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1st Test, Chennai: R Ashwin, Michael Clarke shine on topsy-turvy Day 1
The Australian captain was batting on 39 when he offered a simple bat-pad catch to Cheteshwar Pujara at forward short-leg but umpire Kumar Dharmasena turned down the vociferous appeal from the Indians.
Midway through the first day's play in Chennai on Friday (February 22), with Australia reeling at 153 for 5 after 47 overs, India might have entertained visions of batting after tea. But Michael Clarke, who scored 626 runs in the home series against India just over a year ago, and Moises Henriques, who batted with tremendous composure on debut, then added 151 in just 254 balls to ensure that honours would be shared on the opening day of this four-Test series. R Ashwin bowled beautifully at times to take the first six wickets to fall, but Clarke's sixth century against India led his team to the relative safety of 316 for 7 at stumps.
Henriques, who scored a large proportion of his runs through midwicket, fell to the sweep a quarter of an hour before stumps, and Ravindra Jadeja bowled Mitchell Starc soon after to ruin any chances of Ashwin joining Jim Laker and Anil Kumble in the perfect-ten category. The last word, however, belonged to Clarke, who got to his hundred in the final over of the day, having taken just 168 balls for it.
The story of the day would have been so very different if Kumar Dharmasena had upheld a vociferous appeal from Ashwin for a bat-pad catch when Clarke had made just 39, and Australia 206. There was a clear inside edge on to the flap of the pad, but despite the Indians going up in unison, Dharmasena was unmoved.
It didn't help either that the support for Ashwin ranged from indifferent to poor. Jadeja was accurate, but didn't vary his pace enough to really create confusion in the batsmen's minds. As for Harbhajan Singh, who was introduced as early as the sixth over in his 100th Test, he pitched the ball too short too often to make any kind of impact. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, making his debut after Pragyan Ojha - India's best bowler in the series against England - was dropped, did little with the new ball, while Ishant Sharma, despite getting some reverse swing, was just as ineffective.
Ashwin, who eschewed too many variations and focussed on the stock ball, could have had a wicket in his very first over, when he had David Warner edging a cut to Virender Sehwag at slip. Sehwag, who had dropped Alastair Cook at a vital stage of the Mumbai Test, was in no sort of position to take it, and the missed chance allowed Warner and Ed Cowan to add a further 25 for the opening wicket. MS Dhoni missed a stumping soon after as Warner led a charmed life early on. By Warner standards, a 77-ball half-century was sedate, and Ashwin himself had reason to regret a sluggish response to a caught-and-bowled chance off the leading edge.
Cowan, who made 29, was the first to go, taking the play-positive mantra a bit too far with a rush-of-blood charge at an Ashwin off break that left him stranded yards outside the crease. Phil Hughes then dragged a wide delivery back on to his leg stump, and it needed a half-century partnership between Warner and Shane Watson to take Australia through to lunch on 126 for 2.
It didn't take Ashwin long to make his mark after the interval. Watson played down the wrong line to be struck in front, and Warner soon followed, trapped deep in his crease by a full delivery. Matthew Wade made 12 before Ashwin got one to pitch on leg stump and turn across the bat to strike him in front. The sudden collapse brought to mind the Chennai Test of 2004, when Kumble took 7 for 48 to send Australia tumbling from 136 without loss to 235 all out. This time, there was no Kumble, only Ashwin ploughing a lone furrow. Clarke and Henriques made sure history didn't repeat itself.
Clarke played shots all round the wicket, and was particularly strong square of it and down the ground. There was one beautifully struck six over long-on off Ashwin, and his nimble footwork made sure that no bowler could settle into a rhythm. As was the case in 2004, when his partnership with Adam Gilchrist pushed Australia into a dominant position in Bangalore, he was the star of the series' opening act.

subset: commoncrawl


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" This hostel has non-standard arbitrarily enforced rules about booking. After booking months early, I noticed in their rules that I needed to reconfirm within three days or they would cancel my reservation. I did reconfirm, email about it recieved no response and ultimately cancelled my booking. THEY STILL CHARGED ME for my entire stay, not just the 1st night but for 4 nights. I have claimed it as fraud with my bank. "
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"We're pleased to have been selected to host this great game. This gives us the chance to extend the Sugar Bowl's long-standing relationship with the Southeastern Conference and to develop a new relationship with the Big 12 Conference. The result will be, without a doubt, one of college football's best bowl games on an annual basis, one that brings tremendous national prestige and millions of dollars in economic impact to our city and state over the New Year's holiday. We look forward to the tremendous promise this game, and these two great conferences, have to offer."
- Paul Hoolahan, Chief Executive Officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl
"This is a great day for the Sugar Bowl Committee, the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. What this means for our city and state is beyond measure. With the privilege of hosting this game comes a national spotlight, a position at the top of the college football world and untold tourism dollars. We couldn't be happier and are grateful for the opportunity."
- Jack Laborde, President of the Sugar Bowl Committee, 2012
"New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl are synonymous with post-season college football. For many years, fans have enjoyed the color and pageantry that New Orleans offers. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome has hosted many Super Bowls, Sugar Bowls and National Championship Games and having teams from the Big 12 and the SEC in a post-season college football game together only adds to this list. We look forward to competing against the Big 12 as a new championship tradition begins on New Year's Day."
- Mike Slive, SEC Commissioner
"From the moment this game was announced, there has been tremendous excitement associated with the collaboration between these two conferences. That excitement is reflected in the bids received to host this game. There were great cities, attractive destinations, and impressive venues to consider. Now Big 12 fans can look forward to a New Year's tradition and coming to New Orleans to support their team. We are thrilled about our long-term association with our SEC colleagues and to be in partnership with the Allstate Sugar Bowl."
- Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 Conference commissioner


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All's well that ends well.
Sheldon Jeter, a stand-out forward that transferred from Vanderbilt to play closer to home, committed to Pittsburgh Saturday, Polk State College coach Matt Furjanic and his father, Carliss, tell SN's Mike DeCourcy.
MORE: SN's All-Americans | Preseason Top 25 | Top 50 players
Jeter must attend Polk State, a junior college located in Winter Haven, Fla., this year and will practice with the team but not play in games in order to protect his eligibility. He'll then be cleared to play for the Panthers in 2014-15.
Jeter, who enrolled at Polk State in August, wanted to play at Pitt all along. But Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings denied his player the option to accept a basketball scholarship from the school closer to his home in Western Pennsylvania. Precisely why Stallings refused to allow Jeter a release to Pitt is unknown. Stallings consistently has declined opportunities to discuss his position, and the Jeter family has declined to go public with details of what they've been through.


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19 fun car road trip activities
Turn an ordinary drive into a world of fun adventures and possibilities. more
Hepatitis is a generic term for an infection of the liver. There are three types of hepatitis: Hepatitis A, B and C.
Hepatitis A - this is an infectious virus and is transmitted through contaminated poo. This is the most common form of hepatitis in children.
Hepatitis B - is one of the most common infections in the world. This virus is spread through blood and body fluids. Because of its serious public health implications, hepatitis B is now included in the Childhood Immunisation Schedule and it is suggested that all adults receive vaccination.
Hepatitis C - This virus is spread by blood to blood contact. There is currently no vaccination for hepatitis C.
Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus and is spread through contact with someone who has the virus or from contaminated food or water. Hepatitis A is highly contagious.
Most hepatitis A infections are not very serious. Most kids recover fully and don't experience any permanent liver damage. In the most serious hepatitis infections, kids can suffer from complete liver failure and may need a liver transplant, but this is rare.
Hepatitis A is best prevented through good hygiene. Teach your kids to wash their hands after they go to the bathroom, before they eat, whenever they handle food, and at other times throughout the day to prevent getting or spreading the virus. Make sure that you practice good hygiene too. People with hepatitis A are contagious for about three weeks, two weeks before they begin to show symptoms and one week after symptoms occur.
About 90% of kids under the age of six who get hepatitis don't get sick from the virus. Those who do get sick, may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
Most of the time, your child's body will fight the hepatitis infection all on its own. Make sure that your child has lots of clear liquids to drink. They'll probably feel tired too and need a lot of rest. Because the hepatitis virus can prevent your child's liver from functioning at its best, if she takes regular medications, her doctor may recommend that they stop taking them temporarily to rest her liver.
If you know that your child has been exposed to hepatitis A, call your doctor for advice. He may recommend a vaccination. Once your child has had hepatitis A, they will remain immune for life.
Written by Rebecca Stigall for Kidspot, Australia's parenting resource for family health. Sources include Better Health Channel, NSW Health and Health Insite.
Last revised: Sunday, 3 January 2010
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.


