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Get well soon, Roberto
For those in the blogging community, you probably already know the brains behind the site that has arguably the best name of any out there. Roberto from Vin Scully is my Homeboy looks like he's going to be battling some health issues for a bit, so please keep him in your thoughts. From what I can tell, he literally attends every event that has anything to do with the Dodgers and has been posting great stuff on his site for the last couple years.
Roberto, on behalf of all of us at the Dodgers (including your homeboy), get well soon.
111 Comments
Get well soon Roberto…………
Rosenthal is reporting the Dodgers have signed Nick Green to a minor league contract, he is coming off back surgery and looking at becoming Raffy's back up at short.
Colletti just signed another ex-Giants loser- Russ Ortiz – to a minor league deal. Gee, I sure hope he makes the club…sigh.
OMG! roberto! I did not know! I was just reading you this morning on facebook! My prayers to you and your wife! I'll miss seeing you and your wife. Get well kid.
Sorry to hear that Roberto is on his version of the DL. Roberto – I will be praying for you and for a speedy recovery.
Get well Roberto!
Just what we need, Dodger4life, another injured player 🙂
How in hell do you get a submission error with a new thread and hardly any posts?!
Get well, Roberto, I'm looking forward to checking out your blog when you get back.
"It's time for Royals baseball."
Breaking News………………..Mark McGwire admits to using steroids. Really?
Now that we have confirmation about McGuire, when will it be Manny's turn?
We'll be lucky to keep Andre for the full season, what with the money he'll make after arbitration – money that Frank doesn't have.
Hello gang!!! Unfortunately if Frank/Jamie remain owners, I think it will get a lot worse before it gets better.
By jhallwally on January 11, 2010 1:00 PM
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I think/believe they will put their own agenda's before the teams!!!!!
By jhallwally on January 11, 2010 1:06 PM
Hi'Ya Bear. I think it should be, "Sell the team you f*cking wannabe's!!!!!
In Jamie's case, I guess it is a literal translation!!!
F word is an adjective for Frank, and a verb for Jamie!!!!!
:))) Hi'Ya Trumom!!!
Hey Wally!! How were the holidays?
Time Warp!!! :)))
Very good, Jhall 🙂
By they way, I second the motion to sell the f*cking team!
Hi'Ya Beav!!! Very nice, thanks for asking. How about you my brother?!!! I've enjoyed your comments.
Hey Jhall!!!
Enchanted – I just did a whole week's worth of stuff on the Royals, and they are looking better (from a management perspective) than the Dodgers do right now.
Hey Nelly!!! From a management perspective, what a joke when you talk about the Dodgers!!! I'm not surprised!!!
Doesn't Joe sit Raffy after long plane rides due to his back?
Now he has a replacement who will spell him after such plane rides with a bad back also? Coupled with all the rehabilitating arms, maybe the Dodgers can just fly from city to city this season in a big floating hot tub…..
I am just not understanding signing all these PVLs, paying them or not. Our farm system must be really damaged to have to go out and get once DL'd PVLs.
Very nice, thank you Wally. I even got to meet 4 of the ITD crew on New Years day.
Floating/flying hot tub? – I'm sure Jamie's in!!!
I for one would rather see all the kids get a chance to play than watch the likes of Green, Carroll, Ortiz et al. But then Joe's lost without his PVLs.
I'm sure they'll re-sign Joe for one more season at several million dollars to lean on the rail and look like a soaked bassett, so why can't they spend at least that much and sign a moderately (read that as a #4) starter?
Then of course we get to look forward to Mattingly's tenure… this organizations gone completely to hell in a hand basket led by the pied piper of NedCo.
NedCo – "If we had the money, Frank would have better lawyers.?"
Things are just getting better by the minute! Wow, we are certainly putting fear into our opponents….they have to be laughing their assses off!
Roberto said he had about six blood tranfusions since December. A good friend of mine at work had seven blood tranfusions during the December shutdown. I am glad of my contributions when we do the Blood drive here at work and the ones from the Dodger Booster club.
thank you all that donate blood at the stadium or anywhere!
On the other hand, if the team paid their players (Manny excepted) like Frank has to pay his lawyers, we wouldn't have much to complain about. That's the whole point – Frank doesn't hesitate to pay whatever it takes for his lawyers, whatever it takes to keep Joe leaning against the rail, and even extends the contract of such an ineffectual GM (the word is being used VERY loosely) as Ned, but he doesn't have the money to get anybody decent to upgrade the team or even guarantee that we'll have the money to keep Andre, Matt, etc.
"Sell the team you f*cking wannabe's!!!!!", as one of us said earlier.
Things are really starting to cook now….
Ned just signed a carp!!!
As Jhall would say unf***ingbelieveable!!!!!
Well there D4, if Green played for Hiroshima then I'm sure he's just the bomb.
Unf_cking believable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ned is certainly on the cutting edge!! Moan!!!! 😉
I guess the dumpsters of America to the storm sewers of Asia is a legitimate jump for our beloved Ned!!!!
Could that be perceived as; pro-active!!!!
Frank just wanted to out do Jamie…..she has the doughboy, so it is only fitting that Frank get a Dohmann
Amen and yes, sell the team you _____________'s!!!!
Now cut that out you two! – LOL!!
Is there some point at which the real major league team owners would complain that Frank and Ned (and Mannion too) are making a travesty of this game?
Sell the team you f*cking wannabe's!!!!!
Pro-Active gets rid of zits. Ned just acquires blemishes.
I think a dose of Preparation-H is in order.
Ned is filling out the roster, the way Joe fills out his line – up card from the bottom & up!!! I am using up in a pro active manner.
So Mc Guire finally admits to steroids. I've thought all along that Aaron and Maris were the real homer record holders.
Jamie is Huo Active…and research studies suggest it may get rid of Frank!!!
On a brighter note…I really think Kershaw will have a great season….I find myself eagerly awaiting this with much anticipation.
How could this not have you eagerly awaiting Kid K…..
When I heard about McGwire's admission on the radio I said to myself: very late, but I'm glad he apologized.
After reading the full text, I am disappointed. It is a weak apology full of self-pity. "I wish I was able" to do this (admit his steroid use) five years ago." Gimme a break.
McGwire should have no place in the game.
If he really wants to convince this fan that he is truly sorry, he will donate every penny (alright he can keep $10K to get a new start in a completely unrelated field) he has and vow never to make another penny from baseball or from the fame he stole from the game. As recipients, I recommend he appoint someone to find guys who never quite made it to the majors but would have if not for cheaters like himself.
lny4loney, I couldn't agree with you more. Self-serving garbage meant to ease his way back into the Cardinals dugout. He claims he used steroids to recover from numerous injuries…stay healthy enough to honor his contract…that every home run he ever hit he would have hit regardless, given his natural gift of power. The whole point of steroids is longevity and quick healing, as well as bulk and power. If he's not using, he's on the DL; hard to break records on the DL. Hard to take active roster spots if you're on the DL.
Given this level of fraud, self-deception, and flat out lying, is it any wonder Ned's dumpster dives are framed every which way but the truth: Frank is penniless and paralyzed. Just say it like it really is.
From the homepage……….
It's good to see some of those names again, and here's to hoping they get a legitimate shot to be up with the big club. It sure is refreshing compared to the players Ned is finding as of late.
I hope so too, Nellyjune.
Roberto — I'm sorry to hear you're sick. My thoughts & prayers are with you. You need to get better soon, so you can make a trip up to the "Phonebooth" so we can get some autographs together this year!
Take care…
JOSH – Thanks for the news
ROBERTO – My thoughts and prayers are with you. I'll be praying for a healthy recover….God bless you & THINK BLUE!
OH YEAH a Glimpse of future or Maybe-to-be Dodgers! Thanks NELLY for sharing!
HOPE ITD is having a wonderful morning!
Roberto, my best wishes to better health, my prayers will be with you and your family!!
Now as far as the invitees to ST signings. I have one thing to say…if Russ Ortiz makes the club..I do not know what I will do, but when I read he could be a candidate for the 5th spot in the rotation, I almost puked. He is toast, done, it will be like we rolled Nomo out again that last year he was here. What was his ERA almost 9..in 70 plus innings. Absolutely no chance to win. I understand these signings are about catching lighning in a bottle but that will be the plague in a bottle…Give one of the youngsters , Lindblom, Elbert, whomever, but not Ortiz!!!
I totally agree with you, Ramslover!
Mark McGwire admits to steroid use…by Gary B.
McGwire would have admitted to steroid use sooner but, just didn't have the balls to do it.
Fabulous post Ramslover!!!! …………BTW – #16 is Andre Ethier, right fielder for the Royals……… I mean Dodgers :))
LOL!!! When do Barry (Pumpkin Head) Bonds, and Roger (very overrated super ego in denial) Clemins come clean?!!!
Mark McGwire admits to steroid use…by Gary B.
McGwire would have admitted to steroid use sooner but, just didn't have the balls to do it.
By trublu4ever on January 12, 2010 11:14 AM
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TRU-that's usually what happens when taking roids…their balls shrink!
NELLY – Wow don't trick me like that…my heart sunk for awhile…#16 Andre Ethier DODGER BLUE ALL THE WAY (right left anywhere) :0)
Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame!!! No one likes a liar!!! Pete's big mistake was lieing for 10-15 years. Pete was above board between the lines. McGuire, Bonds, Palmero, Sosa, et al…, were not. Pete should go in before any of these cheats!!!
JHall I agree with you on Rose. If the ballplayers will swallow their prides and admit when they screwed up, we are a very forgiving society. As for the steroid users, I realize I am probably in the minority, but I will not use it against them. I wish it did not happen, but it did and baseball, I do not care what Selig says, knew it was happening. It was prevalent just like amphetamines in the 7o's..I do not like when the high and mighty sportwriters act as if they did not know what was happening..they turned a blind eye just like the ML did. We do not know who did (only some have been outed, trust me many more did than didn't) and who did not. I think you have to look at the ERA for what it was and judge accordingly.
As for #16 nelly, I cannot recall him…did he get traded to the White Sox? LOL!!!
Sorry Rose!!! Well, let's hope Frank pays Andre like he belongs with the Dodgers and not like he belongs with the Royals.
Hey Jhall!!! On during the day again. Are you taking time off of work, or are you fighting the flu again? I hope it's time off work :)) Whatever the reason, it's good seeing you on during the west coast daytime hours. I agree with you, if those names are getting in the HOL, then so should Pete.
LOL!!!! Funny Ramslover :)))
Thanks Ram, Nelly!!! If Barroid goes in the Hall, then Pete should certainly be there!!!
I don't think Barroid, Rogerroid, Sammyroid, Alexroid will ever get into the HOF.
I still consider Roger Maris the single season home run record holder. I said that back in 2007!!!! Hank Aaron is still the all time home run king in my book!!! Nothing Barroid did is legitimate!!!!
Just wondering though, about all these players bitching about the steroids now, didn't take ome other form of a performance enchancer in their day. I recall hearing there were bowls of "uppers" sitting out like candy in the locker rooms.
Funny you should mention that, Jhall. Now, Roger Maris' family wants his record back.
Hi'Ya Trumom!! I certainly hope not. They would never get my vote. What would Roberto Clemente/Joe DiMaggio/Stan Musiel think of these guys?!!!!
Sad to say, but I'm sure that the Royals would be willing to pay more for Andre than the current Dodger ownership/management will.
McGwire waited as long as possible to admit his usage…he has only now, after decideing that he wants back into the game come forth….and still claims he would of been a Hall of Fame caliber hitter without the juice. How does he know, How do any of us know this!! We don't and we never will!!
I commend him for his admittance towards the usage. I can forgive him. I do not accept the fact that he deserves to be in the Hall!!
Hey gang, I'm tainted. I grew up watching Mickey Mantle and Don Drysdale!!! Real men who played the game clean.
Pete Rose and Robeto Clemente also!!!
Roberto Clemente!!! oops!!!
I hope baseball will put the steroid era in perspective and let the future generations know that the records attained are not legitimate.
McGwire and all known PED users — OUT
Pete Rose — OUT (Let him in after he dies; his fans deserve it, but he doesn't.)
Trublu, I agree with you about the amphetamines..it was rampant in baseball in the 70s. There are players in the hall that used them..As long as sports have been played, players have always looked for an advantage. How can any of us sit here and think that none of our heros did not enhance their performance. If the media was as agressive as they are now, alot of our heros would be tainted.
I heard from a long time major leaguer that greenies were taken by many ballplayers in the 7o's including some HOFers…
Lets not think that the Steroid Era is the 1st tainted era of baseball…
Gil Hodges belongs in the Hall!!! As a player and a manager!!! Collective body of work and he is what baseball was and should be again!!!!!
Agreed JHall, it is a travesty that he is not in. I just do not get it…especially the Veterans committee. Why has he not been elected?
I really do not like to listen to Ken rosenthal mightier than thou attitude…get over it midget, you probably never played the game..
Hall of Fame opinions:
McGwire and all PED users — OUT forever.
Rose — OUT until he dies (His fans deserve it; he doesn't)
Gil Hodges — OUT. Sorry guys, his numbrers just don't support it. Gil was a very, very good player for more than a decade. But he never won an MVP or came really close to it. Never led the league in homeruns, has a .273 lifetime batting average. The difference between Gil and Andre Dawson who does belong is that Dawson brought tremendouse defense and speed on the basepaths. Here's a link: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hodgegi01.shtml?redir
I also found McGwire's so called apology somewhat lacking in substance (no pun intended) and self serving. He has been dodging this question for quite some time now and when given the chance to "spill" his guts to Congress he chose to tell everyone he is not here to "talk about the past". He then expects all of us to believe he really wished he had never taken steroids and basically regrets even playing during this period in baseball history. I think it would have been far more nobler to just admit what he did, explain why he did it and what he hoped to gain and then give a stern warning to the kids out there to stay away from steroids. I wish he had done this a long time ago and did not wait until he had a job back in baseball to clear the air.
Lbirken, it would have been nice if he would have spoken to Congress, but with no immunity granted he had no choice but not to speak. He, at least, did not blatantly lie, he just skirted the topic. He was very forthcoming to the Congressman behind closed doors and did not leave himself open to perjury charges…
I just wish everyone could try and put yourself in his shoes. He made very bad life choices, we all probably have in certain aspects of our lives and we wished we had not. Whether is was in a relationship, game, etc..For him to come out and admit that he did steroids, I feel is very honorable. I do not understand what everyone wants him to say. Athletes at that level have big egos and pride. Costas asked him if he thought he could have broken the record without them. He answered how he felt, was it the answer that we wanted to hear, probably not, but it was his opinion…
I feel, he can now devote the time and energy in a positive light, speaking to kids on why they should not do steroids. His reputation and name will always be linked to them and so will his records, so who really is hurting the most…
Are you sure that isn't the reject list, Kahli? lol
Disagree, ramslover, with McGwire's claim that he had no choice to speak without a grant of immunity. He could have spoken and suffered the consequences. A difficult choice? Yes. But he did have a choice.
ramslover, I agree we have all done things we later regret. Perhaps McGwire does really regret using PED's; it just did not sound too convincing to me the way he said it. I did not see the entire interview so maybe I am going by a sound bite. And I still feel his timing is suspect. I hope he does speak out against steroids. I will agree that even if some of us may not like some of the things McGwire said or the way he said them, the fact he did come out and admit using PED's might help other players clear the air.
Angel Berroa
Jamey Carroll
Justin Miller
Josh Towers
Scott Dohmann
Nick Green
Argenis Reyes
Russ Ortiz
Carlos Monasterios
Armando Zerpa
Jon Link
John Ely
Francisco Felix
Juan Perez
John Lindsey
Prentice Redman
Jay Gibbons
Doug Mientkiewicz
Did I forget anybody? And to think the Dodgers only needed a little push to get over the hump and capture the NL crown. What will they do with such acquired riches???
Here we go…………………pitchers are are at mini camp at Camelback Ranch. Let's hope for the best as they try and sort out the back of the rotation and all the ones in between………………..the bullpen.
That is kind of a scary list Kahli.
I suspect John Ely may be the hidden gem here. The silver lining around the Juan Pierre signing cloud.
"Whether he (Mark McGwire) took steroids or not, he did so much for baseball," (Willie) McCovey said. "He almost helped save baseball for a few years there."
Hogwash. Baseball didn't need "saving". God knows that the 1994 strike inflicted serious damage on the NATIONAL AND AMERICAN LEAGUES. But BASEBALL can never be destroyed, no matter how hard Bud Selig or his evil predecessors try.
In any case, the major leagues would have recovered without the bogus Mark-and-Sammy show. Something great and exciting would have happened. Always does. I don't know what that/those event(s) would have been, but I know baseball would have produced great players and great drama in the late '90s without those two clowns and without anybody taking PEDs.
Or "unknowingly" corking a bat….
Or, doctoring a baseball.
Or, not to be outdone, taking fertility drugs.
Players around the league voice their opinions about McGwire, including our own Andre Ethier. Also, it was stated in this article that Greg Maddux is now Special Assistant to the GM for the Cubs. Hmmmmm………… Does Ned have one of those?
Disagree, ramslover, with McGwire's claim that he had no choice to speak without a grant of immunity. He could have spoken and suffered the consequences. A difficult choice? Yes. But he did have a choice…
Yes he did have a choice, but when you have your attorney telling you not to speak and you do not know what consequences you may be facing, that is a tough thing to do. And if you were in his shoes, you never know how you ave reacted. The noble thing would have been to spill your guts and tell all, but in reality, it is hard to admit that you have made poor choices, especially in such a public setting.
It is a great debate that will rage on for years. I have decided not to hold it against them, because it is the era of the unknown. They were scores of players doing PEDS and just because a handful have been named, we cannot assume this is all. We will never know who did or did not…So with this I just look at it as the ERA of Steroids and judge accordingly…
I hope all in ITD have a great day and lets enhance our Dodgers by getting Frank to sell the team!!!
Good morning all………….
That was some good discussion yesterday, regardless of what stance you were taking. I enjoyed reading all the comments. Thanks everyone…..
Sandy Koufax at the Nokia Threatre! OMG! I already purchased my ticket. T.J. Simers will moderate the event again like he did the Vin Scully/John Wooden event.
People looked at me funny when I read that on the train and I said "OMG! OMG!
Oh, good morning ITD readers and posters!
Emma, have a wonderful time at the function. If you are able to, give Sandy a big hug for me – lol! I had a HUGE crush on him back in the day . . . .
Have a great day, everyone – and THINK BLUE!! BTW, I was wondering about the premium seats at Camelback and if management will be issuing those scented towels again this year . . . .
Dave Stewart agent for Matt Kemp says on Sirius radio that they are close to a deal for two years. Citing ownership concerns as the reason it isn't longer. This would mean that Matt will not have to go through negotiations in what might be a difficult 2011. Matt has left a brief message on his Twitter account stating that he forgot how much he misses Dodger Stadium and that today is day two of hitting and throwing….We didn't forget Matt, good to see ya enjoying life, I mean all is good in the Kemp camp….really really good!!
Emma glad to see you attending the Torre/Koufax function that should be a very, very enjoyable evening for all in attendance.
The Dodgers seem to be under the impression that Padilla will be available at a discount, and are awaiting the pursuit.
That's good news about Matt. However, him being worried about ownership is not good, but I am certainly not surprised at all that he (they)are. We are, and we are just the fans.
That is true Nelly…..
correction XM radio….sorry!
Sooo happy Matt will be a Dodger for at least two years.
Sparkleplenty! If I could, I would! I think Sandy is one that would get me tongue twisted talking to him or just as nervous as I was when I talked to Vin Scully but I did relaxed a bit after the initial greetings.
Tickets go on sale at noon today but because I went to the Scully/Wooden event, they sent me email for ordering earlier which I did not open the email up until today.
Here is the article from T.J. Simers.
the special VIP experience to dine with Sandy and torre starts at $2500, but that is too rich for me.
I have to agree with those yesterday that say Gil Hodges belongs in the hall. If you're going strictly by stats, then Koufax doesn't belong in the hall either (165 wins), and I don't think anyone would argue that he doesn't belong there.
Matty Kemp!! But just for the record, trublue, Kemp was already under Dodger control for THREE more years in any case. I hope that next off-season we can get him signed to a long-term contract.
Sandy is a special case. Whereas most HOFers had a very good long career, Sandy had a short but off-the-charts-great career, leading the National League in ERA for five consecutive years. Sandy is not the appropriate standard by which to judge Gil Hodges HOF credentials.
BTW, Bill James addressed this issue of short outstanding careers versus long really good careers in his book "Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame: Baseball, Cooperstown, and the Politics of Glory", a very good read.
Listen carefully and you may hear Frank's sphincter tightening……..
My favorite Mannion quote:
"I can honestly tell you we're not seeing any density of phone calls about the composition of the team…"
Of course, he doesn't say anything about newspaper and magazine articles, emails, blog entries, letters, telegrams (are there still telegrams?), etc.
Bah. He's still a liar.
Sell the team, Frank. And take this politician with you.
Granted Sandy had 6 magical years in a row lny, but he also had 6 years previous to that which were pedestrian. Hodges had 7 years in a row of driving in 100, was an 8 time all-star and 3 time gold glove. Just think if there's room in the hall for Dawson there should be room in the hall for Gil too.
You make good argumetns for Gil's inclusion in the HOF. It is a close question.


