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Rain keeps Villar from getting in much work
MINNEAPOLIS -- The morning rain that kept the tarp on Target Field early on Saturday didn't allow banged up Astros shortstop Jonathan Villar the chance to work out on the field with the trainers as much as manager Bo Porter would have liked.
Villar, out of the lineup for the fourth game in a row after he was hit on the right elbow by a pitch on Tuesday, did manage to play catch on the field with head athletic trainer Nate Lucero.
"[On Friday], he took ground balls and was able to get the ball across the diamond, but it wasn't game speed," Porter said. "That's what we were going to try to do today."
Marwin Gonzalez started at shortstop for the fourth game in a row on Saturday, coming off a game in which he hit a home run in place of Villar, who's hitting .195 with five homers and 17 RBIs with 11 stolen bases.
Brian McTaggart is reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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12 U.S. Code § 1701z–3 - Experimental housing allowance payment program
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(a) Purpose of payments
The Secretary is authorized to undertake on an experimental basis programs to demonstrate the feasibility of providing housing allowance payments to assist families in meeting rental or homeownership expenses.
(b) Termination date of payments; termination date for contracts; contracts for performance of administrative functions
(1) No housing allowance payments shall be made after July 1, 1985. After January 1, 1975, the Secretary shall not enter into contracts under the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.] to carry out the purposes of this section. The Secretary may contract with public or private agencies for the performance of administrative functions in connection with the programs authorized by this section.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the extent approved in appropriation Acts, extend the annual contributions contracts for the experimental housing allowance supply program through September 30, 1989, on the same terms and conditions as the original contracts, for the sole purpose of providing assistance for homeowners participating in such program on June 1, 1983. In extending such contracts, the Secretary may, to the extent approved in appropriation Acts, use authority available under section 5(c) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437c (c)].
Source(Pub. L. 91–609, title V, § 504,Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1786; Pub. L. 93–383, title VIII, § 804,Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 725; Pub. L. 94–375, § 23(b),Aug. 3, 1976, 90 Stat. 1078; Pub. L. 98–35, § 6(a),May 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 198.)
References in Text
The United States Housing Act of 1937, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is act Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, as revised generally by Pub. L. 93–383, title II, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 653, which is classified to chapter 8 (§ 1437 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1437 of Title 42 and Tables.
Section was enacted as part of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970, and not as part of the National Housing Act which comprises this chapter.
1983—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–35designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–375struck out provisions which authorized the Secretary to make or contract to make housing allowance payments, authorized sums to be appropriated as necessary, including sums for contract payments and administrative costs, and limited the aggregate amount of contracts for making housing allowance payments.
1974—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–383substituted provisions authorizing the Secretary to undertake programs on an experimental basis of housing allowance payments to assist families in meeting rental or homeownership expenses, for provisions authorizing the Secretary in carrying out activities under section 1701z–1 of this title to undertake programs on an experimental basis of housing allowances to assist families of low income to obtain rental housing of their choice in existing units.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–383substituted provisions relating to the authority of the Secretary to make or contract to make payments to or on behalf of participating families, authorizing appropriations, and setting forth limits on the contracting power of the Secretary, for provisions setting forth limitations on the amount of family allowances and conditioning payment of such allowances.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 93–383substituted provisions requiring the Secretary to report to Congress not later than 18 months after Aug. 22, 1974, for provisions setting forth the contracting authority of the Secretary for services.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 93–383struck out subsec. (d) which set forth limits on aggregate family allowances and authorizing appropriations to make payments.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 93–383struck out subsec. (e) which required a report to Congress by the Secretary as soon as practicable in calendar years 1972 and 1973.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 93–383struck out subsec. (f) which defined "families of low income" and "existing standard housing".
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 93–383struck out subsec. (g) which prohibited payments after June 30, 1973.
Effective Date of 1983 Amendment
Pub. L. 98–35, § 6(b),May 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 199, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall become effective on October 1, 1983."
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.

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Carmel's glorious international Carmel Bach Festival serves up a generous dose of French panache in its musical banquet this summer.
With a July 13 opening for this 76th festival, the music-making begins earlier than usual, barely a week after the Fourth of July and wraps up with the "Best of the Fest" farewell on July 27.
Already underway with daily pre-festival events open to the public, the festivities make the transition to the traditional repeated concerts and recitals with Saturday's opening night "Bach to Fauré" program at 8p.m.
Here's the count: internationally acclaimed artistic director and principal conductor Paul Goodwin oversees an ensemble of 92 world-class musicians delivering 42 diverse concerts in a 22-day festival that features 35 free events.
Patrons will hear ravishing works of J. S. Bach throughout July during the main concerts and in many of the chamber recitals.
The wide-spectrum of this season's musical offerings reaches as far back as the 13th century and spans the eras to this Saturday evening's world-premiere "Carmel Commission" by Scottish composer Thea Musgrave.
Bach's prodigious, even miraculous, output during the 18th century summed up and expanded the centuries of European music that went before him and laid an extraordinary and powerful foundation for the music that came afterward.
The beloved Carmel event, founded by music-and-culture impresarios Dene Denny and Hazel Watrous in the 1930s, explores this rich musical heritage with Bach as its vibrant heart.
This year's "French connection" celebrates Bach's deep appreciation of the colors and textures of the music from that region by touching into eight centuries of Gallic compositions over the course of the festival.
The impetus for the French component this season comes from what Goodwin calls the new "fourth pillar" of the festival: the "Christmas Oratorio."
It's curious that this famous masterwork by Bach has appeared so seldom on festival programs, only twice presented in its entirety under Goodwin's immediate predecessor, Bruno Weil, during the 1990s.
A lively six-cantata work for the feast days of Christmas, the plan is to rotate the oratorio with Bach's two passions and the "B Minor Mass" on the traditional Sunday large-work program.
Bach's love of the French style is on full display in this oratorio, making it a much lighter musical experience than the passions and the mass. As an uplifting piece, rich with ornamentations, textures and color, it makes an ideal entry into an exploration of French repertoire this season.
You can hear the "Christmas Oratorio," featuring the festival chorale, orchestra and vocal soloists at 2:30 on Sunday afternoons at the festival. Saturday's opening night begins with "Cantata 20", a seldom-performed work in the French style that Goodwin calls "the wildest and most explosive" of Bach's canatas.
Its theme of damnation begins a musical journey leading to the pure paradise of Gabriel Fauré's exquisite Requiem.
Musgrave's beautifully melodic "LARGO in Homage to B.A.C.H." and a concerto by George Frederic Handel form the middle of this concert that takes place at 8p.m.
Monday nights at 8 concertmaster Peter Hanson leads the festival strings in a program of favorites by Bach, Handel and Georg Phillip Telemann along with French gems by Eric Satie and George Muffat, whom Hanson describes as "one of the great cross-pollinators of 17th-century music."
While Goodwin stresses that French music is only one layer of the musical diversity this season, it takes center stage on Tuesday night in "Inside the Music--French Beginning to End."
Collaborating with David Gordon, who connects the elements with lively narration, Goodwin leads the ensemble on a journey from the early choral polyphony of the 1330s in Guillaume de Machaut's "Gloria," sung in old French Latin, to 20th century pieces by Francis Poulenc and Joseph Cantaloube.
Music of Josquin des Pres, Jean-Baptiste Lully, a Bach cantata, Claude Debussy's "Prélude l'aprs-midi d'un faune" and popular opera arias by Léo Delibes and Georges Bizet complete this delightful program.
Wednesday nights marks the return to the Carmel Mission Basilica for the Founders' Concert directed by associate conductor Andrew Megill.
The mission is celebrating the 300th anniversary of founder Father Junipero Serra with a reconstruction and retrofitting of the building, which has been a favorite performance spot for the festival since its earliest days.
"It's wonderful to be back," says Megill. "We can hardly wait to get back in to the ambiance of this really special place."
Megill and the chorale pick up the French theme for their return to the Mission.
"The grand motet was a genre of Baroque French music composed for the court of Louis the 14th and his successors and it was incredibly popular throughout Europe and influential in the French Baroque. But we have never done one of these grand motets at the festival before."
Megill chose Jean-Joseph de Mondonville's "Dominus Regnavit" to represent this short-lived but important musical period. The program also showcases music of Bach, Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur, Fauré and others. Note that the mission concert takes place at 8:30p.m.
Crossover Thursday evenings at 8p.m. bring back popular pianist Stephen Prutsman for another scintillating jazz crossover collaboration. Prutsman leads members of the festival strings in music of Bach and his son J. C. Bach, along with his unique take on Bach's "French Suite No. 5 in G Major," two jazz piano studies and a work by Darius Milhaud for piano and string quartet.
Blockbuster Fridays deliver the pice de résistance for Francophiles this summer. Hector Berlioz's sensational "Symphonie Fantastique" will be presented in an early instrument style resembling as closely as possible the original Paris Conservatory performance in 1830.
There seems to be a feverish interest in this iconic Berlioz work right now across America. Dozens of major orchestras have or will be performing it. But here's the great news for us. Carmel Bach's ensemble is the first ever in America to match the original intent of the composer with instruments of the period along with his distinctive arrangement of the orchestra.
Also on this program are two splendid shorter works by Jean-Philippe Rameau and Maurice Ravel.
Vocal soloists this year include French-Canadian soprano Dominique LaBelle, an exciting international artist who will be making her debut at the festival this year.
Baritone Peter Harvey also comes to Carmel for the first time bringing his stellar reputation as a leading Bach singer. Popular Canadian countertenor Daniel Taylor returns to the festival, along with tenor Thomas Cooley and soprano Clara Rottsolk.
In addition to the main concerts, the 76th festival offers 22 days of vocal and instrumental chamber recitals in seven venues around the Monterey Peninsula; free Tower brass concerts in the courtyards created and directed by Sue Mudge, principal trombonist; a "Music and Ideas" series; pre-concert lectures by festival dramaturge David Gordon; musician "Hot Spots" after concerts where you can talk with the artists; Virginia Best Adams Master Classes; youth chorus programs; open rehearsals; community concerts; a neat art raffle; shopping at "The Bach Boutique" and much more.
Most of the main concerts take place at Sunset Center along many of the free events. Recitals occur at a variety of locations. For detailed information and tickets consult the festival website at www.bachfestival.org or call 624-1521. Please read my column Intermezzo for additional details on the festival, in particular the multi-faceted chamber series directed by Allen Whear.
Barbara Rose Shuler visit her website at www.barbarasbest.com.GO!


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Ugly Duckling - A very happy duck
Quack quack! Hello there.... What an amazing few weeks it has been, with performances of Ugly Duckling in Yeadon, Hunslet, Chapeltown and at Northern Ballet, taking place to sell-out audiences.
My friend Ugly was phenomenal in her first ever ballet and all the children who saw her agreed that she danced very well indeed. In total over 4000 people watched the ballet and here are just a few of the things people have said about it...
"I loved it! It was the first ballet I have been to and I really enjoyed it."
"It was fantastic and just the right length and a great way to get children interested in dancing."
"Graceful, elegant and beautiful. My favourite part was when the ducklings were throwing the egg about"
Eleanor, aged 8
"My three year old was captivated throughout."
"It was fantastic... I liked the swans' costumes and the cats weaving round the Ugly Duckling."
"I loved it! My mum loved it too. It made us feel happy."
Martha, aged 4
Ugly and the other dancers are having a well-earned rest now after all those performances but the people at Northern Ballet are busy organising for the ballet to go on tour in the Spring to small theatres across the North of England – from Barrow in Furness in the West to Hull in the East and lots of places in between. Details of the tour are on the website now!
My favourite bit of the ballet was when the Ugly Duckling made friends with the frogs and tried to leap like them. I've got a few froggy friends down at the duck pond and they are funny creatures, jumping here and there in the flash of an eye. I also really enjoyed listening to the music during the ballet.
If you didn't get to see Ugly Duckling this time around make sure you book your tickets to see it on tour as it is a great show. And if you have seen it already, Northern Ballet would like to hear what you thought of it, and what other stories you think they should make into a ballet next year.
Right, I'm off to fluff up my feathers now that the weather is turning chilly. Speak to you again soon!


text: Federal court affirms dismissal of C8 claims By Ken Ward Jr. April 12, 2011 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal appeals court has upheld two decisions that threw out most of a lawsuit field against chemical giant DuPont Co. by Parkersburg residents over the pollution of their city's water with the toxic chemical C8.A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed the rulings made in October 2008 and September 2009 by Chief U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.Goodwin had declined to allow the case to proceed as a class action and, in a second decision, dismissed claims of negligence, nuisance, trespassing and battery.In a 17-page opinion, Judge Barbara Milano Keenan concluded that the presence of C8 in plaintiffs' blood -- and the potential risk to human health from that condition -- did not satisfy the "injury" requirement under West Virginia law."In such situations, a plaintiff also must produce evidence of a detrimental effect to the plaintiffs' health that actually has occurred or is reasonably certain due to a present harm," Keenan wrote.Judges Paul V. Niemeyer and Allyson K. Duncan joined Keenan in the decision.The decision also said that a West Virginia Supreme Court decision allowing cases for "medical monitoring" did not lower the standard of proof required in such toxic chemical lawsuits. "The 'injury' required to prove a medical monitoring claim is a 'significantly increased risk of contracting a particular disease relative to what would be the case in the absence of exposure,'" Keenan wrote. "A plaintiff seeking medical monitoring as an element of damages for a traditional common law tort must still prove the required elements of that tort to obtain medical monitoring relief."C8 is another name for ammonium perfluorooctanoate, or PFOA. DuPont used the chemical for decades at its Washington Works plant south of Parkersburg. C8 is a processing agent used to make Teflon and other nonstick products, oil-resistant paper packaging and stain-resistant textiles.Evidence is mounting about C8's harmful effects, but federal regulatory agencies have yet to set a safe standard for emissions or human exposure.In September 2004, DuPont agreed to a $107.6 million settlement with residents of communities around Parkersburg. The money is funding two major studies of C8's impacts, and DuPont also installed water treatment systems for those communities.At the time of that settlement, C8 had not been found in the Parkersburg city water. Later, C8 was detected there and a follow-up case was filed. The previous suit was in state court, but the follow-up case was in federal court because of a 2005 law that mandated proposed class actions involving significant amounts of money or parties from different states be in federal courts.In New Jersey, a federal judge has allowed two similar cases against DuPont to proceed, and the company agreed to an $8.3 million settlement that will fund water filters for residents near the DuPont Chambers Workers plant.Reach Ken Ward Jr. at email@example.com or 304-348-1702. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Facebook founder visits Charleston restaurant 2 Innerviews: Dual-identity surgeon riding high in horse racing world 3 New company planning $73M synthetic fuel plant in Greenbrier County 4 Doug Smock: AAC not ready for Power 6 quite yet 5 Rod Run and Doo Wop brings classic cars, music to Boulevard for 12th year Community mourns 29 Upper Big Branch miners Previous Story Deep cuts in store for nation's safety net Next Story


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Baby Safety Gates up to 20% off
Child proofing your home for baby takes some planning and of course, you need to make sure you have the correct baby-proofing gear. Be sure to invest a little time and money to ensure your home is safe for curious tots.
At Baby Depot of course, baby gates. We carry safety gear from some of the top names in the business like Summer Infant, Safety First and more, and our prices are sure to save you money.
And don't forget about outdoor safety too for your little one. Stock up on sunscreen and put together a baby first-aid kit to keep in your diaper bag. A portable playard can be ideal to put outside so baby has a safe place to play and nap.
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In Regional Roundup, we've gathered the top stories from each of our eight weekly newspapers for your convenience. Here are the stories you don't want to miss from Jan. 16 to Jan. 22, 2014.
Aurora High School graduate comes a long way in political world
Christine Pennock, regional representative for Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, has come a long way since she graduated from Aurora High in 2007.
"I was always interested in politics growing up," said Pennock. "It was something I really liked and my family was pretty political."
Cuyahoga Falls
Cuyahoga Falls woman ordered to repay workers' comp money after pleading guilty to fraud
A Cuyahoga Falls woman was ordered to repay nearly $4,000 to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) for working while receiving workplace injury benefits, according to a news release from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Brieanna Younglove pleaded guilty Jan. 9 to one count of workers' compensation fraud, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Pastor Tom Randall of Christ Community Chapel being held in Philippines
A pastor at Christ Community Chapel, 750 W. Streetsboro St. is being held in the Philippines on charges connected to a human trafficking case.
Tom Randall, who was hired in September as pastor at large, was arrested on undetermined charges Jan. 12 while in Manila doing missionary work, according to the Rev. Joe Coffey, lead pastor at the Hudson campus of Christ Community Chapel.
Police dog badger barks up the right tree in her first year
For a dog who only works for the city part time, Badger has been busy.
The city's police K-9 responded to 83 calls in 2013, her first full year with the department, according to an end-of-year report.
Tallmadge Police Department welcomes new officer
Derek Heatwall was sworn in as the Tallmadge Police Department's newest officer during a ceremony in Council Chambers at City Hall Jan. 17. A 2003 graduate of Tallmadge High School, Heatwall attended Kent State University for one semester, and obtained his Ohio Peace Officer's certification in February of 2011 after attending the University of Akron Police Academy.
Nordonia Hills
Macedonia standoff ends, man taken into custody
Police announced the scene of a standoff with an armed resident facing eviction ended without injury with the resident in police custody. Summit County Sheriff's Inspector Bill Holland told the News Leader a team from combined Metro SWAT and the Summit County Sheriff's Office SWAT entered resident David Smith's Shepard Road home around 5:30 p.m. and arrested him. Holland said members of a county hostage negotiating team had been in contact with Smith, who was armed with a handgun. Holland said no shots were fired and neither Smith, nor officers who arrested him were injured.
Stringz & Wingz closed 'until further notice,' says owner
"Until further notice," Stringz & Wingz is closed, said Owner "Chef" Bill Thompson in an interview Jan. 14.
Thompson said he returned leased audio equipment from the business that afternoon, and shortly after that, police were at the facility with a representative from A & Z Management, the company that owns Streetsboro Plaza, where the business is located.
With Video: Twinsburg Community Theatre steps 'Through the Looking Glass'
The fantastic world of author Lewis Carroll will open to residents of all ages Jan. 24 as the Twinsburg Community Theatre takes the audience "Through the Looking Glass," a unique stage adaptation of the British author's sequel to "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."


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Atlantic City sets 'Board Walk' to show the world-famous promenade survived Sandy
On Sunday in Atlantic City, there will be a walk on the boardwalk ... to prove it's still there.
Even though people saw sections of their boardwalk washed away during Superstorm Sandy, it was at the far end of the island, says Don Marrandino of the Atlantic City Alliance.
It was a good thing.
"That part of the boardwalk was in the north section of town that was due for demolition in several months," he said. "It actually saved $400,000 taking the darn thing apart.
"But the boardwalk from the Revel to Atlantic Club and in Ventnor, where I live, there's nothing wrong. In fact, the next day I rode my bike 10 miles on the boardwalk like I do every morning and didn't see one piece of wood out of whack."
So Marrandino says the city decided to prove to the world everything is OK in the seaside casino resort.
"We're having the 'Board Walk,' to prove that the boardwalk is in great shape," he said. "We're going to start at the Atlantic Club at noon, and walk down to Revel and I suspect we'll have a few cocktails along the way."
The Atlantic Club is the former Hilton at the south end of the city.
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+ Iggy's gone + Deng's without Rose again. I think you guys are probably right. If he can put together a solid start he could definitely get in.This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
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+ Iggy's gone + Deng's without Rose again. I think you guys are probably right. If he can put together a solid start he could definitely get in.
All this "all star" talk got me to think of the time I was voting like crazy for Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy to be all stars
We have a great squad and have had many in the past, but JO was an MVP candidate and Reggie did (mostly on clutch plays) make the HOF. That's why they started, not because the NBA was different back then.
I mean are we seriously going to question the NBA and the fans for picking Jordan over Reggie, or Ewing over Smits? I mean how many Pacers have even been multiple AS players? Reggie and JO (mentioned already), Detlef made 2 more with Seattle later, B Miller made a 2nd one in Sacto, and...
If you are only making the team once as a reserve, then why should we expect you to be a starter for that one season. That's not realistic and has ZERO to do with "poor whittle Indy doesn't get a shot".
Indy has never had "OMG, this dude is one of the greatest ever and must start, but he got jobbed for being in Indy." Just like no elite FA has ever said "oh, the money is more but screw Indy". The only guy close is Nash, who passed up even more money in Toronto to specifically be near his child (needed a West region team).
David West and slightly less Steve Nash are the only times Indy has been in the competition for a top FA, ie had the cap space to spend for a realistic offer. They've NEVER had a strong case for an AS starter who got overlooked, with Artest being the closest case I can think of.
Indy just builds balanced teams, quality teams, winning teams. I'm sure they might look at stars for trades, but they had Reggie locked up and kept that roster around him, then focused on JO, they weren't trading either of those guys + 2 other starters to get an Iverson, Barkley or Karl Malone.
Their high picks have been busts, but they had pick positions in the 80s high enough to have caught a Durant level player and just missed. You hit one of those picks and you have your Durant and your AS starter.
i simply don't care if any pacers make that meaningless game. just one less pointless exhibition for them to get hurt in as far as i'm concerned.
if others want to take the risk- so be it. i haven't bothered with watching the all-star game in many years anyway.
It's not even that I somehow think marginal Pacer players deserve being starters, it is that as long as players so injured they don't play before the ASG get the nod, the voting is clearly not based on performance for that season. It is solely based on popularity. That's fine, but means that getting voted in is more a matter of exposure than it is ability.
I just wish people would give as much (or more) credit to getting in on the coaches' vote as they do to getting voted in by a 10-million strong fanbase who can vote as fast as they can click a mouse button.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Or throw in a first-round pick and flip it for a max-level point guard...
I don't like this rule. There are always going to be all-star snubs. It's just the nature of the beast.
They should do the same for pg and sg position. That way, more talented pgs can get in.
Oh, the day will come with nothing but pgs and pfs in the all-star game. And some Asians mixed in.
All-Star game is officially a joke now for me.
First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.
Personally I don't think it is unrealistic to think the Pacers, if lucky, could have 3 players selected in George, Granger, and Hibbert. Obviously the odds are slim, but it doesn't take much imagination to think up a scenario where each of them get in.
I'm from way back. It used to be that you had fowards and guards. Somewhere along the way there developed that you had a player who "jumped center", meaning the jump ball at center court for the start of each half. Usually the teams tallest player did this.
I don't know if it was sportswriters doing it or basketball coaches/strategists but all five players got defined as to position; C, PF, SF, PG, SG, like we have today.
I heard Jalen Rose in a interview years ago when asked which position he fit better with PG, SG, or SF. He said that positions were for the fans and sports casters. That when the coaches and players practiced and played they played match ups and didn't use the now traditional definitions.
I know in my limited HS playing experience I played guard. The guy on the floor who could run the play the coach wanted to run brought the ball up the court. But then again my experience was VERY limited.
Like most sports all star games, it is meaningless. Players do not play their best.
The last one I watched was Magic's last all star game. Stupid. It was little more than a beauty pageant with ugly (if you are hetero) contestants.
Smothered Chicken!
....and yet you missed the very next year, which might have been the most competitive all star game of all time....
Which is why Jalen spent his entire career whining about playing "point" because that was *HIS* position.
Edit- there are definitely positions, just not as defined as many like to see it- point-wing-big is accurate -
Anybody think this evolution is related to adding the three point line?
I think it has hurt the creativity and consistency of the game. And now its tradition.
"Look, it's up to me to put a team around ... Lance right now." Kevin Pritchard press conference
The only reason they're doing this is because the era of the big man is over...and there is no sign of its return.
well, it is over in that the cycle of capable players that are of authentic center size and who know how to really play that spot is currently at a low point. 20 years ago, we had a practical golden age of them with guys like hakeem, the admiral, mutombo, shaq, zo, ewing, daughtery etc.
one day, it will be back- just not now.
Sure there is. Roy, Howard, Bynum, Noah, Gasol, Lopez. Those guys are already good and have plenty of years left. Horford if he's still a "center," Bogut if he can ever get healthy again. Then the young guys with immense talent, Anthony Davis, Cousins, Drummond. Sure, it ain't Ewing and Hakeem and Kareem, but the center position being dead is pretty much a myth. There's just a crapload of really good PGs now, it's cyclical.


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Beatrix Potter Guinea Pig Cake
I was totally floored when I was asked to submit a cake for Cake Central Magazine! This was published in Volume 4 – issue 6. I was given the theme of Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes by Beatrix Potter to use as inspiration. I loved the poems with the gardening guinea pigs the best, and I wanted to tell the story of these guys on this cake. Each tier is hand painted using food colors. All of the guinea pigs are sculpted from gumpaste and hand painted, as well as the wheel barrow, watering can, veggies, fence, flowers and greenery. When I was carrying it outside, I broke the little guy's shovel – I was so mad at myself! But luckily I got a shot of it inside. I love the outdoor pic the best though :)


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Forklift Rental In Rozet, Wyoming
There are a myriads of industrial vehicles in existence in Rozet, Wyoming that do just about everything. There are street sweepers, earth movers, ground borers, pavers, dismantlers and lift trucks, to name a few. All these vehicles serve an important role in our societies and communities and it would be quite accurate to say that without them, life as we know it would not exist.
Of all the industrial vehicles mentioned however, none are more versatile than a forklift. Found everywhere from supermarket aisles to busy dockyards, forklifts are as varied as they are useful. These lift trucks are powered by either gas, batteries or LPG and come in a variety of sizes, and capacities. They even come with different attachments to suit different jobs.
As such, it is undeniable that without forklifts, businesses in Rozet, Wyoming would have a much harder time conducting operations. This makes it important for many companies to have this tool around to help keep things moving efficiently. Unfortunately however, a forklift is expensive to acquire and expensive to maintain so this sometimes puts it out of reach of smaller enterprises. Not having one then keeps their pace of operations slow and thus making it harder for them to stay competitive. To combat this, others have resorted to buying used forklifts. However, these companies, more often than not find that their purchase is not worth the investment due to many issues that plague their used trucks.
There is a middle-ground solution though, that bridges the gaps between buying new, buying used and doing without. This comes in the form of rentals. Forklift rental is a viable, practical way to obtain the use of a lift truck without having to commit to a purchase and without the need to compromise on safety and reliability. In that respect, forklift rental in Rozet, Wyoming offers the following benefits:
- Less upfront cost - Buying a lift truck is a major undertaking and can make a serious dent in your capital. Renting one lets you avoid this thus allowing you to invest in other things.
- Use as needed - If your requirements are seasonal or limited, it makes more sense to only have it around as needed.
- Newer is better - Typically, a rental fleet is updated so you can count on getting newer, more efficient units.
- Maintenance-free - You\'re freed from the upkeep of the equipment. Also, repairs are not your concern.
If you currently have a need for a forklift but buying new is out of the question, you may want to consider renting. Luckily, forklift rental in Rozet, Wyoming is quite booming. The downside however is, it may take a lot of time for you to find the right supplier that will give you the best deal.
Our company offers to simplify the search for you by offering you multiple quotes from different suppliers in Rozet, Wyoming. Our wide network gives you access to the best deals without you having to do any legwork and our years of experience have enabled us to find and do business with only the most reliable suppliers.
To get started, all you need to do is visit our website and take a minute to register then tell us what you need. We\'ll take care of the rest.


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Heyward gaining energy, could take swings Saturday
ATLANTA -- Having had the opportunity to walk around and interact with his Braves teammates this week, Jason Heyward has regained some of the energy that was depleted when he essentially remained sedentary for a week following his April 22 appendectomy.
"I'm getting a little more sleep," Heyward said. "It feels better being a little more active, not just sitting at home. I'm actually having to stand up, walk around and move around."
Heyward is expected to begin taking dry swings with a bat on Saturday. If all goes well, he could begin hitting off a tee, playing catch and jogging as early as Monday. His progress from there will depend on how his body reacts to different challenges.
While it is still too early for Heyward to pinpoint a specific date for his return, he remains hopeful that he will not need to wait until the final days of this month to get back in the Braves' lineup.
"As far as the end of May, I'd be disappointed if I had to wait that long," Heyward said. "I want to be back sooner rather than later."
If Heyward returns too soon before his abdominal muscles have healed, he runs the risk of straining an oblique muscle or sustaining a hernia.
Braves hitting coach Greg Walker held the same role with the White Sox in 2011, when Adam Dunn returned from an appendectomy in less than a week in early April. Dunn then proceeded to have the worst season of his career.
"Everybody has told me to take my time," Heyward said.
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Family Fired!Logic puzzles require you to think. You will have to be logical in your reasoning.
Mary Beem, who was a wife, mother of four and grandmother of nine, was shot to death by an angry relative. Find out the name of the relative it was by piecing together the relationships of each person with the clues below.
The killer's sister was suspicious of her sibling and confirmed her distrust by talking to three people: her grandfather Bob, her cousin Bo, and her uncle (blood relative) Bill. She called the police, and the suspect was apprehended at the victim's funeral service. Only the direct descendants and their spouses were present. (Note: None of Mary's grandchildren were married or had kids, and no two people have the same first name.)
1. Bill was talking with his brother-in-law Barry.
2. Bart, Buck, and Bruce (who were all brothers) were by their grandmother's casket.
3. Mary's daughter May, who was with her husband Ben, had their two children: Missy and Bernie.
4. Mo, Bob's son-in-law, was comforting his wife Robin, and both were keeping an eye on their sons.
5. Bo was by himself in a corner grieving, while his sister Molly was talking with their cousin Megan.
6. Myra was consoling one of her two children, Brad, who had been very close to his grandmother.
7. Bob was with his daughter Maria.
NOTE: Each of the 4 couples has at least 2 kids.
HintDraw a family tree.
Each of the 4 children of Mary Beem has a spouse, and each couple has children. Since all must have at least two kids, only one couple has three kids (a total of 9 grandchildren).
AnswerFrom the killer's sister's conversation, Bob is Mary's husband, Bill is one of Mary's children, and Bo is a grandchild.
From clue 1 and 2, Barry was a spouse, and since Bart, Buck and Bruce were all brothers, they were the set of three kids. Clue 3 is straightforward - Mary's daughter May is married to Ben and has two kids: Missy and Bernie.
From 4, Robin is a daughter and Bob her spouse. From 5, Bo and Molly are siblings and grandchildren (since they have a cousin present). Megan has to be from the last couple. Mo and Robin could only have been parents to the three boys (Bart Bruce and Buck), since all other siblings were a boy and girl.
Clue 6 gives the name of the remaining child, Brad, who must be a sibling of Megan. Both have a mother by the name of Myra. It is unknown at this point if Myra is a spouse or a direct relative.
Since clue 7 says that Bob (Mary's husband) was with his daughter Maria, Myra becomes a spouse. Then, by default, Bo and Molly belong to Maria.
So now, knowing that the killer's sister is COUSIN to Bo, Bill's NIECE, and Bob's GRANDDAUGHTER, the killer must be BERNIE.
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Grand Départ in Yorkshire for 2014
Gary VERITY
Chief Executive, Welcome to Yorkshire
Proud and delighted
The people of Yorkshire are proud and delighted to welcome the world's greatest cycle race to one of the most beautiful parts of the United Kingdom.
We are honoured to have been chosen to stage the Grand Départ of the 2014 Tour de France and we are confi dent that the riders will fi nd our spectacular scenery both challenging and exhilarating.
Their route will take them through some of our great and historic cities, including the Roman walled city of York, Leeds - the UK's second biggest fi nancial centre, the stunning cathedral city of Ripon, and Sheffi eld, which is fast becoming known as one of Europe's great sporting cities. They'll wind through the glorious Yorkshire Dales National Park into the quintessential English market town of Harrogate before experiencing the dramatic rise and fall of the Pennines around Brontë country. We believe they will fi nd the route simply breathtaking.
Yorkshire and cycling go hand-in-hand. The county is widely regarded as one of the spiritual heartlands of UK cycling producing trailblazing talent like Brian Robinson, the fi rst British rider to win a stage of the Tour de France, Barry Hoban a winner of 8 stages of the Tour de France and Malcolm Elliott the fi rst British rider to win a Grand Tour points jersey. Its landscape continues to inspire a new generation of star cyclists today, but it's for the warmth of our welcome that the people of Yorkshire are best known.
We love to meet new people and to make them feel at home in the place which has the nickname of God's Own County. We know that the millions of Yorkshire men, women and children who turn out to cheer on the riders as they pass through our city streets and country lanes will give the Tour de France the warmest welcome ever.
...And there is no doubt that this enthusiasm will go from strength to strength during the third part of the Tour's time in Britain. This stage three will link up two iconic cities: Cambridge, the renowned university town, and London, the capital, the site of a memorable Grand Départ in 2007 and of course the venue for the fantastic Olympic Games in 2012.
Christian PRUDHOMME
Director of the Tour de France
Quality and enthusiasm guaranteed
Unforgettable. That's the word that springs to mind when I think about the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in London back in 2007, the first ever organised in Great Britain.
We hope and trust that the 2014 Grand Départ will be just as spectacular: this is my wish, and I don't think I need to worry, as it seems very likely to come true given how impressed we were with the passion and desire of our friends from Yorkshire ever since we fi rst met.
At that time, we were considering a return to the UK for the Tour in 2016- 2017. That was before British cycling's golden summer. Bradley Wiggins' historic victory in the Tour de France combined with the phenomenal success of the cycling events during the Olympic Games convinced us that we should come back earlier and, to tell the truth, as quickly as possible.
But if Yorkshire has earned the right to welcome the Tour, it only has itself to thank. Thanks to the quality of the facilities, infrastructure and sites it can offer us. Thanks to the stunning landscape, which will be introduced to the whole world as they follow the race on TV, in all fi ve continents. Thanks to its roads, which offer a variety of terrains, perfect for sprinters as well as puncheurs. Thanks to its cycling heritage, the achievements of pioneers, led by Brian Robinson, since the late 1950s. Thanks to the choice of a modern-day champion, who is still a contender, Mark Cavendish, as ambassador, refl ecting a thriving, unashamedly forward-thinking discipline.
We are already foreseeing a huge event with massive popular support: in Leeds, where the Tour will begin, in Harrogate, in York, in Sheffi eld and throughout the region. And the enthusiasm is bound to continue further south, in the third stage that will take the cyclists from the prestigious city of Cambridge to London, the capital.
Seven years on, the Tour will return to The Mall for its royal arrival in front of Buckingham Palace. And after a week of passion and three crucial stages, there will only be one word in our minds: unforgettable.
Wiggins and Cavendish of course, but let's not forget Robinson as well
Sunday 22nd July 2012, a day to remember. God Save the Queen rings out down the Champs-Élysées to celebrate the first win by a British cyclist in the Tour de France. Bradley Wiggins in the yellow jersey is even sharing the podium with one of his compatriots, his teammate Christopher Froome who finished in second place. Fifty years earlier, in 1962, the first cyclist from the UK to wear that famous item of clothing was called Tom Simpson, a man who would later be imitated by Chris Boardman, Sean Yates and David Millar.
When it comes to the 51 stage wins by Brits, it is without a doubt Mark Cavendish who takes the lion's share, with 23, followed by Barry Hoban (8), David Millar (4), Michael Wright, Robert Millar and Chris Boardman (3), Bradley Wiggins (2), Sean Yates, Maximilian Sciandri and Christopher Froome (1). And if we want to know who led the way by being the first to win two stages, first in 1958 and then in 1959, it was Brian Robinson who, like Hoban, was from Yorkshire.
Yorkshire - going from strength to strength
Yorkshire is perhaps best known around the world for the wild and windy moors made famous by the nineteenth century novels of the Bronte sisters, but modern day Yorkshire is making its name for much more than that.
Just two hours north of London by train we are a country within a country - with seven great cities, each with a distinctive character, and each situated within minutes of amazing countryside - the rolling Yorkshire Dales, the breathtaking North York Moors, the Pennine hills, and our impressive North Sea coastline. Leeds is a bustling centre for financial services, while its neighbour Bradford has the distinction of being a UNESCO city of film. The port of Hull in the east is a key trade route and a gateway to visitors from the rest of Europe.
Recent years have seen tourism in Yorkshire grow faster than anywhere else in the UK. Visitors come to enjoy our history and heritage in places like York or our great country houses and castles, and we are becoming an internationally renowned centre for sculpture, with the Hepworth Gallery at Wakefield, the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Sport is another magnet bringing new visitors. Sheffield's Crucible Theatre is already seen worldwide as the home of snooker and recent years have seen international diving, fencing, figure skating and mountain biking in Yorkshire. The Grand Départ will once again focus the eyes of the world on this thriving and beautiful part of the UK.
After its time in Yorkshire, the Tour de France peloton will be heading for Cambridge, the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire. Internationally renowned for its university, which dates back to the 13th century, with its thirty-one colleges, it is now also at the heart of a cluster of cuttingedge high-tech companies, nicknamed the Silicon Fen as a nod to California's Silicon Valley.
As for London, the British capital hardly needs any introduction. It is one of the world's leading cities, thanks in no small part to its economic power and cultural reputation. Its museums and iconic monuments include the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, which pull in more than twenty-five million tourists every year.
In the north-east of England, where it is the biggest historic county, Yorkshire covers some 15,000 km2 and is subdivided into four counties: East, North, West and South.
It is home to five million people, 752,000 of whom live in Leeds, the area's biggest city.
Harrogate has 73,000 inhabitants, York has 198,000 and Sheffield has 555,000.
For its part, Cambridge, the administrative centre of the county, has 110,000 inhabitants.
As for London, the capital of the United Kingdom has some three million inhabitants, or seven million for Greater London.
By plane : Leeds Bradford airport 15km from the city centre or Manchester airport, 70km away
By train : from Paris to London by Eurostar. Regular trains between London and Yorkshire's main cities
By road : 780km from Paris to Leeds by motorway
Time difference
12h00 in the United Kingdom = 13h00 in France
Dates for your diary
Wednesday 2nd July: opening of the reception office and press centre in Wellington Place
Thursday 3rd July: presentation of the 2014 Tour de France teams at Leeds Arena
Saturday 5th July: first stage, Leeds Harrogate, 190 km
Sunday 6th July: second stage, York Sheffield, 200 km
Monday 7th July: third stage, Cambridge London, 170 km
Leeds / Harrogate
The 101st running of the Tour de France will begin outside the 19th century Town Hall in the heart of historic Leeds. From the steps of the concert venue the riders will head northwest out of the city centre and into the Yorkshire countryside. They will pass Harewood House, home of the Lascelles family for over 250 years, before they head to Skipton, gateway to the spectacular Yorkshire Dales National Park. Up to this point the route is fairly fl at, but once they enter the iconic Dales the terrain gets steeper as the riders race a semi-circular route across the contours of the valleys. They leave at the north east edge of the National Park sweeping southeast through Leyburn and the cathedral city of Ripon, rejoining the flat roads to the pretty spa town of Harrogate. It is here at the end of a long straight line fi nish that we will discover who will be the fi rst rider to wear the famous yellow jersey of the 2014 Tour de France.
York / Sheffield
A stunning walled city brimming with history, York is the venue for the start of stage two. After starting at Clifford's Tower the peloton will head west passing through Harrogate once again before turning south and heading to Huddersfield via Haworth, home of literary sisters, the Brontës. From here the cyclists will be able to stretch their legs on a number of steep sections before they arrive at the gateway to another National Park, the Peak District, on the edge of the Pennines. The slopes start to get steeper here especially the stretch leading to Holme Moss, renowned as one of the toughest climbs in the whole of Great Britain. There are still a few hills to cross before the cyclists arrive in the UK's first city of sport Sheffield. The last hill climb of the day is less than five kilometres from the finish in the northeast of the city next to the Don Valley Stadium.
Cambridge / Londres
The famous university city provides the stunning setting for the beginning of the third chapter of the Grand Départ. This stage is mainly fl at and will take the cyclists south on the roads of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Essex. The race arrives in Greater London from the northeast, via Epping Forest. Once it has passed the Olympic Park, it will head for the centre of the British capital for its fi nale against a background of picture postcard scenes including the Thames, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey… As with the prologue of the Tour de France in 2007 and the 2012 Olympic cycle road races, the final stretch will take the competitors through St James's Park, in front of Buckingham Palace for a spectacular fi nish on The Mall.
Jersey wearers after the stage 21
- polka-dot jerseyQUINTANA ROJAS N.MOV
- white jerseyQUINTANA ROJAS N.MOV
- teamTEAM SAXO-T.TST
Key moments
Receive exclusive news about the Tour de France
These five riders have won sprint stages of the 100th Tour de France. Of these five, who do you think will win in Paris?
- Marcel Kittel14.93%
- Simon Gerrans1.08%
- Mark Cavendish54.21%
- André Greipel5.5%
- Peter Sagan24.28%


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Public Safety & Health Risks
Contact DCC
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday: 9:15 a.m. - 4 p.m.
12055 Government Center Parkway
Suite 1016
Fairfax, VA 22035
Submit Complaint
Complaint History
Hoarding creates hazardous conditions that can increase the risk of fire; structural damage to the home; and disease or injury to the hoarder, other household members, neighbors and the community. Extensive storage of items in the home severely limits the hoarder's day-to-day functioning.
Increased Risk of Fire
The accumulation of combustible materials, such as newspapers, clothing and rubbish, can pose a severe fire hazard.
The amount of combustible materials, when ignited, creates an
extremely hot, fast-spreading fire that is difficult to
Escaping the home in a fire can be impossible due to blocked
hallways, doorways and windows.
- Public safety personnels' access to the home can be hampered or blocked.
Homes with severe hoarding suffer more extensive damage during a fire emergency because of the amount of combustible material inside and a delay in firefighting due to obstructed windows and doorways.
Increased Risk of Structural Damage
The volume of hoarded items, often stacked from floor to ceiling, is extremely heavy and imposes structural loads up to 500 percent above the minimum design load. Structural damage threatens the occupants, public safety personnel and adjacent buildings or townhouses.
Overloaded floors or attics can cause permant structural damage such as
Sagging floors and ceilings,
Cracked floor joists or roof trusses,
Compromised bearing walls and
In extreme cases, partial collapse of the structure.
Increased Risk of Disease, Injury and Infestation
The storage of hoarded items makes cleaning nearly impossible, which can lead to unsanitary living conditions and increases the risk of disease.
The lack of regular home maintenance can result in the loss of
running water, heat or refrigeration.
Toilets and sinks may be unusable or inaccessible.
Stacked items are a falling or tripping hazard which can cause
injury to the occupants or public safety personnel.
- Accumulated garbage can lead to rat and insect infestations.


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Can we move forward now and try to make this system better through discussion and cooperation instead of a fight to stop it at all costs? For the kids? The kids who are languishing at the bottom of important national student achievement rankings?
Or do we have to continue the fight, treading water as an entrenched establishment argues that the deck chairs are just fine, thank you, and taxpayers, business leaders, parents and students run for the lifeboats – leaving or never relocating to the state, or adding their names to the thousands already on private and charter school rolls or waiting lists?
Second Judicial District Court Judge Shannon Bacon's ruling took apart critics' claims one by one and reaffirmed state education chief Hanna Skandera's authority to implement the evaluations. That should give pause to petitioners state Sens. Howie Morales, D-Silver City, and Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, and Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton, D-Albuquerque, the state chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and Albuquerque teachers union president Ellen Bernstein.
But it likely won't. Bernstein has already said she'll just redirect her opposition efforts.
This reform process is in the early stages and PED should be open to dialogue on how to improve it, without dropping the key component of a focus on student achievement.
Instead of trying to stop it at all costs, critics should focus on the fact that New Mexico students' reading and math results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress test, better known as the nation's report card, are flat or worse under the systems they have championed over the years. That under the system they are fighting for – a system rejected by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, an Obama administration appointee – 99 percent of teachers are rated as satisfactory.
Of course other issues need to be addressed, such as poverty and language issues. There is a clear need for more early childhood programs. Instead of trying to collaborate across the board on these issues, the critics are driven by a union agenda that is about work rules and conditions – and not about student achievement.
Bacon's ruling puts the score at status quo 0, New Mexico students 2. For the benefit of the students who can't read or do math, it would be better if those dedicated to stopping the improvements for political reasons would instead work to improve the program, and quit fighting while they're behind.
This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.


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Shortly after midnight Wednesday, the last Golden Gate Bridge toll collector left her booth for the final time, signaling the end of an era.
Drivers crossing the historic bridge are no longer able to pay their tolls with cash or be greeted by a human being. With the flip of a switch, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District implemented a $3.2 million all-electronic collection system.
Marilyn Alvarado was the last toll collector on the bridge early Wednesday morning. After more than 29 years of service, she plans to retire. She said her last day of work was an amazing one filled with mixed feelings of sadness and happiness.
"I want to thank the public for all their kind words and generosity," Alvarado said. "We've had so much generous support."
Alvarado took her last toll from Jim Eddie, bridge district president from Mendocino County, and his passenger Brian Sobel, district board member from Sonoma County. Eddie drove a maroon 1937 Packard through Alvarado's lane, an act he said is historically significant.
"It actually was the first car to cross the bridge when they opened it in 1937," Eddie said.
The second-to-last last car through the toll booth was driven by San Francisco resident Peter Lavezzoli, who said he loves the toll-takers and will miss interacting with them.
"I think it means that we're more interested in conveniences as opposed to human interaction," Lavezzoli said. "It's another step toward the de-humanization of our society."
Before Alvarado left her lane No. 1 booth, workers were busy unveiling new signs that said "Do Not Stop" and painting the toll booth windows in the international orange used to paint the bridge. Signs raising the speed limit from 5 mph to 25 mph were also unveiled, along with signs making lane No. 2 at the Toll Plaza as a $3 toll carpool lane. Three people in a vehicle qualify as a carpool.
Toll collector Dawnette Reed waited near the Toll Plaza late Tuesday night with flowers for her sister Tracy Sorrell, who was the second-to-last toll-taker on the bridge. Reed, who had worked earlier in the day, said it was a difficult day filled with tears. She said her faithful customers showed an outpouring of support.
"I had a lot of customers who wanted to hug me. I got four bouquets of flowers, coffee, multiple cards, gift cards and baked goods," Reed said.
She said it's difficult to leave a job she's grown up with. She's worked as a toll-taker for 18 years after starting her work with the district as a gift shop employee at the age of 16. In all her time on the bridge, she said she's seen everything from people walking away from their cars to driving through the toll booths naked.
"I really loved my job," Reed said, adding that she's now seeking work with the Bay Area Rapid Transit District.
Reed was one of the full-time toll-takers and 29 temporary, part-time hires affected by the switch. Toll takers like were eliminated in an attempt to save the bridge district money, as it's facing a $66 million budget shortfall over the next five years. Bridge district managers anticipate saving about $16 million over eight years in salaries and benefits. The base annual salary for a toll-taker ranged from $48,672 to $54,080.
Eddie said the change is difficult as most bridge employees have great longevity with the district, typically retiring from their jobs instead of being forced out.
"It's a real change, but technology has got its place and it's here to stay," Eddie said.
Under the new system, drivers will pay their tolls using digital transponders that deduct money from a prepaid account or credit card, or through license plate scans that automatically send bills to drivers. Those who want to pre-pay a toll with cash can pay at "Touch-N-Buy" kiosks around Marin, often found in convenience stores. Cash will no longer be accepted at the Toll Plaza.
The district has established a website -- www.goldengate.org/tolls -- to provide information to drivers about their payment choices.
Drivers who fail to pay the toll via one of the electronic options will receive warning letters and could eventually have a hold placed on their vehicle registration at the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
As a man's voice shouted over a loudspeaker early Wednesday at confused drivers, telling them not to stop at the unmanned booths, toll-worker Cheryl Butler-Adams reflected on her short five months working at the bridge.
"It was a job, but it was enjoyable. You weren't just taking cash, you were always assisting people," Butler-Adams said.
Contact Megan Hansen via email at firstname.lastname@example.com or via Twitter at http://twitter.com/hansenmegan


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Kim O'Hara wrote:If we take the view that subjective experience can never be satisfactory evidence, we can say nothing about the world we experience. But subjective experience is all we've got - all information about the world and about our minds is subjective experience - so that position obviously doesn't work, and we hardly ever act as though it does.
Subjectivity applied to demonstrable scientific rigor is not the same as subjective inference.


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OAKLAND -- A suspect dragged a sheriff's deputy with his car Saturday night, prompting gunfire that killed the suspect and left a deputy wounded in his foot, police said.
The suspect, who has not been named, died after the 9:45 p.m. confrontation at 33rd Avenue and San Leandro Street while the deputy was expected to survive his injuries. Authorities found a gun in the suspect's car, but it was wasn't clear who shot the deputy, said Alameda County Sheriff spokesman J.D. Nelson.
The incident began when two deputies pulled over the suspect's car and saw a passenger put something under his seat, which turned out to be drugs, Nelson said. So the deputies pulled the passenger out of the car and arrested him.
A second pair of deputies drove up to help out and were checking the driver when he allegedly sped away A deputy on the passenger side was dragged by the vehicle, while two other deputies opened fire. The gunfire wounded the driver several times, who subsequently crashed into a building about a block away.
"We're still trying to figure out exactly what happened," said Nelson. "The deputy was extremely lucky."
Contact Joshua Melvin at 650-348-4335. Follow him at Twitter.com/melvinreport.


text:
Note: This item is more than eight years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.
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News Release
Media Contact: TPWD News, firstname.lastname@example.com, 512-389-8030
May 7, 2009
Deadly 2008 Boating Season Prompts Expanded Public Outreach
AUSTIN, Texas — In 2008, 61 boaters died on Texas waters. It was the highest number in more than a decade, tying the tragic 2002 boating season. Even more alarming, in 2002 there were more than 620,000 registered vessels in the state; six years later that number had fallen to just slightly more than 591,000.
It's a trend that troubles state, federal and local officials, and one they're sure to be talking about in a series of National Safe Boating Week events beginning May 16 at Lewisville Lake.
"Clearly the accident trend in Texas is going in the wrong direction," said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Warden Maj. Alfonso Campos, the state's marine safety chief. "The real tragedy here is that almost every one of the fatalities we saw last year could have been prevented."
Campos pointed out that 59 of the 61 fatality accidents in 2008 were single-vessel accidents. In other words, those deaths resulted from boats capsizing, colliding with something, or passengers falling overboard.
"There are three things we encourage boaters to do to prevent serious injuries and fatalities on the water," Campos said. "First, wear a life jacket. The new inflatable life jackets are lightweight and comfortable, and they save lives. Second, don't drink and boat. If you do have alcohol on the boat, designate a sober driver, just as you would for your automobile. Third, take a boater education course. Studies show that boater ed can cut accident rates in half, and even seasoned boaters can benefit from the 6-hour basic course."
All of the National Safe Boating Week media events May 16-22 will offer news media patrol ride-alongs with Texas Game Wardens, local law enforcement agencies and — on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes — USACE Park Ranger vessels.
The Lewisville Lake event is scheduled in conjunction with a North Texas Water Safety Coalition shoreline safety event at Westlake Park and will kick-off at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 16, with "Party Cove" as a backdrop. Patrol ride-alongs will be available.
At Canyon Lake, near New Braunfels, Randolph Recreation Area will be the site of a South Central Texas Water Safety Coalition press event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, May 18. Patrol ride-alongs will be available.
In Austin, the Lake Travis Task Force will host a noon media event Thursday, May 21 at Mansfield Dam Recreation Area. As in past years, patrol ride-alongs will be available. This year a new life jacket loaner program will be highlighted.
At a media event at Papa's on the Lake at Lake Conroe Friday, May 22, representatives from TPWD, the San Jacinto River Authority, the Houston Sail and Power Squadron, the Houston Safe Boating Council, Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, and the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable will highlight boating safety efforts there.
Over Memorial Day Weekend, a Montgomery County-wide "no-refusal" weekend will focus on Lake Conroe. "No refusal" weekends employ on-site judges, search warrants and blood draws to gather evidence from individuals suspected of Boating While Intoxicated or Driving While Intoxicated and will involve roving, mobile DWI/BWI intoxilyzer units around the lake. The Lake Conroe effort is the first in Texas to focus on a public water body.
The Friday media event kicks-off at 11:30 a.m.
The Houston Sail and Power Squadron also will perform complimentary vessel safety checks at Lake Conroe boat ramps May 16 and May 23.
Enforcement of boating safety laws is just one aspect of a coordinated statewide campaign over the coming summer that will include multiple Nobody's Waterproof education and outreach events across the state.
Local news media outlets will receive details of events in their area several days in advance of the events listed above. Local boating safety and law enforcement experts are available for interviews at any time. Spanish speaking representatives are available in most areas.
On the Net:
- This release in Spanish: http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20090507b
- http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/safety/safety_tips/
- http://tpwd.texas.gov/learning/boater_education/
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(5.4.16 i)


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Jones, not Snider, in No. 2 slot against righty
Pirates slugger's OPS against right-handers tips scale in his favor
PITTSBURGH -- Staying with a look he hadn't begun to explore until the tail end of the preseason schedule, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle went with Garrett Jones in the two-hole in Monday's Opening Day lineup.
Jones' power potential -- 27 homers and 86 RBIs last season -- might suggest a better fit deeper in the lineup. However, for Hurdle, it came down to OPS: Jones' .888 against right-handers last season promoted him in the batting order -- and also over Travis Snider, who'd gone through Spring Training believing he'd get first call in right field against right-handed pitching.
"For me, it's either second or sixth for Jones," Hurdle said. "Against a right-hander [the Cubs' Jeff Samardzija], it's hard for me to hit a guy with that OPS sixth. That's too deep, might miss some opportunities. I'm trying to find the best combination to get men on base in front of Andrew [McCutchen, the No. 3 hitter], and stretch out the lineup, top to bottom."
Snider was OK with the move after having the reasoning behind it explained to him by Hurdle, who said, "He's going to play. [Jose] Tabata will play. Everybody will contribute. I felt this is our best offensive lineup right now."
The guy who actually bumped Snider was not Jones -- who normally would have played first base -- but the right-handed-hitting Gaby Sanchez, whose .302-4-11 preseason production was hard to overlook.
"I crunched numbers," Hurdle said, "and in looking at the spring Gaby Sanchez had, I'm not smart enough to decide he doesn't need to play right now."
In Monday's 3-1 loss to the Cubs, Jones went 0-for-3 against Samardzija and struck out against righty reliever Carlos Marmol. Facing Samardzija, Sanchez went 0-for-3 and drew a walk from Marmol. Pinch-hitting for Jared Hughes in the eighth, Snider struck out against Samardzija.
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Get the Recipe
My relationship with Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins goes back to childhood and will be forever linked to my younger brother who in his "no salad!" days was a bit of a difficult eater. His diet consisted mainly of peanut butter, pizza, and French fries. One of his favorite treats were mini Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins (or "Seedame Muffins" as he liked to call them) that my mom would pick up at our local grocery store. Since my mother was deeply concerned about my brother falling off the growth chart, Seedamee Muffins made fairly regular appearances in our home.
Now, I'm pro-Lemon Poppy Seed in theory, but in practice, I find the muffins tend to be overly sweet and unnaturally moist. I wanted a Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin that was lemony without being fakey fake.
Coming to New York for college, I discovered that Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are a deli staple. Visit your corner bodega or morning coffee cart and you're bound to find lemon and poppy seed in cake or loaf form alongside those ubiquitous blue and white Greek coffee cups. It was here that I was first introduced to yogurt muffins and my inspiration for these homemade "Seedamees" that combine thick and tangy Greek yogurt with lemon juice, lemon zest and lemon extract for a tangy breakfast time treat that even my brother, who's developed a more sophisticated palate in the intervening decades, will definitely enjoy.
Get the Recipe
Lemon Poppy Seed Yogurt Muffins »
Got a favorite classic American dessert recipe you'd like to see featured here? Email us with the subject: "American Classics."
About the author: Alexandra Penfold is mild-mannered literary agent by day, food ninja by night. Never one to skip dessert she's the Brownie half of Blondie & Brownie and a Midtown Lunch contributor. You can follow her on Twitter at


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Product Summary
In CF-K72 filter kit UV filter absorbs ultraviolet rays and gives cleaner, sharper pictures with less haze. It is recommended to leave a UV filter on your camera lens at all times to protect the lens from dust, moisture, scratches, fingerprints, and breakage and CPL filter is essential for outdoor photography, deepens intensity of blue skies, reduces or eliminates glare from water, glass, and non-metallic objects.
General Information
|Product Type
|Filter Kit
|Manufacturer Part Number
|Manufacturer Website Address
|Dolica Corporation
|Product Model
|Product Name
|CF-K72 72mm UV and CPL Filter Kit
|Brand Name
Technical Information
|Filter Attachment Diameter
|72 mm
Camera lens with 72mm diameter
This product is shipped only within Canada and Warranty valid for Canada only.
Computer Valley makes every effort to provide accurate specifications, descriptions, images and price on all products that are found on www.computervalley.ca
However for complete and updated descriptions, compatibilities, specifications and actual photo we recommend our clients to consult with manufacturer's websites or simply call us for proper clarifications. Computer Valley is not responsible and will not accept returns for items purchased that are not compatible with your system. Please ensure that you have verified compatibility and actual photo with your system by visiting the manufacturer's web site prior to purchase or give us a call to make sure what you are purchasing.
For more information, visit our Shipping and Return policy.
Computer Valley wants to provide you with the best and fastest possible service. We try to ship in stock orders placed before 2:00pm EST the same day. For in stock orders placed after 2:00pm EST they are usually shipped the next business day. However there are always exceptions. Please contact us prior to placing your order if you need your purchase by a certain date.
We ship by UPS, FEDEX, USPS, CANADA POST , PUROLATOR and LOOMIS from the nearest locations possible based on stock in hand.
Please note: Computer Valley reserves the rights to accept and cancel any order at anytime due to pricing error or any other reason. An email will be sent as a confirmation of the order status.
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Based on those numbers, there is 1560 mg or 1.5 grams of Leucine in 23 grams of your Syntrax Whey Shake.
Whey Protein
The majority of whey proteins are composed of 9 - 10% Leucine.
Syntrax Whey Shake's Leucine content is 6.78%.
Based on your question on Leucine content, you are interested the anabolic (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin) role it plays.
While Luecine is considered an "Anabolic Trigger", glutamine plays a major role in assisting it.
How to Harness the Anabolic Power of Cell Volume
T NATION | How to Harness the Anabolic Power of Cell Volume
This article does a nice job of explaining the importance how Glutamine enhances Leucine in protein synthesis.
Kenny Croxdale


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Introduced by the U.S. Rubber Company in 1916, Keds has grown to become one of the truly classic American brands of the 20th century. Internationally recognized for its collection of casual footwear, Keds is credited with being the brand behind the term "sneaker," which was the slang word Boston school kids applied to their rubber-soled Keds shoes almost a century ago. Keds constantly strives to develop new footwear technologies to increase durability and comfort, and has consistently stayed ahead of the curve. Although other brands and trends have come and gone, Keds have remained in style—something that isn't going to end anytime soon.
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Buchholz overcomes homers, gets win in his return
Papi belts two-run homer, adds RBI single as Red Sox avoid sweep
SEATTLE -- The Red Sox needed a win as much as starter Clay Buchholz needed a solid performance.
Both got what they wanted Wednesday night at Safeco Field when the Sox avoided a three-game sweep with a 5-4 victory over the Mariners.
Buchholz, who hyperextended his left knee in late May, was activated off the 15-day disabled list a few hours before first pitch. After allowing home runs to third baseman Kyle Seager and catcher Mike Zunino in the second inning, he settled down and held a hot Mariners lineup in check for 7 1/3 innings en route to his first win since May 2. He threw just 76 pitches, 55 for strikes.
"He was outstanding," manager John Farrell said. "With the exception of that three-hitter span in the second inning, he really settled in from the third inning on."
The right-hander entered the game with a 7.02 ERA, and he allowed four runs on seven hits while fanning two. He carried a 5-3 lead into the eighth inning before Mariners shortstop Brad Miller led off with a home run. Next, left fielder Jonny Gomes made a diving catch on a Stefen Romero flyball down the left-field line and Buchholz's night was done.
"They were swinging," Buchholz said of the Mariners. "They were going to earn their way on tonight. They clipped a couple balls that got out of the park, but overall, I felt good about it."
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who broke an 0-for-19 slump with a pair of hits in his last two at-bats, said he had to ask about midway through the game if Buchholz's pitch count was correct.
"We were in the fifth and he had like 45 pitches," Pierzynski said. "It was good. It was an encouraging outing. I'm happy for Clay that he went out and pitched the way he did."
Buchholz's defining moment came in the sixth, when he got second baseman Robinson Cano to fly out with runners on first and second and no outs before inducing Seager into an inning-ending double play.
Throughout the night, Buchholz said he relied on his changeup, a pitch he struggled with in his first 10 starts but threw well while rehabbing with Triple-A Pawtucket.
"I threw a couple of changeups in big situations tonight and got some swings and misses and weak contact," he said.
The win helped the Sox improve to 2-5 on their 10-game road trip and 36-43 on the season.
Designated hitter David Ortiz staked the Sox a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run homer -- his 18th of the season and 449th of his career -- that bounced off the facade below the Hit it Here Café in right field. The blast tied Ortiz with Vladimir Guerrero and Jeff Bagwell for 37th on MLB's all-time home run list.
In the bottom of the second, the Mariners knocked Buchholz around. Seager led off with a home run to right-center field, cutting Boston's lead to 2-1. After first baseman Logan Morrison singled, Zunino lined a two-run homer off the hand-operated scoreboard down the left-field line to suddenly give Seattle a 3-2 advantage.
But back Boston came in the top of the third against Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma. Center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. led off with a double and then first baseman Brock Holt eked a ground ball through the right side of the infield to put runners on first and third with nobody out. Right fielder Daniel Nava followed with an RBI single back up the middle to tie the game at 3. Nava finished 3-for-4 to lift his batting average to .227. In his last 16 games, he is hitting .391 (18-for-46).
"I thought we had a very good approach against Iwakuma, who pitches extremely well in this ballpark," Farrell said. "Just a lot of good hard contact."
After second baseman Dustin Pedroia followed with a fly out, Ortiz struck again with a long single over the head of Romero in right, as the Sox retook the lead, 4-3.
With the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth, Boston tacked on a run when Ortiz, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, grounded into a double play to make it 5-3. That ended up being the decider, as reliever Andew Miller worked a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in the eighth, and closer Koji Uehara allowed a Seager single and a Morrison walk with one out in the ninth before striking out Zunino and getting Dustin Ackley to ground out to notch his 16th save.
Adam Lewis is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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OPEN Gallery is pleased to present between hearth and campfire by ADDS DONNA, at the Fifth Avenue Art Crawl on Saturday, March 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. This exhibit is about use and function, made things and the act of making. These generalities are presented as reflection on an unknown history of ancestral settlers and vagabond nomadism.
ADDS DONNA is a collective comprised of seven artists who act as an individual with an autonomous aesthetic and agenda. ADDS DONNA operates as an experimental institution committed to mining methods of context, inquiry and exhibition with a focus on emerging and mid-career practitioners of all fields.
The OPEN Gallery is wholly operated and curated by the students of the Lipscomb University Department of Art. New exhibits debut each month at the Fifth Avenue Art Crawl, on the first Saturday of each month. Otherwise, viewings of the exhibits are available by appointment by calling 931-252-2196.


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SAN DIEGO — Industry leaders say the toughest challenge for immigration and farm labor reform this year may be matching up legislation that passes the Senate with a compatible bill in the House.
In a May 15 session called "The Critical Need for Immigration Reform," panelists assessed current efforts at comprehensive immigration reform legislation in the Senate and the work on the issue that will soon start in the House.
The agriculture workforce provisions of the Senate version of the immigration legislation is the product of the efforts of the Agricultural Workforce Coalition and other farm worker advocates, said Barry Bedwell, chairman of the United Fresh Produce Association government relations council and president of the Fresno-based California Grape and Tree Fruit League,
"We're trying to get as close as possible the wording and the agreement in Senate Bill 744 in the House of Representatives," he said. "That cohesiveness and cooperation is paramount."
The House bill must have some similar features to the Senate to go to conference for a successful conclusion, Bedwell said.
There are 232 Republicans in the House, and 142 come from districts with less than 10% Latinos.
"It is going to be so important for the Republican leadership to educating their members on why this makes sense, whether you are in agriculture or not," Bedwell said.
The Senate must pass immigration reform with a comfortable margin — perhaps more than 70 votes in favor — to send a proper message to the House. Bedwell said letters have been sent to all California representatives in the House asking they approve a bill similar to the Senate legislation.
Bedwell acknowledged Western Growers president Tom Nassif, United Farm Workers president Arturo Rodriguez and Monte Lake, partner at CJ Lake LLC for working with legislators on farm labor issues.
The base wage rate and the cap to the agricultural guest worker program in the Senate have drawn some objections, but Bedwell said those provisions represented good-faith negotiations.
"We have to get away from why it won't work to why it has to work," he said.
Chalmers Carr, president of Titan Farms, Ridge Spring, S.C., said he believes the House needs to pass an immigration bill, but he said the Senate version could be improved.
"If we don't get a bill in the House, we can't go to conference committee and we cannot get an end game," he said.
Tom Stenzel, president of the United Fresh Produce Association, said immigration reform is necessary to expand consumption through salad bars in schools and other initiatives.
Monte Lake, partner at CJ Lake LLC, Washington, D.C., said growers will face mandatory E-verify in the future. While the Senate legislation doesn't give growers everything thing they want, it is the best package agriculture can negotiate and get through Congress.


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In a unique example of British innovation, the founder of the U.K.'s most successful bookstore chain is moving online to offer a new service described as 'Spotify for books.'
Read Petite is a new e-book service set to launch by the end of 2013 that will offer a range of short fiction formats such as short stories or chapters of serialized novels. It promises to offer "a rich reading experience for time-poor readers."
The entrepreneur behind the idea is Tim Waterstone, founder of Waterstones, the largest specialist European bookstore chain. Waterstone sold that company in 2001. He will serve as chair of the new company, and other founders all have extensive experience in the book trade or in the world of literary agents.
[ Could London become the next hotbed of tech innovation? Read London's New VC Fund For Tech Startups. ]
The businessman and author told The Daily Telegraph on Thursday he thinks this format will appeal to consumers, particularly commuters. "If you are going to read on a laptop, or a smartphone or a tablet, [a short story] is about as much as you want," he explained. "It worked for Dickens and it worked for us."
Waterstone's reference to Dickens is a very conscious one. In the 19th century, books were expensive, so popular Victorian novelists (including the creator of Little Dorrit) made their names -- and their fortunes -- in England by offering chunks of their ongoing creations to avid readers in monthly installments rather than finished volumes. Waterstone and his team believe the thirst for such bite-sized reading experiences can today be re-awakened in British commuters.
Waterstone says the service will also offer readers obscure or out-of-print works by established writers. The company's goal, however, will be to offer a new way for readers to experience short-format fiction. "This is not e-books, this is short form," said managing director Peter Cox, in an interview with trade site The Bookseller. "We seem to have lost the opportunity to read authors' work in short form and we want to bring it back. It is surprising when you ask authors how many short stories they have and the publisher doesn't know what to do with them."
The service will kick off with monthly subscription charges from £5 ($8) to £12 ($19), comparable to the U.K. Spotify's rate of just under £10 ($15). In terms of technology, we are told that the platform is browser-based and will allow customers to read from their smartphones, e-readers or tablets.
Some observers say that the actual degree of innovation in Read Petite may be modest, as the premise sounds similar to U.S. forerunners like Atavist and Byliner.
And finally, sorry to dash your hopes, but the site's owners say they are not looking for fresh talent and plan to use material only from established writers, so you'll just have to self-publish that next Booker Prize winner the old-fashioned way.
Companies want more than they're getting today from big data analytics. But small and big vendors are working to solve the key problems. Also in the new, all-digital Analytics Wish List issue of InformationWeek: Jay Parikh, the Facebook's infrastructure VP, discusses the company's big data plans. (Free registration required.)


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Baez buzz continues: Two HRs help down Rockies
Young standout 3-for-4 with four RBIs; Hendricks goes eight strong
DENVER -- Javier Baez gave Cubs fans more reasons to be giddy about his arrival at Wrigley Field.
Baez belted a pair of home runs and added an RBI single, driving in four runs in his third big league game, to back Kyle Hendricks and power the Cubs to a 6-2 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field on Thursday.
Baez, who hit the game-winning home run in the 12th inning of his debut on Tuesday, led off the sixth with a home run and then hit a two-run, opposite field shot in the eighth. He's the first Cubs player ever with a multihomer game in his third career game, and it's the 23rd time it's happened in MLB history. The last player to do so was the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig, who went yard twice in his second career game.
Rockies manager Walt Weiss saw Baez, 21, in Spring Training, and was impressed, but didn't want to compare the Cubs rookie to the Dodgers outfielder.
"Puig is just so physical," Weiss said. "Baez is, too, for an infielder. Baez doesn't look like a typical middle infielder and he doesn't swing like a typical middle infielder. Puig is kind of a different animal."
The Cubs' top pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, Baez now has four hits and five RBIs in his first three big league games. He's the second player since 1914 to have three home runs in his first three games, and first since Joe Cunningham did so in 1954.
And Baez will make his Wrigley Field debut on Friday. It'll be Christmas in August for Cubs fans who have been waiting to see some of the the much-hyped top prospects in the big leagues.
"It's going to be really, really, really awesome," Starlin Castro said in anticipation of Friday's game. "It'll be a great moment to see him out there in front of the Chicago fans. It'll be a fun day."
Baez downplayed the hoopla. What did he expect?
"I don't know -- just play another game," Baez said.
Does he think he'll be nervous?
"No, not really," he said. "I've played three games, and even though we're playing away, we've had a lot of fans of the Cubs."
They were able to celebrate the Cubs' first series win in Denver since sweeping a three-game set Aug. 3-5, 2004.
Rookie Arismendy Alcantara gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the second with an RBI single. Chris Valaika singled to open the third and two outs later, scored on Baez's single to left, his second big league hit and RBI.
In the Cubs sixth, Baez launched a 3-2 pitch from starter Yohan Flande to left for his second career home run, and Castro followed with his 12th long ball of the season and first since June 20 to go ahead, 4-1. It's the fourth time this season the Cubs have hit back-to-back home runs. Baez had faced Flande in the Minor Leagues earlier this year.
"[Flande] wasn't throwing any pitch over the plate until he got to two balls, and I was seeing the ball pretty good and I had my timing really good, too," Baez said. "He had to throw the ball over the plate."
Juan Nicasio walked Chris Coghlan to start the Cubs eighth and set up Baez's second homer of the game, a shot into the Rockies' bullpen in right.
"It's awesome," Castro said about Baez. "I think when he goes to the plate, every at-bat, he has a chance to hit a homer. He's pretty awesome. It's fun to watch. He has a great swing; he doesn't care whatever pitch he hits, he keeps swinging hard. There's a possibility that every ball he hits, he'll hit it out."
Hendricks has played with Baez for a couple years in the Minor Leagues. He isn't surprised at all.
"When he does things like he did today, it's hard not to [be excited], and everyone in the dugout is feeling it," Hendricks said. "There's a lot of energy with some of the young guys, especially since Baez was brought up. It's fun having them around.
"I've seen it for a couple years, and he always thrives on a big stage," Hendricks said. "Every time we have a big game, he does well. He's really fun to watch and I'm glad he's up here. He deserves it."
Baez, who hit 23 home runs at Triple-A Iowa before his promotion on Tuesday, has looked as if he belongs.
"I haven't been nervous or anything," Baez said. "I've been slowing the game down and thinking about the situation in the game."
Cubs fans will be eager to see him.
"I hope so," Baez said.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.