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Ten Things I Love: Gear from Nora M.'s Home Bar
Straight Up Cocktails and Spirits
Inspired by Sara Kate's Ten Things I Love From My Mother's Kitchen post last week - and all the fabulous reader submissions that have followed it - for this week's column, I've put together a list of my own, all items from my home bar:
- Three-Piece Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker. I've had this cobbler-style shaker for over 15 years, and it's proven to be a real workhorse. On its own, the bottom can be used with a bar spoon for stirred cocktails (the strainer may then be fitted in place for pouring). The small cup-like cap holds exactly an ounce - great for measuring out ingredients in a pinch. And all three pieces fit together snugly for shaking up drinks. A classic.
- Vintage Carousel Shot Dispenser. This was a flea market find and has spent most of its time with me as a display item, although it has been put to use on occasion. The top hardware screws off so that the glass reservoir can be filled with liquor. When the red Lucite button is pressed down, the manual suction pump engages, and a shot pours into one of the tiny glasses (each can get its turn under the spout if you rotate the "carousel" tray). Whee!
- Vintage Silver Iced-Tea Spoons. After shopping around for new stainless steel iced tea spoons last year, I found these sterling silver ones on eBay, and paid around $18 for the set of six. They've proven to be great for getting to the bottom of frothy drinks like Ramos Gin Fizzes, and for scooping out every last bit of fruit garnish from a Pimm's Cup.
- An Assortment of Bar Measures. The largest of these comes in handy when juicing citrus ("Just one more ounce of lime for those Margaritas, almost there...."). The smallest in the group - the "Mini Measure®" glass with red lettering - is marked in 1/4-ounce increments (as well as ml, tsp, and Tbs), handy for drinks such the Blue Moon Cocktail, which call for some specialized ingredients in minuscule amounts.
- Scottish-Themed Glasses. Beer from a tartan-bedecked pilsner glass, or a wee dram of single malt from some thistle-shaped stemware. Another vintage find.
- Delicate Vintage Stemware. A trio of mismatched cocktail glasses. More on this here.
- Cocktail Books. Some favorite reference works.
- Knife/Reamer/Cutting Board. Essentials for prepping citrus garnishes and juices.
- Silicone Ice Trays (Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Trays). These make nice big pieces of ice that are actually cube-shaped. The soft silicone material enables easy removal from the tray.
- Old King Cole. A framed postcard from the King Cole Bar Lounge. The original "Old King Cole" mural by Maxfield Parrish is some 30 feet wide and sits above the tony bar at the St. Regis Hotel in NYC. But this 8-inch postcard fits my home bar just fine.
Do you have any favorite bar gear at home?
• Ten Things I Love From My Mother's Kitchen
• Ten Things I love: Brooke's Vintage Collections
• white-and-pink-077289">Ten Things I Love: Alicia's Spicy Black & White (and Pink!)
• Ten Things I Love: Janine's Spoons (and Husband!)
• Ten Things I Love: Meg's Family Kitchen
• Ten Things I Love: Leslie's Azurite Teatime
(Images: Nora Maynard)


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SAINT MATTHEWS - On Saturday, the Under-11 Mount Washington All-Stars had secured a spot in this week's East Kentucky State Tournament in Elizabethtown.
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Hello all,
What do you think about disapointment? How to avoid it?
Maybe we expect too much sometimes that's why later we suffer when we don't get what we wanted.
kienanmi wrote:well, there are a couple of methods to avoid disappointment
1. Passioning in something. Personally, I think if we passion in a certain activity, we will remarkably forget disappointment and get back to our happy life.
2. Forcing to smile. Try to force yourself smile in at least 20 seconds per day. It's really work to me
3. Sleeping. It will make you more comfortable and relieved
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THERE will be an evening of music at a Hampshire church.
Southampton Concert Wind Band and the 70-strong Winchester City Festival Choir will be getting together to perform show stopping tunes at Chandler's Ford Methodist Church.
The show will start at 7.30pm on July 12.
Tickets are available on the door and cost £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and free for children under 16-years-old.
The choir was founded in 1923 and meets for rehearsals on Wednesday from 7.45pm to 9.30pm in Littleton.
For more information or to join the group, contact Annie Woodward on 01962 713236 or visit wcfc.hampshire.org.uk.


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BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
October 12, 2012
Playoff Prospectus
ALDS Game Four Recap: Orioles 2, Yankees 1
For the second straight night, the Yankees and Orioles went to extra innings after pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez extended the game with one swing. This time, though, that swing produced a grounder to first, preserving a tie instead of erasing a lead. And this time, the Orioles got back to Baltimore basics and added another one-run victory to their tally, running their extra-innings record to 17-3.
For the second straight elimination-game outing, Joe Saunders went 5 2/3 innings and gave up one run, which would be a neat trick if he could keep doing it. Phil Hughes allowed leadoff walks in three of his first four innings (and a leadoff homer to Nate McLouth in the fifth), but made it through 6 2/3 mostly unscathed, striking out eight. After the starters were done, the game became pitching-change porn, as each manager sought every available situational edge. The Yankees used every member of their bullpen, and the Orioles used every member of theirs save for Chris Tillman, who has yet to make a major-league relief appearance. Between them, the two teams totaled 16 pitchers, an almost unprecedented number for such a low-scoring game. Normally, when that many pitchers are used, it's a sign that some of them pitched poorly; the only regular-season game since 1950 (and almost certainly ever, given the relative scarcity of relievers in the first half of the century) in which this many pitchers allowed this few runs was in 2010, and that one took 20 innings. Girardi and Showalter weren't messing around, and until David Phelps faltered in his second inning of work, their pitchers weren't either. It's a shame the game didn't last a little longer—a few more innings, and we might've seen Nick Swisher and Chris Davis reprise their roles as relievers.
All told, it took 43 innings for the Yankees and Orioles to complete the first four games of their division series. Only two of those innings ended with one team more than one run ahead of the other: the ninth inning of Game One, when the Yankees scored five runs to put the Orioles away, and the sixth inning of Game Two, when a Mark Reynolds RBI single briefly gave the O's some breathing room. That means that almost every pitch in this series has been thrown with the knowledge that it could lead to a lead change, especially in light of the fact that these two teams (usually) hit so many home runs. If you can't relax with Ryan Flaherty at the plate, you can't really relax at all. That kind of constant pressure isn't easy on players, and it isn't easy on fans, but if you like your postseason series low-scoring and filled with good pitching performances, there's been a lot to like about this one.
All those even innings probably wouldn't have been possible with a few more clutch hits, but clutch hits have been hard to come by. The Yankees went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position in Game Four and are 6-for-28 in the series. The Orioles went 1-for-11 w/RISP in Game Four and are 6-for-31 on the series. Girardi credited good pitching. J.J. Hardy suggested that some hitters might be pressing, in which case things could get worse in the most pressure-packed game of the series, but Hardy might be making too much of a small sample. Or maybe not!
The Yankees have hit .214 with runners in scoring position in this series. That's bad, but it's also about three hits away from excellent. They hit .176 w/RISP for the entire month of May, then rebounded to raise that mark to .283 in the second half. Whether the current lack of clutch hits is a product of great pitching, pressing, or inopportune timing, there isn't much either manager can do but keep calm, carry on, and hope for high-leverage hits.
The Yankees and Orioles have split their 22 matchups this season, so the game that decides their division series will also decide their season series. Whatever the outcome of Game Five (which PECOTA sees going New York's way), it will be easy to imagine this series having gone a lot differently. We could say the same about the Orioles' season.
Bullet time:
Darren O'Day Clubhouse Audio
Thanks to Rob McQuown for research assistance.
Ben Lindbergh is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @benlindbergh
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Topic: lethargy and low hb
hi everyone,
my dad is doing ok other then the chemo seems to be hitting him quite hard this time, he is very washed out and tired. Last time this happened he had to go in to hospital for a blood transfusion, and it is very hard seeing him so washed out. I was just reading on the roberts blog about an injection of 'procrit' for low hb given after the chemo to conteract a low hb, does this help with this problem? is anyone else having anything to counteract this problem with the chemo?
any input much appreciated..


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Volkswagen US has jumped on the corporate podcasting bandwagon on the occassion of the Detroit motor show. The VW podcast site is featuring entertainment with various Detroit based bands, consumer insights with the Detroit GTI enthusiasts, on location documentaries of the fair, and testimonial interviews from VW and Car Connection. The podcast links for iTunes and XML are only accessible after entering your eMail address, which is a mistery to me. On the site teasers of the podcasts are available only.
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Dairy industry experts concede that consumers may have a point when they object to tail docking and certain other routine husbandry practices.
Janice Swanson, in a Michigan Dairy Review editorial, noted that published, peer-reviewed scientific articles written by respected scientists have reached similar conclusions. "The message here is that when science cannot support a practice it may be best to abandon it or look for alternatives. Pick your battles carefully. The insistence to continue a practice when it is ill-supported scientifically and by the veterinary medical community casts doubt on the ethical bearings of an industry."
Swanson not only sees the importance of scientific data, but recognizes the ethical implications of ignoring them. Meanwhile, the New York Farm Bureau simply chooses to dismiss the scientific research as "inadequate," (http://www.nyfb.org/img/topic_pdfs/file_0tzl2bdl5e.pdf -- the website disingenuously depicts a groomed cow with a fluffy, combed tail grazing in a pasture -- while the Vermont Agency of Agriculture does nothing but protect the status quo and the farmers' prerogative to do whatever they want. Nope. Not gonna change here.
But there are signs of progress out there. This past spring, there was a report by Peggy Coffeen in the Wisconsin Agri-View titled, "Put cows at the center of animal welfare." This is a dramatic about-face from the defensive stance that often typifies industry reaction to animal welfare concerns.
Coffeen describes the University of Wisconsin's Amy Stanton, whose initiatives include research on understanding animals' needs and addressing concerns related to dairy welfare issues. "There are a few Achilles' heels weighing us down," Stanton is quoted as saying. In addition to lameness and dehorning, topics such as calf mortality, downed animals, confinement and other surgical procedures like tail docking are on the list, she says.
In the same piece, veterinarian Jen Walker, director of dairy stewardship for Dean Foods, cautioned producers to be careful that their actions back up their words: "Without science-based objective outcomes and required action, the welfare of the animals will not improve." A lack of action implies a disregard for both science and ethical considerations, even as "customers are demanding that the physical and emotional well-being of the cow comes first and foremost."
Trust is certainly a casualty of inaction and failure to redress. "When trust is lost, there are consequences," Walker warned.
Considering the dire state of dairy, along with consumer concerns, isn't it high time to reconsider the cow?


