text:
Hi guys. I recently posted a link to a piece a wrote that was framed as a love letter from Pacers to Indy. It was surprisingly popular; it became by far the most read thing that's ever appeared in the near 2-year history of the Indy-based website, Punchnel's, where it was published.
Now, another writer has submitted a "response article,"saying to the Pacers, "Maybe we're just not into you." The writer makes some interesting arguments, and I'm curious what you guys think about them.
Here's his story:
Dear Pacers,
I know you want me back and you make a good case that you have done your job. I commend you for it. Smart draft picks like Danny, Roy, and Paul have worked out well. I am pleasantly surprised by the success of David West and George Hill in the post-South Beach era of free agent migration to big markets. You have rebuilt better and faster than I would have thought possible.
I really like Frank Vogel. Is it true that he is Brad Stevens' older brother?
For the record, I don't care about the Brawl. I am over Jamaal Tinsley. Kravitz is right: I am not racist. I understand that the NBA has the best talent, but it is not always the best showcase for it. I am a Big Ten fan and is it true that I prefer the atmosphere and intensity of a good game at Hinkle. We've tried to kill the high school basketball tournament but I still like to go to a good prep matchup. It's a tough combination for you to be in a small market but not the only game in town. My guess is that the people in Portland don't have the same kind of basketball entertainment options that we do.
But I get a little tired of anybody telling me what my responsibility as fan is, and what teams "deserve" from me. This seems to be unique to sports. When Sylvester Stallone makes a ****** movie (link to any of a dozen movies), Sly doesn't tell people he "deserves" the support of his fans. Sports are entertainment, and the product needs to provide entertainment value. It's not a relationship, it's an entertainment choice.
You sold out long ago to the corporate suites and deep-pocket season ticket holders. You decided on a business model that relied on ticket sales to the upper class and TV contracts for the middle class. So let's not be too quick to blame the fan base when they are a little hesitant to take the family to a game.
I looked for tickets for Friday night's game against Detroit. Seats below the concourse are $90 minimum. Yes, I know you say that I could probably find a cheaper ticket from a scalper, but that's not really helping you out. And I could sit up above…
But you do realize what the game looks like on an HD TV in my basement, right? Are you really making the case that the cheap seats are a smart play? For the cost of taking a family of four to the game, I can buy a new Samsung, and I get to watch Brooke Olzendam.
Plus, I don't think it's fair for you to measure my feelings for you based on attendance. You are averaging 80 percent of the seats filled. What kind of business model are you running where 80 percent of capacity not only isn't good enough, it brings national scrutiny?
If you sold 3,000 more tickets for 41 home games at $50 a ticket, that nets you around $6 million, maybe a little more after you sell $9 beers. That's chump change.
Can't we say we love you by building you a new fieldhouse and giving you money to operate it? We just voted to give you an additional $10 million of taxpayer money to go with the original $33.5 million. You seem a little needy. Please don't trade in your strip club handgun for a metaphoric one that says we need to support you, or else.
If attendance were so important, why wouldn't the NHL be doing better? Have you compared their attendance figures to the NBA? In many cities where they compete, usually in the same arenas, the NHL teams beat the NBA teams.
The answer is that television contracts and television ratings are what drive your success. So let's not get carried away fretting about whether 13,000 or 16,000 show up on Tuesday night to watch you play the Warriors. Don't be so insecure. Let's look forward to revenue sharing.
And by the way, do you know the last time you gave us a single digit draft pick? Probably not. We were much younger then. It was 1989 and George McCloud. I know it's not your fault. In fact, it's because you haven't tanked that we have been stuck in mediocrity. I guess we used all our civic good fortune with the Colts, but it would be nice to get a Kevin Durant every once in a while.
Finally–and this is hard for me to say, because I really do like you–but you have a certain Washington Generals feel. I'm not talking about the Hansbrough brothers. I mean that there's a big dead end ahead. Oh, I know you were up 2-1 on the Heat last spring, and you have beaten them twice in the regular season. But you are Lebron's *****. I don't know if he is better than Michael Jordan, but I know we won't be going to the finals until he retires or takes his talents to the White Sox. You say this is pessimistic? At the All Star break, Vegas oddsmakers had the Pacers at 25-1 to win the championship. You have the eighth-best record in the league. In any other sport with this resume, you'd have better odds. But Vegas knows how the NBA works.
So I can emotionally and financially invest in you now and be rewarded in May by watching Joey Crawford treat Dywane Wade like he's porcelain. Let's be frank: you are regular-season programming and playoff fodder.
I'm sorry if that hurts. Yes, we have a chance. Yes, you've changed. Yes, it turns me on when you embarass the Knicks. Yes, I promise to go to a game. Yes, I like you. But let's just be friends.


text:
Helston schoolboy a week away from life changing surgery
8:10am Thursday 31st January 2013
8:10am Thursday 31st January 2013
Just days away from pioneering and potentially life-changing surgery, the family of Helston schoolboy Josh Mills could be facing a bill of £20,000.
Seven-year-old Josh, who has cerebral palsy that affects all four limbs, is due to undergo a £27,000 operation at Bristol's Frenchay Hospital this Tuesday (February 5) to move the tight muscle tone preventing him from walking properly.
If all goes according to plan, it should mean that Josh will be able to walk much longer distances with his sticks and even short distances completely unaided.
To ensure the operation is a success, however, Josh will need professional physiotherapy sessions three times a week, to start rebuilding the muscle from scratch – something the family had been told they would receive financial help towards.
Josh's parents Jo and Paul had believed the NHS would fund one session a week and they would need to find the money for the other two.
This prompted the Packet to set up the Footprints campaign, helping the family raise the remaining £7,000 needed.
This week, however, the family received the devastating blow that the NHS was only able to pay for one session every two weeks – the same treatment that Josh currently receives.
Although the family are appealing the decision, they will not find out the verdict until the day after Josh has his operation.
His mum Jo has calculated that if no extra money is forthcoming, the family will need to find £20,000 to cover the cost of the necessary physiotherapy.
She said: "It's really disappointing. They've known about it for a year and a half and they have waited until the last minute to let me know.
"We weren't expecting the full physio, but they're offering no more than what he receives now."
It means the family needs Packet readers' support more than ever before, by continuing to raise funds through the Footprints campaign.
The current fundraising total stands at £5,457 – more than three quarters of the way to the original £7,000 target.
Jo said that had the Footprints campaign not have raised that money, Josh's operation would have already been cancelled.
"Without this money we wouldn't be able to continue. We can't thank everyone enough for everything. This operation is Josh's best chance to fulfil his dreams and make every day less of a struggle," she said, adding that she had been overwhelmed by people's "kind support and generous donations."
"I know that when Josh comes home he can get the help he needs, which is fabulous," she added.
In particular she thanked family members and friends from RNAS Culdrose – where Jo has taken Josh and his brother Charlie to play group sessions – who had recently added £400 to the pot.
"One way or another £20,000 needs to be found. The money so far covers at least six months – then we can worry about the rest as we go along," said Jo.
A spokesman for NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said: "We are not able to discuss individual patient cases. However, we are in contact with Josh's parents and RCHT to ensure this administrative issue can be resolved for them on February 6 when our panel will decide the funding arrangements.
"We are not able to pre-empt the panel's decision, but are doing what we can to support the family in this case."
© Copyright 2001-2017 Newsquest Media Group

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Gears of War Villain Returns Cooler Than Ever...
* PLEASE NOTE: Packaged photos of the Elite Theron do not have a "SDCC 2012 Exclusive" sticker. The figure you buy at the show WILL.
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with Collectibles Insurance, the official insurance company of the Figures.com network. Say "Figures.com" to get 5% off your first term premiums.
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, RedfordFilms.com, Toynk.com, PastGenerationToys.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, and MonkeyDepot.com.
The Theron are cool. Not only do the Theron look awesome in the Gears of War video games, but NECA's treatment of them as 7-inch action figures has been nothing short of stunning. First introduced into the line way back in 2008 as part of Gears of War Series 2, the Theron have been highly sought-after figures by fans. It's not just because of their rarity, the "Sentinels" being the only two Theron releases (Marcus and Dom in Theron disguise don't really count). It's really because the Theron are so cool.
2012 SDCC Exclusive Elite Theron (center) flanked by two 2008 Theron Sentinels
Hitting retail now is Gears of War 3 Series 3 which at long last brings collectors two all-new Theron: the Savage Theron. Decked out in white and black armor, the two figures also feature wicked new helmeted head sculpts (we gave you the first sneak peek of them with our NECA studio tour HERE). These complete (for now) the many in-game Theron looks.
In another very smart San Diego Comic-Con exclusive move, NECA is taking one of those new head sculpts and using it on another new figure: The Elite Theron. Dressed in the reversed Sentinel colors of predominantly black with red highlights, the Elite Theron is essentially a color variant of the new Savage Theron (though they are both totally separate characters). The SDCC Exclusive Elite Theron is different enough to excite passionate Gears of War collectors, but not SO different as to alienate those who can not attend Comic-Con and get one. And Comic-Con is going to be the ONLY way to get this figure... NECA has announced that they will not be offering these for sale online through their club or Amazon storefronts (though other retailers may). Grab your SDCC Exclusive Elite Theron at NECA's booth #3145 priced at $25.
In closing, the Elite Theron is an amazing new version of the already fantastic-looking Theron. The new helmet is the star of the show, the slick eye visor and snarling expression really knocking it out of the park for me. The color scheme is also fantastic, the reversed color scheme looking, well, ELITE! Other than that, the only difference I can spot on the Elite Theron over the older Theron Sentinels is the waist joint. Where the past figures could swivel side to side, the new Elite Theron features a very noticeable ball-joint. This allows for some more robust display options. We also get the Torque Bow, which we haven't seen since, if memory serves me correctly, Gears of War Series 2 in 2008. Speaking as a die-hard Gears of War fan, the Elite Theron is one figure you don't want to miss. Because Theron are cool.
* PLEASE NOTE: Packaged photos of the Elite Theron do not have a "SDCC 2012 Exclusive" sticker. The figure you buy at the show WILL.
Review and Photos by Jeff Saylor
Review Sample Courtesy of NECA


text:
HepaSphere/Quadrasphere Microspheres for Delivery of Doxorubicin for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Cancer (HiQuality)
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Hepatocellular Carcinoma
|Device: HepaSphere/QuadraSphere Microspheres Procedure: PVA, lipiodol, doxorubicin
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Phase 3 Prospective, Randomized, Blinded, and Controlled Investigation of HepaSphere/QuadraSphere Microspheres for Delivery of Doxorubicin for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- Median overall survival [ Time Frame: 2 years ]
- Objective Response Rates (ORR) [ Time Frame: Approx 6 months ]
- ORR in the treated area [ Time Frame: Approx 6 months ]
- Adverse Events [ Time Frame: Approx 6 months ]
- Resource utilization [ Time Frame: Approx 6 months ]
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|April 2011
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|December 2022
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|December 2017 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: HepaSphere/QuadraSphere TACE
HepaSphere/QuadraSphere TACE
Device: HepaSphere/QuadraSphere Microspheres
HepaSphere/QuadraSphere Microspheres loaded with doxorubicin
Active Comparator: Conventional TACE
Conventional TACE
Procedure: PVA, lipiodol, doxorubicin
Conventional TACE procedure using PVA, lipiodol and doxorubicin
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
Patients must meet all of the following inclusion criteria in order to be entered into the study:
- Age 18 or older
- Patient has signed informed consent
- Patient must have a diagnosis of hepatocellular cancer confirmed by at least one of the following:
i. Histological confirmation ii. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) result with early enhancement and delayed enhancement washout of at least one solid liver lesion > 1 cm. Patient must also have evidence of cirrhosis or have chronic hepatitis B.
iii. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) with early enhancement and delayed enhancement washout of at least one solid liver lesion > 1cm. Patient must also have evidence of cirrhosis or have chronic hepatitis B.
d. Patient must not be suitable for treatment by resection or percutaneous ablation at time of study entry.
Patients not suitable for ablation due to lesion location may be enrolled
e. Patient MUST meet at least ONE of the following criteria:
i. Stage Child-Pugh B 7 ii. Recurrent HCC iii.Performance status ECOG 1
f. Patient has a life expectancy of at least 6 months
g. Absence of occlusive thrombus to the main portal trunk
Exclusion Criteria:
If patients meet any of the following criteria they may not be entered into the study:
- Current or previous treatment with chemo- or radiation therapy or sorafenib
- Previous treatment with any form of transarterial embolization for HCC
- Patients with current or history of any other cancer except non-melanomatous skin cancer
- Female patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or premenopausal and not using an effective method of contraceptive
- Performance status ECOG > 2
- Child-Pugh scores >7
- Active gastrointestinal bleeding
- Evidence of uncorrectable bleeding diathesis
- Extra-hepatic spread of the HCC
- Total Bilirubin > 3 mg/dL
- >50% tumor involvement of the liver
- Infiltrative or diffuse HCC
- Encephalopathy not adequately controlled medically
- Presence of ascites not controlled medically
- Presence of medically relevant localized or systemic infection, other than hepatitis B, C, D, E or G
- Any contraindication for MRI (eg. metallic implants)
- Allergy to contrast media that cannot be managed with prophylaxis
- Allergy to iodized oil
- Any contraindication to arteriography
- Any contraindication for doxorubicin administration, including the following:
i. White Blood Cell count (WBC) <3000 cells/mm₃
ii. Absolute Neutrophil <1500 cells/mm₃
iii. Cardiac ejection fraction <50%
iv. Other condition deemed exclusionary by physician
u. Any contraindication for hepatic embolization, including the following:
i. Porto-systemic shunt, or an arteriovenous shunt that cannot be adequately closed prior to chemoembolization
ii. Hepatofugal blood flow
iii. Serum creatinine > 2mg/dL
iv. Uncorrectable impaired clotting
- Platelet <50,000/mm₃
- International Normalized Ratio (INR) > 1.4
Activated Prothrombin Time (aPTT) less than 21 or greater than 40
v. AST > 5X upper limit of normal for lab
vi. ALT > 5X upper limit of normal for lab
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01387932
Show 23 Study Locations
|Principal Investigator:
|Michael Soulen, MD
|University of Pennsylvania
|Study Chair:
|Riccardo Lencioni, MD
|Independent Radiology Panel
|Study Chair:
|Josep Llovet, MD
|Data Safety Monitoring Board
|Responsible Party:
|Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01387932 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|April 11, 2011
|Last Updated:
|June 30, 2017
Keywords provided by Merit Medical Systems, Inc.:
Hepatocellular carcinoma
HepaSphere Microspheres
QuadraSphere Microspheres
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Liver Neoplasms
Digestive System Neoplasms
Neoplasms by Site
Digestive System Diseases
Liver Diseases
Liposomal doxorubicin
Ethiodized Oil
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
Antineoplastic Agents
Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
Topoisomerase Inhibitors
Enzyme Inhibitors
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 19, 2017


text:
WASHINGTON — A prayer here, a share on social media there, a voice of support in a
letter to the editor, even a get-to-know-others potluck.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, continuing his
occasional series of Friday afternoon visits to people who are suffering or in
need of encouragement, visited a well-known Rome rehabilitation center for
people with neurological disorders or nerve damage.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has endorsed an
approach of "zero tolerance" toward all members of the church guilty
of sexually abusing minors or vulnerable adults.
VATICAN CITY — When Pope
Francis sat down with an expert in media and communication for a yearlong
series of interviews, those discussions offered some fascinating insight into
the pope's philosophy of communication and suggested guidelines for the media.
BOGOTA, Colombia — Pope Francis arrived in Colombia
Sept. 6 for a five-day visit to promote reconciliation in a deeply Catholic
country scarred and reticent to offer forgiveness after decades of war.
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO COLOMBIA — Flying to Colombia, with a
flight plan changed to avoid Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean Sea, Pope Francis
told reporters that Colombia and its neighbor, Venezuela, were in his prayers.
VATICAN CITY — The Catholic Church must continue to
work to understand the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council and why
they were made, rather than rethinking them, Pope Francis said.
VATICAN CITY With millions of people fleeing
violence, persecution and poverty around the globe, individual nations must
expand options that make it possible for migrants and refugees to cross their
borders safely and legally, Pope Francis said.
YANGON, Myanmar — Pope Francis is expected to focus
on trying to improve the troubles of about a million ethnic Muslim Rohingya
when he visits Myanmar the last week of November, reported ucanews.com.
VATICAN CITY — Summertime can and should be a time
for extra prayer, a moment of peace that allows Christians to savor the joy of
their relationship with Jesus and find new strength to reach out with love to
others, Pope Francis said.
VATICAN CITY — A Vatican consultation group will
consider initiatives to bolster
the fight against corruption and organized crime, including by looking at possibilities for
excommunicating members
of the Mafia and other criminal organizations.
The Vatican
Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development published an outcome document Aug. 2
highlighting anti-corruption proposals that came out of the Vatican's first "International
Debate on Corruption."
VATICAN CITY — God proposes — not imposes — his Gospel and offer of salvation, putting the responsibility of being open to and moved by his message on the listener, Pope Francis said.
VATICAN CITY — U.S. politics have become increasingly colored by an apocalyptic world view, promoted by certain fundamentalist Christians, that fosters hatred, fear and intolerance, said an influential Jesuit magazine.
VATICAN CITY — Celebrating a Mass in his native El Salvador, newly created Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez said his first major assignment will be to travel to South Korea for a meeting on how to achieve peace with North Korea.
VATICAN CITY — While some countries continue to debate the legalization of marijuana, its effects and impact on possible dependency need to be further understood, said the head of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
ROME — Instead of "pretending to be adolescents," parents must help young people see the blessing of growing into adulthood, Pope Francis told priests, religious, catechists and parish council members from the Diocese of Rome.
VATICAN CITY — The Holy Spirit continues to give Christians different gifts and to call them to share those gifts with each other in a community marked by forgiveness and "unity in diversity," Pope Francis said on Pentecost.
VATICAN CITY — Christians are called to be "sowers of hope," consoling and defending the poor and anyone in need, Pope Francis said.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis and U.S. President Donald Trump spent 30 minutes speaking privately in the library of the Apostolic Palace May 24, and as the president left, he told the pope, "I won't forget what you said."
WASHINGTON — As he prepared to meet Pope Francis for the first time, President Donald Trump formally nominated Callista Gingrich, wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, to be the new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM PORTUGAL — While the investigations into the very first alleged apparitions at Medjugorje in must continue, Pope Francis said he has doubts about claims that Mary continues to appear in the village of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
FATIMA, Portugal — Standing before the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Pope Francis canonized two shepherd children who saw Mary at Fatima, but more importantly, he said, they heeded the call to pray for sinners and trust in the Lord.
FATIMA, Portugal — Mary's example of believing and following Jesus is what matters most; she cannot be some image "of our own making" who Christians barter with for mercy, Pope Francis said.
VATICAN CITY — In a letter to Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II, Pope Francis said he hoped that both their churches can continue along the path of true unity and communion.
VATICAN CITY — Science and religion are not at odds but are united in the continuing search for truth in unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos.
CAIRO — The only kind of fanaticism that is acceptable to God is being fanatical about loving and helping others, Pope Francis said on his final day in Egypt.
"How wonderful would it be if the growth of scientific and technological innovation would come along with more equality and social inclusion," Pope Francis said in a video talk played April 25 for 1,800 people attending TED 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and posted online with subtitles in 20 languages.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will declare the sainthood of Blessed Jacinta Marto and Blessed Francisco Marto, two of the shepherd children who saw Mary in Fatima, Portugal, during his visit to the site of the apparitions May 13.
VATICAN CITY — Simple gestures of welcome and solidarity, when supported by faith in Jesus' resurrection, proclaim the value of life, Pope Francis said.
VATICAN CITY — Jesus is the risen shepherd who takes upon his shoulders "our brothers and sisters crushed by evil in all its varied forms," Pope Francis said before giving his solemn Easter blessing.
VATICAN CITY — Jesus does not ask that people only contemplate his image, but that they also recognize and love him concretely in all people who suffer like he did, Pope Francis said.
VATICAN CITY — Continuing initiatives aimed at a reconciliation with the Society of St. Pius X, Pope Francis has made it possible for bishops to ensure the validity of marriages celebrated in the traditionalist communities.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis strongly condemned a shocking chemical attack in Syria that left some 70 people, including at least 10 children, dead.
ROME — While the wounds of past trials have healed, the scars that remain will serve as a reminder of strength and courage for future generations, Pope Francis told survivors of an earthquake.


text: 2005 Character Thor Category Stationary Notes No special notes. Retrieved from "http://mightythor.wikia.com/wiki/Temporary_Tattoos_(2005)?oldid=20625" Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you've made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Categories: All Merchandise Thor Merchandise Stationary 2005 Merchandise


text:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today announced that the Accord Hybrid, Civic Hybrid and Insight vehicles have received certification from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that makes them eligible for a clean-fuel deduction, entitling purchasers of eligible vehicles to make a one-time $2,000 tax deduction on their tax return.
According to the recently signed Working Families Relief Act of 2004, the one-time deduction must be taken in the year in which the vehicle is used for the first time. It was designed to encourage the purchase and use of vehicles using low emission and high fuel efficiency technologies. The $2,000 deduction applies to original purchases of eligible vehicles made in the 2004 and 2005 calendar year, and is scheduled to decrease to $500 for the 2006 calendar year. The IRS had previously certified the Insight (2000-2004) and the Civic Hybrid (2003-2004).
In December 2004, Honda demonstrated its leadership in hybrid vehicle technology with the introduction of the Accord Hybrid, the world's first V-6 hybrid and the first hybrid vehicle to deliver both improved fuel economy and increased performance. The Accord Hybrid is Honda's third hybrid vehicle, following the introduction in December 1999 of the two-passenger Insight, the first hybrid sold in America and the most fuel-efficient car in America for six years running. In 2002, Honda added to its hybrid family with the introduction of the Civic Hybrid, a hybrid version of America's best selling small car.


