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Davis gets back to basics with swing
BALTIMORE -- Chris Davis' batting average has plummeted all the way down to .205. He's homered just twice since June 14. His defense has been good, but in almost every other way he hasn't been the player the Orioles expected him to be after his MVP-caliber season a year ago.
Before batting practice on Wednesday, Davis went back to the basics. As Buck Showalter looked on, the slugger set a ball up on a tee and practiced hitting balls on the outer half of the plate.
"A number of swings this year I've really been pulling off the ball or hooking the ball," Davis said, "and that was something that in the past I've always done really well, going the other way, staying through the ball."
He doesn't need to relearn how to hit the ball the other way, he said, but he needs to get better at staying through the ball to drive the ball.
A handful of times during Tuesday's 8-3 win against the Rangers, Davis had pitches up and away that a year ago he would've driven into the seats. This year, balls like those have typically become foul balls.
"That's when you know you're not right," he said. "Those pitches, when you're going good, are driven the other way."
He's still been able to pull inside pitches over the fence, but opponents have responded by shifting him harder than ever.
In the fifth inning on Tuesday, Davis ripped a line drive toward the first-base line. Texas second baseman Rougned Odor was shifted more than usual, though, and snared the ball out of the air.
During his final at-bat in the eighth inning, Davis belted a fly ball to center field. Ranger outfielder Daniel Robertson got to it before having the ball bounce off his glove. The play was ruled an error, but Showalter looked at that as a promising sign. He said it was one the best hit balls Davis had in days.
If things are starting to turn for Davis, they're not turning easily. Publicly, he said he's content as long as he's playing every day and the team's winning. Privately, Showalter said, it's been tougher.
"Don't think for a second it's not frustrating for him," the O's manager said. "I look at it with good players like him that somebody's going to pay. Somebody's going to pay down the line. It bodes well for us."
David Wilson is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


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Traffick began in 1998 as a humble "guide to web portals"
called PortalHub, the brainchild of web developer Cory Kleinschmidt
(please don't use Archive.org to see what it used to look like).
These were the days when the stock prices of Yahoo and Excite
would leap by $20 in a single day.
We knew that we were in store for great things, but no one knew
exactly how it would unfold. Portals were creating useful tools
that were allowing people to communicate, to learn and to conduct
research in new and magical ways. Oh, and did I mention that everything
was free?
In early 1999, Cory met Andrew Goodman, and the two decided to
reinvent PortalHub with a snappier name, and Traffick.com was born.
Why Traffick? Back then, as it is now, the most trafficked sites
were the big players that we studied and thought would revolutionize
the world of information. Web traffic, sometimes measured in the
now-archaic term "eyeballs,"
were the currency of the New Economy, as was giddily chronicled
by burgeoning print magazines like the Industry Standard.
When the dot com boom went bust in early 2000 after investors
started to demand real, sustainable business models that would
lead to profitability, we kept the faith and never wavered from
our belief that portals and search engines would soon parlay their
audiences into real companies.
Now, we're charting the rise of search engines with a special
eye toward the business side and how search engine marketing is
changing how everything and anything is sold and marketed using
the internet. We were there when pay-per-click advertising gained
credibility and helped save free content online thanks to Yahoo's
Overture unit (then called GoTo.com) and Google's AdWords program.
What began as a hobby has turned into gainful employment, and
we feel fortunate to be part of this new world. What will the future
hold? We don't know, but keep reading Traffick for our unique brand
of commentary and prognostication!
Andrew co-founded
Traffick in September 1999 and can be summed up as a "political
scientist turned internet analyst."
In other words, he's been trafficking in Big Ideas since Jerry
Yang was knee high to a Commodore PET. Currently Andrew is editor
for Traffick and president of Page Zero Media, a search
engine marketing firm in Toronto.
His articles and insights about internet navigation technology,
online communities and the evolution of new media are now widely
cited and published in books, magazines and newspapers.
Andrew is considered by many to be one of the world's foremost
Google AdWords experts. His popular Google
AdWords guide, 21 Ways to Maximize ROI with Google AdWords,
is an e-book published in 2002 that has sold over 6,000 copies.
It has been updated each year to reflect the latest updates to
His latest book, Winning
Results with Google AdWords, is a complete guide to
AdWords published by McGraw Hill in August 2005. It is designed
to serve as a thorough introduction to pay-per-click advertising
as well as an in-depth guide for power users.
As founder and principal of Page Zero Media, Andrew and his co-horts
help businesses of all sizes achieve measurable results through
pay-per-click search engine advertising. Page Zero specializes
in Google AdWords optimization, but utilizes a wide variety of
other search engine marketing methods to deliver results.
Andrew is married to Carolyn and lives in Toronto. For more information,
visit Page Zero's website.
Kleinschmidt co-founded Traffick.com with Andrew in September 1999
and has supervised its design and content management as well as
writing for the site.
Until recently he was Director of Internet Technology at Jackson
Healthcare Solutions, a healthcare technology investment group
based in Atlanta. He recently joined Page Zero to head up web development
and related initiatives.
Cory's deep toolset includes competencies as a manager of
growing software development teams, web design chops, business
planning, and web programming. For Page Zero clients, Cory oversees
a diverse set of services including full-scale web architecture
and development, usability advising, landing page testing, analytics
tool installation, and search engine optimization. He is also charged
with supervising specialized content projects and hacking in-house
tools for campaign management through the Google API.
Cory's B.A. is in English and Journalism, from the University
of Missouri. Since then he has amassed a variety of web development
certifications. He is married with three children, and lives in
St. Louis.
And for a glowing review of the pioneering 1st ed. of the book, check out this review, by none other than Google's Matt Cutts.
Home | Categories | Archive | About
Us | Internet Marketing Consulting | Contact Us
© 1999 - 2013 Traffick.com. All Rights Reserved


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The Joe Coffee line is no-nonsense, great coffee, for a modest "average Joe" price. Whether you prefer something rich and bold, or a little nutty, you're sure to fall in love with one of these blends.
The Joe Promise
We 100% guarantee our quality and if you are not satisfied with our coffee in any way, please contact our Online Customer Service Representative directly at 800.968.1222 ext. 2453. We will work to find your perfect cup!


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At least for now, the recreational use of marijuana is legal in the states of Washington and Colorado.
The success of these ballot measures last week vindicates the efforts to bring the issue to public debate by U.S. Rep.-elect Robert "Beto" O'Rourke of El Paso, and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, a 2012 presidential candidate.
A similar measure in Oregon failed Nov. 6, but the fact that 17 states and Washington, D.C., have eased laws on marijuana means more states could go the way of Washington and Colorado in the future.
Several states have decriminalized, stopping short of full legalization, the possession of small amounts of marijuana. In Nebraska, for example, the penalty for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana for a first offense is an infraction and up to a $300 fine.
"This is a reflection that our well-intentioned drug control policy is not working," said O'Rourke, who often caught criticism by law enforcement advocates for his views on marijuana. "Despite $1 trillion spent over the last 40 years, despite imprisoning more of our population than any country on the face of the planet, despite tens of thousands of deaths in Mexico over the last five years, we are not succeeding in keeping marijuana out of our schools and keeping the profits away from transnational criminal organizations."
O'Rourke, a former City Council member and recently elected congressman, also said that "as the father of three children, and as someone who wants to avoid more death and terrorism in Mexico, I think the federal government should begin a discussion about how we move past this failed policy and begin to look at the alternatives that will do a better job of keeping drugs out of our schools and cut billions of dollars of funding from the cartels."
The U.S. Department of Justice issued a short statement in response to questions on how the federal government plans to respond to the new marijuana laws in Washington and Colorado: "The Department's enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged," according to DOJ's statement. "In enacting the Controlled Substances Act, Congress determined that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance. We are reviewing the ballot initiatives and have no additional comment at this time."
Citizens Against the Legalization of Marijuana (CALM) based in California is opposed to the new state laws.
"We affirm the 2006 (FDA) finding and vast scientific evidence that marijuana causes harm," CALM said on its website. "The normalization, expanded use, and increased availability of marijuana in our communities are detrimental to our youth, to public health, and to the safety of our society."
Johnson, who ran for president as a member of the Libertarian Party, was a Republican when he served as New Mexico's governor twice, from 1995 to 2003. Back then, he advocated decriminalizing marijuana in New Mexico, but his proposal did not get far.
On his presidential campaign website, Johnson said "marijuana is our nation's No.1 cash crop despite the prohibition; it will always be available to those who really wish to use it."
Johnson also said that legalizing marijuana "would instantly and dramatically improve conditions on our southern border. Marijuana is Mexico's No. 1 illegal export; legalizing it would result in dramatically reducing the power and wealth of the drug lords, and instantly helping to restore stability in a nation whose stability and sustainability is truly vital to our economic and national security interests. If we truly wish to reduce border violence, take the profit out of it."
Later this month, Mexico's President-elect Enrique Pe?a Nieto is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama, and the topic of marijuana-legalization in Colorado and Washington is expected to come up.
Drug-smuggling at the border has been a source of friction in U.S.-Mexico relations for decades, and in recent years unprecedented levels of drug violence in Mexico has been a concern for both nations.
Currently in Mexico, it is not against the law for individuals to possess small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. It is illegal to produce and traffic these drugs.
According to the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMC), marijuana legalization in the U.S. states could reduce the profits of Mexican drug cartels by more than $2 billion.
"(Legalization) would pose the most important structural shock to drug-trafficking in a generation, since the massive arrival of cocaine in the late eighties," the IMC said in is 47-page report titled "If Our Neighbors Legalize."
"The Sinaloa drug cartel would be the most affected, it could lose up to 50 percent of its income. The Caballeros Templarios (Knights Templar cartel), would also be affected, and the rest would also see moderate losses," the report said.
The Mexican states that would be most affected if all or any of the three U.S. states vote to legalize marijuana are Chihuahua, Durango and Sinaloa, and possibly Michoacan, Guerrero and Oaxaca.
Drug kingpin Joaqu?n "Chapo" Guzm?n is the current leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, which waged a brutal four-year war against rivals of the Carrillo Fuentes (Ju?rez) drug cartel that left more than 11,000 people dead.
Other experts in the past have alleged that Mexico's economy depends heavily on the drug trade.
Fernando Alvarez, a math consultant and community activist in Ju?rez, said he agrees that legalization would have an economic impact on Mexico. "Unfortunately, many people who are struggling with poverty turn to the drug trade for employment, as farmers, farm laborers, transporters and smugglers," Alvarez said. "The Mexican government needs to invest in industries that will create new jobs for these people."
Five years after Johnson ended his governorship, New Mexico enacted its first medical marijuana program, which some consider to be a step toward legalization. New Mexico's Medical Cannabis Program, which began in 2007, had 8,059 active participants as of Oct. 31, according to the state Department of Health.
"The program is accomplishing its goals," said Kenny Vigil, spokesman for the state health department in Santa Fe. "The department is committed to ensuring that the needs of qualified patients are met, while also administering the program in a way that is sustainable and that ensures that the program is capable of being regulated."
The top qualifying condition to participate in the program is post traumatic stress disorder (PSTD), with 3,350 patients claiming this as their medical reason, followed by 2,287 patients who claimed chronic pain, and 564 patients who have cancer. Recently, the state fended off a challenge against allowing PSTD for medical marijuana.
The state's four counties with the highest number of patients are in Bernalillo County (2,925), Santa Fe County (1,143), Sandoval County (578) and Do?a Ana County (533).
Besides Do?a Ana, other Southern New Mexico counties also have medical marijuana patients, Luna (51), Otero (131) and Sierra (142).
Vigil said that in New Mexico, a licensed nonprofit producer can possess no more than 150 plants, and a qualified patient who holds a personal production license can possess no more than four plants and 12 seedlings.
"Qualified patients can also possess no more than six ounces of useable cannabis and a three-month supply of topical treatment," Vigil said. "The program in New Mexico is regarded as a model for the rest of the nation."
New Mexico officials said the program has avoided any problems with federal authorities by limiting the number of plants produced, and exerting tight controls to avoid drug violations.
Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com; 546-6140.