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Topic: European CC community - Please help
I have been visiting this site daily since my mother was diagnosed with CC in April 2006. Her general health was very good, so the CC diagnosis came as a complete shock to us. She is 54 years old and has 2 tumors (4cm diameter) in the hilus of her liver. The tumors are on either side of the portal vein, i.e. the main vein that comes out of the liver. She lives and is being treated in Belgium. She started Gemzar infusions in May and the Gemzar caused both tumors to shrink by 1cm. However, recently the tumors became resistant to the Gemzar and they have grown again by 1cm and are continuously growing.
The tumors are pressing heavily on the portal vein. If we don't relieve this pressure on the vein ASAP then she will have liver failure. Her doctors in Belgium have little or no experience with CC and they are hesitant to operate. Does anyone know of a surgeon in Europe (or even in the States) that has experience with CC surgery and more specifically with CC surgery with portal vein involvement?
Being a research scientist myself, I realize that extensive surgery is now our only option. As I live and work in the US, I am also considering bringing her here for surgery. From what I can see, CC treatment and surgery is far more advanced in the US than Belgium.
Has anyone had experience with bringing people over from Europe for surgery in the US? CC community members, I would really appreciate any input, thoughts or advice on this matter.
I wish you all strength and courage in your battles with CC.


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California community colleges increasing enrollment
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) California's community colleges are set to increase enrollment for the first time in years, and officials are crediting a voter-approved tax for the bump.
College officials announced on Wednesday that the state's community college system is expected to add about 60,000 students this year.
Overall, the system had about 600,000 fewer students in 2012 than it did in 2008, as budget cuts during the economic downturn resulted in fewer course offerings. The state's community colleges enrolled 2.3 million students last year, down from 2.9 million in 2008.
Community colleges must enroll all students unless there aren't enough classes for them.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, officials say Proposition 30 a tax measure approved by voters in November is allowing schools to restore course offerings.


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Los Altos city councilmembers are asking their Mountain View counterparts to consider planning for a future school site near the cities' shared border at San Antonio Road and El Camino Real.
The Los Altos council unanimously approved a letter to the Mountain View City Council March 12 requesting that members explore the possibility of a new neighborhood elementary school site for the Los Altos School District as part of theSan Antonio visioning process.
The Mountain View council held a study session on the process March 19. Only one district site – Springer School – currently operates inside Mountain View's borders.
Council supports school district
The Los Altos City Council's letter comes after Los Altos School District Board of Trustees President Doug Smith presented a case for more involvement from Mountain View's council in February to address the district's ongoing enrollment challenges. Among other things, Smith noted at the time that 565 district students lived in Mountain View near the San Antonio area last year.
Los Altos City Councilwoman Val Carpenter said she wrote the letter to support the district's efforts.
"I wrote this letter because I really believe that our council needs to support the school district in their quest for land to build another neighborhood school in Mountain View. … I think it's important to take a position on this," Carpenter said.
The letter noted that 26 percent of the Los Altos School District's student population – 1,226 students – live in Mountain View.
It also claimed that enrollment by Mountain View residents in the district will likely continue to grow, pointing to the development of 330 new apartments at The Village at San Antonio Center – located near the cities' shared border at San Antonio Road and El Camino Real.
Developing a detailed plan
Paul Edwards, a resident of The Crossings community – located adjacent to the San Antonio Center development – urged the Los Altos council to send the letter.
"You wouldn't build a house without a detailed plan – why is the city of Mountain View building a neighborhood without one?" he questioned.
Edwards said a neighborhood school would also address safety concerns, noting that currently many students must cross El Camino Real into Los Altos daily during heavy traffic periods.
He added that ongoing construction of housing developments approved by both councils near the cities' border would likely result in at least 500 new children attending Los Altos School District schools in the future.
Prior to the council's vote, Los Altos City Councilwoman Jan Pepper said the letter should reflect a "conciliatory tone," noting that the cities have a shared concern about the district's capacity problems.
"It is a shared issue," she said. "We need to work together to solve this."
Councilwoman Megan Satterlee, meanwhile, expressed concern about the letter's effectiveness.
"I fear it's a bit presumptuous for an adjacent city to tell its neighbor that they have a neighborhood problem, and here's how to solve it," she said. "I respect the intent. I think the motivation is good, I think the desired outcome is good. Again, I'm not sure this is going to be effective."
Los Altos Mayor Jarrett Fishpaw, however, said his conversations with Mountain View Mayor John Inks indicated that "there's some interest in collaboration" on the matter, adding that the letter likely wouldn't "step on anyone's toes."


text:
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text: Lenzar Posted April 23, 2011 I have started the game with the following leagues running on a large database: England (League Two) Scotland (SPL only) Spain (Top two divisions) France (Ligue 1 only) Germany (Top two divisions) Italy (Serie A and B) Brazil (Serie A only) This is the best balance for game size and speed, as my computer is rather old. The only reason I wanted other leagues running was to prevent squads full of greys as we grow and play in Europe. It should also make more clubs approach our players, though I am hoping to hold on to all of them for at least a few years. The other leagues are also view only, to allow for faster processing. I also added a few England legends as coaches, to give us a decent backroom team. I will aim to keep the original 25 players as long as possible, and shall play them as long as they are the best 25 at the club. I shall only sell/release anyone that becomes unable to play for England by playing for another country. As we in League One, however, I can't promise everyone will stay with the club. Awards: First Goalscorer: Caleb Weah-Sebwe (v Swindon, League One) First U21 cap: Many First cap: First U21 goal: First International goal: Most caps: Most Internatioal goals: Most league appearences: Most league goals: First to leave: First to play for another country: Jim Bowman (Scotland) If you can think of any other interesting awards, let me know and I shall add them. I shall not be playing the friendlies at the start of the season, and will not process information from them, but I will post any interesting results from them. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Course Number
Course Name
Franchising: Pathway to Wealth
Course Credits
'The overall objective of this course is to develop skills needed for you to succeed as a franchisee, franchisor, or franchising executive. The franchising method of doing business is increasing rapidly worldwide. Many products and service businesses are managed through franchising networks. Consequently, there is an increasing need among franchise firms for executives and entrepreneurs with franchising knowledge, and there are increasing opportunities for people to attain business ownership as franchisees. The course will deal with the important aspects of starting, developing and managing both franchise networks and franchises within those networks. Specific attention will be given to franchisor-franchisee relationship, and how both sides contribute to their mutual success. Profit opportunities, legal considerations, and international aspects of franchising will be discussed as well.'


