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Check BNN and Bulbanews for up-to-date Pokémon news and discuss it on the forums or in the Bulbagarden Discord server.
| Playing the Performance Encore!
First broadcast
English themes
Japanese themes
Playing the Performance Encore! (Japanese: ダブルバトル!VSプラスル・マイナン!! Double Battle! VS Prasle & Minun!!) is the 162nd episode of Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, and the 628th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on February 4, 2010 and in the United States on July 3, 2010.
|Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
After successfully making their way through the first round of the Daybreak Town Pokémon Contest, Dawn, Ursula, and Jessilina (a disguised Jessie) all face challenges in Round Two. Jessilina and Ursula are the first to face each other. Ursula and her Plusle and Minun make quick work of Jessilina and her Seviper and Yanmega. Soon, the other Coordinators and their Pokémon get eliminated, so it all boils down to the final round! Dawn, with her Cyndaquil and Mamoswine, face off against Ursula and her Plusle and Minun.
Suddenly, Ursula hits Cyndaquil and Mamoswine with the Encore attack, which allows Pokémon to use only their previous attack! Dawn's Pokémon are getting whipped, but Dawn thinks of a way out. She has her Pokémon attack each other, which sets them free from Encore. With mere seconds left on the clock, Dawn's Pokémon battle furiously...and win!
So, with Dawn's fifth Ribbon in hand, her attention focuses on the upcoming Grand Festival. A clearly bitter Ursula assures her she won't win there. But, in the meantime, it's Ash's upcoming battle at the Sunyshore Gym that's next on our heroes' schedule, as Ash shoots for his eighth Gym Badge!
Dawn and Ursula have made it past the Performance Stage and must now face each other in battle. But Ursula has a secret plan for Plusle and Minun. Will Dawn be able to defeat Ursula and win her fifth and final Contest Ribbon?
The Battle Stage of the Daybreak Contest starts with Jessilina using Seviper and Yanmega against Ursula's Plusle and Minun. Jessilina commands Seviper to use Haze and Yanmega to use SonicBoom. It creates a beautiful spinning move, taking a few points from Ursula's score. Plusle and Minun use a combined Spark to break it into a dazzling shower of sparkles, deducting more points from Jessilina's score. Yanmega lifts Seviper into the air. Plusle and Minun use Helping Hand to power up. Yanmega uses Silver Wind and Seviper charges with a Poison Tail. Silver Wind hits Seviper's tail, sending a twirl of poison beams at the Cheering Pokémon and deducting their points. To counter, they use a combined Spark attack powered by Helping Hand, creating an explosion followed by a shower of blue and green sparkles, leaving them vulnerable. Seviper is released while Plusle and Minun twirl into a tumbleweed-like formation using Spark, then at the last second they split, Plusle lunging towards Seviper while Minun launches in the air towards Yanmega. Two great balls of light appear with a popping sound. Both of Jessilina's Pokémon fall, unable to battle, and Ursula wins the match.
The episode shows many Pokémon battling, and shows part of a battle between Dawn with Mamoswine and Cyndaquil against an unnamed Coordinator with a Mightyena and a Houndoom. Cyndaquil uses Flame Wheel and Mamoswine uses Ice Shard, pulling off the first stage of flame ice. However, the ice melts halfway through, shocking Dawn and Mamoswine. Cyndaquil collides with the Dark and Bite Pokémon, creating a fire explosion. Dawn wins and moves on in the competition, but she is still disappointed that her attempt at Flame Ice was unsuccessful. She is then shown practicing the move, but--once again--the ice melts too early. Ash tries to comfort her by telling her that it looked great, but Brock suggests that she try a more reliable move. Ursula is shown hiding behind a door, grinning smugly, then walking away. Later, both Dawn and Ursula are shown winning their matches, putting them in the finals together. In the hair dressing room, they argue, Ursula pulling the Dee Dee card. Piplup looks from side to side as they argue. Ursula leaves as Dawn says to herself, "Calm down. No need to worry."
Dawn sends out Mamoswine and Cyndaquil, the Ele-Seals on their Ball Capsules creating a torrent of lightning bolts, then Cyndaquil falls playfully on Mamoswine's tusks, beautifully blasting fire. Ursula sends out Plusle and Minun, surrounded by petals created by Flora Seals. At first, no one could see her Pokémon, but then the petals scattered, revealing Plusle and Minun. When they landed, they touched their tails together, creating sparks everywhere. Johanna and her Glameow are then seen watching TV. Johanna says, "Of all the Pokémon Dawn could face, it had to be those two in the finals," referring to the Diamond-Dandruff incident that earned Dawn her nickname "Dee Dee". Dawn commands Mamoswine to use Ice Shard, which it then eats, like Ash's Grotle did with its Energy Ball. Cyndaquil uses Swift to surround Mamoswine, then lands on the ice spike, blasting fire. They charge, and Mamoswine uses Take Down. Plusle and Minun jump up to dodge, and subsequently use Encore, losing Dawn points. Mamoswine and Cyndaquil then glow a dulled color.
Dawn commands Mamoswine to use Hidden Power and Cyndaquil to use Flame Wheel, but instead they use Take Down and Swift because of Encore, as Ursula explains. Plusle and Minun use Helping Hand and then Charge Beam, hitting them Dawn's Pokémon and taking away more points from her. Jessie became "officially impressed." Then the Cheering Pokémon use Spark, deducting more points. They try to dodge, but go back to their regular attacks. Both sparks make contact. They then repeat it, making Dawn lose more points. Dawn, Mamoswine, and Cyndaquil's hair light up. Dawn becomes very scared of everyone seeing her like that, when Mamoswine and Cyndaquil look up at her, their hair dying down. She then realizes that they can still move.
She stands up and straightens her hair. Dawn commands, to everyone's shock, for Cyndaquil and Mamoswine to attack each other. She says to trust her, but she loses more points. Encore wears off, but by then there are only 30 seconds left. Plusle and Minun use Charge Beam, and they dodge by jumping in the air. Then, Dawn pulls off Flame Ice perfectly, deducting points from Ursula. Cyndaquil shoots fire and launches itself forward, managing to separate Plusle and Minun. They get back together and use Spark, but Cyndaquil uses SmokeScreen to break their combination. Mamoswine uses Hidden Power on knocking it backward, while Cyndaquil uses Swift on Minun. The Cheering Pokémon start to charge up for a double Spark, but time runs out. Dawn then wins the Daybreak Contest. Dawn receives the Daybreak Ribbon, qualifying her for the Grand Festival.
Major events
- Jessilina is knocked out of the Daybreak Town Pokémon Contest by Ursula.
- Dawn's Cyndaquil is entered in a Pokémon Contest for the first time.
- Dawn's Cyndaquil and Mamoswine perfect the Flame Ice combo.
- Dawn defeats Ursula in the final round and wins the Daybreak Contest.
- Dawn earns her fifth Ribbon, the Daybreak Ribbon, completing her requirement for entry into the Sinnoh Grand Festival.
- Dawn overcomes her fear of Plusle and Minun, and is no longer annoyed with being called Dee Dee (Japanese: ピカリ Pikari).
- For a list of all major events in the anime, please see the timeline of events.
Pokémon debuts
- Ash
- Dawn
- Brock
- Jessie
- James
- Nurse Joy
- Ursula
- Johanna
- Marian
- Mr. Contesta
- Mr. Sukizo
- Coordinators
- Audience
- Pikachu (Ash's)
- Meowth (Team Rocket)
- Piplup (Dawn's)
- Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
- Mamoswine (Dawn's)
- Cyndaquil (Dawn's)
- Seviper (Jessie's)
- Yanmega (Jessie's)
- Plusle (Ursula's)
- Minun (Ursula's)
- Glameow (Johanna's)
- Shroomish (Coordinator's)
- Weavile (Coordinator's)
- Lickilicky (Coordinator's)
- Ivysaur (Coordinator's)
- Togetic (Coordinator's)
- Slakoth (Coordinator's)
- Magcargo (Coordinator's)
- Stantler (Coordinator's)
- Mightyena (Coordinator's)
- Houndoom (Coordinator's)
- Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Examination: Unown
- This episode marks the first time that the main Coordinator of the anime won her fifth Ribbon in a Pokémon Contest that isn't the last one to be held before the start of the Grand Festival.
- This episode marks the only appearance of a Togetic in the anime other than the one that belonged to Misty.
- This episode is similar to Another One Gabites the Dust!, where:
- Music from Pokémon Heroes, Destiny Deoxys, Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, and The Rise of Darkrai are played in this episode. By Your Side ~Hikari's Theme~ was also used as background music as the battle between Dawn and Ursula was about to end.
- This episode first aired in both Japan and the United States only a week shy of a year since the episode in which Dawn obtained her last Ribbon and in which Ursula herself debuted.
- This episode marks Cyndaquil's first Contest, and, coincidentally, it aired in Japan in the same week that An Egg Scramble!, the episode when Cyndaquil was obtained, aired in America.
- While Dawn is watching Ursula's battle against Jessilina, a male Coordinator next to her wears the same clothing that Giovanni is seen wearing prior to Pokémon the Series: Black & White: an orange tuxedo and a light tan shirt under. The only difference is that the Coordinator is wearing a differently colored tie.
- This episode is similar to A Cacturne for the Worse in that both episodes feature the main Coordinator's unfriendly rival taking advantage of a childhood story to embarrass her in the middle of a Contest Battle. Both stories earned the character her nickname, though May received hers from Harley as a result of the story, whereas Dawn had had hers since childhood.
- Team Rocket doesn't blast off or recite their motto in this episode.
- At the time this episode aired, Togetic was hit by Shadow Ball despite being part Normal-type. As of Generation VI, this is no longer an error for Togetic's Normal-type was changed to Fairy-type, thus making Togetic no longer immune to Ghost-type moves.
- In the scene right before Ursula and Jessie start battling, half of Yanmega's eyes are missing.
- Mamoswine was hit by Spark and Charge Beam despite being part Ground-type.
- Marian says that "Flamethrower makes the Ice Shard glow with a striking crimson", though Dawn's Cyndaquil actually used Flame Wheel.
- Cyndaquil's Smokescreen appeared to cause damage when it should only lower the target's accuracy.
- However, it could be that because Plusle and Minun could not see each other, their combination failed and they fell to the ground, therefore taking damage.
- Before the Flame Ice occurs, Mamoswine's blue mask is a lighter blue than usual.
- Near the end of the episode, Pikachu's eyes are completely white.
Dub edits
- The version of this episode that aired in North America and was released on home video leaves all of the original music intact, with the exception of the title card. The version that aired in the United Kingdom, as well as foreign language dubs, replaces most of the music with new music created by The Pokémon Company International.
In other languages
|Mandarin Chinese
|Een performance met een toegift!
|Ja ei kun uudestaan!
|Ein Harter Brocken Arbeit...!
|Pertarungan Ganda! Melawan Plusle dan Minun!!
|L'esibizione si ripete!
|Seier i siste sekund!
|Wielki Bis!
|Brincando de Marcar Pontos!
|Outra Vez o Encore
|Latin America
|¡Repitiendo la Presentación!
|¡En escena Otra Vez!
|Spela föreställningens extranummer!
|This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.
- Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl episodes
- Episodes written by Atsuhiro Tomioka
- Episodes storyboarded and directed by Yūji Asada
- Episodes storyboarded by Yūji Asada
- Episodes directed by Yūji Asada
- Episodes animated by Masaaki Iwane
- Episodes with Contests
- Episodes focusing on Dawn
- Episodes focusing on Jessie
- Episodes in which Dawn gets a Ribbon
- Episodes in which Jessie loses a Contest


