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I love this pic. Try blocking THAT release.
I love this pic. Try blocking THAT release.
SLAM: Is there anyone you're looking forward to matching up against?
AD: KG. I kind of resemble my game after him, and Garnett's a guy who's a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer, so I try to see how I match up with him, see how I do against him. It's definitely gonna be an exciting match and it's gonna make me be a better basketball player.
SLAM: I imagine you probably had a pretty interesting relationship with Kobe, given that he was the elder statesman on the squad and you were the up-and-comer.
AD: Yeah, me and Kobe were real close. He told me when I come to L.A., to hit him up.
I wanna see thisSLAM: On Twitter you said the team you're on now has to be the funniest that was ever assembled. I'm gonna need some details on how you came to that conclusion.
AD: Yeah, these guys are so funny. Al-Farouq [Aminu] and Lance [Thomas] and Darius and Brian Roberts, all those guys are probably the funniest guys I ever met.
Sounds like Monty may need to give AD a curfew and wrist splintsSLAM: You always been a big video games guy?
Anthony Davis: Always. Actually, I just got home from practice and I'm about to play video games right now. I love it. I play Call of Duty 24/7. If Call of Duty came out with a game everyday, I would get it.
That's gotta change.SLAM: Everyone talks about how amazing the food is in New Orleans. Have you been enjoying it?
AD: Yeah, the food's been great. Only bad thing is, I don't eat seafood. It's very hard for me to go to a restaurant [and order something beside] seafood. It's hard. But I found a couple places down here that I really like.
"Every fight is a food fight when you're a cannibal."- Demetri Martin
Love it!
"Its important to us to bring in good people, people who can fit in the locker room and people you want to root and cheer for. People that want to win. Were trying to build for the long haul. -Dell Demps
Didn't think a new thread was needed for these vids so I'll just put them here.
Eric Gordon
Anthony Davis
Brian Roberts
Here's a Davis interview with Men's Health Magazine.
http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/10/2...7&feedID=10140Anthony Davis drew raves in the preseason with his scoring, rebounding and shot blocking. But he did have one supposed shortcoming.
His rookie chores.
"We tried to get him to pick up Chipotle about eight times but the lines apparently were too long," forward Ryan Anderson, Davis' teammate on the New Orleans Hornets, said with a laugh. "At last that's what he said. Subway was (Davis') default."
OK, so the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft is not a huge fan of standing in line. But don't think for a minute Davis is any kind of prima donna.
The 6-foot-10 Davis brings a Tim Duncan-like persona to the NBA. The humble big man goes about his business without showmanship or trash talking. He's as content with a bank shot or a layup as some would be throwing down a monster dunk.
"That's who he is. He's not one of those guys who came up with all that stardom," said Hornets coach Monty Williams. "He just kind of got into this in the last couple of years."
Davis wasn't an early-age AAU star who had fans and recruiters falling all over him. When Miami star LeBron James saw Davis for the first time, the Chicago native was a 6-5 10th grader and wasn't dominating. That didn't happen until he hit a growth spurt soon after.
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For the third year in a row, The CW ranked first among the broadcast networks with 152 (29%) LGBT inclusive hours out of 524 hours of original programming, though its score has also been on the decline for two years. The CW also featured the most racial diversity among the broadcast networks, with 62% of impressions from LGBT people/characters of color.
For the fourth year in a row, CBS remains in last place among the broadcast networks, with 92.5 (8%) LGBT inclusive hours out of 1110 hours total. It was also a slight drop for a network that really needs to show improvement. Most of CBS' inclusive hours (48%) were found in its dramatic programming, thanks almost exclusively to THE GOOD WIFE.
Once again, lesbian women were far less represented than gay men, but had a substantially stronger showing than last year. Of all the LGBT inclusive hours on broadcast television 25% included lesbian impressions, which is up from 17% last year. The highest percentages were on Fox and NBC (30% each), which respectively featured Santana on GLEE and designer Kara Larricks on FASHION STAR. The lowest percentage was on CBS (17%).
The highest ranked cable network tracked by GLAAD for this year's report was Showtime, which saw its inclusive programming increase to 46% (from 37% last year) with 55 out of 118.5 original programming hours featuring LGBT impressions. Showtime included a number of strong LGBT storylines and characters on shows like SHAMELESS and THE REAL L WORD, however the network also included episodes of CALIFORNICATION and HOUSE OF LIES which showed lead characters acting disgusted by transgender women and referring to them using dehumanizing terms. At a time when images of the trans community are so few, these instances prevented its moving from a "Good" to an "Excellent" score.
Though it received an "Excellent" score last year, ABC Family saw its inclusive hours drop from 55% (a record high) to 34% (48.5 out of 141 hours), but it was still enough to land it in second place with a score of "Good." PRETTY LITTLE LIARS continues to be ABC Family's strongest series in terms of LGBT representation and diversity. The other major inclusive series on ABC Family was soapy drama THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER, which featured an increased role for lesbian mom Nora last season, and several appearances from gay teen Griffin. In addition, the show has set the stage for major character Anne to begin a romance with a woman. Other ABC Family series that featured LGBT impressions this season included JANE BY DESIGN, SWITCHED AT BIRTH, and MELISSA & JOEY.
You can download the full report here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Today, I was watching CNBC's On The Money, and came across this rather amusing video clip (of which I really enjoyed) of Steve Ballmer throwing one of his tempertantrums. This time, it is about Google's purchase of YouTube, and how he complained that Google is dominating the media.
http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=5ce40 ... 64rssmoney
Here is a link to the clip. Enjoy.
Be sure to spoof your browser into thinking that the site is being accessed with Internet Explorer 6.0.


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I would if I could figure out how to use it.
You can only set boundaries for yourself. You can't change people's behavior.I think you can say "In the future, I will be available to sit with Grandpa when you need me too. If cousin is there, it will be $10 an hour because sitting with him is work."This way they will think about a) leaving cousin with you at all and b) how long they are gone. Right now they have no incentive to get back sooner.
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Surviving Chanukah
Raising three sons is not unlike living on the Galapagos Islands–you know–where Darwin's Survival of the Fittest is demonstrated best? Those finches with the really sharp beaks are a whole lot better at cracking open nuts than their round-beaked cousins.
Sometimes the competition to survive in our household was akin to that. Instead of beaks, picture head locks and other wrestling games that required the weakest to scream "uncle" repeatedly.
So I wasn't all that surprised–even on the day after Thanksgiving –that the usual competitive urges were being demonstrated for my benefit. Now, instead of head locks, there was a bit of verbal jousting going on as we sat around the table eating delicious leftovers. My youngest son Mike rubbed it in to my oldest son Sam that he, Sam wouldn't be home for the first night of Hanukkah. Sam, Mike explained, would miss out on the following:
1. Mom's challah stuffing
2. Harry's crispy Golden Latkes complete with home-made apple sauce and cold, delicious sour cream.
3. Roasted Chicken
4.blue and white cookies.
5. Gelt
6. The first night gift.
"Too bad for you," Mike said through a mouthful of leftover Thanksgiving turkey. "Aren't you going to be taking finals that week?"
Sam nodded glumly.
"All the more for me," Harry chimed in. "Mmmm, I can't wait to hog down some latkes. Last year I think I set a record."
My husband Josh said, "I think you made it to 12. It was kind of horrifying to watch."
"I can't help it if I appreciate my own cooking," Harry protested, helping himself to more cranberry sauce. It was true; Harry had become an expert latke maker, cooking golden brown latkes to perfection in an enormous frying pan given to our family by none other than my mom, Becky Mark.
Sam, 19 years old and usually high up there on the whole Survival of The Fittest thing, was looking pretty upset.
It was time for an intervention.
"Actually, Mike, Harry…I happen to have a lot of great Hanukkah presents for college students. And I'm pretty sure Sam will be getting something in the mail. Cookies to keep his energy up while he studies, plus lots of other goodies to help him celebrate."
Sam instantly brightened.
"Thanks, Mom."
I still hadn't delivered my coup de grace. "And Sam, remember you mentioned your hillel was having a Chanukah party? We're actually sending blue and white cookies for it. And challah."
Mike looked up from his plate. "Mom! There's not going to be enough left for us."
I smiled sweetly at him, my round-beaked finch. "Well, Sam is out there on his own. We have to make sure he's taken care of."
It was Mike's turn to look sad.
I relented. "But there are plenty of Chanukah goodies for everyone."
It was Westport, after all, not The Galapagos Islands. We could do more than survive Chanukah. We could share the celebration, even hundreds of miles apart.
Happy Chanukah!
p.s. And sure enough, Sam headed back to college with a carload of challah and blue and white cookies!


