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Monday, October 20, 2008
Just 1 game Shy of the Series
It's never easy winning two successive World Series championships. Nobody has been able to perform the feat since the Yankees won the World Series three straight years, from 1998-2000.
When a team jumps as many hurdles as the Red Sox did in 2008, that task gets even tougher.
Truth be told, Boston didn't win 95 games in the regular season and force a Game 7 in the American League Championship Series the easy way. The Red Sox endured, clawed and battled their way to within one game of reaching another World Series on Sunday, then fell short with a 3-1 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.
"To say we were going to get to Game 7 of the ALCS with all the injuries we had and what we've been though as a team, it's a pretty good accomplishment," said Dustin Pedroia, who may end up winning the AL MVP Award in the offseason. "We still felt like we had a championship-caliber team. We just ran into a team that played a little bit better than us."
General manager Theo Epstein was proud of what the Sox accomplished this season.
"This was a year where we had to survive almost from Day One right to Game 7 of the ALCS," said Epstein, who noted Boston overcame a lot of obstacles. "These players grinded through everything. Along the way, great camaraderie and sense of team and a sense of purpose developed, including a lot of magic. These guys really pulled hard for one another. That's really what we tried to preach as an organization. These guys are the organization. They make us proud with what they do out there."
There were road struggles in the season's first half, the trade of future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez on July 31, and injuries that popped up again and again to prominent members from the team's 2007 World Series championship run.
But look no further than the team's performance in the ALCS as an indication of how tough the Red Sox were. Trailing, 7-0, in the seventh inning of Game 5 -- and behind, 3-1, in a best-of-seven series -- the Red Sox rallied for an 8-7 win, then took Game 6 in St. Petersburg to force their third ALCS Game 7 in five seasons -- all of which included Boston late-series rallies.
Yet another miracle comeback -- the same type the Sox became known for throughout the decade -- was there for the taking.
They just fell a little short.
There were obvious inconsistencies throughout -- compare the Red Sox's 21-29 road record at the All-Star break to their 36-11 home mark. Boston won 13 in a row at home from May 2-June 5 but lost 12 of 17 on the road in that same span. The Red Sox rallied to finish the season just four games under .500 on the road.
Despite not reaching the World Series, closer Jonathan Papelbon was proud of how his club performed this season.
"I said to myself, 'I'm proud of us,'" said Papelbon. "I'm proud of what we went through this year and how we overcame things. We put ourselves in a situation to get to Game 7. When you do that and you battle all the way back to a Game 7 and you try to put yourself in a position to win, which we very well did tonight, that's all you can ask for."
For every Red Sox setback, it seemed there was an answer that exceeded expectations.
It started early, with a right shoulder injury to Curt Schilling that prevented the 2001 World Series Most Valuable Player (while with the Diamondbacks), who was also a pivotal part of the Sox's title runs of '04 and '07, from throwing even one pitch in 2008.
The answer? Boston relied not only on the steady growth of Jon Lester, who went 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA and became the team's most consistent starter throughout the season, but the insertion of new starters into the rotation to fill voids. Justin Masterson, Bartolo Colon and Paul Byrd all found themselves winning games in the starting rotation.
That trio went 12-7 while starting in 2008.
On May 31, David Ortiz injured his left wrist and missed nearly two months. Instead of crumbling, the Red Sox's offense received a boost from J.D. Drew, who took Ortiz's No. 3 spot in the batting order and hit .337 with 12 homers in June.
"This team had a lot of heart," said Drew who won the AL Player of the Month Award in June. "We fought through it and dealt with injuries all year. To be in this position, you don't want to lose in this round of the playoffs. To get here through all we've been through is pretty impressive."
When the Red Sox's bullpen began sputtering in mid-July -- a period when the club looked to find a steady reliever who could consistently pitch the eighth inning and preserve a lead for Papelbon -- manager Terry Francona called on Masterson again.
Masterson was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket to be converted to a reliever, and it worked, as the 23-year-old went 2-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 27 relief appearances. He allowed just six earned runs in July and August combined.
By the non-waiver Trade Deadline, it was obvious that Ramirez's future was no longer with Boston. The team traded him to the Dodgers in a three-team swap that moved Jason Bay to the Red Sox as Ramirez's replacement.
Bay did his part, batting .293 with nine homers and 37 RBIs through the end of the regular season, and he was an upgrade defensively in left field.
Stints on the disabled list again set in. The Sox lost right-hander Josh Beckett for a period in August with a right elbow injury, then a right oblique injury. Drew spent a month nursing his lower back, and Triple-A prospect Jed Lowrie became the everyday shortstop when Julio Lugo was lost for the season. Mike Lowell, the 2007 World Series MVP, didn't play after Game 3 of the AL Division Series because of a right hip injury.
The Red Sox made the necessary adjustments.
Lowrie made all of the routine plays in the field and became a legitimate offensive threat in August, collecting 16 extra-base hits. Kevin Youkilis, an AL Gold Glove Award-winning first baseman, became the everyday third baseman in the playoffs during Lowell's absence.
A late-August deal for Mark Kotsay gave Boston a viable option for a backup outfielder and a first baseman. Kotsay filled in for Drew in right until Drew returned, then he took Youkilis' spot at first while Youkilis played third for Lowell.
For every setback, there was an answer.
"We had a lot come together this year," said Jason Varitek, who will be a free agent this offseason. "Our bullpen solidified itself. Our pitching took steps at becoming better. We were able to play a little different offensively and manufacture runs and added some speed in there. This team has a lot to be proud of."
It was enough to help the Red Sox earn an AL Wild Card berth in September, then knock off the Angels -- the Majors' only 100-win team -- in the ALDS. And down, 3-1, in the ALCS, the Red Sox battled to beat the Rays in Games 5 and 6, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 with a World Series trip on the line.
Other teams facing such difficulty might not have seen October at all. Boston took it all in stride, building character and growing together as the adversity mounted.
Every time it seemed there was no chance at another trip to the World Series, the Red Sox responded.
They came close. It was just one game short.
Posted by Duke Eversmeyer at 5:51 PM
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Amy DeForrest scored two goals and assisted on another as the top-seeded Downingtown East girls ice hockey team skated its way to a 4-0 victory over No. 8 Strath Haven in the quarterfinals of the ICSHL playoffs at Ice Line on Sunday night.
Morgan Elliott and Victoria Barretta also found the back of the net for the Cougars, who will meet No. 4 Conestoga in Tuesday�s semifinals, set for 7 p.m. back at Ice Line.
Lindsay O�Donohue produced two assists and Miranda Stueve pitched a shutout between the pipes for Downingtown East.
Conestoga 7, Bishop Shanahan 2: Michaela Caldwell netted a hat trick as the fourth-seeded Pioneers coasted into the ICSHL semifinals.
Mollie Johnson added two goals and an assist for Conestoga, which will meet top-sseded Downingtown East on Tuesday at 7 p.m. back at Ice Line.
Ciara Pettinos and Gilliane Edwards scored for the No. 5 Eagles, who saw their season come to an end with the loss.
Haverford High 8, W.C. East 2: Olivia Martin and Lauren Vanstone each scored twice as No. 3 Haverford High won the ICSHL quarterfinal matchup.
Leah Mariani produced a goal and two assists for the Fords, who will meet No. 2 Unionville or No. 7 Lansdale Catholic in the semifinals on Wednesday, set for 8:45 p.m.
Jordyn Cholish scored both goals for the Vikings, and Charlotte Dufoe made 19 saves in net.
West Chester 3, Southern Connecticut St. 2; West Chester 11, Mercy 7: Erin Quense hit a two-run home run during a three-run fourth that propelled West Chester to awin over Southern Connecticut State University in the second of two games at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont Sunday. West Chester also topped Mercy.
West Chester (11-5) upped its winning streak to a season-high six games with the win and finished its weekend in the Sunshine State at 6-2. Southern Connecticut State (3-5) was ranked 14th in the country two weeks ago. The Owls were the first team listed �among others receiving votes� in the latest NFCA coaches� poll.
Quense�s first career home run was a two-run shot in the fourth that put West Chester on top, 2-1. Kelly Anderson later drew a bases loaded walk to score the Golden Rams� other tally.
Quense finished the second game 3-for-3 while Lauren Altenburger went 2-for-3.
In the first game against Mercy, West Chester scored six runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth.
Kate Skokowski (5-4) started and lasted 4.2 innings. She allowed six runs, though only two of those were earned. She scattered seven hits, walking three and striking out three. Devon Utterback came on in relief in the fifth to get West Chester out of that inning. She finished up the rest of the way to pick up her first save of the season.
Megan Kelly was 3-for-4 with five RBIs, including a bases-loaded triple in the fifth that was the big blow in that rally. Ali Vavala was 3-for-4 while Anderson registered a pair of RBIs at the plate.
West Chester is back on the road next weekend when the Rams travel to Troutville, Va. for the West Virginia Tournament. They will take on Ohio Valley and Bluefield College on Friday.
Lincoln 8, Livingstone 7:Jasmine Dabney delivered a walk-off base hit to left center to cap a furious comeback as Lincoln rallied for a victory over Livingstone during the final day of the CIAA Roundup on Sunday afternoon at Parker Field.
Lincoln (3-2 overall, 1-2 CIAA) fell behind 4-0 in the top of the first inning and trailed 6-0 midway through the fourth inning.
The Lions began the rally with a three-run fourth as Emily Woodruff began the frame with a single to center and stole second. With one out, she advanced on a passed ball and scored when Avree Morton drew a base on balls. Toni Smith doubled down the line in left to score Morton and came in to score on a wild pitch to cut the margin to 6-3.
Lincoln continued to chip away at the deficit as Danielle Owesreached on a fielder�s choice and stole second. She came in to score when Erin Rucker reached on an error.
Livingstone answered with a run in the top of the sixth to grab a 7-4 advantage before Lincoln scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 7.
Smith, who went 2-for-3, was hit by a pitch to start the inning and stole second. She moved to third on a wild pitch and Mariah Coateswas hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with one out. Coates stole second and Tara O�Brien reached on an infield hit to score Smith from third. Dabney reached on an error and advanced all the way to third as Coates and O�Brien scored to tie the game.
Lincoln completed the rally in the bottom of the seventh.
Smith opened the inning with a base hit to left center. Mariah Liberty followed with a walk and both advanced a base when Coates struck out. After a long battle at the plate, O�Brien drew a walk to load the bases. Dabney stepped up and delivered a base hit to left center to give Lincoln the walk-off victory.
Elizabeth City State 6, Lincoln 3: Brandon Bolden pitched seven innings as Lincoln rallied late, but couldn�t overcome a big deficit on Sunday afternoon in a CIAA game at Pasquatank County High School.
Bolden (0-2) surrendered six runs on nine hits with four walks and four strikeouts in the loss. Phillip Tomsic pitched an inning in relief.
Elizabeth City State (6-5 overall, 3-3 CIAA) used a five-run fifth and added a run in the sixth to grab a 6-0 lead.
In the ninth, Lincoln (0-8, 0-6) tried to rally as Kyle Finneman singled up the middle and stole second. David Christian was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced a base on a balk. Maurice Brown brought Finneman in when he reached on an error. After a stolen base by Brown, Devin Legins grounded out to first as Christian came in to score and Stephen Smith reached on an error as Brown scored. Christian Valdez flied out to left to end the Lions� rally.
Valdez and Finneman each collected a pair of hits. Ivan Mitchell and Christian both finished with a hit.
The Lions return to action with a non-conference doubleheader at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Norristown against Chestnut Hill College.
West Chester 2, U-Sciences 0; U-Sciences 6, West Chester 0:Junior right-hander Joe Gunkel tossed a complete-game shutout in the opener of the non-league doubleheader.
West Chester (2-4-1) got another stellar pitching performance from its ace on a Saturday afternoon made for baseball. Gunkel tied a career-high with nine strikeouts in seven innings of work. He allowed eight runs and did not walk a batter.
A two-run second inning was all Gunkel (2-1) needed Sunday. Nick Bonadies knocked in a run with a single and later scored to stake West Chester to its 2-0 lead. Five different Golden Rams registered a hit in the game.
In the nightcap, USciences blew open a scoreless pitcher�s duel with five runs in the fifth, and then tacked on one more in the seventh to come away with the split.
Fred Breidenbach started game two and threw three scoreless innings, giving up two hits, walking one and striking out two.
West Chester scheduled a doubleheader make-up with College of Saint Rose for Tuesday at noon.
Women�s Gymnastics
Golden Rams take fourth: West Chester University finished fourth in a quad meet with Ivy League opponents Brown and Cornell University, along with ECAC rival Southern Connecticut State University on Sunday afternoon.
West Chester scored a 186.425 in the meet, while Brown was the overall winner with a 192. Cornell was second with a 191.675 and Southern Conn. St. scored a 191.025.
Kaley LaFleur finished sixth on the balance beam with a score of 9.625. She was the highest individual finisher on Sunday. Her all-around score of 37.550 was good for third place in the meet as well.
Patty Konschak, Paige Griffin and Melissa Voskian each posted a 9.525 on the floor exercise. However, the vault was the Golden Rams� top apparatus of the day. Voskian scored a 9.6, and Melissa Prisco notched a 9.55 to lead the Rams, who scored a 47.475 as a team.
West Chester travels to Towson University next weekend for another quad meet with host Towson, George Washington and Southern Connecticut State.

subset: commoncrawl


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Eugene Marve went on a local radio station last week and apologized for what he said after his son was told by UM coach Randy Shannon he wouldn't be allowed to transfer to Florida, Tennesee or LSU as well as any state schools or any schools in the ACC.
He made a passionate plea that all his family wanted was for their son to be close to home. He talked about having cancer, how his ex-wife was struggling financially and how Robert chose Miami to begin with because it was close to home. Thursday, UM heard Robert Marve's appeal and a three-person committee voted to keep the restrictions on the three SEC schools and the ACC, but leaving open the possibility to play at USF and UCF. Apparently, the Marve family still isn't happy with that. Why? Isn't playing close to home what Robert Marve and his family really want? Isn't that possible now at UCF and USF -- two schools who will be playing Miami over the next few years?
The truth is that really isn't what matters to the Marves. What matters is probably what Randy Shannon has been getting chastised for -- having a chance to go to those schools Marve's representatives were rumored to have made contact with before he formally decided to leave UM. In the end, we'll never know for sure if any of that happened. Nobody is ever going to admit contact was made or clarify if it wasn't. But we will have tonight's reaction from the Marve camp and that speaks volumes.
By the way, if Shannon's stance on transfers and the way he treats his players is so horrible, why don't we hear Jermaine McKenzie, Daniel Adderley and the many other players who have transferred out of this program crying?


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The best free games for iPhone and iPad
More's authoritative guide to the very best, absolutely free games for your iPad and iPhone
Looking for the very best free games for your new iPad or iPhone? Whether it's strategy, shooter, sports, casual, physics, action, role-playing, racing, word, sims, or puzzle, iMore has carefully collected all of our favorite free App Store games and listed them below for your playing pleasure.
It's been over six months since our last go at the best free games available for iPhone and iPad, and since it's gaming week for Talk Mobile, it seemed prudent to give it another pass. There's a lot that hasn't changed, such as in sports games, while others, like action games, have lots of new picks. We're folding together iPhone and iPad games this round for simplicity's sake. Odds are you'll find these games just as good on one as the other (though we're always open to hear what you guys have to say about our picks and the format in the comments).
Before we get started, there are a few things that are worth highlighting. First off, many of the best free games will have in-app purchases of some kind. This can lead to poor scaling the further into a game you get (i.e. you might have a rough time getting anywhere without biting the bullet on an IAP), though that's entirely a case-by-case scenario and dependent on your patience level. Second, I've avoided "lite" versions of premium games; two free levels aren't going to do much of anybody good. Finally, there are lots of premium games that are regularly offered for free on a promotional basis, so be sure to keep an eye out for them. We'll be omitting any that are limited-time offers, just so we don't get the hopes up of anyone getting to this list late.
With all of that said, let's dig into the picks!
- Best free strategy games for iPhone and iPad
- Best free shooter games for iPhone and iPad
- Best free sports games for iPhone and iPad
- Best free action games for iPhone and iPad
- Best free role-playing games for iPhone and iPad
- Best free racing games for iPhone and iPad
- Best free board games for iPhone and iPad
- Best free word games for iPhone and iPad
- Best free simulation games for iPhone and iPad
- Best free puzzle games for iPhone and iPad
The best free strategy games for iPhone and iPad
RAD Soldiers
New to our list is RAD Soldiers. This has bumped out Hero Academy as my favorite asynchronous strategy game. Players take turns moving custom-kitted troops around a battlefield trying to hold a zone for five turns. Players accumulate in-game currency through single-player challenges and winning online games which can then be spent on unlocking new troops with their own unique special abilities and style. The variety of combinations in terms of equipment and available actions on a turn-by-turn basis is boggling. Luckily there's an easy undo function before you lock in your various moves and attacks, ensuring that you can deal out the most damage while still taking advantage of the various pieces of cover throughout each level. Speaking of which, there are a lot of great stages to play through, and thanks to the recent Rio expansion pack, you've got a warzone with plenty of sun to enjoy.
Heroes of Order & Chaos
Heroes of Order & Chaos is the first MOBA game for mobile, and it's really solid. If you've ever played League of Legends or Dota 2 you'll know what multiplayer online battle arenas look like, but the short version goes like this: two teams of 3 or 5 face off against one another on a symmetrical map. Clumps of troops spawn from each headquarters and start running down one of three lanes towards the opposing base. Players join along with their distinctive heroes and try to chew through the opposition to destroy the towers in that lane and ultimately destroy the central structure. Over the course of that battle, players earn experience points for their kills, gather gold, buy new equipment, and unlock new abilities. Though all of that resets for each new game, players progress on a larger scale as they win matches, and can in turn improve the abilities of their favorite characters. You'll find plenty of heroes to chose from on a week-to-week basis, and can pay to have permanent access to your go-to characters.
Spice Bandits
Spice Bandits is an absolutely fantastic tower defense game. You take on the role of an adorable little space pirate who plunders various locations on Earth to gather up as much spice as possible. Of course, pesky humans aren't interested in letting you get away with that, and attack your various strongholds in waves while you defend with all sorts of upgradeable alien towers. Maps have a variety of themes and terrain qualities, making every round a new experience.
Over time, you gather spice which can be spent on new kinds of turrets (provided you're a high enough level and have the prerequisite turrets purchased). Spice can also be used to deck out your alien avatar in some swanky threads viewable by friends in competitive and co-operative missions through Game Center. As you level up, you get upgrade points (which can also be bought with spice) to customize your play style as you see fit - cheaper turrets, faster rate of fire or more mesmerizing disco music are just a few options. You can reset your upgrades at any time, allowing you to experiment with a wide array of play styles.
Spice Bandits lets you buy spice through in-app purchases, which also eliminates ads between levels. On the iPad, Spice Bandits makes excellent use of the bigger screen, and the devs have made a lot of user interface changes so you can see more of the action. Spice Bandits also lets your port over your game progress from the iPhone version easily through their Crystal network and cloud saving; it's universal too, so there's only one download to manage across devices.
The best free shooter games for iPhone and iPad
Dead Trigger
Dead Trigger is the pre-eminent free first-person shooter for iOS. For all of its tacky, tongue-in-cheek zombie apocalypse dialog, the graphics are excellent, complete with water effects and richly-detailed models. Players gun through various campaign missions, take a stab at daily challenges, weather endless waves of zombies in arena mode, and unlock new weapons as they rank up. Cash is the main reward, but every once in awhile you'll earn the premium gold currency, which is used to buy the really fancy artillery. There's also a wide array of equipment to help keep you alive through your undead-infested ordeals, and once it's all over, you can use casino chip rewards to play the slots and win big prizes. If you're willing to spend a few bucks, Modern Combat 4 is the best paid first-person shooter you'll find on iOS right now.
Major Mayhem
Major Mayhem is a side-scrolling, dead-simple shoot-em-up. As Major Mayhem, you're on a mission to save your girlfriend from somethingerother - that part's not important. The important part is that players tap on ninjas, thugs, and other baddies to open fire from behind cover, leap over obstacles, and ultimately climb heroically onto your chopper to safety. Saving scientists provides additional power-ups, while eliminating hard-to-hit bonus targets and accomplishing bonus objectives can yield big bonus coins. Players are scored based on accuracy and speed, and are awarded coins which can be spent on vanity items as well as new weaponry. Over time, you also unlock new game types, such as time bomb, arcade, and survival across the game's three themed settings.
Zombiewood is a unique twist on the zombie apocalypse, and chock-full of dual-stick shooting action. Players clean up the streets of Hollywood by blasting through hordes of undead with all manner of outlandish weaponry: flamethrowers, miniguns, pistols, shotguns - you name it. Over time, players unlock some pretty hilarious outfits that also tweak stats like speed and health, though you can fast track through those with in-app purchases. High-grade graphics, unique art style, and non-stop action make Zombiewood a perfect pick for those looking to run and gun.
The best free sports games for iPhone and iPad
Baseball Superstars 2013
Baseball Superstars 2013 is an exaggerated baseball game with Japanese-style characters and dialog. While the game keeps tabs on minute details, such as batting averages, running speed, stamina, and confidence levels, there are some more cartoony encounters with "super players" that wear outlandish costumes and wield the unlikeliest of powers.
Pitching and batting is done through moving targets in a target zone using a d-pad and tapping at just the right moment. You'll encounter plenty of challenges, including injuries which require recuperation in a hospital, managing your team roster, and playing against friends online. Personally, I found this game impossibly hard when set on normal difficulty, but I'm positive baseball fans will appreciate the amount of detail in this game. After putting some time into Homerun Battle 2 Free, it's clear that Baseball Superstars 2013 is the top free baseball game on iOS, but for more baseball-themed apps, check out our ballgame roundup over here.
Through in-app purchases, you can get G points, which are spent on character items, training sessions to improve your stats, or even buy whole levels for your batter or pitcher. The pixelation inherent in the game's old-school graphics are really apparent on the iPad's larger display, but the animation remains high-quality. Game Center integration doesn't extend beyond achievement tracking, and while cloud saving is available, you have to make sure you have a Gamevil account active and manually upload game data to and from your iPhone.
NFL Pro 2013
NFL Pro 2013 is a full-fledged football game complete with leagues, playbooks, and extensive rosters based on real players and teams. Your players gain experience and level up as you go, letting you improve their stats in a number of areas, like run blocking, catching, awareness, and agility. Every down, you pick a play available (either offensive or defensive), and while you manually control one player, the AI handles the rest. New from the 2012 version of the game is a pre-snap notepad, which allows you to tweak plays at the last second. There's also a great first-person view when making throws. Controls during play are dead simple, but most of your time will be spent flipping through and picking plays. On the downside, your selection is really limited to start, plus quarter lengths are limited to 2 minutes without digging into in-app purchases.
Every game you play uses up energy, which replenishes over time or through in-app purchases. Team points to level up your players can also be bought, along with credits to buy new playbooks, stadiums, gain access to new teams, divisions, and conferences. Unfortunately, there's no cloud saving or Game Center support, though NFL Pro 2012 is a universal app. There's also Madden 13 Social if you're looking for some asynchronous back-and-forth football gaming with buddies.
Real Soccer 2013
Real Soccer 2013 offers a wide variety of gameplay types in a fast-paced, realistic package. The core controls are laid out with a standard virtual joystick and sprint, pass and shoot buttons, with a few fancier maneuvers executed through taps and gestures on the playing area. Outside of the stadium, there's a lot of gameplay, too. Players have to build up a team roster, upgrade facilities and staff, increase revenue with merchandising and sponsorships, and make sure their team is well-rested and healthy.
Playing Real Soccer 2013 matches earns you coins which can be used to purchase many of those upgrades. Over the course of play, your team has to advance through various cups and leagues, earning rewards and experience no matter the outcome. "Cash" is Real Soccer 2012's premium currency, which can be traded in for the completion of certain roster tasks (which otherwise take a fair bit of real-world time). Real Soccer 2013 is in a tight race with Pro Evo Soccer 2012, which, though "lite" and saving most of its leagues and progression for paying customers, has a really great Flick Soccer-style penalty kick drill. There's also Real Soccer 2012, which has a few noticeable differences, though keeps the same core gameplay and graphics.
The best free action games for iPhone and iPad
Spaceteam is a truly unique reflex and communication game where players with multiple iOS devices bark orders at one another in order to keep their spaceship moving forward. Everybody gets a randomized control panel with absurdly-named knobs, sliders, and buttons. Players are then issued commands which need to be quickly fulfilled or else the ship explodes. It's a silly premise, but ultimately creates a chaotic and truly fun party game. Expansion packs are sold with new spaceships, commands, and symbols.
Punch Quest
Endless runners are fun and all, but why dodge obstacles when you could just punch them? Punch Quest takes a tried-and-true formula of surviving as long as possible and adds some whoop-ass and 8-bit-style graphics. Players jab, cross, and uppercut their way through legions of medieval minions, and occasionally gets some help from a laser-breathing raptor, gnome, or other completely ridiculous character. Though you're perpetually running forward and leaping over obstacles, there are many branching paths which lead to different kinds of treasure. As you accumulate wealth, you unlock badass new superpowers, new characters, new threads, and lots more. The progression options here are very involved and easy to get sucked into. If you're tired of Jetpack Joyride or Temple Run 2, give Punch Quest a shot.
Death Dome
Death Dome is basically a free version of Infinity Blade, except it's placed in a post-apocalytic wasteland. Players fight one-on-one against grotesque monsters with all manner of ramshackle melee weaponry with swipe gestures, and earn rewards as they play. The main character, Phoenix, also develops superhuman abilities thanks to biological pathogen that has trapped the populace of the city in a forced quarantine and spawned the horrors that now ravage survivors. Combat involves a delicate dance of blocking, dodging, and precisely-timed swipes, though combat is interspersed with scavenging mini-games, where players have to quickly tap targets before the baddies show up. Players earn rewards for playing daily and completing individual challenges against opponents (such as executing a certain number of blocks). Skull-branded coins are the primary currency, while death diamonds are the premium currency used for some exclusive items. There are also revives which can be used to bring you back in the middle of a fight or used to purchase the top-shelf weaponry and armor.
The graphics are really excellent, and among the best I've seen in a free game so far. Cloud syncing and Game Center achievements are in effect, which are both appreciated. If you'd like something a bit more classical, Glu also has Blood and Glory 2, which is set in ancient Roman gladitorial arenas. I'm also a big fan of Juggernaut: Revenge of the Sovering for its original take on the swipe-based melee combat idea and additional RPG elements.
The best free role-playing games for iPhone and iPad
Arcane Legends
Arcane Legends is the premiere mobile MMO, and it's fantastic. The developer, Spacetime Studios, has been working on these kinds of games for awhile, but Arcane Legends is the first time it has felt like everything has come together. You'll find all of the usual RPG stuff in here - multiple classes, levelling up, quests, new gear, regularly-updated content, and all that jazz. When you start a quest, you're dropped in with whoever happens to be around and doing the same one, so you're rarely playing alone. Quests are short and sweet, and the action is all real-time. There are a few things that sets Arcane Legends apart from most MMOs. For one, there's the extensive pet system. Players earn or buy pets which don't only look cute but also add a notable buffs to players and attack on their own. The main pitch for in-app purchases is for potions, which can do the usual stuff like heal you, but also provide limited-time boosts to stats and XP gain. As you might expect, there's also a whole bunch of uber-powered gear reserved for in-app purchases if you really feel like going on a tear.
Dungeon Hunter 4
Short of running Splashtop or some other desktop virtualization app, Dungeon Hunter 4 is the closest thing to Diablo on an iPad that you're going to get. This action-RPG puts players into encapsulated, real-time combat encounters where they have to hack and slash through waves of enemies and complete mission objectives, all the while amassing enough gold to upgrade their gear. There's also an extensive single-player game with its own storyline. There are four classes to explore, each with their own play style and special abilities, as well as four different worlds with four difficulty levels each.
Besides the gold you earn from enemy kills, there are also gems which can be spent on a bunch of different items. Keys which are earned regularly to open random prizes at the end of each level. The Retina-optimized graphics are really great, and the boss fights can be particularly challenging, even if you've got the backup of some buddies through online multiplayer.
Heroes In Time
The 16-bit console era spawned some of video gaming's most beloved games and game systems. It was dominated by games for systems like the Sega Genesis and Nintendo's Super NES. Heroes In Time harkens back to that time in glorious, Japanese RPG-style fashion, when The Legend of Zelda had set the style for multiple generations of console RPG play. You can choose from four different character classes and embark on numerous side quests that complement the main storyline.
Battles happen in realtime, with plentiful loot drops when you defeat enemies. Cutscenes and art are reminiscent of Japanese anime and manga, definitely adding to the JRPG feel. The one downside of Heroes In Time is that it's optimized for the iPhone, so iPad players need to resort to zooming to fill their screen - but with the game's intentional homage to the 16-bit era, the blocky graphics don't detract from iPad gameplay. Heroes In Time has in-app purchases, but it isn't blatant or abusive - it's perfectly possible to play through the game without spending a dime of real money.
The best free racing games for iPhone and iPad
Real Racing 3
Real Racing 3 is a stunningly beautiful racing game that sets a high bar for graphics. Players burn through a wide variety of race types on real-world tracks, gaining cash for new rides and upgrades in the process. One of the more interesting features in Real Racing 3 is the asynchronous multiplayer. Once you've buddied up, you can play against the times made by your friends. Their progress is transposed on your track, but it's not a ghost; you can knock them around to get ahead and climb the leaderboards. New tracks and cars are released regularly, so you're never hurting for fresh content. Your car will lose some durability over the course of races and eventually affect your performance, so make sure it stays in good repair. The smooth tilt controls, excellent graphics, and smart multiplayer implementation are sure to rope in even those that aren't normally big racing fans.
Forever Drive
Forever Drive is a sharp, polygonal top-down racing game with a cool abstract art style. The controls are simple and fluid, with options for tilt, tap, or d-pad. You're scored based on how many stars you pick up and how tightly you hug highlighted shoulders, but don't get too wild; you have a limited amount of time to get through as many tracks as possible. That means you need to drive smart and avoid the civilian traffic that explode in a Tron-esque display if you so much as nudge them. One of the core elements of Forever Drive is the track builder.
It's pretty simple - you draw a line from one end of a square to the other, pepper some scenery along the sides, and the highlighted turns, stars, and extra traffic are added in automatically. You then have the option to share these tracks online, which then randomly compose the arcade mode of other players. When you play, you get fed a series of user-built tracks one after another, which you can rate up or down after you're done driving them. There are also weekly leagues where you have a chance to win in-game currency, with which you can buy a few unlocks, but the vast majority of car bodies, model variations, and paint jobs are earned by gaining experience points throughout gameplay. If you're impatient, you can always buy credits through in-app purchases. Forever Drive is a universal app with cloud saving, so no worries about saving your progress on the iPhone version. Game Center leaderboards are also supported.
Smash Cops Heat
Smash Cops Heat is a cops-and-robbers racer, where players have to navigate through a city while trying to take down perps fleeing from the scene. Other mission types have players attempting to rush to their fellow officers for back-up, or navigating challenging obstacle courses. The core controls are dead-simple, involving dragging your finger behind the car, and tilting it around to navigate corners. A few taps are required to use special abilities. You can also tweak the controls to use a virtual joystick instead, if you prefer.
There are a handful of in-app purchases available, such as consumable Super Cops, which temporarily turn your vehicle into an impossibly fast and tough cruiser, InstaRams that give players a sudden (and often needed) burst of speed, and a bunch of paint jobs based on international police forces. Over the course of gameplay, new vehicles are unlocked, including SWAT-style vans, several other cruisers, and even a Semi further down the line, though you can't acquire them through IAPs (perhaps rightly so).
If you're looking for extended gameplay, the original Smash Cops is still available for $2.99.
The best free board games for iPhone and iPad
Magic 2013: Duels of the Planeswalkers
Duels of the Planeswalkers is the mobile imagining of the original tradeable card game, Magic: The Gathering. Like the original, players put on a robe and wizard hat (okay, not really), and summon monsters and sling spells at one another until one of them is kaput. There are five colors types for spells, each with their own unique play style. There's online one-on-one multiplayer if you upgrade to the premium pack, as well as a solid single-player experience which includes traditional duels and some more interesting challenge scenarios. Controls are very fluid, allowing players to easily tell what's happening as the game flows, plus the visuals are great. You can zoom in on cards to get full text and art. While you don't get to fully customize your deck, you can unlock and buy new ones, as well as acquire new cards for individual decks as you use them. Those that are nostalgic for Magic will be happy to see it in the App Store, and even those that aren't will find the learning curve very small.
Zynga Poker
Poker by Zynga is a simple but polished Texas Hold 'em game for iOS and plays cross-platform with folks on Facebook. The game has been out for a long time, so boasts a full feature set - you can add friends, find tables within your comfort range, and even give other players gifts for display, like drinks, or a box of tissues if they're having a particularly rough run.
The one downside to Poker by Zynga is that you'll have to have a Wi-Fi connection active in order to play, and as fun as it is playing with real people, they can just as often be aggravating. Though you're given a stack of chips to start, and can earn more through various ads and daily giveaways, you'll have to shell out real cash for chips when you run out, just like a real casino. Poker by Zynga doesn't use Game Center since it relies on its well-established Facebook users to keep playing, and there's no mention of Retina iPad support, but it's not particularly needed to enjoy the game. Keeping up with games across iPad and iPhone was easy as pie since they're both connected through your Facebook account.
Hero Academy
This game plays out like a combination of chess and an RPG. Hero Academy is a turn-based multiplayer strategy game with asynchronous gameplay, meaning you have your turn, then your opponent has his - this can take place over hours or days, so you can have several battles waging simultaneously. Each turn consists of several actions, like putting a character on the field of battle or attacking an opponent's piece. You defend your crystals while your opponent defends his on a randomly-generated playfield.
Hero Academy is free to play but limited only to only one playable team unless you pay $1.99 to unlock another. The developer has extended the game with many other character packs that you can download through in-app purchases. Because of the asynchronous gameplay you aren't rushed to make quick decisions on the battefield; you can think out your approaches and even undo moves before you commit to them. The whimsical graphics and sound are sure to please, as well.
The best free word games for iPhone and iPad
Letterpress is an asynchronous online word game with really great, simple, pared-down style. Players share a five-by-five grid of letters from which they can assemble words. Each side takes turns making words, and once submitted, those letters are claimed by that player. When the other player's turn comes along, however, those tiles (and the points earned by them) can be stolen back. The points from tiles can be strategically protected from this kind of theft by claiming tiles on all sides of that letter. As you can imagine, scores rise and fall dramatically every turn.
The game is wrapped up after every tile has been claimed. For an extra $0.99, you can play more than two games at once, and enjoy a few different themes, but even in its free format, Letterpress is excellent so long as you have at least one friend who you can count on moving regularly and frequently. Plus the sharp, stylish graphics don't need much tweaking in their current state.
Scrabble Free
Scrabble, by most accounts, is the original word game and has a solid presence on iOS. Players take turns dropping letter tiles on a grid to form words, while those tiles each have their own value, which is then added up and added to the players' total. Planting letters on multiplier squares can crank those scores fairly high. Swipes help players flip through multiple games, while handy features like teacher mode show you how many more points you could have gotten with an alternative word. You can play with friends, but there's also a random opponent finder so you get hop in right away. A Scrabble dictionary is built in so you can check to see which options are available to you. Through in-app purchases, you can get a tile tracker to see how many tiles are left of each letter, or pick up some fancy luxury boards and tiles. Scrabble remains a classic, and it's great to see the experience recreated so faithfully on iOS.
You Don't Know Jack
Okay, so You Don't Know Jack is more of a trivia game than a word game, but I had to get it in the list here somewhere. You've gotta pick the right word to win - that counts, right? YDKJ is an absolutely hilarious game where players have to answer a series of themed questions as quickly as possible and compare scores with Facebook friends. Different question types keeps things interesting, such as Dis or Dat and the Jack Attack at the end. You only get so many plays per day unless you spend some of your hard-earned in-game currency for extra rounds. The voice acting is absolutely fantastic, the graphics sharp and characterful, and the ongoing stream of new content keeps things perpetually fresh.
The best free simulation games for iPhone and iPad
Pixel People
Pixel People is a very cute collection game that adds the chunky-bit charm of Tiny Tower with the mix-and-match creation complex of Doodle God and the city-building mechanics of Clash of Clans. Players are in charge of a Utopia in the sky, but have to splice together the genes of various clones in order to make all of the workers you need. Though most buildings function as typical in collection games, generating revenue so long as you check in on them once in awhile, many structures offer new functions. For example, the legal firm allows players to purchase new land tiles with the premium currency, Utopium, rather than the cash they gather on a day-to-day basis. There's also a vanity pet system in place. Players can gather heart from the homes in their Utopia, and once they hit a certain number, they unlock a cute new creature to wander the streets. Pixel People is adorable, addictive, and has surprisingly witty writing for character and building captions.
The Sims FreePlay
The Sims FreePlay is a classic life simulation game where you tend to a collection of virtual people, each with a variety of needs and colorful spectrum of personality quirks. You do everything from steering their conversations with other Sims, decorating their home, getting them to work, and making sure they bathe regularly. A recent update even added the ability to play as and care for child Sims. As you guide your Sim to accomplish daily tasks, you gain experience points, level up, and unlock new items.
Unlike the old Sims games that had a handy fast-forward button, activities in The Sims FreePlay all happen in real-time, so when you put your little people to sleep, they're gone for 8 real hours. As you play, you earn Lifestyle Points, which can be used to immediately satisfy your Sim's needs and quickly complete tasks. Those can be bought through in-app purchases, alongside the game's currency, Simoleans, which your Sims earn through various kinds of work. The UI is scaled very nicely to the iPad, though syncing to the cloud is manual, if you're thinking of playing on the iPhone too.
Order Up!! To Go
Order Up!! To Go is a great restaurant simulation game. Players pick their menus, prepare meals, and earn tips depending on how well they're made. If you've ever played Cooking Mama on the Wii, a lot of the gameplay will be familiar. Various types of gestures translate to preparing ingredients, but cooking times must be precise, and that can be a real challenge when juggling multiple orders that have to stay hot by the time they're served up.
The art style is cartoony, with plenty of goofy references to real-world food brands. As players progress, they gain access to new, swankier restaurants, fancier dishes, and bigger paydays. Just be sure to properly stock up on enough ingredients for different kinds of dishes, otherwise customers will have to pick stuff they don't like, and reduce your restautant's review rating on Yarp. If things get a little too hectic, you can always invest in new equipment or hire helpers to take care of certain jobs. Order Up!! To Go is a colorful, hectic, multifaceted game that is sure to scratch your itch for a business sim. You might also want to check out Pocket Planes or Tiny Tower, though I find they're both better formatted for the iPhone.
The best free puzzle games for iPhone and iPad
Dots is a really elegant implementation of virtual currency. At its core, Dots is a fairly simple matching gaming where players have to draw a line between as many adjoining, same-colored dots as possible within a limited timeframe. Players can't draw diagonally, but get extra dots for completing full loops. Those dots you eliminate by matching don't disappear, though; you get to keep them and spend them on various power-ups. Of course, you can also buy dots through in-app purchases to get those power-ups more directly. The game is refreshingly simple, and super-flat graphic design will catch many people's eye. It reminds me of Olo in a lot of ways, and that's a good thing.
Cut the Rope: Expriments
Cut the Rope remains a classic physics puzzle game, and despite its many premium iterations, this one is very free. The goal is for players to get a chunk of candy into the mouth of Om Nom, an adorable little alien. This is usually done by slicing rope with swipes with expert timing, and making use of the various objects around the stage. Sometimes they're obstacles, sometimes they're active enemies that will chase after the candy, while others are useful tools when used right. Every level has three bonus stars, which you'll need to snag if you want to access the later levels. Of course, you can just pay up to get access to everything.
Puzzle Craft
Puzzle Craft is a wonderful expansion on the classic match-three game type. Between the mines and the fields, players have to draw lines which attach similar tiles - grains, chicken, and trees, or rubble, iron, and gold, for example. As players do this they accumulate resources which can be spent on constructing tools which are used as power-ups through gameplay. For example, rakes can quickly clear away any grass tiles. Those resources can also be spent creating homes for new villagers and structures, which provide food, tools, and other bonuses to miners. Harvesting isn't always easy, though - gas pockets in the mines and wolves in the fields can quickly ruin your day if you're not prepared for them. Over time, your village grows, your buildings are upgraded, and you exploit new types of resources. I really love Puzzle Craft for being able to satisfy both a short-term need for a quick puzzle as well as be rewarding in the long-term as you develop a robust town.


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PORTLAND – The University of Southern Maine's School of Business is the "best choice for Portland-area professionals" for the second consecutive year, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company features the school in the new edition of its annual guidebook "The Best 295 Business Schools: 2014 Edition."
According to Robert Franek, Princeton Review senior vice president-publisher, "We recommend the University of Southern Maine as one of the best institutions a student could attend to earn a business school degree." The USM School of Business is one of 78 schools in the northeast and the only school in the state of Maine to be selected.
Top schools were selected based on institutional data and survey results of more than 20,000 students worldwide. The online surveys, conducted during the 2012-13, 2011-12, and 2011-10 academic years, focused on academic experience, admissions, career opportunities, and faculty engagement.
Current students praised the program's strong connection with area and regional businesses, "convenient class times," "relatively low cost," and "very professional" faculty who have strong backgrounds and experience in their fields.
Students emphasized the central role that Maine businesses play in the curriculum and identified a rigorous internship program and proactive career placement office as two of the school's distinguishing features. Recent student internships have included placements within AAA Northern New England, Acadia Insurance, Baker Newman Noyes, BerryDunn, Berry Talbot Royer, Boston Celtics, Iberdrola, IDEXX, Kraft Foods, Key Bank, L.L. Bean, Macpage LLC, Maine Red Claws, Portland Sea Dogs, Prudential, TD Bank, and WEX.
"We're proud to be recognized by our students and The Princeton Review as a top business school and best choice for business degree seekers in Maine," said Joseph McDonnell, dean of the USM College of Management and Human Service. "Our faculty are dedicated to student-centered learning and providing opportunities for students to develop valuable skills and knowledge through cutting-edge curriculum and internship opportunities. We're developing stronger ties to businesses throughout Maine and the region each year to give students the real-world experiences they need to compete in a global environment."
The USM School of Businesses is located on the USM Portland campus and is accredited by AACSB International. The school offers the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), with concentrations in accounting, finance, health management and policy, and sustainability; Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in business administration, with majors in general management, sport management, accounting, finance, and marketing; and several certificate programs.


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In Ken Kesey's 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the lives of patients at an Oregon state mental hospital are turned upside down by the presence of a rebellious new admission who seeks to overturn the tyrannical reign of the facility's head nurse.
Taking inspiration as well as their band name from this uplifting story, the members of Springfield-area band Humble Patients are seeking to upend the status quo as well. Only instead of taking on Nurse Ratched, the group is targeting the state of popular music.
Formed in the fall of 2011 by AJ Del Negro ("upside down righty bass lefty style," vocals), Tommy Del Negro ("lefty jazz," rhythm guitar, vocals), Nicky Ferrara (lead guitar, vocals) and MJ McNulty (drums), Humble Patients started after an impromptu jam session that occurred when Ferrara returned home from a summer spent in New Orleans and found all his future band mates between acts.
"We got together to jam one day and liked what we heard," the band reports via email. "In the beginning, we all had to bend our styles to fit with each other, but over the last year we've learned a lot, and have been able to really work off each other."
That evolution has paid off with the recording of a demo that is now available on the group's Reverbnation page. Featuring three tracks—"Tentacle Love," "Someone Else's Name," and "Repugnant Qualities (Of Your Face)"—the work showcases a mix of experimental music that includes touches of rock and jazz.
"When writing music, we like to mix it up," the band notes. "Some songs start as a riff, and we work together to fill in the blank spots. Other songs are brought to the band by either Nick, AJ, or Tom in [the] form of a 'skeleton'—a general harmony with lyrics."
The band has played numerous charitable events, including the Studio 307 Battle of the Bands, which benefitted the Folds of Honor Foundation (an organization that seeks to provide scholarships and assistance to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in action). And the group cautions that people who come to a show shouldn't "expect your average thoughtless, noisy, four chord 'music.'"
"When coming to see us, people should expect to dance and to hear something new and have a few drinks, because we go well with a brew," the band says. "We are always in the process of writing new music. We recently recorded a demo at Studio 307 in Stafford Springs, Conn. We hope to make a full LP soon."
For more information on Humble Patients, please visit http://www.facebook.com/HumblePatients and http://www.reverbnation.com/HumblePatients.


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However, on this blog we are going to discuss the most common, and in my opinion, most important parts of a book proposal. They are:
- Cover Letter
- One Page Overview
- Series Overview
- Chapter Summaries (or Outline)
- Potential Markets for the Book
- Author Biography
- Promotion/Marketing Plans/Opportunities
- First 3 Chapters (occasionally full MS)
- SASE (if physical submission)
And, if you would like to read ahead, so to speak, everything I learned about book proposals came from this fantastic book, Author 101 Best Selling Book Proposals. A few years ago I needed to put together a nonfiction, adult book proposal for a freelance client, and this book was a wealth of knowledge.


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They're currently running a Biggest Jackass in Your Office contest and posts the best reader submissions, pictures included. Currently ranked 12th out of 17 jackasses is "John W." His description from the reader submission includes:
"This guy has no clue how to address people or problems other than with this goofy look and his famous, Ahh, c'mon' comment."If that doesn't deserve a 10 Jackass rating, his attire certainly does. And based on said attire, it shouldn't come as any surprise that he has a mustache as well, albeit as part of a goatee.
Thanks to reader CSLW2L for the tip.


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Personalized, career-focused education on campus or online.
Michael Connolly
Professor, History and Political Science
PhD, Boston College
MA, National University of Ireland
BA, Florida Southern College
Assistant Professor, Political Science
MA, Syracuse University
MA, University of Birmingham, U.K.
BS, University of Maine
Associate Professor, History
PhD, University of Connecticut
MA, University of Connecticut
BA, College of William & Mary
Assistant Professor, History and Political Science, Chair
PhD, Tufts University
MA, Hunter College of CUNY
BA, Queens College of CUNY
PhD, University of Pavia, Italy Laurea (BA and MA combined), University of Venice, Italy
Find your place at our 474-acre campus on the shore of Sebago Lake. With more than 40 academic programs to choose from, and a robust extracurricular club and athletics environment, Saint Joseph's home on the lake is the perfect place to prepare for your future.
Offering distance education for learners of all ages since 1976, Saint Joseph's online programs include certificates, associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees—academic levels that suit your level.
Ready for the next step? Continue below to learn more about Saint Joseph's campus programs, history, and extracurricular activities like student clubs and athletics.
Advance your career with our online programs—from certificates on up to master's degrees. We have provided distance learning for 40 years, so you can count on our expertise to prepare you for your future.


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South Tama High School is proud to present Bethany Wilson as the PBIS Student of the Week. Bethany is the daughter of Thom and Joyce Wilson.
She is involved in Marching Band, Concert Band, FFA, and Jeralyn's School of Dance. In her free time, Bethany enjoys working with her horses and spending time with family.
Her future plans are to attend Kirkwood Community College.
Article Photos
Bethany Wilson
Thank you Bethany for being responsible, respectful, ready, and successful.


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I've worn contact lenses my whole life. Today, lenses are so comfortable that you may be tempted to just do the bare minimum of maintaining your contact lenses, such as simply storing them in no-rub solution. I know a lot of people who do just that and get away with it. However, if you want what's best for both your eyes and contacts lenses, I recommend doing the following things.
- Always remove contact lenses when you go to bed.
While it's true that many lenses today can be worn for weeks at a time, this is not good for your eyes. Taking them off when you sleep gives your eyes time to breathe, and allows them to have a break from the contact lenses.
- Rub your lenses nightly.
This is another thing that is not 'required' per se, but can make a big difference. The fact is that your contact lenses just acquire a buildup of things that simply won't come off until rubbed. You can just put the lenses in your palm, then add a few drops of solution. Then, rub for a few seconds on each side.
- Be mindful of the replacement schedule.
A lot of times, you may find your lenses feel just fine, even though you wear them beyond the recommended replacement schedule. I like to play it safe however, and replace the lenses even when there is nothing wrong with the way they feel.
Getting contact lenses for an inexpensive price is a huge priority for me. I like to buy them on the internet, since that's where I typically get the best deals for contact lenses by going to sites like this one: http://visualdiscount.com/lens-com.php. I recommend using the contact lens store, Lens.com. I have learned that they generally offer the most competitive prices for name brand contact lenses.


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Submission + - Invention Make a Citibike Electric
An anonymous reader writes: Inventor Jeff Guida has come up with a way to turn any Citibike into an electric scooter. His ShareRoller is about the size of a small briefcase, weighs just seven pounds, and has a 12- to 20-mile range. From the article: '"Years ago, I would've needed a giant engineering company and several million dollars in development research and it still would've taken two years or more," Guida said. But 3D printing has changed all that. In the coming months, Guida hopes to design a universal bracket so that the ShareRoller can be used on any bike. He has some competition there, as there are a few companies that make wheels that convert regular bikes into electric bikes, but he says the ShareRoller is more convenient.'


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Home > Home, Garden & Office > Furniture & Decor > 50pcs Dyed Peacock Feathers w/ Eyes Royal Blue
Product Details
- A pack of about 50pcs dyed peacock tail feathers
- Have big and beautiful eyes
- Symbolize of safety, happiness and luck
- Perfect decoration of room, office, parlor, hotel, etc.
- Also great DIY accesories for craft projects
- Length: 9.4 - 13 inch / 24 - 33cm (slight varies may exist)
- Material: Peacock feather
- Color: Royal blue
Package Includes:
- Approx. 50pcs peacock feathers
Note: Please be reminded that due to lighting effects and monitor's brightness/contrast settings etc, the color tone of the website's photo and the actual item could be slightly different.
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University News
WPA Lecture Rescheduled for April 1 at WIU
February 20, 2014
MACOMB, IL – A lecture at Western Illinois University about the New Deal's Federal Art Project has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 1.
DePaul University Associate Professor Joanna Gardner-Huggett will deliver the address, "Why the WPA Was Not Enough for Chicago Women Artists," beginning at 7 p.m. in Tillman Hall, room 212. The lecture was originally scheduled for Feb. 4, but was postponed because of severe weather.
The lecture is part of the WIU Art Gallery exhibit, "A New Deal for Illinois: The Federal Art Project Collection of Western Illinois University," which is on display through Saturday, March 1. The show, sponsored by the WIU Foundation and WIU emeriti faculty members Bill and Jo Sanders, highlights about 40 works from WIU's permanent collection.
Gardner-Huggett's presentation will examine strategies used by female artists who worked through the New Deal's Federal Art Project, which advanced the career of numerous women artists, including Gertrude Abercrombie, Macena Barton, Fritzi Brod and Julia Thecla. The University Art Gallery owns four paintings by Abercrombie.
Gardner-Huggett teaches in DePaul University's Department of the History of Art and Architecture, giving classes in twentieth century art and women's and gender studies.
The lecture, which is open free to the public, is co-sponsored by the WIU Department of Women's Studies and the Knox College Department of Art History. This lecture also is funded in part by a Visiting Lectures Committee grant award.
For more information see wiu.edu/artgallery.
Posted By: WIU News (email@example.com)
Office of University Relations


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The Vampire Diaries loves its origin myths, and we got another one in Season 4, Episode 6, "We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes." This time, it was about Silas, an ancient and very powerful witch.
The mysterious Professor Atticus Shane (David Alpay) — finally, we got a first name! — gave a surprisingly well-attended lecture at Mystic Falls High School. Proudly showing off an ancient rock, Atticus (we'll never tire of that name) launched into a tale about where it came from — a witch's tombstone. "A witch so powerful that Silas — that was his name — created a spell that would grant him immortality," says the prof.
But Silas couldn't do it alone and enlisted a she-witch named Qetsiyah to help, capitalizing on the fact that she had a thing for him. "Sadly for Qetsiyah, Silas wanted to give immortality to another woman. So Qetsiyah killed her and buried Silas alive, leaving him powerless, immortal, and alone," Shane continues. "This might actually be the origin story of hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." It probably has more to do with the fact that she's a witch than that she's a woman, Prof.
"It's said that Silas wants to rise again, regain his power, wreak havoc on the world. Maybe we should be afraid," Atticus warns his audience. "Or maybe it's all a bunch of crap, and this is just an old rock."
We're guessing the former. This is Mystic Falls, after all. There has been speculations swirling that Atticus Shane himself is Silas. Maybe that's what the teacher wants from Bonnie (Kat Graham) — her power.


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Directioners: Can you believe we're just one day away from 1D's film This Is Us hitting theaters?! To countdown to the big movie release, we've given you tips on how to prepare for tomorrow, played a One Direction body part guessing game, and compiled a list of all the things Directioners can't get enough of. Since tomorrow's the moment of truth, we want to see how well you know your favorite five boys.
Click through the gallery below to play the Who Tweeted It? guessing game: 1D edition! Tell us how well you did in the comments!


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Learn how MacUpdate Desktop can install apps on MacUpdate with the simple click of the icon. Plus, keep all your apps updated.
Directory Tree is a file/Directory viewer/manipulator. It creates a View (window) which is used to display a selected directory.
It allows you to view a directory in six ways:
- Info display: information about the directory itself
- Text display: display contents in a line-by-line text format
- Star display: not yet implemented
- Tree display: an icon based, hierarchical display
- Object display: shows ALL* objects in the directory in an icon or list view
- Selected display: lists objects which are in one or more of the four selection states
What's New
- Added a throttle to reduce CPU load at the cost in time of creating and loading directory hierarchies
- Fixed a bug where CPU usage would remain consistently high
- OS X 10.8.4 or later


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The Center for Disease Control recommends that females between the ages of 9 and 26 get immunized. But there is a debate spreading across the country over whether vaccinating young girls promotes promiscuity.
The cervical cancer vaccine was designed to prevent four different strains of the Human Papilloma Virus, which can cause a number of infections and cervical cancer.
There is controversy surrounding this vaccine. Some social conservative groups across the country argue that making it mandatory in school age girls sends an anti – abstinence message. But despite the debate several Grand Valley doctors are recommending the vaccine to their patients.
24 year old Heather Chapman's doctor recommended the vaccine when she went in for her annual exam. Chapman says the prick in the arm is worth it.
Social factors aside, family physicians see the vaccination as an opportunity for some dialogue. It is also an opportunity for parents to get educated. Chapman, who is also a mother of two daughters, will make sure that her two are immunized.
Earlier this month, the state of Texas made it mandatory that girls entering into the sixth grade be vaccinated. Several other states, including Colorado may follow suit.


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2D Boy has an article wrapping up their World of Goo sale where customers could choose their own price for the platformer, offering more statistics and analysis on the 83,250 copies they moved during the sale. They start off by pointing out that the average price increased immediately following their previous update on the topic, which pointed out how cheap some customers were being. Other trends they highlight include that Linux users willingly paid the most and Windows users the least, that Switzerland was the most generous country and Turkey the least (the US and UK are pretty low on the list). This also gives them the opportunity to thank one generous customer who bought a copy for $150.00.
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The Air Conditioning (A/C) cycling switch may be wired to either the A/C Cycling Switch (ACCS) or ACPSW Powertrain Control Module (PCM) input. When the A/C cycling switch opens, the PCM will turn off the Air Conditioning (A/C) clutch For information on the specific function of the A/C cycling switch, refer to Heating and Air Conditioning.
The A/C Cycling Switch (ACCS) circuit to the PCM provides a voltage signal which indicates when the A/C is requested. When the A/C demand switch is turned on, and both the A/C cycling switch and the high pressure contacts of the A/C high pressure switch (if equipped and in circuit) are closed, voltage is supplied to the ACCS circuit at the PCM. Refer to Vehicle/Diagrams for vehicle specific wiring.
If the ACCS signal is not received by the PCM, the PCM circuit will not allow the A/C to operate. For additional information, refer to PCM outputs, wide open throttle air conditioning cutoff. See: Powertrain Management\Description and Operation\Standard Models (Non BI-Fuel)\PCM Outputs
NOTE: Some applications do not have a dedicated (separate) input to the PCM indicating that A/C is requested. This information is received by the PCM through the BUS + and BUS - Standard Corporate Protocol (SCP) communication.


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Why Shop Midtown Comics• Big Savings with Advance Previews • Free Shipping on Qualified Orders • Testimonials
Manufacturer/Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment (Release Date: 10/17/2012*)
Writer: Ralph Tedesco • Artist: Alan Otero
Orders of back issues (comics older than 31 days) are eligible for pick-up at any of our three Manhattan locations. Just put the items in your cart and proceed to checkout. Under "shipping method" you'll be able to select the store where you'd like to pick up your back issues. After you complete checkout, you'll receive an email, usually in a couple of days, letting you know when the items are ready for pick up. Please make sure to bring a photo ID and the credit card you used for purchase!
In the small town of Tarry Town, New York the story of the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow has become something of Myth and Legend. A legend that is about to become all too real. When a prank goes deadly wrong those responsible will learn the truth behind the legend as the Headless Horseman returns to exact a horrifying revenge that none will ever forget. From the writer of Salem's Daughter: The haunting comes a tale of horror and terror that will leave you on the edge of your seats. Hold on to your hats...and your head.
Item #: 1221000 • Diamond code: AUG121418 • UPC: 79450431383300111
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1. How do you think Edward and Bella both did in trying to behave naturally around each other on the "morning after?" Was Bella too nervous or shy? Did Edward seem more open?
Bella seemed more guarded,.. I understand it though, because sometimes when people are so open the night before.. the next time you see them it's different.. Edward seemed more open/light.. trying to get a feel if things were the same.
2. How do you think Edward really felt about Bella's conversation with Jessica?
I'm sure he wanted to know more information and was pretty mad by Bella's distraction with Mike! I think he overall was pretty frustrated with the fact that he thinks Bella cares more for him when in fact it's the other way around.
3. Bella took a bite of pizza after Edward. Stephenie has told us that in that moment, Bella consumed a very small amount of venom. Does it surprise you that Edward didn't stop her from taking a bite or that he didn't react to it in any way?
I didn't think about it like that.. I'm sure if Edward thought there was a chance of danger of her getting hurt from it he would have ate the whole thing or atleast kept it out of reach from her.
4. They argue about who cares for whom more all throughout lunch. In your opinion, which one really does care for the other more?
I believe that if Edward was a human, they would both be equal in the caring for each other. But Edward isn't human. So I personally think its him. He's had 90 years of seeing so many things and the fact that he doesn't sleep, he's had so much more time to think about the whole situation.
5. Emmett prefers bears, Edward prefers mountain lions. Based on their personality, what do you suppose the other Cullens prefer to hunt?
This is such a hard question. I've pondered this one a lot and still have no idea!


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Smash 9 p.m., Channel 7
Let's see if the show, which has a new showrunner, can shake off the excesses and shortcomings of its first season. Tuesday night, "Smash" returns for 18 episodes with a number of tweaks, including a concerted effort by the writers to jettison cheesy subplots and get back to the making of a stage musical. Among the characters who won't be returning: the scheming Ellis and Katharine McPhee's two-timing boyfriend Dev. And among the season's guest stars: Sean Hayes, Jennifer Hudson, and Liza Minnelli. Jazz hand fingers crossed.
Justified 10 p.m., FX
I am loving this season so far, though not because of those snakes. Timothy Olyphant is as slick and appealing as ever as Raylan the cowboy, staring down the most primitive of Kentucky criminals. And I finally feel as though I understand Walton Goggins's Boyd Crowder, a too-chameleonic character who has been a preacher, a mine worker, and a crook and yet never fully any of them. He makes sense this season, as a committed drug kingpin with Ava as his partner. Pictured (from left): Goggins and Jere Burns.
Southie Rules 10 and 10:30 p.m., A&E
Where have all the R's gone? Wicked long time passing.
Redrum 10 p.m., ID
Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan 10 p.m., BBC America
Not Penny's boat, unless it had a hairy thick-tailed scorpion on it.Matthew Gilbert can be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewGilbert.


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MANY things have changed in 100 years, but not Minnie Cody's zest for life.
Mrs Cody, who remembers the end of the First World War and the days of horse-drawn wagons, was the life of the party as she celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by 140 friends and relatives yesterday.
"I'm happy to be here today with all my friends and relatives," she said.
"With luck I might be here next year."
The popular Ballarat resident, who doesn't drink or smoke, officially turns 100 today but claims she feels the same as she did at 19.
She was 77 when she teamed up with her husband Jack to build seven units in Sebastopol and they did the cementing themselves.
These days, Mrs Cody still enjoys regular shopping trips and plays bingo every Thursday.
Mrs Cody said getting married and having children were her greatest life achievements.
Although Jack died 19 years ago, they enjoyed an incredible 61 years of marriage together, having met at a neighbour's place when she was 16.
Born in Wonthaggi in 1913, Mrs Cody' first job was in a sauce and pickle factory.
Her mother died when she was 16 and she stayed at home to look after her dad and four younger siblings.
"When I was 20, Jack and I got married and we took dad and the kids to live with us," she said.
Mrs Cody has five children, 17 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren.


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What Social Media Makes Sense for Your Business?
What Social Media Makes Sense for Your Business?
Getting an invitation to a party or event is usually a good thing. But that warm feeling you experienced when you received the invitation can quickly disappear when you notice that no dress code is mentioned. Figuring out what to wear is already a task. But when you have no idea what everyone else will be wearing, it's excruciating. The only thing worse is actually appearing at an event dressed inappropriately. Cringe-inducing.
Deciding on a social media strategy for your business can be similar. All of the main social networks work in different ways and they appeal to entirely different users. The users of these platforms have differing expectations, rules, and codes of conduct. Making the decision on which social network is best for your business is not easy, while getting it wrong can be time-consuming and embarrassing.
So here is a quick guide to the top social media networks. Consider it a social media dress code.
Facebook is the most popular of all of the social media networks. People use it in a variety of ways, and with Facebook Graph Search it brings relationships to life:
- To communicate with those closest to them
- To stay in touch with more distant friends and acquaintances
- To stay up-to-date with current events
- To engage with interests. This might be following their favorite sports club, pop star or topic. Or it might mean following a company or brand they love or want to find out more about.
Most businesses can benefit from a profile on Facebook. But those who sell to consumers get the most out of it. The trick with Facebook is to engage in a conversation with your fans with no hard selling.
Twitter is all about short snippets of information. It does not communicate images as well as other platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, or even Facebook, but its strength comes in its immediacy.
It is a great tool for marketing your business, communicating with your customers and getting information to them quickly. It is also good if your business involves updating news frequently, or your digital marketing strategy involves building your online reputation as an expert in your field.
LinkedIn is a social media network that is aimed towards business people. If your business is about selling directly to consumers the benefits aren't as clear.
LinkedIn connects like-minded business people and companies to network and discuss issues. Companies who sell products and services to other businesses will benefit most from LinkedIn.
Pinterest is all about sharing beautiful images, so if this vibe doesn't fit your business then choose another one that more suits what you do. If, on the other hand, your work lends itself to stunning photography, Pinterest could be picture perfect.
If you get it right with Pinterest, it's a great way to drive attention to your website. If you add rich pins to make them more useful, the results can be stellar. Pinterest users tend to be very loyal to the brands they follow and interact with.
There are plenty of reasons why your business should be on Google+. Google+ works in a way that is similar to Facebook, but it has a much smaller user base. Many businesses choose to ignore it, and hope that it'll go away – but that's the wrong approach. Google+ could be thought of as a hybrid between LinkedIn and Facebook with elements of Pinterest thrown in. Yes, beautiful images propel Google+. Take advantage of communicating visually on this platform.
The LinkedIn part is because Google+ is a good business tool. This is due to the fact that Google has it plugged into its search engine (duh!), which makes it good for keeping up with the Joneses of SEO.
The Facebook part is because it works and feels a lot like Facebook, and its user base is continuing to grow. Importantly more people outside of the business and IT world are starting to use it.
And it handles pictures very well, which makes it a nice counterpart to Pinterest.
So what sort of business will benefit from a Google+ presence? You'll generally find that Google+ is made for businesses that are authentic, and who want to engage in high-level, intelligent conversations around their industry.
YouTube is different to other social media platforms as users search on it more than they follow. But billions of people use it every day (yes, billions) and most businesses can benefit from a presence. If you have a corporate video you should have it on YouTube. You can create videos about the products you sell, or you can create videos to help your customers in your area of expertise.
The benefit is that the search on YouTube is robust, as Google owns it. This opens up a whole new user base for you to tap into.
Instagram is similar to Pinterest in that it is highly visual. The difference is that Instagram is more about user-generated images rather than users collecting and sharing images that were created by others.
To utilize Instagram, start or participate in conversations that involve images. Instagram is a way to connect, engage, and authentically communicate the true essence of your brand. Hashtags are a pretty large part of this platform. You can find relevant hashtags on Instagram through using the "Explore" feature.
Now that you know what the main social media networks can do for your business, you can arrive at the party wearing the right clothes. Whether you don a tux or a tutu, you'll be appropriately dressed for the occasion.


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Skip to comments.Judge suspends (Durham County NC DA) Cline; hearing set on removal
Posted on 01/28/2012 2:28:37 PM PST by Moose4
DURHAM -- District Attorney Tracey Cline was immediately suspended from office late Friday after a judge found probable cause that she has engaged in ongoing attacks on a Durham judge that are "prejudicial to the administration of justice" and bring her office into disrepute.
Superior Court Judge Robert H. Hobgood of Franklin County suspended Cline under a rarely used state law. He ordered a hearing for Feb. 13 to determine whether Cline will be permanently removed from the elected office she has held since 2009.
Hobgood was not required to suspend Cline before next month's hearing, but he invoked that option. Through a judicial assistant, he declined to comment.
Cline will continue to receive her salary during the suspension.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsobserver.com ...
A local lawyer filed a complaint against her; it was referred to an out-of-county judge not involved in the fracas, and he ruled yesterday that she be suspended pending the outcome of a hearing where he decides whether or not she gets removed.
Interesting (and rarely here in Zimbabwe With a Ballpark), the race card can't be played in this discussion. Both Cline and Orlando Hudson, the judge, are black. I think she's playing the sex card instead, as she is female and Hudson is male.
Just another day in Durham. Maybe The Fong can get his law license back and run again! He'd get at least 30% of the vote, and the only reason he'd lose is not the miscarriage of justice he committed, but that he didn't make the indictments against the lacrosse players stick.
Wow. That's a real upstanding series of D.A.s that Durham has had recently. (rme)
So if she is removed from office, will that also disbar her?
I would love to see her out on her ear.
I don't know. I don't think that it would automatically, as that's handled by the state Bar Association. Now if she gets thrown out, would they try to disbar her? Quite possibly, I don't know how that all works. I also wonder if she'd be able to run for DA again this November if she got removed.
More information below from the local Durham newspaper, the Herald-Sun, which has been very quiet about this, as indeed they were about Nifong's massive malfeasance in the Duke lacrosse case.
This Herald-Sun article's got more information on the Kerry Sutton motion that Judge Hobgood used to suspend DA Cline. I've always known the Durham DA's office is "the gang that can't shoot straight," but this is ridiculous.
Indirectly related to Duke LAX ping. More judicial fun here in the Bull City, featuring Mike Nifong's successor!
You sure live in a weird place.
Yes. I posted this story late yesterday afternoon.
The Current FReepathon Pays For The Current Quarters Expenses?
I just read the entire article. Very interesting. Cline comes off as a total kook who somehow landed the DA position.
But she A) somehow managed to get a law degree and pass the bar exam, and B) has sufficient skin melanin content. Why would you expect any further qualifications would be necessary to the Durham electorate?
On a similar note....I wonder if Je$$e ever actually sprung for the promised free 4 year education for the hooker who filed rape charges against the LaCross players? Guess not, since she is in prison and would have trouble making it to her daily classes at Duke.
Zimbabwe With a Ballpark
Not Detroit?
Every once in a while I go back to read the blog at http://durhamwonderland.blogspot.com/ to follow up on the reverberations from the Duke lacrosse fiasco, and continue to be gobsmacked by the idiocy that still runs rampant in Durham, both in the government and in the academy.
It appears this D.A. is not only in way over her head, but she has some mental issues, as well.
The day Tracey Cline was elected to the district attorney's office was probably the first day in her life she was proud of her country...
Just wow. For some reason I thought Kerry Sutton was a male. That Cline woman though, mercy.
I would be embarrassed to say I was from the Durham DA's office after all of this, I can't imagine what is going through their minds...although they did have the wonderful example of Nifong to follow. (Shakes head)
I don't know if Jackson paid, but she graduated from college, not Duke though... Carolina Central, which is where I suspect this DA is also an alum. BTW Crystal's degree was in criminology, I kid you not.
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.


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SAN DIEGO (AP) - Desmond Haymon scored on an improbable four-point play with 3.6 seconds in regulation and hit a big 3-pointer in overtime to lead No. 12 seed Stephen F. Austin to a 77-75 win over fifth-seeded Virginia Commonwealth Friday night in the NCAA tournament's South Region.
VCU (23-10) was firmly in control for most of the second half before SFA (32-2) rallied in the closing seconds.
Haymon hit one of the biggest - and most improbable - shots of what's already been a wild March, knocking down a 3-pointer and a free throw after being fouled by Jordan Burgess at the end of regulation.
Haymon hit another 3-pointer to put SFA up with 2 minutes left, but VCU had a final shot after Thomas Walkup missed 1 of 2 free throws with 14 seconds left. JeQuan Lewis got an open 3-pointer, but it went long and SFA snared the rebound.


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Ask Slashdot: Keeping Your Media Library Safe From Kids? 307
Serenissima writes "I've spent many hours building my Media Library in XBMC and scraping all the DVD Covers and Fanart. And I love it, I can pull up movies on any computer or device in the house. I played a movie for my son the other day so I could get some cleaning done without him being underfoot. I noticed shortly after that the sound coming from the other room was from a different movie than I played for him. I snuck up and watched for a few minutes and saw him use a trackpad to navigate to the stop and play buttons of different movies in his folder. I know it's only a matter of time before he realizes he can see all of the movies. I don't want him to have nightmares because he saw the T-1000 stab someone in the face. The quickest solution I can think is a screen saver with a password. It's mildly inconvenient to me, but would stop him from accessing anything. However, I remember how much more I knew about computers than my parents when I was a kid, and I have a feeling he's going to surprise me one day. There's a lot of ways out there to stop it, the way we do it now is to not let him watch anything unless we're there (but there are only so many times I can watch the same kid's movie). How do YOU guys find yourself dealing with the convenience of running your own server while keeping your media safe from prying eyes?"


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As the Phils get close to stablizing their roster, they crush the Rays, 10-1.
As the Phils get close to finalizing their 25 men roster before heading north, the batters support a good performance by the pitching staff, as they crush the Rays, 10-1.
The Rays scored first in the third as, with one man on, and with two men out, Sean Rodriguez hits an RBI double, scoring Jason Bourgeois, who had earlier singled, giving the Rays a 1-0 lead, before going on to third on the late throw to the plate. The Phils then tied the game up at one-all in the fifth as, with runners on second and third, and with nobody out, Kevin Frandsen hits an RBI groundout, three-unassisted, scoring Ryan Howard, who had started the inning off with a single, then stopped at third base on Dom Brown's double, while sending Brown, who had just doubled, over to third base. The Phils then took the lead one batter later as, with a man on third, and with one man out, Pete Orr hits an RBI single, knocking in Brown, giving the Phils a 2-1 lead. The Phils then made it a 4-1 lead as Freddy Galvis hits a two-run home run, his third home run of the spring. The Phils increased their lead in the sixth as, with runners on the corners, and with nobody out, Brown hits an RBI double, scoring Chase Utley, who had started the inning off with a double, then stopped at third base on Howard's single, giving the Phils a 5-1 lead, while sending Howard, who had earlier singled, over to third base. The Phils then made it a 7-1 lead as Frandsen followed Brown with a two-run double, scoring both Howard and Brown. Two batters later, with a man still on second base, and now with one man out, Galvis hits an RBI single, scoring Frandsen, giving the Phils an 8-1 lead, before moving up to second base on the late throw home. The Phils then made it a 9-1 lead as Humberto Qunitero hits an RBI single, scoring Galvis, before moving up to second base on the late throw to the plate. The Phils added to their lead in the eighth as, with a runner on second base, and with two men out, Quintero, who had earlier reached base with a double, would score on a throwing error by first baseman Shelley Duncan on a grounder hit by Ender Inciarte, giving the Phils a 10-1 lead. That would be the final score as Jonathan Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.
Raul Valdes received a no-decision as he went three innings, giving up a run on two hits, while striking out five. Michael Stutes threw a scoreless inning, walking a batter. Jeremy Horst (2-1, 4.80) got the win as he threw two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a wild pitch, while striking out a batter. Colby Shreve, Antonio Bastardo, Steven Inch and Jonathan Papelbon combined for three scoreless innings, giving up a walk (Shreve) between them, while striking out three Rays (Bastardo (1), Papelbon (2)). Roberto Hernandez (0-2) took the loss as he pitched six innings, giving up nine runs on eleven hits and a walk. Cesar Romos pitched an inning and two-thirds, giving up a run on two hits. Adam Liberatore pitched a third of an inning, getting out the only man whom he would face.
The Phils collected thirteen hits in the game, with Dom Brown leading the team with three hits (Single, 2 Doubles, RBI), followed by Ryan Howard (Singles), Freddy Galvis (Single, Home Run, 3 RBIs) and Humberto Quintero (Single, Double, RBI) with two hits each. Jimmy Rollins (Single), Chase Utley (Double), Kevin Frandsen (Double, 3 RBIs) and Pete Orr (Single, RBI) had the other four Phils' hits. The final Phil run came in on a throwing error. The Phils also had a walk (Ben Revere) in the game.
The Phils (14-15) play their next spring training game against the Tigers (18-12) at Joker Merchant Park in Jupiter, Florida. The game is to start at 1:05 pm EDT. The Phils will send to the mound Cole Hamels (2-0, 1.13), who is coming off a strong start against the Red Sox on March 21, receiving a no-decision, as he went six innings, giving up just one run on four hits and two walks, while striking out five, in the Phils' 6-1 lost. He will be going for one final strong start as he prepare to be the Phils' opening day pitcher. The Tigers will counter with Justin Verlander (1-2, 4.74), who is coming off a lost against the Astros on March 21, as he went five and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on six hits, as he struck out five, in the Tigers' 7-2 lost. He will be trying to end his spring training with a good start. The Phils will be trying to do well in their last spring training game on the road.


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Collapse! Review
If you've ever clicked around flash game sites, you've probably stumbled on SameGame. It goes by many names, but the basic premise is to clear a grid of similarly-colored blocks that are lumped together. If they get separated between other colors, they're stuck on the board. Collapse! is a variation on that genre, but it adds a unique level progression and sense of style.
You play as a blue-bodied figure, resembling an upside-down exclamation point, who travels the world on a quest to bring light to a dark forest, clean up a murky ocean, and perform other environmental good deeds. The world is being threatened by block-headed creatures, and by playing dozens of levels of SameGame you can clean up their mess and banish them.
Get these things to a zoo!
Collapse! starts off very simply, with just a faster-paced variation on SameGame, but soon adds "relapse" levels with two slowly growing sides, a strategy level where you gain a new row every other click, and a panic mode that drops blocks on you from above if you're not fast enough. Clicking through these levels is a cinch, and just about anyone can appreciate the colorful atmosphere.
However, it's all a bit too simple. You'll gain coins between levels to buy colored bombs and other special blocks, but you can probably beat the entire game without relying on them. You can also obtain new outfits for your upside-down exclamation point figure, but these are very few and don't provide nearly the same amount of customization as a game like Puzzlings. Still, we appreciated these efforts to (literally) dress up a familiar formula.
Not winning any awards for originality.
We beat Collapse! in about an hour and a half, but if you're nutty for SameGame you can probably squeeze another hour from the quickplay modes, which contain most of the modes of the main quest. The five boss fights in the game are a highlight, but like most of the game, any adult can probably beat them handily on the first try. Only the handful of puzzle levels gave us actual pause.
For kids, or adults who spent a lot of office hours playing SameGame, Collapse! is a good buy for a buck. Its colorful atmosphere and incredibly accessible gameplay should put a smile on your face, even if it is a bit simple.


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Thursday, January 14, 2010
Best Antitrust Conference of the Year - Next Generation of Antitrust Scholarship Conference at NYU
Posted by D. Daniel Sokol
The best conference of the year is free!
NYU School of Law
American Association of Law Schools – Antitrust
American Bar Association – Section of Antitrust Law
are co-sponsors of the
Next Generation of Antitrust Scholarship Conference
Friday, January 29, 2010
NYU School of Law
108 West 3rd Street, Lipton Hall
[View on Google Map]
Email Patricia Harris at firstname.lastname@example.com
8:20-8:50am: REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:50-9:00am: INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
9:00-10:30am: SESSION 1
Speaker: Thom Lambert (Missouri) - "A Decision-Theoretic Rule of Reason for Minimum Resale Price Maintenance"
Discussant: Janusz Ordover (NYU)
Speaker: Avishalom Tor (Haifa) - "Behavioral Antitrust: A New Approach to the Rule of Reason after Leegin"
Discussant: Patrick Bolton (Columbia)
Speaker: Maurice Stucke (Tennessee) - "Am I a Price-Fixer? A Behavioral Economics Analysis of Cartels"
Discussant: Tim Greaney (St. Louis)
Panel Discussant: James Yoon (NY AG)
Moderator: Richard Steuer (Mayer Brown)
10:30-10:45am: BREAK
10:45-12:15pm: SESSION 2
Speaker: Shahar Dillbary (Alabama) - "Predatory Bundling and the Exclusionary Standard"
Discussant: Harry First (NYU)
Speaker: Scott Hemphill (Columbia) - "Generic Drug Challenges Prior to Patent Expiration"
Discussant: David Hyman (Illinois)
Speaker: Barak Orbach (Arizona) - "The Antitrust Consumer Welfare Paradox"
Discussant: John Lopatka (Penn State)
Panel Discussant: Steven Edwards (Hogan & Hartson)
Moderator: Stacey Mahoney (Gibson Dunn)
12:15-1:00pm: LUNCH
1:00-2:30pm: SESSION 3
Speaker: Salil Mehra (Temple) - "Paradise is a Walled Garden"
Discussant: Spencer Waller (Chicago Loyola)
Speaker: Hillary Greene (Connecticut) - "Antitrust Censorship of Economic Protest"
Discussant: Marina Lao (Seton Hall)
Speaker: Ariel Katz (Toronto) - "Beyond "Essential Facilities": Innovation, Intellectual Property and Competition Policy across the Atlantic"
Discussant: Eleanor Fox (NYU)
Panel Discussant: Jay Himes (Labaton)
Moderator: Robert Hubbard (NY AG)
2:30-2:45pm: BREAK
2:45-4:15pm: SESSION 4
Speaker: Daniel Sokol (Florida) - "Antitrust, Institutions and Merger Control"
Discussant: Tom Arthur (Emory)
Speaker: Ioannis Lianos (University College London) - "Generalist Judges, Specialized Tribunals, Sector Specific Regulators and Competition Authorities: Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
Discussant: Peter Carstensen (Wisconsin)
Speaker: Max Huffman (IU-Indy) - "Lessons from New Economics for Old Antitrust"
Discussant: Ned Cavanaugh (St. Johns)
Panel Discussant: Michael Weiner (Skadden)
Moderator: Stephen Houck (Menaker & Herrmann)
Conference Co-sponsors
NYU School of Law
American Association of Law Schools – Antitrust
American Bar Association – Section of Antitrust Law
Conference Co-organizers
Harry First – NYU School of Law
Ilene Knable Gotts – Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Edward Cavanaugh – St. John's School of Law
D. Daniel Sokol – University of Florida Law Levin College of Law
This conference is the first ever conference for the Next Generation of Antitrust Scholars. Much has changed in both the law and economic theory of antitrust in the past 30 years. The purpose of this event is to convene a conference of the next generation of antitrust law professors (people who started their teaching career in or after 2000) and provide them an opportunity to present their latest research. Senior antitrust scholars and practitioners in the field will comment on the papers.
For more information, visit the American Bar Association - Section of Antitrust Law website at http://www.abanet.org/antitrust/scholars2010/.