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Medical journal uses crowdsourcing model
PUBLISHING Online periodical opens research free to everyone
Medical journals have been chronicling the latest scientific advancements for centuries - sharing medical knowledge for the first time in the late 1700s, documenting the first public demonstration of anesthesia in 1846, carrying the first reports in the 1950s that linked lung cancer to smoking.
But, aside from providing online versions, many of these journals have remained relatively unchanged by the social-media tools that have transformed communication and media. The information has remained locked up behind pay walls, inaccessible to the general public and those unable to pay hefty fees to subscribe to or even view a single article.
John Adler, a Stanford neurosurgeon, finally had enough and started his own journal, one with a decidedly Silicon Valley bent.
Cureus (pronounced "curious") is an "open source" online medical journal that shares material, is available and free to anyone, and allows researchers to publish their findings at no cost within days - rather than the months or even years it typically takes for research to be made public. It's built on a "crowdsourcing" platform that allows readers to rate material based on the article's quality, rather than the mere fact it was published in a prestigious publication.
"We're trying to take the huge revolution in communication and blend it with the medical world," said Adler, who has published more than 200 papers in traditional medical journals throughout his career. "Nowadays, you wouldn't go to a restaurant without Yelping it first. You wouldn't go see a movie without seeing what Rotten Tomatoes had to say about it. But medical journals are still stuck in this 200-year-old paradigm."
Kept behind pay walls
More than 6,000 medical journals are published worldwide, with some of the most well-known and esteemed publications being the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Lancet and Nature.
Despite the vast volume of materials produced by this $8 billion industry, about 85 percent remains trapped behind pay walls that charge hundreds or even thousands of dollars in subscription fees a year. To view a single article costs at least $30.
A few publications have made progress - the New England Journal of Medicine makes information available six months after publication, and the British Medical Journal offers immediate open access for most articles.
But with the exception of "abstracts" that briefly outline an article, the information in medical journals is largely out of reach to patients seeking knowledge about their conditions or wanting to find the experts doing the latest research.
"The average Joe has little to no access to the medical literature today," Adler said. "It's not right. It should be a human right."
Adler, who draws inspiration from his son, Trip, founder and chief executive of the social publishing company Scribd, has spent the last three years developing the model and assembling an editorial board. The journal, which has offices in Palo Alto's Varian Medical Systems, where Adler serves as vice president, has five full-time employees and has already published about 80 papers.
Moving to shared data
Cureus is hardly the first journal to go the open-access route, which is part of a growing movement in science to share data and encourage collaboration. PLOS, which stands for Public Library of Science, was founded a decade ago by UC Berkeley and Stanford scientists.
"We wanted the system to be different and spent a lot of time trying to convince other people to change. Having failed at that, we had to convince other people it could be done," said Michael Eisen, a UC Berkeley biologist and co-founder of PLOS, which publishes PLOS One and other journals. "PLOS has turned out to be a successful business and that has greased the wheels for a lot of people interested in publishing."
PLOS, which is on pace to publish 50,000 articles this year, requires authors to pay $1,300 to publish an article, but is free to view and does not rely heavily on advertising.
Adler said Cureus expects to derive its revenue from advertising since its primary reading audience - doctors - are likely to make medical and financial decisions based on what they learn in medical journals.
Another medical and biological journal, PeerJ, started accepting submissions earlier this month for articles to be published in January. The journal, founded by former PLOS One editor Peter Binfield, has offices in London and Corte Madera, making the Bay Area a center for alternative scientific publications.
A different model
PeerJ operates on yet a different business model - one that requires authors to pay $99 for a one-time, lifetime membership fee, which allows one publication a year and up to $299 for an unlimited publishing privileges. While the information will be freely available, Binfield said most content is highly technical and written for other researchers.
"Open access is about to become the dominant way of publishing academic material and completely disrupt the subscription model," Binfield said. "You're seeing an epicenter here, which is not a traditional place for academic publishing."
But the Bay Area, and Silicon Valley in particular, has long been an epicenter for innovation in communication and research.
"It's fantastic that researchers, especially researchers with great reputations, are willing to put themselves on the line and experiment with (these new ways of publishing)," said Heather Joseph, executive director of Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition in Washington, D.C. "This has been one of the slowest places to make change."
But openness and democratization of medical and scientific articles does not mean that all forms of verification or assessment by the scientific community completely go by the wayside.
Swifter peer review
The main way of putting a stamp of approval on a research paper is a process known as "peer review." Journal editors ask experts to make sure the article meets acceptable standards prior to publication. That can take months.
At Cureus, editors will ask a large number of experts to review an article in a matter of days, Adler said.
Following publication, readers will be able to rate an article, although experts in the subject area will be accorded a higher weighted score.
Dr. Laura Esserman, director of the Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, chose to have the results of her most recent article on a clinical study known as I-SPY 2 published in Cureus.
Esserman, who serves on Cureus' editorial board, has published more than 250 research articles in traditional journals, but felt it made sense to publish this one in Cureus.
"This is an article about how to accelerate our ability to learn and identify the right drugs for a specific population of patients, and that really is the concept of personalized medicine," Esserman said. "It's particularly well suited to this (journal). Everything about the trial is a little different."
Adler said he sees everyone benefiting from the expanded access to information, except possibly the traditional medical journals. "We aspire to be the journal, not just a journal," he said.
Cureus online
To read Cureus, a medical journal that is free to publish and view, visit: www.cureus.com
Victoria Colliver is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com


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Are You Leaking Juice?Blog Post: April 15, 2009
I did a test a few months back where I changed the link text of a site-wide footer link to the home page. Previously it had the name of the site .com and I changed it to my main keyword. Viola! An instant addition of tens of thousands of keyword laden links pointing to my home page!
3 days later...I dropped of the map. I didn't just drop a page or two. I was NOWHERE in the results. (I forgot to mention that before the change I had been ranking between 5-12 for that keyword.) OK, it might have been a fluke. So I left it for a day then panicked and changed it back. A few days later and POW! Back on page 1 for the keyword.
Well..as any curious (and somewhat clueless) SEO-addict would do, I changed it back. And like clockwork, 3 days later..gone! Changed it back, and I am back. This is seemingly repeatable, and the most directly google manipulation that I've ever experienced, albeit in the wrong direction! But I've been reluctant to try it again. I'm happily gaining a few spots by the tried and true method of link building. Whooda thunk?
So just be careful out there people! What seems like a small change can have a big impact. My case might be unique due to my link profile and a million other factors. But I saws what I saws! And it skeered me good!

subset: commoncrawl


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Call it the battle between the colleges and Hollywood.
Gov. Jerry Brown and the legislature assure us this is a time of austerity. So they have cut higher education by more than $1 billion. Social services are on the chopping block.
But there is a category of budget untouchables: tax breaks for wealthy businesses.
U.S. & World
This week, the legislature moved to protect a tax break for Hollywood film production.
Gov. Brown also dropped an earlier proposal to end enterprise zones -- even though there is scant evidence that such zones make a net positive impact on jobs.
A big corporate tax break that had been slated for rollback now appears likely to survive. And the legislature is considering a new tax credit for some manufacturers.
There's a case to be made for supporting California's most important industries, from movies to technology to tourism and aerospace.
But are such subsidies more important than the state's universities, given the close connection between college graduation rates and economic prosperity?
Is it right to give a tax break to companies at the same time the governor and the majority party wants voters to pay higher taxes on their income and purchases?
"Bridesmaids" catches a tax break bouquet.


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See Below for excellent demonstration videos- for use, features and adjustability of a lillebaby COMPLETE carrier.
Review by jacksmamaon
I was hesitant to buy this for the summer, but it's so breathable and light. I have the citrus colored one and it's a fun, beautiful color for summer. My favorite part is the citrus lumbar support. ADORABLE! Not to mention that of course it's comfortable and amazing, but I wouldn't expect anything less from LILLEbaby! Everything they make is GREAT!
Review by mamaof2on
This carrier is awesome. The material is like smooth athletic material on the outside and a super soft faux suede on the inside. It's very lightweight which makes it perfect for the hot hot days! The color is so vibrant and I get endless compliments on it! It's definitely love!
Excellent Option for all
Review by SimplyDivine919on
I am so happy I purchased the Lillebaby Embossed carriers. Already a fan of the brand, I was interested to see a new fabric option join the crowd. I am beyond pleased. The outer material keeps me cool and comfortable. It's beautiful to look at, too. The inner fabric is breathable and so soft.
I highly recommend the embossed carriers!
The LÍLLÉbaby COMPLETE baby carriers brings you these amazing comfort and support features.
- SIX ERGONOMIC CARRYING POSITIONS– Includes every carrying positon without the need for an infant insert: Front-fetal, Front-infant, Front-outward, Front- toddler, Hip and Back carry. The COMPLETE grows with your child through all the baby wearing years, from 3.5 to 20kg The patented cupped seat adjusts to keep baby ergonomically seated in all six carry positions through every development stage.
- LUMBAR SUPPORT– Increases comfort, maintains healthy posture and alignment, and prevents lower back strain. Combined with an extra sturdy waist belt to maximize parent's comfort.
- TWO-WAY STRAP NEW!– Enable wearer to carry "backpack style" or with straps crossed in the back. Dual adjustment buckles simplify breastfeeding and adjusting straps on the go.
- SLEEPING HOOD– Features dual adjustment points to provide tailored support for baby's head while sleeping, sun protection while exploring, and privacy while nursing. Removable.
- EXTRA TALL, EXTENDABLE TORSO– So comfortable your baby will fall asleep. Provides extra neck and back support and keeps taller babies secure in the carrier. The adjustable width gently cradles baby's head. Elastic straps provide support while allowing for movement and easy adjustment.
- POCKETS NEW!– Large zippered storage pocket, plus easy-reach pocket for storing hood and essentials.
- WIDE, PADDED SHOULDER STRAPS & WASIT BELT– Evenly distribute baby's weight
for maximized comfort.
There are 9 different short LILLEbaby movie clips to demonstrate how versatile this carrier is for each baby developmental season.


