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I realized the other day that we hadn't really talked with any of our level designers so here is Jeff Browne. Jeff did some great work on our Oblivion DLC, including Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles. He is now hard at work, putting together some pretty amazing levels for Fallout 3.
What's your job at Bethesda?
I am a level designer and currently working on Fallout 3. My job consists of coming up with ideas for layouts based on quest designs, designer feedback, and what I think would be fun. Then I block them out in the editor and write up a quick level design document (LDD) for each layout. In the LDD, I explain the basic flow, mood, atmosphere, and gameplay I want to have in the level. Throughout the course of the project, the level continuously changes based on feedback from leads, level designers, QA, peer reviews, etc. In the end, I hope to have a level that is interesting, fun, and memorable.
What other games have you worked on?
I joined the team near the end of Oblivion and worked on a handful of dungeons for the game, either coming up with new layouts, or making previous dungeons more fun and exciting. For DLC, I worked on the Fighter's Stronghold, teamed up with Joel Burgess on Mehrunes Razor, and did a level (Fort Bulwork I believe) for Knights of the Nine. Then I worked on Shivering Isles and now Fallout 3.
Before Bethesda, I was the game designer and one of the level designers for Eclipse, a total conversion of Half-Life 2.
What is the best part about working as a level designer? The worst part?
The level designers have the best job in the world. We get to create different worlds, environments, and memorable experiences…anything we want for the player. Personally, I really enjoy coming up with an idea for a layout, putting it in game, and then asking myself, "Ok, now what can I do in this level to make the player remember this moment?" I then get to thinking about interesting vistas, story elements, scripted events, etc. I also enjoy telling a story without having to explain it through text. The player should walk into a room, look at his surroundings, and come up with his own interpretation of what has happened in the room. There are so many other "best parts" of being a level designer, but I'll shut up now.
The worst part? Not the worst part, but the most difficult part I have as a level designer is showing someone outside the level design department my first pass on level and explaining to them what will happen or how it will look. It's hard to show someone a first pass on a level and convince them how it's going to be one of the best levels in the game – they're just looking at an empty level. If you can take a vivid picture or idea in your mind and successfully explain it to someone, then you'll have an easier time with anything you do. I just have a difficult time doing this.
Ok ok, the worst part… coming up with names for my levels. It's difficult and at times I think it's a spoiler for the player when he reads the name of the level he's about to enter and it basically reveals what's in the level. Yeah, that's the best I could come up with, sorry.
How did you get into the industry? Do you have any tips for breaking in?
I've always wanted to create worlds for games, ever since I can remember. But I never took it seriously until after undergrad. I graduated from Amherst College with a BA in Computer Science and a minor in Economics, but soon came to dislike programming in general and didn't want to get into investment. I wasn't that good at it and most of all, I didn't enjoy it. I didn't want to be stuck behind a desk doing something I didn't enjoy. Then I heard about a new graduate program involving game creation down in Dallas, TX. I researched the idea of getting into games and decided to send in an application to the Guildhall at SMU for Level Design. I never thought I would get in because I didn't have that much experience in designing levels. My application was mainly paper maps.
I ended up getting into the program and spent the next two years learning everything I could about level design and game creation in general. The school was new and untested, but they taught me what I needed to know. I worked extremely hard for those two years, worked on four games, and a handful of side projects. I worked on a team of two for a 2D side-scroller, a team of seven for a FAKK2 mod, a team of 12 for an Unreal 2K4 mod (Dark Territory), and then a team of 17 for the HL2 total conversion, Eclipse. I also built some Call of Duty maps with the little spare time I had.
When I graduated in June 2005, I had experience with several editors (Hammer, UnrealEd, Radiant), 3DStudio Max, and Photoshop. But more importantly, I had experience in communication across disciplines (art, programming, and design) and worked on teams of different sizes.
Is a graduate school like the Guildhall for everyone? No, but it's a great way to get your feet wet in the workings of the game industry. With anything, it comes down to how badly you want something, how much work you're willing to put into it, what sacrifices you're willing to make, and confidence that you can do it. I could've gone through that program and just done the minimum work required and probably not have gotten anywhere with it. But, I had a passion for level design, worked late hours to learn everything I could about it, and practiced, practiced, practiced.
Now that I've been working at Bethesda for a little bit, I can tell you the number one thing you need to know how to do is communicate with other people, especially across disciplines. If you can understand how an artist works or what a programmer does, it makes it easier to communicate your ideas to them and understand where they are coming from. Also, smile. It's the easiest thing you can do and people will be more comfortable approaching you with questions and answers. The more people are comfortable approaching one another in a studio, the fewer breakdowns in communication occur, which results in less tempers flaring, less lost work, and less stress.
What would you say is your personal favorite game of all time?
I have personal favorites based mostly on nostalgia (King's Quest VI, Everquest, CoD), but my favorite of all time is probably Planetside. I joined Planetside well after the introduction of BFRs, but I still think it's a game that has the most exciting and tactical gameplay around. Its learning curve is a little steep, but once you get over it, a whole other world of gameplay opens up. It's one of those games that excel on memorable moments. You get through playing a session of Planetside and you can talk with someone for a long time about the crazy experiences you had — well after you finished playing. Many games have moments, but making them memorable post-game is difficult to achieve (especially in a Multiplayer game). Games like CoD (which I enjoy) have in-game moments, but try talking to someone after playing a session of an FPS like CoD and Unreal and you'll have a difficult time coming up with memorable moments like you would after playing Planetside. To this day I can still recall, with vivid detail, experiences I had while playing Planetside.
What games are you looking forward to?
Planetside 2 – come on, someone in the industry has got to make it!
What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
Realizing that I am very lucky to have a job I enjoy so much. It's a lot harder getting out of a nice, cozy bed when you constantly dread going to work.
Worst job you've ever had?
Busboy at a local restaurant in my hometown of Victor, NY (near Rochester). Cleaning up after others and splitting measly tips with waiters is not fun. But then again, it wasn't that bad of a job — I think it was a step up from washing dishes there.
Any other hobbies and interests? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I really enjoy the outdoors. My favorite pastime is fishing (freshwater). Most days, except in the winter, I get out of work around six and head to the local reservoir and go fishing. I started indoor rock climbing with a bunch of guys here at work and see myself continuing to do so for awhile. We also get out for some soccer twice a week during the warmer months.
I want to get back into Tae Kwon Do again (I stopped practicing during undergrad). I also started oil painting about a year ago. I blame Bob Ross for getting me into painting — I find his videos mesmerizing…kind of creepy. But the guy rocks and is a role model for anyone. He truly enjoyed what he did and wanted nothing more than to help others do the same. RIP Bob!
I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend, Jess. We have this strange "hobby" of driving around Maryland, purposely getting lost and then trying to find our way back. I guess we're a young pair of Sunday Drivers…kind of weird. And with gas prices the way they are today, it's kind of an expensive hobby. But a lot of cool experiences come out of getting lost; I suggest you try it sometime. Just stick to the countryside, getting lost in a big city probably isn't the smartest thing to do.

subset: commoncrawl


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Kate Upton
Kate Upton (born June 10, 1992) is an American model and actress known for her appearance in the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, for which she was named Rookie of the Year. Upton's acting debut was in the film Tower Heist, as Mr. Hightower's Mistress. She followed up with an appearance in The Three Stooges as Sister Bernice.
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Defensive end Tank Carradine will miss Florida States final two games of the 2012 season with a torn knee ligament.
Coach Jimbo Fisher announced the injury Sunday. Florida State plays the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday against Georgia Tech, and will play in a bowl.
Carradine led Florida State (10-2, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) with 80 tackles and was second on the Seminoles with 11 sacks.
The senior from Cincinnati had started in 11 games. Carradine was expected to be a backup in 2012, but a season-ending foot injury to Brandon Jenkins pushed Carradine into the starting lineup in the second week of the season.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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I have two children 1 girl (aged 4) and a boy (just turned 1). After the shock to the system after the first child and getting full nights sleep again we decided we were ready for number two. Our thinking was it simply be a repitition of what we'd experienced before. Boy were we wrong (excuse the pun)! When we were first made aware of 2nd little angel the doctors told us he might have down syndrome so right from the off the stress began. We just assumed, i suppose, like a lot parents that everything would just go to plan especially considering number one had been 100% healthy and a great sleeper. He turned out very healthy but having researched down syndrome to prepare ourselves my admiration and respect for parents of children with DS syndrome is so high. Once he was born we quickly discovered the world of reflux (constant vomiting for those not in the know) and then discovered he was also allergic to cows milk. We virtually tried every remedy available but eventually got to a stage where we had to avoid all diary products and give him two tablets a day. For those of you havent done it, it can be close to impossible to give a baby tablets. The major problem with all this was that the youngest required so much attention that number two got somewhat neglected and being, previously, an only child was a bit of a challenge for her and us. But she has been a brilliant big sister and loves her little brother dearly. We never had a problem with jealousy but with her wanting mummy and daddys attention when we just couldnt give it. The biggest problem came at night time, the little one would wake up the big one. So no sleep at all and he was a terrible sleeper with the heartburn and empty stomachs from the vomiting. All the books say when your baby sleeps you sleep. You just can't do that with two and she's not old enough to understand mummy and daddy need to rest. Babysitters also become less willing and I dont blame them, two children is so much harder than one. The difference in the two children has also amazed us. I think we assumed because they came from the same gene pool and had the same upbringing they would be very similar. How wrong could we be. They are polar opposites. One liked to sit and read books and generally study things the other simply wants to investigate everything in 2 seconds and then move on. one was timid the other is fearless (to his own detriment sometimes). Having said all this, although it has been tough for the first year with a lot of getting used to new schedules, routines and roles things have started to calm down and in the future I imagine having two will be easier than 1. I know some people will find 2 children (and even more) a lot easier but for myself it's taken a while to get used too. I wouldn't change it for the world and wouldn't have it any other way. The joy I felt when they each were born is second to none and the smile and love I receive from each child every time I walk through the door is priceless. It's an unending, unconditional love that nothing else in this world can ever match!
