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Anoymous is an experienced author who shall remain anonymous given the topic of the book at hand.
Embracing Obscurityby Anonymous
Ironically, the trouble with me and you and the rest of humanity is not a lack of self-confidence but that we have far too much self-importance. To live and die unnoticed would seem a grave injustice to many. It's all too easy to think we're somebody if our portfolio is strong, there are a few letters after our name, or we're well-known at work,
- LendMe LendMe™ Learn More
Ironically, the trouble with me and you and the rest of humanity is not a lack of self-confidence but that we have far too much self-importance. To live and die unnoticed would seem a grave injustice to many. It's all too easy to think we're somebody if our portfolio is strong, there are a few letters after our name, or we're well-known at work, church, or school.
As pride creeps in, we are tempted to want more: more recognition, more admiration, more influence, more, more, more. Few have ever given thought to wanting less. That's why we need Embracing Obscurity.
Putting the premise into immediate action, an established Christian author electing to remain anonymous writes about living and dying in simplicity, contending that true success, as modeled by Jesus, starts with humility, service, sacrifice, and surrender. Such a life involves mystery and banks on the hope that today is just a dress rehearsal for eternity.
When we stop imitating the world and instead choose to embrace obscurity, real life -- chock full of significance, purpose, and renewed passion -- begins.
Product Details
- 9781433677878
- Publisher:
- B&H Publishing Group
- Publication date:
- 10/01/2012
- Sold by:
- Barnes & Noble
- Format:
- NOOK Book
- Pages:
- 224
- File size:
Meet the Author
Anoymous is an experienced author who shall remain anonymous given the topic of the book at hand.
Customer Reviews
Average Review:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
See all customer reviews
I was contacted a few months ago from a marketing company promoting a book just released on October 1, 2012 titled, Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God's Everything. The title grabbed my attention, but the author's choice to remain anonymous gained my respect and intrigue. Incognito blows in the face of everything writers are forced to clamor toward today. Without sounding too sacrilegious (because the book is surely Christ centered), this thorough consideration on personal obscurity throws a finger at platform building, Twitter numbers, blog readership, speaking engagements, sales; even the importance we feel toward how many "likes" we get on our crafty facebook posts. For me, the book is like fresh wind after three hundred and fifty five days of humid filled, back busting labor in an attempt to build a "name" for myself; a nemesis I've wrestled with... a lot! Although there are points I would argue with, this book has caused me to pause, wrestle further, question my own intentions and analyze my current walk with Jesus. For me, that is the mark of a good read and so for that alone I give the book four out of five stars. Wrestling and analysis brings complexity. Convoluted messages get lost, however, in this noisy world. All that I wish to say is too much to unravel within my average 500 word blog, so I'm choosing to spend three days in review of Embracing Obscurity. I am spending this time, not because it was requested of me, not because there is any kind of compensation (see disclosure at the end of my post), but because in everything I write it is my reader I have in mind.
Well, I think the name of this book honestly does speak for itself. And it is indeed a "stroke of genius" that we don't even know who the author is. It fits the very thing this book proposes--do not seek any glory for yourself. True humility is what is expected of the Christian, and this book certainly made me think. This is not an easy nor popular lesson, but it is vital to the Christian walk. I found myself not connecting with the book as well as I normally do, and I think the main reason is that this issue is not one with which I normally struggle. I'm not trying to hold myself up as one who never struggles with the issue of pride, but this is not as a big issue for me as other Christian issues (that I won't detail here). I also felt that some of the book was a little one-sided, but I understand why. So often, Christian books do focus on the "Joseph principle" and that suffering leads to reward. I think it is important that the concept that possibly God's desire is for Christians to serve in obscurity is detailed in this book no matter how unpopular that topic is. I love the fact that this is written as a small-group Bible study, and I think this is the best way to go through this book. Countless Scripture and personal stories are provided as evidence and proof of the blessings of living the way this book suggests. I completely agree with this often over-looked subject, and I think every Christian could stand to read this and determine how God would have him/her live. And although I do not currently struggle with this issue, it is good to bear in mind and watch that I do not veer off my current path and find myself looking for recognition in the wrong places. I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.


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Well if you've been looking at this site for a few months without any updates, then yes somethings changed.
So before changes, let talk triathlons. I did manage to complete both I set out to do – both were quite tiring, but enjoyable – If I can I might try another this year. If not there's more next year.
Other than that I'm happy with the outcome of the training.
So what's changed, well it's a little thing – but my love for my bank is waning. I know you can't actually love a bank, so maybe it's the goodwill, possibly the hope that they might have had my interests at heart.
The trigger was Apple Pay – I hoped that Barclays might have been a launch partner for it, but no – they are quite happy to continue to innovate with things like paying cheques (an outdated and possibly going away soon payment process) via the banking app (yes I have used it – and possibly will use it next week!) and a top up payment system called bpay (which I think is a Barclaycard thing).
It's my fault for being an Apple whore I guess, however I have these gadgets so I'd like to use them. Looking for an alternative bank was easy – I did initially sign up to First Direct, but they annoyed me by not calling me back about something, so I closed this account within a few days. During this close down I opened a Santander account, which was simple and easy (as was First Direct).
The Visa Debit card arrived quite fast and once in my possession I was able to transfer money to my account, withdraw a tenner and then sign up for Apple Pay (seems to be a condition that the account has to be used for it to work). Work it certainly does, I'm not going to bang on about Apple Pay – but it's quick and simple to use with my watch for small purchases.
Seems Yardley hasn't seen much Apple Pay action judging by the double take you get when you use it. The reaction of others isn't why I've got it. But it's interesting to see people who aren't tech orientated discovering it.
Moving on from Apple Pay – a different bank account should be much the same as what I had before, right? Well, it seems not – just little things like a weekly email of my transactions and I can set an alert based on balance. These small things make a difference. The transition from Barclays is well under way now. I have a Barclaycard (yes, entirely my fault) with a balance. Should say had one, as I transferred the balance to Mr Beardy Branson's Money organisation – with a 3 year 0%
Barclaycard bless them, told me I was a valuable customer and have been for a decade and a half. They could have offered me 0% for a year (which might have been nice) and after the balance transfer offered me a credit for, now wait for it………£50 to keep the card. I didn't
So one account down, possibly a few more to go. I'm slowly moving my current account to Santander after being with Barclays for 27 years. I could use the switch guarantee service, but I have an odd 2nd account which I'm one Direct Debit away from sorting. Once this is done then I'll use the switch service to close the accounts.
Next move?, well I have a couple of other accounts plus the joint account and Mortgage – a bit extreme because of Apple Pay – might be, but people don't move banks do they? – I've started and the process seems relatively simple.

subset: commoncrawl


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Art Experiences
4-12 year olds
Art experiences are provided through an integrated art therapy and art education approach. Children will explore a wide range of media and techniques including: mixed media collage, pencil, paint, charcoal, pastels, print-making, clay, & recycled & natural materials. Preliminary studies and weekly art experiences build upon the next. Each child's pace and style of working is considered while providing an open environment for individual creativity, emerging ideas, and opportunities for collaboration. Emphasis is placed on the PROCESS of self-expression as a vehicle through which to gain a heightened self-awareness. Art sessions provided year-round–Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer Camp.
A serene studio—a secure garden setting


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0.33 CT. T.W. Marquise and Baguette Diamond Solitaire Enhancer in 10K Gold
Item# 19956214
The Peoples Difference
Why shop Peoples?
A sweet symbol of your marriage vows, this diamond enhancer is also an exceptional way to showcase her diamond solitaire engagement ring. Crafted in warm 10K gold, this band features a "U" shaped opening flanked by duos of marquise and baguette-cut diamonds. Designed to fit snugly beneath her solitaire engagement ring, this enhancer captivates with 0.33 ct. t.w. of diamonds and a bright polished shine. View product details.
Special Offers
Diamond carat weights (CT.) represent the approximate total weight (T.W.) of all diamonds in each setting and may vary no more than .07 below the stated weight. Typographic errors are subject to correction. Merchandise enlarged to show detail and may not always be exactly as pictured. Promotions, prices, styles and availability may vary by store and online.


