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Every Wednesday sees a new blog by Angler's Mail magazine's HQ, focussing on happenings in the wonderful world of fishing, including latest tackle.
There will be something for everyone – whether you are into pleasure fishing, carp fishing, match fishing, specialist fishing or anything else.
This week's Angler's Mail HQ blog is by Thomas Petch, news reporter.
We hope you enjoy the blog, and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the icons above, or by the "old skool" method of telling fellow anglers! Feel free also to comment by using the special space at the bottom on this page.
THERE'S no doubting carp are the No.1 species in this country for anglers and the angling trade alike.
But I do wonder how healthy this obsession with carp is getting for the long term future of the sport?
Many of the modern generation of carpers have nothing to fall back on when they have had their fill of catching (or blanking) for 20s and 30s.
Instant carpers have never fished a dawn morning for tench, trotted a float down the river or caught some tasty sea fish for the pot.
Carp fishing is being treated so seriously by so many there just doesn't seem to be any fun in it.
And as carp waters get tougher and more carpers come into the sport then something has to give.
Don't get me wrong, I've done a lot of carp fishing myself in the past and will do so in the future.
But I thoroughly recommend carp anglers who have never done any other form of angling do try fishing for different species once in a while.
And also I think a lot of carp anglers should try some new methods and not sticking to two rods fishing boilies or pellets on the latest rigs put out by the 'carp stars'.
I was really pleased to see in this week's issue that Ryan Need used 336 pints of maggots to win the UK Carp Cup.
And in next week's carp gallery, an all-rounder reveals he blew out with big coarse fish this summer but used his barbel rods and maggots to take a string of good carp from a tough water.
And if more carpers use maggots, they might even pick up some quality 'nuisance' fish which might whet their appetite for new species.
And how many carpers want to ruin the pristine look of their ultra expensive rods and reels by using Methods feeders and 'dirty' groundbait?
Carp are great, but so are all species of fish and here at the Mail we try and bring as much of a balance as possible.
Short session success with pike… and bike!
I'd like to give my big mate Leslie Wood a plug after he's had a good couple of pike sessions.
As a car salesman working long hours including weekends and being a married family man, time is not on his side – much like the family men who match fish, revealed in Steve Collett's excellent Tuesday blog.
Les used to be classed as a carp angler but just doesn't have the time for long sessions anymore so has reverted back to his second love of pike fishing.
And after a bit of a summer break, Les fished two short sessions recently on his Wednesday day offs and just grabbed a lure rod and a bag of bits to fish a local lake in Derbyshire.
First trip he nabs a 20 lb 1 oz snapper and another of 11 lb 12 oz in a few hours on a 19 cm Savage Gear 4Play lure in Firetiger pattern.
Then he returned a week later and had fish of 19 lb 3 oz, 17 lb 3 oz and lost a big fish….. plus landed a BMX bike (pictured, left)!
It just shows a few hours with just a small amount of kit can bring great success.
Lucky Lockey: There's nothing 'Lucky' about Martin Locke, he's a top, top angler and has just notched his 100th 50 lb carp that can be seen in this week's issue!
Massive stripys: Big perch are one of the best looking fish in my eyes and in this week's issue of Angler's Mail Ken Brown hasn't had one but two 5 lb-plus stripys in just two short trips.
RIP Tony Pawson: We all have to go at some point, but it was sad to see in this week's issue that Tony Pawson passed away. A true old school all-round sportsman, Tony played cricket for Kent, football for Charlton Athletic and represented England at angling.
Rubbish weather: It's been wet and foggy with a forecast cold snap soon. But luckily we've been sent a raft of good coarse fish in the last week to brighten your week. Remember to report your catches to us exclusives – email photos and details to: email@example.com
A trio from what we saw at the recent Tackle & Guns show. Full coverage, revealing our highlights from the show, start inside the issue of Angler's Mail magazine out now (pictured above).
New brand Akios reveal their reels, including an attractive big pit
Carp and pike fly fishing rod by Sharpe's of Aberdeen


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Global Year Against Acute Pain
by Pamela Katz Ressler, RN, BSN, HN-BC, MS-PREP graduate student and PREP-AIRED blog moderator and administrator
Anticipate, Assess, Alleviate
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) is the leading professional forum for science, practice and education in the study of pain. Each year the IASP focuses on an area of importance in the field of pain management. This year's focus is acute pain, with 2010-2011 being designated as the Global Year Against Acute Pain by the IASP. Acute pain is the most frequent reason why patients visit an emergency department. Unfortunately, inadequate acute pain control is common. If uncontrolled or inadequately controlled, acute pain can result in increased health care costs due to longer hospital stays and a higher liklihood of the development of chronic pain. By raising awareness of acute pain as a significant health care issue, the IASP hopes to lessen the gap between acute pain knowledge and research and current clinical practice.
Click here to access resources and information about acute pain mangement and how to become involved in the IASP Global Year Against Acute Pain.
Add comment January 30th, 2011

subset: commoncrawl


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2-cents - Every Book (Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Drake , Young Money's Every Girl Spoof) [Parody]
Directed by 2-CENT ENTERTAINMENT LLC. Creator / Director www.2-cent.com
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Join the loveable Numbear and his sidekick Numbird as they celebrate everything awesome about your child's third birthday, including interesting, amusing and hilarious facts about the number 3, and why being 3 years old is great!
This book is personalised with the child's name on the front cover, on the dedication page, and also in the story as our characters take you on a journey all about the number 3. For example, did you know 'tri' means three? Have you ever found out that an octopus has three hearts? Or did you know that a camel has three eyelids to protect its eyes from the sand? Numbear and Numbird do! Children can also find out how much their hair and fingernails grow every year, how much gas their bodies produce, and other fantastic facts. Numbear and Numbird will lead you on a journey of discovery and laughter!
'Wow You're 3' is written by award winning children's book authors Steve Wilson and Lucy Tapper, and illustrated beautifully by Lucy. This book is perfect for a third birthday for the whole family to enjoy reading for years to come. And don't forget, when they are four, the next book in the range 'Wow You're 4' is filled with brand new facts, stories and illustrations for a very happy fourth birthday!
Please Note: This book takes 5 - 7 days for delivery, so Express Delivery is not available on this product.
Please allow 5-7 working days for delivery on this item.
Customer Reviews5.05 5.0/5 Based on 1 review
A gift for them to keepReviewed by Flossica1995 on 17 Nov 2019
This is now the 3rd year that I have bought the personalized gift for my small niece as her birthday gift. The book are a fun keepsake for the future and a way to learn fun facts. The service given by the company is fast and efficient. A big Thank you!
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Our aim is to dispatch all orders placed before 12 noon on the same day. Any orders placed after that time will be dispatched on the next available working day.
We will send you a notification email when your order has been dispatched. The time your order takes to arrive will depend on the delivery option you choose.
While we always try our best to dispatch every order following the above guidelines, during extremely busy periods dispatch times may increase by up to one day.
How can I track the status of my order?
You will receive an email to confirm we have received your order and that your payment has been accepted. You will also receive an email when your order has been dispatched.
In your dispatch confirmation email we will include any relevant tracking numbers, allowing you to track your parcel on the Interlink website. You will only receive a tracking number if you have chosen Express delivery option for your order.
What days will my order be delivered on?
Our couriers deliver between 08.00 and 18.00 Monday to Friday.
Will I need to sign for my order?
If you have chosen the Express delivery option, you will have to sign for your parcel upon receipt.
Please Note: We do not accept returns on any personalised products.
All orders are thoroughly checked before leaving our premises. On receipt of your order we request that you check the items as soon as possible. If you are unhappy with your order for any reason, please contact us on 01822 613098 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Please have your order number to hand when you contact us as it will allow us to find your order quickly.
If you are unsatisfied with your order in any way, please return it to us within 14 days of delivery for a refund or exchange. The item must be unused, be in its original packaging and be suitable for re-sale. Items bought in the sale are non-returnable and non-refundable. Postage costs for returning items to us cannot be refunded, unless the item is faulty or damaged.
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On A Personal Note
My eldest daughter has recently become besotted with the Guinness Book of World Records, especially the 'gross facts' page! We couldn't think of anything to get her that was full of gross facts and figures, and because she was reaching ten years old (double figures!) we wanted to combine the two. I originally created her a print with all of the fun facts on, but figured that a book would be more of a keepsake for years to come! It's such an easy birthday present to give, I decided to create them for the first ten years of a child's life.


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The board of trustees recently approved a new faculty committee to "informally and confidentially" advise President Rochon on various issues.
At the Administrative Assembly's October meeting, Rochon said his meetings with the faculty committee might also remain confidential. Thus, we may not...
A Balloon for Allah - Interviews with Nawal El Saadawi, Gamal Al Banna, Asma Barlas, Sheikh Mahmoud Mekki and others.
As a child, Norwegian-Turkish filmmaker Nefise Lorentzen...
Asma Barlas, director of the Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity, was invited to moderate a discussion on "A Balloon for Allah," a documentary by Nefise Ozkal Lorentzen, screened in the "UNSPOKEN" Film Festival in Utica, NY, on October 14th. The documentary features interviews with Gamal al-Banna, Nawal el-Sadawi, and Barlas, among others, and has garnerd its Turkish-Norwegian film-maker several awards.
Barlas also took part in a panel discussion on "Culture Under Siege in Pakistan", moderated by Fergus Nicoll, host of BBC's "The World Today." The discussion, which took place on October 10th in Syracuse, was part of the "Caravanserai" project that is housed this year at SUNY, Oswego.
Asma Barlas, professor and director, Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity, gave one of two keynotes at Hope College's Critical Issues Symposium on "Exploring Islam" this year. In addition, she conducted a focus session on "Reading Scripture." Both events took place on October 5th, in Holland, Michigan. http://www.hope.edu/cis/
Asma Barlas, professor and director of the Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity, published two papers recently: "September 11, 2001: Remember Forgetting," in the Journal of Political Theology (Vol. 12, No. 5, October 2011) and "Abraham's Sacrifice in the Qur'an: Beyond the Body," in Religion and the Body, Donner Institute for Research in the History of Religion, Åbo Akademi University, Finland (June, 2011).


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Threads for April 2008
April 2008
[1] Users will need to use the Faraday Cup on stage and not Faraday cup on sample holder
[2] Re: Shutdown raith SNF 2008-04-23 10:20:50: XY laser stage piezo three ceramic ball missing!
[2] Re: Problem raith SNF 2008-04-22 18:17:11: problem encounter by several users getting level sample holders
[2] Re: Comment raith SNF 2008-04-22 05:51:12: Leveling with Universal Holder
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[1] Problem raith SNF 2008-04-23 19:15:49: calibration are required to piezo post and mech. adjustments to all sample holders need to be completed
[1] Comment raith SNF 2008-04-25 04:37:44: 2% 950k PMMA is running out
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|FreeBSD General Other questions regarding FreeBSD which do not fit in any of the categories below.
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Couple of network questions (NAT, firewalls)
First to say hello - I've been redirected here from bsdforums...
I'm a recent FreeBSD 7 user and I want to do in FreeBSD things I've done on Linux
Let's start with firewalls.
I've compiled my kernel to support both ipfw and ipf. The first surprise was loosing all networks upon reboot, but I understood that this is default policy of these firewalls. I solved that for ipfw with following FIREWALL_SCRIPT
ipfw add 65000 allow ip from any to any
ipf -D
Issue number 2 - NAT. I succeeded running natd and a simple divert rule for ipfw did the job:
ipfw add 500 divert natd all from any to any via re0
pfw add 500 divert natd all from 192.168.0.5 to any via re0 pfw add 500 divert natd all from any to 192.168.0.5 via re0
OK that is interesting. I was logged in from 192.168.0.5 and after I changed the divert rule I lost connection from 192.168.0.5 to the server (which is 1 meter away and doesn't have any other rules in the firewall list exept pass all). Why is that happening? I'm sshing directly to the internal address - 192.168.0.1 which is an alias of re0, which doesn't care of what NAT state is. It should be pingable even if no NAT is established. Right?
The second thing I tried is to pass some options to the natd daemon (like -redirect_address). For the purpose of that I first killed the natd daemon, and guess what - the secondary machine got cutoff again. So what is that connection between nat and ssh? I'm doing a simple peer to peer connection and there is nothing wrong with the IP settings.
Am I going into the right way with -redirect_address? I didn't manage to try this out after the connection was cut.
And how can I redirect a public address if my ISP have provided several? Is it with that -redirect_address option?
IF you skip driver in kernel config (comment it or delete it)
It will be build as module and you will need to run kldload to load it.....
or write in loader.conf or something like that....
things like these should usually placed in /etc/rc.local if they don't warrant (for you) the creation of rc.d scripts.
The fact that you shouldn't have to disable something you want to use on boot, brings to mind: Why did you compile support for it into the kernel if you don't want IPF?
*I don't use ipf so I wouldn't know if there are any rc.d scripts shipped
My Journal
Thou shalt check the array bounds of all strings (indeed, all arrays), for surely where thou typest ``foo'' someone someday shall type ``supercalifragilisticexpialidocious''.
Don't bother with IPF, it's pretty much deprecated in FreeBSD 6, there's little (if any) development on it in FreeBSD 7, and I doubt it will remain in the tree beyond FreeBSD 8. It doesn't fit into the PFIL framework, and the locking doesn't fit into the SMPng framework. It also doesn't work correctly on SMP systems.
Pretty much everyone who used IPF has switched to PF.
You also shouldn't have 2 separate packet filters in your kernel simultaneously unless you REALLY know what you are doing.
Help for FreeBSD: Handbook, FAQ, man pages, mailing lists.
I thought I have to do 'options IPFILTER' in order to have ipf working Silly me, that was written in the howto
Okay, so IPF is old stuff, what about PF? I'm wondering which of the two - ipfw and pf is better as a packet filter and NAT? I have reviewed IPFW and it remains me of iptables in linux - not so hard to get used to it, but I haven't checked PF yet. Is there a major difference between them, like "IPFW can do *that* and PF can't do it" or vice verca?
I would suggest pf, because it is very actively supported by the OpenBSD team.
For more information, see the pf section of http://daemonforums.org/showthread.php?t=108
You don't need to be a genius to debug a pf.conf firewall ruleset, you just need the guts to run tcpdump
That's nice, but I can't find the pf program. It isn't in ports either.
[ivanatora] /usr/src# pf pf: Command not found. [ivanatora] /usr/src# cd /usr/ports/*/pf /usr/ports/*/pf: No match. [ivanatora] /usr/src# pkg_add -r pf Error: FTP Unable to get ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-7.0-release/Latest/pf.tbz: File unavailable (e.g., file not found, no access) pkg_add: unable to fetch 'ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-7.0-release/Latest/pf.tbz' by URL
There is no "pf" command, and it's not a port either... it's a kernel-level firewall.
Related man pages:
IPFW is more free-form. It uses rule numbers, so you can add/delete individual rules without affecting the rest of the rules. Until FreeBSD 7, all NAT was done in user space, now you can choose userspace or kernel-space. IPFW uses a "first matching rule wins" mode. IPFW supports divert rules that can send packets to any program that listens on a socket. The syntax has grown organically over the years, and can look really messy when doing the really advanced stuff. It uses dummynet for traffic shaping/prioritising, although it can also use the ALTQ framework.
Both are good packet filters. Both have rules syntax that resembles English sentences. Both can be either very simple to use, or very complex to use. Both are under active development.
IPFW is only used by FreeBSD and its derivatives. PF is used by all the BSDs. I'm not sure which MacOS X uses by default.
Oh, and please don't ever compare ipfw to iptables. That's like comparing a Rolls Royce to a golf cart.
Help for FreeBSD: Handbook, FAQ, man pages, mailing lists.
I do believe Apple opted for IPFW for reasons unknown....
Sorry about iptables - this was the only term I can come with for that moment
I just get into pf and it rocks - got up nat running for my second PC in less than a minute, *without* running any extra daemons like natd
That 'last matching rule wins' is a bit confusing (like reading the rules file backwards), but at least there is the 'quick' word. I'm going to read the documentation more in-depth.
Thanks for your tips!
Portion of another questions is comming This thime I'm trying to do some very basic traffic shaping - ALTQ. For beginning I want just to restrict HTTP downloading speed (which is port 80) to a fixed number... lets say 100Kbps. I'm on ADSL line providing me 12Mb down / 2Mb up, but for now let's concentrate only on limiting downloading speed.
I've read some tutorials and I've reached to the following code:
### Queueing # I'm not sure what to set up for a total bandwidth - 100Mb for the carrier media (Cat5 cables) or 12Mb for the provided bandwidth altq on re0 cbq bandwidth 100Mb queue {restrict, fast} # This queue 'restrict' should get the shaped traffic queue restrict bandwidth 100Kb cbq(default) # This 'fast' queue should take some fast traffic, DNS requests for example. queue fast bandwidth 500Kb priority 4 ### Translation # This is for my other PC and I don't think it plays a role here nat pass on re0 from 192.168.0.5 to any -> 10.10.10.21 ### Filtering # Restrict traffic on port 80. This is my IP. pass in on re0 proto tcp from any port 80 to 10.10.10.21 queue restrict # Pass DNS requests on the 'fast' queue pass in on re0 proto { udp, tcp } from any port 53 to 10.10.10.21 queue fast
altq on re0 cbq bandwidth *100Mb* queue {restrict, fast}
But changing that did not reflected in any way - the downloads went on 3Mb.
Second problem - how to build the rule for queuing the other PC's NATed bandwidth?
I tried
pass on re0 from any to 192.168.0.5 queue restrict
Last edited by ivanatora; 21st July 2008 at 07:23 PM.
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Dylan's daughter had been acting up at school again. Not only did she miss practice, but she was caught blowing a dude. Let's just say that her coach isn't too impressed with her performance, and he's just about ready to kick her off the team. Lucky for her, Dylan knows just what to do. I guess it's just another case of "like mother like daughter" Collapse
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To hold you over in the meantime, here are the blog's best posts on handling questions, another in our "all-in-one" collections:
- Lots of speakers overprepare, and blame it on the questions they might get. Do you overprepare for speeches? walks you through some alternatives that will get you ready without making you anxious.
- Like new media tools when you present? Engage your audience with new media tools recommends you save room for the questions--and put them up front. If anything, social media has helped audiences get more, not less, eager to participate when you speak.
- Getting no questions? The audience may have checked out, so check what to do when you're losing the audience to change your tactics midstream.
- One part of questions is hearing them. How to listen to audience questions offers you an example from no less a speaker than President Obama--and his tactic allows time to think while engaging the questioner.
- If your questioners can't get a word in edgewise, read Speakers: 7 reasons I want you to speak less.
- Do you think you have too much content and too little time? When you've got lots to say, save it for the Q-and-A. You'll look smart and so will your audience.
- Are questions derailing your presentation--or getting it off track? Graceful ways with Q-and-A help you answer, then steer back to your topic. 4 ways to handle the heckler will help with a questioner who wants to take over.
Use the Evernote clip button, above, to save this post in an Evernote notebook. Go here to subscribe to Step Up Your Speaking, my free email newsletter that looks at a different speaking topic in depth each month...then become a fan of The Eloquent Woman on Facebook and join the conversation with thousands of other women (and men) about public speaking skills and confidence. Subscribers also get a 25 percent discount when they register for our next Good On Your Feet! workshop on dynamic speaking skills, March 2 and 3 in Washington, DC.


