text:
Keating: NORTHCOM Experience Lends Lessons to Bangladesh Relief
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 2007 – After more than two years at the helm of U.S. Northern Command, Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating oversaw planning for military responses to the most devastating domestic disasters, and mobilized U.S. military support when Hurricane Katrina provided a real-life test of those plans.
So when his staff at U.S. Pacific Command watched a fierce tropical cyclone make its way toward Bangladesh earlier this month, Keating, now the top U.S. military officer in the Pacific, kept a careful watch.
Even before the cyclone made landfall Nov. 15, Keating had already started talking with leaders at the Pentagon, State Department and U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, about a potential response in the event the Bangladeshis needed help.
"We began to look at assets that might be of assistance if the host nation asked for them," he told reporters today via teleconference from his headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii.
Keating asked U.S. Central Command for permission to borrow one of its ships, USS Kearsarge, and its 1,200 Marines aboard who were operating in the North Arabian Sea in case they were needed to support relief operations. He got the Air Force to begin positioning heavy-life aircraft at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, so they'd be ready to deliver reverse-osmosis water purification units, if needed.
He kept his staffs' eyes glued on the storm, directing them to gather as much information as possible so they could quickly pass it, along with damage assessments, along to the U.S. Embassy.
"We got stuff moving," Keating said. "As the storm was ashore and clearing, we had assets."
When the cyclone passed, leaving vast devastation and more than 3,200 dead and more than 1,000 others missing, Pacific Command was ready to respond. All it needed was the Bangladeshi government to accept U.S. offers of help.
Keating called his lessons learned at U.S. Northern Command "of significant import to us in this situation," giving him the tools to look ahead of the crisis to help prepare a response. "The events of Katrina and humanitarian assistance disaster relief we learned at Northern Command were of significant value for us here."
As he was returning to Hawaii Nov. 24 after a Thanksgiving visit to Iraq, Keating stopped in Bangladesh to meet with Bangladeshi and U.S. officials to discuss the need there and offer help.
Keating said he made it clear that the United States has no intention of taking charge. "We are attempting the best we can to make sure the Bangladeshis understand it is their operation," he said. "We are in support. We will do nothing they don't ask for and when they are done with us, we will leave."
The Bangladeshis, desperate to get support into regions in the south where roads had been wiped out, accepted the offer "warmly," Keating said. "I got no sense of stepping on toes," he said.
Today, the U.S. military is rushing aid to the region, focusing on getting water and medical aid to areas in greatest need, Keating said.
"Water is the overarching requirement," Keating said, noting that the surge resulting from the Nov. 15 tropical cyclone left fresh-water ponds in Bangladesh tainted with salt. While ships in the region manufacture potable water, the Air Force has delivered three reverse-osmosis water purification units, he said. One is in Bangladesh, and two are in Thailand, awaiting direction from the Bangladeshis on where to place them.
The 1,200-member 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit operating from USS Kearsarge already has flown several dozen relief sorties to get water and other aid to outlying areas, he said. More than 50,000 pounds of aid have been moved into Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, U.S. medical personnel are on site, lending surgeons, corpsmen, anesthesiologists, nurses and other medical staff to the effort. Keating said the Kearsarge stands ready to offer its hospital facilities, but that they haven't yet been needed.
USS Tarawa also is headed to the region, but Keating said its services may not be required to provide relief support.
Keating said all support is being offered with an understanding of the diplomatic implications, and the fact that some in Bangladesh might have initially been "a little leery of U.S. operations" there. The United States is ensuring that the Bangladeshis understand "we are in support of them," he said. "And we will do nothing that is not at the behest of Bangladesh."
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text:
NAACP and WE tv present, 'Concert for a Cause: A Night to Support Childhood Literacy'
The NAACP in partnership with WE tv will host "Concert for a Cause: A Night to Support Childhood Literacy" in Cramton Auditorium at Howard University.Read More »
The NAACP in partnership with WE tv will host "Concert for a Cause: A Night to Support Childhood Literacy" in Cramton Auditorium at Howard University.Read More »
Early voting was cut in Ohio, it has now been ruled unconstitutional.Read More »
A coalition of civil rights organizations have joined together to seek justice for Michael Brown and racial profiling reform.Read More »
NAACP President Cornell William Brooks discusses the NAACP's fight for Michael Brown on MSNBC.Read More »
NAACP is saddened over the death of Michael Brown, seeking justice in St. Louis.Read More »
NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks' fiery speech to 105th Annual Convention in Las Vagas, NV.Read More »
NAACP Chairman Roslyn C. Brock delivered her speech at the 105th NAACP Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV.Read More »
Cornell William Brooks has taken office as the NAACP's 18th President and CEO. Send him a welcome message.Read More »
One year after the Shelby County v. Holder decision, nation's largest civil rights organization cites dangers of Americans losing their right to vote in 2014 solely because of their race or English-language proficiency.Read More »
The Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 will update and modernize the VRA.Read More »
Wednesday, May 28th, the world mourned the loss of Dr. Maya Angelou--poet, writer, artist and civil rights activist. Read the statement from NAACP leadership about the 1994 Spingarn Medal recipient.Read More »
The NAACP National Board of Directors announced its selection of Attorney Cornell William Brooks.Read More »
Lorraine C. Miller, NAACP Interim President and CEO, sent out the following email today annoucing the resignation of the NAACP Los Angeles branch president.Read More »
A federal judge ruled that voter ID law in Wisconsin is unconsitutional and against the Voting Rights Act.Read More »
The NAACP along with partnering organizations hosted one of many hearings on voting rights issues.Read More »
The NBA is taking swift and strong action against Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for his racist and offensive remarks.Read More »
The NAACP is eager to meet with Commissioner Silver to discuss the influence and impact of racism in the National Basketball Association.Read More »
The National NAACP released the following statement in response to the remarks attributed to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling:Read More »
Stand with the NAACP and the National Commission on Voting Rights to protect the right to vote for all people.Read More »
The NAACP addresses issues of felony disenfranchisement, stand your ground, racial profiling, and the school to prison pipeline at the United Nations.Read More »

subset: commoncrawl


text:
April 2, 2013 BY Brendan Dunne
Some 13 years into his professional skateboarding career and Brian Anderson is ready for his sig silhouette from the Nike SB folks. Shown here is the upcoming Nike SB Project BA, the debut Swoosh shoe for the skate legend. The sneaker will feature Lunarlon cushioning, like so many others in the same category as of late, and a lightweight suede upper that puts on a bit of branding via a sectioned off overlay on the back half. See more on the Nike SB Project BA in red and white, an apparent Fall 2013 release, after the jump and check back with Sneaker News for more info on release dates and upcoming colorways.
Photos: N-SB
Filed under: Nike SB Skate Upcoming Sneakers


text:
WiFi is available now
Micromax Bolt A69 smartphone was launched in May 2014. The phone comes with a 4.50-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 480 pixels by 854 pixels.
The Micromax Bolt A69 is powered by 1GHz dual-core Broadcom BCM21663 processor and it comes with 512MB of RAM. The phone packs 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Micromax Bolt A69 packs a 5-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 0.3-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The Micromax Bolt A69 runs Android 4.2 and is powered by a 1800mAh removable battery.
The Micromax Bolt A69 is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts Regular and Regular. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM and 3G. Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor and Accelerometer.
How to download Sea Battle for Android form Micromax Bolt A69?
- Check the Android version to verify compatibility of Sea Battle for Android with Micromax Bolt A69.
Find Android version: go to "Settings" - "About the phone" - "Android version". Make sure Sea Battle for Android is compatible with Micromax Bolt A69.
- Click the download button to download Sea Battle for Android in Micromax Bolt A69.
- Once the download and installation are complete, find Sea Battle for Android in your home screen and tap the icon to open it.
Related apps to Micromax Bolt A69
Empires and AlliesDownload
Bloons TD BattlesDownload
Lords MobileDownload
Vikings: War of ClansDownload
Game of War - Fire AgeDownload
War of Nations: PvP DominationDownload
Clash of KingsDownload
Castle Clash: Anniversary PartyDownload
Little Commander - WWII TDDownload
Survivors: The Quest®Download
Castle DefenseDownload
Jungle HeatDownload
Empire FleetDownload
Empire: Four KingdomsDownload
Boom BeachDownload
Other supported phone models
Vivo Y55L
Lava Iris Atom 2X
Xolo Q600
LeEco Le Max
Sony Xperia ray
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016)
Intex Aqua Star 4G
Gionee Pioneer P5W
Archos 50 Helium 4G
Oppo R7s
Xiaomi Redmi Note Prime
Huawei Honor Holly 3
LG L65 Dual
Spice Pinnacle FHD
ZTE Blade A910
Lyf Wind 7S
HTC Desire 530
Karbonn Titanium Mach Six
Nokia 8
Wickedleak Wammy Note 3
Lenovo A850
Asus Zenfone Go 5.0 LTE
Celkon Campus A63
InFocus M2 4G
Swipe Konnect 5.0
iBerry Auxus Nuclea N2
Fly Snap
Blu Life Max
iBall Andi 4.5 O'Buddy
Motorola Defy XT
Alcatel One Touch Idol Mini
Meizu metal
Idea Blade
Zopo Speed 7
Videocon V7500
Yu Yureka Plus
Panasonic T50
Adcom Thunder A-350i
Coolpad Note 3
Obi Alligator S454
Acer Liquid Z500
Zen Cinemax 2
Philips Xenium W6610
Maxx Mobile Ax5 Plus
MTS Duet
BlackBerry Priv
Datawind Pocket Surfer 2G4
Ringing Bells Elegance


