text:
Ready For Reddick
Unless Jason Bay's injured hamstring requires him to rejoin the parent club, the latest sensation in Red Sox nation is expected to make his PawSox debut tonight at McCoy Stadium – 22-year-old outfielder Josh Reddick.
(photos courtesy of Kelly O'Connor)
Reddick, who entered 2009 as Boston's #5 prospect according to Baseball America, has had an incredible year.
He began the season with Double-A Portland. After going 0-for-4 in the season opener, he proceeded to hit home runs in each of the next 4 games.
Unfortunately, his powerful swing proved costly as Reddick strained an oblique muscle on a home run swing on April 29th (his 6th HR of the month) and was out of action for 5 weeks.
That makes his overall numbers with Portland that much more impressive, as Reddick had 17 doubles, 3 triples, and 13 HR in only 256 at-bats for a .520 slugging pct.
On July 31st, he leapfrogged Pawtucket and went directly from Double-A to the major leagues. After going grounding out as a pinch-hitter in his first big league at-bat, Reddick had a pair of doubles in his first start, and two hits including a home run off of Baltimore's Brian Bass in his second start.
Josh credits his success to his father Kenny who was seriously injured on the job before his son's first birthday. Kenny Reddick was electrocuted while working for the power company in Georgia and lost half of his left arm and two fingers on his right hand (you can read Joe McDonald's account in the Providence Journal here).
No longer able to work for Savannah Electric, Mr. Reddick dedicated his life to helping Josh realize his dream of becoming a pro baseball player, and one can only imagine what it must have meant to him when the Red Sox promoted his son last week.
I can't wait to see Reddick in action, although I'm slightly disappointed that he went to Boston first because the PawSox are getting the clean-cut version.
Before getting the call-up from Portland, Reddick was rocking a Mohawk.
And a less-than-flattering mustache (and least in this blogger's opinion).
With a roster than includes Reddick, Jeff Bailey, Brian Anderson, Chris Carter, and Chris Duncan, I can't imagine the PawSox offensive woes are going to continue in August.
* * * * *
The Norfolk Tides are managed by Gary "Muggsy"Allenson who was named the International League's MVP while playing for Pawtucket in 1978.
That year, Allenson batted .299 with 20 HR and 76 RBI, and he tells a great self-depreciating story about his batting average.
We all know what Ted Williams did on the final day of the 1941 season. He was batting .39955 going into a doubleheader and manager Joe Cronin gave him the option of staying on the bench to finish with a rounded-up average of .400. Williams opted to play and went 6-for-8 to finish at .406.
Allenson was the anti-Ted. He was hitting over .300 going into the final day of the '78 season and PawSox manager Joe Morgan gave him the option of sitting out to preserve his average. Allenson gladly took him up on the offer.
Unfortunately, minor league stats were not as reliable in the 1970's, and a mathematical error was discovered several weeks later that dropped his average to .299.
The moral of the story? When in doubt, do what Ted Williams did.
* * * * *
We certainly have an interesting pitching matchup to look forward to on Thursday night as Randor Bierd squares off against former PawSox pitcher David Pauley. They were traded for each other on January 17th.
I hope you'll join us for the radio call beginning with the pre-game show at 6:50 on the PawSox radio network and PawSox.com.
3 Comments
looks like Bay to the DL and Reddick back up to Boston.
No – the mustache is bad! And while the reason that he might be rejoining the team isn't the best – it will be good to have Reddick back.
Baldelli, not Bay, to the DL–but I'm glad to see young Reddick getting some more big league time! Heck, at this rate he might not even burn an option year… not that I think it will matter in the course of his career.
I like his mustache better than Allenson's, at least in that photo!


text:
Baking Substitutions
Flour provides the structure for baked goods. It is the finely ground meal produced during the grinding of various edible grains. The most common flours are made from hard and soft wheat, blended during milling to produce different kinds of flour.
Flour is enriched to restore the natural iron and B vitamins that are lost during milling. Enrichment causes no change in the flour's taste, color, texture, quality or caloric value.
Flour may be bleached or unbleached. Bleached flour goes through an aging process, which improves its baking performance and whitens the flour. Unbleached flour is allowed to age naturally, and is creamy white in color. Bleaching does not affect the nutritional value of flour.
Today's flour is pre-sifted more than 100 times during milling, so it is no longer necessary to sift it before measuring.
Store flour in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. It also may be kept in the refrigerator or freezer; just let it warm to room temperature before using. All-purpose and bread flours should be used within 18 to 24 months of purchase; self-rising flour should be used within 12 to 18 months. Because whole grain flours contain fat from the wheat germ, they become rancid more quickly and are best stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Use them within 1 year.
There are a number of different types of flour. Be sure to use the type specified in the recipe.
- All-purpose: Milled from the inner part of the wheat kernel, it contains a blend of hard and soft wheat. This versatile flour is appropriate for all uses and is available bleached or unbleached. Our recipes have been developed with bleached all-purpose flour but unbleached flour can be substituted.
- Bread: Especially milled for baking with yeast, this flour contains more protein, which gives the bread structure and increases the elasticity of the dough, resulting in loaves with higher volume.
- Cake: Made from soft wheat, it produces tender, delicate cakes.
- Cracked wheat: In this flour, wheat kernels are fractured but not finely ground during milling. The flour contains chunks of the cracked kernel, giving baked products a coarser, crunchier texture.
- Rye: Medium (the most common), light and dark rye flour are available. Because rye flour has less baking strength than all-purpose or bread flour, it should be used in combination with them.
- Self-rising: Baking powder, which makes baked goods rise, and salt are added during milling. One cup contains 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. It is especially suited for biscuits, muffins, light cakes and pastries. It is not recommended for popovers, egg-leavened cakes, chocolate recipes, rich bar cookies or yeast breads. It is available bleached or unbleached.
- Whole wheat or graham: Milled from the entire wheat kernel, it has a higher nutritional value and contains more fiber than other flours. Baked products have a heavier, more compact texture. Because whole-wheat flour has less baking strength than all-purpose flour, it should be used in combination with all-purpose or bread flour.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The purpose will be to stir up interest in this year's Fight Night 2 event, scheduled for Friday, Sept. 13.
Police Chief Joe Treviño is urging boxing and mixed martial arts fans to get their pre-sale tickets to the event now.
Eddie Aguilera recently announced that all group tables that for the event are sold out now.
The press conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at the conference room at La Quinta Hotel conference room at 2062 U.S. Highway 59 east of the city.
One of the special guests at the conference will be Oscar "Lil Oscar" Cantu, the WBC and USNBC Super Flyweight champion of Kingsville.
He will be defending his title against Joseph Rios, former WBC USNBC Super Flyweight champion from San Antonio.
The next public event before the night of the fights themselves will be the weigh-in.
That is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sept. 12, also at La Quinta.
The fights will be the following night.
Tickets for the event are $20 each and are available at the Beeville Police Department, all Pantry stores and at the CBS Grocery.
Part of the proceeds will go to the Beeville Police Department.
For more information call Eddie Aguilera of Solid Knockout Promotions at (361) 876-2722 or send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 343-5220, or at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
I miss Kouz :(
I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't died from grief…yet. I've been out of town all weekend and it was really tough to find out about my baby Kevin Kouzmanoff getting traded while I was at the retreat. I know it sounds kind of weird, but I wouldn't mind some prayer right now. As I'm sure you've all experienced, it's absolutely terrible to lose a favorite player. When I've gotten some rest and some time I'll be back with thousands of tributes. Thank you all so much for your support. This is simply devastating.
Padres baseball will not be the same without him.
I love you Kouz.
3 Comments
I am so, so sorry. Kouz was a beast for us. Padres fans and San Diego will miss him so much. I don't understand what the heck is going on with our front office. They sure like to trade fan favorite players, which I don't approve. Again, I'm so sorry. I hope you can recover somehow. Go Padres! Go Kouz!
When I saw over the weekend that Kouz had been traded, my first thought was "Oh, Kaybee is not going to be happy about this". Hope you are not TOO distraught!
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts


text:
Field & Stream Extra Large Boot Dryer
NOW: $59.99 (14% off!)
Was: $69.99*
Product Information:
Keep your footwear lasting season to season with the Field & Stream® XL Boot Dryer. This gentle system uses thermal convection to remove contaminants that may cause skin irritation and deterioration of shoe materials. Ideal for any material, the dryer helps eliminate odors caused by perspiration and bacteria while extending the life of your boots. With maximum drying capabilities, boost your footwear's staying power with the F&S Boot Dryer.
- Forced air technology dries boots in about one hour
- Four drying nozzles allow you to dry up to four pieces at the same time
- Drying tube attachments can be used to dry tall boots
- Automatic shut off with 2-hour timer for safety
- Easy loading design and stable base
- 80,000 hour rated full ball bearing motor
- Safely dries golf shoes and snow and winter boots, as well as cleats and other athletic footwear
- Style: MFW00026
- Field & Stream
Country of Origin: ChinaWeb ID: 3697759
Customer Reviews:
Rated 4.6 out of 5 by 29 reviewers.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Pat Gone are the smelly shoes and boots We've been using this product for a couple of years for wet boots and football shoes. Dries them and takes the smell out. I bought this one for my grandson who in his first year of college. Strange birthday present but he absolutely loved taking this back to college. October 29, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by Runnergirl Best thing ever Works great on everything! Use it all year round for my running shoes! March 9, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by gram works great Gave it as a gift. The kids love it for the gloves and warms their boots as well. February 12, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by DrV Drier drier Works great on boots and gloves, if u put ski boots on carefully it will work, maybe a little flimsy on the boot extensions, but as long as u don't knock it over, you're fine. February 5, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by KLee Great for kids ski trip great for drying gloves & boots you can dry multiple gloves & boots February 4, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by Hout Love it! Great for kids who play outside! The boots, mittens and even hats dry in record time! January 11, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by Shell62 Great product Loved purchasing from Dick's. Better prices than other stores. Also bought a trail cam in store love it January 11, 2016
Rated 4 out of 5 by Tony Dryer works exceptionally well, but plastic construction may not hold up long term I bought this in an attempt to rescue my son's camo hunting boots from my wife's good intentions. After his last hunting trip, my son's boots were covered with an over abundance of mud, blood, and guts. In fact I don't think he could have gotten them worse if he intentionally smeared the "stuff" on himself. My wife understandably went into a full blown cleaning frenzy. She did an absolutely excellent cleaning job, but in her zeal, she got the boots too wet. Between the heavy duty shell and the insulated lining, the boots were not drying. They were molding. After cleaning the boots again, the boot dryer did its job VERY well. My only reservation is the construction of the unit. With the boot extension installed and a pair of heavy, wet boots on the dryer I can easily see the base of the blower tube breaking off where it meets the removable boot extension. It is just plastic. It is true that this was an extreme test and most people would not have to deal with similar circumstances. I can recommend this product, but it needs to be located away from foot traffic and pets as it appears to be somewhat delicate. We will see how it holds up long term. PS: I received absolutely excellent customer service from the staff at the Dick's SG location in Pineville, NC. They were awesome! January 2, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by vern67 warm boots feels amazing! Works great... i put my boots and gloves on it every night. Would definitely recommend this product. November 17, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by GoofyGrl Well designed! Wonderful product well designed with both boot and glove dryer. Great feature for having a timer. Would have liked to have seen a shut off for the "glove" towers if they weren't being used (but it did work as space heater I guess). March 2, 2015


text:
Mike Judge Returns to the Office
Mike Judge picks Jason Bateman to star in a comedy, finally. Plus: Gary Coleman goes to court.
Mike Judge picks Jason Bateman to star in a comedy, finally. Plus: Gary Coleman goes to court.
JT and Talib Kweli, David Byrne and Nona Hendryx, and more!
Donald Trump's Harassment of a Teenage Girl on Twitter Led to Death and Rape Threats
Emmy Rossum Is Demanding Equal Pay on Shameless
Ohio Politician Who Lobbied for 'Heartbeat Bill' Has 'Never Thought About' Why a Woman Would Want an Abortion
The Women's March on D.C. Won't Be Allowed to Protest Trump's Inauguration at the Lincoln Memorial
Ryan Reynolds Explains Why He Looked Like He Wanted to Die at Taylor Swift's 4th of July Party
Brooklyn Man Who Pulled Woman's Hijab Is Charged With a Hate Crime
Donald Trump Has Finally Killed the Pro-Science Wing of the Republican Party
Planned Parenthood Has Already Received 82,000 Donations From 'Mike Pence'
Prince's Friends Fondly Remember All the Times He Expertly Insulted Everyone From Madonna to Eddie Murphy
Trump's Labor Pick Draws Breitbart Backlash


text:
Keep your 'pits fresh and pleasantly fragrant
Is it possible to make deodorants sexy? Sure, but we'd rather make them effective and there's something beautiful in that. Sweat happens, because it's our body's way of getting rid of toxins and to regulate our temperatures. Our deodorants won't stop you from sweating but they will help balance perspiration and keep you smelling fresh. We think it's way better to smell of lovely fruits and flowers than to smell of ... well, you know.


text:
Police: Shooting involved drug money
Stefan Hard / Staff Photo Marcus Stone, 24, of Barre, is arraigned Monday in Washington County criminal court in Barre on a charge of aggravated assault with a weapon stemming from a shooting Friday night at the Budget Inn in Barre.
BARRE Police said the attempted robbery of a drug dealer in Barre on Friday night may have left one man paralyzed from the neck down.
The Granite City man accused of shooting another man in the neck at the Budget Inn on North Main Street has been ordered held on bail after his arraignment Monday.
Marcus A. Stone, 24, pleaded not guilty in Washington County criminal court in Barre to one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony. If convicted, Stone faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
According to the police affidavit, police responded to a report of gunshots at the inn around 11:35 p.m. A 911 call was also taken at that time from someone saying an attempted robbery had just taken place at the motel.
Police said they found Justin Roberts, 30, lying on the ground and Stone was holding a handgun. Police said Roberts also had a handgun. Police said Roberts had a wound in his back where the bullet exited through his neck.
Police said Roberts was taken to Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. While there, his heart reportedly stopped and he had to be resuscitated. The damage from the bullet caused paralysis for Roberts, and police do not know if it is permanent, according to the affidavit. Roberts was listed in critical condition Monday afternoon at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington.
At the scene, police spoke with a witness, Jean Sousie, 20, who said she lived with Stone at the motel, according to the affidavit. Sousie told police she heard the door knob to her room jiggle and thought it was a friend. Sousie told police Stone opened the door and Roberts pushed his way in.
Sousie told police Roberts had a handgun in his hand and Stone ran into the bathroom. She said Roberts demanded money and pointed the gun at her and Stones 4-month-old infant. Sousie said Roberts grabbed some money off the dresser and left.
At that point, Stone came out of the bathroom, grabbed his own gun and ran out the door firing twice, police said. Sousie said Roberts was on the ground and Stone went over to see if he was hurt. Sousie told police Roberts said he couldnt move.
Police said they found two 9 mm shell casings outside the motel, one in the driveway in front of the room where the attempted robbery took place and another on the staircase that runs parallel to Fifth Street.
When police spoke with Stone, he gave a story similar to that of Sousie. Stone told police the shooting was self-defense.
Stone told police he had about $7,000 in cash in his pocket and Roberts took off with less than $2,000 from the dresser.
When police asked Stone if the money he had in his possession came from selling drugs, he denied it, according to the affidavit. Stone told police he received $3,700 from an insurance settlement from an accident he was involved in and Sousie had received $3,200 in tax money.
According to the affidavit, police told Stone the money was obviously from drug proceeds. Police said Stone later admitted some of the money came from selling marijuana but denied selling anything else.
The shooting has sparked interest from local officials about people who are staying in the citys hotels and motels. Mayor Thomas Lauzon submitted a public records request Sunday to the states Department of Finance and Management seeking information on any payments the state has made to house people at seven establishments, including the Budget Inn, in the city from 2010 to the present.
The state offers housing assistance to qualifying people who are homeless, recently released from foster care or starting probation or parole after a year of prison.
Lauzon said the records request is the first in a series of questions he intends to ask in order to find out more about the hotels and motels in the wake of the shooting. He also wants to meet owners of the establishments over the next few weeks and tour their facilities.
Lauzon expected the City Council to take up the topic at its regular meeting today.
@timesargus.comMORE IN Central VermontMIDDLEBURY According to WebMD, Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes a persons muscles ... Full StoryTiffany Briggs and Kayla Jackson eyed each other across the table, clasped hands, and then it was... Full StoryMARLBORO Police are investigating a burglary on Higley Hill Road. Full Story
- Most Popular
- Most Emailed


text:
Please Help! I want to know if I have any hope of my milk supply increasing I have been told so many things. I really want this to work!
I am a new mom and so new to BFing. My little man is 15 days old he was born 8lbs. We got off to a slow start because his blood sugar upon birth was too low to BF, according to the hospital (below 30), and for the first 24 hrs he was in a special care nursury where they would not allow me to BF for fear of lowering his sugar more and he recieved and IV as well as a bottle of 2oz of formula every two hours - so i pumped 6 times with the hospital pump never getting more than a couple drops of colustrum. then I got him and tried BF every time he was hungry the hospital was still monitoring his sugar and so I had to continue to supplement his bfing sessions with formula. It was difficult to learn to position him and we got home on the third day which is when I committed to feeding him around the clock only BM when ever he wanted - there where times he was eating for 4 hours with a few breaks 15 -20 min.
He went to the pediatrician on the 5th day after birth when he was weighed he had lost weight and weighed 7lbs 5 oz. the doctors wanted to see him again on monday and he lost even more weight 7lbs 3oz and so they encouraged me to supplement until my milk came in - so I did for fear of hurting my son who was not having the appropriate poop diapers (some days zero) then his weight returned to 7lbs 5 oz so the doc said cut back on formula now so I did and he lost weight again in the mean time my son was getting very frustrated at the nipple and his nursing sessions would always take a long time - slow eater I guess. So now that his weight had been fluctuating and it was obvious he was not going to be anywhere close to returning to his birthweight by 2 wks or possibly 3 wks. I started exclusively pumping on Sunday 5/27 to get more sessions (10-12) instead of BFing (7-8) naturally. I tried to do both and that didn't work I was feeding all day long without any help around I barely had enough time to use the restroom or eat. Now that I am pumping I am getting about 8oz total from my double electric pump (works great still not enough milk) and I am supplementing until his little hearts content - I've stopped keeping track of how much formula because it was depressing he seems to have gotten hungrier over the past couple days. We go for another weight check tomorrow I know his is gaining so I am not worried about that I can see it in his face and body.
so here we are Chris last weight check slightly up - good
my milk supply - still too low
and we are wondering if we have permanently ruined our chances for increasing my milk supply to have him 100% BF.
Please help - I really want to do this for my son.
thank you!


text:
Edgerly Walsh the best choice in District 3February 28,2013
Edgerly Walsh the best choice
Serving on the Montpelier City Council is somewhat of a thankless task. There are few rewards and lots of challenges. So it is wonderful to see that this year we have four qualified candidates for the District 3 seat. What an honor that is. How difficult it becomes to make a good decision.
Because we arent voting parties, it can be difficult to figure out in such a race who is the best choice. As my friend former Councilor Jim Sheridan put it, There is just no way to tell what will come out of a four-way race. Its a crapshoot.
In that case, then I have come down on the side of two qualities that I think are badly needed on the Montpelier City Council: youth and gender equality. Why those qualities? Montpelier is growing a younger face. New businesses are opening that are clearly aimed at a younger demographic. The needs of this growing community must be part of the councils deliberations. And gender? The issue speaks for itself. Half (or more) of Montpeliers residents are women. Can we expect Anne Watson to be the only feminine voice on the council? Not at all. We should be moving in the direction of balance.
Given the need for youth and balance, it is clear that Jessica Edgerly Walsh is the best choice for District 3 at the town meeting election. She provides the youthful energy and balanced perspective needed to help guide our city into a challenging future. I will certainly be supporting Jessica on Town Meeting Day.
Dan Jones
MontpelierMORE IN LettersA sixth-offense DUI gets plead down to a misdemeanor. A breathalyzer is refused. Full StoryBurr Morses recollection (Whats good for the goose, Nov. Full StoryMSNBC news analyst Rachel Maddows report on the election of Republican Rutherford B. Full Story
- Most Popular
- Most Emailed


