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March 14, 2011
Baseball ProGUESTus
Investigating the "Best Shape" Phenomenon
Believe it or not, most of our writers didn't enter the world sporting an @baseballprospectus.com address; with a few exceptions, they started out somewhere else. In an effort to up your reading pleasure while tipping our caps to some of the most illuminating work being done elsewhere on the internet, we'll be yielding the stage once a week to the best and brightest baseball writers, researchers and thinkers from outside of the BP umbrella. If you'd like to nominate a guest contributor (including yourself), please drop us a line.
Rob Pettapiece, a recent Mathematics graduate from the University of Waterloo, wrote for Batter's Box for two years, currently edits the CIS Blog, and provides statistical analysis and consulting to coaches and journalists in several sports.
"One thing [Jerry] Coleman felt sure of was that he was in the best shape of his life."—David Halberstam in Summer of '49
If you're reading this, chances are you not only know all about the "best shape of my life" stories that resurface every spring, you've also mocked those stories (and maybe even joked about the stories written about those stories). This isn't new; we've snarked about it for years.
Since I was never any good at writing jokes, I originally figured that my contribution to this fine baseball tradition could be to compile a long list of all the BSOML players, just for the absurdity of it all. I undertook that effort four years ago with no grander goal than to have a few laughs with some friends. But one thing led to another, lists turned into spreadsheets, and before I could lift one off-season weight, I had a multi-year study on how BSOMLers perform while being in—you guessed it—the best shape of their lives. Now, this meant that I was, at least on some level, studying the effects of chicken-finger consumption on run production, but I soldiered on nonetheless, curious to see how it would turn out.
I'm not the first one to have had this idea, so to make this exercise worth your while, I'll go back a few years and try to take a more extensive look at whether it actually means anything (from a performance perspective) to be in great shape entering Spring Training. You may already have an idea where this is headed, but this is baseball in March...since when does the outcome matter? Grab a beer, take a seat in the fourth row, and enjoy.
Shaping the methodology
First we have to establish what "best shape" means. You have your obvious cases (Andres Torres makes it so easy, it's not even sporting) and similar, "I-feel-great-this-year" stories, but what about players coming back from injury?
"My wrist has healed" doesn't necessarily equate to "my fitness level has improved." But all I want to measure is whether a given player outdoes his established level of performance. Ill health of all kinds is distributed along a continuum; we tend to separate physical complaints into distinct buckets (injured, out of shape, etc.), but a player laying claim to BSOML status is, I would argue, talking about how healthy he feels. Injuries play a role in his physical self-evaluation; when a player says, "I feel great," perhaps he's really thinking, "I feel great because my wrist has healed."
Consequently, on the one hand I cast a wide net for best-shape players, including anyone who clearly stated that he was in better health than usual. One key requirement is that the player must self-select: he (or someone speaking directly on his behalf) has to declare BSOML status. I didn't count cases of, say, a manager talking up (and protecting) his players, so Miguel Cabrera is out, but Roger Bernadina is in.
The other key here is that the player in question be "established." My lead-in quote about Jerry Coleman aside, I'd argue that rookies are not generally the players we think of as BSOML cases. Ideally, I want to look only at veterans, or at least players with a few lines on their baseball cards, because the history they have makes projecting their performance a bit easier.
A natural example
Let's take a quick look at Jeff Francoeur. On Feb. 3, 2007, he said, "Mentally and physically, I'm in the best shape of my life." And, hey, a player in the best shape of his life should outperform his projection, right? In '07, PECOTA projected Francoeur to have a .275 TAv in 523 plate appearances. He finished with a .274 TAv in 696 PA.
Okay, so that doesn't seem like much of a best-shape effect. (He had more PA, but projecting playing time can be tricky.) However, anything can happen with a sample size of one. Let's get to the larger-scale results.
What BSOML really means
When I originally did this study on my own, I included every BSOML hitter who had a Marcel reliability score of .70 or higher entering the 2007, 2008, 2009, or 2010 season. Even though this piece uses contemporary PECOTAs instead of Marcels, I've kept the same list of players. (Note that you could do the same for pitchers, but I didn't have enough of them in the BSOML group to make the exercise worthwhile.)
There were 15 qualifying best-shape hitters in 2007, 11 in 2008, 16 in 2009, and 13 in 2010, for a total of 55, roughly half of whom were Brian McCann. Those 55 players produced these results:
("Runs per season" is simply EqR per 4,200 outs.)
At first glance, four points of TAv doesn't seem like such a big deal, but once converted into runs and expressed on the same scale as a team's season totals, that difference translates to 24 runs per season. So, if we believe these results, a team full of hitters in the best shape of their lives would increase their offensive output by about 3%. A three-percent increase is nothing to sneeze at. Still, there's always going to be some uncertainty in players' projections, so how do we know that what we're seeing is a real effect, best-shape or otherwise?
(For the sake of completeness, I'll observe that the TAv difference of .004 remains even if you weight each player by the minimum of his projected and actual PA or outs—that is, giving each player the same weight in each group, instead of according a greater weight in the "actual" group to those who played more than PECOTA anticipated.)
Let's try to reduce the unpredictability. We'll remove all the BSOMLers whose PECOTA projections yielded Beta values above 1.00; in other words, we'll keep only the forecasts that were determined to be less risky than that of the average major leaguer. What do the results look like for the 24 remaining players?
Now we see a mere six-run difference. In other words, these hitters, who claimed to be in the best shape of their lives and had forecasts which were generally less volatile than average, wound up outperforming their projected run production by a majestic 0.7%. Does that mean that being in the best shape of one's life is meaningless, at least from a performance projection standpoint? Probably. But not so fast...
The non-BSOML invitees
In one sense, we have already compared the best-shapers to a control group: their own projections. But what if we construct a parallel set of players who did not claim to best in the best shape of their lives and treat their over- or under-performance as another control?
For each player, we'll go through and choose someone else from the same year who was the same age (or close to it), played the same position, and had a Beta below 1.00, but did not claim to be in the best shape of his life. This group of players turns out not to be as good as the best-shapers, but that shouldn't matter too much: we are only interested in how each group performed as compared to its collective projection, not in terms of true talent level. Let's add these 24 non-BSOMLers to the above table and see what we get:
It appears that BSOMLers may, in fact, outperform their projections more than non-BSOMLers outperform theirs. More accurately, the best-shapers held steady (as indicated by the +6 runs we noted earlier) and the non-best-shapers failed to meet expectations (-27). Of course, the non-BSOMLers who had poor seasons and received less playing time as a result don't affect the actual numbers as much as they would have had they kept putting up poor numbers, so the true drop-off by the control group should actually be larger.
For whatever reason, playing time was also much lower relative to the projection for the control than for the BSOMLers. (This may be a form of newspaper bias: BSOML stories might be devoted to a disproportionate degree to players expected to stick all year with the local nine, as opposed to players inevitably headed for the minors.) Given the results in the last table, perhaps the "best-shape effect" is instead a "seal of approval" effect, meaning that a player is not necessarily going to have the best year of his career when declaring BSOML, but that he might stay healthy and effective enough to play close to expectations for most of the season.
Then again, there are several other factors that could explain what we're seeing. We're working with just two dozen players in each group, and a different control group could yield different results. What's more, we made a binary distinction at the beginning—best-shape or not—and the reality probably isn't that simple. When 2011's results come in, they may provide quite a bit of evidence either way: there are at least 20 players who claimed BSOML this year, more than any other single year in our study.
Closing things out
What we might be able to conclude is that, all else being equal, a player who went into "beast mode" in the offseason (or whose name is an anagram of Dani Rogerberna) could be more likely to put up numbers in line with his recent history, and that one who previously had issues with staying fit or healthy and didn't address them over the offseason could be at greater risk of losing a step in his game. That's only intuitive, but again, it's not necessarily going to be the case—which probably means that the most likely effect of a player declaring "I'm in the best shape of my life" will be nothing but a few more cookie-cutter news stories and some additional jokes from Craig Calcaterra.
Note: I have provided a list of all hitters used in this article here. I also included the 20 best-shape players for this year who were mentioned above, as well as six others for 2011 whose Marcel reliability is below 0.70, but who still declared BSOML.
7 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
Good study. Thank you. I've always wondered if there's SOME-thing to such pronouncements.
Mar 14, 2011 08:58 AM
Here's something to chew on. What if PECOTA were somehow inherently was projecting these players to come into the season in the best shape of their lives? (i.e. these players comps were guys who came into the next season in better shape.) Then you wouldn't be picking up the BSOTL effect fully.
Mar 14, 2011 11:46 AM
Good stuff Rob. I love that you included a control group because the first thought that came into my mind was what if Pecota under-projected all such similar players.
Mar 14, 2011 13:38 PM
Thanks MGL for an interesting comment. I agree that the small effect, if repeatable, is very interesting and useful.
Mar 18, 2011 06:58 AM
Richard Bergstrom
Personally, I prefer The Good Face metric.
Mar 14, 2011 15:27 PM
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Topic: Hello
Hello my name is Chris. My father in law was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma(mets to the abd) in August of 2005. After a 19 month rollercoaster ride, he is now dealing with septic shock-with an initial WBC of 43(the highest I have ever personally heard of). Through the grace of God, he is responding to antibiotic therapy and hopefully will once again return home to further fight his battle and experience a better quality of life. Cancer is not new to Dan. This is his fourth primary cancer. He has been told before that his days were numbered. Each time he overcame the odds, resulting in a stronger man-maybe not physically but spiritually. He has a passion for life like no other. Even on his darkest days, he awakes wondering how he can be of service to others, unconcerned about his own physical wellbeing. I have yet to meet a better rolemodel. This man has taught me things that my own father was incapable of teaching-and for this I am ever so grateful.
I chose not share each heartache and milestone in this post, but our family has experienced enough to write pages and pages. I will be happy to share what we have dealt with to anyone that has questions or comments. We have been to numerous different doctors, dealt with different types of medication/treatments, mets, stents, chemo, radiation, TPN, anemia, ulcers, infections, edema, low albumin levels, drains, fluid in the lungs, cardiac abnormalities, internal bleeding, organ failure, etc. If I can be of any help to anyone out there feel free to contact me via email or this site.
Good luck to all,

