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Q&A: How Nestle Pizza Improved Efficiency with Workforce Scheduling
Questions and answers on how to implement a demand-driven, optimized workforce scheduling solution.
Food Processing's Dave Fusaro talked with Paul Herold, Factory Manager, Nestlé Pizza Division and Gregory Flessas, Founder and CEO, ScheduleSoft about how Nestlé Pizza Division was looking for a tool to help them adjust their labor schedules based on changes in production demand.
The following questions were posed to Dave, Paul and Gregory about the operational efficiencies as they related to food processing facilities.
Q. What kind of reporting capabilities are there and can they be customized?
A. ScheduleSoft has over 40 standard reports that cover most customer requirements. Our reports do not have the ability to be customized outside of choosing data fields and report options for each report but we do publish our database dictionary for 3rd-party report writing tools.
Q. Does ScheduleSoft work with other time & attendance and ERP systems?
A. Yes, we can easily integrate with legacy and future HR, payroll, ERP and time & attendance systems through our included enterprise integration serivce. There are some standard or "certified" interfaces (i.e. SAP HR), and others can be built using user-defined import and export maps.
Q. How did Nestle measure its Return on Investment?
A. Measuring like production schedule labor requirements before and after implementation, and then by optimizing product sequencing and ergonomic rotations such that idle time was minimized.
Q. We have complex union agreements at our facility and have never been able to successfully automate those rules. What does ScheduleSoft do that's different?
A. We have a three-tier rule system where individual, group and job/run rules are kept independently, interacting at time of schedule generation. This concept allows for parameterization of automation and optimization without customization, and many systems that have been designed or specific purpose lack this kind of baked-in flexibility.
Q. How does someone who leads a project like this work with initiatives like "lean" or continuous improvement?
A. Lean labor depolyment is fundamentally what a system like ScheduleSoft is all about, so there is an excellent opportunity for synergy when looking at labor deployment or manufacturing policies and procedures and applying lean principles across the enterprise (to include deployment).
Q. Does your daily labor requirement change based on product mix? It sounds as if you require the same headcount regardless of product mix.
A. The best applications of our system are in areas where the production mix calls for not only different numbers of employees based on the specific SKUs being run, but even when the number is the same staffing across lines may vary by skill required or fractional covering requirements. The more variation there is in requirements within a shift, day or across seasons the more value a system like ScheduleSoft brings to the table. With shorter and shorter supply chain execution timelines plants are becoing more reactive to customer demand and product is being "pulled" vs being more proactive and pushing product into inventory.
Q. When is the SAP demand requirement interface to be available?
APO data can be currently pulled into ScheduleSoft, with the caveat being that it needs to be properly sequenced.
Q. Does this interact with a time/attendance program such as Kronos?
Yes, we have several customers who use Kronos, ADP, Kaba, and other time & attendance systems with ScheduleSoft.
Q. All time you talked about labor rules. Does your solution control machine groups rules too?
As far as qualifications and line-of progression scheduling, yes.
Q. Can you show us what Schedulesoft looks like?
A. To schedule a demo visit: http://www.schedulesoft.com/Solutions/Schedule_a_Demo
Q. For Paul (with Nestle Pizza Division): When did you starting seeing a return on the investment after implementation? What was the payback period achieved?
A. We saw a return on day one and continue to benefit from the application. We achieved significant ROI.
Q. How many employees over how many shifts?
650 employees over 3 shifts
Q. How does ScheduleSoft interface with Temporary Agencies? We spend a lot of time interfacing with temp agencies on last minute needs on each shift.
A. ScheduleSoft has been made available to temporary labor providers so that they can have advance notice of gaps and provide labor with the right skills at the lowest possible cost (vs. last minute high cost call outs).
Q. In a multi-site environment are you used to running ScheduleSoft centrally or site by site?
A. We can handle multi-site either centrally, or site-by-site
Q. How difficult would it be to implement Schedule Soft first in a custom, legacy systems environment and then transition to SAP after some years. This is something that can be done??>
A. The eventual integration to SAP is a simple one for ScheduleSoft. In addition, many of our customers acquire and divest sites regularly so that even when this is not the original plan it is often the case that ScheduleSoft is implemented before or after another entperise system is brought in (since ScheduleSoft is considered foundation and has stayed after the purchase)
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New Vision Display – Custom Touch and Display Solutions Provider
New Vision Display is a leading touch and display OEM with nearly 30 years of industry experience. We are driven by innovation and continuously seek new ways to expand upon our highly diversified portfolio. Our dynamic R&D, display manufacturing and quality control programs allow us to provide the best in product performance. We also provide support locally to our customers with expert sales and technical teams located across the globe.
Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities are ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and IATF 16949 certified and adhere to stringent manufacturing standards. We are committed ensuring that our products are defect free and responsibly sourced. We use only the highest quality raw materials require certification from our suppliers that they use only non-conflict minerals.
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NVD's products are utilized by a wide range of markets. Our products for automotive applications are designed with industry certified controllers and are especially suited for demanding environments. Many devices in the medical, industrial and consumer industries require touch sensors to function with the use of gloves and in wet environments. NVD manufactures touch sensors with these capabilities as well as other ruggedized, robust, shock and vibration resistant products designed to excel in harsh conditions. We also design displays with quick design cycles and an emphasis on low production cost.
We manufacture a wide range of Custom LCD displays and TFT Displays to monochrome and full color passive OLEDs with customization options. Our PRECI-Touch™ sensors are based on projected capacitive touch panel technology and can be produced stand-alone as well as with or without a controller. We custom-manufacture wholesale strengthened glass screen protectors for nearly any electronic device: Smartphones, tablets, GPS units, POS devices and more. We are a licensed finisher of Accessory Glass 2 by Corning® for use in screen protector products. We are also licensed by Corning® to process Gorilla® Glass for cover lens applications. For fast prototyping we offer our Fast Track products, which include pre-designed display panels with or without PRECI-Touch™ PCAP touch sensors and cover lenses. We have many other custom options and value-added services and are continuously expanding our product portfolio to better meet our customers' needs and desires.
Contact us today to learn how we can create the perfect solution for your product.
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Active Participation of Product Owners in Sprint Retrospective
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Sprint retrospective is an opportunity for product owners to learn, improve and create good relationship with development team. Roman Pichler, owner of Pichler Consulting and author of book "Agile Product Management with Scrum", supports the participation of product owner in sprint retrospective, in his recent blog.
As the product owner, you are a member of the Scrum team, which also includes the development team and the ScrumMaster. While you are in charge of the product, you rely on the collaboration of the other Scrum team members to create a successful software product. If you don't attend the retrospective as the product owner, you waste the opportunity to strengthen the relationship and to improve the collaboration with them.
Roman says that product owners should attend sprint retrospective as active participants. Product owners can use the retrospective to get feedback on their work and discuss the issues with the team where the improvement is expected.
Roman mentioned some questions that can be explored by product owner in sprint retrospective:
- Do you spend enough time with the development team? Are you available to answer questions or provide feedback quickly enough? Do you provide the right level of feedback and guidance in the right way?
- Is the communication between the team and you open, honest, and trustful?
- Does the team know how the users employ the product?
- Are the team members happy with their involvement in analyzing user feedback and data, changing the product backlog, and getting stories ready for the sprint? Do you get enough support from the team to "groom" the backlog?
- Are the team members aware of the big picture – the overall vision, the product strategy, and the product roadmap? Do you get enough of the team members' time to help you with product planning and product road mapping?
Roman says that collaboration of product owner with team is not sufficient. Product owners also need strong relationship with marketing, sales, customer service and finance to make the product a success.
A great way to review and improve the collaboration with your partners from marketing, sales and so forth is to invite them to the retrospective on a regular basis. Depending on how closely you collaborate, this may range from once per month to once per major release. A joint retrospective will help you develop closer and more trustful relationships help smooth the launch of new product versions, and improve selling and servicing the product.
Here are some questions that product owner may want to explore in an extended retrospective, mentioned by Roman:
- Are the partners from marketing, sales etc. involved enough in the product planning and roadmapping activities?
- Do they regularly participate in the sprint review meetings? Are the review meetings beneficial for them? Do they understand the project progress?
- Do they receive the information necessary to carry out their work in a timely manner, for instance, to prepare the marketing campaign and to compile the sales collateral?
- Do you get enough data and support from the partners, for instance, regular updates on the sales figures and the market feedback you require?
Mark Levison, founder and consultant at Agile Pain Relief Consulting expressed his views on Roman's thoughts. He said to remind product owners to be careful when their relationship with the team is new. There is a balancing act to be played when they are present at the retrospective.
Mark likes having his product owners involvement in the retrospective as long as they remember that the development team own how to achieve the goals the product owner sets out.
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Retro IS with Scrum Team which IS the Dev.Team+PO+SM!
Hans-Peter Korn
In the Scrum Guide you can read:
"The Scrum Team consists of a Product Owner, the Development Team, and a Scrum Master."
"The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint."
If the PO is not attending the retro - than it is not Scrum:
"Scrum's roles, artifacts, events, and rules are immutable and although implementing only parts of Scrum is possible, the result is not Scrum."
Involve the product owner, maybe even customers
Ben Linders
I agree that it could be useful to invite the product owner and maybe even some customers/users from the sprint review/demo to the retrospective to deal with issues related to the backlog, sprint planning, or interaction with users (see Retrospective Benefits: Actions by the Team). Such issues most often need actions from the development team *and* from the product owner to effectively address them.


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Taylor Swift Shows Off Sass, Style in New 'Red' Promo Photos
As October 22 draws nearer, temperatures drop and the leaves change colors — to red, if you will — Taylor Swift is amping up promotion for her new album, appropriately titled 'Red.' The 'Begin Again' singer has been teasing new songs, rocking out performances and, naturally, posing for cameras, as shown here in a series of 'Red' promo pictures.
The soft-and-stylish shots give fans some idea of what to expect from the 22-year-old singer, who has grown in all aspects of the word since her debut so many years ago. Swift, who already had a penchant for writing about her love life, has admitted that she dives deeper than ever before into her personal life with this album.
In the two years that passed since her last album, 'Speak Now,' Swift has experienced more heartache, most notably thanks to failing relationships with Jake Gyllenhaal and John Mayer. She has stated to the press that this upcoming album will be one with many sad songs, but the soft lighting and romantic wardrobe in her 'Red' photo shoot suggests that despite the hard times, Swift still believes in true love.
Not only that, but the mega-star looks sassier, more stylish — and maybe even happier — than ever. Perhaps that has something to do with her budding relationship with Conor Kennedy?
With more than a week to go until the record hits shelves, Swift fans can curb their appetite for new music with a sneak peek at the photos below!


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Hey guys, a question for you (υμιν).
Is it just me? or does it seem like native english speakers speak they're language slowly? When I listen to someone speak in French of Spanish, even a native greek reading the NT, I find their tempo for the language is much quicker than we as english speakers!
any thoughts on this?


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Valas' Pumpkin Farm, Nebraska
Dreamin' BIG Commercial Playground page 1
Click on a thumbnail under the main image below for alternate views; scroll down for Plan View and pricing.
We were both honored and flattered to be hired by this family (The Valas), owners of what is known to be one of biggest and best Pumpkin Patch operations west of the Mississippi.
A fitting playground for this location is the ultimate Bears Playground, the Dreamin' BIG. Like all of our playgrounds, this model features whole log construction which gives an organic, wholesome feeling that is striking in appearance. Look how beautifully it compliments the landscape at Valas' just bold, strong, built to last design, beautifully stained rustic wood and hunter green accents. We even managed to create a Pumpkin Shaped containment perimeter for the borders. system Bears Playgrounds are designed to compliment the natural setting of any environment.
When it comes to natural weather resistance, our cedar is about the best you can do. To top it all off, we have chosen to add additional protection by staining our playgrounds. The color is a beautiful, natural, semi-transparent, brown stain. It enhances the beauty of the wood and highlights the wood grain. The stain is water based and the brown pigment color helps protect against harmful UV rays in the sunniest of climates. The penetrating qualities of the stain also help to protect against snow and moisture.