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After a few days of breathless speculation, Jon Favreau has confirmed that Harrison Ford is joining him for "Cowboys & Aliens," and he did it in the fashion that publicists dread most.
"Please stop asking if Harrison Ford is in Cowboys & Aliens. Okay? He is. Please don't tell anybody," tweeted the film's director.
Ford joins a cast that so far includes Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde in this comic book adaptation about cowboys and Indians who are forced to team up to battle a common enemy: alien invaders.
U.S. & World
It's unknown what his role is as yet, and really who cares? As long as it goes towards washing away the memory of "Extraordinary Measures," or rather the last 17 years of his career. Take a look at his IMDB page and tell us there's a single good film on his list since 1993's "The Fugitive."
Craig stepped into the lead role in January when the success of "Sherlock Holmes" forced Downey to step down in deference to a sequel.


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They say never to mix business with pleasure, but it's hard not to in Massachusetts, where each of the four distinct seasons provides a unique backdrop for meetings and events. Have a meeting or conference to plan? Consider one of Massachusetts' many hotels, function facilities, and attractions that cater specifically to small meetings (fewer than 500 attendees), team-building, and incentive planning. When it's time to get down to business, this is the place to find the perfect meeting venues from Boston to Worcester and everywhere in between. And don't forget the "all work and no play" rule; come early or stay late to enjoy all that Massachusetts has to offer.
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Foodie Finds: It's all Here
Looking for fun things to do and see in Massachusetts?
Get some foodie finds ideas
William Cullen Bryant Homestead
The serene vista of the Westfield River Valley that inspired one of America's greatest poets. The Homestead's pastoral landscape, largely... more+ 7 saves
William Cullen Bryant Homestead
207 Bryant Rd.
413.532.1631+ 7 saves
Foodie Finds: It's all Here
Looking for fun things to do and see in Massachusetts?


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4 Photoshop Actions for the Price of One! These 4 Photoshop actions are jam packed with style, giving you the creative freedom to change any photograph into something amazing, in just a single click!
These four actions give you some instant POW to your Photos. Whether you want a sleek and stylish "80's Retro", or a dark and artistic "Stylish Black", this action pack is for you! All in the simple click of a mouse button! Check out the preview images for higher res versions!
Photos in preview by Tawny Horton Photography http://www.myspace.com/tawnyhortonphotography


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Hello there! After pastel, light blue and pink outfit, here is a turn to more urban city - chic looks. So here, we played with beige - the iconic beige trenchcoat- , olive and deep red. These colors can offer instant elegance to any outfit. A watch and a pair of gladiators, are the ideal addition to this fresh style. Hope we inspired you!
Gladiator Heels #1
Hi everyone! Here 's a weekend inspiration about a hot spring-summer trend: gladiators. There are many different options, from casual and comfy pieces to extraordinary elegant heels. Here we represent from one side affordable low cost choices, while on the other side, we present some investment (and really expensive) pieces. Enjoy!
Ετικέτες Giuseppe Zanotti, Inspiration, STEVE MADDEN, ZARA
The Blues...
Hi everyone! As weather becomes brighter and warmer, we can try lighter and maybe different work outfits. So, this time I mixed tones of one of my favorite colors: blue. I think is probably one of the few so chic, calm yet casual colors. Sapphire blue for jewels and pants, light blue for the top and baby blue for the accessories. Hope you like it !
Look of the Week#11 {Classy Poncho}
Ετικέτες Burberry, chanel, Dior, Look of the Week, Michael Kors, Nelly, Topshop
Pastel Dream
Hi everyone! I just love spring colors, so today I chose pretty pastel shades of pink, blue and white. These three colors combined together create a dreamy and sweet outfit. Here, I picked a pink blazer, nude heels, pale blue accessories and white garments. I finished with natural make up and casual hair. Hope you like it!
Out & About
Hi everyone! How was your weekend? Well, I 've been running on errands in the city, so I decided to show you my classic outfit for these everyday chores. A coat even in March is essential, as well as a pair of heels. To be honest, I prefer modest pieces, so a midi skirt and a shirt are my best choice. Red lips are a personal favourite too!
Look of the Week #10 {Sleek Textures}
Hi everyone! In this post we combined all the sleek clean cut pieces, like nice chiffon shirt, leather leggings, a classic chanel, boots and cat- eye sunnies. These pieces, depending on the accessories and the jewelry can either lead to a chic casual look, or to a formal attire. In any case, fine textures always help to a beautiful and elegant look. Hope you like it!
Ετικέτες chanel, Look of the Week, Mango, STEVE MADDEN
Street Style
Hi everyone! Here is another look, with two of my favourite winter pieces: knee high boots and camel coat. As spring came at last(even though its steel cold in Athens), I dedicated one of my last winter looks to those pieces. I paired black boots and clutch, with camel coat, a simple shirt and an unusual leather skirt. Hope you like it!
Ετικέτες Asos, coat, H&M, kneehigh boots, nude, Outfits, skirt, streetstyle, Tsakiris Mallas, Vintage, winter, ZARA
Look of the Week #9 {Casual Neutrals}
Hello! This week, in which we move from winter to spring, we decided to show some transition garments, like a cozy off white jumper and booties. The hit accessory of the season is the frilled bag. Although we are not big fans of frills, in some cases they look pretty and modern. Hope we helped once more on what to wear!
Ετικέτες Guess, Look of the Week, Nelly, Ray-Ban, River Island
Hello there! Sometimes, we need to try something different, like difficult colors, or special textures and motives, hard to pair with other pieces, yet extremely chic and interesting. So in this case, a plaid woolen cardigan, a lace top and a leather skirt all contributed to a sophisticated and unsafe look. Sparkly earrings and air in the hair were must too!
Ετικέτες Accessorize, Asos, knitwear, leather, Outfits, Rioni, skirt, streetstyle, Tsakiris Mallas, winter, ZARA
Uptown Chic
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Mother Agens Hill top Residency Located next to St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Aldona and few minutes away from St.Thomas Boys High School – Aldona, overlooking the green hills.It is an urbanized village with all modern facilities of the city. Well developed with infrastructure of roads, electricity and water. With good urban facilities like telephone connections, good mobile network, internet, broadband, good community centers, churches, bridges, tourist attractions like forts, shops on main road, ample frontage for shops, etc
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Will Middlebrooks to Welcome Children to "Red Sox Kid Nation Winterfest" presented by Hood on Saturday, January 26 at Fenway Park
Free event for fans of all ages includes youth video game competition featuring Sony's "MLB 12: The Show"
BOSTON, MA – Third Baseman Will Middlebrooks will welcome children to a "Red Sox Kid Nation Winterfest" on Saturday, January 26, at Fenway Park. The event, which takes place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m, is free and open to fans of all ages.
Middlebrooks is scheduled to take part in the festivities, which include a youth video game competition featuring Sony's "MLB 12: The Show." Sony donated 40 games and 40 consoles for the event.
Red Sox 2013 tickets, which go on sale at redsox.com and via telephone (888-REDSOX6) at 10 a.m., will also be available at the Fenway Park Box Office.
Fans of all ages will be welcome to step up to the microphone and showcase their vocal talents as the club seeks a new Public Address Announcer and performers of the National Anthem at Fenway Park. Children will also be able to hit baseballs in the actual Fenway Park Batting Cages.
The concourse inside Gate D, which serves as the main entrance, will offer activities for children. Wally the Green Monster will take photographs and sign autographs, and his Wally's World neighborhood will include a booth to test the speed of your pitch, carnival games, a bounce house, a beanbag toss, face painters, balloon artists, a magician, a caricature artist, and trackless train rides.
Fans will be able to play baseball video games on Sony's "MLB 12: The Show," and those who choose to register for a competition will be eligible for special prizes. Tournament winners and runners-up will receive Kid Nation memberships and tickets to a Red Sox home game this season. More details on registration will be announced in the coming days.
Hood has been the presenting sponsor of Red Sox Kid Nation since its inception in 2005.


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At a public memorial service for the victims of the shooting rampage in a Sikh temple, children and grandchildren of the dead spoke on behalf of their families. Six died when a gunman, identified by police as Wade Michael Page, burst into the temple Sunday morning. NBC's John Yang reports.
Updated at 2 p.m. ET: As prayer, music and chanting filled the building, hundreds streamed into an Oak Creek, Wis., gymnasium Friday morning to pay their final respects to the woman and five men killed when a gunman opened fire at a Sikh temple in the community last weekend.
Non-Sikhs wearing kerchiefs on their heads and Sikhs alike marched together in neat rows, with some of them stopping at times to embrace one another and exchange a few words. A priest spoke and recited prayers in the native Indian Punjabi.
"Today we mourn with you, we pray with you and we support you," Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told those gathered.
Walker praised the Sikhs' "peaceful faith" and their reaction following the shootings, saying they had shown that the best way to respond to the violence is with love.
"No matter what country your ancestors come from, no matter where you worship, no matter where you're from, as Americans, we are one," he said.
Darren Hauck / Getty Images
Two women hug as community members pay respects to the victims in the mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, at the Oak Creek High School on Friday.
Walker was joined by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at the memorial service. Holder told mourners: "Last Sunday morning, this community witnessed the very worst of human kind. But for every minute, every hour, and every day since then, you have exemplified and inspired the very best in who we are."
Holder said he attended the memorial "with a heavy heart" on behalf of President Barack Obama and all Americans.
In a tradition to honor the dead, priests will begin a process known as Akhand Path, a reading of the entire Sikh holy book, which is expected to take about 48 hours, the BBC reported.
"We want to pay homage to the spirits who are still in there," Harpreet Singh, the nephew of one of the victims, told the BBC.
As visitors -- including several police officers -- moved toward the seats, passing six caskets, a projection screen showed photos of those killed Sunday at the Oak Creek Sikh temple.
On Thursday, Sikhs were allowed to return to their temple for the first time since the shootings. Members have spent the last day painting walls and replacing blood-stained carpet.
Sikh leaders allowed to return to temple four days after shooting
Religious leaders and parishioners keep searching for answers following the Sunday tragedy. FBI Special Agent in Charge Teresa Carlson said during a Wednesday news conference that investigators have not yet "clearly defined a motive."
Wade Michael Page was identified Monday by authorities as the sole shooter. Authorities said the 40-year-old former Army sergeant and white supremacist entered the temple armed with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. The FBI said Page died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after he was shot by police.
The temple's leader told NBCChicago.com he hoped Indian-owned businesses around the world would close Friday in the victims' memory.
NBC News
Community members gather Friday for a memorial service for six people killed in the shooting at a Sikh temple in suburban Milwaukee.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Former WPTV weatherman Rob Lopicola faces charges including lewd or lascivious battery, computer pornography and child exploitation, and unlawful sexual activity with certain minors after being arrested in Wilton Manors on Monday afternoon.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office says the charges stem from two separate incidents dating back to 2010.
According to a probable cause affidavit (Extremely graphic content), a 15-year-old boy who recently moved to Farmington Hills, Michigan, told police he met Lopicola through a Craigslist ad. The teen told investigators that they exchanged emails and text messages before meeting in October 2010.
In the original ad, the teen told police he lied about his age, saying he was 18, before telling Lopicola that he was only 15.
According to the affidavit, the teen met Lopicola, where they engaged in oral sex in a car.
The teen told police he continued to exchange text messages with Lopicola after moving to Michigan, including sending him three picture messages. Many of the texts were sexual in nature.
Lopicola was booked into the Palm Beach County jail.


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Posts filed under 'Intestate'
Parents Unknown
If a death certificate has the dreaded word 'Unknown' – think about other ways of getting the information.
I was looking for the origins of William Etherington, a carpenter who died at Delegate (southern NSW). On his death certificate, not only were his parents listed as unknown, but so were any spouse or children.
Death certificates often have errors or missing information, because the owner of the property where a death occurred was the person required to register the death. The accuracy of their answers depended on who that was and how much did they know.
Next possibility – was there a will naming family members? If so, it might be found in a 'Probate Packet' – such files contain information about the property of the deceased and who was to inherit.
Checking the online indexes of NSW State Records (holders of New South Wales government archives), I found no entry for William in the Probate Packet index, nor the index of the Deceased Estate files (generally these contain an inventory of property and possessions).
However there was an entry for William Etherington in the index for Intestate Estates ('intestate' means died without leaving a will). The Curator of Intestate Estates determined who was to inherit when there was no will to indicate the wishes of the deceased.
The online index gave a clue that this file was working checking. The comments column included "contains original BDMs". What an understatement!
William was one of 9 children, most of whom had married (and perhaps remarried) and had children of their own. William's brother claimed that all his siblings and their descendants deserved to share the inheritance. In evidence there was a family tree (4 generations) along with all the applicable birth, marriage and death dates for everyone named. Not only that, but the file also contained all of the birth, baptism, marriage, death and burial certificates. Most documents were from England and the baptisms and burials were certified by the vicar.
Instant family! And photographing them all with my digital camera cost me nothing. (Fortunately I had a spare camera battery, as there were so many documents.)
I don't think I have ever before found so many certificates in one file! However it was also a reminder that if the information is missing in the first place you seek, check elsewhere.


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Department of Biological Sciences
Annual Biology Day For High School Students
Biology Day - November 15, 2019
Registration Form due November 11, 2019
Location: Waggoner Hall
Registration begins at 8:00, events begin at 8:15, events close at 2 pm
Biology Day is an annual event that gives high school students the opportunity to explore the field of Biology and participate in one of two academic competitions.
Hall Competition: Students will have the opportunity to participate in the hall competition. In the hall competition, students walk the halls of Waggoner Hall, examine the various display cases, and answer questions about those displays.
(NOTE TO TEACHERS: We want the students to be able to participate in the morning presentations. Please encourage your students to work through the hall competition questions efficiently.)
Seminars: Students are invited to attend many different seminars in the morning. The seminars are designed for high school biology students. They will include a wide variety of topics and will be given by both WIU faculty and students. Many of the topics will explore recent research while others will focus on career issues.
Actual Freshman Lecture: Students will also have the opportunity to listen to a freshman level biology lecture.
Biology Bowl: Schools are invited to organize teams of four students to participate in the .
Important Information
Food: Your students will be on their own for lunch. There are several places food can be purchased in the Student Union.
Student supervision: Please plan to supervise your students while they are on the campus of Western Illinois University. They will need help finding rooms, finding lunch opportunities, etc., and should not wander off to the campus bowling alley.
- Parking: When you arrive, the closest parking is 0.75 miles east of Waggoner Hall in the parking area for the WIU Credit Union, University Child Care/Pact Headstart, and Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center. Drop your students off and then park your vehicle in the lot. You can also ride the WIU bus system: The green route picks up passengers in this parking lot and then drives directly west towards Waggoner Hall. Just ask the bus driver to let you know when to get off. Green busses should come through the parking lot every seven minutes.
Forms and Information
- Schedule of Events
Registration Form
The Biology Bowl Competition is designed to allow teams of four students from different schools to compete with one another regarding their biological content knowledge. Trophies and prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place teams. The first contest will begin at 9:30 am. Each contest will last for 15 minutes with a 5 minute intermission between contests. Read the rules!
Biology Bowl Rules
Photography Release Form: We'd like to recognize our Biology Bowl winners with photographs on our webpage. However, to do so we need to have the parents of these students sign a waiver form indicating that we have permission to use the student's picture.
PLEASE have your Biology Bowl students get their parents to fill out and sign the form , and either mail the permission forms back with the registration form OR bring the permission forms along on the day of the event. If students do not have the forms, or if they or their parents do not want their picture used, we will not include them in the picture of the winning teams.


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Eric Matyas
It is a nice software, but I prefer to make seamless versions by hand, as you got much more control. Some of the seamless versions you made look good, but on the other hand some are also very bad. So for me those are not very useful, as it does not take that much time to make them by hand.
You got feedback of people finding them useful?


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The key tool for monitoring and coordination of forestry activities related to assistance and cooperation with countries in transition is an Access database, which was developed by the UNECE/FAO with the direct input from the signatory countries. The database includes currently more than 650 projects reported by donor and recipient countries and organisations. The projects themselves have a variety of objectives, scope, and methods for implementation. The UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists (ToS) on Countries in Transition (CITs) identified the majority of projects to respond to the priority needs of the transition countries.
The information on reported projects refers to their title and contents, type of cooperation, dates, cost, contact person, results expected, results gained, etc. It is possible to sort and search the database according to a number of fields in order to produce statistics for analysis purposes. The database users are advised to read carefully the detailed Users' Guide for the H3 Database, which facilitates the work with the database. The database in its present status is composed of data available to the secretariat by the mid-2002, when it absorbed the information from the latest ToS meeting and CEEC workshop held in Debe/Warsaw, Poland.
The national correspondents for Resolution H3 are the only official source of the information presented in the database. It should be noted that a number of signatory countries have not yet supplied the latest information, and for many projects only partial responses were received. For this reasons the information presented in the database must be considered as INDICATIVE. Nevertheless, it is hoped that more and more projects are reported and that the reliability of the database continues to increase as its dissemination and use as an analytical tool becomes better known through the Internet.
With the aim of improving transparency and increasing exchange of information between CITs, and between donors and recipients of assistance, the structure of the database has recently been upgraded, and the work on updating its contents is going on. From now, the updating of the database contents will be carried out continuously with the help of country correspondents, who are invited to communicate their information to the UNECE/FAO secretariat in the requested format.


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Looks like $100,000 per episode doesn't stretch as far as you'd think these days.
As season four of MTV's "Jersey Shore" wraps in Florence, Italy, plans are already underway for season five. The network wants to get back to the show's down and dirty roots - they are returning to Seaside Heights, New Jersey - but the cast have no plans on scaling back their lifestyles.
In fact, they want even more.
U.S. & World
MTV already agreed to pay the "Shore" regulars a whopping $100,000 per person, per episode for season four, but may have to hit the bargaining table yet again.
No word on how much Snooki, The Situation, and JWoww are seeking for next season, but this will be the fifth time in four seasons the cast have renegotiated their salaries.


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Charitable Activity
For more than 20 years, SDL has transformed not only global businesses, but local charities as well. Our commitment to developing personalized connections across the globe means we are passionate about giving back to our communities. That's why all SDL employees receive 5 paid leave days on top of annual leave to do charitable work.
Through the SDL Foundation, our employees can also apply for funding and support to further their own charitable endeavors and extend the SDL global reach to issues that impact our world.


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Making the Most of Your Mower
While commercial mowers are incredibly efficient at performing their appointed task — making tall grass short — they can also be a strong contributor to your bottom line in other ways with the right mix of attachments. Not only can attachments help increase productivity and finish quality on the turf, they also can extend the useful season of your mowers beyond the cutting season.
There has never been a better selection of attachments for mowers than we have today. Some attachments are designed to enhance the performance of the mower on the turf, while others are built to allow the mower to perform functions other than cutting grass, including snow removal, dethatching, aeration, spraying and a number of other tasks.
Mowing attachments range from collection systems and mulch kits, which are typically offered by the mower manufacturer, to those available from aftermarket suppliers, such as dethatchers, aerators, sprayers, spreaders and other maintenance tools.
"Almost all of the mowers we sell go out the door with either a mulch kit or a collection system," says Casey Bliss, owner of Bliss Power and Lawn Equipment in Sacramento, Calif. "We've seen an incredible increase in the number of contractors installing mulch kits over the past five years. It's increased to the point that we sell nine mulch kits for every one collection system we sell. Mulching has grown to be much more prevalent than bagging in our market."
Bliss says that virtually all of the mulch kits and collection systems he sells are offered by the mower manufacturer, and are specific to the brand's products. Many manufacturers also offer mulching-specific blade sets, which can significantly improve mulching results, especially in locations with tough cutting conditions such as frequent heavy, damp grass.
Despite the trend towards mulching, manufacturers have pushed the development of collection systems, especially for riding mowers. A growing number of manufacturers have introduced "quick dump" collection systems for their zero-turn mowers, which allow the operator to dump clippings without moving from the seat of the machine. While some contractors appreciate this convenience, Bliss says that many of his customers don't opt for the quick dump setups, as most often catcher capacity is a sacrifice that's made for the convenience of easy unloading. For his customers, who primarily use collection systems for fall leaf collection, capacity takes priority over convenience.
An interesting new twist on the quick-dump collection system comes from Walker Manufacturing and its Hi-Dump system, which is an available option for the company's riding mowers. Hi-Dump places the collection system on an articulating hydraulic lift that is powered by a small electric motor. The system can raise the catcher to a height of up to 67 inches, allowing the operator to easily raise and unload clippings in the bed of a pickup or trailer via toggle switches near the operator seat. The process of raising, unloading and lowering the collection system back into position takes approximately 20 seconds, according to the manufacturer. The Walker system does not sacrifice catcher capacity for this convenience, and the system adds only 3 inches to its overall height.
Aside from mulch kits or collection systems, landscape professionals typically add mower attachments to help them meet specific needs or customer demands they experience in their day-to-day operation. Good examples of such situation-specific needs would be a sports turf manager utilizing a striping kit on mowers to provide a distinctive finish on sports fields, or a parks crew adding a trash bag holder to the mower chassis for storage of litter that gets picked up during the day. While there is not enough room in this article to describe the multitude of attachments offered by mower manufacturers and a product description of each, you should contact your dealer with specific questions regarding available attachments. If you find that what you want isn't offered by the maker of your mower, you can look to companies that specialize in attachments to fit mowers of any brand.
Keep in mind, though — especially if you're in the market for a new mower — that some attachments work better with front-cut mowers and some are designed for mid-mounts.
In addition to acquiring attachments for your mower, you can also consider various accessories. Exmark's Dan Dorn said the company has added some new and unique accessories for its zero-turn riders now that the roll-over protection system (ROPS) has become a standard feature. "In addition to significantly increasing operator safety in a rollover situation, the ROPS provides a secure, easy-to-use attachment point for attachments such as light kits, sun shades and other accessories."
Dorn says the company's light kit allows the operator to see more clearly in low light conditions. Exmark began offering a light kit for its zero-turn mowers in 2004, the same year the company made a roll-over protection system (ROPS) a standard feature on its zero-turn riders. While Dorn cautions that the system isn't designed for mowing during nighttime hours, he says the light kit allows operators to increase safety and productivity during the lower light hours near dawn and dusk — hours that many contractors are already working.
The aftermarket is rife with products designed to expand the capabilities of your mower. From seeder and sprayer attachments, to snow removal blades and blowers, there are a number of ways to make your mower continue to produce, even after the mowing season has passed.
Landscape pros living in locations with seasonal mowing often store their mowers for several months each year. For them, investing in a carefully selected suite of attachments may allow them to utilize the mowers to make money when they'd normally be in storage. For example, if the addition of a snow blade allows a contractor to utilize his zero-turn mower to clear a parking lot or residential area, it is most definitely more useful, and has more earning potential than if it was sitting in storage.
While an interesting theory, according to Dan Eckles at Honest Engines in Lincoln, Neb., using mowers for other tasks such as snow removal, especially the zero-turn models popular with his customers, is not something his customers are doing on a large scale. "We have quite a few customers who do lawn work in the summer and snow removal in the winter, and if they're doing both, they have both types of equipment. They aren't outfitting their mowers to push snow.
"We typically don't recommend any attachments other than those offered by the mower manufacturer," Eckles said. "Our opinion is that professionals use the right tools for the job. If you use a mower for tasks other than mowing, it increases the likelihood of premature wear in components, especially drivetrain components."
For Bliss' customers in central California, the mowing season lasts all year long, so he says that there isn't a huge demand for mowers that can multi-task among his customers. The most common non-mowing attachments his customers purchase are spreaders and sprayers. In fact, he says that his company often custom-builds sprayer units for customers, as opposed to ordering a sprayer kit from an aftermarket manufacturer.
"Since many of the companies manufacturing sprayer kits for commercial mowers are located in the Midwest, the cost of shipping a heavy product half-way across the country makes it tough for us to profitably sell them," he said. "As a result, we design and build sprayers of our own design for many of our customers. We have sourced the mechanical parts of the sprayer from local vendors, and we fabricate the sub-chassis that attaches to the mower in-house. We have outfitted hundreds of mowers with sprayers for our customers, and it's worked out great for everyone involved."
Aside from spreaders and sprayers, Bliss' company offers only a limited number of aftermarket attachments, most from JRCO's line of products. When queried as to why he doesn't stock a greater variety of aftermarket attachments, Bliss cited concern about product liability in his home state of California as a strong reason for not getting too involved "turning mowers into something they aren't."
For landscape professionals, there can be much to gain by investing in specific mowing attachments that make the mower better suited for the conditions it is likely to encounter. Attachments such as collection systems and mulch kits make a mower better and more versatile at the job it's designed to do — cutting grass. Dethatching and aerator attachments can be a valuable productivity booster as well.
And while it's easy to get caught up in the fantasy of being able to make a mower meet your needs performing other tasks such as trimming, bed edging or snow removal, the reality is that, as landscape professionals, there is a "right" tool for every job. If the job is something other than cutting grass, chances are you will have better long-term results by investing in the actual piece of equipment you need instead of trying to make your mower into something it's not.
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© 2020 Penton Media Inc.


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You are currently browsing the monthly archive for Feb 2013.
Woke up today with a headache like I got beat up in a cage fight yesterday. Oh wait, I did. My attempt to ban commercial cage fighting in South Dakota failed in a House vote 27-43.
Though I lost, I won. From the beginning I've said the conversation on violence in society has to start somewhere – why not with our most violent form of entertainment? In starting that conversation I succeeded. 27 members of the House of Representatives voted for a total ban on commercial cage fighting in South Dakota. Many others said they hate it but figure it's best to regulate it because it's going on anyway. Even Rep. Schrempp who was the sponsor of the bill to legitimize it here says he hates cage fighting because it's too violent. So thank the 27 House members who didn't walk away from the fight of curtailing violence in society.
It's funny how people vote. Some who would normally prize themselves on being family values voters were opponents here. My RINO libertarian friends who vote red on every government expansion and spending bill apparently wanted commercial cage fighting more. Amazingly they voted for yet another layer of unfunded government bureaucracy to regulate and save people from themselves. There were stunning moments like when one member said my ban bill would make a criminal out of his five year old grandson who wants to do cage fighting at a school program. I'm pretty sure 95% of the parents of five year olds in our state would object to their kindergartner watching his grandson beat and kick the crap out of another kindergartner at school. Maybe it's not so ridiculous. CNN did a story last year on five year old cage fighting.
The question I'd like to ask all my colleagues is simply: what is violence? For some it's apparently not dismembering unborn children. For others it's apparently not two people beating each other senseless while rubbernecking bloodlusting pay per viewers cheer. But yesterday the same people who said no to those two things as being violent said two gay men getting in a love spat constitutes violent domestic assault. And 'splain this to me… those who continually harp on putting all extra dollars to teachers decided yesterday to prioritize boxers over teachers.
It's too early to forecast what the Governor will do with the bill. I'd think he'll refuse to sign it and let it pass into law without his signature because he does oppose it and there are the votes in the House and Senate to override his veto.
What this means for South Dakota is we now get commercial cage fighting. It's coming to a county fair near you. We can now host the big sanctioned events and this means big money. It's a 3.7 billion violent entertainment industry and the VP of the UFC has contacted the Senate sponsor here and hired two lobbyists to educate legislators here on how it only looks violent. Those lobbyists are Justin Bell also represents the Medical Association and Bret Koenecke who represents the Bankers Association. When I see Justin and Bret today do you support they'll thank me for landing them such an enormous contract? A hospital lobbyist here in the Capitol joked with me that they aren't backing me in this fight because it's good for their business.
The safety issue is secondary to the money issue. I prove that when I point to the pay per view stuff like King of the Cage: Greatest Knockouts #19. Here's the script on that:
King of the Cage: Greatest Knockouts #19 — The Rear Naked Choke and the Fifteen most LETHEL MMA Maneuvers; the Crucifix – brutally intense! The Heel Hook – one fighter is to effective they've named his right kick "hospital" and his left kick "graveyard!" The Guillotine Choke. The Flying Knee. Don't miss the greatest knockouts caught on camera. Now playing on pay per view.
All this about "safety" is a big smokescreen. The knockouts are what they are selling. This is about knocking people unconscious. I realize other sports have injuries but the last thing we want to see with rodeo, cheerleading and football is for someone to get hurt. Yet that IS what people pay to see in cage fighting. The UFC is interested to make videos #20 and #21 and put them on pay per view at $60 and $75.
Despite the justifications and rationalization and propaganda they throw at me that this isn't as violent as it looks I find the following forthright comments from USF cage fighters themselves evidence enough that it is what it is.
UFC fighter Nate Diaz was quoted in USA Today (12/5/12) in an article titled: "Nate Diaz Says Sportsmanship Doesn't Describe UFC"… We're out there trying to damage each other and finish each other. We're trying to take each other out. We both want to win by knockout or submission or some type of finish rather than a decision. I think it's pretty unsportsmanlike.
The Associated Press reported UFC championship fighter Jon Jones saying that he'd rather let his arm break than tap out of a fight. [AP: Jones Successfully Defends Title at UFC 152, 9/23/12]
John Musick, another pro cage fighter said "I will never tap out. You can break my arm off and take it home with you, but I will never tap out." Cage fighter Enson Inoue was quoted saying; "I guarantee the fans two things. One, I will give everything I have – I will move until I cannot move anymore. And two, I will never, every give up. I would rather die than tap out."
So, it is what it is and South Dakota just commercialized it.
P.S. For those who haven't heard I have said I regret my shocking remark about cage fighting being over the line with violent entertainment like child porn is over the line with adult entertainment. I've apologized for it and said it wasn't my intent to offend people but I see now I did just that. Sorry. It was merely an analogy which I've had to explain to many who apparently have been hit in the head so many times they entirely missed it. Now I say, get back up, get over it, and address my point and answer the question I was raising…. if not here, where should the line be drawn on violence in society? Where should that conversation start?
Amidst the flurry of hysterics coming my way after my recent comments on cage fighting I received some forthright letters from Christians involved in the sport. One in particular is from Seth Falvo, a young fighter and writer for the website CagePotato. Apparently he wrote this lovely piece on me – MMA Is The 'Child Porn of Sports', According to South Dakota Porn Expert/State Rep. Steve Hickey [HATE]. Seth wrote me a stinging note and in particular called me out on my insensitivity to the death of a MMA fighter. Here is part of his letter:
I'm here to tell you that as a Christian, I have never been more disgusted to read THIS coming from a pastor's own blog:"I have to bite my tongue because instead of the passages that comfort the grieving I feel like quoting the great philosopher Forrest Gump: Stupid is as stupid does."
I was hoping this was just a sick, sick parody account, but upon confirming that this is, in fact, your own blog, I'm at a loss for words. Where do I even begin here? Do I quote the Bible and write "Judge not lest you be judged, For in the way you judge, you will be judged?" Do I quote "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone?" Or do I simply point out that you are a self-proclaimed pastor – a man of God – who essentially writes that a fictional character from a Hollywood movie knows more about how one should live than Jesus Christ, the Man whose message he is supposed to be teaching others. I'll go with the latter. Wow. A self-proclaimed Man of God decides that God isn't as smart as a dim-witted Hollywood character, and that he, oh wise and powerful pastor, is perfectly right in judging how law-abiding, church going people spend their spare time. If you've ever wondered why people my age have quit going to church, well, do I really need to explain why?
Here's my reply and I'll post it here as an open letter to all Christian MMA fans and fighters:
Thanks for your honest note. For starters I'll say I have a whole lot more experience with death than you do. I've been a police chaplain and pastor for years. There have been times when my pager goes off three times a week and I get to go tell people their loved one has died or been killed. I never quote Forrest Gump in those moments. What you read on my blog was the inner life of a pastor who has to sit with grieving people who are sometimes furious at their lost loved ones for doing stupid, reckless things that result in the wasting of their lives and causing such pain to their families and friends. Both my parents are dead and my father died a very violent death at the negligence of another… meaning it was entirely preventable if only one person had not been so reckless. If you don't like my Forrest Gump thought I can quote you many passages on foolishness resulting in death and destruction. It is foolish for someone to get into an unsanctioned cage and fight in our state. That was my point.
And not for a moment do I receive your judgmental comment that I'm the type of person who is keeping a generation from Christ/Church. I have started and am leading large church with a ministry school and a substantial ministry to young adults. Also I've been planting churches around the world and we lead people to Christ all the time. I'm friends with significant church leaders in your state and we may even have mutual friends. The stream I minister within is aggressively evangelistic and fruitful.
I regret my MMA/child porn comment because it was too shocking and people have entirely lost the point I was making. Forgive me for that but I was simply trying to shine a light on something those in the sport don't want us to see.
It was interesting to me you jumped right to the "judge not" passage in the Sermon on the Mount. I've been a student of that passage of Scripture for twenty five years and have written a 400 page book on the topic. Do you know the Sermon on the Mount also trumpets the non-violence, non-retaliation, turn the other cheek message? Why do you pick and choose verses in that sermon and ignore it's main point? Do you not agree that we have a problem with violence in society? Do you honestly, before God, think your sport isn't feeding a blood lust in our culture?
As a Christian let me ask you, if the next guy you kick in the head or choke with some guillotine maneuver passes out and doesn't wake up— who killed him? Let me ask you Seth, who would Jesus elbow in the face? I won't judge you or the other athletes here and make some blanket statement that you are full of bloodlust but I WILL say that about your fans and the crowds that flock to your sport. The Bible speaks about bloodlust. Greed and bloodlust make the MMA today a multi-billion dollar violent entertainment industry.
I'll be happy to send you a free copy of my Sermon on the Mount book if you want to study that text fully. There is more than "Judge Not" in that sermon. And, by the way, judge not does not mean we turn off all discernment and stop calling good, good and bad, bad. My calling is certainly not to just smile and say nothing. My calling as a minister of the Gospel is to tell the truth even when it's unpopular. I was elected in my state to push red and green YES or NO buttons and make decisions everyday about things our state should say YES to and things our state should say NO to. Sometimes I fail in that I don't do all that in love but I figured your crowd was a tough crowd and strong words would be fine. I was wrong, you all are hyper-sensitive, thin-skinned and full of self-justification for what the average person can see with a naked eye is extreme violence. All these claims that I'm ignorant of the sport are simply smokescreens to mask what is obvious.
I'll paste below some additional comments that I made in the committee and want to point out to you that my comment on a "seared conscience" is a term from the Bible.
All the best to you.
Rev/Rep Steve Hickey
Here are those additional comments:
They say I'm ignorant of this sport and they make a case that it only looks dangerous. I even had a cage fighter/PhD write me and tell me "elbows are used primarily to cause superficial damage and an elbow doesn't produce a concussive blow." That's ridiculous. My response it that it is what it is – too violent and that is evident to the naked eye and the casual observer. I'll quickly concede I am no expert on MMA. But as I told one of the fighters this weekend… "just maybe a guy like me can see what you don't see." Violence is addictive and people in addiction (including codependents) don't see or acknowledge any problem until there is a tragedy, or an intervention. I'm intervening here and asking you to join me.
I'll speak briefly from an area that I do have professional expertise: there is such a thing as a seared conscience which refers to a person who has lost a capacity of innocence whereby they no longer wince. We don't want to become a society that can't wince. Ben Franklin said: "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." I submit to you that society is reaching that point and more masters means more laws like this amendment.
I don't deny the good that is going on in MMA – giving young people confidence and discipline. But MMA is not the only vehicle to accomplish those ends. It doesn't take that level of violence to develop character, fortitude, confidence, strength and discipline. Any of the other sports overseen by this commission can do all those good things. MMA feeds something in society that we don't want to feed.
Society was just fine before they figured out to do this and it will be just fine without it again. We aren't losing ground with my amendment. Actually, we might even be gaining ground that we've lost.
I decided to pick a fight.
The conversation on violence in society has to start somewhere so why not with our most violent sport or form of entertainment? Decent and civil societies have to draw the line somewhere; we allow parents to discipline their kids to a point, we allow people to drive up to certain speeds; with smoking we draw the line after tobacco and before pot; with "adult entertainment" we draw the line at child porn. Where do we draw the line with violent entertainment? I suggest we draw the line at cage fighting. Boxing, wresting and legitimate martial arts are violent too but the line needs to be drawn somewhere. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) or "cage fighting" is over that line – in fact, even the martial arts people I talk to tell me they hate cage fighting because it is a smear on traditional martial arts. I hope you'll agree that MMA is over the line of what should be tolerable with regard to "violent entertainment" as child porn is clearly over the line with regard to "adult entertainment." MMA Cage Fighting is the child porn of sports.
The psychological community will tell you that desensitization to violence works exactly like desensitization to porn. You know how porn progresses… a peek at topless isn't enough, it all has to come off, then a pic is not enough… it goes to video then to virtual and then to the devaluation and mistreatment of women, human trafficking and sex crimes against women. Violence works the same way. Boxing wasn't enough so they allowed kicking, kneeing people in the head, then elbows to the face, then they put a cage around it. The point is to knock the other guy unconscious while pay per view crowds cheer it on. Why not nunchucks? In Rome they'd gather in colosseums and bring out prisoners and entertain themselves by making them fight to the death. That wasn't enough so they brought out the helpless and the hated and brought in the hungry lions. Crowds cheered.
In South Dakota this week there is a bill, Senate Bill 84, which is an attempt to legitimize cage fighting in South Dakota. It's billed as "economic development." If that's all we can come up with for economic development we are in trouble. And our decisions on our tolerance for things violent shouldn't be about money. If we want to attract dirty and bloody money why not legalize prostitution or bring back the gladiators? We need to stop and think about why two governors in our state have been reticent to appoint people to a boxing/MMA commission. I agree with Governor Daugaard entirely:
I'm offended that the state would legitimize cage fighting and the bloody violence these kinds of spectacles create… the way one wins in those contests is by beating up your opponent, bloodying them, kicking, scratching, punching. I don't support in any fashion anything the state would do to legitimize this kind of behavior. I think it's a sad commentary on what our culture allows in some areas.
Couldn't agree more. Proponents say it's going on here already so we need to regulate it to make it safe. Meth use is going on here too, should we regulate Meth labs? South Dakota has no business spending any time or money legitimizing cage fighting. I don't care that "other states are doing it." I'd like to think we are better. Other states run billion dollar deficits and we balance our budget. Maybe with our fiscal sense, we could also be known for our common sense and decency.
You'll hear fans of cage fighting say that more have died in cheerleading accidents. The point of cheerleading isn't to knock unconscious the other cheerleaders. And there are growing numbers of MMA deaths in sanctioned and unsanctioned fights. Furthermore, the sport is too new to tell us the long term effects of this "sport" on the fighters. The NFL is paying dearly now for their concussion issues. MMA is far worse. We had an MMA fighter in Rapid City die recently and that is in part what is driving the move now to regulate it so it's "safe." Proponents say these blood-soaked slugfests only look dangerous. I'm not stupid and neither are you and this isn't a show like professional wrestling. It is violent and it isn't a sign of a healthy society that crowds gather to watch it. This is more than consensual assault and battery as the effects of violence desensitization impact the rest of society.
Here's how you can help. The bill is scheduled for a hearing on Monday at 10AM in our Commerce and Energy Committee (it may get moved to Wednesday at 10am – stay tuned). I plan to introduce a hoghouse amendment (84rc MMA ban amendment) that will establish the South Dakota Athletic Commission to regulate boxing, wresting and martial arts but I've written the amendment to expressly exclude mixed martial arts. It's basically a ban on cage fighting in South Dakota. Expect hysterics from the sport enthusiasts – one local sportscaster already has dubbed me an ignorant idiot.
And, here are some links I encourage you to check out. Hopefully you'll agree with me that we can do without MMA cage fighting in South Dakota.
Short youtube clip: MMA Most Violent Moments
Parents, check this out: Five Year Old MMA matches
When people get hurt and die in extreme sports I'll confess I sometimes have trouble mustering up sympathy and compassion (even as we should comfort their families and guys like me officiate these funerals). At some point we can't call these things "accidents" as they are more the product of our carefully thought out decisions. I have to bite my tongue because instead of the passages that comfort the grieving I feel like quoting the great philosopher Forrest Gump: Stupid is as stupid does.
South Dakota is smarter than this – and so, let's ban MMA.
In chatting about this with another legislator this past week we both marveled at how society has changed. He remarked that forty years ago his parents wouldn't let him watch Three Stooges because it was so violent – poking in the eyes, slapping, bonking. We laugh at that today. What's on TV today would have been unthinkable a generation ago. In a restaurant the other day I heard a lady say about the MMA match on the television… Oh my, when did they take the gloves off? I wanted to say… Madam, they took the gloves off when we weren't watching. Folks, it's time to start paying attention because we are creating today the world our grandkids will live in tomorrow.
Here's a pic of what the crowds come for: elbow strike rips off a chunk of cage fighters ear. That's a section of his ear on the floor in the pic on the left.
The following are additional comments I made in the Committee hearing.
MMA enthusiasts would prefer I not use the cage fighting term but as I told one of them I'll stop when they remove the cage. They want us to consider this an art, Mixed Martial Arts. For sure there are skills to the craft of nearly killing people but I'd like to draw your attention to the word mixed. Mixed means plus. It means not just this, it means that too. It's this, plus this, plus that, plus that. The other martial arts don't have all "that" as there is line that is drawn. Mixed means a free for all. Who knows what the MMA people will mix in next? Sooner or later this will morph into more than it is today. That's the nature of violence; it escalates as we are desensitized to it.
They say I'm ignorant of this sport and they make a case that it only looks dangerous. I even had a cage fighter/PhD write me and tell me "elbows are used primarily to cause superficial damage and an elbow doesn't produce a concussive blow." That's ridiculous. My response it that it is what it is – too violent and that is evident to the naked eye and the casual observer. I'll quickly concede I am no expert on MMA. But as I told one of the fighters this weekend… "just maybe a guy like me can see what you don't see." Violence is addictive and people in addiction (including codependents) don't see or acknowledge any problem until there is a tragedy, or an intervention. I'm intervening here and asking you to join me.
I'll speak briefly from an area that I do have professional expertise: there is such a thing as a seared conscience which refers to a person who has lost a capacity of innocence whereby they no longer wince. We don't want to become a society that can't wince. Ben Franklin said: "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." I submit to you that society is reaching that point and more masters means more laws like this amendment.
I don't deny the good that is going on in MMA – giving young people confidence and discipline. But MMA is not the only vehicle to accomplish those ends. It doesn't take that level of violence to develop character, fortitude, confidence, strength and discipline. Any of the other sports overseen by this commission can do all those good things. MMA feeds something in society that we don't want to feed.
Society was just fine before they figured out to do this and it will be just fine without it again. We aren't losing ground with my amendment. Actually, we might even be gaining ground that we've lost.
UPDATE: You may also be interested in the follow up post I've done on this topic: AN OPEN LETTER TO CHRISTIAN MMA FIGHTERS AND FANS


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American Apparel Unisex Oversized Ringer See Thru T-Shirt; Lip Service Burning Fur You corset, Urban Outfitters pleated skirt; Urban Outfitters hat; DIY Choker, 10 years old.
Trying to rethink corsets so they don't look so damn ren-fair, hence AA t-shirt. Awesome T-shirt, by the way. Thin, kind-of-sheer, really soft. This look definitely wouldn't work with a standard oversized t-shirt. Those pleated skirts are in style right now... like the whole 'professional' or perhaps 'school-girl' look to them. Spiked collars look really dated and costumey, but I thought it went well with the spikes on the corset, which I got on sale! Hurrah


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There is an interesting map called "Geo-Geneology of Irish Surnames".
http://tinyurl.com/y8hs9sw In the 2009 ESRI International User Conference it won two awards in the Map Gallery Competition. It was placed first in the "Most Unique" category, and it won the People's Choice Award. In addition, it received special recognition by the Cartography Special Interest Group.
It was compiled by Dr. Kenneth Field, Principal Lecturer in Geographical Information Systems at Kingston University London, and Dr. Linda Beale a Research Fellow in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Imperial College London. As you can see from the legend, this map shows the number of people in 1890 who had various Irish surnames. The larger the font, the more people who had that surname. You can read more about it at http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume25/cartography/cartography-1.html and download a copy of the map at http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/mapbook_gallery/volume25/pdf/mapbook25_22.pdf


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A Rye hotel hidden gem - a hideaway for those in the know
Stay at Strand House for the treat you deserve.
Relax and soak up the cosy feeling of a home from home, in an historic house with 13 individual and intimate guestrooms, scrummy local food and genuine friendly service.
You've earnt a special escape, a little TLC.
Take long walks on the beach, or indulge in lazy evenings in a romantic bedroom or bring the kids and soak up an authentic taste of Medieval history in a house over 700 years old.


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NEW YORK – There's some big news coming down, and fans can get the exclusive scoop on MLSsoccer.com at 10 am ET on Tuesday.
Later in the day, two of the biggest names in the league – Designated Players Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) and Thierry Henry (NY Red Bulls) – will join MLS Commissioner Don Garber on a media teleconference call at 3:30 pm ET to discuss details.
Fans can listen in on the discussion live on MLSsoccer.com.


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C.J. McCollum was terrific in December
A 14-1 December puts the Trail Blazers on a 70-win pace heading into the new year. In a month highlighted by a statement win over the Denver Nuggets, Portland has been nearly unstoppable, with only the pesky Kings handing them an L. Western Conference Player of the Month and MVP front-runner Damian Lillard has led the way with his efficient scoring and playmaking for the league's #1 offense. C.J. McCollum has broken out of his shooting slump in a big way, and looks to be a lock for his first ever all-star berth.
It's unlikely that the Blazers become the third team to reach the lofty 70 win mark. However, they are clearly the best team in basketball right now, and if everyone stays healthy, the road to the championship runs through Rip City.
LeBron Breaks Ankle, Out 6-8 Weeks
Cavs are 22-10, but with his first major injury, is this the start of LeDecline?
An Even Harder Path? KD, Clips Continue To Struggle
Lack of depth a major issue as Blake, DeAndre have both missed time
MVP Race: 1. D Lillard, 2. L James 3. K Leonard 4. A Drummond 5. J Harden
Injury will all but eliminate King James from consideration
Power Rankings: 1 Portland 2 Denver 3. Cleveland 4. Boston 5. Houston
Boston's starting five: Isaiah Thomas, Jaylen Brown, Solomon Hill, Kelly Olynyk, Al Horford
Ben Simmons Out For Season With Dislocated Left Patella
Ouch! #trusttheprocess
Western Conference (PotM: Damian Lillard [POR] | RotM: Lonzo Ball [DAL])
1 Portland 27-4
2 San Antonio 20-11
3 Phoenix 18-12
4 Denver 21-8
5 Houston 21-12
6 Memphis 17-14
7 LA Clippers 18-15
8 Golden State 14-16
LA Lakers 15-18
Sacramento 15-18
Minnesota 14-18
Utah 11-18
Dallas 12-21
Oklahoma City 10-20
Kansas City 9-24
Seattle 8-23
Eastern Conference (PotM: LeBron James [CLE] | RotM: Markelle Fultz [MIL])
1 Cleveland 22-10
2 Boston 21-11
3 Charlotte 17-13
4 Detroit 21-13
5 Toronto 18-13
6 Chicago 18-15
7 Milwaukee 18-15
8 Philadelphia 16-14
New York 15-16
Indiana 15-16
New Orleans 14-15
Brooklyn 15-18
Orlando 13-17
Miami 11-17
Atlanta 8-21
Washington 8-24
Player Evaluations (min. 250 minutes)
Damian Lillard: 26.7 PPG, 8.3 APG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 SPG | 25.3 PER, .644% TS
The MVP favorite, Damian Lillard leads all qualifying players in scoring (Curry missed some games), and is third in assists. More importantly, he is the best player on the league's best team - a leader on and off the court. Lillard dropped 51 points on the Kansas City Knights, then led his team to a 51 point win over the same team a few days later.
C.J. McCollum: 22.3 PPG, 5.9 APG, 3.2 RPG | 20.0 PER, .583% TS
After a shaky start to the season, 3J has been lights out in December, topping 40 points not once, but twice. Terry Stotts staggers the minutes of Lillard and McCollum, giving the Blazers at least one potent scorer on the floor at all times.
Al-Farouq Aminu: 8.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG | 8.7 PER, .480% TS
Aminu's jump shot has disappeared, but he maintains his starting role thanks to his versatility and elite defense. The prototypical "glue guy", Portland will hope to keep him around for a while.
Harry Giles: 13.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.8 BPG | 17.5 PER, .518% TS
Portland is much improved on defense, and Giles is a huge reason why. Complementing Gobert in the front court, Giles has had some sick blocks, and has been instrumental in rim protection. He's also become a reliable third scoring option, though shot selection needs some work. Great rookie year so far. Future all-star?
Rudy Gobert: 8.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 2.1 BPG | 17.6 PER, .545% TS
Portland went from bottom 5 to top 10 in defensive efficiency this year, and Gobert is the main reason why. He doesn't steal the headlines, averaging just under nine points per game. However, the Stifle Tower has been a game-changer on D.
Evan Turner: 10.5 PPG, 4.7 APG, 4.0 RPG | 14.8 PER, .524% TS
ET does a little bit of everything off the bench (except make threes). He's kind of like Iguodala was on the Warriors, except it's hard to imagine Turner winning Finals MVP…
Zach Randolph: 9.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 15 GP | 16.4 PER, .520% TS
Z-Bo was starting to play pretty well off the bench, before the calf injury sidelined him. He's expected to return very soon, and will hope to give Portland a boost in the paint.
Jonathan Simmons: 5.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG | 11.1 PER, .584% TS
Simmons doesn't get a ton of playing time, but he's been a great 3-and-D guy off the bench. Some think he should start over Aminu, but when you're 27-4, you really aren't in the lineup change business.
JaVale McGee: 3.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG | 12.4 PER, .459% TS
Shaq may not approve, but Epic Vale has been solid, replacing Festus Ezeli as the back-up Center. He doesn't do much on offense, but his length and athleticism makes him a force on the boards, and on defense.
Noah Vonleh: 3.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG | 9.4 PER, .494% TS
Noah's demand of $11 million per year or bust may seem silly until you realize that's what Meyers Leonard got… With Randolph returning to the fold, its unlikely Vonleh will command that kind of money. But even when given the opportunities, Noah has been relatively ineffective. After four years, maybe he's not the next Bosh…
*The 2018 draft class consists of 90% real prospects, 10% fictional. This is to prevent any 2017 draftees from appearing in the 2018 class. Some of the prospects (such as the projected #1 pick) are ones I just made up, while others are homages to past association/dynasty story legends!
1. Washington - SG Ryan Kent (Kansas)
2. Seattle - SG Luka Doncic (Slovenia)
3. Kansas City - SF Michael Porter Jr. (Washington)
4. Brooklyn - C DeAndre Ayton (Arizona)
5. Utah - PF Wendell Carter (Duke)
6. Dallas - PG Trevon Duval (Duke)
7. Utah - SG Reshawn Tyson (North Carolina)
8. Phoenix - PF Mohamed Bamba (Kentucky)
9. Orlando - SG Hamidou Diallo (Kentucky)
10. Denver - PG Collin Sexton (Alabama)
11. Boston - SF Kevin Knox (Duke)
12. LA Lakers - SG Lonnie Walker (Miami)
13. Sacramento - SG E.C. Matthews (Rhode Island)
14. New Orleans - PG De'Anthony Melton (USC)
15. Indiana - PG Rodney Gaines (Oregon State)
16. New York - PG Tayfur Mansiz (Washington)


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Which local museum are you most likely to visit: the Toaster museum, the new Waltons Museum, or the Lewis and Clark Museum?
Jeff Goldsmith: "That's terrible! What is the toaster museum? What's that?"
Sarah Fuecker: "Honestly, probably the Lewis & Clark museum because I just moved here, and I would like to know more history about the area I am living in."
Cordell Fortune: "Lewis and Clark. That's the only one I know. The other two are probably new, right?"