text:
We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
We are committed to strengthening the social interactions of our community's families since 1955.
We build community through collaboration and celebration by providing facilities for the community to engage in recreational, social, educational, cultural, community service and civic activities.
The mission of the Marblemount Community Hall (MCH) is to enhance the quality of life for residents in the Upper Skagit Valley by providing an inclusive gathering space for public meetings, social and public service activities, educational opportunities and events that are designed to increase visitation and generate commerce.
We are located at the Gateway to the American Alps.
Interested in seeing our latest news and events? Check out the "Updates" page of the site for more details.
Find us at:
60155 State Route 20
Marblemount, WA 98267
(360) 873-2323
Our mailing address is:
P.O. Box 101
Marblemount, WA 98267


text:
Give it to God and go to sleep.
I saw this anonymous quote recently and as I am still awake at what is nearly 1am where I live, it could be said to be quite relevant. Am I worried? No. Am I scared? Not a bit. Quite the opposite really. Am I thinking? Understatement of the year.
In life we go through seasons – some seasons of utter grief, some of extreme joy and then everything in between! Sometimes things are just ticking along nicely and then you have a random thought or a seemingly random conversation and all of a sudden the track your life was taking changes – for the better or the worse. Or maybe your thought patterns have a massive shift. You get a different perspective.
As a Christian, I am thankful for one thing in this ever-changing world. It is that God doesn't change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). As I read somewhere – He is the Great I Am. Not the Great I Was or the Great I Will Be, but the Great I Am. He is in the past, He is in the present and He is in the future. Because of that, I can trust my future is in God's hands because the Great I Am is already there.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
[ Home | Getting Started on the Internet | A Challenge | Help | About Searching | Useful Links | Safety Issues| Ballakermeen Home Page]
The World Wide Web uses Hyperlink to move from one page or piece of information to another. The hyperlinks are displayed in a colour different from the main text to indicate that it is a link to further information. When the mouse is passed over a Hyperlink, the pointer will change to a hand to indicate that it is an active link.
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- If you know the address (URL) of the site you're looking click where it says Address type the address and press Enter or click on Go
e.g. www.bhs.sch.im (Ballakermeen High School)
- If you are looking for information click on Search, or type the address (URL) of a search Engine
e.g. Altavista www.altavista.com , Yahoo www.yahoo.co.uk
(http:// is not necessary as the browser takes it for granted)
Important Buttons
brings you to the last page you viewed
brings you through the pages you have viewed using
brings up a frame containing the sites you have visited recently
brings up a frame containing sites you have added using the Favorites command at the top of the screen
brings you to Outlook Express, but is not available on the school's system
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There are two basic types of e-mail
- Web based e-mail e.g. Hotmail at www.hotmail.com ,Yahoo at www.yahoo.com
- POP (Post Office Protocol) e-mail - addresses provided by contract by your service provider
- email@example.com
- email@example.com
Web Based E-mail:
There are lots of providers of free web based e-mail. (Hotmail www.hotmail.com,Yahoo www.yahoo.com )
It is called "Web Based" because it uses your browser (Explorer, Netscape etc..) and does not require a specific e-mail programme. It is usually a free service, and almost all free e-mail services are web-based.
To use the service you need to obtain a user name and password, and these are used each time you log on to the web page.
To get your user name and password, follow the instructions on the home pages of Hotmail www.hotmail.com,Yahoo www.yahoo.com or any of the other free e-mail providers.
Advantages - It's free. It can be used from any computer as long as you remember your user name and password
Disadvantages If you use e-mail on a regular basis e-mail programmes like "Outlook Express" are much more flexible have more advanced features.
"POP" based E-Mail
If you wish to use e-mail for a business or profession, you should only consider "POP based e-mail". It is much more secure and allows much greater flexibility in scheduling sending and receiving mail, in viewing you mail off-line, and in integrating your e-mail addresses with your other phone numbers and postal addresses.
As "POP e-mail" is not available to-night - we will only consider "Web based E-mail"
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Windows will remember you password only if you use a password when you start you computer. If different people use your computer, Windows will remember different passwords and log-on names for each site for each user. To set up different users on your computer go to the Control Panel
click on Users
and follow the instructions for adding New User
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There are specific search engines which will find e-mail addresses, but only if people have allowed their address to be included in the directories. Most search engines include an option to find and e-mail address,
or use Windows "Find"
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There are a number of different ways to copy information
go to Save As on the File Menu
enter a file name and save.
You won't be able to do that to-night as students are not permitted to save to the system. There is of course another way! - Cutting and Pasting
go to the Edit menu and choose Select All
Then choose Copy from the same menu.
To Paste the text into a Word Processor use the Paste option on the Edit menu.
Note some letters are underligned in the above examples. This indicates that the Menu Options can be accessed with "shortcut keys". Hold down the Alt key (next to the Windows key on the bottom left of the keyboard and press the highlighted letter (e.g. c for Copy) and the selected items will be copied.
This is done by placing the cursor (mouse pointer) at the beginning of the section, holding down the left mouse button and draging the mouse pointer to the end of the section. You can now release the mouse button.
Another way is to place the cursor at the beginning of the section, and then holding down the Shift key , move the cursor using the cursor keys ¨ at the right side of the keyboard. The text will be highlighted as the cursor moves providing the Shift key is kept down.
Move the pointer into the highlighted section and right-click on the mouse. A drop down menu will appear which includes the option to Copy. Move to this option and click the left mouse button.
The information is now available to be Pasted into a Word Processor. Right clicking the mouse in a word processing document and a drop down menu will appear which includes the option Paste. Move the mouse pointer to this option and left click, and the information should be transferred to the Word Processor. This option can also be accessed from the Edit Menu.
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Right click your mouse on a picture - here try this one:
A drop down menu will appear including the option to "Save Picture As " this gives you the options to name and choose the type of image file. This option will not be available to you to-night.
Also included in the drop down menu is the option to "Copy" use this to-night and paste the bunny into a programme like Paintbrush.
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Hyperlinks are the guides which help you to find your way around pages in the internet. They can be either text or pictures which when clicked with a mouse, lead you to another page or piece of information. On these pages the words across the top are hyperlinks
[ Welcome | Getting Started |Your Challenge | Help | About Searching ]


text:
This insectile construct skitters around on metallic legs, its manipulators clacking and glowing eyes searching.
Aballonian CR 7
N Medium construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +10
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+2 Dex, +8 natural)
hp 75 (10d10+20)
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5
DR 5/adamantine; Immune construct traits
Weaknesses sunlight dependency
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee 2 claws +15 (1d8+4/19–20 plus grab)
Ranged spark +12 touch (2d6 electricity)
Str 19, Dex 14, Con —, Int 17, Wis 10, Cha 11
Base Atk +10; CMB +14 (+18 grapple); CMD 26
Feats Improved Critical (claw), Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills Acrobatics +12 (+16 when jumping), Climb +22, Knowledge (engineering) +13, Perception +10, Stealth +12
Languages Common; shortwave 100 ft.
SQ rebuild
Rebuild (Ex)
Aballonian machines are capable of improving and adapting their designs. Each Aballonian starts out with one of the abilities listed below. For every two additional abilities it possesses, its CR increases by +1. Aballonians may also add the customizable abilities of animated objects, increasing their CRs by +1 for every 2 Construction Points spent in this way. (They are already considered metal.) Aballonians may adapt of their own volition, but it takes 1 day to add each additional ability beyond the first, and they must also possess the rare materials necessary to make such improvements. An ability can only be gained once unless stated otherwise.
- Gain a plasma cutter that deals 1d6 points of fire damage on a melee touch attack.
- Gain advanced treads that increase base speed to 60 feet.
- Modify chassis to gain a burrow, climb, or swim speed of 60 feet. This ability may be taken multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time it is taken, it applies to a new movement type.
- Add a radar dish that grants blindsight 120 feet.
- Gain an additional claw or slam melee attack (1d6 damage).
- Lengthen arms to extend reach by 5 feet.
- Gain the rend special attack (2 claws, 1d8+6).
- Add armor plating to gain a +4 natural armor bonus to AC.
- Harden systems to gain resistance 10 against a single energy type (acid, cold, electricity, or fire). This ability may be taken multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time it is taken, it applies to a new energy type.
Shortwave (Ex)
An Aballonian can communicate with nearby Aballonians via invisible waves. This functions as telepathy 100 ft., but only with other Aballonians. In combat, if any allied Aballonians within range can act in a surprise round, all of them can.
Spark (Ex)
As a standard action, an Aballonian can launch an arc of electricity at a nearby creature. This attack has a range of 20 feet with no range increment. In addition, whenever an Aballonian makes a check to maintain a grapple, it can use its spark attack against the creature it is grappling as a free action.
Sunlight Dependency (Ex)
Aballonians gain their energy from light. In areas of darkness, they gain the sickened condition.
Environment Aballon
Organization solitary, pair, or network (3–6)
Treasure standard
Aballonians are intelligent, self-modifying constructs.
The stat block presented here represents only the most basic type, with much larger or smaller variants taking the form of gargantuan excavators, gliding solar-powered flyers, ribbon-like serpent creatures, disembodied processor intelligences, or stranger designs.


text:
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
It seems that quite a few people seem to have forgotten the "free speech zones" that came into being BIG TIME when George W. Bush and Dick Cheney were in command in America.
At least with the Obama Administration, people are allowed to gather AT THE SITE where the event they are protesting is taking place and not a mile or so away from the scene of the action.
BIG DIFFERENCE between the two...
Wouldn't it be refreshing to see one of the talking heads in the "main stream" media observe this point on their show?
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
What a difference a year makes
One year ago today, August 28, 2008 in Denver, Colorado... HISTORY WAS MADE.
Barack Obama became the first African-American Presidential candidate when he accepted the nomination with his historic and moving speech before a packed, over flow crowd at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
Remember the stirring speech delivered by then Presidential candidate Obama at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium?
The crowd roared with approval as he declared "This is our time!" at the peak of the speech just before the close of the events of the four-day convention.
The country was able to see Michelle Obama, the future first lady as it would turn out, give a speech in the opening night. The recently departed Senator Ted Kennedy gave an emotional speech the next day as it also would prove to be his last public speech.
Of course, Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden gave a great talk the following evening and then the finale as Barack Obama gave the historic speech on a beautiful Thursday evening in Denver.
The irony of the splendid weather was that James Dobson (leader of Focus on the Family) called on people to pray for rain when Obama was delivering his speech.
The weather was beautiful as if the Almighty Creator Himself made sure the weather would not obstruct this moment in American history.
The following week, when the Republican National Convention took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the first day was basically canceled as a HURRICANE bore down on New Orleans for the second time in four years.
(Insert here-- "You're doing a heckuva job Brownie!")
What a difference a year makes...
As the hate mongers and closet racists come out and "protest" the Obama presidency just when this country we call (or at least for now still call) the UNITED STATES of AMERICA was beginning to come together after eight long years of the Bush & Cheney regime.
The way the corporations have dictated things over the past thirty or forty years in this country it's almost as if we have become (God forbid it should ever happen) the corporate states of America.
I shudder to think about it, but we have been heading that way it seems. The corporations had their way when Bush & Cheney wormed their way into the White House nine years ago in what was a black eye in American history, make no mistake about that.
Point is the American people were feeling good again as they chanted "Yes We Can! Yes We Can!" on that historic night. But the right was cringing and have been planning the demise of Obama/Biden ever since.
John McCain and the woman formerly known as the Governor of Alaska (we don't mention her name any more on this blog site) were blown out of the water on Election Night 2008 when history was made once again and we could all say President Barack Obama.
The smear campaign launched by the infamous GOP duo failed miserably as the American people took a page from President Obama's book and simply said "Enough!"
The same things are happening once again on the right as the corporations try to twist the facts and manipulate the people who "protest" Obama's political agendas.
The same things that happened late last summer and early fall when the smear campaign against Barack Obama took place is happening all over again at this very moment.
Only this time, the people are slower to react it seems to this onslaught on health care (and some future legislation as well I am sure) because the corporations and insurance industry giants, which thrived under Bush & Cheney, want to keep things going their way and will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to ensure they do not lose power over we the people.
Remember... power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely!
There are definitely things going on as we live and breathe on this day, August 28, 2009 that will continue to develop and dictate the future.
Looking back one year ago today, it definitely bears repeating...
What a difference a year makes.
Stay tuned people... because it is going to get ugly before it gets better.
Don't just stand idly by, make a difference and stand up to the corporations and insurance bullies in the same spirit of 2008 when we all made a difference and said "Fuck You!" to what was happening during the past eight years to the middle and lower income classes of this country.
Keep the spirit alive and as Ted Kennedy so eloquently said last year in Denver at the DNC, "Keep the dream alive!"
Frank: Bill Mandating "Complete Audit" Of The Fed Will Pass House In Fall
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- San Diego Chargers
(1st in AFC West)
HEAD COACH: Norv Turner
Key Additions: LB Kevin Burnett (FA/Cowboys)
Key Losses: DL Igor Olshansky (FA/Cowboys) OL Mike Goff (FA/Chiefs)
Offense: The Chargers have a lot of talent on offense.
LaDainian Tomlinson has been the main cog of the Chargers offense for most of this decade and last year his numbers dipped for the second straight season when he rushed for 1,110 yards (3.8 ypc average) and scored 11 touchdowns, which is a far cry from his MVP season in 2006 when he scored 31 TDs, an NFL record.
However, Tomlinson was not playing at 100 percent last year and for the second straight year was injured in the playoffs. Backing up Tomlinson is Darren Sproles, the all-purpose back who rushed for 330 yards (5.4 ypc average) and also caught 29 passes for 342 yards and five touchdowns.
The fullbacks are Mike Tolbert and Jacob Hester and Michael Bennett is a third back in the mix with LT and Sproles after his contributions in the post-season.
Quarterback Philip Rivers is back for another season after leading the NFL in passing in 2008 with a 105.5 passer rating.
Rivers threw for 4,009 yards while tying for the league lead with 34 touchdown passes and threw just 11 interceptions. The only real knock on Rivers is his lack of mobility, but he was coming off of knee surgery following the 2007 playoffs. Billy Volek is a solid backup should he be needed to play.
The wide receivers are a good group including starters Vincent Jackson (59 catches for 1,098 yards and seven touchdowns) and Chris Chambers, who made 33 catches for 462 yards and five TDs. The Tight End is Antonio Gates, an All-Pro who is considered among the top at his position in the NFL. Gates led San Diego in '08 with 60 receptions for 704 yards and eight touchdowns.
Providing depth at wide receiver is Legedu Naanee, Malcolm Floyd (27 catches for 465 yards and four TDs), Buster Davis and Brandon Manumaleuna.
The offensive line is back with one new addition in rookie guard Louis Vasquez (Texas Tech), who joins fellow guard Kris Dielman and tackles Jeromey Clary and Marcus McNeill. The center is Nick Hardwick.
The Chargers were second in the NFL in scoring in 2008 with 439 points and also ranked seventh in passing with 241 yards per game. The running game fell off to 20th in '08, averaging just 108 yards per game.
Defense: Can one player make a difference?
Just ask San Diego Head Coach Norv Turner, who was without Shawne Merriman after the first game of the 2008 season.
Merriman, an All-Pro linebacker in the Chargers' 3-4 scheme, missed 15 games after a knee injury and is looking forward to leading the Chargers' defense once again in 2009.
Along with Merriman at outside linebacker is Shaun Phillips, who led San Diego with 7.5 sacks in '08. The inside linebackers are Tim Dobbins and Stephen Cooper.
Up front for the Chargers is nose tackle Jamal Williams. The Defensive Ends are Luis Castillo and Jacques Cesaire. Top draft pick Larry English (Northern Illinois) will be available to play outside linebacker or defensive end.
The secondary, which was one of the NFL's best in 2007, suffered last year as they were shredded by opposing passing attacks to the tune of 247 yards per game, which was 31st in the league.
After leading the NFL with 10 interceptions in '07, cornerback Antonio Cromartie had just two picks but was another Charger who was playing hurt all season long. The other corner is Quentin Jammer. The safeties are Eric Weddle and Clinton Hart. Antoine Cason and Cletis Gordon are valuable reserves in the secondary.
The Chargers run defense ranked 11th in the NFL by allowing 103 yards per game. San Diego intercepted 15 passes last season with Phillips leading the team with four picks. The Chargers recorded 28 sacks last season, which was 14 fewer than in '07.
With Merrimann back in the fold in '09, look for the sacks and interception totals to increase.
OUTLOOK: With the overflow of talent on this team, San Diego is widely regarded as a Super Bowl contender. This may be their season to prove it.
They have multiple players who are in their option years and Tomlinson also restructured his own contract in the off-season so the team would have more financial room after this season.
Between Pittsburgh, New England and the Chargers, the AFC should be a great conference to watch in 2009.
San Diego knows they can beat the Colts in the post-season, having done it two years in a row. The Patriots and Steelers have been the teams standing in their way the last three years in the playoffs.
For the Chargers, a team so deep at running back they actually had LT, Sproles and Michael Turner (now with Atlanta) at the same time, the time is now and they know it.
Tomlinson and Merimann are healthy and that is huge on both sides of the ball for obvious reasons. Along with a solid passing game led by Rivers, the Chargers will (or should) coast to the AFC West division title for the fourth consecutive season.
A 12-4 record is most likely to happen and this team, barring injuries to key players for the third straight year in the playoffs, could very well be Super Bowl bound this time.
Week 1- at Oakland (Sept. 14)
Week 2- vs. Baltimore (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. Miami (Sept. 27)
Week 4- at Pittsburgh (Oct. 4)
Week 5- BYE WEEK
Week 6- vs. Denver (Oct. 19)
Week 7- at Kansas City (Oct. 25)
Week 8- vs. Oakland (Nov. 1)
Week 9- at NY Giants (Nov. 8)
Week 10- vs. Philadelphia (Nov. 15)
Week 11- at Denver (Nov. 22)
Week 12- vs. Kansas City (Nov. 29)
Week 13- at Cleveland (Dec. 6)
Week 14- at Dallas (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. Cincinnati (Dec. 20)
Week 16- at Tennessee (Dec. 25)
Week 17- vs. Washington (Jan. 3)
Sunday, August 23, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Oakland Raiders
(3rd in AFC West)
HEAD COACH: Tom Cable
Key Additions: QB Jeff Garcia (FA/Buccaneers) OL Khalif Barnes (FA/Jaguars) OL Samson Satele (trade/Dolphins) RB Lorenzo Neal (FA/Ravens) QB Bruce Gradkowski (FA/Browns) RB Gary Russell (FA/Steelers)
Key Losses: WR Ron Curry (FA/Lions) RB Justin Griffith (FA/Seahawks) WR Ashley Lelie (FA) DL Kalimba Edwards (FA)
Offense: The Raiders scored only 263 points in 2008, which was 29th in the NFL and improvement is a must as they prepare for 2009.
JaMarcus Russell is the starting quarterback after passing for 2,423 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2008. He also threw eight interceptions while rushing for an additional 127 yards. Oakland made Russell their number-one pick in the '07 NFL Draft, and need to see more production from him.
If he cannot cut it in '09, the Raiders have veteran QB Jeff Garcia, who signed as a free agent after playing with Tampa Bay. Garcia threw for 2,712 yards with 12 TDs and six picks a year ago with the Bucs.
The running back by committee appears ready to continue for Oakland once again this season as Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas split time in '08 and did a decent job for the Raiders, who finished in the top ten in the league in rushing last season.
Fargas led Oakland with 853 yards rushing while McFadden ran for 499 yards and scored four TDs. Michael Bush, another second year player like McFadden, had 421 yards on the ground and scored three touchdowns. The fullbacks are Luke Lawton and Marcel Reese, along with free agents Gary Russell (with Pittsburgh in '08) and veteran Lorenzo Neal.
So there is a plethora of running back talent but, the real concern for the offense is the passing game.
The wide receivers are not everyday household names and that continues to be a problem for the Raiders. Tight End Zach Miller led the team with 56 receptions for 778 yards in '08. But he only had one TD reception all season. Javon Walker is on the team's physically unable to perform list and only had 15 catches last season.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, a rookie from Maryland, is being touted as a starter in '09. Chaz Schilens (15 catches, 226 yards and two TDs) is another wideout for Oakland who could be a starter. Also available are Louis Murphy and Sammie Parker.
The offensive line will have Samson Satele at center, Khalif Barnes and Mario Henderson at tackles and guards Rob Gallery and Cooper Carlisle.
Defense: Much like previous seasons, Oakland's defense is solid against the pass and very weak against the run.
In 2008, the Raiders allowed 160 yards per game on the ground, which was 31st in the NFL. The pass defense ranked 10th overall, giving up 201 yards per game. The Raiders finished 27th in total defense while allowing opponents 361 yards per game.
In the 4-3 Oakland employs on defense, the ends are Trevor Scott and Jay Richardson with Tommy Kelly and Gerard Warren at the tackle positions. Scott led Oakland with five quarterback sacks in 2008.
The linebackers are Kirk Morrison in the middle and outside linebackers Tom Howard and Ricky Brown.
The secondary is a good one with Chris Johnson and Nnamdi Asomugha at cornerback and Michael Huff and Hiram Eugene as the safeties. Rookie Michael Mitchell (Ohio U.) was drafted in the second round and may step in to help the Raiders.
Oakland's defense recorded 32 sacks last year and had 16 interceptions. Johnson led the team with three picks.
OUTLOOK: The Raiders finished with a 5-11 record last season but only three of their losses were by seven points or less, meaning they were not in many of the games. That has to change if they want to have a chance in 2009.
If Russell struggles at all at quarterback, Head Coach Tom Cable will not hesitate to bring in Jeff Garcia, the veteran journeyman quarterback who helped guide the Eagles and Tampa Bay Bucs to the playoffs in recent years.
While the 39 year-old Garcia may not have the arm strength or leg speed of Russell, he does have certain intangibles at the position that has allowed him to stick around the NFL for ten-plus years.
There is a lot on Oakland's plate as 2009 season gets ready to start. The running back by committee has to continue to click without complaints from the players. The wide receiver corps has to have somebody step and become the "go to guy" for either Russell or Garcia.
The defense should be good enough to keep Oakland competitive but, there are too many holes that have to be filled with unproven players on the offense, especially at wide receiver.
Plus the team appears to have some sort of internal turmoil (after all it is the Oakland Raiders we are talking about) involving the coaching staff still lingering after last year's fiasco when owner Al Davis went on a tirade and fired Lane Kiffin four games into the season.
With a tough schedule and the talent-laden San Diego Chargers looming large in the AFC West, don't expect Oakland to make a whole lot of noise in 2009. They will do well just to avoid last place again this season.
The call is for the Raiders to finish 4-12 in '09 and look ahead to possible better days because these Raiders are not your father's Raiders.
Week 1- vs. San Diego (Sept. 14)
Week 2- at Kansas City (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. Denver (Sept. 27)
Week 4- at Houston (Oct. 4)
Week 5- at NY Giants (Oct. 11)
Week 6- vs. Philadelphia (Oct. 18)
Week 7- vs. NY Jets (Oct. 25)
Week 8- at San Diego (Nov. 1)
Week 9- BYE WEEK
Week 10- vs. Kansas City (Nov. 15)
Week 11- vs. Cincinnati (Nov. 22)
Week 12- at Dallas (Nov. 26)
Week 13- at Pittsburgh (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. Washington (Dec. 13)
Week 15- at Denver (Dec. 20)
Week 16- at Cleveland (Dec. 27)
Week 17- vs. Baltimore (Jan. 3)
Saturday, August 22, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Kansas City Chiefs
(4th in AFC West)
HEAD COACH: Todd Haley
Key Additions: QB Matt Cassel (trade/Patriots) LB Matt Vrabel (trade/Patriots) LB Corey Mays (FA/Bengals) WR Terrance Copper (FA/Ravens) LB Zach Thomas (FA/Cowboys)
Key Losses: TE Tony Gonzalez (trade/Falcons) QB Damon Huard (FA/49ers) LB Pat Thomas (FA/Bills) LB Donnie Edwards (FA) CB Patrick Surtain (FA)
Offense: The Chiefs will have a mixture of new faces and familiar faces on the offense in 2009.
Gone is perennial Pro-Bowl Tight End Tony Gonzalez, traded to the Atlanta Falcons. Back is running back Larry Johnson (874 yards, 4.5 ypc average and five touchdowns in '08) and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who made 86 catches for 1,022 yards and seven TDs last season.
Also in the fold for 2009 is quarterback Matt Cassel, who comes over from the New England Patriots after putting up respectable numbers while filling the shoes for injured Tom Brady.
Cassel was pressed into the starting role in '08 and threw for 3,693 yards with 21 TDs and 11 interceptions. Not too shabby after holding the clipboard on the sidelines for his first two seasons in the NFL.
Along with Cassel, Kansas City has Johnson at running back, Bowe at wide receiver and new starting Tight End Brad Cottam. The other wide receiver may be Mark Bradley, who had 30 catches a year ago for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Bobby Engram and Devard Darling are also competing for a starter's role at wide receiver.
The offensive line will have Rudy Niswanger at center. The guards are Brian Waters and Mike Goff. The tackles are Branden Albert and Damion McIntosh.
The Chiefs ranked 24th overall in the NFL in total offense in 2008, gaining 309 yards per game.
Defense: The Chiefs were awful on defense last year, allowing 393 yards per game, which was 31st in the league. The run defense allowed 159 yards per game and the Chiefs gave up an additional 234 yards per game through the air.
Up front, Glenn Dorsey is the nose tackle in the 3-4 scheme. The ends are Tyson Jackson and Alfonso Boone.
The linebackers are Derrick Johnson and Zach Thomas (free agent from Dallas) on the inside and veteran Mike Vrabel, along with Tamba Hali on the outside.
The secondary will have Brandon Carr and Brandon Flowers at cornerback and Bernard Pollard at strong safety and Jarrad Page at free safety. Page led Kansas City with four interceptions in 2008.
The defense has got to be able to stop the run and get some pressure on the quarterback. The Chiefs recorded just ten sacks all of last season.
OUTLOOK: With a new Head Coach in Todd Haley, the Chiefs will have a new enthusiasm on the field. How that translates in the win-loss column remains to be seen.
The offense isn't too bad with Cassel coming in to team with Johnson, a former All-Pro rusher who seems to have lost his intensity during the last two seasons.
If the Chiefs can get Johnson going again and Cassel plays like he did for the Patriots a year ago, the Chiefs may spring some surprises in 2009.
The defense however, MUST improve if the Chiefs are going to contend at all in the AFC West. Kansas City finished 2-14 and in last place in their division. To be fair, seven of their 14 losses were by seven points or less, including two nail biting, one-point losses to reigning division champion San Diego.
The AFC West is one of the weaker divisions in the NFL, which means the Chiefs should avoid last place again. The again, they have to stop their opponents in order to have a chance. Kansas City will do well to finish near .500, but that's even asking a lot coming off the type of season they had last year.
The schedule is brutal and a 5-11 record is more likely with perhaps a third place finish in the AFC West.
Week 1- at Baltimore (Sept. 13)
Week 2- vs. Oakland (Sept. 20)
Week 3- at Philadelphia (Sept. 27)
Week 4- vs. NY Giants (Oct. 4)
Week 5- vs. Dallas (Oct. 11)
Week 6- at Washington (Oct. 18)
Week 7- vs. San Diego (Oct. 25)
Week 8- BYE WEEK
Week 9- at Jacksonville (Nov. 8)
Week 10- at Oakland (Nov. 15)
Week 11- vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 22)
Week 12- at San Diego (Nov. 29)
Week 13- vs. Denver (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. Buffalo (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. Cleveland (Dec. 20)
Week 16- at Cincinnati (Dec. 27)
Week 17- at Denver (Jan. 3)
Friday, August 21, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Denver Broncos
(2nd in AFC West)
HEAD COACH: Josh McDaniels
Key Additions: QB Kyle Orton (trade/Bears) WR Jabar Gafney (FA/Patriots) CB Brian Dawkins (FA/Eagles) RB J.J. Arrington (FA/Cardinals) DL Darrell Reid (FA/Colts) RB Correll Buckhalter (FA/Eagles) CB Andre Goodman (FA/Dolphins) RB LaMont Jordan (FA/Patriots) QB Chris Simms (FA/Titans) DL Matt McChesney (FA/Dolphins) LB Andra Davis (FA/Browns)
Key Losses: QB Jay Cutler (trade/Bears) QB Patrick Ramsey (FA/Redskins) OL Tom Nalen (retired) CB Dre' Bly (FA) DL Ebenezer Ekuban (FA) WR Darrell Jackson (FA) RB Tatum Bell (FA) RB Michael Pittman (FA) S Marlon McCree (FA) RB Selvin Young (FA)
Offense: The Denver Broncos made a lot of changes, especially at quarterback where Jay Cutler was dealt to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Kyle Orton (2,972 yards passing with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2008), who will be the Broncos starting quarterback this season. Chris Simms is in Denver as well at quarterback.
The running back position has a wide variety of players vying for spots.
Top draft pick Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) is in the fold along with 2008 Broncos' leading rusher Peyton Hillis, who ran for 343 yards and scored five TDs. LaMont Jordan comes over from New England after going for 363 yards and four scores last season.
The wide receivers enjoyed huge success last year for Denver as Cutler put the ball up over 600 times during the season.
Brandon Marshall was the Broncos' leading receiver in '08 with 104 catches for 1,265 yards and six TDs. Eddie Royal, a rookie in '08, caught 91 passes for 980 yards and had five touchdowns. These two are slated to be the starters in 2009. Jabar Gafney (38 catches and two TDs) was signed from the New England Patriots to help provide depth. Brandon Stokley is also included after catching 49 passes for 528 yards and three touchdowns.
The Tight Ends include Tony Scheffler (40 catches for 645 yards and three TDs), Daniel Graham (32 grabs, 389 yards and four TDs) and rookie Richard Quinn, a second round pick from North Carolina.
The offensive line, a longtime staple of Denver's past successes, has Casey Weigmann at center with Ryan Clady and Chris Kuper at guards and Ryan Harris and Ben Hamilton at the tackle positions.
Defense: This side of the football was terrible in 2008 and probably cost Denver the AFC West title and ultimately, former Head Coach Mike Shanahan his job.
The Broncos ranked 29th in total defense by allowing 374 yards per game with 146 yards coming on the ground and 238 yards through the air. Denver also allowed 448 points (3oth in the NFL) while intercepting only six passes all season and recording just 26 sacks.
In addition, Denver lost its final three games to cough up the division title while allowing 112 points in the three losses.
The secondary will have Brian Dawkins at free safety after spending many years as an All-Pro with the Philadelphia Eagles. Joining Dawkins, who is a true leader on the field, will be Darcell McBath (strong safety), Champ Bailey and Josh Bell, who will be the cornerbacks.
The defensive line will see Marcus Thomas as nose tackle with Tim Crowder and Robert Ayers at Defensive End. Ayers is a first-round pick from Tennessee who will also play linebacker in 2009.
The linebackers in the Denver 3-4 defense are Boss Bailey, Dumas Dumervil (outside LB) and inside backers D.J. Williams and Andra Davis, who was signed away from the Cleveland Browns in the off-season.
OUTLOOK: It will definitely be an interesting season in Denver as new Head Coach Josh McDaniels takes over for Mike Shanahan, who was fired after a long run in the mile high city.
McDaniels has been touted a "boy genius" after helping New England to a 16-0 season in 2007 as the offensive coordinator as well as developing Matt Cassel at quarterback last year when Tom Brady went down with a knee injury in the first game of the season.
There are more problems and drama than a daytime soap opera in Denver as the season looms.
Brandon Marshall, last year's leading receiver and Cutler's favorite target as well, has been complaining non stop since Cutler was dealt after getting off to a rocky start with McDaniel after he was named Head Coach.
There is still a definite possibility that Marshall, along with Tight End Tony Scheffler, could be traded before the season starts.
With so many newcomers and a new system being implemented in Denver, many don't expect the Broncos to contend this season after nearly winning the AFC West last season.
The reality is the Broncos are not as good as they appeared early on in 2008, nor are they as bad as they were in the latter part of the 2008 season. They also have to cut down on the turnovers in 2009 after ranking 31st in the league with a -17 plus/minus turnover ratio.
Look for Denver, with a very tough schedule in '09, to finish 6-10 as they work out the kinks in the new system and McDaniel also makes adjustments as Head Coach after learning from one of the best in Bill Belichick. The Broncos, in the past, have been very good at rebounding after under going changes. Don't expect them to stay down too long.
Week 1- at Cincinnati (Sept. 13)
Week 2- vs. Cleveland (Sept. 20)
Week 3- at Oakland (Sept. 27)
Week 4- vs. Dallas (Oct. 4)
Week 5- vs. New England (Oct. 11)
Week 6- at San Diego (Oct. 19)
Week 7- BYE WEEK
Week 8- at Baltimore (Nov. 1)
Week 9- vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 9)
Week 10- at Washington (Nov. 15)
Week 11- vs. San Diego (Nov. 22)
Week 12- vs. NY Giants (Nov. 26)
Week 13- at Kansas City (Dec. 6)
Week 14- at Indianapolis (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. Oakland (Dec. 20)
Week 16- at Philadelphia (Dec. 27)
Week 17- vs. Kansas City (Jan. 3)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Seattle Seahawks
(3rd in NFC West)
HEAD COACH: Jim Mora, Jr.
Key Additions: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (FA/Bengals) DL Colin Cole (FA/Packers) RB Justin Griffith (FA/Raiders) CB Ken Lucas (FA/Panthers)
Key Losses: RB Maurice Morris (FA/Lions) DL Rocky Bernard (FA/Giants) DL Howard Green (FA/Jets) WR Bobby Engram (FA/Chiefs) RB Leonard Weaver (FA/Eagles) TE Will Heller (FA/Lions) QB Charlie Frye (FA) WR Koren Robinson (FA) LB Julian Peterson (trade/Lions)
Offense: Injuries were a problem for Seattle in 2008 and Matt Hasselbeck will be back as the starting quarterback this season.
Hasselbeck threw for 1,216 yards and had five touchdown passes while throwing 10 interceptions in '08. Meanwhile, Seneca Wallace threw for 1,532 yards and had 11 TD passes with just three interceptions.
The running back spot has Julius Jones returning as the starting halfback after rumbling for 698 yards and two TDs last year. T.J. Duckett backs up and had 172 yards rushing with eight touchdowns in 2008. The fullback is Justin Griffith, who was signed as free agent from Oakland.
The wide receiving corps gets an upgrade in 2009 as T.J. Houshmandzadeh comes over from the Cincinnati Bengals after years of being the "other" wide receiver opposite Chad Ocho Cinco.
Houshmandzadeh caught 92 passes for 904 yards and had four touchdowns for the Bengals last season and will line up in '09 as the main target along with Nate Burleson, who is coming off an injury plagued season that saw him catch only five passes all season.
Deion Branch and rookie Deon Butler (Penn State) are the backups. The Tight End is John Carlson, who led the Seahawks with 55 receptions a year ago.
The offensive line has Walter Jones and Sean Locklear at the tackles and Mike Wahle and Rob Sims at guard. The center is Chris Spencer.
Seattle Head Coach Jim Mora, Jr. takes over for the retired Mike Holmgren and would like to see the offense score more often in 2009 as the Seahawks scored only 294 points last season, which ranked 25th in the NFL.
Defense: Seattle's defense slipped in 2008 after being ranked high in the NFC for a number of years.
The Seahawks allowed 378 yards per game in '08, which ranked 30th in the league and allowed 392 points.
The 4-3 defense will have Patrick Kerney and Lawrence Jackson at the ends and Brandon Mebane and Colin Cole (free agent signee from Green Bay) at the tackles.
The linebackers will be different as well as Julian Peterson is no longer in the fold after leaving as a free agent.
Lofa Tatupu is the middle linebacker with Aaron Curry and Leroy Hill at the outside LB spots. Curry is a rookie from Wake Forest who will get his feet wet right away this season. D.D. Lewis, Will Herring and David Hawthorne are the backups at linebacker.
The secondary features Marcus Trufant and Ken Lucas at cornerback with Deon Grant and Brian Russell at the safeties.
The Seahawks had only nine interceptions all season while registering 35 sacks. In fact, the Seahawks pass defense ranked last in the NFL in '08 by allowing 259 yards passing per game.
OUTLOOK: The Seahawks made a lot of changes after Holmgren retired from his position as Head Coach following a terrible 4-12 season.
Health will be a key for the Seahawks in 2009.
Hasselbeck has been an All-Pro in his career and if healthy, he has shown he can be among the top quarterbacks in the game. Remember, Seattle made the Super Bowl just four years ago and Hasselbeck was a main cog on that team.
Julius Jones is also coming off injuries last year and has been a 1,000 yard rusher in his career and with Houshmandzadeh leading the receivers, Seattle has a chance to be more of a legitimate threat offensively this season.
The defense must improve as well, especially against the pass.
Mora has been a Head Coach in the NFL before (with Atlanta) and he knows what it takes to turn a team around.
The Seahawks face a relatively tough schedule in 2009 while trying to regain their status as kings of the NFC West division. With so many new players coming into the mix, including learning a new system with a new coaching staff, Seattle will do well just to get to the .500 level once again.
Look for the Seahawks to finish 6-10 in '09 as they look to continue to improve for a better future in the Jim Mora, Jr. era.
Week 1- vs. St. Louis (Sept. 13)
Week 2- at San Francisco (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. Chicago (Sept. 27)
Week 4- at Indianapolis (Oct. 4)
Week 5- vs. Jacksonville (Oct. 11)
Week 6- vs. Arizona (Oct. 18)
Week 7- BYE WEEK
Week 8- at Dallas (Nov. 1)
Week 9- vs. Detroit (Nov. 8)
Week 10- at Arizona (Nov. 15)
Week 11- at Minnesota (Nov. 22)
Week 12- at St. Louis (Nov. 29)
Week 13- vs. San Francisco (Dec. 6)
Week 14- at Houston (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. Tampa Bay (Dec. 20)
Week 16- at Green Bay (Dec. 27)
Week 17- vs. Tennessee (Jan. 3)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- San Francisco 49ers
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
(2nd in NFC West)
HEAD COACH: Mike Singletary
Key Additions: WR Brandon Jones (FA/Titans) QB Damon Huard (FA/Chiefs) RB Moran Norris (FA/Lions) OL Marvel Smith (FA/Steelers) LB Marques Harris (FA/Chargers) CB Dre' Bly (FA/Broncos)
Key Losses: LB Tully Banta-Cain (FA/Patriots) TE Bill Bajema (FA/Rams) QB J.T. O' Sullivan (FA/Bengals) WR Bryant Johnson (FA/Lions) RB DeShaun Foster (FA)
Offense: After going back and forth between two different quarterbacks last season, the 49ers settled with Shaun Hill and let J.T. O' Sullivan go through free agency.
Hill provided some stability and displayed confidence in his chance as QB when the 49ers finished strong by going 5-2 down the stretch. Hill threw for 2,046 yards and 13 touchdowns with eight interceptions. The back up quarterbacks are Alex Smith and Damon Huard.
Frank Gore, who has been an offensive juggernaut for San Francisco early in his career, is the top running back. Michael Robinson is the back up halfback/fullback. Moran Norris is the fullback. Rookie draft pick Glen Coffee (from Alabama) will also get his chance to play.
Gore rushed for 1,036 yards last season and scored six touchdowns while also catching 43 passes for 373 yards and two TDs.
Isaac Bruce, a 15-year veteran, is back at wide receiver and top draft choice Michael Crabtree (a holdout as pre-season began) is slated to be the other starting wide receiver. The Tight End is Vernon Davis, who contributed with 31 catches for 358 yards and two scores.
Bruce caught 61 passes to lead the team in '08 and had 835 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Arnaz Battle (24 catches for 318 yards), Josh Morgan (20 catches, 319 yards and three TDs) and newcomer Brandon Jones, who made 41 catches for 449 yards and one TD with Tennessee, are the other wide receivers in the fold.
The offensive line was simply awful at pass protection in 2008, allowing 55 quarterback sacks.
The center is Eric Heitmann. The guards are David Bass and Chilo Rachal and the tackles are Joe Staley and Marvel Smith, a free agent from Pittsburgh.
Defense: San Francisco's defense seemed to pick it up a notch last year after Head Coach Mike Singletary took over for Mike Nolan, who was fired seven games into the season.
The 49ers ranked 13th in the NFL in total defense (326 yards per game allowed) and also 13th in rushing. The pass defense was 20th in the league and intercepted only 12 passes while accumulating 30 sacks.
The defensive front will have Isaac Sopoaga at nose tackle and Ray McDonald and Justin Smith (seven QB sacks) at the end spots.
The linebackers in San Francisco's 3-4 defense will be Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson on the outside. Haralson led the 49ers with eight sacks in '08. The inside linebackers are Takeo Spikes and Patrick Willis.
Dre' Bly was signed away from Denver in the off-season and will start at cornerback while Nate Clements will be other cornerback. The safeties are Michael Lewis (strong safety) and Dashon Goldson.
OUTLOOK: After finishing the 2008 season on a 5-2 run down the stretch, the 49ers feel confident as the new season approaches.
Quarterback Shaun Hill clearly made a difference as the primary signal caller for the team once he was handed the playbook.
With Hill back again and Gore leading the way in the backfield, San Francisco should be decent on offense. The team needs to get Crabtree in the fold on offense. Along with veteran Isaac Bruce, this could be a good wide receiver tandem.
Better pass protection in 2009 is a must!
The defense is respectable and should continue to improve under Singletary and his coaching staff.
The key will be how the team starts in '09. After getting off to a 2-7 start last season, the 49ers were buried in the NFC West. A good start is pertinent to success in '09.
San Francisco may just well finish the same way as last year when they were 7-9 and second place in the NFC West. That is a more likely finish for the 49ers in 2009 than a division title.
Week 1- at Arizona (Sept. 13)
Week 2- vs. Seattle (Sept. 20)
Week 3- at Minnesota (Sept. 27)
Week 4- vs. St. Louis (Oct. 4)
Week 5- vs. Atlanta (Oct. 11)
Week 6- BYE WEEK
Week 7- at Houston (Oct. 25)
Week 8- at Indianapolis (Nov. 1)
Week 9- vs. Tennessee (Nov. 8)
Week 10- vs. Chicago (Nov. 12)
Week 11- at Green Bay (Nov. 22)
Week 12- vs. Jacksonville (Nov. 29)
Week 13- at Seattle (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. Arizona (Dec. 14)
Week 15- at Philadelphia (Dec. 20)
Week 16- vs. Detroit (Dec. 27)
Week 17- at St. Louis (Jan. 3)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- St. Louis Rams
(4th in NFC West)
HEAD COACH: Steve Spagnuolo
Key Additions: OL Jason Brown (FA/Ravens) RB Mike Karney (FA/Saints) S James Butler (FA/Giants) WR Laurent Robinson (trade/Falcons) QB Kyle Boller (FA)
Key Losses: WR Torry Holt (FA/Jaguars) OL Orlando Pace (FA/Bears) OL Nick Leckey (FA/Saints) WR Dante Hall (FA) RB Brian Leonard (trade/Lions) WR Dane Looker (FA) QB Trent Green (FA) WR Drew Bennett (FA) DL La'Roi Glover (FA) S Corey Chavous (FA)
Offense: The Rams, once known as the "greatest show on turf" have crashed hard since the glory days of Kurt Warner, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Marshall Faulk, etc., and in 2009 they face many questions on offense.
Quarterback Marc Bulger is back after a bad 2008 campaign that saw him throw for 2,720 yards with just 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Ouch!
Bulger has been banged up the last couple of years and has injury problems as camp is continuing this summer. Kyle Boller (free agent) comes over to St. Louis to provide some experience and depth.
Steven Jackson had a bounce back year of sorts in '08 and rushed for 1,042 yards (4.1 ypc average) and seven touchdowns. Along with fullback Mike Karney and backups Kenneth Darby, Antonio Pittman, Samkon Gado and Joe Klopfenstein, Jackson will be the feature back once again in 2009.
Donnie Avery (53 catches, 674 yards and three TDs) and Keenan Burton will be the top wide receivers for St. Louis. Avery is the leader after Torry Holt departed for Jacksonville in the off-season. Burton will be relied upon more in '09 after catching 13 passes for 172 yards and one touchdown last season.
The Tight End will again be Randy McMichael and Bill Bajema backs up. The offensive line has Jason Brown at center, Rich Incognito and Jacob Bell at guards and tackles Alex Barron and Jason Smith.
The offense ranked 27th overall in the NFL last year (287 yards per game) and was 25th in rushing and 26th in passing while Rams' quarterbacks were sacked 45 times.
Defense: Not much to talk about on defense in '08 as the Rams ranked 28th in total defense, allowing 372 yards per game with 155 yards on the ground allowed. St. Louis allowed 465 points for the season, which was 31st in the NFL.
Leonard Little and Chris Long are the Defensive Ends and line up with tackles Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan in the 4-3 scheme.
The linebackers will be Will Witherspoon and Chris Draft on the outside and rookie James Laurinitis (Ohio State) in the middle for the Rams.
The secondary sees James Butler and Oshiomogho Atogwe at safties and cornerbacks Tye Hill and Ron Bartell.
The Rams had 30 sacks in 2008 with Little getting six of those. However, the defense simply allowed too many yards on the ground and new Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was Defensive Coordinator for the New York Giants, will work hard to see improvement in that area.
OUTLOOK: The Rams suffered through a miserable season in 2008 and can really only go upward in '09, barring of course a winless campaign via Detroit Lions.
The offense has many question marks, with the exception of running back Steven Jackson and (if healthy) quarterback Marc Bulger.
There are a lot of new players picking up playing time in 2009 on offense and the Rams will have to learn on the fly as the season gets going.
The defense also has to improve if the Rams want to avoid the NFC West cellar again in '09.
Spagnuolo proved to be a great 'D' coordinator in New York and even won a Super Bowl ring two years ago with the Giants. Perhaps some of that mojo will rub off on the team in the new season.
Then again, perhaps not.
Look for St. Louis to improve as the season goes along and pull a surprise here and there in 2009. However, another last-place finish in the NFC West seems inevitable. The Rams will likely bring up the rear once again and finish at 4-12 in 2009.
Week 1- at Seattle (Sept. 13)
Week 2- at Washington (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. Green Bay (Sept. 27)
Week 4- at San Francisco (Oct. 4)
Week 5- vs. Minnesota (Oct. 11)
Week 6- at Jacksonville (Oct. 18)
Week 7- vs. Indianapolis (Oct. 25)
Week 8- at Detroit (Nov. 1)
Week 9- BYE WEEK
Week 10- vs. New Orleans (Nov. 15)
Week 11- vs. Arizona (Nov. 22)
Week 12- vs. Seattle (Nov. 29)
Week 13- at Chicago (Dec. 6)
Week 14- at Tennessee (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. Houston (Dec. 20)
Week 16- at Arizona (Dec. 27)
Week 17- vs. San Francisco (Jan. 3)
Monday, August 17, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Arizona Cardinals
(1st in NFC West)
HEAD COACH: Ken Whisenhunt
Key Additions: CB Bryant McFadden (FA/Steelers) RB Jason Wright (FA/Browns) RB Dan Kreider (FA/Rams)
Key Losses: RB Edgerrin James (FA) RB J.J. Arrington (FA/Broncos) CB Eric Green (FA/Dolphins) DE Antonio Smith (FA/Texans) RB Terrelle Smith (FA/Lions) LB Monty Beisel (FA/Chiefs) CB Roderick Hood (FA)
Offense: Kurt Warner returns after rediscovering his magic touch from the days in St. Louis and the "greatest show on turf".
Warner led the NFC in passing in 2008 and was third overall in the league posting a 96.9 QB rating after throwing for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns with just 14 interceptions.
His wide receivers include Larry Fitzgerald, who was healthy in 2008 and had a monster season, grabbing 96 catches for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns. Anquan Boldin made 89 catches for 1,038 yards and 11 TDs while Steve Breaston hauled in 77 passes for 1,006 yards and three touchdowns.
Having three 1,000-yard receivers in the same season on your team is a rare feat, but the Cardinals pulled it off last season and if healthy again in '09, they could do it again. The Tight Ends are Leonard Pope and Ben Patrick. Neither caught many passes last year and their primary function is to block.
The running backs include Tim Hightower and Chris "Beanie" Wells (top draft pick from Ohio State) and fullbacks Dan Kreider and Tim Castille.
Hightower takes over for the departed Edgerrin James after rushing for 399 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns last season. Wells will get his chance to show what he can do as well.
The offensive line is a good one with Lyle Sendlein at center, Reggie Wells and Deuce Lutui at guard and tackles Mike Gandy and Levi Brown.
Defense: The defense was average at best in 2008, with the exception of the playoff win against Carolina, when they intercepted six passes in the game.
The Cardinals finished 19th overall in the NFL, allowing 332 yards per game with 110 yards allowed on the ground and 222 through the air on a game-by-game basis.
Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt knows the defense has to step up and be more consistent if the Cardinals want to have the success they had in the post-season when they made their run.
Bryan Robinson and Bertrand Berry are the Defensive Ends and the Nose Tackle is Darnell Dockett in the Cardinals' 3-4 scheme.
The linebackers are Gerald Hayes and Karlos Dansby on the inside and the outside linebackers will be Chike Okeafor and Cody Brown.
The secondary has Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Bryant McFadden at the corners and Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle at safety.
The Cardinals picked off just 13 passes with Rodgers-Cromartie leading the team with four, including a 99-yard touchdown return of a pick. Meanwhile, McFadden comes over from Pittsburgh and will bring a winning attitude with him after the Super Bowl victory over the Cardinals.
The Cards gave up too many points in '08, as they allowed 426 total points which placed them 28th in the league.
OUTLOOK: If the Cardinals get better defense this season and Warner can work his magic again, watch out!
That will be the key for the team, consistency on defense and at quarterback.
Warner has shown a penchant for getting injured and he is 38 years old entering this season. If he does go down, Matt Leinart (who was the starter in season's past) will step in.
Fitzgerald, Boldin and Breaston will be the mainstays for the offense in 2009 as the air show will continue in the desert.
What needs to improve for Arizona is the running game, which ranked dead last in the NFL in '08 by averaging just 74 yards a game. If the Cardinals do not want to be predictable, that has to improve.
The best way to defense Arizona is simply to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback by blitzing often to throw Warner off his rhythm. That's why it is pertinent for the Cards to re-establish a running game to go with their air attack, which ranked number-two in the league.
Shootout type style teams rarely succeed in the NFL and Arizona really was that type of team last season. It took a near miracle run in the post-season to make the Super Bowl and somehow they solved the Steelers' defense in the final eight minutes of the game and nearly pulled off a huge upset.
That was then and this is now.
Look for Arizona to go 10-6 and make the playoffs again. Only this time other teams will be waiting for them and there will not be any surprises by the Birds come playoff time.
Week 1- vs. San Francisco (Sept. 13)
Week 2- at Jacksonville (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. Indianapolis (Sept. 27)
Week 4- BYE WEEK
Week 5- vs. Houston (Oct. 11)
Week 6- at Seattle (Oct. 18)
Week 7- at NY Giants (Oct. 25)
Week 8- vs. Carolina (Nov. 1)
Week 9- at Chicago (Nov. 8)
Week 10- vs. Seattle (Nov. 15)
Week 11- at St. Louis (Nov. 22)
Week 12- at Tennessee (Nov. 29)
Week 13- vs. Minnesota (Dec. 6)
Week 14- at San Francisco (Dec. 14)
Week 15- at Detroit (Dec. 20)
Week 16- vs. St. Louis (Dec. 27)
Week 17- vs. Green Bay (Jan. 3)
Sunday, August 16, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Tennessee Titans
(1st in AFC South)
HEAD COACH: Jeff Fisher
Key Additions: WR Nate Washington (FA/Steelers) QB Patrick Ramsey (FA/Broncos) CB Demarcus Faggins (FA/Texans) DL Jovan Haye (FA/Buccaneers)
Key Losses: DL Albert Haynesworth (FA/Redskins) WR Brandon Jones (FA/49ers) WR Justin McCareins (FA) OL Dan Loper (FA/Lions)
Offense: This is an area the Titans would like to see upgraded entering 2009 after finishing 21st in the NFL overall on offense, despite having the league's best record in 2008.
Quarterback Kerry Collins provides stability for the Titans following the meltdown of Vince Young early in the '08 season.
Collins threw sparingly, attempting only 415 passes while accumulating 2,676 yards and 12 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.
The running game is the top option for Tennessee and Head Coach Jeff Fisher has Chris Johnson and LenDale White returning in '09.
Johnson, a rookie last season, ran for 1,228 yards (4.9 ypc average) and scored nine touchdowns. Meanwhile, White rushed for 773 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. The fullbacks are Ahmard Hall and Quinton Ganther.
The wide receivers are Justin Gage, Nate Washington, Kenny Britt and Lavelle Hawkins. The Tight End is Alge Crumpler and Bo Scaife is the backup.
Scaife led Tennessee in receptions in 2008 with 58 catches for 561 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Gage hauled in 34 for 651 yards (19.1 ypc average) and six TDs. Washington played with defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh last year and had 40 catches for 631 yards and three touchdowns.
The offensive line is a good one that opens the holes for Johnson and White and provides great protection as Titans quarterbacks were sacked just 12 times overall in '08.
Tennessee has Kevin Mawae at center, Michael Ross and David Stewart at tackles and guards Eugene Amano and Jake Scott.
Defense: This was the reason for the team's success in 2008 as they registered 44 sacks and had 20 interceptions that accounted for the Titans finishing second in the NFL with a +14 turnover ratio.
The Titans lost their sack leader, Albert Haynesworth (8.5 in 2008) to free agency but do still have Kyle Vanden Bosch at Right Defensive End. The Left DE is Jevon Kearse. The defensive tackles will be Tony Brown and Jovan Haye, who comes to Tennessee from Tampa Bay via free agency.
The linebacking corps is made up of Stephen Tulloch in the middle and outside backers Dave Thornton and Keith Bulluck, who led the team last season with 98 tackles.
The secondary is one of the best in the NFL and enforces a strict hands-off policy when it comes to enemy air attacks.
Cornerbacks Cortland Finnegan (five picks in '08) and Nick Harper are both solid and safeties Michael Griffin (seven interceptions last season) and Chris Hope (four INT) simply add to the excellence in Tennessee's defensive backfield.
The Titans defense ranked second in the league, allowing just 234 points in '08 and were seventh overall in total defense, giving up 294 yards per game.
OUTLOOK: If the Titans want to repeat as AFC South division champions, they need to continue the excellent defense they played last year.
Losing Haynesworth is a blow, but the addition of Haye will help up front and the secondary has a nasty reputation as a hard-hitting, ball hawk unit.
This team is well coached by Fisher and his staff and that always helps them prepare for each week. It plays with a lot of emotion and on a sad note, during the off-season, former Titans quarterback Steve McNair was murdered and perhaps the team will devote the 2009 season to their former leader's memory.
Offensively, the Titans just might go back with Young if he can clear his mind and forget the ghosts of personal problems that seemed to plague him early last season. Collins was a steady leader at QB in '08 however, the playoff loss to Baltimore exposed some glaring weaknesses with the team's offense.
The Titans have to open it up more on offense because a ground game only goes so far and in the NFL, a team has to keep it's opponents honest on defense. There isn't a lot of success for teams so one-dimensional on offense.
A league best 13-3 finish last year was for naught as the Titans saw their Super Bowl hopes dashed by Baltimore in the divisional round of the playoffs. Don't expect a similar win-loss record in '09 but the team just might go further in the post-season this time around which would mean at least one playoff win.
In the rugged AFC South, a 10-6 record is no shame, especially if the Titans do get a playoff win. Anything can happen in the post-season as Arizona proved that last year. The Titans should make progress in the post-season, just not quite enough to satisfy their fans.
Week 1- at Pittsburgh (Sept. 10)
Week 2- vs. Houston (Sept. 20)
Week 3- at NY Jets (Sept. 27)
Week 4- at Jacksonville (Oct. 4)
Week 5- vs. Indianapolis (Oct. 11)
Week 6- at New England (Oct. 18)
Week 7- BYE WEEK
Week 8- vs. Jacksonville (Nov. 1)
Week 9- at San Francisco (Nov. 8)
Week 10- vs. Buffalo (Nov. 15)
Week 11- at Houston (Nov. 23)
Week 12- vs. Arizona (Nov. 29)
Week 13- at Indianapolis (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. St. Louis (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. Miami (Dec. 20)
Week 16- vs. San Diego (Dec. 25)
Week 17- at Seattle (Jan. 3)
Friday, August 14, 2009
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text:
Russia has launched a new initiative to end the conflict in Syria, calling for a time-bound ceasefire that should be guaranteed by main outside powers.
"We have proposed calling a new ceasefire that this time would be under the responsibility of outside players who wield influence both on the government and armed opposition," said Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
International guarantees would help assure both the government and the rebels that neither side would take advantage of the ceasefire to tip the balance in its favour. Fears of unilateral advantage wrecked the ceasefire declared in Syria in April.
Russia planned to discuss its new initiative for a at a meeting of the Syria Action Group of world powers in New York on Friday, but the meeting was called off as Western powers refused to attend.
Mr. Lavrov said the ceasefire would pave the way to implementing a peace plan agreed upon by world powers at a meeting of the Action Group on Syria held in Geneva in June. It called on the Syrian government and the opposition to halt violence and appoint negotiators who would form a joint "transition body."
The Russian Foreign Minister denounced as "irresponsible" U.S. claims that the Geneva accord was "dead." He said such claims betray a plan to resort to military interference in the Syrian conflict.
"This is a road to big catastrophe in the region," Mr. Lavrov said in an interview to Sky News Arabia, which was posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website on Saturday.
Mr. Lavrov rejected U.S. calls for a "no-fly zones" over Syria.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last week that Washington and Turkey were looking at all measures to help Syrian rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, including a no-fly zone.


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Custom Post Lantern
copper, stained glass
dimensions 22" x 22" x 17"
made for John Winn Residence
September 2011
This is an example of our popular "Double Roofed Post Lantern." This post lantern was designed to the client's specifications including dimensions, copper finish and choice of diffuser.
posted in Architectural, Lighting, Glass, Metal, Commercial, Residential, Outdoors | permalink
Dragon Fly Wall Sconce
Copper and amber mica
dimensions 8" x 12" x 5"
February 2014
This dragon fly wall sconce is a beautiful example of our meticulous work.
posted in Architectural, Lighting, Metal, Commercial, Residential, Bathroom, Bedroom, Dining Room, Kitchen, Living Room, Office, Outdoors | permalink
Giacomo Rocker
Walnut or White Oak :: Danish Cord
dimensions 24-1/2W x 39-1/4D x 32H
Solid walnut or white oak rocking chair with hand woven paper cord seat.
posted in Furniture, Seating, Wood, Commercial, Institutional, Residential, Bedroom, Living Room, Outdoors | permalink
Mayan lighting
Slumped 3/4" thick plate glass, forged bronze
dimensions 22" diameter
made for Paul Lamb Architects, Fern Santini
This was such an amazing project. These sculptural fixtures, evoked by Mayan jade ear flare jewelry, are actually lit by oculi in the ceiling of the loggia....
posted in Architectural, Lighting, Glass, Metal, Residential, Outdoors | permalink
Zetcher lighting
fused glass, forged steel.
dimensions 36" diameter
made for Residential client
collaboration with 220 Designs
This was a fun project. This client could only live in LA!
posted in Architectural, Lighting, Glass, Metal, Residential, Outdoors | permalink
Cantu Door
mahogany, brass
made for Dr. Robert Cantu
December 2013
A new entry door for an old brick house.
posted in Architectural, Door, Wood, Residential, Outdoors | permalink
Art Nouveau Gate
Steel, Automotive Metallic Paint
made for Private Residence
December 2011
A gate for a client in West Austin. An original design by Ironwood Industries. Inspired by the Art Nouveau Period, and influenced by the work of Alphonse Mucha, a Czech artist from the 1900s.
posted in Architectural, Gate, Metal, Residential, Outdoors | permalink
Zoltan David Galleria
Spanish cedar and glass
dimensions Facade 20 x 20
made for Zoltan David
May 2009
Zoltan and I worked from a pencil drawing of his concept. I then brought my expertise in joinery and CNC machining to help resolve the need for a timely completion date.
posted in Architectural, Door, Finishes, Window, Glass, Wood, Commercial, Residential, Outdoors | permalink
Zoltan David at the Oasis
Native Texas pecan and power coated steel
made for Zoltan David
May 2011
We executed Zoltan's design in reclaimed native Texas pecan with powder-coated steel accents and structural components. The pecan was harvested on Onion Creek in Austin. The logs were cut on my sawmill and dried in the kilns located at my shop on 730 Shady Lane .
posted in Architectural, Door, Finishes, Window, Glass, Wood, Commercial, Residential, Outdoors | permalink
Forged Steel
This sundial was made for a private garden.
posted in Architectural, Ornament, Sculpture, Furniture, Metal, Residential, Outdoors | permalink


text:
Style In My Passion Essay
558 total views, 1 views today
Do you've powerful or compelling emotion or feeling of affection toward clothing? Trend designers sometimes have an curiosity in the Constructing, Creating and Persuading interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Constructing interest space signifies a deal with working with instruments and machines, and making or fixing practical issues. The Creating curiosity area indicates a deal with being authentic and imaginative, and working with inventive media. The Persuading curiosity area signifies a concentrate on influencing, motivating, and promoting to other people.
Those with formal schooling in fashion design, with excellent portfolios, and with industry experience may have the most effective job prospects. Nevertheless, robust competitors for jobs is expected because of the massive number of people that seek employment as trend designers and the comparatively few positions obtainable.
Nikki Li is originally from the small Texas city of San Benito. The daughter of a Chinese father and a half-Mexican mom, she moved to Dallas after highschool in 2007. At the moment, she attends the Artwork Institute of Dallas as a trend design pupil, prepared to earn her Associate's Diploma in Utilized Arts this September.
Plan some key items. What's your absolute energy in designing? Perhaps you're a whizz at accessories or a genius with yoga pants. Your passion and talent are an vital first a part of the equation. After all, the second part is matching this to what the market needs, which in fashion, is a component convincing the market and part noticing what the market is demanding.
Listed below are the up-and-coming designers whose work will probably be showcased on September twenty second. Marisela soon realized that she had a keen eye for inventive designs. She began drawing her personal designs for herself, her sisters and associates. She would later give these designs to her mom who would then sew them for her.


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abC Art Book Fair is organized and managed by Meng Ban Meng Ban Cultural Communication Co., Ltd. ( 梦伴梦办文化传播有限公司 ) trading as "art book in China". These terms and conditions apply exclusively to the 2019 Fair in Beijing only, and become effective upon acceptance of Exhibitor's Agreement, in case of such acceptance shall be immediately in effect through the entire term of Exhibitor's participation in the Fair. Submission of payment for an abC art book fair 2019 associated invoice will be considered equivalent to the signing of the Exhibitor's Agreement.
2.Admission to the Fair
abC shall have final judgment on all Applications and may accept or reject applications in its sole discretion. The Exhibitor guarantees that all information in the Agreement is accurate. abC reserves the right to cancel any Exhibitor Agreement that is accepted on the basis of false information or if the Exhibitor fails to comply with these Terms and Conditions.
The Exhibitor shall indemnify abC and hold abC harmless for and from, any and all loss, damages, claims and costs resulting from the Exhibitor's occupation and use of the Space, the acts and omissions committed by the Exhibitor and its agents and invitees, , and any breach by the Exhibitor of these Terms and Conditions.
In any event abC decides for whatever reason to decline acceptance of Exhibitor's Application Agreement, abC will promptly notify Exhibitor in writing.
3.Use of the Space
Space allocations are strictly at the discretion of abC. The Exhibitor shall occupy the Space at the commencement of the Fair and for the entire duration of the public hours of the Fair.
No Exhibitor may sublet, sub-license his/her booth either entirely or partially except as agreed in advance with abC in writing.
Products, Exhibitors or individuals other than those specified in the Application / Exhibitor Agreement may not be shown or advertised at the booth.
The Exhibitor shall ensure that it and all its personnel at the Fair hold and maintain the required visa or work permit.
abC reserves the right to take photographs, video and/ or sound recording of the Fair and the Space for any purpose as abC may think fit.
The Exhibitor shall be entitled to have a listing with basic information in the art book fair guide of the Fair. One copy of the pamphlet will be made available free of charge to the Exhibitor at the site of the Fair.
The Exhibitor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold abC harmless for and from any and all liability arising from the contents of any materials submitted by the Exhibitor to abC, including materials for publication in the pamphlet and any infringement by the Exhibitor of any third party rights, or use of any person's name in the materials.
Exhibitor agrees to pay abC in full for the booth or booths requested by the Exhibitor in this Application.
Agreement at the applicable prices for the size of booth requested, in accordance with the following terms and conditions:
Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable unless abC otherwise agrees at its discretion. Any Exhibitor, whose booth has not been paid in full by May 5, 2019, forfeits their right to exhibit. In such event, abC may cancel the Exhibitor's contract, reallocate the space and retain payment made without further liability or obligation to the Exhibitor.
Payment is accepted via Paypal and Alipay.
6.Withdrawal and Cancellation
Withdrawal or cancellation by the Exhibitor of the use of the Space shall be made in writing by the Exhibitor to abC. If the Exhibitor withdraws or cancels after May 3, 2019, the Exhibitor shall remain liable for the full amount of the Hiring Fee.
abC may terminate the Exhibitor Agreement and the use of the Space by the Exhibitor if the Exhibitor fails to occupy the Space by 1:00 pm on June 6, 2019, and abC may then use the Space for any other purpose at its sole discretion. In such event the Exhibitor shall remain liable for the full amount of the Hiring Fee.
abC may at its sole discretion, reschedule the Fair, change the location or cancel the Fair. abC shall endeavor to notify the Exhibitor of such change or cancellation as far in advance as possible. In the event of cancellation or rescheduling to dates which the Exhibitor cannot attend, abC shall promptly refund to the Exhibitor all amounts previously paid by the Exhibitor to abC for the Fair but shall not otherwise be liable to the Exhibitor. The Exhibitor shall have twenty (20) days from the receipt of written notice of a rescheduling of the Fair to notify abC if the Exhibitor cannot participate during the rescheduled dates. Otherwise, the Exhibitor shall be deemed to have accepted the rescheduled dates.
The Exhibitor shall, at its own expense, take out and maintain in full force and effect adequate insurance against liability for death, injury, damage or loss to any personal property or articles including, but not limited to, books and works of art at the Fair, from whatever cause arising from the use of the Space.
8.Non-liability for Loss and Indemnity
Exhibitor agrees to provide insurance in sufficient amounts to cover any and all damage or loss to any personal property or articles including, but not limited to, books and works of art at the Fair for any cause, including fire, theft, burglary, breakage, leakage and water damage or transportation to and from the Fair location. In any event, Exhibitor assumes all risk of loss or damage to any of its articles and abC shall assume no risk of loss for any Exhibitor's property.
abC will not be liable to any Exhibitor for any direct, incidental or consequential damages or loss to the Exhibitor, to his/her property or articles arising in any way from or connected with the Exhibitor's participation, except for damage and loss caused by abC's gross negligence.
Exhibitor agrees, in signing the Exhibitor Agreement, to release abC from such liability. Additionally, the Exhibitor will be responsible for all injury or damage of any kind to persons or property, regardless of who may be the owner of the property (including, without limitation, museum furniture, furnishings, or works of art) arising out of or suffered through any act or omission of the Exhibitor, its employees, agents, contractors or guests, in connection with its use of museum facilities. The Exhibitor further assumes the obligation to indemnify and hold harmless abC, Beijing Times Art Museum
, its affiliates, Trustees, Directors, officers, agents, and employees, against any and all damages, claims, expenses (including reasonable legal fees), or other liability due to bodily injury, personal injury or death, or damage to property of others, arising out of or suffered through any act or omission of the Exhibitor, its employees, agents, contractors or guests, in connection with its use of Beijing Times Art Museum facilities.
Security guard service shall commence on the first day of installation of the Space and shall continue until the end of dismantling of the Space. Neither abC nor its contractor shall be liable for any loss or damage due to theft. Only Exhibitors shall be allowed to bring in articles during the duration of the Fair. Special badges/ pass must be worn and displayed by the Exhibitor and its staff at all times at the Fair.
10.Electrical services
abC shall contract with UCCA to provide common area lighting and air conditioning but abC shall not be liable for any loss or damage due to failure or interruption of any service. Exhibitor is specifically restricted from installing any power connections unless otherwise agreed to in writing. Exhibitor agrees to adhere to all fire, safety, Fair Rules and Regulations and security regulations associated with the Fair and the facility.
abC shall be responsible for keeping the common areas of the Fair clean. The Exhibitor shall be responsible for maintaining its Space and keeping it free from trash, and shall leave the Space in the same condition in which it was first occupied by the Exhibitor, reasonable wear and tear excepted. The Exhibitor shall take good care of all property of abC which is hired or used by the Exhibitor and return the same in the same condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted.
The Exhibitor shall compensate abC for any loss, damage or liability whatsoever which may be suffered by abC as a result of any such defect or damage in the Space and/or property of abC caused by the Exhibitor, its agent or invitees.
12.Restrictions on Signage and Furniture
All signage must be in accordance with the standards established by abC. No exceptions will be allowed. Additional furniture is available for hire in advance from abC, including shelving extra tables and chairs. No other furniture may be brought into the Space without the express written approval of abC.
13.Shipments and Deliveries
Shipments and deliveries from abroad will be accepted until June 3rd, 2019.
Please pay off the booth fee before shipping books. abC will not accept any package from exhibitors who do not pay. Please ship your package at least 1 month in advance after receiving the confirmation email (after April 8th).
Tracking numbers, quantities and dimensions must be e-mailed to Yaya Liu (email@example.com) and email@example.com at the time of shipping.
Please mark all packages with the Exhibitor's name (as it will appear on public materials) and address them to:
ATTN: abC Art Book Fair 2019 BEIJING
First Floor of ZUCZUG/
B7-3A, 1st North Street, 798 Art District., Chaoyang District, Beijing, P. R. CHINA
Name: Yaya Liu
Tel: +86 137 1856 0816
abC will not assume responsibility for any unshipped packages.
14.Installation and Deinstallation
The Exhibitor shall be permitted to install the booth / table on Thursday June 6, 2019, during the hours 11am – 5pm.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing by abC, the Exhibitor is required to have at least one staff member to be present at the booth /table during all public hours of the Fair (including the Preview hours).
Deinstallation takes place on Sunday, June 9, 2019, from 8pm – 10pm. The Exhibitor shall not begin deinstallation or packing up until after the Fair is over at 8pm on Sunday, June 9, 2019.
The Exhibitor is welcomed and encouraged to display artwork on available wall space within its designated table or booth areas, provided that no colored adhesives may be used. When using nails to display framed works, please only use picture-hanging nails when possible. Drilling is not allowed unless with written permission from abC staff. Walls must be returned to the original condition. Electricity is not guaranteed for the Exhibitors.
15.Exhibitor Badges or Passes
A special badge or pass issued by abC is required for access to the Fair. This also applies on installation and deinstallation days. Exhibitor passes and special installation and deinstallation passes will be issued for the Exhibitor's employees engaged in the installation and deinstallation of the Space, as well as for other representatives and staff at the Space. Passes should be attached to outer clothing in a visible position at all times when on the exhibition site.
Normal exhibitor passes are also valid during installation and deinstallation. Passes for set-up and dismantling as exhibitor passes are issued free of charge for each Space, based on its size.
A special charge will be levied for any additional exhibitor passes requested beyond the two passes supplied to the Exhibitor. Additional installation and deinstallation passes are issued free of charge.
16.General Terms and Conditions
abC shall be entitled to remove any person or thing or exclude the Exhibitor from the Fair in the event that abC considers such removal or exclusion to be in the interests of the Fair or abC. In such event, the Exhibitor shall remain liable for the full amount of the Hiring Fee and any additional charges incurred.
The Exhibitor Agreement and these Terms and Conditions constitute the entire agreement between the parties. There are no other agreements between abC and the Exhibitor, either oral or written, other than contained herein.
The Exhibitor Agreement and these Terms and Conditions may not be amended except in writing and signed by both parties.
The invalidity or illegality of any part of these Terms and Conditions shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining part of these Terms and Conditions.


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A tremendous amount of ink has been spilled in the past week over Beijing's "surprise" about-face last month, when it denied the USS Kitty Hawk battle group entry into Hong Kong -- a snub made all the more unpalatable to Washington as it followed on the heels of a similar denial concerning two US minesweeping vessels. Furthermore, it now seems that last Thursday, a request that the USS Reuben James be allowed to make a New Year's stop in Hong Kong was also turned down by Beijing.
While, as some have argued, this series of denials may constitute the most serious US-China military crisis since the 2001 collision of a US E-P3 reconnaissance aircraft with a Chinese fighter, one thing that seems to have escaped the notice of the many pundits who have written on the subject is the fact that the regional context has undergone a striking transformation.
Beijing's seemingly "irrational" decision to snub the world's greatest superpower has very much to do with that new context.
Two recent events are symptomatic of that change. First, as was made clear last week by the anchoring of the Chinese destroyer Shenzhen in Tokyo -- the first such visit since World War II -- is the diplomatic rapprochement between Japan and China, two countries that since before the war and until very recently had at best eyed each other with great mistrust, if not outright hatred.
The seeming incapacity of a succession of Japanese prime ministers to "undo" the damage done to Japan's image in China from World War II onwards has compelled the past two leaders to make improving diplomatic ties with Beijing one of their priorities. Even the supposedly hardline Taro Aso, former minister of foreign affairs, watered down his rhetoric on China and there is every indication that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda intends to go beyond that.
Parallel to this rapprochement and certainly noticed by Beijing has been the fraying relationship between Japan and the US. The principal reason behind this -- despite efforts by Aso and Fukuda to avoid such an outcome -- has been Japan ending its naval assistance to US-led operations in Afghanistan on Nov. 1.
As much the result of domestic political wrangling as a symptom that Japanese are finally reevaluating the role, long constrained by a US-imposed Constitution, their country should play internationally, the deadlock has not been well received in Washington, which continues to expect the staunchest of support from its allies worldwide, especially those for whose security it still plays a crucial role.
Therein lies the new regional context, one where Japan and the US, longtime allies, are on the brink of reaching a new low on the military and diplomatic front. This has provided Beijing with a golden opportunity to drive a wedge between Tokyo and Washington at a time when the US is locked down in the Middle East, facing military overstretch and being pressured in both Japan and South Korea to lighten its military presence, and when the North Korean nuclear crisis is showing signs it could be resolved diplomatically.
But don't look for a new Asian romance just yet. Quick to use the World War II card when doing so serves its purposes, Beijing has not spontaneously chosen to forget Japan's past aggression, nor has it fundamentally altered its perception of Japan as a regional opponent, present or future. Cozying up to Tokyo, rather, is part of calculations based on a realistic, balance-of-power view of the world that seek to achieve what has long been a policy in Beijing -- to force the US out of East Asia.


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VILLA PARK – In a closed community like Willowbrook High School, gossip spreads quickly. One of the stories currently circulating the school is that the new detective and police liaison officer is a trained mixed martial arts fighter
So when Sonia Soto dashed from her office to check on a small skirmish happening in the hall last week, she wasn't surprised to hear students whispering behind her, curious to see how she would handle the incident.
Soto has trained in martial arts and more recently has gotten involved in kickboxing, but the 32-year-old isn't an MMA fighter. She's a detective with the Villa Park Police Department who was recently assigned to the high school and is determined to keep the building and its students safe.
"I don't want anything happening to this school," she said. "This is my school, now."
She's the first female detective at the department and the first woman to be assigned to the school's liaison position.
At Willowbrook, she's responsible for securing the building and handling any incidents at the school, but she also has a hand in any police work involving juveniles outside of school. She attends the football games, will be working at the school dances and when the bell rings to signal passing periods, she ducks into the hallways to see the students.
"Any time the bell rings I like to go out and mingle with the kids," she said "I'm really happy here, the environment is amazing."
Soto has served with the department for five years, but said many people don't know her in town because she spent her first four years working the midnight shift.
Since she was a little girl growing up in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood, she wanted to be a police officer. At the time, the neighborhood was gang infested and officers from the Chicago Police Department would patrol the streets and talk to the neighborhood children.
"They'd stop and talk to us and I'd think, 'Oh my gosh, this is so cool. I want to be or to be the one caring for the juveniles,'" Soto said.
Her father and mother, immigrants from Mexico and Poland, worked long hours to support the family so she was often on her own. It was a police officer who became one of the strongest adult figures in her life.
"We had DARE in school and I became very close to our DARE officer," she said. "When I had problems, I ran to him."
She didn't know her liaison officer in high school so she always thought she wanted to be a DARE officer for the elementary students, until the position at Willowbrook became available and she decided to apply.
She's adamant about meeting as many students and possible and even keeps a jar of M&Ms on her desk to encourage people to come in to visit.
"I remember, my worst years were my teen years," she said. "If I can relate to them, I can help them."
Soto officially started her new position on Aug. 21, Willowbrook's first day of school, and during her first weeks at the school, she's already making plans for an even safer school. She wants to take a school resource officer training class that would require her to develop an advanced safety plan for the school, and she wants to run active shooter training with Willowbrook's faculty and staff.
It's a fast-paced job, but Soto said it's one she enjoys and hopes she can pull upon her own experiences to help the students.
"I know what it feels like not having a parent around," she said. "I know what it feels like to be pressured to make a decision. I'm kind of happy that I had the experiences that I had in my life because it makes me more understanding."


text: Cat Scratching Box Cost: This is an item that can range. I saw cardboard cat scratching boxes ranging from $6.99 all the way to $25.99. I purchased one of the more expensive ones called The Original Scratch Lounge Classic. I've found it better to have a high quality scratch box that is durable and will…Read more... →


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The Gerontological Society of America's 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting, taking place in Austin, Texas, from November 13 to 17, is a unique opportunity for supporters to be at the forefront of individuals in the field of gerontology. Active participation at the GSA Annual Scientific Meeting allows supporters to:
- Access key thought leaders, researchers, educators and clinicians on aging, gerontology, geriatrics, and social policies
- Reinforce domestic and international awareness
- Showcase programs, products and services
- Disseminate new scientific learning and best practices
- Connect with scientific and lay media
Who Supports?
Publishers • Government Agencies • Pharmaceutical Companies • Geriatric Care Centers • Universities and Colleges • Associations and Societies • Manufacturers • Nutritional Organizations and Suppliers
Who Attends?
Like GSA's membership, attendees at the Annual Scientific Meeting come from a wide range of professionals and disciplines in the field of gerontology, representing many countries.
Here is a breakdown of attendance at the Annual Scientific Meeting.


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Some of us were just blessed with naturally greasy skin, and it can feel like an endless battle against the shine. But there are a few things you can do to keep the greasiness at bay in your day-to-day life.
Wash your face enough, but not too much
Not washing your face enough can cause oil to take over. But at the same time, washing it too much can strip all the oils away, prompting your body to make a ton more of it. The key is listening to your skin and figuring out how much washing it needs to stay balanced.
Try a toner
Toners or astringents are alcohol-based and help strip away some of the stubborn oil (and makeup and dirt) stuck in your skin. Always follow them with a moisturized to try and maintain that balance, though.
Use blotting pads during the day
Blotting pads, which are essentially just little squares of tissue paper, can help soak up the oil sitting on top of your skin and making you shiny during the day. They're not a permanent fix, but can help you out on the go.
Make sure all your products are oil-free
Foundation, sunscreen, and makeup remover can all contain oil that can contribute to your oiliness, so opt for oil-free versions.
Watch what you eat
Sugar, fats, dairy, carbs, and alcohol are all known to cause greasy skin, so a diet change (or minor alteration) can make a huge difference in your complexion if you're really struggling.


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Photographer's Note
A little street in the town of Anse-La-Raye. I met a teacher and some children in this very town in 1978 and decided to stop for a short visit on this 7 day cruise throughout the Caribbean Islands. To my surprise, I was greeted by his wife who is now the principal of the school. Saint Lucia is certainly an island that deserves to be seen.
Critiques | Translate
jusninasirun (17529) 2013-03-05 17:31
Hello Paul.
It must be amazing to make a return visit after you have left the place in a very long time. The street looks pleasing with unique architecture on the left side of the road.
Thanks and have a great week.
gus72 (3719) 2013-08-13 15:51
Hi Paul !!
Nice view and nice story...... interaction with other human beings..... top of my list !!
I like the contrasting Architecture of the houses on the left side.
Well taken and presented with a neat frame.
Photo Information
- Copyright: Paul Legros (Paul57) (2223)
- Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2013-02-21
- Categories: Arquitectura, Momento Irrepetible
- Camera: nikon D 7000, Nikkor AF-S 16-85 mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED VR
- Versión de la foto: Versión original
- Date Submitted: 2013-03-05 14:46


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960 Cross Creek Road, West Vancouver Listing #: R2375025
Meticulously maintained 2 level Post & Beam home set on over a half acre in the lower British Properties! This charming 5-bdrm family home offers spacious indoor/outdoor living & entertainment areas featuring a large swimming pool, sauna, with upper & lower deck areas. The home boasts open principal rooms, oversized bdrms, level entry off a circular driveway & bonus below ground extensive workshop and storage area! The creekside park-like setting with mature gardens and landscaping is private and tranquil. Located a stone's throw away from the Hollyburn Country Club & both Chartwell Elementary & Sentinel Secondary Schools. Easy access to the highway and close proximity to shopping and recreation areas. A wonderful move in ready home or holding property ripe for future development!
Taxes (2019): $6,254.04
- Garden
- Pool; Outdoor
- Sauna/Steam Room
- Storage
- Workshop Attached
- ClthWsh
- Dryr
- Frdg
- Stve
Site Influences
- Private Setting
- Private Yard
- Shopping Nearby
Similar Listings
Listed By: Virani Real Estate Advisors
Disclaimer: The data relating to real estate on this web site comes in part from the MLS Reciprocity program of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver or the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS Reciprocity logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver or the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver or the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board.


text: As there are many different DaVinci Portable Vaporizers being launched, these are the most highly respected vaporizers of their class. DaVinci makes the best vaporizers that always look like some other device. Making them small, discreet and very effective. Just like the DaVinci Ascent portable vaporizer that looks just like a cell phone and the that looks like a walkie-talkie. Despite which vaporizer you buy, you'll find them very effective as your favorite herbal vaporizer. As Davinci has been a company around for a long time, they are a manufacturer that has the experience, knowledge and talents for producing and developing the latest technological advances in creating the state-of-the-art innovations for best portable vaporizers in the world. The Davinci IQ Vaporizer for sale is the newest and best portable vaporizer for sale. It comes with blue-tooth technology that you can download the Davinci APP on to your smart phone so you get the best possible vaping experience using the APP to precise temperature control the heating, recording the puff counter and custom vaping sessions that can alternate to elevate its temperature based on how many puffs it counts or what time intervals you set as the Davinci IQ Heating system will automatically raise or lower, depending how you have the Davinci IQ.


text: Gestational diabetes develops is 7% of the 4 million women who give birth in the United States each year. These 280,000 women are at risk for complications of pregnancy that can cause severe injury to both mother and baby, including death. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) has noted that this condition is increasing as obesity and older age at pregnancy become more frequent. Mothers with gestational diabetes are at higher risk for hypertension, preeclampsia, cesarean section and a 7 time increase risk of developing diabetes later in life. Their babies are at increased risk for macrosomia, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, birth trauma, shoulder dystocia and Erb's Palsy. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 137 conclude that the 2 Stage test should be used rather than the shorter 1 Stage test.


text:
In this article, I developed a brief overview of how athlete's should take care of their body's in order to achieve optimal performance. Obviously this isn't the PERFECT method, but my article Athlete Nutrition - 5 Things To Focus On is a definite method and approach that athletes should…Continue
Posted on April 10, 2015 at 9:00am
Hey guys, check out my latest artciel on Youth Sports Psycholody on STACK magazines internet weblink here:
Posted on November 3, 2012 at 10:42am
Hey guys, I've recently wrote an article on developing hamstring strength with these injury preventing hamstring exercises which can also add an increase of speed for your athletes. Here is the link for STACK.com check it out :
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 1:30pm — 2 Comments
Hey coaches, what's going on? Check it out, I am now an expert contributor for STACK magazine and am writing articles on a bunch of stuff! Even better news, once I get my artciles published I will be blogging them on strength performance network for you guys to look at.
So this one is another one of my articles. This is about 4 drills, that I've personally used with my atheltes, that are guaranteed 100% speed development in athletes for all ages. Check it out by clicking on the…Continue
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 7:04pm — 1 Comment
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