text:
Talk about diminished ethanol demand undercut corn prices again Friday. The EPA is reportedly ready to rule that the blend wall on U.S. gasoline consumption will force it to lower the amount of ethanol to be produced under the congressional mandate. That holds bearish connotations for the long-term corn outlook. As one would expect, corn futures slipped in response. December corn futures close 5.0 cents lower at $4.3325/bushel Friday, while May lost 5.0 cents to $4.545.
The soy complex also ended the week lower. Talk of an EPA cut to the ethanol mandate suggests the drive toward renewable fuels is waning, which could be a negative factor for the soyoil outlook. Persistent chatter highlighting good harvest progress and surprisingly high yields also may have depressed prices. The drop probably had a substantial technical component as well. November soybeans dove 21.25 cents to $12.6675/bushel to end the week, and December soyoil plunged 0.94 cents to 40.28 cents/pound, while December soymeal lost $6.2 to $403.4/ton.
Wheat futures posted impressive gains Friday. Despite concurrent corn and soy losses, wheat futures rose significantly today. Some wire service reports were quick to cite crop problems in Russia, Ukraine and Argentina, but that's rather stale information. News of a regular Japanese tender may also have supported prices. We suspect short covering and technical considerations helped power the rise. December CBOT wheat surged 6.75 cents to $6.9225/bushel at its Friday settlement, while December KCBT wheat advanced 4.75 cents to $7.6025, and December MGE futures rallied 3.75 cents to $7.5475.
Talk of cash strength boosted cattle futures Friday. CME traders were reportedly expecting country cattle to trade at steady-higher levels Friday evening. However, bulls could probably weren't happy that no demands have been made on the deliveries posted against expiring October futures during the week; that suggests poor packer demand for cattle. December cattle futures climbed 0.30 cents to 132.47 cents/pound as CME trading wound down for the week, while April added 0.32 to 135.27. Meanwhile, November feeder cattle jumped 1.35 cents to 169.27 cents/pound, and January ran up 0.92 to 168.75.
The hog market moved mostly lower to end the week. Stock index gains appeared to support nearby hog futures Friday, with ideas of relatively tight supplies probably encouraging bulls as well. However, growing anticipation of a fall surge in hog supplies may have caused the swine industry to rethink its optimism about the 2014 outlook. Deferred futures seemingly suffered as a consequence. December hog futures settled 0.15 cents lower at 86.50 cents/pound Friday afternoon, while April dropped 0.20 cents to 89.85.
Renewed equity strength seems to supporting cotton prices. There has been little market-moving cotton news lately. Consequently, ICE traders were apparently buying the market in reaction to the late-week equity rally, which implies improved apparel demand down the road. December cotton rose 0.20 cents to 83.37 cents/pound at its Friday close, while March gained 0.21 to 84.22.


text:
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There are two types of quarterbacks in the league: Those whom over time, the league figures out ... and those who figure out the league.
With that said, this is still a very good team that should be winning and maintaining a comfortable spot in the East, but thus far, they're showing they don't care.
The Lakers are a sideshow? Man, I wish I could get some of those sideshow titles.
Of course, I mean who would they rather defend Danny Granger or Young/Green? I bet anybody is going to choose Young/Green that does not mean Danny is some kind of superstar, I bet if Paul George,West or Hibbert are hurt instead they would say the same thing.In reading Don Cassey's pre game statements he was asked what was different about preparing for Indiana without Danny Granger he said & I'm paraphrasing here that Indiana loses a lot of toughness when Danny is not there and they become easier to defend.
No SF in the NBA is tougher than Lebron or Melo, yes Danny is tough but if you compare him to Lebron/Melo he is not that tough, Deng,Rudy and Wallace are pretty tough too.I said that last year, I think the entire Smash Mouth persona of the team was really based on Danny Granger. He is tough as nails and fears no one. The problem is that he plays a position that there are two clearly more physical players (LeBron & Melo) but right after them I don't think there is a tougher small forward in the NBA. In fact I question if Melo really will take or make contact the way Danny does.
Yes I appreciate what he brings to the team I just don't overrated him, hell I was even getting on people when they were telling us that Green was going to replace Danny just fine.If nothing else about this season I hope this finally makes fans who took him for granted all of these years appreciate what Danny has meant to this franchise.
Last edited by vnzla81; 11-14-2012 at 07:10 PM.
We can agree to disagree.
The board is pretty much split between "make some type of change before it's too late" and "let the change/growth come from within" camps.
I hate that the trend that our bench scoring/defense sucks since Game 3....but keep in mind....there has been a SIGNIFICANT change to the lineup......we've lost Granger for 3-4 months and we have replaced the bench ( minus Hansbrough ) with new Players and are utilizing a Player that hasn't been used before this season ( Lance ). Add in that Hibbert is sucking it up.....I am not surprised that we are doing terribly. It's not like we are playing with the same 8 to 9 Players from last season and we are getting different results.
Why continue to rearrange the deck-chairs on the Titanic when we have to ( at some point ) settle for what we have and simply let the lineup mature and get used to each other?
Even if we were to go down the path of "trading anyone outside of the Starting 5" route....what can we get for the remaining bench Players? Not much....at worst..I could see it as a lateral move. IMHO....I don't want to make a panic move ( that will likely cost us something ) cuz the Team is doing terribly now considering the above concerns and changes to the Team.
Last edited by CableKC; 11-14-2012 at 07:27 PM.
Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.
Not picking on Roy, just pointing out that we would be 7 and 1 if roy just had an average game, every game for the last 8. We still wouldn't look great, but we would be 7 and 1. So come on Roy have just an average game. Not a great game just average. While were at it maybe someone else could also play a decent game, then we would have a blow out.
Good is the enemy of Great
We're changing the identity of our basketball team -- dramatically. We're a power post team -- a blood-and-guts, old-school, smash-mouth team that plays with size, strength, speed and athleticism. We attack the basket. . . . This is the new identity of our team. It was a great effort. I'm very proud of our guys."
-- Frank Vogel.
Not going to worry yet. Once we lose to a team badly twice I will start to worry. We should get tape on teams and be able to make adjustments. Right now they are trying to figure things out as a group. Lance and Hansbrough look like our best all around players in my book up to this point. The rest of the team should catch up and we will be okay. Hopefully it starts tonight. Lance should end games, not Green.
Don't really know how to attack this, so I'll just let it speak for itself.
For the record, I never said anything about firing Vogel, that the team was never good but lucky, or really anything else you said. I have mentioned about selling high on Paul George, but there is logic behind that. It's not realistic and I know there is a 0% chance of it actually happening, but I am worried he will never become what we need him to become.
Really? Most people have given up hopes on the playoffs? I don't believe that and I suspect you don't either. People may be jumping ship on having home court advantage in the first round or winning the Central Division, but I haven't seen where "most" people have given up on hopes for the playoffs yet.
Why are you even engaging in it at all if you have seen it so many times and know how it is going to play out? You and I both know the backlash that people such as yourself often get in times like these (more often than not in the past I have taken the side you currently occupy). You know it isn't going to help, so what's the point? People have their views, you aren't going to change them.
I'm still waiting for some actual basketball reasons from you that makes you so confident this team will turn things around.
It is hard to believe that we have shot as badly as we have the last couple of games! It's equally hard to believe that we have come close to winning after shooting like that! I'm sure it will change. Go Pacers, Beat the BUCKS!!!
Anyone know much about Roy's offseason routine (Area 55ers)? From his Twitter feed, all I know is that he did a bunch of MMA. I didn't read anything about him working on his post game or shot... Not to say that he didn't, I just wonder if he's focused so much on his body that other areas were a bit neglected. Especially since he is or at least should be stronger in the upper body, I wonder if that may be affecting his shot a bit.
Once that seed of doubt got into his head... Well then we get no confidence Roy again.
If Hibbert was able to step up and we could run the offense through him like before......would we be doing as bad?
Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.
His confidence does shape how well he plays....but when it comes to Roy specifically, I really think that there is something else going on with him.
Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.
At least it was easy to ignore the game and concentrate on studying. Have a test today. Not much to say about the game:-(
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
"Look, it's up to me to put a team around ... Lance right now." Kevin Pritchard press conference


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Wood sent to Gwinnett to stretch out as starter
DENVER -- The Braves believe that 23-year-old left-hander Alex Wood is capable of being an integral part of the rotation during the final months of the season. Unfortunately for Wood, in order to prepare for this role, he will spend the next couple of weeks making starts for Triple-A Gwinnett.
Wood has been preparing for the assignment while being used in a relief role over the past five weeks, but the anticipation did not make him immune to the uneasiness he felt on Tuesday afternoon, when the Braves optioned him to Gwinnett to make room for Jordan Walden to come off the disabled list.
"It's one of those things, even if you know it's happening, when it happens it still puts you in kind of a weird place," Wood said. "I think everybody's goal is, once you get here, stay here, and never go back down for any reason."
Whereas Walden has made a much-welcomed return to the bullpen, Wood will spend the next couple of weeks looking to regain the form that he had when he allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of the seven starts he made before being moved to a relief role after his May 4 outing against the Giants.
Wood will likely be back in the big leagues by the time the Braves play a doubleheader against the Phillies on June 28, but he could return sooner if one of the current members of the rotation sustains an injury or is traded.
"There comes a point in time when you've got to do what's best for the individual, the organization and your team," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We need him to go down and stretch out. There's no timetable. But he's a big piece of our organization and our future."
By moving Wood to the bullpen, the Braves were able to harness his workload, as he was on pace to complete more than 200 innings when he made that May 4 start. The Braves want to limit him to between 170 and 180 innings in his second full professional season, but they don't want to enter next season with similar limitations. Thus they will stretch him out now, with the expectation that he will serve as a starter for the remainder of this season.
Wood will be targeted for three innings or 60 pitches when he makes his first start for Gwinnett, on Friday. In addition to rebuilding his endurance, he will have a chance to regain a feel for his secondary pitches, which he has not been able to throw as frequently as a reliever.
"When I was in the 'pen, they were looking for opportunities for me to throw multiple innings, but at the same time, they can use me lefty-lefty or other times late in the ballgames," Wood said. "That in itself is a tough thing for anybody to do, because you don't know what is going on. From that standpoint it will be nice to lay some roots back down and get back to starting."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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TREVOR Rawlings says his Corsham Town side have to learn to put together a full 90-minute performance to ensure that they aren't caught cold again.
Corsham were forced to come from 3-1 down to rescue a point against local rivals Warminster Town last weekend.
With upcoming clashes against promotion-chasing Cribbs and Shepton Mallet on the horizon, the Southbank chief says that his team can't afford to leave themselves with a mountain to climb.
"The first 45 minutes was as bad as we've played all season but in the second half, we were very good – we've been a bit Jekyll and Hyde in the last few weeks," said Rawlings.
"There were a few things said at half-time and we said that they had ten minutes to do something before we changed the formation.
"We ended up doing that and our keeper didn't really have a save to make after half-time.
"We deserved our equaliser and if the game had gone on for another five minutes, I think we would have gotten a winner.
"But the problem we've got is that we need to perform for 90 minutes.
"If we do that against Cribbs and Shepton Mallet, then we'll lose both of those games.
"There've been too many games where we haven't performed for a whole half and it's something that we, as a management, need to address."
Warminster took the lead before Corsham's Gary Banks levelled matters with his first goal since joining the club in December. But the visitors struck twice more before the break to extend their lead and leave Rawlings' men with a mountain to climb.
When Jason Henley was brought down in the box, Aaron Ledgister made it 3-2 from the spot before Ben Moore fired home the equaliser.
Melksham back with a bang to hit Bridport for six
DARREN Perrin was thrilled to see his Melksham Town team announce their return to the pitch last weekend by ruthlessly dispatching Bridport.
Melksham, who had been kicking their heels for the last four weeks due to the recent raft of postponements, hit the goal trail in Dorset as they racked up one of their biggest wins of the season so far.
Strikers Gary Higdon and Dan Kovacs both hit two goals apiece before Sean Benison's free-kick was diverted into his own net by a Bridport midfielder.
Young winger Dan Sibley then marked his debut with Melksham's sixth of the afternoon.
"We were a bit wary because you never know what kind of performance you're going to get after a long lay-off," said Perrin.
"We've been lucky that we've had an indoor facility in Melksham that we've been able to train at, as well as on the 3G pitch at Leafy Lane in Corsham.
"The most pleasing thing was that we were ruthless and then the icing on the cake was Dan Sibley coming on and scoring on his debut – he's only 16 years old and we're trying to find out if he's Melksham's youngest-ever scorer in the Western League.
"We've got two games in three days coming up. The pitch is fine and there isn't any torrential rain forecast, so hopefully we're back to playing games now."
Melksham host Bishop Sutton this weekend before they also welcome Hengrove Athletic to the Conigre next Monday evening.
Town luck is turning
SIMON Gardner thinks his Calne Town side are finally beginning to get their just rewards after picking up a fine point at Welton Rovers last weekend.
The Calne manager wasn't present as his team, under the stewardship of assistant Darren Legg, held promotion-chasing Welton to a draw in Somerset.
Glenn Armstrong had a goal controversially ruled out for offside before the hosts' Ben Harris opened the scoring.
The visitors' Tom Slater had a penalty shout turned down but Alex Hamilton slotted home the equaliser.
"I think a result like that had been coming because we'd just not been getting the rub of the green," said Gardner.
"We went there with players missing and Darren Legg had to come on after an injury, but it still sounds as though we could have won."
Billy tucks in to Devizes
DEVIZES Town slipped to a third defeat on the spin last weekend as they were well-beaten at Nursteed Road by Barnstaple Town.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half when Billy Tucker's strike deflected in off Jack Jenkins. Tucker then doubled Barnstaple's advantage with a dipping strike on the stroke of half-time.
Justin Webster and Darran Walters' men were unable to find a way back into the game in the second period and the visitors netted their third as Tucker grabbed his second of the afternoon.
Devizes go looking to get back to winning ways when they travel to Westbury United this weekend.
Undercooked Bassett beaten
WOOTTON Bassett Town manager Jeff Roberts admits his side were suffering a hangover from their six-week lay-off as they slipped to defeat at Oxford City Nomads last weekend.
Two goals from the hosts' Louis Joyce ensured that Bassett suffered an unhappy return to action and saw the end of their eight-match unbeaten run in the league.
"The six-week lay-off since our last game really didn't help us at all to be honest because we haven't been able to play. Training was hard too and I think that showed," said Roberts.
"Oxford have been able to train twice a week which helped them and we did look sluggish.
We were second to everything which really didn't help us at all. Our passing and movement was sluggish and we were punished for some silly little errors.
"It was a bad display from most of our players, to be honest, and when that happens, it's hard to win.
"We had been on an eight-game unbeaten run but within 20 minutes we looked tired, although Oxford weren't as good as the team we played earlier in the season.
"What's happened, happened and we need to start again now."
Bassett will be looking to bounce back when they take on mid-table Kidlington at the Corinium Stadium this weekend.
Vics lose out on return
MALMESBURY Victoria boss Gareth Davies was gutted that his side couldn't get back in the saddle with a result at Clanfield on Tuesday evening.
The Vics, in action after a lay-off of more than six weeks, had James Hambridge sent off for kicking out at an opposition players and despite a spirited response with ten men, Davies' side were undone as Clanfield netted the winner in the final minute.
"It left a very bitter taste in the mouth because we deserved to get something, even with ten men," said the Malmesbury manager.
"Luke has gone in for a tackle and their lad's got his hands all over him. Luke has kicked out, and he should really know better than that.
"But then the same player has gone and scored the winner right at the end.
"It's frustrating because we'd dominated the play for long spells against a side fourth in the league."
Dan Thomson and Luke Cordery return for this weekend's trip to Hook Norton.
Top two are too strong
LEWIS Taylor is hoping his Pewsey Vale side will fare better in the coming weeks after going through a baptism of fire on their reaction this week.
Taylor's men were beaten 2-0 at league leaders Andover Town on Tuesday night whilst on Saturday, Vale were beaten 3-0 at second-in-the-table Petersfield Town.
Pewsey had Warren MacDonald harshly sent off for his part in a melee whilst skipper Ryan Banks was also shown a straight red for his challenge Lewis Hyde, which resulted in the Petersfield man suffering a broken leg.
"It's not been an easy few days back and the strange thing is that we played better on Saturday, when the result was worse," said Taylor.
"Losing two players, including my captain, to three-match bans is frustrating.
"Warren was sent off for violent conduct because he squeezed an opponent's nose and the referee has reacted to the injury after Banksy's tackle - it was a 50/50 and the boy (Hyde) understood that."
Title target as Reserves reach final
MELKSHAM Town Reserves boss Steve Burns says the Wiltshire League Division One title remains the priority for his cup finalists.
Melksham thrashed Malmesbury Victoria Reserves 6-0 last weekend to book their place in the Junior KO Cup final against Intel but Burns says his team are focussing on catching the Swindon-based side in the league.
The two teams meet in a crunch clash this weekend, with Melksham four points behind Intel but with four games in hand.
"It's great to be in the cup final but the league is still the most important thing for us," said Burns.
"We've beaten them twice already this season and I think it's important that we don't lose this weekend.
"It's been frustrating having so many games off and we've been given another free weekend in March, so come the end of it, we'll be five games behind Intel."
Rob Manning, Leigh Rogers, Lee Fielding, Emilio Menghini, James Worsley and Dan Griffiths were all on target against Malmesbury.
Burns added: "It was actually pretty undeserved. They outplayed us in the first half but once we got a fourth after half-time, their heads went down."
In the Premier Division, Marlborough Town were hammered 8-0 by Shrewton United while FC Chippenham Youth lost 3-0 to league leaders Supermarine Sports Club.
Wilts Calne Town and Corsham Town Reserves shared the spoils as they drew 1-1.
FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS, REPORTS & PICTURES SEE THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport


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Calvin Finch: Colorful plants withstand summer heat
Published 5:51 pm, Thursday, April 25, 2013
For summer color in shady spots, consider begonias, caladiums and coleus.
Semperfloren begonias offer small flowers in pink, red and white. Leaves on many selections are tinged with red.
If begonias are planted by early May, they can survive summer in the sun, but they prefer shade.
Caladiums are grown for their white, red or pink foliage. Many selections also are decorated with tracings of dark green or white on the foliage.
Caladiums grow from bulbs, which can be planted in May. It's easier however, to buy plants already growing.
Coleus is another summer annual grown for foliage color. The foliage varies from deep maroon to yellow-green, with lots of variations in between.
Lifestyle Channel
Coleus is on some deer-proof lists, but it's best to protect the planting with weekly sprays of Liquid Fence for three weeks to discourage deer from pulling up new plants out of curiosity.
The best low-growing heat-lovers for sunny spots in summer are moss rose and purslane. Both species creep along the ground with Fiesta-bright blooms in red, yellow, white, pink, red and orange.
Calvin R. Finch is a horticulturist and director of the Texas A&M Water Conservation and Technology Center. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
More Information
This week in the garden
Stage 2 water restrictions


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HIMLEY Cricket Club are actively looking for star players of the future by staging junior coaching sessions at Dudley College and Ellowes Hall School over the next couple of months.
Coaching commences this Friday and sessions will be split into three age groups.
The U9s and U10s will meet at the Evolve Building, at Dudley College, from 6.30pm to 8pm before the U14s , U15s and U16s follow from 8pm until 9-30pm.
At the same time, the U11s, U12s and U13s will be at Ellowes Hall, from 7pm until 8.30pm.
All sessions will be led by ECB qualified and CRB checked cricket coaches.
Himley will be looking to continue their highly successful campaign from last season when their U13 side were crowned Midland champions and went onto represent Staffordshire in the ECB National competition at Shrewsbury School, where they finished fourth.
The U16s also celebrated as Lord's Taverners Midland champions, with Ollie Westbury, now a first team regular with Himley, being named North Worcestershire's Player of the Year.
The younger sides also tasted success with the U9 Lions unbeaten in all 16 softball games


