text:
Miggy hits two homers as Tigers rout Astros
Slugger ties career high with six RBIs; Scherzer strikes out eight
HOUSTON -- The Detroit Tigers were all they can be Saturday night.
Miguel Cabrera delivered six RBIs and the Tigers pounded the Astros, 17-2, at Minute Maid Park, setting season highs for runs, hits (21) and margin of victory. Add a near-spotless pitching performance by Max Scherzer and that's about as good as it gets.
"What you witnessed was why they were the American League champions last year," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "They rolled out their 'A' game and it was pretty impressive."
Awesome would be a more accurate word for Cabrera.
The 2012 AL Triple Crown winner hit two homers, a two-run shot in the second and a solo one in the sixth -- giving him six for the season -- drove in two more runs with a pair of singles and worked a bases-loaded walk for another RBI.
The six RBIs tied his career high and pushed him ahead of Boston's Mike Napoli for the AL lead in RBIs with 36.
"I was swinging the bat good today," Cabrera said. "I swing at good pitches. Make something happen. It's always great to start good, give Max a lot of run support."
The temperature was a pleasant 78 degrees and sunny at game time. It felt more like home for the Venezuelan native.
"It means a lot," Cabrera said of the warm weather. "We've been hitting in tough weather, rain, 30 degrees. Right now we can loosen up. You have more bat speed. You feel more comfortable. You don't worry about the inside pitch. You're more relaxed and you can make something happen."
He did.
"He's awful good," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, running out of superlatives for Cabrera. "That's in the book. He's a special player.
"A lot of guys did things tonight. You play a game like that every once in a while where you hit it hard, it falls in. You hit it soft, it falls in."
The Tigers hit many more balls hard than soft among their 21 hits, eight of them for extra bases.
"Nobody likes to see these kind of games," Leyland said of margin of victory. "You want to win the game, but this one got a little ugly."
"It was just one of those days that even when you make a good pitch they still get a hit," said Houston starter Lucas Harrell, who surrendered eight runs and 10 hits.
Scoring six runs in the first two innings made Scherzer (4-0) nearly unbeatable. He pitched eight innings, gave up just three hits and struck out eight.
After giving up a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, he retired 16 in a row. The only blemish on his line was a two-out homer by Carlos Corporan in the seventh.
"That early in the game, when you get run support, it really doesn't change [the way you pitch]," Scherzer said. "You're still on the attack. You want to take it right to them. You can't play the scoreboard that early. As it gets later in the game and it's way out of hand, you turn back to normal when it's 10-plus runs. Over the course of the game, it really doesn't matter. It's a luxury to be part of this team."
Scherzer didn't get too excited about his pitching.
"I thought there were some good things," he said. "My curveball tonight was even better. A couple of times I fell behind hitters. I did a pretty good job of challenging guys. Sometimes you try to be perfect. I didn't think my slider was particularly good. I hung a few.
"I got in a rhythm, got in a groove. That's because our hitters gave me a lead. There were long innings, so it was hard to get in a groove. But I was able to maintain it. I've put together a pretty good string of having quality stuff. I keep moving up, keep getting better."
Leyland has grown accustom to seeing Scherzer dominate opponents.
"He was very good, obviously," the manager said. "But I've seen him as good or better than that. Sometimes it's a little different when you have that much of a lead to work with. You're not really maxing out like you do when you get in jams in a close game. He pitched very well and gave us some much needed innings. Both managers needed innings from their starters tonight because of the 14-innning game [Thursday night]."
Veteran Victor Martinez came alive again in the series. He contributed a two-run double in the first inning and a two-run homer in the ninth.
"Victor's a very professional hitter," Leyland said. "He's in a real good RBI spot because of those two big guys [Cabrera and Prince Fielder] ahead of him. If he got going, that would be very good news for the manager."
Martinez has been hitting the ball hard, but not finding many holes.
"I'm going out there and trying to do something I have done my entire career," he said. "It's been tough. Every time you square the ball, you want the ball to fall [in for a hit]."
Martinez said he hasn't made any changes in his swing.
"I go out there and keep working," he said. "It's been weeks. I've been driving the ball. I just thank God for being here and being healthy. I always say, whoever works hard deserves to get better."
Gene Duffy is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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ANGRY Blackburn Market traders have won a reprieve over a 'ridiculous' proposed backdated rise in council service charges after threatening revolt.
The increase, which could land stallholders with bills for hundreds of pounds, has been delayed until March while borough property boss Dave Harling looks again at the proposed fee.
Market manager Keith Holden has written to traders informing them of the delay and review. Bosses acted after fears the rise could force some traders out of business.
Some stallholders threatened to withhold direct debit rents unless the rise is cut and the backdating waived. Two of them are still not convinced the rise will be reduced despite Coun Harling promising to seek a 'realistic' compromise.
Under the original plan the annual cost for food and non-food stalls would rise by £2.90 per square foot, from £17 to £19.90. Cafes and catering stalls would see an increase of £2.40 per square foot from £19.50 to £21.90. Most stalls have been paying a lower estimated cost monthly on top of rents ranging from £500 a month to £2,000-plus.
The extra charge was due to be backdated for last year and collected by the end of this month landing stalls of the average 250 square foot size paying £725 and cafe/catering stalls £600 if the higher service charge kicked in. Larger traders faced paying considerably more.
Coun Harling said: "We are looking at every cost involved. We want to come up with a realistic charge."
Daniel Moffett, of Butlers Family Restaurant, said: "The letter actually promises nothing, but even a short reprieve helps. March is a better time to pay than January."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
There is more to eye health care than selecting eyeglasses and being fitted with contact lenses. Comprehensive eye examinations, including pupil dilation, can detect eye diseases such as glaucoma and eye problems from systemic conditions, such as:
Early detection can prevent or delay the onset of eye diseases, before they cause permanent vision loss. For example, vision loss is preventable in over 95 percent of situations with early detection and treatment in individuals who develop eye disease in association with diabetes.
Eye complications from systemic diseases can cause multiple vision problems if they are not detected and treated. Often individuals with eye disease are unaware that problems exist because their vision is not affected. The best way to detect sight-threatening complications is through a dilated pupil. Delaying diagnosis and treatment can lead to permanent vision loss.
Any individual with systemic conditions should have a dilated eye examination once per year, or more frequently, to maintain proper eye health. Regular visits to a primary care physician to ensure overall good systemic health is important as well. Scheduling and attending these appointments is just a small sacrifice of time and effort to ensure optimal vision for a lifetime.
This content was originally written by Dr. Cynthia Heard and appeared in Great Visions, Summer Quarter 2003 newsletter, The Ohio State University Optometry Services. It has been published on NetWellness with permission.
Many research studies are underway to help us learn about eye diseases. Would you like to find out more about being part of this exciting research? Please visit the following links:
Last Reviewed: Aug 13, 2014
Aaron Zimmerman, OD, MS
Clinical Associate Professor of Optometry
College of Optometry
The Ohio State University


