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On Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 Patient Privacy Rights' founder and chair testified before the Texas Public Health Committee on Health IT moving forward. Her presentation,"Patient Expectations for Health IT: Control over Health Records Privacy Solutions for HIE" is available here. The agenda for the hearing is below as well as a link to a video of the hearing. The video provided is in the .ram format, and will play in RealPlayer and other limited mediums.
Video of the Public Health Committee Hearing
View a PDF of our briefing
View a PDF of our presentation
View the additional slides on Data Mining
Hearing Purpose: Determine how the state can best coordinate efforts to streamline health care delivery with health information technology (HIT). Identify areas in state law that affect the adoption and use of HIT. Recommend statutory changes as necessary.
A. Overview and Update: Forming Frameworks and Consensus
Mr. Stephen Palmer: Director, Office of e-Health Coordination, Health and Human Services Commission
Mr. Manfred Sternberg: President, Texas Health Service Authority
B. Providers and Stakeholders: Updates and Ideas
Mr. Rob Thomas: CEO of Columbus Community Hospital, TORCH
Dr. Karen Van Wagner: Executive Director, North Texas Specialty Physicians Board Member, Sandlot, LLC
Mr. Ed Marx: CIO of Texas Health Resources
Dr. Robert W. Warren: Pediatric Rheumatologist, Texas Medical Association and the Texas Pediatric Society
C. Privacy Concerns: The Issue of Consent
Dr. Dave Wanser: Visiting Fellow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Deborah Peel: Founder and Chair of Patient Privacy Rights
D. Workforce Planning: Future Potential Needs for Texas
Mrs. Sue Biedermann MSHP, RHIA, FAHIMA: Chair, HIM Program, Texas State University
Dr. Jack Smith: Dean of the School of Health Information Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
E. Public Comment


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Choose the period
Today, I was shopping when I overheard a woman telling an employee that she was buying an iPad for her 5-year-old son. Annoyed, I turned around and ranted about how he should have more age appropriate toys. Then she explained that her son is autistic and will be using the iPad to communicate. FML
by Mimi / 11/29/2012 at 12:29am / United States / Miscellaneous
Today, the car in front of me in the drop-off area at my son's school parked, and the driver got out. I basically leaned on my horn and gave her every dirty look in the book. She said nothing but stared at me as she opened the back of her van to unload her child's wheelchair. I'm an asshole. FML
by AHole / 11/21/2012 at 9:03am / United States (North Dakota) / Transportation
Today, my friends and I went out to dinner. Being short on cash, I suggested a game where we put our phones in the center of the table and first to check their phone had to pay the bill. Our conversation died out, and fearful of having an awkward silence, I checked my phone. FML
by dgilbs / 11/12/2012 at 5:08pm / United States (Michigan) / Money
Today, I took a picture of myself wearing a whipped cream bra with cherry nipples, captioned, "I hope you enjoyed your dinner, now how about some dessert???" I meant to send it to my fiancé. I sent it by mistake to my dad. FML
by Whipped Cream / 11/24/2012 at 12:38am / United States (North Carolina) / Intimacy
Today, my family was celebrating my grandma's 90th birthday. I pulled a little prank and got candles that keep relighting. After a few blows, my grandma fainted. FML
by Anonymous / 11/15/2012 at 9:54am / United States (Pennsylvania) / Miscellaneous
Today, I was waitressing for a huge family. Their bill was $750. Excited about the tip, I was shocked to see only $0.50. As they were leaving, I threw the two whole quarters at their heads. Guess who also got fired today. FML
by Misunderstood Waitress / 11/06/2012 at 5:37pm / United States / Work
Today, I'm recovering in the emergency room. How did I get here? Intoxicated at a coed party, I saw a hole in the host's shed and thought it funny to christen it a "glory-hole", only to be bitten by what may well have been a black widow spider. FML
by Widowmaker / 11/28/2012 at 1:09pm / United States (Nevada) / Health
Today, I woke up and looked over to see the "beautiful girl" I slept with last night. Turns out it was the obsessive girl from my class with a man-face I had avoided all semester. In conclusion, beer goggles are very real and very powerful. FML
by coolguy / 11/06/2012 at 12:15am / United States (Virginia) / Intimacy
Today, in a state of extreme boredom, I decided to dress my 6-month-old son in girl's clothes. As he sat in my lap in a frilly dress, and as I was placing a very pink and lacy bow on his head, my mother-in-law unexpectedly walked in. She now thinks I'm mentally unstable and should be in therapy. FML
by ekm86 / 11/26/2012 at 11:52am / United States (Oregon) / Kids
Today, Muse cancelled their upcoming show in Oslo. I bought my sold-out tickets on the black market for double the retail price, and have no way of getting my money back. FML
by faen / 11/29/2012 at 4:12pm / Norway (Sogn og Fjordane) / Miscellaneous
Today, my friends and I were playing truth or dare game. It was late and we were drunk, so they dared me to run naked into my neighbor's yard while yelling, "Help! The pixies took my penis!" I ran screaming right into their big family reunion. FML
by nekkidness / 11/21/2012 at 4:06pm / United States (North Carolina) / Miscellaneous
Today, after nearly a year of headaches and fuzzy vision, I went to the eye doctor. It turns out I've had my contacts in the wrong eyes for a year. FML
by Midnightpearls / 11/02/2012 at 11:39am / United States / Health
Today, I took a pregnancy test. When I saw that the result was positive, I started crying and showed my mom. She burst out laughing and told me that I had taken an ovulation test. FML
by I'm stupid / 11/25/2012 at 10:08am / United States (Illinois) / Health

subset: commoncrawl


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Shrinebuilder: a supergroup that doesn't suckMonday, November 16th, 2009
Well, concert reviews are no longer something I'm doing for the Washington City Paper (just concert photos), and that actually works out nicely because it means I can write about concerts that inspire me right here at this blog, like I used to. The latest in a long list of enjoyable concerts I've seen in 2009 was Shrinebuilder last Friday night at Sonar in Baltimore.
I dig the Shrinebuilder record, although predictably I like the parts that sound like Om and Neurosis the best. Lots of folks have been saying that it's exactly the sum of its parts, and I basically agree. That said, the song "Pyramid of the Moon" is absolutely incredible and in its case at least, I enjoy the parts so much that the sum of them is pretty immense. It goes from sounding like Neurosis into an intense Om-like mantra part into Wino's juicy psychedelic lead guitar back to sounding like Om but more fleshed out. This is a recipe for awesomeness. Still, yes, the record as a whole is good, but not quite great. (Say a strong 10 on the Gnosis scale.)
Live is a different story. They were fantastic. They played like a real band, not a cobbled-together supergroup. The best tracks from the album were better live; I particularly liked seeing/hearing Wino and Scott Kelly trade off on vocals. Their vocal styles are so incredibly different, but they fit together perfectly in the live setting (whereas on the record I found Wino's vocals a tad bit annoying). Their guitar styles are also incredibly different, and seeing them live gave me new perspective to how their guitar lines fit together in the compositions. Getting to see and hear Al Cisneros do his thing in a full-band setting rather than the stripped-down context of Om was a real treat, too. His first "aaaaaaaahhhhh" vocal drone in "Pyramid of the Moon" was as powerful as any moment I've seen with Om. And Dale Crover on drums? Sick. Of the four members' "main" bands, Shrinebuilder sounds the least like Melvins, but Crover definitely puts his personal stamp on the music nonetheless.
Cosmo Lee kind of stole my thunder with his review of the band's L.A. show, the only show they played before the Baltimore show I saw. Go read it. I agree with him. (Also, here are my photos from the show.)
As an aside, one of the opening bands, U.S. Christmas, is a definite candidate for the most rhythmically boring rock band ever to employ two drummers. Seriously, why?


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Mrs. Gonzales was born July 25, 1921, in Bee County to Lorenzo Gonzales and Benita Carreon Gonzales. She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Pawnee.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Lorenzo C. Gonzales Jr. and Isabel Gonzales; and a sister, Brijida Saenz.
Survivors include her sisters, Aurora Gonzales of Pawnee, Olivia Garcia of Kenedy and Eustacia Alejandro of Belton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Monday, April 1, in the Eckols Funeral Home chapel in Kenedy. A rosary will be recited there that evening at 7 o'clock.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 2, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy with Rev. Norbert Herman officiating. Interment will follow in the Nell Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Lorenzo C. Gonzales III, Leonel Gonzales, Rafael Alejandro, Rodrigo Alejandro, Domingo Garcia Jr. and David Garcia.
Honorary pallbearers are Pete Duenes Jr. and Ramiro Tapia.
Eckols Funeral Home


