text:
At 49, Jamie Moyer's Pitching Career Goes Into Extra Innings
In a new memoir called Just Tell Me I Can't Moyer explains how he became a better pitcher in his 40s than his 20s. Moyer's story isn't just the tale of a talented guy who hung on a little longer than others; with the help of a sports psychologist, he managed to gain control of the mental side of his game.
Related Topics
Other segments from the episode on October 2, 2013
October 2, 2013
Guest: Jamie Moyer
TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. Last year, our guest, Jamie Moyer, became the oldest pitcher ever to record a win in the majors. He was 49. But Moyer's story isn't just the tale of a talented guy who hung onto his game a little longer than others. He was actually a more effective pitcher in his 40s than in his 20s because he got control of the mental side of his game, and he did it with the help of a gruff, self-taught sports psychologist named Harvey Dorfman.
Moyer was never blessed with a blazing fastball. His speed was below average, even in his youth. And to compete in the big leagues, he had to locate his pitches with pinpoint accuracy and out-think his hitters. He's managed to do that plenty and, with an extraordinary work ethic, keep his body in shape to play with men half his age.
In fact, when he beat out an infield hit last year, he also became the oldest big-leaguer to ever get a run batted in. Moyer pitched for eight teams, but his best years were with the Seattle Mariners, where he became an all-star, and the Philadelphia Phillies, where he was a started in a season they won the World Series. His new memoir, with writer Larry Platt, called "Just Tell Me I Can't," is full of inside baseball tales like how he got inside hitters' heads, worked umpires to get a better strike zone and learned to use his teeth, yes his teeth, to tell his catcher he was changing the location of the pitch he was throwing. Moyer spoke with FRESH AIR contributor Dave Davies.
DAVE DAVIES, HOST: Well Jamie Moyer, welcome to FRESH AIR.
JAMIE MOYER: Thank you, Dave.
DAVIES: You know, you look at a baseball diamond in a stadium, and the field and the mound are the same dimensions that you pitched on in high school. But ballparks differ in some ways. Are there some where the mound felt different?
MOYER: Yeah, yeah, there are dimensions, you know, and, you know, height restrictions that we're able to use, but it gets policed quite stringently by the league. But if we'll call the tabletop, the very top of the mound, some of those are built differently. I can tell you the one in Oakland seems like you're on a huge, huge stage, whereas some of the other ballparks don't seem as big.
And I think sometimes the background that - where as a pitcher where I'd be facing behind home plate, some are a lot closer. Some are brick. Some have signage on them. But the ones that are further back make the plate feel like it's further away from home plate. So it's just, it's a visual, but it's - also creates a feeling for you, as well.
DAVIES: Did you have tricks to making yourself feel comfortable in a place that you didn't particularly like? You didn't like Pittsburgh's mound, I read.
MOYER: I didn't, yeah, I didn't. I wasn't real fond of Pittsburgh's mound, and the only reason I wasn't fond of it, I didn't like the clay that they used. It was very difficult to work with. It was usually very hard. It seemed to dry out as the game went on. And I could usually tell after a game because my calluses would have blisters, if you can believe that or not.
But, you know, my feet would be really sore after I pitched there.
DAVIES: You had Pittsburgh feet that day?
MOYER: Yes, I did.
DAVIES: You know, Oral Hershiser once said after - in a post-game interview, I remember this, he said that pitching in the big leagues is like climbing a mountain when you start a game. What did your body feel like the day after you, you know, pitched five or six or more innings?
MOYER: That's a great question, and, you know, it depends. I think it depends on the duress that you went through during the course of a game. If it was an easy game, and - or easy and - and they're never easy, but if you didn't have a lot of guys on base, and you weren't pitching out of jams constantly, and you got a lot of, you know, easier, you know, one, two, three, pitch, outs during the course of the game, and, you know, like I say you weren't under stress you had to make quality pitches all the time to get out of a jam and to get out an inning, inning after inning after inning, those days you kind of felt the next day like...
You know, I knew that I worked the day before, but I didn't feel like I was beaten up, whereas the games where you were in trouble, say some games I was in trouble from the first pitch, you know, maybe I - there were a number of games where I led, you know, when the games started off with the guy hitting the first pitch of the game as a home run.
So now I'm losing one-nothing, and I've thrown one pitch. Or the first pitch of the game, the guy hits a double, then the next guy hits a single, and then maybe I walk a guy, and then maybe there's an error. Now all of a sudden, you're creating a lot of distress, and now you're fighting your way through that, and you constantly have to make a good pitch.
And early in the game, you're trying to establish, you know, what you're going - what you want to do. You're trying to create a tempo. You want to take control of that game. And the offense is not allowing that to happen. So those types of days, the next day after, you're usually a lot more sore, and mentally you're exhausted.
DAVIES: Harvey Dorfman is an important figure in your life and in your story, kind of an early sports psychologist. Tell us what was happening in your career when you first went to see him.
MOYER: I was really - I don't want to say I was quite at crossroads, but I had really an up and down career. My - if you're looking at numbers, I had a career-losing record. As a pitcher, I was very inconsistent. I was still - I was in my late 20s trying to find myself as a - you know, in the major leagues, which was kind of scary when I look back at it.
Harvey was really into sports but was born with an asthmatic disorder and really wasn't able to be an athlete, per se, as a child and through his youthful years but really kind of followed sports and had a passion for sports. He ended up, you know, getting a degree, an English degree, he was an English teacher, coached a women's basketball team and somehow got a job with the Oakland A's.
Harvey Dorfman and Karl Kuehl, and, you know, he did a lot of this sports psychology stuff with the A's, and he wrote a book, "The Mental Game of Baseball," with Karl Kuehl. And like I said, I read that book, thought I understood it and then spending time with Harvey really realized that I didn't understand it. And he really taught me to think about what I was doing, analyze what I was doing and not - you know, in the book he talks about paralysis by analysis, and I think sometimes we can get too much information and paralyze ourselves with all of the information and forget the task at hand.
And he was really big on trying to teach, focusing - you know, what is the task that I am trying to conquer? And for me that was, you know, the mental side of the game, and it's my preparation, my focus, my accountability, who I was as a person, you know, staying in your own person and not trying to be somebody else and all these things I was trying to do as a competitive Major League Baseball pitcher, and I was really so concerned about results that I was losing focus on really who I was and what got me to the major league level.
DAVIES: Now Harvey, he didn't rub your shoulders and say it's going to be OK. He was a tough guy.
MOYER: No, he was a harsher - a little bit on the harsher side, brash. His language was - you know, I didn't mind it, though. I enjoyed it because, you know, he was challenging. He was always trying to challenge you. I really enjoyed that aspect of it.
One of the things it seems you had to address was pitching afraid. You know, you're pitching, and you're looking into the dugout to see if the manager's picking up the phone to get somebody working in the bullpen. You're wondering what's going to happen if I don't make this pitch. And he wanted you to be aggressive. Talk about your fear of pitching inside, that is to say throwing pitches close to the batter.
Right, and that's a great point, and it really wasn't being afraid of throwing the pitches necessarily close to the batter, but if I throw it inside, and I miss, and I don't miss on the inner part of the plate towards the hitter, I miss over the middle of the plate, oh my gosh the results are going to be a home run, or they're going to hit it hard, they're going to hit - you know, and I'm going to have bad results.
Well, what I was focusing on was the result instead of focusing on the task. So the task for me, what he taught me, was to let's focus on good mechanics, which are going to allow me to make that appropriate pitch and hit the location that I want to hopefully give the hitter the wrong results that he wants and make him become the frustrated person and not myself.
DAVIES: You were never a guy who threw 90 miles an hour.
MOYER: No.
DAVIES: You know, you - and so you relied upon finesse, pinpoint location, picking the right pitches. And one of the things that it seems Harvey got you to see is the need to be aggressive, to use your offspeed pitch, to use that slow stuff aggressively on hitters. Explain what that means. How does that work?
MOYER: Well, he got me to realize the - what my abilities were, and again you're right, my fastball was below average, but my changeup was really my, if you will, my money pitch or my out pitch, but...
DAVIES: And for folks who don't watch baseball a lot, a changeup is the pitch that you throw that looks like a fastball coming at the batter, but because of the grip, it comes more slowly, and they swing too quickly, miss it.
MOYER: They react to a fastball because that's what their eyes are telling them, and that's where I had a lot of my success in the minor leagues and not as much success in the major leagues because again I didn't have the confidence in my own abilities. So what he was trying to teach me was to say look, here's your fastball, learn how to locate it, which that's what I was in that process of doing, you know, good mechanics is going to allow good location, but, you know, my focus on that had to be that, but using that as a tool, or as if you will a weapon even though I wasn't using it at the hitter, I was using it against the hitter, and then my changeup that I threw, again being aggressive with, not passive with it, you know, now using that against him and knowing that we all have an ego.
And in baseball, those egos sometimes can be really big, and hitters can have really big egos, and, you know, not only do they want to hit homeruns, they want to hit them 30 rows back because that's what people want to see. So now take that ego that they have and use it against them. So now if I can throw a hard pitch, maybe it's just off the plate, but now I throw the same pitch or a pitch looking just like it but it's eight to 10 miles an hour, 12 miles an hour slower, and they swing like it's the hard pitch, now all of a sudden they're thinking it's a fastball, and they're swinging way ahead of the ball, and now they become frustrated.
And that's where the game of, if you will, the game of chess or the game of cat and mouse in baseball really comes into play.
DAVIES: Do you think hitters sense doubt in a pitcher?
MOYER: Oh, yeah, body language or your posture on the mound, the way you act and react in situations, hitters feed off of that, and you could tell on days when guys are showing bad body language on the mound, you know, it would almost be like the hitters were running up to home plate to hit.
