text:
Help Us Help Women Prevent & Fight Breast Cancer with the 2nd Annual Requests for Breasts
The 2nd Annual Requests for Breasts campaign is October 22nd-26th, so please mark those dates on your calendar now. It's pretty simple really, when your requests come with the appropriate donation, we'll play anything you want to hear. This year, we're also selling 'Save the Boobies' t-shirts. The proceeds, like last year, benefit the Alliance for Women and Children here in Abilene.
The Alliance for Women and Children is a great organization that pays for pap smears and mammograms for those women who are financially unable to do so themselves. There's no reason a woman should be without the proper medical attention to prevent (and fight) breast and cervical cancer.
Here's how Requests for Breasts works:
Come by the Rock 108 Studios at any time to make your request, pick your time that it's played and drop off your donation. Then during October 22nd and 26th, just listen for your song(s). It's as easy as that. A $5 (minimum) donation is required for 'rock' songs and $10 for everything else outside of our format. For example, Papa Roach equals $5 and George Strait equals $10. You can make as many requests as you want, as long as the money is there.
We're giving 100% of the proceeds to the Alliance for Women and Children.
You can also pick up your awesome looking 'Save the Boobies' t-shirts here at the Rock 108 studios too.
So help us save the boobies this year please!


text:
Author | exchange4media News Service | Monday, Feb 08,2016 7:59 AM
Balaji Telefilms Limited has approved a preferential issue of 1,07,20,000 equity shares at Rs 140 each, aggregating to Rs 150 crore to Atyant Capital India Fund – I, Vanderbilt University, GHI LTP LTD., GHI HSP LTD. and GHI ERP LTD., subject to necessary approvals.
The issue price represents a 26% premium over the average of the weekly high and low of the volume weighted average share price of the company during the past 26-week period. The proposed issue will result in a dilution of 14.1% of the equity share capital of the company and the post-issue promoter and promoter group holding in the company will be 40.6%.
The proceeds of the issue will be utilized to catapult the launch and growth of ALT Digital Media Entertainment Limited (ALT Digital Media) – the group's foray into the B2C digital content business segment – the next growth driver for the company's operating strategies.
Backed by best-in-class technology, ALT Digital Media will operate as subscription video on demand (SVOD) based over the top (OTT) platform and targeted towards urban Indians and Indian diaspora. Leveraging Group's unmatched position and creative abilities in both television and film content, ALT Digital Media will create highly differentiated, original digital content for the entire connected ecosystem spanning mobile devices, web, smart TVs and game stations.
ALT Digital Media is reflective of the company's strategic intent to build a consumer facing brand by creating enjoyable, engaging content for digital audience globally and monetising the incredible potential of original on-demand entertainment.
The preferential issue of equity shares is in accordance with Chapter VII of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009, as amended, and is subject to approval from shareholders at the ensuing Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on March 05, 2016. Accordingly, the equity shares to be allotted pursuant to the issue shall be locked-in for a period of one year.
The transaction was facilitated by Axis Capital Limited, being the sole investment banker and advisor for the fund raise.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Falcon - anyone watched or going to watch first episode?(4 Posts)
LittleAbruzzenBear Fri 16-Nov-12 17:55:56
calypso2008 Sat 17-Nov-12 08:16:16
LittleAbruzzenBear Sat 17-Nov-12 14:22:05
didldidi Thu 22-Nov-12 22:55:17
Join the discussion
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join in the discussion, get discounts, win prizes and lots more.Register now
Already registered with Mumsnet? Log in to leave your comment or alternatively, sign in with Facebook or Google.
Please login first.


text:
Even Turkeys Prefer Thanksgiving To Three Hours Of 'Sportscenter'
About a month or so ago, I was stuck in jury duty with no cell phone. Desperately seeking to pass the time, I moved over to a seat in front of the television tuned to ESPN, and watched Sportscenter for the first time in almost a year.
It. Was. Rough. Highlights of sporting events were far and few between, replaced by the bombastic analysis of human cartoon character Herman Edwards and a made-up debate about whether LeBron James should dunk in preseason games.
See more cartoons: Rams' No. 1 Pick Jared Goff Finally Starts Sunday — Who Cares?
At one point, Sportscenter was one of my favorite shows. I'd wake up early to watch highlights before I left for school, and would rush home to see what I might have missed. But the show I fell in love it, with smart and funny anchors like Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick being funny, is dead.
And what replaced it is the zombie apocalypse of sports shows.
First of all, I don't buy the argument that people don't want to watch highlights thanks to the internet. They may not want to watch boring highlights, but give them a good personality to follow and I bet they'll turn on ESPN no matter how fast their internet speed is. Even if I've already seen highlights of Sunday's football action, I'd still turn in to ESPN "Primetime" just to her Chris Berman and Tom Jackson's take on all the football action that day.
In a way, it's no different that following a podcast – it's all about personality.
But let's say I did buy that lame argument that the internet killed the enjoyment of watching highlights. I certainly wouldn't replace it with increasingly-loud talking heads spewing indefensible positions in a desperate attempt to garner ratings.
"The Houston Texans will forever regret it if they do not take Johnny Manziel!" "Women help provoke domestic violence!" "Derek Jeter is a fraud!" I can hear Anchorman's Brick Tamland off in the background yelling, "Loud noises!"
The hot takes are just one part of the problem. The other is the endless parade of analysts and experts who tell me who parrot talking points about what's going to happen in a game I'm preparing to watch later tonight. I just want scores, highlights and a quote for to. Take your "QB you'd want to start a team" time fillers and give them to Buzzfeed.
It's not that I don't appreciate the effort, Trent Dilfer, but I don't think it needs to be said that, "you can't lose games in the NFL and still win."
And for the record, I don't need to see Kobe Bryant's stats compared to an actual black mama.
It's not that difficult, ESPN. Hire smart, funny sports personalities and set them lose. Make Sportscenter great again.
I think I saw that on a hat somewhere. – Rob Tornoe


text:
Despite debilitating disease, local mom calls herself lupus thriver
Posted April 13, 2014
Updated April 17, 2014
Jeanette Burns' diagnosis with lupus years ago changed her life exponentially.
But, instead of dwelling on the bad, Burns focuses on the good. She calls herself a lupus thriver and is working hard to spread awareness and raise money for research for the chronic disease.
About 90 percent of people diagnosed with lupus are like Burns when she got the news - women in their childbearing years. And Burns, a single mom of a 15-year-old girl in Cary, likes to clear up some common misconceptions. Lupus isn't contagious. It isn't like or related to cancer, HIV or AIDS. And it's not arthritis.
Lupus patients are like snowflakes, no two are alike, said Burns, quoting a common description.
"Generally, no two people with lupus will have identical symptoms – there is no 'typical' case of lupus. That's why it's so hard to diagnose and difficult to treat," she said. "Lupus mimics other illnesses like multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, thyroid disease, infections, rheumatoid arthritis and a host of other conditions."
To raise awareness and money, Burns is participating in the Walk to End Lupus Now in Raleigh on April 27. The event, with a 5K and one-mile route, takes place at N.C. State's Centennial Campus, 851 Main Campus Dr.
I chatted with her by email to learn more about her experience with lupus. Here's our email chat:
Go Ask Mom: When were you diagnosed with lupus? What symptoms led to the diagnosis?
Jeanette Burns: From the outside you'd never guess the battles I have won or the ones I am fighting today. I have lupus, systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE), ITP (a low platelet blood disorder since birth), Raynaud's and Sjogren's Syndrome, liver disease (Stage 2, NASH), fibromyalgia, a hemangeomia of the skull that causes severe migraines and AVN (avacular necrosis of the hips, it is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Avascular necrosis leads to tiny breaks in the bone and the bone's eventual collapses, I developed this condition after long use of prednisone to treat my lupus) and anxiety. Many of these syndromes are a result of having my lupus.
I became sick in 1998 after having my daughter, while living in Pennsylvania. The first flare I recall I had extreme fatigue, numerous skin, hair, and nose infections, extreme body pain, low platelets and hair loss. My doctor recognized right away what he suspected to be lupus and ordered the appropriate tests. I always had prolonged and frequent infections and viruses since I was young. Looking back at pictures, I now notice the lovely butterfly rash blanketing my face. I found out later that lupus was in my family. But I still didn't take it serious back then because there wasn't much information out there on what it can really do to my body from my area. I thought it was only skin related.
In 2008 I got a shock when I learned what lupus really can do. It affected my heart. I thought I had heartburn for months until I ended up in Duke Hospital with a large pericardial infusion around my heart and developed a condition called pericarditis. This began an emotional roller coaster ride of symptoms that continues till this day. Symptoms including recurring infections, joint pains, chest pain, headaches, persistent fevers, fatigue, depression, rashes, hips throbbing, insomnia, weight fluctuations, and memory fog. Since 2008, I've seen many doctors and tried many different medications to get my lupus under control and I have been battling other conditions that the doctors have found since then.
GAM: How has the diagnosis changed your life?
JB: Lupus has changed my life in many ways. I'm no longer a partner at my printing company or an owner of a limousine company. I'm not a Brownie leader or running from one church meeting to the next. I don't work anymore and my life is now dedicated to my daughter, exercise and being a lupus activist. I now know what my calling is: To educate people about lupus and to make more people aware of what it is and how it changes lives forever.
However I'm blessed today, I'm thriving with it. I have team of great doctors at Duke: A rheumatologist, neurologist, hepatologist, urologist, and pain management specialist. And today, I'm on the right combination of medication, but my cabinet looks like a small pharmacy. Sometimes it's still heartbreaking to have to say, "No I can't do that today." It's a struggle to find the balance of pushing yourself to your full potential and allowing yourself to rest. I don't like to admit that some days I can't walk or be in the sun, or I'm weaker than people think.
So, in 2011, I started volunteering with the North Carolina chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. My knowledge of lupus has increased. I have been in the health sector for the large part of my life and lupus was not really on my radar even though I had it. I didn't realize what a mystery this disease in fact was until I started working with the organization. I am a firm believer that health care is a right not a privilege. It became readily apparent what an impact this group of people makes in the lives of individuals affected by Lupus living in North Carolina. Our chapter has programs that support and resources to anyone affected by lupus in North Carolina at no cost to the individual. A number of the people who seek our help are newly diagnosed, scared, and looking for answers and help.
Upon becoming part of this chapter, we started a support group in Raleigh, which is now called the Wake County Lupus Support Group that I facilitate. It helps me to know I'm not the only one out there. As of today, we are growing every day. Our support group is open to lupus patients, lupus thrivers, family, friends, co-workers; etc
Our meetings range from planned topics to getting down to the heart and soul of the physical, mental, and emotional pain we all live and cope with on a day-to-day basis. All I know is that God is working through me to impact lives and if he is pleased with my works while I am here on earth, then I know he'll be able to say, "Well done good and faithful servant!!!!" My favorite quote by Maya Angelo is: "I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it!"
GAM: About 90 percent of people with lupus are women in the prime of their lives. What does the general public need to know about this disease?
JB: Lupus is an overactive immune system gone awry...an overachiever. Instead of destroying bacteria's, viruses and foreign invaders like it is supposed to do, it gets confused and over-zealous and destroys anything in its path, including vital organs.
Think of it in terms of "friendly fire," when one of your own gets taken out accidentally. That is what the immune system does to your body and vital organs. It doesn't intend to. It just didn't recognize them as supposed to be being there.
Lupus is a chronic disease. This means that anyone who develops Lupus will have lupus for the rest of his or her life. As with other chronic illnesses such as diabetes or asthma, there is no cure for Lupus yet. However, there are medications and lifestyle adjustments that help most people live active and productive lives in spite of these illnesses.
Lupus has many different symptoms, and because of that, affects each person differently. Lupus can cause a mild skin rash or achy joints, or can involve the kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, or other internal organs. What most people do not realize, however, is how much effort it may take you to function day-to-day when you have to cope with extreme fatigue, chronic pain, memory loss, medication side effects, or visible skin lesions.
Lupus is unpredictable because it is a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). Knowing that Lupus is unpredictable may help other people understand your physical and emotional ups and downs as well as the changes that you may have to make to schedules, plans, and commitments.
Ninety percent of lupus patients are female. It strikes mostly women of childbearing age - ages 15 to 44. However, men, children and teenagers develop lupus, too. Lupus affects more women of color (African American, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, Hispanics/Latinos and Native Americans) than Caucasians. These racial/ethnic groups are two to three times more likely to develop lupus than Caucasians. Relatives of people with lupus have an approximately 5 percent to 13 percent chance of developing lupus.
GAM: What are your treatments like?
JB: There is no cure for lupus yet. For most people with lupus, proper treatment can minimize symptoms, reduce inflammation and pain and stop the development of serious organ damage. Once you have been diagnosed with lupus, your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on age, lupus symptoms, general health, and lifestyle. However, it can take months, and sometimes years, before your health care team finds the right combination of medicines to keep your lupus symptoms under control.
GAM: You will be participating in an awareness walk this month. Why is important to raise awareness?
JB: Being a lupus thriver, I put my heart and soul into is our Lupus Walk every spring. I have been on the planning committee since 2012. It's so rewarding to me.
One of the greatest things about the walk is this day we support the fighters, admire the survivors, honor the taken, and never ever give up hope there might be a cure one day for us. There's a whole community there that day who understands how you feel and what you're going through. And I promise you, when you leave that day you will know that you're not alone in this battle. It's an amazing and emotional experience.
The walks are conducted nationwide by the Lupus Foundation of America and its national network to raise money for lupus research, increase awareness of lupus, and rally public support for those who suffer from its brutal impact. Those interested in participating can register as an individual or with a team. There is a 1-mile route and a 5K route option.
For more information about the walk, go to www.lupusnc.org or contact the LFANC at 877-849-8271 or firstname.lastname@example.com. If you live or have families in other areas, walks are scheduled May 17 in Asheville; May 4 in Charlotte; and Sept. 13 in Fayetteville.
Also, May is Lupus Awareness Month. Please wear your purple for us and tell someone what you learned today and help spread the word about lupus so more people will be better prepared to recognize and fight it.
Go Ask Mom features local moms every Monday.


text:
Sir Tim Rice on Why Everyone Still Loves a Good Musical
Sir Tim Rice, famed lyricist and writer, enlightens theatre goers on why we all love a good musical - and what still makes one - in a new op-ed he penned for The Telegraph.
His musings come after taking a night off from rehearsals of the impending West End production of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY to take in a touring production of his famed work EVITA, also touring across North America.
"As I watched this excellent revival of what was my last collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber, I was brutally reminded how some things have changed since it first opened in the West End in 1978, a far-off golden age when there were no jukebox musicals, no shows that ran forever and no internet - not that I have anything against the first two," he writes.
In his column, Rice takes on the ever-popular jukebox musical, tracing its first success back to 1989 with BUDDY - THE Buddy Holly STORY (also touring North America), all the way to today, with the likes of JERSEY BOYS and MAMMA MIA - and what that means for the West End, as well as musicals in general.
"One great difference between now and then is the proliferation of the so-called jukebox musical, which uses previously released popular songs or a particular band's back catalogue as its score. In 1978, the genre didn't exist - but, boy, it's popular now. It really took off with Buddy in 1989, the story of Buddy Holly which climaxed with a wonderful interpretation of his last show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, with sound, lights and backup musicians that were way more sophisticated than those Holly actually performed with in 1959. Though it ran for 12 years in the West End, Buddy The Musical did nothing much on Broadway, which has always been more resistant to the jukebox conception."
But Rice also notes that since his original time working on EVITA in the 1970s, audiences, as well as producers and composers, have changed. It's a new market.
"...I get the impression that the majority of today's contemporary chart music followers automatically and mindlessly dismiss anything that smacks of 'a musical,'" he writes. "Audiences in 1978 were far more varied in their age range - and less conservative - than today."
But even with the prevelance of the internet, when before opening night "tweeters and bloggers are already airing their views to the world," he says, what's important in enjoying a production remains the same.
"But the most important things haven't changed. Theatre-goers still love musicals," he writes. "Those who create them still do so more in hope than with confidence. I'm not sure I have a clue what works in musical theatre these days, but neither does anyone else. At least I know I don't know anything, which must give me some advantage over my fellow bewildered. Is From Here To Eternity a good idea for a musical? Is Stephen Ward? Well, almost anything can be if well executed - except possibly Rasputin, which has been attempted several times, never successfully."
To read Sir Tim Rice's entire column in the The Telegraph, click here.
Photo by Walter McBride


text:
For years, Volkswagen's diesels were like cod liver oil: a worthy medicine that few American consumers could stomach. The stripped-down oil-burners hidden in the back of US forecourts seemed specifically designed for penny-pinching college professors and health food store managers. Customers who considered engine clatter, black smoke and lack of comforts (creature or otherwise) a badge of honor. When $3-a-gallon gas arrived stateside, hordes of "normal" customers suddenly joined the Euro-throngs clamoring for their daily dose of diesel. And no example was– is– more sought after than the VW Jetta TDI.
Obviously, the new Jetta TDI wears the same sheet metal as its petrol-powered sibling. In other words, it's about as exciting as an all-nude Alan Greenspan revue. Fortunately, the TDI's chrome moustache and silver-bearded grill add a touch of upmarket dignity. From the rear, the Jetta has a Jennifer Lopez thing going on. You can get a lot of junk in the trunk, but Ms. Lopez's rear end looks better on her than a small sedan. While the new Jetta is to cutting edge car design what giraffes are to jazz, you can't fault VW for erring on the side of conservatism; it's what they do.
They also do interiors. The Jetta TDI's cabin is first in class, boasting build quality that redefines Toyota's Corolla as the place where budget-minded drivers have to sit for an automotive time-out. The TDI's plastics are well turned-out, stylishly deployed and discreet. (A claim that certainly can't be made for the Beetle's tacky polymers). The faux leather trim is softer than Nicole Ritchie's career prospects, the sunroof switch feels like it's made from Godiva chocolate, the shift knob encourages the kind of over-fondling that's illegal in several states, and the stereo controls are space shuttle cool but Playskool easy. Diesel and destitute may never again join hands.
Once upon a time, starting a diesel engine involved holding a plastic lever until a glow-plug indicated that the powerplant was… finally… ready… to… fire. These days, it's twist and go. Gone too are the plumes of black smoke that coughed from the tailpipe, and back bumpers that look like they been left dangling in a chimney for days. The TDI is as practical and clean as any gas engine you can name– save those pesky particulates.
Once underway, the TDI displays a slight shudder–- a kind of subwoofer shake– when driven under 1500 rpm in first and second gears. Once you crest 20 miles per hour, the TDI's direct injection, turbocharged powerplant produces a wave of torque smooth enough to charm a Prius owner right out of his/her/its hemp shirt. Sloth is the only other indication you're not having a gas. The Jetta TDI shuffles from zero to 60mph in just over 11 seconds. While the TDI's go-times are an improvement over the old non-turbo units, you still need to be careful which minivan you take on at the stoplight drags. (Hint: go for the one with the full soccer team and the Mom on the cell.)
At speed, when you eventually get there, the Jetta provides a rock solid ride. Its 109mph top end condemns it to the autobahn JV squad, but the car's fast enough to make a lot of fuel-conscious Americans' heads explode. At slower speeds, through the corners, the Jetta is a competent and predictable handler. A few challenging bends revealed the TDI's tendency to understeer at the limit, but it's no compact car killjoy. The steering is crisp and communicative. In the best Volkswagen tradition, the TDI is a car that favors driving over merely operating.
The payoff for the TDI's piss-poor forward progress is, of course, high mileage and legendary engine life. We saw 40 mpg with more than a little city driving thrown into the mix. Owners of previous VW diesels take great joy in reporting (and re-reporting) an engine life span that exceeds their upholstery's presentability, or 200,000 miles, whichever comes last. There is no reason to believe that the new smoother, quieter, more refined Jetta TDI won't outlive the original VW diesels' supporters.
If the old VW diesel was cod liver oil, the new Jetta TDI is more of a mixed greens salad with a raspberry vinaigrette. It's not a steak, but it tastes good and it's good for you. Given the current price of feeding-up a meat and potatoes V8, it's no wonder VW's diesel dining room is crowded. Dealers report that the Jetta TDI is selling as fast as Toyota's Prius AND going for sticker. It's enough to bring the Jetta TDI to the front of the forecourt, and finally give all those impoverished college professors and alfalfa eaters a plausible reason why they didn't buy a pricey hybrid.
4 Comments on "Jetta Tdi Review..."
Back to TopLeave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
Photos are for members only!!
Peachmate is a 100% free sex site for adults looking for fun with no strings attached.
Escort ads, casual sex groups, personal ads, video chat and much more.
I have a quiet walk about myself. I am not like your ordinary guy. I know exactly what makes you tick. I am really good at knowing a person before we even speak. Women usually can't handle my fire so don't get burnt.


text:
On Thu, Aug 23, 2007 at 10:47:13PM -0700, Josh Berkus wrote: > > Howerver, Scott, you've hit on the failure of the whole training industry to > advance to the new economy. Training is still largely a boutique industry, > and has failed to advance meaningfully into cheaper, more accessable online > courses. The problem you identify is quite real, but it's more widespread > and harder to solve than you probably think it is. The latter point is important here. To begin with, training is expensive to do, and very hard to do well. Computer-based training is even harder to do well. Most people are not very good teachers (including many of the trainers who are out there); and even more people who are already out working are _awful_ students. Moreover, the success rates on self-administered training (which is what CBT has to be) are lower than classroom-based training. This is because the classroom has an advantage: the students have to go at the pace of the classroom. Since the "pass" mark at the end of most classroom-based courses is low enough, a test administered right at the end of an intensive week-long course will almost always show nearly everyone passing. (Universities also do something similar, of course, making sure that they get a nice brontosaurus-shaped curve at the end of their courses. Just ask people who have taught, for instance, symbolic logic or mathematics, where the curves are often U-shaped.) But self-paced learning is different: unless the course design is _very good_, it will almost certainly have higher failure rates, because students aren't that good at the discipline necessary to ensure they work all the problems needed, in the right order and at the right pace. For instance, a foundation skill needs to be followed immediately by practice in its application; but if the student takes two weeks between those units (because "something came up at work"), then the student quickly finds it can't remember the basic skills needed to continue with the work. The trainee becomes frustrated, and gives up. There are ways around this, of course, but they're more expensive than putting someone in a classroom for a week -- for the training company. The trainees, of course, have to pay travel and accommodation, too; but that's a cost that's often accounted as "travel" and not "training"; so the training budget doesn't have to pay that additional expense in the case of going to a course in a nearby city. The training budget _does_ have to pay for the additional expense in a remote-training, student-paced arrangement, though, which means (paradoxically) that self-guided training, if it is effective, is often more expensive per course than classroom training. Best, A -- Andrew Sullivan | ajs(at)crankycanuck(dot)ca The plural of anecdote is not data. --Roger Brinner
Next: From: Bruce Momjian Date: 2007-08-24 16:59:23 Subject: Re: Theme of this release: Performance? Previous: From: Josh Berkus Date: 2007-08-24 15:31:23 Subject: Re: Theme of this release: Performance?


text:
/ NIBL @Climbing Works, 1st December
The Northern Indoor Bouldering League is back for another year travelling across the North's climbing/bouldering venues. Dates and Venues are on the website (but last 3 dates are due to change once confirmed)
This Saturday we hit Sheffield at the Climbing Works (www.climbingworks.com)
NB registration time is 11am onwards, climbng time starts at 12pm for 3hrs. £10 entry fee, under 11's pay the Climbing Hangars' regular entry fee for that age.
30 problems to go at set by the country's best and IFSC recognised routesetters.
Prizes will be supplied by DMM Climbing for the winners of the following categories at each venue: (both male and female) Juniors U16s; Open; Veterans and new for this year, Under 11's (highest scoring u11 will win a prize too, this category won't have it's own league table).
Loads of other prizes and freebies to be had. Many thanks to our current sponsors DMM Climbing, Troll UK, Pump Volumes, Bare Bones Clothing and THREESIXFIVE.tv
2011-2012's League Champions are:
Dave Barrans - Open Mens
Diane Merrick - Open Womens
Michael Hopkins - Juniors Males
Hannah Wilson - Junior Females
Andy Farnell - Male Vets
Sian Oakley - Female Vets
Please visit out new website www.nibl.org.uk for any more info.
Become a fan of our Facebook page http://goo.gl/xt9Qw for upto date info
NIBL is a proud supporter of Climbers Against Cancer, keep an eye out on their website www.climbersagainstcancer.org and get yourself a tshirt in support!
Climbing anchors may not seem to be the most exciting topic for UKC; what is there to know you might ask? Surely they are... Read more


text:
+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8
Thread: F.ix O.r R.epair D.aily
Hybrid View
F.ix O.r R.epair D.aily
OK, my girlfriend just gave me this acromym on the cell phone as I was driving my new Ford Escape HEV into the repair shop. I had it all of three weeks, before the rear tire well began emitting high, chirpy squeaks whenever I'd drive in electric mode or under 40mph. The chirping got louder yesterday, and today I took it in for repairs to the dealer....30 miles from my home. ugh. I hope and pray this is not a harbinger of things to come.
Anyone else been in for repairs on their Escapes yet?


text:
Matt Lee Classic 5K
McNeil Park, Dayton MN. Starting at St. John the Baptist Church
Sat 07/13/2013
150 Participants
This is the 2nd year for the 5k, and we are happy to announce that we are making design adjustments to the play area this year to include equipment that is all inclusive and safe and appropriate for ALL children! **Check-in begins @ 7:30**** T-shirts for all participants, and water and snacks after the race. Awards for Top 3 finishers and top 3 stroller racers, as well as MANY great door prizes! The Dayton police department has asked that NO ANIMALS participate in the race, for safety purposes/time concerns. Thank you for participating!
- Address:18380 Columbus Street
Dayton, MN 55327


text:
It only takes a minute to get started. Fill out our simple sign up form and login to the site.
This step is elective but will seriously boost your chances of your profile getting noticed by other daters. Write a little about yourself, your pasttimes and attach any nice photographs of yourself.
Use our website's advanced search to pinpoint members who match your needs. Or just leaf through listings and pinpoint members that you find interesting.
Discovered someone who takes your fancy? Send them a word or two or just a wink and see if anything happens. With a little luck you'll be on your way to a once in a lifetime experience.
You won't regret it


text:
That's so interesting! If you remember the name of the film could you please let me know? I'd love to see it.
As I said, I'm a multiple dreams per night dreamer. Usually, it's around 3 but it can get worse than that. Sometimes I dream so much and it seems so real that I don't feel like I'm actually getting any restful sleep. I wonder if that's part of the psychosis element. Never feeling like my mind is a rest really takes a toll on me at times.


text:
A thoracic spine x-ray is an x-ray of the twelve chest (thoracic) bones (vertebrae). The vertebrae are separated by flat pads of cartilage called disks that provide a cushion between the bones.
Vertebral radiography; X-ray - spine; Thoracic x-ray; Spine x-ray; Thoracic spine films; Back films
The test is done in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office. You will lie on the x-ray table in different positions. If the x-ray is checking for an injury, care will be taken to prevent further injury.
The x-ray machine will be moved over the thoracic area of the spine. You will hold your breath as the picture is taken, so that the picture will not be blurry. Usually 2 or 3 x-ray views are needed.
Tell the provider if you are pregnant. Remove all jewelry.
The test causes no discomfort. The table may be cold.
The x-ray helps evaluate:
The test can detect:
There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits.
Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of x-rays.
The x-ray will not detect problems in the muscles, nerves, and other soft tissues, because these problems cannot be seen well on an x-ray.
Van Thielen T, van den Hauwe L, Van Goethem JW, Parizel PM. Imaging techniques and anatomy. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 6th ed. New York, NY: Elsevier Churchill-Livingstone; 2015:chap 54.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch)
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2013 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.


text:
Georgia has absorbed some heavy punches so far this season.
But Sunday's shot from Missouri at least buckled the Bulldogs' knees and might have knocked them to the canvas.
Georgia blew a five-run lead as Missouri rallied for a 8-5 win against the Bulldogs on Sunday at Foley Field to take two of three in the weekend series.
"This one is going to be really hard to swallow because of all the momentum we had early," Georgia pitcher/outfielder Jared Walsh said. "Once again like yesterday (6-5 Georgia win on Saturday), we almost let them come back, and today they did. That's the frustrating thing. We tried our luck once, but we got away with it then we tried it again. This one is tough, but I expect to rebound with (Georgia) Tech. If you can't get up for Tech, then you shouldn't even be here. That's how we all look at it."
Georgia (12-21, 2-10 Southeastern Conference) has lost 12 of its last 16 games, including 10 of 12 in conference.
Georgia started the weekend just one game behind the Tigers in the SEC East.
After Missouri took two of three in the weekend, the Bulldogs are alone in last place with the worst record in the conference with six weeks to go in the regular season.
"This is the worst, the absolute worst," Georgia coach David Perno said. "It's tough. Deep down, my heart goes to the players and the coaches. We're doing some good things. But we're just doing some bad things at the worst possible times."
On Saturday, Georgia led 5-0 after four innings but survived to win 6-5. Last week at Kentucky, Georgia let most of a 7-4 eighth-inning lead slip away but held on to win 7-6. On Sunday, Missouri landed its final haymaker in the ninth inning when it rallied from one run down to score four.
"This is definitely up there with the worst," Georgia third baseman Curt Powell said. "This was a tough one. We went into the ninth inning with the lead. We were going for a home series win. Having a finish like that was really tough."
Three of those runs came home on a triple by Dane Opel after Georgia began the inning by loading the bases with no outs on a single, an error by Nelson Ward on a sacrifice bunt and a walk by of Bulldogs reliever Blake Dieterich.
"It was a compound effect," Powell said. "We didn't execute on that bunt. It was a tough play, but it shouldn't have even come down to that ninth inning. We had many opportunities throughout the game to definitely score some runs. We've got to take advantage of it so we don't put ourselves in that situation in the ninth."
The day started promisingly for Georgia as it scored twice in both the first and second innings. Walsh had an RBI single in the first. Cody Sheedy and Powell had RBI singles in the second and Georgia led 4-0. Georgia extended its lead to 5-0 when Brett DeLoach brought home Kyle Farmer with a sacrifice fly.
But Georgia sowed the seeds of its own demise in those early innings. Overly-ambitious base running led to four Bulldogs being thrown out at second either by catcher Dylan Kelly or right fielder Opel at second in the first four innings. Then Missouri reliever Keaton Steele (3-1) sat down the last 15 Bulldogs in a row to win the game.
"I think their right fielder had more outs in the first four innings (three) than their pitcher got and that's just not smart," Perno said. "We could have really stretched that lead and who knows. You don't know how they're going to react at that point in time."
Steele allowed four hits and one run with nine strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings for Missouri. He also had three hits, including a double. Opel was 2-for-4 with a three-RBI triple in the ninth to go with three outfield assists. Kelly and Kendall Keeton were both 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Georgia gave up 14 hits to the Tigers and had two errors that led to two unearned runs. Jared Walsh made his first start of the season and allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) with three strikeouts and two walks in 3 1/3 innings. Bryan Benzor gave up four hits but no runs with three strikeouts in three innings. Jarrett Brown allowed three hits and one run in one inning while Dieterich (1-1) allowed one hit and three runs (two earned) with a walk in 0 1/3 innings to take the loss. Dylan Cole finished the game and gave up one hit and one run with a strikeout.
Powell led Georgia's offense with three hits, an RBI and a run scored. Jared Walsh was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Jess Posey had two hits and scored once. DeLoach had a hit and an RBI and Sheedy also had a hit and an RBI. But all of Georgia's offense came in the first four innings as Steele retired the Bulldogs in order the final five frames, including six of his nine strikeouts.
"We don't know how to finish," Perno said. "Our two conference wins are games we had complete control and we made them one-run games. We did it last night and tonight it finally got us. We're living on the edge in games we should be winning comfortably and handling it. We're just not executing at the most important times."
Notes: Jess Posey started his third consecutive game in place of Nelson Ward, who missed Friday and Saturday with a shoulder bruise. Ward came into the game as a defensive replacement for Posey in the eighth inning. ... Powell was thrown out in the fourth inning after he tripped over second base and fell to the ground to end the inning. ... Georgia's No. 8-hole hitters Justin Bryan, D.J. Smith and Daniel Nichols combined to strike out all four times they came to the plate. Georgia struck out 12 times in the game.
—Roger Clarkson covers Georgia baseball for onlineathens.com. Follow him on Twitter.


text:
Raising Readers
If there's one thing anyone can do to improve a child's life, and improve the community around them, it's to make sure they can read...
Early Years Foundation Stage
As parents may know, government guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage (early learning and development from birth to five years old) has been rewritten. You can find a guide for parents at http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2014/08/EYFS_Parents_Guide-amended.pdf. Please don't hesitate to ask staff if you would like to know more.
School Dinners £2.10
Great hot school dinners are cooked fresh each day by Weasenham Primary School. The price is £2.10.
Dinners must be ordered and paid for in advance by Friday for the following week. Please ask in preschool for a menu.
1-4 of 4


text:
Breast cancer survivor offers wisdom at Faulkner satellite center
Call 877-422-3324 today to make an appointment
Make your appointment or second opinion with Dana-Farber today to meet with an onsite specialist.
Adult Patients:877-442-3324
Pediatric Patients:888-733-4662
Can't get to Boston? Explore our Online Second Opinion service to get expert advice from Dana-Farber oncologists.
Email Dana-Farber
Main Number617-632-3000
Toll-Free Number866-408-DFCI (3324)
Discover the ways to give and how to get involved to support Dana-Farber.
Poet Richard Fox gains insight – and material – through cancer treatment
A family faces cancer in an unfamiliar city – with help
Choosing mastectomy or not: Studying young women's surgical choices
Jeff's targeted therapy has kept his advanced lung cancer at bay.
A selection of articles from the Spring/Summer 2014 issue of Paths of Progress.
Download this issue for your iPad from iTunes
To see the entire publication, please download the PDF version. If you'd like to receive a print version of Paths of Progress in the mail, please complete this form.
The discovery of a key protein, led by Gordon Freeman, PhD, may help spur therapies that make the body's immune system attack cancer cells.
How pathology helps guide and direct the precise course of treatment for patients at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center.
A new gene sequencing project sets its sights on the "exome" of tumor cells, potentially uncovering new treatment opportunities.
Clinical trials offer some patients new treatment options, but their real value lies in their potential to improve future therapies.


text:
When in need turn to Reege.
ABC did when they needed a host for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," and now CBS has followed suit turning to the king of daytime talk to inject star power into their new primetime game show "Million Dollar Password."
The series debuted on Sunday and delivered solid ratings. Make that king-sized ratings. According to Nielsen, Sunday night's premiere of "Million Dollar Password" was the highest rated show in its timeslot.
And Regis Philbin is taking all the credit.
The 76-year-old charmer doesn't do much on the show, but that's what makes him so good. He does what an outstanding host should-—allow the celebrity contestants and their civilian partners enthusiastically vie for a million bucks.
I admit; I did catch the last 15 minutes of the celebrity-infused game show (Sunday night's episode starred Neil Patrick Harris and Rachael Ray) and it was quite entertaining. (Future big name contestants include Betty White, Rosie O'Donnell and Steven Weber.)
As entertiaining as Philbin's last venture in game show hosting? I would say so, but the numbers "Password" pulled in were only 42% of the summer 1999 average of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," the game show that revived ABC and Philbin.
Philbin maintains (only half jokingly) that he was the reason for Millionaire's enormous success. And as for his brief venture back to primetime in 2006 with "America's Got Talent," well, Reege insists that gig was more of a favor to show producers than anything else.
Regardless of the televised talent show's success (or lack thereof), Philbin is still the king and now he'll have yet another venue to brag about his title.
Kelly Ripa's better (on-air) half will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences during the upcoming 35th annual Daytime Emmy Awards, which airs later this month on ABC.
The "Live With Regis and Kelly" host will be saluted by a slew of stars from all over Tinseltown and if he's really lucky his show might score some hardware at the annual awards show too.


text:
ARDENT train enthusiast Eric (Colin Firth) is safely ensconced in a first-class carriage, casting nervous glances at the woman sitting opposite.
Eventually he strikes up a conversation with Patricia Wallace (Nicole Kidman) and learns she is visiting the north of England based on recommendations from a friend.
He engineers another meeting with Patti further up the line and they fall in love and marry. It quickly becomes clear to Patti that there is something in Eric's past which is troubling him, but her efforts to help are swatted aside. So she seeks out his best friend Finlay (Stellan Skarsgard), hoping he can reveal the scars of the past and ease her spouse's suffering.
"A lot of men went through something you can't even begin to imagine," Finlay tells her.
Ultimately, he recounts to Patti, and us, the horrors faced by young Eric (Jeremy Irvine) and fellow soldiers at the Sakamoto Butai camp.
Based on the bestselling autobiography of Eric Lomax, The Railway Man is a respectful and polished drama, which uses a patchwork of flashbacks to recount the writer's treatment at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army after the fall of Singapore during the Second World War.


text:
Cave Digger
By Meshnet Inc
This app is only available on the App Store for iOS devices.
Cave Digger
Venture into a mining adventure into the uncertain caves of riches. There is enough wealth in the caves, Precious stones, Gold and other precious metals.
Well, your mission is to collect as much as wealth possible and beat the rich list in every level. The challenge comes in the form of dangerous cave dwelling creatures similar to our extinct Dinos. Though they look cool, they are really deadly.
You are pre-equipped with the drill, so as you navigate, you drill your way into the earth. All you have to do is to map the cave and drill ways to reach out for the precious stones.
This is not easy as the dangerous cave dwelling creatures are prowling the cave and protecting its treasure. You need to kill those creatures and collect all the wealth. Collecting wealth with give you points to replenish your arms.
So get set for a cave adventure..!
Game Feature:
•40 challenging caves
•Cranky creatures to trouble you
•Amazing Gameplay and sounds
•Integrated with Open Fient and Game Center
What's New in Version 1.2
* Removed dependency on UDID.
iPhone Screenshots
Customers Also Bought
- Free
- Category: Games
- Updated: 14 June 2013
- Version: 1.2
- Size: 19.7 MB
- Language: English
- Developer: Meshnet Inc.
- © 2012 Meshnet Inc
Compatibility: Requires iOS 4.3 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.


text:
There are 14 insurance agents in Brigham City, UT. Select an insurance agent below for contact information and a map.
|Allstate (1)
|Jimmie R Jones and Associates (1)
|Blackburn Jones Company (1)
|Medex Becky Bybee (1)
|Centennial Title Insur Agency (1)
|Peak Black Management LLC (1)
|Farm Bureau Financial Services (1)
|Sorenson Christie J (1)
|Farmers Insurance (3)
|State Farm Insurance (1)
|Hillam Title (1)
|Wiser Demont C Agent Broker (1)


text:
Microsoft Buying Nokia for $7.2 Billion, Here's Why (MSFT, NOK)
What do you do if you're in market that is clearly dominated by two giant players and you can't gain more than a single digit foothold?
What do you do if your latest tablet has sales that came in less than expected and you cut the price of it by $100?
You can purchase most of Nokia (NYSE: NOK), another company that has struggled to gain foothold in the cell phone space, for $7.17 billion.
That's exactly what Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced late Monday. The move makes Microsoft the owner of Nokia's devices and services business along with licenses to Nokia's patents.
It also places 32,000 extra employees on Microsoft's payroll, including some talented designers and ex-Microsoft employees, as well as ex-Nokia CEO Stephen Elop—somebody who is rumored to be in the running for Steve Ballmer's job.
Related: SLIDESHOW: Who Could Replace Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer?
The deal has investors bidding up Nokia 40 percent in early trading Tuesday, but has some Microsoft faithfuls scratching their head. Doubling down on an investment that isn't working can be considered a retail investor mistake, so why is Microsoft dumping more resources into its cellphone business that currently has all of a 3.5 percent market share in the United States?
One theory could be that Microsoft, like the other mobile giants, sees a ton of opportunity in other markets.
In the UK, for example, Microsoft's Windows Phone market share doubled year over year in the most recent quarter from 4.2 percent to 9.2 percent. Combining the five major European territories, which include Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Spain, the Windows Phone now has an 8.3 percent market share, thanks to the sale of Nokia phones, which hold a much better reputation in Europe.
Windows Phones are doing better in markets that don't heavily subsidize handsets because of Microsoft's ability to sell the phones more cheaply than Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL)—a company that is soon expected to debut a "low cost" iPhone.
Does that mean that all of the preliminary negativity from investors is unfair? Probably not, given Microsoft's recent string of products, including the Surface Tablet, Windows 8 and its phones, but there's certainly value in the new influx of talent and the intellectual property even if, worst case scenario, it does little to give the company a larger foothold in the cellphone space.
Disclosure: At the time of this writing, Tim Parker was long Apple.
Posted-In: Apple iPhone Microsoft Nokia Stephen ElopNews M&A Tech Best of Benzinga
© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


text:
NEW YORK (Jul. 10)
The first of a series of industrial management seminars arranged for the benefit of Israel industrialists and labor representatives visiting the United States was opened today at the Astor Hotel. It was conducted by Professor Huxley Madeheim, lecturer in management problems at New York's City College.
The seminars are sponsored by the American Technion Society and the Israel Manufacturers Association. They will be supplemented by field visits to industrial plants in the New York area.


text:
Point guard Ryan Harrow is leaving the Kentucky basketball program to transfer to Georgia State and be closer to his father, who suffered a stroke prior to the 2012-13 season.
"Given the health of his dad, we fully support Ryan's decision to transfer to Georgia State to be closer to his family in Atlanta," John Calipari said. "Ryan was a vital part of this year's team and an important player in practice during our 2011-12 national championship run. I want to thank Ryan for his efforts and hard work and wish him the best of luck at Georgia State. I know the Big Blue Nation will keep a close eye on him and wish him well as he continues his basketball career and his pursuit of a college degree."
Harrow averaged 9.9 points, 2.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds as the Wildcats' starting point guard after sitting out the 2011-12 season following a transfer from North Carolina State.
Harrow told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he plans to file an appeal with the NCAA to play next year because of the family hardship. If granted, he would have two seasons of eligibility left.
"I really need to be home with him to be closer to him to make sure (my father's) taken care of," Harrow said in the AJC story.
Kentucky's success in 2012-13 depended largely on Harrow. The 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 12.0 points and 3.8 assists in UK wins and 6.5 points and 1.2 assists in the Cats' losses. Harrow missed four games at the beginning of the season because of an illness and issue with his family.
"I got better (at UK)," Harrow told the AJC. "I built some relationships there. I know next year we would have been really good. It was just real important for me to be with my dad. With him being sick like this, I needed to be there with him."
If eligible to play next season, Harrow should be an immediate contributor for the Panthers, who went 15-16 this year and will return their top five scorers.
UK announces dates, locations for 2013 Satellite Camps


text:
Effects of uniform rotational flow on predator–prey system
Rotational flow is often observed in lotic ecosystems, such as streams and rivers. For example, when an obstacle interrupts water flowing in a stream, energy dissipation and momentum transfer can result in the formation of rotational flow, or a vortex. In this study, I examined how rotational flow affects a predator–prey system by constructing a spatially explicit lattice model consisting of predators, prey, and plants. A predation relationship existed between the species. The species densities in the model were given as S (for predator), P (for prey), and G (for plant). A predator (prey) had a probability of giving birth to an offspring when it ate prey (plant). When a predator or prey was first introduced, or born, its health state was assigned an initial value of 20 that subsequently decreased by one with every time step. The predator (prey) was removed from the system when the health state decreased to less than zero. The degree of flow rotation was characterized by the variable, R. A higher R indicates a higher tendency that predators and prey move along circular paths. Plants were not affected by the flow because they were assumed to be attached to the streambed. Results showed that R positively affected both predator and prey survival, while its effect on plants was negligible. Flow rotation facilitated disturbances in individuals' movements, which consequently strengthens the predator and prey relationship and prevents death from starvation. An increase in S accelerated the extinction of predators and prey.
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version under "Related research" (further below) or search for a different version of it.
Volume (Year): 391 (2012)
Issue (Month): 23 ()
Pages: 6008-6015
|Contact details of provider:
| Web page: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/physica-a-statistical-mechpplications/
No references listed on IDEAS
You can help add them by filling out this form.
This item is not listed on Wikipedia, on a reading list or among the top items on IDEAS.
When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:391:y:2012:i:23:p:6008-6015. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.
For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: (Dana Niculescu)
If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.
If references are entirely missing, you can add them using this form.
If the full references list an item that is present in RePEc, but the system did not link to it, you can help with this form.
If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.
Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.


text:
BRISBANE'S economy will take a $100 million-a-year hit if a new parallel runway is not completed by 2020, a study has revealed.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said Brisbane Airport would pay a key role in the future growth of the city and any delay in building the new runway would bleed hundreds of millions of dollars from the city's economy.
Brisbane Airport Corporation has said it will halt development of the new runway when site works finish in the middle of this year if airlines continue to refuse to fund a quarter of the $1.3 billion cost by charging passengers in advance.
Have you been delayed? Share your story on Twitter at #BNELATEAGAIN or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Analysis by Brisbane City Council has found if the runway is not ready by the 2020 target date, the cost to the city in the first year will hit at least $100 million and rise every year afterwards.
"Brisbane's economic development is forecast to generate an estimated 343,000 new jobs in the next decade and the successful expansion of Brisbane Airport plays a key role in that growth," Cr Quirk said.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney has also ordered an investigation into the damage to the broader Queensland economy from current congestion at the airport.
Brisbane City's Economic Development Plan 2012- 2031 highlights the importance of the airport's ability to cope with increased air freight and passenger capacity to the capital's future growth by stimulating services exports, tourism and education and boosting demand for accommodation and other transport.
Encouraging more airline routes and connections is listed as a priority action to achieve the plan's number one goal of establishing Brisbane's global reputation as Australia's "new world city".
In a submission to a Productivity Commission inquiry into airport regulation two years ago, Brisbane City Council said "the poorer choice of direct air services to other destinations in the world" was dragging the Queensland capital down a global list of the best cities to live.
Brisbane was ranked only 37th in the 2012 Mercer Quality of Living Survey, which compares 221 cities. Sydney was ranked 10th and Melbourne, Perth, Canberra and Adelaide all topped us.
The council submission also pointed out that airports were exempt from infrastructure contribution charges normally imposed on other developments and called for financial compensation towards the cost of infrastructure to service airport demands.
Brisbane Airport Corporation has said it plans to raise debt to cover half the runway development cost, with a quarter coming from equity, and needs the airlines to pay increased per-passenger landing charges over the eight-year construction period to be able to go ahead.
The airlines are refusing, arguing it is unreasonable to force them to collect millions of dollars from passengers for years before they can use the runway and continue to pay after it is ready.
Originally published as Brisbane to lose millions over runway row


text:
Obama: The First 100 Days
President Barack Obama delivered a primetime press conference in Washington Wednesday to mark his 100th day in office. Continue reading
PolitiFact.com, a Web site run by the staff of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, is keeping track of whether President Barack Obama is keeping his campaign promises and rating the truth of statements made by members of Congress and political groups. Continue reading
Gwen Ifill moderated a town hall meeting in advance of President Obama's trip to St. Louis, asking local leaders and residents to assess his first 100 days as president. Continue reading
President Obama fielded questions from a group in St. Louis at a town hall meeting Wednesday, which marked his 100th day in office. Continue reading
As part of this week's series of reports from St. Louis, Gwen Ifill speaks with city residents about the shape of the economy and how President Barack Obama has fared during his first 100 days in office. Continue reading
President Obama signed a $5.7 billion national service bill that will triple the size of the AmeriCorps program and renew the call for community involvement. Analysts mull the new measure. Continue reading
President Barack Obama signed a $5.7 billion national service bill Tuesday that triples the size of the AmeriCorps service program over the next eight years and expands ways for students to earn money for college. Continue reading
President Obama spoke at CIA headquarters Monday, defending his decision to release Bush-era memos on controversial interrogation tactics. Former CIA official Jeffrey Smith and Michael Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Rights examine how the memos were handled. Continue reading
Defense Secretary Robert Gates sits down with Judy Woodruff to discuss the insurgency in Iraq, the need for assistance in Afghanistan and shifts in long-term spending priorities. Continue reading
In an unannounced trip to Iraq Tuesday President Obama met with national leaders, urging the Iraqis to take a larger role in controlling the country and reiterating his pledge to have all military personnel out of the country by 2011. Kwame Holman reports. Continue reading


text:
A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
In Stalwart Step
This week on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, it's a live broadcast performance from the Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. With special guests, folksinger Ellis and globetrotting pianist Radoslav Lorković. Plus, the Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Fred Newman, Kenni Holmen and Steve Strand sit in with The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band on saxophone and trumpet, and the latest News from Lake Wobegon.
- Is available as a free podcast. Download the MP3 file here.
Audio available Sundays at noon.
Segment 1
- 00:00:00 Logo
- 00:00:12 Tishomingo Blues - GK and Shoe Band
- 00:02:38 University of Michigan Fight Song (Hail to the Victors) - GK and Shoe Band with live audience
- 00:04:52 GK Opens
- 00:06:40 School Is Out - GK, Shoe Band and Tim Russell
- 00:11:42 The Hustle Is On - Pat Donohue and Shoe Band
- 00:15:02 Cowboys Script
- 00:20:38 GK introduces Ellis
- 00:21:28 How Would It Be - Ellis with Shoe Band (minus horns)
- 00:26:20 Right Now - Ellis with Shoe Band (minus horns)
- 00:30:32 Powdermilk Biscuit Break
Segment 2
- 00:32:04 GK talks about Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan
- 00:37:06 Michigan Song - GK and Shoe Band (minus horns)
- 00:38:08 The Day is Short - GK and Shoe Band (minus horns)
- 00:42:40 Rhubarb Script
- 00:48:18 GK introduces Radoslav Lorković
- 00:49:20 Headin' South - Radoslav Lorković and Shoe Band
- 00:53:40 Island Script
- 01:04:25 Jumpin' Jack Flash - Pat Donohue, Shoe Band and GK
- 01:07:42 Intermission - I Saw Her Standing There
Segment 3
- 01:11:48 GK Greetings
- 01:13:38 Beautiful - GK and Richard Dworsky
- 01:17:48 Guy Noir Script
- 01:24:30 Love In Vain - GK, Ellis and Shoe Band (minus horns)
- 01:27:10 GK talks with Ellis
- 01:27:45 Wherever You Are - Ellis and Shoe Band (minus horns)
Segment 4
- 01:32:05 News From Lake Wobegon
Segment 5
- 01:43:30 Michigan Water Blues - Pat Donohue with Richard Dworsky, Gary Raynor, Peter Johnson and Steve Strand
- 01:46:38 English Script
- 01:48:24 Coffee Song - Ellis with Shoe Band (GK intros)
- 01:52:25 Ketchup Script
- 01:54:52 GK Credits
- 01:56:42 The Parting Glass - GK and Richard Dworsky
- 01:57:15 Down Yonder - Shoe Band
Show Segments
Listen to individual segments as listed below. Times may be edited for broadcast.
Need help listening to the audio? See how to listen.
Old Sweet Songs: A Prairie Home Companion 1974-1976
Lovingly selected from the earliest archives of A Prairie Home Companion, this heirloom collection represents the music from earliest years of the now legendary show: 1974–1976. With songs and tunes from jazz pianist Butch Thompson, mandolin maestro Peter Ostroushko, Dakota Dave Hull and the first house band, The Powdermilk Biscuit Band (Adam Granger, Bob Douglas and Mary DuShane).


text:
A magical word
Muggle is a term that British author J.K. Rowling coined to describe ordinary people with no magical powers, as opposed to the wizards in her Harry Potter books. Muggles are often a hapless lot, bewildered by the magical events they witness.
Wikipedia quotes Rowling as saying that she made the word from mug. Mug, according to Wikipedia, is "an English term for someone who is easily fooled."
Muggle is a fine example of how new words flow first into our common speech and then into our common writing. Will muggle make it into future dictionaries? Given the legions of Harry Potter fans worldwide, it stands an excellent chance of doing just that. No magic required.


text:
Article Preview
MARGINAL TRADING ILLEGAL.; Justice Holmes's First Opinion Sustains the California Constitution.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 -- Justice Holmes of the United States Supreme Court to-day delivered the first opinion promulgated by him as a member of that court. The case was that of Otis Gassman vs. F. Parker and involved the question as to whether the State Constitution of California prohibiting dealings in margins on stocks contravenes the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
January 06, 1903
View the full article in TimesMachine.
Subscribers* enjoy full access to TimesMachine—view 129 years of New York Times journalism, as it originally appeared.
Or, download a high-resolution PDF of the individual article.
* Does not include NYT Now or Premium Crosswords subscribers.
Already a subscriber? Log in to view this article »


text:
When the Search for File action is used in WiseScript, the installation closes abruptly and a Windows error message is displayed if the path variable goes beyond 266 total characters during the search.
Steps to Reproduce:
- Open up WiseScript Editor (or WiseScript Package Editor)
- Create a Search for file action.
- Change the search depth to 15.
- Place the file that you are searching for in a directory that contains 14 folders. Place this file in the last folder.
- Make the entire character string, Filename + Folders, Greater then 266 characters.
- Retest the script changing the characters so that they total 255 characters.
- Test again with the characters between 257-266 characters.
When the character string goes beyond 266 the installation should not crash or abort. A dialog should prompt the creator stating that the string has exceeded its maximum limit (or something of the sort).
When doing a Search for file action, the name of the file that is being searched is added in the file name. When the Script runs and it reaches the point where it searches for the file, it will search through local, network or both drives for this file. When searching for the file, if the total character length of the file including all the folders is 256 or less (i.e. if the file name is test.exe there are a total of 9 characters in this name. Combining this with C:/application/program/test.exe there are a total of 31 characters in this entire pathname) the installation will execute successfully. The search for file will only read up to 256 characters. If the string length is 257-266 characters, the system will read this statement as false, and not execute properly. If the character string goes beyond 266 characters, the installation crashes completely.
Workaround: Shorten the character string length of all the directories so that they are less then 266 characters, or change the search depth.
Applies To
Legacy ID
Imported Document Id
Terms of use for this information are found in Legal Notices.
Terms of use for this information are found in Legal Notices.


text:
It recently emerged that British police had known for more than a decade that Muslim rape gangs were targeting young girls, but they ignored the evidence of rapes because "they were petrified of being called racist." Rather than acknowledge that there is a problem, Muslim groups have decided to play the victim card instead.
They are working overtime trying to silence public discussion about Muslim sex crimes by branding critics as "far-right racists" and "Islamophobic." Several of the men on trial in Liverpool apparently told their victims that it was all right for the girls to be passed around for sex with dozens of men "because it's what we do in our country."
Nine Muslim men belonging to a child-rape gang in northwestern England have received hefty prison sentences for trafficking and raping young British girls.
The three-month sexual grooming trial at a court in Liverpool, which ended on May 9, has drawn nationwide attention to the sexual abuse of children and women by Muslim immigrants, and British police are currently investigating at least 40 other cases of child rapes perpetrated by Muslims in northern England.
While Muslim groups have sought to discredit the police investigations by accusing British authorities of "racism" and "Islamophobia," it recently emerged that British police had known for more than a decade that Muslim rape gangs were targeting young girls in England, but they ignored evidence of the rapes and failed to act because they were afraid of being accused of racism.
The Liverpool Crown Court heard horrific testimony from five victims -- the youngest was 13 when the abuse began -- who were plied with alcohol, drugs and gifts so they could be "passed around" among a group of men aged between 24 and 59 for sex in apartments, houses, cars, taxis and kebab shops.
The nine defendants -- eight are from Pakistan and one is from Afghanistan -- were sentenced to a total of 77 years in prison after being convicted of rape, aiding and abetting rape, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child, sexual assault and trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
All of the Muslims live in Rochdale, a grimy suburb of Greater Manchester in northwestern England. Some of the men were regarded as pillars of their community.
One of the men, Abdul Rauf, 43, is a married father-of-five and an Islamic studies teacher at a local mosque. According to court testimony, Rauf asked a 15-year-victim if she had any younger friends and he drove some of the girls to other men who would use them for sex, even though he knew the girls were minors. He was sentenced to six years in prison. (...)(...more)


text:
Comcast Lewiston UT
Everybody wants great home entertainment for the best prices. Don't pay outrageous rates for individual digital cable, high-speed Internet, and phone services anymore. Comcast in Lewiston, UT – Comcast also has the top rated home phone service in the nation, with the best call clarity and a range of calling plans that fit every budget. Superior service and technology at a price you can afford–that's the Comcast difference.
Comcast in Lewiston, UT
Find Local Comcast Promotions In: Lewiston, Utah
Call 1-866-731-1853 To Order By Phone 24/7
Best HD Digital Cable TV For Your Home
Comcast is the largest provider in the United States. The Comcast DVR is the answer for missed programming. Order Comcast Digital TV and you'll never watch TV the same again. Get Comcast Digital TV Unbeatable Entertainment and Quality. Comcast digital cable TV comes with local channels included at no additional charge.
Watch over 3,500 live games online including football, baseball, soccer and basketball
With Comcast XFINITY internet, you can experience more broadband without having to pay more. The competition pales in comparison to the most basic XFINITY internet plan, which starts with a maximum download speed of 20 Mbps. Comcast is changing the way you watch TV, talk on the phone, and use the internet with their quality digital cable, phone, and high speed internet services. You will find that Comcast Internet is about 100x faster than dial up connections.
XFINITY Voice offers crystal-clear call clarity, so no word goes unheard
When you choose Comcast Digital Voice, you can enjoy the benefits that come with the country's best rated home phone service. Comcast also provides digital voicemail with online access to voice messages. It works just like your regular telephone service. For a limited time only, you can experience the most complete home phone service for the special price of $29.99 per month if you order today.
XFINITY® Triple Play from Comcast Phone, Internet and TV Bundles
Top Local Comcast Deals In Lewiston, UT
Call 1-866-731-1853 To Order By Phone 24/7
Save big when you bundle internet, digital TV, and home phone into one bill. You can combine internet, digital TV, and home phone for one low monthly price with XFINITY Triple Play. Comcast Bundles Save You Money Each Month. Comcast Lewiston UT – You can also choose to combine any 2 out of the 3 services with XFINITY Double Play Deals, so you can get more of what you need while paying less. How you mix and match your preferred services with XFINITY Triple Play or Double Play Deals is up to you–because with Comcast, it's all about giving you the best value for your money.


text:
Thursday, May 6, 2010 | 3:48 p.m.
Jarrod Lopiccolo, co-owner of Carson City-based Web development and digital marketing firm Noble Studios, has always harbored an inherent interest in art and architecture.
It's a predilection he intended to put to professional use when he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from UNLV. That was before he realized he could successfully apply his architectural training to a rapidly growing field he considered more vibrant and energized.
"Architecture is built around standards and laws that have been created for a very long time, and the field was not growing at a pace that was exciting," said Lopiccolo, 29, adding that whereas architecture is about building the physical, website development entails building the virtual. "When I graduated, I worked at an architecture firm in Las Vegas doing presentations for large resorts, and everything was done on the computer anyway, so it was just a natural transition into presenting information in a virtual format. In the architecture industry, the tools you use are practically the same tools you use to create a website, like Adobe and Autodesk and all their software suites."
Before co-founding Noble Studios in 2003, Lopiccolo was a newlywed looking to settle down and start a family. He and his wife, Season Lopiccolo, who now handles content development and business operations for the company, viewed Northern Nevada as an untapped market with a strong base that would allow for eventual expansion, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area.
So the couple relocated to Carson City, Lopiccolo switched career gears, and Noble Studios was founded in a small home office. During its first year of business, the company landed about 10 clients and reported less than $40,000 in gross sales. Today, Noble has 12 full-time employees and 10 contractors, provides services for some 400 clients, and occupies about 2,500 square feet of commercial space near the Capitol Building.
Since its inception, Noble Studios has grown an average of 100 percent in terms of gross sales each year until 2008, when sales leveled out in the throes of recession. In 2009, the company brought in $860,000, a figure Lopiccolo anticipates will reach $1.5 million by year-end.
Besides expanding both in size and numbers, Noble Studios has also broadened its reach, having successfully infiltrated the Bay Area market in 2008, and secured monthly service agreements with international brands such as Autodesk. Last year, the company became an official license holder for making iPhone applications, and has also emerged as a regional leader in the rapidly growing field of User Interface, which allows individuals to more effectively interact with their digital devices. The company is also making a push to be a leader in SaaS (Software as a Service), a model of online software development.
"We want to stay on the leading edge, where we can say we're experts in a brand new technology that's been proven, which is different than the bleeding edge, which has a tendency to implement solutions that haven't been proven yet," Lopiccolo said, adding that Noble Studios owes much of its success to its corporate culture and its hand-picked employees. "If you get the right people on the bus and the wrong people off the bus, then you can determine which route you want to take. Success is not measured in dollars, it's measured in happiness, and I want this to be a living business driven by passion about the industry."


text: Census data released this week revealed that Detroit lost nearly 250,000 people in the past decade. That's roughly one person every 22 minutes, according to a local analysis of the numbers. Mayor Dave Bing says he will challenge the count. NPR's Alex Kellogg talks to Steve Inskeep about the figures.


text:
NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Renton, WA, United States, 2012/02/15 - Research details SMB cloud services buying behavior, as the U.S. market grew 25% to $15.1 billion in 2011, and forecasts the global market to expand by 26% CAGR to $68 billion by 2014 - Parallels.com.
Parallels, the hosting and cloud services enablement leader, today released the latest updates of Parallels SMB Cloud Insights, its series of research that profiles the cloud buying behavior of small and medium businesses (SMBs), the fastest growing segment for cloud services. The survey results continues to confirm why Parallels and service providers should remain laser-beam focused on meeting the demand for SMB cloud services, as most SMBs plan to double their purchase of cloud applications over the next three years.
The research was presented first to the attendees of Parallels Summit 2012 in Orlando, an event that attracts a global audience comprised of over 1,500 hosting partners, independent software vendors, industry analysts and press from across the world. In addition to the release of Parallels SMB Cloud Insights, the company shared its future product road map and next-generation technology, as attendees learned and networked with Parallels and other industry experts.
Some of Parallels SMB Cloud Insights research findings include:
SMBs continue to lead the adoption of cloud services, as the U.S. market experienced a 25% increase in 2011, growing to $15.1 billion USD.
SMB cloud adoption is a global phenomenon not limited to North America, as the worldwide SMB cloud market is expected to expand at a 26% CAGR to $68 billion by 2014.
SMBs with less than 20 employees are at least three times more likely to choose cloud services over on-premise services.
SMBs are rapidly moving beyond basic web presence, with 45% of SMBs in the U.S. now managing a Facebook page to promote their business.
SMBs plan to double the amount of paid cloud applications they purchase in the next three years, with size of SMB determining which applications are critical (micro and small SMBs seek apps like backup, file sharing and accounting and e-mail achieving; while medium businesses are seeking and phone conferencing services).
Parallels SMB Cloud Insights research continues to confirm that SMBs are at the forefront of cloud adoption, said Birger Steen, CEO of Parallels. This research is part of our commitment to service providers to give them both the expertise and technology they need to address the quickly-growing market for SMB cloud services.
Parallels SMB Cloud Insights specifically outlines which hosting, cloud services and applications have the most current and future appeal for SMBs across four key categories Hosted Infrastructure (IaaS), Web Presence, Communications and Collaboration and Hosted Business Applications. Parallels research also reveals the market-by-market demand for value-added hosted applications and services such as online backup, file sharing, accounting, e-mail archiving and web conferencing.
The new U.S., Global, Brazil and Mexico reports expands the Parallels SMB Cloud Insights series to fourteen current regional profiles, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, China, India, Japan and Australia. The existing reports are available for download at parallels.com/SMBreport2011, and the four new reports will be available on Parallels Website beginning on February 17.
About Parallels
Parallels (parallels.com) is a worldwide leader in hosting and cloud service enablement and desktop virtualization. Founded in 1999, Parallels is a fast-growing company with more than 800 employees in North America, Europe, and Asia. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/ParallelsCloud and Like Us on Facebook at facebook.com/ParallelsCloud.
Written by / Agency / Source: Parallels - Optimized Computing
Availability: All Regions (Including Int'l)
Traffic Booster: [/] Quick Newswire Today Visibility Checker
Distribution / Indexing: [+] / [Company listed above is a registered member of our network. Content made possible by PRZOOM / PRTODAY indexing services]


text:
Golly, the diorama looks awesome!
Hey guys
thought yall might want to check out our diorama and know that you can have your own made as a reward for supporting our kickstarter. Our museum needs help starting so find something you like in the rewards and pledge to support a good cause! www.austintoymuseum.com/kickstarter
Golly, the diorama looks awesome!
Try to reach inside of me, try to drain my energy
Let me show you just what I'm made of
Simple curiosity trying to take a bite of me
Let me show you just what I'm made of now...
WOW!! I need to open a museum if it will look like that!! Really great collection and shiney looking toys. Nice
End of Line
The beautiful Teela was walking in the gardens near the castle when suddenly Faker and his friends leaped out from the underbrush!!


text:
A 39-year-old Gallatin man is charged with arson after he allegedly set a storage shed on fire and threatened to blow up an occupant inside the home.
The fire was reported in the 100 block of Hite Street, near South Water Avenue.
Upon their arrival, authorities located evidence of arson at the scene and determined Johnny "Dink" Whited had also attempted to set the home on fire.
During their investigation, it was determined Whited lived with the resident he threatened.
He was found hiding in some bushes located behind the home. He was taken into custody and is charged with aggravated arson.


text:
BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
February 3, 2010
Transaction Action
The 10,000 Arms of Dr. T.
Signed RHP Joe Nelson to a minor-league contract. [2/1]
I guess it's a good thing the Fish are still ruing the day they non-tendered the great Joe Nelson. As much as he's root-worthy for fighting his way back from multiple surgeries, let's face it, he's a soft-tossing right-hander with durability issues. A neat year as a 33-year-old second-rank reliever on a second-rank ballclub in 2008 isn't somebody you rely on too heavily; his 3.68 FRA in 2008 with the Marlins was nice, his 5.83 FRA with the Rays a reminder that he's more a Quad-A back-end type, more the new De Wayne Buice Lite than the new Doug Jones. For the Red Sox, he's potentially useful staff filler, but he doesn't deserve any extra consideration trying to stand out from among rivals like the re-imported Scott Atchison, a recovering Boof Bonser, one Ramon Ramirez too many, waivers jetsam Robert Manuel, Jorge Sosa, or Fernando Cabrera. As is, five pen jobs seem to be already set, and a sixth might go to Tim Wakefield. A crowd of alternatives for the seventh isn't a bad thing, but all of these guys will be struggling with the fact that none of them are left-handed, and if Brian Shouse does whatever he needs to, their efforts may be moot as far as avoiding a future with the PawSox.
Signed RHPs Derrick Turnbow and Jose Veras to minor-league deals. [1/29]
Signed RHP Seth McClung to a minor-league contract. [2/2]
All three of the most-recently minted Fish have had their moments in big-league bullpens, all of them have reputations as hard throwers, and any one or all three of them could be the latest retread success stories with the Fish. Turnbow lost time to a slightly torn labrum in '08, and got cut loose by the Rangers' organization early in May last year after asking for his release, and did not pitch for the remainder of the season. McClung is a gargantuan utility pitcher of sorts; he was plugged into a starting role with the Brewers in 2008 to middling results (1.5 SNLVAR and five QS in 12 turns), and chipped in a little as a reliever to good effect (0.673 WXRL) that same season before struggling in 2009 (0.308).
The Marlins' approach to staffing their pen, taking it on faith that they'll be able to cobble something together, has served them reasonably well in recent seasons:
Pen MLB MLB MLB Year IP SV+HLD BS WXRL Rank ARP Rank FRAr Rank "Stars" 2007 586.2 153 25 8.81 15 43.3 12 4.34 12 Gregg, Gardner, Lindstrom, Tankersley 2008 519.1 125 25 7.90 14 22.9 14 4.44 12 Lindstrom, Pinto, Gregg, Rhodes 2009 543.1 147 24 8.32 14 17.7 20 4.44 16 Lindstrom, Calero, Meyer, Nunez FRAr: Fair Run Average, relievers only
Churn isn't a whole lot of fun to talk up as a virtue for its own sake, but in an industry where expensive mistakes get made on relief pitching, the Marlins have been the definition of dull probity, treating relievers as fungible without getting a whole lot of sabermetric street cred for their troubles, and yet consistently delivering an adequate bullpen cobbled together from relievers of little note before (or after). I don't think their world's going to end with Matt Lindstrom's dispatch, any more than it did when Kevin Gregg was traded, or Arthur Lee Rhodes. Instead, you can expect them to sift through their latest collection of interesting pegs, and whether this year's relief heroes are add-ons via trade (Leo Nunez, Renyel Pinto, Jose Ceda, Hunter Jones), or discards like Dan Meyer or McClung or Turnbow or Brian Sanches, or even the rare homegrown product like Tim Wood or Ryan Tucker, if there's one thing I'm reasonably confident about, it's not about any one of those guys, it's that the Fish will wind up with a thoroughly OK bullpen.
Signed UT-S Alfredo Amezaga to a minor-league contract. [2/2]
Well, it wasn't going to be just a litany of non-roster relief reinforcements, veteran stand-arounds, and 10th-slot aspirants. Federal law requires the mention of at least one position player in any conversation of baseball, and I'm big on inclusiveness. If signing Reed Johnson was bad news for, say, Jason Repko, the addition of Amezaga hardly helps matters as far as any kind of job security for the half-dozen men among the position players contending for the last two jobs on the bench. As a utilityman with plenty of experience in the outfield and infield, Amezaga's a veteran who might represent a twin threat: to Repko's being rostered, and to Blake DeWitt's even getting to stick around in a platoon role if Ronnie Belliard keeps his weight under control. If Belliard wins the second-base job outright, DeWitt might be the one headed to the Isotopes instead of Repko, but consider what's set for the boys in blue:
Locked In Catchers: Russell Martin, Brad Ausmus Infield: James Loney, Belliard, Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal, Jamey Carroll Outfield: Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Manny Ramirez, Johnson --- Contestants for Two 25-Man Spots On the 40-man: DeWitt (2B/3B), Repko (OF), Xavier Paul (OF), Chin-Lung Hu (MI) NRI Rivals: Doug Mientkiewicz (4C), Nick Green (INF), Amezaga (UT)
At this point, Hu's bid for a job seems about as likely as A.J. Ellis' is as far as sticking around as a third catcher, so I really see the fight among the current crew to be down to Minky, Paul, DeWitt, and Amezaga trying to show value as lefty bats from the bench as well as part-time pieces at their positions, while Repko and Minky both have to show that they're healthy to merit consideration. There are still plenty of variables in play: Belliard's weight, injuries in camp, and no doubt somebody's going to hit well enough to make the decision difficult. Even so, Torre likes his veterans, and I'd figure that's going to help Minky, Green, and Amezaga considerably.
Signed RHP Jose Contreras to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. [1/27]
The addition of the big Cuban was long anticipated, but only lately achieved consummation, not unlike the plot line of any one of a few dozen unmemorable television serials; whether Moonlighting or Remington Steele or Cheers or Who's the Boss or House, you know it's coming, getting there's usually equal parts tedium and farce, and the exercise is really more a matter of making you care in the meantime. Happily, the addition of Contreras really is worth caring about. The big, slow-working Cuban seems as likely a candidate as any to build up a nice third act on his career as a pitcher as an unflappable, following his Bronx blowout and the Chicago championship years with a relief spin. He works with maddening deliberation, alternating purposeful pauses to outright dawdling, which makes for a nice mix of showmanship and a more indolent brand of initiative. He's used to working in small parks, having succeeded in the Cell, so CBP shouldn't be too frightening. And if, unlike Chan Ho Park, he's philosophical about a future without a shot at starting, that's sort of a nice relief from Park's inability to accept the obvious. He looked good in a brief spin in the Rockies' pen, and while he's been a high-maintenance pitcher in the past, requiring repeated overhauls of his mechanics, he's also had his high points. The money's a bit rich, but Contreras could prove to be an excellent addition.
Outrighted RHPs Steven Jackson and Anthony Claggett to Indianapolis (Triple-A). [1/27]
Released RHP Yoslan Herrera. [1/29]
Agreed to terms with RHP Brian Wilson on a one-year, $4.4375 million contract, avoiding arbitration. [1/30]
Signed RHP Byung-Hyun Kim and LHP Horacio Ramirez to minor-league contracts. [2/1]
Kim's now two years removed from being a big-leaguer, so it's interesting that he's making the attempt to come back, but he is only 31 years old, so why not? As is, he's already far outlasted the psychic trauma from the 2001 World Series; some sportswriters asserted he was done there and then, and devil take the two years' worth of good pitching that followed for ruining a tidy flat assertion about mortal blows involving the beloved Captain doing his smirky victory thing.* Kim limped through this proof of his utter vincibility by ranking seventh among all big-league relievers in WXRL in 2002.
Of course, that was when the real problem seemed to crop up: Kim wanted to be a starter. It was a bit unconventional, since he's a sidearmer with predictable platoon issues, but with Matt Mantei returning for his last extended bit of health, the Snakes accommodated him. Kim didn't disappoint, giving them four quality starts in seven while dealing with some shoulder troubles. They decided to flip him to the Red Sox for Shea Hillenbrand; with Pedro Martinez disabled at that point, the Red Sox were initially willing to leave Kim in the rotation, and he gave them three quality starts in five, but by the end of June Grady Little's hamfisted handling of the bullpen-by-committee approach to relief chores demanded a conventional solution, so who better than Kim? Maybe it was hemlock in the bitter cup of despair from that World Series, because Kim fell, fell, fell... all to the 35th-best reliever in baseball for the Sox in half a season. He'd also managed to generate 1.9 SNLVAR in 12 starts. Unfortunately, shoulder and ankle issues hampered him down the stretch, he was left off of the post-season roster, and he was unable to contribute in the postseason to the Sox team that had to settle for an ALCS lost to the Yankees.
Perhaps at long last from those who foresaw Kim's doom early on, things generally got worse for Kim from that point forwards. After an injury-plagued 2004 season, Kim caught on with the Rockies as part of a dodgy salary swap involving making Charles Johnson disappear. There, he logged his last extended stretch in a big-league bullpen for any real length of time during the first half of the 2005 season; that didn't go well, so the Rockies moved him into the rotation, where he was again useful (2.0 SNLVAR in 22 starts). He milked another two years out of his career from there, but with declining effectiveness (1.7 SNLVAR in 27 starts for the Rockies in 2006, 1.2 SNLVAR with the Marlins after ugly brief spins with the Rox and Snakes). Cut by the Pirates in camp in 2008, he "retired" to the land of his birth.
It'll be interesting to see what role the Giants slot him into. He hasn't had any sort of success in a big-league bullpen since 2003, and it's hard to envision his being anything more than a survivable alternative in the fifth slot. His platoon splits late in his big-league career were getting fairly ridiculous for him to have much value as anything more than a spot starter against right-leaning lineups. Will he still be able to embarrass right-handed hitters? Or will he merely be a Fresno curiosity? It's another one of those interesting little camp stories worth following.
Less exciting is Horacio Ramirez. Maybe it's because the Giants already have Alex Hinshaw and Dan Runzler sparring for the right to be second lefties behind Jeremy Affeldt in the 2010 pen, but Ramirez at most represents veteran insurance against neither being ready. That's not the worst idea, and it's been signed at the right level of commitment. Say what you will about Brian Sabean, but he didn't repeat Dayton Moore's mistake of giving Ramirez a guaranteed deal and watching $1.8 million go up in smoke.
*: Brad Lidge similarly spoiled that sort of commentary about the 2005 shot hit by Albert Pujols off of him by earning a ring in 2008; of course he also achieved the single-worst closer season ever. I think it's safe to say that the less we pretend to know about player psychology, the better off we are.
Signed RHP Miguel Batista to a minor-league contract. [1/29]
The once-touted utility pitcher extraordinaire has seen his last big deal close with that label in tatters, but the Nats are reportedly interested in looking at him as an alternative for the back end of the rotation. He was a modest rotation asset as recently as 2007, posting a SNLVAR of 4.2 in his first year with the Mariners; that was on the heels of a filler year with the Snakes (3.4 SNLVAR), but fell to the very definition of replacement-level uselessness in 2008. He was awful as a pen man for the Mariners in both '08 (after losing his rotation job) and '09, with a combined WXRL of -1.8 in 95 IP as a reliever, but was nevertheless used in high-leverage situations. That's not all that surprising; his 30-save season in 2005 was somewhat miserable, because while he might have gotten to wear the closer's cape, he was perhaps the fourth-best reliever the Jays had behind Jason Frasor, Vinnie Chulk, and Justin Speier, and really not much better than situational southpaw Scott Schoeneweis.
Taken that checkered record of occasional utility, I can't say I'm wild about the possibilities. While Batista's coming to the easier league, he's already below average in terms of both his walk and strikeout rates, and as a starter those rates figure to get worse, not better. He's also leaving behind the benefit of a great defense and a pitcher's park. His track record as a reliever has been awful of late, and you have to go back to 2005 to find adequacy. At this level of non-roster non-commitment, he's not the least-worthy member of the rogue's gallery Jim Riggleman will get to pick two or three starters from beyond Jason Marquis, John Lannan, and perhaps Stephen Strasburg. If he's in the bullpen mix, it's little better than a repeat of the Julian Tavarez experience, a self-inflicted bit of blunt trauma.
Christina Kahrl is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
18 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
Kyle E.
Dougie Baseball listed as a four corners player?
Feb 03, 2010 15:58 PM
I'm just excited that Wilson's contract goes to 4 decimal points. Sure glad he's making that extra $500.
Feb 03, 2010 16:43 PM
I'm pretty sure the Red Sox traded BK Kim to the Rockies in what I think was some kind of luxury tax dodge deal.
Feb 03, 2010 17:18 PM
"I think it's safe to say that the less we pretend to know about player psychology, the better off we are."
Feb 03, 2010 19:49 PM
Your disparagement of Cheers was for more inflammatory that Obama's knock on Vegas.
Feb 03, 2010 22:22 PM
For what it's worth, your Batista link to his awful 2008 actually goes to the 2005 Rockies.
Feb 04, 2010 01:21 AM
Your comment on Tavarez as a "self-inflicted bit of blunt trauma" was hilarious and apt. Thank you for that. We Nats fans are hoping desperately that Batista does not end up in the rotation. That would mean so many people would have to be unimpressive during Spring Training.
Feb 04, 2010 06:05 AM
Re the comment about Brain Sabean: Not being as stupid as Dayton Moore is a very tiny virtue.
Feb 04, 2010 10:17 AM
While it's great to see the Dr. Terwiliker shout out in the title, why 10,000 and not 5,000? No doubt most of these arms will turn out to be do-mi-do duds....
Feb 04, 2010 15:08 PM
I figured if I'd said "500 arms," nobody would have gotten it, and besides, that might imply just 250 pitchers, when here in fact the non-Greg Harris/-Venditte category of hurlers uses just one arm to do the major portion of their job description. So I flubbed the whole thing in honor of the 10,000th article, and there really wasn't much logic to it, because we've clearly overthunked the thinking on the thing.
Feb 04, 2010 18:45 PM
Moonlighting, Remington Steele, and Cheers as "unmemorable television serials"? Wow. To me, the first one started great but faded, the second was an underrated delight, and the third a stone cold classic for its entire run. Can't believe no one else has contested this yet.
Feb 05, 2010 04:58 AM
OK, missed the one mention of the Cheers comment. But still, flamewars have raged over less.
Feb 05, 2010 04:59 AM
Not a subscriber? Sign up today!