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Mark it Zero
In all the hullabaloo surrounding the oil spill in the gulf, the Gore's divorce and the hopefully inevitable end to the basketball season, you might be losing track of other important happenings around the nation. No, I'm not talking about baseball season (although that is pretty important). Rather, I'm talking about the heating up of political rhetoric as we plow through the primary season in preparation for this fall's midterms.
Sure, most of the hubbub is about Obama and how his policies and actions will fare with the electorate. But let's not forget other equally important regional races. For instance, did you know that the Alabama Agricultural Commissioner controls 5 billion dollars? If you didn't before, you will after watching this:
Of course, you now also know that this guy is out of his freakin' gourd.
You are about to enter a world of pain.
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WOW! What a non-partisan, unbiased opinion piece. How can you, the author of this article, claim to be anything but a dyed-in-the-wool-lib after offering up such a hatchet job on Dale Petersen? And if you're scoffing at 5 billion dollars (which the B Hussain administration is MORE than willing to take as a "donation to the cause"), then you need your college degree revoked.
Yeah, Al, you got smacked. Whew!
And, despite my inability to understand Palin's political appeal, I still wouldn't mind entering "a world of Palin". Hehehe.
Okay then… I kind of feel like i should refrain from commenting after that attack of the mash from yahoo… but I will cause i know how much suffering you have to do to even quantify your existence with Jeff… but really it seems all so lame now… I was going to say I miss-read your closing and thought at first you wrote….."You are about to enter a world of Palin"
oh well i tried…
Phillies Outside
Did you see Galaragga get robbed yesterday? You must be fuming. That was a disgrace!
Ah, hawkeye. It's good to hear from our wing-nut friends out there. And it's always nice to have some wannabe cowboy play pretend and swing a gun around menacingly. Here's the deal, hawkeye (and I can only hope you're named after the flyover state and not the character from MASH. Or maybe it's after the GI Joe doll since that seems to be about your intellectual speed), a crazy is a crazy is a crazy, no matter what side of the aisle they come from. Petersen may be a good candidate. He may even be the best candidate. But anyone who campaigns while wildly slinging around a firearm has already failed some basic hunter's safety. If he's that wild with a rifle, he sure doesn't inspire much confidence when it comes to dealing with a $5 billion budget.
Okay taking a screen snap shot… it's true – it's true AL does comment back, we think, maybe its Jeff in disguise or just pretending to be, you both have the style handtyping… good job there wasn't a typo there…
Peter, yeah, I did write it after you, but it got lost in the wormhole that is MLBlogs… I assume. And yeah, that is Al commenting (I'm just as surprised as you). Seems he'll do it if ya razz him enough.
OMG! I had to come here after Peter pointed out that Al commented. lol.
I think the fact that he's sportin' a rifle is kinda bad-***…


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Include from 5 to 13 servings of a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. A serving is one piece of fruit, ½ cup of vegetables, 1 cup of salad greens, or ½ cup of juice (choose juices without added sugar or corn syrup).
Increase whole grains and limit refined grain products. When choosing grain products, be sure it says "whole grain" on the ingredients list. If it doesn't, it isn't whole grain.
Get a good mix of proteins, both animal (unless vegetarian) and plant. Eating a variety of proteins will ensure that you get all of the amino acids (building blocks of protein) you need.
Enjoy beneficial fats. Get the majority of your fats from plants and fish and minimize saturated animal fats.
[1] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/food-medicine/what-do-specific-foods-do
[2] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/health/diet-nutrition/consider-food-medicine


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"I found Catholic Answers Live, and was engaged immediately. 'Hooked' is the right word. I was astounded at the things I had mis-learned. God bless you and I hope you never go off the air."
~ Susan, Cincinnati, OH
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"I firmly believe and know as certain that Jesus Christ, True God and True Man, Son of God and Son of the Virgin Mary, is in this Sacrament."
~ Thomas Aquinas; philosopher, theologian, author, Doctor of the Church, patron of Catholic universities, colleges, and schools; on his devotion to Our Lord in the Eucharist


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After many patients lost out on an opportunity to gain coverage when the state decided to reject closing the coverage gap, an upcoming slash in federal funding to health centers could now bring more bad news to patients. They are concerned about an upcoming 70 percent funding cut for community health centers, which provide comprehensive quality, primary and preventive care and serve as a medical home for more than 1 million low-income, working Texans.
At a recent campaign kick-off event, local community health centers, patients and administrators explained the impact the cuts could have on thousands of community health center patients.
"A funding cliff of this magnitude could significantly reduce the number of patients southwest Texas community health centers can treat and may make the emergency room the only health care option for some patients, " said Lillian Lyssy, board member of Atascosa Health Center in Karnes City. "This would increase health care costs for these patients, hospitals and county taxpayers, while also harming the overall health of our communities."
This worries patients such as Juan Chavira, who has been a CentroMed patient for five years.
"Community health centers provide health care that is accessible, competent and professional to the very poor, the homeless, the working poor, the uninsured and those without access to private doctors. I don't know where I would go without CentroMed. I hope with statewide support, the coverage gap will remain open so I can continue receiving quality healthcare without worrying about affordability," said Chavira. "There are more than a million Texans in the same position and this crisis can't be ignored."
A group of 73 community health centers operate over 350 clinics around the state, serving more than one million patients annually. Over half of those patients served by the health centers lack health insurance and are charged on a sliding scale based on income.
Atascosa Health Center, Community Health Development, Inc., Frontera Health Network, United Medical Centers and Vida y Salud Health Systems are working together to inform and engage local residents about the impending cuts and the impact it will have on the community's health. These community health centers serve more than 69,000 patients per year at 26 locations and are often the only doctor's office in several communities. When combined with other community health centers in the San Antonio metro area, Southwest Texas and the Hill Country, more than 196,000 people in the region rely on health centers as their health care home.
The funding crisis looming for all Texas health centers is partly a result of the state's decision not to close the coverage gap under the Affordable Care Act.
Under the ACA, these centers were supposed to play a big role in expanding access to affordable health care in the community, and to help them, Congress established the Health Center Trust Fund to help pay for the expansion of services and facilities.
Congress scheduled the trust fund to expire in October 2015, anticipating that the health centers would by then be treating fewer low-income uninsured patients as states closed the coverage gap to cover more low-income residents.
But that didn't happen in Texas, where the state's decision not to close the coverage gap left more than one million residents stranded in a coverage gap with incomes too high to qualify under existing rules but too low to access the federal program subsidizing the cost of private insurance.
In recent years, cuts in federal health center permanent funding left community health centers to replace those resources with funds from the Health Center Trust Fund to maintain their current level of service.
The campaign kick-off in Uvalde is part of a statewide effort designed to increase community awareness and engagement regarding closing the coverage gap and the "Health Center Funding Cliff."
Supporters of community health centers can visit HealthAccessforTexas.org at www.healthaccessfortexas.org to learn more and to sign up as an advocate.


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Browse by Month
Climate Change & Global Warming
- Department:October 15, 2010
How do warm waters in the Caribbean this year compare to conditions in 2005, when high ocean temperatures triggered the worst mass coral bleaching event ever seen in the region?
- Department:October 7, 2010
[From the archives] Facing the possibility of a massive coral bleaching event in the Caribbean Sea in late summer and early fall 2010, a USGS biologist based at U.S. Virgin Islands National Park hopes that the season won't have the same devastating outcome as a similar event in 2005.
- Department:October 5, 2010
When the winds are right, dust from the deserts of the U.S. Southwest blows onto the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. How do dirty snowfields contribute to the loss of more than 250 billion gallons of water in the Colorado River?


text: History of Europe, history of European peoples and cultures from prehistoric times to the present. Europe is a more ambiguous term than most geographic expressions. Its etymology is doubtful, as is the physical extent of the area it designates. Its western frontiers seem clearly defined by its coastline, yet the position of the British Isles remains equivocal. To outsiders, they seem clearly part of Europe. To many British and some Irish people, however, "Europe" means essentially continental Europe. To the south, Europe ends on the northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet, to the Roman Empire, this was mare nostrum ("our sea"), ... (100 of 166,997 words)


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Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker recognizes poll workers in an Election Day statement.
The entire statement is below:
"Today, thousands of poll workers, election officials, clerks, and others have been involved in administering the 2012 Presidential Election in Wisconsin. While outcomes of elections are immortalized in history books, it's equally as important to recognize the dedication of individuals all across our state who work hard, often times for twelve hour shifts, at the polls.
"Many of these individuals have worked seven grueling statewide elections in the last two years.
"On behalf of all citizens of Wisconsin, I would like to thank those who have fairly and diligently worked to administer today's election."


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Recipe adapted from: Chef Waldy malouf, Beacon Restaurant, NYC. Yield: 12 sandwiches. Toasted Spice Rub: 1⁄4 cup cumin seeds 2 Tbsp. mustard seeds 2 Tbsp. black peppercorns 2 Tbsp. celery seeds 2 Tbsp. coriander seeds 1 Tbsp. whole allspice 1 Tbsp. kosher salt 1 Tbsp. crushed red pepper * * * 1⁄4 cup Tabasco® Chipotle Pepper Sauce 6 lb. boneless veal shoulder (IMPS/NAMP 310B), tied Barbecue Sauce: 1 cup chopped onion 2 Tbsp. minced garlic 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 3⁄4 cup light ...
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Welcome to the CRG Discussion Forum!Forum registration problems: Make sure you enter your email correctly and you check your spam box first. *Then* email KurtS2@gmail for help.
I used to own a 68 camaro, power drum brakes with 327, 2bbl, and air. It had front finned drums also. I still have the trim tag info if you need it.


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By Freedom Newspapers
We should know a great deal more in a few days and weeks about the underground blast in North Korea that is widely viewed as a test of a nuclear weapon. Supposed experts are still pondering the evidence of what seems to have been, from an initial analysis of the seismic data, a low-grade nuclear explosion, if it was nuclear.
The experts say they'll know when they analyze radiation patterns near the blast. The North Koreans say they were especially careful to seal the underground test area so that no radiation escaped — which could be true or could be part of an attempt to conceal the fact that the explosion did not emit radiation.
It is also possible, according to Anthony Cordesman, who holds the Arleigh Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, that the explosion is "a fizzle or failed test of a larger design. It is far easier to get some yield than an efficient weapon. Such a failure could come from either a gun or implosion device."
The fact that we know as little as we do suggests that U.S. intelligence services, despite the billions poured into them, are not especially effective and may not be getting much better. Even if the North Koreans did explode a nuclear device, however, that changes surprisingly little about the essential North Korean situation.
We have known for some years, in part through intelligence and in part because they say so, that North Korea seeks to be known as a nuclear power. In some sick way — and it is hardly just the North Koreans who are afflicted by this syndrome — leaders of nation-states in the contemporary world see possession of nuclear weapons as a status symbol, a mechanism for being taken seriously by the "world community."
North Korea is also aware that it was named one of the three countries in President Bush's "axis of evil," and that the United States invaded the first country so named. It might see the possession of a nuclear weapon — or the widespread perception that it has one, which might be just as effective — as a deterrent against the U.S. invasion that its leaders claim to believe is imminent.
We have also known for decades that North Korea lurches between being the "hermit state" that seeks to withdraw from the rest of the world in search of a Stalinist purity that was outdated even when Stalin was still alive, and doing outrageous things to attract world attention. For symbolic reasons, partially having to do with the fact that the Korean War was never formally ended through a peace treaty, the country it most likes to tweak is the United States.
The problem with most of the conventional approaches to North Korea is that they are unlikely to be effective. North Korea has thousands of long-range artillery pieces trained on the South Korean capital, Seoul. A military strike could mean hundreds of thousands of South Korean civilian casualties. U.S. forces stationed in Korea could also be vulnerable.
North Korea already is almost entirely isolated economically, so new economic sanctions are likely to impose little additional pain. Targeted sanctions against materials that could be used in a nuclear weapons program might be useful, but it seems likely they would simply raise the cost of North Korea acquiring such material, not cut off the flow completely.
North Korea is run by a barbarous regime whose very existence is an affront to the ideals of liberty. But it is not a direct threat to the United States. Now would be a good time to inform North Korea's neighbors — South Korea, China, Japan, and Russia — that this is their problem to confront.
Japan is already talking about starting a nuclear weapons program. The other countries mentioned have all condemned the North Korean test but left vague just what they are willing to do. If the United States visibly handed off the problem to them it would focus their minds on the practical.
The favorite among proposals we've heard comes from Ted Carpenter, vice president for defense and international studies at the libertarian Cato Institute. Make a deal with China, he suggests, for them to take out Kim Jong Il's odious regime in North Korea (China could do it, whereas the United States probably couldn't) in exchange for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula (which makes sense, anyway).
Whatever the eventual U.S. response, this is no time for panic. North Korea's regime is despicable but not a direct threat. There's plenty of time to hand off the problem to Pyongyang's neighbors, who will have to live with the consequences of the choices made in the coming months and years.


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Where to find America's worst bridges, roads
Published On: May 24 2013 11:57:13 AM CDT Updated On: May 24 2013 01:03:13 PM CDT
A bridge collapse in Washington is putting a spotlight on bridge safety. Take a look at how many roads and bridges are in need of repair in each state, according to the 2013 Report Card for America's Infrastructure.
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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This guide focuses on frame systems and procedures for affixing screen mesh to the frames and discusses the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Frames come in two main varieties: static and retensionable. Of these two groups, the static or rigid frame—commonly known as a stretch-and-glue frame—is the simplest form. Rigid frames are available in many different materials and profiles. The most common materials are wood, tubular aluminum, and tubular steel. Wood frames are arguably the most popular due to their lower cost but are limited in size for strength reasons and generally not recommended for high-resolution, tight-tolerance work. Among the metal rigid-frame types, tubular aluminum is the most popular in the United States. Aluminum frames are lighter than steel frames but provide similar stability. Steel frames, epoxy coated or powder coated, are more popular overseas.
Tubular aluminum frames support a variety of gluing surfaces, including sandblasted, ground, or raw with no texture (Figure 1). Frames have a great surface to work with when they're brand new. But the surface can become less than ideal once multiple layers of adhesive, fabric, and ink residue have built up. You can re-glue mesh over old adhesive numerous times before the frames must be reconditioned; however, many printers don't take the time to prep the frame properly when they attempt to recondition it.
Sanding the glue off of an aluminum frame is a common mistake because it leaves the surface too smooth for the adhesive to bite into it effectively. Sandblasting is great for small frames but may be impractical for large frames. So this leaves mechanical brush grinders, angle grinders with flapper discs, or chemicals.
The chemical method is most commonly used with coated steel frames, but it is also used with aluminum frames. The chemicals come in two main varieties: gels and liquids. To ensure the best performance, the exact chemical makeup of the strippers should be recommended by the manufacturer of the adhesive you use.
The task of chemical adhesive removal can be performed in a few different ways. Some people dip their frames, if the size allows, in a stripper solution. Others will paint or spray the cleaning chemical onto the frame, wait a period of time, and then remove the residue with scrapers. To complete the process, excess stripper material and residue are cleaned from the frame with an appropriate solvent.
Burberry Discount indeed saves your money
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Kanye West makes his runway shoes with Giuseppe Zanotti, but for sneakers, he's a Nike man. (Well, with occasional pit stops at Vuitton.) The company announced today the official release date of its second sneaker with the rapper-turned-designer, the Air Yeezy II, which hits stores globally June 9. There are a wealth of minute details to puzzle over, from the "anaconda-texture leather" panels to the nods to ancient civilizations, like the hieroglyphics on the loop strap spelling out YZY and the falcon insignia on the tongue. (The Ancient Egyptian god Horus, god of the sky, war, and hunting, was commonly depicted with the head of a falcon.) And those looking to walk a mile in Kanye's shoes will be particularly pleased. These boast a slimmed-down silhouette originally derived from tailoring the prototypes directly to West's foot.
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JACKSON: Bold Predictions for 2014
Raynard Jackson | 1/15/2014, 3 p.m.
Now that a 2014 has come, I have decided to pull out my trusted crystal ball and give you some of my predictions for the year.
I think the biggest thing to watch is on the political front. This year we will have congressional elections for the House and Senate. Republicans will keep the House. Even if Republicans have a total meltdown, they will still keep the House. But their margins may shrink (currently the Republicans hold a 17-vote margin over the Democrats). The way congressional districts have been gerrymandered , that virtually guarantees minimum change in the composition of the House.
Republicans have a better than even chance to take over the Senate if they nominate the best conservative candidate that is "electable." The GOP should be able to pick up seats in Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina and West Virginia. Republicans need only a net of six seats to win the Senate.
The Black vote could be the margin of victory in states such as Arkansas, Louisiana and North Carolina. Each has Black voters who thoroughly turned off by the Democrats and Obama. If these Republican candidates take their message to the Black community, Republicans will take over the Senate.
I know many of my Democratic friends will laugh at me and my Republican friends will continue to want to dismiss the Black vote; but I dare my Republican leaders to call my bluff if they really want to win the Senate.
As I often say, I have been Black most of my life and I know the sentiments of my community very well. To prove my point, what was unthinkable just a month ago is going to happen more frequently going forward. Democrats, especially Blacks, for the first time are publicly voicing their dissatisfaction with Obama.
A group of very liberal Blacks are about to file a lawsuit against Obama for enacting policies that have decreased the number of Black students attending HBCUs. Civil Rights leaders such as Congressman John Lewis have publicly threatened to go to war with Obama over the lack of Black judges being nominated. On Black radio, there is huge vocalization of dissatisfaction with Obama. This was unimaginable only a few weeks ago.
Blacks turning away from Obama will be one of the top news stories of the year. The question is are Republicans prepared to take advantage of this opening within the Black community?
Gun violence and mass shootings will continue, not because of the availability of guns; but because of the continued breakdown in our moral fabric. By 2016, I predict that morals and values will be in the top five issues of importance to voters. This liberal drift towards pluralism and relativism will begin to reverse itself with a lot of help from within the Black community. Republicans, are you listening?
Look for a major reduction in corporate support for many of the reality TV shows that have proliferated over the past several years. These corporations will find it increasingly more difficult to justify the expenditure of their corporate dollars from a cost/benefit analysis.


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This is the Wild oregano P73 formulas for children. Kid-e-kare Gelcaps are made with certified-wild oregano oil, cumin oil, sage oil, and ginger oil. They are specifically designed for children, plus they are easy-to-swallow small gelcaps making it convenient and easy for children to take. The contents of the gelcap may also be mixed with food. This formula goes great with the kid-e-kare rubbing oil.
Supplement Facts:
One or more capsules daily with meals. Increase dosage as needed.


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The ART in pARTy
August 14, 2013 —
HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Arts Alliance (WCAA) will hold "Celebrating the Line- An Art Party" at Basin and Main, lot 21, 564 Main St., (the old Sullums building) on Saturday, August 17 at 7 p.m. It is open to everyone free of charge to celebrate the WCAA and its connection to the community.
There will be food, music and a donation bar as well as 50 canvases hanging for all to enjoy, but only 50 people will be taking them home. The WCAA is selling tickets in advance for the canvases. Prices are $250, $125, $75, and $25; you can choose what price your ticket will be. The catch is: those who hold the more expensive tickets will be able to choose their piece of art before the others. Selection of the art begins at 8 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased from any WCAA board member by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com.