text:
- Aug 27:
- Colorado Rapids look to cultivate fan base
- Feb 26:
- Rapids re-sign midfielder Jaime Castrillon
- Jan 21:
- Rapids' Jaime Castrillon injured and on transfer block, Pareja says
- Jan 12:
- Diego Calderón, defensa del seleccionado ecuatoriano, llega a los Rapids
- Jan 3:
- El defensor Diego Calderón, del seleccionado ecuatoriano, llega a los Rapids
- Rapids sign defender Diego Calderon, veteran of Ecuador's national team
- Jul 10:
- Colorado Rapids out of MLS playoff picture, but taking form at midpoint
- Jun 27:
- Rapids' front office says re-signing core veterans key for the future
- Jun 3:
- Rapids feeling effects of head hits as concussions get more MLS scrutiny
- May 29:
- Colorado Rapids knock off Tampa Bay in U.S. Open Cup third round
- May 24:
- Colorado Rapids' Conor Casey, Omar Cummings still slowed by injuries
- May 19:
- Colorado Rapids rally from two down for tie with Sporting KC
- May 18:
- Rapids re-sign forward Omar Cummings
- May 17:
- Brian Mullan not the scorer he once was, but still a big asset for the Rapids
- May 14:
- Premier League's Swansea City coming to Dick's in July
- May 6:
- Castrillon, Rivero lift Rapids past FC Dallas
- May 2:
- Sene, Cardenas score to lead Revs past Rapids 2-1
- Apr 28:
- Rapids get crucial MLS victory over Chivas USA, Conor Casey returns
- Rapids eye Chivas' Juan Pablo Angel
- Apr 26:
- Rapids sign Brazilian forward Edu
- Delantero brasileño Edu jugará para Rapids en la MLS
- Apr 24:
- MLS commissioner says Rapids an example of U.S. soccer's competitive balance
- Apr 21:
- David Beckham provides thrills as Los Angeles Galaxy defeats host Colorado, 2-1
- Rapids on Saturday: Los Angeles at Colorado
- Apr 19:
- Soccer still brings out the little boy in David Beckham
- Apr 18:
- David Beckham planning to play vs. Rapids this weekend
- Apr 11:
- Rapids' Conor Casey likely to return next week vs. L.A. Galaxy, he hopes
- Apr 6:
- Rapids coach Oscar Pareja has a lot in common with Salt Lake counterpart
- Apr 2:
- Cummings ayuda a Rapids a vencer 2-0 al Fire
- Apr 1:
- Rapids defeat Chicago Fire 2-0, thanks to two newcomers
- Mar 31:
- Rapids' Martin Rivero likely to play first game Sunday
- Mar 25:
- Rapids' Jaime Castrillon offers big-play potential for Colorado
- Mar 18:
- Short-handed Rapids slip past Union 2-1 behind Castrillon, Cascio
- Mar 10:
- Rapids 2, Crew 0; buen debut del colombiano Pareja
- Rapids win season opener against Columbus
- Mar 9:
- New Rapids coach Oscar Pareja played with passion and will bring that intensity to opener vs. Columbus Crew
- Mar 8:
- MLS thriving a decade after barely hanging on
- Una MLS más colombiana arranca su temporada
- Técnico de los Rapids Oscar Pareja quiere acercarse a la fanaticada latina
- Feb 13:
- Rapids near signing Martin Rivero, a "No. 10" playmaker from Argentina
- Feb 1:
- Colorado Rapids to reward Paul Bravo with contract extension
- Jan 31:
- Rapids name Wilmer Cabrera assistant coach, along with Paul Caffrey
- Jan 25:
- Jaime Castrillon signs with Rapids, adds scoring punch to midfield
- Los Rapids contratan a el mediocampista colombiano Jaime Castrillón
- Rapids sign Colombian midfielder Jaime Castrillon
- Jan 24:
- New Rapids coach Oscar Pareja retains Pablo Mastroeni as captain
- Jan 19:
- Coach Pareja ready to bring passion into Rapids' game plan
- Jan 5:
- Colorado Rapids contrata a Oscar Pareja como nuevo entrenador
- Rapids announce hiring of Oscar Pareja as new head coach
- Jan 3:
- Oscar Pareja to be named new coach of Colorado Rapids, source says
- Colorado Rapids near hiring Oscar Pareja as head coach
- Dec 12:
- Rapids name Tim Hinchey, EPL veteran, as club president
- Nov 20:
- Donovan y Beckham guían al Galaxy de Los Angeles al título
- Donovan, Beckham lead LA Galaxy to MLS title
- Beckham, Galaxy get long-awaited MLS title shot
- Nov 7:
- Rapids fire coach Gary Smith after more than three years at Colorado helm
- Oct 27:
- Rapids defeat Crew 1-0 in MLS wild-card playoff
- Oct 25:
- Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni likely out for playoff game vs. Columbus
- Oct 18:
- Colorado Rapids' MLS playoff picture clearing up
- Sep 29:
- Rapids defeat Isidro Metapan in CONCACAF play
- Aug 24:
- Rapids tie Real España in CONCACAF play
- Aug 18:
- Rapids win opener of CONCACAF over Isidro Metapan
- Aug 9:
- Colorado Rapids jugarán en Denver contra Santos Laguna, Real España e Isidro Metapán
- Colorado Rapids to play Santos Laguna, Real España, Isidro Metapan in Denver
- Jun 27:
- President welcomes MLS champion Rapids to White House
- Jun 20:
- Rapids to visit Obama, White House to show off MLS Cup
- May 27:
- Colorado Rapids y Red Bulls empatan
- May 20:
- Rapids learn CONCACAF Champions League draw, will face Honduras' Real España
With a renewed focus on offense, the Colorado Rapids hired Oscar Pareja as the team's new head coach in January. Pareja, a Colombian player with more than 18 years experience, has already taken steps to change the culture of the club that for years has remained seemingly distant from the growing Latino community in Colorado.
The Rapids recently signed Argentinean playmaker Martin Rivero and Colombian midfielder Jaime Castrillon with hopes of building a stylized, possession-first game. These players are also likely to "keep fans coming back for more," Pareja said.
The coach talked to Viva Colorado about his plans to reach out to the Latino community in the state and what philosophy will guide the Rapids in the future.
How have you dealt with the responsibilities that come with being a Major League Soccer coach?
OP: I am very happy to represent the Hispanic community in a club that has characterized itself by having a good relationship with different communities in the city, but I hope to further the plans to strengthen the relationship with our community. I think they [the Rapids] are anxious to develop this relationship. As a coach I think the task at hand is a prevailing challenge. We are ready, we are excited and can't wait for the season to start.
What is the new philosophy of the Colorado Rapids?
OP: The new philosophy is focused on having people really like the team. That the team exhibits a certain orientation toward craftiness, dodging the ball, the touch. We are going to accomplish this because we are going to work hard. How long is it going to take us? That is unknown, but I hope we can do it as quickly as possible.
With your experience in clubs like the Deportivo Medellin, Deportivo Cali and Dallas FC, what do you hope to share with Rapids players?
OP: For me, futbol is a way of life. As we live, we play. I am interested in giving the Colorado Rapids players the freedom to express themselves on the field. I don't want responsibility and discipline to bog them down when it comes to expressing their game because at the end of the day people come to see the players' freestyle.
What is the plan to develop an offense-driven team?
OP: This can be achieved in three ways. First, with money you can sign good players and maybe you don't have a great coach but you are going to have the best players and naturally you will have an offense-driven team. Second, with hard work, and third, with conviction.
How do you plan to reach out to Latinos who love soccer but don't follow the Rapids?
OP: I have preached this in the clubs I have been part of and at the club where I came from (FC Dallas). Latinos in the United States have the responsibility to pass on the love they have for their soccer team, be that America, Chivas, Nacional Colombia, River, Boca, to their children. Give him or her a Rapids jersey. There isn't another professional soccer team in the city.
In our countries we loved our local team when it played well, when it failed, when it won or lost. Regardless, on Sundays we watched the games. We wore our team's jersey and we gave our children the team's flag. We argued with our uncles and our cousins about which team was the best.
Give that heritage to your child. He does not have the opportunity to watch your country's team play. Give him or her the opportunity to feel that passion by watching the Rapids.
As a Latino coach of a professional soccer team in this country, what do you ask of other Latinos?
OP: I come from a place where the Hispanic community felt cut off from the professional team or somehow disconnected. I hope this connection to my community here is real, that I can give them what they have been waiting for for many years. I hope we can show this franchise that we are driven and capable of great things, but I need (Latinos) to help me.
Season opener
The Colorado Rapids season opener against the Columbus Crew is March 10 at 4 p.m. at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. Altitude will televise the game and ESPN Deportes Radio (87.7 FM) will have coverage of the game in Spanish.


