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What she did: On Tuesday against Acalanes in a North Coast Section semifinal, she was 3 for 4 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Then Saturday in the NCS championship game, she was 2 for 3, including a two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning that erased a 3-0 deficit against Campolindo and sent the game to extra innings. Campolindo eventually won it in the eighth.
What she said: "It was a pretty good week for my team and me. I surprised myself this season, for sure. It was probably my best season of my three years here at TL. I think I gained a lot more experience over the summer and I think when I came back, I was more prepared for this year. I had an idea what high school was like and it was just a better year overall."
What's next: She has already jumped into her next softball season, joining the Easton Elite squad in Petaluma, which played its first game of the summer season on Sunday. She is also looking forward to a big season next spring with hopes that it could lead to a chance to play softball in college. "I'm working to try to play in college. I really like the infield — I like third base and I like second base — but I don't know where I want to play."
Off the field: She played volleyball and soccer when she was younger, but gave up volleyball and then chose softball over soccer — both are spring sports — at Terra Linda. She stills plays recreational soccer and said most of her free time away from sports is spent with those who are closest to her. "I'm part of a big family, so they usually keep me busy," she said.
Trivial matter: She is a big music fan, with Imagine Dragons and The Killers — she has seen both in concert — among her favorite bands.
Coach Brad Lucchi: "Cheyenne is one of the most versatile players in the MCAL. She has played first base, second base, shortstop, outfield and third base for us over her three-year career and has done an outstanding job for us whenever asked to fill a need for us. She is definitely one of the top offensive producers on our team and in the league. She has a great work ethic and always wants to get better and practice more."
— Dave Curtis


text: I mean, really. Yesterday, I wore a Brooks Brothers shirt and tie, nice Italian odd slacks which had been pretty heavily altered for a better fit and a pair of brown Allen Edmonds Park Avenues to work (retail store manager). There was no one to take out the trash so the task fell to me and of course, one of the bags had sprung a leak and unbeknownst to me, deposited some form of liquid stain on everything I was wearing. Shirt, tie, pants and shoes. I immediately went to the restroom and attempted to soak the soiled parts of the shirt but failed abjectly. The tie? Toast. The jury is out on the pants until I get them to the dry cleaner and the spotted shoe might just survive to be worn another day. I was forced to walk through the store in my white tee shirt since the dress shirt was now thoroughly soaked. I reached the office and upon entering, discovered that my boss had arrived for a visit and was occupying a chair, regarding my attire with mild amusement/amazement. I was forced to put on the company issued manager shirt, which is a solid black cotton tee with the company logo emblazoned across the chest. No lie. CBD, for me used to consist of a pair of khaki pants and a BD denim chambray LS shirt with the company logo above the breast pocket. That degenerated into a series of polyester 3 button placket polos in various colors and has now bottomed out with this ridiculous black tee shirt. We are, of course, allowed to wear a dress shirt with or without a tie. So why am I here on styleforum? The original cost of ANY one item I was wearing (admittedly thrifted but more on that below) would have paid for my boss' entire outfit. I don't meet important clients who wear suits. I'm not going into court to try a case. I might meet the owner/CEO once a year. The addition of a necktie probably makes me one of the top ten best dressed in the company. What's the point of going to a job every day in clothes where there is a good likelihood that they will be ruined in an instant? In actual dollars/probable retail, the ruined clothing cost was as follows: Tie: $2 / $65 to $75 Shirt: $5 / $65 to $95 Pants: $6 + $15 alterations / $100? Shoes: $10 / $200 at Nordstrom rack or $300ish full retail So in reality, I've lost just over twenty bucks and probably less depending on final cleanup but that doesn't matter. The time spent finding these items counts for something and there's an intrinsic value to me. Dammit. I was wearing nearly $400 to $600 worth of clothing (not including the BB SC that I was not wearing at the time). I ask again. Why?

subset: commoncrawl


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The sky is pieced with diamonds, fussy cut especially for their color. A couple hundred of them. The water, cliffs and boat are all hand appliqued. This piece is called going home and was made for a 85 year old friend who loved to sail in his day.
close up pictures on my web site.www.kathymcneilquilts.com
New 80 Minute DVD Lecture and workshop on Landscape and Pictorial Quilting.


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Leeann Lee was instantly $50,000 richer when her name was drawn Friday night at the Infinite Energy holiday party at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom at the University of Florida.
First came the shock of hearing her name.
Then an overwhelming feeling of excitement and appreciation.
Leeann Lee was instantly $50,000 richer when her name was drawn Friday night at the Infinite Energy holiday party at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom at the University of Florida.
Lee hugged her husband, screamed and did a little jig before making her way to the stage, where company founders Darin Cook and Rich Blaser handed her an oversized check.
Lee, 49, is a sales support supervisor at the company, where she has worked for 11 years. She said the award will allow her to pay off credit card debt "and have some left over to buy a new pair of shoes."
It also will help her take care of her aging mother, which might include getting a bigger house.
"I called my mom. She cried. I called my sisters. They cried."
Infinite Energy has given away $100,000 at its holiday party each year since 2005, including the $50,000 grand prize, plus several smaller awards.
Infinite Energy, a Gainesville company that provides natural gas in four states and electricity in Texas, has been conducting the drawings since 2005. Another $50,000 is divided among two $10,000 prizes, four $5,000 prizes and four $2,500 prizes.
Lee won twice in one night about five years ago, starting with $2,500 before upgrading to $5,000.
Lee recalled that the founders' purpose of starting the giveaway was to change people's lives.
"It's definitely changed my life," Lee said on Monday. "It'll change my husband's. It'll change my mother's because we'll be able to take better care of her."
Lee has been taking Dave Ramsey Financial Wellness classes offered at work.
"I'm not going to go nuts first," she said. "I need to let it settle in and make the right choices."


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Saute the green onions for a few minutes, then add the rice and saute 2-3 minutes more. (I used Uncle Ben's Converted Rice, which is the lowest-glycemic type of white rice.)
Then add the stock and let the rice cook for 16 minutes.
Then fluff the rice with a fork and let it cool 20 minutes (for a lukewarm side dish) or 40 minutes (to serve as a rice salad.)
(Makes 4-6 servings, recipe adapted slightly from Cooking New American.)
1/4 cup sliced scallions (green onions)
1 T + 1 T olive oil
1 cup Uncle Ben's Converted Rice
2 cups chicken stock (I used homemade chicken stock, but can also use canned chicken broth)
zest from one lemon (about 2 tsp. lemon zest)
juice from one lemon (about 2 1/2 T lemon juice, or more to taste)
1/3 cup chopped cilantro (I think this would be good with parsley if you're not a fan of cilantro.)
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper (about 1/2 pepper)
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts (could probably use slivered almonds if you don't have pine nuts)
Heat 1 T oil in a large heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid. Add the scallions and saute 2-3 minutes, or until they are starting to soften. Then add the rice and saute 2-3 minutes more. Add the stock (being careful because it will sputter from the hot pan.) Bring rice to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer, cover pan, and cook 16 minutes. (Use a timer if you have one.)
While rice cooks, zest the lemon (grate off the yellow part of the peel), then squeeze lemon juice. (I would measure to be sure you have at least 2 1/2 T lemon juice, and squeeze another lemon if needed.) Finely dice 1/2 cup red bell pepper, and chop the cilantro.
After 16 minutes, check rice to be sure the stock is mostly absorbed, then turn off heat and let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes. Then uncover rice, fluff with a fork and let it cool for 20 minutes (to serve as a lukewarm side dish) or 40 minutes (to serve as a rice salad.)
When rice has cooled to your preference, combine the lemon zest, lemon juice, chopped red bell pepper, chopped cilantro, and second tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl, then stir into the rice. Taste to see if you want a bit more lemon juice, and season to taste with salt and fresh ground black pepper. Toast pine nuts in a dry pan for about 1 minute (until they barely start to brown, be careful not to burn!) Toss pine nuts into the rice and stir again, saving a few pine nuts to garnish the top of the serving bowl if desired. Serve immediately.
This would probably keep in the refrigerator for a day, but let come to room temperature again before serving.
South Beach Suggestions:
More Tasty Ideas with Rice:
(Recipes from other blogs may not always be South Beach Diet friendly; check ingredients.)
Lake Powell Spicy Rice from Kalyn's Kitchen
Black Bean, Rice, and Cilantro Salad from Kalyn's Kitchen
Basil and Parmesan Rice with Pine Nuts from Kalyn's Kitchen
Perfect Stovetop Brown Rice from A Veggie Venture
Spanish Rice Bake from Gluten-Free Goddess
Wild Fried Rice from 101 Cookbooks
Brown Rice with Vegetables from For the Love of Cooking
(Want even more recipes? I find these recipes from other blogs using Food Blog Search.)


