text:
SAN FRANCISCO — Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti smiled and held up his hand as he heard a question that has an answer based partly on good fortune. How have the Giants managed to keep their starting pitchers so healthy, and can they do it again?
"This is going to jinx us," Righetti said.
Righetti, in his 14th year as Giants pitching coach, is well aware of the precedent his five starters are trying to set. A year ago, right-handers Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong and left-handers Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito made 160 of 162 regular season starts, becoming just the ninth quintet in MLB history to each reach the 30-start mark.
None of the previous groups repeated the feat.
"It just isn't done," Cain said. "It's just hard to stay healthy sometimes. You get five guys to try and do that together and little things happen here and there, whether you're running the bases or a guy hits a ball off of you. So many little things can happen during the season to stop a guy from pitching."
Cain knows that from experience, having been hit by a comebacker each of the last two springs. But for all the bumps and bruises, the Giants in recent years largely have avoided the serious injuries that sideline pitchers on a daily basis.
Righetti knows he has been lucky with the current staff, but he won't carry a four-leaf clover in his back pocket during mound visits this year. The Giants lucky charm, Righetti said, is an experienced staff that every day grinds through workouts individually tailored to each pitcher.
For those who believe that sounds simplistic or cliché, the training staff kindly will ask that you look back to June 14 of last year, when Cain was running sprints at 7:30 a.m. the morning after throwing a perfect game. Or July 5, when Bumgarner went through an early workout on a stifling day in Washington, hoping to wash away the previous day's seven-run outing. Or last December, when Vogelsong, who had committed to the World Baseball Classic, started throwing again barely a month removed from the World Series.
"I'm pretty spoiled with this group," strength and conditioning coach Carl Kochan said. "I've got five guys that hold themselves accountable. Sometimes you have guys at this level who have days they don't want to work out, but none of these guys ever deviate from their routine."
That routine is one formulated after the pitchers take physicals each spring. The Giants closely check their pitchers' joints and range of motion, giving Kochan, trainer Dave Groeschner and the rest of the staff a canvas with which to work.
"Whatever a guy is lacking, that's what we're going to attack," Kochan said. "That is his weak link, and I don't want any of my guys to have any weak links."
The routine is rigid in general, but different for each pitcher. The day after a start is spent on heavy conditioning, lower body lifting and core work. The pitchers throw a bullpen session, run sprints and do upper body maintenance on the second day between starts and the third day is spent on short, high-intensity sprints and additional core work. The fourth day is what Kochan jokingly calls the "stealing their meal money day," with starters doing just a few easy sprints as they prepare mentally for the next day's start.
Each starter's program is reconfigured every five starts, personally tailored to that pitcher's style. Cain, who has slimmed down over the years, has taken to running and said he has learned not to keep up with Bumgarner, "the big Bamm-Bamm," in the weight room. Zito spends much of his down time in the clubhouse stretching on a foam roller. The 35-year-old Vogelsong, who had back problems last spring, does more core work than most pitchers. And Lincecum?
"He's good at everything," Kochan said. "That's why they call him the freak."
The results speak for themselves. Cain has missed just one start in his eight years, and it wasn't health-related. "It was because I was really bad," Cain said, smiling.
Lincecum, considered a health risk coming out of college, has made at least 32 starts each of the past five seasons and Zito has hit that mark 11 of the past 12 years.
The healthy run certainly is due to more than diligent workouts. Cain points out that the coaching staff has made a habit of giving starters extra rest with each off day rather than reworking the rotation, and also said the consistently good bullpen keeps starters from worrying too much when they are pulled from games.
That's especially important this year after a long 2012 season that ended with a Halloween parade. The Giants closely watched spring workloads and Righetti said extra attention would be paid to Bumgarner, who already has thrown 5692/3 big league innings at the age of 23 and wore down at the end of last season.
The Giants have little starting pitching depth in the high minors, and while they prepare their big leaguers as well as anyone in baseball, they understand that there's only so much you can do when you're talking about protecting pitchers.
"There's a luck of the draw, so to speak," Righetti said. "Any pitcher that logs a lot of innings is suspect to hurting something. But we've been fortunate over the years."


text:
I recently re-started to practice Anapanasati meditation in the way Pa Auk Sayadaw instructs.
I live in Bangkok,Thailand and am wondering if there are Pa Auk Sayadaw meditation center or group here , which holds group meditaions or retreats.
It would be appreciated if anyone could give me info on it.
Best regards

subset: commoncrawl


text:
NEW YORK—Victor Oladipo knows the Indiana Hoosiers are the top-ranked team in the nation, and he's not about to pretend otherwise. He is not about to pretend that such a position does not come with extra scrutiny and expectations. Instead, he embraces the challenge, and takes it as motivation to live up to being No. 1.
Oladipo scored 12 points on Tuesday night, one of five Indiana players in double figures as the Hoosiers got what they came to Brooklyn to get: a stiff test and a championship in the Legends Classic. After letting an eight-point lead slip away in the second half, Indiana pulled away from Georgetown in overtime to score an 82-72 victory.
"I feel like we showed that we can grind out a win," Oladipo said. "It shows that we're fully capable of winning grind-out, tough games. I hope we can continue to keep doing that down the road, because there are going to be a lot of those. We're going to get everybody's best shot. We've got a target on our back."
That target is all the bigger for Cody Zeller, the Big Ten's preseason Player of the Year, who had 17 points with eight rebounds against the Hoyas. But the Hoosiers are far from being a one-man show. Jordan Hulls also scored 17 points on Tuesday, and was named tournament MVP. Christian Watford had the game's only double-double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Kevin (Yogi) Ferrell scored 14 points, including the 3-pointer in overtime that iced the game, after his missed free throws in the final minute of regulation were a big part of the reason Georgetown was able to extend the game.
When it got to overtime, Georgetown went 0-for-7 from the floor, unable to come up with any more answers for Indiana's defense. In the second half, the Hoosiers had held the Hoyas without a point for more than five minutes, but could not put the game away because Georgetown's defense, as usual for a John Thompson III-coached team, was equally tough.
"I think we're just getting started, to be honest with you," Indiana coach Tom Crean said. "We've got a lot of guys that are being asked to do a lot of things ... right now, they're really trying to do a good job of keeping their man in front, doing the things that are needed defensively, so we can get some easy baskets. The easier baskets we get, gets that (offensive) balance where it needs to be."
Balance is what makes the Hoosiers a daunting opponent. Crean knew that his team could not match Georgetown for size, so he centered his game plan around speed. That meant not only running up and down the floor, but also crisp passing, which was evident early when Ferrell drove along the baseline and whipped a pass to an oncoming Oladipo, who went up for a thunderous dunk. Indiana's crisp ball movement and variety of scoring threats combine to create problems for just about anyone it faces—and that's before you even talk about the defense.
"You have to give them credit," Thompson said. "They're a good defensive team, they're a good offensive team, and they play well together."
That is why, even though Zeller is the player who generates the most buzz at Indiana, it was not a surprise to see Hulls named tournament MVP. The senior guard, who scored 14 points in the Legends Classic opener against Georgia, scored five of his 17 on Tuesday in overtime, and had four steals on the night.
"It's pretty cool," Hulls said. "But I wouldn't have gotten it without my teammates, obviously. They helped me get open shots. Yogi's been finding me all year, and Cody draws all the attention, and that sets up things for me. It's a great honor, but I was more excited about the win."
If the Hoosiers maintain their balanced approach, there will be a lot more of both in their future. They are No. 1 for a reason, but also know that an in-season tournament victory is not the ultimate goal.
"There is not one area that I could look at and say we were dominant in that area, but we kept getting better," Crean said. "There is a lot of room for improvement and I think I would be nervous if it was in November and there wasn't. But our guys went and played a high-level team in a high-level way and I am proud of everybody."


text:
The corn market slipped for the first time in over a week Thursday. However, it was apparently trying to resume its advance Friday morning despite a general lack of substantive news, with technical considerations greatly encouraging bullish traders. The news vacuum was interrupted when a Memphis-based analytics firm published its latest estimate for 2013 U.S. corn plantings around mid-session; they reportedly raised their forecast by 277,000 acres, which is not inconsequential. Corn futures quickly set back toward unchanged levels, then rebounded to post modest gains at the end of the day. March corn ultimately settled 3 cents higher at $7.27 1/2, while December rose 4 cents to $5.90 1/2 per bushel.
In contrast to the firmness exhibited by corn futures Friday morning, the soybean market had suffered significant losses as the noon hour approached. Anticipation of the looming South American bean harvest may have played a role in this divergence, but wire service sources also cited the long weekend as the reason many bulls were seemingly evening their positions. Some may also have been lightening up ahead of the scheduled planted acreage forecast from a prominent Memphis-based firm. They reportedly cut their bean acreage estimate by 185,000 acres, which was nominally bullish. However, Chicago prices initially reacted little to that news, but rose rather significantly later in the day. Most bean contracts rose slightly on the day, but the nearby march future actually slipped 3 1/4 cents to $14.29 1/4 by the CBOT close. March soyoil closed 0.26 cents higher, at 51.68 cents/pound, while March meal edged up $0.2 to $412.4/ton.
The wheat market seemed torn between the corn and soybean markets early Friday morning. And while a Memphis based firm did boost its forecast of spring wheat plantings by about 4%,that did little to keep wheat futures from participating in the subsequent rally. Ultimately, we suspect the persistence of Great Plains dryness, along with weather forecasts implying there is no relief in sight, sent wheat futures higher. The advance may have been exaggerated by aggressive unwinding of previously established short positions by futures funds. March CBOT wheat surged 11 1/4 cents to $7.91 1/4 per bushel at the Friday close, while March KCBT wheat advanced 6 3/4 cents to $8.43 3/4 and March MGE futures rose 4 3/4 cents to $8.74.
After having fallen sharply on negative cash news and the announcement of a Cargill plant closing Thursday, nearby cattle futures continued their slide Friday. Bullish traders would probably like to think the recent breakdown has largely incorporated the bad news, but the midday wholesale report was not encouraging. That is, packers were apparently forced to lower their asking prices for beef once again, since cutout values fell 1.18-1.84 cents from their Thursday close. The deferred contracts seemed to benefit from ideas that packers will be competing more aggressively for cattle later this year, but short-term prospects appear much less promising than they did two weeks ago. February cattle tumbled an additional 1.42 cents to 124.952 cents/pound to end the week, while April fell 0.97 cents to 129.90.
Hog futures held up relatively well in the face of big cattle losses Thursday and through much of Friday trading. Swine traders may be ambivalent about the hog and pork outlook from this point, since plunging cattle and beef prices could change industry perceptions concerning the comparative cheapness of wholesale pork. Conflicting reports concerning Friday morning cash market direction may also have limited the Chicago reaction. Those developments, as well as a lack of wholesale news prior to the Chicago close, may be the underlying reasons CME lean hog futures were widely mixed in early trading. We suspect position squaring undercut the February future at the close. The nearby contract settled 0.62 cents lower, at 85.35 cents/pound, whereas June futures inched 0.05 cents higher to 96.850.


