text:
Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots never looked so good...
For a great selection of film, comic and TV action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, PastGenerationToys.com, Urban-Collector.com, ToyDorks.com, MonkeyDepot.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, and Sekaido.com.
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with our sponsor Collectibles Insurance.
The official trailer has been released for REAL STEEL, a boxing drama set in the near-future where 2,000-pound robots that look like humans do battle. Check it out below.
REAL STEEL opens in theatres and IMAX everywhere on October 7, 2011.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NMCQOnGPYY"]Official Trailer[/ame]


text:
Thank you for contacting us. We will get back to you shortly.
August 19, 2011 - by badnima
The following is a repost of Peter Yorke's original blog at peteryorke.net. Peter is a Solution Architect at Joyent with a passion for performance and scalability -- he's the man with a bucket of awesome-sauce and a big paint brush in hand.
In my role as a Solution Architect at Joyent, I get asked about ways to increase performance and scale of WordPress sites running on Joyent Cloud. In this article, I discuss things you can do to get your WP site optimized at the server and database levels. Here are just a few easy prescriptive solutions for your Joyent SmartMachines:
APC: APC or Alternative PHP Cache compiles and caches your PHP code so that it doesnt need to be rerun each time a page is requested. This provides 2x-to-5x performance increase to page load times. To enable, uncomment the
extension=apc.so line in your php.ini file. Restart the Apache process.
Memcached: Memcached is a free and open source, high performance, distributed memory object caching system that is used to remediate high database loads in WordPress sites by caching database results in memory. To enable, uncomment the
extension=memcache.so in your php.ini file. Restart the Apache process.
W3 Total Cache: W3 Total Cache is a WordPress plugin that works well in the Joyent environment for caching various elements of WP sites. It can be used to leverage APC and memcached. Page and Object caches use APC and database uses memcached in the configuration.
Use NewRelic Application Monitoring agents: Joyent provides the NewRelic Standard application optimization and performance monitoring agents for free to our customers. Using NewRelic to validate system or code changes can tell you what your end user experience is as well as current load conditions of the various application layers like PHP, memcached or database.
Optimize your Apache config: Tuning your mpm and file descriptors will help with scaling your sites. The Joyent Wiki has a has an excellent article on tuning the Apache mpm.conf and increasing file discriptors.
Give your MySQL database enough memory Use the innodb database format and giving as much of your memory as you can without causing your machine to swap. I use a simple formula of 75% of memory to the MySQL config parameter
innodb_buffer_pool_size on a dedicated MySQL server. This will cache most of your tables in memory thereby increasing the database response times. Watching this in NewRelic, you should be able to see if your are driving down the latency times. Then you can slowly bump up the memory until performance doesn't improve any more.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Stylist Tabatha Coffey's favorite pick: Victoria Beckham
Love the look: I love this short, textured pixie. It still has versatility and femininity, and the texture keeps it modern and fresh.
Get the look: The key to this look is the texture of the haircut. When blow-drying the hair, use fingers. The best products for this look are a lightweight pomade or texture cream that will accentuate the texture and separation of the style.
Photo: Jens Koch/Getty Images
- Featured In: Celebrity Short Cuts


text:
This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com to report an issue.
The athletes featured in PlayStation 2 games based on college sports are looking more realistic than ever. Take, for instance, UCLA Bruins tailback DeShaun Foster. In Electronic Arts' NCAA Football 2002, just about every aspect of him – his jersey number, physique, style, and talent – is reflected in his digital doppelgänger.
Well, almost. Despite all the realism in this fall's releases, there's something missing: actual faces. Rather than using 3-D images of players' mugs, as is common when digitizing the pros for PS2 games, NCAA-based titles employ generic facial features.
College athletics buffs won't find this too surprising – the NCAA has long banned the use of player names and images for commercial gain. But never before has the rule had such bizarre effects.
Older videogame consoles render graphics too slowly to generate lifelike faces. Even the pros were pathetically nondescript. But PS2's 128-bit processing changes everything – except the NCAA's rules. Pat Battle, president of Collegiate Licensing, which handles permissions for the NCAA, says it would be nice for gamers if real faces were used. "I can't recall anything remotely similar to the videogame industry," he says, adding that though there have been informal talks about the possibility of making an exception, they haven't gone far.
Allan Frankel, a product manager at 989 Sports who worked onNCAA GameBreaker 2002, says adding players' faces would increase sales. "In this industry, realism is what it's all about."Go Back to Top. Skip To: Start of Article.


text:
Cookie Tools
Welcome to cookie fun and learn how to ice like an expert! Begin with her adorable cookie cutters, follow through with Dani's Expert Icing Bottle Kit, and finish with our free icing templates and how-to cookie videos.See Cookie Tools
Custom Paper Goods
Dream your day and we will make it so... Everything from 'save the dates' to thank yous and every paper good in between. Dani has created masterpieces for Brides, Moms-to-Be, and many other party hosts who agree with her mantra that 'Life Is Sweet!'Paper Goods Gallery
Custom Cookies
There's nothing "cookie-cutter" about Sweet Dani B's cookie creations. Clients like Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren, Real Simple and Good Housekeeping agree... These are edible works of art that are too pretty to eat but too yummy not to.See Cookie Designs


text:
Meat Loaf Tickets
Meat Loaf is having a final farewell tour to close off his career - a tour which will undoubtedly be massive. "Last At Bat" will run in April 2013 and be the last chance to see Meat Loaf, as he looks to send his goodbyes to his fans before retirement. Each show will feature performances from his debut album released back in 1977, "Bat Out Of Hell" as well as many of the greatest hits released over his near half century career! Expect to hear the classics, "Bat Out of Hell" and "All Revved Up with No Place to Go", Meatloaf's world smash hit, "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" as well as present hits including the aptly named "It's All Coming Back To Me Now". Meat Loaf's final tour will rock and be sure to stay fresh in people's minds for a long time.
Sign Up for Meat Loaf Ticket Alerts
Sign up for the latest information on upcoming Meat Loaf events. Be the first to know when Meat Loaf tickets go on sale!


text:
Fortunately, it's just a meaningless, piece-of-crap concurrent resolution that isn't worth the piece of paper it's written on.
Rep. Paul Workman, R-Travis County, today filed HCR 110, which would urge President Barack Obama to defend the Defense of Marriage Act. The text of the resolution is not yet available on the Legislature's website, but it sounds pretty self-explanatory. Obama's administration, of course, has announced that it will no longer defend a section of DOMA in federal court because it's unconstitutional. And while Workman's resolution may be likely to pass, the Obama administration certainly isn't going to pay it any attention. As such, it's clearly just an attempt to score political points on the part of Workman and others who support it. Let's just hope it's not a sign of things to come as this year's session proceeds. Last week, State Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, filed a bill that would create a loophole for the Attorney General to block same-sex divorces. Although the main bill-filing deadline has passed, there's always the danger of amendments.
If you'd like to tell Workman what you think of his resolution, you can e-mail him by going here, and the phone number for his Capitol office is 512-463-0652.
UPDATE: Here's the full text:
WHEREAS, President Barack Obama took an oath to "preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution of the United States," but on
February 23, 2011, he instructed the U.S. Department of Justice to
stop defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage
Act; and
WHEREAS, The Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, was passed in
1996 with overwhelming majorities in both houses of Congress and
signed into law by then president Bill Clinton; DOMA consists of two
core provisions: it defines the words "marriage," "spouse,"
"husband," and "wife" wherever they appear in the U.S. Code as
referring only to the union of a man and a woman, and it defends the
right of each state to reject the redefinition of marriage that has
occurred in a handful of other states as a result of state court
decisions or legislation; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 40 states have enacted laws defending the
institution of marriage, and 31 have embraced traditional marriage
in their constitutions; the Texas Defense of Marriage Act was
signed by the governor in 2003, and the statute was solidified with
a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a
man and a woman, which was approved by voters in November 2005; and
WHEREAS, The constitutional role of the president of the
United States is to execute the laws, not adjudicate them; it is
well-established policy of the U.S. Department of Justice to defend
a federal statute unless no reasonable argument can be made in its
defense, but instead President Obama has unilaterally decided that
DOMA is unconstitutional; the constitutionality of this law should
be determined by the courts, not by the executive branch; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby respectfully urge the president of the United States to
order the U.S. Department of Justice to defend the
constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act; and, be it
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an
official copy of this resolution to the president of the United


text:
After more than 40 years representing Aldbourne and surrounding villages on councils for Aldbourne Parish, Kennet District and Wiltshire Country Councils, Chris Humphries still maintains he has no intention of standing down although his own Wiltshire Council Conservative group has suspended him for three months.
Coun Humphries (Aldbourne and Ramsbury) has been suspended by his party colleagues after being found guilty of five breaches of the Local Government code of conduct.
A total of 21 allegations were originally made against him in respect of comments he was said to have made to Julia Densham, who was manager of Wiltshire Council's Marlborough Area Board of which he is chairman.
He was due to attend a hearing on October 3 at which Mrs Densham's grievances were heard by a panel of three other Wiltshire councillors but he withdrew at the start of the two-day hearing on the advice of his solicitor Peter Keith-Lucas.
They withdrew because they only learned less than 24 hours before the hearing began that Mrs Densham would be represented by a barrister appointed by her union and that Coun Humphries and his solicitor would not be able to challenge their opening and closing statements.
This week Coun Humphries appeared before his peers on Wiltshire Council's Conservative group and they decided that, in view of the findings of the hearing, to suspend him from the group for three months.
This decision does not bar him from acting as a councillor and with local elections due next May the Devizes Constituency Conservative Association has still to decide if he will be its official candidate again.
The suspension from the group does not affect his position as chairman of Marlborough Area Board.
Coun Humphries exclusively told the Gazette that he planned to stand again at the next elections for both Aldbourne Parish Council and Wiltshire Council.
He said that although Wiltshire council had censured him in line with the hearing, it had not applied any sanctions affecting his ability to continue to serve as a councillor.
"I am a loyal Conservative and highly respect many members of my local Conservative branch as well as many members of the Wiltshire Council Conservative group. In view of Wiltshire Council not issuing any sanctions I have been really hit by the Conservative group's decision to suspend me," he said adding that he was still discussing with lawyers whether to appeal the tribunal decision at a judicial review.
"I have represented this area I live in for over 40 years and with, until this hearing, an unblemished track record that speaks for itself, I intend to stand again."
Asked if he would stand as an independent if he failed to be re-selected by the Conservatives Coun Humphries said: "No comment at this stage."


