text:
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Where I Live
Our neighbours have a coat and a broom and a gizmo for every eventuality, whether primly plucking at their window boxes or bent double over their passenger footwells in forensic search of a stray hair to snaffle through their disapproving dustbuster. A dustbuster which has its own rack nailed into the garage wall.
A sunny day such as today will bring the Seniors out in force to primp their pristine flower beds making the air dense with the thrum of lawnmowers. No Sunday morning is complete without the revving of leaf-blowers and the officious clipping of secateurs.
These are gardeners who wear gloves and have tartan kneelers. Tartan has been annexed by the elderly, and given a wipe-clean surface to boot.
The olds do an awful lot of laundry, endless sheets spin daily on the outdoor airers, interspersed with several hundred tea towels. What do they do which leads to so much washing? They have spent good time perusing the inserts in the Mail and Telegraph (the Post Office here only buys in 2 Guardians a day). They have filled in the forms and are now in grateful receipt of tool organisers and multi-pocketed aprons, trugs and trowel sets, different drawers for different nails. Therefore, they put things away properly, rather than hurling things in a corner, which means that they can safely leave their garage doors open to the cruellest of scrutinies. I know, I've peered, and it's eye-opening how other people live. Not in a whirl of chaos, nor amid a riot of half-done jobs, in desperate pursuit of another five minutes. No, what is revealed in my neighbours' garages is advert life (OAP version) and advert walls suggesting that a frenzied orgy of organisation took place one weekend resulting in A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place. Not the squalor of badly piled belongings which would constitute our garage had we not turned it into a room. This they find hard to believe.
One actually said plaintively, "Don't you want a garage?"
"Waste of space, Paul," I replied heartily, and firmly.
Our parking near to the fence running between our gardens, a fence we paid for, annoys them.
I'm surprised, frankly, that we are allowed to live here.
Our neighbours did try.
While we were on holiday last year, they ganged up and wrote us a nasty letter lamenting our skip and our vans and all the gubbins that conspires to create an extension. I was so upset that I broke a nice glass when I read it. A nice glass that just slipped from my hand in shock.
Prior to that, they'd done their damnedest to ensure we wouldn't get planning permission. The council read us all their letters.
Then we finished and they have been silenced.
Finally, our drive is nicer than their drives. Na-na-ni-na-na. Our windows are newer. Our lighting more groovy. Our front door solid and substantial. And the house is much bigger. It gleams with Lindab. Our lawn is a sward and a far cry from the Steptoe yard it was for so long. It's still a dump inside, but they can't see that and we shut the door quick, leaving them to be confronted with external Bigger and Better. My how they hate it, gnashing their teeth through the grimmest of Hello Theres and waving a trowelled fist at the sky.
God, schadenfruede's good. Revenge is sweet and best eaten with the tinge of frost that 2 years of renovation involves.
Architecturally, our village is displeasing. A long ribbon road squashed in with all the brick'n'mortar nasties that the '60s and '70s could throw at it. But every shiny car tings sparkly twinkles in the sunshine, no weed is safe and everyone chirrups Good Morning when I crash past with the dog.
We have a good pub whose every landlord (9 in 14 years, I think) does their best to squander the opportunity afforded by an affluent North Cotswold village. The newest of these refers to the "local" locals as riff-raff. He has invested in barrels and chains and takes a keen interest in monitoring what he calls The Parking Situation.
There is a post office/café/shop presided over by another mad man, this one a glum Mancunian who eye rolls for England and traps you with tales of driving to Spain with 3 dogs, 2 parrots, and a duck. "The feathers!" he breathes, "You would NOT believe!"
The shop is cluttered with tartan shopping trolleys whose owners frown that tea is a penny more expensive here than at Tesco, or tut at children fisting flying saucers and white mice into the little counting trays; lying on the floor they hinder the elderly from roaming in free-fall disapproval. There are almost as many children in the village as oldsters so it's a battle which can run and run. I got in frequently to make unnecessary purchases feeling it my duty to keep the place going. You have to factor in that buying a lemon can take 45 minutes.
And there is a most excellent primary school. A sad man tries to break in most weeks, and recently made a sorry, ham-fisted attempt to kidnap a child. The police were too busy handing out parking tickets to bother making it out here. The man waited politely for an hour or two to be arrested and then gave up and went home.
In the playing field, tucked behind the village hall, is a sub-standard play area for tinies, complete with plaque detailing the opening ceremony honours. I must have read it a thousand times and I still couldn't tell you who cut the ribbon. Ditto the dedications on the benches.
There is a petanque square, and a cricket square and grimy nets, and a big field for footie and for general hanging around on. There are trees and a stream and other fields to run to. 2 tennis courts are in the far corner where I am often to be found playing a game of chat, while admirable elderlies on the other court huff and puff and sprint and dash and then say things like, "Fancy a cuppa, Jill?" at the end of it which always makes T11 guffaw if he's lurking.
Our house is fairly horrid, and the first new house we have owned. It is, however, half hidden in a corner yet still in the middle of the village which suits my nosey needs perfectly, and ensures that I can keep up with what's what.
We shifted the driveway around deciding that being able to park a dozen cars there was kind of irrelevant, but can do nothing about pulling the rug on the house's spot in the plot. Maddeningly, we have a mere 20' strip across the back but more out the front which is a waste. You wonder about the wisdom of builders sometimes, or we do, having had massive exposure to dubious decisions.
Built about 30 years ago, it was butchered by the ruination of lazy neglect when we bought it from a batty old trout who waved her broom at our removal men, wouldn't get out and when she did, hours late, left behind a shedload of rubbish. This called for the first in a long line of skips.
Painfully, we have dragged the house into the twenty first century along with the usual uphill struggle that new ownership entails, replacing carpets and windows and doors and knocking down walls and building extensions and installing new bathrooms and kitchen and fireplace and flooring. Wires await a home cinema (we're bad with cinema audiences: rustling, chatting, crunching, texting, slurping) but we ran out of money, as dangling cables in the ceiling attest, so it's no films for us for a while.
Cash has haemorrhaged from our account. The numbers, in negative, are scary. I dare not tell the children that their inheritance has become walnut and granite.
But every day, when I walk into our gorgeous new kitchen and look out over the field at the back I could weep with gratitude. It's not a proper, magaziney view, being a mere field, although knowledgeable people impress by being able to name the hills beyond, but I love it. And a big sky we get with such a view, domed as if to keep us in one of those snowstorm things, and Disney birds bouncing from feeder to feeder lark around outside. Plus, of course, it's somewhere to sling the dog turds.
48 comments:
- nuttycow said...
I can't decide whether your village sounds like living hell or an idllyic paradise.
Please clarify ;)
- 1 April 2008 at 16:06
- the mother of this lot said...
A glum Mancunian? What a cheek! We are NEVER glum.
- 1 April 2008 at 16:14
- softinthehead said...
From here in urban Canada I must say it does sound intriguing. Here they are spoiling a not very exciting landscape along the edge of Lake Ontario with the same formula of big box stores and strip malls. I have trouble knowing which city I am in, they are becoming identical.
- 1 April 2008 at 17:33
- Potty Mummy said...
I grew up in Winchcombe. Those hills you mentioned wouldn't be the Malverns, would they? (Though not sure you would qualify as North Cotswolds if they are...)
- 1 April 2008 at 23:15
- Expatmum said...
Funny, I too walk into my kitchen every morning and almost weep at the view. This would be because months of sub zero temperatures level Chicago gardens to brown, broken stumps. Although I've lived here for 17 years, it still beggars belief that anything could grow out of them, but there are some hardy perennials that have the will. At this rate, it won't be till about late may, but by late July it will be gorgeous! Ho hum.
- 2 April 2008 at 02:44
- Edward said...
Great blog as per, though I find it rather worrying that the first I find about our parlous cash situation is on a public blogsite. The hills are indeed the Malverns, as well as May Hill (which can probably be seen from the moon, since it can be seen from pretty much everywhere else, it seems)
- 2 April 2008 at 12:08
- Cee said...
Aah English village life! We lived 5 years opposite a guy whose garage was tidier than our house and he used to pressure wash his roof tiles. We too were a focus for our elderly neighbours' tut tutting - something to do with cricket balls, rugby balls, dog barking, children laughing ...
But now my view is across a shanty town and a motorway towards the distant Rio de la Plata ... and I kind of miss those tittle tattle neighbours!
- 2 April 2008 at 14:02
- Milla said...
comment from Blossom Cottage on p/c:
Posted: 01 Apr 2008 14:19
Thank you Milla that was brilliant, you should send it to one of the Sunday Mags, its better by miles than most of the articles they manage to print.
What is it with the "Wooly tops" of middle England that makes them want to hang everthing is rows on the garage ( pronounced Garidge!) wall and mow stripes into a 5inch by 5 inch lawn. Nothing wrong with a good skip, lots of goodies put in there over night by Mr Ivor Had a Tidy.
Keep looking at the view and all your hardwork, keep fliging dog turds and enjoy the fruits of your labour, and don't forget you could always make a man trap with scatter cushions.
- 2 April 2008 at 14:35
- Milla said...
comment from Miss Penelope, p/c:
Posted: 01 Apr 2008 14:44
Lovely honest piece of writing. Reminds me why I chose never to have neighbours.
Some Olds are amazing people and it is the habitat that is the problem
- 2 April 2008 at 14:35
- Milla said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- 2 April 2008 at 14:36
- Milla said...
comment from elizabethm, p/c
Posted: 01 Apr 2008 16:28
Sounds very like where we used to live in Stockport, only without the Northern accents. I deeply envy you the walnut and granite though (and I remember that your kitchen is big enough for a sofa and bookshelves too). I agree - send it to the Observer or someone. What have you go to lose? It's just as good as anything they are printing already.
- 2 April 2008 at 14:36
- Milla said...
comment from InTheMud, p/c
Posted: 01 Apr 2008 17:28
That was great Milla!! Keep flinging them turds! So glad we don't have neighbours, even the neighbours we don't have complained about us, ( it's called a preservation society, and they don't want to preserve us I fear!) and they don't have to look into our garden and see Stan's cars unless they want to!! I know how you felt getting those letters about planning permission, been there too.
Agree with Blossom , you should be writing for Sunday paper!!
- 2 April 2008 at 14:37
- Milla said...
comment from Exmoorjane, p/c
Posted: 01 Apr 2008 19:19
Fab fab fab. But what is Lindab?
Your pub is also fabulous (at least certainly after a bottle and a half of wine) and the post office ditto......and your village absolutely NOT as horrible as you say (though I love the way you say it).
Quite agree with t'others, m'lady, you berludy well SHOULD be writing for the nationals....so (cough cough) get ON with it! Or I'll email Bill!!! (and yes, yes, yes, too many !!!!!s but have drank that bottle and a half so that's my excuse).
- 2 April 2008 at 14:38
- Milla said...
Me, clarifying:
Posted: 01 Apr 2008 19:32
Joined: 08 Jul 2007
Posts: 407
Lindab is groovy guttering. If you were fool enough to think that guttering just couldn't be groovy, well think again. It is also maintenance-free - see, am a pensioner in waiting. The village is Extremely Desirable as a place to live. Sought after is the glib phrase. But I like to deconstruct. And chocolate-box it aint since we can only rustle up maybe a dozen houses of architectural merit. What is great about it - and which possibly doesn't emerge in this, ahem, I got carried away on a tide of garage-tidy talk - is the fantastic community spirit and the way we all seem so happy and lucky and grateful to live here. Phew, quite overcome by unaccustomed Pollyanna speak.
- 2 April 2008 at 14:38
- Milla said...
comment from Mountainear, p/c
Posted: 01 Apr 2008 20:46
Well written Milla - an excellent picture of life outside the chocolate box. Incidently, I once worked with a man who described his suburb (proudly) as the sort of place where people walked by and noticed if you hadn't cut the grass properly. I imagine he was shelving out his garage even as a teenager. Made me a bit twitchy - but now as I age a little I do like to know where things are. Sigh.
Don't hear of Lindab often enough - certainly is groovy guttering. Our Lindab is the galvanised variety (that's galvanised as in old buckets). Our builder liked it so much that he's used it on all his subsequent builds. Good stuff.
- 2 April 2008 at 14:38
- Milla said...
comment from Withybrook
Posted: 01 Apr 2008 20:52
You really made me laugh, Milla - all that garage stuff - apart from 2 cars, the remaining space is so cluttered there isn't much chance of getting to our walls!
- 2 April 2008 at 14:39
- Milla said...
comment from Frances
Posted: 02 Apr 2008 01:19
Hello Milla,
Here I am late again, after the mystery of Lindab has been solved, and you have even arrived to deliver a sort of rebuttal to yourself.
I think you have a fine place, outside and quite inside, and think that you and all the rest of your family must have done some deep thinking before moving in.
But. But and but again, this piece of writing is grand, and I do agree that you should be sharing this way that you have with the words with more than the bunch of fans that you've gathered round about here.
- 2 April 2008 at 14:39
- Milla said...
comment from KittyB
Posted: 02 Apr 2008 07:09
Posts: 386
Just fabulous, dear girl, very funny, very illustrating text there. Glad you cleared up Lindab, was perplexed and feeling 'out of the loop' by not knowing. Phew. Home cinema - if you're as bad tempered as S is by wrigglers and rustlers then it will be a Good Thing once it comes, save all those furious glances from beneath deeply furrowed brows, muttering and seething. Can't be good for the digestion. Hope you manage to save up soon! If you get home cinema before I get the porch, greenhouse and skirting boards, however, I will weep copiously and noisily. Life is so unfair when you have negative funds.
- 2 April 2008 at 14:39
- Milla said...
comment from Pipany
Posted: 02 Apr 2008 09:35
Thought Lindab was someone's name - thought it was a bit odd! Great post as ever Milla xx
- 2 April 2008 at 14:40
- Milla said...
comment from Zoe
Posted: 02 Apr 2008 10:20
That made me laugh. I recognised the neighbours, do you suppose they are cloned?
I live in what is ostensibly a small hamlet a mile outside the nearest village. All my neighbours have scary garages, neat, orderly, everything in its place.
My garage which will be 19 next month has never had a car in it and resembles Bagdad after 'Shock and Awe', except I am still waiting for the looters to come and tidy it up!
Brilliant piece of writing Milla, think you should be thinking about using the pen as well as the trowel more?
- 2 April 2008 at 14:40
- Edward said...
Can only agree with the learned commenters here, and suggest in terms only marginally short of divorce proceedings that you lay down that trowel immediately and take up that pen. Oh alright, plant those laurels first. And that diarama (spelling?)
- 2 April 2008 at 15:47
- Sally's Chateau said...
It's the way you tell it, I've had a smile on my face from the first word ......
- 2 April 2008 at 17:48
- Maggie May said...
Well,We're getting on a bit but we don't sound a bit like your neighbours with tartan & masses of tea towels & sheets! Where ever do you live! Round here you have to keep up with students!
- 2 April 2008 at 20:15
- Cee said...
Thanks for stopping by Milla - nice to have some visitors!
- 2 April 2008 at 23:04
- KAREN said...
It sounds remarkably similar to where we live. Compared to everyone else round here, we're the family from hell. For a start we don't wash the car every Sunday morning. The lovely countryside makes up for a lot though :o)
- 3 April 2008 at 14:39
- LittleBrownDog said...
But, Milla - why have you not transferred my comment from p/c? Are we not friends any more? Sigh. S'pose I'll have to do it myself...
Excellent piece Milla - I'm on my way over (stopping off to pick up a shopping trolley at House of Tartan en route). Who are all these old people and did they buy everything in tartan when they were young, or did they just wake up one morning at the age of about 68 mysteriously clad in wall-to-wall Black Watch?
Our neighbours sound a bit similar (in the irritation stakes - although possibly not quite the extent of tartan), avidly attending planning meetings in the hope of being able to force someone to move their planned conservatory 4 milimetres to the right. I'm very tempted to rustle up a fake planning application notice for a helipad and small nuclear-waste storage unit to stick on our gate just to irritate them. Although I wouldn't want to be held responsible for the ensuing communal rise in blood pressure that would entail. We also have same pub situation - there was a baked potato lying sullenly in a corner for about three weeks under the previous landlord, and the new one has painted everything - yes, everything - you had to be careful if you weren't swift about finishing your pint quickly - in primrose yellow, and refused to serve my friend's 21-year-old son home from university on the grounds that he wasn't a local.
- 3 April 2008 at 22:34
- The Country Craft Angel said...
Wonderful piece of writing Milla!
And you know what I will say about sending it off to the papers, don't you...
(CCA raises eye brow, crosses arms and drums fingers...)
- 5 April 2008 at 14:58
- Her on the Hill said...
I have a dustbuster but it doesn't have it's own nail on the garage wall. Instead it hangs around untidily on one of the extraordinarily messy surfaces in the utility room. Bloody thing never works properly anyway - couldn't suck up dandelion clocks if it tried. Not that I have, of course. That would be an odd activity. However, could be rather well suited to your neighbours? I can just see them all out there on their lawns with their dustbusters trying to tidy the place up...
The most tragic thing about my dustbuster is the fact that my husband bought it for me as a Christmas present. Ah, yes, romance is truly dead.
- 5 April 2008 at 15:26
- Maggie May said...
There's an award waiting at my place, Milla!
- 7 April 2008 at 21:09
- Sara said...
Greetings, Milla....just want to send a big "thank you" for identifying that "heart" tree I found yesterday! I did not have any idea what it was until this morning when I say your comment, and also Vicki's, who called it a redbud tree.
I added an update to my post thanking both of you for the info.
I just read this post of yours....you paint vivid pictures with your words....I'll be back to read more later. It's a somewhat different view on village life than what I am used to reading (being a reader of Miss Read and others, I have of course glamorized and romanticized English village life, which seems idyllic from this side of the pond and this crowded, chaotic Los Angeles area!)
- 8 April 2008 at 16:01
- Sara said...
How interesting about your mom...well I do have a bit of English ancestry going back a ways (and German and French and Irish), perhaps there's a distant ancestor we both look like!
- 8 April 2008 at 16:33
- muddyboots said...
this is really brilliant, if I say so myself, next time l'm down there visiting friends and family l will see the area in a completely new light!
- 8 April 2008 at 19:10
- Milla said...
comment transferred from p/c:
Unpeuloufoque Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:49 am
Excellant writing as ever Milla and a stern reminder to me a, why I do not have neighbours, and b, why my house will never look like a room in an Ikea catalogue let alone something more up market. It is the stains from repetitive bank account heamoragging that leaves stains on the lino that no amount of liberal application of Euros will ever rinse clean I fear!!
- 8 April 2008 at 19:51
- Milla said...
Comment transferred from p/c:
Tattie Weasle Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:34 am
Quite Brilliant! The "run out of money and I've squandered your inheritance" problem...learning all about that one and have a few plots and plans in mind to alleviate teh problem. First I am now promoting The Boy and The Littlest as suitable charity projects towards their grandparents, who insist on SKIing in a variety of exotic and far flung places for months at a time. And second, I am also in the process of wooing my childless Uncle & Aunt with promises of a tartan like existence with me at their beck and call when they pass the age of retirement (actually that's not for the boys but so I can get the electrician in to tidy up all those dripping wires.....)
- 8 April 2008 at 19:52
- Milla said...
COmment transferred from p/c:
Withy Brook Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:44 pm
As Grandparents who don't ski but do travel in exotic places - you and the grandchildren will have to wait
- 8 April 2008 at 19:52
- Milla said...
Comment transferred from p/c:
Fennie Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:56 pm
Great piece of writing, Milla. Loved it and the - so well-observed - pictures of the oldies, of whom I am almost one myself, though I don't do tartan, nor hooks and in fact I think you would approve of my disorganisation, though I try to pretend otherwise. Part of my family decamped to Cirencester in the 1970s and I was exposed to Gloucestershire in its full fury. Ever since I have tried to avoid the place and wince slightly when I have to go back - the last time - I remember was for a wedding. Still, thanks for cheering me up and hope you will be a civilising influence on the natives or else move to a less respectable part of the world.
- 8 April 2008 at 19:54
- Milla said...
Comment transferred from p/c:
well written old fruit. always knew North Cotswold villages were not really as pretty as the magazines made out; think perhaps your specs should be handed out to all potential incomers with pots of money, shame when locals can't afford to buy, reading your posting could just put them off, did you hear about the man with the gun & dogs walking through the village a few years ago, that really did upset the mums at school!
- 8 April 2008 at 19:54
- Milla said...
comment transferred from p/c
Faith Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:37 pm
Brill Milla thanks and yes, the feathers, yes I would believe!!
- 8 April 2008 at 19:55
- Milla said...
comment transferred from p/c:
Snailbeachshepherdess Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:43 pm
Neighbours eh? Who'd have 'em? Can I trade you a really nasty piece of work for one of yours? S'pose I could start slinging dog turds...mmm have to think on that one....
Brilliant writing Milla hope CL pop in to read and see what they missed!
- 8 April 2008 at 19:55
- Milla said...
Comment transferred from p/c:
Bodran Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:05 pm
Great a turd slinging partner My dads lady friend as one of them garages with curtains and rolled up hoses , Very boring and bedding plants..Arghhhh.. oops but my best mate as to and shes only 44 as to wear blinkers when she comes here..xx
- 8 April 2008 at 19:56
- Milla said...
Comment transferred from p/c:
Westerwitch Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:09 pm
Oh Milla - lovely read and it does remind me again why I live so far out of our local village and as if the dog incidents hadn't already reinforced it for me why I don't want neighbours. Although Lixtrol and Humpty are a wonderful exception.
Admire your honesty, but also glad that you do like where you live. How do you survive such awful neighbours though. We went through the bit with locals when we lived down South trying to stop our planning permission . . .barstewards. They failed too . . . two fingers up. Smug.
- 8 April 2008 at 19:56
- Milla said...
Comment transferred from p/c:
Pondside Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:50 am
I want to walk along the streets in your village! This post is great, Milla! I think that Victoria is populated with people who came originally from your village - one of the reasons for our move to the woods. I find those neat garages very depressing- the only time I ever had one was when we were selling a house - as soon as the 'sold' sign went up the junk exploded all over the garage!
- 8 April 2008 at 19:57
- CAMILLA said...
Milla darling girl, loved it loved it, brilliant piece of writing.
Have a neighbour who soon as a single blade of grass sprouts up from the ground, there he is in full regalia complete with mower and industrial power clippers ready to get one out of their cosy bed at the crack of dawn.
Think you should combine your possible new career of Garden Designs with writing for The Times Milla, another amazing blog.
- 10 April 2008 at 00:59
- The Lehners in France said...
Your neighbours sound just like ours. Everytime we visit we feel like Tom and Barbara off "The Good Life. I also had a neighbour in the UK who asked my builder to move his van as it was in the way. When he said it couldn't be his, as his was in the field behind the house, she replied "yes I know it's spoiling my view." She also accused my plumber of blocking her toilet! How I ask? Dish Served Cold springs to mind. I@m glad I found your blog it's fun. I read this post coz coo (spelt cul in French) is arse. If you visit my blog and go to the label "bum" You'll see I too had a Purple Cul. Debs
- 14 April 2008 at 16:31
- The Lehners in France said...
Ok I'm removing the marbles from my gob as I speak, if Mancunians are glum, does that make me a gobby scouser? Ok back to purplecoo. If you say coo (spelt cul,but pronounced coo)to a French person you are saying arse. Example Cul de sac = arse of the bag. Tell that to anyone posh who lives in a cul de sac. So when I saw your heading purplecoo, I thought "purple arse, I must read this." Now do you get it. If you go to my blog and hit the lable "BUM" you will see why it caught my attention. Wow, this must be one of the longest comments I've posted. Debs
- 14 April 2008 at 16:57
- The Lehners in France said...
Definitely not me is P/C a real place name?
- 14 April 2008 at 17:16
- DevonLife said...
made me laugh out loud Milla, ha ha there i go again frightening the chldren
- 18 April 2008 at 17:32
- ric said...
- 22 August 2009 at 16:32


