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Monday, January 23, 2012
The Little Things We Love About Baseball
The notion that we'll spend another month talking in negative terms - what the Jays haven't done, who they haven't signed and what they won't achieve next year - is enough to make us barricade ourselves in the basement under a pile a pillows and stuffed animals, waiting for warmth of the spring to come rouse us back to a happy place.
In the midst of this pity party, we noticed a handful of fine baseball-loving folks feeding their sunnier thoughts about the game into Twitter yesterday, under the #WhyILoveBaseball hashtag. Those cheerful notions made us reflect on the little things that we love about the game, and what we look forward to seeing soon. We've collected a few off the top of our head to share with you.
Gappers: This isn't to diminish how awesome it is to see players smack-a-tater, but there's something sublime about the mounting excitement that builds when a well-hit ball gets into the outfield gap. It takes an extra second or two to figure out if any of the outfielders have any sort of play on the ball ("That ball's gonna get down!") and then the fun starts ("And it's gonna get to the wall!") If there are runners on, you've got motion around the diamond and players scoring and guys taking extra bags and cut-off throws and sliding plays at the bases. How much fun is that?
Lefty Pick Off Moves: We grew up watching Jimmy Key confound runners who attempted to distinguish between his move to first base and his move home, and there are few plays that we enjoy more than a well-executed pick off. (Skip to 1:26 of this video, from Key's induction into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, to see Otis Nixon get got by a quick and deceiving move to first.) Conversely, nothing is quite so infuriating as to watch your own runner be picked off or lean back to the base unnecessarily. It's always a little disappointing these days to see the number of lefties who don't tend this skill, and who do little more than monitor the runner and chase him back with a soft toss.
The Number 42: We always find it a little weird when watching another sport and seeing someone wearing Jackie Robinson's number. But during the baseball season, we always like whenever a camera shot wanders over towards the retired numbers in the ballpark and finds number 42 among the local squad's honourees. It's seems to us to be a good and fitting tribute to the man, and a reminder of what to us is baseball's greatest shame.
Players Acting as Impromptu Base Coaches: Occasionally, you'll catch either the runner coming around third waving the runner behind him in to score. More often, a runner who's already crossed the plate looks back and signals to the runners behind him when and where to slide. Sometimes, a committee comprised of runners and on-deck batters gather to provide voluminous feedback to the baserunners. And sometimes the "hands-up, stand-up" signal morphs perfectly into a congratulatory high five.
Uniforms and Flair: If you've read our blog for any amount of time, you've probably picked up on how much we love baseball uniforms. The different permutations and the peculiar, one-day one-offs that pop up throughout the season are fun to see. But we also love seeing the multitude of ways that players make the uniforms their own: Wristbands, armbands, high socks, baggy pants, long sleeves, eye black, shades on, shades off, flip-downs, flat brim, taped wrists, shin guard, pine tar stains, double ear-flaps, mutli-coloured cleats and Franklin batting gloves. Just to name a few. They might not always be what we'd wear on the field of play, but the way a player dresses up his uniform always helps to differentiate him from every other player. It's always nice to see some personality out there.
Inning Ending Strikeouts: Especially as games reach their later stages, and the outs become more important (meaningful?), having your pitcher get the better of the batter is great fun. Whether if it comes from extracting a swing at something nasty or freezing the batter with an unexpected breaking ball in the zone, nothing elicits a fist pump quite like a K to end a frame. (Bonus points for the strikeouts that come accompanied by the pitcher hopping off the mound.)
That's our list, and we feel a little bit better just having shared it. How about you? What warms your baseball heart on these cold winter nights?
24 comments:
- Minor Leaguer said...
Walk-off hits at home.
The Seventh Inning Stretch.
Kids with their gloves at the ballpark.
Beer in one hand, pencil in the other with a score card on my lap on a summer's day with the Dome peeled back.
Infield singles.
Stolen bases.
The Wave (I know I may be alone on that lsat one).
- January 23, 2012 at 3:09 PM
Beating the crap out of the AL Central for the first 15 games of the year, looking at that 9-6 record and extrapolating that out to a 95+ win season.
Ignorance is bliss before reality sets in.
- January 23, 2012 at 3:14 PM
Outfield assists
10+ pitch at-bats
When you say, "here comes a homer," and the next pitch ends up in the bullpen
- January 23, 2012 at 3:22 PM
- Darrell said...
Watching the pitcher's delivery and the shape of the pitch. Calling balls and strikes in my mind. The fact that every single pitch has a definable outcome, and it's always a surprise. If even just a small one.
- January 23, 2012 at 3:25 PM
- The Ack said...
Snap throws.
- January 23, 2012 at 3:35 PM
- sporkless said...
A really slow guy getting credit for a stolen base on the back end of a double steal.
A pitcher coming to bat in an American League game, because either the game has gone on forever and/or the manager has risked bringing his DH in to field.
Beating the Red Sox at the Dome. Don't care how, when, whatever score - it's always awesome.
Curtain calls. (And the underlying event that deserved the curtain call.)
Balks that occur due to comical reasons, e.g. pitcher falling off the mound, dropping the ball.
I know it's not cool to like them, but I love a beanball war and bench clearing incidents. Love the intensity.
- January 23, 2012 at 3:43 PM
- Tony said...
Sitting in my usual seats at the local ballpark, scarfing down a burger while they play "Boys of Summer" over the stadium speakers.
- January 23, 2012 at 3:45 PM
Playing John Fogerty's "Centerfield" on Opening Day.
- January 23, 2012 at 4:03 PM
- tincanman2010 said...
Like Darrell, it's pitching for me. I love it when a pitcher knows he's got the stuff to get batters out today, he works briskly, in sync with catcher, no nibbling at corners. He doesn't have to be overpowering with double-digit strikeouts; but he is in control and both teams know it.
- January 23, 2012 at 4:18 PM
- Bam_86 said...
Getting to the ballpark early enough to catch BP. Which is often difficult if you live way outside of Toronto.
- January 23, 2012 at 4:49 PM
When there's a delay in the game and a baserunner just stands around chatting with the infielders, because it's so transparently just laundry.
- January 23, 2012 at 5:37 PM
I'll add to the pitcher thing. When your pitcher goes to another ball park and shuts the team, and their fans, up. Something about it when you can just tell that the home fans know their team doesn't have a chance
- January 23, 2012 at 5:50 PM
Waiting to hear Jerry or Alan praise Travis Sniders' thighs - "Just look at them! That boy could be a farmer!"
- January 23, 2012 at 6:26 PM
- dbenson1399 said...
Greg Zaun's between inning instructional sessions - when they give you those great stats ... he hits 328 when he faces left handed batters on Tuesdays who's last name start with Q. - Brett Lawrie's celebrations - when one of the boys hits the ball so hard and long that you just go "wow" and you rewind the replay 4 or 5 times and just watch the ball get crushed - diving infield snags where they throw the guy out while on their knees - when the camera pans to the super hot chick in the crowd :-)
- January 23, 2012 at 9:19 PM
This blog looks crazy now.
- January 23, 2012 at 9:29 PM
- CaptainLatte said...
Yunel Escobar long tossing a couple of feet from my seat ... Adam Lind rocking back and forth during the anthem ... Papi Walton walking out with the day's SP ... catching up on gossip with the ushers.
- January 23, 2012 at 11:32 PM
-watching This Week in Baseball on the Jumbotron
-groups of attractive girls watching the game and knowing exactly what's going on
-seeing all the ballpark workers you haven't seen since the last fall and saying hi
-watching batting practice with my dad
- January 24, 2012 at 10:05 AM
- Raymond said...
A real nasty slider, since I grew up with a notable disability to hit the breaking stuff.
It warms my heart to see major league hitters freeze and vaporlock and take it for strike three, chase down and away, or end up running to first holding the shattered remains of a bat. Priceless!
- January 24, 2012 at 11:47 AM
- Ian - BJH said...
Brandon Morrow's delivery ... it's a thing of beauty.
- January 24, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Listening to a ball game on the radio, hearing Jerry call the game while I drive home down the Gardiner.
That first warm spring day, when the ball game is on tv, the sun is actually warming up your house, and you can open the windows and let the warm breeze in, and you just *know* summer is on the way.....and along with it a whole bunch of baseball!
Going to the game with someone who doesn't really know baseball, and getting to explain all the silly little rules that make the game so amazing.
- January 24, 2012 at 6:09 PM
- Baseball party invitations said...
Thanks for blogging this! It is really beautiful!
- January 24, 2012 at 8:07 PM
- J. B. Rainsberger said...
The 9-3 putout.
A two-seamer that nips the inside corner.
Holding the batter to a single on a ball off the wall.
Scoreless after 13 innings in 3 hours and 8 minutes.
- January 25, 2012 at 1:40 AM
-The anticipation of the first pitch.
-Our pitcher creating toothpicks out of previously perfect bats.
-Their hitters shaking their heads while they shuffle back to the dugout.
-The backhand flip from the glove to start a double play.
-Bautista staring down the opposing pitcher after a pitch that's high and tight...and taking the next one into the 2nd deck.
-My 8 year old excited A-Rod was held hitless, even though the Jays lost.
...when do pitchers and catchers report...?
- January 25, 2012 at 1:58 PM
- Mike said...
Hoping you might witness a no-hitter when the pitcher has kept them hitless after 5
Hoping that you might be at the longest game ever when it goes into the 14th inning
Hoping that at some point, when the foul ball comes your way, you will make a diving grab that will be noticed by the players :)
- February 7, 2012 at 12:20 PM