text:
The next consideration is what they call an "acariya (teacher, master)".But in truth, even in the old training systems, they did not talk much about "acariya." They called such a person a "good friend (kalyana-mitta)." To say "friend" - an advisor who can help us with certain things - is correct.We should not forget, however, principle that no one can help someone else directly. Yet nowadays, everyone wants to have a teacher to supervise them! A good friend is someone who has extensive personal experience and knowledge about the meditation practice or whatever else it is that we are striving to do. Although he is able to answer questions and explain some difficulties, it is not necessary for him to sit over us and supervise every breath. A good friend who will answer questions and help us work through certain obstacles is more than enough. To have such a kalyana-mitta is one more thing to arrange.
On your own only if you are willing to not hang onto anything that arises from one's practice. It is all too easy to get bamboozled by meditative experiences. A good teacher is a good idea, but even that is not a guarantee against bamboozlement.Lazy_eye wrote:I would think breath meditation, metta and, to some degree, vipassana could be learned on one's own. Maybe not jhana.
JeffR wrote:It seems to me a teacher is no more necessary to learn the way of the Buddha than a teacher is necessary to learn the intricate details of quantum mechanics.
It could be done; but getting onto the wrong path or getting stuck is more likely.
Lazy_eye wrote:Again, my question has to do with the necessity of a teacher. I think most of us would agree that having a teacher is a good thing. But it seems to me that in certain Mahayana traditions, personal contact with the teacher is an absolute prerequisite, almost to the point that it becomes more about the teacher than the teachings.
David N. Snyder wrote:More reason to rely on the texts first, imo.
"Whatever Dhamma and Vinaya I have pointed out and formulated for you, that will be your Teacher when I am gone." - DN 16
David N. Snyder wrote:I think it is one of the strengths of the Theravada that a teacher is not an absolute necessity; beneficial in some aspects, yes, but not an absolute requirement. Teachers are human and subject to human error. The Pali Canon is a much better guide, in my opinion.
Additionaly, there have been some (not all) Zen and Vajrayana teachers exploiting their power relationship over their students and getting into all kinds of scandals. More reason to rely on the texts first, imo.
David N. Snyder wrote:Teachers are human and subject to human error.
More reason to rely on the texts first, imo.
5heaps wrote:David N. Snyder wrote:More reason to rely on the texts first, imo.
why? spoken words are the same as written ones and are subject to the same critical thinking
...has anyone actually done this (no modern books, teachers, recordings, ...)?


text:
Ubud Hanging Gardens is no longer part of the Belmond collection.
For alternative reservations in Bali and all enquiries, please visit
Belmond Jimbaran Puri Bali. This beachside resort is perfect for romantic celebrations, relaxing getaways and the island's many cultural activities.
Belmond is a luxury hotel and travel company which offers memorable experiences steeped in each destination's authentic culture. In addition to Bali, the collection embraces distinctive hotels, luxury train journeys and river cruises in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. The worldwide portfolio spans 46 hotel, luxury rail and river cruise businesses in 22 countries.


text:
Web & Mobile Check-In
Web and Mobile Check-In made easy and fast
Save time thanks to our web and mobile check-in!
Say goodbye to the endless queue at the counter! Luxair offers you more and more e-services to provide you a seamless travel experience.
Web Check-in : Check-in online (with or without baggage), choose your seat, issue your boarding pass.
Mobile Check-in : Check-in via your mobile and receive your boarding pass directly on it.
Kiosk Check-in : Check-in via the kiosk at the airport.
Who may check in online?
The new Luxair web & mobile check-in is available for Luxair customers with a confirmed reservation and E-Ticket from 24h-1h before flight departure (except for flights departing from Prague).
Please find an overview regrouping all available destinations for those e-services : Airports and enabled eServices.
Key advantages:
Brand new and intuitive design
Identify yourself : Booking reservation, e-ticket number, Miles & More number.
Your seat : Select and change your seat
Boarding pass : Receive your boarding pass by PDF, per email, per SMS or add it to Apple Wallet (only on Iphone)
Manage your check-in in few clicks : Reissue your boarding pass, cancel your check-in, update your Miles & More number
Stay informed : Per SMS or email in case of flight delay or schedule changes, flight cancellation, possible seat number or boarding gate changes and online check-in invitations.
Business Class and Miles & More customers : Luxair will inform you in advance about your boarding gate opening.
The new web & mobile check-in is available for :
- All customers of Luxair Luxembourg Airlnes with an e-ticket
- Luxair subscriptions (AboFlex)
- Groups


text:
Davis adjusting to replay's impact on steals
ARLINGTON -- It took a replay review for Rajai Davis to be caught stealing Tuesday for the sixth time in 27 attempts on the season. It did not take the overturned call for Davis to note the impact that replay has had on teams defending him.
What used to be quick swipe tags on him as he slid into second base are now longer tags as infielders anticipate Davis oversliding the bag. With such plays now reviewable, contact with the bag is now being scrutinized in a way it never could before. A similar situation drew attention early in the year in a nationally televised Yankees-Jays game, and prompted a clarification from Major League Baseball that such plays could be reviewed.
It was replay that revealed Davis losing touch with second base as he got up from his slide, rewarding Rougned Odor for his tag.
"Can't get away with it," Davis lamented, shaking his head. "Before, that was an automatic safe. But I've had two calls that got overturned."
It has changed the way the Tigers have had their infielders tag would-be basestealers, too.
"We've talked to our infielders about riding the tag out," manager Brad Ausmus said. "Keep the glove on the guy, just because that may happen. He may come off the bag and not even know it, and then you look at replay and then you get the call."
It's not going to lead Davis to change the way he slides, partly out of fear that an awkward motion will lead to injury. It will, however, lead him to pay special attention to keeping contact with the bag, something he's usually good at doing.
"It's not going to happen again," Davis said.
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Larry Curly and MohMystery teasers are little stories where you need to figure out what happened based on the given clues.
Four men met in a bar, and they soon found that all four of them had been to the Amazon Jungle. After a few more beers, they also realized that they had all been captured at least once, by fierce natives who ruled amazing fortresses. They soon got around to talking about their experiences, and their escapes. The first man said, "Well, I was once caught by natives who ruled a diamond palace. They caught me and took me to their king. He decreed that I was to die in one month. They threw me into a cell. Thank God that they didn't take my equipment. I had stolen a quartz file from one of the natives. I filed away the bars (it had curtains so they couldn't see) and escaped mere hours before I was to die."
The second man said, "I was also captured, but they took me to a simple copper structure. I did not have any such luxury of a month to escape, instead, a single day. Luckily they did not count on my desperation, and I was able to claw my way out of there using only my fingernails and pure adrenaline."
The third man said, "I was taken to the most amazing fortress of all. It was made out of black topaz. I was also the smartest of all of you," he bragged, "for I had brought with me a steel file. I was out in a jiff, and I was able to steal some of the topaz as well," he said as he showed everyone a piece of topaz hanging from a string around his neck.
The fourth man had been looking amused at the first and second men's stories, but as the third man finished he threw up his head and laughed. The other three men were looking slightly peeved, and asked him what he found so funny. He declared that they were all liars, and he could prove it.
How could he prove it, and when did each of the three men lie?
HintThe title is a fine hint.
AnswerThe first man couldn't have filed away the bars, because if it actually was a diamond palace as he said, quartz wouldn't even leave a scratch.
The second man was closest of all, but still lying. Fingernails are very close to, but not as hard as, copper, so he couldn't get out, no matter how desperate he was.
The third man had lied most of all. First of all there is no such thing as natural black topaz (it was probably obsidian). Also he made the same mistake as all the others, for a steel file is not as hard as topaz, and would not do anything to the topaz.
In the Mohs scale of mineral hardness:
2.5- Fingernail
3- Copper
6.5- Steel File
7- Quartz
8- Topaz
10- Diamond
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Back to Top


text:
Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings got healthy, and then he got hot with a dazzling Week 17 performance in the Packers' loss at Minnesota. Now as Green Bay opens the playoffs against those same Minnesota Vikings at home on Saturday night, Jennings admitted he wouldn't mind playing them again indoors—rather than at chilly Lambeau Field.
Jennings told Fox Sports Wisconsin he "absolutely" prefers running routes and catching passes in a dome on an artificial playing surface.
"I would be on turf quick," Jennings said. "Dome? Are you kidding me? Would you rather play outside?"
Jennings' playoff history suggests he's built to succeed on a road fast track. When the Packers went on their Super Bowl XLV run two years ago, he came up big in the divisional round against the Falcons in the Georgia Dome (eight catches, 101 yards) and then against the Steelers in Cowboys Stadium (four catches, 64 yards, two TDs).
Last week against the Vikings in the Metrodome, he had eight catches for 120 yards and two TDs. When the Packers lost at Lambeau to the eventual Super Bowl XLVI champion Giants last year, he was held to four catches for 40 yards.
Jennings will become an unrestricted free agent in the 2013 offseason, so there's a good chance the playoffs will be the last time we see him in a Packers uniform. Two teams in need of a top veteran wide receiver offer good environments for him. The Rams play in a dome, and the Dolphins play in balmy South Florida.


