text:
I'm at a "point" in my learning now. I want to master the NT vocabulary in at least a rudimentary way.
Has anyone attempted to learn the lesser used words in the New Testament? Got any suggestions?
Thanks to the May Day holiday, I've had some time to think these days, so, I pop-quizzed myself on vocab. Last time I did that was about 7 years ago, and I had so many unknowns that I gave up in the words occuring 3 times list. Now, I've done the whole list and of the 5480, I still need to learn 1625 (30% of the vocab) - 869 of them are one off uses. Statistically, I have to look up 1 word in 40 that I read in the text, but that is only statistically.
Barry Hofstetter said in another thread in the beginner's section, "seeing the words in context" [is] "the way all the current pundits say we should learn it". I agree with that. But what about these words now that only have their own contexts.
Is there a compendium of examples for lesser used words? Memorising passages is a great help for thinking about meaning but takes time in itself.
Now I am reverting to the way that I learnt Greek words 30 years ago, simply by rote and a simple English gloss. There must be a better way.


text:
Skip to comments.The MRSA Scam (snake oil shall protect thee not from zot)
Posted on 10/18/2007 11:18:34 AM PDT by EndWelfareToday
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)! What a crock. For decades Americans have been sold a bill of goods by the New Age movement. We have been told that we must be vaccinated, drugged, poked and prodded by snake-oil salesmen with PHDs. Now we have a movement in this country to force those of us who manifest perfect health to pay for those of you who have succumbed to the debauchery of the medical profession and their minions in the secular humanist world.
It is my view that MRSA is nothing more than another tool being used by Clintonesk type people to try to convince the rest of us that we need the government to pay for our healthcare. Well excuse me. A hand full of people contracting a disease and dying from it does not justify making the rest of us pay for the other 299,999,995 people in this country to receive free soap, medicine, doctors visits and the like. It is now almost to the point where a parent that lets his/her child play in the dirt will be guilty of child abuse, neglect or whatever other evil charge these psychopathic, paranoid-schizophrenic hypochondriacs can conjure up in an attempt to make the rest of us conform to the treatment their fears dictate.
Their fears are what is making me sick. NOT any bacteria or virus my healthy body is capable of fighting off. I learned years ago that the medical profession is nothing more than the practice of witchcraft and sorcery and those of you that turn to sorcerers rather than to God for your healing and health are now reaping what you are sowing. Stop trying to slip the responsibility for your "medical expenses" and the sorrow of the loses of your friends and families onto those of us not in bondage to your fear.
My family, friends and I do not have health insurance not because we can not afford it but because we do not need it. We do not need people giving us lessons on how to wipe our little tushies or how to wash our hands. It is common sense. If the rest of you are too stupid to practice good hygiene then that is your problem. Some of us have NOT weakened our immune systems with non-repended for sin or the countless, vaccinations, antibiotics and other drugs so many of you pay quacks to provide for you.
I believe in freedom of choice for each "individual" and I find it highly offensive that so many of you do not. As the mother that imposes her selfish will upon her innocent unborn child when she has it murdered and forcibly extracted from her womb during an abortion so to do many of you do the same to the rest of us in the sense that you are trying to force us to succumb to, and to pay for the decisions your sick and twisted fears cause you to make.
I could expound the analogy but why bother. Those of you that know what I am saying don't need any further elaboration; the rest of you wouldn't get it no matter what I post.
Point is... If you choose to pump your bodies full of the poison/potions the witches and warlocks in your communities concoct then accept the consequences for your actions or repent and turn back to God but don't for a second think that your plight is the rest of our destinies as well.
If you love your children you will keep them out of the Marxist concentration camps of liberal indoctrination known as public schools and away from their "school nurses, psychologists and fear mongering, child molesting, brain-washing instructors" and educate them yourself.
This is just my healthy, humble opinion.
Wow, man. You're nuts.
Oookay. IBTZ!
Do I smell ozone?
Alrighty then,I take it you have a degree in medicine? ;^)
I was going to say that but I thought it would be to mean.
For my sake you must stay,
for if you go away,
you'll spoil this party
I am throwing.
I'll stay a week or two,
I'll stay the summer through,
but I am telling you,
I must be going.
Zocor has my bad cholesterol down from 187 to 95. I'll stick with it, thanks.
Do you have car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance?
Tinfoil either wrapped too tight or perhaps slipped out of place. Either way, needs adjustment, ASAP.
What "new age" people do you know? All the ones I know do not believe in vaccinations or western type medicine.
No one is forcing you to have health care, so what is the issue?
Do you not believe that there is staph? Or that the problem is over blown?
If you do not wish to vaccinate your children against common childhood diseases fine, but do not suppose that somehow I am a dupe because I wish to keep my children healthy.
Oh, ya when you child gets measles, mumps or chicken pox please do not send them to school.
When did you go off your meds?
I'm more like I am today than I ever was before!
It's possible we all agree on that.
I dislike socialism and overpriced medical care as much as the next guy, but dude, relax a little. Breathe in, breathe out. Think about Jesus as a baby. Now an island with a cool breeze and sunny skies. Now think about how much God loves you. Now a rainbow. Now, relax.
Superman is that you?
Wow, so Luke, a physician who was the inspired writer of two books of the New Testament, was a sorcerer?
Just wow.
Maybe it was mean, but it's true. Some folks have just loosened their grip on reality a bit too much.
I, for one, am very glad that the "debauchery of the medical profession and their minions" were around not too long ago to save my 3-year-old little girl from dying of dehydration. Some of those same minions saved my older brother's life and kept me from going blind in one eye.
Thanks be to God for the "medical profession and their minions".
But it pays better...
Please forgive me for saying so, but I don't think it's either.
This is just my healthy, humble opinion.
healthy - hardly
humble - not in million years
Gee, you must be a hoot at parties....get a grip.
You gave me the giggles with that one.
I kill all the germs at my place with a sledge hammer...works good , I dont have no germs no more
I would say up your meds, but I guess that's moot here.
Just a bit of food for thought.
Since my mother died of MRSA, you can take your post and shove it.
feel better now?
Let's try and stick to our inside voices...ok!?!
So...and...um...well, at least we know how you releave tension naturally...and without medication...so...thanks for that fine example of medical advice Doc!
A little old man lived in a house.
A flood was comming.
His neighbors said,"quick come with us and live."
He said,"God will save me".
The rain came and the waters began to rise.
The policeman came and said "come with me and live".
He said," don't worry God will save me".
The river got into his home so he climbed to the roof.
The firemen came by with a boat and said,"climb in and live"
He said,"Don't worry God will save me. "
the waters continued to rise and the little man drowned.
When he got to heaven he approached God and said , "what happened , I was depending on you".
God said," I know , I sent your neighbors, a policeman and a fireman with a boat. What else would you have me do.
I did save a bunch of money by switching the GEICO.
A few nice slow deep breaths will do wonders.
That first hit off a cigarette isn't so much the drug rush, as it is a deep breath held and exhaled correctly! Ex smokers and current smokers try it. OK even non smokers try it, pretend you just sucked in a mouthfull of cigarette smoke, inhale deeply, hold it and exhale a little slower controlled.
Yeah, but then you've got dead, squished germs all over the place. Ewww!
