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Congratulations to twenty one pilots on winning Alternative Rock Song of the Year with 'Stressed Out' at the iHeartAwards last night!
|April 04, 2016
|April 03, 2016
Tonight's featured track is 'The Curse Of Curves' from Cute Is What We Aim For's album The Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch!
The band just announced this week that they will be doing a 10 year anniversary tour in support of the album in Australia!
It seems I'm too hip to keep tight lipped
And you're on the gossip team
You're making something out of nothing
And jealousy's the cousin, the cousin of greed
Download The Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch from iTunes HERE!
|April 02, 2016
You're running out of time to Turn Up The Crazy with Panic! At The Disco's Victorious Boombox Sweepstakes!
Click HERE for details on your chance to win signed items from the 'Victorious' video shoot, 6 month premium Spotify subscriptions and more!
|March 31, 2016
Happy birthday to Fun. guitarist Jack Antonoff! Send him birthday wishes to his Twitter!
|March 30, 2016
Head over to NPR Music's The Austin 100 HERE where you can download all 100 tracks including flor's 'heart' for FREE!
|March 30, 2016
The Front Bottoms hit the road next week for their Spring Tour with Brick + Mortar and Diet Cig. The dates are starting to sell out so get your tickets while they last at TheFrontBottoms.com
|March 27, 2016
Tonight's featured track is Against The Current's new song 'Wasteland' from their upcoming album In Our Bones - coming out May 20th!
Preorder In Our Bones now on iTunes HERE
|March 25, 2016
Check out Against The Current's new song 'Wasteland' from their upcoming album In Our Bones in the lyric video above! Preorder the album on iTunes and get an instant download of this song along with 'Runaway' and 'Running With The Wild Things!'
|March 21, 2016
WHAT IS THE NOODLE MONSTER? Create your #NoodleMonster photo HERE & tune in to the season finale of @Portlandia 3/24 at 10pm!
|March 20, 2016


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FIGURE. No caption available.
The poem "One More Thought" very much describes my husband and me. "Our neighbors at the movie holding hands": A year ago I had to place my husband in a home after taking care of him for three years. One of the first things I noticed on going to a show by myself was a couple walking together. I'd often gone to the movies by myself before this, but just knowing I could no longer take him anywhere with me and "be a couple" really hit me.
I think the "I" has also leaked from my husband. He is so passive and content in not wanting anything, or being responsible for anything, that it is as if his will has just melted. I am fortunate that he knows me and lights up when I appear—also that he is so grateful for attentions he used to take for granted.
Rosemary Hackett

subset: commoncrawl


text: hi ladies! my question is for those who have co slept and always nursed their babe to sleep. my son and i have always co slept. i nurse him to nap and throughout the night. he appears very tired to me. he seems to have bags under his eyes. i sometimes find myself wondering if some part of me is doing a small diservice to him for always nursing him to sleep. it bothers me that he is unable to fall back asleep himself and that, half the time, he wakes himself up looking for the boob, should i be out of the room. so for you who have co slept and are possibly done with it, if your babies are older and self weaned, some reassurance? will he sleep himself someday? (i know he will, it is just hard to believe right now) what are your experiances? i too am very tired. i have thought of slowly getting him used to a crib but in no way can i taumatize him (or me)so i probably won't do it.


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The weird world of in-flight retail
Published On: Aug 12 2014 11:13:03 AM CDT Updated On: Aug 12 2014 11:16:54 AM CDT
You may see a flight as a time where you can't get up and do anything for a few hours, but retailers see your flight a little differently: It's a time they can market unique and wacky items to a captive audience. Check out a few of the odd offerings you can order on a plane.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms Of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.


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Saying Obama's Proposal 'Leaves Money On The Table,' Group of Rich Tout Stronger Estate Tax
As President Obama and congressional Republicans wrangle over raising income tax rates on the richest Americans, a group of wealthy Americans is pushing an estate tax even more than that advocated by Obama. The group–which includes Bill Gates Sr., Disney heir Abigail Disney, former Treasury secretary Robert Rubin, and others — want a tax on inherited wealthy that begins at 45 percent and rises from there, with an exemption on up to the first $4 million of inheritance. The president's proposal would be a flat 45 percent rate, the group says. The group, going to by the name Responsible Wealth, is seeking meetings with White House officials and from Democratic senators in order to carry the proposal forward as legislation, … Continue reading


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Did you know?
Rhino love wallowing in mud. The mud cools them and protects them against parasites.
All you need is a sense of adventure, to be reasonably walking fit, and to be ready at all times to listen to your knowledgeable ranger. Then it's off at dawn on a Rhino Walking Safari in the Kruger National Park.
You can choose to stay in one of the park's many luxury game lodges, but to get a real taste of the African bush opt instead for the Rhino Walking Safari Plains Camp.
Your home for three days will be one of four comfortable safari tents (en-suite with hot and cold running water) that are strategically placed in an acacia knobthorn thicket overlooking the wide Timbitene plain and waterhole.
As dawn is breaking and the dawn chorus begins, it's off on foot to see what the day brings. Your armed guide will lead eight of you in single file, stopping to discuss animal tracks and last night's wildlife activities with the experienced tracker who brings up the rear of the column.
Don't expect a route march – the group will move at its own pace and stop and start as the occasion demands, depending on what you see.
After your morning walk it's back to camp for a hearty breakfast, a siesta until tea time and then off again, either on foot or in an open game vehicle. The choice is yours.
A unique feature of the Rhino Walking Safari is that their open game vehicles are allowed to drive after dark in the Kruger National Park when all the 'regular' visitors are safely tucked away in their respective camps.
The Rhino Walking Safari Plains camp is only a short distance from Kruger's legendary Skukuza camp, plumb in the middle of prime Big Five territory, so expect thrilling night drives.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Rhino Walking Safaris
Tel: +27 (0) 11 467 1886
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
How to get here
Rhino Walking Safaris will arrange a charter flight directly to Skukuza from Johannesburg. Alternatively, you can drive to Skukuza yourself.
Best time to visit
Winter makes for cooler walking and better game viewing.
Around the area
You're in the middle of Kruger National Park so you could extend your stay by making a booking at any one of the park's excellent camps.
Get around
On foot and in an open game drive vehicle.
Length of stay
Three nights all-inclusive.
What to pack
Comfortable walking shoes or boots, sunscreen, hat, binoculars and camera.
Where to stay
Rhino Walking Safari Plains Camp.
What to eat
All meals are provided as part of the safari package.


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TRICARE Military Healthcare System Marketing SurveyObjective: TRICARE Military Healthcare System Marketing Survey
Results: The findings indicate a high level of awareness of information about TRICARE among MHS beneficiaries. About three fourths or more of TRICARE users are aware of at least one of the following TRICARE information sources: Toll-free numbers, Printed materials, Service centers, and Internet sites. TRICARE beneficiaries using TRICARE services look for many types of information. The top three types of information include: Scheduling an appointment (43.6%), Phone numbers for health care providers or MTFs (41.6%), Referrals to specialists or other doctors (35.4%). More than three of every four (78.7%) users of TRICARE services who look for information about TRICARE are satisfied or very satisfied with available information. Satisfaction levels range from 75.9 percent among active duty Service members to 87.9 percent of the 65-and-over retiree group. Overall, TRICARE users most prefer getting answers face to face (30.8%). Next, similar numbers of them most prefer getting needed information by telephone (23.2%) or mail (22.1%). Relatively few beneficiaries most prefer using the Internet to get TRICARE information (16.1%).
Status: Complete


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Quick Facts
|Spacing in Row
|12 inches
|Spacing Between Rows
|12 inches
|Planting Depth
|¼ to ½ inch
|Days to Germination
|7 to 14 days
|Days to Maturity
|85 days
|Height at Maturity
|12 to 18 inches
|Width at Maturity
|10 to 14 inches
How to Grow
Chives are easy to grow and thrive in a number of garden places, including borders and containers. Start seeds indoors as early as March 1, keep watered but not wet. Transplant outdoors in clumps when chives are about 3", as soon as the soil can be worked. Alternately, direct sow outdoors as soon as soil can be worked an a weed free area. Chives will grow slowly at first, but once established are extremely hearty and fast growing. For best culinary quality, cut chives, one established, every week or two. The chive flowers are edible as well, but should be cut when soft and pink if you are planning on eating them.
You may also be interested in the following product(s)
Garlic Chives Art Print
Evergreen Scallion
Garlic Chives


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Thank you so so much ladies! To answer some questions, I am basically getting a lot of pressure from my MIL and some other people, such as co-workers and other mothers I have met...my husband is 100% supportive, and to be honest a little jealous of how close Arlo and I are. As for my MIL, (the main culprit) I feel it is more for her own benefit. She keeps wanting him to spend the night, but it is not going to happen any time soon. I also just realized that all of my frozen back up milk has high levels of lipase and I was so upset that all of my hard work is literally going down the drain, and her only response was "well, looks like you're going to have to wean him". SHe also always brings it up in front of her friends who then start in on me. I have said time and time again "yeah, I am just not ready yet" or "I'll probably wean him until college". it is just the rolls of the eyes and the tsk tsk that wears on me. But you are all right. I need to just keep my cool and keep remembering that this is all for him.
I am really starting to think it is a generation thing...no one from her generation that I know nursed. None of my aunts or my mother or my husbands aunts or his mom...so maybe I need to keep in mind that maybe they just don't understand. I feel like they look at the breast as simply nutrition. And they don't realize that 3 years is such a short time in the long run...
Thanks again...ALL of your advice has been most helpful. And I will remember to return to this thread every time I get discouraged!!!
Thanks mamas...also thanks for all of the encouraging kind words for making it this far...it really was all worth it...and to think it gets better....ahhhh....I can't wait!


