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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Worst Song Ever
Awkward. Both me setting up to work while this is happening and saying the words mani and pedi.
But why a DJ? Maybe if he was playing smooth jazz (which is normally what is played there). But as I entered he did a three song set that went in this order:
Meat Loaf's Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Mickey Mouse Club Theme Song
Sisqo - Thong Song
First off - what? How is that relaxing? Not only are those songs not conducive to massages - but it is impossible not to sing along to the M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E! part of that damn song.
Second - who plays those three songs in succession? At no point in your life will this triad of tunage be appropriate. I spent a good five minutes trying to think up a situation where these three songs would work together and came up with nothing. Now I'll never get those five minutes back - or the 3 minutes it took me to write this post. Father Time is really pushing it considering Father's Day was two days ago.
This got me thinking about the worst songs of all time. If you Googlize this question you come up with Starship's "We Built This City". Ok - not the best song evar - but if you are telling me you don't turn this up when you are in the car by yourself and start rocking out only to get busted by that cute blond in the car next to you - you are lying, buddy.
Side note - according to this article, and if it is on the internet it must be true, 30% of men and 26% of women say they flirt DAILY while in traffic. That is crazy. Daily? I don't do anything daily - let alone give eyes to the girl in the car next to me. In fact the only thing I flirt with in the car is danger - because I don't write the rules, baby, I break em.
Aaaaaand we're back.
I think I was talking about the worst song of all time - and if not lets do that now anyways. I have come up with a few - and I want some input from you, my beloved Readers, because you are smarter than me and will make this list much better.
Here's the plan - I am going to nominate a few - and please feel free to also nominate a few - and then I will set up a poll to vote on the worst song ever as picked by a random selection of bloggers with awesome taste. Then we will all do a slow motion high-five that ends in a freeze frame.
My picks:
Limp Bizkit - Nookie
Poison - Unskinny Bop
Sisqo - Thong Song
Will Smith - Miami
Trace Adkins - Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk
That Trace Adkins song is cheating because pretty much any country song could go in that spot - but that one is spectacularly terrible so I felt it needed to be added.
So what am I missing?
25 comments:
- moooooog35 said...
Beastie Boys: ANYTHING BY THE BEASTIE BOYS
I expel better music from my cornhole after eating Mexican than those stupid bastards do.
- June 17, 2008 at 10:41 AM
- Rosemarie said...
Hmmm Bop by those stupid Hanson Brothers.
- June 17, 2008 at 10:56 AM
- surviving myself said...
Mambo #5.
And I agree with you about Thong Song.
- June 17, 2008 at 12:33 PM
- BloggingJason said...
It's easy to pick a song that is outside of your own musical taste. But something truly regarded as awful by the masses?
Gimme a second.
- June 17, 2008 at 12:59 PM
- Deslyxia said...
I'm going to make this easy
Winner hands down
It's so bad I might even blog about
Look up the lyrics and judge for yourself
LFO- Summer Girls
What do I win?
- June 17, 2008 at 1:16 PM
- Jenn said...
Wait. He played the Thong Song for a night of massages? How is that..why? I'm going to agree with Rosemarie and second MmBop. Damnit. Oh and Summer Girls!
- June 17, 2008 at 1:47 PM
- Douchegirl said...
Anything by the Black Eyed Peas but especially "My Humps". Oh, anything by Fergie, too.
- June 17, 2008 at 2:32 PM
- The Maiden Metallurgist said...
I am thoroughly nonplussed at the DJ's play list. Odd, worst songs ever? How about Achey-Breaky-Heart? Nothing good going on there.
- June 17, 2008 at 2:43 PM
- Lauren said...
Um, I love "We Built This City." I probably shouldn't admit that..but really, I do love that song.
Worst song, eh? I have to go with "The Thong Song." It's just...awful. Also, the "Macarena" is pretty terrible and annoying.
Actually, wait, THIS is the worst song ever played: http://youtube.com/watch?v=GautSlgAsN0
- June 17, 2008 at 2:53 PM
- Beav said...
Pretty much anything by Mariah Carey is awful!! I think if I had the opprotunity to get rid of one famous person it would for sure be her!! But I did catch myself dancing to fantasy the other day!! Hmm!! But that was written before she became a hooker!! Apparently I like exclamation points though!!
- June 17, 2008 at 3:24 PM
- lacochran said...
There's just so many. Where do I begin?
Songs with the following lyrics:
"My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard" (Kelis)
"Because I speak of the pompetous of love" (Steve Miller)
"Song she sang to me, song she brang to me" (Neil Diamond)
"Having my baby" (Johnny Fever plays the Mormon Tabernacle Choir version)
- June 17, 2008 at 3:34 PM
- lacochran said...
And, that combination the DJ played is indeed the most bizarre combination ever. Catchy, toe-tappy, but bizarre.
- June 17, 2008 at 3:39 PM
- Alexa said...
you just typed manis and pedis
"barbie girl" by aqua (vomit)
that shitty "follow me" song by uncle cracker (kill me)
"with arms wide open" by creed
shall i go on??
- June 17, 2008 at 3:45 PM
- Deutlich said...
wait.. you don't do anything daily?
what about peeing?! isn't that, like, a necessity???
- June 17, 2008 at 3:47 PM
- Narm said...
Moooooog35 - To quote "Airheads" - I ain't fartin on no snare drum.
Did that reference not make sense? Damnit
Rosemarie - Good call - but the chick is hot...wait...
Surviving Myself - good call - that song goes on forever
BloggingJason - are you saying the Thong Song is outside of my musical taste? What musical taste IS that song in?
Deslyxia - score it. You win a pat on the back and the knowledge that a few bloggers somewhere on the world wide web approve of your hatred for that song.
Jenn - I didn't get the Thong Song pick either - because how can you relax when that beat hits your ears? I just want to dance, dance, dance.
Douchegirl - How about Holla Back Girl while we're at it?
Maiden Metallurgist - I like to pretend like that song never happened
Lauren - WHERE DID YOU FIND THAT??? It is terrible - and I am thinking we will see that guy on AMW soon.
Beav - !.
Lacochran - I can't endorse anyone making fun of Neil - but the rest are bad.
Alexa - anything by Creed should count. They were the Nickelback of the 90's.
Deutlich - they don't call me the Camel for nothing...
- June 17, 2008 at 3:56 PM
- Mel said...
Anything. ANYTHING sang by Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray). Please somebody make him stop singing off key!
By the by, I am a total flirting-while-driving whore. I think it's why I like all my windows down, if you know what I mean.
- June 17, 2008 at 4:04 PM
- Allison M. said...
Creed is the worst band of all time. All. Time.
Cha Cha -- "slide to the left, slide to the right."
I cringe at weddings when I hear it.
- June 17, 2008 at 4:26 PM
- rs27 said...
I think I like every song everyone has commented.. so in conclusion....
I'll leave now..
- June 17, 2008 at 5:11 PM
- Emma said...
"Butterfly" by... wow I can't even remember.
It goes "come my lady, come come my lady, you're my butterfly..."
I think I'm going to vomit right now just thinking about that song.
- June 17, 2008 at 7:24 PM
- So@24 said...
What about that one song with "Abercrombie & Fitch" in the lyrics? I think there was something else about Chinese food making the guy sick?
Come on. That HAS to be up there.
- June 17, 2008 at 9:50 PM
"All The Things She Said" by t.A.T.u. The worst kind of music by the worst kind of "band".
- June 18, 2008 at 9:20 AM
- Beth said...
Ugh. Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk.
Everytime I hear that song, I cringe.
- June 18, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Mony Mony | Billy Idol
Good is Good | Sheryl Crow
Beautiful | James Blunt
(i could flip my car to reach the dial fast enough to get these songs away from my ears)
- June 18, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Hippy Chick by Nena Cherry. She is definitely no Eagle-Eye.
And not all country music is bad. Trace Adkins just happens to be consistently horrendous.
- June 18, 2008 at 1:43 PM
- ttown said...
I'm gonna go with Mambo number five, or the macarena. those are definately songs that make me want to bang my head against a brick wall rather than listen to them.
- June 18, 2008 at 11:15 PM


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Could a Thing Like This Ever Happen?
As you know, dolphins and whales are called sea mammals. These creatures, although they live in the sea, reproduce in the same way as do mammals on land. Fish, on the other hand, reproduce by laying eggs. Then how did sea mammals develop? Obviously, Allah has created them as well. Evolutionists, however, don't want to believe this. They cannot explain how dolphins and whales formed as well. Charles Darwin (the person who brought up the theory of evolution) had said, in his first book about the theory of evolution, something like this: Bears that went into the water to hunt fish all the time changed into whales. Yes, you read it right! He claimed that the hairy bears we know so well changed into metres and metres long whales after swimming in the sea a great deal.
Darwin said that bears, while swimming in water, had changed into whales. Even some evolutionists do not believe this tall tale.
Do you think it is possible for a bear to change into a whale, just because it swims a lot? Then shouldn't people who swim a lot change into sea mammals? Isn't it so funny?
Do You Believe a Swimming Bear
can Turn into a Whale?Well, Evolutionists Do!

subset: commoncrawl


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A group of curious American teenagers is promised the 'trip' of a lifetime by their Irish friend and mushroom expert Jake. Once in Ireland, they ignore Jake's warnings about the 'shrooms they shouldn't eat' and things start to go wrong. Afflicted by horrific visions, they can no longer distinguish gruesome apparition from shocking reality and the group is bloodily whittled down to one. Real or not, these visions leave behind a real enough trail of blood.
Release Date: Nov.23, 2007 at all UK cinema.
click this youtube url for the trailer:
Talk about the latest happenings in your local movie theatre...
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Videos from 2013 showcasing the work of the Vaccine Alliance and its partners.
16 December 2013
Burundi launches a new vaccine against rotavirus diarrhoea
Burundi became on December 16, 2013 the 19th GAVI eligible country to introduce in its routine immunisation programme antirotavirus vaccine. Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe and often fatal diarrhoea among under five children. In Burundi, diarrhoea causes approximately 15 percent of deaths in children less than five years of age. By 2015, GAVI with the support of its donors and partners plan to support the introduction of this vaccine in more than 30 countries.
11 December 2013
Animation: Why Invest in Vaccines
Vaccines do far more than protect health; they also protect people's incomes and savings, and promote economic growth. Find out how.
19 November 2013
GAVI Alliance: Supporting Cambodia's immunisation programme
In this three-minute film, GAVI Alliance partners in Cambodia including the Health Minister, health workers and representatives from UNICEF and the World Health Organization explain how GAVI's support is boosting routine immunisation coverage and campaigns against diseases like measles and rubella. First shown at the GAVI Alliance Board meeting in Phnom Penh in November 2013.
30 October 2013
Seth Berkley Mid-Term Review presentation: the future direction of GAVI
GAVI CEO reflects on the future direction of GAVI and its next strategy, which will run from 2016-2020.
Professor Hans Rosling: Immunisation trends and child survival
Professor Hans Rosling delivers a presentation highlighting trends in immunisation, vaccine development and child survival, during the GAVI Alliance Mid-Term Review meeting, 30 October 2013.
Seth Berkley presentation to GAVI Mid-Term Review
GAVI CEO reports back on the Alliance's progress halfway throughout its five year strategy.
30 September 2013
Seth Berkley talks about life-saving vaccines at the Global Citizens Festival
GAVI CEO Seth Berkley joins Jeffrey Sachs of The Earth Institute and actress Olivia Wilde at the 2013 Global Citizens Festival in Central Park, New York to support Sachs' campaign to train and deploy one million community health workers across sub-Saharan Africa "who will help deliver vaccines to keep people healthy". Over 60,000 attended the concert organised by Global Poverty Project (www.globalpovertyproject.com).
02 August 2013
Matching Fund
The GAVI Matching Fund is a major private sector programme designed to raise US$ 260 million for immunisation by the end of 2015. Learn how the Matching Fund doubles private donation impact.
11 July 2013
Lions Club International and GAVI announce Matching Fund partnership
Watch Lions Clubs International Foundation Chair Wing-Kun Tam and GAVI's Managing Director for Innovative Finance David Ferreira announce their organisations' new partnership to protect tens of millions of children against measles . The announcement was made at the Lions Clubs' annual convention in Hamburg, Germany.
20 March 2013
Rwanda measles-rubella vaccine campaign
Rwanda, through the supporters of GAVI Alliance, WHO, UNICEF and other members of the Measles-rubella Initiative, is rolling out a new dual measles-rubella vaccine aimed at immunising 5 millon children.
This is the story 37 year old Giovance,mother of five, and her decision to get all her children immunised with the MR vaccine.
31 January 2013
Vaccinating school girls against HPV in Rwanda
Rwanda was the first African country to introduce HPV vaccines, immunising school girls nationwide with donated vaccines. In 2014 GAVI will support this programme with a sustainable supply of paid for HPV vaccines. This short film follows the third round of HPV vaccination in October 2012.
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To hear some tell it, we are witnessing the rebirth of the automobile.
Tesla Motors TSLA, +0.80% has brought electric cars mainstream with its Model S sedan, auto sales are steadily on the rise and once-troubled U.S. automakers are soundly back in the black after painful restructurings.
But before you fall for the hype about Detroit's comeback and China's never-ending appetite for automobiles, it's worth considering the other side of the argument before you throw any money at auto stocks.
Because while the most recent numbers show big strength for the industry worldwide, there are increasing signs that automakers may have their best days behind them.
U.S. rebound is over
To be fair, the auto business — particularly in Detroit — has come a long way from the pain of the Great Recession. And that's certainly something to celebrate.
In the wake of the financial crisis, Ford F, -0.40% reported a record loss of $14.6 billion and General Motors GM, +0.11% and Chrysler both declared bankruptcy. Now both GM and Ford are sharing profits with employees, to the tune of $7,500 and $8,800 per eligible worker, respectively.
Furthermore, U.S. auto sales bottomed in 2009 at a mere 10.4 million vehicles sold that calendar year — the worst annual total since 1982. Now, new U.S. vehicle sales are predicted to top 16 million in 2014.
These are indeed noteworthy accomplishments, and part of the reason that Ford stock is up over 850% from its 2009 lows.
But looking ahead, things are going to get much harder for investors as year-over-year comparisons get less favorable.
Case in point: Ford and GM are expecting revenue to be basically flat in 2014, with low single-digit growth. And their counterparts in Japan, Honda HMC, +0.00% and Toyota TM, -0.03% are actually expecting single-digit declines in overall revenue.
That's because a lot of the pent-up demand created by tighter spending has been used up.
Don't take my word for it — listen to Jim Lentz, Toyota's North American chief executive, who said as much in an Associated Press interview last year.
"The market then has to work off a much better economy, an improving economy," Lentz said. "If we don't have that, I think the market may flatten out."
His timeline for that flattening in U.S. auto sales without a significant boost from broader economic and spending trends? "Sometime in late 2014."
Younger Americans don't desire cars
And bigger picture, let's not discount the demographic and geographic shifts that threaten to reshape the auto market — among many other areas of Wall Street.
Mounds of data shows that in the wake of the Great Recession, Americans are moving back into cities in droves. One of the megatrands that comes from this re-urbanization is an increased reliance on public transportation and a shunning of cars.
In fact, last year billionaire real estate mogul Sam Zell said we may be seeing the "end of suburbia" as a result of this shift to cities — and if the suburbs die, so does the need for a preponderance of vehicles to commute in.
Younger Americans are clearly already moving away from autos. Consider that the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute estimated that in 2010, 69.5% of 19-year-olds in the U.S. had a driver's license compared with 87.3% in 1983. This is thanks to urbanization, as well as the psychosocial trend that has put the "freedom" offered by mobile devices and technology on equal footing with the "freedom" once offered by getting behind the wheel of mom's station wagon on the weekend.
And those who do drive are sharing rides more and more through services like ZipCar, now a subsidiary of AvisBudget CAR, +1.52% after a 2013 buyout. Alix Partners recently estimated that for every car that's part of a vehicle-sharing program, the auto industry misses out on 32 sales. And this trend isn't going away.
Now, nobody expects America to give up on cars tomorrow. But given the short-term pressures of a post-recession rebound running out of gas and these very real long-term threats to vehicle ownership, it could be a very tough road ahead for the U.S. auto market.
China bottlenecks
Here's where the bulls will pivot to the big potential of our friends in China.
But while it's true that the 20 million vehicles sold in China last year dwarfs the total market in the U.S., it's important to remember that the potential of this major market is not as limitless as some would say.
Pollution is a major concern, resulting in vehicle caps in many regions to keep emissions under wraps — something that puts an obvious limit on any growth that automakers may see here.
Consider that in Shanghai, new license plates are auctioned off for an average of $13,400 per tag each month. The tactic is meant to limit the number of vehicles on clogged Shanghai roadways. Other cities like Beijing, Guangzhou and Guiyang also have policies meant to limit vehicle ownership.
The plus side is that the bottleneck has created a rush to buy in some places while there's still room, and has fueled the idea of high-priced cars as the ultimate status symbol. However, regulations are already creating a drag; Japanese investment bank Nomura estimates that growth in vehicle sales will slow to a 10% rate in 2014 thanks to government restrictions.
In fact, sales have already started to drop meaningfully. January vehicle sales in China were up just 7% from last year — still growth, yes, but down considerably from the brisk 14% annual rate across 2013.
Bulls frequently point to a dramatically low ownership rate in China as a sure thing that sales will skyrocket. According to the World Bank, vehicle ownership was around 6% as of 2010 while the U.S. boasted an ownership rate of nearly 80%. And while it's true there will be growth in China's ownership rate, the increase isn't staggering. McKinsey & Company recently estimated that despite continued growth, penetration will remain low — with a prediction of just a 15% ownership rate by 2020.
And by the way, let's not forget that a growing market doesn't mean that all automakers benefit equally. For instance, China's homegrown auto businesses including Geely continue to suffer market share declines — so much so that the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers recently lashed out at foreign competitors, claiming domestic brands will be "killed in the cradle" if the government allows U.S. and Japanese car companies free rein in the nation.
Auto stocks are slowing
Maybe Western companies will keep winning. Or more likely, maybe officials in Beijing will move to protect their own.
But either way, it's important to remember that the need for growth is pressing for all automakers, but the growth itself isn't big enough to support them all across the next several years as China's recent growth rates fade and the auto market matures there.
And even for companies that grab market share in China, will it be enough to offset troubles in the U.S.?
To be clear, none of this is to say that cars are disappearing anytime soon or that the companies that make them are going away.
But before you hang too much hope on automakers based on brisk 2014 sales, remember the headwinds they face in 2015 and beyond.
Or heck, just look at share prices lately. Honda, Toyota, GM and Ford have all dramatically underperformed the market in the last six months.
That should be the most obvious side of trouble that lies ahead.


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Sisterly love: Petzolds compete together on CMU gymnastics team
Brittany and Kirsten Petzold still remember the first big decision they ever had to make.
"I remember I cried so much," Brittany said.
More than a decade ago, the girls faced a choice, and the outcome each one chose ultimately impacted where they are today in their lives.
At three years old, Brittany began taking gymnastics classes.
"Brittany was bouncing off the walls at home and doing flips off the couch," their mother, Sheri Petzold, said. "We would pick her up, and she would do flips off our arms, and finally I said, 'I can't do it anymore.' So we took her to the gym, and she loved it."
Brittany's admiring younger sister followed as soon as she was able, starting gymnastics at one-and-a-half years old in a mom-and-tot class.
The sisters did everything together and also began taking dance classes, but going from one practice to the other became too much.
That's when their mother told them they each had to pick just one activity.
Gymnastics was the winner for them both, and they haven't looked back since.
Together again
Each of the Shelby Township natives has racked up numerous accomplishments throughout their gymnastics careers, and after spending two years apart when Brittany went to college to compete on the Central Michigan gymnastics team, the two were reunited this year when Kirsten also joined the squad.
"With (Brittany) being here, I knew this team a lot more," Kirsten said. "I knew the coaches a lot more and everything (with the program). It really influenced me to come here."
Head coach Jerry Reighard has coached sisters before and said it can be a very dangerous thing.
The coaches were very careful in clearing Kirsten to come to CMU with her sister, and they asked Brittany several times if it was a good thing for the two to compete together.
"We knew Kiki had a lot of talent," Reighard said. "She's really good on three events, not as good as her sister on one event, and she's a little better than her sister on another. It's been nothing but really positive in the gym, and I think it will continue that way. They just want each other to do well."
Kirsten and Brittany agreed that sibling rivalry has never been an issue for either of them.
The sisters have been teammates their whole lives and focus on cheering and building each other up, not tearing the other one down.
"We push each other to be the best," Brittany said. "It doesn't matter if she's competing in everything and I'm not competing at all, or I'm competing and she's not at all. We just want the best for each other."
Knowing how to make the other one better is sometimes a job specifically for a sister.
The girls connect on a different level; they have a history separate from anyone else on the team.
"Sometimes our teammates don't really understand us as much," Brittany said. "They won't know what she needs, and I can help push her differently than they do, so she understands what to do more."
Although Brittany is a captain on the team, she said she treats her sister like any other freshman.
At times, she said, other captains will focus on working with Kirsten so negative comments don't seem like a personal attack.
For the most part, the two maintain that they have a great relationship as teammates and sisters, but they acknowledge they don't always see eye-to-eye.
"We argue, but it's stupid stuff," Kirsten said. "I'll get annoyed if she keeps telling me something and I can't make the correction, then I'll just walk away."
"But that happens with everyone," Brittany added.
Outside the gym, Kirsten and Brittany do homework together, watch movies and go shopping.
Her big sister has helped Kirsten adjust to college, being a support system and resource. Brittany taught Kirsten how to study and handle college schoolwork compared to high school.
In the gym, Brittany tells Kirsten to be calm and relaxed for competition and not to get upset by the coaches' criticism.
"In August, we had a conditioning test, and a lot of the freshmen and underclassmen had a hard time with it and they would cry because it's really tough," Brittany said. "I told her it would get a lot better."
"Yeah, and I didn't believe that," Kirsten said, laughing.
Success, goals and what comes next
But, it did get better, and Kirsten is settling into her role on the team, though that can be difficult with an older sister who has set the standard quite high.
Her freshman year, Brittany won bars at the Mid-American Conference Championships. The next year, she claimed the all-around title at the MAC Championships and was named First-Team-All-MAC.
"I feel like it pushes me, because I have to live up to what she did her freshman year," Kirsten said. "I try to remember that I'm my own person, and I have to do what I can do, not what she did."
While Kirsten might not be comparing herself to her sister, both of the Petzolds have set high individual goals for the season.
Kirsten hopes to receive MAC Freshman of the Year honors and also win vaults at the MAC Championships.
Brittany wants to be named MAC Gymnast of the Year and also win the all-around title again.
But, before she has a shot at the all-around title, Brittany must get back to competing all-around.
At the end of last May, Brittany had shoulder surgery. In this season's first two meets, she has only competed on vault and floor as she continues to get stronger.
Kirsten might look up to her big sister's accomplishments, but Brittany also looks to her sister for inspiration and hope when looking to the future.
"She had surgery on her elbow before," Brittany said. "Sometimes, I wish I didn't have surgery so I could be doing all-around, but my trainer said, without the surgery, I would never do bars again. So, I look at Kirsten and, if she could do it, I could do it. I can come back."
There are things both Brittany and Kirsten have known since they first began running around in leotards and have built upon throughout their lives.
When they went through Talent Opportunity Program testing for gymnastics, both realized a blue ribbon is much better than red.
As Brittany went to college and Kirsten competed on her club team, they learned the importance of having a supportive team.
And their entire lives, they've always known life is better when they're standing side-by-side.
"I love being teammates," Brittany said. "I feel like it's brought us a lot closer than most siblings would be in other sports."
"She's my best friend," Kirsten said. "I go to her for everything."


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The ability to load and COMBINE a bunch of PDFs into a single PDF all in one shot ----- sure beats adding one at a time and THEN following that the "story board" ability to reorder the pages (a sort feature would be nice). I have a 60+ page document to build and assemble for our church - these features sure helped. Its the first time I noticed the COMBINE feature - lucky happenstance!! Its the unique features such as this that distinguish this particular program.
Ted de Castro
California, USA


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Less than two weeks after the Knicks' first-round playoff loss to the Nets, owner James Dolan socked it to season-ticket holders with a price increase as high as 20 percent in some sections, The Post has learned.
Dolan's hike comes after two prior lottery seasons in which he opted not to raise prices. But with the addition of $100 million in future payroll from the Stephon Marbury trade, and after finally qualifying for the playoffs, Dolan let loose.
Garden president Steve Mills informed Knicks patrons in a letter mailed to season-ticket holders this week. The Knicks claimed the ticket increase averages to 11 percent because 7,000 plans will go unchanged. A team official said most of the hikes came in the ritzier seats.
However, in many of the 200-level sections, prices went up 20 percent. Season tickets priced $67 last season are up to $80. The 200-level sections toward midcourt are rising from $79 to $95. Club-level sections (44 to 61 and 73 to 90) by the court are up from $210 to $240.
"They are increasing prices on hype and not on substance," said Michael Epstein, a season-ticket holder of 16 years from Forest Hills.
A Garden statement released yesterday to The Post stated, "For the first time in three years, the New York Knicks are raising prices for select tickets for the 2004-2005 season, amounting to an overall increase of 11.0%. The Knicks will offer our season subscribers the option to pay for season tickets over eight payments."
Last summer was the first time in years the Knicks did not have a waiting list for season-ticket holders. One concern season-ticket holders have is the trouble of selling off the unwanted games as easily as in the past. The Knicks have an Internet exchange program only for higher-priced seats.
"Before the Marbury trade, you'd e-mail people in your company to try to sell your tickets and you'd hear crickets," Epstein said. "They're not there yet. It's still a tough sell for anybody."
The Knicks sold out 26 games this season, up from 17 in 2002-03. They finished the season selling out 15 straight.
Quote: "They are increasing prices on hype and not on substance." – Knicks season-ticket holder MICHAEL EPSTEIN


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Price: $174.95
Sheet Material Installation Instructions
The only items you'll need for your installation should be a sharp razor blade, masking tape, window cleaner and a clean cloth.
Thoroughly clean the area where SeaDek will be applied. We recommend using a cleaner that will not leave any residue. A glass cleaner used with a clean cloth or scotch-bright pad works well. Make sure the area is completely dry before applying the pad.
If there is any glue, grease, adhesive or other substances on the area that the pads are to be applied, mineral spirits followed by acetone may be used to remove them. Be sure to use a glass cleaner afterwards as suggested above. Again the platform surface must be completely dry before applying the pad.
If pads are being applied to a new boat right from the factory it is very important that all mold release is thoroughly removed from the boat surface. Be sure to check with the boat manufacturer before applying pads. Arrange the pad to the exact location to be covered and verify proper fit and placement. Once you are sure the pad is the right size and are happy with the location turn the pad over so that the paper backing is facing up. With a sharp razor, carefully cut the paper backing right down the center being careful not to cut into the pad. From the center, peel up each side a little to make sure the backing is completely cut all the way through.
Turn the pad back over and reposition the pad exactly where you want it to be installed. Firmly secure one side of the pad to the platform using two-inch masking tape.
Now lift up the untapped side of the pad with one hand and loosen the paper backing with the other. This process is a little easier if you have someone to help you out. Slowly and carefully pull up the rest of the backing while applying the pad to the platform. Use your hand to apply pressure to the pad to assure a firm bond between the pad and the platform. Now remove the tape from the other side of the pad and repeat the application process just like you did on the first side. Take time to press the entire pad into place with your hands especially around the edges of the pad.
You can watch a video demonstration of this installation on our website: http://www.seadek.com under the DIY section.
Sheet Material Features
SeaDek offers a complete line of non-skid cut pads and sheet material that are perfect for any area on a boat that requires improved non-skid or padding in areas frequently used for sitting or kneeling. These products protect boats' surfaces, preventing scratching and chipping. They also cover up surface imperfections, helping it look like new. SeaDek is made from soft, durable, UV resistant PE/EVA blended material specifically designed for the marine environment. SeaDek is a closed-cell material so it will not absorb water.
Perfect for the "Do It Yourselfer" all SeaDek pads come with our robust, marine grade, peel-and-stick adhesive backing for easy installation and are available in a wide range of colors.
You can trust that your order will be quickly processed and safely delivered. We can ship products anywhere in the United States or around the world. When you place an order we will estimate delivery dates based upon the availability of your item(s), shipping method selected and your shipment's destination. Our shipping charges are determined by the total dollar amount of your order, excluding applicable sales tax.
For international shipping, expedited shipping or any other shipping related questions or concerns please contact us by phone (321.632.4466 or toll free: 888.964.6860) or email email@example.com
The SeaDek Factory is located in Rockledge, Florida. Orders may take up to 72 hours to process
Return Policy:
Please call or email for a return authorization. A 10% restocking fee will be applied to all stock sheet material returned for credit, and a 30% restocking fee will be applied to all made to order Swim Platform Pads and Kayak kits. All items must be in good unused condition and packaging must remain intact or restocking fee will be 30%.


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LILLE, France — Marcel Kittel won the fourth stage of the Tour de France — his third of the race — in a sprint as the tour returned home from England on Tuesday.
Crashes ensnared some big names, but Vincenzo Nibali of Italy retained the yellow jersey.
Unlike his wins in Stages 1 and 3, when he made victory look easy, Kittel eked out victory by a half-wheel length at the end of the 101-mile ride from Le Touquet-Paris Plage to Lille Metropole along the Belgian border.
Kittel didn't celebrate this time but panted and, instead, it was runner-up Alexander Kristoff of Norway who swatted the air in frustration after being pipped at the line by the barreling German. France's Arnaud Demare was third.
Defending champion Chris Froome fell early in the stage after a rider bumped another into the Briton's front wheel. Froome got up, got bandaged, and got back to the pack. Slovak star Peter Sagan also went down in a spill, and he too recovered.
Before the stage, 2010 winner Andy Schleck dropped out because of a crash injury a day earlier. On Sunday, British sprint star Mark Cavendish quit the race after crashing in the final sprint in Stage 1 and damaging his right shoulder.
Froome and two-time champ Alberto Contador are among the 20 riders who trail Nibali in the overall standings by two seconds.
Froome, the Team Sky leader, skinned up his left knee and left elbow and hurt his left wrist in the crash, but got back on his bike and was treated by a race doctor before rejoining the peloton.
"That must hurt," race doctor Florence Pommerie told French TV, adding the injuries were mostly superficial and amounted to "essentially a few scratches."
An aching wrist could mean pain ahead for Froome, however. The pack rolls over nine patches of bumpy cobblestones on Wednesday, which could make for a joint-jarring ride and prevent him from keeping his hands on the handlebars.
Kittel has already acknowledged that his job is easier without Cavendish in the race. The Giant-Shimano rider is not a threat for the yellow jersey: Kittel is not a good climber, and lost nearly 20 minutes to Nibali in an up-and-down Stage 2.
Many race experts believe Wednesday's stage could offer the first big shakeout among the contenders because of the cobblestone treachery. Riders will cover 97 miles from Ypres, Belgium, to Arenberg Port du Hainaut, France.