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I attended a youth group session with my girlfriend, we both just sat and twiddled our thumbs while we waited for the sermon and songs to end so we could get to the stuff we could actually take part in. During this time two girls of about 11-12 im guessing came up to us. they were both humming loudly to the song while waving their hands smoothly above their heads, they were also crying. anyway they just stood there, waving their hands above our hands. i asked them to stop, they didn't respond. I called out to who i thought was their mother (i was right) and asked her to deal with them. She responded by praising "her little angels for bringing the gift of Jesus to the sinners" (Side note: a few days after, i was dumped, i asked why and she said it was because of this incident, she refused to elaborate, so i dunno, but thanks Christianity you cost me a relationship.)
I worked with a woman who said she would kill her daughter if god told her too. I told her she was full of excrement and the only reason she said this is because she knows god doesn't exist and to get attention. Needless to say we never became friends.
I have a second cousin who seriously thinks he's a descendant of Atlantis. He's in his mid-50s and has never really had a job, never had a girlfriend and lives at home being kept as a child by his near-90yo mother.
He announced to my family that he couldn't be employed because "in the year 2000, I will be needed". He's still unemployed.
For 'creepy' - I was told recently, by someone otherwise entirely decent and a working molecular biologist , in a way that was very matter-of-fact if not verging on the approving, that his brother had undergone an exorcism in Bangladesh.
I admit this caught me off guard and I didn't equip myself well with a rational response - my gast was well and truly flabbered! - but on reflection I think exorcisms are creepy - and I wonder why on earth people would still practise them in the 21st century.
do pastor's kids count? abt. 6 n 12? year olds said they'd burn my car over not believing in god that's fubar!
anyhew.. it's not what they say but what they do see:
I have a gay friend who has really religious parents. His father thinks that gay people literally worship the devil! And I thought... Oh! That's what gay means! Devil worshipers! I had it wrong all this time! XD
Not so much creepily said as creepily done.
We had just been present for my uncles passing when a priest came in to comfort the family, he came up behind me and started rubbing my shoulders for a good 10 minutes as he talked to my relatives. He never moved around the room either, just stayed behind me rubbing my shoulders-
I can only sarcastically poke at why no one said anything, maybe even make a bad joke about how my family IS catholic… But it speaks for itself. Very creepy and badly timed.
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WASHINGTON – The exotic financial products that nearly crippled the economy in 2008 are roaring back at the nation's biggest banks, according to data released Friday that reform advocates worry come just as regulations to rein in risky trading are being weakened in Washington.
Demand for derivatives — contracts whose value is derived from stocks, bonds, loans and currencies — is growing as investors and corporations try to lock in low interest rates. But critics worry that there are too few rules to protect taxpayers from a market dominated by a handful of banks.
On Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency reported that banks pulled in $7.5 billion in revenue from trading derivatives in the first three months of 2013, a 7 percent increase from the corresponding period a year ago, and a 72 percent jump from the fourth quarter of 2012. The face value of the derivatives held by banks rose 4 percent over the prior year to $231.6 trillion, according to the report.
"The improvement in the U.S. economy and low interest rates led to significant capital-raising activity in the bond markets," said Kurt Wilhelm, director of the OCC's Financial Markets Group. "That led to strong client demand for risk-management products as investors increased their hedging and positioning against potential changes in monetary policy."
In the run-up to the financial crisis, Wall Street firms used complex forms of derivatives to place risky, and ultimately fatal, bets on the mortgage market. Insurance giant American International Group, for instance, teetered on the brink of bankruptcy in 2008 because of its exposure to complex derivatives known as credit-default swaps.
AIG's near collapse and the fall of Lehman Brothers led to provisions in the Dodd-Frank financial law to reduce risks for derivative trading and improve transparency. But the financial services industry has fought to narrow the scope of the regulations and delay implementation.
And some say the effort has been successful.
A week ago, the comptroller granted banks two more years to move derivative trades into separate units that are walled off from the rest of the bank. The "swaps push-out" rule bars those affiliates from accessing the Federal Reserve's emergency-lending facilities or relying on federal deposit insurance. Critics view the delay as another blow to reform.
"Regulators have to get serious about implementing this law," said Marcus Stanley, policy director of Americans for Financial Reform. "The derivatives market is dominated by insured banks," which means taxpayers would be on the hook if they ran into trouble, he said.
Meanwhile, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission agreed last month to lower the number of banks from five to two that asset managers have to contact when seeking a price for a derivatives contract. The rule was intended to increase competition among the banks that issue contracts.
Four banks — JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs — account for 93 percent of all the derivatives activity. Thirty-eight banks began trading derivatives in the first three months of the year, bringing the total to 1,390, according to the OCC report.
"The growth of derivatives by insured banks should worry everyone," said Dennis Kelleher, a former Senate aide who now runs Better Markets, an advocacy group. "The problem with insured banks having massive derivatives activity is no one knows until they blow up."
Regulators are trying to shine more light on the opaque market by establishing new trading platforms that will require all contract prices be made public after the deal is inked. That rule takes effect in 2015.
Wilhelm at the OCC said the current level of bank derivatives activity is no reason for concern. "We are concerned when market participants who don't understand how to use derivatives use them . . . not when effective risk managers use derivatives," he said.
The regulator is encouraged by the decline in counterparty credit exposure, or contracts where a bank would lose value if the counterparty to the deal defaulted. Credit exposure from derivatives fell 7 percent to $358 billion in the first quarter as rates ticked up, causing lower fair values of interest rate contracts, Wilhelm said.

subset: commoncrawl


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Step 1: Create a QR code that links to a classroom web page. I used MobileFish QR Code Creator because it allows the user to specify the size of the first printed image.
Step 2: Decide on a way to cut the code into pieces so that each student can take on a part of the project. With 16 high needs students in my class, I began our project by breaking our code into 16 equally sized unique squares.
Step 3: Enlarge each student's piece of the puzzle so that the individual pixels can easily be seen and organized. I enlarged each of the pieces to fit on full sheet of letter-sized paper.
Step 4 (Option 1): Provide each student with a piece of the puzzle. You might elect to print a puzzle grid template on which each student might recreate his/her pixels. Just make sure the grid is filled with enough fairly precise squares.
Step 4 (Option 2): As an alternative, you can simply have each student produce a set number of dark squares that can be added to a master grid by a select team of students. So long as the black pixels are composed of images that appear dark when viewed from a distance, the code should work.
Step 4 (Option 3): Instead of puzzle pieces, cut your QR code into strips, providing each student with a binary strip composed of black and white squares. This solution would work wonderfully for a class composed of 29 students!
Step 5: I asked each student to complete images that represented their favourite things, their talents, and their goals for this school year. For some, it took a long time to develop a list of words or icons that could most apty represent each individual's uniqueness. (It took even longer for students to produce clean dark images with black Sharpie pens.)
Step 6: Put it all together. With our QR puzzle being completed on a part time basis, we hope to have a final poster ready in a week or so.
Community projects like this one call for each student to demonstrate some commitment to the collective. The resulting symbol demonstrates to others that the unified group is made up of many uniquely talented individuals. While we used hand-drawn sketches, I'm confident that a similar project that uses coloured squares of paper, photographs or images cut from magazines, can yield a similarly effective symbol of class unity.


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Event Photography by GregAutryPhoto
Laguna Beach is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. The Ocean views are some of the best in the world. In the early evening of Sunday, August 24th, I was especially pleased to cover the Celebrity Benefit Concert at The Festival of Arts hosted by Heather Locklear and featuring James Ingram. The Day started off with the Red Carpet for the 'Celebs', as well as the "host" from ACURA, KOST 103.5 FM, and the "big wigs" from the Festival of Arts.
People always want to know, `what are they like in person ?' My answer is usually always the same, 'they're just people'. They're just like "us", some are nice, some are grumpy. They all look good in front of a camera and know how to pose and make it look like they are not posing. OK, so they're not like "us" .
The Event was hosted by the beautiful Heather Locklear, who graced us with her presence on the Red Carpet. I had met Heather some years ago (waaay, long time ago :), at a club in LA. My hope of her remembering me were dashed as I don't think she even saw me amongst the gaggle of photographers. Bummer ! One note . Heather looks today, exactly as I remember her those many years ago :)
Some of the Celib's here tonight included David Pack frontman for AMBROSIA, Rena Sofer from BOLD and the BEAUTIFUL, Paul Sorvino currently from LAW and ORDER and who gave a little serenade of his own during his on camera interview. I loved it when Paul told one of the Photographers who was trying to "Direct" him, "you're not my Director, I get paid a lot of money to be told what to do "...and proceeded to ignore the guy.
Deidre Hall from DAYS OF OUR LIVES was there with her two Sons and looked absolutely Gorgeous. Joe Mantegna from CRIMINAL MINDS was there accompanied by the lovely Gia Mantegna at his side. Al Joyner with his beautiful family, Kristen Vangsness and AJ Cook from CRIMINAL MINDS, along with Jeanne Tripplehorn.
This evening is recognized as "The VIP Night", and what I like is that its more relaxed, more casual that big dressy events like the Academy Awards and such. The Celebs get to go in, have a nice dinner at Tivoli, relax and chat amongst themselves, and then enjoy the Pageant of the Masters in the evening. And as the evening sun bathes the grounds in a warm amber light, Mr. James Ingram takes the stage.
We had been told on the Red Carpet that James had a sore throat and wouldn't be speaking or taking questions. No doubt saving his voice for the evening's performance. Still, he was gracious and said hello to everyone.
All I can say is WOW. You can't describe a voice like that. I was so thrilled and felt honored to be there and to be allowed to photograph such an amazing artist. There are amazing artist of all mediums in Laguna Beach and at the Festival of Arts. Tonight, Mr. Ingram stole the Show. Along with his amazing Band and Backup singers, he performed all his well known songs, and was electric in connecting with the audience.
Mr. Ingram, You Rocked the Festival of Arts. And next weekend I'll be covering the Fashion Show at the Festival of Arts. Watch for it. Better yet, come on down to Laguna Beach. Just another day in Paradise.


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Think Tanks Should Be Able to Opine on Public Policy Without Running Afoul of Campaign Finance Regulations
In 2005, political opponents filed a complaint against the Independence Institute for not complying with the Colorado constitution and other campaign finance regulations when it spoke against a state ballot initiative. These regulations require, among other things, disclosure of the identity of anyone who has donated more than $20 to a cause and imposes registration and contribution limits on groups who have major interests in ballot issues.
The Independence Institute challenged the constitutionality of Colorado's state ballot issue requirements and the issue is petitioning the Supreme Court for certiorari in Independence Institute v. Buescher. Cato has filed an amicus brief, in cooperation with Wyoming Liberty Group, the Center for Competitive Politics, the Sam Adams Alliance, the Montana Policy Institute, and the Goldwater Institute in support of the Independence Institute. We argue that Colorado's ballot campaign regulations run roughshod over constitutional protections for political speech and association, which lie at the very heart of the First Amendment—particularly for think tanks and other organizations that regularly comment on public policy matters. Loss of these First Amendment protections will chill think tanks' future attempts to educate the public about issues that are the subject of ballot campaigns. The Court should thus review this case and ensure that citizens maintain their associational rights—including the right to remain anonymous when donating to non-profits—and associations their freedom of expression.
You can download the entire brief here. A special thanks to Cato Legal Associate Travis Cushman for his assistance on this brief.


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Bishop Dunn Memorial School, an adjunct facility on the Mount Saint Mary College campus, is an elementary school where Mount education students assist and observe in teaching, and may complete field work.
This on-campus school is a combination elementary and middle school for pre-K through grade 8 pupils. It offers a variety of programs, including enrichment for honors pupils, special education, virtual field trips, and other creative uses of technology.
Individually gifted programs, on both primary and middle levels, are conducted here, as well as classes for children with learning disabilities.
The school was named after Bishop John Joseph Dunn (1870-1933), a benefactor and friend to the Sisters of Saint Dominic in the early years of Mount Saint Mary Academy.
Visit Bishop Dunn Memorial School at www.bdms.org. For more information, call 845-569-3494.
Mrs. Nancy Benfer, Principal
50 Gidney Avenue, Newburgh, NY
Phone: 845-569-3494


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To Order 1-800-577-5694
Detoxifying Foot Pads
How does it work?
Most people are looking, unfortunately, for a less exercise-like way to detox toxins from their body. This is where the detox foot patches come in. When the detoxifying foot pads are attached to reflexology points or even points of the body where there is an accumulation of toxins, the extracts draw them down toward the foot patches and out of the pores and pressure points on the feet.
Chitosan: Chitosan is derived from chitin, the main fiber component of crustacean shells. The most well-known weight-loss product known for isolating fatty tissue and dispelling it out of the body safely. Chitosan products are also used extensively by the medical profession due to their remarkable ability to promote wound healing, such as burns and skin inflammation.
Houttuynia Cordata: The plant is found in Japan, Java and Nepal at altitudes of over 6200 feet. It contains a variety of flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides (afzerin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin) and pyridine alkaloids. Provides drainage to infections, detoxifies and expels bacteria, lymphatic fluid, and bacteria.
Dokudami: An anti aging product. It works wonders for anti aging naturally from the inside out. Dokudami tea does wonders for constipation naturally
Loquat Leaf: The Loquat leaf contains amygdalin (amygdalin is otherwise known as the anti-cancer vitamin, B17 or laetrile). It is known for its ability to promote the secretion of body fluids and is beneficial to the vital energy of the lungs as it helps dissolve and expectorates phlegm and alleviates cough.
Milk Thistle: For over two decades, studies have confirmed Milk Thistle's unique abilities with regard to aiding the correction of liver disorders. Conditions including cirrhosis, viral and alcohol-induced hepatitis, and fatty infiltration of the liver have all shown significant improvement when treated with an extract of Milk Thistle. Other known benefits include the regeneration of liver cells, detoxifying blood and assisting inflammation problems.
Dextrin: A carbohydrate having the same general formula as starch but a smaller and less complex molecule with adhesive properties. Used to assist in absorbing toxins in the body.
Tourmaline: Exerts a cleansing and liberating energy upon our entire nervous system with a clearing and stabilizing effect. It has been known for dissipating negative energy out of the body, through the feet. Tourmaline is best known as one of the only minerals to emit far infrared heat and negative ions, which causes resonance in the body at the same frequency as water.
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As an "Abundant Life Coach" I get asked about the meaning of "financial abundance" very often. What this means to you can be the difference between living the lifestyle of your dreams, or settling for something less than your dreams. I want you to live the life of your dreams!
Here, then, are 5 Essential Factors of Financial Abundance:
"The Abundant Mindset"
Thousands upon thousands of books, articles, media, programs, and so much more have been produced that discuss the awesome power of our minds, and the influence of our thinking upon our lives. It is difficult to say enough or emphasize enough that truth. As I see it, we are exactly as we think.
In my work, I recommend the adoption of an "Abundant" mindset. This means so much more than finance or money, however, for the purposes of this article, I will discuss abundance only as it applies to the world of money and finance.
A financial abundance mindset means enjoying an abundant amount of money, and yet not allowing greed. Greed does not work (sorry, Gordon Gekko). Of course "financial abundance" will be a relative concept; it will probably mean something different to each person. Greed, however, is fairly obvious; it is almost like knowing (within your mid or heart) the difference between right and wrong.
Further, a financial abundance mindset means having the monetary means or resources to enjoy an abundant lifestyle, yet balancing your financial wealth with philanthropy and generous giving (see point 4). When one's personal motives are clearly defined and one's goals are aligned with those motives, then financial abundance becomes clear.
"Specialized Knowledge"
The largest difference between the rich and poor (or the "haves" and "have-nots") is knowledge. Or, more specifically, the largest difference is a specialized knowledge; meaning that they have the "right" knowledge and also know how to use that knowledge to their advantage. In other words, specialized knowledge is the information or data itself, coupled with the wisdom to know how to use the information or data.
For many, specialized knowledge is an academic education such as medical or law school, while for others this might mean computer programming, aviation repair, or something. Further, many of those with a financial education know how to leverage their own money to make more money. Obviously the point is that specialized knowledge translates to earning ability.
"The Power of Compounding Interest and Investing"
For many people, diligent savings and investment of a consistent percentage of income over considerable lengths of time has lead to financial abundance. I would certainly add that economic factors always play a significant role with regard to risk in investments. Even so, living well within one's means while investing and saving can very often lead to financial abundance.
"Generous Giving"
Generosity does not necessarily mean giving away or donating money. Mr. Zig Ziglar has said: "If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want."
This is so very true. It must be an unwritten law of nature that over time, our generosity is paid back several times over. Of course there are exceptions to every rule, and yet employing an attitude of generosity is always a safe bet for a great return. And, if nothing else, it is an illustration of excellence of character.
"What You Love Over Time"
We should seek ways to turn what we love to do into a good living. I am a firm believer that when we do what we love doing, money very often comes as a byproduct, because our focus is not so much on making money as it is on enjoyment and lifestyle. Over time, money tends to take care of itself in large part when we are doing what we enjoy, especially when it helps others.
In conclusion, the very first point – having an abundant mindset – sums up all of the points I have made in this article. When we do what we love to do; when we are generous and seek to help others; when we live within our means and save money; when we always seek a more specialized knowledge…we then have an abundant mindset, and are bound to realize financial abundance.


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PowerPoint Backgrounds: Business Themed
Enhance your business meetings and business presentations with a PowerPoint background from Animation Factory. Find the perfect background for your business presentation with over 1,100 business themed Powerpoint backgrounds to browse from. Some of our business themes are global, money, financial, computing, business relationships, commerce and more. All of our business PowerPoint backgrounds are royalty-free so you only pay for a Pro or Platinum membership and you have access to download and use any of our PowerPoint backgrounds.