text:
(UPDATED COVERAGE, Aug. 30) When consumers wash fresh produce at home, fruit and vegetable washes may work better than water at protecting them from certain diseases on certain commodities. But in general, no solution works better than water, according to a new study.
And one of the study's authors said that, with the possible exception of people who have compromised immune systems, consumers are better off sticking with water.
The study only considered methods of cleaning produce in consumers' homes.
Researchers Jillian D. Fishburn, Yanjie Tang and Joseph F. Frank published their findings in the August edition of Food Protection Trends, a publication of the Des Moines, Iowa-based International Association For Food Protection.
Frank, a food science and technology professor at the University of Georgia, said that for people with compromised immune systems, some commercially-available washes could be worth the money, depending on the commodity it's used on.
But he also said those people are probably better off not eating raw produce in the first place. And for everyone else, the best bet is still water.
"I really couldn't recommend that consumers purchase any of these technologies," he said. "I'm more comfortable saying, 'Wash it in water and be done with it.'"
The researchers studied a variety of washes that use compounds including electrolyzed oxidizing water, ozone and commercial vegetable wash (food-grade soap). The researchers also washed produce in chlorine bleach, and with plain tap water.
The various washing methods were used to attempt to remove E. coli 0157, listeria and salmonella from tomatoes, broccoli, cantaloupe, lettuce, spinach and green onions.
The study found that electrolyzed oxidizing water, or EO, proved more effective against some diseases than ozone, vegetable washes or tap water. But while it was more effective than chlorine for treating infected lettuce, EO was less effective than chlorine for treating cantaloupe.
"Some treatments were more effective than running tap water for specific pathogen-produce combinations, but no treatment produced greater reductions than tap water for all tested combinations," the researchers wrote.


text:
Match your new floor with this 48" Maple Stair Tread
Treads are to be installed on top of the step.
A birthday cake without frosting?
Available as long as supplies last!!
Order now through our web site, visit your local store, or Call 1-800-HARDWOOD
Reviewed by 3 customers
very good product
Best Uses
The service from Lumber Liquidators in Matthews, NC is top notch. They are always able to fill the needs of our company and have great products to do it with.
Best Uses
Maple pre-finished treads were used to finish stair surface. Worked great.
Do you have questions about this product?
AnswerBox - Get answers from Staff Experts and real customers by clicking "Ask a question" or click here to ask our Customer Service Team
Q:Does the prefinished stair tread match up to the prefinished Bellawood natural select maple?
1 answer
A:Yes these two materials should match in color
Q:What are the dimensions on stair treads (thickness and depth - I see the width already listed)?
1 answer
A:Solid hardwood treads are 1" x 11 1/4" x 36" or 1" x 11 1/4" x 48"


text:
The Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles have plenty to do before spring training, but most teams have wrapped up their heavy lifting for the offseason.
Well, they've done enough to make it safe to unveil the first Power Rankings for 2013.
Away we go.
1. San Francisco Giants. Sure, the decision to return their roster virtually intact could backfire. But when you win two of the past three World Series, including the most recent one, you've earned the spot atop the preseason rankings.
2. Detroit Tigers. Signing Torii Hunter and getting back Victor Martinez improves an already formidable lineup, and the Justin Verlander-led rotation remains one of the best. And I'm not buying the chatter they'll go with a rookie closer, Bruce Rondon. If they're really "all in," they need Rafael Soriano.
3. Washington Nationals. That shine coming out of Florida this spring will be from Stephen Strasburg's smile after being unshackled by an innings limit. Either that, or it'll be Davey Johnson's smile from getting to manage this much talent.
4. Toronto Blue Jays. Adding Jose Reyes, R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle and Emilio Bonifacio makes them the runaway winners of the hot-stove season. But the ex-Marlins know how little that means come April.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers. They haven't reached their goal of putting an All-Star at every position. But give them another week or two.
6. Los Angeles Angels. After trading for Jason Vargas, all they need is to sign Kyle Lohse to jump ahead of the Dodgers. Their offense already is better, which is saying something considering who is in their neighbors' lineup.
7. Cincinnati Reds. Trying to make Aroldis Chapman a starter could leave the Reds scrambling in their rotation and bullpen. Still, it's a move they have to try.
8. St. Louis Cardinals. With one of the most balanced rosters in the game, they didn't need to do much this winter and they haven't. But when the time comes, the Cardinals have the trade chips and financial resources to make one heckuva blockbuster.
9. Oakland Athletics. Even after last year, it's difficult ranking Oakland this high. But get over it. The A's should be even better because their ace, Brett Anderson, will enter spring training healthy and their most talented player, Yoenis Cespedes, will enter 2013 poised for a breakout season.
10. Atlanta Braves. I'd have taken B.J. Upton over Michael Bourn, too, but until they figure out who's on third, it's difficult to figure out how much they'll miss Chipper Jones.
11. New York Yankees. A top 10 without the Yankees is as unusual as a Top 25 hoops poll without Kentucky. The Yankees have an age problem, too, but it's not that they're too young.
12. Texas Rangers. They've lost out on Josh Hamilton, Zack Greinke, James Shields, R.A. Dickey and, so far, Justin Upton. But don't forget, only Hamilton was there in the middle of September when the Rangers still were riding high.
13. Philadelphia Phillies. If Roy Halladay is healthy and if Ryan Howard regains all of his power and if Chase Utley turns back the clock, the Phillies will be fine. If they don't, Ryne Sandberg likely will be sitting in Charlie Manuel's seat this time next year.
14. Kansas City Royals. They've turned their rotation into a strength and their bullpen is strong enough. Now it's on the offense. There would seem to be too much talent to finish with the third fewest runs in the AL again.
15. Tampa Bay Rays. Trading James Shields was the right move but the Wil Myers payoff could take a while. In the short term, their rotation takes a hit and Yunel Escobar and James Loney aren't likely to transform an already challenged offense.
16. Baltimore Orioles. If they believe they can repeat their 2012 success with essentially the same roster, good luck. Reason No. 1: They're not likely to go 29-9 in one-run games again.
17. Chicago White Sox. Losing A.J. Pierzynski will hurt their chances more than adding Jeff Keppinger will help them.
18. Boston Red Sox. No doubt their clubhouse will be a happier place. But to improve on the field, they need Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and John Lackey to pitch like they once did. Possible? Yes. Probable? No.
19. Milwaukee Brewers. They must believe their 43-34 second half was far more indicative of their talent than their 40-45 first half. I'm not so sure.
20. Arizona Diamondbacks. They can count on Heath Bell to pitch better than he did for the Marlins. But he's not likely to make much of an impact on their 81-81 record. Neither is anyone else they've added.
21. Pittsburgh Pirates. Two years ago, their collapse began in July. Last year, August. If they can delay it till September in 2013, the Pirates should be able to pick up four more wins so they can stop hearing about their record streak of losing seasons, which is up to 20.
22. Seattle Mariners. Trading for Kendrys Morales should help their offense more than moving in the fences at Safeco Field. Adding Michael Bourn or Nick Swisher would help even more. Adding both free agents would lift the Mariners out of the 20s in these rankings.
23. San Diego Padres. Yes, they went a better-than-you-thought 55-45 in their final 100 games. But they also are expected to start 2013 with Jason Marquis (8-11, 5.22 ERA with Twins and Padres) and Tyson Ross (2-11, 6.50 ERA with the A's) in their rotation.
24. Cleveland Indians. After adding Mark Reynolds and Drew Stubbs, one number certain to rise in Cleveland is team strikeouts. One number the Tribe can only hope doesn't rise is Ubaldo Jimenez's losses. He led the majors with 17 last season.
25. New York Mets. Don't look at trading R.A. Dickey as the reason they're this low. Their rotation still remains a strength, if Johan Santana shows improvement. His comeback season somehow seemed more impressive until checking his numbers: 6-9, 4.85 ERA and still only 21 starts.
26. Minnesota Twins. Vance Worley, 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA with the Phillies, is a leading candidate to start opening day for the Twins. In other words, their rotation remains a weakness.
27. Chicago Cubs. Their biggest gets so far this offseason have been Nate Schierholtz and Scott Feldman. The rebuilding continues … slowly.
28. Miami Marlins. If Giancarlo Stanton was upset after the salary dump on Toronto, wait until he goes a week without getting a decent pitch to hit.
29. Colorado Rockies. How can any team with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez be ranked this low? Easy. The rotation is projected to be pretty much the same as the one that last year posted a majors-worst 5.81 ERA.
30. Houston Astros. But, hey, if we ranked front office IQs, they'd be right at the top.


text:
J.Doe Responsive Photography WordPress Theme
J.Doe is responsive and ajax based wordpress theme dedicated to photography, personal or corporate style. The design is minimalistic, simple and clean. The fullscreen image gallery with audio player is the best way to represent your art work. Just watch and listen.
Minimalistic Design
Modern Technologies
Audio Support
Photo Gallery Settings
Color Options Tool
Theme Features
- Fully Responsive (Ipad, Iphone…)
- Fullscreen Photo Gallery Slideshow
- Photo Gallery Management Tool
- Password Protected Photo Gallery
- jQuery Powered
- Ajax Powered Page Content
- Image and Video Portfolio Pages (1-2-3 Column Layouts)
- Image and Video Post Formats
- Audio Player
- Working Ajax Contact Form
- SEO Support Links
- PSD Files Included
- Documentation
I would like to say a big thnx to all the people who created an awesome stuff:
- Images provided by DepositPhotos
- jQuery Easing plugin
- jQuery Transit
- Background-Position Animation Plugin
- jScrollPane
- jQuery History plugin
- Tipsy plugin
- prettyPhoto
- GreyScale jQuery Plugin
- Supersized fullscreen background slideshow
- hoverIntent jQuery Plug-in
- Superfish menu plugin
- jPlayer: jQuery HTML5 Audio / Video Library
- apng-canvas
- From Plugin


text:
Thursday March 29, 2012 6:18 pm
Apple releases iTunes 10.6.1 with bug fixes galore
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Apple, Music, Software
Apple has released iTunes 10.6.1, a bug-fixing update that improves usability in a bunch of areas:
- Fixes several issues that may cause iTunes to unexpectedly quit while playing videos, changing artwork size in Grid view, and syncing photos to devices.
- Addresses an issue where some iTunes interface elements are incorrectly described by VoiceOver and WindowEyes.
- Fixes a problem where iTunes may become unresponsive while syncing iPod nano or iPod shuffle.
- Resolves an ordering problem while browsing TV episodes in your iTunes library on Apple TV.
You can grab the update now through Software Update, or at http://apple.com/itunes.
- Related Tags:
- apple, apple tv, ipod, ipod nano, ipod shuffle, itunes, itunes 10.6, itunes 10.6.1, itunes crash, mac, os x, software, software update, voiceover, windoweyes
Latest Gear Live Videos
- Subscribe:
- YouTube
- iTunes High Definition
- iTunes Standard Version
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
© Gear Live Inc. – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.


text:
Tamagotchi ID and Tamagotchi Station No Longer in Production
Posted 25 January 2011 - 02:03 PM ( #1 )
We have gone back and forth on emails since I wanted to make sure I would receive my items after ordering them from Japan.
On 01/24/2011 03:35AM, firstname.lastname@example.com wrote:
> Hello,
> I would like to purchase
> Motto iD Ouchi de Tamagotchi Station Plus BAN964464
> and
> Tamagotchi iD Lovely Melody Ver. Lovely Music BAN964480
> Both items appear to be on back order. If I place my order, when can
> you expect the items to arrive to my home in the US?
> I looked in the FAQ, and since this is not a model kit, I'm hoping it
> could be available soon.
> Please let me know as soon as possible.
> Thank You,
> Wendyann Herron
Thanks for writing.
You are welcome to order those items; however, please be aware that the Tamgotchi ID Lovely Melody Version Lovely Music is in red-status backorder, which means that chances we'll be able to get it in stock again are not good. You're welcome to order it if you like, but please be aware that some patience will be needed.
Thanks for shopping with HobbyLink Japan.
Corky Visminas
HLJ Customer Service
> Thank you Corky.
> I just wanted to make sure I could actually get the items in. If I
> placed the order do you think it would be here in 4-6 weeks?
> In the event it is no longer available and never comes, what will
> happen?
> Thank You!
> Wendyann Herron
It's extremely difficult for me to state with any certainty whether we'll be able to get the items in within 4 to 6 weeks. I will ask our buying manager and let you know what he says. Tamagotchi items are extremely popular, as I'm sure you're aware, and sometimes can be in short supply.
If you order the items and we aren't able to fill your order immediately, we'll keep the order on file until we can either fill it for you, or we're certain that we won't be able to do so.
Thanks for shopping with HobbyLink Japan!
Corky Visminas
HLJ Customer Service
I am very sorry--the buying manager tells me that both of the Tamagotchi items are out of production, and we will not be able to get them again. I'm very sorry.
Corky Visminas
HLJ Customer Service
What do I do? Does that mean I should wait until they announce a new Japanese Tama or just buy a nano?
Started25 Jan 2011
Last Post29 Jan 2011
Posted 25 January 2011 - 08:20 PM ( #2 )
Posted 26 January 2011 - 09:44 AM ( #3 )
I just don't feel like investing a lot of money into something that will be obsolete soon.
Posted 26 January 2011 - 05:22 PM ( #4 )
Posted 27 January 2011 - 05:49 PM ( #5 )
Thanks for the advice/info. Thinking of just getting a nano for now.
Or...I might just bite the bullet and get everything. ()
I guess I can always resell it on here if I get tired of it.
Posted 29 January 2011 - 02:15 PM ( #6 )
Posted 29 January 2011 - 05:44 PM ( #7 )
i don't think it would be... *looks at iD curiously* maybe it's because the new nano is out?
Maybe it was recalled becuase of lead paint or something?


text:
How to get a job at Accenture.
Get new comments by email
|Comments (6)
Do you work at Accenture? How did you find the job? How did you get that first interview?
Any advice for someone trying to get in?
Looking in Minneapolis, Minnesota
125 months ago
I feel it's nearly impossible to get even an interview with Accenture. I'm trying to apply for an entry level position but I keep getting the run around. I really do feel I have the qualities they're looking for but I just can't get my foot in the door! I even called a recruiter (after much work trying to get a number) but she was a little hesitant to answer some of my general questions - saying it'd be better to just apply for a job and see if I get a response. I'm a fairly recent grad (less than two years) so I know I have a little more experience than someone who just graduated. I'm so determined to get this, but it seems all the avenues are hopeless. What does it take - an Ivy League education? - a friend inside the company?
Anon in San Antonio, Texas
123 months ago
Norma in San Antonio, Texas said: I don't agree with you on this comment. Everyone has their own personality. Being hired as a referal means that the person who refered you thinks highly of you. The company who hires referals by employees, repect that.
Or it could also mean the majority is Hispanic and either related, friends, or dating
Christian in Dayton, Ohio
123 months ago
I'd stay away from Accenture if your in the US. They are an outsourcing company and do not care one iota for their own. They outsourced me twice and I've never been better leaving that company. Don't waste your time.
ededed in Epsom, United Kingdom
119 months ago
How to get a job at accenture is explained here http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/Image:Accenture_logo.jpg
Good luck!
Consultant/Job Seeker in Berwyn, Illinois
67 months ago
L H in Saint Paul, Minnesota said: What kind of salary can be expected for an Application Service Management Project Manager?
Check out Glass door dot com for salary info and interview info on pretty much any big company.
» Sign in or create an account to comment on this topic.


text:
Keighley Cougars 42, Wath Brow Hornets 0
Cougars player-coach Paul March praised the professionalism of his side following their routine Tetley's Challenge Cup victory over Wath Brow Hornets yesterday.
Cougars dismissed any potential banana skin with a dominant display against the Cumbrian amateur side, scoring eight tries as they secured a place in the fourth round with relative ease.
"It was a very professional display," said March.
"They did exactly what we thought they would do and come at us in the first 15 minutes.
"But we came through that and we scored some good tries in the end and kept them scoreless, which I'm delighted with because we defended strongly at times."
March had to wait a quarter of an hour to see his side take the lead, Danny Lawton crossing for the try at full stretch after Danny Jones' high kick was fumbled.
Jones added the conversion and kicked his second goal of the afternoon seven minutes later when Paul Handforth released Josh Lynam with a precise pass to score under the posts.
While the Kingstone Press Championship National Conference League side did enjoy small spells camped on Keighley's line, they rarely threatened to turn any pressure into points.
The game was effectively put to bed in the 33rd minute when Handforth again split the Hornets defence to send James Craven over the line.
When Paul White raced over from 30 yards following a rampant break from the impressive Ash Lindsay, the Cougars held a firm 20-0 lead at the break.
White then crossed for his second of the afternoon after he dived over superbly after a flowing move down the left flank.
The tiring Hornets found the going tough in the final 20 minutes as Handforth released Jack Lee under the posts with an exquisite short pass.
Handforth was on hand for the final try as his looping pass out wide freed Richie Barnett for the initial break before a flowing move culminated in Lewis Graham diving over in the corner.
Keighley Cougars: Craven, Barnett, Lawton, Williams, White, Jones, Handforth, Shickell, Haigh, Hesketh, Lynam, Rawlins, Lindsay. Interchange: Sheriffe, Cherryholme, Graham, Lee.
Wath Brow Hornets: Devine, Davidson, Caddy, King, Pink, Dixon, Watson, Dixon, Doran, Huby, Ramsden, Huby, Tomlinson. Interchange: Agnew, Martin, McCarron, Martin.
Referee: D Sharpe. Attendance: 488


text:
Consumers can find almost as many of their favorite berries in foodservice outlets as they can in their local grocery stores.
In a survey tracking menu use of strawberries, for example, the Watsonville-based California Strawberry Commission found a 21% increase in the number of menu items containing strawberries in 2011 over 2010, said Chris Christian, the commission's vice president of marketing.
Growth in the beverage category was even more impressive — an 86% increase in the number of beverage items with strawberries over the past five years.
In the salad category, there was a 21% increase in the use of strawberries in 2011 compared with 2010.
"Most of this growth is being driven by the chain restaurants," Christian said, as they seek more healthful menu options.
Naturipe Farms LLC, Salinas, Calif., also has found good reception for its berries at foodservice.
Vince Lopes, Naturipe's vice president of sales, characterized foodservice business as being superb.
"(Quick-service restaurants) appear to be the faster track for growth in the berry category," he said.
"They are often looking for solutions to include popular, healthy options on the menu, and nothing embraces those needs more fully than berries."
Keith Mixon, president of Dole Berry Co. LLC, Watsonville, Calif., and SunnyRidge Farm Inc., Winter Haven, Fla., said foodservice is a "very good channel of distribution for us."
Foodservice business is strong, he said.
"People continue to eat out and seem to spoil themselves with nice berries."
Plant City, Fla.-based Wish Farms finds foodservice to be a good outlet for some of its crops, said Gary Wishnatzki, president and chief executive officer.
"We view it as good business, and we have cultivated foodservice business over the past couple of years," he said.
One downside of the foodservice segment, especially in Florida, where production can fluctuate from week to week, is its static demand.
"If you're looking to try to move additional volume at certain times of the year, it's a little harder to do with foodservice," he said.
"With some of the berry categories, you need to have more dynamic demand."
California Giant Inc., Watsonville, Calif., would like to do more foodservice business.
"That definitely is an area we would like to expand," said Cindy Jewell, director of marketing.
The company is working more with foodservice distributors now than in the past and continues to build relationships, she said.
Strawberries are the firm's most popular foodservice item, followed by blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.
Sales in all categories are increasing, Jewell said.
"It's probably a rarity when you don't see a berry — fresh or in some form — in a restaurant when you walk into it," said Mike Klackle, vice president of berry sales for Curry & Co. LLC, Brooks, Ore.
That includes fast food, white-tablecloth or a casual dining establishment, he said.
"It's an important part of the distribution" at Curry & Co., he said.
The Folsom, Calif.-based U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council includes foodservice in its promotional campaign, said Mark Villata, executive director.
The council has been working with the Culinary Institute of America's chef education programs and recently conducted a presentation at its Hyde Park, N.Y., campus where council representatives showed applications for blueberries.
"Foodservice is definitely an area that we are interested in," Villata said.
The council is pushing chefs to use more fresh — not just frozen and dried — blueberries in their restaurants, since they now are available year-round, he said.
There was a drop off in terms of restaurants' share of the food dollar in 2009 and 2010, but the industry rebounded in 2011, Christian said, and that upward tick is expected to continue.
National Restaurant Association surveys have shown increases every month during 2012, she said.
"Indicators are that the industry is recovering, and it seems to be a fairly strong and consistent recovery," she said.
Jewell agreed, saying, "Foodservice is coming back really strong."


text:
Office chairs should be uniform, comfortable and ergonomic with a price that suits your budget. As a fundamental component of the office, it's about finding a chair that provides quality and longevity, ensuring you get value for money while enabling your staff to maintain their focus and productivity. At Empire Office Furniture, we have office chairs that tick all the right boxes.
Carrying the largest range of commercial grade office seating, we have office furniture to suit a wide range of industries and offices.


text:
Horse Health Free Reports
By Type
- Special Report (123)
- Convention Report (69)
- Fact Sheet (46)
- Form (11)
By Collection
- Special Reports (96)
- Convention Reports (68)
- Fact Sheets (43)
- Horse Anatomy and Physiology Series (12)
- Equine Vaccination Series (12)
- Equine Parasites and Control Programs (12)
- Forms (11)
- At A Glance (11)
- Farm and Barn (8)
- AAEP Convention 2012 (6)
- Focus on Farriery (4)
- Equine Herpesvirus Meeting (4)
- Equine Herpesvirus Special Report 2006 (3)
- Equine Nutrition Series (3)
- Conditioning Through the Seasons (2)
- Biosecurity/Preventing Disease (1)
- International Society for Equitation Science Conference 2015 (1)
- BEVA Congress 2016 (1)
- AAEP Convention 2016 (1)
- International Hoof Care Summit 2017 (1)
- Managing Seasonal Equine Skin Issues (1)
By Topic
- Horse Care (547)
- Diseases and Conditions (540)
- Breeding and Reproduction (214)
- Vet and Professional (199)
- Lameness (190)
- Sports Medicine (155)
- Nutrition (132)
- Farm and Barn (131)
- Hoof Care (125)
- Welfare and Industry (12)
- Free Reports
- 2 of 11
- Horse Care
Sort By:Date Priority Popularity
View:List Thumbnails
Equine Asthma Syndrome
November 15, 2016
Is your horse struggling to breathe? Equine asthma might be the cause. ... Read More
14 Up-to-Date Horse Deworming Facts
October 18, 2016
No doubt about it, parasite control in horses has changed dramatically during the past decade. Find out what's new.... Read More
White Line Disease in Horses
July 31, 2016
Also known as "seedy toe," white line disease is a serious hoof condition that requires vet and farrier intervention.... Read More
12 Facts About Bisphosphonate Use In Horses
July 08, 2016
Certain bisphosphonates are approved for treating navicular syndrome in horses. Find out more in our special report!... Read More
Sarcoids in Horses
June 30, 2016
Learn about these ugly and often aggressive tumors.... Read More
Fear in Horses
June 27, 2016
Learn about what horses experience when they feel afraid and how to manage their fear reactions.... Read More
5 Ways to Prevent Sunburn in Horses
May 11, 2016
Use this cheat sheet to protect your horse from the sun's harmful UV rays. ... Read More
12 Facts about Equine Navicular Syndrome
April 07, 2016
Learn about the diagnosing, treating, and the possible causes of navicular syndrome in our Vet On Demand companion! ... Read More
Just the Basics: What Every Horse Needs
March 23, 2016
No doubt about it, horse ownership is a big responsibility. Here's a look at the basics of what every horse needs.... Read More
Thrush in Horses
February 12, 2016
Thrush can occur in virtually any horse. Learn how to recognize, treat, and prevent this smelly hoof disease.... Read More
Rabies in Horses
February 04, 2016
Equine rabies is a life-threatening neurologic disease that progress rapidly. Do you know how to prevent it?... Read More
The Science Behind Horsemanship
December 03, 2015
Discover the latest research about equine stress, welfare, and training from the top equitation science conference. ... Read More
What You Need to Know About Blanketing
November 06, 2015
Does your horse need a blanket? Many don't. But if your horse does, here's a quick guide to selecting the right one.... Read More
Prebiotics and Probiotics
October 15, 2015
Prebiotics and probiotics are dietary supplements for horses to help prevent or treat certain illnesses.... Read More
Emergency Horse Care
June 14, 2015
Use this form to give your horses' caretakers the info they need in case you have to evacuate without your horses.... Read More
Identification Methods for Horses
June 14, 2015
Permanent, tamper-resistant, and accurate identification of horses provides positive proof of ownership. ... Read More
Emergency Evacuation Contacts
June 10, 2015
Use this form to document where you would take your horses and whom you'd get information from during an evacuation.... Read More
Horse Identification
June 10, 2015
Keep track of your horse's distinguishing characteristics and all emergency information in this one-page form.... Read More
Equine Emergency-Evacuation Kit Checklist
June 09, 2015
Print and use this checklist to ensure you have the basics for both humans and horses in case of an evacuation.... Read More
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
January 28, 2015
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a noninvasive modality used to stimulate healing.... Read More
Equine Functional Electronic Stimulation (FES)
November 21, 2014
An established human therapy helps horses as well. Learn about FES and its possible equine applications.... Read More
The Key to the Future: Broodmare and Stallion Care
November 20, 2014
While they only make up a small segment of the equine industry, breeding stock is the future of our business.... Read More
Genetic Conditions by Body System
October 14, 2014
This report includes genetic diseases known to affect horses and which breeds are most susceptible.... Read More
The Golden Years: Caring for the Senior Horse
October 03, 2014
With a little extra care and attention, many older horses can have an extended career and a comfortable life.... Read More


text:
JIM & JEFF LUFF DRIVING GEM: INTERSECTIONS: Always look ahead at intersections to spot potential hazards early on. Could someone run a red light and create a hazard? Never assume a green light means it's safe to cross an intersection. When approaching an intersection, always do the following:
Also, be sure to check out this National Agenda For Intersection Safety from the Federal Highway Administraton. SMARRT Driving Series Parts 1-5 here.
One party of girls wanted to be smacked upside the backside every time they exited the limousine.
Black and white words on a page are boring and uninspiring; here are some things to consider when creating a how-to guide for your company.
The LCT Summit keynoter starts contributing this week to our blog by asking: What is it you want bad enough to work for?
You are what you write. Make sure you leave a good business impression, especially on social media.
Computers and smartphones have conditioned us to text and email our way through life. Here's how Millennials and managers can work together to break the habit.
Sign up for LCT's free e-newsletters.
View the latest LCT E-Newsletters:
LCT E-News
LimoForSale Limo Showcase
Affiliate Report
Free Whitepapers
Experience the three annual industry events for networking for business, showcasing vehicles and products, and getting the tools for success.
What's Happening Near You?Click on any state to see the latest industry news and events in that region.
The Car and truck fleet and leasing management magazine
managing 10-50 company vehicles
Executive vehicle management
managing public sector vehicles & equipment
The number 1 resource for vocational truck fleets
Serving the bus and passenger rail industries for more than a century
Serving school transportation professionals in the U.S. and Canada


text:
Here's two videos for Tuesday. These videos both have different musical things I like. The first video is showing Dutch producer Sebastien Léger using Ableton Live and the touchAble iPad app. The second video is the great Macbeth M5 synthesizer bleeping on it's own accord.
touchAble featured artists video : Sebastien Léger from touchAble on Vimeo.
Macbeth M5N : Five from LEbER SOUND on Vimeo.
"Tuesday is a day of the week occurring after Monday and before Wednesday. According to international standard ISO 8601, is the second day of the week, in some traditions also the third. The English name is derived from Old English Tiwesdæg and Middle English Tewesday. This was a loan translation of Latin dies Martis, originally associating the day with the planet Mars, but the Germanic name translates Mars, the god of war, as Teiwaz (Old English Tiw)." – WIkipedia
photo credit: Leo Reynolds


text:
1-1/2" x 4" NPT Threaded Black Pipe Nipple Sch 80
VALUE BRAND| Zoro #: G2051016| Mfr #: 1LMR6
Zoro #: G2051016Mfr. Part #: 1LMR6
$8.38 /ea
Orders over $50.00 ship free. DetailsStandard ground shipping
Technical Specifications
|Zoro #: G2051016 Mfr #: 1LMR6
|Pipe Thread Type: MNPT
|Pipe Schedule: 80
|Pipe Connection Type: Threaded on Both Ends
|Pipe Weld Type: Electric Resistance Weld
|Metal Detectable: Yes
|Pipe Size (Nominal): 1-1/2"
|Pipe Type: Pipe Nipple
|Standards: ASTM A106, ASTM A733, and ANSI/ASME B1.20.1
|Max. Pressure: 300 psi @ 150 Degrees F
|Wall Thickness: 3/16"
|Outside Dia.: 1-57/64"
|Item: Nipple
|Overall Pipe Length: 4"
|Seamless/Welded: Seamless
|Max. Steam Pressure: 2539 psi WSP @ 650 Degrees F
|Country of Origin (subject to change): China
Product Description
Nipple, Pipe Size 1 1/2 x 4 In, Connection NPT, Material of Construction Black Steel, Schedule 80, WOG (PSI) 300 At 150 Deg F, Saturated Steam Pressure 150, Standards ASTM A733


text:
Deputies: 3 men planned to smoke meth, burglarize home
HILLSBORO, Ore. - Washington County sheriff's deputies arrested three men who they said were planning to smoke methamphetamine and break into a woman's house in Hillsboro Saturday night.
The three men had the woman's license, credit cards and keys. Deputies learned the items were stolen from a parked car at Mt. Hood earlier in the day, according to Sgt. David Thompson.
A deputy stopped an SUV for changing lanes without a turn signal at around 6:20 p.m. on Saturday and found the stolen items inside the vehicle. The driver, 43-year-old John Phillips of Portland, told the deputy that he and his two passengers found the credit cards, license and keys and were on their way to return them to the owner.
Deputies also spotted a glass pipe used for smoking meth in the SUV's center console. They brought a drug dog to search the car and found about four grams of meth.
The three men later told deputies they were about the smoke meth and burglarize the woman's home, Thompson said. Deputies found a baseball bat, a large kitchen knife and a crow bar in the SUV.
The traffic stop happened about one mile from the woman's home, Thompson said. The woman was home at the time.
Deputies arrested Phillips and his two passengers, 27-year-old Nicholas Teegarden and 31-year-old Joseph M. Landers, on charges of conspiracy to commit burglary, attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools.
Phillips also faces drug charges and one count of driving with a revoked license.
All three men have previously been arrested numerous times for a wide range of charges, including burglary, assault, drug charges and weapons charges, Thompson said.