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Mrs. Cardenas was born Sept. 22, 1937, in Beeville to Luciano and Antonia Perez. She married Pablo T. Garza in Beeville and was a homemaker and a member of the Catholic church and the Guadalupanas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Pablo T. Garza; two grandsons, Kelly Garza and Joe Ray Lopez; brother, Margarito Perez; and three sisters, Genoveva Garcia, Isabel Torres and Romana Garcia.
Survivors include her children, Mary Ann (Richard) Garcia, Dominga (Ricardo) Moron and Ramona (Ysidro) Carabajal, all of Beeville, Pablo (Juanita) Garza Jr. of Pearsall and Sara Gomez of Corpus Christi; a brother, Ysidro Perez of Houston; 21 grandchildren; and 44 great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 30, at Angelus Funeral Home. A rosary was recited there that evening at 7 o'clock.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday, June 1, at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. Richard Gonzales officiating. Burial followed in the Ross Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jessie Garza, Alfredo Benavidez, Chris Garza, Jeremiah Munoz, Juan R. Moron, Carlos Moron, Alfredo Ray Benavidez Jr. and Mario DeLeon.
Honorary pallbearers were Carlos Mellado, Daren Benavidez, Gage Alamayuer, Richard Garcia, Ricky Moron, Ysidro Carabajal and Joshua Rodriguez.
Angelus Funeral Home


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Homeless Education
Before Schools can be certain they are complying with the legislation related to education students experiencing homelessness, they must understand who can be considered homeless.
What's New?
- FAQs updated (9/26/16)
- USDE Homeless Children and Youths Program Guidance updated (9/1/16)
- End of Year Homeless Counts report updated through 2016 (8/17/16)
- Preschool Homeless Education Plan for District and ROE Programs
- FY16 McKinney-Vento Continuation Application
- FY15 McKinney-Vento Continuation Application
- FY14 McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program-Lead Area Liaisons (LALs) (RFP) (Closed May 17, 2013)
- FY13 McKinney-Vento Continuation Application
- FY12 McKinney-Vento Continuation Application
- FY11 McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program-Lead Area Liaisons (LALs) (RFP)
- FY 2009-10 McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) Application
- Education for Homeless Children and Youth Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Revised 7/27/16)
- Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant Program
- Illinois State
Plan for Homeless Education
This is the plan for the delivery of all grant-funded homeless education services under the Title X, Part C McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act to meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of Education for a definitive plan for services to homeless children and youth in Illinois. Questions should be directed to the Illinois State Homeless Education Coordinator or Homeless Principal Consultant at 312-814-2223 or 217-782-5589.
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001
- Policy of the Illinois State Board of Education on the Education
This policy is promulgated with the intention of minimizing educational disruption for homeless children and youth and promoting stability and continuity in education as well as providing social supports during a period of housing in stability.
- FAQ's (9/16)
- Forms
- Foster Care and McKinney-Vento Q & A
- Free School Lunch Program Information
- Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access College Financial Aid
- How to Order Birth Certificates
- Illinois Immunization Information System
- Lesson Plans to Assist Teachers in the Classroom Introducing Homelessness
- National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
- National Center for Homeless Education
- Public Service Announcements
- Tips for Title I, Part A Reservation Funds
- Transportation Forms
- Workshop Materials
- Confirming Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Services: Do's and Don'ts for Local Liaisons
The National Center for Homeless Education provides information and resources to assist school districts with the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act. Often, school personnel have questions regarding how to confirm eligibility for homeless education services. This Best Practices in Homeless Education brief, produced in 2007, outlines positive steps to take in order to effectively meet the needs of homeless children and families. This brief may be found at http://www.terrifictransitions.org/nche/downloads/briefs/verif_sch.pdf
- Illinois Homeless Education Technical Assistance Program
Technical assistance and education for schools and the community. A source for free education materials, brochures, posters, DVDs, and up-to-date training materials, including:
- U.S. Department of Education Issues New Guidance on Financial Aid for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
The U.S. Department of Education's "Application and Verification Guide" (AVG) provides instructions and guidance to financial aid administrators and counselors who help students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The 2010-2011 edition of the AVG was published on Monday, June 21st. It contains important new information regarding unaccompanied homeless youth. A summary of the unaccompanied homeless youth provisions is available on NAEHCY's web site at http://www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html
The entire guide may be downloaded from the U.S. Department of Education at http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/1011FSAHandbookAVG.html
- School District Homeless Liaison Locator
- 2007 Updated Homeless Liaison Toolkit The Local Homeless Education Liaison Toolkit is a comprehensive tool that will assist both new and veteran local homeless education liaisons in carrying out their responsibilities.
- A McKinney-Vento Toolbox: Constructing a Robust and Rigorous
Homeless Education Program, In Case of Disaster and Every
This toolbox is designed to help school districts implement the McKinney-Vento Act Fully, so they can address the needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness on a daily basis and in times of disaster. The toolbox contains information and practice lessons learned and resources developed during the recovery process following the 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes.
- Lead Area Liaisons McKinney-Vento Homeless Breakdown Map - Temporarilly Unavailable


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If you are planning a vacation or business trip, whether a quick trip across to your neighboring state or even an extended stay in another country there are a few tips you can follow to not only ensure you have continuous cell phone coverage but to help you manage your roaming bills. Many carriers charge high premiums for calls made while you are out of your metro area, so it is important that you check rates and coverage range with your carrier.
Cell Phone Travel Tips
Travel Tips With Kids
Every experience in this world teaches us something or the other, so is the case with traveling with kids. Traveling with kids can be the most wonderful moments for both kids and parents. These are the times which are going to be in their memories for their lifetime. Holidays are important for both the kids and the parents. Because this is the time when parents can teach their children how to behave in different places and adapt to various situations.
Travel Tips To Keep You Safe
Whether it's your first trip or you are a seasoned jet setter,
it's never too late to learn a couple of new tricks to make your
trip more enjoyable, more efficient, and safer.
Thailand Travel Tips
Thailand has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. The Southeast-Asian country has gone through 3 prime ministers in the last 12 months, faced an influx of refugees from Bangladesh and Myanmar and endured a week-long airport closure due to anti-government protesters. It sounds like to last place on earth where people should spend their holidays. However, Thailand is really a great escape, especially now in the winter season.
Fifth Wheels And Fall Travel Tips
Are you the proud owner of a used or new fifth wheels RV? If so, then read the following
Tips To Ensure The Best Travel Experience
Are you interested in reading about a variety of
International Travel Tips
When traveling abroad there is certain required documentation that you have to take with you. Most foreign countries require a visa and a passport to enter the country. If you are a U.S. citizen, you can apply for a valid passport with the U.S. government passport office. It doesn't matter if you are traveling by land or sea; a passport is essential, which means going on a cruise as well.
Travel Tips – How to Survive a Bus Trip
Planning a trip to a major city and you really don't want to spend the money and time driving yourself? Then you might want to consider taking the bus. There are some advantages for travel in a bus that includes the amount of money you will spend and the variety of locations that they go to. But there are a few things you should know in order for you to enjoy your bus trip and get to you final destination in a safe manner.
Toronto Travel Tips
Any Toronto travel guide will give you all the details you require about visiting this modern cosmopolitan city in southern Ontario, Canada. It is a great idea to read up and get all information before you travel so that you can plan your trip in the best ways to include all activities that you want. Touring any city requires careful planning, because you want to experience as much as possible and have a great time.
Comitán de Domínguez:
Comitán de Domínguez considerado también como uno de los pueblos mágicos del estado de Chiapas, posicionándose en el 4to. Municipio más importante del estado. Comitán Es una ciudad colonial bella con edificios culturales e históricos. Se encuentra ubicada a 90 kilómetros de la frontera con Guatemala.


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Peddle powerJuly 08,2013
Summer made its official entrance on June 21 this year. To many, that milestone means boating on the lake and baseball hot dogs. To me, it just brings back memories of my oft-painful early days as a vegetable farmer and peddler. Back in the day, my parents and I spent every summer day glued to this place, from late Aprils first pea planting to Octobers last Jack-o-Lantern pumpkin. And some of our crops, like strawberries, were both prolific and perishable.
During those years, we employed the worlds first (well, maybe second) enterprise peddling.
Ive always been a dismal peddler. My best effort Ya probably dont want any berries tday do ya? never got me anything but slammed doors and lots of leftover jam berries. Peddling is all about the peddlers attitude and my dad had a great one. When he loaded up the car and headed out, we always knew hed return with nary a berry left and a pocket full of money. One woman recently put it, Heck, when Harry Morse showed at my door, I knew two things: that I didnt want what he was sellin but that Id end up buyin it anyway.
Ive recently learned about some more positive peddlin in th ol genealogy: my maternal great-grandfather, Edward Webster Aiken, was a great old peddler and weve got pictures to prove it. Weve got a whole wagon to prove it. Ed Aiken raised fruit and vegetables down in the southern Vermont town of Putney. Gramp Aiken never left his southern Vermont community except to serve a few terms in the Legislature. Word was that he could make anything green and luscious with the snap of his fingers; well, that plus maybe a little cow manure and a good rugged hoe. The best growin in the world isnt any good without an equal mix of great marketing. Lots of growers build what we now call brick-and-mortar businesses and draw folks in with expensive advertising (believe me, I know all about that). Ed Aiken, however, took the opposite route; he put his money into a state-of-the-art peddlers wagon pulled by a single horse.
My Aunt Tot, Aiken family matriarch, still lives on the Ed Aiken homestead in her grandfathers house. She and her husband Malcolm Jones dedicated their lives to maintaining her admitted favorite grandpas farm. Their version of his trademark blueberry patch still bears abundantly every July, albeit zapping whole lifetimes of energy and time. But thats been OK with Aunt Tot. She inherited Eds green thumb and his will to work. Malcolm recently passed away and Tot is approaching 90. She contacted me a while back to say that she still had Gramp Aikens peddlers wagon stored in her barn and wondered if Id like to have it. She knew I was interested in family history and also ran a tourist attraction, but what really brought me over was when she said, Theres quite a story behind the old guy.
Gramp Aikens son, U.S. Senator George David Aiken, inherited the love of growing things from his dad and followed his footsteps into the fruit and berry business. Even though my Grandpa George Aikens heart always stayed with farming, he followed a calling toward politics. George Aikens political path led him to the Vermont Legislature and beyond. He advanced quickly to speaker of the House, lieutenant governor, governor, and on to the U.S. Senate.
While his son was becoming famous, Ed Aiken was still peddling, right up into the 1940s, now sharing the road with cars and trucks. Being father of a famous man (George Aiken was being considered as a candidate for vice president of the United States at that time), Life magazine developed an interest in the old peddler and sent a photographer to Putney to take pictures for a story. The story never got printed, quite possibly pre-empted by the war, but the professional quality photographs were taken and have been in our family archives ever since.
A few weeks ago, my friend Steffen Parker and I traveled to Putney in my truck, armed with planks and other tools necessary to load that old wagon. When we arrived, my cousin, Pam, and her husband, Randy, greeted us and led us to a lower barn where it had sat in storage for more than 60 years.
Moms so glad youre getting it, Pam said. Aunt Tot had done a remarkable thing to preserve that wagon and its accompanying pictures for all those years, but naturally would consider it a sad, closed chapter to see them leave the place. We loaded it with care, both for the wagon and for my aunts feelings.
Tot had made us sandwiches for the trip home and when we left with a couple of honks, Im sure there was a tear or two on her face.
The wagon now sits in our barn, waiting the completion of a pictorial display telling Gramp Aikens story. Soon itll be on display in our Woodshed Theatre for everyone to see. With that effort almost complete, it brings to mind both an irony and the closing of another circle: Here I am, heir to Ed Aiken, running a large brick-and-mortar to sell my wares a concept he rejected. Im selling farm products though, just like he did, and proud of it. Im also proud to have his humble wagon here and through it, the opportunity to tell his story. As my friend, Robert Bridges, recently wrote: Sometimes we do things to honor the dead but I think we do it for the living ... theyre not really gone until we forget.
Burr Morse lives in East Montpelier.MORE IN CommentarySure, you can buy your uncle a necktie that he wont wear, or your niece an Amazon certificate... Full StoryFor the past month, I have been watching close friends and family descending into a pit of... Full StoryAdjusting to snow, sleet and cold after spending over a month in an exponentially warmer climate ... Full Story
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Bill is convinced that complementary therapies help him stay healthy. Susan swears by the alternative medicine she uses to maintain her health. When they sit down to talk, they find they are doing the same things-they just have different words for it.
Alternative medicine, complementary therapies, natural healthcare, integrative medicine--these are a few of the terms used nowadays to describe a wide array of healing practices that fall outside purely pharmaceutical or surgical treatments. Some examples are massage [11], meditation [14], and acupuncture [15].
A few years ago, complementary and alternative medicine was defined as therapies that were not taught in medical school or offered in mainstream hospitals. But this no longer applies. Many complementary and alternative therapies are now offered in clinics and hospitals around the country and their use and acceptance is growing rapidly. This is reflected in a new name used in many healthcare settings: "integrative therapies [16]."
But whether you say integrative therapies or alternative medicine, or something else, it refers to the same thing-a wide array of healing practices that fall outside purely pharmaceutical or surgical treatments.
A person could use these practices and therapies instead of conventional medicine, as an alternative. However, this is less common and may pose risks. It is not a good idea, for example, to abandon conventional cancer [17] treatment for a "miracle" botanical medicine [18]. But it might make sense to see a massage [19] or healing touch [20] therapist while undergoing chemotherapy to help your body recuperate.
Thus we see these healing practices as complementary to conventional care and a key part of integrative healthcare.
We believe that the goal is to move toward integrative healthcare-where the best of both conventional therapies and healing practices are available to all, and providers from both work together for the best patient outcome.
This is already happening-many physicians and nurse practitioners now recommend botanical medicines [21] or chiropractic [22], for instance. And it will continue to grow as informed healthcare consumers demand the best of both worlds.
There are literally hundreds of types of healing practices, with new therapies or variations emerging continuously. This can make it a little overwhelming when you are first starting out.
Luckily, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) [23], which is part of the National Institutes of Health, at one time grouped most of these therapies into five categories. Understanding the categories can help you identify the key characteristics of a particular practice or therapy.
It is very important to evaluate every part of an integrative healthcare plan, whether complementary or conventional, to determine if it is safe and effective.
In reality, it is nearly impossible to determine with 100% certainty whether any treatment or therapy is safe or effective for all people. So another way to look at this question is to examine the risks, benefits, and evidence. Ask the following questions and do some research to find good answers.
Risk: Is the therapy harmful? Just because something is natural does not mean that it is safe. There are many natural substances that are poisonous. A therapy may also put you at risk if it interferes with another treatment that you are receiving.
For example, people who have had organ transplants are required to take medicines that suppress their immune system for the rest of their life. St. John's Wort may interfere with these immunosuppressive drugs, thus putting the person at risk for rejecting their transplanted organ.
Benefit: What will the therapy or treatment do? Does it work? Will it be effective? How will it contribute to my overall health and wellbeing?
Evidence: How much evidence is there that a given treatment is safe (with little or no risk) and effective? Note that there is much debate about what constitutes evidence. Start by looking to see if there are rigorous scientific studies that have been conducted on the therapy for the proposed use.
Note also if there is anecdotal evidence accumulated because a treatment has been used for more than 5,000 years. Stories or anecdotes are generally not given the same weight as scientifically conducted studies, but experience and accumulated wisdom should not be ignored.
It is important for you to evaluate all three-risk, benefit, and evidence-and then determine if the therapy is right for you.
[1] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/sites/default/files/images/thumbnails/massage.jpg
[2] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/what-are-mind-body-therapies
[3] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/traditional-chinese-medicine
[4] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/aromatherapy
[5] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/ayurvedic-medicine
[6] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/botanical-medicine
[7] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/food-medicine
[8] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/healing-environment
[9] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/holistic-pregnancy-childbirth
[10] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/intuition-healthcare
[11] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/massage-therapy
[12] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reflexology
[13] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reiki
[14] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/meditation
[15] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/acupuncture
[16] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/glossary/3#term46
[17] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/conditions/cancer
[18] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/glossary/3#term8
[19] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/massage-therapy/how-can-i-find-right-massage-therapist
[20] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/healing-touch
[21] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/botanical-medicine-0
[22] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/chiropractic
[23] https://nccih.nih.gov/
[24] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/what-traditional-chinese-medicine
[25] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/node/353
[26] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/glossary/3#term45
[27] http://medicine.yale.edu/integrativemedicine/index.aspx
[28] http://www.csh.umn.edu/free-online-learning-modules/index.htm
[29] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/our-experts/mary-jo-kreitzer-rn-phd
[30] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/activities/making-decision
[31] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/activities/how-use-growing
[32] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/activities/what-do-you-know


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How does hormone therapy treat prostate cancer?
Hormone therapy works by stopping the hormone testosterone from reaching prostate cancer cells. It treats the cancer, wherever it is in the body.
Testosterone controls how the prostate gland grows and develops. It also controls male characteristics, such as erections, muscle strength, and the growth of the penis and testicles. Most of the testosterone in your body is made by the testicles, and a small amount by the adrenal glands which sit above your kidneys.
Testosterone doesn't usually cause problems, but if you have aggressive prostate cancer, it can make the cancer cells grow faster. In other words, testosterone feeds the prostate cancer. If testosterone is taken away, the cancer will usually shrink, wherever it is in the body.
Hormone therapy alone won't cure your prostate cancer but it can keep it under control, sometimes for several years, before you need further treatment. It is also used with other treatments, such as radiotherapy, to make them more effective.
What other treatments are available?
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We are a small hostel with a large fully equipped hostel kitchen that includes a large fridge full of alcholic drinks to facilitate guest interaction prior to going out at night.
The large hostel lounge room is perfect for hanging out in the mornings to WATCH MOVIES or to CHILL OUT.
Dorms have free under-bed lockers for your whole backpack.
All rooms have intelligent door locks secured by a funky electronic key for your added security. Your room key opens 5 secure doors from the street to your bed room.
We will provide you with tour maps and lots of local information so you can have the best time and see the best of Riga.
The oldest permanently located circus in Europe is just a few hundred metres walk from the hostel. Ask us to help you buy tickets.
The Riga Opera and Theatre building is spectacular and also a short walk from Funky Hostel.
Visit our Facebook page and keep up to date with whats happening in Riga and at the Funky Hostel.


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From the Manufacturer's Label:
6:1 Concentrate
Naturally Grown
100% Vegetarian
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is grown at high elevations in the Andes region of central Peru. It has been used for centuries by indigenous Peruvians as a food source, as well as for increasing stamina and energy.
Manufactured by Now® FoodsContains no sugar, salt, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, milk, egg, shellfish or preservatives.