subset: commoncrawl


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Respect This Momentum
After a couple of weak closes and a brief pause, the market is en fuego once again. It was all bulls today with great breadth, good point gains and new highs. The convenient explanation for the strength was that this morning's mediocre jobs report was weak enough to keep the Fed "accommodative" but strong enough that the economy doesn't stall completely.
That is as good an explanation as any, but I believe that the strength was more a function of poor positioning and too many folks looking for a top. I'm growing weary of the lopsided action and I was hoping for some resets, but when even the bulls are rooting for pullbacks, you can be sure that the market beast will do its best to frustrate....160 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
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Prince of Translators: William Tyndale
from Steven Lawson Sep 25, 2017 Category: ArticlesWilliam Tyndale (ca. 1494–1536) made an enormous contribution to the Reformation in England. Many would say that he made the contribution by translating the Bible into English and overseeing its publication. One biographer, Brian Edwards, states that not only was Tyndale "the heart of the Reformation in England," he... Keep Reading
R.C. Sproul on Angels
from Karisa Schlehr Jul 14, 2011 Category: R.C. SproulAngels are part and parcel of the biblical message from early in creation, from the book of Genesis all the way to the book of Revelation. We don't simply see a flurry of angelic activity concentrated in the pages of the New Testament during the life of Jesus; we encounter them throughout the whole scope of redemptive history. Keep Reading
A Sacrificial Ethic
from Tim Challies Jul 14, 2011 Category: Tabletalk MagazinePaul the apostle wrote to the Romans, encouraging them to "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship" (12:1). The notion of sacrifice may seem foreign to our contemporary ears today, but it certainly would not have been so during the first century when the apostle penned these words. In fact, the image of sacrifice was implicit in just about everyone's understanding of worship in antiquity. It makes perfect sense, therefore, for Paul to exhort his readers to spiritual worship using the imagery of sacrifice. Keep Reading
Great Quotes from Chosen by God
from Tim Challies Jul 13, 2011 Category: ArticlesI recently had the opportunity to read through almost all of the books of R.C. Sproul. Along the way I built a collection of some of the best quotes from each one of them. Here are 5 of the best from Chosen By God. Keep Reading
R.C. Sproul on Heaven
from Karisa Schlehr Jul 12, 2011 Category: Ligonier ResourcesOne cannot take Christianity seriously without seeing the central importance of the concept of heaven. There really is a "pie-in-the-sky" idea that is integral to the Bible, and especially to the New Testament, and I'm afraid we've lost our appetite for the delights God has stored up for His people in the future. Everyone, Christian or not, longs for reunion with those loved ones who have gone on before them, but the Christian longs to be with Christ. I cannot wait to see my father, my mother, and my friends who have died when I get to heaven, but the ultimate hope of my soul is to see the resurrected Christ in His Father's house, and He also has promised that that will happen. Keep Reading
A Culture of Sacrifice
from Tim Challies Jul 12, 2011 Category: Tabletalk MagazineIt was October 25, 2007, and the moon shone brightly over the rugged terrain of eastern Afghanistan. Elements of 1st Platoon, B Company (173rd Airborne Brigade), walked cautiously back to their outpost after completing their assigned mission. But unknown to them, an unseen enemy waited in ambush. In the three minutes of confusion and chaos that comprised this surprise attack, then Specialist Sal Giunta responded under the intense enemy fire with such courage that he was nominated for, and eventually received, America's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor. When asked why he braved incessant machine-gun and small-arms fire during the ambush to charge the enemy alone in search of one of his fellow soldiers, his straightforward reply was, 'He would have done the same for me.' Keep Reading
Shipping Department Closed for Inventory Starting July 12
from Karisa Schlehr Jul 11, 2011 Category: Ministry NewsIn order to better serve our students, we will be taking inventory of our resources July 12-18, 2011. Our shipping department will be closed during this time. Orders will resume shipping on Tuesday, July 19. We appreciate your patience. Keep Reading
The Realities of Heaven, Hell, Angels and Demons
from Karisa Schlehr Jul 11, 2011 Category: Ligonier ResourcesThe concept of the invisible spiritual realm is something which is difficult for us to grasp. What we can see, hear, and feel we can take on face value that it is reality. But what about those things that are unseen? Scripture speaks about heaven, hell, angels and demons which are a part of this invisible spiritual realm. In his new book Unseen Realities: Heaven, Hell, Angels and Demons, R.C. Sproul helps us gain an understanding of these things so that we can come to a realisation that in fact all four are true realities that impact upon our everyday lives. Keep Reading
The Face of Evil
from R.C. Sproul Jr. Jul 11, 2011 Category: ArticlesThere are any number of dangers of a steady pop culture diet. To catch our attention Hollywood must increase the tension. The struggle must get more and more dramatic; the stakes must increase. We don't merely hope the good guys catch the bank robber. Now they are chasing down a serial killer. It is no longer the cavalry taking on a rogue band of Indians. Now cowboys do battle with aliens intent on world conquest. In order for our heroes to be more heroic than the last hero he must face a nemesis more evil, more deadly, more grasping than the old nemesis. Keep Reading
Twitter Highlights (7/10/11)
from Nathan W. Bingham Jul 10, 2011 Category: Ministry NewsHere are some highlights from the various Ligonier Twitter feeds over the past week. Keep Reading
Does Natural Law Exist?
from R.C. Sproul Jr. Jul 09, 2011 Category: ArticlesDoes Natural Law Exist? No, and yes. One of my favorite writers, CS Lewis, in one of my favorite books, The Abolition of Man makes a very bad argument for a very bad understanding of natural law. The entire last third of the book is devoted to an exposition of the Tao, which he describes as a universal moral law by which God Himself is bound. The notion that there is a law, or anything above God, to which He must submit is heretical, broadly speaking a form or idolatry. There is no law above God. He alone is a law unto Himself. In this sense there is no such thing as natural law. Keep Reading


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Concept 32 Some DNA can jump.
Barbara McClintock presents her work with maize.
Hello, I'm Barbara McClintock. Ever since graduate school I had been interested in corn. I tried to correlate chromosome behavior with the results of breeding experiments in corn (maize). I spent most of my scientific career focusing on the short arm of chromosome 9, where, as a graduate student, I observed a characteristic bump or "knob." In the '30s, Harriet Creighton and I followed the transfer of this knob between two chromosomes during formation of sex cells. This chromosome "mixing" exactly paralleled the mixing of visible traits in the offspring. This was the first direct demonstration of the physical basis of genetic "crossing over," which had been discovered two decades earlier by Thomas Hunt Morgan's group. Crossing over in corn works the same way it does in Morgan's fruit flies. Harriet and I tracked the inheritance of the knob and four traits on chromosome 9. Crossover events are more frequent between genes that are further apart, like C and Yg... ... and less frequent between genes that are closer together like C and Sh. Using crossover frequencies, we figured out the order of the genes on the chromosome and the relative distance between the genes. When I looked at a cell, it was like I was part of the system. The more I looked, the bigger the chromosomes got, and I was even able to see the integral parts of the chromosomes. I felt like I was right there with them. I was able to identify chromosomal abnormalities. I could see chromosome fragments left over from broken chromosomes. I also figured out that "ring" chromosomes are actually chromosomal fragments whose ends fused to form a ring structure. I tracked the inheritance of these rings through mitosis and found that they can be lost. So, different populations of corn cells can express different genes depending on when they keep or lose the ring chromosome. I suspected that some kind of chromosome breaking — or dissociation — on the short arm of chromosome 9 caused purple-spotted kernels. I tracked the source of instability to a locus I called Dissociator (Ds), which was under the control of a second locus called Activator (Ac) on the long arm. Let me explain. Although you surely are familiar with white or yellow corn, certain types of corn naturally produce dark purple or blue kernels! So called "blue corn" tortillas are made from such kernels. The Colored (C) gene on the short arm of chromosome 9 controls the production of one of the purple pigments. The Colored gene is passed on as cells divide to produce the kernel. However, the purple color only develops in the "skin" of the kernel. I reasoned that colorless kernels resulted when a copy of the Ds element inserts and disables the Colored gene. Then, all of the cells in the developing kernel inherit a nonfunctional gene, which cannot produce the purple pigment. This results in a white or yellow kernel. Now imagine what happens if Ds is destabilized in the presence of Ac. Kernel development begins with the Colored gene disabled by an inserted Ds element. However, at some point a transposition event occurs in a single cell. Under control of Ac, Ds "jumps" out of the Colored gene and reinserts elsewhere on Chromosome 9. This results in a functional Colored gene, which is passed on to a large group (or clone) of daughter cells. A second Ds transposition occurs later in development, resulting in a smaller group of daughter cells with a restored Colored gene. So, the number and size of spots indicates the frequency and timing of transposition events during kernel development. Early transpositions produce fewer and larger pigmented spots, while frequent events later in development produce a finely speckled pattern. I believed that transposition had a more important function than merely to turn color genes on and off. In 1983, at my Nobel Prize lecture, I emphasized that transposition can provide a means to rapidly reorganize the genome in response to environmental stress. In this sense, mutations produced by transposition are a source of variation to drive the process of evolution.
The McClintocks had picked out the name "Eleanor" for their 3rd daughter. They changed this to "Barbara" because "Barbara" seemed more masculine, and more in tune with her independent spirit.
How and why would a "transposing" DNA have evolved?