Being a parent is doing what is right for you, your child and your family.
Whatever you want to believe, or might believe, no parent is perfect, each and every one of us make mistakes infact we often get things wrong.
Being a good parent I believe is about instinct not about doing what the books say, I have never read a parenting book but I know what they say and I know what they advise (ok I have read a few articles). I know what is right and yes the books tell you how to do things but in reality it is hard to stick to what the experts say. -
Don't pick your baby up straight away when they are crying
Leave them to cry for 5 minutes at bedtime
Don't give them a dummy
Don't give in to them
Don't let them into your bed at night
etc etc
Well being a good parent is about loving your children, spending time with them and listening to them.
I do believe though as a parent you have to set rules and stick to them however hard that might be. Children need to know you care enough to set the rules and stick by them. They can be simple ones when they are young; but if you don't set and stick to some when they are young by the time they are a teenager you will have no chance at getting them to do what you want no matter what.
Children have to know who is boss so to speak. For example my youngest has been being a pain at dancing for the last 3 classes tonight I asked her 'do you want to go' she did I even asked if she was going to do it with one of her sisters friends that helps out and not mess; yes she was. Oh no she wasn't, she then expected me to watch because she decided she wanted to watch. I explained I wasn't going to watch some children that I didn't know and we should go home. She ummed and arred about going in so I took the decision away from her and told her we were going home . I also told her she wasn't going dancing tomorrow (I had explained if she messed me about she wouldn't go before hand). She kicked off saying she was going etc and I had to explain that maybe she wasn't old enough to go dancing if she was going to do what she had so we would look at it on Tuesday if she behaved. She isn't happy because she really wants to go tomorrow but I have to stick to what I said or she will mess me about any time she feels like it.
I explained I don't care if she goes dancing or not but don't mess me aboout.
As a parent there is going to be lots of things that you have to compromise on. Some people don't believe in this with children but I do and it can make life easier. Pick your fights does it really matter if they don't eat that last piece of carrott when they have eaten everything else I don't think it does. You need to find what is important and what isn't.
From an early age children have their own personalities so help develop them and don't automatically think your way is right because after all children are just small adults that can think things.
Being a parent is the best feeling you can ever have but if you are stuck on your ideas of what should happen then it might not be as enjoyable as you want it to be. It is not an easy job and I don't think you should do everything your child wants but even at toddler age you can compromise without bribing. I don't agree with bribing for recreational things like dancing, if the child doesn't want to do it don't make them, too many times I have seen mums with 2 year olds say you won't get your chocolate if you come out of dancing again or if you don't do the show you don't get chocolate. If they don't want to do it don't make them.
Do what you feel is right no matter what other people say and what the books say. As long as your child is safe and it is the best thing for your family chill and enjoy your children.
when I fell pregnant with my first son I was ecstatic, I threw myself into reading all the books on pregnancy what to eat and not to eat, about the birth and what to expect after. I had the idea in my head that my baby was going to fall into this perfect routine, not have a dummy, be exclusively breastfed and sleep through the night by 6 months YEAH RIGHT he wasn't structured at all, he didn't breastfeed well and ended up very poorly with mastitis, to which went to bottle feeding, he was also a very suckley baby after the one day of endless crying my mum said "try this" it was a dummy I burst into tears and felt such a bad mum, all the books had told me that my baby was to be a certain way and he wasn't, but you know what I never looked back, my son was a happy content little boy once I calmed down and followed what felt right
I have since had a second son and have thrown away those silly books away, I had a relaxed pregnancy and I feet so calm now, I know with number two, you have more of an idea, of what you are doing, but I followed my instinct and have managed not to pull out any of my hair in a big frazzled mess.
Having the two boys, one is 2 the other 6 months, so they are close in age, is a big challenge, some days it feels like its just nappies and bottles but when I see them playing and smiling with each other it makes it all worth to know what I'm doing is right for me and my boys.
so don't feel like you are not doing right just because someone else does it differently let your maternal instinct guide you trust me it will be right for you and your family
Nowadays, routines, sleeping patterns, feeding times etc are all things that parents seem to set in stone. For me, i work around my daughter rather than work her around me. She is not in a routine and never has been, people say thats bad, but in reality, we are in a sort of routine.. she wakes every 3 1/2 hours for a feed, has breakfast some time before 11am, lunch between 12am and 3pm, and dinner between 5pm and 7.30pm. there is no set times with her as she often doesn't like to be set a routine.
at night she'll fall asleep by herself and even if she lays there awake, she'll just get on with her own thing, like playing and attempting to crawl, she never cries unless she's hungry, tired, in pain, or can't reach a toy.
every baby is different, but mine loves her cuddles, kisses and when i blow raspberries on her tummy. :) (which we call play time when she wants to come out.) .. she loves rolling around in her cot and playing with her toys instead of being in the living room and always has a smile for us.
Routines have been proven to NOT be benifical to babies, so most doctors don't say anything if you say your baby isn't in a routine. Angel already has her personality and thats 'take each day as it comes' .. Of course, bonding and contact with your baby is ESSENTIAL, but who's to say, that babies DON'T need time to be independent?
i would rather personally have a independent baby, who appreciates the time we have together and laughs and smiles when she sees us, rather than a baby who wants to be on my hip all day - but thats me! most parents LOVE the feeling of there baby being clingy, but as soon as Angel becomes clingy, i give her more independent time. :)
there is no right or wrong to how you bring up YOUR baby. things are too much strict nowadays. go with how you feel, you'll know whats right and what suits your baby. :)
It is so easy to get lost in day to day grind of work, housework, cook the dinner, feed the dog, go shopping and the list goes on...it is understandable to not be able to REALLY see our children and to focus on how wonderful they are in each given moment. I have a beautiful 4 year old, 2 year old and a newborn baby girl of 10 days and i make a conscious effort to remind myself every day to enjoy each and every moment, no matter how mundane or even ordinary, as one day they will all be grown up with lives of their own and you can look back at the memories that you have made with happiness/sadness/regret. Make it memories of happiness and start that today:)
Imagine a tape rolling forward really fast and you have adult children coming to visit you, what will they look like and what will they be like. If you keep a vision of what you would like your family to be like in the future start making it happen now - the time is now!
So if you have any beautiful angels at home, go and give them a big kiss and a hug and tell them that you love them x they are the most important things in your world x
Patience, perserverance and determination with an unconditional heart is all you need x
Enjoy your family and most of all have fun:) x
Being a parent
Wow what a subject. It is so hard for any parent to advise any other parent as to what ot do for the best, that is impossible. There are no books that can give you the "right" answer, but only guide you through what the author believes is right.
In my view, and being a parent of two girls, now 14 and 11, with a fantastic wife, is be yourself, use common sense, stand firm in any decision you make, even if it is wrong, keep your mind focused on what you believe to be right. Most of all you need the support of your partner to check how you are dealing with things. Be a unit, work together. When you do get it wrong, don't worry it may all be different tomorrow, but when you are wrong be big enough to say to your child "sorry, I got it wrong".
I spend a lot of time sitting with my daughters, explaining to them where I would like them to be, how life may be good or bad for them from their current actions. I say it from the heart, I don't plan it, I don't preach it, I don't have it cast in stone. Every day is different.
I strongly believe you have to set guide lines, and those guidelines need to be flexible. When a child has been naughty or done something badly wrong, don't explode at them(ok that's not easy you do) but sit them down when you are both ready and explain what has happened, why it is not right, why you expect a better out come. Be honest a straight with them. You do need to however understand why the problem occurred, so ask and find out. Don't rant and rave it gets you nowhere. The final thing must be a cuddle and I love you. Don't leave the talk for a few days, swallow your anger, pride or whatever it is and talk, be straight but firm. You are the one who in charge.
It all sounds easy yes I know, but I have found shouting and screaming does NOT work, it just gets out of hand. Talking firmly but honestly, you set the rules, don't back down. Don't say something and not go through with it. Any child will see right through this and your start yourself on one long slippery slope, which is one hell of a job to get off.
Most of all show your children love, support. Set them guide lines which are flexible. Be honest. They are all different, it is your love and support that gets them to where they end up. Guide them on the right road, and get them to change direction when they have selected the wrong path. It's your love that does it.
So, I am a parent, since 18 months. My husband and I have a little girl, and before we had her, I was a semi-parent because I am a teacher LOL....
I think I am a pretty strict mum, my husband is the "playing" type and I really like to be more about rules and structure (mainly because I lack structure myself). That mainly has to do with my own youth, my dad was strict as well and I think it worked for me. I think a child needs to have some freedom though, to develop. My girl can discover a lot, and I don't give her any rules when it comes to playing. But she is learning to say "thank you"and how to be polite. She now is learning to put her toys back in the drawer and that she cannot throw her bricks towards the tv. She has a new bed as well, where she can climb out if she wants to and sice a day or so she started doing this, trying to discover how mum and dad will react if she is making a lot of noise at 11 in the evening. I find it difficult to be strict at those times, simply because she is having so much fun at her room and laughing towards me (you stupid mummy).
I think that as a parent you need to be sure of the things you say and learn to your child. I am insecure from time to time, thinking I am to strict, but still, when I see my daughter being polite and saying "daaaank"(which means Thanks in Dutch) I am very proud of her!
I think me and my husband are doing well. So just some short and hopefully helpful tips;
- Be sure of what you want
- Reading books is great for your kids language development
- Let them discover some thing theirself (yes, they will fall from time to time, but they will learn themselves to be more carefull)
- Make sure you motivate your kid and praise it when it does something right
- Be sure they know what they cannot do!
Well, just some tips from a young mum, and I really like to hear from you if you have any other tips!
Hope these tips help...
Being a parent is the most challenging role you will ever experience. There are no rule books on how to be a good parent. Your parenting styles can come from the way others bring up their children or you may have your own experiences of the type of parents you had when you were a child. Our memories of our childhood are filled with clues of how we want our children to be. Every parent wants or aims to love their children and to give them the best in their childhood.
So how do you give your children the best?
Everything a child learns in the first five years of their life will determine their character by how they feel, how they relate and how they make sense in their world. You as proud parents will be their role models. Your laughter, your emotions, your hugs, your reactions, your moods, your understanding, your morals and your own beliefs will have a major impact on their belief systems. Remember your childhood days. Bet you can think of a few situations that you would have loved or liked to change.
Some of the most valuable lessons a child can learn in their early days, is a sense of love and security. Love can be shown through playing, reading books, playing games, having dinner together as a family, listening to each other, giving lots of praise and re enforcing good behaviour and rewarding positive behaviour. Making sure their feelings are heard and understood by teaching them a sense of healthy boundaries. Children need basic rules as they begin to understand and relate to world around them.
How you create this is by appreciating that your role as parents is a very powerful one. The standards you set will be determined by how well you understand yourself and how committed you are to change any negative parenting styles that may arise from your past and to adapt or re enforce the good qualities of parenting you had learned.
Simple rules like bedtime, sharing, tidying, saying sorry, are taught naturally and not out of trying to please your child. A child who cries when put to bed, because he wants to stay awake with mummy and daddy, will learn that if he or she is allowed to stay awake for another ten minutes then he will know that by crying he will get what he wants the next night. This will only cause more upset to the child who has learnt that this behaviour is acceptable to get what he needs and wants. He would have learnt how to behave like this from the reactions of his parents. When children have clear rules this creates a sense of security and emotional well being.
Memories are very important and without them we would not know what was good and what did not work for us. Many parents would often say that having their own children they would do things differently because of their own experiences of childhood memories. Doing things differently is a life long commitment to self learning and realising that as parents your learning is ongoing!! Always remember that your children will teach you so much about yourself by the way you relate to them!! Happy parenting!!!
I am not very good at writing these sort of reviews but I am bored so thought I would give it a go.
Parenting... well firstly there is no right or wrong when it comes to bringing up children, we all make mistakes or wish we had done things differently after all children do not come with a manual and each child is unique no two are the same.
I fell pregnant with my son at 16 and had him when I was 17. I used to hate the way that people used to think I was incapable of being a good mother because of my age. I don't think it matters how old you are, having a child is hard work and it can take time to adapt to your new role. You can only take it one step at a time and learn form previous mistakes. I would always recommend using folic acid during pregnancy for obvious reasons and I used to drink at least 3 litres of water a day, my sons skin was very clear and nourished when he was born. You will know when your in labour, but if you have any concern go straight to your doctor/hospital and do not leave until you are fully satisfied you have received all the treatment/advice you need.
I had quite a traumatic birth which I will not go into as I wouldn't want to put anyone off, lets just say that things may not go to plan but be firm especially with midwifes as it is your baby and body and you know best. Don't allow the staff to push you into things. I would say that its always worth trying to breastfeed, I did but just couldn't get the hang of it after a day or so I put him onto bottled milk. I first tried sma, but found this made my son sicky so swapped to cow and gate and he was fine.
Early years
I would say my biggest regret is wishing the time away, not maliciously but I remember when I first had my son and I would say" I can wait till he's 6 months so he can do things", then at 6 months it would be "I cant wait till he's one" etc. The thing is you will never get that time back so you should treasure it no matter how hard things may seem at the time. Its really important to allow your child to be messy, it really helps them to be creative and will encourage them to try new things.
Potty Training
This will come naturally, there is no point in trying to force it, my son started at 2 and was completely dry at 3 years old, although this can differ from child to child. I always made sure he went toilet before bed and didn't allow drinks the hour before he was due to go sleep. I never used the potty, he just went straight on the toilet.
Disciplining my child
I am no where near perfect I have on occasion smacked my sons hand or bottom, my son used to have behavioural problems and as a single mum I found this very hard to deal with especially after my mum passed away, but I am making excuses there is no reason, in my opinion, to smack a child no matter how badly they behave. I never caused any pain to my son, but it only made the situation worse as he would laugh at me then hit me back. I soon learnt that the naughty spot/step/corner works a million times better in the long run. Beware mastering this naughty corner thing is not easy and takes ages until they learn they have to sit there to think about what they have done. I laugh now but believe me at the time it can be very frustrating and upsetting. But keep at it because they soon get fed up of trying and realise that its easier to sit there for a couple of minutes then fight you. Once your child has been on the spot etc for a couple of minutes remember to ask them why they think mummy/daddy put them there, then ask them to apologise and kiss them and ask then not to do it again etc.
Its important to find a nursery that you are happy with, my son had to move nursery's 3 times until I found the right one, which wasn't very good for my son as he was out of routine, but if your child is unhappy then its best to get them out of there or could end up causing real problems when it comes to school age as they will fear it will be the same. Be prepared for nursery nativity plays my sons had me crying my eyes out, he was a donkey lol, he looked very sweet.
I will never forget my sons first day at school, he looked so grown up, I think I had more of a problem with him going then he did. He just seemed so little, at first my son loved school but a while ago he started to refuse to go and was constantly being sent home from school ill. I have been to see his teacher and head master and the problems seem to be on the mend so fingers crossed he will enjoy it a little more now.
So that's all im up to at the moment, im sure I will have a lot more surprises in store over the next few years and am dreading the day when he has girlfriends etc but am also looking forward to seeing him grow up.
Hope this review is ok, like I said I am not very good at writing them so your constructive criticisms and comments will be very much appreciated.
Tinkers x
What is the most valuable thing a parent can give to a child.
For me the answer will always be their attention.
Love is often the first answer to such a question but love is involuntary and is never a conscious decision. Ask a parent if they love their child and they will always, almost without exception say "of course" but ask how much of their attention they give to their children and they have to stop and think.
The giving of attention can require a conscious effort on the part of the parent whether busy or not. It is very easy to perform the basic tasks of feeding or nappy changing whilst carrying on a conversation with another person or even watching television. There may be no interaction between parent and child whatsoever.
The time a parent spends with a child when giving him or her, their full attention can be an education for both and will not only reinforce a child's sense of self worth but increase a parent's understanding of their child.
It is that understanding which can all too easily begin to diminish as a child's independence grows.
The teenage years are perhaps an obvious example of how difficult it can be for a parent when that mutual understanding has been lost.
A child ignored becomes noisy, attention seeking and aggressive.
A parent can often "tune out" of a child's attention seeking to such a degree that their responses actually become robotic.
I observed this example in a high street store recently.
Two young mothers with respective toddlers in pushchairs were discussing the merits of the plain aqua t-shirt against the patterned version.
One of the toddlers repeated in quick succession "mumIwantadrink, mumIwantadrink, mumIwantadrink, mumIwantadrink," so many times and with such increasing volume that it attracted the attention of several shoppers in the not so near vicinity. Eventually the mother handed the child a bottle of juice with a screw top without even looking at the child or breaking her conversation with her friend.
The child attempted to open the bottle and failing to do so again appealed to the mother in the same chantlike yell "openit, openit, openit, openit, openit, and on and on it went. Shoppers were staring incredulously at the oblivious mother until one individual close by actually went over and opened the bottle for the unfortunate youngster who gulped down the drink as if his life depended upon it.
This actually did catch the attention of the mother for a brief moment, long enough to smile a quick thanks to the rescuer and then to continue her conversation!
Amongst much tutting and head shaking people moved on and the two carried on with their shopping. The tragedy is that this is by no means an isolated incident.
I suspect that much of the outrageous behaviour displayed by some of the young is at least to some degree attributable to a need to be recognised as a living being and not a toy. It must be somewhat akin to being an invisible mute when you cannot make yourself seen or heard. Imagine the inner frustration and rage that must be fostered and need to be expressed.
So again, I would say the most valuable gift that you can give to a child is your attention, after all a man cannot live by bread alone and neither, it must be said, can a child.
For as long as I can remember I have always loved children, at parties all the other kids would be dancing and playing but not me, I would be sat holding babies. When my sister who is 7 years older than me came home pregnant at 17 my mother was upset, I on the other hand was over the moon. When she finally gave birth to my nephew I couldn't wait to see him and give him a hug, I would even sleep in her room with her to be close to him.
As I got older then more children I wanted, I even used to go as far as saying I wanted enough for a football team.
June 2006 I was 21, two weeks later I realised I was missing something, a test revealed I was pregnant. By the August my relationship with the father ended so I was now to do this all on my own. If I'm honest I was worried about bringing a child up on my own but then told myself I could do it, I had to for my child's sake.
When my son was born January 2007, I instantly fell in love. I knew straight away that no matter what I was going to be there for him, love him and protect him from harm. It did take a while to get used to, especially the 6 feeds a night but I coped and carried on. His Father did see him once a week but that was only for an hour on a Saturday and waited until my son was three to completely stop seeing him, he puts all good fathers to shame.
Sometimes I do find it hard being a single mother, I don't ever get time to myself. To be able to have a bath or shower without prying eyes would be nice every now and again. But in all honesty I wouldn't have it any other way. Being a parent IS a full time job but is worth every minute, especially when you see your child growing from a baby into a little boy or girl who becomes so very independent in such a short space of time.
I do get very annoyed when people constantly palm their kids off on people just so they can have a 'break'. Not included in that statement are parents who work and parents who have the occasional break. What I mean by people who palm their kids off, are parents you see or hear of finding babysitters to go out Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of every weekend as well as finding every opportunity to drop them with a relative or friend. Don't get me wrong every parent deserves a break as it does get very hard, but some need to realise that having a child means they have a huge responsibility, in the shape of a little human being that is now depending on them.
If as a parent you feel like you are struggling, dont suffer in silence, family, friends, health visitors and doctors are all there to help if its needed.
From the word go I have given my all to my son to try and be the best parent and when he wakes up in the mornings and says 'I love u mummy' I know that giving my all has definitely paid off.
Being a parent, in my eyes, is a full time job in its own right and the most difficult one at that!
I knew from a young age that i wanted to become a Mum and when i met my partner (5yrs older) it kind of set the wheels in motion as he was desperate to be a Dad and i knew together we would be a good team! After 2 long years of trying to conceive, 40weeks and 2days of pregnancy and 12hours of labour, we had out little miracle in the form of Ryan aka Baby Boo!
As a baby, they require your full and undivided attention which is extremely stressful if you have had 2hours sleep in a few days but i think its adrenaline and lucozade that kept us going! Our son was an excellent sleeper and very good baby until a few months before his 1st birthday. This is wear the problems started! He is now 21months and very discontent. We love him so much, unconditionally like any parent should but like some other children, your patience is often pushed to the limits and i am no stranger to being ready to pull my hair out!
I think your child/ren need plenty of love and care and attention. We dont have alot of money to spend on treats but Ryan never goes without and we do save to buy him a few nice things as he is really good most of the time and deserves it for putting up with me!
Being a parent is the most rewarding and amazing experiences. Alot of the time, i feel left out and neglected as my son is a Daddys boy and sometimes shuns me away and this upsets me but my sister has told me not to take this to heart as babies always do this. I can tell when Ryan is unwell though as its only me he wants.
I love being a parent, i feel completed and that i have a purpose. I hope to be gifted with another baby in the next few years.
Thanks for reading x
I always liked children and adored babies from an early age so I couldn't wait to start my own family.
I met my partner when he was 27 and I was a gym slip of a girl at 18 (cradle snatcher!). We lived together after a year and married five years after that; and straight away people assumed we would have a baby next.
Though we weren't kids ourselves we didn't feel ready to have children just then as we wanted a few 'alone' years where we could go on holiday or even a night out without it being a military operation and having to plan everything. When we decided to start trying I had just come off the pill when my husband came home from work with the news he had been made redundant. We talked a great deal about whether this was the right time to still have a baby and came to the conclusion that there was always going to be a reason not to start trying and we would never have any! Luckily hubby got a new job and I was still working.
After trying for six months I was getting a bit disheartened when nothing happened when one day I woke up and realized my monthly visitor hadn't arrived..after checking my dates it was about three days late which was very unusual for me! I went to work and told my best friend who said she would come with me to the chemists on the way home that day to buy a test. I honestly don't know how I got through that day at work and when I did get a test I took it straight home and did the business and the result was...well I couldn't tell! It was a blue cross one (where a line appears horizontally to say its worked and then if you are pregnant a line crosses over the other one diagonally forming a cross) however there was no line! I couldn't tell my husband as he worked on nights at the time so I phoned my friend and she said it was probably faulty and we would go again after work the following day.
Sure enough it was the longest day ever but I bought a different make this time from another chemist!
I was meeting my husband in a bar as it was a friday and as I got there before him I went straight to the toilets and did the test there then hid it in my bag without looking!
When I came out he was there so I sat down and told him maybe I was pregnant and whipped the test out of my bag and sure enough there was a pink spot saying it was positive..hooray!! Though hubby was pleased he went to the bar and got another drink!
Right that bit over with(sorry if I bored you!) here is some advice I found useful..
~~Trust your own instincts
Even if it's your first baby and people are all telling you different you will know if something isn't right so don't be afraid to speak up-whether it be to a GP or a health visitor- a mother knows their child better than anyone else.
~~Don't over buy
When I had my scan with my first son and was told everything was okay the first thing I did was go shopping! I bought loads of things that seemed so essential for a baby but got put in a cupboard and unfortunately forgot about till they were too big for them(clothes, toys etc)
It's okay to buy things but don't go overboard!
~~Tiredness awaits!
Prepare yourself for feeling extremely tired- that may sound patronizing and I don't mean it to- but I thought I would feel tired obviously with a new baby but I have never felt so shattered in my life as I did when I had my first baby! Accept any form of help from friends and relatives even if it is something like them them nipping to the shop or even hanging washing out for you- you will have wished you had after a few week! Don't expect not to argue or bicker with your partner either- it's very normal!
Spend time with them~~
Spend as much time with your children as you can- whether you work or not- they grow up so quickly so cram as much time with them as you can.
Tell them you love them~~
Children need hugs and kisses as it reassures them that they are loved- don't be cold towards them give them a cuddle for no apparent reason!
Help them with schoolwork~~
If your child needs help with school work sit down and offer advice and help and make up games to make learning fun. My little boy was great with his counting but struggled with his letters so we made up an alphabet game and he started taking more notice and is flourishing now.
I have a friend who is always saying I shouldn't do this or do that as she doesn't with her two- take no notice of friends who say things like that and bring up your children how you know best. As long as they are loved, fed well and looked after that's all they need!
I had always wanted to have children but hadn't fully considered when this would happen - it had always been one of the things on the list of things to do but had not been properly planned so three years ago my husband and i decided that we shouldn't leave it too much longer - we got married and then soon after that tried for a baby - in April last year i found out i was pregnant and now have a four and a half month old baby who is the best thing that can ever happen to anyone!
I think that before she was born i had a clue about children and i work with children professionally - giving advise and support to parents so you would imagine that i knew what i was talking about but the reality of having a child is soo different to what i thought it would be - it is amazing but in such a different way to how i thought it would be.
It is like a secret world where you have to have a baby in order to fully understand it.
The biggest shock initially was the lack of sleep - everyone had said make sure that you get your sleep before she is born - which i ignored but hey were they right, now i would love a full night of unbroken sleep - she is sleeping through but i still need to wake up to make sure that she is ok!
If i were to do it again (and i am hoping too!!) then i think the things that i would do differently are
have more us time after the birth, our house became a conveyor belt of people going round and round for about three weeks!
I would also not buy as much - i got caught up in the excitment of shopping and got lots of clothes that she never wore and is now too big for - other people get you lots of cute things so buy the practical stuff first.
You don't need everything that is in the magazines, you don't need a bottle warmer that plugs into your car cigarette lighter and 100 of the other things that have been designed and marketed so that you think you are a very bad mother if you don't have them!
Enjoy every minuite - it goes soo fast!
Noone can tell you how to be a parent and I do not believe there is a right and wrong way of doing things (obviously neglect and violence towards them is wrong).
Noone can prepare you for what is in store for you when you become a parent. The second you hold that baby in your arms for the first time it is the best feeling in the world and you just want to love and protect them for the rest of their lives.
There are a few things that I believe about being a parent that I would like to share with you
1) NEVER smack your child. How can you tell your child off for smacking when you do it? Imagine how scared they must be, they are so very small and you are big. It would be like you getting smacked off a giant. There are other ways to disipline your child other than smacking and shouting at them.
2) Show them lots of love. I make sure that my son has a kiss and cuddle before he goes to bed everyday and we tell each other how much we love each other. We also do the same before he goes out to a friends, school or to his grandmas.
Life will be full of ups and down. You will have the first time they walk, talk, smile etc. The first time they fall over and cut their leg. When they are poorly and you wish it was you instead of them. You will then feel the proudest parent in the world the first time you go to see them in a school play or the first time you go to parents evening and the teachers tell you how good they are.
My son has had three operations in his short life and everytime it breaks my heart to see him go through it.
I have never had a bad report from the school and everytime I leave the parents evening I have a lump in my throat off the pride I feel.
Being a parent is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I would not change it for the world. My son was not planned but I hate the word accident, he was not an accident.
It is not just Mam's that are important. Dad's have the same right to their children as Mam's. I know if I was kept away from my son it would break my heart and I do not think that women have the right to play god with their childs feelings. Let the child decide when they are older if they want to see their father, if you don't they could end up hating you for keeping them away


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Prior to boarding Air Force One and heading off to the Middle East—not to be confused with the Mideast Region, a relic of NCAA Tournaments past—President Obama made sure he took the time to fill out his bracket for his annual "SportsCenter" feature with ESPN's Andy Katz.
The "First" Final Four consists of: Louisville, Indiana, Ohio State and Florida.
He did not choose Duke.
It's not clear whether that's an indication he is more of a KenPom guy than an RPI guy or whether he simply likes the Gators' draw better than the Devils'.
If you follow this sort of thing, you might know Florida is the No. 1 team in the Pomeroy ratings, which its staunchest advocates have advocated as a superior college basketball rating system to the Ratings Percentage Index with an almost religious zealotry. Duke is No. 1 in the RPI.
The NCAA Tournament selection committee for years has said it does not employ the RPI as a measurement of relative performance—i.e., No. 1 is better than No. 2, No 6 is better than No. 12—but rather as a tool to group teams in order to measure the achievements of aspiring at-large selections. The committee believes it's likely that teams ranked No. 1 to 50 are better than those No. 100-200, and therefore a victory over the former group is granted more esteem.
For a lot of people who follow college basketball, and some who write about it, this is viewed as heresy. Their blood boils to see the RPI employed as any sort of device within the system of selecting and seeding NCAA Tournament teams.
SN's Bracket Insanity: Still time to sign up through Facebook
The RPI is a fairly simple mathematical formula that incorporates a team's winning percentage, its opponents' percentage and the record of the opponents' opponents. It does not include a team's margin of victory as a factor. For some of us, this is the best aspect of the RPI, because how many points a team wins by is not an indicator of achievement. I have said many times: Six one-point victories will secure the national championship. Margin might be an indicator of relative performance, but the RPI was not designed to be such a tool.
If you're fine with the RPI's stated role in the selection process, there is a good chance you will be dismissed as a Luddite, someone who is blind to the value of science and math in the assessment of college basketball teams. It's happened plenty throughout this season, and not just here. Seth Davis of CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated gets it all the time.
The problem the "Pomeroy people" have at the moment is the system they cite as the ideal method for measuring teams has kicked out a rather flawed outfit as its No. 1 team: The Florida Gators. That being so, I made a statement subsequent to the bracket announcement on Selection Sunday positing that the Gators became the "ultimate test case" for the value of the ratings. Apparently, this, too, makes me a Luddite because it brought a response from statistician Ken Pomeroy in which he asserted Florida probably will lose in the NCAA "and it probably will be close."
Pomeroy's story talks a lot about the obsession regarding Florida's propensity to lose close games—the Gators are 0-6 in games decided by six points or less. This is not my objection regarding Florida. Aside from episodically discussing it when the Gators make another series of poor decisions resulting in another close defeat, I've never mentioned it.
My issue with Florida's regular season has involved its lack of achievement against high-level opponents away from home, where the Gators have failed every time. They played four NCAA Tournament opponents (Arizona, Missouri, Kansas State and Ole Miss) outside their state and lost them all. They played three others against teams that were on the NCAA bubble (Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky) and lost those, too.
One might think a rating system that spits out such a performance as being superior to every other college basketball team's season might have some explaining to do. Again, not that the RPI is meant to be used as such a measure, but which today looks like the more accurate measure of the team that had the best season: The RPI (Duke) or Pomeroy (Florida)? But to suggest as much merely invites more ridicule.
On the one hand, the rating system's advocates excoriate those who fail to acknowledge its superiority in identifying the best team; on the other hand, they present lectures about "probability" to anyone suggesting now would be a good moment for that rating system to prove itself.
LINEMAKERS: Tournament prop bets | Betting the NCAAs: Profitable trends and nuggets
As Pomeroy could tell you, Sporting News was among the first publications to note his work and publicize it nationally. For years, we have recognized the value in the per-possession efficiency numbers compiled at KenPom.com. We cite them regularly as an indicator of team efficacy at both ends of the floor. Occasionally, it has been as a supplement to the traditional measurements of field-goal percentage and field-goal-percentage defense, but lately we've taken to using the efficiency stats even more often. They are an excellent indicator of performance, although those numbers are not a perfect measure, either. For instance, last season Kentucky finished with the No. 9 defense on a per-possession basis, when the Wildcats clearly fielded the best defense in college basketball. They weren't always efficient, but they were consistently destructive.
My position on rating systems is and always will remain that they might or might not be effective for those who choose to gamble on sports, which is fine, but for those of us who don't engage in that activity they present marginal value. I can tell you why Indiana should be good by looking at its roster composition, what it has achieved by looking at its game results and why it should be better by observing its play either live or on video.
It doesn't really matter if a rating system turns out the Hoosiers as No. 3 (Pomeroy) or No. 7 (RPI). They should be the best team. They haven't been yet.
I happen to like Florida's chances in this tournament. In the video segment where I appeared with Total College Sports' Shae Peppler, I selected the Gators to make it to Atlanta out of what I consider to be a weak South Region.
In fact, my picks were posted before President Obama made his selections, and Ohio State, Indiana and Louisville joined the Gators. Just like the President's.
Perhaps he is a Sporting News guy?


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The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council endorsed City Councilman David Alvarez for mayor Friday night, exposing a split among unions.
The labor umbrella organization's move follows key union endorsements of newly minted Democrat Nathan Fletcher, who was working to become labor's choice in the Nov. 19 special election.
Fletcher has the backing of the Municipal Employees Association and the San Diego firefighters union along with the support of Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, the former labor council leader.
Some labor officials have not been enthused about Fletcher, a Republican turned independent turned Democrat. Alvarez, who announced on Twitter Thursday he was entering the race, was quickly embraced by union members and some Democrats looking for an alternative to Fletcher.
The election was called after Bob Filner resigned Aug. 30 in the amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Fletcher and Alvarez will have company on the Democratic side: former City Attorney Mike Aguirre says he's running and former Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña has pulled papers to do so. She has said she intends to announce her decision Monday.
Meanwhile, the Republican field is clear for Councilman Kevin Faulconer, who seems a shoo-in for a spot in a runoff. If no candidate wins a majority on Nov. 19, the two top vote-getters will face off, likely in February.
Earlier Friday, a rift in the labor community was revealed when Jim Mahler, president of the local American Federation of Teachers, issued a blistering open letter to Gonzalez. Mahler said her endorsement of Fletcher undermined the work of the labor council and he questioned her motives at length.
Gonzalez responded by saying Mahler had his facts wrong and that she was "repulsed" by his letter.


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CHICAGO ( TheStreet) -- Moody's said the prolonged investigation of the 787 battery problems is credit negative for Boeing ( BA), but strong liquidity continues to support a strong credit rating. "The longer the plane is grounded, the greater the risk of the company's 2013 cash flow meaningfully declining," Moody's said in a report issued Monday. "Boeing is unable to collect what amounts to several hundred million dollars of cash remittances from its airline customers every month that it cannot deliver planes." Additionally, Boeing spends an estimated $750 million to $1 billion a month to produce five 787s a month that are not being delivered, the rating agency said. "We're commenting on the developments as they occur real time," said Moody's analyst Russell Solomon, in an interview. "We thought this (prolonged investigation) was negative. The longer things go on, the worse it will get for the company." Moody's has an A2 stable rating on Boeing. "We don't think the rating is in jeopardy for the time being," Solomon said. "One of the best things Boeing has going is is a pretty strong liquidity profile. This is a perfect example of why a strong liquidity profile is important, particularly for companies that operate in the aerospace industry: There are bound to be hiccups along the way. You have cyclical issues as well as issues related to production programs." Key factors in Boeing's strong liquidity include continuing deliveries of successful commercial aircraft led by the 737 as well as defense programs that account for about half of revenue. Defense programs continue for years, "have a high degree of predictability" and continually contribute profit margins in the high single digits or low double digits, Solomon said. In a briefing on Feb. 7, Deborah Hersman, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said it may take up to 30 days for the agency to prepare a report on the lithium-ion battery problems that have grounded the 787 since Jan. 16. She said that Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration underestimated the potential for smoke events in the batteries. "We've had two events resulting in smoke less than two weeks apart on two different aircraft," she said. "The fleet has accumulated less than 100,000 flight hours. They did not expect to see a smoke event (more than once) every 10 million hours. "The FAA and Boeing have to evaluate the assumptions they were making during the certification process," Hersman said. "I am confident that is what they are doing now."
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Mike Brown only lasted one season and five games. Out of the last 10 games that counted, he led the Lakers to a 2-10 record, which led to his firing. Photo by Jeff Lewis
Donald Williams
Never cared for Mike Brown as a coach. But I never like to see a brother unemployed. I think he is done as a head coach in the Association.