text:
- Home
- News
- Sports
- Opinion
- Obituaries
- Features
- Special Sections
- Classifieds
- Public Notices
SHEPHERDSVILLE - Over the past 13 years, 48 jurors have been asked on three occasions to determine the fate of Michael Dale St. Clair.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The Pioneer News, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
If you are new to the award winning The Pioneer News and wish to get a subscription or simply gain access to our online content then please enter your ZIP code below and continue to setup your account.
|ZIP Code:


text:
As a food allergy mom, I'm always looking for healthy breakfast, lunch, and snack foods that I can prepare without a lot of effort. Considering my son's allergies to wheat, milk, eggs, and soy, baked goods are where I have the most difficulty. Gluten-free baking mixes are a great place to start – usually it means replacing the eggs, and sometimes milk and butter – but the wheat-free package gives me a great place to start to create wonderful treats.
And on a crisp fall morning there's nothing quite like a fresh-baked muffin.
For this recipe I used Bob's Red Mill gluten free cinnamon raisin bread mix. This is a yeast bread (as a cinnamon raisin bread should be) and the yeast packet is included. With a flour blend of potato starch, sorghum flour, and tapioca flour, this bread mix is great for those who need to eat allergen-free as well as gluten-free. Better yet, the bread mix contains only 1 gram of sugar per serving, making it a healthy choice for breakfast.
Allergen-free Cinnamon Raisin Muffins
- 1 package Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread Mix
- 1-1/2 cups Water
- 1/4 cup Sunflower Oil
- 1/2 cup Flax Seed Gel (to replace the two eggs)*
Spray a muffin tin with cooking oil. Follow the package preparation directions, replacing the eggs with the flax seed gel. Fill the muffin tins 3/4 full, and proof. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes (until a probe thermometer reaches 205-210 degrees).
*To make the flax seed gel, combine 2 tbsp ground flax seeds (or flax seed meal) with 6 tbsp warm water. Let it sit for five minutes to thicken.
I love the versatility of muffins. Besides cutting the baking time to a third of the bread baking time, muffins can easily be stowed in a lunch box, or taken on-the-go.
Colette Martin
In 2001 my son was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis, triggered by allergies to wheat, milk, eggs, soy and peanuts. While this diagnosis ended a ten year struggle to understand his illness, it was the beginning of learning how to eat allergy-free.
At Learning to Eat Allergy-Free I share research, recipes,and tips on eating allergen-free and gluten-free.


text:
The Appellate Moot Court Board is dedicated to fostering the development of appellate advocacy skills among our students. Members of the board receive training from professors and attorneys experienced in legal writing and appellate argument. The Moot Court Board hosts two intramural competitions each year, the Alumni Moot Court Tournament and the Paul A. McLennon, Sr., Honors Moot Court Competition. These competitions are open to all second- and third-year USD law students. The National Criminal Procedure Competition attracts teams from across the United States to compete in a rigorous tournament judged by leading criminal law experts and judicial officers in San Diego. Members of the Executive Board are also selected to compete in intercollegiate national tournaments. Competing members can receive academic credit. Please visit the Appellate Moot Court Board website for more information about the program.
Appellate Moot Court
Organization Contact
Tommy Diamond


text:
How can anyone be an underdog and under-appreciated if they are in the Hall of Fame?
Ball built his entire career by being the underdog and taking on the big schools, the West Coast and even his home state. His first players were mostly converted basketball players whom he had to build into volleyball players. Then he had to build commuter campus IPFW into a program that could challenge Ball State, Ohio State and Penn State to earn respectability.
Then he had to challenge the teams on the West Coast, first by going there and proving his teams could compete and then by inviting them to Fort Wayne where many wish they had never heard of after losing to Ball's teams and his sometimes rabid fan base.
He also had to pull basketball fans away from their TV sets to entice them to come to the Hilliard Gates Athletic Center. There they were part of a packed gym and they saw a real college atmosphere in Fort Wayne for the first time. How strange and exciting it was to see IPFW playing UCLA, USC, Stanford or Penn State and actually even winning a few times!
The volleyball teams gave the athletic department credibility long before anyone thought of trying Division I. How unique was it back then to see IPFW on the bottom scroll of ESPN?
And Ball always had the chip on his shoulder of the underdog. It drove him to compete, to build and to win. It's unlikely there's ever been any sports figure in Fort Wayne who talked at more elementary schools, to more church groups or to more kids. Anywhere he had a chance, Ball would sell his program, introducing the game he loves and creating more friends.
Even today, there is a group of hardcore fans who have supported his program for more than 30 years. They are the real ``Arnie's Army,'' and they have followed him everywhere. They love pulling for their underdogs, revel in every upset and rage at every missed call.
The really amazing thing about Ball isn't that he's been to seven NCAA Tournaments or that he's produced so many all-Americans, guided his son to an Olympic Gold Medal or built a perennially top 10 program in the Midwest. It's that he made us, Fort Wayne, Indiana, care about volleyball.
Fort Wayne draws more volleyball fans to events than anywhere in the country outside of Brigham Young and Hawaii, and for quite a few years was even drawing more than them. It's truly amazing how a niche sport allowed Fort Wayne to watch more than a dozen United States National Team matches and countless college Top 10 showdowns. Olympic teams trained here before heading overseas.
We've become the first community to televise a men's match live on a local station, the first to endow a men's program and the first to almost sell out an NCAA Tournament, and that was in Muncie of all places!
We did all these things because Arnie Ball shared his dream with us and convinced us to come along. This is the one place in the world where he isn't the underdog any longer.
But for goodness sakes, nobody tell him that. They'll likely get a lecture they might not survive. After all, Ball still has some matches he burns to win.
Congratulations, Coach.


text:
Adora Ringer T-shirts are an Idakoos specialtiy! Idakoos has many things to offer. Whether you want to get a Adora Ringer T-shirt for a special occasion, give a Adora T-Shirt as a present or need to represent with a funny Adora Ringer Tee during Holidays or Family and Friends get-togethers, Idakoos is sure to have the right Adora Ringer T-shirt for you! Even if it turns out you can't find the right Adora Ringer Shirt with the perfect design for your mother, father or children (or friends!); Idakoos offers all of its men's women's and children's Adora Ringer T-shirts as Custom Adora T-Shirts. Personalize any Adora Ringer T-shirt the way you want to ensure the perfect gift.
Showing 1 - 24 of 73 Ringer T-Shirt


text:
The average charges for treatment of heart failure and shock in 2011 were $12,295 at Crittenton Hospital in Rochester but $16,710 at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy. Meanwhile, the average Medicare payment to the hospitals was $4,159 to Crittenton and $4,325 to Beaumont.
The average charges and payments are part of a national database released Wednesday through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and part of a push by the Obama administration to make the health care system more affordable by making it more transparent and accountable.
Released was hospital-specific charges for more than 3,000 hospitals across the country that receive inpatient Medicare payments for the top 100 most frequently billed charges.
The average charges and payments by hospital by treatment are searchable below.
The comparisons raise two questions: Why different hospitals in the same area charge sometimes widely different amounts for the same treatment, and whether average statistics gives consumers enough useful information to make informed treatment choices.
"We're in the same market area, but the hospitals and hospital systems are different," says Nick Vitale, executive vice president and chief financial officer at William Beaumont Health System. "There are differences in our cost structures."
As it costs more to build and maintain a six-lane freeway than a two-lane road, so it is with hospitals, Vitale says, noting that Beaumont hospitals are Level 1 trauma hospitals, meaning they treat the most severe cases, and often most expensive.
"A lot of that comes with additional cost than if you look at a community-based hospital that doesn't have the equipment and infrastructure," he says.
Likewise, using average statistics may not be best for consumers since the statistics don't take into account the different missions and structures of hospitals, or the level of illness in patients that they treat.
Such an approach, Vitale says, is similar to a basket containing different kinds of fruit.
"If there were a way to normalize the charges based on the acuity of the hospital -- acuity is a measurement of how sick the patient is -- to reflect whether it's a teaching hospital, that would be a more apples-to-apples comparison," he said.
Penny Crissman, vice president of government affairs at Crittenton, says the average total charges aren't reflective of the actual payments received for treatment.
"We're never reimbursed for the full charge," Crissman says. "It's a lot less than what the charge would be. It's not fair to look at what the charge are. It's not just Medicare. Insurance companies also do not reimburse at the full charge."
Crissman notes that the Michigan Hospital Association says hospitals on average receive 91 cents for every dollar in care the provide.
Having said that, Crissman says transparency is a good thing but that "no patient should just look at cost, they should also look at quality."
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland issued a statement outlining its positions.
"Health care is complex and often expensive. Our charges reflect the cost of being able to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week and these costs must be allocated across all consumers who receive hospital services.
"Our pricing policy calls us to establish a pricing structure that is rational, defensible and fair. The price setting process considers community need, impact of pricing on access, rational business requirements, costs of services, margin requirements, market competitiveness and future capital needs.
"We have a long-standing commitment to the vulnerable in our communities, including the uninsured. We have a financial assistance policy and guidelines that call for special consideration for care of people who are poor and underserved.
"Catholic Health East-Trinity Health and its hospitals support the move away from volume-based payment to value-based payment that aligns rational financial incentives with high-quality care outcomes and would eventually make pricing irrelevant," the statement concluded.
The Michigan Hospital Association says hospitals in the state are committed to providing price information to consumers and have been posting price and quality information since 2008.
The association posts hospital charges, charges by procedure, and hospital quality ratings at www.mhakeystonecenter.org.
"What consumers really want is information about what they are required to pay out-of-pocket, which requires transparency on the part of other stakeholders, particularly insurers," the association says in talking points on its website. "Such activity is underway in Michigan."
Contact Charles Crumm at 248-745-4649, email@example.com or follow him on Twitter @crummc and on Facebook. More information is at oaklandmichiganpolitics.blogspot.com. Keep up with the latest in local news by texting OPNews to 22700. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.


text:
Evolution Hoax
An oath-taking swearing ceremony was held in Washington D.C. for Farah Pandith, the first Special Representative to Muslim Communities appointed by US Department of State.
"This appointment, could not have come at a more opportune time. As President Barack Obama said in Cairo and Ankara, our nation seeks a new beginning with Muslims around the world, a relationship based on mutual interest and mutual respect. This relationship entails that we listen to each other, share our thinking and find common grounds to reach out a future of peace and prosperity." said Hillary Clinton in her lecture at the State Department.


text:
Get the Recipe
Red bean ice cream is a staple of the Asian dessert freezer—the combination of soft, sweet beans with cream, sugar, and sub-zero temperature is delicious, and makes fast converts of even people more accustomed to eating beans in savory rather than sweet form.
In this recipe, I've adapted the red bean model to a Central American context, using black beans instead of red, and flavoring with cinnamon, piloncillo, and a splash of dark rum.
The ice cream is dark and rich, with a delicious bitterness from the piloncillo, an unrefined sugar, and a beautiful dark color from the beans. Another testament to the very happy marriage of beans, sugar, and cream.
Get the Recipe
About the author: Ethan Frisch is the chef and co-mastermind behind Guerrilla Ice Cream. He's traveled around the world (30 countries, 5 continents) and worked as a pastry chef and line cook in some of NYC's great (and not so great) restaurants. He currently lives in London, where he really misses New York City tap water.