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Headstone Designs
Experienced craftsmen can add a special design on to your loved one's headstone. On this page you can get an idea of the designs that can be engraved on to memorials.
Alternatively, if you would like to choose a unique image that expresses something about your loved one's personality, then do not hesitate to ask us, as we can add almost any design.
The Animal Collection
If your loved one was a a dog or cat lover, we can find an image to illustrate this.
The Sport Collection
We can add an image of your loved one's favourite sporting passion.
The Cross Collection
If you are looking for a classic cross to embellish your loved one's headstone, then we have these simple designs for you to choose from.
The Floral Collection
For nature lovers, or just to add a touch of elegant beauty, we have several floral designs.
Musical instruments
For music lovers, adding the instrument that they played is a nice way to pay tribute to their talent.
The Logo Collection
If your loved one worked for a particular organisation, such as the RAF or The Salvation Army, and you would like this to be illustrated on their headstone we can organise this for you.
The Religious Collection
We have a selection of images for those looking for a more traditional, religious design.
Here to help
If you have any further queries in relation to your order please do not hesitate to contact our Memorial Support Team.
Call: 0800 088 4854
Or contact us
Request a brochure or book a home appointment
We can send a brochure to your home or you can arrange a home visit with one of our Funeral Plan advisors.Request a brochure or home visit now

subset: commoncrawl


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A urinary tract infection is a general term for an infection anywhere between the kidneys and the urethra (where urine comes out). Most urinary tract infections are bladder infections. They often cause pain or burning when you urinate.
They're caused by bacteria and can be cured with antibiotics.
Last Revised:
October 9, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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Obstetric Fistula Bill Responds to a Moral Challenge
In response to Representative Rosa DeLauro's (D-CT) introduction of the United States Leadership to Eradicate Obstetric Fistula Act of 2012 and in light of the crisis that obstetric fistula poses across Asia and Africa, Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
I could not commend highly enough Representative Rosa DeLauro for introducing legislation that would allow the U.S. to invest in proven methods to correct obstetric fistulas in Sub-Saharan Africa, and I call on Congress to offer bipartisan support and swiftly pass this legislation. This legislation can eliminate in a decade the scourge of obstetric fistulas through a network of clinics and teams of U.S. and African doctors, social workers and midwives. And it can do it at the cost of $10 million per year. Think of it: a million women in Sub-Saharan Africa whose lives would be transformed for the better.More than two million women and girls in Africa and Asia are plagued by a condition that will physically and emotionally brand them for the rest of their lives. Women who suffer from obstetric fistulas after childbirth face a lifetime of symptoms that include leaking urine and feces, which too often causes them to be completely ostracized by their communities. This ostracism frequently leads to divorce, and financial and social abandonment, and these women are often forced to turn to begging or prostitution to survive. As heirs to a great moral tradition, we bear no obligation more solemn than the commandment that we shall not stand idly by the blood of our neighbors (Leviticus 19:16), regardless of whether these neighbors are physically close or are suffering across the world. In our own Jewish tradition, when we recite the prayer to heal those who are ill, we ask for "refu'at hanefesh u'refu'at ha-guf" - the healing of the soul and the healing of the body. Repairing a fistula would certainly heal a woman's body and soul. What's more, by simply offering the opportunity to heal these women, we increase their stature in their society. We strengthen these women, who in turn have the opportunity to strengthen their own mothers, sisters and daughters. We know that the campaign to eliminate obstetric fistulas enjoys widespread support on both sides of Congress, across a wide spectrum of women's rights, religious, and medical communities. Now we need Bipartisan support to pass this groundbreaking bill by the end of this session of Congress.
Photo courtesy of RH Reality Check


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Zoombinis Need Children's Thinking Skills!
May 26, 2016 by Art Willer #Zoombinis problem-solving logical thinking0
The hard-working, peace-loving Zoombinis have had their homeland over-run by bloats!
So the Zoombinis have recently sheltered at Bytes of Learning, awaiting children to guide them to a new homeland.
What makes the cliffs sneeze?
What does the pizza-bloat really like today?
How do the bloats decide which mountain pass is blocked?
All these questions have the Zoombinis at their wits end, and they need your children's help!
Zoombinis are the creation of the Technology in Education Research Center (TERC). The software is available through Bytes of Learning because it provides wholesome fun, and it helps children hone their logical thinking skills. Great for team play too!
Zoombinis software licenses start at $25 per station with a 5-game storage capability.
Watch the Zoombinis story at: Introducing the Zoombinis
Purchase at: Zoombinis Details and Licenses


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Once we get a new technology, the cycle of renewal and replacement moves pretty quickly. Today, though, we want to know about your very first computer.
Was it a desktop or a laptop? Shared or personal? PC or Mac? Tell us in the comments (with pictures, too, please!) all about your first computer, what made you get it, what kinds of features it had, and what made you finally got rid of it.
Image: Macintosh factory in 1984, joshcUK.


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X Hot's adjustable Speed Frame Face allows you to set the face angle in an Open, Square or Closed position to fine tune the trajectory and appearance you're looking for at address.
Ultra Thin Wall Casting
Callaway has used their thinnest casting technology ever to create a lighter club configuration and an optimized CG that's designed to help you rip it off the tee.
Speed Frame Face
The Speed Frame Face creates incredibly fast ball speeds all across the face for longer, more consistent distance. This technology helps optimize the CG, offers more forgiveness, and is designed to provide more consistent sidespin for accurate drives.


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Scrappy's Grapefruit Bitters, 5 oz
- 5 oz. Capacity (147ml)
- Hand crafted
- Fresh organic grapefruit
- 44% alcohol by volume
The natural bitterness of grapefruit zest mingled with gentian. You'll find an endless variety of uses for this age-old flavor, now with a modern twist. A unique grapefruit bitter to bring to life many great cocktail creations, something a bit different than your basic "aromatic" bitter.
Alcohol, distilled water, fresh organic grapefruit peel, organic herbs and spices


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Been very happy with this bit of kit. I tend to roast two lots of 14oz when it comes out of its cupboard and see if we can make them last 10 days. I don't think I could get used to roasting coffee more frequently.
But the motor is starting to complain and the seals around the door are giving up after 10 years of mistreatment.
Now retired so the days of unlimited coffee equipment budgets are behind me. There are a lot of new roasters from the far east in the results of Google searches. Are any of them any good? I'll have to replace it with something. I'm not going back.


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We have received a final sample of the 2014 Man Of Action Accessory Set and Reproduction Box. This add-on will be sold separately through the GIJCC store and contain the following items:
- G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary: Man Of Action Box
- Green Uniform (Shirt with AT logo & Pants)
- Green Cap
- Special GOLD Dog Tag
- Pair of Black Shoes


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I hope you had a very merry Christmas yesterday (if that's what you celebrate). We had a great time at our house and my kids received an avalanche of Lego toys and books that kept them entertained for the whole day.
As for me, I received several presents and I quickly noticed a pattern regarding several gifts. I saw cows. Lots of cows. In various shapes, sizes and colors. So I thought I'd share, because if you know someone who likes cows (or simply blogs about cows), these are some cool and fun presents.
I'll start with the cow headband.
This cow headband was a gift from my sister. First the kids said it looked silly when I unwrapped it. Then they said I looked ridiculous when I put it on. However, the minute I put it down (after wearing it for a couple of hours), one of my kids snatched it and put it on his head. And so the headband went from one head to another for the whole day.
This cow headband goes very well with the other cow gifts, but you'll have to wait for the next posts to find out what they are. Can you guess? I'll give you a few clues: there are three more cow gifts waiting to be showcased, and like this gift, they all can be worn.


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A 17-year-old football star has been sentenced to 60 days in jail in the body-slamming of a security officer in his Detroit high school.
DETROIT (AP) ? A 17-year-old football star was sentenced Friday to 60 days in jail in the body-slamming of a security officer in his Detroit high school.
Jayru Campbell read a letter of apology written to the guard during a hearing in Wayne County Circuit Court. The guard didn't attend the sentencing.
"It was not my intention to cause you pain," Campbell said in court.
Campbell's jail time is to start July 28, after he finishes summer school, with credit for three days already spent in jail. He also will serve 15 months of probation and do 75 hours of community service.
"Lack of self-control cannot be sanctioned no matter who you are," said Judge Timothy Kenny.
The Cass Technical High School junior pleaded guilty earlier this month to misdemeanor aggravated assault in a deal that could leave him with a clean record. His record could be expunged if he meets certain terms, such as attending anger management classes and getting counseling.
Campbell admitted he slammed the officer head-first on Jan. 22 after refusing to pull a hood off his head. The confrontation was recorded on video.
Campbell led Cass Tech to state championships in 2011 and 2012. He has said he wants to play football at Michigan State in 2015.


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|College Football
|4:00 PM PT5:00 PM MT6:00 PM CT7:00 PM ET11:00 PM GMT7:00 AM 北京时间4:00 PM MST6:00 PM EST, Oct. 13, 2018
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Attendance: 101,821
Missouri will look to keep up with high-scoring No. 1 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It has every indication of becoming a shootout, although not only in the way that most fans will expect.
When No. 1 Alabama hosts Missouri on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN), all eyes will obviously be on the quarterbacks, and with good reason.
Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa has been insanely good thus far, and leads the nation in passer rating by a wide margin. The Crimson Tide actually averages better than a point scored for every snap he's taken.
However, Drew Lock, named All-SEC last season, has 10,182 passing yards and 82 touchdowns for his career. He's in sixth place on the league's all-time list and needs six to tie Florida's Tim Tebow (2006-09) and Chris Leak (2003-06) at 88.
He definitely has the Crimson Tide's attention.
"He's the real deal," Alabama nose tackle Quinnen Williams said." He's good.
"He can pinpoint. He can get it out there quick, fast. He knows where his looks are at. He's a veteran on that offense. He really runs that offense."
Through five games, Lock is second in the league in passing, averaging 297.4 yards per game, with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. However, his passer efficiency rating doesn't rank in the top 10.
Part of that has to do with his receiving corps being decimated by injuries. All four of his top threats, including Nate Brown (groin), Emanuel Hall (groin) and Richaud Floyd (leg fracture), have all had setbacks.
Hall, who has 18 catches for 430 yards and three touchdowns, isn't expected to play against Alabama, but Brown and Floyd could return.
Meanwhile, Alabama junior cornerback Trevin Diggs is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured foot at Arkansas. The Crimson Tide will re-insert junior-college transfer Saivion Smith into his spot, with true freshman Patrick Surtain II at the other corner.
"They have a prolific offense," junior safety Deionte Thompson said. "Drew Lock is hands down one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, if not the best. The way that he can get the ball out of his hands is very fast. The way they move, they average a play every six seconds after the ball is snapped. They average the most plays in college football. It's going to be a fast-paced game."
Meanwhile, Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) has been able to score faster than any team in the nation, with 15 touchdown drives in under a minute and seven in less than 30 seconds.
Missouri (3-2, 0-2) is 13th in the conference in pass defense, having yielded 284.8 yards per game, and nationally 105th in pass-efficiency defense.
"They're the best team in college football," Missouri coach Barry Odom said. "You watch and you study, you evaluate and you game plan. They don't have weaknesses. They play extremely hard, they play extremely well, and they're coached to that level. Also, they have really good players."
But the more interesting matchup may be on the ground.
Mizzou rushed for a season-high 286 yards and had three rushing touchdowns last week at South Carolina, and the previous week scored four on the ground against Georgia. The Bulldogs have yielded just five all season.
In its last two games, Alabama's defense allowed 200 rushing yards to Louisiana and 172 at Arkansas. The Crimson Tide believes it's close to posting better run-stopping numbers, and has allowed only three rushing touchdowns.
"They can run the ball, they can score it," Williams said. "I think they had four rushing touchdowns on Georgia. And I think right now, Georgia has the No. 1 defense in the SEC run stop-wise. So, we've got to really get ourselves together."
Led by senior running back Damien Harris, Alabama ran for 246 yards and four touchdowns at Arkansas last week. Going into the game, the Razorbacks were similar statistically to Missouri against the run (105.8 yards allowed vs. 102.2).
The Crimson Tide also has depth at the position with Josh Jacobs and Najee Harris regularly rotating in.
"Their runners they run like it's fourth-and-1 and the national championship is on the line every time they carry the ball," Odom said.
Alabama has scored at least 45 points against every opponent and has twice topped 60. The closest score was 45-23 against No. 22 Texas A&M.
Missouri is coming off back-to-back losses to No. 2 Georgia and at South Carolina, although both games were close. Even though the latter was played in a thunderstorm and delayed twice by lightning, the Tigers still managed to score 35 points.
Although Alabama and Missouri have played five times dating back to the 1968 Gator Bowl, and twice since the Tigers joined the SEC, this will be their first trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Updated October 9, 2018


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Martyk is a handsome fish.
This dolphin is delicious.
<Sgore> Martyk, mentally I always picture you as like, our forums bartender.<Neoadept> I've always pictured you trapped in a tuna net
No capitalization......Crazen!
Who are you again and why in the world would you expect anything resembling rationality or civility in youtube comments?
Taven didn't leave a will, he went AWOL.
You should've waited for opera before you posted.
Wait... what? This is obviously before my time.
The best person ever. She should have won the Peace Prize.
What? No full control over children? You do realize that some of us have particular plans for those children.
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Posted: Oct 26, 2010
Skyline Releases Men's Soccer Report #8
- Lang named to Honor Roll -
Clifton Park, N.Y. - The Skyline Conference released the eighth men's soccer report for the 2010 season on Monday afternoon, including Player of the Week, Rookie of the Week, Honor Roll and Conference statistics.
Junior midfielder Ryan Lang (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) was named to the Skyline Conference Player of the Week Honor Roll. Lang scored game-winning goals in the Rams' wins over Old Westbury and Mount Saint Vincent leading Farmingdale State to a 2-0 week.
To view the full report, click HERE.


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Q: Money is extremely tight this holiday season and I just don't have the urge to run out and buy unnecessary stuff. How do I maintain a festive season without bringing everyone else down?
A: It's hard to get friends and relatives out of the habit of expecting stuff wrapped in bows, ribbons and all the other holiday accoutrements. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.
A friend who has been hit particularly hard by the recession shared a similar question on Facebook. Gift ideas ranged from the quirky to the sentimental, and all make a much smaller impact on the environment than electronics or other big-box eye candy. Here are a few favorites that make a big impression without making a big impact on the planet:
Say it with food: Find an easy sugar cookie recipe (here's one from allrecipes.com), gather the kids around your kitchen table and have fun creating festive snowmen, snowflakes and other goodies decorated with inexpensive jellybeans or chocolate chips. Line aluminum tins with wax paper, add a bow and you have simply irresistible homemade gifts for teachers, friends or holiday hosts. Your kids will remember that time together long after the cookies are gone. If you don't have the baking gene, buy a bunch of Ball jars and layer dry ingredients, then attach the recipe with a festive bow. Yummy Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. The recipe calls for espresso coffee powder, which kicks the flavor up a notch.
Capture a few tunes: Whether you opt for holiday-themed music (I love "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch") or songs that capture the highs and lows of 2009, customized playlists make fun, frugal and unique gifts. A stack of 50 recordable CDs costs less than $15 at most office supply stores. I found a link to download free holiday-themed labels from the Avery office products Web site. You also could create your own unique label for each gift.
Create a family keepsake: Gather your child's report cards, school awards and other memories from those desk drawers and start a scrapbook. Arts and crafts stores carry plenty of options that work for guys and girls of all ages. Add postcards from summer vacations, that first tooth and other special moments. Over time, these gems can become cherished memories — at the very least, you have recycled all that clutter into something fabulous.
A picture is worth a thousand gifts: Thanks to my newborn nephew, I've become quite the shutterbug. One photo that I converted to black and white has become an instant family favorite. I plan to have a few copies enlarged for relatives and place them in simple pre-matted frames from IKEA. I like the solid birch FJÄLLSTA line, but there are plenty of other options. If there's no new baby in your life, try enlarging and framing interesting photos from a family vacation. Remember, it's about the memory, not the stuff.
Write a personal message: Nothing says, "I love you," like a handwritten letter to your sweetie. Unlike a text, tweet, e-mail or voice message, handwritten letters stand the test of time. Invest in high-grade recycled stationery, find a quiet spot and write heartfelt messages to those you love. Remind them of a cherished memory or share hopes for the future. Just start writing and you will end up with a gift your family will appreciate. A chic and simple line from AmericanStationery.com uses chlorine-free, 100 percent post-consumer fibers.
Write a book: If your family has plenty of great chefs, consider committing those favorite dishes to paper. Collect recipes from each family — it could be a kicked-up grilled cheese sandwich or Grandma's 7-Up pound cake. Newlyweds and college grads will appreciate this slice of home. The final product could be as simple as handwritten recipes on craft paper to an actual cookbook, complete with photos, using an online publishing company like Lulu.com. You also could set up a free blog on Wordpress and invite family members to upload photos, videos and even recipe updates. (Not that anyone can improve Grandma's pound cake.)
Chart your family tree: I grew up around aunts who loved to ask guests about their distant relatives. If they chatted long enough, my aunts usually unearthed a long-lost relative, even if it was a fourth cousin, once removed. Cherish that time with your elders and use it wisely. Chart your family tree, and share the information with your family. You may be amazed at whom you find!
Photo: tiburonstudios/iStockphoto


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Festivities and fire
Every year, thousands of people travel to South Africa to attend the Afrikaburn festival and to dance, dream and search for meaning in the Tankwa Karoo desert – our author joined them.
The sparks glitter like gold dust among the stars above the South African desert. Standing next to hundreds of other spectators, I look up, dumb with amazement, because I have never seen such a big fire. Flames shoot 25 meters up to lick the pitch-black sky. A peculiar silence descends all around us, and the cracking and snapping and popping of burning wood is all that I can hear. Not far away, I see a man in a long coat holding a pitchfork and a kind of shepherd's staff. In the light of the fire, he looks like a sorcerer from a bygone age.
There's something surreal about the entire scene, but at the same time I feel safer and more protected than I have felt in a long time. Slowly, a charred wooden structure reminiscent of a giant bird's nest appears among the flames. "Isn't that amazing?" my neighbor whispers, handing me a hip flask. I nod and take a sip of whiskey.
It's the end of April, which means the end of summer in the southern hemisphere. Everyone around me has come to attend Afrikaburn, a week-long spectacle that takes place in one of South Africa's most inhospitable regions. The Tankwa Karoo is a semi-desert populated by jackals, scorpions and venomous puff adders. During the day, the temperatures climb to 40 degrees Celsius. At night, they can easily drop below zero. But year after year, more and more people from Cape Town have begun to attend, although the city is roughly 300 kilometers away. They even come from as far away as Durban, Johannesburg, Europe and the United States. This year, 13 000 people have come together in the desert, including me.
What does it all mean? That depends on who you ask. I meet people who are searching, but also those who would like nothing more than to forget. Some are looking for answers to the big questions of life, others just want to dance the night away, and the following day, and the next night. There are also people here who come to help others day after day – frying pancakes, cleaning toilets – in exchange for nothing more than a couple of meals. And there are those who prefer to keep to themselves, like the small group of white farmers who lounge, legs splayed, in camping chairs, enjoying a braai or barbecue with lots of meat: men who like to drink and look up at the stars without saying a word. Others come for a sexual adventure they would never dare to risk at home – or just to walk around naked for a couple of days.
For a few days each year, the desert becomes a catwalk, a playground, a giant dance floor
"Tankwa Town" is what they call the city they rebuild in the desert year after year, just to tear it down a few days later – a community that doesn't officially exist. But if you zoom in on the coordinates 32°19'36.6''S 19°44'53.2''E in Google Maps, you will find the camp that spreads out like a crescent around the Binnekring, the central festival arena. For a few days each year, this half of a square kilometer of desert becomes a catwalk, a playground, a dance floor. Disco music plays in one part of the Binnekring, jazz piano tinkles in another, but what you hear most often are electro beats. It's like Berlin's Berghain club in the middle of nowhere.
This bone-dry swathe of land is the perfect spot for a one-person social experiment: seven days without money, without WiFi or cell reception. There's no garbage disposal, no catering, no organized entertainment here. Instead, anyone can offer anything for sale: cookies, liquor, pumpkin stew. Some people perform music, others exhibit their art or lay tarot cards. One of the rules at Afrikaburn is that everyone contributes something to the festival's success – a Utopian exercise in individual responsibility underpinned by warmth. "Gimme a hug!" are words I heard here much more often than anywhere else. There's no such thing as urban reserve in the desert.
A man rides by on a bicycle and calls out "Happy Thursday" as he salutes me with his umbrella. Two others, dressed as giraffes, file past – led by an elfin creature in a silvery bomber jacket and bikini bottom. A man in a white tutu sits on a red sofa while another, got up as a garden gnome, hands him a glass of champagne. I sit in the shade of a giant cupcake and watch a velvety pink hippo roll past. I quickly snap a picture for my partner back in Europe. I want to describe the heat and the hazy, dusty light, and tell him that I feel as though I have wandered into Tim Burton's interpretation of Woodstock. But perhaps it's good that I have no reception. What if he's in a meeting or poking around in his cafeteria meal right now? How could I possibly explain what it's like here?
Wooden sculptures as tall a houses are positioned here and there around the Binnekring. You can duck inside them or climb on top, and some even serve as a stage for the odd DJ. There's even a Ferris wheel made entirely of wood. In the course of the week, nearly all of these objects will be burned. The fires fascinate me, they remind me of the humility shown by Tibetan monks, who spend hours creating delicate mandalas with colored sand, only to destroy them as soon as they have finished. But I also think: What a waste of good materials! Enormous amounts of perfectly good timber that must have cost hundreds of thousands, just going up in smoke. Is that really necessary, in a country where millions of people still live below the poverty line?
Looking around, I see mostly young white people here. They earn a living in game development and advertising, as scientists and scriptwriters. In some of their eyes, I see hugely dilated pupils, in others, just pinpricks. Drugs are illegal in South Africa, of course, but they are just as much a part of the party scene here as elsewhere. Is this perhaps not a social experiment at all but an opportunity for a bunch of rich kids to really let it rip?
There it goes again, that walkie-talkie chatter. Monique Schiess, who is one of the organizers, never puts it down. The large sculpture that is scheduled to burn tonight has not yet been completed, so the schedule needs adjusting and security has to be informed. Afrikaburn is a full-time job for Schiess. Dressed in black leggings and flip-flops, the 45-year-old with the amorous eyes sits in a bus that broke down here years ago. Somebody put in some astroturf and installed wooden benches, and now it's the main festival office. Schiess started the festival along with five partners or rather, they brought it to South Africa from the other end of the world. After all, in the U.S. state of Nevada, people have been celebrating and making fires in the Black Rock Desert for nearly thirty years.
In June, 1986, on midsummer night, 20 friends burned a wooden statue two and a half meters tall on Baker Beach in San Francisco. The ritual became a tradition, the statues got taller, and more and more people began attending the event until it was declared illegal and the party people – 800 of them by that time – moved across the border to Nevada in 1990. In the following years, Burning Man became a magnet for new-age hippies and others searching for meaning, and ultimately even drew global players from the California tech industry. To them, the desert – a gigantic, seemingly empty space – was a perfect allegory for the Internet, that autonomous, unregulated place where ideas could flourish and everyone was free to do their own thing. The spectacle became a place where the visionaries and billionaires of Silicon Valley yearned to be. Rumor has it that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg flew in by helicopter to pass out grilled cheese sandwiches and Google boss Larry Page was allegedly spotted wandering around in a silver onesie. Apparently, he and his partner, Sergey Brin, originally hired Eric Schmidt as chairman because he used to be a "Burner." And Tesla boss Elon Musk has been quoted as saying, "You'll never understand Silicon Valley if you've never been to Burning Man."
Some 70 000 people now gather every year in the Nevada desert. Monique Schiess went there for the first time in 2004. When she got home, she decided to start Burning Man in South Africa. Three years later, she and her partners put on their own festival in the Tankwa Karoo.
I'm enveloped by heat, dust and quivering air. It is early afternoon as I walk across the Binnekring. Insistent beats pound from a ghetto blaster the size of a shipping container. An enormous, gleaming, green-and-purple snail rattles past on unseen wheels. I stop at a chocolate fountain to watch a girl of about 10 dip marshmallows. Eventually, I find myself in conversation with a woman who tells me that her husband passed away two years previously. "For the first time in a long time I feel re-energized," she says, disappearing again as quickly as she came, saying that she wants to go to the runway where newcomers are arriving in their Cessnas.
Can a few days in the desert really change you, I wonder? I decide to ask Monique Schiess, whom I run into at the bonfire. "Absolutely," she says, gazing into the flames. "The people who come here learn to re-engage, push through some stuff and experience what it means to create something new together." Many people who have attended Afrikaburn meet up again in Cape Town, she says, where they start urban gardens and become politically or socially involved in their neighborhoods. "They return to where they live with a whole new sense of ownership."
The fire has collapsed into a glimmering heap. My legs are stiff from sitting on the hard ground. Leaving the camp behind, I walk away into the desert, head farther and farther out into the darkness. Just before the sun rises, it sends out pale fingers of color – light blue and dirty yellow. Then the clouds begin to glow. Another day will soon be here.
Burn schedule
1) Kiwiburn, New Zealand (24. bis 29. January)
2) Fuego Austral, Argentina (28. März bis 2.April)
3) Afrikaburn, South Africa (23. bis 29. April)
4) Midburn, Israel (14. bis 19. May)
5) Nowhere, Spain (3. bis 8. July)
6) Burning Man, USA (26. August bis 3. September)
Lufthansa flies five times weekly from Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) to Cape Town (CPT). Check meilenrechner.de to see how many miles you can earn.


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From Conservapedia
Tolerance of opposing ideas means that we're not afraid of describing ideas we don't believe in. If you'll follow our editorial guidelines, then there's no idea off limits. Just write an article which explains what the idea is, who believes in it, and the reasons they give for it.
This is official Conservapedia policy


text: Tamera Mowry-Housley has given birth to her first child, a son, in Los Angeles, the TV star's publicist said Tuesday. Aden John Tanner Housley was born Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, nearly two weeks after his Oct. 30 due date, People.com reported. The "Tia & Tamera" star married FOX News correspondent Adam Housley in May 2011. "On behalf of the Style family, we congratulate Tamera and Adam on the arrival of Aden John Tanner Housley," Style Network, which airs Mowry-Housley's reality show, said in a statement Tuesday. "Along with fans at home, we have followed their first year of marriage -- from their beautiful wedding last May to this journey to bring their first child into the world. Now, a wonderful, new chapter begins for Tamera and Adam."


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Printed as hard-copy reference material for someone unwilling to read 14 college football schedules on his cell phone, the composite for the SEC begged for a comparison by division.
Previously, the composite schedule referenced before media guides were published was alphabetical — Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, etc. The one in hand groups the seven schools in the Eastern Division and the seven in the West.
Arkansas' late August game at Auburn is the most difficult SEC opener during the first two weeks of the 2014 season, but the schedule makers cut the Razorbacks some slack when conference play is in full swing. For example, Arkansas and Mississippi State are the only teams in the division that do not play four conference games in a row. Even then, the Razorbacks have an easier road than the Bulldogs. Arkansas' only three-game stretch vs. SEC opponents follows an open date and is at the end of the season against LSU, Ole Miss and Missouri. Mississippi State's only break in a six-week stretch is a nonconference game against Tennessee-Martin.
Part of a new emphasis to provide television with more conference games early in the season, Arkansas is at Auburn on Aug. 30, two days after Texas A&M journeys to South Carolina. The darling of the 2013 season, Auburn will be one of the preseason favorites in the SEC with Nick Marshall returning at quarterback, Rimington Trophy finalist Reese Dismukes snapping the ball, and Gus Malzahn calling plays.
Running back Tre Mason declared early for the NFL draft, but we might find out that his rip-roaring season was made possible by Malzahn's system. Besides, the Tigers have two guys who topped 600 yards each in 2013 and a five-star back who is supposed to be firmly committed.
Ole Miss is at Vanderbilt on the second weekend and there are two more SEC games the following week. Only Missouri and Tennessee wait until the fifth playing date to begin conference play. Missouri pays the price for its late start in league play with only conference games and two open dates after Sept. 20. During the same period, Tennessee has one open date and one non-conference game.
Arkansas is first up on Texas A&M's string of four straight SEC games and No. 2 on Alabama's schedule of four in a row, but the Razorbacks do have an extra week to prepare for the Crimson Tide. For those who believe Alabama is at a disadvantage on the road, the trip to Fayetteville is one of three away games in four weeks. Even without A.J. McCarron and others, I'd take the Crimson Tide to go 4-0 vs. the Rebels, the Razorbacks, the Aggies, and the Vols.
Ole Miss is the only West team with five consecutive league games and Kentucky is in that unenviable spot in the East. In fact, the Wildcats are the only team in the league that plays seven conference games in eight weeks.
Based on 2013 records and ignoring player personnel changes, there is a case to be made that A&M has the most difficult conference schedule in the West. In addition to division opponents, the Aggies play South Carolina and Missouri, a combined 23-4 last year.
Arkansas and Auburn tie for second although the Tigers are better equipped to handle the assignment than the Razorbacks. Arkansas has Missouri and Georgia, a combined 20-7. Auburn's Eastern Division opponents are South Carolina and Georgia, also 20-7.
A snapshot of others in the West:
Alabama — Florida and Tennessee, 9-15.
LSU — Florida and Kentucky, 6-18.
Mississippi State — Kentucky and Vanderbilt, 11-14.
Ole Miss — Vanderbilt and Tennessee, 14-11.
In the East, Florida, where Will Muschamp is on the hot seat, has Alabama and LSU, 21-5, and South Carolina has A&M and Auburn, 21-6.
Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. Email: arkansasnews.com" data-mce-href="mailto:hkingarkansasnews.com">email@example.com.


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Plans to run for city council instead
Five days after putting in his bid for the mayor of Kinston, Adrien Meadows changed his mind and withdrew his name.
On Monday, Meadows went to the Board of Elections and took himself out of the running for mayor. Currently, Ralph Clark and John Marks are the candidates for the position, which will be left open by current Kinston Mayor B.J. Murphy, who will not file for re-election.
The 25-year-old Meadows filed for mayor last Wednesday. If he had won, Meadows would�ve been the youngest mayor in the history of Kinston.
Meadows will still be on the ballots in November, as the 2006 Kinston High School will instead run for city council.
�This weekend, I was just thinking about the campaign and how I could bring out the city�s full potential,� Meadows said. �I felt as though I would be more of an asset as a councilman than a mayor. I�m more of a hands-on person and the council has the power to vote. I feel like I would have more of a voice and opinion in the council in contrast to if I ran for mayor.�
Meadows now has his sights set on a position with the Kinston City Council. As of Tuesday, incumbent Robbie Swinson is the only other person to have filed for the two open seats.
When Meadows filed his paperwork for mayor, he spoke about standing up for the young people. Even though Meadows has changed his position, he hasn�t altered his mindset.
�I still feel like I would be an inspiration regardless of whether I�m running for mayor or city councilman,� Meadows said. �I�m trying to be an example and reach that common goal of freedom and peace. That�s how I see it.�
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.


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Jim Thome was drafted in the 13th round by the Cleveland Indians in 1989, out of Illinois Central Junior College, where he played shortstop. He began his career in the Gulf Coast League, hitting a mere .237/.314/.296 in 55 games, 186 at-bats. He showed decent strike zone judgment but little power. He split time defensively between shortstop and third base, though scouts felt he would end up at third in the long run due to lack of range. There was little to distinguish him at his point from the mass of rookie-ball players: a junior college guy drafted in the 13th round who couldn't hit in rookie ball wouldn't end up on many prospect lists. …
January 25, 2011
John Sickels' Jim Thome Career Profile
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Global Solutions
Time for Change
Business Solutions
Vision. Mission. Strategy
Fully featured web shop selling music online. The site was constructed with the Mojoportal CMS which is ideal for this purpose as the shop module in Mojo has the facility to easily implement teaser files and media downloads.
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This includes a domain name, webspace and five hours of updates renewable annually. The site is built using a content management system, allow you access to change the wording yourself. I will develop a theme to 'skin' the site using images/logos you supply. By default the site comes with the following features which you can cherry pick:
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If you require additional functionality not listed above I can also do bespoke development. Contact me for a quote.
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A health care blueprint made in Texas, acceptable to Washington?
One way or another the state of Texas is going to have to come to terms with this fact: Obamacare is going to be the law of the land come January 2014.
We hope the U.S. Congress will have the good sense to spend the next few months making the Affordable Care Act more user-friendly and, well, affordable by cutting out the things that add expense and diminish choice, and by adding things that will increase price competitiveness.
In Austin, we see our state lawmakers' major task as coming up with a state registry for health care that reflects the preferences of Texans in every way possible while passing muster with the federal agency that must sign off on it.
The alternative of refusing to participate in the federal program that guarantees a 100 percent federal match for Medicaid, the provider of services for Texans' poorest, for the next three years, is unthinkable. So is presenting a state plan that lawmakers know full well will be turned down by the federal authorities. The health of our most vulnerable Texans and the big dollars involved make getting this right imperative.
We think there's a middle way. A good start on creating this has been made by a group called Community Health Choice, a Houston-based managed care organization focused on meeting the needs of low-income families. Its objective is to hit the sweet spot that Texans will like and federal authorities will approve.
The problem of the uninsured in Texas is numerically daunting. More than 6 million of our fellow Texans go without insurance, including nearly 2.7 million whose incomes are between zero and 133 percent of the federal poverty level. About 800,000 are undocumented workers, but 5 million are citizens.
Community Health Choice is calling for what it describes as a "unique Texas solution" that would acknowledge the political reality in this state where federally administered registries are unacceptable.
Instead, it backs a system that would cut down on the complexity of Obamacare while matching up well with the needs of huge numbers of Texans all across the income strata.
Houston and Harris County property taxpayers have an enormous stake in the successful creation of such a program. Each year more than $500 million in county property taxes goes to fund health care expenses. This burden is dumped on local taxpayers by the refusal of the state to create a fair and equitable system.
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, who is on the very front lines in this battle, supports the expansion of Medicaid, noting that "it doesn't make any sense for the state not to take federal dollars." Emmett is a mainstream Republican whose views should be heeded in Austin.
As the March 8 deadline for filing bills in the Texas Legislature approaches, Community Health Choice is working to gather lawmakers' and business and health care community leaders' support for its plan. Its detailed proposal offers an informed, nuts and bolts approach to a difficult and expensive problem that is not going away.
It's a thoughtful beginning that offers sensible solutions to a difficult problem.


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Bert, Elaine and Richard Klein's 3-year-old filly Good Deed will bid on Saturday to both improve off a runner-up effort to the impressive Contested in the Eight Belles Presented by Xerox (GIII) on Kentucky Oaks Day and become the first of her age group to defeat her elders in the $100,000-added Winning Colors (Grade III).
The ninth edition of the Winning Colors will be run under the lights at Churchill Downs as part of the Downs After Dark Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka racing program. It will be co-featured Saturday evening with the 24th running of the $100,000-added Aristides (GIII) and the 36th running of the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII). The Winning Colors is scheduled as Race 6 at 8:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).
Trainer Steve Margolis said there are a number of reasons that he decided to send Good Deed against older fillies and mares for the first time Saturday.
"We're here on our track and the timing is good," Margolis said. "There really weren't a lot of other options. She's had a couple of good races over this track and the distance is right."
Good Deed will break from the rail under Shaun Bridgmohan. It will be the fourth time in her eighth career start the 3-year-old bay daughter of Broken Vow has drawn the inside post.
"She's won from the rail before," Margolis said. "She's going to break well and put herself into the race, but she doesn't need to be on the lead. We'll just have to see how it goes when they break and let Shaun make the decision."
Good Deed's second in the Eight Belles was flattered by Contested's easy Memorial Day win for trainer Bob Baffert in the Acorn (GI) at Belmont Park.
"She (Contested) is a very good horse and looks like she's a very tough sprinter," Margolis said.
Good Deed's main challengers could be the trio of horses trained by Bret Calhoun.
Martin Racing Stable LLC and Morgan Thoroughbred LLC's Beat the Blues finished second in the Winning Colors last year to Sassy Image and enters this year's edition off a win in the Carousel at Oaklawn Park.
Carl R. Moore Management LLC's Speedacious is coming into the Winning Colors with a five-race winning streak. She most recently won an allowance race on Churchill's Opening Night program on April 28.
Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch's Gleaming finished third to her stablemate in the Carousel, but has recorded wins this year in the American Beauty and Spring Fever at Oaklawn.
SNOW TOP MOUNTAIN WORKS THREE-EIGHTS FOR EARLY TIMES MINT JULEP – Barbara Hunter's homebred Snow Top Mountain stretched her legs Thursday morning over the firm Matt Winn Turf Course and breezed three furlongs in :38.40 around the dogs in preparation for Saturday's 36th running of the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII).
"She doing really well," trainer Tom Proctor said via phone from his barn at Arlington Park. "It's a pretty tough race and she's not a world beater, but she's a pretty nice mare."
Snow Top Mountain will be seeking her second graded-stakes win of the year in Saturday's Early Times Mint Julep. In February the 5-year-old gray/roan daughter of Najran won the Suwannee River (GIII) on a Gulfstream Park turf course rated as "good." In her most recent start, she finished seventh of nine in Tampa Bay's Hillsborough (GIII).
Snow Top Mountain was ridden in both of those starts by Jose Lezcano, but Shane Sellers will have the mount Saturday.
"(Sellers) seems to be putting horses in the right spot," Proctor said. "If they can win, he's been winning on them."
Sellers had recorded seven wins from 42 mounts entering Thursday's action.
Proctor is hopeful Snow Top Mountain will run like her half-sister Keertana, who won the Louisville Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs last spring against males.
"On her best day, (Snow Top Mountain) is pretty close to Keertana," Proctor said.
The Early Times Mint Julep Handicap, which is scheduled as Race 9 at 9:39 p.m., will more than likely be run without the top weight Tapitsfly. Trainer Dale Romans said Thursday morning he would probably opt to run Tapitsfly in the Just A Game (GI) at Belmont Park on the Belmont Stakes (GI) undercard on June 9.
NOBLE'S PROMISE TO TRY FOR RARE REPEAT IN SATURDAY'S ARISTIDES – J C M Racing LLC's Noble's Promise, a Grade-I winner with more than $1 million to his name, will seek to become just the second two-time winner of the Aristides (GIII) on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
The 24th running of the $100,000-added Aristides is scheduled to be run under the lights as Race 7 at 9:05 p.m. The other two-time winner of the event is Bet On Sunshine, who was victorious in the race in 2000-01.
"We were going to skip it, but then it came up like it did," said Phil Bauer, assistant to trainer Ken McPeek. "There are some nice horses in there, but there are no world beaters."
Noble's Promise, who won the Breeders' Futurity (GI) at Keeneland as a 2-year-old, breezed four furlongs on the fast main track at Churchill Downs on May 28 in :48.60. Corey Lanerie was aboard for the work and will have the call Saturday.
"The work went well and the horse is doing well," Bauer said. "He's feeling good, eating good and his coat looks good."
Noble's Promise, a 5-year-old bay son of Cuvee, will enter the Aristides off a fifth-place finish in the Cannon Shell at Belmont Park. The race was taken off the turf and run at six furlongs on the main track.
"I think you can throw the last race out," Bauer said. "He was on the inside and the track was muddy and I don't think he cared for it. If he runs back to his race at Keeneland (third behind Successful Dan and Golden Yank in a seven-furlong allowance on the Polytrack on April 6), then he'll be right there."
SPRING MEET LEADERS AT A GLANCE – Through 19 days of the 39-day Spring Meet, jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, trainers Tom Amoss, Steve Asmussen and Dale Romans and owners Richard and Karen Papiese's Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. are the leaders in their respective categories at Churchill Downs. Here is a look at the leaders entering Thursday's action:
Meet-Leading Jockeys
1. Shaun Bridgmohan (26-for-111, 23% win-percentage, $978,597 in earnings)
2. Corey Lanerie (24-for-112, 21%, $759,055)
3. Calvin Borel (17-for-109, 16%, $420,045)
3. Miguel Mena (17-for-94, 18%, $531,041)
5. Leandro Goncalves (14-for-86, 16%, $376,397)
Meet-Leading Trainers
1. Tom Amoss (8-for-27, 30%, $215,759)
1. Steve Asmussen (8-for-42, 19%, $476,718)
1. Dale Romans (8-for-56, 14%, $1,221,193)
4. Bret Calhoun (7-for-23, 30%, $238,744)
4. Wayne Catalano (7-for-20, 35%, $265,172)
4. Brad Cox (7-for-17, 41%, $113,853)
Meet-Leading Owners
1. Richard and Karen Papiese's Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (7-for-18, 39%, $119,653)
2. John Oxley (6-for-15, 40%, $237,961)
3. Paula Haughey's PTK LLC (5-for-15, 33%, $88,366)
4. Billy, Donna and Justin Hays (4-for-38, 11%, $89,749)
4. Ken and Sarah Ramsey (4-for-23, 17%, $196,444)
BARN TALK – Heisman Trophy winner, NFL Hall of Famer and Louisville-native Paul Hornung is the co-owner of Titletown Five, who will make his career debut in Friday's fifth race at Churchill Downs. Trainer Wayne Lukas said the horse was named by the Green Bay Packers' great for the city of Green Bay's nickname of "Titletown" and Hornung's number, five.
Titletown Five, a dark bay/brown son of Tiznow, is out of D'Wildcat Speed, who was named Horse of the Year in Puerto Rico in 2003 and won the Rampart (GII) at Gulfsteam Park at age 5.
Post time for the fifth race Friday is 4:50 p.m. …
The biggest summer parties in Louisville return to Churchill Downs on Saturday, June 2 at 6 p.m. as the home of the Kentucky Derby welcomes back its wildly-popular nighttime racing series, "Downs After Dark" Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka.
The concept for the 11-race program, that includes a stakes tripleheader, will be Remix, featuring bold colors with a nod to the 1980s. Saturday night's season premiere will showcase the return of the popular VJ 2nd Nature, who will entertain paddock party-goers from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, and Cincinnati-based cover band Off The Hook, who will play from 4-8:30 p.m.
Admission gates will open at 4 p.m. and the first of 11 live races will begin at 6 p.m. …
Nominations for the four graded stakes races to be run on Stephen Foster Day at Churchill Downs will close Saturday, June 2. The races, which will be run under the lights as part of the "Downs After Dark" racing program on Saturday, June 16, include the 31st running of the $400,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, the 37th running of the $150,000-added Fleur de Lis (GII) for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, the 43rd running of the $100,000-added Regret (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course and the 15th running of the $100,000-added Matt Winn (GIII) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
WORKTAB – Bluegrass Hall LLC's Belmont (GI) hopeful Optimizer breezed five furlongs on the fast main track at Churchill Downs in 1:00.60 for trainer Wayne Lukas. It was the third fastest of 19 at the distance Thursday morning.
Working under Jon Court, Optimizer recorded fractions of :13.20, :25.60, :37.40, :48.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.20. Lukas was pleased with the workout and said Optmizer will head to Belmont Park on Tuesday. …
Priscilla Vaccarezza's Little Mike, winner of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day, breezed four furlongs on the main track in :50 for trainer Dale Romans. The work ranked 29th of 56 at the distance. …
Jerry Namy's Shared Property, winner of the Arlington Washington Futurity (GIII) last year and most recently fifth in the Louisiana Derby (GII), breezed four furlongs in :51.60 for trainer Tom Amoss. The work ranked 50th of 56 at the distance. …
WEATHER – Thursday: increasing clouds with a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m., 81. Thursday night: showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between midnight and 4 a.m., 60. Friday: mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, 67. Saturday: partly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 74. Sunday: mostly sunny, 81. Monday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 84. Tuesday: mostly sunny, 83. Wednesday: mostly sunny, 80.
Churchill Downs, the world's most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America's greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 4, 2013, and its 2012 Spring Meet is scheduled for April 28-July 1. The track has hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championships a record eight times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.


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MATTHEW B. MOWERY: No more Mr. Nice Guy for Tigers, but a tough decision doesn't necessarily mean an incorrect one
DETROIT -- No more Mr. Nice Guy.
He was designated for assignment on Friday.
The Tigers needed a roster spot to activate Andy Dirks, and they chose possibly the most well-liked, congenial, polite, well-intentioned player in the locker room, Don Kelly, as the one to go to make room.
Emotionally, it was crushing for some in the organization.
"That one makes you cry," said manager Jim Leyland, who did tear up in his postgame television interview, explaining a text message he'd gotten from Kelly during Friday's 10-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. "Believe it or not, I do have some feelings -- I know that's hard to believe sometimes. That one was a tough one. It's still a tough one."
For some of the other players clinging on to the bottom of the roster by their fingernails, it was a bittersweet, mixed bag, sort of a 'There-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I' moment, a reality check on how quickly it can all go away.
All it takes is one trip down the hallway to the manager's office.
"It sucks to see someone go. It's a relief for a little while -- even though it might mean I'm here just a little while longer -- but at the same time it's bitter because you're losing a friend and a teammate," said Quintin Berry, a guy who was proud to call Kelly a mentor, while at the same time, ultimately being one of the guys whose performance helped edge Kelly out.
"He's one of those guys who leads by example just by his positive attitude. He doesn't show too much emotion when things are going bad. Things haven't been going his way and still he had a smile on his face, happy every day. Seeing that everyday helps you try to become a better person as well as a better player."
Don Kelly was that kind of person.
But don't get the intentions wrong.
I have come here neither to praise Don Kelly, nor to bury him.
Nor would he have wanted it.
"Guys, this isn't a funeral," Kelly pointed out to reporters who gathered around his locker Friday afternoon, after hearing the news.
Instead, I've come to point out that, as painful as the transaction was for some to hear, it was just that: A transaction.
In a business.
A business in which the bottom line is winning.
And, at this very moment, Kelly wasn't helping do that as much as another player might.
That simple.
Sound impersonal, cold? Sure.
It's also brutally honest.
There's no room in the eat-or-be-eaten world of Major League Baseball to operate your multi-million-dollar business with sentimentality.
It was no secret how fond Leyland was of his utility man. Shoot, he nearly broke down in tears talking about Kelly's versatility and team-before-self attitude last year, right about the same time Kelly was demonstrating as much to the world, appearing as both a catcher and pitcher in the same week.
"That was a tough one, because he was one of everybody's favorites," Leyland said Friday. "To sum it up best: Donnie's a real good player when the team is playing well. I think that's the type of player he is. You rest guys when the team is really good, and he comes in and does a great job. Didn't get as many opportunities this year, but hopefully things will work out for him, because he's like a brother to all the coaches, myself, teammates. He's like the perfect brother.
"But that's the big leagues. That's how things go."
And Kelly's not the first well-liked player the Tigers have let go in the past couple of seasons.
Less than a month into this season, they gave their longest-tenured player, Brandon Inge, his unconditional release, because they couldn't see a scenario where he'd help the team in the platoon role into which he'd been forced.
That, too, was hard.
"It is. You guys saw when Brandon had to go through it. But it's part of the game," Kelly said of the thought of walking out of the clubhouse. "As much as you like competing, it's just tough ... tougher in here."
Another player who fits the same profile, longtime infielder Carlos Guillen, was honored before Saturday night's game, as part of the franchise's Fiesta Tigres celebration. It was very similar to the presentation the Tigers held in early June for the much-beloved Magglio Ordonez, Guillen's teammate for seven seasons.
In the last offseason, GM Dave Dombrowski told the representatives for both aging players that the Tigers wouldn't be bringing either of them back as free agents.
Thanks for your contributions. No hard feelings.
And there were none from either player, either.
"Very happy, say thank you to everybody. It's great. It was great to be here today, a lot of great memories, have fun my whole career here, great media, great GM, front office, great fans. Everything was great here. Unfortunately we didn't win the World Series, but we had fun," Guillen said after a luncheon Friday.
"Lot of good memories. That's something you always keep with you. That's why I always talk a lot of good things about this city. ...
"It's going to be, I think, the greatest moment for me. It's different when you're on the other side of it."
Both men were respected and loved by teammates and coaches -- shoot, Leyland teared up when on the microphone during Magglio's press conference, telling his former star that he loved him -- but were no longer needed.
That would be the whole point in all this.
These decisions are not based on popularity, on marketability, on the off chance that someone might get booed.
They're based on baseball.
Can this player help the Tigers win? Yes, or no.
Is it true that the Tigers let go a player about whom nary a bad word was ever spoken (and even if it was, Don Kelly was the type who'd immediately forgive it), in favor of a guy who gets booed every time he steps to the plate?
Absolutely. The Tigers designated Kelly for assignment, rather than the increasingly unpopular Ryan Raburn.
And they did it without blinking.
This wasn't a Kelly vs. Raburn thing in their mind.
This was a business decision. They need right-handed bats, and are flush with left-handed sticks.
Yes, Raburn's every move is hawked, scrutinized and ultimately booed -- much like Inge's was (and to a lesser extent, like Ordonez's was) in the final months on the squad.
Yes, that probably has some effect on his performance.
But, statistically the two men are a wash. Both were hitting in the 170s, slugging in the mid-200s and carrying an on-base percentage that would insult the term 'anemic.'
Kelly's bonus was his defensive versatility, his ability to play nearly every position but, for all his defensive warts at times, that's not all that different than Raburn, who's played every position but shortstop and catcher in a game.
And, let's be real: If the Tigers were indeed looking for a right-handed outfield bat at the trade deadline, who do you think that was to replace? That's right, Raburn could be gone anyway, if and when the Tigers find an adequate replacement for him in trade.
But they haven't yet.
So he stays, and Kelly goes.
At this very moment, that's the very best baseball decision.
And that's all this decision boiled down to.
Baseball. Business.
As tough as that is to swallow sometimes.
Email Matthew B. Mowery at firstname.lastname@example.com and follow him on Twitter @matthewbmowery. Text keyword "Tigers" to 22700 to get updates sent to your phone. Msg & data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.


text:
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I have a hard drive (basic, simple disk) with XP & Win7 on it that are setup as primaries (limited turned off) and hidden from each other and an extended partition with a single logical drive as well.
I needed to make the Win7 partition bigger so I shrunk the logical drive (F:), shrunk the extended partition, did a slide operation to move it down.
Side note: originally there was 8 MB unallocated between the Win7 & extended partitions and when I slid the ext. partition down it combined the free space from that with that 8 MB.
I then expanded the Win7 partition by the full amount of free space.
When I boot into Win7 at first it had a drive letter on F: but within a couple of minutes it disappeared. I have not booted XP.
Disk Management shows the partition however I can't do anything with it - it won't let me assign a drive letter or check the properties of it. I get this error:
The operation failed to complete because the Disk Management console view is not up-to-date. Refresh the view by using the refresh task. If the problem persists close Disk Management, then restart Disk Management or restart the computer.
It does have the "Logical drive" color bar on it.
How do I fix this?
Another side note: I know BING has been superseded BIBM and I purchased BIBM but I haven't gotten around to installing it.


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Pilot fatigue – a threat to safety
Issued by University of Leicester Press Office on 3 January 2013
Photograph of Dr Simon Bennett available via firstname.lastname@example.com
This year the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will agree new flight-time limitations (FTLs) for pilots. Many consider EASA's proposal to relax FTLs a threat to safety.
Britain's FTLs are amongst the most stringent. Nevertheless, research published by Dr Simon Bennett of the University of Leicester's Civil Safety and Security Unit in the Institute of Lifelong Learning shows that pilots can find themselves flying an aircraft many hours after waking. Over 20% of Dr Bennett's respondents said that by the time they completed their shift they had been awake for 28 hours or more.
Dr Bennett said, "Research proves that judgment is seriously impaired after eighteen hours of wakefulness. How well do you think you could drive after being awake for eighteen hours?
"FTLs take no account of the pilot lifestyle. No account is taken of prior wakefulness, the duration and quality of sleep or commuting. FTLs are dissociated from the realities of life – despite the fact that those realities affect performance. Nearly 50% of respondents took over 60 minutes to commute to work."
FTLs stand apart from what Dr Bennett calls 'lived reality'. He adds, "Regulators (and lawmakers) take no interest in the world beyond the crew room and flight-deck. When pressed they retort, 'We have no knowledge of any rule violations'. Violations are not the issue. The issue is the fidelity of FTLs. Those who represent the industry remain aloof. 'Flying time is a matter for the UK Authorities and it is up to them to specify the measures which are appropriate' says the British Air Transport Association.
"The aviation industry is volatile. In debt due to training fees, novice pilots struggle to make ends meet. Properties in airport catchments are expensive. Hard-up pilots find themselves commuting long distances. Long commutes add to the fatigue generated by flying multiple trips through congested airspace. The new regulations must take account of the fatigue-inducing aspects of life beyond the airport perimeter.
"Regulations made without reference to scientific knowledge or social context are dangerous. EASA's proposed FTLs take little account of the latest sleep research and no account of the pilot lifestyle as described in my own research. Passenger safety is threatened. Those who work at the coal-face of aviation deserve better."
Notes to editors:
For more information, contact Dr Simon Bennett on email@example.com .


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Men's Ring with 1/4 Carat TW of Diamonds in 10ct White Gold
$1,399 $1,999 List Price
Free shipping on all orders
DescriptionYou will be stepping out in style with this 1/4 carat total weight diamond ring. Created in 10ct white gold and featuring a brush finish, the band is adorned with strong channels, two of which are set with round brilliant diamonds. A timeless and masculine choice.
Product Details
- Total carat weight 0.25 (1/4)
- Sidestone Diamond Clarity I3
- Sidestone Diamond Colour I+
- Sidestone Diamond Cut Round
- Sidestone Diamond Setting Channel
- Metal colour White
- Metal content 10 Karat
- Gemstone Diamond Set
Delivery & Returns
Once your order has shipped, please allow 2-7 business days for delivery depending on your location. Orders requiring ring sizing take up to three (3) additional business days to complete.
If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you may return it online or in-store within 30 days of delivery for an exchange or full refund. Subject to meeting the requirements of our refund policy.
For more information, visit our FAQ page.
Find In Store


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The Eurostars Cristal Palace is one of the references of quality in the epicentre of the Catalonian capital. With a warm, comfortable atmosphere, our hotel in Barcelona centre offers all the comforts one can imagine for business or leisure travellers and for company meetings and events. The Cristal Palace offers three spacious, light-filled meeting rooms that can be converted into one large hall to hold over a hundred people.
We have prepared and renovated the hotel so that the Mediterranean light penetrates the most hidden corners of your stay in Barcelona. Picasso said that the light of Barcelona, rather than simply illuminating, sparkles, gives cheer, gives life and invites art. For this reason, we have prepared for our guests a huge façade of translucent glass, giving the hotel its name: Cristal Palace.
Beyond the comfort and excellences of the Cristal Palace, the greatest luxury for our guests is that they are so close to everything; flanked by the Rambla and Paseo de Gracia avenues, a universe of possibilities opens out: Casa Batlló, Pedrera, Liceo, Plaza Catalunya, Palau de la Musica, Tapies Foundation, the Gothic District, hundreds of shops and stores, the university campus and gardens, art galleries and the mediaeval Consejo de Ciento, plus a non-ending number of secrets which we leave to you to discover, at your own pace and inclinations. One last detail: the aerobus and train from the airport has a stop one minute from the hotel, in the Plaza de Catalunya.
Enjoy this great hotel Paseo de Gracia Barcelona and discover all the attractions offered by the hotel in Barcelona centre.
How to get there
Situated in the very centre of Barcelona, the Eurostars Cristal Palace exudes the essence of Barcelona from all its pores.Map


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Seeing as that this new year is just three days old and we are still a month away from pitchers and catchers flying down to the warmer climate to trot off their holiday weight, it is probably very premature to make these predictions. Even so, in no particular order, here are four things I expect to happen in the 2011 season:
Denard Span will be on base more.
After posting his career low on-base percentage in 2010 (.331), the Twins center fielder should be primed to rejuvenate that mark this year.
When pitchers adjusted to Span's patient approach by buzzing strikes in on the first pitch more frequently, the left-handed lead-off man was often put in debt in the count. This led to fewer walks overall as his rate decreased for the second straight season, lowering from 10.4% to 8.5%. Nevertheless, because of his keen eye at the plate (his 18.5% out-of-zone chase rate is the fifth-lowest in baseball since 2009) and his ability to make contact (90.9% contract rate since '09, seventh-highest), Span will continue to exercise judicious decision-making in the batter's box moving forward.
But that wasn't the only factor towards his reduced on-base percentage.
Span, a habitual line drive/groundball hitter, witnessed his batting average on those balls diminish greatly in 2010. Since more of his batted balls went to gloves in 2010, Span had a fair share of hits taken away from his totals and thus decreasing his on-base percentage.
Batting Average on Balls In Play
Line Drives
In all, this led to a 59-point decrease in his batting average on balls in play, significantly influence his overall numbers. Part of this BABIP decline may have to do with his minor yet potentially impactful alteration with his hand position, bringing the bat closer to his body at the beginning of the year. This led to an inordinate amount of grounders in the season's first-half. Later in the year, it appeared that Span was getting his hands further away from his body, resulting in more line drives as the season progressed.
As noted above, Span maintains terrific plate discipline skills. Likewise, because of his ability to utilize the spacious center field area at Target Field with a high percentage of line drives, Span is poised to be the catalyst at the top of the order that the Twins envisioned when they signed him to a long-term deal.
Danny Valencia will encounter the proverbial "sophomore slump".
This one isn't that hard to foresee. After all, his batting average on balls in play was at an inflated .345 – a hearty fifty points higher than the league average. But that's not the reason that I anticipate some decline in his numbers.
Often, communication and scouting reports move at various speeds throughout the league. Someone who can't handle breaking pitches might be discovered immediately and word spreads like wildfire. Other times, certain holes and tendencies are not exposed until after the season. Take Denard Span for example. It took nearly two years for teams to pepper the strike zone early in the count in order to put Span at a disadvantage and it kept him off the bases in 2010.
In Valencia's case as the 2010 season progressed it became clear that, while demonstrating great plate coverage, he had a soft spot in the zone: down and in.
Whereas the 2010 season was a dance of trial-and-error for opponents when facing Valencia, as this information gets disseminated through the league, teams will attempt to exploit this weakness while avoiding his strengths in 2011.
Of course, this doesn't automatically mean Valencia will have a down year, just that he will struggle more this coming season. To be sure, the Twins third baseman has shown that he is a monster when it comes to hitting up and out over the plate. In fact, according to Inside Edge his .203 well-hit average on pitches up in the zone was the second-best in baseball behind teammate Joe Mauer. Unlike some overeager rookies who tend to yank that pitch, Valencia uses the "big part" of the field – hitting 21.3% of balls in play to center field.
Jim Hoey will have a Grant Balfour circa-2008 emergence for the Twins.
Okay, this one is not based on anything remotely scientific, but bear with me on this.
Both Hoey and Balfour are cut from the power-pitching ilk, born from the same lineage that loves lighting up radar guns. Likewise, both had various arm injuries sidetracking promising careers. Balfour required Tommy John surgery in 2005 at the age of 27 while Hoey had his foray with Tommy John in 2004 at 21 years old. More recently, while attempting to correct his career path, a tear in his labrum required additional surgery for Hoey.
In Balfour's case, the Twins decided to cut ties with the right-handed Aussie after the 2005 season, shortly after his date with the surgeon. He would sign a minor league deal with the Reds only to be selected off the waivers by the Brewers at the end of the '06 season and rehab in their system. Before being called to Milwaukee, the Brewers shipped Balfour to Tampa for Seth McClung in the middle of the '07 season. It was there with the Rays in '08 that Balfour regained his health. That year, Balfour, tossing a 94.6-mph fastball, carved through opponents, striking out 82 in 58.1 innings of work and leading to a very impressive 1.54 ERA.
The savvy Rays front office targeted a talented yet damaged product and received an amazing value as Balfour has become an integral part of the Tampa bullpen the past three seasons.
Minor League Comp.
G. Balfour
J. Hoey
Many skeptics question Hoey's control, particularly given his walk rate in the last two seasons. Certainly, his 5.9 walks per nine innings is un-Twins-like however this is more likely a byproduct of his recovery from labrum surgery as prior to that Hoey averaged just 2.5 walks per nine innings. Like Tommy John, recovering from labrum surgery can be a long, tedious process. Fans may recall Jesse Crain's road back after a similar surgery in 2007 in which he didn't appear fully recovered until the second-half of the 2009 season.
If the Twins coaching staff can help him regain his control this spring, Hoey could be a big contributor in the bullpen this coming season and beyond.
Scott Baker will be the second-best pitcher in the rotation.
I know what you are thinking, "If that is true, the 2011 season ended up being an unmitigated disaster", but hang on. Scott Baker is actually much better than advertised.
Since 2008, Baker has held one of baseball best strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.39 K/BB, 11th-best), showing both the ability to avoid walking hitters and striking them out when necessary. These are the foundations of a very good starter: No walks, high amount of strikeouts.
Of course, that is just a part of the pitching equation, the other part happens when hitters put the ball into play.
Because he likes to work up in the zone and above it, hitters find it easy to get underneath Baker's offerings. This is why he is a predominately fly ball-type pitcher. This is not a problem in and of itself but there were two factors that influenced his season in 2010.
In 2008 and 2009, Baker had an outfield defense that had both Carlos Gomez and Denard Span behind him. This past year, with Gomez gone, not only did Baker have Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer covering more real estate in Target Field, when Justin Morneau's season-ending concussion required Cuddyer to relocate to first it was Jason Kubel who was pressed into duties in right field, further diluting the defensive talent.
This means that more balls found grass and shot gaps than in previous seasons:
BABIP on Fly Balls
To compound the problem, in the middle of the season, Baker revealed that he was having tendonitis issues in his elbow. It was this that likely caused him to drop his release point. With the lowered release point, we see flattening of his fastball and some loss of command in the zone leading to more hard hit balls.
If Morneau returns from the concussion and Cuddyer able to return to his normal position, this should improve Baker's outfield defense over the assortment at the end of last sesaon. (Of course, platooning in the speedy Jason Repko in Baker's starts would be an ideal alignment.) Likewise, since he opted to have a minor procedure in the offseason to correct his elbow issue, Baker will likely return to his pre-tendonitis release point where he had much better command. Together, this should reduce the amount of hits surrendered and leave the 29-year-old righty with his low walk, high strikeout stuff.


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Lady Gaga, not only a pop megastar but also a tech early adopter, is now in beta launch of a new social network.
The site, LittleMonsters.com, is pitched as part Pinterest, part Reddit, and all Gaga, was created by Palo Alto-based startup Backplane. Users can share all things Gaga and interact with fellow Gaga fans, known as "little monsters." (Paws up!) Although the site is currently in a closed launch, you can request an invitation to join the network.
"Backplane is about bringing together communities and Gaga's community just so happens to be the community we're using to learn about proper functionality," chief executive and founder Matt Michelsen told Mashable."We think we can really change the world."
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Backplane's goals are to "unite people around interests, affinities and movements." Backplane has some tech cred with its founders working at Google, Palantir Technologies and Yahoo. Then there's Lady Gaga's manager Troy Carter, who's also a founder (Lady Gaga is also partially funding the startup.)
So far the social network, now about a month old, has given out 10,000 codes and Backplane intends on creating more sites and communities in the coming year.
Lady Gaga has been one of the most tech-savvy entertainers to date, including promoting her album "Born This Way" on Farmville, headlining a commercial for Google Chrome and being a fixture on Facebook and Twitter. It's not surprising she would invest in a tech company that would create her own social network and online community. In fact, other celebrities are bound to follow her lead.


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Hi there
A few weeks ago i wrote a library that allows to render geometry very similar to OpenGL's immediate mode, but does so without any deprecated function. This means especially, that it requires you to use GLSL shaders with generic vertex attributes, ie. a purely shader-based approach.
One reason for me to write this library, was that i use generic vertex attributes with VBOs but usually the old-style glNormal / glTexCoord, when using immediate mode, because using generic vertex attributes with OpenGL's immediate mode is pretty annoying. So my library makes this very easy.
After using it for a while i found it worked really well, and thought i should share it with other gl users, that want to break free from the fixed function pipeline.
It can be downloaded here: GLIM
The readme included gives a more detailed explanation. A small example on how GLIM works:
// instanciate a GLIM object whenever you need one
GLIM glim;
// set gl states
// begin some geometry with the current state
glim.BeginPart ();
// set some vertex attribute to a start value
glim.Attribute4ub ("Color", 255, 0, 0, 255);
// begin a certain primitive type (just as glBegin)
glim.Begin (GLIM_LINES);
// render one line
glim.Vertex (0, -1);
glim.Vertex (0, 1);
// render next line with different color
glim.Attribute4ub ("Color", 255, 255, 0, 255);
// render another line
glim.Vertex (-1, 0);
glim.Vertex (1, 0);
glim.End ();
// end rendering with the current state
glim.EndPart ();
// change gl states and possibly render more
As you can see, GLIM really only handles geometry. It does not bother about gl states or anything else. That's the reason why it is so easy to just plug it into existing code. It does one thing and nothing more.
GLIM is released as full source code (you need to compile it yourself, but that should be really easy) and you are free to use and modify it as you wish.
Let me know what you think about it.


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Consider supporting this worthy effort!
It's been a long time, and I've had my share of false starts. But Rum Row is finally done and ready to go! If you've seen any of my previous posts on the subject, you'll know that this is a project that I've been working on for a while now. My first full length comic book, and I couldn't be more happy to see how it turned out. Here's some preview art by pin up artist John Broglia, with comic pages by Michele Bandini. Colors by Derek Dow.
Elevator Pitch – Mixing elements of Jules Verne and The Untouchables, Rum Row is an aerial themed crime adventure comic.
If you'd like to check it out, or learn a little more about it. You can watch the video, and check out this link.
The project is 100% finished and ready to print. But we're doing a Kickstarter to fund the printing and…
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