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Author Archive
"His Number is Divine."
The other day I was looking through my profile pictures on Facebook. I came across one that I had posted on April 11th; it was Nick Adenhart.
My heart felt heavy as I remembered watching the news on April 10th and learning of his death. Learning about his pitching, his 1-0 record, his 6.00 ERA, and his nine strikeouts.
For some reason, on this day, his death struck me with a surplus of grief. He was a few months younger than I was and he was living his dream.
I consider myself to be on a constant spiritual quest, while I don't claim to be religious nor believe in a god, I contemplated the most pronounced features I knew about Adenhart.
He wore number 34. Perhaps it's a stretch, or merely coincidence, but the numbers three and four add up to seven. Being someone who once considered herself religious, I thought about the number seven and the context it had toward Adenhart, I stumbled across a website that explained it to me:
"When man began to analyze and combine numbers, he developed other interesting symbols. He took the perfect world number, four, and added it to the perfect divine number, three, and got seven, the most sacred number to the Hebrews. It was earth crowned with heaven – the four square earth plus the divine completeness of God. So we have seven expressing completeness through union of earth with heaven. This number is used more than all other numbers in the Word of God…
"The whole Word of God is founded upon the number seven. It stands for the seventh day of the creation week and speaks to the millennial rest day. It denotes completeness or perfection."
I sat and wondered if Adenhart had thought of these things, he pitched for the Angels, his number when broken down, was considered divine. Maybe he had, maybe he hadn't. Had he ever considered himself to be a mark of perfection? I don't think that anyone ever considers themselves perfect, I don't think anyone ever considers themselves divine, but had these ideas ever crossed his mind?
I pondered the man who had taken Adenhart's life away from him, away from the Angels, away from us. Had he thought about these things? Did he think about the lives he'd impact when he got into a car with a BAC higher than 0.19? Had he considered what he'd taken away when he plead "not guilty"?
I don't claim to have been friends with Adenhart or even have heard of him before his death; but somehow, it struck a note with me. On some level, I'd like to have the belief that Adenhart's team and number are no coincidence, and somehow he really does represent that of an angel, maybe watching over his team; but the skeptic in me wants to dismiss it.
The key phrase is "wants to." There was something very settling about looking at Nick's picture that day, a calming presence that simultaneously moved me to tears. Like I said before, maybe it was coincidence, or maybe there's something bigger. Either way, despite not knowing Adenheart, despite not hearing of him until his death, I can't help but think of him often, linger on what might or might not be, and think that maybe, just maybe, he's watching over me too. Maybe it wasn't coincidence that I wrote this blog, maybe it wasn't coincidence that his number was somehow broken down in my mind, maybe we all need an angel to believe in, maybe Nick is that Angel.
Five Seconds of Glory
The average Rockies game contains about 20,000 to 30,000 people, probably more lately since the state of Colorado has decided to jump on the bandwagon. Of those 20,000 to 30,000 people, I represent one. I don't expect that the Rockies or FSN will take note of the lowly asian sitting out in the Pavilion; in fact, I don't expect really anyone to notice me out there, I blend in quite well with the blanket of Rockies t-shirts out there.
Of the, I have no idea how many, possibly thousands of blogs on MLBlogs, I represent one. One single Rockies blog in a sea of major league blogs; an average blogger whose writing is… well… average. I don't expect to get noticed for it, although I wouldn't mind if someone had talked to me before putting up that terrible picture of Matt Daley on the Rockies homepage.
As a fan, I suppose in reality, we don't expect to get noticed for our fanhood. We move through the crowds, maybe hoping to catch a homerun ball here or avoid a bat flying at our head there, be apart of the greatest game on earth somehow. As much as I would like for the Rockies to say, "hey, these are some good pictures, and this is a good blog, we should've talked to her before putting up that picture of Matt Daley where he looks like he's sleeping," the reality of ever actually getting noticed is slim. After all, for each of us as an individual, we are but one fan.
One fan sitting out in the crowd, one fan writing just another blog.
However, this one fan got their five seconds of fame for ten seconds. Make sense?
On July 5th, I received a few text messages from friends saying I had just been on television. That's right, yours truly was standing in the crowd singing "God Bless America" and was shown on television next to a rather strange looking, "maybe I should stand uncomfortably close to you" dude.
Okay, so, he wasn't that uncomfortably close, it just looks to me like he is.
It was my five seconds of glory, which I think we all kind of expect to get one day, the five seconds of catching a ball, the five seconds of screaming on the Rockies post game show and having Tom Helmer stick the microphone out toward the crowd, the five seconds of being the only fan sitting in the stands while it's pouring and the game is still playing.
Not that I'm letting it go to my head or anything, but it was cool to hit a bar with my friends, JENN AND MARY, and have the bartender say, "Hey! You were on TV during the Rockies game!" (Not as exciting as it sounds, it was a bar that they frequent so the bartender actually kind of knows me.)
Yes, I had my five seconds of glory being on television, but, the fun didn't stop there for me.
On July 25th, I went to the Rockies Fan Photo Day, which was amazing!! I stood in line waiting for my friends, JENN AND MARY who, to no one's surprise, were late… and by "no one's surprise," I mean mine. A girl later approached me and our conversation went something like this:
"Are you Emily from MLBlogs?"
"I read your blog!"
I was about to be really embarrassed if this was a person who had commented on my posts and I never commented on hers.
"Oh, really? Thank you so much, that's awesome! Do you write a blog?"
"No, but I go through and read some of them."
How did she recognize me?
It was the Garrett Atkins shirt and the Red Sox bag, my indistinguishable trademarks.
It was like one small step for me, one giant step for bloggers!
So, Emily was recognized by Emily at Fan Photo Day.
It was pretty spectacular, I was really stoked; and since Emily, I know you'll be reading this, I really appreciate it. Thank you so much for reading, it's greatly, greatly appreciated. I hope we meet up again at a Rockies game. Look for me in the Pavilion, that's where I usually sit.
There it is, I had my five seconds of glory for ten seconds. The way I see it, that's it, I've used mine up, so I probably won't have any more moments of glory in my life.
With that in mind, thanks to everyone who reads my blog! I like writing them, reading and commenting on others, and getting comments. It's cool to do.
Okay, so Rockies Fan Photo Day was AMAZING!!!
I got my picture with Garrett Atkins, as you may have noticed from my new profile picture. It went down like this:
"Oh my god, he's coming!!!"
"You're like… my favorite player in the majors…"
And that was it. Possibly the greatest five seconds of my life.
I expect that throughout the rest of that time, Garrett Atkins heard, "You're my favorite player," or "I'm your biggest fan" at least 400 times. I don't expect that mine stuck out to him or that he would even remember me telling him. What's important is that I know I told him, and I actually meant it. That's not to say that no one else who met him and told him that that day didn't mean it, but, well, I guess you all know how ridiculously crazy I am about him.
For the most part, Fan Photo Day was uneventful. It was: players come up, take a picture with you, leave. Some things to report:
Ryan Spilborghs is still elusive to me. I was so close to getting a picture with him and then the people running the event ushered him elsewhere. I couldn't even believe that, he was like, five people away from me. It was a little heartbreaking.
I met Tom Runnells, and he was hilarious. I'd heard that he was a really nice guy from Tommy, but Runnells now sticks out in my memory. He approached and I was so excited I was like, "Tom Runnells!" And he was like, "Yes?" And I said, "Oh… nothing, I'm just excited." So I shook his hand and he was like, "You can stop shaking my hand now," although I wasn't really shaking his hand anymore, he was just shaking mine and then kept joking that I wouldn't let go of his hand, even though it was the… opposite… or… maybe you had to be there.
I accidentally stepped on Josh Fogg's foot and had a mild freako
ut about it. It wasn't really stepping on his foot, it was more like I kind of tripped on his foot. Anyway, he was cool about it.
My friend Jenn tripped and used Dexter Fowler's jersey to help hold herself up. I find that far more hilarious that she used his own jersey.
I really wanted pictures with Jason Hammel, Huston Street, Todd Helton, Clint Barmes, Brad Hawpe, and Omar Quintanilla, but they are now elusive to me as well.
Other stuff:
I have decided that I am in need of a vacation from not going to school and, until recently, unemployment. Therefore, I am headed up to New York to see my friend. I was trying to work it out so I could go to Washington DC first, but I wasn't thrilled about the idea of heading there by myself and having to pay for my own hotel. It's too bad airports don't let you store stuff in lockers these days, or at least the ones in Washington DC don't.
I curse Washington DC for not doing that because I have never been to another ballpark, let alone a ballpark that my boys are playing at! Oh well, plans didn't work out for that, I'll survive.
So, since DC isn't happening, I will be headed straight to New York and once up there, straight to Boston. Up to Boston for what you might ask? A RED SOX / YANKEES GAME!!
Yes, I am going to witness the GREATEST rivalry in the history of sports. I am, in a word, stoked. I will cheer loud for the Red Sox and won't worry about getting beat up since I'll be in Boston. I guess the biggest concern is being in New York with my Red Sox jersey bag, maybe I'll get beat up there. That may have sounded like I was too eager to get beaten up. Don't be fooled, I am not eager to get beat up.
While in Boston, I hope to meet up with none other than Julia over at Julia's Rants. It will be EPIC. As disappointed as I am that things didn't seem to work out for DC, I'm pretty stoked to head up to New York and Boston. Any advice?
That's my big news. I'll leave you with Rockies pictures that I got from Fan Photo Day:
Aaron Cook:
Chris Iannetta:
Ian Stewart:Jason Marquis:Jeff Francis:Juan Rincon:Yorvit TorrealbaMatt Daley:Jeff Francis and Seth Smith (quite possibly my favorite picture):
An Open Letter
I wanted to write anther entry about Fan Photo Day and the awesomeness that ensued and about my upcoming trip to Boston and how I don't get to go to Washington DC, but in light of recent events, this entry was, as Jeff Francis says to Ubaldo Jimenez in the Dodgeball commercial, "necessito!"
This started out as a regular entry, and then a lot of "I's" and "you's" kept showing up, so I ended up having to turn it into a letter, or else it'd sound like I was blaming all of you readers for the PED shenanigans.
Dear MLBPA,
You Suck.
Just kidding.
Dear Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball,
There's no doubt in my mind that by now you've heard all you can from the fans about the use of steroids in baseball. One by one, our heroes seem to be nothing more than a shattered, broken image. A once famous slugger, a once home run record breaker, a once respected player, now nothing more than a tainted record in the history books.
Odds are, you're not too interested in hearing about my life, but I'll tell you anyway. In 2004, the first time I came home from college, I arrived at a house where my father's belongings were not. I found out my parents were separated and getting a divorce, and that was my welcome home from college. After that, I lived on my own for four years while going to school. Now, I'm living with my dad until I can find a place of my own.
I know that both my parents have worked very hard to provide me with what feels like a home, but neither house is; it's either my dad's house or my mom's house, but not my home.
Since seventh grade, I've been in an uphill battle with depression. Since moving down to Denver, I can't find a job, I have no friends down here, and I struggle with my happiness everyday. Most people you meet will wake up looking forward to the day ahead of them; I can barely get out of bed.
As ridiculous as this may sound, the purest joy that I get in my life comes from the game of baseball. I've never been happier than when I'm at Coors Field, the Rockies' ballpark; even when the Rockies are losing, it's where I'm happiest, it's my favorite place to be, it's where I feel home.
Baseball is like my love affair, it's my light at the end of the tunnel, it's the only thing that's mine that I feel like I have truly fallen in love with. Some people fall in love with men, some fall in love with women, and I fell in love with baseball. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
I don't care about the list of 104 players from 2003; I care about the future of this sport, the future of the greatest game on earth. It's become abundantly clear that the association is no longer striving to protect the players from themselves, their trainers, or their agents. It's become abundantly clear that you, as the players association, don't seem to care about the problem at all.
You and I, we're a lot alike in the sense that when a problem arises, we tend to ignore it with the hope it'll just… go away, at least that's the sense I've gotten. Maybe the problem will take care of itself, maybe someone else will take care of it, or maybe sweeping it under the rug will disguise it from everyone else. The difference between you and I is that I'm not a union. I'm one person, I write a blog about baseball, I take pictures of baseball, and I want to stand against steroids. It can't, and shouldn't be the responsibility of the fans to take action; it shouldn't have to be a fan who says, "enough is enough." It's time for the words "slugger" and "steroid user" to no longer by synonymous. It's time that baseball and performance enhancing drugs no longer have a relation. It's time for you, as the union, to feel the same way I do.
My uncle and I were having a discussion about lying, and he shared with me the quote, "I'm not mad because you lied, I'm sad because I can never trust you again." I don't want to have to feel that way about baseball anymore. So players lied, everyone lies, but trust broken can be impossible to gain back. I want to trust the players that I love, I want to trust the sport that I love, and I want to trust you, to keep that responsibility.
I don't feel like I'm asking too much, I want a win to be a win, I want a record to be a record, and I don't want to have to suspect either is tainted. I want you as the association to care, I want the integrity of my favorite sport to be in tact by the time I reach 30, and I want a future for baseball, the game that I love.
As far as I could tell, it was a game you were supposed to love too. It's time to no longer let it be run by a drug that ruins bodies, minds, and records. It's time for you to remember why you fell in love with baseball in the first place.
Thanks so much,
The Toddfather
This blog is long overdue, I apologize.
In this day and age, it seems harder and harder for us, as fans, to trust and respect a player. We hear commentators talk about future Hall of Famers like Alex Rodriguez or Manny Ramirez, Mark McGwire or Barry Bonds. We hear the rumors of steroids, PEDs, and for some, fertility drugs. While it appears that this is a trend that the world of baseball cannot seem to escape from, every once in a while, we find a few shining stars.
Every once in a while, we're lucky enough to find a player who lives up to the hype, lives up to the demands, lives up to the expectations of the fans – which for no player is an easy feat. We find a player who is a class act, one with a good work ethic, and one who would sacrifice their own stats to see the team succeed.
The Colorado Rockies are lucky enough to have a class act like Todd Helton as the player who represents those demands.
On July 22nd, 2009, Todd Helton joined an elite club as the 50th player to make 500 career doubles and the 19th player to attain this accomplishment with the same team.
After his 2000th hit, ESPN's Baseball Tonight dismissed Helton's accomplishments as a product of the thin air in the mile high city, not because of the phenomenal hitter that he is.
In reality, a player like Helton hardly gets the respect that he truly deserves. Although for most fans, when he arrives on the field, he commands respect, not because he's a player who believes he is god's gift to baseball, but because he truly deserves the recognition. Helton is a humble player, not one to make a play and strike a pose. If you were to pick up a paper and read about Todd Helton, the article wouldn't start out as "Todd being Todd."
In an article I read, someone mentioned that Todd Helton joined an even more elite group of Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Stan "The Man" Musial as the only players with 500 doubles, 320 homers, and a .325 batting average since 1900. Now, I don't know if that's true or not, but it's well worth the mention if it is.
Helton has had the power to return to the game after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to relieve pressure on a bulging disc in his back. He's not just had the power to return, but he's come back as better than ever, and as far as anyone is concerned, he has more baseball in him.
He is the shining star of the Rockies, usually the only player that any bandwagoner can name, and now, he's accomplished an act that only 49 others before him could. A class act like Todd Helton deserves more baseball, deserves more respect, and as a Rockies fan, it's an honor to have him play for our team.
Hot N Cold
Just a warning, this will be a long one.
I think at some point, we all believe that there's this one song that was written about us. It fits everything; it's perfect in every way and describes your mood, the way you feel, like that song and that moment were destined to be together.
Like the lyrics:
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
While I'm not a big fan of this song in the first place, it seems to reflect the way the Rockies are playing as of late.
I had the privilege of going to this entire series against Atlanta, and those lyrics pretty much describe exactly how the Rockies played during that series. So, let's rewind to day one.
I was scheduled to meet Tom, we would catch some batting practice, and then head to the dugout to try and get some autographs. As usual, I was running late and got to the gate to find Tom waiting for me. We picked up some Rockpile tickets and headed inside. Batting practice was pretty casual, unlike Don, I'm not coordinated enough to catch a ball that isn't coming right to me (or maybe even catch a ball in the first place, I haven't been posed with that opportunity yet), so Tom and I just kind of hung out, but ready to catch a ball. They opened up the rest of the stadium and we headed over to the dugout.
It was Tom's mission to get Todd Helton's autograph on his picture of the 2000th hit. I had the fortune of being set up with a pretty amazing shot of Garrett Atkins, courtesy Mr. Walsh. Both of us were lusting after these players' autographs, and lo and behold, neither of us got it.
We sat in some pretty spectacular $4 seats and sat back to watch the amazingness that is the Rockies.
Unfortunately, Cook was a little "cold" that night and was struggling to get outs. He would last 5.2 innings and give up nine hits. However, our hitting was "hot."
Tom and I were discussing Garrett Atkins and Ian Stewart, and Tom said that Stewart's bat needed to come alive tonight, since it appeared he'd been struggling. Stewart didn't fail to deliver, hitting a longball and driving in Tulowitzki. Well… guess Stewie overheard Tom.
It didn't take long while all this was happening for me to find none other than Garrett Atkins sitting in the dugout.
You should've seen this one coming.
The game rolled on, and for me, this next moment was the defining moment. Stewart walked, and a pitch hit Iannetta, then, Garrett Atkins came up. "Oh please, Atty, I know you're good for it." A lot of people have lost confidence in Garrett Atkins, if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you would know that I haven't, and you would know that I've said that over and over with the secret hope that Garrett Atkins will come across it some day.
And Atty, well, he didn't let me down. In the bottom of the eighth, he doubled to deep left and brought in Stewie and Iannetta. It was epic. No "FAIL" on Atty, take that world, Rockies are now ahead, and they would end it coming out on top. Also, as you can see, I was a little too excited for my own good that Atkins was up and couldn't hold my camera still.
After the game, I couldn't wait to get back to the ballpark the next day; I was practically counting down the minutes.
So the next day rolled around, and off I was to go meet Mr. Walsh once again. I was also meeting a couple of other friends there; it was a t-shirt giveaway of one of our All Stars, Brad Hawpe. My friends wanted to catch batting practice so we headed over to the Rockpile gate to meet them so I could give them their tickets. Well, there was someone working there who took their job very seriously and wouldn't let us get in line with our friends. That turned out to be okay because it was necessary to try and get that Todd Helton autograph for Tom.
We got into the stadium and grabbed our Brad Hawpe shirt and headed down to the dugout. Iannetta, as usual, was the first one out. Tom gave me some points on being aggressive to get autographs, I'm way too shy for life. But, I managed to land three:
Chris Iannetta,
Clint Barmes,
and Ian Stewart.
Then, what was this? Garrett Atkins was in the dugout and appeared to be signing some things for people.
"Go over and ask him to sign your picture." Tom had confidence that I could get Atkins' autograph, I did not.
"Um… well…"
"Go quick! He's signing stuff!"
Our conversation was somewhere along the lines of that. So, I headed over to the dugout and was way to shy to try and get Atkins autograph, then the National Anthem started and I was S.O.L.
"You probably coulda had it if you headed over like… five minutes earlier."
Curse my shyness and me.
Well, yet again Todd Helton's 2000th hit went unautographed, as did my picture. We headed over to right field to find my friends.
For the night, our pitching was "yes" but our hitting was "no."
Ubaldo Jimenez pitched six innings, which doesn't sound impressive, but had eight strikeouts during those six innings.
We lacked in run support and our only run on the board came from a homer from ol' reliable, Todd Helton.
The scary moment of the night wasn't the lightning, but was when Alan Embree had a ball driven into his leg. He was on the ground, shaking and sweating. He was taken off the field and the Rockies were back to business. Embree ended the night, and possibly his season, with a broken tibia. Although Tracy said he's making a go
od recovery and may even be back by the end of the season, it's still up in the air. Get well soon, Alan.
On Saturday, it was time for the Rockies to bounce back, and they did… well… almost.
Jason Marquis was pitching, however, his pitching was "out" and hitting was "in"… kinda.
Maybe it was the All Star nerves, or the relaxation of being the first pitcher this season to get 11 wins, but Marquis was certainly not on his game. He struggled for six innings and ended the night with 97 pitches.
The Rockies runs didn't come until the seventh inning, that's when the bats started to come alive.
Troy Tulowitzki homered to deep left, that kick started the excitement.
Ian Stewart doubled into deep left center, after which Seth Smith would single to center, driving in Ian Stewart.
Garrett Atkins singled moving Seth Smith to third and on a wild pitch, Smith made it home.
That would be the end of the rally, and yet again, the Rockies would take another beating from the Braves.
I went to the game with my mom that day and she scored us some Wells Fargo Club Level seats. Although it was nice to sit up there, I found the area to seem… off. The woman next to me had on pearls, and not that there's anything wrong with wearing pearls, but they go with a specific type of outfit, so you can guess that she wasn't in a baseball jersey. Not only that, but she was drinking wine. Maybe it's just me but… really, who drinks wine at a ballgame? That's like all those girls who come wearing CFM heels and mini skirts. Who does that?
While I appreciated club level for what it was, I found the setting as a whole to be rather pretentious. Pretentious may not be the right word, but it's the word that comes to mind. I didn't really feel comfortable yelling at Jason Marquis or telling the ump he was clearly blind.
I went to bed Saturday night thinking that I wasn't going to the game the next morning. My wonderful mother had other plans in store for me.
Thanks to StubHub, she had scored us tickets 16 rows behind the Rockies dugout. I arrived at the game, eager to find where we were sitting and see who was playing. To my surprise, Todd Helton was out of the lineup, and who was at first… literally, right by where I was sitting? That's right, Garrett Atkins. It was… amazing. Having confidence that Atkins would be in the lineup, I wore my Atkins shirt four days in a row, and I was glad to see him so close to me.
Sunday was an afternoon that our pitching was "down" but our hitting was "up."
Jason "Stop – Hammel Time" Hammel had found some great success with the club and was starting to get into the groove of things, except for that day. That day, he looked like an over zealous rookie.
Jason Hammel pitched a total of three innings and gave up five runs. It was a rough afternoon for him, no doubt.
The Rockies lineup, however, would make up for it. Starting with our All Star Hawper who homered to deep left field.
Atty would bring in Barmes.
Troy Tulowitzki hit a longball to deep right.
The Rockies decided to put in Chris Iannetta and take out Yorvit Torrealba. In the meantime, Ryan Spilborghs did some catching… which looks weird. But, it was the closest I've ever been to Spilly.
Seth Smith would hit a longball and bring in Barmes with him.
Ryan Spilborghs came into the game, not as a catcher, and doubled to deep right center, driving in Ian Stewart.
In the middle of the ninth, the game was all tied up. Huston Street came in to pitch, and he held off the Braves.
The rest of the game, well, that was up to our All Star, and he proved why he is an All Star bringing Seth Smith home on a center field walk off double. It was a phenomenal game.
What a way to see off Brad Hawpe.
The Rockies and winning and the Rockies and I, well, I guess it seems like, "we fight, we break up, we kiss, we make up."
O Captain! My Captain
In the movie "Dead Poets Society," a poem by Walt Whitman is read entitled, "O Captain! My Captain!"
1996 marked a year that I was in elementary school, close to moving into middle school. It was a time where I began getting acquainted with the Colorado Avalanche, formerly the Quebec Nordiques.
The first year would turn out to be one of the best for the Avs, bringing them the Stanley Cup. The man of the team? Patrick Roy, arguably one of the best goaltenders since Vladislav Tretiak.
In 2001 the Avs would go on to win the Stanley Cup again, this time a new name arose for the team: Raymond Bourque, formerly the longest serving captain of the Boston Bruins. This would mark the first occasion that a player who was not the cpatain would take the first victory lap. It wasn't just a year for Ray Bourque, it was the year for him.
Peter Forsberg was yet another player on the roster of the Avs; another play who would take the spotlight as one of the teams best, possibly one of the best in the NHL. Back then, if you had asked any person who the best player on the Avs was, Peter Forsberg would've been their answer.
I used to be infatuated with hockey; there was something about a man with missing teeth and ice skates that was irresistible. While I've developed a love for baseball, hockey has been stuck on the back burner of my brain.
Like hockey and my brain, Joe Sakic was often stuck on the back burner of the minds of Avalanche fans. He was like the quiet observer of the team who was always able to pull off an amazing play. He's played with the Nordiques/Avalanche since 1988, and today, we say goodbye to our captain.
Sakic led us to two Stanley Cups and was, without a doubt, one of the best the Avalanche had ever encountered. We were lucky to have a captain like him, and although my infatuation with hockey is on the back burner, I will always have a place in my heart for Joe Sakic.
Well, we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses, drivin' fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
When Brad Hawpe takes the field to hit, he arrives at the plate with that song blaring. The lefty gears up for a swing and more often than not will produce a hit. He's one of the best players on the Colorado Rockies, he's got the strongest and most accurate arm in our outfield, he's a rockstar for the Rockies, and now, he's going to be an All Star.
On July 5th as the Rockies were being introduced, the announcer said, "2009 All Star Brad Hawpe!!" I was stoked, my Hawper was in the All Star game!! As he took the field I yelled, "Yeah Brad Hawpe!! I voted for you 250 times!!" The guy in front of me looked at me at first like I was crazy, and then nodded approvingly. I sat at my computer and voted 250 times because in my eyes, no one deserved the All Star game like Brad Hawpe. I didn't really expect Hawpe to hear me tell him that I voted for him 250 times, and maybe if he did, he would think I needed a life (which is true), but I sure hope he knows that he deserves it.
Yes, I was pushing and pushing to get Brad Hawpe into the All Star game, it was something I put up on Twitter, Facebook, and advertised in my blog. Even if he isn't a starter, I'm so proud of him for making it to his first All Star game.
Another face we'll see in the All Star game is Jason Marquis. As of tonight, the first pitcher in the majors this season to win 11 games. Last season, that was the number of wins he had… total. The mesh between the Rockies and Marquis has been unbelievable, and it'll be exciting to see what he can do for the National League.
In other news, I finally got my own camera!! And… I went a little trigger happy at the games. I ended July 4th and 5th with a picture count of 194. I didn't take any pictures of the fireworks because I killed my battery taking so many pictures.
On July 4th, I caught one of my favorite guys from FSN, Jeff Huson, doing the Rockies Pre-Game Show… it's now possible that he thinks I'm stalking him. I was really just trying to get a good picture of him, but then every time I was looking over that way, he happened to look my way, and once he gave me a weird look. He might think I'm a weird creeper now. But just so you know Jeff Huson, I'm not.
Obviously I didn't put in all 194 pictures, but here are some that I thoroughly enjoy. I'm still working out the kinks of the camera, trying to get the pictures to a smaller size. Until then, enjoy!!
A Marquee Club
The name of the game is baseball and the name of baseball tonight was Jason Marquis.
Tonight the Colorado Rockies beat the best team in baseball by a score of 3-0… and it was sensational.
Jason Marquis became the first ten game winner in the National League with 86 pitches, giving up two hits, and earning himself a shutout. Dominating. Epic.
Not only was Marquis dominating on the mound, but with the bases loaded and two outs, he drove in two RBIs.
The Rockies have been playing some fantastic baseball, challenging the 49-28, now 49-29 team, by going 13 innings last night. Even though they received a loss for that game, they put up a hell of a fight.
Everyone's been asking whether or not this series against the Dodgers will be the defining factor determining if the Rockies are in it to win it.
Right now, it's important not to get caught up in the "in it to win it," what is important is that theRockies are going out and playing baseball. Really good baseball.
Recently, an article was posted about the Cinderella story that is the Rockies. A comment was made that the Rockies will always be either a Cinderella story or a fluke, and that they weren't talented and deserving.
I was livid when I read that. Undeserving? Are you kidding me? You're talking about a team that fought back from 14 games behind. A team that swept the front runners of the NL Central and took the series from the Rays, who compete in the toughest division. one of the most unrecognized teams in baseball is playing phenomenally, and you think they're undeserving? Untalented? A joke to the name of baseball? Okay, now I'm putting words in that persons mouth.
I always envisioned that I would some day tell a struggling player this: baseball is a game of half a second, half a step, half an inch. It's the difference between giving up a run and making a jaw dropping play. What the Rockies are doing right now is playing on top of that half a second, half a step, half an inch, they're playing baseball. Their confidence has sky rocketed and are doing what they're not only paid to do, but what they love to do. They're going out and loving the game. Don't include that last half in there, because that wasn't really part of the speech I concocted in my head. The speech itself would be much better than what I just wrote you.
Tomorrow is the final game in this road trip the Rockies have been on, then they'll be home, and I'm ready to see my boys come back to the mile high.
The Merry Month o' June
"I wonder what it'd be like to live in a world where it was always June." L.M. Montgomery
Right now, that's the question that's been stuck in my brain. It's been a wonderful month of June for the Rockies, and a warm welcome after the tragedy that was May.
The Rockies managed to really turn it around this month winning 20 of their last 26 games, a total 180 from May where they won 12 of 29.
During that month it was tough to think, "it's still early, they can turn it around." It was a hopeful belief, but the way things were going, it was hard to find the confidence to believe such a thing. Well, the Rockies seemed to have no trouble proving the thought right and the doubt wrong. It's been beautiful, three of the top four NL win leaders from the month of June are coming from the Rockies: Aaron Cook, the winningest Rockie; Jason Hammel, who posted a 1.99 ERA during June; and Jorge de la Rosa, who didn't have a win until the month of June rolled around.
The only series of interleague play that didn't really look spectacular was against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Rockies swept the Mariners, took the Tampa Bay series, lost the series to the Angels, and most recently swept Oakland.
The Oakland sweep was bittersweet, while it was good to see Matt Holliday again, it was sad to see him sporting the green and yellow jersey. As much as I wanted to see him succeed at the plate, I wanted to see him fail. I wanted to see him hit that longball, but I wanted to see Carlos Gonzalez chase it down. I enjoyed Huston Street pitching (although I wanted him to have an off day before he headed to LA) but I wanted to see a match up between the slugger we lost and the essential closer we gained. While I missed Matt Holliday, the guys we got have proved themselves indispensable, well, at least the ones I've seen. I don't know how Greg Smith is doing.
While in Oakland, Gonzalez had seven at bats, four hits, and two walks. While he is having so much success, it seems that Dexter Fowler has begun to struggle with a bat. Of Fowler's nine at bats, he has five strikeouts and one run.
Today when Jim Tracy changed up the lineup, I wasn't too happy. After the success that Ryan Spilborghs had the first game and Garrett Atkins the first two, I was a bit surprised not to see their names. But, who was I to question the skipper? Jim Tracy is 21-7 since he took over the Rockies and that 21st win came tonight. Well, it's not like I haven't said it before, but I'm still pulling for Atkins and Spilborghs.
As we approach this series against the Dodgers, hopefully the month of June will continue to stay kind to the Rockies who are now 7.5 games behind the Dodgers.
Not quite, in fact… it might even be better.
Well… better isn't really the right word, but if your average Colorado bandwagon fan's faith is being restored, you know that the Rockies are doing well… or sensational. In the last 17 games, the Rockies have won 16, and it's been glorious. Sweeping St. Louis, Milwaukee, Seattle, and now Pittsburgh, the Rockies have been on fire!
After an 11 game winning streak, the Rockies suffered a loss to Tampa Bay, but that didn't slow them down, winning every game since that, the Rockies seem to be an unstoppable force.
Huston Street has 16 saves in 17 opportunities, despite a very different ERA, those are the same numbers as Jonathan Papelbon (someone who I would consider one of the best closers in the majors).
Seth Smith has become a clutch player with the best pinch hitting BA in the majors with a .455;
Ian Stewart has some spectacular defensive plays as well as a few homers to back up his offense, he leads the Rockies in longballs (also, look at this hilarious picture… at least it's hilarious to me);
Clint Barmes has been sensational since he moved to the two hole with eight RBIs in the last ten games;
Troy Tulowitzki's bat has started to warm up;
and Ryan Spilborghs has made some incredible defensive plays, and with some consistency, can do some pretty staggering things with a bat.
So… who has been taking notice? Not a whole lot of people, especially when it comes to the strides our players have been making.
For example, without a doubt, Brad Hawpe should be on that All Star roster, but do you see his name?
Didn't think so. I voted 250 times, I sat at my computer, unchecked all my friends e-mails for "send me information on my team" (or at least I tried to) all 25 times, and voted 250 times… and I didn't make a dent in that All Star roster.
Last I checked, Brad Hawpe was batting somewhere in the area of .414 with runners in scoring position, the best in the majors. He's got 36 extra base hits, 1.005 OPS, seventh best BA in the majors with a .332, tenth best on base percentage in the NL with a .406, and fourth best slugging in the NL with a .599.
So… let me get this straight, Manny Ramirez, a fertility drug taking, 27 game playing, cheater is number six on the list, and Brad Hawpe can't even make it into the top 15?! Does anyone pay attention?! It's not going to be the All Star Game, it'll be… like… "here's some people you voted in who don't necessarily deserve to be here, but are." I just want to make a note that I was almost tempted to say "All Star lame," then I was like, oh god, those would be some of the worst words uttered from my mouth.
The point is, I'm aware that the All Star Game is kind of a popularity contest. It was like being in middle school where you knew who the class president was going to be because they were the most popular kid in school. So… is everyone who's voting still in middle school? It's called talent, and it's something that the Rockies have a lot of, and yet, everyone is continually overlooking them, overlooking their capacity.
While the Rockies may be playing like their '07 counterparts, apparently, it'll take so much more to get the attention of anyone.
Papelbon photo courtesy: www.sonsofsimmons.com