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If 80s movies taught us anything, it's that at some point you're going to run into a mysterious relic that lets you switch bodies with other people.
Would you use it? Would you choose to switch lives with, say, Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie or Dale DeBone? Most people would.
But let's say the artifact doesn't let you choose, but will instead switch you randomly with one of the other six billion people on the planet. Virtually nobody will take that deal, for fear they'd switch with some poor villager in Nigeria.
So what does that say about us? Well, according to experts, it says almost everything we think about what would make us happy is dead wrong. Let's look at the five things we're most wrong about, with some pictures of adorable animals for good measure.
Go to the little girls' aisle at the department store, if you're not there already. On the shelves you'll see the dominant little girl fantasy isn't Cinderella or even Dora the Explorer. It's Hannah Montana. Playsets come complete with a camera, makeup and a mirror for Hannah to admire herself in.
The girls play with that when they're eight, and by 16 they're on MySpace, pouting at the camera in their underwear and watching the friend requests pour in. In a recent survey of high school kids, 51 percent said their ultimate goal was to become famous.
This is brand new to humanity; for thousands of years, material goods and security dominated. Now, fame is at the top. Obviously part of the reason is the perception that anybody can get famous these days--reality TV and YouTube have proven that you can become a celebrity for doing not a goddamned thing. But there's another, less obvious factor. And it explains why so many famous people are miserable.
So What's the Problem?
Experts say where you find kids who desperately want to be famous, you find a history of neglect at home. Parents were either absent completely or, at best, emotionally distant dicks. It turns out the whole surge in aspirations for fame came right along with the explosion of single parents and "broken" homes. Only half of today's children live with their original two parents.
You can see how this sad mechanism works in the attention-starved mind. The kid is programmed by biology to love a parent, but the parent doesn't return the love. Fame lets them turn the tables on that arrangement. When you're famous, millions love you, but you don't even know their names. It's purely one-sided. They wait for hours in the cold for your autograph, you barely glance at them on the way to your limo. You get to take their love and wipe your ass with it, the same as your parents did to you.
"I love you!" "Your deaths would mean nothing to me."
But it turns out that kind of massive, paper-thin adoration is a poor substitute. Famous people are four times as likely to commit suicide as the rest of us (Hell, you'd think it'd be higher--everybody reading this has seen more than one of their favorite performers self-destruct).
Wait, it Gets Worse...
If you're saying that your parents were awesome and that fame still looks pretty freaking cool, well, we're not done. Studies show nothing is more stressful for a human than when their goals are tied to the approval of others. Particularly when those "others" are an enormous crowd of fickle strangers holding you up to a laughably unrealistic ideal built by publicists, thick makeup and heavily Photoshopped magazine covers.
You could seek comfort from your circle of friends, only now your friends have been replaced Invasion of the Body Snatcher's-style with hangers-on, vultures, unscrupulous characters and plain dumbasses who only want a piece of the spotlight. . . even if it means selling you out later.
For example, have you ever lit up a bong at a party? Were you worried that one of your friends would snap a photo of you, sell it to a tabloid for thousands of dollars and ruin your career?
Well become famous, and then try it.
Let's not bullshit each other. You see those ads on the side of the screen? And at the top? And at the bottom? Go look at one of them. We just made $800, baby. Seriously, they're set up to detect the position of your eyeballs. If you actually click on one, we make enough to fill our SnoCone machine with Cristal.
Most of us get out of bed everyday purely because it edges us one step closer to some kind of financial future we want. If we won the lottery, most of us would show up to the office the next day wearing an ankle-length fur coat and enough bling to make Mr. T look Amish, and only stay just long enough to take a dump in our boss's inbox.
So What's the Problem?
Hey, remember when we said earlier that most people wouldn't do the body-switching thing for fear they'd wake up in Nigeria? Well according to surveys, Nigerians are happier with their lives than the people of any other country.
Can your country fit three to a motorcycle? Didn't think so.
The USA came in 16th.
Hey, did we mention that the average Nigerian makes $300 a year? That's less than a hundredth of what the average American makes. America being the country that hands out 120 million prescriptions for anti-depressants every year.
China is turning into a great object lesson in this, as their economy explodes and incomes skyrocket, but levels of happiness and personal satisfaction are dropping at the same rapid rate.
There's a couple of reasons for it. First, your brain adjusts feelings of happiness downward after you've reached some goal or other. It regulates the good feelings, presumably so that you have motivation to reach the next goal instead of just lounging by the pool for the rest of your days.
The second one is that as social creatures, we compare ourselves to our neighbors. This is why executives can cry about the $500,000 salary cap that comes with taking government bailout money. Their friends are making $3 million a year and live in igloo made out of cocaine. We can laugh at their complaints, but of course then you're giving the Nigerian permission to laugh at yours. That guy made 100 times more than you, you make 100 times more than the Nigerian.
Once you start hanging around the other high earners, you'll want all the stuff they have. No, that's not right--you'll want the stuff that's so much better than their stuff that they'll vomit with envy. As one magazine for Wall Street bigshots put it, you want the stuff that will be "a huge middle finger to everyone who enters your home."
"Yeah, same model as yours. Only covered in solid fucking gold."
But what about sudden wealth, like if you won the lottery, or sold your novel for $10 million? That'd be cool, right, because you'd still remember your former life and appreciate your new riches! Well, just ask William "Bud" Post, who wound up broken and bankrupt after he won $16 million in the lottery. It turns out that while he knew how to handle the stress of being poor thanks to a lifetime of experience, he had no concept of how to handle the new and alien stresses of wealth.
Wait, it Gets Worse...
Remember the whole Invasion of the Body Snatchers phenomenon we talked about with famous people, where suddenly all of your friends turn into leeches? Same here, only worse. With your newfound riches, suddenly "friends" pop up from all over. Cousins who you've never met, forgotten classmates from school, women who'd never even look your way before, all suddenly in your orbit, complimenting you, doing you favors. Then they casually slip it into conversation that they're going to have to default on their mortgage unless somebody helps out.
Your very own entourage!
Suddenly every relationship is in doubt. Do they actually care about you? Or do they just want a seat on the Bling Train? Would they sell you out to get to your cash?
That lottery winner we mentioned above . . . somebody hired a hitman to take him out, to get to his money. That somebody was his own fucking brother.


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Optimus heater H-5210
2 of 2 photos
Optimus heater H-5211
Portable Infrared Radiant Quartz Electric Space Heaters
The heater design can fail to prevent ignition of nearby combustible materials that come in contact with the unit, posing a fire hazard to the consumer.
Optimus Enterprise Inc. toll-free at (888) 672-5832 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or online at www.optimusent.com and click on "recall" for more information. Consumers can also email the firm at firstname.lastname@example.com.
About 355,000
This recall involves two models of Optimus Infrared Quartz Radiant heaters with model numbers H-5210, produced in 2011 and H-5211, produced in 2012. The model number and the year of production appear on a label on the back of the heater. The recalled heaters are white and are approximately 12-inches wide by 13-inches tall by 6-inches deep. "Optimus" is printed on the top left of the heater. The control knob is located on the top right side of the heater.
None reported.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters and contact Optimus to request a free replacement heater. Consumers have the option of a comparable ceramic heater or new model quartz radiant heater, model H-5510, which will be available after August 2013.
Best Buy Market Place, Family Dollar, Heartland, Northern Tool, Rite Aid and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, ebay.com and Walmart.com from October 2011 through December 2012 for between $25 and $30.
Optimus Enterprise Inc., of Anaheim, Calif.
Dongguang Hong-Hwa Electric Co. Ltd.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of
thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the
nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or
mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household
chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at
301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing
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Prices, promotions, styles and availability may vary by store and online.
Action - Semi-Auto
Action Type - Double Action
Caliber - 9MM Luger
Barrel Length - 3"
Weight - 1.6 Lbs.
The Beretta Px4 Storm pistol is not only the best example of the semi-automatic sidearm concept, but it is also a perfect manifestation of advanced technology and aesthetics. The Px4 Storm lines have been conceived to compliment the power, ease of handling, performance and reliability of the pistol matched with an original and sought-after design. The Px4 Storm adopts the locked-breech locking system with a rotating barrel, which has been revised and considerably improved by Beretta.The overall dimensions are significantly reduced, considering its major firepower. The light yet resistant pistol frame has been created applying the most modern thermoplastic technology, using reinforced fiberglass technopolymer. The rear upper part of the grip is curved and slightly recessed to snugly accommodate and protect the shooter's hand, while the front and the rear part of the grip boast a comfortable scaled surface that, not only has great aesthetic impact, but considerably improves grip, even in moist conditions. This double-action pistol features fixed 3-dot sights and includes the original factory hard case. Its grips, metal, and bore are all in very good condition.


