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Womble EasyDVD Review
March 29, 2010 Filed under Software Reviews
Review of Womble EasyDVD
Womble EasyDVD is a streamlined, easy-to-use DVD authoring program for those of us who don't want to deal with extraneous features and jargon that will leave us scratching our heads in confusion. Its step by step workflow and the self-explanatory functional layout makes DVD authoring as simple, quick, and intuitive as possible, enabling you to create your own DVD in a few clicks.
It is incredibly easy-to-use because it has simplified the DVD authoring process intosix self-explanatory steps. Those who are new to the DVD authoring process are going to get the most of this program. But this is not to say that Womble EasyDVD is limited by its simplicity — imagine being able to burn two DVD titles onto a single disk, to convert MPEG video files to DVD movies, or to re-edit your movies to exclude unwanted scenes! And imagine being able to do all of this with the greatest speed and with no loss in quality!
Once you have all the elements added, you can preview your video, create the file and then, if you choose, burn it to disc or ISO. Conversion is relatively fast with Womble EasyDVD, and you can pause the process if you like. You can also save your DVD specifications as a template, to speed up the process in the future.
Click here to download the 30-day free trial(no watermark, no function disabled or crippled) or buy Womble EasyDVD.
Key features:
- Simple workflow and intuitive UI
- Edit out unwanted scenes with frame accuracy and minimal video re-encoding
- Can merge multiple videos into one movie title
- Can add multiple movie titles into one DVD
- No re-encoding when converting MPEG video files into a DVD movie(in free dvd output size)
- Full AC-3 audio encoder support
- Extensible menu templates
- Support multi-layer menu design
- Add background music, image, and video to your menu
- Can add intro video with First Play and End Action function
- Can save your DVD menu design to the menu template list for future use.
- Real-time video preview before DVD export
- Shrink Your Video to Fit onto Different Media
- DVD and ISO Burning
- Video: MPG, MPV, MP4, VOB, MP2, AVI, ASF, DAT, QuickTime MOV, Panasonic VRO, REC, M2T, TS, RMVB, WMV.
- Image: BMP,GIF,JPG, PNG, TGA, ICO
- Audio: MPEG Audio (MPA), WAV, Dolby Digital, WMA, RM, MP3
- DVD disc: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD-RAM, DVD±R DL


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This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.
Prognosis in this disease is difficult to assess consistently because there is great variability in the time before diagnosis and the rate of disease progression. In large retrospective series of pleural mesothelioma patients, important prognostic factors were found to be:[1,2]
Various surgical procedures may be possible in selected patients, and they provide long-term survival without cure. For patients treated with aggressive surgical approaches, factors associated with improved long-term survival include the following:[3,4]
For those patients treated with aggressive surgical approaches, nodal status is an important prognostic factor.[3] Median survival has been reported as 16 months for patients with malignant pleural disease and 5 months for patients with extensive disease. In some instances the tumor grows through the diaphragm making the site of origin difficult to assess. Cautious interpretation of treatment results with this disease is imperative because of the selection differences among series. Effusions, both pleural and peritoneal, represent major symptomatic problems for at least 66% of the patients. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Cardiopulmonary Syndromes for more information.) A history of asbestos exposure is reported in about 70% to 80% of all cases of mesothelioma.[1,5,6]
Histologically, these tumors are composed of fibrous or epithelial elements or both. The epithelial form occasionally causes confusion with peripheral anaplastic lung carcinomas or metastatic carcinomas. Attempts at diagnosis by cytology or needle biopsy of the pleura are often unsuccessful. It can be especially difficult to differentiate mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma on small tissue specimens. Thoracoscopy can be valuable in obtaining adequate tissue specimens for diagnostic purposes.[1] Examination of the gross tumor at surgery and use of special stains or electron microscopy can often help. The special stains reported to be most useful include periodic acid-Schiff diastase, hyaluronic acid, mucicarmine, CEA, and Leu M1.[2] Histologic appearance seems to be of prognostic value, and most clinical studies show that patients with epithelial mesotheliomas have a better prognosis than those with sarcomatous or mixed histology mesotheliomas.[2,3,4]
Patients with stage I disease have a significantly better prognosis than those with more advanced stages. Because of the relative rarity of this disease, exact survival information based upon stage is limited.[1]
Definitions of TNM
The American Joint Committee on Cancer has designated staging by TNM classification to define malignant mesothelioma.[2]
International Mesothelioma Interest Group Staging System for Diffuse Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Standard treatment for all but localized mesothelioma is generally not curative. Although some patients will experience long-term survival with aggressive treatment approaches, it remains unclear if overall survival (OS) has been significantly altered by the different treatment modalities or by combinations of modalities. Extrapleural pneumonectomy in selected patients with early stage disease may improve recurrence-free survival, but its impact on OS is unknown.[1] Pleurectomy and decortication can provide palliative relief from symptomatic effusions, discomfort caused by tumor burden, and pain caused by invasive tumor. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Pain for more information.) Operative mortality from pleurectomy/decortication is less than 2%,[2] while mortality from extrapleural pneumonectomy has ranged from 6% to 30%.[1,3]
The addition of radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy following surgical intervention has not demonstrated improved survival.[2] The use of radiation therapy in pleural mesothelioma has been shown to alleviate pain in the majority of patients treated; however, the duration of symptom control is short-lived.[4,5] Single-agent and combination chemotherapy have been evaluated in single and combined modality studies. The most studied agent is doxorubicin, which has produced partial responses in approximately 15% to 20% of patients studied.[6] Some combination chemotherapy regimens have been reported to have higher response rates in small phase II trials; however, the toxic effects reported are also higher, and there is no evidence that combination regimens result in longer survival or longer control of symptoms.[6,7].
Recurrent pleural effusions may be treated with pleural sclerosing procedures; however, failure rates are usually secondary to the bulk of the tumor, which precludes pleural adhesion due to the inability of the lung to fully expand.
Standard treatment options:[1]
Treatment options under clinical evaluation:
Current Clinical Trials
Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with localized malignant mesothelioma. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.
General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site.
Standard treatment options:
A large, randomized study from the United Kingdom (BTS-MRC-MS01) compared active symptom control (ASC) with the chemotherapy regimens of mitomycin C, vinblastine, and cisplatin (MVP) or single-agent vinorelbine.[17] The trial was sized to detect a difference of 9 to 12 months in median survival with a total of 840 patients. As a result of slow accrual, the two chemotherapy regimens were collapsed, and the statistical plan revised. In a total of 409 patients, no significant difference in survival was detected between ASC and chemotherapy.[17][Level of evidence: 1iiA]
Many phase II trials of chemotherapy have been reported.[6,7,9] The safety and efficacy of pemetrexed, an antifolate, and cisplatin in chemotherapy-naive patients with malignant mesothelioma who were not eligible for curative surgery was demonstrated in a randomized phase III trial.[18][Level of evidence: 1iiA] This trial compared pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2 on day 1) with cisplatin alone (75 mg/m2 on day 1 intravenously every 21 days). With a total of 456 enrolled patients in the trial, 226 patients received pemetrexed plus cisplatin, 222 patients received cisplatin alone, and 8 patients did not receive therapy. After 117 patients had enrolled, folic acid and vitamin B12 were added to reduce toxic effects. Folic acid (350–1,000 µg orally) was given daily, beginning 1 to 3 weeks before the first chemotherapy dose and continuing daily until 1 to 3 weeks after treatment ended. A vitamin B12 injection (1,000 µg intramuscularly) was administered 1 to 3 weeks before the first chemotherapy dose and was repeated approximately every 9 weeks until treatment ended. Dexamethasone (4 mg) or an equivalent corticosteroid was administered orally twice daily for skin rash prophylaxis to all patients 1 day before, on the day of, and 1 day after each pemetrexed dose.
In an analysis of all patients who were randomly assigned and treated, the combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin was associated with a statistically significant improvement in survival compared with cisplatin alone; the median survivals were 12.1 versus 9.3 months, respectively (P = .020). The hazard ratio for death of patients in the pemetrexed plus cisplatin arm versus those in the control arm was 0.77. Median time-to-progression was significantly longer in the pemetrexed plus cisplatin arm (5.7 months vs. 3.9 months, P = .001). This superiority in the combination arm was also demonstrated in the vitamin-supplemented subgroup. The median survivals were 13.3 and 10.0 months in the combination group and cisplatin alone group, respectively (P = .051). The principal adverse effects of the pemetrexed plus cisplatin regimen were myelosuppression, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and dyspnea. Most grade 3 to 4 adverse effects were significantly reduced by vitamin supplementation without any decrease in efficacy.
A randomized, phase III trial of 250 patients was performed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC-08983) to compare cisplatin alone with the combination of raltitrexed, a thymidine synthase inhibitor, and cisplatin in first-line treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.[19] Cisplatin (80 mg/m2 IV) was given on day 1, alone or combined with raltitrexed (3 mg/m2). No toxic deaths resulted, and the main grade 3 or 4 toxicities observed were neutropenia and emesis, which were reported twice as often in the combination arm. Among 213 patients with measurable disease, the response rate was 13.6% versus 23.6%, respectively (P = .056). No difference in quality of life was observed. The combination arm was associated with an increased survival. Median overall and 1-year survival were 8.8 versus 11.4 months, respectively and 40% versus 46%, respectively (P = .048).[19][Level of evidence: 1iiA]
Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma
A multi-institutional, registry study evaluated cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for diffuse, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.[20] Among 401 patients, 187 (46%) had complete or near-complete cytoreduction, and 372 (92%) received HIPEC. Of the HIPEC patients, 311 (83%) received cisplatin and doxorubicin. The median follow-up period was 33 months (range, 1–235 months). Grade 3 to 4 complications were seen in 127 (31%) of the 401 patients, and 9 patients (2%) died perioperatively.
The mean length of hospital stay was 22 days (standard deviation, 15 days). The overall median survival was 53 months (1–235 months), and 3- and 5-year survival rates were 60% and 47%, respectively. Four prognostic factors were independently associated with improved survival in the multivariate analysis:
This kind of analysis is subject to the biases of strong patient selection.
Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with advanced malignant mesothelioma. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.
Treatment of patients with recurrent mesothelioma usually utilizes procedures and/or agents not previously employed in the initial treatment attempt. No standard treatment approaches have been proven to improve survival or control symptoms for a prolonged period of time. These patients should be considered candidates for phase I and II clinical trials evaluating new biologicals, chemotherapeutic agents, or physical approaches.[1,2,3,4,5,6] Patients with recurrent mesothelioma who have not received prior chemotherapy are candidates for first-line chemotherapy with cisplatin pemetrexed or cisplatin raltitrexed. (Refer to the Advanced Malignant Mesothelioma (Stages II, III, and IV) section of this summary.) However, patients with recurrent mesothelioma who receive surgery, or at least do not receive chemotherapy as part of the primary treatment and recur subsequently, are candidates for chemotherapy.
A large, randomized study compared pemetrexed to best supportive care in 243 patients who received one prior regimen of chemotherapy that did not include pemetrexed.[7][Level of evidence: 1iiA] No survival benefit was shown in patients who received pemetrexed, although the progression-free survival rate, time-to-progression, and the response rates favored the pemetrexed arm.
Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with recurrent malignant mesothelioma. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.
The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.
Editorial changes were made to this summary.
Purpose of This Summary
This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians who care for cancer patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.
Reviewers and Updates
This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Board members review recently published articles each month to determine whether an article should:
Changes to the summaries are made through a consensus process in which Board members evaluate the strength of the evidence in the published articles and determine how the article should be included in the summary.
The lead reviewers for Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment are:
Any comments or questions about the summary content should be submitted to Cancer.gov through the Web site's Contact Form. Do not contact the individual Board Members with questions or comments about the summaries. Board members will not respond to individual inquiries.
Levels of Evidence
Some of the reference citations in this summary are accompanied by a level-of-evidence designation. These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. The PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board uses a formal evidence ranking system in developing its level-of-evidence designations.
Permission to Use This Summary
PDQ is a registered trademark. Although the content of PDQ documents can be used freely as text, it cannot be identified as an NCI PDQ cancer information summary unless it is presented in its entirety and is regularly updated. However, an author would be permitted to write a sentence such as "NCI's PDQ cancer information summary about breast cancer prevention states the risks succinctly: [include excerpt from the summary]."
The preferred citation for this PDQ summary is:
National Cancer Institute: PDQ® Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Date last modified <MM/DD/YYYY>. Available at: http://cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malignantmesothelioma/HealthProfessional. Accessed <MM/DD/YYYY>.
Images in this summary are used with permission of the author(s), artist, and/or publisher for use within the PDQ summaries only. Permission to use images outside the context of PDQ information must be obtained from the owner(s) and cannot be granted by the National Cancer Institute. Information about using the illustrations in this summary, along with many other cancer-related images, is available in Visuals Online, a collection of over 2,000 scientific images.
Based on the strength of the available evidence, treatment options may be described as either "standard" or "under clinical evaluation." These classifications should not be used as a basis for insurance reimbursement determinations. More information on insurance coverage is available on Cancer.gov on the Coping with Cancer: Financial, Insurance, and Legal Information page.
Contact Us
More information about contacting us or receiving help with the Cancer.gov Web site can be found on our Contact Us for Help page. Questions can also be submitted to Cancer.gov through the Web site's Contact Form.
Call 1-800-4-CANCER
For more information, U.S. residents may call the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. A trained Cancer Information Specialist is available to answer your questions.
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The NCI's LiveHelp® online chat service provides Internet users with the ability to chat online with an Information Specialist. The service is available from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Information Specialists can help Internet users find information on NCI Web sites and answer questions about cancer.
Write to us
For more information from the NCI, please write to this address:
Search the NCI Web site
The NCI Web site provides online access to information on cancer, clinical trials, and other Web sites and organizations that offer support and resources for cancer patients and their families. For a quick search, use the search box in the upper right corner of each Web page. The results for a wide range of search terms will include a list of "Best Bets," editorially chosen Web pages that are most closely related to the search term entered.
There are also many other places to get materials and information about cancer treatment and services. Hospitals in your area may have information about local and regional agencies that have information on finances, getting to and from treatment, receiving care at home, and dealing with problems related to cancer treatment.
Find Publications
The NCI has booklets and other materials for patients, health professionals, and the public. These publications discuss types of cancer, methods of cancer treatment, coping with cancer, and clinical trials. Some publications provide information on tests for cancer, cancer causes and prevention, cancer statistics, and NCI research activities. NCI materials on these and other topics may be ordered online or printed directly from the NCI Publications Locator. These materials can also be ordered by telephone from the Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
Last Revised: 2012-07-16
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subset: commoncrawl


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ECB Sees Modest Economic Recovery for Euro Zone
ECB Says Unemployment Remains Near Record Highs
The euro zone's tepid economic recovery is "real" but plenty of risks remain, including the prospect of slower growth in emerging markets and the possibility of an escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Vitor Constancio, European Central Bank's deputy president, said on Saturday.
The currency union's economy posted a third straight quarter of growth at the end of 2013, though gross domestic product fell 0.4% for the year as a whole.
"The recovery is still modest," Mr. Constancio said at a research conference held at the Federal Reserve board in Washington. "The risks are to the downside, not to the upside." Unemployment in the euro zone remains near record highs, with countries like Spain and Greece particularly hard hit.
Mr. Constancio also expressed concern about "very low" inflation, which at 0.7% remains far below the central bank's official target, which is below but close to 2%. He said there is still plenty of slack or spare capacity in the economy, a gap which he doesn't see closing until late 2016 or early 2017.
Still, Mr. Constancio emphasized the ECB has the tools it needs to deal with any possible bumps on the road to recovery, including the possibility of using negative interest rates or resorting to asset purchases.
"We have a situation with inflation being very low," Mr. Constancio said. "These are big challenges for monetary policy."
Praising a European Union agreement this week on a single resolution mechanism for banks, Mr. Constancio said the measure, in addition to bank stress tests he is overseeing, should alleviate lingering concerns about the health of Europe's banking system. He said this was a key step in ensuring the economic expansion is sustained.
Write to Pedro Nicolaci da Costa at email@example.com
Copyright ©2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8


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Student Lounge
Located on the second floor of the Memorial Student Center is the Student Lounge. The Student Lounge is a multi-function room that can be used for various events. There are sofas and individual chairs that can be configured for intimate meetings or study groups. There are study tables available as well as other tables available for groups to sit and eat, study or play games if they so choose.
The Student Lounge can be reserved for special events such as a Poetry Reading, Seminar, or any other imaginable event for a room of moderate size.
The Student Lounge is open seven days a week during normal building hours.
To reserve the Student Lounge for special functions, reservations can be made through the Office of Student Engagement, Memorial Student Center, room 221.


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Adobe Fixes Player, Reader, Acrobat Bugs
The bug, which is in the Flash Player, could allow an attacker to crash the system or gain control in the context of the user. Because Adobe Reader and Acrobat incorporate Flash functionality, they are also affected.
The advisories for Flash, Reader and Acrobat note that there are no known attacks using PDF files as a vector. Reader X for Windows is not included in this update because Protected Mode effectively blocks the attack. Adobe Reader 9.x for UNIX, Adobe Reader for Android, and Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.x are not affected by this issue. Users of other Reader and Acrobat versions can update with Help-Check for Updates. The Flash update is, as always, available at http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/.
Google Chrome users already have this update, as Google issued a Chrome update with it last week.
According to Adobe, the 0-day attack showed up as a Flash object embedded with ActiveX in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and was not widely distributed. Microsoft followed up with instructions on how to stop Office from embedding ActiveX objects.
Originally posted to the PCMag.com security blog, Security Watch.


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Rebel Wilson in "Super Fun Night" on ABC
"Super Fun Night" on ABC has to be one of the more controversial pilots among critics. Written by and starring Rebel Wilson, (who played Kristin Wiig's roommate in "Bridesmaids" and starred in "Pitch Perfect"), the single-camera comedy chronicles three nerdy BFFs who stretch themselves by venturing out of their apartment on Friday nights and encounter odd social situations. It's exec produced by Conan O'Brien.
Wilson is clearly a talent deserving of her own series. The question is whether this is it. She has a distinctive look, style and voice. Some of the self-deprecating lines she writes are hilarious. Now let's see if the show can define itself. (Her authentic Aussie accent is more likeable than the Americanized accent she uses in the pilot.)
Wilson told critics the show is autobiographical. "I used to do this thing with my sister Liberty called Super Fun Friday Nights. We'd sit on the couch eating candy watching DVDs… I kind of strategically forced myself to go out in the world…"
O'Brien said Wilson was "a revelation" as a guest on his show. "What I saw is a television star. She's vulnerable, fearless…"
Wilson plays Kimmie Boubier, Liza Lapira ("Don't Trust the B— in Apartment 23") plays geeky Helen-Alice, Lauren Ash ("Lars and the Real Girl") plays confused about her sexuality Marika.
"The purpose of the show," Wilson said, "is to inspire girls who don't think they're popular or pretty to get out there and have fun and exciting lives, too." There are "some very sad storylines coming" but some wins, too.
Wilson is articulate on the theme of plus-sized girls lacking in self-confidence. She believes she was signed to acting gigs in Hollywood because she is "not like anybody else out there." In her films, 80 percent of her work is improvised, she said; here her work is 20 percent improvised. But improvised versions of each scene are planned.
"Super Fun Night" could find a place between silliness and poignancy. We'll see.
For now, O'Brien's got the right idea: "My job is to let Rebel be Rebel." (Does that include the accent?)


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Project Team Meeting - 1/29/2007
From ConnectivityStudy
1/29/2007 Pre-Planning Document from Nancy
- 1 Introduction
- 2 State Selection Criteria
- 3 State Selection
- Update from MW
- Nancy sent out a summary report for our review
- Surprised that no one had a vision—they just had 'this is what my state is doing now'
- All wanted to talk about their networks—some were vague
- No idea on how to approach states
- Interesting that there was no one size fits all;
- OH was great—no state librarian champion, but still got network
- Thought there would be a champion, but instituationalized early
- Successfully network—3 or 4 people who got together to make it happen
- We should probe into how got together and did what
- A world of difference between looking @ regional networks vs. State-wide network (enormous task)
- State-wide perspective, it is a very small tail wagging a very wide dog—lots of player in states
- Outside person said that they thought the focus groups were great & that the moderator was wonderful…helped them to think about their broadband
- John Winhausen Update
- We have had several meetings w/ the industry folks, think tanks and NARUC
- Conclusions from meetings
- Not enthusiasm for changing our policies
- Current policies in place right now are sufficient
- Barriers noted include lack of industry coming to the table
- Telephone Companies had a couple of priorities
- Tax Relief
- Need for state-wide video franchises
- Wi-Max could be the solution in Rural Areas
- Verizon Fios build-out
- RUS, department of Ag
- Why do we need change?
- Cable
- "We've solved all your problems"
- Increasing their capacity
- Opposed to large-scale broadband plan
- Unserved Areas vs. Underserved
- Areas of agreement
- Private v. Public partnerships
- Connect Kentucky is a good example
- Opposed to build out requirements
- Less incentive to invest if we require them to give cheap access, but we could dictate a price if the broadband is already there
- Rob Atkinson
- State technology policy (including broadband) is coming out soon
- E-Rate from meetings
- We are in a period of data collection
- Trying to probe into what is going on
- Good Idea----states that have nearly 100% E-Rate participation is usually a state network. There is a lot of money left on the table b/c they do not apply for telecomm.
- App window closes on February 2nd, so not probing much into participation
- There are no rules/requirements that would prevent libraries from getting
- 1.2 out of 2.5 billion used for Priority 1
- Priority 1 is funded before priority (and all Priority 1 is guaranteed funding)
- If we stay silent, nothing will happen with that extra $1 billion
- Priority 2 is inside wiring—libraries are rarely eligible for this $$$; mainly goes to schools
- New construction=a good way to apply
- John Bertot update from ALA
- Regional networks are increasing role
- Massachusetts—very large regional
State Selection Criteria
- Criteria to use for selecting states
- Where do we have good information from people on our team?
- States with data from McClure/Bertot Study
- Choosing high connectivity states w/ and some w/out state network
- Unintended consequences
- One suggestion for 'Well connected'
- One state network
- One regional network
- One 'all on your own'
- Video Franchising—background criteria
- Does a state have an Advances Services & Technology Fund?
- Does a state have its own State E-Rate program?
- Industry structure
- Structure of state librarians office (who do they report to?)
- Willingness of state librarian's office to participate
- Exact Criteria
- Do we already know enough?
- Different models
- State
- Regional
- On your own
- Do we know of any unintended consequences?
- Hard Data—from our data stores
- Sustainability issue? Built early—going strong & growing
- Video Franchising (Tie Breaker, may be too early to determine effect)
- Industry structure
- US Geographic Distribution
State Selection
During the selection of states, several were offered as candidates. The ones that were discussed by not selected include: Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, Iowa, Nevada and Mississippi. These were removed from the list for a variety of reasons.
In the end, we selected the below states for visitation based upon states that were highly connected, less than ideally connected and a hybrid example.
States We Will Visit & Data on the Criteria for Selection
- While data doesn't show high success
- All the policy people we have talked to in DC have been enthusiastic about the Connect Kentucky
- One of the first state networks
- Good decision
- Private/Public partnership
- Regional networks for ten years; set up when regional E-Rate coordinators when they first came out
- Not the same from Region to Region
- $2 million out of E-Rate
- Regional does all procurement
- PL&I 50-50 rural; good in suburban and urban
- Standards for libraries
- Connectivity for libs is standardized @ state
- Gave away rights of way at the state level
- Economic development people are interested in broadband development & removed from state
- 2 big telcos AT&T and Verizon
- Good state wide network
- Libraries joined a academic and school network
- State & local funding
- sustainability success
- PL&I looks good—excellent response rate
- about odd that suburban is better than rural
- Video Franchising-Bills introduced on AT&Ts list
- High funding from High-cost USAC
- No state fund; no state Universal Service
- Good state wide network
- Multiple state networks
- Separate K12, Academic, and Library networks
- PL&I good connectivity
- No State connectivity or State E-Rate funds
- Formula for bandwidth
- State librarian is new (2 yrs)
- State Library does a lot of E-Rate training (from Education perspective)
Less Than Ideally Connected
- Good connectivity in suburban and urban, but low low rural connectivity
- Low rural
- State Tech fund
- Rural problems
- State Universal Service
- Diverse industry structure
- On list
- Has state fund…similar to Maine
- Complication of state funding
- Is working on policy implications from the states
- Telecom policy is in the political debate
- State Technology Funds & E-Rate funds
- On their own and regional
- Selected for High (well connected in urban areas and low connectivity in the northern part of the state)
States We will Touch Base With
Several states were not selected to visit for a variety of reasons, but have enthusiastic participants from the MW focus groups or good examples, were selected to have phone conversations with key people to gather additional information include:
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Maine
- Maryland
- Wisconsin


text:
It is well known how to solve a system of linear equations $A{\bf x} = {\bf b}$, but how do we solve a system of linear inequalities $A{\bf x} \leq {\bf b}$?
For the applications I have in mind the most important questions are: (1) determining whether there are any solutions, and if so (2) finding the dimension of the solution set.
If it makes things any easier, the case ${\bf b} = {\bf 0}$ is of particular interest -- how can we effectively compute the dimension of the polyhedral cone $A{\bf x} \leq {\bf 0}$?
This seems closely related to linear programming since we are asking to find the dimension of the feasible region. But just to be clear -- we don't really care about finding any particular solutions, or optimizing an objective function; we only want to know the dimension of the feasible region. I am hoping that this is easier than linear programming in general.
I am especially interested in practical algorithms, but if you know any related theory that would be welcome as well.


text:
Years ago, I attended a workshop given by Jean Houston called "The Sacred Wound of Betrayal." Her key message was that acts of betrayal, large and small, happen in virtually every personal or professional relationship. The important thing is how we deal with and resolve them, and the breaches of trust that follow.
Later I became acquainted with Dennis and Michelle Reina and their innovative book, "Trust and Betrayal in the Workplace: Building Effective Relationships in Your Organization." They have now published "Rebuilding Trust in the Workplace: Seven Steps to Renew Confidence, Commitment and Energy" (Berrett-Koehler, 2010), which I believe many advisors will find an invaluable resource to maximize healing communication and transform workplace relationships.
Olivia Mellan: How did you come to focus on the subject of workplace trust and betrayal?
Dennis Reina: During my experience in government, higher education and corporations—and later on in consulting with Michelle—I saw that the success of any type of change initiative was dependent on one factor: the level of trust in the working relationships of the people involved.
I became very interested in understanding this thing called trust. It was highly complex and emotionally provocative, and meant very different things to different people. Some thought it meant honesty; others, dependability, and still others, competence.
That spurred me to study trust in my doctoral work. I found different academic papers on the definition of trust, but no universal behavioral model that tied it all together. This gave birth to our initial research on defining the behaviors that build trust and break it, and the steps to help rebuild it.
OM: How would you define the central thrust of your work?
DR: The importance of trust in the workplace is universally understood. Where trust is present, individuals, teams and organizations are more confident, committed and energized. They deal better with change, dare to think and work outside the box, and deliver smarter, faster results.
Yet trust is fragile. In the workplace, as in life, it will be built and broken in all kinds of relationships. That's a natural outcome of human interaction. The simple truth, though, is that when trust has been broken, people feel betrayed. What's more, betrayal is universal. Everyone has been betrayed, and everyone has betrayed others. It's how we deal with betrayal, or broken trust, that really matters. The key to sustaining trust at work is to know how to rebuild it, again and again.
OM: My understanding is that betrayal can happen in large and small ways, and both can have a powerful effect.
DR: Minor betrayals are pervasive and erode trust over time. Among the most common are gossiping, backbiting, finger-pointing, blaming, hiding mistakes, avoiding accountability, withholding information, taking credit for others' work, spinning the truth, and turning a blind eye to colleagues in need.
In most workplaces, the accumulation of these "little" betrayals becomes a big problem, negatively impacting people's productivity and performance. According to our research, 90% of employees report that they feel the effects of eroded trust on a daily basis.
Major betrayals affect people suddenly, deeply and dramatically. At the organizational level, they are commonly associated with mismanagement of sweeping changes, such as layoffs, reorganizations, and mergers and acquisitions. At the interpersonal level, they often occur through single hurtful acts, from violating significant confidences to spreading lies about others for personal gain.
OM: Take us through the steps for healing and rebuilding trust once a betrayal has occurred.
DR: Whether you have been betrayed, betrayed someone else, or have a role such as manager, team leader, or HR representative where you want or need to help others, we recommend a seven-step process that can help you learn to muster courage, mend broken trust, and move forward.
Step One is to observe and acknowledge what happened. Betrayal is most often experienced as a loss: the loss of what was or what could have been. To heal and rebuild trust, it's important to acknowledge that loss, and recognize its impact on yourself and others.
OM: Let's say you gossiped about someone at work and what you said got back to them.
DR: You need to apologize for the trust-breaking behavior. In the apology, it's important to acknowledge the impact your actions had on other people, even if what you did was unintentional. For example, you might say, "I gossiped about how you and Joe were spending lots of time together outside of work. I recognize now that by doing so I spread rumors that weren't true and that those rumors have hurt your professional reputation and may be holding you back from future opportunities."
OM: What's next?
DR: Step Two is to allow feelings to surface. Give yourself permission to feel your emotions, whatever they may be, and find proper ways to express them. Write them down, talk them through with a close friend or co-worker or release them through exercise. This is the way to begin working through broken trust.
OM: Let's say you criticized a subordinate's work in a staff meeting and it not only hurt her feelings, but made her worry about her chances for advancement.
DR: Demonstrate that you are sensitive to the impact of your actions. Express your feelings of remorse for having hurt her: "I see that you are angry and I have hurt you. I understand that I have betrayed your trust and I sense that you are worried about your career. I am very ashamed of what I did and I am very disappointed in myself."
Step Three is to get and give support. If you're the one who's been hurt, ask for help to recognize where you're stuck, and shift from blaming to problem-solving. Reach out to your inner circle, such as trusted managers, mentors, coaches or colleagues, and be open to their support.
If you hurt someone else, remember to acknowledge what you are feeling (Step Two). You may have been rushing to meet a deadline or dashing out the door; or you might have had negative feelings about the person whom you slammed, and now you may feel somewhat remorseful. You may need to talk with someone who can listen non-judgmentally to you before you can reach out to the person you hurt.
OM: In the earlier example, when you humiliated a staff member by criticizing her publicly, what can you do?
DR: Offer to help her in any way you can. You might say, "I can imagine you don't trust me anymore, but I am willing to listen to all you need to say to me. I also offer to meet with you privately and look at your total job performance in a more complete way—highlighting what you do well and how you can improve on your areas of opportunity for growth."
Step Four is to reframe the experience. Look at the bigger picture and take into account what might be going on for others—they're "only human" as well—or the business reasons behind your company's decisions. If you're feeling unusually tired, stressed, or vulnerable, for instance, how might that be contributing to your reactions or behavior? Consider, too, the personal choices and opportunities now in front of you, including potential benefits.
OM: In the case of having gossiped about a co-worker, what's an example of reframing the experience?
DR: You could say something like "I now see that I gossiped about you so that I would be accepted into the group. When I came to the department, I felt so lonely and isolated. That doesn't excuse my behavior; it's just that I see now why I did it."
OM: Does that lead to accepting responsibility?
DR: Taking responsibility is actually Step Five. You're not responsible for others' behavior, but you are responsible for your reaction. Own up to what is yours to own, acknowledge the lessons learned, and ask how you can help improve the current situation.
OM: Suppose you told co-workers about two married co-workers spending time outside the office together in what appeared to be an illicit relationship, and one of the two heard about it and explained you were wrong.
DR: You owe your co-workers an apology. Own that which is yours to own and pay back more than was perceived to have been taken away: "I was totally out of line in telling others about what you did with your time. I'm going to go back to the group and say that I shared information I shouldn't have. I'll let them know that I didn't know that you were both taking the same certification class and that your relationship was purely professional."
OM: What if this apology doesn't go far enough in assuaging the recipient's emotions?
DR: Step Six is to forgive yourself and others. Forgiving doesn't mean excusing; it means acknowledging how the breach of trust has affected you. Determine what needs to happen for forgiveness to take place, so you can release yourself from energy-depleting emotions like anger, fear and grief.
OM: Suppose you're the one who needs to be forgiven?
DR: Ask what needs to be said or done for the person you betrayed to forgive you, but don't expect it as a matter of course.
It's fine to ask, "Is there anything else I can do so that you can forgive me?" as long as you don't pressure them to respond immediately. One thing you can do is to forgive yourself; not to let yourself off the hook in any way, but to acknowledge that you are human and you made a mistake.
OM: That's very important. Many times we keep beating ourselves up again and again for having made a mistake and hurt someone else.
DR: It's self-defeating, and it serves no one.
Step Seven is to let go and move on. You may not forget a betrayal, but you can make a conscious choice to look forward rather than stay stuck in the past. Acknowledge what you have learned, and move on.
OM: And if you're the betrayer?
DR: Promise not to repeat the hurtful act to the person you've wronged or anyone else. Share your understanding of the impact of your actions and the lessons you learned. We don't feel good about ourselves after we've betrayed someone.
The innovators I've interviewed for this series address different pieces of the complex puzzle that constitutes our work life. We can all benefit from the tools and processes they've developed to facilitate conflict resolution, repair breaches of trust and become more effective followers.
These days, many of us spend a great deal of our time and energy on work-related issues and concerns. By adopting these tools and techniques, we can transform our own workplace with deeper connections and increased personal and professional fulfillment.
Olivia Mellan, a speaker, coach, and business consultant, is the author with Sherry Christie of The Client Connection: How Advisors Can Build Bridges That Last, available through the Investment Advisor Bookstore. She also offers money psychology teleclasses and facilitates intergenerational retreats for wealthy families. E-mail Olivia at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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In the Office of Teaching & Learning we support Cameron University's top priority: Student Learning.
We maintain that Student Learning is Active Learning where the student takes control of his or her learning by engaging in energetic, purposeful processes.
Our faculty and staff in the Office of Teaching & Learning provides Cameron students with resources and tools for success though our University classes, our learning labs, our individual tutoring, and our website.
Please visit our site often as we grow and respond to the needs of our students and faculty.


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Grammy Award-winning jazz singer, bassist and composer Esperanza Spalding will perform live in a free show Monday, April 15, 2013, at UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (ASC).
Spalding is set to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. in the Jemison Concert Hall at the ASC, 1200 10th Ave. South. The concert is open to the public. Call 205-975-2787 for information.
This performance is presented by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Music and the College of Arts and Sciences. It is part of the College of Arts and Sciences Civil Rights Commemorative Series and the UAB and City of Birmingham partnership, 50 Years Forward, the ongoing 50th anniversary commemoration of the seminal events of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Learn more about 50 Years Forward at www.uab.edu/50yearsforward. For a complete listing of UAB College of Arts and Sciences commemorative events, visit www.uab.edu/civilrights.
In 2011, Spalding won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. This year, Spalding's 2012 album "Radio Music Society" won the Grammy award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist. Listeners who heard her stunning 2008 debut, "Esperanza," and her best-selling 2010 release "Chamber Music Society," knew the young bassist, vocalist and composer from Portland, Ore., was the real deal. Her unique and genre-spanning presence is deeply rooted in jazz but speaks to listeners far beyond the jazz realm. "Radio Music Society" is a sort of companion to her previous release, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. "Radio Song," the new disc's opening track, sets the tone and reveals Spalding's "radio music" metaphor.
"Everyone has the experience of turning on a car radio, mindlessly flipping through the dial, and suddenly a fragment grabs you and you're totally digging it. I wanted to capture that moment when the music just sinks in. It's about the power of song, and how at the least it can save the day," Spalding wrote in a press release about the album. "I've tried to put together a program of music that speaks to the non-jazz listener, but can still provide a viable foundation for my jazz heroes to express themselves. Hopefully, people can enjoy all the elements of my music without being told which genres it is 'supposedly' a blend of. Everyone is invited to listen with no pre-conceived notions. It's a journey. Think and feel for yourself. But, most importantly, enjoy."


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I really like the new chassis a lot. I did lower my body some this week by almost a 1/4" I think that helped me out some for sure. I noticed other trucks sit very low so I will be lowering my lid even more next time at the shop which because of the huge Storm Sandy I will be at the shop today by 3pm while where closed to work on stuff.
I only have two weeks of testing and durability is not a problem at all. Setup wise I been working on mine making it better each weekend so far. Will try no sway bars as Lenman73 suggested and I wan to go just a tick slower oil in the rear from my 30wt to I think 32 1/2 and 35 front. Currently have 30wt rear and 32 1/2 front. Also want to move my camber links in the rear. I think I will shorten them one hole and see how that feels.
This weeks changes where going to the Traxxas rear alum. hubs to give me more rear toe in and moving my front steering link to the on the knuckle to the front hole instead of the rear hole (which really gave me some killer off power and mid steering. Took me a little to get use to.
Lenmen73 suggested trying with no sway bars so I will give it a try and see how it feels at out track and report results for everyone.
I will get a few more pics tonight when I go to the shop and get a picture of our track and the spine jump where I can nose dive the truck from 3' to honestly I can get at least 8' t0 10' worth of height if I wanted to. Nosing diving in from their it would stick in the clay like a dart board.
Don't forget if you have not been reading the series of articles that Steve has posted from STRC on the development of this product your really missing out. I just finished reading all 4 articles again for the 2nd time and they where even better. Article 3 and 4 are simply amazing the detail Steve goes over and the info he passed on for all of us. Fantastic job by Steve.
Last edited by wyd10; 10-29-2012 at 11:27 AM.
They are up for pre-orders I just ordered mine.
Web site has been update to include custom colors. Get them while you can.
Got a blue one... yeah!
I picked up the Orange anodized parts/Hard anodized lower chassis and front bulkhead.
Not the real waiting begins.
Just order mine in black and gun metal. Any Idea on a release date?
Article 5 will be posted anytime now. I'm looking forward to reading it.
I'm going with the blue one.
I'm pre ordering a Blue as well, so pumped! I may add the blue steering bell crank while i'm at it. then the TRX turnbuckle set in blue to complement the rest of my truck.
Edit: can someone tell me if this is the right kit for camber links
Traxxas 3741A Aluminum Camber Link Turnbuckles Blue
2x 39mm and 2x 49mm, What Length is the steering?
Last edited by Maxx_Adam; 10-31-2012 at 11:29 AM.
I´ve got a blue STRC steering bellcrank too. And its worth the money!
I searched a lot for a blue titanium turnbuckle-set for my slash 4x4. Cant find a set (just in silver from Lunsford). I heard a lot good things about the Lunsford turnbuckles. I hope they will release a blue set.
Here are the sizes:
1 - 3mm x 23mm Titanium Turnbuckle (Servo)
2 - 4mm x 45mm Titanium Turnbuckles (Rear Camber)
2 - 4mm x 50mm Titanium Turnbuckles (Front Camber)
2 - 4mm x 60mm Titanium Turnbuckles (Steering)
Last edited by Beholder_74; 10-31-2012 at 11:50 AM.
I wouldn't use the Traxxas blue tie rods as they are aluminum and bend fairly easily. You better off with Lunsford titanium tie rods.
@wyd10: Can I use the stock Traxxas servo horn with the STRC LCG chassis? I ask, because it´s a little bit angled. Which servo horn did you use?
Just ordered one in orange
My servo horn is one of the Losi aluminum ones.
I hope, that STRC will produce some slash 4x4 Bone drifeshafts next. The drifeshafts from Tekno seemed to be very good, but I dont like the plastic hub carriers/ steering blocks.
so i was on their site...looking at what they have to offer....it says...pre-order...and my question is this...if u pre-order...when are u expected to receive it?...a week....two...a month...two months...???
i hate sites that don't give u any kind of information at all...its a total turn off...makes me want to say forget it...
Last edited by ksb51rl; 11-05-2012 at 01:04 PM. Reason: Language
Have you read any of this thread? If you did, you would have seen 2nd or 3rd week of November...possibly.
Or you can get the SSC or TREC chassis as they are already out.
Last edited by ksb51rl; 11-05-2012 at 01:04 PM. Reason: Language
You sound like a little child "If if I cant get it now, I want something else!"
Good things will need time and STRC is popular for their High-Quality-Products! And I´m sure, that steve will do his best to hand out the chassis as soon as possible.
Last edited by ksb51rl; 11-05-2012 at 01:04 PM.
You could always say enough and spend an additional 60 to 70 dollars on another brand or be a little more patient and get one and save a bunch of money. Good things come to those who wait. I'm waiting just like you guys on my new blue production model. They should be here in roughly 2 weeks and I think 3 weeks is about the maximum wait.
No one likes to wait and especially on a new first run product. Just like when I new hot car or truck comes out from a manufacture every is so hyped up so it makes waiting even harder. The wait will all be worth it once you get your kit.
Thanks to all you guys that have pre ordered and like me waiting on the production version chassis. I will soon tear my prototype down and send back to Steve so like you guys I will be sitting back and patiently wait for my new killer LCG chassis. Thanks for ordering and supporting STRC.
Last edited by Dadx2mj; 11-05-2012 at 09:45 AM.
I hope that steve doesn´t quit the way to introduce the production process for further products, because of this bad comment of IvVaum. Sure, for some people it is hard to wait, me too. But I appreciate the way it goes, because I will get a great elaborate chassis. Its like in any other business too, when many people get involved in a production process, it will take time.
What would be an alternative for steve? Waiting for a finished product and saying "hello, here it is?" I dont think, that this would be the right way. I like to see the single steps to a finished product. And Im glad, that the chassis is race-proven by Brian too.
Thanks guys... I´m 38 and it´s like waiting for Santa Claus.
@Brian: Could you tell me how much space did you have for a receiver box, please? Maybe I will order the new Traxxas Receiver box of the Rally Car when it will fit. I dont think, that the Slash 4x4 receiver box will fit...maybe Im wrong...
Sorry for my bad English... I´m German
Last edited by Beholder_74; 11-05-2012 at 10:16 AM.
Beholder I didn't use the receiver box but I will check with Steve and see what he thinks. He might have it drilled for one already but let me check for sure.
Also Steve said about a week or less for the pre orders as then the chassis's will have to go off to get anodized.
Talked with Steve on the receiver box. When he used the receiver box he mounted it to the chassis with double sided tape to help take some of the shock away from the receiver in the box. If you don't want to mount it like that then he has holes in the top plate that are setup for the stock receiver box. I would mount it on the chassis even with double sided tape the purpose of an LCG chassis is to keep everything low to the ground as possible so putting the receiver box on the top plate will raise the CG. Although the receiver and the box don't weight much you have to look at the size of our cars and a few ounces in different locations can be noticed.
Looking forward to a great STRC-chassis thread where customers will post their cars.
I like the idea of having 2 options on where to mount the receiver box.
I like the idea of the rally car version receiver box. I might even check one of those out.
Looks like the rally receiver box is #7424 and for $12 it might be worth a try.
The last article by Steve and Brian is awesome, great stuff. I have always liked STRC parts just did not have many until I bought my slash 4x4. If i had any doubt of which aluminum parts to buy, these write ups have made me a lifetime customer of STRC.


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Laser surgery uses a very focused beam of light
to cut, break down, or destroy tissue. Doctors use laser
surgery when medicines fail to control vision loss caused by
glaucoma. Laser surgery is done
more often than conventional surgery for glaucoma. But repeated laser
procedures can lead to scarring.
The major advantages of laser surgery over conventional
surgery for glaucoma include:
The most common complication from laser surgery
for glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye. The pressure may be normal
immediately after laser surgery but then may rise sharply within 1
to 4 hours, especially in people who have
severe glaucoma. The doctor may give you eyedrop medicine before and after
surgery to prevent this complication. Other complications
may include:
Before laser surgery, medicine to numb the eye
may be applied to the eye directly (topical anesthetic) or injected behind the
eyeball (retrobulbar anesthesia). Some people feel a sensation of heat in the
eye during laser surgery.
The main disadvantage of laser surgery for
glaucoma is that it may not always lower pressure in the eye.
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1920 Year In History Coffee Mug
Year In History Coffee Mug for 1920, features news events, prices, music, movies, and famous birthdays from that year. Images in the center show items that may have been for sale in that year. This 11 oz white ceramic mug has the non-fade image shown below sublimated onto it and is usually shipped the next business day in a matching white gift box. This is for a standard non-custom version of this mug, if you are looking to personalize a "Year In History" coffee mug please click here.
1920 Year Mug Image Example:
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Maybe the question isn't so much whether the GOP can win back control of the house, but how quickly that possibility has arisen since Democrats took full control of the Beltway. Only seven months after securing all of the electoral levers of power, Democrats have plunged themselves into hot water with voters, rapidly losing support for an increasingly radical agenda. As their $787,000,000,000 economic fix continues to flop and they propose ever-higher levels of spending and government control, the question doesn't become if, but when and how badly:
After an August recess marked by raucous town halls, troubling polling data and widespread anecdotal evidence of a volatile electorate, the small universe of political analysts who closely follow House races is predicting moderate to heavy Democratic losses in 2010.
Some of the most prominent and respected handicappers can now envision an election in which Democrats suffer double-digit losses in the House — not enough to provide the 40 seats necessary to return the GOP to power but enough to put them within striking distance. …
Historic trends point to Republican House gains in the midterm election, particularly after facing two brutal election cycles where the party lost seats in every region and even in some of the most conservative states in the nation. Over the last five decades, the party out of power has picked up seats in 10 of the 12 midterm elections.
Turnout levels may also work in the GOP's favor: House Democrats who narrowly won election in 2008 on the strength of high turnout among African-Americans and young voters probably won't be able to count on that same level of enthusiasm next year in a nonpresidential election.
No, but they can count on a great deal of enthusiasm among their opponents. Grassroots activists have driven hundreds and thousands of vocal opponents to the Democratic agenda, especially on health care, to normally sleepy off-year August town halls across the nation. The effort to get union activists as a means of shouting down voters has created even more anger and bitterness. The older voters, much more reliable in midterm elections, have become thoroughly alienated, as have independents.
Republicans would have to win 40 seats in order to take control of the House, a daunting number, but it's within reach, Nate Silver argues. He warned the Netroots Nation that the GOP had between a 25% and 33% chance of pulling it off in 2010, and as the polling continues to slide for Barack Obama and the Democrats, those odds will get better for Republicans. The analog would be the 1994 elections, which also hinged on overreaching Democratic health care "reform", and the Republicans won 54 seats to claim the majority and end over 40 years of Democratic domination.
Can they do it again? The GOP has a much stronger wind at its back than they did in 1994 with the rapid decline of Democratic support, but they need to organize effectively to take advantage of it. The NRCC needs to build a foundation that will attract the conservative base and independent voters alike. Their best bet is to focus on economic freedom, fiscal responsibility, less government control, and free-market reforms that make sense. Republicans have to have a positive message for voters, not just a gainsay of Obamanomics. They have two easy targets with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to paint Congress as aggressively radical, but that has to be paired with an agenda that wins hearts and minds across a broad spectrum.
If the GOP can do that, they have a good chance of retiring Pelosi from the speaker's chair, and to reduce Reid's votes in the Senate (and perhaps to bounce Reid himself out of it).


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I don't know if it is grammatically incorrect to omit "are reached", but it would sound better if you added it, I think.
You have to add either a date or an event after "until".
- until tomorrow (date)
- until my sister graduates (event)
If you just wrote "until the maximum temperature", it would be kind of like I only wrote "until my sister". Even though, people can understand what your sentence means from the context...
Edit: I forgot to specify that I'm not a teacher... Perhaps someone will disagree.
Interested in Language


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COLLABORATION—Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on stage and Wilkinsburg community choir below. (Photo by J.L. Martello)
The decade-long partnership between the Wilkinsburg School District and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's Community Engagement Concert for the Community has been beneficial for students, educators and musicians alike.
"We purchased new instruments, mouth pieces, music stands and supplies from the money raised from the program," said Lois Clark, a music teacher at the school district's Kelly Elementary School. "We sent students to band camp for a week. The program whet's the appetite of students to play orchestral music. Now we have a full elementary school music program with a band director."
Clark also said that thanks to the program, VH-1 Save the Music Program heard about the school and provided the Wilkinsburg school district with a $90,000 grant in 2008 and a $30,000 grant last year to extend the music program by starting a theater program.
Over $56,000 has been raised in Wilkinsburg through the PSO's Community Engagement Concerts over the past ten years. All proceeds from these concerts in Wilkinsburg benefit the school district's music programs.
"I don't think the music program would still be in existence if we didn't have this collaboration," Clark said. "Now we have a bond that no one can sever. It's not that we depend on them, we feel very close to them."
To commemorate the special relationship, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra held its tenth annual Community Engagement Concert "A Celebration of Music and Community" at the Wilkinsburg High School auditorium May 24.


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Don't let your property's hardscape elements fade into the night. Instead, highlight their texture and beauty with professionally designed lighting. See the difference in this short video.
Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is here for all your outdoor lighting needs. During our Free Custom Design Plan, we will show you the optimum locations around your home and throughout your yard to achieve stunning outdoor lighting effects. If you already have a lighting system but need it serviced or upgraded, we are happy to help. Please fill out the form below to contact us.


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Seasonings And Steamers From Simply Asia
It's no surprise that the economy is changing consumer spending habits. About 45 percent of Americans are eating out less to save money, according to a BIGResearch study. For those not willing to sacrifice the restaurant dishes they love, San Francisco-based Simply Asia rolls out two new delicious convenience lines making it easy to enjoy your favorite Asian dishes at home.
Simply Asia Seasoning Mixes are the perfect combination of premium, natural spices that will help turn your favorite meats and vegetables into a delicious Asian dish. Varieties include:Sweet & Sour, Beef & Broccoli, Fried Rice and Sesame Teriyaki Marinade. Each single-use pouch includes a suggested recipe, but it's also easy to include your favorite meats and vegetables for a taste that's all your own.
Simply Asia Steamers help you skip the fat and calories without sacrificing flavor. Whether cooking meat or vegetables, steaming has been cited as a healthier way to prepare food. The Simply Asia Steamers line includes: Kung Pao Chicken, General Tso Chicken, Szechuan Green Beans and Hunan Broccoli. Each single-use pouch includes the steaming bag and a recipe. Simply add the suggested ingredients on the pouch and microwave for a flavor-packed meal in minutes.
Both Mixes and Steamers will come in handy when mom is looking for quick and healthy options. I tried the Szechuan Green Beans and General Tso Chicken and can heartily recommend them.
"We had busy parents and professionals in mind when we developed our steamers, as they're a convenient way to make a delicious Asian meal when you are strapped for time," says Michael Morse, marketing manager for Simply Asia Foods and Thai Kitchen. "With more and more consumers preparing meals at home instead of eating out, this product fills a need for those looking for quick and easy ways to add some ethnic variety to mealtime without having to spend hours in the kitchen."
Suggested retail price for each 1-oz. packet of Seasoning Mixes is $1.49, and each 1 oz. Steamers Pouch is $1.99.


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Summer Brain Boosters
Shake It Up
Chow down at the same restaurant every date night? Jog the same route? Mixing it up could keep you younger—and sharper. "New surroundings and experiences can stimulate new ways of thinking, which keeps your brain young and vibrant," says Marie Pasinski, M.D., staff neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and author of Beautiful Brain, Beautiful You.
Play Games
The next time you're bored by the pool, break out a board game or deck of cards. Exercising your mind with a game that requires brainpower, like chess or bridge, is more than just fun, says Louis Matzel, Ph.D., professor of behavioral science at Rutgers University. "These types of games are inherently challenging, while at the same time they tax your working memory," he says.
Whip Up Some Guac
The perfect summer dip is more than just a yummy accompaniment for your favorite chips. Guacamole is a great source of vitamin E, which research by Martha Clare Morris, Sc.D., director of the section on nutrition and nutritional epidemiology in the department of internal medicine at Rush University in Chicago, says may ward off Alzheimer's disease.
Get Out of Town
Traveling, especially abroad where English isn't spoken, can make you smarter. "There is a great deal of recent research demonstrating that bilingualism enhances cognitive function," says Judith Kroll, Ph.D., professor of psychology, linguistics, and women's studies, and director, center for language science at Pennsylvania State University.
Go Nuts
Not only are they the perfect snack for a summer road trip (hello, feel-full protein!), nuts also keep your mind sharp. Almonds and cashews are rich in magnesium (a handful gives you 20 percent of your daily requirement), which was found to improve learning and memory in mice, according to research published in the journal Neuron. In another study at New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, mice that ate the equivalent of one ounce of walnuts showed improvement in learning, memory, emotional regulation and motor coordination compared with those who went nut-free.
Visit the Farmers' Market
Summertime equals fantastically fresh fruits and veggies in innumerable hues. "Research shows that people who consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables are not only leaner but have sharper memories," Dr. Pasinski says. Choose produce in a variety of colors to get lots of phytonutrients, which are great for the body and brain, she says.
Write Down Memory Lane
If you're feeling forgetful, follow the lead of Leisha Holland of Powder Springs, Georgia. "My old friends from summer camp and I have started writing letters in the summer. It keeps my memories fresh, and it's a great way to catch up," she says. "We share the latest news in our lives, plan vacations, and share our thoughts about the latest Hollywood gossip. It's not much, but it's exciting, and I feel like it makes my mind a little sharper."
Embrace Your Inner Red Rover
The next time the kids are playing Mother May I? or Capture the Flag in the front yard, join in. "Playing like a kid brings the brain into focus and keeps you energized," says John Ratey, Ph.D., associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. "Playful exercise can regulate your mood, increase attention span and lower stress."
Go Fish
Atlantic salmon, Pacific cod and tuna are some of the best food sources of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA for short), the omega-3 fatty acid that's been shown to improve memory and learning. So grill it, bake it or steam it, but don't fry it. Fatty, fried foods have been linked to a decline in cognitive function.
Be a Nature Girl
The summer months practically beg for shady walks in the woods, chill-time by the lake, and any other activity that puts you out of doors. According to a University of Pittsburgh study, spending just one hour in nature—sorry, city slickers—can boost memory and attention by 20 percent. And a walk in nature is a double bonus. Walking six to nine miles per week appears to protect the brain against shrinkage, according to the study.
Don't Skip the Neighborhood Barbecue
What's summer without some grilling and friendly chitchat with the neighbors? It turns out this rite of the season is actually good for your mind. A University of Michigan study found that people who engaged in social interaction displayed higher levels of cognitive performance than those who didn't. But keep it friendly. A follow-up study by the same researchers found that friendly chats boosted brainpower, while convos that were competitive in nature didn't.
Just Breathe
If you can't remember where you left the sunscreen, your waterproof camera, or your sunglasses (psst—try on top of your head!), you may be a candidate for the ancient yogic technique of left-nostril breathing. A study published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology found that holding the right nostril closed and breathing only through the left improves spatial memory, the kind that helps you remember where you put things.
Go Green
"Leafy vegetables—think spinach, watercress and kale—are like the fountain of youth for your body and mind," Dr. Pasinski says. In fact, a Harvard Medical School study of more than 13,000 women found that those who frequently ate green leafy vegetables took one to two years off their mental age compared with those who ditched greens.
Schedule Tea Time
Just because it's a scorcher out there doesn't mean you have to send your tea leaves packing. Brew a pot, pour it over ice, then sit back and get smart. According to a study at UCLA, regular tea drinkers slowed cognitive decline by up to 37 percent.
Beef Up on Books
... or at least the bestseller list. "I love to start my weekend mornings with a cup of coffee and the New York Times Book Review," says Courtney Lucas of Birmingham, Alabama. "The coffee perks up my mind, and the reviews guide me to the next bestseller to dive into. It makes for great conversation at cocktail parties too. Who doesn't want a recommendation for the beach?"
Think Positively
Sometimes it's easy to agree with the old adage "You can't teach a dog new tricks," but actually believing might make it true. According to Stanford University studies, subjects who believed they were capable of learning more were more motivated to learn and thus increasing their mental abilities. Those who thought they were trapped in their IQ encountered the opposite experience.
Snack on Celery
It's not just for the kiddos' lunch boxes (ants on a log, anyone?). Celery is rich in luteolin, a compound that has been found to reduce brain inflammation and reverse age-related memory loss in mice, according to a study at the University of Illinois. Other luteolin-rich eats are carrots, peppers and olive oil.
Get Moving
Yet another reason to fit in that sweat session: "Studies show that aerobic exercise actually increases the size of the brain, making it stronger and healthier," Dr. Pasinski says. "Aerobic exercise enhances concentration, learning and memory. It also uplifts our mood, relieves anxiety and has been shown to stave off dementia as we age." Take a splash in the pool, a stroll on the beach, or a bike ride through your neighborhood to up your smarts and whittle your waist.
Play with Words
"For my family, summer means lots of Scrabble games," says Susan Wayland of White Stone, Virginia. "It's a family tradition, and we all like to think that unscrambling those seven letters into words is making us smarter as we go. My mother, who passed away at the age of 93 still sharp as a tack, attributed her thriving brainpower to playing Scrabble every day and having a gin martini every night." Wayland may be on to something. According to a study published in the journal Neurology, exercising word skills may protect against memory loss.
Get Your Zzz's
With summer's longer days, getting enough sleep can be tricky, but it's crucial for a strong mind. "Studies show that we store memories and actually learn while we sleep," Dr. Pasinski says. In other words, the better you sleep, the more information your brain will retain. Hello, naptime! A nap can help cognitive function too.


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Uh oh...
The newest addition to the Obama family stirred up quite a scene at the annual White House Christmas decorating ceremony Wednesday.
Hundreds of children from military families joined Michelle Obama in putting up some last minute holiday decorations in the Blue Room.
Little Sunny Obama, the family's latest pet pooch, got so overexcited about the slew of children in her home that she accidentally knocked over a toddler in the process.
The over-eager canine went up to greet Ashtyn Gardner and jumped up to get a closer look!
But the puppy love turned sour when Gardner was pushed over by the two-year-old Portuguese Water Dog.
NEWS: Meet the first family's new puppy!
Michelle swiftly pulled Sunny away, scolded her, and helped the precious girl up from the floor.
She was overheard asking, "Are you okay, sweetie?"
To sweeten the deal, the First Lady gave Gardner a big hug and made sure she was okay before letting Sunny come over again and give her a little kiss. Too cute!
The adorable fur ball officially became an Obama back in August of this year.
Sunny was born back in June 2012 in Michigan and apparently gets along with her big brother, Bo, swimmingly!
According to the White House Blog, the Obamas named their new pet Sunny "because it fit her cheerful personality," and she's "full of energy and very affectionate."
Well, they definitely got that right!


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|Horse suffering from dry mouth
Phoenix and the surrounding cities got stormed on today, some areas receiving 2 inches of rain, with wind, hail, lightning, all that. I kept checking the online water level transducer to see what the flow rate was at Indian Bend Wash where the Water Mark horse statues reside, and when it hit 180 cfs I got on my bike to go for a ride in a thunderstorm with winds and lighting to see water coming out of the mouths of giant aluminum horses. My family thought I was (am) crazy, but I wanted to see them in action. Until I do, after my first post about these horses, I won't feel like I have closure.
|Lightning. No mouth water, though
On the ride over, I was filled with anticipation. When I rode by the Indian Bend Wash overpass at Indian School Road, the water was roaring under it, and I felt certain I would see the horses expelling water tonight. A little farther north along the wash, at a street called Starlight Way, I took the video below, which really made me think tonight was the night. There's a street under there! Don't try to cross it though, will give you a stupid motorist ticket if you get stuck in the middle. Section 28-910 of the Arizona Revised Statutes says that if you drive around barricades to try to cross a flooded roadway and get stuck, you are liable for the costs of your rescue. Good law.
Although I was disappointed in the horses' non-performance even after a frog-strangler/ gully- washer like we had tonight, the ride over there was magnificent because the summer has run from the desert as it usually does at the turn of the season--on Friday it was 106F, this weekend was still pretty hot, then yesterday and today the storms came. As I type this it's 66F and beautiful outside. We may get more rain on Wednesday. For water to come out of the horses' mouths, it seems like it would have to flow over the top of the flood control structure they sit on. I wonder how many cfs what would be. With this perfect riding weather, it looks like I will just have to keep riding back there to find out. Get up. Go ride.


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New to the Build Your Watch List series? Learn more about it and sign up here.
Welcome to Day 21 of the Build Your Watch List series!
Today's industry: Packaged foods
Today's tasks:
Look up at least two companies in the packaged foods industry
Check in with your accountability partner or the group to share what you've found
If you need the video on how to research each industry and stock, you can watch it here.
When picking stocks for trading:
pick stocks that move at least $1 or more per day
pick stocks priced at $20 or more
When picking stocks for investing:
pick stocks of companies that have been around for a long time and will continue to be around for even longer, classics
pick companies that are seen as solid and well ran
Join the Discussion
What companies (with stock symbol) did you find? What did you learn about their financials? Tell me in the comments below or in today's discussion thread in the Stocks and Profit Facebook group.
You can also share it with me on social media:
Facebook: FB.com/TelaHolcomb
Instagram: instagram.com/TelaHolcomb
Want to keep up with the series on the go or share on social media? Download a copy of the series calendar.
Want to work through the Build Your Watch List Series in a workbook? Get your copy here!


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B.o.B's 2010 debut launched hits that co-starred Bruno Mars, Weezer's Rivers Cuomo and Hayley Williams of Paramore. So for his second album, the rapper wanted to feature his many talents without assists from famous faces.
Then he bumped into Chris Martin of Coldplay.
"I ran into Chris Martin in a studio in New York and I was like ...'I don't really want features on my project.' And he was like, 'Why the (expletive) not? Like, what? Like, why? What is the reason behind purposely not having features?'"
Read the whole article here.


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Even after they've promised there won't be another, Muppets parody trailers keep popping up, including this new Bollywood version that Empire has brilliantly dubbed "Slumfrog Millionaire".
Personally, I'm glad they keep making trailers. These little glimpses and tidbits of the film make the wait for seem a bit less excruciating. And after having an opportunity to interview and really get to know the stars of the movie, we're confident the Muppets haven't lost what originally endeared them to us.
Even though I'm still not sure what some of them are, or how the logistics between a pig and a frog falling in love work, I'm sure their latest outing will be as fun as all these trailers make it look.
[Empire via I Watch Stuff]


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Opinion Columns & Blogs
Would someone please articulate an economic plan for Tacoma?
Remember Chicken Little? An acorn hits her head, and she thinks the sky is falling. Silly Chicken.
But lately, acorns keep fallin' on my head and I wonder …
Engine noise
Tacoma has two economic engines: Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Port of Tacoma. They don't just create jobs; they grow the economy by using outside money. (Tourism hasn't realized its potential. And health care retail, and government employment recirculate local dollars but don't add to the whole.)
Lately we've had warnings about our engines.
JBLM may lose as many as half its troops by 2018, dropping from 30,000 to 16,000. That mean fewer uniforms at the dry cleaners, fewer apartments rented and fewer civilian jobs on post. Plus spouses and kids go away. It's like eliminating all of Tacoma west of Orchard: We'd notice.
The port will have problems too, despite having the strongest annual growth of any U.S. port last year.
As News Tribune columnist Bill Virgin has written, competition is intensifying dramatically. Prince Rupert in British Columbia is increasing its terminal capacity by 50 percent; the Panama Canal is spending $5 billion to let huge freighters sail nonstop between Asia and East Coast ports; Los Angeles and Long Beach will spend a combined $5 billion to compete with the Panama Canal; and the Chinese, Russians, and Nicaraguans are discussing a second canal to capitalize on increased trade with South Asia.
Grow or die
Something else hit me when the state released population numbers. In the last year, Washington grew by almost 100,000 people, or 1.3 percent; but Tacoma added only 500, barely three-tenths of a percent. What happened?
Nothing new. Tacoma has been losing "market share" for 50 years. In 1960, we had 5 percent of the state's population; today we have half that. When people move to Washington or grow their families, statistically they choose not-Tacoma. And this despite the national trend toward urbanization.
Why? Maybe because violent crime is triple the state rate or because our air is the dirtiest in eight Puget Sound counties or because property values continue their steady decline while local government becomes increasingly expensive. And this while our economic engines are healthy.
If we don't get a grip, the whole tree may fall on our heads.
Hard hats
Look, every community has problems. Remember Pittsburgh when steel-making went off shore? Seattle in 1970, or New York nearly bankrupt in 1975? New Orleans after Katrina? Detroit?
Some communities bounce back. Some cities are good at attracting new money and talent. But other cities lose the competition. Now, as we approach an economic moment of truth, I don't understand our plan for winning
OK, maybe I'm running around like my head's cut off, obsessing over unlikely problems and ignoring the good: State Farm, Point Ruston, new retailers and hotels, our natural beauty, higher ed, vibrant arts and culture. But if either or both our economic engines sputters, the sky could fall. I want us to be ready.
So please, will someone, anyone, articulate our economic development strategy in terms of measurable results? Will someone explain our economic "disaster recovery plan"? Then I can go back to sleep under that tree.
Ken Miller is a longtime Tacoma resident and former News Tribune reader columnist.


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What are you waiting for? Highlights from Asymptote's Spring 2014 issue include new work by Nobel laureate Herta Müller, David Bellos (author of "Is that a Fish in Your Ear?"), and Prix Goncourt-winner Jonathan Littell. Plus, our annual English-language fiction feature spotlights Diasporic literature from Bosnia, China, India, Japan, and Singapore.
Posts featuring Heather Cleary
Asymptote Spring 2014 Issue – Out Now!
…and it's packed with the most exciting new literary translations, critical pieces, and more from around the world.


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"I had work done on my home in the year 2010/2011. I want to thank you for all the work done on my home, doing things needed, but I couldn't afford. The workmen were very efficient and very considerate of the work being done at my home. The inspector was especially good. He talked to me about everything and was very considerate of my concerns and questions. From the bottom of my heart... thank you."
"I am truly grateful to your workers and the weatherization program. You were able to help me and my family stay warm and all the while, save on energy. Each time someone came out to do work. They were so nice and polite. I can't begin to tell you what a difference you have made for my family."
"I wanted...to let you know how very much I appreciate your program! At a time in my life, when things haven't been so good, you were there with a helping hand. I had applied and was approved for your "winterization" program late last Fall. For the past 6–7 months your team has helped weatherize our home. feel so very blessed to have had all the help that we have received. Your program and people have been so very amazing. Everyone that has come to our home has been wonderful and friendly. Your assistance in our time of need has been a silver lining in our lives."
61,012 individuals
served by UCA in 2016
156 housing units were improved through Weatherization Services
2,191 individuals obtained healthcare services for themselves or a family member
95% of children made gains in the areas of Social-Emotional Development, Literacy, Math, Science and Physical Health


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Short-Sleeve T-Shirt - Purple - Kids Large
by Gildan®
|You Save:
Choose From 4 sizes:
Product Details
A DIY must-have! This solid, short-sleeve t-shirt features a seamless, double-needle design at the collar, sleeves and hem. The taped neck and shoulders offer maximum durability, and the tubular fit provides minimal torque. Add rhinestones, iron-on graphics, tie-dye designs and more to make it your own!
Item Details
- 100% cotton.
- Machine wash warm, inside out, with like colors, remove immediately. Use non-chlorine bleach only when needed. Tumble dry medium, cool iron if needed (do not iron if decorated). Do not dry clean.