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RI should make sure it gets good return on investments
PROVIDENCE, RI – Gary Sasse of the Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership at Bryant University stopped by our studio to talk about pensions, economic development and more. Here's Rhode Island Public Radio political reporter Ian Donnis.
Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Rio 2016
122 days
Pyeongchang 2018
-431 days
Tokyo 2020
-1327 days
KIM YOUNG HO (1971) South Korea / Fencing
By becoming the Olympic foil champion at the Sydney Games, the South Korean became the first Asian winner of a major fencing competition.He discovered the sport on television as a child and immediately wanted to be a fencer.A left-hander like the majority of the best specialists, the Korean is handicapped by his small stature in a sport in which tall athletes take advantage of their reach. In order to progress, he moved to Europe. Through hard work he was finally able to achieve his aim: to become the best.Kim Young ho will now devote his efforts to training young Korean fencers in the hope of being able to defend his title in Athens.
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Operation Warfighter Program
The Operation Warfighter Program managed by the Department of Defense (DoD) offers temporary military detail assignments for recuperating service members to engage in meaningful vocational opportunities. The Department of Energy partners with the DoD to offer opportunities under the program.
Wounded Warrior Programs
Programs designed to assist severely wounded soldiers, Veterans and their families offer a ready source of skilled candidates ready to reintegrate into the workforce.
- Intelligence Community Program
- Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) - official site for the DoD program for the severely wounded.
- Air Force Wounded Warrior Program
- Navy Safe Harbor
- US Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment
Solar Energy Job-Training Pilot Program for Veterans
In partnership with U.S. Department of Energy the SunShot Initiative's Solar Instructor Training Network aims to train 50,000 new solar installers in total by 2020, some of who will be veterans and will be partnering with up to three military bases to create a veterans solar job training pilot project this fall. Please visit: http://www.energy.gov/articles/new-solar-energy-job-training-pilot-program-veterans to find out more.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program
The Department of Energy partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide on-the-job training opportunities that could lead to employment for recovering Veterans through the vocational rehabilitation and employment program. For information on the program and to sign up visit: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/.


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Inmate Dies at Jefferson City Correctional Center
JEFFERSON CITY - A Jefferson City Correctional Center inmate was pronounced dead Tuesday morning at the Capital Region Medical Center.
According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, Stacy L. Russell was serving a 22-year sentence for first degree assault and armed criminal action. He began his sentence on June 27, 2002.
An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of his death.
More News
HOLTS SUMMIT - The Holts Summit Lions Club is hosting the second annual Christmas Festival Saturday before the start of... More >>
COLUMBIA - Overuse injuries appear to be growing increasing common in youth sports. According to a 2015 study by the... More >>
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — Missouri's outgoing Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon is giving clemency to 15 people convicted of drug-related crimes... More >>
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — A former director of Missouri's unemployment benefits agency has agreed to a $2 million settlement to... More >>
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A woman assaulted as a girl during a 1982 attack that killed her mother wants... More >>
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway said she's reviewing state legal payments following reports of harassment and employee... More >>
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon will work as a private attorney at a suburban St. Louis law... More >>
SIKESTON (AP) — Police are investigating the shooting death of a high school student in southeast Missouri. KFVS-TV reports... More >>
COLUMBIA - In an effort to increase access to healthy food choices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new standards... More >>
BOONE COUNTY - A fire forced a family to evacuate its Boone County home Friday afternoon. Firefighters responded to... More >>
CALLAWAY COUNTY - Prosecutors charged a Holts Summit man with multiple felonies Friday in connection to a domestic dispute. ... More >>
COLUMBIA - Many students worry their peers won't pay appropriately for a sexual misconduct offense. A bill being introduced to... More >>
COLUMBIA - Gov. Jay Nixon announced recently visitors to the state and tourism spending are at an all-time high for... More >>
JEFFERSON CITY - Two men suffered serious injuries in a head-on crash on Highway 50 Friday morning, the Jefferson City... More >>
COLUMBIA – The University of Missouri System came out with a report Thursday that shows how much the system saves... More >>
CAPE GIRARDEAU (AP) — Three juveniles have been arrested in connection with a threat to a southeast Missouri high school.... More >>
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A woman assaulted as a girl during a 1982 attack that killed her mother wants... More >>
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A jury has convicted a man of shooting two police officers during a 2015 protest in... More >>
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Follow @DaytimeRoyalty
|Viewing Single Post From: DAYS:Dena Higley blog 12/2
|Dec 3 2008, 01:20 AM
Not giving her a free pass (keep in mind, I like alot of what she has done on the show and feel her run has been marred by scandal, cuts, and the Corday). I'm not saying she would've done better but we will never know.
Just saying that in her blog, I don't expect her to say much behind the scenes stuff (especially now) and I certainly don't expect her to throw Corday under the bus. It's her boss.
People can ridicule her for stories, the blog (although I think she gets fed what she can and can't say and what they want her to say), etc but I just thought her children should not be brought into it.
|DAYS:Dena Higley blog 12/2 · DAYS: News, Spoilers & Discussion


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The race for governor is heating up as a new poll about who could take the lead and why is getting a lot of attention.
Click here to watch Lara Yamada's report.
There's been little buzz since Democratic Sen. David Ige announced he'd be running for governor.
"I was surprised by the numbers," said Chad Blair, of the public affairs publication Civil Beat.
It was last July when Ige, chair of the Ways and Means Committee, announced he'll challenge Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie in this year's gubernatorial election.
A Civil Beat poll of about 1,000 people put the men at a dead heat.
"This is the first time we have them head to head," Blair said.
With a 3.9 percent margin of error, Ige and Abercrombie are tied at 37 percent apiece among likely Democratic primary voters.
"It's that 46 percent negative view of Abercrombie that's a big red flag," Blair said. "Remember that over a fourth are undecided. That's 26 percent. And really, what pollsters are telling us is it's really on discontent with Neal Abercrombie rather than support for David Ige."
"Ige's problem is that he still remains someone who is not well defined yet and he doesn't necessarily have the resources that are going to make it possible to define himself," said political analyst Neal Milner.
Abercrombie is not only crushing Ige in name recognition but in raising money, out-fundraising him some 10 to 1, Miler said.
Civil Beat's poll shows 56 percent of voters say they're not sure what they think of Ige. Milner and Blair both said that with the legislative session in full swing, finding the time to change that will be daunting.
"I think it's a big challenge. David Ige is the chair of the Ways and Means Committee in the Senate. He's going to be very busy until the first week of May," said Blair.
"Ige has to figure out how to tell a compelling story about himself so people recognize him. That's what he has to do," Miler said. "It's what he's had to do all along."
On Tuesday KITV will take a look at latest poll results in the United States' Senate race, as incumbent Brian Schatz looks to hold his seat against challenger Colleen Hanabusa.


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kingsmurf 56-60, M 6 Answers 2 Mar 16, 2012
I'm sayin!
Best Answer
no addictive to me. i'll just be here for the next 10 hours. lol
Best Answer
shhh, don't tell anyone. i'm at work.
Best Answer
I know! If I so much as stop in to check my messages I'm here for at least an hour. And to think I make fun of facebook addicts!
Best Answer
I think that being on facebook and this at the same time is akin to 'speedballing' (ie doing heroin and cocaine in tandem). Remember, thats what killed Belushi and Farely!
Best Answer
Haha yes it gets me sometimes :)
Best Answer
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- Name:
- Sam
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- Edinburgh United Kingdom
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- International
- Inspiration for my palette:
- I am obsessed with colours that are hard to define - those in the blue/green range especially. And then putting those with pink/red really works for me. I'm constantly torn between loving very colourful spaces and also loving light. I find this particular combination both soothing and interesting to the eye.


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Forward Taylor Young led the No. 17-ranked St. Thomas women's basketball team with 16 points and 7 rebounds in the Tommie's 90-56 victory over Gustavus (13-11, 10-11 MIAC) Wednesday night at Schoenecker Arena.
In her second game back from an ACL injury, guard Jenna Dockter went 6-for-7 from the field, contributing 13 points , while center Maggie Weiers, guard Katie Stone and forward Elaine Warner each added 12 in the effort.
Dockter said she was proud of the way her team responded after a tough loss the previous game.
"We had a little roadblock up at Concordia on Saturday, and at practice this week we really examined stuff we needed to work on," Dockter said. "We're getting back to playing hard defense and playing as a team, so we're excited."
Ninety points is the second-highest score St. Thomas has posted this season and was largely due to the Tommies (20-4 overall, 18-3 MIAC) going 60 percent from beyond the arc. The Tommie women connected on 9-of-15 3-point attempts, with 6 of those 3-pointers coming in the second half.
Stone connected on 4-of-5 shots from downtown for her 12 points.
St. Thomas scored 35 points off turnovers, and Stone said the team's pressure helped force some of those situations.
"We got so many stops on our press, which lead to our transition offense," Stone said. "I feel like tonight we came out very strong, which hopefully leads us into the postseason."
Coach Ruth Sinn agreed that the pressure was key to the team's success.
"I thought there was a collective effort defensively and offensively," Sinn said. "Defensively, I think they got into their groove and did a great job putting a lot of pressure on especially in the backcourt."
Although St. Thomas held a 34-point advantage by the end of the game, the Gusties hung with the Tommies for the majority of the first half.
St. Thomas led 27-24 with 7:55 left in the first half, and a 3-pointer from Stone started a 14-3 run, which put the Tommies up 41-27 at half.
St. Thomas extended that lead by outscoring Gustavus 41-29 in the second half.
The Tommies went 11-for-12 from the charity stripe, but sent the Gusties to the line 26 times by committing early and frequent fouls in each half.
Sinn said the fouls will happen with aggressive play, but she added that the team can work on getting their "hands off."
During Wednesday evening's contest, St. Thomas' Colleges Against Cancer hosted their annual Hoops for Hope event, a fundraiser that CAC President and St. Thomas Junior Heather Meeks said was created to commemorate cancer victims and to rally awareness for the disease.
"We're raising cancer awareness and highlighting the players whose lives have been affected by cancer in hopes of reaching everyone who was at the game," Meeks said.
Meeks said the CAC raised more than $100 by selling cups and sponsoring a halftime half-court shot contest. Meeks said the funds will go toward the CAC's main fundraiser, the Relay for Life.
"It's going towards our goal of $41,000, so it's a small step in the right direction," Meeks said.
The referees blew pink whistles and both teams sported pink accessories for the occasion.
The Tommies' victory preserved their shared second-place spot in the MIAC with Concordia-Moorhead.
St. Thomas' next matchup, and final regular season game is at St. Benedict's Claire Lynch Hall on Saturday, Feb. 22.
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Eiza Gonzalez Reportedly Already 'In Love' With Liam Hemsworth
A friend of Eiza Gonzalez has revealed that the Mexican singer/actress has been telling close friends that she and Liam Hemsworth are definitely together.
The couple, who met last weekend at the XS Nightclub in Las Vegas following the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight, were spotted kissing earlier this week following the announcement of Liam's split from singer Miley Cyrus.
"They met in Las Vegas at XS Nightclub during the Mayweather fight in the VIP section," a friend of Eiza's told Life & Style Weekly magazine. "They spent that night together!"
That friend also says that things are moving along rather quickly.
"Eiza says they are in love! They've moved really fast," the source adds.
Liam moved out of the home he shared with Miley earlier this week, and he reportedly had been "begging Miley to announce [their] split all summer".
The couple were together for over four years, and had become engaged 15 months ago.
But if Liam and Eiza are going to work, they'll have to get through a stretch where they won't see each other for a while.
"They'll be apart because he's back filming the Hunger Games sequels and she's promoting Los Croods (the Spanish-dubbed version of this summer's animated film 'The Croods', in which Eiza voices a character) in Mexico City," the friend reveals.
Eiza was in Mexico City on Thursday to promote the film when she was asked about Liam.
"I have nothing to say about that subject," she said.


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Merritt Parkway
Still slow going SB from Trumbull to Exit 41 Westport. There's also another southbound slowdown just past the Route 7 intersection in Norwalk down to Stamford.
Interstate 95
In decent shape. Sure, there are some slowdowns, but no major problems.
Finally, starting to see some easing of traffic congestion.
Merritt Parkway
That earlier SB accident near Exit 48 has been cleared. Southbound traffic, however, is still crawling in the teens from Trumbull to Westport.
Interstate 95
Slowest SB bands of traffic are from Bridgeport to Fairfield and from Exit 18 in Westport to Exit 13 in Darien.
Northbound traffic is slow from Rye, NY to Exit 3 in Greenwich.
NB accident on I-95's Moses Wheeler Bridge has been cleared.
Southbound I-95 remains a crawl from Bridgeport to Darien.
Merritt Parkway
Southbound remains a mess from Trumbull to Westport with speeds in the teens.
SB delays now stretch to Route 8 from earlier accident that is still blocking the right line near Exit 48.
Interstate 84
Westbound traffic is slow several miles from Southbury to Newtown with speeds knocked down in the teens just past the Housatonic River Bridge.
Heavy westbound delays just over the NY state line from earlier accident on I-684.
Merritt Parkway
There is now a southbound accident on the Merritt Parkway near Exit 48 in Trumbull. It has blocked the right lane.
Not good because this area is always jammed at this time. Expect to see a backup on the Merritt merge from Route 8 south.
Already southbound traffic was crawling from Trumbull to Westport.
Interstate 95
Solid southbound delays from Bridgeport to Darien, with a slight break between Fairfield and Westport.
Earlier NB accident on Moses Wheeler Bridge still slowing traffic. Delays are getting longer, stretching to Exit 31.
Interstate 84
That SB accident on I-684 in New York is starting to mess up westbound traffic on I-84 almost to the Connecticut border.
Route 8
Slow going southbound across the Commodore Issac Hull bridge in the Valley.
That northbound accident on the Moses Wheeler Bridge should be cleared shortly.
One person has been taken to the hospital; no word on extent of injuries.
The only change in traffic conditions is an accident on I-684 over the border in New York state that has closed a right lane from I-84 to Exit 9.
There is an accident in a northbound lane of the Moses Wheeler Bridge on I-95 in Stratford.
The crash, involving a car and a truck, has shut down the left lane, between Exits 33 and 34
Police dispatches say there are injuries.
Traffic cams show that traffic is moving, but at a crawling pace.
The accident was reported at 7:22 AM.
Meanwhile, southbound I-95 remains heavy from Bridgeport to Westport.
There is also a slowdown in the Norwalk/Darien corridor.
Merritt Parkway
There are southbound slowdowns from Trumbull to Westport with the slowest traffic near the Route 25 intersection.
Interstate 84
The biggest problem is eastbound in Waterbury where a disabled vehicle is messing up things just past the Mixmaster,
Traffic is getting heavier by the minute.
Interstate 95
We're jammed from the Route 8/25 merge down to Exit 20 in Fairfield.
Heading down Route 8/25, you're slow about a mile from the 95 merge.
In Norwalk/Darien, southbound traffic speeds are knocked down into upper 20s MPH.
Starting to become a slower ride to and from New Haven.
Merritt Parkway
Southbound is also jammed here from Route 25 in Trumbull down to Exit 44 in Fairfield.
Interstate 84
Westbound traffic is in the low 40s from Southbury to Newtown.
In Waterbury, eastbound traffic is crawling past the Mixmaster.
Interstate 95
We know have southbound speeds knocked down into the teens in the stretch between Bridgeport and Fairfield. Expect that to lengthen in the next half-hour.
Merritt Parkway
As expected, we have a southbound slowdown in Trumbull, just past the Route 25 intersection.
Interstate 84
In Southbury we're stating to see a westbound slowdown.
Interstate 95
Southbound traffic is starting building between Bridgeport and Fairfield. Speeds are in the upper 30s to low 30s.
Merritt Parkway
Still in great shape, but soon we'll see a southbound slowdown in Trumbull, just after the Route 25 intersection.
All other roads in great shape.
Still a great ride on the roads and rails of southwest Connecticut.
No accidents or backups to report.
We're starting to see some southbound delays on I-95 in the Long Wharf area. That's because of the ongoing work near the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge.
Some roads in the Westville section of New Haven are closed because of a fire at Delaney's Tap Room.
Whalley Avenue is closed between Fountain and Ella Grasso Blvd. for the firefighting effort.
To view a WTNH report of the fire, click HERE.
No major road problems to deal with this early AM.
There are some lingering road projects finishing up, including one on I-84 west between exits 9 and 10 in Newtown.
All other roads are in good shape.
Metro-North is also reporting trains are on or close to schedule.
To see if your train is on time, click HERE.


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Masters in Chemical Engineering Degree Information
Graduate students with a keen interest in physical sciences, life sciences and mathematics might find that enrolling in a Chemical Engineering Masters Program may prepare them for a variety of career paths, including as professional Chemical Engineers, who are employed in a number of industries. The field's broad application to so many industries provides a graduate with opportunities to pursue work in almost any field of interest. The products of chemical engineering range from artificial organs to our toothpaste and makeup, to our clothing and the fuel we use to drive around.
Chemical Engineering is a branch of engineering that applies physics and chemistry (physical sciences) and microbiology and biochemistry (life sciences) combined with applied mathematics and economics to produce, transform, transport, and properly use chemicals, materials and energy. Essentially, chemical engineers design large-scale processes that convert chemicals, raw materials, living cells, microorganisms and energy into useful forms and products[i].
GradSchools.com makes it easy to search fro Chemical Engineering Schools. Begin with a location search to determine where you can study; use the city, state or country tabs. Then refine your results depending on the type of program format that suits your needs. You can study on campus, look into an online masters chemical engineering degree program, or choose the hybrid format that combines on-campus and online courses in chemical engineering.


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Corner Medicine Cabinet Can Be Smart for Small Bathrooms
If you've got a powder room or a small bathroom where you're trying to make the most efficient use of space, a corner sink and corner medicine cabinet may fit the floor plan well. Cabinets with mirrors help create the illusion of more space, while a storage area behind that mirror is practical, even in rooms primarily used by guests.
While these corner-mounted pieces aren't as common as sinks and cabinets meant to stand flat against a wall, they are certainly out there, and if you look online, you can find a larger variety than at the home improvement store.
The corner medicine cabinet here is from Robern.


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Linda Hartbarger, cook manager at Bellamy Middle School in Chicopee, MA, was the grand prize winner in the USA Rice Federation's Healthy Rice Bowls contest for K-12. Her winning dish was as Asian rice bowl with General Tso's chicken, long-grain white rice, snap peas and choice of crunchy toppings. Alto-Shaam has added Ben Lee to its Atlanta office, where he will serve the Southeast territory. He has more than a decade of experience in sales and project management, and 14 years with ...
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Fresno – City of Fresno offices will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday. Normal operations will resume on Thursday, Dec. 26.Here is the schedule for City of Fresno operations for the holiday: Airports: Administrative offices closed. Terminal, concessions and airlines normal operations otherwise.
Business License: The Business Tax Web Renewal will be available throughout the Christmas holiday.City Clerk's Office: Closed.
City Hall Offices: Closed.
Fire/Police Departments: Offices and public counters will be closed. Normal operations otherwise.
Fresno Area Express: Christmas Eve -Tuesday, Dec. 24, Manchester Transit Center office closed, FAX Administration and Handy Ride offices open, buses will operate on weekend schedules. Christmas Day – Wednesday Dec. 25, offices closed, no bus service. FAX route maps and schedules are available on the City's website.
Development and Resource Management: Closed.
Parking Division: No enforcement at parking meters and City parking facilities on Wednesday. Office closed for citation payments on Dec. 25.
Parks and Recreation (PARCS): Offices closed. No senior hot meals Christmas Day. Regional and neighborhood parks open every day. Neighborhood and community centers will be open from 1-5 p.m. on Dec. 24 and will be closed on Christmas Day.
Personnel: Closed. Online applications accepted at www.fresno.gov/jobs.
Public Utilities: Offices closed.
Public Works: Offices closed.
Purchasing: Bid opportunities and updated information are available on the City's website, under the "For Businesses" tab, then click on bid opportunitiesResidential Solid Waste: There will be no collection service on Wednesday, Dec. 25. On Thursday, Dec. 26, the regular schedule for Wednesday's trash, recyclables and green waste will be collected. On Friday, Dec. 27, Thursday's trash, recyclables and green waste will be collected. On Saturday, Dec. 28, Friday's trash, recyclables and green waste will be collected. Business office will be closed on Dec. 25. For questions regarding residential solid waste collection, please call the Solid Waste Management Division at (559) 621-1452 or visit the Division's holiday web page on the City's website.
Utility Payments Offices: Payment counters closed. Online and phone transactions available for utility payments.
For urgent matters during on Christmas Day, please call 621-CITY (2489).
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GV Now
Dodgeball wins sixth national championship
Posted on April 14, 2014
For the second year in a row, the Grand Valley Dodgeball Club won the National College Dodgeball Association championship April 13, after beating Saginaw Valley State University in a 3-2 match.
The NCDA 2014 National Championship took place at Ohio State University from April 12-13. Grand Valley beat University of Maryland during the quarter-finals and James Madison University during the semi-finals before going on to the final match against Saginaw Valley.
"It's a major accomplishment and surreal, especially since our current group of players have won back-to-back championships. It's a whole new group of players than the first group who won four championships, so we're making our own footprint," said Mark Trippiedi, president of Dodgeball Club.
This is the sixth national championship the Dodgeball Club has won since the team formed in 2005. The club sport has more than 40 players.
Learn more at www.gvsuclubsports.com.


