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This allas team really is a complete joke. The Bears are just mauling them. Philly will win the division and allas will once again miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
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This allas team really is a complete joke. The Bears are just mauling them. Philly will win the division and allas will once again miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Colts defense looking at some nice fumble recoveries in Week 17.
Bears fans, do you want to see Cutler or McCown finish the season?
If I were a Bears fan, I'd want McCown to finish the season. It kind of reminds me of the Kaepernick - Alex Smith situation last year.
^^ I don't think it matters who finishes the season, it's what they do (or more specifically - DON'T DO) with Cutler in the offseason.
Except Cutler is the younger QB there's talk the Titans might be interested in him he lives in Nashville in the offseason he might welcome it.
Of course if that's the case will it end with them losing the SB.
That would be hilarious if the Bears make it to the SB and lose to the Denver Broncos... Not only would Manning do this to them again but it would be with two different teams.
Won't happen though.
Finally watched the Eagles game, holy crap McCoy's fourth quarter was just insane.
No disrespect to vapacerfan, but I'm getting extremely tired of hearing about the Redskins. We should be talking about the playoff races in December. I don't care about a 3-10 team, and I don't care about the dynamics of the relationships between RGIII, Shany, and Dan Snyder. Once Shanny actually gets fired, then you can talk about it. But right now they are just beating it into the ground. It reminds me of all of the talk the Jets got last year when they were imploding, Sanchez was playing terrible, and some fools were calling for Tebow. I know that big markets help drive the ratings, but the media just gets obsessed with these large market teams who become train wrecks. There are so many NFL stories out there that deserve far more attention than the Redskins right now. Talk about the Skins when the season is over and the franchise is making changes, but not now. I listened to Mike and Mike for a bit this morning, and it was as if I was listening to a local D.C. sports show.
I've been tired of hearing about the 'Skins since they drafted RG3. I have a lot of respect for vapacersfan, also... we had our back-and-forths last year. But everything I felt about that team has come true. I had serious questions about their management, their decision-making, the marketing-machine of RG3, the way they were constructing things, and finally, just the blatant, ridiculous over-hyping of RG3, who I also believe is selfish and self-centered. I said it back then, I still believe it --- he has flaws, a lot. And the hype was masking it. I said last year that I liked Luck, Wilson, Tannehill, Cousins and Foles. All five of those guys are showing their merit (well... Cousins hasn't had a lot of opportunity, but he's been good in his few appearances, and I'm confident that given the nod, he'll be an impressive QB).
And now RG3 has dropped off the face of the earth, but he's still making selfish, unwise comments to the media, and Shanny and RG3 are making comments back and forth. Rumors... poor play. It's a disaster. And they traded away all those draft picks to get RG3, when I said all along that I liked and probably even preferred Kirk Cousins long-term prospects... They're talking about benching RG3 now, which I say, why haven't you done it yet? RG3 hasn't been good all year. They're hamstrung because of what they invested in RG3 and they will ride him into the dirt. As an organization, they mistakenly threw all their eggs into RG3, when the smart money would have been to play it cool, use the picks on other talent, go with Cousins, who was a great pick-up, and build a true team. Instead, they're left with this mess.
What has happened to the 'Skins isn't something I "wish" on an organization, but I said it last year --- the paths they were taking were going to bite them in the *** down the road. This is why you don't run an organization like that. And I don't like a lot of attention being given to entities that are poorly managed or making bad decisions, which is exactly what we've been subjected to. It's a train-wreck, and everyone is rubber-necking to get a look. Everyone needs to drive on and let the crews get it cleaned up.
Last edited by Kid Minneapolis; 12-11-2013 at 10:54 AM.
There are two types of quarterbacks in the league: Those whom over time, the league figures out ... and those who figure out the league.
There's an East Coast bias in sports media of course it makes news and its more interesting than talking about the other teams in the league who personality wise come across incredibly "boring" right now.
You get more mileage out of drama.
I mean I never liked the Redskins to begin with but I also don't think RG3 is solely to blame here its Snyder/RG3/Shanahan. While I'm glad the Colts didn't get RG3 I also don't think he's a bust either which is what people keep implying around here.
He's going to same path as Cam Newton here and like him RG3 will have to learn the hard way.
Anyone saw last night the latest episode from " A football life" with Oilers '93?
Thought it was a really good view and would definitely recommend it.
Buddy Ryan though *smh*
I agree, its annoying. Personally I have given up on the Redskins.....at least for this season
P.S. Next time your in DC (or if I ever go back to Indy) Ill buy you a shot as well! lol
Last edited by vapacersfan; 12-11-2013 at 10:58 PM.
Its all good. We have our disagreements (and sometimes passionately) and this time is no different. But I harbor no ill will, and if I met you in person Id gladly buy you a beer (or a shot, as I hate beer)
I agree TPTB have screwed this season up, but it was aided by RG3's arrogance (and I think the hype machine was largely media driven...and our medias desire to build them up and tear them down sad but true) and also a lot by the 36M cap penalty. I think RG3 has some growing up to do, but the same as his success was overhyped last year I think his failure (and the teams, lets not act like RG3 missed blocking assignments or dropped passes) I think he is just as much, if not more, overhyped in his failure.
And now RG3 has dropped off the face of the earth, but he's still making selfish, unwise comments to the media, and Shanny and RG3 are making comments back and forth
I have not seen this at all. Maybe I just missed it (and I honestly could have) but what I have seen has been PC talk by all parties. The only exception as when RG3 said his stupid line about the Oline and Kyle. Which he is right Kyle is an idiot, but sometimes I wish RG3 would give short and sweet answers. When he starts going on long winded answers he gets picked apart, and he says stupid ****.
I could go on a tangent on how that is the media twisting some things to get what they want, but frankly I have zero respect for anyone who doesnt man up. So I will agree with that.
The only other thing I will agree with is they should have benched him all season. Or at least after week 3-4. I still think its nuts to say Cousins will be half the QB RG3 will be, but time will tell.
Sadly the Redskins got screwed by the 36M cap penalty and by the injury of RG3. IDK if its his fault for playing through it, MS's fault for letting him call the shots (and I dont buy that for a second, Shanny only came here if he had 100% control, and last year he even said he LOVED having Snyder not involved at all).
To me it all boils down to one thing. Everyone, top to bottom, has failed. Period. End of story. But I will bet anyone here that is the Redskins were winning, even .500, none of these stories are out and no one is even talking about RG3. Im so confident in that I will say if we had a way to get a time machine I would wager if you go back you would not see one of these stories. And if I was wrong I would gladly pose nude pics of myself on PD. Not that anyone would want that!
Winning cures all. and I think winning (and RG3's legs) covered up a lot of holes last year, including the OL. If we start winning, this is all a non story.
That said, I agree with Sollozzo. Lets stop talking about the Skins. Lets talk about the teams in contention.....
I want to see RG3 under a different coaching staff, which should happen next year.
Actually as an Eagles fan, please keep Shanny forever. Hopefully Jerry Jones keeps himself GM forever too. I can deal with Eli being good once every 4 years.
Wait, you mean like how we won the NFCE and made the playoffs last year with him as coach?
The guy drives me nuts (especially with his clock mgt) but it seems many have forgot last year and the success he had.
Personally, I dont think Shanny is going to get fired. I bet he is back next year
On topic, KC had some great deep passes.
Sadly, as I typed that, we stopped ATL on 4th down at the 1 inch line and then Kirk throws a horrible interception.
Both teams have sucked, however. At one point there were like 3-4 fumbles in a row (back to back to back)
WP: Daniel Snyder did not raise objection to benching of Robert Griffin III because he felt it was coach's decision to make, sources say
Daniel Snyder did not raise objection to benching of Robert Griffin III because he felt it was coach's decision to make, sources say
Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder was informed of Coach Mike Shanahan's plan to sit down quarterback Robert Griffin III and did not raise an objection to it largely because he took the position that it was a coaching decision that should be made by Shanahan, according to several people familiar with the situation
It also appeared Friday that financial considerations have become the most significant issue determining Shanahan's future with the organization. Multiple people close to the matter said Snyder has been unwilling so far to pay the full amount he would owe Shanahan and his coaching staff under their contracts if he fired them.
When he announced Wednesday that Kirk Cousins was taking over as the team's starting quarterback, Shanahan said Snyder and General Manager Bruce Allen were in agreement with the move. Shanahan said he wouldn't have made the move if Snyder and Allen did not support the decision.
Several people with knowledge of the deliberations confirmed that Snyder did not object when told by Shanahan of the prospective move. But those people, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, said it is not clear whether Snyder endorsed the maneuver.
Snyder's approval was not the main issue, those people said, because Snyder took the view that the matter was Shanahan's responsibility and that he should not intervene.
Just because we dont have enough drama in DC:
NBCWashington:Kyle Shanahan May Be at Center of Redskins Coaching Drama
There's reason to believe that Kyle Shanahan is what is driving Mike Shanahan to want out as head coach of the Washington Redskins, a couple of strong sources within the organization told News4 Sports.
Kyle Shanahan's role in the organization as offensive coordinator may be putting the head coach in a position where he has to choose between his son and his job.
Sources told us that the coach is not being fired Tuesday and will be at practice Wednesday when the team begins work for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
We also just confirmed with the Redskins that Dan Snyder will not be involved in any player decisions and will allow the head coach to make the call as to whether Robert Griffin III or Kirk Cousins starts at quarterback Sunday against the Falcons.
I know Seattle has the best record but honestly they don't seem formidable on the road the Giants just really suck.
Glad to see the Pats lose though.
The Vikings game was a shocker.
I think that Eli has had the most bizarre career of any QB in NFL history.
you won the NFCE because RG3 was fantastic last year, the Eagles sucked, and the Cowboys are the Cowboys. Same goes for the Giants. Shanny might not need to be fired, he might just quit like he nearly did last year.
No idea wtf the Eagles were doing today, didnt see the game so can't comment much on it, but holy **** that is just bad.
I was fully expecting the referees to bail the Patriots out once again. I'm happy to see it didn't happen.
The Cowboys are choking away a 23 point second half lead to the Matt Flynn led Packers.
Why Dallas gets so much attention every year is mind boggling. Winning and success aren't enough to justify attention in today's media environment. It's all about big markets and drama.
Last edited by hoosierguy; 12-15-2013 at 07:56 PM.
You mean the rumor the "sources" leaked that everyone is Ashburn denied. Not to mention MS homself said he keeps three things in his office (an IPaD being one).
Never denied the NFCe sucked last year
Missed the Eagles game as well. Man, Eli is mind boggling on how up and down his career goes
As for Dallas getting the attention they're in a division that's part of a big media market the NFC East. Who as much as I like to rag on is a far better division than the AFC South this year how anyone would dispute that is beyond me.
Winning does get attention I mean we got attention when Manning was here and Indy is as small market as you can get considering. We get attention with Luck but the on the field product is rather dull these days compared to the Manning era.
Guys you won't believe it!
Romo picked with the game on the line and Dallas up front by 5. Ball at Dallas' 13.


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What we learned Saturday from the last full day of college hoops before Christmas:
1. Michigan State a darkhorse. For the Big Ten title. For the Final Four. Dare we say, for the national title. The difference between contenders Duke/Michigan/Indiana and the Spartans is far less than you think. The Spartans have two big bodies in Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne, a veteran point guard in Keith Appling, a do-it-all wing in Branden Dawson and a budding star shooter in Gary Harris. Oh, and Tom Izzo on the bench.
2. Kevin Dillard is tougher than you. The Dayton star point guard left Wednesday night's game in a wheelchair, his back pain so severe he couldn't walk. On Saturday, he played 37 minutes through the pain. Although never comfortable and unable to sit during timeouts and breaks, Dillard scored 16 points in the second half to lead the Flyers to an NCAA Tournament resume-building win over Murray State.
3. Khalif Wyatt can meet a challenge. Just three days removed from an embarrassing 10-point loss to Canisius, the Temple senior point guard delivered a masterful performance against No. 3 Syracuse. Wyatt controlled the tempo, worked Syracuse's zone like a puppet master, scored a career-high 33 points and led the Owls to an 83-79 upset.
4. Michael Carter-Williams is a target. Perhaps Jim Boeheim regrets not suspending his star point guard after a shoplifting "misunderstanding." Since his detention by mall cops became public, MCW has hit only 4-of-21 shots in two games. On Saturday, Temple fans serenaded him with "Lord & Taylor" chants and on the court the Owls dared Carter-Williams -- the nation's assist leader at 10.7 per game -- to match Wyatt's scoring and he hit only 3-of-15 attempts while handing out only four assists.
5. Gators missing the point. If Florida had a point guard, the Gators don't turn the ball over four times in the final minute and lose at Arizona last weekend. If the Gators had a point guard, they handle Kansas State's tough half-court defense Saturday night, get better shots and win. If Florida had Kasey Hill (top-10 recruit for '13) right now, they'd be undefeated and be No. 2 in the country. Hill's not walking through that door until next fall, and without him the Gators appear to be fatally flawed.
6. The A-10 race to be amazing. Perhaps only the Big Ten race will be as thrilling and exhilarating as the Atlantic 10's. Within the last week, Butler has upset No. 1 Indiana and Temple has knocked off No. 3 Syracuse and neither club was picked to finish in the top three of the A-10. VCU's sharpshooting defensive piranhas remain the favorite, but Butler, Temple, Saint Joseph's, Xavier, Dayton and Saint Louis all could challenge the Rams.
7. It's great to be a Hoya for the holidays. Georgetown, winners of seven straight since losing in overtime to Indiana on Nov. 20, now has a two weeks off before opening Big East play Jan. 5 at Marquette. With such a long break, the Hoyas can go home for Christmas, get fat on eggnog and Aunt Jenny's pecan pie and still have plenty of time to round back into shape before their next game.
8. The clock is ticking on Kevin O'Neill. Ben Howland isn't the only coach in L.A. feeling the heat. Coming off a six-win season, O'Neill thought USC was primed for a bounce-back year behind healthy point guard Jio Fontan and healthy big man Dewayne Dedmon and three good transfers. Saturday's loss to Georgia was the Trojans' seventh in their last eight games. O'Neill is now 45-63 in four years at USC.
9. Beware of Nate Wolters. It's not easy for NBA scouts to get to Brookings, S.D., but they make the trek to watch this maestro. Wolters handles the ball with care and precision, can attack the rim or launch long jumpshots and has a mid-range game rare for a college player. On Saturday, he scored 28 points and handed out seven assists in an upset at No. 16 New Mexico.
10. There's hope for Ryan Harrow. Kentucky fans all but gave up on Harrow after he missed most of the first five games with an illness, an undisclosed family issue and a crisis of confidence. He has started the last two games and now has his swagger back. He scored a career-high 23 points Saturday against Marshall, adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Next up: Louisville on Dec. 29. If Harrow maintains his poise against the Cardinals' vicious press, there's good reason to believe the young Wildcats again will be a force come March.

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Ben Rhydding retirement village Audley Clevedon has donated more than £200 to charity Parkinson's UK after a fundraising race night organised by one of the residents.
Brian Lee masterminded the charity night for those living in the retirement village and club members.
Mr Lee, alongside friends and fellow Audley Clevedon residents Peter and Cilla Seago, presented a £224 cheque to the chairman of Parkinson's UK Skipton branch Allan Cawood and treasurer Gill Wiseman.
Residents at Audley Clevedon chose Parkinson's UK as it is a cause close to their hearts.
The retirement village's general manager, David Kanarens, said: "Our successful activities have seen the residents at Audley Clevedon raise an impressive £224 to date for Parkinson's UK.
"We are indebted to the hard work of Mr Lee for his incredible fundraising drive.
"We have been overwhelmed by people's generosity and look forward to the many future events we have planned in aid of this very deserving charity."


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Danny Flores used to think guns and knives were the only way to solve life's problems.
But today, the only weapon Flores uses is a paintbrush and a message of peace and hope. | VIDEO
Several years ago, Flores created "Messengers of Peace," a small group of Chicano artists who use paintbrushes and canvas to help young people avoid gangs and make better choices in their lives in the Greater Long Beach area.
"One kid told me that art was the only time he felt peace inside him," Flores said. "I discovered that art is a great opportunity to change someone's mind-set and to build relationships."
Flores, 50, didn't always have peace inside himself.
He grew up in Los Angeles and said he joined the rough Culver City Gang when he was 15.
"When I was a kid, I was surrounded by gangs. They were just part of my environment," he said.
Life was brutal then.
"I watched people get murdered," said Flores, who was shot twice and stabbed several times. "A car comes by and one of your friends gets killed. I used to wait for somebody to come by and shoot me. I thought I was going to die by the time I was 16."
Flores was 24 when he hit bottom with drugs and alcohol. He said he rediscovered God.
"My mom said God would give me one miracle," Flores said. "I thought I was going to hell because I was under the influence of the Ugly One (Satan). I asked God for that miracle. If God had not answered, I would be a dead man now."
With the help of a rehabilitation program, Flores climbed out of the deep hole he was in and began his life work educating at-risk youths through gang violence prevention and intervention programs.
For nine years he directed the state's MAGIC program in Los Angeles County, a male involvement project that focused on preventing teen pregnancy and promoting responsible fatherhood.
This work inspired Flores to develop his own program to help at-risk kids.
"I have been drawing all my life," he said. "I got an A in art but F's in other subjects in school. I always got great satisfaction out of art."
Flores had been a gang prevention officer in Los Angeles when he decided to call up some of his artist friends and have an exhibit to raise money for a fatherhood program.
"At the show we talked about the consequences of life on canvas," he said. "A lot of people came, and we decided to take the art show to different communities in Southern California."
Flores said he came up with the name Messengers of Peace because "I love to talk, and I've always seen myself as a messenger."
His fellow artists in the group are Manny Felassquez, Carlos Sanchez, Ken Machaca and Daniel Martinez.
Flores said his past life as a gang member helps him get through to youths.
"I have credibility with them because I've been through so many of the same things," he said. "They see me as someone who was able to get out of that vicious cycle of gangs and despair."
Luis Guerrero, 21, said he was heavily involved with gangs when he met Flores a few years ago.
"At first, I didn't think too much of him," said Guerrero, who was born in Torrance and raised in Wilmington. "I thought he was just another guy lecturing me. But he showed me he was a real person and that he cared about me. He even paid for a suit so I could go to the prom. No one had ever done something like that.
"He invited me to his art classes. I never knew I could paint, but I did and I've even sold some paintings."
Guerrero is a student at Los Angeles Harbor College and is planning on going to Cal State Long Beach or Cal State Dominguez Hills, where he wants to major in history.
"A lot of young Chicano people are unaware of where they fit in history and what their ancestors accomplished. I want to help them connect those things."
Jorge Robles, 23, a graduate of Millikan High School, said Flores showed him how to get out of drugs and gangs.
"I was rebellious and had no respect for authority," Robles said. "Danny taught me how to get out of a bad situation. I saw the passion he had and how he helped kids. I want to do the same thing."
Flores is proud of how Guerrero, Robles and others have turned their lives around.
"It's tremendously rewarding," he said. "I keep in touch with some kids I met 20 years ago. One guy is 37 now, and he said I saved his life."
Jessica Quintana, executive director of Centro CHA, said Flores is an amazing person who goes above and beyond to help young people.
"And he does this with his own money and time. He works under the radar and does it with no recognition," she said.
In addition to his volunteer work with "Messengers of Peace," Flores works as a case manager for the Long Beach Health Department at its Multi-Service Center.
Flores said he is next considering organizing a run similar to an event run by Native Americans to remember their past in the Four Corners area of Venice, Culver City and Santa Monica.
"I'm thinking of doing a Peace Run in Long Beach going from community to community," he said. "We could get nonprofits involved. It could be a very healing thing."
No matter what the future holds, Flores is sure to continue to find ways to spread his gospel of peace and hope.
firstname.lastname@example.com, 562-499-1285, http://twitter.com/richarchbold1


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News Release
Media Contact: TPWD News, firstname.lastname@example.com, 512-389-8030
Nov. 4, 2009
TPWD Begins Annual Hunting and Fishing Regulatory Process
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff briefed the Regulations Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Nov. 4 on possible changes designed to increase recreational opportunity and further enhance the state's fish and wildlife resources.
Unlike last year's regulatory cycle, where wildlife officials made sweeping changes to white-tailed deer seasons and bag limits, the current slate of potential changes is fairly slim. Additional proposals could arise in the next couple of months and a complete suite of staff recommendations will be presented during the Jan. 27, 2010 Commission Regulations Committee meeting.
According to TPWD big game program director Clayton Wolf, following last year's extensive changes hunters shouldn't anticipate substantive alterations to deer season for at least a couple of years.
The Wildlife Division is considering a recommendation to implement an open general season for mule deer in Dawson and Wheeler counties. Under current rule, there is no open season for mule deer in Dawson or Wheeler counties. Implementing a nine-day, buck-only season in Dawson County and a 16-day, buck-only season in Wheeler County would offer increased hunter opportunity without adversely impacting mule deer reproduction or distribution. The literature suggests that the implementation of a buck-only season will not have any measurable impact on herd productivity or expansion; however, a measurable change in the age structure of bucks is anticipated as a result of harvest pressure on a previously unhunted population.
On the fishing side, last year saw landmark changes in regulations for harvesting alligator gar and flounder. The Inland and Coastal Fisheries Divisions in collaboration with Law Enforcement are considering changes to regulations on reporting requirements for commercial fishing and on the clarification of language on possession of harvested fish. The department is also exploring removing regulations governing commercial fishing that are currently interspersed within regulations regarding recreational fishing. The commercial fishing regulations would be placed within a separate document.
The Coastal Fisheries Division will also be obtaining public input regarding a potential regulation change to lower the minimum size limit for snook.
The annual regulatory review process begins each year after resource assessments are made by biologists. In addition, the divisions work with law enforcement to ensure enforceability for the game laws each year, as well as considering independent recommendations received from various stakeholder groups throughout the year. During this scoping portion of the process, TPWD gathers public input and weighs the biological implications of each issue before presenting the commission with a set of proposed regulation changes on Jan. 27, 2010. Additional discourse is sought during special public meetings in the spring, and the commission at its April 1, 2010 meeting determines the final regulation changes.
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At last, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer ran the segment on our "Made in America" Holiday Shopping Challenge yesterday. YAY! Here is the link to view it online. We'd like to thank ABC producers Christine Brozyna and Eric Noll for coming to Vernon to film the segment. Theirs' is not an easy job.
When Christine and Eric came to Vermont last month it was because they had read a blog about our "Made in America" project way back in September. They were impressed that such a small company would take on a project about creating American jobs and they wanted to put the size and strength of ABC behind it.
Well, a lot of time has passed since then and I'm sure that as each new idea came into the newsroom, our story morphed depending on the context of the day. There were a couple times we were considered for inclusion in earlier segments but for whatever reason they fell through. In the end we were pretty disappointed to see that our segment really wasn't about the jobs or the furniture being created by small independent companies like Vermont Woods Studios or Woodruff Custom Furniture.
Instead we got spun into a segment on American schools. Go figure. But it was indeed an educational experience, learning how news stories get created (I'll be much more wary now, about believing what I see in the news). We're trying to just be grateful for the fact that ABC has been able to raise awareness (much more than we ever could) all across the country about the jobs that can be created by buying American made holiday gifts.
Already following our Blog? For more info sign up for our e-newsletter
This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.


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Maned Wolves From South America
Use Three Puppies to Learn Five Facts About Maned Wolves
Use Three Puppies to Learn Five Facts About Maned Wolves
Born on Christmas Eve, this threesome recently came out to public oohs and ahhs at the Denver Zoo. From this angle, I can't tell the two rascally lads — Santiago and Diego — from the lass named Cayenne but, sure enough, I easily see the cuteness. The zoo hasn't had any Maned Wolf pups since 1985 so, to celebrate their return, I've gathered up some facts about this species. Learn all about 'em in the slideshow!
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Brewers announce partnership with Meijer
MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers today announced a multi-year partnership with Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer that begins this season. The partnership will include branding on both the right-center and left-center field walls at Miller Park. Additional advertising will also be featured on the official website of the Brewers, Brewers.com.
This is the first sports partnership in Wisconsin for Meijer as the store plans on opening its first Wisconsin stores next year. The retailer currently has over 200 locations in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.
"This partnership is just one example of Meijer's commitment be an integral part of our community even before they open their doors to customers," Brewers Chief Operating Officer Rick Schlesinger said. "We see this as a great way to welcome them to Wisconsin."
Meijer supercenters offer customers the "one-stop shopping" concept and are a family-owned company led by brothers and co-chairmen Hank and Doug Meijer, who understand the importance of supporting the communities where its customers and team members work and live.
"We've been learning a lot about Wisconsin, and we've come to understand that the Brewers are part of the fabric of the Milwaukee community and that the team's fan base is extremely loyal," said Frank Guglielmi, senior director of communications for the company. "We're excited to be involved with the Milwaukee community and hope to make its citizens loyal fans of Meijer as well."
The Meijer signage will be up for the Brewers exhibition games at Miller Park tonight and tomorrow, as well as Monday's Opening Day and throughout the partnership.


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By Public Relations |
April 12, 2006
Dr. Joy J. Moore will be speaking at the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center Auditorium March 29, 2006, at 8:15 a.m. on "God's Future Now" and then again at 10:00 a.m. on "Daniel 3: MP3."
"The people of God today have a first-century opportunity to live now as a glimpse of the way the world will be when the justice, peace and reign of God are reality. Our lives bear testimony to the triune God revealed in Jesus as the Creator of a universe, who is actively reconciling (that universe) to its original goodness," says Dr. Joy Moore assistant professor of preaching at Asbury Theological Seminary and recognized speaker and retreat leader. She seeks to call the next generation to fulfill their purpose to be unified, powerful participants in this countercultural community called the church. Wednesday, March 29, 2006, Dr. Moore will also speak on "Accommodating God's Future Now: A glimpse of the Kingdom."
All Bethel students, faculty, staff and the general public are welcome. No preregistration or fee is required. The public is invited to attend the 8:15 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. sessions. For more information, please contact the office of graduate studies at 574.257.3360.
Bethel College is an accredited Christian college of the arts and sciences offering associates, bachelor's and master's degrees in more than 50 areas of study. The current enrollment of 1,964 includes students from 34 states, 17 countries, more than 20 denominational affiliations and 16 percent from culturally diverse backgrounds. Scholarships are available based upon a variety of factors including academic achievement, talent in the arts or athletics, ethnicity and church affiliation. Bethel offers classes at four satellite locations, as well as its Elkhart campus. The main Bethel campus is situated on 75 wooded acres in Mishawaka, Ind.


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Mrs. Bartlett was born July 22, 1934, in Nyssa. She attended grammar school in Alturas, Calif., and high school in Donnelly, Idaho. She married Elwin Bennett in 1954 in Nevada. They divorced in 1960. She married Theodore Bartlett on Dec. 23, 1986, in Canyonville. She worked as a childcare provider, hotel maid, waitress and line worker at Agripac in Eugene.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1992, and a son, Samuel Bartlett, in 2008. She is survived by five sons, Craig Wilmarth and Alan Bartlett, Springfield, Monte Bennett, Australia, David Bennett, Dorena, and Clifford Bartlett, Cottage Grove; two daughters, Cynthia Oakes, Junction City, and Brenda Spencer, Veneta; two brothers, Pete Fields, Donnelly, Idaho, and Rick Fields, Wieser, Idaho; three sisters, Shorty Spivey, Vale, and Shonna Gilbert and Sharon Burgess, Emmett, Idaho; 35 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at St. Alice Church in Springfield.


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Since this initial report, other cases of B. miyamotoi infection have been subsequently identified at IMUGEN in patients
from Massachusetts and New Jersey. The infected individuals were hospitalized with an acute febrile illness and
demonstrated abnormalities in laboratory test results. When these patients tested negative for the more common tick-
transmitted infectious diseases, scientists at IMUGEN, in collaboration with the treating physicians and researchers from
Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, were ultimately able to demonstrate that these infections were caused by
B. miyamotoi. Laboratory methods, including nucleic acid detection and gene sequencing, were used to identify the
causative agent as B. miyamotoi.
B. miyamotoi is transmitted to humans by the bite of a deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, the same tick with the potential to infect
humans with Lyme disease (B. burgdorferi) as well as other infectious diseases. The B. miyamotoi organism is thought to
occur in a similar geographic distribution as Lyme disease and other Ixodes-borne infections. In Massachusetts, 3% of
adult deer ticks contain B. miyamotoi. Ongoing research by IMUGEN and their Tufts collaborators will provide more
information on how common this infection is relative to Lyme disease, and to determine the spectrum of illness. Based on
current understanding, patients may present with nonspecific symptoms such as high fever, or muscle and joint aches, but
unlike Lyme disease, no characteristic rash has been described. Laboratory testing is necessary to diagnose this infection.
According to Philip J. Molloy, MD, the Medical Director at IMUGEN, recognition of B. miyamotoi coupled with the
availability of laboratory tests developed at IMUGEN will assist physicians in more accurately diagnosing and
differentiating this emerging infection from Lyme and the other more common tick transmitted infections.
Incorporated in May 1989, IMUGEN, Inc. is a clinical and research laboratory located in Norwood, MA with over 23 years
experience in the development and performance of specialized assays for vector borne and blood borne infections.
IMUGEN is accredited by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and College of American
Pathologists (CAP) and is licensed as a clinical laboratory in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island and Maryland.


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More details on Pa. caregiver support program
Last month WHYY's Carolyn Beeler wrote about a Pennsylvania law, taking effect in March, that will allow caregivers to be reimbursed by the state for expenses associated with their service.
NewsWorks reader Diane asked:
"What is the maximum monthly income for one person and for two to qualify for the Pa. caregiver support program? I read HB 210 & SB 639. Must be 60 or older. Is than correct?
"The family I am trying to help are both over 85. [...] Any info you can furnish me would be appreciated. Next step is the area of bureau of aging."
Beeler wrote back:
"Hi, Diane. You were right — the Pennsylvania Department of Aging directs people interested in the Pa. caregiver support program to contact their county area agency on aging."
She also provided a link to some more information about the program.
Support provided by


text: Jeff's calculations over at USA Today show the Pacers have had the toughest schedule so far. The Celtics, Cavs, Lakers, and Magic have had some of the easiest. Because of this they are ranked higher (17) than the Nets, Miami, and many more. Power rankings don't mean much to me but at least this has a formula behind it.


text: Seton Hill ends UC women's run By Mike Whiteford March 1, 2013 Story Share Chip Ellis UC's Kayla Dozier (15) challenges Seton Hill's Tiara Stossel as she drives to the basket. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In a three-minute spree midway through the second half, the University of Charleston seemed to conjure up the same magic that had ended Glenville's 20-game winning streak 48 hours earlier.The Golden Eagles sank four consecutive shots to produce 11 points and cut Seton Hill's 18-point lead to seven, suggesting that UC's improbable tournament run might last another day.But during a subsequent timeout, Seton Hill coach Ferne Labati looked into her players' eyes and saw conviction.From there, Labati relaxed and the Griffins handled things quite nicely and, though UC again cut the deficit to seven with three minutes left, Seton Hill collected a 61-49 victory in a West Virginia Conference women's semifinal Friday afternoon at the Charleston Civic Center. A crowd of about 500 attended.The No. 5 Griffins (19-12) will oppose No. 3 Fairmont State in the title game at 1:07 p.m. today. At age 66, Labati says she has no plans for retirement, especially in heady times like these. Her team is seeking a WVC title and an NCAA Division II tournament bid, and on Friday afternoon her team responded to the UC challenge. "We had to make stops,'' said Labati, a former University of Miami coach, "and the look in our players' eyes showed that we were going to get a stop. During a timeout, you could look at them and you could tell.''The Greensburg, Pa., school scored the next six points - Katie Gattuso's free throw, Tiara Stossel's basket and Paige Alviani's 3-pointer - for 49-36 lead with 5:46 left. UC responded on Jessi Cowden's five straight points and Nichole Perry's 3-pointer but was never closer than seven down the stretch. Another thing that may extend Labati's career is her rapport with the players. "I've been on a lot of teams, and I've never had a coach that cares more about her players than she does,'' said Gattuso, a junior from Pittsburgh. "And I could cry about it. So I know it makes a difference for us to play for her.''The No. 9 Golden Eagles (16-13), who finished 12-15 last year, lost four of their final six regular-season games this season, including two by 24-point margins, and needed a victory at No. 8 Pitt Johnstown on Monday simply to reach the Civic Center. Once there, they stunned No. 1 Glenville, the No. 12 team in Division II.Beating the Pioneers lifted the Golden Eagles to a season high, but there were no lingering aftereffects, said UC coach Adam Collins. "I just think we were nervous to start,'' said Collins. "I don't think it had anything to do with coming down from the Glenville game. We didn't have very many people who had been in this situation before. I don't think it was a letdown from Glenville. Our girls did a fantastic job of not listening to the hype that everyone was trying to give them.''The Griffins, Collins said, stymied the UC transition game, forcing the Golden Eagles into an uncomfortable half-court offense."We were never able to get any easy baskets except when we were in transition,'' he said. "When we were in a half-court situation, we never seemed to be able to score. That's not our game; half-court is not our game, and they did a good job of keeping us in it. We forced 20 turnovers; we just didn't make enough shots. Twenty-seven percent from the field will do you in every time.'' Collins, a Charleston (S.C.) Southern graduate, is a former Texas-Permian Basin coach who won Heartland Conference coach of the year honors. His first year at UC brought some satisfying moments, he said. "We're 16-13 when most people thought we would win five games,'' he said. "We played in the semifinals. We're going home on the same day that West Liberty is going home. We knocked off the No. 12 team in the country with 20 consecutive victories.''Alviani, the WVC's top 3-point shooter with a 42.8 percent accuracy, hit 3 of 4 3-pointers and 7 of 11 shots overall to lead the Griffins with 19 points. Gattuso, a first-team All-WVC choice, added 18 points and 15 rebounds.Cowden led UC with 14 points on 4-of-8 3-point shooting and LeAnne Ross came off the bench to score 13. UC shot 27.3 percent.Reach Mike Whiteford at firstname.lastname@example.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 Reunions: Sept. 26, 2017 5 Rod Run and Doo Wop brings classic cars, music to Boulevard for 12th year WVU faces tall order at No. 6 Kansas Previous Story In the Spotlight Next Story


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'The dip in Afinogenov's production has been stunning. Once one of the league's most explosive talents, he has just 10 goals, 27 points and an awful minus-14 rating in 53 games this year. He scored 55 goals, 134 points and sported a nifty plus-25 rating in 133 games during the previous two seasons.'
You are here: Home / SabresBeat / Are Sabres eMax'ed out on Afinogenov?


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Deputies of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office were called to the 300 block of First Street in Pontiac around 9:40 p.m. on Friday after an attempted carjacking.
The victim, a 23-year-old female from Waterford Township, said she turned south onto Laurel Street from Third Street when three unknown men, approximately all around 20 years old, walked into the road and blocked her path.
One of the three men approached her open window and demanded her money. He also demanded that she get out of her vehicle.
When the woman refused, the man grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the face.
The woman accelerated and escaped from her attacker. The rear driver side vent window of her vehicle was broken when one of the suspects struck it as she drove away.
She was treated by EMS at her residence from swelling around her eye area.
No suspects have no been identified.


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ORANGE COVE, Calif. — The late Franklin Otis Booth Jr. — Otis to his family, friends and acquaintances — knew plenty about radar. After all, he was in his 80s before he surrendered the controls of his Lear jet to a younger pilot.
Booth Ranches LLC, which he founded in 1957, has in recent years quietly become one of California's major citrus grower-packer-shippers.
"We grew below the radar by design," said Loren Booth, Otis Booth's daughter, a fifth-generation native Californian and now owner of the citrus company.
Otis Booth was a business executive when he inherited a 40-acre citrus grove in 1950. That original grove remains among the company's productive farmland. It is known simply as Ranch 40, Loren Booth said.
Today, Ranch 40 is a small slice of the 8,500 acres of Booth Ranch navels, valencias and specialty citrus in the San Joaquin Valley from Fresno County south into Kern County.
As his investments skyrocketed Otis Booth's wealth into the Forbes 400, oranges became a passion.
"Land and a growing business and farming on the land is something rather more tangible than a securities portfolio," Booth told Forbes magazine in 2005.
As some growers switched to other commodities, Booth remained committed to citrus, Loren Booth said, though he did add a cattle ranch in 1971.
Adding acreage and marketing fruit grown only by the company helped make it a truly independent grower-shipper.
"The beauty of who we are is that we can pick only when it's right," Booth said. "The focus is always on flavor, on consistently good-eating oranges."
That's why Booth Ranches grows the somewhat rare spring variety among its various navel oranges, a decision made a few years ago when Loren Booth was sampling fruit on one of the ranches.
"One taste told me this was a keeper variety," she said.
Quick decisions are earmarks of the independent, family-owned operation. There is no board of directors. There are no committees to weigh options.
"There's no red tape here," Loren Booth said.
Another advantage, said Neil Galone, vice president of sales and marketing, is that Booth's residence is just a few hundred yards from the company's headquarters.
"She's never more than a few minutes away," he said.
While Otis Booth built the foundation, Loren Booth, the company's general manager until her father's death in 2008, has been the architect of growth this century.
After acquiring a Porterville citrus packinghouse three years ago, Booth Ranches purchased the Sunny Cove packinghouse in Orange Cove last year.
The expanded acreage and packing operations necessitated a larger staff, evidenced by a series of temporary offices stationed around the company's Orange Cove headquarters. A new administrative and sales office is scheduled to be completed by the start of the navel season in early November, Galone said.
Loren Booth credits much of her success to the California Agricultural Leadership program, put on by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation.
"It gave me a vision," she said. "It gave me the tools to see the whole picture."
Roughly 75% of the company's oranges is navels and 25% is valencias, Galone said. But about 40% of the groves are young trees that are not yet producing commercial crops.
The company also grows, but does not market, some specialty citrus.
"We decided it was best to do one thing and do it well," Booth said.
The projected volume for the 2009-10 season is 2.4 million cartons, Galone said.
As the young trees mature, volume is expected to more than double to 5 million cartons in the 2012-13 season, he said, and that will mean growing pains for Mitch Butler, plant manager of the former Sunny Cove facility, known as Plant 2.
"Plant 2 increased our cold storage capacity by 35%, but when those trees reach maturity we won't be able to handle the volume," he said.
Does that mean more expansion is on the horizon?
"There's nothing in the works," Booth said, "But we always look at opportunities."
Whatever the future holds for Booth Ranches, it is likely the days of flying below the radar are over.


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Arlington - Us Flag Baby Bodysuit
Product Color:
Product information
Use this Baby Bodysuit Arlington - Us Flag and your need for a babysitter will dwindle rapidly. Whether you are having a nice meal at a fancy restaurant or going to a friend's dinner party: Use our Arlington - Us Flag outfits and your baby will become the center of any party.
This Arlington Baby Bodysuit is made of 100% Cotton, ensuring durability, quality and all the softness needed to make your little one feel comfortable. Our wide variety of cheerful colors ensure that your baby is always dressed for the occasion.
Sku: BB0WH0000010291616160032ABREBL000


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Organization and MS
This week, at my "Poker Night," which is a men's MS self-help group, we had a woman named Stacey come and speak on the topic of organization. She has an organizing business and introduced herself as a "professional organizer." Now, before you say it, there was a resounding chorus of exactly what you are thinking at Poker Night, "Is there such a thing?"
She laughed, we laughed and we got on with what many of the guys thought was going to be a droll dissertation and variations on the theme, "A place for everything and everything in its place."
Boy, were we wrong!
This Stacey, who's blog about organizing (I'm asking Natalie to add to our recommended blog list) had loads of tips for getting and staying in charge of our own space; thus our lives.
I had no idea that we each "waste" 55 minutes per day looking for stuff we know we have, but can't find within one minute. I always joked in my days as a chef that I should order an extra hour for each day when I called in my meat or produce needs for the day. Now, I find that that extra hour (good grief – that's like three months each year!) was already in "my inventory."
The tips that Stacey proffered for nearly an hour weren't just the things we all know we should be doing, but new things that make so much sense, our guys just never thought of them.
"Don't put down a single piece of unopened mail. Open it over the shredder or trash." God knows that's about the only place most of the post should end up anyway!
Another tip was to "Start small." A 2×2 section of a room can be a good place to start." And for a person with MS, 2×2 may be all we can get to in a day.
The litany was far too much for me to regurgitate for you in these short pages. I just wanted to share a link to her blog and website because she has weekly tips for getting and keeping organized that are now on my list of must dos.
I'm going to have six weeks (I hope it's only six weeks…) of nothing to do other than a little rehab starting in October, so I see hours of sorting, purging, shredding and donating in my future. Not the most enjoyable way to spend a couple of fortnight, but it will be better than sitting around dreading the next visit of the physical therapist, whom I've not met but already named "Torquemada."
Wishing you and your family the best of health.


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Should state workers get an additional day off for Native American Day?
Yes 21% (165)
No 79% (607)
772 total votes.
Just weeks after voters agreed to help ailing state coffers with higher sales and income taxes, a Los Angeles-area lawmaker wants to give state workers an additional paid holiday, costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars per year.
Assemblyman Roger Hernández, D-West Covina, on Tuesday introduced a bill that would celebrate Native American Day as a holiday on the second Monday in October, recognized as Columbus Day by the federal government.
The added holiday would make 12 per year for state workers. Hernández, whose top campaign contributors have been trade unions, is a key player in the new Democratic supermajority in the legislature. He was named last month to chair the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.
In November, voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax hike and voted to raise income taxes on a sliding scale on the wealthy. The tax is expected to raise about $6 billion a year.
State finance officials could not immediately project the cost of another holiday. A dozen years ago, it was estimated that adding the Cesar Chavez holiday cost taxpayers some $50 million annually.
Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2009 stripped Columbus Day and Lincoln's Birthday from the state's paid holiday calendar. He estimated the combined savings at $114 million a year, although finance officials now say the move saved $13.5 million annually per canceled holiday.
Hernández's office declined to make him available for an interview, or to identify proponents of the legislation. They did release a statement.
"This legislation is inspired by the recognition that the so-called discovery of the Americas by Columbus eventually led to the genocide of Native Americans," the statement said. "This bill hence provides the proper respect and recognition to our Native American nations."
On Tuesday, Gov. Jerry Brown told The Watchdog that the Hernández bill would not be welcome on his desk.
"You can take this to the bank: We're not going to spend money that we can't afford to spend," Brown said. "We're all going to have to sacrifice according to our means … We have to do more with less."
Brown plans to release his 2013-14 budget proposal on Thursday.
In addition to 11 paid holidays per year, state workers are also provided with two paid training and development days that were later given to them to make up for the loss of the holidays honoring Lincoln and Columbus. Employees also recently signed a new labor contract that requires them to take one day off per month without pay.
Newly-elected Republican Assemblywoman Marie Waldron of Escondido said the state cannot afford another paid holiday.
"While it is important to recognize and honor Native American heritage ... There are more responsible ways to make the same statement," said Waldron, whose district includes six federally recognized Indian tribes.
Assembly Bill 55 would require state agencies to close the second Monday in October. It also would allow — but not require — local agencies to give their workers a paid day off.
Neither the city of San Diego nor the San Diego Unified School District provide the holiday to their employees. A school district spokesman said he reviewed district calendars and doubted whether employees ever got the day off.
"I have one right in front of me for 1954-'55 — no Columbus Day," said Jack Brandais. "And I had another one from the 1920s and there is no Columbus Day there either."
In 1980, the San Diego City Council approved a deal with its employee groups providing for an additional floating holiday in lieu of a fixed Columbus Day.
Columbus Day has long been celebrated across the world to mark Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas in 1492. Columbus Day became a holiday for federal employees in 1937 and remains so. Congress later passed legislation ensuring that Columbus Day, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and Presidents Day would fall on Mondays.
Lately, though, the day has been getting the squeeze.
Nearly half of the 50 states do not recognize Columbus Day as a paid day off, according to the Council of State Governments.
It is celebrated as Native American's Day in South Dakota. In Tennessee, at the governor's discretion, Columbus Day may be observed the day after Thanksgiving. And in Vermont, Columbus Day 2012 was a floating holiday but state offices were open.
Some cities such as Calimesa, Calif., have moved to switch the Columbus Day holiday to honor the contributions of others, including labor organizer Cesar Chavez. Columbus Day was renamed "Indigenous Peoples' Day" in the city of Berkeley.
1492 remembered
States that still have a paid Columbus Day holiday:, Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia
California lawmaker acquitted of DUI charge


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SAN DIEGO (AP) — Deputies used a stun gun on at least one person as they arrested six at a raucous house party in Rancho Santa Fe where someone was stabbed.
San Diego Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Passalacqua says a fight broke out as deputies arrived at the home where some 200 people were gathered early Saturday. Deputies used a Taser to subdue one individual. Several people were charged with disorderly conduct or resisting arrest.
City News Service reports there was evidence of a bloody crime, although the stabbing suspect and victim had fled.
A man with stab wounds to his arm was later discovered by deputies at a local hospital. Passalacqua says the unidentified stabbing victim was pepper sprayed and arrested after he became aggressive with deputies.
Investigators are searching for the stabbing suspect.


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Languages Ringer T-shirts are an Idakoos specialtiy! Idakoos has many things to offer. Whether you want to get a Languages Ringer T-shirt for a special occasion, give a Languages T-Shirt as a present or need to represent with a funny Languages Ringer Tee during Holidays or Family and Friends get-togethers, Idakoos is sure to have the right Languages Ringer T-shirt for you! Even if it turns out you can't find the right Languages Ringer Shirt with the perfect design for your mother, father or children (or friends!); Idakoos offers all of its men's women's and children's Languages Ringer T-shirts as Custom Languages T-Shirts. Personalize any Languages Ringer T-shirt the way you want to ensure the perfect gift.
Showing 1 - 24 of 39468 Ringer T-Shirt


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A phenomenal price for a solid-rosewood 15-Series guitar!
While the simple appointments, understated satin finish, and modest price of this Martin Custom D Rosewood Dreadnought Left-Handed are reminiscent of the 15 Series guitars of the 1940s, this model trades vintage all-mahogany construction for a select solid Sitka spruce top and the ringing punch and sustain of solid East Indian rosewood back and sides. The solid mahogany neck is also satin finished for fast, comfortable play.
Martin Dreadnought
The very first dreadnought guitars were designed and crafted by C. F. Martin & Co. in 1916, but marketed in Boston and New York exclusively under the Oliver Ditson brand. Originally made for Hawaiian slide playing style, the very first dreadnought made was a Model 222 shipped to Ditson in August of 1916. After Ditson went out of business in the early 1930s, Martin introduced the D-1 and D-2 dreadnoughts for standard playing style that would soon become Martin's iconic D-18 and D-28 models. Over the past 100 years, the Martin dreadnought has helped define what an acoustic guitar can and should be, and subsequently, it has become one of the most popular acoustic guitar designs in the world.
- Mortise-and-tenon neck joint
- Solid Sitka spruce top
- Solid East Indian rosewood body and sides
- Tortoise top binding
- Modified low oval solid mahogany neck
- Solid Indian rosewood head plate with raised gold foil decal
- Adjustable truss rod
- Indian rosewood fingerboard with 16" radius
- Inlaid single-ring rosette
- Small dot position markers
- Solid Indian rosewood bridge
Exceptional tone and playability at a down-to-earth price! Order your the Custom D now!
Custom D Rosewood Dreadnought Left-Handed Acoustic Guitar Specifications:
- 25-2/5" scale length
- 14 clear frets
- 20 frets total
- 1-11/16" width at nut
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 1 customer
- Consistent
- Fun To Play
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Best Uses
- Pro Level Quality
Comments about Martin Custom D Rosewood Dreadnought Left-Handed Acoustic Guitar:
This is beautiful example of Martin quality. Fit and finish are impeccable. The guitar had a full round sound, reminiscent of the D-28
Unbeatable value for the price.


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$336m Railroad Trench Project Kicks Off Construction
San Gabriel Trench Project will eliminate traffic delays, collisions and reduce emissions at four railroad crossings; create 8,900 jobs
Federal, state, local and railroad officials gathered before an audience of more than 150 people today to kick off construction of a concrete-walled railroad trench reaching 30 feet deep, 65 feet wide and 1.4 miles long through the City of San Gabriel. The grade separation project will separate trains from vehicles, eliminating vehicle delays and deadly collisions at four crossings and reducing emissions from idling cars and trucks forced to wait for passing freight trains.
Street bridges spanning the San Gabriel Trench will be constructed at Ramona Street, Mission Road, Del Mar Avenue and San Gabriel Boulevard, which are used daily by nearly 90,000 motorists. Once completed in 2017, cars, trucks and emergency vehicles will no longer need to wait for an average of 18 trains per day, projected to increase to 61 trains per day by 2025 if a second track is installed as planned by Union Pacific Railroad.
The project is an investment in the Alameda Corridor-East Trade Corridor, which accommodates about 60% of the port containers moved from the nation's busiest container ports in the San Pedro Bay to the rest of the country via the region's rail network.
"In addition to reducing congestion and improving air quality, this vital project is an important link in our regional strategy of moving cargo containers by train rather than in diesel trucks on our freeways," said Los Angeles County Supervisor, ACE Board Member and current MTA Board Chairman Michael D. Antonovich.
"The ACE Construction Authority is delivering on roadway-railway projects that will benefit our community by reducing vehicle congestion, improving air quality and improving shipping routes that benefit the entire nation," said Congresswoman Judy Chu. "The San Gabriel Trench Project is one of the most complicated projects ACE is undertaking, but its efforts to protect the San Gabriel Mission while improving transportation infrastructure are critical to the preservation and rediscovery to the unique history of our region. I am proud to work in Congress to secure federal funding for freight projects like ACE that create vital infrastructure for a thriving future."
"Los Angeles County's sales tax for transportation was essential to funding the completion of the design plans for the San Gabriel Trench project, and the ACE Construction Authority can be provided the resources needed to complete other grade separation projects if voters approve Measure J on the November 6th ballot," said Duarte Mayor John Fasana, the San Gabriel Valley's representative to the LA County Metro Board of Directors


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Q. What should be the expected transfer efficiency of a square transfer system composed of one e-coat bath and two permeate immersion tanks? M.A.
A. The transfer efficiency is a calculation that determines the degree of utilization of the electrocoat material in the system. A transfer efficiency of 100 percent indicates that all electrocoat material has been transferred to the parts. Needless to say, achieving a transfer efficiency of 100 percent is impossible. So where does the e-coat material that is not transferred to the parts go?
The typical areas where electrocoat material is used up, besides on the parts, are in the racks, excessive film or film variation, excessive oven and cure conditions, and excessive permeate carryover and/or leaks. Other factors such as poor agitation also can contribute to poor transfer efficiencies. Low agitation or poor agitation patterns may lead to settling of paint solids.
Electrocoat industry studies and reports indicate that a transfer efficiency of 95 percent can be obtained with e-coat systems. This compares with transfer efficiencies of 45-60 percent for liquid systems and 60-80 percent for powder systems.
Maintaining high transfer efficiencies in electrocoat systems, especially in high-volume applications, can translate into significant annual savings on electrocoat resin and paste. Proper rack maintenance, good agitation, adequate cure and good ultrafiltration are typically the keys to good transfer efficiencies.


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Product Code: 8794
- Product Details
Product Details
Medium Leg one piece.
Max Life is the revolutionary new swimsuit made to last. Designed to provide long-lasting comfort and performance, its innovative, superior quality fabric made of 46%PBT and 54%PL guarantees extraordinary resistance to chlorine, extreme resilience and perfect fit, making it the most elastic and durable swimsuit available to athletes. A state-of-the-art suit that moulds to the body allowing the best freedom of movement, resists abrasions and pilling, feels smooth to the touch and offers excellent UV protection.
- Size Guides
- Size Guides sizing_arena.pdf
- Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Our orders are sent out by First class Royal Mail or International Airmail with Guaranteed next working day deliveries available at a nominal cost. Terms and conditions apply
for more information see our shipping information page
- Reviews
- Reviews


text:
Please note: The FAQ pages at the HPCVL website are continuously being revised. Some pages might pertain to an older configuration of the system. Please let us know if you encounter problems or inaccuracies, and we will correct the entries.
The "Frequently Asked Questions" files at HPCVL provide basic introductions to usage of application software and system tools on our clusters and machines. These help files can only serve as an initial aid to get started, and do not replace the study of the full documentation. Pointers to that documentation are included in most of the files, together with links to official websites, if applicable. Please use the categories to the left to navigate to the FAQ's you are interested in.


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"It's a 'New Normal' and There's No Going Back..."
February 9, 2010
Kira Wampler and Gretchen Harding at Intuit outlined principles for building a highly strategic social and word-of-mouth marketing program that drives business growth.
Restricted Content
Access to this content item is restricted to:
- ANA Corporate Marketer Members
Please login below or create an account.
You may already be a member. Find out if your company is already an ANA member.


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Police are looking for a man who used a baseball bat to club the boyfriend of his ex-wife.
The Modesto Bee ( http://bit.ly/TINKTH ) says 26-year-old Christopher Tuquero returned his children to the home of his ex-wife and encountered her boyfriend.
Investigators say Tuquero punched the boyfriend's face before grabbing an aluminum baseball bat to continue the attack.
Tuquero fled before police arrived. He's wanted for attempted murder.
The boyfriend didn't require hospitalization.
Information from: The Modesto Bee, http://www.modbee.com


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Keeneland Sales Alumni Dominate Kentucky Oaks Field
LEXINGTON, KY (May 4, 2016) – Keeneland will be represented by more than 40 sales graduates...Read More
5/4/16 3:23pm
LEXINGTON, KY (May 3, 2016) – Nine of the 15 fillies entered today in Friday's 142nd running of the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs are...Read More
5/3/16 2:06pm
Fans can enjoy world's largest Kentucky Derby party at Keeneland; wagering also available at Red Mile and Kentucky Horse Park
...Read More
5/3/16 12:52pm
LEXINGTON, KY (May 2, 2016) – Keeneland sales alumni finished 1-2 in Saturday's San Francisco Mile (G3) at Golden Gate, with Alert Bay holding off the late challenge of ...Read More
5/2/16 2:18pm
Keeneland Closes 2016 Spring Meet With Strong Gains in Attendance and Wagering
Meet highlighted by return of many Breeders'...Read More
4/29/16 8:12pm
Click here for a video of all the fun and racing excitement today at Keeneland
LEXINGTON, KY (April 29, 2016) – Olorda (GER) and jockey...Read More
4/29/16 6:59pm
Click here for a replay of the race
Chad Brown (winning trainer of Olorda [GER])
"I think they both earned (the victory), horse and jockey (...Read More
4/29/16 6:16pm
Keeneland is planning a two-day party for the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Admission is...Read More
4/29/16 2:56pm
Winner of the April 14 Appalachian (G3) Presented by Japan Racing Association, Catch a Glimpse worked four furlongs in :47.40 Friday morning. The 3-year-old...Read More
4/29/16 2:46pm
Trainer Eric Guillot was pleased with the Saturday morning performance by McCormick Racing and Southern Equine Stable's Laoban, who breezed six furlongs in 1:12 on a fast...Read More
4/29/16 2:43pm


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Aggressive Medical Treatment Evaluation for Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis (AMTEC)
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|Carotid Artery Stenosis Atherosclerosis Stroke
|Procedure: Carotid Endarterectomy Drug: atorvastatin, aspirin, losartan, amlodipine
|Phase 4
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Prevention
|Official Title:
|Carotid Endarterectomy Versus Optimal Medical Treatment of Asymptomatic High Grade Carotid Artery Stenosis
- composite of nonfatal stroke, nonfatal composite of nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction and death [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- composite of nonfatal stroke, nonfatal MI, carotid/coronary revascularization and death [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
|Study Start Date:
|April 2009
|Study Completion Date:
|May 2014
|Primary Completion Date:
|May 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: CEA Group
Patients will undergo carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and receive medical treatment including medical therapy with statins (at least 10 mg atorvastatin irrespective of the baseline cholesterol level), aspirin (100 mg daily) and antihypertensive therapy (at least 50 mg losartan and 5 mg amlodipine 75 mg daily irrespective of the baseline arterial pressure level). Further conservative medical treatment includes modification of cardiovascular risk factors according to current recommendations.
Procedure: Carotid Endarterectomy
CEA involves a neck incision and physical removal of the plaque from the inside of the arteryDrug: atorvastatin, aspirin, losartan, amlodipine
aspirin 100 mg/day, atorvastatin 10 mg/day, losartan 50 mg/day, amlodipine 5 mg/day
Active Comparator: OMT Group
Patients will receive conservative therapy - optimal medical treatment (OMT) including statins (at least 10 mg atorvastatin irrespective of the baseline cholesterol level), aspirin (100 mg daily) and antihypertensive therapy (at least 50 mg losartan and 5 mg amlodipine 75 mg daily irrespective of the baseline arterial pressure level). Further conservative medical treatment includes modification of cardiovascular risk factors according to current recommendations.
Drug: atorvastatin, aspirin, losartan, amlodipine
aspirin 100 mg/day, atorvastatin 10 mg/day, losartan 50 mg/day, amlodipine 5 mg/day
Detailed Description:
It is well known that risk of fatal and non-fatal stroke is increased in patients with significant carotid atherosclerosis. For asymptomatic patients, AHA guidelines recommend carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for stenosis 60% to 99%, if the risk of perioperative stroke or death is less than 3%.
Although clinical trial data support CEA in asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis 60% to 79%, the AHA guidelines indicate that some physicians delay revascularization until there is greater than 80% stenosis in asymptomatic patients.
Our study is designed to determine whether optimal medical therapy alone reduces the risk of death and nonfatal stroke in patients with carotid artery stenosis as compared with CEA coupled with optimal medical therapy.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|40 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Unilateral or bilateral carotid artery stenosis that was considered to be severe (carotid artery diameter reduction 70%-79% on ultrasound)
- This stenosis had not caused any stroke, transient cerebral ischaemia, or other relevant neurological symptoms in the past 6 months
- Both doctor and patient were substantially uncertain whether to choose immediate CEA, or deferral of any CEA until a more definite need for it was thought to have arisen
- The patient had no known circumstance or condition likely to preclude long-term follow-up
- Neurologist's explicit consent to potentially perform CEA
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous ipsilateral CEA
- Expectation of poor surgical risk (e.g., because of recent acute myocardial infarction)
- Some probable cardiac source of emboli (because the main stroke risk might then be from cardiac, not carotid, emboli)
- Inability to provide informed consent
- Underlying disease other than atherosclerosis (inflammatory or autoimmune disease)
- Life expectancy < 6 months
- Advanced dementia
- Advanced renal failure (serum creatinine > 2.5 mg/dL)
- Unstable severe cardiovascular comorbidities (e.g., unstable angina, heart failure)
- Restenosis after prior CAS or CEA
- Atrial fibrillation
- Allergy or contraindications to study medications (statins, ASA, losartan, amlodipine)
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00805311
|Russian Federation
|Russian Cardiology Research and Production Center
|Moscow, Russian Federation, 121552
|Russian Cardiology Research and Production Center
|Moscow, Russian Federation
|Study Chair:
|Evgeniy Chazov, MD
|Russian Cardiology Research and Production Center
|Responsible Party:
|Igor Kolos, Senior Researcher, Russian Cardiology Research and Production Center
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00805311 History of Changes
|Study First Received:
|December 8, 2008
|Last Updated:
|October 7, 2015
Keywords provided by Igor Kolos, Russian Cardiology Research and Production Center:
Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis
Carotid Endarterectomy
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Carotid Stenosis
Carotid Artery Diseases
Constriction, Pathologic
Pathological Conditions, Anatomical
Arterial Occlusive Diseases
Vascular Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Atorvastatin Calcium
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
Sensory System Agents
Peripheral Nervous System Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Antirheumatic Agents
Fibrinolytic Agents
Fibrin Modulating Agents
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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The head of a prominent teachers group today decried a call by the National Rifle Association to station armed police at school campuses as a way to avert future mass killings.
The proposal by the politically powerful NRA is "irresponsible and dangerous," said Randi Weingarten, president of the 1.5 million-member American Federation of Teachers.
"Schools must be safe sanctuaries, not armed fortresses," she said in a statement. "Anyone who would suggest otherwise doesn't understand that our public schools must first and foremost be places where teachers can safely educate and nurture our students."
During a news conference in Washington, D.C., NRA chief Wayne LaPierre blamed video games, movies and music videos for exposing children to a violent culture.
His comments were the first by the nation's largest gun-rights lobby, with 4.3 million members, since the Dec. 14 slayings of 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut,
"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," LaPierre said.
Los Angeles Unified Superintendent John Deasy refused to comment today on the NRA proposal.
Earlier in the week, however, Deasy said officials were studying the feasibility and cost of expanding the 300-member police force so an officer could be assigned to every elementary and middle school. Armed LAUSD officers are already stationed at all high schools in the nation's second-largest school district.
In the meantime, Los Angeles Police Department officers will add stops at elementary and middle schools to their daily patrols.


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Captain Vincent Kompany felt Manchester City could hold their heads high after bowing out of the Champions League in Barcelona.
City failed in their bid to overturn a first-leg deficit as they were beaten 2-1 at the Nou Camp to go down 4-1 on aggregate in the last-16 tie.
As with the first match in Manchester, Lionel Messi and Dani Alves scored the Barca goals and City had a man sent off, this time Pablo Zabaleta.
For a spell when the score was still 0-0 early in the second half, City put the Spanish champions under considerable pressure but they could not find the net.
Kompany told Sky Sports: "I think I speak for the team in saying we've got nothing left in the tank.
"We gave everything. A few times we could have scored, and obviously that would have changed the game.
"Going for a second time down to 10 men after it was a clear penalty - it's not easy conditions to come and play against a strong team.
"Over the course of two games, whenever there was 11 players (against 11) there wasn't much between the two teams."
Messi put Barca ahead after 67 minutes and City's hopes of a comeback grew tougher when Zabaleta was dismissed for protesting about the decision to deny Edin Dzeko a penalty.
Zabaleta said: "It was very clear. I think (Gerard) Pique was behind and made the tackle on Edin Dzeko and the referee was only two metres away from that.
"I don't know why I was sent off. I went to him to talk to him in a good way. I was a little bit angry to him because he didn't give a penalty but I have always been very respectful to him.
"I am frustrated. I think it was a shocking decision."
The result came just three days after City were eliminated from the FA Cup by Championship side Wigan.
They can now focus solely on their Barclays Premier League title bid.
Kompany said: "If anything, it should give us motivation.
"The way we played against Wigan, the performance today was completely different.
"Only the winners get remembered, but it's only the third year ever for Manchester City in the Champions League.
"I'm looking at this and I don't see why next year we should fear anyone."
Assistant boss Ruben Cousillas, who called the shots in the technical area with manager Manuel Pellegrini serving a touchline ban, also promised City would be back.
It was the first time City had reached the last 16 and Pellegrini's project, which has already yielded the Capital One Cup, is still in its infancy.
Cousillas said: "We played a very good game against a very good team.
"They also had their chances, but we showed our quality. It was a very difficult to do that with 10 men against a team like Barcelona, but we go home happy with the performance.
"Our project is just starting, we have been here eight months and just won our first silverware.
"Up to last weekend, we were the only team chasing four trophies, which is not easy to do.
"We are out of two, but are still very much alive in the PL. The team is recovering and have been through some low times, but we are alive and we will fight for the title."
The downside for City was the loss of top scorer Sergio Aguero at half-time with another injury.
The Argentinian will have a hamstring scan when back in Manchester.
Aguero said: "I felt a twinge in the leg early on after a challenge with Messi.
"I carried on with it for the rest of the half but at half-time we decided not to risk it."
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino, who has been under pressure over perceived indifferent form, felt the victory would give his team much encouragement.
Martino said: "You have to remember what was said when the draw was made - that we were going to suffer a lot - and we won 4-1 and won both matches.
"City are very good individually and collectively. If we are capable of playing both matches the way we did against a team of their quality then we can face any of the winners in the quarter-finals."


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WILTSHIRE Police is appealing for information after 30 reported incidents of fake notes being used in the county.
Since January, there has been a series of offences committed across Wiltshire involving fake £50 notes and fake Scottish £20 notes being used.
These offences have taken place at retail outlets, pubs and hotels in Chippenham, Corsham, Trowbridge, Bradford On Avon, Devizes, Warminster, Westbury, Mere, Ludgershall, Amesbury and Salisbury.
It is believed that at least six male and female offenders are involved in these incidents and that they could be working as part of a wider team.
Wiltshire Police would ask all retail and business managers to be aware of these incidents and inform your staff to be extra vigilant.
If anyone should try and use a fake note, dial 999 immediately to give officers the opportunity to apprehend the offenders at the scene.
If the offenders are no longer at the scene, then call Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.
Make note of the offender's physical description and also details of any vehicles that they are seen to be using.


