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Free Inspection
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Fire Damage Restoration in Lake Balboa
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Properties can vanish in an instant with a fire. That is why, when such destruction takes place, as fire damage in Lake Balboa it is very important to only trust trained fire damage professionals in Lake Balboa. TipTop Restoration will assess the facilities in order to determine the extent of the fire, smoke, heat and humidity. We will also be able to conclude if the property is safe for the homeowners and when it is risk-free for them to return to their homes depending on the destruction extense. This is due to smoke from the fires which could penetrate in the fissures of the structure and this is pretty dangerous causing damage and odor once the accident has occurred.
We will also investigate the extent of fire and smoke, providing thorough inspection and pretesting. This will conclude the extent of the fire damage in Lake Balboa, alongside the damaged areas, the materials, and damaged items that can still be salvaged and the effective cleaning methods, thanks to our fire damage restoration professionals in Lake Balboa. Our cleaning and restoration professionals would be able to do the work in no time!
Fire damage in Lake Balboa
Fire is one of the most feared damages by the user given the devastating effects it can produce in a matter of minutes. In TipTop Restoration Inc., we give great importance to the clients in thinking about you and the side effects that a fire incident of this type can have on your house and the people who live there, fire damage in Lake Balboa in can be devastating but we want to help you out. Our highly skilled fire damage restoration professionals in Lake Balboa are 24/7 on red alert and ready to assist you with any kind of fire damage restoration services in Lake Balboa, whether it is for your house or for a commercial business, no matter what level of fire damage emergency it is, our professionals understand the science involved in it and will make the fire damage restoration in Lake Balboa process easier for you.
According to the limits and exclusions established in the general conditions, the following: The material damage caused to the object insured in case of fire damage in Lake Balboa, explosion, combustion, high temperature, implosion or exposure to smoke from fire. Expenses from fire damage in Lake Balboa incurred for salvage, debris, demolition as well as fire extinction.
Evaluation of the current state of the structure due to the Fires Damage.
The evaluation of the current state of the structure identifies the cause of the fire suffered by it. This cause may be due to various factors involved in a fire, such as: the action of high temperatures on the materials, the action of rapid cooling by water, overloads caused by eventual collapses of supporting elements can be damaged from fire, the source derived from the dilation of structural elements and many more. Our fire damage restoration in Lake Balboa team also specializes in water damage. They are true professionals when it comes to different kinds of damage restoration, that is why we offer high level quality services, because we can take care of it all, no emergency is too big or too small, we understand the high effort it requires and the skills involved in restoration to prevent major loss of your damaged items involved in the fire, our professionals will also inspect your house to make sure you don't have any further accidents, and provide you tips so that you ́re more alert in case a situation like this happens again. They will search for gas leaks, possible combustion, air flow, where the flames commonly happen in the house or commercial business and make sure it is a safe place. It requires true restoration professionals to make sure by no chance an event of this kind happens again and they will also make sure during the restoration process that no matter what article it is, whether a carpet or some furniture, they will invest all of their skills in cleaning and restoring as much as it is possible. Step by step, our professionals in emergency restoration services will explain to you what the restoration process will be. The various combinations of water, flame or smoke destruction make many restoration projects special. As a result, we approach every house in a tailored way to every house and begin restorations according to the level of destruction.
Repair and Restoration of the Damage
In this step of our services, we define the methods that will be used in the repair and rehabilitation of the structure damaged from fire, understanding by repair those actions that are carried out to leave it as it was before the accident and by rehabilitation to the actions tending to leave the structure with the same margin of life than a new structure. These methods have several levels when it comes to damage fire restoration, such as: a) evaluate the structure, b) non-structural patches c) repair and / or reinforcement and d) demolition.
Fires can be especially devastating to your home or business, damaged properties can be difficult to handle but our experts are ready to help you out. They will clean all of the restorable items and structures that were damaged by the fire. If there is any smoke damaged furniture that might be saved or you hope to save, professionals should begin the smoke damaged restoration process on them immediately to increase the chance for a complete restoration. Any items that are too damaged to repair should be removed from the home. It may be necessary to remove items that don't appear to be damaged by the fire from the home as well. Our experts will be able to tell if an item is far too damaged with a quick inspection.
100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
This company help at the time that I need them the most. I had a really stressful day at work and when I came back home and open the door it became more stressful coz I saw the water coming from the ceiling. I called my friend and they recommended me TipTop Restoration. I've got appointment quick and easy. Huge respect Dan and Chris who fix my floor and drywall. Highly recommend if you have emergency situation like this.
Me and my wife just came back from a vacation in palm springs on Monday morning . When I went to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee I noticed the entire kitchen was flooded . Our cabinets were destroyed. I went on Facebook asking for any good plumber recommendations and one of them referred me to chris from tip top restoration. So I called them immediately . The company sent a rep over quickly and took care of all the paperwork,etc. Thank you Tip Top!
TipTop Restoration was awesome. They were willing to work with my schedule and came out to see me on a Sunday. They did their evaluation and were honest with me that no work was needed on my ceiling. Will definitely call them again!
We had a leaking water heater, and by the time we found it had been leaking, the water had done significant water and mold damage to our floors and drywall. Our insurance carrier gave us the names of a few restoration companies in the area, fortunately I chose Tip Top Restoration Company.
I must say that Tip Top Restoration is the most professional company I've seen when it comes to solving water damage issues at any moment. It has been raining and our neighborhood's drainage got clogged, so the water entered inside a lot of houses, including mine. The worst thing is that the water was extremely filthy and I didn't know what to do. Tip Top Restoration got rid of the water inside my house, dried all of my possessions and additionally vacuumed the areas affected by water. They were very professional.
They did a great job. I'm very happy. The staff was very friendly and they kept me informed of everything they did. I was very upset when I notice water damage in my home. I didn't know what to do. I called my insurance agent and they told me to call a water damage company.


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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Jesse Tyler Ferguson is heading from modern to classic — the "Modern Family" star is going to star this summer in William Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" in Central Park.
The Public Theater announced Tuesday that Ferguson will play Dromio opposite Hamish Linklater's Antipholus for five weeks at the Delacorte Theatre starting May 28. Daniel Sullivan will direct.
Ferguson is no stranger to playing Shakespeare in the park, having starred in "A Winter's Tale" there in 2010 and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in 2007. He and Linklater will play two sets of identical brothers, all equally clueless that their twins are in town and causing confusion.
Linklater, who played opposite both Julia Louis Dreyfus on "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and Alan Rickman on Broadway in Theresa Rebeck's "Seminar," was also in that production of "A Winter's Tale." He also appeared in "The Merchant of Venice" in the park in 2010 with Al Pacino and is currently in the series "The Newsroom." He said he can't wait to return to the Delacorte Theatre.
"I love it there. I want to act in a big outdoor space where people pay by lining up — they pay with their time instead of their money," Linklater said recently during an interview to discuss his play "The Vandal," a moody meditation on death currently playing at The Flea Theater. "It's just the best audience. It's the closest you're ever going to get to whatever Shakespeare must have had."
The second show in the Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park series will be a new musical adaptation of "Love's Labour's Lost, directed and adapted by Alex Timbers with songs by Michael Friedman, a founding associate artist of The Civilians. That begins July 23 and run through Aug. 18.
No casting was revealed. The show will mark the first musical adaptation of a Shakespeare play at the Delacorte since "Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Musical" premiered there in 1971.
Timbers and Friedman recently collaborated on the Broadway musical "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." Timbers' other credits include co-directing "Peter and the Starcatcher" and helming "The Pee-wee Herman Show."
The Delacorte opened in Central Park in 1962 with "The Merchant of Venice" starring George C. Scott. Since then, there have been more than 150 productions, usually two each summer, featuring stars such as James Earl Jones, Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Anne Hathaway. More than 5 million people have attended over the five decades.
Follow Mark Kennedy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

subset: commoncrawl


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I finally tried this awesome idea today.
Reusing foaming hand soap dispensers?
With regular old hand soap?
Making it last forever and ever?
Love it.
Click HERE to learn how to make your own foaming hand soap.
Thanks to Emily of Not So Idle Hands for this awesome (and mega easy) idea.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to clean some more...


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More Highlights for WRAL-TV
WRAL-TV & FOX 50: New "Official Partner" of Carolina Panthers, 99.9 The Fan ESPN Radio Renews PartnershipBeginning in April 2020, the Carolina Panthers and Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC) have reached a partnership that will include pre-season broadcast rights on WRAL-TV. The three-year agreement, which includes CBC properties WRAL-TV, FOX 50 (WRAZ-TV) and radio station 99.9 The
TV Technology Features WRAL-TV's Ability to Adapt and Respond to COVID-19TV Technology has featured WRAL-TV for the station's adaptation and responsiveness in reporting during the COVID-19 crisis. "WRAL Keeps News Staff, Viewers Connected" focuses on how the WRAL-TV crew reports from home, stays safe in the field and has made
WRAL-TV, CBC Family Raise $655,820 for United Way of the Greater Triangle's Rapid Response FundWRAL-TV, the flagship station of locally owned Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC), partnered with United Way of the Greater Triangle for a virtual telethon on Thursday, April 2 that has raised $655,820 to date. Joining in this fundraising effort were other
CBC and WRAL-TV Continue FREE Webinar Series for Local Triangle BusinessesCapitol Broadcasting and WRAL-TV will host their second in a free series of webinars to help local Triangle businesses on Thursday, April 2, 2020. The Here to Help webinar will take place at 2pm. Registration is free for local businesses
Holliday: Sports Journalism Just as Important When The Cheering StopsFormer WRAL-TV Sports Anchor and frequent WRALSportsFan contributor Bob Holliday penned this piece about reporting on sports when sports are not happening due to the COVID-19 pandemic: It's a rare event that brings the sports world to a complete pause.


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Opinions expressed here are the opinions of the author. Influencive does not endorse or review brands mentioned; does not and can not investigate relationships with brands, products, and people mentioned and is up to the author to disclose. VIP Contributors and Contributors, amongst other accounts and articles, are professional fee-based.
Josh Felber is no ordinary serial entrepreneur. Not only has he penned two bestsellers (one with Brian Tracy and another with Steve Forbes), he went on to win two Emmy Awards for executive producing the acclaimed documentary Visioneer: The Peter Diamandis Story.
Josh has appeared as a guest expert on NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox, and is the host of Making Bank. Josh is focused on challenging himself and those around him to achieve consistent excellence. His mission in life is to help over 100 million people design, develop and deliver their passions.


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I have a little hurdle I am trying to overcome, hopefully someone can assist me :)
I am working on a small database for a flashcard program based on the vocabulary list in the back of, A Readers Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament. I want to list the words by frequency (most common to least common) and I am in need to determine the frequency of certain words (every word that occurs 50x or more in the Hebrew Bible).
Here is my problem: there are quite a few words that have identical forms but have different meanings. e.g. qr I (to call; ~739x) and qr II (to meet; ~136x). Therefore I wish to keep them as separate entries with their appropriate frequencies (for practical and statistical reasons). My problem is that when you do a search on a root in BW (I have 5.0) you get a count of all the forms, not just the word you are checking. Examples that are giving me a headache:
la @a ta bAj ary alm ~[ hn[ arq h[r [r ~v
Some of these, like m (êm/am), can be resolved pretty easily by using the morphology tags--êm is a noun and am is a particle.
But words like l and qr are proving much more difficult, and since many of the words are from the same part of speech there does not seem to be an easy way to separate them. e.g.
al (neg particle) 729x
el- (preposition) 5,518x
el (nouns, I-V) 237x+
qârâ I (verb) 739x
qârâ II (verb) 136x
In BW, is there a way to do an accurate frequency check on a word that shares a form with other words?
There are many words in the Hebrew Bible that share similar spellings, one being very frequent and the other(s) being very infrequent, and not being able to separate them artificially inflates the number of occurrences, e.g.
bt 600 = bt I 587 / bt II 13
lp 507 = lp I 496 / lp II 11
tsb 501 = tsb I 487 / tsb II 14
Also, being able to search a specific word (and not every word spelled the same) has advantages for study also. While there are times when you may want to look at every example of qârâ, there are many times you will only want to examine qârâ I and having to weed through the 136 entries of qârâ II can be time consuming. If you only want to study l V (god), having an artificially high number of hits and then having to weed through entries can cost time. So there is a practical purpose to my request for help :)
I know that the Stongs encoded versions allow you to make a distinction (e.g. qârâ I = H7121, qârâ II = H7122), but I am thinking the Hebrew and Greek databases should allow us to make these distinctions also. I am very hesitant to use the Strongs encoded databases because it does not appear to be accurate due to how the system works (not a BW problem). The below example has two parts: the first part is the number of appearances of qr in the MT (from a vocabulary building book) compared to the number BW shows when you do a search on the Strongs number:
(1) qr I 739x vs. H7121 689x
(2) qr II 136x vs. H7122 16x
875x (for the MT) compared to 805x (Strongs in BW) is a big difference. I did search in the WTM database for the root qr and got 876x, so the BW WTM database and the list I have for the MT are almost identical and the Strongs # search is significantly off.
Ironically, I have never invested in a good Heb. or Greek concordance because of BW :) I have a few vocabulary guides, but I would prefer not to use their statistical information because I plan on making the list freely available on the net. One of the vocabulary guides I have is in the process of making a retail vocabulary program and I would not feel right distributing something for free that utilizes information that they worked hard to create that could possibly compete with them (and therefore possibly hurt their sales).
If by the off chance this is not possible with BW, if someone could point me in the right direction on where I can obtain this information (e.g. a Hebrew concordance that lists words with the same spelling in separate entries) it would be appreciated!
One last question: In WTM I can do a search for all verbs that appear in the Hifîl:
This provides a lot of good statistical information, but one thing I cannot find is the number of verbal roots that appear in the Hifîl without manually counting--this could be handy information. Am I just missing where this information is or is it not currently available?
Thanks for your time Joshua Luna


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Very cool! #Multiverse R us!
Physicist Brian Green promises he will tell the audience at TED 2014 the whole history of the universe in four minutes. "Forgive me," he says, "if I leave out a detail here or there."
He does it with two metaphors. One from the beginning till now, and another from now till the end.
Brian Greene. Photo: James Duncan Davidson
The universe today is 13.8 billion years old, and it can be very hard to get our minds around that number. So Greene uses a metaphor pioneered by Carl Sagan. Imagine that we're part of a single calendar year. All of cosmic history compressed into a single calendar year. On this calendar:
- May 12, the Milky Way is formed.
- Sept 2nd, the Earth is formed.
- 11:40pm New Year's Eve, Humans evolve.
- 11:44pm, we domesticate fire.
- 11:58pm the first cave paintings are made.
- 11:59:49pm writing is developed, so all of recorded history takes place…
View original post 347 more words


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This one might be a little tricky, but I'm looking for a way to make the Recent Comments widget on the wp-admin a bit more useful/action-driven. I'd like to be able to filter to only show the Pending comments (as those would require an action to them). I saw on line 45 of
wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php there is:
// Recent Comments Widget
if ( is_blog_admin() && current_user_can('moderate_comments') ) {
if ( !isset( $widget_options['dashboard_recent_comments'] ) || !isset( $widget_options['dashboard_recent_comments']['items'] ) ) {
$update = true;
$widget_options['dashboard_recent_comments'] = array(
'items' => 5,
$recent_comments_title = __( 'Recent Comments' );
wp_add_dashboard_widget( 'dashboard_recent_comments', $recent_comments_title, 'wp_dashboard_recent_comments', 'wp_dashboard_recent_comments_control' );
but I'm a little fuzzy on the correct way (or if there is a way) to hook into this to modify the "types" of comments shown. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


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The Federal Bureau of Investigation is trying to solve who destroyed fields of genetically modified sugar beets in southern Oregon.
The crops were destroyed over two separate nights in June. It is unknown if the plots were destroyed by an individual or a group. The GM sugar beets were engineered to withstand glyphosate, and were being grown on plots of land leased and managed by Syngenta.
OregonLive.com reports, "The first act of what the FBI considers 'economic sabotage and a violation of federal law involving damage to commercial agricultural enterprises,' took place during the night of June 8, when about 1,000 sugar beet plants on one property were destroyed. Three nights later, the destruction continued on another property, where another 5,500 plants were ruined.
A spokesperson for Syngenta says the plants appeared to be destroyed by hand and that it didn't appear that vehicle was used.
Although estimates of the damage have not been released, it is believed that the financial losses are significant.
Oregonians for Food and Shelter is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the culprits.
"To my knowledge, this is the first time someone has deliberately taken the cowardly step of uprooting high value plants growing in our state. Regardless of how one feels about biotechnology, there is no justification for committing these crimes and it is not the kind of behavior we expect to see in Oregon agriculture, said Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba in a statement.
If you have information about the destruction, call the local offices of the FBI at (541) 773-2942 during normal business hours or call the FBI in Portland anytime at (503) 224-4181. Tips may be e-mailed to [email protected]


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With over 500,000 apps in Apple's App Store and over 18 billion downloads to date, it's hard to imagine the late Steve Jobs — didn't want native third-party apps mucking up the iPhone, but that was the original plan. It's a good thing Jobs didn't trust his gut on that one, because the App Store made the iPhone huge.
Revealed in Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography and revealed by The Huffington Post, Jobs originally wanted the iPhone to run only WebApps through the device's Safari Web browser.
Thankfully, a dude on Apple's board was able to convince him otherwise:
Apple board member Art Levinson told Isaacson that he phoned Jobs "half a dozen times to lobby for the potential of the apps," but, according to Isaacson, "Jobs at first quashed the discussion, partly because he felt his team did not have the bandwidth to figure out all the complexities that would be involved in policing third-party app developers."
So, you see, while Jobs might have been considered a visionary by lots of people, he was far from a super genius. He might have inspired the creatives around the world to "think different" but he was still human, and he couldn't always predict the future.
Those who are worried about Apple's future shouldn't. The company's in good hands with CEO Tim Cook, senior vice president of industrial design Jonathan Ive, senior vice president of product marketing Philip Schiller, senior vice president of iOS Software as well as the rest of the Apple board. Together they are Apple.
Steve Jobs was just Apple's most well-known poster boy, and boy was he good at his job.
The Huffington Post, via 9to5Mac
For the latest tech stories, follow DVICE on Twitter


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SALT LAKE CITY – If you're looking to bet on who will start at forward for Real Salt Lake on Saturday, put your money on Alvaro Saborio – not Devon Sandoval.
Saborio, RSL's leading scorer, was proclaimed "healthy" by head coach Jason Kreis as the team was boarding a chartered jet on Thursday afternoon, bound for Kansas City and the MLS Cup final. The Costa Rican forward pulled a muscle in his leg during the second leg of RSL's Western Conference Semifinals series against the LA Galaxy and missed both legs of the Conference Championship against the Portland Timbers.
A month later, Saborio is "fully healthy and in contention to start the game on Saturday," Kreis told reporters.
However, Sandoval – who started both playoff games against the Timbers and played well, scoring a goal in the first leg – may not be available.
Kreis said Sandoval picked up an injury in training Wednesday and didn't train Thursday.
"Sandoval is not quite as healthy," Kreis said. "[He] has been going a while now with, actually, a small break in his foot. So it will be a real tough consideration for him on the weekend."
The RSL coach, unsurprisingly, wasn't giving away his starting lineup.
But it hasn't escaped anyone's notice that after an injury-plagued regular season, Robbie Findley has started all three of the matches that got Salt Lake to Saturday's final – a 2-0 second-leg win over the Galaxy and 4-2 and 1-0 wins over Portland in the playoffs. He had two goals and an assist in the two matches against the Timbers.
"I feel like he's now coming into some confidence and some sharpness," Kreis said earlier in the week. "And I don't think it's any coincidence because the games are the biggest."
Defender Chris Wingert has also been declared healthy and, like Saborio, is in contention to start. When he boarded the charter flight to Kansas City on Thursday afternoon, it was the first time he'd been allowed to fly in more than a month. He suffered a broken rib and a pneumothorax in the Nov. 10 win over the Timbers, underwent surgery and has been rehabbing since then.


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In this Oscar®-nominated short animation, adapted from E.B. White's tall tale, we meet a family of seven who live happily in isolation on a small island in Barnetuck Bay. Somehow, word gets out that they are in distress and an ill-conceived rescue attempt makes for some unexpected adventures.
For more background information on this film, please visit the NFB.ca blog.
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Well, I don't know what to make of this story, with its very dry humour and droll telling. It has a dreadfully fatalistic air about it.mcrowl, 6 Sep 2012


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How To Lose The American League Championship Series
When Terry Francona managed the Red Sox to the 2007 World Series, his greatest contribution came two years ago this Friday. Down two games to one to the Indians in the ALCS and facing a fifth game in Cleveland, Francona resisted the temptation to start Josh Beckett on three days' rest and instead stuck to his plan, and Game Four starter Tim Wakefield. Wakefield got lit up like Christmas, and much of Boston was ready for a new manager for their Nine. And then the Sox, buoyed by Beckett's five-hitter over eight (with eleven strikeouts), won Game Five, and ran the table right through the World Series sweep of Colorado.
Milwaukee Brewers IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP
Sabathia L(0-1) 3.2 6 5 5 4 5 1 21
11 Comments
How can these managers fail to grasp the obvious fact that someone who's tired and sore isn't going to pitch as well as someone who's well-rested?
As the old saying goes, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. Sigh.
Keith, it's great to have you back in the spotlight again! i'm enjoying your sunday night work, mucho! and this blog, too!
But, on this point, I believe your historical analysis is missing some crucial points. CC ain't Clemens in his twilight! He's a horse who's underpitched this year. Furthermore, he'll be going on 8 days rest and then if needed he'll come back on full rest. I think it's a great idea…mainly because it's CC and he's just the big strong back we can rely on! If it works, do it in the Series, too.
I'm having a hard time seeing how Sabathia's performance last season is an argument against starting him on three days rest. It's obviously an argument against starting him on three days rest for four straight starts, but that's a whole other level of insanity from what Girardi is considering.
Nice article KO but in the 2003 NLDS against the Cubs Russ Ortiz started Game 1 on Sept. 30. After three days rest, Ortiz started Game 4 on Oct. 4 and actually got the win.
Of course Mike Hampton started Game 5 on three days rest the following day and lost.
I have an issue with people looking at Sabathia and thinking he's invincible! Yes, he's like 260 lbs at least but that doesn't mean he can't wear down. 230 INNINGS!!! That doesn't sound like a light workload to me! Also, apparently Gaudin, who would be the Yanks' #4 choice (or Joba) has good numbers against the Angels. I just think these managers need to manage for the long-term. It depends on the series. If the Yanks are up 3-0, wouldn't Girardi manage differently than if it is 1-2 Angels? Of course. Or at least he should.
By the way, I also work for Steiner Sports and we have some great Sabathia stuff for people and all other teams as well. Check it out at: http://www.steinersports.com/baseball/new-york-yankees.
We'll see what happens. I like the Angels after watching them dispose of the Sox. It really comes down to Torii in the middle of the lineup and whether he can be a scare.
Years ago, Thomas Boswell, the great baseball writer for the once-great Washington Post, commented that if you send Roy Smalley up to pinch-hit against Ron Guidry, you shouldn't be surprised when Smalley doesn't get a hit. Well, it's the same principle here. If a manager asks someone to do something he just is not cut out to do, it is unlikely to work.
The problem really goes all the way back to Little League and how they come up through the ranks. Whether they are being babied or not, once you have been treated that way, it's hard to change just when the playoffs arrive.
Nice write-up, Keith. My nurse intuition agrees with your summation of using players before they are fully rested. Our culture of "win at any cost" sports-mentality has done more than just damaged our bodies; it has damaged our collective psyche!
Take care!
Excellent analysis Mr. Olbermann, but you got the quote backwards. President Kennedy said, if memory serves in reference to the Bay of Pigs, that, "Victory has a thousand fathers but defeat is an orphan."
All the best. Keep up the good work here and on Countdown.
/s/ P.C. Mackin, Cleveland Oh
Is Girardi basically just throwing everything into getting into the World Series thinking that once there home field advantage will somehow carry the Yankees to the championship?
It seems a desperate move, and one that, even with CC's talent, perhaps shows he doesn't trust his entire pitching staff.
I still think this is going to be an Angels-Philles World Series with the Phillies winning in 6.
Hall of Fame manager dick williams lost a world series for the 1967 Red Sox with the short rest technique, starting Jim Lonborg in Game 7 on two days rest when the bull pen guys noticed he "couldn't break a pane of glass," even though he had a well-rested Lee Stange (who Williams had planned to trust with a start if the season came down to an American League playoff game if Detroit had managed a split with California on the final day of that epic season) and a bullpen that could have gone by committee. Lonborg got torched for seven against Bob Gibson (and the bull pen came in with three scoreless innings after he departed)
i agree with you about 3 days rest but Number 1 the Yanks really do not have a better choice. C.C. is a different animal and he had a lot more rest in September and is really ready.
I am sure he will pitch on 3 days rest if they get in the World Series but I doubt AJ will.


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U.S. Probing Suspension Part Failures in 2013 Nissan Altimas
U.S. safety regulators are investigating complaints that a suspension part on Nissan Altimas can come loose from the frame due to corrosion.
The probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers about 374,000 cars from 2013. The agency says it has four complaints that rear lower control arm assemblies failed. One owner in Seneca Falls, N.Y., wrote that the problem caused a crash, but didn't give details. Three complaints allege the part failed while cars were moving.
Control arms let the wheels and tires travel up and down over bumps.
The complaints came from states that use salt to clear roads of ice and snow.
Investigators will determine how often the problem happens and whether a recall is needed.
A message was left Wednesday seeking comment from Nissan.
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Your Agile Concierge
Allyson Bowers, CSM, CSPO, CAL, ACSM
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PDUs 16
CDUs 16
Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO®) is an in-depth, two-day immersion into the world of Agile Product Management. The class is full of practical, real-world techniques, which can be implemented immediately at your workplace. This class will allow your organization to enjoy the many advantages Scrum has to offer. Hands-on exercises demonstrate key concepts and let you experience the benefits of Scrum firsthand.
Cathy Simpson, CST, PMP
Cathy Simpson is a Certified Scrum Trainer and Agile coach, with a passion for bringing joy, happiness and productivity to work. As a Scrum Trainer she teaches groups of people to use the empirical process to build complex products and solve complex problems. Her driving questions in life are "What's possible?" "How do we make it happen?" and "How do we have fun doing it?" Cathy combines a warm energetic style with insights learned in the trenches at companies ranging from large financial institutions to small start-ups. This enables her to effectively connect with team members, managers and executives in order to facilitate transformation and help people create the futures they are committed to. She regularly speaks about Scrum and Agile at national and local conferences. Before becoming a CST, Cathy worked in technology for 20 years as a software developer, web producer, project/program manager, business consultant and agile coach. She credits her career in technology as the foundation for her success and her first job as a camp counselor as the reason she is a good trainer.
"The course was extremely well organized. Instructor kept all participants engaged and thinking throughout the course-catered to my learning styles."Nicole, Emory University
"I loved the open discussion of how to incorporate Scrum more effectively into our company. I also would know how I could be a better PO & work with the other "pigs" during Sprints to make them more successful."Rosemary, American Mining Insurance Co.
"This class not only brought me closer to my workmates, but gave me a good core understanding and appreciation for Scrum."Jim, Ingenico
"I found the pace was excellent. An awful lot was accomplished in 2 days. I learned some interesting instructional and team-collaboration techniques that I hope to be able to apply. I highly recommend Braintrust for this class!"Paxton, Ebasco
"Very fun and highly informative. One of the best classes I've ever been a part of."Kristina, Ingenico
Class Information
Class Learning Objectives
As a Scrum Product Owner class participant, I want…
- To describe the Scrum framework, so that I can clearly comprehend the Scrum process
- To describe the roles and responsibilities in Scrum, so that I can understand who does what
- To do a Scrum simulation, so that I have a real-world example to base the class exercises on
- To demonstrate how to create a Product Vision Statement, so that I can establish a guiding light for the product, with the help of my Stakeholders
- To demonstrate how to create a Product Roadmap, so that I can chart a course for the team and help build consensus with my Stakeholders
- To demonstrate how to establish User Roles and Personas, so that I can ensure that I don't miss an important Stakeholder's business need
- To understand Story Mapping, so that I can walk my Stakeholders through my product and avoid missing some major functionality
- To understand how to test product assumptions, so that I build what my customers truly need
- To explain how to seed a Product Backlog, so that I can quickly establish enough Backlog items so that the team can start Sprinting
- To demonstrate how to write User Stories, so that I can clearly articulate the who, what, and why behind a Backlog item
- To demonstrate how to quickly assess business value, so that I can establish an initial priority for the Backlog items in my Product Backlog
- To list several ways to prioritize my Product Backlog, so that I can determine the best approach for the situation at hand
- To refine my Product Backlog, so that it is ready for Sprint Planning
- To demonstrate how to create a release plan, so that I can determine the best time to put the product increment in my Stakeholders' hands
- To understand my role as a Product Owner during the Sprint, so that I know how I can best support my team
- To list areas where we might get into trouble so that I know what to look out for as my organization implements Scrum
- Learn while having fun
- Retain more information because of our unique hands-on approach, based on the latest research into brain science
- Be entertained by stories from our real-world experienced and knowledgeable instructors
- Maximize investments already made by gaining valuable Scrum Education Units® (SEUs) and Professional Development Units (PDUs)
- Increase your personal worth within your company and in the marketplace
Who Should Attend?
- Anyone interested in learning the benefits of Scrum
- Product Managers/Business Analysts
- Functional/Operational Managers
- Project Sponsors
- IT Leadership (Managers/Directors/VPs/CIOs/CTOs)
Take Aways
- Easy-to-use reminders of Scrum
- Printed class manual
- Scrum reference card
- Copy of the Braintrust book Scrum for the Rest of Us
- 16 SEUs/16 PDUs
- A two-year membership to the Scrum Alliance
Cancellation Policy: In order to receive a refund you must notify us no later than 10 business days prior to the class start date. Cancellation requests received after the 10 day window will be issued a credit that can be applied towards a future class within the next 12 months and are subject to a $150 transfer fee.
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WATERTOWN, Mass. — Hundreds of rounds were exchanged in a deadly gun battle, a suspected terrorist's body was dragged under a stolen SUV, and a bomb blast rattled residents.
"Now I know what it must be like to be in a war zone like Iraq or Afghanistan. When my house shook, I said 'I better get in.' We never went to sleep all night," said resident Anna Lanzo.
Watertown, a usually placid middle-class suburb where joggers and bikers share a path along the Charles River, children sell lemonade outside, and residents meet for eggs at a classic chrome diner, was turned into a combat zone last week.
Relief was palpable here Saturday, a day after 19-year-old Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev surrendered from his hiding place in a covered boat in a Watertown backyard. Authorities said Tsarnaev and his alleged conspirator and older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, killed an MIT police officer Thursday night, then carjacked an SUV before heading to Watertown.
Officers knew the stolen car was coming to Watertown because they were tracking its movement through the victim's cellphone. The suspects took $800 from an ATM in Watertown Square from the victim's account before an officer spotted the car. The brothers — one in the stolen car, the other in a second car — jumped out of the cars and started shooting at the lone officer even as backup rushed to the scene, said Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau.
"We're in a gunfight, a serious gunfight. Rounds are going and then all of the sudden they see something being thrown at them and there's a huge explosion," Deveau said. "I'm told it's exactly the same type of explosive that we'd seen … at the Boston Marathon. The pressure cooker lid was found embedded in a car down the street."
The suspects tossed grenades. Tamerlan Tsarnaev got within 10 feet of officers involved in the shootout before he ran out of ammunition and was tackled. Police put him down and began to handcuff him when Dzhokhar Tsarnaev drove the stolen car at them.
"They dove out of the way at the last second and he ran over his brother, dragged him down the street and then fled," Deveau said.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev died. Though bleeding, his younger brother fled the car and eluded the officers. Police locked down the region and searched house to house in Watertown.
Christie Majocha described heavily armed police and helicopters with M16s circling her neighborhood. "Everybody saw them on TV, but as I saw them on TV, they were driving on my street. As we heard the helicopters on TV, they were over our heads," she said.
Lauren Kelleher said she saw State Police with massive automatic weapons in her backyard, walking past her children's swing set and a plastic silver castle.
"The troopers went through. They looked in our yard, they looked in our garage," she said.
"It was crazy," said her husband, Tim Kelleher. "We had SWAT teams, ATF on our lawn."
Deveau said a resident was checking his boat after the lockdown was lifted Friday evening and noticed the straps weren't the way he left them. He looked in the boat, saw blood and someone huddled in a corner and quickly called police. The discovery set up the final confrontation and capture with Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Officials used Dumitru Ciuc's home as a staging area, taking out the windows and ripping down curtains and window blinds to monitor the boat.
"They didn't say nothing," about why they were there. "They just said leave the house and go up the street."
On Saturday, Ciuc's home was cordoned off by police tape, and his Nissan Xterra remained underneath a tarp. The street where Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found was still closed down and roped off by police tape. An agent typing on a computer sat on the steps of the home where the owner of the boat lived, and authorities erected a white tent in the middle of the street.
Nearby at the Watertown police station, a stream of grateful residents dropped off more cookies, cupcakes, pizzas and chicken than the small force could eat. Children dropped off handmade cards, which were quickly pinned up. On Saturday evening, at least 250 people gathered at the town's Victory Field to pay tribute to victims of the Boston Marathon bombers and to thank law enforcement and emergency workers.
"These policemen, the FBI, everyone who's been involved, they deserve our support. They deserve our applause," Majocha said. "We can't thank them enough for what they've done."
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UCSD, Qualcomm participate in network security project
SAN DIEGO - UCSD is teaming up with local cell-phone giantQualcomm and three other high-tech firms in committing about $9million to the Center for Networked Systems over the next threeyears, it was announced today.
The university-industry alliance is aimed at developingtechnologies for robust, secure, and open networked systems,according to UCSD.
Aside from UCSD and Qualcomm, the founding members includeAT&T, Alcatel and Hewlett-Packard.
The Center for Networked Systems is a part of the UCSD JacobsSchool of Engineering - it was named for Qualcomm's founder - andthe California Institute for Telecommunications and InformationTechnology, a partnership of UCSD and UC Irvine.
Corporate members will monitor research developments and providefunding for research internships at UCSD, among other things.


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Not using condoms for all contact: could I be pregnant?
I have been sexually active for about 3 months now. Usually before sex, my partner and I have a few minutes of unprotected sex and then he puts a condom on. My period is now a week late and I'm worried. I already took a test that came out negative but I'm still kinda scared. My friend told me that it's usual for my period to not come when first having sex....
Intercourse questions and answers to the third power
I've had one my questions answered before and I'd like to thank you for answering it because it was very useful :) Now I've got more! • Sex with my significant other has been wonderful the past few times we've done it, emotionally. I still wonder about physical, though. I have orgasmed before but only with my own clitoral stimulation....
Is this spotting from menstrual suppression or implantation bleeding?
I usually take my birth control pill continuously and skip periods for 2-3 months at a time due to bad PMS (ok'd by the Dr.) This month I missed a pill on a Friday and took it Saturday with my Saturday pill but I had started spotting so figured it was time to have a period so I waited a week before starting a new pack and during that time had a period....
Managing Vulnerability & Sexual Insecurity
Hi I'm 15 years old (male) and I want to wait till I find someone I really like before I have sex, but I want them to be a virgin too. I'm worried that if I wait too long all the pretty girls will have had sex and I won't be good at it yet, I'm worried that if they've already had sex that I won't be good enough for them, what should I do?...
My period is late (or is it?)
I'm a week late for my period, a little tired, but other than that I'm fine. I've been having sex for a little while but my period has always come between the 17-20. It's now the 28th. I already took a test a few days ago and it was negative. I'm really worried. Please does anyone have answers? ...
Spotting on injectable birth control, is this normal?
I have passed the due date of my period. I am on the injection and I am not pregnant, but I am experiencing brown spotting. What should I do?...
Sex isn't appealing, but I want to be close to my partner.
I'm 16 and have been with my boyriend, also 16, for 5 months. He has only ever fingered me as I don't really like the thought of other sexual activities too appealing but feel I am ready for sex as it is a way to be as physically close to him as I am emotionally. My only problem is is that my opening is really tight and can fit about 2 fingers maximum-- sorry this sounds disgusting?...
Pelvic pain after intercourse
I am married for last one and half months. I and my husband were virgins till marriage. I am experiencing pain in my lower abdomen after intercourse. It will stay for one hour and it will go automatically. We use protection during sex. I have history of irregular period. I have also missed last month period. I have done pregnancy test at home twice but got negative result both the times....
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I was french kissing this very cute boy and I was wondering if french kissing or any kind of kissing can get you pregnant? If a boy puts his finger into your vagina, will you get pregnant?...
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Pain and ripping...what the heck is going on here?
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A few choice words about "tightness"
How long does it take for the "vagina opening" to get tight again after sex? A few days, a week? Do PC muscle exercises help? Say I hadn't had sex for about 5 months and then just had sex about a week ago, am I "looser" now then I would've been if I didn't have sex at all? And if so, how do I make it tight again and how long does it take?...
How long will it take for a yeast infection to go away?
I just got over a yeast infection, or at least I think its over. I have tried to have sex with my boyfriend twice. Well, it hasn't worked out. When he goes inside me it hurts, and so we stop and we don't go on. Is this normal? It has only been a couple days since I used the yeast infection medicine, and I thought I was clear of infection. How long will this last?...
STIs from oral sex and age of consent?
Am I right in thinking that my boyfriend and I cannot catch STIs from each other during oral sex because neither of us have ever been sexually involved with anyone else? Also, I know that sexual intercourse under the age of 16 is illegal but is other sexual contact illegal too? ...
Can switching brands cause lateness?
My girlfriend has been on birth control for a while and recently switched to a new brand. We've been sexually active but I always withdraw, and now she is a week late. Is that a side effect of the new pills or what?...
Second month of pills,...where's my period?
This is my second month on birth control pills. My first period after starting the pills only lasted about 4-5 days, but i didn't start the next pack until the 8th day, as directed. I didn't miss any pills this month, but I did have sex without a condom. Now my period is already 2 days late....
No erection four times now: what can I do?
First of all, let me say I'm impressed by your mission here. A lot of people's first sex would be improved with real sex ed. My particular problem concerns erectile dysfunction. I'm only 19, yet I've experienced this problem 4 times. I've read that this can occasionally happen even to younger guys, but the last two were consecutive and I'm worried about how patient my girlfriend is....
Long-term menstrual suppression: is this why I have brown discharge?
About a month ago my boyfriend and I decided to get serious into foreplay. He broke my cherry and ever since then I have been experiencing a slight brownish clear colored discharge. I'm also on birth control (marvalon 28) a close friend of mine said that as long as I'm on the white pill I do not ovulate....
Persistent bleeding and soreness after intercourse
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Do you need a condom if you're a virgin?
I will probably be giving my first blow job soon to the boy I have been dating for the past four months. The farthest he had gone before me was making out, and has since reached second base with me. I know he is a virgin to both intercourse and fellatio, but I am wondering if I still should ask him to buy condoms to have in case we reach third....
What happens if I throw up my birth control pill?
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Pizza Obsessives: Eric Leath
Slice interviews with folks who are mad about pizza.
Today we're chatting with Pizza Obsessive Eric Leath. A lover of the slice since childhood, Eric has been making and eating pies his whole life. You might recognize him from his fantastic submissions to My Pie Monday, or perhaps thanks to his recent Slice contributions, where he skillfully investigates the burgeoning pizza scene across the South. Here's what he's got to say!
Name: Eric Leath
Location: Pensacola, FL
Occupation: Freelance Writer
First, I'm curious—how did you get started as a contributor to Slice?
Writing about food in general was sort of accidental. I was spending most of my time honing my pizza-skills; when I wasn't working on building my oven, I was traveling for pizza, or slowly trying every local place that I could find.
I had been taking notes on pizzeria experiences for several years, but during a trip to Rome and Naples in 2012, I began documenting everything in a very detailed way, and found it incredibly fulfilling. The habit stuck, and shedding light on pizzas in the South seemed like a worthy undertaking. I'm thrilled the folks at Slice gave me the opportunity, especially right now, when there's a lot of new talent popping up in places like New Orleans.
Well, we're certainly glad to have you. So the number one basic question: what's your absolute favorite style of pizza?
Easily New Haven apizza, with a New York-style slice as a close second. But there are a few others that I'd be really excited to try again. A few Chicago-style thin crust and Staten Island-style pizzas come to mind. Thin and crisp is always a plus, but almost any style that's heartfelt can turn my head.
A really good pie is a really good pie, no matter the style? Since we're talking favorites, how do you feel about Sam Sifton's Pizza Cognition Theory—"The first slice of pizza a child sees and tastes...becomes, for him, pizza." Is this true for you? Do you find that your childhood pizza favorites influence your tastes today?
I have vivid memories of a couple of childhood places. Each one had a unique quality, and quite sadly neither is around anymore. My favorite would definitely hold up today; it closed in 1999, so I still have clear memories of it. It was called Marchello's, and was a savory bomb of herbs, garlic, and Romano. As kids, we all thought it had a "beer-like" taste, and was unlike any defined style that I've tried anywhere else.
Shakey's Pizza was my other big childhood love. It was thin, crunchy, slightly greasy, and full of "smoke flavored" provolone. Each of my two favorites had a different, one-of-a-kind flavor.
I think that part of the Pizza Cognition Theory is about defining what's not pizza. A lot of chains and newcomers (think Greek pizza) that opened in my teens were definitely not pizza for me. Although, there were times as a kid when I would eat the bland stuff, too—after all, it was still tomato sauce and melted cheese.
Evolving for me has meant embracing a relaxed standard, and no longer venerating the oldest coal-fired pizzerias in a way that can often lead to disappointment. Recent pies from Vito & Nick's in Chicago, Mario's on Arthur Ave, Rubirosa in NOLITA, and Zuppardi's in West Haven been some of my recent favorites. I still look forward to eating Patsy's, Sally's, and Pepe's, but I don't walk in expecting a religious experience. That way, if the pie is good, everything is exciting and new again.
That sounds like a good way to approach pizza (and life, really): with an open mind and palate. In that vein, when you're trying somewhere new, what do you tend to get?
It will always be something simple like a plain slice; it will tell you everything truly important about the pizza-maker's skills.
When you aren't testing the plain, do you have any particular topping combinations that you especially love?
A good hot or sweet fennel sausage will always get my attention, and some onions don't hurt, either. I'm certainly down for most toppings found on traditional menus, but not too many at once.
Florida isn't exactly known for its pizza—where do you go to get your fix?
Sky's Pizza Pie is the only local place for me. It's New York-style, and they use 24" pies for slices. The pizza itself is very thin, with a crust that really delivers everything a purist would expect. I can't say enough good things about it. Decent pizza along the Gulf Coast is hard to find.
Seems like it would make a lot of sense to start making your own—and you do, don't you? How did that all start?
I've actually been making pizza since I was really young, like not-tall-enough-to-see-what-was-in-the-mixing-bowl-without-standing-on-something young. I longed to make anything with tomato sauce and cheese, and did so in seemingly every possible way. My (non-Italian) grandma fostered the interest; she would try to track down obscure ingredients from written recipes, and helped me make some interesting pies.
I stuck with it, learned from a few professionals during college, and had groups of friends over for pizzas cooked in a vintage gas oven. It all culminated with a couple of years making pizza professionally. Now I'm just doing it at home, but with a wood-fired oven, and some of the same faces from 20 years back are still showing up for pizza.
Let's get into some of the nitty gritty—what kind of dough are you using, and what are your ovens like?
These days I'm making an even mix of wood-fired and conventional oven pizzas. The formula for the dough is constantly changing; whatever is on hand is used for both ovens. I use a live starter/dried yeast combination, and King Arthur bread flour at around 62% hydration (humidity is a beast along the Gulf Coast) in the warmer months. This is actually a great time of year to play around with some doughs that are as wet as 75%, when company isn't around. No witnesses for epic fails...or triumphs.
When it's just me, I experiment with leftover dough in a somewhat hacked gas home oven. I should shout out to Scott123 for a design hack that has helped it make much better pizzas. This is where I play at reproducing all of those childhood flavors that are my "Rosebud."
My WFO is basically fire-brick and fire-clay, insulation, and stucco. I drew the dimensions to reproduce the shape of a Neapolitan oven with a dome height that was barely above 17 inches. A good friend and local contractor brought the whole thing to life, and came up with the design for the Jetsons-style pedestal.
Sounds like a pretty handy friend to have around! Has the style of pizza you've been making evolved over the years?
In the beginning, I only wanted high BTUs for making pizzas that would resemble my coal-fired favorites. I had just moved, and no longer had everyday access to a high-temp deck oven, or a cleaning cycle hack. Even though I had played around in some commercial wood-fired ovens, there were a lot of nuances that I didn't understand at first.
The oven didn't exactly yield the types of pizzas that I wanted to be making, but luckily it was suited for making Neapolitan-style (something I didn't instantly adapt to). Even after trying some of the most acclaimed spots in NYC, the Neapolitan-style pies just didn't match the satisfaction that I got from the best coal-fired ones.
A trip to Naples really opened my eyes; the texture of the fior di latte and the flavor of the crust made a big impression. My favorites there were slightly larger pizzas that didn't necessarily have a very large cornicione, or a lot of leopard spotting. I returned with a desire to really make this type of pizza sing, with hotter and faster bakes.
I'm pretty early in the experience curve with wood-fired pizzas, but want the consistency I often get with less than sixty-second bakes. Ones where the pie just capitulate—the edges just blooming quickly and almost wanting to collapse into themselves—and the toppings come out bubbling. It became about the pizza wanting to come out that quickly. The pizza was lighter than air, and I was addicted. This is what I'm striving for, and occasionally, I'll get something worthy of a My Pie Monday submission.
Clearly you're pretty flexible when it comes to your pies in general, but is there anything that should absolutely never find its way on top of a slice?
Beef tenderloin (or any other prized protein) is the first tragic choice that comes to mind. Even if it were possible to cook the meat to perfection on a pie, steak doesn't need pizza, and vice versa.
I can snack on a Wolfgang Puck smoked salmon, caviar, and crème fraîche creation and don't have a problem calling it a pizza, but it's never going to satisfy any sort of craving for what I really think of as pizza.
I hear you—when I'm dying for pizza I really need the classic crust-tomato-cheese trifecta to satisfy the craving. Is that Wolfgang Puck pie the craziest it's ever gotten for you? What's the weirdest pizza you've ever eaten?
This reveals that I'm pretty boring! It's probably a Hawaiian pizza that a date once swore would be incredible. I also remember trying a slice that was loaded with cream cheese, meats, and red sauce. There have been some concoctions in California, but beyond the Salmon Pie at Postrio, I've totally repressed them.
New Haven, New York, Chicago, Naples, Staten Island, California...a lot of places have come up as you've talked. What's the farthest you've ever traveled just for pizza?
By distance, it's Naples, but most of my travels are centered around pizza. One day last year, I rode the same train from the Bronx (Mario's) to Coney Island (Totonno's) for pizza. If it's a big city, I'll spend a lot of time in transit, and try as many places in a day as I comfortably can.
Naples! I'm officially jealous. Do you have any future pizza travel plans?
The most exotic trip I have in mind would have to be to São Paolo. I've heard that it isn't as good anymore, but with the sheer number of pizzerias and deep Italian heritage, I think it's worth checking out. I had a regular pizza customer from Brazil, who used to order plain pies with garlic. He was a world traveler with great food knowledge, but wasn't a fan of most pizza in the U.S.—it just seems to have so much undiscovered potential.
The very last pizza that I had in Naples came from a place called Lombardi. The Margherita was the least soupy and the crispest of the trip. I really identified with this place, and later heard (not sure if it's true) that the family actually immigrated back to Naples from Brazil.
I want to get to Sicily just as badly, and really understand the different flavors there as well. This will more than likely be my next big trip, but I'm up for any opportunities that present themselves. Every time I see the combinations that Jimmy G is doing, it strengthens my resolve to get there soon.
Earlier you mentioned finding support for your pizza obsession in your grandmother—how do the rest of your family and friends feel about it?
Everyone is basically supportive. I was fortunate that I had two grandmothers who both fostered my interest. One cooked with me a lot, and the other took me to some great pizzerias and restaurants. As a kid, everyone was pretty tolerant of the fact that I made a mess, and I got toys like a pizza peel and a stone.
Friends have truly made every pizza-making event into an awesome party. A lot of interesting and talented creative people show up, and there's demand to turn my yard into an occasional underground restaurant/music venue...not necessarily saying I would do that, though (only, yeah, I totally would).
Sounds like a pretty good idea to me! And finally, to turn the tables a little bit, who would you like to see interviewed?
It would definitely have to be an MPM contributor. There are always pizzas that really speak to me, especially very homemade simple ones, and every one of the makers has a story to tell. Right now Chris Koller stands out a lot. Even before the wood-fired pizzas, his conventional oven pies (like the al-taglio ones) were very compelling.
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Tops "Grey's Anatomy" in A18-49 in the Common Half Hour For the
First Time Ever
"The Big Bang Theory," "The Millers" and "Elementary" All Post Week-to-Week Demo Growth
CBS Sweeps Thursday in Viewers and Key Demos
TWO AND A HALF MEN delivered its largest audience and best adult 18-49 rating since its season premiere and topped "Grey's Anatomy" in adults 18-49 in their common half-hour for the first time, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Thursday, March 6.
At 9:00 PM, TWO AND A HALF MEN was first in viewers (10.45m), adults 25-54 (3.9/10), and adults 18-49 (2.7/08). TWO AND A HALF MEN beat "Grey's Anatomy" in their common half-hour for the first time in adults 18-49 and posted the largest margins of victory in both viewers and adults 25-54. Compared to last, TWO AND A HALF MEN was up +11% in adults 25-54 (from 3.5/09), +8% in adults 18-49 (from 2.5/07) and added +420,000 viewers (from 10.03m, +4%), all best deliveries since its season premiere.
At 8:00 PM, THE BIG BANG THEORY was first in viewers (17.91m), adults 25-54 (7.0/19) and adults 18-49 (5.2/17). Compared to last week, THE BIG BANG THEORY was up +3% in adults 25-54 (from 6.8/19), +4% in adults 18-49 (from 5.0/16) and added +180,000 viewers (from 17.73m, +1%). THE BIG BANG THEORY is the night's top program in these measures.
At 8:30 PM, THE MILLERS was first in viewers (11.78m), adults 25-54 (4.2/09) and adults 18-49 (3.0/09) - beating "American Idol" by +31% in adults 25-54, +36% in adults 18-49 and by +1.68m viewers (+17%) in the common half-hour. Compared to last week, THE MILLERS was up +8% in adults 25-54 (from 3.9/10), +11% in adults 18-49 (from 2.7/08) and added +740,000 viewers (from 11.04m, +7%).
At 9:30 PM, THE CRAZY ONES was second in viewers (7.06m), adults 25-54 (2.5/06) and adults 18-49 (1.7/05).
At 10:00PM, ELEMENTARY was first in viewers (8.47m) and second in adults 25-54 (2.5/07) and adults 18-49 (1.7/05). Compared to last week, ELEMENTARY was up +6% in adults 18-49 (from 1.6/05) and even in adults 25-54.
For the night, CBS was first in households (6.6/11), viewers (10.69m), adults 25-54 (3.7/10) and adults 18-49 (2.7/08).
Updated Thursday ratings will be available later today.


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Our own Jason Torchinsky hit the nail on the head when he called out Lincoln's silly idea to make a Super Bowl ad "crowdsourced" from tweets about road trips. (I kind of hate myself a little bit for even using that word.)
Unlike Ford, which has rolled out some impressive cars recently, Lincoln continues to have a product problem that no amount of social media marketing bullshit will solve. Rather than slick ad campaigns, money should be thrown at making a car that is both compelling and competitive. The rest will take care of itself.
Take this ad from 1961 featuring the Lincoln Continental, arguably the brand's pinnacle achievement. It's as simple as they come: It shows us the new car while a narrator explains its features and why it's better than the competition. Shorter wheelbase, easier to park, unique doors, spacious comfort inside, convertible top on a four-door, and "Continental quality." There's your Lincoln ad, America. BAM.
My favorite part, though, is when they talk about the warranty that comes with the new Continental: two years or 24,000 miles. "Double that of any other car built in America!" Mr. Narrator says.
Holy shit, can you believe that's what passed for a car warranty in the 1960s? Makes you wonder what they would think of Hyundai/Kia's 10-year warranty plans now.
How would you make the perfect Lincoln ad?


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Discrimination case goes to jury
Town says officers failed to take advantage of complaint procedures; plaintiffs say process was ineffective
NEW HAVEN -- A nine-person jury began deliberations Friday in U.S. District Court after listening to several hours of impassioned closing arguments from lawyers representing eight minority Greenwich police officers and the town.
Attorney Lewis Chimes, who is representing the officers in the federal racial discrimination case, called his clients "heroes" and asked the jury to right the wrongs of what they claim was a flawed policy that enabled police officials to discriminate against employees on the basis of race.
"At some point four years ago, eight people stepped forward and said enough,' " said Chimes. "This case was about standing up. They've already won that case. But your verdict is going to vindicate them."
Chimes said there was "overwhelming evidence" that the officers were singled out because of race and asserted that it is the town as a whole that should be held responsible.
However, attorney Robert Mitchell, who is representing the town, said the officers have "not a shred of evidence" to support their claims and are asking a jury to do what they failed to do themselves.
"The plaintiffs have come here seeking your sympathy and are asking you to condemn the town as a whole," said Mitchell. "They cannot blame the town for their continued misfortune, they can only blame themselves. I ask you to turn them away because the evidence does not support their claims."
Mitchell asked the jury not to be swayed by the "warm and fuzzy" arguments put forth by Chimes regarding the emotional toll the alleged treatment had on the officers.
He also asked the jury to consider how hurling the "toxic" charge of racism has affected those involved in the lawsuit, including former Police Chief James Walters and Former First Selectmen Richard Bergstresser and James Lash.
"Think about how much suffering is imposed on those they are charging," said Mithcell.
Closing arguments ran several hours Friday as both sides continued to dispute the evidence in the case and whether the town should be held responsible for incidents of racial discrimination.
Chimes pointed to a figure mentioned often during the course of the two-week trial -- that Walters had made 34 special assignments during his tenure, none of which were afforded to minorities.
"That is a fact that is inescapable," said Chimes. "And it's a fact that should be looked over very seriously."
But Mitchell said the numbers don't show the whole picture.
"They have misled you with the numbers designated to come to a specific conclusion working backwards," said Mitchell.
A bulk of the closing arguments focused on whether the non-discrimination policies put forth by the town were reasonable and effective. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Kravitz told the jury the evidence must show that the first selectman was aware of the discriminatory actions, or should have been, but permitted or deliberately ignored them. The evidence must also show that procedures in place to make the grievances known were ineffective, according to the charging instructions presented to jurors.
Chimes said there was no comprehensive policy on racial discrimination that allowed the officers to grieve their complaints without fearing retaliation against them.
But Mitchell said there was an abundance of ways in which the officers could have grieved their situations.
"This takes us to the crux of the defense in this case," said Mitchell. "The town did provide multiple avenues and when people used those avenues they got results. The plaintiffs unreasonably failed to take advantage of the procedure."
Chimes told the jury that just because the town had a written policy saying discrimination was not tolerated, it doesn't mean that it worked that way. Chimes also ripped into the town's affirmative action office and pointed out how Lash could not remember who was handling claims during his tenure.
"When (Lash) forgets the name of the (affirmative action) officer in charge of policy, that is overwhelming evidence," said Chimes.
"The only way things get done historically is when you go outside (the town)," said Chimes, who had the final opportunity to address the jurors during a rebuttal argument.
The mostly white jury, comprised of five men and four women, must reach a unanimous decision on all claims in the case. The jury is also charged with assigning economic and emotional damages if they find in favor of the officers.
The officers in the federal lawsuit include Vincent O'Banner, Terral Hardy, Scott Johnson, Carlos Franco, John Woodward and Anthony Cameron, as well as Detective Robert Brown and Sgt. John Rodriguez.
The claims to be decided include that all plaintiffs endured a hostile work environment from 2002-2006; the 2005 Sergeant's examination for Brown; the demotion/removal of Officers O'Banner and John Woodward and the failure to appoint to specialized units for John Rodriguez, Hardy, Johnson, Franco and Cameron.
Deliberations continue Monday morning.


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Steve Jobs movie premieres to mixed reviews
A movie about the early life of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs premiered Friday night at the Sundance Film Festival to mixed reviews, with some critics saying it presents a fawning, one-sided portrait of the late tech icon.
"jOBS" stars Ashton Kutcher in the title role and dramatizes selected highlights of Jobs' life, from his formative months at Reed College to the 1984 debut of the Macintosh to the triumphant unveiling of the iPod in 2001. Co-starring Josh Gad ("1600 Penn," "The Book of Mormon") as business partner Steve Wozniak, the film focuses on Jobs' celebrated role in pioneering the personal computer.
"Over and over again, minor characters explain to him why something can't be done; Kutcher-as-Jobs smiles enigmatically and waves away their concerns," writes Casey Newton for CNET.
"Each time, he speaks of how the technology Apple is building will improve the lives of average people. Co-workers argue with him, but they never get anywhere, because their parts are poorly written and the filmmakers have no interest in showing their subject being wrong about his work," Newton continues.
"(A)ll Apple failures in 'jOBS' are portrayed as the result of conservative, backward-thinking executives beholden only to their shareholders. The result is that the viewer spends two hours watching cardboard cutouts lose arguments to Ashton Kutcher."
Matthew Panzarino of The Next Web has a more charitable view of the movie.
"There will be those who will attack the accuracy of the film, and there are plenty of chances to do so. Significant swaths of technical development of the Macintosh and Lisa computers are simply not present," he writes.
"But, overall, 'jOBS' works. ... This isn't going to be the canonical Steve Jobs biography movie. Honestly, Jobs was such a complex individual that I can't see one ever being made. But, as an impressionist portrait of a specific period in his life, it's successful."
Some observers had questioned Kutcher's ability to portray such a complicated and familiar figure. But both critics had praise for the actor's performance.
"He throws himself into the role, inhabiting Jobs in his mannerisms and gestures while doing a more than creditable impression of the man's voice. Kutcher also captures Jobs' deliberate, slightly hunched-over walk," writes CNET's Newton. "At moments, as during an enjoyable sequence in which Jobs recruits members for the Macintosh team, Kutcher disappears into the role."
"jOBS" attracted some controversy last week after a scene from the movie was posted on the Internet. In the clip, Jobs raves about the commercial potential of an operating system that Wozniak has created.
"Nobody wants to buy a computer," says Wozniak. Replies Jobs, "How does somebody know what they want if they've never even seen it?"
Wozniak told Gizmodo that the scene's characterizations were inaccurate.
"We never had such interaction and roles," said the Apple co-founder, who has not seen the whole film. "I'm not even sure what it's getting at ... personalities are very wrong, although mine is closer."
In response, the filmmakers behind "jOBS" issued a statement saying the movie "is not a documentary, nor is it meant to be a blow by blow, word for word account of all conversations and events. ... The filmmakers acknowledge that not every single thing in the film is a precise representation of what took place, but is feature film entertainment."
Steve Jobs died in October 2011 after a long battle with cancer.
"jOBS" is scheduled to open in theaters April 19.
Meanwhile, production is under way on another film about Jobs' life, written by Aaron Sorkin ("The Social Network") and based on Walter Isaacson's best-selling book. Wozniak is a consultant on that film.


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Dodgers recall Kemp
Today's lineup is quite a bit different than yesterday's – firstname.lastname@example.com guessed right yesterday, as we've optioned Lance Carter back to Triple-A Las Vegas and recalled outfielder Matt Kemp from Double-A Jacksonville.
Furcal, SS; Cruz, RF; Nomar, 1B; Saenz, 3B; Aybar, 2B; Kemp, CF; Ethier, LF, Martin, C; Seo, P
I haven't seen him play since spring, but from his numbers, you can tell Kemp was really struggling – .327 average (3rd in Southern League), seven homers, 34 RBI (tied with Andy LaRoche for the league lead), 65 hits (leads the league), 38 runs (leads the league) 11 stolen bases, a .528 slugging percentage and .402 OBP in 48 games for the Suns.
I had a feeling this could happen a few weeks ago when Kim Ng came back from a trip to see some of our minor league teams and was raving about how exciting Matt is as a player. She didn't say that he was coming up soon, but I got the sense that she was impressed, as is just about anyone that watches him play these days.
It's also pretty funny to think that when we got to Spring Training, three guys were lockered next to one another in the non-roster/minor league side of the clubhouse – Saito, Ethier and Kemp. The two kids nicknamed Saito "Sammy." They all went about their business professionally and before June 1, all three were in the big leagues. Not too shabby.
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Exciting! Love watching "the kids" play, although I hope this doesn't mean JD's down for the count because we desperately need his bat over the long haul. I have a feeling if he and/or Kent are lost for any length of time we will see Ned making a deal or two…sooner, rather than later.
Your lineup has both Cruz and Ethier playing left field.
Is this a new defensive strategy?
Hmmm.. Not sure that I like starting the clock on a 21 year old who has only played 50 games above the (A) level. Should we take this to mean that Kent and Drew are both headed to the DL? Arrghh.. Here we go again.
Cruz in RF. Sorry, it's early.
Kent and Drew may not be headed for the DL, the team needed another OF regardless of the latest injury situation. I suspect Kemps call up will be a just for a cup of coffee with the big club, and will go back to Jacksonville soon. Guzman maybe still too young and working on balancing his plate discipline (started out the year in AAA very bad, but is improving) VS power production (started out the year great, but has tapered off)…. Lets just hope Drew, Kent, and Lofton can be patched up and back out on the field in Atlanta. A win today would be a pleasant surprise. GO DODGERS!!!!
It would be pleasant, although with the way the Dodger call-ups have played thus far this season, surprise may not be the case.
I must say this blog has become a really important source of information about the Dodgers, and well worth reading on a daily basis.
eddie murray needs to have a talk wiht kemp and tell him to calm down and stop pulling a beltre every AB.
npurcell, he got a hit his last at bat, I still kinda don't like that he's up here though.
If he's pulling a Beltre, the Dodgers need a hypnotist to tell him it's a contract year.
Not the prettiest debut for a Dodger call-up this year, but at least he managed to get a hit. But don't count him out yet; Ethier took his time to heat up.
Odalis Perez might find his way back into the rotation if Seo doesn't lock into something solid. This now marks the third start in which Seo has not made it past the 4th inning.
I'm surprised Grady batted him 6th, but there's not enough of a sample size to determine how he'll do.
The Jacksonville Suns website says J. D. Drew is going on the 15-day DL. Could there be an additional roster move coming today? Will we finally see Guzman in ATL?
Is the Jacksonville website accurate? I was wondering since it does not mention that Lance Carter was optioned down to AAA. My guess is that they posted the announcement before Carter was sent to Vegas, and Dodger management switched at the last second after talking to JD.
My guess is Grady realized his mistake in not giving Drew a rest in one of the games next to the off day on the calendar, and that Drew can play just fine on two days rest. I would also guess that even though Kent is known to "play through pain," the fact that he has a history of wrist injuries and a few more years under his belt will cause the Dodgers to be cautious about starting him, and if anyone he would go on the DL, or at least be out tomorrow. But I guess we'll see what the club does.
Also, with Izturis on the 60-day DL, does that at all hinder with his eligibility to come back in mid-June?
The 60-day move does not change Izturis' status. He can still come back as scheduled. The 60 days begin when he was placed on the DL originally, which was at the start of the season.
Finally got a copy of the media guide, could I send you some comments at the email address in the guide, just some things that I find useful could be added and some errors in the guide.
Absolutely. Please do let us know any ideas you have for the guide, plus mistakes we made in the most recent version.
How about publishing the media guide in PDF format too and putting in on the Dodgers web site as a free download?
Kemp has ability no doubt, he just seems really raw. So far pulling off the ball, and shaky d is nothing special. 5 tool player that needs some seasoning, perhaps AAA will be his home this year. With all these prospects we have, a trade is imminent.


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Spoiling the grandkids; what else are grandparents for? Though that question is usually asked rhetorically, most grandparents surveyed by AARP answered "not much."
In a report released at the end of March, 36% of grandparents said it was their job to spoil their grandkids by "buying too much," and 26% said it was their job to give treats and special gifts. (It should be noted that 31% of grumpy grandparents said neither they nor their children should spoil the grandkids by buying too much.)
For the report, "Insights and Spending Habits of Modern Grandparents," AARP surveyed more than 1,900 grandparents who were 50 or older between August and October 2011.
While the grandparents surveyed seemed eager to take on fun duties, they largely agreed that many of the tasks mentioned in the survey were the shared responsibility of grandparents and parents. While just 3% said teaching values was a role for grandparents, 80% agreed that both parents and grandparents must be involved. Four percent of grandparents said it was their job to teach their grandkids about religion or spirituality, but 67% said it was a shared duty.
Grandparents are eager to spend money on their grandkids, and 40% reported spending more than $500 over the last 12 months. Although birthdays and holidays were the biggest reasons for spending, the report found some grandparents are providing critical financial support for their children's families. More than half contribute to education, 37% help with everyday basics, and 23% cover medical or dental bills.
Some grandparents noted, though, that some of the money they spent on their grandchildren could be categorized as neither "necessities" nor "non-necessities," like contributions to savings accounts and college funds.
Surprisingly, more than half of grandparents said the economy hasn't changed how they spend money on their grandkids. AARP suggests this "understates the impact of the recession" as many grandparents commented that they cut back in other areas because "spending on their grandchildren is a higher priority."
While 16% of grandparents said they watch their grandkids while the parents are at work or school, an additional 36% said they had done so in the past, even though they don't currently provide daycare. Many said they agreed to watch their grandkids because they didn't want their children to send them to a daycare center or babysitter, or because their children couldn't afford professional care. Nearly half said they provided care simply because they wanted to. Eleven percent of grandparents said their grandchildren live with them, and half of those have their children living with them also.


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Construct3D conference - 3D Printing & Digital Fabrication for Education
There's an upcoming conference for education focused on 3D Printing and Digital Fabrication called Construct3D. I believe it's sponsored by Ultimaker. Just thought certain people might wanna know. The venue is Georgia Tech University, and it is October 5-8th 2018. More details, including speakers and sessions, can be found via the website.


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Graphic Design
Handcooked Studios features the work of Stirling-based graphic designer Douglas Walker. With over 30 years of design & print industry experience, work across all areas of graphic design is undertaken, although two particular areas of specialism are the design/screen-printing of gig posters and website design & development.
Alongside these specialist areas, general graphic design work comprises a large part of the work done at Handcooked Studios – logo design, leaflets, brochures, exhibition graphics, signage, posters, graphics for web & social media and branding projects are all examples of work recently done.
Working with clients across a variety of different industries and business sizes (from large plc's all the way through to small music festivals), my aim is to provide a friendly, efficient, client-focused design service which more than meets whatever your requirements are.
A love of music, graphic design & screen-printing could only ever mean one thing… gig posters!
I design and screen-print officially-commissioned art prints (gig posters) which are sold at concerts as part of a band's merchandise range – producing work for Idlewild, Admiral Fallow and Fatherson amongst others.
These prints are produced in limited edition runs – each uniquely designed & hand-printed, and individually signed & numbered.
Along with printing my own design work, I also undertake commercial screen-printing (as long as it all fits in to a basic remit of being music or arts-based) – producing record sleeves, gig posters, art prints and album inserts for Mogwai, Merchandise For Life, Fatcat Records, O-Merch and The Twilight Sad.
Website Design
Website design has been an ever-growing area within my design work, and with the need to create responsive sites that work effectively across desktops, tablets and smartphones, it's an area of work I enjoy more than ever (always being one for a challenge!).
I design & build websites using WordPress and implement many industry best practices within my web work – combining a designer's eye for detail & visual approach along with a good, solid technical knowledge of working within the WordPress environment for developing and building websites.
Usability, site speed, security, site management & search engine optimisation are all fundamental considerations within website design – and these are all areas that are addressed as standard, not as extras.
Client Testimonial
"Douglas is brilliant to work with. I've worked with many designers over the years and at times the challenge can be translating what's in my head into a brief the designer can understand. Douglas has a cool, calm style and easy way of communicating that means before you know it, he understands what it is you're trying to achieve – and off he goes and does it.
What impresses me most is that he never lets me down, he's never late with concepts or finished work and if he has had trouble behind the scenes, I've never been aware of it. Everything looks great. Everything hits the mark. Can't ask for better than that."


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Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts, to traveling actors David Poe and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins.
Separated from his older brother, William Henry, and younger sister, Rosalie, following their parents' deaths, Edgar went to live with wealthy tobacco merchant, John Allan, and his wife, Frances Valentine Allan, inRichmond,Virginia. Although John planned for Edgar to pursue a career in business, Poe desired to follow in the footsteps of his childhood hero, British poet Lord Byron. Prolific as his literary efforts were, Poe was dissuaded from publishing by his boarding school headmaster, even with enough poetry to fill a book by the age of thirteen.
Poe led a complicated life as a young man, experiencing one hardship after another. Attending the University of Virginia in 1826, he was forced to leave due to gambling debts acquired while trying to sustain himself, since John Allan had given Poe only a fraction of the stipend necessary to live. Returning home, Poe's fiancé, Elmira Royster, had become engaged to another during Poe's time away at school. The combined stress from Allan and Royster compelled Poe to seek out a new life, resulting in enlistment in the U.S. Army, and later at West PointAcademyafter making amends with Allan. During this time, Poe published his first book, Tamerlane, as well as a collection of poetry.
As many classic works were published ("The Raven" in 1845) and Poe gained notoriety, he sought more payment as lecture crowds increased. An advocate of author's wages and international copyright law, Poe attempted to establish his own literary journal, but was unable to acquire the financing.
His health deteriorated in the late 1840s, and Poe was hospitalized after being found in a bar room. He died on October 7, 1849, at forty from an undetermined cause of death.
Seeking revenge for a scathing review by Poe, author Rufus Griswold wrote a defamatory obituary of him, followed by an unflattering biography filled with exaggerations of drinking and womanizing. Griswold's attempts misfired, prompting the public to seek out Poe's work in droves.
The dark and melancholic aura associated with Poe was more the mystique created by his rivals. Poe may have been a man presumed to have lived a licentious lifestyle, but any darkness attributed to him was committed to his work. The man himself appears nobler than credited, and sought refuge in his talents, becoming the literary giant he is known as today.


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Adan Salazar
October 24, 2012
With the presidential election weeks away, residents of Guilford County, North Carolina were alarmed to find out that their voting machines may have been manipulating votes, as some claim their votes for Romney were changed to votes for Obama.
"I was so upset this could happen," voter Sher Coromalis told MyFox8.com. Coromalis tried at least three times unsuccessfully to cast her vote for Mitt Romney at early polling, and each time her vote was counted as a vote for Obama.
Coromalis also said she had to press the selection button several times before it was accepted, a problem another voter, Marie Haydock, confirmed having. "The frustration is every vote counts," Haydock told Fox, convinced that numbers reported by recent Gallup and Rasmussen polls actually reflect the people's choice.
The Guilford County board of elections tried to explain off the mishap, saying this type of problem is definitely "not a conspiracy" and is solved by recalibrating the machine. "It's not a conspiracy, it's just a machine that needs to be corrected," Guilford County Board of Elections Director George Gilbert said trying to calm suspicions of foul play.
Infowars has always held a non-partisan stance on elections and presidential candidates. In the past, we've also reported on numerous instances of voter fraud, a practice that is almost as American as apple pie and baseball.
North Carolina was recently at the center of a controversy where nearly 30,000 names of registered voters were actually dead people. "Mainly, what we're concerned about is the potential [for fraud]," Voter Integrity project director Jay DeLancy told the Charlotte Observer. "Since there is no voter ID law in North Carolina, anybody can walk in and claim to be anyone else."
In January, we reported on the discovery of more than 950 ballots in the South Carolina primary belonging to people that had died. "In a letter dated Thursday, [South Carolina attorney general, Alan] Wilson says the analysis found 953 ballots cast by voters listed as dead. In 71 percent of those cases, ballots were cast between two months and 76 months after the people died. That means they 'voted' up to 6 1/3 years after their death," the AP reported.
In 2006, California state officials discovered that pushing a button in the back of voting machines would allow someone to cast their vote multiple times.
Do yourself and America a favor this election season and, either, don't vote, vote third-party candidate or write-in Ron Paul.
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