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I know that there are still Innova fans out there, here is your chance, Topeka purchased some of the Innova CFR plastic to help make the LSO even better this year.
We have Champ glow orcs, Champ Glow T-birds (thats T not TL) and Star Rhynos.
The Innova discs are all $15 each, we will also be getting Wizards with that stamp and some regular Inferno's If anyone wants anything just let me know we can do paypal and ship them or I can hold them for you untill the tournament.


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Top 10 Hottest Women of Ecuador
After a month and a half in Ecuador it's time to head south to Peru, but I wouldn't feel right about leaving without giving you the other side of Ecuadorian beauty, beyond the country's incredible landscape, culture and cuisine.
The "Hottest People" posts have become one of my favorite features on the T2T site, not only because of the obvious benefit I get from "researching" pop culture, but because of how the lists are created.
I ask locals who their favorite celebrities are and their ranking opinion. For this list I received "insight" from our cooks at the Monkey Rescue Center, computer technicians at the Mac store, Ecuadorian friends in Quito, Baños and Cuenca and even a few bartenders, waitresses and hostel workers along the way.
While Ecuadorian women didn't provide the same neck-whipping-double-takes on the streets as often as the ladies of Colombia and Argentina, there were a few diamonds in the rough that could hang with anyone.
Findings: Guayaquil produces the hottest women and they all seem to have been Miss Ecuador at some point and they all have nicknames (leave a comment if you actually read this part).
Without further ado, here's my completely biased list of the hottest women in Ecuador, enjoy responsibly.
T2T's Top 10 Hottest Ecuadorian Women
10. Fernanda Cornejo – Maria Fernanda Cornejo Alfaro is a professional model from Quito who was the first Ecuadorian women to reach such a level of beauty that she was named Miss International 2011.
9. Adriana Sanchez – aka "La Bomba" is probably best known for being the girlfriend and baby's mamma to Argentine footballer Marcelo (el chelo) Delgado. She started her career on programs Web Veo, Sixteen and Trato Hecho, but her fame and nickname came later on the Channel 1 program, El Show de Hincha with John Paul Sico.
8. Marisol Romero – Marisol represents the cougar category in this Top 10. Marisol Romero is an Ecuadorian actress who is most famous for her roll as Gabrielle Solís on the Colombian version of Desperate Housewives. Basically Eva Longoria's latin counterpart, awesome. She has since done television programs in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Argentina.
7. Flor Maria Palomeque – Flor is an actress who started her career as a model on tv before venturing into comedy with "Ni en Vivo, Ni en Directo, Vivos peer no Revueltos y Nuestro Recinto" and other programs. She breaks the top 10 list because I think she's super sexy for managing to shed her hot image to play a character which turned out to be a classic figure in Ecuadorian television. Her famous alter-ego "La Mofle" from the hit show La Paraje Feliz (The Happy Couple) is pretty brutal looking. A far stretch from how Flor looks in real life. Nothing like a women who doesn't take herself too seriously.
6-tie. Marjorie Cevallos – Miss World Ecuador 2008, Marjorie Cevallos Vera was born in '86, which puts her right in my age bracket. She was born in Guayaquil and has lived most of her life in Duran, Ecuador, a small city in the Guayaquil metro area. She's tall, beautiful and has been winning beauty pageants for years, including Queen of the World in Germany, Miss Renella, Queen of the Fae, Sovereign of Duran, Miss Ecuador and now Top 10 Miss Tourist2Townie 2011-12.
6-tie. Domenica Saporiti – Domenica was also born in Guayaquil, won Miss Ecuador 2008 and has went on to become a TV presenter. I figured I had to put her with Marjorie. I guess Miss Ecuador and Miss World Ecuador are two different things? All the same to me… beautiful. She began her acting career at the age of 16 on Sixteen and has since hosted sports programs Locos por el Deportes, De Rojo, LG Karaoke, Copa and Combate.
5. Estefani Espin – The 26 year old bombshell with a brain, Estefani Espin, began her journalism career as the youngest newscaster ever at CNN Spanish. She studied journalism and Communications in Chicago and Nebraska before joining CNN radio and then CNN Spanish News. She has since left CNN and presented the news for 'Televistazo' before joining Alfredo Pinoargote on 'Direct Contact' in Ecuador. As well as reporting the news for FM World. Like Maria Rivadeneira, Estefani tops the list because her beauty is matched by her ambition and intelligence. Marriage material.
4. María Elisa Camargo – This one is kind of cheating because Maria has Colombian parents and become famous in Colombia, but she was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador so we'll let it slide. Her first moment in the spotlight was on the Colombian version of X Factor and has since gone on to act in Colombian telenovelos (soap operas), La Marca del Deseo and Verano de Amor. The hot Ecuadorian actress/singer now works on Mexican soap operas and dating American born, Mexican actor Tony Dalton. Lucky Bastard.
3. Ericka Velez – Erika Vélez was born in Manta, Ecuador on the Ecuadorian coast and she began her career at the age of 18 on the Ecuavisa TV soap opera, No Limits. Erika Velez has participated in several productions outside the country as Besame Tonto, Peru, Doctor Love, in Argentina, the Mathematician Francisco in Colombia and more recently Velez hosted the price of fame in Ecuador.
2. Dayallana Passailaigue – Long name, amazing results. Dayallana lives in Quito and is known as an accomplished athlete, model and popular host on Ecuadorian TV, Ecuavisa and "Asi Somos". She was the first Ecuadorian women to compete in the Iron Man race and in college she studied engineering specializing in commercial marketing. Oh yeah and she finished top of her class at La Universidad Blue Hill College in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Intimidated yet?
1. Maria Susana Rivadeneira – Born in Quito on September 8, 1979, Maria Rivadeneira is a former miss Ecuador and Top 10 finalist at Miss Universe 2004. Nowadays, Rivadeneira continues to model and also works for a non-profit organization called Fundación Acción Solidaria which helps children from the poorest neighborhoods of Guayaquil. Sexy, smart and classy, what a great combination.
—- Top 10 Hottest Ecuadorian Women Honorable Mentions —-
11. Gabriela Villalba – is a spicy Ecuadorian singer and actress born in Quito, Ecuador. She was a former member of Ecuadorian pop group, Kiruba, which was established after a TV talent contest called Popstars. Later she joined the Chilean pop group Kudai and moved to Mexico. Since the band broke up Gabriela lives in New York where she works as a spokeswoman for Vega Management and a company for ecological purposes as she prepares for her big solo comeback.
12. Jennifer Pazmiño – Jennifer proudly represented Ecuadorian women everywhere a year ago as she took home the crown of Miss Earth 2010. She has since began her television hosting career on Ecuadorian TV.
13. Maria Veronica Vargas Granja – Born in 1989 Miss Ecuador 2011 represented the Guayas (a small province of Ecuador) She is from Guayaquil but lives in Quito with a degree in Journalism.
14. Katty Lopez – Catalina Mercedes "Katty" López Samán is another Guayaquil-born beauty pageant contestant who won Miss Ecuador 2006. She also finished third in the third season of the Univision reality series Nuestra Belleza Latina in the United States. She has lately been working on her acting career and has played Trinitia in the romantic comedy film From Prada to Nada.
15. Diana Leon – Model, beauty queen and TV presenter from Guayaquil.
16. Joany Daza – Represented Ecuador in the Miss Hooters International Contest in Miami.
17. Mirely Barzola – Reining Miss Sugar Cane and Miss International Beauty. Lives in Nobol and comutes to University of Guayaquil to study advertising and marketing works as a model.
18. Carolina Jaume – aka Carolina Milena Jaume Saporiti was born in Guayaquil with both her parents devoted to television. Her mother (Diana Saporiti) was a producer and actress and her father (Rafael Jaume) anchored a news and opinion program. She started acting young with commercials and has since moved on to telenovelas, children and a divorce to ex-hubby, actor/producer Xavier Pimentel.
19. Veronica Coronel – Popularly known asa Vero Sofia, this beauty from Quito is a model and presenter on Ecuadorian television.
20. Gabriela Pazmiño – Ecuadorian TV host.
Other hot Ecuadorian women I researched during this grueling process:
Ecuadorian Models: Lugina Cabezas, Sofia Caiche, Gineth Moreno, Nabila Fuentes, Andrea Sarmiento, Marielisa Marques, Paola Tigreros
Ecuadorian Beauty Queens: Rebeca Flores, Eliana Quintero,Isabela Chiriboga, Ana Galarza, Sandra Vinces, Lady Mina, Ximena Zamora, Claudia Elena Schiess Fretz, Julia Ojeda
Ecuadorian Actresses: Paola Farias, Maria Teresa Guerrero
Ecuadorian TV Hostesses: Denisse Arce (La Pescadito), Bianca Salame, Isabel Ontaneda, Gabriela Pazmiño,
Ecuadorian Singers: Sharon "La Hechicera", Johanna Carreño, Thanya Roman, Kandela y Son, Grupo Deseo
You might also enjoy…
Top 10 Sexiest Women of Argentina
Top 10 Hottest Women of Colombia
Ladies, I'm still accepting guest posts for the Hottest Men in Colombia and Ecuador. I only have Argentina covered for you…
Top 10 Sexiest Men in Argentina


text: +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | TPWD News Release 20050118g | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | This page contains only plain text, no HTML formatting codes. | | It is not designed for display in a browser but for copying | | and editing in whatever software you use to lay out pages. | | To copy the text into an editing program: | | --Display this page in your browser. | | --Select all. | | --Copy. | | --Paste in a document in your editing program. | | If you have any suggestions for improving these pages, send | | an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com and mention Plain Text Pages. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ [ Note: This item is more than 12 years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ] [ Media Contact: TPWD News, email@example.com, 512-389-8030 ] [KE] Jan. 18, 2005 Stay Tuned Information from Texas Parks and Wildlife is available on radio and television, as well as the newsstand. Radio Passport to Texas, TPWD's radio series of weekday, 90-second stories is broadcast on more than 100 Texas stations. Airing the week of Jan. 17-21, it's a WHOPPER of a record for whoopers. Plus, if you are bored with burgers and fed up with fried chicken, we might have some supper options for you that you may not have considered. And we'll tell you about the two things no good campfire should be without. For more information, visit the Web. Video News TPWD provides video news reports that run in newscasts on numerous Texas stations, as well as on cable and satellite outlets around the nation. For more information, go to the Web. Television "Texas Parks & Wildlife" is a weekly half-hour television series seen on PBS affiliates around the state. For more information about this week's programs and where they can be viewed, visit the Web. Magazine Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine is always available on newsstands throughout the state and by subscription for $19.95 a year. To subscribe, call (800) 937-9393 or order online. --- On the Net: Passport to Texas: http://www.passporttotexas.org/ TPWD Video News: http://tpwd.texas.gov/news/tv/vnr/thismonth/ TPWD on PBS: http://tpwd.texas.gov/tv TPW Magazine: http://www.tpwmagazine.com/ -30-