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IEC Georgia has a new member to add to its roster of skilled and professional contractors. Southern Electricom, Inc. joins IEC with 32 years in the electrical trade. Based in Lizella, Ga., Southern Electricom has been run by owners Jeff and Dawn Huckeba for 15 years. With a staff of experienced professionals, SEC specializes in commercial lighting, data cabling, and fiber.
IEC anticipates great accomplishments in the electrical industry with SEC as its new member.
Hide comments


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Crisplant a/s is now
BEUMER Group A/S
The acquisition of Crisplant a/s by the BEUMER Group in 2009, brought together two of the strongest global brands in material handling and intralogistics.
Since the acquisition, both companies have continued to operate under different names whilst combining their expertise in providing customers with world-class solutions and support.
One name, one focus
The time has come to reflect this close relationship by changing the name of Crisplant a/s, to BEUMER Group A/S. This name change came into effect on 1st May 2016.
This change only reflects the name and has no impact on the organisation nor on the daily business. Just as our systems are designed to increase efficiency for our customers, so the new consolidated corporate name will enable more streamlined communication for all of our customers and business partners.
Dedication to support and innovation
We strive to be the best and to provide a more complete service than ever before with the industry-leading standards you have come to expect. The offerings have expanded, but the vision remains the same as it has always been: innovation is our legacy and innovation defines our future.
BEUMER Group A/S
P.O. Pedersens Vej 10
DK-8200 Aarhus N
Phone: +45 87414141
E-mail: info(at)beumergroup.com
Policies and Purchase Conditions
- BEUMER Group A/S H05002 Project Purchase Conditions 01-05-2016 (PDF, 0.3 MB)
- BEUMER Group A/S H05003 General Purchasing Conditions 01-05-2016 (PDF, 0.3 MB)
More info
Have you got any questions?
We will be happy to assist you!
Just fill in our


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A.J.'s last stand?
TORONTO — Could this be A.J. Burnett's final start in a Blue Jays uniform? That seems to be a very realistic possibility. Burnett could come back on short rest and potentially go for win No. 20 on the season's final day, but he's already said he won't do that.
Why would he? Burnett is on the verge of cashing in big time as a free agent, if he opts out of his contract, and winning 20 won't fetch him much more dough that he would get otherwise. So why risk a possible injury in your final start?
Aaron Hill took some time to speak with reporters today and Toronto's second baseman is feeling good. He has an appointment with a neurologist in the area on Thursday, and he said he full expects to be cleared to begin his normal offseason routine. So, good news.
Hill was asked if he'd be willing to potentially move to shortstop next season, if the Blue Jays asked as much from him. Hill said he'd prefer to stay at second base, and said most of his teammates have told him they'd prefer him there as well. Hill said it'd take his teammates telling him a move to short was best for the team for him to move.
Also, manager Cito Gaston said last week that he believed his contract extension might be announced before the end of this homestand. Well, that's tomorrow, so we'll see if his prediction holds up. Cito didn't sound entirely confident that it'd be settled as early as Thursday when the topic came up today:
"I dont know. I'm going to probably be back for a day or so next week. If it doesn't happen tomorrow, who knows? Hopefully, before the week's up."
Today's lineups:
NEW YORK (86-71) at TORONTO (83-74)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre
Brett Gardner, CF
Robinson Cano. 2B
Bobby Abreu, RF
Xavier Nady, LF
Jason Giambi, DH
Wilson Betemit, 3B
Cody Ransom, SS
Juan Miranda, 1B
Chad Moeller, C
PITCHING: RHP Phil Hughes (0-4, 7.96)
Joe Inglett, 2B
Marco Scutaro, SS
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Adam Lind, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Travis Snider, LF
Gregg Zaun, C
PITCHING: RHP A.J. Burnett (18-9, 4.18)
20 Comments
Excellent play by Snider, good to see the kid's got some d.
It's easy to see why Overbay is struggling. He let's two fastballs right down the middle go by while he stands there figiting. Then in a hole, he's forced to try to hit Hughes breaking ball. What happened to see the ball, hit the ball?
What have they got to play for JPs job, hell let them lose.
Does anybody know what happens if the Mets, Phillies, and Brewers all finish with the same record. Do the Mets and Phillies both get is cause they won their division? Or is there a 3 game playoff (doubtful).
I believe the Mets and Phillies have a playoff for the eastern division and Brewers, being in central would have the wildcard as long as another team from the west doesn't have more wins . Last year Colorado and San Diego had a playoff game
Brewers may have to play the loser of Mets -Phillies game for wildcard …good question dawg
They could put all 3 teams in one ball park and let them duke it out . Last man standing wins for his team and that team moves on . If this is done please put all the umps in the ballpark also ……lol….
Your funny tonight.lol.
garry ,
Thank you , I have a twisted , wicked sense of humour ….I fully admit it …..lol… Life is way too short to not have fun
I'm with you on that
Kate do you think Burnett will opt out .After the last two games he pitched and no run support I wouldn't blame him.
Nite all.
Yes I do think he will opt out . A couple articles I read said he wants to move closer to home . That could mean just in the states, no borders to cross for his family . I wonder if he wants to play for the Orioles since he resides in Maryland….can't get any closer than that ….lol…. Its going to be a tough next year unless the Jays make some shrewd decisons this off season .
I am also glad Hill wants to stay at second and the team wants him there . They did enough flip- flopping around with him already . I am off to bed….night all and take care
The Jays have ther work cut out for them this offseason.Starting pitching must be adressed,but the offence still needs tweeking inorder to make a run next season.(as we have all seen since the Boston series)
Iam going to play GM for a moment and suggest what I think would be good for the club going forward.
1:Offer AJ an extension but won't break the bank doing so.
2:Explore again a deal involving Rios to the Giants for Matt Cain.(Lincecum would be better but come on)
3:Sign Derek Lowe if AJ deal fall thru
4:Talk to the Tigers about Ordonez(I heard he may be made available)It would cost some pitching and would be do-able providing Detroit paid some of his salary.Players involved on my end would be a reliever,Overbay,prospect.However,players involved would depend on how much salary Detroit would be willing to pay.
5:Move Adam Lind to first base in spring(if Overbay dealt).Outfield would be Snider,Wells,Ordonez.
Infield would be Barajas,Lind,Hill,Macdonald,Rolen.
Rotation: Doc,AJ/Lowe,Cain,Listich,Purcey
Pen: Richmond,Downs,Accardo,Carlson,League,BJ
Bench:Thigpen,MightyJoe,Scutaro,Wilkerson, ?.
I didn't list a dh because I'm thinking Joe could dh and lead off.I know he's not a typical dh but he needs to be in the lineup as much as possible.Another option is resign Reed Johnson and platoon dh among the outfielders and he would lead off.Richmond in my opinion has earned the chance to be a long man in the pen and a spot starter.
If McGowan and Jansenn can return and be strong it would be a bonus but we must be prepared to go on without them.Lowe might be a better choice over AJ because he could be signed to a shorter deal making room for the likes of McGowan and Marcum when he returns in 2010.
Hey Jordan:
Jesse "James" Carlson blew the game last night (big-time)! How come B.J. Ryan didn't come into the game for the save? What was Cito (Gas Station) thinking?
Hey Terence for the most part I like your offseason plan.
I have heard a suggestion that the jays could explore Rios for Matt Cain. Lincicum as you said would obviously be better but they'd probably have to give up an arm of their own to get it done and I'd rather them just try for Cain.
3) Derek Lowe would be a good choice but i'd kick the cans with Dempster or Oliver Perez as well.
Gaston has officially signed an extension. It'll run untill 2010. I don't think I am in the minority when I say this is good news.
I like Lowe and Ordonez, but they are 35 & 34. Too old for my liking. The Jays should be getting younger. Plus they will be expensive. Lowe will get more $ than Burnett. He has better stats and has proven durability, leadership and has played on winning teams. Same with Ordonez. They wont take pay cuts to play for the Jays.
I agree that the Jays are more likely to land Dempster (even though they shouldn't go after him – never sign a player after a career year!) than Lowe.
Would the Giants make that trade? Cain is young and cheap and having a better season than Rios. The Giants have a couple of prospects that they are trying to get into their line-up (Valez, Schierholtz, Sandoval). All are younger and cheaper than Rios and have just as much up-side potential. The deal just doesn't make sense for them. They were interested in Rios last year, but their interest ended when they picked up Rowand.
I agree that the Jays should look into moving Lind to 1B.
Just to add to the offseason plan suggestions…the more I think about it the more i'd like to see Ryan traded. They have a surplus in the bullpen and I feel that the 10 million could be better used elsewhere. You take away from a strength in order to add financial aid for the weaknes'.
I don't think they'd need to ask for much in return. Offer him up to the teams that lose out on K-Rod.


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The Kepler Astroseismic Science Consortium has a funding project called the Pale Blue Dot Project, which allows anyone to purchase naming rights to a star for the astronomically (see what I did there?) low price of $10.00. A group of Ukrainian astronomers did just that, and elected to name a star "Putin-Huilo," with "huilo" being Ukrainian slang for "d-ckhead," "a-hole," or "dipsh-t."
The astronomers got the name from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia's now-famous outburst in June, in which he yelled "Putin is a d*ckhead!" in front of an angry crowd outside the Russian embassy in Kiev. The diss may seem rather pedestrian to the rest of us, but it's rather unique coming from a government official. The Kremlin called for Deshchytsia's resignation after the outburst, to which Deshchytsia presumably replied "lol no."
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