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Any of you KC guys sign up for Google Fiber?
Can't beat 1gigabit speeds or free 5megabit inteenet
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Certain Poor Shepherds, Scene 1: Nora Gallagher's very bad day
First in a seven-part holiday fiction
The alert sounded and flashed on Nora Gallagher's creaky old Dell desktop; an e-mail had arrived.
Nora peeked at her inbox.
From the Keltner Foundation.
"Oh God, this is it," Nora said out loud, not aware she had.
"This is what?" her cubicle mate Dan Slotnick asked, swiveling and leaning towards her in that way of his. The ceiling lights in the office of More Than a Roof Inc. gleamed off his bald crown.
"The email from the Keltner Foundation. On the big one. On whether we got the grant or not. On whether Louisa's going to love me or kill me. I can't look."
"Of course you got it, kiddo. You aced that proposal."
Nora gingerly maneuvered her cursor over the message.
"Oh, please, please, please ..." she murmured and clicked.
"Dear Ms. Cross,
We were very impressed with More Than A Roof's grant request and your nonprofit's record of service to its community. While your proposal was well-framed, this year we had a large number of impressive applications from distinguished providers. Some very hard choices had to be made, and unfortunately I'm writing to inform you ...."
And so on. The knife was already in Nora's gut; the words just twisted the blade under the guise of kindness.
"I'm sorry, Nor."
Nora stood up slowly. She mechanically ran her hands down her thighs, smoothing her jeans. She grabbed her mass of curly, sandy-blonde hair, pulled it taut, and wrapped a band around it to create a rough ponytail.
"Well, I'd better go deliver the bad news face to face to Louisa."
"You do that. Meanwhile, I'll check Craigslist to see what odd jobs it has for unemployed grant writers." Dan's Adam's apple bobbed above his bowtie, below his wry smile.
"Thanks, dude. I knew you'd be there for me."
Nora managed a bug-eyed look of comical angst, eliciting a bark of laughter from Dan: "Now, to the gallows."
A difficult saint
More Than a Roof's offices were an open, egalitarian space that took up half of a floor in a renovated warehouse in Philadelphia's Loft District, also known as the "Eraserhood" for its old role as the setting for David Lynch's dystopian film, Eraserhead.
Louisa Cross had no office, instead a cubicle like everyone else's – well, a bit bigger, to accommodate her penchant for messy sprawl.
She looked up at Nora from an unkempt array of documents, her deep-set green eyes sparkling, her wild, tangled mane of red hair mildly disciplined by a headband.
"Hi .. uhhh ... I wanted to let you know we heard from Keltner."
"Oh!" Louisa jumped out of her chair, fists planted on her desk, leaning forward. "How much did we get? Did they go in for the full boat?"
"Uh, well not exactly. ... Zero, actually."
"Zero what?" The speed with which storm clouds formed on Louisa's face was dizzying.
"Uh, zero dollars, Louisa. They turned us down. 'Great proposal, tough competition, blah, blah, blah, but bottom line, try again some other time.'"
"That can't be! It can't. That proposal was innovative. We have the best metrics of anybody in our peer group. I got great feedback from three separate members of their board."
"I dunno, boss. It said what it said. Here's a copy of the email."
Louisa snatched the paper from Nora, zipped through the five paragraphs in a few seconds.
"This is bizarre. We must have had some technical flaw in the application. What did you do, Nora? Did you forget some attachment, forget to dot some 'i'? Unless you screwed something up, this is inexplicable."
The words burrowed, barbed and painful. Louisa was her mentor, her hero. Her displeasure sent an acrid chill through Nora.
Decades ago Louisa Cross had had an innovative vision for how to turn around the lives of the urban homeless, in their myriad forms. Amid indifference and gibes, she'd pursued her ideas about comprehensive services mixed with demanding love. Over time, her approach proved its worth in the only metric that really mattered – changed lives, saved lives.
Louisa was, Nora believed, a modern saint, in the painfully thin flesh-and-blood. Saints may be holy, but they are not perfect. Louisa could be unreasonable, mercurial, and deeply paranoid that someone, somewhere, somehow was not fully appreciating how much more support and attention she needed if she was to complete her mission to salvage every last broken life in her city, her region, her world.
And right now, Louisa Cross was angry at Nora.
"Did you call them and find out their reasons?" she asked. Seeing the look of misery on Nora's face, she said, "Of course not, you didn't. How many times, Nora, must I teach you this: The race goes to the bold. The timid fade away. Never mind, I'll call Ellen, the CEO, see if this can be fixed."
Nora, though shaky, knew her craft:
"That might hurt us, Louisa. Keltner's a very by-the-book place. The program officers resent end runs. The next grant round is in only six months. Let's just lick our wound and reload in six months."
"Reload?" Louisa glared at Nora over her pince-nez.
Then her face softened. She sighed: "OK, Nora, I don't know, maybe you have a point about Keltner. That Ellen never did have a lick of sense. Let me think it over and we'll talk tomorrow."
Getting those ducks in a row
Nora trooped miserably back through the warren of cubicles. Dan looked up.
"Turn around," he commanded.
Nora complied, quizzical: "What?"
"That's good, no visible stab wounds. Louisa was kind this time. You can heal quietly, with no one the wiser ... So, how bad was it, kiddo?"
"About a 4.5 on the Louisa Scale. Not as bad as I feared."
"Well, 'tis the season to be jolly. Look on the bright side. You're employed. And, at work, you get to sit next to one of America's sexiest, smartest men. And you've still got that guy, good old whatisname, the Twitter god, whom you apparently adore even though he makes Hamlet look like Mr. Decisive."
Nora knew what was coming. Part of her groaned "not now," but part of her smiled at her cubicle mate's sardonic devotion to her happiness.
"So what's it been now, 10 years, you've been dating this guy? What's he waiting for to make an honest woman of you? The Mayan apocalypse? Energy independence for America? The Eagles to win a Super Bowl?
"As I've told you, Daniel, Greg says he needs to get his ducks in a row. He just needs a little more time for the Web site to take off and his future to be secure. And, remember, he just came off of covering the election."
"Ah yes, Greg Bullman, the Maureen Dowd of New Jersey. You know what, Nor, there's always an election to cover somewhere. It wasn't like he was covering Lincoln vs. Douglas. It was Menendez vs. whatever poor schlub it was he slaughtered. The Greek guy."
Nora's iPhone pinged. A text. Speak of the New Jersey devil, there he was in digital form. She read the message from Greg:
Hey, NG, big news. Phil scored 2 tix for the Pack vs. Bears Sunday b4 xmas. Sooo amped. Prob just sta with fam for 12/25 then.
Dan read Nora's face: "What, he just told you he's going to Gaza for the holidays?"
"Nearly as bad. Milwaukee. He's got freaking Packers tickets for the Sunday before, so he's going to stay with his parents for Christmas."
"So much for my 12th day of Christmas theory .... Hard to get on bended knee and give you a ring from Wisconsin."
"Ya think?" Nora blew a stream of air out in exasperation; it ruffled the bangs on her forehead.
She put her head down on her desk. "Aaaarrrgh. He was supposed to come to my Mom's and Raj's for their big Christmas Eve bash."
She slammed a flat palm on her desk. "Can this day get any worse?"
"You don't have results from an MRI or a blood test due to come back, do you? Then probably not."
Nora picked up her smartphone, pounded savagely at the keypad with her thumbs:
Very happy for you, Greg. I know how you love the Green and Gold. I guess I should tell my mom you won't be there for Christmas Eve?
Nora never used abbreviations, acronyms or emoticons when texting. Jane Austen could have found no fault with her texts or tweets. She was an English major from Wellesley; someone had to uphold standards.
Born to run
Since Nora had been a little girl, listening to her father's rages downstairs, she'd had a powerful flight reflex. It overtook her almost like a seizure, a sudden desperation of every molecule in her body to leave the place she was. Sometimes she'd literally be out the door, in the fresh air, before her conscious mind registered that she'd taken the first step.
The codes embedded deep in her DNA were howling now.
"Dan, I gotta go. Just gotta get out of here. Cover for me if Louisa comes over; I'm out meeting with someone from Delaware Valley Grantmakers, OK?"
"Sure thing, kiddo. Any work things I can take care of for you?"
"I can't even ... I dunno, Dan. I'm just going, OK?"
Outside, Nora unwound the chain lock on her bike, tossed her bag into the big white basket that jutted dowdily from the handlebars, slipped on her helmet and began to ride.
Where to, she had no plan.
As she pedaled, a chorus of voices brayed in her head, replaying the cloying comments she'd endured at all the wedding receptions she and Greg had attended that year. What was it, six, seven, eight?
"I thought surely by now you'd be hitched; are you difficult to live with or something?"
"Elbow your way to that bouquet, Nora. Put some pressure on Greg here."
"Have you ever thought about giving him an ultimatum? I did that with Bob and look at us now."
"Don't wait much longer, dear. Soon the wrinkles start."
As friend after friend notched the milestone, she and Greg stood out more and more. They'd been together longer that most of the newlyweds, but seemed no closer to the altar than they'd been when they'd met on that senior year spring break at South Padre Island.
"Tell him you're running for office, Nor. Then he'll spend more time with you."
Greg's reaction to all this was usually a wry smile. Nora used to say she was in no hurry to get married. And, once, she'd meant it. A lot of young marrieds they knew didn't seem all that happy. And her own parents, whew, they'd been no advertisement ...
But now ... now, she was about to hit 30. A fear sloshed inside her as she rode: Had she spent a decade of her life, years she'd never get back, with the wrong guy? Greg was brilliant, no doubt, and very funny. Whenever Nora was with him, he made her laugh and he made her think. He could be goofily sweet and tender, when the mood was right. But had he somehow turned into a workaholic who cared more about fact-checking political ads than he did making her happy?
"Tell him you're running for office, Nor. Then he'll spend more time with you."
Nora needed to escape the voices. A notion of refuge dawned on her. In moments, she was there.
Tomorrow: Keats and snapper soup, a memorable encounter
Listen to the radio play version of Certain Poor Shepherds, on WHYY-FM, at 10 p.m. Dec. 23, 1 p.m. Christmas Eve, 6 p.m. Christmas Day, or with the audio player above. Starring Marty Moss-Coane, Dave Heller and other members of the WHYY team.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (TheStreet) What I know as "gravy" much of the rest of the country would never consider gravy, and that distinction comes with a price attached to it.
The United States has spent roughly the last year in a dialectic about dialect. A dialect quiz conducted more than a decade ago by the Harvard University Linguistics Department gave way to dozens of dialect maps, a New York Times quiz, an Atlantic experiment and renewed debate over the pronunciations of "route," "pecan" and "merry/marry/Mary."
What that discussion didn't include was a definition of "gravy" that the Times' business section alluded to earlier this month in a series about Carlos Vega, a Guttenberg, N.J., pizzeria owner who sold his business and focused on producing, marketing and selling a line of tomato sauce called Jersey Italian Gravy. With help from the folks at Cornell University, Vega began making the sauce in 500-gallon batches, jarring it and distributing it to partners including Whole Foods Market (WFM) and Bed, Bath and Beyond (BBY). While Vega focuses primarily on the New York Metropolitan area, he also targets regional expatriates in California, Arizona and Florida.
And he sells it for $8.99, or more than double the cost of Borden's Clasico sauce or three times the cost of Unilever's (UL) Ragu brand.
"Last year we offered samples to over 20,000 people and possibly one percent questioned the cost," Vega told the times.
That's not entirely surprising. More than $6 for a six-pack of beer seemed unthinkable before craft beer charged a premium for different styles and more expensive ingredients. A $4 cup of coffee is still cause for complaint among drip drinkers, but became an accepted norm once Starbucks (SBUX) made espresso a java for the masses.
But there's a little more to Jersey Italian Gravy's premium price than its cooking process. Vega notes that it's a slow-simmered, small batch sauce with only five ingredients -- including California tomatoes as expensive to procure as those from Italy's San Marzano growing region. It's also just a little bit of home coated in code that outsiders just don't get.