text:
Safety and Antifungal Activity of Recombinant Interferon-Gamma 1b (rIFN-Gamma 1b) Given With Standard Therapy in Patients With Cryptococcal Meningitis
This study has been completed.
Information provided by:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: March 9, 2001
Last updated: May 29, 2009
Last verified: May 2009
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
The purpose of this study is to examine the antifungal activity of recombinant interferon-gamma 1b (rIFN-gamma 1b) given with standard antifungal therapy.
|Meningitis, Cryptococcal HIV Infections
|Drug: Itraconazole Drug: Flucytosine Drug: Fluconazole Drug: Amphotericin B Drug: Interferon gamma-1b
|Phase 2
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Masking: Double
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging, Phase II Study of the Safety and Antifungal Activity of Subcutaneous Recombinant Interferon-Gamma 1b (rIFN-Gamma 1b) in Conjunction With Standard Therapy in Patients With Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: Meningitis
Drug Information available for: Interferon Interferon Gamma-1bU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by InterMune:
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|January 2000
|Study Completion Date:
|July 2001
Patients are randomized into 1 of 3 parallel groups for a 3-arm, 2-stage, double-blind and dose-ranging study for 14 weeks. In Stage 1, patients are hospitalized for 14 days of acute therapy. Patients receive rIFN-gamma 1b or placebo sc 3 times per week, intravenous (IV) AMB daily, and with or without oral 5-FC every 6 hours. Patients who have the ability to take oral medications, who do not have any significant clinical deterioration during the previous 14 days, and who meet the eligibility criteria can progress to Stage 2. In Stage 2 patients receive 84 days of consolidation therapy (56 days with study drug and 28 days of follow-up). On an outpatient basis, patients receive either placebo or 1 of 2 doses of rIFN-gamma 1b sc 3 times per week, and oral fluconazole daily or oral itraconazole 2 times a day.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|13 Years and older (Child, Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria
Patients may be eligible for Stage 1 if they:
- Are at least 13 years old.
- Have consent of a parent, family member, or guardian if less than 18 years of age.
- Have cryptococcal meningitis for the first time or have had a relapse.
- Are not on any medications that cannot be taken with fluconazole or itraconazole, if the patient has trouble taking fluconazole.
- Patients may be eligible for Stage 2 if they:
- Had no serious decline in health, as determined by their doctor, during the previous 14 days (including mental health).
- Have received at least 7.5 mg/kg AMB in Stage 1.
- Have a positive CSF culture for C. neoformans.
- Can take oral medications.
Exclusion Criteria
Patients will not be eligible for this study if they:
- Are in a coma.
- Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Are not using effective birth control methods, if able to have children.
- Are allergic to imidazole or triazole.
- Are allergic to rIFN-gamma 1b.
- Require drugs that are toxic to the kidneys, other than AMB.
- Received erythropoietin or red blood cell transfusions within 4 weeks of entering the study.
- Are receiving systemic corticosteroid therapy within 30 days of study or will require it during the study.
- Have had serious heart disease.
- Have had multiple sclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, or rheumatologic disorders.
- Have had disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) (not including emotional problems) or a seizure disorder, or have a current CNS disorder that would interfere with the study.
- Are receiving investigational therapy for C. neoformans within 90 days of starting the study drug.
- Have had more than 3 doses of AMB or more than 1200 mg of fluconazole or itraconazole as prior treatment and have begun current treatment for more than 72 hours prior to starting study medication. Fluconazole or itraconazole of no more than 200 mg daily is allowed.
- Are receiving AMB for C. neoformans within 30 days of starting treatment for the present episode.
- Are receiving rIFN-gamma 1b treatment within 90 days prior to starting the study drug.
- Have had therapy which affects the immune system within 30 days prior to starting the study drug.
- Are receiving investigational therapy for all other signs within 30 days prior to starting the study drug.
- Are not able to meet the study requirements, in the opinion of the investigator.
- Require chronic treatment with H2-blockers, and are able to receive only itraconazole in Stage 2.
- Show signs of or get treatment for another serious opportunistic infection within 4 weeks of starting the study drug.
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00012467
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00012467
|United States, Alabama
|Univ of Alabama at Birmingham
|Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294
|United States, Missouri
|Washington Univ
|St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63108
|United States, New Jersey
|UMDNJ - New Jersey Med School / Cooper Hosp
|Camden, New Jersey, United States, 08103
|Univ of Med & Dentistry of New Jersey
|Newark, New Jersey, United States, 07103
|United States, Texas
|Houston Veterans Administration Med Ctr
|Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
|Univ of Texas / Med School at Houston
|Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
|Audie L Murphy Veterans Administration Hosp
|San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78284
|Hosp Nacional dos de Mayo
|Lima, Peru
|Instituto de Medicina Tropical
|Lima, Peru
Sponsors and Collaborators
More Information
Keywords provided by InterMune:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
|Responsible Party:
|Steven Porter, MD, PhD, InterMune Pharmaceuticals Inc.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00012467 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|March 9, 2001
|Last Updated:
|May 29, 2009
Keywords provided by InterMune:
Interferon-gamma, Recombinant
Injections, Subcutaneous
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Antifungal Agents
Amphotericin B
Meningitis, Cryptococcal
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
HIV Infections
Meningitis, Cryptococcal
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Meningitis, Fungal
Central Nervous System Fungal Infections
Central Nervous System Infections
Liposomal amphotericin B
Amphotericin B
Antifungal Agents
Antineoplastic Agents
Antiviral Agents
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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2008 Chevy Silverado - Color Blind
World's Cleanest New-Body Style Chevy
In an attention deficit disorder-filled world with instant visual gratification, an all-white Chevy Silverado may just be the punch to the kidneys we need to reel us back to our roots. Thinking back to the days of subtle mods (stuff the average guy misses), trick body massaging, and placing emphasis on quality over quantity, Tim Donelson, of Alvin, Texas, unearthed these old-world truck aficionado traits to express his vision of a hot-rod-infused new-body style Silverado. Clean. That simple word best describes this not-so-subtle Silverado. But it's what he left off that may be his biggest statement of all-Tim's Chevy has no graphics, no flames, no color, and little, if any, bling. How does a white truck land on our esteemed cover? Once you've opened your mind to accept the absence of pigment, the tremendous amount of ingenuity and custom work performed will transform your concept of custom.
Tim told us, "I like it when old hot rodders come up to me and say they like all the attention to detail I put into the truck." It's this "less is more" mindset that Tim used to build his truck dubbed "Color Blind." Wanting his truck on the ground, but not cluttered with unnecessary welds, bends, and crossmembers, an hour drive was made to Houston, home of Ekstensive Metalworks. While there, Tim met with owner Bill Carlton where the two agreed on a proper foundation for this wild Chevy. An order was placed with Art Morrison for a set of 2x4-inch mandrel-bent framerails and upon their arrival, Tim got to work welding on a pair of tubular Ekstensive upper and lower A-arms, bolting on a set of Belltech 2-inch drop spindles, and installing Slam Specialties RE7 airbags. Out back, Tim bolted on Ekstensive's tried-and-true two-link to the 4 1/4-inch-narrowed rearend, and installed Slam RE7 'bags, Monroe shocks, and a chromed Panhard bar. Half-inch hardline was used throughout for the suspension and is hidden inside the mandrel-bent rails. GC 450 valves control the air coming from the 5-gallon tank, which is filled by two Viair compressors.
For the ultimate in appearance, Alamo Customs, in Alvin, smoothed and painted every piece of the chassis, and even the wheel hoops. Tim bolted on a set of 26x10-inch Giovanna Peggs wrapped in 295/30R26 Pirelli tires. The Chevy now had a whole new appeal and looked sinister with the black and white Giovanna wheel combo. With the body bolted to the frame and the air let out of the 'bags, the fenders swallowed up the 26-inch rollers and the rockers gently rested on the Texas tarmac.
Shooting the bull and drinking some beers, Tim and Bill were excited to see the frame come together, but as they were reveling, Bill had an epiphany. "Man, we should cut out your B-pillars." Coming from Bill (he's been known to cut up a truck or two), Tim just laughed and said, "Ok man, if you think you can do it, let's make it happen." Contacting the guru of sheetmetal, Bob Grant, of Grant Kustoms, Tim agreed to put him on a plane and after he arrived at Ekstensive, the sparks began to fly. Taking the rear hinges from an Extended Cab rear door and grafting them to the C-pillars of Tim's Chevy, they also fused the Extended Cab door latches and rearmost doorframe sections to his Crew Cab doors. Once that metal surgery was completed, the factory Crew Cab B-pillars were cut out and the Extended Cab door latches welded in place. It's a trick setup to cut both ends of perfectly good doors off and then make everything look and work like OE-a feat that took some major metal know-how to pull off.
Jacob, from Auto Lab then stepped in and did all of the remaining door bodywork, as well as shaving the door handles and third brake light. Before Bob flew home, he made sure the back of the truck was nice and clean thanks to his Grant Kustoms Cali Combo tailgate and roll pan skin. Continuing the body mods, Tim bought a pair of outer Chevy bedsides and welded them to the inside of the bed, creating a smooth and seamless look. Adding to the unique look, the gas filler was added to the inside of the Cali Combo, which provides an inlet to the fuel cell hidden inside the Cali Combo that Bill expertly TIG-welded. Up front, Tim and his buddy Zack Hammond, of Daily Grind Fabrication, built a smoothed firewall, smoothed the inner fenderwheels, and then the truck was dropped off to Alamo Customs. While there, the crew at Alamo covered the Chevy in PPG white. "Color Blind' was coming together, but with those wild doors opening wide to reveal the interior, something unique needed to be done inside the Crew Cab.
Having designed and built crazy fiberglass dashes and sub enclosures for several other trucks, Tim got to work creating a smoothed, hot-rod-styled dash. Gone forever is everything stock, with the exception of the original gauge cluster that miraculously survived the trash bin. In went a polished tilt column, Billet Specialties steering wheel, and Pioneer head unit. The Pioneer DVD head unit controls two Rockford Fosgate amps, one in each rear door, and they in turn power sets of JL Audio 6 1/2-inch components, a set of JL Audio drivers in custom fiberglass kick panels, and six JBL GTO 15-inch subs. Those eardrum-pounding subs are mounted in a trick fiberglass box that Tim designed and built with help from Mike Henderson.
Mike also inspired Tim to go crazy with the front doors. Creating fiberglass door panels, Tim mounted a 32-inch Panasonic LCD TV in each front door panel and can literally keep the party going by himself. Sound Advice helped Tim with wiring, as did Zack from Daily Grind who also helped run the audio wires through the framerails to the two Kinetik 2400 power cells mounted behind the front bumper. Wanting to make people scratch their heads, Tim welded together a giant sheetmetal floor and capped the interior with truly unique seats from Jamey Jordan's HandMade Seat Co. Advanced Auto Trim, in Houston, wrapped the headliner and A-pillars in grey suede and built the grey suede-wrapped seat cushions. The massive interior looks so smooth, the seats appear to be floating.
Opting to stick to his hot-rod roots, Tim yanked the factory 4.8L V-8 and instead had Zack Hammond, of Daily Grind Fabrication in Alvin, build a 383ci stroker. Only polished items are bolted onto the engine and you won't find a bare wire or lines anywhere under the hood. Details such as bending stainless tubing and running the alternator wire inside it to hide the bare wire and fabbing hard lines for the carburetor are just a few examples of Tim's pursuit of perfection. Polished engine components include valve covers, Edelbrock intake and carb, air cleaner, Be Cool radiator, and upper and lower radiator hoses. March pulleys look right at home on the polished alternator, A/C compressor, and polished water pump. The ceramic-coated Anderson headers connect the aluminum heads to Flowmaster mufflers. Zack was also placed with the responsibility to build a one-off, two-piece driveshaft and bolt it to the 350 trans and factory rearend.
Ready for its spotlight, a photoshoot was scheduled and we were on hand for its maiden highway voyage. Rolling along at 55mph, the Giovanna wheels were tucked inside the fenders and the white paint was glistening from the Texas sunshine. It's a beautiful sight to see a wild custom cruising down the highway. Tim knows his truck was a collaboration of talented people, but before we thank them, he wanted to say thanks to his mom for all of her support and bringing dinners over to the shop while the guys were working hard. Tim also wanted to show his appreciation to Ekstensive, Grant Kustoms, Daily Grind Fabrication, Alamo Customs, Auto Lab and everyone else who helped out along the way. When we asked Tim the best part of the truck's build, he said, "It's been a lot of work, but well worth it. I have met a lot of good people and made great friendships." That's what makes custom trucks so incredible-talented, good-hearted people, creating rolling works of art and having fun doing it.