text:
Manchester City are ready to scupper Arsenal's move for Barcelona striker David Villa after it was confirmed Mario Balotelli would be returning to Serie A.
Citizens boss Roberto Mancini confirmed on Tuesday night that the 22-year-old would be heading to AC Milan, with the deal likely to be completed at some point on Wednesday.
Now, according to The Mirror, the Premier League champions are eyeing up a bid for Villa, who has been consistently linked with a switch to the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger effectively admitted his desire to sign the Spain international on Tuesday when he claimed the Camp Nou club had no interest in selling.
However, there have been reports on Wednesday that the Emirates Stadium outfit will make a last-ditch attempt to lure Villa to north London.
Arsenal's chances of signing Villa will be reduced significantly if Manchester City become involved in the transfer and it turns into a bidding war, as it will be a war they can only lose.
The report claims Mancini wants to take his quota of senior strikers back up to four after the departure of Balotelli and is ready to bid £15million for Villa.
City signed the controversy attracting forward for £22million from Inter Milan in 2010 and it has taken numerous incidents for Mancini to lose patience with him.
The pair had a training ground bust up in early January and the Mirror report claims this was the last straw for the Etihad Stadium hierarchy, prompting them to engineer his sale.
David Villa has international teammates at both clubs, with Santi Cazorla at Arsenal and David Silva starring for Manchester City.
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms

subset: commoncrawl


text:
2002 Football
Carlin B. Carpenter story goes to AP
Associated Press features Carpenter in weekly previewSeptember 11, 2002
The following article appeared in Ohio media outlets state-wide last Friday as part of the weekly Associated Press weekend preview series.
Bluffton coach Carpenter carries a clipboard and a tuneBy ANDY RESNIK
Associated Press Writer
September 6, 2002
|Head Coach Carlin Carpenter was featured in an Associated Press weekly preview article
last week (Sept. 6).
Bluffton football coach Carlin Carpenter knows more than Xs and Os. Also included in his playbook are Do, Re and Mi.
"This year we had an officials' meeting with the league and he was the entertainment," said Greg Pscodna, the coach at rival Defiance. "He got up and sang and got a standing ovation."
Carpenter, who also plays the guitar, has a favorite song: "A Five Pound Box of Cheese." He performed the novelty tune years ago at a coaches' convention in Dallas and won an all-expenses paid trip for two to Nashville, Tenn.
"I can be serious when I want to be, but life is too short to be serious all the time," Carpenter said.
Maybe there's something to that. No current Ohio college football coach has been at their school longer than Carpenter. Year 24 begins Saturday when the Beavers play at Marietta.
"It just means I'm old," the 64-year-old Carpenter said when asked about being the dean of his profession in Ohio.
"Probably the only thing it means is we've got a good administration because they probably could have fired me a few times. The first few years, it was very lean. We were 0-9 and 1-8 a few times."
Things are much better now. The Beavers won a share of the Heartland Conference title in 2000 and ended last season by spoiling Defiance's bid to go undefeated in league play.
Most of Carpenter's top players return this season including tailback Jovan Johnson, who rushed for 1,096 yards over the final eight games last year and earned first-team All-Heartland Conference honors.
Though excited about the chance at having a successful season, Carpenter said he's not driven by winning.
"As I get older, I try to put things in perspective," said Carpenter, also an avid fisherman. "We like to win, but it's not the end of the world if you lose."
So the coach who has a 100-118-1 career record has made some changes in recent years. He only meets with assistant coaches on Monday and Tuesday nights so the members of his staff can spend more time with their families.
Carpenter didn't like being away from his wife Sharon and daughters Kelly and Jill during his six years as an assistant coach at Ohio and four more with Marshall before coming to Division III Bluffton in 1979.
"I've slept in the office before. That's dumb," said Carpenter, who also is Bluffton's athletic director and an assistant professor of health, physical education and recreation.
Sometimes, it even seems like Carpenter is more interested in what's going on at Defiance, Pscodna said. Carpenter graduated from Defiance in 1964 and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1988.
"As an alum he says, 'You better win or I'll get you fired,'" said Pscodna, starting his seventh year in charge of the Yellow Jackets.
Stability has reigned with the Bluffton football program since Carpenter took over. Not only has Carpenter spent parts of four decades at the school, there has been little turnover with his staff. Offensive coordinator Greg Brooks has been with Carpenter since the coach's second season.
What could be his greatest accomplishment is about 60 of Carpenter's former players are coaching at some level including Mike Kelly, an offensive assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.
"You never know what kind of influence you're going to have on a person," Carpenter said.


text:
Early cast-metal car number plate letter 'O' or 'zero'
One of a large batch of letters and numbers used on mid-century car number plates, all with bevelled edges and mounting dowels at the back, the surfaces weathered and worn to an attractive, subdued patina – some letters completely dull, some with a little shine left. To be selected at random. 9cm high x 0.25cm
See all letters currently in stock
Price: SOLD
Delivery to Mainland UK: 5.00 GBP
(Free for orders over £25)
Europe: 5.50 GBP
Rest of World: 6.50 GBP


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This article is a travel topic
Travellers usually wish to respect the people, culture and environment they are visiting. There are some general guidelines that help to show respect at most destinations. Accordingly, these guidelines do not need to be repeated in the destination guides.
Many people are happy to talk about politics and religion and their viewpoints. But these topics must always be approached carefully by visitors, and many people just think it easier to avoid these subjects altogether.
Some people in all cultures find swearing offensive, and it usually varies between people at a destination. Sometimes it differs by region, sometimes by gender. Take your cues from the individuals you are talking to at the time, or simply don't swear to avoid the possibility of offence. At your destination people might use language or words that you find offensive, but which they may not.
Jokes that mention race, jokes in bad taste, or about disasters or terrorist attacks are best avoided. You can often hear locals making jokes of this genre, but somehow the jokes aren't quite as funny and can be offensive when told be a visitor.
Deprecating comments
Some criticism of local government and other local institutions is common at most destinations. However, when this criticism comes from a visitor there is always the risk that the same criticism will be taken personally. Offence can occur even if all the visitor does is agree with the criticisms made by a resident.
Symbols of a country, such as the flag or head-of-state, or even the captain of the local sporting team, can be legitimate subject of discussion and derision for locals, but can easily cause offence if similar comments are made by a visitor.
Local sensitivities
Areas often have local sensitivities, due to historical conflicts and local rivalries. It can be insulting to refer to a smaller neighbouring independent country or region as part of a larger neighbouring one, best to be aware, and be accurate. Some regions have disputed territories, and even if the governments have reached agreement, people can have strong opinions.
There are stereotypes about most nations and cultures. Most people in the destination you are visiting are almost always aware of the stereotype, and will have heard the joke before.
Regardless of the legal position at destinations, public nudity is generally only acceptable in designated locations.
In many countries beachwear is just for the beach. Avoid wearing beachwear away from the beach, unless you see local cues that it is okay.
Sacred places
Sacred places include constructed religious sites, cemeteries, tombs and memorials, and land significant to indigenous culture. Some of these sites are interesting destinations for travellers.
Access to some of these sacred places can be restricted entirely, or even restricted to people of a certain religion or gender, and these restrictions should be observed.
Conservative dress is usually appropriate. Hushed voices, or even silence while visiting. Appropriately acknowledging shrines or religious symbols.
The volumes of visitors to sites of environmental significance can often threaten the environment they came to see. In natural environments, stay to the walkways, don't make new tracks, don't remove natural features.
Taking pictures of people requires sensitivity. Photography of people as part of scene is generally okay. Photography of people involved in an attraction is generally okay also. Whether legally permitted or not, it is best to obtain permission to photograph individuals going about their daily life. Sometimes this can just take the form of a smile while pointing at your camera. In some countries it is common for someone being photographed in this way to ask for money.
See also