text:
saved by a stick
I wrote this many many years ago and the post b y riverview brought it back to mind. So here it is ........ long as ususal but i hope it strikes a note with a few of you..... it is amazing to reread it now knowing how part of the story turns out.
I awoke with a start at the bump and screech of the wheels as the plane touched down. Disoriented from sleep I idly wondered what city I was in. Here lately there had been way too many cities in too few days. The project of a lifetime was consuming my every waking hour and minute. If I could just pull off this project my career would be made, or had I said that about the last critical business project, they all seemed to run together. I sat and tried to piece together the various cities and trips over the last couple of years and finally gave up. Leaving me with a vague guilty feeling floating around my stomach and brain, as I realized that I hadnt been home to see my family in almost two weeks and hadnt really spent any solid time at home in almost a year. I really did miss my family but I felt that I was on the verge of that career breakthrough that would leave them financially secure and "set for life" and after all wasnt that the most important thing?
I realized that this was Dallas and remembered my promise to drive the hour and a half to go visit my Mother and Dad for a birthday dinner. I truly loved my Mom and Dad but somehow I just wasnt in the mood to break my business game face and go be a normal person for a while. Turned out dinner at Mom and Dads was painless. Mom asked all of the usual questions about the status of my wife and two young children and as I was answering I realized that I was probably the wrong person to be answering, as I didnt really know anymore. I told her everything was fine and part of me believed that .....but part of me was enough of a realist to realize that the stress and strain of this wild corporate climb was taking a pretty heavy toll on my relationship with my wife and kids. She just didnt understand how important this was to my career and for that matter to me. Fortunately my Dad soon jumped in with a few questions about my work project and I felt myself happily launch into a spirited description of everything that was happening from a work perspective. It felt safer to be talking about business, it seems that these days that was where my comfort level was. It seems the whole family relationship thing just made my head hurt and left me confused and searching for the right answer. After all, problems always have a right answer dont they.... that is what i do i solve problems byu finding he "right" answer.
After dinner Mom and Dad brought out my birthday present. My Dad was carrying a new aluminum rod tube so I quickly assumed it was a fly rod. I was immediately excited. I considered myself a "fly fisherman" because growing up I had spent a couple of weeks each summer fly fishing on the headwaters of the Rio Grande and during my high school and college years I had spent some time casting popping bugs for bream and yearling bass. But the last couple of years I hadnt touched a fly rod, business and life had just kept me too busy. However I still considered myself to be a fly fisherman despite my lack of stream time and even thoughts of lfy fishing for that matter but we stick to our self-prescribed labels even if they are inaccurate at best. I quickly unscrewed the cap and shook the rod sack out of the tube. The faint musty odor of age reached my nose and I noticed how old and faded the once forest green rod sock was. I slid the rod out and felt a momentary jump as I saw the glazed warm golden brown tones of a bamboo rod slide into view. But my enthusiasm dipped a little as I realized that this wasnt one of those well dressed presentation bamboo rods that grace the ad pages of all the fly fishing magazines. The heavy bamboo rod looked old and tired, the wrappings a faded green and yellow, the reel seat cold unfinished metal with a worn green spacer. The cork grips darkened gray from age and use. I carefully fitted it together and lifted it for the traditional waggle we all use to test a rod or should I say, act like we know what we are doing. As I grasped the aged cork grips I felt an odd sensation deep in the pit of my stomach as my hands instinctively slid into the worn indentions traced in the grips. It was uncanny how naturally and almost identically my grip aligned with those indentions worn through heavy use of another man somewhere over the course of this rods obviously long life. I looked at my father in a silent question; he said simply it was Dads rod. That threw me for a second but then it hit me in an instant that he meant his father Dick Davis , my grandfather, the man I am named after. A man that I had never met as he had died before I was born but I still felt I knew him from the loving stories my father told. He quietly continued, This was his fly rod, in fact it was the one he taught me to fly fish with. Now it is yours from Grandfather to Grandson. Suddenly the mystery of the matched grip became clear. The worn spots in the grip were the imprints of my Grandfathers hands, created through many hours of fishing using an odd grip that he had taught my father who had in turn taught me. My fingers felt the contact with the rod like it was a bridge through time .... a bridge spanning 40 years ....... a bridge spanning grandfather to grandson. My hands and fingers resting in the exact spots his had. It was an eerie but somehow comfortable connection of long passed time and at least one lifetime mine.
I said my thanks, truly impressed with the gift. Packed the aged old rod back into its ancient rod sack and shiny new aluminum tube and said my goodbyes. But as soon as the rental car was back on the road my thoughts instantly switched back to the corporate world, the project and my career. The rod lost in the mental shuffle. That night in my hotel room I had a strange dream. I was vacationing on the headwaters of the Rio Grande River with my family, a place I loved with all of my heart. A place where I had vacationed nearly every year of my life until I was in college, but a place I hadnt been in at least 8 years. Yet here I was in my dreams, vacationing with my wife and two young sons in one of my favorite places in the world. Yet, instead of feeling a sense of happiness or contentment, as I should have, I felt rage at the desire to fly fish and not having enough time. Throughout the dream, things kept coming up and I spent the entire dream trip without ever fishing. I remembered the frustration clearly even after I woke up. It haunted me as a vague uneasiness even into the morning shower and out the door. I passed it off as a reaction to the rod and to the normal troubled sleep of yet another strange hotel room. When I got home from that trip I carefully stored the rod in its shinny new tube in the corner of the garage. Somehow the rod faded out of my memory, but I couldnt shake the dreams, they kept coming back to me time and time again. Soon I began to see an old man in my dream, he never said anything but he was always holding a fly rod, offering it to me. I never really made the connection consciously until one evening when I was getting ready for bed and happened to glance down at the picture of my father and grandfather that was on my nightstand and realized that the man in my dream was my grandfather.... my name sake. I realized that the rod being offered was the rod languishing in obscurity in the corner of my garage. I decided then and there that I would begin to get back into fly fishing.
I felt the antique rod was to old to fish with so I tore through the years and years of accumulated junk in the basement only to find that all of my old fly rods were broken and mangled. A result I am sure of my over imaginative boys and some sword fighting duel that they had seen on TV somewhere. My anger burst from me like an erupting sewer pipe leaving both boys in a bewildered tears as they wondered what they did to make their daddy so mad, and my wife furious at me for being so hard on the boys.... and left even myself furious at me for being such a jerk. It seems that whatever I did these days it didnt make anyone happy, not the kids and certainly not my wife but most importantly not even myself. Once again there just didnt seem to be any right answers, **** there didnt seem to be any answers at all. I stormed out of the house wondering how things could get this messed up. I quickly strung the old bamboo rod and stalked off into the yard to try and cast off some of my anger. I hadnt picked up a fly rod in almost ten years but somehow it came back to me fairly quickly. The old rod responded better than I ever imagined it could. It felt heavy in my hand but as I began to recognize the feel of when it was flexed and properly loaded before I started my forecast, I began to actually move some line. Before too long a rhythm finally fell into place and my casting returned. The clean graceful arc of the line was pleasing and somehow calming, further strengthening my resolve to get back into the sport. I felt my anger weaken with each casting stroke and soon found myself remembering and reliving my days as a kid standing in the front yard with a newspaper tucked under my arm practice casting to the imaginary rising trout under the azalea bush or that huge bass surfacing by the water sprinkler. My imagination numbed by age was still lively enough to mentally transport me from my yard to a beautiful mountain trout stream allowing all of my anger and frustration to momentarily float off on the white-capped riffles of my imaginary river. I knew that peace of mind wouldnt last long but even a brief bit of escape helps.
My experience with yard casting and my imaginary river was pleasant enough that I decided to give the real thing a try. So one wintry Saturday I boldly set off on my first fly fishing adventure as an adult. When I got to the river, a tailwater that happened to run right through Atlanta, I found it a far cry from the raging Rio Grande that I had grown up fishing. It was a large slow moving tailwater with crowds of people standing around drowning worms and dunking corn. I found an open stretch of water and began to flail the water with a size 12 grizzly wulff as that was the only way I knew to fish. As you might expect, it was an unproductive strategy for a winters day on a tailwater. As a matter of fact the only fish I came close to catching was the one that almost passed out from laughing at my clumsy presentations. But I did get a few hours of nothing, that is right nothing, absolutely nothing going on in my head. My troubles with my personal and professional life were temporarily silenced by the sound of the water as it flowed past and the pleasant pull of the current on my legs. That few minutes of mental silence and shelter from my troubles were a pleasure beyond description. As I drove back to the house I felt calmed and relaxed in a way that I hadnt in a long time. I hugged the kids on my return, heck I even hugged my wife and at that point in our life that was a rarity. The contentment didnt last long but it had been there, even if just for a moment.
Yet once again I lost myself in work and forgot about fishing. The dreams however continued, one short fishing trip was not enough to settle the subconscious unrest in my soul. The image of my Grandfather that haunted my dreams became more insistent about that bamboo rod and about something else, something intangible that was missing in my life. He was so insistent that I gave in and took time out of my corporate climb to drag myself on my next fly fishing trip. It was a cold trip, winter fishing has its hazards but the crowds were reduced and almost non-existent. I had a few hundred yards of stream all to myself and the day was gorgeous with a bright winter sun burning a faded hole through a cold liquid blue sky. The water was a flat gunmetal color broken with slivers of refracted sunlight. The cold of the water bit through my waders and woke up every nerve ending in my body. Leaving me almost breathless as my body adjusted to the temperature and my mind settled into the flow and rhythm of the river and of the fishing. The rod felt as if it belonged in my hand. My fingers nestled in the hollow indentations made years before I was even born, connected me somehow to something meaningful my history. The rod and line were like extensions of my own arms. The casts rolled out in fluid waves, the bright colors of the line highlighted by the muted winter colors of the sky and river. It felt good just being on the water and out of the house. Once again my head cleared. My personal troubles and dilemmas ceased to exist for a little while and I was able to relax and think of nothing save the flowing world around me. I fished this way for several hours, not productively but happily. Finally I tired, deciding to sit down on the bank to rest for awhile. I sat examining the rod and thinking about my grandfather. I felt close to him in a way that was strange considering that I had never met him but I felt him next to me nonetheless. It was a comforting feeling like a child recognizing his fathers snoring through the frights of the night and understanding instinctively and subconsciously that they are protected and safe. It was a peace of mind that comes from a connection with those you love and those who love you as well, a connection of FAMILY. As I was sitting there contemplating that concept my eyes were absently scanning the mass of gray blue water sliding swiftly past me, not really seeing anything specific not really even focusing at all, when the shadowy shape of a trout rose and took form out of the camouflage of the riverbed. It was as if this fish had suddenly materialized by magic right before my eyes. As I watched the beautiful rainbow finning slowly in the current the parallels of his miraculous appearance compared to my own lifes problems became apparent. Where moments before I hadnt seen any sign of life in the river or any answers to my personnel problems, here suddenly was a living flash of silver finning clearly in the shadowy current. Maybe the answers to the unhappiness in my soul were hiding camouflaged somewhere within me, hiding in plain sight just like that rainbow. The answer somehow materialized just as miraculously as that fish had. I needed, no HAD to have the comfort and security of my family. My mad dash up the corporate ladder had created a distance in my family that could potentially cost me the only thing in my life that was really important, my family. As that realization sank in I felt the world on my shoulders shift and lighten. The darkness that had held my soul suddenly lightened just slightly like the faint light of a false dawn creeping slowly over a hilltop. Suddenly I thought I knew what really mattered and what was truly important.... and it dang sure wasnt career and the corporate world. The only thing that was going to make me happy was building my family the way a family should be built .... I relaized that love and time could get me there. Across the span of time and the distance of lifetimes, somehow, somewhere I felt my grandfather smile and it warmed me through the chill of the day, even the chill of the river and for the first time in a long time my soul was smiling with him.
I would love to say that I miraculously became a better father and husband, but I didnt. However, I certainly had a better understanding of what was important to me, deep in my soul and I began to try much harder at fulfilling those duties. I began to rebuild my life and my relationships to try and take advantage of my new perspective on life and my growing addiction to fly fishing. I began to look forward to my time on the water, not that I was becoming a great fisherman, **** I wasnt catching many fish, but fly fishing seemed my only chance outside of my family to capture a small sliver of peace of mind. Despite my failings as a fisherman I continued to fish. Savoring those few hours every couple of weeks when I held that old rod in my grasp and felt the comfort of the worn time hewn grip in my hand, and the tug of the current against my legs. I slowly began to believe that fly fishing was a well for my soul, filled with cool water memories that could be used to put out the stress filled fires of my everyday life. At first it was the challenge of just catching a fish, then it became the challenge of catching big fish but the best part of all was that regardless of whether or not I caught fish I gained clarity about what was happening in my life. Rivers eventually gave way to small streams tucked deep in the backcountry of the southern Appalachians and big trout were replaced by small feisty native southern specs. Those hours on the stream provided a chance to get to know me again helping me achieve a fuller perspective on what was important in my life. The no win situation of balancing work, career and family began to lose its complexity. Watching the water flow around me while following the drift of my fly I finally decided that the corporate ladder that I was trying so hard to ascend wasnt the direction I wanted my life to follow at all. I suddenly began to feel the long arduous task of re-establishing a relationship with my family was the single most important priority that I had and truly deserved all of my focus and attention.
Slowly over time, my work, my family and my life on the river began to balance. Both the fishing and the recovery of my family were on going processes, as good things are never easy. I felt like I was becoming a fisherman that my grandfather would be proud of but more importantly I was finally becoming a father and family man that my grandfather could be proud of. As I spent more time in the company of my family and fast moving clear cold water the demons that had been tormenting my soul began to fade. As those demons faded so did the dreams of wasted opportunities and lost time. My grandfathers spirit became less vocal in my subconscious though no less present in my heart and soul. It was as if his spirit was becoming as restful as my own spirit was growing to be. I knew that somewhere in that plane of existence where old souls dwell, he was resting easier knowing that he had helped lead me toward what was truly important in life, not an artificial chase for power and prestige. A simple stick of bamboo and cork wrapped in thread combined with a lost generation of collective memory had somehow shown me the way to come back from the brink of losing myself and my family on a career path of destruction. Somehow the old worn cork grip of a time ravaged bamboo fly rod had held the values and keys that guided my soul and my family back together. To this day I truly believe that my heart and soul was saved by a simple bamboo stick that had been passed down from generation to generation, just like our love of family and fly fishing.
As i read this now some 15 years later ...... those thoughts and feeling still feel fresh .... yet my wife and i recently celebrated our 25th anniversary and my oldest is in college and my bity baby boy is a 6"2" 225 junior in high school ......... but we are indeed a family that I am proud of....... oh well lessons learned are what makes us who we are........ even if i am still a "sorry excuse" for a fly fisherman ........ i will just have to keep practicing.
|Thread Tools
|Display Modes
Linear Mode
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:01 AM.