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Including the Views of Parents, Administrators, Teachers and the General Public
In just two years time, every public school student nationwide will have a highly qualified teacher for science, English, history and mathat least thats the plan according to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The law sets relatively modest criteria: teachers must have a four-year college degree, show competence in their subject and be certified to teach in their state. Even so, just 54% of todays secondary teachers meet the requirements according to the U.S. Department of Education. Its going to be tough, says Education Secretary Rod Paige, to find enough teachers who qualify.
Secretary Paige is not alone in believing that public schools face formidable challenges finding gifted teachers and keeping them in the classroom. A number of influential studies have suggested that unqualified teachers and poor teaching are pervasive problems in public schools across the country.[*] On top of this, many fear the new federal law requiring districts to hire highly qualified teachers for core subjects could lead to teacher shortages that will jolt schools nationwide.
This intense focus on teachers and teaching raises some obvious, sometimes provocative questions. Is the field attracting serious, accomplished individuals? Can you recruit and keep good teachers given mediocre teacher salaries? Given the demands of the new federal law, do we actually have enough qualified college graduates who are willing to teach? Do we emphasize the right skills and knowledge when we train and select new teachers? Do we have an effective system for evaluating teachers and motivating them to do their best? Do we have the political will to make changes where they are needed?
At the leadership level, there is active discussion of these questions, and some states and districts are re-examining long-established practices in hiring, tenure and teacher pay. But what do teachers themselves think about these issues? What about school superintendents and principals? And what do parents and members of the general public have to say? Do Americans broadly believe there are widespread problems in teaching? Do they consider this an urgent issue that must be addressed? What changes, if any, do they believe would be most useful?
For this report, Public Agenda has reviewed and analyzed a robust body of opinion research on teachers and teaching stretching back over the last decade. During this time, Public Agenda itself has conducted well over 20 major national opinion studies on public education, including over half a dozen measuring teachers views. Public Agendas surveys cover topics ranging from standards and testing to parental involvement to vouchers and charter schools.
Our most recent report, Stand by Me, looks specifically at teachers opinions about their own profession, including controversial subjects such as tenure, pay-for-performance, teacher education and certification and the role unions play in public education.
Public Agenda also reviewed surveys from other respected research organizations including the Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Polls of the Publics Attitudes Toward the Public Schools and The MetLife Surveys of the American Teacher. These surveys and many others provided helpful insights; a complete list of resources is included at the conclusion of this report.
We also hope that readers looking for more detailed material will consult Public Agendas own body of work, especially Stand by Me, since its findings are particularly relevant. Public Agendas major reports on education are available on the Web free of charge through a grant from Washington Mutual. Reports can be downloaded from www.publicagenda.org.
For this report, Public Agenda has reviewed and analyzed opinion research on teachers and teaching stretching back over the last decade.


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The Lowcountry Coalition Against Human Trafficking will host a commemoration on Wednesday for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
An awareness/social hour is set for 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday at Remy's Bar & Grill, 130 Arrow Road, Hilton Head Island. The event is open to the public and will include a brief presentation, appetizers and a cash bar.
The nonprofit Lowcountry Coalition Against Human Trafficking was formed in 2010 to raise local awareness of forms of modern-day slavery that occur throughout the United States, including in Beaufort County, a coalition spokesman said.
The coalition was organized by the Hilton Head Island Zonta Club in collaboration with members of law enforcement, the legal community, social workers, victim assistance providers, healthcare professionals and other interested parties.


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Making vacuum cleaner reviews is quite a novel thing for me. However, over the years I've encountered various electronic devices sold online and I just have enough knowledge in giving judgments about their total packaging. The nice thing about this job is to personally acquaint ourselves with the latest products that hit the market.
Like any other analysis I did for gadgets and beauty products such as beard trimmers, the task of vacuum cleaner reviews is an interesting twist. I have met different brands of vacuums including vacuums for pet hairs and I did not expect that there's still a large supply of them waiting to be evaluated. One amazing vac that caught attention is the Hoover WindTunnel Canister Vacuum. This high-tech cleaning device is a smooth integration of functionality and flexibility. Powered by WindTunnel Technology, this bagless canister vac comes out in a great design and digital speed control. It has a deluxe pump handle which allows you to control and operate the machine effortlessly. It holds 15 Power Nozzle feature and includes a filter (Hepa Filter) with one-year warranty. Continue Reading ->


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I love u mummy a lot….. I miss u every time…… Your mom carried you inside of her womb for nine months. She felt sick for months with nausea, then she watched her feet swell and her skin stretch and tear. She struggled to climb stairs. She got breathless quickly. She suffered many sleepless nights. She then went through EXCRUCIATING …Read More »
Home » Tag Archives: Mum Poems


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Mill Road scenic overlook plan closer to reality in Aurora
Preserving the breathtaking views from a 60-acre farmstead along Mill Road just outside the Village of East Aurora and turning it into a scenic overlook has been a $640,000 dream for a long time – a very expensive one that had a long way to go, just six months ago.
But with the announcement of two substantial challenge gifts totaling $150,000, there is a huge boost in confidence among the Friends of Mill Road, the Western New York Land Conservancy and the Town of Aurora that enough money will be raised to buy the land from the two families that own it and preserve the 60 acres to create a scenic overlook for public access and place a conservation easement on the property.
Scott Bieler, president of West Herr Automotive Group, and Kathy Lasher, co-chairwoman of the citizens group, are contributing $100,000. Gerhard Neumaier, chairman of Ecology & Environment Inc., and his wife, Ellen, are committing $50,000 toward the effort.
"This is one of the most unique and important properties for preservation in all of Western New York," Bieler said. "Our investment now will hopefully encourage others to join us in leaving this legacy for our children and grandchildren."
The gifts by the two couples bring the total raised to $416,000. Another $150,000 from the community that is being sought – to match the challenge gifts – would provide enough money for the town to purchase the land. In all, $640,000 is needed for the entire effort, which includes the cost of building the overlook and placing a conservation easement on the land so that it is protected from any development in perpetuity.
The deadline for raising the remaining funds is the end of December. The Mill Road landowners – the Closs and Sievenpiper families – agreed late last year to extend their purchase contract with the Town of Aurora by one year, to Dec. 31, 2013. That deadline is critical because the project's supporters worry the land would otherwise be eyed by developers to build homes along it, unless enough money can be raised to purchase it and then preserve the spot.
The property, known among locals for its tremendous views during all four seasons, is along Mill between Sweet and Blakely roads. It offers a 180-degree panoramic view to the west. On a clear day, downtown Buffalo is visible. There's also a Knox Farm State Park connection since ridges seen in the distance lead to the park, while the Mill Road land, in turn, can be viewed from the park.
Gerhard Neumaier, who lives on Mill Road, lauded the effort to preserve the property. "Everybody likes the idea of having open space," he said in an interview Wednesday night. "Scenic land has great value, and doing this is kind of like having some foresight for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It's a great piece of property, and it has great significance in it."
His wife, also an avid lover of parks and the outdoors, said it is important to preserve it for the next generation. "A challenge gift gives people more of an opportunity to feel they 'own' it," said Ellen Neumaier, a Friends of Mill Road steering committee member. "We really want the community to think about it."
Lasher said she believes the economic benefits reaped from the project make the case for preservation a compelling one. "We know that the quality-of-life benefits provided by this project will make our community a more attractive destination for homeowners, business and visitors," she said.
"It's a great spot that Scott and I have both driven by thousands of times, and it always captures our attention, and is a reason to take your foot off the gas pedal," Lasher said. "It's an inspiring place. It's one of those things that if it were gone, it would be missed. Scott and I are in a position to do something and leave a legacy to help keep it rural and open."
A formal announcement is to be made this morning at the overlook site about the $150,000 in challenge gifts to help propel the capital campaign toward its goal. To make a contribution that will be matched dollar for dollar by the challenge gifts, visit www.friendsofmillroad.org or contact Nancy Smith, a co-chairwoman of the citizens group and executive director of the Western New York Land Conservancy, at 432-1777, or Kathy Lasher at 861-5498.
email: email@example.com