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Palacio de la Aduana - Aduana Palace
Plaza de la Aduana, 1
26015 Málaga, Malaga (Andalusia)
Episcopal Palace - Exhibition Room
Tel.:+34 951294051
Fax.:+34 952218382
Sorolla, Salas, Picasso and more
Malaga Museum has sections on Fine Arts and Archaeology. Specifically, it has more than 15,000 archaeological and artistic objects.
In the archaeology section there are important items from the Loringiano Museum, and the objects coming from the works in the Alcazaba citadel in Malaga. The permanent collection in the Fine Arts section has objects from San Telmo Fine Arts Academy, Prado Museum and Reina Sofía National Art Museum. The museum also has a collection of local paintings from the 19th century, which includes pieces by artists such as Muñoz Degrain and Enrique Jaraba, along with paintings by Sorolla, Salas and others. Furthermore, you can see two of Picasso's first works: Study of old people and The old man with the blanket.
- Aanduiding: Provincial museum
- Inhoud: Fine arts
Praktische informatie
Closed temporarily for renovation works.


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Mr. Reyna was born Feb. 8, 1942, in Three Rivers to Matias and Guadalupe (Perez) Reyna. He worked in the oilfield and was a cowboy.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his twin brother, Ruben.
Survivors include a son, Ricky (Kathy) Reyna of Vista, Calif.,; four daughters, Debra Reyna, Rita Reyna, Soila (Myron) Rodriguez and Jessica Reyna, all of Corpus Christi; two brothers, Jose Angel (Irene) Martinez of Corpus Christi and Gilbert Martinez of Seguin; seven sisters, Jacinta Moreno and Mary (Tom) Vitilo, both of Houston, Estella (Joe) Tanguma of Three Rivers, Celia Rodriguez of Beeville, Sulema Garcia of Alice, Gavina (Frank) Herrera of Pasadena and Terry (Ruben) Perez of Plano; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held Monday, March 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. with a rosary recited at 7 o'clock that evening at Roberson Funeral Home.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday, March 4, at 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Three Rivers. Burial followed at the Three Rivers Cemetery.
Arrangements were under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Three Rivers.


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Dear Pastor MacDonald,
I am writing to you as a fellow pastor - the pastor of a smaller church. While I hope that you do not consider me a lesser brother because of the smallness of my church, what I ought rather to say is that I do not consider you an unworthy brother because of the largeness of yours. I am not one of the small-church critics who holds the opinion that large churches are universally evil. Rather, I believe that if it is God's will a church like yours can do much good for the cause of the gospel.
Some mega-church pastors care little for the gospel. That sort of man would probably stop reading my letter as soon as he read that my church is small. In such a man's eyes the great gospel can only be served by great men with great vision and wisdom and great results - meaning great turn-out each Sunday.
Perhaps, though, you are one of the many other mega-church pastors who do care about the truth. Recently you have come under widespread scrutiny for your commitment to certain truths. Most can see no objection to your having a discussion - even a public discussion - with someone who rejects the traditional language of Trinitarian orthodoxy. I wonder, though, if you really agree that those who make that creedal formula the dividing line for Christian fellowship are just the sort of small-minded people who "prefer to hide in small huddles of self congratulatory agreement."
Those aggressive and provocative words are not yours; rather they come from the Purpose Statement of the Elephant Room. Perhaps you can see, though, how such language might lead some to question your commitment to truth. How such a combative attitude toward faithful believers happened to appear on your website is perhaps a question we can save for later. For the moment I'll say that if your great desire is to see sinners saved by the grace of the only Savior of sinners, then you and I have common ground.
One circumstance in which we differ is this: you are surrounded by a chorus of voices urging you onward to new opportunities and an even bigger ministry. Your podcast is widely downloaded. You have no lack of conference invites. You can publish at will. I do not begrudge you any of these advantages; if you serve the Lord Jesus, then they are His opportunities and He distributes them as He wills.
Instead, my challenge to you this: while it is no doubt very energizing to plow new ground, don't forget that there are souls already under your care who need the gospel. In fact, some of them may need it as much as the remotest tribes on any mission field.
You see, I write to you not only from the perspective of a small-church pastor, but also from that of a veteran of Christian education. I spent four years of the interim between my pastorates teaching in a Christian school well-known to you. A large-ish school run by a small-ish church provides an opportunity to observe an intriguing cross-section of evangelicalism. At our school, while there were students from many small churches around the northwest suburbs, by far the largest group was from Harvest Bible Chapel. I mainly taught older elementary students, but since I also spoke weekly in high school chapel I had ample opportunity to interact with teenagers as well.
In other words, I spent four years among kids whose religious background was in your church - a position that was both challenging and distressing. I came to realize that your church's youth, most of whom would classify themselves as "Christians," actually comprised the greatest Unreached People Group I have encountered in my years of ministry. This was a conclusion that I reached quite reluctantly, and one which I hope you will seriously consider. Many of those kids had no more idea of the basic facts of the gospel or of its implications for sinners than do the members of the remotest tribes in places American Christians still think of as "mission fields."
Now, you will no doubt say that I am being unfair; these children came from a church in which the gospel is faithfully preached. Perhaps so. Perhaps your reputation for clear proclamation of Christ's mercy to sinners is well deserved. The problem is that few of these kids had ever heard you preach, for the simple reason that they had never actually been to the adult worship service.
Don't worry, I'm not about to break out the family-integrated-worship argument. I imagine you would laugh at the very idea, and frankly I share some of the same skepticism. But I do think two questions ought to be discussed openly. First, is there not a point during a child's maturing years at which he ought to be exposed to "big church"? And second, when he isn't in the worship, doesn't it matter exactly what takes place in the youth center?
I wondered what such children could know of the gospel. Another writing assignment asked, "What does 'being a Christian' mean to you?" The kids said a lot about going to youth group and having a good time, but they rarely mentioned the cross. The same boy who wrote the above account did talk about Jesus; he said that shortly after he turned ten he heard something about Jesus dying, so he asked his mom what that was all about. Sadly, after a decade of church attendance it was a new subject to him.
In fact, whenever I talked to my classes about the death and resurrection of Jesus, they reacted as though perhaps sometime they might have heard something similar. This is how I came to the conclusion above: how could one expect the members of this Unreached People Group to demonstrate any familiarity with the gospel when their religious education had consisted of food fights and infantile pranks sprinkled with the occasional virtuous platitude?
This experience sent me back to the pastorate with a sober appreciation of what it means to be accountable for souls - particularly for the young souls who are brought to my church and raised under my pastoral care. Is it not my business to be certain that they have at the very least been confronted with the realities of sin and its only cure? I realize that they have parents and Sunday School teachers, but -under Christ - I am a minister of the gospel, and I have a responsibility to them.
Don't you agree? Don't you feel the same way about the crowd of young souls currently growing from infancy to adulthood in your youth center?
Now admittedly, here is where I have the advantage on you - the advantage of the small-church pastor. It is an easy thing for me to know the children in my congregation - children whom I see and with whom I interact on a regular basis. I understand my advantages, and it is my business to make something of them. I also understand that you are at a considerable handicap. The demands on your time are far greater than the demands on mine. I wonder, though, does that change anything? You - like me - are a minister of the gospel, and you - like me - have had young souls entrusted to your care.
Now you are no more answerable to me than I am to you, but permit me to make two recommendations in the spirit of love - for Christ, for the church, and for the lost.
First, if your calling is to proclaim the gospel of grace which every sinner must hear, make certain that the lost children in your congregation hear it. I am not suggesting that you do away with your nursery, nor would I presume to tell you the exact age at which kids should start coming to worship. Wouldn't you agree, though, that at some point before adolescence a child is capable of understanding gospel preaching? Your people bring their families to your church because you are a gifted communicator and because your reputation is that you preach that Jesus Christ saves sinners. But what good does that do for the kids if they never hear you preach?
Second, since yours is the name at the top of the letterhead, take ownership of the education which goes on under your authority. Do you know with any certainty that your youth program confronts kids with the gospel? If you have never dropped in unannounced, then may I suggest that you could do more good in the classroom than in the pulpit next week? Of course I can anticipate the objection to that; you have a ministry to maintain, and the folks who pay the bills expect you to be in the pulpit on Sunday. But remember, the Good Shepherd said this: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?" If there is even the possibility that there are lost souls in your youth groups who equate Christianity with pie fights and pious advice, don't you think your congregation could survive the comforts of the worship center without you for one Sunday?
If you find that the experience of religion which children get in your church is little different from what they might watch on the Disney Channel, and if consequently they lack any basis to be transformed by the renewal of their minds, that by testing they may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect, then perhaps there is an elephant in the room that you may have missed!
|click here for more
I suspect that the long-term fidelity of any church depends as much on its approach to its youth as any other human factor. The words of that Purpose Statement look like the fruit of a ministry which has failed to transmit gospel fidelity to the next generation. If our children have never been confronted with the claims of Christ, then we ought to have anticipated the arrival of pastors who can employ terms like "being humble enough" with a straight face - even while mocking other Christians for "crouching behind walls of disagreement" and making ironic claims to "advance Christ's call to unity." If there has been a lack of teaching among our youth, can we be surprised when one day they talk of "holding the essential tenets of the faith with a ferocious intensity," yet fail to realize that the Trinity is among the first of those tenets?
Every pastor ought to hope for better fruit than this. Remember, both you and I will give an account of our stewardship of souls. Perhaps you will continue to build your ministry until it eclipses that of every great preacher in history. Perhaps your next book will be acclaimed by all as a timeless best-seller. Perhaps your ministry on next spring's conference tour will draw rave reviews for its broadness of mind and heart. But if the children of your congregation are just another Unreached People Group, what exactly are you building? Do you want to be saved as if through a fire when all else - including the families in your care - are burned up like what's left over after the harvest?
I am sure that is not your wish, and I leave it to you for your good and Godly consideration.
With Genuine Brotherly Concern,
Tom Chantry