text:
They can create innovative concepts for the audio and lighting technology for concerts, trade fairs and various media events. Rental agencies, production companies and event organisers have high demands for media technology. From elements for stage construction, public address systems, modern LED spotlights, cables and cable protectors, as well as a large selection of professional accessories, we offer a comprehensive package to meet all your requirements.
Learn more about how you can purchase from the Adam Hall Group as a private or business customer.


text:
My Account Shopping Cart Checkout Contact Us
You are here: Home » Catalogue
Welcome Guest! Would you like to log yourself in? Or would you prefer to create an account?
Are you after a new body both inside and out? If so, you have come to the right place! Not only can I help you look good on the outside, but you will feel great on the inside too.
Herbalife's philosophy is good nutrition, exercise, rest and relaxation; all combined to help people make a positive change to their life. It boasts an exciting range of nutritional products specifically designed to meet your personal nutritional needs. Whether you are after weight loss, weight gain, higher energy levels, or improved skin, Herbalife will be right for you.
Herbalife has been going for over 30 years for a reason, and that reason is that it works! Let Herbalife work for you today.
If you are purchasing from the UK for prices in GBP and Your Correct Shipping fees Please click here to Visit our UK site.
Core Product: Formula 3 Cell Activator - 30 Day Supply
Please log in to see prices
Protein Bars
Herbal Aloe Concentrate - Pint
N-R-G Nature's Raw Guarana Tea


text:
Hinge, Surface Mount, 4 X 4 In
VALUE BRAND| Zoro #: G0497874| Mfr #: 3AGC1
Zoro #: G0497874Mfr. Part #: 3AGC1
$29.00 /ea
Orders over $50.00 ship free. DetailsStandard ground shipping
Technical Specifications
|Zoro #: G0497874 Mfr #: 3AGC1
|Pin Type: Nonremovable
|Frame Leaf Thickness: 0.120"
|Holes: Without
|Door Leaf Thickness: 0.120"
|Mounting: Full Surface
|Ligature Resistant: No
|Holes per Leaf: 0
|Frame Leaf Width: 4"
|Material: stainless steel
|Door Leaf Width: 4"
|Item: Butt Hinge
|Pin Dia.: 1/4"
|Range of Motion: 265 Degrees
|Bearing Type: Plain
|Corners: Square
|Orientation: Non Handed
|Door Leaf Height: 4"
|Hardware: Not included
|Frame Leaf Height: 4"
|Country of Origin (subject to change): China
Product Description
Butt Hinge, Stainless Steel Material, Without Holes, 0 Holes per Leaf, No Ligature Resistant, 265 Degrees Range of Motion, 0.120 In. Door Leaf Thickness, 0.120 In. Frame Leaf Thickness, Plain Bearing Type, Square Corners, Not Included Hardware, Full Surface Mounting, 1/4 In. Pin Dia., Nonremovable Pin Type
Restrictions and Compliance
- *1 : California Proposition 65 : This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.


text:
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- The Walmart Foundation announced that is committing more than $2.5 million in grants to various projects aimed at improving the lives of women in Latin America.
"We believe that when women achieve economic empowerment, their voices are also empowered," said Eduardo Solorzano, president and CEO of Walmart Latinoamerica. "So not only will they be able to create more stable futures for their families, they will play transformational roles in bettering the lives of women and children across Latin America."
The organizations and programs receiving funding from the Walmart Foundation are:
Pro Mujer: $300,000 will allow Pro Mujer to expand its footprint into two new regions within Argentina, reaching more than 3,900 women with its integrated package of services, including microfinance; business and empowerment training; preventative health education and high-quality, low-cost primary healthcare.
TechnoServe: More than $485,000 will allow TechnoServe to provide 750 Nicaraguan women the financial skills, support and networks needed to reach their full potential as business leaders.
CHF International: Nearly $500,000 will help CHF increase the incomes of 200 vulnerable women in four Honduran municipalities by improving their business and legal skills and increasing their engagement in sustainable production value chains.
Save the Children: More than $400,000 will allow Save the Children to work with 3,000 women in San Pedro Masahuat, El Salvador, a municipality heavily-damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2009, to improve production value chains related to poultry and local sweets.
Aid to Artisans: Nearly $490,000 will allow Aid to Artisans to help more than 800 Wayuu women in northern Colombia increase their incomes from handicraft sales by providing business training, product design support, new market development and buyer linkages.
Heifer International: More than $340,000 will help Heifer International provide 700 women in the Peruvian highlands with training in agricultural production, animal health management, soil management and market analysis, helping the women be better positioned to sell their final products.


text:
BEST WESTERN Sea Hotel3
Sea Road, South Shields, NE33 2LD
Price FromView Rooms
- Good
- 8 guest reviews
"Friendly and clean...."
"Easy to find and plenty of free parking. Our room was in the annex and was spacious and quiet. Plenty of choice at breakfast with efficient..."
"Best Western has an enviable reputation in the hotel business and you wont be disappointed with the Sea Hotel at South Shields. Next door to..."
"Hotel was good and clean , bar service average as bar person kept disappearing , biggest fault was the bathroom , shower was run off bath ta..."
"Very friendly helpful staff from arrival to dining and checking out. Can't really say more about the food as I only had a salad which was he..."
About the hotel
The Best Western Sea Hotel is located on the sea front at South Shields in the heart of Catherine Cookson country. The hotel is ideally located within easy reach of Sunderland and Tyneside, in addition to the A1 and A19. All of the guest rooms are tastefully decorated with a choice of single, twin, double and family rooms.
Some are ground floor for easy access in our Annexe, separate to the main building and all areas in the hotel including all bedrooms are a smoke free zone. Please note we do not have a lift. The Fregate Restaurant is noted for its wide variety of choice, offering English, continental and vegetarian cuisine in a stylish but comfortable setting. There are two bars providing contrasting ambience; the modern style Surfers Bar with a popular range of bar meals and the more traditional Tall Ships Cocktail Bar. Choices of well-equipped functions rooms are available, all at the most competitive rates.
Read MoreLess
Facilities Show/hide
- Main
- 24 Hour Reception, Cots available, Smoking allowed in bedrooms, Safety Deposit Box, Tea/Coffee making facilities in each room, Hairdryer in each room, Trouser press in each room, Iron And Board In Each Room, Telephone In Each Room, Limited Hours Room Service, Limited room service for hot food, Wake Up Call Available, Pets Allowed, Ground floor bedrooms
- Parking
- Car parking available onsite
- Business
- Wi-Fi Available, Meeting Facilities, Wi-Fi Available In Public Areas, Wi-Fi Available In Rooms
- Dining
- Restaurant, Bar
- In Room Entertainment
- TV, Radio
Can't find the facilities you're looking for?
- Call us on 0333 300 1007 and we'll help find the perfect hotel for you
- Call
Useful Info Show/hide
- From 14:00 hours
- By 11:00 hours
- Up to 12 years old
- The price shown is based on the occupancy and dates you have searched for. Prices and availability are subject to change based on the arrival date, number of nights and occupancy searched for. All prices are inclusive of all local taxes.
- Pets are allowed
Customer Reviews
Our reviews are from genuine LateRooms.com customers. We verify that the customer has stayed before leaving a review.
75% would recommend it to a friend
Customer service
Food quality
Room quality
BEST WESTERN Sea Hotel
Friendly and clean....
Comfortable stay
Easy to find and plenty of free parking.
Our room was in the annex and was spacious and quiet. Plenty of choice at breakfast with efficient...
Read More Less


text:
by Keystone |
Item #
Model # KSTAD70A |
About this item
The Keystone KSTAD70A Energy Star 70-pint Dehumidifier removes up to 70 pints of humidity from the air per day.
We're sorry, this item is not available in your selected club.
Keystone Energy Star 70-Pint Electric Dehumidifier
It has electronic controls with LED display, a transparent water level indicator and a full bucket indicator. The auto-restart saves your settings and the rolling castors make the unit easy to move to another location. Plus, it has a full 2-year parts and labor warranty and a limited 5-year sealed system warranty as well.
- Energy Star 70-pint dehumidifier
- Up to 70 pints per day humidity removal
- 2.6 gallons tank volume
- Electronic Controls with LED Display
- Turbo dehumidify function
- Transparent water level indicator
- Full bucket indicator
- Auto-restart (saves your settings)
- Auto defrosting
- Easy clean filter
- Rolling casters for easy portability
For additional questions or concerns regarding this product, please contact the Manufacturer's Customer Service Department at 1.866.646.4332.
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
15.50"L x 12.75"W x 24.50"H
Component Country
Shipping Info
Standard - 2 to 6 business days
Premium - 2 to 4 business days
Express - 1 to 2 business days


text:
Production Underway On STAR WARS REBELS...
Production has begun on Star Wars Rebels, an all-new animated television series. Scheduled to premiere in fall 2014 as a one-hour special telecast on Disney Channel, it will be followed by a series on Disney XD channels around the world.
The action-filled series is set between the events of Episode III and IV - an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen. Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape. Details about the show are a closely guarded secret at this point.
Star Wars Rebels will be produced by Lucasfilm Animation, featuring many of the key talents that made Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Screenwriter/producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class, Sherlock Holmes, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) is an executive producer on Star Wars Rebels and will write the premiere episode. He is joined by Dave Filoni as executive producer, who served as supervising director of the Emmy nominated Star Wars: The Clone Wars since 2008. Executive producer Greg Weisman brings with him a wealth of animation experience with credits such as Young Justice, The Spectacular Spider-Man and Gargoyles.
Fans attending Star Wars Celebration Europe will be the first to get an exclusive look at the new series. Casting will be announced at a later date. More information about this developing project will be found on StarWars.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/starwarsrebels.
Source: StarWars.com
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with Collectibles Insurance, the official insurance company of the Figures.com network. Say "Figures.com" to get 5% off your first term premiums.
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, PlasmaInfusion.com, Toynk.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, and MonkeyDepot.com.


text:
BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
February 7, 2014
Remembering Ralph Kiner
What Kiner Can Teach Us
The sad news about Ralph Kiner's passing on Thursday, as with anything about Ralph Kiner, brought to mind one of my very favorite jokes. It happened during a Dodgers-Mets game on May 18, 2001; Eric Karros had just doubled off Al Leiter, and Kiner took to the microphone.
I remember two things about that joke: first, for whatever reason, it was funny enough at the time that I remember it today; and I'll tell you the second reason later.
The best jokes, you'll agree, are the ones that the teller doesn't seem to find all that funny. They're offhand and unrehearsed. Even if they're standup comedy, they don't feel like part of a show. Ralph Kiner—even more so relative to perhaps every other analyst in baseball—never, ever felt like part of a show.
Maybe his service time, as a pilot in the U.S. Navy during World War II, kept him humble; maybe he had a great set of parents; or maybe everyone born in New Mexico is like that. Whatever it was, it never occurred to him to make a broadcast about himself. Consider how this thought from Kiner reads relative to the typical ballplayer's "Back in my day…" refrain, which has grown no quieter over the years:
I think one of the most difficult things for anyone who's played baseball is to accept the fact that maybe the players today are playing just as well as ever.
If anyone had reason to make a broadcast about himself, it was Kiner. He led the National League in home runs in the first seven of his 10 major league seasons, and one could argue that the difference between Kiner and Mickey Mantle was that Kiner lost time due to the war (Mantle's draft was deferred), had his career cut short by his injury (Mantle recovered and salvaged five more good seasons), and played in Pittsburgh rather than New York. Kiner is an all-time great, of course, but under different circumstances we would remember his career even more fondly.
But most of us are too young to remember seeing Kiner play—which is good, in a way, because that probably isn't how he should be remembered. Think of your favorite team's everyday color commentator. Now imagine that commentator dropping that Eric Karros joke. Now let your eyes roll into the back of your head as you hear the hokey, stilted, "I prepared this three hours beforehand or stole it from a clubhouse attendant" delivery, and the forced over-laugh from the beleaguered play-by-play man, and the dead air that follows as he decides whether to acknowledge it further or move on as if nothing had happened.
The second reason I remember this joke after nearly 13 years is that after Kiner said it, there was half a beat of dead air—and then the rest of the booth burst into uncontrollable laughter.
I don't mean to make more of this than it was; really, it was one funny moment in one game in yet another Mets season that had more comedy than drama anyway, and besides that, it's my only concrete Kiner anecdote, so I'm milking it. But this is what we don't have in sports today, and I'm afraid it's never coming back. No matter his broadcast partners—Howie Rose and Fran Healy that night, I think—Kiner's greatest trait was that he seemed to genuinely admire the people he worked with.
It was a friendly conversation first and a television production second. Younger fans (and those with short memories) may not understand this distinction, in the way that someone who has only had Pizza Hut may rightly claim to understand pizza but does not fully appreciate it. Just across the East River the YES Network rotates a crew of former players that, on Michael Kay's nights off especially, appear to have met one another for the first time about 15 minutes before the game. Boston's Don Orsillo seems to just tolerate Jerry Remy, and they've been together over a decade; you can almost hear Orsillo composing himself after Remy's latest inanity, readying a smooth non sequitur to just get us the hell out of this discussion. Many other booths are populated with slapdash pairings that sacrifice chemistry for inoffensiveness. And, my goodness, I can only imagine what Steve Stone really thinks of Hawk Harrelson.
Contrast that with Kiner. Rose, who lives and breathes Mets and Islanders, revered him. Healy was such a classic (yet oddly endearing) ham, just the kind of guy who'd tell the Karros joke with the subtlety of Gallagher's mallet, and yet Ralph would come on and suddenly Fran's shtick was a distant memory, in its wake just two old ballplayers discussing how things are, how things used to be, and—oh, is there a television audience listening? They didn't seem to notice, or care.
In more recent years, Gary Cohen could hardly contain his enthusiasm for Ralph's less and less frequent cameos. He made sporadic appearances, usually just for an inning or two during an afternoon home game, through the 2013 season, his 53rd consecutive year in broadcasting. And every time he'd come on, Cohen would bookend seemingly every half inning with an amount of praise that must have seemed like overkill to the uninitiated.
For his part, Cohen regularly deals with both ends of the color man spectrum. Keith Hernandez, like Kiner, doesn't seem to know that anyone is actually listening. Like Kiner, he will sometimes start sentences without knowing how he's going to finish them, and also like Kiner, he wraps it in a package so genuine that even if you don't like him, you're at least refreshed by his uniqueness. Ron Darling, by contrast, speaks with the self-awareness of a North Korean on trial—combine that with his intelligence and polish, of course, and he's a producer's dream. Darling has been doing national work on TBS since 2007. This is not a coincidence.
Together, Gary, Keith, and Ron form what has to be the best broadcast crew in baseball because, as Kiner did, they truly enjoy each other's company. We know they see the value in that, too, because they gave the go-ahead to keep Kiner on television in his later years. Kiner was a living legend, but they didn't have to bring him back: this was a 91-year-old man who had battled Bell's palsy and stroke and was prone to malapropism even at his most lucid. That those three thought enough of him to keep him on the air says more about him than I ever could.
What I can say is that Kiner died yesterday, reportedly of natural causes, at the age of 91—too old for most of us to mourn, really, because he lived a great American life and made us all love baseball that much more. Odd, then, that the narrative surrounding Kiner's playing career will always be "what might have been." Let's instead focus on what ought to be. For one, players ought to continue playing the game as well as it's ever been played, but Kiner always knew that wouldn't be a problem. I'm not sure we can say the same about our broadcasters, who all seem to be on a collision course toward total removal of individuality and personality, sounding more and more like the canned commentary of baseball videogames that only mimics real rapport. There will be other players like Kiner, but we may be running out of broadcasters cut from that cloth.
In a statement released Thursday, Bud Selig called Kiner "in many respects, a player ahead of his time." He seemed to be a broadcaster very much of his time, or at least not of this one. One day, though, I hope to hear two announcers seamlessly weaving in a conversation, having a laugh or two, enjoying the game and one another, and reminiscing about Ralph Kiner; who—as a broadcaster, at least—really did do it better than most of those talking today.
Will Woods is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @IAmWillWoods
11 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
Will I agree 100%. Kiner was an unbelievable player, the Albert Pujols of his day -- and then some. He became a beloved broadcaster for the reasons you cite. And his most endearing and unusual quality was his humility. The broadcast we never about him and his glory days (contrast that to McCarver or Hernandez), though he was one of the most accomplished players to become an announcer. I remember him fondly and salute Kiner for his multiple forms of service to us.
Feb 07, 2014 05:06 AM
Listen to the pirates broadcast every now and then, especially when bob walk and Tim nevrett are on. In the bad years of pirates ball (aka 3 years ago) around July when the pirates were 20 games out it sounded like walk was always drunk and nevrett barely paying attention, but I have to believe very little of it is very rehearsed.
Feb 07, 2014 06:39 AM
One of my favorite Kinerism's occurred during one of George Foster's frequent slumps. "Coming up to bat is George Falter......I.I.I mean Foster"
Feb 07, 2014 06:57 AM
Kuiper and Krukow are the best baseball TV crew going right now (apology to Vin Scully, maybe the best ever). I do like the Mets crew also though.
Feb 07, 2014 07:15 AM
Will, I think another way to say what you said well in this article is that to listen to Kiner and his colleagues was like hanging around with them at the ballgame. Relaxed, natural, enjoying each other's company.
Feb 07, 2014 08:40 AM
I grew up a Mets fan and my crew was Kiner with Bob Murphy and Lindsay Nelson. I listened to them for a few years before I even realized he was a ballplayer. I think I found out when he was inducted into the HoF.
Feb 07, 2014 09:05 AM
How would you compare him to Gus Johnson? I'm a big Gus Johnson fan.
Feb 07, 2014 10:08 AM
Laughed out loud when I read that joke and heard it in Ralph's voice in my head. RIP - you will be missed by this life-long Mets fan.
Feb 07, 2014 14:34 PM
No doubt Ralph Kiner is one of the reasons I grew up to love baseball as much as I do. I remember the wry but hopeful honesty of Nelson, Murphy and Ralph when the Mets' ace was Jack Fisher and their "future" was Dennis Ribant; listening to the 24-inning 1-0 game against the Astros with a transistor radio sumuggled into my bed and tuned low-enough that my parents wouldn't hear; the wide smile he wore on Kiner's Corner after Seaver's "imperfect game." Great memories, made greater by Kiner's presence and humor. He lived a good live for himself, and played a little role in enriching the lives of millions of us fans. Well done, Ralph!
Feb 07, 2014 21:53 PM
Nice tribute. You capture Kiner well. Growing up a Mets fan I always tried to make the analogy that Kiner:Mets Tv as Rizzuto: Yankees TV, but now, after hearing these respectful tributes, I may have been a little off. My Dad grew up near Pittsburgh during Kiner's career, and actually called Kiner in 1992. A few weeks later Kiner returned his call and they talked baseball for a while on the phone. Can you imagine? Met fans are lucky to listen to Keith and Ron, because they know baseball. Good announcers know that on television, as opposed to radio, there's no need to do play-by-play per se because the fan is sitting right next to you watching the same game. What the good announcer does is help us appreciate what might happen next--will Matt Harvey climb the ladder on two strikes or will he try to get the hitter to chase a slider? At the risk of offending Dodger fans and other Scully worshipers, as smooth as Vin is he simply cannot match the insight or foresight of intelligent, articulate men how have played the game.
Feb 10, 2014 12:29 PM
Not a subscriber? Sign up today!


text:
Nathan Adelson Hospice locations will serve as drop-off points to collect school supplies for local elementary students. The hospice will be collecting supplies for students at Robert L. Taylor and Sunrise Acres elementary schools. The drive continues until Aug. 18. "Many schools unfortunately suffer from a lack of funding, and a large number of students can't afford many … [Read more...]
Nevada State Bank hosts webinar "INSIGHTS: How to Reduce the Risk of Litigation"
LAS VEGAS – Small businesses and entrepreneurs often do not have experience in the pro-active steps to help them avoid common sources of litigation. Potential litigation can arise from client interactions, business agreements among partners, business-to-business contracts with vendors and other organizations, and even lack of regulatory compliance. With this in mind, Nevada … [Read more...]


text:
SAN FRANCISCO -- To keep themselves out of another tough situation, the Giants turned to two of their toughest players.
Ryan Vogelsong delivered one of the best efforts of his career in the biggest game of his career, leading the Giants to a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals that evened the best-of-seven National League Championship Series and kept the Giants from having to overcome another deep series deficit. Marco Scutaro delivered the big hit, a bases-loaded single that knocked the Cardinals out three innings after Scutaro himself had nearly been knocked out of the game.
A hard and late slide at second base by Matt Holliday injured Scutaro's left hip in the first inning and he was removed before the sixth inning for X-rays. The test came back negative, but Scutaro will have an MRI and his status for Game 3 is in doubt.
"I really think he got away with an illegal slide there," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Marco was behind the bag and got smoked. It's a shame somebody got hurt because of this."
Vogelsong saw Scutaro walk gingerly back to his position after the collision and realized the onus was back on him.
"I felt like I really needed to make a pitch to the next guy to get him off the field," Vogelsong said. "You know he's not coming out of the game, whether he's really hurt or not. I just really was trying to make the next pitch to get the guy out so we could get (Scutaro) in the dugout."
Vogelsong induced a grounder that got the Giants out of the jam and Scutaro back to the team trainers. But that wasn't Vogelsong's biggest pitch of the night.
After a shaky start, he felt "something click mechanically" on a third-inning pitch.
"It was like, 'That's it right there -- that's how I want to feel,' " Vogelsong said. "That happens for me from time to time. I was able to sustain it and run with it."
The Giants hope Vogelsong can run with that feeling for a couple more weeks. And they hope the rest of the starting staff can keep stride.
Vogelsong became the first Giants starter in seven postseason games to complete six innings and then went one more. He gave up four hits and just one run while earning his first career postseason victory.
Vogelsong called it the best effort of a remarkable career that took him from Japan to the All-Star Game in a span of two years. The win kept the Giants from having to overcome another 0-2 deficit on the road, a feat that most players agreed would have been all but impossible to pull off a second time.
"Vogey really put us on his back tonight," right fielder Hunter Pence said. "It was big to get this one, really big."
Vogelsong got the Giants off the field three pitches after Scutaro was knocked down and Angel Pagan immediately kept the momentum going. Pagan hit a leadoff homer to right to give the Giants their first lead in a home game this postseason and make Pagan the second player all-time to hit two leadoff homers in one postseason.
Pagan admitted he was angry after the top of the first inning, not at Holliday, who himself admitted the slide was late, but at the fact that the Giants No. 2 hitter was ailing.
"You get angry to lose a player like Scutaro," Pagan said. "He's a huge piece of the puzzle."
Scutaro's teammates kept adding filling in new pieces as the Giants pulled away. Brandon Belt got the Giants going in the fourth with a one-out double that dropped into left field after nicking the very end of Belt's bat. Gregor Blanco chopped a high hopper over leaping third baseman David Freese to send Belt to third. Brandon Crawford's slow roller was thrown away by Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter as the Giants took a 2-1 lead.
"This is the playoffs," Belt said. "We don't care how it's done."
A walk to Pagan loaded the bases for Scutaro, who could be seen shaking his legs out for several innings after the collision with the 235-pound Holliday. For Scutaro, revenge was a dish best served with the bases loaded.
He lined a Carpenter sinker into left field, easily scoring Blanco and Crawford. Pagan raced home when Holliday overran the ball in left field.
"What he did was extremely inspirational," said Pence, the man who gives fiery speeches before every playoff game. "Scutaro pushing through there really pumped us up."
Scutaro's rebuttal gave the Giants a 5-1 lead, plenty on a day when Vogelsong was at his best. The other three starting pitchers in the postseason have given up 18 earned runs in 21 1/3 innings; Vogelsong had a 1.29 ERA in two postseason starts after he walked off the mound to a standing ovation and chants of "Vogey!"
On a night when one of the Giants' most important players went down on a borderline dirty play, Vogelsong helped the Giants get revenge in their own way.
"The best thing is to just go out and do what we did tonight," catcher Buster Posey said. "Win a ball game."


text:
Spi PropertyInspections - We Solve Any Issues Regarding Your Property.
An independent property inspection company with over 40 years experience in building. We understand the issues that may concern you and can guide you through the process.
+ Recent listings in this category: Real Estate
Harcourts Packham Property has offices at Brighton and Marion aren't just skilled real estate... more details
Our philosophy is driven by our strength in order to provide the highest quality service to our... more details
Tandem 54 are experts in property investment and offer you the best properties at the most... more details
Loth Estate Agents is a boutique real estate agency that primarily operates in Brisbanes inner... more details
Tamworth, Real Estate Solutions Tamworth specialises in Property Management, Sales and Rentals in... more details
Www.kerbsideappraisal.com.au provides a complete solution for home owners wanting to sell or... more details
Templeton Property, a boutique residential property management company, is located in Brisbane and... more details
Templeton Property, a boutique residential property management company, is located in Brisbane and... more details
An Agent Specialising in Commercial Real Estate in Queensland,Australia. Verne Gardiner has 35... more details
At Watchdog Property Management, we strive to take the hassle out of owning and leasing investment... more details
Cosmetic Surgery Experts in Melbourne, Australia.
from The Victorian Cosmetic Institute
$50 Organic Foods Organic Products Voucher
from Organic Farm Share
+ Popular Website Link Directory CategoriesBusiness Services Accommodation Business Health & Beauty Home Improvements Real Estate Automotive Web Designers Finance & Investment Weddings Other Sports & Recreation Health & Medical Food & Beverage Legal Building & Construction Photography Cleaning Services Computer Services Internet Marketing & Advertising Gifts Education & Training Entertainment Health & Medical - Dentists View More...
+ Recent Listings in the Website Link DirectoryPest Control Brisbane Gold Coast Hunter Canvas & Shade Oriental Car Removals Perth Express Car Removals Sydney King Auto Group Brisbane United Car Removals Sydney Cash 4 Cars Geelong Oz Migration Agent West Coast Car Removals Cash-for-Cars-Perth Newcastle Car Removals Cash-for-Car-Brisbane Car 4 Cash Melbourne Cars Wanted Melbourne Goulburn Car Removals


text: News Article Lifesize HD videoconferencing married with LG HD display Stuart Corner Published June 10, 2010 in iWire The true advantage of the marriage between Lifesize and Skype is the half-billion-user directory of Skype users, who can now call business destinations for business purposes. Kudos to Lifesize for delivering top value once again. See the Report


text:
Current Realities and Future Possibilities in Burma/Myanmar: Options for U.S. Policy, released in March 2010, offers a detailed strategy that positions the U.S. to respond effectively and flexibly to the shifts that a potential democratic transition in Myanmar could take. This report is complemented by a wide-ranging review of Asian policy toward Myanmar, incorporating perspectives from leading experts in nine Asian countries.
The U.S. policy report was developed in response to the new direction for relations with Myanmar that the White House announced in September 2009. This new direction moved the U.S. away from previous efforts to isolate Myanmar's ruling generals, balancing economic sanctions with "pragmatic engagement" and initiating efforts to expand channels of communication with the military leadership.
Developed by Asia Society's Task Force on U.S. Policy Toward Burma/Myanmar, the U.S. policy report argues that a comprehensive U.S. approach—taken in concert with regional and international partners—provides the best hope for bringing Myanmar into the world community. The report recommends framing U.S. policy toward Myanmar in response to changes taking place in the country, with careful consideration of how available policy instruments, including engagement and sanctions, can be used to encourage political and economic reform.
Together, the U.S. report and the Asian policy review present an agenda of policy prescriptions for regional governments and the international community. A common thread running through both the reports is concern about the lack of a cohesive international strategy to deal with Myanmar.
The Task Force on U.S. Policy Toward Burma/Myanmar is co-chaired by General Wesley Clark and former Administrator of USAID Henrietta Fore, and directed by Suzanne DiMaggio, Vice President of Global Policy Programs at Asia Society.


text:
- News
- Sports
- Entertainment
- Business
- Lifestyles
- Opinion
- About Us
- Classifieds
- Legal Notices
Connect with Us
Kenmore City Council to discuss restricting weight on Sammamish Bridge
Kenmore city staff recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance to modify the load limits on the West Sammamish River Bridge at its Jan. 27 meeting.
The suggested weight limits are 16 tons for three-axle vehicles, type 3; 25 tons for five-axle vehicles, type 3S2; and 27 tons for six-axle vehicles, type 3-3.
"The West Sammamish River Bridge is a local and regionally significant structure — it connects our community," said Kris Overleese, Engineering and Environmental Services Director at the City of Kenmore. "The bridge will have to be rehabilitated or replaced in the near future and we will begin the pursuit of funding this year."
Kenmore's 68th Ave. crossing of the Sammamish River is two bridges. The bridge carrying southbound traffic is known as the West Sammamish River Bridge. This bridge was constructed in 1938 and crosses the Sammamish River on 68th Ave. N.E., which is .2 miles south of SR 522. It carries southbound traffic only and is located within the city of Kenmore. Over 13,000 vehicles a day (week day traffic) use this Bridge.
The adjacent northbound, East Sammamish River Bridge was built in the 1970s and carries over 12,000 vehicles per day. City officials say the number of vehicles crossing the bridge every day are greater than the bridge was designed for and the bridge is showing signs of deterioration such as cracking, leaching and spalling.
"Over 13,000 vehicles use this bridge a day which is more than half of Kenmore's population," Overleese said. "The proposed weight restriction will prevent further over-stresses on the bridge which will help protect it while the city evaluates whether the bridge should be either rehabilitated or replaced in the near future."
In 2012, the city conducted a routine inspection of the West Sammamish River Bridge and identified additional cracking in the bridge concrete beams and potential soil erosion around two of its piers in the river. As a result, the city embarked upon a more regular monitoring plan, installing survey points on the bridge and surveying the bridge to determine if it has a settlement problem.
They hired a new bridge engineering consultant in 2013. Jacobs Engineering evaluated soil loss around the piers in the river, conducting geotechnical analysis and load rating analysis. The company recommended that the bridge be restricted for the axles/weights outlined in the fact sheet.
They do not recommended any emergency scour repair and believe soil loss around the piers is a result of dredging in the 1960s, said Overleese.
"Jacobs highlighted that the bridge is aged, is carrying more and heavier vehicles than designed for, has a heavier dead load on it from asphalt overlay and pedestrian protection barrier installed in the 1990s," Overleese said. "In summary, it's an old structure nearing the end of its design life and is experiencing more stress than it was designed for."
Although deterioration is present, a structurally deficient bridge is safe. The bridge piers are well supported on firm soil at the bottom of the piers/pilings for the normal vertical loading. However, there is loose soil material surrounding the pier's pilings in the river which is not adequate against major earthquake events.
"Safety is our number one priority and if a bridge is found to be unsafe, it's closed. If a bridge can only carry certain loads, it's restricted," wrote city in a press release.
Even though seismic upgrades were performed on the bridge in the 1990s, the current design earthquake is significantly higher than that of the 1990's and a major earthquake could damage the bridge.
"If an earthquake occurs, inspecting this bridge will be a top priority," Overleese said.
Kenmore does not have another public crossing of the Sammamish River within the city. Kenmore staff is coordinating with the city of Bothell to determine the best southbound Sammamish River crossing. The recommended detour will be made available in the near future.
The city is currently performing a rehabilitation versus replacement study to determine the most feasible alternative for the bridge and this study will be completed this spring. Officials will begin applying for either rehabilitation or replacement funding this year.
"It is reasonable to expect construction to begin in the next 3-5 years and the weight restriction will be in place until then," Overleese said. "Increased monitoring frequency of the bridge will continue as well. We would like to stress that this structure is of regional significance and Kenmore alone cannot fund its replacement which is expected to be in excess of $10 Million."


text:
Cockermouth is a market town on the edge of the Lake District 8 miles east of Workington on the A66 and a very pretty place to visit.
Wordsworth House, the birthplace of the poet William Wordsworth is a must to look round
Open April-Oct, Mon-Fri, and Sat in June-Aug, 10:30-4:30 but I do advise you to go early because it is only a small house and gets very crowded in the height of summer especially after one o'clock. There is a lovely little tea room here, and I can recommend the scones but be prepared to pay a bit over the odds.
The streets are full of quaint little shops and coffee shops and of course a couple of old worldly style pubs. In the summer months it is nice to sit outside with a beer and just watch the world go by.
The Castle is at the eastern end of the town unfortunately you can only visit it to look around if you pre book in July when it is open to the public for the festival. The River Derwent runs along side the castle and is a nice walk to take in the scenery.
The Lakeland Sheep and Wool centre can be found at the roundabout coming into the town on the A66 it has 19 different breeds of sheep an interesting stop off for an hour or so. It has an indoor arena and you can watch sheep dogs displaying their skills and sheep shearing. I enjoyed watching the sheep shearers I must admit they are very quick.
Jennings Brewery is on the edge of the castle and you can take a tour around here and see how traditional ale is made. You will be able to sample a drop of the nectar but only a teeny weenie drop is offered for free.
All in all this is a nice town and definitely worth a visit if you are in the Lake District visit in the Spring and you will see hundreds of daffodils in bloom to remember that famous Wordsworth poet.
When we arrived in this lovely town I was struck by it's beauty. I am glad we chose this gorgeous place for our honeymoon. Of course everytime we told someone where we were going we were greeted by a barage of giggles or a "what an apt name for a honeymoon". Set at the north of the lake district it is surrounded by stunning scenery. Huge hills and deep valleys. Winding roads lead through these hills. The Lakes (Bassenthwaite being the nearest) are just as stunning. There is a calmness about the lakes. Now I know that foot and mouth has effected the area but you wouldn't know it from the number of sheep and cows that were milling around the place. OK there were a few closed paths but the majority of the place was open and we found many lovely walks. In Cockermouth itself there are many places to stay and a lot of places to drink. Obviously the locals like their drink as there are loads of pubs. The best place to go for breakfast has to be Pops Chatanooga (something-or-other). He does a mean cooked breakfast and just up the road there is his pizza place which I would also reccommend. All in all (if you ignore the fact it rained but what did we expect going to a place known for its water) we had a wonderful time. I would give Cockermouth a big fat 10 out of 10 for its town. There is everything you could want. I will certainly be back.
Cockermouth is a town with what some consider having a funny name. I don't know why this is, personally I wouldn't laugh at hearing it for the first time, but lets face it, I bet you're sitting there, gathering your friends and telling them how you just discovered this really funny place name. Cockermouth is situated on the very edge of the Lake District National Park, and so has some very nice scenery to offer. It's relatively small, around three miles, so there isn't really a lot on offer for the locals, but don?t worry, there is plenty for tourists to see and do. I should probably mention that is expanding, recently opening up an Aldi and the Lakes Home Centre. For the tourists you have the following attractions: Sheep and Wool Centre ? Here you can find out about the history of Cumbria, they also have a range of different breeds of sheep and perform regular shows. It's a pretty good show, and I recommend seeing it if you are ever in the area (which you really should visit). Wordsworth House ? This is the birthplace of the famous poet William Wordsworth. The house that he and his sister grew up in is still here today, and it is usually open for the public to have a look around (yet another reason for you to come and visit). The Toy and Model Museum ? Ok, I don't know a great deal about this place, as I was very young the last time I visited, however I can tell you that I had a great time. The museum has a great range of, well, toys and models, and is something that the kids will really enjoy. Cockermouth Castle ? This is not usually open to the public, however if you are lucky enough to be in Cockermouth at the right time, you will be able to have a guided tour of it, and it is well worth it, however as I mentioned, it isn't often open to the public. Oh, and recently Prince Charles visited this place, so you may as well visit too. Jennings Brewery ? Jennings is probably
Cockermouth's best export, I?d say they are the brewers of Cumbria's finest ale. You can have a guided tour of the brewery, and as if that isn't tempting enough, you get to have free samples, you get that, FREE samples, so come on, yet another great reason to visit Cockermouth. There are a load of decent accommodation in Cockermouth, so if you do decide (which you shouldn't need to, you should be planning your trip right now) there are some decent places to stay the night, weekend, or week if you want. I would recommend the Wordsworth Hotel, personally I think that this is the best hotel in town, and if you are going to visit, I would stay here. There are also three (I think) caravan parks in Cockermouth. We have the Windsor Caravan Park, I don?t know a lot about this one, but it is just across the road from Cockermouth School (one of the best public schools in the region), but from what I have seen does look quite good. The other two are on my very street! The first is a caravan park called Violet Bank, it's not exactly on my road, but it's drive way is and I also don't know too much about this one either. The third doesn't have a name (I don't think), my next door neighbours run one using their garden, which is fairly big, and makes a nice caravan park, however since it changed owners it hasn't been as nice. You can't imagine the jokes I receive living next to a caravan park, I swear, some people. Now, for the younger of you, there isn't a great nightlife. There are a few pubs and restaurants, but there isn't any real clubs, we do have Sam's bar, which has a one o'clock licence, and is the place to go when the rest of the bars are closing. A typical Friday night is starting off at the Bull, then to Flecters, then to Mickey's, then to Sam's. Not to worry though, Workington is only 15 miles away, and is home to Cumbria's best club, Fusion. As well as Fusion, there are quite a
few other clubs in Workington, so the night life isn't far if you are visiting. For the outdoor type there is so much on offer, I can't go through them all because there is just so much. Ok, there isn't too much in Cockermouth, but yet again Keswick is only a few miles away, and you can do pretty much anything there. You can go walking, sailing, canoeing, climbing, paragliding, abseiling, my personal favourite ? paint balling, and so much more. And the drive from Cockermouth to Keswick is loaded with beautiful scenery, you got to drive past a lake, mountains, forests, it is really something quite special (not that it is a great distance, you could probably walk there in an hour). As you probably know, Cumbria is one of the worst areas in the country that foot and mouth has had a massive impact on, and Cockermouth is no different. Now, there are a lot of people that are under the impression that the footpaths are still closed, well no, a lot people are wrong, in fact, just about all of the paths are open again. So if you enjoy history, outdoors, and fun, Cockermouth is open for business, and it would be really great if people would start flooding back to visit. Oh yeah, I should probably mention that Cockermouth is one of few gem towns in the country. It is a really great place to visit, and I would recommend it to anyone who feels like visiting somewhere beautiful this summer, or whenever, this is the place to visit.
Before you say anything this the real name for a town in CUM bria. Yes, funny isn't it but you try living here and then see what you think. No, seriously though Cockermouth is a small town situated in the north west of England just outside of the Lake District National Park. This means that you have the beautiful scenery of the mountains and lakes just outside your front door, and yet you don't have as many of the tourists of most of the towns inside the National Park. As things stand though Cockermouth is attracting more and more tourists each year as it is set in such a beautiful place. Cockermouth is also the birth place of a famous poet William Wordsworth who's house is still standing and is another of the tourist attractions of the town along with its history. During the Roman days small villages around cockermouth were used by the Romans and Time Team have been to excavate one of these sites to discover that it was a much more important town to the Romans than was first thought. Other attractions which Cockermouth has to offer are many many pubs with one club, restaurants,a street market every Monday, two parks and numerous B&B's and hotels to accommodate it's guests but most of all it's friendly people and the fact that it is so close to the mountains and lakes which offer many walks for people of all ages.
The Lake District is an area of natural beauty, situated in Northern England. I myself am from this area, and am writing this to inform people of what this area has to offer. I am from a small market town called Cockermouth, situated just outside the lake district but still very popular with the tourists. Cockermouth has many tourist attractions on offer, such as Wordsworth House, where a famous poet was born, The Sheep and Wool Centre which informs people about the history of Cumbria and well, Sheep! For the younger people, there is many pubs, about 20 in all, all of differing standards, and thre is one pub/club called Sames, which is the only place in Cockermouth to have a 1 o'clock license. My top five pubs in Cockermouth would be: 1. Mickey Fynns (South Street) 2. The Fletcher Christian Tavern (Lowther Went, Main Street) 3. The Brown Cow (Main Street) 4. Sams (Main Street) 5. The Bush (Main Street) These are all good pubs with good atmospheres and friendly local people. Other pubs in town are just about not worth visiting. If people want to come for a weekend in the Lake District or Cockermouth, then there is plenty of accommodation for them all to stay in, most notably The Allerdale Court Hotel (Market Place) or The Wordsworth Hotel (Main Street). Avoid The Globe and Hundith Hill hotel at all Costs. For the adventurous type there is many activities on offer in the local area as we are surrounded by lakes and by mountains. This makes activities like canoeing, sailing, climbing, abseiling, walking and paragliding all possible. I hope this information is of use to anybody wishing to come to this area. I am sure those who do decide to come will find it most rewarding and will have an enjoyable stay.