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subset: commoncrawl


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MADRID (Reuters) - American Chris Horner became the oldest Grand Tour champion and the first U.S. winner of the Tour of Spain when he sealed overall victory on Sunday for the biggest win of his 19 years as a professional rider.
RadioShack rider Horner, who turns 42 next month, left the sprinters to fight out the 21st and final stage of the three-week Vuelta and finished safely in the bunch to secure the race win 37 seconds ahead of Giro d'Italia champion Vincenzo Nibali. Spain's Alejandro Valverde was third overall.
"This is a muy (very) special moment, muchas gracias (many thanks)" Horner, mixing English and Spanish, told fans after donning the race leader's red jersey for the final time on a sunny evening in central Madrid.
The stage win went to 22-year-old Australian Michael Matthews in a bunch sprint with American Tyler Farrar second and Germany's Niklas Arndt third.
At 41 years 11 months, Horner outstrips the previous oldest Grand Tour winner, Belgian Firmin Lambot who won the 1922 Tour de France, by five years.
The Tour of Spain's previous oldest champion was Swiss Tony Rominger, who was aged 33 in the 1994 race.
Horner had said the Vuelta's mountainous route, with climbs as early as stage two, favoured his racing style and he soon showed his intent with a solo victory in stage three on the uphill finish at the Mirador de Lobeira to briefly hold the race lead.
"I love the course. I thought its design was perfect for me, and when I came here and we did a good opening team time trial (finishing second) then I believed I could take the jersey, though I don't know if I believed I could win it," he told reporters.
Horner landed the first major blow against his rivals when he soared away from the pack at Hazallanas summit finish in southern Spain on stage 10, regaining the overall lead.
Pre-race favourite Nibali ousted him from top spot in stage 11's individual time trial but, as the Italian weakened in the final week of climbing through the Pyrenees and northern Spanish mountains, Horner's consistency allowed him to close the gap.
After taking the overall lead for a third time on stage 19 with a three-second margin over the Nibali, Horner then resisted the 2010 Vuelta champion's multiple attacks on the dauntingly steep slopes of the Alto de L'Angliru on Saturday to tighten his grip on the race.
"I've been a professional for almost 20 years, but Grand Tours have always been in a special place for me," Horner said.
"It's been a long journey to get here, but I have a lifetime of memories with this race."
Reporting by Alasdair Fotheringham; Editing by Alison Wildey


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If you go
What: Central City Opera's production of "The Sound of Music" by Rodgers and Hammerstein
When: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6; Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7 and Friday, Aug. 8
Where: Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1101 13th St., Denver
Tickets: $30-$100
Info: 303-292-6700 or centralcityopera.org
DENVER —The musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein epitomize those stage works that are equally successful as grand opera or as amateur community theater. The songs are difficult enough to be appropriate for operatic voices, yet, with a few exceptions, they remain songs, not arias.
Locally, a fine community production of "The Sound of Music" recently closed at Jesters Theatre in Longmont. On Saturday, the same show, with the same message and the same music, was produced by Central City Opera as, for the second season, the company packed up its productions in the mountains for a musical theater epilogue in Denver. While last year's "Show Boat" was excellent and even revelatory, "The Sound of Music" reached a higher plane.
One reason for that is the venue. The Ellie Caulkins Opera House, though still a large space, was a more comfortable home for the Central City performers than the cavernous Buell Theater, where "Show Boat" was staged. And Saturday night, the Ellie was filled to near capacity. The crowd was treated to a transcendent experience.
James Fouchard's scenery is utterly gorgeous, with believable Alpine backgrounds, a stately von Trapp manor, a dignified abbey, a realistic mountain — climbed by the von Trapps at the end — and a marvelous proscenium arch. Ken Cazan, who directed this season's "Dead Man Walking," adapts his skills to the larger Ellie stage, always positioning the characters, particularly the von Trapp children, to their best advantage.
Craig Kier conducts a superb orchestra in the pit and maintains contact with the singers at all times. The presence of the full orchestra, even more than the singers, is the greatest benefit to an operatic production.
For those only familiar with the 1965 Julie Andrews film, the 1959 stage version offers some surprises. How many people know, for instance, that "My Favorite Things" was originally sung in the abbey with the Mother Abbess as audience, not in the bedroom to the frightened children? Or that Rolf originally did not, in fact, betray the von Trapps, but deliberately threw the Nazis off their scent?
Soprano Katherine Manley as Maria, the nun-turned-governess-turned-mother, carries much of the character evolution in a most convincing way. Manley enraptures the audience from the first strains of the title song, and remains enchanting to the end. Baritone Troy Cook is a sympathetic Captain von Trapp who downplays the character's reputation as a harsh disciplinarian and emphasizes his affectionate warmth.
Soprano Julie Tabash is radiant as Liesl, the iconic eldest daughter. Her scenes with Manley are moving, and she has strong enough vocals to match the older actress. Tenor Ian O'Brien is a surprisingly sympathetic Rolf, whose pure vocal tone merges well with Tabash in the duet "Sixteen Going on Seventeen."
Mezzo-soprano Lucy Schaufer gives the baroness Elsa Schrader both depth and grandeur, and she shines in the ironic, somewhat disturbing song "No Way to Stop It," another discovery for those only familiar with the film, from which it is absent.
Two actors who played serious roles in "Dead Man Walking" return. Baritone Robert Orth proves his versatility in moving from the tortured father of a murdered teenager to the broad tragicomedy of Max Detweiler. Orth's characterization of the befuddled culture minister is pure perfection, and his interactions with the children are great highlights.
But the cast's most outstanding performance comes from mezzo-soprano Maria Zifchak as the Mother Abbess. Zifchak was profoundly moving as Mrs. De Rocher in "Dead Man Walking." Here, her grand and soaring "Climb Every Mountain" at the end of Act I is the absolute musical highlight of the evening. Zifchak is not the only musical treasure at the abbey, however. The harmonies in the chorus of nuns are sublime.
The six remaining von Trapp children are all members of the Colorado Children's Chorale. All are delightful, and sing impressively, especially in the harmonized reprise of the title song and the complex re-interpretation of "Do-Re-Mi" at the climactic Salzburg Music Festival. Special mention should be given to Grace Pouliot's portrayal of the precocious Brigitta.


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This week for my Interview Series, we have Andrew Smith, Director at escherman, talk about his career path, current role, changes he's seen in the PR industry over the years and his thoughts on the future of PR.
1. Before working in PR, you spent a couple of years working as a Deputy News Editor at a weekly UK publishing trade title. Can you talk about your experience working there and why you decided to enter the PR industry afterwards?
I started life as an editorial assistant on the Retail Newsagent Tobacconist and Confectioner in September 1985. In spite of appearances, this was an excellent training ground in journalism.
One of my former predecessors in this role at the magazine – Mark Haysom – went on to become Chief Executive of Trinity Group Newspapers and one of the most powerful people in British newspaper publishing.
Even while I was there, the magazine was suddenly at the forefront of mainstream news developments.
You have to remember this was when Rupert Murdoch was revolutionising the newspaper industry in Britain – moving distribution from rail to road, taking on the print unions, Wapping, etc – we were reporting on the same things as national print and broadcast media. I was going to press conferences and working alongside top national newspaper journalists.
For example, Raymond Snoddy, the then hugely influential Media Correspondent for the Financial Times would ring me to check on particular aspects of news trade distribution (though as a rookie journalist I confess to being in complete awe of such a titan of journalism).
This was also a time which saw the first new UK national newspapers launched in decades. I covered the launch of Eddy Shah's Today newspaper and interviewed Andreas Whittam-Smith, the founder of the Independent. I also interviewed Robert Maxwell for the launch of the ill fated London Daily News.
So where did PR enter the frame? When I started as a journalist, I had no idea about public relations (as far I knew, PR stood for proportional representation).
Or rather, I had no idea a whole industry existed to try and provide me as a journalist with material to write about. In those days, we'd get a massive mail sack at the office basically full of paper-based press releases. One of the most useful tools I had was a massive metal spike on which 99pc of press releases would be unceremoniously terminated. I'd get calls from breathless PR people asking me if I'd got their client's press release and would I be writing about them?
I'll be honest. My early view of PR from a journalist perspective was not good. But over time, I came to realise that there were good PRs. These were the ones that would provide good information and knew how to pitch me a story.
I also realised that PR people seemed to get paid quite a bit more than journalists. Surely I could do that? So in 1988, I decided to give PR a go. I told myself that if it didn't work out, I could always go back to journalism.
I started life as a PR executive with a small PR agency. Before I started the job, I had the stereotypical journalist view that my day would consist of writing press releases and taking journalists to lunch.
How wrong could I be. Suddenly I had to deal with things like client management, budgeting, campaign planning, negotiation and a whole host of other things that journalists never see. I admit that in the early days, I did question whether I had made the right decision.
However, I decided that if I was to stay in PR, I should work for a PR firm that specialised in something I really enjoyed. Hence my move in 1989 to join tech PR firm Keene Communications where I ended up running one of the iconic tech PR accounts of the era: Borland – the rest is history.
2. As Director at escherman, can you give us an overview of your role and the sort of projects you work on?
My role is partly to define what services we should offer clients and to then determine how best we can deliver them. The kinds of projects we mostly get involved with today largely revolve around helping clients best understand how to marry to together PR, social media and SEO into a coherent mix, while also using advanced analytics techniques to measure and evaluate programmes. As a by-product of this, we are increasingly asked to provide training in all of these areas – so this is a growing aspect of the business.
3. What's a typical day for you like?
I guess the cliche answer would be to say there is no such thing as a typical day 😉
But certainly a lot of my time is spent delivering training workshops, attending client meetings, planning campaigns and keeping up to speed with latest developments in all aspects of digital.
And it goes without saying that I spend time every day using a variety of social and SEO tools to keep on top of everything. Personal favourites included Hootsuite, Nimble, Lissted and MajesticSEO.
4. I read that you were the second PR professional in the UK to begin sending press releases via e-mail in 1991, which is amazing. Having seen so many changes to the PR industry over the years, I'm interested to know whether you think there are some things that have stayed the same?
I've dined out for years on the email press release story. I got exposed to email in 1989 through my work at Keene with Borland. I joined one of the UK's first online bulletin boards (CIX) around the same time. It was here I discovered that there were journalists using the service to have online conversations and – gasp – email each other.
I think the first press release I emailed went to about 5 journalists. One of them was the then Technology Editor of The Guardian newspaper, Jack Schofield. It was Jack that suggested that Frank O'Mahoney (then UK PR Manager at Apple) and myself were the first UK PRs do to this (although the honour of being first went to Frank).
The point of mentioning all of this is that one of the key things that has stayed the same is the importance of relationships. Looking back at my early use of email, the key thing was that it only worked if you had already established a relationship with someone and taken the time to properly understand their needs.
PR has always been about relationships. And always will be. In spite of the huge changes in technology and society over the last 30 years, the fundamental need for building and maintaining relationships with people is more important than ever.
5. With the rise of social media and shrinking of traditional newsrooms, what are your thoughts on the future of the PR industry? What sort of skills do you see becoming increasingly valuable?
I am quite optimistic about the future of the PR industry. At least for those PR professionals who accept the reality of the world we are in and can adapt and change quickly enough.
I've been banging on for some time about research that Google did last year which showed that 90pc of all media consumption today is done via a screen – TV, PC, laptop, mobile or tablet. Print represents a tiny proportion of media consumption. And yet much of the PR sector is still mainly focussed on print coverage.
And yet Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP basically came out last week and confirmed Google's research – namely, that there is massive disconnect between expenditure on print PR, advertising and marketing and where consumers spend their time.
Traditional PR skills of creating great editorial style content and relationship building should play well in the screen-driven mobile/social world we are living in. The key additional skill that PRs everywhere must develop is in analytics, measurement and evaluation. The old excuses that PR measurement was too difficult or too expensive won't wash anymore.
There are techniques available to all PRs that can prove a much more robust connection between activity and measurable impact. For example, Google Analytics is a free tool that can show both the direct and indirect impact of PR and social media against defined goals. For those PR professionals who are prepared to invest time and energy in these areas, then I'd say the future is very bright indeed.
***To get in touch with Andrew or read more from him, check out blog.escherman.com***


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Senate passes "Census mailer" bill
H/t to Ed O'Keefe at the Washington Post for the following:
With just six days left until 2010 Census forms are due back, the Senate approved a measure Friday that bans deceptive mailings that use the word "Census" without a disclaimer.
Democrats, senior citizens and civil rights groups have denounced mailings by the Republican National Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee that prominently featured the word "Census" and "Official Document" on the document and envelope. Though the U.S. Postal Service ruled the mailings legal, opponents argued they could confuse Americans who were waiting for the government's census forms to arrive in the mail.
The Senate unanimously approved the measure along with 12 other unrelated bills. It requires mailings with an envelope marked "Census" to clearly state the sender's return address and a disclaimer that the mailing is not from the federal government. Mailers could still use the word "census" on an envelope or document so long as it carries the disclaimer. The House unanimously passed the bill March 10.
Tags: Census, document, Ed O'Keefe, envelope, fake, Michael Steele, Repubicans, Republican, RNC, Washington Post


text: Hands-on activity-based course is for students who plan to teach preschool through grade 8. Content is based on topics recommended by National Science Education Content Standards and the K-8 Science Outcomes document of Prince George's County Public Schools. Emphasis is on building process skills and content understanding using a constructivist-based teaching methodology. 3 class/2 lab hours. Academic Level Undergraduate Level Subject Physical Science Department Physical Sci and Engineering Credits 4 Prerequisites DVR-P006 : Reading Proficiency Satisfied DVR-0061 : College Reading and Study Skills DVR-0071 : Accelerated College Reading andStudy Skills ESL-0106 : English as a Second Language:Advanced Reading Skills ESL-1060 : English as a Second Language:Advanced Reading Skills DVE-0012 : Foundations of Composition and Comprehension Corequisites None Return to Paralegal/Legal Assistant, Assoc. of Applied Science Academic Calendar Catalog and Class Schedules Online Learning Bookstore Register For Classes Request Information


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Hawzah News Agency (Bangkok, Thailand) - According to the website of the Islamic Culture and Relation Organization (ICRO), scholars and thinkers from Thailand, Iran, Sri Lanka and Myanmar will take part in the program.
It will be held on March 15-16 in cooperation with the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
The main themes of discussion at the event will include understanding, religious tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
It is aimed at promoting awareness among religious leaders and scholars of the two sides about one another's beliefs and moral values.
Iran's ambassador to Thailand, the southeast Asian country's deputy culture minister, representative of Thailand's top Muslim cleric, and chancellor of Chulalongkorn University will be among the participants at this round of Islam-Buddhism dialogue.
The previous edition of the interfaith program was held in 2015 in Tehran.


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Yankees pick up Brignac from Colorado
Bronx, NY – The New York Yankees have acquired utilityman Reid Brignac from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash considerations.
Brignac had been designated for assignment by the Rockies on Thursday. He was hitting .250 with a homer and six runs batted in over 29 games for Colorado.
The 27-year-old veteran spent his first five years with Tampa Bay. He saw his most extensive playing time in 2010 with the Rays, batting .256 with eight homers and 45 RBI in 113 games.
Brignac gives the Yankees more versatility, especially in the infield with injuries to Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Kevin Youkilis and Eduardo Nunez. He has played second base, third base and shortstop in the infield while also seeing time at the corner outfield spots.
The Yankees tried to fill the infield role with a Colorado player earlier this season, but Chris Nelson struggled in his brief stint in New York. He hit just .222 with two runs batted in during a 10-game audition before being designated for assignment on Wednesday.
To open a spot on the roster for Brignac, the Yankees designated infielder Alberto Gonzalez for assignment. Gonzalez, acquired from the Cubs on May 9, appeared in three games for the Yankees this week and was 3-for-9 at the plate. He also got the final out on the mound in Wednesday's 12-2 loss to Seattle.