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White House Council on Community Solutions Releases Community Solutions for Opportunity Youth
The White House Council for Community Solutions recently held its final summit at which it released its final report, Community Solutions for Opportunity Youth, The report offers recommendations and resources for helping to guide all young people onto a path toward education, employment, and economic prosperity. Created by Executive Order in December 2010, the council was asked to identify and raise awareness of effective community-led solutions to our nation's most serious problems. After intensive fact-finding, the council chose to address putting every young person on a clear path to economic opportunity. For the 6.7 million 16- to 24-year-olds disconnected from both school and jobs—called "opportunity youth"—this critical issue could best draw attention to their promise and to actions that can tap their potential to contribute to the economy and society.
To achieve this, the final report presents four recommendations: (1) drive development of successful cross-sector community collaborative activities; (2) create shared national responsibility and accountability; (3) engage youth as leaders in the solution; and (4) build more robust on-ramps to employment.
Request for Information About Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Disconnected Youth
The Federal Interagency Forum for Disconnected Youth has announced the release of Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Disconnected Youth. The response period for the Request for Information (RFI) is June 4–July 5, 2012.
President Obama's FY 2013 budget included a request for authority to implement Performance Partnership Pilots to improve outcomes for disconnected youths, those young people ages 14 to 24 who are homeless, in foster care, involved in the juvenile justice system, or are neither employed nor enrolled in an educational institution, To inform that initiative, this RFI seeks recommendations on effective approaches for improving outcomes for disconnected youth by working across federal, state, and local community programs and systems. For the purposes of this RFI, "to improve outcomes for disconnected youth" means to increase the rate at which they achieve success in meeting educational, employment, and other key lifelong development goals.
The input received in response to this notice will inform the Federal Interagency Forum on Disconnected Youth about the best use of the authority requested in the FY 2013 budget for the Performance Partnership Pilots, and for other actions the administration might take to improve outcomes for this population. Responses may be used to identify opportunities for flexibility within existing authorities. They will be collected via Regs.gov.
OVAE Has Opening for an Education Program Specialist
For information and to apply online, please go to: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/31868130
CTE Innovation: An Example From New York State
Recent columns in OVAE Connection have presented the four core principles for reforming CTE, as announced in Investing in America's Future: A Blueprint for Transforming Career and Technical Education. Last week's column set forth the administration's thinking about innovation. This week we use an example from the state of New York to illustrate innovative thinking for improving CTE under the Perkins Act.
New York has experimented with permitting integrated course options that enable students to meet academic standards within a CTE context. Under existing policy, New York permits four approved integrated credits—one each in English, mathematics, science, and social studies—to count toward graduation. A proposal that would permit more integrated CTE course options to count for academic credit is currently under consideration by New York's P–12 Education Committee. Considering such an expansion is part of an ongoing discussion of CTE's role in potential changes to state graduation requirements.
Approval of integrated course options for academic credit in New York requires several quality assurance steps. Ultimately, to ensure high-quality experiences for students, courses identified for this option must meet a standard of rigor that best ensures college and career readiness. Specifically, courses must: (1) address and be built upon high school-level state, national, and industry standards; (2) provide relevant, sequential academic and technical content aligned to the appropriate standards; (3) be designed by academic and CTE teachers who partner in course development, implementation, and delivery; and (4) include formative and industry-accepted summative assessments of student progress.
The P–12 Education Committee has recommended that this innovation be phased in. It has done this, in part, due to other considerations, including course development in districts where approved CTE programs are not available, the need to restructure middle school programs to prepare students for fully integrated high school programs, building strengths of current CTE programs and teachers, and the need for proper documentation of approved integrated courses for transfer and credit purposes.
As teaching integrated CTE academic courses involve both CTE and academically certified teachers, program implementation must consider other issues. These include designating responsibility or accountability for the "teacher of record;" ensuring the necessary supply of well-qualified teachers to teach integrated courses; the possible need for new certification requirements for these teachers; and teacher preparation, certification, and professional development issues.
New York State is currently in the process of addressing these issues. Recent discussions project September 2013 as the date for instituting these new reforms.


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Steve Iott
Steve Iott is an embattled veteran comic who has seen it all, and has plenty to say about it. He does comedy without the aid of props, mirrors, or sleight-of-hand camera tricks.
Known as a master of improvisation, Steve takes the audience along as he spins his bizarre tales of ridiculous life experiences.
No topic is safe, and no two shows are ever the same.
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December 15, 2016 at 8:00 PM PRO-AM Comedy Series featuring Jeff Bodart! $5.00 TICKETS!Join us as we pair two local up & comers with a seasoned pro
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This Thursday we feature locals Nathan Timmel & Gerald Bronson and seasoned pro Jeff Bodart!
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Don't miss out on a little end of the week fun!
December 16, 2016 at 7:30 PM CARLOS MENCIA!Mencia began his career doing stand-up on amateur night at the world renowned comedy club, Laugh Factory. He later showcased at The Comedy Store and became a regular, performing nightly. After he found success on the L.A comedy circuit, Mencia was named "International Comedy Grand Champion" from Buscando Estrellas (the Latino version of Star Search). This led to appearances on "In Living Color," "The Arsenio Hall Show," "Moesha" and "An Evening at the Improv."
Mencia continued his journey up the comedy ladder by headlining "The Three Amigos" tour with Freddy Soto and Pablo Francisco in 2002, which sold out in record time around the United States. He was also featured in the independent films, "Outta Time" and "29 Palms" and starred in guest spots on "The Shield" and "The Bernie Mac Show," among others. In 2002, he received a CableACE Award nomination for Best Stand-Up Comedy Special for his HBO special. That same year, "Mind of Mencia" went into development. The show was an instant hit and after the first season, Comedy Central signed Mencia back for his own original stand-up special, "Carlos Mencia: No Strings Attached." The special was the first Comedy Central Stand-up Special DVD to achieve Platinum sales status.
"Mind of Mencia" debuted on Comedy Central in early 2005. It became one of the strongest shows in the network's history, averaging about 1.5 million total viewers. "Mind of Mencia" was executive produced by Carlos Mencia and Robert Morton ("Late Night with David Letterman").
Mencia starred opposite Ben Stiller and Michelle Monaghan in the Farrelly Brothers' hit feature film, THE HEARTBREAK KID (DreamWorks And in the family comedy OUR FAMILY WEDDING (FOX Searchlight) alongside America Ferrara and Forrest Whitaker.
Most recently, Mencia has gone back to his comedic roots, performing at a number of comedy venues – allowing him to share his newest material with a more intimate audience. His current tour, called the "C 4 Urself Tour," has been making stops all around the country, performing to eager audiences.Carlos Mencia presently lives in Los Angeles.
December 17, 2016 at 8:00 PM Pete GeorgePerhaps this energizer bunny began developing his off-centered and out-of-step approach to life when he was teased as a child, mistakenly labeled learning disabled and placed in special classes. Just minutes into Pete's act he leads us to believe that maybe it wasn't a mistake after all.
Pete got his start in show business as a lead guitarist in a Cleveland based 80's rock group. "We wanted to be like the band A Flock of Seagulls, so we called ourselves A Peck of Peckers." Discovering that being funny was his calling, Pete ventured into comedy competitions and a quick string of wins set off a 20-year career that has included over 7,000 shows at a multitude of venues and corporate events, touring the world, headlining comedy clubs, cruise ships, colleges, military shows and special events. "One time I even opened for the Australian Male Stripper Show Thunder From Down Under", George remembers… "I thought it was a seminar on Irritable Bowel Syndrome."
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December 31, 2016 at 7:00 PM The DougT Hypnosis ShowRing in the New Year at Penguin's and DougT!
After touring as a standup comic for years Doug wanted a new way to create a better show and entertain more people. That is when he started studying hypnosis and all different types of ways to hypnotize people. Doug wanted to take Comedy Hypnosis to the next level by creating a show that is different from all of the rest. He adds in his quick wit and spot on impressions to make the show fun from beginning to end. His comedy background is a large part of this ability. He has toured and still tours with some of the big names in comedy. Some of the names include Pauly Shore, The Impractical Jokers from TruTV, Jennifer Coolidge (Stifler's Mom), Tim Wilson, Greg Hahn, MIke MacRae, and many more.....
Working in some of the greatest theaters around the country has put him in front of thousands of people. He also keeps his shows family friendly due to the large amount of Corporate events and Colleges he works with. When asked about if volunteers on his show should be worried about coming on stage his response was simply " I treat the volunteers on stage the way I would want my wife and daughters treated, with respect and dignity! " That is why Doug has become one of the most requested in the nation for Corporate events, Colleges and High Schools. ESPN selected him to be a Bowl Game entertainer for teams at the Compass Bowl in Birmingham, AL. Finding a way to make people forget about the stresses of life and laugh through his 75 to 90 minute show is what DougT lives for......
January 06, 2017 at 8:00 PM Steve GillespieA decade into his standup career, Steve Gillespie moved from Minneapolis to LA, recently made an appearance on Conan, and released his critically acclaimed first album, Stever Fever. Prior to that, this gentleman degenerate spent most of his life traveling the country regaling audiences with his delightful self-destruction.
Gillespie's act is a slaphappy balance of aggression and absurdity, coupled with a delightfully pushy persona and coarse yet effective word choice. His hilarious self-flagellation and blistering social commentary has also earned him spots on Fox's Laughs as well as the Bridgetown Comedy Festival and the Boston Comedy Festival. He was a finalist in CMT's Next Big Comic, a runner up for Best of the Midwest at Gilda's Laughfest, and his debut album Stever Fever from Rooftop Comedy was named a top-10 comedy album of the year by ComedyReviews.com.
cropped-gillespie.jpgGillespie has also had the pleasure of sharing the biggest stages with some of the best comics in the country, including opening appearances for Dave Attell, Jim Breuer, Tom Segura, Kyle Kinnane, Tom Green, Harland Williams, Doug Benson, Emo Phillips, and Gilbert Gottfried.
January 13, 2017 at 8:00 PM Carl LaBove
If the mark of a great entertainer is the ability to continually reinvent, create and astonish an audience, then Carl LaBove has undoubtedly made his mark. An original founding member of "The Outlaws of Comedy", His powerful approach to stand up comedy has been filling theaters and clubs for over 30 years.
LaBove was born in Fort Worth Texas, grew up a military child, which required his family to move all around the world during his youth. At age nineteen he discovered stand up comedy with the man who would become his best friend, Sam Kinison. Together the two founded a Rock & Roll Comedy concept that would earn Billboard Magazines "Top Tour" honors by selling out theaters across the country for 5 straight years.
Skyrocketing to the biggest performance stages in the country as a founding member of "The Outlaws" in the late 80's, and early 90's, Carl would establish himself as an unparalleled comedic force during the biggest comedy boom of the last fifty years. Twenty years after "The Outlaws," Carl continues to sellout venues and amaze audiences from coast to coast. With credits that include The Tonight Show, HBO, Showtime, two comedy CD's, a concert DVD for Journey Records and much more. There is no end in sight for Carl.