If the only tool you have is a hammer then the solution to every problem is to hit it with a hammer! I run over em with my Hummer!
You're an idiot. This friggin' thing damned near killed me in 2006.
It killed a friend of my family's years ago.
Pull your head out of your ass, you moron.
"My family, friends and I do not have health insurance not because we can not afford it but because we do not need it."
And when one of you suffers an unexpected health crisis or is even just injured in an accident (you do know that even the healthiest people in the world can be hurt in accidents, don't you?), I'm sure you won't be looking for help from anybody.
And if you get it down to zero, you'll die. Think about it. I take the stuff too, but I'm not at all convinced that there is any correlation between cholesterol levels and incidence of heart attack. Google cholesterol+heart+attack+correlation and you will see that there is considerable debate about this, and remember that only one side of the debate has a financial interest. This doesn't make them wrong. I'm just observing.
The dogs lick em up
Not to mention that it's hard on the furniture and counter tops. :)
lol... Wonderful argument. It's the same one liberals try use to try to silence those pro-military citizens that have never served in the military. You aren't a liberal are you? Tell me. What are you more afraid of? The possibility that I may be right or the possibility that you will contract MRSA? And honestly... Would you care if I had a degree in medicine or not? Having you already made up your mind?
I think more people need to understand that those of you with the Al Gore "consensus" mindset are deceived. The rest of us are tired of all you chicken littles running around looking for some modern day great plague to wipe out mankind. Herpes? AIDS? The Bird Flu? Now MRSA? Etc...
Please. Give it a rest. I'm not buying it and if some of you are offended because I am capable of putting 2 and 2 together and getting 4 then too bad. Maybe you should repent and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and receive the perfect health of God that He died to give you instead of trying to shame those of us who have into converting to your religion of fear.
ouch...i think i feel a bump
Mellow . . .
"Zocor has my bad cholesterol down from 187 to 95. Ill stick with it, thanks."
Yeah, but I recently read a study that said cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease after all.
What are you more afraid of?
Question not directed at me but I'm afraid you live somewhere near me!
Yeah. So . . . who's watching "The Office" tonight?
You're absolutely right. Cholesterol is only an indicator of other, as of yet undiscovered, factors involved with heart disease. Lowering cholesterol in an effort to reduce heart disease is like sucking the mercury out of a thermometer to make the temperature go down.
Lower cholesterol, by itself, does not reduce the risk of heart attack.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
DAKAR—Twenty years ago this January, the entire West African region was on its way to an economic calamity. The main currency in the region, the African Financial Community franc, or CFA, lost half its value almost overnight, effectively doubling the price of anything anyone wanted to buy – from a loaf of bread to a pair of shoes.
In Senegal, the surprise devaluation of the CFA was particularly devastating to a banking sector already teetering near collapse. But there was a silver lining to the financial fall. The crisis compelled the Senegal Government, which had been working with USAID on banking reforms for several years, to fast-track regulations that loosened longstanding state-imposed price controls.
The move saved the nation's economy.
In fact, wholesale reforms of both the banking sector and the rice import industry led to a burgeoning of the private sector and free markets. That, in turn, led to improvements in the overall economy, helping the country reduce the extreme poverty wrought by years of economic near-paralysis.
"Senegal was facing almost total stagnation in the financial sector," said Mamadou Lamine Loum, a former prime minister and finance minister at the time of the economic collapse. "Donors were insisting on reform, and though painful in the short term, the devaluation enabled us to put a new liberalized system in place that exists to this day."
The key, Loum said, was enacting new microfinance policies that facilitated access to credit for small-scale rural farmers, opening the door for small loans that dramatically increased farmers' earning power, leading to across-the-board increases in the country's standard of living. (See sidebar below.)
Loum said assistance from USAID in drafting the legal framework for the reforms led to an "explosion" of more than 2,000 microfinance institutions that provided financial help to small businesses and farmers.
"In the early 1990s, USAID was a pioneer in microfinance development in Senegal and the entire West Africa region," said Loum. "The model we created here was replicated in nearly every other country in the regional monetary union."
Liberalizing the Rice Market
Prior to USAID's intervention, Senegal's rice sector was dependent on price controls and central planning of rice distribution under a government agency that controlled rice imports. To keep local supply high, it set high prices on wholesale and retail rice to limit imports. It didn't work.
By the early 1990s, the system had become bloated and inefficient, causing massive rice shortages and exorbitant costs that affected the quality of nutrition as well as household income across the nation. With the CFA franc devaluation, prices of the staple grain—a part of almost all major national dishes—doubled, threatening the food security of the country's rural population.
In 1994, at the Senegalese Government's request, USAID launched a five-year, $30 million rice sector adjustment program to help alleviate the systemic inefficiencies in the rice market, while providing the financing necessary to help the government bear the costs. To liberalize the rice market, the new program promoted competition among private sector importers. This change brought consumer prices down and increased incomes of domestic rice farmers, which improved food security for their families. Sixty-five percent of Senegal's economy is based on agriculture.
The agencies that had controlled rice prices were gradually phased out, replaced by small, private wholesale distribution markets.
A new rice marketing information system followed in 1997. This system provided information on domestic pricing to customers and all rice market participants, and a new, crucial element of transparency to the market. Rice prices were now determined by supply and demand, while processing, importing and distribution were entirely in the hands of the private sector, ultimately reducing prices and improving incomes for rural producers, processors and distributers.
"The project was an outstanding success," said Ndiobo Diene, secretary general of the Ministry of Agriculture and a key player in the project's implementation. "We made remarkable progress in achieving all our operational policy reform objectives ahead of schedule. By 1999, the rice sector was privatized, liberalized and functioning smoothly."
Today, about 20 firms account for most rice imports, and competition among importers is rigorous enough to ensure downward pressure on prices. Elimination of subsidies has encouraged many farmers to vary their crops and branch out into other areas of agriculture, such as cereals, vegetables and peanuts.
Misguided Banking Policies
As a precursor to the rice reforms, USAID assisted Senegal to consolidate its banking system to make it more profitable, and encourage savings and credit institutions to provide financing and loans to small enterprises and smallholders, including women.
In the mid-1980s, Senegal's banking sector consisted of 15 commercial banks and seven non-bank financial institutions, dominated largely by French-owned institutions. The system was plagued by low profitability and poor management, resulting in a portfolio of bad debts. The government would routinely interfere in bank management via misguided economic policies, often to meet political objectives, which eroded confidence as debt soared.
More important, these problems took place among an elite urban community, not the vast majority of Senegal's population, who had no access to any of these funds that could help them get ahead economically.
In 1987, a donor-funded wholesale review of the sector determined that six out of the 15 major banks were in danger of bankruptcy. Failed bank loans totaling $840 million represented 60 percent of total credit to the economy and 17 percent of GDP. Senegal teetered on the verge of financial catastrophe.
"A Critical Role"
Two years later, USAID's $35 million in bilateral support—more than any other donor—helped the Central Bank of West African States adopt comprehensive reforms that re-established confidence in foreign lenders and resulted in $312 million in refinancing mechanisms. The World Bank provided $45 million.
USAID played a critical role in a banking reform process launched in early 1990 known as the African Economic Policy Reform Program, said Ousmane Sané, USAID's resident economist since 1984 who was deeply involved in the reform process.