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Curricula with an Agenda? It Ain't Just Big Coal
Today the Washington Post has a big story on efforts by the coal industry to get public schools to teach positive things about — you guessed it — coal. The impetus for the article is no doubt a recent kerfuffle over education mega‐publisher Scholastic sending schools free copies of the industry‐funded lesson plan "The United States of Energy." Many parents and environmentalists were upset over businesses putting stealthy moves on kids, and Scholastic eventually promised to cease publication of the plan.
Loaded curricula designed to coerce specific sympathies from children, however, hardly come just from industry, as the Post story notes. Indeed, as I write in the new Cato book Climate Coup: Global Warming's Invasion of Our Government and Our Lives, much of the curricular material put out at least on climate change is decidedly alarmist in nature, and is funded by you, the taxpayer. In other words, lots of people are trying to use the schools to push their biases on your kids, which is an especially dangerous thing considering how unsettled, uncertain, and multi‐sided so many issues are.
In light of the huge question marks that exist in almost all subjects that schools address, the best education system is the one that is most decentralized, in which ideas can compete rather than having one (very likely flawed) conclusion imposed as orthodoxy. And it would be a system in which no level of government — either district, state, or federal — would decide what view is correct, or what should be taught based on the existence of some supposed consensus, as if "consensus" were synonymous with "absolute truth." What is truth should not be decided by who has the best lobbyists or most political weight, nor should children be forced to learn what government simply deems to be best.
Of course, there are some people who will decide that they are so correct about something that it would be abusive not to have government force children to learn it. If their conclusion is so compelling and obvious, however, no coercion should be necessary to get people to teach it to their children — it should be overwhelmingly clear. More importantly, if there is controversy, efforts to impose a singular view are likely to fail not just with the children of unbelievers, but for many of the children whose parents share the view. As significant anecdotal evidence over the teaching of human origins has stongly suggested — and new empirical work has substantiated — when public schools are confronted with controversial issues, they tend to avoid them altogether rather than teach any side. In other words, efforts at compulsion don't just fail, they hurt everyone.
Educational freedom, then, is the only solution to the curricular problem. If you want full power to avoid the imposition of unwanted materials on your children, you must be able to choose schools. And if you want to ensure that your kids get the instruction you think every child should have, everyone else must have that ability, too.