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I`ve always liked Smith`s game. Nothing flashy , but a good contributor when he`s out there. He`s built like a tank and fits with our whole Smash Mouth mentality. I`d be happy to have him on the roster.
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I`ve always liked Smith`s game. Nothing flashy , but a good contributor when he`s out there. He`s built like a tank and fits with our whole Smash Mouth mentality. I`d be happy to have him on the roster.
I honestly saw this when it was posted and didn't look at it, because I didn't know who Craig Smith was. I didn't think it was basketball related. I would rather leave the roster spot open and just use tyler.
I'd like the addition. His stats might not jump off the page, but from seeing him play I can tell you what he does well: he gets the ball in good position and goes to work. He ducks his head down and attacks the basket. Finishes well inside. He can hit the 10-12 foot jump shot from around the free throw line area. He won't blow you away with defensive plays, or his rebounding, but he is a rock-solid option to be your #2 scorer for your bench unit.
I like him a hell of a lot better than Tyler, at least for this year.
He certainly fits the high character, hard-working type. Enjoyed watching him and Jared Dudley at BC. I think both guys are underrated because they aren't the greatest of athletes, but they play the game the right way.
I hear he's referring to himself in the third person as "The Rhino" now. That's kind of odd.
Could be a move that makes Tyler look good. The guy sucks worse than Hans if you ask me.
*shivers* Hope it's rumor only.
First Josh Howard and now this guy? Please, just no. At least ask if Kenyon Martin will come for MLE first. sheesh.
First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.
Perhaps they're just discussing a training camp type deal
Whats going on with Oden? Heard he wanted to play this season now. I'd rather stack him on the bench for limited minutes rather than smith.
I'm a Beast
Let's see ...
Foul prone.
How bout NO!
Now that I know who he is I would say pass.
Garbage players get 1st round picks, (WTF)! All of the NBA must hate the Pacers! LOL
Has anyone watched Smith play?
I didn't see him last year, but I liked his game in LA.
Why all the hate? If he can pass, not travel and finish how is that not an upgrade over Tyler at this point?
No, he's not a world beater, but he always give solid production. He got buried by Blake Griffith's minutes when he was with the Clippers, then kinda screwed over by Nate McMillan (A guy who I am not a fan of) with the Blazers. You'll notice, for the most part, the people in this thread who have actually seen him play like his game.
You will not hear any complaints from me if we give him a roster slot.
Hey! What're you kicking me for? You want me to ask? All right, I'll ask! Ma'am, where do the high school girls hang out in this town?
I'm not getting the hate, either. He's actually surprisingly productive for the minutes he's played throughout his career. His rebounding and scoring rates are remarkably similar to Tyler's, with the big difference being that Hansbrough's FG% is pathetic, whereas, Smith's is excellent:
The Pacers were once again in the bottom one-third of the league in team FG%, stuck amongst some of the league's most atrocious teams. To bring in a guy who's a career .553 shooter -- along with Mahinmi's career .561 shooting -- would be a nice step in the right direction. We'd have backup big men who can actually put the ball in the basket at an excellent rate, a far cry from watching Hansbrough clank shot after shot.
NBA Team FG% - ESPN.com
21. Washington .441
22. Orlando .441
23. Toronto .440
24. Indiana .438
25. Detroit .438
26. Sacramento .436
27. Minnesota .433
28. Brooklyn .425
29. Cleveland .422
30. Charlotte .414
"I had to take her down like Chris Brown."
-Lance Stephenson
I think if Smith were brought in now and performed better than Hansbrough during camp, I think we would trade Hansbrough before the trading deadline in February. We would have a replacement that is cheaper and has many traits similar to Hansbrough. He would apparently also be more consistently offensively.
I wouldn't lose sleep over this signing one way or another.


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Hey folks...
Yet another site redesign is on the way (for the homepage); this time the color scheme will be based on the colors here in the forum, and the logo will be a very slight variation of Zesty's forum logo. So be on the lookout for that...
...in related news, I know a lot of you guys just skip the main page entirely end exclusively use the forum. That's understandable since the main page really isn't updated very often.
Well, we're looking to change that. Hicks and I have been discussing some possible new features to the main page, among them a spoof article subsection of the site along the lines of www.theonion.com or rickbrunson.com .
Here's some old Pacers.com spoof articles I've done to give you an idea of what we've got in mind (though the new section won't masquerade as an actual Pacers site):
Old Brad Miller article from last summer
Newer Ronnie article
The problem right now is that we don't have a NAME for this new section of the site. We're thinking something that conveys "Insider Information" of some sort, but with an original name that isn't ripping off "ESPN Insider" or "Pacers Insider" etc.
And, of course, we'll need help with the articles and Photoshop stuff.
All ideas are welcome, including new site feature suggestions...


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- U.S. stocks surged Wednesday as a bipartisan deal by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to raise the nation's borrowing limit and reopen government operations received cheers from the White House and Democratic and Republican House leadership.
The S&P 500 rose 1.4% to close at 1,721.54, all but ignoring Fitch Ratings decision to place the U.S. 'AAA' credit on rating watch negative. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.4% to 15,373.83 while the Nasdaq advanced 1.2% to 3,839.43.
"There's obviously this palpable sense of relief," said Russ Koesterich, chief investment strategist at BlackRock in a phone interview. "Arguably, [Congress] did a little damage: fourth quarter is going to be a bit slower, you may have undermined consumer confidence more than the market is appreciating."
Congress is expected to pass a short-term resolution to assure that government remains open through January 15, and that the debt-ceiling is sufficiently increased to satisfy creditors through February 7, 2014. Reid said Congress needs to address the cost that the government shutdown and uncertainties about a default may have had on the U.S. economy.
"We have sent a message to Americans from every state and citizens of every country that the United States lives up to its obligations," Reid said. "Now Congress must return to its most important job - fostering economic growth and protecting middle-class families."
House Speaker John Boehner in a statement said his caucus would not block the bipartisan agreement reached in the Senate, and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said President Obama applauded the deal.


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This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=0/3, Sex=0/3, Mature Content=0/3. A new exciting and fun way to learn the letters of the English language! Hear their sounds and enjoy the fun experience of learning!
Buy Xbox content on Xbox.com. Your Xbox 360 console will automatically download the content next time you turn it on and connect to Xbox Live.Learn More


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Mail: Southern statues symbolize suppession
Mail: Thanks for helping Aiden
More opinion
Fall: Good time to spray musk thistle in rosette stage
Robertson and Delsing re-elected chair, vice chair of NWB
More Ag News
Landon Schroeder, 3, was grinning from his hospital bed Monday after taking a few steps the day before in physical therapy at Denver Children's Hospital, continuing his remarkable recovery from a near-drowning seven days earlier.
Perry told investigators he took the unconsious boy home, and his mother rushed him to the hospital. An emergency medical team at Great Plains Regional Medical Center rescusitated Landon, and he was flown to Denver by helicopter, kept alive by life support equipment.
When Landon arrived, he was put into a medically induced coma. His family asked for prayers and thousands of people responded.
Landon showed slow but steady progress over the next few days. He opened his eyes briefly Tuesday and moved his legs and arms.
By Wednesday he followed an object with his eyes.
After making ongoing improvements, his ventilator was removed Friday.
An MRI showed "a little brain sketch" on Friday, but by Sunday the family said doctors don't expect any brain damage.
A CPAP, a device that uses mild air pressure to keep airways open, was removed Saturday.
On Sunday, Landon took a few steps with the assistance of a physical therapist, according to the facebook page "Prayers for Landon," which automatically goes to more than 3,600 people.
It was a great Mother's Day gift for Landon's natural mother as well as his stepmother.
"Keep up with the prayers," a facebook post said. "We appreciate and are so thankful for each and every one of you!"
On Monday, his father Billy Nichelson posted a photo of Landon smiling.
"Ash (Ashley Barraclough) and I would like to thank each and everyone of you from the bottom of our hearts," Nichelson said. "We believe that without your prayers an support, this wouldn't be possible."
His stepfather, Trevor Perry, was arrested Friday and charged with child abuse.
Several fundraisers will be held to help with some of the expenses.
A co-ed softball tournament will be held May 18 in Cody Park in North Platte, organized by city councilman Brook Baker. The team fee is $100. Donated merchandise and gift certificates will be raffled. To participate, contact Baker at 308-660-5112.
Tee shirts are on sale at the Da Buzz coffee house. Out of town people can order online at www.oclothingonline.com. Adult shirts are $20 and kids $15.
Sculley's Shooters is planning a fun night with raffle items. Playmakers Sports Bar & Grill of Lincoln has donated a free keg and wings party, along with a four-hour party bus rental to be raffled -- which would make a fine party during football season.
To donate items to be raffled, contact Joe Sculley at Shooters, Britta Ashley Phillips at 308-539-3115 or Jacqueline Deacon at 308-539-7911.
Donation accounts have also been set up at Wells Fargo Bank or online HERE.
Flatrock Publishing, Inc.
1300 E 4th St., Suite F
North Platte, NE 69101