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Welcome to COSIGN, where I'll present a group of fresh and invigorating talent that does more than just add to the conversation of who's next, they advance it! There's something intangible they possess. It's more than just hustle. This collective group simmer on the edge of fame and notoriety not only because of their skill and ambition, but because they did more than just wish on a star.
With his sun kissed brown skin and boyish good looks, it's easy to assume Eric West is an L.A. kid, but don't be fooled, he's a Brooklyn boy! The 29-year-old nephew of Motown legend Smokey Robinson has been swaggin' on the competition for a while. Crowned as one of Cosmopolitan's hot actors of 2013, and Conde Nast style innovator of 2012, it's safe to say fashion has found a more stylish Mr. West.
The entertainer has been singing and acting throughout his childhood, but his God-given star power is just beginning to bloom. With upcoming roles in "Smash" and "Law & Order" West is showing he can stand on his own two, while multitasking humility, a lesson other Hollywood acts could stand to learn. The Bed-Stuy native shot the breeze with COSIGN to talk about it all, music, movies and his old boo Myeshia, but most importantly, he shows talent definitely runs in the family.
What influenced your decision to go into entertainment?
It was watching "Soul Train" and attending a Janet Jackson concert. My brother and I watched "Soul Train" every Saturday morning, and I said that's what I want to do. I was 10 or 11 years old when I went saw Janet Jackson and I remember from the time she got on stage to the time she ended the show, which could've been two-and-a half hours, no one ever sat down for the entire concert, even during her ballads. People were freaking out from start to finish and I want people to have that response to me one day.
A lot of big name celebs have made a stop at "Law & Order" and you recently filmed an episode. What was that experience like?
It was great. I can't talk too much about it, but I tell everyone this: We were filming and Ice-T was trying to do a scene outside. I was supposed to walk on maybe 20 or 30 seconds later. Then some drunk guy stumbles onto set. I don't know how he didn't see the camera and crew, but he sees Ice-T and he's like 'Yo, Ice-T.What up, son? I love that show you have with Coco. Where's that bitch at?' This is all happening with him trying to get through his lines with the cameras around. It's one of those moments you can't even make up.
You recently filmed an episode on "Smash" What's your role on the show?
I came on for one episode and they loved me and had me come back. I came onto be Jennifer Hudson's friend in the second episode. That show is just fun. I think that was one of the few times I got to learn more than I ever learned just by watching the director Michael Morris. He's really good at directing, to say the least.
How was working with J-Hud?
I love her! She's such a huge star. She's an Oscar winner. Day one on set, when I first saw her, she seemed very much to herself. I didn't know if I should talk to her beforehand because you never know with people in this business, but she's completely the opposite She's not a diva at all. She's just down to earth and cool.
Let's talk about your musical side. Are you working on an album now?
Yes. I'm not signed to any record label, but I've been talking to everyone. It's such a blessing. I want to start doing the project on my own. I know the vision for my music and I think it would be easier for me to just do it myself and then take it to them instead of signing a deal and lose creative control, because then it's not fun.
Have you ever sang to a girl?
Yeah, my ex-girlfriend. Myeshia. That's her name. I remember the song. Oh man, you're bringing me back to old days. [LAUGHS]
Tell me about this new movie you're working on with Tristan Wilds. Indelible Where was it shot?
It was shot in Brooklyn. It's a good independent raw film. It's funny because Tristan shot the film six or seven years ago and it just sat around. Then he got on "90210" and there was a huge interest in the film, so it got re-shot and I got cast. [Tristan's character] is dying from an unknown disease and that's what the film is about, trying to find that cure. I'm a male nurse in the movie and I have a huge part in finding this cure that will save him.
Last question: what advice did you get from your uncle?
To stay humble. Fame is not what you think it is. I've met so many other celebrities and I've even had friends who weren't famous and are now famous and you can see the change because they think they are more than what they are. So I try to remember that at the end of the day when you go home I'm still Eric Rosa, not Eric West. I remember to stay humble and grounded because it can all be gone tomorrow.
Photo Credit: Tarik Carrol


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Journal of Surgical Research
A Journal of Surgical Basic Science, Clinical Investigation, Outcome Studies and Education Research
Official Publication of the Association
for Academic Surgery
The journal impact factor is a measure of the frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited in a particular year. The impact factor helps you evaluate a journal's relative importance, especially when you compare it to others in the same field. To calculate the five year Impact Factor, citations are counted in 2012 to the previous five years and divided by the source items published in the previous five years.© 2012 Thomson Reuters, 2012 Journal Citation Reports®
Editor:S.A. LeMaire, MD
Aims & Scope
The Journal of Surgical Research: Clinical and Laboratory Investigation publishes original articles concerned with clinical and laboratory investigations relevant to surgical practice and teaching. The journal emphasizes reports of clinical investigations or fundamental research bearing directly on surgical management that will be of general interest to a broad range of surgeons and surgical researchers. The articles presented need not have been the products of surgeons or of surgical laboratories.
The Journal of Surgical Research also features review articles and special articles relating to educational, research, or social issues of interest to the academic surgical community.
Benefits to authors
We also provide many author benefits, such as free PDFs, a liberal copyright policy, special discounts on Elsevier publications and much more. Please click here for more information on our author services.
Please see our Guide for Authors for information on article submission. If you require any further information or help, please visit our support pages: click here
Abstracting and IndexingScopus
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By Tom White The German-built Sachs/DKW 125 was one of the first popular purpose-built 125 motocross bikes in America. When motocross exploded in the U.S.
By Tom White In the early years of European motocross, Sweden's Husqvarna did not compete in Grand Prix motocross. That would change by the late
B y Tom White ?Out-of-the-box winner??that is exactly how Monark marketed their motocross machines. The 21-horsepower, six-speed, 54mm x 54mm Sachs 6B engine came with
By Tom White Sweden's Monark is one of the rarest motocross machines of all-time. In 1954, they entered eight bikes in the International Six Days


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Kenny Garrett, Stefon Harris, Pat Martino, McCoy Tyner, Han Bennink, Cindy Blackman, Curtis Fuller, Brooklyn Jazz Underground
Kenny Garrett was in funky fettle. The saxophonist's latest band seem incredibly youthful, but are also armed with impressive technique and a clear understanding of several jazz satellite forms. In some ways, this second night of their Iridium residency came on like a first night, troubled by severe lateness due to an over- running early evening show. Nevertheless, this still didn't seem to mobilise anyone into a hurrying mood, and the first set ended up starting almost by the time that the second was due. Pity the poor folks queuing outside in the freeze.
Despite these problems, it didn't take Garrett long to lock into his groove. There's little fusion smoothness here. This rubbery gang of Corey Henry (Hammond organ/weebling synths), Lenny Stallworth (electric bass) and Tim Smith (drums) started to lay down some fearsome funk, interlocked with a springy tension. The stretches where this quartet snagged onto a pneumatic riff were coiled excitement in the extreme, but then there were other passages where all became untied, and the music wandered around for a while, searching for another nexus. These are the trials of improvisation. The material was loose enough to take these risks, and the pay-off was equally extreme whichever way the music went. When he wasn't arching his alto high towards the sky, Garrett also played texturising keyboards for much of the time, setting up a Miles-ian density with Henry, whose Hammond playing exuded strength and confidence throughout.
Stefon Harris & Blackout at Dizzy's Club
Like Garrett, vibraphonist Stefon Harris is concerned with funk and fusion, his Blackout five-piece dedicated to a similarly hard-edged manifestation of various groove forms. The leader is a phenomenal talent, applying more than the usual amount of aggressive thrust when skimming his mallets to make a series of precise detonations. Shifting from vibes to marimba gives Harris a broad palette, further enhanced by Marc Cary's retro keyboards and Casey Benjamin's saxophone, and bolstered by the latter's just-tipping-over-the- edge-into-cheesy vocoder-simulation routines. Drummer Terreon Gully offered several solos of immense suppleness, powering with subtlety, barnstorming with finesse. Both Kenny Garrett and Stefon Harris are taking what they need from the 1970s, then re-configuring these aspects into their own interpretations, re- born with original themes, and updated by their signature styles.
The Pat Martino Quartet & David Ostwald's Gully Low Jazz Band at Birdland
The dapper Pat Martino makes his playing appear so nonchalant, a smile flickering across his visage as he bleeds out another extended exploration of every possible melodic tangent. The guitarist makes a repertoire dominated by standards seem somehow fresher, going about his soloing business with an almost scientific method of dissection. He's logical in his progressive escalations, and almost removed from reality, perching himself some distance from the usual axe-master grimacing. Martino is very much in his own subjective stylistic universe, standing apart from the majority jazz tone of muted mellowness, but not heading too far out towards a rock distortion. He screams inwardly. Martino's Birdland set gave full room to display an extensive range of nimble spirals, only slightly marred by a too-active (and too loud) drummer.
Existing in a completely different musical continuum is tubaman David Ostwald and his Gully Low Jazz Band, who dedicate themselves primarily to the repertoire of Louis Armstrong. Birdland hosts this residency every Wednesday at 5.30pm, and numbers were probably swollen for the 80th birthday celebration of clarinetist Joe Muranyi. It helps to have an old Armstrong sideman in your ranks, and this evening's mission was to revisit the old repertoire from the late 1960s, when Muryani was touring with the final Louis line-up. Visibly cheered by all the attention, Muranyi was playing demonically, and snatching up the microphone for several impromptu vocal numbers. Trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso and trombonist Dion Tucker completed a dynamic front line, with banjoman Vince Giordano and leader Ostwald bouncing their wry witticisms back and forth. Drummer Kevin Dorn kept up the brightly bouncing momentum throughout. Tucker offered a heartfelt testimony, his privilege as the youngest member, and were those tears in Muryani's peepers as his flickering-candled cake emerged from the wings? Probably not, as most of this japing combo walk on the deadpan side of the alleyway...
The McCoy Tyner Quartet at The Blue Note


