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Tom Easterly
WINFIELD – The estate of a man who was running for Congress is being sued by the son of a woman who also was killed in the accident that claimed his life earlier this year.
Daniel Christopher Coalter has sued the estate of Tom Easterly, who had announced his candidacy for the U.S. Congress seat currently held by Nick Joe Rahall shortly before the June 15, 2005, accident on Interstate 64 in Putnam County that killed him and Linda E. Coalter, who was driving the other vehicle Easterly hit.
Coalter's son, Daniel Christopher Coalter, is suing Easterly's estate. The suit, filed Dec. 22 in Putnam Circuit Court, says Easterly's estate should not be divided among heirs until a damage determination has been made as to the value of this claim.
"Irreparable harm will be suffered should any distribution of assets be made from the Charles Thomas Easterly Estate," the suit says.
The suit says Easterly's will is pending after being submitted for probate in Raleigh County.
Easterly was a Beckley resident and had been a general life insurance agent with Globe Life & Accident Insurance Co. for 25 years but incorporated his own company in 1995. He also sold for United American Insurance Co.
Easterly served in the Kentucky State Senate for eight years in the 1970s. He also served in the Florida House of Representatives. He served in the Army in Vietnam, as well.
In his suit, Coalter says Easterly caused the accident and was responsible for the wrongful death of his mother, who lived in Culloden in Putnam County.
He is suing Easterly's estate by and through administrator Ronald P. Easterly, Tom Easterly Inc., Globe Life & Accident Insurance and United American Insurance. The last three entities are named as defendants because the suit claims Easterly was working when the accident occurred.
The suit, filed by Huntington attorney Kenneth P. Hicks, says Coalter, as the victim's only child, did and has suffered loss of love and affection, services, society, emotional and financial support and other related services.
The suit also says Linda Coalter, in addition to her death, suffered past loss of income and future earnings as well as other financial losses, including funeral and various other expenses.
In the suit, Daniel Christopher Coalter seeks judgment of an amount to fully and adequately compensate him for the injuries, damages and death as well as pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees and other relief deemed just by the court.
He seeks a jury trial.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Ed Eagloski.
Putnam Circuit Court case number: 05-C-509


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Rory Gallagher, King of the Blooze
By Stephen Roche
Gaelic guitar go, RORY GALLAGHER, is back with a vengeance
Originally published in SECONDS
January 1st, 1991
For years, Rory Gallagher was arguably the hardest working man in showbiz - at least in Ireland. You see, for thousands or Irish rock fans during the '70's, Rory was a god. Not that Gallagher's fame was confined to that island alone; he was an intentional star who toured the world. If you went to any major European rock festival during the early '70s; Rory Gallagher would likely be sandwiched between Deep Purple and Faces. While the musical giants of the day were off conquering the United States, Rory was busy playing cities and venues which they left behind. Consequently, he never really cracked the lucrative American rock market in big way.
But Ireland was Rory's bread and butter, his shows the Irish equivalent of a Dead show; socially, culturally and musically satisfying. Like-minded people would gather and punch fists in the air singing his anthems, of which there were many.
Then came punk rock, and respected guitar heroes like Gallagher couldn't so much as get arrested. After a brief period out of the public eye, Rory's back for '91 with Fresh Evidence (IRS) - his finest studio offering in years - ready to retake the world by storm.
SECONDS: Let's talk about your first band.
GALLAGHER: My first band that I actually consider a band was Taste, anything before that was pick-up stuff. I played in a cover band called Fontana Show Band for two years. I was only fourteen or fifteen at the time, so it was a good experience. I went to Spain and London with them. We would play and then I'd head down to the Marquee to see the Yardbirds or the Spencer Davis Group. But eventually I couldn't put up with the material that we had to play, so I left and formed Taste. That was in 1966, we had two different lineups, made four albums, and broke up in 1970.
SECONDS: Was Taste Ireland's first rock group?
GALLAGHER: Apart from Van Morrison and Them, I suppose we were the only active Irish band of the late '60s and the early '70s, until Thin Lizzy came along.
SECONDS: Taste was a power trio in the Cream/Hendrix mold. Was that a conscious thing?
GALLAGHER: No, it was a three-piece by coincidence, it was just a sound we were going for. We liked Hendrix and Cream, but we were less of a power trio than they were; we could spend all night going into the differences. I suppose we were similar in that we were all into blues with a rock feel, but I think we were distinctive enough to have our own sound and style.
SECONDS: Why did Taste break up?
GALLAGHER: We just came to the end of our natural life. The drummer wanted to play jazz and I wanted to play blues. We also has management problems that went on to cause me terrible legal hassles; I couldn't play for six months after Taste split up because of the contract I was under.
SECONDS: Did you find it difficult to get a solo career off the ground back then?
GALLAGHER: Well, I had quite a reputation as a member of Taste, so luckily I got a contract with Polydor. I made my firstblooze412b.jpg solo album for them in 1971 and started touring again. It was a one-album deal, but Polydor were so happy with it that they signed me for six more.
SECONDS: A lot of people consider you a graduate of the Beck, Clapton, Page school of guitar playing. Do you feel that's a fair assessment?
GALLAGHER: Well, coming from Ireland, I have a totally different background than them. When I was growing up, I was aware of what they were playing, but I was also listening to the same people they were listening to. So, I do belong to that era, but Irish folk music and Irish songwriting would set me apart; which would be to my benefit. I certainly admire all those people.
SECONDS: Who do you see as guitar heroes of today?
GALLAGHER: Well, there's Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Morse. I mean, they are guitar figures more than guitar heroes, that is an older term that meant more than just playing. Attitude was more important than technique; now you have guitar superstars and technicians. Years ago, having technique was great, but you still had to have a lot of feel to your playing. It wasn't all speed and licks, you had to have some soul.
SECONDS: Most contemporary players seem to want to play as many notes as possible in the course of a song or solo.
GALLAGHER: Their influences would only begin with Deep Purple or Jimmy Page. Younger players wouldn't be influenced by black players or blues players. Their influences would mostly start yesterday, and it's all about speed and technology. It's the media age, and the faster you can go, the better. There's a new attitude to guitars where it's all about effects and gadgets. The present standard of playing is frightening technique-wise, but it doesn't turn me on like a few notes by Steve Cropper. I mean, look at Hendrix, aside from being a great innovator with sound and distortion, he could play great blues and he could play lovely soulful licks. So, the guitar players like Hendrix had more than just technique, they also had a lot of musical background.
SECONDS: You've been keeping a fairly lo profile in recent years. Why is that?
GALLAGHER: My routine changed. I used to our about eight or nine months of the year, where I'd go everywhere, including America. The after our last American tour, five or six years ago, we went back to Europe and just got stuck there. We didn't go to Australia or Japan either, like we used to every couple of years; we just didn't tour as much. There was a lot of time spent working out a record deal here, and we weren't coming to the States if we were going to be stuck opening up for for someone on a stadium bill. We wanted to play clubs and colleges, doing our won thing. I did some stadium tours where the headliner would only give you six feet of stage and no monitors, and that's not very musically satisfying. Some of the groups we toured with were fine, but a couple of bands gave us a very hard time, and I had to quit one tour because of the treatment we were receiving. So. we said that if that's what America's like, to hell with it it and we'll stick with Europe. We're back playing clubs here now and I'm happy. I mean, I wouldn't mind going out on a big tour but only with a very sympathetic headlining band. There comes a point when you ask yourself what are you doing in life, do you want to be a good player or do you want to be on the cover of Newsweek? I just want to be a good player who gets satisfaction from what he does, and be a happy person. It's an old proverb, but you can't have everything. I like to go home and pick up my guitar and still have fun.
SECONDS: Do you consider yourself a cult artist?
GALLAGHER: I suppose so, although I don't go out of my way to be known as a cult artist. I seem to have ended up as a cult artist because of circumstances and my attitude toward th way I play, but I don't feed on it.
SECONDS: I heard you once auditioned for the Rolling Stones
GALLAGHER: I didn't audition. I was a session man with them in Holland for a few days. Mick Taylor had just left, and Jeff Beck was there, too. There was no audition as such; I just sat down and joined some of the songs I was involved in.
SECONDS: Do you still enjoy playing guitar?
GALLAGHER: I do. I'm getting a great kick out of playing at the moment, and I'm writing more over the last couple of years. I still have a lukewarm attitude towards the music business and the certain kinds of pressures that come with it., but I love playing and I generally like life on the road. It is a bit difficult for a record company and the people who work with me to see what kind of direction I'm going in sometimes. I have a gypsy attitude to what happens. I don't sit down and scheme about how this time next year I'll be #8 on the charts. I know what I do isn't the way you're supposed to do things, but it makes me happy.
SECONDS: Where does Rory Gallagher fit in today's world of music?
GALLAGHER: I don't know, but they'll have to find a slot for me somewhere. I can't go away and vanish like some people want. In the '80s, I felt adrift because I was doing something that wasn't part of the the new wave or punk thing. It wasn't MTV video material. I was developing my music, but I didn't fit in the music press or in a social way. But I've always had a following, and I think that maybe in the '90s I'll find a niche; if I never do, that's okay. It is important that in the '90s I re-establish myself in the States, and my last two albums have done well. I feel good, I have a renewed interest in what I'm doping; no that I ave lost it, but in the 1980's I felt what within the music industry I was getting nowhere.
SECONDS: There are a lot of music fans out there who don't know who Rory Gallagher is. How do you feel about that?
GALLAGHER: Well, it's very frustrating, particularly in Ireland. Because of the success of U2, you can easily become forgotten, especially if you don't have hit records for awhile. I don't mean to sound envious. Staying away from America for five years hasn't helped, but I never went out of my way to be a pop artist. Like I said, I'm not a record company dream. I'm not selling an image or standing on my head too much. There are certain TV shows I can't do because I refuse to mime. So I have been my own worst enemy.
SECONDS: If you could go back and change anything about your career, what would it be?
GALLAGHER: Like any artist, after fourteen albums I hear something on each one that I would now do differently - the same goes for my stage show, when I look back at old films or videos. I just played from the heart, that's all I could do. Now, I probably play with more concentration. From experience, I know know how to do a better show, we're still crazy, but we try to cover a lot more musical territory. I certainly don't want to get too staid and old.

subset: commoncrawl


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Robert Bateman (Prints)
Stretching - Canada Goose (Print)
Artist's page
Giclee Canvas
36.00 x 28.00(inches) / 91.44 x 71.12(centimeters)
Unframed (US Dollar): $1,250.00
To purchase this, or any other work of art, please contact us by phone or email.
This painting is a celebration of the dynamic majesty of the Canada goose. He is proudly rearing up and stretching, perhaps to shake the snow off his feathers. Every muscle is straining, and all the feather tracts are fanned, producing the most exciting rippling rhythms.


