text:
NYSE Euronext to combine with Deutsche Boerse
NEW YORK (AP) - The parent company of the New York Stock Exchange said Tuesday that it will combine with the operator of the Frankfurt stock exchange to create the world's largest financial markets company.
The new company, a combination of NYSE Euronext Inc. and Deutsche Boerse, will have dual headquarters in Frankfurt and New York. NYSE Euronext's CEO Duncan Niederauer will be chief executive, and Deutsche Boerse' CEO Reto Francioni will become chairman.
No name for the combined company was announced. The new company will own exchanges in New York, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam and other cities that will continue to operate under their existing names.
Deutsche Boerse shareholders will own 60 percent of the new company. Shareholders of NYSE Euronext will own the rest. The company will be reincorporated in the Netherlands and will be listed in Frankfurt, New York and Paris.
NYSE Euronext's revenues have fallen because of competition from cheaper computerized stock exchanges in the U.S. and Europe. Many other global stock exchanges have also combined to save costs. The deal is expected to lead to $400 million in savings, mainly from technology and clearing costs.
The deal will give NYSE Euronext a larger footprint in the more lucrative business of trading in futures and options contracts.
The boards of both exchange owners have signed off on the deal, but it must still be approved by shareholders and regulators.
Businesses and consumers give economy boost
WASHINGTON (AP) - American businesses and consumers are giving the economy a boost by spending more, but the troubled housing market remains an obstacle, new data show.
Consumers bought more from retailers for a seventh straight month in January. The gains came despite snowstorms that limited spending from workers with more money in their paychecks from a Social Security tax cut.
Businesses increased their stockpiles in every month last year, a sign that companies expect sales to remain healthy.
Still, the view of the housing market among homebuilders hasn't changed in four months, suggesting weak home sales will drag on the economy throughout the year.
Chris Christopher, an economist at IHS Global Insight, said consumer spending will likely continue to increase over the next few months. But he predicts it will happen more slowly than at the end of last year, even with workers taking home more pay from the tax cut.
Retail sales rose 0.3 percent last month to $381.6 billion, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Sales have risen more than 14 percent from the recession low in December 2008.
People spent more at department stores and on electronics while also paying higher prices for gas. Online sales increased at a healthy pace.
Still, the harsh winter weather - which brought many cities in the Southeast to a standstill for days - slowed traffic at restaurants and building supply stores. Americans also spent less on clothing and furniture.
US deficit is biggest share of economy since 1945
WASHINGTON (AP) - Not since World War II has the federal budget deficit made up such a big chunk of the U.S. economy. And within two or three years, economists fear the result could be sharply higher interest rates that would slow economic growth.
The budget plan President Barack Obama sent Congress on Monday foresees a record deficit of $1.65 trillion this year. That would be just under 11 percent of the $14 trillion economy - the largest proportion since 1945, when wartime spending swelled the deficit to 21.5 percent of U.S. gross domestic product.
The danger is that a persistently large gap in the budget could threaten the economy. Investors would see lending their money to the U.S. as riskier. So they'd demand higher returns to do it. Or they'd simply put their cash elsewhere. Interest rates on mortgages and other debt would rise as a result.
And if borrowing turned more expensive, people and businesses might scale back their spending. That would weaken an economy still struggling to lower unemployment, revive real estate prices and restore corporate and consumer confidence.
So far, it hasn't happened. It's still cheap for the government to borrow money and finance deficits. But economists fear the domino effect if all that changes.
China reduces US debt holdings in December
WASHINGTON (AP) - China, the biggest buyer of U.S. Treasury securities, reduced its holdings in December for the second straight month.
China's holdings of Treasury debt dropped 0.4 percent to $892 billion, the Treasury Department said Tuesday. The declines follow four months of increases. China's ownership of U.S. government debt is slightly below the $895 billion it held a year ago.
Overall, foreign holdings of Treasury securities rose 0.6 percent $4.37 trillion. Britain and Japan ramped up their purchases of U.S. government debt in December. That suggests overseas governments and private investors are still willing to buy U.S. government debt.
The U.S. government is selling huge amounts of debt to finance record-high deficits. This year's deficit is forecast to reach $1.65 trillion this year, the highest ever. Last year the government posted a $1.3 trillion deficit.
Overseas demand for Treasurys helps lower the interest rate the U.S. government pays on its debt. If the United States had to finance its debt through U.S. investors alone, the government would have to pay higher rates. American companies and consumers would also pay higher rates.
World Bank: Food prices at "dangerous levels"
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Global food prices have hit "dangerous levels" that could contribute to political instability, push millions of people into poverty and raise the cost of groceries, according to a new report from the World Bank.
The bank released a report Tuesday that said global food prices have jumped 29 percent in the past year, and are just 3 percent below the all-time peak hit in 2008. Bank President Robert Zoellick said the rising prices have hit people hardest in the developing world because they spend as much as half their income on food.
The World Bank estimates higher prices for corn, wheat and oil have pushed 44 million people into extreme poverty since last June.
The report comes a day before Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of 20 leading economies meet in Paris. Zoellick said he's worried some countries might react to food inflation by banning exports or implementing price controls, which would just aggravate the problem.
The World Bank's food price index rose by 15 percent between October and January alone. The increase has been driven by volatile global trading in wheat, corn and soybeans. Global corn futures more than doubled since this summer, from $3.50 to $7 a bushel, in part because of higher demand from developing countries and a growing biofuels industry.
Prices are rising in part because global grain traders have gotten jittery about historically low reserve levels of corn, wheat and soybeans, said Chris Nagel, an analyst with Northstar Commodity in Minneapolis. Growing demand from customers in China and elsewhere is putting pressure on the supply of most commodities, he said.
Dim view of housing market weighs on economy
WASHINGTON (AP) - Optimism is in short supply among U.S. homebuilders, a sign that the depressed housing market will slow the economy's gains this year.
The outlook by builders hasn't improved since the fall, when new-home sales were in the midst of their bleakest year in a half-century.
Less home building means fewer jobs for the economy. Construction work now accounts for about 5 percent of the nation's private employment. But nearly 2 million of the roughly 14 million unemployed Americans previously worked in construction.
Analysts say the economy needs to accelerate job creation before the housing industry can fully recover. Without more jobs and higher wages, home sales will stagnate.
The National Association of Home Builders' index of builder sentiment for February was unchanged for the fourth straight month, at 16, the association said Tuesday. Any reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment. The index hasn't topped 50 since April 2006.
Dell 4Q net income more than doubles
SEATTLE (AP) - Personal computer maker Dell Inc. said Tuesday its net income more than doubled in the most recent quarter, as businesses spent more on computers, servers and other technology.
Net income soared to $927 million, or 48 cents per share, from $334 million, or 17 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding certain items, Dell earned 53 cents per share, blowing past Wall Street's expectations. Analysts surveyed by FactSet forecast earnings of 36 cents per share.
Revenue rose 5 percent to $15.69 billion from $14.9 billion in the year-ago quarter. That's less than the $15.75 billion analysts predicted.
Dell has been working to increase the proportion of server computers, data storage devices and technology consulting services it sells, because those areas are more profitable than the basic PC business. Compared with a year ago, however, each of Dell's product categories accounted for about the same amount of revenue.
Revenue from large enterprises and from small and medium-size businesses rose 12 percent each to $4.7 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively.
Those increases helped Dell offset sluggish consumer spending on computers. Revenue from the consumer segment fell 8 percent to $3.3 billion. A year ago, Microsoft Corp.'s updated PC operating system, Windows 7, went on sale. In an interview, Dell Chief Financial Officer Brian said that he expects the computer business will remain weak this fiscal year, in part as people contemplate buying tablets such as Apple Inc.'s iPad.
Home Depot to add more than 60,000 seasonal jobs
ATLANTA (AP) - Never mind the snow. Home Depot Inc. is ramping up for spring, with plans to hire more than 60,000 seasonal workers to help with its busiest season of the year.
Spokeswoman Jean Niemi said the seasonal staffing level is on pace with last year, when its Spring Black Friday promotion first started. With the promotion heading into its second straight year, the world's biggest home improvement retailer is looking to fill its seasonal positions prior to the event.
Consumers typically head to home improvement stores in the spring to pick up flowers, vegetables and lawn care products as they prepare for the summer. Home Depot's Spring Black Friday promotion, which will occur over four different weekends, will be rolled out in various markets and timed to weather conditions.
Many retailers hire seasonal help during their busiest selling seasons. Companies including Kohl's Corp., Macy's Inc. and Toys R Us boosted their staffing levels during the December holidays to keep up with customer demand for clothing, toys and other items.
Home Depot said its seasonal workers, which will be hired and trained in February and March, will be in every market. The Atlanta company currently has more than 300,000 employees.
Delta, American boost some air fares by up to $120
DALLAS (AP) - Major U.S. airlines are raising the price of some tickets favored by business travelers again, this time by up to $120 per round trip.
Fare experts said Delta started the latest increase on Monday, which was matched immediately by American and a day later by United, Continental and US Airways.
It's the second big increase in fares in as many weeks. The airlines' fuel prices have risen 50 percent over the past year. They eliminated many flights when they were losing money in 2008 and 2009, which has given them the power to raise fares now that planes are more crowded and travel demand is rebounding.
JP Morgan analyst Jamie Baker said it made sense for the big airlines to target corporate travelers, who are considered less sensitive to price increases. He said airlines may have raised vacation fares as high as they can without causing a loss of revenue - presumably by driving away budget-conscious customers.
American Airlines spokesman Ed Martelle said the increases covered first-class, business-class and tickets purchased up to seven days before travel. Flights up to 500 miles were boosted $20 each way, those from 501 to 1,500 miles were raised $40 each way, and flights longer than 1,500 miles increased by $60 each way, he said.
Delta Air Lines Inc. confirmed the fare hike but declined to give a reason. United, Continental and US Airways confirmed that they too raised prices.
Last week, United and Continental, owned by United Continental Holdings Inc., led an increase of $20 to $60 per round trip on pricey tickets typically bought by business travelers. Delta and American both matched that hike last week.
Bank of England under pressure over inflation
LONDON (AP) - The Bank of England's credibility was called into question on Tuesday after official data showed that inflation surging well above the central bank's stated target.
Britain's Office for National Statistics revealed that the country's key inflation rate rose to 4 percent in January, double the official target and prompting a public explanation from bank governor Mervyn King.
King and a number of other policymakers on the bank's nine-strong Monetary Policy Committee have insisted the stubbornly high cost of living is due to temporary price shocks, such as soaring global commodity prices, a fall in the value of sterling, and a rise in sales tax last month.
Prices are continuing to rise even as the economy struggles - gross domestic product shrank by 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter.
At least two members of the committee, which got an advance glimpse of the inflation figures for last week's policy meeting, backed a modest hike in interest rates from a record low 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent. But King and the majority argued that higher rates would be ineffective against the external factors driving the price rises.
The Statistics Office said the largest factors in the latest increase were the higher price of oil and an increase in the broad-based sales tax from 17.5 percent to 20 percent. Excluding the tax hike, consumer inflation rose from 2 percent in December to 2.4 percent in January, partially backing King's stance.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 41.55, or 0.3 percent, to close at 12,226.64. That's only the third day this month the Dow has closed lower.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 4.31, or 0.3 percent, to 1,328.01. The Nasdaq composite index fell 12.83, or 0.5 percent, to 2,804.35.
Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude fell 49 cents to settle at $84.32 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude fell $1.44 to settle at $102.29 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
In other Nymex trading in March contracts, heating oil fell 2.14 cents to settle at $2.7290 a gallon and gasoline lost 2.86 cents to settle at $2.4888 a gallon. Natural gas rose 5.1 cents to settle at $3.976 per 1,000 cubic feet.
(This version CORRECTS retail sales figure in second item to $381.6 billion)


