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At its simplest, a query can be just a word or a phrase. But with the tips on this page, you can expand the focus of your query to give you more complete results. These tips will get you started with basic query language and acquaint you with the full power of the search engine.
- By default, phrases will be searched for as though they were all one statement. If you do not get the results you want, try linking your search terms with the word AND if all words need to be found in the same result. Link the search terms with OR to find results that contain one or more of the words in your list.
- Put quotation marks around keywords if you want to search for the terms literally. For instance, if you type the following query:
"Federal Energy Regulatory Commission" The search engine will literally look for the complete phrase Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
- By default, a word search will do a search on the word as typed and variations of the word such as bank, banking, and banker. To search solely for the term bank, place the word in double quotations, "bank."
- Use of the operator AND will return results containing all of the search words specified.
Example: cats AND dogs
- Refine your queries with the NOT keyword to exclude certain text from your search. For example, if you want to find all instances of surfing but not surfing the Net, write the following query: surfing AND NOT "the Net"
- Add the OR keyword to select documents that include at least one of the search terms specified, for example: Abbott OR Costello This query finds all pages that mention Abbott or Costello or both.
- To find words in close proximity, use one of the following operators:
Selects documents that contain two or more words within N number of words of each other. N is optional.
Example: gathering<near/3>offshore will locate the words gathering and offshore within three words of each other.
Selects documents that include all of the search elements you specify within a paragraph.
Example: "interstate commerce"<paragraph>"natural gas"
Selects documents that include all of the specified words within a single sentence.
Example: "interstate commerce"<sentence>"natural gas"
- SOUNDEX Expands the search to include the specified word and one or more words that sound like, or whose letter pattern is similar to, the word.
Example: <SOUNDEX>sale
Returns documents that include words such as "sell", "seal", "shell", and "scale." Try also the operator TYPO which expands the search to include the specified word plus words that are similar, e.g., <TYPO>mouse will return documents including "house," "louse," and "moose."
- MANY Considers the density of search words when calculating relevance-ranked scores. This operator will rank shorter documents with multiple occurrences of the search terms higher than larger documents with the same number of occurrences. Because the relative density of the occurrences is greater in the shorter document, the document is considered to be more relevant to the query.
- ORDER Specifies the order in which search elements must occur in the document.
Example: <ORDER><PARAGRAPH>(cat,chases,dog) is more likely to return documents that refer to cats chasing dogs, than dogs chasing cats.
- Ranking Assigns a relative importance, or weight, to search terms from 1 to 100 where 1 represents the lowest importance and 100 represents the highest importance rating.
Example: [50]good,[80]excellent
Ranks documents containing the word excellent higher than those documents containing the word good.
Quick Links
Contact Information
FERC Online SupportTelephone: 202-502-6652Toll-free Telephone: 1-866-208-3676Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Products By
Hydraulics - Mobile
If it moves, it probably moves with Gates. Gates researches, designs, and tests our mobile hydraulics solutions at the cutting edge of material science to deliver uncompromising solutions for all types of mobile equipment. From transportation to turf care, and from mining to material handling, Gates hydraulic hose and couplings save costs and downtime to power your heavy duty mobile machinery and industrial-grade vehicles.
Hydraulics - Stationary
We're powering your progress, and your stationary machinery. You'll find Gates stationary hydraulic hose and coupling solutions in manufacturing facilities, foundries, industrial plants, and other heavy duty machine applications all over the world. If you need a custom hydraulics solution or have any questions about the best Gates solution for your stationary machinery applications, contact our team of experts.
Industrial Drives - Mobile
Gates designs and manufacturers our industrial drives with your mobile machinery's efficiency, durability, and performance in mind. Find industrial drive solutions for a range of power transmission applications, from heavy duty construction, mining, and agriculture machinery to powering your vacuum cleaners, lawn and garden mowers, outdoor equipment, and much more.
Industrial Drives - Stationary
Gates manufactures world-class industrial drives to fit the needs of your stationary systems. Trust Gates power transmission solutions to provide the reliability, efficiency, and precise motor control your industrial drive applications demand, with leading solutions for your commercial HVAC cooling fans, pump drives, linear positioning applications, bucket elevators, augers, door openers, and more.
Industrial Fluid and Material Conveyance
Gates engineers fluid power solutions for processing bulk material and industrial fluid transfer, designed to reduce leakage and waste, increase processing efficiency, reduce downtime, and keep your workspace clean - all to reduce your operating costs and improve your business. Gates industrial fluid and material conveyance solutions covey fluids, gases or granular materials ranging from food and beverage processing to power washers, with reliable solutions for a range of other industrial and consumer applications.
Oilfield Fluid Power and Conveyance
Stand up to harsh operating conditions. Reduce downtime. Improve overall system efficiency. Gates oilfield fluid power and conveyance solutions operate at unparalleled performance standards, and are rigorously tested to meet the demanding conditions of onshore and offshore oil and gas drilling, well control, refining, and fuel transfer applications.
Personal Mobility Drives
We're powering the machines that move you. Our personal mobility drives are designed for efficiency and power, so you can hit the bike trails with Gates Carbon Drive belt drives, and then tackle the trails with ATV/UTV powersport vehicles. Gates works with the top manufacturers of mobility vehicles, including bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, snowmobiles and more, to design our personal mobility solutions with OE exact or OE equivalent fit. Gates power transmission solutions guarantee exceptional performance for thousands of makes and models, so you can experience your next adventure with the power of Gates.
Vehicle - Engine Systems
Increasing reliable power for your vehicle engine systems drives us to innovate everyday. With vehicle and stationary engines becoming smaller and more efficient, we're committed to transmitting more power between your system components and engine accessories, all while driving down your downtime and costs. Gates application engineers and automotive experts have spent decades developing the most comprehensive automotive power transmission and fluid power selection in the aftermarket, with OE fit parts for your belt drive, engine cooling, fuel, emission control systems, and more.
Vehicle - Other Solutions
Gates stops at nothing to design the highest performing and longest lasting automotive solutions, so your vehicles perform when and where you need them. Gates works with more than 34 of the world's top vehicle manufacturers to create OE exact and OE equivalent parts solutions that have your vehicle moving in peak operation, from belt drives to brake systems. Find solutions for your vehicle chassis systems, including brake, steering, and suspension, and other vehicle components such as tire and wheels, windshield washer and wipers, vacuum systems, as well as shop support products.
Vertical Lift Systems
Gates gives your operations more than just the lift you need to get the job done. We offer premium belt and vertical lift system solutions with reliable performance, high chemical, abrasion and pressure resistance, and a durable working service life. Gates polyurethane flat belting is designed and tested for your heavy duty lifting and positioning applications, including lift systems, forklifts, car wash installations and scissor-type lifting tables, with superior flat lift transmission systems for applications ranging from automotives to elevators.
When searching for another automotive manufacturer or distributor part number only exact matches will be returned.

subset: commoncrawl


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Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement Insurance Policies – Which is Right for You?
When you turn 65, you are eligible to receive Medicare coverage. Original Medicare, known as Part A and Part B, is where many people start. But this coverage, provided by the federal government, could leave you with out-of-pocket expenses. That's because Medicare Part A and B were only designed to cover 80% of your medical costs.
But did you know you can get additional health benefits outside of the coverage Original Medicare offers? Other types of plans, like Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement, can provide you with more benefits or coverage than Parts A and B offer. Both Medicare Advantage and supplemental-type plans are provided by private insurance companies that are approved by Medicare. And they can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs when you receive care.
So, what's the difference between a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare supplement plan? We've laid it out in this helpful chart below:
Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement Insurance
|Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C)
|Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)
|You have aMedicare Advantage plan in place of Original Medicare.
Medicare Advantage includes all of the benefits of Part A and Part B, plus expands your coverage by offering added benefits like dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.
You may limit your out-of-pocket costs with maximum out-of-pocket protection.
|You have a Medicare supplement insurance policy alongside your Original Medicare coverage.
While Medicare supplement doesn't cover added benefits, it helps by reducing your out-of-pocket costs for the care you receive.
This can include out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copays and coinsurance.
|There are Medicare Advantage plans with a $0 monthly premium. However, you may have to pay an extra premium for this plan depending on your provider.
|You'll pay an extra premium for a Medicare supplement insurance policy. The amount you pay depends on the policy and your Medicare provider.
*With both plans, you'll still be required to pay your Part B premium.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage plans include all of the benefits of Part A and Part B. Plus, you can get added benefits like dental, vision and/or prescription drug coverage with certain plans.
Things to keep in mind:
- You must pay your Part B premium in addition to your Medicare Advantage premium. In some cases, you can find a $0 Medicare Advantage plan. This means you still pay your Part B premium, but that cost is transferred to the insurance company instead of you having to pay an extra premium.
- People with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) may not be able to qualify for a Medicare Advantage plan. If this applies to you, you can look into purchasing a Special Needs Plan (SNP).
- Some Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage, so remember to ask your Medicare provider about this detail when choosing your plan.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Policies
Medicare supplement insurance policies can help take care of certain health care costs not covered by Medicare. This policy is added to your Part A and Part B coverage and covers costs like deductibles, copays and premiums. There are 10 different plans in 47 states. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin have their own plans. Each plan is represented by a letter and offers different benefits.1 Each letter is the same across insurance companies (for example: all Plan N benefits are the same). But plan prices can vary from one company to another.
Things to keep in mind:
- Medicare supplement insurance policies don't cover services not offered by Medicare, such as dental care or eye glasses.
- These plans don't provide prescription drug coverage. This means you'll have to enroll in an independent Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) for medication coverage.
Which Plan is Right for You?