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Crock Pot Mexican Tortilla Soup
Makes 8 (2 cup) servings
Getting started Equipment you will need: Crock pot or stock pot, cutting board, sharp knife Do right away: Action step 1
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
28 oz. canned crushed tomatoes
4 c. reduced sodium chicken broth
3 (4 oz.) cans diced green chilies
6 oz. frozen corn (1/2 bag)
3 Tbsp. cumin
2 (14 oz.) cans black beans
Light sour cream
1. Chop peppers and onion. Mince garlic. Place in crock pot.
2. Add crushed tomatoes, broth, green chilies, corn, and cumin to crock pot. 3 chicken breasts (about 8-10 oz. each) 3. Place chicken breasts on top of soup mixture.
4. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
5. Once cooked, remove chicken breasts and shred, using two forks. Add back into soup.
6. Rinse and drain beans. Spoon about 1/3 c. beans into each bowl along with soup.
7. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.
Suggested Side Items: Whole wheat cheese quesadillas and fresh fruit
Tips: Beans can be added into soup before cooking if your crock pot is large enough. However, because they are pre-cooked they are fine to add into soup at time of service. Mix remaining beans into soup before storing as leftovers. This soup can also be made in traditional fashion using a stock pot or Dutch oven. Dice and cook chicken first, then add remaining ingredients and simmer 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Shopping list: Red and green peppers Crushed tomatoes Chicken breasts Chicken broth Canned green chilies Frozen corn Black beans Sour cream
Check for: Garlic Onion


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Prices, promotions, styles and availability may vary by store and online.
Action - Bolt Action
Caliber - .30-06 Sprg.
Barrel Length - 22"
Weight - 7.0 Lbs.
Sights - Ruger grooved rail
Ruger M77 Mark II rifles are time-tested, bolt-action, special-application rifles at a great value. These rifles feature a matte stainless steel finish that resists corrosion. The heavy contour, hammer-forged barrel with target crown provides long-range accuracy shot after shot. The wide, target forend gives stability on sandbags or other support surfaces. With a one-piece bolt that has proven to be one of the strongest on the market, integral scope bases which can never shoot loose, and a diagonally angled forend screw that adds accuracy by securely pulling the barreled action down into the handsome, black laminate stock for accurate shooting, the M77 Mark II rifle proves its value as a workhorse in the field and at the range. This left-handed rifle includes a Ruger grooved rail. Its wood is in good condition, its metal is in very good condition, and its bore is in excellent condition.


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Handcrafted Designs for Muse, Photoshop & Edge
We've worked hard creating original designs for those wanting something different, unique and creative. Muse allows you to create anything you desire and forge it into a website. We've done most of the work for you by setting the stage. Our themes are completely customizable for your unique creative input.