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British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) is one of the most successful genealogical societies in Canada. They have well over 500 members, and are leaders in the study of Anglo-Celtic roots in Canada.
This year from Sept. 16 to the 18th will see the 17th Annual Conference at the Library and Archives Canada on Wellington Street in Ottawa, and it will have as it's theme "England & Wales: London & the Home Countries".
On Friday, there will be the pre-conference Seminar which will feature "I can't find them anywhere!: Effective searching, sharing, and collaborating with Ancestry" with Leslie Anderson; "Storing and Preserving Family Archives and Artifacts: Arresting the deterioration of your family treasure" by Kyla Ubbink; and "Introduction to English and Welsh Family History Research: Using civil registration, census, parish register and probate records" by Linda Reid.
There are eight lectures to choose from on Saturday and Sunday, and they range from "Tracing Your English Ancestors in The National Archives", "The Fleet Registers: Clandestine Marriages in London 1667-1754", "The London Gazette: Not Just the Brave and the Bankrupt", and "Resting Peacefully in Essex - Where I Became a Better Genealogist".
Why don't you come, and join us for a really good weekend? You can find out information about your ancestor, and at $70.00 for the full conference (member's rate), or for $50.00 a day (member's rate), or at $20.00 for a single session, how could you go wrong? And don't forget, there is also a Marketplace on all three days.
This year they have a blog http://bifhsgo.ca/blog/in which they keep you up-to-date on the latest speakers, where to stay in Ottawa while at the conference, and the Marketplace is reporting a 15% jump in registration!
You can register before Aug 12th by going to the BIFHSGO website at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/.


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Addiction Counselor
Kevin Fleming Ph.D.
Coach/Change Agent/Consultant
In 02901 - Nearby to North Providence.
While most treatment approaches to addiction include 12 step programs, rehabs, and now sober living houses, Grey Matters International, Inc. provides a wildly successful alternative to traditional models of addiction treatment----that keeps the brain in mind. That is, talking to the conscious brain while the primal brain is deciding things even before you are consciously aware? Well, that is the problem to solve in addiction. We have the solution utilizing a new cutting edge neuroscience-centered brain rebalancing system. Contact email@example.com or call 877-606-6161.
Addiction Counselor
Donald A. Labonte, MA, MSW, LMHC, LCDP, NCAC II
Licensed Clinician
In 02886 - Nearby to North Providence.
Addictive disorders are serious conditions that require specialized training and expertise. Each person who may have some degree of addictive disorder must be evaluated with great care and attention to individual differences and not be treated with a "one-size-fits-all" therapy approach. It is crucial to neither overestimate nor underestimate the level of problem present when evaluating an individual person. All persons deserve that degree of respectful care and my clients can count on that in their treatment with me.
Addiction Counselor
Michael Hodosh, Psy.D, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
In 02908 - Nearby to North Providence.
Whether it is substances, sexual behaviors, gambling, or other addictive behaviors which are compromising the quality of your life, I can help. I provide a safe context within which to explore the deeper issues contributing to the need to manage or bury emotions by engaging in addictive behaviors. In addition, I will help you establish some practical skills for establishing and maintaining abstinence from addiction behaviors. I have been described as down-to-earth, easy going, insightful, accepting, and non-judgmental
You have Found the Top Therapists for Addiction And Codependency in North Providence, RI.
Thank you for visiting our Rhode Island page of therapists in North Providence who specialize in addictions in all forms- internet addiction, pornography and sex addictions, gambling, alcohol and drug abuse, shopping, and food addictions. An addiction can destroy lives and relationships. Often times there is a codependent person somewhere in the sphere of an addict. Professional therapy from an addiction specialist in North Providence, RI is a vital part of recoverey and healing. We are ready to help, let's get started.
North Providence is located in Providence County, Rhode Island. It has a land area of 5.62 square miles and a water area of 0.12 square miles.  The population of North Providence is 32,480 people with 14,277 households and a median annual income of $51,758. .
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Therapy in North Providence is generally within financial reach for the average family, but some budget planning may be needed for a real commitment to weekly counseling. Remember that your mental health and happiness are important. Check with your North Providence therapist about insurance coverage or ask about sliding scale fees if there are any difficulties with accessibility. Low cost counseling and affordable therapy are also sometimes offered by listed city and university level clinics, check with your local North Providence public health department.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont Bruins won the battle of Nashville as Tennessee State women's tennis was swept 7-0 in OVC action Thursday afternoon.
London Thomas won the only two games for TSU (0-5, 0-2 OVC) in singles play as she lost in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 against Nikki Naciel at #2 Singles.
Thomas and Kryston Mason won a game off of Catherine Holliday and Natalia Nunes of the Bruins (5-5, 1-1 OVC) at #2 Doubles before dropping an 8-1 decision.
The Lady Tigers will head to Kentucky to take on Morehead State on Saturday and Eastern Kentucky on Sunday.
Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers, Twitter @TSU_Tigers and YouTube


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Relationships with
Photo Credit: Amedeo Modigliani's picture is courtesy of Civica Pinacoteca A. Modigliani. Photographic illustrations of Amedeo Modigliani are copyright © by their respective holders. The images are published with permission or as allowed by the copyright law's fair use or quotation provisions. If any copyright holder objects to an image being included, please notify us and it will be removed immediately.
Disclaimer: This information about Amedeo Modigliani is derived from astrological interpretation of Amedeo Modigliani's date, time, and place of birth.


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BROCKPORT, New York (Reuters) - On her first attempt ever at the long jump, the applause came before 16-year-old Dah Ku even broke a stride.
"Follow the clapping sounds, Dah Ku," cried Marielhi Rosado, Ku's counsellor at Camp Abilities, a developmental sports camp for the blind, visually impaired and deaf-blind at the College at Brockport, State University of New York.
Ku, who is visually impaired, followed the noise from Rosado's hands and ran 14 strides down the track before abruptly stopping. A few false starts later, she jumped six feet.
Rosado, an undergraduate studying orientation and mobility for the blind at Florida State University, teared up and clapped in celebration.
"This is only her first full day at camp and she's coming along so much," Rosado said of Ku, whose family moved from Thailand to Utica, New York, two years ago and who speaks limited English. "By the time Friday comes I know she'll be even more independent and confident," Rosado said.
Ku is one of 52 students who recently spent a week at the not-for-profit camp, founded in 1996 by Lauren Lieberman, a professor at the College at Brockport and an internationally known researcher and author on adaptive physical education.
The goal of the camp is twofold, using sport to foster independence and confidence in youngsters with limited sight and to form a basis for research into teaching methods and adaptive curricula.
Since its inception, the Camp Abilities model has expanded to other independently funded locations in the United States, from Alaska to Pennsylvania. Camp Abilities in Ohio, Florida and Saratoga Springs, New York, are slated to open next summer.
The model has resonated globally too: There are now Camp Ability modelled camps in Costa Rica, Finland, Guatemala, Ireland and Ontario, Canada. Similar camps in Latvia, Turkey and Brazil are in the planning stages.
"This is the next generation of people with visual impairments," said Lieberman, gently motioning toward the College at Brockport's swimming pool, which was teeming with campers - some, like Ku, swimming for the first time. "I see them as being independent, competent, leaders and I know that sport will help others and themselves see that too."
Lieberman, who is sighted, got the idea for Camp Abilities - which is funded entirely by donations and grants - from her own positive memories of summer camp growing up in Pennsylvania.
"Kids with visual impairments go to able bodied camps, but often they're not fully included, because people don't know what to do with them," Lieberman said.
That is not the case at Camp Abilities, where each camper is matched one-to-one with a counsellor most likely training for a career in adaptive physical education or teaching the blind and visually impaired.
This year 80 graduate and undergraduate students from Brazil, Ireland, Australia, along with more than a dozen from American colleges and universities, served as volunteer counsellors for the Brockport campers, ages nine to 19.
"The campers think they're learning something from us, but we're learning twice as much as they are," said Adam Dwyer, an adaptive physical education major at the College at Brockport. "This experience has changed me; it's going to make me a better teacher."
Dwyer, from Hornell, New York, was paired up with Ahmat Djouma, 16, of Utica, New York. Djouma, whose family moved from Sudan to the United States in 2009, is blind and uses a walking stick.
Although he has limited exposure to sports during the school year and never stepped into a swimming pool until his first Camp Abilities last year, the teen is eager to try every sport the camp offers: Judo, fishing, tandem and circular biking, beep baseball, track and field, goalball, swimming, canoeing, rollerblading, archery and horseback riding.
"It's a lot of fun," said Djouma as he took a short break between a swim in the pool and a two-person canoe outing with Dwyer. "I don't do these things at home and never did in Sudan. My favourite thing to do is outrigger canoe."
While fun is a priority during the week-long camp, the campers' activities fuel significant research in the fields of adaptive physical education, teaching and psychology.
"We don't poke and prod them," Lieberman said. "We do a lot of interviews and I think it is cathartic when kids with visual impairments get to say what they've experienced."
Researchers from around the world have come to Camp Abilities to view Lieberman's work. "In Brazil we have all heard about Camp Abilities and the work Lauren Lieberman is doing," said Otavio Furtado, a doctoral candidate at the University of Campinas in São Paulo.
His team of six researchers was in Brockport to conduct research with Lieberman on swimming teaching methods for the visually impaired. "She's grown the field of adaptive PE a lot in the past 10 to 20 years."
Other researchers at camp this year included a team from the University of Nevada - Reno and the State University of New York's Cortland and Brockport colleges, who used an ongoing National Science Foundation grant to help develop new recreational games for children with visual impairments.
A University of Wisconsin researcher is examining how Camp Abilities relates to the Expanded Core Curriculum in American public schools.
Data from past years' research projects has led to the development of a multimedia curriculum for educators on how to teach children with visual impairments; assessments specifically designed to test the fitness of youth with various disabilities; the development of new sports products and equipment for visually impaired youth; and more.
"The research that comes out of Camp Abilities is just tremendous," said Joe Strechay, manager of the CareerConnect Program of the American Foundation for the Blind. "Typically students with visual impairments are not included in physical education or at least not included to the full level of their abilities. But Lauren is changing that."
Strechay, who lost his vision to eye disease at age 19, was visiting the Brockport camp to share his personal story with teen campers and to encourage them to stay fit, active, and engaged in their communities.
"It's so impressive what they do here," he said, as he stood between a group of visually impaired children fishing for bass in the Erie Canal and another group playing basketball on outdoor courts. "I totally wish I had these types of experiences growing up. I'm happy they do."
(Reporting by Caurie Putnam; Editing by Arlene Getz)
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
For blind campers, a first chance to swim and canoe
Posted by admin at 3:17 PM


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Sunday, September 16, 2007
...and on the 7th day..she RAN..
I looked at the clock; 615 AM. First thought: last week at this time Stuart and I were running toward Sugarloaf, finishing up the hell hole of Crosby Manitou. I thought about the race all weekend long. Where I was when, what I was feeling, what I was doing.
Before I began to dress for my run I looked at the thermometer. WHOA! 31F. Holy man, dig out the pants, gloves and um, the red jacket. Oh yeah.
It was a beautiful, sunny, cold run. I felt great and Topaz ran with glee. Poor pup hadn't run with me in over a week. He biked with me, roller bladed with me, but didn't get his run on. He was a much happier pooch yesterday and I was a much happier human.
We ran 5 miles and then walked/jog another 5 mile loop. Felt good!
Troy had a football game yesterday and something disturbed me greatly. The team we were facing, Milaca, forfeited the game after the first quarter, upon our making a (first) touchdown. The coach screamed 'YOU ARE STACKED!' And quit. I can't quite believe it. We are not stacked. Big Lake does a draft; one coach picks one guy, the other coach picks the next guy. Stacked we are not. The coach pushes our boys hard; they practice more than the other teams and it shows. They run laps upon laps and have great endurance. I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut when something like this happens. As Troy and I were leaving the field I heard a Mom sneer "he's on the stacked team.." I looked at her and said "hard training creates wins, not stacking a team" then walked away. I wanted to tell her off, but I kept my cool. I was thinking "BITCH" but held my tongue.
Today is another glorious day. I and Topaz went for another 10 mile run, felt awesome to run a bit harder today and feel my heart rate soar. Good stuff.
Tyler has a double header today. Better get to the field. It's a beautiful day for outside baseball!
Oh, I mailed in my entry to Western States. If I get in, I'm doing the Slam. There. I made up my mind.
6 comments:
- Harriet said...
Yeah, I dropped out of McNaughton after the first lap because Eric Clifton was way ahead of me. :-)
(by the way, I've played football, and I've been on both ends of 42-6 type scores)
- Olga said...
What a shame on the thing!
Glad you are back so soon and so well, and woohoo for the Slam plan! Making up your mind, girl...
You should have no doubts about your ability to finish Wasatch if you try the slam. I finished it a few years ago with lots of time to spare and you kicked my butt at VT100 this year. After reading your report, there is no doubt that you can do the Slam and Wasatch.
Oh yeah, how is the PN stuff going for you?
- iJuls said...
"Stacked?" Humph! How could they tell after only 1 touchdown and only 1 quarter. Good coaching? NOT. He's teaching them to quit and then name call.
I am impressed with how you spoke your mind with facts and no further words. Nice job!
- Julie B said...
That's a good one, Ollie! I'll have to remember that! Olga, you are part of the reason I've decided to go for the Slam, if I get into WS. Oh, and thanks for turning me to Rhonda's blog. Very good! Damon, thanks for the vote of confidence. As for PN, I just need more accountability. I'm at Leanness Lifestyle with my weekly check in's with David Greenwalt, I'm looking forward to getting into the best shape in my life. I'll need that for my summer plans!
- Runner Susan said...
Slam, bam thank you ma'am. You go girl.


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Chicago has no shortage of fun places to go for kids and families. Search by category and find a farm, zoo, museum, amusement center or other family friendly destination.
Note: Always call your destination ahead of time, as some events and attractions may be closed or have special holiday hours, or may only be taking place on certain days of the week during an extended run.


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Re: Mathematica SIG (Washington D.C. and Northern
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg84311] Re: [mg84301] Mathematica SIG (Washington D.C. and Northern
- From: Bob Hanlon <hanlonr at cox.net>
- Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 04:06:24 -0500 (EST)
- Reply-to: hanlonr at cox.net
$Version 6.0 for Mac OS X x86 (32-bit) (June 19, 2007) Cos@ArcSin[I*x] Sqrt[x^2 + 1] Cos@ArcSin[I*x] == Sqrt[x^2 + 1] True Bob Hanlon ---- Bruce Colletti <vze269bv at verizon.net> wrote: > The Washington D.C. area Mathematica Special Interest Group will meet Friday, 21 December, 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the SAIC Enterprise Center building in Tysons Corner (see directions below). > > Early risers meet before 7:00 in the morning for admission at the front desk, then we have a Dutch treat breakfast downstairs. By about 7:30 we have moved to one of the projector rooms. Meetings consist of a prepared talk, informal discussion about Mathematica programming and applications, general questions, and new business. > > This meeting will be a free-wheeling hodge-podge of discussion, although we have two presentations. > > Presentation #1. Mel Friedman will discuss four short topics: > > - Using Mathematica to generate correlated sequences > > - Using Mathematica to document, develop and verify new radius of curvature results > > - Using Mathematica to document and do a digital image processing final exam > > - Using Mathematica to show Cos@ArcSin[i x] = sqrt(1 + x^2) > > Presentation #2. > > Using Mathematica for Accessing Written Information on the Web, by D. Vasholz. > > Abstract. The purpose of this talk is to relate the author's experiences encountered in starting to use Mathematica to download, preprocess, edit, and (ideally) ultimately analyze written material appearing on the Web. The specific topic chosen as an example is a very interesting (and controversial) book written by Gary Taubes and entitled "Good Calories, Bad Calories." > > To inquire about attending, e-mail Dan Martinez (dmartinez at sprintmail.com) or Bruce Colletti (bcolletti at compuserve.com). In your e-mail subject line, please include 'Mathematica SIG.' > > DIRECTIONS to 8301 Greensboro Drive, McLean VA (tall, boxy and white SAIC Enterprise Building at the corner of Westpark Drive and Greensboro Drive): From the Beltway, go northwest on Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) and proceed past Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road). Turn right onto Westpark Drive (Gosnell Road in the other direction). Turn right at the next light onto Greensboro Drive and then right into the parking lot. Visitor's Parking is adjacent to Westpark Drive. > > A SIG representative will meet you in the lobby. > > Please arrive no later than ten minutes to seven if you wish to join us for breakfast, and no later than twenty after seven to attend the meeting only. The desk officer will ask for a driver's license before issuing a visitor's badge. > >


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More FIX on the NET @ FIX University Cultural Campus
El Teatro Experimental de Cali Enrique Buenaventura estrena el próximo 28 de noviembre su nueva obra 'Su vida pende de un hilo', que destaca el mito del vengador: Hacer justicia por mano propia.
"El teatro es nuestro impulso, es la transformación incesante de lo que hacemos y es el público quien nos guía en este proceso. Ojalá los espectadores nos sigan acompañando largo rato en las aventuras de 'Su vida pende de un hilo', que apenas se está iniciando en este noviembre 2014", indicó Jacqueline Vidal, directora del Teatro Experimental de Cali.
En esta obra canta el poeta de estos tiempos sombríos que vive Colombia en la construcción de su identidad. Una despiadada guerra campesina paralela a una política moderna democrática engendra esos personajes "justicieros vengadores".
En los últimos días de su vida, Enrique Buenaventura se entristeció profundamente ante el desbordamiento de la violencia como única forma de expresar el inconformismo. Es el tema de las últimas obras de teatro que escribió: 'La huella y ´'Los dientes de la guerra".
En este sentido los actores del TEC le propusieron al colectivo encarar esta nueva creación partiendo del texto de Enrique Buenaventura y fueron guiando la investigación sobre el tema:
Cuando fue apareciendo un sentido teatral que nacía de las improvisaciones, las investigaciones descubrieron autores como Lautréamont y otros "malditos" cuyas voces se unieron a la de Daniel Gómez quien condensó todos los textos literarios al asumir la puesta en escena en la vía que viene trazando el TEC en sus 60 años de vida: la creación colectiva buenaventuresca.
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An ethnic German mayor who defeated the prime minister in a runoff to become Romania's president said Monday his victory signals stronger relations with the West and greater stability for Eastern Europe.
Thousands of Romanians celebrated the surprise victory of Klaus Iohannis over Victor Ponta, which the mayor of Sibiu said would lead to "deep change" in Romania.
The victory of the slow-talking physics teacher represents a victory for a young, post-communist, well-traveled generation who get their news and views from social media, where Iohannis was widely favored, and not from the mostly pro-government traditional media.
It also reflected the anger that people felt over the problems that Romanians living abroad had in voting in the first round. The sight of thousands of Romanians, many forced to move away to find decent pay, lining up for hours to vote and being unable to do so, struck a deep chord. The turnout of 64 percent for the runoff was well above that in the first round.
Two hours after polls closed, an ashen-faced Ponta conceded defeat. A mass protest transformed into a celebration as Iohannis waded through thousands gathered in a square where many were shot dead during the 1989 anti-communist revolt.
"It should never be allowed again that Romanian citizens are humiliated when they want to vote," Iohannis told The Associated Press on Monday.
German President Joachim Gauck congratulated Iohannis, assuring him of Germany's support for "the implementation of important reforms your country faces — especially" in tackling corruption.
Iohannis tapped into Romanians' desire for a quiet life and an end to bitter conflicts between outgoing President Traian Basescu and Ponta, promising to be a "mediator president." Basescu also congratulated Iohannis.
His win was also the failure of the nationalist card played by Ponta, who mocked his rival's minority German ethnicity and the fact that he is a Lutheran and not a member of the powerful Orthodox Church.
Challenged to sing the national anthem at a news conference, Iohannis gave a tenor rendering of the first verse on Friday, to applause.
Ethnic Germans who moved to Transylvania 800 years ago enjoy a good reputation in Romania and Romanians are generally not bothered by religious affiliation.
Iohannis, a teacher, has been the successful mayor of Sibiu, a city of 155,000, since 2000.
In the interview, Iohannis said he would "definitely bring more assurances and stability to this region."
He promised to crack down on endemic corruption and guarantee an independent justice system and said Parliament must not pass a law that would grant amnesties to people serving prison sentences for corruption.
"All this needs to be done as soon as possible," he said.
Ponta later said that he would propose a law to Parliament that would not allow amnesties for corruption convictions, adding that he also supported changing rules for Romanians voting abroad.
Former King Michael, who ruled Romania during World War II, invited the country's president-elect to lunch at the palace on Wednesday.
Klaus Iohannis, the mayor of Sibiu, scored a stunning victory over Prime Minister Victor Ponta in Sunday's presidential runoff, generating a feel-good factor among Romanians.
Before the meal, hundreds of people gathered outside the palace, waving flags and shouting "King Michael!"
Little known in Romania before the election, Iohannis notched up more than 1 million likes on his Facebook page after his victory. He has invited Michael to his inauguration next month.
The former king — who ruled Romania from 1927 to 1930, and 1940 to 1947 — is now 93 years old and Europe's last surviving World War II leader.
Both men are of German descent, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Iohannis on Wednesday to congratulate him, her government said.
"The clear vote for Iohannis was the expression of a wish for the strengthening of Romania's European orientation, particularly in the area of the rule of law and transparency," Merkel was quoted as saying.
Merkel and Iohannis also discussed the situation in Ukraine and in Moldova, which will hold elections on Nov. 30. In Moldova, pro-European parties are competing with parties seeking closer ties to Moscow. Hundreds of thousands of Moldovans have Romanian citizenship, and many of them used absentee ballots to help Iohannis defeat Ponta.
In 1947, King Michael was forced to abdicate by communists, and he went into exile until 1997. He now lives at the palace in Bucharest or at a home in Switzerland.
On the other hand, at 42 and as one of the youngest European prime ministers, Victor Ponta is the darling of European Social-Democrats. His campaign relied heavily on honing this Western-leader image. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, also a Social-Democrat, even went on Romanian television to give Ponta his support.
Many Romanians, however, associate his image less with European leaders and more with local moguls and party leaders sponging off the state's resources, whose names are constantly popping up in numerous corruption trials.
His particular brand of 'shadow politics' is less than appealing to an increasingly young electorate which is becoming more politically astute and less willing to accept leaders with seemingly unbreakable ties with corrupt politicians, all eager to see a 'friend' in the top seat of the country.
And yet Ponta has a stable support base of traditional voters. A more seasoned politician, he was at a clear advantage during the elections and could easily have slid into the president's seat, had he stuck to a clean campaign against a relatively unknown adversary.
His fate was sealed by the ire he triggered in an otherwise latent, young electorate, by dragging his feet on the diaspora vote issue and refusing to acknowledge the corruption plaguing his party.
On election night, people across the country protested against Ponta, with 10,000 gathered in front of the government building in the capital Bucharest, all demanding his resignation.
Throughout the day, news of voting fraud taking place in the south of the country had filtered through social media, while footage of mile-long queues abroad had already aired in prime time.
When the exit polls started predicting Iohannis as the winner, the protests turned into a street celebration.
That is perhaps the best outcome of the elections: not the fact that Iohannis has won, but that Romanians have found a common idea to rally around, one heartfelt enough to draw them out of their houses and into the streets in their thousands.
They wish for a different Romania, where the 'smart guys' don't always win, where politics is about more than personal gain and where leaders are held accountable for their actions (or lack thereof). Most of all, a Romania which allows them a future.
Now, in the first post-election week, it's more important than ever not to forget that. Iohannis might have polled better than Mr Ponta, but he, too, is surrounded by 'faithful' party cronies, who should be shown the door as soon as possible.
Any hope in Iohannis' integrity or political astuteness is misplaced. Instead, what is needed is increased awareness of the political games being played out in Parliament, now facing a weakened Socialist majority and a slowly crumbling coalition.
More significantly, Romanians should realize that this was not Iohannis' win, but their own. If they want to set the country on a better trajectory, they should not forget that.
'Yes we can!' feeling swept through Romania, taking over social media and reaching all the way to people still queuing outside Romanian embassies throughout Europe, hoping to vote.
Their enthusiasm is understandable. After two weeks of protests amid concerns that the current prime minister, Social-Democrat Victor Ponta, would be elected president, their fears were assuaged.
A little after nine in the evening, it became clear that Klaus Iohannis, a Liberal-Democrat and the mayor of a provincial Transylvanian town, had won, with 54.5 per cent of the vote compared to Ponta's 45.49 per cent,
These have been the most fiercely contested elections Romania has seen in a long time, with voters' anger ignited by the voting conditions in the Romanian diaspora.
Never a traditional support base for the Social-Democrats, Romanians abroad were prevented from voting in both election rounds by a stalled voting process and legal debates mired in newspeak and accusations of blame (two foreign ministers have already resigned over the debacle).
Fuelled by social media networks, in the course of the two weeks between the first and second round of elections, public opinion coalesced against the prime minister.
Most of all however, people rallied against the idea that the country was simply up for grabs by the followers of the old communist regime.
In a classic, ironic case of leaders toppling due to self-made enemies, Ponta recast himself as the enemy of most Romanians abroad, increasing their determination to vote in the second round.
In some cases, people queued for more than 11 hours, standing in the cold and rain, waiting for what should have been a matter of routine, a basic democratic tenet – the right to vote. In total, almost 400,000 Romanians voted abroad.
Back home, with a turnout of 62 per cent, Romanians flocked to polling stations, propelled by their friends and family abroad as much as by a sense of urgency and fear. Theirs was a self-defence vote cast out of dread rather than support, something of which the president-elect is very aware.
Klaus Iohannis did not win on his own merit. At 55, more elegant and soft-spoken than the brash Victor Ponta, he is still perceived as a weaker candidate, with relatively little experience in the big political arena.
Still, he has been quick to acknowledge that he understands the message Romanians have sent him: that this is a vote of blind faith, a choice of the 'lesser evil' and for some, a hope that the old system can finally be done away with.
BUCHAREST, Romania (UPI) — Two Romanian leaders of German descent whose time in power is separated by 70 years have found time for lunch.
Former monarch King Michael, Europe's surviving World War II leader, invited President-elect Klaus Iohannis to lunch Wednesday at his palace.
Iohannis, the mayor of Sibiu, scored a stunning victory over Prime Minister Victor Ponta in Sunday's presidential runoff, sending a feel-good factor among Romanians.
Before the meal, hundreds gathered, waving flags and shouting "King Michael!" Iohannis has invited Michael to his inauguration next month.
Virtually unknown before, Iohannis notched up more than 1 million likes on his Facebook page after his victory.
The 93-year-old Michael was forced to abdicate by the communists in 1947 and went into exile until 1997. Outgoing President Traian Basescu is very critical of Michael.


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MILWAUKEE (AP) Javon McCrea recorded a double-double, Buffalo shot nearly 56 percent from the field and survived turning the ball over 17 times in a 72-52 victory for the Bulls on Wednesday night over Milwaukee.
McCrea led Buffalo (3-7) with a game-high 31 points on 15-of-19 shooting and pulled 11 rebounds. The Bulls were 33 of 59 from the field, shooting at a 55.9 percent clip and the defense held Milwaukee to just 34.5 percent shooting.
Auraum Nuiriankh chipped in with his own double-double for Buffalo, scoring 13 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.
The Bulls built a strong lead out of the gates after Jarryn Skeete hit a 3-pointer to make it 9-0 and it wasn't until the 14:46 mark in the first half when Milwaukee finally scored its first bucket of the night on a jumper by Parris Gulley.
Jordan Aaron scored 23 points in the loss for Milwaukee (2-6).


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Lesson Plan
Creative Outlining-From Freewriting to Formalizing
|9 – 12
|Lesson Plan Type
|Standard Lesson
|Estimated Time
|Five 50-minute sessions
|Lesson Author
Sparta, New Jersey
Students prepare for this lesson by reading a short story in class. After a minilesson on the difference between freewriting and rehashing the plot, students freewrite a response to the story to generate an original framework for a literary analysis essay. Students discuss what makes a solid thesis and then develop a thesis idea from their body of freewriting. This central idea serves as an organizational principle for creating an outline for an original literary analysis essay.
Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" is used to model this process, but any short story of equal literary merit may be used.
Freewriting or Rehashing the Plot?: This PowerPoint presentation uses examples to demonstrate the difference between original, responsive freewriting and rehashing the plot.
Developing a Thesis Statement: Examples: This PowerPoint presentation uses examples to guide students through the process of revising and tightening a thesis statement.
ReadWriteThink Notetaker: Students can use this online tool to organize an outline or take notes on any topic.
In Preventing Plagiarism: Tips and Techniques, Laura Hennessey DeSena notes that plagiarism is a common and frustrating problem that many teachers face. Learning ways to generate original ideas and in turn write about those ideas helps students avoid plagiarism while thinking critically, creatively, and independently. When students learn to use the subjective I/eye in the writing process, they are better prepared to construct an original framework of understanding and analysis. This knowledge of the I/eye requires students to value their own interpretations, in turn building their confidence as independent/critical thinkers and readers of literature and building their writing voice. In this practice, students can learn how to fashion a thesis by synthesizing their insights into an all-encompassing central idea. Students learn how critical thinking skills emerge from the freewriting process, and they gain organizational skills for shaping an outline of a literary analysis essay.
Further Reading
DeSena, Laura Hennessey. 2007. Preventing Plagiarism: Tips and Techniques. (Chapter 2). Urbana, IL: NCTE.


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No one will make the argument that either Ruben Amaro Jr or Charlie Manuel were great baseball players, though they did play a combined 14 years in the major leagues. Neither was an everyday player so it is difficult to compare them to other players, and their use as pinch hitters and replacements greatly skew their per/162 game numbers.
Here are their career slash lines:
Amaro – .235/.310/.353
Manuel – .198/.273/.260
But what is more interesting to me is what they were like in their peak year.
Amaro (1992) – 427 PA, 7HR, .219/.303.348, 37 BBs, 54 SOs (though on small sample size his 1996 season line of .316/..380/.453 over 130 plate appearance is pretty good) – Delmon Young's highest amount of walks in a season is 35
Manuel (1969 – rookie year) – 194 PA, 2 HR .207/.320/.280, 28 BBs, 33 SOs
This got me wondering, did these two players have as good plate discipline as it appears they do? career BB% (with the MLB average) and K% (with MLB average) are below:
Amaro – 8.4% (8.8%) BB%, 12.2% (16.0%) K%
Manuel – 9.3% (8.8%) BB%, 17.8% (14.1%) K%
Though neither were exceptional both drew walks at a good rate and especially Amaro did not strike out at a high rate. Neither made good contact at the major league level with low career BABIPs of .255 (Amaro) and .233 (Manuel) and neither had exceptional power.
Just for fun I looked at their minor league careers, it is very clear that the stats for Manuel are utterly unreliable (for some reason minor league stats in the 60s weren't tracked well). Amaro has an immense minor league career to look at but for fun here are his years leading up to his major league debut:
1987 : age 22 : A- : 306 PAs, .282/.409/.373, 49 BBs, 28 SOs
1988 : age 23 : A-AA : 573 PAs, .257/.410/.328, 109 BBs, 66 SOs
1989 : age 24 : A-AA : 375 PAs, .368/.466/.523, 52 BBs, 44 SOs
1990 : age 25 : AA -AAA : 639 PAs, .317/.407/.448, 69 BBs, 66 SOs
1991 : age 26 : AAA : 552 PAs, .326/.411/.460. 63 BBs, 48 SOs (made debut for Angels) – Amaro hit 42 2Bs in AAA that year
Just for a second think about if Amaro was in the system right now. How would we evaluate him as a prospect? Now add to that he was playing both 2B and the OF, but could sub at SS, C, or 1B in a pinch. There would be a Twitter campaign of "Free Amaro" and articles about his plate discipline. Over his entire minor league career Amaro had 439/387 BB/K rate which is quite exceptional for a player without good power.
So this all matters very little, the question is just how did a player who relied so much on the walk come to despise it so much? Giving little thought to advanced metrics there should be a connection between the player and the General Manager of a major league franchise. As for Manuel, he was never the prolific hitter that Amaro was but he certainly saw the value of a walk during his playing days.


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CFM Corporation is a gray iron and ductile iron foundry specializing in custom iron castings. CFM pours a wide variety of castings including roller mill housings, extruder housings, rotary airlocks, large cylinders and pistons, heads for engines and compressors as well as air pump housings and rotors.
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|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
The net is at home or the office. The Library has hard copy and more sources. Net is more motivating. Library doesn't give us interaction like this. Scanners will become more affordable to use like xerox machines so more and more library mat'l becomes available daily. so does cheaper net access. Lets continue to use the Net to promote LE research. By the way, how much is your laboratory's budget annually? How much to set up a new lab to study genetics? We need that info for strategic approach to legislation for funding. On Tue, 28 Mar 1995, Patrick O'Neil wrote: > > > On 28 Mar 1995, Joseph Norton wrote: > > > sort of like now, huh? i personally think it rather naive to think that > > the myth of scarcity is anything but a myth. > > i think that there is certainly enough for everyone (at least everyone > > extant now) if we could wrest most of it away from the 'richest' 1 percent > > or so. > > The rich, though I certainly don't mind wresting things from them >;) are > a rather insignificant number of the population...and they certainly > don't eat all that much more than anyone else. Some of them DO take it > upon themselves to consume endangered species and scarce resources simply > because they think that having money puts them above and beyond the rules > and mores of the "common" people. In any case, their numbers and their > consumption, though often repugnant in it excess, is a drop in the bucket > in relation to the materials used/consumed by the MUCH more numerous > middle classes and poor. Food, arable land, and fresh water are all > limited resources. For the most part, because their numbers ARE so > great, it is the expanding population of poor who are hardest on the > environment and resources. They are also the ones to be left out in any > real medical/molecular biological drive to increase natural > lifespan...and they will be the humongous hordes who would rebel against > such inequity, while the rich would be the first to benefit from life > extension (again, their idea that money makes them morally qualified to > have such benefits even though there are consequences...). > > > > > Look at the information economy that exists now, and imagine what the world > > > will be like when the material economy takes the same form. > > > > what do you mean, exactly? > > I have recently been considering the whole internet-information > "superhighway" idea and have decided that it is mostly crappola. For a > one-time nominal fee I can go to a public library, get a card, and check > out books by the boatload. On the internet on the other hand, in order to > get access to "all that information" one has to dole out a minimum fee of > $8 to $10 a month (Compuserve or equivalent), just for the most basic > access. To TRULY get information (using CARL or ANY other method) > requires MORE money for EACH particular episode - a particular boon for > credit card companies. Overall, the cost of getting any information that > is of the same caliber or extent as that one can get at a normal, decent, > library costs about 100x as much. What a bargain...NOT. > I have access now only because my university provides me with access as > a matter of course - not free because the cost of service is passed on to > all the students, whether they use the net or not, in the form of tuition > and fee hikes and again, if I want an article I have to cough up about $6 > to $10 for a fax or mail delivery (CARL). The information superhighway > and the "information economy/society" is strictly for those with the money > to afford computers, software, and access fees. This ain't the poor and > it isn't even much of the middle class - my parents are in this latter > catagory and they cannot afford access services as provided by Compuserve, > AOL, Prodigy, etc. My father only has a computer because eight of his > children all pooled scarce monetary resources to buy him one. Oh no, the > info society is itself somewhat elitist and disenfranchising. > > Patrick > > >


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Canucks continue to dominate Wild with 2-1 win (with video)
Vancouver scores 11th straight win over Minnesota at home
Hansen made it 2-0 at 9:03 of the second, finishing off some nice work by linemate Mason Raymond and defenceman Keith Ballard. Raymond did some dipsy-doodling in the Minnesota zone before delivering a pass to Ballard, who in turn fed Hansen with a cross-ice pass. Hansen beat Keumper high to the glove side for his third goal of the season.
VANCOUVER - Henrik Sedin got the points he really wanted.
Those would be the two the Canucks picked up Tuesday night for their 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild at Rogers Arena.
The franchise scoring record can wait for the Canuck captain, who failed to earn a point and remains one behind Markus Naslund's mark of 756.
"That's fine," Henrik said after the game. "We got the two points we were hoping for. Goals and points will come. Like I said, it (the record) is going to take care of itself."
The win was Vancouver's 11th straight over the Wild at home and goalie Roberto Luongo stopped 25 of 26 shots to run his record to 4-0-2 this season. Luongo's home shutout streak over the Wild was snapped at 228 minutes and 26 seconds when Devin Setoguchi scored at 13:03 of the second.
Luongo had to make a huge save off Setoguchi in the final minute to preserve the win.
"We had to play pretty good in the last few minutes there," Luongo said. "They had a push and we were able to clear some pucks from the front of the net and clear some bodies and not give any second or third opportunities."
Setoguchi had come on as the extra skater when the Wild pulled their goalie in the final minute.
"He (Setoguchi) walked in from the bench so it was tough to cover him, but I was able to challenge him and he didn't get it up so I was able to get a pad on it there," Luongo said.
Kevin Bieksa and Jannik Hansen scored for the Canucks, who have now won six straight games and improved to 8-2-2 as they reached the quarter-pole of this shortened season.
They are 6-0-1 versus Northwest Division opponents, but won't have any of those teams to kick around for a while. Vancouver's next eight games are against non-division opponents.
"We are playing good hockey right now" Bieksa said. "We have the right mentality. We are staying in games and not having those lulls that we had earlier in the season. We had a lot better start tonight and our third period was pretty solid and we are obviously getting some great goaltending."
Winger Zack Kassian did much of the work on Bieksa's goal at 11:33 of the first on a Canucks' power play. Kassian blew by Zach Parise on the right boards and fed a pass to a trailing Bieska, who beat Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper to the stick side with a quick shot from the slot.
"I just went to the slot and it was a great pass from Zack," Bieksa said.
Kuemper was recalled from Houston and got his first NHL start after Josh Harding, struggling with medication for his recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis, was unable to play.
Luongo had to be sharp in the first period, when he faced 12 shots. His best save was a right pad stop on Charlie Coyle from the slot on a Minnesota power play.
Hansen made it 2-0 at 9:03 of the second, finishing off some nice work by linemate Mason Raymond and defenceman Keith Ballard. Raymond did some dipsy-doodling in the Minnesota zone before delivering a pass to Ballard, who in turn fed Hansen with a cross-ice pass. Hansen beat Keumper high to the glove side for his third goal of the season.
"Bally did some nice work, too," Hansen said. "They deserve all the credit for that one. I had a lot of time to think about where I am going to put that one."
Setoguchi cut Vancouver's lead in half at 13:03 of the second. The play started after Vancouver defenceman Jason Garrison was knocked off the puck in the corner by Mikael Granlund. He fed a pass to Matt Cullen, who found Setoguchi alone at the edge of the crease. Setoguchi flipped the puck high over the glove of Luongo for his second of the season.
Luongo made a clutch save from in close on Parise at the six-minute mark of the third and then had some help from one of his friends as Ryan Suter rattled the rebound off the crossbar.
"It probably wasn't the prettiest game, especially in the third period," Bieksa said. "Ice was kind of tough out there, the puck was rolling around a lot so we were trying to play it smart and keep it out of the middle of the ice. They don't really give you a whole lot as well, so we took what the game gave us. We played well in our own end, well defensively and it was a typical third period with the lead."
ICE CHIPS: Manny Malhotra, out for personal reasons, was replaced in the Vancouver lineup by Andrew Ebbett. . .Next up for the Canucks are the Dallas Stars, who pay a visit to Rogers Arena on Friday night. The Canucks close out their four-game homestand Sunday night against the St. Louis Blues.
email@example.com; twitter.com/bradziemer


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Originally uploaded by aviva_hadas
Here is my contribution to the "Another Doll Quilt Swap."
I am please as punch (mostly) with how this turned out. I made the HST's & pinwheels were my first thought, but I was afraid of those 8 points coming together... The worked out great! I love my quilting idea - it is like a second pinwheel, only mu 1/4 inch from the seams idea did not work out so well - I guess i should be happy that they are not "in the ditch."
I hope my partmer likes it. It is on its way 1/2 way around the world, so she will probably not get it for a while yet. :o)
But my first give away has arrived at its destination... (I am only getting out 1 or 2 a day, so don't fret if you don't see anything "soon.")
Last night I prepared & attached the binding to my Miniature Pirate Booty doll quilt. :o)
I've got my partner for the Summer Doll Quilt Swap - I trolled her blog yesterday & I have no idea her "style." But I have a "great" plan!


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By Karin Calloway
Related Menus
Warm Salad Caprese on Romaine Chiffonade
Caprese Salad has become part of the American culinary landscape. This classic Italian combination of fresh ripe tomatoes, mozzarella and basil now appears on the menus of upscale restaurants and chains alike. Many chefs are toying with the combination, creating caprese pasta dishes or using the combination to top hamburgers, and this recipe is a warm twist on the dish as well.
Instead of layering the tomatoes, cheese and basil or tossing them together, Roma or small ripe tomatoes are sliced open and filled with the basil and cheese before being warmed in the oven. The warm tomatoes are served atop a crisp, cool romaine chiffonade. The salad is dressed with a combination of prepared pesto sauce, olive oil and vinegar that's a snap to whisk together.
While tomatoes bake, place the romaine chiffonade in a large bowl. Whisk pesto, olive oil and vinegar in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and set aside until ready to use.
When tomatoes are done, toss the romaine with some of the vinaigrette. Taste and add more dressing, salt and pepper if needed. Toss again. Divide among salad plates and top with a warm tomato. Drizzle any remaining vinaigrette over the top of the tomatoes
Makes 6 salads.


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A running discussion on the Cincinnati Reds and everything else in the baseball universe.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Top Prospect List: #1 Jay Bruce, rf
In 2007, Jay Bruce took a massive step forward, excelling at three separate levels and earning Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year Award. At this point, he is the consensus #1 prospect in all of baseball. Not only did Bruce excel, but he made it look easy.
The Reds selected Bruce out of West Brook High School in Beaumont, Texas with the 12th overall pick in the 2005 amateur draft. The 2005 draft was an epic draft loaded with talent, including Justin Upton, Alex Gordon, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, Cameron Maybin, and Jay Bruce. As good as all those guys are, the 20 year old Bruce certainly belongs in that class.
Bruce's ascension up the ladder mirrored that of Johnny Cueto. He started out the season in High-A ball, where he hit .325/.379/.586/.965 in 268 At Bats. He hit 11 homers and had a 67/24 K/BB ratio. He had an impressive line drive percentage of 21%. The Reds took mercy on the pitchers in the Florida State League by promoting Bruce to Double-A.
At Chattanooga, Bruce continued on his offensive tear posting even better numbers against more advanced competition. He posted a line of .333/.405/.652/1.057 in 66 At Bats. He had a 20/8 K/BB ratio and hit 4 homeruns. In addition, he had a line drive percentage of 17%. Yet again, the Reds took mercy on the opposition, promoting Bruce to Triple-A.
At Louisville, Bruce continued his assault on the opposing pitchers, hitting an impressive .305/.358/.567/.925 in 187 At Bats. He had a 48/15 K/BB ratio with 11 homeruns. At Triple-A, Bruce had a line drive percentage of 22%.
Bruce rocketed up the ladder and excelling at each and every stop along the way. At this point, he has little left to prove in the minors. He has a tremendous swing that generates a lot of line drives, which are much more likely to fall in for hits than other types of balls in play. Just about the only weakness in Bruce's game is his propensity to strike out. However, he certainly has been tremendously productive, so the type of outs he makes is not a major concern. Ideally, he'll reduce his strikeout rate, but his production is what's important.
Bruce has quick hands and a smooth swing that keeps the bat in the strikezone for a long time. His hands are so quick that he has little problem turning on 95 mph fastballs. He is not solely a pull hitter and he can effectively go the other way with pitches on the outer half.
Bruce's offensive skills have quickly made him one of the best hitters in the minors. He has good pitch recognition skills for a young hitter. He utilizes a wide batting stance, which gives him a solid foundation. His swing is fairly level and produces a lot of hard line drives, which is also a result of his tremendous bat speed. He has good hand action in his swing and maintains good balance throughout. In addition, the ball really jumps off his bat. He's the type of hitter that you can tell is special just by watching him in batting practice. If you saw his line drive in the futures game, then you know you can also tell that he's special just by the sound of the ball coming off the bat. That hit sounded like a rifle shot coming off the bat.
Bruce also has slightly above average speed, which may result in double digit stolen bases. All in all, there is very little on offense that Bruce cannot do.
You can access the link to Bruce's MLB draft scouting video here.
Bruce is going to be a special offensive player for a long, long time.
On defense, Bruce actually prefers to play centerfield, which he can handle adequately, but his range plays better in rightfield. Bruce also possesses above average arm strength and good accuracy. Given the Reds crowded, yet consistently unsettled outfield, Bruce could play any of the three positions, but ultimately his home is likely to be rightfield.
Bruce is a legitimate 5-tool talent who has yet to reach his 21st birthday. Bruce should be an MLB superstar for years to come. For the first time in a long time, the Reds have the best prospect in baseball. Bruce will be ready for the majors at some point in 2008, but he may have to wait for a starting job until after the 2008 season and the departure of Ken Griffey Jr.
Bruce's superstar future makes him the easy choice to top the list as the #1 prospect.
4 comments:
Lark, nice info here... I am a hopeless Reds fan having grown up in Cincy and still watching them flail. It really caught my eye when I recently saw that the team is so high on Bruce they've got Freel and potentially Hamilton on the trading block. I'd prefer seeing Dunn turned into a 1B, keeping the immensely talented Hamilton in CF and opening a LF spot for Bruce.ReplyDelete
Hey Saint,ReplyDelete
Thank you kindly! I couldn't agree more about Hamilton. Dealing him now would be a huge mistake. The future of this team is Hamilton and Bruce. That's the foundation for the future and that's who they should build around. Each has an MVP caliber skill set. The idea of having both patrolling the outfield and in the lineup for the next 5-6 years is a very pleasant thought.
Personally, I'd like to see Hamilton in left and Bruce in right in 2009. That would open up centerfield allowing the Reds to plug an actual leadoff hitter into centerfield (Sam Fuld? Reggie Willits?).
As for Bruce, he truly is a special talent. You only have to see him play once to be convinced. His swing is pretty. It will rack up a lot of line drives, but his very impressive bat speed will also create a lot of homeruns. The ball even sounds different coming off the bat.
From one long suffering Reds fan to another, don't give up just yet!! Bruce and Bailey will give us a big boost in the near future, so things are looking up!!
Keep the faith,
Reading these comments so far after this post is saddening. Let's hope Volquez can reach his potential, maybe then that trade will bring in 50 cents for the dollar.ReplyDelete
Hey telephone,ReplyDelete
I agree that trading away Josh Hamilton was a massive mistake. Hopefully, it isn't one that we repeat. I have real concerns about Edinson's ability to be a successful MLB pitcher, but given the price we paid we have no choice but to hope that he does.
At the very least, it seems like Krivsky is smart enough to not trade Bruce away. If he was willing to do so, then we would have been the front runner for Erik Bedard.
Thankfully, he didn't put Bruce on the block and seems to understand that he has tremendous value. Unfortunately, he didn't do the same with Josh Hamilton, which is a move that still stings and is likely to haunt the organization.


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When I read David O'Reilly's Inquirer article, "Across the region, difference on the meaning of Christmas," on the debacle over whether or not to keep the word Christmas in the sign for the vendor fair on the concourse outside City Hall, I was taken aback by one particular assertion – that removing the word Christmas from the sign was symbolic of political correctness gone awry.
The saturation of Christmas in December is inescapable and as a Jewish American it is an annual reminder of one's standing in the minority. At this point in my life, if the inequity in how our society publicly celebrates the holidays is anything other than a long ago accepted fact, it is an annoyance – most people I know dislike Christmas music, so hopefully no one will be offended when I say I don't listen to it and don't really want to listen to it, even if I am at the mall in December.
The larger issue O'Reilly addressed is the lingering cultural battle over inclusivity and our collective identity. In the piece, Sarah Mullen, associate director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania points out that people feel "very strongly" about allowing religious names and images on public property."
Throughout the country, the Tea Party movement has managed to create an entire political platform from the singular notion that they are going to restore the United States to the way of right – a Christian, conservative version of the good old U.S.A. – to these people Christmas is under attack.
I can ignore the Tea Party – as with Christmas, I leave it to those for whom it has meaning. What struck me in the argument about the City Hall sign was not that even in Philadelphia, which is considered by most political experts to have a hyper Democratic majority (the party of inclusion, right?), people were outraged by the removal of the word "Christmas" from a public event; it was not the word "Christmas" itself, which excludes my faith that got me; and it was not even the fact that some amount of tax payer dollars was spent to fund a non-secular event (last time I checked the Constitution that was clearly prohibited – I know it's all up to interpretation).
What bothers me most is the idea that the removal of Christmas from public events is a sign that political correctness has gone too far. I am not usually a fan of political correctness. I accept it in mild forms as a replacement for Emily Post in a society that is increasingly uncivilized. I reject it outright as a means of herding the vitriol and bigotry that pervades too many corners of our country.
But, it is not politically correct to understand the implications of the separation of church and state. It is not politically correct to choose inclusivity over indulgence. If the City Hall sign didn't say "Christmas" would anyone, anywhere not celebrate it. To place the rights of individuals to celebrate their chosen religion on a par with seeing the word "Christmas" in lights on City Hall is to denigrate our most basic values. And to further pollute our intellectual faith with the idea that it's just not cool to hold ourselves to the standards of tolerance and inclusivity, is about as contrary to the holiday spirit as anything I could think of.
– Jennifer Katz


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I'm in a waiting room surrounded by quiet gringos. All of us do our best to spread out, to give each other as much personal space as possible. We stare at the TV in the uppermost corner of the room, flip through magazines, or play with our cellphones. We don't talk.
The automatic doors whoosh open and a Latino family comes in. A father, a mother, two young daughters. They are speaking at a normal indoor volume, but not in the hushed tones of people who don't want to be overheard. They're speaking Spanish. They glance around the room, even making eye contact with me, before continuing on, unaware that I understand every word of what they're saying.
I hold my magazine a little higher to hide my smile.
After signing-in with the receptionist, the husband and wife discuss who will go back to see the doctor with the youngest daughter and who will wait in the waiting room with the older daughter. The wife seems to be a good ten years younger than the husband. She rakes her fingers through her hair while snapping her gum. She adjusts her big sunglasses on top of her head and checks each ear to see that her jewelry is still there. She plays with her cellphone, twists the shiny ring on her finger, and then pulls out a makeup bag from her purse – she ignores the children. The husband, a tall, handsome man with wide shoulders and salt-and-pepper hair, tends to their daughters. The little girls ask their father for a snack and it is he who opens the diaper bag and gives them one while his wife, with her legs crossed just-so, touches up her nail polish.
The family's surname is called. The father stands, hefts the little girl into his arms, and walks dutifully through the door that the nurse holds open. The wife blows on her nails and looks bored.
The older daughter sits across the row from her mother. She holds a plastic toy horse in her hands. The mane and tail are hopelessly tangled. The little girl puts her arms down at her sides – opens her hand and drops the toy horse onto the linoleum floor. Some in the waiting room look up to see what caused the clatter and then look away. The mother puts her makeup bag back into her purse and then pulls her cellphone from the pocket of her tight white jeans with careful fingers, so as not to ruin the fresh polish.
The little girl lets her whole body go limp, and slides from the chair to the floor, her dress getting caught up on the seat and showing her underwear. I smile at her. She stares at me, hard, neither smiling or frowning. Her eyes are a warm fiery brown, and her black curls are as hopelessly tangled as the mane of her toy horse.
She turns to her mother.
"Mamá, yo quiero un juguito," she says. The mother says nothing in response to her request for juice.
"Mamá, yo quiero un juguito," she repeats, this time standing and patting the diaper bag which held the snack her father had gotten her earlier.
"No," the mother answers, without explanation.
"Porqué no, Mamá? Tengo sed. Quiero un juguito de la bolsa, Aquí traemos—"
"No," the mother answers again, as she types a text into her cellphone and shakes her leg impatiently.
The little girl stomps her foot, crosses her arms over her chest and then slides back down to the floor.
She mumbles in Spanish that she wants her father to come back because he would give her a juice.
The mother tells her to be quiet.
The girl is quiet… but only for a moment. She looks around the room, at all the gringo faces. In accented but very clear English she tells her mother, "I hate you! … and you're ugly!"
The gringo faces look up at the little girl and her mother, surprised, amused. The mother mumbles in Spanish – calls her "malcriada."
The little girl smiles in satisfaction, picks up her toy horse, and tries to work her fingers through the tangles in its hair.
Image source: Melissa Venable