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Shanghai Film Festival Closing Ceremony
Shanghai – The curtain has fallen to the lasting applause and sparkles at the 9-day-long 17th Shanghai International Film Festival.
On the night of the closing ceremony, Ms. Gong Li, the first ever film actress to serve as the President of the Golden Goblet jury panel, and the global ambassador of Piaget, led the panel to present the eight awards to the winners.
In company with Gong Li on her busy schedule, Piaget witnessed the perfect conclusion of the Festival.
Related pieces
6.22.14 Cinema


text:
$14 for Two Daily Museum Admissions (Up to $28 Value)
Admission grants visitors access to the museum's exhibits, including installations about prehistoric Florida, animal encounters, several flight simulators, and a living Atlantic coral reef.
Museum of Discovery and Science
The Museum of Discovery and Science ensures that adults as well as children have opportunities to explore diverse fields in the natural and physical sciences through myriad hands-on and immersive exhibits.
Size: Two floors of exciting and informative exhibits
Eye Catcher: In the 34,000-square-foot Eco-Discovery Center, kids can dig for fossils and face a sabertoothed tiger, gawk at a 12-foot mammoth, watch otters, and feel hurricane-force winds
Don't Miss: In Go Green, visitors follow the lead of Harry the Heap, a recycling robot that shows the benefits of eco-consciousness by explaining landfills, composting, and more
Sit Back: The museum's five-story IMAX screen flickers with both feature films as well as films that complement museum exhibits
Special Programs: Summer camps immerse kids in STEM learning through fun activities


text:
The Legal department is staffed by both attorney and non-attorney professionals, and has an active undergraduate recruiting program.
We offer ten-week summer internships for sophomores and juniors and full-time opportunities for graduating seniors. These positions, referred to as "analyst" positions, can be the starting place for a career at Goldman Sachs.
What You Would Be Doing
Summer analysts receive a comprehensive professional and educational experience in our dynamic and team-oriented department. Our program offers real work responsibilities in a specific practice area and networking opportunities throughout the department and firm. At the end of the summer, you'll have a strong sense of accomplishment and an in-depth understanding of what it is like to work in our highly-charged professional environment. For many, it provides the path to a full-time position upon graduation.
READ MORE: Our Legal Analyst program [PDF]


text: The Valley Photo Center (VPC) in Springfield, MA is pleased to announce an exhibit of the photography of Bob and Laura Carnie (yes the infamous Mr Carnie!!). The exhibit will run from Oct. 16 through Nov 24, 2012. Gallery hours are from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Tuesday through Friday, and Saturdays by special arrangement (by sending me a PM). The Tower Square complex is closed on Sundays. An artists' reception is scheduled for Sat Oct 20 from 12:00 - 3:00. The VPC is located on the mezzanine level (2nd floor) of Tower Square at 1500 Main Street, Springfield, MA. Street parking is free on weekends.


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Get an overview of this hotel4-star London hotel in City of Westminster, walk to Victoria Palace Theatre
Popular property highlights
Located in City of Westminster, this hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Victoria Palace Theatre, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey. Tate Britain and Houses of Parliament are also within 15 minutes.
Hotel Features
This smoke-free hotel features a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and a coffee shop/café. WiFi in public areas is free. Additionally, 24-hour room service, meeting rooms, and concierge services are onsite.
Room Amenities
All 76 rooms offer free WiFi and free wired Internet, plus 24-hour room service and TVs with satellite channels. Guests will also find coffee makers, free newspapers, and hair dryers.
Guest Highlights
- Central, quiet location
- Overall value of stay
- Helpful staff
- Clean, quiet guestrooms
- Overall room comfort
Grange Rochester
Renovations & Closures
- Swimming pool
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
The hotel offers a restaurant and a coffee shop/café. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Public areas are equipped with complimentary wired and wireless Internet access. 2 meeting rooms are available. This business-friendly hotel also offers tour/ticket assistance, multilingual staff, and concierge services.
Grange Rochester is a smoke-free property.
- Express check-out
- 24-hour front desk
- Total number of rooms - 76
- Number of floors - 5
- Elevator/lift
- Restaurant
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Coffee shop or café
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Concierge services
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Express check-in
- Free WiFi
- Free wired Internet
- Luggage storage
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Laundry facilities
- Meeting rooms
- Multilingual staff
- Porter/bellhop
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Number of meeting rooms - 2
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Room Amenities
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Room service (24 hours)
- Free newspaper
- Coffee/tea maker
- Daily housekeeping
- Turndown service
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Shower/tub combination
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Satellite TV service
- In-room safe
- Television
- Desk
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Free WiFi
- Free wired Internet
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
Where to Eat
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 8 AM and 10 AM.
Pavilion Restaurant - This restaurant specializes in French cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Rochester Wine Bar - This wine bar serves light fare only.
Lords Lounge Bar - This pub serves light fare only.
24-hour room service is available.
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Check-in time ends at midnight
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- No onsite parking is available.
Optional extras
- Fee for buffet breakfast: GBP 20 per person (approximately)
- Rollaway beds are available for an additional fee
Hotel Name
- Grange Rochester
- Grange Rochester Hotel
- Grange Rochester Hotel London
- Grange Rochester London
- Rochester Grange
- Grange Rochester Hotel London, England
- Hotel Grange Rochester


text:
Iconic Justice League of America heroes get a modern update...
For a great selection of superhero action figures and collectibles, check out fine sponsors BigBadToyStore.com, Urban-Collector.com, BriansToys.com, DollsAmerica.com, ClarkToys.com, ToyWiz.com, VNCToys.com, PastGenerationToys.com, MonkeyDepot.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, YesAnimation.com, and SuperheroToys.com.
For a great selection of pop culture t-shirts and apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.
DC Comics is well known for its Crisis storylines. These are almost always Earth (or even universe) shattering events that forever change the fabric of the DC Universe. 2004 saw a different kind of crisis in Identity Crisis, a 7 issue limited series focusing on the Justice League, very adult themes, and some big questions. When family members of Justice League members are murdered, past secrets are brought into the light of day and their consequences cannot be ignored. Ultimately a tale of human tragedy and weakness, the Identity Crisis series gave readers new perspectives on some of their favorite heroes, including Superman and Green Arrow.


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NewsLights, camera, Action! Pools of Greve in Chianti lands a reality Belgian - 24/8/2012
Lights, camera, Action! Pools of Greve in Chianti lands a reality Belgian
Simona Courses Tuesday, 21 August 2012 09:15
agricoltoreIl reality 'L'amour est dans le pré' arrives in Greve in Chianti. Saturday, August 25 shooting in the pools.
THE REALITY. The protagonists of the transmission are farmers looking for his wife. None of them have had too much time to love, saw the hard work in the fields. Are then presented to the public a number of farmers and unmarried female viewers interested in one of them can send them a letter. The farmer, of all the letters that come to him, he will choose ten with which will have an appointment. At the end of the meetings the farmer will have to choose two women to spend a week at his farm to know each other better.
THE BIRTH. The format originated in England with the title of 'Farmer wants a wife'. Adaptation of this came in 2006 in France under the name of 'L'amour est dans le pré'. After six successful seasons, the reality in 2011 is made in Belgium.
THE BET. So the Belgian TV arrives in Greve in Chianti to shoot an episode of the reality show and has chosen as the location of the swimming events of the farmers. The municipality and the direction of the pools Greve proudly welcomed this proposal. Saturday 25 pool, as well as the cool summer, will then also open to provide an interesting look at the reality.
Read the other news >>
A tasting of ChiantiChianti's flavours and colours tasting local wine and food during a fast but deep immersion into this land at Villa Vignamaggio (2 nights)
History and castles in TuscanyYou'll visit timeless walled town that look like the XIV century and villages settled on top of the most beautiful hillside of Italy (3 nights)
Florence and ChiantiVisit the famous town of Florence and explore some of the most beautiful castles and medieval villages of Chianti region (4 nights)
Chianti Extra Virgin Olive OilA visit to a local olive oil mill with a tasting itinerary and several olive oil types to taste, sensory analysis and a complete explanation of all the olive oil making process. (2 nights)
Join our fan page on Facebook, get resources, read our latest notes and connect with other people interested in Chianti, Tuscany and Italy.


