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The fly-by. Five guys skating by the bench for high fives after a goal. Ubiquitous in NHL arenas.
When did it begin?
I wanted to find out, so I called Darcy Tucker.
We'd heard that Vancouver Giants head coach Don Hay has said he thinks the three-time Memorial Cup champion Kamloops Blazers – his former team – may have started the trend in the early 90's.
Tucker remembers doing the fly-by, but not starting it. Ryan Huska, a former Blazer teammate and current Kelowna Rockets head coach, said the same.
Drew Bannister played for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the '92 Memorial Cup final against Kamloops. He says the Hounds were already doing the fly-by themselves, as were other OHL teams.
Square one. I turned to my colleagues.
Ray Ferraro figured it was a thing by 2000, but not a thing he warmly embraced.
"I hated it," he wrote in an email.
I watched old tapes. The fly-by was definitely happening by 2000. I found examples as early as the 95/96 season, like this one: Saku Koivu in his rookie year. Young players were more likely to do it than old, which is consistent with the widely held belief that junior hockey players were doing the fly-by before NHL'ers. It trickled up.
"It was totally a junior thing. I think it started close to my first year – 95," said Jeff O'Neill, who shares Ferraro's distaste for the fly-by. "I hate it."
But he did give me my first solid lead.
"I may be wrong, but I think the Peterborough Petes may have started it."
I called Jeff Twohey.
Twohey is the GM of the Oshawa Generals, but was with the Petes for 30 years. He started as a scout in 1980, and was general manager for 17 seasons.
"I think we were the first team to ever do it," says Twohey. "My gut was that we started it. We had such a tight-knit group back in the early 80's."
Definitely smoke. But fire? I asked around.
"It was not done when I was in junior from 81-84," wrote Dave Reid in an email. "Late 80's is probably close."
Andrew MacVicar played from 86-89 with the Petes. He remembers doing the fly-by, but only on big goals or in the playoffs.
"It was supposed to be something really special," says MacVicar.
MacVicar's specific memory that teammate Billy Huard began doing the fly-by more often and earlier in games as a way to get under the skin of Petes' opponents was a dead end, too. Huard has no recollection of doing it at all, let alone having a hand in its evolution.
MacVicar thought Jamie Hicks (86-90) would remember. He doesn't. He also thought Mark Freer (85-88) might remember. Freer does, vaguely, but he named Kris King as the possible creator of the fly-by, and King has no memory of it. King then suggested that Twohey might have something to say on the matter.
This is about the time I got dizzy.
I called Corey Foster, who played in Peterborough from 86-89. He says the Petes were definitely doing the fly-by in his final year with the team, when they went to the Memorial Cup. I went back to the tape library. No Petes games.
But we do have the final, and I found a fly-by. Scott Scissons, playing for the Saskatoon Blades. It's a beta version of the fly-by – instead of flying past the bench, the players sort of turn around and just stand there – but it counts. That's the earliest video evidence we have.
It seemed unlikely that the Scissons goal was the fly-by's big bang. I was getting nowhere, so we put the question to twitter. Curious theories poured in.
One suggestion had it that the fly-by grew out of Brian Propp's unique and unusual 'guffaw' goal celebration. Propp says no.
Others blamed Hollywood. I knew the 'Top Gun' hypothesis was a joke, but I watched all of 'D2: Mighty Ducks' and 'Slap Shot' before I realized those were probably tongue-in-cheek suggestions, and references to the Flying V and Steve Hanson. "Bring the kids. We got entertainment for the whole family."
Plenty of people figure the fly-by started at the World Juniors, but we can't find any examples of it before 1991.
In Red Deer in 1995, Team Canada was doing the fly-by in its current form: all five players skating by the bench. Before that, the video evidence is less compelling. There are solid signs of it at the 94 and 93 tournaments. In '92 and '91, we know that the goal-scorer on at least a few occasions did the fly-by, though in most cases we can't tell if his teammates joined in, and in some cases we know they did not. (As in this goal by Paul Kariya, for example).
Did it start with the Montreal Canadiens? For a brief time, the Habs bench would empty for every goal: everyone celebrating on the ice together. When a rule was implemented to end that practice, the theory goes, the team began the fly-by. Mark Napier, a Canadien from 1978-84, said no.
Did it start with the Edmonton Oilers in the mid-80's? Napier (84-86 with the Oilers) said no again. As did Paul Coffey, adamantly.
"Why do (the fly-by)? What's the point? Just celebrate with the guys on the ice, and go line up."
That sounds suspiciously like Jester talking to Maverick: "Get your butts above the hard deck and return to base immediately." Maybe I should revisit the 'Top Gun' theory.
At this point, I got a tip that the fly-by started in Moose Jaw in the mid-to-late 80's. Lorne Molleken – an assistant coach in his first season with Moose Jaw in '89 – remembers it. He thinks.
"What sticks out in my mind is moreso the players high-fiving the fans," said Molleken. The Moose Jaw Civic Centre – or the 'Crushed Can' – had unusually low glass beside the benches, says Molleken, and at some point players got the fans involved in goal celebrations.
"We came out of our end and there were piles of kids hanging over the glass," recalled Scott Reid, who played in Moose Jaw from 88-90. "No one else was doing it at the time that I can remember."
"We'd do our whole bench and fans from the bench to the hash mark," said Jerome Bechard, a Warrior from 85-90. "We probably skated 20 or 25 feet."
But not everyone shares that memory.
"I don't remember that," said Theo Fleury, who played four seasons in Moose Jaw. "You just didn't do that," said Fleury, laughing. "If you wanted to start a brawl, you did it."
Fleury's last season with the Warriors was 87/88, which means the earliest the fly-by was a thing in Moose Jaw is the following season, 88/89: the same time it was probably happening in Peterborough, and the same time it definitely sort-of happened by season's end in the Memorial Cup final.
Clear as mud.
Which brings us to the oddest and most intriguing theory of all: the fly-by was born on a French Canadian television drama about a fictional Quebec City hockey team.
'Lance et Compte' (which roughly translates as 'He shoots, he scores') aired from 1986 to 1989 in its first incarnation, and, sure enough, there's the fly-by in Season 1, Episode 5, albeit with just the one skater and not the full team.
"I remember that the director at the time wanted that shot because it was easy to shoot," says Rejean Tremblay, who wrote on the show. "One camera, five guys skating in front of the beach, you could make it in less than ten minutes."
Is it possible that the origin of the fly-by was the brainchild of a cost-conscious French Canadian director?
It seems unlikely, but really, it's about as likely as anything else.
TSN's Bob McKenzie sets up the start of training camp, going one-on-one with the GMs from all seven Canadian teams.
WATCH: Bryan Murray - Ottawa Senators
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TSN.ca previews what to expect out of the NHL's 30 teams as we count down to puck drop. Check daily for team previews and updates on each Canadian franchise leading up to Oct. 8.
Latest Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets


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By ERIC RUEB
KINGSTON ŌĆō There is still something left to play for.
The losses have piled up all season and have come in different fashions. There have been blowouts, thereŌĆÖs been tough overtime losses and games where the University of Rhode Island menŌĆÖs basketball team just didnŌĆÖt deserve to win.
Wednesday the Rams didnŌĆÖt necessarily deserve a victory; they were outrebounded and gave up a 10-point first-half lead, and with a shot to win came up with no legit looks at the basket to end the game there.
MenŌĆÖs basketball
Massachusetts at URI, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball
Tolman at West Warwick, 7 p.m.
West Warwick vs. Exeter-West Greenwich at North Smithfield, 4 p.m.
Girls swim
Narragansett vs. Mount St. Charles at Woonsocket YMCA, 4 p.m.
Pilgrim at Coventry, 7 p.m.
Narragansett at East Greenwich, 7 p.m.
Burrillville at South Kingstown, 7 p.m.
WomenŌĆÖs basketball
URI at Richmond, 7 p.m.
Boys basketball
Barrington at Chariho, 7 p.m.
Exeter-West Greenwich at Johnston, 7 p.m.
Pilgrim at Narragansett, 7 p.m.
Hope at Coventry, 7 p.m.
East Greenwich at Mount St. Charles, 7 p.m.
St. Raphael at South Kingstown, 7 p.m.
Prout at Davies, 7 p.m.
Rogers at West Warwick, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball
Exeter-West Greenwich at North Kingstown, 7 p.m.
Narragansett at Rogers, 7:30 p.m.
Johnston at Prout, 7 p.m.
Boys swim
East Greenwich vs. Prout at South County YMCA, 6:45 p.m.
North Kingstown at Cumberland, 4 p.m.
Boys basketball
Coventry at Cranston East, 7 p.m.
Portsmouth at North Kingstown, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball
Chariho at South Kingstown, 7 p.m.
Competition Cheerleading
Narragansett at RIIL Meet at Portsmouth, 7:30 p.m.
MenŌĆÖs basketball
URI at Dayton, 7 p.m.
WomenŌĆÖs basketball
Xavier at URI, 2 p.m.
East Greenwich, Exeter-West Greenwich, Narragansett at Ram Rumble at La Salle, 10:30 a.m.
Coventry vs. North Kingstown at Aim High Gymnastics, 6 p.m.
Barrington, Coventry, Portsmouth vs. North Kingstown at Aim High Gymnastics, 6 p.m.
West Warwick at Warwick Veterans, 4 p.m.
Boys hockey
Toll Gate vs. Coventry at West Warwick Civic Center, 10 p.m.
Portsmouth vs. East Greenwich at West Warwick Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
Boys basketball
Chariho at Lincoln, 7 p.m.
Coventry at Classical, 7 p.m.
Davies at East Greenwich, 7 p.m.
Cranston West at North Kingstown, 7 p.m.
Mount St. Charles at Prout, 7 p.m.
West Warwick at Tolman, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball
Portsmouth at Chariho, 7 p.m.
La Salle at Exeter-West Greenwich, 7 p.m.
Prout at Narragansett, 7 p.m.
Cranston West at North Kingstown, 7 p.m.
South Kingstown at Westerly, 7 p.m.
Warwick Veterans at West Warwick, 7 p.m.
Coventry vs. Middletown at YMCA Newport County, 7:30 p.m.
Boys hockey
Boys basketball
Burrillville at Exeter-West Greenwich, 7 p.m.
South Kingstown at Cranston East, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball
Coventry at Pilgrim, 7 p.m.
Girls swim
Bay View vs. Narragansett at East Providence, 4:30 p.m.
North Providence at Chariho, 7 p.m.
Exeter-West Greenwich, West Warwick at Johnston, 6 p.m.
Middletown at Narragansett, 7 p.m.
Cranston East, Cranston West at North Kingstown, 5 p.m.
By LINDSAY OLIVIER
NORTH KINGSTOWN ŌĆō At TuesdayŌĆÖs North Kingstown school committee meeting, Superintendent Dr. Philip Auger presented to the committee the first batch of proposed reductions and transfers to move the district towards a balanced fiscal year 2013 budget.
However, the reductions discussed only represented a situation in which the district was given a four percent increase in appropriation from the town.
NARRAGANSETT ŌĆö Former Rhode Island Governor J. Joseph Garrahy, 81, died Tuesday due to heart disease in a hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla. Garrahy has put on many faces during his tenure as a public figure in Rhode Island, from a beer salesman to Lieutenant Governor to the man in charge at the State House, but one always remained the same; his humility and candidness with others.
WOOD RIVER JUNCTION - Teacher evaluation is an important process for school districts around Rhode Island, but the Chariho School Committee sees improvements that can be made in the stateŌĆÖs model for evaluating teachers, and will push to have them brought to light.

subset: commoncrawl


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Located in the heart of the French Riviera, Villeneuve-Loubet is a village tucked away in the hills between Antibes and Nice, just 2km from the glorious beaches of the Cote d'Azur. Villeneuve-Loubet, France has managed to keep its village character, sitting proudly on a hilltop overlooking the coast and the new town which stretches down towards the Mediterranean.
There are over 4km of Blue Flag beaches lying at the foot of Villeneuve-Loubet, perfect for soaking up the sun during the long summer months. The beaches are a haven of activity, especially during the summer, with windsurfing, kayaking, jet skiing, banana boating and sailing centres all along the beach. Deep sea fishing and scuba diving trips can also be easily arranged from a Villeneuve-Loubet villa, letting you explore the very best of the Mediterranean.
There is an amazing amount to discover within the village from a Villeneuve-Loubet villa. The climb to the old village is quite strenuous if your Villeneuve-Loubet villa is located in the new town, but upon your arrival, you will immediately be certain that the effort was worth it. The medieval castle at the very top of the village is a crowning glory, surrounded by two layers of defensive walls, with 10 hectares of tropical gardens in which to walk. The picturesque Church of St Marc, the remains of the 7th Century temple and the Roman bridge over the River Loup also make for essential viewing from a Villeneuve-Loubet villa.
There is a huge range of sporting facilities available from a self catering Villeneuve-Loubet villa rental, including a 9 hole golf course, huge tennis centre and equestrian centre which provides hirelings, riding lessons and guided rides out into the lesser known rural areas of the French Riviera. There are 6km of footpaths leading directly from the village, ideal for a leisurely stroll after a long lunch in one of Villeneuve-Loubet's top restaurants.
It would be almost unforgivable not to make a slight detour into Nice on your way to or from the airport to your Villeneuve-Loubet villa. Flights to Villeneuve-Loubet usually land in Nice, and there is so much to see and do in the Riviera's most luxurious and famous city that it would be a real shame not to have a quick examination.
A Villeneuve-Loubet villa is an idyllic getaway at any time of year. During the summer months, daily temperatures soar past the 30˚C mark is extraordinary regularity between May and September, often hitting 40˚C during July and August. If you are trying to escape the British winter, you can bathe in temperatures of around 15-20˚C on most days.
The proximity of Nice International Airport (NCE) to a holiday rental villa in Villeneuve-Loubet makes taking a holiday here from the UK extremely straight-forward. There are regular flights to Nice from 17 airports throughout the UK, with cheap flights provided by easyJet and British Airways.


text: Not in this neighborhood. A CSL Plasma Center will not be allowed to move into the former L&L Food Center building in Carriage Hills. The Meridian Township planning commission last night voted down a proposal for the move, saying such a business belongs in a commercially zones area of the township.


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Equine Distress Monitor
|Recent studies from the American Horse Council (AHC) show that the horse industry in the United States contributes $39 billion in direct economic impact to the US economy and supports 1.4 million jobs on a full-time basis. However, a high horse fatality rate negatively impacts the overall industry performance. Colic was second only to old age as the major cause of equine death. The incidence of colic was 4.2 events per 100 horses per year, regardless of breed, use, or sex; and a case fatality rate of 11%. Death of horses with colic, the high average cost of care for horses that required surgery, and the number of horses that require surgery contributed to the cost of colic which the USDA estimated to be $115 million annually. Researchers at Utah State University have identified the need to reduce the frequency of these situations and have developed a novel sensor system for continuous monitoring of horses to detect and analyze behaviors that can indicate a variety of health conditions, such as colic or casting, which may result in serious injury to the animal.
|Features and Benefits
|The technology includes a wearable sensor system that records movements and correlates behavioral patterns with the health and safety of animals. Sensors mounted on the animal collect motion. If relevant motion is detected, the pattern recognition algorithms analyze the data to determine if the animal is in a distress situation or experiencing another type of behavior that requires intervention. The system correlates the analyzed motion data with characteristic animal behaviors and wirelessly transmits it to a base station. If distress is identified and intervention is required, the base-station automatically sends an alert to the staff.
|Development Stage
|A functioning prototype device has been successfully developed and tested. Opportunities are available to license the technology.
|Patent Pending
|Glenn Whichard
Senior Commercialization Associate
Physical Sciences
(435) 797-9604
Reference: W08057


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M&C Saatchi Plc
Advertising Agencies United Kingdom
| London Stock Exchange: SAA
Similar to: WPP Plc, Havas SA, WPP Plc
M&C Saatchi Plc provides advertising and marketing services. The company provides corporate issues consultancy, public relations, media planning, agency services and production of entertainment programs for television. The company has operations in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and South America. M&C Saatchi was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.


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The last stop on the Bethel-in-Spain itinerary is the city of Madrid. In comparison with some of the more ancient cities in Spain with Visigothic, Roman and even Iberian origins, Madrid was only founded in the middle of the ninth century by the Moorish king, Mohammed the First. Alfonso VI conquered what was then just a small hamlet in his advance towards Toledo, but it was Felipe II who finally moved the royal court of Spain to Madrid in 1561, and thus it became the de facto capital. Since then the city has evolved from a provincial town to a booming metropolis, particularly since the inclusion of Spain in the European Union . Presently, Madrid is a fully modernized European capital city with its own subway, regional transportation system, centralized highway network, and booming economy. There are many important cultural and tourist spots within the city, including the so-called Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprised of the famous Prado Museum, (with extensive collections of the Spanish masters Diego Velázquez and Francisco de Goya), the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum (where Pablo Picasso 's Guernica hangs). We will visit both the Prado and the Reina Sofia as part of the program, and on their own time students can visit the Plaza Mayor (the city's central plaza); the Gran Via (its shopping district); Las Ventas (perhaps the most famous bullring in all of Spain); the Parque del Buen Retiro; and many other cultural, historical, and social sites.
During our stay in Madrid, we will take an excursion to the nearby town of Toledo which was famous for its swordsmiths and is still known for housing the most extensive collection of artwork by El Greco in its many churches, convents, museums, and galleries. Originally a Roman outpost in Spain, Toledo is far older than Madrid and has been controlled intermittently by the Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and finally the Christian Spanish forces under Alfonso VI of Castile in 1085. Toledo is also know for its alcazar (Arabic for castle), as well as its dramatic geographical setting atop a steep cliff which overlooks the Tagus River.