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Pasta fazool or pasta e fagioli is Italian for pasta and beans. It is traditionally a meatless peasant dish. The pasta fazool I grew up with was a pile of spaghetti with beans over top! It was definitely not soup. Like the version that is widely available in all kind of restaurants nowadays. And it was always called fazool, not fagioli (fajoelee).
My version is made with cannelini beans, orzo pasta, fresh kale and tomatoes. I like orzo in it but next time will use a pasta with more heartiness to it like small shells or tubettini. It's a cinch to throw together, cheap to make and can easily be made vegetarian/meatless by leaving out the bacon and using vegetable broth. It's wonderfully comforting and was the bright spot on a long, dark, chilly night.
The next time you go out and see pasta e fagioli on the menu just tell the waitress you'll have the "pasta fazool please!"
- In a large soup pot or sauce pan saute the bacon until crispy, drain off some of the grease if desired and add a tablespoon or two of olive oil and saute onion and carrot over medium-low heat until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Add garlic, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, saute until fragrant.
- Smoosh the diced tomatoes with your hands and add to the pan with bay leaf, kale, beans and chicken broth. Simmer for 25 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed halfway through.
- In a separate pan cook the pasta, drain and drizzle/toss with olive oil.
- Remove the bay leaf, stir in pasta, Parmesan and parsley. Serve with extra Parmesan, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and crusty bread.
Copyright ©2013 Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice by Reeni Pisano All Rights Reserved.


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Jet PSLs in the news again! Check out today's NY Post. The guy who wrote it has to be reading this thread. I don't know how to download a copy of it to this thread but I am sure someone will. When you see some of the numbers being thrown out, it's a real disaster. Speaking of numbers, it looks like potential GM candidates are passing on the job due to the salary cap nightmare. Woody needs to hire a good accountant more than he needs to hire anyone else!
Oh it's going to be a VERY interesting off-season on and off the field with this organization. There will be hundreds if not thousands of people defaulting. The ball is in the Jets' court.
The fact that the article is negative on PSL's and misleads is disappointing but expected.
1,100 PSL's in a stadium with 55,500 PSL seats? That's less than 2% which the Jets have told us for years is the typical churn percent stretching back to Shea days.
Coaches Club? No Average Joe bought those as they are bought by corporations who can write-off these losses.
It's silly sensationalism.
If the Jets won back-to-back Super Bowl's, we'd still have 2% of the fans trying to offload their PSL's. It's unfortunate, but a few people don't think before they make a 30 year commitment. Just like people default on car loans, credit cards, student loans. I bet that somewhere near 2% of all bank loans get defaulted on, there just isn't a website documenting all of it and there aren't any resale opportunities to sell some of their debt to someone else.
I feel bad for these people, they're good Jets fans who didn't mean to suffer consequences, but ultimately there isn't an exodus of Jets fans running away from their seats. There are just a handful of people who've fallen on hard times and made a bad decision.
Last edited by SAR I; 01-07-2013 at 07:55 AM.
I for one do not wish to lose my tickets. I've been going since I was seven and would hate not to have them, but I fit into the category of fallen on hard times and thus am in a pickle unless something comes up soon.
I don't have time to count them all, but it appears there are just as many Giants PSL's for sale as there are Jets PSL's:
Also, the Jets and the Giants are both listed as "partners" on this particular website. Makes me think that a significant amount of the seats are not being listed by suffering fans but rather by the teams themselves.
I personally do not think the Jets will go after any average fans who defaulted on inexpensive, average PSL's. It's simply not worth the money and it's not worth the bad publicity. However, the Club seats are a different story. It's easy for the Jets to see if the owner is a corporation or an LLC or a broker. They'll go after them as its big-bucks and those companies won't want the bad press either.
This has been going on for years, the Jets have had luxury suites and corporate partnerships for decades. Hope things work out for you.
I believe I posted this before but my old friend didn't make his PSL payment in 2011 which was supposed to be his first or second, I think. These were for Mezz A seats. He was on the 15 year plan and I can't remember if he'd made one payment or not (2011 in Nov was the first payment for folks who took all of the deferrals the Jets offered, I think. For others it was the second).
Anyway, the Jets called him a lot last year trying to get him to pay but as of a couple months ago that's all that happened.
Just 1 data point. Please don't default on your PSLs and not expect legal action based on this case alone.
Incidentally, I am in the camp of understanding that this is a long term thing, and look forward to the good years that will hopefully come after these bad ones. Also, would be nice if the Jets gave those of us sticking around some perks (no price increases, free parking? concessions coupons or swag of some sort?). Not expecting any of that...just saying it would be nice.
Most fans are willing to put up with "lean years" and that shouldn't drastically effect PSL sales or renewals. The whole stadium and PSL thing was botched from the beginning.
Of the 1,100 (I didnt count but lets say that # is right) there is only a small percentage below face....most of the PSL's have been up since Day 1 hoping that someone would bite and they could turn a profit. It costs nothing to list and can stay on forever...its very misleading...Giants have a similiar number of listings.
In these tough economic times, I have one obligation and its sure as hell not to Woody Johnson. I'm obligated to provide for me and my family. All this PSL stuff comes secondary so if Woody wants to take me to court, so be it. Let him tell the press why he's going after fans who unfortunately hit hard times and couldn't make their Jets tickets a priority.
2010 was the only year i had season tix in the new stadium.
I had them for eighteen years at "Giants Stadium"
My note of contention is I loved the neighbors I had at the old stadium.. And the experience was so much for for me..
In the new one I seemed to be sitting around visiting fans alot.. No regulars.. I was in the non psls.. Plus it seemed all the games (and we were 11-5 that year) were selling on stubhub for a third of the price....
I figured "F" it.. I don't have my usual crowd... The tix are half the price.. So I just bought tix on stubhub and dumped my season tix in 2011..
And there was always that feeling of commitment to go since you paid so much for tix you didn't want to waste it..
As it turned out.. I didn't go to a single game this season.. And the organization is such a mess.. It is so disheartening anymore..
I will go back.. But got to get my heart back into it.. I was loyal through a lot of crappy football.. But now it just seems like I get completely taken advantage of..
Oh BTW .. The Jets call me every month since I dropped.... So yeah.. There is no demand for Jets tickets!!


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Want to remind yourself or a friend about this program? Fill out this simple form and klru will email you a reminder on the day that it will air.
Doll Fashion Studio, Part 1
series: Sewing With Nancy
air date: 1/19/14 5:00 AM
Learn to sew trendy 18" doll fashions for a quick and easy seasonal wardrobe. Author and designer Joan Hinds and Nancy share the secrets to sew a seasonal collection of clothes for 18" dolls. Each outfit is sewn with speedy techniques and easy flat construction. Learn to use a variety of fabrics and embellish with ruffles, ribbing, snaps, and trim. Create a raincoat, recital dress, hiking outfit, and a sassy little sundress.
WARNING: Email reminders for this program have already been sent out. Your reminder may not reach the intended address in time for this program's airing.
Back to TV Schedule


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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is accepting applications for lottery teal hunts on the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area. Available dates are Friday, Sept. 15; Saturday, Sept. 16; Sunday, Sept. 17; Wednesday, Sept. 20; Saturday, Sept. 23; Sunday, Sept. 24; Tuesday, Sept. 26; Thursday, Sept. 28; and Sunday, Sept. 30.
A total of three applications per hunter, each one for separate dates, will be accepted. Hunters will not be allowed to submit more than one application per hunting date or more than three applications for the season, or they will be disqualified.
Persons 18 years of age or older may now send applications, available on the LDWF Web site (www.wlf.louisiana.gov) and at LDWF headquarters and regional offices, to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Attention: White Lake Teal Hunt, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898. Applications must be received by close of business on Aug. 18, 2006. A $5 administration fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries must accompany each application. Applications without a correct driver's license number will not be processed.
Successful applicants will be allowed to bring no more than one guest. All hunters must have appropriate licenses, including a basic hunting license (or Louisiana Sportsman's Paradise license), migratory waterfowl conservation license, federal duck stamp, HIP permit and WMA Permit.
Successful applicants will be notified and required to submit an additional check or money order for $200. In the event that a hunter is unable to participate on the date selected, he or she may transfer his or her permit to a qualified hunter of his or her choice, as long as the total number of hunts does not exceed three for the 2006 teal season. Transfers must be in writing and presented to the hunt coordinator on the morning of the hunt. Questions regarding the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area lottery teal hunt should be directed to Wayne Sweeney at 337-526-9900.
For more information, contact Wayne Sweeney at 337-526-9900.