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Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes!!
A lot of players helped their stock with the NFL over the weekend, including Te'o, who did a solid job in handling the scrutiny over the tiresome girlfriend hoax controversy. Barring unforeseen developments, Te'o might finally be moving on.
But no player – forget being specific to Notre Dame – helped his stock more than Eifert. He was already ranked the No.1 tight end by many recruiting analysts and mock drafts. But there was debate over whether Stanford's Zach Ertz or San Diego State's Gavin Escobar might push him for that status.
The fight is for No.2 tight end now.
Simply put, Eifert aced the combine.
The Bishop Dwenger High School alum started his weekend with media interviews, where he was open, confident and much more talkative than has been his laid-back nature. He wasn't Deion Sanders or "Leon Sandcastle." But he was likable and engaging.
Then came the on-field tests.
Eifert finished in the top two in four of the seven drills. He was first in the three-cone drill, which shows cutting/quickness. He was second in the vertical leap, broad jump and 60-yard shuttle. That's dexterity and agility. He was third in the 20-yard shuttle, third in the bench press and fourth in the 40-yard dash. His 40 time of 4.68 seconds was more than solid enough.
It's more subjective to measure Eifert's performance in route-running and pass catching, but he appeared to be smooth and efficient in every area.
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said Eifert "separated" himself from the tight end field.
They don't don pads during the combine, so there was no way to measure the other aspect of Eifert's game – his blocking.
He placed an emphasis on the fact he has worked on that part of his game. Eifert measured 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, which is just about the optimum size NFL teams are seeking.
"I've spent lot of time working on blocking – little things, footwork, things like that," Eifert said. "I'm better, but I'm still not where I want to be. There's a lot of room for improvement, but I've made a conscious effort to get better and I think I am."
Eifert has been working out at IMG in Bradenton, Fla., the same training ground for Te'o and other big names in the draft. Many are predicting that two or three tight ends could go in the first round of the April 25-27 draft, signifying the importance of the position in today's offenses.
Eifert talked with a number of teams during the combine, including the Eagles, Bengals and Texans. The Eagles have the No.4 spot, which is probably higher than Eifert will go. The Bengals are No.21 and the Texans No. 27, which might be too low for Eifert.
The Dolphins (12), Rams (16) and Bears (20) could be a landing spot.
Eifert's success at the combine revealed a player who has prepared well mentally and physically for this moment. Like his shorter-cropped hair, Eifert's attitude is all business.
He said he talked with former Notre Dame tight ends Kyle Rudolph, John Carlson and Anthony Fasano about the combine and preparation for this next step of his football career.
"They told me to enjoy it," he said. "It's going to be long and it's going to wear on your body and mind. Just enjoy it while you're here. You're never going to get this back so make the most of it."
The combine is an audition that intimidates some and inspires others. Those who arrive with the right mindset always do the best.
"At the end of the day you have a decision to make on how much work you put in and how you handle yourself on a day-to-day basis."
Assuming his private interviews matched his public performances, Eifert made the most of his time at the combine. It should pay off, literally, after draft day.


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If I could go to any upcoming concert the Short Circuit Electronic Music Festival would be it. A vacation to London is out for next month but this is one event very much blog post worthy. This event is all about the iconic Mute. There will be music from Nitzer Ebb, Richie Hawtin (Minus, Berlin) With Visuals By Ali Demirel, Daniel Miller (Dj Set), Komputer, Martin L. Gore (Dj Set), Moby (Dj Set), Recoil, Alison Moyet (Special Guest), Laibach, T.Raumschmiere, Thomas Brinkmann, Erasure And Special Guests, Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher (Dj Set) and more. There will also be a Schneiders Beuro installation, "Dirty Electronics" Workshop and Gareth Jones will talk on Producing Mute Artists. May 13-14.
"Short Circuit Electronic Music Festival returns with two days hosted by the influential label Mute. In a celebration of Mute's unique culture this event will include performances from artists past, present and future plus installations, films, talks and more." – roundhouse.org.uk
For more info: roundhouse.org.uk/short-circuit


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In our series on underrated NFL stats, we've looked at red-zone receiving, blitz situation passing, first-down rushing and big-play defense. Now it's time to look at the third, not to be forgotten, phase of football—special teams. More specifically, we're looking at opponents' average starting field position after kickoffs, as calculated by STATS.
Kickoffs are critical turning points in every game. For starters, they provide a chance for one team to set a tone with the initial possession of the game and the second half.
And kickoffs after field goals and touchdowns are similarly crucial. When a team has just scored, the last thing it wants to do is make it easier for the opposition to answer its three- or seven-point effort.
The new rules in place that will allow teams to kick off from the 35-yard line will lead to more touchbacks and worse average starting field position across the league this season.
Here's looking back at the top 12 teams in kickoff coverage last season:
1. Atlanta Falcons (average opposition starting yard line was 22.2)
2. Baltimore Ravens (23.7)
3. Washington Redskins (23.7)
4. Cleveland Browns (24.1)
5. Seattle Seahawks (24.6)
6. Carolina Panthers (25.0)
7. St. Louis Rams (25.2)
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (25.4)
9. Philadelphia Eagles (25.4)
10. Arizona Cardinals (25.6)
11. Dallas Cowboys (25.9)
12. Houston Texans (26.0)
— The Falcons, Ravens and Eagles were the only above-.500 playoff teams on this list. Three elite teams—the Patriots (22nd), Steelers (24th) and Packers (31st)—actually ranked near the bottom in this category. It's important to remember that the better teams score more and therefore kick off more. With the extra kickoffs, coverage teams wear down during games and are more vulnerable to getting hit with a long return that affects their average. It's amazing that Philadelphia, tied for No. 2 behind New England with 96 kickoffs, was able to rank so high.
— Expect the league's best kickoff specialists to take full advantage of the 35-yard line rule. The Ravens were No. 2 on the strength of Billy Cundiff, who averaged a league-best 71.1 yards on his boots. Other top 10 kickoff stars that helped their teams make the list were Carolina's Rhys Lloyd, St. Louis' Josh Brown, Jacksonville's Josh Scobee, Dallas' David Buehler and Houston's Neil Rackers.
— In addition to a good kickoff leg, teams need several willing and skilled cover men to limit field position. Two of the better ones last season were Cleveland's T.J. Ward and Seattle's Matt McCoy.
— The Patriots have the potential to do a much better job in coverage after kicking off a league-high 100 times last year. Only Cundiff showed a stronger kickoff leg than Stephen Gostkowski. Unfortunately, a torn quadriceps ended Gostkowski's season after eight games. With Bill Belichick continuing to stockpile hungry young players, look for the Patriots' coverage and tackling to improve.
Team to watch in 2011
Houston Texans. The Texans are turning to a 3-4 defense under Wade Phillips, and along with it have made it a point to add as many players on that side of the ball as possible. It started in the draft and will continue with free-agent signings. That means more young players with natural tackling skills will be in the mix.
For this team to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, it needs to better protect its high-powered offense featuring Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson. The Texans tied for ninth with 44 touchdowns last season and have the potential to be a better scoring team in 2011. With more touchdowns, they'll need to be even more adept in kickoff coverage.


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Got Ha'il? Ringer T-Shirt
Product Color:
Product information
The Ringer T-Shirt Got Ha'il? is our old-school favorite. Perfect for use in sports where you are bound to sweat and need wide range of movement. Short sleeves to let cool air in on those hot and sunny days. Also great for every day use and to show everyone your love for Got Ha'il?.
This product is made of the finest combed jersey which feels soothing against your skin. Shoulder-to-shoulder taping guarantees long life and a good fit. HaIl Ringer T-Shirt is available in 10 different color options. Bands on sleeves and neck made of reactive fabric, to avoid bleeding. Heather Grey: 80% Cotton/20% Polyester. Remaining Colors: 100% Cotton.
Sku: TK1BNBL00000511313131232WH0000000