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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Problems
RepairPal has identified the most common problems with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution based on complaints from actual vehicle owners. We'll tell you what the problem is and what it'll take to fix it.
An engine coolant leak may develop from the water pump requiring replacement of the leaking pump.
The Check Engine Light may illuminate with a stored code P0231. Our technicians tell us a powertrain control module (PCM) software update is available to correct this concern.
The clutch may fail prematurely requiring replacement. It has been recommended by some that a high quality aftermarket replacement clutch may provide increased longevity over a clutch purchased from the dealer.
The heating, ventilation and AC (HVAC) temperature control knob may be hard to turn. Mitsubishi Motors has released a service bulletin out outlining the necessary repairs. Repairs involve installing a new air blend door lever and link, lubing the blend door track, and installing a filter on top of the blower motor housing to prevent entry of dirt and debris. If the temperature control assembly has been damaged it will require replacement also.
Erratic HVAC blower motor operation may be caused by a failed blower motor and/or blower motor resistor. Our technicians tell us that if the blower motor resistor fails the blower motor should be checked. If the blower motor fails its functional test in should be replaced along with the failed blower motor resistor.
An engine overheating condition may develop due to a failed radiator cooling fan controller. The failed controller should be replaced to correct this issue.
The crankshaft position sensor may fail causing a stalling can/or no start condition. Replacing the faulty crankshaft position sensor should correct this condition.
The automatic transmission may fail prematurely. Transmission overhaul or replacement may be necessary to correct this concern.
There have been reports of airbags not deploying in the event of a frontal impact. Some claim that a shorted airbag wire harness can cause this to occur. Unfortunately there is no diagnoses that will isolate this problem other than fault codes stored in the airbag control module. Our technicians recommend to have any airbag light issues diagnosed and repaired in order to help ensure the airbags will deploy when needed.
t is not uncommon for the clear coat paint to develop white spots and begin peeling. In most cases Mitsubishi will not cover out of warranty repairs for this condition.


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I strongly agree. Getting JO back and playing somewhere in the ballpark of his best, without expectations of his game from 4-5 years ago returning, will make the team even better. Maybe they are a .500-.520 team now and he makes them a .550 team. He allows the defense to spread out and defend away from the paint more, he cleans up problems created on the outside by Tins or Dun or Troy. And oh by the way, he draws doubles for a reason and that means defensive motion and holes to cut through for easy scores, or open jumpers on the weakside.Quote:
We need his defense. There are times when we need to slow it down. JO can be utilized then as well as in the running game.
"O'Neal isn't concerning himself with the future, except to deliver a message to critics who insist his career is declining.
"I'm not going to be broken down," he said. "Do I believe I'm going to return to my form? Absolutely. I truly believe I'm going to return to my level.""
This illustrates how sadly delusional JO is. I don't think he gets it. His PERSONAL "level" is not important. It's not about HIM. Its about the team and how many games they win. If he returns and averages 6 points and 3 rebounds, but the team wins every game, then this would bea GREAT success.
If he returns and averages 20 and 10, and the team loses 2/3 of their games, then this is a great FAILURE. But I don't think JO would see it that way.
Because Duncan would be happy playing poorly and unable to contribute to the TEAM in the manner he currently does. Because Reggie caught in a 10 game slump of 25% from 3 wouldn't say "I think I can get back to my level, it's just a slump".
Holy freaking insane bias, when in the hell did it become a bad thing for a player to want to be at his top level. How does that hurt the team??? He didn't say "gets mine" or "put up my numbers" or "get me my touches fools". He said he wants to be at his level.
By the way, so do the Pacers, his teammates, JOB and any decent, rational Pacer fans. You'd trade JO for Bynum or Duncan or whatever...why? To get a guy that can play "at that level".


text: Earned income tax credit can help low-earning workers By Kate White February 10, 2013 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Even if you're not required to file a federal tax return because you didn't make enough money -- do it, officials from the Internal Revenue Service are urging. "You could be leaving thousands of dollars on the table," said Mark Hanson, the regional media relations director for the IRS. Started in 1975, the Earned Income Tax Credit is meant to help low- to moderate-income working individuals and families keep more of what they earned, according to the IRS website."It's essentially an anti-poverty program -- a way to help hardworking people, who may not have the highest level of income, get some additional money," Hanson said. However, it's something many aren't taking advantage of, according to Hanson. Whether it's because they don't know about it or simply overlook it, many who would qualify don't file a tax return, and that's a must in order to claim the money. "Each year, an average of one in five eligible taxpayers fail to claim the credit," he said.Last year, the average credit handed out was about $2,200, but the credit can provide as much as $5,900. Around 70 percent of the population can visit freefile.irs.gov and use free software to file a federal return, Hanson said. Using that software, those who made less than $51,000 last year can easily find out if they qualify for the EITC.There's really no reason not to find out if you're eligible, according to Hanson, because if you're 25 years of age or older, you make less than $51,000 a year free tax software is available on the IRS website to file a federal return.Using the free computer software also takes a lot of the guesswork out of the filing process and helps avoid errors, he said."There's a less than one percent chance for simple error -- whether it be math or forgetting to sign [the form]," Hanson said. "It's impossible to forget to sign the return digitally."There are special rules for those without children, with a disability or who have served in the military, among others, the website states. Hanson said if you don't have access to the internet, the IRS teams up with local chapters of the United Way and with AARP to provide assistance. "The only way to get a refund is to file a tax return and the only way to get the EITC is to file a tax return and claim it," he said. "Even apply if you took a job in December ... chances are money was still withheld from your paycheck."Reach Kate White at firstname.lastname@example.com or 304-348-1723. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Deer in 8 WV counties found dead from EHD 2 Plans for all-ages venue rise in old bakery building 3 Judge gives water crisis settlement preliminary approval 4 Body found in Kanawha River, near South Charleston 5 City of Milton tries to revive Morris Memorial property W.Va. Realtors head says great time to buy homes Previous Story Businesses say fundraisers pay off Next Story


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Go Bears!!
5 Tailgating & Game Day Tips
Pre-season football is upon us! We've got some quick tailgating & game day tips to kick off a new football season. -Pair spicy hot wings with Sutter Home Moscato! Everyone will be thrilled with this pairing - the sweetness of the Moscato can stand up to the hot spice of the wings. -For your favorite team's opening game, serve a fun signature wine cocktail! We have a ton of recipes for you to try. If you're feeling adventurous (maybe you need a cocktail in the colors of your favorite team...), enter your original wine cocktail into our contest. You could win $250 to Crate & Barrel - perfect for all those party hosting needs. -Grill up a fun & unique burger! We have a whole Burger Base of recipes for you to choose from. Have fun! -Serve mimosas on game day! Games can start early. Serve up some easy Sutter Home Bubbly Moscato mimosas to start the day. Bonus: mimosas are delicious with bacon! -Got tailgate? Throw Sutter Home single serve bottles (187ml) in the cooler alongside the beer & sodas. You're now completely prepared for the game! If you're excited for this new NFL season to officially start, leave your favorite team's name in the comments.
Check out a couple of our other great blog posts:
Backyards & Balconies: Outdoor Party Inspiration
Whether you're hosting a spring BBQ, block party, Sunday brunch, or graduation celebration, here are a few of our favorite outdoor party ideas.
Read more >


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Free short stack of buttermilk pancakes at IHOP on National Pancake Day, February 5. (Photo: Business Wire)During National Pancake Day, the company's largest philanthropic event of the year, more than 1,500 IHOP restaurants across the country will invite guests to enjoy a complimentary short stack of IHOP's signature delicious buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Guests will be encouraged to make a voluntary contribution to the local Children's Miracle Network Hospital or other local charities. One hundred percent of the donations will help local charities provide vital equipment, life-saving procedures and critical care for sick and injured children. Guests visiting participating IHOP restaurants in support of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals will also have the option to purchase "Miracle Balloons" for $1 and $5 each, throughout the month of January leading into National Pancake Day, with all proceeds going to the Children's Miracle Network Hospital. Participating restaurants will display the balloons in celebration of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals' 30-year anniversary. Those who buy a $5 Miracle Balloon will receive a $5 off discount that can be credited toward their next visit. This will mark the eighth year that IHOP has held National Pancake Day, which to date has raised more than $10 million dollars for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities. In 2012 alone, IHOP raised more than $3 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other charities.
Pancake lovers nationwide are counting the days until National Pancake Day on February 5, when IHOP ®, one of America's most popular family-friendly restaurants, known for "everything you love about breakfast," will once again invite guests to enjoy free pancakes. The restaurant chain hopes to raise $3 million as the first national fundraising campaign to kick off the 30 th anniversary year for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.


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Bedroom Arc Lamps
Arc lamps illuminate a bedroom with their stylish design. Bedroom arc lamps resemble a flowing arch of light and can be positioned where ever you crave a more dramatic look. Arc lamps function with you to complement your desires, but can be moved if the feeling isn't right.