"That decade [1995-2005] represented the highest rate of economic growth and poverty reduction in Senegal's history," Sané said. "Banking sector reform, especially the emergence of microfinance led by USAID, along with liberalization of the rice sector has led to a decade of rising prosperity. As a result, extreme poverty dropped by 36 percent."
According to the World Bank, the rate of poverty—the number of individuals earning $1.25 a day or less—stood at 66 percent in 1990 and 30 percent in 2010. The number of people in Senegal who accessed microfinance rose steadily—to 450,000 in 2002, shooting up to 1.6 million in 2005, according to the International Monetary Fund.
In November 1999, USAID launched a new five-year, $26.5 million project called DynaEnterprise to improve access to financial services and increase use of managerial best practices among micro, small and medium enterprises. Ultimately, the project was able to cover 91 percent of the microfinance market.
"I reflect on our work led by USAID as a great success," said former Central Bank of West African States Director Seyni Ndiaye, "as part of an amalgamated donors group who urged that management must be driven less from the administration and more towards the marketplace."
As a result of these successful USAID interventions, Senegal has become arguably the most financially stable country in West Africa.
The increased stability engendered by reform projects in the banking and rice sectors has highlighted USAID's abilities in financial and sectorial restructuring and has influence policy reform in other parts of Senegal's economy over the years through assistance in other areas, allowing this dynamic nation to reach its full growth potential, Sané explained.
For the moment, however, Senegalese are appreciative of USAID's past help, as well as its results.
"This was very important to the development of rural agriculture," Ndiaye said, in speaking about rice sector reforms. "Twenty years later, the system remains solid. It played a key role in anchoring an emerging economy."
Last updated: January 24, 2017


text:
Texas A&M freshman wide receiver Thomas Johnson has been found according to police ESPN and CNN report.
Thomas had been missing since Monday.
Johnson, one of the team's leading receivers, was last seen leaving his residence in College Station, Tex., on Monday at 5 p.m., wearing a black jacket, black shorts and grey shoes.
JOHN L. SMITH: Bankruptcy case during contentious
A spokesman for Texas A&M confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Johnson did not attend practice on Monday. Since players were given Sunday off, the last time anyone related to the football program had seen Johnson was late Saturday, after the Aggies returned from a 29-24 win over Alabama.
According to a statement from the Texas A&M Police Department, Johnson may have left the university to spend time in the Dallas area, where he attended high school.
BCS CHANGES: New playoff system names new director
"All of us are obviously very concerned about the safety and well-being of Thomas Johnson, who has been missing since Monday evening," said Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin.
"Authorities are working closely with his family, friends and law enforcement agencies to help locate him. Thomas is a tremendous student-athlete, greatly admired by his fellow teammates and all of us on the coaching staff.
"If anyone has any current information about him or knows of his whereabouts, please contact his family or law enforcement authorities immediately. We pray for his quick and safe return."


text:
Flames 2011-12 Player Grades: Top Six Forwards
Kent Wilson
April 21 2012 09:16AM
It's time for that most contentious of sports writing activities: player grades/rankings! I've chosen to start things off with the Flames main forwards before we get into the support cast, back-end and goalies.
To grade the players, I used a mix of their results (both offensive output and underlying numbers) and my own subjective impressions from observation. I weighted thing by expectations and according to each guy's place on the roster and pay grade. Meaning, a fourth liners aren't going to be graded by the same criteria as first liners and vice versa.
So without further ado...the top sixers.
Report Card
Jarome Iginla
82GP, 32g-35a-67pts
Grade: C-
It was an undeniably rough season for the captain. Although he lead the Flames in scoring again this year, the rest of his game took a very serious step in the wrong. Iginla was forced to see some of the tougher ice time thanks to the team's make-up and injury problems and frankly he got his head beat in most nights. His scoring chance ratio was an abysmal 46.3% and his possession rate was a team worst -11.53 corsi/60. It's the first time Iginla has ventured into negative double digit territory by that measure as a veteran.
When He's Good: Jarome is still capable of stretches where he dominates in the offensive zone, particularly when he finds ways to avoid coverage in the slot so he can unleash his still lethal shot. Iginla is also highly durable and so well conditioned he's capable of playing 20+ minutes a night, which can't be said for a lot of players in their mid-30's. Only 11 forwards in the league played more than Iginla last season, with only four of them (Stamkos, Heatley, St. Louis, Tavares) skating more at even strength.
When He Struggles: Iginla is liability in both the defensive and neutral zone on most evenings, but especially when he isn't right at the top of his game. He tends to be generally unengaged behind his own blueline and can give the puck away when trying to carry it through the neutral zone or in shallow areas of the opposition's end. Iginla is particularly bad when he tries to overhandle the puck around the bluelines.
It's an especially rough night when he is routinely pinched off along the boards during a rush, resulting in him stopping short, curling back and trying to make something out of nothing (which usually ends up in a give-away). The captain isn't quite the bull along the boards that he used to be in his prime as well, so he tends to the surrender the puck during battle down low a lot more frequently these days.
Olli Jokinen
82GP, 23g-38a-61pts
Grade: B-
Everyone's favorite photoshop subject, Olli Jokinen had a bit of renassaince this season, scoring 60+ points for the first time since 2008-09. He was on pace for almost 70-points for a majority of the year, but the percentages that were sustaining his output collapsed down the stretch.
Frequently lauded as the Flames most consistent forward, Jokinen saw the second toughest quality of competition on the team (only slightly behind partner Curtis Glencross) and started more often on the defensive end of the rink (47.9%). Those are really tough circumstances, typically reserved for Selke type players. Jokinen isn't that, to be sure, which is why his scoring chance ratio was terrible (44.4%) as was his possession rate (-10.25 corsi/60). On the plus side, Olli lead the team in power play production rate (5.82 points/60) for the second straight season.
When He's Good: I hate to use this terrible cliche, but Jokinen is best when he keeps things simple. A big guy who can really move once he gets going, Jokinen can slice through coverage in the middle of the ice and catch opponents off their guard with his speed. Short, simple passes to his wingers work best for him and he possesses an absolute howitzer of a shot which is how he scored so many goals for the Panthers back in the day.
When He Struggles: Jokinen is still a mediocre puck handler with average to below average vision on the ice. His feet move quicker than his hands, so when he tries to stickhandle through multiple opponents on the rush or when he attempts long passes through traffic, the puck tends to go the other way.
Olli is also only average at thinking the game as well, so sometimes he'll struggle with his positioning or decision making on a play. He can also fall back into bad habits now and then with large, swooping, inefficient routes around the ice. He remains pretty poor in the face-off circle as well (46.5%).
Alex Tanguay
64GP, 13g-26a-49pts
Grade: B+
Limited to just 64 games due to injury, when healthy Tanguay was at times the best offensive player on the ice for Calgary. He remains a rare talent who manages to make everyone on his line better due to his ability to anticipate plays and find his line mates in heavy traffic. Tanguay doesn't drive possession anymore, however, and he's not overly physical.
Interestingly, Alex is the only guy over the last two seasons whose scoring chance differential is way out of line with his possession ratio. Both years he's been in the red by the latter measure, but in the black in terms of chances for and against (chance ratio was 51.1% this season, well clear of everyone else who played consistently in the top-6). The correlation between possession and scoring chances tends to be about 0.7 or better, so either Tanguay is a unique anomaly or I have some sort of unconscious bias towards him while counting.
When He's Good: No Flames player reads and reacts to the action as well as Tanguay when he is on his game. Alex has sublime on-ice vision, can stickhandle in a phone booth and thread passes through opposition sticks and legs. He also has one of the most accurate shots in the league, as his 18.8% career shooting percentage proves.
When Alex is in the zone, nobody on the team is more dangerous because he can make chances out of nothing, set-up team mates for easy goals or snipe it top corner himself.
When He Struggles: A quintessential pass-first winger, Tanguay sometimes tries too hard for the perfect play or easy tap-in, which leads to needless give-aways or lost scoring chances. When things aren't going well for Alex, he starts to force low percentage plays in bad areas of the ice far too frequently, short-circuiting rushes or periods of sustained pressure. Tanguay also isn't overly big or strong, so while he can win puck possession with skills and smarts, he can also be out-muscled during battles along the boards.
Curtis Glencross
image via ramizle
67gp, 26g-22a-48pts
Grade: B
After a career high 16.6% shooting rate the season before, Glencross signed a new deal in the summer and, improbably, managed a new career best SH% this season (23.6%). Not only is that a high water mark for Curtis himself, but it was the second highest SH% in the league amongst players who appeared in 30 or more games (Mathieu Perreault was first at 26.7%). So despite only playing in 67 games and managing only 110 shots on net, Glencross nevertheless scored 26 goals - in fact, he was the only player in the league to score 20+ goals on less than 120 shots.
As mentioned, Glencross played the toughest minutes on the team this season. He and Jokinen were almost always matched against the other team's big guns (regardless of who was their other winger) which is the reason this year was the first time he had a negative possession and chance differential since becoming a Calgary Flame. As such, even strength was a struggle for Glencross when the puck wasn't going in the net for him (think the last 3 weeks of the season) and the grade would have been a lot uglier if the bounces had gone the other way for Curtis this year.
When He's Good: Fast and mean, Glencross can drive play along the boards and on the rush, which is why he and David Moss used to be dominate other third liners when they were playing in the middle of the rotation. Glencross also has a hard, accurate shot, so he can bury quality chances when they appear. His speed and tenacity means he can play on both the penalty kill and power play as well.
When He Struggles: Glencross can get in toruble in a number of ways. First, if he's angry or frustrated, he tends to get overly aggressive and takes ill-advised penalties at inopportune times. Secondly, Curtis also suffers through periods of needlessly fancy or maddeningly lackadaisical play that tends to neutralize his core strengths as a player. Although speedy, strong on his skates and possessing decent instincts, Glencross certainly isn't Mario Lemieux. Meaning...it becomes a problem when tries to play like number 66.
Mike Cammalleri
66Ggp, 20g-21a-41pts
Grade: B -
It was a rough start of the season for Cammalleri as a Hab, eventually leading to a fall from grace in Montreal and a trade back to the Flames in exchange for Rene Bourque. The deal worked out for Calgary, with Cammalleri stepping into the Flames top-6 as both a winger and center (depending on need) and garnering 11 goals and 19 points in 28 games.
Cammalleri struggled to find his feet when he first arrived, disappearing into the mix completely aside from a couple of power play goals. As things rolled on, however, he appeared to get more comfortable and driving offense a lot more consistently down the stretch. He wasn't too bad as a pivot when half the club's regular centers were injured, to the degree that I'd have no problem with the team penciling Cammalleri in as a center if the club can't find a useful guy in free agency.
All that said, like everyone else in the top-6, Cammalleri spent more time in the defensive zone and was outchanced at 5on5. HIs specialty has always been creating chances and finishing around the net rather than a solid 200 foot game, but with a $6M cap hit, the expectations are a bit weightier.
When He's Good: Cammalleri is a slick, crafty player in the offensive zone. He has a nose for loose pucks and soft coverage in the slot which is where he does a lot of damage. Cammalleri has a wicked shot and a fast release, so he's dangerous as both a triggerman on the PP or as a guy causing havoc down around the crease. He's a decent puck handler and can make slow or clumsy defenders miss with both their stick and body checks.
When He Struggles: Not the best defensive presence, Cammalleri will cheat for offense when he can and make high-risk plays at times which can back fire. Although he is solid on his skates for a smaller player, Cammalleri can definitely be overwhelmed by bigger opponents in certain situations. And although agile, Cammalleri doesn't have the high-end speed one usually expects in smaller forwards.
Coming Up...
These are the only guys on the team who were consistently top-6 type forwards (even there's only 5 of them). The next round will look at everyone from Backlund to Bouma.
Great summary Kent.
The things I think i see but can't quite explain.
Flames have alot of good tools in the arsenal when they are across the blueline in the opposition zone. The problem is getting into the opposition zone on a consistent basis to use those tools.
April 21 2012, 11:32AM
One thing that has always kind of gnawed at me was Glencross and his ~24sh%. When I see that a guy like GlenX has 26 goals in 67 GP and a mind-blowing sh%, the first thing that comes to mind is, wow this guy has some decent talent. When I think about it more though, I think, "Wow.. This guy needs to shoot A LOT MORE."
The fact that he is the only guy to have 20 goals while taking under 120 shots leaves me wondering about what goes through his head when he's on the ice. Does he consider himself the last scoring option? Will he take the shot when there is no one else around to do it for him? If that is the case then how long will it take before he catches on that when he shoots, a lot of the time, he scores.
I've often thought that Curtis could and should be a consistent 30 goal scorer. He is getting closer, and if he can balance out his shooting percentage and his production, I think he can get there.
Would probably bump his grades up to the B+ range as well.
Fun read, thanks Kent. This is the stuff that fuels me needs through the off season and gets me posting again haha.
Not that I'm trying to be a downer or anything but...
Anyone notice who is fifth in WHL playoff scoring right now?
I know Baertschi is second, but the throw-in on that Cammalleri deal is looking none-too-good from where I sit.
Anyway, I didn't post just to re-hash the trade.
The Portland/Tri-City series looks like it could be a pretty entertaining one. For what it's worth, I'm cheering for Portland, just so we can have some articles about some Alberta prospects going head-to-head. Although picking a team for whom to cheer in that scenario might be a little hard for Flames fans (Baertschi vs Brossoit).
Holland is 20 (I think) so he should be dominating. His game works nicely in the WHL but does not work nice for the pros. He's not built enough physically and has only average hands, so I'd say at best he's a guy who'll get the occaisonal call-up.
It's hard on me to be a downer on Holland, he is from Lethbridge after all, but I don't see him becoming much of anything in the NHL
So from what you're saying I'm guessing the argument is that he is a beneficiary of playing on a strong team. Is that more or less correct?
Do you have a preference for the Flames at the draft, in them either choosing a forward or a defenseman? If the mock drafts I have seen are anywhere close to accurate they should have a decent choice of prospects between the two positions.
Really can't disagree with those grades, I heard that Jarome was taking a lot of face offs in his own zone. His offensive zone % was way down to like nearly 50%, I think A.V. has the Sedins start in the o-zone like 80% of the time, Quenville has Toews and Kane start like 65%.
Hope the new coach can get Iggy to start more in the o-zone assuming he is still here.
Yes, that is my opinion on Holland. Tri-City was the best team in the West this year, and Holland gets the benefit of playing lots of PP time, and having lots of his points come from the PP. So I just don't think he'd be the same in the NHL.
For the Flames, unless there is some can't miss D man available at 14, I would draft a forward. I haven't looked into the specific prospects very much, but the Flames need some forwards who can score. We all know Iggy won't be around forever, and even though Sven may prove to be a high-scoring forward, it'd be nice to have more than one.
@RKD: Yeah I agree, I cant argue the grades too much either. Brent was so stubborn he was determined to change even the veterans on the team. New coach will hopefully utilize Iggy better & get him out of the gate much quicker. Max that value for a trade deadline deal for him. Not sure if anyone else has been hearing rumblings, but Iggy is wanting out more & more as he knows the window for a cup is pretty well closed for him with the Flames.
Nice job, you grades and rationale make a lot of sense to me. Also, while I think trading Iggy is best, it will not happen so the next coach needs to just work with him the way he likes to lay (I.e. Focus on offense only)
With Reinhart, Baertschi, Ferland, Gaudreau, and perhaps even Granlund, might it not be better at this time to focus on a defensive prospect?
It might be a choice between Sebastien Collberg and Olli Maatta, or something in that range.
I know that the easy answer is best player available, but at 14 that opens up a bit to interpretation. And frankly, the debate about whether the Flames should draft by need is moot because they really need a bit of everything.
My point though is that they have virtually no decent defensive prospects in their system and this might be the year to start the clock on one.
Top-end forwards are far tougher to find than good d-man in my opinion. Good defensive prospects can be found later on in the draft (2nd round or so), where as with forwards most of the good ones are gone by round 1. Personally, I think Feaster needs to find a way to get another 1st round pick at the draft, and if that happens, I take a forward + a defenceman.
Also, I wouldn't necessarily say the Flames have no real defensive guys. J-Bo, Gio and Butler are still quite young and then they also got Brodie. Depth guys like Smith and Wilson can fill in the gaps for now. Obviously a few more would be nice but it's not like they're in dire need of a d-man
Top-end forwards are far tougher to find than good d-man in my opinion. Good defensive prospects can be found later on in the draft (2nd round or so), where as with forwards most of the good ones are gone by round 1. Personally, I think Feaster needs to find a way to get another 1st round pick at the draft, and if that happens, I take a forward + a defenceman.
Also, I wouldn't necessarily say the Flames have no real defensive guys. J-Bo, Gio and Butler are still quite young and then they also got Brodie. Depth guys like Smith and Wilson can fill in the gaps for now. Obviously a few more would be nice but it's not like they're in dire need of a d-man
I was thinking of defensive prospects. Butler and Brodie are past that stage, as far as I can tell. It doesn't mean they are done learning, just that they are call-ups due to roster space and ability now more than development. The Flames have defense now, but the now isn't the problem (okay, it is A problem, but not the ONLY problem and also not one they can solve at the draft).
I was thinking more along the lines of a prospect to replace Tim Erixon in the Flames depth chart. And I think they are in dire need of a defensive prospect with 1st or 3nd pairing potential.
I do actually agree about finding forwards with skill. The Oilers have trended towards drafting forwards heavily in the early rounds and then picking up defencemen and goalies in the middle. Right now the only prospect the Flames have that Vegas would give you good odds on is Baertschi. The others have potential but it is still too far away to say with 100% certainty that they will become regular NHL players. So another couple of prospects would certainly help them.
Kent has written about this though, in that the replacement level of talent for the Flames is only in the bottom six positions and only to an extent that was sorely tested this season.
The only way Feaster manages a second first-rounder, in my opinion, is in a trade of Iginla at the draft. Could happen, but it's a long shot, especially with Feaster hiring a new coach and then being able to say to the team that they are "going for it" again this year. Trade deadline is the likelier option and then one has to wonder about Feaster's apparent reluctance to make what he considers "bad trades" like he did this deadline. Heaven help the Flames if Feaster does like Niuewendyk did last season with Richards and hold on to Iginla at the deadline because the Flames are making a push for the playoffs.
I think draft day 2013 is the one that may have more interest for Flames fans. A name I would recommend they begin to research would be Curtis Lazar. If the Flames were to draft as late as 6th overall next year there is a chance he could still be available and he is a kid that a team might be able to build around. Depends on what Feaster does this off-season.
I think there's a reason the Oilers pick that way. Whether it will work for them is still to be seen, but I see a similarity to what Philly does with their picks. Draft and develop forwards and acquire defensemen.
Trying to do everything all at once seems very Darryl Sutteresque to me, specially when you look at the 11 draft picks the Flames have had in the past 2 years compared to lets say the 23 Florida has had. Flames have to go heavy on one type of asset and THEN balance them out.
As it stands right now, Feaster has 7 picks in the 2012 draft. None in the 2nd round (to Buffalo in the Kotalik salary transfer) and an extra pick in the 7th round thanks to the Wayne Primeau salary dump back in '09.
With Calgary's top 3 picks coming in at 14, 75, and 105, there's just not enough to work with. They have to draft offense and preferably a few centremen. Olli Maatta may be available at 14 and that would be great, but he probably won't play in the NHL till 2015 and the team may still lack depth at C by then.
April 23 2012, 09:04AM
You were far too generous - all of these players got dominated at even-strength.
April 23 2012, 10:27AM
What Rob said.
Also, I thought Tangs wasn't so great this year, especially down the stretch.
The Oilers draft priority in the first three rounds tends to be forward/defence/goal so that in the event they have a second pick in a round it may be spent on either a forward or defenseman, and if defense then the following pick is rarely another defenseman but can either revert to forward or be used on goaltending. It has been rare these past few years for them to draft a goaltender in the first three rounds (Samu Perhonen seems to be an exception).
Overall the strategy appears to be to take skilled forwards early and then explore the later rounds for defence. Goaltending tends to be addressed in the middle rounds (4 and 5) while the final two rounds have lately been used to take players from farther afield (Pelss, Hartikainen).
There has been a reluctance since MacGregor took over to take defensemen too early in the draft and history would seem to suggest that selecting defence in the top five is a risky proposition. The development of those prospects usually outlasts the patience of the team.
For the Flames, when I said that they have every need to address (save perhaps goal) I was essentially saying that, due to their mid-ranking in the first round, there may not be a clear and easy choice from a fan's perspective. Collberg, Pouliot and Gaunce all seem like potential names that will be kicking around at that position and from where I sit the Flames could take whichever one strikes their fancy because they need all of the above.
My money is on Collberg for the Flames. A fast, scoring winger.


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When something bad happens, you have three choices: let it define you, let it destroy you, or let it strengthen you.
The heart of the difference is not ability or even talent, but desire
The purpose of life is to discover and develop your gift. The meaning of life comes from sharing your gift with others. - David Viscott
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Trillium's are blooming full out. About a month ago Gail pointed me that they started showing their buds off, and the last couple of weeks they are just everywhere in Portland. I was stopping to "smell the roses" - or trilliums in my case - on today's morning venture to Forest Park, thinking how blessed I am. I walked a lot, simply because this is what I wanted to. After a single run on Friday that was resembling training, the rest of my runs this week are just that - contemplating on life. Being happy.