text:
Buff Santana Red UV Buff
NOW: $19.97 (13% off!)
Was: $23.00*
Product Information:
Style meets function with the Buff® Santana Red UV Buff®. The comfortable, seamless design will shield you from 95% of the sun's harmful rays. Moisture is quickly wicked away from your skin to keep you dry on warm days, while soft, breathable Coolmax® Extreme fabric keeps you cool. The Buff® Santana Red UV Buff® will become one of your favorite outdoor accessories!
- Blocks 95% of UV rays
- Soft, breathable Coolmax® Extreme fabric
- 100% seamless
- 12+ ways to wear
- Polygiene® active odor control
- Moisture wicking
- Thermal protection from cold & wind
- Quick-drying
- 2-way lateral stretch
- One-size-fits-all adults
- Style: 18853Z
- Buff
Country of Origin: ChinaWeb ID: 12790445
Customer Reviews:
Rated 3.8 out of 5�by 5 reviewers.
Rated 5 out of 5�by kelligrace Awesome product!!! Highly recommend... Love the Buff bandanas. They can be worn so many different ways. This is my second one. I love all of the different designs available. They even have them for dogs. April 7, 2015
Rated 3 out of 5�by Connerswife Buff I wish it was reversible and it is a little to wide but it is everything I expected April 16, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5�by Mac Buff Santana Red It makes fishing the flats here in Florida so much more bearable April 3, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5�by rj Great product This Buff is great, you can wear it anywhere in many different ways. Keeps your head cool and the buff dries very fast. August 29, 2013
Rated 1 out of 5�by M More like a buffalo chip Apparently the dyes aren't color fast. It faded onto my shirt collar. July 3, 2013
1-5 of 5


text:
Talk about cognitive dissonance in Washington, D.C.. The White House, members of Congress, the State Department and Department of Defense are all denouncing the release of hundreds of thousands of classified documents by Wikileaks.
Talk about cognitive dissonance in Washington, D.C.. The White House, members of Congress, the State Department and Department of Defense are all denouncing the release of hundreds of thousands of classified documents by Wikileaks.
What the newspapers and politicians do not remind you of is these documents were leaked by Private Bradley E. Manning, a gay soldier.
At the same time all are up in arms about PVT Manning's leaks, the White House, members of Congress and the Department of Defense are pushing to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT). DADT is the policy that allowed Private Manning to join the Army and eventually betray his nation. Ginger Thompson stated, in a New York Times article , that in Wales, OK "classmates made fun of him for being gay". Ginger noted that former neighbors in Oklahoma described the young Manning as "opinionated beyond his years about politics, religion, and even about keeping religion out of politics.", and that in the Army, Manning's "social life was defined by the need to conceal his sexuality under 'don't ask, don't tell' ". At a young age Manning was part of the gay agenda, which includes pushing gay rights via politics as well as denouncing opposition to the gay lifestyle by churches and religious organizations. He essentially became obsessed with the repeal of DADT. Ginger said that sometime in 2008, in Cambridge, Massachusetts (the epicenter for the gay rights movement), Manning became "part of a social circle that included politically motivated computer hackers and his boyfriend, a self-described drag queen. So when his military career seemed headed nowhere good, Private Manning, 22, turned increasingly to those friends for moral support". ----Rich Swier
Mannings father a career soldier kicked the gay traitor out of his home and thanks to the DADT democrat backed policy this abomination was allowed to join the Army. Don't ask don't tell, just another example of what obama and the democratic party supports.
The prohibition of homosexuals in the military was predicated on the idea that compromised morality could be used against the interest of the individual, making them a security risk. Any surprise that this boy's lack of moral character extends beyond sexual?