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Summer is coming to a close, although you would not know it here in California. Kids are going back to school, and that means much more time for us grown ups to get creative.
Warm up those sewing machine, cause we have a little something special just for you. Ali has put together a wonderful event following the festival of HST's. Presenting....
Starting August 13th there will be hexagon tutorials in many different forms, from some wonderful bloggers. Take some time to start a new project, get inspired, or even learn something new.
See ya there.
Schedule for tutorials: Monday, Aug. 13
Ali from a²(w)
Tuesday, Aug. 14
Amanda from A Crafty Fox
Wednesday, Aug. 15
Kelly from Kelbysews
Thursday, Aug. 16
Terri from Sew Fantastic
Friday, Aug. 17
Jeni from In Color Order
Monday, Aug. 20
Lindsey from LRStitched
Tuesday, Aug. 21
Kati from From The Blue Chair
Wednesday, Aug. 22
Michelle from Super Orange Sewing (formerly I Like Orange, Too)
Thursday, Aug. 23
Sara from Sew Sweetness
Friday, Aug. 24
Megan from Canoe Ridge Creations


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Map of the human Brain interactive
Scientists have long sought to understand the biological basis of thought. In the second century A.D., physician and philosopher Claudius Galen held that the brain was a gland that secreted fluids to the body via the nerves—a view that went unchallenged for centuries. In the late 1800s clinical researchers tied specific brain areas to dedicated functions by correlating anatomical abnormalities in the brain after death with behavioral or cognitive impairments. French surgeon Pierre Paul Broca, for example, found that a region on the brain's left side controls speech. In the first half of the 20th century, neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield mapped the brain's functions by electrically stimulating different places in conscious patients during neurosurgery, triggering vivid memories, localized body sensations, or movement of an arm or toe.
In recent years new noninvasive ways of viewing the human brain in action have helped neuroscientists trace the anatomy of thought and behavior. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, for instance, researchers can see which areas of the brain "light up" when people perform simple movements such as lifting a finger or more complex mental leaps such as recognizing someone or making a moral judgment. These images reveal not only how the brain is divided functionally but also how the different areas work together while people go about their daily activities. Some investigators are using the technology in an attempt to detect lies and even to predict what kinds of items people will buy; others are seeking to understand the brain alterations that occur in disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, autism and dementia.
You might also like
Microstructural Parcellation of the Human Cerebral Cortex: From Brodmann's Post-Mortem Map to in Vivo Mapping with High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Book (Springer)


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Islamabad: Lawyers defending seven Pakistanis accused of involvement in the Mumbai attacks, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, have questioned whether prosecutors have hard evidence that the attackers trained in camps in Sindh and other locations.
The defence lawyers made the contention during a hearing of the Mumbai attacks case at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi while cross-examining five prosecution witnesses who had testified that the attackers trained at camps in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The witnesses, officials from the Federal Investigation Agency and Inter-Services Intelligence, told Judge Chaudhry Habib-ur-Rehman that the attackers had been trained at LeT training camps in Karachi, Battal in Mansehra district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Muzaffarabad in PoK.
Khwaja Haris Ahmed, the counsel for Lakhvi, asked the prosecution witnesses whether they had actually seen the suspects training at the LeT camps.
The witnesses replied that their testimony was based on official reports about activities at the camps and that they had not witnessed the suspects training in the use of firearms or explosive devices, Ahmed contended.
"We also asked them that if there were reports on the activities in these camps that were sent to senior officials, why no action was taken against the camps. Our contention is that there were no such camps," Mr Ahmed told PTI.
Mr Ahmed further said that the prosecution witnesses had not produced the reports on the training camps in court on the ground that they were "secret".
Special Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali told the judge that the witnesses were responsible officials who recorded their statements without any pressure.
He further said it was their task to keep members of banned groups like the LeT under surveillance.
The prosecution witnesses had first testified about the training of the attackers in LeT camps during a hearing on September 29.


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He helped drive the "gravy train" — and now it could cost him millions of dollars and years in the slammer.
A crooked Long Island orthopedist pleaded guilty yesterday to falsely diagnosing hundreds of greedy LIRR workers with disabilities so they could retire early with lucrative pensions.
As part of his plea bargain, Dr. Peter Ajemian agreed to fork over a total of $233 million in forfeiture and restitution, representing twice the amount swindled with his assistance, along with his ill-gotten gains.
But it appeared unlikely that Ajemian, 63, would ever make good on those promises, as his lawyer acknowledged that the doctor doesn't have anywhere near that much money.
Manhattan federal prosecutor Justin Weddle said in court there was ample evidence proving that Ajemian ran a "disability- fraud mill" that let hundreds of perfectly healthy railroad workers "retire to a life of golf, tennis or even second jobs."
According to the feds, Ajemian raked in more than $2.5 million by recommending at least 734 LIRR workers for disability benefits between 1998 and 2008.
In addition to the crushing debt, Ajemian agreed to serve between 121 and 151 months in prison after sentencing May 24, though the charges against him carry a maximum 30 years.
Ajemian's plea bargain to conspiracy and health-care fraud came just weeks before a trial at which he would have faced damning testimony from several former LIRR workers who pleaded guilty to scamming disability benefits and are cooperating with the feds.
The long-running scam would have resulted in $1 billion in fraudulent payouts if it hadn't been uncovered, the feds said.
Only 32 people have been charged, but Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara said that an investigation was continuing.
Ajemian refused to comment after the hearing.
Two LIRR retirees, Karl Britell and James Maher, also pleaded guilty yesterday as part of the scandal.
Details of Dr. Peter Ajemian plea deal:
* Pleaded guilty to one count of "conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and health-care fraud" plus one count of health-care fraud.
* Agreed to pay $233M .
* Is facing at least 10 years in prison.


