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UNIVERSAL CITY - She had wanted a celebration with her brass band playing over her casket, rousing applause, a little tequila and beer, and some flitting butterflies.
Seven years after she recorded "Cuando Muere Una Dama" or "When a Lady Dies," singer Jenni Rivera nearly received the memorial she outlined in a song that became an unexpected will and testament. | PHOTOS | Thousands of fans remember Jenni | Archive of our live blog
Nearly 6,000 fans packed the Gibson Amphitheatre on Wednesday morning where Rivera's casket, ruby red with a few painted pink butterflies, sat at the foot of the stage surrounded by white roses. Fans came from as far as possible to pay homage to the woman they admired for her music, her strength, her honesty, and her perfectly imperfect life filled with love and loss.
The crowd, mostly girls and women, sang along to her classics, applauded her successes, and wept with her parents, brothers and sister, and her children, who all dressed in white or red, and one by one tearfully recalled Rivera's strong-willed nature, her unswerving faith in God, and her gratefulness toward her fans.
"My mom once asked me if I had one word for her what would it be," said her daughter Janney "Chiquis" Marin. "In my opinion, my mom was unbreakable."
Marin, who starred in a reality show and whose arguments with Rivera were much publicized, said her mother fought for everything and was a warrior.
"I'm a product of the strongest woman I have ever known," Marin said, adding she feels her mother telling her, "Chiquis, you have to be strong."
Throughout the more than two-hour service there were video montages and a brass band that belted out the banda tunes that turned the Long Beach girl into an international musical superstar. The memorial was a mix of songs performed by famous Latin American singers, including Joan Sebastian and Ana Gabriel, and moving eulogies by members of her family - many of whom are top acts in the regional Mexican music industry.
Rivera died Dec. 9 when her rented Learjet LJ25 crashed in northern Mexico about 15 minutes after departing Monterrey, Mexico. She was 43. Six other people aboard also died.
The memorial was billed by the Rivera family as a "Graduation to Heaven." A private funeral was to have followed.
If the mood was only slightly somber inside the amphitheatre, it was Rivera's youngest son, 11-year-old Johnny Angel Lopez, whose expression of both innocence and heartache brought the crowd to tears.
Even actor Edward James Olmos, who sat up front, could be seen on the large screens around the theater wiping his eyes.
"It's an honor to say that Jenni Rivera - the woman everyone is talking about - is my mom," Johnny, who wore a red bow tie and white suit, told the crowd.
"I've never seen a mother work so hard to accomplish everything."
Rivera's brother, the Rev. Pedro Rivera Jr., who is pastor at the Primer Amor church in Whittier, said while the crash was an accident, in a sense it wasn't accidental.
"God lent her to us, and then he called her back," he said.
Rivera's son, Trinidad "Michael" Rivera, 21, called for a moment of silence in memory of the children and teachers killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, because, he said, his mom would have been saddened by it. Her father, Pedro Rivera, sang a corrido written in honor of his daughter.
Her family asked fans to call radio stations to request that they play her hit, "La Gran Senora" at noon on Thursday.
Rivera was known in Mexico and the United States as "La Diva de la Banda," a singer who had sold more than 15 million records of banda music and whose life, loves and losses were well known among her admirers.
Born and raised in Long Beach, Rivera was one of the biggest stars of the Mexican regional style known as grupero music, which is influenced by the norte o, cumbia and ranchero styles.
While her music drew many toward her, it was Rivera's story of humble beginnings growing up in Long Beach, as well as her Gloria Gaynor, "I Will Survive"-like attitude toward life, her three marriages, her five children, and her sense of giving back, that appealed to her fans.
The singer, businesswoman and actress had her own reality shows, including "I Love Jenni" and "Jenni Rivera Presents: Chiquis and Raq-C" and her daughter's "Chiquis `n Control." She had recently signed a deal with ABC to develop a sitcom about a Latina single mom.
"It's like we all knew her," said fan Lindsey Siguenza, 20, of Los Angeles. "We won't miss the singer. We'll miss the person."
Elizabeth Gutierrez and her mom and daughter drove from San Jose to watch the memorial, calling Rivera an example of what it is to be a real woman.
"She gave so much to the community," Gutierrez said. "And she became a spokeswoman for battered women."
Griselda Perez, 19, of San Diego said seeing the coffin on stage Wednesday instead of the bubbly, energetic idol dancing and singing was heart wrenching.
"I just don't believe it," Perez said. "For her real fans, she's still alive. She'll always be alive."
Perez, whose mascara was smeared from her tears, said she's been to more than 10 Rivera concerts, even gaining backstage access to a few to interact with the diva.
Those in the audience who brought a single white rose to the memorial were allowed to place them on the casket. But placing a white rose near Rivera's coffin Wednesday was never how Perez imagined her last meeting with the Latina pop star.
"This is the worst feeling ever," she said between sobs.
As she and thousands other walked passed the casket, Rivera's "Como Muere Una Dama" played, her lyrics silencing the crowd as she sang:
"Drink tequila and beer, let the bands play with might," she sang. "Release butterflies, applaud me with your claps, because that's how you celebrate when a lady dies."
And at the end of the memorial - just as she requested - fine paper butterflies fluttered down over the crowd.


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HOUSTON - The defense and prosecution in the Jessica Tata murder trial rested their cases on Thursday.
Tata, 24, is charged with felony murder. Prosecutors said she left several children home alone with a pan of grease heating on a stove while she went shopping in 2011. When she got home, the house was on fire, officials said.
After the defense rested on Thursday morning, the prosecution called two rebuttal witnesses.
The first witness for the defense took the stand on Wednesday. Richard Bonyata was hired by the defense to inspect the evidence found after the fire.
Bonyata suggested that the burner switch on the stove may have been faulty. He said similar switches on other stoves had caused burners to turn on or jump in temperature on their own.
Bonyata also said that an electrical malfunction in the refrigerator could have also caused the fire. He said there was heavy fire damage to the refrigerator and the area around it. He testified that a damaged electrical relay was recovered after the fire and records showed that someone tried to repair the refrigerator a week before the fire.
The prosecution had arson experts in court to listen to Bonyata's testimony. Earlier in the trial, the prosecution's engineering expert testified that he examined the stove after the fire and determined one of the burners had been on. He said that there were no problems with the stove's switches.
David Reiter, an engineer and certified fire investigator, was called back to the stand on Thursday. He testified that the primary fire and heat patterns are like footprints in the snow -- if you follow them correctly, you will find the origin. He said all of the patterns point to the top of the stove as the cause of the fire. He said the fire pattern near the stove is not consistent with fire coming from the refrigerator, as Bonyata suggested, but the burn pattern on the wall behind the stove is consistent with the heat signature on the stove.
Prosecutors have also been telling the jury that it does not matter how the fire started, what matters is that evidence shows Tata left the children alone.
Kristi Smith with the Texas Department of Family Protective Services was the second rebuttal witness. She said that when she went to the home during the fire, she found Tata standing outside with neighbors. Smith said Tata told her that she was in the bathroom when the fire started and that she had vegetable oil heating on the stove. Tata told her that she came out of the bathroom, saw the fire, grabbed her keys and ran out the back door to yell for help.
Closing arguments will be held on Monday. The jury will be sequestered during deliberations.
Tata has been charged with four counts of murder, three counts of abandoning a child and two counts of reckless injury to a child.
Prosecutors said Tata put the children in harm's way by leaving them alone and going shopping. While she was at Target, a fire broke out in the kitchen when oil in a frying pan on a stovetop burner ignited. Three children were also seriously injured in the blaze.
Tata's attorneys said she didn't intend to hurt the children. Defense attorneys said murder charges are excessive and that when the fire broke out, she tried to save the children, who ranged in age from 16 months to 3 years old.
After the fire, Tata fled to Nigeria but was captured after about a month, returned to the U.S. in March 2011 and has remained jailed. She was born in the U.S. but has Nigerian citizenship.
Shomari Dickerson, 3, Elizabeth Kojah, 20 months, Kendyll Stradford, 20 months, and Elias Castillo, 16 months, died in the fire at Jackie's Child Care on Crest Park at Waypark Drive shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2011. Three other children were injured. Tata is standing trial for felony murder first for the youngest of the victims -- Elias Castillo.
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

subset: commoncrawl


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Covenant is one of the best known electronic bands from Sweden. Since the early 1990s they have sold a huge amount albums. I recently caught up with the lead singer Eskil in Berlin and asked him a few questions about songwriting, studio techniques, fashion and gear.
When you write a song do you work on the lyrics or music first?
Neither! We usually start with a sound, noise or the idea of a song. Then the melodies pop up as I start working on it while Joakim is starting up his lyrics engine.
Do you have any preferences when it come to a microphone and mic-pre for your voice?
Yes. When we did "Northern light" with long-time Rammstein producer Jacob Hellner we tried a bunch of different microphones and pre-amps, Neumann and stuff, but what we finally picked was a copy by Soundelux Inc of an all time classic: Telefunken Ela-M 251. The Universal Audio 6175 is a good companion and pre-amp.
Is there any software, plug-ins or special effects you particularly like on your voice?
I used to love to put a subtle chorus from an old Roland unit but these days I try more to get the sound directly from my vocals and the mic rather than tweaking it.
How about sequencing? Ableton Live? Pro-tools? Or something else?
Yeah, we're Steinberg users since Atari 1040ST. Before that we had a sequencer and before that we played everything manually, even live! So we have earned our sequencer so to speak. We were 5 guys and having fun.
I know you own a Moog Voyager. What other key hardware pieces do you use and enjoy?
Hm, I like my microphone, but the Waldorfs (Q, XT & Pulse) still sound like friends I like to know. And Joakim likes to surround himself with red synthesizers from that Swedish company. I love the computer.
What is the secret to writing a great song?
There is no secret, just listen to yourself. Some basic knowledge of structure helps but actually I sometimes feel the music is just passing through me and its up to me to use my craftsmanship to make the best of it. Maybe as a musician you are more of a talented receiver picking up signals than the creator of them. But I also devour popular culture output, maybe that helps.
You are always dressed quite well! Do you have a favorite fashion designer?
I like shoes, with decent shoes you could even wear jeans (I dont have any) but no shorts please. And I like hats. Church's and Borsalino, way to go.
What is some music your are currently listening to?
Field recordings and drones without rhythm or melodies. This is a gem caught in the web: www.touchradio.org.uk
What are 3 great websites you check often?
BBC, wiki, industrial.org and whc.unesco.org as a bonus site.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We just completed one of the greatest DVDs known to the industrialized mankind. Do us a favor and check it up: In Transit by Covenant. See you around, take care and control. Eskil: www.covenant.se