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Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Waterloo, IA
4025 Hammond Avenue
Waterloo , IA 50702
Located off Highway 20, the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson®, Waterloo, IA is only 15 minutes from the Waterloo Regional Airport (ALO) and downtown Cedar Falls. Just two miles north, downtown Waterloo and the surrounding area offer numerous activities for the entire family, such as hockey at Young Arena and swimming fun at Lost Island Waterpark. We're three miles from events at Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center and one mile from shopping and entertainment at Crossroads Mall. Before heading out for the day, fuel up with our complimentary breakfast of hot favorites like omelets and waffles. Afterward, take advantage of our fitness center, or go for a refreshing swim in the indoor pool. Corporate travelers can use our business center to complete projects and enjoy unlimited coffee and cookies if working late.
See what our guests are saying about us.
Hotel Amenities & Services
Feel at home with friendly staff and welcoming amenities like a relaxing whirlpool tub and same-day dry cleaning. We also offer freebies like high-speed Internet, weekday newspapers and toiletries that you may have forgotten to pack. Standard amenities include:
Learn more about our hotel's amenities and services.
Our Rooms & Suites
Rest comfortably in large guest rooms and suites, each furnished with a work space and a flat-panel cable HDTV. Room highlights include:
For added space, reserve a King One-bedroom Suite with a full bath and a separate living room.
Where to Eat While You're Here
We invite you and your family to our breakfast room each morning to enjoy our complimentary, hot Be Our Guest Breakfast. In the mood for steaks, pasta or Mexican for dinner? You'll find these types of cuisines and more at several casual restaurants less than a mile away.
Things to Do in Waterloo
We're just two miles south of downtown Waterloo, where you can catch a Black Hawks game at the Young Hockey Arena or visit several cultural sites in the Grout Museum District. Other nearby attractions include:
Isle Casino Waterloo – Drive three miles to this popular hotspot, which features more than 950 slot machines, 25 card tables and several restaurants.
George Wyth State Park – Enjoy the great outdoors with miles of paved and grass trails linked to a more than 100-mile network within Waterloo and Cedar Falls. The park also has several lake areas for fishing, swimming and boating.
Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens – Enjoy 35 acres of gardens with plants and flowers native to the area, just three miles south of the hotel. If you're here with the kids, don't miss the award-winning Children's Garden with dinosaur and hobbit displays.
Read more about our hotel's location.
Groups & Meetings
For convenient meeting space just eight miles from ALO airport, reserve our flexible conference room. Host up to 40 delegates in a theater setup, and reserve audiovisual equipment to enhance your gathering.
Learn more about our meeting room.
100% Non-Smoking Facility
The hotel can be found by turning left into the Lone Star restaurant parking lot.
Make This Waterloo Hotel Your Team's Home Base
At our hotel, we work hard to obtain and maintain our Sports Approved status with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. That means we have a proven track record of working with sports groups and providing consistent service that caters directly to the groups' unique needs.
Sports Approved Program Standards
As a Carlson Rezidor Sports Approved hotel, the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson®, Waterloo, IA is committed to providing your sports group with the following Sports Approved hotel standards:
Our trained hotel staff will stay up-to-date on your group's needs before and during your stay with us. You can rest assured the Country Inn & Suites, Waterloo, IA hotel will be ready to warmly welcome your team so you can relax, because the rest comes easy.
Submit an Event Request for this hotel.
Sports Group accommodations subject to availability.


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Brand New 19in Varrstoens
4 Attachment(s)
I have a brand new set of Varrstoen ES4 wheels that were never mounted and is brand new. I actually only opened one box just to look at the wheels, the other 3 boxes are sealed!
19 x 9.5 +22
19 x 10.5 +20
Machined Silver
I know there was a summer sale that ended just this past august, and these wheels were for sale for $750. I bought these wheels long before the sale so the price was obviously higher. Since the sale is over i will accomodate and let these for go $950 local pickup. I do not mind shipping as long as buyer pays for shipping.
Thanks for looking. These wheels are nice and strong and a lot better quality then VMR, Avant Garde, etc.
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Developed by Hammacher Schlemmer, this wallet is made from kangaroo leather, the strongest leather in the world that's also two-times thinner than traditional hides. Kangaroo leather's tight, dense fiber structure provides four times the tensile strength and three times more abrasion resistance than cowhide or deerskin, allowing it to be rendered to 1/4" thin for comfortable storage without compromising the leather's strength. The Australian kangaroo leather is naturally water-resistant and it will never fade, crack, or unravel like typical leather wallets. With eight credit card slots, a bill pocket, and a removable ID insert with two windows and three credit card slots. 4 1/2" W x 3 1/2" H x 1/4" D. (2 oz.)
Lifetime Guarantee
The Kangaroo Leather Wallet comes with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee. If this product ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return your Hammacher Schlemmer purchase for exchange, credit, or refund.
Should you have any questions, we are available seven days a week (8:00 am – midnight EST). Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a specialist or email us at email@example.com to receive a response within three business hours or less.
May we recommend:
(based on 100 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Stars
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
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Reviewed by 100 customers
Displaying reviews 1-10
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(19 of 26 customers found this review helpful)
Terrible Wallet
By The Unsilent Majority
from Boston, MA
I got this wallet a couple of months ago and I am already looking to replace it.First off the leather is very flimsy, and difficult to use. What I mean by this is that money and credit cards are hard to take in and out of the wallet because everything sticks to it. The zipper compartment is too small which basically makes it useless and only serves to add bulk to the wallet. Finally, it looks very beat up for not even being 3 months old. I had my previous wallet for over 2 years and it looked better than this one does after such a short time.Every time I take something in or out of this wallet I get aggravated. I should have returned this after I saw how horrible it was. Complete waste of money in my opinion.
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Hammacher Schlemmer Response: Please remember that we offer a lifetime guarantee on this product. If an item ever fails to delight you, please call our customer service team at 1-800-321-1484 and they will be happy to assist you with a return or exchange.
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- flag this review
(15 of 16 customers found this review helpful)
Best in Class
By Jeff
from Livingston, NJ
The Australian Kangaroo wallet is the highest quality wallet I've ever seen. It's a joy to own a wallet so slim, durable, practical and attractive. I've seen few products of any sort that I'd rate a "10", but this one deserves it.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
(9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)
High quality wallet, but check the width
By Phy6
from Worcester, MA
This is a very nice wallet -- good looking, very thin, plenty of pockets, a nice thin zipper compartment for big bills. The one slight drawback might be that it is designed for wider bills than are used in the U. S., and is therefore harder to get out of a hip pocket. (Maybe that's a plus -- harder for a pickpocket, too!)I do have a little European trip scheduled, so I may be very happy with the extra width then.All in all, a very nice wallet.
(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
Seems to be a high quality wallet
By JimW
from Fremont, Ca
Good general purpose wallet. Well designed with many slots for cards. Zippered billfold section along with open billfold area. Clear Id card area has finger slot in middle for easy insertion and removal. Only issue was that one of the card slots in the removable card section was just a bit too short to allow a card to be inserted without a slight trim. However this might be related to the a brand new wallet and may stretch with age. Other wallets I have had only last for a year or two so I am hoping this will last longer. If not it is backed by the great Hammacher warranty.
(5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
By LGR
from Tyler, Texas
This is a great wallet!
Great wallet!
By S8inted
from Raleigh, NC
This leather is as soft as deer skin but it is apparently much stronger and durable. After transferring my credit cards etc. I have been extremely pleased with how comfortable this wallet has been right from the start. It is a well designed wallet and I have been very pleased with this purchase!!
(4 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
Top of the Line Pick!
By Gift Giver
from San Diego, CA
Made a terrfic gift!!!
(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
My husband LOVES this wallet!!
By Coffeykathy
from Coffeyville, KS
Another wonderful product brought to you & me by Hammacher Schlemmer
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
Beautiful Leather
By Johnny Shue
from Queens, NY
I've had a kangaroo wallet in the past and have found the leather to be the most durable of all wallets I have ever owned. This wallets leather is very soft and pliable. The texture is not smooth, but has a bit of a knap to it. It doesn't slide in your pocket like a smooth wallet does, but I like that, because it makes it very difficult to pick your pocket. It has many credit card holders, & I particularly like the piece that slides out, that has the two clear Windows that can hold your license & other ID, and it has addition slots for other credit cards etc. for a quick trip to the store. Looking forward to many years of use.
Best Wallet I Ever Owned
By Russ
from Ansonia, CT
It is sometimes difficult to get it in and out of my back pocket, but this means its not as apt to be lost or stolen.
COPYRIGHT © 2017 HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER & COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. W105147 E. 57th ST • NEW YORK, NY • 10022 • 1-800-_321-1484


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Pour some soft celloidin into a test tube; carefully revolve the test tube so that an even film of celloidin dries on the inside.
To overcome this, the sections might also be embedded in celloidin.
After a short time water begins to rise in the tube, having passed through the film of celloidin.
Remove the solution of gelatine from the interior of the celloidin case with a pipette.
Various grades of celloidin, thick and thin, in wide-mouthed bottles.


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Crazy Cat Lady Tote Bag
The "All My Favorite People are Cats" features a Siames Cat, Orange Tabby Cat, Grey Cat, Tuxedo Cat, White Cat and Black Cat. The purrfect gift for your favorite cat lover or as a treat for yourself. The bag is very sturdy and large enough to carry anything you can think of bringing along with you to outings or family events. Very whimsical and gets loads of comments.
A charm bracelet designed with cute napping cats and balls of "yarn" along their length combined with black beads and silver tone accents.
A cute cat print for a cat lover!
A cute photographic print for cat lovers...Tags: photography, print, black and white, cats, cute, photos, kitty, feline, cat loversAdded 7 Years Ago from Etsy
The Ringer T is so comfortable and great for a grown man, college student or teenager. Product quality is great and shipping was fast.
cat scratcher can be hung on a wall with the supplied bracket, laid on the floor or set against a wall; takes up almost no floor space and provides both vertical and horizontal scratching surfaces cat scratcher comes with two F... cat scratcher can be hung on a wall with the supplied bracket, laid on the floor or set against a wall; takes up almost no floor space and provides both vertical and horizontal scratching surfaces cat scratcher comes with two FLOR Terra carpet tiles which are easily changeable, they can be two of the same color tiles, or mix them up for a more colorful look; they are safe, eco-friendly carpet tiles made of 34% renewable corn-based material; a specially designed velcro is applied to the tiles to hold them securely in placeAdded 8 Years Ago from Petclassics
what a cute way to water your plantsTags: Cats, cute, watering, cans, feline, Cat Lovers, watering cans, tabby carAdded 9 Years Ago from Amazon.com
Crazy cat ladies are well.....CRAZY! That's why they make such great costumes for Halloween. This unisex costume kit includes Pink robe with cats and Cat headpiece.Tags: Cats, Halloween, pets, feline, Cat Lovers, adult halloween costumes, adult costumes, gifts for cat lovers, Silly CostumesAdded 9 Years Ago from Brandsonsale
Really cute cat plate!! Different sayings are available too! Fun for my favorite cat lover's birthday present. And one for me...Tags: kitchen, gifts, pets, Cats, feline, cat lovers, birthday presents, cat plate, Cute KittyAdded 9 Years Ago from Theafternoon