text:
Don't miss out on a lower price on this hotel
Get an overview of this hotelCondominium resort in Ramona with 2 outdoor pools and full-service spa
Popular property highlights
Situated in Ramona, this spa condominium resort is 12.1 mi (19.4 km) from Mt. Woodson Golf Club and within 25 mi (40 km) of Lake Jennings and Julian Historical Society. Julian Town Hall and Eagle and High Peak Mine are also within 25 mi (40 km).
Property Features
Along with 2 outdoor pools, this smoke-free condominium resort has a full-service spa and a fitness center. Self parking is free. Other amenities include outdoor tennis courts, a sauna, and WiFi in public areas.
Room Amenities
All 70 condos boast fireplaces and offer WiFi and kitchens. Guests will also find patios, sofa beds, and sitting areas.
Guest Highlights
- Spotless guestrooms
- Quiet location
- Pool
- Overall value of stay
- Helpful staff
- Guestroom size
Riviera Oaks Resort & Racquet Club by Diamond Resorts
Property Amenities
Property Amenities
Riviera Oaks Resort & Racquet Club by Diamond Resorts features a full-service spa, 2 outdoor swimming pools, outdoor tennis courts, and a sauna. Public areas are equipped with wireless Internet access (surcharge). This Ramona condominium resort also offers a fitness center, spa services, and a library. Concierge services and limo/town car service can be provided. Complimentary self parking is available on site.
Riviera Oaks Resort & Racquet Club by Diamond Resorts is a smoke-free property.
- Number of floors - 2
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Coffee/tea in common areas
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Concierge services
- Fitness facilities
- Front desk (limited hours)
- Full-service spa
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Laundry facilities
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Multilingual staff
- Total number of rooms - 70
- Picnic area
- Free self parking
- Sauna
- Smoke-free property
- Spa services on site
- Television in common areas
- Free use of nearby fitness center
- WiFi (surcharge)
- Number of outdoor pools - 2
- Library
- Outdoor tennis courts - 10
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Outdoor pools
- Outdoor tennis courts
- Kitchen
- Laundry facilities
- Sofa bed
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
- DVD player
Available in all rooms: Wireless internet access ( USD 10 per night )
Available in some public areas: Wireless internet access ( USD 10 per night )
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Air conditioning
- Cable TV service
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Coffee/tea maker
- Free toiletries
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- DVD player
- Fireplace
- Free local calls
- Hair dryer
- Iron/ironing board
- Kitchen
- Microwave
- Patio
- Private bathroom
- Refrigerator
- Separate sitting area
- Shower/tub combination
- Sofa bed
- Phone
- Free cribs/infant beds
- WiFi (surcharge)
Nearby Things to Do
2 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with outdoor tennis courts and a sauna. Other recreational amenities include a fitness center.
Children under 15 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool, fitness facility, or spa tub without adult supervision.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Fitness classes on site
- Basketball on site
- Bicycle rentals on site
- Hiking/biking trails on site
- Mountain biking on site
- Volleyball on site
Spa Services
Riviera Wellness Spa has 3 treatment rooms including rooms for couples. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, Thai massages, and massages. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy, Ayurvedic, and reflexology.
The spa is open select days. Guests under 14 years old are not allowed in the spa.
- Hot stone massage
- Deep tissue massage
- Prenatal massage
- Thai massage
- Reflexology
- Detoxification wrap
- Minimum age to access spa is 14
- Body wraps
- Body scrubs
- Couples treatment rooms
- Ayurvedic treatments
- Massages
- Manicures and pedicures
- Aromatherapy treatments
- Number of treatment rooms 3
- Body treatments
- Facial treatments
Property Policies
Check-in time ends at midnight
Check-in time starts at 4 PM
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is 10 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
- Deposit: USD 100.00 per stay
- Resort fee: USD 10.00 per accommodation, per night
- Pool access
- Fitness center access
- Business center/computer access
- Parking
Optional extras
- Fee for in-room wireless Internet: USD 10 per night (rates may vary)
- Fee for wireless Internet in public areas: USD 10 per night (rates may vary)
Property Name
- Riviera Oaks
- Riviera Oaks Racquet Club
- Riviera Oaks Racquet Club Ramona
- Riviera Oaks Resort & Racquet Club
- Riviera Oaks Resort & Racquet Club Ramona
- Riviera Oaks Resort Racquet Club
- Riviera Oaks Resort Racquet Club Diamond Resorts Ramona
- Riviera Oaks Resort Racquet Club Diamond Resorts
- Riviera Oaks Racquet Club Diamond Resorts Ramona
- Riviera Oaks Racquet Club Diamond Resorts


text:
People would be able to carry concealed weapons into restaurants that serve alcohol under legislation approved by the Louisiana House on Thursday.
The House voted 62-24 for the measure, sponsored by state Rep. Henry Burns, R-Haughton, amid protests that gun rights proponents are going too far.
State Rep. Terry Landry, D-New Iberia, a former State Police commander, said legislators should stop allowing outside forces from "using Louisiana as a testing ground," an apparent reference to the National Rifle Association. He said the state is becoming "a laughingstock."
Landry said the state has a high national rating when it comes to gun deaths.
"This is not about politics for me. It's about what kind of community we are going to live in," Landry said.
Burns' House Bill 48 started out allowing law enforcement officers to carry weapons in restaurants that serve alcohol. The House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee amended the measure to allow those with concealed weapons permits to have the same right.
It would still be a crime subject to criminal prosecution to carry a concealed weapon into the restaurants if an individual does not have a permit. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $500, a jail term of not more than six months, or both.
Burns said he considered it a Second Amendment issue dealing with the right to keep and bear arms. "A gun owner should be able to bring a gun into the restaurant," if the restaurant owner does not object, he said.
Burns said restaurant owners could post "gun free" zone signs if they object.
Landry and state Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, who sit on the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, complained that the amendment allowing the concealed weapons permit holders the same status as police officers was not explained in committee.
"I think this is not fair for the citizens. There's already enough gun laws here," Norton said.
The House also endorsed Burns' House Bill 717 which would require reporting to a federal database the names of offenders in court cases who plead based on an insanity defense or lack of mental capacity and those who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution.
The national database is used to gather information on those people who are ineligible to purchase a firearm because they are either felons or because of mental illness.
Burns said there is a provision in the legislation that would allow for restoration of firearm rights if an individual's mental issues are behind them
Burns said the legislation addresses "a loophole" and "breakdown" in current law involving those with court-certified mental illness. Under the bill, clerks of court would report cases to the Louisiana Supreme Court which in turn would forward the information to the national database.
The House approved the bill on a 74-8 vote.
Both measures move to the Louisiana Senate for debate.


text: According to a new survey by L.E.K. Consulting, as reported by Internet Retailer, Target Corp. has the best social media presence among retailers. Target took the top spot with 8.5 percent, followed by Amazon.com (8 percent), Walmart (5.4 percent), Best Buy (4 percent), and Macy's (4 percent). L.E.K surveyed 2,000 U.S. consumers, but did not say when the survey took place or define what constituted a strong social media presence.


text:
Douglas Stephen Restaurant Supplies and Equipment
Plastic Servingware and Take Out Containers for Any Occasion
Founded over 40 years ago with a distinct vision of filling voids in the disposable plastics industry, Douglas Stephen Plastics provides durable, versatile catering trays, catering platters, bakery take out containers, ice cream containers, and more. With a variety of unique products to meet any customer's needs, Douglas Stephen has what you need, too! From the perfect ice cream sundae cup for your shop to a wide range of sizes and styles of cupcake containers, Douglas Stephen is a top choice for all of your disposable plastic food products. Read more
Douglas Stephen's innovations have made all of their products meet the needs and expectations of loyal customers from many areas of the foodservice industry for many years and they continue in that direction today. Among their extensive product line, you can find single slice pie take out containers, or give your guests the option of full 6" – 10" signature pies! And there is nothing like the perfect banana split dish to complement your classic ice cream sundaes!


text:
Certain Poor Shepherds, Scene 6: There arose such a clatter
Part six of a seven-part holiday fiction
The story so far: Nora Gallagher, against the advice of her friends, is bound and determined to take her eccentric new friend, Tony Razzolini, out to the Main Line for her mother's posh Christmas Eve party. Meanwhile, she's feuding with her boyfriend, Greg, who has deserted her at Christmastime to go to a football game.
Nora Gallagher's iPhone played a very familiar ring.
"Hi, Mom."
"Hi, dear. Just taking a quick break in the tree decorating. We were missing you, so I thought I'd give a call. It's too bad you couldn't make it."
"I'm sure you'll do a beautiful job, Mom. I always hung the tinsel too low."
"Nonsense, dear. Oh, also, did you get the things I asked from diBruno's?"
"Yep. Nailed the whole list."
"Good. Thanks. So what time do you think you and Greg will be getting here Monday."
"Mom, I told you. He's not going to be there; he's with his folks in Wisconsin."
"Ah, yes. So you did. So no ... announcements this year?"
"No, Mom. No. Oh, I should tell you, I'm bringing someone else, a friend."
"Really. Julia? She is so funny, that girl."
"No, Mom, a guy. Now, don't start in. Not that kind of guy. Just a friend I met, in town, who's got nowhere to go Christmas Eve. He's a super smart guy. I think Raj will like him a lot. They share a love of Mozart."
"Raj does love his Mozart. OK, darling, whatever you think best. Try to be here by 6 to help me set up, if you can."
"Sure, Mom, sure. Sorry, gotta go now."
A tete-a-tete via text
FROM GREG: On ground in Cheeseland. Sorry to book while u were zzzz. Only flight 2day. Call u 2moro?
FROM NORA: You didn't lock the door when you left. Don't do that. Hug your mom for me.
A long ride
"C'mon, Tony Razz. Come meet the folks."
Nora Gallagher held open the passenger door of her CarShare Prius. A cutting wind whistled up the driveway of her mother's Gladwyne home, as she peered in at the skinny, beak-nosed man in the front seat.
Tony Razzolini stared straight into the December night, muttering to himself. Fugue state.
Nora's friends had kept warning her this was a bad idea, inviting her odd new friend to an elegant Christmas Eve bash on the Main Line.
Work buddy Dan Slotkin: "I know you were in your high school production of My Fair Lady, Nora, but this is not that. You are not Henry Higgins, and Tony Razz is definitely not Eliza Doolittle. You are not going to dance all night."
Roommate Julia Fideli: "On the roster of all-time dumb notions, this ranks up there with the Iraq invasion and trading Moses Malone."
Standing there in the freezing wind, Nora was beginning to see their point.
"Tony!" she said, a little louder.
Ever since Nora had tried to pick Tony up at this place around 5 o'clock, it was clear that something was off.
First off, his "girlfriend" Dorothy had been at his cluttered apartment, glaring as she greeted Nora in a saccharin singsong: "Hello, Miss Gallagher, you look stouter than the last time I saw you."
Tony had futzed and fussed, but made no progress to the door. Finally, when Nora had made a worried comment about traffic on the Schuylkill, Tony had waved his cane angrily, "Schuylkill, roadkill! Don't take me down your nightmare highway of dreams! Leave! Go, go, go!"
Nora had finally coaxed Tony out the door with the prospect of talking Mozart with her stepfather, another Amadeus aficionado. But Tony had pouted for most of the ride.
Old wounds, still fresh
As Nora had steered the Prius through the winding ravines of Gladwyne, she'd given Tony a rundown on the evening: "My Mom's name is Charlotte and Raj is her second husband. She divorced my dad 12 years ago, and not a moment too soon if you ask me. Raj is a great guy, a surgeon at CHOP, who ..."
Tony had suddenly stirred: "See those lights, there on that house across the ravine? Ravishing, ravishing by the ravine. Lights, lights! Sir Ferdinand Klein!"
Then, after a short silence: "Divorce. It is hard. It is hard on a little girl. Hard for her to forgive. But you must try harder, Nora, you must try harder."
Nora's face had flushed: "OK, Tony, I will."
Now, in Gladwyne, as looked down at him slumped in the passenger street, she said:
"Tony, I need you to try harder!"
Tony's head turned, as it recognizing for the first time that Nora was there: "Is this it?"
"Yep, Chateau Gupta. Let's go check it out."
They shuffled up a stone walk between rows of bushes bedecked with white lights. A candle shone in every window of the two-story stone mansion.
The front door was open, allowing a view into an entrance foyer decked with garlands, leading to a huge, glittering Christmas tree at the far end. Inside, all was warmth and bustle inside. Nora opened the door and half pushed Tony in.
Nora's mom, Charlotte, glided up with a greeting smile. If Nora had hoped to spawn distaste or confusion in her mother by bringing a gnome in a fedora to the party, she failed. Charlotte extended a gracious hand: "Hello, you must be Nora's friend. I'm Charlotte. Welcome."
Tony hung one cane on his left arm, used the right to sweep the fedora off his head and executed a sort of bow: "Anthony Razzolini, ma'am, at your service."
"Well, Anthony, hello, and may I take your hat and ... uh, any of your coats?"
With some fumbling, Tony conveyed the fedora to Charlotte, while waving off any bid to remove any of his scruffy layers.
Raj walked up, a warm smile beneath his trim moustache: "Ahhh, this must be my fellow connoisseur of the Kochel catalogue. Welcome. Come over with me, Tony, I have a little something for you."
Tony looked to Nora; she gestured with her eyes: Follow.
The little something, sitting on a side table in the foyer, was a boxed set of vinyl recordings of Mozart's late symphonies, by the Cleveland Orchestra.
Raj held the box up in front of Tony. Tony's eyes devoured the cover with frank yearning.
"Ahhhhh, the Cleveland. They grasp the Jupiter like no other," he said. "The fugato ... ahhh, magnifico. Indeed, indeed. Some day, perhaps, I can listen to it with you."
"Ahh, Tony, perhaps I was not clear. It is for you. It is yours to keep. A token from us. Here take it."
"Acchh, I could not , I must not. I have brought you nothing. Nora, why did you not tell me, remind me, I brought nothing! "
Raj proffered the box. Tony, agitated, a cane in each hand, looked this way and that, as if to flee.
"Here, Raj, I'll hold it for Tony," Nora said. "That was no nice of you, Raj. Come, Tony, let's get you something to eat."
Nora's big mistake
She took Tony back to a grand, glass-enclosed room in the back of the house, settled him into a chair, and snagged a selection of hors d'oeuvres from the waitstaff who were circling the room with platters.
"Here," she said. "Sit. Relax. Nibble on these, and I'll be back in a minute. I have to say hi to some folks."
In the way of such parties, Hi became How have you been? which became extended life updates with any number of her mother's friends.
Somehow, fifteen, 20, 25 minutes went by. Nora would frequently berate herself for that in days to come.
"No, still at the nonprofit in town," Nora had just said for the sixth time when in the next room there arose quite a clatter.
"Fol-de-rol!!!" a familiar, gravelly voice shouted. "Fiscal flippery!!! Fat cat falsehoods and phantasms, I tell you!!"
Nora moved at double-time towards the shouting. Somehow, she felt the crash in her bones before her ears registered the shattering of glass into a thousand shards.
The room, when Nora arrived, was like one of these scenes of suspended animation in a bad sci-fi movie. Glasses poised in mid-air, inches short of lips. Heads turned, frozen still.
In the middle of the tableau stood Tony Razz – looking sheepish and soaked. Next to him, a flustered waitress in crisp black shirt and pants. Tony had just overturned her full tray of white wine glasses with an angry sweep of his cane.
Tony had risen in great dudgeon to debate a guest, one of Raj's fellow surgeons, who'd just opined that he still saw a lot to like in Mitt Romney's tax plan.
Besides being a music buff, a poetry lover and a weatherman, Tony Razz, it turned out, was also a most excitable Democrat. And one who could not hold his liquor well, particularly when it kept arriving at his seat fast and free during the whole time Nora had abandoned him.
"Oh, Tony .... oh Tony," Nora said, guilty and miserable.
But Charlotte swept into the scene smoothly: "Not to worry, everyone. These things happen. Don't fret, Tony." To the mortified waitress: "Dear, run back into the mud room by the kitchen and pull the broom and dustpan out of the cupboard. Nora, dear, please take Tony to the back bathroom and help him freshen up."
Strategic retreat
Tony's penchant for dressing in layers served the moment well, actually. Nora had to peel off only one musty, damp tweed jacket to handle the dilemma.
Tony sat on the toilet seat, muttering disconsolately: "Fool, fool, fool, broken down, drunken old, foolish old, clumsy old, good for nothing weatherman."
"It's OK, Tony, it's just rented glasses and a little white wine."
"Home. Take me home. I can't go back out there." The voice was barely a whisper.
"OK, Ton. I've got you. I'll take you home."
Tony stayed in the back bathroom while Nora briefed her mother. "Yes, it's probably a good idea, dear, but do try to get back in time for the carols, won't you?"
"Yep, Mom, I'll do my best."
Perhaps, Nora thought, as she steered an unsteady Tony out the back door and toward the Prius, she should cut her mother more of a break sometimes.
Tomorrow: Their bench, the stars and a hard truth
Listen to the radio play version of Certain Poor Shepherds, on WHYY-FM, at 10 p.m. Dec. 23, 1 p.m. Christmas Eve, 6 p.m. Christmas Day, or with the audio player above. Starring Marty Moss-Coane, Dave Heller and other members of the WHYY team.
Support provided by


text:
Les Frères
- Producer
- Crave Brothers Farmstead Classics
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Wisconsin
- Size
- 7.5 ins diameter, 2 ins high
- Weight
- 2lb
- Website
- www.cravecheese.com
- Milk
- Cow
- Classification
- Soft
- Rennet
- Microbial
- Rind
- Washed
Located in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Crave Brothers is a family owned farm and cheesemaking business, operated by four brothers: Charles, Thomas, Mark and George.
The siblings, who all grew up on their family's 40 cow dairy in Wisconsin have arranged the division of labor so that each brother has an area of responsibility best suited to their interests and skills. Tom manages the crops and equipment upkeep, Mark is responsible for milking operations, George oversees and manages cheesemaking and Charles oversees bookeeping.
Having originally rented a farm just west of Madison in the early 1980's, where they milked just under 60 cows, the brothers later purchased 300 acres of farmland in Waterloo, a move which allowed them to farm on a much larger scale, construct a new dairy, and grow their own animal feed.
For years they sold fluid milk, until milk prices fell and the brothers needed to think of ways to add value to their milk. In 2001 they decided to go into cheese production.
Today, the farm milks 1,100 Holsteins that George proudly describes as "the Cadillac of dairy breeds". The cheesemaking operation is located across the road from the barns and milking parlor, and milk is pumped directly to the cheese room via a pipe laid under the road.
In addition to making cheese, as with many modern cheesemaking operations, the farm is on the edge of environmental stewardship. As such, the Crave Brothers' facility is carbon negative, a result of utilizing the waste from the cows by channeling it into an computer-controlled anaerobic digester. This produces methane gas that powers an internal combusion engine, in turn generating enough electricity to power the farm, cheesemaking facility and 300 area homes.
Crave Brothers produce a variety of fresh and aged cheeses from their three cheesemaking vats. Three vats are designed to each hold 26,000lbs of milk and these are primarily used for production of fresh and part skim mozzarella. A fourth, smaller vat holds 5,000lbs and is used to produce Les Frères and Petit Frère.
Literally translating as "The Brothers" in French, production of Les Frères is the most delicate process of the cheeses made at Crave Brothers. Cheeses are hand-ladeled, washed regularly with brine and matured for a minimum of three weeks on site. The construction of a larger "cave" underneath the cheesemaking facility has helped improve the maturing process.
Reflecting the brothers' French-Irish heritage, Les Frères is a semi-soft, washed rind cheese styled after Reblochon, Muenster and Gubbeen.
When young, flavors are milky and clean, with notes of citrus. With age, Les Frères can become quite assertive, with complex flavors best described as fruity, tangy and earthy.
Les Frères pairs well with Rieslings and Pinot Gris. For beer drinkers, it is a great match for stouts or Belgian-style ales. It makes a welcome addition to any cheese course or served as part of a mushroom bake with crusty bread.