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Maximum fines for driving offences rise
For offences that currently carry a maximum fine of £5,000 such as careless driving, dangerous driving, and drink driving, magistrates will be able to impose unlimited fines. The maximum fine for speeding on a motorway will increase four-fold from £2,500 to £10,000.
Fines for other speeding offences and document offences, such as driving without insurance, will also increase.
Increasing fines not ideal
Although CTC is pleased to see the Government taking steps to strengthen the response of the justice system to bad driving, increasing fines is not the best solution.
Fines are supposed to reflect the seriousness of the offence and be an equal punishment to offenders in different financial conditions, but should not push them below a reasonable subsistence level. For that reason, fines are based on an individual's ability to pay.
People on lower incomes will, therefore, not be given a fine that they will never realistically be able to pay, so, in practice, it is unlikely that an increase in the maximum fine is going to have much impact on the fines actually being paid.
Low average fines
The following offences all currently carry a maximum fine of £5,000, but the average fines given by magistrates don't come anywhere near the maximum permitted (data from 2013):
- Careless driving = £160
- Dangerous driving = £539
- Driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs = £260
- Driving without insurance = £295
More and longer driving bans are a much better means of punishing offenders and protecting other road users. Much greater use of bans would also reinforce the message that driving is a privilege that can be taken away."
Rhia Weston
CTC Road Safety Campaigner
Ban the bad driver
A much better way to punish errant drivers - and protect the public while doing so - would be to take away their licences. Much greater use of driving bans would also reinforce the message that driving is a privilege that can be taken away, not a right bestowed on us from the minute we pass our driving test.
To make driving bans work as a punishment and deterrent they need to be much longer (most bans for serious offences are between just one and three years); they also need to be more widely used by judges; and penalties for flouting bans need to be much more severe.
Driving bans, and other alternatives to fines and prison sentences, will be discussed by legal experts and road safety campaigners at CTC's sentencing debate this Friday 13 June. Questions for the panellists can be submitted on Twitter using the hashtag #CTCdebate.
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I'd certainly agree that
I'd certainly agree that raising maximum fines has limited benefits and that alternative punishments that take the errant driver off the road would have a much stronger influence on driver behaviour.
The biggest deterrant to bad driving is not as simple sentencing but really relies on the chances of being caught. In most cases drivers assume, quite rightly, that unless they actually cause an incident they are very unlikely to be caught.
A good example of this would be a couple of drivers of high performance cars who have regularly been reported as driving far too fast an dangerously in and around one of our local towns but without being caught or any action taken. Yesterday those drivers behaving in their regular fashion did indeed cause a crash which resulted in one of them being airlifted to hospital with significant injuries. Fortunately it seems that no innocent parties were significantly hurt in this incident. This is the point at which the authorities will become involved and investigate; but it is far too late.
What we need is consistent and visible enforcement backed up by appropriate sentencing.
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Dog Walkers in Knottsville, KY
Book a dog walker to give your dog a 30-minute walk around your neighborhood.
Your Dogs are Family
Knottsville, KY, 42366
Dog Boarding, Drop-In Visits, Doggy Day Care, Dog Walking
"I believe Joseph would be a fantastic dog sitter. He's kind, caring, compassionate, and loves all animals. He's always there for you as a friend and very re... (more)"
Your Dogs are Family
Knottsville, KY, 42366
Dog Boarding, Drop-In Visits, Doggy Day Care, Dog Walking
"Joe is great with animals in general; however, dogs are his specialty. He loves dogs and treats his own like his kids. I trusted him with my family pets a... (more)"
I have a unique way with pets.
Owensboro , KY, 42301
House Sitting, Drop-In Visits, Doggy Day Care
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We've been there: rushing home during every lunch break to take the dog for a quick walk around the block. Good news: You can easily find and book Knottsville dog walking services on Rover. Whether you need a one-time dog walker or someone to take your dog for a stroll every day, we've got you covered. Exercise for your dog and peace of mind for you are just a few clicks away. Every walk is covered by premium pet insurance, at no extra cost to you. You can even ask your dog walker to send you a photo update. Whether you already have a favorite pet sitter on Rover or you're new to the site, we'd love to connect you with a dog walker in Knottsville the next time you're unavailable. We're confident you and your dog will love it.
Wondering what you should be paying for a walk? Check out our standard dog walking rates for a comparison.


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Patient Trumbo drawing more walks this season
HOUSTON -- One of few bright spots amid the Angels' slow start has been, once again, Mark Trumbo, who's not only producing his usual power numbers, but he's even drawing a lot more walks.
To go along with a .291/.358/.552 slash line, nine homers and 23 RBIs through his first 33 games, Trumbo has also drawn 14 walks, which is tied for second on the team and puts him on pace for 69 this season. His first two full seasons in the big leagues, he drew a combined 61.
"It'd be awesome to be a guy who's way up there [in walks], but I think some guys are naturally more gifted at that than others, just like anything else," said Trumbo, who walked 36 times in 2012. "If it was a decision that you could easily control, anyone would only swing at strikes. But I always felt like some guys were just born with a little bit better eye, a little better plate discipline. Some guys really have to work at it, and I'm more the latter."
Compared to last year, Trumbo is seeing slightly fewer pitches in the strike zone (47.5 percent to 45.2 percent) while swinging at slightly fewer pitches outside the zone (37.6 percent to 34.4 percent). Getting into more deep counts, however, has also caused him to strike out 39 times heading into Thursday's game, which is one shy of Josh Hamilton for the team lead and tied for eighth most in the American League.
Last year, while the Angels got off to a similarly slow start, Trumbo surged, posting a .309/.361/.625 slash line in his first 81 games before going into a woeful slump for pretty much the remainder of the season.
Asked how he can avoid the rough patches, Trumbo put it simply.
"You can't," he said. "You put in the work you can, you try and keep a good frame of mind and try to avoid the peaks and valleys, try to become a consistent, productive hitter in the lineup wherever you do hit, but you also have to be realistic to know that some times are better than others. Good times don't last forever, and nor do the bad ones."
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", and follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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A complete three volume DVD video course taught by the greatest coin magician in the world.
Volume 1: Basic Coin Magic Everything you need to know to get started, plusDavid teaches some of the great classic coin tricks.
The Classic Palm, The Finger Palm, The Thumb Palm, Classic Palm Vanish, Finger Palm Vanish, Thumb Palm Vanish, Palm Finesses, Palm Transfers, Fingertip Rest Position, The Utility Switch, The Shuttle Pass, Loads & Productions,Coin Switches, Vanish & Reproduction, Winged Silver, Copper & Silver, Coin Change, Chink-a-Chink, French Drop & Variations, The Vernon Load, Ramsay Subtlety, L'Masque Load, Kaps Subtlety, Power of the Magic Wand, Benzais Friction Palm, The Bobo Switch
Volume 2: Basic to Intermediate Coin Magic Learn more advanced sleightsand tips that took David decades to devise.
The Retention Pass, The Click Pass, The Curl Palm, Hanging Coins, Multiple Coin Production, Wild Coin, Coins to Cup, Coin through Hand, Coins Through the Hole, Spellbound, One-Handed Spellbound Change
Volume 3: Intermediate to Advanced Coin Magic Learn the advanced sleights and routinesthat have made David the master of coin magic.
The Cardini Steal, Metamorphosis Change, Advanced Chink-a-Chink, Milliken's Transposition, Tenkai Pennies, Silver/Copper Extraction, The Magical Filtration, One-Coin Routine, Advanced Copper & Silver, T.V. Surprise, Advanced Coins Through the Table, David Roth's Purse & Glass
No reviews yet. Do you own this product? Write a review.


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Topic: Scotts Transplant
Brenda.... I am so happy Scott is now breathing on his own and that he is doing excellent! Brenda I can honestly say I would have broken down in tears as well. To have the Husband of the wife who was going to get the liver if Scott was unable, introduce himself and explain his wife has only 2-3 days left if she doesn't get one , is a hard pill to swallow. The Lord meant this liver to be for Scott and now we can pray and hope this man's wife gets hers as well. You need to focus on the gratitude at the moment. You and Scott have fought a tough and emotional battle. We all wish there were more livers and the right match, but unfortunately there is not. The National Protocal in place after years of developing decided who would be the best recipient so that a liver does not go unused. I pray that Scott continues to do excellent and that the other transplant happens as well.
God Bless You Both!
Jeff G.