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Thursday, August 30, 2007
One Man's "NASCAR On ESPN" YouTube Protest
Over the course of this season, we have mentioned YouTube.com several times when it comes to NASCAR video. One of these stories talked about "bumpstop3," the YouTube name used by Joseph Foster. This former racing writer has been working hard to create his own video universe on Internet pages hosted by YouTube.
His pages contain almost two hundred videos, many of them created by his own editing skills. He uses footage from all the NASCAR TV partners, and weaves it with his own graphics, voice, and music. To say it is well done is an understatement.
He recently added a long video of nine minutes and forty seconds. It was not about the latest NASCAR news, it was not an interview, and it was not meant to be funny. It was his protest against the coverage of the Bristol Busch Series race on ESPN this past Friday night. Did I mention it was almost ten minutes long?
Mr. Foster is expressing in his own way some of the same sentiments echoed here and on the various NASCAR radio shows. The unique thing is, he has been able to use ESPN's own footage and sound to bring his points of view across in a very frank manner. I think his video entitled "ESPN Bristol Busch Coverage" is worth taking a moment or two to watch.
Certainly, we all understand that TV networks have the right to do and show what they choose. They paid for the programming, paid for the production, and ultimately paid to transmit the final network signal to your home. His point, however, is that consumers and fans are the ultimate end users, and they pay a hefty price as well.
In order to make his case, he chose a problem-plagued event that was the topic of an earlier column on this site. Going into Bristol, The Daly Planet predicted a tough time for the new NASCAR TV partner, and that is indeed what happened.
ESPN could not buy a break on things like missing accidents, catching restarts, timing of commercials, and even trying to use the pit reporters and their Tech Center. Of course, to add insult to injury, their entire feed went down due to "human error" with about four laps left to go.
I direct your attention to this video not so much to knock ESPN, but to point out the fact that no one on any cable TV or broadcast network said a peep about this issue. Basically, SPEED has no platform for this discussion anymore. ESPN certainly avoids these things at all costs.
It was hilarious that the one hour Saturday morning version of NASCAR Now never even mentioned the fact that the entire network NASCAR feed was lost, never showed the lost portion, and never apologized for the error. If ESPN says it did not exist, then apparently even on the morning after...it never happened.
Meanwhile, on Internet sites and radio shows, the howl over the TV networks choices of everything from announcers to program content is louder than it has ever been before. Even on ESPN.com and SPEEDtv.com, the conversations are always in-progress about the TV side of the sport. We all know NASCAR TV is a frequent topic on Sirius Satellite radio's designated NASCAR channel.
Where then, can one find this type of discussion on TV? Tradin' Paint on SPEED has rarely ventured into TV coverage of the sport, and the Pit Bulls show on SPEED is long gone. Dave Despain never talks TV on Inside NEXTEL Cup, and his WindTunnel show is a blur of topics usually relating directly to racing itself.
It seems from recent articles on NASCAR.com and significant on-air changes in some TV race coverage elements that both ESPN and SPEED are listening to the fans...somewhat. This tug of war between what fans want to see and what TV networks want to show has been going on for a long time.
What Mr. Foster has done with one well-produced video on YouTube.com is to use the TV network's own content to prove a point. In the Internet era, this one video can been seen worldwide on a variety of devices. It can be watched anytime, is free to view, and can be emailed to a friend. That is a powerful communication tool.
As NASCAR fans peruse the Articles/Stories page on Jayski.com, they will not notice a lot of stories about the multi-million dollar NASCAR TV package. When they watch SPEED, they will notice that NASCAR's TV race coverage is rarely mentioned. Finally, when they tune into any NASCAR or News program on ESPN, they will never find a discussion of the "pros and cons" of this season's coverage.
These days, its up to guys like "bumpstop3" to voice the issues associated with NASCAR's TV coverage. Right or wrong, raising these issues brings a better awareness of what can possibly be done to better serve the fans who choose to hang-in there with the main TV network coverage.
Today's NASCAR offers a wide variety of viewing options, and the ESPN/ABC programs are not the "stars of the show" like races on network TV have been in the past. The challenge for the networks is to first get and then hold the short attention span of NASCAR viewers like myself who have access to various radio, Internet, and satellite TV options for the race.
As the network TV package for the NEXTEL Cup Series changes to ABC Sports, it will be the first time this group has competed directly with such elements as DirecTV's Hot Pass and even the NASCAR.com viewing and listening options.
After this weekend in Fontana, there is no doubt that "bumpstop3" will have a new set of videos ready to go. I'm going to stop-by on Monday and see if his video statement fits-in with the opinions and comments here on The Daly Planet. After all, I'm not going to get that kind of perspective anywhere else.
The Daly Planet welcomes comments from readers. Simply click on the COMMENTS button below, or email email@example.com if you wish not to be published. Thanks again for taking the time to stop-by and leave your opinion.
17 comments:
- stricklinfan82 said...
Great find Mr. Daly, definitely a must-see video. He pretty much summed up everything all of us complained about here, except in a much funnier way.
- August 30, 2007 at 11:17 PM
- Tripp said...
That's interesting. No doubt the coverage was a balls-up but to use a networks (and NASCAR's) own copyrighted footage to bash them over the head... interesting.
Watch it now children because once ESPN and NASCAR find out about it they will have it pulled from YouTube as illegal use of copyrighted material.
They'll probably next turn over the poor sod's name to the RIAA so the record label can sue him for music piracy.
Ain't America grand?
- August 30, 2007 at 11:19 PM
- Sophia said...
I thought it was hilarious, in a pitiful way and SPOT ON!
Thanks for sharing John.
I am sure ESPN sees it as FREE ADVERTISING as does NASCAR.
PLENTY of old racing footage on Youtube.
- August 31, 2007 at 12:36 AM
- Anonymous said...
Tripp's right, but NASCAR owns the video.
(Remember the copyright notice after every event: "This copyrighted telecast...is the property of NASCAR..and, hey, thanks for being a fan!" Why does no other sport thank folks for watching? I like that bit.)
So NASCAR would have to go after the guy. I suspect they're intentionally looking the other way.
Also a nice move that NASCAR deserve credit for doing.
- August 31, 2007 at 8:50 AM
- Anonymous said...
I was watching that Bristol race when the screen went blank. I couldn't believe it. Then no mention of it on ESPN. No responsibility, no problem, wink, wink. The idiot public will buy it. Nascar chose the worst excuse for a network to air their races, but who cares about the fans. Michael BrackZMCNJ
- August 31, 2007 at 9:05 AM
- Anonymous said...
good video summary.
His "google earth view" graphic cracks me up each and every time. I'm simple that way though ;-)
- August 31, 2007 at 9:58 AM
- Anonymous said...
ESPN owns the broadcast rights to NASCAR. It is a product that they expect to exploit at a significant profit. They have a monopoly at the moment. If you want to see NASCAR races on TV, you MUST watch ESPN. ESPN appears to be defiant in it's disregard for viewer desires.
There is just an incredible disconnect between what the senior producers deem to be good TV vs. what the viewers would like to see. The bumpstop3 piece illustrates that. Apparently the predetermined slots for commercials are "hard" placements that cannot be interrupted by racing issues. Can't you just hear a director saying "WTF, that's why we have taped replays. What's the big deal?"
Of course, the bumpstop3 video reveals what a big deal it can be. Whatever happened to the ESPN who cared about the sports that it broadcasts?
- August 31, 2007 at 11:30 AM
- Anonymous said...
MR. FOSTER. my hat is off to you.. you nailed that and you my friend need a award!!!!!
- August 31, 2007 at 11:30 AM
- Anonymous said...
I believe after the ESPN broadcasters came back after the blank screen they said they would show all that we missed but they never showed it.
- August 31, 2007 at 11:58 AM
- Anonymous said...
Good video! It shows how much ESPN just doesn't get it.
I actually watched the commercials closely during FOX broadcasts, waiting for them to cut back to the race in the middle of a spot if a caution came out. I don't know why, but I sometimes found that to be more exciting than having a yellow happen during coverage. Kind of like "We interrupt this broadcast for a special announcement."
I don't remember seeing ESPN dump out of a commercial a single time this season. "Don't worry, there's plenty of time to catch up on the action while those cars are just driving around in circles..."
- August 31, 2007 at 1:21 PM
- Anonymous said...
Besides agreeing with you on 99% of the stuff you write, I have to ask....what are SPEED, FOX and the other NASCAR TV partners suppose to do? They can't bash the other groups on the air. While that may go on behind the scenes, I don't think it would do any good in the long run. If anything, it would only hurt the already "cold" relationship that all the TV partners have as it is. (Mostly ESPN because they feel they can do no wrong and are the be all end all). Obviously fans might disagree. Does the NFL on FOX do a feature or have the studio pregame talk about how bad the NFL on CBS's coverage is and vice versa? Nope. It's kind of taboo. The pink elephant in the living room. Or is it the white one? Anyway, while I think it would be great to have your stuff and stuff like bumpstop3 voiced on tv, I think it probably will only end up on radio, print and the internet.
Great job as always.
- August 31, 2007 at 2:01 PM
- Anonymous said...
I watched the video in case it disappears. ESPN did show the last 3-4 laps after showing the winner of the race. ESPN is just as arrogant as King Brian. The coverage will continue to suck.
- August 31, 2007 at 3:29 PM
- Anonymous said...
It's not just motorracing ESPN is losing its grip on. After watching the two NCAA football games last night I can verify that. This is the Dan Rather syndrome on a networkwide basis, i.e.: I am a star, I am more important than the content of our broadcast, I can't be bothered with attention to detail of any kind, and would you move a little to the left-you are blocking part of my image in the mirror.
- August 31, 2007 at 4:30 PM
- cwebs said...
Did anyone see Wind Tunnel this past week? Dave Despain did make some comments about the Kyle Busch commit line incident/penalty that happened during the Bristol Busch race.
While never actually saying "ESPN", he did say that he thought NASCAR was at least indirectly blaming their "TV partner" for the blown call. Supposedly, ESPN couldn't find the footage proving Busch's innocence for a while, so NASCAR decided to just enforce the penalty and restart the race.
No matter whose fault it was in the end, I know one thing for sure. ESPN should have been showing those cars live as they were peeling off to come down pit road, but they did not. Instead, we were shown a full-screen post-wreck interview with Ambrose & Richardson that lasted almost a full minute! I'm pretty sure NASCAR would have caught the mistake right away if it had been shown live. Unfortunately, ESPN was more interested in keeping a run-of-the-mill post-wreck interview on the screen instead of showing us what was actually happening on the track...
- August 31, 2007 at 7:25 PM
- Sophia said...
YES! I watched W Tunnel (NEVER miss it!!) and heard those exact comments about "tv partner".
I am STUNNED NOBODY has addressed that in online articles I have read.
I do not have access to Sirius radio and wonder if any are TRULY complaining in detail about ESPN's atrocious coverage.
I thought I posted about Despains comment here but forget where the heck I post things, lol.
- August 31, 2007 at 8:34 PM
- Anonymous said...
Excellent video summary. The point is made, but I am certain that if anyone from ESPN looked at the video, they'd have lots of "reasons" (excuses) for why things went they way they did.
- September 1, 2007 at 12:16 AM
- Anonymous said...
John this is getting rediculous. You are open to your opinion but for the last month all you do is complain about ESPN, and praise SPEED Channel.
If you hate ESPN so much, just don't watch anymore. Some of us actually enjoy the coverage.
- September 1, 2007 at 8:23 PM


text:
See more from the Bratt Decor Chelsea collection.
The Chelsea Sleigh crib in white is clean and slightly hand-distressed for a timeless look. The classic sleigh design is reinterpreted with beautiful relief carvings and oversized proportions to make a stately presence. This crib is the pinnacle of design and quality. Add the optional toddler bed kit and watch this beautiful piece grow with your child. All of our cribs are designed to the highest safety standards and meet or exceed those set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and American Society for Testing and Materials. Each crib is tested by independent laboratories for compliance with US crib regulations. *Expertly crafted using mortis and tenon joinery. *Fits a standard crib mattress *Thin slits on the end pickets of the front and back gate allow for place to tie your bumper, creating a seamless look. *Crib offers three heights for the mattress. *Toddler bed conversion kit sold separately. Available in the following finishes: antique silver, espresso, white.
Additional Info
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|66.5" x 30.25" x 45.5"


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A model who was shot in the neck Monday while driving to her day job in Riverdale, Ga., has died.
Kelsey Quayle, 28, who worked at a dentist's office, lost control of her vehicle when she was hit by the bullet, and caused a three-car wreck.
According to the New York Daily News, the bullet went through the woman's neck, severing her spinal cord at the base of her brain, which caused major brain trauma. Quayle's family took the woman off life support Thursday.
FOX5 reported the woman moved to Georgia from California several months ago with her boyfriend in hopes of furthering a career in modelling.
Quayle's sister, Kayleigh Martin, confirmed her sister's death via a post on Facebook.
"I just want to know who did this. It's ridiculous. She didn't deserve this," Martin told WSB-TV.
Where the bullet came from remains a mystery police say.
"We have no reports of anyone reporting any gunfire, no reports of anybody driving erratically," Capt. Scott Stubbs of the Clayton County Police Department.
A relative set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs. The page notes Quayle likely died instantly when the bullet hit her spine.
The woman was described as "kind, loving, sweet, and so caring towards other."
"She was amazing daughter, sister, friend and girlfriend," the relative wrote on the GoFundMe page. "She wouldn't have passed so early on in life but she is now in peace and in heaven."
The investigation into the shooting continues, with cops reviewing surveillance cameras around the area Quayle was shot and interviewing those involved in the crash a second time.