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Editor's Note: The following article was written by Maurice L. Eastridge, professor and extension dairy specialist, The Ohio State University.
We often think about focusing on water supply for livestock during the summer when water intake is the highest and heat stress occurs. However, limited water availability is often an issue during the winter months. Inadequate supply of water during the winter can reduce calf and heifer growth and milk yield of cows, and of course, health issues related to dehydration can quickly occur. The body of dairy cattle contains 40 to 80 percent water, with the young calf having the highest body water concentration. Some general check-points for winter water availability are:
- Offer water to pre-weaned calves – develop and communicate the protocol to all employees feeding the calves. Too often, calves, especially those in hutches, are fed milk without being offered water during the winter months.
- Defrosting units: 1) Make sure they are operational so water supply is not limited, 2) They are a source of stray voltage so be watchful for signs of animals hesitant to drink or lapping the water, and 3) Make sure the electrical supply to the units are in good repair and out of reach of the animals to avoid electrocution.
- Monitor surface water sources carefully for continuous flow or unfrozen section for drinking.
- Repair all water leaks to avoid ice build up around the waterers and remove all areas where water may pool on concrete to avoid animals slipping on ice. Throwing some rock salt on the area around the waterers can help minimize ice formation, even caused by the drooling of the cows.
Water deprivation severely limits animal performance and jeopardizes animal health. Ice formation around waterers and in animal walkways greatly increases the risk for injury. It's time for that so called "check-up" on water sources - "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."


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Here's a summary statement from a Worldwatch Institute report helpfully titled, "Agriculture and Livestock Remain Major Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions:"
"Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agricultural sector totaled 4.69 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent in 2010, an increase of 13% over 1990 emissions."
Those totals seem ominous; 4.69 billion tons is a huge number, and a 13% increase is certainly worrisome.
But let's put those figures in perspective, shall we? Since the Worldwatch folks certainly won't bother doing so, it's important to analyze and compare both the data themselves and the rate of increase within the larger picture of overall GHG emissions.
The data source I used is the same one Worldwatch used: the UN Food and Agricultural Organization's FAOSTAT online GHG emissions calculator.
For starters, the 13% increase in agricultural GHGH emissions represents a comparison that spans more than 20 years. During that time period, the overall annual increase in yield for such key crops as corn (1.77%), wheat (0.52%, rice (0.92%) and soybeans (1.08%) also increased, as well. Extending those annual increases across the same time period, while overall agricultural GHG emissions rose 13%, global yields on corn increased 40%; wheat 11%; rice 22%; and soybeans 24%.
(By the way, overall agricultural productivity over the last 50 years is approaching an 80% increase, according to FAO, dwarfing the increase in GHG emissions during that same time period).
Thus, at the same time that anti-livestock groups are wringing their hands over agriculture's contribution to global warming, productivity increases for key food crops greatly exceeded the amount of GHG emissions resulting from overall global farming activities.
In other words, although GHG emissions went up, the net contribution of agriculture per bushel of food produced decreased significantly.
That's cause for celebration, not consternation.
The real source of the problem
Then there are the raw numbers themselves.
By comparison with the estimated 4.69 billion tons of GHG emissions attributed to agriculture, global CO₂ emissions from worldwide transportation activities totaled 6.76 billion tons in 2010, according to UN data. That's a 44.4% greater source of emissions, even granting FAO its questionable calculations regarding the total GHG contributions of global agriculture.
Even more dramatic, total GHG emissions from power generation using fossil fuels in 2010 exceeded 12.4 billion tons, nearly triple the amount attributed to agriculture.
Combined, those two sectors—transportation and power generation—accounted for 19.2 billion tons of GHG emissions (measured in CO2 equivalents). And keep in mind that we can neither project continued annual yield increases, nor pretend that total food production can go anywhere but dramatically upwards in concert with population growth. Thus there are limited opportunities to significantly shift the calculus on agriculture's contributions to GHG emissions.
Conversely, there are major opportunities to reduce the total GHG emissions in transportation and power generation, using renewable fuels, solar and wind energy and application of technology, such as fuel-efficient vehicles and "smart" electrical grids.
If Worldwatch and other groups with similar agenda really want to reduce GHG emissions, they'd be better off focusing on the transportation and energy sectors. Those two areas represent a more significant source of GHG emissions, and the potential for reductions in those areas is vastly more viable.
One additional note: Since livestock, the source of "enteric fermentation" and the subsequent production of methane gas get singled out as the largest culprit within agriculture, it's important to note that there are other categories that would offer significant reduction in emissions, without impacting one of the world's most critical food sources:
For example: In forestry, FAO estimated that total GHG emissions in 2010 from deforestation exceeded 2.63 billion tons, again a total that could (and should) be substantially reduced through the application of modern forestry management and more rigorous protection of existing rainforests from "slash-and-burn" practices.
And let's not forget that if—as so many veggie fanatics propose—global agriculture were to shift dramatically from meat production to cultivation of grain and other edible crops to replace calories lost by eliminating animal foods (although much of the rangeland where cattle, sheep and goats currently graze is wholly unsuited for row crops), vast acreage now covered with carbon-sequestering forests would have to be mowed down and plowed up, further exacerbating the already significant issue of deforestation's negative impact on GHG emissions.
So when Worldwatch and their ilk trot out what they hope people perceive as negative numbers on GHG emissions associated with animal agriculture, not only do those data need to be compared with other sources that are much greater, but they need to be considered in the context of the ongoing challenge to feed the billions of people alive on Earth today and the billions more to come in the next several decades.
As an indicator of where we need to focus in balancing food production and CO2 emissions, the 4.69 billion tons of GHG emissions attributed to livestock may not be what Mark Twain termed "a damn lie," but it sure is a damn lousy statistic. □
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dan Murphy, a veteran food-industry journalist and commentator.


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Old Country Pediatrics
- Pediatrics
- 556 Old Country Rd Plainview, NY 516-938-3232
Doctors in Old Country Pediatrics
Patient Reviews4.5
The Overall Average Patient Rating of Old Country Pediatrics when asked is excellent. Old Country Pediatrics has been reviewed by 3 patients. The rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The average wait time to see a doctor at Old Country Pediatrics as provided by patient reviews is unknown . By comparison, the national average for a pre-vist wait time is 21 minutes.
A pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in the regular care of children, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of illness in children. Young patients are often more complicated to treat because they are still growing and developing.
While pediatricians may sub-specialize in specific therapy areas like oncology, surgery, ophthalmology, and anesthesiology, in general, pediatricians provide services like vaccinations, health exams, and treatment of common ailments and injuries. In addition, pediatricians are trained to handle the complex emotional and behavioral issues faced by children, especially during puberty.
Pediatricians normally see their patients from birth until the age of 18, although some may agree to treat patients into their early 20s, if requested.
- Pediatrics
- New York Medical College
- State University Of New York Upstate Medical University
- English
Health Insurance Accepted
- First Health
- BCBS Massachusetts
- United Healthcare
- HealthFirst NY
- MVP Health Plan
- Data not available
Information about group practices
What is a Group Practice?
According to The Medical Group Management Association, a group practice is any relationship between three or more physicians who share facilities, expenses, profits and other resources like support staff and equipment.
Group practices tend to fall into two categories: those that organize around a particular medical specialty and those that encompass several specialties like East Boston Neighborhood Health that specializes in internal medicine.
Why Group Practice?
As medicine became more complex in the twentieth century, the need for group practices made more sense. Physicians found it impossible to know everything about the emerging drugs and technologies on the medical landscape. In addition, the cost of providing a full range of diagnostic services, such as tests and X-rays, in one location became prohibitive to the individual practitioner. Hence, doctors from various disciplines began to team together in order to provide more comprehensive care to their community of patients.
Benefits of Group Practice
- Access to doctors from various disciplines for referrals and advice
- Better coverage on weekends and off-hours
- One-stop clinics for comprehensive care and testing


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Now that Chip Kelly has officially bolted to the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, it's already been reported that Ducks offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich has been tabbed to be Kelly's successor, per a USA Today report that came out just before the Fiesta Bowl. While Helfrich is well-known in Eugene and even in the Pac-12, college football fans might be asking, "Who is this guy?"
Helfrich has spent the past four seasons as the Ducks' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. His offenses have finished no worse than eighth in scoring nationally during his tenure, and they've led the Pac-12 every year he's been in charge.
The 39-year-old coached quarterbacks every year of his FBS career: Colorado (2006-08, where he was also offensive coordinator), Arizona State (2001-05) and Boise State (1998-2000). That's not by happenstance. He was a four-year letterwinner at QB at Southern Oregon University and led the nation in total offense as a sophomore.
"(Helfrich) can finish Chip's sentences," a source told USA Today. "He's been in that environment long enough (to succeed). It's a leap of faith, but it's very similar—I'd almost argue that it was a bigger leap (promoting) Chip than Mark."
Helfrich made redshirt freshman Marcus Mariota ultra successful in his first season as Oregon's starting QB, and Darron Thomas also flourished under Helfrich. Jeremiah Masoli is another quarterback that Helfrich has worked with in Eugene.