subset: commoncrawl


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Gameloft's latest mobile title is an Unreal Engine powered action adventure game where blood is wild! Well, presumably. Maybe the title, Wild Blood, is just tricking us. Regardless, best prepare for the worst and anticipate ravenous blood cells destroying everything they come across, or at the very least partying into the wee hours of the morning.
Wild Blood is coming out on iOS and Android in the near future. According to Gameloft the game is based on a well-known character from history. Now, I'm fairly up on my history, and I honestly can't recall hordes of orcs and trolls causing a ruckus. No doubt all will be clear soon.
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France: Travelogue, History, & Music (Part Deux)
Before my second trip back to France, I did some reading before I went. For my listening pleasure, I have a small collection of French music at home.
Below are a few books and music CDs I've enjoyed about France.
- History of France by Lucien Bély, English edition trans. by Angela Caldwell. Concise history of France until recent times by a French history professor at the Sorbonne. I bought the English translation in France 8 years ago.
- The Road from the Past by Ina Caro. Written in 1996, Caro writes about a travelogue about French history. Her journey (with her husband, noted biography Robert Caro) begins in southern France and progresses through the ages. She also offers some of her local experiences in the places she visits.
- Paris to the Past by Ina Caro. Companion to her previous book, Caro continues her time travels through day trips with Paris as a starting point.
- The Greater Journey by David McCullough. Best seller about Americans who went to Paris in the 19th century and how it influenced their career and later lives. It provides a fascinating history of Paris as well.
- Discovery of France by Graham Robb. In the 19th century, France was an unknown country to its own citizens. What guidebooks available for foreigners didn't provide helpful information. French wasn't widely spoken outside of Paris; locals spoke local dialects and regional languages. Robb explores how the country came to be mapped out; he took a cycling trip as part of researching this book.
- Rough Guide to the Music of France–Musical tour of France with tracks in regional languages. The country has a rich heritage. To hear the sounds of Paris, Rough Guide offers 3 CDs on the city–scroll down a little to "Related Albums" on the right side of the page.
- A Night in France–Part of the "A Night in" series, this CD features contemporary music.
- Putumayo Presents: Québec–If you go to St-Malo, you'll see the Québec flags flying there on the ramparts. What's the connection? Explorer Jacques Cartier is the town's native son. Although the CD is no longer available on the Putumayo site, you may be able to find it in stores.
~ Elisa Babel ~ DC Public Library
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Filed under: Adult, Collection development, Cultural, Public Services, Readers' advisory | Tagged: France, French Culture, travelogue | 1 Comment »


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Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and cut a few trillion from your personal deficit. LET'S GO!
TAKE THE MONEY & RUN – 9:00PM (ABC) ABC's newest reality show is basically a treasure hunt. Two brothers stash a briefcase containing $100,000 somewhere in San Francisco (presumably under a big T), and then a team of detectives is let loose on the money's trail. If they find the case, they keep the money. If they don't, the brothers do. And this is such a simple (and frankly, good) idea for a show, it's kind of a wonder no one did it before. I'll watch anything that involves a briefcase full of cash. Briefcases full of cash are awesome. ANTICIPATION: CASH MONEY BROTHERS!
KILLER SHARKS – 9:00PM (Discovery) Shark Week rolls on with this special taking a look at the 1957 shark attacks off the coast of South Africa and how they affected public attitudes towards sharks. HINT: Not for the better. ANTICIPATION: BITES!
STEAM OF LIFE – 10:00PM (PBS) Here's a fun fact: Did you know that Finnish people are obsessed with saunas? It's true. In fact, PBS has an hourlong special on tonight about how much Finnish men enjoy a nice big steamer. Check out their custom saunas, marvel as they ladle water onto hot rocks, and watch with awe as you realize that Finns must be quite a leisurely group of folks. ANTICIPATION: STEAMY!
BORN TO DANCE – 10:00PM (BET) Add BET to the litany of networks with a dance competition now, this one hosted by choreographer Laurieann Gibson, and with a grand prize of $50,000. Winner also gets to be an extra for half a second in a Big Boi video (NOTE: Not an actual prize). ANTICIPATION: BUST A MOVE!
19 KIDS AND COUNTING – 9:00PM (TLC) The Duggars go to NYC to promote their book, and I'm sure New Yorkers on the subway find their 19 brats jussssst adorable. ANTICIPATION: BAD IDEA!
Tuesday Watch List: Money Money Moneyyyy… MONEY
Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and cut a few trillion from your personal deficit. LET'S GO!


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Preheat the oven to 180oC (350oF), Gas Mark 4. Cream the butter in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the sugars and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg, water and vanilla extract while still beating. Reduce the speed and gently mix in the oats, flour, salt and raisins to form a dough. Using your hands, roll the dough into walnut sized balls and place slightly apart on two baking trays. Bake in the oven for 12-25 minutes or until light golden brown but still slightly soft in the centre. Allow to cool on the trays for a minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
Snow pics of my garden.