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Mayor Gray proposes to elect attorney general
WASHINGTON (AP) - District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray has proposed a bill that would pave the way for the district to have an elected attorney general starting in 2015.
District voters decided in 2010 that the attorney general should be elected and independent of mayoral control.
The bill would change the structure of the city's executive branch. Among other changes, the bill would alter the chain of command for attorneys in executive-branch agencies. Instead of reporting to the attorney general, they would report to their agencies' directors.
The primary for the city's first attorney general election will be in April 2014, followed by a general election in November. Gray is asking the D.C. Council to approve the bill quickly so the reforms will be in place before candidates emerge.


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[Pages 575-576]
This list was written by Rabbi Dov Burstein in 1969. Subsequently we received the sad news of the passing of the author. He died in Tel Aviv on April 8, 1971 at the age of 78.
[Pages 577-578]
The author of the article, attorney Michael Landau, was born in Romania in 1895 in the town of Harlau.
[Pages 581-582]
JewishGen, Inc. makes no representations regarding the accuracy of
the translation. The reader may wish to refer to the original material
for verification.
JewishGen is not responsible for inaccuracies or omissions in the original work and cannot rewrite or edit the text to correct inaccuracies and/or omissions.
Our mission is to produce a translation of the original work and we cannot verify the accuracy of statements or alter facts cited.
Yedintsy, Moldova Yizkor Book Project JewishGen Home Page
Copyright © 1999-2017 by JewishGen, Inc.
Updated 6 Mar 2004 by LA


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Holiday Fair 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Mansfield Art Center
700 Marion Avenue
Mansfield , OH 44906
Presented By: Mansfield Art Center
Start your Christmas shopping at the Mansfield Art Center's annual Holiday Fair. Holiday themed items, ceramic, glass, jewelry, wall art and other media for sale. Unique and original one of a kind presents. The Holiday Fair runs from November 19th through December 20, 2011.
Tuesday - Saturday Hours are: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday - Noon- 5:00 pm
Preview party is November 19, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. and is reserved for members, guests and Holiday Fair participating artists.
« Back to Calendar


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Giumarra Cos., Los Angeles, has hired Gary Caloroso to focus on avocado and asparagus sales as director of marketing in its Escondido, Calif. based-office.
Caloroso will work with retail and foodservice customers, commodity boards and additional third parties to develop promotions for Nature's Partner branded avocados and asparagus, according to a news release.
Caloroso most recently was an executive director for GolinHarris, according to the release. He also had positions with Augustine Ideas, Sahlman Williams Public Relations and Marketing and Porter Novelli.
"Gary has more than 20 years of strong marketing and merchandising experience," Bruce Dowhan, general manager of Giumarra Agricom, said in the release. "His creativity and understanding of promotions will be essential to our growing team as we continue to explore ways to add customer value to our avocado and asparagus programs."


text:
LGBTQI Terminology
Because LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex) related terminology is rapidly changing and represents many different communities we offer multiple resources for you here to begin to explore LGBTQI terminology. Note when dealing with individuals it is important to use the terminology and pronouns with which they most identify.
- A list of definitions of some LGBTQIA and related terms from the Gender Equity Resource Center at Berkeley can be found here.
- GLAAD's Transgender Glossary of Terms
- GLAAD's Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Glossary of Terms
- The Gender Centre's Terminology of Intersex is a useful page laying out what language specifically regarding intersex individuals is correct and appropriate, and why.
- GLAAD's An Ally's Guide to Terminology: Talking about LGBT People and Equality lays out terms to use and terms to avoid, and why. This is a great way to introduce your self to appropriate language regarding LGBT folks.


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Topic: i need hope
since we were told that my dad's cancer has recurred I have been feeling pretty low. It would be great to hear from anybody who has knowledge/experience of when the cancer comes back/spreads and how they fought back, the drs give such gloomy predictions. my dad starts gemcitabine and carboplatin on tuesday. he has been so brave and through so much - we need some hope.


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A WINCHESTER hairdresser is retiring after more than 50 years in the city.
Aubrey Monahan started cutting hair in Winchester 53 years ago as a 16-year-old apprentice, earning £1 per week for the Andre Bernard firm.
Now Aubrey, 68, and his wife Barbara are selling up their Southgate Street salon, Aubrey at Marcia Gray, to enjoy their retirement.
He said: "With immense regret my wife and I have decided it's time to retire. I love Winchester and Winchester has been good to me and I have always tried to give something back to the city."
Aubrey came to Winchester from Ireland aged four, and got his start when his mother paid 100 guineas for his apprenticeship.
He went on to work for Marcia Gray, before taking over her business 35 years ago, working in Parchment Street before he bought his current building.
He said: "We are a bit of an institution in Winchester. I have clients who have been coming here for nearly 50 years on a regular basis. Some of the ladies are bereft that we are closing. "There are other hairdressers out there but coming here is like a social event for them, almost like a club. There's a family feeling here."
He added: "Hairstyles have got very casual these days as fashion has always been driven by the young. "We cater to the slightly older lady, what we call 'the over-21-club', and we have a niche in the market, we offer something traditional.
"We do a lot of work with rollers; I would say 60 per cent of my business is using rollers and hood dryers, which you don't see much of anymore."
Aubrey said he wanted to hand the business over to a young hairdresser, but was unable to find anyone suitable.
The business closes on December 22 and the building has been sold to an interior designer.
Aubrey and Barbara are looking to move to Surrey to be closer to their family.


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St Helier Hospital is here to stay and there are no plans to lose services - that is the message coming from its new chief executive.
After years of financial problems, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is now breaking even new chief executive Chrisha Alagaratnam, who has a background in accountancy and was previously the trust's financial director, said that, combined with high patient satisfaction ratings, should protect the hospitals' services in any future reviews.
Chrisha Alagaratnam talks to reporter Mike Murphy-Pyle
Services at St Helier Hospital were placed under threat by the controversial Better Services Better Value review, a cost-cutting programme that proposed axing maternity and A&E services.
But that was scrapped earlier this year and, although a future review is planned, it is hoped the hospital's new-found financial stability will mean services are safe.
The trust has implemented a range of cost-saving policies in the past three years that have helped it go from a predicted £19million deficit to a £7.4million deficit last year and break-even point this year.
During an interview with the Sutton Guardian, Ms Alagaratnam said: "This year we're posting a break-even position. We've been on trajectory for this for the last three years.
"The best thing about it is that we've been able to improve the quality of care in that time."
She said the cost savings had been achieved through various means, particularly cutting down the use of agency staff and sharing facilities across the two sites.
She added: "There have been 11 strategic reviews in the last nine or 10 years, and BSBV was the latest.
"From the trust's point of view, for the last few months we've just been working on our own plan to make sure the trust has a viable future - breaking even is an important part of that.
"The best thing we can do is to continue to provide care to patients and to make sure our finances are continuing to improve.
"We're here to stay. This is a brilliant hospital and we have fantastic staff and fantastic volunteers."
St Helier was also dealt a blow recently when plans to invest £219million for a large-scale redevelopment of the site were shelved. Ms Alagaratnam said that plan was first revealed in 2009 and that since then situations have changed but there is a plan to invest £78 million over upgrades in the next five years.
She also said the trust has a five-year plan that does not involve St Helier and Epsom Hospitals separating - despite doctors in Surrey voting to leave BBSBV while doctors in Sutton remained in support of it.
She added: "There's no reason for them to split up - we are strong as a trust."


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It's time to go cycling. Gregory de Gouveia built this big bike clock from junk cycles people had thrown out. By rigging up combinations of 4:1, 3:1, 2.5:1, and 2:1 gear ratios, de Gouveia got the 12:1 and 60:1 ratios necessary for a proper timepiece capable of clocking seconds, minutes, and hours.
A combination of a car battery and solar panel keeps the cycle clock ticking. The piece will run on solar power alone, but de Gouveia demonstrated to PM that if even a tiny portion of the panel were temporarily shaded from the hot California sun, the clock would slow down and get out of whack.
Gregory de Gouveia also brought this crazy cycle to the back lot of Maker Faire. It's built so that the rider facing backward can pedal forward and still contribute to propulsion, but his handlebars are fixed so that only the forward-facing rider—de Gouveia in this video—can steer. I took a ride on the back of this creation and it's certainly a trust exercise—the bike dips and turns, but you have no control.
Gadgets to Upgrade Any Commute


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The (second) greatest free-agency class ever - CBSSports.com
Originally Posted by EOB StaffThis quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show QuoteWant to know how ridiculous the summer of 2010 was? If/when the 2011-2012 season is canceled, then whenever the lockout is settled, you'll have two years of free agents crammed into one signing period. You could have five likely Hall-of-Famers in it. You'd have mega-stars, great role players, talent coming out the seams at every position... and it still wouldn't be as good as the 2010 summer of free agency because of the top five guys that year. That's a bit insane.
But as Ken Berger breaks down the potential effects on the top market of guys in what would be an insane class, we need to look at what exactly this class would look like, and how it would break down. With that, we give you the 2011 and 2012 combined free agency rankings, broken down by position, just so you can dream about who your team would angle to fill what position.
Point Guard
1. Derrick Rose (RFA)
The only way Derrick Rose is not a Chicago Bull for the next 10 years is if the NBA gives up on trying to reach a deal with the current players and uses scabs forever. The 2011 MVP is the perfect building block asset and the Bulls will have every ability to retain him with a mini-max contract once his rookie deal is complete. One of the greatest shames of the lockout is that the only basketball we've seen Rose play over the last six months came inside a bullring during an adidas commercial.
2. Deron Williams (ETO)
The Besiktas baller represents the wildest wild card in free agency. Williams took a fearless, proactive approach to the lockout, heading to Turkey almost immediately and, once there, writing diary entries in which he made it clear he wasn't necessarily committed to the New Jersey Nets for the long haul. The new CBA will likely give the Nets plenty of incumbent advantages to keeping Williams but if he decides to bounce he will have no shortage of suitors as one of the league's elite floor generals.
3. Chris Paul (ETO)
To this point, Paul has done an extraordinary job swallowing his frustration with what has been a disastrous few years for the New Orleans Hornets franchise. Paul's close friends happen to be a who's who of the NBA's elite players, and no doubt he's feeling some "grass is greener on the other side" jealousy when sizing up the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks. As with Williams and the Nets, New Orleans will be poised to do everything in its power to keep Paul, but those efforts might not matter.
4. Russell Westbrook (RFA)
The superstar pairing with Kevin Durant isn't absolutely perfect but it's a far better one-two punch than anyone in the Western Conference -- besides the Lakers -- can muster. The Thunder will give Westbrook the Durant treatment, offering him a mini-max contract as soon as legally possible. Every indication is that he would accept it so that he can get back to work building a potential dynasty.
5. Steve Nash (UFA)
Nash will be 38 years old when free agency hits, having endured 2+ years of trade rumors. While his best days are behind him, he will be a tantalizing target on the open market, as he would be highly motivated to take a subsidized salary to step in as the calm captain on a ready-made contender. Just about everyone wants to see Nash retire with a ring; even though he's not the most talented player on this list, his choice of destination could wind up being the biggest postseason game-changer.
6. Chauncey Billups (UFA)
Should the 2011-2012 season get cancelled, Billups, who is set to make$14.2 million this year, would be missing out on the payday of his career. He'll be 35 next summer; while still productive, he might be best off signing with a veteran team where he can serve as a steady hand third guard.
7. Jameer Nelson (ETO)
Nelson is a solid starting point guard but his future in Orlando is likely tied to that of Dwight Howard. If Howard goes, it will be time to slash and burn the roster and start over; paying above-average money to retain Nelson probably wouldn't be worth it.
8. Raymond Felton (UFA)
The Blazers lack a capable, proven back-up point guard so Felton, who was acquired in a 2011 draft day trade with Denver, is sitting pretty. Portland will be highly motivated to pay to retain his services even if he never puts on a Blazers jersey during the 2011-2012 season because of the lockout.
9. Andre Miller (UFA)
Miller finds himself in much the same situation as Billups, in that he will be 36 years old when free agency hits, he's still productive but he will no longer command big dollar offers on the free agency market. It's quite possible the rebuilding Nuggets move to retain his veteran hand as George Karl appreciates the subtleties in Miller's game, but serving as a role player so that he can make the first real playoff run of his lengthy career is always a possibility.
10. George Hill (RFA)
The Pacers traded for Hill on draft day and will have plenty of cap space to retain his services. It would be nice if Indiana is able to see how he fits with their other young pieces before committing to him, but he's shown what he can do with the San Antonio Spurs and shouldn't cost an arm and a leg.
11. Kirk Hinrich (UFA)
On the books for $8 million in 2011-2012, the oft-injured Hinrich can look forward to a large pay cut next summer. With Jeff Teague set to take the reins in Atlanta he could very well be looking for his fourth team since 2009-2010.
12. DJ Augustin (RFA)
The Bobcats are in full-blown blow-it-up rebuilding mode and drafted their presumed new face of the franchise, Kemba Walker, in June. Charlotte should have money to pay him; his future will be a matter of determining whether the two pint-sized points are redundant.
13. Jason Kidd (UFA)
Kidd will be 39 next summer but, if the 2011 playoffs were any indication, he will play until he's 55. His basketball intelligence, leadership in the halfcourt and defensive prowess mean he will be able to select from multiple attractive options, although he'll be taking a major pay cut from his $9.6 million salary in 2011-2012 in the process.
14. Aaron Brooks (RFA)
If Nash leaves Phoenix, as many suspect, Brooks will be in line for a solid offer from the Suns as long as he has proven to the decision-makers that he can keep his emotions in check.
15. Jose Barea (UFA)
A prime target to get overpaid with someone's mid-level during a weak 2011 free agency crop, Barea could be a big loser of the lockout in that future MLE offers will likely be smaller and he will face stiff competition for free agency dollars in 2012.
Shooting Guard
1. Eric Gordon (RFA)
How does "Eric Gordon, scoring champion" sound? Because it's not all that far from being a realistic possibility. With him playing alongside Blake Griffin who gets most of the defensive attention, Gordon has become one of the game's top inside-out guards. He can hit from deep, mid-range or use his solid frame to get to the rim. He's probably not a max player, but he's definitely top scorer material and those type of players tend to get paid.
2. Ray Allen (UFA)
So he's 36 years old. But he also just put up maybe his most efficient season ever, hitting 44 percent from 3-point range. When you're a specialist like Allen, you can continue your craft for a long time. And as long as he can make a 3 better than anyone else in basketball, he's going to have a lot of value.
3. Jamal Crawford (UFA)
Want a guard that's willing to shoot, score and shoot some more? Want to pay him a lot to do just that? Then Jamal Crawford is your guy.
4. Jason Terry (UFA)
The Jet elevated himself to a high level last postseason. He's instant offense no matter where you have him. The fact he's 34 is a bit of a concern though.
5. Arron Afflalo (RFA)
A defensive stopper that shoots around 40 percent from 3? Afflalo might turn into the top dollar-for-dollar free agent in the entire class.
6. Jason Richardson (UFA)
He may be past his prime a bit, but Richardson still has his athleticism and can still make an open 3. He's not go-to scorer material, but he certainly is worthy of being a quality supplemental scorer.
7. O.J. Mayo (RFA)
A talent never fully realized, Mayo could be a big time scorer if afforded the opportunity. He has a ton of ability, but he's never really found that role that could allow him to let loose. I don't know that he'd ever be an extremely efficient scorer, but he has value in the market because he can shoot and score. Those two things always are worth a decent payday.
8. J.R. Smith (UFA)
What did I say about Jamal Crawford? Apply pretty much all of that again here, but add in the disclaimer, "Might be a headcase" to it. Who's interested?
9. Lou Williams (ETO)
Before battling an injury with Williams, the 76ers were a pretty dangerous team. There's a reason: He's a high quality scorer. He's a combo guard that scores at an efficient rate. Daryl Morey just started drooling.
10. Jodie Meeks (RFA)
Did you know Meeks shot 40 percent from 3 last season? Did you know he was, per minute, one of the best scorers in the league? Put him in the right situation and you might be looking at Sixth Man of the Year potential.
11. Marcus Thornton (RFA)
That instant offense stuff? Yeah, right here.
12. Landry Fields (RFA)
There's just no way the Knicks would let a promising young player slip away right? Right?
13. Courtney Lee (RFA)
It's always seemed like Lee has missed out on being better than he is. He started to become something in Orlando, but then was moved to New Jersey and then was moved again to Houston. He's had difficulty finding a stable situation which sometimes, is all a player like him needs.
14. Shannon Brown (UFA)
I'm not exactly sure what makes Shannon Brown a good player other than he jumps high, but he's had a quality role on one of the West's best teams the past few years. That means something.
15. Mike Dunleavy (UFA)
Everyone loves a shooter. Especially when he's 6-9 and plays shooting guard.
Small Forward
1. Gerald Wallace (ETO)
"Crash" would be 30 when this free agency period would hypothetically start, but his combination of toughness, stat-stuffing, and defensive prowess would still make him the top guy at this position. His injury history is deceptively good, with long-term issues resulting from freak accidents, injuries like a collapsed lung thanks to Andrew Bynum and a concussion thanks to Wallace's aggressiveness won't be issues as he gets older.
2. Nicolas Batum (RFA)
The Blazers have turned down mighty attractive offers for Batum over the past two season, so you have to expect him to return to Portland, especially if Wallace hits the open market. A do-it-all wing with perimeter range and tremendous athleticism, Batum would be just 23 in this signing period with amazing potential. If teams want to front-load a contract offer, this is the guy to use it on.
3. Danilo Gallinari (RFA)
Another talented athletic forward with range. Gallinari has the potential to be a legitimate scoring star in this league and has the body to defend to go with it, if he winds up in the right place. Gallinari would be 23 as well, and just like Batum, would be worth the front-loaded offer to try and steal him from Denver.
4. Wilson Chandler (RFA)
Good thing the Nuggets have all that cap space in this scenario, they'd need it to keep their guys. Chandler is expected to hit the open market when he returns from China, and at just 25, he's a guy who could make "the leap" and surprise everyone. Chandler could be a steal based on value in this free agency class.
5. Tayshaun Prince (UFA)
32 years old and with fading athleticism, Prince isn't going to make a huge payday, not after how his tenure in Detroit has likely ended. But for a veteran team needing a wing defender with range (hello, Miami), Prince has tremendous value. Short-term contract with big impact recommended.
6. Jonas Jerebko (RFA)
Hard worker, tough as nails, coming off an injury, which is a downside. Just 25 and does all the things you want a roleplayer to do. Jerebko is a steal if he can be had in RFA.
7. Michael Beasley (RFA)
You can break the bank on Beasley to hope he matures and puts all his skills together to become a star. You can bank on him becoming coachable and being a franchise leader. Or you can stay away like the plague and write him off as a gunner with poor off-court decision making. Your choice, really.
8. Caron Butler (UFA)
Like Prince, Butler would be 32 in this period, having not played in an NBA game since last winter after his knee injury. Butler's back to full strength and playing in the charity games. But his overall value was of question last year and even moreso after the injury. With another year on him, he's still worth the money as a veteran player to help try and win a title, but couldn't be given a starter's investment.
9. Chase Budinger (RFA)
Tall, and can shoot. Still has upside coming off rookie deal and won't break the bank. A value addition with little downside for what he is.
10. Andrei Kirilenko (UFA)
Never lived up to his last massive contract, and will be 31 for this signing. But Kirilenko can give quality minutes at a range of positions and needs, and can likely be had for good value as a trackback from his last deal.
11. Sam Young (RFA)
How many rookies are 27 coming off their rookie deals? Young has started to mold into a great defender under Tony Allen's tutelage in Memphis and can work as a reserve small forward.
12. Grant Hill (UFA)
Depends, can you get the Phoenix training staff to accompany the soon-to-be 40-year-old in this instance?
13. Shane Battier (UFA)
Losing this year would crush Battier's final contract value with him being 34 when he'd sign. Still worth it for experience and defense, but only on a limited deal.
14. Mikael Pietrus (UFA)
Bizarre that he spent all that time under SVG and still lacks the defensive chops teams need him to have. Would be 30 for the beginning of this contract.
15. Tracy McGrady (UFA)
Too many injuries, too much age. McGrady had a nice season last year with Detroit, but with another year on the knees things get dicier.
Power Forward
1. Kevin Love (RFA)
It's hard to know exactly why people try and underrate what Kevin Love did last season. Maybe it's because some see it as a fluke season. Maybe it's because some think because his team was so bad it inflated his stats. But here's the thing: You can't ignored 20.2 ppg and 15.2 rpg. You can't ignore a power forward shooting almost 42 percent from 3. And you can't ignore the fact he's just 23. There are a ton of names in this free agent class and while Love doesn't have major starpower to him, he's going to get paid in a big way by someone.
2. Kevin Garnett (UFA)
Nevermind that he's played almost 1,200 games during 16 seasons. Nevermind that he's 35 and suffered a major knee injury two years ago. He's still Kevin Garnett. And he's still a major impact player. Is he the automatic 20-10 machine he once was? Not at all, but he's still a great leader, communicator and defensive stopper. Plus, he's got name recognition which is sometimes the best thing a guy can have.
3. David West (UFA)
Players recover from knee injuries, but that first season back there's always some hesitation. And that's what West is going through right now. He suffered a major injury last season and is going to have to get paid before he plays. Meaning someone's got to trust some doctors and give him a shot.
4. Thaddeus Young (RFA)
There's a question every GM will have to ask about Young: Is he starting material? And that will likely be what his future payday and team hinges on. He was great as a role player off the bench in Philly last season but is he ready to carry the load as a starter at the 4 for 82 games? Or is he just a niche 4? The Sixers definitely don't want him to slip away though, that's for sure.
5. Jeff Green (RFA)
Someone will go hard after Jeff Green. Why? Because he's a really good basketball player. He's 6-9, has outside touch, is athletic and is a good passer. One problem: No one has any idea where to play him. Green is so caught between small forward and power forward that he might not ever produce how he was expected. But that's not going to stop someone from taking a chance on him.
6. J.J. Hickson (RFA)
It really felt like the Cavs let something potentially special go for very little when Hickson was dealt to the Kings. Because he's young, raw and fairly gifted. His game needs some tuning and he's not likely to blossom into a star or anything, but he'll be a productive big for a long time.
7. Kris Humphries (UFA)
Big guys that produce double-doubles have a lot of value. He's already stated pretty clearly that he wants to stay in New Jersey (or Brooklyn), but like I said, teams pay for 10-and-10.
8. Glen Davis (UFA)
Did you know Big Baby is just 25 years old? Not to say he has a ton of ceiling above him still, but he certainly has a number of years of solid production ahead of him.
9. Carl Landry (UFA)
Typically, physical defenders don't carry a ton of value in the market. But Landry is a bruiser and someone that can step out execute a pick-and-pop. Not the best power forward out there, but he's potentially starting material or a nice bench piece.
10. Kenyon Martin (UFA) There's still a little left in the tank for Martin. Early on he dominated opponents with strength and athleticism. While most of that has left him, he's still a formidable presence in the paint and certainly still has his intimidation skills.
11. Brandon Bass (ETO) Bass was chronically underutilized for most of last season in Orlando, but when he saw opportunity, he produced well. Big guys with smooth jumpers always have and always will have value.
12. Antawn Jamison (UFA) He's old at 35, but he still had a fairly productive season for an abysmal Cleveland team last year.
13. Boris Diaw (UFA) For Diaw, it's all about what type of shape he's in. If he's ready to go, he's an impact 4.
14. Darrell Arthur (RFA) Quietly, Arthur has started to find himself a bit as a backup to Zach Randolph. Long, athletic and equipped with a mid-range game add up to a quality player.
15. Ryan Anderson (RFA) Not everyone loves a finesse stretch 4, but Anderson has serious touch from the perimeter.
1. Dwight Howard (UFA)
Howard will probably be the most sought-after commodity on the market, even with Chris Paul and Deron Williams out there. Defensive Player of the Year, MVP candidate, huge personality and big ticket-draw. Howard is the diamond of this class.
2. Tim Duncan (ETO)
Yes, we're labeling him a center here. Let's save the debate for another day. Imagine Duncan in another uniform. Weird, isn't it? Yeah, us too.
3. Marc Gasol (RFA)
Gasol's not going to score 40 for you, but he's going to do everything else. Defend on the perimeter, in the post, on the weakside, and in space. Work in the pinch-post, pass out of the block, score from mid-range and the post. Gasol does it all and does it with a tougher approach than the elder-Gasol.
4. Brook Lopez (RFA)
The Nets may actually let Lopez go free in pursuit of Howard, and if he hits the market, he'll draw big suitors. Lopez' biggest restriction is rebounding, which he's become pitiful at. But he can score out of the post and in the pick and roll. He's young, smart, coachable, and can still improve.
5. Nene (UFA)
The biggest free agent of 2011 could still be shopping for that final contract in this scenario. Nene should only be acquired by a team looking to contend now, as he'll be turning 30 next September. But for explosiveness and toughness inside, you can't go wrong with the Brazillian Baby.
6. Andrew Bynum (UFA)
If, and that's a big if, if Bynum is healthy, he could be the second best option on this list at center. If he's not, if he continues to struggle with his knees, the Lakers will be faced with a big decision. But at his age and with those freakish arms of his, someone will want him, and pay him handsomely. The most likely scenario is Bynum is tabbed as the successor to Kobe's franchise player throne in L.A. with Jim Buss in charge.
7. Tyson Chandler (UFA)
Chandler's value will be significantly diminished with another year lost, but on the plus side, the last memory of him in GMs minds will be him hoisting the trophy. He'll stick at the top here.
8. Roy Hibbert (RFA)
Hibbert's not that tough. He lacks scoring ability in the post. He has a lot of question marks. But he's tall. And that matters in the NBA. With his youth, he's still a better option than others.
9. DeAndre Jordan (RFA)
Jordan was a rail when he came into the league, but he's bulked out and now is flat-out beastly. You'd expect the Clippers to keep him, it's the only thing that makes sense. Which means they'll probably figure out a way to lose the rebounding partner Blake Griffin needs.
10. JaVale McGee (RFA)
Crazy? Little bit. But McGee has incredible length and too much talent to slide any further.
11. Marcus Camby (UFA)
Zombie Marcus Camby is slowly ambling towards your low-post block.
12. Omer Asik (RFA)
The Bulls phenom could be top five on this list if he improves on his first season. But AsiIk's value is heightened by Thibodeau's defense. Missing a year, he won't have the same kind of pull he'd have with a bigger role.
13. Chuck Hayes (UFA)
No one knows how he does it, but Hayes continues to excel despite his size deficiency.
14. Chris Kaman (UFA)
You realize Kaman was a near-All-Star two years ago? Kaman will be 30 at this point, and he could be a steal. He could also be the kind of free agent that gets overpaid. You know, why we're missing a season.
15. Spencer Hawes (UFA)
Ha ha ha, just kidding.


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What Really Grinds My Gears? Twitter me this. Twitter me that.
by, 01-04-2013 at 08:45 AM (4927 Views)
As I gladly pull away from another Peter Griffin style rant, I just want to say that I am really annoyed. Annoyed because social media does barely anything for any wrestling product, it only takes away from it.
Episode 8 - Twitter me this. Twitter me that.
"You know what really grinds my gears? That freaking social media. Am I supposed to spend all of my days, tweeting, facebooking, and myspacing (Oh i went there ... once), my fingers into oblivion? Well I could gladly do that very much, but not during the wrestling!"
"Why is it that every two seconds we have to be reminded.. Oh my THIS is trending! Oh my THAT guy is tweeting. Who really cares? If we really did care, wouldn't we already be on twitter checking out everyone's comments? I mean it's fairly obvious that if Hornswoggle won the World title, he would be trending worldwide.. with hash tags like #WCWflashback and #WhatthehellVince?"
"I'm going to blame TNA for this one, because them idiots thought of it first, and we all know whatever works for TNA, is going to be copied by the WWE. I mean, that's what Vince has done for years anyway right? What happened to the days when commentators were more concerned over the action in the ring, then the feedback left by all the fans on the internet? I don't care if we have someone touting their opinion, what about the people in the audience who get signs taken away because its not "PG" enough for you.
Ugh.. enough ranting, this segment is over."
For example, if you was in the middle of the football (soccer), or even if you're American and watching the baseball, would you seriously want the commentators saying every two seconds... Oh my god! GOAL!! Oh my god! HOME RUN! Guess who's trending right now???
No you wouldn't. I mean, who seriously, deep down in your hearts, really wants to know whats trending right now? If we could go back to the Attitude era, Austin would have been trending 24/7. The guy would have never stopped trending throughout 1997-1999, but would anyone really give a dogs bollocks? I know I wouldn't.
And what's the deal with Twitter anyway? What is the whole appeal? You can't even write a proper sentence without being hit with that text limit. Do you know just how many tweets Scott Steiner had to do to write his super essay, ripping on Hogan and Bischoff? Although the message was very loud and clear (Already done this subject in another blog) it would take you a very long time to go through every single tweet of his. Why couldn't they just extend the limit so people can put a real status?
Speaking of a real status, Facebook is the place for that. Yet again, is Facebook also to blame for ruining wrestling? It does a little bit.
Why? What's wrong with Facebook? Am I going to get lots of angry comments now because I ripped on Facebook? Don't be silly now, try and understand these points.
1) Facebook not only brings together tons of true wrestling fans, it also brings a lot of idiots together, who are extremely opinionated, and often have false information, leading to arguments (Yes.. over wrestling) and rumours springing up.
2) False Facebook groups dedicated to these famous wrestlers. Some people are so naive that if someone made a page, and they claimed to be that wrestler, they would believe them. I have seen it, and can you imagine what it would do to those poor, naive souls when they find out their hero isn't even on Facebook?
3) Really taking a dig at not just Ewrestlingnews, but any Facebook page dedicated to wrestling news. In the old days, those people who wanted to look up dirt sheets and find out spoilers, would have to really dig around for the information. Nowadays, you can "Like" a page, and get instant news updates, with full spoilers on display, including pictures!
And guess what! Even if the wrestling company purposely spoils a show, that wrestling news page still gets heat for posting those spoilers!
Wrestling companies know just how easy it is for spoilers to get out there, and people will blame wrestling news websites and pages for spoiling the shows for them, even thought it was their fault for liking the page or visiting the website in the first place.
4) With Facebook, all the smart wrestling fans come together. They can discuss, and help to bring about the domino effect of who is "Cool". Its like Zack Ryder, he got tons of fans just from using social media, but he didn't get very far, because he spent too much time pleasing the fans on the net, then pleasing his peers who are more likely to get him to the place he wants to be.
Also guys like Cena are consistently pointed out as having no ring skills. In the 80s, Cena would have been rarely booed, simply because of the much more naive audience, whereas in today's world everyone has a magnifying glass, and spreading all that information to everyone else. If you seriously want to talk about Mr Superman, go to my Cena blog to end all Cena blogs here >> http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/commun...page3#comments
How did it begin?
Social media in wrestling didn't kick off til not so long ago. When the internet was young, you didn't have all these platforms to use. Instead you found your friends, who also watched it (when it was cool) and talked about it with them. The beginning of social media really kicked off when Jeremy Borash began using it in TNA. It became even more relevant when guys like Matt Hardy used it to get fired, and also when guys like Hogan and Warrior used it to bash each other publicly.
borash2.jpgThanks for giving them ideas Jeremy!
Vince was against the idea in the beginning. However someone must have tipped him off on how well TNA was using it. It wasn't totally in your face, TNA were using it pretty well, to enhance the overall experience rather then plug the hell out of Twitter or Facebook. Vince obviously thought, if they can do it, we can do it better. What followed was the severe plugging of Twitter and Tout, to the point that it even got a Slammy Award. #FeedMeMore
The illusion of wrestling has been severely damaged since the 90s. Gone are the days where people literally bought into it as real. It sounds so farfetched now, that people actually rang the police because of the nWo assaulting wrestlers. It sounds so farfetched that people assumed that good guys and bad guys never hung around together after a show.
If people from those days, were brought forward in time and saw the mess that social media has helped to create, their whole world would be turned upside down. It seems normal to us, that wrestlers are very good athletes/actors nowadays, which is why bad guys seem more cool to us. Guys like Ziggler, they wouldn't have been cheered back in the day, he would have been booed as loud as Vickie Guerrero gets booed. People are more aware though, they praise Zigglers athletic ability in that ring more then anything, because that's what people crave more of nowadays from their wrestling.
Gone are the days of pure faces and heels. Just like Austin Aries has stated before, you can't really give a true heel promo anymore. No ones going to really buy into the fact that you're an arse, they will end up praising you for putting on a good promo. It means that heels nowadays have to revert to much extreme ways of gaining heat (Like Heyman pretending to have a heart attack) so they can do their job of being booed. How many of us could really hate Heyman nowadays? After everything we know about Paul Heyman, and just how good he is, how can we boo the man? I would be in absolute awe if I went to see that man live, I would cheer him over Cena any day of the year.
Faces have a harder task of getting over too. Faces generally get beaten up for the majority of a match so they can make their special comeback, which makes them look weak in today's world. It's even worse if that face doesn't sell properly, or has poor technique in their moves. Any wrestling fans who knows the ins and outs can tell you who carried a match or not, and it's not too difficult to learn those ins and outs.
The only time you really have a good face vs heel match, is where they have had a long standing rivalry, and they are allowed to have a proper heated, and very "even" match for 15-30 minutes. With all the time constraints due to plugging tout, twitter, and comedy segments that ain't funny, we see less matches like this. The only true Face vs Heel match as of late was AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels, which is always one of the best matches of the night.
So twitter me this, twitter me that, who is afraid of the big, bad twat... that is social media? Unluckily it is here to stay, so the suspension of disbelief will continue to be broken, and so will the magic of wrestling.


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Holland to make his first start on Tuesday
HOUSTON -- The Rangers announced that Derek Holland will return from the disabled list and make his first start on Tuesday against the Royals. Nick Tepesch will be pushed back to Wednesday and Scott Baker will likely return to the bullpen after his start on Friday against the Astros.
"It has been a long process … longer than expected," Holland said. "If we were in the pennant race, I would have been back sooner, but I can't dictate that. My job now is to compete and show them what I can do. I know the season has been frustrating, it has been frustrating for me too. I just want to be a part of it."
Holland has been out all season after undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee on Jan. 10. He made six starts on medical rehabilitation assignment in the Minor Leagues and was 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA.
"We had to bring Derek off of rehab," manager Ron Washington said. "He is here. He has been deemed healthy. We'll pitch him and see where it goes. Derek can relax. He has been working hard trying to get back here and now he has a date."
Holland has a chance to get 5-6 starts before the season ends depending on how the Rangers set up their rotation through the two remaining off-days. His first start in Arlington will likely be next Sunday against the Mariners.
"I'm not going to lie to you, I couldn't get much sleep last night," Holland said. "Being with the team, it's like being called up again. I'll probably be excited but I know how to calm myself down."
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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My reel has finally gotten a bit of a refresh! I now have some footage from "Ballerz", the scripted series I'm directing for Converge, starring Shaquille O'Neal as himself. We had Justin Bieber, Carmen Electra and Adrian Petersen in the pilot, not to mention the rest of the talented and amazing cast. I will share more as soon as I'm allowed, but at least now we have some stills and a couple of clips in my reel!
The rest of the reel tries to cram 20 years of experience into a minute. Great music by Murray Gold helps! This track is "Onwards!" from the Doctor Who Series 5 soundtrack featuring the outstanding BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Buy it on iTunes!


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Growing up, I remember attending the annual L.A. auto show and as I got older, I wondered to myself what this place looked like full of Lowriders. It seemed like a far-fetched notion, but finally, my question was answered by Sam Torres of Torres Empire. Sam put together the first Lowrider happening of this modern century, and though they said it couldn't be done, after 30 years there was another Lowrider happening at the prestigious Los Angeles Convention Center. The one-day event was planned out with so much anticipation that people moved in on Friday and Saturday, making it feel like a three-day event as people came from all over to be a part of this historic show.
The indoor/outdoor event was filled to capacity as the Fire Marshall forced the Sam Torres crew to turn away cars, since the venue proved to be too small for the day's event. When the dust settled, the show had around 700 cars on full display, many of which came from miles around to be included. Attendees made the long haul from Portland, Northern California, Las Vegas, Arizona, New Mexico, and of course the hosting city of Los Angeles to be a part of this unique event. The venue was adorned with colorful cars as some of the vehicles came out to qualify for the Las Vegas Super Show, held in October.
Some of the clubs that attended included La Gente, Islanders, Socios, USO, Santana, Carnales Unidos, Traffic, High Class, Lifestyle, Elite, Stylistics, South Side, Latin Life, Thee Artistics, Oldies, Old Memories, Tovars, Together, Techniques, Rare Class, Our Style, Premier, Street Style, Connected, Evil Treats, Classics, LA Times, Style, Good Times, Showtime, Nite Life, Straight Clowning, One Bad Creation, De Aquellas, Our Style, Individuals, New Style, Uniques, Delagation, Imperials, Klique, Majestics, Rollerz Only, Los Angeles, Unidos and New Crowd.
From show cars to the variety of live music, the Convention Center played host to the gambit of Lowrider culture. Sounds as diverse as the Tamboraso were played in one part of the convention space, while Mariachi music played in another as Albert De Alba debuted his 1963 Impala convertible "El Rey". The Imperials had a music lounge playing the '70s classics as well. Given the day's family atmosphere, it was a natural for Sam Torres to name his tour the Family Affair. With such a great turnout, we will have to see what is next for Sam Torres and his show crew. This one was certainly a show for the ages. Take a look at some of the cars that attended this historic weekend in the lovely City of Angels.


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At Pyramid Studios, jewelers of Ellsworth, Sapphires are our first choice for alternative engagement rings. We love their strength and vibrancy of color. Besides their famous blues, sapphires are available in every color except red, that is reserved for rubies of the same mineral family, corundum. Sapphires, rating a 9.0on the Mohs' scale, are second only to diamonds for hardness. Not only beautiful–they can withstand the day to day trials engagement rings must endure.
Sapphire's have been one of the most popular gemstones throughout the ages, especially as an engagement ring, but it recently had royal surge in popularity because of the Princess Kate ring. But even before the the royal engagement we'd seen a big upswing in purchases of rings with colored stones.
At Pyramid we've help countless couples design their own rings and the basic steps to building the perfect ring are remarkably easy. I'm going to illustrate using a sapphire as the main stone but all the steps for traditional rings would apply to diamonds or other gems as the feature stone.
Step 1: Find the perfect jeweler—that, of course, would be Pyramid Studios. David and Don's engagement and wedding designs have been the choice for thousands of couples in Maine and our customer friends around the planet for three generations. For this blog we're using one of David's designs, a Ceylon Blue Sapphire in an 18KT White Gold Sapphire Diamond Halo setting, as a beautiful example of sapphire ring design.
Anyone considering an engagement ring, most likely, already has a a basic style and design in mind. Whether it be a classic design like a solitaire diamond, a three stone ring, a halo design, or something more modern–it all begins with a conversation. Talk to your jeweler (Pyramid Studios) and build a ring that fits your dream and lifestyle.
Step 2: Find the perfect stone. This is arguably the most expensive part of the process, unless you are using a family stone and "recycling" to a setting you prefer. We've had many clients bring in the stone from Grandmother's ring to update to a modern setting and/or mix and match with new stones. Pyramid's professionals are a wealth of knowledge in selecting new colored gemstones or diamonds, take his advice and remember – in choosing a stone: quantity does not equal quality.
At right is a 3.91 carat Ceylon Blue Sapphire measuring 10.21 x 8.15mm and a depth of 6mm. The cut of this stone is marvelous- giving back to the beholder all the light and color possible. (If a stone is cut too shallow light is lost out the bottom; if cut too deep light escapes from the side of the stone).
Step 3: Choose the perfect setting. It should be beautiful and fit your lifestyle. There are thousands of choice's available but most people couples know their favorites. New Computer Assisted Design (CAD) programs will help us help you narrow the decision process.
To fit the Ceylon Sapphire David designed this 18KT White Gold Diamond Halo setting with a European shank (squared at the bottom). The total diamond in this ring is .44 carats.
4a: Sit back and let your jeweler ( David or Don at Pyramid Studios) work his magic!
4b: Get engaged.
We are Pyramid Studios, Jewelers at 10 State St. in Ellsworth, Maine. The search for the perfect ring begins with consultation. Stop by and talk to us or send us an email. Pyramid's jewelers are professionals at building the ring of your dreams.
Our 10 State St. in Ellsworth store hours:
Tuesday – 10am – 5:30pm
Wednesday – 10am – 5:30pm
Thursday – 10am – 5:30pm
Friday – 10am – 5:30pm
Saturday – 10am – 4:00pm
Sun/Mon – Closed
Our web store is open 24/7 and can be located here: Pyramid Studios.
Find, follow, and "like" Pyramid on Facebook by simply clicking here.
Pyramid Studios are full service jewelry professionals located in Ellsworth, Maine for over three decades. Our two master jewelers are always available to meet with customers to consult and custom design engagement, bridal, or any jewelry needs. Pyramid Studios stocks a full in-store inventory of diamonds, colored gems, freshwater, Cook Island, and Akoya Pearls for settings in gold, sterling silver and platinum. Other services include complete jewelry repair, care and cleaning, watch battery replacement and re-stranding services by our beading department.
Pyramid Studios online store is open 24/7.
Email and phone inquiries are always welcome.
"Email Us"
Phone: 207-667-3321


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The eatery promotes itself as "Fort Wayne's Premier Martini Lounge." It also will offer more than 100 types of wine and a tapas menu.
It will provide free valet parking.
Hours: 11 a.m.-close Monday-Saturday. Phone: 420-8633. Website: www.mainstmartinilounge.com.Sporting a new facade, Mi Parilla has opened at 3422 N. Clinton St., replacing another Mexican restaurant, El Burrito Colonial. The eatery was closed for a couple of months for remodeling.
Mi Parilla serves Mexican food, and you can wash it down with beer if you're 21 or older. Hours: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week.Paper Lantern, featuring Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, has opened at 4610 Coldwater Road, just north of Coliseum Boulevard.
In addition to Vietnamese and Chinese dishes Paper Lantern serves boba tea (aka bubble tea), made with real fruit. Some examples: Thai Iced Tea, Taro Bubble Milk Tea and Bubble Milk Tea.
Check out Paper Lantern's food and drink menu at www.paperlanterncuisine.com.
The website says the eatery offers happy-hour specials (dine-in only) 2-4:30 p.m. every day with 25 percent off all food items and $1 off bubble tea or smoothies. Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Phone: 471-4990.The Acme Bar and Grill, 1105 E. State Blvd., is bringing back German nights on Thursdays beginning Sept. 26 through the end of October.Ft. Wayne's Farmers Market satellite locations are winding down for the season.
Parkview North, Georgetown Square, Barr Street and Jefferson Pointe are done for the year. The market Wednesdays at One Summit Square ends Sept. 25 and the one at Schnelker Park in New Haven ends Oct. 16.
The Winter Market at Parkview Field in the Lincoln Financial Event Center opens Oct. 5. It will be 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month, October through May.Eric Harris, owner and winemaker of Two-EE's Winery in Huntington, won multiple medals as well as the Rising Star winemaker award at the International Wine Channel TV Awards recently. More than 850 wines representing eight countries and 18 states were entered in the competition, which was judged in Santa Rosa, Calif.
The Rising Star Winemaker award is given to an international winemaker under 35 years old who "shows exceptional talent and great promise for the future of wine."


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Hopefully OJ can finally get going now...
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Hopefully OJ can finally get going now...
Why is Pendergraph in? He is useless.. Mavunga...
PLUMLEE!!!!!!!!!!! Wow.
Wow Plum
That was sick.. basket interference.
Plum Jam
What Plumlee just did was impossible
If it came down to Pendergraph and whoever else to make the team, I would lobby for whoever else.
Had to grab rim to keep head from bruising it...
They should just grab a volunteer from the crowd before each game. I would love to have a really close seat and get to wear a suit.
Good D there. Close call.
Plums is wasting some time in the perimeter since he was moved to the 4.
Personally, I'm a bit worried about his rebounding. As I said in an earlier post it is kinda weird. I'd like to see an improvement there. But other than that I like him a lot
Umm late but that Plumlee putback dunk was nice, he keeps doing stuff like that and I am going to have to become a full supporter, lol
Why so SERIOUS
The offensive arsenal is definately there for Plumlee... He is pretty methodical. But stiff as hell...
Kramer defiantly deserves a shot at being our 3rd string guard
Ok, Kramer needs an invite to camp.
Plumlee has missed more shots withing 2 feet of the basket in summer league than an NBA player should miss all season.
I am sorry, if Travis Diener can latch on to a roster I see no reason Kramer can't.
You need guys who will push starters in practice and Kramer most certainly would.
Amazing dunk attempt by Plumlee but too bad that he missed.
Then Shengelia humiliated him.
Wow, I can't see the game so I can't see how he is playing today. I am just glad is is back on the court. Let's see if you could get up and do your job if we dropped you on your back from 7 feet.
PLUMLEE!!!! NO!!!!! The ball goes inside the basket!!!
Yes. Kramer and Mavunga should definitely get an invite to the camp even if they aren't to make the team. Hard work must be rewarded.
Why is Marshon Brooks even playing


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JHern wrote:Jeronimo wrote:Sweet, I'd give that Respecti a shot. Throw the Legenda in the bin though, that plastic sucks for that mold.
btw... Sounds like Kai might have taken my advice on the next fairway driver! I'll sum it up like this, I asked him to go "old school" and "make us a better Gazelle". He was pretty receptive so here's to hoping!
It has already been made, it was called the Cyclone.
I'll probably try to go with a bag filled with finnish molds (Prodiscus/West Side) next summer. There are still some gaps with those two manufacturers.


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View Profile - Craig (ilochan)
What's on your mind right now? Just type and hit "Enter" to share it here!
Mayken: School starts again tomorrow. This year, exceptionally, 7yo will have all of her ml classes in 2 half days, instead of 1h/day. We'll see how that goes. (She's in 2nd grade.) Sept 3, 2017 17:58:36 GMT 9
Amy: "Bonne rentrée" Mayken! Hope this new schedule will work well for your daughter though I have no doubt she will keep up her already excellent bilingual level Sept 3, 2017 18:57:33 GMT 9
Mayken: Thanks Amy! Bonne rentrée to you too! My daughter has ml on Tuesday mornings (tomorrow!) and Thursday afternoons. Sept 5, 2017 5:39:39 GMT 9
Adam Beck: NEW! This Is Embarrassing, But It's a Story That Could Benefit Your Bilingual Journey (And Your Teeth) bilingualmonkeys.com/this-is-embarrassing/ Sept 6, 2017 7:27:34 GMT 9
Amy: First Wednesday at home magic: ml2 bathed home and catching my 5 year old singing along her music player in ml2.... Bilingual bliss! Only you fellow bilingual parents could understand this Sept 6, 2017 21:05:46 GMT 9
Mayken: Planning to send my daughter to ml school again during the next holidays. But it's ok, she's looking forward to it! Sept 8, 2017 4:45:12 GMT 9
Mayken: We had our parents meetings with the ml teacher, my daughter will have a lot of work this year! One parent asked "which kids actually do speak ml at home?" Does that mean many of them don't??? Sept 13, 2017 5:02:26 GMT 9
Nellie: Mayken - my daughter is a lot younger than yours (just starting PS), but in her class there are two children with Spanish-speaking parents, but apparently neither of them actually speak it...disappointing! Sept 13, 2017 6:28:10 GMT 9
Amy: Nellie, these 2 kids might simply be passive bilinguals, and as you know the penny might simply drop one day and they'll start using Spanish... Sept 13, 2017 17:05:33 GMT 9
Mayken: In our ml class the kids are required to have a high level of ml. In class they only speak ml (this year there's a penalty for speaking ML!). I assumed they all speak ml with the ml parent at home. (I've known those kids for 2 years.) Sept 13, 2017 23:42:56 GMT 9
Nellie: Yes I'm sure you're right and they are passive bilinguals! And they are young. I certainly hope by your daughter's age that my little one will be speaking ml1 with me - have already seen a lot of progress over the last week! The penny is dropping! Sept 14, 2017 5:51:52 GMT 9
Patricia: Has anyone encountered studies, or personal accounts, of bilingualism (or multilingualism) playing a role in delayed speech? Sept 15, 2017 1:31:58 GMT 9
Adam Beck: Patricia, please complete your Profile (see my "welcome message" for guidance), then post your questions to the forum boards. Thank you. Sept 15, 2017 6:14:15 GMT 9
Adam Beck: NEW VIDEO WITH MY SON! Another Fun, Productive Project for Language Exposure
bilingualmonkeys.com/another-project-for-language-exposure/ Sept 15, 2017 6:33:51 GMT 9 *
bilingualmonkeys.com/another-project-for-language-exposure/ Sept 15, 2017 6:33:51 GMT 9 *
Patricia: :-) Will do, just saw the message. Thank you, Patricia Sept 15, 2017 6:38:22 GMT 9
Mayken: Love the video, Adam! Love your crazy ideas! Sept 19, 2017 5:48:02 GMT 9
Adam Beck: Thanks a lot, Mayken! Please check it out, everyone! bilingualmonkeys.com/another-project-for-language-exposure/ (And my son would be thrilled if you left your "review"!) Sept 19, 2017 6:33:56 GMT 9
Marisa: I have to say, Adam, I was cracking up when I watched the video Thanks for sharing! Sept 19, 2017 23:43:31 GMT 9
Adam Beck: Happy to hear this, Marisa! Sept 20, 2017 10:25:01 GMT 9
Adam Beck: NEW! Foreign Language Rights Now Available for Translations of This Popular Book on Raising Bilingual Children bilingualmonkeys.com/foreign-language-rights-for-book-on-raising-bilingual-children/ Sept 21, 2017 14:11:15 GMT 9


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With all major construction necessary to realign Interstate 80 with the new Bay Bridge complete, the director of Caltrans announced Monday afternoon that the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge will open Monday night, hours ahead of the bridge's scheduled opening at 5 a.m. Tuesday.
The surprise announcement came during a Monday afternoon ceremony honoring the many planners, designers, workers and others who had finally completed the bridge after 24 years of planning and construction.
"We are opening this bridge that is built to outlast every one of us," Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said before making the announcement. "The old bridge has been part of life in the Bay Area for 77 years and it has served us well, but it is time for an upgrade.
"We wil open this bridge tonight well ahead of the 5 a.m. target," Dougherty said, noting that his own advisers had warned him against making a public pronouncement "... and I couldn't be happier."
Contractors were busy wrapping up the last bit of striping, barrier rail installation, signage work and other last-minute tasks as the bridge team prepared for a private chain-cutting ceremony and processional expected to last several hours.
The historical milestone is coming much later and at a much higher cost than anyone predicted.
Back in 1998 when Bay Area officials chose the unique self-anchored span design, engineers estimated construction would take four years and cost $1.4 billion; instead, it took 11 years and cost $6.4 billion.
The new bridge isn't quite finished, though. Contractors say the permanent retrofit of the large anchor bolts embedded in seismic stabilizers that snapped in March won't be completed until mid-December.
Engineers recently devised a temporary fix that will allow the bridge to open to motorists before the bolt repairs are finished.
Caltrans was expected to provide a two or three-hour opening range Monday afternoon or evening. CHP officials say they don't want motorists queuing up at the ramp closure barriers or idling on the freeway shoulders in the hopes of being the first driver across the span.
Using the shoulders for nonemergencies will earn drivers a nasty ticket and a moving violation point on your record, CHP spokesman Daniel Hill said. He also urged motorists to resist the temptation to pull over on the span's new shoulders -- the old span had no shoulders -- to take pictures or enjoy the view.
Wait for the bike and pedestrian path to open or take those snaps from a safe location on Treasure Island, he said.
In the four days since the Bay Bridge was closed to traffic for the switch-over, contractors MCM and Flatiron West connected the new span to Interstate 80 at Yerba Buena Island, forever bypassing the hated S-curve detour on the 1936 bridge.
On the Oakland side, they demolished a 1,000-foot section of the upper eastbound deck and installed in its place a temporary wooden pedestrian and bicycle trestle.
The ramp will allow people to use the new span's pathway while contractors finish tearing out the old bridge deck and build the permanent connection. The path will open Tuesday at noon and remain open from dawn to dusk seven days a week.
Other work this weekend included grinding away 2 to 6 inches of pavement on the travel lanes around the toll plaza, installing a new stormwater drainage system, repaving, striping and installing barriers in both the east and westbound directions.
Caltrans also took advantage of the rare closure and checked off months' worth of maintenance chores on the west span such as steam cleaning the inside of Yerba Buena Island tunnel, replacing the tunnel lights with LEDS to match the new eastern span and lubricating the expansion joints.
But for today days, the focus is on opening the much seismically safer new bridge to motorists by the time they return to work Tuesday after the long holiday.
Loath to open the historic bridge without marking the event in some fashion, however, the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee -- three state and regional agencies overseeing the construction -- opted for an invitation-only event.
The restricted attendance has frustrated numerous Caltrans and regional agency employees and contractors who helped design and build the bridge but could not secure tickets for themselves and their families.
Instead, many held private celebrations for their employees, including American Bridge/Fluor Enterprises, the primary contractor for the self-anchored suspension segment of the new span. ABF even ran sightseeing trolleys across the bridge Sunday for their guests.
Those guaranteed a seat at Monday's event and a chance to ride across the span in the ceremonial processional following the 3 p.m. speeches and chain-cutting include the scheduled speakers, of course.
More than one speaker at the opening ceremony Monday made reference to the lengthy design discussion and construction period.
"Just think! We could have had a freeway on stilts," said Steve Kinsey of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. "But the Bay Area held out for a world-class bridge."
Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, noted that she hadn't even been elected to the state Assembly in 1989, when the Loma Prieta quake caused one section of the eastern span to collapse and focused new attention on the span's seismic deficiencies.
"I have eagerly awaited this day along with all of you!" Lee added.
"We don't know when that next quake will happen," said Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. "Now we can drive across that bridge with the assurance that we are not risking our lives."
California Transportation Commissioner Jim Ghielmetti was pointed in his criticism of the length and cost of the bridge project.
"It shouldn't have taken 24 years to build a new bridge," Ghielmetti said. "We must do a better job and learn from our mistakes."
Metropolitan Transportation Commission Chairwoman and Orinda Mayor Amy Worth noted the large number of female construction workers who helped build the bridge, reflecting a huge shift in the workforce since the original bridge was erected.
"Construction isn't an old boys' club anymore," Worth said. "Thank you to the women working on this bridge who forged a path for our daughters."
Removed from the old span surreptitiously earlier this week, the shy Bay Bridge troll made a rare appearance, posing for photos before being moved to an "undisclosed location.".
The Pacific Boys Choir of Oakland sang the national anthem, and the Oakland Military Institute's color guard presented the colors.
California's poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera read his "Bay Bridge Inauguration Poem: For all the bridge dreamers, bridge builders and bridge crossers."
The committee also paid tribute to the pioneering women who helped build the bridge as tradeswomen, engineers or in other roles, taking their lead from the Bay Area News Group's "Sisters of the Span" story, photos and video interviews published earlier this year.
The ceremony included a video tribute to designers, planners, workers and others who were involved in the process but died before the bridge was completed.
Gov. Jerry Brown is out of state and did not attend, but lieutenant governor. and former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom attended the ceremony, shortly after receiving a crash-course in wielding an acetylene torch to prepare for the chain-cutting ceremony.
With a burst of sparks and a few nervous smiles from the dignitaries standing closest to the flame, Newsom cut the ceremonial chain at the toll plaza around 5:30 p.m.
Other speakers included Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty, Metropolitan Transportation Commission Executive Director Steve Heminger, American Bridge/Fluor Joint Enterprises President and CEO Michael Flowers and state Building and Construction Trades Council of California President Robbie Hunter.
Christening the bridge on Labor Day is the perfect choice, said Hunter when asked for a sneak preview of his comments.
"We will be standing in the shadow of two of the most historic bridges in the nation, the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, both built almost 80 years ago," said 30-year iron worker Hunter. "We will also be standing with the workers who built those bridges and recognizing the people from all the trades who worked in all kinds of weather conditions day after day."
With Brown out of state, the actual chain-cutting duty falls to Newsom.
A sharp dresser known for his fastidious grooming, Newsom is scheduled for a quick lesson before the ceremony on how to operate an acetylene welding torch.
But if the torch produces too many sparks for Newsom's comfort, iron workers will be standing at the ready, sources say.
Despite the hullabaloo over the opening, several years of work, tasks both big and small remains after the bridge opens to traffic in addition to the bolt repairs -- paint touch-up, final aesthetic lighting, permanent bike and pedestrian path installation in Oakland and punching the bike and pedestrian path all the way to Yerba Buena Island after the old bridge is demolished. There will be no pedestrian or bicycle access to the island until the path is completed in 2015.
San Francisco will also construct permanent ramps from the new span onto Yerba Buena Island within two years and replace the very short temporary connector.
No additional toll hikes are needed to pay for the new bridge or these other improvements, however.
The Bay Area Toll Authority, Caltrans and the Legislature in 2005 plugged the cost overruns with a mix of state gas tax dollars and a $1 toll increase that went into effect in 2007.
Combined with earlier toll increases, motorists are paying roughly 80 percent of the cost of new span through tolls.
Follow Lisa Vorderbrueggen on Twitter at twitter.com/lvorderbrueggen.


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HP to make $169 Android tablet, eschewing Windows
Hewlett-Packard is making a tablet computer that uses Google's Android operating system, steering clear of Microsoft's latest tablet-oriented version of Windows.
The HP Slate 7 will have a 7-inch screen, making it similar in size to the Amazon Kindle Fire. It will cost $169 when it goes on sale in April in the U.S.
Most tablet makers, including Samsung and Amazon, have chosen Android as the best and cheapest operating system for products that can compete against Apple's iPad. HP previously made a tablet based on Palm's WebOS software, but the effort fizzled. The company also makes a more powerful tablet with PC-type components for the corporate market, which runs a PC-style version of Windows 8. HP hasn't produced a tablet using Windows RT, Microsoft's product for iPad-like tablets.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)