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Get on the Ball: Backbend
It is no secret that I love working out with an exercise ball. Not only do I use a ball for core work, but one also makes a great yoga prop too. An exercise ball can support you in many stretches - like the wheel, aka backbend.
Since the backbends can sometime feel too intense, using an exercise ball as support can help you learn the pose. Plus it is just a great stretch for the front of the body!
Watch this video to see how to use the ball for your backbend.
Want some specifics on how to backbend with a ball? Then
- Start sitting on the ball, with your spine nice and long. Use your feet to help you stay balanced.
- Slowly walk your feet out a few inches, and lie your back on the ball, feeling the soft cushiony air supporting the natural curve of your spine.
- Keep your arms at your side on the ball, or work on straightening your arms overhead towards the ground.
- Press into your feet and work on planting your palms. Now you are in full backbend, also called Wheel, or Urdhva Dhanurasana in Sanskrit.
- Stay here for as long as you'd like, taking deep breaths and allowing the spine to elongate.
- To release, slowly press into your hands, shift weight into your feet, and lift your torso back up to a seated position on the ball.
Fit's Tips: You can also try variations where you walk your feet out away from the ball to extend your body even more. Or you can practice more advanced moves like lifting one leg up into the air and then the other. You can also try pressing your hands and feet into the ground as if you were lifting into backbend without the ball. All of these variations allow you to stretch your back in a relaxing way without using much strength.
Pants and Tank courtesy of be present


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
I am already spayed, housetrained, up to date with shots, and good with kids.
If you are interested in adopting and think you can provide a great home for this pet, you may complete an online application so that we can better assess if this pet is a good match for you and your family:
ADOPTION APPLICATION Apply here
For more information on this pet, please see the contact information in the box below (right)
Adopt Responsibly. Thank you for choosing Rescue!
GRACIE, a San Diego Poodle (Miniature) dog was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Poodle (Miniature) for sale in San Diego, or seeking a Poodle (Miniature) dog from a breeder in San Diego.


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Snow Emergency Hotline Deactivated at Midnight
Feb. 7, 2010
More Information
Fairfax County will deactivate its Emergency Information Line at midnight tonight. However, residents may still leave messages at 703-817-7771, TTY 711.
Emergency information and status updates will be available on:
- Fairfax County's Web site
- Emergency information phone line (703-817-7771)
- Community Emergency Alert Network (CEAN)
- Fairfax County Government Channel 16.
- In addition, 1670 AM, emergency radio for Fairfax County, is broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the National Weather Service.
Additional winter weather preparedness information can be found online. In addition, emergency contact numbers for public utilities is online should residents lose electricity, gas, telephone, cable, Internet or water service.
Note – Media should call 703-324-NEWS (6397).
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director, Office of Public Affairs
703-324-3189, TTY 711, Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
To request this information in an alternate format, call 703-324-3187, TTY 711