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Results tagged ' Trade '
The Phillies might have gotten veteran outfielder Matt Stairs for bench help.
The only thing missing is the official press release. Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said Friday that he couldn't comment, though sources have confirmed the acquisition of Stairs for an unidentified Minor Leaguer.
ESPN's Buster Olney reported that the Phillies would send left-hander Fabio Castro to Toronto. Castro, who is 8-4 with a 4.71 ERA this season at two Minor League levels, was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after Friday's game.
Philadelphia didn't make a corresponding roster move, with a team spokesman saying one would be made before Saturday's game.
"If you're guessing that it could be in the state of Pennsylvania," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said, "I'm not going to tell you you're wrong, but, I'm not going to tell you anything else."
Ricciardi, speaking to reporters at Yankee Stadium before Friday's Jays-Yankees game, adding that his club hoped to complete the trade by Saturday at the latest.
The Jays designated the 40-year-old Stairs for assignment Thursday to make room for top outfield prospect Travis Snider. The Phillies had been searching for a left-handed hitter off the bench, and intensified that search after potentially losing Geoff Jenkins for the season with a strained right hip flexor.
Stairs is hitting .250 this season with 11 homers and 44 RBIs, and is a career .279 pinch-hitter with 12 home runs. He could join the Phillies on Saturday.
One potential holdup could be money. Stairs signed a two-year deal for $3.25 million in November. He would earn what remains of his $2.25 million salary for this season and $1 million in 2009.
For Stairs to be eligible for Philadelphia's postseason roster, he would have to be in the organization by midnight Aug. 31.
He would be the second player the Phillies plucked from another club's waiver wire. Earlier this month, they landed lefty Scott Eyre from the Cubs for Minor Leaguer Brian Schlitter. In seven appearances for the Phils, Eyre has thrown eight scoreless innings. (H/T Phillies.com)
Well, all I can say is I hope this guy's bat will help this team, since they need help badly right now as far as the offense is concerned, especially with Geoff Jenkins possibly gone for the rest of the season. As for whether they have sealed the deal or not, just eat as much of the money he is own by the Blue Jays and get his butt over here. You want to win this division or not? I'm talking to you you silent morons. Just get it nailed down. NOW!!!!
Phillies have picked up Scott Eyre via waivers for a minor league pitcher.
That fresh start will come with the Phillies, who completed their search for an experienced second lefty reliever by acquiring Eyre from the Cubs for Minor League right-hander Brian Schlitter on Thursday.
"I asked how their bullpen was, and if they were just looking for guys, and they said, 'No, we think you can still pitch,'" said Eyre, who will join the Phillies on Friday. "I said, 'Great, I'm ready to go.'"
The 36-year-old Eyre appeared in 19 games for the Cubs this season because of stints on the disabled list for left elbow inflammation and a strained left groin, and worked only 11 1/3 innings. He'll work in a situational role in the middle innings, and replace either Les Walrond or J.A. Happ on the roster.
After nine scoreless innings in his first 14 outings this season, Eyre fell out of favor with Cubs manager Lou Piniella when he allowed nine runs in five appearances, spanning 2 1/3 innings. He was designated for assignment on Tuesday, giving the Cubs seven days to trade him or he would become a free agent. He packed up his family in his RV, parked outside of Chicago, and headed to his home in Bradenton, Fla.
Eyre will turn around and drive to Philadelphia from Valdosta, Ga., where the family had reached when informed of the deal. The Phillies will be his fifth team, after the White Sox, Blue Jays, Giants and Cubs.
The last time he was designated for assignment, on Aug. 5, 2002, the Giants claimed him. He posted a 1.59 ERA in 21 appearances with San Francisco, which reached the World Series that year.
The Phillies' bullpen has thrown the third-fewest innings in the National League this season, a product of the starters tossing the fifth-most innings. Still, manager Charlie Manuel would like some relief for late-inning pitchers Brad Lidge, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Chad Durbin.
Lefties batted .259 (7-for-27) against Eyre this season, and have hit .244 against him in his career. In his past five seasons, Eyre has appeared in 317 games, the fourth-highest total among Major League lefties. Romero tops that list at 336.
"He's a guy with a lot of experience," said assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. "We've been looking for a left-hander for a long time, and think this left-hander can help."
The Phillies thought that, too, when they pursued him in the winter of 2006, before he signed with the Cubs.
"This is a veteran guy who has had a lot of success," Amaro said. "He's had success in the playoffs and he'll rise to the challenge. He's been through it, having those kind of experienced guys is helpful. We think he has enough bullets in that 36-year-old arm to help us." Schlitter was 4-3 with six saves and a 2.22 ERA in 34 games for Class A Clearwater, with 58 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings this year. He was a 16th-round selection by the Phillies in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. (H/T Phillies.com)
Hold the phone. They went after him during the off-season, and didn't get him? Why didn't…oh that's right, cheapskate owners. I keep forgetting that. Anyway, I hope he will be the left handed complement to Madson, as he and the rest of the 'pen needs a break while Gordon and Seanez are still out. Now, who will go? My guess is Walrond, since J.A. Happ can still be used as insurance against either Blanton or Myers going bad, or maybe giving Hamels a possibily needed rest. As I'd said earlier, time will tell.
Phillies gets Joe Blanton from the A's for three minor league prospects.
"I don't know what the percentage is of trade rumors that actually happen, but I do know the percentage when it comes to me is zero up to now," he wrote. "I'm not saying I don't acknowledge it's possible I'll get traded, but I just kind of ignore it."
That percentage went up exponentially on Thursday evening, as the right-hander found a new home in Philadelphia, and the Phillies landed a starter after missing out on CC Sabathia and Rich Harden. The Phils sent prospects Adrian Cardenas, Josh Outman and Matthew Spencer to Oakland for the workhorse.
Blanton, 27, who had been spending his All-Star break in Nashville, Tenn., expects to fly to Florida on Friday. Scheduled to pitch on Friday for the A's, he could start on Wednesday, with right-hander Adam Eaton expected to move to the bullpen.
The Phillies could get creative and start Blanton on Saturday, keeping him in line to start the week after against the Mets. He hasn't allowed a run against the Mets in 15 innings. The important thing is that Philadelphia added what it hopes is an important piece to a division championship.
The teams announced the deal on Thursday, ending nearly 16 months of speculation regarding Blanton, who is 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA in 20 starts for Oakland. He joins fellow pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin in an exodus from the A's. They were dealt to the Cubs.
"That's the thing about being with the Oakland A's, you tend to be in rumors a lot," Blanton said. "I just took the approach that I didn't pay a lot of attention. I was with the team until told otherwise. Now, I've been told otherwise. I'm really excited about the situation I'm coming into. They have a great team."
Blanton is no stranger to the Phillies, besting them on June 24. He limited Philadelphia to one run on four hits in seven innings.
The victim of the seventh-lowest run support average in the AL, Oakland's Opening Day starter enters a situation in which the team hopes he can continue to pitch deep in games.
Blanton will have to adjust to home games in Citizens Bank Park, an unkind place for pitchers. For his career, Blanton had a 3.79 ERA in 24 starts at McAfee Coliseum, with its expansive foul territory, and a 4.78 ERA in 23 road starts.
"I feel as a pitcher that sometimes the park doesn't make a huge difference," Blanton said. "Obviously, when you get into a pitcher's park, there's certain things, foul territory, the ball not traveling, that can work to your advantage, but if you do your job, keep hitters off balance, and keep the ball on the ground, it shouldn't make any difference."
"He's a guy who we had an interest in over time," assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said. "One of the things that jump out with our scouts is what a competitor he is. He wants to stay out there, and give you innings, let your bullpen bounce back. We're obviously stated for a while that we looked to improve our starting rotation. He was attractive for a few reasons."
His status is one of those reasons. Blanton can't become a free agent until after the 2010 season, making the Phillies more comfortable losing a top prospect like Cardenas, and a left-handed pitcher in Outman.
Cardenas, a supplemental first-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, was one of the organization's top prospects, and was hitting .309 with four homers and 23 RBIs for Class A Clearwater. He was trade bait almost from the day he was drafted, as his prime position is second base, currently occupied by Chase Utley.
Outman was selected as a 10th-round pick in 2005 and had been pitching in relief at Double-A Reading, going 4-2 with a 3.22 ERA in 28 relief outings. Spencer, an outfielder and a third-round pick in 2007, was batting .249 with six homers and 41 RBIs at Clearwater.
Blanton is the third second-half starting pitching acquisition in as many seasons, joining Kyle Lohse (2007) and Jamie Moyer (2006). Talks for him heated up in the past week, after the Phillies had been unable to land Sabathia.
Coming on the eve of the start of the second half might be a good omen for Philadelphia. Blanton has a career ERA of 4.05 in the second-half, compared to 4.37 in the first half.
"I feel that's one of my bigger strengths," Blanton said. "I'm a guy who wants to stay out there as long as they'll let me go. When I get halfway, I don't like to fall down the mountain, I like to keep climbing it."
Added Arbuckle: "We feel his makeup is going to fit in well in a pennant race." (H/T Phillies.com)
I am so happy right now that I'm not going to have any sleep less nights over his present win-lost record or his ERA. If he pitches as well against the rest of the NL as he did against our boys back on June 24 in Oakland, I'll be satisfied. And it would seem that it won't hurt us down on the farm with the trio that we'd gave up for him, and it'll get Eaton out of the starting rotation. Hey, what's not to like about this overall? YAAAAHHHHHOOOOO!!!! The mystery idiots seems to have finally done something right for a change. Hey, while we'll doing the right thing, guys, how about a new reliever to help set up things in the bullpen and signing Pat Burrell to a brand spanking new contract? PLEASE!!!!!
Too bad this comes in the wake of the Mets tying the Phillies for first place in the East after defeating the Reds in the bottom of the ninth. Gee, way to go, Cincy!!!!


text: An employee who is relocating to a new commuting area must establish a temporary or permanent residence before s/he is eligible for a payment of a relocation incentive. Neither OPM's regulations or guidance nor GSA's Federal Travel Regulation address this issue. DOE guidance is as follows. This guidance will be incorporated in the DOE Handbook on Recruitment and Retention Incentives as an appendix during the next update.


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