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One piper's exploration of the music of the Scottish Lowlands, its history and its performance. It's a diary of discovery, not a series of essays. You're invited to make your own contributions using the comments option on most pages.
hornpipe and diddle
- Details
- Created on Saturday, 28 January 2012 11:41
- Hits: 3586
I've been planning to say something about the hornpipe, but till now haven't been able to figure out where to start.
an' A' That
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- Created on Friday, 27 January 2012 16:29
- Hits: 3011
For A' That
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- Created on Thursday, 26 January 2012 18:28
- Hits: 2922
I had a vague plan to post here my haggis-piping yesterday - but, perhaps fortunately, the video is 'a' weed awa''. However, playing through 'A Man's A Man for A' That' in preparation, a thought occurred to me that has survived.
Blanche of Middlebie III
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- Created on Saturday, 21 January 2012 18:29
- Hits: 2901
Robert Riddells' setting of this tune looks so much like a pipe setting, and sits so well on the pipes, it is easy to forget that his collection is described as for violin, hautboy or german flute. This is important because it contains indications of ornaments which we have to assume are references to fiddle technique, not to piping. These ornaments come in the form of 'tr' [trill] added to the crotchets [and to the first quaver of bar 3] in the first strain. George Greig pointed out to me that the use of the 'tr' sign is not unusual in early highland pipe collections [Mackay and Maclachaln both use it and MacLachlan writes out its interpretation]
Blanche of Middlebie II
- Details
- Created on Saturday, 21 January 2012 17:41
- Hits: 2741
My two recent posts on gracings are particularly relevant to the interpretation of this tune, but before going on to look more closely at that question I wanted to ask a question which follows directly from Robert Riddell's story


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Name: Harry C. Charles Age: 84 Address: Clarksburg, PA Died: Sunday, January 06, 2013 at Indiana Regional Medical Center,Indiana, PABorn: April 14, 1928 Pittsburgh, PAFather: Harry CharlesMother: Marie (Berbach) CharlesChurch: Work, Clubs & Organizations: He retired as a manager of the Social SecurityOffice in Indiana, PA. He enjoyed reading, especially about the Civil Warand swimming at the YMCA. He also enjoyed hunting and his dogs. He servedin the US Army as a military policeman where he was stationed in Germanyduring WW II. He was a college graduate with a degree in History from theUniversity of Pittsburgh.SurvivorsWife of 61 years - Anna May "Sissy" (Kampas) Charles, Clarksburg, PASon - Harry "Hank" Howard Charles & wife Cecelia, Danielson, CTGrand Child - Paul Charles of MassachusettsGrand Child - Elizabeth Mancino & husband Joe of ConneticutGrand Child - Adrienne Charles & friend James of New YorkGrand Child - Heidi Charles of ConneticutGreat Grand Child - Sophia MancinoPreceded in death byFather - Harry CharlesMother - Marie (Berbach) CharlesSister - Dorothy MorrisSister - Grace LynchBrother - William CharlesSister - Amy CharlesVisitation:In keeping with Harry's wishes, there will be no visitation. A memorialservice will be held at a later date.If so desired Memorial donations may be made toFour Footed Friends, 220 Beck Road, Indiana, PA 15701www.jamesfergusonfuneralhome.com
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Buy for$5.99(8 items)
Written by wormdrink414 on 23.01.2010 at 08:35
My favorite album of the year.
Written by Boxcar Willy on 10.03.2010 at 18:14
Aren't they death metal not heavey power metal????
This is one of those albums that just seems like the band wrote it just for me, everything I want in a heavy metal album can be found in this one.
Written by Ghoulgoat on 17.09.2010 at 16:28
I'm sorry, they just don't sound nearly as cool without Jamie.
Written by wormdrink414 on 20.03.2011 at 20:47
Just bought a second copy. My last one got overplayed... and stepped on.
Written by Doc Godin on 07.05.2011 at 08:51
Haha, good work. Yeah I got a second copy too. Had to get the special edition when it came out with the 4 bonus tracks.
Written by Fat & Sassy! on 27.05.2011 at 08:53
Yeah, um... totally listening to this again for the thousandth time (over the course of a year). When from an 8 to a 9. Heavy metal DONE RIGHT. And a good amount of variety. No two songs sound alike. Their best work for sure. =3
Oh, and they are not power metal. Why are they labeled so?
Written by Fat & Sassy! on 27.05.2011 at 08:53Oh, and they are not power metal. Why are they labeled so?


