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A running discussion on the Cincinnati Reds and everything else in the baseball universe.
Monday, December 29, 2008
2009 Top Prospect List: #23 Adam Rosales, inf
Height 6-2, Weight 195, B/T: R/R, DOB: 05/20/1983
2008 Redlegs Baseball Prospect Ranking: #15
Adam Rosales, a 12th round pick in the 2005 draft, is an enigma wrapped in a riddle. If Josh Ravin was the most depressing report to write up, then Adam Rosales may well be the most challenging. At this point, I'd be lying if I said that I knew exactly what to make of him, but let's take a look.
In 2008, Rosales had an extremely volatile season, which is in keeping with his entire professional career. The Reds sent Rosales to triple-A Louisville to start the 2008 season. On the season, Rosales posted a slash line of .287/.339/.463/.802 with a 82/22 K/BB ratio and 11 homers. The final line looks solid, but Rosales had to travel a difficult road to get there, as he started off the season ice-cold, but ultimately finished it white-hot.
In April, he was ice cold with a meager .177 batting average and a paltry 9% line drive rate. His line wasn't much better in May, as he hit only .232, but he was driving the ball better as evidenced by his 22% line drive rate. In June, he finally got it going, hitting .299 with a .561 slugging percentage. In July, he kept it rolling by hitting .324 with a .471 slugging percentage and was even better in August hitting .436 and slugging .764.
In sum, Rosales got progressively better in each passing month of the season and finished out so strong that he earned a call-up to the majors in September. Unfortunately, major league pitching did what its minor league brethren could not, which is to say they poured cold water on Rosales's white hot streak, limiting him to a line of .207/.233/.241.
So, who is Adam Rosales? Is he the slow starter or white hot finisher from 2008? Is he the guy who posted a .946 OPS in 2005, a .726 OPS in 2006, a .904 OPS in 2007, or the .802 OPS in 2008? Is he a 1b, 2b, 3b, or shortstop?
Ultimately, it's difficult to get a handle on Rosales, but once again it seems to come down to his place on the defensive spectrum.
The farther to the left he can stay, the less offense he needs to provide. The farther to the right he slides, the more offense he has to provide to justify the position.
Rosales has a swing only a mother could love. Ok, ok, so it's not that bad and it does have the advantage of actually being effective. Still, poetry it is not. Fortunately, Rosales adds a strong batting eye and good control of the strikezone, which really helps his swing play up.
At the plate, Rosales has a pretty straight forward set up, using a slightly wider than shoulder width stance. His stance is square to the plate and he keeps his back elbow up. When he brings the bat up over his shoulder, he uses a bat waggle wherein he quickly and continuously moves the bat from vertical to horizontal while waiting for the pitch. When the pitch is delivered, Rosales basically rolls his front foot up onto the toe and puts it back down. He has very little forward stride in facilitating his weight transfer.
At that point, Rosales begins his swing, which is top-hand heavy, especially when he tries to turn on the pitch. When he tries to turn on the pitch, he often throws the top hand at the ball and puts a lot of body into his swing. Instead of staying on the ball and looking down the barrel at contact, Rosales almost seems to pull the swing through the zone with his shoulders. This type of swing forces him to open up his front foot and body earlier than the more conventional swings, but Rosales makes it work. When he takes the pitch the other way he has to stay on the ball longer and his swing can be a bit less "top-handsy." Even so, his overall swing mechanics create a downward plane to his swing (see photo: strong top hand action in swing). While it may be functional, the "chopping wood" approach isn't pretty. Still, production is what matters, as you don't get style points in baseball.
Last year I wrote about the implications of Rosales's downward slide on the defensive spectrum. Fortunately, the reason he was shifted to firstbase was to rest a sore throwing elbow, not because he couldn't handle a more challenging defensive position. That's good news for both the Reds and Rosales, as his bat doesn't profile well at firstbase.
It's difficult to know what the Reds plan to do with Rosales. He played primarily shortstop in college, but he just doesn't have the range to play there at the professional level. When he was promoted to the majors in 2008, he spent time at both secondbase and thirdbase. Ultimately, Adam's best position is likely thirdbase, as his range may be stretched at second. His range and lateral movement are good enough to handle thirdbase. Regardless, the presence of Brandon Phillips at secondbase means that it's not a real option for Rosales, so it's seemingly the hot-corner or bust.
Despite the elbow soreness of 2008, Rosales's best tool is his arm, which is both strong and accurate. Given the very poor defensive performance of Edwin Encarnacion, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to give Rosales an extended look at third, as I don't doubt that he's already a better third baseman than Edwin. However, the window may have closed on Rosales's chances to be an everyday player, as Edwin is currently blocking him and Todd Frazier and Juan Francisco are potentially better options for the future at the hot corner.
I still wrestle with the likely future of Adam Rosales, as part of me thinks he has the bat and defense to be a league average starter. Ultimately, his bat will determine his future role. Still, given the makeup of the Reds' roster and the volatility of his performance, Rosales likely projects as a utility player. His versatility on the infield is a positive attribute and perhaps the one the Reds are most likely to utilize. Even if he doesn't become an everyday regular, he could still have good value to the Reds, as versatile utility infielders with solid offensive skills don't grow on trees. Ultimately, Rosales will go as far as his bat will take him, but right now he projects as only an MLB bench player.
6 comments:
- AnonymousApril 7, 2009 at 9:05 AM
I was suprised to see that Adam did not make the major club as the utility infielder in front of Paul Janish. His batting and fielding numbers have looked better ever since they were both drafted.ReplyDelete
Hey Anon,ReplyDelete
To be honest, I was a bit surprised that Rosales lost out to Janish as well. Clearly, Rosales brings greater versatility and more offensive production to the table, while Janish is the better defensive infielder.
Given the Reds shortcomings on offense, I would have thought that Rosales would get the nod. I actually like Janish more than most and hold out a sliver of hope that he could be a starting shortstop at the MLB level. However, of the two, Janish would also seem to be the one who would benefit most from additional minor league time. Rosales seems to have reached his ceiling and seems more ready to contribute at the MLB level.
Given that he would seem to address the Reds needs more effectively, I think it is surprising to see Rosales sent down to the minors. However, I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see him up in the near future, as the MLB bench as currently configured isn't going to get the job done.
Anyway, thanks for the comment!!!
- AnonymousApril 29, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Is Rosales' hot start a continuation of the progress he showed last year? Or is he just getting lucky?ReplyDelete
How will he fare in the majors?
Hey Anon,ReplyDelete
Rosales actually wasn't all that impressive for much of last season. In 2007, he posted an OPS of .904 between high-A and double-A. In 2008, he posted an OPS of only .802 at triple-A. Even so, he did finish out the season stronger than he started it.
He certainly earned the promotion and his first MLB game went rather well. At this point, I think his performance is more the result of a white hot streak than a breakthrough to a new level.
When he cools off, I think he settles in with seasonal average production of .275-.285 with 15-17 HRs. Of course, he'd have to get a full season of ABs for that to happen. Also, it's difficult to envision him being a downgrade defensively from Edwin. Of course, that's more of a comment on Edwin than Rosales.
Rosales isn't a flashy or graceful player. When you see him in action, he's not an "eye-catching, dazzle you with his athletic genius" type player. That said, he's fundamentally sound and solid across the board. He has been considered more of a utility infielder type, but the struggles and injury of Edwin open the door a crack. Rosales has his foot in the door and may show enough ability to stride right through it.
I think the big advantage Rosales may have is on the defensive side. Even if he can prove to be league average at third, that would be significant upgrade over Edwin. So, even if Edwin was more productive with the bat, it likely wouldn't be by enough to offset the difference in their defensive skill.
Personally, I'm tired of waiting for Edwin to breakout offensively and don't believe his defense will ever be even league average. I think it's time to consider other options. At this point, Rosales has to be considered a bit of a longshot as a long-term solution, but he could prove to be a solid MLB utility player. Time will tell.
Thanks for the comment!!
- AnonymousAugust 9, 2009 at 9:14 PM
pete rosales had to wait behind edwin....now he's got rolen.ReplyDelete
Hey Anon,ReplyDelete
Yeah, Rosales isn't likely to take the starting job any time soon. In theory he had an opportunity to win the job when Edwin scuffled and got injured, but long-term Rosales profiles better as a utility infielder.
Still, I'm a bit surprised that he has struggled at the plate as much as he has. He had a nice game today, so maybe he's ready to turn the corner.
Thanks for the comment.


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The growing popularity of online education suggests that more and more people are discovering its inherent advantages. The survey, "Going the Distance: Online Education in the United States, 2011," reveals that more than 6 million students take at least one online course. The growth of online education exceeds the growth of higher education overall.
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The business world has spawned a number of professional populations that are hypercompetitive and hungry for career traction. Business professionals, nurses, educators, and engineers turn to online degrees to further their education and qualifications. In addition, many traditional brick-and-mortar universities have rolled out online degree programs of their own, adding legitimacy to this mode of education. For instance, elite universities such as Harvard and Yale have launched their own online programs.
But it is not simply for altruistic purposes that these schools have set their sights on distance learning. An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education argues that online education is going mainstream, and that the classroom of the future will encompass face-to-face learning, online learning, and hybrid varieties. Schools will expand into online realms because higher education is big business, and they must do so to remain on the cutting edge.
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Online shopping may promise savings and discounts, but an online education unfortunately does not always offer the cheapest education. The cost of online programs is, generally speaking, on par with the cost of on-campus credit hours. However, students can expect to save on commuting costs, room and board fees, and other miscellaneous academic fees that can boost the cost of attendance. The cost of an online degree can vary based on factors such as the quality of the online institution and the program.
When these metrics are alike, tuition ñ the actual cost for the academic portion of a college education ñ is surprisingly similar. Students who enroll in online classes often have the option to pay for courses as they take them, or per term or semester. This affords many consumers a big financial break, a payment schedule that to some appears to be a cut-rate tuition.
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Employers have been among the last holdouts and the greatest skeptics regarding degrees earned online. Historically, some have been reluctant to hire graduates who hold these degrees. Most have automatically assumed the worst ó that "online" means fake, like degrees from diploma mills. In addition, media coverage of high-level professionals found to have phony degrees on their resumes has set many employers on alert when it comes to anything online. However, the tide is turning.
While more research needs to be conducted in this area, a report by the Imagine America Foundation found that the degrees and certificates of career colleges, whether earned online or not, are now widely recognized by many employers. As more employers become familiar with the legitimacy of online degrees, and the fact that many online degree programs offer rigorous course work and a high-quality education experience, their willingness to hire graduates who earned their degrees online will increase.

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Telerik's Premium Collection for .NET, this year's recipient of the Jolt Product Excellence Award in the Application Libraries and Frameworks category, is both deep and wide. It's deep in that the components included deftly handle a significant number of common developer needs. It's wide in that the covers the range of Microsoft platforms including ASP.NET, Silverlight, Windows Forms, and WPF. Telerik rounds the package out with additional libraries for report generation, object relational mapping, and code analysis.
There's the usual array of customizable, skinnable editors, trackbars, tree views, menus, grids and so forth. There is also an impressive set of charting, scheduling, and data visualization components. We Jolt Award judges were particularly impressed with the Telerik Presentation Framework that lets you achieve WPF-like visual effects in standard Windows Forms applications.
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The Kaiser Family Foundation's latest poll finds:
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The Blog Hop begins at Kim Hughes' blog. She is linking to one of the designers and that designer is linking to the next and so on. There are 12 design team members, so be prepared to be inspired along the way. Hidden on 5 of the blogs is a Zva Creative prize package! Those blogs will be randomly chosen after the hop is over, so it's important to leave a comment on as many blogs as you can. Our team is so wonderfully diverse, so we are hoping that you will discover a talent that you have not been aware of.
This Blog Hop runs through midnight on Tuesday, December 8th and the 5 winners will be announced on Wednesday, December 9th. We will do our best to notify each winner, but it's best if you can pop in to all of the blogs once again on Wednesday...plus, you never know what kind of inspirational creation that you may find there. All you need to do is leave a comment on this Zva Blog Hop post...you do not need to leave a comment on each and every designer's blog post to qualify. The more times you leave a comment along the blog hop path though, the more chances you will have to be one of the lucky winners.
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This Month's Pick
Staff Member: Bekky M.
Department: Marketing
Dog: Apollo (aka "Lito"), 6 yr old Miniature Pinscher
Discipline: Hunter/Jumper
I adopted Apollo about a year ago from a rescue organization for Miniature Pinschers. When I went to pick him up, I instantly fell in love. He rode home from Maine on my lap the whole car ride like he had known me his entire life. I knew he was a little chunky, but when I got him home to meet his new sister Penny (my first Miniature Pinscher who I have had since she was a puppy), I realized that standing next to her, Apollo was definitely in need of a diet. Penny was a little apprehensive to have a new brother after being an only child for the first 5 years of her life, but now they are the best of friends. People ask all the time if they are from the same litter (they are both 6 years old now) and they look enough alike now that they honestly could be!
Apollo's PortionPaksApollo's diet starts with Wellness Super5Mix® Complete Health Lamb, Barley and Salmon Meal Recipe in PortionPaks. I absolutely LOVE PortionPaks because they are premeasured and each meal I open a sealed bag, so I know the food is always fresh. Apollo and Penny eat the same kibble but their PortionPaks do not contain the same amount of kibble. It is much simpler to feed from PortionPaks that are labeled with each dog's name, the name of the food and the amount of food in each Pak. The bonus is that when I go somewhere with them or they stay with their grandparents, the feeding instructions couldn't be easier…open and pour!
Apollo's Meals Continued…
I am a firm believer that dogs should not be on a kibble-only diet. Kibble is high in carbohydrates (yes, even the highest quality kibble) and dogs don't generally need excess carbs unless they are working dogs or getting a ton of exercise. In addition to his PortionPaks, Apollo also gets the LiveSmart Harvest Mix and LiveSmart Hearty Salmon Stew. I added the LiveSmart Harvest Mix to Apollo's meals to add some fruits and vegetables to his diet. He absolutely loves the taste and I love that he is getting all the benefits that come with fruits and veggies without the hassle of having to cut them up. The LiveSmart Hearty Salmon Stew is Apollo's absolute favorite. He goes nuts for it, jumping up and down on his hind legs when he sees the shiny foil pouch come out at dinner time. I feed the stew because it a healthy human-grade protein source, the most important part of the meal for a dog. The salmon variety gives him additional omega 3s which have countless health benefits including giving him a shiny, healthy coat. Apollo also receives the Fruitables Pumpkin Digestive Supplement with his meals. I like it because it is a high-fiber, low calorie addition to his meal, allowing me to give him less kibble which really helped to get the excess weight off of him. The pumpkin also helps with digestion and contains B-vitamins, beta carotenes, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C and E. You may read this and think I'm a little excessive but my dogs are very healthy and rarely need to go to the vet (other than for their annual exams), which I believe has to do greatly with their diet.
Apollo's Canine SmartPaks
Apollo's Canine SmartPaks include: SmartCanine™ Joint & SmartCanine™ Digestion.
Even though Apollo doesn't have any noticeable joint discomfort, I feed SmartCanine Joint in order to lessen his chances of developing joint problems down the road. Because he was overweight, he was also dealing with a bit more stress on his joints than he should have been.Apollo also came to me with a sensitive stomach and a chicken intolerance. I started him on SmartCanine™ Digestion because I knew I would be changing his diet and wanted to prevent as much stomach upset as possible. The probiotics and digestive enzymes made the food transition a breeze and I have decided to keep both Apollo and Penny on these supplements to make sure they are getting and utilizing all the nutrients from their food.
Why Bekky Uses Canine SmartPaks
I started using Canine SmartPaks because of the convenience. With PortionPaks, pouches of stew and Canine SmartPaks, feeding couldn't be easier. Apollo's feeding regiment seems a bit complicated but with Canine SmartPaks, each supplement is appropriately dosed, sealed for freshness and ready when I need them because they are on an auto-ship program. My friends and family are always amazed at my dogs' healthy meals. Now if only I could train myself to eat so well!


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Diverse It GetsPublished 13 years, 1 month ago
This post is probably going to get me burnt to a tiny, mewling crisp, but that's okay. I can take it.
I also want to make it very clear that what I write here reflects my personal views. It does not in any fashion represent the official policy of An Event Apart LLC or its associated conferences. However, it's obviously the case that, as a co-founder of the company and an organizer of said conferences, my views influence what happens there. Just don't think for an instant that I speak for Jeffrey in this, nor that I am declaring official company policy. This one's all me.
So, here it is: as a conference organizer, I don't care about diversity.
All right. Take a minute to reduce the boil in your blood to a bare simmer, and bear with me. I'm going to explain what I mean, and illustrate as best I can. I hope that by the end, you'll better understand my point of view, even if you don't agree with it.
Yesterday, Jason Kottke posted the percentage of female speakers at recent and upcoming web conferences. I note he didn't include the one-day Event Aparts from last year, where our speaker lists ranged from 0% female (most of them) to 25% female (Austin) to 40% female (Seattle), but that's okay. Maybe he was only considering "bigger" conferences. Early on, he wrote:
Each time this issue is raised, you see conference organizers publicly declare that they tried, that diversity is a very important issue, and that they are going to address it the next time around.
Well, I'm hereby bucking that trend. In my personal view, diversity is not of itself important, and I don't feel that I have anything to address next time around. What's important is technical expertise, speaking skills, professional stature, brand appropriateness, and marketability. That's it. That's always been the alpha and omega of my thinking, and it will continue to be so the next time, and time after that, and the time after that.
You'll note that nowhere in that list do you find gender, race, creed, or any other such parameter. Those things are completely unimportant to me when organizing a conference. (Or, really, when I'm doing almost anything.) Hopefully, you'll also note that I have not said that speakers should always be white males. If that's what you think not caring about diversity means, then sorry, you're wrong. At least you're wrong in my case. I can't speak for others.
I will admit that we've seen a little bit of pushback on this issue. The gender imbalance of the upcoming Boston show was pointed out to us by one of the speakers, and I'm sure someone's eventually going to ask us where the women are in Seattle.
I'll slightly sidetrack to address Seattle, since it illustrates one aspect of how speaker lists are decided. With Web Directions North just concluded in Vancouver, we made a tactical decision to try not to repeat any speakers from WDN at our Seattle show. Retaliation? Nope; simple marketing. If our Seattle speaker list looked like even a partial re-run of WDN, then where's the incentive to go to AEA? Unfortunately, that left us fairly high and dry with regard to many of the best-known names in our field, including the best-known women. Nothing against the WDN crew: we're all friends here; they had the earlier show; and nobody held a gun to our heads and forced us to go to Seattle in June. That's just how things turned out.
So that left us four women down in terms of who we could consider inviting to Seattle. You might say: well, that's fine, but what about getting other women on stage?
Okay, who?
Before you answer, remember that An Event Apart is a web development best practices conference. Our brand promises to bring you the biggest names in the field of standards-oriented design and closely related fields, and to have those people talk about what they see next, to push the envelope just a little further out, to show the audience old things in new ways, and so on. Therefore, it relies on populating the stage with widely known and respected people, on having speakers who are instantly recognizable as relevant to what the attendees do and what they want to learn.
So someone might suggest that we invite, say, Natalie Jeremijenko. I'd immediately sit bolt upright with interest: I love her stuff. She's the kind of artist-engineer-hacker I would want to be if I were to choose that sort of career path. Her ideas and projects completely fascinate me. I would love to see her present on what she's doing and thinking and seeing in the world, and to have the chance to meet her in person and express my deep and abiding admiration.
But then the conference organizer in me would slump back. She's not well known in the web design/development field, and she doesn't really work in that field anyway. As brilliant and talented and amazing and wonderful and female as she is, she doesn't belong on our stage. Other stages, absolutely! (If MAKE: ever does a conference, they'd be idiots not to invite her.) But not ours.
Call that decision a manifestation of old-boy clubbiness if you want, but it isn't. It's the natural result of defining a brand and sticking to it. Should Slipknot be the opening act for a Tim McGraw/Faith Hill tour? Should Rick Santorum be the opening keynote at the Democratic National Convention? Should I be a speaker at the Blog Business Summit? Should men be on stage at BlogHer?
Look at the authors of the best-selling books in the field. Look at the folks behind the most widely followed web sites. Look at the names that come up whenever someone asks who are the most respected and influential people in web design and development. How many are female?
A few. Not many. (And most of them spoke in Vancouver.) So is the gender imbalance in the eye of the organizers, or is it in the very fabric of the industry?
Allow me to illustrate by way of digression. A couple of years back, I was asked to do a book project that I couldn't take on. So I posted here, asking people what recognized names in the industry they'd recommend to write such a book. I got over one hundred responses before I closed the comments. Know how many women's names I got? Six out of fifty-six; that's about 10.7%. Two of those women landed in the top ten, and the rest got a mention or two. (Anne van Kesteren doesn't count, since he's male; he's also Dutch.)
Still, we might take that list and assume that of the most respected names in the CSS field, 11% are women. You might conclude, then, that any CSS-centric conference (which AEA is not, but bear with me) should never have less than 11% female speakers. Fine. So that also means that no CSS-centric conference should have less than 89% male speakers, right?
Hey, how come the room got so suddenly quiet? And why all the pitchforks?
For me, when it comes to planning an A-list conference, I look for A-list speakers, by which I mean speakers who will be regarded as A-list by our audience—the same audience that came up with a list of 56 people, 10.7% of which were female and 89.3% of which were male.
For that matter, it's very important that our speakers be good public speakers. Bobby or Bobbi Speaker could be the very top name in their area of expertise, but if they're a train wreck on stage, then no thanks. In our internal discussions, we've rejected some names because they are known to be poor speakers. (They were all men, as if that matters.) We've also pursued some speakers who we know are simply fantastic on stage. (From both sexes, as if that matters.)
So, like I said before, when I'm thinking about a speaker list, I care about expertise, speaking skills, stature, appropriateness, and marketability. I'm just not interested in a person's plumbing. I care about what they know, how they're perceived in the industry, how well they fit the conference's brand, and how well they do on stage.
Now, here's where you get to show me my blind spots: let me know who has been overlooked by conferences in general, female or otherwise, and why they shouldn't be overlooked any more. As an organizer, I'm interested for the usual business and brand reasons; personally, I want to know because I always want to learn new things and hear from new voices. I'll absolutely give consideration to any name you mention for AEA speakership—but everyone will be considered using the same set of criteria, and their plumbing isn't part of that set.
Addendum 24 Feb 07: my poor use of language created a massive ambiguity which has left many with the wrong impression. I used "diversity" to mean mostly "gender diversity", as it was used in the piece to which I was responding. I did not say, nor did I mean to leave the impression I was saying, that I am uninterested in conceptual diversity, diversity of thought. It seems that I did leave that impression, and for misleading others, I very much apologize. (That the misleading was unintentional is beside the point.)


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It was rather obvious early, the Cubs offense was awfully disinterested in this one. Wandy Rodriguez and the cold temperatures combined to keep the Cubs at bay as they could only manage two hits all night. The Cubs opportunity came in the seventh inning when they put the first two on, and then loaded the bases with one out only to come up empty. It really was a story of one inning both ways tonight for the Cubs as Edwin Jackson was decent except for the fourth inning. Jackson struggled with his command in the fourth and gave up two runs in the frame which was more than enough for the Pirates in this one.
At The Plate – How many ways can I say bad? I guess I'll just leave it at that, the Cubs approach and the subsequent results or lack there of left a lot to be desired. Alfonso Soriano and Alberto Gonzalez were the only Cubs to register hits in this one, both singles.
On The Mound – Edwin Jackson was really good early, then got into deep count after deep count and had to exit after five innings of work. Jackson gave up two runs on three hits while walking one and striking out five in his Cubs debut. Hector Rondon made his Major League debut, tossing a scoreless inning while walking two, and striking out two. Michael Bowden gave up one run in his inning of work on two hits. Shawn Camp and Hasanori Takahashi each had scoreless outings.
Up Next – The rubber game of the series. Travis Wood will take on James McDonald at 11:35 AM CST, love morning baseball! Look for the normal Cubs lineup sans Welington Castillo tomorrow.
Stat Of The Night – Here I will feature a stat, either from the game, or a trend, could be good, or bad, or alarming. Tonight it's alarming, the Cubs are 0-for-13 as a team with RISP, yikes.
Game Highlights:
The Cubs had two hits, there are no highlights worth watching, I promise.
Thanks for reading,
– George


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One day after Steve Stephens shot a video announcing his intent to commit murder, followed by the posting of video of the fatal shooting of Robert Godwin, Facebook has responded with a full statement and timeline.
From Justin Osofsky, VP of Global Operations for Facebook:
On Sunday morning, a man in Cleveland posted a video of himself announcing his intent to commit murder, then two minutes later posted another video of himself shooting and killing an elderly man. A few minutes after that, he went live, confessing to the murder. It was a horrific crime — one that has no place on Facebook, and goes against our policies and everything we stand for.
As a result of this terrible series of events, we are reviewing our reporting flows to be sure people can report videos and other material that violates our standards as easily and quickly as possible. In this case, we did not receive a report about the first video, and we only received a report about the second video — containing the shooting — more than an hour and 45 minutes after it was posted. We received reports about the third video, containing the man's live confession, only after it had ended.
We disabled the suspect's account within 23 minutes of receiving the first report about the murder video, and two hours after receiving a report of any kind. But we know we need to do better.
This is Facebook's 'Timeline of Events':
2:09 PM EDT — First video, of intent to murder, uploaded. Not reported to Facebook.
2:11 PM EDT — Second video, of shooting, uploaded.
2:22 PM EDT — Suspect confesses to murder while using Live, is live for 5 minutes.
2:27 PM EDT — Live ends, and Live video is first reported shortly after.
3:59 PM EDT — Video of shooting is first reported.
4:22 PM EDT — Suspect's account disabled; all videos no longer visible to public.
Facebook ended its statement with the following: Keeping our global community safe is an important part of our mission. We are grateful to everyone who reported these videos and other offensive content to us, and to those who are helping us keep Facebook safe every day.


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© ® The Nobel Foundation
IPCC honoured with the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize
Phone: +41-22-730-8208/84 e-mail:
Many climatic impacts are related to extreme weather events, and the same will
hold for the impacts of climate change. The large damage potential of extreme
events arises from their severity, suddenness, and unpredictability, which makes
them difficult to adapt to. Development patterns can increase vulnerability
to extreme events. For example, large development along coastal regions increases
exposure to storm surges and tropical cyclones, increasing vulnerability.
The frequency and magnitude of many extreme climate events increase even with
a small temperature increase and will become greater at higher temperatures
(high confidence). Extreme events include, for example, floods, soil moisture
deficits, tropical cyclones, storms, high temperatures, and fires. The impacts
of extreme events often are large locally and could strongly affect specific
sectors and regions. Increases in extreme events can cause critical design or
natural thresholds to be exceeded, beyond which the magnitude of impacts increases
rapidly (high confidence). Multiple nonextreme consecutive events also can be
problematic because they can lessen adaptive capacity by depleting reserves
of insurance and reinsurance companies. [8, 220.127.116.11]
An increase in the frequency and magnitude of extreme events would have adverse
effects throughout sectors and regions. Agriculture and water resources may
be particularly vulnerable to changes in hydrological and temperature extremes.
Coastal infrastructure and ecosystems may be adversely affected by changes in
the occurrence of tropical cyclones and storm surges. Heat-related mortality
is likely to increase with higher temperatures; cold-related mortality is likely
to decrease. Floods may lead to the spread of water-related and vector-borne
diseases, particularly in developing countries. Many of the monetary damages
from extreme events will have repercussions on a broad scale of financial institutions,
from insurers and reinsurers to investors, banks, and disaster relief funds.
Changes in the statistics of extreme events have implications for the design
criteria of engineering applications (e.g., levee banks, bridges, building design,
and zoning), which are based on estimates of return periods, and for assessment
of the economic performance and viability of particular enterprises that are
affected by weather. [22.214.171.124]
Human-induced climate change has the potential to trigger large-scale changes
in Earth systems that could have severe consequences at regional or global scales.
The probabilities of triggering such events are poorly understood but should
not be ignored, given the severity of their consequences. Events of this type
that might be triggered include complete or partial shutdown of the North Atlantic
and Antarctic Deep Water formation, disintegration of the West Antarctic and
Greenland Ice Sheets, and major perturbations of biosphere-regulated carbon
dynamics. Determining the timing and probability of occurrence of large-scale
discontinuities is difficult because these events are triggered by complex interactions
between components of the climate system. The actual discontinuous impact could
lag the trigger by decades to centuries. These triggers are sensitive to the
magnitude and rate of climate change. Large temperature increases have the potential
to lead to large-scale discontinuities in the climate system (medium confidence).
These discontinuities could cause severe impacts on the regional and even global
scale, but indepth impact analyses are still lacking. Several climate model
simulations show complete shutdown of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation
with high warming. Although complete shutdown may take several centuries to
occur, regional shutdown of convection and significant weakening of the thermohaline
circulation may take place within the next century. If this were to occur, it
could lead to a rapid regional climate change in the North Atlantic region,
with major societal and ecosystem impacts. Collapse of the West Antarctic Ice
Sheet would lead to a global sea-level rise of several meters, which may be
very difficult to adapt to. Although the disintegration might take many hundreds
of years, this process could be triggered irreversibly in the next century.
The relative magnitude of feedback processes involved in cycling of carbon through
the oceans and the terrestrial biosphere is shown to be distorted by increasing
temperatures. Saturation and decline of the net sink effect of the terrestrial
biospherewhich is projected to occur over the next centuryin step
with similar processes, could lead to dominance of positive feedbacks over negative
ones and strong amplification of the warming trend. [220.127.116.11]
Table of contents
IPCC Homepage


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Perfidy and terror in the slaying of Soleimani
Climate paralysis and Morrison's fall
Impeached Trump is the symptom, not the cause
Human rights for the climate 'apocalypse'
"As the light dimmed, I was struck by a thrilling realisation: I could carry this miraculous event with me wherever I went."
"Could we go just one day without having to deal with white ignorance?"
"Human rights are often legitimately criticised as elite liberal tools that work to uphold the status quo, but we need them right now more than ever."
"Going to seek medical help shouldn't compound marginalised people's trauma."
Trump had asked the Iraqis to mediate with the Iranians and Soleimani, one of Iran's most respected generals and emissaries, was there for the purpose. If this is true, and no-one from the US side has denied it, this was that most ancient of perfidies — a murder under a flag of parley.
With the killing of Soleimani, the US has signalled a redrawing of accepted lines in international combat and diplomacy. Most significantly, the killing will be a lightning rod for attacks this decision was meant to prevent even as it assists Iranian policy in expelling any vestige of US influence in Iraq and the broader Middle East.
Here is why the Morrison government was so slow off the mark: to acknowledge the unprecedented nature of these fires is to concede that there is something happening to the climate. The only way to downplay the reality of climate change, was to downplay the severity of the fires themselves.
In a turn of events predicted since he announced his candidacy for President, Donald Trump has been impeached. But this impeachment, and even Trump's removal from office, will do nothing to quell the reality that the world is actively electing aggressively oppressive candidates, not only despite their violence, but also because of it.
Tired and world weary, the British electorate went to the polls. Rarely in history can there have been such an assemblage of unelectable or disappointing types standing for office or trying to remain in it. It proved to be an ugly boredom, though it was uglier for some than others.
To nominate Greta Thunberg the most significant person of 2019 is not to canonise her, still less to say that her way of pressing for action to address climate change is the only way. But her intransigence and single-minded focus are needed to mobilise the support necessary to make politicians act responsibly.
Outside, a Martian-red haze kisses the windows. An ode to the future perhaps. Most of the people present are already aware of the Medevac repeal decision. The room is heavy with silence, the mood is sombre, but far from resigned. We want change, and are willing to have a crack at demanding it.
From the minute we enter the education system, we experience barriers. We are segregated when we arrive at primary school, placed in 'special' units or classes. Here our needs are subsumed into the collective needs of the group. From the outset our educational outcomes are at the whim of the people who are in the position of power.
The Society of Jesus in Victoria, Jesuit Communications Christmas Raffle 2019 Drawn on Thursday 5 December 2019 (Permit No 10590/19). Congratulations to the winners: 1st prize: L. Daphne, VIC; 2nd prize: A. Curran, Qld; 3rd prize: D. Sasse, Vic. All winners have been notified directly.
This year the contrast between the original story of Christmas and its Australian circumstances has cut even deeper. Bushfires have taken lives, destroyed properties and spread smoke and ash over cities. If the theme of the first Christmas was one of hope and joy, behind the bushfires this year lurks anxiety about the future of the world.
What's going on within the Catholic Church always matters more widely given its size and power. Lay participation in leadership, especially of women, is a major social issue. Observers of social trends should watch this space for its wider public policy implications.
This would not be accepted by the extremist Catholics who threw an Amazonian indigenous icon of a pregnant indigenous woman into the Tiber River. But the Pope is right to honour the prior religious practises of the Amazonians, just as the Bishop of Darwin supports a process that has seen the development of Altyerre-Catholicism.
The Liberals and Nationals have to find a way forward that balances the interests of their supporters with serving the national good. Old arguments and ideological stands need to be re-examined. The PM needs to enable a real debate.
Toxic air, dwindling water supplies, extreme heat: it's bleak stuff. And yet, on Sunday, COP25 finished with very little progress. Our planet will warm to +3C or higher, unless we also do something about the vested interests that continue to profit from our demise. And they aren't going to give up their power (or profits) just because we ask nicely.
As we pare back more and more, I have started to realise that there is a risk in taking things too far. The consumer orgy of the past may have been unsightly, but gift giving itself also serves a valuable social function, and we may be at risk of throwing out the baby with the bath water.
Stopping along a ridge, we beheld the Garhwal Himalaya range as it came into view: a tumble of mountains crowned on the horizon by an irregular, saw-toothed range ... In that brief moment between sunrise and daylight, when a once-secretive world would be illuminated, our wonder at the world was multiplied many times over.
It rose in its tall verticals from the grace and welcome of the earth, / That swooned far, far below, / As canny masons hefted the limestone / Into vast beatitudes of grace; / Shipwrights inverted their minds to groom the oak, / So that it would soar, / As if a celtic monk had charmed a serpent into a holy phrase.
Dance and music are as innate as breathing. Babies dance while in the womb, and the Yuletide can be prime time for 'playing music, singing and dancing [as a] healthy outlet for their emotions'. As William Stafford observed, kids dance 'before they learn there is anything that isn't music'.
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More than 80% of modern-age users research products (and services) online before making a final decision whether to make a purchase or not. Naturally, you want your target customers to land on your website when in need of the solution you can provide an answer to. SEO can help you appear in their search results and inspire them to click on your website, and not one of your competitors. GWM search engine optimisation services will help you rank high in search results, collect recommendations about your business, etc. all with our on-page and off-page efforts.
If you are willing to devote time and energy to it – certainly – but it is hardly possible to achieve results as good as a professional SEO agency would deliver. Namely, search engines are constantly updating their algorithms, and in order to keep track you have to be on top of your digital marketing game at all times, which is hardly possible with all other responsibilities you have as a business owner. In order to carry out a successful digital marketing campaign, you need to be an SEO expert, content marketer, web designer and developer who is at all times present on all social media platforms. Doesn't it sound like a lot of work? The complexity of the process and the amount of time it takes to execute is precisely why the majority of people choose to outsource all of their online marketing needs to an expert SEO agency.
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At Green Web Marketing, we take advantage of several digital marketing tools to determine the quality of a backlink we build for our clients. Here is what we take into consideration:
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No. Not if you hire GWM as your digital marketing consultant, that is. We perform only ethical SEO services and steer away from black hat and outdated online marketing tactics that do not really yield any (long term) results.
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The costs of our services vary depending on your business, the plan we come up with and the amount of work involved into setting up and executing your campaign. We cannot set one universal rate for all of our services, as each client comes with a unique set of needs. Our prices are very competitive, and you can contact us to get a free no obligation quote.
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The next part of your orientation experience is to attend Ram Welcome! All new students are expected to attend Ram Welcome. Build upon your orientation experience and begin your successful adjustment to Colorado State University by exploring academic programs, meeting faculty and staff, learning about the many services available to support your college experience, becoming part of the CSU campus community, connecting with other new and current students, learning traditions and discovering what it means to be a CSU Ram! The Ram Welcome program is a campus-wide coordinated effort that brings the entire campus community together to welcome new students at the start of each semester.
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58 modern mid century kitchen remodel ideas
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Working on a wave.
Desksurfing gives you the freedom to work where you want. And who you want to work with. Desksurfing is coworking - at any given place.
Find your favourite workspot. And change it whenever the surf feels right.
Offer a desk at your office. And share your spot with creative professionals.
You have a coworking desk to share but no login yet? Submit a new desk
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Jonas Öberg
Jonas Öberg is a co-founder of the Free Software Foundation Europe. Between 2001 and 2008 he served as the foundation's vice president, and between 2015 and 2018 as the foundation's Executive Director.
With a background in mathematics and software engineering, he has been a Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow, working on the Elog.io project to create a global provenance repository for creative works and worked as Creative Commons' regional coordinator in Europe.
Before this, he taught courses in Free Software on a university level, with a focus on philosophical issues of Free Software, as well as lectured in software engineering. He built up the conference FSCONS in its original form and was the chief webmaster for the GNU Project in the late 90s.
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Home > All > Attenuators & RF Switches > Fixed Attenuators
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Moskaf Uttgard, August 21st , 2019.
This is the place Tom Ford actual virtuoso appeared. Before he started as Creative Director, the organization was seeing dormant deals and was losing piece of the overall industry. In Fords first year at the Gucci steerage he was credited with returning the marvelousness to mold as a result of the spearheading design patterns he presented, for example, the Halston-style velvet hipsters. By 1999, the house, which had been practically bankrupt when Ford joined, was esteemed at about $4.3 billion. Gucci purchased an enthusiasm for Yves Saint Laurent amid Ford time there, and he was delegated their Creative Director too. Be that as it may, in a surprising unforeseen development Tom Ford left Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent in 2004 after a difference over his agreement. From that point forward Tom Ford has tumbled off of the style business radar… up to this point.
Never again do you need to invest overabundance energy or cash with cleans that are essentially worthy. You get the opportunity to pick in vogue cleans that are in high request since they look incredible and feel better. Is it accurate to say that you are taking advantage of your style scours? Actually not every single therapeutic expert look comparable to they could. Frayed sews, free strings, and stains expostulate the estimation of your cleans, and consequently, brings down progressively close to home sort qualities. You need to feel and look extraordinary, and with the correct style scours, you can have everything. Lets be honest, you most likely experience a great deal of cleans. That is a piece of being in the restorative business. You acknowledge the reality, however that does not mean you need to invest more energy or cash than should be expected getting style scours to accommodate your way of life and decisions.
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CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena doesn't mince words when he talks about the importance of Omar Gonzalez to the defense.
"We haven't lost a game since he's been back in, so it definitely means something," he said with a straight face after training on Wednesday. "We're a little unlucky not to have a few more shutouts, but he does mean a lot.
"He's a player that's been viewed as an All-Star player in the league, so whenever you lose a player of that quality it hurts."
Gonzalez, a third-year pro out of the University of Maryland and 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year, missed the first three games of the 2011 season with a strained right shoulder. He made his first appearance of the year in a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on April 2 and has been his usual fixture on the back line since.
"That first game back was tough for me," he said. "It was my first game of the season and it was the second or third for everyone else, and I really wanted to have a positive impact. There were some nerves there, but I think I did well and I've been playing like me ever since."
LA have allowed just two goals in the last four games heading into Saturday night's clash against the expansion Portland Timbers at The Home Depot Center. The 22-year-old central defender also scored his first goal of the season on a header in last Sunday's 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire and quickly has rounded into top form.
WATCH: Gonzalez gets the game-winner
His teammate on the back line, veteran left back Todd Dunivant, said Gonzalez's presence in the lineup is critical to the Galaxy's success.
"He's huge, such a big body back there," Dunivant said of the 6-foot-5, 205-pounder. "I think his speed is underrated. I don't think people give him enough credit for that. He covers a lot of ground, too.
"He's obviously very important for us. He's dangerous on set pieces and he's coming into his own."
Gonzalez's presence is even more critical now, given that the Galaxy lost his partner in central defense, Leonardo, to a season-ending knee injury, and he feels he's close to 100 percent. He would just rather not be watching from the sideline again.
The three games he missed this season were the first ones he's missed because of injury since he came into the league in 2009. He played all 30 of the club's games that season and then missed just two games in 2010 because of yellow card accumulation.
"We tried to tell him it's a long season and it was just three games," Dunivant said. "It's never happened to him before, but it's not going to be the last time and it's something he's going to have to deal with.
"He's come back, he was smart the first couple of games just keeping things simple and now you can really start to see him excel again."
Not a moment too soon, Gonzalez said.
"That just really hurt me personally," he said about his three-game absence this season. "Those were the first games that I've missed. For me to get hurt was tough, but I just fought through it and focused on getting back, and now I'm back."


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with Joy Nash and Sweet Machine.
And a cameraman from MTV.
Weird and awesome.
Also saw Joy perform the Fat Rant live in this show, which was terrific. Lots of great monologues, including a killer one by the Fruit, who was also delightful in person.
And after I squealed about hanging out with OMG JOY NASH!!!, we walked into a bar and found the lovely Kelly and Miranda, who also went OMG JOY NASH!!!, and then Joy introduced me, and it turned out they read the blog! I met fucking fans! Hi, Kelly and Miranda!
I realized on the way home that MTV dude never had me sign a release, so I have no idea if that means he has no intention of using the footage of me, or he just forgot. So I may or may not be on the teevee. If I am, you will see me acting TOTALLY NATURAL as I talk to Joy while staring over her shoulder at the camera and then try to angle myself so the guy can't film my profile or back fat. Because I am all about accepting my body, yo.
And because I know this was your first question when you read the word "cameraman," I wore my aqua Svoboda Shauna top (purchased very much on sale), a black Michael Kors matte jersey skirt (from TJ Maxx), Franco Sarto heels, and a big-ass paisley bag from Gap Outlet, which I chose because it fit the Franco Sarto heels, along with everything else I needed. I actually wore Nordstrom ballet flats for most of the night, but I brought the heels because I wanted to look TOTALLY NATURAL on camera.
I totally didn't stand right in the street and redo all my make-up before the camera started rolling, either. Because this was about REALITY.
And the reality is, Joy Nash is just as fucking awesome in person as she is on the YouTube, and man, do I ever wish she lived in Chicago.
That is all.


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Helium quality
22.86 cm
Package 144
These helium quality balloons are excellent for all types of parties or events. Add some coordinating latex or foil balloons for a beautiful balloon bouquet. PLEASE notice that the manufacturer name for the color may be different.
Please note that the balloons do not ship inflated. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD –Children under 8 yrs. can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision required. Keep uninflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once.
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Where is this?
How well do you know Leeds?
- Brunel
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Thu 20 Mar, 2008 12:34 pm
Re: Where is this?
The only routes running to Corn Exchange were the Stanningley/ Armley group of routes and Rothwell route
- Posts: 1839
- Joined: Sun 17 May, 2009 10:09 am
Re: Where is this?
I wonder if they used the return loop below the Guinness clock Brunel?
Last edited by jim on Tue 12 Jun, 2018 12:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Fri 11 Mar, 2016 6:00 pm
Re: Where is this?
Hello everyone, just to clarify the picture. Below is an image taken from google street showing the location as it is today.
again many thanks for the input.
again many thanks for the input.
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- Brunel
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Thu 20 Mar, 2008 12:34 pm
Re: Where is this?
Good guess about Rothwell it was running on West Riding metals on route 25 The route was a branch of the Leeds to Wakefield line which was operated by LCT as part of allowing West Riding trams to run over Leeds rails from Thwaite Gate to Corn Exchange.
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Everyone knows how exciting camping in a truck can be. Removal And Storage Companies in Johannesburg south nothing can be better than enjoying the nature by yourself. Having your own spacious ride further supplements the experience. Sleeping in your own truck while enjoying the fresh air is an amazing thing to do if traveling is in your blood. However, it is imperative to have a truck bed tent to ensure a pleasant camping experience. Often we consider securing the tent on the ground using ropes. Setting up such tent can be inconvenient.
Truck bed tents come with a number of benefits that every camper is well aware of. Nevertheless, Best Nationwide Moving Companies there are numerous options available in the market when it comes to purchasing a Tacoma bed tent. This creates confusion while choosing the best one. Here are some factors everyone must consider while purchasing a truck bed tent: Type There is a wide variety of truck tents to choose from but the ideal one depends entirely on the type of ride. Additional cargo space hatchback tents are the most appropriate for smaller SUVs and vehicles.
Tents designed for pickup trucks can be utilized as well but it is advisable to go for a model that is easier to install. Universal camping tents are available for frequent travelers that can fit on any type and size of the vehicle. Size Size is an important factor to take into account. Even though the size of the tent will depend on your vehicle but make sure you choose a truck bed tent that has enough space for you to sleep comfortably. One of the general rules you can apply while purchasing your option is that select a truck bed tent that has the capacity to accommodate more than one needed.
8 Benefits of Social Media to Boost your Business
Durability It is important to look into how durable a truck bed tent is. During the camping experience, you will face harsh climate. There are models designed to protect from external aspects. Go for wind-proof, water-proof and stormproof models. This will enhance the overall comfort. Moreover, Long Distance Residential Movers the overall durability also affects how long your tent will last. If you consider your truck bed tent as an investment, then go for the most durable option in the market. Seasonality Truck bed tents are also designed according to their seasonality. There are usually three season tents in common.
These tents are designed for camping in summer, spring and fall. They are designed to maintain good airflow with sufficient ventilation. Four season tents are designed to resist snow and a bit of cold as well. If you want a tent for camping in winters, then choose four season tent. Features Not all truck bed tents are designed in the same manner. All are not created equal. Each tent has different features associated with it. A tent featuring more facilities would cost a bit higher. Nevertheless, consider the height and length of the truck. This will depend on how tall you are. Another important consideration contains tent poles. Normally, the poles are made of lightweight and durable material like fibreglass and aluminium. Choose tent poles that are ideal for camping.
Aluminum poles are the most common option since they can withstand heavy winds. In today's day and age, we have a plethora of options to select from when it comes to purchasing Tacoma bed tents. There is a wide variety available each of them coming with its own set of features. However, consider the options above and make sure you choose it from a reputable retailer. Selecting the right option would enhance the overall experience. Conclusion: If you want to buy a new truck bed tent then you must have to follow the above-mentioned things in this way you will get a good truck bed tent that will fit your needs.
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If you have been thinking about opening your own client based business, you will need a place to meet with these patrons that is not in a packed coffeehouse or the basement of your own home. You want a professional, quiet meeting space to entice and land the client of your dreams. How are you going to make that happen with little finances, no office equipment or supplies, and no staff? It can be quite costly and scary to open yourself up to potential failure, but that is the only way to make your way in this world. Keep reading, and you will learn the difference between executive suites and standard office space rentals so that you can make the right decision for your business. Cost One of the most significant differences between executive suites and office space rentals is the cost difference. With a traditional office, you need to pay upfront a 12-month security deposit to lease or rent the office space. Most contracts are for a minimum of two years. How can you afford to lock yourself into a two-year contract when you do not know if you will succeed in the business you are starting? That is a lot of pressure to place on yourself. With an executive office, you will only have to pay a one-month security deposit and the minimum contract is for one month. This is much more realistic and will not break the bank if your small company does not expand as you hope it will. Appearance The next most substantial difference is the appearance of the office spaces. When signing the lease for a 2-year office space, you will be signing for an empty room. You now need to furnish the building as well as purchase office equipment, business supplies, hire a receptionist, and numerous other tasks just to get your business to have a grand opening. With a virtual office space, you will be getting a five-star address in the heart of the business district in the major city in which you live. You will also be getting a beautiful view, elegant meeting rooms with expensive furnishings, a fully functional prestigious office to immediately start using, and support staff to assist you in your endeavours. Communications Communications are critical in a startup business and a well-established company, respectively. With a traditional office space, you will need to set up internet service as well as communications for the telephone. With a conventional office space, you need to schedule these services and pay for them to be set up as well as continually pay for the service monthly after that. With a virtual business solution such as executive suites, you will have a state of the art telecommunications system readily available. Will be gaining global IT network that allows local, national, and international calls with many added features. You will also have a high-speed internet connection with a 99.9% uptime with a one to one ratio, a dedicated tier one bandwidth, as well as the most beneficial and reliable broadband service in the industry. Support With a traditional office space, you need to hire an office staff. That can take a lot of time and energy and limits you on when you can open your business. Not only will you have to go through the ad placement for help wanted, but you will also have to perform the interviewing, background checks, hiring, and provide benefits, this is both costly and time-consuming. With an executive office solution, you will gain a dedicated team and office management personnel. You generally will be provided with an office manager and a dedicated receptionist. In addition, you also will have staff who will deal directly with package deliveries, both incoming and outgoing, as well as mail couriers. Why Virtual Office Solutions and Executive Suites are the Answer for Your Business As a small or large business entrepreneur, you know you have to take risks to expand and be successful in business. Instead of going with the traditional office rental, why not look into more innovative and manageable solutions to your company office issues? Executive suites and virtual business solutions assist in this process by allowing you to get the needed physical location and services that you are wanting. Since the budget is usually the most substantial factor in business operations, using a virtual office should be a definite winner as you are not locked into an extended contract, and you do not have to pay a large sum of money up front. In addition, you will receive better communications, a great looking office with grand boardrooms, and all the help you need. Check into executive suites when starting or expanding your business!
Why Hire Moving Companies
When it comes to the decision of whether or not to bring your furniture along with you on your move or sell it off, you need to look at a few things. If the majority of your items have little to no sentimental value, sell them off before you move. You'll save a lot of money on the moving you need to do, and make some spending money for the trip as well. You may even get enough money to pay for your entire moving trip. If the items you have are high-end furniture you may want to take them along so you will not have to pay to replace them when you get to where you're going.
If you have the time to have a proper sale for your items, you'll end up making more money than if you are pressed for time and grab at the first decent offer you receive for your things. Put ads in any free newspapers or circulars in your neighborhood to let people know about your sale. Many of these free publications have little to no rules about the size or length of an ad to be placed, so you can feel free to list every single item you have - in detail if you like!
You should remember to take along whatever tools you have though, because chances are that whenever you get to your new place, there'll be furniture and appliances that will need putting together. With your newfound freedom from the old furniture, you can actually start to think about going out and getting some new things for your new life. This will have a therapeutic effect as you begin to settle into the newness all around you and start to make your new house a home. You can always decide to furnish your home with second hand furniture for the first little while until you can save enough money to buy the newer items you're dreaming of getting for your new home.


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Go ahead, call me crazy. Or antisocial. I don't mind, because I'll be over here feeling relaxed for the first holiday season since I can remember. And frankly, that's just more important to me these days.
Now, don't get me wrong; I'm not anti-holidays, and I'm not suggesting that everyone should follow my lead. But I do think that maybe holidays shouldn't be socially mandatory — that if you want to sit a year out here and there, that should be just fine, even a normal part of life.
Most of my life, I truly loved Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and all that came along with them. I found great joy in Christmas music, stuffing myself silly for two days straight at Thanksgiving, buying and/or making and wrapping presents, finding just the right tree and decorating it with the bulbs that are my family heirlooms. I almost always partied my old year out and my new year in, toasting as I voyaged through decades. But this year, my heart just hasn't been in it. The idea of engaging in all that work feels pointless, since I'm not really excited to do any of it.
It took me some time (a whole year between last year and this one), but I no longer feel guilty about it. I've celebrated these holidays, and I will enjoy them again (maybe even more so once I've skipped them a couple of times). But this year, I'm out.
I already skipped any kind of traditional Thanksgiving, opting instead for a low-key vacation with my boyfriend. I spent Thanksgiving Day getting lots of sunshine and drinking a spiked banana smoothie on the beach, having great conversation with the person who is my favorite conversationalist in the world, and walking the streets of an ancient colonial Caribbean town. All of which would be lovely at any time of year, but was especially so because I wasn't eating a bunch of mediocre "holiday" food, I didn't have to drive or sit in traffic, I didn't have to do any work (cooking, cleaning or entertaining), and I could actually fully enjoy the day, giving thanks at least once an hour for the ability to make an alternative choice. It was the best Thanksgiving I've had in more than a decade.
I had already been thinking about ignoring Christmas, but my Thanksgiving experience solidified my choice; no stressful present-finding, no dealing with a tree, no holiday entertaining for me this year (though I'm always happy to attend others' shindigs for a drink or two). I'll take those days off and head to Vermont where I will read, hike, sleep in and (hopefully) watch the snow fall. Sounds like the best kind of celebration to me. And New Year's? We'll see. But right now, I'm planning an 11:30 bedtime on December 31st.
I'm looking forward to celebrating the winter holidays again next year, but this year? I'll be celebrating freedom of choice, doing it a bit differently, making conscious choices about my own life — and getting a bit of peace and quiet.


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Just as delicious as the first time.
I have posted these before, but they are so cute and delicious I had to share them again. Who doesn't love cookie dough? These can be made far in advance and frozen for months! If you are thinking of homemade gifts I highly suggest you mix up a batch this weekend and then save them for Christmas. You won't be disappointed.
Cookie Dough Truffles
recipe from Baked Perfection
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
dash of cinnamon
1 stick butter, softened (it is even okay if it is melting a little)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cups mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 - 2 tablespoons water
Assorted candy melts
In a medium bowl combine the flour, salt, and dash of cinnamon. In a second larger bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy. Slowly beat in the flour mixture until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. Add water if mixture is too dry to form into balls. Roll the mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet lined with wax paper (Should make approximately 20). Chill for several hours or freeze for 15-20 minutes until firm.
Melt candy melts in the microwave per directions on package (30 sec intervals, stirring in between). Gently dip the cookie dough ball into the candy coating. Once covered remove and let the excess chocolate fall off. Place back on wax paper to dry.
To decorate with drizzled chocolate, place melted chocolate in a plastic sandwich bag. Using scissors, cut the very tip off the sandwich bag. The smaller your cut, the smaller the drizzle. Use the sandwich bag to pipe the chocolate back and forth over the cookie dough truffle until you reach the desired look.


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PhatFil wrote:thick isnt a description you hear regularly about a brew.. the 2 tools used usually to help determine progress of a brew are a hydrometer and taste buds.
a 'thick' liquid may not provide a reliable hydrometer reading and if outside expected values you can safely assume its gone way bad.
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