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Dragon Age II ReviewBy Adam Sessler - Posted Mar 08, 2011
Dragon Age II is best described as a conundrum: a sprawling and sometimes messy fantasy game that, in places, improves on the Bioware model, while taking admirable risks that don't pay off as well as their initial promise. This results in an experience that, for all my ambivalences, is something I intend to play again, but not until many months from now.
The Pros
- Characterizations are incredible
- Conversations are deeply engrossing
- Production design is much improved over predecessor
The Cons
- Overall story lacks direction
- Dungeon types repeat endlessly
- Combat is decidedly uneven
Dragon Age 2 Review:
Editor's Note: Adam's review is for the console versions of Dragon Age 2 only. To read our impressions of the PC version, click here.
Coming less than a year-and-a-half after its predecessor -- and in the wake of widespread acclaim over Bioware's Mass Effect 2 -- Dragon Age 2 comes with the baggage of expectation and apprehension that seems requisite for all major developers, especially one that has become as prolific as the Canada-based juggernaut.
The short gap between installments, the move to more console-friendly combat, and the legacy of dated game design and presentation from its predecessor (despite G4's 5/5 review I, personally, felt lukewarm about Dragon Age: Origins) have conspired to make Dragon Age 2 something of a curiosity.
Having now sunk around 75 hours into the game, Dragon Age II is best described as a conundrum: a sprawling and sometimes messy fantasy game that, in places, improves on the Bioware model, while taking admirable risks that don't pay off as well as their initial promise. This results in an experience that, for all my ambivalences, is something I intend to play again, but not until many months from now.
And In The Beginning, There Was Story...
In DA 2, the player takes on the human character of Hawke (Male or Female with the choice of Warrior, Mage, or Rogue). The tale begins towards the end of the introduction to Dragon Age: Origins, with the betrayal and sacking of Ferelden. Hawke and his family are racing to escape the darkspawn hordes by seeking refuge in the city-state of Kirkwall where, despite having family ties, they encounter people who are less than charitable to the throngs of survivors arriving at their gates.
Making a deal with one of two disreputable groups in Kirkwall to receive asylum, the prologue ends. Then, Hawke sets out one year later, after the events of Dragon Age: Origins, in a tale of climbing out of destitution and anonymity to become an individual of great renown and significance. Hawke becomes enmeshed in the politics of Kirkwall, which act as an accelerator to the wider concerns of the Drgaon Age universe: fear of outsiders, the repression of mages, and the general avarice that leads to conflicts with Darkspawn, demons, pirates, thieves, elves, and the like.
Anyone who has played more than one Bioware title will be familiar with the three-act structure of their games and Dragon Age II is no different; however, what ends up being a notable departure is how each act functions as a self-contained story with only peripheral elements informing successive chapters (major decisions and character interactions do flood forward but in less formal and surprising ways).
...But then, Disappointment
Initially, this approach is admirably audacious. Despite oblique warnings at the game's beginning of the dangers that await the characters, the all-too-familiar framing device of preventing the end of the world is wholly absent. This allows for a more mature and laconic growth of the narrative that, initially, seems to take full advantage of the game's significant length and content.
This ambition, however, gives way to confusion when, even forty hours in, no over-arching drama begins to take shape and the myriad of side-quests further complicate any attempt for the player to derive a coherent motivation driving their involvement in the tale outside of the acquisition of goods and experience. That, and the game's conclusion is almost stunning in its abrupt (and shockingly obvious) revelation, only serves to highlight how disparate the narrative components have been throughout.
A Ray Of Hope
Those components -- the self contained sections of story that make up the main and secondary quests -- are where the storytelling excels and, in many instances, exceeds the incredible writing in Mass Effect 2. The motley assortment of characters that comprise your party are among the most memorable in recent games, and are so carefully composed that they stay fresh throughout.
One quest, which posits you as an increasingly baffled go-between facilitating a teammate's junior-high level crush on a subordinate, is not only funny, but also quite endearing. A deeply naive elf provides some of the best ambient dialogue around, especially when coupled with a worldly and lusty pirate.
Varric, the dwarf, whose recounting of the games events frames the story, is perhaps the greatest achievement. He cuts a recognizable archetype, the outwardly selfish Bogart-type whose dry, cynical, and weary attitude to the game's events compelled me to engender his friendship through the game's conversation system and resulted in a quiet and touching transformation in his attitude.
The conversation system is another of the game's remarkable accomplishments and is an evolution of both Mass Effects 2's elegance and Dragon Age: Origins's diversity. Dialogue choices have no clear good/bad split; in fact, there's no easy overarching split to be found. Within each dialogue tree, your choices have color-coding that informs about the level of accommodation to a character, from generous to single-minded. In addition, there are a wide variety of symbols that highlight your motivation: a gavel for Solomon-style decision making, an olive branch for indulgent understanding, and the mask of comedy denoting sarcasm to name a few.
This immense diversity is immediately accessible and affords an amazing range of paths as to how you engage your cohorts and, depending on your understanding of and intentions with these characters, the results prove dramatically different. Lacking a clear roadmap as to how these choices will be received is a thrilling experience that brilliantly dissects the awkward social disconnect between the desire to present oneself as you are, and the innate need to manipulate your image in front of others. (After spending the night with a character, the awkward "What does this mean?" discussion that follows may prove more terrifying than anything in Resident Evil 4.)
The characterizations and conversation mechanic are given a proper platform for admiration from a production design that is light years from the original Dragon Age. Taking a cue from Mass Effect 2, scenes play out with camera moves, character movement, and facial expressions that bring life to the hours of dialogue that fill the game. The decision to move from the generic high-fantasy aesthetic of the original to a far more colorful and stylized one is essential in making the game compelling on the character level, the clear highlight of the
Dragon Age II experience.
I Feel Like It's Déjà vu All Over Again
This triumph makes it all the more a shame that the presentation on the macro level does not fare as well. In the world of Dragon Age II, the city-state of Kirkwall is where you spend 80% of the game, occasionally travelling to the surrounding environs. Initially, the size and detail of the city, broken up into several districts that delineate the socio-economic and political strata of the city are impressive, as they are much bigger and far more detailed than the environments in Dragon Age: Origins; however, once it becomes clear that this one area is where the entirety of the game will play out, a fatigue creeps in as the layout of the maps become better known and the limitations of the details belie the mere simulacrum of a bustling fantasy city.
Once again, it's admirable to see an approach that diverges from the LOTR "journey of the ages" approach, but that also brings with it the obligation to balance out the lack of geographical variety with an evolving sense of mystery and discovery in a singular location. In addition, travelling between various locations in the city and to the countryside are accomplished through a similar static map used in DA:O, which loses the organic flow of one district streaming into the next and only serves to further keep the player at arm's length from the world where he is asked to spend so much time.
Where the limiting presentation of the world could have been balanced out is in the numerous dungeons where quests take place. Sadly, this opportunity is not only missed, it is the game's biggest disappointment. With one exception, all dungeons, whether they are in a mansion, cave, warehouse or coastline, are derivation from one of 5 or 6 preset maps.
Each visit to one of those maps is distinct only by certain doors being locked at different times, allowing for nominally alternate paths in always identical settings, settings that feel primitive when compared to DA:O. This backward step in design is somewhat astonishing compared to not only other Bioware games, but to similar western RPG's. The lack of attention to the spaces where combat takes place -- a major component to the game -- not only diminishes further the necessary sense of awe that is at the core to a fantastical setting, but places an insurmountable burden on the combat mechanics to carry those sequences, a burden that Dragon Age II cannot carry.
Fight Your Way To The Middle
Combat in DA II has been the source of much of the pre-release anxiety. It looked to take the old-school strategic depths of the Original Dragon Age for the PC, which were awkwardly implemented for the console releases, and reduce them to something better attuned to a controller, or the "Mass Effect-ization" of Dragon Age, if you will.
Whether or not that has happened depends on one's fidelity to the original game and their affection for ME, and I won't take the opportunity to chime in on the debate. What I will say is that I have left this aspect of the game for last in the evaluation because I still don't know what to make of it.
The real-time mechanics and significantly faster pace have moments that are visceral, satisfying, and compulsive, and at other times, especially with bosses and numerous high-level enemies, it becomes turgid and tiresome. How I grew my party's stats and who I took adventuring with me had much to with the quality of the experience; however, as the game progressed, it became clear that the admirable intentions of the game to appeal to all play styles all at once resulted in an thoroughly uneven combat experience.
I will resist the temptation to deconstruct the logic of the combat design in the game because knowing the grammar is not the best way to appreciate a sentence. When the combat is good, you can play primarily with Hawke. Using his special abilities in conjunction with the other party members to take down enemies gives you a sense of control over the situation that provides a great degree of satisfaction with your success. Your party members automate effectively with you, only stepping in occasionally to instruct other party members to attack in a particular way. This style of play works in conjunction with the fast pace of the combat and helps zip you through the dreary dungeons in their small battle arenas, while feeling powerful and clever.
It's here that DA 2's accessibility is on display, while allowing more advanced players to micromanage and use their party to even greater effect. When the game throws endless enemies at you, absurdly powerful bosses, and numerous high-level enemies with an abundance of hit points, (starting as early as the first act) many players will suddenly wonder if they've been playing the game wrong, or if it suddenly shifted gears into DA:O without warning. Your mana/stamina bar, which regulates your special attacks, drains from all party members as the fights wear on, and the fast pace of the combat descends into visual chaos as you desperately pause the game to get your bearings. All the while, you're watching party members die, leaving only Hawke to wail away on enemy after enemy with the A button -- your one basic attack.
It's in these moments, which happen with relative frequency throughout Dragon Age II, that the universal appeal of the combat emerges more as an unsatisfying compromise. The game provides a tactics menu to modify party member behavior in combat which is stripped from DA:O, but that's about as appealing to fiddle with as your Windows system folder. Meticulous management of you characters growth in stats and powers can also mitigate these problems but requiring such hardcore attentiveness without conditioning the player, in addition to seducing them with an initially intuitive interface for combat, is tantamount to inviting someone to a game of blackjack and switching over to 52 pick-up.
Not that the game shouldn't find ways to challenge players in combat, but here, the challenge isn't very fun. Long battles only stand out for their length and leaden pacing. Throw in the inelegant enemy placement and combat animations, and Dragon Age II's combat unfortunately proves most compelling when it isn't an impediment to the other aspects of the game. Thankfully, the game vacillates between manageable and overwhelming until midway through the third act when most reasonable players, who would like to see how their choices resolve the storylines, switch over to the casual setting.
The New Age of Dragons
Dragon Age 2 is decidedly uneven and most disappointing when you consider what the game would have been like if all its various components were as polished and considered as its best aspects. That's a tall order, even for Bioware; however, with the developer releasing games at such a remarkable rate and two more major titles with 2011 alone, it's not unreasonable to expect more ... much more.
Along with Bethesda Studios, Bioware has forever altered the landscape of the western RPG, if not all games. With each release it's easier for the player to see their design and mechanics at work, which puts an increasingly greater burden on them to not just improve, but to reinvent. Unfortunately, Dragon Age II is not that watershed. The game is a hell of a lot of fun to play but, for its 70+ hours, you can feel the need for something new.
Still want to play it? Why not rent it at Gamefly?
Dragon Age 2 PC Impressions By Leah Jackson
When Dragon Age: Origins originally came out for PC I was stoked. I love action RPGs, MMORPGS, and high fantasy so it was a perfect fit. I'm a PC gamer and I've been one for almost ten years now. A mouse and keyboard is all I need to be truly happy (plus a sick gaming PC, obviously).
My rig isn't the absolute best, but I'm running with Windows 7 64-bit, an AMD Phenon 9650 Quad-Core Processor ~2.3 GHz, 4 Gigs of RAM, with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX460 graphics card. I use a Razer Imperator mouse and an imported QSENN keyboard from China, not because it's "the best" keyboard, but because it looks awesome like a checkerboard. With this setup I can run pretty much any game on max settings at 30-40 frames per second.
Now that you know all that, I thought Dragon Age: Origins controlled wonderfully on PC, and it was simple to execute intricate strategies and tactics with its combat system. I heard that the gameplay mechanics on the console were clunky and hard to use, which didn't surprise me because things usually work better on PCs when they're designed for that platform. I also got very heavily into modding my DA:O file until my characters looked nothing like the ones I originally designed, and I even changed some of my spells around to look cooler. Both of those are things you can't do on a console.
Dragon Age: Origins was an enjoyable experience, but, unfortunately, I can't say the same for Dragon Age 2. I've been playing the game on my PC and the controls that I once loved from DA: O are gone. They've been replaced with super fast-paced action that seems strictly designed with console players in mind, leaving PC gamers in the dust.
DA: O combat was a bit slow, but that slowness fit well with the PC controls. Even though the action wasn't super fast, you had so many buttons to push it was fun to try different combos and keep an even pace.
In Dragon Age 2, the fights are so ridiculously speedy (to keep people with low attention spans entertained) that it's hard to even click on an enemy in the game on PC. On consoles, it automatically targets the next closest thing, making this completely a non-issue. On the PC, I have to constantly pause just to be able to target an enemy because they move around so fast.
Not only that, but on the console version the game automatically pauses for you when you do an area of effect attack, which isn't the same for PC where you have to do it manually. The one decent thing PC gamers get combat wise is an auto attack, whereas console players have to keep mashing their action button.
It would have been great if there was a tab target system, like in modern MMORPG's, to make this a bit easier for the PC gamers. As it stands now, it's insanely annoying trying to target enemies. I have pretty fast speed and good coordination when it comes to strategy games and first person shooters, so being unable to target something in DA2 is just bad design.
Then there's the new conversation wheel. In Dragon Age: Origins there was a number next to each choice on PC so you could just press that number key and the dialogue would follow suit. In DA2 you have to mouse click the choice you want on the wheel. Yes, it's a very small inconvenience, but nevertheless it's annoying when I'm sitting back to play and have to click one extra thing that I didn't have to in the other game.
All of this aside, DA2 on the PC allows for a lot more spells to instantly be at your disposal, unlike the console versions. You can have up to 24 abilities on your spell bar at once, whereas in the console version you can only have 6. So, that's nice. That was a great thing about Origins as well.
Another thing that annoyed me about the PC version were its video options, or rather, the lack thereof. There was no "full screen windowed mode," and if you don't want to play in full screen the game window doesn't resize for some reason. Again, a minor gripe but enough to be annoying to someone who is used to playing most modern games in a windowed mode for easy alt-tabbing between the game and other things (like, for instance, browsing G4TV.com).
I think that while Dragon Age: Origins was meant to be played on PC, Dragon Age 2 is really meant for a console audience. Sure, it works on PC and you can play it, but it's not as fluid as it is on console, especially when it comes to combat or the conversation wheel.
I have to say that, not only am I disappointed by the fact the game is entirely too linear, but not making it as easily accessible for the PC users really stinks. Plus, BioWare didn't even release new modding materials for Dragon Age 2, so all the fun I had with old mods is a thing of the past as well.
I'm not saying that DA2 is a terrible game by any means, but if you have the option to pick the title up on console or PC, it saddens me to say, that console would probably be the better choice.


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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Equal pay pioneer Lilly Ledbetter is campaigning for Democrat Tom Barrett and speaking out against Gov. Scott Walker's repeal of a law making it easier for women to sue over discrimination.
Ledbetter said at a Wednesday news conference that she was appalled when she learned Walker signed a bill repealing the nearly three-year-old law that allowed women to sue for damages in state court.
No lawsuit was ever brought under the law, but Ledbetter and other advocates say that is because employers made sure they were in compliance to avoid being sued.
Barrett has been using the issue against Walker in the campaign.
The first bill President Barack Obama signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act making it easier for workers to sue for pay discrimination.