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LONG BEACH — Saying he already has "a dream job," the city's top cop has decided not to run for Los Angeles County sheriff.
Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell announced Tuesday that he will not challenge Sheriff Lee Baca for his seat in the June 2014 election.
"I looked at all the factors and weighed them and decided not to run," said McDonnell, who was at the Long Beach City Council meeting when he confirmed his announcement to the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
McDonnell, who surprised the rank and file when he spoke publicly about his intention to run against Baca four months ago, decided to back off after consulting with family and friends "about the political demands of a challenge to an incumbent," namely the funds needed to run a successful campaign against Baca.
"Fundraising is not something I feel comfortable doing," McDonnell told the Press-Telegram. "The position I have now is kind of a dream job."
Mayor Bob Foster said he was pleased with the decision.
"Very selfishly we're happy that he's staying," Foster said. "He's doing a great job."
Baca's spokesman said he was made aware of McDonnell's decision on Tuesday night.
"The sheriff has always liked and respected Chief McDonnell and he respects his decision," Baca's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. "The sheriff is not about running for sheriff. He is doing the job as sheriff and that is what he is doing each and every day."
McDonnell, who took over the Police Department in 2010, served 30 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, and was former Police Chief Bill Bratton's second in command.
McDonnell beat out seven candidates for the job, a process that some viewed as controversial when city officials then decided to go outside of the department after saying that the top spot would be filled internally.
He told the Press-Telegram in February that he was approached by "interested parties" in the county about running.
Asked why he considered a run against Baca in the first place, McDonnell said: "I thought I had an opportunity to bring a fresh set of eyes to that organization. It's a great challenge and I like challenges. The Sheriff's Department is a great organization that has fallen on hard times."
However, McDonnell said he feared that running for office would "short shrift" his main responsibilities.
"I considered the demands of running for office, in a county as large as this one, from a perspective of both the time required and in raising the substantial funds necessary to be competitive," he said in an email late Tuesday. "I believe that I would not be able to focus the proper attention on my family, my duties here at the Long Beach Police Department and other professional responsibilities."
McDonnell said he felt "very privileged and fortunate to lead such an outstanding organization."
"The men and women of the Long Beach Police Department are a great team of dedicated professionals, who work diligently to keep our community safe," he said.


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This content has been marked as final. Show 7 replies
1. Re: How to use OpenURIEJP Jan 13, 2013 9:28 PM (in response to 981950)That's the browser caching. Refresh. Not a Java issue. Obviously.
2. Re: How to use OpenURI981950 Jan 13, 2013 10:19 PM (in response to 981950)**
app not being run in a browser.
3. Re: How to use OpenURIEJP Jan 13, 2013 11:03 PM (in response to 981950)Never said otherwise. The application tells the desktop to browse to that file, which opens a browser.
4. Re: How to use OpenURI981950 Jan 14, 2013 1:27 AM (in response to EJP)**
That's true.
But wouldnt the fact that I start a fresh browser every time I access the file from within Java
mean that I'm not getting a cached copy ?
5. Re: How to use OpenURIEJP Jan 14, 2013 2:20 AM (in response to 981950)No.
There is no other explanation. All Java does is pass a file name to the desktop. The desktop starts the browser and passes it the file name. Only the browser actually reads the file. Java and the desktop can't possibly have anything to do with it.
6. Re: How to use OpenURI981950 Jan 14, 2013 10:44 AM (in response to EJP)**
Have tried it with my default browser (IE) set to no caching but still same result - first version of file.
7. Re: How to use OpenURIEJP Jan 14, 2013 11:41 AM (in response to 981950)If you're still holding Java responsible for this, you are going to have come up with a plausible mechanism by which Java could send old contents to a browser when it happens at two removes and the only interface in both cases is a file name.
If you're not, you are just off topic.


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"I'm happy they caught the guy. It was a random thing. I think he was full of Jack Daniels, had a bad day at work. It was pretty crazy."
Related quotes
"The Star Trek computer doesn't seem that interesting. They ask it random questions, it thinks for a while. I think we can do better than that."
"My definition of an intellectual is someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture without thinking of the Lone Ranger."
"Our first original singer just pulled it out randomly. We couldn't think of anything better and we've been using it ever since. It's just words that don't make any sense together."
"Random acts of kindness are great!! Although, I do often just prefer random, senseless, and hilarious acts!"


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T.O.: Bitter Past, Sweeter Future?
Charity might not be first thing most people associate with Terrell Owens. If anything, his career has been more about receiving than giving, so it may be surprising that the Alzheimer's Association is honoring him for his philanthropic work.
But fighting the disease is personal for Owens. His grandmother has Alzheimer's, and for over a decade, the Buffalo Bills' wide receiver has been using his notoriety to raise awareness about it. On Wednesday night, he will be honored as recipient of the National Alzheimer's Association Young Champions Award at the National Building Museum in Washington.
In a recent interview, Owens said he was honored to be included on the list of notable people who are "dedicated to increasing awareness" about Alzheimer's. And for those who "come into a situation where they are dealing with it," Owens said he wants "to help them cope with the problem and be more aware of the signs and how to deal with it. ... Whatever I can do to advance that."
Owens also talked about football. He spoke optimistically about joining a new team.
"Given the parity in the NFL," Owens said, there's "no reason the Buffalo Bills can't be like the Giants two years ago or the Cardinals last year."
Owens shrugs off concerns about playing in a cold-weather city. Despite his poor production when the thermometer drops below freezing, he said, "everyone plays in cold weather. I'm going to embrace it and Buffalo, and I hope they embrace me."
Reflecting on his departure from the Dallas Cowboys, Owens admitted he's still "trying to get over the initial shock" of the sudden release.
"It's tough, when you play there for like two years," he said. "You go into the last year of the contract, and you just signed an extension, you know, and you feel like you're going to end your career there. It was a situation where I was like, 'Wow, what happened?' "
Owens did not single out Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for blame. He said he feels "a couple of people" influenced Jones to make the decision.
"It's like you have that bond and when it's broken, you're left out in the middle of the field," Owens said. "Luckily, Buffalo threw me a lifeline."
Despite past disappointments, he said he is looking forward to the future in Buffalo -- or Toronto, should the team move there.
"It doesn't matter what uniform I put on, I'm gonna do what I do, score touchdowns," Owens said.
And in case you're wondering, the self-proclaimed "Number 1-A all-time receiver" says he's hasn't planned any new end zone celebrations yet.
Emil Steiner
March 25, 2009; 7:01 AM ET
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The pervious person commented that life for T.O. after football is going to be harsh. He already has tried to kill himself once and it will probably not be the last. He is a tragedy waiting to happen. Cold weather, not getting the ball, etc........ It will end up being a bust for Buffalo.
Posted by: blahblahblahblah1 | April 1, 2009 9:58 AM
It was a situation where I was like, 'Wow, what happened?' "
And that quote sums up Mr. Owens entire career. How anyone can reach adulthood (or whatever state T.O. has reached) and be so totally self absorbed and yet so oblivious to the consequences of his actions is the central mystery of T.O.
One thing for sure- life after football is going to be very harsh for Terrell Owens.
Posted by: kguy1 | March 25, 2009 1:18 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.


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[Date Index]
[Thread Index]
[Author Index]
Re: Draw approximated normal distribution based on mean, median, percentiles?
rflaaten at start.no wrote:
> Hello all,
> I searched the forum for any info on this, so here goes.
> I need to reference some statistical data from a study. The information
> given there for an age distribution is: mean, standard deviation,
> median plus the 25th and 75th percentiles. Now, I have tried in vain to
> get Excel or SPSS to draw this for me. Is there any way of inputting
> percentiles and median into Mathematica? The normal distribution
> function only takes mean and sd as far as I know.
> Any help would be much appreciated.
> Richard
Let me start by saying I don't know the answer to your question, so you
can ignore what is below if you like.
If the distribution is Normal the mean and variance (or standard
deviation) are sufficient to define it. In this case the median is the
same as the mean and the percentiles are symmetrical about the mean.
However an age distribution is unlikely to be Normal and depends on the
prior state of the population, the birth process and the time to failure
(or death). Perhaps this is why you are given extra parameters
reflecting the assymmetry and kurtosis. You are probably better off
drawing a histogram of the numbers (or proportion) in each age class.
What do you want to do with your distribution once you have it?


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Table of Contents
Master of Divinity
Master of Arts in
Christian Ministries
Master of Arts in
Master of Arts in
Intercultural Studies
Master of Arts in
Theological Studies
Master of Theology
Continuing Education
Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Applied
Intercultural Studies
PhD in Intercultural
PhD in Biblical
Interpretation and
Admission Information
AGTS Profile
Course Descriptions
Financial Information
Academic Policies and Procedures
Student Life and
Seminary Board of
Adjunct Faculty
Academic Calendar
Map to AGTS
Catalog Archives
Descriptions: Distance Learning
Distance Learning Courses enable individuals to earn credits toward a graduate degree without traveling to any of the participating campuses. Students study selected subjects through a variety of web-based delivery systems that create a seamless interaction between the course instructor and the students, as well as providing student to student dialogue and peer learning. A limited number of credits in an AGTS degree may be earned through distance learning or directed research (other advanced standing credit may limit the number of allowable hours).


text:
Some years ago, an independent UK production company made a documentary
about the longest libel case in British legal history.
The so-called "McLibel" case made headlines internationally in the late
1990s after two London Greenpeace activists, very vocal and literate
campaigners against McDonald's, were taken to court by McDonald's for their
part in the publication and distribution of an anti-McDonald's leaflet
titled "What's Wrong With McDonald's". Rather than do what others before
them had done - give into pressure and apologise thus avoiding legal
proceedings - they figured they had nothing to lose and allowed McDonald's
to sue them in the hope that this would provide an unprecedented look into
McDonald's operations, which it most certainly did to a breathtaking extent.
After approximately a year of court proceedings (untold sums being thrown at
the case by McDonald's for the best available legal team and to fly in the
best expert witnesses, compared to the meagre fundraising which the
campaigners had to resort to since it was a libel case and under British law
they were ineligible for legal aid), McDonald's only managed to defend
themselves on four of the seven main complaints. A real David and Goliath
The original documentary told the story up to and slightly beyond the end of
the court case. Tonight, SBS in Australia screens the follow-up
documentary, "McLibel!", which brings us right up to date with the effect of
the case not only for the public but for Helen Steel and Dave Morris who
must be heartily sick of the whole McLibel thing by now.
Not to be missed television - "McLibel" (listed as "Cutting Edge"), SBS at
8.30pm tonight 21/6/05.
Apparently there is also now a double DVD containing both documentaries and
about 4 hours of extras. Details at http://www.spannerfilms.net/?lid=1316


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American Goulash is a Family Favorite, ONE DISH meal that is perfect any time of year! My family has been making this recipe for 3 generations!
This has been a family favorite for decades. It was one of my all time favorite meals that my mom made when I was a kid. She got the recipe from her mom. I make it for my family. It's totally a family thang! And, it's one of my all time best, "go to recipes for comfort food ". It's easy and delicious cooking!
American Goulash is truly an American classic and goes by many names in every region of this country It's known as American Chop Suey, Traveling Man's Hash, Beef and Mac, Slum Gumption, and Kentucky Burgoo. Some people add a can of corn, celery, green bell pepper , a different type of cheese, or even, no cheese at all. Hhhmmmm…..
For my family, the following recipe is almost sacred. If I added corn, bell pepper or frankly, anything other than what's listed below, my family would absolutely FREAK!!! So, I, obviously, respect my grandma's wisdom and recipe with grace, and never, I mean ever, stray from the recipe she so lovingly made and handed down! Thanks Grammy:)
If you're looking for a pasta recipe or beef recipe this is it! Or, if you're like me, and buy your ground beef at Costco, you need lots of good hamburger recipes! This Goulash just may become your go-to recipe. You can always substitute the beef with ground turkey if you want to add to your healthy dinner repertoire.
American Goulash
- Prep Time : 20 Minutes minutes
- Cook Time : 1 Hour minutes
- Yield : Serves 6
- 2 Pounds Ground Beef, 80/20
- 1 Large Yellow Onion
- 4 Large Cloves Garlic, Minced
- 3 Cups Water
- 2 (15 Ounce) Canned Tomato Sauce
- 2 (14.5 Ounce) Canned Diced Tomatoes
- 3 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Dried Oregano
- 2 Teaspoons Dried Basil
- 2 Dried Bay Leaves
- 1 Tablespoon Seasoned Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 Cups Elbow Macaroni, Uncooked
- In a large Dutch oven, cook the meat over medium heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks into small pieces. Cook until the meat is cooked through and there's no longer any pink. Stir in the onions and garlic. Cook and stir the mixture until the onions are translucent.
- Stir in water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, soy sauce, oregano, basil, bay leaves, seasoned salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the pasta, cover, and simmer over low heat until the pasta is tender, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, discard bay leaves, and refrigerate, if possible, overnight. If you must, you could serve. :)


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It's Not OK to Hate Teachers
A recent action alert from the United Church of Christ reported that Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is predicting that up to 300,000 jobs in public schools may be lost due to the recession. In cities like Chicago and Cleveland school officials are predicting class sizes of 35 to 45 for next fall. Meanwhile, as high school seniors plan for their graduation ceremonies, a new round of "blame the victim" seems to be in vogue. In this case it is the vulnerable teaching profession that seems to be under siege.
Earlier this year Arne Duncan and Barack Obama publicly affirmed the decision of a Rhode Island school district to fire every teacher at a failing public high school. Do we really think every teacher at that high school deserved to be fired? Subsequent negotiations between the district and the school board have led to the rehiring of many of those teachers, but under enforced new work rules. This spring the governor of New Jersey, angry at the pace of negotiations with teachers' unions, publicly urged citizens to vote down their school levies knowing full well what kind of devastating impact that would have on public school classrooms in his state. This Sunday The Cleveland Plain Dealer published a front page report on teachers in the Cleveland Public Schools that, at least to me, seemed designed to paint teachers in the worst possible light as overpaid, underworked, intransigent about reform, and not overly competent.
What's going on here? No one can deny that there is a desperate financial crisis hitting our schools this year. The inadequacy of a school funding system that relies heavily on property taxes privileges suburban school districts at the expense of rural and urban districts. Year by year its flaws grow more apparent, yet year by year we steadfastly refuse to reform it. State budgets are in freefall in an environment where few are willing to consider any rise in income taxes to maintain even the most essential public services. No can deny that there are some mediocre teachers protected by employment rules that need reform. But there are also plenty of mediocre doctors, lawyers, and clergy around; no one hears them pilloried as a class in quite the same way teachers are being viewed today. The fascination with testing, ushered in by the "No Child Left Behind" law, has made it easy to point fingers at failing schools and their teachers, as if the only solution to our education crisis was to throw the bums out and start over again. But how would you like to have to prepare third graders in a class of thirty-five or more for math and science tests, when many of those students move in and out of your classroom due to the instability of their homes and when support from parents can never be assumed?
What's going on here? Certainly union busting is part of what's going on. Public officials see a rare opportunity to diminish the power of teachers' unions in this climate and are doing what they can to discredit organizations that have done much to ensure that teachers are rewarded and protected at a level commensurate with other professions. People are angry and frustrated with a broken public school system that vouchers, charter schools, and testing haven't repaired. Having run out of the easier fixes, the public is looking for the next easy and painless fix – blame the teachers. The balkanization of our public school system and the economic segregation of our communities ensures that districts with the biggest challenges have the fewest resources. And let's be honest, for most people passionate interest in public schools begins when the first child enters kindergarten and ends when the last child graduates from high school. How many of us know much of anything about what's going on in our public schools when we don't have our own children or grandchildren attending them?
When you travel across the country through numerous county seat towns and cities, it's easy to see what was important to those who established those communities. They built – at great personal sacrifice – churches, schools, libraries, and court houses, public institutions that provided for the general welfare of their communities rather than simply the private mercantile interests if its citizens. Usually these buildings were architecturally grand, dominating the landscape, announcing to all that the spiritual, intellectual, and moral enrichment of the public was a central priority. What do we build today? Sports arenas. In the New York area alone the last five years have seen the building of two new baseball stadiums, a football stadium, and a basketball arena, all built around lavish accommodations for those privileged few who can buy luxury boxes.
The city I've lived in for the last 18 years has as its community slogan, "A city is known by the schools it keeps." If that's true, then our nation increasingly should be embarrassed. Many of our public schools are a mess, and until we all take a good look at ourselves in the mirror, blaming the teachers will not only be unfair, it will only make matters worse. How many of our best and brightest young people, watching the jobs in education dry up and the public perception of the profession under assault, will be eager to devote their lives to the public schools?
Here in Chicago there are many trying to ring the warning bells about the plight of our schools and our teachers. Sadly, for many those warning bells, like school bells, don't seem to be very compelling or urgent. Here there seems to be more attentiveness to the horns at the United Center signaling another goal in the Black Hawks' run for a Stanley Cup. When Jesus took a child in his lap, he demonstrated a central vocation of the church. Today that vocation means many things, but at the center ought to be our shared commitment to public schools and to those who teach in them.
John H. Thomas
{jcomments lock}


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World needs to limit making of nuclear fuel - UN watchdog chief
VIENNA (AFP) Jan 05, 2005
The world cannot continue allowing countries to develop the ability to make nuclear fuel that can be used to make atomic bombs, UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei told AFP Wednesday.
"We just cannot continue business as usual that every country can build its own factories for separating plutonium or enriching uranium.
"Then we are really talking about 30, 40 countries sitting on the fence with a nuclear weapons capability that could be converted into a nuclear weapon in a matter of months," ElBaradei said.
He said the international regime mandated by the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is facing a "major challenge" as countries like Iran acquire nuclear fuel cycle capabilities in what are ostensibly peaceful, power-generating programs.
The problem is that the same technology used to make fuel for nuclear reactors can also be used to manufacture the explosive material for atomic bombs.
This leaves countries free to pull out of the NPT and develop weapons, as North Korea has apparently done.
ElBaradei said that "nuclear weapons are still looked at as a weapon of choice" which countries want to obtain in order to have international clout and to protect themselves in their regions.
ElBaradei said "we just need to take the bull by the horns and address these issues," noting that he would bring this up at an NPT review conference to be held in New York in May.
The UN atomic watchdog chief said: "We need to make sure that we create a global security system that does not depend on nuclear weapons. We need to make sure that the technology is contained, controlled much better than we have it now."
ElBaradei said his International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must have "the required authority to be able to detect early on any efforts for proliferation" by making the additional protocol to the NPT that allows for tougher inspections the "standard for verification."
But even this was not perfect.
"I would like to show our strengths but also our limitations. I do not like to mislead people into believing that we are the ones who can do it all," he said, pointing out that the IAEA's mandate is to make sure that nuclear materials are not being diverted to make weapons.
"If a country is doing computer studies on simulation for a nuclear test and if I am not able to discover that, don't come to me and say you have failed, because my mandate is very much linked to nuclear materials.
"While I can show a program through nuclear materials, I cannot stop countries from doing preparatory work independent of nuclear materials," ElBaradei said.
He said he was building on lessons learned in verifying nuclear programs in Iraq, North Korea, Iran and Libya.
One lesson was that security issues must be addressed, as is happening with six-party talks with North Korea and with the EU's efforts to get Iran to permanently abandon uranium fuel enrichment.
"In addition to fixing loopholes in the non-proliferation system, you need to address the security concerns (of countries) which continue to be the driver behind the effort to develop nuclear weapons," ElBaradei said.
"There is a need for a structural adjustment to the system. I don't think you can just think around the edges."
He said he would propose a moratorium on countries developing the nuclear fuel cycle in return for their getting guarantees of delivery of nuclear fuel for peaceful production of electricity.
This moratorium would be for "five years until we develop a better system," ElBaradei said.All rights reserved. © 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.


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Beta male rap's negative influence on our youth
The other day, I was watching this video of this guy body slamming this girl, and I got to thinking, how are there so many kids in one place, and it's not a school or anything?
Perhaps you've seen this video. Sandra Rose posted it the other day with the hilarious title, "Hip-hop's negative influence on our youth," or something to that effect. As if kids these days know shit about rap music. I remember seeing it when it was posted to World Star, but I didn't bother checking it out at the time. For a while there, I was checking out every video they'd post of people fighting, especially if it was a guy beating up a girl, but there's just so many of them. Now I only bother if I hear something's especially entertaining.
The body slam clip was pretty rich, as far as these things go. As it begins, this guy and this girl are fighting, and the guy body slams the girl. Then she gets up chases him down, starts swining on him again, then he body slams her again, but even harder, on some ol' WWE shit.
I'm sure some will argue that the guy was a pussy for fighting a girl in the first place, but it isn't my intention to have that debate here. You guys know I don't condone beating up on women, even if it's warranted morally. But the fight in this clip was different from a guy just up and putting his shoe on a woman. At various points in the video, the girl had ample opportunity to take off running, but she didn't, because she was too proud. Like that woman who didn't want to get out of her car when the cop told her to (because that would constitute taking orders) and ended up getting tased. I'm not saying she deserved to get body slammed. I'm just saying.
Anyway, I was more concerned about the sheer number of kids standing around in this parking lot. You hear more and more stories these days about huge groups of black kids walking around in malls, up and down sidewalks, on subway platforms and what have you, and this seems to me like a new development, like tight pants, faux hawks and the like. It'd be hard for me to say, having grown up in the sticks, where there just plain weren't very many people around, but didn't kids used to hang out by themselves?
I remember a few years ago I read this story about how 15 or 20 kids in this apartment complex gang raped this woman, and I figured it may have been a matter of group sex gone wrong. I said as much in a post on this site, and there ended up being this whole big thing. At the time, I didn't realize huge groups of black dudes were going around doing shit together, let alone raping broads. I thought that was some shit you did by yourself.
Fast forward a few years. I'm walking down the street trying to get myself a burrito, and I ended up having to cede the center of the sidewalk to a group of young toughs. I could have taken any one or maybe even two of them, even in my old age, but there were like eight of them. Fags. It ended up being the first in a series of incidents, including the well-publicized robbery of some cracka-ass crackas on the way back from the airport, and a shooting. I did several posts on it on my own site, and there was a big story on it in the Riverfront Times.
This was only last summer, so I wouldn't be surprised if this summer is even worse – even though we've got a black president now, and I know there was some talk of black people stepping their game up. But you saw what happened at Popeyes, and then KFC. In fact, I wonder if these fried chicken riots aren't a plot by the TIs to make black people look bad. If you notice, they happened right as Obama reached his 100th day in office. Same with swine flu. Hmm…


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In his essay, "The Question Concerning Technology," Martin Heidegger says that the primary question concerning technology is the question of "what it is." Many answers have been given to this question and there is not a definitive answer to the question. There is, however, agreement about many aspects of what technology is. The rest of this essay is going to explore various answers to the question.
A Definition (or Two) of Technology
One definition of modern technology given by the authors of Responsible Technology is
"a distinct human cultural activity in which human beings exercise freedom and responsibility in response to God by forming and transforming the natural creation, with the aid of tools and procedures, for practical ends and purposes."
Carl Mitcham's theory of technology includes four parts or, rather, four ways to view technology.
- Technological objects (e.g., automobiles, hammers, computers, pencils, plastic bags, medication, chain saws, etc.)
- Technological activities that produce these objects (e.g., designing, inventing, manufacturing, etc.)
- Technological knowledge required to perform these activities (e.g., techniques, theories, rules of thumb, etc.)
- Technological volition (the human desire to create these objects)
Under his view, a human with both the requisite technological knowledge and the will or desire can perform the technological activities required to produce technological artifacts.
While there may not be a clear distinction between technology and non-technology, the first definition is useful for giving us guidelines to help identify what technology is. The second definition is useful for helping us think about technology in different ways. Both definitions shows technology to be multifaceted. The first definition sees technology primarily as an activity (Mitcham '


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Devoted fans came from around the world to pay their respects to the "fabulous" Marc Bolan who died in a car crash 36 years ago today.
More than 100 people wore T-Rex memorabilia with pride and rocked their curly locks as they gathered at Golders Green Crematorium in Hoop Lane where the singer and glam rock innovator was cremated.
Marc Bolan, who was born Mark Feld, died in Barnes in 1977 when he was 29-years-old but every year his loyal fans have continued to turn up to the crematorium on the day of his death.
Among today's crowd were Marc Bolan's cousin Caroline Feld, 67, and his first ever girlfriend, Janice Harpin, 67.
Mrs Feld, who lives in East Barnet, said: "Marc and I used to play where I lived in Stamford Hill and we'd have singing and dancing shows. We were like brother and sister.
"He was a lovely boy. He was gentle and always wanted his memory to carry on forever."
Reminiscing about the three years she dated Marc Bolan, Ms Harpin told the Times Series: "I was 13-years-old and he was my first love. We were inseparable.
"He was really full of himself and always knew he was going to get somewhere. He always had his guitar with him and would be strumming.
"He was always up with the latest fashion and he was very conscious about what he wore.
"We had so many great times. It's lovely to come here today because you can look back at all those good memories."
People from as far as Australia, Germany, Sweden and Spain came to take part in the annual event.
Manfred Deppe, 51, has been making the trek from Germany to England every September for the past 22 years.
He said: "It's a very important day for me every year. It's very emotional – I feel like I have to be here alongside the other fans so we can commemorate Marc Bolan together.
"I've been a fan since 1972 when my older brother first liked T-Rex. I was very sad to hear when he died in 1977 but over the years I have continued to be a big fan."
Everyone gathered inside the crematorium for a special service, during which fans were encouraged to share their memories of the pop legend.
Dozens of people who could not attend the event also shared their commemorations on Twitter via @MarcBolan1977
Billy Idol was among them, tweeting: "Marc, thank you for helping the generation with your incredible love for music across the world."
The memorial is organised by 56-year-old Barry Smith who is part of the official Marc Bolan fan club.
Mr Smith, who lives in Cheltenham, said: "Marc was one of the only pop stars who had a link with people. When he died people felt a real loss like it was a family member.
"When I was 13 I saved up my pocket money to buy his records. If you were feeling sad you could put his record on and he would make you feel happy and if you were feeling happy it would make you feel even happier. He had a real zest for life.
"Today is all about remembering his death and commemorating his life."


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The Seattle Mariners, depending on which report you read, have either signed ace pitcher Felix Hernandez to a record-setting $175 million dollar contract or they're about to. They had to. Given this news, and that I really want to publish something longer form on New Newsvine, I figured I'd republish this piece, originally titled 'Quotes From A Perfect Game' and published August 15, 2012, the night of Felix's perfect game - which I was lucky enough to see live with my father and friends.
Quotes From A Perfect Game
Not verbatim, not credited, I may add footnotes. I just want to remember this as I experienced it. The most surreal sports experience of my life and likely the best. All comments are quotes until the next asterisk break, whether blockquoted or not. Wanted to break it up a little visually.
12:40 start time? I thought it was 1:10.
What a day for a game. I didn't even know Felix was starting.
"Do you want a scorecard?"
"Nah, game's started, I don't like doing it unless I can watch the whole game."
Let's enter through the Team Store, I need a hat.
"Is this acceptable?"
"No, that hat is terrible, I'm not going to be a party to that."
"Oh! There are adjustable ones over here."
He is dealing. [repeated]
Thames is ripped, it's weird seeing a muscly baseball player. It's McGwiresque.
Excuse me sir, where did you get those nachos?
He's got his curve today. Everything's working. Be nice to have some more runs though, Justin.
"How are those nachos?"
"This is some of the most garbage meat I've ever eaten. Just...pig ankles. But it's a gorgeous day and Felix has a lead."
The King's Court is the smartest thing the Mariners have ever done. I really want to go one of these days.
Um, oh. I have, uh, noticed a statistical oddity. An, uh, extremely rare statistical oddity.
"What just happened?"
"Seager couldn't get a ball and Boog- Brendan Ryan was in the hole waiting for it."
They really look like they're having fun out there, talking to each other more. Relaxed.
The Kaaaaaang!
"Oh, he doesn't have any walks eith-"
"Yeah. Yes. Yes, that is true."
Just strike him out, don't even let him touch it.
Ball 2. I'm gonna throw up.
[untranscribable screams]
You know they made that graphic in the 6th. They didn't have that graphic queued up. [joyous cackling]
"Wait, make sure we all have our tickets."
"Yeah, I'm going straight to Goodwill and getting the most ornate ticket frame they have."
FE-LIX! FE-LIX! FE-LIX! FE-LIX! [repeated]
Whoa, I was wrong, this is only the 23rd ever. We're probably 4 of 300,000 people who've ever seen one.
Oh my god. Oh my god!
To make a few things clear from a rather opaque exercise - yes, I do that dumb superstitious thing where you don't mention a no-hitter is happening while it's happening. Not ashamed. I didn't do a scorecard for the first time in a long time, I didn't really sit down until the bottom of the third after getting beers and criminally awful nachos, and I didn't realize I was watching a perfect game until the top of the 6th - when Felix just went into God Mode. If you're lucky enough to see a perfect game, you're lucky enough. I coulda been Jerry Brewer.
Here's a fair generalization about Seattle fans: We rarely love unconditionally, at least in fandom 2.0. I can count the bulletproof Seattle sports heroes on one hand: Largent, Walter Jones, Gary Payton, Edgar Martinez. That's it. [Excluding Storm and Sounders due to recency, even though those are Real Sports, dammit.]
Part of it is that each fanbase has a really critical segment amplified by the internet: dummies excoriated Shawn Kemp and Shaun Alexander, and there are fools calling Fredy Montero lazy right now.
This is the deeper reason why: we never win s---, and we're very paranoid because we've seen player after player leave for greener pastures - or be traded before realizing their full potential with some other squad. The Seattle Times has run a blurb called 'ex-Mariner of the Week' in Larry Stone's column for at least 13 years.
That ain't normal. But it's part of our collective psyche and it's the most profound for Mariners fans. If you grew up with a Randy Johnson poster...and then loved Griffey in 1996...and never thought A-Rod would leave...that would make anyone slow to love, right?
But everybody loves Felix. Everybody. Never heard a bad word about him - the worst is frustration when he was still working it out as a prodigy, but it's the frustration you have with a teenager you're raising, not yelling at a knucklehead acquaintance. Any criticism was always tempered with love - and a deep, deep fear of losing him.
Lookout Landing's subhead has been 'Felix is ours and you can't have him' for a long time now. Felix represents the good part - sometimes, seemingly, the only good part - of rooting for The Team That Doesn't Get Invited To Prom. Which is why it's so wonderful he is who he is: a guy who loves competing, talks smack, likes Seattle, developed a hilarious alter ego, hits Yankees. The ace that New York wishes they could buy. The superstar you don't have to squint to envision liking you back.
I can gush about Felix like New York media about Jeter. [I won't. It'd be embarrassing.] And I'm not a sentimental sap, usually, but here's what he said today on the field:
"I've been working so hard to throw one and there it is - for you guys."
And reportedly, what he said to ESPN:
Steve Berthiaume: What do you say to fans around baseball who say they need to trade you?
Felix Hernandez: Why? Why do they need to trade me? … We gonna be better, man."
No better quote than that. Stay forever, Felix. I'm fortunate enough to live a pretty charmed life in many aspects - but there haven't been many good days to be an M's fan. Today was a perfect day.
We are Felix's, and you aren't us.


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Russia accused regime of favouring AWB
RUSSIA accused Saddam Hussein's government of favouring Australia above other countries when it came to wheat exports, documents in the oil-for-food inquiry reveal.
Joining the United States and Canada in criticising AWB's close relationship to the former Iraqi dictator's regime, Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev accused Iraqi officials in 2002 of "showing favouritism towards Australia".
Mr Gordeyev's accusation is revealed in an AWB report of a meeting two AWB managers had with former Iraqi trade minister and six of hearts in the US pack of playing cards of most wanted Iraqis Mohammed Mehdi Saleh in June 2002.
AWB manager Dominic Hogan wrote that he and AWB sales chief Michael Long were told by an Iraqi official at the meeting that Mr Saleh had recently written to his Russian counterpart to defend "our trade relationship".
Russia, like the US and Canada, was competing with AWB to supply Iraq with wheat under the United Nations' oil-for-food program, which ended in 2003 when Saddam was deposed by US-led forces.
In 2000, Canada complained to the UN about AWB's wheat deals with Iraq. In 2003, US wheat farmers urged the Bush Administration to investigate AWB's wheat contracts in Iraq, claiming the company had paid kickbacks to Saddam's regime.
Several Howard Government ministers this week said they ignored the complaints and accusations from other countries, believing them to be nothing more than attempts by AWB's competitors to undermine Australian wheat exports.
According to Mr Hogan's report of the June 2002 meeting with Mr Saleh, now believed to be held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Australia's support for US military action put AWB's wheat contracts in jeopardy.
"Whilst he (Mr Saleh) was defending our trade relationship (in response to Russia's claims), the Australian PM was standing up making speeches against Iraq," Mr Hogan wrote. "The Australian Government should take the view of having a 'privileged' trading relationship with Iraq."
Mr Hogan's report suggested he would brief the Australian embassy in Jordan on the outcome of the meeting with Mr Saleh and the threat to wheat exports.
He wrote that two other senior AWB managers were to debrief the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra and that AWB chief executive Andrew Lindberg was to write to Prime Minister John Howard to detail the consequences of his Government's recent statements on Iraq.
"If a positive response is forthcoming then this will suffice towards rebuilding the trade with Iraq," Mr Hogan wrote.
"If negative (Australian Government is not going to provide retraction) then we need to seriously consider the political angle we need to take to ensure we continue sales to Iraq."
Two months after Mr Hogan's 2002 report, senior AWB managers met Mr Saleh in Baghdad and agreed to pay $2 million to the Iraqi regime to secure wheat exports.
The money was paid by inflating the price of wheat contracts administered by the UN, according to evidence before the inquiry.
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HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) leads to develop AIDS. This virus attacks on the CD4 cells that are known to be the soldier cells in human body. These cells protect human body from the invaders like the infections caused by the viruses. The virus weakens the immune system and hides itself in CD4 cells. It replicates itself and eventually overcomes the CD4 cells and immune system succumbs to develop AIDS. There are various HIV tests available for detecting the existence of HIV in human body. However, HIV tests cost differs from test to test.
Various tests and their cost are given below:
Rapid HIV tests
A rapid HIV test is a screening test that offers very quick results, normally in five to thirty minutes. Single Use Diagnostic System is the rapid test that is approved by FDA in USA.
What is the cost of a rapid HIV test? Does the rapid HIV test cost more than the EIA?
The prices of the test are different in various parts of the country. Single Use Diagnostic System (SUDS) test kit normally costs $6to $10. The individual kit of rapid test is more expensive than the EIA test. Nevertheless an EIA needs expensive equipments and rapid HIV tests do not. However extra costs like laboratory or the laboratory technician's time for carrying out the tests should be taken into consideration. Rapid HIV tests are easier to execute and needs fewer specialized skills than does an EIA. However EIA tests do not produce immediate results. A person has to revisit for the results to learn about their results. CDC showed that rapid tests are cost-effective than the EIA based process.
Hospital cost for HIV tests
A screening test for HIV antibodies might cost $12 at some hospitals in Illinois hospital. In other hospitals it may cost $81. The confirmatory test that are sophisticated and use ids, the initial tests' results are positive and may cost from $24 to $167.
Cost of Home test kit for HIV test
HIV test kit that is approved by FDA (Food and Drug administration) generally costs between $45 and $60. You can easily use these kits at home. You just have to collect the sample of blood and have to send it to laboratory and talk to the counselor for the results. Some of the tests cost only $3 to $5, but the amount does not contain the other charges of the doctors. Rapid tests cost between $20 and $50.
STD test cost
Those who are covered by health insurance, sometime tests are done at no charges to the patient. If it is not possible then tests cost of $10 to $30 per test. Those who are not covered with health insurance, STD tests costs $50 to $200 each, depending on tests. Patients who do not want to visit the doctor for testing may not want testing and the results as the part of their medical record; For these people the private STD tests are available. But the private STD tests do not accept health insurance. They offer testing for almost $50 to $150, depending on the test. They also offer packages of the tests involving HIV, about $300 to $400.
There are various HIV tests available in the market. HIV tests cost differs from test to test.