But you could also flip that, too. As a pitcher, when things were going really well, you could read hitters if - say you threw a pitch, and a guy took the pitch, and it was a called strike, and you got a reaction like, you know, his shoulders went down, or he complained to the umpire, all of a sudden now, you know, it was like hey, that wasn't a strike. Now they've become distracted with what was going on.
So, you know, for me to be able to read that, and now I'm ahead in the count, maybe now the next pitch doesn't have to be a strike, but if I can make it look like a strike as it's approaching the plate, but when it gets to the plate it's not a strike and I get them to offer at it, again they're swinging at something that they didn't really want to swing it or they weren't comfortable swinging at.
DAVIES: And that's being aggressive. You're taking this hitter out of his focus and reacting to what you're doing. Now you say that a pitcher can have bad posture, which will indicate that he's frustrated. What's the posture you want to never show on the mound, and then what's the posture you do want to show?
MOYER: The posture that you never want to show, for me, is to throw a pitch and, you know, you kind of get - your body gets a little droopy. You're whining. You know, you just - everything kind of - your body kind of crumbles. And, you know, you catch the ball, and you snap at the ball. You know, you're glaring at the umpire. You're whining to the umpire. And that's very visible from, you know, 60 feet away.
The hitter sees that, your teammates see that, the fans see that, the broadcasters see that, you know, everybody sees that. But, you know, to me you want to show absolutely nothing. You want to have strong eyes. You want to be staring at your target. And you're really showing no emotion, and you want to show that, you know, I'm in control here. You want to get the ball back, you want to create a good tempo between pitches. You don't want to lollygag around and kick the dirt and, you know, mosey around like, you know, this is a drudgery.
You want to get the ball, you want to get back up on the mound, take your sign and make your next pitch.
DAVIES: You know, you pitched late in your career here in Philadelphia, so a lot of us saw a lot of Jamie Moyer, and I remember your expression on the mound. You could never tell what you were thinking.
MOYER: And that's ideal, and, you know, those who watch the Phillies play, you watch Chase Utley hit, he shows no emotion at home plate, and that's exactly, as a pitcher, that's exactly what I'm trying to do as well. You don't want to give the hitter anything to feed off of.
DAVIES: We're speaking with Jamie Moyer. His new memoir is called "Just Tell Me I Can't," and we'll talk some more after a quick break. This is FRESH AIR.
DAVIES: This is FRESH AIR, and if you're just joining us, our guest is Jamie Moyer. He is the oldest pitcher ever to win a game in the big leagues, had a long career. And he's written a book about the mental side of pitching and his own career. It's called "Just Tell Me I Can't."
A lot of the book deals with the rigor with which you prepare for a game, with which you train and discipline yourself. And one of my favorite stories about your work ethic and preparation comes from 2012 when you're making a comeback, and you're in the spring training camp for the Colorado Rockies.
There's this assignment to introduce another team player. Tell us that story.
MOYER: Yeah, well, it was interesting. The very first day, they had, you know, new complexes now in the Rockies and the Diamondbacks share a beautiful, beautiful, state-of-the-art complex. And inside of our part of the complex they have like a - or a movie room. It's like a theater. It's - you know, it's tilted. There's theater seats in it, and, you know, you can put video up, you can speak and all that kind of stuff.
So part of what the Rockies were going to do that year is they wanted everybody to pick a name out of a hat and introduce that person.
DAVIES: A teammate.
MOYER: Yes. My - the teammate that I picked was Jeremy Guthrie, who I didn't know very well. I was a new guy to that organization, and plus he was a new guy to that new organization. And I volunteered to go first. So I thought OK, I'm going to make mine stand out. I don't know Jeremy at all. And the person wasn't supposed to know that you picked him.
So what I did is I talked to the PR people. I got a phone number to his wife, who then gave me a phone number to his mother, who then I kind of did a little bit of an interview about Jeremy's background and upbringing, got a bunch of information from his mother, and then I talked to his wife, and then I just kind of wrote out what I wanted to write.
And it was my day to go, and I got up, and I had about a page and a half to two pages of information about Jeremy, and as you gave your information, the rest of the group was to try to guess who that person was. So it was a way for people to get to know about their teammates.
DAVIES: Right. A lot of the other players, they Googled the guy, you know, they gave his stats. You told them that he was a chess champion and was a bad little boy and drove his Big Wheels too fast.
MOYER: Yeah, he actually ran away one day, and his mom had to call the police to find him.
DAVIES: But I guess the point is, if you're going to do a job, do it right.
MOYER: Exactly, and go to, you know, some length and detail. And I thought, you know, some of these things would be fun for his teammates to know. Actually, one of the things was in junior high he was a businessman, and he went out and bought candy bars and sold them in school out of his locker, and he got caught, and he got in trouble for that, too.
But he was showing his, you know, entrepreneurial side.
DAVIES: Right, so we'll see if he doctors the baseball as he moves down the road.
DAVIES: Now one thing ballplayers do is to visit kids in hospitals and do other, you know, charitable and community work. There's a story in the book about your interaction with a two-year-old child named Gregory Chia(ph). Do I have the name right?
MOYER: Yes, you do.
DAVIES: Yeah, tell us his story and what the relationship you developed with him and his parents.
MOYER: Well, Gregory was a cancer patient, and he was at Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital in Baltimore, and the priest that married my wife and I asked us to go visit him. And we did, and at the time we had a one-year-old son who was healthy and vibrant, and, you know, I've been - had made many visits to hospitals previous to this visit.
And, you know, they'd always be cordial, and you'd go in, and you'd sign things, and you'd chat with the patients and, you know, you wish them well, and you kind of walk out the door, and in a lot of cases you don't hear from them again.
Well, in this particular case when we went to visit Gregory, you know, knowing that he was a very sick little boy, and us having a very healthy boy, I felt very privileged to have healthy son, but on our visit, you could see his pain. You could see his family's pain.
But the cool thing was you could feel it through his mother at the time of the visit, Marge(ph) and through Gregory that he was going to survive this very rare form of cancer that he had, it was a leukemia, AML. And I felt very sorry for him.
I mean, here is a little boy who is fighting for his life on a daily basis, and here was Jamie Moyer, the selfish baseball player that was so concerned about his baseball life and his baseball career that this just didn't make sense to me, how I could be so selfish in worrying about my career, and this little boy may not be living for more than another month or two.
And for some crazy reason, Gregory and I created a bond, and to this day I don't know how to explain that, but it was amazing the support he tried to give me and not only tried, he did as a two-year-old little boy gave me support. And I was trying to support him, and we were trying to support he and his family that it just struck me that you know what, there's more to baseball.
DAVIES: Right, well, I mean, clearly you were moved by this, and your wife Karen(ph) spent - had a lot of contact with him after that and the family. But shortly after that first visit, you put his initials on your cleats and where, on your cap?
MOYER: Yes, not only my cleats, my hat, on my glove and actually would put them in the dirt on the back of the mound. It just - you know what? He was in my heart daily, constantly.
DAVIES: And then reporters noticed it and asked you about it.
MOYER: Yeah, and, you know, at times it was very difficult, and even at times it's very difficult for me to talk about. I mean, here's a little boy, like I said, struggling for his life, and it just, it just really humbled me, and it really allowed me to put my baseball career and my life into perspective.
And from there, you know, we would talk quite often. If I was on the road, we would talk on the phone, we would talk after games. You know, he would watch the games on TV. I'd go back to the hospital. We would kind of play in the room with a Nerf ball. And, you know, he went into remission, which was just - it was just amazing.
DAVIES: He overcame a very grim prognosis and made it through. And did your - do you think it changed your ability, your performance as a ballplayer, that experience?
MOYER: It did, it did. I had energy that I never knew that I had. I was at peace. Win or lose I was at peace, whereas before my career, if I lost or didn't pitch well, it would eat at me, and it would bother me, and I would - it would affect me at home. It no longer affected me at home. I left my baseball at the ballpark, and my home life was my home life.
GROSS: Jamie Moyer will continue his interview with FRESH AIR contributor Dave Davies in the second half of the show. Moyer's memoir is called "Just Tell Me I Can't." I'm Terry Gross, and this is FRESH AIR.
GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. Let's get back to the interview FRESH AIR contributor Dave Davies recorded with Jamie Moyer. Last year, at the age of 49, Moyer became the oldest Major League pitcher ever to win a game, and the oldest to record an RBI. His new memoir, "Just Tell Me I Can't," is full of inside baseball stories, including how he became a more effective pitcher in his 40s than he was in his 20s.
DAVIES: You played for Baltimore and then you went to Boston and then had great years in Seattle. I mean great years for you as a pitcher, great years for the team and the city. Talk about the chemistry on that team.
MOYER: Well, I really believe that the Seattle Mariners, you know, and not just because I was there. I was a part of it. I could witness it. But they had an uncanny knack of bringing quality people to the organization. And our manager at the time, Lou Piniella, did a great job in getting guys to believe in themselves and to play together as a team. And I think that was really, really important. And Lou was very passionate about winning, my most favorite manager that I've ever played for. But it was about, you felt like Lou was another teammate. And that's really what it was about, playing together. And again, the fan base really kind of wrapped their arms around us and it was very exciting times in Seattle.
DAVIES: Well - yeah. And folks who don't know Lou Piniella, I mean should know that he threw a, you know, a tantrum on the field better than anybody. I mean ripping his hat off.
MOYER: Yes he did.
DAVIES: Throwing bases more than once.
MOYER: Right.
DAVIES: But...
MOYER: But that was a way - that was also a way for him to motivate us as players. You know, by him going out and showing his anger, yeah, people look at it as kind of a circus act. But, you know, there were, you know, many of those times when he did those tantrums or he took his hat off and threw it around and kicked it around, you know, and everybody laughed at it, but it was a way for him to let off some steam, but it motivated us players.
DAVIES: I want to talk some more about keeping the mental edge as a pitcher and how you practiced that over the years. One of the things that you've said is that hitters had big egos and you would use their egos against them - try and get them frustrated, break their concentration. Would you say things to hitters often, like speak to them directly?
MOYER: There were a couple of times back when David Justice was with Cleveland and I was pitching and it was in the middle of the game. We were up a couple of runs and we were in a particular batch, which is foul ball, foul ball, foul ball, foul ball. We got to like nine, 10, 11 pitches and I walked towards home plate to get another ball from the umpire. And I stopped and I said, David. And he kind of looked at me. Because you usually don't talk, you know, from pitcher to hitter too often. And he kind of looked up at me and I said, where do you want the pitch? And he kind of looked at me like what did you just say to me. And he said and he just kind of pointed, you know, out in front of him like right down the middle. And I said OK. And I turned around...
DAVIES: And he wanted a fastball, right? Yeah.
MOYER: Yeah. And he wanted a fastball. And now, you know, now for me the cat and mouse game begins. All right, is he going to think I'm going to throw him a fastball? Is he going to take the pitch? Is he going to swing at it? Is it, you know, what's going to happen? So I could never tell him I'm going to throw something and throw something else because I had it already set in my mind. So I threw a fastball. He hit a homerun - while he started laughing around the bases. And, you know, I couldn't fault the guy, you know. So he goes back in the dugout. He starts telling his teammates, they were all laughing, blah, blah, blah, blah. And but he was, you know, the bat was over and like I said, I was starting to get a little tired then. So I was like all right, we're done, you know, you're out of here. It's a solo home run. No big deal. We ended up winning the game. Next day I see him and he said that's crazy. I can't believe you did that. And I said well, you know, I kind of explained to him why I did it. And it's funny. I've seen him how a number of times in the last couple of years and he, every time I see him, we laugh about it. But, you know, I've done it a couple of times in my career and...
DAVIES: Well, well, hang on. Explain to us why you did. I mean you're serving up a pitching hand...
MOYER: Well, I did it because again, I was trying to break up that tension that he and I had created. And I was trying to get him off of what, you know, he was kind of really focused on, you know, getting a hit. And, like you said, I just kept throwing pitch after pitch after pitch after pitch. Everything I threw, he fouled off. So I was to the point where it's like - again, I'm not going to say I gave up, but I wanted to try to beat him on the mental part of it, hoping that he would do something he didn't want to do. But he stayed...
DAVIES: Lose his focus. Yeah.
MOYER: Right. Yeah. But he stayed on course and he beat me at my own little game. So again, I try to pick and choose when I would do that, but I did it a couple of other times in my career and, you know, I didn't do it real often but it was just one of those times where that tension was building and building and building.
DAVIES: Now you're a pitcher that relies on accuracy and on finesse and on mixing up pitches, rather than speed. You don't overpower...
MOYER: Changing timing. What I'm trying to do is I'm trying to affect timing, because that's all hitting is is timing.
DAVIES: Right. So the 79 mile an hour pitch, followed by a 62 mile an hour pitch can be tricky.
MOYER: Right.
DAVIES: Right. Or vice versa.
MOYER: Right. Right. Especially if I can make them look the same out of my hand.
DAVIES: Right. But location is critical, which means that if you have an umpire that is as they say, pinching the strike zone, calling a narrower strike zone...
MOYER: Right.
DAVIES: That's going to be - I can remember a few starts when...
MOYER: Yeah.
DAVIES: ...when that happened to you.
MOYER: Yeah. I had a game in the playoffs against Milwaukee...
DAVIES: Right.
MOYER: ... that, you know, I really struggled.
DAVIES: Paul Runge was the umpire.
MOYER: Yup. Yup.
DAVIES: We all remember on...
MOYER: Yup. Yup.
DAVIES: And what I wanted to ask, you know, it's illegal in the game. You can argue a lot of things in the game. You're not allowed to argue balls and strikes. You can be ejected for it.
MOYER: Yes, in today's game, yes. You can, that's the way it is.
DAVIES: But is there a way you can work an umpire from the mound?
MOYER: You can. You know, you can, you know, respectfully, you know, give him a little bit of a glare. Or, you know, there've been times where I didn't like the way the game was going as far as balls and strikes, and I'd call my catcher out to the mound. And for no particular reason did I want to talk to my catcher, but if you stand out there long enough with the catcher, the umpire will come walking out. And usually while I was having a conversation with the catcher, when the umpire would walk out and he'd come out and say hey, let's go. You know, let's speed it up here. And I'd wait until the umpire got all the way to the mound and I would continue to talk to the catcher, but I was really talking to the umpire.
DAVIES: And saying what?
MOYER: And I'd be asking him about, you know, hey, where's that last pitch or is my catcher blocking your pitches or, you know, are you having a tough day? Because they're a lot of times where I'd walk off the field and say, hey, bear with me. I'm having a tough day, you know, when I wasn't throwing strikes or consistent strikes. So I'm trying to - what I was really just trying to do was get the umpire to think about what he was calling and trying to do it in a respectful way. I don't want to be demonstrative because I do respect that he is - this is his job too. And I don't want to try to; I'm not trying to create any animosity between myself and the umpire because the umpire can really be beneficial to me.
DAVIES: All right. So anybody on the stands or watching on television who looks at that encounter sees you talking to your catcher.
MOYER: Right.
DAVIES: So you're not embarrassing the umpire, you're not showing them up, you're not yelling at him.
MOYER: Right.
DAVIES: But he is hearing you make your case.
MOYER: Mm-hmm.
DAVIES: Did you find it worked?
MOYER: At times it did. Here's another one. Maybe we were in a key point of the game and my catcher would legitimately come out and say hey, what do you want to do here? And I'd be like - I'd be in between thoughts. I'd be thinking about well, maybe this pitch or that pitch. That's what I was thinking about. And I'd say to the catcher well, what do you think? And he'd say, well, maybe a changeup here. Well, at that point the umpire would be walking out to the mound and he'd say OK boys, let's go. You know, let's get back at this. And I'd, you know, and I'd make sure he was close enough and I'd say OK, let's go with the changeup. And I'd say it loud enough that the umpire could hear it. Now he would have time to think about it and he'd be prepared for me throwing that changeup and he usually knew where I was going to be throwing it. Now he was prepared and looking in the area that I was throwing that pitch. You know, maybe I'd get the benefit of the doubt and get the call because we're in a tight situation.
DAVIES: There are a lot of great baseball stories in this book. And one of them that I loved that was new to me was you using your teeth to signal a change in the pitch the catcher wanted you to throw.
MOYER: Yeah. A change in a location.
DAVIES: Yeah. Explain this.
MOYER: Yeah. Well, and for most pitches you don't change location. I would change location with my changeup, and I would change location with my fastball and I would change location with the cutter, it's almost like a slider.
DAVIES: And when we say change, the catcher gives you a signal sort of pitch.
MOYER: So he gives me a, say we're going to throw a fastball and he calls for a fastball and I say yes. And then I change my mind and want to throw it away. Well, if I say yes, and no...
DAVIES: Meaning you nod your head. Right.
MOYER: ...if I say, yeah. If I'm nod my head yes, and then shake my head no, well, most hitters know that, you know, most pitches you're going to change location with is going to be a fastball. So they're going to sit on a fastball. And I learned this real quick. I mean here's a little side story off of that. I played with a wily catcher, Jim Sundberg, who was a teammate but faced him in spring training and an inner squad game. And I did that. I went yes and I went no. And I changed the location with my fastball and he hit a homerun. And afterwards, I said how did you know that? And he said well, of course, you know, you're crazy. You should know that. And I didn't at that time, I was a very young player. So I...
DAVIES: So the point was you tipped him by nodding your head yes and then shaking your head no.
MOYER: Right.
DAVIES: So he knows, ah ha. He's changing the location.
MOYER: Right. Right.
DAVIES: It's got to be a fastball. Here I go.
MOYER: Right. Yup. So it was a learning lesson as a young player in spring training. So now what I would do in a game, if I wanted to change that location... Now we're back to that fastball in - the catcher would move in - and as I started my motion, I would show my catcher my teeth. OK, like smile and that would change the location. So we would go from a fastball in to a fastball away.
DAVIES: Wow. Did you do that a lot?
MOYER: And he would pick up on that. I did a fair amount. It depended on my catcher. If I felt like my catcher had been really observant to what was going on or I had just I had conversation or reminded him about it. Yeah, I would do it a fair amount. I wouldn't do it a whole lot. I learned that trick from Nolan Ryan.
DAVIES: Hmm. And you just better hope your catcher doesn't go to another team and tell other hitters, when Moyer shows his teeth, he's changing the club position.
MOYER: Yeah. But you know what? I can, all I have to do is I can do that and then throw a curveball.
DAVIES: Right.
MOYER: Because I would, you know, if I did it on a curveball, I would tell my catcher it means absolutely nothing.
DAVIES: Mm-hmm. OK.
MOYER: So every now and then I'd throw a curveball and I'd show him my teeth. So if I ever had that doubt that the other team had it and now I'd show him my teeth.
DAVIES: We're speaking with Jamie Moyer. His memoir of his life in baseball is called "Just Tell Me I Can't." And we'll continue our conversation after a short break.
This is FRESH AIR.
DAVIES: This is FRESH AIR and we're speaking with former Major League pitcher Jamie Moyer. His memoir of his years in the big leagues is called "Just Tell Me I Can't."
You know, as your career stretched on, I mean you were pitching in your 40s - pitching effectively in your 40s - but it became a story. I mean, you know, the old guy, the ancient Mariner.
DAVIES: And, you know, I mean here you are, you are an elite athlete. And guys in bar leagues or just in bars are calling you, you know, this old guy. How did you feel about that?
MOYER: You know, at first it bothered me a little bit. But after awhile I realized that, you know, some people just don't know how to react to things or, you know, speak to people in ways. And I learned to respect it and I actually learned to enjoy it and have fun with it. I know when I played in Philadelphia my teammates would always, you know, be razzing me about something about age. And, you know, it would always be funny. I could always look around and give them a little snarl and say, you know, respect your elders. But we had a lot of fun with it. And, you know, in baseball terms, I really was old. But in, you know, in everyday life I really wasn't. But I really found that, you know playing into my 40s uplifted a lot of people. You don't know how many times I would walk on the streets and people would say, you know what, keep doing what you're doing. You know, I used to work out and now I started watching you pitch and now I'm back into working out, or I'm into walking again or I'm into, you know, physical activity again. And, you know, that made me feel good. I never really looked at it that way. I never did it for those reasons. But it really started to make, allowed me to feel good about, you know, who I was and what I was doing. And if I could help somebody that way, I think that was awesome.
DAVIES: You have a shaving kit you carry with somewhat memorabilia and, kind of, reminders. Among them...
MOYER: Well I have, yeah. I have, I'm going to get to the serious stuff first. You know, through this work with Harvey I carried a concentration grid that I made. And, you know, the concentration grid was numbers in little boxes. And from 00 to 99 and they were, you know, spread out all over and I visually had to go from 00 to 99, and I would time myself. And I couldn't use my fingers. There were some things, words that I had written on cards that I would read. I read them for 19 years, the same cards and the same concentration grid and it really allowed me to refine my focus before I went out to pitch. But the fun thing that I had in my shaving kit was - back when I was in Baltimore, if you remember the movie "Bull Durham." And...
DAVIES: Sure.
MOYER: ...there was a scene in the movie when somebody gave one of the players a garter belt for good luck. And I had a buddy who sent me one of those when I was struggling and when I was with the Baltimore Orioles for good luck. And, you know, it was just one of those things that, you know, he said all right, you know, I want you to wear this and it'll, you know, bring you good luck. And I'm thinking oh my gosh, what am I going to do with this? You know, and so I thought, all right, I'll wear it. But I'm thinking well, how am I going to get this on? And I didn't want to, you know, we get dressed in the clubhouse with a bunch of guys and I'm thinking, I'm not going to pull garter out and put it on. So I would get myself dressed and I'd put it in my back pocket and go in the bathroom, in the bathroom stall and pull my pants down, put the garter on...
MOYER: ...and pull my pants back up, and I'd go pitch with it. But I was really concerned because it was purple - purple and black. I was really concerned that you were going to be able to see through it through my white pants. So I had to, you know, those long things that kind of hang down the side, kind of had to pull those up and tuck them in the waist...
MOYER: ...and, you know, and off I went. But, actually, the first night that I wore it I won a game against the Red Sox and I started to wear it religiously after - or when I pitched. And my buddy that I grew up with, Scooter Myers, at home to this day still doesn't believe that I wore it. But I did.
DAVIES: Well, you know, it brings up the subject of superstition, you know, and I remember a scene in "Bull Durham" where Crash Davis is talking to Annie, folks who know that.
MOYER: Mm-hmm.
DAVIES: And the pitcher, Nuke LaLoosh...
MOYER: Right.
DAVIES: ...who's all over the place is not having sex and is on a winning streak. And there's a whole reason that Annie's angry about that, but Crash Davis, the veteran catcher, says you respect a streak and if I guy is winning - thinks he's winning because he's having sex or because he isn't having sex, then he is. And this raises a question since a lot of what you've done is this really kind of rational focus. I mean, kind of bringing the powers of focus to the game.
MOYER: Mm-hmm.
DAVIES: Which is sort of at odds with, you know, some of the superstitions, you know...
MOYER: Right.
DAVIES: ...that ballplayers - are you at all a superstitious guy?
MOYER: Not really.
DAVIES: Does Harvey respect superstition?
MOYER: No. He would not respect that at all. He thinks that's a bunch of hogwash. And, hence, I never told him that I wore that garter belt either. But, yeah, I - actually, I call it stupidstitious(ph) and, you know, guys do their things and, you know, Wade Boggs used to eat chicken before he played. And, you know, it worked for him.
And I think, you know, for some people, you know, if they feel like that helps, then, you know, let it be. But I don't know that it really helps. You know, it's a long season and it can get kind of monotonous so, you know, you kind of have fun with things and it just kind of breaks things up at times. But, no, I'm a believer that, you know, if you can focus and you have that will of concentration, your ability will take over.
DAVIES: After a game, could you remember every pitch?
MOYER: There are some games, yeah, I could go back for a couple of days and pretty much tell you every pitch I threw. And then there are other games when, you know, maybe my focus and concentration wasn't there and I couldn't - you could take me off the field and talk about a pitch two innings previous and I wouldn't remember it.
DAVIES: Now that you're out of the game do you ever dream about playing, about pitching?
MOYER: I dream - I have dreams about when I have pitched. And they're pleasant dreams. They're pleasant dreams about playing. A dream that I had while I was playing, a lot of times I'd wake up in the middle of the night and I think it was, you know, one of those subconscious dreams where you didn't really remember or you didn't know what was going on in the dream, but I'd wake up with a line drive coming right at me and I'd be sweating.
DAVIES: Oh.
MOYER: That's not a good feeling to have.
DAVIES: Did you ever get hit?
MOYER: I have gotten hit. Nothing serious, but I have gotten hit and I've seen guys get hit and hurt seriously. And it's not fun.
DAVIES: No. I have to ask you this before we leave. You pitched in the big leagues last year. I mean, after recovering from surgery, Tommy John surgery. Is it over?
MOYER: It is. It is. I'm done. I don't think I'll be playing again. I do miss it. But I also respect that, you know, it's time for me to leave the game and, you know, my talent level has probably dropped off a little bit. And, you know, I enjoyed my career. I would not look back and say I would change one thing. And I can walk away from the game smiling and feel like I did it the way I was supposed to do and that was hard work. And that's how I was raised. I was raised with parents from southeastern Pennsylvania, blue collar family. And work and dedication is what it was all about.
DAVIES: A lot of people think you'd be a natural pitching coach or a big league manager. Is that an aspiration?
MOYER: It's something that, you know, I would always consider. Right now we have a foundation, like I said, the Moyer Foundation, and I'm actually going to try to open up a pitching academy called the Moyer Pitching Academy and try to share the experiences that I've had over the course of my career, and share the knowledge that I've been able to gain from others and the experiences that I've been through. And I feel it's a great way for myself to be able to give back to the game of baseball.
DAVIES: Well, Jamie Moyer, it's been fun. Thanks so much for speaking with us.
MOYER: Dave, thank you for your time.
GROSS: Jamie Moyer spoke with FRESH AIR contributor Dave Davies. Moyer's new memoir is called "Just Tell Me I Can't." You can read an excerpt on our website, freshair.npr.org. Coming up, Ken Tucker reviews the debut album by the pop group HAIM which has opened for Vampire Weekend and Mumford and Sons. This is FRESH AIR.
TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Rock critic Ken Tucker has a review of the debut album by HAIM, a pop group led by sisters Estelle, Danielle, and Alana Haim. The Southern California trio has opened for acts such as Mumford and Sons and Vampire Weekend. Before the release this week of their album "Days Are Gone," the group attracted attention for their new take on pop rock.
HAIM: (Singing) Never thought that I would grow so old to have seen the gold. Still, I never wanted to go. I would hold it up to my cold heart. Feel the way it used to start up. Take me back, take, take me, take me back to the way that I was before. Hungry for what was to come now I'm longing for the way I was. You say you will, say you will save me.
(Singing) You say you will, you say you will save me. You say, you say you will save me. You say, say you will. Uh-oh. Take me back...
KEN TUCKER, BYLINE: The three Haim sisters are in their 20s with plenty of experience, including some earlier years spent playing in a band formed by and performing with their parents. Each is a multi-instrumentalist, each sings. They write their own material. Here ends the questions-of-authenticity part of the review. Not that questions of being musical lightweights are going to be resolved for some listeners, because HAIM works in that most vexed and scorned of genres: pop-rock.
HAIM: (Singing) You know I'm bad at communication. It's the hardest thing for me to do. And they say it's the most important part that relationships will go through. And I gave it all away just so I could that I know, I know, I know, I know that you're going to be OK anyway. You know there's no rhyme or reason for the way you turned out to be. I didn't go and try to change my mind, not intentionally.
(Singing) You know, it's hard to keep a seat but I can't bear to stay here. I just I know, I know, I know, I know that you're going to be OK anyway.
TUCKER: Your notion of pop-rock may derive from American manufactured products like The Monkees and The Archies, or from British acts like T-Rex and The Sweet, from whom HAIM probably extracted the thumping beat of that song, "The Wire."
I'd suggest that these Southern California sisters are tapping into that geographical area for precedents - anything from the '60s harmonies of The Mamas and the Papas to the '80s pop-punk of The Bangles. On a song such as "Honey and I," you can also hear the vocal inflections of a Canada-imported Lady of the Canyon, Joni Mitchell.
HAIM: (Singing) Goodnight. I know there's nothing good in good-bye but you leave me to no other line. No other line. Eyes wide when you walked through the door. You made your way across the floor, holding up girls that are trying to dance, trying to dance. No, no, no, no. See, I'm not afraid no more. I'm not afraid no more. To turn you away no more. Turn you away no more.
(Singing) To turn you away. To turn you away. 'Cause my honey and I...
TUCKER: The HAIM sound is one of vocals, guitars and drums hovering over thick layers of synthesizers and keyboards. To make this sound work, it has to be structured around a crisp verse-chorus-verse structure, or it just sounds like dreamy or irritating noodling around. The lyrics focus on falling in love and coming to terms with one's own power in a relationship.
They tend to be less important, however, than the sound of the singing. In this, the sisters benefit a bit from harmonies bred in the genes, but in every case, one of them seizes the lead with that nice pop-rock paradox: plaintive assertiveness. Occasionally, they remind you that they're part of the hip-hop generation by mixing things up in a precisely fractured composition such as "My Song 5."
HAIM: (Singing) I found it hard to try to reserve. I'll get it right when I hurt. Hot for me. Romance is on. Hot for me. To her he'll go. Hot for me. I'll be fine. Hot for me. 'Cause I know he's in her heart, on the floor thinking that I'm out the door. I'll be up going through crazy (bleep) I did for you. In my mind, in my head, see that all the words I've said.
(Singing) Honey, honey, I am never coming home again. I've been...
TUCKER: Ultimately, a big part of the proof of HAIM's worth is whether this already highly publicized act can turn its hype into hits. The fate and glory of pop-rock is that it needs to actually be popular to complete the circuit of success. Without it, you're a cult act that's lucky to attract a cult. If I were younger and HAIM had a fan club, I'd probably join it. But the real bottom-line question is, how many of you out there would?
GROSS: Rock critic Ken Tucker reviewed "Days Are Gone" by the sister group HAIM. You can download podcasts of our show on our website freshair.npr.org. You can follow us on Twitter at nprfreshair. Our blog is on Tumblr at freshair.npr.tumblr.com.
Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.


text:
2012 Dodge Nitro 20" OEM Wheel Rim
Discover the Convenience of Fast Free Ground Shipping within the Lower 48 US.
Experience our easy and convenient returns process
This is a 20" OEM Wheel Rim. This is an aluminum wheel with a diameter of 20" and a width of 7.5. This wheel has 5 lug holes and a bolt pattern of 114.3mm. The offset of this rim is 40.48mm. The corresponding OEM part number(s) for this rim is 1BK47TRMAB; 1BK47TRMAC. This wheel is definitely the right wheel to get your vehicle on the road in style.
This wheel is a Factory OEM wheel. It has been professionally refinished to like new condition in both quality and performance, making it a perfect match to your vehicle's stock rims. All of our wheels are remanufactured to meet or exceed SAE and ASTM wheel testing standards. This ensures that not only does the wheel look like a new wheel off the assembly line, but it performs like one too.
All of our Factory OEM wheels are backed by our Auto Rim Shop guarantee. Our guarantee ensures you receive the best possible quality wheels. If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, we will be happy to accept a return on your wheel in unused condition. Please just let our customer service center know and we will be happy to make things right. Please check our return policy. To ensure the part's compatibility please check the Vehicle Fitment table.
Fits:Year, make and model this part fits | 2012 Dodge Nitro |
Sold As 1 Rim: | For More, Update Quantity |
Dimensions represent the diameter and width in inches. The first number is the diameter. The
second number is the width. These dimensions should match your vehicle's requirements, which can typically
be found in your vehicle's manual, the driver's side door jamb, or even on the tire itself.
20"x7.5" |
Offset: ? Offset of a rim is like the positioning of a shelf on a wall bracket. It's where the wheel connects to your car. Think of it as how far the wheel sticks out or tucks in. To measure the offset, you can look at the distance between the centerline of the wheel and the part that connects to the car. You can often find this information in your car's manual, or a professional at a tire shop can measure it for you. |
40.48mm |
Style: ? Style of a rim is the visual design and appearance that makes each wheel unique. It includes features like the number of spokes, the shape of the spokes |
5 Split Spoke |
Lugs: ? Lugs, or lug nuts, are the fasteners used to secure a wheel to the vehicle. They are screwed onto the vehicle's wheel studs, holding the wheel in place. The number of lugs typically corresponds to the number of holes in the wheel's center and varies depending on the vehicle's make and model. |
5 |
Bolt Pattern: ? Bolt pattern of a wheel refers to the arrangement of the lug holes used to attach the wheel to the vehicle. It is described by the number of lug holes and the distance between them (e.g., 5x114.3). The bolt pattern must match the vehicle's pattern to ensure proper fitment. |
114.3mm |
Width: ? Width of a rim is the measurement of the distance between the inside edges of the flanges (the parts that the tire bead sits on). It's often measured in inches, and it determines the size of the tire that can be mounted on the rim. The right width ensures that the tire fits securely on the rim, providing proper handling and performance. |
7.5 |
Diameter: ? Diameter of a rim is the measurement across the wheel from one end to the other, passing through the center. Usually measured in inches, it determines the size of the tire that fits the rim. The diameter is a critical factor in the overall size and fitment of the wheel on a vehicle, affecting both aesthetics and performance.
20" |
Finish: ? Finish is the color of the wheel |
Chrome |
Material: ? Material The substance your wheel is made of, affecting its weight, durability, and appearance. Choices often include alloy, steel, and carbon fiber. |
Aluminum |
OE Part Number: ? Original Equipment (OE) Part Number |
Search All >> 2012 Dodge Nitro Wheels
Choose options

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Add to Targets
Click the star next to the name of a staff member, company, or projects to add them to your Targets. By doing so you will receive notifications for any changes. This includes:
- Contact Info
- Audition Oportunities
- Networking Events
- Staff Roster or New Job
- Industry News
Let us do the work and
we'll keep you Up-To-Date!
My Notes
Record notes and any other contact information that you may have on Kirby. What you record here is not public.
No Upcoming Networking Events
Log in or Sign Up to see all upcoming networking events for staff members at this company.
Learn more about the types of networking events listed on the Up-To-Date Actor.
Prior Casting
My Auditions
Log in or Sign Up to keep track of all of your auditions and connections.
Learn how you can log all of your auditions & meetings on the Up-To-Date Actor and generate reports. Take control of your career today!


text:
2014 NCAA Tournament Scores — Wisconsin & Florida Reach Final Four
Wisconsin and Florida each won a regional championship on Saturday to advance to the 2014 Final Four in Texas. Here's a recap of the day's action:
West Region
(2) Wisconsin 64, (1) Arizona 63 (OT)
Frank Kaminsky had 28 points and 11 rebounds, and second-seeded Wisconsin beat top-seeded Arizona, 64-63, in overtime to win the 2014 NCAA tournament's West Region final in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday. The Badgers (29-7) advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2000. They will face the winner of Sunday's Midwest Region final between Michigan and Kentucky.
Saturday's game was extremely close and physical throughout, but Wisconsin went ahead 54-52 on Traevon Jackson's layup with 1:11 remaining in regulation. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tied it for Arizona with a dunk with 36 seconds to play.
The Badgers never trailed in the overtime period. The Wildcats had a chance to win, but Nick Johnson's final shot was late — and off the mark. Johnson led Arizona (33-4) with 16 points.
South Region
(1) Florida 62, (11) Dayton 52
Scottie Wilbekin scored 23 points and top-seeded Florida beat Dayton, 62-52, in the 2014 NCAA tournament's South Region final in Memphis on Saturday. The Gators' 30th consecutive win allowed them to advance to the 2014 Final Four in North Texas next weekend where they will face the winner of Sunday's East Region final between Michigan State and Connecticut.
Florida's victory also ended the 11th-seeded Flyers' unlikely post-season run one win short of the national semifinals.
The Gators (36-2) used an 11-2 surge late in the first half to take a 38-24 lead into intermission. After trailing by 17 points midway through the second half, Dayton (26-11) closed to within 58-50 with 3:57 to play, but they could not finish the rally. Dyshawn Pierre led the Flyers with 18 points.


text:
A plump, hardy heirloom variety from coastal Washington or Oregon, maturing in 100 days. Tender taste. Rare. This group of beans is a favorite for the home garden and can be grown just about anywhere because they have a relatively short growing season. They can be planted from seed as soon as the soil is warm (day temperatures are around 60 degrees Farenheit), in full sun and loose, well drained soil. Bush type beans are very easy to grow and manage, reaching a height of only 2 feet tall. To control harvest, bush beans can be planted every two weeks. To decide how many crops you can plant, divide your growing season by the maturation period of the variety you are planting. When preparing soil, be sure not to mix in too much nitrogen (5-10-10 is best) or you will get all plant and no beans. 1 pound per 100 square feet is plenty. There is no need to soak beans prior to planting and no need to heavily water right after planting. If coat is cracked too early, germination may be poor. Beans should be planted about 1 inch deep and two inches apart, with rows at least 2 feet apart. Pole type beans should be planted at least 4 inches apart, 6 inches being better, and have rows 3 feet apart. Pole beans will require some type of trellising system, with the tee pee system working quite well. It is alright if beans are a little crowded, as they lend each other support, however, thinning to 4 inches is best.
Google Plant Images: click here!
Cultivar: Speckled BaleFamily: Fabaceae
Size: Height: 1.5 ft. to 2 ft.
Width: 0 ft. to 0 ft.
Plant Category: annuals and biennials, edibles, vegetables,
Plant Characteristics: seed start,
Foliage Characteristics:
Flower Characteristics:
Flower Color: whites,
Bloomtime Range: not applicable
USDA Hardiness Zone: undefined
AHS Heat Zone: Not defined for this plant
Light Range: Sun to Full Sun
pH Range: 5.5 to 7
Soil Range: Some Sand to Clay Loam
Water Range: Normal to Moist
Plant Care
How-to : Fertilization for Annuals and PerennialsAnnuals and perennials may be fertilized using: 1.water-soluble, quick release fertilizers; 2. temperature controlled slow-release fertilizers; or 3. organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion. Water soluble fertilizers are generally used every two weeks during the growing season or per label instructions. Controlled, slow-release fertilizers are worked into the soil ususally only once during the growing season or per label directions. For organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion, follow label directions as they may vary per product.
Conditions : SunSun is defined as the continuous, direct, exposure to 6 hours (or more) of sunlight per day.
Conditions : Light Conditions
Unless a site is completely exposed, light conditions will change during the day and even during the year. The northern and eastern sides of a house receive the least amount of light, with the northern exposure being the shadiest. The western and southern sides of a house receive the most light and are considered the hottest exposures due to intense afternoon sun.
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day. The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property. If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home, take time to map sun and shade throughout the day. You will get a more accurate feel for your site's true light conditions.
Conditions : Light and Plant Selection
For best plant performance, it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light conditions. Right plant, right place! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color, have fewer leaves and a "leggy" stretched-out appearance. Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable. It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps. Plants can also receive too much light. If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun, it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged.
Conditions : Full Sun
Full Sun is defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of continuous, direct sun per day.
Conditions : NormalNormal is defined as regular watering to a depth of 18 inches, but periodically dries out in the top 7 inches between waterings.
Conditions : Moist and Well Drained
Moist and well drained means exactly what it sounds like. Soil is moist without being soggy because the texture of the soil allows excess moisture to drain away. Most plants like about 1 inch of water per week. Amending your soil with compost will help improve texture and water holding or draining capacity. A 3 inch layer of mulch will help to maintain soil moisture and studies have shown that mulched plants grow faster than non-mulched plants.
Conditions : Outdoor Watering
Plants are almost completely made up of water so it is important to supply them with adequate water to maintain good plant health. Not enough water and roots will wither and the plant will wilt and die. Too much water applied too frequently deprives roots of oxygen leading to plant diseases such as root and stem rots. The type of plant, plant age, light level, soil type and container size all will impact when a plant needs to be watered. Follow these tips to ensure successful watering:
* The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently. When watering, water well, i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball. With in-ground plants, this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches (1' being better). With container grown plants, apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes.
* Try to water plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress. Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall. This is paramount if you have had fungus problems.
* Don't wait to water until plants wilt. Although some plants will recover from this, all plants will die if they wilt too much (when they reach the permanent wilting point).
* Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation, mulching, and xeriscaping. Drip systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center. Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture.
* Consider adding water-saving gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant. These can make a world of difference especially under stressful conditions. Be certain to follow label directions for their use.
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor Plants
Normal watering means that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly, as conditions require. Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season, but take care not to over water. The first two years after a plant is installed, regular watering is important for establishment. The first year is critical. It is better to water once a week and water deeply, than to water frequently for a few minutes.
How-to : Preparing Garden BedsUse a soil testing kit to determine the acidity or alkalinity of the soil before beginning any garden bed preparation. This will help you determine which plants are best suited for your site. Check soil drainage and correct drainage where standing water remains. Clear weeds and debris from planting areas and continue to remove weeds as soon as they come up.
A week to 10 days before planting, add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage. If soil composition is weak, a layer of topsoil should be considered as well. No matter if your soil is sand or clay, it can be improved by adding the same thing: organic matter. The more, the better; work deep into the soil. Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials. This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now, but will greatly pay off later. Besides, this is not something that is easily done later, once plants have been established.
How-to : Planting and Removing Annuals
When planting annuals, begin by preparing the soil. Rototill rotted compost, soil conditioner, pulverized bark, or even builders sand into the existing soil and rake it smooth. Annuals grow quickly, so space them as recommended on plant tags. Remove plants from their containers or packs gently, being sure to keep as much soil as you can around the root ball. If the rootball is tight, loosen it a bit by gently separating white, matted roots with your fingers or a pocket knife. Plant at the same depth they were in the containers. Gently fill in around the plants, providing support but not cutting off air to the roots. Water the plants well.
Through the season, be sure to fertilize for optimal performance. Take special care to cut back or completely remove any diseased plants, as soon as you see there is a problem. At the end of the season, be sure to remove all plants and their root balls. Rake the bed well to prepare it for the next season's planting.
How-to : Sow Seed
Now is the preferred time to sow seed.
Pest : Mexican Bean BeetleThe Mexican Bean Beetle seems to be most common in the eastern United States and resembles a drab ladybug, having a bronze or tan back with black spots. These beetles feed on the undersides of leaves and may chew on pods as well.
Prevention and Control Row covers used in the spring help to keep this insect from laying its eggs. Periodically check the undersides of leaves for yellow egg casings. Always clean up garden debris in the fall. Handpicking is an option. Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide recommendation.
Diseases : Verticillium or Fusarium Wilt
Wilts may be contracted through infected seed, plant debris, or soil. This fungus begins and multiplies during the cool, moist season, becoming obvious when weather turns warm and dry. Plants wilt because the fungus damages their water conducting mechanisms. Overfertilization can worsen this problem. Able to overwinter in soil for many years, it is also carried and harbored in common weeds.
Prevention and Control: If possible, select resistant varieties. Keep nitrogen-heavy fertilizers to a minimum as well as over-irrigating as they encourage lush growth. Practice crop rotation and prune out or better yet remove infected plants.
Pest : Thrips
Thrips are small, winged insects that attack many types of plants and thrive in hot, dry conditions (like heated houses). They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without mating. Most of the damage to plants is caused by the young larvae which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue. This leads to distorted growth, injured flower petals and premature flower drop. Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses.
Prevention and Control: keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out. Remove or discard infested plants, keep them away from non-infested plants. Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites. Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant. Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemical recommendations.
Pest : Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails favor moist climates and are mollusks, not insects. They can be voracious feeders, eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented. They may eat holes in leaves, strip entire stems, or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants, leaving behind tell-tale silvery, slimy trails.
Prevention and control: Keep your garden as clean as possible, eliminating hiding places such as leaf debris, over-turned pots, and tarps. Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding places. In the spring, patrol for and destroy eggs (clusters of small translucent spheres) and adults during dusk and dawn. Set out beer traps from late spring through fall.
Many chemical controls are available on the market, but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets; take care when using them - always read the label first!
Pest : Aphids
Aphids are small, soft-bodied, slow-moving insects that suck fluids from plants. Aphids come in many colors, ranging from green to brown to black, and they may have wings. They attack a wide range of plant species causing stunting, deformed leaves and buds. They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their piercing/sucking mouthparts. Aphids, generally, are merely a nuisance, since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage. However aphids do produce a sweet substance called honeydew (coveted by ants) which can lead to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty mold.
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating. Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & fall. They're often massed at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue. Aphids are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing.
Prevention and Control: Keep weeds to an absolute minimum, especially around desirable plants. On edibles, wash off infected area of plant. Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden. There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids. Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee.
Fungi : Powdery Mildew
Powdery Mildew is usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light. Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are warm and humid. The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit. Leaves will often turn yellow or brown, curl up, and drop off. New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted. Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early.
Prevention and Control: Plant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation. Always water from below, keeping water off the foliage. This is paramount for roses. Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer. Apply fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly, not missing any required treatments. Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves, flowers, or debris in the fall and destroy.
Diseases : Anthracnose
Anthracnose is the result of a plant infection, caused by a fungus, and may cause severe defoliation, especially in trees, but rarely results in death. Sunken patches on stems, fruit, leaves, or twigs, appear grayish brown, may appear watery, and have pinkish-tan spore masses that appear slime-like. On vegetables, spots may enlarge as fruit matures.
Prevention and Control: Try not to over water. If your climate is naturally rainy, grow resistant varieties. In the vegetable garden, stake and trellis plants to provide good air circulation so that plants may dry. Increase sunlight to plants by trimming limbs. Prune, remove, or destroy infected plants and remove all leaf debris. Select a fungicide that is labeled for anthracnose and the plant you are treating. Follow the label strictly.
Fungi : Downy Mildew
Downy Mildew, a fluffy white fungal growth that develops on the underside of leaves, is most common during cool, humid conditions. Foliage often discolors and is stunted.
Prevention and Control: Use disease free plants and space far enough apart so that air circulation is good. Remove and discard infected leaves or even entire plants. Use a recommended fungicide and always follow the directions on the label.
Glossary : Arbors, Trellises, PergolasArbors, trellises, and pergolas provide vines and climbers the support needed for their growth habit. These can be used as features or accents in a garden to add height, to provide shade, or as a transitional element from one area of the garden to another. Common materials for these structures include wood, metal, and plastic. Select according to the style of your garden and the amount of upkeep required. Painted, wooden structures will be higher maintenance, whereas a rust-proof metal structure will require less maintenance and last longer.
Edibles : Edible Landscape
An edible landscape is one in which all or most of the plants can be eaten or used for cooking in some way. If you are interested in edible gardening, it is highly recommended that you pratice organic methods in the garden. At the very least, do not use chemicals in the area of the garden where there are edibles. Be creative. Many edibles look great in containers, hanging baskets, or even as foundation plants.
Glossary : Mass Planting
Mass is one of the elements of design and relates directly to balance. Mass planting is defined as the grouping of three or more of the same type of plants in one area. When massing plants, keep in mind what visual effect they will have. Small properties require smaller masses where larger properties can handle larger masses or sweeps of plants.
Glossary : Sandy Loam
Sandy Loam refers to a soil that drains well, with excellent air space, and evenly crumbled texture when squeezed in the hand. A good workable garden soil that benefits from added fertilizer and proper watering. Dark gray to gray-brown in color.
Glossary : Loam
Loam is the ideal soil, having the perfect balance between particle size, air space, organic matter and water holding capacity. It forms a nice ball when squeezed in the palm of the hand, but crumbles easily when lightly tapped with a finger. Rich color ranges between gray brown to almost black.
Glossary : Clayey Loam
Clayey loam refers to a soil that retains moisture well, without having a drainage problem. Fertility is high and texture good. Easily forms a ball when squeezed in the hand, and then crumbles easily with a quick tap of the finger. Considered an ideal soil. Usually a rich brown color.
Glossary : Annual
An annual is any plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season.
Glossary : Seed Start
Seed Start: easily propagated from seed.
Glossary : Vine
Vine: a plant with a flexible stem that grows either along the ground or climbs by suckers, twining, or tendrils.
Glossary : pH
pH, means the potential of Hydrogen, is the measure of alkalinity or acidity. In horticulture, pH refers to the pH of soil. The scale measures from 0, most acid, to 14, most alkaline. Seven is neutral. Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7, an acid range, but there are plenty of other plants that like soil more alkaline, or above 7. A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily absorb the most nutrients in the soil. Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrients, and therefore do better at a certain pH.
Glossary : Plant Characteristics
Plant characteristics define the plant, enabling a search that finds specific types of plants such as bulbs, trees, shrubs, grass, perennials, etc.
Glossary : Foliage Characteristics
By searching foliage characteristics, you will have the opportunity to look for foliage with distinguishable features such as variegated leaves, aromatic foliage, or unusual texture, color or shape. This field will be most helpful to you if you are looking for accent plants. If you have no preference, leave this field blank to return a larger selection of plants.
Glossary : U. S. Natives
Native plants require lower maintenance and usually have less pest problems. They are key components in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife habitat. Select your region and the search will look for all plants in the database that are native to your area.
Glossary : Edibles
An edible is a plant that has a part or all of it that can be safely consumed in some way.
Glossary : Soil Types
A soil type is defined by granule size, drainage, and amount of organic material in the soil. The three main soil types are sand, loam and clay. Sand has the largest particle size, no organic matter, little to no fertility, and drains rapidly. Clay, at the opposite end of the spectrum, has the smallest particle size, can be rich in organic matter, fertility and moisture, but is often unworkable because particles are held together too tightly, resulting in poor drainage when wet, or is brick-like when dry. The optimum soil type is loam, which is the happy median between sand and clay: It is high in organic matter, nutrient-rich, and has the perfect water holding capacity.
You will often hear loam referred to as a sandy loam (having more sand, yet still plenty of organic matter) or a clay loam (heavier on the clay, yet workable with good drainage.) The addition of organic matter to either sand or clay will result in a loamy soil. Still not sure if your soil is a sand, clay, or loam? Try this simple test. Squeeze a handfull of slightly moist, not wet, soil in your hand. If it forms a tight ball and does not fall apart when gently tapped with a finger, your soil is more than likely clay. If soil does not form a ball or crumbles before it is tapped, it is sand to very sandy loam. If soil forms a ball, then crumbles readily when lightly tapped, it's a loam. Several quick, light taps could mean a clay loam.
Glossary : Fertilize
Fertilize just before new growth begins with a complete fertilizer.


text:
Newcomer to probate? For buyers, homes in probate can be great investment opportunities and as this section of the market isn't well known, these properties offer an advantage. If you are buying, before making an offer, be certain you read the disclosure and understand the terms, timeline, and which forms to use. A home in probate may be sold in order to settle outstanding debts or because it is in a state of disrepair. When already dealing with the devastating loss of a loved one, it can be shocking to find you are now carrying another financial burden. Depending on your circumstances, this may not be a feasible situation. Leading us to the subject of selling probate property in Phoenix. Whether you are buying or selling, it is vital that you understand the following things.
Personal Representative
Real estate which is to be passed down to heirs, that isn't in a trust and without the instruction of a will prompt the probate court to appoint a personal representative or administrator. When there is a will, the named personal representative or executor is responsible for following the terms as they are laid out. This legal process is overseen by a special court whereby ownership of the property is legally transferred to the rightful heirs or the property sold and the profits distributed. Should you become the personal representative of a Phoenix intestate estate, you are now the administrator of the estate. This is a large responsibility, which can be made all the more strenuous by any infighting among heirs or even lead to your being sued for mismanagement or fraud by the beneficiaries.
Whether you are buying or selling probate property in Phoenix, it is extremely important to know that the sale will be completed with the property as-is. As a buyer, this means you won't be in a position to demand repairs be made prior to closing. Often, in traditional real estate transactions, the contract for the home can include a contingency of waiting until the current residence of the buyer has sold, as a financial source for the transaction to move forward with closing. You should be aware that the guidelines governing this type of real estate transaction don't allow for any contingencies. Because the court requires the purchase price of real estate sold in probate to bring the highest possible price, often the property is offered at auction.
State Laws
An important aspect of buying or selling probate property in Phoenix is to understand the legal specifics of the process, which can vary from state to state. Should their loved one have died without a will, the death is known as being intestate. While the personal representative has been advised that they are now responsible for the estate, most are left wondering what to do next. If you should find yourself in this situation, the importance of acting quickly in the matter cannot be overstated. There are forms that must be used for the process and special deadlines that must be met. You will find yourself having to learn everything necessary about the process, all while jumping through legal hoops to sell a home in probate. The additional stress of meeting urgent legal timeline demands in addition to the difficult time of mourning can be overwhelming. When not handled properly, a transaction can be voided.
Work with Experts
It is exceedingly complicated! Buying or selling probate property in Phoenix can leave the inexperienced feeling very alone and sometimes even under legal attack by the heirs, leading to making costly mistakes. There is such a great deal of information to absorb, all while facing probate proceedings. Filling in forms unique to the probate process which must be used, is a daunting task. Not to mention the stress from looming deadlines. Let a professional take the weight off of your shoulders. It is important that your needs are met in the transaction. You should feel that they are listening and willing to meet your needs. They should be happy to explain every step of the process. They should be able to tell you how many other people they have helped through this process. They should have a team of reliable professionals who can handle everything for you, from initial cleanup, maintenance of the property during the probate period, and any other job that needs to be completed. Their team of experts should be readily available to support you from the start through to the final day of closing.
We have the solution! Ease the strain of these concerns when you are buying or selling probate property in Phoenix by working with Oak Street Properties by your side. We.can help make it easy – we buy probate properties directly and will help you through the process step by step. Send us a message or give us a call at (480) 637-5500 today to learn more!


text:
Licensing : N/A
Do not expect an immediate response - the contents of this form will be added to a queue, which I process manually about once a week. If you don't fill in your email address correctly, you will not (obviously) get any reply at all. Other invalid information may result in a mailed request for clarification.
Enter your comment in the areas provided below. Be sure to include your name and email address.
Please don't bother trying to post spam or links to dodgy web sites - everything you post here is reviewed by a human being before being released for public viewing.
For more information on any of Trumphurst's products and services, please


text:
I think I mentioned the Joann's fabric store in Grand Island, NE. is having a liquidation sale as they are opening a new store in another location in town and I guess they are not moving any of the merchandise from the old store to the new one so they have had very good sales going on. I purchased the anti-pill fleece in 2 yard segments to make single layer throws for my daughters, sons in law and grand children – 8 in all. I didn't want the throws to get too heavy so that is why I only used one layer for each.
I found directions on the internet for making the throws without the knots you usually see. This edging looks more like a woven or crocheted edge. I pretty much followed the directions on Pieces By Polly blog with a few changes of my own to make the 8 throws.
Here are the step by step photos and directions I used to make them. I purchased Anit-Pill Fleece in 2 yard cuts…wanted the throws to be able to be washed and dried without getting pills which make fleece ugly and not so cozy.
Step 1 I trimmed the selvages off and straightened the ends. This part is not difficult as they don't have to be perfect rectangles. The fabric always is wiggly so who is going to know if it is a llittle off square one way or another.
Step 6 The last strip is cut in half to make two smaller strips. Cut a slit in the first strip close to the body of the throw and pull one of the half strips through that slit from the back then hook the other small strip and pull it through the last one you hooked as you worked around the throw.
Tie the two smaller strips together in a double knot and try to hide it under the back if you can. I had trouble with this part and decided if the knot showed a little that was OK. The ending is the only place where you have a small knot. If you have ever used those other kind of throws made with two layers and knotted fringe you know how uncomfortable it is to lay on those huge knots. With this edge the only knot is small and hopefully pretty invisible and not lumpy to lay on.
Notice how nice the edges look plus it looks so fancy but now you know how easy it is to achieve. I have all 8 throws finished now and ready to wrap for Christmas. This is the earliest I have ever gotten a gift made for Christmas so I am thrilled. They were so simple to make and the edges finished off so quickly. Isn't this a pretty stack of finished throws? If you have any questions or don't understand just leave a comment and I will try to answer.
To hopefully make a long story shorter I woke during the night with Charlie Horse like muscle seizures in the muscles on the right side of my neck. If I moved or flinched or maybe did nothing it would cramp up and be very painful. This kept up the rest of the night off and on into the morning. We decided I sure would not be able to enjoy any part of the trip so headed home. I can tell you that every bump the car drove over for the 3 1/2 hours home caused the muscles to seize and finally seeing our home approach was a welcome sight.
Luckily I could get into my chiropractor right away and he used an electronic gizmo that I will call electric acupuncture to put a little electric current into the muscle to make it relax. Here is a description of it in Wikipedia here. There are no needles and I didn't even feel the current but it made those cramping muscles relax then he could do a little adjustment to help. I am using ice on the neck now to reduce the swelling and plan to see him in a few days to get the rest of the kinks worked out. My neck is still pretty sore but no more spasms. Yippee!
With harvest starting next week we will have to put off our trip until after we are done or another time. We don't want to do it in the winter as it is just to cold to enjoy the places we wanted to stop and explore. We had planned to see Lake McConaughey, Chimney Rock, Scottsbluff National Monument, Agate Falls National Park, Wineries in Western Nebraska plus what ever the notion hit us that would be interesting. It was a big disappointment not to be able to go on but would have been torture for me. This was to be a relaxing, go where and when we wanted kind of trip for a few days.
I am much better now and look forward to getting all straightened out by the first of the week. The soreness is already going away so that is another positive thing. I will be driving the tractor and grain cart soon so need to be in tip top shape for that.
This post is from the blog, Nebraska Views. If you are not currently reading this via e-mail or an RSS feed, then this post has been stolen or scraped from the Nebraska Views blog. Stolen content can be reported HERE ."
Until Later,


text:
LD System - The exciting new way to learn to drive
It is a system where each driving lesson is carefully planned and follows a set programme with clearly defined targets, where the instructors use professional training materials and modern training methods to ensure training is both effective and enjoyable. For more details about each driving lesson in the LD System, please click on the driving lesson item below or on the "Links" Page.
LD System Driving Lesson Programme
Part 1 - Basic control skills
This section will teach you the basic control skills needed to drive safely. This is the starting point for most people and essential if you have no previous driving experience.
2. Gears
3. Steering
4. Co-ordination
5. The Emergency Stop
Set Manoeuvres
The introduction of teaching manoeuvres can begin at any point after completing lesson 4 of Basic control skills.
M2. Reversing to the left
M3. Pull up and reverse right
M4. Bay Parking
M5. Turn in the road
M6. Parallel parking
Part 2 - Road skills
This section will teach you the driving skills needed to cope with modern road systems
7. Crossroads
8. Emerging from busier junctions
9. Roundabouts
10. Traffic signals & Pedestrian crossings
Part 3 - Traffic Skills
This part teaches you how to use the basic controls and road skills to deal with a wide range of traffic conditions and situations.
12. Dual Carriageways
13. Town and city centre driving
14. Progressive driving
15. The driving test
The LD System was originally designed for intensive training but it can be of equal benefit for those taking weekly lessons. For intensive training to be effective each driving lesson has to be carefully structured, meticulously planned and expertly delivered - hence the development of the LD System.
The benefits of the LD System are:
1. A comprehensive, structured driving lesson programme
The LD System represents the culmination of many years experience in successfully preparing people for the UK driving test.
Using the LD System will not only give you the best chance of passing your test first time, it will also provide you with the skills for a lifetime of safe driving. Nothing has been left to chance.
Unfortunately, most driving schools in the UK do not provide a standard structured training programme - each driving instructor does his or her own thing making it very difficult for you to know how long it will take, what to expect or where you are at any point in the training process. This simply cannot happen with the LD System because you know exactly where you are in the programme at anytime. You know when you are ready to move onto the next driving lesson in the programme because you will know when the current driving lesson targets have been achieved. Each step is clearly defined. You know what you are trying to do and you know when you can do it. Your progress is precisely recorded in your workbook for anyone to see.
2. An easy to follow progress monitoring system
Each step of your development and progress is recorded in the driving skills workbook so that at any time you can see exactly what stage you are at and what's left to cover. Parents particularly appreciate this feature as they can see precisely what's happening and, equally as important, what they are paying for!
3. Accelerated learning that's fun
By preparing for each driving lesson beforehand, using the LD System DVD and workbook, you will save time in the car on unnecessary explanations. On traditional driving lessons around 20 minutes per lesson is spent parked at the side of the road while your instructor explains in detail what to do and how to do it. With LDC instruction this doesn't happen. You simply start the driving lesson with a short question and answer session covering only those aspects of your study that you were unsure about. This potentially represents a saving of around seven and a half hours over a traditional driving course of 30 hours duration. At £20 or more pounds per lesson, that's a potential saving of £150 or more!
Not only is the training far more effective because you actually get more practice time on each driving lesson, the practice you do get is far more productive because you are better prepared and focussed on specific learning targets. Better still, you would have done this in the comfort of your own home, without any time pressures or worries about controlling a car at the same time. With this knowledge and understanding in place you just need to concentrate on putting it into practice when in the car on your lesson.
In addition, the training is far less stressful because you know what to expect. You have seen it before on the DVD video and practised it in your mind. You know you will not be pushed onto the next step until you have mastered the current one. Throwing people in at the deep end rarely works and only serves to make the learning process unpleasant and stressful. With LDC this won't happen. You will look forward to each lesson and find the experience most enjoyable. As you know, any subject you enjoy studying makes the learning process easier.
4. An aid to extra practice with family or friends
The workbook and DVD can also be used by anyone who may be providing you with supplementary practice to ensure any additional practice is totally complementary and not counter productive to your learning.
Competent instructors who care
Each LDC driving instructor is specially trained and chosen for their caring nature. The best driving instructors are those that genuinely care about their customers, who are passionate about their job and who have received the very best training themselves.


text:
In Egypt, voters went to the polls today to pick a new president to replace Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted in a revolution last year. Voters are casting ballots just a few days after that nation's highest court issued a ruling that dissolves Egypt's first freely elected parliament, which was dominated by Islamists. The latest election is a runoff between an Islamist engineer and Mubarak's last prime minister, the two top vote-getters in the first round of presidential polls held last month.
But as NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson reports from Cairo, the contest is deeply dividing the country.
SORAYA SARHADDI NELSON, BYLINE: Turnout appeared low in many Cairo neighborhoods on the first day of the runoff. Voters are choosing between Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, who like Mubarak, served in the Egyptian Air Force. Fewer young Egyptians appeared to be taking part than during the first round.
NELSON: Some voters in the capital's upscale enclave of Zamalek say their ballot was less about the candidate they chose and more about making sure the other guy didn't win. The poll doesn't reflect the desire for democracy and a better life, which drove the January 25th revolution that ousted Mubarak, adds banker Iman Ismail.
IMAN ISMAIL: None of them are fulfilling any of the requirements that we had. I mean, why did we go out on the 25th in the first place?
NELSON: Others complained the election wasn't about what's best for Egyptians, but about the decades-old battle for power between Islamists and the military. In the Coptic Christian neighborhood known as Garbage City, which is famous for its trash collectors and recycling, voters lined up to cast their ballots for Shafiq.
BARAKAT MOSSAD: (Foreign language spoken)
NELSON: Barakat Mossad explained his preference for Shafiq is that Morsi is an Islamist and that religion and politics don't mix. Voters who stood in line with him agreed.
NELSON: The divide was also evident north of Cairo in the governorate of Sharqiya where Morsi and Shafiq were born.
MOHAMED GHALI: (Foreign language spoken)
NELSON: Seventy-year-old farmer Mohamed Ghali says he voted for Shafiq because he believes he will keep the rich from taking his land and give him fertilizer to grow more crops.
But in nearby Zagazig where Morsi was born, 40-year-old Asmaa Abdel-Rahman argues it's the Brotherhood candidate who offers Egyptians the chance at a better life.
ASMAA ABDEL-RAHMAN: (Foreign language spoken)
NELSON: She calls Shafiq a tyrant who will bring back the old regime. The candidates, meanwhile, were more or less silent as Egyptian law forbids them from saying anything that could be perceived as campaigning. As Morsi waited to cast his ballot in his hometown, he engaged in pleasantries with an older voter also standing in line.
MOHAMMED MORSI: (Foreign language spoken)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: (Foreign language spoken)
NELSON: It was a far cry from his angry televised address earlier this week after the high constitutional court dissolved Egypt's first freely elected parliament. That body was dominated by Morsi's movement and other Islamists. The ruling generals have since taken over legislative powers and are expected to play a key role in drafting a new constitution. Analysts predict the generals will significantly weaken the power of the president if Morsi wins.
Some Egyptian youth groups say they are so disillusioned by both candidates that they organized boycotts of the runoff. Nevertheless, state-run media claimed turnout was high and that polling centers across Egypt stayed open an extra hour to accommodate people.
Republican Congressman David Dreier of California, who has monitored previous elections here, says he visited 25 busy polling stations today.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID DREIER: This is the first time in 7,000 years this weekend, the people of the country will be choosing a president. They're doing it admittedly without a constitution, without a parliament, but this is an important step along the long road towards democracy.
NELSON: The runoff ends tomorrow with official results expected next week. Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, NPR News, Cairo. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
64-Year-Old Diana Nyad Swims From Cuba to Florida in 53 Hours
For the first time in history, a swimmer has endured the 103-mile route from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida, without the assistance of a shark cage. That swimmer, 64-year-old Diana Nyad, began her quest on Saturday, August 31, and finished around 53 hours later on Labor Day.
This was Nyad's fifth attempt at swimming from Cuba to Florida, her first being 35 years ago. "This is a lifelong dream of mine," the endurance swimmer says on her website. That website tracked her every move, from start to finish. "Thank you, all of you, thank you for your generosity."
That generosity comes from donations Nyad and her Xtreme Dream team raised to help complete the swim, with 20 percent of all donations going to their Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.
While some may think an accomplishment like this would warrant Nyad a moment or two to slow down and relax, she will do the exact opposite. According to her website, in October, the Xtreme Dream team "will swim 48 hours in the heart of New York City ... to benefit the good people whose lives were devastated by the wreckage of [Hurricane Sandy]."