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James Anthony Happ is a quiet, unassuming 27-year old budding star. Don't mistake that tranquil demeanor for weakness; the dude is an absolute force when he is on.
Happ was relentless throughout the entire 2009 season, going 12-4 with 2.93 ERA in 166 innings, while finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting in the National League behind Florida's Chris Coughlan. It didn't start off as a ROY-type season for Happ out of the gate as he was passed over for Chan Ho Park for the final rotation spot. Didn't matter to him that he was placed in the bullpen, where, he too, excelled. The lanky left-hander patiently waited his turn and in turn was finally given a chance to start on May 23 in the Bronx. Chan Ho Park had used up all of his starting chips and Happ shined against the Yankees, never looking back.
His six-inning, two run performance was indicative of just how tough Happ would be for the remainder of the '09 season. On June 27, the baseball community finally took notice as Happ tortured the Blue Jays in Toronto, tossing a complete game shutout, while fanning four batters. Consider it the defining moment for J.A.; it was his fifth consecutive victory, a streak that would stretch two more wins and nearly one more month.
Happ followed that up on a warm, August day against Colorado with yet another heart-stopping performance. It would be his second CG-SO of the season, but this time, he struck out 10 batters over 127 pitches. However, on the same day in the minor leagues, Pedro Martinez was readying for his seat at the starters table. Pedro one-upped Happ by striking out 11 batters in a start for Double-A Reading.
Luckily for Happ, he did not lose his starting spot outright until the playoffs due to Pedro's September injury. Still, he was used as a reliever in the playoffs, where he pitched to mixed results. Happ allowed four earned runs over 6 1/3 innings (seven appearances) and never really settled into a groove as he had as a relief pitcher early in the year.
Aside from his average showing in the postseason, from start to finish, Happ proved to the organization and the people following it, that he has the necessary tools to be a very good major league starter. The Phillies brass pushed that point when they declined to trade Happ in a deadline deal for the uber-coveted Roy Halladay. Instead, Happ stayed put, the Phillies brought in Cliff Lee, and the team once again rallied to the Fall Classic. If not for Happ and his impressive emergence as a solid middle of the rotation pitcher, the Phillies may not have secured back-t0-back NL Pennants.
J.A. Happ was that good.
2009 numbers: 12-4, 2.93 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 119 K, 56 BB, 166 IP, 149 H, .244 BAA
GRADE: 8.4/10: Happ was outstanding, but not so much in the playoffs. Perhaps it was the back and forth between the pen and the rotation that caused a slow down in the postseason. Nevertheless, Happ will now be counted on for even bigger things in the future.
64 Comments
Don't you usually have a number grade at the bottom or am I confused as usual, LOL?
pretty sure his CG SO against the rockies was at home..
he fanned Tulo to end it…pretty sure that was at the Bank
I'm pretty sure Happ's CG shutout against the Rockies was in Philly, not CO
I think that he would have been the Game 7 starter if the World Series went that far
he was definitely shot by the end of last season, but expect a strong rebound performance from Happ as he will be stretched out for the long run this year
He will be a very solid #3 starter in 2010, I'm confident of that.
That said, his curve could use some improvement, just like Cole's. I'd like to see a few more change-ups and curves, and a few less fastballs, and I think we will as he matures.
Happ deserves a 9 or better. I hope he does even better in 2010. It is great to see someone step in and excell, especially when they exceed expectations. I am really glad that he was not traded. I would not be surprised if he ended up as the #2 starter by the end of the year.
Happ is my favorite… Just imagine this rotation… Halladay/Hamels (not Hollywood)/ Happ… I can't wait!!!
Looks like Myers is signing with the Astros.
Starting the 2009 season, what did we expect Happ to do for the Phils?… Nothing.
I think we should be grading players on their expectations and actual accomplishments, not just their stats.
I think Happ deserves a 9.5/10, but I do NOT expect a repeat of 2009. If he gets through 2010 as a Phillies starter behind Halladayo, Hamels and Blantonian with a 3.50 ERA and under, I will be VERY happy.
Almost comical:
Report: RHP Myers set to join Astros
ESPN.com news services
Friday, January 8, 2010
The Houston Astros and right-hander Brett Myers have agreed to a contract pending a physical, KRIV-TV, a Fox affiliate in Houston, has reported, citing unnamed major league sources. Myers, 73-63 with a 4.40 ERA in eight seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, underwent surgery in June to repair a torn labrum in his hip. A career starter, Myers was featured in a set-up role upon returning, pitching in 10 games in September and October, including two postseason outings. He finished 2009 with a 4-3 record and 4.84 ERA in 70 2/3 innings pitched, a season after going 10-13 with a 4.55 ERA.
Oh yeah, and Happ surprised me last year. i think the hernia killed his season. He has higher expectations this year so let's hope for a solid #4 type season from him.
Happ's second complete game shutout was at home not in Colorado
I think J.A. Happ is going to be a really good pitcher. In the end, he might be better than Cole Hamels. J.A. has a tremendous demeanor and a very good changeup. He's got good control and he looks like he really knows his way around hitters. And he has another pitch that really kills. Its that high riding fastball he can throw when he's ahead in the count. That ball explodes right into a right handers eyes. So, unlike Cole, he's got the plate covered. The up and in fastball and the fade change up on the outside corner (to righties). To say that he pitches like Andy Petitte is obvious. He's like his clone. If he can learn to throw a fastball with a little tail on it (in to righties, away from lefties), wow, look out I think.
The Dipsy
The Dipsy
Pat , did you assess Happ's mark based on the regular season only? It sounds like you included the playoffs. Happ only started 1 game during the Division series, the remainder of his appearances were out of the bullpen.
My point is if you were to limit this grading system based on the regular season, I think Happ would deserve a higher mark.
I agree with Nick – if Happ comes up with a "Blantonian" ERA of 3.5 or so, that would be fine for a #3 or 4 starter.
Funny enough, I was near positive that Myers would be offered something by the Astros, considering how Ed Wade has a fetish for former Phillies, especially for guys who were there during his reign lol
Totally expected them to sign him a lot sooner though.
Pingback: Year in Review: J.A. Happ | Phillies Nation - World Breaking News
Am I the only Phillies fan that doesn't like J.A. Happ? I never saw anything from him that makes me think he will ever be a dominant pitcher. He is constantly pitching from behind with runners on base and the mystery he enjoyed of being new to the league is now gone. Hitters know him and he will get hit. Staying cool while having runners on base is great, but I can't stop my nagging feeling that his luck will run out and fast.
I hope one day I eat my words, but I prayed he would be involved in any Halladay and we could get something for this kid while he has any value. He had a thoroughly enjoyable rookie season but I believe he's a mediocre number 4 at best.
As for J.A Happ: He had an amazing year, and hopefully he won't be too far behind this coming season. The guy has a lot of talent, but i'd like to see how everything balances out for him. Also Hamels should have a better year than last year, and that much I am nearly positive about.
That should read, "I prayed he would be involved in any Halladay deal." Apologies.
Until I really started reviewing their salaries, I did not realize how 'old' the Phillies are. The only young and cheap guys worth anything are Happ and Ruiz. That means the other 20+ players are getting veteran salaries. And Happ and Ruiz are both over 25!
However most of the players are paid appropriately. If Happ becomes Andy Petitte the Phillies are going to be very please. However, if he becomes Kyle Kendrick then they will have trouble winning the division.
I looked at the Cardinals roster and they are 'capped' at $100M (Phillies are 40%! higher) but obviously will not have 40% more wins or revenue. They only are paying three big stars Holliday, Pujols, and Carpenter. Mid-level guys are also reasonable with Lohse, Wainright, Penny, Ludwick. Lugo is a special case. That nearly matches Blanton, Hamels, Moyer and Werth. However, Lidge, Ibanez, Rollins, Polanco and Victorino are the big differences. I just found the analysis interesting. I can see why many teams are realizing how valuable young talent is and not spending $ on middle of the road free agents.
Happ is $$$$$$$$$$
I do not get how a few of you think Happ will not be a good #3 or #4 starter. He came up 08 for a short stint and pitched really well. Then last year despite starting in the pen, which he was not thrilled about, pitched well in relief, and then when he got the chance to start he was consistant and almost dominant. With this offense, I can see Happ winning 15 games if not more. He never loses his composure, and is a team first guy, how can you ask for anything more
Count me among the Happ skeptics. He was a mediocre pitcher when no runners were on base who suddenly turned into Greg Maddux with runners on. Don't expect anything near '09.
I'm rooting for him, but his K/9 innings, hits/9, k/bb, BA with RISP and strand % all say that 2009's ERA was a fluke.
@Corine and all other apologetic posters: HOF player/manager Leo Durocher, author of great baseball quotes like "Nice guys finish last" and "Show me a good loser and I'll show you an idiot" also gave us this one "Never apologize for an error". Skeptics and negative critics should clarify their previous postings without the spineless and hollow apology. It damages your credibilty and respect.
Relative to the price/value ratio, Happ is far more valuable than Hamels. Not even close.
My first thought about Myers being on the Astros – Oh no.. when Houston comes to town and Brett is pitching – look for the Brett we all had high hopes for, look for a 3 hit masterpiece – I hate it when x-Phils come to town!
Comparing Happ's value and Hamels' value is a little premature. Hamels so far has had one mediocre season (even then, he had 10 wins) in 3+, a season after his innings pitched had increased tremendously. Happ has only pitched 1+ season, and hasn't had the huge innings increase yet. Also, Happ is actually OLDER than Hamels, so Hamels has a chance to pitch more years. While one might argue that Happ had the better 2009, one could never decide based on that alone that he'll always be the bigger bargain. Hamels' contract is bigger right now, but in his first few seasons he didn't make all that much; even in 2008 he came in at under a million.
I'll grant that Happ, so far, has been really good. But let's see how he does with the sophomore jinx before we claim him as the greatest thing since the Apollo landing.
I remain a happ skeptic as well. As much as I appriciated his strong rookie campaign, I continue to remain a typical Philly skeptic. I hope he proves me wrong. As long as he can continue to hide the ball well hitters should still find it difficult to figure him out, that is his key to success.
Charlie killed Happ in the playoffs. Why not start him. Also why not sign Myers. We have a very poor rotation after Doc. Who knows what will happen with Hamels. He is up in the air. Happ could go the same way if teams catch on to him. Then who..Blanton and Moyer. Please. Myers could of been a guy to plug in there.
We have a very poor rotation after Doc? My predictions for 2010
Doc 21- 8 2.99
Cole 16-11 3.51
Joe 15-11 3.71
Happ 14-12 4.02
5th Starter – 10-11 4.44
I don't care who the fifth starter is. Both those stats are based on what 5th starters do. Is that a bad rotation? I think not. I think Cole could have more upside than my #s, but to be safe, that what I put. Problems?
The Dipsy
Actually, that seems like a fair prediction to me. Cole and Happ could do a little better than you projected, and Blanton could do a little worse…but it all looks pretty realistic.
Pat – I think people are confused as to whether its a straight score OR their score "relative to expectations". Perhaps you should clear that up. Also…Scott Podsednick 1y/1.75 to the Royals? Its a world gone mad I tell ya. Thats what Ruben gotta wait for..that kinda thing.
The Dipsy
I think Happ is the real deal. Also, I think we will be pleasantly surprised by Kyle Kendrick as the 5th starter. He seems like he wants to prove himself and showed some nice flashes of excellence last year. Always optimistic !!!!