Heather Bass
The only people upset about Mike Brown being fired are his family and non Laker fans because they were getting a huge kick out of the losing. That's it and that's all! Good riddance to him and hopes for finding a coach who demands respect and understands Laker culture!
Tiffany Gainer
his contract was $18 million. he walks away with $10million. i think he'll be fine. head coach again possibly not. he coached the greatest Kobe & Lbj & no championship
Lawrence Ross
All that said, Mike Brown isn't a bad guy. In fact, he's a nice guy. But right now, the Lakers and him being a nice guy are in last place.
Pam Licavoli
Not sure if its good or bad but Laker fans seem to be relieved. Doesn't seem fair to me because who's to say it was the coach's fault. Steve Nash is out, D Howard really hasn't made an impact, the bench is kind a week and if they trade overrated Gasol they could bring in a couple young ins.
Make no mistake tho, Mitch and them already have something in place and firing Brown was prolly already in the makings. Lakers chasing Boston's Banners and Kobe's chasing MJ. He's got a good 2 years left but I don't think this was a Kobe decision, it was a management decision.
Lets just see what happens next. I will tell you this, my TV will be on ESPN and NBATV all day long!
Damon Oliver
My prayers have been answered (superficial)! (glad you clipper fans have had your moment) What a beautiful day!!!
Abenet Hagos
So wrong for this. But I love it!
Devin Able
Jeff Lewis
He lost 14 of the last 15 times they have stepped on the court and the players were not motivated to play for him.
Melanie Ayers
They didnt give Mike Brown no time. This team has no chemistry and I doubt that whoever takes over will do any better. Maybe they should bring back Odom.
Brian Carr
As a Celtics fan you know I love Lakers chaos – I just think that 5 games that count is a pretty small sample size. Personally hoping for a repeat of 2004-2005.
David Watts
Hate to see him go out like that but I feel like it was time. Didn't seem to have the ability to motivate his players. Jerry Sloan!!!!!!!!!!
Todd Anthony Carline
He is a good coach but when you don't even call your team plays as the Head coach in the huddle something is Very Wrong!
Genae Victoria Jefferson
Apparently Dwight taught Kobe a few things… lol
Jason Douglas Lewis
Seems like a rushed decision, but if things did not turn around quickly, it was bound to happen. I thought he was going to get another week or two. But looking at the situation, Brown had stars like Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum (all on the same team), and LeBron James, and he never won. The Lakers better already have a plan in place, or it was a bad fire at this moment.
Jonathan White
He sucked. How do you have one of the best perimeter scorers in the game, and two of the top front court players (Gasol and Bynum) in a league of *small big men* and only manage 95 POINTS PER GAME (2011-2012 stats)!!! He was horrible and needed to go last year. He was supposed to be a defensive coach and that didn't pan out well either. Then we brought in new players and their "surge" only lasted like a week.
Hiram Chanel
The Lakers have the personnel Mike Brown could not make it work, he is the weakest link, GOODBYE…btw he had LeBron too and we saw his record there…
John Stark
Not a fan of the Lakers but they have bigger problems than coaching, remember the Lakers got swept against the Mavs when Phil Jackson was still coaching them, the team was stronger then too. The players they have now aren't the greatest defenders outside of Howard and Artest. Kobe is getting older and the young guards in the league are having big games against him. Time will tell tho.
Ron Stagg
"Got da go, Got da go"..Robin Harris.. LOL!!!!
Terrell Lewis
Dear Fellow Lakers fans,
Don't be fooled. The Lakers fired Mike Brown to distract from the fact that most fans can't watch the games.
Last season we were told that we didn't win because we had a new coach, who didn't have a Pre Season to implement his offense. Guess what… Who ever they hire to replace Mike Brown wont have a Pre season either. They're already covering their butts.
The truth is the Lakers are too top heavy, and get nothing out of their bench. Over the last year they have pasted on players such as Jamal Crawford, Chauncey Billups, Gilbert Arenas, Gerald Green, and Leandro Barbosa…. To name a few. All solid players, who would have upgraded the bench.
I LOVE my Lakers, but they're screwing us!
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'OLN, now called Versus, was able to negotiate a deal that kept the channel on what Time Warner calls classic cable this season. The arrangement was never made public but the channel remains there now (Ch. 71 in Erie and Niagara counties, Ch. 66 in Springville, Olean and Wellsville) that Time Warner has replaced Adelphia as the area's cable provider. "We have no plans to take [Versus] off," said Gordon Harp, the division president for Time Warner.'
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This is a 90 degree outside corner designed for use with Schluter-DILEX-AHK perimiter joint profiles. The corner provides a sharp 90 degree turn and eliminates the need to miter the edges of your profile in order to form clean corners.
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While you may have thought the winter was finally over and done with in the South West, people on Dartmoor have woken up to a dusting of snow.
These pictures were taken by Mark Shackleton of Dartmoor Brewery.
With the company saying: "Don't worry, it'll take more than a bit of March snow to stop Legend making it through the Teign Valley."


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- Brian Wink


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it's pretty long, but very interesting. goes through several plays run by top nba teams, specifically pacers' 5 up counter.
(i won't bother to paste, click on the link yourself ;) )
Printable View
it's pretty long, but very interesting. goes through several plays run by top nba teams, specifically pacers' 5 up counter.
(i won't bother to paste, click on the link yourself ;) )
I'll do it. *sigh* :)
Mark Blount's job was simple, at least on paper. As the Celtics and Pacers tipped off the 2004 postseason, Blount had one primary chore: Stay in front of Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal. Rather than let O'Neal get prime position on the inside of a very weak Celtics interior defense, Boston's plan was to make it difficult for him to receive the ball by having Blount -- or whomever was assigned to O'Neal -- front him.
Nine minutes into the game, though, the Pacers were hammering passes into O'Neal anyway, and Blount was whistled for his second foul. He had to leave the game and wound up playing just 26 minutes and racking up five fouls. After the game, he explained to reporters, with a pause, "That was bad execution."
Not exactly. From the Pacers' standpoint, the execution was quite good. O'Neal wound up with 24 points despite the Celtics' efforts to limit his impact on the game by cutting down his touches. "We've been doing a better job with decision making. Especially at playoff time, it's got to be right," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle says. "Most of the game we did what we wanted."
That's because, when it comes to getting his team to do what he wants, few coaches are better than Carlisle. Where some teams, such as Dallas and Sacramento, rely on the instincts of their players, Carlisle relies -- more than any other coach -- on the predictability and execution of that little NBA gem: the play. Carlisle calls a play on nearly every possession. He is a chalkboard master, and his system depends on his players having the discipline to carry out the X's and O's he draws. It chafes players at times, such as when Pacers small forward Ron Artest called Carlisle's offense "boring," but for a guy with a career 161-85 regular-season record, the system of calling plays obviously works.
What's more is that it works in the playoffs. In a seven-game series, where teams get a level of familiarity they don't get in the regular season, the importance of designing and executing specific plays is magnified. Teams do a better, more focused job of targeting star players such as O'Neal, and it's up to the coach to counter that by calling the right play at the right time to get the ball to his best players. The Pacers managed to do it in their first-round opener against Boston -- O'Neal took 22 shots, the Pacers outscored the Celtics 48-28 in the paint and won by 16.
Early in the game, with Boston still close and the Pacers trying to figure the best way to get shots for O'Neal, Pacers guard Reggie Miller cut across the lane and screened Blount just long enough for point guard Jamaal Tinsley to drop a pass to O'Neal. With Blount out of position, O'Neal was open for a short jumper and nailed it. It was no accident, no failure of execution on Blount's part. It was simply the 5 Up Counter, one of the Pacers' go-to plays, run to perfection. It was what the Pacers do best -- they run plays.
Throughout the playoffs, go-to plays will decide which teams win series. Thanks to the help of scouts and coaches, we got an inside look at some of the most dangerous, most reliable plays that will shape this postseason. Whether it is the 5 Up Counter, the Lakers' Solo or the Pistons' Kansas Option, it's these plays that can quell an opponent's momentum, help to kick-start a struggling star or set up a game-winning shot.
The team: Lakers
The play: 1 Up (a.k.a. Solo)
The personnel
Gary Payton
Kobe Bryant
Devean George
Karl Malone
Shaquille O'Neal
The goal: Feeding O'Neal
The action: This is a play the team runs outside of its usual triangle offense, starting with Payton giving the ball to Malone and running into the left corner. Malone passes the ball to Bryant. George pops out on the right side to receive a pass from Bryant, who then cuts to the right corner. While the ball moves, O'Neal bumps from the left blocks to the right blocks and puts a shoulder into his defender in the middle of the lane to get the best possible position. George then passes to O'Neal.
The defense: Most teams that play the Lakers, including the Rockets, try to handle O'Neal straight up. It's important for the on-the-ball defender to be aware of Shaq's location. The Lakers are a bad 3-point shooting team, so give them that shot and sag to O'Neal. In this play, for example, George's defender should be about halfway between George and O'Neal to prevent the entry pass. Let George shoot. If O'Neal does get the pass, try to prevent spin moves -- make him shoot something in the 8-foot range, fading away from the basket.
Beware: O'Neal likes to call this play "Solo," and because it is his play, we'll let him. Heck, he ran this play, or something like it, with Orlando, so it belongs more to him than the Lakers.
The prospect of seeing this play repeatedly should have opponents trembling. This is a "Let's get Shaq fired up" play, and if you only see it a handful of times per game, you're doing pretty well. O'Neal gives his opponent a little shove as he crosses the box, and defenders often react to that shove and wind up getting whistled for a foul. The Lakers will go to this play 10, 12, 15 times if it is working. When O'Neal complains about not getting shots, it's because the team is not running enough Solos.
The team: Spurs
The play: Thumb Up 4 Ice
The personnel
Tony Parker
Hedo Turkoglu
Bruce Bowen
Tim Duncan
Rasho Nesterovic
The goal: A short-range bank shot for Duncan
The action: Parker brings the ball up and settles at the top of the 3-point line, then passes to Nesterovic in the high post. Bowen cuts across the lane to the left side, and Nesterovic dumps a pass to Duncan on the right block. Nesterovic then crosses the lane, leaving Duncan alone on the right side. The Spurs run the same play, called Thumb Down 4 Ice, on the left side of the floor.
The defense: Guarding the Spurs usually requires anticipation -- interrupting what they want to do before they can do it. On this play, having the defense front Nesterovic to prevent the pass to the high post is a start. Using Duncan's defender to tie up Bowen as he cuts across can slow down the play, too. But this requires immediate recognition and execution.
Beware: The "4 Ice" part of this play should be pretty easy to translate: isolation for the 4 ... meaning the power forward ... meaning Duncan. Zone defenses have reduced the number of isolation plays NBA teams run. But the Spurs have Duncan, and when you have Duncan, you isolate him and space the floor around him. That is exactly what 4 Ice does, and that's why it is a play the Spurs use at key moments. If defensive help surrounds Duncan, either in a double-team or a zone, he can recognize the source and find the open man -- he is a great passer. The Spurs have above-average perimeter shooters, and they consistently get open looks out of isolation plays such as this one.
Of course, if Duncan is left one-on-one, he can offer up a hook shot in the lane or spin to the baseline, two of his favorite moves. Or, he can pull out the most dangerous shot in the league: the Tim Duncan 12-foot bank shot, which is impossible to defend.
The team: Pistons
The play: Kansas Option
The personnel
Chauncey Billups
Richard Hamilton
Tayshaun Prince
Rasheed Wallace
Ben Wallace
The goal: A 3-point attempt for Billups
The action: Billups initiates the play on the right side, above the 3-point line, and passes to Hamilton, who is set up on Billups' left. Sending guards through the lane is a staple of coach Larry Brown's offense, and Billups crosses the paint with help from picks by Prince and Rasheed Wallace. Billups then curls to the left corner and takes a pass from Hamilton.
The defense: Any opponent of the Pistons must be ready to take on picks, especially that team's guards. If Billups' primary defender gets caught in a pick, a switch must be made. The best option is to have the center step out to contest Billups' shot, with Rasheed Wallace's defender sliding toward the basket to guard against an easy pass to Ben Wallace.
Beware: Don't forget that Billups was in the midst of a terrific postseason last year before an ankle injury knocked him out and killed the Pistons' chances. Billups has done a nice job of adjusting to the pass-first mentality Brown demands from point guards, but he's still a scorer and a very good 3-point shooter. The addition of Rasheed Wallace has been a huge boost, but Billups still is the go-to guy.
The Kansas Option gets Billups the ball, and with Rasheed Wallace and Prince setting screens, the defender on Billups probably won't recover in time to stop the 3-pointer. Billups also has the option of driving to the basket and drawing contact on the help defense from Ben Wallace's man. Even when he is not shooting well, Billups is one of the league's best at drawing fouls, but he prefers to take the 3-pointer when it is open.
The team: Timberwolves
The play: Turn 4, Down 1
The personnel
Sam Cassell
Latrell Sprewell
Fred Hoiberg
Kevin Garnett
Ervin Johnson
The goal: To kill the opponent's momentum
The action: Cassell starts the play on the left side with a pass to Sprewell, who cuts from under the basket, passes to Garnett, then moves to the right corner. Meanwhile, Cassell cuts into the paint as if he will continue to the baseline but wheels back and gets a screen from Johnson just below the foul line. Cassell uses the screen, steps out and receives a pass from Garnett for an open jumper.
The defense: Be on your toes because the T-wolves run four versions of Turn 4. The first time they run it is a setup -- Garnett takes his man one-on-one, and the Timberwolves hope, later in the game, the defense will expect him to go one-on-one again. The Down 1 variation of Turn 4 gets Cassell open, Down 2 is for Sprewell, and Down 3 is for Hoiberg or Wally Szczerbiak. Turn 4 plays are Minnesota's only plays that call for Johnson in the high post. When a defense recognizes that the center is up high, the defenders on Cassell, Hoiberg and Sprewell must be on alert.
Beware: Minnesota coach Flip Saunders is crafty, and his willingness to use dupe plays early to set up something he might need later is a trademark. That's what Turn 4 plays are -- plays Saunders wants to have in his pocket to use at important moments, either when the opponent has momentum that needs to be stopped or in a crucial spot late in the game.
Cassell loves to take pressure shots, which makes the Down 1 option the most potent of the Turn 4 bunch. He has been one of the league's best fourth quarter players this season, scoring in double figures in the fourth 14 times. He slumped for most of March but has bounced back, and Saunders knows how to get him open jumpers. That's why his 3-point shooting was a career-high 39.8 percent this season. For a team looking to snap its streak of seven consecutive first-round exits, having a player with as much crunch-time postseason experience as Cassell is vital.
The team: Pacers
The play: 5 Up Counter
The personnel
Jamaal Tinsley
Reggie Miller
Ron Artest
Jermaine O'Neal
Jeff Foster
The goal: An open shot for O'Neal
The action: Tinsley brings the ball to the top of the 3-point line to set the play in action. He dribbles to the right side. Foster steps out to pick Tinsley's man, then steps across to pick Artest's man, allowing Artest to get out to the top of the 3-point line. Miller cuts across the lane, picking O'Neal's man, as O'Neal sets up on the right block to receive a pass from Tinsley.
The defense: Double-teaming O'Neal is a must. Though his passing has improved, it's not his strength. Bringing a double-team with the point guard is the obvious defense, but Tinsley has become a credible shooter, so leaving him open is a concern. If the center is mobile enough, it's better to use him to double-team, as long as he is certain to close the passing lane to Foster in case Foster cuts to the basket. When O'Neal is trapped, he's prone to making bad decisions.
Beware: The play is a variation on 5 Up, which the team runs for Artest when he has a mismatch at small forward -- flop Artest's and O'Neal's positions, and that is the basic setup. But 5 Up Counter sets up O'Neal in one of his favorite spots: the right low block. From there, O'Neal can take advantage of his shooting skills and post moves.
If the double-team does not come quickly, O'Neal will pop a quick jumper. If O'Neal has a slow defender on him, he will shoot off a back-to-the-basket move, and that is when he is at his most dangerous. He is as adept at hitting jumpers from the baseline as he is at getting into the lane. If a double-team comes, O'Neal will work to draw a foul or try to find an open man among Tinsley, Artest and Foster. He sometimes forces his shots, though, and his field-goal percentage has suffered because of it.
The team: Bucks
The play: 4 Strong
The personnel
Damon Jones
Michael Redd
Desmond Mason
Joe Smith
Brian Skinner
The goal: A 3-point attempt for Redd
The action: Jones initiates the play by dribbling to the left side, then back to the center, giving Redd time to cut across the lane. Redd gets a baseline screen, first from Smith, who steps over to the left block, then from Skinner, who positions himself near the basket. Redd curls around the screens and pops out behind the 3-point line on the right side for an open shot.
The defense: The defender on Jones should stay on Jones' right shoulder to cut off a potential pass to Redd. Jones can heat up, but in general, the defense wants him shooting rather than Redd. The defender on Redd must anticipate Redd's path in an effort to dodge one or even both of the screens.
Beware: Redd is one of the best 3-point shooters in the league, having made 40.5 percent in his career. The front line of Smith and Skinner does not strike much fear in opponents, but one thing both players do well is give up their bodies to set good, hard screens. That's what makes this play ideal for Redd -- after picks set by those two, he is sure to be free.
When the Bucks run 4 Strong, some teams elect to switch defenders. But when Redd gets a bigger, slower player on him, he is apt to put the ball on the floor and go to the hoop, either getting a layup or drawing a foul. As Redd has taken on a heavier scoring load, he has become better at getting to the rim.
Sean Deveney is a staff writer for Sporting News. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Well, now I know what that play's called. :P
They're right, it's better to double off Foster. Not necessarily because Tinsley's shooting better, but if there's enough time in the shot-clock, he can find another option to run. But Jeff's gotten better at attacking the basket off of this instead of shooting.
Another thing, when Al's in for Jeff, team's will double off him because of Al's bad decision making. This is usually where we get into his "blackhole" moments. He's too far out to shoot, he won't pass off to restart the play, so he'll take it into the paint, get cut off, then try a back to the basket move. :shakehead:


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How Is Thymus Cancer Diagnosed?
If there is a reason to think you might have a tumor of the thymus, your doctor will ask you about symptoms and use one or more exams or tests to find out if the disease is really present. Certain signs and symptoms might suggest that a person may have a thymus tumor, but tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Medical history and physical exam
If you have signs or symptoms that suggest you might have a thymus tumor, your doctor will want to take a complete medical history to check for symptoms. You will also be asked about your general health.
A physical exam provides information about possible signs of thymic cancer and other health problems. Patients with thymic cancer will sometimes have a fullness that the doctor can feel in the lower neck area.
Thymomas are often suspected because the patient has signs and symptoms associated with myasthenia gravis, hypogammaglobulinemia, or red cell aplasia.
If symptoms and/or the results of the physical exam suggest a thymus tumor might be present, more tests probably will be done. These might include imaging tests, lab tests, and other procedures.
Imaging tests
Imaging tests use x-rays, magnetic fields, or radioactive substances to create pictures of the inside of your body. Imaging tests may be done for a number of reasons, including to help find a suspicious area that might be cancerous, to learn how far cancer may have spread, and to help determine if treatment has been effective.
Chest x-ray
A chest x-ray may be the first imaging test a doctor orders if he or she suspects a problem in the middle of the chest. It may be able to show if there is a tumor in the chest. In some cases, a chest x-ray may find tumors in people before they cause any symptoms (when the person is having the x-ray done for another reason). However, some thymomas are small or are in certain places that may not show up on a chest x-ray. If your doctor is still suspicious or if an abnormality appears on the chest x-ray, a CT scan may be ordered.
Computed tomography (CT) scan
The computed tomography (CT) scan is an x-ray procedure that produces detailed cross-sectional images of your body. Instead of taking one picture, like a regular x-ray, a CT scanner takes many pictures as it rotates around you while you are lying on a narrow platform. A computer then combines these into images of slices of the part of your body that is being studied.
Before the test, you may be asked to drink 1 to 2 pints of a liquid called oral contrast. This helps outline abnormal areas in the body. You may also receive an IV line through which a different kind of contrast dye (IV contrast) is injected. This helps better outline structures such as blood vessels in your body.
The injection can cause some flushing (redness and warm feeling that may last hours to days). A few people are allergic to the dye and get hives. Rarely, more serious reactions like trouble breathing and low blood pressure can occur. Medicine can be given to prevent and treat allergic reactions. Be sure to tell the doctor if you have ever had a reaction to any contrast material used for x-rays.
A CT scanner has been described as a large donut, with a narrow table in the middle opening. You will need to lie still on the table while the scan is being done. CT scans take longer than regular x-rays, and you might feel a bit confined by the ring while the pictures are being taken.
CT scans can have several uses:
- CT scans of the chest can spot very small tumors and help determine the exact location and extent of the tumors.
- CT scans can be helpful in staging a cancer (determining the extent of its spread). For example, they can show whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or to the liver, kidneys, brain, or other organs.
- CT scans can also be used to guide a biopsy needle precisely into a suspected tumor or metastasis. For this procedure, called a CT-guided needle biopsy, the patient remains on the CT scanning table while a radiologist advances a biopsy needle through the skin and toward the location of the mass. CT scans are repeated until the needle is within the mass. A biopsy sample is then removed and looked at under a microscope.
- During or after treatment, CT scans may be used to see whether tumors are shrinking or have recurred (come back) in other parts of the body.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
Like CT scans, MRI scans provide detailed images of soft tissues in the body. But MRI scans use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays. The energy from the radio waves is absorbed and then released in a pattern formed by the type of body tissue and by certain diseases. A computer translates the pattern into very detailed images of parts of the body. A contrast material called gadolinium is often injected into a vein before the scan to better see details.
MRI scans may be a little more uncomfortable than CT scans. They take longer — often up to an hour. You may be placed inside a large cylindrical tube, which is confining and can upset people with a fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia). For people who cannot tolerate a regular MRI machine, there are special, more open MRI machines that can be used instead in some cases. The MRI machine makes buzzing and clicking noises that you might find disturbing. Some places will provide earplugs to help block this out.
MRI of the chest may be done to look more closely at thymus tumors. They are most often used when the patient can't have a CT scan for medical reasons (like problems with the IV contrast). MRI images are also particularly useful in looking for cancer that may have spread to the brain or spinal cord.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
For a PET scan, you receive an injection of a substance that contains a radioactive atom. This is usually glucose (a type of sugar), but other substances that are attracted to thymoma cells may also be used. The amount of radioactivity is very low. The cancer cells in the body absorb large amounts of the radioactive substance. A special camera can then be used to create a picture of areas of radioactivity in the body. The picture is not finely detailed like a CT or MRI scan, but it can provide helpful information about your whole body.
A PET scan can help give the doctor a better idea of whether an abnormal area seen on another imaging test is a tumor or not. If you have already been diagnosed with cancer, your doctor may use this test to see if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body. A PET scan can also be useful if your doctor thinks the cancer may have spread but doesn't know where.
Certain machines are able to perform both a PET and CT scan at the same time (PET/CT scan). This lets the doctor compare areas of higher radioactivity on the PET scan with the more detailed appearance of that area on the CT. Combined PET/CT is used more often than PET (alone) in looking at thymomas.
Blood tests
Blood tests can't be used to diagnose thymomas directly, but they may still be helpful in some situations. For example, tests may be done to look for certain antibodies in the blood of people who may have myasthenia gravis or other autoimmune disorders. Other blood tests may be done to make sure a mass in the middle of the chest isn't a germ cell tumor or part of the thyroid gland.
If a thymoma is diagnosed, blood cell counts and blood chemistry tests are done to get an idea of a person's overall health, especially if surgery is planned. Also, tests for myasthenia gravis (MG) will be done before any surgery. This is because MG is very common in patients with a thymoma, and, if left untreated, it can cause problems with anesthesia during surgery. People getting chemotherapy also have regular blood tests to make sure the drugs aren't having unwanted effects on the bone marrow, kidneys, or other organs.
Types of biopsy procedures
Although signs, symptoms, and imaging tests can suggest that a thymic tumor is likely to be present, doctors can't be certain of the diagnosis without looking at the tumor under a microscope.
For most cancers, removal of a small sample of the tumor (known as a biopsy) is needed to confirm whether a tumor is present and, if so, to determine its type. For thymomas, this is rarely done because doctors can usually tell that the tumor is very likely a thymoma based on how it looks on imaging tests. Because of this, doctors often remove the entire tumor rather than do a biopsy. If the doctor suspects a different type of tumor, a biopsy may be done before surgery. Most often, a needle biopsy is done. A biopsy may also be done to confirm the diagnosis if the tumor can't be removed completely with surgery. This can allow the cancer to be treated with things other than surgery.
Needle biopsy
Tumors in the chest are sometimes sampled by needle biopsy. A long, hollow needle is passed through the skin in the chest. Imaging tests such as CT scans are used to guide the needle into the tumor so that a small sample can be removed to be looked at under the microscope. This procedure is done without a surgical incision or overnight hospital stay.
A possible downside of this test is that it might not always get enough of a sample to make an accurate diagnosis or allow the doctor to get a good sense of the extent of the tumor.
Surgical biopsy
In most cases, if the doctor believes that the patient has thymoma (based on CT findings and lab tests, especially in a patient with a paraneoplastic syndrome) and it can be removed with surgery, the doctor may operate without any biopsy. This can both provide enough of a sample for a diagnosis and treat the tumor at the same time. The specimen is sent to the lab after surgery to confirm the diagnosis. See Surgery For Thymus Cancer for more information.
Last Medical Review: February 7, 2014 Last Revised: March 17, 2015
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.


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Burgess takes charge at Barnton
5:06pm Tuesday 3rd June 2014
By Alex Bysouth
5:06pm Tuesday 3rd June 2014
By Alex Bysouth
BARNTON will start their debut season in semi-professional football with a former England C international in charge.
Andy Burgess, who made close to 300 appearances for Rushden & Diamonds over two spells, has been named manager at Townfield Lane ahead of the Villagers' first campaign in the North West Counties League.
The former Oxford, Luton and Mansfield midfielder takes over from Ian Ross, who will concentrate on his role as chairman of the club's committee.
"This is the start of an exciting new era at Barnton," said Burgess, now 32.
"From the outset, I've been impressed with the ambition and vision of the chairman, and I'm honoured to have been offered the position.
"Although I've not managed before, I have gained vast experience throughout my playing and coaching career.
"The hard work starts now and my focus is on progressing the club through this period."
Barnton, founder members of the Cheshire League back in the 1940s, step up a level for the first time in their history.
And Ross is confident he has chosen the right man to help them adapt to new surroundings.
He said: "Andy is starting out in the management game.
"But here at Barnton he will be given every opportunity to express himself and mould the team according to his own style and ethics.
"I'm sure all of the lads at the club are as excited as me by his arrival and I'm positive Andy and his team will add new dimensions to all of their games.
"He was the outstanding candidate and we are delighted to have him on board."
What do you think? How will Barnton fare in the North West Counties League with Andy Burgess picking the team? Share your thoughts below.
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