You can't enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan if you already have a Medicare supplement insurance policy, and vice versa. If you decide to apply for a Medicare supplement policy, you can do so when you first enroll in Original Medicare. You can also apply for a Medicare supplemental policy throughout the year, however your application may undergo underwriting. In other words, your Medicare provider may check out your medical history before approving your application. You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan when you first enroll in Original Medicare, or during the Annual Enrollment Period each year.
When weighing which plan is right for you, there are many different factors to consider:
- How much is the deductible?
- How much is the monthly premium?
- What health care and hospital services might you use often and how much will they cost?
- What kind of restrictions will you have on doctors, hospitals and pharmacies? (i.e., Does your preferred doctor accept the plan you want?)
- What is the expected cost of the prescription drugs that you need regularly?
- What's the most you feel comfortable paying out of pocket at one time?
- How much do you want your copay amount to be for certain visits?
Learn More about Medicare
Everyone's needs are different. So it's important to think about your individual situation when choosing a plan. There are also helpful tools you can use to find recommendations by answering a few simple questions about your specific needs. But no matter which path you choose, you're making an excellent choice by helping protect what matters most – your health!
1 Medicare.com (June 30, 2017). Web page: Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement: How to Choose. 09/15/ 2018, https://medicare.com/medicare-advantage/medicare-advantage-vs-medicare-supplement-how-to-choose/
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The Columbus Mission
A set of panels giving an overview of the Columbus Mission.
The European Columbus laboratory is the cornerstone of ESA's contribution to the ISS and the first European laboratory dedicated to long-term research in space. ESA astronauts Hans Schlegel and Léopold Eyharts are part of the STS-122 crew that will deliver Columbus and attach it permanently to the ISS.
Files are available in print-ready version for the following formats: Backdrops: 400 x 200 cm
Panels: 70 x 100 cm


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Ships Passenger List Search
access some of the largest
passenger list name databases online here, over 10,000 passenger lists.
Surname Databases
search over 9 billion names
from some of the largest surname databases on the web.
Cemetery Records
find ancestors here by
searching over 12,000 cemeteries from around the world.
United States
an index to surname, immigration,
SSDI, census, cemetery, land and military record searches for the
Search by Country
United States,
England, Ireland,
New Zealand...
International Genealogical Index (IGI)
search this Mormon Church database of millions of records from 1500s-1900s
Meta-Search Engines
comb the web for your
family tree with these powerful tools that can search several search
engines simultaneously
Search by Ethnicity
Jewish search (databases
of over 5 million people), African-American (censuses & cemeteries
online) and Native American censuses.
Rootsweb Databases
Rootsweb has one of the
largest collections of genealogy databases online,
including military rosters, gedcom files, family tree records, censuses, passenger lists..
Mormon Genealogy Database
includes the International
Genealogy Index (or IGI) maintained by the Mormon Church (Church of
Latter Day Saints) containing over 700 million names.
Census Records
search over 8,000 censuses
online for the US and 20 other countries
Military Records
includes Civil War rosters,
Loyalist muster rolls, Commonwealth forces WWI, WWII; 2 million records
& Ireland Records
a search of one of the largest link databases (over 5,000) online
to UK genealogy: censuses, cemeteries, military records & ships
Garden Immigration and Passenger Lists 1830-1892
of over 10 million US immigrants to New York from 1830 through 1892,
the year Ellis Island opened
Ellis Island Immigration & Passenger List
Records 1892-1924
over 22 million names
of US immigrants who arrived as passengers and crew in the port of
New York between 1892 and 1924
Newspapers & Obituary Records
search over 6 million
records from obituary databases and newspapers around the world.
Security Death Index (SSDI) this
database of the U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) contains over
81 million records


text: Wall trees add a bit of nature to the inside of your home without the need for regular waterings. Browse through our collection of 100s of custom designed tree wall decals for sale. We have a wide variety ranging from traditional Birch tree decals, whimsical nursery themed tree stickers and tropical palm tree decals.


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Ebooks by Vonda N. McIntyre
Little Sisters
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$1.99 (Short Story) ISBN 978-1-61138-519-9
A BVC Original Short Story
Evolution. Reproduction. Power. War.
A companion piece to Nebula-nominated "Little Faces."
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: VOL 10, ed. Jonathan Strahan
The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2016, ed. Rich Horton
Locus 2015 Recommended Reading List
Continue reading
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$4.99 (Novel) ISBN 978-1-61138-084-2
Nebula, Hugo, Locus, and Pacific Northwest Booksellers award-winning science fiction novel.
The healer Snake travels through a post-apocalyptic world with her genetically engineered serpents, the cobra Mist and the rattlesnake Sand, and with the alien dreamsnake Grass, whose venom eases pain and the fear of death.
The Moon and the Sun
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$4.99 (Novel) ISBN 978-1-61138-096-5
"The finest alternate history ever, lighthearted and wise… a luminous, radiant novel." — Ursula K. Le Guin
In the court of Louis XIV, at the balance point between alchemy and the dawn of modern science, Marie-Josèphe de la Croix cares for the sea monster — the mermaid — captured for the Sun King by her brother Yves, Jesuit natural philosopher.
Now in production as a major motion picture, filmed at the chateau de Versailles, France, and Melbourne, Australia.
The movie of the Nebula-winning novel, produced by Bill Mechanic (executive producer of The New World) and Pandemonium Films (Coraline), directed by Sean McNamara, stars Kaya Scodelario, Pierce Brosnan, Fan Bing Bing, Crystal Clarke, William Hurt.
McIntyre visited the set during filming at Versailles and blogged about the experience.
The Starfarers Quartet Book 1
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$4.99 (Novel) ISBN 978-1-61138-092-7
The starship Starfarer is poised for our first voyage to another star system.
The Alien Contact Team — physicist Victoria Fraser MacKenzie, geneticist Stephen Thomas Gregory, geographer Satoshi Lono, and alien contact specialist J.D. Sauvage — and the rest of the faculty and staff prepare for humanity's most ambitious exploratory expedition.
The Starfarers Quartet Book 2
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$4.99 (Novel) ISBN: 978-1-61138-093-4
J.D. Sauvage believes the Alien Contact Team is on the brink of meeting an alien civilization for the first time.
Then, suddenly, all contact ceases.
The Starfarers Quartet comprises:
The quartet is also available in The Starfarers Quartet Omnibus.
The Starfarers Quartet Book 3
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$4.99 (Novel) ISBN 978-1-61138-095-8
Abandoned by the interstellar civilization and the alien humans, Starfarer and its faculty and staff meet the mysterious squidmoth, Nemo.
The Starfarers Quartet comprises:
The quartet is also available in The Starfarers Quartet Omnibus.
The Starfarers Quartet Book 4
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$4.99 (Novel) ISBN 978-1-61138-094-1
The alien contact team meets Civilization.
The event does not go smoothly.
The Starfarers Quartet comprises:
The quartet is also available in The Starfarers Quartet Omnibus.
The Starfarers Quartet Omnibus
Starfarers • Transition • Metaphase • Nautilus
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$12.99 (Omnibus) ISBN 978-1-61138-024-8
All four Starfarers novels in a single ebook.
The starship Starfarer is poised for our first voyage to another star system.
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$4.99 (Novel) ISBN 978-1-61138-083-5
She gave up her heart quite willingly.
After the operation…
The Exile Waiting
by Vonda N. McIntyre
(Novel) ISBN 978-1-61138-048-4
"Rewarding as well as entertaining, with a memorable protagonist coming of age amid the ashes of old Earth. Vonda N. McIntyre writes skillfully, compassionately, tracing an exciting trail through darkness and danger."
— Roger Zelazny
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$4.99 (SF novel for younger readers)
Barbary is emigrating from Earth to Einstein, an orbital space station. But she has a secret — and no one she can trust.
Continue reading
Two Alien Stories
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$2.99 (Collection) ISBN 978-1-61138-214-3
Two linked stories by Vonda N. McIntyre: "Wings" and "The Mountains of Sunset, the Mountains of Dawn." Alien people abandon their dying planet in a generation ship, but a few are left behind.
"Wings" was nominated for the Hugo and Nebula awards.
Three Stories
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$3.99 (Collection) ISBN 978-1-61138-164-1
"Screwtop," "Steelcollar Worker," "The Genius Freaks."
Kylis believes she can protect herself, but when the commander of the prison Screwtop threatens her lovers, she understands her own vulnerability. Jannine loves the accomplishment she feels in her Virtual Reality job… yet she fears doing it too well, and attracting the attention of her superiors. Lais, the freak, flees from comfort and rewards, knowing too much about herself.
Little Faces
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$1.99 (Novelette) ISBN 978-1-61138-085-9
How will people deal with the immense distances and times of interstellar space?
First published in SciFiction, "Little Faces" was nominated for a Nebula Award.
The companion story, "Little Sisters," is a BVC original.
"truly alien, completely believable and unique" — Patrick Samphire, Speculative Fiction Reviews
The Adventure of the Field Theorems
A Sherlock Holmes Scientific Romance
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$2.99 (Novella) ISBN 978-1-61138-086-6
In which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle hires Mr Sherlock Holmes to investigate crop circles, and Dr Watson demonstrates to Mr Holmes the usefulness of astronomy.
"The Adventure of the Field Theorems" was originally published in Sherlock Holmes in Orbit and is reprinted with the kind permission of the editors, Mike Resnick & Martin Harry Greenberg.
Supreme Court of the United States Defines Personhood
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$1.29 (Flash Fiction) ISBN: 978-1-61138-109-2
"In an expected decision today, the United States Supreme Court reaffirmed its definition of Corporations as persons, and redefined organic beings as unpersons."
A Book View Café original.
Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand
A Short Story
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$1.99 (Short Story) ISBN 978-1-61138-198-6
In a post-apocalyptic world, the young healer Snake ventures into unknown lands during her proving year. Her genetically engineered rattlesnake and cobra provide vaccines and medicines, while the rare alien dreamsnake eases pain and suffering.
"Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand" won SFWA's Nebula Award. It is the first chapter of Dreamsnake, which won the Nebula, the Hugo, the Locus, and the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award. The story is presented by BVC as a stand-alone title, by request.
Pitfalls of Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy
General Useful Information,
Other Opinionated Comments
by Vonda N. McIntyre
$2.99 (Collection) ISBN 978-1-61138-191-7
By popular demand: a chapbook collecting all the Pitfalls of Writing SF & Fantasy, including a new Pitfall, #14: "Everything's in the Right Place!"
The first 13 Pitfalls were previously published in Book View Café's anthology Brewing Fine Fiction.
Beyond Grimm
Tales Newly Twisted
Edited by Deborah J. Ross and Phyllis Irene Radford
$4.99 (Anthology) ISBN 978-1-61138-155-9
Not your grandmother's fairy tales…
From the far-ranging imaginations of Book View Café authors comes this delirious collection of classic tales newly twisted into dark, dangerous, and occasionally hilarious re-tellings. From the golden isles of Greece to the frozen north, from fairytale castles to urban slums, join us on an unforgettable journey!
Brewing Fine Fiction
Advice for Writers from the Authors
at Book View Café
edited by Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff & Pati Nagle
$4.99 (Anthology) ISBN 978-0-98284-403-8
"Check any bookstore and you'll find a host of titles on writing. Some are good, some not so good. Every author has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. But in Brewing Fine Fiction; Advice For Writers From the Bookview Café, you get a smorgasbord of professional advice and expertise. From the plausibility of fantasy, by Ursula LeGuin, to Deborah Ross's comments on reviews, you'll find every facet of the craft and writing life covered. For the wealth of information, experience, and diversity, all under one cover, you can't beat it." — Mary Rosenblum, Longridge Writers Group Instructor
Dragon Lords and Warrior Women
Edited by Phyllis Irene Radford
$4.99 (Anthology) ISBN 978-0-98284-402-1
From the concrete canyons of the modern city to the halls of ancient kings, from deepest ocean to cosy homes in sprawling suburbs, nowhere and no one is immune to magic. But as many forms as magic takes, there always arrives a hero to accept the challenge, and sometimes, to pay the price.
Nevertheless, She Persisted
A Book View Café Anthology
Edited by Mindy Klasky
$4.99 (Anthology) ISBN 978-1-61138-686-8
A BVC Original
Nineteen stories of triumph in the past, present, future, and other worlds.
"She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted."
Those were the words of Mitch McConnell after he banned Senator Elizabeth Warren from speaking on the floor of the United States Senate.
Continue reading
The Passionate Café
Edited by Sarah Zettel
$1.99 (Sampler) ISBN 978-1-61138-088-0
$1.99 off with automatic coupon!
An ebook of romantic tales from BVC authors, The Passionate Café contains stories that range from quirky and humorous to Regency, by Patricia Rice, Madeleine Robins, Jennifer Stevenson, Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, Marissa Day, and Sarah Zettel.
Rocket Boy and the Geek Girls
Edited by Phyllis Irene Radford and
Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff
$4.99 (Anthology) ISBN 978-1-61138-065-1
The mind tells the story–but the heart inspires it with dreams of what might be waiting Out There.
With evocative stories of lost comrades, alien first contacts, and strange, often unexpected confrontations with evolving science, Rocket Boy And The Geek Girls embraces both our pulp-dream past and cutting-edge future.


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|Country of Origin
- To be Delivered by HKTV within 11 - 14 Days
- Sold by Niponjjuya
- This product is non-returnable
Printed Detail Short Sleeve T-Shirt_P000BJEP
About Niponjjuya
• Our store sources items from a number of independent suppliers and designers. As such, the products may possess different brand labels than the indicated brand.
•The products in our store are produced either in Korea or in China. The information on product photo does not necessarily represent the manufacturing country.
• Our store will protect your personal information in accordance to the relevant provisions of the personal Data Protection Act and in accords to HKTVmall Privacy Policies.
• In case of any dispute, the merchant will retain the right of final decision without prior notice.
• Colour shown may be slightly different from actual products.
• In situation where there are limitations, price, promotion offers and other marketing campaigns on the HKTVmall may varies from retail stores, the terms and offers are only applicable to HKTVmall.
• This product is sold to you by HKTVmall.
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Material and Size Detail: Please refer to the photo section for further detail
There may be a 1-3cm variance in product size depending on the measuring method.
Please check the size details of one size clothes before buying.
General Washing Tips:
1. For machine-washable clothing, please inside out the clothing before wash and use a laundry net to wash in order to keep the original color and shape.
2. Dry clean is recommended for knitwear as lint may be arisen.
3. Dry clean is recommended for beads-decorated clothing, as beads may be lost or damaged if washed by laundry machine. And please do not fold the parts with beads decoration when store.
4. Discoloration may occur in case of deep color clothing such as navy and black. Please avoid wearing them with light color clothes until the clothes are washed a few times.
5. For hand-washable clothing, please use a neutral detergent.
6. Please note that clothes may shrink after washing in warm water (above 30 degrees Celsius).
The products in our store are produced either in Korea or in China. The information on product photo does not necessarily represent the manufacturing country.
The operation mode of some Korean Fashion brands are by sourcing the suitable products form different suppliers and re-sell in their store. Therefore, the product will have the original tag which may be different from the brand name of the store.


text:
Listening to Mainers debate health policy, some seem to talk only about finances. They focus on what care costs, whether the state can afford it and the impact of decisions on hospitals' bottom lines.
But others contend that, while medical coverage is a financial matter, it's also about improving health, preventing disease and keeping people alive.
Truth is, Maine can save money and lives. Here are three ways to do both.
1. Increase attention to people with chronic illnesses
Certain people generate most health care costs. For instance, 95 percent of Medicare spending goes to people with at least one chronic condition.
Some have heart disease, even heart failure. Others have diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
A study of a Pennsylvania project called Health Quality Partners found a whopping 25 percent reduction in deaths between two groups to which people were randomly assigned. One group was given intensive attention.
Financial savings were also stunning. Medicare costs declined by 22 percent as hospitalizations fell by 33 percent.
What HQP did wasn't high-tech. They sent a nurse to see people once a week or month. A reporter who tagged along some visits "asked a half-dozen seniors what difference Health Quality Partners made in their lives. Every one of them began the same way: They could ask their nurse questions, they said with evident relief. They could get help understanding and navigating their doctor's orders. They didn't feel like they were being a burden if they needed to ask one more thing, or have their medications explained to them again."
Visits saved a lot of money and extended lives. Maine could implement it for people on MaineCare.
2. Help Maine's insurance marketplace enroll everyone who qualifies
Health insurance marketplaces get much less attention than other aspects of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Each state will have one, and people in the individual insurance market will buy coverage through it. Depending on family income, citizens may receive subsides to help pay their costs.
Massachusetts, under Romneycare, has had one for awhile. Like the coming state marketplaces, it offers different levels of coverage from various insurers.
Gov. Paul LePage decided that Maine would not build its own, leaving it to the federal government. But recently he spoke positively about the subsidies available to people using the online marketplace.
Getting more people coverage will improve their health. And if Maine, like Massachusetts, can get near-universal coverage, there will be less unreimbursed charity care. This prevents shifting health care costs to others, including taxpayers.
Marketplaces open enrollment on Oct. 1. Studies show that many lack information and need assistance to sign up. Colorado is running ads and will train people to help others choose insurance, as other states are about to start. Maine needs to do the same.
3. Expand Medicaid, one way or the other
Expanding Medicaid would cover more working people with low incomes.
Research has repeatedly shown that including more people in Medicaid helps improve mental, medical and financial health and saves lives.
Because Maine previously covered more than the federal government required, the state can benefit financially. As the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation revealed, if Maine expands Medicaid, it will save $690 million in the next 10 years.
But there's more than one way to expand Medicaid. Maine could follow the Arkansas model. Adopted on a bipartisan basis and supported by the business community, Arkansas wants to use the "private option." Medicaid recipients will get coverage through the marketplace, with insurance purchased by the state. And if income fluctuates, people can keep the same policy.
Given how the issue has evolved, expanding Medicaid could be part of a package that improves Maine's economy, leading to hospital debts retired more quickly and bond funding released. This opportunity should not be missed.
If we expand Medicaid, promote the exchanges and intensify care for people with chronic conditions, we can save money and lives and boost our economy.
Many fewer Mainers will risk bankruptcy because they lack health coverage and can't pay the bills. Bake sales, lovely as they may be, are inadequate to cover the cost of cancer treatment or care following a serious accident.
As taxpayers and health providers benefit, Maine people will be treated sooner and better, helping them, their families and communities.


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Australian rules football
A ball-up in a game between Essendon and Hawthorn during the 2007 AFL season
|Highest governing body
|AFL Commission
|Football, footy, Aussie rules
|First played
|Codified in May 1859 in Melbourne, Victoria.
|Registered players
|790,905 (total) (2011)
163,000 (adult) (2011)
|Full contact
|Team members
|22 (18 onfield)
|Mixed gender
|Single (at senior level)
|Demonstration sport, 1956 Melbourne Olympics
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football,[1] also called football, footy, or Aussie rules[2] (and in some regions marketed as AFL after the Australian Football League, the most popular and only fully professional Australian football league in the country),[3] is a sport played between two teams of eighteen players on the field of either an Australian football ground, a modified cricket field, or a similarly sized sports venue. The main way to score points is by kicking the ball between the two tall goal posts. The team with the higher total score at the end of the match wins[4] unless a draw is declared.[5]
During general play, players may position themselves anywhere on the field and use any part of their bodies to move the ball. The primary methods are kicking, handballing and running with the ball. There are rules on how the ball can be handled: for example, players running with the ball must intermittently bounce or touch it on the ground. Throwing the ball is not allowed and players must not get caught holding the ball. A distinctive feature of the game is the mark, where players anywhere on the field who catch a ball from a kick (with specific conditions) are awarded possession.[6] Possession of the ball is in dispute at all times except when a free kick or mark is paid.
Australian football is a contact sport in which players can tackle using their hands or use their whole body to obstruct opponents. Dangerous physical contact (such as pushing an opponent in the back), interference when marking and deliberately slowing the play are discouraged with free kicks, distance penalties or suspension for a certain number of matches, depending on the seriousness of the infringement. Frequent physical contests, spectacular marking, fast movement of both players and the ball and high scoring are the game's main attributes.
The game's origins can be traced to football matches played in Melbourne in 1858. Australian football became codified in May 1859 when the first laws were published by the Melbourne Football Club.[7][8]
Australian football has the highest spectator attendance of all sports in Australia.[9][10] The sport is also played at amateur level in many countries and in several variations.
The most prestigious competition is the Australian Football League (AFL), culminating in the annual AFL Grand Final, currently the highest attended club championship event in the world. The rules of Australian football are governed by the AFL Commission with the advice of the AFL's Laws of the Game Committee.
- 1 Laws of the game
- 2 Structure and competitions
- 3 History
- 4 Women's Australian football
- 5 Australian football internationally
- 6 Cultural impact and popularity
- 7 Australian Football Hall of Fame
- 8 See also
- 9 References
- 10 External links
Laws of the game
Both the ball and the field of play are oval in shape. No more than 18 players of each team are permitted to be on the field at any time.
Up to three interchange (reserve) players may be swapped for those on the field at any time during the game. In Australian rules terminology, these players wait for substitution "on the bench"—an area with a row of seats on the sideline. Players must interchange through a designated interchange "gate" with strict penalties for too many players from one team on the field. In addition, some leagues like the AFL have each team designate one player as a substitute who can be used to make a single permanent exchange of players during a game.
There is no offside rule nor are there set positions in the rules; unlike many other forms of football, players from both teams may disperse across the whole field before the start of play. However, a typical on-field structure consists of six forwards, six defenders or "backmen" and six midfielders, usually two wingmen, one centre and three followers, including a ruckman, ruck-rover and rover. Only four players from each team are allowed within the centre square (50 metres (55 yd)) at every centre bounce, which occurs at the commencement of each quarter, and to restart the game after a goal is scored. There are also other rules pertaining to allowed player positions during set plays (that is, after a mark or free kick) and during kick-ins following the scoring of a behind.
Match duration
A game consists of four quarters and a timekeeper officiates their duration. At professional level quarters consist of 20 minutes of play, with the clock being stopped for instances such as scores, the ball going out of play or at the umpire's discretion. The umpire signals time-off to stop the clock for various reasons, such as the player in possession being tackled to the ground and leading to stagnant play as neither side can recover the ball. Time resumes when the umpire signals time-on or when the ball is brought into play. Such stoppages generally lead to quarters being extended by between five and ten minutes. The official game clock is only known on the field by the timekeepers. Official game time is not displayed to the players or the public; the only knowledge they have of time is when sirens sound to mark the beginning and end of each quarter. Official time may be approximated by broadcasters to display to television audiences. Teams change ends at the end of each quarter; umpires change ends at half time.
General play
Games are officiated by umpires. Before the game, the winner of a coin toss determines which directions the teams will play to begin. Australian football begins after the first siren, when the umpire bounces the ball on the ground (or throws it into the air if the condition of the ground is poor), and the two ruckmen (typically the tallest players from each team) battle for the ball in the air on its way back down. This is known as the ball-up. Certain disputes during play may also be settled with a ball-up from the point of contention. If the ball ever goes out of bounds (beyond the oval boundary line around the edge of the field), a boundary umpire will stand with his back to the infield and return the ball into play with a throw-in, a high backwards toss back into the field of play.
The ball can be propelled in any direction by way of a foot, clenched fist (called a handball or handpass) or open-hand tap but it cannot be thrown under any circumstances. Once a player takes possession of the ball he must dispose of it by either kicking or handballing it. Any other method of disposal is illegal and will result in a free kick to the opposing team. This is usually called "incorrect disposal", "dropping the ball" or "throwing". If the ball is not in the possession of one player it can be moved on with any part of the body.
A player may run with the ball, but it must be bounced or touched on the ground at least once every 15 metres. Opposition players may bump or tackle the player to obtain the ball and, when tackled, the player must dispose of the ball cleanly or risk being penalised for holding the ball. The ball carrier may only be tackled between the shoulders and knees. If the opposition player forcefully contacts a player in the back while performing a tackle, the opposition player will be penalised for a push in the back. If the opposition tackles the player with possession below the knees (a low tackle or a trip) or above the shoulders (a high tackle), the team with possession of the football gets a free kick.
If a player takes possession of the ball that has travelled more than 15 metres (16 yd) from another player's kick, by way of a catch, it is claimed as a mark (meaning that the game stops while he prepares to kick from the point at which he marked). Alternatively, he may choose to "play on" forfeiting the set shot in the hope of pressing an advantage for his team (rather than allowing the opposition to reposition while he prepares for the free kick). Once a player has chosen to play on, normal play resumes and the player who took the mark is again able to be tackled.
There are different styles of kicking depending on how the ball is held in the hand. The most common style of kicking seen in today's game, principally because of its superior accuracy, is the drop punt, where the ball is dropped from the hands down, almost to the ground, to be kicked so that the ball rotates in a reverse end over end motion as it travels through the air. Other commonly used kicks are the torpedo punt (also known as the spiral, barrel, or screw punt), where the ball is held flatter at an angle across the body, which makes the ball spin around its long axis in the air, resulting in extra distance (similar to the traditional motion of an American football punt), and the checkside punt or "banana", kicked across the ball with the outside of the foot used to curve the ball (towards the right if kicked off the right foot) towards targets that are on an angle. There is also the "snap", which is almost the same as a checkside punt except that it is kicked off the inside of the foot and curves in the opposite direction. It is also possible to kick the ball so that it bounces along the ground. This is known as a "grubber". Grubbers can bounce in a straight line, or curve to the left or right.
Apart from free kicks, marks or when the ball is in the possession of an umpire for a ball up or throw in, the ball is always in dispute and any player from either side can take possession of the ball.
A goal, worth 6 points, is scored when the football is propelled through the goal posts at any height (including above the height of the posts) by way of a kick from the attacking team. It may fly through "on the full" (without touching the ground) or bounce through, but must not have been touched, on the way, by any player from either team. A goal cannot be scored from the foot of an opposition (defending) player.
A behind, worth 1 point, is scored when the ball passes between a goal post and a behind post at any height, or if the ball hits a goal post, or if any player sends the ball between the goal posts by touching it with any part of the body other than a foot. A behind is also awarded to the attacking team if the ball touches any part of an opposition player, including his foot, before passing between the goal posts. When an opposition player deliberately scores a behind for the attacking team (generally as a last resort, because of the risk of their scoring a goal) this is termed a rushed behind. Before the start of the 2009 season, there was no additional penalty imposed for rushing a behind, compared to any other behind. However, for the start of the 2009 season[11] a new rule was announced[12] awarding a free kick against any player who deliberately rushes a behind.
The goal umpire signals a goal with two hands pointed forward at elbow height, or a behind with one hand. The umpire then confirms the signal with the other goal umpire by waving flags above their heads.
The team that has scored the most points at the end of play wins the game. If the scores are level on points at the end of play, then the game is a draw; extra time applies only during finals matches in some competitions.
As an example of a score report, consider a match between Collingwood and St Kilda. Collingwood's score of 16 goals and 12 behinds equates to 108 points. St Kilda's score of 7 goals and 10 behinds equates to a 52-point tally. Collingwood wins the match by a margin of 56 points. Such a result would be written as:
- "Collingwood 16.12 (108) defeated St Kilda 7.10 (52)."
And said:
- "Collingwood, sixteen-twelve, one hundred and eight, defeated St Kilda seven-ten, fifty-two".
Additionally, it can be said that:
- "Collingwood defeated St Kilda by fifty-six points".
The home team is typically listed first and the visiting side is listed second. The scoreline is written with respect to the home side.
For example, Port Adelaide won in successive weeks, once as the home side and once as the visiting side. These would be written out thus:
- "Port Adelaide 23.20 (158) defeated Essendon 8.14 (62)."[13]
- "West Coast 17.13 (115) defeated by Port Adelaide 18.10 (118)."[14]
Structure and competitions
The football season proper is from March to August (early autumn to late winter in Australia) with finals being held in September and October.[15] In the tropics, the game is sometimes played in the wet season (October to March).[16] Pre-season competitions in southern Australia usually begin in late February.
The AFL is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission as being the National Sporting Organisation for Australian Football.[17] There are also seven state/territory-based organisations in Australia, most of which are now either owned by or affiliated to the AFL.
Most of these hold annual semi-professional club competitions while the others oversee more than one league. Local semi-professional or amateur organisations and competitions are often affiliated to their state organisations.