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Difference between revisions of "Luis Fernando Lopez"
|Line 19:
|Line 19:
|nationality = Dominican-American
|nationality = Dominican-American
|family = [[Adriana Yanira Lopez]] (mother)
[[Mr Lopez|Unnamed father]]
[[Ernesto Lopez]] (brother)
[[Leta Lopez-Wilkinson]] (sister)
|family = [[Adriana Yanira Lopez]] (mother)
[[Mr Lopez|Unnamed father]]
[[Ernesto Lopez]] (brother)
[[Leta Lopez-Wilkinson]] (sister)
|affiliations = [[Northwood Dominican Drug Dealers]] (formerly)
[[Anthony Prince]]
[[Ancelotti Family|The Ancelotti crime family]] (formerly)
[[Ray Bulgarin]] (formerly)
[[Yusuf Amir]]
[[Mori Kibbutz]] (formerly)
[[
|affiliations = [[Northwood Dominican Drug Dealers]] (formerly)
[[Anthony Prince]]
[[Ancelotti Family|The Ancelotti crime family]] (formerly)
[[Ray Bulgarin]] (formerly)
[[Yusuf Amir]]
[[Mori Kibbutz]] (formerly)
[[Lupisella ]] (unknown)
|vehicles = Golden [[Super Drop Diamond]]
Golden [[Buzzard]]
(gifts from [[Yusuf Amir]])
Burgundy [[F620]] (pictured in the trailer)
|vehicles = Golden [[Super Drop Diamond]]
Golden [[Buzzard]]
(gifts from [[Yusuf Amir]])
Burgundy [[F620]] (pictured in the trailer)
|businesses = Bodyguard of Tony Prince
Nightclub bouncer
Nightclub co-manager
|businesses = Bodyguard of Tony Prince
Nightclub bouncer
Nightclub co-manager
Revision as of 21:12, 31 May 2010
|Luis Fernando Lopez
Luis Fernando Lopez in GTA The Ballad of Gay Tony.
[[Appearance::Grand Theft Auto IV
The Lost and Damned
The Ballad of Gay Tony]]
|Full Name
|Luis Fernando Lopez
Lou Lou
Mr. Bigshot
Captain Downtown
|Date of Birth
|Place of Birth
|Northwood, Liberty City
|Age Now
|Galveston Ave, North Holland, Liberty City
Adriana Yanira Lopez (mother)
Unnamed father
Ernesto Lopez (brother)
Leta Lopez-Wilkinson (sister)
|Main Affiliations
Northwood Dominican Drug Dealers (formerly)
Anthony Prince
The Ancelotti crime family (formerly)
Ray Bulgarin (formerly)
Yusuf Amir
Mori Kibbutz (formerly)
Lupisella Family (unknown)
Golden Super Drop Diamond
Golden Buzzard
(gifts from Yusuf Amir)
Burgundy F620 (pictured in the trailer)
Bodyguard of Tony Prince
Nightclub bouncer
Nightclub co-manager
|Voiced by
|Mario D'Leon
{{infobox character
|name = Luis Fernando Lopez
|image = LuisFernandoLopez-TBOGT.jpg
|size = 200px
|caption = Luis Fernando Lopez in GTA The Ballad of Gay Tony.
|games = [[Grand Theft Auto IV]]
Luis Fernando Lopez is a character in the GTA IV era, appearing in Grand Theft Auto IV, Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned and Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, in which he is the protagonist. In the game, he is Gay Tony's 25-year old bodyguard and business associate (making Luis the youngest of Grand Theft Auto IV's three protagonists).
Luis is of Dominican descent, born and raised in Northwood by his mother Adriana Yanira Lopez, with his brother Ernesto Lopez and his sister Leta Lopez-Wilkinson. His father was a US Marine who abandoned them while they were young. He was raised by his mother, who also had a notable role in the upbringing of Luis' childhood (and current) best friends, Armando Torres and Henrique Bardas. He also grew up with Oscar Gomez and Alonso Gomez, Teddy Benavidez and Willy Valerio, older kids by three years, ushered most of the neighborhood kids into drug dealing. During a drug war, Henrique mentions that Luis used to rap while Henrique "layed down" the beat. Henrique claims that Luis was a poor rapper because people used to laugh at him when he would rap. He was also scrawnier in those years, as Armando and Henrique recall.
When Luis was 17, in 1999/2000, he went to juvenile hall for two years, because he shot a teacher who felt up his sister. Curiously, this does not appear on his criminal record. Not long after his release in 2001, he had been arrested again for Grand Theft Auto. This likely coincides with him taking the blame for a crime commited by Armando and Henrique (neither of whom were caught) and going to prison. During this stint, also two years, he got his current physique by fighting inmates off to keep himself from getting raped or killed. His brother and sister, however, both left Liberty City and started stable lives, with a spouse, children and homes in different small-town suburbs.
Luis is similar in a sense to fellow GTA protagonists Carl Johnson and Vic Vance, in the sense that they are both minorities from poor neighborhoods who wish to live legitimately and are frustrated by repeatedly finding themselves in criminal situations. Specifically, all three are very reluctant to sell drugs.
Luis got in police trouble a third time in 2003, for Assault, but avoided prison. This likely coincides with Luis was being arrested alongside Oscar Gomez and Willy Valerio - the LCPD goes on for years thinking Luis is still closely connected to them, while in fact this was one of their last times together.
Young adulthood and meeting "Gay Tony" Prince
In 2005 when Luis was 22, his life changed when he accepted a job from "Gay" Tony Prince to be a bouncer at Hercules, and it wouldn't take long for Tony and Luis to see each other as a sort of father-and-son pair. He cut all remaining ties with his old gang (except Armando and Henrique as friends), and paid his supposed last visit to an illegal cage fighting ring (though he would return). By working for Gay Tony his life became much more positive, and while he lost respect with old friends who saw him as a yuppie, he was introduced to much more money and glamour. Tony once paid Luis to take helicopter-flying lessons for business purposes (as shown from his Higgins Helitours piloting certificate in his apartment, as well as the Club Management mission with Bruce Spade). Unfortunately, Tony was in debt to several loaners across the city such as Mori Kibbutz and Ancelotti member Rocco Pelosi. Lopez also worked casually with the multi-billionaire real estate developer Yusuf Amir. He also worked for Ray Bulgarin, who would later attempt to murder Luis and Tony.
Sex life
Because of his role as a celebrity nightclub bouncer, Luis has the opportunity to socialize and even have casual sex with famous, beautiful women. Some people mentioned during the game that Luis has a little penis. It's unproved, but this blame comes from his lovers, and he gets angry when somebody else talks about that. Gracie occasionally teases Luis and suggests that he is a closeted homosexual. It's perhaps notable that Luis seems to have a slight pattern towards brunettes.
He had been linked romantically to:
- Carmen Ortiz: A Bohan woman that Luis was involved with and calls "nasty", probably before his glamorous days as a club bouncer (because Henrique Bardas was also involved with her). In an eerie coincidence, she is a potential girlfriend for Niko Bellic and once dirty danced with Elizabeta Torres at one of her house parties.
- Daisie Cash-Cooze: A British socialite living in Liberty City, who once slept with Luis and avoided him afterwards, even though Luis contacted her a few times. She later recruits his help when a famous actor that she cheated on her boyfriend with, Chris Hunt, is about to humiliate her. Although Hunt releases a compromising sex tape to millions of viewers, Daisie happily marries her boyfriend despite the affair.
- Dani Lupisella: Daughter of the Lupisella mafia don, who threatened to have her father "chops his balls off" if or when the relationship ended. During "Blog This!...", Luis tells Gracie Ancelotti, who is interested in him, that he will not date mob daughters because of the experience.
- Joni: A close co-worker of Luis' at Maisonette 9, who will sometimes give Luis blowjobs and even sex in the surveillance room and later complain in stride about Luis having a tiny penis. It's mostly implied that they have a friends-with-benefits relationship, but if Luis has sex with a woman in Maisonette 9's bathroom (see below), Joni will scream at him for breaking her heart.
- Margot: A mentally unstable ex-girlfriend who attempts to kill herself two times over Luis. The first time she uses painkillers and sleeping pills, and then a second time she jumps from a two to three story pier and actually dies. Luis disperses the area before attracting any attention.
- Monique: The two were dating beforehand, until Luis was caught sleeping with her roommate. In the mission Boulevard Baby, she recognizes him and she hooks up with him all over again. She is caught red-handed by her boyfriend Vic (owner of Bahama Mamas) who was been thought to be out of town.
- Monique's roommate (see above)
- Poppy Mitchell: One of several famous people Luis has had casual sex. When asked about having sex with celebrities by Cloe Parker (who was drunk and advancing on him), he says it's just like normal sex, except they look at themselves in the mirror.
- The player has the opportunity to dance and have sex with random women at Maisonette 9.
- In a similar fashion, he has rigorous sex with an Unnamed Asian Woman in the Maisonette 9 bathroom, right before Monique in "Boulevard Baby".
Mission appearances
- The Lost and Damned
During the missions Not So Fast and Ladies Half Price, you can go back and kill Johnny Klebitz, Packie McReary or Niko Bellic. Though this does cause the mission to fail, the characters have a ton of health and will revive to continue running to the exit. Luis' physique also changes just slightly in each DLC.
LCPD Database information
- Surname: Lopez
- First name: Luis Fernando
- Age: 25
- Place of birth: Liberty City
- Affiliations: Known Associate of "Gay" Tony Prince.
- Criminal record:
- 2001 - Grand Theft Auto
- 2003 - Assault
- Notes:
- Northwood resident of Dominican descent.
- Works as a bodyguard for Tony Prince, streetname - Gay Tony.
- Also works as a doorman at Prince's nightclubs Maisonette 9 and Hercules in Lower Algonquin.
- Linked to several Northwood drug dealers from an early age and known to be involved in the illegal street-fighting scene.
- In the GTA IV mission Three Leaf Clover, Niko can kill Luis when he is amongst the hostages in the bank, although this has no effect on the storyline.
- If Niko responds negatively to the e-mail "Brucie Owns Reality. Bro!", Niko writes: "There are more important things in life than being a celebrity or having good abs. You've been spending too much time fluffing the bouncer at the Maisonette 9", which could be referring to Luis, but also Dessie as well, however, Brucie does try coming onto Luis at one point.
- Luis is an official licensed helicopter pilot, explaining how he is able to operate choppers; he took a Higgins Helitours weekend crash course, and has a certificate of completion hanging on the wall next to his bedroom in his Northwood Apartment. Based on comments made by Luis during the missions Sexy Time and Ladies' Night, and Armando during a Drug War, Tony is the one who paid for it.
- During the friend activities, Armando and Henrique mention that Luis was always a terrible darts and pool player.
- If you look closely, Luis has his name tattooed onto his neck, although it is partially been covered by his clothing.
- In GTA IV, Niko Bellic can purchase Luis's white tennis shoes at Modo.
- It can be assumed that Luis can and likes to cook judging by the multiple pairs of pots, pans, and cutlery in his kitchen.
- When you're drinking at the bar, Luis blacks out after 8 shots.
- Luis' physique is more muscular in TBoGT, his face is more detailed, and he has white sneakers instead of the black ones seen in GTA IV and TLAD.
- Luis and Niko Bellic have crossed paths three times. Once during the bank robbery, where both were unaware of the other even being there. Secondly, in the museum where Luis interupts the diamond deal with Isacc Roth, which is the first time Niko takes note of him, and the first time Luis sees Niko's face. Finally, they exchange words during the diamond exchange where Niko and Packie return Gracie to Tony and Luis. It is unclear if Luis recognized Niko or not from the museum, as he doesn't say anything regarding this. Niko, however does remember Luis crashing the diamond deal, as he calls Roman to explain how "this Dominican-looking guy" appeared both times.
- Whenever Luis uses his phone during a cutscene, it is always a black one, instead of his regular, in-game gray phone.
Murders committed
- Frickie Van Hardenburg - murdered when his yacht is been destroyed, in 'Sexy Time'.
- Tahir Saeed - murdered for tipping off the cops to get Yusuf "out of the picture", in 'High Dive'.
- Ahmed Khalil - Luis makes an attacking gesture towards Ahmed, purposely causing him to fall from the Rotterdam Tower, in 'High Dive'.
- Vic Manzano - murdered for assaulting Monique and attempting to shoot Luis in the mission Boulevard Baby.
- Mori Green - murdered in the Libertonian in order to retrieve the diamonds, during the cutscene in Not So Fast.
- Marki Ashvilli - murdered on orders from Ray Bulgarin, during the mission Dropping In....
- Vince - murdered to intimidate Rocco Pelosi and rescue Anthony Prince, during the cutscene in Party's Over.
- Timur - killed for threatening the lives of Luis and Tony, during the mission Departure Time.
- Ray Bulgarin - killed for threatening and attempting to murder Luis and Tony, during Departure Time.
- Optional
- Mr. Santo – can also be killed for attempting to attack Luis with a blade, when Luis refuses to take a dive in a fight to pay off his mother's loan, in the mission Momma's Boy.
- The Union Official - in the mission Practice Swing can be killed, there is alternate dialogue, and it has no affect on the main story after that.


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|5th November 2006, 03:13 AM
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 27
Acid ?'s for OLA
Hi Ola,
Just wondered if you could help make up my mind?
I have an 80 Acid '05 in wood which I love but I have now lost some weight - I now weigh 82 - 85 kilos naked in the morning as opposed to 90 odd when I bought it! - sailing 3.7 upwards on the sea - Tarifa mainly. Looking to enjoy more chop eating, serious jumping & speed - and go into the waves in the winter...
I cannot decide whether or not to buy a PA68 '07 and keep my 80 or buy a PA74 07 and sell the 80.
3.7, 4.2 & 4.7 sail sizes only for one board and 20 & 22 fins. From 5.0 upwards I have a FSW...
Having been reading Boards magazine in recent months it seems that board width is critical and if I bought a 74 it would be 0.5cm wider than my 80 '05 @ 54cm - how would this work out when I want to change down a board size?
And would the 68 be too small for my weight? Particularly on a 4.7?
Any more info on the spiralling vee concept? I have not seen a magazine review of these new boards yet. Why is that?
Thanks in advance...
|7th November 2006, 04:28 AM
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,191
RE: Acid ?'s for OLA
Hi Marksw.
I believe that if you weight over 80, you will have all the control you need with an PureAcid 74. Lots of wind often mean gusty conditions and usually too smalll a board will not make life easier. The PA68 will be very small and even the PA 74 is not exactly big for 80-85 kilos. If you're thinking of keeping the 80, I would do so and get a PA74 and then, if the 80 becomes redundant, sell it.
The Spiraling v bottom is just wonderful. Both on Kombats and PAs is makes the board turn like on rails. On a back foot turn it doens't do much, but when you engage the front rail it really help keep the board carving. Truly sensational, if you ask me. The PAs also feel very directional and secure in a straightline, and you can load them up through the fin in a kind of freerideish way if you like.
For the PA74, you'll get an excellent Drake Natural 22 G10 fin. This fin actually has got a huge range, I even used it with a 3.5 today. It sails kind of small but will still be enough for 4.7 too. So, for the conditions you describe, I think the standard fin will work great.
As for Boards and width: I would say their theories work as a rule of thumb, but there is a fair magin of error in it. Actully, your acid 80 is a good example of a board that is not so well characterised by width (the A74 from the same year even more so) since it has an unusually paralell outline and therefore kind of sails a bit wider than it is. The PA74 is definitely a one class smaller board, despite it being a tad wider. BTW, we tested a narrower proto for the PA74, but the production shape was a hands down winner. Its a beautiful ride that I think will serve you very well.
|8th November 2006, 09:06 AM
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 32
RE: Acid ?'s for OLA
Hi Ola,
I'm interested in some feedback on the merits of Evo 62 v PA68 for use as a general high wind board (4.5m or stronger). It would be used both for bump and jump and on-shore wave riding, obviously water state is usually pretty frantic in these winds - I'm after something that is easier to control than my Evo 74 or Fanatic Freewave 78 in very strong wind. Love the slashiness of the Evo but sometimes wish it had a little more upwind drive, although in the intended conditions for the small board keeping upwind is usually no problem.
This size range of boards never seems to get tested by the mags (for what that is worth anyway). I weigh 68kg. Some feedback on the concept of the PA 68 would be interesting - just down the line or more allround?
|8th November 2006, 01:50 PM
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,191
RE: Acid ?'s for OLA
It seems like a straightforward question: which one of EVO 62 and PA68 has the best high wind control? In practice I would say it depends a lot on the rider and what you mean by control.
The PA68 has a lot more fin drive and is more directional. This means you can load up the backfoot and just "drive on". Generally most people will assiciate this feel with good control.
The E62 is a bit bouncier and get smacked around a bit more. It does not have the same well definied feel in a straightline. On the other hand the combination of the short length, round outline and the bottom shape makes it super forgiving. So, if you just keep the power on and don't mind the board getting kicked around a bit, the EVO62 is actually an amazing high wind board. When you get into the range where the board starts to get seriously blown around (powered 4.0 and 3.5), the EVO is in my opinion easier to handle.
For cross on and 4.5 conditions, you can tune the upwind drive on the E62 a lot with a bigger fin. I've tested around abit and the Drake 24 starts to make the board a bit to hesitant in the turns. But the 23 and 22 both improve upwind drive and straighline performance in general over the standard 21. So, complementing the 21 with a 23 would definitely widen the sweet spot of the board. The E62 actually also feel a bit faster than the 74 to start with, and I like it a lot for onshore stuff.
The PA68 is a very fast board which feel great for powered up B&J. Its definitely not only for down the line stuff but can be super fun on cross onshore too. It does have stiffer rocker though. In kind of "semi good" conditions bot EVO and acid will let you do whatever, with just a bit of different feel, but when it either get slower, more onshore etc or good to the point where you reach your own limits as a sailor, which board you have under your feet will start to dictate what you can do. On super slow stuff (slow onshore etc), the PA68 will need a fair bit of sail drive to be able to push though the bottom turn with enough speed. In the same conditions the EVO (despite being small) just rip and hit the lip super easy. In really fast conditions, the stiffness of the PA68 will also be felt and while its amazingly secure in the bottom turn, you again start to feel that it wants to do more drawn out turn on the wave. The E62 gets a bit "less well definied" in the bottom turn but _if_ you can handle this it also gives you more option when going up the wave (its more loose if you like).
As you may suspect, I can pretty much go on forever describing the two boards, but in the end both of them are very all round and very good boards. Both will be great in lots of wind. you just have to decide if you're after the directional and "carve like on rails" feel of the PA68 or the looser feel of the E62.
For what its worth, I would choose the E62 for pretty much anything, but thats me. And that does not mean I don't like riding the PA68, because I really do. It's just that the EVO fit my style better. That said, teh PA68 is a more natural freerider and if you only do some occasional front side riding, the PA68 is probably the most natural choice even if you like the EVO style.
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KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – No. 8 Georgia College had four golfers within a stroke of par and stand tied for fifth at plus-three after Monday's round one at the Kiawah Island Invitational, hosted by USC Aiken.
Played on the 6,875-yard, par-72 Cougar Point Golf Course, the Bobcats carded a first-round 291, tied with Newberry College and St. Thomas Aquinas for fifth place in the 19-team field.
Junior Bryan Fox (Roswell, Ga.) is tops on the team at even par, posting a 72, good for 17th.
A trio of Bobcats came in a single stroke behind Fox, as seniors Patrick Garrett (Kennesaw, Ga.), Taylor Smith (Mansfield, Ga.) and sophomore Ryan Trocchio (Norcross, Ga.) all came in at one-over.
Junior Victor Monte (Chantilly, Va.) rounded out the team with an 80.
No. 12 University of North Alabama owns the team lead at eight-under, a single stroke ahead of No. 5 USC Aiken. The Bobcats are ahead of three nationally-ranked squads in No. 21 Georgia Southwestern State University, No. 22 Barton College and No. 23 Armstrong.
North Alabama senior Ricky Stimets posted the round of the day on Monday, carding a six-under 66. Three players are currently tied for second behind Stimets at 68.
The second and final round gets underway tomorrow, Sept. 18. Monte will tee off at 10:50 a.m. with golfers from Newberry and Coker College.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/BobcatSports and www.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.


text:
Season two appearance.
Steven Bailey, who plays Joe the bartender on "Grey's Anatomy," will be appearing on the second season of Shonda Rhimes' newest series, "Scandal," according to TV Line. There are no details about his character, length of stay, or whether or not he will continue to be seen as Joe on "GA." Stay tuned!
Soaps.com congratulates Bailey on his latest gig!
Read about Tina Majorino guest-starring on Grey's Anatomy.
Find out who is moving in together on "Secret Life of the American Teenager" through Soaps.com's Primetime Spoilers, and don't forget to read my Pretty Little Liars recaps each week.
Join Soaps.com on Twitter @soapoperafan, "like" Soaps.com on Facebook to dish on "Grey's Anatomy," all the other soap operas, "Dallas," "Glee," "Vampire Diaries," and "Venice The Series."
- Candace Young


text:
Say Aloha to a Honeymoon in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaii's breathtaking islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii's Big Island, Kauai, and Lanai offer some of the most spectacular scenery, activities, and accommodations in the world. The Spirit of Aloha beckons newlyweds to the honeymoon of a lifetime in Hawaii with the islands' pristine beaches, azure waters, and endless opportunities. Each island offers something uniquely its own, and couples are sure to find something—or many things—that they love, no matter which island they choose.
Travel Tips for Two:
Questions? Call
or contact your travel agent, or


text:
Tomb Raider was already a mighty pretty game when it launched last year on last-gen consoles. But, how does the Definitive Edition fare on PS4 and Xbox One? Will the generation jump really affect the visuals in a noticeable way?
You can judge for yourself in a new comparison video released by IGN. On one hand, it's impressive to see how well the last-gen version fares. On the other hand, some of the updated lighting effects sure do look pretty.


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The Emmet County Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting Tuesday morning approved a quote of $278,000 for an excavator.
Ziegler Cat of Mason City had the winning quote. Murphy Tractor & Equipment Company of Ft. Dodge gave two other quotes for a 2013 John Deere 290G LC - one for $273,900 and the other for $279,900.
The lower Murphy quote did not meet specifications calling for oil testing, beacon and manuals, county engineer Roger Patocka told the council. However, he said the higher bid would. Patocka said he had tried to keep specs where both companies could bid.
Patocka said he was looking at a five-year payoff, or about $60,000 a year.
"They're both nice machines but the CAT has a lot more horsepower," Travis Fredericksen, secondary roads employee, said. The CAT quote called for 231 horsepower while the John Deere had 188.
After the board approved the Ziegler quote, board chair Alan Madden asked the department to come up with a plan for using the machine in two weeks.
"We already have a map outlining it where a lot of areas need attention," said Rich Blinkmann.
The board and secondary roads staff also discussed where to put dirt removed from ditches.
Supervisor Ron Smith suggested that landowners might be paid for dumping dirt on their land with the intent that it could be used later.
In the rest of the road report, Patocka said Denco Highway Construction Co. of Mingo would be doing crack sealing for $30,929. He said seeding had also been done at the Riverview Gold Course bridge.
The board approved a new confinement feeding operation construction permit for D&P Hogs and gave the Sweet Corn Days Planning Committee permission to use Courthouse Square for the event.
After reviewing suggested changes in the county personnel policy, the board:
n Decided to allow employees to use a sick day to attend an aunt or uncle's funeral.
n Decided to review a request to increase employee mileage reimbursement at the beginning of next year with the change to start July 1, 2014.
n Agreed to seek a consultant to review the county personnel policy.


text:
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 12th Dec 2012 22:03 UTC
A change to anything related to Google Search - the product so many of us rely on - is never going to go by unnotoced. This time around, Google has altered Image Search for US users to alter the way it handles that ever so important aspect of the web - adult content.
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RE[11]: Comment by Zaitch
by fmaxwell on Sun 16th Dec 2012 07:20 UTC in reply to "RE[10]: Comment by Zaitch"
This post shows how Google's "porn" censorship harms users and legitimate, for profit, mainstream (non-pornographic) web sites.
The only change Google has done now is that you have to be more specific when you want to find porn.
It's all about the unintended consequences.
Jalopnik, Wired, and other mainstream sites often refer to beauty shots of various collector cars as 'car porn.' Apparently, this is causing images to be excluded from some image searches.
When I searched for "Ferrari 599", the image from this page on Wired, entitled Enjoy Some Gratuitous Ferrari 599 GTO Porn, was excluded, despite there being no sexual content:
But when I searched for "Ferrari 599 porn", it' was displayed as the first image on the first page.
So you say "well, just add the word 'porn' to each search just to avoid missing such images." Not so fast. If you search for "Ferrari porn" you are faced with page upon page of hardcore porn (sex acts, fellatio, penetration, etc.) with a few images of Ferrari cars thrown in.
Lets face itif you use Google to search for porn you know how to do this and you're probably doing it already.
Let's face it:
1. If you use Google to search for pictures of cars, you should not have to add the word "porn" to each search in order to see non-sexual images of cars on mainstream web sites.
2. Users should not have to wade through pages of hardcore porn in order to see a few pictures of cars that should never have been excluded from their original search
3. Wired, Jalopnik, and other mainstream, for-profit sites should not be unfairly excluded from search results, costing them clicks and advertising dollars.
4. If a 51 year old man can figure out that you need to add the word "porn" in order to see excluded images of Ferraris, fourteen year old boys will figure it out, too. And then they will be faced with images of fellatio, penetration, and group sex acts (with a few car pictures thrown in).
Game, set, match.


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ACC schools agree to grant TV rights to league
ACC schools agree to grant TV rights to league
Apr. 23, 2013
The Atlantic Coast Conference will retain the media rights of any school that chooses to leave the conference before 2027, essentially locking its schools into the league through the length of its current television deal.
The league said Monday that presidents of 15 current and soon-to-be member schools have agreed to and signed the deal, which is effective immediately and could slam the brakes on years of realignment around college athletics.
"In my opinion, any potential realignment of the Atlantic Coast Conference ended with this vote," Miami athletic director Blake James said. "Today was a great day for the league and for all the members of the league."
The decision applies to eventual new arrivals Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Louisville. Maryland, who has announced plans to leave for the Big Ten in 2014, wasn't included.
Awarding control of those TV rights — and, more importantly, the money that comes with them — to the league means that a school would have to leave its TV rights behind if it chose to go elsewhere.
Those rights would stay with the ACC, meaning the departing school wouldn't bring any added TV value to a new league's broadcast package and make it a less-desirable target for realignment purposes. In short, if a school left, the ACC would still get the money that school generated through its television package, James said.
"The ACC gets that money," James said. "What we've done is everyone has given their rights to the conference outlets, for all media outlets, until 2027. Virtually you end any type of realignment involving the ACC, is how I look at it."
At the very least, the league has erected a taller fence to protect itself in the event of another wave of change.
The ACC is the fourth major conference to approve a grant of TV rights, joining the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12. The Big 12 made a similar move last year after the departures of Texas A&M, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado. It was widely regarded as a way to provide long-term stability to the 10-team league.
"This announcement further highlights the continued solidarity and commitment by our member institutions," ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. "The Council of Presidents has shown tremendous leadership in insuring the ACC is extremely well-positioned with unlimited potential."
The move, first reported by The ACC Sports Journal, would be a promising sign of stability for the ACC, which had been besieged by rumors that some of its highest-profile members might consider following Maryland out the door and jumping leagues.
"I would describe it as a great strategic move by the league and its members to solidify our future," James said.
While its existing TV deal with ESPN runs through the 2026-27 season, the sides are updating that agreement due to expansion and the league is researching the creation of an ACC TV channel.
Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said the decision "secures the ACC's future, and thus Duke's, for years to come."
"It is one of the great days in the history of our conference as it shows the highest level of commitment — not by words, but by actions," Krzyzewski said in a statement.
Bubba Cunningham, the athletic director at North Carolina, said the grant of rights "should put (conference) realignment on the shelf."
"These are strong and definitive moves by the ACC and its member schools to further announce our desire to stay together and position ourselves among the top conferences in the country," Cunningham said in a statement. "We look forward to continued talks with the ACC and ESPN on how to best strengthen and position our multi-media package."
The league will add Pittsburgh and Syracuse in all sports this summer, while Notre Dame will join in all league sports except football. Louisville will replace Maryland in 2014.
"The added resources coming to the ACC schools will have a significant impact on the success of our athletic programs," Florida State president Eric J. Barron said in a statement. "We are also very pleased that we will be moving forward on the next phase of developing an ACC network. The vote of the ACC presidents will ensure that the conference will strengthen its position of leadership among Division I athletics."
The league had also twice raised its exit fee during recent waves of realignment, first to $20 million in September 2011 when it announced the additions of Pitt and Syracuse from the Big East.
A year later, when the league said it would add Notre Dame, the league said it had increased the fees to three times the league's annual operation budget — which amounted to more than $52.2 million when Maryland announced two months later that it planned to leave.
The ACC is currently suing Maryland for payment of that exit fee.
When Louisville replaces Maryland in 2014, the ACC will add a program that won the NCAA men's basketball title, reached the NCAA women's basketball final and won the Sugar Bowl this season in exchange for a school that hasn't been to a bowl game or reached the NCAA men's basketball tournament since 2010.
AP Sports Writer Joedy McCreary in Raleigh, N.C., and Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.