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Contact Us
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From Toronto: Take the 400 Hwy north to Hwy 11. Follow 11 to the Hwy 118 turnoff; turn right onto Hwy 118 east towards Vankoughnet; travel on Hwy 118 east for 22 kilometers to Oakley Crescent. Turn left onto Oakley Crescent, then turn left again onto Caribou Road, and follow it towards the lake. Caribou Lodge is at the end of the road on your right.
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On June 4th, Air China flight CA4307 had a mid-air collision with a foreign object that left a significant dent in the plane's nose. After the pilots reported performance problems, the plane returned to Guangzhou, where the flight had originated. The damage shown indicates a glancing blow with a lightweight object, and Chinese authorities identified it as a probable bird strike. However, there is no known bird that can fly at 26,000 feet. The highest flying species is the Bar-headed goose, which can cross the Himalayas at an average altitude of 18,000 feet. They have been observed as high as 21,000 feet when over the Himalayas, but not over China. They fly at much lower altitudes over the lowlands, and Guangzhou is in the plain of central China north of Hong Kong and over a thousand miles from Tibet. The region is not on the typical migration pattern of the Bar-headed goose.
That should be easy to figure out in terms of birds. It should have been much messier than this! There should also be some traces of DNA on there as well.
I would say this is a true unknown, and the Chinese should be saying it too.
Looks like they clipped one of those silver spheres that are everywhere. A bird would definitely splatter.


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January 21 2005
Can't afford the Wonderfalls DVD? Herc at "Ain't it Cool" is having a contest to give away 5 copies!
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The predictable Peeples stays blandly inoffensive
Starring Craig Robinson and Kerry Washington. Rated PG.
The Peeples are an upper-crust African-American family who vacation at a luxurious beach house in the Hamptons. How upper-crust? Let's just say they make the cast of the old Cosby Show look like underachievers. The patriarch (David Alan Grier) is a controlling judge who dotes on his youngest daughter, Grace (Kerry Washington). Family life is turned upside down when Grace's live-in boyfriend, Wade (Craig Robinson), decides to upset their comfortable routine.
Wade is a portly children's entertainer whose latest song is a cautionary tale about peeing in your pants ("Speak it [Don't Leak it!]" ). Grace is a successful lawyer who's afraid that her boyfriend won't measure up to her father's impossibly high standards. A frustrated Wade—who refers to her family as "the chocolate Kennedys"—is desperate to propose marriage. So when Grace keeps putting off an introduction, he crashes the yearly reunion.
He discovers that his girlfriend's family is being less than honest with each other. Daddy is a closet nudist. Mom (S. Epatha Merkerson) is concealing a taste for magic mushrooms. Grace's gay sister (Kali Hawk) refuses to come out to the family. And their little brother (Tyler James Williams) steals things.
Produced by Tyler Perry, what ultimately emerges manages to be both predictable and blandly inoffensive. Along with the veteran cast, writer-director Tina Gordon Chism works hard to set us up for laughs, but it feels as if someone took three episodes of a second-rate sitcom and stitched them together to try and make a workable movie.
The plot chugs along at a tepid pace, prompting a half-smile now and then. Things get increasingly frantic, but this just adds a sense of genuine strain to the proceedings. Beyond forgettable, Peeples is one of those movies that seems content to automatically erase itself as you watch. By the time you're done, it's like you haven't seen anything at all.


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By Seth Muller
Carrboro Commons Staff Writer
Nic Beery, the co-founder of the Carrboro Film Festival, bounced around energetically on Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Carrboro Century Center. He was in charge of managing the largest short film festival in the South and he did it with ease; everything from managing the movie screen, to checking on concessions, to laughing with festival goers. The seventh annual Carrboro Film Festival lasted from 1 to 7 p.m. and hosted 33 short films ranging from student documentaries to animations to music videos to horror movies.
Jackie Helvey and Nic Beery established the film festival in 2006 with support from the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department. Joy Preslar, a Carrboro Film Festival Committee member, recounts how the festival came about.
"Jackie and Nic were the force behind this," she said. "Since Nic had the capacity to edit and Jackie had the capacity to reach a lot of people, it was like stone soup. We all had our different talents."
Preslar said there are no eligibility requirements to submit a film to the festival except that the director must have lived, worked or been otherwise connected to Carrboro at some time in his or her life.
Beery said he appreciates that the film festival is so closely tied to the town, but he also wants to see the festival expand.
"We want to keep it Carrboro-connected, but we want 70 percent to be Carrboro-connected and then the other 30 percent to be directors like Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard," said Beery.
He said there were over 100 films submitted, and around half of them were from Carrboro residents.
Preslar said the films are chosen based on their quality and not on the reputation of the director. It gives local artists a chance to express themselves, he said.
As a local filmmaker, Beery said he appreciates the chance for Carrboro residents to showcase their work.
"I love that the filmmakers get to have a full house to watch their films on a high definition screen with great sound. There is nothing better than your film shown to a full house," said Beery.
The Carrboro Film Festival had a full house on Sunday, and Beery was very excited by the turnout.
"You're taking a chance when you go to a film festival," he said. "And what distinguishes us is that our audience has come to expect quality films from us. We are the largest short film festival in the South, and the reason for that is that people find it warm, inviting and family-friendly. It's a roller coaster. You watch a doc and then a music video and then a comedy, and then we do it all over again. We really take the time to make sure we have the best image quality and production. We put on a good show so that everyone has a good time."
The Carrboro Film Festival Committee is discussing expanding the event to a two-day festival. Beery would also like to see it expand to other venues around Carrboro in the same way the Carrboro Music Festival is dispersed throughout the community. He said he would like to see the festival spread to The ArtsCenter and the Hampton Inn.


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This photo from The Hollywood Reporter gets the top spot because of the women in the photo and also because Helen Hunt looks so damn good in it. So does Sally Field.
Demi Moore one year after the split with Ashton Kutcher.
Eva Longoria with her friends and photographer in Mexico.
Jamie Bell and Evan Rachel Wood going shopping.
Hugh Grant gets first hand breast feeding lessons.
Justin Bieber looking ridiculous and
Selena Gomez looking even more ridiculous for going out with him again.
Hello Jennifer Lawrence.
Speaking of Jennifers, Jennifer Lopez is now in Istanbul.


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 5/10/2012 (1751 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Families, truckers and farmers will now benefit from safer roads and improved traffic flow along a section of Highway 10 as a result of upgrades funded by two levels of government.
Today, Premier Greg Selinger, and the Hon. Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport), celebrated the completion of major upgrades on the highway just north of Brandon to the rivers exit.
"Manitoba families, businesses and agricultural producers count on our roads and highways to get around and to do business. That's why we've worked to improve Highway 10, to keep traffic flowing smoothly and safely," Selinger said. "It's a priority for Manitobans and it's a part of our commitment to keep improving roads across the province."
"Our government is proud to invest in Highway 10, benefiting families, truckers and farmers using this essential commercial route between the Trans-Canada and Highway 25," Fletcher said. "Our investment has improved traffic flow, enhanced safety and created quality jobs for Manitobans. We will continue to focus on supporting job creation and economic growth in Manitoba."
The work on Highway 10, covering a distance over 15 kilometres, included construction of northbound and southbound passing lanes and repaving the entire roadway.
There were also safety improvements including:
• Enhancements at the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway for safer merging.
• Intersection upgrades at the junction of PTH 10 and PTH 25.
• Three new service roads at various locations, improving overall access to the highway.
• New paved shoulders.
• Guardrails installed at four locations.
• Rumble strips placed along the paved shoulders.
The project used a new greener process during the paving stage. The old pavement was recycled into the new pavement on site, in a single operation. This reduced the amount of material required for the new pavement and lowered the cost of producing and hauling materials.
This year's work started in July and was completed on time. The $15-million project was cost shared between the governments of Canada and Manitoba, with the federal government contributing $3.8 million and the province contributing $11.2 million.
Federal funding comes from the Canada's Gateways and Border Crossings Fund, a $2.1-billion fund that supports projects that improve the flow of goods, trade and support economic growth.
» Submitted


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Published: September 2, 2013 - 10:56 PM | Updated: September 3, 2013 - 05:16 PM
CLEVELAND: Whatever was going on at Progressive Field on Monday didn't feel quite like the real thing.
Justin Masterson pitched one inning, threw 25 pitches, and was followed by seven relievers, as the Baltimore Orioles registered a 7-2 decision in the first exhibition game of spring training.
Except this isn't spring; the training wheels came off long ago, and the game counted.
The Tribe can ill afford to lose many to teams it is competing against to win the second wild card, but that's not the only thing that went wrong, maybe not even the worst thing.
Masterson left the game after giving up a single to the first batter in the second inning, because he was experiencing soreness in his left rib cage.
Asked how he hurt himself, Masterson said, ''That's a really good question. I don't know how I did it. I had just touch of soreness. I got a little heat on it between innings, but it must have tightened up when I went out for the second.''
Masterson got through the first, giving up only a walk. But after a throwing his second pitch to Matt Wieters in the second, manager Terry Francona and head trainer Lonnie Soloff trotted to the mound to check on Masterson, who remained in the game until Wieters singled to left.
Francona returned to the mound, this time to accompany Masterson to the dugout.
''I threw a pitch that Carlos [Santana] didn't like, so I was done,'' Masterson said, trying to make light of the situation. ''When they came out there, I wasn't getting through my pitches.''
Francona said more information would be forthcoming after Masterson undergoes more tests.
''It's a musculature thing,'' the manager said. ''He'll get it scanned. We'll know more [today]. I think he felt it near the end of the first on a couple of pitches to [Chris] Davis, so we kept our eye on him.
''Guys like to pitch, they like to play, but we needed to get him out of there. We didn't like what we saw. They [his pitches] weren't coming out [of his hand] very good.''
Masterson didn't think the injury was serious.
''In my mind, with the pitchers we have here, if I get a couple of extra days,'' he said, indicating that his next start might have to be delayed but not missed. ''Earlier in the year, I had some soreness leading up to a game, which is why I wasn't real scared.''
Why did Francona use so many relievers? Because he could.
By the time tonight's game begins, the Indians' inventory of relief pitchers will have mounted to 14. Vinnie Pestano, C.C. Lee and Carlos Carrasco are expected to report today, so Francona had 11 to work with Monday.
Preston Guilmet, who came to Masterson's rescue, gave up two runs and let in one for Masterson in one inning. Nick Hagadone, next to try his luck, yielded a two-run homer to Nate McLouth, who already had an RBI double off Guilmet.
Bryan Shaw, Blake Wood, Clay Rapada and Matt Albers combined to throw four scoreless innings, giving up four hits.
But Marc Rzepczynski gave up a two-run homer to Wieters, his fourth hit of the game, to snap a 12⅓-inning scoreless streak he had compiled since coming to the Tribe in a trade from the Cardinals July 30.
Wood walked two but got the side out without giving up a run. Moreover, he was throwing fastballs in the upper 90s, which should resolve any lingering doubts about his health.
The Indians continued to treat opposing pitchers like they would their grandmothers. That is, Tribe batsmen went out of their way not to create any stress for Orioles starter Bud Norris and his successors on the mound, so as not to cause a jump in their blood pressure.
Asked what Norris did that so baffled his teammates, Jason Kipnis jokingly said, ''He had a scheduled start against our lineup.''
Both he and Francona said that the key to Norris' success was managing the strike zone.
''He threw strikes and located pretty well,'' Kipnis said. ''He also kept the ball down. He's catching us not at a good time. But it's time to snap out of it. And we can't expect to put the weight on [one hitter's] shoulders. It's a team thing.''
There were a few exceptions to the offensive malaise. Michael Brantley had three of the Indians' six hits, including a double. Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall each homered with nobody on base to keep the game within reach until Wieters' two-run bomb in the ninth.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at email@example.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SheldonOckerABJ and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.