text:
Periodic testing means third party testing that must be conducted on the continuing production of children's products. This testing is in addition to the testing that was conducted when a children's product was initially tested for certification or when the product was retested and certified following a material change. Periodic testing must be performed by a CPSC-accepted third party laboratory. The requirement is effective on February 8, 2013.
Periodic testing must be conducted at a minimum of 1-, 2-, or 3-year intervals, depending upon whether the manufacturer has a periodic testing plan, a production testing plan, or plans to conduct continued testing using an accredited ISO/IEC 17025:2005 laboratory.
The party responsible for providing a written Children's Product Certificate must comply with the periodic testing requirements. For products manufactured domestically, the manufacturer is responsible. For products manufactured overseas, the importer is responsible. This summary document generally refers to all responsible parties as the "manufacturer." Certifiers of component parts used in children's products must ensure that periodic testing has been conducted on the component parts.
If a manufacturer chooses to test its children's products using a periodic testing plan with a maximum 1-year interval testing option, the manufacturer must:
1. develop and implement a written periodic testing plan;
2. conduct periodic testing of children's products at a minimum of at least once per year using a CPSC-accepted laboratory; and
3. keep records of all periodic test plans and test results for 5 years.
A manufacturer that chooses to test its children's products using the 2- or 3- year interval options has different responsibilities, discussed below.
Generally, no. If a children's product is exclusively produced in short production runs (and without any material changes during the production run), then periodic testing and a periodic testing plan are not required. Manufacturers that test and certify children's products that are manufactured in a short production run do not have any periodic testing obligations under 16 C.F.R. § 1107.21. A "short production run" means a production run that is completed before a manufacturer otherwise would be required to test that product periodically, which is generally 1 year.
Note that material changes to a product – even a product produced exclusively in short production runs – would trigger additional third party testing requirements. If the manufacturer thinks a material change has occurred to the manufacturer's children's product, the manufacturer must resubmit the product or component part of the children's product with the material changes to a CPSC-accepted laboratory for new testing so that a new Children's Product Certificate may be issued for the children's product. Full details about material change testing are available here.
Finally, while it may not be necessary to test each batch or each short production run of a children's product that was previously tested and certified, manufacturers are cautioned to be conservative when a series of many short production runs, or batches becomes so frequent that CPSC staff could construe the production to be "continuing production" that would become subject to periodic testing requirements.
Yes. An importer must also comply with the periodic testing requirements.
If, however, due to the nature of the business relationship, an importer exercises little or no control over the manufacturing process of a product or its component parts, it may be difficult or impossible for the importer to comply with these periodic testing requirements. In that situation, an importer likely will need to test each new shipment as if the product were being tested and certified for the first time.
If, however, an importer or manufacturer is relying on a supplier who complies with CPSC regulations because the supplier is required to comply with the regulations or because the supplier chooses voluntarily to comply, then the importer must exercise due care to ensure that its manufacturer has a periodic or production testing plan in place, that the manufacturer is following the plan and keeping the required records.
No. Importers who choose to test each shipment of products do not have any periodic testing obligations under 16 C.F.R. § 1107.21.
(Note that although importers are not required to test each shipment, an importer likely will need to test each shipment in which that importer is not able to exercise sufficient control over the manufacturing process to ensure that no material changes have occurred and that the periodic testing obligations of 16 C.F.R. § 1107.21 are being met.)
No. It is not feasible for CPSC to create a model periodic testing plan due to the wide range of products manufactured, the variety of manufacturing processes used in manufacturing, and the different practices of individual manufacturers.
A manufacturer is expected: (a) to know the best way to achieve compliance of its product, and (b) to use its expertise about the product's design and manufacturing process to create a written periodic testing plan.
A "periodic testing plan" must be in writing, and no particular format is required. At each manufacturing site, the manufacturer must have a periodic testing plan for each children's product manufactured at that site. A periodic testing plan must include:
- the tests to be conducted;
- the intervals at which the tests will be conducted; and
- the number of samples tested.
For example, where a manufacturer uses die casting to produce a product and the manufacturer knows that the casting die wears down towards the end of its useful life, the manufacturer should design its periodic testing plan to increase the frequency of its periodic testing as the die ages. The physical dimensions of the die help assure compliance of the product and more testing of this product may be necessary because of "known manufacturing process factors which could affect compliance with a rule." Similarly, a manufacturer that makes products with complex mechanical structures may need to test more frequently than a manufacturer that produces a simple children's product (e.g., basic, unpainted, solid wooden blocks). Products produced with complex mechanical structures present greater potential for production error, and therefore, may need to be tested more frequently.
Although not required, a manufacturer may wish to consider describing the rationale for the design of its periodic testing plan to memorialize the rationale and document the information available to the manufacturer at the time the plan was drafted. In the event that a health or safety problem with the product becomes evident later, retaining such information may provide the manufacturer and CPSC with an understanding of where and why the problem occurred.
It depends. Periodic testing should be conducted frequently enough to provide the manufacturer or importer a high degree of assurance that continuing production of the children's product complies with all applicable children's product safety rules. If a manufacturer is relying on a "periodic" testing plan, testing must be conducted no less than once per year, and it may need to be conducted more often than once per year.
For example, the periodic testing rule states that in determining the frequency (by batch, lot, or other measurement) of testing ongoing production, a manufacturer may wish to consider various factors, such as:
- high variability in test results;
- measurements that are close to the allowable numerical limit for quantitative tests;
- known manufacturing process factors that could affect compliance with a rule;
- introduction of a new set of component parts into the manufacturing process; and
- the potential for serious injury or death resulting from a noncompliant children's product, among other factors.
Manufacturers should recognize that periodic testing is not the only way to have a high degree of assurance. Everything that a manufacturer does to control for potential variability in its production process (e.g., incoming inspection of raw materials, first party testing, in-factory quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) systems) should work together, in concert with periodic testing, to provide the desired high degree of assurance.
Yes. If a manufacturer drafts and follows a "production" testing plan ─instead of a "periodic" testing plan─ the manufacturer is permitted to test its product at least once every 2 years. A production testing plan must be in writing, and no particular format is required. At each manufacturing site, the manufacturer must have a production testing plan for each children's product manufactured at that site.
A production testing plan is a plan describing actions taken by a manufacturer, other than third party testing, to help ensure continued compliance of a children's product. The examples provided above, such as incoming inspection of raw materials, first party testing, in-factory QA/QC systems, which are used by a manufacturer to control for potential variability in its production process, should be included in a production testing plan. Again, CPSC does not provide a model production testing plan due to the wide range of products manufactured, the variety of manufacturing processes used in manufacturing, and the different practices of individual manufacturers.
A production testing plan must describe:
- the quality assurance techniques used in the manufacturing process;
- the tests to be conducted or the measurements to be taken;
- the intervals at which those tests or measurements will be taken;
- the number of samples tested; and
- an explanation describing how these techniques and tests provide a high degree of assurance of continued compliance with the applicable regulations, particularly if they are not the tests prescribed by CPSC for the applicable children's product safety rule.
A production testing plan may include recurring testing or the use of process management techniques, such as control charts, statistical process control programs, or failure modes and effects analyses (FMEAs) designed to control potential variations in product manufacturing that could affect the product's ability to comply with the applicable children's product safety rules. A manufacturer may use nondestructive measurement techniques tailored to the needs of an individual product to help ensure that a product continues to comply with all applicable children's product safety rules. Any production testing plan must be effective in determining compliance and must include some testing, although the test methods employed are not required to be the test methods used for certification nor is it required to utilize a CPSC-accepted laboratory.
For manufacturers, there is a third testing option that permits the testing of the manufacturer's children's products every 3 years through the use of a testing laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005(E), and by testing the children's products using the test methods specified in the standard or rule. This option is most likely applicable to larger manufacturers. Further details are available in the regulation.
Depending on which option a manufacturer chooses, a manufacturer only needs to develop one plan – either a production testing plan or a periodic testing plan.
If a manufacturer chooses to test its children's products using the production testing plan with a maximum 2-year interval testing option, the manufacturer must:
1. create a written production testing plan;
2. conduct production testing in accordance with its production testing plan;
3. conduct periodic testing of children's products at a minimum of once every 2 years using a CPSC-accepted laboratory; and
4. keep records of all production test plans and test results (both periodic testing and production testing) for 5 years.
A manufacturer that chooses to test its children's products using the ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 laboratory option with a 3- year periodic testing interval should consult the regulation for the manufacturer's responsibilities.
The number and type of samples selected for testing in a CPSC-accepted laboratory must be representative of the production units that are not tested and must be sufficient to provide a high degree of assurance that the tests conducted for certification purposes accurately demonstrate that the non-tested children's products continue to meet all applicable children's product safety rules.
If, at any time after a children's product is initially tested and certified, the product is materially changed , the product (or just the specific component that was changed) must be tested again for compliance, and the manufacturer or importer must issue a new Children's Product Certificate. This is called material change testing and it is different from periodic testing.
A material change may mean the substitution of one component part for another, a change in a component part supplier, a design or manufacturing process change, or another product change that could affect the product's compliance with applicable children's product safety rules. By contrast, periodic testing is the third party testing of products in continued production, even where there have been no known material changes to the product since the product was initially tested and certified as compliant.
Unless there is an alternative testing requirement or an exemption, small batch manufacturers are required to comply with the periodic testing requirements for children's product safety rules. To the extent that a small batch manufacturer may not be required to third party test a particular item (for a particular requirement), CPSC staff still expects a small batch manufacturer registered with the CPSC to exercise due care to ensure that its suppliers have continued to periodically test their component parts, even if the testing is first party testing.
Children's Products: Rules Requiring Third-Party Testing and a Children's Product Certificate
General Use Products: Rules Requiring Testing and a General Certificate of Conformity
Section 14 of the CPSA
Testing and Labeling Pertaining to Product Certification
Testing of Component Parts
Certificates of Compliance
Initial Testing
Material Change Testing
Periodic Testing
Component Part Testing
View Full Directory
Video Tutorial: Finding a CPSC-Accepted Lab
Helpful Questions for Businesses to Ask Labs
Apply to Become a Recognized Accredited Lab
The CPSIA of 2008 authorized a variety of new regulations and testing requirements for children's products and some non-children's products. If you are a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or retailer of consumer goods, all of your products must comply with the CPSIA and other laws enforced by the CPSC.
View More About CPSIA
If you still have questions, you can consult with our Small Business Ombudsman.
Contact CPSC's Small Business Ombudsman
The link you selected is for a destination outside of the Federal Government. CPSC does not control this external site or its privacy policy and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information it contains. You may wish to review the privacy policy of the external site as its information collection practices may differ from ours. Linking to this external site does not constitute an endorsement of the site or the information it contains by CPSC or any of its employees.
Click Ok if you wish to continue to the website; otherwise, click Cancel to return to our site.


text:
by Gigi Soucy
(Huntsville,Ontario, Canada)
I took a picture of a little bird when
Comments for YELLOW RUMPED WARBLER
Click here to add your own comments
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to What Is This Bird?.
Dec 09, 16 11:21 AM
Black v on chest ,red stripe on back of neck horizontally
Dec 05, 16 09:07 AM
Grey bird pecking at our drain spout like a woodpecker but had a curved beak. When I tried to look it up it seemed like a Whitebreasted Thrasher but they
Dec 03, 16 10:11 AM
Brown to tan bird with some upright feathers on crown a little red stripe on back and bright yellow tipped tail


text:
The holidays are a wonderful time for most and a difficult time for some. For people recovering from addiction problems, the holidays can present some special challenges.
"How do I manage not drinking at the office party or holiday dinner party without having to announce that I am trying to stay sober one day at a time?"
"How do I manage not drinking when the in-laws are expecting me to pound the beers with them like I used to? How do I handle their awkward questions?"
"How do I handle the family dysfunction and the memories and regrets that come up when I'm around the family?"
These are just a few of the questions that seem to come up around this time of year. As for drinking events and old drinking venues, I would suggest that if you're too new or very unsure of yourself you either excuse yourself altogether or take a sober support person. Some might think this is weak or extreme, but when it comes to drinking or not, if everything is on the line, do whatever has to be done.
If you decide to attend, you might want to decide beforehand what you'll be drinking; diet coke, seltzer and lime, cranberry juice or water are reasonable options. Frankly, nobody but you usually cares or notices what you're drinking.
I usually suggest people plan to leave if things get too crazy or uncomfortable. It often is discovered, though, that people with problems usually are the ringleaders, and once they stop participating, parties can seem remarkably tame. But just in case, have an exit strategy – your own vehicle if necessary, a friend who calls at a certain time, a baby-sitter who needs to be home or anything that gives you a legitimate reason to leave on your own terms.
Don't get pulled into areas, conversations or people that are triggers for you, if possible. You never have to tell someone you aren't drinking alcohol if you don't want to. It may be easiest to simply say, "I don't feel too well tonight" or "I'm allergic." You can share your recovery at the time of your choosing and when you feel safe and understood.
As for family dysfunction, memories and regrets, the dysfunction probably will remain fairly static but may be better for you as you learn not to participate and maybe better for everyone. Memories and regrets actually can be a sign you're getting better because now you can feel and are aware of the hurts caused. It's how you deal with the memories and regrets that needs to change. Talk about them with trusted supporters and use them as steppingstones to growth.
Like a wise recovering alcoholic once told me, "It's progress to be planning sobriety instead of trying unsuccessfully to control your drinking."
For those of you who are recovering from addictions, have a safe, happy and sober holiday season.
• Rick Atwater is a licensed clinical professional counselor.


text:
Curreht scores TU-743 EQ-716 Goals TU>760 EQ>740
This will be a difficult goal as I will need to pay down considerable debt. to get there. I am considering doing some some consolidation but it takes about 6 months for me to get the fee back and wonder if its worth it (as i figured it), it;'s a 12 month 0%.
I like to achieve a credit score acoss board of 760 or better, my present score is 612,My goal is start paying all bill on time ,no more use of credit card or revolving credit tell balance paid down to at 30 percent of my credit limit or less.
I had a good year in 2010, fell a little short of the goal but made huge strides. Here are my goals for 2011.
1. Your FICO score goal for 2011. To have 700 across the board
2. Your current FICO score(s): 603 TU, EQ 586, EX who knows! LOL
3. The steps you plan to take to achieve your goal: No missed payments, continue to GW my 3 remaining baddies, and drop my Util to <5%. Also I would like to pass what I learned on here to others that are looking for help.
Hello All!
I am taking the challenge! I need to get out of my current house, and the not-as-lovely-as-it-used-to-be-neighborhood I am in. To do that, I need to get my credit back into shape. I had worked on it and was up over 620 less than two years ago.
The Goal is 700 by the end of 2011!
My current scores are:
EX ??? Finding out asap!
The first thing I am doing is paying everything on time.
The second thing is paying off student loans from the first degree.
The third thing is get some goodwill letters out! (maybe that is first?)
To take the challenge, tell us:
1. Your FICO score goal for 2011: 620 (Is this even a realistic goal?)
2. Your current FICO score(s): TransUnion 530 & Equifax 604
3. The steps you plan to take to achieve your goal:
-------Make on time payments on my student loans (my only debt after a bankruptcy on 12-13-10).
-------Learn what steps to take post-bankruptcy to help increase my credit score and make a plan to follow them.
-------Establish an emergency fund.
-------Establish a monthly personal budget and LIVE by it.
1. Goal score for 2011 is at least +730 for all 3 bureaus.
2. Current scores are TU 708 and EQ 673
3. I don't have any credit cards for the last 5 yrs. and loans (well I did bought a new car but paid cash , big mistake). I always thought that not having a credit card is a good thing, WRONG. I guess to improve my credit score back to where it was is to take out a loan and apply for 3 credit cards. I hope I get approve with my current credit score. thanks in advance.
Drum roll...
Starting Score: TU: 633 3/10, EQ 643 3/10
Current Score: TU: 639 1/11, EQ: 643 1/11 EX:No clue
Goal Score: TU:700, EQ:705
Hi All!
I hope we achieve our goals this year! I hope to achieve my goal scores by paying down cc debt to 30% or less of balances. This should raise my score to goal or close to goals alone but I will also keep trying to make payments on time. I also hope to start saving more and would like to save 2k in emergency funds before 2012 (its not much but it is a start)! Best of luck to all!
thunder7896 wrote:
1. Goal score for 2011 is at least +730 for all 3 bureaus.
2. Current scores are TU 708 and EQ 673
3. I don't have any credit cards for the last 5 yrs. and loans (well I did bought a new car but paid cash , big mistake). I always thought that not having a credit card is a good thing, WRONG. I guess to improve my credit score back to where it was is to take out a loan and apply for 3 credit cards. I hope I get approve with my current credit score. thanks in advance.
Hi thunder and welcome! You may just need to open one bank/national cc. Then see where you stand. Folks are in the excellent category (760+) without taking out a loan. There's probably a few other things you can do if you're at 673 - posting on the Rebuilding Your Credit forums is a great place to find out what to do next.
Glad you're here!
my goal for 2011 is 720 eq and tu scores
current fico scores is 570eq and 589tu
keep paying my installment loans on time send out some GW letters to remove some lates get 2 credit cards
1. 600
3: fixing the negative factors and working on better habits
I am new to this credit situation and I would really like to increase my score to help better my future for myself and my children so that I can teach them how to better themselves from the beginning and not before it becomes to late.
So, I would like any suggestions....
Forums posts are not provided or commissioned by FICO. Forums posts have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by FICO. It is not FICO's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on myFICO are from companies from which myFICO receives compensation, which may impact how and where products appear on myFICO (including, for example, the order in which they appear). myFICO does not review or include all companies or all available products.
Copyright ©2001-2015 Fair Isaac Corporation. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Sitemap
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: All FICO® Score products made available on myFICO.com include a FICO® Score 8, along with additional FICO® Score versions. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than the versions you receive from myFICO, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more
FICO, myFICO, Score Watch, The score lenders use, and The Score That Matters are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation. Equifax Credit Report is a trademark of Equifax, Inc. and its affiliated companies. Many factors affect your FICO Score and the interest rates you may receive. Fair Isaac is not a credit repair organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. Fair Isaac does not provide "credit repair" services or advice or assistance regarding "rebuilding" or "improving" your credit record, credit history or credit rating. FTC's website on credit.


text:
Jump to navigation
Be a donor
The Doomsday Clock is an internationally recognized design that conveys how close we are to destroying our civilization with dangerous technologies of our own making. First and foremost among these are nuclear weapons, but the dangers include climate-changing technologies, emerging... Read More
Research Coordinator at the Center for International
Trade and Security at the University of Georgia in Athens.
View the discussion thread.


text:
As the dog days of summer continue, HuskerOnline.com will break down Nebraska's 15 most important players heading into 2012.
Key Huskers No. 7: Mohammed Seisay
Premium Content
Subscribe today to read the full article and get everything Rivals has to offer.
- Member-only message boards
- Exclusive highlights and recruiting interviews
- Exclusive coverage of Rivals Camp Series
- Breaking recruiting news


text:
- It guarantees a scholarship or your money back.
- It says you can't get the information anywhere else.
- You're asked for your credit card or bank account number to hold the scholarship.
- The offer says your scholarship will cost some money.
- You're told you've been selected by a national committee or that you're a finalist in a contest you've never entered.
"If you don't remember anything else, remember the fact that you don't have to pay for scholarships," guidance counselor Karen Clark told Omaha television station KETV.
More Money Sources
Federal Pell Grants: These monies are not paid back. The federal program provides need-based grants to low-income students. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 schools. Grant amounts depend on family contributions, the cost of attendance, enrollment status and whether the student attends for a full year.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants: These are for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients with the lowest expected family contributions will be the first to get FSEOGs. Just like Pell Grants, FSEOGs don't have to be paid back.
Academic Competitiveness Grants: These are awarded to students who can demonstrate that they completed a rigorous high school program before enrolling in college. Eligible students receive up to $750 in their first year of college and $1,300 for the second year if they also maintain a 3.0 grade point average. This grant is awarded to students over and above any other grants or scholarships.
National SMART Grant: These provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security.
TEACH Grants: These teacher-incentive grants provide up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a school that serves students from low-income families.
Federal student loans: These loans supply help for students enrolled at a school that participates in federal aid programs. These loans are offered by private organizations under guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.
Stafford Loans: These are federal student loans made directly available to college and university students and are used to supplement personal and family resources, scholarships, grants and work-study. They may be subsidized by the U.S. government or may be unsubsidized, depending on the student's financial need.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Fogler Library is a designated depository for documents published by Maine state agencies and has one of the largest
collections of these materials in the state. Publications in the collection date from 1820
to the present and include information on all aspects of Maine history, culture, natural
resources and commerce. This collection of 12,568 titles contains about 71,000 documents.
Most of the holdings of the depository are cataloged in the URSUS online catalog.
A brief listing of some of the documents kept in our depository*:
*Dates reflect holdings in the Special Collections Department.
Links to other Maine State Government resources:
Maine State Library
State Document Collection
Maine State Home Page
Maine Constitution
Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library
Maine House of Representatives
Maine State Senate