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Text Courtesy: Karan Bajaj, ET Bureau Pic Courtesy: www.nokia.com Price Rs 38,199 Specifications 4.5-inch ClearBlack display (1280 x 768 pixel), 1.5Ghz dual core processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage, 8MP pureview camera, Windows Phone 8, 183g, 2,000 mAh Positive: Beautiful display, fantastic build quality, one of the best camera phones around, wireless chargingNegative: Not nearly enough apps, average audio output, no expandable storage, no TV-out Nokia's Lumia 920 has a lot of industry firsts. It's the first with optical image stabilisation, wireless charging, a touchscreen that can be used with any gloves and a display with the highest refresh rate on any phone today.
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A recent Project: Reader Reaction question asked for story's about mothers. Steve Deleon of Clovis wrote:
"Growing up with my father in the Air Force, my mother always kept the household going even though we had to move just about every three years.
"I have a sister and it was especially hard on us as kids with all the moving; just as you make some good friends it was time to move again (usually to another country).
"My Mom was always there for us, and kept our spirits up by also being our friend. After my father passed away, it was time for us to keep her spirits up. She is doing great now, living in Tampa, Fla., very near my sister and her family and in good health.
"She is very involved in the church and loves to write poems. She reads them to her church group every Sunday.
"I miss her a lot … but through telephone calls, e-mails, letters and occasional trips we still get to see each other."
Reporter's notebook was compiled by CNJ Editor David Stevens. To participate in Project: Reader Reaction, contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com


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I'm new here, but this sounds like fun. I'll try and be there on the 24th.
Is anyone here going to attend the socal supras annual meet this year on March 24th at irvine park?
Never heard of it. Interested
If you have a 1j/2j in anything other than a Toyota. Your build, your swap was a total fail. Your a failure!!!!!!!!
check out socalsupras.org>events> irvine annual meets march 24th.
Hope you can attend!
Ill see you guys tomorrow night!!


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Well i got a call yesturday from a temp agency i am working with to show up for a job today. i decided when i got a job i would try to wean now 5 and half month old DS into formula. figured i would have more time... anyway so i tried to start as soon as i heard the news. i never had a problem with giving him bottles of ebm and hes had formula a few times but yesturday he completely refused the formula in the bottle for about 4 hours than he drank 2oz then he completely refused it again for another 4/5 hours, even tried mixing it with the little bit of breastmilk i was able to pump, until i gave in and gave him breast milk from the tap. then soon after he puked up everywhere, overeating?
well today i started my job and my dad was watching him. first my dad tryed formula and he wouldn't eat it then he gave him some thawed ebm and he still refused to eat. during the coarse of the day he had about a 1/4th of a jar of baby food. however it wasn't until 8 hours later my dad said he ate 3oz of ebm. and didn't eat again until 3 hours later when i showed up to bf to him. so in about 10hr period he only had alittle baby food and 3oz of breastmilk today, help!!! my dad seems to think this is alright and he would eat if he was hungry but my baby is a piglet that eats about everyhour (he snacks) and i just know 3oz in 10hrs is not right. what can i do?
also i'm not really able to pump at work so continueing breastfeeding them is not really an option. unless theres a way to breastfeed and not have to pump for a 10 hours period? any which way, how do i work this out at work so my boobs engorged and arent hurting constantly?


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2011 Milestones by the Month - April, May, June
December 28, 2011 —
PA Governor Corbett nominates Richard J. Allan as secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
Sullivan County's largest pot-growing operation busted in towns of Highland, Lumberland and Mamakating, NY.
Hessinger building demolished in Callicoon Center, NY.
Cornell University professors publish research concluding natural gas produced by hydraulic fracturing contributes to global warming as much as coal, or even more.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman threatens lawsuit over hydrofracking.
Town of Highland passes six-month moratorium on high impact industrial uses.
"Ground Up" report finds Catskills region of New York to be a model for sustainable food production.
Town of Tusten sign vandalized on Route 97.
Mountain Laurel Music Center reopens as Mountain Laurel Pocono Mountains Performing Arts Center in Bushkill, PA.
Six women from NY and PA walk 90 miles in one week to raise awareness of the sacredness of water.
Vertical windmill at Sullivan County Community College to be dismantled.
Michael Krancer is confirmed as PA DEP secretary.
Fire chief Don Wall and fire company president, Ken Yeaw are suspended in Shohola Township.
TGP files FERC application for Northeast Upgrade Project (NEUP).
EOG Resources fined $208,625 for polluting creeks in Clearfield County.
Joe Hinkes named chief ranger of the National Park Service (NPS) Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.
Calkins Baptist Church organizes relief effort to Alabama tornado victims.
Larry Richardson, Town of Cochecton representative is elected to replace Keesler as UDC chair.
'Neighbor's Helping Hand' forms in Highland to help community members in need.
PA DCNR releases new guidelines on gas and oil operations on state forest lands.
Towns of Highland, Lumberland and Tusten first in Sullivan County to voluntarily fly POW/MIA flags.
Jill Padua sells 10,000 bottle of Jill's Kitchen Open Sesame Sauce.
Pike County Commissioners challenge "wet crossing" of Lackawaxen River in Tennessee Gas Pipeline project.
SUNY Sullivan announces Wind Turbine Technology program.
Elton John concert at Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts sells out in record time.
Phish selects Catskill Mountainkeeper as local grassroots group to promote.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman files lawsuit against DRBC for failure to undertake full environmental review of hydrofracking impacts.


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F.E.A.R. 3 Confirmed, Monolith No Longer Involved
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Is Project Hades Monolith's F.E.A.R. 3?
A recently obtained resume for game designer Joel Cuellar reveals that developer Monolith Productions is working on a game entitled Project Hades...
Sierra's 'Mummy' Farewell
We're not saying Vivendi Games's Sierra label's perfect, but after working on F.E.A.R and Half-Life, we all would expect a worthy final project on...
My X-Play 1000Th Episode PosterLatest Post: Mar 18, 2013 by Smashdrama
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text: does anyone have any good gas remedies? I've tried the gas drops, but they don't seem to make a difference. my 7.5 mos old i think has gas issues in his sleep that make him toss and turn. doesn't seem to matter what he eats ( doing 3 meals of solids now too).


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One way to tell if your latch is good is to check the shape of your nipple when it comes out of your baby's mouth at the end of a feeding. If the nipple looks creased or beveled (like a new lipstick), then the nipple is being pinched between the tongue and hard palate.
The nipple should look round, the same shape as when it went in. When in the baby's mouth, the nipple should be near the soft palate (you can feel this in your own mouth by sliding your tongue back). Try making sure your baby is VERY close to your body (think plastered to you), and lining up the nose with the nipple, so baby's lower jaw will take a good inch to inch and a half of areola.
See this site for a graphic:
If you just can't get the latch to be comfortable, consider seeing an IBCLC lactation consultant. Clicking is not a problem if mom is comfortable and baby is getting plenty of milk, but I am concerned that you are still experiencing sore nipples.
Lynnette Hafken, IBCLC


text: My DS is nearly 27 months. It looks like I may have to go on a business trip overseas (I am in South Africa) to London for 4 or 5 days. Will he wean while I am gone? He still drinks a bottle of bm during the day and would BF at night to sleep and during the night and first thing in the am. I do intend to leave a good store of frozen BM while I am gone, but if I am away from him for that long is it likely that he will wean. I really don't want that to happen and am so proud of the fact that we have gone so long. Advice and encouragement would really help.


