What a bunch of crowd followers we are.
Will it change? Nah. We will still catch "Dance Moms" or "Bold and the Beautiful" while jamming to "We Built This City." And later, say we spent our spare time reading classic literature and viewing something like "The Artist."
I wish I could not be embarrassed about partaking in my guilty pleasures of life, but most likely I will still be closeted about much of my favorite entertainment in the years to come. Oh well, sometimes it's nice to have something of my own.
"Marconi plays the mambo, listen to the radio/Don't you remember?/We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll!"
Oh yeah, Jefferson Starship, that's the stuff.


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After Paul's, R-Ky., 13-hour filibuster over Obama's nomination of John Brennan to lead the CIA, the Senate voted 63-34 today to approve the appointment of the president's former chief counterterrorism advisor. Paul voted no, but several of those who joined in his filibuster, including Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., supported the confirmation.
The filibuster was the result of Paul's concerns over Brennan's answers involving the use of unmanned drones to kill American citizens, including the question if the drones could be used on U.S. soil. Paul was successful in delaying Brennan's appointment by a day, and, in the end, received at least one answer to his questions.
Attorney Gen. Eric Holder, who had earlier defended the use of drones, supplied Paul with a short letter late Thursday.
"It has come to my attention that you (Paul) have now asked an additional question: 'Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?'" Holder wrote. "The answer to that question is no."
Paul said the answer made his 13-hour talkfest worthwhile.
"Absolutely, we are not going to be killing Americans not in a combat situation. We will obey the Constitution and that the Fifth Amendment does apply to all Americans and there aren't exceptions," Paul said.
Brennan and Holder came under fire after questions arose about Obama administration directives involving the use of unmanned drones to kill American citizens. During testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Feb. 7, Brennan defended the use of drones, if the "intelligence base is so strong and the nature of the threat is so grave and serious as well as imminent that we have no recourse except to take this action that may involve a lethal strike."


text: Standup comedian Matt Ruby explains how to choose whether to refine existing material or develop new material. Performing regularly in New York amongst very competitive peers, Ruby finds incentive to actively evolve his portfolio while improving his delivery. He does note, however, that this has its limits. He finds slowly growing comedy pieces allows him to expand them into a larger block of material.


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The NRA announcement by executive vice president Wayne LaPierre last month in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school massacre was a transparently desperate effort to deflect attention from the laws we need — such as banning high-capacity ammunition magazines, among other things.
But the NRA's pigheadedness on gun control doesn't mean some schools shouldn't have the option of posting armed officers at their entrances — if that's what their communities want in order to feel safe, even if only temporarily.
It's not a new idea. Police officers in the schools date to the 1950s, and today about a third of the roughly 99,000 public schools in the nation have armed officers on campus. Some of these are "school resource officers" paid for in part by the school district and the local police force. They not only keep the school safe but help build positive relationships between officers and students.
Marlboro Schools Superintendent David Abbott said the plan to place armed officers at the district's eight schools this week was in the works before the NRA statement — which, by the way, Abbott was troubled by; he'd like to see tighter gun controls. Ultimately, he thinks every school community needs to make its own decision about armed officers. He's right.
Marlboro's armed officers, deployed in agreement with the local police force, will cost the district $100,000 for 90 days. After that, Abbott hopes the district's security task force of teachers, police and community members can come up with a security plan that the district's $89 million budget can sustain. But he's not ruling out keeping the armed officers in place.
Even with that option in play, the problem the nation is up against requires something more. Keep in mind that armed guards were unable to stop the carnage at Columbine and Virginia Tech. One study found that over the past decade, a quarter of the gun crimes committed in U.S. hospital emergency rooms involved someone seizing a gun from an armed guard.
Another problem: Most security and deterrence plans after Columbine involved identifying troubled students. But the Newtown shooter was an outsider with no identifiable ties to the school.
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) was succinct and on point when she said, "If a community thinks putting armed police officers in its schools is the right thing to do, then they should do so, but what we really need is a comprehensive solution to the problems we face with gun and ammunition proliferation and mental health."
Exactly. Preventing gun violence is a battle we must wage — and win — on many fronts.