text:
Packaged pics inside...
For a great selection of superhero action figures and collectibles, check out fine sponsors BigBadToyStore.com, SuperHeroToys.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, PastGenerationToys.com, SmallJoes.com, and Sekaido.com.
For a great selection of pop culture t-shirts and apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.
Diamond Select Toys provides a look an Iron Man 2 Minimates 4-pack which will be exclusive to Action Figure Xpress. Inside Iron Man fans will fin:
* Racecar Expo Tony Stark
* War Machine
* Iron Man Mark VI
* Nick Fury


text:
Snikiddy Image Downloads
Jalapeño Ranch Veggie Chips
Eat Your Vegetables®
Baked Fries
Cheese Puffs
Snikiddy News
Minestrone with Kale and Quinoa
Adapted from Cooking Classy
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 carrots, diced
2 stalks of celery, diced
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups fresh zucchini, diced
2 cups green beans, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
32 oz low-sodium vegetable broth
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes…
Cranberry and Mandarin Salad with Pecans and Eat Your Vegetables
This recipe is adapted from Delightfulemade.com
2 small heads of lettuce of your choice, rinse it and cut it into small pieces…
2 mandarin oranges, peeled and segmented
11/2 c. fresh cranberries (you can use dried cranberries if you want)
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. water
1/2 c.
Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad with Snikiddy Croutons
Adapted from Crème de la Crumb
6 cups of lettuce greens (you can use your favorite)…
1 Red apple, sliced
1 Green apple, sliced
3/4 cup of chopped Walnuts
1/2 cup Crumbled Feta (or goat cheese would be delicious too)
1/3 cup dried Cranberries
A handful or two of Sea Salt Eat Your
Easy Homemade Tomato Soup
Originally posted by Happy Hooligans
3 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 large Onion, sliced
2 lbs Tomatoes, large dice
3 cloves of Garlic, minced
1 Tbsp uncooked white Rice
1 sprig of Thyme
1 Bay leaf
1 cup Water
Salt and Pepper to taste
Place olive oil and butter…
Skinny Southwest Chicken Dip
Adapted from Yellow Bliss Road
Great for a tailgate or fall picnic!
8 oz Plain Greek Yogurt…
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 small onion, diced
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (Rotisserie chicken works great for this)
2 Roma tomatoes, diced


text:
|June 25, 2003
Volume 5, Issue 13
|Midwifery Today E-News
"Natural Remedies"
Print Page
Remember to share this newsletter. (Please see copyright notice for restrictions.)
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or otherwise change your E-News subscription, click here.
This issue of Midwifery Today E-News is brought to you by:
Look for their ads below!
Midwifery Today Storefront
MORE THAN 50 AUDIOTAPES ABOUT ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES are available at the Midwifery Today Storefront. Click here.
Midwifery Today Conferences
Attend these classes at the midwifery intensive in London, England, June 26–29, 2003.
Send submissions, inquiries, and responses to newsletter items to: firstname.lastname@example.com.
In This Week's Issue:
Quote of the Week
"One of the most important questions midwives can ask [a pregnant woman] is 'How do you see yourself giving birth?'"
— Andrea Mietkiewicz
The Art of Midwifery
I have found an herbal combination to treat very excessive menstrual bleeding that has no estrogenic properties and has worked like a dream: Erigeron cinnamon compound. I used 20 drops in a small amt of water twice a day—the flow stopped immediately after the first dose. Red raspberry had slowed it but didn't stop it.
— Cathy
This compound is an old Eclectic Physician's formula. It's also great for postpartum hemorrhage. I still recommend tonifying the reproductive system and identifying the underlying cause.
— Adrienne, Midwifery Today Forums
ALL BIRTH PRACTITIONERS: The techniques you've perfected over months and years of practice are valuable lessons for others to learn! Share them with E-News readers by sending them to email@example.com.
News Flashes
Researchers at the Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon, England, enlisted 635 postpartum women in three groups for a blind randomized clinical trial to determine if lavender oil helps reduce perineal discomfort following birth. The first group used pure lavender oil, the second group synthetic lavender oil, and the third an inert substance as bath additives to be used daily for 10 days following normal childbirth. The study revealed no statistically significant difference between the three groups. However, the women using lavender oil had lower mean discomfort scores on the third and fifth days than did the two control groups—a time when perineal discomfort generally is high. Evidence suggests that lavender oil used in the bath may help alleviate discomfort at certain times.
— Journal of Advanced Nursing (ENGLAND) Jan 1994
DISCUSSION: What is your experience with natural remedies for postpartum perineal healing? Have you kept statistics you can share?
Natural Remedies
Windflower: Homeopathic Pulsatilla
A person who resonates with the remedy pulsatilla has a mild, yielding, emotional nature. She is affectionate to others and craves attention and affection when she is sad or hurting. Consolation, touch, massage, and emotional support help her feel better. She cries easily, and her symptoms can be temporarily relieved by a good cry. She is flexible in relationships but can be stubborn and tenacious. She is chilly, intolerant of heat, and wants to breathe fresh air. She is not thirsty. She may have sensitive digestion and report stomach pains or bowel problems.
The changeable nature of her symptoms are tricky: labor contractions are weak, then sharp, then close together, then absent. The baby's prenatal position may be stubbornly transverse; the baby may move into many problematic positions.
Pulsatilla is known in midwifery circles as a remedy for turning a baby from breech to vertex. It is useful for malpresentation of the fetus and moves the baby into an optimal birthing position. It also can turn a breech or occiput posterior if the mother and baby would be best served by an occiput anterior presentation at birth. Pulsatilla seems to work only if mother and/or baby are constitutionally pulsatilla.
Pulsatilla can balance women's hormones. It may be indicated for weak or uncoordinated labor contractions, painful after-contractions, or for postpartum hemorrhage, especially with a partially separated placenta. Its hormonal support can help with amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea.
— Excerpted and paraphrased from "Windflower: Homeopathic Pulsatilla," by Peggy Sawyer, Midwifery Today Issue 66
To read this article in its entirety, purchase Midwifery Today Issue 66 by clicking here.
While on an Indian reservation, I had studied with a shaman and observed the use of seaweed to heal burns and deep lacerations. I suggested this alternative to a couple who refused suturing of a second-degree perineal tear. The couple agreed.
I cut a piece of seaweed that was twice the length and the width of the tear, folded it in half, and moistened it with sterile water. I placed it down the center of the tear and brought the edges of the tissue together, carefully aligning them. I also covered the entire length of the tear with a second patch of moistened seaweed. Before departing, I included in my postpartum care plan instructions to replace the outer patch of seaweed each time she used the bathroom. I also instructed her to keep her legs together and to stay in bed as much as possible, caring only for herself and the baby.
Upon my arrival 24 hours later for the first postpartum check, all was well with mom and baby. Breastfeeding was going very well. When I examined the perineal area, I discovered the tissue had healed miraculously well. I could not even distinguish a separation of the tissue where the tear occurred. The mom also had virtually no pain in that area. She mentioned that the salt in the seaweed stung a little when first applied but quickly faded to a healing tingle.
Ever since that birth in 1986, I have been using seaweed patches with great success as an alternative to suturing. I have taught this technique to other midwives and apprentices.
— Excerpted from "A Natural Alternative to Suturing," by Denise Gilpin-Blake, LM, CCE, CLE and Summer Elliot, SM, RN, BSN, Midwifery Today Issue 60
To read this article in its entirety, click here.
"Kangaroo care" for premature infants of Bogota, Colombia, evolved out of necessity. Mothers of premature infants were given their babies to hold 24 hours a day. They slept with them and tucked them under their clothing as if in a kangaroo's pouch. If a baby needed oxygen, it was administered under an oxygen hood placed on the mother's chest.
Doctors who conducted a concurrent study of the kangaroo care noticed a precipitous drop in neonatal mortality. Babies were not only surviving, they were thriving. Currently in Bogota, babies who are born as early as ten weeks before their due date are going home within twenty-four hours! The criteria for these babies are that they be alive, able to breathe on their own, are pink and able to suck. However, their weight is followed closely, and they can be gavage-fed if necessary.
Dr. Susan Ludington is one of the people who have been most instrumental in bringing kangaroo care to the United States. She has been intimately involved in many research projects, and her work is having a powerful, positive impact on premature babies and their families. In the United States, the few hospitals that regularly use kangaroo care protocols have mothers or fathers "wear" their babies for two to three hours per day, skin-to-skin. The baby is naked except for a diaper, and something must cover his or her back: either the parent's clothing or a receiving blanket folded in fourths. The baby is in a mostly upright position against the parent's chest.
The benefits of kangaroo care are numerous: The baby has a stable heart rate (no bradycardia), more regular breathing (a 75 percent decrease in apneic episodes), improved oxygen saturation levels, no cold stress, longer periods of sleep, more rapid weight gain, more rapid brain development, reduction of "purposeless" activity, decreased crying, longer periods of alertness, more successful breastfeeding episodes, and earlier hospital discharge. Benefits to the parents include "closure" over having a baby in NICU; feeling close to their babies (earlier bonding); having confidence that they can care for their baby, even better than hospital staff; gaining confidence that their baby is well cared for; and feeling in control, not to mention significantly decreased cost!
— Excerpted from "Kangaroo Care: Why Does It Work?" by Holly Richardson, Midwifery Today Issue 44
To read this article in its entirety, click here.
September 17–21, 2003 — Santa Monica, CA
California Family Health Council, EPA Division, 492 Division Street, Campbell, CA 95008
Bargains and Specials!
Save on Midwifery Today Books!
Save $3 on any ONE of these essential books:
Package prices are always less than the same items purchased
Other Products and Services of Interest
Other Products and Services of Interest
What is authentic midwifery? How can we move toward it? Find out what Michel Odent has to say in "The Farmer and the Obstetrician." Click here to order your copy.
Forum Talk
What do you take with you to a birth? Anything you couldn't do without? Do you prefer oil or powder for massage?
— Camie
TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCE ABOUT THIS TOPIC, click here. **PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR RESPONSES TO E-NEWS!**
FROM THE FORUMS: Midwives' favorite words for "vagina" or words they've heard others use: daisy, pink bits, yoni, bum, crotch, bottom, vulva, bits n pieces, cha-cha. Have you used/heard others?
The Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing
The Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing is a private, non-profit, distance-education graduate school offering directed web-based learning certification for nurse-midwifery, family nurse practitioner and OB/GYN nurse practitioner with a 9-credit Master's Degree completion at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing Case Western Reserve University. Visit us at www.midwives.org or phone us (606) 672-2312.
Question of the Week
Q: What can be done for a broken coccyx? I am six weeks postpartum and still cannot sit without pain. I had a vaginal delivery. I have to sit on a pillow with the back cut out and it still hurts.
SEND YOUR RESPONSE to firstname.lastname@example.com with "Question of the Week" in the subject line.
Question of the Week Responses
Q: I was supposed to have a homebirth and ended up having a c-section because she was breech. When my midwife looked at the afterbirth she said the umbilical cord was short so the baby wasn't able to turn around to be born naturally at home. I'm puzzled why the cord was too short. I maintain a vegan diet. My entire pregnancy was very healthy, and my daughter weighed 8 lbs 12 oz at birth.
— Sue Gallant
A: Why does one woman's placenta develop on the right side of her uterus and another's on the left? Why is one child born with hair and another practically bald? Why does one baby prefer resting on its right side and another one on its left? Most moms want to do the most they can for their babies while they are in the womb and sometimes end up taking on too much responsibility and guilt. Not every single thing related to the development and growth of a baby can be determined and manipulated by the mom. Sometimes the best we can do is the best we can do.
— Joleen Streit, HypnoBirthing educator, doula
A: My baby had a particularly short cord of 20 cm, and I would be particularly interested in knowing if this runs in families. I had to have a c-section as my baby was breech. My waters broke and I did not go into labour after a trial.
— Rebekah Clarkson
Editor's Note: Responses to any Question of the Week may be sent to E-News at any time. Write to firstname.lastname@example.com. Please indicate the topic of discussion *and the E-News issue number* in the subject line or in the message.
Exclusively on the BirthLove site: Gloria Lemay, celebrated midwife and teacher, is offering advanced online doula education. She covers a vast amount of topics that today's doulas and student midwives need to know: herpes simplex II, medical terminology, pediatric exam of the newborn, prenatal diagnostic tests, business and professionalism, pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes and so much more. The course is free for all BirthLove members. Check it out! www.birthlove.com/glo_doula.html
[Editor's Note: The following has been edited because of space limitations in E-News.]
New York-Presbyterian Hospital (NYPH) recently announced its decision to relieve their CNMs of delivery duties. The service was established almost 50 years ago, and as of May 1, 2003, comprised 30 nurse-midwives. These midwives provide prenatal care through private practice, the NYC Maternal Infant Care (MIC) program, and through Presbyterian's own ambulatory clinics. Births have been attended at a community hospital, the Allen Pavilion, since the late 80s, with excellent results. These midwives have not exactly lost their jobs—they will still be expected to provide prenatal and well-woman care through the clinics—but they cannot attend the births of the women who have been seeing them throughout pregnancy.
According to an American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) spokesperson, the announcement explained that the Allen Pavilion patients are "not appropriate for midwifery care" and applied to midwives bringing private patients to this hospital. An assessment of risk status determined that only 17% of women presenting at the Allen Pavilion were eligible for midwifery care. She stated that increasing use of Pitocin and rising cesarean section as well as age and medical co-factors led to her decision to terminate any labor management by midwives as of October 1, 2003. No data supporting this justification have been presented to the midwives despite multiple requests. Following the midwives' request for a multi-disciplinary task force evaluation the midwives were told, No discussion, no compromise.
The action may involve significant Medicaid fraud charges brought against Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital stemming from the practice of billing Medicaid for births attended by CNMs as if they had been attended by obstetricians who were not present, complete with economic incentives for obstetricians to sign the charts as if they were present.
ACNM's executive director states, "The 30 midwives employed at NYPH are currently delivering 1500 newborns, assisting physicians and nurses with the care of many more women in labor, and providing over 25,000 prenatal and family planning visits per year. The published literature on pregnancy outcomes for women who receive care by nurse-midwives, even those whose socio-economic status place them at increased risk for poor outcomes, is filled with evidence that nurse-midwives provide a safe model of care."
As few as six or seven obstetrician gynecologists may be hired to take the place of 30 midwives. One result is loss of continuity of care from clinic to hospital. All women will be considered high risk when they are admitted.
Please speak out on behalf of the women in Washington Heights and Inwood in New York City, women like you who deserve to have the option of midwifery care in labor and birth.
— Susan Hodges, "gatekeeper"
A cystocele occurs when the bladder (cyst) prolapses (falls) into the vagina. In the traditional birth position (either flat or semisitting) the bladder blocks the birth canal, making pushing ineffective, not to mention extremely painful! A woman with a cystocele needs to get into the hands and knees (H&K) position upon full dilation to let the bladder fall forward and unblock the birth canal. Once the baby's head is past the bladder, she may then stay on her H&K or assume any other position of choice for the actual delivery.
— Marlene
I gave birth almost four weeks ago in a hospital. My doctor is surprisingly noninterventionist. He believes that medical procedures are there for emergency cases only and not for routine use. I had planned to avoid epidural and induction that are so common in hospital births.
My contractions began on Saturday evening but were not intense or frequent until Monday evening. I was admitted to the hospital at that point and stayed overnight. Despite staying active and being upright a good amount of the time, I did not dilate any more all night, so I was given the option in the morning to be induced or go home. The doctor offered to rupture my membranes to see whether labour would progress, and if it didn't, I would have to be induced. I declined and went home.
I returned to the hospital on Tuesday evening. A vaginal exam showed that I had not dilated further all day (I had been at 3 cm dilation since Monday evening). I was sent home again.
On Wednesday afternoon I went to my doctor's private office, and he found that I was approximately 7 cm dilated. He recommended I go home, eat something, and meet him at the hospital a little later.
At 5:30 pm he arrived at the hospital and ruptured my membranes. Labour seemed to be going well until my contractions started becoming less frequent. In the end, I had to be induced, and the pain of the more intense contractions, combined with my physical exhaustion, required an epidural. Luckily, it wore off before the final pushing stage, so I was able to feel the actual birth of my daughter. Even during the epidural I could feel the pressure of the contractions, so I knew when to breathe and when to push.
After I delivered my baby, my uterus never contracted again. I had to push the placenta out myself, and then I began to hemorrhage. I required a final large shot of oxytocin to stop the bleeding. At that point I was glad I already had an IV in place.
What causes the "prolonged latency" stage I experienced, and what could I have done to avoid this situation? What would have happened if I had not been at a hospital, but at home with a midwife? Would I have been one of the very rare casualties? I am 23 years old, was in fantastic shape before and through my pregnancy, watched my diet carefully, took vitamin and mineral supplements as well as essential fatty acids (evening primrose oil). What should I do differently next time?
— Jennifer
Editor's Note: Only letters sent to the E-News official e-mail address, firstname.lastname@example.com, will be considered for inclusion. Letters sent to ANY OTHER e-mail addresses will not be considered.
"The Global Leader in Natural Health Education"
Save 40% off our accredited home study programs! Enhance your practice or start an exciting new career in the field of Holistic Health.
Become a Nutritional Consultant, Master Herbalist or Holistic Health Practitioner in as little as six months.
Please visit our website at www.gifam.org for more information.
Question of the Quarter
We Need Answers!
We hope you'll take a minute to consider the Question of the Quarter for Issue 67. Responses are subject to editing for space and style. Try to keep the word count under 400. If we choose your response, you'll receive a free issue.
Send e-mail responses to: email@example.com. Be sure to include a postal address.
Theme for Issue No. 67: Fear in Midwifery and Birth
Please submit your response by July 8, 2003 to firstname.lastname@example.com. (All responses are subject to editing for space and style.)
Michigan School of Traditional Midwifery 6th annual Midwifery Skills Workshop August 17-20, 2003. Early registration discount extended through June 1, 2003: $335.00, $395 thereafter. Registration includes lodging, meals, workshop materials. For more information visit www.traditionalmidwife.com or call 989-736-6583.
Remember to share this newsletter
You may forward it to as many friends and colleagues as you wish—it's free!
Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, or otherwise change your E-News subscription? Then please visit our easy-to-use subscription management page.
On this page you will be able to:
If you have difficulty, please send a complete description of the problem, including any error messages, to our newsletter.
Learn even more about birth!
Subscribe to our quarterly print publication, Midwifery Today.
Mention code 940.
E-mail firstname.lastname@example.com or call 1-800-743-0974 to learn how to order.
Or go here to subscribe online.
How to order our products mentioned in this issue:
Secure online shopping
We accept Visa and MasterCard at the Midwifery Today Storefront.
Order by postal mail
We accept Visa; MasterCard; and check or money order in U.S. funds.
Midwifery Today, Inc.
Order by phone or fax
We accept Visa and MasterCard.
Phone (U.S. and Canada; orders only): 1-800-743-0974
Phone (worldwide): +1 541-344-7438
Fax: +1 541-344-1422
Editorial submissions, questions or comments for E-News:
Editorial for print magazine:
For all other matters:
All questions and comments submitted to Midwifery Today E-News become the property of Midwifery Today, Inc. They may be used either in full or as an excerpt, and will be archived on the Midwifery Today Web site.
Midwifery Today E-News is published electronically every other Wednesday. We invite your questions, comments and submissions. We'd love to hear from you! Write to us at: firstname.lastname@example.com. Please send submissions in the body of your message and not as attachments.
This publication is presented by Midwifery Today, Inc., for the sole purpose of disseminating general health information for public benefit. The information contained in or provided through this publication is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be, and is not provided as, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Midwifery Today, Inc., does not assume liability for the use of this information in any jurisdiction or for the contents of any external Internet sites referenced, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advertised in this publication. Always seek the advice of your midwife, physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment or for answers to any questions you may have regarding any medical condition.
Copyright Notice
The content of E-News is copyrighted by Midwifery Today, Inc., and, occasionally, other rights holders. You may forward E-News by e-mail an unlimited number of times, provided you do not alter the content in any way and that you include all applicable notices and disclaimers. You may print a single copy of each issue of E-News for your own personal, noncommercial use only, provided you include all applicable notices and disclaimers. Any other use of the content is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of Midwifery Today, Inc., and any other applicable rights holders.
© 2003 Midwifery Today, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Midwifery Today: Each One Teach One!