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Advanced Engineering Technology Conference - Learning From The Masters
Some of the brightest minds in the engine building community, all in one room!
A lot changed about PRI this past year. New ownership, the return to Indy, and being merged with IMIS, but other than the location, little changed for the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC).
The three days leading up the PRI tradeshow are all about hardcore engine technology. Each day gives attendees a variety of speakers covering many different topics, all pertaining to the most hardcore aspects of race engines. Each day has five speakers presenting on whatever they specialize in, feedback from some of the brightest minds in the race engine world (builders in attendance), and great door prizes and give-a-ways from the sponsors. When the conference breaks for lunch, you get the chance to sit and break bread with the expert and ask all the questions you have. Each table becomes a mini round table on many different topics. With this many brilliant minds in one place, you can learn a ton just from listening!
Although the AETC doesn't just cover circle track engines, much of what is discussed can be transferred over. Even the stuff that doesn't (like forced induction technology) still gets you thinking about ways to transfer the theory and logic to what circle track racers do.
If you are an engine builder, engine mechanic, racer, or simply a guy who wants to learn more about engines, the AETC is a great way to spend a couple of days. If you've never been, 2014 is the perfect time to go!
Ben Strader—EFI University
Advanced Performance Tuning For Forced Induction Systems
When Ben Strader from the EFI University took the stage I honestly wasn't expecting to take much away from his portion of the conference. This is in no way a negative comment or narrative about Ben, but what he was presenting was very far outside of the circle track world.
Ben talked about advanced tuning for forced-induction EFI combinations—not exactly in the circle track wheelhouse. But some of what he talked about really made me think. Ben discussed exhaust size and how normal atmospheric pressure can affect it. It was all linked to restrictions and how boost changes as restriction changes. While the boost portion of the conversation doesn't necessarily apply to us, the concept of minimizing restriction does.
To put the theory into a practical situation, if you have a race motor that made 650 hp on the engine dyno, using a large round-tube header, then put a stock, cast manifold on the same engine when you put it in the car, it isn't going to make the same amount of power. The idea is that the same amount of air can get in, but less air can get out. With forced induction you can add more pressure on the intake side and force it through the engine, but in a naturally aspirated circle track engine, we depend on the atmospheric pressure to push the air though the engine. Because of this, header size is extremely important.
From there, the conversation talked about pressure gradients across the intake valves and how it relates to volumetric efficiency. While all of this is important, we simply don't have enough room to go into all the details.
Harold Bettes—Power Technology Consultants
The Myths, Legends, and Facts of Airflow, Engines, and Dynos
Harold discussed airflow and valve shape and how the two are connected. He explained the important aspects at low, mid, and high lift, and how the valve, seat shape, port shape, and port size effect airflow. In the same discussion he talked about how port shape is more influential than size.
Harold explained the importance of port molds as a design tool and how effective they can be when designing a port. Port molds allow for careful measurement of port cross sections, accurately locating the minimum cross section, and they are relatively inexpensive, but yield valuable results. The information Harold presented can be extremely helpful to anyone who regularly works with cylinder heads and airflow.
Lee Carducci— Arrow Racing Engines
How to Embrace and Transform the Latest OEM Engines and Technology into Competitive Race Engines
Lee Carducci comes from Arrow Racing Engines, who builds the engines for the Dodge Viper race cars. Lee's presentation was about how Arrow designs and builds its engines and components to live on the race track. Coincidentally, much of what they use are unmodified OEM parts.
We are seeing more and more OEM engines being used in the lower ranks of circle track racing. Many Mini Stocks, Bombers, Hornets, or Tuner Car classes require an unmodified factory four-cylinder engine be used in competition. While this certainly keeps costs low, there is always some grey area in the rules.
Outside of the stock engine classes, we have also seen classes emerge that require stock or mildly modified V-8s. We have seen a lot of engines from the Chevy LS series being used. Mildly modified OEM engines being used for oval track racing is a great way to keep costs down for lower series of racing. It will be exciting to see how this trend evolves.
Ron Totunno and Greg West—Federal Mogul
Inside Sealing—Fel Pro Laserweld Technology
The gentlemen from Fel Pro spent their time on stage covering the finer points of engine sealing. While there are a lot of things that need to be sealed, the main focus of the presentation was head gaskets. The duo explained the basic construction of the company's MLS head gaskets, going into detail about each component. They explained the manufacturing processes for each layer, as well as each parts contribution to common goal of sealing the heads to the block.
When the presentation moved past the make up of the gaskets, other aspects of quality engine sealing were discussed. The pair talked about surface finish and what is required with each of its line of gaskets, surface flatness, bolt prep, and torqueing procedures. Cylinder pressure, clamp load, and cylinder head lift were also discussed.
The presentation also covered testing procedures that Fel Pro uses on its line of MLS head gaskets. The company measures head lift and deflection at 1,700 psi of cylinder pressure with 9,000 pounds per bolt load. The head gaskets are also tested under various levels of preignition. Preignition cause large spikes in cylinder pressure, as well as heat, which can kill head gaskets.
To sum it all up, the keys to good head to block sealing is to reduce head lift by using the right block and cylinder heads, using the correct fasteners for the application with good thread lubricant, apply the correct amount of clamp load, and avoid spikes in cylinder pressure. Keep those things in mind and you'll have a happy engine!
Designing and Optimizing Cooling Systems for Performance and Durability
Aside from cooling the engine, Chris also discussed airbox design. He talked about how important the inlet shape was and the design of the box to ensure the incoming air slows enough before it hits the radiator to sufficiently cool the water in the system. Airboxes for both asphalt and dirt were discussed, specifically the floor design. For an asphalt car, getting as much air into the airbox is key. The air can have a direct path to the radiator, because not much debris will enter the box. For dirt, on the other hand, the floor of the airbox needs to have a hump in it so there is no direct path to the radiator. This hump stops any dirt and debris from becoming lodged between the fins of the radiator.
Chris also talked about core design, coolants, and the effect straight water has on raw aluminum. His presentation was very intriguing, and you can most likely expect an in-depth story on cooling systems in a future issue of CT.
Vincent Roman— Burns Stainless LLC
Development Tools and Testing Methods for the Optimization of Exhaust Performance
Engines are nothing more than air pumps. The more efficiently you can move air through the engine, the more power it can make. Vincent Roman of Burns Stainless presented about the processes the company goes through to design and test exhaust system for optimal power.
When Burns Stainless designs an exhaust system, they look to maximize the power band without sacrificing maximum power. They do this by optimizing the header primary tube length to the upper range of the rpm band of interest. They also optimize the collector design to provide good midrange torque. And they optimize the tailpipe to maximize the flow of exhaust gases. This is accomplished by looking at the Ideal Gas Law, incompressible and compressible flow, head loss (friction loss), and the Four Stroke Otto Cycle as the technical concepts for design.
Burns also spends a lot of lime looking at the area of the exhaust system. With stepped headers and transitions from collectors to exhaust tube, the area of the exhaust system changes. Because of this pressure, wave dynamics come into play. Increases or decreases in size will cause pressure waves within the exhaust system. The system can be adjusted and sized properly to take advantage of the positive pressure waves and reflection rarefaction waves to optimize the exhaust system. While wave tuning is not a new concept, it is essential in optimizing an exhaust system for maximum power in a specific rpm range.
Cecil Stevens
How to Use Cylinder Pressure and Valve Motion Measurements to Improve Performance
Cecil Stevens came to AETC to present on cylinder pressure and valve motion. His discussion started with some background and went into Lunch Box Joe and Professor Kofferman's testing procedures for cylinder pressure. He talked about cylinder pressure measurements as the continuous recording of cylinder pressure every crankshaft degree. Lunch Box Joe's testing requires a dyno (must hold plus or minus 25 rpm), a test engine, pressure transducers, a crankshaft encoder, a data acquisition system, analysis software, and a computer. What this system cannot report is individual, cylinder vs. cylinder, or cycle vs. cycle performance. He then went into each part of the system, explaining how each part works and the procedure for testing.
The second section of his presentation discussed camshaft profiles, valve events, and engine cycle events, addressing how each related and affects cylinder pressure. Valvespring pressure and valve bounce, as well as their effect of performance also were covered.
Bill McKnight— Mahle Clevite, Inc.
The Science of Bearings and How They Can Be Optimized to Maximize Performance
Bearings always seem to be a hot topic of discussion with engine builders. When Bill McKnight from Mahle Clevite took the stage, people's ears perked up. Bill started his presentation by saying his job as an educator is to make complicated stuff simple.
Over the next hour, Bill discussed the lubrication challenges of bearings, the balancing act of characteristics of hard and soft bearing, bearing trends in the OE world, the bearing material portfolio, and he talked about bearing coatings. Bill explained the differences between hydrodynamic, boundary, and mixed lubrication for bearings. It was very informative, made for some great discussions during lunch and the breaks.While this seems like a lot of information (and it is), it's only the tip of the iceberg as it is all you can fit in an hour-long presentation.
Stephen Golya and Dane Kalinowski—JE Pistons
The Design and Analysis of High Performance Rotating Assemblies
Stephen Golya and Dane Kalinowski from JE Pistons were tasked with speaking to the group about the latest in piston technology. Both are on the JE engineering team, with Golya being the Principal Engineer.
The duo discussed many things including JE's design philosophy, its analytic methods, piston material choices, and manufacturing processes, as well as the company's quality management and dyno testing capabilities.
The team talked about the development of JE's SBC LSX 912FRL piston, as well as the billet vs. forged piston debate. The pair talked about the pros and cons of each piston type, including the manufacturing process and the machine used to produce each.
Keith Jones— Total Seal Piston Rings
How To Optimize Cylinder Finish for Maximum Piston Ring Seal
Engine sealing is important. Keith Jones of Total Seal Piston Rings is an expert on the subject and talked about changes in engines and rings that have an effect on ring seal. Keith explains that cylinders are much harder than they have been in years past. Rings are much thinner and lighter with lower tension, and both have exotic coatings available. Beyond the hard parts, oils have significantly changed, with reduced friction and viscosity. The reason for all of this is the need to squeeze more energy from less fuel.
Keith went on to discuss many different topic in relation to piston rings and engine sealing, and it started with the purpose of piston rings. He went on to talk about what is required to achieve proper ring seal, and named proper cylinder prep, the correct rings, piston design for the correct application, and the correct oil as key requirements. He also spoke about honing and how it affects ring seal. He went into to proper honing and crosshatch angles. It was very interesting to hear how different crosshatch angles can affect oiling and ring rotation.
Keith's presentation was extremely informative. There was a large amount of info to take in and it is great information to have for your next engine build. So be on the lookout for a dedicated story on that subject in a future issue.
Dan Jesel—Jesel Valvetrain Innovation
Tomorrow's Valvetrain Trends and the Latest Advancements for Performance
Jesel has been around a long time. The company makes great products and their stuff can be found in all kinds of race engines. When Dan Jesel addressed the crowd, it was interesting for a lot of reasons. He talked about his background in racing and how his engine business transformed into Jesel Valvetrain Innovation out of sheer necessity. It all started with valvetrain problems in a small-block Ford engine. The problem was remedied when he moved the rocker arm and used a big-block Chevy rocker. And with that, Jesel was born!
Since 1980, Jesel has grown into one of the top valvetrain companies producing rocker arms, valvesprings, pushrods, roller lifters, camshafts, and cam drives. Dan spent a good portion of his hour talking about some of the product development Jesel has done over the years, including its beltdrive systems, and one of its latest products, the split cam gear for large OD camshafts.
Jon Sams and Laura Shehan—Holley Performance Products
How to Setup and Tune Race Carburetors for Optimal Performance
Having a properly tuned carburetor is a huge part of winning races. Jon Sams and Laura Shehan of Holley were speakers at AETC to discuss the setup and tuning of race carbs. The presentation started with a discussion about choosing the right carb. It starts with the application. A carb used for circle track racing is going to be vastly different from a carb designed for drag racing. Next, engine configuration is considered. For this, they look at engine size, max rpm, normal rpm operating range, camshaft, and induction type. The fuel being used is also considered and all of these combine to determine the appropriate carb for the application.The duo then went into the testing procedures and how Holley builds and tests its race carbs. They discussed cfm, wet flow bench testing, dyno testing, and common ways to tune a Holley carb. They went into details on idle circuits, fuel level and pressure, main circuit, booster, jets, power valves, and high-speed air bleeds. Just about every part of the carb was covered and the presentation in extremely informative.
Brian Kurn— Four-Stroke Design
Finding Hidden Horsepower in Exhaust Port Design and Optimization
Engine builders will tell you that an efficient exhaust system is essential to making big power. According to Brian Kurn of Four Stroke Designs it all starts in the exhaust port. He talked about how the exhaust port is normally overshadowed by its big brother—the intake port. He discussed what the exhaust port does, what blowdown is, he explained pumping work, and the exhaust port's role in overlap. He also talked about why the exhaust valve is so much smaller than the intake valve.
He then went on to talk about how the shape of exhaust lobe of the camshaft effects the shape of the power curve. He touched on low speed power losses from early exhaust valve opening and high speed power gains from a reduction of pumping loss. Traditional and advance methods for testing were also discussed, with pros and cons given each set. It was very interesting to hear about how computational fluid dynamics and combustion analysis are used to virtually test exhaust ports, and how accurate the results are.
Ozzie Hutchins— Roush Yates Engines
Understanding and Optimizing Engine Oiling Systems For Racing
In any race engine, the oiling system is extremely important. Ozzie Hutchins of Roush Yates Engine presented on the topic and did a great job of breaking the oiling system down. He discussed the system as a whole, and broke down each part, its purpose and duty, and how each can be optimized.
He explained how the oiling system is there for lubrication, cooling and heat rejection, and cleaning. He discussed the different types of lubrication and the important aspects of each. He explained the different types for different bearing types found in race engines, how pistons and valvetrain components are cooled by the oil, and how contaminants are removed as the oil passes through the engine. An optimized oiling system will do all of these things efficiently.
From there, Ozzie discussed how each component can be optimized for the greater good of the entire system. When you can minimize friction, you gain horsepower. And as racers, isn't that what we are all after?
The AETC is an extremely informative multi-day conference gear towards hardcore engine technology. If you're a novice looking learn about engine or a seasoned vet looking for an advantage for your race engine, this is the place to learn it. If you're interested in attending the 2014 AETC (and we strongly recommend it) visit www.aetconline.com for more information.


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Back in March, we wrote this about some Jason Taylor-to-the-Packers rumors:
"Rumor #3) Jason Taylor. Now he's a guy I wouldn't mind picking up. We could move Jenkins inside (or bench him in favor of Jolly) with Pickett. Having Kampman and Taylor on the ends could be a fairly disruptive duo. He also would add a respected veteran presence which I am beginning to feel like the Packers need."
I still believe this would be a good move. From what I've heard, the Dolphins are not trading him just yet because they've only been offered 4th round picks for him. While I would be reluctant to offer anything higher given he'll only play 1 year, 2 max, I would think offering a 4th round pick and throwing in a marginal player (Noah Herron, Ruvell Martin, Jarrett Bush, Tyrone Culver, KGB or Michael Montgomery as examples) might suffice. At some point too, it will become foolish of the Dolphins to not accept some kind of offer if the alternative is essentially forcing his retirement.
Sure, Taylor may not be the player he once was and having dancing-related obligations as an excuse for missing camps (though again, they were voluntary camps) is definitely a concern. Still, he is 2 years removed from NFL Defensive Player of the Year and lining up opposite Kampman couldn't possibly result in a poor Packer pass rush. Besides, I really think with Favre gone, some savvy veteran leadership could help keep this team going in a positive direction.
UPDATE: I'm with Andy on this one. I was not in favor of trading anything significant to get Taylor before the draft. Given the events of the past two weeks in Miami, it's fair to conclude that the Dolphins want him out and quickly. His value has to have gone down considerably since the draft, if only because the other teams thought to be most interested (the Jaguars, et. al) did not pull the trigger. If we could get him for a third rounder and change, I'd be all for it.
On the KGB question (see comments), I think he's well past his prime. I don't think we lose much by getting rid of him, even I like him as a character guy.


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STAGE TUBE: First Look at Ross Lekites, Carly Evan Hughes and More in Highlights of Ogunquit's WEST SIDE STORY
West Side Story, one of the greatest love stories of all time, is currently running at the Ogunquit Playhouse stage through September 28. This all new production of the timeless classic, helmed by Broadway veteran director BT McNicholl, mesmerizes audiences of all ages from the first note to the final breath. With a set designed exclusively for the Ogunquit Playhouse by Michael Schweikardt, an extraordinary cast and an iconic score soaring throughout, theatre goers will fall in love with West Side Story all over again. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the show below!
Ross Lekites is reprising his role as Tony from the first national tour of West Side Story and Carly EVan Hughes is making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut as Maria. Riff, the leader of the Jets, is played by Broadway's Kevin Munhallwho recently appeared on Broadway in Anything Goes, Bells Are Ringing and Sound of Music at Carnegie Hall, as well as in many regional theaters throughout the U.S. He has also appeared in the television shows Smash and One Life to Live.
Manuel Stark joins the cast as Bernardo after playing several roles in the recent Broadway revival of West Side Story. Gabrielle Ruiz plays Anita.
West Side Story is choreographed by Broadway showman Jeffry Denman, who was last seen at the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2012 as the director and choreographer for Damn Yankees: The Boston Red Sox Version. Ken Cliftonreturns to Ogunquit for his eighth season as music director and conductor for West Side Story. Michael Schweikardtdesigned an all new set for the Ogunquit production of West Side Story.