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In Magic's Pawn, an ancient age in the history of Valdemar comes to life - an age when the kingdom was ravaged by the ungoverned fury of bandit warlords, ferocious ice dragons, and the wild magic of wizards. A new addition to Lackey's Valdemar kingdom - and her most powerful series to date!
©1991 Mercedes R. Lackey (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Audio Book Fan
"Finally Getting To the Classics!"
I must admit - I probably have worn out 2 or three paperback versions of this series, as well as the Arrows of the Queen series (of which only book one is currently available for audio.) I remember my introduction to Misty Lackey, at the last convention she attended (Dragoncon 2000 - and therein hangs SEVERAL tales, but) - this is the first series I read where there was a protagonist who makes you cry and makes you laugh, and makes you feel the plight of the outcast so comprehensively that you CAN"T read only the one book - start one and before the week is out - you will be hunting down book 2 and 3 to finish the story off.
Fair warning - Vanyel is gay. Now, having MET Misty and Mark Shepherd (who sometimes co-writes with her) - I've sometimes wondered just how much of Mark is IN Vanyel - but she doesn't make it into a big deal. (She never really does much in the way of romance in her early works, and while the series DOES skew PG - I don't think Misty's ever written an "R" rated sex scene - and if you want X - look elsewhere.)
"It's not him, it's me"
Here is my problem. I love this series. I have read and re-read these books for years and that means that I have formed an opinion of how certain names and words should sound - even if the author might pronounce them differently - so when I hear the narrator say a word that I think should be said differently, I wince. I shouldn't, but I do. So, in a sense, this might be a good version of the book, but my experience with the material has jaded my listening opinion. Sorry.
That being said, I do want to take issue with the way in which the book was read. I had a hard time distinguishing between characters. The narrator has a few different voices, but they are not distinct enough to tell which character is talking. Also, I was taken aback by not being able to tell when the narrator was moving from scene to scene. It all seemed to blend into one great big paragraph instead of sections of story. I didn't enjoy that aspect.
Like I said, it might be my experience with the material, but this reading was only an adequate version of this story. I am happy to have bought it, but it does not rank high of my favorite purchases.
"This narrator is atrocious"
I'm a sucker for Romantic Fantasy.
The teacher, Savil.
The main character starts out as a whiny teenager. A good narrator could take that voice and inject a little humor and irony to make him relate-able. This narrator eschews subtlety and passes up opportunities for pathos and goes right for "whiny drama queen." The whole time. This makes the main character (who's supposed to be the hero) someone you can barely stand to listen to, let alone empathize with.
Others have commented on the bad/odd pronunciations of names. What floors me is that a professional narrator can mispronounce regular old English words. Repeatedly.
This story deserves so much better. I've never been moved to write a review of a performance before, but I was today. I just can't take it any more. I don't know how much of it is bad production and how much of it is bad reading.
I like the story. And I spent the money. So I listened.
"One of my favorite stories almost ruined."
This is the book that got me interested in reading novels in the first place so is holds a special place for me. I have worn out several copies of this series so I have a definite "voice" in my head for each character. I understand that no narrator could live up to that, but even so, I was very disappointed.
The first complaint I have is his ever changing pronunciation. Even if it's wrong, stick with it. Second are his accents. Only do an accent if you can do it well, and don't change that accent each time a character speaks. Most good audio books I've listened to, you can immediately tell which character is speaking by the voice change and consistency of that voice. Third and possibly the most disturbing is his cadence and how he holds the vowels out. I have never heard anything like this. I laughed several times during very dramatic scenes because of his pace and how he was saying it.
Mercedes Lackey is an amazing author and I feel that her work deserves better than this. Listen to just about anything narrated by Davina Porter or Roy Dotrice and you'll hear how a good book deserves to be narrated.
Prize-winning Poet, Composer and Lyricist.
"Magic's Pawn: Book 1 of 3"
Vanyel Ashkevron is a 16 year old young man who's father is Lord of Forst Reach in the kingdom of Valdemar, and is expected by his father to take over his estate as Lord Holder when he comes to manhood.
However, Vanyel is far more interested in music than in being Lord Holder or in the "hack and bash" fighting his nemesis, Jervis, tries to force down his throat. He understands neither of those any more than he understands why his father never seems to think he does anything right and seems to believe he lies: though he does not. Eventually the root of his father's "problem" is told in this first book and handled well in all three of this trilogy. I found the treatment Ms. Lackey did of the issues around being gay with a parent who is homophobic (though neither word is used it becomes obvious) to be very accurate and true to life. Those who think it isn't either had awesomely progressive parents or they are not gay and therefore have no understanding of the wounds this inflicts.
Magic's Pawn, the first in three books of the trilogy known as "The Last Herald Mage" is the beginning of a tale that starts with the main character (Vanyel) very young, and ends in the third book in his mid thirties, quite a different man and very mature. It seems that things only go from bad to worse at first, but eventually the story shows what it took to make Vanyel the Legend he eventually becomes.The characters and relationships in Lackey's writing are very well drawn, and while this first book of the trilogy includes seemingly overdone emotions, for a 16 year old confused boy, it's just right. Emotions are always seem to adults to be a bit overdone at 16 years old regardless of gender or sexual preference.
About the narrator: James DeLotel did a FANTASTIC job of narrating all three books of this series for the American Printing House for the blind. However, my copy is old and missing at least 22 pages (broken tape, fixed ultimately but missing the broken part) of the first book is missing. I so badly wanted copies of all three books that were whole.
I am grateful that Audible did this, but I wish that Audible could have some way of checking the narration at the very least, even if they can't afford (or won't pay for) studio time for recording in which both editing and directing could have made a huge difference.
I think that this narrator, Gregory St. John, has at the very least a natural gift for narrating, but even gifts need direction. This narrator for this book has been reviewed MANY times as having anything from an annoying effect on listeners to an UN-listenable effect. I found it merely annoying because I know the story is worth it. No newcomer to these stories can be expected to see that though.
MERCEDES LACKEY has written quite a few fantastic series that many people follow in an age when reading has all but gone out of style. It's not fair to the author or the listeners to have such inconsistent, badly timed and badly pronounced (e.g. "Tamentable" is said in place of "Lamentable" for instance in book two) regular English/American words as well as the inconsistency of pronunciation of names as well as pacing. Speaking of which, the pacing is horrid. No pause, not even one second between obviously different scenes. The reading is so bad, my first listen included many lost sentences going by as I tried to figure out what the narrator had just said. And I had already read the entire series three times in hardback!!!
If too many of Audible's narrators are like this, I fear many people will find other places to get their audio books. I've even thought of doing that myself, which I find a bit disturbing. And all because of bad narration by one narrator. One. And I know, from experience with "The Island" and a few other books from Audible that regardless of the greatness of the writing, the horridly unprofessional narration made it so I could barely stand the too fast reading, very bad "accents" that do not remain consistent within characters, bad pacing, mispronounced words, etc. in any book from Audible. That's not good for keeping me from wandering around looking for other sources of audio books.
It is necessary, I believe, to bother with studio time, recording with editing and some direction.
I put up with it, because it's where I first found a copy of "The Last Herald Mage" trilogy not as old as my worn James DeLotel version. But....I won't be tossing that version, as it's nice to RELAX rather than be constantly irritated and finding myself correcting the narrator such as when St. John says the word "merc" (shortened form for mercenary) as "merse" rather than "merk". Actually, with that mispronounced word, St. John was absolutely consistent! Which only made me more annoyed. After about the fifth time he says "merse rations" I start correcting him ... as though that will make any difference. I'm glad I already loved these books or Audible, frankly, I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT THE SECOND ONE. In fact, I probably would have asked for money back and rescinded my rights to the first book once I got that money back. That's how annoying it would be had I not already been familiar with and loved the books themselves.
Really, these things could have easily been cleared up with a little direction. It makes your narrators look bad as well as your company. Of course, this is all assuming that Audible has any say and is something more than a place that rents audio books from other places. If Audible does rent from other places, perhaps Audible needs to first read user reviews from the companies they rent from so they can better choose which books Audible wants to present to it's clientele.
Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise and Magic's Price are awesome books in written form. And if a bad narration, bad or no editing and no direction causes people to turn away from the books themselves, I hope authors check in and insist on their books being done by professionals rather than just well, gifted folks in home studios with no direction and absolutely no editing. I will start warning authors if I see this on the increase. It's a very bad misrepresentation of an author's work when the narration alone turns readers away. How many times do your customers have to tell you this, Audible, before you find a way to seriously address the issue? And if you'd like a dialogue, Audible, contact me, I'd be happy to talk to you about it.
For those who love fantasy and love books by Mercedes Lackey, you can still hear her works here, just allow for some really challenging moments in listening for this series.
"Still Readable, but....."
Overpowering teen angst.
Since I'm not a fan of excessive teen angst, that eliminates Vanyel. My favorite part of the story on listening after 20+ years was actually Savil.
Someone who actually knows how to narrate a story? The narration was dreadful. The pacing was off (someone explain to Mr. St. John about punctuation and what it means), the pronunciations were off (some of them made me want to claw my ears off), there were often instances when I literally said to myself, "WHAT did he just say?" I found myself wondering what the narrator was using as his source for the reading. Was it OCR errors that he was actually reading rather than questioning? An example from the second book, which stopped me dead and threw me out of the story: a character says, "Count your messings!" What? I'm sure it was actually "blessings". That is not the only jarring instance. There are a lot of them. Honestly, Audible, did you not have anyone checking these readings for consistency and proper English? Direction would be good. Post-production editing would be good. Getting the pronunciations from the author would be good. At one point during listening (to one of the other two books), I literally pulled out the hardcopy and read along and was boggled by how... off it all was. This is not the first bad experience I've had with this narrator; so yeesh. No thanks.
It probably did when I was younger, but honestly, I was often rolling my eyes. Maybe I'm just too old to empathize with the teen angst and I was just "Oh, god, get over yourself." too much.
I have read these books occasionally since the first time when I was much younger. The story mostly holds up as a fairly decent coming of age tale. But after so long, my tastes changed and I realize in retrospect that the author as a writer does things that annoy the blazes out of me. It might be the supremely poor narration making me react more critically to Lackey's writing, but I don't think so. Still, these books are the only ones of Lackey's I can still tolerate, so there is that.
"Great story, disappointing audio"
Mediocre reading with poor production. The narrator missed punctuation and read right through commas, periods, new paragraphs and scene changes. Poor reader or poor production?
Vanyel Ashkevron because we get to see him grow from an abused and difficult teen into a selfless hero.
This needed better attention to details like correct pronunciation of character names and places. I wish St. John had been mindful of scene changes by taking a breath and leaving a little empty air space as a clue. I know the book has spaces between scenes for this purpose.I would have liked it better if he hadn't given every woman and teen character a whine.
I have waited a long time for an audio production of this series and am disappointed that it wasn't given the attention it deserved. I suggest you read the book first and let the characters become real to you. Mercades Lackey's writing is better than production makes it sound.
"not quite what I remembered"
Ever read something when you were young, think it was amazing, then come back to it and wonder what you were thinking? That's my relationship with my highschool obsession with Mercedes Lackey. I used to think her works were the most imaginative, romantic, intense things I'd ever read, and I honestly paused Magic's Pawn before I could even finish it.
I don't know if that's because this is one of her early works, but I did not make it all the way through this book. The prose was flowery and purple, the people's inability to communicate for the sake of plot-tension unbelievable in the extreme, and characters who were supposed to be tragic and sympathetic came across as snotty rather than flawed.
If you do like fantasy, or if you have a young person in your life who has just finished Twilight and wants to know what to read next, recommend this author to them- but maybe start with Owlflight or the Black Gryphon or Oathbound. They're perfectly lovely books- just more tween than I had remembered.
"Excellent book (and series), but ..."
No! The audio version is not as good as the print version, simply because of the horrendous narration. The narrator mispronounced words regularly throughout the series, and not just the unusual words of Valdemar.
This is an old favorite, one of the first in the genre that I read.
I was incredibly disappointed that the performer didn't bother to learn how to pronounce the names correctly, particularly since there is a published glossary. It all but ruined it for me.
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text: CindySays: Strength and interval exercise better for overweight youths By Cindy Boggs October 1, 2012 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Dear Cindy,I am writing to you about my 9-year-old son. He is overweight and each year is less and less active. I have tried to involve him in sports, but he is not interested. I've persuaded him a few times to walk with me in the evening, but he doesn't like to go. I know he needs more exercise, but nothing interests him, and I am out of ideas. His best friend is also overweight and was just diagnosed with high blood pressure! Can you advise? -- WorriedDear Worried,I certainly understand your concern and frustration. Unfortunately, there are a great number of parents struggling with this same issue. It's a Catch-22 when overweight children pull back from physical activity.Imagine this scenario: As the child becomes less active, they begin gaining weight. As they gain weight, they find more ways to spend time sedentary (TV, Internet, video games). They continue to gain weight and lose confidence until they are no longer comfortable with activity. Parents recognize this lifestyle as unhealthy and try motivating them to become active, and it is almost always met with opposition.Encouraging an overweight child to play a sport typically backfires because they usually lack the self-esteem and experience to jump into a competitive situation. They realize they're not equipped and predict it's not going to end well.How did we get here? Less physical activity in physical education classes and elimination of active recess in many schools certainly figure into the mix. Add the prevalence of fast food, the rise in popularity of inactive video games and you have a pretty potent recipe for childhood obesity.Childhood obesity is an epidemic in our nation and, sadly, statistics tell us that overweight/obese children grow up to be overweight/obese adults. They don't outgrow it. A leading researcher on this subject is Wayne L. Westcott, a professor of exercise science at Quincy College in Quincy, Mass., who has written 24 books on physical fitness and youth. He recognizes the role self-esteem plays in how physical activity is perceived. The connection is undeniable.Something has to changeWestcott is dedicated to reversing the trend of childhood obesity because he knows these young people face a significantly higher risk of chronic disease -- heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, degenerative conditions, high blood pressure -- if they remain sedentary. He explains, "They generally don't do well in endurance activities, such as soccer, or jumping activities, such as basketball. They don't even like to play tag because they are always It. Psychologically, research shows that obese children score very low in self-image and self-confidence. They seldom play sports."This is why he has studied the effects of resistance training (working on strength) and interval training in youths.A different way to moveWestcott has discovered that children are not drawn to the same type of exercise programming as adults. For example, he said, elementary school-age children "exercise all-out for 30 to 60 seconds, then they rest. After a minute or two of recovery, they exercise all-out again for 30 to 60 seconds. They basically have an innate ability to exercise in an interval-training manner. "Conversely, most young people do not fit the adult exercise model of a five-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of continuous cycling or jogging, followed by a five-minute cool-down. One important physical activity that matches children's physiological factors is strength exercise. They perform a 30- to 60-second set of strength exercise, rest a minute or two, then perform another set of strength exercise. In addition, heavier kids typically lift more weight than their lighter peers, making this one of the few activities in which overweight children experience success."Youth-oriented programsAge-appropriate activity with strength and conditioning exercise as a foundation is usually more apt to engage youth and make them feel successful. It doesn't require scorekeeping but does reward progress at every stage. It doesn't pit children against one another; in fact, it focuses on team building and creates an atmosphere of peer support. Lively games using interesting fitness tools is motivating and comes with multiple opportunities for positive reinforcement. This is the type of physical activity I would advise you seek out for your son.Because of the extensive youth fitness studies, the protocol and guidelines regarding the amount of resistance, the number of repetitions and the rate of progression is clearly defined. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports strength and resistance training programs, even for prepubescent children who are monitored by well-trained adults and take into account the child's maturation level.Remarkable resultsAccording to Westcott, overweight children who do one to three nonconsecutive resistance workouts a week "average almost 3 pounds more lean [muscle] tissue and 3 pounds less fat every 8 to 10 weeks of training." This activity can be exciting and effective where there are equal amounts of challenge, achievement and reinforcement. Connecting your son to a stimulating program can help him develop a more positive attitude toward fitness and equip him with the essentials for becoming both a physically and mentally stronger adult.Cindy Boggs, fitness presenter, author and Activate America director, has been an ACE-certified instructor/trainer since 1989. Send your questions about fitness, training or health to her at YMCA of Kanawha Valley, 100 YMCA Drive, Charleston, WV 25311, or email firstname.lastname@example.com. Look for Cindy's award-winning fitness advice book, "CindySays ... You Can Find Health in Your Hectic World," at www.cindysays.com, or contact the YMCA at 304-340-3527. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Police seek car driven by woman found dead in Kanawha River 2 Teen pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Oakes Field shooting 3 Facebook founder visits Cabin Creek Health Systems 4 Man allegedly cuts father in Rand over argument about sandwich 5 Esa Ahmad ineligible for first half of WVU men's basketball season Into the Garden: Pros could be more professional too Previous Story What's for Dinner: Football season inspires tailgating recipes Next Story


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Announcing A New AAA Four-Diamond San Diego Hotel
Diamonds are also a hotel's best friend, and our little gem of an island resort has just received another. Paradise Point is pleased to announce it has been awarded the prestigious status of a 2011 AAA Four Diamond hotel in San Diego. Â
The AAA rating system is regarded as the hospitality industry's most trusted evaluation for North American travelers and recognizes the country's hotels and restaurants that are exceptional in the categories of product quality, service and attention to detail.
Less than 3% of over 58,000 AAA-approved hotels and restaurants receive this rating for superior quality and level of service, and Paradise Point is one of just 11 AAA Four Diamond San Diego hotels of over 250 properties in the city.
Paradise Point offers a 10% AAA discount at our San Diego luxury hotel to all AAA members year-round.