text:
Leona LeBlancMarch 16,2013
Leona LeBlancLeona LeBlanc
SUDBURY Leona Lampron LeBlanc, 91, died Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in Rutland.
She was born March 26, 1921, the daughter of Marie Louise (Branchaud) and Alfred Eugene Lampron.
She was a 1938 graduate of Bennington High School.
On Oct. 12, 1946, she married Albert J. LeBlanc in Bennington. Mr. LeBlanc died in 2001.
Mrs. LeBlanc was employed at Union Carbide Corp. for many years and retired to Lake Hortonia where she worked at childrens summer camps for several years.
She enjoyed tatting, Rutland Herald crossword puzzles and reading.
Survivors include a brother, Roger Lampron of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 10 nieces, six nephews, many great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews, and cousins.
She was predeceased by seven siblings, Louise Dumas, Paul, Ernest, Jeannette, Armand, Raymond and Marguerite Lampron, and two nieces.
The graveside service will be at a later date in Park Lawn Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Childrens Hospital or American Cancer Society Vermont Chapter, in care of Mahar & Son Funeral Home, 628 Main St., Bennington, VT 05201.
Guest book condolences may be made at www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net.MORE IN ObituariesWilliam A. Spanos Rites
MENDON The prayer service for William A. Full StoryJoseph A. Teer Sr. Full StoryMarguerite Hoose
Marguerite Peg Hoose, 90, of Rutland died Dec. Full Story
- Most Popular
- Most Emailed


text:
The Official Travel Guide by Slovenian Tourist Board
Choose your location for personalized content
Albania Australia Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil Bulgaria Canada China Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel Italia Japan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Middle East Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom USA
I Feel Slovenia
Roll over the map to access regions and towns.
Ptuj Ormož Museum
The Chinese room in the Regional Museum that takes care of the movable cultural heritage in the area of the Lower Drava region.
Ptuj Ormož Museum
Visit the permanent exhibition at Ptuj Castle where you can see the collections of the feudal dwelling culture, arms, musical instruments, Shrovetide masks and glass paintings, the Castle gallery, etc.
Administrator : TIC Ptuj | ++386 2 779 60 11 | | www.ptuj.info...
Report an error/send comment
Report an error/send comment


text: Reviva Labs is at the forefront of skincare. They keep up with latest advances in skin science and technology, and focus on problem-solving for individual needs. With products like HypoAllergenic Mascara and Eye Complex Firming Cream, Reviva Labs has been producing natural skincare products for more than 40 years. Their products are never tested on animals, and are designed to help leave your skin healthier and more youthful-looking. They offer a wide selection of serums, creams and cleansers, sure to fit any skincare regimen.


text:
Now Showing
Coming Soon
Check for advance tickets only
Draft Day
Opens 4/11/2014
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and sexual references
On the day of the NFL Draft, general manager Sonny Weaver has the opportunity to save football in Cleveland when he trades for the number one pick. He must quickly decide what he's willing to sacrifice in pursuit of perfection as the lines between his personal and professional life become blurred on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with dreams of playing in the NFL.
Find Showtimes & Buy Tickets
Showtime date:
*Click on time to purchase tickets


text:
Ah! My Goddess: Flights of Fancy
Ah! I Want To Fill The World With Happiness!
Episode 4 | TV-PG
Unexpected events surround Belldandy at Sayoko's Christmas party. And Keiichi finds himself in pursuit of a goddess who decides to spread the love of a goddess all about town!
Official Site: www.funimation.com/shows/ah-my-goddess-flights-of-fancyHide Details


text:
"Thank you for the work that you do. This March will mark my third year back in the Catholic Church. By God's grace, he brought me back using Catholic Answers Live and EWTN. I will be forever grateful."
"Since the sanctification of man is in the power of God who sanctifies, it is not in the competency of man to choose the things by which he is to be sanctified, but this must be determined by Divine institution."


text:
9th Inning Rally Falls Short
Going into the 9th inning last night against the Nationals down 2-8, it looked like a sure loss for the Phillies. Joe Blanton had his worst game of the year, giving up all 8 of those runs in only 4 2/3 innings. But with one out in the 9th, Jayson Werth hit a slow grounder and drew a Nationals error to land him safely on 1st base. After that, the Phillies loaded the bases for Matt Stairs.
Stairs had not had a hit in what seems like ages (30 at-bats) but finally came up big with a Grand Slam to put the team within 2 runs. Shane Victorino knocked in another run a few batters later to bring the score to 7-8. Then, with runners on 1st and 3rd and still only 1 out, Ryan Howard came up to the plate. Who better to hit a sac fly to tie the game, right? Wrong. Two things happened here: Chase Utley fell asleep on 1st and did not advance to 2nd on a wild pitch when the Nationals were only concerned with Victorino on third. Utley would have made it without challenge. Then, Howard hits a slow grounder which turns into a double play to end the game! Had Utley advanced, the game would have been tied.
So what was going to be a blow-out loss for the Phillies turns into a heartbreaker at the last minute. Add to that both the Marlins and Braves won last night and now the Phillies are only 5 games ahead in the division. A few weeks ago, they had an 8 ½ game lead which they are now letting slip away.
After the game, Charlie Manuel said his team is "playing down" to the competition. The Phillies are getting beat by mediocre (Astros) and very, very bad teams (Nationals – worst team in baseball). If they do not hit their stride in the Mets series this weekend, it is going to be a very uncomfortable run at the post-season.
Cole Hamels pitches tonight at 7:05pm. Cross your fingers folks!
Photos by Jenn
*Read more about the Phillies at my other home page, Phightin' Phils Phorum in the My Team Rivals network*
2 Comments
Poor base running is always a killer. Good luck against the Mets.
Joe Blanton had an odd off night.
The plus to it all is that it dented your lead, but did not give anyone hope to catch the Phillies in the NL East race.
Better to get those butterflies and pitfalls out of the way right now instead of in 5 weeks from now.
Rays Renegade


text:
INGREDIENTS:96 small stalks fresh asparagus (4 lbs.) 3/4 cup walnut or olive oil 12 small red onions (4 ½ lbs.) as needed, olive oil as needed, kosher salt as needed, cracked pepper ½ cup balsamic vinegar 3 Tbsp. sherry vinegarWild Rice: 3/4 cup plump dried cherries or blueberries 6 Tbsp. port wine as needed, hot water 1 lb. (2 ½ cups) wild rice 1 ½ cups cranberry juice 1 cup apple cider 3/4 cup pine nuts, toastedDIRECTIONS:Trim and peel asparagus stalks. Heat oil in large saute pan, add ...
Register to view this Article
Why Register for FREE?
Registering for Premium Content on Food Management will give you INSTANT access to invaluable articles and media content that industry professionals rely on. You will have access to our special reports, feature articles, and industry analysis. It's FREE, easy and quick.


text:
Swimming, golfing, sightseeing - whatever brought you to the 5-star Pullman Timi Ama Sardegna, you're in the right place. Rooms bathed in Mediterranean light overlook the bay or hotel grounds. White-sand beaches are just outside. Further away but still within easy reach you'll find wineries, archeological sites, and lots of unspoiled nature.
- Check-in:14:00
- Check-out:12:00
Services offered by the hotel
- . Pullman Welcomer
- . Internet access
- . Connectivity Lounge
- . Fitness Lounge
- . Access to the pool
- . Parking
- . Accommodation and breakfast are free for 1 child aged up to 2 years (staying in its parents' room). Children aged from 2 to 12 years receive a 50% discount on accommodation with breakfast included.