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Friday, September 23, 2011
I heart fake food - Felt Banana Tutorial
Yellow and Brown felt
Brown thread and needle
Fabric glue
Sewing machine and some embroidery
Optional: Sticker from a real banana
Using the pattern found below or which can be downloaded here.
Begin to cut out your banana.
Arrange the 2 identical curved pieces together.
1/4 of an inch down from the top on the side that curves out, start sewing and continue to the very bottom of that same side.
When you have finished sewing this section, it should look like this.
Line up the third {unique) piece of banana, between the open section of the two sides you just sewed together.
Start by sewing one side of the third piece to one side of the curved pieces. Again, starting 1/4 of an inch down from the top.
Finish by sewing the last remaining side together {closing your banana}. When you all sides have been sewn together, check to see if the the bottom of the banana was securely closed. Mine is not.
If you have the same problem, simply go back and sew across the bottom of all three sections.
Carefully turn your banana right side out.
Generously stuff with fiberfill.
See these raw open edges on the top.
Tuck them into the banana.
Now for the stem. Grab the brown rectangle shaped piece of felt and fold it in half.
Tightly roll the felt up.
Secure the bottom of the rolled up stem with a stitch to maintain the shape.
Grab your banana.
Insert the rolled up stem into the top of the banana. Using your brown thread, secure the stem into the top of the banana.
I like to add an embroidered stitch down the seam of the banana to give it a little bit of dimension. Using the same brown thread, begin to embroider, following the seam line.
Continue down all three sides, covering all three seam lines.
To finish the bottom of your banana,
attach the brown circle of felt with a dab of fabric glue.
Optional: check out your real bananas, steal a sticker off one of them and attach it to your felt banana.
I think Rachel Zoe summarizes this tutorial the best...
Make sure to check out my other felt food tutorials as well.
17 comments:
I LOVEEEEE all of your felt food tutorials!!! I bought so many of the Melissa and Doug food for my daughter for Christmas - but I think there is always room for more food for her kitchen:) Thank you!!!ReplyDelete
Haha- love the Rachel Zoe part....lol. This makes me wish I could sew sooooo bad! Cutest bananas in the world!Love the sticker too;)ReplyDelete
All of your food tutorials are excelent! Keep up the good work!ReplyDelete
This is amazing. Thanks for the great tutorial. Love how you added those brown lines. Looks SO real!ReplyDeleteReplies
You are so sweet. Thank you so much for the feedback. I like my fake foods to look real enough to eat :)Delete
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I wanted to give my son a play shop for christmas but fruits and vegetables in stores are WAY to expensive to fill up the shelves. With a little felt (well, actually a lot...) and your super tutorials I made him a whole bunch. I heart felt food too!ReplyDeleteReplies
What a lovely and unexpected comment to get. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know you had success in making some fruits and veggies with my tutorials. I started making these for the same reason. Buying them is too much money. So glad to hear these tutorials are still being used. Thanks!Delete
- AnonymousMay 8, 2014 at 4:47 PM
I made the banana and added a face (Why did I need a banana with a face? Long story... *g*), and it turned out great! Thank you so much!ReplyDeleteReplies
Oh, that makes me so happy!Delete
its very good tutorials, I loved it.ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Amy, hi!ReplyDelete
I loved your felt banana tutorial, and made several of them for our kids. In fact, I feel it deserves some additional attention from the net, so I linked to it (again) in my post on felt food: http://www.applegreencottage.com/2016/06/felt-play-food-bananas.html
Have a great day, Damjana
Thanks for your great pattern and tutorial! These are perfect for my 6yo Minion birthday party :DReplyDelete
What is the size of the finished bananas?ReplyDelete
Nice tutorial, i will post a link to it on our charity site.ReplyDelete
I'll say it again: you're amazing. you are soooo talented and creative. I'm adding your post to my list.ReplyDelete
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Just look at this fairy tale draw developing for Baker.
Next up is Paire, then maybe Rosol who sank Rafa's ship.
Hopefully Brian can keep the run alive!
Views: 303
Replies to This Discussion
His strength is definitely his return game. In general he has a very complete game and does everything at least moderately well. Good forehand, good backhand, pretty good serve, moves very well, and even has a decent net game.
His weakness, in my opinion is that he isn't exceptional at anything other than returning and perhaps his defensive movement. Still he's a very solid player and there's a lot to be said for that.
Thanks, Alex! I haven't seen much of Baker. Not too much on youtube, and I don't have the Tennis Channel.
Is this his golf move after sinking next putt; next opponent please. A pretty good run the last month or so; keep it going!
It's his Vulcan hello gesture. lol
MM I like Baker's tennis IQ. From what I've seen, the guy plays the right shots. He doesn't go for too much. He knows what he can do and keeps it simple. He knows when to come in and has solid volleys when he is at net. The last match against Paire was the first time I saw him get shaky trying to close it out but given the magnitude of the situation, I could understand why.
His serve is nice and fluid -very little can go wrong with it and has bailed him out countless times in close games.
All of his matches are available for replay at WATCHESPN
I got to see him - finally! Against Kohl, and I have to agree that his serve is strong, but just playing smart tennis appears to be the real gift of BB.
Kohli whomped on Baker 6-1, 7-6, 6-3. Don't mess with Mister One Grip Returner!
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One can only imagine what was going through the mind of the person who took this photo. Taken a mere two to five minutes after its detonation, it's a ground-level perspective of the atomic explosion that decimated Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The original print of the photograph recently surfaced in the archives at Honkawa Elementary School in Hiroshima city.
Reporting for the Atlantic, Rebecca Rosen writes:
The picture is a rare glimpse of the bomb's immediate aftermath, showing the distinct two-tiered cloud as it was seen from Kaitaichi, part of present-day Kaita, six miles east of Hiroshima's center. Reprints of the image did appear in a 1988 Japanese-language publication, but the whereabouts of the original were unknown. There are only a couple of other photos in existence (two, possibly three) that capture the cloud from the vantage point of the ground; and, according to the Japanese paper Asahi Shimbun, there is only one other photograph that provides as clear a picture of the separated tiers of the cloud, and that is a photo taken from the Enola Gay as it zipped away.
Read the entire article here.
Image Atlantic/Honkawa Elementary School.


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The health and safety of our employees, customers, and communities is our top priority. Read about our response to COVID-19 and its impact on shipping.
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FABRIC WARRANTY - 2 Year coverage against fading
CUSHIONS - 6 inches thick for a luxurious look and feel
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• Custom hand woven all-weather, high density, PE (polyethylene) wicker
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TONIGHT at midnight (eastern standard time) we release 24 NEW stamps and stamp sets. I am so excited that I can barely stand it!
We have one more stamp to share and give away.
It's called PARTY PALS. I combined the cat from Party Posse with the rabbit from A Little Lovin and added a balloon between them...it was so much fun to put together!
Yesterday while we were cropping together, Karolyn came up with this sweet little card sample:
Here is our winner from yesterday's post - LOVE MONKEY goes to:
Oh my gosh...LOVE all of the samples and that lil' monkey is just TOO cute!!!And I have four more cards to share that I am busting at the seams about!
Let's start with Heather's darling little creations:
Ummmm, how stinkin cute are these? I just absolutely LOVE 'em!
And this card is perfect - LOVE the touch of bling, the cool/graphic style and her fussy cutting is awesome!
Today marks the end of our guest designer's term. I have really enjoyed Heather. Each project she created was an eye-popper! What a VERY talented designer - I will really miss working with her...
Teri stamped with Eco Friendly and the NEW Zoo Crew
I am really diggin the cool blue paired with grey, black and white!! Notice how she stamped off the image to portray movement - brilliant card!
Teri used 3 of the 5 animals from the set....and so sweetly I must say :) The jungle leaf and birthday hat are also from the set....the sentiment is from Chit Chat and the word bubble is from HE SAID, SHE SAID. Super cute!!
ok friends...this is the end of our Anniversary celebration. It was so much fun that we will definitely consider doing the same next year!
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all of the love and support that you have shown us though the year. It has been an amazing journey with you. I have enjoyed every minute. I hope Paper Smooches will be around forever...and I hope that you will join us. Forever isn't too much to ask, is it? :)


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Sunday, November 18, 2012
Whitestone eyesore soon to be cleaned?
From the Queens Courier:
A major bank has been granted legal permission to clean and maintain an abandoned six-acre lot in Whitestone, which neighbors say has become a hotbed for wild animals and overgrown weeds.
The undeveloped 150-33 6th Avenue site has been neglected for more than a year, according to the site's next door neighbor, Artie McCrossen. It is currently in the midst of a foreclosure action by OneWest Bank.
Four-foot high weeds, wild raccoons, possums and mosquitos started to call the unkempt yard home, McCrossen said, after property owner Whitestone Jewels stopped maintaining the land.
OneWest Bank announced two weeks ago it has gained court approval to access and fix the vacant site, according to State Senator Tony Avella.
"This is welcome news for residents of Whitestone," Avella said. "This vacant property had become an eyesore in the community for far too long and it is a shame that it was allowed to deteriorate like this."
Still, McCrossen, who is surrounded on three sides by the problematic land, said he will only "believe it when he sees it."
"People talk and nothing goes on. I haven't seen anything in two weeks," he said. "It's ridiculous. The issue was never resolved. It's a shame, and it really annoys me that the city isn't taking any kind of action against the piece of property."
McCrossen, 59, said he has seen trucks illegally dumping dirt and materials onto the land and has taken it upon himself to repair damage made to the property after superstorm Sandy.
3 comments:
WHen is McCrossen running for Congress again?
- Sunday, November 18, 2012
Whoa...a hotbed for wild animals...perish the thought.
- Sunday, November 18, 2012
This is what needs to be done with that plot of land.
Al was and is right.
It was once for the children and should be returned to the children.
Avella, Halloran, Isreal, Stavisky, and everyone one else needs to get on board and make it happen.
Al's Malba Gardens group has obtained letters from the Bayside Whitestone Lions club, Dwarfe Giraffe, Auburndale, St. Kevins, and St. Lukes CYO, in absolute favor of this proposal.
If these politicians don't do what needs to be done for the kids , we know what we need to do, and we will NOT forget come November.
As Al has often said,
I for one will and I hope you all remember as well.
- Sunday, November 18, 2012


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I once wondered why Donalds can ever conquer the world, as it happened in the fan comic. Imho, it is because Donald is quite versatile!
Looking at the previous strips, I inspired to create some Donald cards.
The process is easy: copy the comic strips, use mspaint to crop out Donald parts, and put it into
http://achievementgen.com/hearthstone/ and done.
Hope you like it and laugh at it
Edit: Seems there is an "upload attachment" option, so I just upload it here.
#385:Donald the Determined(2,0,2)
"I like to try things!"
Battlecry(EDITED): Destroys a random minion of yours.
Deathrattle: he is returned to your deck and gain +1/+1.
Also, his artwork and intro quote should change with each determination buff.
Ps: I really struggled to think of anything between overpowered and useless.
http://achievementgen.com/hearthstone/d ... sWePnb&p=0
#Fan comic:Donald the Smart One(5,2,5)
"I will make you cry and cut you with sharp things!"
All other Donalds have +1/+1.
http://achievementgen.com/hearthstone/d ... 0eO9hY&p=0
#330,and many other strips:Donald the Firewalker (1,0,2)
"It looks gud!"
Absorb all damages and debuffs from enemy spells.
http://achievementgen.com/hearthstone/d ... e00k4s&p=0
#346:Donald the Pointless(4,2,2)
"We are pointless twins!"
Battlecry: reduce the attack power of an enemy minion to 0.
http://achievementgen.com/hearthstone/d ... k76klB&p=0
"Nobody likes me."
If there are other Donalds on the battlefield (including enemy Donalds), this minion gains +1/+1.
http://achievementgen.com/hearthstone/d ... HvIWzs&p=0
#120: Donald the Alliance PvPer(3,1,3)
"What's your game?"
Battlecry: Give all Alliance faction minion (Elven Archer, Goldshire Footman, Stormwind Champion, etc) a +2 or -2 attack power buff/debuff at your choice (don't ask why.)
http://achievementgen.com/hearthstone/d ... awmndX&p=0


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That led to the Muslim Brotherhood and sharia law and more jihad. via 75 Facts About the 75th Secretary of the Treasury.
59. During Secretary Geithner's tenure, Treasury chaired the Deauville Partnership for Arab Countries in Transition, establishing a multi-donor fund of up to $250 million fund, expanding European Bank for Reconstruction and Development operations to the region, and initiating other measures to strengthen institutions and markets in support of the Arab Spring.As a contributor at finance blog Zero Hedge pointed out:
I'm thinking Tim's bank, The Federal Financing Bank, was making loans for weapons? Anyway, it's hard to look at N. Africa and the rest of the ME and call it a success.


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The folks at CollegeHumor.com must have thought they were stuck in a dream - or perhaps a nightmare - after last week's "South Park."
The long-running Comedy Central series unleashed a parody of the mind-bending summer hit, "Inception," but apparently lifted several lines of dialogue for the episode from a video that appeared on the web comedy site in August, reports Entertainment Weekly.
"It's just because we do the show in six days, and we're stupid and we just threw it together," said show co-creator Matt Stone by way of issuing an apology for the usage. "But in the end, there are some lines that we had to call and apologize for."
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Stone explained that their goal was to mock the intricate - and at times, convoluted - language of the film.
"It was like, 'Let's parody the gobbledygook' - because honestly, that movie - all those explanations, and explanations of explanations," he said.
But when he and Parker could not locate a movie theater still showing the movie and were unable to secure a DVD of the film, they sought out other parodies and discovered the CollegeHumor video.
"We thought their joke was that a lot of those lines were actually in the movie," Stone said. "They were banging them against each other, and showing that the 'Inception' characters didn't even know 'Inception.' That was a mistake and it was an honest mistake."
Dan Gurewitch, one of the writers of the CollegeHumor parody, accepted the apology by way of his personal blog.
"All is well," he wrote, "and we're going to meet up with Matt and Trey when they're in New York."
Selected Reading: Entertainment Weekly, New York Times, New York Daily News


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He walks down the beach, holding his microphone, his Teva sandals slapping the rain-pocked sand. Wind tugs the brim of his Storm Stories ball cap. White foam skips across the waves.
The sky is bruised. Dark clouds sweep in from the south.
"Ten seconds," he hears through the wire in his left ear. Enough time to adjust the black T-shirt over his gym-built biceps. "Four seconds." He sets his jaw, turns his back to the storm. "Two." He stares into the camera. "One. And . . . "
"You can look behind me here and see the rain bands coming in," he tells a million television viewers, arcing his right arm along the shore, so they can see. "This thing is still a long way away from us. But once it makes that turn, it could start to speed up. We'll continue to track Hurricane Ivan as it heads closer. And we'll keep you posted."
He nods gravely.
"For now, I'm meteorologist Jim Cantore, reporting live from Panama City Beach, for the Weather Channel."
Cantore and his crew have been following Ivan across Florida for days. The weatherman is sick of waiting, tired of working 18-hour shifts, ready to get off the road.
He's worrying about a much bigger storm back home.
+ + +
He feels as if he has been chasing hurricanes all summer. First Charley, in Fort Myers. Then Frances, in Melbourne and Palm Bay. He has endured days without air conditioning, hot food or a shower. Countless nights trying to sleep on sandy sheets, in dumpy motels. Five weekends with his family washed away.
He has never heard of a hurricane season like this one.
He has never been away from his wife and kids for so long.
+ + +
He met Tamra 18 years ago, on his first day at the Weather Channel. She's petite and blond, six years older than he is. She was in management then, selling the fledgling station to cable companies across the country.
Her job was to get Jim Cantore into as many homes as possible, make him a household name.
In 1990, she became Mrs. Jim Cantore. Together, they helped build the station. He gave weather something new, a macho face. "We both traveled a lot. We got to the point where we were passing each other in the airport. After we had kids, it got real hard," Tamra says.
Daughter Christina is 11. Ben is 9. When Ben was 18 months old, the Cantore family's world began crumbling.
Ben wasn't walking. His wife's arms were shaking, but not from carrying the big boy. When Tamra went to the doctor, he focused on her first.
"I haven't let this out before. I don't know why I'm telling you now," Cantore says. He's leaning against the headboard in Room 116 of the Days Inn, trying to wind down during a break between broadcasts. "Maybe because I'm so exhausted and emotionally drained. Maybe because I'm feeling I'm so guilty I can't be there for them. Maybe it's just time." He turns his head away. Swallows.
"My wife has Parkinson's."
+ + +
"I shuffle, sometimes. I get tired and have to lie down," Cantore's wife says from their home in Atlanta. "When it's real bad, it gets embarrassing _ Jim has to cut my meat and feed me."
Tamra Cantore has the same type of early-onset Parkinson's as actor Michael J. Fox. There is no cure.
"My kids have never known me when I didn't shake, shuffle around and seem so stiff," she says matter-of-factly over the phone. "Somedays I'm not strong enough to open a jar of peanut butter. It's not as bad as what some people have to put up with. It's just what I've been dealt."
Tamra isn't the only one who is sick.
When she took Ben with her to her doctor's office, the doc wondered why the boy wasn't walking. At a year-and-a-half, Ben should have been running and spewing two-word sentences. But the boy could barely stand. He didn't speak.
After months of anxiety, testing tests and visits to specialists, the Cantores got the diagnosis: Both their children have a hereditary mental impairment. Their X chromosome is broken. They have Fragile X. Tamra is a silent carrier. Being a girl, Christina has a backup X, so she's better off than her brother. Her symptoms resemble social anxiety and ADHD.
Ben's condition often is mistaken for autism. "It's like having 10 kids to take care of instead of two," Tamra says. "It just gets overwhelming sometimes."
When Cantore is gone, a friend stays with Tamra to help. When Cantore is home, he drives his kids to doctors' appointments, therapy sessions and tutors. He does laundry, buys groceries and makes the meals.
On weekends, he packs his family in the SUV and drives 90 minutes north to the mountains, to the little log cabin he bought on the river. He and Tamra lash inner tubes together and float down the cool stream with the kids, drifting away from wild weather, adoring fans and debilitating diseases.
But Cantore hasn't seen the cabin for five weekends straight. He hasn't been around to cut his wife's steak or watch his daughter dance or let Ben beat him at PlayStation.
+ + +
By 9:15 p.m., the rain is spraying sideways. Lightning stabs the sea. Cantore pulls on his coat.
"Four, three," the voice counts down in his left ear. He squints into the camera, wipes his eyes. "Two, one, and . . . "
"The good news is that any potential landfall won't come here until Wednesday," he tells viewers. "That means you'll have plenty of time to prepare."
When the camera cuts to a commercial, Cantore watches the radar bleeding red. He's worried about Ivan's future track. Will it end up at his doorstep in Atlanta?
He might not be there to bail the basement. He might not be there to comfort his wife, to feed her if she's having a bad day. He won't be able to calm his kids.
"Hey, Cantore! Up here! We love you, man!" a big-bellied fan shouts from the hotel's fifth floor.
Cantore looks up and waves. "Who's winning the Broncos game?" he calls.
"We don't know," big-belly yells. "We've been watching you!"
+ + +
Tan and toned. Broad-shouldered. Sicilian. Passionate. Personable.
Smart enough to know his science. One-of-the-guys enough to break it down. He fills out his black T-shirts better than Sly Stallone.
Who knew a meteorologist could be so cool?
Jim Cantore turned 40 this year. He plays on his church softball team, jogs and lifts weights. He cheers the Green Bay Packers. Goes skiing in Colorado. Loves toasted almonds and Bruce Springsteen and An Officer and a Gentleman.
His eyes are hazel, his jaw square. He started shaving his head when his hairline headed north.
On-camera, before a storm, his deep voice takes on a calm, warning tone: Don't panic, folks. But be prepared. I'll show you what's happening so you can get out of harm's way.
Everywhere he goes, people ask for advice. Should we be boarding up yet, Jim? Is it better to be in the west wall of the eye or the east? Women mob him for autographs, and teenage girls giggle. Men want to buy him beers. When one family saw him on TV, broadcasting from Panama City Beach, they made a 90-minute pilgrimage to meet him. Restaurants send him free pizza.
Even as a kid, Cantore loved extreme weather. On cold nights in Vermont, he'd make his mom leave on the barn light so he could see when snow started dusting their farm. He'd wake at 2 a.m. to shovel the steps. "I'd always take off my shirt so I could feel the flakes hitting my back," he says. "The other kids would call me to see when we'd get off school."
He joined the Weather Channel in 1986, four years after the station started _ a few months after he graduated from Lyndon State College in Vermont. He has been stalking storms longer than anyone else on cable television.
Early this month, while Hurricane Frances was battering Florida, the Weather Channel was the country's most-watched cable news station, earning the highest ratings in its history. Cantore was on live eight to 12 hours a day.
When he's not in the field, Cantore hosts Storm Stories, the Weather Channel's first narrative series. From 9 to 11 weeknights, he also anchors Evening Edition. He has been interviewed by Tom Brokaw, Larry King, Brian Williams. He's one of five storm chasers who dive into the worst weather. The producer tries to put Cantore where the hurricane is going to hit.
"He doesn't fake anything," says producer Simon Temperton, who has worked with Cantore for 12 years. Their first assignment together was Hurricane Andrew. "His excitement about the weather is real _ and it's contagious."
With everything he's dealing with at home, Cantore's cravings for wild weather have intensified these past few years.
The only way he can escape one storm is to immerse himself in another.
+ + +
Days before Ivan arrives at the Florida Panhandle, the sky above the Days Inn is still swollen. But sunlight is filtering through the clouds.
"How far did you say this place was?" the producer asks from the driver's seat of the rented van.
"Just a couple miles up the beach," Cantore says. "Stop complaining. Everyone loves dolphins."
He's heading to Gulf World, an outdoor aquarium where rescued dolphin are rehabilitated. He and his crew plan a feature about trainers trying to protect the animals from the storm. While his cameraman films stingrays and sharks, Cantore interviews the keepers.
"We have a program here where children can swim with the dolphins. They have to be 5 years old and comfortable in the water," Gulf World operations director Cheryl Joyner tells Cantore. A boy about Ben's age stands on the side of the pool, throwing fish to the dolphins.
Cantore would love to do something like that with his own boy. There are so many things he would like to do with Ben.
"I'd always dreamed of taking my boy to watch the Yankees," says Cantore, who wanted to play pro ball even more than chase storms. "But Ben freaks out in crowds."
+ + +
"All right, folks. Here's the deal: This thing is coming. It's going to be making big waves in the gulf here soon. This is a tremendously dangerous hurricane, people. If it stays a 5, we'll be under water even on the second story of this motel."
He nods gravely.
"For now, I'm meteorologist Jim Cantore, reporting live from Panama City Beach, for the Weather Channel."
He's on the balcony of the Days Inn, outside Room 116. He opens the door. Cords and computers and cameras are piled on the tables, in case the floor floods. Almond Joy wrappers and empty Red Bull cans litter the dresser. The air smells like sweaty bodies and salt spray. The Weather Channel blares on TV.
"Mind if I turn this down?" Cantore asks his producer, who is slumped in a chair, scribbling notes. "I've got to call my wife."
He wants to catch his kids before they go to sleep.
"Salmon? You had salmon alfredo for dinner? That sounds yummy," he tells his daughter from the cluttered motel room. "No, I haven't had dinner yet." He eyes cold pizza on the dresser. "Did you see me on TV? Or are cartoons on?"
Ben seldom talks on the phone. If he does, it's just, "Hi, Dad. Okay, bye.' " But tonight, Ben tells his mom he has to talk to Daddy.
When he hears his boy's voice, Cantore smiles. He asks about school and PlayStation and the Yankees. Then Ben has a question. Cantore's face falls. For a few seconds, he's silent. Then he swallows and tries to steady his voice.
"When will I be home? Well . . . I'm still waiting for this storm. I'm going to be home . . . well, I hope on Friday, Buddy." There's a pause. Cantore slams his eyes closed. "Yep, Friday," he says again. "That's four more days."
Later that night _ actually, early the next morning _ after the overnight reports have been taped and the autographs have been signed and the cords rolled away, Cantore clicks on ESPN to check the Packers score. He pops open a can of Miller Lite.
The TV flickers blue shadows across his tired face. The sports scores slide across the screen.
"For years, I kept wanting to do something to fix things for Tammy and the kids," he says. "But I couldn't. So I didn't want to talk about it."
He clicks to the Weather Channel. There he is, smiling with the dolphins. There he is, windblown on the balcony.
"I guess, after a while, you have to admit you can't control it," Cantore says, watching the radar. "I guess you have to just do the best you can to accept it and live with it."
Kind of like the weather.
Jim Cantore has been working for the Weather Channel since 1986, when it was still a fledgling operation.
In Room 116 at the Days Inn in Panama City Beach, while waiting for Hurricane Ivan to arrive, meteorologist Jim Cantore calls home to Atlanta to talk to his wife and two children. In the background is cameraman Eddie Cortes.
Jim Cantore and his wife, Tamra, in matching Weather Channel jackets, take part in the 2003 Unity Walk in New York City, a fundraiser for Parkinson's research.
Cantore broadcasts from the balcony at his motel as Ivan approaches the Panhandle last week.


