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Conduit 2
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I was just reminded of this by Tony's post:
"Looking into modes with no lock on or radar"
It would be great to have a mode without radar, but that implies that all standard modes will have radar. This is the first time I have ever questioned my decision to buy this game. Pros and Cons, so far I can deal with everything and have fun, but radar was just lame. It really cut down on the fun factor for me.
At the very least, only have you show up if you fire, sprint, jump, whatever, but I want to be able to at least walk around (not crouch walking) and not appear on radar. At least allow me to flank someone without them knowing I'm doing so as that sort of defeats the purpose.
"Paladin's can't use the helm of disintegration."
I hate stupid people... so much.
Valdimir_Drega 7 years ago#2
There's a stealth suit upgrade ("perk") that prevents you from showing up on the radar while standing and running. I'm not sure about sprinting though.
Uncharted 2 Machinima Voice Actor. Currently playing Sully and Lazarevic. Add me on PSN if you want to get involved: Geo_Chronic.
Kirby_Pwns_All 7 years ago#3
What's so bad about radar? I think it's much more of a challenge when the other guy sees you coming, and it's also much more satisfying to stealth kill people.
Green_Tunic 7 years ago#4
I loved being all ninja sneaking to other base by crouch walking and waiting for other players to come to me.
Call me Silly_Tunic!!!
http://leakybattery.wordpress.com/ (mah videogame blog)
DarkZV2Beta 7 years ago#5
There are worse things than radar. It works in some gametypes and with some styles, not so much with others. I can see why it would be included online, as you can wind up spending quite a while just looking for something to shoot otherwise, just being totally lost and wondering WTF is going on, while everyone else plays ring around the rosey through the map, spawning wherever you aren't.
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CHAINMAILLEKID 7 years ago#6
I think there should be default radar for the reasons that dark mentioned...
But I was VERY disappointed in the way Tcon went about doing it.
I don't see any reason why people should disappear from your radar when they are not moving.
People definitely shouldn't be on the radar at all times, but having them appear when they are 100 miles away an moving, and disappear when they are 2 feet away, and not moving... just doesn't work.
DarkZV2Beta 7 years ago#7
Some system of stealth that looks good for the first half-second of thought, before you realise that if the radar shows you whenever you move, people can just assume that you are wherever the radar stopped showing you.
Lends it's self to camping in multifloor areas.
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CHAINMAILLEKID 7 years ago#8
I think what it needs is a layout like geist ( and I'm sure others ) where the radar is disjointed.
You can see in front of you a ways, allowing you to find people. But behind you, the range of radar is Much smaller, small enough to be exploited by a careful attacker.
In addition to that, it would be nice if your range was extended when people fired shots etc. Allowing you to search for the fire fight more effectively, but still allowing people to slip past you.
With this, I think you wouldn't need more radar options aside from that perk in public matches.
Also, radar needs to show weapons, geography, heath packs, etc.
The_Shader 7 years ago#9
What's so bad about a motion sensor? And now its range is lowered.... And getting pissed that it not showing the Map, Weapons, or whatever, is just being picky -_-
Theres stuff now to directly counter radar, nough said.
Sparkster returns after 16 years in..... "Rocket Knight"
My Alias for Conduit= "Shader" Monster Hunter Tri= "Deimos"
CHAINMAILLEKID 7 years ago#10
Weapons items and stuff just completes the feel IMO, an element that polishes it up.
And what's so bad about motion detect is that it low skill, high reward. Its effectiveness weighs on the players familiarity with the map, rather than how good they are at shooting.
It has a tenancy to mess with skill gaps in a particularly annoying way.
and whats most annoying about it is... the people who rely on it usually aren't doing that good, they're just getting in your way.
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Card games in Nigeria
The game of WHOT!, originally published in Britain by Waddingtons, has become popular in Nigeria, and versions of the cards are made locally.
Eléwénjewé is a fishing game for up to 5 players, in which a card can capture an equal card or a set of cards whose sum is equal to the played card.
I would be grateful for further information about these and other Nigerian card games.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fish in the Dark is a comedy play which is directed by a Tony Award winner, Anna D. Shapiro and is a brainchild of the legendary actor and writer Larry David. This is one event that you have to keep an eye out for as the show will not only deliver you with plenty of laughs but also with stellar performances that will keep you at the edge of your seats. Book your Fish in the Dark New York tickets to catch some of the finest comedy stars act out in a hilarious play.
Buy Fish in the Dark - New York Tickets
Larry David, better known for his part in the hit television series, 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' will mark his first steps into the world of theater really soon. He will not only be contributing his acting skills but also is the playwright of Fish in the Dark. The show is produced by a Tony, Grammy, Academy and Emmy Award winner, Scott Rudin who has worked on the Broadway hits including, 'A Raisin in the Sun' and 'This is Our Youth.'
Many details regarding the play are not disclosed yet and are keeping the audiences await till the curtain is finally raised. As per the guarantee of Larry David and the creative team, the show will captivate the fans with its humor filled story line and witty characters. Come and Make your way at the Cort Theatre to witness a star studded performance for the very first time.
Q:How can I buy Fish in the Dark New York tickets 2017?
A:You can buy Fish In The Dark New York Tickets by visiting our webpage. All you need to do is to go to our website and click on the main events page link. There you will find all the information you need about the current show as well as all upcoming events.
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Muse frontman Matt Bellamy is planning to take his parents to meet his girlfriend Kate Hudson's mother and step-father Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell this Christmas.
Matt Bellamy's parents are to spend Christmas with Kate Hudson's family.
The Muse frontman plans to take Marilyn and George - who are divorced - from their homes in Exeter, South West England to California for the festive season to enjoy a big family Celebration with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, which will be the debut meeting for all of them.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "It will be the first meeting of both sets of parents. Things are getting serious between Kate and Matt and it's the obvious next step.
"Christmas is the only time they can get everyone together and the festive season is also the best time to do it.
"Matt's parents divorced when he was a teenager but they maintained a relationship. There's talk they could split the US trip between them."
Kate - who has a six-year-old son Ryder with ex-husband Chris Robinson - has previously introduced Matt to her famous mother, and he admitted beforehand he was "nervous" about meeting her.
He said: "I haven't met Goldie yet. We are meeting up next week. I'm quite nervous. You don't want her reading daft stories online - it's embarrassing when you meet someone's family for the first time."
The pair have been dating for around five months.


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Seychelles President James Michel has met with the Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna for talks on bilateral cooperation on issues of security and economic development, during Minister Krishna's one-day working visit to Seychelles.
"We have had the opportunity to discuss our shared security interests in the Indian Ocean, particularly the joint military efforts and cooperation in the fight against piracy. India has provided invaluable support in this domain, and we will work together in every way possible to continue to build a sound program of collaboration," said President Michel.
Minister S.M. Krishna assured President Michel of India's full support to Seychelles in the anti-piracy effort and indicated that further steps would be taken to enhance the ongoing partnership.
"Defense is the area where our concerns are identical. The Defense Minister of India is visiting Seychelles on the 18th of this month. These high-level visits will convey the priority that India has been providing to Seychelles," said Minister S.M Krishna.
The President said that the highly-successful state visit to India in June had renewed the interest of Seychellois people for traveling and doing business with India and that the visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister was an indication of the active partnership of the two countries.
"We have developed several areas of cooperation during my visit to India last month, and the visit of Minister Krishna provides the opportune moment to follow up on many of the key elements that were agreed [upon]. We are very grateful for the assistance that India is providing for the development of our country's security and economic stability."
During President Michel's visit to New Delhi in June, India pledged US$5 million worth of defense aid to Seychelles for the anti-piracy effort, following talks between the President with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
India also announced that it would write off 45 percent of Seychelles debt owed to the government of India and reschedule the remainder over a 20-year period with the interest rates halved, as part of the "Paris Club formula" approach.
The government of India will also be writing off US$1.375 million in debt, which Seychelles owes on a commercial loan with the Exim Bank (Export Import) of India. India has also pledged to the Development Bank of Seychelles (DBS) a US$10 million line of credit at concessionary terms, which had been under discussion during the 7th Indo-Seychelles Commission that took place in Seychelles in May this year. During the visit, Seychelles and India signed a Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (BIPPA).


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I agree with Ed that President Obama's "you didn't build that" comment is a haunt with staying power. The Republicans have already released a pretty good ad on the topic, and there will be more to come. Of course, the comment is out of context, and the president's statement is being interpreted in the most negative light . . . blah, blah, blah . . . but it's fair game.
And so it is annoying — to Republicans anyway — to focus on Mitt Romney's refusal to release his tax returns. While I would be extremely surprised if Romney paid no taxes, as some have suggested, I do believe his tax returns will reveal that his tax rate is low and enabled by actions that will reinforce voters' view of a guy who games the system. In this sense, the tax returns would complete Obama's attempted encirclement of Romney: out-of-touch rich guy with tax policies designed to help his Zip codes, which were already paying less in a time of exploding deficits and a shrinking middle class.


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"Broad Street Bullies," a documentary about the bloody rise and reign of the Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970s, debuts Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.
It's a solid effort; the letter grade would be around a 'B' because the film loses a bit of steam at the end and fails to carry some of the more interesting aspects of its narrative through the story. For Philly fans, it may not offer more than you already know about the Bullies, and there's hardly any connection to the current team.
But the characters are well-defined, the commentators (including our friend Stu Hackel) are well-spoken and the archival footage brings this story to brutal life.
Here are 10 reasons to watch, and what we learned from, the HBO Sports documentary "Broad Street Bullies." Here's the trailer via Yahoo! Sports.
1. Philadelphia would have rather been a soccer town.
When the expansion Flyers became a reality ... nobody cared. Bankers said a soccer team would have done better when refusing loans. A parade in convertibles was held for the first Flyers on Broad Street to a crowd of about 20 people; one of whom screamed, "You'll be in Baltimore by Christmas."
The film works best when dealing with the burgeoning love affair between the blue-collar players and the blue-collar town -- how the Flyers won the hearts of Philly. Other than the brutal hockey footage from the 1970s, it's the best reason to recommend it.
2. The Hammer Rules
The section on Dave "The Hammer" Schultz occurs at about 10 minutes into the documentary, and it's one of the most enjoyable. Scenes of him pummeling opponents, sure, but also details on how "contagious" his aggressive game was. As one Flyer put it: "It made us play with bigger balls."
They became "people in crazed search of the Stanley Cup." They became the first team to "win through intimidation." The strategy was to "annihilate people." Awesome stuff, but it really gets interesting after the Flyers' Cup victories when the style is called a "desecration" of the game, that they turned hockey into "roller derby." But most importantly, that Clarence Campbell had to balance his own disdain for their style with admiration of their popularity.
They also touch on the Dave Schultz Novelty Record. That would be "Baby, How Long Will You Keep Me in the Penalty Box," which can be heard here.
"You got me bumpin' and a shoven'/hungry for lovin'" ... we really need more pop albums from modern-day tough guys. Will someone introduce Raitis Ivanans(notes) to Ke$ha?
3. Goalie Bernie Parent Was a [expletive] Weirdo
"He always had to have a nap in the afternoon with his German Shepperd dog. He loved to smell things. If you bought a new pair of shoes, he was all over you. 'Aw, I love the smell of new leather.' He'd have his nose in your shoe." - Goalie Bobby Taylor, 1972-75
4. Right team, right time, right bar
The Eagles sucked. The Sixers traded Wilt. The Phillies hadn't won in forever. The Flyers represented the city's blue-collar aesthetic, they were entertaining and they were winners.
Plus, they all "looked like porn stars" and would drink after practice, and after games at a South Jersey dive bar, frequently buying fans beer.
Incidentally, the first mass-produced camera phone was created in 1997.
5. Kate Smith
The documentary covers the Flyers' incredible success when Smith's "God Bless America" was played, and her dramatic appearance before Game 6 against the Boston Bruins in 1974. Great archival footage leading into "The Flyers Win The Stanley Cup, The Flyers Win The Stanley Cup!" And 2 million people to the championship parade. Jeepers.
6. How that Cup touched the entire city
Here's a thousand words:
7. The Fog and The Bat
Terrific footage of the Stanley Cup Final in 1975 in which the Buffalo Sabres and the Flyers play in a fog thanks to heat and humidity outdoors, and one of the Sabres kills a bat with his stick.
8. It offers nice contrasts, just not enough of them
There's an eye-rolling opening to this film, as it uses the single-most cliché footage to set the scene: Young Canadian boys skating on the frozen pond. Yuck, vomit; it's every hockey documentary and Winter Classic vignette ever made.
That is until you see another scene later in the film in Philly, after the Flyers have enchanted the locals. It's a group of young men playing street hockey on a basketball court, with talk in the background about occasional fights on the blacktop. It's a smart juxtaposition with the earlier scene and there are a few more like it.
The film struggles to set up the rest of those contrasts between traditional hockey and the brand the Flyers were perfecting.
It lacks, in "Animal House" terms, its Dean Wormer -- a dissenting voice that establishes the establishment. Without one, there's a lot of "we are who we are and critics be damned" without ever really identifying who the critics are.
9. Bill Clement is funny, interesting and drops an S-bomb
All the more reason why the NHL should be on HBO.
10. Overall, a snapshot of hockey's bloody past that runs dry
There's enough here to recommend "Broad Street Bullies," but not strongly.
The first half is terrific, as we meet the expansion Flyers, watch them morph into the Bullies and captivate Philadelphian fans in a primal way. It's a compelling narrative that brings us through the first Stanley Cup.
After that story's told, the documentary meanders. The second Cup, the battle with the Russian National Team, the slow passing of the torch at the end of the decade ... there are interesting moments here and there, but it lacks cohesion. It also lacks what made the first half so effective: a focus on what the Flyers meant to Philadelphia, and on the personalities that connected with those fans.
Those moments, and the vivid violence, are what linger. OK, and the Dave Schultz song. If only because you're still wiping blood from your ears after the credits roll.
Gary Bettman's unlikely musical tastes
Posted Jun 21 2012
Yakupov says he's ready for NHL
Posted Jun 25 2012
Canada's Stanley Cup curse explained
Posted Jun 21 2012
Edited By Doug Farrar
Edited By 'Duk
Edited By Kelly Dwyer
Edited By Greg Wyshynski
Edited By Matt Hinton
Edited By Jeff Eisenberg
Edited By Jay Busbee
Edited By Jay Busbee
Edited By Steve Cofield
Edited By Chris Chase
Edited By Chris Chase
Edited By Brooks Peck
Edited By Andy Behrens
Edited By Cameron Smith
Edited By Mark J. Miller


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12 Nov
Posted by: Christian Wimmer in: Common
Many people are not aware of the JEDI Wiki. This wiki is/should be a central information point around all JEDI projects. Unfortunately, this is a lot of work. Therfore, we depend on the community helping us out here.
If you want to write a documentation, consider first to create an account. This will help immensely if there is a need to contact you on the subject. Of course, it is not mandatory and you don't contact any JEDI member.
I have written a page about JWSCL. It can be improved though.
Also JCL news can be found here (although they look outdated)
Michael Thuma12|Nov|2010 1
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Adrian Wilson wore the jersey number 24 throughout his 12 seasons with the Cardinals. He would like to remain 24 even now that he's joined the Patriots. Except that number is presently owned by new teammate and fellow safety Kyle Arrington. Usually when this sort of thing happens, the incoming veteran throws a little money to the younger guy, the switch is made and everyone is happy. Wilson doesn't anticipate any difficulty coming to an agreement with his new teammate, but just in case, he's showing that he's willing to really up the stakes.
He hopes he's made Arrington, who became a father just six days ago, an offer he can't refuse.
"I offered him a year's supply of Pampers," Wilson said. "Hope he gets back to me."
On Twitter, Arrington said Wilson "may have to throw some formula in there too."
Another situation where the loss of Wes Welker has come back to bite the team. Welker, after all, has endorsed adult diapers. Those are almost the same thing as regular diapers. What I'm trying to say is Welker has connects in the diaper community.


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New York (Oct. 18)
Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R., N.Y.) declared today that the resolution pending in the Senate which calls on the American government to supply Israel with Phantom planes it has requested will help the Nixon administration's policy for a negotiated peace in the Middle East. The resolution, which was introduced in the Senate last Friday by 78 Senators, "will help to make it clear that there can be no dreams of a quick or easy military thrust against Israel as a substitute for good faith negotiations." Javits stated.
In a speech at the Fordham Law Forum of the Fordham Law School, the New York Republican observed that "if Israel is assured of the military assistance it needs to maintain its deterrent strength, and feels secure against the Arab-Soviet threat. Israel is more likely to be in a position a mood to negotiate with flexibility." Javits interpreted last Thursday's comment by Secretary of State William P. Rogers that it was now necessary to review carefully the military situation in the Middle East as meaning that he is now "thinking along the same lines as we are in the Senate." Javits said that this is most significant and heartening.
Javits, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where the resolution is presently awaiting approval, praised the "active diplomatic policy of negotiations" that President Nixon and Rogers are "pursuing." But he cautioned that this policy "cannot succeed if the Soviet leaders come to believe that the US will retire from the field and leave an open path for Soviet adventurism in the Middle East. In such circumstances" he added, "the only diplomacy which could succeed would be a diplomacy of appeasement in the Mideast such as occurred in Munich in 1938. There is a determination in the Senate and in the nation that this should not happen," he said.


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Considering the economic climate and the unemployment rate in Mississippi and across the country, it's easy to overlook one of the best business coups in the history of our great state.
The Nissan Canton plant celebrated its sixth anniversary last week.
Kind of seems like it has been here in the Magnolia State forever.
So, let's see. As Mississippi treasures go, there's the Mannings, the blues, Elvis Presley and now Nissan.
Way back in 2003, we ran a story in which Lynne Jeter wrote, "It was Mississippi's best kept secret. And it marked undoubtedly the state's best collaborative effort between between public and private entities to land what the New York Times called 'the great economic prize of 2000.'"
Since the plant's opening on May 27, 2003, more than 1.5 million vehicles have rolled off the assembly line.
Nissan was the first automaker to bring vehicle assembly operations to the State of Mississippi. Within its first year of operation, the Nissan Canton plant launched five vehicle models. Since beginning production, the plant has gone from Job One to producing approximately 1,000 vehicles a day for both the Nissan and Infiniti lineup.
"Nissan has taken advantage of Mississippi's favorable business climate and high quality workforce to build one of the Southeast's most successful automotive plants," Gov. Haley Barbour has been quote to say on many occasions.
In this issue of the Mississippi Business Journal, we focus a lot of efforts on economic development and the job the Mississippi Development Authority has done with that over the years.
The MDA may have done one of its best jobs in working behind the scenes to help bring Nissan to Mississippi, and it is MDA that continues to work behind the scenes to bring development to Mississippi.
But while we place a lot of emphasis in who did what correctly to bring Nissan to Mississippi, it should be pointed out that much of what is important to so many in the business world looking to locate a business here.
Our people.
As Blake Wilson at the Mississippi Economic Council once said, the people of Mississippi are our secret weapon.
"Our interconnections and work ethic set us apart," Wilson said.
Happy sixth birthday, Nissan. Here's to many decades of good times in Mississippi.
Contact MBJ Managing Editor Ross Reily at firstname.lastname@example.com or (601) 364-1018.


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Magnetic paper clip holder in thermoplastic resin, black.
Item code: AMK01 B
Color: black
Height (cm): 5.00
Length (cm): 10.60
Width (cm): 7.40
Magnetic paper clip holder in thermoplastic resin, pink.
Item code: AMK01 F
Color: fuchsia
Height (cm): 5.00
Length (cm): 10.60
Width (cm): 7.40
Magnetic paper clip holder in thermoplastic resin, green.
Item code: AMK01 GR
Color: green,green mint
Height (cm): 5.00
Length (cm): 10.60
Width (cm): 7.40
Mika H.J.Kim is a young Korean, and his design came about during a workshop that Laura Polinoro held in Seoul in 2002
Born in Bergamo, Italy, Laura Polinoro graduated in Drama Art and Music Studies in Bologna. Her first job was in the field of contemporary dance as art director and costume and set designer. Later she undertook research at the Domus Academy in Milan. From 1990 to 1998 she was in charge of the Centro Studi Alessi, where she operated as meta-project designer and art director, coordinating workshops both in-house and in association with various universities and design institutes the world over. She was also involved in publishing and communications activities. Items which entered production in that period are identified with the acronym "CSA". Since 2004 products overseen by Ms. Polinoro have been identified with the letters "LPWK"
Born in Seoul, Korea, in 1972, he graduated with Bachelor's degree in Visual and Industrial Design at the Seoul National University, and he had a Master's degree in Industrial and Spatial Design. Chief Designer for the Design Studio Mika & Heni, Budapest. He has participated in several design projects and exhibitions as a designer and adviser and winner of the Special Prize, Korean Industrial Design Exhibition 2001, hosted by KIDP, Seoul.


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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
West Chester, PA, United States, 2010/10/22 - More powerful runs longer - The W24-180 features more power and the longest run time of any grinder in its class.
Metabo Corporation, a leading international manufacturer of professional grade portable electric power tools and abrasives for industrial, construction and welding applications, has introduced a new large angle grinder in the Metabo Metal Masters series. The W24-180 features more power and the longest run time of any grinder in its class. Designed for cutting and grinding metal, this new angle grinder allows users to tackle large jobs safely and efficiently.
With a 7 wheel, the W24-180 delivers 124 inch-lbs of torque and a no-load speed of 8,500 rpm. The tool also features a long-lasting 15 A motor with 2,400 W of power and 4.5 hp.
The W24-180 features a vibration dampening rear handle that twists into three different positions for comfort during cutting, while reducing user fatigue. A three-position anti-vibration side handle allows users to turn the tool 90° to cut vertically, while still having a firm grasp on the grinder.
The tool incorporates Metabos improved, simplified on/off switch function with a safety lock-out switch, a burst-proof guard with seven positions and a spindle lock.
The newly designed diagonal fan pulls more air across the motor for cooler operation. A double winding protection grid that deflects harmful airborne debris away from armature windings as well as auto-stop COLD carbon brushes increase the tools service life. In addition, the W24-180 features an easy-to-use toolless wheel guard as well as an optimized cooling system with vent openings that are less susceptible to blockage and allow for cooler operation, extending tool life.
For more information, please contact Terry Tuerk, Metabo Corporation, 1231 Wilson Drive, West Chester, Pa. 19380. T: 1-800 638-2264; F: 1-800 638-2261.
UPCOMING TRADESHOWS: FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show 2010; 11/2-4; Atlanta, GA and STAFDA 11/7-9, Phoenix, AZ
About METABO
Metabo (metabousa.com), a leading international manufacturer of professional grade portable electric power tools and abrasives for industrial, construction and welding applications, has international headquarters in Nurtingen, Germany and U.S. headquarters in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The company has focused its product development on technological advancements in electronic circuitry and mechanical design, which has resulted in high performance, durable electric power tools. The name Metabo is German for metal-boring, symbolic of the companys first tool -- a metal-boring tool -- manufactured in 1924.
EDITORS NOTE: Product available for demo or review.
Written by / Agency / Source: The Simon Group, Inc.
Availability: All Regions (Including Int'l)
Traffic Booster: [/] Quick Newswire Today Visibility Checker
Distribution / Indexing: [+]


text: Hi! I have a 5 month old cockapoo named Sophie, and a 14 year old cat named Tabatha. I just found this site in a search for dew claw information, and thought I'd join! I also have two human babies, an 8 year old son and a 4 year old daughter. I live in Southern California.


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Games by James
Dice Games
Board Games
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Party Games
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Trivia Games
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view all party and group games >
Board Games & Puzzles for the Whole Family
Please note: As of 01/05/2017 we are no longer accepting website orders. Our retail locations remain open and will not be affected by this change. Please contact a store directly to check the 'in-stock" status of items.
We have thousands of board games and puzzles in stock —from the most popular to the most hard to find. We've got your favorite party game, stategy and adventure games, jigsaw puzzles, brainteasers, kids games, cards, dice, casino, poker, cribbage, darts, chess and checkers.


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The Role of Finance in the Strategic-Planning and Decision-Making Process
Financial Goals and Metrics Help Firms Implement Strategy and Track Success
The fundamental success of a strategy depends on three critical factors: a firm's alignment with the external environment, a realistic internal view of its core competencies and sustainable competitive advantages, and careful implementation and monitoring.[1] This article discusses the role of finance in strategic planning, decision making, formulation, implementation, and monitoring.
[powerpress: http://gsbm-med.pepperdine.edu/gbr/audio/winter2010/PedroKono_article.mp3]
Any person, corporation, or nation should know who or where they are, where they want to be, and how to get there.[2] The strategic-planning process utilizes analytical models that provide a realistic picture of the individual, corporation, or nation at its "consciously incompetent" level, creating the necessary motivation for the development of a strategic plan.[3] The process requires five distinct steps outlined below and the selected strategy must be sufficiently robust to enable the firm to perform activities differently from its rivals or to perform similar activities in a more efficient manner.[4]
A good strategic plan includes metrics that translate the vision and mission into specific end points.[5] This is critical because strategic planning is ultimately about resource allocation and would not be relevant if resources were unlimited. This article aims to explain how finance, financial goals, and financial performance can play a more integral role in the strategic planning and decision-making process, particularly in the implementation and monitoring stage.
The Strategic-Planning and Decision-Making Process
1. Vision Statement
The creation of a broad statement about the company's values, purpose, and future direction is the first step in the strategic-planning process.[6] The vision statement must express the company's core ideologies—what it stands for and why it exists—and its vision for the future, that is, what it aspires to be, achieve, or create.[7]
2. Mission Statement
An effective mission statement conveys eight key components about the firm: target customers and markets; main products and services; geographic domain; core technologies; commitment to survival, growth, and profitability; philosophy; self-concept; and desired public image.[8] The finance component is represented by the company's commitment to survival, growth, and profitability.[9] The company's long-term financial goals represent its commitment to a strategy that is innovative, updated, unique, value-driven, and superior to those of competitors.[10]
3. Analysis
This third step is an analysis of the firm's business trends, external opportunities, internal resources, and core competencies. For external analysis, firms often utilize Porter's five forces model of industry competition,[11] which identifies the company's level of rivalry with existing competitors, the threat of substitute products, the potential for new entrants, the bargaining power of suppliers, and the bargaining power of customers.[12]
For internal analysis, companies can apply the industry evolution model, which identifies takeoff (technology, product quality, and product performance features), rapid growth (driving costs down and pursuing product innovation), early maturity and slowing growth (cost reduction, value services, and aggressive tactics to maintain or gain market share), market saturation (elimination of marginal products and continuous improvement of value-chain activities), and stagnation or decline (redirection to fastest-growing market segments and efforts to be a low-cost industry leader).[13]
Another method, value-chain analysis clarifies a firm's value-creation process based on its primary and secondary activities.[14] This becomes a more insightful analytical tool when used in conjunction with activity-based costing and benchmarking tools that help the firm determine its major costs, resource strengths, and competencies, as well as identify areas where productivity can be improved and where re-engineering may produce a greater economic impact.[15]
SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) is a classic model of internal and external analysis providing management information to set priorities and fully utilize the firm's competencies and capabilities to exploit external opportunities,[16] determine the critical weaknesses that need to be corrected, and counter existing threats.[17]
4. Strategy Formulation
To formulate a long-term strategy, Porter's generic strategies model [18] is useful as it helps the firm aim for one of the following competitive advantages: a) low-cost leadership (product is a commodity, buyers are price-sensitive, and there are few opportunities for differentiation); b) differentiation (buyers' needs and preferences are diverse and there are opportunities for product differentiation); c) best-cost provider (buyers expect superior value at a lower price); d) focused low-cost (market niches with specific tastes and needs); or e) focused differentiation (market niches with unique preferences and needs).[19]
5. Strategy Implementation and Management
In the last ten years, the balanced scorecard (BSC)[20] has become one of the most effective management instruments for implementing and monitoring strategy execution as it helps to align strategy with expected performance and it stresses the importance of establishing financial goals for employees, functional areas, and business units. The BSC ensures that the strategy is translated into objectives, operational actions, and financial goals and focuses on four key dimensions: financial factors, employee learning and growth, customer satisfaction, and internal business processes.[21]
The Role of Finance
Financial metrics have long been the standard for assessing a firm's performance. The BSC supports the role of finance in establishing and monitoring specific and measurable financial strategic goals on a coordinated, integrated basis, thus enabling the firm to operate efficiently and effectively. Financial goals and metrics are established based on benchmarking the "best-in-industry" and include:
1. Free Cash Flow
This is a measure of the firm's financial soundness and shows how efficiently its financial resources are being utilized to generate additional cash for future investments.[22] It represents the net cash available after deducting the investments and working capital increases from the firm's operating cash flow. Companies should utilize this metric when they anticipate substantial capital expenditures in the near future or follow-through for implemented projects.
2. Economic Value-Added
This is the bottom-line contribution on a risk-adjusted basis and helps management to make effective, timely decisions to expand businesses that increase the firm's economic value and to implement corrective actions in those that are destroying its value.[23] It is determined by deducting the operating capital cost from the net income. Companies set economic value-added goals to effectively assess their businesses' value contributions and improve the resource allocation process.
3. Asset Management
This calls for the efficient management of current assets (cash, receivables, inventory) and current liabilities (payables, accruals) turnovers and the enhanced management of its working capital and cash conversion cycle. Companies must utilize this practice when their operating performance falls behind industry benchmarks or benchmarked companies.
4. Financing Decisions and Capital Structure
Here, financing is limited to the optimal capital structure (debt ratio or leverage), which is the level that minimizes the firm's cost of capital. This optimal capital structure determines the firm's reserve borrowing capacity (short- and long-term) and the risk of potential financial distress.[24] Companies establish this structure when their cost of capital rises above that of direct competitors and there is a lack of new investments.
5. Profitability Ratios
This is a measure of the operational efficiency of a firm. Profitability ratios also indicate inefficient areas that require corrective actions by management; they measure profit relationships with sales, total assets, and net worth. Companies must set profitability ratio goals when they need to operate more effectively and pursue improvements in their value-chain activities.
6. Growth Indices
Growth indices evaluate sales and market share growth and determine the acceptable trade-off of growth with respect to reductions in cash flows, profit margins, and returns on investment. Growth usually drains cash and reserve borrowing funds, and sometimes, aggressive asset management is required to ensure sufficient cash and limited borrowing.[25] Companies must set growth index goals when growth rates have lagged behind the industry norms or when they have high operating leverage.
7. Risk Assessment and Management
A firm must address its key uncertainties by identifying, measuring, and controlling its existing risks in corporate governance and regulatory compliance, the likelihood of their occurrence, and their economic impact. Then, a process must be implemented to mitigate the causes and effects of those risks.[26] Companies must make these assessments when they anticipate greater uncertainty in their business or when there is a need to enhance their risk culture.
8. Tax Optimization
Many functional areas and business units need to manage the level of tax liability undertaken in conducting business and to understand that mitigating risk also reduces expected taxes.[27] Moreover, new initiatives, acquisitions, and product development projects must be weighed against their tax implications and net after-tax contribution to the firm's value. In general, performance must, whenever possible, be measured on an after-tax basis. Global companies must adopt this measure when operating in different tax environments, where they are able to take advantage of inconsistencies in tax regulations.
The introduction of the balanced scorecard emphasized financial performance as one of the key indicators of a firm's success and helped to link strategic goals to performance and provide timely, useful information to facilitate strategic and operational control decisions. This has led to the role of finance in the strategic planning process becoming more relevant than ever.
Empirical studies have shown that a vast majority of corporate strategies fail during execution. The above financial metrics help firms implement and monitor their strategies with specific, industry-related, and measurable financial goals, strengthening the organization's capabilities with hard-to-imitate and non-substitutable competencies. They create sustainable competitive advantages that maximize a firm's value, the main objective of all stakeholders.
[1] M.E. Porter, "What is Strategy?" Harvard Business Review, 74, no. 6 (1996). [purchase required]
[2] D. Abell, Defining the Business: The Starting Point of Strategic Planning, (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1980).
[3] J.S. Bruner, The Process of Education: A Landmark in Education Theory, (hyperlink no longer accessible). (Boston: Harvard University Press, 1977).
[4] J.A. Pearce and R.B. Robinson, Formulation, Implementation, and Control of Competitive Strategy, (New York: Irwin McGraw-Hill, 2000).
[5] C.S. Clark and S.E. Krentz, "Avoiding the Pitfalls of Strategic Planning," Healthcare Financial Management, 60, no. 11 (2004): 63–68.
[6] T. Jick and M. Peiperl, Managing Change: Cases and Concepts, (New York: Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2003).
[7] J.C. Collins and J.I. Porras, "Building Your Company's Vision," Harvard Business Review, 74, no. 5 (1996). [purchase required]
[8] Pearce and Robinson.
[9] J.A. Pearce and F. David, "Corporate Mission Statement: The Bottom Line," The Academy of Management Executive, 1, no. 2 (1987): 109–116. [purchase required]
[10] R.K. Johnson, "Strategy, Success, a Dynamic Economy, and the 21st Century Manager," The Business Review, 5, no. 2 (2006).
[11] M.E. Porter, "How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy," Harvard Business Review, 57, no. 2 (1979).
[12] Ibid.
[13] A.A. Thompson, A.J. Strickland, and J.E. Gamble, Crafting and Executing Strategy, (New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2009).
[14] Pearce and Robinson.
[15] Thompson, Strickland, and Gamble.
[16] B. Jovanovic and G.M. MacDonald, "The Life Cycle of a Competitive Industry," The Journal of Political Economy, 102, no. 2 (1994: 322–347).
[17] C.A. Lai and J.C. Rivera, Jr., "Using a Strategic Planning Tool as a Framework for Case Analysis," Journal of College Science Teaching, 36, no. 2 (2006): 26–31.
[18] M.E. Porter, Competitive Advantage: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, (New York: The Free Press, 1980).
[19] Thompson, Strickland, and Gamble.
[20] R.S. Kaplan and D.P. Norton, "Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System," (hyperlink no longer accessible). Harvard Business Review, 74, no. 1 (1996).
[21] Ibid.
[22] Peter Grant, "How Financial Targets Determine Your Strategy," Global Finance, 11, no. 3 (1997): 30–34
[23] Ibid.
[24] Sidney L. Barton and Paul J. Gordon, "Corporate Strategy: Useful Perspective for the Study of Capital Structure?" The Academy of Management Review, 12, no. 1 (1987): 67–75.
[25] B.T. Gale and B. Branch, "Cash Flow Analysis: More Important Than Ever," Harvard Business Review, July–August (1981).
[26] H.D. Pforsich, B.K.P. Kramer, and G.R. Just, "Establishing an Effective Internal Audit Department," Strategic Finance, 87, no. 10 (2006): 22–29.
[27] Q. Lawrence, "Hedging in Perspective," Corporate Finance, 115, no. 36 (1994).
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About the Author(s)
Pedro M. Kono, DBA, is a professor of finance at Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University and Fox School of Business at Temple University. He is also the president of Key Financing Solutions, a company engaged in structuring vendor programs and international financing. Dr. Kono worked for many years for Citigroup in the U.S., U.K., Japan, and Brazil, and gained significant international and diversified management experience at commercial banking, leasing, and finance companies. He obtained his doctoral degree from Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University and has conducted research in the fields of corporate finance, specifically in the investment area, and corporate strategy. He is currently researching the market efficiency hypothesis and the performance of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) in the U.S., Japan, and Brazil.
Barry Barnes, PhD, is the Chair of Leadership at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he teaches graduate-level courses in leadership, strategic decision making, and organizational behavior. In 2009, he received an Outstanding Research Award at the Global Conference on Business and Finance; he received a Best Paper Award at the International Global Academy of Business, and he was selected as Faculty Member of the Year in 2000. Dr. Barnes has published in the International Journal of Organizational Analysis, The International Journal of Business Research, Review of Business Research, the Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship, and other journals. His recent research and writing focus on the relationship between leadership, organizational change, and strategy, as well as the innovative and improvisational business practices of the legendary rock band the Grateful Dead.
Issue: 2010 Volume 13 Issue 1
Topic: Finance / Investing / Accounting
Tags: asset management, decision analysis, finance, free cash flow, strategic planning
It is a excellent idea for company growth. Internal audit and good governance and control processes is vital support for financial planning and decision bench marking.
- The Role of Finance in The Strategic Planning & Decision Making Process | Corporate CFO
- The Role of Finance In The Strategic-Planning & Decision-Making Process | Corporate CFO
- Savvy Budgeting Tips For Folks on a Budget - :
- The Role of Financial Management | IIPA Module 14 - Financial Management
- Formulating and Implementing Free Stock Market Research | Investing and Trading Stocks


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Tyson Foods Recalls 34,000 Pounds of Chicken
Tyson Foods has issued a voluntary recall for nearly 34,000 pounds of their chicken products following concerns that the chicken may be contaminated with Salmonella.
Details of the Tyson Chicken Recall
- According to a release by the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the recall involves 40 pound cases of chicken products, each containing 10 tubs of "TYSON MECHANICALLY SEPARATED CHICKEN."
- The products were produced on October 11, 2013 and distributed to centers in California, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio and Wisconsin.
- Between November 29 and December 12, eight people were sickened by the strain of the bacteria, Salmonella Heidelberg, with two of them requiring hospitalization.
About Salmonella Infections
- Salmonella poisoning, or salmonellosis, is an infections that most often leads to diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms normally occur 12 to 72 hours after infection and may last four to seven days.
- Though most people infected recover without treatment, the infection can spread to the blood stream and other parts of the body resulting in death unless treated with antibiotics in a timely manner – infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most likely to suffer serious illness.
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 42,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported every year. These cases result in roughly 400 deaths annually.
Contact an Experienced Product Liability Attorney
Thomas J. Henry are leaders in the area of product liability litigation. Our Defective Drug and Products Division has extensive knowledge and resources in order to represent our clients efficiently and aggressively. We represent a multitude of people who are battling against manufacturers of defective drugs and/or products.
Your choice does matter. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries because of recalled foods or supplements, call Thomas J. Henry immediately. We represent clients/victims all over the country. We are available 24/7, nights and weekends.


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Brew Blog: Great Divide Brewing Co., the Christmas Ale from Anchor Brewing Co., and Avery Brewing Co.'s Old Jubilation Ale
Putting up a post this week on Christmas beers surely strikes several of you as last-minute, but are you really done with your shopping? Yeah, we didn't think so.
We recently loaded up for the season with several six-packs that caught our eye at Central Market, including Hibernation Ale from Great Divide Brewing Co., the Christmas Ale from Anchor Brewing Co., and Avery Brewing Co.'s Old Jubilation Ale.
Anchor's was great. A welcoming but light aroma, amazingly balanced on the palate, not too heavy but clearly Christmas-y, with some evident spices. A friend agreed it was the beer equivalent of cranberry salad on the table at Christmas dinner. You may notice we drank them all too fast to give you a photograph.
So the photo you do get is of Avery's Old Jubilation, which was basically a full 180 degrees from the Anchor offering.
Avery has showed up in our pages a few times, and each time it's been heavy (weighing in at 16.45 percent booze) or otherwise "fiercely" flavored. This one was no different. Sweet-smelling and booze-forward, Old Jubilation had an arboreal, tree-like thing going on -- eucalyptus almost.
You could spin that positively as a successful winter warmer, the pleasing taste of a snow-covered evergreen. That wouldn't be wrong. But, really, the booze content felt much stiffer than the labeled 8.3 percent, and it drifted toward a medicinal feel at times.
As the beer warmed it improved. A sweet film was left behind, and the malt came through better. The sharp, boozy feeling faded and a buttery feel developed.
Frankly, as far as seasonals go, we're content with our homegrown Coffee Porter from Real Ale in Blanco. That's not a Christmas beer, but it's as welcome a kickoff to the sort-of-but-not-really-cold season as there is.
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squeaky wheel #3, EQ-ed for squeak.Squeaky wheel sample request from Leeg1970 … http://www.freesound.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=19948#19948 ... Simulation of squeaky wheelbarrow wheel.
me sirve , gracias hombre !
I play this to my daughter when she bugs me! Thanks.
No seriously, I used it for a short film about the evolution of energy.
lovely thanks
thank you for your Wheely Squeaky collection. I enjoyed this one very much. It's clean and very pleasant to listen to.
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BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
June 28, 2009
On the Beat
Weekend Wrap
Trey Hillman knows that his team's record does not show it. The Royals are 31-42 and 9� games out in the American League Central. It gives the appearance that the Royals are well on their way to another lost season in what has been a lost couple of decades for the once-model franchise.
The Royals have had five consecutive losing seasons, and they've been under .500 in 13 of the last 14 years. It's been 24 years since they last appeared in the postseason, yet Hillman, in his second season, insists that the Royals are making progress and that, under their current circumstances, the record does not reveal their true direction. "I like the feel of the clubhouse, the way these guys come to the park every day and prepare for each game in a very professional way," said Hillman. "I like the energy and effort they show on the field, that they show on an everyday basis. It doesn't matter whether we're winning big, playing in a one-run or two-run game or on the wrong end of a lopsided score, they keep giving an effort. Unfortunately, all of that hasn't produced as many wins as you like, but when you have a group of players with that kind of work ethic, then it means that good things are eventually going to happen for your organization."
Royals fans have been waiting for a payoff for a long time. This seemed to be the year that perhaps the Royals would contend, or at least get back over .500. They were the trendy pick to be the league's surprise team while playing in what appeared to be a wide-open division, and for a while, they seemed ready to live up to those expectations. They got off to an 18-11 start and held a three-game lead in the AL Central following games of May 7, but things have fallen apart in the past seven weeks. The Royals have gone 13-31 and lost many key players to injury or ineffectiveness.
Right-hander Kyle Davies was sent to the minor leagues this past week after beginning the season as the third starter behind Zack Greinke and Gil Meche; Davies had just 0.6 SNLVAR. With a 4.9 SNLVAR, Greinke has been spectacular, but the rest of the rotation has been nondescript, and the Royals have reached the point where they called up Bruce Chen from Triple-A Omaha to take Davies' rotation spot. The Royals are Chen's 10th major league team.
The Royals' bullpen has also been disappointing. Closer Joakim Soria has battled shoulder problems all season and has a team-best 0.954 WXRL, while right-hander Kyle Farnsworth, placed on the DL on Friday with a strained groin, has a -1.036 after being signed to a two-year, $9.25 million contract as a free agent over the winter to serve as the primary set-up man. Thus, the Royals are 21st in the major leagues in runs allowed at 4.85 per game.
Davies' demotion came just as center fielder Coco Crisp, acquired from the Red Sox in an off-season trade in order to ignite the offense from the leadoff spot, underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. Crisp's .264 EqA was also less than the Royals expected. Three other regulars are on the DL as well: catcher John Buck (back), third baseman Alex Gordon (hip), and shortstop Mike Aviles (forearm). That has left the Royals with one of the weakest offenses in the major leagues; they rank 27th in runs scored with 4.10 per game, and their regular with the highest EqA is second baseman Alberto Callaspo at .276.
The Royals hope to have Gordon-who Hillman felt was poised for a breakout season in his third year in the major leagues-and Buck back just after the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the loss of Gordon has made Mark Teahen the regular third baseman, and while Teahen leads the team with 15.0 VORP, the Royals were hoping to make him their second baseman or perhaps their super utilityman this season, which would have added greatly to their depth. Now, with all the injuries that depth is gone, and some Royals insiders fear that this team could be headed for 90-plus losses.
"Right now, we're just trying to get through this the best we can to the end of the first half," said Hillman. "I'm confident if we can hang in there with the guys we have, that we'll be fine. Alex and the other guys coming back from the DL will really give us a boost. You have to be careful when you're talking about injuries, because you don't want the guys who are out there to feel we can't win with them, because we can, but Alex is at that stage of his career where he can really provide a huge boost to our lineup. This is only the second time I've played the injury card, and it's probably going to be the last time, but I don't think there is any denying that the injuries have hurt us. I believe if we had our full team together, or even had just the normal share of injuries, that our record would be much better. We were playing good baseball and had a good feeling going here through the first month of the season. Now we're fighting to try to recapture that."
The Brewers and Phillies, who faced each other in the National League Division Series last year, could both use a starting pitcher in their bids to get back to the postseason, but Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and Ruben Amaro Jr., his Phillies' counterpart, are finding out that starting pitching is a scarce commodity on the current trade market. "You make your phone calls, but there's not a lot happening right now," Melvin said. "There are just not many pitchers available. There are a few guys. Teams just aren't quite sure. It takes a lot to trade one of your starters. We're looking for veteran guys. If you're going to trade pitching, teams want players that are close to major league ready. That makes it a little more difficult."
The player Melvin gets asked for the most in trade talks is Triple-A Nashville shortstop Alcides Escobar, who is considered an outstanding fielder and has a translated .259 EqA for the Sounds. However, even though the Brewers have a young shortstop in J.J. Hardy at the major league level, Melvin says he will not part with Escobar. "He has played very well," said Melvin. "He's been very consistent. He hasn't had a lot of lulls. For the first year of Triple-A, that's pretty good. He's known for his fielding. Offensively, he should get better as he plays. Shortstops are so valuable. There are so many teams looking for shortstops. You can go years without having one."
Meanwhile, Amaro says that finding trading partners is difficult because so many teams are not yet ready to concede the 2009 season. In all, 21 of the 30 major league teams are within five games of a playoff spot. "I think things will heat up late, because everybody is still kind of in it," Amaro said. "There are no real teams bailing or stepping out of this thing. There's going to be a pretty vicious fight for probably two of the divisions in our league, and certainly for the wild card. There are so many teams that are still involved, [and] I don't expect that to change a whole lot over the next month. But it will start to crystallize a little bit more as we start to get into the middle of July. The availability really isn't there. The number of buyers and the number of sellers is not even close to equaling each other."
The Dodgers are eight games ahead of the Giants in the National League West, and BP's playoff odds report gives them a 93 percent chance of winning the division. The Giants, conversely, are given a one-percent chance of capturing their first NL West crown since 2003, but Giants center fielder Aaron Rowand says that his team hasn't given up on overtaking the Dodgers. "The wild card is not the goal," Rowand said, and Giants GM Brian Sabean agreed, saying, "We've got to find a way to get closer to first place."
Giants left-hander Randy Johnson, however, has a different opinion. He believes that his new team should just concentrate on qualifying for the postseason for the first time in six years. Johnson is well aware that a wild-card team can go deep into the postseason; his 2001 Diamondbacks won a World Series by taking that route. The Giants are now only a half-game behind the Cardinals in the NL wild-card standings. "There's a lot of season left, but as good as the Dodgers are playing right now, if you look at what wild-card teams have done in the past, the important thing is just to get to the playoffs," said Johnson. "Considering the struggles of this organization in recent years, if you're getting in via the wild card, it would be pretty exciting for the team, the ownership, and the fans. You get there however you can. Then every playoff team starts from scratch."
The Phillies and Rays, the two teams who had met in last year's World Series, had a rematch this past week at Tropicana Field, and no one seemed to care. Attendance for the three-game series was just 58,611, an average of 19,537 a game.
That simply flummoxed Rays president Matt Silverman. "As we were planning for the season, we circled this series as one of the most compelling of the year," said Silverman. "It's a rare privilege to host a rematch of the World Series, especially against a team with local connections. Based on the all information we had, we projected full houses. It was a huge miss."
The Phillies are very popular in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area because they have held spring training in Clearwater since 1947. Silverman was asked if the series would have drawn better if it were held in Clearwater or on the other side of the bay in Tampa, where many in the region believe a new stadium for the Rays should be built, rather than in St. Petersburg. "I don't know how it might have drawn within other locales within Tampa Bay, but a matchup of World Series' teams would clearly have drawn better in every other baseball market," Silverman said.
Major League Rumors and Rumblings: The Dodgers want to add another starting pitcher, and Mariners left-hander Jarrod Washburn is their primary target. ... The Marlins would like to add a reliever, and they are eyeing the Astros' LaTroy Hawkins and the Orioles' Danys Baez, along with Luis Ayala, who was designated for assignment for the Twins this past week. The Pirates also have interest in Ayala. ... The Diamondbacks are ready to go into sell mode and make available such pending free agents as left-hander Doug Davis, right-hander Jon Garland, second baseman Felipe Lopez, and corner infielder Chad Tracy. ... White Sox GM Ken Williams feels that his team still has a chance to win the AL Central, but if he becomes a seller he will likely try to trade right-hander Jose Contreras, relievers Bobby Jenks, Octavio Dotel, and Scott Linebrink, and right fielder Jermaine Dye.
Interesting facts:
Three series to watch this week, with probable pitching matchups (all times Eastern):
John Perrotto is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
8 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
Randy Johnson is a smart man, Rowand and Sabean are not. This Giants team will need luck just to make the Wild Card, their odds of taking the division are well, at best 1%. I'm still betting against the playoffs for them as Cain's ERA will eventually catch up with his peripherals and Sandoval can't carry the offense on his back like this all season.
Jun 28, 2009 09:38 AM
About the Yankees-Mets interesting "fact":
Jun 28, 2009 09:42 AM
Dr. Dave
Is there some text missing at the start of this article? The first sentence I can see is "Trey Hillman knows that his team's record does not show it.", but I have no idea what 'it' is.
Jun 28, 2009 10:29 AM
It's like John's setting up a point, but never gets there.
Jun 28, 2009 16:32 PM
Richard Bergstrom
Looks fine, though perhaps a bit awkwardly worded to me.
Jun 28, 2009 21:23 PM
there seems to be some thought that the Dodgers 'should' be interested in Washburn, but Colletti has said publicly that they are not. I know disinformation is rife in this kind of comment, but his comment is worth noting. Particularly since Seattle is in LA as we speak.
Jun 28, 2009 12:43 PM
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text: Before I start, I'd like to tell you that I'm a n00b and apologize if this is in the wrong section or something! Hi. I recently bought this phone, Karbonn A21, a dual sim Android 4.0.4 phone. Using a guide online, i rooted the phone. It worked perfectly for a day, but the next evening, one of the processes got corrupted. Anytime i tried to download anything, processes.android.media force closed/ stopped working. After hours of trying to figure out what to do, i finally gave in to the suggestion given on various webpages for this issue - to do a factory reset. Now being the idgit rookie that i am, i did not know that factory resetting a rooted phone isn't a grand idea. I went ahead with the reset anyway and as a result, I have a phone with a lot of stock apps missing, the same problem of downloads still persisting and the android keyboard and maybe some other processes force closing and play store not working at all. I was hoping a quick fix would be to flash the stock ROM, but i can't find it ANYWHERE! It's a phone of a not so popular company, that too a new model and it's got no files or anything related to it. In fact, the official website doesn't even have the drivers... i got x86 versions off someplace else (which was also a problem coz my comp was x64, but whatever...) All in all, my awesome phone isn't awesome anymore and I really need help to fix it!!! Anyone??