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FOCUS products have to satisfy the highest requirements. That's what we expect of ourselves. To meet these quality requirements, we develop our own technologies for maximum performance. Unique selling points in terms of functionality, efficiency and design characterise the patented technologies from our design and engineering department in Stuttgart. The art of German engineering. Tested under the most extreme conditions and developed with our top athletes. So that our customers only have the best of experiences. German Engineered Experience.
F.O.L.D. (Focus Optimized Linkage Design)
F.O.L.D. stands for FOCUS Optimised Linkage Design, and offers the ultimate in rear suspension. The patented F.O.L.D. kinematics make it possible to optimise the suspension for an extremely wide range of different requirements. This ensures maximum riding fun both when racing and on long adventures.
R.A.T. (Rapid Axle Technology)
Thru axles increase stability and stiffness, but usually also take more time to change the wheel. Not so with FOCUS. The specially designed Rapid Axle Technology is the fastest wheel-change system; much more so than even traditional quick-release levers.
With FOCUS, there is a small T-pin at the end of the thru axle, which is pushed into a mount on the other side, so the axle only has to be rotated 90 degrees to close the quick-release lever. This technology received a Eurobike Award at Eurobike 2014.
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Latest assortment delivers the bad guys...
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with Collectibles Insurance, the official insurance company of the Figures.com network. Say "Figures.com" to get 5% off your first term premiums.
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, RedfordFilms.com, Toynk.com, PastGenerationToys.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, and MonkeyDepot.com.
DC Collectibles has released new images and info regarding their third assortment of Batman: Arkham City action figures. On sale September 19, 2012 this villain studded wave includes:
- BATMAN - 6.75 h
- RAS AL GHUL - 6.75 h
- THE PENGUIN - 5.25 h
- AZRAEL - 6.8 h
- CLOWN THUG w/ BAT - 6.15 h
- CLOWN THUG w/ KNIFE - 6.15 h


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New Bettie Page statue, Peanuts, Domo, Dexter, more...
Toy Fair 2010 coverage brought to you by the following fine sponsors: BigBadToyStore.com, PastGenerationToys.com, and Sekaido.com (YesAnimation.com).
Dark Horse was at Toy Fair showcasing a slew of new items both retro and new. Highlights included:
* BETTIE PAGE: The 1950s glamour icon has been a product staple at Dark Horse for some time now (over 150 licensed items), but 2010 will see a resurgence of collectibles including a stunning new Bettie Page statue (pictured top). This piece is scheduled for a worldwide release in August 2010, carrying a $150 price tag. Bettie will also make her appearance on new Dark Horce Gela Skins and stationary, as well as metal keychains, picture frames and belt buckles.
* DOMO: The Domo invasion continues with a new series of 2" Domo Qees produced by Toy2R. Look for these this March priced at $8.99. These will be carded, with a blind boxed assortment reserved for stores like Borders and Hot Topic. Also be on the look out for exciting new 7" Domo Qee designs ($79.99 each). Several cool styles were on display to gauge reaction. I personally love the furry green Domo.
* TIM BURTON: Dark Horse is releasing Tim Burton's The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy mini PVC figures in new Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys branded packaging. A great opportunity to collect these if you missed them the first time around. Also look for new 8" vinyl figures, stationary and the like. These items are selling briskly in New York where Tim Burton's work is being showcased at the Museum of Modern Art.
* PEANUTS: The classic Charles Schulz comic strip celebrates 60 years in 2010 and Dark Horse is joining the festivites with a new statuettes. Inspired by "syroco" sculptures that were popular in the 1930s and '40s, these new collectibles will include characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Lucy as they were orginaly drawn in the 1950s. These will retail for a SRP of $49.95. Two "Then and Now" 2-packs will also see release this July priced at $24.99. These PVC figure sets will include Snoopy (modern and 50's version) and Charlie Brown (modern and 50's version).
* HERBIE POPNECKER: Sculpted by Tim Bruckner, a 7" vinyl figure of the 50s/60s comic character will be released this April priced at $39.99. Be on the look out for a limited edition variant Herbie to be mixed randomily with assortments featuring a different colored lollipop (green) and pants (brown).
* DEXTER: No photography was permitted pending licensor approval, but a mini bust sculpted by Gentle Giant will be released this August priced at $69.99.
* UMBRELLA ACADEMY: A new POCKET WATCH AND statue set will see release this July priced at $129.99. The 5.5" statuette will be of 00.05, also known as The Boy. The high-end watch comes in a deluxe faux-leather, velveteen-lined box with a numbered metal certificate of authenticity. These sets will be limited to 500 pieces.
Check out all these cool new items and more in our Dark Horse photo gallery below!
For a great selection of action figures and collectibles, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, SmallJoes.com, MonkeyDepot.com.
For a great selection of pop culture t-shirts and apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.


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Tough times call for creative measures. The stagnant economy and hefty cigarette taxes have more c-store chains expanding their foodservice segments and adding more roller grill items to provide a greater array of hot food options at a value price to sustain loyal customers. "Customers automatically associate c-stores and roller grills. It's been a source
New Products Power the Roller Grill
June 1, 2009 CSD Staff : 0 Comments


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Sassy's Story
As much as I like my comfy foster home and foster dad, I've been here quite a while and would really rather have someone of my very own to love and to love me back! I admit I don't much like adoption fairs so you might think I'm stand-offish when I'm really just a bit uncomfortable away from home, but that's not the real me.
I have a hair-trigger purr which kicks in the moment you walk into the room if I know you. I especially like to come and snuggle by your side to keep you company...unless there's food available.
I even have a brand new coat to show off; I got a "lion cut" a while ago to keep me cool and beautiful and now my fur is growing back beautifully.
Please note:


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Wicker Stackable Bins
No longer available
- Overview
Colorful and super-practical, these stackable woven wicker bins are perfect on shelves, under the bed or grouped in a corner.
- 14.25" wide x 13.5" deep x 6.25" high
- Woven of wicker.
- Features two sturdy handles.
- Dimensions + Care
- Wipe with a soft, dry cloth.
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This item will arrive in 3-5 business days. Please proceed to the Payment & Review page of Checkout for a precise delivery estimate.
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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.
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Brewed by Caution: Brewing Co.
Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer8.9% ABV36 IBU
Promote your beer to thirsty patrons looking for it.Learn More
Heads up! Caution: Tim Curry Imperial Pumpkin Ale may not be available near you. Follow this beer to get notified when it's available nearby, try searching in a different area, or discover some similar beer.
Autumn Seasonal Beer6.8% ABV
Two Roads Brewing CompanyStratford, CT
Available at very few places nearby
Roadsmary's Baby is a traditional pumpkin ale with a Two Roads spin, it's aged in rum barrels for added complexity and depth of flavor. The result is a smooth drinking ale with notes of pumpkin, spices, vanilla, oak and a touch of rum.
Imperial Pumpkin Ale8.6% ABV25 IBU
Southern Tier Brewing CompanyLakewood, NY
Available at very few places nearby
As the first drops touch your tongue a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds making it difficult to escape the Pumking.