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|Amherst Baseball History
Amherst Baseball History
The Amherst College Baseball Program is recognized by players, coaches, fans and professional baseball men as one of the finest and most successful collegiate programs in the Northeast. Since 1966, Amherst teams have won nearly 70% of their games - over 700 victories in all. Since the New England rating poll began in 1980, Amherst has been ranked in the top-three 12 times, and in the top-eight 16 of those 19 seasons. The 1980, '81, '84 and '88 teams were ranked No. 1, and the '82, '95 and '99 clubs were ranked second in New England. Since 1970, The Lord Jeffs have won 21 Little Three Titles.
|Amherst College > Athletics > Baseball > History


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Designed with emphasis on improving balance and stability, these pieces of training equipment will help increase core stability, muscle strength and endurance, and body awareness.
What is an Active Office? It is our solution to the traditional sedentary 9-5+ work day. We declared 2013 as the year of the Active Office, because work is an area of our daily lives that is in
desperate need of a health wake-up call.
For rehab or prehab these products will help.
A wide variety of products that encourage children to be active, healthy, well rounded individuals. These products help to build balance, stability, and functional movement while children play.


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Charcuterie. Regular readers of this blog will know that I'm pretty mad about cured and preserved meats, those delicious results of a time before refrigeration that linger on into this modern age because they're just so incredibly delicious. We're no strangers to the good stuff here in Little Rock, with restaurants like The Pantry and Hillcrest Artisan Meats turning out some fantastic house-made and imported food, but since we were in Seattle, there was but one destination for us: Salumi, Armando Batali's cozy little sandwich shop located in Pioneer Square. It was a chilly November morning when we arrived at the door a half-hour before opening, and after ducking into a oddities shop next door to warm up for only a few minutes, we found ourselves already third in line when we returned. I spent some time on Twitter while we waited for the place to open and managed to get a retweet from Mario Batali, Armando's extremely famous chef son.
Once eleven o'clock hit, the doors opened and we headed down a narrow hall to the assembly line-style ordering. These folks knew their business, and kept everybody moving while being friendly (if a bit brusque). It's not a big place, and there are a lot of people trying to eat there, so I've got to give props to the women behind the counter who turned out orders so efficiently. We started with a sampler tray, a collection of the different cured meats available at the shop. We had previously eaten the Salumi Salami at Pike Brewing, and we were once again pleased with its firm texture and light, oily flavor. The big hit on the plate was the Hot Sopressata, a spicy sausage that won us both over with a mild start and a fiery back end. The cheeses on the plate were excellent, with a soft mozzarella, smoked provolone, and a nice, sharp blue adding good flavor contrast and balance to the meat.
Jess went for the Salumi Salami sandwich, so she really got her fill of the stuff that day. I ordered the Porchetta, a hot sandwich that had been recommended by several reviews (and also several people on Twitter). To all those people, I say "thank you." The porchetta was tender, well-spiced, and incredibly juicy from all the melted fat infusing each bite. Stuffed into a hollowed-out roll, each bite of this sandwich was an almost overwhelming rush of flavor and texture unlike any sandwich I've ever had. Jess and I both are of the opinion that the sandwich might be mankind's greatest invention, and this porchetta version served as added evidence to that theory.
Salumi was a fantastic experience, not just from the excellent food, but also from the excitement of the people around us. People were looking at this meal as an experience, something that Jess and I tend to do with most of the meals we eat. Was this famous house of meat better than our neighborhood sandwich palace, Hillcrest Artisan Meats? Not at all — if anything, the fact that H.A.M. matches Salumi bite for delicious bite makes me all the more thankful for the excellence we have just around the corner. So if you find yourself in Little Rock, head to Hillcrest — but if you're reading this from Pioneer Square, it's worth the wait to eat at Salumi.


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I've been spending a lot of time looking over other people's fences.
Of course, this isn't entirely new to me, but now I have a purpose.
My search to buy a house has been going on for a while. But recently I started packing boxes. The plan is that when my silverware and pajamas are packed, it will be time to go.
Up until recently, I was reluctant to narrow my search to Paradise.
They have deer in the foothills. Deer eat your plants. The deer pole-vault over eight-foot barricades to eat your plants. The soil is terrible. I'd have to drive 12 miles (or something) to get to work. There's no downtown to play pinball, have a frozen yogurt and then swim at One-Mile — all within half a mile.
Kara and Elizabeth would never come visit me.
You get the picture: I love Chico and don't know Paradise at all.
Yet, now that I'm looking around, I've found that Mountain Mike's Pizza has a pinball game, and most houses in Paradise have large yards. I've also made the conscious decision that I can be happy wherever I am.
And heck, if I'm bored while living in Paradise, I can walk around the neighborhood and throw pine cones at deer.
My friend Kara asked me recently "why don't you make a list of your perfect house?"
I was a bit exasperated that day, and didn't appreciate her cheery suggestion.
"If I waited to find my perfect house, I would be 80 years old and still renting."
The house itself, of course, will be important. I want a garage so I no longer have camping gear stuffed under my bed. A kitchen large enough to install a dishwasher would be nice. I'd also really prefer neighbors who don't have dogs trained to bark every time they hear a car door open.
Even if the house is small (which means I might be able to afford it), the yard is the largest extra room in the house.
This week I narrowly missed buying a small house on a busy street with a huge, empty backyard.
To some people this might not sound enticing, but to me it was an empty canvas with full sun.
The first year I would build raised beds and transplant all the daffodils from my Chico house.
Another lonely house under consideration was once well-loved. Little walkways are now covered with pine needles and many of the ornamental bushes are dying.
I asked my real estate agent, Carolyn, if we could turn on the hose while we were there. But sadly, the water had been turned off.
If not me, I hope someone buys that soon.
The more time I adjust my lens to Paradise, the more I see its shady beauty. I know daffodils grow there, and the garden club has planted tens of thousands of daffies to prove it.
Also, I've taken the home and garden tour the past few years. Those yards are so outstanding you know it's possible.
In the meantime, I'm praying that when the right house finds me, I'll be the first person to call their real estate agent and say "eureka."
For any important Sow There! messages you might have missed, check out my blog at www.norcalblogs.com. You can also become part of silly banter on Facebook and Twitter @HeatherHacking.


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OAKLAND - Klay Thompson doesn't fret much about outside evaluations of his game performances because he knows his most staunch ally is also his toughest critic, and he's right at the top of the speed dial.
It's his dad, Mychal Thompson, a former NBA No. 1 pick who played 13 seasons in the league and contributed to two Los Angeles Lakers title teams in 1987 and 1988. The younger Thompson calls his father after virtually every game for an assessment of his performance, and he usually gets a tough-love critique.
Naturally, the Warriors' second-year guard couldn't wait to call his dad after a 34-point, 14-rebound night against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals.
"He said I should have had 40, that I missed too many easy layups," Thompson said with a grin. "But that's just the basketball player in him. He also said it was a great performance and that he was very proud of me."
A lot of people are proud of Thompson in the wake of his remarkable night. He put himself in some pretty fine all-time company statistically. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he joined just three other guards who in the last 25 years scored that many points and hauled in that many rebounds in a playoff game - Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter.
The only debate regarding Thompson at the moment is whether to talk about his offense or his defense. But after hitting eight of nine from beyond the 3-point arc in Game 2, the needle naturally swung to the offensive side Thursday.
"I felt like Steph Curry out there," he said. "It's something where you hit a couple and you get a great rhythm going, and after you make five or six, it's almost like a freebie when you pull up somewhere. It was a lot of fun."
Thompson bristled, however, when it was suggested by a TV reporter that he'd had a poor series against the Denver Nuggets and inquired as to how he re-invented himself.
"I thought I had a few good games in the first round where I shot the ball well," he said. "I had some off games as well, but my defense was always there. I haven't really been focusing on my offense because I've been trying to be as consistent as possible on the defensive end. That's one area of the game you can control completely."
To be sure, it's the plight of many great shooters - they don't get much credit for what they do at the other end. Thompson was a defensive stopper against Denver point guard Ty Lawson, and so far, he's been a huge headache so far for Spurs point guard Tony Parker.
Parker, who loves getting in deep to the basket, hasn't been able to get much at all against the Warriors' lanky 6-foot-7 guard. It's no coincidence that the Spurs' Game 1 rally - led by Parker - didn't really take off until Thompson fouled out with 3:57 to go and Golden State still up by 16.
Thompson knows he won't win every battle against the relentless Parker, but by winning his share, he can severely undermine San Antonio's lethal inside game, particularly with Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli as a second line of defense under the basket.
"Just from playing against him six times this year and also last year, I know his tendencies," he said. "I know what he likes to do, he loves to live in the paint. The way you have to make Tony Parker beat you is to contest the tough shots. He's a great mid-range shooter but we'd rather have that than layups."
"He's doing a great job," said Curry of his backcourt mate. "For a 6-7 guy, he's quick laterally and even against a guy like Parker he can contest his paint jump shots and layups, try to make him shoot over him and chase him all around the floor."
Generally, Thompson said he made the commitment to ratchet up his defensive prowess last summer, working four days a week with assistant Darren Erman on closeout and shuttle drills and also learning how to maximize his height advantage. It's paying off bigtime now.
"I feel like I'm a whole different level defender than I was last year," he said. "I've come to like playing defense. It's fun to try and shut someone down. What I learned this year is you can't just put all your stock in shooting. If you play defense and rebound well, you can affect other aspects of the game."
Coach Mark Jackson maintains that Thompson was a born shooter, but the defensive part - particularly the ability to defend quick, shifty point guards - required considerable work.
"It didn't happen overnight," Jackson said. "What you're seeing is a product of long hours, long days, watching film, breaking stuff down, making mistakes. Klay takes pride in it, and he has taken it personal. It's just great to see."