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Cabela's Incorporated (NYSE: CAB), the World's Foremost Outfitter® of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, announced today plans to open a store in Greenville, S.C., bringing Cabela's extraordinary retail experience to customers in Greenville and the surrounding area. Cabela's expects to open the store – its first South Carolina location – in spring 2014. The 100,000-square-foot store will be located in Magnolia Park, a newly redeveloped shopping center located at the junction of Interstates-385 and -85 on Woodruff Road. Magnolia Park, being developed by Menin Development, already includes Costco, Regal Cinemas, Rooms to Go, Cheddar's and other retailers and restaurants, with plans for additional expansion. "South Carolinians are part of an exceptional outdoor tradition and share the Cabela's lifestyle and values. We wanted to build a store in the Greenville area to recognize that," said Cabela's Chief Executive Officer Tommy Millner. "We are also excited about the opportunity to expand our retail footprint in the Southeast." The store is expected to employ approximately 235 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees, and most will come from Greenville and the surrounding area. Cabela's typically attracts as staffers experienced outdoor recreationalists, who join the Cabela's family of employees known for their passion for and knowledge of the outdoors as well as excellent customer service skills. "We are excited that Cabela's has chosen Greenville for its first South Carolina location," said Greenville Mayor Knox White. "Cabela's unique retail experience is a great fit for Greenville and will complement other unique retail offerings in Magnolia Park. We welcome Cabela's and look forward to their opening." The building's exterior will reflect Cabela's popular store model with log construction, stonework, wood siding and metal roofing. A large glass storefront will allow customers to view much of the store's interior as they approach the building. The inside will feature the company's next-generation layout, designed to surround customers in an outdoor experience, including museum-quality wildlife displays and trophy animal mounts displayed on a mountain. The store will also feature a Gun Library, Bargain Cave, Fudge Shop and indoor archery range. The start of construction is still to be determined.
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Jindal "Open Doors" with Dairy Industry Great Success
Washington, Jun 2 - Tangipahoa, LA - Congressman Jindal (LA-01) today hosted more than 200 people for an open conversation about the dairy industry in Louisiana and ways that Congress can continue to support the dairy farmers of the state. The event proved extremely popular and was considered a great success by all present.
"It's a pleasure to be here, surrounded by so many hard working dairy farmers," Jindal said of the event. "Dairy farming has been a tradition in Louisiana more years than can be recounted. It is more a way of life than a business. Yet, it is too often overlooked as we talk about ways to help farming and the economy in our great state. However, I refuse to overlook the wonderful benefits we receive from our dairy farmers."
The event, which took place at H & S Dairy Farm in Tangipahoa and coincided with the local Tangipahoa Parish Dairy Day, was designed as the beginning of a long-term discussion between family farmers and others in dairy industry and Congressman Jindal. Intended as an hour long session, the event ran well past the allotted time with numerous ideas about how to revitalize the industry and ensure the long term profitability of dairy production discussed.
"There is no magic bullet that will bring dairy farming in Louisiana back to the strengths of its heyday," Jindal continued, "but there is much we can do. There were many great ideas discussed here today and I look forward to bringing them back to Washington and putting them into effect. Already I have signed on to cosponsor the Milk Import Tariff Equity Act, which gives Louisiana's dairy farmers the same protection and support in the international trade market that other countries are giving their farmers. Additionally, the Milk Income Loss Compensation Program expires in September and we need to make sure the protections this program provides to the dairy industry are continued and strengthened."
Congressman Jindal will hold a similar "Open Doors" on Friday with firefighters from the First District at the Abita Springs Fire Station.
Source: http://jindal.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=28648


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RICHLAND, Wash. – Researchers recently received a grant to develop a better process to capture carbon dioxide. It could save more than half of what coal-fired power plants now spend on the technology.
The new system will use heat more efficiently to remove greenhouse gases from coal-fired power plants. Battelle researchers in Richland, Wash., received a $2 million grant from the Department of Energy. Battelle senior research scientist Dave Heldebrant says CO2 capture usually involves water-based solutions. That takes longer than the method he is researching. It uses organic liquids that don't need to heat to high temperatures.
"If anybody's boiled water on their stove, they know it takes a long time to get water to boil," Heldebrant says.
Heldebrant says traditionally CO2 capture is heated with steam from coal-fired-power plants. This new system would use other heating sources, like a plant's cooling tower. Heldebrant says it could be retrofitted onto existing plants. The project starts in October.


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In 2014, IACR started to sponsor a small number of Cryptology Schools providing intensive training on clearly identified topics in cryptology. The aim of this program is to develop awareness and increased capacity for research in cryptology.
A Cryptology School is typically held full-time for 4-5 days of intensive learning and constitutes an efficient way to provide high-quality training for graduate students, as well as for professionals. Attendance should be open to anyone who is interested and qualified. In order to facilitate learning, a school is usually taught by a few domain experts with a focus on educating the audience rather than impressing with results. In line with the mission of IACR, a Cryptology School should enable the audience to advance the theory and practice of cryptology and related fields.
There are two rounds of submissions every year. The submission deadlines are:
- December 31st of year X-1: For schools that take place between March of year X and February of year X + 1.
- June 30th of year X: For schools that take place between September of year X and August of year X + 1.
For more information about this new program and how to prepare a proposal, please refer to http://www.iacr.org/schools/


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NFL Head Coach
Review by admtanaka
"A fumble in the red zone"
I like strategy games. I also like football. These simple facts led me to believe that I would love NFL Head Coach. The constant TV and online advertisements assured me I was right, and that, in all likelihood, the universe would end if I didn't run to the store and grab this game the minute it came out. And, at the low, low price of only $39.99, who was I to resist?
Long story short, I got this game, and it is bad. The premise sounded great to me: manage an NFL franchise in almost every imaginable way - sign the players, scout and draft the prospects, motivate them in games, and win the superbowl. As is becoming painfully predictable with EA Sports, however, none of these promised tasks have any real depth to them at all.
Unbelievably, the draft actually has less depth than it did in the franchise mode of Madden. Gone are players' times in the 40 yard dash or their amount of bench press reps, replaced with a simple stat system. Want the best LB available? Just scout them all and then pick the one with the highest overall. There aren't any decisions to make, because the overall stat makes them for you. Silly me, I had thought this game intended to simulate what it was like to evaluate a player based on his traits. EA still hasn't thought to include college stats, either. If you don't scout a player, then, you have no idea if he was a starter at USC or the emergency fullback at Colgate.
Managing your team's coaching staff manages to have even less depth than the draft. You can hire or fire position coaches or will, but the hiring process is borderline laughable, since the designers only included a bank of about 10 questions that you will randomly ask the candidate. For example, when I interview someone to be my LB coach, I'll have a choice to ask him what his offensive philosophy is, or how he evaluates talent at the TE position. You don't need to know much about football to know neither question makes any sense for a LB coach. To make matters worse, as far as I can tell, the answers the coaches give are completely meaningless.
It doesn't really matter anyway, since most of your coaches don't really do anything anyway. Every player has an overall stat, so it's not like you need any help deciding who is winning a position battle; all you have to do is start the guy with the highest overall. Sometimes a random variable will trigger though, and your QB coach will recommend benching Peyton Manning in favor of John Q. Fumble, then cry when you don't listen. There isn't much reason to really pay attention to these guys.
Managing the team's salary cap suffers from the same ailment. You can call agents and haggle with them about how much their client will make for your team, but there isn't any point since every player is willing to play for less than they're worth anyway. Feel free to pick up the best free agents, because they'll play for next to nothing. You can easily have a team of all superstars and be well underneath the cap. The computer makes this easier for you by releasing all their good players. After a few years of gameplay, feel free to pick up Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. I guess they just weren't working out for their teams.
Gameday has its problems as well. There are no options or difficulties. There are no sliders as there used to be in Madden. This means there is no way to adjust the gameplay whatsoever. Once you get your team established and get a hang of what you are doing, the computer will throw 4+ interceptions a game, and there is nothing you can do about it. For some reason, your quarterback will perform better. You can give your players all sorts of advice (for example, tell the QB to throw to the sidelines, or tell the RB to pound it between the tackles), but again, there is no purpose since the game is so easy anyway.
To top it off, the game is buggy. Stats don't simulate well for the other teams at times. I saw Reggie Bush rush for 2900 yards off 600+ (yes, 600) attempts in a single season for the Raiders. Of course, they didn't bother resigning him two years later, so I guess they weren't as impressed. I have read on the EA forums that not simming the practices causes your players to actually get worse. The game also suffers from the usual EA disease where if you simulate a practice or game, your team will have a lot of injuries, whereas if you play it yourself, there will be no injuries. On a final note, I swear that players have disappeared off my team's roster only to reappear weeks later.
Really the only good aspects of this game are the concept itself and the graphics. If EA had actually put some effort into this game, it really had a chance to be a solid, in-depth strategy game. I was surprised with how much they had improved the graphics since the last Madden. Even the physics seem improved, and it definitely has less of an arcade-styled appearance.
If you are a big fan of both strategy games and football, you probably already own this game. If by some chance you have managed to avoid it thus far, I'd recommend you rent it first. Anyone else should probably avoid this one.
5/10 Below Average
Reviewer's Rating: 2.5 - Playable
Originally Posted: 07/07/06
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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 increase your chances of getting interest from other Christian members on the site. Let people know a bit about yourself, your hobbies and upload some good photos of yourself.
Utilise our website's sophisticated search to encounter members who satisfy your requirements. Or just look through listings of Christian singles and encounter folks that you find interesting.
Located someone who meets your requirements? Drop them a line or just a wink and see what they say. With a little luck you'll be on your way to true love.
It'll only take a few minutes


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Welcome to The Bath & Kitchen Gallery: Orient Park Remodeling Contractors
The Bath & Kitchen Gallery is a Orient Park remodeling contractor that has a showroom that offers a selection of various tiles, flooring, fixtures, countertops and cabinetry, all to be customized to your specifications. Joe Ferrantegennaro, owner and lead designer, has 20 years of experience in the construction business. He is a general contractor, which means you make one phone call and he handles the entire remodeling project from there.
Joe has found his passion in design and customizes every project to the lifestyle and personality of that particular customer.
The Bath & Kitchen Gallery - Orient Park Kitchen Remodeling
Being a fully licensed and insured Orient Park kitchen remodeling contractor and general contractor, and we specialize in providing 100% customer satisfaction and superior service in Orient Park, FL. Our experts offer prompt project completion and quality results that you can count on. We will never add any hidden fees to your project - the initial quote will be the final price of your Orient Park kitchen renovation.
Orient Park Bathroom Tiles
Our goal is to provide our clients with the professional guidance and design assistance necessary to deliver a Orient Park bathroom that will provide value for years to come. When you hire us as your Orient Park bathroom remodeling contractor, you will discover that the quality of our work and our commitment to excellence is second to none.
Orient Park Bathroom Remodeling
Even the most well maintained bathroom would still need some updating work after you have counted some good number of years already. You can see the problems slowly appearing in the cracked tiles, some leaking taps, chipped fixtures and even fading colors. This is when you know you need some bathroom remodelling to have planned out.
You can start up by making the look as if you have a brand new bathroom. You can do this by getting your bathroom a brand new vanity top, fresh tap fixtures, a dashing shower curtain with a bath rug that matches your entire bathroom theme.
Services We Provide in Orient Park, Florida
What Our Tampa Clients Are Saying About Us
The Bath & Kitchen Gallery is Rated: 3 / 3
based on these 1 happy customer reviews.
" I had work done over 8 years ago and was incredibly pleased and now the time has come to redo the kitchen and I would not have thought to use anyone else. Joe is patient and knowledgeable and guided me to make the best choices within my budget and style requests. I highly recommend them!"
- Google User Tampa , FL | Rated: 3 / 3


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Did you set IE11 to automatically load yourself?
If you don't want it to load automatically, please follow the steps.
Start>Run>type msconfig and click enter>go to the startup tab> clear a checkbox near "Windows Internet Explorer" item.
Can you try using another homepage for test?
And do you mean when IE freeze when it starts?
The issue may be caused by any add-ons. you can try running IE with no add-ons.
Click Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Internet Explorer (with no add-ons).
If works, please follow the steps to narrow down which add-on cause the issue.
Start IE>Press Alt to show the menu bar>On the Tools menu, click manage add-ons>under show, click All add-ons>disable half add-ons one time for quick narrow down>restart IE.
Sometime the issue can be caused by virus.
Go to the Microsoft Safety Scanner webpage to download the scanner and then follow the instructions on the screen.
Microsoft Safety Scanner
If the issue persists, please try the methods in the following link.
What to do when Internet Explorer stops working
Hope this helps,
Ada Liu
TechNet Community Support
Microsoft is conducting an online survey to understand your opinion of the Technet Web site. If you choose to participate, the online survey will be presented to you when you leave the Technet Web site.
Would you like to participate?


text: Hi everyone. I've finally made the plunge and taken a stab at printing color myself. Results thusfar have been very promising, but I'm having some problems with streaks on the prints. I'm using one of those drum processors. It has what appears to be two sets of grooves for 8x10s, although it appears there is also another groove inside of the 8 inch wide set, maybe for 5x7s or something. Now I've been getting these purplish or tan streaks on the paper prints, whether I print two prints at once or one. I'm using 2 fluid oz. of developer and blix in each batch. The streaks might be caused by the groove for 5x7s. So should I be using more developer and blix for each bath? Or is this something that is characteristic of not using a stop bath? I want to use a stop bath, but I don't have any glacial acetic acid to dilute to 1% for proper stopping. Can I use Indicator stop bath concentrate instead? What dilution should I use? Regards. ~Karl Borowski


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Barbecue in Berlin
in the garden of The Westin Grand Hotel Berlin
Look forward to balmy summer days and barbecued specialties from around the world. The idyllic garden of The Westin Grand Hotel Berlin offers the ideal location for a delicious BBQ in Berlin.
Marinated chicken steaks, spare ribs, saddle of Ruppin lamb, jumbo shrimps and antipasti – enjoy exquisite dishes from the flaming wall grill, pan-fried delicacies and specialties from the lava-stone barbecue. Chef Peter Hampl serves these dishes with bread from the wood-burning oven, fresh salads and tasty dips. Fish-lovers and vegetarians will also find much to their liking with a choice of ikarimi salmon and butterfish or fresh antipasti and tender vegetables from the grill.
We look forward to taking your reservation on:
+49 30 2027 3315 or by e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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I know that the wii u is still pretty far away, but when I hear about a new gaming system, I just get too excited and start thinking about what it could do and how awesome it could be. So below are some things that I want from the wii u. (by the way, this technically isn't a top 5 list, but it has 5 things listed. I told you I like top 5 lists!)
- A solid launch line-up
I actually have to confess something. When I went to get My 3ds on launch day, I thought that titles like Ocarina of time 3d and Mario kart would be available then. (this was before I discovered IGN) Boy, was I wrong. Anyway, after that experience, I really hope that Nintendo has learned it's lesson and gets a good launch line-up. It's looking good so far, since pikmin 3 has been announced and super Mario bros. mii and the legend of Zelda hd might just be more then demo's. Let's hope Nintendo delivers.
- Good 3rd party support
You know what, make that amazing 3rd party support.
- Amazing 3rd party support
That's better. Anyways, I'm really glad that Nintendo is working harder to get more 3rd party support, but I don't want Nintendo to have the superior console for a few months and then have Sony or Microsoft to make a better console and leave Nintendo in the dust. The big N has to make a effort.Also... one other small 3rd party title I would like to see...
-Nintendo revisiting old franchises and making new ones
I would personally love to see some new Nintendo franchises. Maybe The big N could let some young new developer ( who is getting guidence from Miyamoto) make a new franchise that could be made especially for the Wii U! And it wouldn't hurt if they revisited some old franchises, like f-zero.
- Gamecube virtual console games
If Nintendo included this, it would be a day 1 purchase for me, and those of you who read my last blog would know why. The gamecube has such a great library of games, and the wii u has the power to include these. If the PS3 can Bring games from the PS2, then the wii u can bring gamecube games.
- A universal eshop for 3ds and wii u
I've actually been thinking about this alot. What if the wii u and the 3ds both ran on the same eshop account? So that you wouldn't have to buy money for the wii u and the 3ds, they could just run on the same money? The wii u and the 3ds would have different games, obviosly, but other then that They could basiclly be the same. I don't know about you, but I think that would be cool.
Those are my top wanted things for the wii u. If you think of anything you want in the wii u, just sound off in the comments below. And I know that since I put skyrim in the comments i'll be getting a bunch of arrow to the knee comments. Oh well.
By the way, I want to add a header to this blog, but whenever I click add a header, I don't know where to go. If you any of you guys know, then tell me in the comments below and I will be forever thankful. see ya later!


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Can The Bills Beat The Patriots? [VIDEOS]
I know all of the stats. The Patriots have won 60 of 101 games against the Bills (as per "Yahoo!Sports" ). That means though, the Bills have beat them 40 times! (The two teams tied one game.) Despite losing the last 15 games to the Patriots, I think today the Bills will make it 41 wins.
I'm no expert. In fact, I'm just a Bills fan. Let's face it though, it's time. The Bills have not won a game against the Patriots since 2003, when Buffalo beat New England 31-0. Oddly enough, a YouTube search turned up a few other games in which 31 points was the magic number for the Bills! I'm thinking not only will the Bills win, but maybe 31 is the lucky number! Check out these games!
The last time the Bills beat the Patriots in 2003, the final score was 31-0!
Subscribe to Mix 96 on
The score was 31-10 when a very young Jim Kelly and the rest of the Bills beat the Patriots in 1989. Guess who was the Pats quarterback at the time? Doug Flutie!
Thirty-one years ago (again our lucky number), The Bills were victorius over the Patriots by a score of 31-13. It was 1980, Joe Ferguson was Buffalo's quarterback.


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Picture: Liz Lorie of Isabellla Valentina Jack and Jill vs The World: A Love Story for Cynics world premiere at the Fine Arts Theatre Los Angeles,...
LATEST: Actor RYAN O'NEAL was forced to defend himself against his son after he became violent at a house party, the Love Story star's manager insists.
The troubled Hollywood star was booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge of a firearm after a fight with his son GRIFFIN on Saturday night (03FEB07).
But Ryan's manager NEIL HASSMAN claims the actor was defending himself after his son began "wildly swinging a fireplace poker''.
Hassman claims the dispute came after O'Neal, actress Farrah Fawcett and some friends returned from a dinner celebrating her birthday.
He adds, "It is unfortunate that what should have been an internal family disagreement was escalated to the point that Ryan felt he had to defend himself from Griffin's aggressive, extremely menacing physical behaviour."
Griffin O'Neal's pregnant girlfriend was slightly injured in the incident but Hassman maintains that her injuries were caused by the younger O'Neal.
Griffin O'Neal, 42, the son of Ryan and JOANNA MOORE, has had brushes with the law before and spent 18 days in jail for failing to perform community service ordered by a judge who found him guilty of reckless boating in a 1986 accident that killed the son of film director Francis Ford Coppola.
He also pleaded no contest to a drunken driving charge in 1989 and in 1992 agreed to spend one year in a live-in drug rehabilitation program after pleading no contest to charges he shot at his estranged girlfriend's unoccupied car.


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08:30-08:50 Pick up at your hotel. Phang Nga Photo Gallery.
09:15 Arrive at Ao Por Pier on the Northeast of the island.
09:30 Depart from Ao Por on our escort boat or fast longtail. Relax. Then, some Kayak instruction for beginners.
10:30 Arrive in Phang Nga bay.
11:00-11:15 Kayak instruction and practice.
11:15-13:00 Explore the first island and enter the caves and hidden lagoons. Motor to the Second Island. Stop for an excellent seafood buffet lunch.
15:00 Motor to our third stop.
15:15-16:00 Explore the limestone formation around the coastline.
16:00 Return to Ao Por Pier. Drop off at your Hotel.
Child rate is applied for 4 -12 years old.
What to Bring: Swim wear, T-shirts, shorts, long pants, long sleeved shirt, towel, sun hat, sunscreen (SPF 15 minimum), camera, lots of film, toiletries, sun-glasses, waterproof sandals or flip flops.
The company prides itself on the quality of its award winning trips. We do not cut corners and this is reflected in the price of our trips.
Information contained in this document is not contractual. This data gives an idea of the type of trip offered. The company gives clients the best possible experience within the trip time frame. Time and locales often vary according to tides, weather, and decisions of the expedition leader. We constantly update and improve our products to achieve this aim.
Price Includes:
Also see tour packages in:
Asia Thailand Outdoor: Water Drifter Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting


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An "Un-adoptable" animal is: An animal suffering from a Terminal Illness; an animal that is so aggressive it is a danger to itself or humans, regardless of how much it is worked with.
We promote the health and safety of all animals. We always suggest you Spay or Neuter your pet, and we require you spay/neuter any animal you adopt from our shelter.
We are located across from the Lake County Government Complex.
Our Hours are:
Mon: 10:00AM-4:00PM
Tues: 10:00AM-4:00PM
Wed: 10:00AM-4:00PM
Thur: 10:00AM-4:00PM
Fri: 10:00AM-4:00PM
Sat: 10:00AM-4:00PM
Sun: CLOSED
We are closed on all government holidays.
You must bring a valid drivers license with you in order to adopt. We will adopt out to anyone of any state, however, we still require a valid drivers license for verification purposes.
Our adoption fee for dogs is:
Males: $75.00
Females: $80.00
Our adoption fee for cats is:
Males: $55.00
Females: $70.00
All of our animals have had all of their vaccines with the exception of the rabies vaccine. The rabies vaccine must be given by a licensed veterinarian. A wellness check is required upon the adoption of your new pet.
**You will also receive a spay/neuter certificate good towards a discounted rate at one of our participating veterinarians for your new pet**
Thank You!
Your message has been sent to Lake County Sheriff's Animal Adoption & Control Center.
You'll receive a copy, too, at to help you keep track of which pets you've inquired about, and which shelters and rescues you've emailed.
NOTE: Some shelters have physical locations you can visit; some of these shelters may only have pets for a limited time, so please do not wait for a reply—just go visit the shelter! Other organizations are rescue groups run by busy volunteers who may take a while to reply. You can find information about the shelter or rescue group caring for this pet, and their adoption procedures, on the pet's details page on Adopt-a-Pet.com.