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Editor's note: The following commentary was written by Mike Barnett, Director of Pulications for the Texas Farm Bureau and posted on the Texas Agriculture Talks website.
Farm kids are 30 to 50 percent less likely to develop allergies or asthma than their city cousins, two European studies show as published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
That doesn't surprise me.
Now no study should be taken as gospel, but the farm effect makes a lot of sense.
The theory is time spent outdoors–working with animals and farm dust and all the other activities involved in farm life—exposes farm kids to good bacteria and fungi, building up their immune systems and lessening their chances of getting sick. City kids, on the other hand, live fairly antiseptic lives spending much less time outdoors and not getting the exposure to those good "bugs."
It's kind of like the "three-second rule" I lived by as a child. It was okay if you dropped food on the floor, picked it up and ate it as long as it hadn't been there over three seconds. And inside the house was reserved for bad weather. If it wasn't raining, I was outside. My friends and I must have received a huge dose of healthy microbes because we were rarely sick.
There seems to be magic in fresh air and good bacteria. And as my dad was fond of saying, "hard work never hurt anyone" either.
That's why country kids are healthier than their city cousins. That's the theory of the studies, anyway, and I'm sticking to it.


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OROVILLE — An asbestos removal and flooring replacement project could keep the Oroville branch of the Butte County Library closed from April 1 to May 30.
A resolution on the Butte County Supervisors consent agenda Tuesday calls for the asbestos effort to take no longer but 60 days, but partial library customer service could be available by April 15.
The plan is to close down the library, at 299 Spruce St., while books and shelving is removed, and the asbestos laden flooring is removed and replaced.
"Once the abatement, monitoring, and testing is completed, limited library services will be provided in the branch meeting room during the established branch hours," says the staff report. That is the April 15th target date.
If things don't go as hoped the county is promising all improvements will be completed no later than May 30.
The item will show up in the supervisors' consent agenda which includes non-controversial items that are approved in a single vote by the board.


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DARBY BOROUGH - Gov. Tom Corbett has nixed a $4 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital grant that would have allowed developers to build a 142,000-square-foot shopping center on a 35-acre tract of land along Springfield Road, drawing praise and criticism alike from local and regional political leaders.
"The (project) is dead," State Rep. Nick Micozzie, R-163, said during a meeting with residents about the project at Aldan Elementary School Monday night.
The issue dates back to 2009, when representatives from Metro Development Co. approached borough officials to express interest in purchasing 35 acres of land from the Sisters of Divine Providence, who own the Little Flower Nursing Home at the site. Preliminary development plans called for an 85,000-square-foot BJ's Warehouse, several smaller shops, at least two pad sites and several hundred parking spaces to be built on the property.
Darby officials said they were excited about the prospect of bringing hundreds of jobs and an increased tax base to the borough. Residents, however, almost immediately decried the project, citing concerns about increased traffic along the already-congested road and the loss of the only green space left in the borough.
During the tenure of former Gov. Ed Rendell, the borough applied for $4 million in RACP funds, which would require matching contributions from developers, and changed the zoning of the site in anticipation of starting the development. Last month, however, Corbett, who took office in January, denied the funding request.
Gregory Bianchi, Metro Development's vice president, said the developers had actually pulled out of the project "six or eight months" before Corbett's decision.
"The market changed," he said Tuesday, declining to elaborate further.
During Monday's meeting, Micozzie, whose district encompasses a portion of the 35 acres, told residents that he brought a petition signed by more than 300 people at the June meeting to Corbett, and continued to correspond with the governor about the potential project.
"I explained that the project was detrimental to the quality of life of the residents, and after months and months of asking questions, Corbett rescinded the approval," he said. "The application is dead."
Reached Tuesday morning, Darby council president Janice Davis said she was unaware of Monday's meeting or about Corbett's denial of the RACP funding.
"It doesn't surprise me," she said. "He's cutting everything."
Darby council member Patrick McKenna, who was in attendance at the meeting, said he was disappointed that the project has been idled.
"I pointed out that the meeting was being held at Aldan Elementary School, which is part of William Penn School District, which would have received about $750,000 in tax revenues from this project," he said. "Also, the site would have created permanent jobs for about 200 to 300 people, not just from Darby, but from the entire Delaware County area - not to mention the 100 to 200 construction jobs that would have been created."
The denial means that the site, for now, will remain as open space, and a historic mansion located on the property will continue to stand. John Haigis of the Darby Historic Commission said in an e-mail this week that the group remains concerned about the condition of the building, which was vandalized as recently as last week, and will continue to look for alternative uses for the site.
Micozzie said he'll continue to fight development of the property as well. Next week, during a trip to Pittsburgh, he plans to meet with representatives from the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer to request that they not entertain any other requests to build on the site.
"Our goal for the property is open space," he said. "I understand that developing the site would bring a lot of jobs, and that Darby Borough needs the funds, and my answer to that is that jobs are good. However, coal mining creates a lot of jobs, too, and look what that's done to the environment. Something like what they've proposed on Springfield Road will kill that area, environmentally and in terms of everything else."
McKenna said that council members would not actively seek a buyer for the property, which remains private and tax-exempt, but would continue to support efforts to bring new businesses and tax revenues to the borough.
"The borough is here to aid anybody who wants to build in the borough in any location," he said. "Anything that brings jobs and revenue to the borough is good for the borough and for the people of the borough."


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A catholic monastery devoted to the teachings of St. Benedict
The Sacrament of Confirmation: The Perfection of
Although in the West Confirmation is usually received as a
teenager after making First Holy Communion (Eucharist), the
Catholic Church regards it as the second of the three sacraments of
initiation, with Baptism being the first and Holy Communion
(Eucharist) the third. Confirmation is considered the perfection of
the Rite of Baptism.
Confirmation can be defined as a sacrament of strength. This
strength is received through the coming of the Holy Spirit and
enables the confirmed individual to profess, live and witness to
the Catholic faith as a true apostle of Jesus Christ. When one is
confirmed, one is strengthened and more tightly bonded to Jesus
Christ and to His Church.
History of Confirmation
In the Old Testament, we can find references to the sacrament of
Confirmation. The prophets Joel, Isaiah and Ezekiel told of the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon men.
Each stated in the Scriptures: "I will pour out my Spirit upon
all mankind" (Joel 3:1), "I will pour out my spirit upon your
offspring" (Isaiah 44:3), and "I have poured out my spirit upon the
house of Israel says the Lord God" (Ezekiel 39:2). The Spirit that
these prophets spoke about comes to us through the sacrament of
We also find evidence of the Holy Spirit being administered by
the Apostles in Acts of the Apostles (8:5, 14-17) and (19:5-6). In
these Scriptures, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the baptized
people is mentioned. Jesus himself, often in his ministry, mentions
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
It is known that Jesus instituted the sacrament of Confirmation
before His ascension into heaven. The apostles administered this
sacrament after they received it on Pentecost (Acts 2:4).
Some common questions about the sacrament of Confirmation
Who can administer the sacrament of
Only the bishop can administer the sacrament of Confirmation.
Bishops are considered the successors to the apostles. Under
certain circumstances, priests can confirm although this is not a
common responsibility for them. In the name of the Church, the
bishop sends forth the confirmed to spread the faith by word and
What is the form of the sacrament of
Many people feel that the laying on of hands that signifies the
descent of the Holy Spirit is how the sacrament of Confirmation is
administered. This is not the central act in the sacrament. The
main element is the anointing of the person with chrism oil. This
is oil that has been consecrated by a bishop.
The sacrament of Confirmation is accompanied by the words, "Be
sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." This seal is a
consecration that symbolizes the graces conferred on the confirmed
at Baptism and kept safe by the Holy Spirit.
Who is eligible to receive the sacrament of
Any baptized Catholic who has not been confirmed is eligible for
the sacrament of Confirmation and is required to do so. Those to be
confirmed must be in a state of grace before the conferring of this
The Western Church suggests that the individual receive
Confirmation after reaching the age of reason (approximately 7
years old). A child who is in danger of death should receive
Confirmation even if he/she is younger than 7.
What are the effects of the sacrament of
Confirmation confers the special graces of the Holy Spirit upon
the individual being confirmed. It is just like the graces that the
apostles received on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon
Just like Baptism, Confirmation may be performed only one
time. Confirmation strengthens and increases the graces
received at Baptism.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists five effects
of Confirmation:
1. it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation (like
the sons of God) and gives us the right to cry out "Abba!
2. it unites us more firmly to Christ;
3. it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
4. it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
5. it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to
spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of
Christ, to confess in the name of Christ boldly and never be
ashamed of the Cross.
Why is Confirmation a sacrament of
Even though the sacrament is not absolutely necessary for
salvation, the Church obliges us to be confirmed. Being confirmed
makes the individual a full-fledged member of the Church.
Therefore, the confirmed is required to go forth and proclaim the
Church's teachings to others.
Does being confirmed assure salvation?
It does not assure that we will be saved. We still have free
will, a gift from God, and the sacraments do not destroy this.
However, we are never free from sin if we choose to disobey God's
commandments. God gave us free will in order that we choose to do
good over evil. To choose evil is an abuse of the gift of free
When did the Church separate the sacrament of
Only in the Western Church was there a separate celebration of
the sacrament of Confirmation. From the 11th century onward,
scholars found that Confirmation was celebrated as a sacrament
separate from the sacrament of Baptism.
What are some of the perfecting aspects of
1. Confirmation binds one more perfectly to the
2. One receives the maximum fullness of the Holy
3. There is a more complete sharing in Christ's
4. The Holy Spirit marks our total beginning and not just a
partial beginning;
5. It unites one more firmly to Christ;
6. It grants us a special strength to spread and defend the
faith, and it completes baptism;
7. It perfects the common priesthood of the faithful.
What is the relationship of Confirmation to Christian
In calling Confirmation a sacrament, the Church is emphasizing
that it is a major spiritual reality. We are asked to look beyond
the elements of the ritual, beyond the anointing with oil, beyond
the laying on of the hands, beyond the prayers and the blessings of
the ceremony.
We are encouraged to see through them and perceive God's
compassion for us. We urged to see God's real presence in the
celebration of Confirmation. We should be so moved as to see that
the Holy Spirit is God and that God's real presence is in us. This
is a major reality in the celebration of Confirmation.
In summary, although Confirmation is not necessary for
salvation, it strengthens the graces we receive from the other
sacraments - especially those graces we receive from Baptism. The
early Church recognized that while Baptism cleansed one of sin,
Confirmation filled one with grace.
In early times, baptism by water immersion was followed by an
anointing with oil that, over the centuries, evolved into the
sacrament of Confirmation. Baptism was regarded as dying with
Christ and Confirmation as rising to new life.
Today, as a result of a decision by the Second Vatican Council,
there is a unity of the sacraments of Christian initiation. Adults
coming into the Catholic Church will experience Baptism,
Confirmation and the Eucharist as one unified ritual.
Thomas J. Rillo, oblate
Bloomington, IN
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Dorn Proposes Changes in State Assessment System
New learning standards provide an opportunity for Washington state to streamline high school exit exams
OLYMPIA — December 13, 2012 — Washington state needs "exit" exams to ensure that every student who receives a diploma — no matter where he or she went to school — has the knowledge and skills expected of high school graduates. Students in the Class of 2012 were required to pass two exit exams. By the time this year's 10th graders graduate, it will be five. State Superintendent Randy Dorn supports testing, but feels that five is too many and too expensive. He will propose that the Legislature reduce that number.
The cost of the state assessment system is high, both in terms of time and money. Exit exams are estimated to be $30 each. If students don't pass one or more of these exams, the state provides other ways for students to demonstrate their abilities, such as the Collection of Evidence (COE). The COE is a portfolio of classroom work prepared by the student with instructional support from a teacher. The COE is currently $400 per student in each content area.
Testing is important, but over-testing creates a system in which too much classroom time is devoted to preparing for tests, taking tests and preparing to re-take tests or moving to alternatives when students fail to pass.
Washington is in the midst of changing its standards in math and English language arts with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. This provides an opportunity to take a look at our assessment system and make some commonsense changes without reducing accountability or lowering standards.
Students in the class of 2015 are required to pass five exit exams to graduate from high school:
In January, Dorn will propose to the Legislature that we reduce the five required tests to three:
About OSPI
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K–12 education in Washington state. Led by State School Superintendent Randy Dorn, OSPI works with the state's 295 school districts and nine educational service districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students.
OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at (360) 725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200.
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Nathan Olson
OSPI Communications Manager
(360) 725-6015
For more information
Assessment Overview
Graduation Requirements
Common Core State Standards
The OSPI Communications Office serves as the central point of contact for local, regional and national media covering K-12 education issues.
Communications Manager
Nathan Olson
(360) 725-6015
Updated 4/23/2013
Old Capitol Building, PO Box 47200, 600 Washington St. S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7200 360-725-6000 TTY 360-664-3631
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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Summit, a Winner Rat was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Rat for sale in Winner, or seeking a Rat from a breeder in Winner.


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At the last minute, I decided I'm going to go. I saw today's celebrations down in Washington D.C., all the celebrities there, that I realized... it's such a massively historic moment, that I have to be there.
But I'd prefer to not be alone. I'll go there alone if I have to and just walk around, and take photos, but it would be nice to meet people there.
So, is anybody here going? Anybody have a plan for how you're gonna get down there and get back?


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The Nogales, Ariz., fresh produce industry and related businesses account for just over a third of all economic activity in Santa Cruz County — $437.7 million, according to University of Arizona researchers.
Beside putting hard numbers to fresh produce jobs, wages and tax revenues, their study "Fresh Produce and Production-Sharing: Foundations and Opportunities" suggests paths Nogales might take to growth, including extending its season.
"It really showed the region here is heavily dependent on fresh produce," said Lance Jungmeyer, president of Nogales-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
"When you look at direct and secondary impacts, fresh produce accounts for more than 20% of jobs and nearly 25% of wages."
The 51-page study, released in September, was prepared for Nogales Community Development by the university's Eller College and Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
Authors Vera Pavlakovich-Kochi and Gary Thompson found that fresh produce generates:
- $303.4 million in direct output;
- $134.3 million in secondary output;
- 2,644 direct jobs and $146.6 million in wages;
- 1,375 secondary jobs and $43.6 million in wages; and
- $45 million in state and local tax revenue.
Every 100 fresh produce jobs generate 52 more in related fields, according to the study.
That's an additional 29 cents in wages for each dollar in fresh produce wages, and an added 44 cents output for each dollar of fresh produce output.
Even though total dollar value has been trending upward in Nogales, compared to other ports of entry — especially in Texas — its share is declining.
Exports from central Mexico shipped through Texas ports have been on the rise, and Texas is more convenient for fresh produce trucks bound for the Midwest or Northeast.
But the larger issue is that unlike central Mexico, Sinaloa and Sonora — the sources of the Nogales industry — do not grow year-round.
The study recommends pursuing relationships with Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora and other Mexican universities that have developed pilot programs for new plant types and technologies that might begin to extend the limits of the western deal.
Makers of forklifts and heavy equipment; packaging materials; seeds and fertilizers that operate largely outside the country are a source of opportunity according to the study, which refers to them as "missing industries."
Other barriers to growth in Nogales include workforce availability and qualifications.
The study is available at http://tinyurl.com/pjjeuvq.


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
I am already spayed and up to date with shots.
To adopt any of our wonderful shelter cats, please fill out our adoption application which is found here.
Adele, a Medway Domestic Shorthair cat was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Domestic Shorthair for sale in Medway, or seeking a Domestic Shorthair cat from a breeder in Medway.


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Hardcouture offers an exquisite collection of jewelry, including Hardcouture necklaces, bracelets, headpieces, earrings, and handchains. This California-based brand is known for its sultry taste with a hint of vintage street-inspired aesthetics. Hardcouture provides beautiful, yet affordable, exotic pieces, perfect for the generation of young contemporary fashionistas who enjoy looking glam at a great price. The Hardcouture muse is the young person who actively pursues her dreams and takes the initiative to turn her ideas into tangible art.
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Since 1993 we've been shaping and defining the multimedia software market. What began as a loop-based music editing program, Music Maker, has grown into an extensive offering: Software solutions for video and music editing, photo and graphic design, cross-platform apps and web services. This is only a part of our product range.
Our once small team has developed over the years to become an internationally active group of companies with many subsidiaries. We're always looking for new challenges. Our coworkers and their careers are also in constant progression. This is true not only of our IT and software developers, but also of our marketing and product managers, business experts and sales associates.
Become a part of our team and help shape the future of MAGIX.
The personalities and interests of our employees are just as multifaceted and varied as their daily tasks. This is what makes working at MAGIX so interesting and full of diversity.


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Gold Rate Today in Arunachalpradesh
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Gold Rate in Arunachalpradesh
Standard Gold - 22 K
1 gram
Pure Gold - 24 K
1 gram
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|24 Sep 2017
|23 Sep 2017
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|20 Sep 2017
Today's Gold Rate in Arunachalpradesh
Indians, especially South Indians, love to buy gold, and the country is one of the largest consumers of gold in the world. South India, as a region, continues to be a large consumer of gold in the country with numerous jewelry establishments present throughout the region. Historically, and arunachalpradesh is one of the leading centres of the gold trade in India.
Gold is considered an extremely important commodity in Arunachalpradesh. As with the rest of the country, people in arunachalpradesh purchase gold mainly in the form of ornaments. Though investments in Gold ETF's is also gaining ground in the recent times.
Gold is popularly perceived as a relatively safe investment, especially in times of economic or political uncertainty. During relatively calm times - economically or otherwise - the gold price remains stable, while during times of conflict, the price of gold fluctuates. Although gold prices move up or down constantly, it has shown a generally upward trend in the past which has made it a preferred commodity for many investors.
If you are based in arunachalpradesh and want to get accurate and updated information on gold rates in the city, CreditMantri provides all the data you need. In addition to live rates, you can access a comprehensive guide to the history of gold prices, and trends in the gold rate in arunachalpradesh. Our constantly updated rates and latest updates will help you make an informed decision on when to buy or sell, get live gold rates in arunachalpradesh, see today's gold rate in arunachalpradesh and evaluate trends in arunachalpradesh's gold rate.
How to invest in gold in Arunachalpradesh – Gold as a hedge
In arunachalpradesh, as with most other parts of the country, gold is bought primarily as an investment, based on its significant appreciation in the past. Even though Indians in general invest in real estate on a large scale, investing in gold still forms a huge part of their investment portfolios.
Jewelry as an Investment
The most popular way of investing in gold in arunachalpradesh remains the purchase of gold jewelry. It is common for people across all economic strata to buy gold on festive and auspicious occasions as it is commonly perceived as a relatively safe asset. The main disadvantage of to buying jewelry is that you need to pay a significant amount in the form of making charges and wastage charges, which could easily add more than 10% to the price. If you plan to sell the gold jewelry in the future, you have to keep in mind that only the weight of the gold will be taken into account, and the making charges/wastage charges for the design will not be taken into account, no matter how intricate the jewelry design is. Hence, you might not receive the same price for your jewelry as you bought it at. Buying gold jewelry for immediate use might be a viable option, but if you plan to hold it as a long term investment, then there are other more convenient and cost-effective options available.
Gold coins, biscuits and gold bars
Alternatively, you can also choose to invest in gold coins, biscuits and bars. They come with the 'no design' advantage, meaning there is minimal/no wastage charge when you decide to sell them. You can get coins in differing weights and buy them from banks or from a certified jewelry showroom.
Traditional forms of investing like buying gold jewelry are slowly making way for newer avenues to invest in gold, particularly in e gold and gold futures.
Gold ETFs
n recent times, new forms of investment in gold have opened up providing investors with the prospect of trading in gold, rather than buying and storing it in physical form indefinitely. Investors can now invest in Gold ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) which are simple financial instruments that combine the flexibility of a stock investment and the simplicity of gold investments. Investments in gold ETFs can be done online, changing the way how gold is bought and delivered, giving gold investments in India a whole new dimension.
Gold ETFs are an attractive investment instrument because of their high liquidity and the ease of investing. In order to trade in gold stocks, one must have an appetite for risk, knowledge of gold as a commodity, and familiarity with the stock markets in general. Investors need to closely observe and track the day's current prevailing gold rate. Like all other commodity prices, gold prices tend to rise and fall for myriad economic and political reasons and being successful in this market requires constant attention, methodical monitoring of market activities, and an ability to discern pricing information.
Gold mutual funds and derivatives
Investors now also have the option to invest in mutual funds, like a fund of funds (FOF), or a fund that holds stocks of gold companies listed on the global stock exchanges. Another option for a keen investor is to trade in gold derivatives. However, to do this you will need to open an account with a commodities broker and be aware of the charges related to derivatives trading. Keep in mind that trading in derivatives is a high-risk investment option and should be only done by those who have specialized knowledge of the subject and follow the market keenly.
How to buy gold in Arunachalpradesh
Investing in gold can be an expensive business and it is important to keep a few points in mind when choosing to make the investment. That said, buying gold can be a good investment avenue if you do it with the requisite precautions outlined below.
Research gold rates thoroughly before buying any form of gold
It is common knowledge that gold prices fluctuate on a daily basis. That is why, it is important to observe market trends and monitor the movement of gold in order to be successful in gold trading. Use CreditMantri's gold rate page to help you make data-driven and informed decisions on your gold investments based on the most up-to-date information.
Decide what kind of gold you want to buy and for what purpose
If you are buying gold for ornamental purposes, it is wise to buy from a reputed and certified jeweler. On the other hand, if you want to buy it for investment purposes, it is wise to buy gold in the form of bars, coins, or e gold. Each form of investment comes with its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. If your intention is to sell the gold at a later date, then jewelry might not be the best option and you need to consider other forms of more liquid investments like ETFs or gold mutual funds.
Ensure proper certification of the gold you are buying
People can be easily duped while buying gold because of the difficulty in identifying adulteration or weight. It is important to buy gold from a reputed jeweler or from a bank. Always insist on the purity certificate. This is easily the most important aspect when investing in gold. Only certain laboratories, known as Assaying and Hallmarking Centres, are authorized to certify the purity of the gold. Note that only jewelers licensed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) can get the jewelry certified at these Assaying Centers. So, it is very important to buy your gold from a licensed and certified jeweler to be assured of the purity of the gold and to ensure that you are not cheated. .
Online purchase in arunachalpradesh
Thanks to the Internet, there are a number of online gold sellers today. While it is very convenient to buy online, you need to be very careful about buying only from trusted and certified sellers as there is great scope for adulteration of gold and cheating.
Factors affecting the gold price in Arunachalpradesh
Just like the gold price varies between countries, similarly, the gold price varies between different cities within each country as well. The arunachalpradesh gold rate could vary from other cities in India. The reason for this difference in gold price between various cities within the country is caused by varying demand-supply factors, transportation costs, people's buying patterns etc. All these differences affect the final price in each city. Outlined are some of the key factors that contribute to the gold rate in arunachalpradesh.
Transportation costs:
India relies heavily on imports for satisfying its gold needs. arunachalpradesh, being one of the major port cities, tends to have slightly lower costs than, say, Coimbatore, which is a city situated some distance away from the port. Transportation costs associated with the metal affect the price of the gold marginally.
State taxes:
Differences in the state taxation rates on gold are a big factor in the price differentiation between various cities in India. The arunachalpradesh gold rate is subject to state taxes imposed by the government, which may be higher or lower than other states in the country.
Arunachalpradesh Gold Rate Today
If you are planning to buy gold in arunachalpradesh, be sure to check the CreditMantri website for updated feeds on the gold rate. In addition to live rates, you will also have access to valuable data on gold price trends. For instance, you can compare the trends of 22K and 24 K gold rate in arunachalpradesh. In addition, you can also check out today's gold rate, the history of the gold rate in arunachalpradesh, the live gold rate in arunachalpradesh and recent price trends in the yellow metal.
Disclaimer: The information on the prices of gold rate is merely indicative and is susceptible to change with market value and is provided on an as-is basis. The information contained here is not intended as investment advice. CreditMantri is in no way responsible for any loss arising from the use of data contained in this website.


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Effective against dry handsThe lotion says intensive, but has the lightweight texture, and skin absorbs it fast. The small tube is ideal to keep in my purse. My hands show signs of aging, so I prefer something to make my wrinkles less visible. — 9 years, 2 months agoluckybetty | 895 reviews
Pretty goodThis lotion is a good daily lotion. It's not sticky or slimy and soaks into your skin pretty fast. Vaseline products are not too expensive on the wallet. The only draw back is if you have extremely dry skin, I recommend you use an olive oil scrub in the shower then use this lotion. You may have to add about two to three layers on your skin. For normal to dry skin, this is really good. — 4 years, 9 months agoOnly1KimmieD | 6 reviews
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Thick hand creamThis hand cream does a good job at sealing in the moisture on my hands. It makes my hands soft and my wife likes that. — 6 years, 9 months agosteadyeddie925 | 351 reviews
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Its a good hand cream.It does what it says it's going to do. But since when is hand cream so expensive these day? — 9 years, 4 months agopure.life | 331 reviews
Works wellWorks well, absorbs quickly, doesn't leave your hands greasy!! Nice faint scent. — 9 years, 7 months agosmiley48 | 204 reviews
Super HealingI have ezcema on my hands, so while no cream will fully restore my hands 100%, this super moisturizes. It helps my cracked damaged skin, restore somewhat to normal. — 9 years, 10 months agoalissa929 | 219 reviews
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What I've been looking for!I've been using the lotion for the past two weeks now. It has lived up to they hype. Light fragrance, non greasy and I saw instant results. My skin was not dryer the next day either. Each day was an improvement. I went out and bought a bottle and told everyone I could to use this. Excellent product, Thank you!! — 4 years, 9 months agoadiane | 1 reviews
vaseline intensive rescue repairI liked the lotion overall. It did moisturize my dry cuticles. I am constantly washing my hands though, so i prefer a lotion that is thicker. I would recommend it to repair your dry skin. — 4 years, 9 months agobri_garnica | 3 reviews
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My Reasons for Reporting This


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Does anyone have experience (not necessarily enlightenment level) with this OS?
Welcome to Bodhi Linux
Minimalism and User Choice
Thank you for taking the time to check out Bodhi Linux, the Enlightened Linux Distribution. Here you will find all you need to know about Bodhi as well as links to additional resources, like our AppCenter for your software needs, the Art Wiki for all your styling needs and our Documentation to help you out. We also have a very active and friendly community, check it out for yourself on our Forum and in our IRC channel.
A New Day Dawns In Linux With The Near Arrival Of E17 (stable)
First created by Carsten Haitzler in 1997, Enlightenment is one of the oldest open-source desktop projects in existence, but it's also by far one of the most exceptional ever created that actually outperforms even the most recent developments by its competition with ease.
Like other Linux desktop managers, such as GNOME, KDE, XCFE, Unity, LXDE and others, E17 has a compositing window manager and your general desktop elements (i.e. a panel, notification area, etc.), but E17 is designed with a few particular things in mind that it accomplishes very well. It's extremely lightweight on system resources, it's very graphically appealing, and it's so customizable that, by the time you're through tweaking it, you practically have your own Linux distribution.
When Carsten Haitzler was asked who the typical E17 user would be, his response was, "someone who is keen to explore something new and different. Someone who wants control and power." He went on to say that, "We try and ensure there is some way to change everything via the GUI, so you don't have to resort to text configuration files. This reduces the barrier of entry for the more advanced users, and thus makes doing "advanced things" seem friendly. In fact, we have exposed almost every single configuration value E17 has via the GUI in one way or another."
Bodhi Linux is a premier Enlightenment distribution gaining much attention and a swelling following in the Linux community these days, and it's a prime example of just how efficient Enlightenment truly is. The minimum requirements to run Bodhi Linux are only: 300+MHz CPU, 128MB RAM and 2.5GB hard drive space.
http://www.dailyflux.com/day-dawns-linu ... 17-stable/
Some cool screenshots of various desktops:


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In the past I'll posted available spots in our league, which yielded one owner. Starting early this year as I think we may be starting a new keeper league, or certainly will be looking for at least two owners.
Currently have a 10 team league and would like to get it to 12. This league is 16 years old, but we have a couple of owners who want something a little less complex now.
It is a money league, but if we do start anew that figure is likely to change for the cheaper. We have a great set of rules and are introducing a contract system (not an auction league, just a way to ensure more player movement).
Let me know if you're interested. You can send a private message to me.


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Kevin Love returned several weeks ahead of schedule from a broken right hand to score 34 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves' loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
However, the star forward admitted that the hand still hurts but that he would fight through the injury, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Love started the game strong with 22 points in the first half on 9-of-16 shooting, but struggled in the second half, with just 12 points on 3-of-9 shooting.
"A very telling two halves," Love told reporters after the game.
Minnesota set a season-high with 58 points in the first half, but scores 36 points in the second half in the 101-94 loss. The game marked Love's season debut.


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Did You Know?
Ring-Tails spend more time on the ground than any other Lemur.
Thanksgiving weekend is the opening weekend of Potter Park Zoo's annual Wonderland of Lights. Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the zoo reopens from 5–8pm and offers a dazzling light show, face painting, cookie decorating, live entertainment, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and animal presentations, which is where I found myself on Saturday evening.
Along with two other docents, I manned a room with tables strewn with artifacts, pelts, and skulls and presented live animals as people walked in to get a break from the cold. I spent most of my night handling our Eurasian eagle owl. Always a crowd pleaser, this owl was the perfect showman on Saturday. He hooted almost constantly to the delight of onlookers. He flapped his wings when I threw him off balance on the glove and people oohed and ahhed appropriately. The faces of the zoo guests were covered in smiles when he looked at them and eyes went wide when I told them interesting facts about owls.
But the very best part came when my feathered companion leaned over toward me, opened his mouth wide, and shook his head back and forth. Though I'd never seen the behavior firsthand, I had an idea of what was coming so I held my arm out to the side so that it wouldn't involve my pants or shoes. And there, in full view of some very lucky guests, he leaned and shook his head back and forth a few more times and regurgitated a nice fresh owl pellet that landed on the tarp on the floor with an unceremonious plop.
I don't think I have to tell you that I was just thrilled. To have an animal demonstrate a behavior that you were just talking about is a great teaching moment. I picked up the wad of bones, fur, and bile with a couple paper towels and held it out for the visitors to examine. We could see small bones from the mice he had swallowed earlier but not been able to digest. And I was happy that the people on the other side of the table of pelts and skulls seemed genuinely interested rather than repulsed.
This experience brought to mind another gross-but-interesting docent moment of mine. Last year I was at the Ingham County Youth Center on an outreach and while I was showing and explaining our Chilean rose-haired tarantula it defecated on my hand. Now really, how often do you get pooped on by a large hairy spider? Not often enough. In fact, you may go through your entire life and never have such a thing happen to you. A shame, really. There are a lot of kinda gross things that are actually pretty fascinating and educational if you approach them with an adventurous spirit.
Now, if you're not thrilled with regurgitation and defecation, be assured that that's not really what Wonderland of Lights is all about. But on a clear, cold night filled with the wonder of sparkling lights, a little bit of gross can make the night even more memorable—especially for your kids.


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Three trends that weren't supposed to happen in 2013: a strong euro, weak oil and positive gold. These three trends have to be explored, because they are pretty difficult to fathom but must be fathomed if we are to understand 2013.
First, the euro. We all know that the euro was supposed to be kaput by now, replaced by the deutsche mark, franc, lira and everything else, with the deutsche mark starting the trend. This was a total misread of history and of the denouement of World War II. There's no way that we could ever understand the depth of fear of another war or the guilt the Germans feel. They are simply not going to let this happen. We focused only on the economics of it, not the politics, and the richer countries are willing to lose money endlessly on Greece if that's what it takes, because Spain, Italy and Ireland are coming back, as is the European stock market. The bankers and hedge funds in this country are way too smart for their own good, because they know the numbers but not the history. The euro could go higher still, because I sense that no one large owns it.
Oil is a function of supply. It is beginning to dawn on people that the statistics for the U.S. are far more robust than what the numbers and predictions indicate. Every month, numbers coming out of Texas and North Dakota are much better than people expect. Endless upside surprises, and yet most of the big interests aren't even drilling there yet. The major oils are slow of foot and let the independents in while they focused on unstable areas such as West Africa and Indonesia, both of which will perhaps be ... confiscated by poor countries that mistakenly gave them rights. The whole federal-lands thing is a big sideshow.
There's talk that natural gas will tighten because of the lack of drilling, but Mark Papa, the best wildcatter there is and the CEO of EOG Resources (EOG), says there's no demand for the stuff, and very few plants are being built to use it. Plus all of the power plants that can convert have already done so. If we could harness natural gas as a surface fuel, I have no doubt that gasoline would be at $2.50 rather fast, but the administration would despise that, because it would encourage fossil fuel use. We are the reason why oil is not going higher. If Iran joined the Council of Nations, oil would go to $75, but it won't, so take that off the table.
Finally, gold, is now finishing up 6% for the year despite predictions that this, the 12th straight up year, would bring the long-expected crash. Gold is the opposite of oil. There's just not enough of it. Go over the quarters of Goldcorp (GG), Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM), Newmont Mining (NEM) and Barrick Gold (ABX). The costs are astronomical, the finds pitiful and, like oil, the only countries where confiscation isn't an issue are in North America. Everything else is dicey.
In 2013 it will be even harder to find, so gold, I believe, will have still one more up year.
Gold is endlessly described as a hedge against inflation, or a hedge against chaos, or a hedge against deflation, or a hedge against central bank reflation. Gold is a story of the worldwide middle class trying to get its hands on some precious metals to become and feel rich. There's not enough gold being found. Period. End of story.


