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A FILM-MAKER has witnessed more than 25,500 hits on a social media channel after producing a short video of Barry Island Pleasure Park.
The film-maker, who has made the film under the banner of Crazy High, began making 'Barry Island Pleasure Park 2014 - No longer occurring' last month – gathering footage over two days and shared via YouTube.
The 36-year-old, whose family came from the town, said he had wanted to record the log flume before it was taken down and gone forever and had used a remote control quadcopter with a HD camera on board.
He said: "I'd have loved it if many more of the old rides were still standing such as the dodgems, pirate ship, Enterprise, but I understand now it's a travelling fairground that comes and provides the rides in the summer. It's quite heartbreaking to see the state of the log flume now after it has been the featured ride there for many years. I seem to be one of few people who can remember the old fun house and its massive clown face on the front of the building with a swinging arm of sorts. I'm not old enough to remember the scenic railway though.
"I have an uncle who is still a resident on the island so I have very fond memories of the place."
The film-maker, who did not want to be named, continued: "There were no real problems with the filming other than a little wind and trying to maintain eye contact with the quad at all times. I get a little close to an overgrown tree on the top of the log flume. That got my heart beating, but it is all down to experience and knowing your own abilities. We're actually very safe and sensible with the quadcopters especially when it comes to making judgements about the weather or flying over water or where the craft might distract people too much.
"I was shocked that in just four days we've hit 25,000 views on YouTube. Had I known it would receive such attention then I'd have spent more time ironing out a few wrinkles on the footage and possibly re-shot a couple of things on a windless day.
"I'm happy with it though. I don't like the sadness the video brings. It would have been much better to have been able to produce something like this with the park in its prime and with Butlins camp in the background, but it is what it is."
Travelling showman Vernon Studt opens up on the fairground site, with a selection of rides and attractions, during the holiday season each year.
l To view the film, visit YouTube and search Barry Island Pleasure Park 2014 - No longer occurring.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Your password reset has been submitted to the address provided.
Design plus words, letters, and/or numbers
Entertainment, namely, a continuing comedy show broadcast over television, satellite, audio, and video media
Business in Houston, TX


text: Simple steps of how to sync Outlook with Google apps, as we mentioned the free version for 7 days with the full functionality is set available for download. Besides, the full version is available with the minimal price of $99.00 only. To start ... file. Install the software and proceeds to the Google apps account registration steps. Followed by the next .... Free download of Sync Outlook with Google Apps 3.0


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Unprofitable Servant wrote:In all due respect, if you can't see that then you are being blinded by your prejudice against republicans.
If you choose not to read an article critically for both what it says and what it conveniently skips over then perhaps you should consider the beam in your own eye.
Partiality is sin. Those that wish to apply the same standards of accountability to all are not the ones commiting it.
Unprofitable Servant wrote:Maybe we are reading two different stories. The article DOES NOT say that it was the the republicans who held up the truth until Nov. 6th. It says Cantor called Mueller and the game was up, BUT the truth was held up until after the election. That was obviously the administration that chose to do that.
It takes the complicity of EVERYBODY who is in the know to maintain a conspiracy of silence.
The Republican leadership KNEW from late October to November 6th but maintained a public silence and did not inform the President directly despite the threat to national security.
5. Why did the Republican leadership in the House also sit on this information from late October until after Nov 6th? Should they not have informed POTUS immediately if the security breach was so grave?


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Gracieuse Jean, and her daughter Daphene Aristène sit in the doorway of their shelter. Daphene Aristène, 6 months, was born in Santo, on the outskirts of Port-Au-Prince during the earthquake on January 12th. .Her mother, Gracieuse Jean, went into labor at 4 PM on the 12th. She ran outside when her house started shaking and while her house collapsed completely, she gave birth to Aristène at 6 PM in the street. Gracieuse also has two boys, aged 4 and 5. Her husband has been out of work since the earthquake. The whole family has been staying in a shelter made from tarps since the earthquake. Daphene Aristène's nickname is "Goudou Goudou" which is a Haitian Creole slang term for earthquake.
- Copyright
- 2010
- Image Size
- 2912x4368 / 1.1MB
- Contained in galleries


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Probing the Secrets of the Antikythera Mechanism
Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Noven, May 11, 2012.


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A terrific Florida sleeper athlete to keep an eye on as signing day draws closer is Orlando Olympia standout Chris Johnson.
Johnson (6-0, 175, 4.4) was injured in a preseason game and missed all but the last three games of his senior season. That's helped contribute to a low profile for him, but his coach says things are starting to get interesting.
"He's got a visit set up with East Carolina this weekend," Olympia coach Mike Cullison said. "He'll be taking the SAT again the following weekend, and after that he'll be at UConn (1/30).
Article Continues Below
"South Florida is coming back strong on him after his last test score. We all feel like he's going to qualify late – he's really close – and wind up making somebody a nice late addition. And if something happens unexpected and he doesn't make it, we've had all kinds of I-AA programs that say they'll take him."
Is there a leader?
"I don't think there's a clear-cut favorite right now, but he wants a chance to play running back," Cullison said. "A lot of schools have mentioned playing wide receiver or DB, but he wants a chance to play running back. East Carolina says they'll give him that opportunity, so they may have a good shot. We'll have to see after his visits."
Cullison said Johnson came back strong after his injury to rush for "seven or eight" touchdowns in the final three games.
"He's 100 percent now and working out hard in the weight room," he said. "He's just a tremendous athlete. He's a 10.6 guy in the 100 – electronically timed – and he's strong. He benches 315 and power cleans 265."
As a junior, Johnson rushed for 1,009 yards on only 168 carries and scored 12 touchdowns. He also caught 15 passes for 168 yards.


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County Clerk
Brett Radi, County Clerk
|20 Grove Street, P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876
|5-year Term; Expires 12/31/17
Duties: Records land records and related legal documents that deal with land situated in Somerset County. Administers oath to notaries public, takes and processes passport applications, records trade/business name certificates, files military discharges, issues honorable discharge identification card to veterans, issues veterans' peddlers licenses and files sub-division maps. Receives petitions and designs sample ballots, machine ballots and vote-by-mail ballots for elections. Issues vote-by-mail ballots, tabulates election returns and issues certificates of election.
Biography: Married, wife Kimberly, two children. Resident of Somerville, lifelong Somerset County resident.
Education: Rutgers University, Master's Degree, Public Administration; Albright College, Bachelor's Degree, Political Science; N.J. Certified Public Manager; N.J. Registered Municipal Clerk (formerly).
Government Experience: County Clerk, Somerset County, 2003-present; Deputy County Clerk, Somerset County, August 1993-December 31, 2002; Hillsborough Township Municipal Clerk 1988-1991; Hillsborough Township Administrator 1992-August 1993.
Public Service: Hillsborough Township Committee, 1995-1998; Mayor 1997-1998; Deputy Mayor 1996; Police Commissioner, 1995; Hillsborough Township Planning Board, 1997- 1998; Hillsborough Township Youth Services Commission Liaison, 1995-1998; Hillsborough Township Cultural and Arts Commission Liaison, 1997-1998; Somerset County Improvement Authority, Member; Hillsborough Township Postal Advisory Council, Former Member; Hillsborough Township Project Graduation Committee, Former Member; New Jersey Association of Counties, Board of Directors, Former Member; Municipal Clerk's Association of Somerset County, Member; Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey, Member; Republican County Committee District 23 Hillsborough, Former Member; Somerset County Young Republican Organization, Former Member; Somerset County Federation of Republican Women, Associate Member.


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EUR/USD (a 4-hour chart)
The pair EUR/USD remains under pressure due to the increasing geopolitical risks, as well as the United States's positive macroeconomic statistics. The Ukraine's political crisis only reinforces the conflict escalation with the Russia, which leads to exit risky assets from investors.
In the lights of this we see the euro/dollar "bears"' activity. The market participants are pleased with the U.S. retail sales positive report. The rate rose up to the level of 1.1% in March, which indicates a good enough American consumers' confidence. The release for February was improved, which signals about more optimistic U.S. GDP report, than it was previously expected.
The "bulls" and the "bears" for the pair GBP/USD failed to reveal the winner. Geopolitical instability has had little effect on the British Pound, and even the positive statistics from the United States to retailers in March failed to reassure the "bears" for a large number of short positions opening. At this moment the quotation mark fell down to 1.6695, then the "bulls" were able to take revenge.
Correction on the world's leading stock markets, coupled with a good report on retail sales in the United States, helped the "bulls" to regain some lost ground in the pair USD/JPY. In addition, the current levels are attractive for long-term buying from the investors, who expect the Japanese yen further weakening in 2014.


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Last week I introduced a new series I will be doing regarding the impact of organizational First Year Player Drafts. This is the second in the series.
Organizations spend boatloads of money on the signing bonuses provided their top draft picks. The list below includes the first round selections of the Cubs, Marlins, Red Sox and Giants from 2006-2010. In 2007 MLB introduced a slotting system. They "suggested" a bonus price for the player at that particular "slot" or round of the draft. Some teams followed the suggestions. Many did not, as you can tell from the last figure listed in parentheses. That is the suggested slot figure for that round.
2006 - #13 Tyler Colvin, OF $1,475,000
2007 - #3 Josh Vitters, 3B $3,200,000 ($2,700,000)
2008 - #19 Andrew Cashner, RHP $1,540,000 ($1,540,000)
2009 - #31 Brett Jackson, OF $972,000 ($972,000)
2010 - #16 Hayden Simpson, RHP $1,060,000 ($1,512,000)
2011 - #9 Javier Baez, 3B/SS $2,625,000 ($1,962,000)
2006 - #19 Brett Sinkbeil, RHP $1,525,000
2007 - #12 Matt Dominguez, 3B $1,800,000 ($1,620,000)
2008 - #6 Kyle Skipworth, C $2,300,000 ($2,600,000)
2009 - #18 Chad James, LHP $1,700,000 ($1,422,000)
2011 - #14 Jose Fernandez, RHP $2,000,000 ($1,602,000)
2006 - #27 Jason Place, OF $1,300,000
2008 - #30 Casey Kelly, RHP/SS $3,000,000 ($1,200,000)
2010 - #20 Kolbrin Vitek, 2B/OF $1,359,000 ($1,359,000)
2011 - #19 Matt Barnes, RHP $1,500,000 ($1, 386,000)
2011 - #26 Blake Swihart, C $2,500,000 ($1,197,000)
*(Supplemental pick-included because of his bonus vs. slot)
2006 - #10 Tim Lincecum, RHP $2,025,000
2007 - #10 Madison Bumgarner, RHP $2,000,000 ($1,800,000)
2008 - #5 Buster Posey, C $6,200,000 ($2,800,000)*
2009 - #6 Zack Wheeler, RHP $3,300,000 ($2,340,000)
2010 - #24 Gary Brown, OF $1,400,000 ($1,242,000)
2011 - #29 Joe Panik, 2B $1,116,000 ($1,116,000)
*Similar catcher over payment as Matt Wieters of the Orioles who set the bar at $6M in 2007.
We already know the ramifications of the early drafts listed. Of course it is too early to say the most recent draft picks have already succeeded or failed. But one thing is clear. Player selection is not an exact science. Scouting is not an exact science.
Here is what we don't know. Should a specific team take a specific player if the player is sitting there to be drafted? For example, should a team have taken Tim Lincecum before San Francisco in 2006? Debates are common in draft rooms. Scouts press for their top picks. Other scouts press for theirs. Ultimately, the general manager may have to make the decision. In the case of Lincecum, debates raged about his unorthodox pitching mechanics. He was an "injury waiting to happen" according to many, many scouts. Well, here we are in 2012 and Lincecum has become one of the top pitchers in baseball. But is his arm healthy now? His side? Only Tim Lincecum knows. But the Giants have sure gotten their $2.025M from him, haven't they? You think more so than the Orioles got from Bill Rowell at No. 9 for $2.1M? Yikes!
Beyond the money spent on the draft bonus, think of the countless dollars spent on travel, research and salaries that comprise the scouting of undrafted free agent players. Can a team afford to make a mistake? It comes down to the price of doing business. Sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong. Barring injury, it is my feeling you better be right about a first-round player. Many scouting directors have lost their jobs because of bad drafts. Many.
The scout has to know everything about the potential selection well in advance of the draft. Everything. No hidden questions that can't be answered when asked by the front office brass. That scout (and the assigned cross-checker who also reviews potential top selections) must know the prospect inside and out before draft day. And yes, that includes what the prospect eats for breakfast.
Here are this week's teams to review:
Like the Padres from last week's article, anything that happened in the organization prior to this year doesn't count. But Jim Hendry and his staff made some good choices. Too bad the drafted players have not gotten a chance to play on the big stage or have been traded out of the organization.
Tyler Colvin has found a home in Colorado. The team likes him as a fourth outfielder and he's getting playing time. He has some pop in his bat and he plays outfield very well. He's good in that role and he should prosper, once and for all.
This was to be the year Josh Vitters assumed the role at third base following the free-agent departure of Aramis Ramirez. At least that was the plan. Then the new group came in and picked up Ian Stewart. Vitters is back in the minor leagues. He, like Colvin, can hit. Vitters is versatile enough to play both corners in the infield and both corners in the outfield. He's a good guy to have around. I wish the Cubs would trade him so he could play. Currently, he is playing third base for the Iowa Cubs at Triple-A and hitting .255 with no homers. I like him more than those numbers indicate. I'd like him more if he played in Cleveland. Right now.
Andrew Cashner was dispatched to the Padres, where he is now a member of their bullpen staff. He was moved to the Padres along with outfielder Kyung Min-Ya for pitcher Zach Yates and top prospect first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Cashner has a power arm with a 100 mph fastball. He really has a limited repertoire and that's why he's best suited for bullpen use. Once he learns to command his fastball, he can be considered for a role as a closer. When he cranks the heater up over 100 mph it straightens out on him, which is a problem, but he was a solid draft choice. He has a history of shoulder problems. For me, that's a very, very dark red flag. But, they could use him in Chicago. Now. If Rizzo is a bust, the trade will have been a huge sacrifice of a power arm that is now out of the organization.
Brett Jackson is still another Cub that must wait his turn until the contract of Alfonso Soriano runs its course. Marlon Byrd, another impediment to Jackson is now gone, having been traded to Boston. Jackson can play all three outfield positions well. He can hit for power and he can run. I like everything about his game. As of this writing, Jackson is scuffling at Triple-A Iowa, hitting only .239 with two home runs. It is time to give him a chance on the biggest stage. There is no way he's still in the minor leagues next season. No way.
In fact, with Byrd gone, this would be a nice time to recall Jackson and give him a chance to play on a team that likely isn't going anywhere soon.
Hayden Simpson is in High-A learning how to pitch. He has good potential as a starter, but he's pretty raw. He's only 170 pounds and the heat may take a toll on his body. We have to wait and see what happens this season.
Javier Baez is said to have had the best bat speed in last year's draft. Baez is seen as versatile enough to play anywhere on the field, including at catcher. Chances are, if Vitters succeeds at third with Starlin Castro at short, Baez may be moved to second base or the outfield. Those are positions in the organization needing bigger bats. Baez is seen as an impact type hitter with outstanding power to go with the fast hands and quick bat. Baez is a player to target long term as he has all the tools to succeed. He could be a very good fantasy player in a couple years.
Brett Sinkbeil was a "can't miss" prospect that did. I remember going to see him pitch in Jacksonville or somewhere similar when I covered the Marlins' minor league teams. He had all the stuff in the world. When he didn't make it with Florida he went to Pittsburgh. He isn't pitching this year. Or last year, for that matter. He isn't pitching anywhere. Oh well, what's $1.5M among friends?
Why have the Florida (now Miami) Marlins tried so hard to make Matt Dominguez their third baseman? Well, they have $1.8M and a first-round draft pick invested in him. The problem? He can't hit major league pitching. He's a good defender at third base, but every time he gets a chance to show that he can hit, he ends up screaming, "I'm a 4-A Player." Dominguez is now repeating Triple-A. he has a career minor league average of .255. He has hit 61 homers in 2,021 plate appearances and a .244 batting average playing for the big league club in only 48 total plate appearances. Because of the money, we have not seen the end of Dominguez as a major league player. No way. So far this season he is hitting .241 with three homers at Triple-A. But with Hanley Ramirez playing third base, where does Dominguez play? It's a problem. An expensive one, at that.
Kyle Skipworth. Oh my, stop me if you've heard this before. Skipworth isn't living up to expectations as a former No. 1 draft choice. Especially one that cost a tidy $2.3M. Skipworth is back in Double-A this year and there is plenty of time left for him to blossom as he's only 22 years old. I've seen Skipworth in the Arizona Fall League. He played well, but his plate discipline and refinement at the plate were lacking. He still has a chance, but J.T. Realmuto has passed him at catcher in the Marlins' system.
Chad James is a highly regard left-handed starter. He has completed two seasons in the Marlins' minor league system, having pitched for Greensboro in A ball and Jupiter in Double-A. He has returned to Jupiter this season after compiling a 5-15 record last season in 27 starts. His ERA was a very respectable 3.80. James walked an average of 3.1 BB/9IP, while striking out 7.5 K/9IP. He had a WHIP of 1.50 and was very hittable, giving up 173 hits in 149.1 innings. He may be better than his statistics to date, but the jury is still out.
Christian Yelich is now the top prospect in the Marlins' organization. He's a 20-year-old outfielder from California with a huge upside as a five-tool prospect. To this point in his minor league career, Yelich has a .325 career batting average with 17 homers and 34 stolen bases in 603 plate appearances. He has really played only one full season; 2011 at Low-A Greensboro where he hit .312/15/77 with 32 stolen bases. He has the potential to hit for power and a high batting average as a left-handed corner (probably left field) outfielder. He has to show he can repeat his outstanding season, but he has a tremendous future as a solid Marlins draft pick. He is a guy to target in long-term keeper leagues.
Right-hander Jose Fernandez from Tampa is another top pick. It is too soon to know if the Marlins have gotten this right. He spent his rookie season making one start in the Gulf Coast league and then he went to the short-season Jamestown team in the New York-Penn League. He threw only a total of four innings in his first professional season, giving up five hits, walking four and striking out seven. Fernandez fled Cuba in 2008 and he is just now becoming more accustomed to his new home. Tall and thin at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Fernandez is highly regarded by scouts. His jury is out as well.
Red Sox
Jason Place, an outfielder, last played for two minor league teams in 2011 at the age of 23. He hit .178 with two homers and nine RBI over 105 plate appearances. He has never played above Double-A. Place last played as a member of the Yankees' organization. Interestingly, he hit .292 in 132 plate appearances as an 18-year-old rookie for the Red Sox in 2006. That was the best he has done. For a bonus of $1.3MM, Place just has never seemed to find the groove in his short career.
Daniel Bard is now beginning to show himself as a value pick for Boston. Desperate for both starting and relief pitching, Bard has enough arm strength and repertoire to pitch in both situations. If need be, Bard could close games as well with a moving, high velocity fastball. When he was first signed, Bard was projected to go higher than his eventual 28th overall. Bad pre-draft vibes about his sign ability (or lack thereof) lowered his draft day position. The Red Sox got this right and at a good price of $1.55M.
The Red Sox paid Casey Kelly $1.8M over slot to sign him as a shortstop/pitcher. When I saw Kelly in the Arizona Fall League he had convinced the Red Sox to let him play shortstop during the fall season. When the Fall League ended, so did Kelly's shortstop career. He returned to pitching and was traded to San Diego as part of the Adrian Gonzalez deal. He is currently among the top Padres pitching prospects according to scouts and player evaluation specialists. I don't see why. Everything I have seen him throw has been rather straight. But that may just have happened during the countless games I've seen him pitch. I have no beef with his delivery, his arm action or even his command (which is improving.) I just haven't seen sharp secondary pitches that will carry him deep in games as a rotation starter. I do think he knows how to pitch and he keeps the ball down, but I can't get him above a middle of the rotation starter in my projections. I just think $3M in 2008 was a bit extreme, but it did help fetch AGon.
Reymond Fuentes was also sent to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez. So if you're playing at home, so far that's another $1.134M in first round money that Boston traded to San Diego for the outstanding first baseman. In all, Boston spent the following: Kelly ($3M,) Fuentes ($1.134M) and $325,000 from their 2007 aizrhth round, Anthony Rizzo signing. Total? The Red Sox spent $4.459M of draft bonus money on Adrian Gonzalez. Looking back, the Gonzalez trade can be treated as a cash transaction, as Kelly, Fuentes, nor Rizzo ever played for Boston. It remains possible Fuentes can become a solid major league player, but there are those in the scouting community with doubts. His best tool is his speed and he can steal bases. At the time of the trade, Fuentes had been a .270 hitter with at least 40 stolen bases in each of his primary minor league seasons. Other players like Blake Tekotte (CF) Rymer Liriano (RF) and Jaff Dacker (LF) have passed Fuentes on the Padres' organizational outfield depth chart.
Because he has not shown any power whatsoever in his brief professional career, Kolbrin Vitek may find it very difficult to advance to the major league level. Drafted as a high average hitter, Vitek responded in his first two full professional seasons with a .278 composite batting average. However, including the beginning of this season, he has hit just seven home runs in 794 plate appearances. That will make remaining at third base very difficult, and did I mention he had 28 errors at third last season and four already this year? The club has prized prospect Will Middlebrooks as a candidate for third base preparing to assume the role in Boston. The team has been tempted to play Vitek in the outfield, but he is back playing third base in his current Double-A Portland assignment. It is way too early to write Vitek off as a bust, but this season will be very crucial.
Anthony Ranaudo was a response to the Red Sox realizing the pitching depth was slipping away in the organization. After all, not every club goes $1.7M over slot to capture a pitcher in the supplemental round of a draft. Especially when they could have taken him with their regular pick at 20 when they grabbed Vitek. I wasn't in the room and I don't know what happened. I do know that Ranaudo is one heckuva pitcher and the Red Sox paid him handsomely. You know what that means, right? He'll be pitching in Boston or be traded for a great player or players. That money means playing time. Sooner than later. Ranaudo will be a "no-brainer."
He's a 6-foot-7, 231-pound 22-year-old righty from New Jersey. Last season he was 9-6 with a 3.97 ERA over two classifications, Greenville at Low-A and Salem at High-A. He gave up 80 hits in 81 innings pitched and struck out 67 while walking 30. He is best known for having the organization's best curveball. In addition, he throws a high velocity (mid-90's) fastball and a changeup that is a work in progress. While pitching for LSU he experienced elbow issues that caused his drop in draft status. Because he was seen as among the nation's top pitching prospect (if not the best) prior to the draft, even with the elbow concerns his price tag remained very, very high. Too high? Yes, I think so. Ranaudo is currently disabled with a groin pull he suffered in spring training. Regardless of his 2012 assignment, Ranaudo is a top Red Sox pitching prospect. Follow the money and you will follow Ranaudo to a major league career. Eventually.
Matt Barnes offers the Red Sox some hope in the much needed and much depleted organizational pitching depth. He was selected out of University of Connecticut where he set a school strikeout record. So, what the Red Sox have is a guy that can hopefully miss bats and register some velocity on the radar gun. He is known to throw 97-98 with command. Like all young power pitchers, Barnes will have to develop secondary pitches, work on consistently throwing strikes low in the zone and learning mound presence. For now, Barnes looks like a good, solid choice. His fastball could carry Barnes to a big, big career with impact. He is currently throwing his flames at Low-A Greenville, where he has started three times already and won twice. He has given up six hits in 16 innings pitched. Here's the exciting part - he has struck out 25 and walked only two. Matt Barnes is a pitcher to register in your fantasy brain as a keeper. Boston's pitching situation may dictate a fast track for him as well as the aforementioned Anthony Renaudo.
Blake Swihart may or may not remain as a catcher. He's an excellent hitter and he may be viewed as too valuable to remain behind the plate. Especially if Ryan Lavarnway progresses and becomes the full-time backstop in Boston. He is a good enough athlete and has experience playing both infield and both outfield corners. Swihart, only 20, is the type of versatile, multi-tooled player that may eventually be worth his signing bonus. Swihart, a switch-hitter can hit for average and for power. This is his first full season in professional baseball, and so far he is scuffling. He's hitting only .212 with nine strikeouts in 60 plate appearances. The Red Sox will be patient with him because of their investment. He has too many raw tools to rush him or to worry about slow starts. For now, he has to gain experience.
We all know the Cy Young award winning pitcher Tim Lincecum he became. Consider the risk the Giants took when drafting him 10th overall. He was seen as a guy with an unorthodox delivery and a severe injury risk. Why risk that kind of money? Well, he had a training regimen that he had developed with his dad and he wasn't going to change the way he pitched. One of the nicest guys I have met in the game, Lincecum is the type of person that sticks to his beliefs. The following players were drafted ahead of Lincecum: Luke Hochevar (Royals), Greg Reynolds (Rockies), Evan Longoria (Rays), Brad Lincoln (Pirates), Brandon Morrow (Mariners), Andrew Miller (Tigers), Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), Drew Stubbs (Reds) and Bill Rowell (Orioles). Is there now some wear and tear on the body and arm of Tim Lincecum? Maybe, but let us not forget who he has been, what he has done and what several other clubs that passed on him have missed. He made only 13 minor league starts before being called to the big club. That's more than unusual, but it worked. He likely has more good years ahead. If he stays healthy. But he was supposed to have broken down long before this. And he didn't. Great value.
Madison Bumgarner is one of the three aces on the Giants' pitching staff. Along with Lincecum and Matt Cain, the Giants have such a strong top of the rotation that for years they have counted on those pitchers to lead the club to the playoffs. The team added very little hitting to supplement their great pitching. They were successful with that formula. Bumgarner is now realizing his enormous potential as a left-handed starter with command and a vast pitch repertoire. When he arrived on the scene, Bumgarner was seen as having the best fastball in the organization. He has much more than that now. He's another great value for the Giants scouting department.
Buster Posey's horrible collision at home plate has changed his career and possibly the destiny of the entire Giants club for the near term. He will be playing more first base than originally planned for him and he will not block the plate on throws home. His club has decided that he will use a "swipe tag" and stay away from direct contact at the plate. He's an extremely solid hitter with a bat loud enough to play first base on occasion. As a catcher, his offense, like that of Joe Mauer, is a tremendous bonus. That is clearly where his value is the highest. nut he is far too valuable to risk another major injury. But let us not forget – the Giants paid that enormous signing bonus for a catcher.
Zack Wheeler is the price the Giants paid to obtain Carlos Beltran for their 2011 stretch run. If Beltran had led the Giants to the promiselLand it may have been a popular and positive deal. Instead, it turned a very high quality prospect pitcher into a deal for a late-season rental. A high cost, indeed, when Wheeler's $3.3M draft bonus and his ability to join an already formidable pitching staff are weighed. Now he is the prime prospect in the Mets' organization. And that includes position players as well. Wheeler has a top of the scouting charts fastball, an above average curve and an average changeup. He doesn't really have control or command issues. He is now in the process of refining his delivery, facing quality hitters and waiting for his call. That will probably come in 2013. Wheeler may become a good rotation starter.
Gary Brown is a center fielder with wheels. He can chase down flyballs and steal bases. But he has to improve his contact rate to be able to use his speed. When I saw him in the Arizona Fall League his swing and batting stance were totally out of whack. He couldn't hit anything on the outside corner. He is seen as the Giants' top prospect. It has been reported the Mets wanted Brown instead of Wheeler in their trade for Beltran. The Giants refused. I wouldn't have. While I think speed and defense are important, I don't see Brown's ability to get on base with any frequency at this stage of his development. I wish him well.
Joe Panik is the type of player, like Brown, that I believe would have been available in a lower round. They may have had a different name, but their skill sets would have been available. Panik can play both second base and shortstop. He's a good hands infielder with a nice, short stroke at the plate. He'll be able to put the bat on the ball and make consistent contact. Similar to my feeling about Gary Brown, I don't think Panik has any one particular tool that makes him stand out as a "can't miss, must have" player. He was blessed with a really neat name. The only thing better would have been something like Joe Cool or Joe Sixpack.
*When I saw Kyle Kendrick pitch for the Phillies it looked like he was throwing batting practice. It was scary.
*Justin Upton can get in a hot streak with one at-bat. It will last a week and then...adios. I've seen that year in and year out.
*Andrew McCutchen is one very fine baseball player.
*Wade Miley is a sleeper as a left-handed starter. I've always liked his mound presence, his stuff and his command.
*What happened to Jon Lester? He has almost single handedly ruined my fantasy season as a defending AL-only champ. I have nowhere else to turn.
*The White Sox are underrated. If Adam Dunn is half as much better than he was last year, I think they come in second in the Central. They can pitch. So far.
*What happens when they close the roof in Miami? Will we see Stanton's bombs?
*Cabrera, Fielder, Stanton, Cano, Gordon, Braun, and on and on. Chicks dig the long ball. So do I. C'mon already.
*Derek Jeter is amazing. Have you watched his at-bats? Fantastic bat control. Taking the ball everywhere. Finished? Not yet.
*I don't want to say, "I told you so" about Justin Masterson, but I…You know the rest. I still believe he belongs in the pen.
*Remember, Dom Brown? The Phillies as a team can't hit a lick, right? Where's Domonic? They rushed him and now his mechanics are a mess.
*Here's the deal with Cespedes as I see it. Remember I said he'd have to get a steady diet of breaking balls if I were pitching? Well-there are many, many pitchers who think, "he can't hit my fastball. He may be a fastball hitter. But he hasn't seen MY fastball." And guess what? They throw the fastball and that's where his long balls come from. His batting average still tells me he can't hit breaking pitches yet. He'll adjust. Stop throwing him fastballs.
*Mike Trout is on fire. So is Trevor Bauer. Be careful. Don't jump too soon.
I'm out.
Follow me on twitter @BerniePleskoff and on MLB.com in the Other Voices section. Let's get some good conversation going on Twitter. I tweet every home game from Chase Field.


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Boise State Still Hanging with "Little Sisters of the Poor" Despite Move To MWCDecember 2, 2010
Where were you January 1st, 2007?
If you are a college football fan, you were glued to your television watching upstart Boise State beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
We all remember the game: high scores, trick plays (most notably Boise's Statue of Liberty play to secure the two-point conversion) and the wedding proposal by running back Ian Johnson.
The Broncos were the darlings of American football—a Rocky type of underdog that beat the national powerhouse Sooners.
That night in Glendale changed college football. Suddenly teams, coaches and media were charged to take teams from "non-automatic qualifier" divisions seriously. QB Jared Zabransky was featured on the cover of NCAA Football. Boise State was relevant.
Since that game, the biggest knock on Boise State's résumé has been its schedule—or lack of schedule, according to Ohio State President Dr. Gordon Gee (not that Ohio State plays a murderers' row: see Marshall, Ohio, Eastern Michigan)—so it seemed fairly obvious that when discussion of conference realignment surfaced, Boise would be on the front line.
On June 11th, 2010, Boise State announced that it would leave the Western Athletic Conference for the Mountain West Conference in 2011. The move seemed good on paper: Get out of the WAC, go to the conference with fellow BCS busters Utah and TCU and bolster your schedule with better (not much) competition. Great idea, right?
On June 17th, Utah announced it would be leaving the MWC for the upgraded Pac-12 conference. Additionally, BYU announced it was going independent in football. At that point, the MWC reached out to Fresno State and Nevada to take their places. Sound familiar?
The final nail in the coffin came November 29th, when TCU announced it was leaving for the Big East.
All of a sudden, Boise State became the same old medium fish in a tiny pond. The Broncos will replace meaningless games against Utah State, Idaho and Louisiana Tech with meaningless games against New Mexico, Colorado State and Wyoming. While Utah and TCU will be vying for conference championships in BCS conferences, Boise State will play the same role they are playing now—that of the spoiler.
How will this impact their recruiting? What if Chris Petersen gets tired of being disrespected and goes to a formidable conference? What if more teams leave the Mountain West? We will all have to wait and see how this conference realignment shakes out, but at this juncture it seems like a bad move for the Broncos.
Sure, the Mountain West is more respectable than the WAC, but by how much? They still are a non-AQ BCS team. They knew that when they agreed to move. Now that everyone is leaving, Boise is all alone again, playing no one but the "little sisters of the poor."
So what exactly was the point of leaving in the first place?


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Our favorite pro surfer/blogger, Josh Kerr, shares his North Shore stay with us via his site www.kerr-azy.com. With some heavy shredding going on courtesy of Kerr, Jay Davies, John John Florence, Marlon Gerber, and a big and bumpy Waimea Bay session mixed in, we're psyched to get over there!
Above: Check out the trailer to Josh Kerr's upcoming movie due to come out in March 2010.


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It's hard not to be euphoric after last Tuesdays victory with the Republican sweep of the State House in VA and NJ defeated an incumbent Democrat Governor. No doubt about it, we needed these victories. The momentum continued into Thursday, as Patriots answered the call of Rep. Michele Bachmann to come to Washington, D.C. to "look representatives in the eyes" to stop the health care bill that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is bring up for a vote this week. Considering that conservatives are not the protesting type, this was quite a feat. In fact, we would probably be hard press to find a time in history when a minority party representative put out a call to the public to assemble on the steps of the capitol and the call was answered in great numbers. So it is safe to say, the energy for the conservative movement is high right now and the Republicans are the beneficiary of this momentum.
However, before the GOP gets to comfy in their new found popularity, I would like to remind them that it is their leadership that got us in this "fix". As I watched the events unfold on the capitol steps, I heard Minority Leader Boehner mention his 19 years in the congress and could not help but to cringe. That is 9 terms! Leader Boehner has been in the congress long enough to shoulder the blame for the mess the conservative party is in today. Rep. Cantor was lamenting how the American people are tired of the massive spending in Washington, D. C. and yes! The spending is out of control, however it started years ago and did not slow under Republican leadership.
So I would like to take a minute to remind patriots that while we have had a good week, we are still fighting. The GOP is still the same party we were angry with on Nov 2, 2009 (the day before Election Day). These are the same republicans that voted for TARP, the same republicans that voted for AIG bonus to be taxed at 90%, the same Republicans gave NY -23 a progressive candidate who was endorsed by ACORN and the same Republicans that gave us John McCain as a presidential candidate.
The rally at the capitol was a wonderful thing, don't get me wrong, but let's put it in perceptive, the GOP is in panic mode. They are in the minority up against a progressive movement that has been building for year. They need us, Patriots, more than we need them right now. The Health Care bill MUST be stopped; however there is still a GREAT possibility that it will pass the house, as soon as tomorrow. What will we do then? Throw another "rally" on the step of the capitol, at the request of the Republicans, no not this Patriot. I will do everything I can to get all the Representatives out of office. We must hold the Republican Party accountable, they are just as guilty.


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Eunice and Owen Johns said their local council's fostering panel rejected them as carers because they could not tell a child a homosexual lifestyle was acceptable.
The Johns will go before the High Court to ask for clarification on the council's position on the suitability of foster carers who have traditional beliefs regarding sexual ethics.
The case, thought to be the first of its kind, has been described by Christian lawyers as vital for Christian freedoms.
The Pentecostal Christian couple from Derby, who have fostered almost 20 children in the past, are not homophobic, according to a legal representative.
But they are against sex before marriage - and by marriage, they do not recognise civil partnerships between gay couples.
Their beliefs are at odds with Derby City Council's equality policy, which was drawn up under the terms of the Sexual Orientation Act.
The case has been taken up by the Christian Legal Centre, who said it was the first time a court had been asked to decide how local authorities should deal with foster carers who have traditional views on sexual ethics.
It said in a statement: ''The council has an obligation to respect the Johns' religious beliefs, but also to comply with equality law, which prohibits discrimination because of sexual orientation.
''The case will decide whether the Johns will be able to foster without compromising their beliefs.''
The statement went on: ''The implications are huge. It is no exaggeration to say that the future of Christian foster carers and adoptive parents hangs in the balance, and that the outcome of (the) case will have a direct effect on whether Christians decide to apply to be foster carers or adoptive parents.
''It may not be long before local authorities decide that Christians cannot look after some of the most vulnerable children in our society, simply because they disapprove of homosexuality.''
But Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual rights charity, backed the council's stance.
Chief executive Ben Summerskill said: ''Too often in fostering cases nowadays it's forgotten that it is the interests of a child, and not the prejudices of a parent, that matter.
''Many Christian parents of gay children will be shocked at Mr and Mrs Johns's views, which are more redolent of the 19th century than the 21st.''
The couple's application was withdrawn by the council after a series of meetings and interviews with social workers.
They previously fostered through the authority about 14 years ago, looking after nearly 20 children over the four years in which they provided weekend respite care.
The council has said previously that its first duty was to the children in its care, some of whom are very vulnerable.
A spokeswoman said the council welcomed applications from people wishing to be foster carers but added that not everyone who applied was accepted, for a variety of reasons.
The case is due to be heard in the High Court, sitting at Nottingham Crown Court, this morning.


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Tony Blair - My Spoof Diary
This is the spoof journal of Tony Blair. It is purely a parody of what we imagine a diary made by Tony Blair would be like and hope you find the fake diary as funny.
Currently showing entries from: 2017 | 2012
« Choose a different celebrity
August 2012
Saturday 25 August 1212
Life's good you know. I've shown no desire to slow down since leaving Downing Street, gone on to build a business empire worth millions and I even...
Friday 24 August 1212
The Bromsgrove Recorder wrote: Civic leader Fred Berwick, Bromsgrove born and bred has died aged 91. Fred represented all that was good in the Old La...
Thursday 23 August 1212
Along wife the Cherie and our children we became tourists in Gibraltar last week. We were guests of a Malaysian luxury yacht owner, we lunched at s...
Wednesday 22 August 1212
A group of Durban-based organisations want to arrest me on charges of war crimes when I arrive in South Africa later this month to participate in the...
Tuesday 21 August 1212
In the Guardian: The Saudi-GPT deal inquiry must not be another whitewash - The arms trade accounts for about 40% of corruption in all world trade.
Monday 20 August 1212
Once and for all, I didn't know about the practice of Albanian Muslim narcoterrorist thugs in Kosovo who profited by kidnapping and slaughtering Serbs...
Sunday 19 August 1212
When I was prime minister, David Miliband was seen as my protégé. Our close relationship continued after I was forced out of Number 10, with Miliba...
Saturday 18 August 1212
Peter hill in the Express said about the Olmypic Furvour: "The last time I saw such fervent hope was the night Tony Blair and New Labour came to po...
Congressman Conyers's Predatory Sexual Harassing MisunderstoodFormer female staffer of Conyers reports being called into his DC office only to find him wearing only boxers. But she didn't know he was only practicing to be Chief Underpants Officer of the House.
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In London, where bus services are regulated
and commercial bus companies tender to operate routes on behalf
of Transport for London, bus patronage is rising quickly.
There is a highly regulated system. Transport for London
sets the routes, schedules and fares, and operators provide the
service on a price per bus mile operated basis. The quality of
the bus fleet is being improved and services increased. Comprehensive
bus priority measures are helping to improve reliability and reduce
journey times. There are problems of labour shortage, as for most
public services in London, but generally speaking bus services
are improving and will far exceed the 10 per cent growth target
in the 10-Year Transport Plan. Whilst buses in London are far
from perfect, they are becoming more frequent, more reliable and
more comfortable. Patronage has been rising and fares remain constant
or are reducing.
Until recently, there was no overall subsidy
to London Buses, with profitable routes cross subsidising unprofitable
ones. London Boroughs contribute to the fares of the elderly and
disabled through the concessionary fares scheme. This should be
considered as a benefit to the recipients, not as a subsidy to
bus services, as London Buses receives payment in return for services
provided. The Mayor of London's policy of holding fares down and
improving services in advance of the introduction of congestion
charging has resulted in a small subsidy being required. We consider
that the financial and regulatory system in London is working
In Northern Ireland buses are still operated
by a public corporation. Our evidence does not address bus services
in Northern Ireland.
Outside London the situation is far worse, and
our evidence to the Committee is therefore concerned with bus
services in England, Wales and Scotland operated under the provisions
of the 1985 Transport Act. Buses are operated in a deregulated
environment, except for safety regulation, and the only requirement
is for operators to give eight weeks notice of changes in services
to the Traffic Commissioners. Local Transport Authorities (Counties,
Unitaries, and Passenger Transport Authorities) have powers to
support non-commercial services. Most of these supported services
are rural, evening and weekend services. Local authorities are
also obliged, under the Transport Act 2000, to operate a concessionary
fares scheme for the elderly.
The bus industry is facing rising cost pressures,
particularly in labour costs, and operators are withdrawing from
their more marginal services. At the same time tender prices are
rising for supported services, and so the local authorities are
faced with higher demands for support, and less available funds
to purchase services. In general there is a continuing decline
in patronage, although bus usage is rising in some areas. Generally,
though deregulation has seen increases in bus miles, real increases
in fares and reductions in bus patronage.
The Government's 10-Year Transport Plan sets
a target of a 10 per cent increase in bus use over the period.
There are, however, no mechanisms for achieving this outside London.
It is possible the target could be met with large increases in
London and static or declining usage elsewhere, but we consider
that this would be contrary to the spirit, if not the letter,
of the Plan.
It is reported that when MPs approach Transport
Ministers in the corridors of Parliament they are far more likely
to raise bus issues than roads, railways or the London Underground
PPP. The expectation is that, outside London, there will be a
significant reduction in bus services over the next year. What
action, if any, can be taken to avoid this problem? This government
has made "social inclusion" a priority. If the socially
excluded are to obtain access to jobs, services and leisure opportunities
then, in most areas, the bus is the main transport option.
The quality of life objectives in the 10-Year
Transport Plan and Government environmental objectives include:
Modal shift of journeys from car to bus contributes
to all these objectives.
The bus has an important role in reducing social
exclusion. It is the main mechanised means of access to jobs and
services for the socially excluded groups in society. For these
people the cost of fares is a significant factor.
There are therefore two conflicting requirements
for bus services to realise policy objectives. In order to transfer
people from car to the bus the services need to be high quality,
in terms of the frequency and reliability of services and the
nature of the vehicles. This is expensive, but this target market
is not particularly price sensitive. The socially excluded, however,
are price sensitive, and are likely to be prepared to trade off
quality for price.
If the decline in bus usage is to be reversed,
then action has to be taken to reduce the attractiveness of the
alternative, as well as improving bus services. The cost of car
ownership and use has remained constant or declined in real terms
over recent years, whilst bus fares have risen. Parking restraint
and congestion charging are considered essential in order to redress
the balance, and a transfer of tax paid by motorists from charging
ownership (through the road fund licence and purchase taxes) to
taxing usage (through fuel duty, parking charges and congestion
charges) would be beneficial.
Nationally about one third of bus journeys are
made in London, one third in the Metropolitan districts covered
by the PTEs and one third in County and Unitary authority areas.
In the Metropolitan districts bus use has declined 25 per cent
since deregulation. In Tyne and Wear, where car ownership has
risen fastest from a low base, patronage has halved, and prices
have risen 66 per cent in real terms. In most areas the network
is declining due to the withdrawal of the more marginal routes
and a reduction of evening and weekend services. For example in
the Metropolitan Districts alone there were 5,610 deregistrations
in 2001. However the mileage operated has often been maintained
with the main corridors and town centres having more bus services
than are necessary, with reductions in other services.
Deregulation was intended to stimulate competition
in the provision of bus services, and initially there was fierce
competition in some areas. However the smaller companies have
consolidated into a few large companies and these have established
dominance in their market areas. As a result there is very little
real competition and most areas are served by a local monopoloy.
Even in towns and cities where there is more than one bus company
operating the companies generally have their own defined territories
and do not seek to compete with each other. There have been a
number of cases of predatory practices by major companies and
of agreements not to compete, which have been considered by the
Office for Fair Trading.
The major bus companies are very profitable,
making 20-30 per cent return on capital. About £1 billion
of the industry's turnover of £3.3 billion comes from Government,
either as concessionary fares payments, fuel duty relief or as
subsidy for supported services. The total profit of the main companies
in the industry is about £300 million, which represents 10
per cent of their turnover. Return on capital and profitability
are significantly lower in London, with its tendered route network,
but are still sufficiently high for the major companies to wish
to serve this market.
The employees of the bus companies have not
shared in the profits generated by their work. The Government's
Integrated Transport White Paper (1998) reports that "The
standard of living of bus and coach drivers has fallenon
average by 4 per cent since 1985, compared with a 20 per cent
increase in real terms in the average wage".
Government funding to Local Authorities for
supported public transport services is provided through the Standard
Spending Assessment (SSA), not through the Local Transport Plan.
Many factors are taken into account in the calculation of SSA,
but the cost of providing supported bus services to a national
quality standard is not one of them. There is no national guidance
on the level of bus services that should be supported by a Local
Authority. Funding therefore competes with services like Education
(where there are defined pupil teacher ratios and dozens of targets
and tests) and Social Services (where there are statutory obligations)
and the calculation of SSA does not make explicit how much is
provided for supporting bus services.
The Transport Act 2000 provides for Quality
Bus Partnerships (QBPs), which are voluntary agreements between
Local Authorities and operators, and for Quality Bus Contracts
(QBCs), where the authority can set the routes, schedules and
fares, and prohibit competition from other operators. Although
not identical to the London regime, as operators could still take
the revenue risks, QBCs do permit the establishment of a pattern
of regulated bus services. This can control the excessive provision
on the most lucrative services and can therefore afford cross
subsidy to other services. Fares integration could be achieved
as the operator or operators could be required to offer inter
available tickets. QBCs require the approval of the Secretary
of State, as the Government has expressed a clear preference for
QBPs as the main way of improving bus services. To date there
are no QBCs in existence.
Local Transport Plans (LTP) relate to capital
expenditure, not revenue, and therefore, although they are designed
to develop integrated transport solutions at a local level, they
are divorced from the funding route for supporting bus services.
LTP expenditure is however supporting improvements in bus infrastructure,
including improved shelters, bus priority schemes and the provision
of bus stations and real time information systems. Many of these
are the local authority contributions to QBPs, with the operator
providing high quality buses and an agreed level of service. However
there is no sanction if an operator chooses to reduce services,
and operators outside the QBP have equal access to the facilities
provided, as to deny them would be deemed anti-competitive. As
a result there is no guarantee that the local authority investment
can deliver the benefits for which it is provided.
Some LTP expenditure makes bus operations less
attractive, through ill-considered traffic calming schemes. Standard
road humps and chicanes make rides more uncomfortable both for
passengers and drivers. The use of speed tables and speed cushions
can provide similar safety benefits without hampering bus operation,
and the Government should seek specific assurances in LTPs that
traffic calming measures are not to be introduced where they adversely
affect bus routes.
In some areas authorities have used LTP capital
funds to buy buses which are then provided to the operator to
provide the services that the authority wishes to secure. This
allows flexibility between capital and revenue allocations, and
allows authorities to guarantee the stability of service initiatives
over a period of time. This opportunity is not available to PTEs,
who are specifically excluded from owning buses by the Transport
Act 1985.
Bus operating costs are rising, mainly through
rising labour costs in a situation of low unemployment. This is
a particular problem in the South East. As a result, commercial
services are being cut back, particularly the marginal services.
Tender costs for supported services are rising quickly. The result
is that there is an increasing demand for supported services and
a diminished resource to provide them.
The contributions provided by local authorities
through concessionary fares schemes do not empower the authority
to influence the services provided. Authorities are obliged to
provide concessions for the elderly, regardless of the ability
to pay of the individual concerned, and therefore there is therefore
a considerable expenditure that is poorly targeted to achieving
social exclusion objectives.
Increasing road traffic is increasing congestion.
Bus services are particularly affected by congestion, as unpredictable
journey times make it difficult to keep to schedules, as well
as increasing operating costs. Bus priority measures can significantly
reduce the effects of congestion but cannot eliminate problems
caused by increasing congestion, and measures to reduce car use
are therefore a necessary complement to a strategy of improving
bus services.
Buses are ignored both by the media and by government.
The industry is as important as the rail industry, but does not
receive anything like the same attention. Bus users are not represented
on statutory passengers, committees. Regulation of the industry
is weak, with the Traffic Commissioners, whose main concern is
the road haulage industry, having few resources to inspect bus
services, and acting mainly on complaints. The Traffic Commissioners
cover very wide areas, not related to the Government's regional
agenda. The image of the bus is poor, although improved infrastructure
and vehicles are helping to change that perception. The role of
the Traffic Commissioners should be brought closer to the passengers.
The current regulatory regime causes particular
difficulties for operators facing temporary operating difficulties.
When a number of drivers resign simultaneously, an operator may
have to reduce the frequency of services until such time as new
drivers can be recruited and trained. Sometimes amendments have
to be made to services because of road works requiring extra journey
times or varied routes. The Traffic Commissioners are usually
sympathetic to granting a derogation in these circumstances. However,
when the operator is ready to resume the full service, the full
56 days' notice is required before the service can be reinstated.
Although we have said that there is little effective
competition, the OFT intervenes to restrict the ability of authorities
to mitigate some of the worst effects of competition. For example
common fares agreements which would permit through ticketing and
the acceptance of season tickets on all operators' services are
seen as anti-competitive, despite the obvious benefits to the
passenger. Similarly the provision of bus feeder services by rail
franchisees with through ticketing can be considered anti-competitive,
but it is a necessary part of achieving the Transport White Paper
objective of integration.
The use of QBCs could overcome many of these
problems, but the process is currently laborious. The Government
should actively encourage the establishment of a series of QBC
pilots, using both route and network contracts, and with both
net cost and gross cost contracts. Contracts could also be let
by specifying the level of subsidy available, and asking operators
to tender the services they are able to provide. Such pilots would
examine the opportunities created by the Transport Act 2000 and
determine whether its provisions are sufficient to achieve the
changes required.
LFIG considers that Quality Bus Partnerships
have not delivered the benefits that are required to promote better
bus services generally. The use of Quality Bus Contracts could:
We consider that it is time to set standards
and targets for the provision of public transport services, with
the calculation of local authority resources being based on the
cost of ensuring that these standards are met. Criteria could
be established and costed. Criteria could include standards like
requiring a village with a population of a certain size to have
bus services to the nearest town that is a centre of employment
with a timetable that would allow residents of the village to
travel to work by bus. Another standard might be that every town
of a certain size should have bus services to the suburbs with
a last bus leaving the town centre after 11pm.
Research would be necessary to establish what
the criteria should be and could be based on the existing pattern
of supported services in different types of locations, with an
enhancement to reflect the 10-Year Plan objectives. It is understandable
and desirable that local authorities should be given more discretion
over spending, and it is not therefore essential that funds are
ring-fenced. However, if the funds were based on an assessment
of need against some defined criteria, then local authorities
would have to defend reallocation of funds to other purposes.
Far more people in the country are concerned
about bus services than railways. Buses are far more important
to the lower income groups and socially excluded and in many cases
rail subsidy is a subsidy to the more wealthy sections of the
community. The problem is likely to become higher profile in the
next few months. How should the Government react?
Recommendation 1: The Government should urgently
promote a series of Quality Bus Contract pilots, using different
contract approaches, and evaluate their effectiveness.
Recommendation 2: The competition considerations
should be amended to allow local authorities to broker network
and ticketing agreements in the public interest, and to promote
other measures which improve integration of different modes of
Recommendation 3: PTEs should be allowed to
own buses if they consider it desirable to do so, and lease them
to operators, as is possible in other areas.
Recommendation 4: When services are reduced,
with the Traffic Commissioner's consent, for temporary reasons,
the operator should be allowed to resume the previous level of
service without notice.
Recommendation 5: The Government should set
out a target for bus passenger growth outside London and set criteria
for the assessment of socially necessary services. Revenue funding
should relate to the cost of meeting those criteria in a particular
authority and should be part of the Local Transport Plan procedures,
not part of the Standard Spending Assessment. Local authorities
would then report their achievement in meeting the defined standards
in their Local Transport Plan monitoring.
Recommendation 6: There should be more local
discretion in the establishment of concessionary fares schemes,
aimed at targeting the funds available at reducing social exclusion.
Recommendation 7: The Traffic Commissioners
are not currently providing adequate supervision of the bus industry.
Either they should be adequately resourced and tasked to provide
more effective regulation or their role should be passed to the
Regional Assemblies.
In Metropolitan areas this role might be delegated
from the RA to the PTE. Regional Transport Passenger Committees
covering bus services, either combined with Rail Passenger Committees
or separately, should be established to represent passengers.
The Secretary of State's role in relation to Quality Bus Contracts
should also be devolved to the Regional Assembly or PTE.
Recommendation 8: LTP guidance should include
a requirement to establish real time information systems and procedures
for effective enforcement of bus priorities, in accordance with
nationally established quality standards. LTP guidance should
also require that actions taken in support of the LTP, such as
traffic calming, should not have a deleterious effect on bus operations.
Recommendation 9: Where the current legislative
framework does not permit these recommendations to be implemented,
then amending legislation should be brought forward urgently,
possibly as part of the proposed Competition Act.
The Labour Finance and Industry Group (LFIG)
is an association of Labour Party members with experience from
the financial and business world, who wish to bring their knowledge
and experience to bear to assist the Labour Party, whether in
opposition or in government, in developing and implementing policy.
The Transport Study Group has members from all sectors of the
transport industry, as well as from the financial sector, academia
and people in the public sector with responsibility for developing
transport policy and managing transport operations.
Hugh Collis
Chair of the LFIG Transport Study Group
April 2002


text:
Rampaging Animal Part 2
View Single Post
May 1, 2005, 10:40 PM
Join Date: April 16, 2005
Posts: 78
ok, I should have worded that differently. I should have said 100% reliable in any conceavable day to day situation. if the earth opened up and satan stepped out I have no idea how my dog, or any dogs I've trained would react. if a 777 airliner or hercules jumbo prop plane collided with the house I dont know. and granted, the majority of the people who I train for just want obedience, they dont care if the dog will be obedient in a war/battle situation. however, if the situation is possible, any dog can be trained to be obedient in it. its just a matter of simulating it while training. so yes, I should have said my dog is garaunteed to be 100% obedient in any conceivable situation, but it IS possible to train a dog to be 100% reliable in other situations. I cant simulate a UFO beeming me up in order to train a dog to obey commands in that situation. so I'll give you that one.
as to your second question, I could list names (if I had the time and their permission) of atleast 1,000 owners in the US, and another 5-10,000 in europe who could claim 100% reliability of their dogs. and I can also promise their are another roughly 50,000 handlers among the US law enforcement agencies and military who can claim the same. I wish everyone in the US had to meet the standards for dog ownership that europeans are held too, and higher, but sadly you are correct, the vast majority of people in this world cannot make such a claim. which I guess was why I originally said that I dont blame anyone on here for honestly saying they would shoot first and deal with the consequences later. and the reason I posted about canine behaviour is so that everyone who reads it might save themselves a little trouble, and said that we should all be as responsible in this situation as with a person running towards you. what if you shoot the person and then realize he/she was running to their car, running past you, because their wife just called and said she was going into labor/husband called and said he was cleaning his shotgun and blew his foot off. you might see a dog seemingly running right for you, shoot it, then little Timmy comes around the corner behind you and you find out the dog was running past you because he just heard the kibble spill into his food dish.
I wasnt trying to start a fight, and dont want to be a part of one. I was merely informing everyone about canine behaviour and hoping that with the info I posted you might notice one of the things I mentioned and realize the dog is not charging with malicious intent, or atleast hesitate to be certain. draw your weapon, and be ready, but be certain.
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text:
This carabiner is 1 oz. and rated 20kn
Printable View
This carabiner is 1 oz. and rated 20kn
I've checked my biners every time to see if it has damaged the tree. Nothing yet. Probably depends on how it's set up...tree shape, size, etc.
I've followed this thread with a lot of interest. My basic problem is that the rope supplied on my HH is 1600 lb test polyester, very stiff, and not suitable for attaching to the rings.
I have some BPL AirCore Pro URSA, rated at 1400 lbs, very lightweight and flexible, and experimented with that. I cut some cords, put bowlines at both ends, and attached the rings by a larkshead, and around the hammock body just behind the Hennessy wrap knot. I found that a Prusik knot does a much better job of holding the rings together than the Larkshead. But the way I attached to the hammock is a hack, and I'm unclear what impact that has on the structural ridgeline. Furthermore quite a few posts on this thread suggest that unbalanced pull by one end of the cord on the rings may contribute to ring separation.
So I cracked the cover on the Hennessy wrap to see what we've got.
Here's what mine looked like
The main line goes through the top hole (can't see this in the photos, the entry point is at the back), is wrapped three times downwards, run through a second hole (same orientiation as the first; the pictures show the exit point of the lower hole quite clearly)
brought back up being tucked under the first wrap and passed through the
(black) loop that anchors the structural ridgeline (this is seen clearly in the second photo). Then a bowline is tied around the line at the entry point (most easily seen in the first photo).
My AirCore is a lot thinner, but I can solve two problems at the same time if I double it up---put even pressure on both cords forming the Prusik knot, and integrate the ring assembly into the HH layout. So I cut 4 ft of cord, put a Prusik knot around the rings at the center, then used the two ends in the same way as the fat line in the HH cord. Here's a picture of the rings, and the cord after being wrapped, but before the bowline tie-off.
I then tied off the end cords with a bowline. Had to slip some cord around to get the knot close to the hammock and without long tails. The AirCore is very smooth, and that part is easy. The nearly finished product looks like
All that's left is to cover the with caseing and secure that.
I've quite enjoyed the various tips and experiences offered on the hammock forums. Thanks all.
Welcome to the site. Great first post. Tom Hennessy should switch to this set-up.:D
Might be concerned with liability issues though. Not that I'm worried about slippage.
But you're right HH's, Speer's, Claytor's, and other commercial setups are idiot proof. I heard a park ranger once say that if customers misuse a product, that's enough to ban a product. I think the dual ring system would prove idiot incompatible.
Yeah, the rings have to be used properly. It is not difficult to use them, but a beginner would most likely hit the ground without proper knowledge. I did even with the knowledge, but that experience has convinced me to tie those knots every time.
Welcome Grizz, good post and pictures. That's almost exactly what I've done except my line is not doubled and I used an anchor hitch to connect to the rings. Good pictures illustrating the HH knot, though.


text:
Here, we take a closer look at the incredible place we call home, with a collection of speakers who celebrate the Earth's natural beauty as it is now — or who are proposing (sometimes controversial) ways to keep it that way.
In this session:
Karen Bass has traveled the world to explore and capture footage from every environment across the earth. See some video from her life's work >>
Sharon Beals photographs the work of "nature's most fastidious architects" — birds' nests. See her photos and read about her thoughtful talk >>
An anthropologist and ethnobiologist, Wade Davis is a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. Read his plea to save the Stikine River >>
Ken Mogi shared insights into Japanese character before and after the tsunami >>
James Hansen has made key insights into our global climate — and inspired a generation of activists and scientists. Read his stirring call to fight climate change >>
A legendary oil and gas entrepreneur, T. Boone Pickens is on a mission to enhance U.S. energy policies to lessen the nation's dependence on OPEC oil. Read what he said onstage, and his highly entertaining Q&A with Chris Anderson >>
Steve Cosson and Michael Friedman create new work for stage and media with The Civilians Investigative Theater. Onstage at TED, they put on a show >>


text: Book Reviews Modern Electrodynamics Andrew Zangwill | Review by Peter Enders Cambridge, 2012; $85.00 (hardcover). Modern Electrodynamics is not just another book on electromagnetism. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the material, but also covers more advanced topics than are typically found in other volumes. The quotations from historical sources are particularly useful and engaging. Though addressed to engineers, there is also a strong focus on physics. Relationships to quantum electrodynamics are presented, and historical and axiomatic aspects are surprisingly well accounted for. The volume covers many more subjects than can be presented in a typical two-semester course, so instructors can choose topics that meet their specific needs. Numerous worked examples and applications boxes help the reader build physical intuition and develop technical skill. Nearly 600 end-of-chapter homework problems encourage students to engage actively with the material. A very useful solutions manual is available for registered and validated instructors at www.cambridge.org/Zangwill. Review by Peter Enders, physicist, Senzig, Germany. The opinions expressed in the book review section are those of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect those of OPN or OSA. Publish Date: 16 May 2013


text:
What are Blu-ray and DVD region codes, country codes, multi-region or zone locks? Read DVD Player region codes and Blu-ray region codes.
Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker or buy PlayOn and record Netflix :)
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|DVD Player
|Harman Kardon DVD48
5 user region code comments
|November 10, 2012
|Post region code/hack comment
|Region code hack posted by lloyds, August 28 2007:
I tried the following hack as for DVD 38, but it does NOT work, please suggest what is wrong with the hack below. I suspect, the DVD 48 uses a brand new firmware:
1. Turn the player on and make sure that there is "no disc" message shown on player display
2. Press "SETUP" on your remote
3. Press "3141590" there 0 is region 0 (region free)
4. The display should now show REGION 0 and setup menu disappears
5. Power off/on
Additionally, pressing SETUP and then '1211' should show you the service screen confirming what AREA is your player now, ex. AREA 1 (for US and Canada);
Please advise on the DVD 48 hack.
|Region code hack posted by h_socolov, May 15 2008:
Here's how to make your Harman Kardon DVD 48 a multi-region player. With no discs inside, follow these steps with the remote:
1. Press the OPEN/CLOSE button to bring out the tray.
2. Press the CLEAR button.
3. Press the the following code: 1211
4. Press the SUBTITLE button.
Done. There will be no message of any kind on the LED display, but your player will know be Region 0, able to play any dvd from regions 1 to 6, PAL or NTSC. Enjoy. Cheers!!
|Region code hack posted by bluenotes, November 29 2009:
Hi, this hack doesn't work FOR ME. I've tried like 20 times.
Just bought the player so maybe it's got new firmware which doesn't allow this
hack. Perhaps somebody knows a new hack?
If I enter SETUP and 1211 I get the service menu and it says F-END 04.53. Is
that the firmware version? Does that help?
Thanks in advance!
|Region code hack posted by Sje1, February 13 2010:
Provided region free hack code used to work with former HK's DVD-48. Unfortunatelly it doesn't work with the latest DVD-48.
If someone knows how to hack the latest DVD-48 please let us know.
|Region code hack posted by muzzkata, November 10 2012:
I own two of them - one from September 2007 and another from April 2008.
Visual difference is, that the older 2007 model has silver top surface and remote
control matching serie of receivers at that time, while the newer, 2008 model
has black top and remote matching newer model series. With provided here
region code hack (1211) I was able to unlock the 2007 model, but not the 2008
one! I actually use them to listen to SACD music, but wife sometimes watch
movies pressed overseas. Any suggestions for how to unlock newer 2008 model?
|1 DVD Hack hits, Showing 1 to 1 DVD Hacks
New hacks = New region code/hack comments since your last visit.


text:
Rothschild Robusto Fresh Pack · 5.5 × 50 MAFPR6
The creamy smooth flavors of Macanudo come shining through in this popular Robusto size. Now you can take a few for the road with this handy fresh pack of 6 and never have to worry about them going stale, thanks to the perfectly sealed packaging these babies are stuffed in. Packaged 6 cigars in a Fresh Pack
Email me when this item is back in stock.
Email me when this item is back in stock.
Dominican Republic / Mexico
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Light Brown / Natural
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Jake.M on 09/02/15
I picked up one of these at my local publix, and I was surprised at how good this cigar was. I wasn't expecting much from a cigar in a bag. I found it to be more flavorful than a Hyde park I tried before. I will consider ordering some from Jr.


text:
Sacred 2 - Tips?
View Single Post
December 21st, 2012, 17:48
Sacred 2 is not as good as first game was and yes you can access almost every area .
Things to have in mind :
Faster killer : a blowpipe
Best Tank : sword & shield sheraphim
Thing to be avoided : a mounted mage
Easiest character : shadow warrior
Is smithing worth it? : no , you better stuck amulets in armor & rings in weapons
Trading is always worth it
Is consetration any good ? : absolutely unless you roll a sword & shield sheraphim
which character has mount as a must ? : pistol seraphim
why not dryad's lizard? : because you need your timer reseting fast
which is the most glitched character : shadow warrior with an energy stick
what character is a no no for a starter?: the dog
You can get a companion if you play the inquisitor , doppelganger can become a buff
You do need to loot the catacombs
Defence is how often you are hit and armor deducts damage from hits
Be very careful in the pit and when fighting the flying monster up north , they can and will debuff you , save before diving in .
There are far more undead than mutants but the mutants are more dangerous
Dual yeld and weapon proficiences do not stack
Stuffs skill is useless
Shields are useless for shadow warriors , they can reflect ridiculous amounts of damage anyway
Be sure not to miss the concert !
Not sure it still applies but shadow warrior can (could) become perma invisible
There is a big chain of quests in Elf area where you can get an awesome sword
The only use of bronze level is if you are a noob and you are playing the dog
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Welcome to Hindu Temple of Dayton!
Hindu Temple of Dayton was established in 1976 to provide a permanent venue for the Dayton community interested in Hindu religion and philosophy. Hindu temple has two priests who perform a number of rituals and services in accordance with the Hindu philosophy.
The Hindu Temple of Dayton has been a powerful force in promoting the spiritual growth of our community. Only through an established temple, can you bring the spiritual wealth of the scriptures to people in all walks of life in Dayton and its surrounding areas.
A temple is the most natural peace making ground where people from all walks of life can smile together, through the love of God. Our main purpose is to keep societies charged with moral, cultural, and spiritual zeal, and we need your support to fulfill that mission.
Hindu temple is managed by Hindu Community Organization, Inc. a non-profit organization. An executive committee oversees the operations and management of the Hindu temple. Board of Directions and Trustee provide the long term strategic direction.
New Visitors can Visit the Temple at any time the Temple is Open (see temple hours below)..
Mandir Vani
Hindu Temple publishes a newsletter called Mandir Vani,
Download Mandir Vani
Subscribe to Mandir Vani
Donate Online
Click here to subscribe to email list
Dear Devotee, Welcome to Hindu Temple Website!
Restore Rajagopurum
Help us restore Hindu Temple of Dayton's Rajagopurum.


text:
At Gemvara, we believe that the jewelry you wear should be one of a kind, like you. That's why we make each piece to order, one at a time, just the way you want it. Choose Rhodolite Garnet and Palladium or Black Diamond and Yellow Gold: it's your choice. Mix and match gems and precious metals for a look that's exactly you. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your Hanukkah Gift Ideas: Emerald-Cut Red Garnet Jewelry design with meticulous attention to detail. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. Red garnet is a bold accent to your wardrobe.Our wide selection of Hanukkah Gift Ideas: Emerald-Cut Red Garnet Jewelry by talented designers means you can find jewelry that's exactly your style. You can also shop by style, choosing our Eclipse, Claddagh, or Infinity Collections. Gemvara's fine quality Hanukkah Gift Ideas: Emerald-Cut Red Garnet Jewelry is designed to be passed down for generations to come, crafted by hand in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


text:
Emma Starr is having trouble with the office printer. She calls the IT guy over to fix it, but he can't. Since the IT guy couldn't take care of her printer problem she decides to let him take care of her pussy problem instead...as in her pussy is wet and she needs his cock to solve that problem.
Naughty America
Videos: 10742 | Galleries: 10742
$1.95 / Three days $4.95 / One week $24.95 / One month


text:
Tom Ross: Hit the road, Jack and Jill
April 16, 2011
Steamboat Springs — Vamoose. Hit the road, Jack and Jill. Jump in the car and set out in search of a cheap thrill.
Mud season gotcha down? If you're like me and a trip to Belize isn't in the financial picture this month, ignore the seven-day forecast for Steamboat and don't let it cramp your style.
Yes, we can expect a mixture of rain and snow beginning today and continuing right on through Tuesday. But the forecast is brighter in Albu-Turkey.
The National Weather Service is forecasting clear skies and a high temperature of 77 degrees in Albuquerque, N.M., today. It will only be partly sunny Sunday, but 5 degrees warmer.
Not interested in purchasing an airline ticket to Albuquerque? Me either. Why would we when we can drive there in eight hours? I know — I did it last December. If you leave Steamboat at 5 a.m. and limit your rest stops to an hour, you can be there in plenty of time for a margarita on the plaza in old town.
The margaritas in Steamboat are as good as anything in New Mexico. Right now, it's the weather that makes the difference.
Recommended Stories For You
What's there to do in Albuquerque? You can always gamble at the Hard Rock Cafe or Sandia Resort and Casino, but a better bet April 28 to 30 is the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow featuring traditional dancing and singing traditions with 3,000 participants and the Indian Market. I promise that it will be almost like a trip abroad.
If Albuquerque (I love typing that word) seems a little out of reach and you would rather camp with the family, head off in the same direction and stop north of Alamosa to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The forecast is for fair skies and highs in the 60s at Colorado's largest sandbox today through Monday before mud season weather closes in again.
It may sound a little crazy, but you can bring your snowboards and even your cross-country skis and have a blast riding the dunes. There are a limited number of campsites in the Pinyon Flats loop within the national park, but there is also a campground with clean showers just outside the boundary.
I called Friday to confirm that the Oasis Campground is open for the season. The water still is turned off at the tent and RV campsites, but water and showers are available to campers in the main buildings. The nightly rental for up to two people in a tent site is $20 with a $2.50 charge for each additional person. RV sites are $30 with the same up-charge for more than two people. You can't beat that. In my experience, a hot shower makes car camping downright luxurious.
Don't want to burn that much gas? Then book an overnight stay in one of the rustic cabins at Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Adam Geisler told me that Friday and Saturday nights already are booked through mud season, but there's some availability midweek. The $60 nightly rate has the $10 pools admission fee built in, allowing you to soak later and earlier than the general public. Bring along a couple of towels, sleeping bags, pillows and your headlamps. Take along a cooler and something to throw on the grill and get ready to be transported by the mineral vapors to another plane of existence.
Still prefer warm weather to hot water?
I'm guessing that half of Steamboat will be bicycling outside Moab, Utah, this weekend, where the forecast is for sunny skies and a high temperature of 75 on Sunday. If you want to escape the crowds, continue beyond the Moab exit on Interstate 70 to a little west of Green River, Utah, and head south to Goblin Valley State Park. The campground there is notorious for being windy, but if you catch a nice day, exploring the thousands of fantastical rock hoodoos in Goblin Valley is something you'll never forget.
From Green River, travel west on I-70 for 12 miles to exit 147 (Hanksville). After about 30 miles, turn right at the Temple Mountain/Goblin Valley junction.
There are 25 campsites with good water and, yes, even hot showers. The hoodoos are concentrated in a small area that is easy to see on foot. For the more adventurous, Little Wild Horse slot canyon is 5 miles away down a dirt road. In some places the narrows are only shoulder-width, and it's no place to get caught in a flash flood.
But the forecast for Sunday is — you guessed it — 75 degrees and sunny.
Now all you have to do is jump in the car and go!
To reach Tom Ross, call 970-871-4205 or email email@example.com
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- Van Life: Who's behind the wheel, what they're up to and where local van life might be headed


text:
Heidi Klum Dress at Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2014
Is Heidi Klum Having TOO Much Fun in That Dress?!
Is Heidi Klum Having TOO Much Fun in That Dress?!
Who was having the most fun at this weekend's Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards? Heidi Klum, by a tassel. The Project Runway host took up a lot of red carpet space as she twirled in her royal blue tassel dress — a gown that was designed by one of the reality show's current contestants, Sean Kelly.
The dress — which was for a challenge, set to air this Thursday, to make Heidi a gown fit for an awards show — was completed in 12 hours and on a budget of $200. Now, that's something we can all twirl (and twirl . . . ) about.
See her show off every angle – and we mean every angle – and then tell us: did Heidi make it work?
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text:
My Nonprofit Reviews
Review for Al Wooten Jr. Youth and Adult Cultural-Educational Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
My child has been apart of the center for about four years now and this is the best afterschool/summer program she has attended! During a presentation a couple of years ago the children had to describe how they felt about the Center and my daughter Shaylee's word was 'Love'. This is what Shaylee said "I feel loved when I'm at the Center, like I'm apart of a family when I'm here". I cried hearing her speak about the Center, because as a mother you need to know forsure you made the right choice of who is watching over your child. There is so much more I could say, like the learning experiences, home work help so thats finsih when we get home, college prep , the great field trips and allowing my daughter to be a Teen Helpler during the summer. She was so very proud, she said it felt like she had a real job. I would like to thank The Al Wooten Center, the staff, the Founder, the Board and Ms. Namoi for all they do. Sharee Alexander
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text:
Every T-Mobile ROM is compatible with our phone. Rooting, there is a thread on development for that, and unlocking you need to pay for that service. There is no way to do it through software like the original Galaxy S Vibrant.
Sent from my Samsung SGH-T989D using xda premium
Not true! You can simply call customer service and request an unlock code. Sometimes customer service reps don't know the policies, so you may need to ask to talk to a manager or to tech support.
Tell them that you are planning to leave the country soon and want to unlock your phone so that you can use a foreign prepaid SIM, or something to that effect. Keep in mind that you have to have been a customer for 45+ days, or be a prepaid customer for 60+ days with a balance on your account of at least $10.
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text:
Ever wondered where Janet Van Dyne, aka The Wasp, would have fit into Joss Whedon's "The Avengers" had he not cut her out of the final script? It turns out she would have been a pretty prominent member of the group, even showing up when the heroes gather in Downtown New York to battle Loki and his invading alien hordes.
Check out some new animatics (aka storyboards in animated form) that show where the Wasp was, at one point, supposed to fit into the the movie. Apparently there was a version of the script where the Wasp took part in the Battle of New York, standing (or, well, floating) amongst Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, et al.
Whedon has previously said that he always wanted the Wasp in the movie, but could just never figure out a way to squeeze her in there. Looking back, it was probably a good idea to skip the Wasp and Hank Pym (who will be getting his own movie soon enough, in Edgar Wright's "Ant-Man" — and who knows, maybe the Wasp will show up there), given how many superheroes were already in the movie.
But hey, it's always fun to see what almost was:
Here's the storyboard screenshot in case you missed it (it actually took me two looks to spot it):
Via : Heat Vision