text:
NAVIGON questions and answers
If you drive using NAVIGON, you'll want the exact details. How to download updates, for example, or install additional maps or services, or how NAVIGON FreshMaps works. You'll find manuals, downloads and answers to your questions here.
Select a topic, or enter a keyword to restrict your selection.
All items
Available answers: 468
- Is it possible to enlarge the map shown in the destination dialog?
- How can I open the map options or end the navigation when real signs are shown?
- Is it possible to use the european and the north american version at the same time on one iPhone?
- What can I do to improve the GPS-Signal of my iPhone?
- What is NAVIGON select?
- What does "In App Purchase" mean?
- How can I get NAVIGON select?
- Which functions are supported by NAVIGON select?
- What has to be considered when installing software?
- Note on downloading additional files over the mobile service network


text:
Clark County air quality officials issued a dust advisory Monday as forecasted wind gusts pick up throughout the area.
The advisory was in effect through Tuesday morning.
According to the county's Department of Air Quality, officials directed the advisory particularly to people working or engaging in outdoor activities. The department said there were no indications of unhealthy levels of dust early in the advisory.
FOX5 meteorologist Ted Pretty reported winds could top 65 mph during times on Monday.
You can get the latest forecast on air quality at http://redrock.clarkcountynv.gov/forecast.
The department also recommended the following tips when traveling during the high winds:
Stay tuned to FOX5 for the latest on this developing story.
Copyright 2013 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.


text:
Chelsea Charles1 Items Found
Chelsea Charles
Belk Chelsea Charles
Gorgeous Chelsea Charles jewelry from Belk is available in a variety of lovely styles for any occasion. Our Chelsea Charles Southern Designer collection includes jewelry fashions that complement any wardrobe. Find Chelsea Charles designs in necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings that are beautiful expressions of fashion. Unique jewelry from Chelsea Charles makes fabulous gifts for any lucky ladies on your gift list. Enjoy a variety of styles in our Chelsea Charles Southern Designer collection that are sure to catch your fancy. Find jewelry from Chelsea Charles for the sophisticated woman from the lovely selection at Belk.


text:
28 U.S. Code § 537 - Expenses of unforeseen emergencies of a confidential character
Appropriations for the Federal Bureau of Investigation are available for expenses of unforeseen emergencies of a confidential character, when so specified in the appropriation concerned, to be spent under the direction of the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall certify the amount spent that he considers advisable not to specify, and his certification is a sufficient voucher for the amount therein expressed to have been spent.
Source(Added Pub. L. 89–554, § 4(c),Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 617.)
|U.S. Code
|Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
|5 U.S.C. 341c (less last sentence).
|July 28, 1950, ch. 503, § 5 (less last sentence), 64 Stat. 380.
The section is revised and reorganized for clarity. The words "now or hereafter provided" are omitted as unnecessary. The words "for expenses of membership in the International Commission of Criminal Police and" are omitted as obsolete. The Act of Aug. 27, 1958, Pub. L. 85–768, 72 Stat. 921 (22 U.S.C. 263a) authorizes the Attorney General to accept and maintain, on behalf of the United States, membership in the International Criminal Police Organization, and to designate any departments and agencies which may participate in the United States representation with that organization; and authorizes each participating department and agency to pay its pro rata share, as determined by the Attorney General, of the expenses of such membership. The word "spent" is substituted for "expended". The words "certify the amount spent that he considers" are substituted for "make a certificate of the amount of any such expenditure as he may think it". The words "his certification is a sufficient voucher" are substituted for "and every such certificate shall be deemed a sufficient voucher".
The table below lists the classification updates, since Jan. 3, 2012, for this section. Updates to a broader range of sections may be found at the update page for containing chapter, title, etc.
The most recent Classification Table update that we have noticed was Tuesday, August 13, 2013
An empty table indicates that we see no relevant changes listed in the classification tables. If you suspect that our system may be missing something, please double-check with the Office of the Law Revision Counsel.
|Description of Change
|Session Year
|Public Law
|Statutes at Large
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Separated from the country's colonial heartland by the craggy peaks of the Sierra Madre, the stretch of land from Guadalajara to Mexico City through the semitropical states of Jalisco and Michoacán has an unhurried ease that marks it out from the rest of the country. Containing a complex landscape of lofty plains and rugged sierras, the area is blessed with supremely fertile farms, fresh pine woods, cool pastures and lush tropical forest.
Something of a backwater until well into the eighteenth century, the high valleys of Michoacán and Jalisco were left to develop their own strong regional traditions and solid farming economy. Wherever you go, you'll find a wealth of local commercial goods, both agricultural and traditionally manufactured items, from avocados to tequila, glassware to guitars. Relative isolation has also made the region a bastion of conservatism – in the years following the Revolution, the Catholic Cristero counter-revolutionary guerrilla movement enjoyed its strongest support here.
Easygoing Guadalajara, Mexico's second city is packed with elegant buildings and surrounded by scenic countryside. Outside the city, the land is spectacularly green and mountainous, studded with volcanoes and lakes, most famously Laguna de Chapala. There are also some superb colonial relics, especially in the forms of Morelia and Pátzcuaro, although it's the latter's majestic setting and still powerful Indian traditions that first call your attention.
The region has not been unaffected by the country's drug wars, however, as was gruesomely illustrated during Independence Day celebrations in 2008, when gangsters threw grenades into the crowd in Morelia's main square, killing eight people. The drug lords aren't interested in law-abiding tourists, so there's no cause for undue alarm, but you'll notice an increased presence of heavily armed soldiers and federal police, especially in smaller towns. What you won't see is the number of Michoacán's villages which are now under the control of armed gangs, whether drug producers or local vigilantes, but at any rate no force belonging to the state. Again, unless you're venturing well off the beaten track, you don't need to worry about this, but you may want to confine your wanderings to the well-worn routes, and when travelling along the state's byways, to do so during the hours of daylight.Read More
Jalisco and Michoacán fiestas
Jalisco and Michoacán fiestas
Both Jalisco and Michoacán preserve strong native traditions and are particularly rich in fiestas: the list given here is by no means exhaustive, and local tourist offices will have further details.
New Year's Day (Jan 1). Celebrated in Pátzcuaro and Uruapan with the Danza de los Viejitos (Dance of the Little Old Men).
Día de los Santos Reyes (Jan 6). Twelfth Night is celebrated with many small ceremonies and dances such as Los Sonajeros (rattles), Las Pastoras (the shepherdesses) and El Baile de la Conquista (conquest). Particularly good at Los Reyes (west of Uruapan) and Cajititlán (25km south of Guadalajara).
Día de San Sebastian (Jan 20). Traditional dances in Tuxpan (30km southeast of Ciudad Gúzman).
Día de Nuestro Señor del Rescate (Feb 1). In Tzintzuntzán, the start of a week-long fiesta founded in the sixteenth century by Vasco de Quiroga.
Carnaval (the week before Lent, variable Feb–March). Celebrated everywhere.
Festival Internacional de Guitarra (late March or early April) International Guitar Festival in Morelia.
Palm Sunday (the Sun before Easter Sun). Palm ornament market in Uruapan.
Semana Santa (Holy Week). Observed everywhere, but especially in Tzintzuntzán.
Expo Feria (variable April–May). Arts and industry show in Morelia.
Día de la Santa Cruz (May 3). Native dances in Angangueo; mariachis and tequila in Tequila.
Día del Señor de la Misericordia (last Sun in May). Fiesta and dances in Tuxpan (southeast of Ciudad Gúzman).
Corpus Christi (Thurs after Trinity, variable late May to early June). Traditional dances in Paracho (50km south of Zamora).
Día de San Pedro (June 29). Mariachi and dance festival in Tlaquepaque, Guadalajara.
Día de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo (first Sun in July). Torch-lit religious processions in Quiroga (25km northeast of Pátzcuaro).
Día de María Magdalena (July 22). Fiesta in Uruapan featuring a procession of animals.
Día de Santiago Apóstol (July 25). Lively celebrations and fireworks in Tuxpan (southeast of Ciudad Gúzman) and Uruapan.
Fiesta tradicional (Aug 8). Ancient pre-Colombian fiesta in Paracho (50km south of Zamora).
Feria Nacional del Cobre (second week in Aug). National Copper Fair in Santa Clara del Cobre, near Pátzcuaro.
Morelos' birthday (Sept 30). Celebrated in Morelia.
Fiestas de Octubre (all month). Massive cultural festival in Guadalajara.
Día de San Francisco (Oct 4). Saint's day celebrations in Uruapan.
Día de la Raza (Oct 12). Uruapan celebrates Columbus's "discovery" of the Americas.
Día de la Virgen de Zapopan (Oct 12). Massive pilgrimage in Guadalajara.
Festival de Coros y Danzas (Oct 24–26). Singing and dancing competitions in Uruapan.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead; Nov 2). Celebrated everywhere, but especially around Pátzcuaro. Also picturesque in Zitácuaro.
Arrival of the monarch butterfly (second week of Nov). Las monarcas start arriving in Michoacán in big numbers around now. Festival Internacional de Música (third week of Nov). International Music Festival in Morelia.
Feria de Aguacate (variable Nov–Dec). Three-week avocado fair in Uruapan.
Día de la Inmaculada Concepción (Dec 8). Celebrated in Sayula (32km north of Ciudad Gúzman on the Tapalpa road).
La Señora de la Salud (Dec 8). Pilgrimage and dances in Pátzcuaro and Tequila.
Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Dec 12). Large celebrations in Tapalpa.
Pastoral plays (Dec 24). Performed in Tuxpan (southeast of Ciudad Gúzman).