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Philadelphia Phillies (49-52) at St. Louis Cardinals (61-37)
Kyle Kendrick (9-6, 3.94) vs. Lance Lynn (11-5, 4.13)
Time: 7:15 PM EST, Busch Stadium
Weather: Clear, 81
Media: Twitter and Facebook
Tickets: Philadelphia Phillies tickets
Wednesday night was ugly for the Phillies. Very ugly as they were clobbered, 11-3. The Phillies will turn to Kyle Kendrick, who is coming off a rough start where he allowed six runs.
Lance Lynn has 11 wins on the season, but that may be because he leads the National League in run support. Lynn tends to get into jams, but manages to escape them. Lynn will allow baserunners, and it is up to the Phillies' offense to capitalize with runners in scoring position.
Lineup: Rollins SS, Young 3B, Utley 2B, Young RF, Ruf 1B, Nix LF, Mayberry CF, Kratz C, Kendrick P.
36 Comments
49-52? Huh? I coulda swore I read a few days ago the Phils had pulled even at .500. Guess ya can't believe everything you read. That's a shame.
This oughta be fun tonight. The Cards recall that one time lefty specialist Mark RapICann'tSpellItChinski just in time to find the Phils talented lefty pinch hitting core once again headed by the Mart known as Minnie. I'll have seen more than everyuthing there is to see in baseball when Charlie takes another one of these subtle thanks for the roster, Ruben shots by sending Minnie to the plate, Metheny responds by bringing Rosenthal in for Rep forcing Minn ie to (not) hit lefthanded. It's comical to think Minnie is a switch hitter considering his usual skill set from either side.
Pleased to be running photography of The Great Darryl Kile as the Phils wrap this set in this tremendous baseball toen. Kile dropped a 12-6 that would make even Roy Oswalt jealous. Only a slight exaggeration, but after his Colorado debacle, Darryl was reacquainting with his niche in Cardinal land when he passed a way too soon. He'd have been even more fun to watch in his advanced years as he was a smart assed pitcher.
And speaking of pitching, here's an update on how the Phils starters have now fared in conjunction with the at the time 8 dudes behind them since the all star break when the Phils only committed 4 errors during the 4 day break….
25.2 IP in 5 games
Thirtyfreaking eight hits
22 godforsaken earned runs
Queried up in heaven today as to his response to thate results, The Honorable Gene Mauch tersely (as usual) said, "Now you know why I just pitched Bunning and Short.."
Here's the state of Phillies nation.
The Starting pitching stinks.
The bullpen stinks.
The offense stinks.No power. No leadoff hitter . Ruf is a joke. Even Dom Brown pre injury was completely ineffective. Ruf doesn't look like he can play at this level. The catcher can't hit sans roids. Mayberry can ONLY hit one pitch -a hanging curve. The next big hit by Rollins will be his first in 2 months.
The defense stinks.
The minor league system is barren.
Other than that-All is well.
Ruff – .290 avg .390 oba and he stinks? Don't post unless you know what you are talking about. And if you are looking for rbi's, you can't get those when nobody gets on in front of you. If every Phillie had the approach of Ruff and Utley our offense would not stink, it would look more like the Cardinals.
Cloaked secrecy on Cabrera's availability starting Friday. Leyland post game today…
Asked for an update on Cabrera after the game, Tigers manager Jim Leyland said: "He didn't play today. I don't have anything for you. I wish I did. You guys can ask till the cows come home. You're wasting your time.
"You want to a quote on Cabrera — he didn't play today. I have no idea."
Leyland said he understood why he was being asked, but he had no update.
"Better again today, like I told you yesterday," Leyland said. "Wasn't playable. I don't know what else to tell you."
Let's see if this Young at bat is an at bat of the game as it moves on. Scoring ops figure to be rare, and at leasdt he hit the ball well the first time.
Often, you can't be sure whether it's good pitching or bad hitting, or vice versa to properly apply credit. That KK bunt was good execution by the Cards, but that bunt? Good lord. Snuffs out continuation of a modest comeback, and maybe more importantly, forces them to keep the Cards at bay. No small task. There isn't much that is for this undermanned ballclub. Bad fundamentals.
What a call Charlie!!! Kendrick bunts with two on, one out, 2 strike count, into a third to first DP. I guess we're seeing it all this year. Minimart called up three times when I understood he had been released last off season and now he and John McDonald are our infield bench. Big bats on wood, huh. What a f—–g joke this team is.!!!!
I saw it a little differently. The call was okay, the execution horrible. He's a better bunter than that, but you wouldn't know it from that at bat. But, they're still in the game, fragile state that it is.
That oughta do it for Lynn. Things should get tougher from this point forward.
Shame. I wouldn't tell Metheny how to run his pen, but while Lynn didn't exactly look tired, he's been up a lot, and you'd figure long as he's in, maybe he hangs one.
I know the Phillies are only down by two. But it feels like they are down by 13.
That's the thing about this club this year, and a lot of last, I guess. They tend to win when you don't expect it and vice versa. Such is life for an average or medicore club, I suppose. It's really why I thought they'd win a couple of these 6, because they are undermanned and overmatched, so they'd do the unexpected, and play into the trend I described. But it does feel like they are down a lot, and it's tough to see it changing. Plus, the Cards are really good. Maybe things go better over the weekend. That word maybe is a life saver.
Remembering Dandy Don "Turn out the lights the party's over, they say all things must end"
Strike three!! Let the firesale begin.
Does anyone else think Ed Wade is somehow to blame for this?…
Why? For fleecing RAJ in the Pence trade?
Wasn't a legitimate question but I am curious as to why the Phillies hired him back in any capacity
Mac, I don't understand why they wouldn't. He's as responsible as anyone (or more) for the 2007-11 run.
It's always ugly at the end. And this is downright fugly, so man, it better be the end.
Sell, Ruben, sell.
So the great Rubini wants to buy…
The only thing he can buy is false hope. He needs to unplug from his false reality Matrix and stop chugging his pharmaceutical grade Kool-Aid. For a plethora of reasons this team doesn't have it. Even in a weak division, it isn't happening. However, let's say the Braves collapse and the Phil's surge and capture the division. They aren't getting past any of the other teams. The cards had five hits and three runs, with no homeruns. The Phils had six(?) an one run, and no homeruns. Good teams always find ways to win. Unfortunately, this team is not good, sadly they are mediocre. I had hoped beyond hope they would be more. I drank the Kool-Aid, but this Neo woke up.
I hate to say it, but the only way this team will get any bullpen help is to buy it, because they sure aren't getting any from their own farm system. Just so long as they don't rent, and don't trade any really good pieces it might be okay.
I wouldn't want the job of trying to figure out whether to sell off major players or not. The only people who would bring back anything good are the ones who'd be difficult to replace, like ace pitchers and good 2nd baseman. People who think much can be gained by trading aging players with bloated contracts, such as Papelbon, or catchers on the downside who can't seem to hit anymore, or statues of right fielders and 3rd basemen, are living in a fool's paradise. Something can certainly be gained by dumping these guys, particularly M. Young, but one should wonder just how much that will help. A few low-level prospects may be good three or four years down the road, but next year's team will have to be built with free agents and rookies. Free agents are getting scarce and rookies can be risky. Building next year's team could indeed mean "buying," at least to a certain extent.
I agree totally. I'm afraid that Ruben will make some ridiculous deal and give up the "farm" so to speak, or do something irrational because he thinks they have a legitimate shot this year, when they don't and should look to purchase pieces to re-tool for next year and sell or remove any dead wood, i.e., Nix and D Young for starters. He has to buy, sell, and remove wisely with ye notion that this year it isn't happening, so let's look to next.
Is anybody going to talk sense to this management team? Amaro is going to further ruin this team by his failure to deal. He is paralyzed with fear. This Amaro is NO general, whatsoever.
His team will suffer longer and stronger by his inability to make deals NOW. The window of opportunity is closing and he sits shivering in the corner too frightened to pull the trigger on some deals.
Amaro needs to get out of town. The sooner the better. Put flatley, he stinks.
"He sits shivering in the corner too frightened to pull the trigger"? that's great stuff, but you're a few days early on the "failure to deal" accusation. The vast majority of deals happen in the last days before the deadline, and especially on the 31st itself.
Yo, Bart,
Let me put it this way. It won't surprise me if by Aug 1, Ruben's work is greeted with a fair amount of dismay. I don't KNOW that it will be, but I'd lean that way.
But the fact of the matter is this, and to me at least it's inarguable.
At best, the public has only the slightest idea what he has going on, and what his longer term plan is. Only people that are naïve or morons swallow what's printed and spoke and take it as gospel and whole. Sure, there might be some truth to some of it, but nothing's been done yet, so what the hell's to criticize. If you had a good awareness of what's even on his plate, PERHAPS you'd have credibility questioning his pace. And maybe it is a poor pace, but it's a blind stab to guess that.
So I'm of the thought that talking sense into this management team is maybe condescending in a way when many of the critics don't necessarily have much clue what their criticizing other than useless rhetoric. Well, it's not useless. It's good for propaganda and reaction testing.
But again, I'm not surprised if come Aug 1 there's room to be pissed. But til then, its just good for water cooler and blog talk.
You've been around the block, Bart. You should relate to this line of thinking, though you might not agree, though to be honest, I think there's a good amount of truth of which I'm writing. After I jab the send button, there'll be at least 1 person thinking this way.
Ken, I agree. I think the deadline passes without any deals of consequence although I still hope for the outright release of Nix.
"Deals of consequence" aren't going to happen because they're not going to trade Papelbon, Lee, or Utley. Who else would be of consequence? Maybe Ruiz or M.Young or Rollins, but they're not going to gain the team a whole lot. Rollins could be somewhat consequential, but he's probably in the Lee/Utley category.
As far as Nix goes (and I wish he could) they'll need some kind of warm body for the outfield until Revere returns. At least he can move more than D. Young. That's the guy they really need to get rid of. Nix won't get you any runs, but any run Delmon gains with his bat is immediately given back with his lack of range and anthracite glove.
Outright release of Nix. Let us ponder the possibility of that. Let us remember that Nix smashed a wicked homer to pave the way to Doc Halladay's 200th win. Such developments, which generally occur once in a lifetime are usually auto qualifiers for heaven entry. The other side of the coin is if steroids merit an unpaid suspension,, and that's the way it is, shouldn't overall ineptitude warrant a choice of castration or sport abolishment? I suppose Nix is a rweener. As a general statement, you gotta get SOMETHING for the guy. But if not, only when his roster spot is costing someone of value, or potential a chance, might as well keep the guy and not eat the cash. He iseems to be costing Minnie a roster spoit, and thet's not bad.
stick a fork in them, the Fat Lady is singing loud and clear for all to hear!
I will still root for them, but this really hurt most legit chances to make playoff push. Now they would have to go on a run of the ages or the Braves/Nats/Mets would have to completely collapse. (Strange, Mets are within striking distance of 2nd place)
W – drinking water tanie przeprowadzki wroclaw Switch the name of good sized establishments are more costly functions – while in the instance of Orange marketing campaign rebrandingowa exceeded 1 billion zł! A very equivalent example stands out as the era, which transformed in the T-Mobile in June 2011 all shares of PTC and Polish mobile operators Era and Heyah Deutsche Telekom took over, establishing a global brand name T-Mobile.
I agree that Tanie Przeprowadzki would look good in a Phillies uniform, but he ain't no Troy Tulowitzki.
Agreed. And Heyah Deutsche is tearing the cover off the ball! Lol.
Schastlivy sluchai moi droog.
Alhrabosky to you, too, fella.
Rebran Dingowa was a stud in Japan, BTW
Beat reporters have a tricky privilege in their arsenal. Use of old quotes. Columnists at least seem to do it more, and the quotes can still seem fresh, and useful.
But that's the first thing I think of when I scan this afternoon's Free Press, and read Jim Leyland's interpretation of Phillies baseball. God forbid for Nice Guy Jim's sake that this gem of a verbiage collection be actually current, but I really believe it's as old as 1 fay.
We don't see them a whole lot, but I've been watching them on TV lately," Leyland said. "They're a good team, they've always been a good team. We're going to face real good pitching.
"They are right there in the thick of it in the National League East. They've had a couple injuries, but they'll be tough."


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"Catholic Answers have given me more than what money can repay. Truth is very powerful stuff and I have found you unique in presenting it with love. You're a model to be followed. Great job, all of you."
"O blessed chain, the sweetest chain and richest that ever came about any man's neck."