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Claims To Narrowness In Hobby Lobby Can't Hide Sweeping Ruling
SUPREME COURT PLAZA, Washington, DC – On news that the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., Constitutional Accountability Center attorneys – who were in the Court for this morning's announcement – issued the following reaction:
"For the first time in our Nation's history," said CAC President Doug Kendall, "the Supreme Court has ruled that for-profit corporations have religious rights and have accorded them religious exemptions. Despite their attempts to qualify that ruling, it opens the floodgates to claims by corporations for religious exemptions."
"As Justice Ginsburg explained in a powerful dissent," continued CAC Civil Rights Director David Gans,"the Court puts claims of corporations over those of its employees and allows a corporation's owners to override the Federal rights of its employees, many of whom have a different set of religious beliefs."
CAC Chief Counsel Elizabeth Wydra said, "While the Court purports to limit its ruling to closely-held corporations on this issue only, the majority opinion invites a number of 'me too' religious objections by other companies on matters ranging from anti-discrimination law to other medical procedures such as blood transfusions or vaccinations."
"Religious liberty is for people, not corporations," Elizabeth Wydra, November 26, 2013: http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/26/opinion/wydra-supreme-court-obamacare/
"Do The Rights of Employees Count?: The Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in Hobby Lobby," David H. Gans, March 27, 2014: http://theusconstitution.org/text-history/2590/do-rights-employees-count-supreme-court-hears-oral-argument-hobby-lobby
"Discrimination, Inc.," David H. Gans, February 26, 2014: http://theusconstitution.org/text-history/2509/discrimination-inc
CAC case page for Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby: http://theusconstitution.org/cases/sebelius-v-hobby-lobby-stores-and-conestoga-wood-v-sebelius


text:
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For the 2018 model year, Audi redesigns the A5 and Q5, adds a more powerful S4 sedan to the A4 lineup, and expands the Audi Sport lineup with the 400-horsepower TT RS.
Volkswagen Group's Audi luxury brand previewed another model in its upcoming series of electric vehicles (EVs)—the Audi e-tron Sportback Concept—at the Shanghai Auto Show this week.
Volkswagen Group's Audi luxury brand introduced at the 2017 New York International Auto Show the Audi Sport brand featuring eight performance models geared for the track.
For 2017, Audi redesigns two key models, the A4 sedan and Allroad wagon, and the Q7 SUV. The R8 sports car is also totally revamped for 2017. Find out what else is new...
Technically, the Audi Q8 is a concept vehicle, but there is more than a suggestion of production intent to this new SUV.
This fall, Audi will begin offering a new traffic light technology in three of its models so that it's possible to rarely stop at a red light.
Perhaps you haven't heard, but crossover SUVs are hot. So, car companies like Audi are planning a whole bunch of them in a range of sizes and prices.
Audi unveiled its newest, smallest crossover SUV—the Q2—this week at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.
Audi builds on its slogan of "progress through technology" and introduces several newly redesigned models during 2016, including the TT 2+2 sports car and the 2017 Audi Q7 midsize SUV.
The future includes hydrogen energy and fuel-cell technology for Volkswagen AG's premium Audi brand. To wit, at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the automaker revealed the Audi H-Tron Quattro zero-emission concept.


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Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Jan. 31, 2007
The Schedule
Game No. 21
Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs. No. 8 Stanford Cardinal
The Thunderdome (6,000)
Game No. 22
Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs. UC Davis Aggies
The Thunderdome (6,000)
This Week
UC Santa Barbara wraps up its non-conference schedule this week with two games in the Thunderdome. The Gauchos will take on a Top 25 opponent for the fourth time this season when they welcome No. 8 Stanford Thursday, Feb. 1 with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. UCSB will then entertain future Big West foe UC Davis Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2:00 p.m. Santa Barbara has defeated the Cardinal just once in nine tries but holds a 6-2 all-time record against the Aggies following the 77-53 win Jan. 13.
The Gaucho Record
The Gauchos saw their season-best six game winning streak snapped last Thursday when a much improved Cal State Northridge squad came to town and defeated UCSB for the first time in 17 previous meetings, a streak dating back to 1984, 66-64. The Gauchos responded with a resounding 89-55 win over Pacific on Saturday, their largest margin of victory this season. After the 1-1 week, Santa Barbara enters Thursday's showdown with Stanford with an overall record of 11-9. UCSB has won seven of the last eight is currently in third place in the BWC conference standings at 5-2. The Gauchos, who are 6-6 in the Thunderdome this season, will be looking for their first win over a ranked team in 2006-07 on Thursday.
UCSB on the Air & Web
This week's match-ups with the Cardinal and Aggies will be broadcast live on KIST 1340 AM in Santa Barbara. KEYT-TV Sports Director Gerry Fall will fill in for Steve Wendt as the play-by-play voice of the Gauchos during the current four game homestand alongside former Los Angeles Laker and UCSB star Don Ford, who will handle the color commentary. Broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to tip-off with the "Gaucho Pregame Show". Fans can also catch all games live via the internet by going to www.ucsbgauchos.com and purchasing the "UCSB All-Access Pass". With this option hoops fans can enjoy live audio and video from the comfort of their homes courtesy of CSTV.
Records Fall As Gauchos Trounce Pacific, 89-55
The UC Santa Barbara offense was firing on all cylinders Saturday, with the Gauchos making a school record 14 three-pointers on the way to an 89-55 thumping of Pacific in the Thunderdome. After the Gauchos shot just 34% in Thursday's loss to CSUN, they made 31-of-53 attempts from the field Saturday against the Tigers, a season-high of 58.5%. Santa Barbara was absolutely unconscious from behind the three-point arc, draining 14-of-18 attempts, 77.8% to set a new school record for three-point shooting percentage. The previous high was 75% in a game against North Texas in 1999. In addition, the 14 threes made was the most ever by a Gaucho team and was two more than the previous total of 12 that came against Arizona in January of 2002. UCSB's total of 89 points was also a season-high, eclipsing the team's previous best of 88 scored against Portland State in the season-opener. It was the highest total since Santa Barbara scored 90 in an overtime win over UCLA December 17, 2005. Not surprisingly, the Gauchos also tied a season-high with 22 assists on 31 made baskets in the win over UOP and the 34-point win was also a high in 2006-07.
A Tale of Two Halfs
There is no question that Santa Barbara has been a different team after halftime this season. The Gauchos have out-scored their opponents in the second half in 14 of their 20 games in 2006-07 and have done so in the last eight, posting a 7-1 record. In fact, UCSB has out-scored its opposition 347-273 in the second period over that span. With the ability to turn it up after halftime, the Gauchos have erased sizeable deficits on numerous occasions this year. Santa Barbara climbed out of a double-digit hole in the Dec. 18 win at Pepperdine, erased a 16 point deficit to defeat Cal State Fullerton Dec. 30, and most recently closed the game on a 24-6 run after trailing by 12 in the win at Cal Poly two weeks ago. Even in last Thursday's loss to Northridge, the Gauchos trailed 36-23 early in the second half and used a 13-0 run to even the score at 36. Avergaing six more points in the second half than in the first this season, Coach French and his staff definitely know how to make the right adjustments at the break.
Mr. 500
Mark French returned to his alma mater at the start of the 1987-88 season and women's basketball at UC Santa Barbara has never been the same. Now in his 20th season as head coach of the Gauchos, French has had an immensely successful career, posting a record of 407-187 (.685) while at UCSB and an overall mark of 505-301 (.627). Since the 1991-92 campaign, a period spanning 15 years, French's Gauchos have won 12 Big West Conference titles and advanced to 11 NCAA Tournaments, including five second rounds and a Sweet 16 appearance, as well as two WNITs. Individually, French has earned an unprecedented seven Big West Coach of the Year honors, while in 2002-03 he was named WBCA District 8 Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year award. He is the dean of Big West coaches, with nine more years of experience in the league than any of his current counterparts. 2006-07 has been a year of milestones thus far, as French collected his 400th win at UCSB when the Gauchos defeated Pepperdine 78-67 Dec. 18. Less than three weeks later, he added another notch on his belt, winnnig his 500th career game as a head coach with UCSB's victory over Long Beach State Jan. 4.
Probable Starters - Notes
G - LaShay Fears - Tied a season-high with six assists against Pacific.
G - Jessica Wilson - Made all three of her threes and scored 17 points in win over Tigers.
G - Chisa Ononiwu - Set new career-highs in points, field goals made, threes, and minutes Saturday.
F - Whitney Warren - Was a perferct 7-for-7 for 14 points with six rebounds in win over UOP.
C - Jenna Green - Limited to a season-low seven points in win Saturday.
Probable Reserves - Notes
F - Jordan Franey - Leads the squad with 33 three-point baskets in 2006-07.
G - Meagan Williams - Scored six points in 20 minutes against Pacific.
G/F - Ariana Gnekow - Played a total of 19 minutes in contests with CSUN and UOP.
C - Jessica Goble - Grabbed two rebounds in a season-high eight minutes Saturday.
Injury Report - Notes
G - Sha'Rae Gibbons - Out indefinitely with right knee injury.
F - Ashley Hall - Sat out the last two contests with an ankle injury.
Seven Out of Eight Ain't Bad
Although UCSB lost to Cal State Northridge for the first time in the Mark French era last Thursday, the team has still been on tear as of late. After rebounding with their most convincing win of the season Saturday against Pacific, the Gauchos have now won seven of their last eight and 10 of 14 overall since losing five straight from Nov. 11 through Dec. 2. Last year's team had a similiar run in the middle of the season, winning 11 of 14 games from Dec. 4 through Feb. 4. UCSB then lost at Stanford Feb. 9 -- the first of three consecutive defeats. Needless to say, the Gauchos will try and avoid a repeat of last year.
Proof Positive
As we have examined the last few weeks, one of the biggest barometers of the Gauchos' success this season has been rebounding. UCSB is now an impressive 10-1 when out-rebounding the opponent and 1-8 when the opposition controlls the glass in 2006-07. When the Gauchos handle the backboards, they are almost always successful and last week was no exception. As you would expect, CSUN held a 42-35 rebounding advantage in last Thursday's loss, but the Gauchos controlled the glass by a 33-27 margin in the win over Pacific Saturday. UCSB is tops in the Big West in rebounding defense allowing just 35.4 boards per game and ranks second in the conference in terms of rebounding margin at +4.7. The Gauchos enter this week's competition averaging 37.5 boards per contest to their opponent's 38.4.
Toeing the Line
While free-throws have not been one of UCSB's strong points this season, they still factor into to the team's success. As a team, the Gauchos have made 284-of-421 shots at the line this season, just 67.5%, but they have improved recently. In the last three games, UCSB has made 47-of-64 attempts at the charity stripe, 73.4% -- including one of the team's better performances, making 13-of-17 (76.5%) in the win over UOP. Santa Barbara is 8-1 when shooting more free-throws than the opposition in 2006-07 and just 1-8 when the opposing makes more trips to the line.
Scouting the Cardinal
In one of its most anticipated match-ups this season, UCSB welcomes Pac-10 power and 8th-ranked Stanford to the Thunderdome Thursday night. The Gauchos trail the all-time series with the Cardinal 8-1 after an 81-47 defeat Feb. 9, 2006 in Stanford despite 15 points and nine rebounds from Kat Suderman. UCSB's first and only win over Stanford was a narrow 62-61 victory in 1977. Santa Barbara is 0-3 against ranked teams this season.
Currently ranked No. 8 in this week's AP Poll, Stanford enters Thursday's contest with an overall record of 18-3 and has won 16 straight. The Cardinal are in first place in the Pac-10 with a perfect 11-0 record. Stanford averages 72.8 points per game while limiting the opposition to just 58.0. The Cardinal have out-rebounded the opposition by an average of 42.7 to 35.7 and shoot 45.5%% from the field to their opponent's average of 35.1%. Reigning Pac-10 Player of the Week Candice Wiggins leads the team averaging 16.3 points per game, while fellow senior Brooke Smith averages 13.7 and freshman Jayne Appel has put in 12.6 points per contest. Senior forward Kristen Newlin leads the team averaging 8.2 rebounds per game. Stanford is 8-2 on the road this season.
Green Machine
Junior center Jenna Green leads UCSB averaging 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds and has recorded a team-high 31 blocked shots in 2006-07. The San Jose, Calif. native has led the team in scoring a total of 11 times this year, more than any other player. Green, who also leads the squad shooting 51% from the floor, has scored in double-figures in all but two games this season. As far as Big West statistics go, Green ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage and blocks, third in scoring, and seventh in rebounding. A week after posting a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds in the Gauchos' win at Cal Poly, Green produced another solid stat line last Thursday in the loss to Northridge. She made 8-of-16 shots from the field and finished with a team-high 19 points to go with six rebounds, three assists, a block and one steal. Green was double-teamed every time she got the ball on the block against Pacific Saturday and took just seven shots, finishing with a season-low seven points. That total eclipsed her previous low of eight against UC Davis and was her lowest total since scoring seven against the Aggies Feb. 11 of last year. She did finish with a game-high seven rebounds and three assists against the Tigers.
Like a Rock
Jessica Wilson has certainly been a player to watch this season and she has been exceptional the last few weeks. In UCSB's convincing win over Pacific, the junior guard made 6-of-9 shots from the field, including all three of her attempts from three-point territory, and finished with 17 points. She added five assists and five rebounds, marking the ninth straight game she has tallied five or more boards. The Sacramento, Calif. native also recorded two steals. The Big West Conference's assist leader at 4.42 per night, Wilson has greatly improved her game in that area this season. After leading the team in assists in 2005-06 averaging 2.56 per contest, the junior has nearly doubled her average this season. She is second on the team in scoring at 13.4 ppg and rebounding at 5.9 rpg and leads the squad averaging two steals per contest. The guard ranks 11th in the BWC in scoring, 13th in rebounding, and fourth in steals.
The Sky is the Limit
I have said it before and I will say it again because it happens week in and week out. Junior transfer Chisa Ononiwu contiunes to improve seemingly every game and has quickly established herself as one of the premiere scorers in the Big West. Ononiwu has scored in double figures in seven straight games and nine of 11 overall since becoming eligible Dec. 18 and had an outstanding performance in the win over UOP Saturday. The native of Houston, Tex. scored a career-high 29 points on 9-for-14 shooting, which was also a career-best. She was a big reason the Gauchos' sank a school record 14 threes, finishing 6-of-8 from downtown, in 34 minutes. The six treys and 34 minutes played were both career-highs, as well. After her brilliant 29-point performance -- the second most points scored by a Gaucho this season -- her scoring average is up to a season-best 13.3 points per game, which is third on the squad. Ononiwu has started seven of the 11 games she has played in and leads the team shooting 50% (18-36) from three-point range.
Like A Veteran
Freshman Forward Jordan Franey has started 16 games this season and is averaging 9.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 26.2 minutes per game. The San Diego native has proven to be one of the conference's top three-point shooters, ranking fourth with 33 triples in 2006-07. Franey has been in the starting lineup in five of the last six games and has averaged 11 points during that span. In all, the San Diego native has scored in double figures a total of 11 times this year, including four of the last five, and finished with 13 points in the Gauchos' 66-64 loss to the Matadors last week. Franey shot 3-of-7 from distance and 4-of-10 overall from the floor, dished out three assists, and recorded two steals. She knocked down both of her three-point attempts in the record-breaking win over Pacific and finished with eight points in 20 minutes. Franey is fourth on the team in scoring this season and leads the UCSB freshman in a number of statistical categories, including points, free-throw percentage, assists, and minutes per game.
The Warren Court
After making just 1-of-9 shots and finishing with a season-low two points in the Gauchos' 68-62 win at Cal Poly Jan. 20, Whitney Warren turned in two excellent performances against Northridge and Pacific last week. In the loss to the Matadors, the sophomore forward went 4-for-8 from the field and finished with nine points. She drained her first-career three-point basket late in the second half as UCSB put together one final rally and hauled in a team-high seven rebounds, two assists, and a career-best three steals. Two days later Warren was a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor for 14 points against the Tigers to go with six rebounds, two assists, and a steal. The seven field goals made was one off of her career mark of eight that came earlier this season in the loss to Louisville. The Lawndale, Calif. native is averaging 7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists this season. She is third on the team shooting 45.2%.
UCSB Lands Three Prized Recruits
On Wednesday, November 8, UCSB announced the signing of three high school seniors to National Letters of Intent during this year's early signing period. Ashlee Brown, a 6'0" forward from Good Year, Ariz., a 5'11" guard Courtney Collishaw of Visalia, Calif., and Margaret Johnson, a 5'11" forward from Lake Oswego, Ore. will join the Gauchos next season as true freshmen. Brown was named to the 2005-06 Arizona Tribune First Team and garnered First Team All-Fiesta Region accolades after averaging 21 points, 16 rebounds, five steals, four assists, and three blocked shots per game as a junior at Chandler High School. Collishaw signs with UCSB after earning Cal-Hi Sports All-State Junior Second Team honors at Redwood High School. She was named to the CIF Central Section First Team after scoring 22.6 points per game a year ago. Johnson enters her final season at Lake Oswego High School having guided the team to a second place league finish in 2006 at 10-4 and an 18-8 overall record. In 2007-08 Santa Barbara will also gain the services of 5'10" guard Lauren Pedersen, a junior transfer from UCLA. A native of Brea, Calif., she played two seasons with the Bruins, averaging 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 54 career games while making 11 starts during that span. Pedersen will have two years of eligibility at UCSB starting next season.
Gauchos Look To Start Streaking
2005-06 was a very disappointing year by UCSB standards. Finishing just 16-14 last season and losing in the WNIT First Round, Coach French and the Gauchos had a number of streaks broken that they will be looking to reestablish this year. UCSB saw its streak of nine consecutive Big West Tournament titles come to a crashing halt after a narrow loss to UC Riverside in the title game. That being said, Santa Barbara did not receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and its string of nine-straight trips to the Big Dance was also severed. With a total of 16 victories, UCSB saw its span of 10 seasons with at least 20 wins broken, as well. Finally, although the Gauchos did win the Big West regular season title, they shared the honor with Long Beach State, which snapped their streak of 10-straight outright conference championships--a run that was the longest in the nation. Needless to say, UCSB will aim to start a new set of streaks in 2006-07.
O'Bryan, Thomas Leave UCSB
On October 17, head coach Mark French announced that two key players would not be with the Gauchos in 2006-07. Guard Erin O'Bryan and forward Shantel Thomas both left the program citing personal reasons. O'Bryan, who appeared in 27 games for UCSB last season, averaging 6.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, will not be back for her senior season. Thomas, on the other hand, is expected to return at some point, provided she maintains her eligibility. The Sacramento, Calif. native appeared in 25 games as a true freshman in 2005-06, averaging 2.5 ppg and 2.6 rpg in 11.2 minutes per contest.
Another Blow...
Less than a month later, the coaching staff was dealt more bad news when the decision was made that Kat Suderman will redshirt in 2006-07. The San Luis Obispo, Calif. native will be inactive this season as she rehabilitates from a knee surgery she had last spring. Suderman was one of only two players to appear in all 30 games last season, starting eight games for UCSB. She posted career-highs averaging 6.2 points and 6.1 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game. Over the past two seasons, Suderman has appeared in a combined 56 games, more than any other Gaucho over that span.
Looking Ahead
Following this week's contests with No. 8 Stanford and UC Davis, UCSB will take to the road and resume Big West play at UC Irvine and Long Beach State. The Gauchos will take on the Anteaters Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7:00 p.m., followed by a 5:00 p.m. match-up with the 49ers Saturday, Feb. 10.