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Workers do not leave their emotions at home, so employers who offer support that extends to their well-being outside the workplace may reap benefits during working hours.
That is the conclusion of research being presented today, January 2014, to the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society's Division of Occupational Psychology in Brighton.
Rob Bailey and Tatiana Gulko from OPP Ltd asked 1212 people from the UK and the Republic of Ireland - a gender-balanced sample representative of the workforce as a whole - to complete a range of measures examining their personalities, work outcomes and lifestyle choices.
The researchers found a close relationship between respondents' levels of anxiety and other important factors.
People with low anxiety and who were emotionally stable were more likely to be ambitious, to say that they were happy, healthy and lucky, and to say that they were satisfied with their relationship. They were also more likely to receive promotions and to take positions of leadership outside work.
People with high anxiety were more likely to report that they had taken time off through tiredness or boredom.
A second study of 49 people from across the world found that anxious people were more likely to be defensive and experience feelings of helplessness and powerlessness.
Rob Bailey says:
"It is unrealistic for employers to expect employees to leave their emotions at home, especially employees who are not so emotionally stable. Workplace support is likely to help to improve people's engagement with their jobs and to reduce staff turnover and absence.
"The employer prepared to offer interventions such as employee assistance programmes, which typically offer advice that extends to employee well-being outside the work place, may find that they reap the benefits during work hours."


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Brian Fargo
Fans can invest in Fig's next crowdfunding campaign which kicks off in early December
Fig, the crowdfunding site formed by former Double Fine COO Justin Bailey, will soon allow fans to share in the financial success of a published video game as an unaccredited investor.
Brian Fargo headlines
Are people sick of Kickstarter? Not according to Wasteland 2 dev
Wasteland 2 developer inXile Entertainment's Brian Fargo doesn't believe people are sick of Kickstarter, and has attributed the smaller chance of success compared to what it was previously to "Kickstarter doing its job."
Wasteland 2's latest beta build will go live on February 24
Wasteland 2 will be ready for release "when it's done," says inXile Entertainment head Brian Fargo; however, until it releases, those involved in the beta have much to look forward to.
Wasteland 2 "in the final stretch", OS-X build to release day-and-date with PC
Wasteland 2 isn't far enough along for inXile to slap a release date on it, but the developer has confirmed the crowdfunded RPG is pretty close to finishing. Plus: new screens.
Wasteland 2 doing solid numbers on Steam Early Access, Fargo discusses £34.99 price-point
Wasteland 2 is doing solid numbers via Steam Early Access, according to inXile Entertainment co-founder Brian Fargo. While it's not quite raking in DayZ numbers, it's still doing well despite its high price of entry. Fargo has now touched on the beta's performance and pricing in a new interview.
Wasteland 2 beta to get tactical combat improvements
Special attacks and destructible cover to be tweaked in latest round of improvements for Wasteland 2.
Wasteland 2 beta now available to backers, coming to Steam Early Access
Wasteland 2 can be yours – assuming you helped crowdfund the classic RPG revival, and don't mind playing a beta version which inXile is very keen for you to help shape.
Wasteland 2 beta: serving up 'odd' until the very end - interview
Wasteland 2 is gearing up for beta. VG247's Dave Cook speaks with inXile CEO Brian Fargo about what the test involves, how final development is going and why the game could kill you in its first five seconds.
Wasteland 2 backers should be able to try the beta "within two and a half weeks," according to Fargo
Wasteland 2 should go into beta within the next two and a half weeks, according to tweets from inXile boss Brian Fargo.
inXile CEO: Microsoft is walking the walk with new indie-friendly stance
Speaking with the [a] List Daily, the CEO of Wasteland 2 developer inXile Entertainment Brian Fargo spoke about the changes he is already starting to see in how Microsoft treats independent developers in the wake of their policy shift on self-publishing we learned about a few weeks ago. And he says they're being way nicer […]
Wasteland 2 duplicate playthroughs a "virtual impossibility"
It's extremely unlikely that two players will have the same experience in Wasteland 2, inXile has claimed.
Wasteland 2 beta coming in October, release delayed
Wasteland 2, which was originally slated for a northern autumn release, as been delayed, with word from inXile Entertainment that the beta will now occur in October.
Wasteland 2 to be distributed at retail by publisher Deep Silver
Wasteland 2's retail version will be distributed by Deep Silver, it has been announced on the project's Kickstarter page.
InXile head talks crowdfunding and audience focus
CEO of InXile, Brian Fargo, not only successfully Kickstarted Wasteland II but also a second project, the Planescape: Torment based RPG, Torment: Tides of Numenera. He discusses why it makes sense to run the projects this way, focusing game development on the audience, crowdfunding and more.
"I could not be happier": Fargo on fans as publishers
Free from the dictates of tradition-bound publishers, inXile boss Brian Fargo is answerable to at least 74,00 bosses, and as our huge GDC 2013 interview reveals, he wouldn't have it any other way.
Torment: Numenera stretch goal adds Chris Avellone
Chris Avellone will join the Torment: Tides of Numenera team if inXile's Kickstarter campaign hits $3.5 million. inXiles Brian Fargo speaks with VG247 about his involvement.
Torment game set in Numenera universe to be developed by inXile
inXile's Brian Fargo has announced a new Torment game is in the works with Planescape Torment designer Monte Cook and other members of the original team.
Wasteland 2's Fargo wants to return to Kickstarter for round two
InXile's Brian Fargo has stated that – regardless of whether or not Wasteland 2 is a success – he will return to Kickstarter again with future projects. Fargo also believes that the potential rewards of crowd-funding are too great to pass up.
Wasteland 2 interview: Fargo's wonderful apocalypse
Wasteland 2 has been a dream of InXile's Brian Fargo for over 20 years, and Kickstarter made it possible. VG247's Dave Cook speaks with Fargo about the game's development, combat & design.
Wasteland 2: Fargo talks perma-death, squad combat
Wasteland 2 is going to be a hardcore RPG experience right down to the last pixel, according to inXile founder Brian Fargo. The developer gave VG247 more insight into the game's companion system, perma-death mechanic and fast turn-based combat as part of a new interview.
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Brian Fargo latest
Fans can invest in Fig's next crowdfunding campaign which kicks off in early December
Are people sick of Kickstarter? Not according to Wasteland 2 dev
Wasteland 2 "in the final stretch", OS-X build to release day-and-date with PC
Wasteland 2 doing solid numbers on Steam Early Access, Fargo discusses £34.99 price-point
Wasteland 2 beta now available to backers, coming to Steam Early Access
Wasteland 2 beta: serving up 'odd' until the very end – interview
Wasteland 2 backers should be able to try the beta "within two and a half weeks," according to Fargo
inXile CEO: Microsoft is walking the walk with new indie-friendly stance
Wasteland 2 duplicate playthroughs a "virtual impossibility"
Wasteland 2 to be distributed at retail by publisher Deep Silver
Torment game set in Numenera universe to be developed by inXile
Wasteland 2's Fargo wants to return to Kickstarter for round two
Wasteland 2's Fargo on Unity: 'I can't imagine us using any other engine'
Project Eternity: Obsidian adds first expansion & Wasteland 2 as funding reward
Wasteland 2 video shows a deserted area with a giant scorpion
Wasteland 2 development 'kicking ass' thanks to lack of corporate meddling – Fargo
OnLive denies closure rumor as massive round of layoffs occur
Fargo: Players frustrated with 'dumbed down' RPGs and re-imaginings