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By Dave Bruno, RedPrairie
Facebook. Twitter. ShopKick. iPhone. iPad. Android. Foursquare. SCVNGR. Cityville. Instagram.
The list of social, mobile, and now local apps, gadgets, games, and networks that have become part of most consumers' lifestyles is virtually endless and all of them have demonstrated their ability to affect shopping behaviors. Consumers have issued a "SoMoLo" imperative. The critical question is how has retail responded?
The short answer? Not so great.
A study of retailers conducted in December. 2011 found that there is a big divide between how customers want to engage and shop using social, mobile or local and what retailers are actually providing today.
The powerful capabilities of mobile devices, GPS, and social networking apps and sites have transformed the demands and expectations of consumers. Shoppers are increasingly looking to mobile devices, apps and social media as critical – and influential – elements of their shopping experiences as they interact with brands, browse products, search for available inventory, and transact.
As a result, retailers report that their customers' expectations are dramatically shifting:
- 57% expect discounts sent to their phone;
- 50% expect to browse/shop/buy on their tablets;
- 46% expect to place orders via their phone;
- 42% expect product pricing & availability on their phone;
- 40% expect to be able to use QR codes to access product content on their phone;
- 38% expect to browse/shop/buy on social sites; and
- 28% expect department-specific messages and offers to be sent to their phones when they are inside a store.
The social shopping scene
For more than a century, social behaviors and shopping have been virtually inseparable. Shopping with friends; sharing opinions about brands, products, and stores; and seeking the opinion of our network before or immediately after purchases are all long-time fixtures of our shopping culture.
The last decade has seen those behaviors translated to all the screens in our lives. Shoppers today are constantly searching their small screens, big screens, and now medium-sized tablet screens for apps, networks, tools, and connections to help them shop more socially, more often, and with greater reach. It's time for the industry to respond.
Social commerce is expected to reach $14 billion by 2015 but today there is still a significant gap between social "shopping" and "buying." Thirty-eight percent of consumers shop within social sites, but only 21% of retailers offer the ability to search, browse and buy within those sites. Currently, 30% of retailers do not even have a specific S-Commerce strategy.
And when it comes to location, "Location, Location, Location," may no longer be the exclusive rallying cry of real estate agents and mortgage brokers. Shoppers appear to be staking a claim in the location-based marketing arena, and so far, they like what they see.
It is reported that 65 million consumers have used social or mobile location-based services. According to our research, 40% of survey respondents reported that shoppers expect to use QR codes to access local mobile product content and 26% expect to receive localized offers on their phones when near a store. But only 33% of retailers are currently using QR codes to deliver mobile content and only 20% are publishing localized offers. In fact, 64% of retailers have no local commerce strategy at all. To harness the evident interest, retailers must figure out how to incorporate localized deals and marketing messages to increase engagement for on-the-go shoppers.
So why the disconnect?
It's understandable that the multitude of social and mobile platforms is overwhelming for many companies. But the opportunity to tap into the evolving behaviors of SoMoLo shoppers to reach, engage, and transact with them on their terms outweighs that argument, surely. What I've discovered is that retailers and chain stores don't know where to begin – often there is no corporate commitment at the top and they don't know how to integrate the new channels.
But with the evolution of SoMoLo as a way of life for consumers, it's now or never. Retail brands need to commit to strategies and solutions that keep up with shoppers -- or risk losing them to other brands that have SoMoLo figured out.
So what does it all mean?
As social, mobile and local technologies continue to develop, consumers are eager to tap into their smartphones and social networking sites to seek their friends' recommendations, discounts, offers, loyalty rewards, and product information.
Retailers have an opportunity – some might even say an obligation – to tap into the evolving behaviors of SoMoLo shoppers. Connecting with consumers on a more personalized and localized level will only strengthen brand loyalty and increase sales.
With the evolution of SoMoLo as a way of life, it's clear that retail brands have a lot of work to still do. Fortunately, there are three simple steps retailers can take starting today to answer the SoMoLo Imperative.
1) Put a strategy in place beyond just experimenting – It can't all be trial and error. There needs to be a serious strategy and commitment to SoMoLo in order to succeed.
2) Devote resources to exploiting these channels, both human and financial. Once a commitment is made, devote a part of the marketing budget to making sure it is done right and assign the responsibility of the program's success to a dedicated owner. If no ownership is taken for the project, it will not succeed.
3) Analyze – Be sure to see what is working and not working for you and your competitors. Listen to your customers' feedback and take it into account when launching new campaigns.
Retailers and chain stores have certainly taken notice of these new behaviors, and indeed have plans to adapt their strategies and operations to this new breed of shopper. But, as of today however, they are a long way from clear, actionable roadmaps to fulfilling the SoMoLo Imperative.
Dave Bruno is marketing director for RedPrairie, a supply chain and retail technology company. As part of RedPrairie's research into Commerce in Motion, the company conducts research and analysis of the ever-changing dynamics of global supply chains and the hyper-connected consumer.


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Sugar makers across Vermont celebrated the annual Maple Open House this weekend, opening their doors to the public to show how maple syrup is made.
We love maple syrup - it's no surprise. But this weekend we were busy celebrating the second anniversary of our Burlington shop , so we could not formally partake in an open house visit. Still wanting to celebrate the sweet, syrupy goodness from the Green Mountain State, we found a way to work maple into this week's Sunday Snack.
And it involves bacon. So it's a win-win.
This is a quick trick to add some sweetness to your breakfast bacon. Maple and bacon have long been partners in breakfast crime - so we're not quite reinventing the wheel, just putting a twist on a classic. The sweet, thick flavor of our aged Vermont Maple Balsamic Vinegar gives the bacon some extra pizzazz.
Simply brush each strip of bacon with Vermont Maple Balsamic Vinegar and cook as you normally would. In this recipe the bacon strips were pan fried, but this could also be done by baking them. Also consider using this same trick on other breakfast meats, like sausage or ham.
Vermont Maple Balsamic Glazed Bacon
Saratoga Olive Oil Co. Vermont Maple Balsamic Vinegar
your favorite bacon
1. Brush each strip of bacon with Vermont Maple Balsamic Vinegar
2. Pan fry bacon strips until preferred level of crispiness.
3. Finish with a drizzle of Vermont Maple Balsamic.


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Topic: Movie samples
for those of you who like tracks that sample movies lines there is a track that use's Pulp Fiction's 'this is a robbery' etc from that scene.
Its snappliy titled 'c*ntmaster' by 'drugface' and the vinyl depicts a line about to be snorted.
ah, whitehouse is turning in her grave


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Two of a kind
Pacers' Miller will be missed, Ginobili unforgettable
Posted: Thursday May 19, 2005
This is not intended to jinx the Indiana Pacers as they attempt to avoid elimination Thursday night at home against Detroit in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series. But I needed to say goodbye to Reggie Miller, and, well, let's just say I believe this will be my last chance.
Miller is not one of those players about whom fans wring their hands and say, "Oh, man, how are we going to replace him?" He's not an immortal, but after a career of clutch 3-point shots, Miller is probably headed to the Hall of Fame -- I'd vote for him. And privately, NBA officials are truly saddened by Miller's departure. The public sees a league weakened by young players who are clueless about diplomacy, and, for several fabulous weeks late in the season, good ol' 39-year-old Reg gave us a compelling, and gloriously ancient, story line.
If Indy-Detroit harkens the past, Thursday night's other game (San Antonio at Seattle) presents the future. This is not to suggest that the Spurs' Manu Ginobili is better than, say, Cleveland's LeBron James. But if you listed the young players you'd pay to see right now, the Spurs' whirling dervish of a swingman, the lefty who led Argentina to the gold medal last summer, would be right there, along with James and Miami's Dwyane Wade.
So, for this week's five-pack, here are five reasons we'll miss Reggie, and five things we can look forward to for at least the next decade from Ginobili.
From Reggie, we'll miss ...
1. His physique ... or lack of it.
Look back at those games from ancient days -- the 1980s -- and it looks like a different species of human being is playing the game. Even Magic Johnson was skinny. These days it looks linebackers have taken the court; LeBron resembles a heavyweight fighter. But Reggie gave hope for skinny people everywhere, the Stick Figure working his way through Muscle Land.
2. His loyalty and attachment to one city
Reggie seemed anything but Hoosier-like when the Pacers made him the 11th pick of the '87 draft. A cocky California kid in Indianapolis? No way that would work. But some of Reggie rubbed off on Indy, and some of Indy rubbed off on Reggie, and the result was a love affair that, in this age of free agency and trade demands, is truly unique.
3. His game within a game
Reggie is not the only player who has mastered the art of running off screens, catching and shooting -- Detroit's Rip Hamilton is good at it -- but he is the best. Plus, no one did it with Reggie's flair: the long, looping sprint that sometimes took him out of bounds, the duck-behinds and all the other little techniques that made it look like a game of freeze tag on the playground. And, of course, the dramatic splay-legged release and, quite often, the little thespian drama that enabled Miller to also get to the free throw line. The man made more than his share of four-point plays
4. His graceful acceptance of a diminished role
Reggie was a bit of a chest-pounding player, but, when he started to age and lose his legs, he seamlessly ceded the role of primary scorer and team cynosure to others. Even loose cannons such as Ron Artest.
5. His giving back to the game
Fewer and fewer players understand their responsibility to be gracious to fans and media. Reggie never forgot his.
From Manu, we'll look forward to ...
1. His being a complete player
He can shoot 3s, he has -- gasp! -- a mid-range jumper, he takes it to the hoop, he plays D, he rebounds, he passes, he moves without the ball, he ... I'm out of verbs.
2. His composure
No one plays harder than Ginobili. But for all his emotion, and for all he gets bumped around, he rarely loses his head. Knock him down, and he simply gets up and goes to the foul line.
3. His entertainment value
Ginobili is a fundamentally sound player, but he sprinkles a dash of paprika on everything he does . He finishes his wild forays to the basket with finger rolls. He appears seemingly out of nowhere to make a steal or grab a rebound in a crowd. A lot of players, LeBron among them, certainly, raise the temperature of the audience with pure athleticism; Ginobili works in more mysterious ways, like a character in a play who dashes on and off stage, amping up the excitement every time he does.
4. His willingness to defer
Ginobili understands that the Spurs are still Tim Duncan's team. There are long stretches when he disappears from the offense and allows Duncan, and sometimes point guard Tony Parker, to take over. Whether or not this will continue is another matter. I do sense a growing impatience when he's not at the center of the action.
5. His giving back to the game (See Reggie.)
One of the great sights at any Spurs postgame session in the locker room is watching Ginobili offer answers in three languages. The Spanish-speaking journalists want him, the Italian-speaking journalists want him, the English-speaking journalists want him. He complies with all of them. And to think that many athletes -- some journalists, too -- can't make themselves understood in one language


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DENVER – Outlaws attackman Brendan Mundorf, midfielders Peet Poillon and Jeremy Sieverts, defenseman Lee Zink and goalie Jesse Schwartzman were named to the 2012 MLL All Star game the league announced on Wednesday.
Sieverts and Poillon will play for the Young Guns team that consists of players who entered the league from 2009-12, while Mundorf, Zink and Schwartzman play for the Old School team made up of players who entered the league before 2009.
Mundorf, who will participate in his sixth MLL All-Star Game, ranks second in the league with 4.4 points per game thus far in the 2012 season. He has posted 11 goals and 11 assists in five games this season.
Poillon was injured in the team's third game of the year, yet has still posted eight goals, including a two-pointer, and five assist for 14 points on the season. This marks Poillon's third consecutive All-Star appearance.
Sieverts, who has burst onto the MLL scene this year with 13 goals, three assists and five two-point goals, will be making his first All-Star Game appearance. His 21 total points and five two-point goals rank fifth in the league this year.
Zink, an All-Star staple will be playing in his sixth MLL All-Star Game. He has appeared in each of the league's past six All-Star weekends. A member of the league's 10-year anniversary team, Zink has anchored an Outlaws defense through the first half of the season.
Schwartzman, who won last season's Goalie Gauntlet competition at the All-Star Game, will appear in his fifth MLL All-Star Game this year. He ranks second in the league with a 10.5 goals against average, 72 saves and .541 save percentage this season.
The 2012 MLL All-Star game will take place at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 30 in Boca Raton, Fla. For a full schedule of the weekend festivities and ticket information, visit


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Grampian CTC
Our group offers cyclists, in the North East of Scotland, an informal friendly club which provides for all types and abilities of cyclists, to which newcomers are always welcome. Our extensive cycle runs list is listed here.
All details can be found at our website:http://www.ctcgrampian.org.uk
About The Group
Members of the group will receive and can post email updates on local activities, cycling events, social events, programme changes and cycling items for sale or wanted. In addition members can request help or advice with any cycling-related subject. You can join here: Join
Catchment area
About details
Group activities
- Leisure and touring rides
Group contact details
David Bostock – 01224 876136
Visit Grampian CTC website
Our main events
There are no events entered at this time, please contact the group for more details.
Our regular rides & events
Please contact the group for further details
About our rides
Runs Lists: To obtain the next runs list, see our website: www.ctcgrampian.org.uk
Typically we do four runs of different types each weekend so there is plenty choice for cyclists of varying experience. The types are described below:
Try Cycling: rides are intended for those who have not been on the saddle for a while and for those who want a quiet ride around Aberdeen. These are easy rides followed or interrupted by a coffee stop, families are welcome. They start at 10.00, each Sunday. Details can be found on the Runs Lists page.
Morning Runs: These runs are at a relatively slow pace and are usually about 25–30 miles long. A coffee or picnic stop will usually be made. Each weekend.
Full Day Runs: These are all-day runs intended for experienced cyclists. A coffee stop and lunch/picnic stop will be made. Distances and speeds vary as outlined below:
Slower Full Day Runs: Slowish pace. Distance normally 30-45 miles. Alternate weekends with Medium Full Day Runs.
Medium Full Day Runs: Moderate pace. Distance normally 45-60 miles. Alternate weekends with Slower Full Day Runs.
Faster Full Day Runs: Fast pace. Distance normally 60-75 miles (* runs are longer). Each Weekend.
Pub Runs: Start prompt at the time stated, to reach the pub by 21:00 approximately. LIGHTS! For further information, contact Alberto. Run Weds Evenings, May-August.
Bike & Hike: These runs are generally from Aberdeen to a beauty spot for a short walk and picnic, before returning. Occasional.
Distances: A*: Over 75 A: 60-75 B: 45-60 C: 30-45 D: 20-30 E: 10-15
Supporting downloads


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It's the house that Jeff Jarrett built.
The IWC is to TNA what the Republicans are to Obama: No matter how much good they do...as soon as they're shown to be less than perfect, the other claims that they just can't get anything right.
Last edited by el gabo; 02-11-2013 at 12:36 PM.
"I am not a NUGGET!"


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Don't miss out on a lower price on this hotel
Get an overview of this hotelAll-suites resort on South Florida's Marco Island
Popular property highlights
On Marco Island beach
Located on a barrier island in southwest Florida, this resort overlooks the white-sand beach of the Gulf of Mexico, and sits at the "Gateway to the Everglades."
Mangia and massage
Guests of the Marco Beach Ocean Resort enjoy access to a beach with parasailing as well as an outdoor pool, fitness center, full health spa, and several dining options including a 700-label wine list.
Elegant suites
All suites at Marco Beach Ocean Resort have terraces or balconies. Units have kitchens, separate living areas, iPod docking stations, high-speed Internet access, and plush beds with 310-thread-count linens.
Guest Highlights
- Spotless guestrooms
- Good location
- Beach
- Helpful staff
Marco Beach Ocean Resort
Property Amenities
Property Amenities
This 12-story all-suite resort is located on one of Southwest Florida's barrier islands, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Guests swim in the Gulf or relax on the beach, where rentals, including chairs, umbrellas, personal watercraft, and parasails, are available, along with beachside drink and dining service.
A spa and fitness center offers massages, body therapies, and facials, plus exercise bikes, cardio machines, free weights, a sauna, and a steam room. Guests must be 18 or older to use the spa.
An outdoor pool, sundeck, spa tub, and poolside bar are located on the resort's fifth-floor sunroof and a gourmet Italian restaurant is on site. The resort offers complimentary sorbet on the beach and poolside at 3 PM daily.
The resort features furniture in cream, blue, and gold tones. Meeting facilities include a 2,396-square-foot (223-square-meter) ballroom overlooking the Gulf. A 24-hour business center provides copying, faxing, word processing, packaging, shipping, and complimentary high-speed Internet access.
- Outdoor pool
- Poolside bar
- Spa tub
- Full-service spa
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Sauna
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Fitness facilities
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Restaurant
- Bar/lounge
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Meeting rooms
- Conference space
- 24-hour front desk
- Porter/bellhop
- Express check-out
- Multilingual staff
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Elevator/lift
- Wedding services
- Concierge services
- Total number of rooms - 93
- Number of floors - 12
- Luggage storage
- 24-hour business center
- Steam room
- Computer station
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Free wired Internet
- Garden
- Year Built 2001
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Spa services on site
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Valet parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Premium TV channels
- Video-game console
- Premium bedding
- Separate sitting area
- Room service (24 hours)
- Furnished balcony or patio
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Air conditioning
- Free newspaper
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Phone
- Refrigerator
- Coffee/tea maker
- Kitchen
- Daily housekeeping
- Turndown service
- Designer toiletries
- Bathrobes
- Hair dryer
- In-room massage available
- Slippers
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Cable TV service
- Iron/ironing board
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Sofa bed
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Microwave
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- iPod docking station
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Free WiFi
- Free wired Internet
- Stovetop
Where to Eat
Sale E Pepe - Authentic Italian restaurant with three dining areas. Outdoor terrace overlooks the beach. Awarding-winning wine cellar with more than 700 labels. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Resort-casual clothing for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Toulouse Lounge - This gas-lit bar and lounge evokes Paris at the turn of the century. Above the granite-topped bar is a large oil reproduction of scenes from Toulouse Lautrec's Moulin Rouge series of paintings.
Beachfront Bar & Grill - Frozen drinks, salads, hot dogs, homemade pizzas, desserts, and soft drinks are served beachside. Covered dining area. Open mid-morning until dusk (seasonal). Lunch and dinner served.
Poolside Bar - Located on the rooftop sundeck. Beverages, sandwiches, soft drinks. Open for lunch and daily happy hour.
The resort offers complimentary sorbet on the beach and poolside at 3 PM daily.
Nearby Things to Do
Guests swim in the Gulf or relax on the beach at this Marco Island resort. Beach rentals, including chairs, umbrellas, personal watercrafts, and parasail rides, are available. An outdoor splash pool, sundeck, and spa tub are located on the resort's fifth-floor sunroof.
Golf, tennis, charter fishing, and boat tours are all located nearby.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or near the resort; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Personal motorized watercraft on site
- Water skiing nearby
- Scooter/moped rentals nearby
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Parasailing on site
Spa Services
Enjoy a variety of massages, facials and body treatments at the Marco Beach Ocean Resort Spa conveniently located on the fourth level, including eight private treatment rooms, steam rooms and saunas. A private locker, robe, slippers and personal amenities are provided for each of the spa guests. The spa is open to guests 18 and older.
- Hot stone massage
- Deep tissue massage
- Swedish massage
- Prenatal massage
- Steam room in spa
- Reflexology
- Sauna in spa
- Number of treatment rooms 8
- Couples treatment rooms
- Body wraps
- Minimum age to access spa is 18
- Body scrubs
- Aromatherapy treatments
- Massages
- Body treatments
- Facial treatments
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
- In-room accessibility
Property Policies
Minimum check-in age is 21
Check-in time starts at 4 PM
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
- Cribs (infant beds) are available.
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Optional extras
- Valet parking fee: USD 20 per day (in/out privileges)
Property Name
- Marco Beach Ocean
- Marco Beach Ocean Resort
- Marco Beach Resort
- Marco Beach Ocean Hotel Marco Island
- Marco Beach Ocean Resort Marco Island, Florida
- Marco Island Beach Ocean Hotel
- Marco Island Beach Ocean Resort
- Marco Beach Ocean Resort Marco Island
- Marco Beach Ocean Marco Island
We should mention
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Awards & Affiliations
- The property is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.


text: Photo by: Paolo SantaluciaDennis Aabo Sørensen, of Aalborg, Denmark, who lost his left hand in a fireworks accident a decade ago, shows the sensory feedback enabled prosthesis he is testing in Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. The patient only got to experiment with the bulky prototype for a week, and it's far from the bionics of science fiction movies. But the research released Wednesday is part of a major effort to create more lifelike, and usable, prosthetics. This isn't the first time scientists have tried to give some sense of touch to artificial hands; a few other pilot projects have been reported in the U.S. and Europe. But this newest experiment, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, shows Sorensen not only could tell differences in the shape and hardness of objects, he also could quickly react and adjust his grasp. (AP Photo/Paolo Santalucia)


text: Table Talk: For gourmet takeout, call ahead By Julie Robinson April 10, 2012 Story Share Kenny Kemp Connie Bergstedt, owner of Connie's Gourmet Kitchen, holds a chicken salad plate she prepares in her newly opened South Hills restaurant on Oakwood Road. Kenny Kemp Chicken and beef satay with stir-fried rice and an egg roll were on the dinner menu last week. Daily entr�e offerings vary from week to week. Kenny Kemp Nadine Walker, Bergstedt's assistant, cuts up strawberries for a fresh fruit salad. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- She's back.Connie Bergstedt, most recently renowned for the chicken salad and pepperoni rolls she served from a kitchen tucked inside a former South Hills elementary school, opened Connie's Gourmet Kitchen on Oakwood Road in March.She left the school facility, which contained a dental equipment business when she was there, in 2007, and concentrated on catering. Now takeout customers can purchase Bergstedt's fresh lunches of sandwiches and salads and a rotating dinner menu at her new location.The petite restaurant's bright interior seats only 12 diners. Most of her customers carry their orders out, after calling ahead to be sure they're available.In addition to the popular chicken salad plate, her lunch menu includes Asian grilled chicken, Mediterranean spinach and feta, Greek, chef's and fruit salads each for $6. Customers love her roasted pear salad with gorgonzola, fruit and greens. She sells lots of Reuben sandwiches, but BLT, club, ham, tuna salad and chicken salad sandwiches, most for $5, also sell well.She offers one hot meal lunch special daily.A daily rotating dinner menu features a choice of two entrees and side dishes priced between $8 and $10. Last week's entrees were generous portions of grilled pork tenderloin or pecan chicken on Tuesday, beef or chicken satay on Wednesday, lasagna or chicken Florentine on Thursday and salmon coulibiac or shrimp Alfredo on Friday. Connie's is closed Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays."The salmon coulibiac is really special. The salmon is baked in pastry with spinach, mushrooms, shrimp and cheese in a heavy cream sauce," Bergstedt said. Her food, especially the pepperoni rolls, sells so well that she often runs out. She bakes four to five dozen pepperoni rolls daily, which she sells for $1.50 each. "One man comes in a lot and says he'll take them all." Other customers hear him, and ask if they can have one or two before he buys them all.Savvy customers call ahead to place lunch or dinner orders, a practice she encourages because she hates to disappoint customers.Her bakery case usually contains freshly baked muffins, which she's been baking since she opened her first restaurant in the YMCA on Hillcrest Drive. "I started when a tennis friend suggested I open a place. Later, I worked at the former Players Club and operated a place in Boulevard Tower," she said.The challenges of running two establishments proved exhausting."I had good help at the Y, but I was still up at 2 in the morning cooking," she said. She left the Players Club in 1996 and Boulevard Tower in 1997 to spend several years in community service in her native Philippines. She makes her multicultural dishes based not so much on recipes she's gathered, but rather by observing the cultures in which they're created."I get to know the people and the culture. I cook based on why they do things a certain way. Learning that way has really helped me on my cooking journey," she said. After her return from the Philippines, Bergstedt settled into a busy catering routine that focused on her church and its members. She fed everyone from small groups that performed at Bible Center Church to receptions for 600. The performers often praised her cooking while onstage."One group said they were going to make me part of the band and take me with them," she said.Unruffled and efficient, Bergstedt makes the most of challenging situations such as the time she donated her services for a missionary who told her to expect 150 wedding guests. More than 300 showed up."We just stretched it. I set up stations and spread out the food. They had tastes," she said.When needed, she makes table decorations and bakes wedding cakes. "I just do whatever they need," she said.She's been baking seasonal favorites such as King Cakes for Mardi Gras and gingerbread houses at Christmas for in-the-know clients, but now she can market them in the bakery case of her new restaurant. Bergstedt had her eye on the location for years, but the landlord resisted placing a restaurant in the retail space that previously contained a variety of businesses including crafts, primitives and bead and jewelry shops. "Last Thanksgiving, I was visiting my son in Lexington [Ky.] when the landlord called and asked if I was still interested. His wife had told him that she thought it would be a good place for me," she said.After adding water lines and plumbing, updating the electrical system and building a kitchen, Bergstedt furnished her small dining area with colorful tables she found at ReStore and chairs culled from Second Seating.Customers shouldn't count on finding a seat during busy lunch and dinner hours, Bergstedt warns, but she happily packages orders to go.Connie's Gourmet Kitchen, 882 Oakwood Road, is open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Call-ahead and takeout orders are highly encouraged. Call 304-881-3779 to hear the day's menu and place an order.Reach Julie Robinson at firstname.lastname@example.com or 304-348-1230. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Deer in 8 WV counties found dead from EHD 2 Derek Redd: Marshall thinks outside the cable box for broadcasts 3 Innerviews: Dual-identity surgeon riding high in horse racing world 4 Philanthropist Betty Schoenbaum of Shoney's fortune turns 100 5 Former State Police captain now chief in Winfield On the Town: April 8, 2012 Previous Story Food Notes: April 11, 2012 Next Story


text:
FAQs: Inspections General
The required inspections depend on the project. Please refer to our publications page and reference your specific project. You can also review Building a New Home.
If you use our automated telephone system or website, you may schedule your inspections up to 11:59 p.m. for the next business day. Otherwise, inspections scheduled by staff must be made by 4 p.m. for the next business day. We can schedule inspections for up to 30 days in advance. We cannot schedule same day inspections.
Unfortunately Fairfax County is unable to offer this type of service. However, you may call your inspector between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on the day of your inspection to discuss his/her schedule. In addition, staff of the commercial or residential inspection offices may be able to provide you with assistance.
Yes, you can call your inspector. To obtain his/her name and telephone number, call the following numbers during business hours:
- Residential inspections: 703-631-5101, TTY 711.
- Commercial building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections: 703-324-1910, TTY 711.
The results of your inspection will be posted online and emailed to the parties that provided email addresses during the permitting process. You may also check inspection results:
Online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Or by calling the commercial or residential offices during business hours:
- Residential inspections: 703-631-5101, TTY 711.
- Commercial mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections: 703-324-1910, TTY 711.
- Commercial building or Critical Structures inspections: 703-324-1060, TTY 711.
Please have your permit number available to expedite the process.
Please call the numbers listed above.


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If you adopt these principles, life can be so much less stressful. read more
Page 32 of 76
3 Ways to Keep Your Marriage Strong After the Wedding
Are these things present in your marriage? If not, why not? read more
How God Can Heal Your Sexual Hurt
God's grace is greater than our sin or sadness. Here's what he can do for you emotionally when it comes to the area of sex. read more
4 Ways to Raise Up Godly Girls
These suggestions will help you not only run a more peaceful household and have a better relationship with your daughters, but will also set a spiritual foundation. read more
Is There a Spiritual Side to Sex?
God created sex for the married man and woman. Shouldn't we treat it like the gift that it is? read more
10 Memory-Making Activities to Do With Your Wife
What other activities would you suggest to other husbands that would be fun and enhance their friendships with their wives? read more
7 Things That Can Spark an Argument With Your Spouse
Here are some things that you should avoid if you don't want to start a quarrel with your wife. read more
20 Verses That Define Mature Manhood
Looking like a man and smelling like a man are all well and good, but doesn't the Word of God supersede such trivial characteristics? read more
4 Points Dads Must Make With Their Kids About Violence
How do we help our children understand how wrong violence is, while at the same time respecting our military, staying committed to protecting the innocent, and valuing the importance of self-defense? read more
With Your Daughters, Think Backward, Dads
At the end of your life, if your daughter had only one thing to say about you, what would you want it to be? read more
Here Are Ways Dads Can Bond With 'Different' Kids
How have you succeeded in overcoming the differences or building bonds with a child who's very much unlike you? read more
10 Ways You Can Push Your Spouse Away
In what ways are you pushing your spouse away? What steps are you taking to change? read more
15 Concepts To Make Sure No Man In Your Church Gets Left Behind
Here's how the No Man Left Behind model can attract new men to your church and to its ministry for men. read more
25 Things a Daughter Needs From Her Dad
Here are some honest, heartfelt things that girls—and grown women—are looking for from their fathers. read more
Here's a Great Opportunity to Show Christlike Love
We all know God hates divorce. But when it does rear its ugly head, shouldn't we carry out God's love to those involved? read more
The Most Important Thing a Man Must Remember About His Faith
Here's why your faith is not only a privilege; it's also a responsibility. read more
4 Reasons You Must Talk to Your Kids About 'Fifty Shades of Grey'
This movie is going to have consequences on your children and how they view sex. You need to prayerfully address it. read more
4 Tips for Dating as a Single God's Man
The Bible doesn't give much information on dating, especially for this current culture. But here are some godly characteristics to aspire to. read more
Why You Should Make Out With Your Spouse
If you're not normally given to public displays of affection—or to very little physical affection at all—here are some strong benefits simple kisses can bring. read more
6 Ways to Blow a Special Day
With Valentine's Day upon us, how can you avoid these mistakes when it comes to your spouse? read more


text: Perfect-fit tank Item 92098 Color: Size: All sizes are US sizes. X-SMALL SMALL Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices do not include taxes. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Slim fit. Body length: 19 1/8". Product Details Our superfine baby-rib cotton, cut a bit slimmer for a flattering fit. That's why we call it perfect. Cotton. Machine wash. Import. Item 92098.


text:
Groene at the Legislature: Teacher absences, substitutes
Mail: Southern statues symbolize suppression
More opinion
Senate: Vote no on Graham-Cassidy health care plan
Fall: Good time to spray musk thistle in rosette stage
More Ag News
Standard & Poors Financial Services, the nations leading rating agency, recently announced an A- rating with a stable outlook for Great Plains Regional Medical Centers long-term bond rating.
In a written statement to Great Plains Regional Medical Center, S&P attributed their A- rating to:
Strong business position.
Consistently healthy operating levels (ranging from 4 to 6 percent in the last five years).
Growing unrestricted reserves, resulting in strong cash on hand (currently at 275 days).
Successful physician recruitment (an increase of 30 physicians in the last three years).
The rating is a slight decrease in Great Plains Regional Medical Center's credit rating,from A to A-, but hospital officials were pleased.
Were entering into the largest construction project in the hospitals history, said Greg Nielsen, Great Plains Regional Medical Center chief executive officer. The project will transform the landscape of our local medical community, improving overall patient experience, realizing operational efficiencies and ultimately improving the way we deliver health care.
The bonds will fund construction of the 116-bed, five-story patient "tower" which will feature modernized patient units, private rooms with more space for family members, more parking and expansion of the central utilities.
The recent rating puts GPRMC in line or better than other like-size S&P-rated hospitals across the state.
This is a very favorable rating outcome," said Krystal Claymore, Great Plains Regional Medical Center chief financial officer. "We fully expected that the $100 million project investment would affect our bond rating. We were pleased to learn though that our strong financial performance and clear mission and vision helped us achieve the A- rating."
Through September 2012, admissions have grown by 6 percent, outpatient visits by 7 percent, emergency visits by 10 percent and physician visits by 46 percent, Claymore said.
According to S&Ps written statement, The stable outlook reflects our anticipation that Great Plains Regional Medical Center will continue to generate healthy operating margins as a result of its dominant market position, successful physician recruitment and good utilization.
Flatrock Publishing, Inc.
1300 E 4th St., Suite F
North Platte, NE 69101


text:
Milnacipran in Autism and the Functional Locus Coeruleus and Noradrenergic Model of Autism
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) include Autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). These are developmental disorders beginning prior to three years of age. Recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates suggest that ASD affects up to 1 in 100 individuals and up to 1 in 50 boys. There are very substantial costs associated with caring for patients with ASD, and ASD has the highest Caregiver Burden Scores of any condition. There are three core symptom domains of ASD, including social deficits, repetitive behaviors and language deficits. Patients can also have associated symptoms of attentional deficits, disruptive behaviors and intellectual disability. There is currently no Food and Drug administration (FDA) approved treatment for the core symptoms of autism, but risperidone and aripiprazole have FDA approval for disruptive behaviors associated with autism.
This is a 12 week randomized double blind placebo controlled trial of Milnacipran in adults with ASD or Aspergers Syndrome. Milnacipran is said to play a role in the activation and normalization of the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic system, of which is hypothesized to play a role in behavior adaptations and performance.
|Autism Spectrum Disorder Asperger Syndrome Aspergers Syndrome
|Drug: Milnacipran Drug: Placebo
|Phase 4
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Milnacipran in Autism and the Functional Locus Coeruleus and Noradrenergic Model of Autism
- Change in Score on Conners Adults Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Rating Scale [ Time Frame: Baseline through Week 12 ]Change will be measured in each subject's score on the Conners from baseline through study end (week 12). It is a clinically expert rating scale used to measure attention dysfunction. It offers good psychometric properties and psychopathological item content focused on inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Change in subjects on placebo, will be compared to those receiving the study drug.
- Aberrant Behavior Checklist - Irritability Scale [ Time Frame: Screening, baseline, weeks 2,4,6,8,10,12 ]Rating scale sensitive to changes in disruptive behaviors in autism.
- Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)- Compulsion Subscale [ Time Frame: screening, baseline, weeks, 2,4,6,8,10,12 ]Clinical tool used to measure repetitive behaviors in autism trials.
- Diagnostic Analysis of Nonverbal Activity-2 (DANVA-2) [ Time Frame: screening, baseline, weeks 2,4,6,8,10,12 ]Tool used to measure social cognition in adults with autism, as related to amygdala function.
- NoGo-Go Task During functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) [ Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 ]A neurocognitive task of motor inhibition measured during the fMRI.
- Core Autism Treatment Scale - Severity and Improvement [ Time Frame: screening, baseline, weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 ]Tool used to compare pretreatment ratings of severity and post treatment ratings of improvement after the start of therapy.
- Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI) [ Time Frame: screening, baseline, weeks 2,4,6,8,10,12 ]A scale that measures improvement based off of the clinician's interpretations.
|Study Start Date:
|February 2011
|Study Completion Date:
|July 2014
|Primary Completion Date:
|July 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
|Experimental: Milnacipran
Drug: Milnacipran
Patients will receive a titrated dose of milnacipran increasing to a maximum of 100mg a day over the 12 week study period. Dosing will be based on a fixed schedule that will be monitored using a side effect profile.
Other Name: Savella
|Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Drug: Placebo
Subjects will be given placebo tablets at dosing corresponding to the fixed schedule between 12.5mg and 100mg.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 50 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male and Female patients
- Aged 18-50 years
- Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
- IQ greater than 70
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant subjects
- Patients deemed by comprehensive psychiatric interview to have a significant risk of suicide
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01337700
|United States, New York
|Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
|Bronx, New York, United States, 10467
|Principal Investigator:
|Eric Hollander, MD
|Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
|Responsible Party:
|Eric Hollander, Clinical Professor, Montefiore Medical Center
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01337700 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
10-09-299 ( Other Identifier: Montefiore Institutional Review Board )
|Study First Received:
|December 27, 2010
|Last Updated:
|November 19, 2014
Keywords provided by Eric Hollander, Montefiore Medical Center:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Asperger Syndrome
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Autistic Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive
Asperger Syndrome
Pathologic Processes
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Mental Disorders
Antidepressive Agents
Psychotropic Drugs
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors
Membrane Transport Modulators
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Neurotransmitter Agents
Serotonin Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors
Adrenergic Agents
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


text:
clw_uk wrote:To me abortion is killing, even if you dont reguard it as a person at the early stages your still depriving a being of life later on so you have killed it, that being said i dont agree that one should be punished even further if they have an abortion in an extreme case such as this
I think the golden rule is a good rule of thumb. In 99% of cases, I would not want to be aborted, but there is that tiny percentage of situations where I would rather die painfully and be reborn elsewhere, than be born as a depraved human being, to a depraved family.
Individual wrote:What is the view of abortion in Buddhism?
as a Buddhist, what is your opinion of the above situation?
Individual wrote:what is your opinion of the above situation?
Chris wrote:Hello all,
[long post ... see above]
Manapa wrote:I think it is a matter of principle that there should be adequate non-judgmental support for those who go through with an abortion and those who go full term
Manapa wrote:it is not a matter of principles I think are relevant and force on every situation but a matter of what is best in the situation that is present.
Peter wrote:Manapa wrote:it is not a matter of principles I think are relevant and force on every situation but a matter of what is best in the situation that is present.
I wonder if you have any support from the Buddhist teachings for this stance? Any instance of the Buddha praising a violation of the precepts because of this or that difficult situation?
Manapa wrote:look at the story related to verse 1 or 2 of the Dhammapada about the blind walking mediator.
Bhikkhu Sujato says, "When a woman seeks an abortion, she and the father should be provided with detailed information and personal counseling before making the final decision. Our society must accept that addressing the issue of abortion involves not just making moral judgements and providing medical services, but also education in contraception and in responsible relationships. We must offer women a meaningful alternative through adequate child support and social services."
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text:
Rosa Amelia Gonzalez; Horacio Viana
|Format: PDF
|Also Available In:
|English PDF English Hardcopy Black & White Spanish Hardcopy Black & White
|List Price: $7.46
|Source: Social Enterprise Knowledge Network
|Publication Date: Jul 25, 2008
|Product #: SKS104-PDF-SPA
|Discipline: Strategy
|Length: 23 p, Spanish PDF
|Revision Date: Jun 18, 2010
Cruzsalud was a medium-sized company, founded in November 2004. The company's business model was based on the concept pre-paid health care, by means of which low-income subscribers obtain a set of health services in exchange for a fixed monthly payment, with prices ranging from 9 to 40 thousand bolivars (US$ 4.00 to 18.60) per month. Once operations were under way, Cruzsalud had to face several management problems linked to expected sales and subscriber fee collection mechanisms. Moreover, Cruzsalud faced a dilemma related to its business model. The Law for Workplace Prevention, Conditions, and Environment, which was passed in July 2005, forced companies, regardless of size, to provide workplace health and safety services. In response to that mandate, and the determination shown by authorities to comply with it, business demand for health services spiraled. This opportunity, together with the difficulties faced in reaching the required volume of customers, led the shareholders to wonder whether Cruzsalud should continue to focus on the low-income sector, as managers proposed, or move towards the market for employee health plans.
Class discussion of this case is aimed at the following objectives: I. Examine the challenges faced by a company that conceives and develops a business model that allows it to attend to the needs of low-income sectors, and do so profitably. II. Understand the economics of LIS business models. III. Examine the role of the company, beyond shareholder value. How to create social value for customers and other actors without foregoing economic return on investment.
Business plans; Income


text:
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