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Posts Tagged 'Coco Vandeweghe'
Sloane, Paul, and Conflicts of Interest: A Wimbledon Day Three "Shock or Not"
Sloane Stephens, and her coach Paul Annacone, lead the way for my first tournament upset "Shock or Not" of the fortnight. Wondering why I included her coach? Let's just call it a case of "Conflict of Interest" Shock. Read on for those bits, in addition to thoughts on losses by Stosur, Gulbis, Ferrer, and more.
Maria Kirilenko defeats Sloane Stephens: Shock or Not? Sadly, but predictably, NOT.
Kirilenko, someone who's coming off of an injury-plagued year, played a very good match. However, that has nothing to do with the ever-growing body of disappointing efforts from Sloane.
I'd hate to say that I've kind of given up on Sloane, but I've kind of given up on Sloane; at least until she can stop playing the martyr. We (in the media) are not the enemy, and we don't all want her to fail. We simply want her to stop acting like an entitled American player who enjoys the perks/money of sporting fame but doesn't put in the effort that's necessary to continue warranting those perks.
What was once a genuine freshness in the interview room has turned into (way too much) attitude for the on-court display of nonchalance. For what it's worth, my advice is cut the snark, put your head down, get to work and prove us wrong!
Paul Annacone, Sloane Stephens' coach, once again did NOT recuse himself from on-air analysis after her loss: Shock or Not? Label this a "Conflict of Interest" Shock.
Paul Annacone shouldn't have said one word about Sloane's match in the Tennis channel commentary afterward on Wimbledon Primetime. But he did. And what he said was stunning for its' lack of objectivity in breaking down Sloane's performance in that match. This may not bother others, but I'm going to have a difficult time taking him seriously after this one.
The conflicts of interest in tennis are numerous and sometimes almost legendary. For example, think back to all of the times Mary Jo Fernandez would commentate on Federer only to join her husband, Fed's ex-agent, in his Roger's player box at big matches.
Mary Jo's actions always bothered me, but this one with Annacone bothered me more. Sloane pays him. So it only stands to reason that he's not going to give as honest a critique of her efforts as other commentators will who aren't on her payroll. That is the appearance that was suggested to me from his analysis, or lack thereof; particularly so because he offered little more than an agreement with her own assessment of the match.
Integrity matters, and the appearance that it could be lacking in the commentary booth matters more. I'm not saying that Annacone doesn't have integrity, but I am saying that his comments on his employer appeared disingenuous because of their relationship.
Yanina Wickmayer defeats Samantha Stosur: Shock or Not? Absolutely Not.
Back after 2012 disappointments at Wimbledon and the Olympics, I asked Sam if she was glad to finally be off the grass for the season, she said: "Yeah. I'm not that sad that I'm off of it for another year or so." Take a look at her record on the green stuff and you'll quickly understand why this was no shock, no matter what her seed was coming into the tournament. Hopefully she regains some mojo back on the American hard courts.
Sergiy Stakhovsky defeats Ernests Gulbis: Shock or Not? Shock.
Ernests has never done well at Wimbledon, but I'd hoped that his maturity as a player over this past year would translate to a better performance at this year's Championships. Perhaps I should have known otherwise after hearing that he made quips about not wanting to be a quote machine, then followed up by promptly talking about vampires in his next press conference.
Andrey Kuznetsov defeats David Ferrer: Shock or Not? Shock, but…
It's never a good sign when a player's camp is silent to the extent that Ferrer's camp was prior to the start of Wimbledon. Stomach issues kept him from playing last week, and that surely had to play into his loss against the upstart Kuznetsov. Lack of play isn't great preparation for a grinder like Ferrer. It also doesn't help that Kuznetsov is a former junior champion at Wimbledon.
Lauren Davis defeats Flavia Pennetta: Shock or Not? Not.
This was a great win for Davis, who's managed a few upset scares over the past couple of years. Apart from Davis, Flavia had her moment in the 2014 sun at Indian Wells. Unfortunately, it's going to get any brighter than that for her the rest of the season.
Fabio Fognini reaches the third round: Shock or Not? Yep…Shock.
I expected an early exit for Fabio, but he proved me wrong. However, he did NOT fail to disappoint on the court; amassing $27,500 in fines for unsportsmanlike conduct. Now THAT'S the Fabio we've all come to know and love!
Bojana Jovanovski defeats Victoria Azarenka: Shock or Not? Not.
In my preview piece of the women's draw, I said that Vika was going "to have virtually no impact at this Wimbledon". That was pretty much the case after a tough first-round win that was immediately followed by and even tougher second-round loss. I knew she wouldn't go far, but I didn't expect the screaming Bojana Jovanovski to send her packing.
(Yes, there was value judgement in that comment.)
Tereza Smitkova defeats Coco Vandeweghe: Shock or Not? Disappointing, but No Shock.
With a wonderful serve and power to rival Serena, many of us would love to see Coco consistently perform at the top level of her game. This is especially true after her first WTA title win at the Top Shelf Open. But it all came crashing back to earth in a second round loss. Still a great run for her…
Serena Williams' Tough Road to Number 6 at SW19: My Wimbledon Women's Preview
As I wrote in my piece on Serena Williams' Centre Court snub, few players can so effectively use perceived wrongdoings to their advantage as Serena. She generally plays her best tennis when she feels she's got something to prove. However, this year's Wimbledon draw is a pretty tough 'ask'. Can Patrick help her get through it for a sixth Wimbledon crown? We'll find out soon enough. Here are my thoughts on this year's draw, and why I see no clear favorites for the title.
(* – Expected R16 matches)
Top Half, Top Quarter
Serena Williams [1] – Eugenie Bouchard [13] *
Wildcards: Cornet (Williams), Petkovic (Bouchard)
Angelique Kerber [9] – Maria Sharapova [5] *
Wildcards: Flipkens (Kerber), Pavlyuchenkova or Riske or Giorgi (Sharapova)
The expected quarterfinal match with Maria isn't the tough part for Serena. That comes earlier when she has to get by Alize Cornet, the woman who sent her packing in Dubai. After that comes with a potential R16 match against the winner of French Open semifinalists: Genie Bouchard or Andrea Petkovic. Either will be a tough opponent at a stage in the tournament when a No. 1 seed might least expect it.
The bottom section presents its' own challenges for Kerber and Sharapova. Kerber, finalist at Eastbourne, could be derailed by Kirsten Flipkens, last year's semifinalist. And Sharapova has a particularly tricky trio to overcome with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Allison Riske, or Camilla Giorgi.
Each woman is capable of an early upset, and Maria will need to bring her "A" game right away. The same holds true of Serena. She's got to be "bring it", no matter what court she's scheduled to play. Can they both do it? I think so, but there's no guarantee that we won't end up seeing a Bouchard-Giorgi quarterfinal either.
(UPDATE: I'll update this quarter with the caveat that IF Serena successfully makes it to the quarters, she's got a good chance of going all the way.)
Top Half, Bottom Quarter
Simona Halep [3] – Carla Suarez Navarro [15] *
Wildcards: Vinci (Suarez Navarro)
Ana Ivanovic [11] – Jelena Jankovic [7] *
Wildcards: Lisicki (Ivanovic), Townsend or Keys or Shvedova (Jankovic)
The top section of this quarter is likely to end with the expected R16 match between Halep and Suarez Navarro. Roberta Vinci could pose a slight threat to CSN, but I think the Spaniard has too much game to be derailed.
The bottom section of this quarter has much more potential for drama, especially after Madison Keys' win in Eastbourne for her first WTA title, and first on grass. Add Taylor Townsend and heavy-hitter Yaroslava Shvedova to the mix and Jelena Jankovic is going to have a tough time making it to R16, let alone the quarters.
After vanquishing Jankovic, Keys could do the same to Ivanovic. From there, I don't think I'd be going too far out on a limb in predicting a Halep-Keys quarterfinal.
Bottom Half, Top Quarter
Victoria Azarenka [8] – Dominika Cibulkova [10] *
Wildcards: Vandeweghe or Muguruza (Azarenka), Safarova (Cibulkova)
Sara Errani [14] – Agnieszka Radwanska [4] *
Wildcards: Garcia or Pironkova or Makarova (Errani), Kuznetsova (Radwanska)
It's good to have Vika back in the mix, but she's going to have virtually no impact at this Wimbledon. So look for the top section of this quarter to be about as wide open as you can get with Cibulkova, Garbine Muguruza, Lucie Safarova, and TopShelf champion Coco Vandeweghe all vying for the top quarterfinal spot.
On the bottom, look for Tsvetana Pironkova or Ekaterina Makarova to knock Errani out of contention. And depending on which Svetlana shows up in London, Kuznetsova has a chance at knocking out Radwanska given her current level of play. Grass isn't her best surface, but you never know.
In figuring out the quarterfinalists, the top section is a crapshoot. Vika is a non-starter. Vandeweghe's win at TopShelf doesn't take away from her past inconsistencies. Muguruza's past Wimbledon results don't bode well. And Cibulkova and Safarova are 50-50 crapshoots. For lack of any other compelling evidence, I'll (half-heartedly) go with Cibulkova-Radwanska.
Bottom Half, Bottom Quarter
Petra Kvitova [6] – Flavia Pennetta [12] *
Wildcards: V. Williams (Kvitova), Stephens (Pennetta)
Caroline Wozniacki [16] – Na Li [2] *
Wildcards: Stosur (Wozniacki)
I'd love to see Venus Williams have a good run at Wimbledon, but there are too many dependencies for her to go deep. R16, however is doable if the weather isn't too hot and she can minimize her court time. From there, maybe a quarterfinal match-up against Sloane Stephens. I'd give Petra more of a chance if she weren't so inconsistent: a sad statement in reference to a former Wimbledon champion.
The bottom section will likely play out as expected with Caroline Wozniacki facing off against Li Na in the other R16 match. To be honest, I don't expect a ton of great tennis, or even clean tennis. I do, however, expect them both to get the job done. They've never played each other on grass, but Li holds a 4-2 H2H lead. So the nod goes to her for the quarters.
I'm wary of more Sloane disappointment, but will go ahead and give her the nod in the top section for a Stephens-Li quarterfinal.
Quarterfinal Picks
Williams – Sharapova, Halep – Keys, Cibulkova – Radwanska, Stephens – Li
Notable First-Round Matches
A. Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) [26] v Alison Riske (USA)
Klara Koukalova (CZE) [31] v Taylor Townsend (USA)
Madison Keys (USA) v Monica Puig (PUR)
Coco Vandeweghe (USA) v Garbine Muguruza (ESP) [27]
The Myth of Sam Stosur's Slide From Greatness
After a third-round loss to qualifier Coco Vandeweghe at the Sony Open (7-5, 5-7, 5-7), Sam Stosur continues a '14 season that started on a positive note in Hobart, but has since returned to a disappointing norm.
Words are useless these days in describing the torture of watching a Sam Stosur loss. Rarely has an ex-Slam champion and top-ranked player frustrated so many with exasperating results from one week to the next. Need proof? Think back to last year's puzzling Stanford loss to Olga Govortsova followed by an equally puzzling Carlsbad title win over Vika Azarenka.
The "how's" and "why's" of Sam's performance fluctuations aren't easy to answer. An obvious go-to is always a player's coach. David Taylor, the longtime coach that helped her achieve the big win in New York, was let go after the win over Azarenka in Carlsbad. There was no animus in the split, simply a mutual parting of ways. In short, nothing that would explain a drop in her results.
Sam flew solo from the summer season through Sofia, and then realized that she preferred having a coach. So she hired Miles Maclagan, a noteworthy from his past work with Andy Murray. She began working with Maclagan in December, and the results so far in 2014 appear underwhelming.
Looks can be deceiving, however. One can't really be underwhelmed with Sam's results when the prevailing evidence, her WTA win-loss record, actually points to a "more of the same" performance level. An examination of her record over the past five years reveals a remarkably consistent, and winning, win-loss percentage.
2009 39 wins – 21 losses (.65)
2010 47 wins – 19 losses (.71)
2011 45 wins – 23 losses (.66)
2012 44 wins – 24 losses (.66)
2013 42 wins – 23 losses (.65)
There's a slight uptick from 2009 to 2010 as she made her move up the rankings, and an equivalent downtick as she settled into her new status. Overall though, the numbers are fairly consistent in terms of the mid-40 range for her # of wins, and low-20 range for her # of losses.
In spite of her relative consistency, the perception is that Sam comes up short in big matches, and under-performs on a weekly basis. One could quibble that the plus/minus range on her losses represent potentially career-changing matches, but we can't speculate in what could have happened if only…
Such discussions are often lively, but players don't win titles via "woulda, coulda, shoulda". Sam's missed opportunities are what they are, and need to be replaced with new ones. Whether Maclagan is the one to help her get there is anyone's guess. A coach can only do so much if the player isn't able to effectively execute.
That leads to a larger discussion of what many feel is Sam's biggest liability. Her lack of winning results, at least in the big matches, seems to be more one of Sam's temperament affecting her ability to execute under duress than of technical or strategic issues.
Sam is a likable player, but there's an air of vulnerability that comes across when talking with her. Unfortunately for her, it's also readily apparent on court to her opponents. When pressed, Sam starts to press in her game, and eventually succumbs to her demons (and defeat). The only time I remember NOT seeing that side of her was in her winning US Open final match against Serena.
For once, there were no nerves; just the flawless execution of a clear strategy to take down the favorite. The frustration comes for us when we've seen her do such a great job of it one moment, then crashing out in a late-night flourish as in her match to Vandeweghe.
The truth is that tennis has never been that simplistic. Though we all would have loved to see her continue in that winning vein, she might never see another Slam final. Some players learn from their matches, regardless of success or failure, and some don't. Her record speaks for itself: Sam will win, but not the matches we want her to win, and not on our timetable.
So rather than bemoan Sam's great slide from Slam champion to forgotten player in the upper echelons of the WTA, we should celebrate a player who consistently performs at a top level. Maybe it's a level that's below our expectations, but that's our issue and not hers. For better or worse, Sam is right where she's always been.
Ten Final Thoughts on My Insider Week at the Bank of the West
I usually reserve these "Ten Final Thoughts" columns for the big events. However, after spending a week on the ground at Stanford, eating and breathing the sights/sounds of tennis, I think I can muster up some decent observations from this year's Bank of the West Classic. Let's start with "buzz", or lack thereof…
- This year's tournament attendance suffered from a distinct lack of WTA star power. I love Aga Radwanska and Dominika Cibulkova, but it's not the same as having Serena, Maria, and Vika at an event. Even Marion Bartoli would have made a difference because she won Wimbledon. And let's face facts: "Slamholders fill seats".
- With a solid weekend of line calling under my belt, I have a much greater appreciation for what goes into being a good line umpire. It's not easy, and those guys do a great job. For all of you who think you could do better, ask your buddies if you can call lines for them sometime. You'll change your tune pretty quickly.
- Dominika played a great match in the final to avenge an earlier double-bagel loss to Aga in Sydney. She put fate into her own hands and bravely went for her shots throughout the 2.5 hour match. Many sailed way past the lines. But more often than not, they found their mark as untouchable winners. That's saying a lot against a brilliant defensive player like Aga. She hopes to carry this high level of consistency through to the US Open. That makes two of us.
- Even with her loss in the final, Aga is one of the best and most unique players on tour. She isn't tall or muscular, but manages to stay in rallies with taller and stronger opponents using excellent anticipation, defense, and a thinking game that you need to see to appreciate. Dominika rarely saw the same shot twice in the final because Aga used every trick in the book to keep her from teeing off on the ball. (Roger Federer often utilizes the same strategy.) It might not work against Serena, but it can against both Maria and Vika. And how about those mind-boggling deep knee bends on her backhand?
- Jamie Hampton had a great week at Stanford, but clearly wasn't up to the task in the semifinals. The gap between her and those at the top of the game was laid bare against Aga: consistency on her serve toss plus variety of serve, footwork, consistency on her shots to name a few. BUT… the upside is tremendous! She hits like she means it, goes for her shots, and isn't afraid to come to the net. The current buzz is with Madison and Sloane, but you can put my vote in the Jamie column. (Note: To be honest, I like them all for different reasons.)
- I'm not quite sure what to say about Madison Keys. Her loss to Vera Dushevina was unsettling because she looked mentally lost on court. I realize that she's young and has a ways to go in terms of growing into her game, but the hype machine is already working overtime in pushing her to a status she might not be able to live up to. There are, however, a lot of positives with her game. She's got a great serve, and her big forehand is a huge weapon when it's consistent. Her serve effectiveness will improve when she can better move it around the box, and her forehand will become more assured when her footwork improves. Here's hoping that the hype machine leaves her alone this summer.
- Daniela Hantuchova played doubles and singles at Stanford. A tour veteran for many years, she's well-known for her model-esque looks. By that, I mean she's known to (and popular with) many heterosexual men who could usually care less about women's tennis. Anyway, I was talking to a friend by the upper walkway stadium entrance When Daniela came in to see someone in the player's lounge. The security guy, bless his heart, said: "Excuse me miss, so you have a credential?" My jaw hit the ground. What do you think: security faux pas or not? 😉
- The early part of the US Open Series is problematic! Top players are reluctant to put effort into the early events (prior to Rogers Cup) because there's no payoff… other than (maybe) appearance fees. Others are reluctant to play the early events because it means a longer financial burden for them in terms of travel and coaching fees through the US Open. Additionally, other players opt out of the initial Series events because of the increasing amount of tournaments played closer to home (and on clay) in Europe and S. America. Without all of these players, most of whom are marquee, the tournaments can't bring in the crowds. And we saw what happened with the SAP Open, right?
- Speaking of Hantuchova, she played doubles with Lisa Raymond. Talk about opposites! On another note, Coco Vandeweghe, last year's finalist, made it through qualies into the main draw. This is noteworthy because it gave me a chance to see her coach, Jan- Michael Gambill, up close and (not) personal. I swear to God he looks no different now than when he was playing on the ATP tour. I wonder where he keeps his aging portrait?
- When I start using Dorian Gray references, it's time to wrap things up. I had a great time at this year's event, and would like to give particular thanks to Karen P. at Tennis Panorama; not just for the credential, but her support as well. I'd also like to thank the folks at the USTA who allowed me to do line umpire duties the first weekend, and for trusting that I know the separation of my duties as an official and as a member of the media. To be honest though, I certainly hope that my next visit to the Bank of the West will be as a linesman for the entire week.
Take care all!
Bank of the West Round-Up for Wednesday (7/24)
Radwanska Wins the "Battle of Crafty" Against Schiavone at Stanford
In an entertaining match that lived up to its' billing as a battle between two of the craftiest players on the WTA tour, Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-3 in the featured night match at the Bank of the West Classic.
Francesca came into the match with a slight 4-3 lead in their career head-to-head, but Aga was the one coming into the match with the momentum, having won their last three meetings. After tonight's straight-set win, make that four!
The conditions on the stadium court were perfect. As the match began, both players took their time in the first few rallies to find the range on their shots while also probing for any signs of weakness in their opponent. Aga struck pay dirt first: with excellent defense, solid net play, and aggressive hitting on her serve and forehand.
It was a different story on the other side of the net for Francesca. Against Mallory Burdette, she'd managed to quickly find the depth on her strokes to keep her Mallory pinned back on the baseline. On this night against Aga, Francesca struggled to keep the ball on the court.
With unforced errors flying from both wings of Francesca's racquet, Aga jumped out to a 5-1 lead in a "battle" that was starting to look more like a rout! But with her back up against the wall (and Aga serving for the set at 40-15), Francesca finally found her range and began hitting out with a vengeance. She fought back to break Aga's serve in that game, and secured a second break to bring the match back on serve at 4-5.
Unfortunately for Francesca, her comeback ended with a double fault on set point. To her credit, she continued to battle hard in the second set, but was unable to maintain the high level of play that had helped her mount a comeback in the first.
The second set offered more of the same, with Aga clearly up to the task on Francesca's sliced shots. And in a welcome contrast to the first set, Aga successfully served out the second to book her spot in Friday's quarterfinals.
This match may not have gone the distance, as many had hoped, but it did feature some fine shot-making from both women: including deft drop shots, beautifully-placed lobs, and a reflex backhand crosscourt slice drop shot from Aga that was reminiscent of a similar reflex shot that she hit in Miami.
When asked about the shot afterward, even Aga admitted thinking, "Oh my God, it's in again!" Now that she's gotten the first match under her belt and is more familiar with the conditions at Taube, Aga's going to be very tough to beat for the Stanford title.
Day Session Match Results
In the earlier matches on the stadium court, Varvara Lepchenko defeated Tamira Paszek 6-4 6-4; and Sorana Cirstea defeated Coco Vandeweghe 6-3 6-3.
Lepchenko versus Paszek, the first featured match, was a battle of players who've both struggled to make their mark in 2013. This was Paszek's third appearance in a second round match this season, and the lack of confidence in her ground game was apparent.
Varvara's had her own struggles as well (including coaching issues with the USTA), but still managed to close out this match on her fifth match point. Next up for Varvara is a quarterfinal date with Radwanska.
Coco, last year's losing finalist to Serena Williams, never got her game going in her match against Sorana Cirstea. With a game that's based heavily around her big serve and ground strokes, her performance against Sorana was inadequate, with 8 double faults and a 47% first serve percentage. She struggled to hold serve and was broken four times. Coco's groundstrokes also let her down as she sprayed shots all over the court.
For her part, Sorana played solid tennis for the win. This will be her second trip to the Bank of the West quarterfinals. Her opponent will be Olga Govortsova.
Bank of the West Preview/Picks for Wednesday 7/24/13
Tamira Paszek v Varvara Lepchenko [6]
H2H: Tied at 2-All
The most relevant matches in their head-to-head are the last two matches played on carpet ('11) and outdoor hard ('12). Tamira won the first in a 3-set match that lasted 3 hours. Varvara won the second in a 3-set match that last nearly 3 hours. If the pattern holds true, get set for another long one!
2013's been a tough year for both players. Varvara's struggled to maintain the level she achieved in '12, while Tamira's struggled to even get past the first round at any tournament through most of '13. The lack of confidence might show in the quality of shot-making, but their prior history should provide for a fairly competitive match. I'll stick my neck out on this one for Varvara in three sets.
Sorana Cirstea v [Q] Coco Vandeweghe
H2H: Tied at 1-All
Coco won the first time they played in '11 in a 3-set match lasting almost 2.5 hours. Their next meeting at this year's Australian Open was pretty much a whitewash for Sorana in straight sets. Given the status of both in their respective seasons, it's unclear whether this match will look like either of those previous two.
Sorana's had a tough year, making it past the R16 at only one hard court tournament. Though she always has potential to be dangerous, her 19-17 record coming into Stanford can't provide her with an excess of confidence.
Coco's status as a qualifier pretty much says it all, since she's spent much of the season qualifying for main draws in WTA events. But even though she's a qualifier, she's also one of last year's finalists: which probably helped immensely in coming through the qualifying rounds. She's on comfortable ground, and on a roll in terms of match wins.
I'll give the edge to Coco in this one. If her shots are landing cleanly, it goes two sets. If she's making a ton of unforced errors, it goes three.
Agnieszka Radwanska [1] v Francesca Schiavone (Featured Match)
H2H: Francesca leads 4-3
This match, which could easily be titled "I Can Be Craftier than You", features two of the best thinkers/strategists on the pro tour, and has the potential to be one of the most entertaining of the week.
Aga doesn't have the power of Serena or Maria, but reads the ball well and defends with the best of them. She has an uncanny ability to use her opponent's power to her own advantage, which helped her to overcome Maria in the '12 Sony Open final, and take Serena to three sets in the '12 Wimbledon final.
I'm not sure that skill will help Aga against Francesca, a player who specializes in spin over power. She can hit with an extreme amount of spin from both her forehand and single-handed backhand wings. And her slice is one of the most formidable on tour. It's no surprise that Francesca's biggest title came on clay at the '10 French Open.
Francesca needs a fair amount of racquet prep for her shots, especially her forehand. This can get her into trouble on faster hard courts with the big hitters. Aga's shots don't have the same pace, so Francesca's 4-1 record on hard courts show's that she's not nearly as troubled by Aga's game on this surface.
The problem for Francesca in this match-up is that she's on the backside of her career, while Aga is on the upside of hers. Aga's game has improved, and dramatically so since '10. Francesca's game has plateaued and declined since her peak moments in Paris. It's no coincidence that Aga has won their last three matches: one each on hard court, clay, and grass.
Though it's been two years since they last played, I don't see Francesca overcoming this new and improved Aga; and I'm not talking about the blonde hair. Aga has pushed herself to be more aggressive to win points outright instead of waiting for errors. Francesca will throw the kitchen sink at her, but it won't be enough to stop Aga from winning in two sets.


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Color is a perception
I took a typography class in grad school. On the first day, the professor said, "typography is probably the hardest thing in design. Well, second hardest. After color."
No joke. For instance, these Xs are exactly the same color:
(Look closely at the bottom middle where the Xs meet.)
This sort of thing is what you're up against whenever you do anything with color.
I've written before about how color is a slippery concept, but this article by Nell Greenfieldboyce at NPR does a solid job exploring why that is.
"The agreed-upon technical definition of color," says Fairchild, "is that it's a visual perception."
So don't try to tell Fairchild an apple is red. He'll say, no it's not, technically — red is just your perception.
"I could change the color of illumination on that apple and make it look green or blue or something completely different," he says. "The redness isn't a property of the apple. It's a property of the apple in combination with a particular lighting that's on it and a particular observer looking at it."
(Via the Radiolab Tumblr)
Am I doing it wrong?
Comments? I don't do open comments. Life is too short.

subset: commoncrawl


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- Bottle: 0,75 L.
- Serving Temperature: 16-18 ºC (60,80-64,40 ºF)
Finca Villacreces is a red wine made from Tempranillo, Cabernet Saugvinon and Merlot by Bodegas Finca Villacreces in Ribera del Duero (Spain). This wine is 14 months in french oak barrel.
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Are you a business that sells goods? You should be on Twitter too.
If I told you you could use Twitter to your advantage without actually USING Twitter, would you be willing to give it a shot? This is directed at businesses already on Instagram who don't believe they need Twitter: If you're already taking the time to post pretty pictures of what you're selling or doing, there is no reason why you aren't on Twitter too.
First of all, being on Twitter is another great way for people to
- Connect with you.
- Find you.
- Talk about you.
Pictures do really well on Twitter and most of the apps you can use (except Twitter.com) will provide a preview of the picture you just posted on Instagram, so people will still get the an idea of what you are trying to say (even if your caption might get cut off a bit).
It only takes a few minutes to start a Twitter account, add your logo and create a profile. It takes even less time to connect the accounts from Instagram and save for the occasional check to follow people or respond to tweets from customers (that's right, I said "customers" because I guarantee your customers are on Twitter) you really don't have to do much more than you're already doing.
Who should use Twitter? Any business that wants to promote its products. So if you own a store, a restaurant, you're a designer or artist, if you have anything that's visually pleasing and you use Instagram, just go to your settings, then tap on Share Settings and link to Twitter.
Whether or not you want to update with non-Instagram posts, that's up to you. But if you haven't already joined Twitter for your business, I recommend that you do so and go ahead and connect Instagram to it and not miss out on even more business coming through your door.
Have more questions about using social media for your business? Email me and let's see how I can help empower you with the knowledge and tools to enhance your marketing!


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There are 1 million and 1 ways you a marriage can be destroyed… This is not a post to help you destroy your home or any marriage, but to guide you from the little things you ignore but are threats to your happy marriage.
Marriage is sweet, especially when you get it right, there is no marriage that dont have its ups and down but your ability to spot threat and overcome is what make you both a winner… You can be there for your partner, when you see them going astray you should be able to understand and let him/her know your happiness is at stake especially where children are involved already. Remember this saying "When two elephants fight the grass suffer" dont let your kids and your marriage suffer what could be avoided.
1. DECLARE WAR AGAINST YOUR IN-LAWS: Seriously your In-Laws has a vital rolls to play in your marriage avoiding fights with them will help you alot, infact if you think they are troublsome kind of people keeping them at a distance will help you else try every possible best to makesure fight dont ensue between you and them. If you must avoid this 7 THINGS YOU DO THAT DESTROY YOUR MARRIAGE then you must follow what is written down here for you.
2. CRITICIZE YOUR SPOUSE'S PARENTING… ON EVERY ISSUE: Why do you think its only your family that is perfect, why condemn your spouse parents, remember you have married their child and criticizing their child means you are telling them they are not good in child upbringing etc. So if you dont want to trouble dont say bad about your spouse parent no matter what. lol
3. SNEAK OUT TO MAKE PHONE CALLS OR RECEIVE CALLS: No matter how important it is, no matter the kind of surprise you are planning for your spouse, make sure you are not caught sneaking out with your mobile phone else, it might turn war of questions and answering session for you. Hahahaha just keep to this warning ooOo.
4. THROW AROUND THE IDEA OF DIVORCE FREQUENTLY: Say What! Don't even say it, or repeat it if you have said it before, on no condition should you bring up that word to threaten your spouse, dont even joke with it or tempt them with it… Seriously it don't make your spouse feel normal when you are always using this word of threat on them.
Though I don't encourage domestic violent in marriage, if your spouse is abusing you then report to the family members and appropriate authority. Don't forget you are trying to avoid the 7 THINGS YOU DO THAT DESTROY YOUR MARRIAGE.
5. BE IN LOVE WITH YOUR PHONE AND TV: This is painful, how can you spend so much time with your gadget forgetting the fact that your lovely, beautiful spouse is seating close to you or trying to keep you company?
6. PUT OTHERS BEFORE YOUR SPOUSE: If you prioritize your friends, co-workers or family over your spouse, you are definitely going to have trouble at the home front. There can be no divided loyalties. When you got married and started your own family, that's where your primary loyalty needs to be. Your spouse deserves your firsts, not your left overs. Your spouse's opinions and ideas should always matter more than others.
7. Give Your Spouse the Silent Treatment:The silent treatment says you've quit on the relationship. You are no longer willing to work on resolving any conflict. It's punishing, demeaning, and shaming. You've essentially created a defensive posture that allows nothing in or out. Be warned, this sort of tactic is a sure sign of an ailing relationship. This response typically comes from a place where the conflict has become so overwhelming, that your emotional self shuts down. While there is definitely a time to walk away for a moment and cool down, doing so cannot be to punish your spouse or stop them from being heard.
8. STOP HAVING SEX:A surefire way to create emotional distance between you and your spouse is to create a wide chasm physically. Intimacy is the glue that holds couples together and sex should be on your to do list. And trust us, no one has ever said after an orgasm, "Well, that was a waste of time!" Are you too busy? Schedule it. Stop making excuses!
So now you know 7 THINGS YOU DO THAT DESTROY YOUR MARRIAGE you can share it with your friends and loved ones…
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"It's very important to plant something every day, that way your land will always be producing, even if it takes some time for the fruits to show themselves." When Sahila (Chief) Esterbino Evans gives advice like this, as he often does while working, it's hard to know if the metaphors are intentionally implied of if he's literally just talking about the bananas and cassava we're planting together on his parcel of land in the jungle. Either way, I am learning that whether you're living off the land or some far-removed source of funding, the Guna's perspective on life is very useful. Regardless of the fact that leatherback nesting season has yet to begin in the Caribbean, these first few months of community engagement and rapport building in Armila have been an invaluable component of the research process. Below are updates on some of the projects that have been sown in the past few months.
"Bunagunasob" Science Club
In the Guna language, "Bunagunasob" is the scientific name of the leatherback sea turtle. The extracurricular Bunagunasob Science Club is composed of several middle-school students with an inclination towards conservation biology that have the opportunity to present their work at a national science fair in Panama City. In 2014, the club will be involved with collecting and publishing sea turtle nesting data in accordance with the SWOT Program's Minimum Data Standards for Sea Turtle Nesting Beach Monitoring. The club will also be an integral part of Amanda's efforts in plastic pollution and community outreach.
The Turtle House
Although remote, Armila sits smack on the political meeting place of South and North America, which is frequented by backpackers from all over the world and eco-tourists from both Colombia and Panama. Since my friends in Armila have been kind enough to house me free of charge, I've decided to invest my lodging budget in the collaborative construction of a community-managed guesthouse, so that the community can benefit directly from the growing ecotourism sector. Our donation will be matched by the community's labor in harvesting locally available construction materials. The planned house will not only be furnished with a septic tank, solar power, and a kitchen, but will serve as a information center for tourists and research base for local and foreign conservationists studying the area's globally notable leatherback sea turtle population.
English Classes
English is a requisite for dealing with international tourists and getting a decent job outside this indigenous reserve. And although English is taught at all levels in school, none of the teachers here have more than a rudimentary knowledge of the language. Four weeks into our extracurricular English classes, Amanda Gibson and I have established a small group of dedicated students (adults and minors) who have mastered basic introductory phrases and a practical knowledge of numbers (counting money, negotiating prices). We hope to increase the number of students come January, and will continue to give weekly classes over the course of our visit.
ARAP Visit
A delegation from the Panamanian Authority on Aquatic Resources visited in late November to conduct the surveys necessary to name Armila a nationally-recognized Special Reserve Zone. Amanda and I were able to organize a town-hall panel with citizens from diverse sectors of to community to help explain the government's role in brining new sustainable development projects to the community. More on this in my last post.
Heading-off Light Pollution Issues
A recently implemented project from the Interamerican Development Bank funded the installation of over 50 solar panels in Armila, enough to bring light to the school, health clinic, town congress and every household in the town. Amanda Gibson and I are currently working with beachfront homeowners to make sure that newly-installed lights visible from the beach at night will not interfere with sea turtle nesting come February.
Science Curriculum
After several meetings with the Educator's Committee, Amanda and I have been charged with enriching the government-mandated science curriculum with presentations, lectures, and class projects that take advantage of the exceptional natural laboratory that Armila's sea turtle nesting beaches provide. In accordance with the findings of Amanda Gibson's anthropological research, the curriculum will be designed to reconcile western perspectives on the environment with Guna traditional ecological knowledge, and provide students with the necessary resources to follow a career in science or conservation.
After three months here, it is obvious that one of the most discussed issues and the community's predominant concern is the deterioration of the Guna culture. This sentiment doesn't just come from the town elders; I hear it repeatedly from 15, 25, and 30 year-olds as well. Since the Guna culture is what has allowed leatherback turtles to thrive here during the hundreds of years of human presence in the area, this shared sentiment allows me to align my conservation and research goals directly with the development goals of the community. In my field, communicating the value of biodiversity and the importance of sustainable development is more than half of the battle, and the Guna certainly have a more practical and experiential grasp of the concept than I could have ever hoped to have gained from my past work and college degrees. Having traveled to conservation projects all over the world, I can say that this is a very unique situation and I'm grateful to be able to learn from a people that have not yet forgotten the value of healthy, biodiverse ecosystems.
The actual seeds we've planted on our little plot on the edge of town: watermelon, cantelope, cassava, pineapple, 2 squash varieties, tomatoes, carrots, a bunch of herbs/spices and (if we're really lucky) onions.
Chief Sahila Fidel Martinez explains at the middle-school graduation ceremony the importance of education, conservation, and the preservation and practice of the Guna culture.
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New Zealand Film Commission
The New Zealand Film Commission is a Crown entity that invests in the growth, prosperity and promotion of New Zealand's film industry, locations, its film makers and their films. We support the Big Screen Symposium as a place of debate, discussion, information and inspiration.
NZ on Air
New Zealand makes world-class content for all types of screens. In a rapidly changing environment NZ On Air encourages innovation and diversity to serve New Zealand audiences with great public media. We are proud to support the Big Screen Symposium as a place for great ideas to flourish.
Images & Sound
Images & Sound is incredibly proud of, and passionate about New Zealand film and television and we are pleased to have the opportunity to give something back to the industry by supporting the great events at this year's Big Screen Symposium.
Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED)
As Auckland Council's economic growth agency, ATEED is tasked with driving innovation and leading the successful transformation of the regional economy. We do this by maximising Auckland's potential to make our city more attractive than international competitor cities for investing, visiting, doing business, and living. By supporting the growth of a vibrant and competitive economy, we will facilitate new smart money and high-value jobs.
Stage and Screen Travel Services
Stage and Screen are a multi national specialist travel brand experienced with managing your film and production needs. Tight deadlines, large crews and remote locations can all be demanding, let us take care of all the action behind the scenes, allowing you to focus on your craft.
Media, Film and Television,


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In the following pages you will find more specific information about each substance. To access those data, please click on the substance you are interested in.
|Consortium 1 substances (Cs1)
|Consortium 2 substances (Cs2)
|Consortium 3 substance (Cs3)
|Nickel metal
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School of Design
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School of Design student has been shortlisted for the Gillian Dickinson North East Young Sculptor of the Year awards
May 5th, 2017
Art and Design student, Amy McCowie, has been shortlisted for the second Gillian Dickinson North East Young Sculptor of the Year awards. Over 30 young artists applied from across the region. The final shortlist of 12 includes a number of representatives from the region's universities including University of Newcastle, University of Sunderland and Northumbria University. Amy's work will be exhibited at the Cheeseburn in Newcastle on 20-29 May 2017.