text:
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Sports News
Greinke and Dodgers beat Cubs 6-2
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[August 27, 2013]
(AP) -- Zack Greinke came within one strike of his fifth career shutout, Hanley Ramirez and Yasiel Puig homered, and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-2 Monday night, ending a two-game skid.
The Cubs lost for the eighth straight time to the Dodgers, including a four-game sweep at Wrigley Field earlier this month. The Dodgers equaled their longest winning streak against the Cubs in franchise history, set from June 9, 1974-May 19, 1975.
Greinke (13-3) tied his season high with nine strikeouts and he walked two while improving to 5-0 this month. The right-hander has won 10 of 11 decisions since June 22.
Greinke helped himself offensively, too, with a two-out hit in the fourth that scored the Dodgers' first run.
After giving up a single to Starlin Castro to open the game, Greinke retired the next 13 batters before Donnie Murphy singled in the fifth.
Greinke got the first two outs of the ninth before running into trouble. Anthony Rizzo doubled, then Greinke hit Nate Schierholtz before Brian Bogusevic's RBI double scored Chicago's two runs. Brian Wilson came in to strike out Murphy for the final out.
Greinke issued consecutive one-out walks to Murphy and Welington Castillo in the eighth before Darwin Barney grounded into a fielder's choice to third. Murphy advanced to third and Castillo was out at second. The Dodgers thought they had completed the double play, but second baseman Mark Ellis' throw didn't beat Barney to first, leading Dodgers manager Don Mattingly to shout, "Out!" from the dugout.
[to top of second column]
Greinke then got pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro to ground out to third, ending the inning.
Jake Arrieta (1-1) gave up four runs and six hits in five-plus innings, struck out three and walked five in his first road start for the Cubs since being acquired on July 2 from Baltimore.
Puig hit his 13th homer on his first pitch from Michael Bowden with two outs in the eighth.
Ramirez homered off Carlos Villanueva with one out in the seventh, extending the Dodgers' lead to 5-0.
Los Angeles had tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth on Nick Punto's RBI double and Carl Crawford's sacrifice fly that made it 4-0.
The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on two-out hits by Greinke and Crawford. Greinke's single scored A.J. Ellis, who walked, while Crawford's ground-rule double to deep left scored Punto, who walked.
NOTES: Dodgers OF Matt Kemp got a day off from rehabbing the sprained left ankle that has had him on the DL since July 24. He will run the bases on Tuesday and Wednesday. "When you start running the bases you're usually getting closer," Mattingly said. ... The Cubs fell to 30-35 on the road, where they are better than at home (25-41). ... The Dodgers clinched the 15th calendar month with 20 or more wins since 1958. Their previous was a 20-8 mark in May 2010.
Press; By BETH HARRIS]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
< Sports index
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text:
Pizza Samurai Halloween Costume
UPDATE: WE WON! DUH! Will Won two free Hot N Ready pizzas a month. BOOM! That ought to cover about 10% of his Hot N Ready habit.
This Halloween the Richmond, Virginia–area Little Caesars held a Halloween costume contest. Today they will award one year of free pizza to the maker of the best costume made out of Little Caesars pizza boxes—plus some serious bragging rights. When I saw this on Facebook I immediately recruited my friend, Will Blanton, and teamed up to design and build what we are sure is a winning costume. Picture it: a suit of armor for the ultimate Pizza Samurai.
I thought of Will because he is not only an extremely talented artist, but also because I'm pretty sure Will has an addiction to Little Caesars Hot N Ready pizza. So, I knew he would appreciate the prize. Seriously, he has a problem. There was a time in his life when he had amassed a tower of well over 50 empty pizza boxes in his kitchen. I think it is under control now.
Will loves pizza, but his love is careless. He is a strictly cheese- or pepperoni-pizza lover. He likes the chains. He doesn't care about white pizza or hole structure or San Marzanos. He doesn't know what a Neapolitan-style pie is, and I'm sure he doesn't care. For Will, and many others, pizza is just a favorite go to for sustenance and fuel. It is not a fine art.
I know many of you Slice'rs might be thinking, "Oh, man, there is way better pizza than Little Caesars!" While I have to admit I have a soft spot for LC in my pizza-shaped heart from childhood, I will admit I'm not in love with it, either. It is like Will said, "Not everyone is in a passionate, committed, long-term relationship with pizza like you are, Lauren. Pizza is just a fling for me." Apparently Will is into easy, cheap flings.
In any case we got to work on our epic epicurean costume and we were determined to win. The folks at my neighborhood Little Caesars on Forest Hill Avenue provided us with a fat stack of boxes to get our costume going. Of course we got a few Hot N Ready pies for inspiration and sustenance. Over the course of a week we set to work whittling down those boxes into a suit of armor. We researched authentic samurai gear and tried to make our suit as accurate as possible. It ended up being more similar to the Gusoku-style armor that became popular in the 16th century. (Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about?) Our costume included:
- Kabuto (helmet)
- Wakidate (helmet antlers)
- Shikoro (nape guard)
- Do (curiass/torso armor)
- Kusazuri (tassets/skirt)
- Hidate (thigh guards)
- Sode (shoulder armor)
- Kote (forearm guards)
- Tekko (hand guard)
- Suneate (greaves/shin guards)
- Wakisashi (short sword)
We worked off and on for about a week cutting and scoring the cardboard pizza boxes and stitching and gluing it all together. The whole time we speculated on what "free pizza for one year" really means, (Is it one a day? One a week?) and what the other entries would look like.
When it was finally finished we took it to Maymont, a local wildlife habitat, historic estate, and fantastic public park. We got Will suited up and made our way down Maymont's sunny paths for a photo shoot among the pagodas and koi ponds in the Japanese gardens. Our pal Alan Young is a great photographer and lent his skills to our silly mission.
The reactions of passers-by were awesome. Shock, disbelief, joy, confusion. It was all there. Tourists and locals marveled and laughed. Kids and adults and even a groom doing an engagement photo shoot wanted their pictures taken with this Hot N Ready N Deadly samurai.
We're feeling more confident than ever that we have made a winning costume but only time will tell. The Richmond Tri-Cities–area Little Caesars Halloween Costume Contest Winner will be announced today on their Facebook page.
I'm not gonna lie. If we don't win, I might throw a pizza tantrum. Come on! Look how awesome it is!
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text:
Wylin: Left Brain (Wolf Gang Swagger) Slaps The Fxxx Outta This Guy During His Performance!
"mellowhype/left brain getting buck 2011 skater of the year "
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