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This is a technique called "Impressionistic Style Art Quilting" which I learned in a class with Ann Loveless. This particular technique could be used for any sort of landscape, but now I've also adapted it to other types of designs as well. It was helpful to begin learning this technique however by creating a floral landscape, because inspiration was easy to find. I browsed through old photographs of flowers and gardens I had visited before, landscaping and gardening magazines, and even online galleries of landscape photography, before I settled upon a photograph that I had taken of a flower garden in France. I selected the photograph based on its composition – placement of flowers, mixture of large and small flowers, and point of view – not necessarily the colors, which I knew I could change in my quilt very easily based on the colors of fabrics I would be using. It is helpful to begin with a photograph, because as you work you might want to double-check the placement of items or the size of them relative to the others.
The quilt itself is composed of four layers: backing fabric, batting, "fabric painted" layer, and tulle.
I laid out a large piece of batting on top of a backing fabric, and then began to create my "fabric painting." This layer is composed of of small, tiny little chopped-up bits of fabric – which can be batiks, hand-dyed fabrics, recycled clothing or UFO's – for this technique you can use ANY kind of fabric, even fabric with designs and prints. (Fabric which is colored all the way through on both sides works best; just think about how the fabric will look when it is chopped up.) It is helpful to have a rotary cutter and a self-healing mat. Simply lay down the fabric, and begin slicing and dicing with the rotary cutter until the fabric is like confetti. For more interest in certain areas of your quilt painting you can cut the fabric in smaller or larger pieces, or in longer strips vs. tiny squares.
I began to think of my fabric as "paint" and even got out an acrylic/plastic painter's palette with extra large ink wells and filled them with my chopped up fabrics, organizing them on the palette by hue. It helped me feel more comfortable with the idea of using fabric in this way, giving me a transition tool between painting with ink and painting with fabric.
Using the fabric as "paint," I began to "paint" on the layer of cotton batting. I began with the sky and worked my way down, painting in background areas, concentrating on lights and darks for contrast with the foreground. After the background was complete, I filled in the foreground with areas of color to represent the clusters of flowers on the ground. The poppy blossoms were fussy-cut from commercially printed fabric which had nice outlining and shading already, and placed on the quilt last so they would look "closer" in perspective. Stems were cut from fabric that was overstamped with metallic paint, to add a bit of texture and interest. I also used some strands of angelina fibers, gently placing them into areas dense with color so that the final piece would have a little sparkle and shine.
Finally, I lightly sprayed the "painting" with temporary spray adhesive (spray basting), and laid a large piece of fine black tulle over the entire piece, and free-motion quilted using clear monofilament thread (I also used "Bottom Line" thread in the bobbin, which is smaller and finer and creates less bulk on the back of the piece). I first outlined the shapes of the flowers and the stems, then filled in larger areas such as the sky and background with free-motion stitching that complemented the shapes that the variance in color created.
This technique is incredibally fun and easy to do – and has me thinking of fabrics as "paint" now – even the least favorite of your fabrics become instantly beautiful when chopped up and used as color!
Please contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com if you have any questions or comments : )


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The Polar Express (BLU)
Robert Zemeckis
SHIPS FREE in U.S.
It's Christmas Eve, and you're about to roller-coaster up and down mountains, slip-slide over ice fields, teeter across mile-high bridges and be served hot chocolate by singing waiters more astonishing than any you can imagine. You're on The Polar Express! Tom Hanks stars in and Robert Zemeckis directs this instant holiday classic filmed in dazzling performance-capture animation that makes every moment magical.
Product Details
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari, Leslie Zemeckis
- Format: Color, Dolby, Widescreen
- Language: English
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
- Number of Discs: 1
- Rating: G
- Label: Warner Studios
- Release Date: 10/30/2007
- Run Time: 100 minutes
- Catalogue #: 115703
Special Features
- Smokey and Steamer Song
- You Look Familiar: The Many "Polar Faces" of Tom Hanks
- A Genuine Ticket to Ride Documentary Gallery: 5 Featurettes
- True Inspirations: An Author's Adventure: Profiling Chris Van Allsburg
- Believe: Josh Groban Performs at the Greek Theatre
- Behind the Scenes of Believe: Bringing a Hit Song to Magical Life in the Recording Studio
- Flurry of Effects Gallery: 5 Motion-Capture Sessions
- Meet the Snow Angels: The Moviemakers' Christmas Memories
User Reviews
Overall Rating 0 Submissions


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On Foot In Northern Cyprus LNC
Visiting: North Cyprus
Trip Duration 8 Days
- Tour Style: Classic
- Tour Type: Centre Based
- Accommodation Grade: Standard
- Trek Grade: Easy to Moderate
Walking holiday in northern Cyprus
Explore one of the most unspoilt regions of the Mediterranean on this walking trip through North Cyprus' beautiful Besparmak Mountains. We follow quiet, flower-rich mountain trails, leading to imposing Crusader castles, with stunning cobalt-sea backdrops. In Kyrenia, we explore the picturesque harbour front and narrow cobbled backstreets. Every evening we return to our hotel on the outskirts of historic Bellapais to relax by the pool, or enjoy delicious, locally-grown food in nearby restaurants.
Tour Highlights
- Kyrenia - Visit this picturesque harbour town. Wander around its backstreets and enjoy fresh North Cyprus cuisine at one of the waterfront restaurants
- Bellapais - Explore the famous twelfth century Crusader abbey and enjoy our week's accommodation close to this pretty village setting, once home to Lawrence Durrell
- Crusader castles - Visit Hilarion Castle. Trek along quiet mountain paths to the imposing Buffavento and Kantara Castles
- Stunning scenery - Walk through lush countryside and quaint villages, with views of an impressive coastline
- Local food - Enjoy the fresh Mediterranean flavours of mezes and other local dishes
Itineraries on some departure dates may differ, please select.
1Join tour in Kyrenia
2Walk through Besparmak Mountains to Bellapais village
3Discover Kantara Castle; walk to Kaplica Beach
4Visit Saint Hilarion Castle; walk to the hillside village of Lapta
5Optional excursion to the historic city of Famagusta
6Hike amongst the ancient sites of the western coast
7Visit Buffavento Castle; descend to Bellapais monastery
8Tour ends in Kyrenia
Trip notes
Each departure date has its own dedicated trip note, detailing all you need to know about that trip. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.
We have the following different versions of the On Foot In Northern Cyprus trip available at present.
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Thanks to investor enthusiasm over its non-invasive medical tests, shares of Trovagene Inc. have soared in recent months. And January has continued to be another bullish month for the San Diego company.
Trovagene's technology allows for diagnosis of diseases, such as cancer, from the urine. Patients don't have to endure the inconvenience, risk and and pain of having their blood or tissue removed for a biopsy.
Shares of Trovagene Inc closed Friday at $8.45, representing a gain of more than 100 percent in two months. And those buying on Aug. 30, when shares traded at $2.16 apiece, would have seen their investment nearly quadruple.
On Friday alone, Trovagene shares climbed more than 11 percent. While the company did not make any announcement, company watchers said investors are reacting to how Trovagene's technology is being picked up by the medical community.
Trovagene's technology harnesses new molecular diagnostic technology to make tests that are easier for patients. The technology detects fragments of DNA and RNA that cross the blood-kidney barrier and are excreted in urine, identifying whether they were derived from normal or diseased cells.
This year's rise began on Jan. 3, the same day Trovagene announced a deal with MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. Under the deal, MD Anderson will use Trovagene's technology to screen for a common mutation in cancer called BRAF in the urine of patients with advanced or metastatic cancers.
"The MD Anderson Cancer Center is a big player and highly respected in the field of cancer research and treatment and the new relationship with TrovaGene is not a trivial news item," stated an article on the Website Market Playground.
Trovagene announced two other alliances last month. On Dec. 20, Trovagene announced a non-exclusive agreement with Carlsbad-based Genoptix Inc. to let Genoptix use its technology to detect acute myelogenous leukemia. Genoptix is owned by biomedical giant Novartis.
And on Dec. 27, Trovagene said it had signed a similar deal with Duke University and Duke University Health Systems. Other sublicensees include Quest Diagnostics in San Diego, LabCorp of Burlington, N.C., and Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services.
Trovagene had originally licensed its technology to fellow San Diego biotech Sequenom, but after a disagreement Trovagene sued to get its rights back. Trovagene regained technology rights in August, 2011.
Even after its recent ascent, Trovagene remains a so-called micro-cap stock, valued at just less than $120 million. According to an article on the financial site Seeking Alpha, the company's value could eventually reach into the billions.
"The reason Trovagene is potentially a multibillion-dollar patent-play, rather than simply a diagnostics company, is that its patent position is the equivalent of a monopoly on blood tests performed today to screen for cancers and infectious diseases," the article stated.Copyright © 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune


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Sustainable productivity
The Philips ergonomic LED display using 25% recycled materials and PVC, BFR free housing is ideal for eco-friendly productivity See all benefits
The SmartErgoBase is a monitor base that delivers ergonomic display comfort and provides cable management. The base's people-friendly height, swivel, tilt and rotation angle adjustments position the monitor for maximum comfort that can ease the physical strains of a long workday; cable management reduces cable clutter and keeps the workspace neat and professional.
The Philips monitor, thanks to its advanced SmartErgoBase, can be lowered down almost to desk level for a comfortable viewing angle. Low bezel-to-table height is the perfect solution if you use bifocals, trifocals or progressive lens glasses for your computing work. Additionally, it allows for users with greatly different heights to use the monitor in their preferred angle and height settings, helping them reduce fatigue and strain.
SmartImage is an exclusive leading edge Philips technology that analyzes the content displayed on your screen and gives you optimized display performance. This user friendly interface allows you to select various modes like Office, Photo, Movie, Game, Economy etc., to fit the application in use. Based on the selection, SmartImage dynamically optimizes the contrast, color saturation and sharpness of images and videos for ultimate display performance. The Economy mode option offers you major power savings. All in real time with the press of a single button!
TrueVision is a proprietary Philips technology that uses advanced algorithm for testing and aligning monitor display which gives you the ultimate display performance. Philips ensures TrueVision monitors leave the factory fine-tuned with this process giving you consistent color and picture quality.
White LED's are solid state devices which light up to full, consistent brightness faster saving startup time. LED's are free from mercury content which allows for eco-friendly recycling and disposal process. LED's allow for better dimming control of LCD backlight, resulting in super high contrast ratio. It also gives superior color reproduction thanks to consistent brightness across the screen.
DisplayPort is a digital link from PC to Monitor without any conversion. With higher capabilities than DVI standard, it is fully capable to support up to 15meter cables and 10.8 Gbps/sec data transfer. With this high performance and zero latency, you get the fastest imaging and refresh rates - making DisplayPort the best choice for not only general office or home use, but also for the demanding gaming and movies, video editing and more. It also keeps interoperability in mind via use of various adapters.
Philips EPEAT GOLD certified monitors ensure protection for human health and environment, and are highly energy efficient ensuring low emissions of climate changing green house gases. EPEAT program helps purchasers evaluate, compare and select Monitors based on 51 environmental criteria supported by US EPA. GOLD certification ensures that at least 30% of plastic used is Post Consumer Resin, which ensures reduction in use of toxic and hazardous materials. EPEAT Gold is valid only where Philips registers the product. Please visit www.epeat.net for registration status in your country.
Philips monitors with LED backlighting are free of Mercury content, one of the most toxic natural substances, which affects humans and animals. This reduces the environmental impact of the display throughout its life-cycle, from manufacturing to disposal.
This Philips monitor housing is free from brominated flame retardant and polyvinyl chloride (PVC-BFR free)
"Philips is committed to use sustainable, eco-friendly materials across its monitor range. All body plastic parts, metal chassis parts and packing materials use 100% recyclable materials. In some selected models we utilize upto 65% post consumer recycled plastics. Strict adherence to RoHS standards ensure substantial reduction or elimination of toxic substances like Lead, for example. Mercury content in monitors with CCFL backlight has been reduced significantly, while eliminated in monitors with LED backlight completely. Visit Philips @ http://www.asimpleswitch.com/global/ to learn more.
PC software for fine tuning display performance and settings. Philips offers users two choices for display setting adjustment. Either navigate the multilevel On Screen Display menu through buttons on the display itself or use the Philips SmartControl software to easily adjust the various display settings in a familiar way


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ROYAL Hampshire County Hospital is warning relatives to limit visits to patients over the festive period to stop the spread of Norovirus.
The winter bug causes diarrhoea and vomiting in people of all ages and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is patients' families to restrict visits to one per day.
A spokesman said: "There are currently high levels of Norovirus in the community, and some cases in the hospital. Restricting visiting helps reduce the chance of spreading the infection."
"Please do not visit Royal Hampshire County Hospital if you or close family are experiencing any vomiting or diarrhoea. You should be free of symptoms for 48 hours before visiting the hospital. It is also recommended that children do not visit the hospital."
Visits hours are limited to between 6:30pm and 7:30pm, unless there are exceptional circumstances which must be approved by nurses.
For more details visit nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/Pages/Introduction.aspx.


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Mesoamerican Reef
About the Area
This network of habitats supports nearly 60 coral, 350 mollusk, and 500 fish species. In addition, the ecoregion contains important examples of coral and lagoon formations called atolls, which are reefs built on sunken islands.
Local Species
Characteristic species of this system include Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus), Caribbean manatee (Trichetus manatus), Magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), Red-footed booby (Sula sula), Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), and the Olivaceous cormorant (Phalacrocorax olivaceous).
Sharks such as Bull shark (Carcharhinus leuca), Nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum), Reef shark (C. springeri), and Scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) can also be found in this ecoregion.
Several species of manta rays, including Southern stingray (Dasyatis americana), Cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus), and Yellow stingray (Urolphus jamaicensis) are also found here. Other species include Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), and Spotted moray eel (Gymnothorax ocellatus).
Hurricanes are one of the principal disturbance factors in addition to rapidly growing pressure from coastal development, tourism, deforestation for agriculture (resulting in siltation from soil erosion), and pollution from herbicides and fertilizers. Commercial and recreational overfishing, as well as oil spills, also threaten the integrity of this reef system.
Habitat type:
Tropical Coral
Geographic Location:
Eastern Central America, off the coast of Belize and Mexico
Conservation Status:
Quiz Time!
Why are hammerhead sharks so called?
Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna zygaena) have a curiously flattened head which resembles a hammer. Their eyes are situated at the end of each side of the hammer. The flat head helps the shark keep its balance as its pectoral fins are very short.


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Doors and Floors Level 13 Tips and Strategies
Doors and Floors
By: Chris
Genre: Puzzle
Video Tips
This video walkthrough demonstrates how to beat Level 13 without any power ups. Uploaded on Astuces Trucs official channel at December 30, 2013.
Still need help to finish Doors and Floors level 13?
I will update this post with more tips and tricks, so please bookmark this page and keep on checking in!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask for extra help in the comments section.
Hit like if this helped you!
Visit Doors and Floors walkthrough page for level videos, tutorials, cheats and more.
Level 13 Questions
Questions related to level 13 of Doors and Floors iPhone game.


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Miami Dolphins season ticket distribution promtotion.
Maybe the Colts could do this:
The Miami Dolphins, in an attempt to be fan-friendlier with season ticket holders, have employed the teams cheerleaders this season to deliver football tickets to your home or office.
Theyre not mail carriers, theyre female carriers
The offer applies only to firsttime season ticket holders who buy four or more seats in the upper bowl of Dolphin Stadium, which is known officially as The 400 and unofficially as nose-bleed seats.
If you order before Sunday, July 29, this seasons tickets could be delivered to you by the teams cheerleaders.
The start of something big?
We here at The Blogaroni love this idea, although it probably wont be as popular as using former running back Ricky Williams to make deliveries to your door.
The cheerleader promotion could turn out to be something other teams might try to copy or build on in other ways. For example
Atlanta Falcon season ticket holders could get their tickets delivered by quarterback Michael Vick, who would also be available to abuse any dogs in the neighborhood you dont like.
And what Tennessee Titans fans wouldnt open the door immediately if their tickets came via Adam Pacman Jones and his shoot-em-up posse?
The Florida Marlins could even start a similar incentive, using starting pitcher Scott Olsen to deliver your tickets. You know Olsen wont stop until hes at your door. So when you hear the cop cars blaring their sirens in pursuit, be ready to open your front door fast, so you can get your tickets before Olsen gets Tasered.
Oh be-have!
Our concern here at The Blogaroni is that the average Miami Dolphins fan might not quite know what to say when faced with a load of cheerleaders at the front door. Or even worse, the cheerleaders might show up at your door by mistake, and you might say something you regret.
So as a public service, we have compiled
The Top 10 Most Inappropriate Things to Say When a Bunch of Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders Show Up at Your Door.
1. Since when did Jehovahs Witnesses start wearing go-go boots?
2. I didnt know Hooters delivered.
3. This time, would you mind if I got to be in the middle of the human pyramid?
4. Oh, lookie here. These tickets say Im sitting in the lap dance section.
5. Hang on, let me get my binoculars so I could stare at you the way I usually do.
6. If I upgrade my tickets to the club level, will you all join me in the hot tub?
7. While youre here, do you have anything that needs laundering?
8. Ive got a football. Whos up for a quick game of two-hand touch on the front lawn?
9. I knew you were coming, so I shaved a big D in my chest hair and painted my face. Come on in and let me show you my tailgate empties collection.


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I signed on specifically to make my eventual point... but first I'd like to say that I'm pleased to see a reasonably active Indiana Pacers board. I briefly browsed through a few threads and I am encouraged by the activity and substance. I went to pacers.com and was unable to find any MB at all. At ESPN's Pacers board, there appeared to be an average of one post per infinity.
I am a passionate believer that this team needs a traditional pass-first Point Guard, and that George Hill is not the answer for any team that is serious about making a deep playoff run. Is he a nice 6th man, a nice bench scorer? Yes? A starting PG on a team with (hopefully) ambitious aspirations? No.
Among qualified point gaurds, George Hill is 35th in the NBA in assists per 48 minutes. He is 19th in field-goal percentage.
In fact, during the 6-game stretch where DJ Augustin finally got a chance at decent minutes with the starters, he proved to be an upgrade over what George Hill had been doing as a PG.
The Pacers are 28th in the NBA in team assists. 28th! Only the Cavs and Bobcats are worse. As much as I like this team, the problem I see is that we just may be the worst passing team in the NBA. We have TOO MANY shoot-first players. I'm fine with David West and Paul George taking this role, but when guys like George Hill, Green, and even Hansborough operate as if they never realized passing was an option, then I fear we have a problem.
What is the perhaps the last thing such a team needs? A shoot-first point guard like George Hill.
And when Granger get back, add another shoot-first player to the list.
I like this team at the 4 of the 5 starting positions, but I feel like George Hill gets too much of a pass, perhaps for being a local boy. For the sake of chemistry, I would like to see DJ get the starting job for awhile.
Or how about Danny Granger for Jose Calderon? Would Toronto do it?
We need fewer shooters and better floor generals!!!


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Week 4 (One Month)
One month on the Regimen, skin is adjusted to the full amount of BP and starting to clear. Redness is subsiding.
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Our good friend Mr. Scott Kidder says,
See, I try to be a good guy and purchase a retail copy of Windows XP to use on my Macbook. But the stupid security sticker is covering up the last five digits of the product key, and trying to remove the security sticker tears the label. I give up.
Boy, that sucks.
Nice Guys Finish Last [Scott Kidder]


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There's something in the air in Lincoln. It might just be the hope of spring. But the Nebraska football team—from fifth-year coach Bo Pelini on down—is convinced it's more transformative than that.
Defensive end Cameron Meredith, on the third day of spring practices in preparation for his senior season, said, "We're all vibing on it."
But what is it?
"There's a lot of confidence," Meredith said, "but it's not just confidence. It's the reasons we have to be confident."
The Huskers believe they're a smarter team than the 2011 squad that went 9-4 overall, had a disappointing third-place division finish in its first season in the Big Ten and lost 30-13 to South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl. They say they're more together, too. Pelini says they're deeper and already showing signs of being better prepared, and he includes himself in the latter area.
Revenge is part of the players' motivation—for the brutal beatings delivered at Wisconsin and Michigan, and the shocking upset by Northwestern in Lincoln—but the fire is burning hotter than that. How hot?
"If we don't go to the national championship game," quarterback Taylor Martinez said, "I'll be disappointed. I think we're all dreaming that big. We definitely can be that good."
OK, that's hot. Some might say it's out of control.
There have been 10 full seasons since Nebraska last played for a national title, and 16 since it won one. Surely, most college football fans will have to see dramatic improvement from the Huskers before they'll believe such a giant leap forward is possible.
Pelini probably likes his quarterback feeling so bold heading into his junior season, but, jeez, does Martinez have to say it out loud?
"Actually, I'm OK with it—absolutely," Pelini said. "I want them to have expectations to be the best."
2011: The good, the bad and the ugly finish
Expectations were very high last summer, when Nebraska and Wisconsin were the preseason favorites to win their divisions. They entered their game in Madison—the Huskers' Big Ten debut—both at 4-0 and ranked in the top 10, but a 14-7 start for Martinez and company evaporated into a massive 48-17 defeat.
Four weeks later, the Huskers played their best game of the season, dominating powerful Michigan State 24-3 to move to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play. But in the next game, again at home, they fell to Northwestern. Michigan embarrassed them 45-17 in Ann Arbor in their next-to-last league game.
247Sports: Which recruits are the Huskers targeting?
At 9-3 with a 5-3 Big Ten record, Nebraska was pretty good. But no good team in college football was harder to figure during conference play.
"It was a strange year," Meredith said. "There were so much expectations from us, from the fans and everyone else. But once we lost the first game, the fans started doubting us. Then we lost the second one, and I think we got down. … Handling adversity was probably our biggest problem, in games and in general."
Pelini's take is a bit different; he believes his team "bought into the (early) hype" and had less trouble handling adversity than it did handling success.
Either way, the coach said, "you play a great game and people want to make you out to be the '85 Bears; you lose and the sky is falling. The truth is somewhere in between."
The truth was obvious to all involved after the bowl game vs. South Carolina. The Huskers started fast in that game and had a chance inside the Gamecocks' 10-yard line to build a two-score lead heading into halftime. But then the turnovers came, joined by the parade of 1st-and-15s for Martinez and the suddenly clueless offense.
"Honestly, I don't think the game should've been close," Martinez said. "We should've blown them out."
South Carolina's 51-yard Hail Mary touchdown to Alshon Jeffery on the final play of the second quarter won't soon be forgotten by anyone in Columbia—or in Lincoln.
"I'd never had a play like that happen to me before," Pelini said. "And it'll never happen again."
Until the turnover that preceded Jeffery's touchdown, Pelini was almost certain Nebraska would put the Gamecocks away early and claim the program's third consecutive 10-win season.
"Coach Bo really didn't say much after the game, but I know it got under him," Martinez said. "He knew we should've won the game, that we (were) a lot better team than they were. That one is still haunting him."
Again, Pelini doesn't quite see it that way: "Something about that game and the way things went down really affected me for the better," he said. "And not just me, but it translated to the football team. I really believe that has happened. I can't wait for this season to come."
Why 2012 can be a lot better
You won't find many Nebraskans chanting for four more years. Certainly not for four more losses. Although Pelini is well-respected both inside the coaching fraternity and among Huskers fans, the fact is each of his four teams has lost four games. More of the same isn't what anyone involved with Nebraska football wants to see.
"From Season 1 to Season 4, it's night and day how different and how much better we are," said linebacker Will Compton, who'll be a fifth-year senior in the fall. "But the record's the same. We shouldn't be putting out that record still."
MORE: Big Ten's spring football questions | SN's 2013 Recruiting Central
There are reasons to believe this could be the year the Huskers get back to a BCS game for the first time since 2001.
An offense that ranked 15th nationally in rushing and fourth in the Big Ten in scoring in Tim Beck's first season as coordinator returns nearly intact, and Martinez and his coaches expect the rising junior to take additional steps forward as a thrower.
More importantly, Pelini would bet the farm on significant improvement from his defense, which ranked in the middle of the Big Ten pack despite the All-American exploits of linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard.
"We've made some big-time strides in the offseason," Pelini said. "This year's group understands our defense better than last year's group. We're going to be a lot more multiple than we were in the last year or two. And we've got as much depth and talent in the secondary as I've been around in a long time. Our talent overall is very good. We have a chance to be pretty salty."
Pelini and his players are careful not to criticize last season's best-known Huskers defenders. But when the 2012 unit's leaders touch fists with teammates this spring and yell "Blackshirts!" they're reminding everyone in the huddle and on the sideline about all that needs to change.
"The defense was more knowledgeable when (Ndamukong) Suh and those guys were here," Meredith said. "We need to get back to the basics of what it took to be great: the knowledge of the defense and playing as a team, and the mentality that (opponents are) not getting a first down on third down. That whole mentality needs to change."
And if they're a tad less star-powered this season?
"Look at Jeremy Lin and the Knicks when their (stars) were out," Meredith said.
If the Blackshirts—and the program—are going to complete a full comeback, the determination and attitude it'll take can be traced back to the first days back in Lincoln after the South Carolina game, when winter break was over and winter conditioning was just around the corner. There were heart-to-hearts involving Compton, Meredith and their defensive teammates and coaches; Martinez and other offensive leaders and their teammates and coaches; of course Pelini, and many combinations thereof.
"My message was that I'm genuinely here for everybody," Compton said, "and we all need each other. Check your ego at the door because we don't need any of that 'I don't get my opportunity, I don't get this or that.' It's not about that—it's the team."
They all have their own ways of feeling and expressing motivation. Martinez, he of the national title dreams, meanwhile wants some revenge on two teams in particular: "Wisconsin and Michigan," he said. "And they both come here."
"I don't have to prove anything to anybody," he said, "but I coach and approach my job like there's always something to prove. That's how I live my life. I want to be the best, and I want our football team to be the best. I want to win championships."
There's something in the air in Husker Nation. Just a good vibe, or something more substantial—whatever it is, there's no sense denying it.
SI.com: NCAA won't let agents pay players because it makes too much sense


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A lack of ticket sales meant the appearance of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tim Witherspoon at Prestbury Sports Bar in Warminster yesterday had to be cancelled.
The American, who was a sparring partner for Muhammad Ali and was nicknamed "Terrible" Tim, held the WBC and WBA World Heavyweight Championship titles during his career.
Witherspoon was due to speak and conduct a question and answer session as part of a tour of venues in England, but unfortunately poor ticket sales resulted in the event being cancelled on Thursday.
Pete Bartley, co-owner of Prestbury Sports Bar, said: "It was cancelled due to lack of ticket sales. Lots of people said they were interested, but there were not enough people who actually bought tickets.
"We said we would get a certain number and we didn't achieve that. We said we could see how many bought tickets on the door, but Tim was coming down from Doncaster and didn't want to risk it.
"It was a shame as there was lots of interest and, apparently he has sold out everywhere else, but we have plenty more events coming up in the future."
Prestbury Sports Bar's next celebrity visit will see former Chelsea players Ray Wilkins and Ron 'Chopper' Harris appear in June.
For more information, visit www.prestburysportsbar.com


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NBA free agency opens on July 1. Here's a position-by-position look at the best available players.
The bulk of the attention will be on Deron Williams, who is expected to either re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets or be wooed by his hometown Dallas Mavericks. Beyond Williams, there are mostly veteran point men available, starting with 38-year-old Steve Nash, who could go championship-hunting with the Chicago Bulls, L.A. Lakers or Miami Heat. Jameer Nelson, meanwhile, is still weighing whether to opt out of the final year of his contract in Orlando.
1. Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets
2. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
3. Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles Clippers
4. Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic
5. Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks
6. Raymond Felton, Portland Trail Blazers
7. George Hill, Indiana Pacers
8. Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets
9. Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks
10. Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
Winning the draft lottery has made the New Orleans Hornets a much more attractive destination, and that should help the team re-sign restricted free agent Eric Gordon—though his problems staying healthy (he played just nine games with a knee injury this year) are a red flag. Less likely to stay put is Memphis Grizzlies' unrestricted free agent O.J. Mayo, who will be the target of several teams and could command $7-8 million annually. Two other players—Lou Williams and Jamal Crawford—added depth to this pool by opting out of their final years.
1. Eric Gordon, New Orleans Hornets
2. O.J. Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies
3. Lou Williams, Philaelphia Sixers
4. Jamal Crawford, Portland Trail Blazers
5. Ray Allen, Boston Celtics
6. Nick Young, Los Angeles Clippers
7. Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs
8. Shannon Brown, Phoenix Suns
9. Mickael Pietrus, Boston Celtics
10. Carlos Delfino, Milwaukee Bucks
This is not a bustling bunch of free agents, with Gerald Wallace's potential return to the Nets (along with Williams and, perhaps, a Dwight Howard acquisition) the biggest storyline. Nicolas Batum didn't have the breakout year expected with the Trail Blazers, but there was a fair amount of dysfunction in Portland. He is restricted, so the Blazers can match any offer. Jeff Green was hanging around the Celtics all spring after missing last year with a heart ailment, and probably will wind up back in Boston.
1. Gerald Wallace, Brooklyn Nets
2. Nicolas Batum, Portland Trail Blazers
3. Jeff Green, Boston Celtics
4. Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns
5. Steve Novak, New York Knicks
We know Tim Duncan is heading back to the San Antonio Spurs. But we don't know whether one of his longtime adversaries at power forward, Kevin Garnett, will follow through on his hints of retirement or come back for another go-round. We also don't know whether he would return to Boston—if the Celtics want to go young, Garnett will look to sign elsewhere. There are intriguing players behind those two, including the top two finishers in most-improved voting, Ryan Anderson (who is restricted) and Ersan Ilyasova, who each have the shooting to provide the coveted "stretch-four" option.
1. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics (re-signed)
2. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
3. Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic
4. Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks
5. Michael Beasley, Minnesota Timberwolves
6. Carl Landry, New Orleans Hornets
7. Kris Humphries, Brooklyn Nets
8. Brandon Bass, Boston Celtics
9. Elton Brand, Philadelphia Sixers
10. Boris Diaw, San Antonio Spurs
The Indiana Pacers did not come this far in order to let their best players walk away in free agency, but they will have to pay big money in order to keep All-Star center Roy Hibbert—there has been some talk that he will seek a max deal. Indiana can match offers, and a team with cap space will probably overpay in attempting to wrest Hibbert away. Behind Hibbert is Brook Lopez, whose status with the Nets (he is also restricted) will be determined by whether Brooklyn has a chance to land Howard. Beyond those two, it is a risky group.
1. Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers
2. Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets
3. Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia Sixers
4. Chris Kaman, New Orleans Hornets
5. JaVale McGee, Denver Nuggets
6. Marcus Camby, Houston Rockets
7. Omer Asik, Chicago Bulls
8. Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns
— NBA free agency: Players with potential, but limited resumes, present risk
— Goran Dragic: Point guard exemplifies 2012 class