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dbuffington needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 36 designs submitted by 13 freelance designers.
The American Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (AIPS) is a new "non-profit" organization that serves the following capacities:
- Professional Association for Clinical Pharmacologists (i.e., Pharmacists and Physicians)
- Development of National Treatment Guidelines
- Hosts Continuing Medical Education programming
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- Technical Experts – Drug Information and Medical Practice
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Currently in development
Looking for a bold, clear, impressive professional organization logo that embodies an organization, healthcare and strength. The organization is going to represent pharmacists and physicians who focus on optimizing prescription therapies to improve healthcare.
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- Bold tranditional colors (no pastels)
Potential images – could include "pillars" or other images of strength and support
Some General Ideas:
Do not use: medicine bottles, caduceus, prescription pads, Rx, capsules, tablets, syringes, mortar & pestle, US flag, star, etc.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Square to Cube
by Martin Gardner
Take a square piece of paper with
one color on one side and another on the other. Now rule the square
into nine squares as shown on the left. You may also use our prepared
PDF Print 'n' Play version
of such a square.
The question is if it's possible by cutting only along the ruled
lines, cut out from this square a pattern (it must be a single piece)
that will fold along the ruled lines into a cube that has just one
color on the outside?
No cuts or folds are allowed that are not along the ruled lines that
divide the piece of paper into the squares.
Step Through:


text:
Ivory Coast winger Abdul Kader Keita is keen on a move to the Premier League
Abdul Kader Keita has set his sights on a Premier League move and says his agent is trying to negotiate a deal.
By Giscard Gourizro
Last Updated: 03/12/12 5:58pm
Keita recently departed Qatari club Al Saad and is on the lookout for a new side, with Sunderland, Southampton, QPR and West Brom all linked with the 31-year-old.
A number of top French clubs are also thought to be keen on the Ivorian but the forward, who has already played in Ligue 1 with Lille and Lyon, would rather join the English top-flight.
He is keen to pit himself against some of the Premier League's top left-backs, including Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra.
Keita said: "I would love to test myself against the best left backs of this world, who are all in the Premier League; Cole, Evra, (Gael) Clichy, (Leighton) Baines.
"Hopefully that dream will come true for me in a couple of weeks' time.
"My agent is working on it in England."


text:
TZN needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 60 designs submitted by 27 freelance designers.
We need a logo designed for Fashion Orbit, a new website/blog with articles focused on fashion, shopping, and style.
Fashion Orbit
Fashion Orbit will be an online portal for everything related to fashion. Preferably one of the colors in the logo would be dark (charcoal) grey. We like the idea of a sort of Cold War/Russian inspired, Art Nouveau or Metropolis type logo, but it must remain simple, striking, chic, and relatively minimalist.
- The design should be striking, yet relatively simple, so that the idea of the site can be grasped quickly
- Preferably the sample will have the logo both with and without the tagline, "Everything revolves around style"
- Logo must include the site name Fashion Orbit
- Nothing convoluted or overly complicated
- While we like the idea of perhaps a Cold War esque space theme, nothing cheesy like flying saucers, etc, please
- the idea here is minimalist chic, not girly. Please nothing overly pink or frilly.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
This entry was posted on December 24, 2018 at 2:34 pm and is filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
"Is this the birthday house?"
"He got up, put on his black vest and jacket, adjusted his gold-rimmed spectacles and his black hat, and stepped into the courtyard. There before Weingarten stood a middle-aged British major wearing the yellow-and-red insignia of the Suffolk Regiment. From his right hand dangled a bar of rusted iron almost a foot long. With a solemn gesture he offered it to the elderly rabbi. It was a key, the key to Zion Gate, one of the seven gates of the Old City of Jerusalem.
'From the year 70 A.D. until today," he said, "a key to the gates of Jerusalem has never been in Jewish hands. This is the first time in eighteen centuries that your people have been so privileged.'
Weingarten extended a trembling hand to accept the key. Jewish legend held that on the night the Roman Emperor Titus destroyed the Temple, its despairing priests had thrown the keys of Jerusalem to heaven crying 'God, henceforth be Thou the guardian of the keys.' Now the improbable agent of their return to Jewish hands stood to attention and saluted."
Larry Collins
& Dominique Lapierre
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
"First they came for the Socialists,
and I did not speak out
because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left
to speak for me."
"I know of only one duty, and that is to love."


text:
By Matthew Heimer
Unless current law is changed, the government accountants say, the Social Security Trust Fund will be depleted by 2033, and the program won't be able to pay full benefits to retirees. Economists and politicians solemnly agree that this situation must to be fixed, but most of the solutions they've floated – from the modest (tinkering with the annual cost-of-living raise) to the sweeping (jacking the retirement age up to 70) – have gone nowhere on Capitol Hill, and voters haven't particularly liked them either.
So now, Encore readers, the nation turns to you: How would you fix Social Security's budget crisis? MarketWatch columnist Robert Powell surveyed some of his favorite sources this week for their proposals (you can read Powell's column here) but we're eager to hear your thoughts, as well. Offer your suggestions in the comments section below. (Feel free to add your comments to Bob's story, too—that's the magic of cut-and-paste.)


text:
by Tom Utescher
At the beginning of the District 1 Class AAA field hockey tournament last week, it took a few minutes for host Mount St. Joseph Academy to start living up to its billing as the highest-seeded team playing in the opening round.
Before long, though, points began to flow onto the scoresheet for the number five Magic, who dispatched 25th-seeded Upper Merion High School, 6-0, on the artificial turf of Chestnut Hill College's Victory Field.
For the 2012 tournament draw, Mount St. Joe was ranked right behind the four teams that received first-round byes, bringing an overall record of 15-3 into the playoffs. The Magic had finished second within the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies, where they put up a mark of 11-3.
Upper Merion came to play the Magic with a 9-8-1 overall record. The Vikings belong to the American Conference of the Suburban One League, where the top teams this fall were Wissahickon High School (seeded third in the District 1 Class AAA tournament) and Springfield (Montco) High (the third seed in the Class AA tourney).
The teams ranged back and forth in the early going on Monday, and Upper Merion got to the edge of the MSJ circle on one rush. The Magic earned its first corner a little over seven minutes into the action, and were awarded another less than a minute later.
On the second opportunity, senior Emilee Ehret received the ball high in the circle and dished it laterally to classmate Julia Mustin. Mustin, a Norwood Fontbonne Academy graduate, let loose a long shot from the right to get the Magic on the board. Three-and-a-half minutes later, Mustin scored again off an Ehret assist, this time with Ehret dribbling into the circle on the right and whacking the ball down towards the left post, where Mustin was waiting to pounce.
With 13 minutes to go in the opening period, the Penn State-bound Ehret notched a goal of her own, converting a Mount penalty stroke high on the left side. Just 87 seconds after that it was 4-0 thanks to Norwood alum Ann Burgoyne, who has committed to play at FairfieldUniversity.
The Magic called a time-out and made a number of personnel changes. The Vikings were able to generate more offense after this, and with 2:40 left in the half everyone heard an Upper Merion shot hit the backboard.
On its way in, however, the ball had glanced off the foot of an attacking player, negating the apparent goal. Instead, the half ended – literally – on another MSJ corner, which led to Ehret's second goal with no time on the clock.
The Magic continued to control most of the action after the interlude, and with a dozen minutes to go Katie Fitzpatrick scored with an assist from sophomore classmate Steph Mahoney. Christina Black, the junior goalie for Mount St. Joe, collected five saves for the shutout.
UPDATE – The Mount split in its other two District 1 games last week, defeating visiting number 12 Garnet Valley in a 2-1 overtime contest on Wednesday, and losing 3-2 on the road at number four Unionville on Friday. The Magic, along with the other three teams that lost in Friday's quarterfinals, will engage in play-in games this week to determine the last two of the six District 1 teams to advance to the state tournament.
On Wednesday, the Mount had numerous scoring opportunities in the first half, but couldn't get anything past Garnet Valley goalie Hailey Valerio, a sophomore who has been invited to the U.S. Junior National Team Camp. With 19:13 left in regulation, Mustin scored to put the Magic up 1-0, but the Jaguars tied it up six minutes later. In an transition sequence in overtime, Burgoyne brought the ball upfield, drew the defense, and distributed to Ehret, who nailed the game-winner.
Garnet Valley had actually beaten Unionville in a regular-season meeting (when Valerio had 16 saves), and in the middle of the second half of Friday's District match, host Unionville was trailing the Mount, 2-1, thanks to goals by Burgoyne and Mustin. The Indians answered with back-to-back strikes for a 3-2 win, despite nine saves by MSJ's Black.


