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1990's Best Picture of the Year receives 20th Anniversary Edition in hi-def...
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While actor/writer/director Kevin Costner might be in a bit of a slump lately, in 1990, he was the bee's knees. His western epic Dances with Wolves was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and took home seven, including Best Picture and Best Director (Costner). Now, 20 years later, film fans can pick up this daring drama in beautiful hi-def, loaded with special features and ready for viewers of ages.
Costner plays First Lieutenant John J. Dunbar, a soldier fighting in the Civil War and nearly dying in the process. However, after an uncanny act of heroism (or stupidity) earns him his choice of duty stations, the Army Officer chooses the desolate Fort Sedgwick at the edge of the disappearing American west. Alone at his post and marking his time in a journal, Dunbar spends time watching the wildlife and the local Lakota Sioux. However, through circumstance, Dunbar soon becomes friendly with the locals and "goes native," becoming more a member of the tribe than an Army officer. This leads viewers on an exploration of the Native American tribe and their struggles, celebrations, needs, wants, and fears.
What's truly astonishing about Dances With Wolves isn't that it is recognized as a masterpiece (for it's rightfully so), but that it was ever made. Helmed by an inexperienced director (Costner) on a shoestring budget of $22 million, it took almost five years to complete. The film's native language is Lakota Sioux, meaning much of the film is subtitled (something the average American fan seems to disapprove of) and it's run time (theatrical release) was 181 minutes, or just over 3 hours! Even with all of these working against it, Dances with Wolves made over seven times its budget domestically, making it a huge financial success.
Now, thankfully, film fans are able to pick up Dances With Wolves in hi-def with a wide variety of bonus material included in this 2-disc set. The extended edition of this film, at 234 minutes, makes for a long and somewhat tiring watch; it would have been appreciated had the studio included both the theatrical and extended versions.
Of course, the video transfer of this extended edition, complete in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, looks beautiful as the colors are vivid and bright, capturing the western plains of South Dakota beautifully. Likewise, the 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track delivers plenty of audio effects, including solid use of the rear and side channels (especially during the battle and celebration scenes).
As for special features, Disc 1, which includes the film, also includes two audio commentaries, both previously recorded and presented. The first is with Kevin Costner and Producer Jim Wilson, and the second with Director of Photography Dean Semler and Editor Neil Travis. While both include some interesting bits of info, considering the film is nearly 4 hours long, there's some tedious times as well. Disc 1 also includes the "Military Rank and Social Hierarchy Guide," which should give historical military fans and Civil War buffs (like my father) something to smile about. The guide uses pop-ups to present info on the various battlefield roles of those in the film as well as factual information on the different ranks therein. Lastly, Disc 1 includes "Real History or Movie Make-Believe?" a true-or-false quiz of sorts that questions the viewer on their knowledge of contextual information, including historical American military, the Native American way of life, and more.
Disc 2 of the set includes a wide variety of bonus material, including the all-new 15 minute "A Day in the Life on the Western Frontier," in which several historians give viewers additional info on what life was really like for pioneers; the original 20 minute "Making of Dances with Wolves" featurette, a basic behind-the-scenes short; and the 7-part, 75 minute "The Creation of an Epic - A Retrospective Documentary" which was originally included on the DVD, but is still a welcome addition here. Other short featurettes and behind-the-scenes bonus material include the 3-minute short "Original Music Video Featuring Music by John Barry," the 5-minute "Second Wind" piece (an editor's reel) and a 2 minute short on an "Animatronic Buffalo" used in the film. Three other short featurettes about military history and the battles include the 2 minute "Confederate March and Music" sure to be a hit with the Civil War buffs, the 4 minute "Getting the Point" about how one of the bow and arrow attack scenes was shot, the 1 minute "Burying the Hatchet" about how the special effects work. Other standard bonus features include two TV spots, the film's theatrical trailer, a poster gallery, and a photo slide show.
With the only major disappointment about this release is the set not including the original theatrical cut (which is a full hour shorter than this extended cut), there's really not that much to complain about here. Truly heartwarming and earth-shattering in its emotional ride, intense in its action, and painstakingly beautiful in its setting, Dances with Wolves is one of the best pictures of the last two decades. While four hour epic films may be a thing of the past (thankfully!), there are a few stories which deserve this much film and Dances with Wolves is one of them.
If you've not seen the film, I highly recommend picking it up and giving it a watch. Truly capturing every major genre (from romance and action to drama and comedy), Dances with Wolves captured audience's and critic's attention 20 years ago and it continues to do so today.
Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary Extended Edition Blu-ray is available now wherever fine home video is sold and is rated PG-13.
- Jess C. Horsley


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A CROWD of people have once again gathered outside Blackburn's Tesco superstore to raise awareness of the situation in Palestine.
Between 50 and 100 people peacefully protested outside the store, in Hill Street, this evening (THURS), a police spokeswoman said.
The Blackburn-based not-for-profit group Youth On A Mission had previously staged a demonstration there on Sunday, while taking a convoy of vehicles from Blackburn to Bradford the day before.
A large banner calling for a boycott of the chain because it stocks Israeli goods had also been put back up on the side of the derelict Duke of Edinburgh pub, in Crabtree Street, the police spokeswoman added.
It had been removed by staff from Blackburn with Darwen Council at the request of a police officer yesterday (WEDS).
Police later admitted wrongly ordering its removal.
Tesco said that, like all major UK retailers it sourced some of its products from the country and all its products were clearly marked with the country of origin, so customers could make informed choices about what to buy.

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm A Butcher
If you change transmissions on a regular basis, you can make this chore a lot easier by cutting some holes in the firewall to allow easy access to the transmission or bellhousing bolts. By doing this, you'll avoid the frustration and munched fingers you'll get by trying to squeeze your hand between the firewall and engine while holding a wrench. This procedure is best performed while your car is under construction or when the engine and transmission have been removed for service.
With your marks as starting points, use a drill or hole saw to cut through the floorpan from the outside in. To allow for correction, make the pilot holes considerably smaller than the final opening. In our case, the initial marks proved to be too low, and the holes didn't line up with the transmission bolts. We simply "ate up" the erroneous holes by encircling them with an ink marker as shown.
Bolt the transmission (manual or automatic) to its mount and use a floor jack to support the case at the same level as it is when bolted to the engine. Use a long Phillips head screwdriver or scratch awl to mark the floorpan where the access holes are needed. Once the marks are made, check them for correct alignment by sighting straight through the bolt holes of the transmission.
Lacking a hole saw of the correct diameter, we used a 11/48-inch drill bit to perforate the sheetmetal. A few minutes with a cold chisel and hammer were all it took to create the hole. Because of the blind drilling involved, it is imperative that the transmission be removed. If you leave it in, you'll probably drill into it.
The jagged edge left by the drilling/chiseling operation is smoothed out with a ceramic burr. A metal burr could be used, but it removes metal faster and, unless you are experienced, can foil your efforts to create a nearly perfect circle.
With access holes at the ready, it's easy to install and remove the transmission bolts with a ratchet and extension.
For obvious reasons, the holes in the firewall must be plugged. Plastic or rubber body plugs like the one shown do a great job if care is taken to ensure they fit snugly. For best results, use the plug as a template when marking areas to be removed (photo 2). Be advised that most sanctioning bodies require fireproof metal plugs, but rarely enforce the rule if the area is covered with carpeting


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MFA Residency Readings
Date(s) - 06/24
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
New England College
June 20 to June 23 | the Great Room | 7:30 pm
6/20 Matt Bell- Great Room
6/21 Paige Ackerson-Kiely- Great Room
6/22 Allison Titus- Great Room
6/23 Malena Mörling- Great Room
June 25 to June 26 | the Art Gallery | 7:30 pm
6/25 Tara Rebele- Art Gallery
6/26 Katie Farris- Art Gallery
All readings are scheduled for an hour and are free and open to the public. Invite your friends!
Faculty Bios
Paige Ackerson-Kiely is the author of In No One's Land, My Love is a Dead Arctic Explorer and other works of poetry and prose. She lives and writes in rural Vermont.
Matt Bell's debut novel In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods was published by Soho Press in 2013, and long-listed for the Center for Fiction's 2013 Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize. He is also the author of two previous books of fiction, How They Were Found (Dzanc Books) and Cataclysm Baby (Mud Luscious Press). His stories have appeared in Conjunctions, Gulf Coast, Ninth Letter, Fairy Tale Review, American Short Fiction, and many other magazines, and have been anthologized in Best American Mystery Stories 2010, Best American Fantasy 2, 30 Under 30: An Anthology of Innovative Fiction by Younger Writers and The &Now Awards 2: The Best Innovative Writing. His book reviews and critical writing have appeared in American Book Review, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and The Quarterly Conversation. A former editor at Dzanc Books and The Collagist, he teaches creative writing at Northern Michigan University.
Katie Farris is the author of boysgirls, a collection of short-short fictions published in 2011 by Marick Press. She also is the co-translator of several books of poetry from the French and the Russian. Her fiction and translations have been published in many literary journals, including Virginia Quarterly Review, Triquarterly, Hayden's Ferry, and others. She received her MFA in Literary Arts from Brown University. She currently teaches fiction writing and comparative literature at San Diego State University.
Malena Mörling was born in Stockholm, Sweden. She is the author of two books of poetry: Ocean Avenue (New Issues Press) and Astoria (University of Pittsburgh Press). Her translations of the Finland-Swedish poet Edith Södergran On Foot I Wandered Through the Solar Systems: Selected Poems was published by Marick Press in 2012. Her translations of Tomas Tranströmer's poems were included in For The Living and the Dead (Ecco Press), and she also translated two chapbooks of Tranströmer's poetry. With Jonas Ellerström, she is editing and translating the anthology The Star By My Head: Poets From Sweden for Milkweed Editions and the collection Swedish Writers On Writing for Trinity University Press. She is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, she has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lannan Foundation.
Tara Rebele is a poet who works in print, new media, and performance. She is the author of And I'm Not Jenny, (Slope Editions) and Tea and Small Bones (Dusie). Her poems have appeared in many journals, including Handsome, Volt, Shearsman, and How2. She has performed her live works all around the U.S. and has exhibited her new media works in international venues, festivals, galleries, and universities, including the International UpStage Festival, Incroci di Civilita:Venice International Literary Festival (Venice, Italy), International Conference on Digital Media in Entertainment and Arts (Athens, Greece), the Eclectic Tech Carnival (Istanbul, Turkey), Norsk Telemuseum (Oslo, Norway), Cultural Centre Pančevo (Serbia), and The Upgrade! Munich (Munich, Germany). She has been a board member for the Institute for Creative Exploration at the University of Georgia and 1708 Gallery in Richmond, Virginia and has worked with VIDA: Women in Literary Arts.
Allison Titus' first book of poems, Sum of every lost ship, was published by Cleveland State University Poetry Center; her award-winning chapbook, Instructions From the Narwhal was published by Bateau Press; and her first novel, The Arsonist's Song Has Nothing to Do With Fire, comes out this July from Etruscan Press. In 2011, Allison was awarded a poetry fellowship from the NEA. Her recent work can be found in fine venues such as A Public Space, Boston Review, Black Warrior Review, Gulf Coast and Tin House. She also co-edits the poetry journal, Handsome.


text: Sup guys? Since I've only been in this forum of for about two months or so, I just realize there's a vast amount of users that I haven't met yet, some already SuperMembers. So I'm asking you guys this: Who among the users that have been inactive in a while do you miss the most?


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Here in our Bargain Basement, you can find bargains on all kinds of clearance parts!
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March Against Hunger is a friendly competition between law firms to raise the most donations – either of non perishable foods or direct monetary contributions – for Indiana's 11 regional food banks. The drive runs from March 1-31.
In 2014 Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller's March Against Hunger food drive competition generated $49,177 and 8,188 pounds of food for the state's food banks this year.
The sixth annual food drive competition was between 43 participating law and nonprofit groups from Indiana and Kentucky. To help coordinate the donations, Zoeller teamed up with the Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA) and Feeding Indiana's Hungry (FIsH) which serves as the umbrella organization for 11 regional food banks.
"For the sixth year in a row the members of my profession have stepped up to help put food on the tables of those struggling and in need of the most basic necessities," Zoeller said. "These participants deserve recognition for selflessly giving their time and money to a worthy cause. With their help we were able to help countless families."
Winners from all six divisions will receive a trophy known as the "Attorney General's Cup" for collecting the most donations including:


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January 13, 2009
Antioxidant flavonoids and other phytonutrients in dark chocolate are thought possibly to improve health, primarily through reduction in cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
In terms of a medicinal agent, we have not been sure of the therapeutic "dose." A recent study out of Italy provides a clue.
Researchers at Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy, surveyed residents in southern Italy regarding chocolate intake and measured their C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. CRP is a marker of inflammation and a predictor of coronary artery disease such as heart attacks. Generally, higher levels of CRP are associated with higher risk of heart attacks. If you have a choice, go for lower levels of CRP.
Participants in the study were selected by simple random sampling from city hall registries and were at least 35 years old. Researchers were looking for healthy people, so the following were excluded from the study: those who reported known cardiovascular disease, eating a special diet, or on drug therapy for high blood pressure, diabetes, or adverse blood lipids. Twenty percent of initial recruits refused to participate. Of the 10,994 initial recruits, 4,849 men and women made it into the final study.
Of the 4,849 subjects, two subgroups were identified: 1) a control group of 1,317 (27%) who never ate any type of chocolate, and 2) a test group of 824 (17%) subjects who regularly ate dark chocolate only.
Interviewers administered questionnaires to the subjects to document clinical and personal information such as dietary habits, socioeconomic status, physical activity, medical history, risk factors for cardiovascular disaese and tumors, family history of cardiovascular disease, drug use, etc.
Regarding chocolate consumption, participants were asked about frequency - daily, weekly, or monthly - of a "standard dose" (20 grams) and about type of chocolate: milk, dark, nut chocolate, or any type. Someone eating more than one type of chocolate was classified as "any type."
Other measurements: blood pressure, weight, height, waist circumference, blood glucose, serum lipids (various cholesterols and triglycerides), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
Age-adjusted CRP levels were lower in dark chocolate users (1.13 mg/L) than in the nonconsumers of chocolate (1.30 mg/L).
Dark chocolate eaters were divided into thirds: the lowest third of average consumption, the middle third, and the highest third. The lowest third ate under 19 grams per week. The middle third ate between 19 and 47 grams per week. The highest third ate over47 grams per week. The chocolate-related reduction in CRP was lost in people who were in the highest third (or tertile), i.e., eating more than 47 grams a week or 20 grams every three days. People in the lowest tertile of dark chocolate consumption had a CRP reduction the same as the middle third.
Systolic blood pressure in dark chocolate consumers was 3 mmHg lower than the pressure in nonconsumers. No difference in diastolic pressures.
The researchers cite two clinical trials that investigated the effect of cocoa on markers of inflammation but did not find any association. They wonder if those studies enrolled too few participants, or whether the relatively high doses of chocolate masked the effect. In the present study, the lowering of CRP was seen in consumption of up to 20 grams every three days, but seemed to disappear at higher doses.
The authors write that:
". . . regular intake of small amounts of dark chocolate . . . consumption should have no harmful effect on anthropometric variables such as BMI [body mass index] and waist:hip ratio and can be viewed as a promising behavioural approach to lower, in a quite pleaseant way, cardiovascular risk factors at a general popoulation level." And . . .
"According to data reported in apparently healthy American men and women, ranges of serum CRP measured in our nonchocolate consumer population would belong to a "moderate" risk estimate quintile, whereas the ranges found in dark chocolate consumers would beclassified as a "mild" risk estimate. For the decrease in serum CRP values from moderate to mild quintile, the relative risk of suffering a future cardiovascular event would apparently decrease by 26% in men and 33% in women."
The authors are careful to point out that this study does not prove that low-dose dark chocolate lowers CRP levels. It's an association. "Additional studies are necessary to explain the mechanisms linking dark chocolate consumption and regulation of serum CRP concentrations."
My Comments:
The healthy dose of dark chocolate may be quite small: no more than 20 grams every three days, and perhaps quite a bit less. This is not much by U.S. standards. The serving size listed on many bars in the U.S. is 40 grams. Forty grams has about 100 calories. Twenty grams twice a week translates to 6 calories a day.
The authors of this study don't address whether 40 grams a week would be just as healthy as 80 grams every two weeks.
Eating more, on average, than 20 grams every three days may entirely wipe out the healthy effects. This effect is like wine's: a little is probably good for you, too much is either neutral or harmful.
I'm sorry to be so wishy-washy on this issue, but that's the state of the science today. The study at hand may help us optimize dark chocolate's effect on C-reactive protein. But dark chocolate's other healthy effects may require other doses, higher or lower.
The next step is to take 20,000 middle-aged people, give half of them various doses of scheduled dark chocolate, give the other half placebos, then record rates of diseases and death over the next 10 years. Who would pay for this multi-million dollar study? Either government or chocolate manufacturers.
-Steve Parker, M.D.
Reference: Di Giuseppe, Romina, et al. Regular Consumption of Dark Chocolate Is Associated with Low Serum Concentrations of C-Reactive Protein in a Healthy Italian Population. Journal of Nutrition, , 138 (2008): 1,939-1,945.
September 30, 2004
October 20, 2005
Thanks for taking the time to write that up - very interesting. I can't believe there was 27% of subjects that consumed no chocolate!!! And the "beneficial" dose is a lot lower than the 50g/day I hear bandied about.
Sebastian - how far along are they in the study you are referring to?
I only ask because it's always good to see some hard data regarding all the claims that are made about the possible health benefits of chocolate.
September 30, 2004
Quite far along actually. I've got dozens of clinicals completed. It's really a question of when to release the information and how to best utilize it. They key for most of the trials has been to focus on polyphenol / stearic acid content/ratios, and specific types of polyphenols, or blends thereof. Not all polyphenols are created equal either.
October 20, 2005
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" Brand: Kong / Animals Equipment Type: Dog Health "
* Prices may differ from that shownMore Offers
My dogs have got quite a few Kong toys and I am really impressed with how durable they are while still being fun for my dogs to play with.
We've had this particular toy for a good few years now and I bought it a few months after getting my husky after a recommendation from one of my friends. I purchased ours from Pets at Home if I remember correctly and have no idea how much I paid but I don't remember it being expensive. The current retail price for a large one (the size that we have) is around £5.00, depending on where you purchase it from. The are two other sizes available as well - small and medium, making it suitable for all dog breeds.
This toy is a really good idea and it is a very effective way of helping to clean my dogs teeth without having to use a toothbrush! It is basically a tube shaped piece of rubber which is the same thick, durable and slightly bouncy material as a normal Kong toy. It is around five inches long and it is covered in ridges which are designed to be filled with doggy toothpaste however as my dogs refused to touch it when I did purchase some of the dog toothpaste I don't use this.
The ridges are deep enough to insert bits of broken up biscuits or chocolate drops and I usually use soft cheese or peanut butter as this takes longer for my dogs to eat. Even though I don't use the toothpaste I feel that this is still effective in cleaning my dogs teeth and seeing as they will chew on it for a good 20 minutes or so jt is very thorough. The way that the toy works is by the flexible grooves closing over the dogs teeth which sounds quite unpleasant but it is gentle and whenever I watch one of the dogs chewing on it I can see that it is working.
When it is chewed it helps to remove any plaque and bits of food stuck in the dog's teeth which reduces tartar buid up. It also keeps a dog occupied and helps to stop them from chewing on things they shouldn't. When I first got this the dogs would just lick it and nibble it or push it around to try and get the treats to fall out of the ridges but they soon got the hang of chewing it. When my dogs are chewing on it they often have it right at the back of their mouths which gives their teeth a thorough clean.
The centre of the toy is hollow meaning that it can be stuffed full of goodies however the opening isn't very big so I struggle to fit anything in there other than a munchy stick. The toy has a raised band on the middle of it which my dogs seem to like the texture of and the toy is easy for them to carry around comfortably in their mouths and it is too large to be a choking hazzard. As my dogs use this inside and outside it does get quite dirty easily and it can soon become smelly as they are not always able to get all of the food out of the ridges.
I soak it in hot water whenever neccessary and it is in great condition after a good few years. There are a lot of teeth marks and the colour is fading a little but it is still in the original shape with no bits of rubber missing or anything which says a lot about the quality considering that all of my dogs are strong chewers. Despite how long my dogs have had this toy they will still play with it whenever I fill the ridges with treats and they often play with it like they would with a tennis ball; carrying and throwing it around because it is quite bouncy.
Overall this is a great toy. It effectively does what the manufaturers claim and the quality and durability is brilliant.
Five out of five stars - highly recommended.
This toy was in my collection of Kong toys.
It is advertised as a dental stick and claims to clean their teeth as they chew it.
This is basically a log shaped toy with groves length ways, as the dog chews on the toy the rubber will brush against the gums and brush plaque and any build up off the teeth.
In addition to this toy a paste can be bought which is squirted in the grooves. the dog will the chew the toy more as it will taste nice and meaty or minty.
I bought the paste but found that my dog licked the toy instead of chewing it, not really helping their teeth!
The toy is durable and strong and does last a long time even when chewed or licked reguarly.
I also used to put little kibbles of biscuit in the groves of which my dog loved and spent more time chewing it the get the little kibbles out.
This was bought for about £6.99 so on the expensive side but still quite a good toy. Maybe not something I would purchase again but I certainly dont regret buying it. The orifinal Kong is better than this so maybe look around a bit before buying
The Kong dental stick is a product which promotes chewing for your dog and through working their canines they act to remove plaque and food particles from the teeth. Kong specialise in hard rubber products for dogs, they are all made of thick tough plastic which are usually red in colour.
Kong dental stick is about 10 cm's long and about 3 wide, it is made of once piece of composite rubber with little grooves embedded in the stick. The grooves are designed to persuade the dog to use its teeth to worry the food out of the canines. They have small spaces in behind the grooves in which small treats can be pushed into, they can be added as a means of encouraging the dog to chew the rubber stick.
Kong sell a high quality product which using their thick rubber and attractive colurs to persuade the dog to use his teeth. Dog carries, and dental disease is a problem and any tool which stops the dog from suffering tooth disease and gum inflamation. The way of life for household dogs is that they eat soft food and rarely get a bone to chew on, this product replaces the bone and as its rubber can be washed repeatedly.
I can assure you that giving your dog a brush with a dog toothbrush or paying for expensive dental treatment for your dog. Dog insurance has a tendency to not include treatment for oral diseases, they view it as a lack of owner care. Kong dental sticks cost about £2, and as a means of keeping your dog happy that's money well spent. Adding the treats in the sticks means that this can be changed into a treat for the dog and therefore keeping his teeth happy turns from a chore into a pleasure and even better the dog does the work for you!!
*What is a Kong Dental Stick?*
The Dental Stick is a rubber chew toy produced by the Kong company which makes a large variety of dog toys, it is specially designed to help assist in teeth cleaning. It is made from the same strong red rubber as the Original Kong toy.
*The product itself*
The Dental Stick is a 'tube' shaped toy which has little grooves all the way around it, the grooves are ridged so as the dog chews on it, the ridges gently help scrape plaque away from the teeth and gumline. The grooves called be filled with small treats or the special pastes that the Kong company sells, for my dog I push broken bits of treats inside the grooves and then squeeze on some dog toothpaste.
The toy comes attached to a piece of white card, which has lots of information about the product and the Kong logo in bold at the top, there will also be the size that the toy is. Also inside is a small information leaflet, which comes with all Kong products to tell you more about the safety information and how the toy works.
*Price & Availabilty*
Kong toys are only available in pet stores and I have found that Pets At Home and Seapets in Colchester generally stock the largest range. The Dental Stick is available in three different sizes:
Small (for Yorkshire Terriers ect) £3.99
Medium (for Collies/Spaniels ect) £4.99
Large (for Labradors/Rottweilers ect) £5.99
*What the dogs think*
I brought the large sized toy for my Bernese Mountain Dog, Benson, my other dog isn't keen on rubber toys so she got a cuddly toy insted! Benson loved it straight away, its an easy shape for dogs to chew yet it is strong enough to withstand a dog of Bensons size and strenght, and the specially designed grooves close right over the teeth, and gently cleans them. But the novelty of a new toy soon wore off, and now he won't chew on it unless it is filled with some sort of tasty goodies! Although he still loves to use it as a fetch toy.
*Ease of Cleaning*
The shape of this toy, with all the little grooves makes this a rather hard toy to clean, although as it is rubber it can just be washed in hot water and regular washing up liquid, just make sure it is well rinsed before giving it back to your dog. I have found that the best way to clean inside the grooves is with an old toothbrush, which I have reserved just for cleaning the dogs toys.
*Pro's & Con's*
+ It cleans teeth and gums in a gentle yet affective way
+ Grooves can be filled with small treats, treat pastes or dog toothpaste to encourage chewing and therefore further teething cleaning.
+ Makes a good fetch toy
+ Three sizes for different breed dogs
+ Well priced
+ Puppy version made from softer rubber available
- Not suitable for very strong chewers, they would be able to chew pieces of rubber off
- If the toy isn't filled with treats, the dog isn't intrested
- Small grooves make it hard to clean
- Its not going to last a long time if your dog chews on it everyday
Made from natural rubber


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KORG iELECTRIBE for iPad : Preview from KORG iELECTRIBE on Vimeo.
Well that didn't take long! Here's the first hot music App for the iPad: Korg iElectribe (iTunes link). A fully featured Electribe-R drum machine for $9.99. I've found that recording audio from my iPhone into Ableton has a different "out of the box" feel to the sounds when compared to VSTs. This is going to be fun!
"Korg's ELECTRIBE·R has been coveted by dance musicians for ten years running. Today, this indispensable instrument has been reborn as a dedicated iPad app – the KORG iELECTRIBE virtual analog beatbox! Simply choose a part (or sound) and touch the 16-step sequencer to quickly build a groove. This easy-to-use interface combines forces with the iPad's 9.7" multi touch display to offer an intuitive "hardware" feel, sure to inspire and captivate the imagination of any user. The iELECTRIBE faithfully recreates the historic ELECTRIBE·R's entire sound engine and sequencer capabilities. In addition, it provides advanced Motion Sequencing, eight supercharged effect types, plus 64 new preset patterns that instantly allow the user to create music in a wide variety of dance and electronic music styles." – Korg.com
Follow Korg iElectribe on Twitter: http://twitter.com/iELECTRIBE


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UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi said in opening the organization's 2nd annual public symposium that since the crisis hit in 2008, some 53 million people in the developing world have fallen below the poverty line "and more than 100 million additional people are going hungry. These numbers are not moving in the right direction."
"Prior to the crisis, the chances of achieving the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) were deteriorating," he told the meeting. "Now, after the crisis, it will be near to impossible to achieve all of the MDGs." The goals are centred around the target of halving extreme poverty by 2015.
The Secretary-General said developing countries should look to one another for support, noting that "South-South" regional trade and financial arrangements have been vital in recent years for providing investment, stable economic arrangements, and climbing trade. He cautioned that it is unlikely that industrialized economies "will constitute reliable sources of recover from the current crisis.
He also said impetus appeared to be dwindling for deep and meaningful reforms to the international financial system, and urged that the United Nations, rather than just the G20 group of countries, be given a lead role in devising reforms: "A truly inclusive multilateralism must be based on the G192, the number of all member States of the UN," he said.
In a panel discussion on "Responding to global crises: new development paths" that followed, the Secretary-General termed developing countries "the innocent bystanders of the most severe recession in 70 years. We cannot just go on with business as usual. We have yet to see 'human recovery' from the recession."
Jean Feyder, President of UNCTAD's Trade and Development Board, said, "We consider that States should play a major role in development" as poorer nations struggle to recover, noting, "If there was massive government intervention in the economies of the North, the question has to be asked what they should do in the South."
Olivier De Schutter, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, told the meeting: "It is very important to put more money into agriculture," as productivity, especially in Africa, has lagged far behind farming yields in more developed regions. When food shortages surfaced in 2008, he said, "the result was that these countries were unable to respond."
Anne Jellema, International Policy and Campaign Director of ActionAid International, South Africa, told the meeting that international financial markets "dictate for many countries what is and what isn't possible " and described those markets as "a global casino." She said more -- and more stable -- financial resources must be made available to developing nations for investment in such sectors as agriculture "so that finance serves the goal of development."
Makhotso Magdeline Sotyu, Chairperson of the Parliament of South Africa, said attention to such matters as climate change and women's rights should not be left out of efforts to respond to the global recession or to prevent future crises. "If climate change turns out as predicted, we will have serious problems with water," and Africa's agricultural difficulties already are serious enough, she said.
Rehman Sobhan, Chairman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue of Bangladesh, remarked that increases in poverty in the developing world reflect the "structural nature" of the recession. Under current market systems, he claimed, employment is considered a "by-product" of economic growth, and when growth stagnates, joblessness increases. "We need to move past these models and address the sources, which lie in the unjust nature of the global financial and social order. We need to integrate the excluded."
And David Nabarro, Special Representative on Food Security and Nutrition of the United Nations High-level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis, said "the food crisis is still with us, and it's alarming, with around 1 billion people hungry around the world, despite record grain harvests last year. . . There are very great challenges that aren't going be resolved simply by government decrees." Extensive structural reforms are needed in which the focus is on agricultural production "within communities, depending on partnerships between smallholder farmers, communities, and civil society," he said. There should be "partnership between all nations" and not merely a focus on productions statistics alone.
Speakers from the floor cited such issues as the extent of extreme poverty, now estimated at 1.5 billion people; the effects of financial speculation on the prices of such critical foods as rice, wheat and sugar; the effects of political decisions on food prices; the importance of international action to support the prices of commodities, which are the major exports of many developing countries; early warning systems for financial crises; the expansion of urban development onto agricultural land; lack of progress in reforming the international financial system; and obstacles to achieving the MDGs.
Moderator for the debate was Jonathan Lynn, World Trade Correspondent and Chief Correspondent for Reuters News Geneva Office.
The public symposium continues through 11 May.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
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Immigration Law
Immigration Law Questions? Ask an Immigration Lawyer.
Normally the scam starts with trying to establish a romantic relationship, perhaps just a friendship at first. They also may claim to be a citizen of the UK or US or wherever so that you would not suspect they have any ulterior motive. They pull at your heartstrings by telling stories of hardship or tragedy that they have suffered in their life. At some point they want to come visit. They may ask you to send money for a passport and/or plane ticket. They may tell you that they have money, perhaps even that they are wealthy, but their money is tied up or something like that, perhaps they tie it into a tragedy or something. Then the next step is when they supposedly have the passport and plane ticket, they suddenly come up with this Basic Travel Allowance or (BTA) which is supposedly to show authorities that they have enough money to fund their trip. This is a lie. There is no such thing. They ask you to send that money so they can put it into a bank account to show the authorities. This is just another method to steal money from you. Then the next part of the scam would be when they are supposed to arrive. You wait for them at the airport and they never show up. A few days go by, you get extremely worried, none of your methods of communication work, and then suddenly a "friend" or "relative" of the scammer contacts you to let you know that she has been detained/arrested by authorities for carrying something illegal, I have heard of unregistered gold and they say it would have been a gift for you (perhaps to pay you back for the money you sent). The friend or relative of the scammer then asks for you to send money to bribe or pay fines in order to have the scammer released. From there, I have not heard of how else they are able to get money out of people. Of course there are variations to the scheme, such as not being able to pay a hotel bill or not being able to pay a hospital bill, etc., but that's pretty much how it goes.
Here is a link that you can go to for more information:
http://ghana.usembassy.gov/romance_scam.html (yes, it is a link from the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, but it applies to all different countries and I have seen this scam come from Russia, the Ukraine, Nigeria, many other countries, and yes, even Egypt).
And here is another link from the government of Ghana:
and another:
Again, I know that this is very difficult because you have feelings invested but believe me, that's what these scammers count on. I know. I almost fell into this trap once myself.
Please let me know if you have additional questions and please do not forget to rate my service to you (not the state of the law) as that is the only way that I can get credit for my assistance. Even after you rate the service, I can still answer additional questions for you without additional charge. If you do rate me positively, a bonus is always appreciated. If you would like to request me in the future, just go to http://www.justanswer.com/law/expert-guillermosenmartin/. Thank you!


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Welcome to the LAC
The Language Acquisition Center serves the students and faculty of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. The facility is located in Suite 356 on the third floor of the Draper Academic Building. A model for computer-assisted language learning centers, the LAC is frequently visited by language professionals from other universities.
The LAC provides state-of-the-art support for modern language instruction. The LAC helps students and faculty by supplementing regular classroom teaching with multimedia applications and materials. Students can use the computers in the labs to listen to audio programming and view instructional video materials. Two multimedia instructor stations are provided for professors, who may monitor student progress or use the facility for oral testing.
The Language Acquisition Center houses two classrooms with LCD projectors and related classroom equipment and access to foreign TV broadcasts via satellite. In addition, software programs are available for conducting research using internet sources.
The Language Acquisition Center is an international arm of Baylor University. The facilities in the labs provide the tools necessary for students to master languages. Learning another language can lead to exciting careers and open doors of opportunity around the globe. In the words of LAC Director Bill Dooley, "We consider language skills to be a gateway to the world."
Placement Exams
The Language Acquisition Center staff administers computer-adaptive Placement Exams in French, Spanish and German. Some courses require students to take a placement exam prior to enrollment. The exam has a multiple-choice format, and it must be taken in the LAC. There is no charge for the exam, and no appointment is required (exams are given by appointment only between semesters). The exam takes less than a half hour, and students get their results immediately. For more information, call the LAC at (254) 710-4526.
Languages - Gateway to the World


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More than 150 of our doctors have been named "Best Doctors® in America." The Best Doctors organization, affiliated with the Harvard University of Medicine, is a leader in helping people get the best medical care.
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"After surgery, everything looked good. The doctors stopped by every day to check on me and make sure things stayed that way." Be inspired by Brian's Story
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Gamma Knife® Icon™ is the latest technology in radiosurgery. The non-invasive procedure is simple, painless and straight-forward, treating brain tumors, trigeminal neuralgia and more.
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Preparing for an appointment at Hershey? Trying to figure out how to manage your ongoing care at home?
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1999-2007 GM All 6 lug - Pitman and Idler Arm Steering Support Kit
Now includes hardware for factory or aftermarket pitman and idler arms. Whether your truck is stock height or lifted and running oversized tires, pitman and idler arms have always been a problem on the steering systems of the GM and Ford vehicles. The pitman and idler arm support kit by Cognito Motorsports fixes a wear problem that is present on the factory and aftermarket steering system. Aftermarket companies have come out with heavier duty pitman and idler arms that fail the same way that the factory parts do. The design created by Cognito Motorsports solves the problem in an innovative way that no one else has been able to create before. This design works so well that they were able to establish a patent pending.
The problem when not using the Cognito Motorsports Pitman and Ilder arm support kit:
If you're not familiar with how the GM steering system works, here is a quick lesson. The pitman arm is connected to the output shaft of the steering gear box. When you turn the steering wheel of your vehicle, the motion is directed to the steering gear box which then rotates the pitman arm. The pitman arm has a stud protruding from the end of it where the center link connects, aka the drag link. To help control steering motion, the center link is connected to an idler arm on the passenger side of the vehicle. The idler arm is bolted to the frame and swings in the same arc as the pitman arm, and is fastened to the center link the same way the pitman arm is. The two mounting points for the center link give it support in the motion left and right relative to the vehicle, but there is not enough support in the direction of forward to backward relative to the vehicle. This lack of support is what causes the joints inside of the pitman and idler arms to wear out, chich provide the pivot and connection point for the center link. The larger the tire on the vehicle, the faster these joints wear out. Aftermarket companies have come out with beefed up pitman and idler arms, but still have the same premature wear issue in the same joint.
What happens if you are not using the Cognito Motorsports solution:
The front alignment toe settings can be held because of the slop in the pitman and idler arms allowing the center link to move forward and backward. No control over the toe setting means that your front tires will experience irregular and premature wear. When the center link swings toward the back of the truck, it is also swinging up in an arc. The center link swinging up increases the tie rod angle and can cause tie rod breakage. Most tie rod problems actually originate from pitman and idler arm problems.
The Cognito Motorsports Solution:
The mechanical engineer at Cognito Motorsports has come up with a non traditional design to fix this problem, and it works GREAT! The support kit can be installed on pitman and idler arms showing a lot of wear, and actually revive them! If the worn parts have approximately 40,000 miles or less on them with a close to stock size tire, they probably will not have to be changed. If the worn parts have them with a close to stock size tire, they probably will not have to be changed. If the worn parts have approximately 20,000 miles or less on them with larger than 33 inch tires, they probably will not have to be changed. If the parts have more miles than that on them, it is recommended to replace the pitman and idler arms with factory units and add the Cognito Motorsports pitman and idler arm support kit.
This innovative design is so unique that it has a utility patent pending status right now. The support system works by double capturing the studs that protrude form the pitman and idler arms which the center link connects to. At the same time it still allows the stud to pivot on their own axis which is needed when the steering system is turning. This Cognito Motorsports system provides the support needed to prevent the center link from rocking forward and backward in the vehicle. The steering design on the 6-lug late model vehicles places the sway bar directly underneath the pitman and idler arms. The Cognito Motorsports kit comes with hardware to slightly reposition the sway bar to avoid interference with pitman and idler arm support brackets.
Installation Instructions
Additional Information
|Item Number
|Manufacturer Part Number
|Cognito Motorsports
|Chevy, GMC


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Twins to recall Johnson for doubleheader
With six games in five days, lefty to pitch Game 2 against Dodgers
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins will recall left-hander Kris Johnson from Triple-A Rochester to start Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Dodgers, Minnesota announced on Tuesday night.
Johnson, who had a 2.86 ERA in four starts with Rochester, will be the 26th man on the roster for the Twins. He is expected to be optioned back to Triple-A Rochester after his outing.
The Twins needed another starter after Tuesday's game against the Dodgers was postponed because of inclement weather, giving them six games in five days. So the Twins needed to either recall a pitcher to start in Game 2 of the doubleheader or one to start Sunday -- unless Wednesday's starter, Kyle Gibson, goes on short rest on Sunday.
With the ability to add a 26th player for the second game of the doubleheader, the Twins opted to recall Johnson for Game 2. Right-hander Mike Pelfrey is slated to start Game 1.
Johnson, 29, was acquired in a trade with the Pirates in exchange for reliever Duke Welker in November. Welker was originally acquired from the Pirates as part of the trade that sent Justin Morneau to Pittsburgh last August.
The 6-foot-4 left-hander has a career 4.23 ERA in 940 1/3 innings in the Minor Leagues. He also posted a 6.10 ERA in 10 1/3 innings last year with the Pirates over four appearances, including a start.
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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"While producers rely on records and metrics to evaluate their reproduction program, many factors—like nutrition, environment and health—directly contribute to an animal's ability to conceive and maintain pregnancy," says Joel Pankowski, manager, field technical services with Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition.
Reproductive performance-robbing challenges like metritis remain a real issue for many dairies since incidence can be as high as 20 percent in some herds. Metritis carries significant economic consequences since each case can cost dairy producers as much as $354.1
Dairies committed to reproductive excellence know nutrition is a key driver of reproductive success. A sound nutrition program helps promote a healthy uterus during and after calving and enables cows to perform at their best, Pankowski says.
Recent research at the University of British Columbia shows that dairy cow feeding behavior during the early transition period is an indicator of metritis risk.2 Cows that developed metritis had lower dry matter intake (DMI) as early as two weeks prior to calving—or approximately three weeks before clinical signs of metritis. The researchers also found the incidence of metritis led to decreased production and 3.8-times greater culling risk.
"One proven tool to promote uterine health and greater immune function is a proactive nutrition approach through proper pre- and postpartum ration formulation with both Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs) for a better transition," Pankowski explains.
University research3 showed feeding Omega-3 and Omega-6 EFAs in combination resulted in:
- A 66% reduction in cases of endometritis in the treatment group (19%) when compared to the control (56%). The study also showed fewer clinical metritis cases.
- Resumed cyclicity earlier with more ovulatory cycles by 60 days in milk.
- Fewer days to first service, services per conception and days open.
To ensure success, make transition management a priority. For instance:
- Keep pen moves to a minimum and avoid overcrowding.
- Watch DMI closely as diseases like metritis increase as DMI drops.
- Record major health incidents. Detect and treat problems early; prevention is best.
- Screen cows appropriately and set a herd baseline to monitor when disease incidence gets out of line.
Finally, set a foundation for better reproductive health with both Omega-3 and Omega-6 EFAs. "Work with your nutritionist to properly incorporate these EFAs into your rations," Pankowski says. "Increase your commitment to enhancing reproductive performance through better nutrition."
To learn more about the benefits of Omega-3 and Omega-6 EFAs, click here to view the research or visit AHDairy.com.
1 Overton M, Fetrow J. Economics of Postpartum Uterine Health, in Proceedings. 3rd Annual Dairy Cattle Reproduction Conference 2008;39-43.
2 University of British Columbia, Research Reports: Effect of metritis on intake, milk yield and culling risk. Vol. 12, No 1. Available at: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/dairycentre/sites/www.landfood.ubc.ca.dairycentre/files/files/Research_Vol12-1.pdf Accessed April 6, 2012.
3 Bowen AJ. The Effects of Dietary Linoleic and Linolenic Acids on Reproductive Performance in Holstein Cows. [Master's thesis]. Department of Animal Sciences, University of Arizona; 2008.


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Posted 5 years ago
(1 item)
This watch fob belonged to my grandfather (1876-1969). He worked for the B&A Railroad (1891-1946). I am trying to find out what organization this fob belongs to. It seem to be Masonic. I can find similar looking fobs but not this one. Can anyone help me identify the organization.


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In the Washington Post, Steven Mufson does a nice job describing how Solyndra is just one of many energy subsidy failures of recent decades.
Downsizing Blog
Obama Demonstrates Why 'Government Efficiency' Is a Joke
By the time I stopped working for Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), I had concluded that the pursuance of so-called "government efficiency" was largely a misguided waste of time for a politician who was interested in achieving smaller government. (I've been pleased to see my old boss spend more time trying to cut and eliminate programs since my departure.)
Farm Subsidies and Risk Management
There has been much written recently about the so-called shallow loss proposals to provide subsidies for farms in cases when farm revenues fall slightly below the record high levels of the past few years.
GOP Fingerprints on the 'Christmas Tree Tax'
The Drudge Report's headlining of a Heritage Foundation story titled "Obama Couldn't Wait: His New Christmas Tree Tax" has created quite a stir. In fact, it is being reported that the administration is now going to delay its implementation due to the outcry. Conservatives and Republicans are particularly incensed. However, it appears that they might want to rethink their Obama-as-Grinch narrative.
Uh-Oh: Bipartisan Housing Commission Announced
The words "bipartisan" and "commission" usually send a chill down my spine. I felt such a chill when I learned that the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) had formed a Housing Commission to "address the long-term challenges facing a struggling housing sector." My initial reaction was confirmed when I read that it would be chaired by former government officials and politicians of the establishment type:
'Government Efficiency': Trying to Turn Cats into Dogs
I'll have more to say later on Mitt Romney's speech on federal spending, but his banal call for making government more "efficient" gave me an opportunity to share some good commentary on the subject. In a recent piece criticizing Indiana's Republican-led state government for not doing "anything substantive to improve Indiana's budgetary, fiscal or economic position," Craig Ladwig, editor of the Indiana Policy Review, nails it:
The Pentagon and Jobs
Desperate to fend off cuts in military spending, the defenders of the status quo are claiming that potential reductions included in the debt ceiling deal's sequestration provision would result in huge job losses. In September, Leon Panetta suggested that cuts of up to $1 trillion would increase the nation's unemployment rate by a full percentage point, and put up to 1.5 million people out of work.
More Government Cost Overruns
One reason to shift infrastructure financing to the private sector is that governments and their contractors often give taxpayers the shaft. They say a big project will cost a certain amount, but then the project gets underway and they reveal that—whoops!—the project actually costs much more. No one gets fired, the money has been spent, taxes and debt have been increased, and officials move onto the next boondoggle.
GOP Hypocrisy on Energy Subsidies?
When the Solyndra scandal broke in September, I wrote that "Republicans should be careful when casting stones given their past and present support for energy subsidies." The left has been ripping congressional Republicans for making political hay of the Solyndra affair after having lobbied the Department of Energy to bestow their constituents with similar taxpayer handouts.
Senate Spares Rural Development Subsidies
An amendment to a Senate appropriations bill introduced by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) that would have reduced funding for rural development subsidies at the Department of Agriculture by $1 billion was easily voted down today. Only 13 Republicans voted to cut the program. Thirty-two Republicans joined all Democrats in voting to spare it, including minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), ranking budget committee member Jeff Sessions (R-AL), and tea party favorite Marco Rubio (R-FL).


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It's a great time to do a short sale.
Banks have finally realized they have much more to gain by agreeing to a short sale rather than allowing a home to go through foreclosure.
Data released by RealtyTrac today shows pre-foreclosure sales, which are often short sales, were up 15% in the fourth quarter of 2011.
It's easier than ever before to walk away without a deficiency and maybe even thousands of dollars in your pocket.
And to top it off you usually don't have to pay taxes on the debt you walked away from when you agreed to the short sale on your primary residence.
If you can't stay in your home, this is frequently the best possible scenario.
You don't have to pay taxes on that debt because of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, which was enacted in 2007 as President George W. Bush was leaving office.
But like all good things, it may not last.
There is growing speculation that this tax break, which will expire at the end of 2012, will not be renewed.
Even though the bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and was enacted by a GOP President, tea partiers and Republican strategists alike seem fixated on the 'moral contagion' factor as well as the program's $2.7 billion price tag.
Which means that if you agree to a short sale on your $200,000 home for only 150K, you could have to cough up taxes on the $50,000 of forgiven debt.
Currently the Debt Relief Act allows for up tax relief on up to $1 million of debt if you're single, $2 million if you are married.
Once again there's a lot of talk from some conservatives about the cost to the taxpayer. Never mind the fact that President Obama and the $25 billion settlement has made principal reductions and loan modifications the centerpieces for stabilizing the housing market.
So even the idea that this tax break might not see the light of day in 2013 is a slap in the face to everything the Attorneys General spent months haggling over.
The same government that is dangling the carrot of refinancing in front of you might very well bat it away with a massive tax bill.
Bottom line, if you're thinking about a short sale, get started NOW. Short sales can sometimes take months to complete, and if you wait til one minute after the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, you run the risk of your beautiful stage coach turning back into a pumpkin.
It is of course an election year, so this lame
brain duck Congress cannot be counted on to come through for homeowners. I thoroughly expect them to let the Debt Relief Act lapse, and once again you'll be on the hook for taxes on 'loan forgiveness income'.
Loan forgiveness income. If that's not an oxymoron, then I don't know what is!


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Skaggs struggling in competition for rotation
MESA, Ariz. -- One day after watching Tyler Skaggs struggle to get through one inning against the Reds, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson sat down with the young left-hander.
Skaggs, who is battling Patrick Corbin and Randall Delgado for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, had an OK first outing of the spring, but Thursday he allowed three runs and three hits, walked two, threw a wild pitch and committed a balk.
After looking at video, the coaching staff felt Skaggs was overthrowing, which led to mechanical issues and therefore the command issues.
In trying to win the spot, Gibson is concerned that Skaggs is pressing. The manager cited an interview Skaggs did with KTAR 620AM during FanFest in which he said he planned on treating every outing this spring like it was the seventh game of the World Series.
"That's really unfair [to himself]," Gibson said of that approach. "I told him I understood what his mindset was and how he wanted to win a job, but at the same time we wanted him to continue to develop as a pitcher. I think that he's just going out there and putting too much emphasis on winning a spot every pitch he throws."
The D-backs want to see Skaggs focus on commanding the strike zone with his fastball.


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2006 GMC Sierra - Grim Reaper
Taking One's Life The Custom Way
Nate Kolasinski, the owner and builder of this wild GMC, mentioned he had become physically ill, mentally drained, and suffered what he called "taking years from life." Those symptoms were courtesy of one truck and one build. Luckily, Nate is still with us, while the truck ... well, it's the end result of passion and dedication. Funny enough, Nate named the truck Mistress of Perseverance.
Nate's GMC started out life just like a truck is designed and built to do. He used it to tow, haul, and just beat on it. Eight weeks before the SEMA show, Nate decided to do a little bit of fab work to the chassis and then the Grim Reaper took over, by luring him into a full-blown build, from which he is still suffering. Wanting to lift the 4WD '00 Sierra to clear 40-inch tires, Nate looked to the suspension and the body. Being a fanatic when it comes to chassis and frames, Nate wanted to add a body lift-without adding a body lift. Let us explain.
He actually tore the body off of the frame and raised the body-mount points 4 inches, while reinforcing the components with plated steel to box the entire support. Each added component incorporated small radiation symbols in the steel-a touch Nate is very proud of. After nearly 600 hours in the frame alone, the GMC frame had been shaved, inside and out, every hole and weld seam had been smoothed, and the body rested 4 total inches higher than stock. The team at Iron Springs 4WD in Prescott, Arizona, used Cognito lift spindles, Eibach coils, and Fox Racing Shox to give the front end its added lift. Nate and Dave Turbyfil, of DT Fab in Prescott, created a CAD program for the remaining suspension pieces, which included a front drop-down bracket and control arms. It resulted in lifting the truck a total of 14 inches. Out back, Nate cut off the rear framerails, much like a lowered truck, and then designed a cool three-link by using one-off laser cut and welded trailing arms. Eibach coils and Fox Racing Shox were again used for the rear suspension.
Powering the 5.3L is a Magnuson supercharger tuned to 7psi pushing 420hp to the wheels. Other performance goodies include Flex-a-lite electric fans, an MSD ignition, JBA headers and exhaust, and high-flowing cats, which are also from JBA. All of that power goes to a 4L80E out of a 8.1L V-8-equipped 3/4-ton GMC truck. The tranny was rebuilt by Certified Transmissions and uses a Centerforce torque converter and a PML pan. A custom aluminum driveshaft by Coast Driveline is linked to a new Ford 9-3/4-inch rearend, so as to keep the track width the same as the front. The rear was fitted with 4.88 Precision gears and is covered by a matching PML pan. Nate was almost satisfied with the chassis, until Dave Turbyl laser-cut more than 100 pieces for the chassis, including coilover brackets, brake-line brackets, and wiring brackets, just to name a few pieces.
Nate even went so far as to remove every factory and aftermarket bolt used in the undercarriage and had them de-zinced to give the finish a natural and no-sheen look. Baer big brakes were bolted up to each lift spindle for added stopping power of the planned wheels and tires. Nate sent a rendering of the wheels he had wanted to Centerline, who cut him a set of 20-inch smoothie wheels that Robert Sauceda painted to match the flames. Those wheels served as the mounting points for 40x13-1/2-inch Mickey Thompson ATZ tires. After all was said and done, Nate had himself a monster-lifted GMC that was good-looking and functional, but the clock wasn't slowing down and he only had two days until the truck had to be at Sema.
Always being into rat rods and the look of flat paint, the green light was given to scuff all of the paint off of the GMC and start fresh. Before the truck was painted, however, Nate had some cool body components added to make it stand out. While the chassis was being worked on at his shop, on went an '06 GMC 1/2-ton grille shell fitted with an APC billet grille, headlights, and turn signals, and an '06 3/4-ton GMC front bumper at Auto Art Studio. Not pleased with the large factory gap of the front bumper to the body, Nate actually extended the mounts to narrow the gap; something GM should have done to start off with. Welding on a Grant Kustoms roll pan and tailgate skin, Dave Steger handbuilt the taillight fillers, added the factory compound curve to the skin and roll pan, and then Brad Houk, from Auto Art Studio, in Prescott, stepped in with his welder. Brad proceeded to weld in the custom-bed sheetmetal, shaved the bed pockets, and welded in the slick '59 Cadillac taillights from Mooneyes. The truck was then sprayed PPG Flat Black Clear by Robert Howell. Charles Armstrong, from Auto Art Studio, masked off the wild hot-rod flames and Robert came in and sprayed them PPG Make You Blush Red Pearl. Famous pinstripers Butcher and Bugs then came in and striped the flames and chassis. Out of the paintbooth and into the Arizona sunshine with only hours left until the show, the truck looked killer and truly unique, but Nate was suffering from what most of us would call a breakdown.
The truck rolled to SEMA and was a huge success, but the interior was not quite finished. The truck was delivered to The Interior Shop, in Phoenix, where Todd swapped the factory carpet in favor of Mercedes-Benz black carpet. While he was at it, he swapped in a suede headliner with flames. To go along with the black theme, each plastic panel was dyed black. Todd also covered the seats in black suede and black ostrich leather with red piping to give the interior an old-skool look. The rear seats were reshaped to resemble an old bench seat and have just the right contour to accommodate the two 10-inch Rockford Fosgate subwoofers under the seat. A Kenwood DVD head unit sends signals to two Rockford Fosgate amps, powering the subs and Rockford components in each door. Nathan Navatony handled the audio system. A BAD Sixty-Four billet steering wheel and smoothed and painted dash bezel and tinted gauge cluster housing Autometer gauges round out the interior modifications. For a bit of detail, Alex Hamilton stepped in and pinstriped several of the dash components.
It almost killed him, but looking back, Nate is very thankful for the truck and his dream coming to fruition. He was quick to thank everyone who had helped him get the truck finished, including Charles, Brad, John, Robert, Dave, his kids, and of course, his wife. Death is certain, but a truck's outcome is not so predictable. Chalk this one up for the mistress.


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Arnulf Grubler
Professor Grubler's research and teaching interests focus on the interplay between energy and technology systems and their implications on the environment, in particular on climate change. Both his research and teaching embrace a truly long-term view. He has studied major transitions in energy and technology systems that occurred during the last 300 years and is also an energy/environment futurist serving as lead author for the two major 100-year scenario studies available to date: The World Energy Council (WEC) study on Global Energy Perspectives and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios. Other recent books include Technology and Global Change, and Technological Change and the Environment. Prof. Grubler is a resident faculty member every fall term. The remainder of the year he is senior research scholar at IIASA, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Laxenburg, Austria.


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Irving, Texas, Michaels Stores Inc. recorded a preliminary net income of $111.2 million in the fourth quarter, up 18% from the same quarter a year ago. Sales increased 11% to $1.2 billion on a same-store sales improvement of 7%. In the full year, Michaels posted net income growth of 18% to $209.8 million on a 10% increase in sales to $3.4 billion. Comps grew 5% for the year.
In other earnings news:
• The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack reported a net loss of $9.7 million in the fourth quarter, as compared to a net loss of $5 million in the year-ago period. Sales grew 4.6% to $554.1 million. Same-store merchandise sales were up 6%, although comparable-service revenues declined 1% for the quarter. For the year, Pep Boys recorded net earnings of $25.7 million before an accounting change, 69.4% higher than the year before. Sales grew 6.5% to $2.3 billion. Comparable-merchandise sales increased 7.9% and comparable-service revenue rose 1.1%.
• Genesco Inc. reported earnings before discontinued operations of $25.5 million for its recently completed fourth quarter, up 52.5% from the year-ago period. Sales grew 40% to $352.8 million on the strength of a 4% comps gain at its Journeys format; 3% comps growth in its Underground Station Group; a comps gain of 6% at Hat World; and 3% comps growth at its Johnston & Murphy format. For the full year, Genesco's earnings before discontinued operations grew 64.2% to $48.6 million. Sales grew 33% to $1.1 billion for the year.
• The Buckle Inc. posted net income of $17.1 million for the fourth quarter, up 14% from the year-ago period. Sales grew 8.6% to $145.6 million, supported by 3.7% comps growth. For the full year, the retailer reported a 28.2% increase in net income to $43.2 million. Sales rose 11.4% to $470.9 million for the year on the strength of a 6.3% increase in same-store sales.
• Nash Finch's net income fell 13.8% to $11.2 million in the fourth quarter, due in part to the inclusion of an extra week in the same quarter from the year before. Total sales fell 9% to $920 million, and comps were down 6%. For the 52-week year, Nash Finch reported earnings of $14.9 million, as compared to $35.1 million in the prior, 53-week year. Sales dropped 2.5% to $3.9 billion. Same-store sales fell 7% for the year.
• West Marine Inc. widened its net loss to $3.4 million in the fourth quarter from $1.6 million in the year-ago period. Sales declined 6% to $124.9 million, due in part to a 3.3% dip in same-store sales. For the year, West Marine recorded a 27.1% increase in net income to $25.5 million. Sales grew 3.2% to $660.9 million on a comps gain of 0.3%.


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Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. --Norman Vincent Peale
The bears continue to battle this market but they have one big problem: Too many individual stocks are very strong. Even with the market sputtering, a steady supply of stocks hit new highs every day. There seems to be a supply of names like Netflix (NFLX), LinkedIn (LNKD) and Google (GOOG) that are cruising along without a worry in the world.
The bears keep telling us about all the fundamental negatives, and even have weaker action in the indices to help them out, but this market won't crack. Yesterday, for example, the bears had a good opportunity to press, but after a steep selloff in the early going, the market bounced back nicely and was almost even by the close.
I often write that strong markets tend to be sticky to the upside, which is why I stress looking for a topping process rather than declaring a turning point. The bears cause themselves so much difficulty with this compulsion to anticipate the exact moment the market hits a high. You don't have to do that to make money. Let me repeat that because it is so important: You don't have to predict the exact moment the market hits a top to be a successful trader.
In fact, you will probably have greater success if you simply forget the market timing and stick with finding stocks that are acting strongly. So much energy is wasted trying to anticipate a top that it is very easy to lose sight of hundreds of stocks hitting new highs.
You can construct all sorts of great arguments why the market can't continue trending higher. You might even be invited to appear on TV to share your great wisdom if you are sensationalistic enough. Unfortunately, it isn't making anyone any money!
The way you make money is to trade good stocks and catch momentum while it is there. When we stop finding good stocks to buy and trade, then we can turn bearish. You don't need to worry about European bailouts, the PE of the S&P 500 or spreads on Treasury bonds. Those things will be used as justification for a market move at some point, but they are irrelevant now.
I don't want to make it sound like it's easy to load up and stay long, but it certainly is helpful if you don't keep fighting the trend. Quite a bit of churning is going on and I'm hearing complaints from traders who haven't made much progress lately, but they are doing better than those with a bearish bias. It is tough going and we have to keep grinding it out. The key is to respect the price action and not fight it until it shifts.
We have another flat open setting up and it will be interesting to see if Apple (AAPL), LNKD and GOOG can keep pushing. Watch that list of new highs and if it starts to fall, that is a good indication conditions are shifting.


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MC222 You are in fantastic shape jb. IMHO you are doing too many exercises (but you can tell me to shut up as you look good off it). Lessen the exercises (one for each bodypart only) and make it harder. Also, some hard cardio work is needed - present research suggests that we should train shorter but harder as we get older, so long as you have no congenital health problems. But like I said, whatever you're doing is working. I am just trying to save unneccessary workout time.
MC222 An interesting consideration was posed to me a while ago - are you in this good shape because of the routine or despite the routine. Meaning that maybe we need to look at exercise like a pill - you take just enough to do the job then stop
cLaTTeReD my money would be on low test for sure run a bit of test and see what the difference is like
TaiChiChuan Looking good JOHNNYBRECKS! Hey, what Oaken said about TRT is dead on. I'm 56 yr. old and started TRT last year in December. I receive a 200mg/ml shot every two weeks. When I exercise, I feel "the pump" in my muscles and the tightness feels great. My muscles feel hard as rocks! NO BS! What are you doing for your legs and midsection???


text: Should we trade Granger and switch PG to Small Forward? At this point, I think Danny deserves to win now and let's face it, we aren't there yet. I don't see us contending this year with or without Granger because the league around us got better over the off-season. I'm by no means saying we should tank this early in the season, by the way. I just think we should adjust the team by trading Granger for a talented PF (Paul Millsap or Al Jefferson for Granger would be nice) and finally getting Paul George to his natural position.


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Topic: Cancer screening
Hi everyone,
I have read some about cancer screening...... I know that there is no real "test" that we can take to see if we have CC or most other cancers for that fact, but I was just wondering what your thoughts were. There is a local cancer center which "screens" for cancer, but I don't really know what that consists of. I know that most of the consensus says that CC isn't hereditary, but I don't know!!!!!!!!!!!


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Topic: New Diagnosis
Hi my name is Susan, my husband (Le, 41 yrs old) was diagnosed with stage IV intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in January 2013. I've read how rare this cancer is and how horrible the prognosis is for those that are not candidates for surgery. I am still grappling with the reality of my husband's diagnosis. We have two beautiful daughters (13 &9) and we are doing what we can to extend the time he has with us. We are very glad to find a community that can help us kick CC's butt!!
A brief timeline of events:
Jan 2: Went to primary care doctor because of severe itching
Jan 10: Became jaundiced dr ordered labs, ultrasound, & CT scan. Bilirubin was at 18
Jan 16: We were told it was cc but still needed a biopsy to confirm and ERCP to place stent to relieve symptoms
Jan 21: Went in for outpatient ERCP for stent placement to relieve symptoms of the blocked duct - Procedure failed and was hospitalized for a week due to severe pancreatitis
Jan 24: Had biliary drain place due to the failed stent placement and a biopsy was done to confirm cc - I wish I had known that performing the biopsy would exclude Le from a liver transplant. I hated that one treatment option was crossed out and I couldn't do anything about it. Bilirubin levels at 22.4
Jan 25-Mar 1: Discussed options with primary care doctor and she said that we really don't have any oncologist specializing in cc referred us to MD Anderson. Insurance didn't think we needed to be at MDA so they didn't approve enough coverage for MDA to accept my husbands case. So we had to find an oncologist in town to agree and call insurance to advocate on my husbands behalf. After our oncologist spoke with our insurance company, they amended the coverage and MDA accepted my husbands case in days.
Mar 21: We met Dr. Thomas Aloia for an initial consult. He said that he's 70% confident that Le is a surgical candidate. CT scans didn't show any metastasis and labs are stable. CA 19-9 and CEA markers are normal.
Apr 2: Day of surgery. After 3 hours Dr. Aloia aborted the surgery because he found that the cancer had metastasized to the peritoneum. He did remove the gall bladder to prevent possible spread of cancer due to proximity it to the bile duct. Biopsy on lymph nodes were all positive for cancer. Hospitalized for a week for recovery.
Apr 8: Met with Dr. Javle to discuss our options. He prescribed gemzar/cisplatin to be administered by oncologist in our hometown. We will be back to restage in July and discuss targeted therapy. Dr. Javle said prognosis is 6 month without chemo, one year with chemo. It felt like a ton of bricks just came crashing down when he shared the typical prognosis for stage IV cc.
Le started chemo May 1st. He had his fourth round this past Thurs. For the most part, chemo fatigue and the body aches are the symptoms he's experiencing. It seems that Le has more problems with the biliary drain then anything else (excluding the actual cancer). He's has had the drain replaced 4 times since January. He still has constant pain at that site, which he controls with tramadol and he takes oxycodone for the breakthrough pain.
Le's bilirubin is down to 1.3 which is phenomenal compared to were it was at back in January. But his CA 19-9 and CEA was negative and is still negative. Our oncologist said he really can't tell if the chemo is working because Le has no tumor markers even though the cancer has already metastasized. Has anyone else heard of such a thing? We will be back at MDA in July to restage to see if chemo worked for Le and also discuss targeted therapy. Only the primary tumor in the bile duct shows up on images, so I don't really know how doctors will be able to track the progress of treatment and such.


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The 2013 NBA Draft featured plenty of reported trades in the first round, not to mention reports of a blockbuster between the Nets and Boston Celtics that will see Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce head to Brooklyn.
76ers deal for Noel, send Holiday to the Pelicans: New Orleans ended Kentucky center Nerlens Noel draft night slide with the No. 6 pick, but then dealt him to the 76ers for All-Star guard Jrue Holiday. Philadelphia also acquired a 2014 first-round pick, while sending out a second-round pick (No. 42 overall, Baylor guard Pierre Jackson) in this year's draft.
Wolves sending Burke to Jazz for two first-rounders: After selecting Michigan guard Trey Burke with the No. 9 pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves made a deal to send Burke to Utah for the No. 14 and No. 21 picks in the draft. UCLA guard Shabazz Muhammad was selected with the No. 14 pick and Louisville center Gorgui Dieng was selected with the No. 21 pick.
MORE: Draft coverage from SN | Nets, Celtics agree to blockbuster | Bennett pick a shocker
Celtics move up to 13 for Olynyk: The Mavericks, who had been looking to move out of the No. 13 pick, seemingly all week, found a deal with the Boston Celtics, who selected Gonzaga big man Kelly Olynyk. In exchange, the Celtics traded the No. 16 pick (which would be on the move again) and two future second-rounders.
Mavs keep dealing, this time with Hawks: Dallas made another deal, moving from the No. 16 pick down to the No. 18 pick in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Dallas also dealt guard Jared Cunningham to Atlanta and acquired the No. 44 pick (Bucknell center Mike Muscala) in the trade. With the No. 16 pick, Brazilian center Lucas Nogueria was selected and with the No. 18 pick, Miami point guard Shane Larkin was chosen.
Warriors get into first round in deal with Timberwolves: Golden State, who didn't have a pick in the draft, were able to get into the first round in a deal with the Timberwolves for the No. 26, according to ESPN.com. Golden State gave up cash and a future second-rounder, according to ESPN.com. The Warriors also acquired guard Malcolm Lee in the deal (he was later moved to Phoenix). Golden State then dealt the No. 26 pick in a deal with Oklahoma City.
Thunder move up in the back of the first round: Golden State wasn't done dealing (and would even make another deal in the first round with Phoenix), sending the No. 26 pick to Oklahoma City for the No. 29 pick and cash. Colorado forward Andre Roberson was selected with the No. 26 pick.
Denver deals first-round pick: The Nuggets moved the No. 27 to the Utah Jazz. French center Rudy Gobert was the selection with the pick. Utah will send the No. 46 pick (Virginia Tech guard Erick Green) and cash to Denver in the deal.
Warriors make their third deal of the first round: Golden State moved back one spot in a deal with the Phoenix Suns, swapping the recent acquired Lee and the No. 29 pick for the No. 30 pick. Kentucky guard Archie Goodwin was chosen with the No. 29 pick. Serbian guard Nemanja Nedovic was selected with the No. 30 pick.
Grizzlies, Nuggets to swap bigs: Memphis will trade power forward Darrell Arthur and the No. 55 pick (French forward Joffrey Lauvergne) to Denver for center Kosta Koufos, according to ESPN.com.


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Pena's two homers not enough against Yanks
Reds come up just short as Leake allows four runs over seven innings
NEW YORK -- The Reds seemed to spend the week prior to the All-Star break weaving some stunning comebacks and never feeling out of a game when trailing.
On Friday night, as they returned to action vs. the Yankees, the series opener was never far from their grasp. But save for Brayan Pena, the big hits and sustained rallies remained on hiatus. Pena hit two homers, but the Reds were 4-3 losers to New York.
"You have to give them a lot of credit. They scored some runs and then their bullpen did the rest," Pena said. "For us, it was one of those games where we were grinding a little bit, first game back from the All-Star [break]. We were trying to get back on track."
Cincinnati, which won eight of 11 heading into the break, played catchup from the beginning but stayed in the game because of Pena.
Facing Yankees starter David Phelps to lead off the third inning, he hit the first pitch for a no-doubt homer to right field. It was Pena's first home run since May 4, after a stretch of 136 at-bats.
Leading off again in the seventh against Phelps, Pena lofted a 2-2 pitch for what looked like a lazy fly ball to right field. The ball kept carrying and cleared the wall to give Pena the first two-homer game of his career.
"It's something that's not going to happen that often. Hopefully, it does," said Pena, who has five homers for the season and has often been filling in for Joey Votto at first base.
The only other run on the Reds' ledger came in the fourth inning, when Zack Cozart hit a leadoff single and scored from third base as Devin Mesoraco reached on a Derek Jeter fielding error at shortstop. Phelps pitched into the seventh inning and struck out seven, including five on called third strikes.
Reds starter Mike Leake gave up four earned runs and eight hits over seven innings with two walks and five strikeouts. After he had won three straight starts, he's won just one of his last four.
"He wasn't as sharp as he's been, but he competed well and gave us a chance," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We just caught a guy who was a little bit better today."
The Yankees' first two runs came after the leadoff hitter reached and scored on two-out hits. Leake's first batter of the night, Brett Gardner, was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Brian McCann. In the third inning on the heels of Pena's first homer, Jeter hit a leadoff single and came home on a Carlos Beltran single to center field.
"[They] were kind of the ones that [frustrated me]," Leake said of the two-out runs. "It was bad pitches, the pitch selection was probably bad for those guys I was facing."
Those runs may have been irritating, but in the fifth inning of a 2-2 game, Leake finally gave up a hit that really stung. Following a Jeter single, Jacoby Ellsbury crushed a 1-1 Leake cutter to right field for a two-run homer.
"It was a cutter that backed up," Leake said. "It was still a decent location. He was able to drop his hands and hurt me."
After Pena made it a one-run game in the seventh, Phelps gave up a single to the next batter, Chris Heisey. With one out, the Yankees turned to All-Star setup man Dellin Betances, who worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings, which included closing down the seventh with a 99-mph fastball that struck out Cozart. David Robertson closed it out in the ninth as the two relievers combined to retire eight of the last nine batters.
The game was costly as the Brewers won and extended their lead on the Reds back to 2 1/2 games in the National League Central.
"You have to shake it off and be ready for tomorrow," Pena said. "It's an early game. There is no time to feel sorry for ourselves."
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Jet-Set Zebra Duffle
No longer available
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- Hardware has a silver and nickel finish.
- Monogramming is available for an additional $7.00.
- Click here to Preview Font Colors.
- Dimensions + Care
- Overall: 20.5" wide x 8" deep x 13" high
- Interior Pocket: 10" wide x 7" high
- Exterior Pocket: 18.5" wide x 8" high
- Storage: 1.2 cubic feet
- Wipe with a soft, damp cloth.
- Shipping Info
This item will arrive in 3-5 business days. Please proceed to the Payment & Review page of Checkout for a precise delivery estimate.


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If you cannot find your ideal vehicle in our current pre-owned inventory, check out our handy CarFinder tool. After specifying a search period (1 to 8 weeks) and providing vehicle details, we'll begin the search process for you and send you a notification when a matching vehicle arrives in our inventory.
Remember to browse the used vehicle specials for up-to-date promotions. If we do not currently stock your ideal vehicle, simply complete the CarFinder form or Call 1(888)774-4919


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Sidney, Neb. – Cabela's Inc. said Thursday that its net income rose 28% in the third quarter, in line with expectations, as the outdoor sporting goods retailer's smaller store format outperformed its larger, standard format.
"The highlight of the quarter was the excellent performance of our new next-generation stores, which bodes well for our future," said Tommy Millner, Cabela's CEO. "The eight next-generation stores open for the full quarter outperformed our existing legacy store base in sales and profit per square foot by a wide margin. Additionally, same store sales from our next-generation stores exceeded the performance of our existing stores by several hundred basis points."
For the three months ended Sept. 29, the company earned $42.8 million, compared with $33.3 million in the year-ago period.
Total revenue rose 9% to $741.17 million, below expectations, amid weaker demand for clothing and footwear. Same-store sales rose 3.9%.
Cabela's said that it plans to accelerate expansion of its smaller format, as a result of the strong performance of its new stores. It also noted that all new locations going forward will follow the smaller, "next generation" format. The chain now expects to open eight of the smaller stores in 2014.
The new format ranges from about 80,000 sq. ft. to 125,000 sq. ft., compared with the chain's standard 250,000 sq. ft. model.


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Reds not too concerned with Chapman's hamstring
NEW YORK -- The right hamstring of Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was clearly bothering him at the All-Star Game on Tuesday. However, it was not enough of an issue that the club was re-thinking the left-hander's availability vs. the Yankees as the second half began.
Chapman, who originally hurt his hamstring on July 6, pulled up limping while covering first base on a Kyle Seager ground ball in the eighth inning of the National League's 5-3 loss to the American League.
"It doesn't seem he has a great deal of concern about his ability to pitch and compete and do the things he needs to do on the mound," Reds manager Bryan Price said on Friday.
Of his final 16 batters before the break, Chapman struck out 13 with only one ball being put into play. Of course, Chapman can avoid running if he strikes everyone out, but that's too tall of an order. Price expects him to be able to field his position.
"I think whenever you strain a hamstring, until it's 100 percent completely gone, I think there's an awareness there," Price said. "He's obviously pitched with it a few times. I'm not concerned about it. Right now, it doesn't seem like a huge concern, but I would hate for it to get exacerbated."
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Revlon ColorStay Eye Liner
Revlon ColorStay Eye Liner Reviews
Great Liner Which Doesn't Budge!Revlon's Colorstay Eyeliner Pencil was one I tried when I experimented with a slew of eyeliners--with excellent results. The intense color lasts up to sixteen or more hours. The creamy formula glides on easily, even for those who are "all thumbs." I love the fact that it is waterproof and stays put forever. The self-sharpener guarantees a precise point every time. — 4 years, 4 months agoGigiSD | 1102 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 1 people said helpful
EyelinerI really like this eyeliner. It glides on smooth, and has excellent staying power. The color is rich and deep, and really makes my eyes pop. I love that it is non-irritating, even for my sensitive eyes. This is a good eyeliner and affordable for such high quality. A Great buy! — 4 years, 4 months agoLittleBunny | 545 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 7 of 7 people said helpful
Smooth & CheapGoes on a little light. Stays on really well with oily skin. Wonderful color selection and great price. Application is very smooth on the eye. — 4 years, 4 months agomissheatherette | 438 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 3 of 3 people said helpful
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My Reasons for Reporting This


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UNNECESSARY maintenance calls cost Dudley Council more than £110,000 last year.
Council bosses have urged council house tenants to hit the nail on the head after it was calculated that during 2013, more than 8,000 repairs requests were lost due to customers not being present to let staff in, or because the visits were not required.
The money spent on staff time and fuel to get to those calls could have been used to replace approximately 30 kitchens or bathrooms or install more than 350 double-glazed windows according to Councillor Steve Waltho, cabinet member for housing.
He said: "The vast majority of our tenants use the repairs and maintenance service responsibly, for which I'm grateful, but a small number of residents are losing us a lot of money. £110,000 is a shocking amount which could be better spent.
"Please consider whether you really need us to conduct a repair, and if you do, please don't forget the appointment. Tenants can contact our Repairs Management Centre at any time to re-arrange an appointment if it's no longer convenient."
Council house tenants can request repairs or maintenance work 24-hours a day, seven days a week by visiting www.dudley.gov.uk/housing or calling 0300 555 8283