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posted: Jun. 21, 2013 @ 8:39p
The Grave Gourmet by Alexander Campion
Ends 6/25
Genre Mysteries
From the Champs-Élysées to the twinkling banks of la Seine, chic Parisian policewoman Capucine LeTellier plunges into a uniquely Parisian affair of gastronomic delights and bureaucratic intrigue to close a case that could make her career-or kill it
After dining on such delicacies as oyster sorbet and avocado soufflé, Jean-Louis Delage, président of automotive giant Renault, has been found dead in the freezer of Le Diapason, a three-star restaurant owned by Chef Jean-Basille Labrousse, a renowned restaurateur extraordinaire.
Capucine is uniquely suited to the case, as her husband Alexandre is a food critic well-connected to the culinary world. In between sharing sumptuous meals and fine wine with Alexandre at Paris finest eateries, Capucine struggles to win the respect of her new squad of detectives and crack both the case and the guarded secrets of the restaurant staff.
Praise for Alexander Campions The Grave Gourmet
"Full of amusing characters Readers will want a second helping. -Publishers Weekly
"A delicious mystery a fun book with a very different flavor. -Carolyn Haines, author of the Bones Mysteries
"An astonishing debut that raises the bar on todays detective novel. -Aram Saroyan, author of Door to the River
"Saucy, spicy, tasty ooh-la-la! -Kate Collins
The Victim by Jonas Saul
Ends 6/25
Genre Mysteries & Thrillers
Sarah is killed in a horrible car accident, the DNA found in the car verified as hers. But the government men at the Sophia Project have faked her death to keep her to themselves.
After her funeral, she shows up in the food court of a busy mall where a violent exchange takes place. Things go wrong fast. The people protecting Sarah die within seconds from a mysterious drug. She runs, escaping the clutches of the police who want to figure out her connection to the murderers.
A group of men called The Rapturites surface to take responsibility for the carnage. They want Sarah raptured as the end times are upon us.
As the police hunt her, and the Rapturites get close, people she loves, old friends who have helped her in the past, start to die around her.
Vivian, her sister, watches. Vivian listens.
Sarah executes.
In Sarah Roberts Book Five, Sarah is The Victim, and there's nothing she can do about it.
Except she won't stay dead.
Game, Set, Match (A Humorous Contemporary Romance) (Love Match) by Nana Malone
Ends 6/24
Genre Contemporary & Historical Romance
Sassy contemporary Romance. 99,000 words. This is the revised ebook edition
Off the court, tennis star Jason Cartwright's playboy image is taking a public beating. On the court, he's down forty-love. A knee injury is shutting down his game, and the paparazzi are splashing his love life on every magazine. A comeback is in order, but the makeover he needs to save his faltering career is in the hands of the woman he loved and left fifteen years ago.
While single-mom, Izzy Connors, sees people for who they really are through the lens of her camera, even without it, she knows Jason isn't the star he appears to be. Although his charm and good looks haven't dimmed since he broke her heart, all she sees is his wasted talent and playboy lifestyle.
Can Izzy put the past behind her and help Jason get his game, and his image, back on track? Or will the click of her camera shatter his world as well as his heart?
Summer of Firefly Memories by Joan Gable
Ends 6/21
Genre Women's Fiction
SUMMER OF FIREFLY MEMORIES - Book One in the Loon Lake Series
SUMMER OF DRAGONFLY CHANGES - Book Two in the Loon Lake Series - NOW AVAILABLE - May 2013
One summer. One cabin on a lake. Four thirtysomething sisters. Anything can and does happen.
One Amazon Reviewer Praises
It brought back memories of summers past as well as memories of relationships. It was delightful. I recommend this book to others who enjoy contemporary fiction and enjoy the nostalgic feeling you get when the author is writing about your life.
Imagine spending an entire summer in a cabin on a lake - simply because you can.
Thats exactly what Samantha McGreggor, a thirtysomething eco-journalist, does in SUMMER OF FIREFLY MEMORIES. She trades Arizonas summer heat for Minnesotas cool lake breezes by spending her summer at the same resort her family used to go to when she was young.
Her summer agenda - relaxation, beach reads, soul-searching, bonding with her three grown sisters.
Her concerns - she and her sisters havent been back to the resort since their parents death twenty years ago when they were all practically teenagers, and, well, they tend to act like emotional teenagers when theyre all together.
Her summer reality fun in the sun, secrets, sibling rivalries, lost memories, new love, hope.
What readers are saying about SUMMER OF FIREFLY MEMORIES...
One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis
Ends 6/21
Genre Literary Fiction
An apparently happy marriage. A beautiful son. A lovely home. So what makes identical twin Emily Coleman get up one morning and walk right out of her life? How will she survive? And what is the date that looms, threatening to force her to confront her past? No-one has ever guessed her secret. Will you?
"A gripping thriller that will delight fans of the unexpected twist ending." Grazia
"I couldn't put it down! An intricate, tightly plotted story, engagingly told." Helen Castor, author of She-Wolves, Sunday Times Books of the Year
An evocative, skillful novel about the price of escape. Recommended. Kirkus Reviews
Its compelling, gripping, frightening, embarrassing, deeply sad and lovely all at once. Just read it. You wont be sorry. I loved this book. myzennana.com
WOW! This one is a winner! While the plot might seem like a movie-of-the-week, the gorgeous writing elevates it to fine contemporary literature... I am praying someone options it for the big screen. Suzanne Rogers, South Carolina, US
Zombie Games: Origins by Kristen Middleton
Ends ???
Genre Horror
Seventeen year old Cassandra Wild thought living in the chaos of her mothers home daycare and dealing with her developing feelings for Bryce, her new Martial Arts instructor, was a struggle, until the night her world turned upside down.
When an untested vaccine kills more than just a rampant flu virus, Cassie learns how to survive in a world where the dead walk and the living run!
Surrendered Hearts by Carrie Turansky
Ends ???
Genre Religious
Winner of the International Digital Award, Inspirational Novel Category
A gas pipeline explosion and fire destroy Jennifer Evan's apartment and change her life forever. Not only does she lose her home and beloved dog, the ugly scars that cover her arm, neck and shoulder steal her confidence and cause her fiancé to desert her. With her funds depleted and her job on hold, she heads for Vermont where she hopes to reconnect with her brother and find a way to rebuild her shattered life.
Bill Morgan, head naturalist at the Wild River Nature Center and her brother's roommate, is a strong quiet man whose faith runs deep. He and Jenn's brother determine to help Jenn make a new start in Vermont. Bill's stumbling attempts to share his faith with Jenn seem to fall flat and push her farther away, but she can see the difference his faith makes in his life, and her heart is still drawn to him. Will she hold on to the pain of her past, or will she surrender her heart and finally find the faith and love she longs for?
Fire stole Jenns career, possessions, beloved dog, the affections of a fiancé who couldnt see past her scars, and any remnant of faith she possessed. But struggling through her fears leads Jenn to an amazing God who cherishes her just as she is, and to embrace a love and life she could not have imagined. Surrendered Hearts is one more example of Turanskys ability to draw a readers heart toward its Heavenly home, filling it with determination, hope, and romance for the journey.
Cathy Gohlke, Christy award-winning author of William Henry is a Fine Name, I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires, and No Greater Love.
Powder Burn by Mark Chisnell
Ends 6/22
Genre Action & Adventure
If Dragon Tattoos Mikael Blomkvist and the Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen could have a love-child, shed probably be a lot like Sam Blackett...
Sam had given up her Manhattan job, and her cute apartment in Brooklyn. Shed abandoned her astonished boyfriend to the charms of ESPN.com, and flown off into a new dawn to chase her dream of becoming an investigative journalist.
Three months later, alone in a soulless internet café, shes facing some cold, hard facts; shes unpublished, unhappy and broke. And right then, the gorgeous Pete Halland blows into her life headed for the mythical Powder Burn mountain to write history and blast into legend.
If she throws in her lot with Pete and reports the story for National Geographic magazine it could rescue her ambitions, but hes holding back some Crucial information the question for Sam is... what?
Soon, Sam is up to her neck in snow and the weather is the least of her problems; lost in a secretive Himalayan kingdom with what could be a magic sword and a simmering and potentially bloody revolution.
But the father she lost to the war in Iraq was a marine, and he taught her a few tricks in the Vermont backcountry that might just get her out alive and with a story to tell that could make the front page of the New York Times.
The Wrecking Crew by Mark Chisnell
Ends ???
Genre Action & Adventure
Janac's back... and there will be games - so what will you do when it's them... or the woman you love?
Psychotic Games
Drug baron Janac has unleashed a reign of terror in the South China Sea to fund his battle for control of the Australian narcotics trade. When he attacks an old cargo ship on an evil night off the Indonesian coast, it seems he has also found the perfect victims to exploit with his psychotic games.
Last Voyage
Phil Hamnet and his wife Anna are sharing a last voyage before the arrival of their twins. Hamnet escapes Janac's attack, but Anna is taken and held hostage to ensure first his silence, and then his cooperation. But when Janac's rogue ex-Special Forces crew attack more ships and men start dying, Hamnet has to decide if he can continue to sacrifice the lives of unknown sailors to save the woman he loves.


text:
Basic SQL queries are no problem for me, but the Joins and complex ORDER BY isn't easy for me.
There's 4 tables, and they are part of a Wordpress setup.
What I'm trying to do is summed up in 4 SELECT statements:
SELECT guid FROM wp_posts WHERE id=(JOIN category_inclusions) AS main_query ORDER BY (JOIN lineup) ASC
SELECT term_id FROM wp_terms WHERE slug='home-slideshow-mouseovers' AS category_ids
SELECT object_id FROM wp_term_relationships WHERE term_taxonomy_id=(JOIN category_ids) AS category_inclusions
SELECT meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE metakey='slot' AND post_id='(JOIN category_inclusions)' AS lineup
The summation of it is this:
QUERY1's IDs match where=QUERY3's category_ids match where QUERY2's rows include "home-slideshow-mouseovers", and sort it all according to what "slot" value QUERY1's IDs have in the "wp_postmeta" table.
It's complicated, but seems perfect for some good JOIN syntax. I've played w/different query creators, but it's a tough task even knowing what should take priority.
To simplify this up a bit & just to get me some traction on this, say I removed a condition.
I'm just looking for the JOIN syntax to do this:
SELECT object_id FROM wp_term_relationships WHERE term_taxonomy_id=(SELECT term_id FROM wp_terms WHERE slug='home-slideshow-mouseovers') AS category_inclusions
And then to ORDER BY, then the category_inclusions have to be JOIN'ed somehow.
ORDER BY (SELECT meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE metakey='slot' AND post_id='(JOIN category_inclusions)' AS lineup
When I look at different examples, the queries get tricky for me when "ON" is used. The masterminds of SQL would think this is cake, the same as how I could point out the best practices to use w/PHP, so the help is appreciated.
the reason your first post went unanswered, and the second one is likely to have the same result, is because it's not at all clear what you're trying to do
nor did you explain what the tables contain, or how they are related
Thanks r937. I'm trying to explain this the best way that I can, so here's putting it in more conversational English.
There's 4 tables:
"wp_posts" contains rows of content."wp_terms" is a table of categories."wp_term_relationships" ties categories by their id in wp_terms to their object_id in wp_posts."wp_postmeta" is a table containing custom fields and their values, tied to a record in wp_posts by id.
"wp_posts"id, content
"wp_terms"id, category_name
"wp_term_relationships" ties posts to categoriesobject_id (essentially wp_posts.id), category_id (essentially wp_terms.id)
"wp_postmeta"custom_fieldname, custom_fieldvalue, content_id (essentially wp_posts.id)
So what I'm trying to do is tie everything together, and putting it in simple english, "I'm trying to select all posts of a certain category and order them according to a custom field called 'slot'."
Which would come up like this:
SELECT id, content FROM wp_posts WHERE id=(JOIN: SELECT object_id's FROM wp_term_relationships WHERE category_id=(JOIN: SELECT id's FROM wp_terms WHERE category_name="home")) ORDER BY (JOIN SELECT wp_postmeta.fieldvalue WHERE wp_postmeta.content_id=wp_posts.id AND wp_postmeta.fieldname="slot")
It just looks like a mess when it's typed out like that.
i can do the first part for you...
SELECT wp_posts.id
, wp_posts.content
FROM wp_terms
JOIN wp_term_relationships
ON wp_term_relationships.category_id = wp_terms.id
JOIN wp_posts
ON wp_posts.id = wp_term_relationships.object_id
WHERE wp_terms.category_name = 'home'
think you can add the remaining table?
wp_posts p
wp_term_relationships t2p
p.id = t2p.object_id
wp_terms t
t2p.category_id = t.id
wp_postmeta m
p.id = m.content_id
m.custom_fieldname = 'slot'
t.category_name = 'home'
r937, nevermind, I GOT IT!
SELECT wp_posts.ID, wp_posts.post_content, wp_postmeta.meta_valueFROM wp_terms INNER JOIN wp_term_relationships ON (wp_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id = wp_terms.term_id) INNER JOIN wp_posts ON (wp_posts.ID = wp_term_relationships.object_id) INNER JOIN wp_postmeta ON (wp_postmeta.post_id = wp_posts.ID)WHERE wp_terms.slug = 'home-slideshow-mouseovers' AND wp_postmeta.meta_key = 'slot'ORDER BY wp_postmeta.meta_value
Thank you for your help & for steering me in the right direction. I appreciate it hugely.
Thanks r937, so far it's working great. I'm playing around with where to drop the final sorting, and what I've come up with
SELECT wp_posts.id, wp_posts.content FROM wp_termsINNER JOIN wp_term_relationships ON wp_term_relationships.category_id = wp_terms.idINNER JOIN wp_posts ON wp_posts.id = wp_term_relationships.object_id WHERE wp_terms.category_name = 'home'INNER JOIN wp_postmeta ON wp_postmeta.content_id = wp_posts.ID WHERE wp_postmeta.custom_fieldname = 'slot'ORDER BY wp_postmeta.custom_fieldvalue ASC
Swapping that final "WHERE" with "AND" doesn't do the trick either. What would I be better off doing to rethink the sorting logic?
JOIN wp_postmeta
ON wp_postmeta.post_id = wp_posts.ID
[B]AND [/B]wp_postmeta.meta_key = 'slot'
WHERE wp_terms.slug = 'home-slideshow-mouseovers'
BY wp_postmeta.meta_value
also, please remove the parentheses you added to the ON conditions
Thanks r937. Now what if I wanted to grab 2 values from the wp_postmeta table, both with the same post_id, but different meta_key.
Such as
SELECT wp_posts.ID,wp_posts.post_content,wp_postmeta.meta_value as meta_value1wp_postmeta.meta_value as meta_value2FROMwp_termsINNER JOIN wp_term_relationships ON (wp_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id = wp_terms.term_id)INNER JOIN wp_posts ON (wp_posts.ID = wp_term_relationships.object_id)INNER JOIN wp_postmeta ON (wp_postmeta.post_id = wp_posts.ID)WHEREwp_terms.slug = 'home-slideshow-mouseovers' AND meta_value1 = 'slot' and meta_value2 = 'Read More Link'ORDER BYmeta_value1
It'd seem to me that iterating through that result using mysql_result("query", $x, "meta_value1") to spit out the 'slot' value and mysql_result("query", $x, "meta_value2") to spit out the 'Read More Link' value would be logical. Does it seem like there would be any problem or smarter way to do this, to you?
I have been working on using a JOIN to create a pool of data across 3 different tables, and to sort it according to "slot" values in another table. The query works great. Now I'm looking to return data in the rows "wp_postmeta.meta_value" as some sort of alias that I can call later when I iterate through the result set.
SELECT wp_posts.ID,wp_posts.post_content,wp_postmeta.meta_value FROMwp_termsINNER JOIN wp_term_relationships ON (wp_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id = wp_terms.term_id)INNER JOIN wp_posts ON (wp_posts.ID = wp_term_relationships.object_id)INNER JOIN wp_postmeta ON (wp_postmeta.post_id = wp_posts.ID)WHEREwp_terms.slug = 'home-slideshow-mouseovers' AND wp_postmeta.meta_value = 'slot'ORDER BYwp_postmeta.meta_value
^ The above works fine.
It's just that the wp_postmeta table is going to contain data like this:
Table wp_postmetapost_id meta_value meta_key400 slot 1401 slot 3402 slot 2400 Read More /news/400_1/401 Read More /news/401_1/402 Read More /news/402_1/
And I would like to query the wp_postmeta table for the meta_key under the meta_value of "Read More" while I query it for "slot".
I've tried designating the different value as some sort of alias, like below:
It's just that something's off as far as my attempts at aliasing (in bold).
SELECT wp_posts.ID
, wp_posts.post_content
, meta1.meta_value as meta_value1
, meta2.meta_value as meta_value2
FROM wp_terms
JOIN wp_term_relationships
ON wp_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id = wp_terms.term_id
JOIN wp_posts
ON wp_posts.ID = wp_term_relationships.object_id
LEFT OUTER
JOIN wp_postmeta AS meta1
ON meta1.post_id = wp_posts.ID
AND meta1.meta_key = 'slot'
LEFT OUTER
JOIN wp_postmeta AS meta2
ON meta2.post_id = wp_posts.ID
AND meta2.meta_key = 'Read More Link'
WHERE wp_terms.slug = 'home-slideshow-mouseovers'
i made them LEFT OUTER JOINs as i wasn't sure if you wanted them mandatory... change to INNER joins if you do
i also took off your ORDER BY clause because it no longer made sense, feel free to add it back with the appropriate column(s)
This example is huge to help me get a better grasp on this stuff. It works perfectly, I added back in the ORDER BY. Thank you.


text:
By Jaideep Varma and Jatin Thakkar
Scorecard links: 1st Test Match, 2nd Test Match, 3rd Test Match.
The highest impact batsman in the series was West Indian (Marlon Samuels). As was the only genuine all-rounder in the series (Darren Sammy). And yet, West Indies lost 0-2 - in a series where they were expected to. The English bowling, expectedly perhaps, was the main difference between the two sides.
The series was resolved by the end of the 2nd Test itself, and the 3rd Test did not even manage two completed innings (thus not constituting a match in the Impact system), so our Impact report is only based on the first two Tests, when the series was still open. Still, we present the conventional figures next to the IMPACT numbers, to provide further perspective on the skews that occur on a series, and therefore, a career level.
Here is that overview
Marlon Samuels' remarkable performance was not recognised enough (397 runs, avg 97; 5 wickets, avg 30 in 3 matches – IMPACT 4.37 in the first 2 Tests). He shared the Player-of-the-Series award with Andrew Strauss (326 runs, avg 65; winning captain – IMPACT 3.75 in the first 2 Tests). The fact however is that in this system, even after accounting for Strauss' captaincy, Samuels had a 17% higher impact on this series. Notably, he absorbed the highest pressure in the series from both sides – in both Tests. His team may not have been able to capitalise on his outstanding consistency, but Samuels deserved to be the sole Man-of-the-Series. In fact, Samuels should have been the Man-of-the-Match in the 2nd Test but Bresnan was awarded that in front of him – this whole business of these awards going to someone from the winning side assuming more ridiculous proportions.
Yet, in no way can anything be taken away from Andrew Strauss' performances in this series. More than the two centuries he scored, it was his sound starts with Alastair Cook (176 runs, avg 44 – IMPACT 3.07) that ensured a neutralisation of some outstanding West Indian batting (sadly, not enough of it though) – which eventually enabled the English bowlers to take charge.
Stuart Broad (14 wickets at 22 apiece – IMPACT 3.30) and Jimmy Anderson (9 wickets at 27 apiece – IMPACT 3.07) were the two highest impact bowlers in the series. Broad's 11 wickets in the 1st Test gave England a hard-fought lead, while Anderson's 6 wickets in the 2nd Test ended the series. Tim Bresnan took 8 wickets in the 2nd Test too (overall 12 wickets at 33 apiece – IMPACT 2.51 in the first 2 Tests). Anderson's Pressure Building IMPACT (taking successive wickets with pressure getting activated for the opposition) and his Economy IMPACT (a relatively rare occurrence in Test cricket) further bolstered his impact. However, Bresnan's performance in the 2nd Test was the highest impact bowling performance in the series even though Broad got more wickets in the first Test because the latter took 6 lower-order wickets. Anderson's Bowling IMPACT in the series was higher than Bresnan's because he delivered in both Tests, whereas Bresnan failed in the first match.
Kemar Roach – the third-highest impact bowler in the series from both sides (8 wickets at 34 apiece – IMPACT 2.96) had England on the ropes at 29-3 chasing 191 in the 1st Test – a little more support at the other end could have turned things drastically around for West Indies. Shannon Gabriel (4 wickets at 22 apiece in 1 Test - IMPACT 2.64) and Ravi Rampaul (4 wickets at 36 apiece in 2 Tests - IMPACT 1.86) did produce some impact but not enough to turn things around.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul absorbed the most pressure with the bat after Samuels in the series – his unbeaten 87 and 91 in the first Test in the realm of classic batting performances (IMPACT 5.40). The twin knocks (highest score for his side in both innings) evened out the battle considerably for a West Indian side which resonated with the palpable desire for a fight.
However, the top 4 in the West Indies batting line-up did not deliver – no-one from Adrian Barath, Kieran Powell, Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo could muster up an IMPACT of even 1 in the series while it was still open.
The highest impact batting performance in the series came from Samuels in the 2nd Test (117 and 76 with a Pressure IMPACT of 2.54; Batting IMPACT 6.40) followed by Chanderpaul in the 1st Test (87 and 91 with a Pressure IMPACT of 2.04; Batting IMPACT 5.40). Ian Bell (61 and 63 not out with a Pressure IMPACT of 0.72; Batting IMPACT 4.56) produced the highest impact batting performance for England in the 1st Test (whereas Strauss' 141 and 45 in the 2nd Test registered an IMPACT of 3.80 in a relatively high-scoring match with an easy chase at the end).
Darren Sammy conducted himself well as captain, and player. He was the only all-rounder in the series – the only player in both sides to register an IMPACT of over 1 in two disciplines (Batting IMPACT 2.15; Bowling IMPACT 1.09).
Conventional statistics continue to provide misleading pictures – for example, Kevin Pietersen managed to gather more runs (203 runs, avg 51) than Cook (176 runs, avg 44) and Sammy (201 runs, avg 40) in the series but his Batting IMPACT is much lower than them in the series when it mattered (it doesn't even cross 1). He scored 78 runs in the inconsequential 3rd match – which had zero impact in the game itself and the series on the whole – an aspect that has skewed the true worth of a cricketer right through the 134 years of Test cricket.
For similar reasons, Denesh Ramdin's batting average of 41 crosses Sammy's average of 40 – his inconsequential unbeaten century in the 3rd Test hiding his pathetic Batting IMPACT of 0.49 in the series whilst it was still open (as opposed to Sammy's Batting IMPACT of 2.15). Ramdin's "Yea Viv Talk Nah" sign on completing this century symptomatic of shamelessness and low intelligence all in one go. Hopefully, it was just a flash of stupidity and not a recurring deficiency – the fine he was levied and the apology he has offered ought to close this case. Also, Tino Best's 95 in the 3rd Test may have been a world record highest innings for a no. 11 batsman but had zero impact on both - the (incomplete) match and the series.
While both West Indies and England had 3 high impact batsmen (Batting IMPACT 2 or more) each, England had 3 high impact bowlers as compared to West Indies' 2 (that too, including Gabriel who played just 1 match). Once again, this reveals that West Indies lost the series on the bowling front rather than batting. While 6 players registered a Series IMPACT of less than 1 for West Indies, only Bairstow registered a Series IMPACT of less than 1 for England. It is this inconsistency as a team that cost West Indies.
In the end, that was the story of the series – a few outstanding individual performances from West Indies could not lead to much of a challenge – they were just not enough of a team. Still, they still conducted themselves much better than a pathetic Indian side had managed to do just a year back. The Series IMPACT numbers of 1.89 (England) and 1.55 (West Indies) suggesting a reasonably comfortable win for England but by no means a thrashing (India's Team IMPACT last year was 1.09 to England's 2.87).
With the impending return of Chris Gayle and with Sunil Narine joining the national side, a long-awaited turnaround for West Indian cricket might just be around the corner.
For more information, please go to www.impactindexcricket.com


text:
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Incorporating vocational aspects into the treatment plan is not only an important part of comprehensive epilepsy care, but also prepares individuals for success in employment. Individuals with epilepsy often do not have the information or skills to advocate for themselves. Frequently, the social stigma associated with epilepsy is a greater barrier to employment than the seizures themselves. Additionally employers are often are reluctant to hire people with epilepsy because of misconceptions, and once hired they often do not provide the appropriate accommodations needed for them to succeed on the job.
The outcome of developing awareness of accommodations for persons with epilepsy leads to improved function in work performance, resulting in an improved quality of life, and general social functioning.For individuals with epilepsy maintaining a normal lifestyle, retaining a job, and enhancing job performance through appropriate accommodations will significantly impact the community.
Samples of Epilepsy Accommodations Jan Resources Planning Outline Worksheet Pros & Cons of Accommodations Worksheet Resource List


text: Show Hide image Politics 12 September 2012 Cameron's own backbenches land deadlier blows on him than Labour A growing number of Tory MPs don't believe Cameron's way can work – a prophecy that fulfils itself. Sign up for our weekly email * David Cameron doesn't lurch. It isn't his style. When presented with the view that the newly shuffled government has turned abruptly to the right, the Prime Minister's allies point out that no policies have changed. They insist that ministerial hirings and firings were months in gestation and painstakingly choreographed; definitely not a lurch. "Maybe a gentle sashay," concedes one top Cameroon. Some appointments advertised themselves as balm for irritable backbenchers. Chris Grayling, now Justice Secretary, makes pugnacious noises about the European Union, immigration and welfare that sound melodious to his party's ear. Owen Paterson, the new Environment Secretary, is another anti-European and has been pointedly sceptical about renewable energy. (Wind turbines compete with Brussels as the chief target of shire Tory rage.) Paterson's elevation is seen by Lib Dems as an affront to the Energy Secretary, Ed Davey, whose department is supposed to lead on climate change. A greenish streak, measured by increased investment in low-carbon energy, is one of the few distinguishing marks that the junior coalition party still hopes to leave on the government's record. Senior Lib Dems accuse George Osborne of obstructing them in that goal. In private, the Chancellor is said to speak with contempt for the legal rules that commit the UK to reducing toxic emissions, seeing them as a burden on industry. Hostile briefings Osborne's fingerprints were all over the reshuffle. The transfer of Justine Greening from Transport has widely been interpreted as a sign of frustration at her opposition to expanding Heathrow Airport. Her independence on that point felt like ingratitude to the Chancellor for past patronage. The move was accompanied by hostile briefings about Greening's competence and un-collegiate attitude. The unspoken message: "we created you; we can destroy you". The crudeness of the attempt to assert central authority, more than any ideological shift, is what most Tories see as the defining feature of the reshuffle. "It was clearly a consolidation of the Chancellor's power," says one MP. Friends of Cameron and Osborne were given jobs at the expense of able incumbents. Good ministers were punished for exclusion from the leader's club – or so it is said on the back benches. Grumbling of that nature is inevitable, since there are never enough jobs for everyone, but Downing Street has spawned twin resentments. Dissenters still feel their views are not adequately represented; loyalists feel passed over. A small but resolute minority of Conservative MPs are beyond reconciliation with Cameron's leadership. One No 10 source estimates that around 40 backbenchers are "already in opposition". That is approaching the critical mass needed to trigger a leadership contest. It is on the economy that most Tory hopes of a truer blue surge were pinned in the reshuffle. There were cheers for the insertion of Michael Fallon, a veteran of the Thatcher government, into the Business Department – seen as a haven of Lib Dem sedition. Fallon is there to stoke the bonfire of regulations Vince Cable is accused of neglecting. Also now flanking Cable as a junior minister is Matthew Hancock, an Osborne avatar from the 2010 parliamentary cohort. But here, too, the movement is less lurching than it first looked. Fallon's first pronouncements in his new job have indeed been lusty battle cries against the scourge of red tape. Then, on 11 September, Cable emerged with a "new industrial policy" – support for small businesses through a state investment bank and targeted intervention to support sectors likely to deliver growth. He denounced the "laissez-faire" doctrine of free-market ideologues. Thatcherite dogmatists blanched. Labour attacked Cable's announcement as a paltry imitation of their own plans, punted by a dissident minister without Downing Street support. The second part of that charge is just wrong. Recognition of the need for more activist government to spur growth has been brewing inside No 10 and the Treasury for months. The case has also been made by David Willetts, another of Cable's Tory colleagues at the Business Department. Michael Heseltine, torch-bearer for the interventionist strain of Conservatism, has been advising Cameron. One senior Tory policymaker even talks approvingly of the "strategic state" envisaged by Peter Mandelson, Labour's last business secretary, as a corrective to the cult of laissez faire. Economic horizon The Prime Minister and the Chancellor will never say aloud that they are working on a "Plan B", having failed to jump-start growth with budgetary aggression. Plainly, they are. Alongside the new industrial strategy are plans to boost spending on infrastructure – a stimulus measure fuelled by more borrowing. There are reports that the Treasury is poised to drop its target for containing the national debt by 2015. That isn't to say Cameron and Osborne will succeed in changing course or get much credit if they do. They are trapped by their record of intransigent rhetoric and by their party, which baulks at even token gestures away from ultra-Conservative orthodoxy. But there is time before an election for the economic horizon to brighten and for the Chancellor to say that his decisions made it happen. Labour consistently overestimate Cameron and Osborne's intellectual rigidity. All the evidence shows they change their minds with ease. The U-turn is their most practised manoeuvre. Ed Miliband likes to attack the Prime Minister for what Labour imagines him to believe. Conservative MPs have the better measure of their leader, disliking him for not really believing in anything at all. Cameron's lack of a creed was once an asset. It persuaded many voters that he was a reasonable man, distinct from the fanaticism of old Tory caricature. It flummoxed Labour. But the gap has gone too long unfilled. The path to a governing purpose has been too meandering; no lurches, just a sashaying sequence of tactics to grab and hold power, accompanied with a complacent expectation that the party will tag along. But a growing number of MPs don't believe Cameron's way can work – a prophecy that fulfils itself. Whenever Tories pop up to say their leader is fumbling in the dark for answers, they obstruct the Downing Street searchlights. The louder they call Cameron a loser, the truer it becomes. Rafael Behr is political columnist at the Guardian and former political editor of the New Statesman Subscribe from just £1 per issue This article first appeared in the 17 September 2012 issue of the New Statesman, Who comes next? More


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