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NEW YORK — This is supposed to be about Alex Rodriguez. It's impossible to step anywhere in this city without hearing about or obsessing over or cursing the erstwhile New York Yankees superstar, so we might as well spend a cool Wednesday night in the Bronx mulling the curiosity that is A-Rod.
What's that? There are far more compelling subjects than the fallen drama king, you say? Like, oh, two rookies slugging home runs for the Baltimore Orioles while the big-hitting Yankees whiffed and slashed and came up small in their own cozy Stadium, until Joe Girardi made a legendary, almost unthinkable decision and Raul Ibanez rose off the bench and hit two home runs, once in the bottom of the ninth to tie Game 3 of the American League Division Series, the next in the 12th to win it for New York 3-2?
— How the Yankees won | Recap | Images from Game 3
Like, oh, Baltimore starting a pitcher who wasn't even on the roster when the season began, and that barely known rookie named Miguel Gonzalez pushing the Yankees to the edge of disaster before Ibanez tip-toed into Reggie territory?
I guess those angles might deserve a mention.
What about Buck Showalter returning to the one place where he desperately wants to win — he won't admit as much, but those who know him well say he greatly yearns to beat the franchise that fired him way back in 1995, just as he was putting the pinstripes back on the playoff map — and somehow getting a team devoid of stars and stuffed with nobodies to send scare after scare into the Yankees?
Well sure, that would be some story.
But not now, not on this night, because for the first time in his extraordinary career Rodriguez was benched for a pinch hitter, and because of that grand, daring move the Yankees have brand-new life.
Now and then, in between dazzling with curveballs and sneaking in sliders, Gonzalez had to resist the urge to glance around the Stadium and gawk. For much of the night it was so quiet, so pensive, as if nobody could figure out how this could be happening. How could a guy who not so long ago was plucked out of the Mexican Winter League after dropping out of the Red Sox farm system, who was a long man, for cripes sake, handcuff the Yankees like this?
Tucked in as a starter when the Orioles' rotation destructed, the 28-year-old Gonzalez defines as much as anyone a team that doesn't know it's supposed to shrink in these moments. Gonzalez especially pitched A-Rod fearlessly, particularly in a fourth inning 10-pitch strikeout that was heavy with fastballs — a cruel reminder of Rodriguez' bat speed.
Two nights earlier, Orioles closer Jim Johnson struck out Rodriquez to end Game 2 — throwing what A-Rod called "big-time cement balls" — and even though Girardi wouldn't move A-Rod out of the No. 3 spot for Game 3, the Yankee manager didn't worry about ego or paychecks when the ninth rolled around, and the Yankees trailed by a run.
Baltimore had won 16 consecutive extra-inning games and were 75-1 when leading after eight innings, another reason their story continues to boggle. Johnson and his cement balls had got Ichiro Suzuki to line out, but the Yankees still have that flair for dramatic. And so up rose the left-handed hitting Ibanez to pinch-hit for Rodriguez, who had gone 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. The Stadium creaked and gasped.
That Girardi wasn't afraid to poke A-Rod's ego caused most every jaw to drop. Girardi sure couldn't avoid the hot topic before the game. It wasn't just that A-Rod came in batting a useless 1-for-9 with a walk and five strikeouts against the O's; it's that he hasn't had a memorable hit in the postseason since 2009, and New York fans have never been shy about expressing their disdain for high-priced talent who play small when the lights are brightest.
But Girardi's never been inclined to bow to the cackling public, so rather than move Rodriguez down in the lineup he kept him in the No. 3 hole as the designated hitter, while Eric Chavez moved to third base. In explaining his thinking, the Yankee manager cited A-Rod's awesome walk from Game 1, a sure sign of the swirling madness.
But then came the ninth, and the gustiest move of Girardi's career. Going against the logic in his precious binder, he pulled aside Rodriguez, the sport's highest-paid player who still hasn't gotten over the indignity of being bumped all the way down to eighth by Joe Torre in the 2006 ALDS. Girardi mentioned that Ibanez was a low-ball hitter, and pointed to the short porch. A-Rod, according to Girardi, responded: "You do what you got to do."
Ibanez lined a high fastball off Johnson into right-center in the ninth to tie it 2-2, and then drilled a leadoff homer in the 12th from Brian Matusz to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead in their AL division series. Bedlam descended on home plate, delirium soared through the stands. Jaws were hinged back into their sockets.
"Raul had to come through," Girardi said. "I just had a gut feeling."
Said Rodriguez, after leading the cheers and the stomping of home plate: "I don't know how I'd have reacted 10 years ago (to being removed in a postseason game). But I've matured a lot in the last few years. Whatever it takes to win. What an awesome moment that was."
Those who paid attention to how the Yankees blew a 10-game divisional lead over the Orioles during the regular season shouldn't be shocked that they are now battling for their playoff lives. Those who've watched Ibanez shouldn't be surprised by his late-season magic. He did it to the Boston Red Sox, to Oakland Athletics, and now to a team that had the Yankees on the ropes.
"Stunned? No, stunned left me a long time ago," said Showalter, who's been around long enough to know that new twists can still take over the Bronx in the craziest of ways.
Against Gonzalez, only the sore-ankled Derek Jeter — not an upset there — and Russell Martin did much. In the third inning, after Ryan Flaherty's homer put Baltimore up 1-0, Martin doubled off Gonzalez. Jeter, his legs getting more and more wobbly as the night grew long, elevated a two-out fly ball to center field that Adam Jones loafed under.
So easy to snag was this fly ball, Jones blew a bubble from his big wad of gum as he strolled toward the wall, misreading the ball's trajectory until it landed on the track. Jeter and his sore, wobbly ankles ended up on third, the game tied. Jeter eventually came out of the game, his foot bruised from a foul ball, but he typically insisted afterward that he'd be fine for Thursday's Game 4.
The Orioles didn't have single batter who hit .290 for the season, not that this mattered much. For so long they were a feckless, drab organization whose most storied clash with fame occurred when some kid leaned over the outfield wall at the old Stadium and messed with destiny. Jeffrey Maier is all grown up now, a father raising his own kids to be Yankee fans, and when you ask this group in their orange and black caps what they know of that 1996 playoff series, they mostly squint and shrug.
"I was like 4 years old then, dude," said Manny Machado, before he slugged a home run in the fifth inning from the ninth spot off Yankee starter Hiroki Kuroda, who was mostly brilliant. In a fun sub plot, Machado proudly calls himself A-Rod's protégé; he grew up in Miami idolizing A-Rod, and is now outslugging him.
Machado's dinger put the Orioles up 2-1, and soon they were two outs away from pushing into even more incredible terrain, and A-Rod had been so awful, again, and then Ibanez struck. And struck again, and oh my, how do the O's recover from this?
What a silly question, because anyone who has peered at these Orioles as they've pulled out victory after victory in one-run games this season knows they don't shrink from pressure — not even the sort that causes the stomach to flip-flop and lurch, which is what Gonzalez admitted to feeling once this extraordinary night was over.
As for A-Rod, he still hasn't hit a homer in nearly a month, spanning 80 at-bats, but at least his grin was true and bright after being bailed out by Ibanez. Asked if Rodriguez would be hitting third here Thursday night, Girardi sighed and said he'd have to sleep on it, but he too was chuckling. It was some kind of night.
Learn more
— Linemakers: How Vegas sees baseball playoffs
— Tigers-Athletics, Game 4: A's rally to win with three in ninth


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DuPont Executive Vice President James C. Borel said that identifying local science-based, sustainable solutions is key to meeting the challenge of feeding Indonesia and the world. Borel participated in a panel discussion focused on global nutrition challenges in Jakarta, Indonesia. He also explained the Global Food Security Index commissioned by DuPont.
Government officials, business and thought leaders discussed how to collaborate to address the challenge of feeding Indonesia. They lent their unique perspectives to meet the demand for affordable, safe, nutritious and healthy food in Indonesia during a one-day presentation of ideas.
"This is a critical time for Indonesia to make the choices that will ensure its people have enough nutritious food to eat," said Brian Jones, Asia Pacific leader for DuPont Nutrition & Health. "Only by working together will we succeed in addressing the critical task of feeding our planet, adequately and sustainably."
Indonesia has succeeded in reducing poverty but the country still faces enormous challenges. Around 120 million Indonesians live on less than 20,000 rupiah or US$2 a day. And though the bulk of this money is spent on food, over one third of Indonesian children face the harsh reality of inadequate nutrition.
"At DuPont, we believe that there is a science to feeding the growing population," said Borel. "While science is global – solutions must be local. The chances of achieving that goal are increased dramatically by creating science-based innovations that target specific local challenges, collaborating with others on solutions and bringing know-how to the people and places that need it most."
To address the food security challenge of Indonesia and the world, DuPont has committed to invest US$10 billion in research and development dedicated to the food, agriculture and nutrition sectors and advancing 4,000 new products by the end of 2020; supporting training and education opportunities for youth around the world, and working with farmers to improve the livelihoods of families in rural communities.
DuPont looks to help farmers revolutionize agricultural productivity and enable scientific innovation to help food manufacturers create products that extend shelf life and preserve freshness. Scientific innovation also will help food manufacturers create products that meet local nutritional needs, Borel noted.
In countries where people's diets are low in micronutrients, science can help big and small food manufacturers increase protein, vitamins, and probiotics consumption of food products and provide affordable solutions for better nutrition. Most importantly, these food security solutions must be sustainable, he said.
"We cannot achieve food security absent genuine sustainability that encompasses how food is produced, how it gets to market and how it is served on our plates," Borel added.
As a part of its commitment to food security, DuPont commissioned the development of a comprehensive measurement tool that addresses the need for specific metrics to illustrate what food security looks like country-by-country. The Global Food Security Index was created by the Economist Intelligence Unit and is a one-of-a-kind tool that will help all of us around the world measure and better understand the many aspects of what constitutes food security in 105 countries, including Indonesia. The Index looks at affordability, availability, nutritional quality and safety, and it will employ an adjustment factor for food price fluctuations to examine the risk countries face throughout the course of a given year. To learn more log onto foodsecurityindex.eiu.com.
"Our hope is that the Global Food Security Index will promote a common understanding and foster collaborations across the food value chain, generate insights and stimulate action to feed a growing population," said Borel.
At an evening event, DuPont also marked its sponsorship of the second season of the BBC World News program Horizons, presented by BBC business journalist and conference moderator, Adam Shaw. This Horizons series continues with a journey across the globe in search of the ideas and businesses that may succeed over the next decade in tackling the planet's biggest challenges. The new season of Horizons will air on BBC World News, in over 200 countries and territories around the world beginning on Oct. 6. For information on the program, visit http://www.horizonsbusiness.comor Facebook.com/horizonsTVseries.


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Drinking coca tea is a common practice in several South American countries. Coca tea bags normally contain about one gram of leaves.
For cocaine dependence, chewing 100-200 grams of coca leaf per week for about 27 months has been used.
For exercise performance, 15-16 grams of coca leaves (providing 0.4%-0.7% cocaine) has been chewed for one hour; "unlimited" or "usual" amounts of coca leaves for chewers and 4.5 grams non-chewers have been chewed for one hour.
For hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), an unknown amount of coca leaves has been chewed for thirty minutes.
There is no proven safe or effective dose for coca in children.
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