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Bye bye Saab by Saab guy from Northeast on 01/05/2008. Trim: 1996 Saab 900 SE Turbo convertible, Owned 4 years.
Pros: I like the look, the fact that I can carry 4 passengers and the sound system.
Cons: My guess is that Saab will be extinct in the very near future. Why do I say that? Every Saab has the same problems yet the manufacturer ignores them. I've had 4 saabs...three 900's and a 9-3. Every car I owned had problems with the AC, the radio antenna motor and the windows. Folks, these are not hard things to perfect...especially something as simple as a radio antenna. People know about these problems and the expense of fixing them so less and less people are buying the cars. Resale values are ridiculously low...I mean ridiculous. Its a shame. Great cars but the manufacturer doesn't care. If every saab in America has the same 3 problems, maybe a recall would be in order?
Overall review: Overall, I like the car but I have a hard time recommending it to anyone and I think I've bought my last one.
Review ID: #521140 Is this review offensive?


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Watching Chase Utley hit home runs might never get old if you're a Phillies fan, but all those bombs do get a little less effective when they are solo shots. With the top of the order decimated by injury, Utley has been hitting blast after blast out to right field in recent days. He came into last night's game with three home runs in three days, all of them solo shots. He added yet another solo home run in the first inning last night, but when he hit a towering drive out down the right field line in the fifth, something was different and it changed the game. Two runners were aboard.
Utley is simply on fire, doing his very best to carry the team with Rollins out and Howard struggling terribly. Not much he can do if all his home runs are solo. The Phils rode his bombs to a win last night, with the help of some good relief pitching and a brilliant play by Bruntlett to end the game. Pedro Feliz won it with a pinch-hit home run in the seventh, but if you're going to overshadow what Utley has done for the Phils over the past few days it's going to take a little more than a game-winning home run or a game-saving defensive play.
The Phillies beat the Mets last night, winning 5-4 to improve to 9-10 on the year. The Mets take the series two games to one, but it was a big win for the Phils. In addition to breaking the Mets four-game win streak against them, the win was the difference between being 8-11 or 9-10 after the first 19 games. 9-10 sure looks a lot better.
Adam Eaton got the start for the Phillies and went five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk. Two of the hits went for extra-bases, a double and a triple. He struck out four. He pitched very well early and it fell apart quickly for him in the sixth.
He struck out Jose Reyes swinging at a pretty 1-2 breaking pitch to start the first. Luis Castillo grounded back to the pitcher before David Wright drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Carlos Beltran grounded to second for the third out.
With two outs in the second, catcher Raul Casanova hit a ground ball deep in the hole between short and third. Bruntlett slid and knocked it down but Casanova had an infield single. Endy Chavez grounded to first for the third out.
Eaton threw a 1-2-3 third.
Wright led off the fourth and lined a single into right. Eaton struck Beltran out looking at a 1-2 pitch before Delgado moved Wright to second with a ground out to first. Ryan Church struck out looking to end the frame.
Eaton threw a 1-2-3 fifth.
He started the sixth with a 4-0 lead and it all fell apart for him. Reyes led off with a high fly ball hit well to right. Jenkins jumped for it at the wall but couldn't get it and Reyes had a triple. Castillo lined a single to left and Reyes scored. 4-1. Wright followed with a double and Castillo went to third. Beltran lined a single into center and both runners scored. Howard cut off the throw from Werth, which looks like it would have a least had a chance to get Wright. 4-3. Four hits in a row was apparently enough for Manuel, and he brought in Chad Durbin to pitch to Carlos Delgado. Delgado drove a ball to left field that Burrell caught after a long run for the first out. Church was next and Beltran stole second before Church blooped a single into right. Jenkins threw home strong but off line and Beltran slid in safely to tie the game at 4-4. Not a good throw from Jenkins, but Beltran would probably have been safe if the throw was on target. Still the second questionable play from Jenkins in the inning after he looked odd trying to get the Reyes triple. Durbin walked Casanova to put men on first and second with one out for Endy Chavez. Chavez flew to center for the second out and Marlon Anderson hit for the pitcher Pelfrey. Durbin struck him out to set the Mets down.
Durbin was fantastic after pitching in Saturday's game as well. He is a seemingly odd choice to come in to pitch to lefties Delgado and Church. He gave up the RBI single to Church but faced five batters, four lefties and the switch-hitter Casanova. That's just a little too much to ask of Durbin, but he managed to pull it off. Manuel could have called on Romero, but with just one lefty in the pen it's tough when you know that Delgado and Church are still looming late in the games and you need a lefty to try to get them out.
Romero faced the top of the Mets order in the seventh. He walked Wright with two outs and Wright stole second before Beltran struck out to end the frame.
He came back for the eighth and got the lefties Delgado and Church to start the inning before Casanova doubled to left. Switch-hitter Angel Pagan hit for the lefty Chavez and Romero got him on a pop to second to end the frame.
I think that Romero going two innings and, in particular, pitching the seventh, is telling. In this game the primary thing the Phils needed Romero to do was get out Delgado and Church when they came up late in the game, the seventh or eighth cause Lidge was going to pitch the ninth if it was close. They didn't need Romero to pitch the seventh. Top of the Mets order was Reyes and Castillo, two switch-hitters that are better against lefties than righties, a Wright, a righty who kills lefties. I think that Manuel went with Romero in the seventh instead of Madson or Seanez tells you something about either his confidence level in those guys or their availability — Seanez especially, cause Madson threw 22 pitches on Saturday.
Lidge started the ninth with a 5-4 lead and walked pinch-hitter Damion Easley to start the inning. Reyes was next and reached on an infield single that went off of Lidge, moving Easley to second. Castillo tried to bunt and then struck out swinging for the first out. Lidge got Wright to pop to Howard in foul territory for the second out. Beltran was next and he smashed a ball back up the middle. Bruntlett made a fantastic play, diving to his left behind and a little to the left of second. He got to his feet and threw to first in the dirt, but Howard scooped it to beat Beltran and end the game. Very nice play by Bruntlett and by Howard. Castillo and Wright's at-bats really hurt the Mets in the inning, especially Castillo being unable to move the runners up with nobody out.
Four shutout innings from the pen. Durbin against all those lefties and Romero for two innings were particularly impressive. Manuel is going to have to use his whole pen, and by that I mean Condrey and Seanez, or the other guys are going to get burned out before too long. He may not have a choice about using them tonight in Colorado.
Romero is almost definitely out tonight in Colorado after 31 pitches. Durbin threw 22 and probably won't/shouldn't go three days in a row. Lidge threw 20 pitches.
The Phillies' lineup against righty Mike Pelfrey went (1) Werth (2) Dobbs (3) Utley (4) Howard (5) Burrell (6) Jenkins (7) Coste (8) Bruntlett. Rollins and Snelling went on the DL prior to the game and TJ Bohn and Brad Harman were called up. Bruntlett at short, Dobbs at third, Werth in center. That's the eight best hitters that Manuel can put on the field at this point, he gives up defense at third and behind the plate to do so. I like Dobbs hitting second against a righty. I would still go Werth then Utley/Howard/Burrell given the players currently available, but I think this lineup is a lot better than some we've seen of late despite the three lefties in a row 2-3-4. I don't think Coste in the second spot is a terrible idea, either, if Utley isn't going to hit there.
Werth struck out to start the first. Dobbs was next and he hammered a 1-2 pitch deep to right. Church took it for the second out, but he had to jump to get it. Nicely timed by Church, Dobbs gave it a ride. Utley was next and he homered, of course, hitting a 2-0 pitch out to right-center to the same place he always does. If you're looking to catch a Chase Utley home run ball I can make some suggestions about where you might want to sit.
Coste singled with one out in the second. Bruntlett followed and hit into an inning-ending double-play.
Eaton led off the third with a walk. Werth followed with a ground ball to second and Eaton was forced for the first out with Werth safe at first. Dobbs flew to right for the second out before Utley moved Werth to second with a walk. Howard flew to left to leave them both stranded.
Burrell started the fourth with a ball smashed into left and off the wall on a hop. He went for two and was thrown out easily at second. Jenkins followed and smashed a single back up the middle. Coste hit a ground ball to second and Jenkins was forced at second for the second out before Bruntlett moved Coste to second with a single. Eaton popped out to Delgado to end the inning.
Burrell getting thrown out at second killed the Phils in that inning. They can't score on three hits.
The Phils continued to hit Pelfrey hard in the fifth and this time they got through. Werth led off and blooped a single into right. Dobbs followed with a single of his own and it put men on first and second for Utley. Utley got ahead 3-1 before he hit a monstrous towering drive down the right field line and off the foul pole for a three-run homer that put the Phils up 4-0. Howard and Burrell went down behind him before Jenkins singled off the first base bag, but Coste grounded to third to end the inning.
The Phils went 1-2-3 in the sixth. Just called up TJ Bohn made his Phillies debut. He hit for Durbin and struck out for the second out.
Pedro Feliciano came on to pitch the seventh with lefties Dobbs, Utley and Howard due to hit. Feliz hit for Dobbs and got ahead 2-0 before he hit one out to the opposite field to put the Phils up 5-4. Utley followed with a single into right before Howard went down looking for the first out. Feliciano stayed in to pitch to Burrell and walked him, but Jenkins flew to left and Joe Smith came in and struck out Coste to end the inning. No way Feliciano faces Burrell without Jenkins hitting behind him. I didn't know if Shoeneweis was available after throwing 21 pitches on Saturday or not, but even if both he and Wagner were both available I think the Mets have to save Shoeneweis in case he has to pitch to Utley and Howard in the eighth.
As it turns out, he didn't. The Phils went 1-2-3 in the eighth. Ruiz hit for Romero and grounded to short for the second out.
Werth was 1-for-5 in the game. 1-for-14 with a single in the three-game series. 268/388/390 on the year. The Phils need him badly right now.
Dobbs was 1-for-3. 3-for-5 with a home run in the series. 320/346/480. It's tough to get his bat in the lineup with Feliz and Jenkins on the team, but he's been hitting well of late.
Utley was 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI. 6-for-11 with four home runs in the set. 351/432/797 (really!).
Howard was 1-for-4. 1-for-13 with a single, six strikeouts and no walks in the series. 186/318/386. Wish you were here.
Burrell was 1-for-3 with a walk. 2-for-11 with two singles and two walks in the series. 339/462/694.
Jenkins was 2-for-4 with two hard-hit singles. 2-for-6 in the series. 246/292/361.
Coste was 1-for-4 and left four men on base. 2-for-6 with a walk in the set. 385/467/731. Ruiz was 0-for-1 in the game and 2-for-5 in the series. 208/255/250 on the year with two extra-base hits, both doubles.
Bruntlett was 1-for-4 with a great defensive play to end the game. 2-for-9 with two walks in the series and 186/255/256 on the year with one extra-base hit, a home run, on the season. If the question is how much better is Bruntlett than Brad Harman at this point in Harman's career, I'm afraid the answer is probably a lot.
Feliz homered in his only at-bat, his third on the year. 1-for-7 in the series and 1-for-his-last-11 overall. It may seem like he's struggling, but he's hitting 217/288/400 on the season and his career line is 251/288/432. So he is, just not as much as you might hope.
Kyle Kendrick (1-2, 4.40) faces lefty Mark Redman (2-1, 4.60) tonight as the Phils play the first of two against the Rockies. Redman has made three starts this season and had been pretty good, although he didn't go six innings in any of them. Opponents are hitting .288 against him, but he's kept them in the yard. He's only allowed one home run on the season. He made two appearances against the Phils in 2007, including a start on May 1 when he was with the Braves. He threw five scoreless innings of relief against the Phils on September 12 when he was with the Rockies. Kendrick has been worse than his numbers on the year. Of his three starts, just one has been good. Lefties are hitting .367 against him. Kendrick started the second game of the NLDS in 2007 and got the early hook before Kaz Matsui hit a grand slam off of Kyle Lohse.
Brutal travel schedule for the Phils with the ESPN game starting late last night before they have to travel to Colorado.
Everyone seems to agree that the handling of Jimmy Rollins was a mistake. Me too.


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The Phillies scored three runs in a game for the third straight time yesterday afternoon and this time the pitching wasn't good enough to make it stand up. Cliff Lee was fantastic, but the bullpen wasn't and the Dodgers topped the Phils 5-3 in 12 innings.
Lee allowed a solo homer to Juan Rivera, just one of two hits he would allow over eight innings, in the second. The Phils came back with a run in the fourth to tie things up at 1-1 on a single and a stolen base by Victorino and an RBI-single by Ruiz. Nobody scored again until the tenth, when Pence delivered another clutch two-run single, putting the Phils up 3-1. Papelbon, pitching for the third straight day, couldn't nail down the save, though, as the Dodgers scored a pair of runs on four hits in the bottom of the tenth to tie things up again at 3-3. Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer off of Diekman in the bottom of the twelfth.
You shouldn't count on winning too many games when you score three runs, but the bullpen is still the biggest problem for the Phillies. Six relievers for the Phils combined to allow four runs over 3 1/3 innings in the game. Manuel appears to have confidence in just about nobody in the bullpen, doing everything he can to make sure the guys he does have to use get favorable left-right match-ups. It makes for a lot of pitching changes — four of the six guys the Phillies used in relief in the game got one out or no outs. Kendrick, probably the second safest option in the pen after Papelbon, faced one hitter in the game.
And Papelbon looks like he's wearing down himself. He was pitching for the third straight day in yesterday's game and threw 32 pitches in the game. He got Sunday off after getting five outs on Saturday. He's allowed at least one run in five of his last ten appearances, throwing to a 6.97 ERA with a 1.74 ratio in those outings. After hitting .200 against him in his 22 appearances through the end of May, opponents have hit .284 against him in his 15 outings since the start of June.
The Phillies are 41-52 on the year after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 in 12 innings yesterday afternoon. The Phils take the series two games to one. They're still in last place in the NL East, 14 games behind the Nationals.
Lee got the start for the Phillies and went eight innings, allowing a run on two hits and one walk. One of the hits went for extra-bases, a home run. He struck out four.
The Phillies have lost seven of the last eight games Lee has started. He's been very good over his last three starts, allowing two earned runs or fewer in each of the three while throwing to a 2.05 ERA with an 0.95 ratio.
He threw a 1-2-3 first, getting Tony Gwynn and Mark Ellis on ground outs and Matt Kemp swinging.
Juan Rivera led off the second and hit a 1-0 pitch out to left, putting the Dodgers up 1-0. Lee got Jerry Hairston, Juan Uribe and Luis Cruz in order behind Rivera.
LA went in order again in the third. Lee got AJ Ellis to fly to center, pitcher Clayton Kershaw on a grounder to short and Tony Gwynn on a ground ball deflected by Lee to Rollins for the third.
The game was tied 1-1 when Lee threw a 1-2-3 fourth.
LA went in order again in the fifth.
AJ Ellis singled to left to start the sixth and Kershaw bunted him to second with the first out. Gwynn flew to Mayberry for the second out before Lee walked Mark Ellis, putting two Ellisi aboard for Kemp. Lee struck Kemp out swinging 0-2 to leave both runners stranded.
Huge strikeout for Lee to get the righty Kemp with two men on in a tie game.
Rivera, Hairston and Uribe went in order in the seventh.
Lee had thrown 84 pitches through seven innings. He had allowed one hit and one walk since Rivera's homer to start the bottom of the second.
He threw a 1-2-3 eighth. Lefty Adam Kennedy hit for Kershaw with two outs and grounded to short to end the inning.
Kershaw threw 120 pitches in the game.
Bastardo started the ninth. Mark Ellis singled with one out. Kendrick came in to pitch to Kemp and struck him out for the second out. Lefty Andre Ethier hit for Rivera and Horst came in to pitch to Ethier. Ethier singled to right, moving Ellis up to third. Schwimer came in to pitch to the righty Hairston. Ethier moved up to second on defensive indifference and Schwimer walked Hairston, loading the bases for Uribe. Lefty James Loney hit for Uribe and Schwimer struck him out swinging 2-2 to end the frame.
Huge strikeout for Schwimer to get Loney and keep the game alive. The Phillies use four pitchers in the inning, which is a lot for a game that ended with a righty homering off of a lefty in the twelfth. Kendrick faces just one batter in the game, which hurts a lot (although striking out Kemp in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game with a man on is a good out to get if you're just going to get one).
Papelbon started the tenth with a 3-1 lead. Cruz led off and lined a double to left. Papelbon struck out AJ Ellis for the first out. Lefty Bobby Abreu hit for the pitcher Scott Elbert. Papelbon got ahead of Abreu 0-2, but Abreu blooped a 2-2 pitch down the third base line and the ball fell in shallow left field for a single. Cruz scored and the lead was cut to 3-2. With Gwynn at the plate, Abreu stole second. Gwynn hit a swinging bunt on a 3-1 pitch that dribbled off the third base side of the mound for another single, moving Abreu up to third. Papelbon struck Mark Ellis out swinging 0-2, which brought Kemp to the plate with two down, men on the corners and the Phils still up a run. Kemp hit Papelbon's first pitch in the hole between short and third. Rollins made a fantastic effort, backhanding and making a strong throw to first, but Kemp just beat it out for another infield single. Abreu scored to tie the game at 3-3 with men on first and second for Ethier. Ethier flew to left to leave both runners stranded.
Four hits in the inning for the Dodgers. Cruz's double was hit hard. Abreu's single to left was a bloop, Gwynn reached on a swinging bunt dribbler and Kemp just beat out an infield single.
Big stolen base for the 38-year-old Abreu allows him to move up to third on one infield single and score on another.
Diekman started the eleventh. Cruz doubled to left with two outs and Diekman walked the righty AJ Ellis intentionally to pitch to the pitcher Josh Lindbloom. Righty Matt Treanor hit for the pitcher Lindbloom and grounded to Rollins to end the inning.
Diekman was back to start the twelfth. He walked righty Mark Ellis with one out, bringing Kemp to the plate. The righty hit a 1-0 pitch from Diekman well out to center, giving LA a 5-3 win.
Second time Kemp delivers, tying the game with the infield single in the tenth and winning it in the twelfth.
The pen goes 3 1/3 innings in the game, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks. Four of the six pitchers who pitched for the Phillies after Lee left got one out or no outs.
Papelbon has a 5.52 ERA over his last 14 appearances going back to June 4.
Off day today, so everyone should be available on Friday. Papelbon threw 32 pitches and Diekman 30.
The Phillies lineup against lefty Clayton Kershaw went (1) Rollins (2) Victorino (3) Utley (4) Ruiz (5) Pence (6) Wigginton (7) Polanco (8) Mayberry. Utley plays against the lefty with the off-day tomorrow. Howard and Pierre on the bench. Wigginton at first and Mayberry in left. Mayberry is slugging .505 against lefties for the year, so I'd hit him ahead of Polanco (who's on-basing .283 against left-handed pitching this season).
The Phillies went in order in the first and again in the second.
They started the third down 1-0. Polanco lined softly to second for the first out. Mayberry was next and hit a ball to Uribe at third. Uribe fielded, but his throw to first was bad for an error. Lee bunted Mayberry to second with the second out, but Rollins struck out swinging to leave him there.
Victorino singled to left to start the fourth and stole second after Utley flew to center for the first out. Ruiz was next and singled into center, scoring Victorino to tie the game at 1-1. Pence struck out and Wigginton flew to right to leave Ruiz at first.
Polanco, Mayberry and Lee went in order in the fifth.
Utley and Ruiz singled back-to-back with two outs in the sixth, putting runners on first and second for Pence. Pence grounded to second to leave both men stranded.
Wigginton, Polanco and Mayberry went in order in the seventh.
Kershaw had thrown 101 pitches through seven innings.
Lee hit for himself to start the eighth and struck out. Rollins grounded to short for the second out before Victorino doubled to left. Utley grounded to second to set the Phillies down.
Lee had thrown 84 pitches in the game when he hit for himself to start the eighth.
Righty Kenley Jansen started the ninth and got the first two hitters. Howard hit for Wigginton and singled to right. Polanco walked behind him and Pierre ran for Howard at second. Mayberry walked on five pitches to load the bases and Pridie hit for Lee. Pridie flew to left on a 1-2 pitch to leave them loaded.
Righty Javy Guerra walked Rollins to start the tenth and Victorino bunted Rollins to second with the first out. Guerra walked the lefty Utley intentionally, putting two men on for Ruiz. Ruiz walked and the bases were loaded. Pence chopped a single into left, scoring Rollins and Utley to put the Phils up 3-1. Lefty Scott Elbert came in to pitch to Pierre and got Pierre to hit into a double-play to end the frame.
Second time in two games that Pence comes up with a clutch two-run single. Didn't win the game this time.
Mayberry singled off of righty Josh Lindbloom with one out in the eleventh and the game tied at 3-3. Fontenot hit for Papelbon and struck out for the second out. Rollins struck out to leave Mayberry stranded.
Victorino singled off of righty Jamey Wright to start the twelfth. Victorino stole second and the righty Wright walked Utley intentionally. Ruiz flew to left for the first out. Pence was next and grounded to third with Utley forced at second for the second. Pierre grounded to second to leave both runners stranded.
Nothing for the Phils after putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Ruiz can't move anybody up with the first out. Pierre leaves two men on to end the tenth and the twelfth.
Rollins was 0-for-5 with a walk in the game. 2-for-12 with two walks, a double and a home run in the series. 258/314/417 for the year.
Victorino 3-for-5 with a double and two stolen bases in the game. 6-for-12 with a double and a triple in the series. 254/317/392 on the year.
Utley 1-for-4 with two walks. 1-for-11 with three walks in the series. 226/288/340 in 59 plate appearances for the year.
Ruiz 2-for-5 with a walk and an RBI. 3-for-11 with two walks and a double in the set. 350/413/586 on the season.
Pence 1-for-6 with two RBI. 3-for-12 with two walks and four RBI in the series. He's had huge hits in three of the last four games — two run singles in each of the last two and a three-run homer on Sunday. 277/344/470 for the season.
Wigginton 0-for-3. 0-for-4 in the series. 239/312/387 for the year. 171/241/303 over his last 83 plate appearances. He's hitting .216 against lefties for the season, but with a lot of walks and power (216/344/432).
Polanco 0-for-4 with a walk. 1-for-11 in the series. 256/300/327 on the year. 4-for-his-last-40.
Mayberry 1-for-4 with a walk. 1-for-5 with a walk in the set. 233/272/370 for the season. The Phillies need him to at least hit lefties and he's on-basing .265 against them (260/265/490).
The Phillies don't play today. Giants at home on Friday.


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Technical Service Center
Materials Engineering and Research Lab
Laboratory and Field Testing of Soils, Rock, and Foundations
Tom Strauss, 303-445-2343
Building 56, Denver Federal Center
Denver, Colorado 80225-0007
MERL personnel perform various types of studies related to soil, rock, and foundation materials used for Reclamation structures. These include both laboratory and field studies of the properties and performance of engineering materials under various environmental and service life conditions.
Special equipment includes a 1-million-pound stiff testing machine, a large triaxial shear facility for soils, large direct-shear machines for testing up to 10-inch-diameter rock and concrete cores and 12- by 12-inch soil and soil-geosynthetic interfaces, and an ultrasonic nondestructive testing machine. Special equipment also is used in field studies.
Experienced geological petrographers provide technical expertise and assistance in evaluating materials and in solving problems related to design, construction, and research. Petrographic instruments available include petrographic and stereo microscopes, an X-ray diffractometer, and a scanning electron microscope.


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Choose Just What You Want to Do
For a rich and varied experience, teens choose daily from more than 50 Omega Teen Summer Camp activities. Each afternoon, teens sign up for the next day's activities. Two of these are weeklong intensives designed for teens to dive a little deeper. The other two activity periods change each day.
While Omega Teen Camp offers many traditional summer camp activities like swimming, canoeing, basketball, and the high ropes course, teens also have the opportunity to explore powerful activities that are unique to our camp. Omega Teen Camp activities are designed to provide safety and encouragement for teens to build self-confidence and enhance creativity. Every day skilled professional dancers, artists, and musicians help teens learn and explore new things. Some of our most popular activities include Ultimate Frisbee, yoga, henna tattooing, Thai massage, hip hop dance, lacrosse, guitar, and discussion groups.
Most of our activities are open to all ages with a few programs geared specifically toward older or younger teens.
Creative Arts
Teens are inevitably drawn to the array of activities offered and the opportunities to learn new skills through our Creative Arts programs. Even the most sports-focused teens get involved before they leave. One of the strongest categories in Omega Teen Camp activities, Creative Arts programs may include:
- Stained Glass
- Jewelry Making
- Painting
- Ceramics
- Tie-Dyeing
- Body Painting
- Art Studio
- Culinary Arts
- Knitting
- Mask Making
- Poetry
- Creative Writing
- Journal Making
- Photography
Dance & Movement
We love to dance! One of our favorite Omega Teen Camp activities is "Dance Like No One's Watching." While we do have some performances, mostly we just dance and move for fun! Some of the Dance & Movement activities offered may also include:
- African Dance
- Salsa
- Jazz
- Trance Dance
- Contact Improv
- Capoeira
- Hip Hop
Music & Drama
Our camp's Music & Drama activities give teens the opportunity to explore their creative interests or deepen the talents and skills they already have in a safe and relaxed environment. We often hear that teens who picked up the guitar for the first time at camp are playing in bands the following year. Teens can showcase their talent at our weekly talent show. Some of the activities included in the Music & Drama program are:
- Songwriting
- Guitar Lessons
- Sound Healing
- Chanting
- Drumming
- Theater
- Improvisation
- Music Jams
- Stand-up Comedy
- Poetry
Of course, Omega Teen Camp activities offer lots of sports. Our noncompetitive environment puts the focus on having fun! Even teens that have never participated or succeeded at sports feel comfortable enough to play. Activities include:
- Flag Football
- Softball
- Dodge Ball
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Tetherball
- Water Polo
- Diving
- Basketball
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Swimming
- Water Basketball
- Martial Arts
- Fitness Classes
- Ga-ga
- Golf
Nature & Wilderness
Teens have plenty of opportunities to explore the natural surroundings of Omega Teen Camp through a variety of fun and challenging activities, including:
- Shelter Building
- High Ropes Course
- Fire Building
- Survival Skills
- Canoeing
- Hiking
- Climbing Wall
- Outdoor Sleep-Outs
Funky Alternative
It's probably safe to say that no other teen camp offers the range of alternative activities that Omega Teen Camp does. Teens can explore the relationship of mind, body, and spirit through a variety of activities that may include:
- Tarot Cards
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Astrology
- Thai Massage
- Spa Day
- Qigong
- Tai Chi
- Henna Tattooing
Evening Activities
Each evening, the entire community comes together for Omega Teen Camp activities such as:
- Campfires
- Talent Shows
- Concerts
- Karaoke
- Movie Nights
- Scavenger Hunts
- Poetry Slams
- Dance Parties


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Secretly Sad: Overcoming Gender Disappointment
Preconceived Notions of Gender
Preconceived notions about males and females can exacerbate disappointment over having a child of a particular sex. These ideas can come from a variety of sources, including one's family, personal experience, and stereotypical depictions of men and women in the media.
For Gail, having a son meant being forgotten on Mother's Day and cut off from grandchildren by some future daughter-in-law. For Celia, it meant being excluded from her son's life due to her lack of interest in sports. And for me? Let's just say that the steady stream of male serial killers and emotionally crippled corporate go-getters in the media have done little to quell my fears about my son's future.
How to Avoid Disappointment
Considering the innumerable societal, familial, and personal issues surrounding children, it is no wonder many women suffer varying degrees of sadness, isolation, and depression over the sex of their baby.
So what can women do to avoid, or at least ameliorate, these feelings?
Dr. Ruth Wilf, CNM, PhD, a certified nurse midwife at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, suggests that expectant parents reconsider finding out a baby's sex through an ultrasound or amniocentesis.
"I think one of the problems is that it puts too much stress on gender," Dr. Wilf says. "You get told this one isolated fact and it gets blown out of proportion. Once the child is born, you will fall in love with the individual baby and then the sex doesn't matter as much because little boys and little girls all have varying attributes. After a while, you can't imagine that you could have any other baby than this baby."
If you have opted to find out the sex of your baby during pregnancy, don't despair. According to Venis, now can be a good time to work through these emotions before the added stresses of new motherhood set in. Doing so can clear the way for a healthier postpartum period for both parents and baby.
But whether you choose to find out the sex of your baby before or after birth, don't be surprised if the news fills you with something other than unadulterated joy.
"I tell patients that feelings are not right or wrong, good or bad, they are just feelings," Venis says. "And you are entitled to those feelings. It's what you do with them that really counts."
"What's helped me more than anything is realizing that it is not the actual baby that I am disappointed in," says Gail. "It's about letting go of my own dreams and fantasies. That doesn't stop me from feeling bad every now and again, but it brings me back and helps me feel better."
Both Celia and Ali found that the trepidation they felt during their pregnancies quickly subsided after the birth of their babies. Getting to know their newborn's individual personalities—while gaining confidence in their abilities as first-time mothers—transformed their initial negativity into satisfying and loving relationships with their children.
In the three months since that fateful day at IKEA, my own ambivalence about having a boy has eased significantly. Support from my husband and family, as well as speaking to other parents about how they worked through similar feelings, has been invaluable.
But the biggest turning point came to me by chance. I was visiting my in-laws one evening when they popped a tape of some home movies in the VCR. There was my husband as a baby, a sweet and curious little person exploring the world around him. I cheered when he managed his first steps and laughed when he crawled into a basket full of puppies and nuzzled their bellies.
Sitting beside me on the couch was the man this little person had become. By far, my husband is one of the most compassionate, patient, and insightful people I have ever met, male or female. Seeing that video convinced me that if our son grows up to be anything like his father, I won't be needing any "better luck" next time.
Helpful Hints
- Don't censor or deny your feelings. It is OK to feel angry, disappointed, guilty, or depressed. Admitting these feelings to yourself is the first step to working through them.
- Talk about your feelings with someone you trust, such as your husband, your partner, a family member, or a healthcare professional like a midwife or therapist specializing in women's mental health.
- Let time help you heal. Pregnancy and the first few months after birth can be an emotional and physical roller coaster. Hormones, sleep deprivation, and adjusting to an entirely different lifestyle can make you especially vulnerable to disappointment and depression.
- Your feelings will come and go. Even with support and help, feelings of disappointment over the sex of your baby may be triggered every now and again. Remember that this is normal, and don't be hard on yourself when it happens.
- Find creative ways to give. There are plenty of children and teens who need you. Volunteer to coach a peewee football team or buy a prom dress and donate it to a teen who can't afford one. A good place to start is the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Association of America.
- Pass it on. There is very little clinical literature or formal resources for women grappling with disappointment over the sex of their baby. Let people know that you would be willing to talk to other women about their feelings. Pregnancy and parenting websites such as BabyZone.com have chat rooms and bulletin boards where women can lend support and advice on a variety of topics, including gender disappointment/grief.
- Get more help if you need it. An estimated 50 to 75 percent of new mothers suffer from the baby blues after the birth of a child. Symptoms of baby blues can include crying, impatience, anxiety, and irritability that set in usually within three to five days after birth. The baby blues usually disappear within a few days to two weeks after delivery.
More intense feelings, including anger and resentment toward your child, thoughts of hurting yourself or your child, insomnia, fear of losing control or "losing your mind," or uncontrollable crying, may be a sign of postpartum depression (PPD), a less common but more serious condition affecting 10 to 20 percent of women. Unlike the baby blues, PPD usually lasts more than two weeks and can appear within days of delivery or gradually over time, sometimes up to a year after the baby is born. If you suspect you are suffering from PPD, take it seriously and seek help immediately. With proper treatment and support, this is a treatable condition.
Additional Resources
- Postpartum Support International: Treatment of a wide range of postpartum disorders including postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum psychosis. Includes a list of national resources and links. Call 1-800-944-4PPD (4773) or visit www.postpartum.net.
- The Postpartum Stress Center: PSC provides counseling, resources, literature, and Web links to a variety of resources for PPD. Call 610-525-7527 or visit www.postpartumstress.com.
- The US Department of Health and Human Services: Articles on clinical studies, links, and resources on a variety of mental health issues. Also lists resources in Spanish. Call 1-800-789-2647,
TTY: 1-866-889-2648, or visit www.mentalhealth.org.
- National Women's Health Information Center (NWIC): NWIC lists information and resources (in English and Spanish) for a variety of women's health issues including depression and pregnancy. Call 1-800-994-WOMAN, TTY: 1-888-220-5446, or visit http://www.womenshealth.gov/.
- The National Mental Health Association (NMHA): "The country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness," NMHA has hundreds of affiliates and offers information, links and help on a wide variety of topics. Call 1-800-969-NMHA (6642), TTY: 1-800-433-5959, or visit www.nmha.org.
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On this vessel a procession of eleven military victors follows a naked, bound prisoner. The warriors wear tie-dyed textiles with trophy head...
Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo
Hiroshige's 118 woodblock landscape and genre scenes of mid-nineteenth-century Tokyo, is one of the greatest achievements of Japanese art.
After training as a painter with his father, Charles Volkmar continued his studies in France. There he became fascinated with the effects of...
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It is routine to wear the same types of clothes everyday. For example, a lot of men wear the same black suit and brown shoes daily for work.
Such can be considered boring as it colors that solid give no life to the outfit. These men may argue that since they are required to dress within certain standards, they are unable to bring fun looks to the table.
However, there is another way to counterbalance the such and thereby bring the word "style" back to your senses. Think about small details, not big, and you will find a good alternative that can make a big difference in your appearance.
A very good one is the different ways to tie a necktie, there are many ways to do it, do not be limited as it can go as far as your imagination takes you. For instance, a guy called Elliot Truelove invented an awesome necktie knot which we know as "the Elliot Truelove knot."
Such knot adds sophistication to any man's looks and enhances the shirt that one wears. Other types of tie knots are the eldredge knot, the trinity knot, and the classic four in hand knot which everyone knows.
I have known the four-in-hand one since I was a school boy, this one is as easy as pie. In fact, it is so easy you could even tie it eyes closed, and I am not exaggerating.
Now here are three knots that Brad Pitt used at least twice in his lifetime. Personally, I am not a big fan of these knots as I do not think they are any elegance or exotic as the trinity knot. For what is more, they are not as symmetric as let's say the truelove knot. However, they are still popular cause a movie star has used them. At least that is what my friend told me.
I believe the Four-in-Hand and the Half-Windsor go well with narrow collared shirts, and the Full-Windsor with wide collared shirts.
Although, I am not a big fan of these knots, I have to say I had used the Half-Windsor one back in high school which by the way did not get me any compliments.
Since then I have been looking for many other different necktie knots and I found myself with a wide variety of options. I even created one that I called the pearl board knot which is not that famous.
I owe it all to Brad Pitt who inspired me to look for other alternatives despite the knots I was told he used have never been my favorite ones.
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Registration is available online. Please call 215-481-2204 with any questions.
This is a free program.
If you are considering a joint replacement, no doubt you have questions. Our health professional will provide all the facts and answer all your questions. Tour of unit provided.
At this location Lansdale Hospital, Board Room Beginning on October 23, 2013
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The Office Party
By Madeleine Cain
Every day, Geraldine watched the clock. She watched it like a kid sitting on the front steps watches for the ice cream truck. She wasn't the only one, but most of her co-workers were waiting for lunchtime, and then they were waiting for quitting time. Not Geraldine. She was waiting for 10:20 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., because every day at those times, Douglas walked by her desk on his way to get a cup of coffee. A lot of people walked by Geraldine's desk on their way to get coffee, even though her little corner of the world was not on the most direct route to the lounge. It was, however, right next to the big picture window that overlooked the lake.
So each day, Geraldine waited for Douglas to walk by. He was always so prompt, and not just about the coffee. He arrived at the same time every day, took lunch at the same time and for the same duration, and left at the same time. Douglas seemed to be a creature of habit, and in that Geraldine recognized a kindred spirit.
He's so handsome. He seems so nice, too. Smiles and says hello when he walks by, and he always brings back a cup of coffee for his cubicle-mate on the afternoon trip.
Geraldine perked up. It was 10:19 a.m. She straightened in her chair and tried to look busy and important. She glanced at her reflection in the window, and then polished her glasses on the hem of her shirt.
Darn glasses. He probably thinks I'm just another nerdy girl with a ponytail and horn-rims.
Geraldine usually liked her glasses just fine, but on occasion – whenever Douglas walked by her desk, for instance – she secretly wished she could do without them.
Right on schedule, she heard his footsteps approaching, briefly marveling that she could recognize him by his stride. She focused on her monitor until he drew even with her desk, then glanced up and gave him what she hoped was a nice, pleasant, not-at-all-stalkerish smile.
He smiled back. "Morning, Gerry," he said, and he passed on by.
Gerry. He's the only one who calls me Gerry. No one knew that she loved being called Gerry, but somehow he'd started doing so all on his own.
Geraldine sighed, resetting her internal clock for 3:45.
Before he got up from his desk to get his morning cup of coffee, Douglas adjusted his tie and checked his teeth for unauthorized food particles. This was as much a part of his routine as the coffee run itself; he did it even when she was not in the office, and he had no reason to make sure he looked his best.
She was always busy, sitting straight-backed at her station, focused on her work. She gave him a polite smile as he passed, and every day he told himself he'd say more than "Morning, Gerry," but every day he walked on by without doing so.
She's so intellectual in those Tina Fey glasses and her no-nonsense braided hair. She probably thinks I'm just another dumb jock, like the rest of the yahoos in suits that are so thick on the ground around here.
She had a calendar of postmodern artists on the wall of her cubicle. An Albert Einstein finger puppet sat on top of her monitor, next to a bendable Frodo Baggins figurine who appeared to be disco-dancing. Rosie the Riveter watched over the printer from a tin sign, flexing her bicep and reassuring passersby that "We Can Do It!" Every day he seemed to notice something else, another tiny bit of personality with which she'd chosen to accessorize her workspace, a new clue that further convinced him that this was his dream woman.
Except she's going to want some guy who reads Sartre and will take her to see The Magnetic Fields, while they listen to the From Dawn to Decadence audiobook in the car. I'm just a regular guy who plays bass in a bar band and likes Babylon 5.
She looked cute today, too. She was wearing one of those tiny sweater shrugs, and it was fuzzy in a way that made him think of Tribbles. She didn't give any sign that she heard him coming, but as he drew near, she looked up and gave him that same polite smile. "Morning, Gerry, he said. Will you go out with me? We could watch Lord of the Rings and talk about what in the world "postmodern" means, anyway.
He passed on by, just like every other day, and just like every other day, he shook his head at his own cowardice as he continued on to the lounge.
"I'm really going to do it this time," Geraldine said, holding up one dress after another for the thumbs-up or thumbs-down from her roommate RuthEllen. "I'm going to talk to Douglas tonight."
"You've said that before every office party you've ever gone to, and look where we are," RuthEllen said. "No, not that one. Are you crazy?"
Geraldine put aside the denim jumper and pulled out the slinkiest dress she owned, which was still fairly modest by most standards. "This one?"
RuthEllen cocked her head. "Put it on." Geraldine took off her robe and slipped into the deep red wrap dress. "Yeah. That one."
Geraldine looked at herself in the mirror. "I like the dress, but… I wish I didn't have to wear my glasses."
"You don't have to."
"Well, I think that bumping into things might be at odds with the image I'm trying to project."
"Come on, you still have some of those disposable contacts from the last time you tried."
"That was a disaster."
"That was your own fault," RuthEllen said. "You remember that cruddy off-brand contact solution you were using? Val-U-Lens or something? Where'd you get that stuff anyway?"
"It was a perfectly respectable gas station slash pharmacy," Geraldine joked.
"Well, whatever. I've got an unopened bottle of OPTI-FREE® RepleniSH® contact lens solution you can have. You'll look great, and the last thing on your mind will be your contacts."
Geraldine plucked the glasses off her face and looked at them. "Maybe you're right." She smiled at RuthEllen in the mirror. "I won't be the same girl, just for tonight."
Douglas tried the black jacket first, then the brown corduroy. I'm going to talk to her tonight.
She won't give me the time of day. Steve Johnson tried to ask her out, and she smacked him down but good.
C'mon, what are you, some kind of chicken? Man up and do it.
Douglas stared at himself in the mirror. Maybe I can give myself a little bit of an edge. Show some solidarity. He reached up and popped out his contacts, then fished out his nicest pair of glasses, tortoiseshell horn-rims. He put them on and checked his reflection again. Do I look intellectual? Or like some sort of poseur?
He sighed. Well, at least it could be a conversation-starter.
Geraldine stood at the table where the buffet had been spread out, examining the mushroom puffs. RuthEllen had been right about the OPTI-FREE® RepleniSH®; Geraldine's contacts felt much more comfortable. Too bad she didn't feel the same way herself. She didn't really have any close friends at work; she was a social person, but not much of a joiner at the office. Her one girlfriend from work, with whom she occasionally chatted when things were slow, had stayed home with a sick toddler, so she was just biding her time and waiting for Douglas to arrive. Then she could get it over with. Ask him out, be rejected, and go home.
The mushroom puffs were quite tasty, actually.
She turned around to survey the crowd again and nearly jumped out of her skin to see Douglas standing right behind her, his mouth open and one hand raised like he'd been about to touch her shoulder. "Oh," she said. "Hi." Lame.
"Hi," he said.
He's wearing glasses. He's never worn glasses before.
She isn't wearing glasses. That's new.
Geraldine was staring at him like she'd never seen him before. "Hi," he said. Great opener, loser. She was holding a half-eaten mushroom puff in one hand. "How are those mushroom puffs?" With supreme effort, he managed to suppress an eye-roll at his own banality.
She looked down at her hand, as if surprised to find herself holding the puff. "Oh! Uh… they're great." She smiled, but it wasn't her usual polite smile. This was a slanty little smirk that looked like she knew something he didn't. "You're wearing glasses," she said.
He lifted one hand to adjust them. "Yeah. Just… trying something different." He cocked his head to one side. "Looks like I'm not the only one."
Incredibly, she blushed. "I never wear my contacts."
"You look nice. But… I like your glasses."
"You do?" she said, a shy smile starting at the corners of her mouth.
"Well… I like your glasses, too. But I'm so used to seeing you without them."
Douglas met her eyes, and he saw the exact moment when they both realized what they'd done. Geraldine burst into laughter, bright peals like bells ringing. "Oh no, you are kidding me," she said.
He laughed with her. "I thought they'd make me look more intellectual, like you."
"And I thought these contacts would make me look…"
"…more beautiful?" Douglas finished. He shook his head. "Maybe we should try being ourselves first, you think?"
She nodded. "Great idea." She reached into her purse and pulled out a glasses case. "I like how these contacts make me feel, but I'm still not sure they're me."
He drew a pair of contacts in their disposable bubbles out of his pocket. "And these glasses are pinching my head a little."
She grinned. "Meet you back here in five minutes, okay?"
He shook his head. "No. Let's meet outside. I hate these office parties."
"Oh God, me too!" She reached out and touched his arm. "Outside, then. Five minutes."
Douglas nodded. "It's a date."
OPTI® eSTORIES is a place for eyes, of course - a forum for sharing tips and stories, for offering new vision and perspective, for discussing lifestyle and image, all through the window of our eyes. More than that, though, OPTI® is about celebrating the beauty within all of us, and the way our eyes can be just as unique as we are. Fun and feisty, elegant and soulful. It's all here. It's all OPTI®.
If you have any questions or comments about our articles - or a suggestion for future articles - we'd love to hear from you.


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Our products include data from a variety of government, private, and proprietary sources.
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The 5500 requires the signature of both the plan sponsor and plan administrator. For larger companies (generally those with 100 or more employees), we obtain our contact information for companies' HR, Benefits, and Finance personnel directly from the employers themselves.
The Form 5500 includes a large amount of detail about each qualified plan in the United States. Smaller companies may file a less comprehensive Form 5500-SF, while larger companies (generally those with 100 or more employees) must file the complete Form 5500. The data these forms collect includes:
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Build working weapons in order to stop the alien invaders with this KRE-O Battleship Ocean Attack Set by Hasbro.
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