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The id guys were just on stage demonstrating RAGE on three platforms at once. Near the end, they announced a somewhat important detail: RAGE is now headed for store shelves on September 13, 2011 in the US and September 16 in Europe.
We're still in the thick of QuakeCon, but we'll be back later to put up brand new screenshots.


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This is an Ask a Geek Feminist question for our commenters. This is the last post that will appear for this round.
Let's say you are a part of a community site of geeks. In my case: gaming. The site is great except for the sexism: it's a community of mostly guys who generally seem unaware of their privilege as (generally) educated, white males.
Do you stick it out and try to educate, be a different voice? Play along to get along? Leave?
What has been your experience? What do you do and when?


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- Golden Beach
Thassos Travel Guide
Thassos Town Harbour © Ronald Saunders
The package tour companies have only recently started to invade Greece's most northerly island, the emerald Macedonian isle of Thassos, close to the mainland port of Kavala in the Aegean Sea. Those seeking a true Greek Island getaway can still find some traditional tavernas, interesting archaeological sites, picturesque villages and beautiful sandy beaches washed by crystal clear water. The locals are fast learning to cash in on the tourist trade, however, and resort hotels are springing up as ferries disgorge the crowds during the height of the summer season.
Historically Thassos is one of the richest of the Greek islands. It was inhabited as far back as 2000 BC, home to the Thracians up until the Phoenicians, drawn by the wonderful climate, rich pine woods and white marble, colonised it in 1500 BC. The Greeks arrived about 700 years later, staging a peaceful takeover, and the Romans followed. All left their legacy in the form of archaeological sites, which today provide plenty of interesting excursions for visitors.
The capital and main port is the city of Limenas, which is not particularly inviting, but has a pretty old harbour sporting colourful fishing boats and traditional tavernas. Within easy reach of Limenas are the lovely little villages of Panagia and Potamia, overlooking the sandy Golden Beach and the long, inviting crescent of Skala Potamias. A little further away is the quieter village of Kinira with its pebbled beach, and the pinewood-ringed Paradise Beach, frequented by nudists. On the south coast, at Aliki, lies a peninsula forming two magnificent bays, also the site of ancient marble quarries.
The most popular tourist resorts hug the southwestern coast, near the town of Limenaria, but further along the west coast are a series of quaint fishing villages, interspersed with lovely beaches and coves. Inland, old mountain settlements charm with narrow cobbled streets and cafes on the village square. Those tired of the more well-worn Greek destinations will find Thassos refreshing.
Become our Thassos Travel Expert
We are looking for contributors for our Thassos travel guide. If you are a local, a regular traveller to Thassos or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.


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United States Citizenship and Immigration Service
Visit this web site to find out about immigration benefits, check on a pending case filed with a service center, or download immigration forms and fees.
Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP-SEVIS)
Visit this web site to learn about becoming an international students/scholars, understanding your responsibilities, traveling to the U.S., working in the U.S., etc.
Department of State
Visit this web site to learn about obtaining a U.S. visa prior to arriving in the U.S. and to read about U.S. diplomatic efforts around the world.
Bureau of Cultural Affairs
Visit this web site to learn about the J Exchange Visitor Program philosophy and components.
Social Security Administration
Click here to know more about Social Security Office Location
Other Useful Links:
U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Missions
Florida Department of Motor Vehicles


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Welcome to Onboard Style, the exclusive licensee of Fountain, Donzi, Pro-Line and Baja boating apparel and accessories. It is our commitment to provide a full product line of clothing and accessories for all of our customers with One-Stop-Shopping. By putting all clothing and accessories under one umbrella,we can provide the best products at the best price.
Onboard Style © 2018


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Most Popular Car Comparison Site: Edmunds
When you're shopping for a new or used vehicle, it helps to do your homework. Last week we asked you for the best car comparison sites, then took at look at the five best car comparison sites and put them to a vote. Now we're back to highlight your favorite.


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LG is unique in the UK TV market by offering both active and passive 3D sets. The 47LW550T is one of the latter, dubbed Cinema 3D by the Korean brand to help confused consumers realise that it shares the same glasses technology that they've become used to at their local multiplex.
The 47LW550T arrives on retailers' shelves against a backdrop of a bitter active versus passive argument between LG and its rival Samsung, with the latter at pains to point out that the former's Cinema 3D technology cannot display a full HD 3D image. And that's true, because the 47LW550T's screen-mounted polarising filter sends one half of the 1,920 x 1080 Blu-ray image to one eye and the other half to the other. It's what impact that has on picture quality that's important.
First, though, some background info. The 47LW550TT is a 47-inch edge LED-lit set – part of LG's new 2011 range – and is also available in 32-inch, 42-inch and 47-inch guises.
Its living room appeal is helped by a slender design and blue-tinted gloss black bezel, but the frame around the screen is rather wide, meaning the 47LW550TT isn't as eye-catching as Samsung's rival D7000 range.


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About the Author
William Jackson is a Maryland-based freelance writer.
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I agree with the person that sees this as an invasion of privacy! If this type of authentication becomes easily possible (and I think it will) it is likely to become the de facto method of authenticating ID on everything, so it will be running all the time tracking our every casual move, interest, and action whether we need/want to be authenticated or not. We will not be able to avoid it if we use the Internet, or possibly other things that currently don't involve the Internet or our showing our ID somewhere.
Currently if I pay cash at a store and don't use any type of rewards card, there is no record that I (identified as me) was there or that I purchased certain items. I don't have any reason for keeping that secret, but I like to have the option to keep this my own business when I choose and not that of government agencies and corporations I don't even know about.
Working in a office that supports end users, I see NOTHING good in this concept. Every new Rube Goldberg security system adds system overhead, as well as failure and exploit points. For the forseeable future 2-factor suthentication is the most cost-effective and least instrusive solution. If I am typing and handling a phone call and an over-the-shoulder visitor at the same time, is the magic software going to assume I am someone else?
I prefer the "tyranny" of passwords to an active process in the background recording everything I do.
I have nothing to hide, but that doesn't mean I'm not entitled to my privacy.
The tyranny of having other agents or agencies, via software, having access to every aspect of my life, when I do not have compensatory information about theirs is socially unhealthy and unsafe.
Typing patterns, along with your fingerprints, irises, how you walk, how you talk, etc, are all considered valid biometric modalities, so if we can use them to identify people of interest, it can certainly be used for authentication. A major concern not discussed is when someone suffers a cognitive or physical injury that renders at least some or all of their biometric profile invalid.
While interesting, this has still quite aways to go. Smart card based strong authentication is doable and available now. Yes, it requires readers and software, but I am sure active authentication will require software as well.
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It is time to the round up of CMT-Kathol. before I summarise the entries, I would like to thank everyone who took out some time to cook something relevant to this event and send it. I had made alasande kaalu (black eyed peas) badanekayi (brinjal) palya. Brinjal compliments almost all types of peas. You can just replace black eyed peas with any kind of kaalu or peas. It is simple with minimum ingredients and easy to make too.
Alasande Kaalu Badanekayi Palya:
Cooked Alasande Kallu/Cooked black eye peas: 1 cup
Brinjal : 2 (medium sized)
Green chilli paste: as required
Ginger as required (optional)
Oggarane: Oil, mustard, Uddinabele/chanadal, redchillies, curry leaves, asafoetida
1. Cook brinjal and alasande kaalu in pressure cooker and set it aside.
2. Cut brinjals into small pieces
3. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard. When mustard stops popping add asafoetida powder and uddinabele. When bele turns brown add curry leaf, redchillies and fry for a fraction of a second. Add in brinjals.
4.Mix well, cover and cook till brinjals are soft. When brinjals are mushy, mash them. Add ginger, green chilli paste, alasande kaalu, salt and mix well. Warm the mixture and taste to adjust the seasonings. Serve when it is warm.
Non-Blogger Recipe for the event:
Rajma Cheese Sprouts Curry by Sandhya Gunari
Thank you Sandhya for sharing your tasty and nutritious recipe with us.
Rajma: 1 cupGrated cheese: 1/2 cup
Bean Sprouts: 1/2 cup
Ginger garlic paste: 1 spoon
Finely chopped tomatoes: 1 cup
Onions cut lengthwise: 1/2 cup
Potatoes (optional): 1/s cup
Green chillies and salt: as required
Methi powder: a pinch
Curd: 1 tea spoon
Pudina leaves (optional) finely chopped: 1/4 cup
Soak rajmas overnight and boil them. In a kadai, make the seasoning, add finely chopped tomatoes, onions, potatoes, ginger garlic paste, green chillies and methi powder and allow these to be cooked well. Then add sprouts, curd, pudina and rajma. After a while, add the grated cheese and bring to boil. Top it with coriander or sauce. Goes very well with puri, chapati or rice.
Nutritional Value
The nutritional value of this dish is rajma, sprouts and cheese are rich in protein while curd and pudina has a cooling effect on the stomach.
Below are the entries from Bloggers:
Another entry by Madhavi of Vegetarian Medley blog : Black and Butter Beans Subji .
Jayashri has sent Black Chana stirfry with Quinoa
Thank you all for making this event a yummiest one. I hope to try them all :-) .


text:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie Collection (UK - DVD R2)
T-U-R-T-L-E POWER! T-U-R-T-L-E POWER! Marcus shells out on the TMNT
Ahhh the Ninja Turtles. My last great toy/cartoon love affair where it was all about loving the stories and actually playing with the toys. Sure my toy collecting continues and I still watch plenty of cartoon shows, but the Teenage Mutant Hero (the 'N' word wasn't used in the UK) Turtles come with fond memories and in this soon to be released DVD boxset I get to revisit the original three films ahead of the Michael Bay produced ' Ninja Turtles' next year.
Let's jump back to the end of the 80s for a moment. The world was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crazy, with a mega popular cartoon show, a ton of toys and merchandise and Turtle Mania sweeping the globe. It was only a matter of time before a movie arrived and 1990 and the inevitable happened, the Turtles movie hit our screens and it hit BIG! This was the big cinematic event for me and I loved the results. I could also go on about how bloody good the film's soundtrack is (in a very nostalgic sort of way) but that would be a whole other article I think. T-U-R-T-L-E POWER!!
Now, out of all the Turtle movies I have a whole lot of fondness for the first one. In my mind it's a great flick, both at original release and even now (though to lesser degree), so revisiting was quite exciting. I don't think I've seen the first Turtle flick in its entirety for at least ten years, maybe more, the other two I don't think I've seen since their original theatrical runs, so let's see how the Heroes in a Half Shell movies hold up all these years later shall we?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (1990, 89 mins)
There's a crime wave sweeping across New York City. Teenage kids are stealing everything they can get their hands on for the Foot Clan and reporter April O'Neil (Judith Hoag) is trying to find the reasons behind it. However there's also another mysterious force fighting for good in the city and they're green, half shelled and come trained in martial arts. Leonardo (Brian Tochi), Donatello (Corey Feldman), Michelangelo (Robbie Rist) and Raphael (Josh Pais). The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
Returning to this first movie after all this time it still feels like a level headed adaptation of the TV show and the comics. Taking elements from both, I still love the dark looks of the film and how, for the most part at least, the Turtles themselves are played straight. Despite the men in suits lead characters and their limited facial movement this still somehow feels like a legitimate film, rather than something just catering for kids. It balances laughs, action and drama fairly well, despite it reeking of 90s movie making and I feel this fits snuggly into the upper end of the comic book/kid's shows big screen adventures.
The Turtles as characters keep this all afloat, but the masks and turtle suit mechanics don't really hold up by modern CGI standards. They are very good suits style wise, but the limited facial movements and obvious mechanics never did feel all that natural and seeing these suits again reminded me of a George Lucas comment regarding how the Turtle work was less impressive than what was used in Howard the Duck, and he's spot on. The Turtles still feel alive due to the lively voice work and pretty realistic feeling martial arts scenes, but somehow Howard the Duck feels more animated than these four back flipping dudes do. With the new Michael Bay produced Ninja Turtles film just around the corner, I can't really see how The Turtles will look much better than they do here design wise and they won't get the characters much better, but modern CGI technology could very well sell them as more than men in suits in the face department.
Anyway, back to the movie. I know this flick really well still, almost shockingly so and I still remember whole chunks of dialogue which made for an enjoyable revisit and a real highlight of how big an event this was in my youth. Splinter's recounting of his tale and his constant stream of wisdom still makes me feel a bit like a wide eyed kid in awe of seeing these cartoon characters brought to life and I really quite enjoy the fight scenes still. My adult brain tells me this is all clichéd guff playing on martial arts movies and ancient wisdom, but damn that talking rat ninja master blinds my adult mind and reminds me how into all this I was a kid, despite the fact the Turtles are obviously really bad students.
Switching back to my adult eyes, the story is pretty damn loose. There's not really a main character here as such. We get the odd diary entry from April as she tells the story as well as her blossoming Casey Jones (played perfectly by Elias Koteas) romance and of course Danny (Michael Turney) has a life choice to overcome. Raphael's journey from hot head loner to part of the family was actually strong enough to bleed into the core Turtle mythology as a character trait after this movie and it works very well here but really this is a story about lots of things without any real focus on any one thing. Father and sons, being a better person than you used to be and of course good guys vs bad guys. This origin story packs in a ton of information but sort of loses focus at about mid way through and then just becomes about saving Splinter really.
Judith Hoag is a pretty good April O Neil, even if she's not visually right. Shredder is vastly underused but has that required Darth Vader presence when he enters scenes. Sam Rockwell as a main player in the group of Foot Clan recruits never ceases to make me grin and in my head this is his character Pero's secret origin story from Welcome to Collinwood. The Raphael fight on the roof is still pretty awesome; it gains momentum really pulling in all the turtles and really despite the movies flaws (and there are many) this still feels like a legit Turtles adaptation, that's been thought about and not just thrown out.
Overall, looking back the action here is pretty timid and really it's just Turtles vs large numbers of Foot Soldiers over and over again, but the movie still works for me right up until the weak ass climax where Shredder finally unleashed falls off a roof and gets crushed in a garbage truck and then the Turtles yell COWABUNGA! and suddenly everything is fine again. What happened to a city in peril? The Turtles just got their asses kicked didn't they?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991, 84 mins)
Not wanting to let the dust settle the Turtle sequel hit quick. Shredder is back (his body was just left in the garbage truck and he wakes up at the city dump? Great police work there) and the company responsible for the leaked ooze that made the Turtles all mutanty comes under April O'Neil's reporting eye, leading to more mutations along the way.
When I said the first Turtle movie was a legitimate adaptation of the cartoon/comics, what I meant was it was a great version of the franchise, played for a wider audience and not just the kids. The first film is sort of what Tim Burton did for Batman, the second Turtles movie is really more in tune with the cartoon and the sort of hijinks that took place in that original series where the insanity grows as the story travels on.
The lively opener reveals slight tweaks to the Turtle costumes, they still look real enough but now they have more cartoony eyes, a little more movement in the mouths and in some cases too much movement in the mouths. I'm not sure if it's the lighting or the way the Turtles are shot in general, but the man in suit approach seems way more obvious here and its harder to accept these Turtles as living breathing characters, which was a little easier in the first movie. That is a nuts thing to say but I stand by the original movie's ability to sell the illusion better than in the sequels.
Beyond the opening fight scene in the toy shop, I'd forgotten the plot to this sequel entirely. Giant Dandelions and what the secret of the ooze was felt entirely new to me like my memory had been wiped, but then I don't think I'd revisited this one since its 1991 release if I'm honest and even then it might have been a pirate video my brother picked up months in advance of the UK release from Thailand. I guess Turtles II didn't have a killer soundtrack to keep me locked in or something.
Really this plot and general change in style is more in line with the TV show. Lots of brightly lit labs and mad science with the Foot Clan getting in the way. Sadly there's no Krang or Bebop and Rocksteady, but we do get some mutated animals for the Turtles to fight despite their inclusion not making a lick of sense. Shredder has the established trained Foot Clan but opts for some newly mutated beasties to fight the Turtles. What did he think would happen? But then these new mutants are terrible. It turns out they are like babies and are poor attempts to echo the much loved carton henchmen Bebop and Rocksteady. This turtle and fox/wolf/squirrel (who knows) look awful. Wide eyed idiotic cartoon character designs like something out of Power Rangers or the pink sidekick in Jingle All the Way and while it sounds silly to complain about bad suits in a movie full of men in suits, these are truly awful editions to the franchise and have rightly been forgotten.
As for the rest of the cast, Paige Turco is cute but a pretty bog standard April O'Neil with no real charisma to bring to the recast. She's cute but she has no pep to her, she doesn't even wear yellow! Oh and there's no Casey Jones!!! The puppeteers seem to have given up on Splinter moving anywhere and of course Vanilla Ice is in the flick. "Go ninja go ninja go!". Turtles II isn't terrible but it wasn't great then and it's not much greater now.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993, 92 mins)
Turtles III opens in Japan in 1603, so you know immediately that all bets are off when it comes to taken the franchise back to any sort of real world setting. The opening credits has April (Paige Turco) revealing the ancient artefact and sending her off in time. That gets the story going and before you know it the Turtles themselves are swapped in time with some ancient warriors and the shellsome foursome have to find their way back to the future.
Everything about this second sequel is cheap. The story is flimsy and goofy, the Turtles are more plasticy and way more cartoony than in the previous movies and their eyes are more lifeless than ever. Movement wise they do seem more flexible and the seams are hidden better, but the man in suit illusion is awful. The Turtles no longer feel like they have skin but are now made of rubber. Like tome crazy biker suit or something. They all look shocked all of the time and Leo's mouth is especially awful when it's closed. Splinter's new puppet/suit is also terrible and he looks more like a cat than a rat. On the plus side Casey Jones is back and twice! Though Elias Koteas seems more happy to play the character's broody ancient ancestor than goofing it up as the modern day Jones this time out.
I remembered so little of Turtles III and my biggest memory was that the frames flipped in the third act when I saw it at the cinema (yes, I saw this at the cinema). Turtles III isn't a terrible flick by any means but I put it in the same box as Robocop III, the third and fourth Batman movies and many of the ropey 90s adventures that couldn't quite find the balance between catering to its own audience and catering to the larger audience (or missing the mark entirely and missing both audiences). One of those productions that had the rights to a much loved franchise but within the brainstorming sessions of how to do another one a goofy idea went one step too far and the end results are so muted and forgettable any of the good intentions are lost in unmemorable dross. Of course after this the live action series with female Turtle Venus de Milo arrived, so Turtles III didn't have long as the low-point of the franchise.
Turtles I & II both come with lots of noise and grain and it ranges from just being there to dancing all over the place. The first film is a dark one and as expected its gets plenty grubby in the not so sharp black areas. Colours remain quite muted and really only pop because of the darkness around them. Softness is also a real issue creating a rather flat looking image.
Detail isn't bad in close ups but wider shots are pretty damn soft and even fuzzy. Some scenes even look foggy and I'm pretty sure there's no smoke in there. The Splinter's Tale segments both show off the best textures in the costumes and the worst soft VHS looking footage of the entire film but there are a fair few naturally lit scenes that show the turtles aren't all that smooth skins but actually quite bobbled and rough.
Turtles II looks a lot grainier and a more on set than the previous movie. In fact it looks a lot less filmic at times and more like a TV movie. Because of the brighter lighting textures and details on the Turtle suits are more apparent but the same can be said for the seams. Also the "outside" scenes don't have the real world feel but look very much like a soundstage with the presentation doing nothing to sell the illusion. The matte painting city backdrops in the drab flat image looks positively amateur in fact.
Turtles III is a cleaner image with a distinct lack of grain but the TV movie looks and obvious reduction in budget is extremely noticeable. Colours are still fairly muted besides the abundance of green and the odd popping red but the film is brighter than the first two entries.
Turtles I and II come with a bassy (and in the original Turtles film's case, still awesome) soundtrack other than that the track feels confined by its stereo roots and often times sounds quite tinny. Dialogue is clear and central and while Turtles II feels a little stronger power wise it has the same limited abilities and still feels very central. Turtles III feels even more reduced and lives in a world of dialogue and lightly drizzled score and has very little going on.
Turtles I comes with a 'Making Of' (28:35) which is an original documentary hosted by the Turtles and is a great slice of Turtle Mania and its history. Toys, fans, creators it's all nostalgic awesomeness.
There's also a stills gallery, a UK promotional trailer, and original theatrical trailer and a distinct lack of any music videos. How weak!
Turtles II and III come with their trailers and a stills gallery.
I still have a fondness for the first Turtles film but the sequels are pretty lousy really. Better things have come out of the franchise via animated shows and the the enjoyable TMNT animated movie, but it remains to be seen if the big budget reboot of the franchise will work next year. We haven't seen much but I'm digging Megan Fox as April O'Neil, especially in her yellow jacket and things like the Turtle van and such look cool. Just wait to see the final Turtle designs now I guess.
Anyway back to these originals. This boxset isn't exactly a fan requirement, due to the lack of extras and very little in the way of pretty visuals or audio. I'd be really keen on seeing the Blu-ray versions as there's a BD boxset out on the same day but for now the original Turtles film feel like a bunch of films sitting on a shelf rather than a franchise that anyone is going to give any love to extras or clean up wise. Still, its good to have them all in one box.
Review by Marcus Doidge
Wilson Bros Reviewer Join Date: August 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,183
Oh, Marcus, how could you!
A really nice, nostalgic review from the reasoned perspective of a mature movie fan, but you didn't mention the great David Warner in Turtles 2, being probably the best thing in the movie! OK, this was at the height of the "genre-wh*re" status, where he quickly took the paycheque for work in the fantasy/Sci-Fi genre, even though he openly despised it, but some of his pieces are really funny. Our favourite has to be the "quoting Shakespeare" one, played with a blithe panache only Warner could muster.
We had perfect, uncut bootlegs of the first two - let's hear it for the local video van - but kept right away from the third, which we're not even sure we have seen all the way through. Isn't Stuart Wilson in that? Met him on the set of Hot Fuzz - really nice guy. Anyway, Turtles 3 came just too late to ride the wave, but that's what happens if you get another country financing something a few years later, and tailoring it to play in said area of the world.
The Wilson Bros
A really nice, nostalgic review from the reasoned perspective of a mature movie fan, but you didn't mention the great David Warner in Turtles 2, being probably the best thing in the movie! OK, this was at the height of the "genre-wh*re" status, where he quickly took the paycheque for work in the fantasy/Sci-Fi genre, even though he openly despised it, but some of his pieces are really funny. Our favourite has to be the "quoting Shakespeare" one, played with a blithe panache only Warner could muster.
We had perfect, uncut bootlegs of the first two - let's hear it for the local video van - but kept right away from the third, which we're not even sure we have seen all the way through. Isn't Stuart Wilson in that? Met him on the set of Hot Fuzz - really nice guy. Anyway, Turtles 3 came just too late to ride the wave, but that's what happens if you get another country financing something a few years later, and tailoring it to play in said area of the world.
The Wilson Bros
David Warner eats that flick up, even more so considering how little he's playing against but I didn't mention him because he's not playing Baxster Stockman when he should be playing Baxster Stockman - same as those mutants should be Beebop and Rocksteady. A slight tweak and the same approach they had to the first film and the sequel could have been much closer to what fans really wanted I reckon.
Chris Gould Editor Join Date: May 2001 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7,171
Hey, they had to introduce Tokka and Rahzar to sell more toys!
Were they even toys? I think I've blocked them out of my memory entirely if they were.
Chris Gould Editor Join Date: May 2001 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7,171
They were indeed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOlvndILUfg
I guess my TMNT collecting had well and truly stopped by then
Chris Johnson Member Join Date: October 2005 Location: United States Posts: 1,465
I love the first two but I hate the third one. Still not as excruciatingly horrid as that "Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation" show was.
Next Mutation was awful but this has to be the lowest point right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thHCIxnzktk
General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children
Disc Details
Release Date: 28th October 2013
Discs: 3
Disc Type: Single side, dual layer
RCE: No
Video: PAL
Aspect: 2.35:1
Anamorphic: Yes
Colour: Yes
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo English
Subtitles: English
Extras: Making of, Trailers, Stills Galeries
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Various
Cast: Corey Feldman, Sam Rockwell, Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Ken Scott
Genre: Action, Adventure and Comedy
Length: 262 minutes
6Review Guide
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Cubs rally, but fall short in sweep attempt of Cards
CHICAGO -- Hector Rondon is learning quickly how tough it can be to pitch in the ninth.
Yadier Molina hit a tiebreaking two-run single with two outs in the ninth off Rondon to lift the Cardinals to a 5-4 victory over the Cubs, snapping Chicago's three-game winning streak.View Full Game Coverage
CHICAGO -- Hector Rondon is learning quickly how tough it can be to pitch in the ninth.
Yadier Molina hit a tiebreaking two-run single with two outs in the ninth off Rondon to lift the Cardinals to a 5-4 victory over the Cubs, snapping Chicago's three-game winning streak.View Full Game Coverage
Sunday was Rondon's third straight game, and he entered in the ninth with the game tied at 3.
"[The ninth inning] is really tough, because I need to come in aggressive against the hitter," Rondon said. "I tried to make a good pitch today, but something happened. I tried to throw a pitch for a breaking ball, but it went for a base hit."
With one out in the St. Louis ninth, Rondon walked Randal Grichuk, and Mark Ellis singled. Rondon, who was 3-for-3 in save opportunities, picking up two of those Friday and Saturday against the Cardinals, then struck out Peter Bourjos, but he walked Matt Carpenter to load the bases for Molina. The veteran then lined a 1-2 pitch to center, driving in Grichuk and Ellis.
"I was looking to not strike out," Molina said. "I mean, I got real lucky with that -- they were playing me to pull. It was a good at-bat. He wanted to strike me out, and I put the ball in play, and good things happened."
Rondon said he wasn't tired; he'd only thrown seven pitches on Saturday.
"I tried to throw a sinker inside, but it stayed a little in the middle," Rondon said. "It was down, and that's why I got a ground ball. He fought me with a lot of pitches. I tried to go away, away, away, and finally I tried to go in. I missed the location, but I still made a good pitch. I got a ground ball."
The Cubs have not officially designated Rondon as the closer. Manager Rick Renteria is going with matchups as they try to fill the role, which was Jose Veras' at the start of the season. Veras lost the job April 11 after blowing a two-run lead, and is now on the disabled list with a strained oblique. Rondon is one of Renteria's options.
"Every game is a test," Renteria said. "He needs to keep his head up. Games like this are going to happen. He went out there and he wanted the ball."
"For me, this helped me a lot," Rondon said of facing the Cardinals. "In my mind, I know I need to be more aggressive. It happened today, and OK, we lost the game, but we won the series, and that's a good sign for us."
The Cubs were vying for their first three-game sweep of the Cardinals since April 7-9, 2006.
"We should take some positives away, even though we lost this ballgame today," Renteria said. "In the end, we had the potential tying run on second base."
Trevor Rosenthal entered in the Chicago ninth and allowed Luis Valbuena's two-out RBI double before nailing down the save by getting Anthony Rizzo to ground out.
The Cubs wore retro uniforms from 1929, a season in which they won 98 games and reached the World Series. Jason Hammel would probably like to turn back the clock to April. He posted a 4-1 record in the first month of the season, and entered the game with the best WHIP in the Major Leagues. On Sunday, walks did him in.
The Cardinals tallied with two outs in the second, when Jhonny Peralta walked and scored on Grichuk's triple that bounced into the yet-to-bloom ivy. Ellis followed with an RBI double for a 2-0 lead.
With two outs in the St. Louis third, Hammel walked Matt Holliday, and he scored on Matt Adams' double.
"Those [walks] hurt me pretty good," Hammel said. "Just can't do that. Two quick outs, put a guy on base and bad things happen, and that's what happened tonight. I was trying to find my command -- it really wasn't there. It was a grind, and I made pitches for most of the night. Two-out walks in the big leagues, those are no good."
The Cubs had a chance with one out in the third, when Lance Lynn walked three batters in a row to load the bases. But the right-hander got the Cubs' Nos. 3-4 hitters, Rizzo and Starlin Castro, to fly out and end the threat.
"We had them on the ropes and weren't able to do anything," Renteria said.
With one out in the Chicago fourth, Ryan Kalish singled and John Baker walked, the fourth free pass issued by Lynn, and both moved up on Darwin Barney's groundout before scoring on Hammel's single.
"The hit was nice," Hammel said. "It found a hole, and [Lynn] provided most of the distance with his velocity."
Valbuena tripled with two outs in the Cubs' seventh against Carlos Martinez, and Rizzo was intentionally walked. Valbuena then scampered home with the tying run on a wild pitch during Castro's at-bat. Martinez struck out Castro to end the inning.
The Cubs were outhit, 11-5, and fell to 2-15 this season when they are outhit.
"We had to capitalize on the limited chances we had, and we did that with the bat," Hammel said. "It was a grind all the way through."
Even though they lost Sunday, the Cubs did win the series, and did so against a tough Cardinals team.
"We still had some fight, we still had some pep -- Luis with the big double in the ninth to get it within one," Hammel said. "You've got to be proud of the guys. We're fighting. We're not going to lay down."
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat.