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SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic (November 27, 2017) - The Senior Men's National Team opened the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers with a decisive 93-69 victory over the Bahamas on Friday in Halifax, N.S.
Canada (1-0) will take on the Dominican Republic (1-0) tonight to conclude the first of six windows in the Qualifiers phase. Fans can catch all the action on DAZN with tipoff from Arena del Cibao Oscar Gobaira scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.
Dominican Republic enters Monday's contest coming off a solid 99-89 victory over the United States Virgin Islands. Click here for box score.
Powered by a balanced scoring attack, the Dominicans present several challenges to a defensive-minded Canada team.
Four players registered double figures for the Dominican Republic in its last game, including 6-foot-11 centre Eloy Camacho Vargas. Vargas, who played at the University of Kentucky (2012), was an imposing force inside against an undermanned Virgin Islands squad. He scored 19 points and collected 11 rebounds, but it was his effort on the offensive glass (eight rebounds) that caused issues for defenders.
Also contributing to the win were Sadiel Rojas and Eulis Baez Benjamin. Rojas recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds, but left his mark on the defensive end, totaling seven steals in his debut. The 35-year-old Benjamin brings with him 12 years of international experience and played exceptionally well in the opener, scoring 17 points to complement an eight rebound, seven assist night.
Canada will require a stout defensive effort inside to compound the size and strength of Vargas and company. Tasked with the aforementioned duties will be Joel Anthony, Owen Klassen and Marc Trasolini, who together carry a distinct size advantage over a smaller Dominican frontcourt.
The big men will serve as a collective pillar for head coach Roy Rana's team and will look to anchor the defence throughout the game.
Not unlike Canada, the Dominican Republic possess several capable perimeter shooters. However, despite the fact the club shot just 28.1 per cent from deep last game, they did connect on nine three-pointers. Largely responsible for the perimeter scoring was Ronald Ramon Guerrero, who hit four of 10 from three-point territory en route to a 16-point night.
Head coach Melvyn Lopez Guillen's club feasted on points-off-turnovers in its previous game (27) and engineered a large sum of its offence courtesy of careless play by the Virgin Islands (22 turnovers).
However, the Canadians did a great job securing the basketball against Bahamas, only committing 11 turnovers in the victory.
Canada's roster consists of several athletic, scoring-minded guards including Brady Heslip, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, and Phil Scrubb. The Canadians will look to continue manufacturing offence and draw fouls in the paint, as highlighted by the team's 31 free-throw attempts in the first game of the Qualifiers.
In contrast, Dominican Republic lacks much resistance down low, something Canada will look to exploit in its matchup.
Canada currently ranks 25th on the international stage and sits 8th in the Americas region, according to the FIBA World Men's Rankings, while the Dominican Republic places higher at 17th and 6th, respectively.
At the conclusion of the six windows, the top seven teams overall in the Americas Region will advance to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China from August 31 - September 15.


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Don't plan on conducting any business with the city of Commerce or the Jackson County government Friday.
Offices of both governments will be closed Friday for "furlough" days — closures aimed at reducing spending by both governments. Commerce has scheduled one furlough day a month through June — the end of its fiscal year — while Jackson County will take one furlough day each month through 2010.
Closed on Friday - not just Commerce City Hall, above, but also the Jackson County Courthouse.
Furlough day Friday in Commerce, Jackson
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3 dumb reasons to buy life insurance
There's one very good reason to buy life insurance -- to replace your income and provide for your family if you die. But there are plenty of other reasons to buy, and some are questionable.
While every situation is different, and it's always a good idea to talk to a qualified adviser about yours, here are three reasons it might not make sense to purchase life insurance.
1. To pay off your debt after you die.
Depending on the type of debt, the amount of debt and the specific situation, buying life insurance to pay off debt might -- or might not -- make sense.
If you have up to $10,000 in credit card debt, for example, you might not need life insurance to pay your debts. Usually, unless you have a joint credit card or a cosigner, your survivors won't be responsible for paying your debt, though a creditor can go after your estate to get money owed. And federal student loans get discharged when the borrower dies, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
"For some debts, no one is stuck with them," says Kyle Winkfield, a financial adviser and managing partner of O'Dell, Winkfield, Roseman & Shipp, a wealth management firm. He argues that borrowers still should make sure their loans will be paid off at death.
However, if you have a mortgage, a private student loan, any loan on which a friend or relative cosigned, or a business loan, life insurance can be a great way to make sure you don't leave your survivors in the lurch.
For example, one of Winkfield's clients, who is in his 20s, bought $2 million worth of term life insurance for $890 a year because he had taken out a large business loan and was worried his wife would be left in a jam if he died. The policy bought the couple instant peace of mind. "It was a really good deal," Winkfield says.
If you're considering buying life insurance to pay off your debt, look at: how much you owe, the type of loan, whether your loved ones would be on the hook to pay it off, and other implications, such as whether a business partner could afford to buy out your share of the business, says Daniel Zajac, a Certified Financial Planner professional and life insurance agent.
"Life insurance is big when you get into business planning," he says.
2. To cover the cost of your funeral.
Watch TV, and you might think one of the main purposes for life insurance is to pay for your funeral. "You see it on the commercials all the time," Zajac says.
However, unless you have absolutely no money in the bank, paying for a funeral might not be the wisest reason to buy life insurance, he says. That's partly because a funeral is not a huge expense if you have some cash in the bank or other assets, he says.
In fact, the average funeral costs nearly $7,200, although that doesn't include the cemetery plot, headstone, flowers or obituary, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. According to Farmers Insurance, the cemetery plot can add more than $1,000 to the cost, while the headstone can add an additional $1,000 and flowers start at $200.
If you do want to use life insurance to cover the cost of your funeral, you have several options, according to Trusted Choice, an association of independent insurance agents.
One option is to simply factor in the cost of a funeral when you choose a life insurance coverage amount. Or, you could buy funeral insurance, according to Trusted Choice. There are two main ways to get funeral insurance: prepaying for a funeral from a specific provider on an installment plan or buying final expense insurance, a type of insurance with a low death benefit of $5,000 to $10,000, according to Trusted Choice.
If money is tight and it's important to you to make sure your funeral expenses are paid, life insurance could be a good choice, Zajac says.
3. To leave a legacy.
Do you dream of being remembered as the grandma who set up the grandkids to go to Yale University or travel the world? In fact, some people do buy life insurance solely because they want to leave an inheritance to an adult child or grandchildren, Zajac says.
But using life insurance to leave an inheritance isn't always easy or cheap. "'Can you really afford this?' is the first question," Zajac says. "It may be too expensive."
Usually, Zajac recommends term life insurance rather than permanent life insurance. Term life insurance covers you for a specific time period, usually 10, 20 or 30 years. If you don't die within that period, your beneficiary doesn't receive a payment from the insurer. Permanent life insurance remains in force for your whole life if you keep paying the premiums. But a person at the stage in life where they're thinking about leaving an inheritance will be looking at much higher monthly premiums than someone just starting a family.
For example, according to Term4Sale.com, a 65-year-old in good health could pay more than $600 a month for a $500,000, 20-year term policy.
And if the premium payments are a financial stretch, you could pay them for years, hit a financial rough spot, be unable to keep up payments and have the policy lapse, Zajac says. Another issue is that, with a term policy, there's no guarantee you'll die before the term ends, he says. "That money might not even flow through to the beneficiaries," he says.
So, you could look at a permanent life insurance policy and compare that to other investment options, Zajac says. However, he adds: "I'm not a fan of life insurance as an investment."
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|Volume 6 Issue 114 Published - 14:00 UTC 08:00 EST 23-Apr-2004 Next Update - 14:00 UTC 08:00 EST 24-Apr-2004
|Editor: Susan K. Boyer, RN
© Vidyya., Inc.
All rights reserved.
Fat cell hormone causes weight loss
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have established in an animal model that the hormone adiponectin secreted by fat tissue acts in the brain to reduce body weight. In contrast to leptin, a related hormone, adiponectin can cause weight loss by raising metabolic rate while not affecting appetite. This finding may have future implications in understanding and treating obesity and metabolic disorders like diabetes, says lead author, Rexford Ahima, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Penn Diabetes Center. This research appears in the May issue of Nature Medicine.
When adiponectin, which is involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, was introduced into the cerebrospinal fluid of normal mice, they showed no changes in food intake, but their metabolism rose. "The animal burns off more calories, so over time loses weight, which was very fascinating because we knew that leptin caused weight loss by suppressing appetite and increasing metabolic rate," explains Ahima. "Here we have another fat hormone that can cause weight loss but without affecting intake."
For many dieters, it's easy, at first, to lose weight; but over time, it becomes more difficult because the body compensates, in part, by dropping its metabolic rate. "Adiponectin or its targets in the brain and other organs could be harnessed to sustain weight loss by maintaining a high metabolic rate," says Ahima. "This is only a possibility. We're not suggesting at this point that adiponectin will become a drug." In severely obese mice, adiponectin rapidly decreases blood glucose and lipids, while burning fat. Hence, adiponectin could be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes and heart disease associated with obesity.
These findings have far-reaching potential to help fight the war against obesity, which healthcare experts agree has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. "For years people used to think fat tissue was a passive player--just there to store excess energy," explains Ahima. This proved to be a simplistic view since hormones produced by fat tissue are released into the blood and are actively involved in the regulation of metabolism. The best known fat hormone, leptin, decreases body weight by decreasing appetite and increasing metabolic rate. Leptin also reduces glucose and lipids. The researchers found that both adiponectin and leptin require the melanocortin pathway in the brain to control body weight and glucose. However, these fat hormones also control metabolism through other distinct pathways in the brain. "We focus on the brain because it is a major coordinator of feeding, metabolism, and hormones, including insulin," says Ahima.


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THE TOPIC: The 2010 World Cup
THE CONSENSUS PANEL: Darren Bent (Sunderland, @DB11TT); Brian Dunseth (FSC, The Original Winger); Brooks Peck (Dirty Tackle); Jen Chang (SI.com); Kevin Wildes (SportsNation); Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht, @sachakljestan); Brent Latham (ESPN Soccernet, The USA 10 Kit); Chris Toy (Studs Up); Josh Burt (The Spoiler); Ben Hooper (The Original Winger); Jeremy Hall (New York Red Bulls); Noah Davis (Goal.com, The USA 10 Kit); Mark Apostolou (Caught Offside); Simon Humber (EA Sports); Richard Farley (EPL Talk); Tim Yu (Nike); Kickette (Kickette); Iain McNee (Onion Bag); Ashley N. Williams (ESPN The Magazine); Bruce McGuire (Du Nord); Lang Whitaker (SLAM, Striker [R.I.P.]); Chris Govoni (The Offside); Brian Phillips (The Run of Play); Mike Cardillo (That's On Point, @thatsonpoint); Eugene Kan (Hypebeast); Tim Webber (author, United Nations); Gerhard "The Coach" Stochl (Chinatown Soccer Club); and Donnie Kwak (Complex)
See commentary from each panel member below...
PANELIST: Darren Bent, striker, Sunderland (representing Studs Up Football Club)
SLEEPER: IVORY COAST. "This team is very powerful—I think a lot of sides will underestimate their athleticism and be surprised."
DISAPPOINTMENT: FRANCE. "Qualifying was a struggle for them and not a lot seems to have changed from the disappointment four years ago."
PLAYER TO WATCH: "One of three: LIONEL MESSI, Argentina—just look at what we saw in Spain this year; FERNANDO TORRES, Spain—if fully fit El Niño will be a big force; and CRISTIANO RONALDO, Portugal—hopefully he'll be hungry to grab that spotlight back from Messi with the world watching."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS. "They'll qualify behind England in the group but make it to a quarter-final."
WINNER: "England, Brazil, or Spain—but BRAZIL are favorites. Five World Cups and all but an unfit Ronaldo and it would have been six—says it all."
PANELIST: Brian Dunseth, The Original Winger, Fox Soccer Channel commentator
SLEEPER: NORTH KOREA. "There's no substitute for political pressure placed on a sports team. Throw in the fact that this is a defensive-minded team that can break out incredibly fast, and they could be the team to steal a couple points in the Group of Death and have a decent say as to who pushes through from Group G."
DISAPPOINTMENT: PORTUGAL. "Keeping it in the Group of Death, there hasn't been a more under-performing world-class team than Portugal since the success and disappointment of Euro 2004. And to be in a qualification group that included Malta, Denmark, Sweden, and Hungary and still have to go to a playoff only to squeak past Bosnia-Herzegovina—that's just not good enough. Losing Nani is just going to put more pressure on Cristiano Ronaldo to carry Carlos Queiroz' squad."
PLAYER TO WATCH: WAYNE ROONEY, England. "A pretty obvious choice considering the season he's had at Manchester United, but given that the pressure to score goals on top of heavy legs from an incredible amount of games, Rooney could shine or let his well-known competitiveness and temper get the best of him. We've seen his blue-collar mentality when tracking back and getting stuck in when the game isn't going through him, but remember '98 and David Beckham? Only takes one split-second to lose everything you worked so hard for over the past four years."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS."Yup, call me a United States homer, but hear me out: If the United States gets through the Group C stage in second place (behind England), they'll face 1D in the round of 16 on June 26. Group D is Germany, Ghana, Australia, and Serbia. I'm thinking that Germany will qualify as the #1 team coming out of that group, with either Serbia or Ghana coming through second. I've gotta go with the U.S. getting payback for 2002 and into the quarter-finals, where they'd face either 1B (Argentina) or 2A (France, as I think Mexico's going through as 1A). And the road should end against Argie, unless Diego's wheels fall off...which they probably will."
WINNER: SPAIN. "I just don't see how you can go against Spain with the talent and depth that they have. Yes, the 2009 Confederations Cup result was a disappointment, but a majority of the squad is healthy and there's a premium for ball possession in the final third with this group. Oh, and they won't have to face Brazil until the finals if both teams qualify as #1 in their group play because they'll be on opposite sides of the brackets through the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals. BUT, if one team comes in first and the other in second, all bets are off as they'll face each other in the round of 16."
PANELIST: Brooks Peck, Dirty Tackle
SLEEPER: NORTH KOREA. "Nobody knows much about them except for the fact the fact that they have a guy nicknamed 'The People's Wayne Rooney' who has already promised a goal per game and predicted a win over Brazil in the Group of Death. Even if they suck, it'll be fun to watch whether he can come through on those ballsy calls and ponder the repercussions from the Dear Leader for falling short."
DISAPPOINTMENT: FRANCE. "Can they still be a disappointment if everyone expects them to be a disappointment? With wacky Raymond Domenech in charge, they probably can."
PLAYER TO WATCH: JONG TAE-SE, North Korea. "See above. And wait for him to be tied to a nuclear missile and fired into the ocean."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "If they don't get out of the group again, I'm going to tie them to that missile with Jong Tae-Se myself."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "Dunga isn't the greatest manager and most of Brazil hates his guts, but they've just got way too much talent and no team really looks unbeatable. Maybe Spain, but they lost to the U.S. the last time they were in South Africa. I still say Aruba has a shot, too. Even though, you know, they're not in it."
PANELIST: Jen Chang, senior editor of soccer, SI.com
SLEEPER: SERBIA. "Serbia's a genuine dark horse. It has an excellent coach in Raddy Antic and a strong physical back line that dominates at set pieces. Captain Dejan Stankovic anchors a steady midfield, but the Serbian flankers, Milan Jovanovic and Miloš Krasic are an excellent pairing who can score goals as well as create. Watch out for young attacking left back Aleksandar Kolarov, who could be one of the sensations of the tournament."
DISAPPOINTMENT: FRANCE. "As talented as any team in the tournament, France's main problem is its erratic coach Raymond Domenech. Aside from playing favorites, Domenech is known to make his selections based on the player's zodiac signs. France's run to the final in 2006 was prompted by strong internal leadership from veterans like Zinedine Zidane who are now gone. If this group is to live up to its potential it'll need a strong leader to emerge and counter the divisive influence of moody veterans like central defender William Gallas."
PLAYER TO WATCH: MESUT ÖZIL, Germany. "Other than obvious superstars like Messi, Ronaldo, and Rooney, the one to keep an eye on is rising star Mesut Özil. With captain Michael Ballack out injured, most of Germany's creative and playmaking burden falls on the shoulders of the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who can also operate from the wing. Özil's the type of attacker that Germany hasn't produced in many years, full of flair and vision."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "The U.S. received probably the easiest group draw (Group C) in its history. While it's not favored to take the group over England, it should be able to fend off Algeria and Slovenia for second place. That's where the real problem lies. If the U.S. qualifies for the knockout stage, its first game will likely be against either Germany or Serbia, both strong physical teams that dominate at set pieces, thereby negating the U.S.'s biggest strengths. The U.S. will be hard-pushed to beat either."
WINNER: SPAIN. "Spain and Brazil are co-favorites in most people's book, but I give Spain the edge because they have the best pair of strikers in the world in David Villa and Fernando Torres—most of its rivals don't even have one striker of that caliber, let alone two. It's a team that controls possession and has a trio of superb playmakers in Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and David Silva to get the ball to Torres and Villa."
PANELIST: Kevin Wildes, producer, SportsNation, ESPN
SLEEPER: FRANCE. "Everybody is down on them because without Thierry Henry's handball goal against Ireland they wouldn't have even been in the tournament. But get this—they are still stocked with talent, they are hungry to avenge the Zidane headbutt, and they are the only team that is allowed to use their hands during the game. Big advantage."
DISAPPOINTMENT: ITALY. "We've got an Italian guy on the SportsNation staff named Zach, a.k.a. Euro. He spends 50% of his time working on Sportsnation.com, 45% of his time complaining that the Italian team is too old, and 5% of the time drinking espresso."
PLAYER TO WATCH: WAYNE ROONEY, England. "He's going to destroy the U.S. We'll hate him for it—then we'll fall in love with him. Not totally dissimilar to how Tom Hanks' mighty Fox Books smashed Meg Ryan's quaint bookstore in 1998's You've Got Mail. (Hold on, are Nora Ephron references not cool anymore?)"
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: "The Super Bowl! The Elite Eight! Oh wait, the QUARTER-FINALS. We're still not a soccer-centric country, but we win it all if we go back and give Baby Rajon Rondo a soccer ball. My prediction really depends if you're reading this pre- or post-time-machine invention."
WINNER: ARGENTINA. "For five reasons: Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi, and Diego Maradona. Just for fun, Google 'Diego Maradona' and try to find a story that doesn't make you say, "Hold on, he did what?!" He can score World Cup goals with his hand. He can survive cocaine-induced heart attacks. He can host his own talk show and interview Fidel Castro. He can pay his tax debt with...wait for it...diamonds. Now he claims he's going to run naked through Buenos Aires once he brings home the World Cup. My response? 'Yeah, seems about right.'"
PANELIST: Sacha Kljestan, midfielder, Anderlecht (@sachakljestan)
SLEEPER: IVORY COAST. "I think they will surprise a lot, although most people in Africa know them as a continental powerhouse. Their chances dropped though when Drogba went down with injury."
DISAPPOINTMENT: FRANCE. "They have too much talent but don't seem to be getting the results."
PLAYER TO WATCH: STEVEN PIENAAR, South Africa and WESLEY SNEIJDER, Netherlands. "Everyone will be thinking of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo so I'm going with a couple of really good attacking midfielders that need to have big tournaments in order for their teams to do well. (I couldn't pick just one player, sorry!) Pienaar is the best South African player and the home country will depend on him a lot. Sneijder runs the show for a very good Dutch attack—he showed his class by winning the UEFA Champions League this past season."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS. "It'll match their great run from 2002."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "They showed they were the best last summer in the Confederations Cup. I played in two games vs. Brazil last summer and they convinced me they are the best team in the world so I think they claim the Cup in the end."
PANELIST: Brent Latham, ESPN Soccernet and The USA 10 Kit
SLEEPER: PARAGUAY. "They have a weak group which they should breeze through, and may even take first place over Italy. Paraguay has always been a tough side defensively, but this year they have some firepower on offense too, so look for them to improve on their recent performances."
DISAPPOINTMENT: FRANCE. "Man, France is just terrible lately. Like rotten bleu cheese, or something else that really stinks. They have great players all over the field, and should be much better than this, but their coach is an epic fail. I can't see them getting out of the group stage."
PLAYER TO WATCH: LUIS SUAREZ, Uruguay. "The striker plays for Ajax in the Netherlands, and he's been raking in the goals of late. He comes in a little under-the-radar, and won't receive nearly as much attention as his strike partner Diego Forlan, but expect Suarez to help Uruguay to heights they haven't seen in decades at this year's Cup."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "They'll be hard-pressed to break down Slovenia and take second in Group C, but they should be able to do it seven times out of 10. Asking them to beat the Group D winner to get any further is a bridge too far, but then again, on any given day..."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "Need I say more? Well, maybe, since Dunga has them playing a more conservative style than usual. But they're a solid team front to back, and they've got the experience to win this tournament. Plus they won in 1994 and 2002. They're due for their sixth championship."
PANELIST: Chris Toy, creator, Studs Up and founder, Studs Up Football Club
SLEEPER: FRANCE. "I consider a 'sleeper' team to be one with an outside chance to win the whole thing even though no one picks them to, and until Ballack's injury I would have said Germany. Instead, I'll go with France. They've had a chaotic buildup to the tournament with poor results and players being very vocal about how badly the team is gelling and needs to improve. People are expecting them to fall flat on their face but when I look at the squad, I see balance, and a lot of players who can singlehandedly turn a game. Football also has a funny way of flipping the script, and I just have a feeling that France is going to make a run."
DISAPPOINTMENT: PORTUGAL. "Simply because Cristiano Ronaldo's individual profile will raise the anticipation and expectations to a level that Portugal as a team can't match. They'll get through the group stage then bow out relatively quick after that because they don't have the depth in quality to go further."
PLAYER TO WATCH: YOANN GOURCUFF, France. "I'm personally looking forward to seeing what impact he can make. He's one of those guys that pulls the strings and makes the game look super-simple. He's long been a hot prospect with loads of talent but has only really turned that talent into performance in the last few years with Bordeaux. That means this World Cup could be his coming-out party with the final falling on his birthday, July 11. Spooky. Also: Chris Wood from New Zealand. Very talented kid."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "I think they'll be running on adrenaline and with a chip on their shoulder for the first few games and get it done, but there just isn't enough quality deep in the squad to see them go much further. Davies getting hurt and Onyewu being questionably fit are losses a thin squad like the U.S. can't make up for."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "It's not actually as cliché as it sounds, popular opinion in football has actually swung away from Brazil while Spain has taken up the mantle of most entertaining and most talented team. Under coach Dunga, they've have been pragmatic and defensive first, with tricks and flicks coming second. I actually think that every successful Brazil team has been built on a solid defensive strategy, especially in midfield, that provides a platform for the flair players to do their thing. The 2006 Brazil team was overloaded with attacking talent, which caused imbalance and ultimately a disappointing tournament. Dunga's fixed that, leaving Ronaldinho at home as if to make the point crystal clear."
PANELIST: Josh Burt, The Spoiler
SLEEPER: IVORY COAST. "It's only a matter of time before an African nation wins the World Cup, and whilst this year might not be the one, there is bound to be an impact on their home continent. The Ivory Coast looked dangerous in the last World Cup, but with Portugal and Brazil to face in the opening group stages, it'll totally be a case of 'sink or swim.' Make it through the first round, and they could go far—especially if Drogba is firing on all cylinders, and the Touré sisters are making all the right tackles. Keep a close eye."
DISAPPOINTMENT: SPAIN. "Make no mistake about it, Spain are brilliant. In every position they're strong, and were you to push any passing football supporter into an alleyway wall and demand that they predict the World Cup winner or else, they'd hyperventilate the word 'Spain.' And then probably collapse. Unfortunately, when it comes to World Cups, the heavens do not shine kindly on teams that have recently won the European Championship, as Spain did in 2004. The last team to graduate from European honors to World honors was Germany in 1974. That means Spain will need to break a 36-year-old hex to win."
PLAYER TO WATCH: AARON LENNON, England. "Every big football tournament tends to pluck a player from apparent nowhere and send his name stratospheric, and this could be a great tournament for England's Aaron Lennon. All eyes will be on Wayne Rooney's handsome face in the buildup, but with pace to burn, Lennon could yet prove to be the man to scare the bejesus out of the opposition. Another to keep an eye on is France's Yoann Gourcuff. Apparently he's really good."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "Pretty much everything hinges on the opening match against England, with Germany the most likely opponents in the knockout stages—and unfortunately, when it comes to big tournaments, Germany have a staggering amount of experience to call upon. Hence, plucky losers. But still losers nonetheless."
WINNER: ARGENTINA. "Most people's third favorites for the trophy. If Argentina manage to get themselves together, no team can match them for attacking prowess. Rather ironically, the consensus seems to be that the man who could singlehandedly lose it for them is exactly the same man who singlehandedly won it for them in 1986: Maradona, then a great player, now an absolutely abominable manager. But should he somehow get Messi, Tevez, Agüero, Milito and HiguaÃn all singing from the same hymn sheet, they could prove devastating."
PANELIST: Ben Hooper, The Original Winger
SLEEPER: SOUTH AFRICA. "They have been playing really well as of late, have the advantage as the host nation, and they have the majority of the world wanting to see them do well. A result in the opener against Mexico might just be the push they need to get into the Round of 16."
DISAPPOINTMENT: FRANCE. "Staying in Group A with this one. They barely squeaked through qualifying, and realistically only qualified due to a blatant handball. Plus, I don't get Raymond Domenech as the manager and I think they will crash out. And when they do, we'll see Thierry Henry in MLS even sooner..."
PLAYER TO WATCH: LUIS SUAREZ, Uruguay. "I still can't get out of Group A. Coming off a season that saw him bag 49 goals in all competitions, and 35 in the Dutch League, look for Suarez to continue scoring goals. Post-World Cup expect to see Suarez earn a major-money move to a top European club."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS. "This most likely would require the US beating Germany in the round of 16, but I'm putting it out there anyway. There needs to be redemption from 2002 and this could be the year that happens."
WINNER: SPAIN. "They are as deep as any team and have pure class in every position on the field. If everything goes right, expect to see a Spain v. Brazil final, with the Spanish getting the win."
PANELIST: Jeremy Hall, midfielder, New York Red Bulls
SLEEPER: SOUTH AFRICA. "With the first World Cup on African soil being in South Africa, I think it will bring a lot of pride and passion to the Bafana Bafana. Having the whole country behind them, we saw what happened with the rugby team of 1995. It will be a huge boost for South Africa and I believe they will come out to play and put a scare to some teams."
DISAPPOINTMENT: PORTUGAL. "Even though Portugal has one of the best players in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo, it will be a tough task for him to carry the load to get into the knockout stages. They are in Group G, which is easily the Group of Death with Brazil, Ivory Coast, and North Korea. It will very interesting and exciting to see the matchups in this group but in the end I see Brazil and Ivory Coast pulling themselves into the next stage of the tournament."
PLAYER TO WATCH: LIONEL MESSI, Argentina. "Obviously there are so many players to watch and it definitely is hard to choose just one of them. But I believe all eyes will be on Barcelona star Lionel Messi. He is the best player in the world right now and has performed magic at the club level with Barça. But to some, he has not quite done that at the national level for Argentina. It will be his time to shine and to prove to everyone in the world that he is one of the best to play this game."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS."I definitely think that my boys will do well and show the rest of the world that we can contend with anyone. Of course I will be rooting for them to win the whole tournament but I wouldn't want to be biased. So I am saying that they will reach the quarters and put on a good showing. It will for sure get tough through the later rounds but we showed at the Confederations Cup that we are not afraid to step up against any one."
WINNER: SPAIN. "Their team from top to bottom is the deepest roster at the tournament. The way they move the ball and out-possess their opponents is clinical and second to none. Spain will be the team to beat at this summer's World Cup and if they can keep everyone healthy and clicking like they have been with the recent friendlies, they will be hoisting the Cup in the end."
PANELIST: Noah Davis, Goal.com
SLEEPER: ARGENTINA. "Can you really call a squad with arguably the most talent a "sleeper"? You can when Diego Maradona's the coach. Few expect the brilliance of Lionel Messi to outshine the struggles of the national hero he emulates on the pitch, but here's the thing: Diego has a plan in that head of his. It may be loco, but here's saying it works."
DISAPPOINTMENT: AFRICA. "Yes, the entire continent. This was supposed to be the World Cup an African nation won. That may have been ambitious, but the fact remains that its teams lie in ruin. Cote d'Ivoire looks in disarray even if Didier Drogba returns. Ghana lost Michael Essien. Samuel Eto'o threatened to quit Cameroon. Algeria fell 3-0 to Ireland. Nigeria can't get organized. Ironically, South Africa—the worst of the bunch—is the only side showing signs of life. Can the home crowd carry them into the second round?"
PLAYER TO WATCH: CRISTIANO RONALDO, Portugal. "The best player in the world not named Messi hasn't scored for his country in 18 months. With apologies to the tiny Argentine, Ronaldo remains the sport's most exciting player for his pace and physical prowess. If he can control the Jabulani, expect a SportsCenter Top 10 devoted solely to the Armani model by the time the month-long event wraps up."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "Getting out of the group is a must for the Americans. Assuming they finish second in Group C, they'll likely take on Germany in a rematch of the 2002 quarter-finals. (The Stars and Stripes outplayed the European team but lost, 1-0. Soccer is a cruel mistress, especially to up-and-coming nations.) Can they beat Germany, which would likely set up a heart-attack-inducing winner-moves-to-the-final-four against Mexico (a match where the U.S. would prevail)? Sure. Will they? Unfortunately not."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "In a tournament where the story line will revolve around injured stars, the Samba Boys arrive in South Africa with their world No. 1 squad intact. Dunga's side boasts the World Cup's best back five, with Kaká providing a little magic in the midfield. They're too focused on organization and efficiency to play the Beautiful Game but winning can be pretty, too."
PANELIST: Mark Apostolou, editor, Caught Offside
SLEEPER: URUGUAY. "With in-form striker Diego Forlan leading the line and impressive Serie A stars Cavani, Cáceres, and Muslera to call upon, the South American side are not a bad bet to do well. Not least because they are in a fairly average group."
DISAPPOINTMENT: FRANCE. "Heading for a poor World Cup for sure. In fighting, a fool of a coach, and with the entire footballing world expecting abject failure expect Domenech and co. to duly deliver an early elimination."
PLAYER TO WATCH: ROBIN VAN PERSIE, Netherlands. "After spending most of the season in the treatment room, the Arsenal man is fighting fit and raring to go. The Dutch international has scored four goals in the past three warm-up games. Back him for the Golden Boot, you will not be disappointed."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "The U.S. arrive in South Africa with a decent, but very beatable, squad who should be able to edge ahead of Algeria and Slovenia for the second spot in Group C. The reward for their efforts? A knockout match against Germany which they will lose by two or three goals."
WINNER: SPAIN. "It's hard to look past the Spanish. With the nucleus of the squad that romped to Euro 2008 success, I fully expect Vicente del Bosque's side to have what it takes to clinch their first ever World Cup success."
PANELIST: Simon Humber, producer, EA Sports, 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
SLEEPER: CHILE. "Any team that can run Brazil to one point in the final qualification table has to be a pretty smart outfit, and with the Argentine management legend Marcelo Bielsa at the helm, perhaps this is the time that 'La Roja' deliver the goods. Being drawn with Spain might not be such a bad thing for them, as they play them in the last group game in Pretoria when the Spanish would hope to have already qualified. Much depends on whether Alexis Sánchez can shine like the star he is surely destined to one day be. Their Achilles heel is coming under an aerial bombardment, so they might slip up when facing one of the more traditional European nations."
DISAPPOINTMENT: FRANCE. "It's so easy to say England, but let's face it—they always disappoint, so no it's no longer a disappointment. I worry about Italy this time around, but they were fortunate enough to be drawn in a group full of pub teams, so they might find their feet in time. France must be everyone's tips to take an early flight home. With the host nation, the dangerous Mexicans, and Uruguay's stolid approach in their group—plus internal wrangling, a defeat to China, and a manager who must have incriminating evidence of something to still be in the job—I suspect it will be, 'Au revoir, Les Bleus,' early doors."
PLAYER TO WATCH: DAVID VILLA, Spain. "This is an impossible category, so many possibles, but we remember past tournaments for so few actuals. I guess we're looking for a team that will progress far, and a man who will be heavily responsible for that. I'll predict that Villa's goals will fire Spain deep into the tournament. Not exactly a bold prediction, but for me he's the most complete striker in the world, and the new Barça man will play with mental freedom now that his big-money move is done and dusted. For a dark horse, the North Korean Wayne Rooney is how Jong Tae-Se has been described. Bizarrely born in Japan to South Korean parents, he ended up having his education funded by the North. He's an explosive front man, good with both feet, and the mostly likely man in a mostly defensive-minded team capable of a moment of magic."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS. "Team USA (why do you always add 'Team'?) look good bets to get out of the group, and then it all depends how kind the draw is for them. None of the Group D teams should hold any fears—the recent win over Australia is a confidence booster, Ghana look poor without Essien, and Serbia regularly disappoint. Naturally both England and USA will be hoping to avoid a Germany team who seem to always come to life at the World Cup, regardless of their pre-tournament form. So the quarter-final is probably the point where it will be surrender time for Bradley's boys. I think that defensively they lack the class to get any further. I mean Jay DeMerit plays for Watford! Clint Dempsey is my pick of the team."
WINNER: SPAIN. "Having finally got rid of the monkey on their backs, this time around Spain come without the perennial chokers tag courtesy of their deserved triumph at Euro 2008. This is the team that plays the beautiful game—Brazil haven't since 1982. Free-flowing football, pass the opposition to death, and two of the best strikers in the world in Torres and my Golden Boot winner, Villa. The only blip since that night in Vienna has been the defeat to USA in the Confederations Cup, but we can forgive them this and it might stand them in good stead if they start to believe their own hype. So, for me, they can only defeat themselves in this tournament."
PANELIST: Richard Farley, host of EPL Talk Podcast at EPLTalk.com
SLEEPER: MEXICO. "They have favorable matches within their group and, if they can finish atop Group A, will have similar advantages into the semifinals—a depth they've never reached in this tournament."
DISAPPOINTMENT: ITALY. "They have an aging team full of under-performing players contesting a group with two other quality teams (Paraguay and Slovakia). Particularly on the right side of their defense, the Azzurri could be exploited by Paraguay forward Lucas Barrios and Slovakia midfielder Marek Hamsik."
PLAYER TO WATCH: GIOVANI DOS SANTOS, Mexico. "He will be the best player for Mexico as they go on their surprise run. Gio will leave Tottenham Hotspur supporters wondering why he has been unable to similarly turn matches at the club level."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: GROUP STAGE. "Slovenia is, unfortunately, a particularly difficult matchup for the USMNT."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "One of only two teams to win a World Cup outside their own continent and the only team to win a World Cup on every continent the tournament's been staged. Brazil will play Internazionale to Spain's Barcelona in the final."
PANELIST: Tim Yu, Nike
SLEEPER: SOUTH KOREA. "They are quick, fit, and young but have been playing together for some time."
DISAPPOINTMENT: ARGENTINA. "No one can serve the ball on a silver platter to Messi like his mates on Barça do (Xavi and Iniesta)—he's not the same player with the national team."
PLAYER TO WATCH: GIOVANI DOS SANTOS, Mexico. "Healthy, fit, and imperative for Mexico's success."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS. "OK, a bit of wishful thinking, but they are starting to gel at the right time and Bob Bradley picked an especially athletic bunch. Defense just needs to minimize lapses and breakdowns, but they have one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Tim Howard."
WINNER: NETHERLANDS. "They can score from anywhere on the field and are due to win. A bit ironic if they win in South Africa though."
PANELIST: The Champagne Guzzlers at Kickette
SLEEPER: NETHERLANDS. "The little Oranje engine that could. They look strong and confident and their WAGs have the best World Cup wardrobe on the planet."
DISAPPOINTMENT: IVORY COAST. "High hopes for this squad, but the loss of Didier Drogba might prove too much of a setback to recover from. We're also a tad concerned about France. Gourcuff's pretty just might not be enough. Plus, karma's a beyatch."
PLAYER TO WATCH: GONZALO HIGUAÃN, Argentina. "He's really coming into his own, and we think he'll be amazing to watch this tourney. It will also be interesting to see if the world's best footballing hobbit-alike, Lionel Messi, can bring home the incredible form he's shown for Barcelona to his national squad. And of course, David Villa for Spain, because he's as awesome as his soul patch."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS. "There's a lot of heart and guts in the squad this time around, but their defensive weaknesses could let them down at this stage. Side note: We'd be willing to change our answer to "finals" if we can get a guarantee that Gooch will strip off at the end of every game."
WINNER: SPAIN. "Brazil look unstoppable, but we think Spain has got the belief, experience, and the star power to make it happen this year. Plus, Fernando Torres has gone back to his natural color—everyone knows brunettes mean business."
PANELIST: Iain McNee, Onion Bag Soccer Shop
SLEEPER: MEXICO. "A great blend of experience (Blanco, Marquez) and youth (Vela, Guardado, dos Santos, Hernandez). The fanatical support of thousands of Mexicans who will have made the trip to South Africa will see 'El Tri' cause a few surprises in the tournament."
DISAPPOINTMENT: NONE. "There's not many surprises in international football anymore. What's disappointing to one football nation is a great achievement to others. Having said that, I can imagine Brazil fans being relatively gutted if they don't progress out of the first round!"
PLAYER TO WATCH: STEVEN GERRARD, England. "There's no place to hide when you're the captain of England, and I'm predicting Steven Gerrard will come through for England when expected, and when it counts."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "In all likelihood, the U.S. will progress out of Group C in second place behind England, where it's pretty much odds-on they will have a rematch with their conquerors of WC 2006, Germany. I'd love to see the U.S. beat Germany, but as you'll see with my pick for overall winner, I'm quite the dreamer!"
WINNER: ENGLAND. "Football's coming home. Enough said!"
PANELIST: Ashley Williams, associate editor, ESPN The Magazine
SLEEPER: IVORY COAST. "If Didier Drogba hadn't broken his right arm in last week's friendly against Japan, there's no way the Ivorians would be considered a sleeper. But the world's best striker is still questionable for the team's opening match against Portugal, and that's a big problem. But don't write off Ivory Coast just yet. They still have the Touré brothers, Yaya and Kolo, not to mention Salomon Kalou and Gervinho, a young player who's got so much style he has a Brazilian moniker. Plus, home-field advantage has to count for something. South Africa's Bafana Bafana might not get out of their group, which would be the first time in history that's happened to a host country, but at least one African country will make some noise. Why not the Elephants?"
DISAPPOINTMENT: ITALY. "The reigning champs are old. Really old. Germany 2006 stars like Mauro Camoranesi, Gennaro Gattuso, and Gianluca Zambrotta are all over 30, which doesn't bode well for a deep run into the tournament. Still, weird as it sounds, 32-year-old World Cup newbie Antonio di Natale surged this past season as a striker at Serie A team Udinese and could provide the spark Italy needs to make the semis. If they're lucky."
PLAYER TO WATCH: JAVIER HERNÃNDEZ, Mexico. "Never mind that he didn't enter Mexico's opener against South Africa until the 73rd minute, Chicharito is all kinds of good. He scored three times in the team's last three friendlies. Plus, the 22-year-old will be suiting up for Man U. come July, the first Mexican player ever to join the squad. Quick on his feet and in the air, he'll definitely get folks talking."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "As much as we all want the U.S. to go all the way, it's not gonna happen. (By the way, the odds on the Yanks winning it all are currently 66-1). America has the goods to get out of the group, no matter what happens in the team's opener against England, but after that, we can't really hope for too much more. Yes, we've got Landon Donovan, plus Premier League talents Tim Howard in goal and Clint Dempsey in midfield. But one of the main reasons the U.S. upset Spain—then number one in the world—in the Confederations Cup last summer, was the play of defender Oguchi Onyewu. Gooch isn't 100% after blowing out his knee last fall. He's making progress, but he needs to step up his game for the U.S. to best the big boys. The Americans will be confident knowing they've beaten the best before, but that self-assurance will only carry them so far."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "The organizers of the 2014 Cup in Rio might as well go ahead and print 'Home of the 2010 World Cup Champions' on their promo materials. Brazilian fans expect nothing less than a sixth title from FIFA's top-ranked team. With Kaká, Robinho, Lucio, Maicon and Luis Fabiano, who could really blame them? Almost any player on the field can score, and that's what make them almost unbeatable. The Seleção will have some stiff competition from Spain, the Euro 2008 champs, who are stacked with talents like Xavi, Fernando Torres, Andres Iniesta, and David Villa. But last year's Confed. Cup loss to the U.S. showed the Spaniards can be tamed. Leave that to Brazil."
PANELIST: Bruce McGuire, editor, du Nord
SLEEPER: MEXICO and SERBIA. "Not the biggest-named players, but team unity and a real fighting spirit."
DISAPPOINTMENT: ENGLAND. "Only a disappointment to their many delusional fans."
PLAYER TO WATCH: KUN AGÃœERO, Argentina. "Not even the most talented Argentine player, but a true genius on the field just waiting to become a superstar."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS. "After enacting revenge on Germany in the round of 16."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "They are simply the best all around, and have no weaknesses, even though other teams may have better players."
PANELIST: Lang Whitaker, executive editor, SLAM and former E-I-C of Striker soccer magazine
SLEEPER: FRANCE. "I guess it's weird to pick a team that went to the final in 2006 as my 'sleeper,' but I haven't heard anyone parlez-ing about Les Bleus. They may have barely squeaked into the Cup, but they've got a ton of class players—Henry, Ribery, Anelka, Evra, Gourcuff, Malouda—and a coach who makes his lineups based on horoscopes. So they've got that going for them."
DISAPPOINTMENT: ARGENTINA. "Lionel Messi is probably the best player on the planet right now, and I'm a big fan of Tevez, but having Maradona as your coach doesn't really seem like the most stable situation."
PLAYER TO WATCH: SAMUEL ETO'O, Cameroon. "I've always loved Eto'o, because he's confident, he plays with style and verve, and he has a knack for the spotlight. He could end up being the star of Group E."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "I'm cheering for the U.S., but they're probably going to lose to England (Wayne Rooney will destroy our back line) and then they'll have to fight to advance. But they will, and once they're through to the knockout rounds, anything can happen. I'm being pragmatic here and hedging my bets."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "For so long Brazil was thought of as a team that was all offense, and that worked for them. But now their defense is probably just as good as their offense (Maicon is a bad man). This is the most well-rounded Brazil team I can remember."
PANELIST: Chris Govoni, The Offside
SLEEPER: SERBIA. "They rode in with the Famous Four defense in '06 only to ride out with their nets and pride in tatters. Since, they've picked up the tactically sexy Radomir Antic and dropped a couple pounds (Montenegro) with a less heralded but perhaps higher-quality defense, along with the quickest flank game in South Africa. They'll frustrate the opposition and pounce on that frustration the moment it sets in."
DISAPPOINTMENT: NETHERLANDS. "The Oranje are top-heavy and awfully nice to look at going forward, but when you start checking out the back, it's not particularly pretty. Worse, they've been supremely cocky heading in, more so than any other team, and that typically amounts to nothing more than tears and tranquilizers."
PLAYER TO WATCH: KAKÃ, Brazil. "Written off to a degree due to fitness, when Ricky K's on form he makes the surface of the sun seem a winter's chill as one of two players on the planet with no apparent ceiling (the other that tiny Argie). He's thrown teams on his back en route to glory before (Champions League '07) and there's little to say he can't do it again. Plus he's got that Jesus guy on his side, which never hurts."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "The group is pretty weak, but both Germany and Serbia will be impossibly difficult. They'll lose 1-0 to Serbia on a late Neven Subotic header, which he'll celebrate by revealing a graphic tee emblazoned with Giuseppe Rossi's mug—just to turn the stiletto."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "Everyone's decrying Dunga's commitment to defense, but don't they know defense wins championships? What happens when you combine great defense with Brazilian flair? Parades and babies, that's what."
PANELIST: Brian Phillips, The Run of Play
SLEEPER: CHILE. "The bloody remains of this category are being carted off the field in a wheelbarrow. You want to pick Ghana, and Michael Essien blows up his knee; you want to pick Ivory Coast, and Drogba snaps his arm; you want to pick Nigeria, and John Obi Mikel appears on the horizon trudging on a cane. In desperation, you try to pick Honduras, and Carlo Costly's ankle yells something about dining in hell and impales itself on a spear. So I'm picking Chile, partly because they're better than people realize—they pushed Brazil all the way in qualifying and finished two spots above Argentina—and partly because Humberto Suazo's thigh injury seems like it isn't that bad, meaning they're relatively intact. They're not a team of stars, but they play an insane, attacking 3-4-3 formation that will catch some people off guard. (Their coach is nicknamed 'the madman'; it's deserved.) They're young, fantastically hard-working, and not likely to be awed by the moment. Spain should walk over this group, but Chile has a good chance to advance and play Brazil in a knockout-round mini-epic."
DISAPPOINTMENT: BRAZIL. "They're going to win the tournament. There's nothing I, you, Spain, or adidas can do about it. But they're still a disappointment, because under Dunga they've turned their backs on the style that made them beloved. They're relentlessly, numbingly marketed by Nike as the apex of purity and flash, but the truth is that they've traded in the samba-football, joga-bonito game for a patient, basically joyless approach that revolves around set pieces, counters, and solid defending at the back. It's like someone sent them some tapes of Italy in the 1960s and it completely blew their minds. You can say that all they have to do is win and anything is justified, but they used to be about winning with artistry and delighting the world. (Search for Garrincha on YouTube for a sense of what that can look like.) Now they're a team of conservative millionaires, and we get to spend four weeks watching commercials and listening to announcers who want us to believe that they're not."
PLAYER TO WATCH: LIONEL MESSI, Argentina. "If you're watching anyone else, you're doing it wrong. To call him the best player in the world is boring; he's the ghostly genius who will out-think you, outrun you, and leave you weeping on the ground. He's the player who amassed an otherworldly 47 goals and 14 assists in 53 games this season. He once made Ray Hudson, the most poetic announcer in sports, scream: 'He's like a little short-legged bull, covered with eyes!!!' There are a million reasons why it's unfair to say that his legacy depends on this World Cup. He's only 22, for one thing. But fair doesn't write the game's legends, and it's a cold fact that Messi has never been the player for Argentina that he is for Barcelona. Also a fact that Argentinians have never unreservedly loved him. Now he's playing for the man universally regarded as the craziest, worst manager in the tournament—Diego Maradona—who, oh, also happens to be the greatest player in Argentina's history and the man to whom Messi is incessantly compared. This is either going to be a disaster or one of the greatest stories in sports, there's no in-between. What else would you want to watch?"
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS. "Assuming we finish second to the English in the group stage (I know, it kills me too, but let's be practical) we have a route to the semi-finals that's no more unlikely than the one we took to the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa last summer (see: crushing Spain, et. al.). We'd probably play Germany (who are missing Michael Ballack) in the first knockout round, then hit Argentina, currently being managed by the semi-competent fever dreams of Diego Maradona, in the quarters. Both outside shots, both conceivably winnable. It's also completely possible that we lose to England and Slovenia (even Algeria!) and never see the good side of Group C. I'm keeping my hopes on minor inspiration and saying we escape the group, notch a killer upset over Germany, then go down with glory in the last eight."
WINNER: BRAZIL. "They are Brazil. They are talented, consistent, big, physical, rich, hard to crack, disciplined, mean, and expectant When they care, which is usually, they're never out of a game, because even when they go behind, they still have the octanes and cylinders to do some dazzling business, and they're a constant set-piece threat (see: three second-half goals vs. the USA in the Confederations Cup final last summer). The pressure doesn't seep into them like it does England. My heart wants Spain, who are both prettier and more ferocious. But the math says Lucio will be an immovable object, Kaká will slalom for God, Robinho will twinkle like an imp, and Dunga will lift #6 before moving on to his true vocation as the coach of a Big Ten basketball team. Oh, and Júlio César is the best goalkeeper in the world. The sound of bells you hear is Nike's cash registers jingling."
PANELIST: Mike Cardillo, editor, That's On Point, @thatsonpoint
SLEEPER: MEXICO. "Consider El Tri the soup-kitchen version of Argentina. Nice mix of young, fast offensive players (Gio dos Santos, Andres Guardado, Manchester United-bound Javier Hernández) with the old savvy guard of Rafa Marquez and Gerardo Torrado. Amazingly at 38 and the oldest field player at the tournament, Cuauhtémoc Blanco remains the rug tying the Mexicans together. If Mexico can win Group A and avoid Argentina in the Round of 16, watch out."
DISAPPOINTMENT: ITALY. "Don't let Bobby Solo serenading you in the Nike ad fool you—at 36, Fabio Cannavaro—voted the player of the 2006 tournament—is washed up, so washed up he just signed with a club in the United Arab Emirates, that side of the Atlantic's version of MLS. Expecting Italy to string together clean sheet-after-clean sheet, which it did in '06, is about as likely as Grown Ups winning the best original screenplay Oscar. A super-easy group helps Italy, but the Azzurri get knocked out early."
PLAYER TO WATCH: CRISTIANO RONALDO, Portugal. "Europe's forgotten man heading into the tournament. Ronaldo has the natural gifts and training ground skill to dominate—and infuriate every non-Portuguese fan on the planet. Even at the still-tender age of 25, the clock is ticking for 'C-Ron' to enforce his will and take over an international tournament. Hell, he was even rumored to be seeing Kim Kardashian, which worked out okay for Reggie Bush this February."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: QUARTER-FINALS. "Group C is soft after England. The likely round of 16 crossovers with a weakened Germany, Serbia, and Ghana are winnable. U.S. likely doesn't run into an opponent that can simply over-match it from a pure talent standpoint until, probably, Argentina in the quarters."
WINNER: NETHERLANDS. "This is likely the combination of the silky offensive play working subliminally in tandem with the day-glo orange shirts. Maybe defense wins championships, but you need to score goals to advance in the World Cup and that shouldn't trouble the Dutch, who get revenge for their loss to Argentina in the 1978 final in South Africa. Wesley Sneijder carries his sublime Champions League-winning play with Inter Milan and wins player of the tournament."
PANELIST: Eugene Kan, managing editor, Hypebeast
SLEEPER: NORTH KOREA. "No, they won't exit the group stages, but I wouldn't be surprised if North Korea ended World Cup 2010 with one point, and not getting blown out like many expect. Without the corruption money that sport brings, I think this alone is a positive aspect of the team. The fact they've probably got some weird Asian medicine on their side and the thought of getting beaten and disgraced by the government would surely make you run faster and work harder as well."
DISAPPOINTMENT: BRAZIL. "No Ronaldinho kills it for me. Although it's all a relative disappointment, I guess. If the Samba Boys aren't hoisting a trophy every four years, it's a bit of a disappointment. Other contenders I'd say are France/Germany/Holland, but it could go either way."
PLAYER TO WATCH: CRISTIANO RONALDO, Portugal. "Tough one—probably somebody that is on the cusp of breaking out but not playing in a big league with a heavy schedule since they'll be relatively fresher. I honestly don't follow enough to know. Otherwise, the easy answer would be Ronaldo."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "I have a feeling they won't advance past here, since they'll likely meet Germany in the next round. Or perhaps I can slot Germany into the 'disappointment' category."
WINNER: SPAIN. "Deadliest strike force around and some brilliant playmakers. Although, I have an inkling for the Dutch as well."
PANELIST: Tim Webber, author, United Nations: Around the Manchester United World...
SLEEPER: SERBIA. "Serbia have not really attracted much attention from the media but I think they can top their group ahead of Germany (who aren't great) and Ghana (who are struggling particularly with Michael Essien out). In the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Branislav Ivanovic they have great EPL experience, they have Dejan Stankovic from Inter Milan, and in MiloÅ¡ Krasic could have one of the players of the tournament—although he might have the worst hair."
DISAPPOINTMENT: ENGLAND. "It's too easy to say England. But that's only because in England everyone expects England to win. They won't. They'll finish ahead of the U.S. in the group but if Wayne Rooney gets injured there's simply no firepower, and with the way they've played in recent warm-ups there's no reason to think they have the quality to challenge Spain or Brazil."
PLAYER TO WATCH: WESLEY SNEIJDER, Netherlands. "Fantastic all-round technical ability—can score, pass, run, and has the intelligence to make it count. The main reason Inter won the Champions League. If he stays free of injury, he could be the telling player in the tournament."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "The U.S. are a poor man's England, and England aren't great (see above). The U.S. will finish second and face Serbia in the round of 16, who I happen to think are pretty shit-hot (see above). It's all above, just re-read that."
WINNER: NETHERLANDS. "Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Rafael van der Vaart—they don't all fit into the same team but they all have something to prove after either being rejected by Real Madrid last summer or being injured this season. They are form players. A lot depends on Robben recovering from injury, but I think they have the balance of technical skills to go all the way. That's where my money is. I could be boring and say Spain or Brazil, but it looks so much better if you pick a dark horse and are right!"
PANELIST: Gerhard "The Coach" Stochl, Chinatown Soccer Club, L.E.S.
SLEEPER: NETHERLANDS. "I was really hoping for an African team to go far but the Ivory Coast won't be the same without Didier Drogba (nor will it really help if he plays with a fractured elbow) and Ghana will miss Michael Essien. So while they might not be a real dark horse, I think Holland could finally win something with all that amazing attacking talent at their disposal."
DISAPPOINTMENT: PORTUGAL. "They might have Ronaldo, but their team is in shambles and they have a really tough group with Brazil and the Ivory Coast."
PLAYER TO WATCH: LIONEL MESSI, Argentina. "No surprises here but Lionel Messi is obviously expected to finally perform for Argentina the way he so effortlessly does for Barcelona throughout the season. Also, Germany's Mesut Özil is a supremely gifted player who could have a real impact if his young team do well in the tournament."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: ROUND OF 16. "They should make it out of their group but will probably lose to Germany in the next round—and even if they don't, the later stages will be tough against much more experienced opponents."
WINNER: ARGENTINA. "El Diego is crazy for leaving out Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso after they helped Inter Milan to a historic treble but he still has such an amazing squad. Plus Spain already won the European Championships and another title for Brazil would be boring."
PANELIST: Donnie Kwak, senior deputy editor, Complex
SLEEPER: SOUTH KOREA. "Being a blind nationalist is no good in times of war, but it's permissible—and actually encouraged—during this month. Yahoo had us ranked #28 out of 32 teams? FOH!"
DISAPPOINTMENT: USA. "Yeah, I'm a hater."
PLAYER TO WATCH: MARCUS TULIO TANAKA, Japan. "A.k.a. the man who broke Drogba's arm. Had the chance to see the fearsome half-Brazilian CB play in Nagoya for Grampus 8, and homie tackles like an animal. Japan might not be going anywhere, but their second game is against the fragile-ass Dutch. Get those stretchers ready."
THE USA WILL ADVANCE TO: GROUP STAGE. "They might beat England, but will drop points to Algeria and shockingly fall to the Charlie Browns—I mean, Slovenia."
WINNER: SOUTH KOREA. "Might as well, yeah?"
• The 50 Most Badass Moments in World Cup History
• Kit Fancy: Rating the Jerseys of the World Cup
• What's The Consensus? NBA Finals
• Sneaker Report - How Much Will the 2014 World Cup Winner Receive?


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More news & features
- End of year reflections
- Pilgrims excellence recognised for fifth year running with double win at Annual Security Awards
- Martin Casey Gold Award winner at Pilgrims Group Awards
- Nord Stream ll Gas Pipeline: the battle lines have been drawn, says Pilgrims analyst
- Pilgrims Group Appoints Senior Bid Manager
- Employers' increasing concern to keep people safe
- Action Counters Terrorism: Pilgrims Group supports national campaign
- Pilgrims Academy launches free guide and workshop on GDPR
- Iraqi election – lessons and prospects for the future
- Iraq Election – Lessons and Prospects
- Pilgrims Group Launches TeamScape360
- Pilgrims Group builds Manned Guarding success on strong teams and technology
- RUSI publishes Afghanistan conflict assessment by Pilgrims analyst
- Reflections on an eventful year and working together for peace and prosperity
- Pilgrims Group wins at Security Excellence Awards 2017 for seventh year running
- New burn-injury Training Day planned for health professionals
- Pilgrims Group wins security contract with BBC Studioworks Ltd
- Pilgrims Group Nominated for Excellence Awards for seventh year
- Pilgrims brings team together on the HUB
- Pilgrims Group Wins Five Year Contract with ITV
- Enhanced First Aid Course, EFAW+, launched to meet new terror attack challenges
- Danny Moody Joins Pilgrims Group as Strategic Development Manager, London
- Pilgrims Group Selected to Safeguard ITV's Leaders' Debate
- Las Vegas shooting – what steps can we take to protect ourselves?
- Emergency Preparedness: what should you do?
- Neil Corbett Wins Gold at Pilgrims Guarding Awards
- An intelligent approach to global business
- Cybersecurity made simple
- Pilgrims Academy partners with NDC Management to extend training range
- Pilgrims Academy launches online one-stop shop with full range of course options
- Pilgrims Academy Open Day– Friday 14 July
- Being Prepared in troubled times
- Pilgrims Academy wins Highfield ABC accreditation
- Cybersecurity – common threats and measures
- McBride extends Pilgrims Group contract
- Statement on terror attack in Manchester
- Pilgrims Group wins prestigious PWC UK contract
- Pilgrims Group supports the Worshipful Company's Register of Chartered Security Professionals
- » View full article list
Published: January 31, 2018
Pilgrims has developed a new, unique training offer that provides transformative team building experiences for organisations and professionals in every walk of life.
TeamScape360 blends essential team building with life skills using real life scenarios to immerse delegates into various situations and challenges. Use of a dynamic and realistic environment prepares employees more effectively than the traditional team building available and our training helps delegates cement the key communication, leadership and teamwork skills organisations aim to develop.
TeamScape360 provides a highly effective and output focussed option that allows staff to develop the necessary skills of working together in a safe and fun environment. The recreation of lifelike situations, with scenarios ranging from natural disasters to investigative missions, enables delegates to benefit from improved reaction times and muscle memory responses.
TeamScape360 draws upon the remarkable facilities at the Pilgrims Academy, including film style sets which recreate a variety of realistic urban environments, from a high street and bank to a police station, where the sounds and even smells of a disaster can be replicated.
Professionals who have attended the course, which was nominated for a Security Excellence Award in 2017, have described it as a "true investment in people", "a fantastic, thorough and helpful course" and "the best team building I've done: not only are the skills learned relevant in work situations, they are equally pertinent in any situation."
David Freear, Pilgrims Group Chief Operations Officer, comments: "We realised that our experience in delivering training that prepares people for potential incidents and disasters also offers an ideal way of building a strong team ethic among the staff of any organisation, not just those most likely to face conflict or danger but anyone who is part of a team. By bringing the training into our Academy facility, we were able to develop this new course and offer it to customers throughout industry and the public sector.
"TeamScape360 combines team building with life-saving skills. We are confident it will appeal to any organisation proactively seeking to build stronger, more confident teams and engaging with the challenges of the modern world."


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Congratulations, and welcome to the next phase of your education!
TAE graduates find employment opportunities in businesses, governmental agencies, international organizations, and academic institutions.
Careers are open to graduates as scientists, educators, managers, marketers, merchandising and sales representatives, social services specialists, and agriculturalists trained in all aspects of plant production, management, breeding, and genetics. Entrepreneurship opportunities exist in food and ornamental plant production as well as the landscape industries. The links listed on this page provide an entry point for investigating some of your many career options, but they are by no means comprehensive. If you find a career resource link you'd like to share with your fellow students and graduates, or if you'd like to bring a job posting to the attention of TPSS students and alumni, please contact the department.
Current openings may be accessed through:
Seed Your Future – Horticulture Careers
Crop Science Society of America (Horticulture)
American Society of Agronomy (Agronomy)
Soil Science Society of America (Soil Sciences)
American Public Gardens Association (Environmental & Public Horticulture)
Did you know…
that a TPSS faculty member helped create Hawai'i's biggest agricultural industry? In the 1960s, when sugarcane and pineapple accounted for more than 70 percent of Hawai'i' farm revenues, Professor James Brewbaker—"Dr. B"—recognized the value of the state's year-round growing season and convinced mainland seed producers to establish a seed corn crop on Moloka'i. Today, the state's most valuable crop isn't sugar or pineapple; it's seeds. Hawai'i's seed industry is worth more than $220 million and employs about 1,800 people. And they're hiring!


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ShareThisIntroduction to the Sailing System
The fantastic world of Tamer Saga is filled with all kinds of magical things. Smart tamers have even mastered sailing skills. Some brave adventurers have set sail to explore the vast sea starting at the Valiant Coast. What are in the vast sea? What will the brave adventurers encounter while sailing? What will they obtain?
Now please allow me to introduce the sailing system briefly.
Step 1: To set sail, unfold the Event list first and then the Sailing panel.
Each day, adventurers can only set sail during 8:00am and 11:00pm. Only Level 40+ adventurers are able to set sail. Each day, each player can only set sail once, plunder 10 fleets and escort 3 fleets. Each round lasts 20 minutes including 5-min preparation time and 15-min sailing time.
Sailing panel
Step 2: Click the button to choose a fleet for sailing.
You can spend 10 Crystals in refreshing fleet, attempting to get a better fleet. By refreshing fleet, you may get a better or a poorer fleet. However, you may not get a "Sea Monster" by refreshing fleet unless when you've summoned a "Wave Surfer". You may also directly summon a "Wave Surfer" or a "Sea Monster" to sail.
Wave Surfer Callers are available in the Mall, but Sea Monster Callers are not available in the Mall. You may gain a Sea Monster Caller when finishing sailing or opening one Demon's Treasure Box.
You can hire sailors to increase defense and maximum health of your active units. Each Sailor increases defense and maximum HP of defenders by 10%. It costs Crystals to hire a sailor. As you hire more, it will cost you more Crystals to hire one more sailor.
You can also practice Sailing Divination to avoid gaining some items when finishing sailing. You will gain one of the items listed when the sailing finishes. You may click any item to avoid gaining it, but you can only avoid up to 5 items.
When you've gotten ready, simply click the "Set Off" button to set sail.
During sailing, you may escort or plunder others.
While you are escorting a fleet, you will help fight against those who attempt to plunder the fleet.
You may plunder the same fleet only once. Each of the first 3 players who successfully plunder the fleet will loot 10% of the fleet carried Gold. Later on, player will only gain 1% of the fleet carried Gold when successfully plundering it. But will gain 0.5% if lost.
TamerSaga Team


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Beer:30… 21st Amendment Monk's Blood.
21st Amendment is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries as of late. The last few beers that I have had from them have been nothing short of spectacular, especially their Lower DeBoom Barleywine from their "Big Can" series. They have now reached the status in my household that when they are noticed in the store, they usually come home with me. Awww, how sweet right?
Monk's Blood is very interesting. They categorize it as a Belgian Dark Ale, and according to their website, their founders traveled to Belgium to visit small breweries to develop this beer. Talk about a dream trip! Anyway, lets pour some Monk's Blood…
To say this beer pours dark would be an understatement. It is almost black in my glass, with a nice quick forming, but also quickly disappearing head. The smell that comes off of this brew is an interesting mix of darker fruits, with a small hint of vanilla. Taste wise, the dark fruit flavors really overpower this beer. There is a sweet malt flavor in there as well, and the beer finishes dry and spicy, with a bit of cinnamon. I am not picking up any alcohol flavors, which is a bit odd since it clocks in at 8.3% ABV. One point that should be noted though, is let this beer warm up a tad. We Americans drink our beer way too cold, this beer needs to warm up a bit to release more of the flavors.
Overall, this beer is not as sweet as I was expecting, but it is still a great beer. It reminds me of their Fireside Chat seasonal; with a different, less spicy, more on the dark fruit flavor. As with everything else that I have had from them, I would definitely buy this one again.
Well done 21st!
Beer:30… 21st Amendment Lower DeBoom Barleywine.
Yesterday I took out my wife for her birthday lunch at our favorite restaurant in our little burg, Padrino (Check them out here. Not only is their food top notch, but their beer list is one of the best in the Cincinnati area. Anyway, once inside the restaurant, I glanced at the taps and spotted something that I had not seen before. Enter 21st Amendment's Lower DeBoom Barleywine:
If you remember, I first noticed 21st Amendment with their winter seasonal, Fireside Chat (Review here). Definitely a tasty brew, which got me interested in the brand. This beer, however, was completely off of my radar. Here is why:
This beer is part of their "Big Can" series, which basically is a keg only, three times a year or so release of a limited, small batch beer. Luckily, Padrino scored a keg of this monster, here are my thoughts…
The beer pours into your snifter like most barleywines, with a ruby hue, topped off with a decent sized, almost creamy head. Flavor wise, this barleywine delivers. Nice fruity flavors blend with malt goodness and hints of toffee, finishing with a nice bit of alcohol. Easier to drink than Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot, or Anchor Brewing's Old Foghorn. Not knocking those two beers, but this beer is special. The flavors blend so nicely, and more start to show themselves once your glass has warmed a bit. I found myself wanting a second glass, but since it was my wife's birthday lunch I had to refrain, luckily for me since this beer is around 10.5% ABV.
This has been a solid barleywine from 21st Amendment, and one of the best that I have had. This beer ranks up their with Great Divide's Old Ruffian for me when it comes to the style. I will be heading back to Padrino to have some more of this delight. Well done!
Just Riding Along… Day 13.
Yesterday's installment of the month of biking brought out some friends for a night ride. Unseasonal warm temperatures made the evening bearable, so lots of miles were thrown down. Lots of time on the Little Miami:
Find more Cycling Routes / Bike Rides in Milford, OH
Once off of the trail, we did some beer sampling with some of this season's staples, 21st Amendment's Fireside Chat, and Moerlein's Christkindl. Great way to end the evening, beer and stories in the garage.
Beer:30… Fireside Chat.
Days are getting shorter, and also colder, so that only means that the beer is getting darker. This time a year is a special time for beers, due to the fact that almost every single craft brewer throws out their special "Winter" seasonal brew. 21st Amendment Brewery is no exception to this rule, enter their Fireside Chat.
Winter ales are usually a tad heavier in general, but this beer is a pleasure to drink. I have to admit, what sold me on the beer itself was the packaging. On the six pack cardboard holder, and also the can (more on that later) is a nice artist rendition of F. D. Roosevelt sitting in a comfy chair, smoking a cigarrette, and doing his depression era radio addresses. This picture made me happy when I first laid eyes on it. Such a good image. The other thing that I found interesting on this beer is that it is in cans.
Cans just make sense for beer. Especially craft beer. With a can, you get lighter shipping loads, which makes it easier for smaller craft brewers to turn a profit. It also packs easily, for taking your beer along for the trip. For example, it worked pretty well in the Xtracycle freeloaders. Another perk is that when it goes empty, you crush the can, and have less bulk leftover to pack back out. That is nice, with no clanking around, the can keeps that horrible sound at bay. But, the biggest perk in my opinion when dealing with cans is that there is ZERO light pollution. In a can, you are probably not going to get the dreaded skunky beer that reaches this point from being exposed to too much sunlight during the shipping process. This essentially gets you, the consumer, the beer in the intended state that the brewer would prefer. Seriously, who likes skunky beer? Not I.
Lets get down to the beer itself. I have been nursing a sixer of this brew for around a week. Due to a current cold that I have been struggling with, I have had to take my sweet time just so I could get the full effect of this beer without a ruined sense of taste. I will admit, my first taste of this beer with a cold made me think I was drinking a Spice Girl. Let your mind ponder that for a second.
After my taste buds returned to normal, I have grown to appreciate this delicious beer. Here is the rundown: 7.9% alcohol, which there is not as much of an alcohol taste in this beer. I feel a larger alcohol after-burn would probably ruin it, but that's just an opinion. Lots of spice flavor going on in here, which when mixed with all of the various malts that are used, it keeps the spice in check. Maybe that was the issue with Anchor Steam's Christmas ale last year. That was the only beer that I poured out in 2010, it made me feel like I had done a line of ginger. Back to 21st though, the beer finishes nicely, and makes you head to the fridge for another.
Hats off to 21st for making this beer. Winter, spice driven ales are not my forte, but this one is definitely one that I will remember for next season. If you are intrigued, run fast to your local grocer due to the season for this beer goes from October to December.
I have a feeling that FDR himself would approve…
Just riding along… Riding with the moon.
Last night was gorgeous. By gorgeous I mean temperatures close to fifty degrees, and a mostly clear sky with a full moon. A night like that calls for one thing: Bike ride. A couple friends were summoned, some "essentials" were loaded into the HaroX, and off we went down the trail.
All three of us had lights on our respective bikes, and also headlamps, but once on the trail, it was unnecessary. The moon was out in full effect, casting a gentle glow over the entire bike path, enabling us to let our eyes adjust and ride on without using any artificial light. This was not the longest or most extreme ride that I have done this year, but quite honestly it was one of my favorites. Around fifteen or so miles in around 2 hours, the pace was light, with a few stops and conversations. After the ride it was winter seasonal beer sampling time:
The beers on the agenda for the evening were two highly enjoyable brews, 21st Amendment Brewery's Fireside Chat, and Cincinnati's own, Rivertown Brewing Company's Winter Ale. Both beers were heavy on the spice, and both had a nice winter beer flavor. After a few of these, I didn't mind the cooler temperature.
I think that a ride like this should happen a little more regularly, maybe when the weather starts turning warmer again. Hopefully this was not the last of the nicer weather, but looking out the window today says otherwise…


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Before I started coloring my hair, I had a lot of doubts and misgivings about using Hair Color. Even though I needed it to cover my white strands, I was worried that hair color might be difficult to apply at home and would damage my hair terribly. In this post, I have addressed some common myths regarding hair color ~
Myth #1 : Hair Color gives a dry, damaged look to the hair
It depends on the type of color you are using. Permanent dyes and bleach do cause visible dryness and damage but semi-permanent hair colors are much gentler on the hair and cause minimal damage. I have been using semi-permanent hair colors for a while now and my hair doesn't look dry or damaged. But few years back when I had experimented with highlights (which was done by bleaching few section of hair), my hair did look excessively dry and straw-like. To preserve the shine and health of your hair, I would recommend going with a ammonia-free, semi-permanent hair color like the L'Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss.
Myth #2 : Hair Color causes premature graying of hair
This is completely false. Graying of hair is governed by genetic factors and to some extent, stress. Gray hair results due to deterioration of the pigment producing portions of the hair follicles. As we get older, the production of the type of melanin that gives a specific hair color decreases and hence hair gets lighter and more translucent with age. So all this action occurs at the hair follicles which are not affected in any way when we color our hair!


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So, my best-of lists will probably not match yours (because I'm not as lazy as you are, and you obviously have all the time in the world), and there will probably be some glaring omissions, but ... tough luck, this is my blog!
Best movies of 2007
It's kinda funny, I was going to list the top 10, but when I counted, I had only watched 9 movies in the theatre this year! So here are my top five:
- Superbad: "It was either McLovin, or Mohammed" ... Friggin hilarious!
- 300: "This ... is ... Sparta!"
- Bourne Ultimatum: "If you were in your office, we'd be having this conversation face-to-face"
- American Gangster: I don' have a witty one-liner for this one, but trust me, it's a great movie
- Knocked Up: I'm tired of the haters! Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen rock!
- Alicia Keys - As I am: My average is dropping slightly, which is to say that I am only listening to the album once a day instead of 3 times a day.
- Ne-Yo - Because of you: Never thought I would like it, but I absolutely love it
- Jay-Z - American Gangster: "Don't compare me to other rappers/compare me to trappers, I'm more Frank Lucas than Ludacris"
- Kanye West - Graduation: Your third album is nice with it, but not as nice as your big brother (aka B.I.G.'s brother, used to be Dame and Biggs' brother)
- Beyonce - BDay: Whenever someone says, "To the left", I have this uncontrollable urge to sing, "To the left, to the left"
- Dexter - Season 2: Serial killer meets stand-up comedian
- Lost - Season 3: Jack and Kate meet "the others"
- Heroes - Season 1: Sylar meets Peter. Chin meets disappointment
- Californication: Down-on-his-luck writer meets lots of hot girls ... and has sex with all of them.
- Damn near anything on TLC: Jon and Kate plus eight, Little People Big World, LA Ink, Miami Ink, American Chopper, Flip this House, oh my!
- Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
- Metroid Prime: Corruption
- Rainbow Six Vegas
- Guitar Hero 2
- Rock Band
- Bomberman
- Call of Duty 4


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Bump Work, the latest cut from Lil Jon. It was released on Wednesday, March 6th, 2013. Things are improving for Lil Jon with each new offering, and Work is certainly no exception. It's a worthy addition to the Lil Jon's catalogue, which has seen much evolution as of late. We're definitely anticipating the next step.
Check out Lil Jon on Turn Down For What (Radio Rip), featuring DJ Snake. If your interest is piqued, hit up Lil Jon's profile for more info, news, songs, and mixtapes.
How do you feel about the production here?


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Press Release
RNP Press Release
June 13, 2011
Renewable Northwest Supports Complaints to FERC Surrounding BPA Over-Generation Policy
Portland, Ore. -- Renewable Northwest – a non-profit regional advocacy group – issued the following statement today to support a complaint filed by a coalition of Northwest energy companies to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in response to the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) "Environmental Redispatch" policy to over-generation. Executive Director Rachel Shimshak provided the following remarks:
We understand why wind power generators, investor-owned utilities and renewable energy stakeholders are filing FERC complaints about the BPA's chosen approach to over-generation. While we acknowledge the challenge of a record snowpack, the surplus power generation impacting the Bonneville system is caused by too much water, not too much wind. We hope that FERC, the BPA and regional stakeholders can together find an equitable solution to the current over-generation challenges, and we urge all to work swiftly and collaboratively toward effective long-term strategies for the future that address a diversity of scenarios, including this one. We stand ready to engage in that process.
Unilaterally curtailing wind projects with no compensation is an inappropriate solution with negative impacts. It is also inconsistent with the Northwest's future-forward commitment to harnessing renewable energy resources. Curtailing clean, free wind power is bad for ratepayers, businesses and the environment, and it sends a signal of uncertainty to renewable energy companies, which have invested heavily in the Northwest, bringing jobs and tax revenues to resource-dependent rural communities. This issue is not about power reliability: it is about money and how to equitably allocate the costs of over-generation events to customers of BPA's system. We recommend a diversity of more cost-effective solutions, such as displacing coal outside the BPA balancing area and responsible additional spill over dams.
The Northwest is moving away from coal toward a clean energy future. We must rise to the occasion as leaders, innovating through the transition to optimize the inclusion of clean, renewable energy on our system and neighboring ones. At a time when the region and world are seeking solutions to a safer, more stable energy system, we must deploy plans that support the growth of renewables as opposed to hindering such progress.
Renewable Northwest is a regional nonprofit advocacy organization promoting responsible development of renewable energy resources in the Northwest. For more information, visit www.renewablenw.org.Renewable Northwest is a regional nonprofit advocacy organization promoting responsible development of renewable energy resources in the Northwest. For more information, visit www.renewablenw.org.
For more information contact:
Erin Greeson


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Dr Steve wants to make house calls available to as many folks as possible. To that end, he offers all sorts of discounts! Check 'em out:
Senior Citizens
10% if you're over 65. ID may be required if you look too young!
First Responders
10% off for police, fire, EMS. Just flash your badge!
Military & Pets For Patriots
10% off for active or retired military personnel. Pets for Patriots' vision is to end animal homelessness by supporting the permanent placement of adult dogs and cats with every available, able and willing military family in the United States. Dr Steve is proud to offer a 40% discount to pet owners in this program. Thank you for your service!
Good Neighbors
If you and at least one neighbor (same building or same block) schedule back to back house calls on the same day, you'll each get 10% off.
Multiple Pets
If you have 4 or more pets that will need examinations on the same visit, you'll get 10% off of all services. Dogs and cats only!
10% off for part-time college students, 15% off for full-time college students.
Pet Industry Discount
Are you a groomer, dog-walker or pet-sitter? Do you work for a veterinary hospital, pet store, boarding facility or dog trainer? If your job revolves around pets, you'll get 10% off all services.
Pet Rescue Discount
If you are a 501 (c) (3) pet rescue operation, and the pet that needs veterinary care is a current rescue or foster, you'll get 10% off services.
Hardship Discount
Have you hit rock bottom? Have you lost your career, your home or your health? Talk to Dr Steve. After hearing about your situation, he just might be able to offer you a more manageable fee.
Discounts cannot be combined. They are for residents of Dr Steve's primary territory and apply to veterinary services only. Discounts cannot be applied to cremation services, decorative urns, urn engraving, clay paw prints or prescription medication.
Please tell Dr Steve about your eligibility for a discount during the home visit. Discount status is not assumed, it must be specifically requested. Discount-related refunds cannot be given for home visits that have already been completed.


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Podcast: Jim Berkenstadt, Rock And Roll Detective, LLC
On March 21, 2012 Jim Berkenstadt was interviewed by IBMadison.com:In Business with Jody & Joan. Listen to the Podcast below.
Jim Berkenstadt, Rock and Roll Detective, LLC, takes us inside the business of his very special niche – finding "lost" recordings and supplying historical band information to projects directed by Martin Scorsese, Apple record label, and Cirque du Soleil. He has a new book coming out on "The Beatle Who Vanished," and yes, it's about the Fab Four (five?), but it's not about Peter Best. Who is it? Tune in!
Posted in: NewsLeave a Comment: (0) →


text: It was UN Day at my school last week, which means dressing up, eating great food and doing awesome workshops. No, I didn't wear the floral shirt, but it did make an appearance at the Kemang V Residence Street Party last Saturday. However, I did wear my wedding/fancy dance clothes (see "A Timeline of Dhaka Memories in Photographs)with the addition of my plaid bunnet, and I looked as dapper as always. The day started off with SLA, which is basically a period where you do homework. We had a mini-banquet of international food. There were brownies (America), pepernoten (mini cinnamon biscuits, the Netherlands), lemper (chicken wrapped in sweet sticky rice, Indonesia) and butter tart squares (Canada). My teacher, Mr Hara, brought in natto, fermented soybeans mixed with Japanese mustard and fried onions. I was the only one who tried it. At first it tasted like weird cheese, which was okay, but then I tried to swallow. When my throat blocked up I knew I needed to get it out of my system. I had to make a mad dash for the bathroom to spit it out. Yikes. I cleansed my mouth with brownies while watching other members of my class give presentations about their home countries.


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Since we have basically tabbed all the say anything there is, or the lionshare anyway, what if we had community tab events? Where we select a CD or EP and a goal and try to have it tabbed within a few weeks or something. If everyone would suggest something, we could take up a vote and do it. It's also okay to tab something that has been done extensively since this is supposed to be our work and version and it would be good practice.
If everyone would submit EPs to try (let's start small) then we could have a vote of what we think. We could even do the pilot on a song by song basis.
Let's see how it goes.
New ideas, need comments!
Post Reply
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New ideas, need comments!
Self-inflicted or not, I find myself on the farthest star, foreign to everything like I woke up with a German tongue.
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