Alex visited 3 times over a week's period, and that was happiness. No, it's not like wheels turned around, but talking to my son as we drive (I read just recently this is when best conversations with teenagers happen, likely because they are not intimidated by adult "hovering" over them) brought me to so much peace. Stephen finished his 3rd quarter, and while there are things to work on, he is a great kid, and we talk a lot - in the car, by the way, is the best, as we drive home from boxing. Oleg had a birthday yesterday, and I got to meet his girlfriend, a wonderful woman who I felt connected to in an instant. We all met at a mutual friend's house, Katya, who is yet another fantastic person. I talked to mys sister a couple of days ago, and she is my biggest friend and support. I have my health, a job with a paycheck, a desire to become a professional where I can bring happiness to other's lives, a roof over the head and food on the table. I have a passion for trails, whether it's running hard and doing well - oh, just stroll and enjoy. I have an unbelievable community of friends, just can't say enough about them. And I have met someone, given a second chance, who I can't picture to live without, and who is the most understanding person in the world, who makes me feel safe and cared for.
I am blessed. Yes, I will have more bad hours, bad days and even bad weeks. Yes, there is more to wish for, but right now - I have enough.
Having enough, whatever your definition is, is a bliss in its own right.
Stephen and I are about to head to the movie, and then I'll pack for Zane Grey. It'll be my 3rd embarking to this race, by far I am the least prepared for, but I will get to see Angie, to spend time with Larry and see him succeed, and to enjoy those crazy rocky trails up in high desert. Isn't that a bliss? Larry is at the boy scout camp with his son Harrison to get that advanced patch (pardon my lack of knowledge of definition, I think it's "wolf"?), and I would love to be there as well to see Harrison thrive - last week I was at his scout meeting and it was total fun! And tomorrow - tomorrow I am off to the Gorge with Monika, my "sister by heart", my darling, and we will be inhaling the beauty of the most awesome natural setting I will never seize to love. And - it's 80F here and sunny!
What's the post about? I am not sure. Feelings got so overwhelming, I had to let them out. I hope you don't mind:)
p.s. you gotta see "17 again"! You will laugh, and you will cry (I did, both). And it's a great one to take your kids to.
p.p.s. The outing was awesome!We had a great time with Monika, and at the end ran into Gail, Liz and Kamm. Gail turned back with us and we spent another few miles, the Three Amigos, with my best girlfriends, and my heart was singing because they are absolutely wonderful! And the weather couldn't have been better, absolutely not!
9 comments:
Good to hear the happiness in your life Olga! And so glad for two things: one, that you got to see Alex three times (I totally understand the bliss of that) and two, that you and Oleg have remained friends - so important for you, and even more so for your boys. You are blessed and it is great!ReplyDelete
What a happy post. Did you just come back from a great run:) The sun is out, summer is around the corner, it's a great time to be enjoying life. Have fun at Zane Grey.ReplyDelete
Your post is one ALL should read- It's sooo important to take the time to reflect what we HAVE in our life, not what we don't. Thanks for the inspiration and reminder to value what truly is important in life!ReplyDelete
Love reading upbeat posts. Life is beautiful!!ReplyDelete
My son is 15. I'm very lucky. He is beyond good. More than i deserve. Of course, he isn't grown YET! Still a chance to throw me some curves. But so far he has only a couple times given me any gray hair.ReplyDelete
Having kids is great, huh? Gives us something to focus on and a reason to not give up on ourselves because someone needs us.
Less than a week to Zane!
Being thankful for what we have vs. always wanting "more" definitely changes our perspective in life and what is important. A lot of people never figure that out in life, which I find sad. This weekend, if you find me on the side of the trail sitting on a big rock, promise to pick me up and take me with you. Ok? :)ReplyDelete
What a beautiful post! I think lots of us have been contemplating how lucky we are and enjoying what we have rather than constantly grasping for what we think we want, but really don't need. I hope to meet you 'in real life' someday soon at one of these races!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous21/4/09 14:45
Yes, I am alive. So busy and life is good for me too just too hurried. Running is so-so, feeling slow and tired. Too many projects but going to Bend this weekend for nothing but fun.ReplyDelete
Still can't get myself to get myself to let the lawyer go on the Divorce. I can always make up excuses. I know I will do it soon.
Love Ya
Enjoy the Heat
Beautiful post, Olga. Life is good, even through the tears sometimes. Have a great weekend!ReplyDelete


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Aquamarine Pin and Earring Suite
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- Approximately 55.00 carats of aquamarine are showcased in this pin and earring suite
- Accented by 5.50 carats of diamonds
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Item Details
- Stone:
Colored Gemstones
The cool, crisp color of these aquamarines plays beautifully against the sparkle of white diamonds in this lovely pin and earring suite. Weighing an impressive 55.00 (approximate) total carats, the aquamarines are set in 18K and 14K white gold and accented by approximately 5.50 carats of diamonds.


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It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Killing Kel'thuzad in Naxx was a great feeling !
I have many memories, but probably my favorite during Vanilla Wow, entering MC and killing Ragnaros! It was EPIC!
Also, the moment I finally crafted a Turbo Flyer! Awesome mount!
My biggest moment of Awe in WoW was my first raid in Molten Core with the guild I was in at the time. Just stepping inside Molten Core for the first time and looking up at the HUGE molten giants guarding the bridge into the deeper reaches of the instance and going "Woah... If that's the size of the TRASHMOBS in here... I wonder what the bosses will be like!"
This was before everybody read detailed guides on the internet before attempting any bossfights, so we just went in and had a go at it. Took a couple of tries to figure everything out. We had a member from a bigger and stronger guild pop in on our Vent-channel occasionally to give us a few hints and tips about how to beat certain boss-mechanics, but we had to figure a lot of the stuff out for ourselves.
Even if raiding and bossmechanics have evolved a LOT since then, nothing can beat that first proper raid experience.
Those were different days.
I would have to say that one of the biggest "wow" moments for me in WoW was the first time I encountered one of the epic world PvP standoffs during Vanilla between Tarren Mill and Southshore. Literally at least a hundred players lined up against each other, waiting for someone to make a move. I joined in and watched as we pushed the Horde back to Tarren Mill. I just thought it was so cool that players were making this crazy confrontation and the opposing faction would fly in from their capital cities to defend these tiny little towns in the middle of Hillsbrad! Good memories.
Demon King
Originally posted by MikeB
(...) your favorite moment from World of Warcraft. That one moment or accomplishment that just made you go, "Wow!" (Pun intended!) (...)
Even though I may be late here's my entry anyways
My favorite moment from World of Warcraft has to be one of my fondest. The quest for the Dungeon Set 2 Vestments of the Virtuous for Priest back in pre-Burning Crusade WoW.
It's my favorite moment not because of the items I got at the end of the quest line but because I had so many people help me along the way. From friends to guild mates. There was nothing else in it for them but they still helped. I was floored by the friendliness and selflessness of so many of them.
For those who remember, the quest line was looong and expensive. It was the definition of epic for me and the one moment I fell more in love with WoW and its community.


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Beekeeping Certification Program
The Certified Beekeepers Apprentice program, new in 2014, is organized through the New Mexico Beekeepers Association in cooperation with the City of Albuquerque. The comprehensive beekeeping program will provide quality education, taught by experienced beekeepers, on backyard beekeeping in the context of responsible urban farming for the Albuquerque metropolitan area.
The program is planned as a two-year curriculum seeking seven objectives:
1. Community education and outreach
2. Consistent training on best practices in beekeeping
3. Maintain online resources and open beekeeper meetings for education and outreach
4. Provide mentoring access for beekeepers
5. Promote the development of healthy, gently hives suitable for an urban environment
6. Provide volunteers for community hives
7. Support streamlined approach for managing swarms
Sessions for the 2014 Certified Beekeepers program are scheduled for seven Saturdays: May 10 and 31, June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, and August 9. Each session will include three classroom presentations by recognized local beekeepers and a supervised hands-on segment, using active top-bar and Langstroth honeybee hives, on the premises of the City of Albuquerque's Open Space Visitors Center at 6500 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Students who complete the two-year curriculum and 40 hours of volunteer service will be awarded their Beekeepers Certification.
The program has a 2014 capacity of 24 students, with the expectation that the program will grow in coming years.
The program application is posted on the New Mexico Beekeepers web site. It can be submitted online or sent via U.S. Mail. The New Mexico Beekeepers Association web site is http://www.nmbeekeepers.org/
The cost for the 2014 sessions is $250, which includes a full-color handbook covering the essentials of beekeeping and seven, full-day sessions taught by long-time, experienced beekeepers.
For more information:
Susan Clair, program coordinator, [email protected], 505.281.9888/505.321.8649


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Notice is hereby given that the Ferron City Council will hold a
Public Hearing in conjunction with the regular City Council Meeting on
May 10, 2012 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Ferron City Hall located at
20 East Main, Ferron, Utah. The purpose of the public hearing will be
as follows:
1. To receive public comments on the proposed annexation of real
property within the areas defined in the Master Plan for future
expansion by Ferron City and owned by Robert Hagara and David Dendler.
The property is located approximately 1005 East Bench Road in Ferron
and the complete legal description and map is available for review at
the office of the City Recorder.
Adele Justice, CMC
Ferron City Recorder
Published in the Emery County Progress May 1 and 8, 2012.


text:
Physical Therapy Post-Professional Program
We are pleased that you are interested in the Graduate Program in Physical Therapy at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center! This program of post-professional advanced study leads to either a Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) degree, or a Doctor of Physical Therapy(ScDPT) Science degree, while allowing you to continue in your practice.
The profession of physical therapy has different academic preparation for professional (entry-level) practice and for post-professional (after entry-level or advanced) practice. Generally, entry-level students receive a Master's in Physical therapy (MPT) or Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) after completing a professional educational program. Graduates then take a national board examination, and apply for state licensure to practice as a physical therapist. Post-professional academic degrees for practicing physical therapists can be at master (MS, MA) or doctoral level. The traditional doctoral degree programs (PhD or EdD) are most appropriate for physical therapists pursuing the role of clinical/basic science research or teaching. Post-professional clinical doctorates are being offered for physical therapists. Analogous to post-professional clinical doctorate degrees such as Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and Doctor of Public health (DPH), the clinical doctorate prepares professionals for advanced clinical practice, research and teaching.
The clinical doctorate in physical therapy (ScDPT) at University of Tennessee builds upon entry-level physical therapy education, incorporates advanced practice competencies from the existing MSPT Program, and addresses the additional competencies necessary for advanced practice. The curriculum at University of Tennessee provides the clinical rigor and scholarship essential for doctoral level education.
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IntroductionUzbekistan (ŏzbĕkĭstänˈ) [key], Uzbek Ozbekiston, officially Republic of Uzbekistan, republic (2005 est. pop. 26,851,000), 173,552 sq mi (449,500 sq km), central Asia. The republic borders on Afghanistan in the south, on Turkmenistan in the southwest, on Kazakhstan in the west and north, and on Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the east. Tashkent, the capital, and Samarkand are the chief cities.
Sections in this article:
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: CIS and Baltic Political Geography


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Time's up, everyone! Oh, wow. I've already spotted several entries that are utterly fabulous, and now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to enter a convent in the Swiss Alps in order to fully contemplate the wonderful choices in front of me. Thank you for playing! Winner will be announced Sunday evening.
This photo needs a name. It shows Josh, our longtime cowboy, taking a momentary break from working calves to escape to his thoughts. What was he thinking about? It's fun to try to guess. The stock market? Nah—cowboys transcend stock markets, everybody knows that. The presidential candidates? Nope—he's got more important things to worry about, like whether or not he closed the gate leading to the north pasture near his house, because if he didn't and all the pairs got mixed up…he's gonna have a real problem here in about an hour or so.
Or maybe he's thinking about a long, lost love from his youth. Or a current romantic interest. Or missed opportunities. Or future plans.
Or whether he closed the gate leading to the north pasture near his house.
In any event, a photo of a cowboy this pensive needs a fitting title. To enter this rip-roaring, end-of-the-work-week contest, enter your suggested photo title in the Comments section of this post. One entry per person, please; no entries after 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time tonight. Note: what I'm looking for here is a photo title, not to be confused with a lengthy caption. Winner will be selected based on cleverness, creativity, and the ability to sum up the above photo in a few words. You can do it!
Grand prize will be…something awesome.
Grand prize will be…something great.
Grand prize will be…a $500 e-gift card Amazon.com! I love giving away Amazon e-gift cards because the winner will be able to get, basically, whatever in tarnation he wants. Cameras, books, electronics, night vision goggles, jewelry, make-up, house stuff…the world is the winner's oyster!
Night vision goggles? I have no idea where that came from.
Oh, and while it wouldn't totally cover the cost of Photoshop CS3…the gift card sure as shootin' would make a huge dent. Just a suggestion. If you'd rather have night vision goggles, who am I to judge?
I will now stop talking at this time. Now, go forth and give that photo a name! And multiply, too, if it suits your fancy. Just keep the details to yourself…okay?
Good luck!


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March 18, 2013
"very comfy !but runs long Slightly!"
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A cheerleader for the Cincinnati Bengals has sued the football franchise accusing the team of violating federal wage laws.
Alexa Brenneman, in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Cincinnati and aimed at covering all Ben-Gals since 2011, said the cheer squad members put in more than 300 hours a season attending mandatory practices and charity events and performing required volunteer work but are paid a flat rate of $90 a game for cheering at 10 games during the 2013 season.
The suit says Brenneman, 24, of Downtown, was paid $2.85 an hour when the Ohio minimum wage in 2013 was $7.85 an hour. The 2013 season was the first season she cheered for the Bengals.
The complaint seeks a judge's order to stop the Bengals from violating the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Ohio Minimum Fair Wage Standards Act, as well as unpaid wages for cheerleaders, attorney fees and court costs.
U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett, who is assigned to hear the case, first will have to determine whether the lawsuit meets certain criteria to proceed as a class action or collective action under federal labor law. If the suit is certified, all Ben-Gals since the 2011 season can join it, said Todd Naylor, an attorney on a legal team representing Brenneman. Up to 50 cheerleaders could be eligible, he said.
"They do it because they love it and I think we can have a fair debate in this country about what the minimum wage should be. What I don't think we can have a fair debate about is, if the law is on the books, whether it should be enforced," Naylor said.
"It's part of the Ohio Constitution that they are required to do this. If they work these hours then they should be compensated."
LIST: The true Super Bowls each of the past 48 years
Bengals officials issued this statement through spokesman Jack Brennan:
"The Ben-Gals cheerleading program has long been a program run by former cheerleaders and has enjoyed broad support in the community and by members of the squad. The lawsuit appears to be a copycat lawsuit that mimics the one filed last month in California against a different NFL club. The Bengals will address the litigation in due course."
Current and former cheerleaders of the Oakland Raiders sued that team last month claiming the team does not pay for all hours worked and forces cheerleaders to pay many of their own business expenses. The suit said the Raiderettes were paid $1,250 a season.
TED WELLS: Report concludes Incognito, two teammates had pattern of harassment
MORE BENGALS: Injuries and age will force team to address secondary
Brenneman's Ben-Gals suit says cheerleaders in Cincinnati can make up to $900 a season. Members who don't cheer at a game get $45 for the day to make private appearances in the stadium's luxury suites.
Brenneman's suit noted that the Seattle Seahawks pays their team cheerleaders an hourly wage and for overtime, and that the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team compensates cheerleaders for rehearsals, games, appearances, promotions and dance clinics.
Rules for the Ben-Gals require the cheerleaders to attend two 3-hour practices a week during the football season and tardiness is punished with being benched for games. Cheerleaders also are required to sign up for a minimum of 12 charity events during the season in order to be picked for paid appearances. The women are paid $75 of the $300 the Bengals receive for their charity appearances, the suit alleged.
Ben-Gals also are required to pose for and promote the Cincinnati Ben-Gals calendar without pay while the team makes money off of calendar sales, the suit contends.
Sheila McLaughlin also writes for Cincinnati.com.


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Aug 31, 201309:00 AMPoint of View
Q&A: Edwin Chan
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Iman Ansari: When we look at the work of Frank Gehry or Thom Mayne, as LA architects, there is a certain symbolic relationship to the city evident in the work: the industrial character of these buildings and elements of the highway or automobile culture that tie the architecture to the larger urban infrastructure, the scale of the projects, as well as the conscious use of materials such as metal, glass or concrete. But as freestanding machine-like objects sitting at the heart of the city these buildings also embody certain ideals and values that are uniquely American, such as individualism, and freedom of expression. In your opinion how is Frank Gehry's work tied to Los Angeles or the American culture?
Edwin Chan: Absolutely. I think Frank's work definitely has DNA of LA as a city. We talk about the idea of a democratic city a lot, and coincidentally Hillary Clinton mentioned that in her speech recently saying: "We need a new architecture for this new world, more Frank Gehry than formal Greek," because it's the expression of democracy. In that sense you could think about the building embodying certain type of values that are manifested architecturally. You alluded to a lot of them already like diversity of materials, the scale and the heterogeneity, and those are also the DNA of the society we live in. But for me personally, I think in addition to everything you talked about, there are two main urban aspects that stand out: First one is light; LA is a city that you are very much aware of its unique horizontally. When you are in the city, you are constantly seeing the sky and the sky is always a part of your peripheral vision - as opposed to a city like New York where you are always surrounded by buildings - and because of that, you are very much aware of the change in light. Therefore, the architecture and also the materiality of architecture always have to be very sensitive towards the light. And sometimes they are very important part of the decisions. This approach also carried along to some of the projects that we worked on internationally. For example, one of the reasons we used Titanium in the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao was the way it reacted to the light in the city. It wasn't a stylistic decision per se. As you know, Bilbao is a city with heavy industries and steel, and we knew from the beginning that the building would be of a heavy metallic material that would speak about the industrial character of the place. So we looked at stainless steel and other materials for a long time but we didn't like the way they responded to the light. In northern Spain it rains lot and we wanted a material that would radiate a kind of warmth and bring the sky into the building. So that is why we came to the decision to use titanium in the building. In other places we used other types of materials. So it really depends on where the project is. But the idea of materiality and how it responds to the light is a very important thing, and I think we developed that sensitivity from LA.
The second aspect is the mundane quality of the city. In other words, when people visit LA, especially Europeans, they notice a very different kind of city than a traditional city. Part of it is the kind of "mundane" quality. But at the same time there is a beauty in the mundane. So how do you capture that quality? And how do you bring that into people's awareness? A lot of times people are in denial about that. Frank talks about that also, and that's how he arrived at the chain-link fence. It's a material that people use in their front yard all the time but when you use it as architecture people start to question it. So it's about bringing out those kinds of values and focusing on it. In some ways it's very Duchamp like, you know. Because it is part of a kind of sensitivity that came from modern art: to give value to mundane things or emphasize the beauty of the mundane.


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Did You Know? Countdown to Independence Day (06/30)
Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore
About America's Independence
June 30 : 04 days to July 4th
Did you know there are nine places named "freedom," including the most populous city on the list: Freedom, California (population 6,000 residents)?
Did you know there is one city named Patriot in America? It's in Indiana. Population 192?
We'll be presenting a new "Did You Know?" fact each day as we countdown to Independence Day Day (07/04)! So stop by again tomorrow.
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All over the United States, the men and women of America's labor movement are under attack. The attacks are being made by union-busting billionaires, CEOs and their political allies who would like nothing better than to eliminate fair compensation for work done by employees-all the while generating huge profits for themselves. There are also government officials and agencies that are determined to put an end to coal mining and coal fired power plants.
Joining in the fight to maintain fair compensation for employees, and also to keep power flowing in this nation, are the members of the UMWA Local 1769 and Local 2176 who work for Energy West Mining, and members of the IBEW Local 57 employed by PacifiCorp at the Carbon, Huntington and Hunter power plants and other branches of the PacifiCorp organization. Both of these Unions are currently engaged in bargaining successor contracts with PacifiCorp. These coal miners and the power plant workers are fighting for the right to maintain their standard of living with no backward steps--a fight which is affecting their families and could affect our local communities.
These union workers are everyday ordinary people, right here, in our communities. They're volunteer firemen, EMTs, little league coaches, and even bishops and pastors of churches. They're on the city council, members of the National Guard and supporters of many community functions. They are hunters, fishermen, ATV riders and boaters on the lake. They're golfers, softball players, gardeners, voters and most important of all; they're good neighbors. They are the one who will help you get that new washing machine through the door, or come pick you up when your truck breaks down and even try to help you fix it.
If you'll notice, many other areas of the nation are struggling economically because of job loss, and even this area has had its hard times. But these union workers are determined to help our local area keep the lights on. The miners dig the coal and the power plant workers burn the coal and they are where the real "energy" is.
They're a big reason why our convenience stores, our restaurants, our furniture, clothing, music, office supply and hardware stores, and even our local car dealerships, radio stations and newspapers keep going. Very little about the local union workers struggle for fair compensation for the work they do and the profits they generate for PacifiCorp has been covered by the media.
So, I wish to personally applaud all the local businesses in the Castle Country area, Sanpete County and even Pier 49 Pizza in Salt Lake City who are proud to support the Union's efforts and display the yellow and blue "We Support The UMWA" posters in their windows. When I need to purchase any product these businesses sell you can bet I will be walking through their doors, without hesitation, to spend my money.
Thank you so much for your support.
Doris H. Quinn
Castle Dale