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Episode : Failure Is Your Friend. Stephen Dubner argues, is that we tend to equate quitting with failure, and there's a huge stigma attached to failure. But … should there be? In their new book Think Like a Freak, Dubner and Steven Levitt argue that perhaps we're not thinking clearly about failure. Failure, they say, can be your friend. http://goo.gl/rFkrsP #Podcasts #FullPodcastAvailable
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Between this year and last, I've read several comments that — for all intents and purposes — read something like, "Go back to the old way," or "this blog used to…" In the year and a half on this beat, I've tried pondering what it was that made this blog so boisterous and/or what has caused some dismay among readers.
So, I'm asking — what is it that has changed?
What other blogs do: I've tried reading old blog posts here — two-, three-, four-year old posts — to see what former writers (Josh, Jake, Rob, Yaron) did that had comments flowing and what I can only imagine was higher traffic. I've even studied the Varsity Insider blog to see what they do that I could be doing differently. To be honest, I really don't see that much of a difference. The schedule is posted every day, the results are posted every night (or early morning next day), all game stories are posted as soon as possible; so I don't think it's a lack of material. I'll add "Player of the Week" honors next year, or I'll at least tell my successor to add it to the mix.
Change in format: What I've thought is that, with cutbacks, not having weekly notebooks and switching from roundups on each game to a mini game story and "Best of the rest" section has some readers feeling robbed of coverage, since there's less of it, in that regard.
I feel there is still adequate coverage of nightly results. I like the game-story template we use because it allows us to pick a game and really talk about what happened it in, rather than just post a list of scores. Wouldn't you want to know that (and I'm just using a previous game as an example) Kennedy donated $450 to the Pauline Ricci Scholarship Game against Ossining? Wouldn't you want to know that Maria Regina coach Mike Kiers officiated during his two years off from coaching? Wouldn't you want to know that Ardsley eighth grader Danielle Scaperrotta was called up three games ago and is shining on varsity? I would. Those are details that wouldn't be in a roundup.
So, for the most part, we write about one player instead of two or three each game; if the third-highest scorer had, I don't know, seven points, is it awful that they were not included? If we get a game with two players who scored, say, 21 and 20 points, we try to put them both in. If we have the box score, the seven-point scorer will still be recognized there. I understand everyone wants everyone in — so do we. I was a high school athlete too, so I know what it's like to see your name in print, even if it's for the smallest achievement (or if it's spelled wrong); but our space is our space. Please don't take it as a sign of us trying to punish the players or deprive you of information.
Comments: I'm sure this is where many turned off — the moderation of comments. One of the biggest complaints I hear (or read) is anything along the lines of, "this blog used to get 10-20 comments a post, now it gets one or two," etc. Active chatter in the comments section is terrific, especially debate. But when it crosses the line from debate to an attack, something must be done. As I said in the post when we turned moderation off, this is a blog about girls basketball — predominately high school girls basketball, meaning we are talking about players ranging from 13- to 18-years-old. There's no reason for some of the malicious things said about players and/or coaches on here. Ossining coach Dan Ricci has been bashed repeatedly on here, yet, every encounter I've had with him has been nothing but pleasant. He's never denied me of an interview, he's never cut an interview short, he's never denied access to players, etc. Most, if not all coaches are like that. I don't understand the animosity some people have towards coaches. So, if now we get less comments, but they are constructive observations rather than bashing coaches and players, I'll take it.
New blog: I don't think me or Phil asked last year, but what do you think of the new blog? I'll admit, for us writing on it, it definitely took some getting used to. From a reading perspective, I really liked the old blog better, but from a coverage standpoint, this new site is far superior. Now you have articles, videos, polls, rankings and Twitter updates all on the home page. Better late than never to ask, but what do you guys think of the new site?
New writer: Every writer has his or her own style. If you couldn't tell from my tweets and posts over the years, I like adding color to my writing. I want you to get a feel for who I am, even if it's through a 140-character tweet or 15-inch game story. I don't want you to just see me as a byline on top of some words. I want to engage with you, so I try to post in the comments section often so you know that I'm here, I'm listening, and I want to make the blog a more enjoyable experience for you all.
Some people have said they absolutely love the coverage, specifically for "making it fun" while reading; others don't like it. That's just the way it is; you can't please everybody. I've had the same style of writing (personality-wise) since I wrote for North Rockland's school paper, The Rambling Raider, Rockland Community College's paper, The Outlook Student Press, Purchase College's publication (we didn't have a print edition), The Brick, and now at The Journal News. I'm not changing how I write. If I add a video to a post on a slow day, link a YouTube clip to words in a post, etc. it's all in good fun.
Quick sidebar: (Hopefully this will help give you a better idea of what I'm talking about.) I love reading Jeff Pearlman's work. Pearlman, a New York Times best-selling author and columnist with Sports Illustrated, is constantly engaging with his followers on Twitter and is, ahem, "colorful" with his writing. If you've read his blog, you know exactly what I mean. He is a well-respected journalist and author, who is a complete goofball; albeit, a very talented, intelligent goofball. He was kind enough to let me sit in on one of his classes at Purchase a few months ago, and within minutes I wished that I had audited the course. He also had ESPN's Jeremy Schaap as a guest, which was, obviously, awesome. Pearlman didn't really teach a whole lot, since Schaap was the guest of honor, but in those few minutes before Schaap took over, I wanted to absorb every second of the class. You don't get the intimidated, "This-is-the-guy-who-wrote-the-John-Rocker-piece" feeling; he's very approachable and down to Earth. I see a lot of myself in Pearlman in that, you don't need to be boring to be professional (and also that I wear two rubber bands on my wrist; maxed out at like six a few years ago). Jeff is far from reserved, as far as writing goes, and I dare anyone to say he is not professional. Having a personality in writing is good, in my opinion.
"Good coverage": People have their different meanings on what exactly "good coverage" is. If schedules are up, results are up, I'm making a valiant effort to get to as many games with as many different teams as possible, I'm getting the other updates (breaking news, etc.) and the content I'm writing is satisfactory, then I feel the coverage is good. More importantly, if the coaches and players are happy with the coverage, I consider it good coverage. Actually, exceptional coverage.
Hearing fans like the coverage is good; hearing parents like the coverage is very good; hearing coaches like the coverage is great; and hearing/seeing players like the coverage is probably where I max out.
Realistic expectations of coverage: (Note: This was added minutes after I published it because it just popped into my head) While technological advances like Twitter have made sports coverage so incredible, I feel it has also spoiled many of us. The around-the-clock work of Adam Schefter, ESPN, the NFL Network and the hundreds upon thousands of reporters around the world give us up-to-the-second updates on any breaking news, any score updates, any statistical information, any video footage we as sports fans want.
When you go into high school sports coverage, I think some people lose sight of the fact that we are not ESPN. We do not have televised games of every contest on the schedule, we do not have assigned beat reporters for every team in the section, and we do not have live updates from every game — it's impossible. Not having a score included in the slate, or having not seen a certain team through a point in the year does not mean we are not doing our jobs.
Wow, nearly 1,500 words later, this was a lot longer than I intended it to be. Still, I want to hear from you. I always encourage readers to say "Hi" at a game I'm covering (since you'll know where I'll be and what I look like); I love putting a face to the name (or screen-name) and having an actual conversation rather than exchange comments.
I've met some of you so far, and it has been a pleasure. As for the others, if you'll be in the area the next time I'm at a game, feel free to make an introduction. Even if you want to discuss your concerns with the blog and/or ideas for improvement, I'm all ears.
I have some fun ideas planned for the end of the season — contests, and whatnot. Should make for an exciting finish and plenty of blog chatter, hopefully. I've also requested a live chat for next week, so we'll see if that happens. Have a wonderful day, all.