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Re: Mary and Keziah Alderman married Joshua Blanton
In reply to:
Re: Mary and Keziah Alderman married Joshua Blanton
Clarke Blanton 10/16/07
Hi Clarke,
It was good to hear from you...I was just in the Carolinas week before last.. Doing some research.I had planned to attend the "JOHN BLANTON" Family reunion there near Green Sea on 10/7/2007, but I had to come home early due to a family illness.
As you probably know, this John Blanton (b: 1795/6) in Duplin/Sampson to Joshua and his first wife, Mary Alderman had a brother named David Blanton (b: 3/9/1791 - d: 1/1/1837).David left the Duplin/Sampson area of N.C. between Census time in 1820 and Nov. 1823.In Nov. 1823 he shows up by land plat in Bullock County, Georgia living next door to an "Alexander Blanton", as well as two of the Alderman cousins.There are Alderman's also in Scriven County, Georgia at this time as well.In 1826 and 1828, two of these Alderman's move to S. Georgia, the area where I live today.
AFter 1827, David Blanton moves his family to this same area; either following the Alderman cousins, or coming with the one who came in in 1828.David and his family are here by 1830 census.My lineage from David is:
Edmond (b: 1815), Aaron (b: 1860), Lattie (b: 1900), and my father, Mannis D. Blanton Sr. (b: 1923).
Is James Cleveland Blanton Jr. (b: 6/9/1930) your father, or grandfather?
Keep in touch.. My actual e-mail is firstname.lastname@example.com
Jim Blanton
More Replies:
Re: Mary and Keziah Alderman married Joshua Blanton
Anthony Blanton 10/16/07


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The demand for plastic containers and bottles has increased to a great extent in last few decades for its use in airtight storage food items, cosmetics etc. By comprehending this, our company, Shiv Shakti Industries, came forward into the market as a trusted Manufacturer and Supplier of Pesticide Bottles, HDPE Container And Jars, Plastic Cosmetic Container, Transparent Plastic Container, Air Tight Capsule Jars, Cosmetic Containers and so on. We were established in the year 2000 and since then the company has been working with professionalism and dedication to win the trust of customers. Moreover, aforesaid products find their extensive application in homes, cosmetic industries and many other places.
Under the headship of our mentor Mr. Puneet Kumar, we have experienced significant growth in the plastic industry. His working methods, market experience and business strategies empowered us in expanding our business and mustering a wide customer base.
Quality Commitment That Strengthens Our Name
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Market Segment
The use of plastic containers & jars has increased a lot in the past few years. Right from food items to cosmetics, everything comes in safe and airtight bottles to maintain freshness. Our provided products are highly demanded in:


text:
This afternoon's Wall Street Journal notes that a deal has been made "Under the Dodd-Shelby deal, Democrats agreed to drop a provision for a $50 billion fund to help pay for liquidation costs, collected from the financial industry. Instead, any costs incurred when the government winds down a firm would be recouped from the industry after the fact.
The agreement would require Congress to approve the use of debt guarantees by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and Treasury. It would also tighten restrictions on the Fed's emergency lending powers. "
I strenuously object to this arrangement. It calls for the survivors to provide the costs of winding down 'bad firms.' This irresponsibly fails to break the moral hazard problems which led to the Great Recession. Financial firms MUST be required to pay into the pool WHILE THEY ARE OPERATING, rather than only after they (or their colleagues fail). The proposed approach is analogous to having the living pay the death benefits to the family of John Smith when John Smith dies, rather than having John Smith pay the premiums during his life.
I recognize that this deal was apparently required by Republican Senators such as Senator Shelby. This does not mean that it is appropriate. From what I've heard from Senator Shelby, likely it means that it is bad for the country.
Republicans spend a lot of time decrying having responsible people pay benefits to irresponsible people. The Dodd-Shelby deal is exactly that—assessing no costs to a bankrupt financial firm, and placing the costs on the responsible financial firms.
The original concept of having financial firms pay into a 'funeral fund', with the payment consistent with the level of risk they are utilizing is economically, academically, and ideologically sound. Please ask Senator


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Download Full Free Tasty Steps Runner v1.15 MOD Apk [Unlimited Money] – Android Games by Game Pride OOO
Tasty Steps Runner Description
Help Sweety and his friends to get rid of insatiable chompers by jumping on them! Avoid obstacles and use bonus-cubes to pass as far as possible!
Stun chompers, create incredible combo and discover new funny characters! And most importantly – never ever touch the tongues!
Tasty Steps – the most delicious challenge!
Game features:
• Casual tap style gameplay
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Additional Information
Direct Download Link
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The triple album 'A Century Of Blues' offers a host of classics from the genre's canon...
JOHN LEE HOOKER, MUDDY WATERS, MEMPHIS SLIM and LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS are amongst the blues legends who feature on 'A CENTURY OF BLUES', a new triple album compilation to be released on December 3 through EMI.
The label has raided the vaults of big sister label Capitol to assemble the 60-track album, that pulls from early boogie woogie, the big players of the 40s and 50s and into the British invasion of 60s. Acts such as The Animals, Canned Heat, Manfred Mann and Dr Feelgood also pop up.
Classics from the blues canon, such as 'Hoochie Coochie Man', 'Smokestack Lightnin", 'Baby, Please Don't Go' and 'Got My Mojo Working' sit beside lost gems like Mississippi Fred McDowell's 'Jesus On The Mainline'.
The increasing success of Detroit's White Stripes has helped kick-start a new interest in the blues.


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The Saturday Evening Post has just published my short story, "The Absence of Sound."
Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm really writing, it's such a dream of mine. This publication is a reminder that I AM a writer, no kidding. The editor-in-chief at the Saturday Evening Post has become a friend, and what more would I want than a friend who is such a careful and generous reader? I also love that the photo they chose to use to illustrate the story is of one of the gorgeous lions who sit just outside of the NY Public Library. This whole thing is a dream come true.


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My Work History...
Internal Revenue Service IRS – U.S. Department of the Treasury
12/17 – present | Ogden, Utah 84401
- CAF/POA Tax Examining Technician TE / Learning & Education Subject Matter Expert SME
- Computer Based Training CBT Specialist
- CAF/POA Tax Examining Technician TE
As a Subject Matter Expert (SME)/CBT Developer within Technology Development Office (TDO), Learning & Education (L&E) division, I translated training content from storyboards into online training courses to be delivered through the IRS's online Learning Management Content System (LCMS) "WebBook", an in house developed asp.net based web application, and Enterprise Learning Management System (ELMS) system. Utilizing Sharepoint project management workflows for managing multiple Instructional Design (ID) projects, timelines, and other training related deliverables with the highest quality, error free, training products on budget and deadline.
I consistently leveraged my experience with Content Development, Instructional Design, Editing, Electronic Presentation, Graphic Design, Multimedia Production, Computer Based Training (CBT) Course Development, and Frontend Web Programming to manage projects by using HTML, HTML5, CSS1-3, JavaScript and XML by applying the IRM/Standards Guide, 508 Accessibility Rules to all the courses developed. I use frontend web prommaning languages, and multiple computer software platforms daily to develop new online forms of the self-instructional job aids, CBT modules, and develop/revise/convert both new and existing training materials into electronically delivered/online courses.
Freelance Brand Management & Web Consulting, 03/12/94 – present Click to collapse
Ubangi Ink Design Studio –
Freelance Brand Management & Web Consulting
03/12/94 – present | 465 East 3650 North, North Ogden, Utah 84414
Owner, Principal Creative, Web Consultant
Ubangi Ink Design Studios is a full-service freelance brand management agency providing outstanding business communication support in the following areas:
- Graphic Design / Brand Management & Strategic Consulting
- Web Design, Web Development & Web Consulting
- Print / Publication Development / Media Purchasing
I specialize in content management system (CMS) website development, consulting, customization and training. Utilizing HTML, CSS, PHP and MySQL along with other programming languages in the creation and development of websites for my clients. I extensively use programs such as Adobe Creative Suite; Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Dreamweaver in the process of designing creative projects.
Brock Porter Fine Art Photography
& Archival Print Making
05/03/06 – present | 465 East 3650 North, North Ogden, Utah 84414
Owner, Photographer
I provide Fine Art Photography, Corporate Photography, Real Estate Photography, Custom Portrait Photography and Event Photography using the latest DSLR Camera Technology and lighting equipment to my clients.
Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College – OWATC
16/05/99 – 23/11/07 | 200 North Washington Blvd. Ogden, Utah 84404
Visual Communications Coordinator, Webmaster
As the Visual Communications Coordinator / Webmaster for the college, I managed all marketing communications needs for over 60 college programs organized into five schools. My team consisted of two-six full and part-time employees. I collaborated with internal project teams / resources, external contract resources, and senior level students seeking on the job training in the visual design, and web programming fields. I worked in tandem with a Marketing / Public Relations Team under the direction of the Vice President of Student Services. Our overall department mission was student recruitment and retention while maintaining academic excellence within the community. I participated in the transition of the OWATC from the status of a vocational training facility to a fully accredited two-year college. Moving from the technical / vocational educational environment to the Higher Education (Board of Regents,) becoming the largest campus in the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT) system and statistically the largest college in the State of Utah. My responsibilities included:
- Website Development, Maintenance & Training
- Brand Management / Brand Planning / Mascot Management
- Marketing Materials Fulfillment / Digital Asset Management
- Annual Academic Catalog / Course Offerings / College Viewbook
- College & Foundation Annual Report Design / Production / Delivery
- Brochure Design / Production / Delivery
- Direct Mail Campaign Design / Production / Delivery
- Advertising Campaign DesignOutdoor – Indoor Signage / Electronic Marquee / Touch Screen Kiosk
- Event Management Planning & Support
- Campus Photography
- Media Purchasing / State Contract Negotiation
- State Budget Management & Reporting
- Focus Group Market Research / Usability Testing
- Campaign ROI Tracking & Reporting
- Editorial Staff Development & Training / College Brand Style Guide
Weber State University – WSU
02/09/88 – 28/05/99 | 3750 Harrison Blvd., So. Ogden, Utah 84408
While attending WSU I worked as a student in many departments and on multiple projects in the process of gaining my degree. Here is a list the following positions and projects I worked on.
- 02/03/98-28/05/99, Dept. of Physics, Graphic Artist
- 09/11/98-19/02/99, The Dept. of Communication, Designer
- 01/09/98-18/12/98, The Dept. of Visual Arts, Graphic Artist
- 09/03/98-29/05/98, The College of Arts & Humanities, Web Designer/Trainer
- 03/98, Metaphor, Publication Designer, Cover Artist
- 02/06/96-05/97, The Signpost, Design Editor
- 04/09/88-30/06/89, The Signpost, Asst. Production Manager, Asst. Photo Editor
{slider=Ogden Publishing Corporation, 02/03/92 – 16/06/95}
Ogden Publishing Corporation – The Standard-Examiner
02/03/92 – 16/06/95 | 455 23rd St, Ogden, Utah 84401
Ad Compositor, Composing Artist, Editorial Graphics Artist
Meridian Publishing Inc.
05/08/91 – 17/02/92 | 1720 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah 84404
Layout Artist
Stained Glass Overlay of Northern Utah - S.G.O.
03/10/90 – 30/8/91 | 2335 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah 84401
Production Manager – Stain Glass Designer
Rich Jones Screen Printing & Sign
06/03/89 – 25/06/93 | 301 28th St., Ogden, Utah 84401
Sign Shop Production Manager, Separation Artist, Screen Printer
Art Ltd./ Advertising Mall/SignRunner Inc.
15/03/89 to 25/06/90 | 2023 Wall Ave., Ogden, Utah 84401
Production Manager, Graphic Artist, Sign Installation
The Signpost/ Weber State College
04/09/88 – 30/06/89 | 3750 Harrison Blvd., So. Ogden, Utah 84408
Asst. Production Manager, Asst. Photo Editor
Auto Directory
06/03/85 – 29/10/86 | 2755 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah 84401
Assistant Production Manager, Advertising Artist, Layout Artist
Sun Graphics
05/11/84 – 01/03/85 | 221 21st St., Ogden, Utah 84401
Graphic Artist, Mechanical Separation Artist
Junction City News
14/02/84 – 26/03/85 | 110 25th St., Ogden, Utah 84401
Layout Artist, Staff Photographer, Graphic Artist


text:
China buys Indian white sugar despite heavy home harvest2 min read . Updated: 17 Sep 2007, 03:29 PM IST
China buys Indian white sugar despite heavy home harvest
China buys Indian white sugar despite heavy home harvest
Beijing, 17 September For the first time, Chinese importers have braved maximum tariffs to buy cheap Indian sugar, even though the home harvest is expected to hit a record high.
Chinese buyers have bought some 100,000 tonnes of Indian sugar at a tariff rate of 50%, assessed on imports that do not fall within the tariff rate quotas (TRQ) system agreed when China joined the World Trade Organisation.
"India offers very attractive prices, so much so that some of the imports were conducted without quotas," said one trader with an international trading house.
The shipment was mainly for September and October.
India is expected to overtake Brazil as the world's top sugar producer in the year beginning in October. A lack of storage may force it to export at lower prices later this year.
Normally, Chinese mills and traders do not import unless they hold the quotas for the lower tariff rate of 15%. This year, Beijing only granted 30% of its 1.945 million tonnes of TRQs to private companies.
Many of the remaining quotas, granted to state-owned firms, have yet to be issued.
Two cargoes of Indian white sugar totalling 60,000 tonnes were imported under the higher tariff and were offered at 3,950 yuan ($525) per tonne in the northern port city of Tianjin.
The price was cheaper than sugar from the top producing region, Guangxi, offered at 4,040 yuan per tonne, said one industry official.
India, the world's top sugar consumer, has exported 1.5 million tonnes of white sugar since January 2007, when a ban on overseas sales ended, the International Sugar Organisation said last week.
New high harvest
China is expected to produce 16.7% more sugar in the year starting in October, after a record 12 million tonnes this year.
But consumption will also rise, as high corn prices force the food and beverage industry back to natural sugar instead of corn sweetener, which had captured market share in previous years.
"Sugar consumption just grew rapidly this year, particularly from the food and soft-drinks industries," said an official with the Guangxi Sugar Exchange.
Traders estimated corn sweetener has lost between 600,000 tonnes to 700,000 tonnes of sales to natural sugar.
Chinese sugar consumption grew 36% in the current year to about 12 million tonnes, compared with 8.8 million tonnes for last year, said Yan Weimin, secretary general of the China Sugar Association.
Chinese sugar mills would slow imports in coming months as they started to crush domestic sugar crops, traders said.
($1=7.523 Yuan) REUTERS


text:
The iPhone 7 will reportedly look very similar to the iPhone 6s, according to a report from MacRumors.
Earlier reports have focused on the removal of the 3.5 mm headphone jack, but the design of the iPhone will reportedly stay the same.
Apple operates a yearly "ticktock" schedule for major iPhone updates: The "tick" models, such as the iPhone 4, include a redesign, while the "tock" models, such as the 6s, focus on incremental features, like 3D Touch.
According to the new report, Apple will remove the camera bulge and antenna bands. The screen sizes — currently 4.7 inches for the 6s and 5.5 inches for the 6s Plus — will also remain the same.
Apple is also rumoured to be experimenting with a new dual-lens camera technology, but will reportedly only include it on the high-end Plus model.
The removal of the headphone jack, which has been partially confirmed by code found in iOS, would make the iPhone 7 thinner. However, MacRumors reports that the difference will be small, as the iPhone 6s is already 7.1 mm thick.
Apple could also be working on waterproofing the iPhone by making the phone out of a new material. The 6s was found to be more water resistant than previous models, but Apple did not officially designate it as waterproof.


text:
Its that or face Roses wrath
Mon Sep 18, 2017 15:37
Well, that hadnt gone very well.
And probably Holland should have expected it, because when they were younger they wouldnt have wanted to talk about this subject like this either. Monty and Bryony Keene had made it so easy for Holland to express themself in the way they were most comfortable with, but that didnt mean they wanted to talk about it. For a while Holland had had to go to the elementary school guidance counselor
a different, outside psychologist. It was weird how people in mental health always wanted to talk to Holland about being queer, even when not everything that was bothering them was related to their gender.
Right. Better salvage this. Holland sprang up from their chair and followed Dade into the stacks. The contents of their bag clattered together with the sound of glass on glass. Youre right, youre not. Holland got that. Purebloods had rules, and while Rose would probably commit homicide before letting anyone do something that could get Dade in trouble, Connor was not the same. And Holland had the impression that Mr. Farnon wasnt the joining-PFLAG type of parent.
Bryony was. They still sent her brochures in the mail sometimes.
But for Dade, expression was a safety issue. Holland was familiar with that too, just not personally. Im not you, Holland repeated, keeping their voice quiet because they were in a library, but I was young and newly not-cisgendered once. If you have questions or want to talk about anything, I am literally the best person in school for that. Not to overstate their importance. It was just a fact. Or Maverick Buchannanhes in Cetus, like you. I just want you to know its okay.
Holland took a breath. Thats all I wanted to say, and Im not going to bring it up again unless you do first. Oh, and I have something for you. Here. They reached into their bag and took out a bottle of lavender nail polish (the label called the shade Oh-la-lilac!) and a travel bottle of nail polish remover. Holland put both in Dades hand and gave a small smile. Old trick. If you wear closed-toed shoes, no one can see it if you paint your toenails. Use it, or dont, up to you, but keep the bottle. Its yours.
'Have to' is such a strong phrase
Mon Sep 18 14:58
Holland answered Dades question about midterm with things he only vaguely understood (theyd talked about different types of movies in Cultural Studies but he hadnt been paying much attention). He...
Its that or face Roses wrath -
Mon Sep 18 15:37
That is usually something to be avoided
Mon Sep 18 16:18
Holland followed him into the stacks and Dade was furious. He just wanted to be left alone and he wanted everyone to forget what happened over midterm and he wanted everything to be normal but Rose...
So we agree on something
Mon Sep 18 17:07
Holland had half expected Dade to refuse the nail polish, and been prepared to refuse his refusal, so it was a surprise and a relief when he pocketed it. He was probably going to run away now, and...
Sometimes I'm agreeable
Thu Sep 21 06:46
Wow Holland said a lot of words. Wow. Dades hazel eyes grew very round as Holland explained gender, which was something that Dade had previously been entirely sure did not require any explanation....
Once in a blue moon
Thu Sep 21 16:28
Dade was quiet for a long time. Holland waited. They wouldve preferred to have this conversation sitting down, but the stacks seemed more private, so that was all right. They read the titles of the...
Maybe the moon is bluer than you think
Tue Sep 26 09:30
So Rose thought he might be questioning his gender or the way he expressed his gender. Dade scowled. He didnt even know what that meant. He had mostly followed along with Hollands explanation...
Is it made of blue cheese?
Fri Sep 29 04:00
Dade was back to looking surly, which Holland supposed shouldnt surprise them. It seemed to be Roses brothers default attitude. Just like how Rose defaulted to stubbornness, and Connor...
Blue cheese isn't that blue
Sat Sep 30 15:48
Well if this was what Rose thought was helpful, Dade didnt want to see what Rose thought of as unhelpful . The helpful thing would have been to just ignore it and move on (okay, the yelling part had ...
Maybe the moon is Swiss cheese
Sat Sep 30 19:19
Holland maintained a practiced composure while Dade got defensive. Ah, shit. Dade might actually be some flavor of gender non-conforming. If he didnt identify at all with what Holland had said, the...
I don't think the Swiss are smurfs
Sat Oct 14 15:21
Nope this was bad. Very bad. Holland kept talking and Dade just felt more and more uncomfortable. He kind of wanted to ask more questions, but he also very much did not want to ask more questions....
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Arrived at The Homestead yesterday morning, and we tried 2 times to get Misty the Magic MPV up the dirt road with no success. Fortunately we met Kim, Craig and Tom with a good truck, and they gave us a ride up to the crag.
Limestone cliffs all over the place, and I tied in at the Welcome Wall. Onsight of a 5.7, 2 5.8's and a 5.10b. Felt pretty damn good. One hang one one 5.10 and a fall on another means I have to come back and clean them up, but got through all the moves so that should be part of a good warm up before we head to another cliff to get Nigel on some 11's.
Nigel did all the routes I did, plus another 10a and another 10b. Both where way to overhanging and crimpy for me, and I burned myself out completely trying to get through the crux of the 10b and skipped the last 10a entirely. But Nigel crushed!
It made me so damn happy to be able to push on at the limit of my ability on 3 of the routes I got on. And pulling awesome moves on this solid limestone. Super stoked. Rain last night and a low cloud cover made us roll out to Phoenix where we will catch a NHL hockey game tonight. Nigel is super stoked to see his Canucks play the Coyotes for only 21 bucks. In Vancouver tickets are around 200 dollars, so this is a treat we could not pass up.
Hopefully the weather around Globe will improve and we can work on getting Misty up to the crag and spend a few days ticking off all the moderates around, and get Nigel on something that will really challenge him. And who knows, maybe there are some more 10 onsights for me as well.
Things sure are looking up!


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Tag Archives: Healthy
What to Eat – Lemon-Dijon Pork Sheet Pan Supper
Lemon-Dijon Pork Sheet Pan Supper Another one from the Taste of Home One Pan Meals magazine. It's pretty well known that lemon flavors help cancel out chemo aftertastes. Dijon mustard is another flavor that helps with that. Lucky that we … Continue reading
What to Eat – One Pan Garlicky Chicken
One Pan Garlicky Chicken As I've said before, most of the food that tastes decent has a lot of natural flavor, so the onions and garlic are important ingredients in most anything I eat. They tend to cover the salty/metallic … Continue reading


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La Jolla Shores beautiful Town Home, move in ready, 3 BR/3BA, open floor plan, bright/light,walk to the beach. Gorgeous hardwood floor throughout the main living area,private patio off the LR, high ceiling/fireplace. Master BR-upstairs, balcony/full bath, fireplace. 2nd BR-upstairs, own balcony,with full bath. 3rd option bedroom next to the kitchen could be an office or a den, or guest room with full bath.Newer appliance and granite countertop in the kitchen. Close to all & best school/Free way.$830,000
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Posted On: 04/19/18 2:18 PM
The Minnesota Senior All State team. Honoring the best seasons of Minnesota's 2018 class.
First Team
Tre Jones of Apple Valley. McDonald's All American, Mr Basketball, two time state champ, four time state tournament participant, five star player, top point guard prospect in the nation. Duke bound.
Daniel Oturu of CDH. State champion big, top 35 player prospect in the nation, state tournament MVP, and big stat stuffer all year. Going to Minnesota.
Gabe Kalscheur of DeLaSalle. Three time state champ, four time state tournament participant, top 150 player nationally, a top shooter nationally. Headed to Minnesota.
Calvin Wishart of Delano. A state champion guard, Class AAA state tournament MVP, Mr Basketball finalist, and the guy that people are going to say "why didn't high majors recruit him"? Headed to Georgia Southern.
Owen King of Caledonia. A Mr Basketball finalist who played in the state tournament four times in five season including this year when his team was state runner-up. Will play at South Dakota State.
Second team
Jarvis Omersa of Orono. One of the most explosive finishers in state history and a top 150 player prospect nationally. Signed with Minnesota.
Sy Chatman of CDH. The leading scorer of the state champion Raiders and the top unsigned prospect in Minnesota right now.
Michael Jones of Woodbury. Jones was a big number guy all season and despite constant defensive attention, he still shot a high percentage to score 26 a night. Signed at Davidson.
Matt Todd of Monticello. Not many guys packed as much into one night as Matt did putting up 29 points a game with six rebounds and six assists.
Michael Schaefer of St. Cloud Cathedral. Led his team to the state tournament with 24 points and 12 rebounds a game. Headed to Augustana.
Third Team
Brevyn Spann-Ford of St. Cloud Tech. One of the most versatile big forwards that has come around Spann-Ford was a double-double guy. Will play football at Minnesota.
Ryan Larson of CDH. A recent Wofford commit, the state champion PG made the pass of the season lobbing to Daniel Oturu for the game winning score in the title game.
Josiah Strong of Champlin Park. Led the Rebels to a much better year than expected with his 23 points and four assists a game. Going to Navy.
Anthony Davis of Hopkins. Scored 16 points a game for one of the highest ranked teams in the state all year plus one of the top defenders in Minnesota.
Noah Kannegiesser of Hancock. One of the stories of the season, Noah led his team into the top ten this year with a state high of 35.6 points per game. Headed to Concordia-St. Paul.
Fourth Team
Noah Slagter of Willmar. Noah scored 23 a game with seven boards and four assists for a team that was top five in Class AAA and went 26-3 this year. Headed to Northwestern (MN).
Odell Wilson IV of Minneapolis North. Odell led North to a great season with 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds shooting nearly 70 percent from the floor.
Eric Tiedman of Jordan. Led his team to state averaging a double-double plus he played some PG and was one of the elite defenders in Minnesota. Headed to Augustana.
Zach Theisen of Osseo. The leader of the Orioles scoring 20 a game plus grabbing five rebounds a night and leading the state tourney team in assists despite a bad injury.
Duoth Gach of Austin. Led the high rated Packers in scoring (17), steals, and was second in assists, and third in rebounding for the state semi-finalist. Shot over 50 percent this year .
Anders Nelson of Edina. Scored 21 points per game for a team that was at one point number one in Class AAAA.
Fifth Team
Jarius Cook of Park Center. Scored 16.2 points per game for one of the state's best Class AAAA teams. Will play at North Dakota State.
JaVonni Bickham of Minnehaha Academy. Second leading scorer and leading rebounder for the Class AA state champs. Headed to Denver.
Goodnews Kpegeol of North St. Paul. Goodnews scored 18.2 points per game for an NSP team that was top ten for much of the year.
Deundra Roberson of Columbia Heights. Scored 19 points a game leading Columbia Heights to the state championship game.
Wendell Matthews of Columbia Heights. Matthews scored 17.5 points per game with nine rebounds a night for the state runner-up.
Damani Hayes of Mankato East. Led his team to state with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game but it was his defense that pushed him into this group.
Westin Kirk of RTR. Kirk led his team to a state title behind his team highs of 18.7 points, nine rebounds, and almost three steals a game plus his 3.7 assists a game was fourth.


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Kenneth Wright
Only in Nashville... On the heels of seeing Haggard at the Ryman on Monday, I saw possibly (in my most honest professional opinion) the best "tribute band" ever assembled! "Big Shoes" at Douglas Corner last night was amazing. From the musicianship, vocals, song selection, seasoning through experience and raw talent, to the passion, no stone was left unturned! Daily I work with folks who question the state of music in this town these days...trust me, it is alive and well! Andy Peake , hats off to and your bandmates! Again, I was blown away! Hell, I could have put together a band of "who's who" in the audience! Great job!
Phillip Wolfe
A tremendous performance all across the stage. This was one of those "Only in Nashville" things. The fact that these musicians and singers have so many credits between them, it's like a virtual "who's who" of the most respected artists in our profession.
Ken Spooner
Went to hear a bunch of smokin' alley cats last night. "BIG SHOES" made a rare appearance at Bourbon Street in historic Printers Alley. WHADDA BAND .. WHADDA BAND !! All Seasoned Veterans from some great acts in Rock, Blues and Country too. Amazing interplay with three guitars that never step on each others feet, but shine dem shoes bar after bar. Greatly aided along by a stellar drummer and a percussionist that knock out some fantastic grooves, tied together with a bass that is always there but never too busy and a keyboard player that stuns when its his time to go. Gtrs : Kenne Kramer , Rick Huckaby, Will McFarlane, Bass : Tom Szell, Keys : Mark T. Jordan Drums : Andy Peake (who is their fearless leader ) and Brian Czack with an amazing array of percussion instruments that fits like a glove with Andy's top coat . ALL I CAN SAY IS IF THEY COME YOUR WAY, GO AND HEAR THEM or PICK UP THEIR CD .
Copyright © 2017 Music Band Template - All Rights Reserved.


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I usually have a lot too say..too much to say infact, that words are never enough to express my thoughts. However lately, I just don't have anything to say...nothing at all! Wonder where my muse has gone to?
I like living. I've sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing. - Agatha Christie
Friday, July 30, 2010
Writer's Block
Ramblings of R.A.S at 12:31 PM 3 comments: Links to this post
Labels: misc.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Kelakor pulak...
Sajer-jer menghabiskan masa emas doing nothing fruitful while waiting for my dearest husband to finish with his kerja mengodek-godek laptop dia that I bumped into this website yang akan meletakkan value for any of your websites. So, I decided to check my net worth and the result is not flattering at all..!!! Gilos, nampak sangatler tidak menariknyer blog ini..kuakuakua..
I am only worth $2964.20!!!! Haaa...Amat Apis, always being his positive self kept on repeating "USD Yang...USD... Banyakler tu..." As if....
Tuler, yang hang gatai-gatai lagi tu sapa suruh. Padan muka sendiri!
This is nothing but my plain ramblings for today.
Ramblings of R.A.S at 8:40 AM 5 comments: Links to this post
Monday, July 12, 2010
My beacon, my pillar..he is!
Amat Apis whom I met 13 years ago from today, came to me at the right time in my life, when I needed that extra special attention. I was living with 3 other girls who I love very very very much but they just could never possibly fill in that gaping hole in my heart. My loneliness nearly lowered my self-esteem, and that was when I met him. We kicked off very well and 6 months later, we became more than friends and he had saved me from being vulnerable about myself, my appearance. I guess God had it planned that he would always come to stop me from breaking apart.
But Amat Apis being Amat Apis, never having the right words to say to me during my recklessly emotional episodes, however, would never ever falter at doing the right things for me. Just like last week, I was feeling tremendously upset and devastated after I found out that a very personal friend of mine whom I regarded as a sister, a confidante had betrayed me. With my husband not being around to offer me his shoulders to cry on, it made it even harder to swallow. And he, although being many many miles apart, with the sea being in between us, never took that opportunity to neglect me but managed to be there for me, being by my side through that troubling time although not physically. Through ooVoo (something like Skype), he patiently waited for me to finally be relieved of my worries and anger even when it was apparent from the looks on his face that he needed to rest after a hard day's work. He never told me to sleep although it was already 4 a.m, he never told me to stop yapping, he never said anything because he knew all that I wanted was for him to listen.
Knowing that I was still upset, he decided to pacify me by literally being by my side and that is what he just did. To cheer me up, to help me regain myself, he came down all the way from the Gulf be it only for three days, as long as he knew that I was okay. Yes, my husband may have some imperfections, so do I. But one thing that I never have is his extra-ordinary amount of patience and his willingness to do just about anything (within limitations) for me. My weekend last Thursday, would always be a weekend to remember. I know with him by my side, with his support, I could manage just about anything for he would always stop me from tearing apart. I know now why God sent him to me although he deserves a better wife; he was sent to me to save me from myself.
Ramblings of R.A.S at 8:48 PM 11 comments: Links to this post
Labels: him
A superfluous character..
A meeting was held today to discuss the results for the recent mid-term examination, so I called up the Vice Principal beforehand to excuse myself from it. Since my assistant would be present as head of panel for her subject, I didn't see why I should be there to hear the same thing when all I could do is ask her for the details the next day. I decided it was best for me not to be there and at the same time I could help to reduce cost; with one tummy away means the school gets to save approximately RM 3 on refreshments. Unfortunately, my pleas had fallen on deaf ears..the VP said " As the Form 4 co-ordinator, your presence is compulsory!" I didn't pull a face because I know he was only doing his job..and the fact that he added " You may leave quietly in the middle of it" made it even more difficult for me to be a crybaby for the simple fact that my request was turned down.
Hmm...compulsory my foot..hey, do not get me wrong...I have much respect for the VP because he is a very understanding man, has never made my life miserable, is always practical and realistic in his orders and very straight-forward. So, when he denied my request to be excused from the meeting today, I did not protest but obliged happily. But to say that my presence is compulsory, technically, maybe .. but realistically...I do not think so. Just imagine being there in the meeting room for 3 hours long, listening attentively just in case you are questioned for certain things relating to academic programmes and such only to be disappointed when there is just no time to discuss the results for the recent exam among the Form 1,2 and 4 students. Imagine wasting a good 180 minutes of your time being in a room full of people who talk between themselves (including me) simply because we are the irrelevant players. Most of the time, this is what happens.
Presenting the weaknesses and strengths of the students when they attempted the questions only help to point out where both teachers and students have gone wrong during the teaching and learning session. However, it is only possible to achieve this when there are constructive discussions on the flaws that may have occurred. By having these post-mortem sessions, it is supposed to help the teachers improve their teaching skills when we, together as teachers dissect each others' pros and cons only for the sole objective to achieve some or more academic excellence. Correct me if I am being misleading, but aren't meetings like this suppose to accomplish some kind of solutions that may or may not work by exchanging methods and opinions that seem to work for some?
I know the administrators are perpetuated to bring out the best of teachers for us to help produce students who would always achieve A's many many times but be realistic! It does not suffice only by hearing presentations or giving a presentation on how many A's, B's, C's etc etc that students' had achieved in the X subject, the R subject or the K subject. A meeting is supposed to be a point of discussion not a lecture session..So, how pertinent is my presence as the Form 4 co-ordinator when I, for a single second even, had no relevance being there?
This is my plain ramblings for today.
Ramblings of R.A.S at 2:32 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: meandering thoughts, work issues
Friday, July 2, 2010
Love my kids..
I love my kids!!! VERY MUCH!! There is nothing in the world that I would not do for my kids, I would even sacrifice my life for them. Even if I have to sacrifice my own happiness, I would, as long as their happiness is guaranteed. They are a pain in the backside at most times, I cannot deny that fact, and I have to admit that you need to have a tough piece of meat on your bones when handling them. Still I love them.
For instance, Khalida is easily excited when she sees her Abang Qayyum all up and about. Even if she just woke up from sleep, she would never turn her Abang down for any kind of games even the ones that require her to be engaged in full motion. Although she is a girl, but she is most comfortable being around her brother whom I think she idolizes. And the two of them have somehow formed an ally against my number 2.
This little broccoli should not be underestimated. She has already reached the fourth tier on my 5 tiered bookcase, and I won't mention her climbing up the grill at the sliding door. Every single day, as I return home from work, a normal sight I see is her on the grill waving at me. If she is on the bunk bed (nope, I do not put her there, she managed to climb up) you better beware when you want to bring her down. She would volunteer herself by throwing herself at you!
Biting, is her way of showing affection..peculiar as it seems..she loves biting when she is extremely happy. Ironically, Iman is her favorite victim. She is also a very adamant person knowing what she wants and would stick to it. To her, "no means no" although that is my favorite phrase which all three of them seem to ignore. If she wants "Baa Baa Black Sheep", you'd better give her Black Sheep. Just this afternoon, I was mucking with her brains and I sang Baa Baa Dirty Goat to her dismay. She went totally ballistic!!!
Now Iman is a softie, more of a princess and diva all at once. I caught her watching youtube on how to apply eyeshadow and in her palm, was my newly bought Chanel blusher that she thought could replace eyeshadow. Clever one! She loves necklaces, hairbands, hairpins, dresses with ribbons and ties and refuse to wear anything dull in color..her clothes would all have to be cheerful and color co-ordinated with her handbags and slippers unlike me who would go for dull or ..mmm.. earth-toned and wear anything I get ny hands on. At the age of 3 and a half, she has already worn her first pair of wedges and everything has to be either Hello Kitty or Barbie! It's good that she is still naive, if not I would be given hell had she known that most of the times I had bought her fake ones. Come on, I am being none other than realistic and economically wise! Who would buy a pair of children's wedges priced at RM 35 only to see a pair lost in the drain?
Other than that, I am lucky that my younger brother is a fashion designer, so we get free dresses CUSTOM MADE by him for my diva princess all to her approval. Mengada tak? Thank you Khairi. She even has this fascination with butterflies too. Since Khairi needs all these accessories to use when he makes his dresses, he would always make butterfly hairpins for this munchkin of mine and she just loves wearing them. Try observing Iman in the car, you would notice that she checks herself out in the mirror, fixing a strand of hair that would accidently go out of place..makcik..makcik..and when she passes by children's boutiques, you should look at the smile on her face upon seeing clothes that has caught her attention.
She can be quite a diva especially in the mornings if she feels that she has not had enough sleep. We would have to carry her to the bathroom for her morning showers as she refuse to walk saying she is tired. If either Nining or I do not abide to her command, then you can say goodbye to your alarm clock because her voice is pitchy enough to wake the universe when she screams. She is a picky little one too. During meals, we have to be extra careful when attending to her. She DOES NOT LIKE any other food to touch her food. It has to be separated on the plate. If she wants them mixed up, she would do it herself, not before she gets it. The other day we were having a nice dinner time out; I was having steak while she opted for fish. She asked me to cut her fish and me without thinking used my steak knife to do the deed. So, there goes one meal untouched. Food from other plates should not touch her food too!! Haiya.. I can go on and on and on with her 'divaness', but I shall reserve it for my personal amusement.
However, she is also very hardworking being able to complete one whole coloring activity book in a day. She just loves to be on her own. Give her papers, pencils, pencil colors or crayons and there she goes into her own world. She didn't start to speak even at the age of 2 and a half. I even thought that she was speech impaired. Now, at the age of 4 years and 8 months, she only stops talking when she sleeps. Well..I think all three of them share this trait. She loves going to school and will never stop educating herself. She tries so hard to read on her own and even if she does not know how to pronounce the word, she would never give up. She hasn't learnt how to read yet..still with basic words with one syllable but I shall let her go in her own time. She is still a child.
Then, last and definitely never the least, Qayyum..my favorite..son! Hehehe... Of course he's my favorite son cos he is the only one. I am just waiting for the day for him to realize that fact. This boy is a winner learning to
walk run at only 10 months old and speaking fluently at one and a half. He picks up languages very easily, so we always have to watch what we say at home. When he was 3, he was already using words like "definitely", "scorching fire", and his favorite "blazing fire" (in his own pronounciation ler, but still intelligible). That is why I love bringing my children to school with me every time I have extra classes.
He loves bugs and creepy crawlies. You ask him anything about spiders, bees and hornets, he could tell you but if you ask him on his multiplication, "I'm sleepy" would be his answer. Hahahaha...yang ini memang kasi pusing kepala. He once asked me how did rain happen. Being only three, I did not want to be too scientific with him. So I said that it was because the clouds drank too much water from the ponds, drains and lake so it had to go and shee shee, so its shee shee water is the rain that falls on the ground. Was he impressed...at first yeah, until he knew about evaporation and all a day later. He would keep on asking questions beyond my field like how does a puffer fish get its poison from, or how do fireflies light themselves up. He just loves Science..doing experiments on everything and anything. Once, he had cut the handle of my Coach bag just to see whether leather is durable.
Computer games are his kind of thing and the fact that his father entertains him on this one does not help my parenting him. The two of them are sparring partners exchanging new found theories on developing the land, gaining more power, how to recruit more army etc etc etc. Yeah..they play this boring game called 'Dark Crusade: Dawn of War". I told him to play Pacman but he gave me an unamused look. So..wokey..that is beyond my jurisdiction.
Climbing up the wall..literally..is also his favorite. He would ask his father to hold him in front of a wall while he tries to climb up to the ceiling. He never asks me because standing at 4'10'' he could barely make quarterway. He used to think that his father's tummy was a trampoline jumping on it every chance he could. My sofa has become a another jumping platform and that is why I keep on using it even if is is 10 years old and squishy. ( My husband should be grateful on this one as I never pester him to change the sofa even when Hari Raya is just around the corner) Now, under his coaching and strict guidance, the other 2 have followed in on his footsteps pretending to be kites, or a paraglide jumping from the windowsill to the couch on to the floor which they three have cleverly covered with futons and my cushiony oversized pillows. This boy does not sit still!!
Hectic..is how I would define my life when it comes to handling this bunch. A plethora of personalities coming from something so small and fragile. Most of the times, I am amazed with what I have created out of love and there, God's greatness becomes extremely apparent. They may not be perfect children by other people's standard, but isn't it all subject to personal opinion? In my eyes, I could have never asked for more!!
Qayyum, Iman and Khalida...you are rest assured that I will always protect you and do anything for your best interest...simply because you guys are mine..
With deepest love, Ibu/Mother/Mum.
Ramblings of R.A.S at 10:49 PM 4 comments: Links to this post
Labels: my lumps of broccoli
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Betrayed and moving on.
I have never really understood how it felt to be betrayed. Never had the experience that could shatter my whole world until 2 days ago. I could never really understand betrayal...until it recently happened to me.
It is not a feeling that one should ever experience because it changes your whole perspective of that other person who betrayed you. Betrayal..it is not something that I would suggest people to experience although experience is the wisest teacher. The pain is excruciating, it never stops. Your heart is pricked and poked over and over again that it becomes part of your life during that tumultuous period. You vent your anger but venting it changes nothing. You try to breathe but every time you do, you choke on your own tears. You want to quit, but quitting only makes you a loser.. And to add salt to wound, your other half is not around to help you get up.
It is painful I must say for the pain comes with a vengeance as it stabs you repeatedly, snatching your happiness because it was done by the person you trust, you thought of as a friend..a very close confidante. It would not stop attacking you until your strength finally emerges from within but how soon would strength come to be your saviour? If I could have my way, I would have broken my friendship with that person..but knowing that doing so would mean that she wins, I shall spare her from gloating over her triumph. Thus, you, I accept back in my heart because forgiving is a noble thing to do!
I am coping and moving on. I need to pick myself up and to hold my head up high. After two days of wallowing in my sorrow and scouring why I deserved this, I finally found solace in Him and so, I shall not break this friendship I cemented 6 years ago. Today, He only shows that He has love still for me because I am tested with my girl's health. But then again, what is asthma when you have been to hell and back..
p/s Amat Apis, really wished you were here to lend me your shoulder.
This is nothing but my plain ramblings for today.
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Four In An Evening May 14, 2014
(Click above for more details)
Join Jeanne Hess May 14, 2014 at Kalamazoo College Book Store.
Enjoy an evening with four Kalamazoo College faculty authors as they read from and sign their newest books.
Wednesday May 14, 2014
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Hicks Center Banquet Room
Kalamazoo College
1200 Academy Street
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006
Books available for purchase


text: OH MY GOD four years ago i used to have these amazing shoes i found at the goodwill in portland that for some ridiculous reason i ended up getting rid of (i never wore heels, they were too "witchy," who knows?!). ever since i've doodled them, dreamed of them, and have been scheming up a plan on how to remake them until…i just found them on etsy! wtf? if you're a 7.5 you've gotta get these, they're super comfy and the spirit of them needs to continue on. check them out at the james rowland shop on etsy. they've got a ton of other great shoes too. i love you, zodiac platform shoes with a bow! one day you will be mine again!


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Hi Everyone, and welcome back to the craft room! Have you seen the new Whimsy Paper Door June card kit? This is the first month I've ordered it, and I am so excited to share the this card with you! The kit is full of goodies including: 6×6 specialty cardstocks, exclusive stamps and dies, twine,… Continue reading Enjoy the Journey
Tag: Mixed Media
Handmade Flowers
Hi Everyone! One of my favorite embellishments for cards is flowers, and I couldn't resist joining in this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, Handmade Flowers. I used more of the Prima Love Clippings collection (featured HERE in a previous post) in addition to flowers I created using Sizzix Tim Holtz Tattered Florals dies. … Continue reading Handmade Flowers
Closing 2016: Prima Sweet Peppermint
Hi Everyone! This is the second post in "Closing 2016" series. (HERE is the first post.) This set of cards features Prima Marketing's Sweet Peppermint Christmas papers, flowers, ephemera, etc. designed by Frank Garcia. Isn't it gorgeous? I fell in love with everything and knew I had to have almost everything as soon as I saw… Continue reading Closing 2016: Prima Sweet Peppermint
Spooky Halloween Card
Hi Everyone! Today I'm sharing this month's Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2016 Technique Remix with paint resist and alcohol ink resist. I spent all day yesterday in the craft room while the hubby and boys worked on the car, and I had a blast working on these techniques. It's a shame that the alcohol… Continue reading Spooky Halloween Card
Vintage Good Luck Card
And…Day number three for posting consecutively! Woohoo! The kids aren't even back in school yet, but I've been so busy in Tim Holtz' Creative Chemistry 103 that I can't stop working in the craft room. Once again I'm sharing distress crayons with texture paste and stencils. I began this card by applying two individual layers of opaque… Continue reading Vintage Good Luck Card
Crazy Cat Belated Birthday Card
Woo Woo! Two posts in two days! And guess what? I've got another card ready to photograph and post tomorrow as well! I have been working like crazy in Tim Holtz' Creative Chemistry 103, and that's why I have so much to share right now. This card is another example from day four: Working with… Continue reading Crazy Cat Belated Birthday Card
Distressed Collage Tag
Hi Everyone! I'm back sooner rather than later with another post from Tim Holtz' Creative Chemistry Class. This homework is from 103, and I am having so much fun! We worked with distress crayons over an ephemera collage for a very cool vintage effect. I began by stamping Ledger Script with Archival Ink on plain… Continue reading Distressed Collage Tag


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Please click on the links below for the updated information:
Por favor, haga clic en los siguientes enlaces para obtener la información actualizada:
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.) is the process by which those discerning their call to the Catholic Church grow in their knowledge of Christ, His Church and most importantly their relationship with God in these. The process follows the liturgical year and studies the Catholic Faith primarily through the reading and study of the Sunday readings. We gather every Sunday in our Parish Center in the "Family Room" as a group at 9:30am. If you are interested in knowing more about joining the Catholic Church or if you were baptized Catholic but never received all of the Sacraments of Initiation (First Communion and Confirmation) R.C.I.A. is what you need. Please do not hesitate to contact Miss Mary Gillespie to start your journey: mailto:email@example.com (631-988-9750).
Adult Bible Study
After having studied the Gospel according to St. Matthew, St. John and the Book of Acts, we will now turn our attention to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans. The study will begin on Monday, Sept. 25th at 7:00pm in Room #202 or the St. Ann's Learning Center. The study will last 6 weeks and will be on the 6 consecutive Monday evenings. We encourage you to bring your favorite Bible or you can use the ones we have available. We also have copies of the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for sale at the class. Please see below for a full copy of the itinerary and the parish flyer.
Apologetics Seminar
St. Ann Catholic Church is excited to present this summer's Catholic Apologetics Seminar. It will be all about Marian Apologetics!!! Learn how to defend the Catholic Doctrines regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary.
It will be at St. Ann's Parish Center on Sat. June 23 from 9:00am to 4:30pm. Price is $20/pp with materials and lunch included. All are welcome!
To register follow this link:
for further information please contact Mr. Russ Arsaga: firstname.lastname@example.com


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History and Stats
The area has been home to human civilization for thousands of years, with archeological records dating back well before the arrival of Europeans. Throughout the 18th century and into the 19th, small settlements were founded in earnest, often seeking to profit from the coal veins or rich timber harvests. With the arrival of a rail line in 1873, the region saw a short-lived population explosion that ended shortly after many mines became unprofitable.
Parts of the area were originally slated to be added to the West Virginia State Park system, but would later be combined and put under the authority of the National Parks System.
As per the legislation signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, the New River was designated as part of the National Parks System "for the purpose of conserving and interpreting outstanding natural, scenic, and historic values and objects in and around the New River Gorge and preserving as a free-flowing stream an important segment of the New River in West Virginia for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations."
Date Founded: November 10, 1978
Size: 72,808 acres
Elevation: 2,487 (Grandview), 1,087 (New River)
Rainfall: 41in, 62in of snow
Visitors: 1.1 million a year
Open: Year-round
Fees: There is no fee to enter New River Gorge National River, however, with so many other parks within the National system, we would be remiss to not point out the America The Beautiful Pass, which applies to over 2,000 different sites, offering free entry, reduced campsite fees, and countless other incentives.
"To preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations."
The park was formed specifically to protect the area around the New River Gorge Crossing and stretches for over 50 miles along the banks of the river from the Bluestone Dam to Hawk's Nest State Park. Conservation of ecology, history, and wildlife all play a major role in the park's mission.
Additionally, the park is home to many outdoor activities that go beyond vistas and the over 50 miles of hiking trails. The New River contains what is considered some of the best whitewater rafting in the country, and the surrounding area contains well as over 1,000 different climbing routes. It is also considered a prime site for bird watching, canoeing, fishing, and biking, among other activities.
There are two main Visitor Centers within the park, Canyon Rim, and Sandstone, while two more seasonal outposts operate during peak season.
Canyon Rim Visitor Center is open daily with the exception of November 24, December 25, and January 1 from 9 to 5. The Canyon Rim Visitor Center features informational exhibits on the wildlife and history of the Gorge as well as informational films and Ranger-led programming. It's defining attribute is undoubtedly its amazing view of the New River far below. The structure itself was designed to take advantage of natural features to eventually blend into its surroundings.
Sandstone Visitor Center is open daily from 9 to 5 from April through November and then is open on a limited schedule through March. It features a short film on the history of the New River as well as exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the region. Its floor features a map of the New River watershed, while there is a garden on the grounds showcasing the native flora and fauna.
Thurmond Depot Visitor Center is open seasonally June through August from 10 to 5. It is housed in a restored rail station and offers a unique window into the nation's past as a major producer of coal.
Grandview Visitor Center is open from May 28 through September 3 from 12 to 5. It is home to the highest views of the New River Gorge, at over 1,400 ft above the water. It features Ranger-led walks and talks as well as outdoor theater during the Summer months.
Closest Civilization
Beckley, a town of around 17,000, is a major hub for Southern West Virginia, and all of the amenities one would expect from a small town can be found here. Beckley is roughly a 30-minute drive, though there are many other smaller towns and villages in the area.
There are eight different primitive campgrounds available within the park, as well as backcountry camping. Full information on these sites can be found here.
Additionally, there are multiple varieties of campgrounds in the surrounding area.
With multiple towns and villages in the region, there are many options for lodging in a range of prices.
Camping Level
As the sites are primitive, we recommend at least Novice preparation, and definitely Intermediate or Advanced if you're inclined to camp at a more difficult site or go into the backcountry. That said, if you're looking for some light day-hiking while staying in a hotel or RV park nearby, Newbie preparation will suit you just fine. You can find printable PDFs of our packing guides and more in our Traveler's Tips.
Seasonal Programs
The park offers an extensive and rotating catalog of programming, ranging from guided hikes to mountain biking to Tai Chi and more. Further information and the programming calendar can be found here.
There is also a great deal of focus on the region's wildflowers, with several programs centered around the area's flora. More information can be found here.
Additionally, there is an app available to embark on a self-guided car tour of the region's African American heritage. More information can be found here.
Our experience
We were only within the park for a few hours, though J has camped in the area and rafted down the New and nearby Gauley in the past. We greatly enjoyed the view, the rich information provided and the wonderful detour of crossing the New River on the valley floor, scooting through the remains of twin coal villages.
Things we'd like to try next time
We would definitely stay in the area for a longer time, likely hiking into the backcountry or just staying a few nights at a primitive site. With two fully staffed Visitor's Centers, there is no shortage of programming available, and it would be easy to make a few nights' stay fly by. The lure of rafting is just too good to pass up, and one we'll likely bite on the next time we're in the area.
Special Note
- The park has an active webcam, and the broadcast can be found here.
- Hawk's Nest, part of West Virginia's State Park system, abuts one end of the park and is not to be missed, offering fantastic views, Civilian Conservation Corps work at its finest and a quaint Country Store.
- All of the primitive campgrounds allow for access to the New River, but as the current is incredibly strong, lifejackets should always be worn.
- Cam's Ham in Huntington, WV is a roughly 2-hour drive west, and if you're heading that way, it's wonderful a no-frills gem of American cuisine. You can read more about Cam's and other standouts in Eating Across America.
- The area offers some of the only Class V rapids close to the East Coast. A Class V is amazing, but not for the faint of heart.
- Both of the major Visitor Centers of the park were constructed with Green Architecture as a prime consideration, and as such are both low impact and highly efficient structures.
- It is possible to cross the New River without going across the massive bridge, but it requires a bit of a detour to the valley floor. We highly recommend it.
- There are many more activities and parks in the area, including the birthplace of Booker T. Washington and Appomattox Courthouse. More information can be found here.
What's your favorite vista along the New River? Have you ever been rafting in the area? Is there another hidden gem of a restaurant we missed? Did we miss anything else?
Check out more of our guides to the National Parks.
Read more about our experience at the New River Gorge National Park here.


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A $29,000,000.00 home
This house is located in Hillsborough, California.
It is a 35,000-square-foot house that was completed in 1931.
This house, known as the House-On-Hill, is one of the most impressive historic properties in the United States.
It has 12 bedrooms, 12 full baths, three half-baths, four kitchens, 12 fireplaces, a wine vault, swimming pool, and the most grand 55-foot "music room."
It sure is beautiful, but I would rather see this money used to feed all the starving people in the world.


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Saturday, May 19, 2018
Jim's work in schools began in 1980 when he was invited to by an administrator to create a "Friendship Workshop" in a troubled school, and to write a song that would "help us learn to get along." The song Rainbow Planet was born. The workshop was so successful that Jim was soon traveling to schools throughout Washington state where he wove children's words and feelings into songs, helping them feel special about themselves. He now travels around the world presenting workshops and concerts to children, teachers and families.
1 pm, May 19th
$5 per family advanced registration | $10 per family at the door
Call (253) 857 9344 to purchase tickets or email email@example.com
Gig Harbor BoatShop


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Our summer studios are in the Luther Barn. It's airy, and it's historic, and it's right in the heart of town. Residents work out of 200-300 square foot refurbished livestock pens under wood beam ceilings. They have 24-hour access to their studios, our print shop, our wood shop, and our ceramics studio. And they live just a short walk away in one of our two residency houses, the Schoolhouse and the Lodge, where accommodations include a private bedroom, shared living room/study, dining room, kitchen, and bathrooms.
It's a chance to spend a month or more in a community of dedicated artists. But it's also a chance for residents to become part of the Wassaic community: to get to know their neighbors at the Lantern (and let loose on karaoke nights), explore Wassaic's swimming holes, scale nearby mountains, hold outdoor potlucks, and wolf down pancakes at fundraiser breakfasts for the local fire department. Summer in Wassaic is magical, and it's weird, and it inspires some great art.
Apply between December 3 and January 18
For more information and to apply be sure to visit the Event Website and click on SUMMER RESIDENCY in the footer menu.


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In addition to being French (don't judge him), Yohann is also a dedicated wanderer so we couldn't pass up the chance to bring you around the world with some of the sketches from his travels. This week, we take you to Italy. But we almost scanned his entire sketch book so there will be more to come.
Freitag, 2. März 2012
Seeing as we were all ill last week, it seems only fair to give you a little something extra this week, no? In continuation with our recent (as yet, unpunished) crime wave, our latest heist comes straight from our environment master's sketch book.
Eingestellt von sixmorevodka um 05:38
Labels: STOLEN SKETCHES, YOHANN
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Two Big Dominoes for the 2016 Rangers Season/
(Note: This was originally written early Opening Day. Since it involves some fortune telling, I've left most of the piece intact, but there have been a few edits that may or may not have been affected by Texas' first trip through the rotation.)
This is the time of year to prognosticate which players are going to be "key" to the Texas Rangers' success, and exactly how successful the Rangers will be on the diamond. Jamey Newberg and Ben Rogers discussed, in the debut episode of their new short podcast Spitballin', that Derek Holland, Martin Perez and Delino DeShields, Jr. were their picks as key players for the Rangers. I agree that two of those players are key, but not, strictly speaking, because the players' individual performances can elevate the team that much. Before we move on, a warning: I don't like making declarative statements that can be easily disagreed with, and I want to stress that this is all based on my opinions.
DeShields, Jr. was a highly rated infield prospect from the time he was drafted until rumors of "lack of effort" ostensibly bumped him off of Top 100 prospects lists. He played rookie ball in 2010, was promoted to A in 2011 and struggled, albeit with 30 stolen bases. Delino repeated A-ball in 2012 and played like an All Star. He was promoted to High-A ball late in the year, where he once again struggled with everything but stolen bases. DeShields started 2013 at Rookie-level again, played himself back to High-A quickly, and again played at a high level with a .317 batting average and 51 stolen bases. In 2014, with rumors about his effort surfacing, he started at AA Corpus Christi and once again, except for stolen bases, struggled to hit. Houston, at this point, apparently considered him a busted prospect and left him unprotected in the 2015 Rule Five draft, when he was selected by Texas. He was used as a fourth outfielder, something that suited his speed, and was eventually placed in center field when a combination of DeShields' on-base percentage and Leonys Martin's poor bat and injuries forced a change at the position.
Starting 2016, the Rangers' outfield consists of Shin-soo Choo, Ian Desmond, Delino DeShields, Jr., Ryan Rua, and Justin Ruggiano (editor's note: Ruggiano has since been DFA'd). Waiting in the wings is, possibly, Josh Hamilton when (if) he returns from the disabled list.
There are rumblings that Ian Desmond may be moving to center field at some point this season. He's been making the catches there. While he's certainly not nearly as fast as Delino (not many in MLB are), he has a cannon arm, good throwing accuracy, and possibly a better instinct for the outfield than DeShields.
But what about DeShields' on-base percentage being a "catalyst" for the Rangers last year? Well, I went and looked up what it was. OBP isn't an interpreted stat, it is what it is. Here's how it went:
Me: "Bryce Harper, Joey Votto (duh), Miguel Cabrera, Paul Goldschmidt, Mike Trout, Andrew McCutchen... OK, these are just the best hitters in baseball. These are obvious. Let's get down into the ones you don't think of..."
Me: "Oh, there's Prince Fielder at '10' and Shin-soo Choo at '12'. And they both only had good halves... be really nice if they could both have good years."
Me: "Nick Markakis. Damn. He doesn't do much but get on base. Nelson Cruz... I guess he did more than just hit home runs last year... Kendrys Morales... didn't expect that. Time to turn the page...."
Me: "Dee Gordon? Brandon Belt? Moose? Fowler? DeShields! There he is!"
That's not bad. DeShields was in the top 100 players in On Base Percentage. I had to set minimum plate appearances at 300, which put DeShields at 76 out of 268. That puts him outside of the top 25%, but better than 33%. So, not really *elite*, but certainly *good*. He had the third-best OBP for the Rangers, slotted between Prince and Choo, and Moreland and Beltre.
The problem is that Delino produced at a below-average level offensively, somewhere between his poor minor league years and his good minor league years. Closer to his poor years, but unfortunately in-line with the usual decrease most minor-leaguers make as they advance to higher levels. While his speed is elite and his plate discipline is providing at least part of a good offensive threat, DeShields is out of place in center field and there's no real reason to expect him to increase his offensive skills.
The bottom line is Delino DeShields, Jr. is an everyday outfielder ONLY on a lesser team, no matter how many kind words he receives for being a "catalyst". With Rua, Ruggiano, and likely even Desmond outperforming him offensively, I see DeShields on the bench by the end of May at the latest. Barring player moves and injuries, of course.
To put it bluntly: Unless Delino DeShields, Jr. is producing offensive value at an increased level, his presence on the bench as a fourth outfielder/speed substitute will be the best indicator that the outfield is healthy and contributing to a winning team.
TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR: I am NOT saying Delino DeShields, Jr. is a bad player, or has no value to the Rangers. I AM saying he is lacking as a center fielder, which can be improved; and he wasn't as significant an offensive threat as he's has been talked up to be, and there's no reason to believe he'll be better this year. Which can be improved, as well. And the fastest way to improve is by using other players who are better than he is.
One week in: Delino is batting to the tune of a 85 wRC+ (100 is average), against a 94 last year but in-line with most projections. His OBP is outstanding. There isn't really enough information to judge his defense statistically, but I think all of us have noted his noodle arm costing bases already.
Now let's look at the pitching staff. I have to be forward here; I'm concerned about Texas' starting rotation. I know a lot of Texas fans find this an absurd point-of-view, but I hope you'll stay with me on this.
I'm not worried about Cole Hamels. Hamels is on the bubble of age-related decline, but there's an increasing, though inconclusive, body of evidence that top-flight, durable pitchers can fight off the effects of aging. Additionally, Hamels had an interesting year in 2015 as he was less effective than he had been, yet managed to work through a move to the American League that necessitated a change in style. Cole finished the year managing to turn decreased peripherals into the kind of performance you expect from your headlining pitcher. Like Darvish, even in bad games he limited damage and maintained control into the sixth or seventh inning, giving the team a good chance to win.
I'm not worried about Martin Perez. His stuff plays; his only liability is a tendency to lose control of his emotions, and therefore lose control of his body. However, before tearing his UCL, Perez was showing that he could maintain composure... I'd imagine the key is going to be forming a strong relationship with his catcher and with pitching coach Doug Brocail.
I'm not worried about Colby Lewis. Colby has already shown this year that he's going to, barring injury, give Texas another year of the same. He's going to once again define the idea of a #4 pitcher: someone whose reliance on command and fly-ball tendencies mean he's going to give up runs and home runs, but he's going to do it in such a reliable and predictable manner that you don't really worry about it at the back end.
I'm not worried about the fifth starter. Which is to say, I'm as worried about the fifth starter as everyone is always worried about the fifth starter. It's the fifth starter. A position that is increasingly just the "spare" starter, rather than a weekly matchup. Have you noticed that? Fewer teams have a named, consistent "fifth starter". It's just "one of the other guys".
Anyway, I bet you figured out who I'm worried about. The only question is, "Why am I so worried about Derek Holland that I listed him as one of the dominoes of the Rangers' season?"
Holland was the 748th pick in the 2006 draft. He performed well in 2007 in Low-A and performed even better in 2008 in High-A and AA. Notably, he struck out 10 per 9 innings, walked 2 in the same span, and gave up almost 0 home runs. In 33 games with the big club in 2009 he didn't do so well, but still created positive value. Derek went to AAA in 2010, pitched well despite lower strikeout and higher walk rates, and managed to increase his performance slightly when called back to the Rangers. In 2011, he pitched 198 innings for the Rangers and won 16, despite a still-decreasing strikeout rate and a walk rate that was still 3 per 9.
The hope was that now that he had a full season behind him, Holland would begin to add his great peripherals back into the mix in 2012. Except for an almost 50% increase in home runs allowed, he was largely the same pitcher. Fans (and coaches) noted his habit of losing control and frequently giving up his runs in bursts in one inning; sometimes pitching coach Maddux and manager Ron Washington could coax him through the inning; sometimes not.
So once again, hope was put on 2013 for Holland to finally develop completely. And it finally happened, at least to the extent that it probably ever could. Derek pitched over 200 innings, got his K rate back up to 8, kept his walk rate under 3, and cut his home runs allowed by 50%, back to less than 1 per 9. Holland finished the year with a 3.42 ERA, a 3.44 FiP, a 3.68 xFiP, and generated 4.3 fWAR.
THIS was the pitcher Texas had been expecting. Or at least, as I said, close enough to expectations to be completely acceptable. This is a guy you could pencil in to that #2 slot that "Hollywood" Cole go-sit-down-now-Kyle-Seager Hamels will occupy in a rotation headlined by Yu Darvish.
And then it all came crashing down. Again. Literally.
Before the season started in 2014, Derek fell down some stairs and micro-fractured something that you can't pitch with if it's micro-fractured.
BUT... when he came back from rehab and conditioning, right at the end of the season, he pitched in 6 games, winning 2 and ending with 1.46 ERA and... 2.19 FiP, and 3.72 xFiP, so there was a lot of luck involved... and his lowest K rate ever except for 9 official innings at Round Rock in 2012... but his walk rate was good, and he allowed no home runs.
What to make of this? The peripherals are a mess, which, honestly, you should probably expect of someone who almost lost an entire year of baseball.
So... 2015... Derek Holland tears up his shoulder in his first game of the year. He comes back after the All-Star Break and pitches in 10 games. His K rate is still around 6 per 9, his walk rate is still around 2.5 per 9, his home run rate is back up to 1.5 per 9; he pitches to a 4.91 ERA, a 5.30 FiP, but also a 4.45 xFiP, so that's... not very good, but should have been better.
Holland should have been almost as good as Colby Lewis, instead of worse.
Projections all say he'll be about as good as Colby Lewis has been going forward (they all say Colby Lewis won't be as good as he has been going forward). And *that's* only if Holland is healthy enough... his projected value is based almost entirely on his ability to take the ball for 150+ innings.
In other words, Derek Holland, as befitting all evidence, is likely to be the third fifth starter, slotting between Colby Lewis and whoever the other guy is.
So, to start the year off, Texas will have a solid TORP, Cole Hamels, followed by Martin Perez, who should be a solid MOTR starter, with probably enough upside to look like that farm-developed #2 pitcher Texas has been desperately seeking for years. The guy Derek Holland was supposed to be. After that Texas will throw out Colby Lewis, who will probably have a few games this year where he flirts with shutouts and complete game wins, and quite a few more where you'll be glad he made it through five giving up a run per inning. But he won't actually blow up very much, and those few gems he pitches make it all worthwhile. A #4 starter with ton of "grit." And then you've got the guy I've decided to call Russel Stover this year. You know Russel Stover. The "box of chocolates" company.
Except, honestly, we know what we're gonna get. Probably. Derek Holland is the last man in the rotation who is guaranteed a spot if he's healthy. He's not getting traded, not now. Unless... never mind. If he pitches well, his option next year is so cheap it's a no-brainer to pick up. If he pitches poorly, then he's your default #5.
That's why Derek Holland is my pick for the other key "domino" player. Because if I'm right, there's a huge hole in the middle of the rotation right now, and we'd better all hope Yu is in good form when he comes back from Round Rock or Frisco in six to eight weeks. Yu/Cole/Perez/Lewis/Holland isn't perfection, but it's pretty darned good.
If Holland "regresses" back up, to a form he hasn't had for a few years, then everything is fine. If he really is the worst pitcher in the rotation... then that sets the dominoes in motion, because a World Series hopeful needs another pitcher up there in the 1-3 slots... not another pitcher than can fill in the #5 slot. Those guys are cheap.
After the first week: Cole Hamels had a great start, except for home runs. I doubt that's a long-term problem. His peripheral stats indicate that, except for the home runs, he pitched wonderfully. I know a lot of people are going to read this and say "no duh", but I would like to stress that the statistical measurements basically say that Cole made a handful of bad pitches, and all the rest of them were very, very good. Not worried
Martin Perez: walks. We knew this. Attack the zone. Also, did you watch the umpiring in that game? I'm not sure how much I'm going to put on Martin.
Colby Lewis: Below average for Colby, but not by much. It's OK. He beat his xFiP.
Derek Holland: He pitched in-line with projections. Statistically, he was on par with Lewis.
A.J. Griffin: Texas has one pitcher who has produced positive value by fWAR. It's Griffin. But don't get too excited... while his ERA and FiP were in-line, walking twice as many people as you strike out leads to an xFiP of "STINKY". Now, Texas has spent a fair bit of time fielding pitchers who get outs via the ground ball almost exclusively, so it's possible Texas can make this work. Anyway, congratulations to A.J. Griffin, the Rangers' best starting pitcher in the first week!(?)