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LAS VEGAS — With slot machines ringing all around him, Ben Midgley walked through the lobby of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, talking with a reporter on his way to meet some prospective clients.
At the time, Midgley had spent only 30 days as the president of Planet Fitness and World Gym, Dover, NH, so life has been a little dizzying for the former sales executive at 24 Hour Fitness. At one point in the interview while Midgley was answering a question about the recent Planet Fitness acquisition of World Gym, he paused because he simply forgot the question. Maybe Las Vegas had something to do with that.
Earlier in the day on Sept. 6, Midgley was part of a panel of Planet Fitness/World Gym executives that met with franchisees of both Planet Fitness and World Gym clubs during an information forum at the Rio.
Planet Fitness bought World Gym last year for more than $10 million, taking ownership at the time of 300 World Gym clubs. Through August, the company had 170 Planet Fitnesses and 236 World Gyms, with franchise agreements with 40 more Planet Fitnesses and 25 more World Gyms. Since the purchase was finalized, efforts to homogenize World Gym under one look and logo have left some franchisees confused.
Midgley says it might take two or three years before the World Gym look and feel is more or less the same.
"I think the owners understand that we're 100 percent committed to them," Midgley says. "There's got to be a lot of worries on their mind. A new company comes in and purchases their brand. It's going to affect their business one way or another. It's obvious to me that we need to do a lot more for the World owners. They have a lot of unanswered questions. We're going to do some work on that."
In addition to Midgley, the panel of Planet Fitness executives sitting under both the Planet Fitness "thumbs up" logo and the new World Gym "W" logo in the Rio ballroom consisted of Mike Grondahl, CEO; Chris Rondeau, CEO of franchising for World Gym; Marc Grondahl, chief financial officer for Planet Fitness; and Mike Uretz, former CEO of World Gym who is now a consultant for the Planet Fitness/World Gym company. Alongside the panel were Planet Fitness franchisees who had switched over from World Gym.
Many of the questions raised during the forum dealt with the size and the pricing of clubs. Planet Fitness is famous for its low-end, $10-a-month membership. World Gym franchisees wondered if they needed to lower their membership to as low as $29 a month. Midgley told the owners that not every World Gym will be priced the same and that they will not be forced to lower their prices.
Manny Kaye, who owns a two-story, 16,600-square-foot World Gym in Monrovia, CA, came away from the forum with mixed feelings.
"I don't think anybody has any answers in details," Kaye says. "Every time somebody did ask a question in detail, [Planet Fitness executives] said, 'We're not sure. We'll look into it.' There's no urgency from their end of it."
Kaye, a former district manager for Bally Total Fitness, says even though he felt frustrated before finally meeting the Planet Fitness executives, he wouldn't be opposed to switching his World Gym to Planet Fitness.
"I'm a business guy at the end of the day," Kaye says. "Let's not kid each other. The bottom line is we've got to make money."
Joe Talmadge owns a 40,000-square-foot World Gym in the heart of San Francisco. Talmadge says he was a little disappointed with the forum but was pleased that franchisees and company executives at least came together and discussed their issues.
"I was hoping to have more of a substantive conversation," Talmadge says. "It was somewhat informative, but not enough detail went into some of the responses of our questions. This is still a very transitional period. It's a relatively new marriage between the two branded companies, so I think things will shake out more definitively in the next six to 12 months."
Rondeau says the forum exceeded his expectations.
"We had a lot of eye-opening happening," Rondeau says. "We had a lot of questions that needed to be answered for people to hear in person. The biggest thing I wanted to accomplish was getting [World Gym owners] to all use the right vendor channels because even if we get them to do that, that in itself will start to create the uniformity of the brand."


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When walking through a cemetery, you often notice a monument or marking that catches your interest. Perhaps, it is the shape, the wording or perhaps the flowers or mementos that are close by.
Recently, I visited Ventry Cemetery in Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario. For me, this cemetery was not on a regular route but one I was checking for a client.
My list for the cemetery was in alphabetical order and not as it was set out in rows, so I had to look at each stone. I was calling out the name of the ones I was looking for. Where are you? While I was doing this, I found a most interesting one.
To the Glory of God
Olive Emmeline Clarke
Nov 17 1933 -- Oct 12 1985
Beloved wife of
Ronald James Brooks
Apr 12, 1934 -- Jan 21 2001
Click on the photo to enlarge it so that you can read the poem that Olive wrote when she had cancer.
This is the first time that I have seen a poem written by the person who is laid to rest. The names of the children are on the stone. The illustrations show something of the spirit of the couple. It looks like they loved to square dance.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
My favorite cemetery photo? How can I choose?
Posted by Janet Iles at 8:20 PM
4 comments:
- Diane Wright said...
How neat! I do the same thing, call out for the people, ya never know if they will feel like showing you their last place on earth.
- Saturday, July 25, 2009
- Dorene from Ohio said...
What a charming tombstone!
- Saturday, August 01, 2009
- dustbunny8 said...
This lady had style!Thanks for sharing a great one with us!
- Saturday, August 01, 2009
- Greta Koehl said...
I love it when there is something on the tombstone that lets the personality of the person shine through - this is a great example.
- Saturday, August 01, 2009
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Flames wrestlers grapple injuries, ready for Virginia Duals
January 7, 2013 | Lynchburg, Va.
While injuries and illnesses to some of its top wrestlers prevented Liberty University from placing as a team at the Dec. 28-29 Citrus Classic Invitational in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., they gained some valuable experience over the Christmas break, landing three individuals in the top eight out of 25 or more wrestlers in their respective weight classes.
Aaron Thompson, the 197-pound champion at last year's National Collegiate Wrestling Association Championships, came in sixth at the same division despite battling a case of the flu.
"He was miserable," Liberty coach Jesse Castro said. "For him to do as well as he did with how he was feeling was pretty remarkable. He is an elite wrestler."
Thompson, who didn't compete in his first tournament until the Nov. 17 Lindenwood Open near St. Louis, went 4-2, with his only two losses decided in overtime and double overtime.
"The ones he lost were really close," Castro said.
Meanwhile, Bobby Clymer, the sophomore younger brother of last year's 141-pound NCWA national champion Scott Clymer (currently an assistant under Castro), took sixth in the 165-pound weight class. He was followed by teammate Mark Busse, who placed seventh in the same division after earning All-American status with an eighth-place showing at last year's NCWA nationals.
"Mark has been pretty consistent," Castro said. "Bobby (Clymer) had one bad match early on, but came back in consolations and won four matches in a row."
Castro was missing four of his regular starters, NCWA national runners-up Royal Brettrager (184 pounds, shoulder and knee injuries) and Andrew Wilson (heavyweight), who lives in Anchorage, Alaska, and could not make the trip to Florida; Chase Boontjer (157), who was nursing an ankle injury; and freshman Marcus Miller (149), a Liberty Christian Academy graduate who suffered a concussion in practice the day before the team traveled.
The Flames have high expectations for this weekend's Virginia Duals, held annually at Hampton Coliseum. Liberty placed third after being seeded fourth out of eight teams in the American College Division at last year's Virginia Duals, defeating Apprentice School 30-15 in the consolation final.
Castro said he expects Boontjer, Wilson, and Brettrager to be back for competition.
Unfortunately, 141-pound sophomore Joey Paddock recently underwent surgery on his foot and may not be available until mid-February.
This weekend's field includes Apprentice, which Liberty defeated 30-15 in last year's consolation final, Anderson, Brockport, Central Florida, Nassau Community College, Roger Williams, and Stevens Tech.
Blessed with a 42-man roster, Castro has the flexibility to rotate wrestlers in at various weight classes and believes the Flames will become a formidable foe once he gets his lineup stacked the way he wants it.
"We've got great kids who are willing to work hard," he said. "We have a National Dual meet championship we want to defend (Jan. 18 in Dalton, Ga.) and a National Championship we want to win. The best is yet to come."


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All images are subject to copyright. For more information contact: email@example.com
26 Oct 17 - Asia-Pacific - Competition Day 1
Images taken on the 1st day of competition at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship golf tournament held from 24 - 29 October 2017 at the Royal Wellington Golf Club, Heretaunga, Wellington, New Zealand. Copyright: John Mathews 2017Read More


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Release65:Hessians & Vibrational Frequencies
From NWChem
This section relates to the computation of analytic hessians which are available for open and closed shell SCF, except ROHF and for closed shell and unrestricted open shell DFT [1]. Analytic hessians are not currently available for SCF or DFT calculations relativistic all-electron methodologies or for charge fitting with DFT. The current algorithm is fully in-core and does not use symmetry. This will be changed in the next release.
There is no required input for the Hessian module. This module only impacts the hessian calculation. For options for calculating the frequencies, please see the Vibrational module.
Hessian Module Input
All input for the Hessian Module is optional since the default definitions are usually correct for most purposes. The generic module input begins with hessian and has the form:
hessian thresh <real tol default 1d-6> print ... profile end
Defining the wavefunction threshold
You may modify the default threshold for the wavefunction. This keyword is identical to THRESH in the SCF, and the CONVERGENCE gradient in the DFT. The usual defaults for the convergence of the wavefunction for single point and gradient calculations is generally not tight enough for analytic hessians. Therefore, the hessian, by default, tightens these up to 1d-6 and runs an additional energy point if needed. If, during an analytic hessian calculation, you encounter an error:
cphf_solve:the available MOs do not satisfy the SCF equations
the convergence criteria of the wavefunction generally needs to be tightened.
The PROFILE keyword provides additional information concerning the computation times of different sections of the hessian code. Summary information is given about the maximum, minimum and average times that a particular section of the code took to complete. This is normally only useful for developers.
Print Control
Known controllable print options are shown in the table below:
|Print Level
|more information about where the calculation is
|detailed CPHF information
|detailed nuclear contribution information
|detailed one electron contribution information
|detailed two electron contribution information
|detailed XC information during the fock builds
Vibrational frequencies
The nuclear hessian which is used to compute the vibrational frequencies can be computed by finite difference for any ab initio wave-function that has analytic gradients or by analytic methods for SCF and DFT (see Hessians for details). The appropriate nuclear hessian generation algorithm is chosen based on the user input when TASK <theory> frequencies is the task directive.
The vibrational package was integrated from the Utah Messkit and can use any nuclear hessian generated from the driver routines, finite difference routines or any analytic hessian modules. There is no required input for the "VIB" package. VIB computes the Infra Red frequencies and intensities for the computed nuclear hessian and the "projected" nuclear hessian. The VIB module projects out the translations and rotations of the nuclear hessian using the standard Eckart projection algorithm. It also computes the zero point energy for the molecular system based on the frequencies obtained from the projected hessian.
The default mass of each atom is used unless an alternative mass is provided via the geometry input or redefined using the vibrational module input. The default mass is the mass of the most abundant isotope of each element. If the abundance was roughly equal, the mass of the isotope with the longest half life was used.
In addition, the vibrational analysis is given at the default standard temperature of 298.15 degrees.
Vibrational Module Input
All input for the Vibrational Module is optional since the default definitions will compute the frequencies and IR intensities. The generic module input can begin with vib, freq, frequency and has the form:
{freq || vib || frequency} [reuse [<string hessian_filename>]] [mass <integer lexical_index> <real new_mass>] [mass <string tag_identifier> <real new_mass>] [{temp || temperature} <integer number_of_temperatures> \ <real temperature1 temperature2 ...>] [animate [<real step_size_for_animation>]] [filename <string file_set_name> [overwrite]] end
Hessian File Reuse
By default the task <theory> frequencies directive will recompute the hessian. To reuse the previously computed hessian you need only specify reuse in the module input block. If you have stored the hessian in an alternate place you may redirect the reuse directive to that file by specifying the path to that file.
reuse /path_to_hessian_file
This will reuse your saved Hessian data but one caveat is that the geometry specification at the point where the hessian is computed must be the default "geometry" on the current run-time-data-base for the projection to work properly.
Redefining Masses of Elements
You may also modify the mass of a specific center or a group of centers via the input.
To modify the mass of a specific center you can simply use:
mass 3 4.00260324
which will set the mass of center 3 to 4.00260324 AMUs. The lexical index of centers is determined by the geometry object.
To modify all Hydrogen atoms in a molecule you may use the tag based mechanism:
mass hydrogen 2.014101779
The mass redefinitions always start with the default masses and change the masses in the order given in the input. Care must be taken to change the masses properly. For example, if you want all hydrogens to have the mass of Deuterium and the third hydrogen (which is the 6th atomic center) to have the mass of Tritium you must set the Deuterium masses first with the tag based mechanism and then set the 6th center's mass to that of Tritium using the lexical center index mechanism.
The mass redefinitions are not fully persistent on the run-time-data-base. Each input block that redefines masses will invalidate the mass definitions of the previous input block. For example,
freq reuse mass hydrogen 2.014101779 end task scf frequencies freq reuse mass oxygen 17.9991603 end task scf frequencies
will use the new mass for all hydrogens in the first frequency analysis. The mass of the oxygen atoms will be redefined in the second frequency analysis but the hydrogen atoms will use the default mass. To get a modified oxygen and hydrogen analysis you would have to use:
freq reuse mass hydrogen 2.014101779 end task scf frequencies freq reuse mass hydrogen 2.014101779 mass oxygen 17.9991603 end task scf frequencies
Temp or Temperature
The "VIB" module can generate the vibrational analysis at various temperatures other than at standard room temperature. Either temp or temperature can be used to initiate this command.
To modify the temperature of the computation you can simply use:
temp 4 298.15 300.0 350.0 400.0
At this point, the temperatures are persistant and so the user must "reset" the temperature if the standard behavior is required after setting the temperatures in a previous "VIB" command, i.e.
temp 1 298.15
The "VIB" module also can generate mode animation input files in the standard xyz file format for graphics packages like RasMol or XMol There are scripts to automate this for RasMol in $NWCHEM_TOP/contrib/rasmolmovie. Each mode will have 20 xyz files generated that cycle from the equilibrium geometry to 5 steps in the positive direction of the mode vector, back to 5 steps in the negative direction of the mode vector, and finally back to the equilibrium geometry. By default these files are not generated. To activate this mechanism simply use the following input directive
anywhere in the frequency/vib input block.
Controlling the Step Size Along the Mode Vector
By default, the step size used is 0.15 a.u. which will give reliable animations for most systems. This can be changed via the input directive
animate real <step_size>
where <step_size> is the real number that is the magnitude of each step along the eigenvector of each nuclear hessian mode in atomic units.
Specifying filenames for animated normal modes
By default, normal modes will be stored in files that start with "freq.m-<mode number>". This is inconvenient if more than vibrational analysis is run in a single input file. To specify different filename for a particular vibrational analysis use the directive
filename <file_set_name> [overwrite]
where <file_set_name> is the name that will be prepended to the usual filenames. In addition the code by default requires all files to be new files. When the option "overwrite" is provided any pre-existing files will simply be overwritten.
An Example Input Deck
This example input deck will optimize the geometry for the given basis set, compute the frequencies for H2O, H2O at different temperatures, D2O, HDO, and TDO.
start h2o title Water geometry units au autosym O 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 H 0.00000000 1.93042809 -1.10715266 H 0.00000000 -1.93042809 -1.10715266 end basis noprint H library sto-3g O library sto-3g end scf; thresh 1e-6; end driver; tight; end task scf optimize scf; thresh 1e-8; print none; end task scf freq freq reuse; temp 4 298.15 300.0 350.0 400.0 end task scf freq freq reuse; mass H 2.014101779 temp 1 298.15 end task scf freq freq reuse; mass 2 2.014101779 end task scf freq freq reuse; mass 2 2.014101779 ; mass 3 3.01604927 end task scf freq
- ↑ Johnson, B.G. and Frisch, M.J. (1994) "An implementation of analytic second derivatives of the gradient-corrected density functional energy", Journal of Chemical Physics 100 7429-7442, doi:10.1063/1.466887


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YouView - for those unfamiliar - is a TV service that wraps up digital Freeview channels with online catchup services such as BBC iPlayer and plenty more.
TalkTalk's YouView service - as offered through its Plus TV package - includes the Huawei version of the YouView box, which delivers a 500GB hard drive capable of recording up to two TV programmes simultaneously. This can be scheduled up to a week in advance and a total of around 200 hours of footage can be recorded. It's even possible to pause live TV on the current channel and rewind it.
But with YouView billed as a "subscription free" service by its makers - with no less than celebrity-meets-businessman (or is the other way round?) Lord Sugar at the helm - does it make sense to invest in, er, a YouView "subscription" via TalkTalk? There's a lot to consider, in particular as there are so many other competitive TV services out there at varying price points.
Pocket-lint has been living with TalkTalk's YouView service for a few weeks, so read on to see what we make of it.
YouView: OverView
YouView boils down to two primaries: what it can do, and how much it costs. We'll deal with the service part first, and address the pricing and competition in the latter half of this review. As a preface, however, we can say that one does inevitably spill into the other and you may find yourself in a chin-rubbing ping-pong mindgame with your own grey matter as to whether it's the right service for you.
At its core YouView is a souped-up Freeview HD box meets PVR (personal video recorder) meets online catch-up services. Roll that all into one, stuff it in a little black box with a 500GB hard drive, dress it up with an easy to use EPG (electronic programme guide) and, da-naa, you've got YouView.
It's everything in one place; everything in its right place in many respects. You might already watch BBC iPlayer on your computer, have a PVR under the TV, and/or a Freeview box to deliver more than the basic channels to your telly. That's a lot of methods and boxes, and YouView is here to untangle them. But is that really something you want to pay out the extra for if your current solution already works? If it ain't broke...
For most people, however, we'd wager that YouView isn't going to be a replacement. It's going to be that new box of tricks that allows for cool perks such as pausing TV while you make a cup of tea or for series record to be activated to ensure you won't miss your favourite shows that you can't always justify being in for every night of the week. Heck, plenty of people in the UK have only just had to upgrade from the analogue to digital signal - and that's where YouView missed its initial mark: It arrived two years too late to have made as big an impact as it could have.
TalkTalk Remote and Interfaces
But we can't hold its arrival date against it, as that's not what this review is about. It's about what's been delivered - and TalkTalk YouView sure does have some common perks as well as individual quirks.
The provided remote control - which can easily be synced to a variety of tellies to avoid the need for yet another controller stacking up and adding to confusion - includes all the usual TV controls, as well as a Guide button to access the EPG. You can adjust volume, turn the TV and YouView box on simultaneously, and so forth.
The Guide button is the basic access point to the EPG, which delivers content in a clear fashion that's easy to read and understand. Unlike Freeview it's also possible to "go back", just to double check if you did miss that programme an hour ago. If you have, other catch-up services mean it's likely still possible to watch it.
The remote also includes DVD-like controls, in the form of pause/play, stop, rewind, fast forward, and slow frames forward/backward, to play around with live TV or any recordings that you have made.
Recording channels is possible by clicking the remote's red-coloured "R" button which will record the current channel that you're watching (but only from that moment in time, as it can't travel backwards in time) or - and this is its best use - when used from within the guide menu to select programmes to record in advance. Prompts for single record or series record and even SD or HD (as appropriate) will pop up on screen, and these recordings then end up in what's called the MyView section.
It's the "Y" or "YouView" button that will access the MyView and other prominent sections of the YouView service. Although it's only a small button, dwarfed by the ultimately less important TalkTalk one - which opens up the TalkTalk Player - to the centre of the remote, the Y button will be your essential ticket into the main hub of the service and its extras. It includes access to On Demand players - including BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD, Demand Five, and Five's Milkshake (for kids) - as well as settings and other options, including a secondary route of access to the TalkTalk Player.
That big TalkTalk button towards the centre of the remote is the shortcut to the TalkTalk Player which, after taking an age to load, opens up additional pay-for content, as well as overviews of TalkTalk's services (essentially just a bunch of adverts built in) and special services. There's quite a lot available: whether NowTV, Sky channel packages, adult services, Asian channels and plenty more besides. But all these will incur extra one-off costs for a given month period, and the prices vary vastly.
We see the biggest use for this being single pay-per-view of movies or, where available, boxing or football matches and similar content.
There is other potential here, too. Seasonal promotions and freebies could be opened up for customers should TalkTalk and associated partners choose to do so. For example over the Christmas period 2012, from Christmas Day, TalkTalk, in association with LoveFilm, will unveil a new film every day for twelve days which will be available in the TalkTalk Player. A nice freebie, but we'd like to see more exclusive content throughout the year to make the most out of it.
The TalkTalk button is harmless, but it functions more as a subconscious reminder of the service provider as, frankly, it's not needed in addition to the YouView button. Having two paths to this pay-for content - which, for our money, isn't as important as the MyView recorded content - shouldn't be the case as it's potentially confusing.
There are other subtleties that we find irksome too. For a service that's connected to the internet, the fact that the likes of Help and NowTV require you to head to a computer to sign up just feels plain lazy. If YouView is a complete service then surely it should act as the access point to all points of services.
The Box
TalkTalk's made a good decision with selecting a Huawei box, rather than the Humax box that first launched the YouView service. The Huawei is small, light, inconspicuous even, and has a small purple light - or three lights that fade on and off in rotation, in that given TalkTalk style when it's recording - indicates that it's on.
Aside from the box taking an age to start up - just like the Humax equivalent - it's otherwise quiet, if not silent in operation.
There is an eco mode that's set to high by default to use up less energy, but that when set to "low" (the only other option) the YouView service will load up the box far quicker. It doesn't cut out the "loading" screen, however, which is a pain, but even save-the-planet types will opt for the low option to avoid the frustration of waiting around. Who wants to wait 30 seconds for TV? It might not sound long, but things like this should be immediate.
YouView customers can also take advantage of a YouView Remote Record iOS application to schedule recordings when not at home with access to the remote or box. It's only for Apple devices at present, but up to five devices can be synced to a single box so the whole family can get in on the action. It's got some highs and lows, but is an essential download. For more info, see our separate review, below:
READ: YouView Remote Record iOS app review
Subscription-based subscription-free service… eh?
For many people the idea of a subscription-free YouView service is an attractive one. It means avoiding the monthly fees of, say, Sky or Virgin media, or if you don't intend upgrading your telly to a brand new smart TV any time soon then YouView adds some HD channels to listings that you might otherwise not have and catch-up services right from the user interface.
Only, when buying it through a service provider, such as TalkTalk, it incurs a £50 installation fee and then, you guessed it, essentially carries a subscription cost per month for the duration of a contract.
Of course you could pop down to the shops and bag the Humax DTR-T1000 YouView PVR box - that's the "other", non-TalkTalk YouView box - for a one-off £249 cost. But then you'd need broadband to get the most from the service, which would obviously cost in itself.
READ: Humax DTR-T1000 YouView PVR review
And herein lies where this is going: YouView is effectively tied to other services for full use, so the internet service providers, such as TalkTalk, are dangling the upgrade carrot for a reasonable price. Yes there's a monthly bill for services, but it's potentially attractive. Or is it?
Choices and their prices
The logic of TalkTalk's YouView service banks on the idea that you've already invested in the company's service. TalkTalk's line rental, broadband and an unlimited download "booster" package totals £26 a month at the time of writing. The Plus TV package costs £30.45 a month - £15.50 plus £14.95 line rental - making the YouView aspect of the cost just £4.45 a month for the duration of an 18 month contract. Oh, plus that £50 installation fee of course. There's always an installation fee. Not forgetting that after that the service cost doesn't come down, it'll remain the same or, given how inflation works, it may go up. However, a rolling month-by-month contract is available from TalkTalk at the same price per month once the initial contract is up.
Still, that's pretty good value isn't it? Sort of yes and sort of no. BT's YouView service is apparently cheaper at £28.75 a month but limits downloads to a maximum of 10GB a month, which is a stifling limitation. Upgrade that to a 40GB limit and it makes the TalkTalk one potentially better value overall. Although there's a lot to consider in that as BT's brodband service may well be faster in your local area and, therefore, possibly the better buy, despite the higher cost.
READ: YouView from BT review
Elsewhere there's Virgin ultimately similar package - it's a TiVo box, nothing to do with YouView - adds up to £33 a month for an 18-month contract (with the same £50 installation fee), while Sky's own service is the priciest - and arguably best with the likes of Sky+ HD and Sky Go - at £43.50 a month for the full shebang, yet more with added premium channels.
So here's something a bit naughty: perhaps Sky users who don't utilise the company's premium channels should consider downgrading and instead head over to YouView, it would save around £120 a year or more, even if the overall service is a little bit thinner.
Or there's a wholly different way: go and buy a Freeview HD or freesat box for a fraction of the cost compared to the existing YouView box options. They're not the same services, and offer less control, but these are all possible options to access a greater expanse of TV.
YouView's "subscription free" concept is oxymoronic. As it's intrinsically tied to requiring a broadband service, and therefore the best way to buy a box is via a service provider, it can't really ever be subscription free.
The current options are: buy a standalone box for too much cash, or otherwise buy into or upgrade your BT or TalkTalk package for seemingly small sums of money. And for an extra few quid a month it is good value for a good service, but in the same breath YouView is now so close to the likes of Virgin Media in terms of cost that it's managed to become the sort of service that it ultimately was never supposed to be. Which makes it a bit of a failure.
But a sort of brilliant failure - there goes the oxymoron ticker again - as what YouView can do is great. Recording shows and series record is TV's holy grail, while the ability to plan a whole week ahead or even skip back to most shows by a full seven days is a luxury.
If you currently have a no-frills HD TV with no add-ons then the addition of Freeview channels, plus the major four in HD - which you may currently lack - is also a significant boost. If you're already a TalkTalk broadband customer then those luxuries for a few quid a month is a no-brainer, assuming you're prepared to take the plunge into another 18-month contract.
But we're a little conflicted as there are so many other good choices out there too: Freeview HD, freesat, even smart TVs with built-in catch-up interfaces these days.
Therefore our feelings of TalkTalk's YouView package are also conflicted. We genuinely like aspects of it - the all-in-one interface is great for both TV and catch-up, for example - but it doesn't yet offer next-level features such as the ability to watch shows on the go via an app, nor the ability to import or export content via its two USB slots.
Pound for pound if YouView sounds like something you want - and it will definitely suit some - then of the current three methods of purchase it's TalkTalk that we favour the most. It's the best of the bunch. There's fairer balance on the value-o-meter and download-limiter and we prefer the Huawei YouView box to the Humax one.
There's a lot of good to be had here, but with plenty of other options out there all worthy of consideration too, it's difficult to warm to YouView beyond its "is it, isn't it?" score.


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Today marks the 5 year anniversary of my starting the gluten-free diet. On January 9, 2006 my doctor called to tell me that I would have to start a gluten-free diet. I was scared & excited. Excited that I may start to feel better, but scared that I would no longer be able to enjoy my favorite foods. Little did I know where that road would lead when I started down it.
Fast forward 5 years down the road and here I am. I am writing for Celiac-Disease.com, Live Gluten Freely and am the Columbus Gluten-Free Food Examiner, all in addition to maintaining my own gluten-free blog about living life without gluten. I like to say that I took my lemons and made an awful lot of lemonade. I am not one to let something keep me down for long – I am all about finding a way to make things work. I truly believe in the saying "where there is a will, there is a way".
Over the past five years I have watched the gluten-free food market explode. I remember the first time I went grocery shopping looking for gluten-free food. I believe that trip ended in tears, as did a few after that. Not only was I terrified that I was going to mess up and eat something with gluten, but gluten-free food wasn't nearly as prominent then. There wasn't nearly as much awareness as there is now. It was a rarity to see a mainstream company label a product "gluten-free". I think the first mainstream products I remember seeing the words "gluten-free" on were Smart Balancemargarine and Clabber Girl Baking Powder. Clabber Girl has said that on the side for years. I can remember seeing that on the side of the can way back when I had no idea what gluten was. Funny how things work out.
I have gone from being terrified of dining out to taking charge and helping to educate restaurants & chefs on how to feed us safely. Sure, there are times that I still become frustrated because even though there is so much more awareness, it has not reached all corners of the restaurant world. Those establishments are behind the times, in my opinion. As a former restaurant manager, I believe that it is crucial to know your competition and what they are offering. What makes your restaurant better than the one next door? Options and customer service go a long way. If a restaurant takes care of your special dietary needs, you are more likely to spread the word and remain loyal to that establishment.
So what am I doing to celebrate? I enjoyed many pieces of carrot cake for my birthday, so I believe that was my celebration. What I plan to do this next year is to continue to raise awareness by getting the word out there via my blogs,Twitter and Facebook pages. I love to find new gluten-free foods and share them with all of you. I have a feeling that 2011 is going to be a big year for gluten-free!
For more, visit www.glutenfreeislife.com!


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I am in Hillsboro and recently moved to the area. I am a beginner at Tennis (2.0-2.5) and am looking for somone with a bit more skill to learn from. Would you like to get together sometime? I am very motivated to obtain skill and would like to play competitively eventually, but right now I just need to learn the basics and just enjoy the idea of the sport. I know I can rally, but I need to learn to serve, backhand, and just get some overall court experience. Would you consider coaching and helping me learn?
Thanks! Mike L.
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Ambassador Bryce Harper
When most people hear the word "diplomat," they experience a faint sensation of cocktail parties and a life on the international jet-setting circuit. But if you ever wondered exactly what a diplomat does, this recent account of the negotiations surrounding a Chinese dissidents departure for the U.S. is nothing short of fascinating. However, I still think the best work done by America's Foreign Service is its sports diplomacy programs. In China this meant building on the opportunity offered by Yao Ming and bringing over other NBA stars.
In Latin America these programs go under the name "baseball diplomacy." It makes sense. Most MLB teams have at least a scout and sometimes an entire infrastructure in Latin American countries in order to seek out and recruit promising young talent. Why not build on those ties by using the baseball players as ambassadors of American good-will? I'm pretty sure there's no better way to illustrate the American Dream than by sending guys who are actually living it.
The only problem is, the guy who is truly living the dream right at this very moment hails from the U.S. of A., not Latin America. Seriously, does it get any better than being Bryce Harper? The guy is nineteen years old, talented beyond belief and finds himself playing on a team that seems to have finally put the pieces together. Not bad for a guy who still can't legally drink and who only recently became eligible to vote. Oh, and I forgot to mention this:
Yep, I'm pretty sure I'd take "being a ballplayer" over "being a diplomat" any day of the week.


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AQHA Records Research
Explore your options for accurate and trustworthy American Quarter Horse research.
Welcome to AQHA Records Research. You'll find numerous choices and options below, depending on the type of American Quarter Horse information you're looking for.
If you have any questions, please contact AQHA Customer Service during regular business hours. Our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.
AQHA Records
The official data resource for all registered American Quarter Horses, including AQHA points, awards, achievements and official AQHA Alliance earnings. Current AQHA members receive $10 for complimentary internet records.
Sign in to access AQHA Records
- AQHA World Shows qualifying status
- Performance detail records
- Maternal grandsire records
- Individual horse records
- Sire records
- Dam's produce records
- What's the difference between AQHA and RGP online records?
- Record choices and samples
Research Foal Names
Research the availability of foal names prior to completing your AQHA registration applications.
AQHA Volume Records
The official data resource for all registered American Quarter Horses in a variety of record choices designed for commercial customers purchasing records in large numbers at a discounted rate. This service requires an annual subscription fee. To become a volume user, contact the AQHA Records Department.
Research more than 300,000 event money-earners representing more than 400 halter and performance organizations and every horse show event in the Robin Glenn Pedigrees database. Focused on American Quarter Horses, the RGP Database also covers other breeds that cross onto American Quarter Horses. AQHA membership is not required.
- Individual horse reports
- Dam's produce and four-generation dam's produce reports
- Nicking (best cross) reports
- Sire reports
- Maternal grandsire reports
- Free performer-tracking service
- What's the difference between AQHA and RGP online records?
- Report choices and samples
AQHA racing's official records in formats designed for horsemen. AQHA and The Jockey Club Information Systems are proud to partner to bring you equineline.com for Quarter Horses. AQHA membership is not required.
- Catalog-style "black-type" pedigrees
- Individual horse reports
- Dam's produce reports
- Inbreeding quotients
- Past performances with chart links
- Sire reports
- Nicking reports
- Custom portfolio service
- Farm management program
- Trainer program
- What's the difference between Equineline and AQHA records?
- Report choices and samples
- Custom services information
National Cutting Horse Association Records
The only source for official NCHA records on American Quarter Horses. AQHA membership is not required.
- Horse performance summary
- Sire records
- Dam's produce records


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- 1-877-462-2484
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PRE-HEALTH Professions Program
Saint Xavier University has a long history of successfully preparing students for all allied health profession programs. As a pre-health student your options are wide. Students can decide from direct patient care (medicine, dentist, etc.), medical/ biological/chemical research careers, or to public health and health care administration. Saint Xavier's Pre-Health Professions program provides students with the strong background and advising necessary to become a physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, physician's assistant, chiropractor, pharmacist or veterinarian as well as researcher and public health and policy maker. We are dedicated to encourage students interested in health professions to make realistic and conscious decisions about their future paths.
The Pre-Health Professions program is not a major but rather a program designed to guide you take a series of prerequisite courses in physical, natural and social sciences that are required by various health related professional schools. You can major in any undergraduate program you are interested in as long as you complete all pre requisite courses for the program you are interested in.
Explore Your Options!
Health care profession is a demanding yet rewarding experience. The decision to pursue a career in the health professions should be made only after careful consideration of your personal interests, motivation and commitment. If you find yourself drawn to the health professions, you will want to use your time at SXU to complete required courses and gain experience in patient care areas. There are many paths to medical school and other health professions and we encourage you to take a route that works best for you, based on your background, interests and skills. The more courses you take and the more co-curricular experiences you acquire, the more information you will have to make an informed decision.
Join the pre-health student list by emailing your first and last name, anticipated year of graduation, SXU email address and the program you are interested in to a pre-health advisor and get added to the mailing list. We also encourage you to meet with a pre-health advisor to discuss your goals and questions as soon as possible after joining SXU. SXU alums who graduated within the past three years could also contact the pre-health advisors and we would happily advise and provide recommendation letters if needed.
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The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop
Hypertension) diet can help you lower your blood pressure. It includes eating fruits, vegetables, and low-fat or
nonfat dairy foods. For more information on the DASH diet, see:
Follow these daily recommendations:
Low-fat and fat-free milk and milk
2 to 3 servings a day
A serving is 8 ounces of milk, 1 cup of
yogurt, or 1 1/2 ounces of cheese.
4 to 5 servings a day
A serving is 1 medium-sized piece of fruit,
1/2 cup chopped or canned fruit, 1/4 cup dried fruit, or 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of
fruit juice. Choose fruit more often than fruit juice.
A serving is 1 cup of lettuce or raw leafy
vegetables, 1/2 cup of chopped or cooked vegetables, or 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of
vegetable juice. Choose vegetables more often than vegetable juice.
7 to 8 servings a day
A serving is 1 slice of bread, 1 ounce of
dry cereal, or 1/2 cup of cooked rice, pasta, or cooked cereal. Try to choose
whole-grain products as much as possible.
Meat, poultry, fish
No more than 2 servings a day
A serving is 3 ounces, about the size of a
deck of cards
Legumes, nuts, seeds
4 to 5 servings a week
A serving is 1/3 cup of nuts, 2 tablespoons
of seeds, or 1/2 cup cooked dried beans or peas.
Fats and oils
A serving is 1 teaspoon of soft margarine
or vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise, or 2 tablespoons of salad
Sweets and added sugars
5 servings a week or less
A serving is 1 tablespoon of sugar or jam,
1/2 ounce of jelly beans (about 20), or 1 cup of lemonade.
Eating a diet low in both saturated fat and total fat will help lower
your blood pressure.
Although you need some fat in your diet, limit how much saturated fat you eat. These fats are mostly in animal foods,
such as meat and dairy foods. Coconut oil, palm oil, and cocoa butter are also
saturated fats. Palm and coconut oils are
often found in processed foods, including crackers and snack foods.
Follow the recommendations below to include healthy fats in your diet. DASH recommends that a little less than a third of your total calories come from fats. And most of these calories should come from healthy fats such as vegetable oils, nuts, and fish. Very few calories should come from saturated fat, which is found in animal meat, dairy products, and processed foods.
There is a link between eating salt and having high blood
pressure. Lowering salt in the diet may prevent high
blood pressure in those at risk for the disease.
To learn more, see Sodium and High Blood Pressure.
African Americans, older adults, and people with diabetes may benefit most from lowering their dietary sodium intake.
Cutting back on the
amount of processed or refined foods you eat can help. These foods,
such as canned and instant soups, packaged mixes, and snack items,
don't have enough calcium, potassium, and magnesium—the very
nutrients you need to help lower your blood pressure. And
these foods usually are high in salt and high in bad fats.
You also may try a vegetarian diet. In
general, vegetarian diets reduce blood pressure, although experts
don't know exactly why. The DASH diet could easily be a vegetarian
diet if legumes (for example, beans, lentils, peas, and
peanuts) were substituted for meat. Vegetarian diets tend to be
higher in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, as does the DASH diet. Vegetarian
diets also are higher in fiber and unsaturated fats than other diets.
Not eating enough foods containing
calcium, and
magnesium may contribute to
high blood pressure.
To get enough of these nutrients, eat a balanced diet that contains plenty of fresh fruits,
vegetables, dairy foods, and whole grains. Most people do not need to take dietary supplements.
All fresh fruits and
vegetables and meats are good sources of potassium. Examples include the
The safest way to ensure good
nutrition is through a balanced, varied diet instead of through nutritional
Very large amounts of any of these minerals taken in the form of a
supplement can cause problems, including possible death. See your doctor before
taking large quantities of any supplement.
Fish or fish oil supplements do not lower blood pressure. But eating fish can help lower your risk for heart disease.
You can eat fish as part of the DASH diet. Fish is part of heart-healthy eating. The American Heart Association suggests eating at least two servings of fish a week. Oily fish, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, are best for your heart. These fish include tuna, salmon, mackerel, lake trout, herring, and sardines.
Although eating garlic and onions has been recommended to
reduce blood pressure, evidence shows that only very small decreases in blood
pressure may result.
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Last Revised:
November 12, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
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All our horses are experienced and trail savvy!
Our superior breeding stock has been exported as far away as England and Germany!
We bring horses out of Tennessee on a regular basis so we always have an excellant selection of sound sane smooth horses to choose from.
Looking for the perfect weekend retreat? Come to picturesque Berkeley Springs, W. Virginia. Stay minutes from our farm at Cross Creek Cabins www.crosscreekcabinrental.com, then come to our farm and experience our custom trail rides & riding lessons. Call Vicki at (304)258-1999 for info on Cabin Rentals at this charming "get away from it all", country setting!
Welcome to Bailey's Walking-After-Midnight Farm (formerly Bailey's Black Widow Farm). Farm is located at the top of the state of Virginia, in the heart of Virginia's horse county. We pride ourselves on providing trustworthy gaited trail horses that are "Grandma Safe".
We have a superior selection of smooth, gentle, experienced Tennessee Walking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses - please call me to learn more about the 15 horses currently available for sale here. We sell lot's of horses, all year long, so this web page is in constant transition - but I feel very confidant that I have the horse you want.
Any horse here for sale must be a proven trail horse. I bring horses out of Tennessee approx every 6 weeks and our selectioin is second to none. None of the horses for sale here come from sale barns. They are family pets. My horses don't have much of a show ring background either so they are not nervous or wired up. Several have been a family pet and shown by that family, but predominantly a trail riding horse, so if you'd also like to trail ride and compete in a show ring, it will be nice to know you are buying naturaly talented gaited horse that doesn't need soring or special devices to win in a show ring.
These trail savvy gaited horses are THE ideal trail pleasure ride. Ride a horse that gives you permission to ride! We specialize in natural moving and smooth gaited trail horses with LOTS of experience on trails. Our Tennessee Walking Horses and Spotted Saddle horses double as horses we use here for our custom trail rides, birthday parties and riding lessons. Why not give them a job to do till they find their "forever home".
Besides the trot not thing, our horses are GORGEOUS - we specialize in quality gaited horses of unique color, with loving personalities. We have every color under the rainbow. You'll look great on the trail riding a well behaved Palomino, Buckskin, Blue Roan, or Tobiano (Spotted) beauty. Occasionally we carry Missouri Fox Trotters and Rocky Mountain horses for sale too.
If I don't have what you want, I can find it. We lived in Tennessee for 8 years and I find a sound sane smooth gaited horse better than most folks can.
May 17, 2012 -
Everyone needs a horse they can trust. Melissa B.
I insist that my horses go to a home for life, so I give each sale a 2 week trial to make sure you bought what you thought you bought. This means you won't get stuck with a bad decision.
Customer service sets us apart from other horse sale operations. You'll take actual trail rides and lessons on the horses you are considering - with input from Sharon Raynor, (our Equitation/Riding Instructor), and from Don Twigg, our Horse Behavior & Horse Training/Trail Boss, to see what horse is best suited to your riding experience.
We are proud distributors of Dynamite and Shaklee products. Health is an inside job. Not ingesting toxins is a start. Please see my Shaklee webiste
and my Dynamite website
tand let me help you, your family, your horses and pets maintain great health, (and keep our planet toxin free). Please email me with any health concerns you may have about a family member, pet/horse. I think I can help!
BlackWidow Farm is now known as Walking-After-Midnight Farm (website www.Walking-After-Midnight.com).
I've also added this email address: firstname.lastname@example.com
Why did I change the name?
1. I LOVE Patsy Cline and we moved (5 yrs ago) to Winchester, Va, home of Patsy Cline.
2. We sell Tenneessee Walkikng Horses.
3. The foundation Walking Horse was named Midnight Sun.
So, Walking-After-Midnight just suits Melissa's personality better than BlackWidow. (Charlie is an entomologist and the BlackWidow name was originally created to sell his Black Angus Cattle. We don't have cows any more).
email@example.com • 225
Morgan Road • Cross Junction,
303-0569 cell
Walking After Midnight Farm Homepage | About
the Tennessee Walker Farm | Directions
to the Barn and Stable
Gaited TWH Horses For Sale > Tennessee Walking Horse Mares for sale | Tennessee Walking Horse Yearlings
and Weanlings for sale
| Geldings for sale | Tennessee Walking Horses Sold horses
of the Gaited Horses For Sale > Tennessee Walking Horse Stallions
links > Tennessee Walking Horse associations | Tennessee Walking Horse services |
Tennessee Walking Horse trainers | Tennessee Walker Horse events |Tennessee Walker Horse links | Tennessee Walker Horse farms
Contact Us | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap


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While there "may well be" legitimate uses for medical marijuana, doctors have been thrust into an "untenable" position by being made the sole gatekeepers to legal pot, says the incoming president of the nation's most powerful doctors' lobby.
"We have Health Canada telling us that marijuana is not a medicine, we have our malpractice insurance company telling us to be very cautious because nobody is taking responsibility for the safety of it," says Queen's University cardiologist Dr. Chris Simpson, who will assume the helm of the Canadian Medical Association at the organization's annual general meeting in Ottawa later this month.
Simpson said that while he has heard "many compelling anecdotes" that marijuana can help patients with hard to treat seizures, HIV and other conditions, "we have people out there saying marijuana can cure cancer, which seems quite improbable."
"Somewhere in between those two extremes is the truth, and I think we need to find the truth, and the way to do that is with the appropriate research."
His comments come after the CMA's outgoing president, Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti, drew ire from some doctors for telling an Ottawa Citizen reporter that people who seek the drug in a doctors' office are just looking for "dope."
Simpson suggested it's time to regroup.
"We need to just back up, take a deep breath and talk about the facts," he said. "Let's figure out what the appropriate role for marijuana is, if there is one."
The controversy over medicinal pot will be high on the agenda at the annual doctors' meeting, dubbed the "parliament of Canadian medicine," where confirmed speakers this year include Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose, NDP leader Tom Mulcair and former Quebec premier Jean Charest.
Other issues to be tackled at the Aug. 17-20 meeting include medical professionalism and end-of-life, including the highly charged debate over euthanasia.
The CMA officially opposes euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide in a policy that has not been updated since 2007.
Some doctors are arguing it's time the CMA moved beyond the "yes" or "no" arguments and prepare for a future where euthanasia is legalized across the country, and not just in Quebec, which has passed into law legislation permitting "medical aid in dying."
Simpson said doctors are divided, "just like society is split on it.
"At the end of the day, we may not have consensus so much as we have the reality of an environment where it may be permitted. It will be a question of how to prepare for that."
Simpson is more concerned that the focus on euthanasia has taken much needed attention away from palliative care and advance care directives — legal documents that spell out life-prolonging treatments people would and would not want should they ever lose the capacity to speak for themselves.
Simpson's specialty is sudden cardiac death due to heart arrhythmias. "I implant a lot of defibrillators in patients." The purpose of a defibrillator is to rescue people from dying of an erratic or abnormal heart beat.
"Obviously we put them in because we think their life isn't ready to end and we want to prevent a preventable death," he said.
But he also discusses with patients the day the defibrillator should be turned off — "when other conditions intervene and it's clear that they are coming to the end of life and then it becomes no longer appropriate to shock them and put tubes in their throat and do all these aggressive things."
"When that time comes it's a simple matter of turning it off."
Those discussions help avoid the "furious, futile Code Blues," where frail and dying patients are resuscitated if their heart stops and they have not made clear in advance what they would have wanted.
Advance directives affect "magnitudes" more patients than the small number who may request a doctor-hastened death, Simpson said.
Yet polls show the vast majority of Canadians don't have one; fewer than half have even discussed the issue with their families. Without any guideposts, the fallback for doctors is to keep going — provide intensive and invasive care that ultimately prolongs dying.
"Our society is still so worried about talking about something as completely natural as death," Simpson said. "But I'll tell you, when you do it, patients are always thankful."
Born in Moncton and raised Nackawic, a small pulp mill town in western New Brunswick, Simpson obtained his medical degree from Dalhousie University. He completed internal medicine and cardiology training at Queen's University in Kingston, where he's now professor of medicine and chief of cardiology.
In university, he played saxophone with The Thomists, a 20-piece big swing band that toured the Maritimes, playing at weddings, graduations, bar mitzvahs and conventions.
His parents, Bob and Rowena, both served as mayors of Nackawic; his father was also a member of the provincial legislature "way back." His parents taught him the value of public service and volunteer work. "Any of the good that's in me came from them."
Simpson chairs the Wait Time Alliance, an association of medical societies lobbying to reduce wait times for surgery and medical care. He has authored or co-authored more than 300 peer-reviewed papers and abstracts.
He said the CMA's focus this year will be on pushing for federal strategies for seniors' care and dementia, including tax incentives and respite and community care to provide support to families looking after relatives with the memory-robbing disease.
He wants to learn how countries like the U.K. "went from being mediocre to one of the best in the world by focusing relentlessly on system improvements. That's where I think we need to go in Canada."
He's a supporter of the move toward more "patient-centred" care. At the Kingston General Hospital, where he heads the cardiac program, "we have a patient on virtually every hospital committee and it has fundamentally changed the way we talk and the way we discuss things."
"I love the fact that patients feel empowered and in control. I love the fact that they question me. I love the fact that they demand to know, 'Why do you say that?' Ten years ago that just didn't happen."
On his days off, when he isn't in the operating room or clinic or teaching, the 47-year-old father of four enjoys mowing his lawn. He likes to try to shut his mind off. "I like to do mundane things."
But most of his leisure time is spent with his children, "watching my kids compete in sports, or play at a piano recital or sing in a choir. That's where I have my fun."


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Cherry & coconut Florentines
Nutrition and extra info
- kcal247
- fat15g
- saturates9g
- carbs26g
- sugars25g
- fibre1g
- protein2g
- salt0.15g
- 140g light muscovado sugar
- 100g clear honey
Honey is made by bees from the nectar they collect from flowers. Viscous and fragrant, it's…
- 200g salted butter
- 100g desiccated coconut
A large hairy, brown nut that grows on the coconut tree, found throughout the world's…
- 140g flaked almonds
Almondarr-mund or al-mund
Sweet almonds have a subtle fragrance that lends itself well to baking and also works well with…
- 300g glacé cherry, sliced
- 4 tbsp plain flour
- 250g dark, milk or white chocolate, or a mix
White chocolatewhy-t chok-lit
To purists, this is not chocolate because it is made only from the fat or butter of the cacao…
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the sugar, honey and butter in a large pan and gently melt together. When all the sugar has dissolved stir in the coconut, flaked almonds, sliced cherries and flour.
Line a large baking tray with greaseproof paper (about 40 x 30cm), and roughly spread the Florentine mixture out to a thin layer – don't worry if you have small gaps, it should melt together in the oven. Bake for 10-12 mins until a rich golden colour, then set aside to cool and firm up.
Melt the chocolate(s) all in separate heatproof bowls over gently simmering water. Line a second large tray or board with greaseproof paper and carefully flip the cooled Florentine bake onto it. Peel off the greaseproof paper. Spread the melted chocolate over, if you're using a few types just leave a gap between each.
Leave aside until set, then stamp out shapes using cookie star cutters - if the cutter is digging into your hands (as the Florentine mix may be a little hard), rest a small plate or pan on top of it and push down on this instead.


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The second Death Star was still under completion, maybe that's why those "holes" weren't covered up yet... they needed to be open to allow for maintenance/construction vehicles to enter it.
As for the second one getting completed quicker - to me it was because they were in a bigger rush to get it done than they were with the first one. I really don't think there's much more to it that that.
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Extra Information
- Free Parking
- Parking Facilities
- Family Rooms
- Ironing Service
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- Wifi
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General Policy
first night of stay will be taken as a deposit at the time of booking and will not be refundable, No changes to or cancellation of bookings are accepted. Refunds are not available.
All rooms are charged per person not per room.
i.e. if you book a family room for three or four people you are not permitted to have extra people in room without paying them, (that goes for any size room).
card details are required for all bookings and deposits in order to secure the booking.
we respectfully remind you that a verbal, or an email for a reservation constitutes as a legal contract, by making a booking you are deemed to accept these booking terms.
payment in full will be taken from the card used to secure booking.