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The Tyrant King and the MarblesProbability puzzles require you to weigh all the possibilities and pick the most likely outcome.
You are currently being held prisoner by King Fischer, the tyrannical king of the faraway land of Fakefictio, for crimes involving a banana peel, a mechanical pencil, and the king's favorite Dragonforce album. Of course, as you know, you were not responsible for said crimes; these crimes never even took place. As a matter of fact, the king doesn't even like Dragonforce and is more of a fan of Journey and Kansas, but he is so tyrannical that he's arrested you anyway. The punishment for the crimes is a very graphic death that will probably involve much bleeding, and the date of your execution is today. The king could just kill you, but that wouldn't make for a very interesting puzzle at all, and he is allergic to much bleeding, so he decides to offer you a game to give you a chance to escape with your life. Win, and you will go free. Lose, and you will not only not go free, but you'll probably die, too.
The king presents to you four urns and a bowl filled with red and blue marbles. As two guards pin you to the dungeon wall by the arms, a third guard will place 5 marbles in each urn. You get to choose the distribution of red and blue marbles in each urn. For example, you could have the guard place 3 red and 2 blue marbles in one urn, and 1 red and 4 blue in another urn. You can also place 5 red or 5 blue in a single urn. King Fischer's watchful eye will observe the process, so he will know your distribution.
After all of the urns have 5 marbles each, the guard will shake the urns, and the king will predict whether you will draw all red marbles or at least one blue marble. The guards will then cover your eyes with a blindfold and place your hand in each urn; you will be required to draw exactly one marble from each urn. If the king's prediction proves correct, you will be executed. However, if the prediction is incorrect (that is, you draw a blue marble when the king predicts you'll draw all red marbles, or vice versa), then you will go free.
Note that if you put 5 red marbles in every urn, then the king will know for certain that you'll draw all red marbles, and use this knowledge to your disadvantage to get you killed. Contrariwise, if you put 5 blue marbles in one urn, then you'll be forced to draw at least one blue marble, and the king will predict this, too. In order to have hope of survival, you'll need to distribute the marbles in a fashion that makes the outcome less certain.
How should you distribute the marbles to maximize your chances of survival, and what are your chances of survival under this strategy?
AnswerSuppose there are A red marbles in the first urn, B red marbles in the second urn, C red marbles in the third urn, and D red marbles in the fourth urn. Then your probability of drawing all red marbles is A*B*C*D/625, and your probability of getting at least one blue marble is (625-A*B*C*D)/625. The king will choose whichever option is more likely. To minimize the probability of a correct prediction, you want to get these values as close as possible to each other. Equivalently, you want A*B*C*D/625 to be as close as possible to 1/2, or A*B*C*D to be as close as possible to 312.5. Since A, B, C, and D can only take on the values of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the possibilities are limited. The closest possible value to 312.5 is 320=5*4*4*4; none of the closer values from 306 through 319 can be achieved because each one has a prime factor greater than 5. For example, 306=2*3*3*17, 307 is a prime, 308 = 2*2*7*11, and so on. Therefore, you should place 4 red marbles and 1 blue marble in three urns, and 5 red marbles in the remaining urn. King Fischer will predict that you will get all red marbles, and you'll have a 61/125=.488 probability of drawing a blue marble and surviving.
In the end, the king takes some medicine to control his allergic reactions to much bleeding and executes you anyway. So much for all that mathematics and probability you just went through. What an anticlimax!
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A Game of Cards 2Logic puzzles require you to think. You will have to be logical in your reasoning.
With the money I made last time, I published the new game of cards. It has really spread around and is really getting popular with casinos. There is even one casino that was made just to play that game. One day, the manager of that casino came to my new office. He said that he wanted to play that same game of cards. Then he said if I win, I get your job, money, and everything; if you win, you get all my money, and you can own the casino. I knew I was good at this game, but this guy seemed a little tougher than my old boss. I accepted his challenge anyway.
This time there will be nine cards (6-Ace). They will all be face downward in an unknown order. The man will give me clues to figure it out. If I can figure it out, I win; if not, I lose. Can you help me figure out the order?
1. The "9" card is not next to the "7" card.
2. The "ace" is two away from both the "9" card and the "8" card.
3. The "10" and "7" cards are two away from the "queen". (1 in between)
4 The "king" is somewhere to the left of the "6" card.
5. The "Queen" is the fourth from the left.
6. The "8" card is somewhere to the right of both the "7" and "10" card.
7. The "6" card is next to the "7" card, but not the "king".
8. The "Jack" is somewhere to the right of the "king".
Answerking, 7, 6, queen, 9, 10, ace, jack, 8
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When disaster strikes, some things in life are irreplaceable. But for the things that can be replaced, it's always a good idea to keep a catalog of the valuables you own. Whether you're hit with a burglary, a home fire, or any other disaster, your catalog can help you answer questions about your possessions, such as:
"What valuables did you have?"
"How much were they worth?"
"What's covered by insurance?"
Here's how you can create a catalog of your own to help answer those questions, so you can protect your valuables in the event they need to be replaced.
Get Started
All you need is a 3-ring binder, dividers, some page protectors, and a camera. The Avery Durable Binder is a sturdy solution to store all your important records, and its EZ-Turn Rings prevents wear and tear on pages. Use our Index Maker® Dividers to categorize your valuables. For example, you may want to organize your records by location, such as "Living Room" and "Bedroom," or you might want to sort sections by type, such as "Electronics" and "Collectibles." Free Avery Templates make it simple to create a title page, spine insert, and tabs.
Collect Your Information
Walk through your house, room by room, with your camera in hand. Remember to look in each closet and cabinet, and each desk and dresser drawer. Photograph the things that are valuable and precious to you. Computers, electronic equipment, televisions, jewelry, artwork, you name it—take pictures of it all. Even the camera itself! (Use a mirror). Don't forget to record things that you might keep off the premises, such as in a safety deposit box. If you have any collections, such as stamps, rare books, or baseball cards, be sure to document these, too.
Keep It Safe
Once you have a picture of each item, you'll want keep a record of their approximate price. Include receipts, appraisals, descriptions, and any other documentation you can find, and place it, along with the photograph, into a sheet protector. Organize the sheets and dividers into your binder, and store the binder away from the house, such as in a safety deposit box or at your office. It's also a good idea to update it on a regular basis, such as once a year.
You never know when you'll need this catalog for insurance purposes. But just a little investment of your time to put it together now can go a long way to protecting your valuables in the future.


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Atwood Rope MFG
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ARM 5/8's Solid Braid Derby Line
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• 3,500 lbs test
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• UV, Rot, Mildew Resistant
• Colors Will not run or Bleed
• Made In The USA


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Ruffle & Rose Pillow Covers
No longer available
- Overview
Update your bedding with a new look for spring. Ruffles and roses are stitched onto soft cotton percale.
- 16" square
- 100% cotton percale.
- 200-thread count.
- Hidden zipper closure.
- Insert sold separately.
- Machine wash.
- Imported.
Mix + match our bedding to create your own unique look with our Design Your Own Bed Tool.
- Dimensions + Care
- Made of 100% cotton percale. A percale weave is noticeably denser and wears well over time.
- Pillow cover features a hidden zipper closure. Insert sold separately; down blend or synthetic.
- Wash before first use.
- Machine wash in warm water; gentle cycle.
- Use only non-chlorine bleach, if needed.
- Tumble dry on low heat.
- Warm iron as needed.
- Shipping Info
This item will arrive in 3-5 business days. Please proceed to the Payment & Review page of Checkout for a precise delivery estimate.
- Final Sale
Final-sale items, identified by a price ending in $0.99, cannot be returned. Once placed, your order for any final sale items cannot be canceled.
Rose Pillow Cover
No longer available
Ruffle Pillow Cover
No longer available