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Siemens has launched in Italy the "Buildy Game" an online game targeting business professionals. The game, created by an advergame specialist like Adacto, is a simulation which takes users through four different scenarios, presenting them with the whole range of Siemens' business products. Playing the game users can collect points and therefore enter a draw to win small prizes. The initiative will be online until October.
adidas advergame advergames advertainment advertising ambient marketing australia belgium best brazil coca-cola email marketing facebook fashion france germany google heineken ikea infographic italy japan marketing mobile content mobile marketing msn nike nokia online ads online advertising online campaign online marketing print advertising rich media samsung sms spain sweden tvc twitter uk video of the day viral marketing volkswagen wieden + kennedy


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I think 7-15 is a crap shoot personally. I don't think the Nets will be as bad, and I don't expect the Knicks to improve that much, even w/ AmareQuote:
Each summer, HOOPSWORLD breaks down the offseason moves and ranks all of the teams in the Eastern Conference. This is a particularly tough task heading into the 2010-11 season. After all of the movement we've witnessed this offseason, last year's standings don't paint an accurate picture of where teams stand. For years, the West has been considered the stronger of the two conferences but with LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, Amar'e Stoudemire, John Wall, and Evan Turner finding new homes in the East, this could be the season that the trend changes.
One thing that is guaranteed to change is the top team in the East. After finishing with the top record last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers could very well finish as the worst team in the conference. Several contenders will fight for the number one seed but who will emerge as the top team after a summer of shuffling? HOOPSWORLD breaks down the Eastern Conference and where the teams stand today.
1. Miami Heat LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh were the objects of every team's desire and the Heat were able to sign all three at a bargain price. Throw in a cast of veterans hungry for a championship and it's clear that Miami is the East's best team on paper heading into the season. There have been some concerns about how the superstars with coexist and share the ball but that's a pretty good problem to have, especially after last season when Wade had very little help throughout the season and in the team's first round battle with the Boston Celtics. The Heat may not have the deepest bench but their starting lineup more than makes up for it and the reserves that will see the bulk of the minutes Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, Juwan Howard, and James Jones are experienced and will get the job done. Since winning the championship in 2006, Miami has been a struggling that was searching for their identity. But after an offseason of moves, they have emerged as the favorite in the East and dramatically changed the landscape of the conference.
2. Orlando Magic While other contenders made big additions this summer, the Magic took a different approach to the upcoming season. After shaking up the roster last offseason, Orlando's options were limited and decided that they only needed to make tweaks to the roster. Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard have developed some chemistry while reserves Jason Williams and Matt Barnes were replaced with Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson. The Magic continue to pursue Chris Paul, which would shrink the gap that Miami has created in the East, but even if they don't land the point guard they could still improve on the fifty-nine wins they had last season. Competing with Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington in the Southeast division will make things tough but this group is up for the challenge. Howard is improving offensively this summer, spending time with Hakeem Olajuwon among others, and the team expects this to be the year that his scoring increases. Until their surprising loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic were undefeated in the postseason and looking like the team to beat. They'll hope that their experiences together will carry over into next season and their chemistry will allow them to compete with the newly assembled powerhouse in their division.
3. Boston Celtics After dropping Game 7 of the NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers, many assumed that Boston's window had closed. But rather than rebuild the team, Danny Ainge was able to convince Doc Rivers into coaching for at least one more season while retaining Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Nate Robinson, and Marquis Daniels. Kendrick Perkins will sit out until February after undergoing surgery on his torn ACL so the team inked veteran Jermaine O'Neal with their mid-level exception. The Celtics may have another move up their sleeves, adding another wing such as Jarvis Hayes or Von Wafer to replace Tony Allen, but they'll be entering the season with very few new faces. As always, playing in the weak Atlantic division will help Boston as they should rack up some easy wins against Toronto, New Jersey, and possibly Philadelphia. With that said, the big question in Boston has always been can they're core remain healthy. Rajon Rondo has emerged as a star and the Celtics will receive nice contributions from their bench but they won't be able to compete for a championship if Pierce, Allen, or Garnett spends a lot of time in street clothes. Perkins will already miss a large chunk of the season and don't be surprised if Boston rests their Big Three to make sure that the group will available in time for the playoffs. As they proved last year, the regular season doesn't always matter as long as they are healthy and come together in time for the postseason.
4. Chicago Bulls If all goes as planned, this will be the season that the Chicago Bulls make the jump from promising young team to legitimate contender. The Miami Heat may have dominated the headlines this summer but the Bulls had an excellent offseason as well. Chicago was able to sign Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Watson, and Kurt Thomas without overspending. Meanwhile, adding Tracy McGrady to the mix remains a possibility. Carlos Boozer gives the team a second star alongside Derrick Rose and they've added specialty players that can shoot or defend. Last season, there were stretches in Chicago where players weren't stepping up and the team just couldn't win games. That shouldn't be a problem this season and expect a big improvement over last season's forty-one win total. Milwaukee is the only team that could give them issues in the Central division but they'll be able to walk over Cleveland, Detroit, and Indiana. The Bulls have put themselves in an excellent position and while the future is still promising, the present is looking pretty good as well.
5. Atlanta Hawks Last season, the Hawks seemed like they were ready to join the East's elite. That is, until the playoffs. After suffering the worst defeat in a playoff series, Atlanta is back to the drawing board this season. With the improvements made in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks seem like they'll be the odd team out when it comes to home court advantage. Atlanta finished with worse division records than Miami and Charlotte last season and their struggles will only continue as those teams, along with Washington, are poised to improve. The Hawks ensured that they would stay competitive by giving Joe Johnson a maximum deal but many have criticized the move. The team is already feeling the consequences of their spending and has been forced to shop Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams in exchange for financial relief. In recent years, the Hawks were competitive with the top teams in the conference but as those teams have made improvements and grown, the Hawks are in the same spot and will likely be stuck there for some time.
6. Milwaukee Bucks What if Andrew Bogut hadn't gotten injured just before the playoffs? Many have wondered if the Bucks would have been able to upset the Atlanta Hawks in the first round and put up a better fight against the Orlando Magic. But rather than dwelling on their bad luck, the Bucks have moved on a big way. Going into the offseason, Milwaukee wasn't one of the teams that were expected to make many moves. But several weeks later, the team has handed out contracts to Corey Maggette, Drew Gooden, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Keyon Dooling, Jon Brockman, and Larry Sanders while retaining John Salmons. The team that won without spending money is now taking things to another level by opening up their wallet. Rather than waiting for their talent to develop as we've seen the Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers do in recent years, the Bucks are being proactive by signing veterans and surrounding their youth with players that can help them experience success now. While Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut will still be the main options and most important players in Milwaukee, the new acquisitions give them some more weapons to work with and opposing teams will have to deal with a Bucks team that is looking to win now.
7. New York Knicks This is not a typo. The Knicks should make the playoffs for the first time since 2003 after adding significant pieces such as Raymond Felton, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Anthony Randolph this offseason. Mike D'Antoni finally has his point guard and New York has their star. While the team couldn't land LeBron James, they've done a terrific job putting together a team that can compete in the East as soon as this season. The Knicks, like the Magic, are still holding out hope that they can somehow land Chris Paul but the team will win more than twenty-nine games either way. Like the Celtics, they'll benefit from playing in the Atlantic division and if all of their new pieces can gel together, the Knicks will be playing in the postseason rather than watching from their living rooms.
8. Philadelphia 76ers This may seem too high for the young 76ers but all of the signs are pointing to a breakout season in Philadelphia. Doug Collins has already met with many of the players and they're buying into his system after struggling under Eddie Jordan last year. Andre Igoudala seems ready for a bigger role after working on his game and playing with Team USA. Everything is starting to come together for Jrue Holiday, who was finished as the Most Valuable Player of the Orlando Summer League after leading all players in points and assists. Marreese Speights showed glimpses of what he's capable of at times last season and he could emerge as a consistent contributor this season. Then there's that Evan Turner guy. While he didn't have the most impressive Summer League showing, he is a player that can contribute right away and will help this team surpass their twenty-seven win mark of last season. Philadelphia isn't an experienced squad and that will show at times next season, but there's no question that they've improved and could compete for the final seed in the East next season.
9. Charlotte Bobcats After being swept by the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs, many of Charlotte's players agreed that the team had given up. The young players lacked a sense of urgency and felt like they were in over their heads against the Magic. After losing Raymond Felton, Tyson Chandler, Theo Ratliff, and Larry Hughes this offseason, the Bobcats can almost count their veterans on one hand. Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson will keep the team fighting for a playoff spot but the team's success will ultimately depend on who steps up. Shaun Livingston played some of the best basketball of his career late in the season with the Wizards but is he ready to be the every night starter? Will Tyrus Thomas, Derrick Brown and Gerald Henderson be able to step up in increased roles? The Bobcats seemed poised for their second postseason appearance but the cost cutting moves they made this summer may put them on the outside looking in.
10. Indiana Pacers Danny Granger, Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, and Tyler Hansbrough each missed a considerable amount of games last season and the Pacers were still able to win thirty-two games. While they weren't able to acquire the point guard that they were searching for this offseason, the team did an excellent job adding Paul George and Lance Stephenson through the draft and should improve now that they're healthy and have developed some chemistry. Indiana's rookies were two of the most impressive players at the Orlando Summer League and they should be able to help Granger carry the scoring load. Indiana will continue shopping T.J. Ford in a package and could make a midseason trade if the right deal presents itself. But heading into the season, the Pacers will be healthy and looking to compete for one of the finals spots in the East.
11. Washington Wizards If the Wizards played in an easier division, they would likely be higher on this list. Last season, they were only able to win three games against division opponents and as the Heat, Magic, Hawks, and Bobcats improve their schedule will only get harder. But there's no question that this team will see improvement after last year's miserable twenty-six win season. John Wall is the type of player who makes those around him better and he's going to turn things around in Washington. The transformation will be gradual but it will begin this season. Wall will score the ball when he needs too but first and foremost, he'll play the role of distributor. Gilbert Arenas will be able to play away from the ball, JaVale McGee is poised for a breakout season after developing chemistry with Wall this summer, and players such as Nick Young, Andray Blatche, Al Thornton, and Yi Jianlian will also elevate their games alongside the point guard. Wall put on a show in Las Vegas and he's ready to make the Wizards better, even if the win column doesn't automatically reflect the improvement.
12. Detroit Pistons While the teams around them have changed, the Detroit Pistons sit in our rankings exactly where they finished last season. They'll return with many of the same players that struggled alongside one another last year and have made few additions to their roster. The team is hoping that head coach John Kuester can get everyone on the same page after playing together for one season. The veterans spent last year adjusting to the changes in Detroit, the new acquisitions were learning their new roles, and the young talent tried to develop with limited playing time. Now, it seems as if the groups are starting to come together. Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye are spending the summer training together at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, many of Detroit's young players played together in Summer League, and the Pistons are hoping their mix of veterans and youth can lead to wins now and later rather than confusion. Greg Monroe and Terrico White are raw players who will have a difficult time contributing right away so it'll be important for others to step up. The Pistons look good on paper but that hasn't translated into wins just yet. That could change this season but until we see results, it's hard to justify moving them up in the rankings.
13. Toronto Raptors Even though the Raptors won't be making the playoffs this season, Bryan Colangelo deserves some credit for the moves he has made this offseason. Ed Davis looked like a man among boys in Las Vegas, swapping Hedo Turkoglu for Leandro Barbosa will give the team cap flexibility in two years, and DeMar DeRozan and Sonny Weems appear ready for increased roles judging by their Summer League performances. Whenever a team loses a franchise player, it's difficult to rebound the following season. But rather than fielding the leftovers and becoming irrelevant, Toronto will have an identity and young players to build around. They'll obviously miss Bosh's production but we'll be hearing from the Raptors again in a few years once their young talent develops and that's because Colangelo was willing to make the necessary moves - and admit some of his mistakes - this summer.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers The negative reaction from free agents this summer reflects the opinion of the Cavaliers around the NBA. Even when Cleveland was offering more money or longer deals, available players were still signing with other teams because they didn't want to be stuck on a perennial bottom feeder. Sadly, that's what the Cavaliers have become after the departure of LeBron James. The roster is made up of specialty players who were brought in to fit with James. But with no superstar leading the way, they're now a team full of role players with new management and head coach. Antawn Jamison will likely be the first option on offense but with little help, it's going to be tough for the Cavaliers to compete next season, especially since the other teams in the Central division have improved. It's going to be a long season in Cleveland and Dan Gilbert's guarantee is looking crazier and crazier each day.
15. New Jersey Nets After watching the Nets come together during the Orlando Summer League, it's clear that they're heading in the right direction. Avery Johnson is the right man for the job and Derrick Favors is a few years away, right on schedule to hit his prime with Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, and Brook Lopez. While the young talent in New Jersey is a few years away from making them a competitive team, the additions this offseason were puzzling and won't help the Nets improve the product they put on the floor in the immediate future. Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, and Travis Outlaw are talented role players but they're not the big acquisitions that Nets' fan were hoping for when this summer started. The team wanted to make a splash after missing out on James, Wade, and Bosh but their backup plan didn't stack up to the ones put in place in Chicago or New York. The Nets will win more than twelve games this season but they're still a couple years away from climbing up these rankings.


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This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=2/3, Sex=3/3, Mature Content=3/3. Explore the marvelous world of Dream Divers again while controlling sexy and talented divers.
Buy Xbox content on Xbox.com. Your Xbox 360 console will automatically download the content next time you turn it on and connect to Xbox Live.Learn More


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Children & Youth: Building tomorrow today
As young people mature, the decisions they make have an enormous impact on their families, their communities and our world. But growing up surrounded by poverty, war or in the aftermath of disaster increases their risks and limits their choices.
That's why giving children and youth the right support at this most critical time is essential to building tomorrow's strong, productive communities.
When disaster strikes, young children are especially vulnerable to developing emotional and social problems that can jeopardize their futures. Mercy Corps worked with experts to design our signature Comfort for Kids program that helps children process their trauma and recover through play, sports and art activities. See our expert's recommendations for how parents and caregivers can help children through times of crisis ▸
For adolescents faced with violence, early marriage and interruptions to schooling, we provide opportunities for community involvement, vocational training and life skills development. Our goal is to empower youth in the toughest places to make smart life choices and invest their energy in developing solutions to their countries' biggest challenges.
All stories about Children & Youth
Indonesia: Meeting the survivors
Last Friday afternoon, as half of Mercy Corps' Healthy Start team were preparing for the weekend, we were suddenly pulled into a rush meeting at the round table we share.
Indonesia: Ask me, and I will follow you down
How do you recognize a midwife who's already trained to be a breastfeeding counselor? And who do you ask about breastfeeding if you go to puskesmas, local health facilities around Indonesia?
Indonesia: A dedication to her profession
Ibu Lilis Ratnasari, a private midwife, received a 40-hour training in lactation counseling through the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF about a year ago.
Sri Lanka: A can-do spirit
Nalagama Sinhala Junior School operates on something less than a shoestring. There's no library, no computers, no science lab. Recently, the older students performed a chemistry experiment involving oxygen using a plastic bucket rather than a glass beaker.
West Bank and Gaza: CNN's 'generation Islam' puts youth in the lead
Indonesia: Peace and clean on Independence Day
Pakistan: Dresses to the displaced
Mercy Corps was one of the first organizations to initiate relief and rehabilitation activities after the devastating earthquake in Pakistan and Kashmir in October 2005.
Indonesia: Taste test in North Jakarta
Early this morning, I visited a couple Mercy Corps-sponsored food carts in North Jakarta and ended up being a pretty good billboard.
Pakistan: Generosity and play in the hardest of times
Here in the Pakistani city of Mardan, displaced families are starting to move home after nearly three months sweltering in the hot tents of makeshift camps.
Pakistan: Thank you letters from displaced Pakistani children
We received these two thank-you letters from displaced children taking part in our program to provide them with sports, games, art and other activities to alleviate the trauma associated with their circumstance:


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When Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX), it included a clawback tool. Flowing out of the accounting scandals that led to SOX's creation, Section 304 provides that if a public company has to restate its financials as a result of misconduct, the company's CEO and CFO must reimburse the company for any incentive-based compensation or trading profits they made during the 12-month period in question.
Many public companies have incorporated similar clawback provisions into their bylaws--which may be one reason Section 304 gets little use. Still, in an October 2010 speech, SEC Commissioner Luis Aguilar called the SEC's historical failure to invoke the provision a "clear example where the Commission ignored a Congressional mandate set forth in Sarbanes-Oxley." Aguilar went on to outline the importance of Section 304 as an incentive for CEOs and CFOs "to be diligent in establishing an honest culture of reporting and in choosing the right people to work for them."
Although four years passed between SOX's enactment and the SEC's first application of Section 304, since then it has risen higher in the agency's toolbox. The new Dodd-Frank Act, meanwhile, has bolstered the section to encompass all executives and cover a three-year period. It also puts the onus on companies to adopt their own clawback provisions.
The increased focus has led to an exploration of some of Section 304's ambiguities, including whether it provides for a private right of action. The 9th Circuit has squarely said it does not, and the D.C. Circuit has come to a similar conclusion in dicta. Most recently, the 2nd Circuit took on a corollary issue in a Sept. 30, 2010 ruling that addressed for the first time whether, in a private agreement, parties can indemnify a CEO or CFO against liability under Section 304.
Liability Shield
In Cohen v. Viray, the 2nd Circuit rejected the proposed settlement of a consolidated shareholder derivative action filed against former directors and officers of DHB Industries, since renamed Point Blank Solutions. The body armor company saw its stock price plummet following news its products were made of a material prone to rapid deterioration, which led to civil, SEC and DOJ actions. (In September, in the Eastern District of New York, the company's former CEO and COO were convicted of fraud, insider trading and obstructing an SEC investigation.)
Both a shareholder and the U.S. government objected to provisions of the settlement that would specifically release and indemnify DHB's former CEO and CFO from any future liability under Section 304. The challenged portions of the settlement "attempt an end-run around ? 304 that vitiates the SEC's role and is inconsistent with the law," the 2nd Circuit held. "If allowed to stand, it would effectively bar the relief the SEC is authorized to seek."
The appeals court vacated a district court's approval of the settlement and held there is no private right of action under Section 304--the SEC owns the right to the claim, and it follows that liability under the statute can't be negotiated away in a private agreement.
As a result, "You won't see the plaintiffs' bar using Section 304 in private litigation," says John Stigi, a partner at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton. "But of course the flip side is that [a corporate executive] can't use a settlement with a class plaintiff or derivative plaintiff to get relief under Section 304."
Allowing such agreements would have created a "pretty bad incentive," according to Gary Sesser, who represented the shareholder bringing the challenge. Under Section 304, because the company is the beneficiary but has no claim, plaintiffs lawyers don't stand to collect on the claims--and in Viray, the SEC's claim against former CEO David Brooks alone would have totaled $186 million.
"If the 2nd Circuit had affirmed the settlement, it would have encouraged the situation where class action counsel, in conjunction with derivatives counsel, could have negotiated away the right to a $186 million claim, which they're not going to get any piece of, in order to get a lesser recovery, which they will get a piece of," says Sesser, a partner at Carter Ledyard & Milburn. Specifically, plaintiffs attorneys stood to collect $9 million in fees through the proposed settlement, which insulated Brooks from the Section 304 liability if he agreed to purchase $22 million in company stock.
"It was a very sweet deal, and he was two steps ahead of everybody in this settlement," Sesser says.Settlement Strategies
In context, the 2nd Circuit's ruling isn't terribly surprising, according to Stigi. It's long been the SEC's policy not to allow indemnification of disgorgement the agency compels from a corporate executive in an enforcement proceeding. After all, it's meant as a deterrent.
Going forward, companies dealing with such situations may have difficulty settling shareholder claims until the CEO or CFO knows the full extent of their SEC liability for incentive-based compensation and trading profits, says Mary O'Connor, a partner at Akin Gump.
"One incentive for the company to agree to a global settlement [as in Viray] is to cut off the money they have to spend on defense costs for all these executives," O'Connor says. "If they enter a settlement without the CEO [or CFO], they still have to pay the legal fees in those instances--it's not easy to come up with a strategy to settle without them. That's really going to be the new horizon."


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|Sport, 1 pitch, 85'
|YDS: 5.11b French: 6c Ewbanks: 23 UIAA: VIII- ZA: 23 British: E3 5c [details]
|Rick Thompson & John Welchhans, 2000
|Page Views:
|Submitted By:
|Old Fart aka Dave Bohn on Jun 1, 2001
|Comments on Funkdemental
|Add Comment
|Show which comments —
Comments displayed oldest to newest — Skip Ahead to the Most Recent Dated Oct 24, 2016
By Anonymous Coward
Nov 19, 2002
|Kind of contrived, since you can easily get around the crux by climbing on the arete 3 feet to the right of the bulge. Cool position, though.
By Edward Jenner
May 27, 2003
rating: 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
|Excellent route. Overhanging jugs, deadpoint crux and pockets really mix things up.
By Mic Fairchild
From: Boulder
Oct 28, 2003
rating: 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
|One of the many good routes here. Have your belayer unclip your first draw after you move left around the corner. Don't reveal the secret hold in your beta!
By Guy H.
From: Fort Collins CO
Oct 29, 2003
|AC, just because you went off route to skip doing the hard moves at the crux does not make this route contrived and a one star route. This is one of the best easy 5.11s at Shelf. If you are tall, you can bypass the use of the "secret" hold and reach the large jug by staying left of the arete at the bulge.
By Greaser
Oct 29, 2003
|I like the varied nature of this route. It climbs better than it looks and progressively gets more difficult as you climb it.
By Joe Collins
Oct 29, 2003
" just because you went off route to skip doing the hard moves at the crux does not make this route contrived and a one star route."
So 3 or 4 feet to the side of a bolt is off route? I thought that if you are following a bolt line, anything within reach is on route... if not, the route falls under the category of "contrived".
I did this route this past weekend, and I have to agree with the AC on this one. At the "crux", I climbed the obvious easier ground just to the right of the bolt and traversed back left to the next bolt. I realized after doing this that I had probably gone "off-route", so I downclimbed and did the crux the "right" way. It seemed slightly contrived.
In my opinion, a classic sport route combines good climbing with an inspiring line that doesn't avoid obvious natural features. Maybe other people don't include the last factor in their definition of "classic". There are tons of 2-3 star sport climbs at Shelf, but according to the rating system on this site, one star sounds about right: worth doing, but for myself, probably not worth the effort to repeat.
By Edward Jenner
Nov 3, 2003
rating: 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
Secret hold? Shit, I didn't find any secret hold! I think I went the easy way and still thought it was 11a. Man, now I realize why I have trouble with those 5.9s.
This discussion makes me realize how people see and climb routes so differently. Quite interesting.
I think most of the nearby routes pretty much suck, but then they get 2-3 stars and then this one gets one from some folks simply because it offers the opportunity to go gardening (or is that too far right?).
By Kirk Woerner
Nov 5, 2003
rating: 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
|If you went gardening, you were not on Funkdamental. This route starts in an overhang, swings out left, and goes straight up clean rock.
By Anonymous Coward
Dec 28, 2004
I like the climb, but 11b? What happened to the 10d grade that was in the Rock and Ice supplement guide from years back? I thought that was right on. What's with a lot of the grades that got "bumped" up a notch or two in the Cactus Guide.
10d, straight up the bolts. 2-3 stars. Well worth repeating.
By Anonymous Coward
Apr 24, 2005
|Very fun regardless of comments above - this is a great warm up.
By Adrian Hill
Dec 15, 2005
rating: 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
|Around 12/04/05, the nut holding the hanger on the upper of the two bolts at the bulge was loose. I managed to tighten it by hand, but take care with it. If you're in the area with a wrench, you could generate some good karma by going up and tightening it.
By Will Butler
From: Boulder, CO
Apr 30, 2007
|11a seemed about right for this excelent climb. Great exposure up wild holds and pockets. I didn't feel that it was contrived as long as you stayed on the arete proper. 4 stars.
By Kelbad Henderson
From: Colorado Springs
Oct 31, 2007
|On Sunday, 10-28-07, there was a mean little rattlesnake that had taken up residence below the big rock that you land on when you lower off this climb. Unfortunately, no one saw it until after it had bit a dog. (BTW, after an overnight stay at the vet, the dog is okay)
By Matt Richardson
From: Longmont, CO
Feb 18, 2008
|Fun route, but I don't recall it being contrived or particularly difficult. Maybe it was a height thing? Definitely worth doing if you are over here and an easy tick for the aspiring 11 leader.
By germsauce Epstein
Apr 14, 2011
|I'm still trying to figure out what move was supposed to be 5.11.... I'm no superman, but what's the opposite of sandbag?
By Matt M Jones
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Feb 20, 2012
|I agree with Germsauce. I found it to be easier than an 11, but I am also 6'4'". Awesome route, my favorite at Shelf for the moment.
By Julia
May 17, 2015
|Great climb, cool movements up at the top.
By Jake Dickerson
From: Lander, WY
Nov 8, 2015
rating: 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
|This route is amazing!!! Great varied movement. Get on this thing! There is very little rope drag if you skip the first bolt and use long draws on the 2nd and 3rd.
By Aaron Furman
Dec 13, 2015
rating: 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
|What a great way to warm up your entire body on a cold December morning - great route....
By Ben Griffin
From: Durango, CO
Jan 16, 2016
rating: 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
|I don't understand any of the negative commentary on this route. I thought this route was a blast. I clipped the first bolt for the first initial moves then unclipped the first bolt. Continued up to the second bolt and clipped the second bolt. I climbed up to the third bolt and put a long runner on that bolt and downclimbed to unclip the second bolt. I had zero rope drag. I don't have any idea what anyone is talking about with secret holds and climbing 3 feet to the right of the crux. The climbing seemed really straightforward. It is extremely soft for the grade but barrels of fun!
By BrittChris
Oct 24, 2016
As of 10/23/2016, there is a wasps nest 3 feet left of the anchors. You don't have to stick your hand in their home for them to attack you. Cleaning anchors while being attacked by a colony of wasps is stressful and painful. I climbed this at sunset, it's likely they are more active during the day.
In the current condition, don't clean this if you're allergic to insect stings.


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Another sewing project to cross off my list! Thanks to Hannah's wonderful tutorial, it was a breeze to whip up! And take note: its a car seat CANOPY, not a tent :-)
Folded back for when baby wants to see the world and get his or her chubby cheeks pinched by your hairdresser, lady behind you at the grocery store, or gym pals. I used Kona Cotton for the reverse side since my boy will be a summertime baby... no need for flannel or fleece. Also doubles as a play mat while out and about! Adorable, no?


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Gift ideas for the serious or casual photographer
Ralph Graves is one of Crutchfield's blog editors, and part of the company's social media team. He writes about home audio/video gear, specializing in Apple-related and wireless technologies. Ralph holds a master's degree in music composition, and his works have been released on various labels. He's served as product manager for an independent classical and world music label, produced several recordings, and worked extensively in public broadcasting. Since 1984 he's hosted a weekly classical music program on WTJU, and is also active as a blogger and podcaster.
More from Ralph Graves
Heads up!Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.
We've published a lot of articles and reviews this year, many of them offering some great gift ideas. Here's a roundup of some of what we consider the most helpful camera-related posts for this holiday season.
Whether the person you're shopping for is a serious photography enthusiast, or someone who just wants something simple they can point and shoot with, we have some great gift ideas. Our writers spent quality time with the cameras they reviewed, and share actual photos and videos taken with the products in their posts.
Digital SLR cameras
The Sony Alpha SLT-A55VL: simple operation, great pictures
Samsung's NX100 camera: beautiful images, compact design
Samsung TL500: A compact tool for serious photographers
It's a digital camera, it's a digital SLR it's... the Samsung NX10 hybrid digital camera
Digital point-and-shoot cameras
Taking the Canon PowerShot SX130 to San Francisco
Canon's SD4000 camera is great for both serious and casual photographers
Touring Italy with the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS
HD Fireworks with the Kodak PlaySport ZX3
Splashing with the Canon PowerShot D10
Making movies with the Canon DW100 Digital Video DVD Burner
Need more inspiration? Check out the rest of our Gift Ideas series:
Gift ideas for the serious or casual photographer