text:
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text:
4:00 pm
Wild Kratts "Creature Power Challenge" After getting caught in the middle of a tussle between a grumpy rhino and an outraged elephant, Martin and Chris decide to have a contest to decide what's stronger - elephant or rhino powers. D
4:30 pm
Cyberchase "Fortress of Attitude" The kids use their skills at measuring length to climb a massive, booby-trapped statue of Hacker.G
5:00 pm
Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman "Just Toying with Ruff" Harsha and Sammy become radio reporters and do a news piece on Brian Freeze while Noel and DJ invent a new Ruff Ruffman toy. D
5:30 pm
Nightly Business Report Tonight on Nightly Business Report, small cap stocks are near record highs? They've lead the market, but are they still good investments? And, tonight NBR looks at a smaller insurance company that is making a gamble on the new health exchanges. D
5:56 pm
NewsHour Promo NULL
6:00 pm
PBS NewsHour NULL
7:00 pm
Doc Martin "The Holly Bears A Prickle" Martin and Louisa finally plan their first date but an inappropriate remark by Martin puts an end to the evening and relationship. But an urgent call for help from Louisa to treat her friend Holly may give Martin a second chance.G
8:00 pm
Outdoor Idaho "The People's Land" OUTDOOR IDAHO takes the pulse of the People's Land, the 64 percent of Idaho that is managed by the federal government. People speak out about today's management of public lands. They ride, hike, boat, camp, hunt and fish on public acreage, or they seek to harvest resources from the lands - and they are finding ways to work together for the sake of the land.G
8:30 pm
Art Wolfe's Travels to the Edge "Patagonia: Torres Del Paine" Art's images in the national park in the far southern Andes tell a story of nature at its wildest. This is a place of jagged peaks and icebergs, guanacos, pumas and Andean condors.G
9:00 pm
Midsomer Murders "Murder On St. Malley's Day, Part 1" After a pupil at the prestigious Devington School dies of a stab wound while competing in a race, shocked locals are sure the death can be linked to the long-running rivalry between the school and the locals. As Barnaby investigates, he encounters the Pudding Club, an elite secret society with which the murdered student had been involved. Part 1 of 2G
10:00 pm
Death In Paradise A body is discovered floating in the pool of a luxury cosmetic clinic involving DI Poole's team in another complex case.G
11:00 pm
Charlie Rose NULL


text:
"Wallander, coming to an age where retirement becomes inevitable, realizes that life is not without end, that neglect of his physical needs is taking its toll, that his mind may not be as sharp as before. Amid all these thoughts he gets personally, not professionally, involved in a police investigation of his daughter's father-in-law, a former Swedish Naval officer. Wallander is still a capable, if sometimes wayward, detective, but this novel focuses more on the man himself, as he comes to terms with his age, his past, and his deep love for his daughter and granddaughter."
— Jean-Paul Adriaansen, Water Street Books, Exeter, NH
"From the Hardcover edition.
"It's an unforgettable finale . . . As satisfying for its emotional depth as its suspense . . . A gripping mystery."
—People (four stars)
"With his new Wallander novel Mankell ups his game and enters John le Carré territory. Not only does The Troubled Man widen the scope of the detective's investigations into the world of international geopolitics and the relationship of Sweden to the U.S. and Russia, it is a work of genuine heft and substance, a melancholy, elegiac book that is thoughtful and perceptive about memory, regret and the unfathomability of human nature . . . Marvelously astute about behavior and motivation, Mankell has created in Wallander a shambling central character whose unconventional personality is at least as compelling as the crimes he investigates . . . We can feel Mankell consciously saying goodbye to these people [from Wallander's past] and that he will regret not writing about them as much as we will miss reading about them. Which is more, really, than words can say."
—Los Angeles Times
"An absorbing and exciting work . . . The unique nature of The Troubled Man is how its two concerns—the search for the missing ex-officer, and Wallander's emotional history and physical health—run along parallel (sometimes conjoining) tracks . . . The resulting book is at once richer in personal detail and more suspenseful than either a work of strictly mainstream fiction or a simple police novel could be. Mankell remains in the vanguard of those writers taking the crime story back to its origins in the realistic novel."
—San Francisco Chronicle
"Readers whose knowledge of Scandinavian crime fiction goes beyond Stieg Larsson know that it was Henning Mankell who jump-started what has developed into a twenty-year Golden Age. Mankell's latest novel, the final volume in his Kurt Wallander series, represents a landmark moment in the genre comparable to the swan songs of Ian Rankin's John Rebus and John Harvey's Charlie Resnick . . . Moving and oddly inspiring. An unforgettable series finale."
—Booklist (starred)
"Wallander makes a riveting [11th] appearance . . . Though shivering in the winter of his discontent, Wallander will grip the reader hard . . . He is that rare thing: a true original."
—Kirkus Reviews (starred)
"Masterful . . . Mankell deftly interweaves the problems of Swedish society with the personal challenges of one man trying to understand what happened and why."
—Publishers Weekly (starred)
International praise:
"A magnificent finale . . . Wallander finds himself embroiled in John le Carré–style cold war machinations . . . It's to be hoped that Mankell may be persuaded to revive his grumpy Nordic inspector . . . He's far too good to lose."
—Ian Thomson, Financial Times (UK)
"The Troubled Man delivers in full as a whodunit, as all the Wallander books do . . . [It] brings in all the elements his fans would hope for . . . The Troubled Man is a sorrowful—how could it not be?—but fully satisfying conclusion to a great series. No Mankell reader will think of missing it."
—David Sexton, Evening Standard (UK)
"The best of Mankell's books, without a doubt . . . A magisterial farewell."
—El Periódico (Spain)
"By far the most touching Wallander novel."
—Brigitte (Germany)
"The anchor of Wallander's personality ensures that The Troubled Man operates as a good, gritty procedural . . . Mankell is undoubtedly a skilled writer with plenty of breadth, but it's clear that his subtleties of character, plot, and pace achieve greatest expression in the Wallander series."
—James Urquhart, Independent on Sunday (UK)
"With The Troubled Man, Mankell must have known he had to deliver something really special and that is precisely what he has done. This is a perfect valedictory novel if, that is, we believe Mankell won't find some way to reactivate his hero . . . Fears the final appearance of a beloved character would be an anticlimax are quickly banished and it seems Mankell has worked hard to ensure his customary storytelling engines are firing on all cylinders, delivering one of the richest tomes in the Wallander canon."
—Barry Forshaw, Daily Express (UK)
"Mankell has created a singular character with this policeman named Kurt Wallander, with whom he has reshaped the history of the European crime novel."
—La Razón (Spain)
"The curtain falls for Kurt Wallander and it's time to give him a standing ovation. If anyone doubted that he would become a classic, this final act proves it."
—Qué Leer (Spain)


text:
Torq Mod Fish surfboard 6ft 10 - Blue/Yellow/Grey
Product Details
The Mod Fish 6ft 10 would be the ideal first shortboard for for the light to mid-weight surfer who has served their time on a foamy or mini-mal and is ready to advance to the next level. The boards sporty but forgiving dimensions would also appeal to the competent surfer on a budget who wants a durable surfboard that can perform in anything from waist to overhead waves.
The 'fish' design is built for speed and still works in less than cover-shot conditions. The perfect blend of a low rocker and the wide point under the chest allows it to catch waves early and plane over any mushy sections on the wave. Nice clean well balanced curves that merge into a traditional swallow tail that gives hold and manoeuvrability. The bottom contour features a single to double concave with a slight flip in the nose to stop it from digging in when paddling hard to catch a wave.
Torq Surfboards are constructed using the most up-to-date Epoxy Technology, using the latest EPS Epoxy Materials. The lightweight EPS Core is combined with Biaxial fibreglass cloth, Epoxy resin and Torq's unique Shield Skin. Constructed in the most advanced mould on the planet, creating the most perfect production every time.
This perfect combination of advanced materials and high-tech construction produces a board that performs at the very highest level, offering lightweight shapes with a responsive flex (missing on some cheaper Epoxy boards) but also makes for a really durable and strong surfboard. Your new Torq surfboard is guaranteed to put a smile on your face from your first wave to the last!
Boardshop is proud to be a Torq main dealer and a key partner for the brand. The staff here have surfed pretty much every board in the Torq Quiver at some time or another and our customers give us great feedback from all over the world on how the boards perform in all sorts of conditions, so we're well placed to talk about all aspects of Torq Surfboards. We're happy to consider 'trading-in' your old board against a new board, so If you have any questions about this we'd be delighted to answer them and advise on any potential board choices or enquiries you might have, just drop us an email to firstname.lastname@example.com or call us on 0044 (0) 1243 674250.
Why Buy From Boardshop?
- 100% Secure Shopping Guarantee
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- Huge range of brands
- No quibble return policy
- Customer Reviews
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Overall Customer Rating
Nathan (reviewed 29/08/2018)
Tillo (reviewed 22/08/2018)
Tillo (reviewed 22/08/2018)
Ed S (reviewed 13/08/2018)
This being my first board after using foam rentals, there were some nerves I had invested in something I wouldn't be able to get up on. However, the board is very forgiving and I was able to pop up pretty easily in average conditions the first time out.
I had an issue with the centre fin (possibly/probably my fault) but some quick emails to Ian swiftly sorted the problem with friendly professionalism that seems to norm at the Boardshop.
Have recommended to others and will do again in the future.
Charlotte (reviewed 03/08/2018)
Jim Robertson (reviewed 31/07/2018)
James (reviewed 20/03/2018)
Jacob (reviewed 24/11/2017)
Thanks board shop for this, would certainly buy from you again.
Charis (reviewed 30/08/2017)
Simon (reviewed 14/07/2017)
Gianluca Cannizzaro (reviewed 28/06/2017)
Emily (reviewed 02/06/2017)
Only thing is it only comes with what I think was just base wax, I needed to buy extra normal wax for my first surf, just a heads up!
Mike Foden (reviewed 12/11/2014)
Alex Wall (reviewed 01/10/2014)
Write Your Own Review
Delivery Options for Torq Mod Fish surfboard 6ft 10 - Blue/Yellow/Grey
What if I need to send something back for exchange or refund?
It's not a problem, all purchases on Boardshop.co.uk are covered by a 14 day exchange or refund guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase it can be exchanged or the cost of the item(s) refunded. In case of all returns you will need to contact us for a returns number.
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You can always call us on the following number.
We are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm
Outside UK 0044 (0)1243 674250


text:
Posted on February 5, 2014
Looking over pictures that turned up of a Book Fair Past, I found a shot that included just the merest hint of checkout volunteers seated at cash registers. Some young Book Fair customers have never seen us use cash registers, among other things. So here is a brief, hardly comprehensive, list of Things You Don't See Nowadays.
Cash Registers: The same thing happened in the early days of college athletics. The administration didn't take much notice until somebody realized the amount of money involved was growing. In the same way, our checkout came under scrutiny. So for about four years after that, we rented cash registers. Then for about five years we didn't use cash registers. Then for about three years we used cash registers again. Now we don't. Cash registers cause some issues, see: they have to be picked up, they have to be hauled over, they have to be paid for, and they have to be plugged in. (Like every building built before, oh, 1970 or so, the library has nowhere near the number of electrical outlets people would use, given the chance.) Someday, of course, we will use no cash at all: we'll run our phone across your phone to swap numbers. Until then, there will always be somebody who announces, "I know! Why don't we use cash registers at checkout!"
Stilt Walkers: To the best of my recollection, the Book Fair used stilt walkers only in 1985. The Newberry used them for other events, though, and the Very Merry Bazaar had stilt walkers several years running (which is very exciting, if you've ever seen a stilt walker run.) We decided early on that stilt walkers, as exciting as they are, do not add anything to our Book Fair. We never heard why they were such regulars in the first place. Some institutions have mascots in fur suits, while others have dunk tanks: each institution seems to pick out its own symbol of revelry. Who decided that the late Twentieth Century Newberry would be known for its stilt walkers?
The Metal Reference Bookcase: For much of the late 1980s, the Newberry would roll a two-sided seven-foot metal bookcase for us to use. Just one. I never heard why, and I was never told why someone decided to stop lending it to us. But for four or five years, the first thing a customer saw on entering the Book Fair was a metal bookcase set at an angle to the door of Ruggles Hall. It was filled with dictionaries and thesauri, and largely blocked anybody from turning right as they entered. Why this seemed like a good idea, I don't recall, but no one ever complained about it, so I guess it worked.
The Records and Fine Art Section: For a dozen or more years (after the departure of the rolling metal bookcase), if you entered Ruggles Hall, you would find records for sale along the wall to your left. On the radiator behind these boxes of records was a line-up of small to medium framed artworks which had also come in for sale. Now I DO know why we stopped doing that. The radiator's gone. It disappeared in the renovation at the end of the Twentieth Century, which also reorganized the doors along that wall. In the modern Book Fair, we have the Discard Table there, while records are in room 5 and artworks in rooms 2, 4, and 5.
The Mid-Lobby Greeter: He just wanted to help: this was where we assigned him. A tall, distinguished man with a nice suit, a gentle voice, and a genial manner stood in the middle of the lobby greeted customers as they arrived. You never would have suspected that most of us were a little afraid of him. He didn't turn up one year and we never learned where he went. After so many of his stories about Mayor Daley, Cardinal Bernadin, the Nazi Party, and the Jewish World Conspiracy working together to ruin his life, we were not entirely surprised. He claimed to have founded the Newberry Library Book Fair, too.
Twenty-Five Cent Books: Yeah, this is really the only thing on the list I'm especially nostalgic about, but you'll probably see stilt walkers before you see any more of these.


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la hospice
Welcome to Avalon Hospice
Avalon Hospice is an affiliate of Curo Health Services and offers compassionate Hospice Care, with clinical experience, to thousands of special patients and families in locations listed on our website.
Our goal is to enrich the quality of life as life s journey nears its completion. Through supportive, loving, comfort care we offer patients and their families comfort for body, mind and spirit.
Our Mission
The mission of Curo Health Services, and its hospice affiliates, is to honor life and offer compassion to individuals, and their families, when facing a life-limiting illness.
Our Core Values
- Choose the right attitude, message and priority.
- Be accountable for all thoughts, words, and actions.
- Embrace and drive change. Pursue growth and learning.
- Demonstrate humility and servant leadership.
- Select great people, treat them with respect, help them, and communicate effectively.
- Celebrate small successes on our journey to greater success.
- We are here for our patients and each other. Be passionate about what we do. Be innovative and efficient in everything we do.
Find a Location Near You


text:
Finally finished my latest piece. This one has been a work in progress for the past 2 months and has joined me through some massive highs and horrible lows but ultimately it's about never forgetting your dreams and to live life through your heart and your soul.
I'm in a new place now and for the first time have a dedicated space to work on my artwork free from distractions. The piece and title is lightly inspired by one of my favorite films The Neverending Story, but not in a visual way, more of the feeling of magical possibilities that the film planted in me as a child watching it for the first time.
Hope you enjoy,
There is a larger version here
All content copyright, 2011 Cameron Gray
peace and love


text:
|49: St Bartholomew's, Brighton, England
|Other reports | Comment on this report
Photo: David Gray
|Mystery Worshipper: Corpus Cani.
The church: St Bartholomew's, Brighton, England.
Denomination: Church of England.
The building: The tallest parish church in England. The building is very Victorian and rather like sitting in the turbine hall of a disused power station.
The neighborhood: Downtown Brighton handy if you need to nip out during Mass to buy secondhand furniture.
Today's cast: Fr Vickery House (Vicar); Fr Herman Annis (Assistant Priest).
|What was the name of the service?
Solemn High Mass, Easter Vigil and The Service of Light.
How full was the building?
A little under half, but it is a vast building. There were almost as many people in the altar party as in the congregation!
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes, even though I was late (beware the one-way system in Brighton!), a little old dear thrust a service sheet and a candle into my hand and whispered at me for ten minutes. I havent the vaguest notion what she was on about.
Was your pew comfortable?
There were rows of plain wooden seats on an uneven and slippery tiled floor.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
"Brethren: on this most holy night, in which our Lord Jesus Christ passed over from death to life..." (the introduction to the Easter Vigil).
What books did the congregation use during the service?
Just the service sheet.
What musical instruments were played?
Organ. There was a good choir, with the exception of the obligatory strident tenor.
Did anything distract you?
My seat rocked on the uneven floor every time I sat down, stood up, or breathed, and the seat in front slid across the floor every time I leant against it while I was kneeling. The moral: don't slouch when kneeling. I was also distracted by the unfortunate woman in front of me at Communion, whose purse dropped from her bag and showered servers galore with all her loose change.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
It made the medieval Popes look lower than a snake's nether regions. This was living proof that there are still parsons who know what to do with a biretta. Genuflection was beautifully choreographed and there were numerous gratuitous processions, hefty censing and much chucking of water with the Holy Pastry Brush.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
No sermon of any description this time.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
On other occasions I've been here, full marks for entertainment value. Some wonderful old loonies gushing from a huge pulpit.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
The theme of the service the Resurrection was fairly straightforward.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
Nothing was like being in heaven: I was in heaven! I especially enjoyed the vicar's assertion before a procession: "As we return to the sanctuary, you will be sprinkled with Holy Water... liberally."
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
That bloody chair.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
Everybody very busy hugging their friends and muttering in Greek no time for the weary traveller.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
No refreshments, but I found a great Italian restaurant on the seafront.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
6. The worship was like wearing white tie and tails. It was divine, but it wouldn't do for every day. And it wasn't the friendliest of places for visitors. I've been here four times in the last five years and have never once spoken to a priest.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
On the whole, yes. It's rather like a one-night-stand: great at the time, but you don't want to hang around after the cigarette. Not recommended as a first experience of Christianity, but for the old hand it is a reminder of the glory of the Resurrection.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The experience of a glimpse of heaven.


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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Gers and Whyte face SFA action
Rangers and owner Craig Whyte will have their disciplinary charges heard on March 29 after the Scottish Football Association's compliance officer processed the findings of the independent inquiry into the club.
Rangers and owner Craig Whyte will have their disciplinary charges heard on March 29 after the Scottish Football Association's compliance officer processed the findings of the independent inquiry into the club.
Whyte has been issued with notices of complaint over breaches of two disciplinary rules, a week after he was ruled unfit to be a club official. Rangers have been hit with notices of complaint over five alleged breaches of rules, including failing to abide by SFA regulations over the 'fit and proper person' test.
The cases will be heard by an SFA judicial panel along with a previously announced notice of complaint over the club's failure to pay Dundee United money owed from last month's William Hill Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox.
The compliance officer has spent a week studying the findings of the inquiry team, which was led by former judge Lord Nimmo Smith, and awaiting any response from Whyte. It is understood there has been no response as of yet.
The club and Whyte have both been hit with two identical charges - allegedly breaching rule 66 by bringing the game into disrepute and rule 71, which decrees that clubs and officials should "act in the best interests of Association Football and shall not act in any manner which is improper".
The inquiry had already judged that Rangers should face disrepute charges on four counts - obligations and duties of members, official return, financial records and division of receipts and payment of expenses (Scottish Cup). Rangers have not submitted audited accounts, required by the end of last year.
The Scottish champions have also been accused of failing to comply with the laws of the game's governing bodies - specifically rule 10.2(g) of the SFA's own articles of association, which highlights club officials who have been disqualified as a director within the previous five years.
Whyte was disqualified for seven years in 2000 and did not declare this until November 31 - six months after buying out Sir David Murray's majority stake. A separate rule potentially breached states that member clubs shall procure that officials, team staff and players act in accordance with the above Rule 1. Rangers have also been accused of a breach in relation to their descent into administration.
Rule 14(g) states that membership may be suspended or terminated, or a fine may be issued, where a club suffers or is subject to an insolvency event. Although Whyte has been named in the charge sheet, individuals are not required to attend in normal circumstances as cases can be heard in their absence.
Whyte has divided his time between Monaco, London and his castle in Grantown-on-Spey in the Highlands since leaving Glasgow on the day Rangers went into administration on February 14. Rangers still await the outcome of a Scottish Premier League investigation into the alleged non-disclosure of payments to players since 1998.


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1. Tempura rolls: Any tempura dish is a big-time fat fest. A shrimp tempura roll, for example, can deliver 500 calories and 20 grams of fat, not to mention the boosted cholesterol from the breading and frying.
2. Spicy tuna and other mayo-based rolls: Before you order, ask if the minced fish is mixed with mayonnaise. If so, that delicate roll may harbor as many as 450 calories and 11 grams of fat.
4. Dragon rolls and pretty much anything else made with eel and/or toro: Just 1 ounce of raw eel has 3 grams fat, and toro -- sliced from the fatty belly of tuna -- packs a shocking 7 grams per ounce. The fat is the heart-healthy omega-3 kind, so if eaten sparingly, an occasional indulgence may be okay.
1. Assorted sashimi: Sashimi is sliced fish a la carte, and by omitting the rice, you save 30 calories per piece. Plus, by eating an assortment of fish -- white, red, oily -- You get the flavors and benefits of each. For instance, delicate white fish has fewer calories, while richer mackerel and salmon have more omega-3s.
2. Veggie rolls: Cucumber rolls and tangy pickled vegetable rolls are free of fat and provide a pleasantly crunchy contrast to the soft texture of fish sushi -- and at only about 150 calories a roll. For a vegetarian entree that packs heart-friendly fat as well as some iron and protein, try a shiitake, avocado, and pickled-ginger roll. Yummo! As a bonus, that little sheet of seaweed holding your roll together gives you calcium, vitamins C and K, and folate.
3. Edamame (soybeans): Okay, fine. They're not actually sushi, but you will find them at any sushi bar and they're great for you. Soybeans are full of fiber, folate, iron, and protein. Half a cup of steamed edamame has 127 calories and an amazing 11 grams of protein.
4. Tako (octopus) or ika (squid): Though they are high in cholesterol, both are even higher in protein, B vitamins, iron, selenium, and taurine, an amino acid that helps keep your arteries, heart, and eyes healthy. They contain almost no fat and only 25 calories an ounce.


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It's been a while since the last Indie Tee Spotlight, hasn't it! If my memory serves me correctly, it's been almost 9 months since our last Spotlight interview with Hugo Murray of i/denti/tee. In the latest Spotlight I feature the very intriguing Brian Crabtree of Kafkacotton, a new brand that Brian dreamed up after rereading (and re-loving) Joseph Heller's classic, Catch-22. I had the great opportunity to do a little catching-up with Brian, and he graciously allowed me to ask him a few question about his startup brand and his unique take on marketing it across America.
Coty: I'm guessing that Franz Kafka had something to do with you starting your unique line of T-Shirts. What inspired you to start Kafkacotton?
Brian: I definitely took our name from the author Franz Kafka. He writes these nightmarish stories which remind me of stark blacks and whites, long shadows, ominous alleyways – cool connotations for a t-shirt label.
I started Kafkacotton because I think reading is fundamentally flawed. We used to gather around somebody with a good story and listen socially as a group. With books, we read our stories alone so I don't know what books you like and you don't know what books I like. These are connections waiting to happen that just don't. Kafkacotton makes those connections in a hip, fashionable way. Instead of putting that book back on the shelf, why not slap it on your chest and talk about it?
I also want to help give everyone the chance to read. We do that by donating 5% of our profits towards fight illiteracy. You really have to hustle to promote a t-shirt company and knowing it's all for a good cause keeps me motivated.
Coty: You started a very unique campaign that someone named "Gregor", a life-size cockroach costume and the 48 contiguous states. Tell us about that.
Brian: Gregor the roach! Yes, he's 6-feet tall, illiterate, German, and on a 48-states-in-48-weeks road trip. He's visiting one college campus a week to raise literacy awareness, give away tees, and shoot hilarious videos which we post to our blog. We started in Florida in early February and, five states later, we're in South Carolina heading northwestish. We're just getting started but Gregor has already been featured on CNN Radio, ABC News, and CBS News.
Why the cockroach? "Gregor" is the main character in Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis where a guy wakes up one morning and finds he's inexplicably been turned into a giant insect. I had read Seth Godin's Purple Cow and realized the most important thing was to not be boring. That's key. You need to get people's attention first so you can share your message second. Even if your message is positive and charitable, you need to get your foot in door or no one will ever hear it.
Coty: What's the typical response you get when people first spot Gregor in the cockroach costume? What has been the most interesting encounter that you've experienced during your cockroach tour?
Brian:Â There are three basic responses: 10% are ecstatic and run up to give him a hug, the middle 80% smile and laugh, and the other 10% steer clear, watch him out of the corner of their eyes, and pray to god he doesn't try to talk to them. The last ones are the most fun.
The most interesting experience would definitely have to be while trying to hitchhike in small-town Alabama for a video related to our new "On the Road" t-shirt. All went well until the police showed up …
Coty: You use Etsy for your storefront. What made you decide to go that route? Why not have a custom store integrate with Kafkacotton.com?
Brian:Â Good question. For a t-shirt company just starting out, Etsy is a great platform. Here are the major pros and cons to think about:
- Filled with people looking for new, interesting designs.
- The $0.20 fee per item is reasonable.
- Very easy to set up.
- Less control over your image.
- Customers need to register with Etsy to make a purchase (that's a big one).
- Some customers will forget to list their size in the "Message to Seller" box while checking out. This wastes everyone's time.
- Need to constantly relist items to remain at the top of Etsy's search results.
- Your Google juice gets spread out among several relisted items instead of concentrated on one, permanent item listing.
- Can't set up Adwords goals (which basically means you can't use Adwords).
- Can't rotate and test sales copy.
I'm glad we started with Etsy but, in my opinion, we have outgrown the site and we will actually be moving to our own cart system and revamping Kafkacotton.com in the next month. I'm really excited about the possibilities! [Coty: This is good to hear, growth is good!]
Just to be clear, even if you're on Etsy, I definitely reccomend setting up a slick, professional website as well. A blog is critical and you need your own domain for that. Also, certain sites and people will not pay attention to an email sent from "@gmail.com".
Coty: Out of Print Clothing has a line that, conceptually, is quite similar to Kafkacotton. Both brands bring classic books to the T-Shirt. How would you say Kafkacotton differs from what Out of Print Clothing is doing?
Brian:Â There's even a third literary-tee company called, Novel-T! We all started in the last six months which I think is pretty hilarious but also shows there's a real need here.
Kafkacotton is the only label creating new, original graphic designs inspired by the classics. That's where I want to be. My passion is being able to take a book that may be 150 years old like Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass and create a design that resonates with people in a new way. In that particular book's case, I worked with Reilly Stroope who did an absolutely phenomenal job.
I'm also all about community. When I want to start on a new book, the community votes and picks it. Before I print the shirt, I post two or three completely different designs and the community votes on their favorite. For instance, I'm working on two 1984 designs right now that will go on the chopping block next week. Sometimes my favorite design gets cut but community is all about trust and you can't fake that.
I haven't talked about this too much yet but I'll also be accepting design submissions in the future. Stay tuned for that!
Coty: And finally, what kind of books do you enjoy reading and what is your de facto favorite book of all time?
Brian:Â I agree with Thoreau that we should, "read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all." I mostly stick to classic literary fiction and love a good, memorable character. My absolute favorite book is Joseph Heller's Catch-22:
"Justice?" The Colonel was astounded. "What is justice?"
"Justice, sir –"
"That's not what justice is," the colonel jeered, and began pounding the table again with his big fat hand. "That's what Karl Marx is. I'll tell you what justice is. Justice is a knee in the gut from the floor on the chin at night sneaky with a knife brought up down on the magazine of a battleship sandbagged underhanded in the dark without a word of warning."
Thanks to Brian Crabtree, or should I say Gregor, for taking the time out from his busy road trip across America to chat! Now, you guys go and buy some tees from Kafkacotton!


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We assume men will always want to have sex, but there are specific instances in which he won't be down. Click on the audio player to hear Jasmine Sanders list 10 instances in which your man may decide not to make love to you, on The D.L. Hughley Show.
RELATED: Should Lying To Get Sex Be Considered Rape? [POLL]
RELATED: 10 Ways Sex In A Long-Term Relationship Is Actually Great [EXCLUSIVE AUDIO]
Upgrade or Downgrade: Did These Celebs Find Better?
43 photos Launch gallery
Upgrade or Downgrade: Did These Celebs Find Better?
1. Shaunie O'Neal was married to Shaq for over eight years before their divorce. Shaunie has since moved on and although she may have financially downgraded we are thinking her new man is an upgrade in many ways. Check out her new beau next.1 of 43
2. We are sure Shaunie is not worried about money with her young honey dip model boyfriend Marlon Yates. Plus, she has her own show and she is probably racking in alimony.2 of 43
3. Deion Sanders and Pilar Sanders3 of 43
4. Deion Sanders4 of 43
5. Janet Jackson and James Debarge's marriage was annulled in 1985.5 of 43
6. She then found love in producer Jermaine Dupri6 of 43
7. ...but she landed on top with current husband Wissam Al Mana7 of 43
8. Nelly dated Ashanti off and on for over five years...8 of 43
9. ...then he was spotted hanging out with model, LaShontae9 of 43
10. but after they broke up, he was caught hanging out with Floyd Mayweather's ex, Miss Jackson.10 of 43
11. But don't feel sorry for LaShontae, she bounced back with NBA baller Brandon Jennings.11 of 43
12. ...who used to date G.O.O.D Music's first lady, Teyana Taylor. He's gotta thing for curly haired girls, huh?12 of 43
13. Kim Kardashian definitely has taken her chances with love over the years. She's dated....13 of 43
14. Ray-J14 of 43
15. Nick Cannon15 of 43
16. Reggie Bush16 of 43
17. Miles Austin17 of 43
18. and finally ended up pregnant by Kanye. Upgrade?18 of 43
19. Amber Rose was with Kanye West19 of 43
20. Then she married and divorced Wiz Khalifa...20 of 43
21. ...and now she is dating rapper Machine Gun Kelly. Upgrade or downgrade?21 of 43
22. Selita Ebanks was engaged to Nick Cannon22 of 43
23. ..and also dated Terrence J23 of 43
24. Terrence J is now dating model Nicole Issacs24 of 43
25. Nicole Murphy and Michael Strahan are reportedly engaged but before him.....25 of 43
26. Nicole was married to Eddie Murphy. We think she upgraded! Looks wise at least. (Pr)26 of 43
27. Nick Cannon is no stranger to dating celebrity women. He's dated.....27 of 43
28. Kim Kardashian28 of 43
29. Christina Milian29 of 43
30. Engaged to Selita Ebanks30 of 43
31. FINALLY he settled down with Mariah Carey only to divorce her a few years later. (PR)31 of 43
32. Eva Pigford and the uber handsome Lance Gross were engaged but that ended and she dated.....32 of 43
33. Flo Rida33 of 43
34. She recently ended things with singer Kevin McCall. He just might look better than Lance!34 of 43
35. Oh and Lance? Since qualling it quits with Eva he has since married stylist Rebecca Jefferson35 of 43
36. Rihanna36 of 43
37. Rihanna Loves herself some Chris Brown but before their reconciliation she dated....(PR)37 of 43
38. MLB Star Matt Kemp. We are throwing in our vote for him!38 of 43
39. BUT, not so fast, she ditched Matt and has been spotted with on-again off-again beau, Drake39 of 43
40. Halle Berry seems like she has finally found the one in Olivier but before him she was with....40 of 43
41. Gabriel Aubry41 of 43
42. Eric Benet42 of 43
43. Wesley Snipes43 of 43
Keep Up With The D.L. Hughley Show On Facebook!


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This federal budget is a study in home economics.
Encourage people to spend money on fixing up or buying homes and you stimulate the economy. That's the theory behind the temporary new Home Renovation Tax Credit and several other budget measures aimed squarely at home owners and buyers. The budget also contains modest income-tax cuts tilted toward low- and middle-income people, and it promises consumers some help with onerous credit-card regulations. But it's the homey touch that's going to get people talking.
If the budget passes in the House of Commons – and that's not a done deal – then the home-renovation credit will be available to people who spend money on goods or work on their homes after Jan. 27 and before Feb. 1, 2010. The nuts and bolts of this tax credit: You would claim a 15-per-cent credit against spending of more than $1,000 and capped at $10,000, with a maximum credit of $1,350. By comparison, the personal income-tax measures in the budget would amount to one-year savings of $483 for a two-earner family with two kids and income of $150,000.
The renovation credit would apply to work done on houses, cottages and condominiums, and projects can range from finishing a basement to redoing a kitchen, painting, laying new sod and replacing a furnace. Routine maintenance and appliances or electronics would not count.
Rookies in the housing market benefit from a couple of budget measures, the first being a First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit designed to help defray such costs as legal fees and land-transfer taxes. For homes bought after Jan. 27, a 15-per-cent tax credit would apply on expenditures of up to $5,000, which would mean maximum tax savings of $750.
As well, first-time buyers would be able to make greater use of the federal Home Buyers' Plan, which allows tax-free withdrawals from registered retirement savings plans for the purpose of buying a first home. The new withdrawal limit would be $25,000, up from $20,000.
Both the increased limit for the Home Buyers' Plan and the new first-time home buyers' tax credit would be available as well to existing homeowners with disabilities who want to move to a more accessible home (you have to be eligible for the disability tax credit). Both measures can also be used to buy a home for a disabled relative.
There are three main proposals to cut income tax in the budget, all of which are modest and unlikely to make an appreciable change in your take-home pay. First off, the amount people can earn tax free would rise to $10,320 for the 2009 tax year from $9,600 in 2008. Budget documents show this measure would provide tax savings of $66 annually for a two-earner couple with two kids and income of $150,000.
A second tax-cutting measure would raise the ceiling for the first and second tax brackets, which means people could earn more without jumping to a higher level of taxation. For example, the top of the first tax bracket would be raised to $40,726 in 2009 from $37,885 in 2008, a move that would allow more income to be taxed at a rate of 15 per cent instead of 22 per cent. Combine this with similar changes to the second tax brackets and you end up with tax savings this year of $417 for the two-earner family mentioned earlier.
Lower-income Canadians will get further tax relief through enhancements to the Working Income Tax Benefit, as well as a measure that would allow them to earn more and still be eligible for the national child benefit and child tax benefit. Seniors get targeted tax relief in the form of a $1,000 increase to the Age Credit for 2009 to $6,408. On a net basis, this means maximum extra tax savings of about $150 a year.
The budget also announces the government's intention to get tougher with banks and other financial firms that issue credit cards. The government says it will require a minimum grace period on new purchases, which refers to the number of days you have until interest starts applying, and that it will move to "improve" debt-collection practices. As well, improvements will be called for in providing clear summary information on credit application forms.
Correctly, the government has sized up the level of financial literacy in this country and found it lacking. As a result, it plans to establish a task force of business people, academics and educators to recommend a national strategy on financial literacy.
The previous federal budget introduced the tax-free savings account, or TFSA, which financial companies began offering on Jan. 1. This year, the government has proposed to put TFSAs under the umbrella of coverage provided by Canada Deposit Insurance Corp. Note: CDIC protection applies only to bank accounts and term deposits held in TFSAs, not other investments such as mutual funds or stocks.
Another budget measure affects the taxation of registered retirement plans after the death of their owners. Current rules generally require an increase in the value of the plan after death to be reflected in the amount of tax charged against the plan's assets, while the budget would allow decreases to be reflected as well.
The budget's focus on home ownership is capped off by an announcement that the government plans to expand the amount of money available through its ecoEnergy Retrofit program, which provides grants of up to $5,000 to offset the cost of making energy-efficient home improvements. Tip: Find a project that qualifies for the ecoEnergy program and then claim the home-renovation tax credit as well.