I think people are confused as to whether its a straight score OR their score "relative to expectations".
Beer Goggles defined
Happ's gonna do better than 14-12.
More like 12-6 or 13-8
Happ has an average curveball, decent change-up, and and a curve that needs some work. He hides the ball very well, and rarely gets rattled. If he can improve his curveball and change a little, he could be a very solid #3 pitcher. Agree with Dipsy on the starters, except I'd switch Happ and Blanton (assuming the curveball improves even a little). Blanton's era runs @4, don't see a reason for a drop.
I'm also a little confused on the ratings – either Lee was ranked too high, or there is far more emphasis on playoff wins. When we needed wins, Happ was there.
Happ is key this year. He has to have a good season and not go into a sophomore slump. Hamels as well.
bfo_33 –
"Happ has an average curveball, decent change-up, and and a curve that needs some work"
do you mean Happ's slider in place of curve?
I think that Happ has a real good change, not a decent one. And he spots his fastball well and can really move it around. I like Blanton to step it up a little this year. He had a horrible first half last year who he would have had a real nice era.
The Dipsy
I really dont like the phillies rotation at all. For a national league champ, too many question marks. Hamels is a questionmark, happ, blanton I dont think is anything and 5 th start volgenber or whatever his name is comeon.
I admit that i'm a bit uneasy about the rotation as well right now, but we should hopefully feel a bit better by spring training.
What don't you like about the rotation?? Oh, I knw…the fact that Cliff Lee's not part of it..
Halladay…a given
Hamels….bounces back from last year
Happ….no sophomore slump
Blanton….SOLID #3 or #4
Moyer/Vogelsong/whoever….that's why they're #5
Last year…going into the season we had…
#5….Happ/Park competing…eventually Park
Now you tell me if we're not sitting BETTER this year than last??
Don't get me wrong, I LIKE the rotation…it's just that I feel a bit uneasy about what's going to happen with Hamels, and to a lesser extent…Happ. Obviously I expect Hamels to do better than last year, but how much better can we reasonably hope for?
Then there's Happ who had a great '09 Season, and I expect him to have a good season…but not as good as last season. Blanton is a given to have a reliable and solid, but non-flashy season.
This has nothing to do with having Lee or not(who we'd only have had for 1 more year anyway), and everything to do with how Hamels does from here on out. And again, I expect Hamels to have a good year…but I can't lie and say that i'm not uneasy a little anyway. How could anyone NOT feel at least a little bit uneasy right now, and they are lying if they say otherwise. Although I expect a good year out of everyone, I think there will be some uneasiness in the air until Spring Training and/or the regular season starts. That's natural and expected after the problems we had last year, and your full of it if you aren't the slightest bit worried.
Vogelsong…with that name sounds like he should be wearing ice skates and missing teeth.
Myers had gone downhill two straight years. Speed was down, slider not as effective. Phils rotation is automatically better with Halladay at the top, Hamels replacing Myers, Happ replacing Moyer, and Moyer or Kendrick replacing Park. There are ALWAYS concerns with a rotation, but this year's is better than 2009's, and better, too than at the start of 2008.
I always thought a Vogelsong was a East German car with a two cylinder, two stroke engine and particle board body panels.
Oops! Left out Blanton, who actually replaces Myers, with Happ moving up past Moyer. That's one more better pitcher than we used to have.
I think that Happ will be the only real question mark going into the season for me. I think that Halladay will be Halladay, and hamels will rebound. Blanton will be the consistent #3, or 4.
As for Happ, his stats say he was lucky last year. His xFIP was 4.49. His FIP was 4.33. Also, he was unbelievable with runners in scoring position last year. That will be hard to sustain. His BABIP was .270 which was abnormally low for the league's .303.
As for Happ's pitches last year, he threw a fastball, cutter, curve, and a change. His curve had a negative pitch type value as it was -4.2
Can anyone tell me why we are talking to sheets when bedard is out there ?????? and wern't we supposed to have a hard on for zack duke according to manuel…..A month till pitchers and catchers and bedard is a cheap option!!!!!
Happ hasn't pitched in the majors too long, but we all know that we have something special here with this kid. If he stays healthy and stays as poised as he was last season, he might even step ahead of both Hamels and Blanton in the rotation if Hamels was to go off the deep end again (which I know he wont)
About Hamels…It's funny how everyone forgets that he was a star 3 years straight in a row (06-07-08). The man has ONE bad year, says some dumb things in the media, now everyone wants to send him packing to wherever, for whoever. Hamels WILL bounce back this season, and between Halladay, Hamels, and Happ…Guys…Hello…Thats EASILY 50-60 wins on paper right there! Than you have BLANTON who can be electrifying most of the time. I don't think you guys realize were witnessing something special here in Philadelphia.
Halladay, Hamels, and Happ…They should have a giveaway this season, and put their 3 heads on a dragons body on a poster, and be called "Triple H" or "The 3-headed Dragon. The National Leauge is already pissing in their jock straps.
A lot of the Happ skeptics forget, he was good every time called on in 2008. I don't think he's a question mark going into next year because he was consistent all year, basically building on his few apperances in 2008. I think we all saw how well he performed under pressure with his name being involved in every trade rumor all summer, and his second shutout at home was literally when they were making the decision on whether he'd be sent back to the pen.
I think one of the major mistakes in the postseason was underutilizing Happ. Aside from Game 3 in the NLDS, he and Blanton had no idea when or where he was pitching. I would have started him over Pedro in a few of the games. I expect he'll be a 15-17 game winner next year. He's proven his consistency. The difference between him and Hamels is even when he gets in a bind, he doesn't give the other team anything, he shakes it off, and finds a waty out. I am WAY more concerned about Hamels than Happ. Hamels is thr x factor. I have hope he learned from this year, and will turn it around, but Hamels is the biggest question mark on terms of expectations for 2010.
The Spring is a fun time, hell so is now if you can keep warm.
Schwalmy, Bedard is a perennial IR. He has been in the majors for 7 seasons and has started 30 or more games 1 time. He has never pitched 200 plus innings in a single season. Good stuff, lots of potential but hurt, hurt, hurt… and looking for big money.
BTW – the starting rotation for the M's now includes:
King Felix
Not a bad starting 3 if Bedard can stay healthy.
Pat, I don't suppose in reality a score of 10 would be perfection (like a 20-0 season?) more like a 20 win season with an ERA of 3 or under – keeping it real here. Based on what Happ did in his shortened season, I would think he was deserving of a 9 or better – sorry for the nitpicking but that is how this sight gets its gravy. The score of 8.4 is really damn good but, does that mean a record of say 16-12 with an ERA of 3.30 would rate the same? I think Happ did better than that. Just for fun (that is what this is), project 32 starts for Happ and based on his consistency and the record he had with 23 starts and 12 wins, his record could have come out to 16-5.
I would imagine that we are not talking to Erik Bedard because we don't "have" the money to sign him. Even if we did, he is a bit of a weirdo and he gets hurt. Are we talking to Sheets? Good! I gotta say that I don't believe in "periphials" or "peripherals" and "pitch values". Lets just say that Happ's curve is not so hot. Happ has been up here for a season and a half and been nothing but good, so lets give him the benefit until proven wrong. Did Bedard resign? I would love to see the Phils sign Sheets at 1y/3m with incentives.
The Dipsy
I would think that Seattle does what they can to resign Bedard…..with him, Cliff and King Felix they would be the early favorites in the AL West.
I'm not really sure whether Happ has a hard curve or a soft slider. I was never a pitcher, so to be honest, I really don't know the difference. Are they a different grip, or basically the same with a different arm speed? Either way, it seems like he has some difficulty throwing it for strikes, and doesn't have a lot of confidence in it.
I am personally not worried at all about the rotation. Baring injury I feel that Cole will be back to '08 form and with the run support this team can give easily win 15-18 games. Last year was a wake up call for him that he has to work at his craft and not take winning for granted. He is still young and learning. I think Jamie Moyer will help him a lot along with having Doc on board. I really do not get the Happ critics, they have the right to their opinion but I just do not see it. Being able to pitch better with runners on base is huge and he has proven he can do that. Like every year the Pen is the crap shot. There really is not many consistent relievers in the game today. I have said it before I think you give guys like Bastardo, Escolona(sp) and some of the other young guys a shot at it in April and May and if they do not pan out then look for something to trade for.
I also see Lidge coming back strong if healthy. It seems to me he is an every other year guy.
I really hope the front office doesn't think the same way. Happ's luck this year was completely unsustainable. Trust your eyes – he's not really that good. Serviceable at the back end of the rotation, but to get to be a solid middle of the rotation guy he will definitely need to pull some things together.
There's nothing I would have loved to see more than the Phillies use him in the Halladay deal to protect a Taylor or even D'Arnaud + Donald
John K can you pass me some of what you are smoking please. What would you do to fill the void in the 4 spot if you got rid of Happ in that deal. I watch him pitch all last year and the spot starts in "08. What is not sustainable, not getting flustered with men on base, working out of jams or dominating lesser offensive teams. I mean really not that good? He is going to be #3 or #4 starter depending on where you but Big Joe in the rotation. And he is going to win 12-16 games on the low end for this team. What his under 2 ERA not sustainable, ok I'll take 3.3 ERA as my 3rd or 4th starter. What have you seen to make you think he can not pitch at this level. Do you really think this kid is going to stop working to become better? Don't you think he is going to work harder to keep his spot in the rotation and not get sent to the bull pen in the playoffs. What about this kids makeup do you not see being a better than average pitcher in the big leagues
"Happ's luck this year was completely unsustainable" "He's really not that good."
John K…
Where are you going with your argument? What makes you think he's not that good? I would say that he's MORE than "serviceable". Obviously, the Blue Jays thought so as well, or else they wouldn't have been so demanding of him this past July at the deadline.
I'm glad Ruben held tough at that time and kept him. What they wanted for Halladay in July was obscene…..and that's why that deal didn't happen then.
Yea I really do not see where all the Happ detractors come from, most of the people on here where head over heals about him when he was pitching last year. I guess in typical Philly fashion, you have to bitch about something
Our # 4 starter would have been Joe Blanton because Lee would have been bumped him down a slot. I think people aren't really turned on by Happ because he's not a "stuff" pitcher. He's the kinda guy you watch pitch and ask yourself how he can get anybody out but he keeps doing it.
The Dipsy
The Phillies butchered the Happ situation since day one… I don't know if they didn't believe he was as good as he had pitched or if they felt like he would eventually pitch his way into the pen but they never put him in a position where he could succeed. It seemed like every time they threw him out there, it was in a bad spot and Happ was successul… he was that good… despite egregious mismanagement by the coaching staff and front office.
Dipsy- I have 10 words for you…You have no clue what the hell your talking about.
"He's the kinda guy you watch pitch and ask yourself how he can get anybody out but he keeps doing it"
Come on seriously, Do people really take you serious on here? I guess critics are scratching their heads wondering how in the world he had an ERA under 3.00 too huh?


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