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Dairy Herd Management Articles:
Heifer nutrition and growth rates
One calf grower shares his advice.
Do preconditioning programs work for dairy heifers?
It may be time to take a lesson from the beef industry.
More frequent meals may benefit calves
New research at the University of Minnesota found that calves increased grain intake when fed milk replacer four times a day.
Digging into vitamin D needs for calves
A new model should help determine just how much of this nutrient dairy calves should get to promote optimal growth and health.
Evaluate your weaning strategies
New information may have you reconsider your approach.
Strategies to enhance intake
Stimulating starter grain intake early in a calf's life has both health and growth benefits. In the April Nutritionist e-Network, Noah Litherland, extension dairy scientist, and Alanna Kmicikewycz, graduate research assistant, at the University of Minnesota, share strategies on how to enhance starter grain intake in pre-weaned dairy claves. Read their 12 management strategies.
Can we pasteurize colostrum?
Controlling bacteria levels in colostrum is an important aspect of managing this important first feed for calves. Once it is collected, colostrum can be refrigerated, frozen, or have potassium sorbate added to control bacterial growth (though the latter is seldom used). We are learning that pasteurization can also be used to reduce bacterial growth in colostrum.
Nutrition and udder edema in first-calf heifers
A smooth transition into the milking herd is essential for heifers' success in the first lactation and beyond. One challenge that affects first-calf heifers more than older cows is udder edema.
Mycotoxins can impact calves
In most species, young animals are more sensitive than mature animals to the effects of mycotoxins. However, dairy cattle may be the exception to the rule, says Duarte Diaz, ruminant research manager at Novus International.
Body condition score your calves
There are many different feeding programs for preweaned calves. Selecting the right milk or milk replacer option and starter is not easy, says Steve Hayes, veterinarian with Day 1 Technology in Winona, Minn.
Start her off right
We often invest much time, effort and money into getting cows pregnant, but take little time or effort taking care of that pregnancy once it comes time for the calf to enter the world.
Feed heifers a TMR
Results from a new study published in the April issue of the Journal of Dairy Science suggest that feeding a total mixed ration to replacement heifers may promote a more even daytime feeding pattern, minimize feed sorting and feed bunk competition, and promote more solid fecal consistency.
Flavored calf starter?
Many of the foods we consume today contain added flavoring to make them more appealing and enjoyable to eat. But would flavoring added to calf starter make starter more appealing to calves and improve intakes?
Realities of feeding small calves
There are many myths that surround the feeding of small calves. People often believe that Jerseys aren't very thrifty and they die easily. Bob James, dairy scientist at Virginia Tech, discusses these myths and the realities of feeding small calves.
Changes in medicated milk replacer regulations
The FDA ruling on medicated milk replacers gives calf raisers an opportunity to focus on preventing coccidiosis from day one.
Make colostrum replacers work for calves
One of the most crucial aspects of calf health is getting adequate amounts of high quality IgG into calves as soon as possible after birth, says Travis Thayer, DVM, AgriLabs. Proper collection, handling and administration of colostrum are essential to get calves off to a good start.
Taking heifer reproduction to the next level
Use these guidelines to get heifers bred.
Options to replace NT
As a result of the new FDA regulations for medicated milk replacers that go into effect this year, many calf-raisers are looking for an option to replace the 2:1 combo of Neomycin and Oxytetracycline or NT.
Take her higher
There is a growing consensus that calves fed to a "higher plane of nutrition" are healthier than their conventionally fed counterparts.
Milk replacers and nutrient digestion
There have been nutritional concerns about feeding young calves milk replacer solids of 0.9 kilograms (1.98 pounds) of dry matter or more due to slumps in average daily gain. New research by Nurture Research, a part of Provimi North America (formerly Akey Nutrition and Research), provides new insight to these concerns.
Improve your colostrum feeding program
Here are some guidelines for proper use of a colostrometer.
Time to revisit acidified milk replacer?
Acidified milk or milk replacer fed to calves may provide an option for reducing the incidence of scours.
New regulations for medicated milk replacers
In the fall of 2009, the FDA announced major changes to the use of neomycin-terramycin (NT) in milk replacers.
Solve colostrum feeding problems
Use these tips to troubleshoot colostrum feeding problems on your dairy farm.
Calves can thrive in cold weather
According to research published in the December Journal of Dairy Science, when calves receive adequate nutrition, they can tolerate considerable periods of cold without affecting growth.
Should you enhance your calf-feeding program?
The latest research on accelerated calf-feeding programs is discussed.
Make alternative feeds work
A nutritionist offers insight on what to look for in an alternative feed and how to evaluate its nutrient value.
Management decisions for automatic feeders
Automatic feeders require many management decisions to be made. One calf manager offers insight into making these decisions.
Ins and outs of automatic calf feeders CY Heifer Farm in Elba, N.Y., shares its experience with automatic calf feeders.
Get them off to a good start
Nutritionist Al Kertz offers comments on calf-rearing programs and the need to get calves off to a good start.
Are you feeding quality colostrum?
Sam Leadley, calf-care specialist with Attica (N.Y.) Veterinary Associates, offers several tips.
Excellence in colostrum management
Use these tips to help your calves.
Aim for zero feed refusal
"There's no reason (why) we should overfeed heifers," says Greg Bethard, of G&R Dairy Consulting in Wytheville, Va.
Feed heifers for a smooth transition
Springing heifers have unique nutrient requirements and should be managed accordingly to maximize productivity during their first lactation, says Noah Litherland, University of Minnesota extension dairy nutritionist.
De-oiled distillers grains OK for heifers
Distillers grains that are processed for reduced oil content may be "a viable option" for replacement heifer rations, according to a new Purdue University study.
Heifer feeding behavior studied
Young dairy heifers fed a total mixed ration of grain concentrate and chopped grass hay sorted their feed less and ate a more balanced diet throughout the day compared to heifers offered concentrate separately from the hay or top-dressed on it, according to a Canadian study in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Dairy Science.
Study examines ammonia emissions from heifers
Ammonia emissions from the manure of heifers fed a high-concentrate diet were no different than those released from the manure of heifers fed a low-concentrate diet.
Back off on phosphorus
Many feed ingredients in heifer diets contain plenty of phosphorus, which makes it difficult to keep phosphorus levels in the diet within recommendations.
Heifer-feeding Webinar
Want to learn more about feeding distillers grains to replacement heifers?
Straw in heifer diets studied
Straw in the diet of growing heifers "strongly influences" sorting behavior, according to Canadian research in the July Journal of Dairy Science .
New publication compiles latest dairy research
What is the best way to grow a dairy heifer? "It depends," is the overtired response. But researchers at several leading universities attempted to quantify that answer in the recent publication, "Heifer Growth and Economics: Target Growth."
Reduce stillbirths
One of the most disappointing events on a dairy farm occurs when a calf is born dead.
Step up nutrition to meet genetic potential
The practice of genetic selection for higher milk production is another reason to reassess your nutrition program for heifers, says Bennet Cassell, Virginia Tech dairy scientist.
Graze heifers on winter annual forages
Researchers at
Heifer feeding options plentiful
Researchers at the
Limit-fed heifers generate less manure
Imagine 10 pounds less manure per heifer per day. That was one result of a study reported in the February Journal of Dairy Science.
Teach young heifers to graze
See how this producer trains young heifers to be good, efficient grazers.
Heifers do well on alternative proteins
A new study shows post-weaned heifers get good gains when fed grain mixes containing dried distillers grains or urea.
Heifers sort feed, too
When given the chance, heifers will sort their feed — just like lactating cows.
Abrupt weaning hurts growth
Going "cold turkey" at weaning is stressful on all calves.
Self-feeders work well in heifer barns
This automated system delivers grain from an outside bin to the heifers' troughs when it is needed.
Do you feed your heifers enough?
Here are three rules of thumb you should keep in mind when feeding heifers.
Fenceline hay feeder saves pasture
Check out this design that allows round-bale feeding without the use of traditional round-bale feeders.
Grow her fast without the worry
Learn the answers to your questions about rapid growth between three months and puberty, and its impact on mammary development and future milk yield.
Does laminitis start at weaning?
How you feed heifers at weaning may set them up for future lameness problems, according to preliminary research from
Set limits on gains before puberty
How fast can you grow heifers before puberty without hurting first-lactation milk yield?
Build your heifer supply
Put these two ideas to work on your farm in order to help grow your heifer supply from WITHIN the dairy.
Control variation in heifer feed calls
Consider adopting this tool from the beef feedlot industry to help reduce variation in feed delivery.
Special diet prevents fat heifers
Learn how these dairy producers keep their heifers growing well without getting too fat.
Pair corn stalks with wet distillers for heifers
Otherwise your heifers could get too fat.
Raise good heifers at less cost
A study by a custom heifer grower in Minnesota shows you can get good rates of gain with less cost by utilizing rotational grazing.
Build a complete heifer system
An intensive feeding program can get your calves off to a great start. However, if you want to keep building on those gains you need to build a complete heifer growth system to meet your goals.
Keep heifer growth rates steady
You can use these on-line heifer growth charts to track heifer performance on your dairy.
Produce low-cost forages for heifers
Forages often make up a significant portion of the diets fed to heifers. And, it's easy to forget just how much homegrown forages contribute to the cost of raising a heifer.
Chart the growth of heifers
Computer program allows you to chart height and weight of heifers and compare to others.
Is she eating your profits?
Here are three ways to stop heifers from taking a big bite out of your bottom line.
Wet distillers an option for heifers
Growing heifers performed well on a diet consisting of wet distillers grains and low-quality forage in a recent on-farm trial conducted by
Two feed sources for transition calves
Adding an extra source of feed helps heifer calves transition to headlocks without losing body weight.
Lower phosphorus in heifer diets
Study shows a lot of heifers receive too much phosphorus in their diets.
Don't guess at heifer performance
You need more than a visual appraisal to accurately track how your heifers are doing.
Ruler helps judge wither height
Use this idea to help check and track heifer growth.
Rate of gain targets
When it comes to raising replacement heifers, keeping protein and energy in proper balance is key to rearing heifers that freshen at 24 months of age, weigh about 1,250 pounds after calving, and are at least 54 inches high at the withers, says Mike VandeHaar.
Prevent poor starts among fresh heifers
We've seen many fresh heifers recently with rough hair coats, rapid weight loss and too much metritis after calving.
Feed good-quality hay to heifers
At this heifer-growing operation feeding high-quality hay helps promote intake.
Reduce the phosphorus in heifer diets
Overfeeding phosphorus isn't just a problem in lactating-cow rations. Heifer diets also provide excess levels, according to
Heifer feed bunk fundamentals
Use these five strategies to help weaned heifers adjust to a feed bunk.
Success with intensive feeding
Calves gained on average 1.6 pounds for day during the first four weeks of life.
Keep low-energy feeds on hand
Heifers raised in free-stall barns need some low-energy feeds.
Pre-fresh heifers need a separate transition diet
Are your pre-fresh heifers getting the energy they need for maintenance, growth and, eventually, milk production? Here's why you should separate them from your transition cows.
Combat winter's chill
Don't let cold stress slow your heifer growth rates.
How to manage cold-stress situations
If you find heifers not gaining as much weight as you planned due to cold stress, use the following steps to change their environment and their diet.
Heifers may not benefit from DCAD
A Michigan State University study, reported in the September 2000 Journal of Dairy Science, suggests that first-calf heifers do not benefit from a negative DCAD diet prior to calving.
Grow her fast without the worry
Learn the answers to your questions about rapid growth between three months and puberty, and its impact on mammary development and future milk yield.
Rate of gain targets
When it comes to raising replacement heifers, keeping protein and energy in proper balance is key to rearing heifers that freshen at 24 months of age, weigh about 1,250 pounds after calving, and are at least 54 inches high at the withers, says Mike VandeHaar.
Keep low-energy feeds on hand
Heifers raised in free-stall barns need some low-energy feeds.
Pre-fresh heifers need a separate transition diet
Are your pre-fresh heifers getting the energy they need for maintenance, growth and, eventually, milk production? Here's why you should separate them from your transition cows.
Additional Resources:


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We explore the ways cigar aficionados can maintain the freshness of their cigars
(continued from page 2)
In many ways, fine cigars are like wine, orchids or humans traveling in space. They are natural, organic and sensitive to their environment. They are the mature products of a carefully controlled combination of temperature and moisture.
The first thing to know is that cigars should stay in a humidor (the first syllable rhymes with "you," as in the word "humid") until they're ready to be smoked. When necessary, you can get away with keeping properly humidified cigars in a sealed plastic bag with a small, damp paper towel for a day or so. But, if you want to become a true aficionado, a humidor is an essential piece of equipment.
A humidor is an elegantly simple device that keeps cigars at their best by maintaining them in conditions similar to those in which their tobacco grew, fermented and was rolled.
Left out in a heated or air-conditioned room, a cigar can dry out and die as quickly as the most delicate flower -- in less than an hour. In a properly maintained humidor, the atmosphere inside of which closely mimics that of a tropical isle, cigars can be kept for years.
Dedicated aficionados often have more than one humidor. Perhaps a large one that stays at home, and a smaller, more portable one that holds a day's or two's supply. Some aficionados even keep different humidors for different brands of cigars. Within a humidor, the scents from various cigars mingle or "marry," and subtle shifts in flavor can result from cigars of one sort being stored adjacent to very different ones.
A humidor is, quite simply, a storage container designed to allow controlled air flow and equipped with a device that maintains the internal humidity in the range of 70 to 75 percent; its internal temperature should be maintained in a narrow range of about 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. (Without something to maintain the internal humidity, it's not a humidor; it's just a box.) Humidors come in all sizes. Travel-sized humidors hold just a few cigars; room-sized humidors hold thousands of boxes of cigars.
Note that a humidor is not a sealed environment. Inside an airtight moisturized container, cigars are likely to become moldy. For that reason, it's better to have air circulating between the cigars in your humidor than it is to squish them in too tightly.
While a humidor needs a device that maintains moisture levels, it does not necessarily need a gauge. Some humidors, however, come with hygrometers, which indicate the interior humidity. While the analog models (the round gauges with a needle inside) often have the appealing style of a dial on a sports car's dashboard, they are frequently inaccurate. Digital hygrometers, on the other hand, are usually reliable to a level of plus or minus 2 percent.
No matter what a thermometer or hygrometer says, the true measure of your humidor's performance will be the condition of the cigars inside. If the cigars are exuding a little oil, the conditions are perfect. If they seem too dry, you add more water. If they turn moldy, you have to throw out the cigars (probably with a tear or two in your eye), no matter what the hygrometer says. There's even a species of beetle, called a tobacco beetle, which can quickly bore holes through the contents of humidors. This will sometimes occur when the humidor maintains a temperature above 75 degrees for more than 24 hours. If your humidor becomes afflicted with these insects, freeze the contaminated cigars for 48 hours, then transfer them to the refrigerator for an additional 24 hours before returning them to your humidor. The beetles and their larvae will not survive. Be sure to wipe down your humidor with a damp cloth (using only distilled water) before returning the cigars.
Humidors are much simpler to maintain than other balanced environments, such as tropical fish tanks. All you have to do is keep the lid or door shut and periodically add distilled water to the humidifying device. (If you use regular tap water, the minerals in it are likely to collect on the humidifier and diminish its ability to emit and absorb moisture.)
A little common sense helps, too. Exposing a humidor to temperature extremes such as in direct sunlight or on top of an air conditioner or radiator is bad for the humidor -- and your cigars.
Investing in a humidor is a big decision. Good humidors aren't cheap, but there's no point in having a bad humidor. A humidor that does not maintain a constant desired level of humidity, no matter how pretty it is, is a waste of money and cigars. Consider how wine lovers store their wine. They're protecting an investment. Your cigars are equally valuable, and deserve a similar level of care.
The first step is to decide what size humidor you want. A good guide is to buy a humidor that's a little bigger than what you think you need. At the same time, you might want to investigate whether your local cigar retailer or cigar club has rental facilities that will let you store the bulk of your stock, so that you'll only need room for a few days' reserve at home or at work.
Just as if you were buying a new car, you'll want to look carefully at the construction and performance features of a humidor, as well as at its finish. If the seams aren't perfect, or if the corners aren't square, skip that humidor.
Pay particular attention to the rim and the lid, and how they fit together. The lid should shut tightly. For the record, a humidor lid should not "seal" completely; it should allow a minute amount of air to circulate in and out of the box. But any visible warping will mean that too much air gets in and too much moisture gets out, even if there's a "lip" that fits inside the lid.
A heavy lid is generally an advantage. Many humidors, even those with locks, rely on the weight of the lid to keep them tightly shut. This, however, creates a challenge. A humidor should be designed to be in balance, whether open or shut. If the lid opens too far, its weight can cause the humidor to flip up or fall over. If the lid doesn't open far enough to stay balanced in a upright position, it might come crashing back down on your fingers.
Locks aren't a bad idea. Consider the value -- both emotional and financial -- of the collection that you are going to keep in the humidor. Then consider the damage that could be done by curious prying fingers, by pilfering or even by vandalism (we could tell you stories...). You are likely to want a lock. Just be sure to have a duplicate key tucked away in a safe place. Nothing is more heartbreaking than to have to tamper with the perfectly fitted and carefully finished edges of a finely crafted box.
The first thing to notice on the inside of a humidor is the humidification device. Most humidification devices are simple -- little more than a sponge material or a bottle that slowly emits moisture. (Simple as they are, these devices are still light-years ahead of one old-fashioned humidification device: apple cores.) The biggest variable in proper humidification, after good construction, is not the type of humidification system you have, but whether or not you remember to add the needed water or chemicals at regular intervals.
Look for a humidor lined with a fairly nonaromatic cedar, such as Spanish cedar. Cedar absorbs and re-emits moisture in a way that helps the tobaccos that are blended into a fine cigar to age and mature. (If you are ambitious and handy enough and decide to build your own humidor, be aware that you can't use just any cedar. The highly aromatic cedar used to line closets and wool chests would do disastrous things to the flavor of your cigars.)
Humidor trays make it easy for you to organize, and occasionally rotate, your collection. The inside of a humidor has variations in humidity, despite the various slots that promote internal air circulation and reduce the likelihood that the base woods and the veneer will warp or separate. Within this microclimate, you should introduce your driest cigars as far away as possible from the humidification device so that they re-attain proper hydration as slowly and evenly as possible.
Handles can he helpful on larger humidors, particularly if you will be moving the humidor around a room while offering cigars. If you are planning to put the humidor on a table or sideboard, a felt bottom will help protect the humidor and the furniture.
Some humidors have magnets set into the underside of the lid, so you can store a cigar cutter there. This is good if it keeps you from misplacing an expensive cutter, and bad if it leads you to opening the humidor more often or leaving it open for longer periods of time. Before you get excited about a lid magnet, be sure to find out what the cutter that it's supposed to hold will cost you. If you have scissors or a more expensive guillotine cutter, consider anchoring it to your humidor with an elegant chain, which will guarantee that the cutter will be available whenever you want it.
Finding a humidor with good construction and features isn't as hard as it sounds. Better humidor manufacturers are fanatical about quality control. Moreover, reputable tobacconists will reject humidors with even tiny functional defects.
Once you have decided on all of the basics and accessories, you might as well let yourself be dazzled by the designs and finishes. Admire the gleaming rare wood surfaces, catch the highlights dancing in a deep rich lacquer finish, or study the intricate marquetry picture. Marvel at some of the more curved and sculptural shapes. You are buying a work of art. Be sure you love it: it's likely to be an important part of your home or office for many years to come.
It takes time, patience and a little know-how to get a new humidor ready to hold cigars. You're trying to recreate the tropical environments where most cigars are made, and you can't rush the process. Putting cigars into a dry humidor can ruin good smokes.
Most humidors have an interior made of untreated Spanish cedar, the preferred wood for humidifying and aging premium cigars. The wood needs to be humidified, or seasoned, before the box is ready to hold cigars. (Some humidors have varnished or finished wood interiors that don't need to be seasoned.)
Take a new sponge -- make sure it is unscented and free of soap -- and wet it with a liberal dose of distilled water. Wipe down all the exposed wood, including any trays and dividers, and the interior lid. Avoid using a paper towel or a fraying cloth; these will literally leave a paper trail on the wood. After you've wiped down the wood, squirt the sponge with more distilled water, then place it inside the humidor on a plastic bag -- to avoid direct contact with the wood -- and close the lid.
Next, prepare your humidification device according to the manufacturer's instructions. Unless the manufacturer specifically states that you can use tap water, use only distilled water. Tap water contains minerals that will destroy most humidification systems by leaving deposits that will clog the humidor element. Once the humidification element is filled, be sure to wipe it down to remove all the excess water. Rest it on a hand towel for approximately 30 minutes.
Close the humidor with its humidifying element and the damp sponge, and leave it overnight. The next day, refresh the humidification device (it may not need it) and check the sponge. If it is fairly dry, add more distilled water. If it is very damp, leave it alone.
Let the humidor sit another night, and then remove the sponge and plastic bag. The walls of the humidor have now absorbed all the water they need, and now you can safely store your cigars.
Ratings & Reviews
Search our database of more than 17,000 cigar tasting notes by score, brand, country, size, price range, year, wrapper and more, plus add your favorites to your Personal Humidor.


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Edge of Tomorrow (PG-13)
Release Date: June 6, 2014
Lt. Col. Bill Cage is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop - forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again - and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski. And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Jonas Armstrong, Tony Way
Directed By: Doug Liman
Run Time: 1 hr. 53 min.
Released By: Warner Bros. Pictures, Village