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Agent Desktop displays a Partial Service or No Service message in the status bar
From DocWiki
Agent Desktop displays a Partial Service or No Service message in the status bar
|Problem Summary
|The agent sees the message "Partial Service" or "No Service" in the Agent Desktop status bar.
|Error Message
|Possible Cause
|Agent Desktop has detected that it is unable to communicate with a service (generally within three minutes of the service failure), and displays the "Partial Service" or "No Service" message to indicate that some or all of the services have failed.
|Recommended Action
|Double-click the message in the status bar to display the Server Status popup window. This window lists Agent Desktop features and indicates which features are affected by the service failure. When Agent Desktop detects that the failed service is available again (usually within one minute of the service recovery) the status bar displays "In Service" to indicate that the service has recovered.
|CAD Unified CCX 8.5
|Associated CDETS #


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POLICE have raised the spectre that the fire at Aberfeldy may have been deliberately lit.
Investigators say they would like to speak to anyone who was camping in the Donnelly Creek Road area on Thursday morning from 9am.
They are particularly interested in any photographs or video that may have been taken of the area while people were evacuating. The fire is believed to have started at about 11.30am.
Police say cause of the fire is still being investigated and Arson and Explosives Squad detectives are expected to go to the area later later on Saturday.
The Coroner is investigating the death of man found in a burnt out vehicle in the Seaton area about 5pm on Friday. The man's name has not been released.
So far, the fire has destroyed nine properties in the Gippsland area and several permanent and non-permanent dwellings at the Glenmaggie Caravan Park.
Local residents or anyone in the area at the time is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.


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Senior Information
Congratulations on nearing an important milestone: Graduating with your BSBA! You have faced many challenges both in and out of the classroom. Much has been expected and you have risen to the challenge. However, your journey is only beginning.
Over the next several weeks and months, you will be preparing to transition to the next great phase of your life, whether that be entering into full-time employment, graduate education, military service, or some other adventure life brings your way. We want you to head into the next phase of your life without thinking to yourself, "Have I done everything I need to do?"
On this web site, you will find several to-do lists. They are not meant to be exhaustive lists, but they should give you an idea of the kind of things you should be doing now through the weeks following graduation.


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A Computational Investigation of Cohesion and Lexical Network Density in L2 Writing
This study used a new computational linguistics tool, the Coh-Metrix, to investigate and measure the differences in cohesion and lexical network density between native speaker and non-native speaker writing, as well as to investigate L2 proficiency level differences in cohesion and lexical network density. This study analyzed data from three corpora with the Coh-Metrix: the International Corpus of Learner English (ICLE) as an L2 higher proficiency group, the Louvain Corpus of Native English Essays (LOCNESS) as a native speaker baseline, and a collected EFL corpus from Indonesia for the L2 lower proficiency data.
Statistical investigation of the Coh-Metrix results revealed that five out of six Coh-Metrix variables used in this study did not detect proficiency level differences in L2 but the tool was consistently able to distinguish between L2 and native speaker writing. Differences included that L2 writing contains more argument overlap, more semantic overlap, more frequent content words, fewer abstract verb hyponyms and less causal content than native speaker writing.
Full Text:PDF
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v5n8p57
Copyright (c) 2012 Clarence Green
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
English Language Teaching ISSN 1916-4742 (Print) ISSN 1916-4750 (Online)
Copyright © Canadian Center of Science and Education
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Balanced scoring and sharp shooting from the stripe helped the Newman Comets stave off the visiting Erie Cardinals and keep pace with Prophetstown in the Three Rivers race on Saturday night.
Rachel Hageman led Newman (8-3, 5-0) with 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and shot 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Mary Alice Oswalt added nine points and three steals for the Comets, who were 14-for-20 at the line as a team but trailed 16-15 at the half.
Erie coach Brian Howell was pleased with 14 points from Courtney Cobert and her sister's "monster game" for the Cardinals (7-3, 2-3). Rachel, a freshman, had nine points and 20 rebounds.
He was less than pleased with missed bunnies.
"We can't miss 10 shots at point-blank range and expect to win," Howell said.
Prophetstown 45, Kewanee 30: It was steady as she goes for the Prophets in a Three Rivers victory in Kewanee.
Prophetstown (10-1, 5-0) scored 12 points in the first, 11 in the second and 13 in the third to lead 36-22 going into the final stanza. Riley Walters and Cassie Reiley led the way with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Walters had 12 points at the half, and Reiley hit three 3s.
Kewanee (5-6, 1-3) got 14 points from Jennifer Ensley.
Oregon 46, Mendota 36: Behind Emylyn Wright's monster second half, the Hawks pulled out a road victory to stay atop the Big Northern West.
Sam Lambrigtsen led the Hawks (6-2, 3-0) with 20 points, but Wright scored all 14 of her points in the final 16 minutes. Oregon trailed 26-25 at the half and outscored Mendota (6-3, 1-1) 14-9 in the final period.
Rock Falls 46, Winnebago 16: The Rockets only allowed the Indians to make three field goals in a Big Northern West matchup in Winnebago.
Rock Falls (4-5, 1-1) senior Jordan Giddings matched the Winnebago (1-10, 0-3) point total of 16, and Morgan Mammosser added seven points, five assists and five steals for the Rockets. They blew things open with a 16-4 second-period advantage.
Forreston 51, Polo 40: A 13-0 hole through 5 minutes of play was too much for the Marcos to overcome at home against their NUIC East rival.
Aleetra Roberts got the Marcos (3-6, 2-3) on the board with two free throws with just under 3 minutes to play in the first, and got them within seven points by beating the buzzer with a putback at the end of the third that made it 41-34 Cardinals (8-2, 4-0).
Roberts led all scorers with 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Keeley Meyer posted a double-double with 11 points and 14 boards. Anna Drake scored nine of her team-high 14 points in the second half for Forreston.
Pearl City tournament
Eastland 58, Orangeville 32: The Cougars overwhelmed the Broncos for three periods, then got minutes almost all the way down the bench.
Lexis Macomber led Eastland (9-1) with 13 points, Courtney Walker hit two 3s to add 12, and Hannah Hake rounded out the Cougars' double-digit scorers with 11.
River Ridge-Scales Mound 50, Fulton 33: After trailing just 21-18 at the half, the Steamers were outscored 18-2 in the third period.
Morgan Wierema scored a game-high 17 points for Fulton (4-6), while Ashley Brandt and Katie Schnitzler led RRSM (6-3) with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Women's basketball
Sauk Valley 76, Daley 60: Brianna Richardson scored a game-high 22 points, leading the Skyhawks to the nonconference road win Saturday in Chicago.
Kayla Barlow, Lydia Box and Sheldeen Joseph added 13 points apiece for Sauk (6-4), which led 38-34 at the half before pulling away.
Saturday's stars
Rachel Hageman, Newman, 10 points, 7 rebounds, 6-for-6 at line
Rachel Cobert, Erie, 9 points, 20 rebounds
Sam Lambrigtsen, Oregon, 20 points
Emylyn Wright, Oregon, 14 points, all in second half
Aleetra Roberts, Polo, 17 points, 9 rebounds
Keeley Meyer, Polo, 11 points, 14 rebounds


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The Road to Omaha has officially begun with the unveiling of the PG Top 25 rankings.
North Carolina leads the way entering the 2013 campaign, but certainly has some stiff company throughout the top 25. For instance, Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Stanford, ranked 2,3 and 4, respectively, also had compelling cases to be the nation's top-ranked team.
Plenty of other squads also have a great chance to stake their claim this spring.
Without further ado, we take an in-depth look at teams in our rankings and make a compelling case for each.
Head coach: Mike Fox
Conference: Atlantic Coast
2012 record: 46-16, 22-8 ACC
2012 accomplishment: Hosted Chapel Hill NCAA Regional
Top returning pitcher: LHP Kent Emanuel -- The talented left-handed pitcher had a fantastic sophomore campaign for the Heels last season, going 8-4 with a 1.96 ERA in 110 innings. He also struck out 100 and walked 23, while teams hit him at a .228 clip.
Top returning hitter: 3B Colin Moran -- The Tar Heels should be improved offensively with Moran back in the saddle. He had a productive sophomore campaign, hitting .365 with 11 doubles, a home run, three homers and 35 RBIs. He also slugged .494, had a .434 OBP and struck out 24 times (21 walks).
Freshman to watch: OF Skye Bolt -- The former Perfect Game All-American had a productive fall and will earn significant playing time this spring. Bolt was ranked No. 76 nationally out of high school, and is a polished hitter with plenty of upside.
Prospects to watch: 3B Colin Moran, LHP Kent Emanuel, LHP Hobbs Johnson, C Matt Roberts, 1B Cody Stubbs
Why to feel good: The Tar Heels might have something to prove at the plate, but the pitching staff is national championship worthy right now. UNC has an excellent weekend rotation with left-handers Kent Emanuel and Hobbs Johnson and right-hander Benton Moss leading the charge. Emanuel went 8-4 with a 1.96 ERA in 110 innings. He also has great command with a fastball into the low 90s. Johnson went 7-1 last season with a 1.56 ERA in 57 2/3 innings last season, while Moss went 7-2 with a 1.94 ERA in 79 innings. He also struck out 83 and walked 23. That's only the tip of the iceberg, as relievers Chris McCue (2.10, 25.2), Tate Parrish (2.89, 9.1), Chris O'Brien (3.46, 41.1), Shane Taylor (3.48, 41.1), Mason McCullough (3.86, 9.1) and Luis Paula (5.95, 19.2) return for another season. Also keep an eye on right-hander Chris Munnelly, who will serve as the midweek starter, while sophomore righty Trevor Kelley has really impressed with the coaching staff with his new-look motion.
Why there might be concern: North Carolina has potential to be a solid offensive club, but that potential must be put into practice this spring. The Tar Heels have a fantastic returning leading hitter in third baseman Colin Moran, but otherwise, don't return a single hitter that finished last season with a batting average .300 or better. Outfielders Chaz Frank (.293/0/39), Parks Jordan (.270/0/31) and Brian Holberton (.297/1/15) must rise to the occasion, while the same goes for first baseman Cody Stubbs (.258/5/35), and infielders Mike Zolk (.255/0/26) and Michael Russell (.269/0/24).
This is PG 'College Baseball Ticket' Level content. You must be a subscriber to read the rest. Want to read more???Click here for subscription info!(Already a member? Just log in at the top of the page.)
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March 12, 2013 > Study Tips from McGraw-Hill Education
Sharon Loeb, a study expert at McGraw-Hill Education, has just released her "top 5 study tips" to help students with their studies as well as to ace their exams.Study Smart Tip #1: Eat Well:It should come as no surprise that food is one of the most important elements in maintaining our overall physical well-being, including energy levels and brain function. Though the stress of studying may prompt students to reach for unhealthy, sleep-inducing comfort foods like pizza and fried chicken, research shows that there are many delicious food and beverages that can actually improve the way we think and work. Dark chocolate, for example, is chock-full of antioxidant properties and contains natural stimulants that produce endorphins while enhancing focus and concentration. Berries of all kind - also rich in antioxidants - are known to improve memory and motor coordination, as are the properties found in coffee. Students should consider the benefits of these "power foods" before settling for unhealthier indulgences to get them through finals.Study Smart Tip #2: Stay Physically Active:Add exercise to your study routine - Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive correlation between exercise and improved brain function. Many of us, however, neglect our exercise routines during periods of intense studying and stress. That's a big mistake because exercise helps push more oxygen and glucose (sugar) to your brain which are basically the high-octane fuel your brain needs to perform its best. Just make sure you pick the right type of exercise - exercise that gets your heart pumping but doesn't overly tax your muscles (i.e., aerobic vs. anaerobic) is best because your brain doesn't have to share as much fuel with other muscles. So, getting out there walking or lightly jogging is better for your brain function than sprinting or lifting weights.Study Smart Tip #3: Use Mnemonic Devices:According to an associate psychology professor at Howard University, making personal connections to course material can help students retain and recall information. Also known as "mnemonic devices," students who develop acronyms, rhymes, visuals or other shortcuts while studying, are actually helping their brain better file and encode relevant information. Arguably, mnemonic devices may take a bit more time and creativity; however, students who use more innovative study methods oftentimes outperform their peers who opt for more of a conventional study path.Study Smart Tip #4: Grab Your Gum:Several studies, including one by researchers at Cardiff University in Wales, find that chewing gum while studying actually increases alertness, improves productivity and actually lowers stress levels. In many instances, students who chew gum display reduced anxiety and quicker reaction times. This is because the act of chewing actually causes a temporary increase in arousal, which leads to increases in heart rate, blood pressure and blood flow. Whether it's Extra, Trident or Bubblicious you prefer, students should consider a trip to their local grocery store before hunkering down to study.Study Smart Tip #5: Seek out Effective Study Tools and Leverage the Right Technologies:Technology can be your greatest ally or your biggest enemy when it comes to studying for finals. Students should consider curbing their use of mobile devices, tablets and computers to access social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter) that may be disruptive to the studying process, but should leverage these same technologies to access study tools that make the process much easier, more engaging and more effective.Visit www.mheducation.com for information on McGraw-Hill Education or its teaching and learning resources.


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Diabetes Health
Hispanics and Type 2 Diabetes Risk
As an ethnic group, Hispanic/Latino Americans are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Researchers have found one reason: Hispanic/Latino Americans are more likely to store fat in their pancreas but less able to produce more insulin to compensate for this extra fat.
Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate metabolism. People with insulin resistance still produce insulin but their body doesn't use it correctly. This condition can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute in Los Angeles looked at data on people who were African American, Latino or white. All were overweight or obese and all had symptoms of prediabetes, which include blood glucose levels higher than normal.
Variety of tests
Participants took two glucose tests, which help evaluate risk for insulin resistance, and had magnetic resonance spectroscopy to look at fat levels in their pancreas and liver.
"One of the reasons some people are at increased risk, we believe, is that fatty pancreas is unable to secrete enough insulin, which results in an individual progressing from impaired glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes," says Lidia Szczepaniak, Ph.D., at Cedars-Sinai.
The researchers found that Latinos had more fat stored in their pancreas, and that put them at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Focusing on risk
"Not all people who are overweight or obese and who have insulin resistance go on to develop diabetes," says lead author Richard Bergman, Ph.D. "If we can determine who is most likely to develop diabetes and why, then we can make strides toward preventing it in those individuals."
Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and an additional 79 million have prediabetes, the CDC says. Diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S. and a major cause of heart disease and stroke.
The study was published online in a recent issue of Diabetes Care.
Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.
Online Resources
(Our Organization is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - Diabetes Disparities Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities
American Diabetes Association - Your Risk
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - Taking Steps to Lower Your Risk of Getting Diabetes
November 2012
Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
The risk for diabetes and prediabetes increases as you get older. The American Diabetes Association recommends that everyone get blood glucose screening at age 45. If you're younger than 45, talk with your health care provider about getting tested for diabetes or prediabetes if you have one or more of these risk factors:
Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.


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WASHINGTON (AP) — State Department officials are telling Congress that security levels at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya were adequate for the threat level on the anniversary of 9/11. But they also said the compound was overrun by an "unprecedented attack" by dozens of heavily armed extremists.
Testifying before an election-season congressional hearing on alleged security failures at the consulate that led or contributed to the deaths of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans, senior officials said the number of U.S. and local security guards at the compound was consistent with what had been requested by the post.
Deputy Secretary of State Charlene Lamb told the panel, quote, "We had the correct number of assets in Benghazi at the time of 9/11."
She's the State Department official in charge of protecting American embassies and consulates around the world.


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I just wanted to thank you on your services. It was a true pleasure ordering from you. I had a question and your staff was very kind to answer as quickly as possible. I did not see the roses that I ordered but the recipient thanked me for them and told me they were some of the prettiest roses she had ever seen. She also told me that they lasted a very long time. Thank you, again. I will tell everyone about you!
Jeff Sheldman
More Testimonials...
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|2009-04-17, 12:27
|Link #1981
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
heh if Yukari and Akitsu would join then I'm kinda sure that Miya would take Minato to sleep in her room ^^
Miya could have an eye on him.... and Minato could gain some sleep (maybe that was kinda miyas reason for splitiing minato and his sekirei... since all his night he was around so many girls so he was sweeting [hot bodies around] and emotionaly red on face [guy and so many girls] the same he couldnt gain good sleep... and well not much sleep is bad for health ^^ )
Well maybe Miya could learn more about Minato if they would spend some time alone in the same room.... like both are going to sleep and before falling asleep Miya asks minato a question.... he answers and fall asleep [maybe sleep talking].... miya likes the answer and so she starts to like minato more and more since she sees that he is very good honest person.... (maybe if minato would save Uzume and her ashikabi, miya would like minato even more )
Anyway time will show XD but it woudl be funny if Minato wakes up and he sees Kagarai sleeping besides him XDXD
|2009-04-17, 21:59
|Link #1982
Magister Magus
Join Date: Mar 2009
Miya: Did you say something, sweetheart? *smiling sweetly*
Tsukumi: Um, I mean, Miya-sama is!
But seriously, I can't wait to see Minato and Miya's relationship developing. Even if she doesn't end as part of the harem, I think it'll be important to the plot.
[aside] First post, yay [aside]
|2009-04-18, 12:19
|Link #1987
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Ehh so Shina is mind raped now after talking to Higa....... I goes now only Minato Yukaris olver brother power is needed to bring Shina back to the light side of the force XD
Minato loves his sekirei and he mostly wants to remain with them even after the game.... well they are strong :P but its for the good point in my eyes... minato can be more at ease with his worry becouse the girls can protect themselfs from others if needed ^^
So Shina could be there to protect Yuakri if we look at this.... anyway I wodner what with that Yukaris dress.... is she going to a weeding of smething.... she was kidnapped and yet she dresses like that.... (maybe Yukari will escape from that building now and head to Minato place [to look for help in search or something]
Anyway I think that Minato will explain that Yukari is not a bad girl and if she accepted Shina she really has to deeply care for him....[he knows her the best after all...] so he shouldnt give up on her becouse someone else said something.... Ku-chan can show how strong their bond is so Shina shouldnt give up either [since if its minatos sister she is a good person too]
|2009-04-18, 12:49
|Link #1990
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
We need to know his objectives after all....but that doesnt change the fact that I wish for higa to suffer at the end :P
|2009-04-18, 13:43
|Link #1992
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Age: 28
But, I could be wrong.
|2009-04-18, 14:06
|Link #1993
Join Date: Mar 2008
Age: 31
|2009-04-18, 14:28
|Link #1994
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
More reasonable than "I want to own overtechnology that allowed some guy to pretty much buy Tokyo out of pocket change"? For a prize like that, who needs a tragic past? Every day, politicians sell their soul for a lot less. Do you think they all had their puppies kicked when they were children?
|2009-04-18, 15:21
|Link #1995
Join Date: Mar 2008
Age: 31
No, but the ones with tragic pasts are more interesting.
The reason I really want Higa to have more to his motivation than just being an ass is that just being an ass seems to be Minaka's motivation. It would be boring for two villains to have the same motives. I'm hoping that Higa is trying to overthrow the Sekirei Plan entirely; sure, his methods suck and he'll fail, but he might inspire Minato to do so in a better way. After all, why fix damage (reunite Sekirei with their Ashikabi) when you can prevent the damage in the first place?
Basically, Hero vs. Well Intentioned Extremist vs. Ass is, in my opinion, more interesting than Hero vs. Ass vs. Ass.
|2009-04-18, 15:51
|Link #1997
Know who you are
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Resides within the depths of Ned infested Glasgow
I have thought maybe he never has had any good reason, its very possible considering his character but for the sake of the story and series I think there will be something behind it all
Higa's reason i don't care for really i just want to see Minato and Co. kick arse!
|2009-04-18, 17:29
|Link #1998
Join Date: Mar 2008
Age: 31
Why do I think this? Because we've seen him ranting about it being the start of a new love story despite the certainty that people would get hurt. Because we've seen him raving about it kicking off a new era of the gods (if you'll keep in mind how gods are often portrayed in myth, bad for humans). Because Takami, Miya, and Kagari, all of whom we have more reason to trust than Minaka, have demonstrated that either they wouldn't mind him dying or would personally like to kill him.
See, this is what happens when you overthink things.
|2009-04-18, 17:46
|Link #1999
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Mmm I agree Minaka is a piece of s*** and the fact that all the people who know him well would be more then happy to kill him, plus his mad rants, and engineering the whole "Game" tells you he is a megalomaniac who should probably be stopped.
|2009-04-18, 18:13
|Link #2000
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
And even if they do disagree with his ideas - it doesn't mean he doesn't have reasons for doing what he does. More than merely being rich or powerful, he's decided to change the world. How and why? We still don't know.
And hey, it may yet be "Just because". But I doubt it. Though, again, he may not have any tragic backstory. (Why do we need so many tragic backstories? It seems nobody does anything of importance unless their love ones are murdered or something.) Maybe he decided to give the whole human race peace and prosperity because he could. Maybe he decided it was worth the death of few thousand, a few million people. Who knows?
|action, harem, seinen, sekirei
|Thread Tools