text:
Don't miss out on a lower price on this hotel
Get an overview of this hotelLuxury Portland hotel in Downtown Portland, walk to Pioneer Courthouse Square
Popular property highlights
Located in Downtown Portland, this luxury hotel is steps from Pioneer Place and Pioneer Courthouse Square. Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Providence Park are also within 15 minutes.
Hotel Features
2 restaurants, a nightclub, and 2 bars/lounges are available at this smoke-free hotel. Additionally, a 24-hour fitness center, a coffee shop/café, and a rooftop terrace are onsite.
Room Amenities
All 331 rooms offer thoughtful touches like bathrobes and slippers, as well as comforts such as pillowtop beds and premium bedding. IPod docks and 24-hour room service are standard, as are flat-screen TVs with cable channels.
Guest Highlights
- Good location
- Proximity to airport
- Room service
- Helpful staff
- Clean guestrooms
- Parking wasn't ideal
The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Dining is available at one of the hotel's 2 restaurants and guests can grab coffee at the coffee shop/café. Guests can unwind with a drink at one of hotel's 2 bars/lounges. Business-related amenities at this 5-star property consist of a business center and a meeting room.
Wireless Internet access is available for a surcharge. Event facilities measuring 13,478 square feet (1 square meters) include conference space. This luxury hotel also offers a nightclub, a 24-hour fitness center, and a rooftop terrace. Parking is available onsite for a surcharge.
The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland is a smoke-free property.
- 24-hour front desk
- Number of bars/lounges - 2
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Business center
- Concierge services
- Coffee shop or café
- Conference space
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- Tours/ticket assistance
- WiFi (surcharge)
- ATM/banking
- Laundry facilities
- Luggage storage
- Library
- One meeting room
- Multilingual staff
- Nightclub
- Number of floors - 15
- Total number of rooms - 331
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Rooftop terrace
- Porter/bellhop
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Conference space size (meters) - 1
- Number of meeting rooms - 18
- Year Built 2008
- Area shuttle (surcharge)
- Number of restaurants - 2
- Conference space size (feet) - 13,478
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Wedding services
Available in all rooms: Wireless internet access ( USD 10.95 per 24-hour period )
Available in some public areas: Wireless internet access ( USD 12.99 per night )
Valet parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Bathrobes
- Free bottled water
- Refrigerator (on request)
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Shower/tub combination
- Rainfall showerhead
- Pillowtop mattress
- DVD player
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Free newspaper
- Designer toiletries
- Desk
- Hair dryer
- In-room safe
- Iron/ironing board
- iPod docking station
- WiFi (surcharge)
- Cable TV service
- Flat-panel TV
- Minibar
- Pay movies
- Premium bedding
- Premium TV channels
- Slippers
- Turndown service
- Room service (24 hours)
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Cribs/infant beds (surcharge)
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
Where to Eat
Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning.
Urban Farmer - This restaurant specializes in American cuisine and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Happy hour is offered. Open daily.
Departure - This restaurant specializes in Asian cuisine and serves dinner only. Guests can order drinks at the bar and enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting). Open select days.
24-hour room service is available.
Nearby Things to Do
Recreational amenities at the hotel include a 24-hour fitness center.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Downhill skiing nearby
- Cross-country skiing nearby
- Snowboarding nearby
- Snowmobiling nearby
- Snowshoeing nearby
- Windsurfing nearby
- Kayaking nearby
- Sailing nearby
- Water skiing nearby
- Rafting nearby
- Surfing/boogie boarding nearby
- Scooter/moped rentals nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Mountain biking nearby
- Hot springs nearby
- Ecotours nearby
- Ski lessons available nearby
- Ski equipment rental shops nearby
- Segway rental/tour nearby
- Boat tours nearby
- Rock climbing nearby
- Ziplining nearby
Spa Services
- Massages
- Facial treatments
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Minimum check-in age is 21
Check-in time starts at 4 PM
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 25.00 per night.
- Cribs (infant beds) are available for USD 15.00 per night.
- Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 30 per accommodation, per night, plus a deposit of USD 30 per night
- Dogs only
- Up to 80 lb
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Optional extras
- Breakfast fee: between USD 15 and USD 25 per person (approximately)
- Fee for in-room wireless Internet: USD 10.95 per 24-hour period (rates may vary)
- Fee for wireless Internet in public areas: USD 12.99 per night (rates may vary)
- Valet parking fee: USD 47.00 per night (in/out privileges)
- Pet deposit: USD 30 per night
- Pet fee: USD 30 per accommodation, per night
- Crib (infant bed) fee: USD 15.00 per night
- Rollaway bed fee: USD 25.00 per night
Hotel Name
- Nines
- Nines Hotel
- Nines Hotel Portland
- Nines Portland
- The Nines Hotel Portland
- The Nines, Portland Hotel Portland
- Nines Luxury Collection Hotel Portland
- Nines Luxury Collection Hotel
- Nines Luxury Collection Portland
- Nines Luxury Collection
We should mention
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Awards & Affiliations
- The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland is listed in the 2016 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List of the world's best places to stay and the 2016 Travel + Leisure 500.


text:
MONTEREY >> Despite impassioned pleas against it, the Monterey City Council on Tuesday night passed an ordinance making it illegal to sit or lie on the sidewalk in a commercial area.
The vote was 4-1, with Councilman Alan Haffa voting against the measure. Haffa was one of those vehemently opposed to the law.
Included in the motion to pass the ordinance was a move to install more benches on Alvarado Street and for city staff to report back in a year to address whether the ordinance is working.
Impetus for the sit-lie measure was a host of complaints from residents, business owners and visitors about young people from out of the area, known as travelers, who frequent downtown Monterey and block sidewalks.
Council members Frank Sollecito and Nancy Selfridge both noted that they voted against a similar proposal in the past, but decided it was necessary now because of the many complaints the city has received.
Monterey Police Chief Philip Penko said the most significant complaints have been about people sitting and lying on sidewalks. He said the focus of the ordinance is those who threaten and intimidate people and violate the law and not on the homeless.
He said officers would first warn a person to get up off the sidewalk and move on. If the person does not obey the order, they will be cited. If they do not sign the citation, they could be arrested.
The chief said the ordinance would not apply to the city's 35 parks, five beaches and some 62 percent of sidewalks. It also would not apply to strollers, wheelchairs or medical emergencies.
Penko said officers carry a card that lists services for homeless people. But it was pointed out there are only six beds available in the city for the homeless.
Several business owners urged the council to pass the ordinance, saying it was needed to make the city more appealing and to convince people who have been avoiding downtown because of the transients to return.
Most of those who commented opposed the ordinance. Attorney Michelle Welch, representing the American Civil Liberties Union, said the ordinance criminalizes the innocent and violates First Amendment rights.
"You're being asked to make sitting and lying unlawful and that should not be the case," she said. Welch said homeless people and travelers would not have equal protection under the law if the ordinance passed.
She pointed out that last week a federal appeals court declared illegal a Los Angeles law forbidding people from living in their cars.
Michael Fredrickson said the ordinance clearly targets a class of people. "It seeks to create crimes where there is no victim. Anyone who votes for this ordinance, I think, should be ashamed of themselves."
Matthew Sundt, owner of Old Capital Books, said the ordinance is really trying to deal with downtown blight. "I own the building and I look out the window and I see it every day. ? You must do everything possible to reduce the blight."
Some said there was no need for the ordinance because the city already has laws dealing with illegal behavior.
Others said studies of sit-lie ordinances in San Francisco Bay Area cities found they did not work and that businesses were actually hurt by them.
Bill Leone said that offering housing to the homeless was the best way to deal with the problem.
But it was Haffa who made the most passionate plea against the ordinance before casting his lone dissenting vote.
"This will affect homeless people who do want jobs, who do want to improve their lives," he said.
The councilman said even he sits on the curb while eating at the Monterey farmers market Tuesdays on Alvarado Street as do to many others.
"Those who support the poor," Haffa said, "will take money from them but will not support their rights. ? The homeless people are not the cause of the recession."
Haffa said if downtown merchants want to protest about the problem they should protest at the banks which caused the recession.
He said to "Be wary of more laws when we can't enforce the laws we have."
Mayor Chuck Della Sala complimented Haffa on his stand but said he felt the ordinance was needed and that it would survive legal challenges.


text:
- Receiving unemployment benefits
Eligibility for unemployment benefits varies from state to state, but basically, you must be unemployed or working less than full time, meet certain income standards, have involuntarily left your job, and be ready, willing, and able to work. To apply for benefits, contact your state's local employment office in person, by phone, or by mail. Your weekly unemployment benefit will be based on how long you were employed and your prior wages.


text:
Fans and readers are encouraged to use the #nsfootball hashtag throughout this season when tweeting about high school football.
In addition, The News-Sentinel each week during the high school football season will run the best tweets using the #nsfootball hashtag in Monday's issue of The News-Sentinel.@follwturp: Congratulations to the @SniderFB Panthers on their @IHSAA1 #Semi-State Championship! #nsfootball #hsfootball #ihsaa
@Judgephil1: Apparently, Snider is legit! Go Panthers. #nsfootball
@bradobc: 35-14 Luers! Gaston TD. That my friends sends the Knights to state! #nsfootball
@fortwayneranter: Can't wait for whichever Indy team to kill Snider if the score holds #nsfootball
@TheMarcusFarr: Dang Snider is killing it tonight. #nsfootball
@bradobc: Amazing atmosphere at Andrean. Fireworks display before the game. Go Luers! #nsfootball
@Tram1984: #nsfootball always a special time to play in The Region. Luers vs Andrean in a parochial semistate showdown.
@BryanSharp2: Good luck to Snider and Bishop Luers - Twinkies all around to the winners! #nsfootball #RIPHostess


text:
Holland looking forward to All-Star experience
KANSAS CITY -- Closer Greg Holland, along with left fielder Alex Gordon and catcher Salvador Perez, was off to represent the Royals in Tuesday night's All-Star Game at Target Field.
Aside from possibly pitching for the second straight year, what is Holland looking forward to?
"It's hard to hide the fact that [Derek] Jeter's playing in his last All-Star Game," Holland said. "I was fortunate enough to be part of Mariano Rivera's last one last year, so those are moments that I think, at the end of your career, you can really hang onto and take some pride in."
Gordon has been ruled out of playing because of a right wrist sprain, but he will be there. Perez has replaced the Orioles' injured Matt Wieters as the AL's starting catcher.
Holland was a late replacement on the AL squad last year, making for a rather hectic time. This time it'll be a bit different.
"I'll just try to slow it down, because it's kind of a quick two days and you've got family in town, and flights and all this," he said. "So just allow your family to enjoy it, allow yourself to enjoy it -- enjoy your time with your family and enjoy your time with some of the greatest players in the world."
Does Holland have any buddies on other teams he's looking forward to seeing?
"No, I hate all players on other teams," he said, laughing.
Spoken like a true closer.
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Is your resume in need of a little disruption?
Startups are all about
making things work better.
Our resume writing service is all about doing that for your CV.
StartUpHire is the place to find jobs at Glendale startups. Review the list below of Glendale startup jobs. These Glendale, CA jobs at start-ups represent some of the most rewarding careers available. You can refine your job search for Glendale jobs by adding a job title, company name, or keyword to the search box above … or click the "Advanced Search" link for more options. Don't see the employment opportunity you're looking for? Check back soon for more startup jobs in Glendale, or sign up for an email alert (link in upper left) to receive periodic updates on new start up jobs in Glendale, CA.
We found more than one result that might meet your needs.


text:
YTM Mission StatementYTM is a national non-profit Catholic organization that
trains youth and young adult lay missionaries through parish and
campus-based YTM missionaries strengthening their Catholic identity, their baptismal call
to evangelize, role in works of Christian charity and their
commitment to Christ and His Church. YTM Parish MissionariesYTM
supports every parish chapter with four key elements:1. YTM Mission
Coordinator supports the pastor and youth minister by coordinating
the monthly formation/home visit /humanitarian mission. 2. YTM Program
Coordinator presents the dynamic formation program each month and
oversees the missions.3. A Comprehensive Training program helps youth
and young adults learn about their Catholic faith by putting
it into action through unique parish missions. Addresses real-life
issues through Catholic teaching and Scripture - learning practical ways
to share their faith with others helping others find
new meaning for their lives with Christ.4. Local, National and
International Training/Mission Opportunities provide parish youth with fun and exciting
places to travel, meet like-minded committed Catholics, develop leadership skills
and bring others closer to Christ through Christian works of
charity and evangelization.YTM International and National MissionsYTM sister organizations operate
in: Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Chile,
Brazil, Venezuela and the Philippines with over 20,000 lay missionaries.
Since April 1995, YTM has organized over 230 missions in
the United States and eight internationally with over 2000 YTM
missionaries. YTM has knocked on over 100,000 doors. Mission
sites include: New Providence, Bahamas; Manitoba, Canada; London, England; Boston,
MA; Delta, CO; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Staten
Island, Queens and Manhattan, NY; Cranston, RI; Bethesda, MD; Los
Angeles, CA, Indianapolis; Miami, FL and Atlanta, GA.For more
information please e-mail us by clicking herePHONE: (301)-365-3205FAX: (301)-365-4241


text:
|Redemption Period
|Annual Yield
|Tax Lien
|2 years
|18% pa
Search the most up to date list of tax lien certificates and tax deed investments in the state of Florida. Click an area on the map above and see all the latest Florida tax liens. Get well-informed on your investment by receiving detailed information which includes address, tax year delinquent, tax amount owed, as well as a report on the community and schools in the area. Start searching now!


text:
ANN ARBOR, Arbor. Borders announced that it is teaming up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to promote breast cancer awareness. Borders has pledged to donate to Komen for the Cure a minimum of $100,000 based on sales of select products during the month of October.
"Partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a natural fit for Borders," said Mike Edwards, CEO of Borders, Inc. "Our Rewards program allows us to communicate with millions of customers on a weekly basis. Considering that many of our customers are women, this is a powerful tool to not only draw awareness to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but to also give our customers the opportunity to join us in supporting research grants and community outreach programs."


text:
DPAA: SapientNitro on Interactive and Personalized Digital Signage
December 5, 2012
FK Funderburke, director of digital merchandising and mobile strategy, SapientNitro, presented two examples at the DPAA 2012 Digital Media Summit in which new technologies for interactive and personalized digital signage have been highly effective for reaching target audiences.
Restricted Content
Access to this content item is restricted to:
- ANA Corporate Marketer Members
Please login below or create an account.
You may already be a member. Find out if your company is already an ANA member.


text:
Uncle Sam's Army Navy Outfitters has specialized in military surplus for over 35 years. You probably know them for their selection of military headwear, footwear, outerwear, and survival gear, but what many overlook is their passion for fashion. The military look has been a big part of fashion, and can be seen everywhere from department stores in the mall to high fashion runways. Designers such as Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, and P Diddy have visited them in their Greenwich Village location in NYC for inspiration, and celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Bono, 50 Cent, and Kelly Osbourne from E's Fashion Police have stopped in to shop. So keep an eye out next time you are watching TV, or even walking around the city, because Military Fashion is EVERYWHERE!
- Why They're Unique: Their warehouse, designed by the famous Frank Lloyd Wright, is 400,000 sq ft. of pure history, filled to the rafters with military products dating back to the 1800's. Not just their wholesale headquarters, it also houses Uncle Sam's Army Navy Outlet, America's largest army surplus store, with over 50,000 sq ft of authentic military designs!
- They Can Answer Questions Relating to: Stop in their store and they can help put together a full high fashion outfit. From head to toe we can dress you in the latest military trends. Boots, pants, shirts, bags, accessories… they have it all and more. You will leave with a new designer look for a reasonable price. Come on down and ask Frank for assistance.
Have a question? Ask the Expert!
Visit them: 290 Larkin St. Buffalo, NY 14210 (Map)
Call them: 716-852-ARMY (2769)
Email them: email@example.com
Visit their website: www.armynavydeals.com


text:
Beautify any aquarium with "high definition" images of stylish aquarium landscapes. Enjoy the look of a designer aquarium with easy-to-install SeaView Brilliant Backgrounds. These full-color aquarium backgrounds feature vibrant, high-quality images that add depth and visual impact. Use these beautiful and functional backgrounds to decorate your aquarium or to conceal unsightly cords or aquarium equipment. Reversible aquarium backgrounds are available in Aqua Garden/Bright Stone and Seascape/Natural Mystic. Trim precut aquarium backgrounds to custom fit your aquarium.
For best results, mount Brilliant Backgrounds with SeaView Gel.
Tip: Select a background that matches the height of your aquarium and simply trim the length.
Please click on "More Information" for background mounting directions with SeaView Gel.


text:
Moderators: Timko, Fritz, Solty, Booter, Blake_T, Frank Delicious
JR wrote:Have you tried to brace harder with the right leg in the plant step? To lengthen the pause and delay the foot pivot. The left leg kick seems to vary in height and direction. Some of them look like a good way to counter the arm swing AKA the Feldy kick.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


text:
Mail: Southern statutes symbolize suppession
Mail: Thanks for helping Aiden
More opinion
Robertson and Delsing re-elected chair, vice chair of NWB
Goat Expo set first October weekend
More Ag News
The North Platte police have received complaints of at least two women from Estonia soliciting door to door for Global Education Concepts and/or Southwestern Advantage from Nashville, Tenn., trying to sell kids' books.
Brown said the NPPD cannot confirm that suspicion, and has no information at this time to lead them to believe that it is true.
Established company
The Southwestern company has sold educational books door-to-door for more than a century. In 1868, the company began employing young men for the job, and the operation has grown and adjusted over the decades. Many of the salespeople are European college students. Students from more than 300 colleges and universities participate, according to the company.
Over the years, well-known figures like Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions have gone through the program, according to a television news report from Broken Arrow, Okla., where the Facebook warning was first posted.
Oklahoma is a hub for human trafficking, so when a stranger asks about kids, it immediately sends up red flags, the television news report said.
"It's a shame that Internet rumors or something of this nature puts a damper on that, because these college students are someone who work hard," said Trey Campbell, a spokesman with Southwestern Advantage.
Campbell said asking about children is an important part of the sales strategy.
"They try to save time and skip over people who don't have children, won't be prospects for the product," he told Channel 6.
Currently, sales reps are selling a series of educational reference books to help families with school work. Southwestern Advantage is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau and maintains an A+ rating, the company told the Bulletin via a post to the Bulletin's facebook.
Southwestern's ad reps can be verified at the company's website, HERE.
Permits required
Brown said if residents dont feel comfortable about a door-to-door sales person, they should remember that they dont have to do business with them.
Police encourage residents to call law enforcement immediately if a sales person becomes too aggressive, refuses to leave, threatens them or pushes their way into a home.
North Platte municipal code requires itinerant sales people to pay a fee each day during the time they intend to solicit business or sell products in the city. Residents have the right to ask to see their North Platte Itinerant Sales Permit to make sure that they are legitimate.
Brown said in hot weather, the police often see an increase in itinerant sales permits throughout the city for door-to-door sales. Even though there are a lot of honest, hard-working door-to-door salespeople, some cross the line.
Brown said the police department asks residents to work together to report problems that may arise and to make North Platte a safer place to live and work.
Flatrock Publishing, Inc.
1300 E 4th St., Suite F
North Platte, NE 69101


text:
Posted 7 years ago
(3 items)
I came across this toy a few days ago and I am looking for any information as to the manufacturer, date produced, and possible value. I have noticed some things different with this one compared to others including a rotating arm, cheeks that were painted pink, and I believe it is a hollow casting. Any information is helpful.


text:
Bismuth Vanadate Yellow (PY184) 5ml Tube, DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolor
This semi-transparent Yellow Green appears opaque in mass, yet lifts cleanly. It is low staining, making it excellent in portrait mixtures for dark flesh tones. Use concentrated to diluted mixtures in florals and field flowers. This lemon yellow hue works well with purples and all the greens.


text: Anti-abortion group calls for surprise inspections at clinics; pro-choice groups assail Morrisey's abortion review By Eric Eyre August 18, 2013 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Christian evangelical group that sparked Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's review of abortion regulations in West Virginia says abortion clinics should be licensed and should undergo surprise inspections, according to a letter sent to Morrisey's office last week.The Family Policy Council of West Virginia also wants the state to establish specific staffing and building structural requirements for abortion clinics -- measures that abortion rights activists say are designed to put the facilities out of business."What is at stake is nothing less than the safety and health of our state's sisters and daughters," said Jeremiah Dys, the council's president, in a 10-page letter sent to Morrisey's office last week.Dys was responding to Morrisey's request for public comments on abortion regulations. Morrisey, who opposes abortion, started his review after Dys' group filed a lawsuit against a Charleston doctor who allegedly botched an abortion last year.On Tuesday, women's health advocates plan to rally at the state Capitol in Charleston to oppose Morrisey's abortion review. They say he's targeting abortion clinics because a "special interest group has a religious and political agenda to make safe, legal abortion care unavailable to West Virginia women.""This attorney general has teamed up with political minorities to advance an attack on women's health," said Margaret Chapman Pomponio, executive director of WV FREE, an abortion rights group. "We all know their goal is to ultimately make all abortion care illegal."In his letter to Morrisey, Dys said he's recommending specific steps to regulate abortion without "limiting in any way a woman's reproductive choice."Dys said abortion clinics should not be allowed to employ doctors who have been sued eight or more times for medical malpractice. The physicians also should have admitting privileges at a hospital within 15 miles of the clinic where they work.Abortion clinics should be licensed like ambulatory surgical facilities -- also known as outpatient or same-day surgery centers, Dys said."The abortion procedure is a surgical procedure that employs the use of extremely sharp medical instruments into the reproductive organs of a female within very close proximity to major arteries and essential bodily organs," Dys wrote to Morrisey. "In short, the abortion procedure is a surgery. It ought to be treated like a surgical facility."Dys said the clinics should be required to "open their doors" to unannounced health and safety inspections at least four times a year. "Since the abortion industry came to West Virginia in 1976, not a single health and safety inspector has been sent by the state to ensure that, for instance, medical instruments have been properly sanitized, medical equipment is working properly, human remains are being properly reported and disposed, and Medicaid reimbursement is free of over-billing," Dys wrote.Dys also recommends that abortion clinics meet building structural requirements. Among them:| Exits, doors and hallways wide enough to accommodate medical gurneys.| Storage rooms for clean and soiled linens. | Adequate lighting and ventilation.| Adequate areas for storing medical records, equipment and supplies. A law recently passed in Texas, that places similar requirements on abortion clinic facilities and requires doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals, sparked a 12-hour filibuster and an impassioned national debate.Dys said the state also should establish minimum standards for abortion clinic personnel. He said the facilities should have medical directors, and surgical assistants and volunteers with specialized training."These reasonable regulations simply work to ensure that, if surgical abortions are to remain legal, there is a modicum of accountability placed upon this invasive, outpatient surgical procedure," Dys said.Abortion rights advocates say such measures -- including medical staffing mandates, and specific dimension requirements for rooms and hallways -- put unnecessary burdens on abortion clinics. Many clinics can't afford to remodel facilities or hire extra personnel with specialized training. "All health care providers in this state should be held to high standards and regulations, and the fact is, they are," said Chapman Pomponio. "A political organization should not attempt to change the practice of medicine in West Virginia."Earlier this year, Dys's group filed a lawsuit against Dr. Rodney Stephens and the Women's Health Center of West Virginia, one of two stand-alone abortion clinics in the state. Dys is representing Itai Gravely, a 27-year-old Charleston woman who alleges that Stephens performed an abortion on her, even though she asked the doctor to stop. The lawsuit also claims that Stephens left the fetus' head inside her uterus.Stephens and the clinic have denied the allegations.Morrisey seized on Dys' lawsuit, saying it "raises serious questions about how such clinics in West Virginia and inspected and reviewed to ensure patients are safe." Morrisey directed the Women's Health Center and a Kanawha City abortion clinic to answer questions about abortion procedures conducted at their facilities. The clinics declined to answer his specific questions, saying they were under no obligation to do so.Chapman Pomponio said West Virginians are watching the "shenanigans of this attorney general closely." Up to 350 people are expected to attend the rally on Tuesday, the second day of August's legislative interim meetings."Our goal is to send a strong message that we won't let them play politics with a woman's health and safety," she said. "We embrace positive forward motion for West Virginia and want to show decision-makers that the voters of this state support them in their efforts to beat back this ugly, regressive agenda."Dys said his group would not be organizing any kind of counter protest Tuesday."I'm not interested in protesting," he said. "What we need today is a serious discussion about this important issue, an issue that is having a serious -- sometimes devastating -- impact on the health and safety of our state's sisters and daughters."Reach Eric Eyre at firstname.lastname@example.com or 304-348-4869. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 City of Milton tries to revive Morris Memorial property 2 Mitch Vingle: WVU's Lyons watching bombshell merger news 3 Man arrested after explosion in Kanawha City dumpster 4 Morgantown coal operator Laurita indicted in alleged campaign finance scheme 5 Plans for all-ages venue rise in old bakery building World War II-era landing ship to visit Charleston Previous Story A wish comes true Next Story


text:
Wilson finally commanding changeup
ARLINGTON -- One of few positives in what has so far been a down season for Angels starter C.J. Wilson has been the evolution of his changeup, a pitch he's been toying with the last few years and has finally came into prominence in 2014.
"I really committed to it in Spring Training," Wilson said. "I was going to [use] it no matter what happened."
Wilson -- 9-8 with a 4.71 ERA in 22 starts -- has thrown the changeup a career-high 12.6 percent of the time this season, up from 6.7 percent in 2011, 8.9 percent in 2012 and 5.9 percent in 2013.
It has basically replaced the cutter, giving him a pitch that's roughly five ticks slower than his four-seam fastball. And now that he's figured out how to consistently make it fade, the changeup has finally given the 33-year-old left-hander a pitch that tails away from opposing right-handed hitters, who are batting .258 against it.
Wilson said he's "thrown two bad changeups this year that I can remember. "
Now if only his other pitches were as effective this season.
"When I was on earlier this year," Wilson said, "I'd have good games because I would be able to throw changeups to the guy right away, instead of getting to the point where I'd have to get him to chase a slider or something like that."
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", and follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.