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BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
January 10, 2010
Future Shock
Rangers Top 11 Prospects
Five-Star Prospects
Four More:
1. Neftali Feliz, RHP
Year in Review: The top prospect in the system was scuffling a bit as a starter at Triple-A, but dominated out of the bullpen in a stunning big-league debut.
2. Martin Perez, LHP
Year in Review: This high-ceiling southpaw lived up to every expectation and more, reaching Double-A as an 18-year-old and holding his own.
3. Justin Smoak, 1B
Year in Review: The club's top pick in the 2008 draft was slowed by an oblique strain and a slump at Triple-A, but saved his best for Team USA at the end of the year, bashing nine home runs in 14 games at the IBAF World Cup.
4. Tanner Scheppers, RHP
Year in Review: The 2008 draft holdout finally signed with the Rangers despite concerns about his shoulder, and impressed scouts in the Arizona Fall League.
5. Jurickson Profar, SS
Year in Review: Seen by most as a pitcher instead of a shortstop, Profar wanted to be a position player and signed with the Rangers, which he followed up with the most talked about showing in the Arizona instructional leagues.
6. Danny Gutierrez, RHP
Year in Review: The troubled righty wore out his welcome with the Royals, who sent him to Texas for two significantly lesser prospects.
7. Mitch Moreland, RF
Year in Review: This low-round, low-profile pick just kept producing, including an impressive performance in his first exposure to the upper levels.
8. Michael Main, RHP
Year in Review: The high-ceiling righty had a nightmarish 2009, as an undiagnosed viral infection sapped him of his strength and turned the year into a lost season.
9. Engel Beltre, CF
Year in Review: An anticipated breakout year turned into a disaster, as Beltre put up putrid numbers in the California League before suffering a broken hamate bone.
10. Wilmer Font, RHP
Year in Review: The massive righty nearly struck out a batter per inning in his highly-anticipated full-season debut.
11. Robbie Ross, LHP
Year in Review: After signing for an over-slot bonus in the second round, Ross was among the best pitchers in the Northwest League.
The Sleeper: A 24th-round pick in 2009 who received a $300,000 bonus, righty Chad Blackwell is a six-foot-five power pitcher with silky-smooth mechanics and three solid offerings.
Top 10 Talents 25 And Under (Born 4/1/84 or later)
1. Neftali Feliz, RHP
Andrus is good, but also now a bit overhyped, as he barely manged a 700 OPS in his rookie year. He's not going to hit for power, but should get better with the bat, turning into a .300 hitter with steals and little else to go with Gold Glove-caliber defense. That's a well above-average player, but not a superstar. The adjustments Davis made upon his return to Texas were very real, so expect a bounceback season in 2009. Holland was a disappointment in his rookie campaign, as he lost the feel on his breaking ball, but he remains a high-ceiling arm. Borbon is a lesser version of Andrus, but in center field. He'll hit .280-.290, but it's empty other than steals, and his excellent range in center is offset by a noodle for an arm. He's one of those guys who can hold down the every day job, but you are always looking for something better. Call me crazy, but I still have a bit of faith in Saltalamacchia, and if I ran a team, I'd love to see if he's available as a change-of-scenery player. Just missing are Tommy Hunter (because of his rotation-back-end ceiling) and Matt Harrision, although the latter was impressive as a reliever in Arizona and could take a step forward in that role. As an aside, Ben Snyder mave have been the best Rule 5 pick in December as a lefty-on-lefty monster who already has very usable big-league skill in the role.
Summary: The Rangers' system is down just a tad, as many top prospects had disappointing seasons, but a lack of positional prospects (especially at the upper levels) is more than offset by the most impressive collection of young arms in the game.
Next up: the Toronto Blue Jays.
Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
51 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
Wow - you like Perez better than Matusz?
Jan 10, 2010 09:42 AM
Better fastball, better breaking ball, change is not as good (but close), and he's ready for Double-A at the same age Matusz was getting ready for his freshman year in college. I don't have a HUGE gap on them or anything, but yes, I prefer Perez.
Jan 10, 2010 10:04 AM
G. Guest
Does the Vlad signing spell a long season at AAA for Smoak?
Jan 10, 2010 09:43 AM
Holland had a better than 2/1 strikeout to walk ratio as a 22 year old with 30 innings above High A in his resume. That's disappointing?
Jan 10, 2010 10:13 AM
So the 6.12 ERA doesn't bug you -- fair enough. I don't think he'd be given that much big league time if a 6.12 ERA is what was expected of him.
Jan 10, 2010 10:30 AM
well, the .315 BABiP was definitely higher than other Rangers, but most importantly, the 11.1 HR/FB % is a bit freaky, which lead to a 1.7 HR/IP rate, which is 4 times his minor league rate of 0.4
Jan 10, 2010 11:52 AM
You can spin it however you want, but all I'm talking about in 2009. Like you, I've very optimistic about Holland's future, but there's no way to say 2009 was good. It's like the Elvis Andrus thing. I say he wasn't good in 2009, and everyone tells he that he was for a player so young, or for a player without offensive expectations. I'm talking about without qualifiers. Just taken as a big leaguer last year, offensively, Elvis Andrus was not GOOD by any measurement. Guy had a .329 on-base percentage and just 31 extra base hits over an entire year. That's not good. He's certainly GOING to have good years, but 2009 was not one of them.
Jan 10, 2010 12:59 PM
Did Holland lose anything in terms of velocity last year ? BP2009 noted that his breakout was due to him suddenly, and unexpectedly going from average velocity to mid to upper 90's. Did he retain that in 2009 ? Was it just the curveball that he struggled with ?
Jan 10, 2010 16:42 PM
Andrus was only not good if we ignore position and defense. Chris Dial's numbers at Baseball Think Factory have Andrus as one of the top 30 most valuable players in the AL when offense, defense and position are taken together, ahead of guys like Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedroia, Grady Sizemore, etc. Fangraphs has Andrus as a 3 WAR player last year.
Jan 11, 2010 04:46 AM
Well, ignoring his age, and according to BP's fielding stats, Elvis comes out as an average hitter for a shortstop and an average fielder for a shortstop. Is that "good"? is that "bad"? Can you really say one way or another. As we all know, "average" has value, hence his 2.4 WARP2.
Jan 11, 2010 11:05 AM
Andrus fits solidly into the middle of the pack offensively for ML SS. There were 26 SS with at least 400 PA. Numbers 11 (Alexei Ramirez at 723) down to 18 (Cristian Guzman at 696) were basically equivalent, with Andrus in the midst of that.
Jan 11, 2010 11:37 AM
Are you predicting his defense to develop? That's a little backwards from how players generally develop. The guy is a damn good defensive shortstop but he's no Ozzie Smith. Predicting Hanley Ramirez level play is completely indefensible. If we slide over to fangraphs stats page, we see that Hanley is a +45 bat and average to a hair below in the field (call it -2). A very sunny view of Andrus would have him as a +5 bat and +12 defender. That makes Hanley* 26 runs better than sunny day Andrus*.
Jan 11, 2010 12:41 PM
Jan 10, 2010 10:30 AM
Above average. He's not going to be Jose Reyes on the base paths, but he'll steal some bases.
Jan 10, 2010 10:44 AM
Uhh....Kevin? Holland is a pitcher. Not a 1B...unless there's been some amazing development in his swing plane, or something :)
Jan 10, 2010 10:53 AM
Kevin, you might want to correct Derek Holland's position in your Top 10 Under 25 list....nice list with six five-star 25 and Unders for a system that's "down just a tad"!
Jan 10, 2010 10:58 AM
I'm curious about Scheppers arm action and mechanics. I'm not an expert or a scout, but from watching video of him in the AFL, his motion looks very simplistic. He seems to have very few moving parts, no violent jerking, and no head whip in his follow through. Can you give a few specific things that worry scouts?
Jan 10, 2010 13:25 PM
Kevin, this is pure gold. Profar is going to be interesting to watch.
Jan 10, 2010 13:43 PM
You're great at this Kevin, but I am shocked by how much you like Chris Davis and Engel Beltre and how low Robbie Ross ranks. When a guy has stuff, command, and performance, is height really that big of a deal? When a guy has impressive tools and zero (ZERO!!!!) aptitude for controlling the strike zone (or even making contact), is it really wise to put strong weight on his ceiling? Those guys pretty much never live up to their promise. Meanwhile, guys with good scouting reports and results who get knocked down for things like height always seem to exceed expectations. I'd take Ross over the other two without a thought.
Jan 10, 2010 14:00 PM
I'd rather take the bigger risk with the bigger payoff. You can find big league pieces on the free agent market, but stars are much harder to come by.
Jan 10, 2010 14:55 PM
How can Smoak be a 5 star prospect when outside of 14 games in Low A he's never slugged above .500 in the minors? To be a good 1B in the majors I would think you would really need to tear it up in the minors and Smoak hasn't done that yet?
Jan 10, 2010 14:43 PM
With 30 games (14 games in Low A and 16 games in the AFL) of minor league experience, a 22 year old hits .328/.449/.481 in AA. THAT isn't tearing it up?
Jan 10, 2010 20:17 PM
I see this as a huge system. It's basically the Yankees' system (loads of high-potential guys) plus a bunch of ready-now impact talent (Feliz, Smoak, Scheppers).
Jan 10, 2010 18:25 PM
Is there a catch-all thread regarding user comments? I'm a little tired of watching comments that do in fact contribute to the discussion get buried simply because someone doesn't agree.
Jan 11, 2010 09:22 AM
Ben Solow
Kevin, I'm curious as to your opinion on a comparison between the Rays and Rangers in terms of minor league pitching. Specifically, you've got 4 pitchers with a 5 star rating in the Rays minor league system, but say that the Rangers have the most impressive collection of young arms in the game. Are Feliz and Perez THAT far in front of any of the Rays, or is there another rationale?
Jan 10, 2010 18:40 PM
As a related question how much deeper than 11 would you go three stars for the Rays and for the Rangers. My guess is that the Rangers go at least 15 deep at 3 stars and that is at least part of the explanation.
Jan 10, 2010 19:45 PM
Jan 11, 2010 08:17 AM
Perez gets a slight edge on the fastball, Moore gets a slight edge on the curve, Perez has a BIG edge on the change, and that doesn't even touch Perez' command, control, mechanics and age.
Jan 11, 2010 09:43 AM
Kevin - How far down the list do you have to go to find Blake Beavan? And what are your thoughts on him?
Jan 11, 2010 08:31 AM
He's a weird case for sure, just a different pitcher than what was drafted. He's now this below-average velocity strike thrower with a decent change.
Jan 11, 2010 09:44 AM
Is it possible that that can change? He held his own at AA and he can't buy alcohol for another few days yet.
Jan 11, 2010 11:47 AM
Wow, we're getting top prospects who were playing in the LLWS in 2004. I'm getting old. Fast.
Jan 11, 2010 10:33 AM
Pretty surprised to see Davis above Smoak in your top 10 under 25 list. I understand the gap is probably small (since Smoak was given 5 stars), but I was wondering what influenced you. Do you not expect Smoak to hit his power upside, do you think Davis' power is just that good, or that Davis will start walking more to minimize Smoak's OBP advantage? Thanks.
Jan 11, 2010 10:40 AM
Since being drafted, here are Davis' home run totals (including majors and minors):
Jan 11, 2010 12:00 PM
Gotta commend you on answering so many of the comments, Kevin. It's like a chat addendum to every Top 11 piece! We we subscribers appreciate the extra effort.
Jan 11, 2010 11:43 AM
Other readers have rated this comment below the viewing threshold. Click here to view anyway.
It was pointed at to me recently that the definition of scuffling is:
Jan 11, 2010 11:47 AM
Usage is 9/10 of definition. If it communicates the same basic point to a plurality of readers, it works.
Jan 11, 2010 12:12 PM
I guess, but the way it is used it could be interpreted than the kid was getting into fights in AAA. That's probably not the best way to try to communicate the message.
Jan 11, 2010 15:20 PM
Great stuff Kevin! What do you think of Carlos Pimentel? He's been consistently good against older competition but understandable gets lost in the shuffle.
Jan 11, 2010 12:23 PM
2nd the comment about C.Davis over Smoak. Was Davis EVER considered a 5-star prospect? Maybe after his breakout 1/2 season in 2008, but how did last year improve that?
Jan 11, 2010 20:42 PM
How soon we forget. Davis hit 36 home runs between Bakersfield and Frisco in 2007 at age 21, then followed it up with hitting 23 in 77 games between Frisco and Oklahoma City in 2008 (while hitting .333!) BEFORE he was called up to the majors and hit 17 home runs in 80 games as a rookie. Smoak has a better batting eye, and is more selective, but He's not quite as advanced and certainly not as athletic or as good a defender. Basically Smoak's 2010 is like Davis' 2008 except that Smoak will start in AAA and be a year older.
Jan 12, 2010 05:59 AM
HR and raw power are great, and chicks dig the long ball. But Davis's BB% has typically hovered from 6-10% and his K% has been 23-30%. Not saying he will not be a successful player if he can stay in that range for the majors, but his OBP will limit his value. Smoak's BB% has been 14-17% and his K% has been 16-23%. So twice as many walks and 1/4 fewer K's.
Jan 12, 2010 10:04 AM
I don't think Andrus needs to improve significantly as a defender to be a gold glover, its just very unusual to win that award as a rookie even if deserved. Even if his gold glove calibre defense ends up a bit short of Vizquel and Ozzie Smith, a .300 hitter who walks a reasonable amount (nothing in what he did last year gives any strong reason for concern about his ability to take a walk), wins gold gloves, and steals bases may not be a "superstar" in the Arod sense of the word, but given how early he has started his career, and how long it will likely last, it does sound like a description of a hall of famer.
Jan 12, 2010 09:42 AM
Sounds like the M's did well on their Cliff Lee trade. A ready-now 1B with good defense(and walks!!!), a decent #4/5/bullpen type arm in Beavan, a decent 2B prospect who can bump Figgins to 3B and a potential flame-thrower reliever/closer(?) in Lueke? That about right? A great return on their trio of prospects sent out to Philly.
Jul 09, 2010 15:06 PM
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Normal Member
To continue why john cena sucks and why he is killing the wwe, here we go:
9) WWE continues to shove cena down our throats like he is so great
I like watching wwe programming. The parts I hate are with john cena in them. When I do watch them, they just continue to shove him down our throats week after week with supercena 5 moves of doom, same lame promos or the crappy commentary
Hello, just a blog I want to get off my chest since I am tired of cena marks claiming cena is the greatest when he is not. He is ruining the wwe and it is time I explained it. Cena sucks and is killing the wwe and here is why:
just something before i begin
-I do not hate cena because it is "cool", I hate cena because I hate everything about this guy
(going to be long so
kane cena feud and what the ending will probably look like
Analysis of kane vs cena feud
where it is at right now: with kane and cena match resulting in a double count-out at the Royal Rumble and kane getting the final hit tombstoning ryder and chokeslamming cena it looks as if cena has finally embaraced the hate by attacking kane on the last monday night raw.
two scenarios