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Xi Jinping, the new Communist Party chief and chairman of the Central Military Commission, promoted his first army general on Friday, according to Xinhua, the state news agency. Mr. Xi promoted Wei Fenghe, a member of the military commission and commander of the Second Artillery Corps, to full general. General Wei's unit oversees China's nuclear arsenal. Political observers are now watching how Mr. Xi exercises power with the two titles and whether he can move quickly to build a power base in the civilian and military ranks. Promoting Mr. Wei could be a first move in assembling a loyal core within the military.Continue reading the main story
What's Next


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Welcome to Adobe® Premiere® Elements, a powerful video editing tool that balances precision and control with ease of use. Premiere Elements is ideal for home users, hobbyists, business users and professional videographers—anyone who wants to produce high-quality movies and DVDs from their digital video. In this book, you'll learn the fundamental concepts and techniques that help you master the application.
Adobe Premiere Elements Classroom in a Book® is part of the official training series for Adobe audio and video software from Adobe Systems, Inc.
The lessons are designed so that you can learn at your own pace. If you're new to Adobe Premiere Elements, you'll learn the fundamentals you'll need to master to put the program to work. If you've already been using Adobe Premiere Elements, you'll find that Classroom in a Book teaches many advanced features, including tips and techniques for using this exciting video editing tool.
Each lesson provides step-by-step instructions for creating a specific project. You can follow the book from start to finish, or do only the lessons that meet your interests and needs. Each lesson concludes with a review section summarizing what you've covered. All the video files you need for the lessons are located in the DVD attached to the back cover of this book.


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Social media has become an important component for retail stores. Over 90% of retailers now use 2 or more channels to communicate with customers. I think this article can create some interesting discussion about social media and retailing.
Discussion Questions:
- Why is it important for retailers to use social media?
- Why do you think apparel retailers are the most connected?
- Why do you think Instagram has shown the most growth?
- Do you follow any retailers through social media? If so, which retailers and which social media? If not, why not?


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While the ivory wars of the 1980s more than halved the African elephant population in a short decade, we're seeing a resurgence of poaching today that is proving bloodier than ever. Aided by the convenience of modern technology, transport and commerce, illicit trade in ivory to feed the escalating demand in Asia threatens to repeat the elephant holocaust of 30 years ago.
According to a new report released by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) titled "Making a Killing: A 2011 Survey of Ivory Markets in China," elephant ivory -- or "white gold" as it commonly referred to by Chinese investors and collectors -- has quickly become a new source of capital for criminals involved at every link on the global trade chain -- from elephant poaching to ivory smuggling and selling in the market.
IFAW's report reveals widespread abuse of China's ivory control mechanism and large amounts of illegal ivory available for sale in shops, factories and online. The increasingly difficult-to-control market, the high-profit, low-risk nature of illegal ivory trading and a growing demand for ivory products in China are key drivers of elephant poaching across Africa.
Earlier this year, a tragic killing spree in Cameroon's Bouba Ndjida National Park found half of Cameroon's elephants dead and slaughtered for their ivory. Last month, Sri Lankan authorities seized around 350 illegal elephant tusks weighing nearly 1.5 tons in Colombo port, marking the single biggest ivory haul in the island nation. This follows an unprecedented surge in ivory seizures that occurred in 2011. Altogether, it has been reported that an astounding 5,259 elephant tusks -- totaling more than 23 tons -- were seized worldwide last year alone, representing the lives of at least 2,629 dead elephants.
Although the rampant poaching of elephants is taking place abroad, this issue hits extremely close to home for Americans as well. Elephants are a mainstay of American entertainment, social, and even political culture, but most people don't realize that the U.S. is believed to be the second largest ivory market in the world. A 2008 report by IFAW titled "Killing with Keystrokes" uncovered nearly 4,000 elephant ivory listings as part of an investigation into Internet wildlife trade, with most of the sales taking place on eBay's U.S. site. Consequently, eBay voluntarily instituted a ban on the sale of ivory products not only within the U.S. but worldwide.
This troubling epidemic can no longer be ignored and must be accepted as a global issue that can only be solved with global involvement. The U.S. took the first steps toward confronting this challenge head-on on May 24, when the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led by Sen. John Kerry, held a hearing to examine the global security implications of elephant poaching in Africa.
The hearing -- which included testimonies from Iain Douglas-Hamilton, renowned elephant conservationist, and John Scanlon, Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) -- acknowledged that the illicit trade in wildlife is not only a serious global environmental crime with profoundly negative impacts for endangered species protection, ecosystem stability and biodiversity conservation, but it is also a real and increasing threat to national and global security.
On behalf of IFAW, I call on concerned people around the world to demand that their governments oppose any further international trade of ivory, tighten the regulation and control of all ivory markets, and help range states protect elephants where they live. Furthermore, as individual consumers we should say "no" to ivory.
As Sen. Kerry remarked during the hearing, "It is said that the elephant never forgets. Well, nor should we."
Fred O'Regan is President and CEO of the Massachusetts-based International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).


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Artificial Hen and Chick Succulent Bouquet Pick - 2.5" Wide
Looking for artificial wedding succulents? Check out this adorable hen and chick succulent bouquet pick in green with a gray hue. This green grey hen and chick pick is perfect to create modern wedding bouquets and add texture and unique detail!
- Green with Gray Hue
- 9.5" Tall x 2.5" Wide
Shipping & Returns
- Economy Shipping: 2-8 business days (estimated)
- Ground Shipping: 1-4 business days (estimated)
- Expedited, International, and SmartPost options available at checkout.
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Return this item within 30 days for a full product refund. Return Policy »


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Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Mix the grits and 1 1/2 cups water in a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave until thickened, about 4 minutes. Stir occasionally until slightly cooled. Meanwhile, coat four 10-ounce ramekins with cooking spray and sprinkle with parmesan; tap out the excess. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet.
Combine the cooled grits, corn, cream cheese, egg yolks, thyme, 1/2 cup parmesan and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a blender. Puree until smooth, stopping the motor to stir by hand if needed (the mixture will be thick). Transfer to a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites and 1/2 teaspoon vinegar until medium peaks form. Fold one-quarter of the whites into the grits mixture, then fold in the rest. Pour the batter into the prepared ramekins. Bake until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Toss the arugula with the remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar, the olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with the souffles.
Photograph by Antonis Achilleos
Courtesy of Food Network Magazine
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Get a sneak-peek of the new Food Network recipe page and give us your feedback.See it Now!


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U.S. National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci recently encouraged flu scientists to continue adhering to a voluntary moratorium on potentially dangerous influenza research.
Fauci made the comments while attending a NIAID meeting of flu scientists in New York City. He added that scientists should continue to engage the public to gain support for their risky, but valuable, work, according to ScienceMag.org.
"The flu scientific community can no longer be the only player in the discussion about this research," Fauci said, ScienceMag.org reports. "You will unquestionably lose the battle for public support for your research if you ignore this issue."
Thirty-nine scientists announced the beginning of the moratorium in January amid the controversy surrounding the publishing of two H5N1 influenza studies. The studies showed how researchers created strains of H5N1 avian influenza more easily acquired by humans.
The U.S. government's National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity initially asked that portions of the studies be redacted because safety concerns, but reversed itself later after a lengthy review.
The moratorium was initially supposed to last for only 60 days, but has been extended indefinitely. Fauci, who himself is not a signatory to the moratorium, told a U.S. Senate committee that it should continue until the issue was further discussed.
"There is a real and present danger of the natural evolution of the virus and that is why you do the experiments that might appear to be risky in the eyes of some," Fauci said, ScienceMag.org reports. "You do the experiments so we can stay ahead of the naturally evolving risk."


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Wandering Around in Seattle
November 27, 2013 -Read the Full Post »
Photographing The Boys
November 27, 2013 - I've been playing around with flash a bit and some ideas for studio photos.Read the Full Post »
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Learn Reveal Sound Spire In Hours, Not Weeks. MAKE THE SOUNDS YOU WANT!
Reveal Sound's Spire, is an attractive and capable software synth for sound designers of almost every genre. A strong foundation in subtractive synthesis combined with surprisingly adaptable wavetable and waveform features delivers something for everyone from design purists, to commercial edm producers. Spire's unconventional hybrid-style features have attracted a dedicated and rapidly growing cult following in just a few short years.
ADSR's Spire Masterclass Tutorial provides an overview and explanation of every knob, feature and slider in the synth and shows you how to create leads, basses and plucks. Find out why Spire is so popular and how to get what you want out of this beast of a soft synth!


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We've all been there. You've found the perfect item online, you've selected the correct options, and all you want to do is pay for it. But… No… You have to create an account.
It's the sort of thing that can make you throw down your tablet, lob your laptop, and head to the actual shops instead. After all, you don't always want to create an account. Sometimes you just want to buy the item.
Good news!
Etsy have updated their checkout processes:
Etsy is making it easier for the millions of people who shop online to discover and purchase products. Now, anyone can browse, add items to their cart and make purchases on Etsy without having to create an account.
Sounds pretty straightforward, but there is an Etsy help page for guest checkouts in case anyone has questions. This new feature will be rolling out across Etsy shops in the coming weeks.
What should you do with this new-found freedom to shop? Get yourself over to my Etsy shop and have a good look around. All are (now!) welcome.
Plus, there's a sale on!
I am busy preparing a brand new range of cards and prints and I want to free-up some virtual shelf space to show off my new stock. This means that all photo cards and prints must go.
Get 20% off all photo cards and prints until 30 May.


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I hired Angelina for a professional house cleaning. But it's not a simple service, they do all their work totally naked, so it's just a double favour for me. This brunette babe with huge butt and big tits was so good, that I decided to pay her with my dick. She was not against, good deal! Relax and enjoy!
- paul
- : 6min 56sec
- : 17 Jul 2014
- Exclusive video
- : Angelina


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Pittsburgh Steelers Tickets
The Pittsburgh Steelers are an NFL football team from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1933, they are the oldest team in the American Football Conference, of which they play in the North Division; they are also the fifth oldest franchise in the NFL. The Steelers have won six Super Bowl titles, which is the league record.
The Steelers team colors are black, gold, and white. Their home stadium is Heinz Field. Be there as the Steelers make a run for the Super Bowl!
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This is not where Iowa mom planned to have her baby
This is not where Iowa mom planned to have her baby
ANKENY, Iowa —
A paramedic has helped a suburban Des Moines woman with the home delivery of her baby son.
The Des Moines Register reports that Kosha McLean's contractions started about 6 a.m. Monday at her home in Ankeny and progressed so rapidly she knew she and her husband, Stacy, wouldn't make it to a hospital on time.
Paramedic Justin Vander Leest and other first responders soon arrived, and he stepped up to help in what was his first baby delivery in a seven-year career.
The so-far-unnamed boy has a 2-year-old brother waiting at home to play with him.
Stacy McLean says he and his wife "were not planning a home birth. That was for sure."


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Here is a great clinical study on the use of hypnosis for stress reduction.
Here is a great clinical study on the use of hypnosis for stress reduction. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071579/
Get Ready for the New You
NEVER lose hope. Change is possible!
Online Therapy Options
Online therapy is the perfect platform for hypnotherapy. This is because hypnosis provides very deep relaxation. Sessions in your own home allow you to stay rested in a supportive environment instead of returning out into hustle and bustle of the world. There is no difference in the effectiveness of hypnotherapy whether it is done in person or online and online sessions allow for a greater flexibility in scheduling. Please contact us if you have more questions.
The Power of Thought
We are only just beginning to understand the incredible power of our minds. Current research shows how the slightest negative or positive thoughts can effect our emotions and body. With hypnotherapy you can tap into this power and easily make the changes in your life that you've always desired. You can truly make your dreams come true!
Hypnotherapy has proven to be more empowering, inspiring, healing and effective that I could have ever anticipated. Cassandra's calming demeanor and intuition provide a safe, open environment to fully experience true healing sessions. The clarity and mission-driven purpose of my life are supercharged following a session and I could not be more grateful to have such a valuable resource.
EA- Tallahassee, FL
I was dealing with self-confidence issues. I went to Cassandra after hearing her ad on the radio. At first I was skeptical as to whether or not hypnotherapy would actually work for me but, it only took one session for me to notice improvement in my behavior. Today, after competing the remainder of my sessions, I feel like a brand new person with unlimited potential. I no longer question my abilities or doubt myself in social interactions with others. I feel like I can take on any challenge without being afraid of failure. Cassandra did not just provide me with a temporary fix for my problem, she gave me the tools I need to improve my life and grow as a person. I strongly recommend that anyone considering hypnotherapy go for it! I am glad I did and I am positive that it can help others too!
CM- Tallahassee, FL
After years of sleep issues, I can honestly say that I am finally able to sleep through the night. I suffered from chronic insomnia for the last 10 years after the death of my husband and Cassandra helped me work through the deeply seeded issues of loss and trauma that were keeping me awake. I am feeling better than ever and feel like I have my life back. Hypnotherapy really helped me.
Janice W. – Tallahassee, FL
Thanks to you I've been able to lose the weight I wanted to and your technique made it so easy. Using hypnosis gave me the will power to eat
only when I need to and to make better food choices when I do eat. Because I didn't need to lose a lot of weight, I didn't want to try any of those
radical weight loss programs or group meetings. This process was absolutely
painless and gives me a lifestyle and a frame of mind that I can easily live
with for the rest of my life.
Thank you,
-MH, Tallahassee
Hypnotherapy in the News
- Hypnosis for Stress Reduction
- Oprah and Hypnosis for Weight Loss
- If You Can't Sleep…
- Hypnosis Used to Help Birthing
- Hypnosis Used As Crime Fighting Tool
- Self Hypnosis Could Be the Key to Overcoming Anxiety
- Think Yourself Thin
- Success with Hypnosis and Smoking Cessation
- Tonsils removed under Hypnosis.


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A question we get all the time is about the look of promotional models and how it affects brand image. Are all attractive promotional models created equal? The simple answer to that question is no because there are certain characteristics that mesh with certain companies and shows and not others.
For example, a promotional model that might be a perfect fit for a swimwear trade show may not work for a tech conference. Depth of knowledge is one obvious reason why this is true, but also certain looks play better at certain shows.
It is the modeling agency's responsibility to provide you with models that mesh with your brand and do not push you off message. It's important to understand that all models and agencies are not created equal and one size does not fit all. A promotional model is an extension of your company and it's important that you are taken seriously. A certain level of marketing sophistication should always be a prerequisite.
VFD Models creates events and booth experiences for brands that leave indelible memories in the minds of those who attend.


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Saddle Up for a Pony Ride at Sandy Hill Farm
May 17, 2016 | klein
"A laidback oasis close to the city." That's how a local describes the atmosphere of Sandy Hill Farm. Located in Plymouth Meeting, Sandy Hill Farm has been a family-run business for 30 years and counting. It's the perfect place to take young children for a fun and unique learning experience!
Sandy Hill Farm is particularly popular for kids' birthday parties. Experience a full petting farm with goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, bunnies, and pigs. After the petting farm, you can head over to brush the ponies and even hop in the saddle yourself. To end your party, you'll embark on a scenic hayride around the farm, then relax in the party room with refreshments and of course, cake.
Sandy Hill Farm also offers a summer camp for animal lovers from ages 3-11 years old, where they will learn basic horseback riding skills and animal care.
Sandy Hill Farm
1918 Sandy Hill Road
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(610) 275-7551


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Stolen Flintstones car returned to Sacramento comics store
The replica of the Flintstones' car stolen last month from in front of World's Best Comics and Toys has been recovered by police and returned to the Sacramento, California, store.
According to the Merced Sun-Star, surveillance video from a nearby bowling alley captured footage of three high school-age suspects loading the 200-pound vehicle — it's actually a wooden raft with two metal 55-gallon drums instead of wheels — into the back of a truck. That enabled Sacramento County sheriff's deputies to track the Flintmobile to a ranch in El Dorado County.
Deputies delivered the replica to World's Best Comics and Toys on Monday, where it joined another Flintmobile, this one donated last week by Mark Runyan of Folsom, who built it for Halloween (store owner Dave Downey said he'll ask Folsom whether he wants it back). The recovered car is now chained to the store.
As for the three teenagers? Downey told the newspaper they were apologetic, and he's decided not to press charges. Instead, they've agreed to do some work at the store.
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AHCL State Cultural Arts Judges Guidelines
Judges shall examine each item individually and thoroughly.
Suggested emphasis for judging:
50% workmanship and quality
For the art categories:
For general crafts:
For stitching categories:
Using the above criteria, the judges shall award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category. Honorable Mention awards shall be given to items that the judges feel should be recognized for one or more areas of emphasis.
The judges shall come to an agreement without undue influence from any one judge or any member.
Single entries in a category: If a category has only one entry, that item will be considered a first place winner and will require no attention from the judges.


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|1,108 sq. ft.
|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|1 - 3 nights
This fantastic two bedroom apartment is one of our new listings in the prestigious St. George Wharf, offering direct views towards the Thames.
The apartment has been well designed with a contemporary style, fresh and ultra-modern. Facilities are up there with the best London hotels, making it ideal for a family or friends getaway to London.
Located on the 4th floor it offers stunning views of the river Thames. This apartment is fitted with a high specification kitchen in a spacious open plan living/dining room. The Kitchen can be also closed off with french doors.
Master Bedroom:
King size bed, Egyptian cotton linen, en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower.
2nd Bedroom:
Double bed, Egyptian cotton linen.
2nd bathroom:
bathtub and shower
5 seater sofa plus armchair, Dining table, 42" TV, Sky & freeview. Inflatable king bed for 5th & 6th guest.
Hob, oven, microwave, toaster, kettle, Dolce Gusto coffee machine, sandwich toaster, dishwasher, washer/dryer.
CT Apartments was founded July 2015 by two young and motivated hospitality professionals. With a combined experience of 20 years in the Hotel industry the founders decided to manage luxury modern apartments in London prime locations in order to compete with the Hotel industry.
CT Apartments offers luxurious short stay apartments at a fraction of the price of a standard hotel room. By offering key management to private landlords it allows us to be successful and offer a larger portfolio of apartments to our guest.
Visit to view our apartments and services. Our apartments are also listed in Airbnb.
St George Wharf is a landmark riverside development spanning across 7 acres of London's hottest area of regeneration, and conveniently, just moments from London's Vauxhall Underground Station. Initially rising 22 storeys but now with the addition of the 48 storey Tower, the tallest sole residential building in the UK, St George Wharf is a focal point of the South Bank. The main development is easily identifiable by its gull-wing roofs and stylish terraces; Broadway Malyan Architects had a willingness to champion innovation and as such have designed an original and expressive building with a fantastic attention to detail. Riverside living does not get much better than this.
Residents of this SW8 development, St George Wharf, often comment on its sense of community, with a stunning series of landscaped courtyards and elegant fountains creating an idyllic rural atmosphere in the heart of central London. St George Wharf combines this serene courtyard with state of the art facilities; amenities include a supermarket, restaurant and bar, an NHS Doctors, dentist, a 24hr gymnasium and a spa offering a wide variety of treatments.
Great location next to Subway station and waterbus for going on the river. Owners are very helpful and service minded. Enjoyed easy access to grocery store and restaurants
Great location. Perfect view.
Reason for 4 stars is We did have electrical issues, two hanging lights in the Bathroom that hung at least 1 foot from the ceiling with visible wires. We notified owner who kindly got someone to come try to sort it right away. However, the lights needed a part that they did not have on hand, So the lights were temporary fixed with Tape. This however did not last long and they came down again. The Apartment had two Bathrooms but with 5 of us this is why I wanted two Bathrooms so we could all get ready quicker.
The weather was unusually hot, we had to buy two fans so we could stay cool at night. Its a very warm apartment, great for winter time. ( It would have been nice to have had fans on hand) our stay would have been horrible without the ones we purchased. Beds were just ok little springy and low to the ground, but for 3 nights this was ok. There was only one pillow per person (5) of us which is not really good. Who sleeps with one pillow? We had to use our towels to put underneath. Fridge, coffee maker, toaster Kettle and dishwasher all worked great. Washer worked fine but not good at drying. Only given 1 Bath towel and 1 hand towel per person. However I had to request one for the 5th person. Which they did give me once requested. We stayed for 3 nights.
We stayed during the week days and had no issues with noise at all.
The apartment is in an amazing location, steps to the Vauxhall Station, should you wish to use the subway system, and within walking distance of many of the top London sites. The apartment is perfect for two couples or a family. Nice view of the Thames River is the icing on the cake. Comfortable beds and a quiet location on weekday evenings. We can confidently recommend a stay here.
Good location and lovely place
The flat was perfectly located next to the Vauxhall station. The biggest concern was the noise. Londoners know how to party into the late night hours on Fri and Sat nights. We enjoyed the fresh air so we left the windows open at night but since the building is built of glass and concrete, every sound can be heard.
The flat itself was nice and we enjoyed ourselves. We were surprised the toilet in the hall bath had a pump flushing function instead of a normal flush and it got annoying rather quickly. We also had an issue finding trash can liners and the trash receptacle. I opened every drawer in the place trying to find items and finally found the trash chute at the end of the hall, around the corner, close to the lift. The second bedroom's electrical plugs never worked. I wasn't an issue for us but I found it odd.
I loved that we were met by the couple and they showed us around the flat. It was a nice touch. It was great to get some tips on where things in the local area were located. They were also quick in answering all of my questions prior to the trip and I would work with them again the furture.
Nice flat with lovely views over the Thames. Well located, right next door to Vauxhall underground and overground stations, which made it really convenient for travelling around the city.
Flat was well equipped and very comfortable. Very good sofa bed in lounge meant it accommodated 6 comfortably.
Would happily stay again and recommend to others.
Kristina and Carlos were good to deal with and responsive to our pre-stay questions.
St George Wharf is a riverside development in Central London, located on the southern bank of the River Thames beside Vauxhall Bridge. It is one of London most famous developments of modern (website hidden). George Wharf is located just by Vauxhall rail and underground station (zone 1, Victoria line) and is ideal for local and national links. Oxford Circus is only 8 minutes away by tube. All distances are approximate.
|Rental Period
|Minimum Price
|Additional Nights
|Weekend Night
|Event Price
Nightly Rate
5 Aug 2018 - 31 Aug 2018
3 night minimum stay
for 3 nights
|Notes: Rates are based on 4 guests; add £7 per night, per additional guest
Nightly Rate
31 Dec 2018 - 31 Dec 2018
3 night minimum stay
for 3 nights
|Notes: Rates are based on 4 guests; add £7 per night, per additional guest
My Standard Rate
1 night minimum stay
for 1 night
|Notes: Rates are based on 4 guests; add £7 per night, per additional guest
|Cleaning fee