text:
ESCORT Live Announces V2.0.5 App Update
February 08, 2013 -- !-- AddToAny BEGIN -->
West Chester, Ohio (PRWEB) February 08, 2013
ESCORT Inc. (ESCORTinc.com), designer of ESCORT Live, the social network for the road, announced the release of its ESCORT Live V2.0.5 update. Since its award-winning debut, ESCORT Live has been providing app users unmatched radar and laser ticket protection while they drive. Using real-time, cloud-based threat and information sharing between app users on their smartphone (iPhone and Android), ESCORT Live alerts drivers to potential speed traps and upcoming red light and speed cameras.
The ESCORT Live V2.0.5 iOS Apple update (available Apple App Store) features:
- Subscriber expiration date and related account info are now displayed in the smartphone app subscription screen for convenient and timely review of user status and subscription balance for optimal renewal and subscriber planning
- The V2.0.5 app update provides full ESCORT Live app operation with Pioneers revolutionary new AppRadio series of car audio radios and includes full app compatibility with the Pioneer SDK 22.214.171.124 Support interface. Drivers can easily operate the ESCORT Live app right on their dash in their Pioneer AppRadio
- The new update fully suppresses K band and X band (false) alert lockouts which enables the app to fully eliminate false alerts prior to the update, lockouts were identified as audible voice alerts in unique circumstances
- The ESCORT Live app update enables display modes for portrait and landscape (Map view landscape only)
Android ESCORT Live V2.0.5 update (available in the Google Play Store) features:
- Subscriber expiration date and related account info are now displayed in the smartphone app subscription screen for convenient and timely review of user status and subscription balance for optimal renewal and subscriber planning
- The V2.0.5 app update recovers previous known intermittent conflicts within the background operating system and run-time conflicts have been resolved
Named best new product, SEMA, Popular Mechanics Editors Choice and a Car and Driver Top Ten Most Promising New Technology, ESCORT Live continues to receive extensive national market exposure.
For more information about ESCORT Live and ESCORT's complete line of premium automotive accessories, visit ESCORTinc.com or call 800.433.3487.
About ESCORT Inc.
ESCORT Inc. is the leading manufacturer of high-performance radar and laser detectors, the patented ESCORT Live real-time ticket protection network, ESCORT MobileTV, Guardian Alert reverse obstacle detection systems, Entourage GPS-enabled navigation and tracking products, ESCORT QuickStart and other Drive Smarter products. ESCORT manufactures products under the ESCORT, PASSPORT, REDLINE, SOLO, Pro and BELTRONICS brands. The company is headquartered in West Chester, Ohio, with its principal manufacturing facility located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Editorial Contact:
Ron Gividen
Escort Inc.
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