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Migraine and Endothelial Dysfunction
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Migraine With Aura
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Case Control
|Official Title:
|Migraine and Endothelial Dysfunction
- Endothelial Microparticles [ Time Frame: baseline ]Levels of endothelial microparticlel in the peripheral blood using flow cytometry
- Levels of circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells [ Time Frame: baseline ]Levels of cEPC (CD34+/CD133+/VGF2R/CD31) in % of mononuclear cells using flow cytometry
- Digital pulse volume change [ Time Frame: baseline ]Digital pulse volume change (with RH PAT as non invasive measurement (PAT-ratio; ENDOPAT, Itamar Medical Ltd.) for non-invasive, peripheral endothelial function
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|October 2010
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|September 2011
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|August 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
migraine group
female migraineurs with aura
control group
healthy women without headache syndrome
Detailed Description:
Our objectives were to determine whether novel endothelial function methods and novel markers of endothelial activation are associated with migraine in female migraineurs with aura.
Migraine is an independent risk factor for stroke, especially in young women with aura symptoms. Endothelial dysfunction is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies suggest that there is a link between migraine with aura and endothelial activation, dysfunction and impaired vascular reactivity.
In this case-control study the investigators examine several novel biomarkers of endothelial function such as endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial microparticles as well as novel methods such as reactive hyperemic peripheral arterial tonometry in female migraineurs with aura and age-matched controls.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 50 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Non-Probability Sample
Inclusion Criteria:
- migraine with aura
- age < 50
- female gender
Exclusion Criteria:
- severe infectious disease
- cardiovascular disease (stroke, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction)
- vasculitis
- peripheral artery disease
- diabetes mellitus
- pregnancy
- drug abuse
- medication: statin, anticoagulation, aspirin, clopidogrel
- intake of triptans <24h
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01388699
|Contact: Matthias Endres, MD
|Contact: Thomas G Liman, MD
|Center for Stroke Research Berlin
|Berlin, Germany, 10117
|Contact: Thomas G Liman, MD 004930450560643 firstname.lastname@example.com
|Principal Investigator: Matthias Endres, MD
|Sub-Investigator: Thomas G Liman, MD
|Principal Investigator:
|Matthias Endres, MD
|Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité Campus Mitte
|Responsible Party:
|Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Center for Stroke Research Berlin (Matthias Endres)
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01388699 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|July 5, 2011
|Last Updated:
|July 6, 2011
Keywords provided by Charite University, Berlin, Germany:
Migraine with aura
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Migraine Disorders
Migraine with Aura
Headache Disorders, Primary
Headache Disorders
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017

subset: commoncrawl


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August 25, 2008—
Business administration senior Tony Hellenbrand was interviewed Monday morning on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Tech's award-winning Applied Portfolio Management Program. See the video at http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=831627915&play=1.
The APMP program advisor is Dean Johnson, associate professor of business administration.
Michigan Technological University (www.mtu.edu) is a leading public research university developing new technologies and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering; forest resources; computing; technology; business; economics; natural, physical and environmental sciences; arts; humanities; and social sciences.


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By Joseph B. White
Today's jobs numbers look better than many economists expected, but so far reaction is muted from businesses and industries that would hire more workers if they believed the economy was about to really start rocking.
Kennametal KMT +0.93%, Inc., a $3 billion Latrobe, Pa. industrial machinery company which has 13,000 workers worldwide, told the WSJ's Clare Ansberry the company's decision makers don't really watch the monthly jobs figures. They're focused on uncertainty about the U.S. election, leadership in China and the economic mess in Europe.
"The underlying fundamentals of the US economy are pretty good. It's the uncertainty that's hard," the company said.
Still, Kennametal says it has more than 320 jobs open, more than half of those technical jobs ranging from engineers to machinists who can run computers. The company expects to have more openings as baby boomers retire. But like many industrial employers, Kennametal says it is struggling to find applicants with the skills required.
AutoNation AN +0.41%, Inc., the largest auto retailer in the U.S., sees the recovery requiring three elements: Easier access to credit, a recovery in housing and stronger hiring. Credit has recovered, and housing prices are starting to rise, but so far employment growth – including September's 114,000 new jobs, is anemic compared to the 23 million who don't have a job, says company spokesman Marc Cannon. "A great deal of this lift came from part-time employment," he said. The auto industry has, so far, been a bright spot in the economy, he says. But "now we need that third leg" of stronger employment.
Russ Klein, Chief Marketing Officer at Arby's Restaurant Group Inc., told the WSJ's Julie Jargon that the report "is one step in the right direction but not something the company will pivot off of in any of its decision making". Instead, he said, it will keep targeting the budget-conscious consumers, because "the overall employment picture is still very challenging and we feel consumers are looking for a break and we do a lot of discounting."
Mr. Klein says the company will begin testing a new "snack and save" value menu next month to be more responsive to consumers who remain under financial pressure.
Arby's operates approximately 3,500 restaurants in the U.S., a number that is expected to remain the same for the next couple of years. "Arby's has been a steady employer – we haven't done any massive layoffs," Mr. Klein says, adding that it hasn't added many new jobs, either.
Separately, the Associated General Contractors of America, the trade group that represents builders, said the construction sector added 5,000 jobs last month, but cautioned the overall picture is still shaky. Construction companies employ about 5.5 million people,the group said, down from 7.7 million six years ago before the housing bust.
"Despite the slight uptick in construction employment for the past month, the industry is a bit smaller than it was one year ago," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. "It appears that for every rebounding market segment, there is another one that is shrinking."


text:
Topic: Husband newly diagnosed
My husband is 66 and was diagnosed at the beginning of September 2013. It started with routine bloodwork back in july that seemed a little off so his primary care doctor ordered a retest and an ultrasound of his abdomen. Luckily he did that because they saw a mass in his liver. He had a ct scan and the tumor is 6cm. After two biopsies it was confirmed as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. They say he is stage 1 and the oncologist at Riverside Medical Clinic suggested chemotherapy (gem/cis) and gave us a referral to dr. Imagawa at UC Irvine (http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=4828) to determine if surgery is an option. Our oncologist has worked with him before with cc patients and wanted us to see him to determine if surgery is an option.
We met with him in september and he said at this point the tumor is too large and close to a vein for surgery but wants to try chemo for two months and then scan him again to see if it has shrunk enough to do surgery. He said it would be a resection to remove approximately 60% of the liver. I'm hoping that will be the case since this cancer has such a grim outlook otherwise.
He is in the middle of his third treatment (once a week for two weeks and one week off). We meet with dr. Imagawa again in mid November and it seems like forever from now. He is tolerating chemo so far. His worst side effect is constipation but we are dealing with that as best as possible. I just hope it is killing his cancer.
Our insurance also contracts with ucla and Cedar Sinai but our RMC doctors haven't worked with anyone at those facilities that are surgical oncologists that have dealt with cc before so we are hoping uci will give us the news we want to hear in November.
Any suggestions you have would be much appreciated.


text:
- 1 ¼ lbs. tilapia fillets, about 5
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Kosher salt
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups water
- 3 cups canola oil
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 teaspoon garlic, chopped
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, divided
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 8 corn tortillas
- ½ head green cabbage, shredded (reserve remaining half for Round 2 Recipe, Bean and Cheese Chalupas)
Cut the fish into 1 1/2-inch chunks. (Reserve 1 fillet and refrigerate for the online Round 2 Recipe, Ceviche.)
To make the batter, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in enough water, about 1 to 1 1/2 cups, until the mixture is the consistency of pancake batter.
Heat the oil in a deep skillet over medium heat to 360 degrees F.
When the oil is hot, working in batches, dip the fish pieces into the batter and carefully add them to the hot oil. Cook the fish until golden brown on both sides and the fish is cooked through, about 4 to 6 minutes total. Remove from the pan and drain on to a sheet tray lined with a paper bag or paper towels.
To make the sauce, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, hot sauce, lime juice, garlic, and 2 tablespoons cilantro in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Wrap the tortillas in a damp towel and microwave on medium for 1 minute to warm. Put about 1/4 cup of the shredded cabbage on each tortilla. Put 3 pieces of the fried fish on top of the cabbage, then top with some sauce. Arrange the tacos on a serving platter and garnish with a sprinkle of cilantro. Serve immediately.
30 Minute, Fish, Seafood
30 Minute, Fish, Seafood
Crispy Fish Tacos. To import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.


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Obituaries for January 15 2014
12:31pm Friday 17th January 2014
12:31pm Friday 17th January 2014
Mrs L J Devereux
Hayscastle Cross
MRS Linda Jean Devereux of Golau'r Ser, Hayscastle Cross passed away at Withybush Hospital on July 4. She was 63.
Linda was born in Cardiff, the daughter of Tom and Doreen Paul.
She married Graham in 1968 and they lived in Bristol for a year before moving back to Cardiff and then settled in Senghenydd for three years, finally moving back to Grahams home county of Pembrokeshire in 1975.
They lived in Haverfordwest for nine years before moving back to Hayscastle Cross with their three children, Richard, Sarah and Alex in 1984.
In her teenage years Linda trained as a dispenser with Boots.
Following the move to Pembrokeshire she carried out various full and part-time roles including bookkeeping, farm work and working for a local estate agent.
Before retirement Linda worked alongside Graham for Advantage Business Supplies.
Once settled in Hayscastle she joined the local WI and was president for two years.
She was also treasurer for the Roch First Scout Group and a school governor.
In late life Linda took great pleasure in her grandchildren Sophie, Callum, Ruby and Alfie and also enjoyed her garden and the wildlife it attracted.
Linda was a lovely lady who will be greatly missed by all who knew her and will never be forgotten "as she was our sunshine".
The funeral and internment at Noddfa Newton Baptist Chapel was well attended by family, friends and former work colleague.
The principle mourners were Graham (husband); Richard and Kathryn (son and daughter-in-law); Sarah and Adrian (daughter and son-in-law); Alex and Sian (son and daughter-in-law); David and Lerri (brother and partner); Callum and Sophie (grandson and granddaughter).
The service was officiated by Revd G Aled Jenkins who spoke movingly about Linda and how she always had a smile on her face and laughter in her voice.
Linda loved poetry and poems were read by Alex (Life Goes On) and Richard (The Book).
The bearers were Richard Devereux, Alex Devereux, Callum Devereux, David Paul, Adrian Ellmer and Adam Williams.
There were family flowers only with donations if desired for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society c/o Mr Dai Davies, 36 Heritage Gate, Haverfordwest SA61 2RF.
The funeral arrangements were carried out with great dignity by Bernard Mathias of St Davids.
Mrs O Rowlands
IT is with sadness that we record the sudden death of Olga Rowlands of Linden Court, Rosebush on November 29. She was 85.
Olga was the second daughter of the late David and Ruth Phillips of Glansyfnau, Rosebush.
Although she had been suffering from osteoporosis for the last few years her death was a great shock to everyone in the community. Despite her invalidity she would not miss the opportunity for going for a ride in the car with husband Phil who looked after her with care and affection until the very end.
She was predeceased by her only son Paul who died when he was one year old, also her sister Nana.
The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Phil (husband); Jackie and Reg (brothers); sisters-inlaw Ela, Ogwen and Eiry; plus nephews and nieces and their families.
Her funeral consisted of a service at the chapel of rest at Morawelon, Efailwen and a public service at Maenclochog cemetery where a large number of family and friends had gathered to pay their respects and condolences to her husband Phil and the extended family. The service was officiated by the Rev Eirian Wyn Lewis, Mr Ken Thomas and Rev Emyr Wyn Thomas. Apologies were received from Rev Geoffrey Eynon and Rev Gerald Jones.
The bearers were Elis Reed, Neil Phillips, Brian Edwards and Dyfed Davies.
There were family flowers only.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr Dennis Jones, funeral director of Maesawelon, Efailwen.
Mr W J Bowen
MR William John Bowen formally of Jury Lane, Haverfordwest passed away after a long stay at Withybush Hospital on December 12. He was 93.
Originally from Caerau, Maesteg he worked on lots of schools around Pembrokeshire including Bush School and also in Brawdy and building the crematorium as a labourer.
He retired at the age of 50 due to angina.
He served in the Welsh Regiment and then was seconded to the Inniskillings, where he fought in North Africa, Sicilly then up through Italy. At one time in Africa he was part of the Desert Rats.
He was wounded in Italy but recovered and fought until demobbed, when he was told he had to find his own way home.
Bill, as he was known, loved gardening and watching quiz programmes on TV. In later life he adored his daughter Pearl's dog, Purdy, who could do no wrong.
He was married to his wife Valery Doreen Bowen for 55 years until she predeceased him in 2002.
The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Pearl and Gwilym Edwards (daughter and son-in-law); Wendy Hoskins and Debbie Hoskins (daughter and partner); Lee and Molly (grandson and wife); Mike and Katie (grandson and fiancée); Wendy and Denzil (niece and husband); Daphne Bowen (sister-in-law); Robin Bowen and Susie (nephew and wife); Stephanie and Andy (niece and husband); Norman and Pam (nephew and wife); Genette and David (niece and husband); John Beynon (nephew and wife); David McKay (nephew) plus other relatives too numerous to mention.
Wendy and Debbie Hoskins (daughter and partner) were unable to attend due to inclement weather from America.
The service was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium and was officiated by Rev Huw George.
The bearers were Gwilym Edwards (son-in-law), Denzil Pennington (nephew-in-law), Lee Knight (grandson) and Robin Bowen (nephew).
There were family flowers only and the funeral arrangements were carried out by Roy Folland and Sons, Haverfordwest.
Ms I A Thomas
Milford Haven
IVY Avril Thomas of Shakespeare Avenue, Milford Haven passed away at Withybush Hospital on December 25. She was 96.
Born in 1917, the elder daughter of Mr and Mrs Bert Thomas of Charles Street Milford Haven, Avril loved her Milford heritage and was proud of her family's working and social history in the town.
She started work as a telephonist for the Crown Post Office in Hamilton Terrace in the 1930s, and was extremely dedicated to her work achieving promotions to the level of Supervisor In Charge of the Haverfordwest telephone exchange.
Her long career of over 40 years culminated in her being awarded the Imperial Service Medal.
Avril had a passion for golf and was a member of Milford Haven Golf Club for 66 years.
During that time she was proud to have been both Ladies Captain in 1980 and Ladies President in 1985.
Well informed on current affairs, Avril could make interesting conversation no matter the age or interests of the person she was talking to.
Whether it related to politics, finance, celebrity or sport, she would always have an opinion on the latest news.
A fun loving person who was extremely kind and generous – Avril will be fondly remembered as "a grand and charming lady".
The funeral service was held at Hamilton Court Funeral Home followed by interment in Milford Haven Cemetery.
The service was officiated by Rev Martyn Evans, and the bearers were Chris Turner, Richard Pugh, Hugh Tribe and Henry Davies.
Avril leaves to mourn her niece Margaret; nephew-inlaw Roy; and great-nephew Thomas and his wife Sarah; together with her many good friends and neighbours.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Tom Newing and Son, Milford Haven.
Mr D O Richards
St Davids
A LARGE gathering of family and friends attended the funeral service of David Owen Richards (Dai the Farmers) at Seion Chapel, St Davids on Thursday October 24.
Although in poor health for several years, David died unexpectedly and peacefully at home on Tuesday 15 October.
He was aged 75.
David spent many of his formative years at the Fold with his brother John and sisters Doreen (predeceased 2010), Dorothy, Beryl and Betty, and later at 19 Heol Dewi where his youngest sister Iris was born.
It was during this time that he established a lifelong friendship with Gareth Evans, whose moving eulogy was read at David's funeral, along with a eulogy from Leslie Williams and Keith Davies.
His early ambition to become a police officer was curtailed by the death of his father, and like many others of the time, went to work at Mynydd Ddu to support the family.
He later met and married Barbara "Anita" Evans, who was at the time was a Wren stationed at HMS Goldcrest in Brawdy, and for a short time, moved to live in Craig Cefn Parc and work at the Mond nickel works in Clydach.
David returned to St Davids in 1969 when he and Anita took ownership of the Farmers Arms in Goat Street.
Dai the Farmers as he was soon to become known touched the lives of many, both local and visitor alike, and across many generations.
He could be a shoulder to lean on at a difficult time, a willing accomplice to a sneaky late night beverage, a rousing host on rugby days or a contentious speaker when it came to matters of finance and politics.
He was fair in judgment but quick to temper those who fell out of line. Many a good story could be recanted of Dai's tenure as the publican of the Farmers Arms.
Dai left the Farmers Arms in 1985 and established a small successful B&B at Pen- Albro, Goat Street.
The service of remembrance was conducted by the Rev Hugh George and Dai was laid to rest in a family plot at St Davids Cemetery.
The principal mourners were Andrew (son); Karen and Steve (daughter and son-in–law); Sian (daughter); John (brother); Dorothy and David (sister and brother-inlaw); Beryl (sister); Betty (sister); Iris and Dave (sister and brother-in-law); Amy, Holly, Aaron, Shannon, Lea, Rosie and Riley (grand-daughters and grand-sons); Alanna (great-grand-daughter); Wyn (brother-in-law), nephews and nieces together with many other relatives and family friends, too numerous to mention.
The bearers were Keith Davies, Les Williams, John Taylor and Trevor Martin and the funeral services provided by W.G. Bernard Mathias.
There were family flowers only and any donations were made in lieu to the Surgery, New Street, St Davids.
Mr A R Fletcher
MR Arthur Ronald Fletcher (known as Ron) passed away at Withybush Hospital on December 3. He was a resident at Fairfield Care Home, Johnston.
Originally from Hubberston and Hakin in his youth he worked for Lawrence the Bakery until his National service.
After which he joined Milford Docks Company and remained with them for the rest of his working life.
His service record included joining the RAF, where he served in Norway, The Middle East and Italy.
His interests included being a member of Milford Haven Rugby Club for most of his life. He loved a flutter on the horses, loved to see all his family, and enjoyed reminiscing about the good old days.
He was predeceased by his wife Madeline Mary Fletcher in 1990.
The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Keith and Sharon Fletcher (son and daughter-in-law); Paul and Janet Fletcher (son and daughter-in-law); Janice and Martin Melbourne (daughter and son-in-law); David and Susan Fletcher (son and daughter-in-law); Jan, Amy, Natalie, Karen and Matthew (grandchildren); Lilly, Charlie and Elise (great grandchildren).
The service was held at St Davids Church, Hubberston on December 11 followed by internment at Milford Haven Cemetery and was officiated by Rev Andy Bookless. The bearers were Andrew Norman, Jeffrey Sinnett, Defan Hughes and Bryn Griffiths.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Tom Newing and Sons Ltd, Milford Haven.
Mrs M Bowen
Manorowen, Fishguard
THE death occurred peacefully at Withybush Hospital of Dinah Morfydd Bowen, Coedlas, Manorowen, Fishguard.
She was 75.
Morfydd was born and lived in the parish of Manorowen all her life. She was educated at Goodwick Primary School and Fishguard Grammar School, of which she was very proud.
On leaving school she worked at L H Cook Grocery Business in West Street, Fishguard.
From there she married her husband Waldo. They made their home at Trellewelyn Manorowen until 1974 when they moved next door to Coedlas, where she remained until her death. Sadly Morfydds only son Charles passed away in 2005.
For many years she helped run her husband's small but successful electrical business along with running their smallholding. Morfyyd's main hobbies were growing her own flowers and shrubs.
She competed in various shows throughout the county and beyond, winning numerous prizes and silver cups.
She later became a judge.
Morfydd was a member of Haverfordwest Floral Art Society and later the North Pembrokeshire Floral Art Society, of which she was one of the founder members and in later years she became President. She also demonstrated and tutored her floral art skills to younger members for many years.
In 1994 Morfydd became ill with hepatitis and resulted in being one of the first people in Pembrokeshire to receive a liver transplant, which was carried out very successful at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. She soon recovered and attended clinics in Birmingham for some years and later at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.
Morfydd enjoyed a good quality of life and resumed all her previous duties including being a Church Warden at Manorowen Church, to where she had been a lifelong member.
Her faith was extremely important to her.
Sadly in recent years Morfydd's health deteriorated and in October she was taken into Withybush Hospital where she was cared for with great dignity but sadly passed away on November 30.
She was a sister to the late Mary, John and Peter Young.
The family left to mourn are Waldo (husband); Anthony and Jo (grandson and wife); Christopher and Catherine (grandson and partner); Heledd and Simon (granddaughter and partner); June (daughter-in-law); Robert and Janet (brother and sister-inlaw); Ann (sister); Dorothy and Claire (sisters-in-law); Eyron (cousin); Denise and Evelyn (cousins-in-law) plus all nephews and nieces, other relatives, friends and neighbours too numerous to mention.
Unable to attend Brenda (sister-in-law); Jane and June (sisters).
The funeral service took place at St Peter's Church in Goodwick where there was a very large attendance, officiated by the Rev Brian Barnes, assisted by the Rev John Roberts.
Morfydd was laid to rest at Llanwnda cemetery alongside her beloved son Charles.
The organist was Mrs Valerie Llewhelin and the bearers were Martyn Watson, Meurig Lloyd, Oliver Johns, Dorian Williams, Raymond Llewhelin and Gwilym Cornock.
There were family flowers only with donations in memory of Morfydd if desired which can be made payable to The Liver Foundation Trust, which can be sent to P Jenkins and Sons, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, who also carried out the funeral arrangements in the most honourable and dignified manner.
Mr D Owens
MR Don Owens of Cherry Grove, Haverfordwest died at Withybush Hospital on December 20 after being admitted to Ward 10 on December 11. He was 76.
Don was a native of Haverfordwest and with the exception of being away at the end of the 1950s to undertake national service, had lived all of his life in Pembrokeshire and within a few miles of Haverfordwest.
On leaving school, Don completed an electrical apprenticeship in Haverfordwest and after returning from the army he worked as an electrician on Greens buses until 1960. During 1960 Don moved to work with the Ministry of Works at Brawdy when the Royal Navy occupied the site. In 1971 he left Brawdy and worked over the next 11 years for a number of electrical contractors in Pembrokeshire before concluding his working life between 1982 and 1992 as a maintenance electrician at the milk factory in Merlin's Bridge.
Don was primarily a family man and he had an active retirement around his wife, son and grandchildren, who he loved and supported in everything that they did.
He was a devoted husband to his late wife Shirley who he lovingly and uncomplainingly cared for her throughout a number of years of her own ill health until her death in 2010.
He leaves to mourn one son, Mark and four grandchildren, Gareth, Gwili, Geraint and Alys.
The principal mourners were Mark Rhys-Owens (son); Geraint Owens (grandson); Alys Owens (granddaughter).
Grandsons Gareth and Gwili Owens were unable to attend the service as both are currently in New Zealand but their thoughts and prayers were with the rest of the family on the day.
The funeral took place on December 27 with a service at St David's Church Prendergast, Haverfordwest, followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn, Narberth. The service was officiated by Cannon Geoffrey Gwyther.
The bearers at the Church and Parc Gwyn were Messers Mal Edward, Dario Algeri, Eryl Thomas, Paul Lucas, Bob Stocker, Marley Davies and Neil Devonald.
There were family flowers only. Donations in memory of Don are being shared between Cancer Research and the Cinnamon Trust.
Anybody wishing to make a donation in Don's memory can forward donations to Mr Ian Davies, 11 Cherry Grove, Haverfordwest, SA61 2NT.
The funeral director was Roy Folland and Son, Haverfordwest.
Mrs V F Temple
THE death occurred at Torestin Nursing Home, Tiers Cross of Mrs Violet F Temple formally from Mynachlog- Ddu, Clynderwen on December 22. She was 92.
Originally from Chatham in Kent, she started work as a housemaid in service during the Second World War. She worked in the ropery in the Naval Dockyard in Chatham making ropes for the ships and also she worked in the coop as a counter assistant.
Her last job before retirement in 1986 was as an assistant cook at Greenhill Avenue Centre, Tenby.
Her main interests included knitting, cooking, gardening, flowers and plants. In later years she was a member of Mynachlod-Ddu WI, reading, walking her dog Poppy over the Green.
She was predeceased by her husband John Temple in 1977.
The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Colin and Anita Temple (son and daughter-in-law); Ernest Liddle (brother-in-law); Hilda Smith (sister-in-law); Terry and Dee Liddle, Alan Liddle, Hannah Liddle, Vanessa Lewis, Alan Pratt, Nic Stockford, Ryan Stockford, Paul Temple, Simon, Wendy and Richard Temple; Stephen Smith, Anne Brown (nephews, nieces and other family members), plus many friends and neighbours too numerous to mention.
The service was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium and was officiated by Rev Becky Davies.
The bearers were Alan Liddle, Terry Liddle, Nic Stockford and Ryan Stockford.
Donations in lieu of flowers for the Parkinson Society c/o E C Thomas and Son Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.
Ms B Turnbull
BETTY Turnbull passed away peacefully at Withybush Hospital on December 17 at the age of 83.
She will be forever in the family's hearts and remembered with love by all her family.
Betty lived in Johnston but was born in Dudley in the West Midlands.
The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Ken (brother); children and partners Janet, Ralph, Graham, Ann, Jim, Alan, Wendy, Alison, Chris; aunt to Karen; grand hildren, great grandchildren and partners Sarah, Christopher, Jenny, Mark, Jane, Gareth, Tara, Bonnie, Danny, Hollie, Nathan, Chelcie, Alex, Charis, Micheal, Lauren, Jake, Lexie, Roen, Phoebe, Darby, Jack, Reeney.
The funeral took place at Parc Gwyn, Narberth on December 30.
All donations in lieu of flowers for the HDU-ITC units at Withybush Hospital can be sent to Alison Trew, 20 Church Road Johnston, Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire SA62 3HE.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Roy Folland and Son, of Haverfordwest.
© Copyright 2001-2017 Newsquest Media Group


text:
It's been a long time since we've seen Burger King's creepy King mascot—BK cut him out of their ad campaigns last year—but thanks to Atlanta-based "surreal comedy group" The Woodcreek Faction, your nightmares may be reignited by this video of a prancing King handing out free Whoppers at a McDonald's in Rome, Georgia.
When the manager asked him why he was passing out burgers, he claimed he was raising money and awareness for a children's charity. Which children exactly? "It's for all the children," he explained.
The manager called the police, but the King got away before the police arrived. Read more from the police report at the Rome News-Tribune.
About the author: Robyn Lee is the editor of A Hamburger Today and takes many of the photos for Serious Eats. She'll also doodle cute stuff when necessary. Read more from Robyn at her personal food blog, The Girl Who Ate Everything.
Love hamburgers? Then you'll Like AHT on Facebook! And go follow us on Twitter while you're at it!


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10th Annual Circus Luminous
Wise Fool New Mexico—Santa Fe's homegrown, world-class circus, puppetry and teaching troupe—returns with the 10th iteration of one of its most breathtaking offerings: Circus Luminous. Much more than just an acrobatic performance, the event also features music and dance, drawing on the homegrown talent Wise Fool constantly fosters. It's common for this show—a Thanksgiving tradition for many local families—to sell out, so hurry up and get your tickets now! This year, the performance's three-day run culminates in Wise Fool's pricey but inspiring "Luminous Feast" fundraiser at Taberna La Boca.
7 pm Friday, Nov. 23; 2 pm Saturday, Nov. 24; 4 pm Sunday, Nov. 25. $10-$30. The Lensic, 211 W San Francisco St., 988-7050
Canyon Road Farolito Walk
Canyon Road is magical, sure—but when you see it decorated to the eaves with holiday lights and farolitos, music and the scent of woodsmoke in the air, it takes on a whole new identity. Santa Fe's premier holiday event is free and open to the public, and it's a wonderfully unique way to spend Christmas Eve. Executive board member Mary Bonney tells SFR that this year's event will feature more live music, as well as treasured favorites like the world's tallest elf. (Yes, you read that right.) Bonney estimates that more galleries will also be open this year, with many thousands of people in attendance to share in the holiday spirit. "It's not as big as Mardi Gras—and not as drunk," Bonney jokes—which is just about perfect for Santa Fe.
3:30-7:30 pm Monday, Dec. 24. Free. Canyon Road. Visit farolitowalk.com for more information.
40th Annual Chama Ski Classic and Winter Fiesta
Every year, the tiny town of Chama throws a giant party over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend—for kids and adults, skiers and snowshoers, spectators and participants. Ski and snowshoe races range from 15 to five kilometers in length and are held throughout the weekend, but you don't have to be that hardcore to have fun at this all-ages event. There's also a costume contest, a "chile/chili" competition, live music, broom hockey, various guided tours and a host of clinics (ranging from avalanche rescue to ski waxing). Can you think of a better way to celebrate MLK's inclusive dream in a New Mexico winter wonderland?
Friday, Jan. 18-Sunday, Jan. 21. Times and locations vary. Visit chamaski.com for more information.
2nd Annual Winter Fiesta
If you live in Santa Fe, you probably consider winter a time of hibernation. Either you wholly embrace your right to curl up next to the woodstove with that 900-page novel you've been meaning to read, or you want to go out, but have given up because everybody else is at home, curled up with a 900-page novel. Sigh no more, young hipsters! SantaFe.com's second annual Winter Fiesta brings you 10 whole days of food, music and events to brighten up those dark winter evenings. From the famous BluCrawl bar crawl to comedy events, ski movies, reggae, salsa, live music and a "craft beer and comfort food" festival, you'll have more to do than you can handle. So, get all the book-reading, home-staying, hot-toddy-sipping hibernation out of your system now, because you won't want to miss this fun, wide-ranging event.
Jan. 27-Feb. 5. Times and locations vary. Visit santafe.com for more information.


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Tax and Car Decal Deadline
Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Sept. 30, 2005
There Is Still Time to Pay Taxes and Purchase Car Decals
Fairfax County residents are reminded that 2005 personal property taxes and green-colored vehicle decals for year 2006 must be paid for by Oct. 5. Residents can take advantage of several payment options by mail, telephone, computer or kiosks throughout the county to avoid long last-minute lines.
Decals do not have to be displayed until Nov. 16. As long as payment is made by Oct. 5, the decal will arrive by mail in time to meet the Nov. 16 deadline to display the decal on the vehicle if the decal has not already been mailed out.
Tax payments can be made:
- On the Internet – Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta and pay by electronic check or credit card (VISA, MasterCard and Discover).
- At banks – Pay at local branches of the following banks in Fairfax County: Bank of America, Sun Trust and Wachovia. These payments must be made on or before the due date of Oct. 5. You must bring your bill and pay the exact amount billed.
- By phone – For VISA and MasterCard, call 703-222-6740, TTY 711. If using Discover, call 703-222-8234, TTY 703-222-7594, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- By mail – Must be postmarked by Oct. 5. Send checks only (no cash) payable to Fairfax County to the Department of Tax Administration, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 223, Fairfax, VA 22035.
- At the county's electronic kiosks – Use your Discover, MasterCard or VISA card at county kiosks located in the following libraries: Centreville, Chantilly, Dolley Madison, Fairfax City, George Mason, John Marshall, Kings Park, Kingstowne, Pohick, Reston, Sherwood and Tysons-Pimmit. Additional kiosks are located at Fair Oaks Mall, Springfield Mall, Tysons Corner Center, Reston Town Center, Tysons West Park Transit Station, Adult Detention Center (Sheriff's Office), Fairfax City Museum, Mason Governmental Center, South County Government Center, Inova HealthPlex in Springfield, the Pennino Building, the Fairfax County Government Center and the Town of Warrenton Library.
- In person: Pay by check, cash or credit card (VISA, MasterCard and Discover) at the Fairfax County Government Center, Department of Tax Administration, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 223, Fairfax. There will be extended hours at this location, Monday through Wednesday until Oct. 5, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Department of Tax Administration also will be open to the public on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All personal property taxes for all vehicles must be paid by the due date of Oct. 5 before a decal for tax year 2006 will be issued. There is a 10 percent penalty plus interest for late personal property tax payments.
Fairfax County taxes the following types of personal property: automobiles, trucks, vans, motor homes, mobile homes, motorcycles and trailers. Currently, the state-authorized tax reduction is 70 percent of the value up to $20,000 on qualifying personal-use vehicles. Taxpayers will see that amount reflected in the bill they receive from Fairfax County.
Anyone owning personal property before July 1 that is subject to tax should have received a bill in the mail by Sept. 15. Failure to receive a bill does not exempt individuals from paying personal property taxes, purchasing decals or incurring late payment penalties. Residents are asked to check their tax bills upon receipt to make sure the information is accurate. If they did not receive a bill or if the bill is incorrect, they should call 703-222-8234, TTY 703-222-7594.
Owners of newly purchased vehicles (including vehicles formerly leased) and new residents with vehicles must register those vehicles with the county and purchase a county decal within 60 days of purchase or residency. Declaration forms are available at the Department of Tax Administration, or by calling 703-222-8234, TTY 703-222-7594. You can also download tax forms from www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta, report vehicle changes and calculate the proration of certain vehicle taxes.
For recorded personal property tax information using a touch-tone phone, call the county's 24-hour automated information system at 703-324-INFO (703-324-4636) and press 1, 5, 2. Residents can
also obtain tax information from www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta.


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ohad wrote:Max is having a cup of tea in his best friend Morris's house. Morris was commenting on the time and the fact that his wife had not yet returned home from her shopping.
"Beckie's two hours late, Max."
"She's probably been kidnapped or she's been involved in a terrible car crash," replies Max, "or maybe she's still shopping." "Oy Vay!" says Morris, "I hope she's not shopping!"
Taken from: http://www.awordinyoureye.com/
I think that Morris`s wife spends a lot of money shopping and that is the reason why he was shocked


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THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web
If your domain includes working with Microsoft connected systems (BizTalk, Windows
Workflow Foundation, Windows Communication Foundation, SQL Server, Visual Studio,
etc.) then you should be aware of this user group.
The UG covers the greater Seattle area, but you can stay engaged through their Website.


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Ray Lewis has at least one more game to play. And so do the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens forced overtime courtesy of a desperation 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Jacoby Jones with under a minute remaining, then won it on Justin Tucker's 47-yard field goal 1:42 into double overtime to upset the top-seeded Denver Broncos 38-35 Saturday and advance to the AFC championship game next Sunday.
Baltimore's winning score was set up when Corey Graham intercepted a Peyton Manning pass at the Broncos' 45-yard line. It was Graham's second interception of the day, the first being a pick-six in the first half off a tipped pass.
WHAT WE LEARNED: Ravens shows resilience; John Fox too conservative
Lewis, who led the Ravens with 17 tackles over this nearly 77-minute game, kneeled down to the ground and put his helmet on the rock-solid turf when it was over.
"Our team is so confident and everything went against us," Lewis said, "but we found a way to come here together and we're leaving together. It's just awesome."
The No. 4-seeded Ravens will play on the road next week against the winner of Sunday's game between the Houston Texans and New England Patriots.
With 12:09 left in regulation and the game tied at 28, Manning led the Broncos on a clock-chewing, five-minute drive capped by a Demaryius Thomas' 17-yard touchdown catch. It was a drive that appeared to sap a considerable amount of energy from the Ravens' defense.
The Ravens responded with a drive into Broncos territory, but it ended on downs at the Denver 31 after Flacco's 4th-and-5 pass to Dennis Pitta was incomplete and gave the Broncos the ball back with 3:12 left.
The Broncos picked up one first down, but the Ravens used their allotment of timeouts and forced a punt after Denver opted to play it safe on third down instead of giving Manning a shot at winning the game outright. That gave the Ravens one last chance with 1:09 left and no timeouts.
On third-and-3 from his 30 with 41 seconds and no timeouts left, Flacco bought time in the pocket and saw Jones sprinting down the right sideline into double coverage. Defensive back Tony Carter slowed up and let Jones streak by him. Instead of staying step for step with Jones, safety Rahim Moore tried to leap and knock down the ball. Flacco, who throws the high, deep ball as well as anyone, got it over Moore's head and into Jones' hands.
Jones caught it and pranced into the end zone, blowing kisses to the crowd. That set up the extra session after the Broncos opted to kneel away the final 31 seconds.
"At that point, you have to start taking shots," Flacco said. "You have to get a little lucky. Had to take a shot and everyone came through."
The Ravens' victory extends the 17-year career of Lewis, the heart and soul of the team's defense who has announced he will retire after this season.
"That football game," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, "did football proud."
The game also saw history made—twice. Broncos return man Trindon Holliday returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, then returned the opening kickoff of the second half 104 yards for another score. Both returns were the longest in NFL postseason history. It was also the first time a player returned both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in playoff history.
The Broncos had rolled into the playoffs on an 11-game winning streak but had to swallow a bitter defeat, abruptly ending the successful comeback season of Manning.


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The King makes a triumphant return in 2010...
For a great selection of action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, SmallJoes.com, PastGenerationToys.com, SuperHeroToys.com, MonkeyDepot.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, and Sekaido.com.
For a great selection of pop culture t-shirts and apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.
Toy Guru has posted the following information on the MattyCollector forums regarding the upcoming King Grayskull figure re-release:
It seems that the Grayskull re-release will be significantly different from the SDCC version so many MOTU fans will definitelly want to pick this figure up at end of the year.We've confirmed a few times that yes Grayskull will be back as a non subscription figure in Q4 2010. This was kinda our last shot since in 2011 all the figures will be in the subscription and we didn't want to release him in 2011 as part of the sub when some fans already have him.
This way by releasing him as the last non sub figure in 2010 it leaves fans open to choose whether or not they want him.
We did plus him up with an improved deco, some extra little surprises, and slightly different accessories including one all new accessory that is way cool.


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Back to school shouldn't mean back inside for kids. While busy school schedules, sports and other extra-curricular activities make free time for playing outdoors or a trek to the park more challenging, National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Learning Initiative at North Carolina State University, have developed a guide to creating enticing outdoor play spaces as close as your backyard, patio or balcony.
Nature Play at Home : A Guide for Boosting Children's Healthy Development and Creativity shows parents and caregivers how they can turn an uninspired outdoor environment into an entertaining and exciting play area that will have kids from 1-12 years welcoming that frequent parental command, "Go outside and play!"
The hazards associated with the new "indoor childhood" are well documented. The most serious by far is the risk of increased childhood obesity. Playing in nature and helping in the garden are ways to foster a more balanced and healthy lifestyle. According to the guide, being outdoors in nature offers multiple benefits: children may be better learners, play more cooperatively, experience less stress, be healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the outdoors. Even ADHD symptoms may be reduced.
"Children have a natural affinity toward nature. Dirt, water, plants and small animals attract and hold children's attention for hours, days, even a lifetime," said Robin Moore, Director of the Natural Learning Initiative.
The guide provides step-by-step instructions to create a fun-filled Nature Play Space where children learn by:
"Parents indicate they want their kids to experience nature, but it can be difficult to find an opportunity that fits a busy schedule," said Allen Cooper, Senior Education Manager for National Wildlife Federation. "This guide demonstrates ways to make nature a part of every play date."
Limited space shouldn't deter home owners from embarking on Nature Play Space projects. The Nature Play at Home Guide includes a whole section on "small space solutions" so even patios, small yards and balconies can provide opportunities for kids to connect with nature.
The Nature Play at Home Guide supports National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There movement to reconnect families with the outdoors. NWF's practical ideas and activities help make being outside a fun, healthy and automatic part of everyday life for American families. Check out www.beoutthere.org for information to get children and their families back outside – where they belong!
"So… open the door, allow your children to breathe the fresh air, listen to the bird song, and be with nature," concluded Moore.
The full Nature Play at Home Guide can also be found at www.nwf.org/natureplayguide


text: Quick, while the weather in Southern California still feels vaguely like winter. Go to Santa Monica Seafood in Costa Mesa and order a big steaming bowl of San Francisco-style cioppino. Classic Italian fisherman's stew doesn't get much better than this, an oversized bowl generously filled with lobster tail, prawns, mussels and clams in a hearty, tomato-based broth. Some of the clams are almost the size of hockey pucks. Everything tastes like it just came off the fishing boat. Of course it helps that this place is first and foremost a fish market. The restaurant component was remodeled about a year ago, yet it still feels undiscovered, at least for dinner. But that's also when the cioppino makes the most sense, just as the night's cold air is starting to roll in. Lunchtime, on the other hand, is packed — and there's a lobster roll on nearly every table. Is it the best lobster roll in the world? Probably not. But it might indeed be the fattest. The top-split hot-dog buns are stuffed with what feels like a pound of lobster chopped into large chunks and tossed with just enough mayo to get the whole thing lightly lubricated.


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Cuba Today: An Interview with Ricardo Alarcon
From Cuba, May/June 2007
The president of Cuba's National Assembly outlines the country's policies and goals in the face of Bush administration hostility
(continued from page 4)
Alarcon is a devoted cigar smoker. He began smoking cigars in the 1950s while he was a student at the University of Havana, where he was president of the student union. Ever since, he has enjoyed a fine cigar almost every day. "I light my cigar the first thing in the morning, and I spend the rest of the day with one," says Alarcon, whose favorite smoke is the Cohiba Lanceros. "My wife says I have a sixth finger."
James Suckling, European editor of Cigar Aficionado, met with Alarcon twice at the beginning of the year. The interview below is from his second meeting with the politician in the offices of Cuba's National Assembly in Havana. Alarcon's personal assistant, Miguel Alvarez Sanchez, and friend Miguel Barnet, the esteemed Cuban writer, were also present.
Cigar Aficionado: How is Fidel Castro at the moment? In our last meeting, you said that he would be a much less public figure than in the past.
Ricardo Alarcon: He is doing fine, and I would never want to forecast what will happen with him, or when he will appear, or anything else. I don't like to do this for one simple reason: everybody should be accustomed to be surprised by him. That won't happen again to me. Fidel Castro is older than me, but he is one of the strongest men I have ever known. I remember many long nights working with him. And we would be very tired. But he would be moving around like the youngest guy in the room. There would be Carlos Lage, Felipe Perez Roque and others, and we felt like the old guys in the room.
Cubans hate to be ridiculed. It is very risky to say how Fidel Castro will be. But he is doing very well. He is improving.
CA: The problem was something with his intestines. It was never cancer, right?
Alarcon: No. No. No. It was not cancer. But the operation that he had by definition takes a lot of time to recover from. And this is especially so when you are 80 years old. It wasn't done at the best time, but it had to be done. So now he has to recover.
CA: Do you see him very often?
Alarcon: No, but I have been in contact with him very often.
CA: How would you compare Raúl Castro to his brother Fidel? Doesn't he come from more of a military background?
Alarcon: First of all, he doesn't really come from a military background. He and others had to go to the Sierra Maestra to fight. But Fidel Castro's background was law. It was not in the military, and Raúl was also a student. Life made them become otherwise.... Raúl was in charge of the national defense, the armed forces and so on. And, of course, he did go to various military academies himself to organize an army. In this sense, he has been in the military, but not really.
CA: What sort of man is he?
Alarcon: Every profession has its characteristics. One thing is to be a writer, an artist or something. You accept certain qualities with your job. Military...it's discipline and organization. The problem is that when you speak of military, many people just think of war. It's because we watch the news, or something else.... It is the same for any military person—an American, a Cuban or whomever. They need to be individuals who get up and they are ready to mobilize rapidly. A writer or an artist doesn't have to be ready to stand up and go. A military has to be ready to stand up and go.
CA: I see many people in the media describing him as pragmatic.
Alarcon: Of course, he has to be pragmatic. Fortunately. Imagine having a military chief who is not pragmatic? That is what you expect to have. You don't want a person to lead by his imagination and fantasies in that position.
CA: How would you describe Raúl then? What sort of man is he? People don't know a lot about him.
Alarcon: The answer isn't very easy. He loves his life and his family. He is very attached to his family, especially his wife. He has been very active in raising his family, all of his children. They are all very well educated. This is why he has almost fought to spend time with his family and continues what he has been doing with them as always.
CA: So you are saying he is a very private person and a man who values time with his family?
Alarcon: This may explain why this aspect of Raúl is not very well known because it is not supposed to be known. It is something that you have to protect.
CA: Raúl is more private than Fidel?
Alarcon: No. Raúl is as much private as Fidel is.
CA: What is his management style then? How is it different than Fidel? Have you seen a change in government?
Alarcon: Raúl was already part of that government when Fidel Castro asked him to take over in July last year. He was second in command. What happened was a provisional handover of the responsibility from Fidel to Raúl. And frankly speaking, why should anybody assume that there has been any change whatsoever? It was not appointing somebody who was not supposed to be the person to take over those responsibilities. It was simply his role that was conceived for him. He was already second in command to take care of any substitution necessity.
CA: Is his position still considered provisional then?
Alarcon: It is a provisional position. Raúl has said that several times.
CA: But there has been so much talk about a transition in the Cuban government since Fidel's illness. So are you saying that nothing has really changed in the government? There is no transition?
Alarcon: There is no transition. The only thing is that you don't see Fidel in the way that you may have been seeing him last year. For example, there was a ceremony yesterday that Raúl decided to go to. The minister of economic development was there and Raúl was presiding over the ceremony. Maybe if Fidel had been there he would have made a speech. Maybe. Or maybe he would have been harassed by the media to say something.... But Raúl went there, sat down, listened, applauded and then got up and left.
CA: So it really is a different style?
Alarcon: Yes. It is a different style. Of course.
CA: But people make much more out of it than simply style.
Alarcon: That is it. Style.
CA: Raúl is not a young man. Neither is his brother. What about the new generation coming up in the political system? Are you excited about that?
Alarcon: I think that in a way my generation can say that that reality is the confirmation of our victory. I see people taking responsibilities and doing things as part of the new wave of individuals that believe in our society. It's not just the top echelon of the government but it is the society in general. They are our children, or even grandchildren. It is a completely different feeling than anybody thought we would have. And for us it is a great source of joy.
CA: Do you think with this new generation we will see a new attitude, or even relationship, with the United States?
Alarcon: Raúl himself has said more than once that the best thing for the U.S. would be to solve this confrontation with Cuba when Fidel Castro and his generation are in charge. Raúl has said this many times. He said that it would be much more difficult after than it would be to do it now.
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text:
Sin City Sketchbook: Vol.1
Flying into Las Vegas made me realize that all other complaints I have made regarding turbulence were wild exaggerations, uncorroborated by reality. I'm not sure this pilot had ever flown before. I have never in my life felt motions like this, the plane tracing complex pictograms in some devil's language. Kara suggested that I have a mint, which she said would help, and I tried to imagine how a piece of candy would improve the impact and subsequent explosion of the aircraft. She was right, though. I closed my eyes and focused on the taste of it, that coordinate in the living universe, and fashioned for myself a green world prior to the invention of planes.
Hello from Las Vegas. I'm sorry that this is late, but I thought they would have some kind of internet solution at our hotel which proved foolhardy.
We have produced for you a comic which concerns our first night here, and is sketched according to ancient con traditions. I really like to gamble, a lot, I am almost positive I have some sort of untreated disorder. Always before it has been slots, and it was slots again last night. Tonight, though, I'm ready to try my hand at losing the real money. Everybody always sends you down here with their own illicit, homebrewed mechanism for gambling success - lucky machines, rituals, etcetera. I don't know if you've ever seen the Las Vegas strip, heaped itself like a buffet with faux cultures and obscene proclamations of wealth and grandeur. I'm just saying it's not hard to tell who has the winning strategy around here.
For some reason, I had thought of this place and geekery as exclusive propositions, but I don't think that's really borne out. For one thing, like creatures at the cracks in the bottom of the sea, our people can survive in the harshest conditions. I see arcades here frequently, and even if they're just to occupy children while daddy bets their home they serve our purpose. Obviously, a comic convention out here will produce a sort of geek algae bloom - but one thing I have heard spoken of with consistent affection is the Star Trek Experience and Quark's Bar. I'd link you to those things, but I don't have internet access - I'm sure you understand. At any rate, the "Experience" is a ride that I imagine is similar conceptually to Star Tours. Quark's Bar is, of course, a recreation of the establishment in Deep Space Nine, finest of all Trek Series.
I hope to see you at this thingy we're at, although I realize that Las Vegas might be somewhat out of the way - look for us in the 900's, near the end, right by Dumbrella. My heart is sick with the thought of all those releases while we're over here, should you remain at home I need you to play Call Of Duty online in my stead. Something tells me I'm asking the right group of people.
(CW)TB out. riding around on my bike with no helmet


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Late homer spoils Cahill's strong outing
Putz blows save after allowing two-run shot in ninth
PHOENIX -- Tuesday night's game had a storybook feel to it for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
At least right up until Pablo Sandoval's two-run homer in the ninth led to a nightmarish ending as the D-backs fell, 2-1, to the Giants at Chase Field.
The D-backs and Giants have faced each other five times this year with all of the games being decided by two runs or less.
"That's what baseball's about, dude," Giants right fielder Hunter Pence said. "These games against Arizona have been unbelievably close, incredible baseball battles. It's like the smallest things go the longest ways."
Right from the start, this one looked to be a nip-and-tuck affair with the two starters -- D-backs right-hander Trevor Cahill and Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner -- locking horns in a classic pitcher's duel.
Through seven innings, both pitchers were working on three-hit shutouts.
"I felt like everything was down in the zone and I made the pitches when I had to," Cahill said. "I trusted my stuff and let them get themselves out."
Bumgarner would depart first as the Giants pinch-hit for him in the top of the eighth.
San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy then turned to Santiago Casilla, who entered the game not having allowed a home run this season.
That changed when Josh Wilson crushed a 1-2 offering into the bleachers in left for his first home run since June 5, 2011, a span of 95 big league at-bats. That homer, which came when he was with the Brewers, was a game-winning shot.
It seemed like this one would be as well.
The Wilson homer came on the seventh pitch of the at-bat after he fouled off a nasty slider from Casilla.
"He tried to come with a fastball in and I was just thinking to try and put it in play," Wilson said. "Sometimes the barrel meets it just right and I was fortunate to get the homer out of it."
With a lead, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson decided to let Cahill, who had thrown just 82 pitches, hit for himself later in the eighth.
When the ninth started, though, Gibson did not like what he saw. Cahill threw three pitches in the dirt and when leadoff man Angel Pagan lined a single to right, Gibson brought in closer J.J. Putz.
"It's always frustrating," Cahill said of not finishing the game. "I figured he'd leave me in until I got somebody on. I felt like I made a lot of my pitches and kept the ball down all night. I left one up and he got a hit. It's real frustrating when you're so close and you can't finish it out. You're going to kick yourself maybe even more than if I'd only gone three innings and given up 10. It's a bad feeling."
Said Gibson, "He pitched a great game, right on through to the ninth inning. But he threw three to the backstop in the ninth and I didn't want him to get the loss, so I took him out and went to our closer. It's a no-brainer. It's a pretty good lineup you're facing, and it's in the middle of it."
Putz looked sharp in striking out the first batter he faced, Marco Scutaro, and he jumped ahead of Sandoval 0-1 before he hung a split-finger fastball that Sandoval crushed for a two-run homer.
"I made some good pitches on Scutaro, some good pitches on [Buster] Posey," Putz said. "The one to Pablo just didn't come out of my hand. That's pretty much how the split is. If it doesn't come out of your hand right, that's pretty much what's going to happen."
The split has been Putz's out pitch for years, but he has struggled with it in 2013. Hanging splits were hit for game-tying homers earlier this year by Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli and the Giants' Brandon Belt. So far this year, Putz is 5-for-9 in save opportunities.
"You can't make mistakes to Sandoval like that, he's a really good hitter," Gibson said. "I had confidence in my closer, it didn't work out tonight."
Putz has blown four saves this year, matching his total for all of 2011. Last year he blew five saves. The D-backs have blown nine saves this year, but Gibson said after a tough loss was not the time to say whether he was considering making changes with the bullpen structure.
"Not right now," he said. "We just lost the game, [Putz] feels as bad as anybody. I'm aware of the blown saves. Given that, we've battled back pretty good, actually thought we'd come back and at least tie it up and win the game later."
Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Inside the D-backs, and follow him on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Believe it or not, men worry about hemlines, too. And when it comes to how short shorts should be, there is a growing debate. After seasons of long, droopy shorts ruling the lower bodies of men, they have been creeping up on some of summer's hottest bodies. Matthew McConaughey (left) has become the ubiquitous boy of summer, spending all of his time outdoors in shorts and not much else. If you can pry your eyes off his torso, you'll see that he is sporting the most popular short length for the summer: just at the knee. For those who feel even buffer? They may follow Hugh Jackman's (middle) lead and head for a few inches above the knee. Or for the superfit, like David Beckham (right), the teeny, tiniest briefs will do nicely.
Tell us: What length do you like men's shorts?
To see more Guy Style click here
For more summer fun, check out our 9 Star Ways to Beat the Heat Gallery
Photo: DR/X17, carlos costas/austra/zuma, louie d/ldpimages


text:
Market Views▼
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As a non-fundamental operating policy, under normal market conditions, the fund will invest 70% or more of its portfolio in non-U.S. dollar denominated investments and gold-related investments which may be denominated in U.S. dollars. The fund may invest, for temporary or defensive purposes, more than 30% of its assets in U.S. dollar denominated investments.
Current performance may be lower or higher than what is stated.
Bond prices are sensitive to changes in interest rates, and a rise in interest rates can cause a decline in their prices.
Performance quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost.
Click the Performance tab for maximum sales charge and standard fund performance.
International investing involves special risks including currency risk, increased volatility, political risks, and differences in auditing and other financial standards.
Diversification does not assure a profit nor protect against loss.
The fund is a non-diversified investment company. As such, it will likely invest in fewer securities or securities issued by fewer foreign governments than diversified investment companies, and its performance may be more volatile. If the securities in which the Federated Prudent DollarBear Fund invests perform poorly, the Federated Prudent DollarBear Fund could incur greater losses than it would have had it invested in a greater number of securities.
Investments in gold and precious metals are subject to additional risks such as the possibility of substantial price fluctuations over a short period of time.
The holdings percentages are based on net assets at the close of business on the date above, and may not necessarily reflect adjustments that are routinely made when presenting net assets for formal financial statement purposes. Because this is a managed portfolio, the investment mix will change.
1 Portfolio holdings for money market funds are available on the 5th business day of the month. Portfolio holdings for equity and fixed-income funds are available the 30th of the month following calendar quarter end. If the 30th falls on a weekend or holiday, the portfolios will be available on the next business day.
Investors should carefully consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a summary prospectus or prospectus containing this and other information, contact us or view the prospectus provided on this website. Please carefully read the summary prospectus or prospectus before investing.
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text:
AnticsLanguage brain teasers are those that involve the English language. You need to think about and manipulate words and letters.
Fill in the sentence below so that the first two words combine to make the third word. For example, given "The prime minister ____ the meeting, even though the ____ was technically the ____ official," you would fill in RAN, KING, and RANKING.
I ___ so ___ to his antics that I am no longer ___ by them.
AnswerI AM so USED to his antics that I am no longer AMUSED by them.
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text:
heart wrote:Pero wrote:What's the difference between all these books and Luminous Essence: A Guide To The Guhyagarbha Tantra by Mipham?
Light of Berotsana also translated "Luminous Essence" as "Essence of Clear Light" only difference is that the Light of Berotsana one is restricted. The translations on the commentary of the Guhyagarbha Tantra that Light of Berotsana done are considered the most important ones. Amazing work since it also have the complete transcripts of the teachings of these commentaries by Khenpo Namdrol published. Amazing work, it should all be available for everyone unrestricted.
Longchenpa's commentary is a lot longer than the Luminous Essence one and include a vast vision of every aspect of Buddhism. The Khenpo brothers commentary is a short way of explaining the Guhyagarbha Tantra using only a few chapters, but it is the one that is easiest to read. I haven't read the others.
Thank you.


text:
Price puts Tigers back into playoff spot
Lefty caps eight innings of one-run ball by escaping bases-loaded jam
DETROIT -- The largest crowd at Comerica Park since Opening Day made it through concert traffic, road construction, a classic car cruise and other obstacles to watch David Price's home debut as a Tiger. The only traffic they were watching in the eighth inning of the Tigers' eventual 4-2 win were Mariners cluttering the basepaths and manager Brad Ausmus walking to the mound.
Whenever Rays manager Joe Maddon had visited the mound on him in Tampa Bay, he indicated, he was usually done. With the tying run on base after a one-out walk to the No. 9 hitter Chris Taylor, Price figured the same fate awaited him here. Ausmus had his bullpen up and warming, but he wasn't pointing. The visit was so brief that he was barely talking.
It was quick enough that it resembled Ausmus' predecessor, Jim Leyland, marching to the mound in a similar situation last year and telling Justin Verlander he was going to get his manager fired. It wasn't nearly that dramatic.
"I wanted to get a feel for how he was doing," Ausmus said. "But he made it extremely clear that he was good."
Said Price: "A lot of guys might look down and say, 'I'm fine,' and then the manager probably doesn't believe them. So I made sure I stared him right in his eyes and I let him know that I was fine."
That was good enough for Ausmus.
"I'm pretty sure that's the first time I ever had the manager come out and I've been able to stay in the game," Price said. "That's cool. I love that."
So, too, did Ausmus.
"He was good," Ausmus said, "And I was happy."
Tigers fans have asked about Ausmus' decisions on pulling starters or sticking with them several times in his first season at the helm. This wasn't one of them. As Ausmus walked back to the dugout, he received an ovation.
And after Price struck out ex-Tiger Austin Jackson and retired Dustin Ackley to leave the bases loaded, much of the sellout crowd of 43,833 rose to their feet to give Price a standing ovation.
"It was a great atmosphere," Price said. "It was fun, and I enjoyed it."
The victory puts the Tigers back into the second American League Wild Card spot, a half-game ahead of the M's. It also drew Detroit within a half-game of the AL Central lead after the Royals lost at Minnesota.
More importantly, it gave a reminder that the Tigers can put an ace against the best pitcher in the league and come out on top, not just with stingy innings but with good at-bats. While Price earned his first win as a Tiger, Detroit earned Felix Hernandez an early exit.
"They had a good approach, a tough approach," said Hernandez, who gave up two runs over five innings before leaving as a precaution following a comebacker off his hip. "They took a lot of pitches."
Hernandez came in with a record streak of 16 consecutive starts with seven innings or more and two runs or less allowed. Even at that standard, Price likely would have outpitched him. However, the Tigers milked pitches out of Hernandez early, putting up four singles in the first eight batters and lengthening at-bats otherwise.
"We were able to get to him," catcher Alex Avila said, "but the thing about Felix is when you get to him, it's two runs. You have to make sure you have a guy like David Price."
Though the two starters had never pitched opposite each other like this before, the Tigers acquired Price 16 days ago with matchups like these in mind. They were just thinking about October rather than August. That was before the combination of an August slump and a late-summer tear from the Royals knocked Detroit out of first place in the division.
Once the M's beat them Friday night for a fifth straight win, the Tigers were on the outside looking in on the Wild Card race as well. And Price transitioned from playoff trump card to late-summer slump-buster.
Price held the M's hitless for three innings before Jackson doubled leading off the fourth and scored on a Robinson Cano groundout. From there, Price retired 12 more Mariners in a row before a seventh-inning infield single.
By the time Price faced more than one runner on base, he was in the eighth. It ended up being his one real threat of the night. He finished with eight innings of three-hit ball with seven strikeouts.
"It's awesome," Price said. "Felix, the way he's been throwing the ball for his last 15, 16 starts, it's history. For us to be able to break that up, it's big. Whenever you face a guy like him, you have to come correct, and that's what we did tonight."
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Eliminating the Control Valve
Valves Are Energy Hogs; They Stick; They're Prone to Mechanical Failure. So Why the Reluctance to Replace Them With VFDs?
I have done a study regarding the use of a combination of variable-frequency drives (VFD) and pumping in flow control. The question I asked many users was "Why don't you use a VFD on an electric motor driving a pump for flow control instead of using a control valve?" Then I had to explain that the VFD converted a normal AC induction electric motor into a variable-speed motor, and it could be used to drive a centrifugal pump at variable speed to change the flow rate in the line, making the control valve unnecessary. This was news to more than 90% of the instrumentation engineers I interviewed. Their next question to me was "Why would I want to do that?"
My standard response was that using the VFD/pump combination instead of a control valve had these benefits:
- Dramatic energy cost reduction obtained by elimination of the pressure drop across the pump;
- Better control by elimination of control valve hysteresis or stickiness;
- Faster and more responsive flow control due to elimination of the control valve mechanical action;
- Elimination of a source of fugitive emissions;
- Electricity savings from the improvement in plant power factor.
However, I have yet to be able to confirm all of these benefits from anyone who actually used the VFD in this way.
Respondents to my survey said the main barriers to using the VFD/pump are these:
- Tradition. "We always use a control valve";
- The VFD is purchased by a different purchasing agent than the one who buys control valves;
- VFDs have a history of being unreliable;
- Our pumps are not designed to be used at variable speeds and would be too non-linear to use for control;
- We have never considered using an alternative to a control valve.
Analysis of Benefits
If the energy savings were small, then this would be a moot point. However, there are so many liquid flow pumps in processes that pump up to a high head, only to take that energy loss as pressure drop across a control valve, that this source of energy loss may be as much as 25% of the energy used to operate a refinery, paper mill or chemical plant. Then too, if we designed our processes from the beginning with the VFD/pump, we could use much smaller electric drive motors.
There are two factors at work here. We know that flow rate is linear with centrifugal pump rotational speed from the pump affinity laws, which directly addresses the perception of non-linearity in Item 4 above. We also know that the electric power needed to drive the pump at lower speeds to produce the reduced head then required is proportional to the cube of the speed ratio. Therefore, by removing the control valve completely from the flow path, the amount of energy saved is much larger than one would expect. Of course, reduced load on the electric motor means longer motor service life as well.
One of the characteristics of the VFD/pump combination is speed of response. Unlike the control valve that requires time to reposition the plug to change the pressure drop, the electric motor driving the pump will respond within a few cycles of the new frequency to operate at the new synchronous speed setpoint. The speed of the VFD/pump in responding to the new flow setpoint may be so rapid that the speed setpoint may need to be ramped to prevent the hammer effect that may occur in the process-filled liquid system when the speed setpoint is raised.
It is well known that the most often cited problem in tuning of PID control loops is the variable hysteresis introduced into the flow loop by control valve stickiness. The control valve also introduces a lag due to mechanical motion of the valve motor itself. Control loops that have been optimally tuned at plant startup must gradually be detuned as the stickiness of the control valve builds, or the loop may become unstable. In fact, most modern DCSs contain loop auto-tuning software that effectively compensates for control valve hysteresis—up to a point. The loop is gradually detuned, which actually causes the process setpoints to be set to allow for the increased process variability resulting from the detuning of flow and pressure control loops. Today, we seem to accept this kind of sub-optimal process performance, but we can do better by replacement of the major source of error—the control valve—with a VFD/pump.
The benefit obtained from the elimination of fugitive emissions known to originate at the packing of the control valve stem is obvious when the control valve is eliminated. A less obvious benefit of using a VFD rather than discrete motor starters and electrical contactors is operation at a near-linear power factor. The VFD presents itself to the AC power line as a resistive load with a unity power factor. When an AC induction motor is placed across the power line, as in a conventional control valve situation, the induction motor usually presents itself to the AC power line with a power factor that can vary over the range of 0.7 to 0.9, depending on the load and ratings on the motor. This power lag means that the amount of electricity consumed by the plant for each directly wired AC induction motor is its metered electricity divided by the power factor. In many plants with many such directly wired AC induction motors, the electric power utility may require the use of parasitic capacitors placed across each phase of the AC line just to correct the power factor. Parasitic capacitors require considerable investment and are a constant load for the plant consuming electricity. Use of VFDs eliminates the need for parasitic capacitors since they self-correct for power factor within their own circuits.
Analysis of Barriers
To be fair, the use of the VFD/pump arrangement has its negative side as well. Tradition is a powerful deterrent. Textbooks on process control do not teach that there are any alternatives to use of a control valve. Since the pump electric motors and their switchgear are purchased as part of the plant electrical system, it is natural that a VFD replacing motor starters and contactors are considered "electrical" and not instrumentation. These are human-created categories and can be overcome with proper education and executive decisions.
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text: I feel fortunate to have stumbled into type design some twenty odd years ago. What a great mash-up of art and commerce. I seem to be drawn to creative projects that have an inherent practicality to them; ceramics, building things of all kinds, and of course graphic design—which is practically all practicality. But type design is the ultimate practical art form to me.


text:
DEFENDING champions Melksham Town recovered from a 2-0 deficit to book their place in the semi-finals of the Wiltshire Senior Cup last weekend.
Matty Horsell and Sam Wadieh struck to put Hellenic League Highworth Town ahead at the Conigre but Darren Perrin's men roared back to notch up a 3-2 victory.
Gary Higdon and Dan Kovacs were both on target before Will Stead took advantage of a last-gasp error from the visiting goalkeeper to seal Melksham's progress.
Meanwhile, Bradford Town will be joining Melksham in the last four of the county cup after they battled past Pewsey Vale.
Paul Shanley's men were made to work hard for their victory at Trowbridge Road but battled to a 1-0 triumph thanks to a goal from substitute Dan Fowler.
Corsham Town were also knocked out of the competition as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Purton.
In the Toolstation League First Division, Wayne Wheeler was the hat-trick hero as Westbury United notched up their third victory in a row.
Matt Bown's men are 16th in the table after winning 3-2 at Roman Glass St George.
But there was disappointment for Warminster Town as they failed to upset the odds at promotion-chasing Welton Rovers, with Derek Graham and Andy Crabtree's men slipping to a 2-0 defeat.
MORE FOOTBALL NEWS AND REACTION IN THIS FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @WTSport