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Its supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. Yet for many, its anything but that.
If the holidays have you overwhelmed, you are not alone, says TriWest Healthcare Alliance Behavioral Health Educator Kristin Musch. Expectations are high, to-do lists are long and, often, the budget is tight, which can result in sadness, anger, frustration and resentment.
But theres good news! Stress can be reduced, allowing you to actually enjoy this time. The key is to plan ahead, Musch said.
Check out our eight top tips for a stress-free holiday season:
1. Check your expectations. Are they higher now than other times during the year? Ask yourself why. The holidays dont have to be perfect. Find a way to incorporate a few rituals that bring you happiness and comfort. Fewer expectations can lead to greater appreciation and enjoyment.
2. Manage your time. Schedule specific days and times for shopping, baking, wrapping and other holiday commitments. Make sure that what you are doing is important to you. Add in some scheduled downtime for reading, watching a movie or taking in a favorite hobby.
3. Just say no. This is not the time to take on extra projects at home, school or for others. Know your limits and stick to them. Productivity expert David Allen has sage advice on this topic. You can do anything, but not everything.
4. Move it. Feeling overwhelmed? Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress, says Musch. The few minutes you take to get in a walk, rake some leaves or go for a run will clear and calm your mind. Include your kids or other family members in your activities.
5. Indulge carefully. Whether gift shopping, snacking on tasty holiday treats or celebrating with cocktails, make sure to do it all in moderation. The indulgence now could leave a sour taste in your mouth when that credit card statement or scale presents you with a number you werent expecting.
6. Keep visions of sugar plums dancing in your head. Thats right. Sleep is a must during this busy time. It will restore your energy, ward off illness and will keep your head clear during a time of year when we all have a lot on our minds.
7. Laugh it up. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, the saying goes. Surround yourself with people and activities that bring a smile to your face. And be sure to stay away from those that bring you down. 8. Focus on the haves, not the have-nots. Author Melody Beattie may have said it best. Gratitude turns what we have into enough. Every day there is something for which to be grateful. Whatever that is, however small it is, identify it, share it, write it down. When we focus on what we have, it truly becomes enough.
For more tips on managing stress, visit TriWest.com/BH.


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Tonight on the program, uncontained wildfires in Arizona claim the lives of 19 elite firefighters. Also: reports based off of NSA leaks from Edward Snowden allege the U.S. has been spying on its allies, federal student loan rates double after the deadline to prevent hikes passes, Egyptian military threaten a government takeover and an American ballet dancer returns to the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia.
Visit the Website: http://www.pbs.org/newshour


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You are right, but that is also misleading. There are plenty of owners who would fire a clearly incompetent GM after a 7 year run, and clean out the FO entirely of dead wood like Terry Bradway, who has been here 12 years. And then that new GM/front office will decide on the head coach.
A win is a win. But we suck. We are beating the skid marks of the NFL. Nothing to brag about. We should set the bar a little higher.
Besides most of us aren't upset that we are winning. We are upset b.c we know what the consequences of these wins will be. Which is Rex, Tanny, Sanchez in 2013.
SOJ. Even when we win, we lose.
I like Rex as a coach and how he has handled himself this year. No bragging or showboating, just going about business. The team hasn't quit on him like they did last year. They are playing hard and for a purpose. Plus it was reported that he was coming back irregardless of what happened.
Tanny is the one that I might be concerned with. I don't like him as a GM. I still wonder if Woody is going to demote him. On the other hand, the last two drafts are starting to bear some positive players, so things might be turning in that department.
And as I said before the Rams are now 6-6-1 who we beat.
Wait till the SOJF get a load of this one.
Better yet, we know the new coach we hire will make the AFC title game in his first 2 years!!
The grass is ALWAYS greener right???
Nevermind the fact that we cant block anyone, we cant catch a ball, our special teams is the worst in the history of football, For the most part our pass rush sucks (even though we looked good the last 2 weeks).. Lets just redraft a new team at every position while we are at it!
My main issue with Rex is that he has shown little growth as a coach. Too many time we are unprepared and sloppy on the sidelines with substitutions. He acts like offense doesn't exist. But he did change the personality of the organization and that did have positive effects. But that has burn out a little. I think even if Woody wants to replace Rex, he won't bc of his contract. I think he has two more years on his contract.
I'm sick of starting over every 3-4 years with a new regime and not building and what we have.
I'm sick of the constant b*tching and negativity in this fan base even when we win.
I'm sick of the people knocking our draft picks expecting them to be some pro bowler his first couple snaps...Last year Mo Wilk was a bust, but after this game hes the beast of all beasts.
I'm tired of this fan base rooting for a team to lose just because they want to see changes....that making the playoffs will set the franchise back ten years....rooting against your team is not what fans do....what if by some miracle we go on a run and make it to the superbowl??? Will people be mad we got the 32nd pick??? Sad really..
Now I'm not being a homer by any means..we have not played well....we also lack talent and depth and have so any injuries ..but I will never root for my team to lose...
hardest schedule in the NFL? enlighten me.
And I'm sick of people repeating that same misleading talking point. Mike Tannenbaum has been the GM for SEVEN YEARS, and his partner in crime Bradway has been making personnel decisions with the Jets for TWELVE YEARS. This is not a new regime that hasn't been given a fair shot. That is a large body of (mostly bad) work.


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패트릭 코테
Training: Wake up at 9am, and train all day; 2 or 3 times a day of different training sessions, then go to sleep around midnight. For 3 months. My training is like my other fights, but I did a lot more wrestling for this fight.
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Bizarre new car rental trick: an airport fee for a non-airport rental
When it comes to fees, never underestimate the car rental industry's creativity. If you do, you might miss the six percent surcharge that Avis slipped on Monica Huchro's bill last week.
Most car rental companies charge what's called a "concession recovery fee" when you pick up a car at the airport. The fee used to be included in the price of a car rental, but companies figured out they could break out this surcharge, which covered their lease and cost of van service, and then add it to their price after the initial price quote, making their rental rates seem lower. But the fees were limited to airports.
Not any more.
In Chico, Calif., they are charging customers for airport location percentage fees out of a non-airport lot. I was incorrectly charged $35 once and then $40 the next time. Each time they credited my account after I complained to corporate.
I can't imagine how many other customers aren't paying attention to their invoices after they drop their cars off.
I checked the Avis site for an off-airport rental in Chico. The quote doesn't appear to charge a concession fee, at least not for this rental, but leaves open the possibility of one.
I asked Huchro about her experience renting from Avis. She said the concession fee was added recently.
I rented there before and there weren't airport fees. Then I noticed the charges on my invoice and questioned it.
They weren't able to explain it, they just told me to contact the corporate office. So I did, and corporate credited back my card along with telling me that shouldn't have happened.
A month later when I rented again, the same thing happened. I brought it to their attention again. This time, on the invoice, the charges read "airport fee" but then they printed a separate invoice from that office and the charges state "concession recovery fee." When I asked the manager what that meant, once again, he could not explain it and told me to call the corporate office and write a letter.
I did call and again, they credited my card. I've never heard anything back regarding the complaint letter I sent months ago. I just think they're getting away with something they aren't supposed to be doing.
It odd — and a little ironic — that car rental companies like Avis are imposing these unwarranted fees on their customers. The car rental industry lobbying hard to keep extra taxes off its bills.
If only it felt the same way about fees.


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What Do You Need for Home Theater?
Putting together a great home theater system can be simple. The key is pairing a good high-def picture with engaging surround sound. We've outlined the components you'll need below, some of which you probably already own.
Why build your own system?
The simple answer is sound quality. When it comes to surround sound, you've got two options: building your own system out of separate components or choosing a pre-packaged one. Pre-packaged systems are designed to be easy to choose and set up, and can definitely deliver an engaging surround sound experience. But with a component system, you'll typically enjoy higher-quality construction and better audio performance. [Shop for home theater systems.]
Component systems are good for folks who:
- want a full surround sound experience and high-quality audio
- already have a few key components, like a Blu-ray® player, receiver, or a set of speakers
- prefer to create a customized home theater system
- are comfortable choosing and setting up separate components
To learn about your other audio options, check out our article on four ways to get better sound with your TV.
Now, let's dig into the components you'll need for a complete home theater system.
A gorgeous picture is the focal point of many home theater systems. Virtually all of today's TVs are high-def — they offer a stunning, high-resolution 720p or 1080p picture. Now some of them also offer the 3D experience in the comfort of your own home (a compatible 3D Blu-ray player and glasses are required).
- Learn about the differences between LCD and plasma TVs.
- Get tips on choosing screen size and placing your TV.
Video sources: Blu-ray movies, high-def broadcasts, and more
If you've got a high-def TV, you'll want plenty of high-def sources. A Blu-ray player will give you the sharpest picture possible. High-definition Blu-ray Discs™ are your main source for full 1080p video, not to mention ultra-detailed surround formats like Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD™ Master Audio. For more information, check out our article about Blu-ray players.
Other top-notch home theater sources include HDTV programming, which delivers high-resolution video and digital audio, and video game consoles, which offer impressively crisp images and high-impact surround sound.
- Watch a short video to learn about what you need to watch HDTV broadcasts.
- Watch our helpful video on choosing a Blu-ray player.
- Start shopping for Blu-ray players.
A home theater receiver
In order to enjoy surround sound, you'll need a home theater receiver. A receiver acts as the control center for audio; it processes audio signals, amplifies them, and sends them to your speakers. All home theater receivers can process and amplify multichannel surround sound as well as stereo audio, because they have built-in surround sound decoding.
Some people use their home theater receiver to manage video as well as audio — by running all their video signals to their receiver, they can make a single video connection from their receiver to their TV and simplify everyday use. It's a great option if you want to connect multiple sources, like a cable box, a Blu-ray player, and a video game console or two, to your home theater system. Then whenever you want to watch a movie or play a video game, you just have to press a button on your receiver's remote to switch to the right inputs, without having to switch inputs on your TV.
- Check out our in-depth guide to choosing a receiver.
- Find out how to set up your receiver for the best picture and sound.
- Start shopping for a home theater receiver.
Speakers and a subwoofer
To faithfully re-create the larger-than-life, wraparound excitement of movie theater sound, you need at least five voice-matched speakers and a subwoofer. Some people opt for six or seven speakers and a subwoofer, so they can hear even more channels of surround sound. If you buy a pre-matched speaker system, you won't have to worry about voice-matching. But if you put together your own system, then make sure you buy from the same family of speakers.
- For more info on what each speaker does, and how to choose, see our guide to choosing home theater speakers.
- Watch our video about recommended speaker placement.
- Read about room-friendly ways to connect surround speakers.
- Start shopping for speakers.
Cables, power protection, and more
Often, people forget about essential accessories. They end up rushing out to the store in the middle of setup, or making do with a cable that isn't really suited to the purpose. The result? Extra hassle, and a real risk of missing out on the system performance they paid for. You can avoid that by planning out your system before you buy, accessories and all.
You'll need speaker cables, audio cables, and video cables. You may already have some cables you can use. Just don't forget that very old or very cheap speaker cable can degrade your sound quality, the same way very old or very cheap speakers just don't sound good. Also, "freebie" audio and video cables that come in the box with a component can also result in lower-quality sound or picture; reduced picture quality is especially noticeable with today's high-end TVs, which aren't kind to static or picture flaws.
- Check out our guides to choosing A/V cables and selecting speaker cables.
- Get some tips for home A/V cable management.
- Start shopping for cables and other hookup essentials.
Universal remotes
Have you ever fumbled around with the remotes on your coffee table, and ended up changing your TV's input when you mean to pause the movie on your Blu-ray player? A universal remote can really help you simplify your system — and clean up your coffee table.
- Take a look at our article on universal remotes.
- Start shopping for remote controls.
Power protection
It makes sense to use a power protection unit to safeguard your investment from lightning strikes and power surges. Some home theater fans choose a power protector with built-in line conditioning to ensure cleaner power, a better picture, and more accurate audio.
- Check out this in-depth guide to choosing power protection.
- Start shopping for power protection.
Internet connection
Many receivers come with built-in Ethernet ports that enable a host of features including free Internet radio, access to media on a networked computer, subscription music services and more. In addition to broadband service, you will need a network connection close by.
- Check out our article on creating a home network.
A/V furniture, speaker stands, and speaker brackets
Depending on your room's size and shape, and the equipment you choose, you may need some stands to place your gear on. Be thinking about whether you'll need anything like this ahead of time, so you can avoid putting your TV on a couple of old crates, or having small surround speakers on the floor behind your sofa where you can't really hear them.
- Figure out what to look for with our furniture glossary.
- Start shopping for A/V furniture.
- Start shopping for speaker stands and brackets.
Call JK Security and Home Entertainment today for your free Home Theater quote!


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Manfred Pranger of Austria won a World Cup slalom race Sunday for his first victory in four years, while Bode Miller lost control in the second run and did not finish.
Miller, the defending overall champion, skied out in the second
run of the slalom after finishing 23rd in the first. He stretched
his season-long winless streak to 20 races.
Also, Scott Macartney's knee injury from a Saturday crash in the
downhill in Austria forced him to return the United States for
treatment. Macartney was set to compete in the Hahnenkahm race next
Saturday in Kitzbuehel, Austria - the same race in which he was
involved in a horrific crash at nearly 90 mph last year.
On Sunday, Pranger led after the first run and finished the
second in 52.26 seconds for a combined time of 1 minute, 40.36
seconds. Reinfried Herbst of Austria was second, 0.34 behind, and
Ivica Kostelic of Croatia was third.
Jean Baptiste-Grange of France, who finished sixth, kept his
lead in the World Cup slalom standings. Benjamin Raich of Austria
was fifth and kept his lead in the overall standings.
Pranger won his third World Cup. He earn two in a three-day span
in January 2005 before his career was derailed by a series of
"I definitely remember how it feels to win," Pranger said.
"This great feeling is what makes you want to come back."
He said his teammate Herbst encouraged him during recovery from
a serious knee injury in 2007. Herbst, the Olympic silver medalist
in slalom, also has returned from knee injuries.
"You can't be jealous of Manni's victory," Herbst said. "I
think he deserves it. He works very hard for what he gets."
The pair said they hoped to restore the host nation's pride a
day after a "debacle" Saturday in the classic Lauberhorn downhill
at Wengen, when the best finish by an Austrian was 18th.
Austria had four of the top five in Sunday's slalom. American
Ted Ligety was 12th after finishing eighth in the first run.
Raich leads the overall standings with 638 points, with Grange
second at 576. Kostelic's podium finish has him third overall,
trailing Raich by 92.
"This is my fifth time here at Wengen on the podium," Kostelic
said. "I really love this course because it's very classic. Skiing
history was made here."
Grange holds a 349-305 edge over Kostelic in the slalom
standings. Pranger and Herbst are next, ahead of another home race
at Kitzbuehel next weekend.
"It's great to go there as a winner," Pranger said. "It's
always a difficult course but everything is good there."


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On Monday, January 10th Britney fans worldwide will be encouraged to share a message on Facebook 2 million times.
Once this is accomplished, her new single, Hold It Against Me is unlocked for radio & for immediate sale on i-Tunes.
Sony Music Canada is offering the opportunity to Canadian stations to have their listeners participate through a customized Facebook widget that listeners can then forward.
I can't wait!!!!
Its been over two years since Britney Spears released her sixth studio album Circus, and with the welcoming of 2011, the reigning princess of pop is set to take back the music scene. Tuesday, Spears is set to release her first single Hold It Against Me from her forthcoming album slated to hit stores and iTunes in March.
Spears managers Larry Rudolph and Adam Leber gave Ryan a first listen to the high-energy single on Thursday, which blew away the demo that leaked online earlier this morning. Leber played the song off of his trusted iPod Classic in Ryans radio studio (see photo below). Britneys managing team also played a second song for Ryan, I I I Wanna Go another powerhouse single from the new album.
Rudolph and Leber explained to Ryan that the creative process for Hold It Against Me music video is well underway and are nothing short of spectacular. Spears has been rehearsing choreography for the video for a month now, and will shoot in two weeks.
Check back to RyanSeacrest.com Tuesday for the premiere of Hold It Against Me!
God that cover is fucking gorgeous. I sooo cant wait until Tuesday! And the music video...I can't!
if you haven't heard it yet...here is the demo version sung by co-writer, Bonnie McKee. Adam Leber tweeted last night that this is an old version of the song and the final version will sound different and WAY better!
Bonnie tweeted the same thing as well. She confirmed that she is singing in that demo but the final Britney version is waaay crazier and has a bridge. I can't wait until Tuesday!
Gorgeous new Itunes Promo... European Date format
Less than 24 hours!!!!! :hyper:
it's out....thoughts? I like it...but man I wish I hadn't heard the demo version...cause I was really starting to like that....haha
The demo version sucks. This is just epic and amazing. I already made ringtones
I honestly thought we were gonna get some crap like Circus...eh this lives up to the hype but more. I lvoe it
The song is amazing. I love the dubstep vibe. And the breakdown is amazing! I love it!
alright...after a few more listens...her version is just stellar....the dubstep vibe is just killing me....and the way she pronounces Hazy....love it
Lol I know right. The breakdown is now my ringtone
I really love this. Fresh new sound!
The dubstep vibe seriously is amazing!
I'm just shocked! I thought the BritneyFans would be blowing this thread up 2day? What's the deal? C'mon! No? Hey, don't let this be another 'NMT'/Bionic!
@AndrewC "Fresh new sound?" "She has outdone herself this time?" hmmm i dunno about that.
Can't type. Pussy poppin'.
It is so good I cannot stand it!
It is so aggressive!
I will listen to this until the day I die.
I really like this new style of pop.
It's an alright song.
I'm loving it...so hot...& already storming in airplay!!
It's official
This is the song of my life.
Gaga who?
I love it the beat is awesome and the breakdown is hot
OMG Britney is back, to grace us with her no singer ass. One of the biggest hyped entertainer on the last decade = Britney
Good Lord it's fucking amazing! Her best single in years. Period.
The beat is sick, her vocals are flawless esp. the HAZAYYY part haha, and the breakdown is just too much for me right now. Epic!
Thank you Britney for making the pop music scene exciting again!!
Hmm, it's not bad. May need a little more time to grow on me, I still like "3" and "Radar" more personally. But glad Brit's back! Now all I need is Beyonce to come back and I'll be happy music-wise throughout 2011 x]
It's an ok song.
Womanizer instantly catched me...this one...I'll have to listen to it a few times. It's kinda lame.
And the fact that the demo and the real one are almost the same, even though it's two different people singing it, shows you that vocally and musically any Britney song would be the same if any mediocre popstar out there sung it.
It's on two completely different levels. Not only with the beat/dubstep bridge to the vocals. Britney's vocals always bring the song to life. The "hayzayy" line slays me. Haha.
and the chorus is so beautiful in the midst of all that sick beat. Love iT!
Yeah that word made the entire song. Rright. Sorry I stand by my opinion.
I'm very excited for a new Britney era, she always delivers great music videos and performances.
When I first heard HIAM, I was really underwhelmed. I honestly have given it maybe 5-6 spins now to really give it a try but all I think is "It'll do for now." It's nowhere near as groundbreaking a as hit Dr. Luke and Max Martin may think it is. I'm uneasy because these two songwriters and producers have written all of the biggest hits for Pink, Kesha, Katy Perry, Avril, and Kelly Clarkson, among many others. After creating the sound for each of her contemporaries except for gaga, this lead single's sound just follows in the same steps to me. I actually think Taio Cruz could have released this song as a single. Dynamite and Dirty Picture w/ Kesha have a similar sound to me. Dr. Luke said he wanted to make good music "and she's such an amazing vehicle to getting that music out to a lot of people in every country." So I'm left a little underwhelmed and confused, we've even heard the demo and it's painfully obvious how uninvolved Britney herself was in the entire creative process here. The lyrical content here is...? I don't know whats more important at this point, having Dr. Luke and Max Martin at the helm and guiding our favorite pop stars or the pop stars themselves. There is a new york times article that attempts to express the sentiment of what it takes to write a hit song, mentioning the dominance of Luke and Martin and how hit songs have to be very simple. I don't know if Britney has many younger fans anymore, but I think her fans could handle a little more complex material at this point. These two songwriters really do deserve accolades for consistently creating commercial hits in a time when no one really buys music anymore though. Sorry for ranting, I'm sure I'll love the album when it comes out, I was just left with some questions/thoughts after I heard the single.
It's crazy how well the song is doing...reviews have been awesome...I'm so happy!
For all of you who are still stuck in 2010, Britney will be performing at the Grammy's this year. That on top of Nicki Minaj's nomination may cause me to watch this lame duck show for the first time. Rejoice.
Now I want a Dave Aude remix
Laidback Luke
Space Cowboy
Bimbo jones
Jason Nevins
And I want it now!
I was seriously hyperventiliating the first time I heard it yesterday in class. In my opinion, it's one of her best songs to date. I think it's better than Womanizer. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for the entire day. I ended up playing it over 60 times yesterday, and i'm afraid I will grow out of it. I am so excited for her, and i'm expecting her to bring the classic Britney back with amazing choreography. The song is dubstep, so.. She's been training for months for the music video, and for the Grammy's. I AM BEYOND EXCITED TO SEE WHERE SHE WILL TAKE THIS <3 I LOVE BRITNEY!
'Masterpiece'? Yeah, the song is awesome ear candy and I won't deny it that. I've listened to it dozens of times already (I'm going to alter the song and remove the vocals just for the beat alone). It's not groundbreaking...it's a simple rehash of dubstep and industrial dance that Americans are unfamiliar with. Music like this has existed for over a decade in Europe...I've been listening to it since I was in early high school. It just isn't mainstream in America.
Rep: Britney Spears Not Performing at Grammy Awards
Oh. In that case, I'm protesting.
the grammy people on twitter are announcing something that we "have been asking" or something like that. tomorrow they will reveal it. maybe she will perform. i love how all the haters are pressed. its critically acclaimed and has broken records. amazing.
love the new song. all kinds of amazing. oh and it's #01 in 17 countries already.
The hook of this song has been in my head since the official release. I thought the demo of the song was ok, but like others, sounded too much like a Kesha song. Britney's version is very much her own: it's flirtatious & sexy. Hands down one of her most praised songs since "Toxic" and rightly so. I hope she kills it with the music video.
The verses are cool, the chorus is ok, the bridge and the end are lame.
"Yo Britney, I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you be #1, but me and Jay-Z single is one of the best songs of all time!"
-- Kanye West, commenting on his song with Jay-Z, "H.A.M.", losing the #1 spot on the iTunes Singles chart to Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me", and showing all of Twitter how you turn lemons into meme-filled lemonade. (Via @kanyewest)
I thought the tweet from Kanye was funny!
LOL *sniff sniff* *sniff sniff* Do you smell that?...*sniff sniff*...Smells like, relief..and defense mechanisms... anyway, the 13th will soon be here. LOL
Jonas Akerlund will direct the HIAM music video. Britney is filming it this week :hyper:!!!!!


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Universal's 100th-anniversary celebration means the Blu-ray debuts of some of the studio's titles most-awaited for that format, and here's another, Steven Spielberg's legendary tale of a far-from-home alien and the boy (Henry Thomas) who befriends him.
The film's astronomical success also gave big boosts to phone calls home and a certain brand of candy - it's hard to believe now that the first candy company Spielberg approached turned him down - and also to the then-young screen career of Drew Barrymore. DVD extras: three "making-of" documentaries; deleted scenes. **** (PG: AS, P)
Buy ''E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial' on DVD/Blu-ray Combo.


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Poles Apart: Today's Kids Line Up to Learn About Communist Past in Poland
Best Soviet-Era Shopping Strategy Wins This Board Game; 'Chocolate-Like Product'
WARSAW—Shopping in communist Poland was a dreary gantlet of shortages, rationing lines and—if you managed to buy something—Soviet-Bloc dreck. So Karol Madaj has turned it all into a board game called Queue.
The challenge: Buy everything on your shopping list. Players wait outside empty government stores, fend off line-jumpers and haggle with black marketeers. The 40-page instruction manual warns the game may inspire "tears of exasperation" and "the gnashing of teeth."
Queue, introduced in 2011, paradoxically proved to be so popular that buyers had to stand in line for hours for one and a black market emerged.
It also inspired a competing game about frustrations of Polish shopping during the 1980s, called You Cut the Line, Sir. Publisher Jaroslaw Basalyga says his goal was to create a game "whose climate and emotions convey the absurdity of those years."
Polish kids today don't know how good they've got things. Surrounded by candy, electronics and hipster fashion, they live their parents' old dreams. So an increasing number of adults—who grew up with "chocolate-like product," lumpy vinyl "Relaks" footwear and a tiny ration of sanitized Warsaw Pact TV cartoons—are out to tell children how bad things were before Poland shed Soviet domination in 1989.
But since kids here, too, tune out finger-wagging lectures, these historians of communism face a new class struggle: The struggle to make learning history not seem like school.
Adding to the difficulty is what Karl Marx might have called a contradiction. Life under communism was grim and often dull—not the sort of stuff that grips modern kids weaned on thrills.
So postcommunist pedagogues are using children's books, graphic novels and games to inform young people about life in the People's Republic of Poland, or PRL as it is known by its Polish initials.
Writer Aneta Gornicka-Boratynska, who was born in 1971, tired of her children saying, "We know you had nothing and we have everything." So she created a children's book called "Green Oranges, or the PRL for Children." It is filled with vintage black-and-white photos and narrated by a colorful cartoon girl who explains phenomena like perennially unripe citrus fruit.
"My son can't imagine life without Lego," says Ms. Gornicka-Boratynska, whose first visit to a French hypermarket in 1990 was "like seeing something from another planet." When she was young, farm women would show up at her mother's Warsaw office selling black-market meat while government butcher shops had nothing.
"Marzi," a series of graphic novels, recounts author Marzena Sowa's childhood in the 1980s. It depicts a child's-eye view of shortages, strikes and martial law that cracked down on the Solidarity trade union. The books are popular across Europe and have been translated into English.
Fans are Poles like Joanna Kosicka, a European Union official born in 1974 who reads "Marzi" to her 8-year-old son and recounts her own tales of waking at 4 a.m. to stand in line for one kilogram of sugar. "He laughs," she says.
The success of "Marzi" has surprised Ms. Sowa, since "it's not about superheroes." Ms. Sowa started writing while studying in France, at the urging of her French boyfriend, who found her tales fascinating. He illustrates the books. Ms. Sowa, who was 10 when communism ended, now gets invited to speak to school groups about Marzi. She brings yellowing ration cards to show that the history is real. "Kids don't know how the story ends," she says.
Creating a fun way to learn about suffering under communism without making communism seem fun entails walking a fine line—even about rationing lines. Queue creator Mr. Madaj, who was born in 1980, spent a year balancing accuracy and amusement. "The first version was boring and nobody wanted to play it," he recalls.
Making communism's waning years seem silly is OK, though, since one Polish defense against Soviet oppression was mockery. An explanation of East Bloc consumerism in the Queue instruction booklet includes a poem about rationing lines with the line, "What are you in line for? Old age."
Mr. Basalyga, who developed You Cut the Line, Sir for the Polish unit of Denmark's Egmont Media Group, says that for kids today, "the battle for toilet paper or Soviet electronic games is fun in itself." The game also prompts children to ask their parents questions about the era, he says.
Maciej Gorski, who was born three years after communism ended and grew up hearing about how bad it was, finds Queue fun because of its nuttiness. "The PRL's end is an easy target of parody, and we mainly talk about it with a wink of the eye," says Mr. Gorski, who has also studied more serious history, such as Stalin's brutal imposition of communism on Poland.
Poles can laugh about the 1980s because communism ended peacefully and Poland has prospered.
"For children, sometimes it's hard to find the difference between the world of dinosaurs and the time of communism," says Konrad Piasecki, a radio announcer in Warsaw who was born in 1970. "It's all old worlds that don't exist anymore."
Mr. Piasecki says his daughters, age 12 and 17, have no problem grasping Queue's convoluted rules. "They can understand the game, but it's harder for them to understand the world of this game," he says.
Unintentionally, the game is a living example of that world because it is produced by the Polish government. The Institute of National Remembrance, a state body created in 1998 to preserve memories of Poles' struggles against Nazism and communism, gets money to produce Queue from the national budget. Overwhelming demand hasn't induced bureaucrats to fund a production increase.
"It's like under socialism," quips Andrzej Zawistowski, the institute's director of public education, who is pushing for a market-based approach. One queue for Queue formed roughly four days before sales began, he said.
The shortage of the game about shortages has even prompted angry letters from consumers for whom it brought back bad memories, says Mr. Madaj. "Some people didn't appreciate the irony."
Write to Daniel Michaels at email@example.com


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Chelsea and Arsenal have both been told to forget about signing Montpellier centre-half Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in January, reports The Sun.
The Ligue 1 champions' club president Louis Nicollin, has reacted angrily to continued speculation linking the French international with a move away in the forthcoming transfer window.
"Is there any possibility that Yanga-Mbiwa will leave in January? Absolutely not," he stressed to calciomercato.com. "We're working on extending Yanga-Mbiwa's contract.
"In any case, the only thing that's certain at the moment is that Yanga-Mbiwa won't leave in January."
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is a known admirer of the 23-year-old, and has been weighing up an attempt to lure him to the Emirates Stadium.
However, Arsenal could face direct competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea, with Roberto Di Matteo also considering a rival bid to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
With Yanga-Mbiwa's Montpellier contract set to expire at the end of the season, a host of Europe's biggest clubs are all monitoring his situation, but Chelsea and Arsenal remain the frontrunners in England for his signature.
"Are Juventus and Barcelona are also interested in Yanga-Mbiwa? To be honest, nobody has asked us about him," Nicollin added.
"I don't know if any clubs have been in contact with Yanga-Mbiwa's agent, and I honestly don't care."
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Judge orders Dodgers' Frank McCourt to pay his wife more than $637,000 a month in spousal support [Updated]
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ordered Dodgers owner Frank McCourt to pay his estranged wife, Jamie, $637,159 a month in temporary spousal support, plus lawyers' fees pending their divorce.
The amount that Judge Scott Gordon decided upon falls short of the $988,845 that Jamie McCourt requested. More than half that requested amount ($568,829), her lawyers said, is needed to pay the costs, including mortgages, of seven homes and an eighth piece of property in Mexico that are listed in her name. Her lawyers argued that spousal support should include those costs since her estranged husband used to contribute funds to the housing.
The judge specified that $412,159 of the monthly total should go to payment of costs associated with the properties, but ordered the property in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to be sold.
In the months since she made her lofty financial request, Jamie McCourt has been vilified in the court of public opinion and in the courtroom -- where her husband's attorney, Sorrell Trope, likened her to Marie Antoinette.
Both sides have agreed in court that the couple has lived lavishly -- "Every need, every want these people had was met," her attorney, Dennis Wasser said -- but they have bitterly disagreed over how Jamie McCourt should sustain that lifestyle during the divorce proceedings.
Her lawyers argued that Frank McCourt has access to $18 million annually and should not withhold from his wife the funds she needs to maintain the lifestyle that they created together.
"They were their houses and the title was just in her name," her civil attorney, Michael Kump, said of the properties after the spousal support hearing in March. "Jamie didn't go out and buy two houses in Holmby Hills and two houses in Malibu.... They bought two houses in Holmby Hills and two houses in Malibu."
Trope, on the other hand, said Frank McCourt, who is living at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, has an annual income of just $5 million, is trying to cut back and could offer his wife $150,000 a month in support.
Trope said the Dodgers franchise was not Frank McCourt's "personal piggy bank" and that Jamie McCourt should rent some of her properties to generate cash.
He also noted that Jamie McCourt had earned a $2-million salary last year as chief executive of the Dodgers. Her lawyers pointed out that she was fired from that job by her husband.
The court filings on spousal support have drawn many curious eyes eager to pore over the details of the couple's life together -- from the descriptions of their houses and their stays in the finest hotels to the personal hairstylists for both husband and wife.
But the spousal support fight is just a small part of the couple's disagreement. The bigger source of conflict -- which could have major consequences outside their marriage -- is over ownership of the Dodgers.
Frank McCourt argues that he alone owns the baseball team. Jamie McCourt says they share ownership. The trial on that issue is scheduled to begin in late August.
--Carla Hall
[Correction: A previous version of this post referred to Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon as a commissioner.]
Photo: Frank and Jamie McCourt at Dodger Stadium.
Credit: Los Angeles Times