The AFL is the de facto world governing body for Australian football. There are also a number of affiliated organisations governing amateur clubs and competitions around the world.[18]
For almost all Australian football club competitions the aim is to win the Premiership. The premiership is always decided by a finals series. The teams that occupy the highest positions on the ladder after the home-and-away season play off in a "semi-knockout" finals series, culminating in a single Grand Final match to determine the premiers. Typically between four and eight teams contest the finals series. The team which finishes first on the ladder after the home-and-away season is referred to as a "minor premier", but this usually holds little stand-alone significance, other than receiving a better draw in the finals.
Many suburban and amateur leagues have a sufficient number of teams to be played across several tiered divisions, with promotion of the lower division premiers and relegation of the upper division's last placed team at the end of each year. At present, none of the top level national or state level leagues in Australia are large enough to warrant this structure.
As early as 1841, there is documented evidence of "foot-ball" being played in metropolitan and country Victoria as well as mention of early matches in Adelaide (1843) and southern Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). While the exact rules being played in these matches are unknown they may have shared similarities and influences.
In the late 1850s Melbourne's schools are first recorded organising football games modelled on precedents at English schools.[20] The earliest known such match was played on 15 June 1858 between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School on the St Kilda foreshore.[21][22]
On 10 July 1858, the Melbourne-based Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle published a letter by prominent Victorian cricketer Tom Wills, calling for the formation of a "foot-ball club" with a "code of laws" to keep cricketers fit during winter.[23] This letter is regarded by many historians as giving impetus for the development of a new code of football today known as Australian football.
On 31 July, a scratch match was held at the Richmond Paddock adjoining the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Trees were used for goal posts and there were no boundaries and the match lasted from 1 p.m. until dark. There were no rules and fights frequently broke out. Melbourne being a relatively young city, the majority of the early players were migrants and the media of the time noted that participants of each nationality played the game their own distinctive way: some were "guided by their particular set of rules, others by no rules at all".
Another significant milestone in the sport's development was a match between Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College, which began on 7 August 1858 at Richmond Paddock, was umpired by Wills and John Macadam,[24] and which also involved Scotch College headmaster Thomas H. Smith.[25] A second day of play took place on 21 August[26] and a third, and final, day on 4 September.[27] While the full rules that were used is unknown, some details of the match survived. It was played with a round ball, the distance between the goals was approximately half a mile (approximately four times longer than the modern Melbourne Cricket Ground playing surface), there were 40 players per side and one goal each side was scored with the game being declared a draw. The two schools have competed annually ever since in the Cordner-Eggleston Cup, the world's oldest continuous football competition.[28]
The theory that Australian football was derived from Gaelic football became popular in the mid-20th century, despite the fact that Australian football was codified almost 30 years before the Irish game.[29] There is no archival evidence in favour of a Gaelic origin, and the style of play shared between the two modern codes was evident in Australia long before the Irish game evolved in a similar direction.[30] Since the 1980s, the theory that Australian football comes from the Aboriginal game of Marn Grook has also gained attention.[31] It is claimed that Tom Wills, growing up amongst Aborigines in Victoria, may have seen or played Marn Grook, and used elements from the game when formulating the laws of Australian football. This, too, has no basis in direct evidence.[32]
First rules
The Melbourne Football Club's rules of 1859 are the oldest surviving set of laws for Australian football. The ten simple rules were drawn up on 17 May at a meeting chaired by Tom Wills and in attendance were journalists W. J. Hammersley and J. B. Thompson, and Thomas H. Smith.[27] The meeting was held at the Parade Hotel, East Melbourne hosted by owner and Melbourne Cricket Club member Jerry Bryant. The publican was a friend of Wills with a personal interest in introducing football to Melbourne's schools. Bryant had played a role in organising early football matches at the nearby Richmond Paddock and his son was one of the first players.[33] The rules were signed by Tom Wills, William Hammersley, J. Sewell, J. B. Thompson, Alex Bruce, T. Butterworth and Thomas H. Smith. Importantly, the rules were widely publicised and distributed. Having been codified in 1859, Australian football is older than any other major football code, including soccer (codified in 1863) and rugby union (codified in 1871).
Early competition in Victoria
In 1859 several new football clubs formed including the Castlemaine Football Club, Geelong Football Club and the Melbourne University Football Club. While many one-off matches are recorded to have taken place between several early teams from Melbourne's suburbs and country Victoria (such as the Ballarat and Geelong competitions), in the early days many had not yet formed clubs for regular competition.
The first trophy for Australian Rules Football, the 1861 Challenge Cup, was won in 1862 under Melbourne's rules by University over Melbourne. The competition continued into the 1860s with the addition of other teams from Melbourne's suburbs. Two further competitions, the South Yarra Challenge Cup (which had evolved from the Caledonian Games) and "Second Twenties" were held in the 1860s and 1870s.
Some rival rules eventually gave way to an acceptance of the Melbourne rules. In 1860, the Melbourne Football Club redrafted its rules following the input of several other clubs. The requirement to bounce the ball while running was introduced in a significant redraft of the Melbourne rules in 1866 by H. C. A. Harrison and his rules committee to satisfy the Geelong Football Club's own set of very different rules.[34] Behind posts, introduced at this time, are also believed to have come directly from the Geelong rules. The new rules became known as the Victorian rules, which became more widely adopted. In 1869, a 100-minute time limit was introduced to the game for the first time. Previous to this, winners were decided in a number of ways, but most commonly the first side to kick two goals.
The relationship with cricket primarily came out of co-existence and many of football's founders were cricketers. As a result, the sport shares some terminology (i.e. "umpires" and "boundary"). However cricket authorities did not initially allow football to be played on their grounds and in the early years football was played primarily in parks. The first football match played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was not until 1876. Cricket authorities soon saw the opportunity to capitalise on the rapid growth of Australian football, however, and soon most grounds in Victoria were expanded to accommodate the dual purpose, a situation that continues to this day.
Football matches between 1859 and 1899 were played in a 20-per-side format.
Spread to other colonies
Gradually the game, known at first as "Melbourne rules" which became "Victorian rules" and then "Australian rules" or "Australasian rules," gained roots in other Australasian colonies—beginning with South Australia (1860), Tasmania (1864), Queensland (1866), and New Zealand (1871). In 1877, the sport's first governing bodies, the South Australian Football Association and the Victorian Football Association were formed on 30 April and 17 May respectively. The game began to be played in New South Wales in 1877, in Western Australia in 1881 (during the 1880s, young men sent to school in Adelaide brought the game home when they had finished their education—more came from the eastern states later in the Western Australian gold rush) and the Australian Capital Territory in 1911. By 1916, the game was first played in the Northern Territory, establishing a permanent presence in all Australian states and mainland territories.
Despite being the dominant code in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia late in the century the code was beginning to decline in New South Wales and Queensland largely due to competition with other more popular football codes, as well as interstate rivalries and the lack of strong local governing bodies. In the case of Sydney, denial of access to grounds and the loss of professional players to other football codes directly inhibited to the game's growth.
The first intercolonial match had been played between Victoria and South Australia on 2 August 1879.
Emergence of the VFL
In 1896, delegates from the stronger and wealthier VFA clubs—Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and South Melbourne—met to form a breakaway competition and in 1897, the Victorian Football League (VFL), was born as an eight-team competition. Popularity of the VFL grew rapidly and by 1925 with 12 teams, had become the most prominent league in the game and would dominate so many aspects of the sport from that point on.
Effects of the two world wars
Both World War I and World War II had a devastating effect on Australian football and on Australian sport in general. While scratch matches were played by Australian "diggers" in remote locations around the world, the game lost many of its great players to wartime service. Some competitions never fully recovered. Between 1914 and 1915 talks were held for a proposed amalgamation with rugby league, the predominant code of football in New South Wales and Queensland, resulting in a trial run.[35][36] World War I saw the game in New Zealand go into recess for three quarters of a century. In Queensland, the state league went into recess for the duration of the war. VFL club University left the league and went into recess due to severe casualties. The WAFL lost two clubs and the SANFL was suspended for one year in 1916 due to heavy club losses. The ANZAC Day clash is one example of how the war continues to be remembered in the football community.
Interstate football and the Australian National Football Council
The Australian National Football Council's primary role was to govern the game at national level to facilitate interstate representative and club competition.
The ANFC ran the Championship of Australia, the first national club competition, which commenced in 1888 and saw clubs from different states compete on an even playing field. During this time, the Port Adelaide won a record four national club championships. Although clubs from other states were at times invited, the final was almost always between the premiers from the two strongest state competitions of the time—South Australia and Victoria—and the majority of matches were played in Adelaide at the request of the SAFA/SAFL. The last match was played in 1976, with North Adelaide being the last non-Victorian winner in 1972. Between 1976 and 1987, the ANFC, and later the Australian Football Championships (AFC) ran a night series, which invited clubs and representative sides from around the country to participate in a knock-out tournament parallel to the premiership seasons, which Victorian sides still dominated.
With the lack of international competition, representative matches between state teams were regarded with great importance. Originating from the early intercolonial matches, these tests continued well after Federation of Australia in 1901 and the Australian Football Council co-ordinated regular interstate carnivals. In 1908, a Jubilee Australasian Football Carnival was held to celebrate 50 years of Australian Football. The carnival included teams representing Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia and New Zealand.[37] Due in part to Victoria recruiting some of the best players to play in the VFL, Victoria dominated interstate matches for three quarters of a century. Representative football was kept alive longer than the national club competition with the introduction of State of origin rules in 1977. The new rules mean that rather than representing the state of their adopted club, players would return to play for the state they were first recruited in. This instantly broke Victoria's stranglehold over state titles and Western Australia and South Australia began to win more of their games against Victoria. Both New South Wales and Tasmania scored surprise victories at home against Victoria in 1990.
Towards a national competition
In 1978, the term Barassi Line was used to describe the dichotomy that existed in Australia's football culture, where Australian Football was the most popular code of football in all states except New South Wales and Queensland where rugby reigned supreme. This description prompted the first suggestions of regular interstate club competition and of overcoming the dichotomy and establishing a national league.[38]
By 1980, the way the game was played had changed dramatically due to innovative coaching tactics, with the phasing out of many of the game's kicking styles and the increasing use of handball; while presentation was influenced by television.[39]
In 1982, in a move that heralded big changes within the sport, one of the original VFL clubs and now struggling, South Melbourne, relocated to Sydney and became known as the Sydney Swans. In the late 1980s, due to the poor financial standing of many of the Victorian clubs, the VFL pursued a more national competition. Two more non-Victorian clubs, the West Coast Eagles and the Brisbane Bears, began playing in 1987. In their early years, the Sydney and Brisbane clubs struggled both on and off-field because the substantial TV revenues they generated by playing on a Sunday went to the VFL. To protect these revenues the VFL granted significant draft concessions and financial aid to keep them competitive. Each club was required to pay a licence fee which allowed the Victorian-based clubs to survive.
The league changed its name to the Australian Football League (AFL) following the 1989 season. In 1991, it gained its first South Australian team, the Adelaide Crows, which paid five million dollars to enter the AFL. During the next five years, two more non-Victorian teams, the Fremantle Dockers and Port Adelaide Power, joined the league. In 2011 and 2012, respectively, two new non-Victorian teams were added to the competition, the Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants. The AFL, currently with 18 member clubs, is the sport's elite competition and the most powerful body and continues to seek further opportunities to expand into new markets.
Following the emergence of the Australian Football League, the SANFL, WAFL and other state leagues rapidly declined to a secondary status. Apart from these there are many semi-professional and amateur leagues around Australia, where they play a very important role in the community, and particularly so in rural areas. The VFA, still in existence a century after the original schism, merged with the former VFL reserves competition in 1998. The new entity adopted the VFL name and remained a primarily state-based competition.
State of origin games also declined in importance, especially after an increasing number of withdrawals by AFL players. The AFL turned its focus for representation to an annual International Rules Series against Ireland in 1998 before abolishing State of Origin in 1999. The second-tier state and territorial leagues still contest interstate representative matches.
Although a Tasmanian AFL Bid has been ongoing, the AFL's recent focus has been gaining market share in lucrative broadcasting rights in two populous Australian states, helped by introducing clubs on the Gold Coast and in Greater Western Sydney. The AFL regularly schedules pre-season exhibition matches in all Australian states and territories as part of the Regional Challenge.
The AFL has signalled further expansion by scheduling a competition match in New Zealand 2013 and up to three competition matches in 2014 played in Wellington.
Women's Australian football
The level of interest shown by women in Australian football in considered unique among the world's football codes.[40] It was the case in the 19th-century, as it is in modern times, that women made up approximately half of crowds at Australian football matches—a far greater proportion than association football and the two rugby codes.[41] This has been attributed in part to the egalitarian character of Australian football's origins in public parks where women could mingle freely and support the game in various ways.[42]
As of 2014, 195,000 females (19% of all players) participate in the game across Australia.[43] The AFL Women's National Championships is the premier competition for women's Australian football. On the back of the inaugural AFL Women's Draft in 2013 and a series of exhibition matches at the MCG, the AFL is set to establish a semi-professional, nationally televised women's league competition by 2020.[44] Gillon McLachlan, CEO of the AFL, stated that he would like the push the league's founding date to 2017.[43]
Australian football internationally
Australian football is played at an amateur level in various countries around the world. Over 50 countries are home to clubs or leagues who play regularly. Twenty countries have participated in the Euro Cup and 22 countries have participated in the International Cup with both competitions prohibiting Australian players. Over 20 countries have either affiliation or working agreements with the AFL.[45] There have been several players in the VFL/AFL who were born outside Australia and since 1982, an increasing number of players have been recruited from outside Australia through initiatives such as the Irish experiment and more recently, international scholarship programs.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the game spread with the Australian diaspora to areas such as New Zealand and South Africa; however this growth went into rapid decline following World War I. After World War II, the sport experienced a small amount of growth in the Pacific region, particularly in Nauru, where Australian football is the national sport, as well as Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.[46]
Most of the current amateur clubs and leagues in existence have developed since the 1980s, when leagues began to be established in North America, Europe and Asia. The sport developed a cult following in the United States when matches were broadcast on ESPN in the late 1980s.[47] As the size of the Australian diaspora has increased, so has the number of clubs outside Australia. This expansion has been further aided by multiculturalism and assisted by exhibition matches as well as exposure generated through players who have converted to and from other football codes. In Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and the United States there are many thousands of players.
Prince Charles is the Patron of AFL Europe. In 2013, participation across AFL Europe's 21 member nations was more than 5,000 players, the majority of which are European nationals rather than Australian expats.[48] The sport also has a growing presence in India.[49]
The AFL became the de facto governing body when it pushed for the closure of the International Australian Football Council in 2002. The Australian Football International Cup is currently the highest level of senior international competition.
International rules football
Since 1967 there have been many matches between Australian football teams (mainly from Australia) and Gaelic football teams (mainly from Ireland), under various sets of hybrid, compromise rules known as International rules football. In 1984, the first official representative matches of International Rules were played, and these were played annually each October between the AFL and the Gaelic Athletic Association, also known as the GAA, between 1998 and 2006. These were part of the official International Rules Series, which attracted large crowds and media interest in Ireland and Australia. In 2007 the international rules series was abandoned because of the aggression and the severity of the Australian team in the previous year, but in 2008, under new rules to protect the player with the ball, it resumed in Australia.
Cultural impact and popularity
Australian football is a sport rich in tradition and Australian cultural references, especially surrounding the rituals of gameday for players, officials and supporters.
Australian football has been an inspiration for writers and poets including Manning Clarke, Bruce Dawe and Philip Hodgins.[50] Paintings by Arthur Streeton (The National Game, 1889) and Sidney Nolan (Footballer, 1946) helped to establish Australian football as a serious subject for artists.[51] Many Aboriginal artists have explored the game, often fusing it with the mythology of their region.[52][53] Statues of Australian football identities can be found throughout the country. In cartooning, WEG's VFL/AFL premiership posters—inaugurated in 1954—have achieved iconic status among Australian football fans.[54] Dance sequences based on Australian football feature heavily in Robert Helpmann's 1964 ballet The Display, his first and most famous work for the Australian Ballet.[55] The game has also inspired well-known plays such as And the Big Men Fly (1963) by Alan Hopgood and David Williamson's The Club (1977), which was adapted into a 1980 film by director Bruce Beresford. Mike Brady's 1979 hit "Up There Cazaly" is considered an Australian football anthem, and references to the sport can be found in works by popular musicians, from singer-songwriter Paul Kelly to the alternative rock band TISM.[56] Many Australian football video games have been released, most notably the AFL series.
Australian football has attracted more overall interest among Australians (as measured by the Sweeney Sports report) than any other football code, and, when compared with all sports throughout the nation, has consistently ranked first in the winter reports, and most recently third behind cricket and swimming in summer.[57][58]
In 2006, 615,549 registered participants played Australian football in Australia.[59] Participation increased 7.84% between 2005 and 2006.[59] The Australian Sports Commission statistics show a 64% increase in the total number of participants over the 10-year period between 2001 and 2010.[60] In 2008 there were 35,000 people in 32 countries playing in structured competitions of Australian football outside of Australia.[61]
Many related games have emerged from Australian football, mainly with variations of contact to encourage greater participation. These include kick-to-kick (and its variants end-to-end footy and marks up), Auskick, rec footy, 9-a-side footy, masters Australian football, handball and longest-kick competitions. Players outside of Australia sometimes engage in related games adapted to available fields, like metro footy (played on gridiron fields) and Samoa rules (played on rugby fields).
Australian Football Hall of Fame
For the centenary of the VFL/AFL in 1996, the Australian Football Hall of Fame was established. In that year 136 identities were inducted, including 100 players, 10 coaches, 10 umpires, 10 administrators and six media representatives.[62]
The elite Legend status was bestowed on 12 members of the Hall of Fame in 1996: Ron Barassi, Haydn Bunton Senior, Roy Cazaly, John Coleman, Jack Dyer, Polly Farmer, Leigh Matthews, John Nicholls, Bob Pratt, Dick Reynolds, Bob Skilton and Ted Whitten (see above list for further details).
The following thirteen members have been promoted to the status of "Legend" since 1996: Ian Stewart (1997), Gordon Coventry (1998), Peter Hudson (1999), Kevin Bartlett (2000), Barrie Robran (2001), Bill Hutchison (2003), Jock McHale (2005), Darrel Baldock (2006), Norm Smith (2007), Alex Jesaulenko (2008),[63] Kevin Murray (2010),[64] Barry Cable (2012),[65] and Tony Lockett (2015).
See also
- Australian football at the 1956 Summer Olympics
- Australian rules football attendance records
- Australian rules football positions
- List of Australian rules football clubs
- List of Australian rules football terms
- ↑ "About the AFL: Australian Football (Official title of the code)". Australian Football League. Retrieved 18 November 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "History website". Footy.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 February 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2010. Unknown parameter
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- ↑ Connolly, Rohan (22 March 2012). "Name of the game is up in the air in NSW". The Age. Retrieved 4 April 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 2012 Laws of the game (p. 6)
- ↑ In some special situations such as Grand Finals or other knockout tournaments, if the score is tied, either extra time or a rematch the following week is required to get a result.
- ↑ 2012 Laws of the game Section 14, page 45
- ↑ History Official Website of the Australian Football League
- ↑ Wendy Lewis, Simon Balderstone and John Bowan (2006). Events That Shaped Australia. New Holland. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-74110-492-9.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "4174.0 – Sports Attendance, Australia, April 1999". Abs.gov.au. Retrieved 19 February 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "4174.0 – Sports Attendance, Australia, 2005–06". Abs.gov.au. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2010. Unknown parameter
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- ↑ AFL rules on deliberate rushed behinds
- ↑ All clear for rushed behind rule | Herald Sun
- ↑ http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_match_statistics?mid=1845
- ↑ http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_match_statistics?mid=1851
- ↑ [1] Archived 30 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Bombers soaring on the Tiwi Islands". worldfootynews.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Australian Institute of Sport – Australian football". Ais.org.au. Retrieved 19 February 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "International – Official Website of the Australian Football League". Afl.com.au. Retrieved 19 February 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ First Australian Rules Game, Monument Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ↑ Pennings, Mark (2012). Origins of Australian Football: Victoria's Early History: Volume 1: Amateur Heroes and the Rise of Clubs, 1858 to 1876. Connor Court Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 9781921421471, p. 8.
- ↑ "St Kilda Historical Society Aug–Sep 2008" (PDF). Retrieved 19 February 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ The Melbourne Book – A History of Now. Published 2003. Hardie Grant Books. South Yarra. ISBN 1-74066-049-8. pg. 182
- ↑ "Letter from Tom Wills". MCG website. Archived from the original on 25 June 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2006.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848–1954) Monday 9 August 1858
- ↑ pg 36. Melbourne FC Since 1858 – An Illustrated History
- ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848–1954) Tuesday 17 August 1858
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Ken Piesse (1995). The Complete Guide to Australian Football. Pan Macmillan Australia. ISBN 0-330-35712-3.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles> p303.
- ↑ Paproth, Daniel (4 June 2012). "The oldest of school rivals". The Weekly Review Stonnington. Retrieved 19 June 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Collins, Tony (2011). "Chapter 1: National Myths, Imperial Pasts and the Origins of Australian Rules Football". In Wagg, Stephen (ed.). Myths and Milestones in the History of Sport. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 14. ISBN 0-230-24125-5.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Blainey, Geoffrey (2010). A Game of Our Own: The Origins of Australian Football. Black Inc. pp. 187–196. ISBN 1-86395-347-7.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Flanagan, Martin (22 May 2011). "Searching for marngrook". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 June 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ de Moore, Greg (2008). Tom Wills: His Spectacular Rise and Tragic Fall. Allen & Unwin. pp. 283–286. ISBN 978-1-74175-499-5.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Melbourne FC Since 1858: An Illustrated History. Goeff Slattery Publishing, pg 20–10.
- ↑ G. M. Hibbins. Sport and Racing in Colonial Melbourne: The Cousins and Me: Colden Harrison, Tom Wills and William Hammersley. Lynedoch 2007, chs 8, 9.
- ↑ "Football in Australia". Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 122,. New Zealand. 19 November 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 3 December 2009.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Football amalgamation". Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27. New Zealand. 2 February 1915. p. 8. Retrieved 3 December 2009.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "A False Dawn". AustralianFootball.com. 20 August 1908. Retrieved 19 February 2010. Unknown parameter
|deadurl=ignored (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Referenced in Hutchinson, Garrie (1983). The Great Australian Book of Football Stories. Melbourne: Currey O'Neil.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ WICKS, B. M. Whatever Happened to Australian Rules? Hobart, Tasmania, Libra Books. 1980, First Edition. (ISBN 0-909619-06-9)
- ↑ Flanagan, Martin (12 March 2011). "Balance a key to great game", The Age. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ↑ Hess, Rob (2000). "'Ladies are Specially Invited': Women in the Culture of Australian Rules Football". In Mangan, J. A.; Nauright, John. Sport in Australasian Society: Past and Present. Psychology Press. pp. 111–141. ISBN 978-0-7146506-0-9.
- ↑ Browne, Ashley (2008). "For Women, Too". In Weston, James. The Australian Game of Football: Since 1858. Geoff Slattery Publishing. pp. 253–259. ISBN 978-0-9803466-6-4.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 Florance, Loretta (23 May 2015). "National AFL women's league 'inevitable', as teams line up for third year of exhibition matches", ABC News. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ↑ Lane, Samantha (27 March 2013). "AFL sees the light on women's footy", The Age. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ↑ AFL International Development Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Roffey, Chelsea (30 July 2008). "Team Profile: Nauru Chiefs". Afl.com.au. Retrieved 19 February 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Delaney, Tim; Madigan, Tim (2009). The Sociology of Sports: An Introduction. McFarland. pp. 284–285. ISBN 078645315X.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "The Prince of Wales becomes Patron of AFL Europe". princeofwales.gov.uk. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Rith Basu, Ayan Paul (2 November 2015). "Soccer city gets a taste of Aussie football". Retrieved 3 November 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Alomes, Stephen (2007), "The Lie of the Ground: Aesthetics and Australian Football", Double Dialogues, Deakin University (8), ISSN 1447-9591<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ McAullife, Chris (1995). "Eyes on the Ball: Images of Australian Rules Football", Art & Australia (Vol 32 No 4), pp. 490–500
- ↑ Heathcote, Christopher (August 2009). "Bush Football: The Kunoth Family", Art Monthly (Issue 222).
- ↑ Angel, Anita (23 November 2009). "Looking at Art", Charles Darwin University Art Collection & Art Gallery. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ↑ Rielly, Stephen (30 December 2008). "Cartoonist William Ellis Green spoke to AFL tribe", The Australian. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
- ↑ Douglas, Tim (30 August 2012). "Ballet's former glories show footy's left its mark", The Australian. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ↑ Worrell, Shane (3 April 2010). "Modern footy not in tune", Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
- ↑ Media Release, Sweeney Sport report for 2006–07 Archived 27 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Derriman, Philip (22 May 2003). "If you can kick it, Australia will watch it". The Sydney Morning Herald.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ 59.0 59.1 Niall, Jake (20 June 2007). "More chase Sherrin than before". Real Footy. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Participation in Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey 2010 Annual Report" (PDF). pp. 34–35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Curtis, R. (11 May 2008). "Pacific nations bemoan AFL neglect". The Sunday Age (Melbourne).
- ↑ 2005,15,8. "AFL Hall of Fame and Sensation". Getaway.ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved 19 February 2010.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Legends – Official Website of the Australian Football League". Afl.com.au. Retrieved 19 February 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ "Murray a Legend, six inducted". afl.com.au. Retrieved 11 November 2015.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Green, Warwick (14 June 2012). "Barry Cable elevated to Legend status". Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 June 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
External links
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Australian rules football.
- Australian Football League (AFL) official website
- Australian Football: Celebrating The History of the Great Australian Game
- Laws of Australian Football
- Australian Football explained in 17 languages – a publication from AFL.com.au
- Reading the Game - An Annotated Bibliography of Australian Rules Football
- Pages with citations using unsupported parameters
- CS1 maint: extra punctuation
- CS1: Julian–Gregorian uncertainty
- CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list
- CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list
- Use dmy dates from July 2012
- Use Australian English from July 2011
- All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles needing additional references from May 2012
- Commons category link is defined as the pagename
- 1858 introductions
- Australian rules football
- Australian culture
- Ball games
- Football codes
- Sports originating in Australia
- Team sports


text:
Here's a little movie quiz to get your brain moving this weekend. Animator Evan Seitz created ABCinema, a video compiling signature images and sounds from 26 classic films — including many scifi and fantasy movies. There's one for each letter of the alphabet. Can you name them all?
[via Neatorama]


text:
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text:
Change of Heart
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: 11.06.15
Casey Evans and Decker Abrams have been best friends since they became neighbors at the age of six. After high school, Casey abruptly leaves their hometown of Charleston, South Carolina for the west coast, leaving Decker wondering where she went and why she left.
Three years later the two are reunited, both harboring some old resentment towards the other. Not to mention, Casey has been hiding a pretty big secret from Decker all those years. Not willing to risk losing Casey again, Decker follows her back to California in an attempt to save their friendship.
Will Casey and Decker work out their issues and be best friends again? Or will they finally become something more?
"Have your kissed anyone, Casey?" Decker asked after we spread out the blanket and sat down cross-legged at the end of the dock.
I laughed. "No, Deck. Guys don't want to kiss me."
"That's not true," he said.
"Then how come I'm seventeen and I've never been kissed?"
He looked down at his hands, fidgeting in his lap.
"Decker?" I asked sternly. What did he do?
"I may have threatened a few of the guys on the team."
"What?! Why? How?" I couldn't believe he did that . No wonder guys never talked to me, let alone kissed me. I knew I was plain and all, but still. There's someone for everyone, right? All those guys that talked to me and he chased away ...
"None of those guys are good enough for you."
"Shouldn't that be for me to decide?" I cross my arms over my chest, downright pissed off now.
How dare he?
"I'm sorry, Case."
"Hmmf." I stared off into the water, ignoring him.
Decker sighed. "You know what? I'm not sorry. I don't want you kissing other guys and that's that."
My eyes snapped back to his. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he said, looking down at his hands again.
"Yeah, I heard you. That's a bunch of crap, Decker. You can't just run interference all my life." If I was sitting, I would have stomped my feet.
"Wanna bet?"
I rolled my eyes. Arguing with him with useless. He was the most stubborn person I knew, next to myself of course.
"Whatever, Decker."
He sighed again. "I want to be your first kiss," he whispered, so quietly I barely heard him.
"What did you just say?"
He looked up at me. "I said I want to be your first kiss."
"What? Why? Decker?" I didn't know what to say. Where was this coming from? Decker wants to kiss me? Why?
"Because when I think back to my first kiss, I want it to be a happy memory. And Casey, all my memories with you are happy ones."
I felt tears well up in my eyes. Well, if that wasn't the sweetest thing Decker Abrams had ever said to me. And I'd be his first kiss, too? Gorgeous Decker Abrams has never kissed a girl?
He groaned at the tears. "Don't cry, Case."
"Happy tears, Deck. Happy tears," I smiled at him.
He grinned that boyish grin I loved so much that always got him out of trouble ... with me and every other female in his life.
"So you've really never kissed a girl before?" I still found that hard to believe, but Decker had never lied to me before.
He shook his head. "No. I wanted it to be special, you know?"
I nodded, "Yeah, I know."
"So can I?" he asked, scooting closer to me on the blanket.
"Can you what?" He moved even closer.
"Kiss you?" I could feel his breath on my face, he was so close.
"Please," I whispered, closing my eyes.
His lips brushed mine and I felt tingles all over my body. His lips were so soft, yet so firm. Suddenly his tongue was pressed against the seam of my lips. It was such a strange sensation. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, but I wanted to taste him, too.
I opened my mouth and our tongues danced against one another. Touching and twisting, each sampling what the other had to offer. He finally put his arms around me and pulled me close to him. The kiss was amazing and seemingly never-ending, despite the awkward position we were twisted into. He eventually ended it with three short pecks on my lips.
As he pulled away we both opened our eyes. He smiled, so did I.
"Wow," I said.
"Wow," he agreed.
"Can we do that again?" I asked.
"Definitely," he wasted no time, leaning in again.
Decker and I made out under the stars for hours that night. Never letting the other get too far away.
It was the start of something beautiful.
But it was also the beginning of the end.
Right Place, Right Time
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Will Be Live: 07.22.16
Jay Spencer grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. He's made some mistakes, and one in particular will follow him around for the rest of his life. He spends most of his days keeping himself out of trouble by following his passion, riding and repairing motorcycles.
Two lost souls met on the side of a South Carolina highway three years ago, neither one knowing what the other would eventually mean to them. Reunited in California, Kate and Jay feel a pull towards one another they cannot explain.
Will they help each other bring out the best in themselves? Or are their lives too different to even have a chance?
"Stupid, no good, piece of crap!" I wince as my sandaled foot comes into contact with the unforgiving tire of my hand-me-down Mercedes convertible. My scowl turns into a frown when I pull my foot back and see the black smudge across the white straps. This day just keeps getting worse!
I tip my head back, look up to the clouds, and pray for cell signal. When that doesn't work, I bargain. My first born ... my soul ... good behavior ... even better grades ...
No such luck.
I'm on a quiet stretch of the interstate, between Columbia and Greenville, where there have been too few passerby, not one of them kind enough to pull over and help the damsel in distress. And boy do I look the part of a damsel in distress in a white sundress and sandals with long, dark blonde hair and big, doe-like brown eyes - the picture of innocence.
If it weren't for the hot midday sun beating down on my shoulders, I'd probably be terrified. This whole situation has a classic serial killer vibe to it, add in darkness and I would not be standing outside my vehicle right now.
I lean back against the hot car and sigh. What a day. I drove all the way to Greenville to volunteer at a community clinic's event, just to be informed upon arrival that the event had been rescheduled. They'd posted a notice at the site, which is really helpful when you're one hundred miles away. I frown at my dirty sandal.
Stupid car. Yes, it's a Mercedes, but no, it's not brand new. It's a 1995 model passed down from my father. It has seen many, many better days in its lifetime. My dad has always taken very good care of his cars, hence the reason this fifteen-plus-year-old car is now mine. My parents may be mostly absent from my life, but my dad wouldn't have given me a beater for a car.
Truth is, I probably missed an oil change or something. Whatever. I don't know anything about cars. Ask me to recite all the bones in the human body and I'll do it. Ask me to name one part of a car and you'll get crickets. I'm practically a genius, according to my latest IQ score administered by the director of the "gifted program" at my high school, so I'm sure the mechanics of a car wouldn't be too difficult for me to figure out and understand, but this is one of those instances where I'd rather succumb to the gender stereotypes and just play the clueless female role. There's enough information floating around in my brain without my choosing to add more, though part of me kind of wishes I at least knew how to pop my hood right about now.
Hearing the sound of a vehicle approaching behind me, I spin around to look. Smiling widely, I'm suddenly grateful for my vehicular ignorance and damsel in distress appearance. It's an older sedan, maybe not as old as my hand-me-down, but it doesn't appear to be well kept. I can just make out that the driver is male through the dirty windshield.
Jeez. I hope he's not a serial killer or something? Seriously, Kate? You did not think this through at all.
I open my car door and busy myself looking for something that could be a potential weapon should this turn into Wrong Turn. Empty water bottle, a stack of flyers for another volunteer project I'm working on, a weathered copy of Gone with the Wind ... I eye the book. It's a hardback, it might be my best bet.
He's all man and seventeen year old self doesn't quite know what to do with the attraction I feel. I have never felt so nervous around a guy before. Ever. I simply don't have time for this sort of thing. Not with my AP classes, studying, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and college applications.
"Hey," I smoothly call out to him, if I do say so myself.
The corner of his mouth lifts in a slight smirk and butterflies take flight in my tummy. He doesn't move to come around to my side of the car, which is just find by me. If he were closer, he'd see the slight trembling of my hands and he might actually hear the swarm of butterflies.
"Know anything about cars?"
Jennifer lives in South Carolina with her husband and their four fur-kids. She is in grad school, pursuing a Masters in Psychology for Clinical Counseling. When she is not at work or taking classes, she is either reading or writing. Books have always been a passion. She also enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to new places, and music. She released her debut novel, Our Moon, in June 2015.
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text:
Courtesy of NissinFoods.com
from Dani Fisk
Wrightwood, CA
Hot pizza quick and easy the Top Ramen way!
Cover pizza pan with aluminum foil. Build up foil edges to form about 1/2" tall rim around the pan. Lightly grease the aluminum surface. Cook both packages of Top Ramen noodles in water with pinch of salt. Do not use flavor packets. Drain noodles and set aside. Brown beef, onions and mushrooms together. Drain excess fat. Stir both flavor packets into meat mixture. Set aside. Beat together egg, milk and parmesan cheese. Stir this mixture into Top Ramen noodles. Evenly spread noodle/egg mixture onto pizza pan. Pour spaghetti sauce over noodles. Sprinkle meat mixture over sauce. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until golden , bubbly brown. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. Great for parties!
2 packages Beef Flavor Top Ramen
3 cups water
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 jar spaghetti sauce (15-1/2oz.)
3 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
8 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated
1 pizza pan
aluminum foil
Serves 6
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Stoner Cooking: Top Ramen Pizza
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text:
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Energy company BrightSource Energy Inc said it will open a solar "power tower" in Israel this week to test new technology it will use when building power plants next year in California.
California utility PG&E Corp signed contracts with BrightSource in April to buy up to 900 megawatts of solar thermal power in the next few years, enough to power about 630,000 homes.
The move is part of a PG&E push to comply with California's requirement that at least 20 percent of its electricity supplies come from renewable energy by 2010.
A global race is on to find energy alternatives to replace fossil fuels, and entrepreneurs are scrambling for a slice of a clean energy market that analysts estimate was worth nearly $150 billion last year.
BrightSource's development centre, with its 60 meter-high (60 foot) tower and some 1,200 mirrors, sits on about 12,000 square meters (three acres) of Israel's southern Negev Desert, chairman Arnold Goldman said.
BrightSource did not release financial details of the complex, but said its systems are more cost-efficient than other solar power plants.
The new power tower, which is capable of generating 1.5 megawatts, will not produce electricity for public use, but rather test the technologies that will power future plants, including a 100 megawatt plant in California's Mojave Desert scheduled to be completed by 2011, Kroizer said.
The 100 megawatt plant will be about 50 times larger that the Negev centre.
BrightSource CEO John Woolard said competitors, like Spanish building and energy group Acciona, were still using similar technologies to those used by BrightSource 20 years ago.
"The new power tower based technology, we don't see any serious competition, yet, in that area," Woolard told a news conference in Jerusalem.
Solar power towers, which have been used for decades, use mirrors to reflect and intensify sunlight, much like using a magnifying glass to start a fire. Traditionally, the system contains rows of large, curved mirrors, sometimes reaching 100 meters in length.
The sunlight is aimed at a boiler on top of the tower and is hot enough to boil the water into steam that passes through turbines and produces electricity.
The new power tower is surrounded by a system of smaller, flat mirrors, each with an enhanced guidance system to track and reflect the sun more effectively than the trough-like systems, Goldman said.
"It takes huge amounts of electronics and controls and gears. The electronics industry has driven those costs down so much that you can do that today," Goldman said. It also requires about a third of the steel and cement, he said.
BrightSource's mirrors reflect about 50 percent of the sunlight, while standard systems reflect 35-40 percent, Goldman said. As a result, the temperature and pressure in the boiler is higher and energy is produced more effectively.
"Historic troughs can put the equivalent of about 20 suns on the tower. We have a maximum of 600 suns," Goldman said.
Woolard also said the new power tower works at half the cost of photo-voltaic solar panel plants because it produces energy about twice as many hours in a year.
Editing by William Hardy


text:
New Englanders are finally shedding their heavy winter coats, and skirts, shorts, and sunbathing are just around the corner. With temperatures on the rise, more skin is being exposed to the sun which increases the risk of melanoma and other types of skin cancer. According …Continue Reading 7 Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Skin Cancer
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