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Mail: Southern statues symbolize suppession
Mail: Thanks for helping Aiden
More opinion
Fall: Good time to spray musk thistle in rosette stage
Robertson and Delsing re-elected chair, vice chair of NWB
More Ag News
Something was different when Lloyd Emery Tabor III led law officers on a chase Friday in the Nebraska hills near Halsey, much like he did a month earlier in south central Missouri.
Tabor, 39, is wanted for flight to avoid arrest and tampering with a vehicle in Laclede County, Mo.
Tabor turned up Friday in west central Nebraska.
Nebraska State Patrol Lt. Mark Stokey said a trooper met the Tabors vehicle Friday morning on Nebraska Highway 2 outside of Halsey, going at a high rate of speed. The trooper identified the driver as Tabor but by the time he caught up, Tabor had pulled into a turnoff and fled on foot.
Stokey said three police dogs and a helicopter searched the area from 11 a.m. to around 5 p.m., when the search was called off because of a severe storm that went through central Nebraska.
Tabor allegedly had stolen a vehicle the day before in Hot Springs, S.D.
When he abandoned it in Nebraska, it had a flat tire.
The storm didn't slow Tabor down. Investigators believe he made his way into Thedford where he stole a 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup and drove it to Love's Travel Center in North Platte.
The Thomas County Sheriff's Office reported the pickup stolen at 6:15 p.m. Saturday.
The North Platte Police found the pickup Sunday morning. Police Lt. Rich Hoaglund said Tuesday morning that police had not yet viewed the security video to be certain the driver was Tabor.
Word spread around the city to watch for Tabor, but neither the North Platte police nor the NSP received any reported sightings.
Hoaglund said that there appeared to be no damage to the pickup truck. The owner picked it up Monday.
Investigators suspect that Tabor left the area and might be trying to return to Missouri, but they dont know for sure.
In Missouri, Laclede County Sheriff Wayne Merritt said Tabor allegedly stole a pickup there on Feb. 22. A chase ensued on a county road. Tabor missed a turn and the truck went into a pond. Tabor swam to the other side, shed his clothes and shoes and ran from deputies for more than an hour, wearing only his underwear, Merritt said.
Deputies caught him and took him to an intensive care unit in Springfield, Mo. to be treated for frostbite. Tabor escaped from the ICU. He was on the run again.
Merritt said Tabor is not known to be dangerous.
He's just a thief and has a history of running from the law," Merritt said.
Tabor recently served a three-year sentence in the Missouri penitentiary after he pled guilty in 2008 to a burglary in Cedar County, Mo.
He is 5 6 tall, 175 pounds, bald with brown eyes.
Flatrock Publishing, Inc.
1300 E 4th St., Suite F
North Platte, NE 69101


text: Beers to You: Belgian beer, part 1: Trappist and abbey beer By Rich Ireland December 31, 2011 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The idea to publish a short series of columns to simplify the seemingly complex world of Belgian beer came to me under anesthesia; well OK, it was local anesthesia while having some very minor surgery.The good doctor and I were having a pre-op conversation about beer in general. Alas, the subject of Belgian beer came up just about the time I was staring into the blinding white lights of the operating room. A nurse asked, "So what's the difference between Belgian beer and any other beer?"Obviously, I was at a clear disadvantage to field the question so I listened as the doc attempted to answer. All in all, he did a decent job of hitting the salient points. It was the combination of the directness of the question and the doctor's roundabout answer that led me to the conclusion that this was a subject that should be tackled and simplified in a series of columns.I am only going to say this once and only in this first column of the series. Belgium is the original Disneyland of beer. I say "original" because U.S. craft brewers are giving the Belgians a run for their money in many ways, but we cannot diminish the importance of Belgium in shaping beer culture.Belgium is a perfect mix of French whimsy and Flemish (Dutch) precision. This mix of diverse characteristics makes for a place where offbeat and crazy beers can be created and well-crafted. It is truly a place where the brewer's art meets practical science and a bit of luck.Belgium is a small country (about the size of Maryland), yet it is home to more than 150 unique artisanal breweries. In Belgium, and most of north-central Europe, beer was not a luxury, but a necessity in the Middle Ages. Beer was the only safe method of hydration because the water supply was polluted, and wine was not to be found in the colder non-fruit-growing climate.Historically, the Catholic Church has acknowledged the importance of beer to the survival of the region by granting sainthood to those who preached the "drink beer, not water" message, St. Arnoldus being the most notable. Beer was considered a divine gift revered by the people as well as the many Benedictine and Trappist monasteries in the region.One of the many rules of St. Benedict is to be hospitable to all, so many monasteries and abbeys also served as travelers' inns along trade routes throughout Europe. Beer was certainly on every menu at that time. Abbeys and monasteries brewed beer as sustenance as did just about every farmhouse and home. All Benedictine monks, including Trappists, follow a strict tradition of fasting during Lent so stronger and more-filling beers were brewed for nutrition during the fast. Yes, folks, beer is food, and there are many historical paintings of fat and jolly beer-drinking monks making that point. In more recent years, many monasteries and abbeys in Europe, and especially in Belgium, have used their brewing talents as a way to pay for the day-to-day expenses of living in meditation and praise to God.This leads me to the first lesson of Belgian beer label interpretation: A beer that is labeled as an abbey beer or refers to an operating abbey in its name can be brewed by any large or small brewery. There is no legal requirement that such a beer be affiliated with an actual abbey (though some are) and may even assume a fictitious name for marketing purposes. This may seem a bit shady, but many of these beers are very well crafted. It's just a Belgian thing.Abbey beers vary in style and strength but typically follow a very simple designation of blond, amber or brown. Some designate beers as dubbel and tripel, originally based on a taxable strength designation. This has become more of a style designator with dubbel being dark and malty, and tripel being light in color but strong and spicy. Complex malt flavor is the goal here along with some complex esters and phenolics produced by specific Belgian yeast strains during fermentation. I recommend beers by St. Feuillien and St. Bernardus in this category.Trappist beers are brewed specifically by monastery breweries operated by the Trappist order. Of the seven operating Trappist breweries, six are in Belgium. The word "Trappist" cannot appear on the label or in the description of a beer unless it is actually brewed under control of the Trappist order. Authentic Trappist beers bear the Trappist shield trademark.Another feature denoting some Trappist beers is a raised ring around the neck of the bottle. The only non-Trappist brewer to ever gain a license to use such trade dress is New Belgium Brewing, based in Fort Collins, Colo. Brooklyn Brewing Co. was asked to stop its use of a double ring on some of its Belgian-style bottles.The majority of Trappist brewers follow a similar range of styles to their abbey counterparts with each having something a little different to stand out from the crowd. Chimay denotes its style range by label color (red, white and blue), while Abbey Rochefort uses a progressive numbering system (6, 8 and 10) to denote relative strength and complexity.Orval (brewed by Abbey Notre Dame D'Orval) is the most unique in both packaging and flavor. Orval is available in one style (gold cap) and size (33 centiliters). The beer is about 6 percent abv and is akin to hoppy English ale that has been slightly soured by brettanomyces yeast, making the beer highly carbonated, dry, extremely frothy and delicious as it pours from a unique bowling pin-shaped bottle. It's one of my favorite beers. Orval is readily available in Charleston along with Trappist brands Rochefort, Chimay and Westmalle. I also recommend Westmalle's dubbel and tripel and also Rochefort's 10.For more on the craft of beer, see Rich Ireland's "Beers to You" blog at thegazz.com. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Facebook founder visits Cabin Creek Health Systems 2 Teen pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Oakes Field shooting 3 Safety shutoff disabled prior to June coal-mining death, report says 4 Huggins, WVU tap South Florida hoops talent 5 New company planning $73M synthetic fuel plant in Greenbrier County Live Life Fully: A clean slate on which to create Previous Story Help Out: Jan. 1, 2012 Next Story


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After each practice, we post an in-depth practice report and an in-depth practice notebook. Following is our notebook from Tuesday's practice.
Before preseason practice started a week ago, Assistant Head Coach for Defense Ellis Johnson lauded the depth at the linebacker spot.
After seven practices, Johnson realizes he could have a pleasant problem on his hands by the time the 2011 season starts - too many players, too few spots on the depth chart.
In other words, linebacker continues to be a complex puzzle for Johnson to solve.
It starts, of course, with junior Shaq Wilson (middle linebacker) and sixth-year senior Rodney Paulk (outside linebacker). Reginald Bowens and Qua Gilchrist are behind Wilson, while Quin Smith and Damario Jeffery are behind Paulk at Will linebacker. Freshman Cedrick Cooper is starting to convince Johnson he might be ready to play in 2011, as well.
Now Johnson is starting to move the chess pieces around. When he's done, Wilson and Paulk could find themselves at the same spot.
"The ones that are controlling the defense the best are Shaq and Rodney," Johnson said. "They could end up having to rotate at Mike (middle) linebacker. We could bounce Qua outside a little bit. The thing that concerns me right now, and it's a good concern, is that all of them are playing well enough to get a shot on the field. But it's almost a magic trick to try to put six linebackers on the field in a game."
If Wilson and Paulk both end up at MLB, that would likely leave Smith and Jeffery to fight for the starting job at outside linebacker with Gilchrist available as well.
One of the storylines at linebacker during preseason camp has been the development of Cooper, who has followed up a strong summer with strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald with a good start to camp. Right now, the Lithonia, Ga., native is moving towards earning playing time in 2011.
"Physically, there's no question he'll be able to play for us at some point," Johnson said. "But he's struggling with learning the big picture. He's a little behind those other guys right now. It will take him a while to catch up. But I've been pleased with his effort."
Besides the defensive tackle spot next to Travian Robertson, the most-watched position battle might be free safety, where redshirt sophomore Jimmy Legree is trying to earn the starting job. Legree shifted from cornerback to free safety late in the spring.
"Everything is going well right now," Legree said Tuesday. "I have all the plays down pat. I know my assignments. I've made a few mental errors, but everything is pretty good so far. I'm very comfortable. At safety, you have to look at the whole field. At cornerback, you don't have to worry about the other half of the field. D.J. Swearinger has been a big help. He knows everything he's doing. Whenever I ask a question, he knows the answer. All I need to do now is make plays."
Legree is battling freshman Brison Williams for the starting job. After seven practices, the gap between the two of them is minimal, Johnson said.
"They're all making a lot of progress," Johnson said. "They're doing well. Right now, there's very little separation. They've all shown really big-time improvement. I'm encouraged. They still have one or two mistakes a day they have to get cleaned up. Jimmy and Brison are having a good competition there."
"We're starting to get some guys to make some plays that we know can do it," Johnson said. "They just have to get some more consistency. But a lot of improvement has happened, but a lot of improvement is still needed."
Another freshman, Sheldon Royster, has been limited as he rehabs from offseason shoulder surgery. He's worn a yellow jersey in the first week, and has been held out of contact drills.
"He's doing fine, but he's a little behind those guys that have been here since the spring," Johnson said.
At cornerback, the biggest issue remains who will be the fourth cornerback behind Stephon Gilmore, Akeem Auguste and C.C. Whitlock. That directly leads to the following question - how is sophomore Victor Hampton doing?
Hampton is scheduled to miss at least the season-opener because of academic issues that arose in the spring semester.
"He's doing well," Johnson said. "He's like the rest of them. You knock on wood. He hasn't done anything but do positive things on and off the field since camp started. Hopefully, he can continue to do that. He can really be a help for us and be a bonus we can add to the secondary."
Johnson said Auguste is not in danger of missing an extended period of time with his foot arch injury. He said it wasn't a major injury.
Because many of the backups in the secondary lack playing experience, Johnson is still concerned about quality depth there. Last year, Johnson blamed fatigue for some of the secondary's difficulties because some of the defensive backs had to play an excessive number of snaps due to a lack of backups.
"We still have some depth questions in the back," Johnson said. "I don't think we're going to be able to do a lot of substitution packages like we did three years ago. Also, a lot of offensive schemes are no huddle. There is a lot less subbing going on. That's the nature of the college game now."
Johnson and the rest of the defensive coaches are already planning ahead to Saturday's 4 p.m. scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium. Specifically, they want to determine how many reps each player should receive with the hope that each player gets 10-15 snaps to give the coaches a fair sample to work from.
"We'll probably establish a set number of plays that our older guys will get and then get them off the field," Johnson said. "We'll get these younger and inexperienced guys who haven't played much a lot of reps.
Saturday's scrimmage should last 60-80 plays, Johnson said.
"It's more about identifying players at this point," Johnson said. "Maybe the following scrimmage we'll get more into where we are as a unit. We'll start (thinking about redshirts), but it's an ongoing process. Every day they come out here, they help us make a decision on who we need to get ready to play against East Carolina."
USC will hold a mini-scrimmage at the end of Wednesday's practice, Johnson said, but Saturday's official scrimmage "is where we will start to get a feel for whether a player has reached a point of where he can play with us or not."
DEFENSIVE LINE BATTLING INJURIES: The USC defensive line might be the deepest position on the team, so it's been able to survive a recent rash of ailments.
Defensive tackle Travian Robertson and backup ends Byron McKnight and Chaz Sutton all sat out Tuesday's workout for various reasons. Robertson and McKnight have been slowed by hamstring injuries, while Sutton has a "minor medical condition." Robertson and McKnight have continued to mentor the younger defensive linemen, Brad Lawing said.
"Our three seniors have done a great job of helping the young kids," Lawing said. "Travian and Byron have already graduated and Melvin (Ingram) is due to graduate in December. So they're college graduates and about to be. I could literally not come to practice and they could run the practice as far as knowledge of the drill work and making the calls."
Moreover, freshman defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles became dehydrated, Lawing said, and visited with team trainers as soon as Tuesday's practice concluded. Robertson could return as early as Wednesday, Lawing added.
"It doesn't bother me too much to have Travian out," Johnson said. "He's had a lot of reps and he certainly knows what to do. The only factor with him out is we're not building a lot of continuity with your total unit. When Travian is in there at defensive tackle, your linebackers look a little better."
The last couple of days have shown the extent of the defensive line's depth, Johnson said, despite the injuries.
"Your continuity and your competition starts to fall off, but they're a good-looking bunch," Johnson said. "We have a lot of numbers. Obviously, we have some talent. When Brad gets all of them working together for several days continuously, he'll know who his best four is and his next four and so on. But it's been kind of frustrating having those good ones out."
Robertson's absence has given more reps to Byron Jerideau, and the former junior-college transfer has responded with some excellent workouts. His significant weight loss (35 pounds) from a year ago continues to boost his speed and quickness.
"We're really proud of him," Johnson said. "He really approached it the right way. The first two weeks he was here he knew he had a problem. He's gradually taken that weight off and everything has improved. His stamina has improved. His fundamentals and stance have improved, the little things he struggled with because of his weight. Everything has gotten a lot better."
Even though an intense competition at the open defensive tackle spot is going on right now, don't expect it to end once the season starts. Instead, Lawing expects the starter will be a week-by-week decision.
"All those guys bring different things to the table," Lawing said. "It will probably be a game-week decision as to who will run with the first group at that other tackle position."
SPURRIER ON GARCIA: Steve Spurrier said Tuesday on The Dan Patrick Show that quarterback Stephen Garcia has been a "little helter-skelter in the past" but again maintained the fifth-year senior "has changed." In fact, after his fifth suspension, Spurrier suggested he gave Garcia an ultimatum.
"He had to change or we were going to move on and try somebody else," Spurrier said. "But he's really impressed us with the way he's changed his lifestyle. I had a little talk with him today. I told him he can't act like a goofball anymore, you're a different person. And he has. He hasn't been clowning been around at practice. He's trying to make decisions every play in pass skel. He's really been much better. We're believing Stephen is going to have by far his best season this year. We just have to wait and see."
Spurrier knows Garcia must have a great season in order for USC to achieve its goal of capturing the SEC championship or beyond.
"Usually, we all know that if your quarterback doesn't have a super year, it's hard for your team to have a big year," Spurrier said. "He has a lot of good players around him. He has two All-Americans in Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery. Our O-line, I think, is going to play well. We have some good players in there. Some young guys are going to have to play. But we should have some really good players around Stephen to give him a chance to play well."
WALK-ONS KNOW THE DEAL: The Bryce Sherman situation raised the public awareness of the sensitive issue of walk-ons and scholarships. Spurrier, who announced Tuesday that senior kicker Jay Wooten would go on scholarship for 2011, again defended the practice of taking scholarships away from former walk-ons if circumstances warrant. Spurrier said it's a "lot clearer" when walk-on players with one year of eligibility remaining are awarded with a scholarship.
"When we put players on scholarship with two or three years left, we always tell them this is a one-year deal," Spurrier said Tuesday. "We're not obligated and you're not obligated for three years or anything like that. So, if we don't renew a player, it's simply because it's not available that year."
In short, Spurrier said, when a walk-on is given a scholarship, he makes sure there is no confusion. It's a one-year deal and nothing more.
"If a walk-on player goes on scholarship, he definitely knows it's a one-year deal," Spurrier said. "The guys we've signed, we're pretty much committed to them."
Spurrier pointed to former O-lineman Ryan Broadhead as someone who benefited from being on scholarship for over four years. Broadhead didn't play a single down for the Gamecocks after joining the program in January 2007, but graduated in May with a degree in economics.
"When people say they can't play and we're getting rid of them, they're telling a fabricated story like some of them do anyway," Spurrier said. "The walk-on kids that get scholarships know they're one year and if they're not renewed, they're supposed to understand that."
BARNES ADJUSTING TO CHANGE: Wide receiver Jason Barnes is a fifth-year senior, but he's continuing to make the adjustment to slot receiver. He's battling sophomore Ace Sanders for the starting job. Sanders, though, has been teaching Barnes the nuances of the position.
"Coach (Steve) Spurrier Jr. has been doing an exceptional job of helping me learn the plays and learn the new coverages and the angles I'm seeing now," Barnes said. "Ace Sanders played slot receiver the entire year last year, and he knows it better than I do, honestly. So, every time coach Spurrier is busy I can go to Ace. Even though he's a sophomore, he tells me what's going on and he helps me. We're all working together to get better and help the team."
Barnes spent his first four seasons in the program at wide receiver, lining up on the outside. He rarely had to get physical except when he was blocking on a sweep or when a ball-carrier managed to get downfield. Slot receiver, though, is different.
"It's a lot tougher because it's a lot more mental on the inside," Barnes said. "You have the first level, second level, the running back, safety. At this level, a lot of guys have the athletic ability, but it's really above the neck. It's more of a mental game. You have to understand the playbook and understand the coverages and what defenses are doing. You have to be pretty smart to play the slot position. It's real important to him, which means it's real important to us."
SUTTON PUSHING FOR PLAYING TIME: Although he didn't practice on Tuesday, Sutton is working behind Devin Taylor at left defensive end and hopes to see his playing time increase in 2011. But finding playing time will be tough in a unit many analysts consider the best in the SEC.
"I can push him and he can push me," Sutton said recently. "We're all just working hard and trying to contribute to the defense. It's a good thing that people think that highly of you, but we still have to go out there every Saturday and do our jobs and hopefully come out with a win."
Sutton has battled injuries since enrolling at USC in January 2009. He appeared in four games that season before a left hamstring injury ended his season. In 2010, a shoulder injury limited him to seven games. He has five tackles in 11 career games
"It's been tough," Sutton said. "This year, one of my main goals has been to stay healthy and make it through the season without any injuries."
Sutton's biggest moment as a Gamecock came on the final play of the first half against Troy last season when he returned an interception for a touchdown.
"That's probably my biggest thrill so far, but hopefully there's more to come," Sutton smiled.
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Welcome to Changes Plastic Surgery. As your plastic surgery doctor, I will use artistic expression and the latest technical advances to bring about an enhancement you will be proud of. You will be cared for on an individual basis by a warm, compassionate, and highly capable staff in one of San Diego's finest facilities. Our goal is to make you smile each time you look in the mirror. Thank you for making Changes a part of your life.
During your visit, your surgeon and Patient Coordinator will meet with you and listen as you discuss your hopes and expectations. Each patient has unique dreams and goals. So, as with all cosmetic surgery procedures, meeting your unique needs and preferences are paramount to us. To create the look you want, we listen to you describe your preferred look, and we ask about your concerns. Once we understand the changes you want to make and have evaluated your physical health and medical history, we will then recommend the procedure(s) and artistry that will best meet your preferences.
Sharp Mary Birch Hospital
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- American Board of Plastic Surgery 1996
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- National Board of Medical Examiners 1987
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA
- Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA
- Sharp Mary Birch Hospital, San Diego, CA
- UCSD Medical Center, San Diego, CA
- Thornton Hospital, La Jolla, CA


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An outstanding piece of golf literature has recently hit bookstores. The Big Three and Me (Genesis, $27) is an autobiography written by Billy Casper with James Parkinson and Lee Benson. Casper, the winner of two United States Open titles and the Masters, is a long-time member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. He has long been acknowledged as the most underrated great of golf's golden era. Casper was a top flight PGA Tour professional who just so happened to have his career parallel the life and times of the game's big three, namely Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
It's hard to believe, when we consider today's world of cable television, the World Wide Web and instant stardom, that someone with Casper's golfing resume could play a distant and oftentimes forgotten fourth fiddle in the game's hierarchy. During his career, he won five Vardon trophies for lowest stroke average. Only Tiger has more. He won 23.5 Ryder Cup points, the most in American team history. Only Jack Nicklaus has a higher career winning percentage with Casper second, followed by Tony Lema and Tiger Woods.
Most impressively, Casper is seventh on the all-time PGA Tour career victories list. The other six greats ahead of Casper can all be listed on first name basis, namely Sam, Tiger Jack, Ben, Arnold and Byron.
William Earl Cooper Jr. was born is San Diego in 1931. He was very much a product of the Depression. His father did odd jobs such as working at dairies and performing manual labor. His mother worked at menial labor jobs. They married as teenagers and had a baby boy one year later. They lived in San Diego, then moved back to their hometown of Silver City New Mexico, then moved again to San Diego, and from there to suburban Chula Vista. Billy was 9 years old and had already attended five elementary schools.
He caught a career break as the family's Chula Vista shack was adjacent to San Diego Country Club, a classic Billy Bell design (Torrey Pines, Hidden Valley Lake). He started playing golf as a 5-year-old, taking up the game on the three-hole course his father and uncle carved out in Silver City. Once in Chula Vista, Casper started selling used golf balls for 25 cents to the members of SDCC, as well as becoming a regular on the practice putting green, playing well into the darkness. By age 11, he was making 75 cents per round as a caddie and playing golf with his remaining free time, often times skipping school with frequency.
His parents divorced and he followed his father, first to Utah, then to the Bay Area. Billy's mother became alarmed with the fact that her son was a perpetual truant who was basically raising himself as an adolescent. His mother demanded that he live with her in San Diego, and he returned to the world of looping with most of his waking moments spent at the San Diego Country Club.
Casper regularly attended high school, was active in sports and was making a name for himself as a local golf hero alongside another gifted teenager, Gene Littler. Both boys regularly beat adults and were posting sub-par scores in local amateur events. Casper had been to the Bing Crosby Pro-Am when it was initially played in San Diego, and Billy closely followed the world of professional golf, dreaming of one day when he too would play with the big boys.
In 1947, Ben Hogan, along with Sam Snead and Byron Nelson, were the headliners of pro golf. The year before, Hogan won 13 times on tour and captured the first two events of the 1947 season, the Los Angeles Open and the Phoenix Open. Hogan signed on to play Englishman Dai Rees in a big-money, 36-hole exhibition match at San Diego Country Club. Most tour events in those days offered a $2,000 first-place prize. The Hogan-Reese match had a $7,000 purse,$5,000 going to the victor. Casper writes that in those days, a $5,000 check for a one-day 36-hole exhibition was, "an enormous sum."
They day before the exhibition, Casper walked home by cutting across the fairways of the San Diego Country Club. As the 15-year-old looper got to the fifth fairway, he was taken aback by what he observed. With the sun close to setting, there was Hogan, dropping balls at different points on the fairway and hitting one beautiful shot after another onto the faraway green. Hogan was analyzing the hole and attacking the green from various angles in preparation for the following day's exhibition. It was something Billy never forgot. By the way, it obviously paid off for Hogan as he won the exhibition by 11 shots, carding a 13-under-par 135.
A short time later, Casper went to a high school football game with one of his buddies and met his future wife, Shirley. They would be inseparable for the next five years. The only time they spent apart was when Casper accepted a full-ride scholarship to Notre Dame following a stellar junior golf career. He was there for all of one semester, missing Shirley, missing San Diego and living in a state of shock when Indiana winter roared into South Bend.
The San Diego Open became a part of the PGA Tour in 1952. As a 20-year-old, Casper Monday qualified his way into the field, made the 36-hole cut and recorded a 72-hole aggregate of 3-over-par 291. Casper was an amateur and couldn't collect any prize money, yet his 291 score would not have made him wealthy had be been a pro. Ted Knoll beat Jimmy Demaret by three strokes and took home the $2,000 first prize. Lew Worsham finished in 25th place and pocketed $25. All those beyond 25th place went home empty-handed. In those days, only the top 25 made money. If you were beyond the top five, then you had a hard time making expenses for the week.
Casper married Shirley, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, spent two years playing golf with admirals and captains, got discharged in 1955 and immediately turned pro. Casper and his wife and their young daughter got into their Buick, hooked up their travel trailer and started to follow the sun. A great golfing career had a most ignominious beginning and yet all of us know how it played out. I heartily recommend that you read The Big Three and Me by Billy Casper. It's a great read and a most interesting look into a time when professional golf was just starting to take off.


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CCOF is more than just a certifier; we're your partner in the organic movement.
We support and promote organic through certification, education, and advocacy. Buying organic is a direct investment in the future of our planet, so we work to grow the organic market and our members' businesses by educating consumers about this important relationship to our food.
CCOF publications will keep you fresh on organic. We provide a variety of resources that inform and connect the organic community. Our magazine, Certified Organic, features stories about our innovative members and other hot topics in organic. For those looking to learn organic basics, our fact sheets make understanding organic easy.
CCOF is an original in the organic movement. We have been fighting for organic integrity and the health of our planet since 1973, working to grow a food system you can trust. The support of the organic community – including food producers and consumers – is essential in this ongoing effort.
Learn about CCOF's role in the history of the organic movement.
CCOF members can use the chapter system to connect with other members of the organic community in their area or industry. Apprenticeships in organic agriculture offer great opportunities for those just starting out to build career skills and be part of the movement. Activists should look into our advocacy efforts for opportunities to voice their opinions and get involved. Also, don't forget to check our calendar of events for exciting organic happenings near you.
Want to be a part of our organic community? CCOF members receive exclusive benefits and promotion, plus they can feel good about helping to cultivate change in our food system.
Become a CCOF Foundation Member »
Apply for organic certification »
CCOF members can help shape the future of organic by getting involved with their chapters to organize events and advocate for organic research and programs.


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RUGBY and football officials are in a race against time as they work to iron out the sticking points that could scupper a Rodney Parade groundshare.
Newport County chairman Chris Blight has set a deadline of tomorrow if the deal to share the venue with Newport Gwent Dragons and owners Newport RFC is to go ahead and the Football League cut-off date is the end of the month.
There is will on all sides to come to an agreement but several issues remain problematic.
The Argus understands that among them are the split of proceeds from food and drink sales, ground modifications required by the Football Conference, advertising hoardings, signage and pitch maintenance.
None of the issues are considered to be insurmountable and steps have already been taken to address some concerns.
Rugby bosses have held talks with Nottingham regarding their lightweight posts and the turnaround after fixtures.
This season they played their Championship fixture with London Welsh just minutes after Notts County had taken on Bury at their Meadow Lane home.
Talks between Rodney Parade chiefs and the Welsh Rugby Union this week are believed to have gone well.
"I think anything like this always throws up plenty of issues and it's just a matter of talking them through," said Newport chairman and Dragons board member Will Godfrey.
"In the end it builds to a crescendo when dotting the Is and crossing the Ts and it's a case of finding out what's important to the various parties.
"All those bits and pieces are just the start but if we can get an agreement in principle then I am confident that plenty of the logistical problems can be sorted out when we come to them."
Another spanner in the works is Pontypool's legal battle with the Welsh Rugby Union.
Pooler are fighting the decision to leave them out of a revamped Premiership and take on the Union at the High Court in the final week of June.
That means Newport are unlikely to find out their fixtures for the coming campaign until mid-July at the earliest, just weeks before the start of County's season.


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Big changes are coming to bankruptcy lawyers' billing practices.
In June, members of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) U.S. Trustee Program met to discuss proposed guidelines that would increase government oversight of Chapter 11 filings. The group proposed guidelines that would require law firms working on bankruptcy cases to disclose their billing rate and fee applications, stop rounding up billable hours and work within budgets.
The government claims the new disclosure rules are necessary because bankruptcy lawyers' ever-rising fees, which frequently top $1,000 per hour, unfairly target companies when they are financially fragile. The government also says bankruptcy lawyers' fees are rising disproportionately to other lawyers' fees.
Today Thomson Reuters reported that the Trustee's office plans to officially announce the new Chapter 11 disclosure rules for law firms by the end of the month. The changes comprise the first fee overhaul the Trustee's office has instituted since 1996.
The new disclosure rules will require law firms to notify their clients of rate increases, calculate how much clients' bills will rise and supply the Trustee's office with statements from clients saying they agreed to the higher fees.
With any luck, the changes will curb rising legal costs among floundering companies that are routinely paying fees of hundreds of millions of dollars in large bankruptcy cases. For example, the liquidation of Lehman Brothers Holdings, which is the largest Chapter 11 case in history, has netted $1.6 billion in fees so far.
More than 100 law firms, including Foley & Lardner and Weil Gotshal, are against the Trustee's office's new rules, saying they are too burdensome and could increase costs even more.
For more InsideCounsel stories about law firms and their earnings, read:
Study says Biglaw profits look "grim" for 2012
Law firm managing partners lose confidence in economy
Law firm leaders expect permanent change to the industry
Law firm billing rates steadily climbing despite down economy
In-house legal increasingly shifting to alternative fee arrangements


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Sporting News MLB writers Jesse Spector and Ryan Fagan trade emails each week about a hot topic in the world of baseball. This week: What do you think of MLB's new instant replay policy? (see details here)
JESSE: Using instant replay to get more calls right is definitely a good thing, but Major League Baseball's plan to is not the right way to go about it.
The new instant replay policy will give managers like Mike Scioscia three challenges a game. (AP Photo)
MORE: Standings | Today's games | Cubs' progess | MLB's rising stars
The new rules won't be finalized until the onwers' meetings in November, so there still is time to get things right, although once it gets to this point, revision hardly seems likely. The good news is an expansion of the types of plays that are reviewable, basically everything but ball-strike calls, but making manager challenges the impetus for a replay review is a folly.
MLB's idea is to give managers three challenges per game, two of which can be used in the first six innings, with an extra one available from the seventh inning on. The flaws in this idea are plentiful.
Start with the basic concept of having manager challenges be the method by which replay reviews are initiated. Immediately, getting calls right goes from being the job of the umpires to a strategic element of the manager's job. This trivializes the concept and turns it into a game within the game, when the point is supposed to be making sure that the game is on the up-and-up.
The distribution of challenges also is arbitrary, as there could very easily be several important plays worth reviewing in the early innings — and what if the game goes 15 innings with multiple play that demand another look? Even though managers would not lose their challenge if they are correct and calls are overturned, the point should be to get all calls right. In that case, disincentivizing challenges by limiting them means that managers, rather than umpires, are on the hook if they let a bad call pass in a situtation of medium importance, which might possibly be done for the good reason of feeling it necessary to conserve a challenge for a really key situation. In a tie game, a manager with one challenge left might not challenge a close call at first base for an infield hit leading off an inning because he would want to save it for a run-scoring play. Why not take the time to make sure all the calls are correct? The current replay system has proven to be quick and efficient — certainly quicker and more efficient than having managers raise hell with drawn-out arguments. Expanding what MLB already has, instead of adding a layer of complexity, would make the most sense.
The easy solution here is to have a fifth umpire who is responsible for initiating reviews. That, or since replays now will be looked at in the MLB office rather than on the field, have the league war room make the call on whether to have a replay. These systems work just fine for college football and the NHL, respectively.
One thing that would be a positive about a challenge system: We'll finally have a statistic for managers, getting the ability to grade them on their replay success rate and total number of challenges initiated. There also would be the ability to bicker over whether challenges were being used prudently, based on Leverage Index for any
game situation. I can't wait to see that on Jim Leyland's plaque in the Hall of Fame someday: "Led American League with 36 successful replay challenges in 2014."
RYAN: This instant replay news made me think of a scene the movie Anchorman, a pattern that probably repeats itself way too often in my life (which is a conversation for another time, preferably over beers). In this particular scene, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell's character) is talking to his dog, Baxter.
"You pooped in the refrigerator? And you ate a whole wheel of cheese? How'd you do that? Actually, I'm not even mad. That's amazing."
In my convoluted way of thinking, the managers challenges are pooping in the fridge and eating a wheel of cheese. I don't even care. Those are details that don't concern me at the moment. I'm just amazed that replay will be here next spring. It's about time.
Think about it. When a throw beats the runner to first base, he'll be out based on evidence, not an umpire's judgment (OK, at least there's a chance that'll happen, if a challenge remains). When an outfielder makes a spectacular diving stab deep in an alley, the hitter might actually be out or safe based on zoomed-in visual evidence, not the perspective of a human trying to make a definitive decision from 100-something feet away.
I'm not even mad that games will take a bit longer. Actually, I'm not even annoyed with that. That's a very acceptable side effect. Think Armando Galarraga would have minded a five-minute wait if it would have meant he was given credit for the perfect game he actually pitched? How about umpire Jim Joyce?
The cost of accuracy isn't a pinkie or a thousand dollars of a week in a depravation chamber with only Astros games to watch. It's three minutes, at the very most, per call. It's an easy choice, one that I'm constantly stunned people are complaining about. We are going to have correct calls on a regular basis in 2014.
That's amazing. Where's my wheel of cheese?
JESSE: I don't care one bit about replay potentially making games longer. Baseball games are already plenty long, and if you're going to invest the time to have them, it's worth the extra few minutes to get calls right. If you want to shorten the game, focus on getting pitchers to work faster.
I'm thrilled that umpires on the field will be able to get the benefit of the technology that home viewers get on television, the technology that has made so many umpires look so bad, especially since the advent of HDTV. Baseball might be a slow game, but it has a lot of fast plays, and the difficulty of umpiring is pretty underrated. In 2008, when the All-Star FanFest was in my hometown, New York, there was a booth where you watched bang-bang plays in live speed and tried to make the correct call, only to see after replays that you'd be better off flipping a coin in most situations than trying to judge for yourself at real speed. Umpires now only get one look at plays — as it happens. Now, they'll be able to take the time to get the close calls right, which is the most important thing.
MLB hopes the new instant replay rules will eliminate a large percentage of missed calls. (AP Photo)
I cannot, however, overlook the poop in the refrigerator. Why should there be limitations? If you're willing to take a three-hour game to three hours and 10 minutes to get a few more calls right, who is hurt by three hours and 15 minutes with all the calls right? Nobody, that's who.
I don't want missed calls to decide games because a manager's challenges got used up earlier. I don't want gamesmanship interfering with justice. I want the umpiring decisions to be in the hands of the umpires, and I don't see who suffers from keeping the judiciary branch of baseball a seperate entity, without the lawyering of managers. Add the video umpire and everything is fine. Instead, we get a system littered with boondoggles.
MLB's new replay system might as well be called Sex Panther. Sixty percent of the time, it works every time. To which Ron Burgundy says: that doesn't make sense.
RYAN: I agree, the manager's challenge idea is quite pungent in its current form. At least the implementation of replay, as a whole, is made with bits of promising solutions, so you know it's good. Well, at least it'll eventually be good.
I'm OK with the idea that this is a first step. Other leagues that have introduced replay have done so slowly, and refined the process as time has marched forward. Sure, ideally baseball would build from those experiences and create a better system from the get-go, but this is a league that still determines home-field advantage for the World Series with the All-Star Game. Baby steps, eh?
Maybe we, the people, can work out a deal with MLB. We'll stop pointing out the flaws of the manager's challenges if they promise to give home-field advantage in the World Series to the team with the best record. Whaddya think?


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Residents Encouraged to Provide Feedback on FY 2010 Advertised Budget
March 4, 2009
News Highlights
More Information
Fairfax County residents have numerous opportunities to provide their feedback and comments on the Fiscal Year 2010 Advertised Budget before the Board of Supervisors formally adopts the budget on April 27. County Executive Anthony H. Griffin proposed his budget on Feb. 23.
Residents can submit comments 24-hours-a-day online or by calling the budget hotline at 703-324-9400.
Public hearings before the Board of Supervisors have been scheduled for Monday, March 30, at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, March 31, at 3 p.m.; and Wednesday, April 1, at 3 p.m. To place your name on the speakers list, call 703-324-3151, TTY 703-324-3903, or register online.
A series of community meetings will be held throughout the county from March 4-26. These meetings will give residents the opportunity to ask questions and discuss specific concerns. Representatives from the Department of Management and Budget will be present at each meeting. The complete schedule is available online.
For complete budget information, including slides and video of the county executive's presentation, visit the Budget Web page.
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director, Office of Public Affairs
703-324-3189, TTY 711, Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
To request this information in an alternate format, call 703-324-3187, TTY 711


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HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. -- M&M's brand Pretzel Chocolate Candies were honored with the 2011 Product of the Year in the candy and snacks category by Product of the Year USA, Mars Chocolate North America announced.
"This award is especially gratifying because it was decided by consumers," said Debra Sandler, chief consumer officer of Mars Chocolate North America. "We felt confident that the delicious combination of salty and sweet was a winner, but this award solidifies that M&M'S Pretzel are truly irresistible."
According to Mars North America, M&M's Pretzel won its category because consumers cited the snack's combination of salty and sweet flavors as a key attribute, as well as the fact that the snack contains 30% less fat – on average – than other leading chocolate snacks.


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Beyonce is the sexiest woman of the 21st Century, according to GQ magazine.
I guess that means everyone else should just stop trying over the next 86 years or so.
According to MSN.com, the accolade was intended to be revealed a few weeks from now, but the forthcoming GQ cover surfaced on Tuesday, courtesy of Instagram.
By the way, she looks OK in the photo.
Following the leak, Twitter lit up instantly with comparisons of Beyonce's skimming get-up to the one offered up by Rihanna on the magazine's 2012 sexiest cover, which showed the singer wearing nothing but a leather jacket.
Contact Tony Hicks at firstname.lastname@example.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks.