text:
Season Tickets
Single Game Tickets
Group Tickets
Group Experiences
Party Suite
Party Zones
Birthday Parties
Kids Zone
DB&T Club
Buy Tickets
Promotion Schedule
Family 4 Packs & College Nights
Hockey Operations
DFS Staff
Job Opportunities
Team Alumni
2014-2015 Schedule
Upcoming Game Promotions
Current News
Archive News
Video Highlights
Bernie and Earny Kids Club
Photo Gallery
Scoreboard Message
Hockey 101
Pick A Saint
DFS in the Community
Player Appearances
Donation Requests
Housing Family Questionnaire
Speakers Bureau
Northern Lights Hockey Foundation
50/50 Raffle
Live Like A Saint
About Dubuque
The Opportunity
Recruit Questionnaire
Mystique Ice Center
Hockey Operations
Matt Shaw
Head Coach/General Manager
Mike Field
Assistant Coach / Director of Scouting
Oliver David
Assistant Coach
Matt Millar
Goalie Coach/Director of Hockey Operations
Sean Murdoch
Athletic Trainer
Jim Romagna
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Brad Clayton
Mike Cusack
Rich Michalowski
Mark Plantery
Jeremiah Crowe
Ludvig Moteus
Brian Burke
Patti Swartz
Housing Coordinator
JoAnne Gibson
Education Coordinator
Matt Shaw
Head Coach/General Manager
Matt Shaw was named Head Coach and General Manager of the Dubuque Fighting Saints in May 2013. Shaw replaced Jim Montgomery and became Dubuque's second coach since the team's return to the USHL in 2010. Shaw brings 20 years of coaching experience to the Fighting Saints. The Phoenix, Arizona native comes to Dubuque from the NHL's New Jersey Devils where he spent the 2012-13 season as an assistant coach. His vast coaching experience includes spending six seasons in the NHL, working as a video coach with Minnesota in 2007-08 before joining the Wild staff as an assistant coach in 2008-09. Shaw served in the same role with the San Jose Sharks from 2009-12 before joining the Devils in 2012-13. No stranger to the Tri-State area, Shaw enjoyed two stints as a coach with the Quad City Mallards, first serving as an assistant coach from 1995-97, and helping lead the team to 1997 Colonial Cup. After spending a year as the head coach of the ECHL's Mobile Mystics in 1997-98 and working as an assistant coach for the IHL's Chicago Wolves the following year, Shaw returned to the Mallards as the club's head coach in 1999-00 and guided them to a 53-16-0 record, and a berth in the UHL Finals. He spent seven seasons as an assistant coach and assistant general manager with Houston Aeros, the primary affilate of the Minnesota Wild from 2000-2007. Under Shaw, the Aeros won the 2003 Calder Cup. During his playing career, Shaw played in the USHL for the Sioux Musketeers in the 1980's before spending three seasons at United States International University. He then spent one year at Colorado College. After his playing career ended in 1989, Shaw stayed in Colorado Springs and started his coaching career with the Tigers for three seasons. Shaw and his wife Caroline have two children, daughter Clare, and son Hayden, who is a defenseman for the Waterloo Black Hawks.
Mike Field
Assistant Coach / Director of Scouting
Mike Field was hired as Assistant Coach/Director of Scouting with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in July of 2012. Field joined Dubuque from American International College where he has spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach. He joined the Yellow Jackets in 2009 after serving as a graduate assistant the year prior. During his playing days, Field spent four years at American International, skating at forward and tallying ten points in his collegiate career. He was named a four-time Atlantic Hockey all-academic selection, and was named the conference's Top Scholar Athlete his senior year. Field went on to briefly play professionally before turning to coaching in 2008. Field, a native of Marquette, Michigan, now resides in Dubuque with his wife Lindsay and their dog Jett.
Oliver David
Assistant Coach
Oliver David joined the Fighting Saints coaching staff in June 2013. David came to Dubuque from the Kenai River Brown Bears of the North American Hockey League where he served as the team's head coach since 2009. In his tenure with the Brown Bears, David turned Kenai River into a successful organization, guiding the club to 87-74-17 record, including a franchise best 31-25-4 mark in 2011-2012. Prior to his time in Alaska, David spent a number of years coaching hockey in California, spending three years coaching the LA Selects 14U, 16U, and 18U AAA teams. During his time with the LA Selects he helped his squads earn a pair of state championships and served as an assistant coach for the organization's Midget Major team that was a USA Hockey National Championship Quarterfinalist in 2008. He also spent two seasons with the Anaheim Jr. Ducks, and two with the California Wave, where he guided both programs to a state championship in his time behind the bench. With the Wave in 2006, David served as an assistant coach on the 16U AAA team that claimed a Pacific District Championship and a USA Hockey National Championship.
Matt Millar
Goalie Coach/Director of Hockey Operations
Matt Millar joined the Fighting Saints as the team's Goalie Coach/ Director of Hockey Operations in August 2013. He previously held goaltending coaching positions with the USHL's Omaha Lancers and Sioux Falls Stampede. He also spent time with Minnesota High School teams Roseau, Hill-Murray, and Centennial, as well as time in the collegiate ranks with the Bethel Royals. Millar was an amateur scout for the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes from 2009-2011, and was previously a scout for USA Hockey Development.
Sean Murdoch
Athletic Trainer
Sean Murdoch joined the Fighting Saints staff in August of 2013. He comes to Dubuque from the University of Minnesota where he completed his master's degree while working with the Golden Gopher Baseball team. Prior to the U of M, Sean completed his undergraduate degree at Michigan State University. Sean is a Board of Certification Certified Athletic Trainer. His clinical interests include manual therapies such as muscle energy and myofascial release techniques. Murdoch currently resides in Dubuque.
Jim Romagna
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Jim Romagna enters his fifth season with the Fighting Saints as an established Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (National Strength and Conditioning Association) and a Certified Personal Trainer (American Council on Exercise). Romagna is the Department Head at The University of Dubuque in the Health Wellness and Sport program and owns and operates Natural Fit Fitness Training and Consulting, and Romagna Performance with his wife Jennifer. Romagna has competed nationally in more than 20 bodybuilding competitions, appeared on the cover of Muscle and Magazine, free-lance writes for many national magazines, and is currently the face of Labrada Nutrition's ad campaign. A Loras College alumnus, Romagna worked as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Loras College from 2000 to 2007. He and his wife Jennifer and four children, Jade, Angelo, Ava and Beatrice, reside in Dubuque.
Brad Clayton
Brad Clayton joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints in November 2009 with the responsibility of scouting future USHL talent. Brad also serves as Director of Scouting for the Jamesville Jets in the NAHL and Director of Western Scouting for the Granite City Lumberjacks in the NA3HL. Prior to joining the Fighting Saints, Brad coached five seasons of youth hockey in Grand Rapids, MN at the Pee Wee level, and he remains GM/Coach of the Northern Prospects AAA Hockey Program at the Pee Wee, Bantam, U16 and U18 levels. Brad ran cross country, played baseball and hockey at Grand Rapids High School. After high school he attended HCC where he played hockey and was the team's leading scorer, play-off leading scorer, voted to the all-tournament team and was also awarded the Frank Catani MVP award. Brad, his wife Amber and their son Dylan reside in Northern Minnesota.
Mike Cusack
Mike Cusack joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints in September 2012 with the responsibility of scouting the New England area, and placing a primary focus on the NE Prep Schools and Midget AAA leagues. Currently, Mike serves as the Director of Hockey Operations for Lovell Hockey and the Boston Advantage program in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. Mike also owns and operates the Boston Junior Whalers AAA Elite Spring/Summer Hockey Program, compiling tournament teams at all age groups to compete in showcases spanning across North America. Previously, he has served as an Assistant Coach for the Boston Bandits in the EJHL and EJ Under-16 League. Prior to joining the Saints, Mike has served as the Director of Scouting U.S. Scouting for the QMHJL. Originally from North Andover, MA, Mike currently resides in Hingham Harbor, Massachusetts.
Rich Michalowski
Rich served as a varsity high school head coach in the Pittsburgh area for 15 seasons. After a 5 year hiatus, he assisted at the ACHA level for Duquesne University. Four years ago, Rich started to pursue a career in scouting which is his true passion. He was named as the USHL contributing scout for The Scouting Report, which is an on-line site that provides insight and scouting reports on NHL prospects. Some of his prospect reports have been referenced by various NHL and NCAA team websites. Most recently, Rich served as a scout for the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings of the NAHL. In addition, he has assisted IHC Hockey Management in the capacity as an advisor in helping identify prospective clients. Rich currently resides in the Pittsburgh area.
Mark Plantery
Mark Plantery was born and raised in Thorold, Ontario, Canada and has an extensive background in hockey. Plantery played three years of Junior "A" in the Ontario Hockey League playing for the Hamilton Fincups and the Windsor Spitfires and was a member of Team Canada, winning a silver medal in the 1976 World Junior Championships played in Czechoslovakia. He played seven years of professional hockey totaling 398 games (Sherbrooke Jets, AHL; Tulsa Oilers, CHL; Flint Generals, IHL; Val Gardena, Italy) including 26 games in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets. Plantery began coaching youth hockey in 1999 for the Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) based in Geneva, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. He was elected President of the CAHA 2010-Present and became a member of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) Player Development Committee in 2011. He is involved in evaluating the best bantam and midget players in the state to advance to the Central District Player Development Camp. Also, in 2013, he was invited to the Central District Development Camp in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, evaluating and ranking players for advancement to the National Development Camp in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He currently reside in Geneva, Illinois with wife Debbie, and two children, Alexandria aged 21, attending the University of Missouri and Sam, aged 17, attending Geneva High School.
Jeremiah Crowe
Jeremiah Crowe joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints scouting staff for the 2013-2014 season with the responsibility of covering Midget AAA, Prep School, and Junior players in the Western New York Area. Jeremiah played youth and junior hockey in Buffalo and has a great understanding of the landscape. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Clarkson University in 2010 and his Master's Degree in Sports Administration from Canisius College in 2013. At Clarkson, Jeremiah was a member of the Division I hockey teams that won the 2006-2007 ECAC Championship, the 2007-2008 ECAC Regular Season Title, and twice advanced to the NCAA tournament. After the 2010 season he was awarded the team's Unsung Hero Award. Jeremiah has also served as an intern in the Buffalo Sabres Pro Scouting Department in 2008 and joined Division III Buffalo State as an assistant coach in 2011. He and his wife Bethany live in the Buffalo area.
Ludvig Moteus
Motéus joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints scouting staff in September 2013 with the responsibility of scouting future talents in the Swedish junior leagues, placing a primary focus on J18 Elit and J20 SuperElit. Motéus will play a vital role in the recruiting process of Swedish players due to his wide range of knowledge about the top prospects in his country. Motéus looks for players that can adapt to the North American style of play and eventually become key players for the Fighting Saints. He is currently studying Law and Economics and is also a staff member on the industry-leading hockey database eliteprospects.com. Motéus and his family reside in Linkoping, Sweden.
Brian Burke
Brian Burke joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints scouting staff for the 2013-2014 season with the responsibility of covering Midget AAA, High School, and Junior players in the Michigan Area. Burke has primarily coached at the Midget AAA level for the past 10 years with Victory Honda in the Tier One Elite Hockey League. While at Victory Honda, Burke has been fortunate to coach over 40 NCAA Division I players and 10 NHL picks, including 1st rounder's Chris Summers and Ian Cole. Burke assisted in starting Adrian College's Division III program which competed for a National Championship in 2011. Burke coached three seasons at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa.; the team reached Atlantic Hockey Finals twice. In 2010 Burke was named Michigan Amateur Hockey Coach of the Year. Burke, his wife Karen and three kids, Allison, Kelley and Jack live in Dexter, Michigan.
Patti Swartz
Housing Coordinator
Patti Swartz returns for her fifth season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints organization as housing coordinator. Swartz has been involved with housing players for 10 years starting with the Dubuque Thunderbird Organization. Swartz is a registered nurse employed at Medical Associates Clinic. She has two married children and five grandchildren. She resides in Dubuque.
JoAnne Gibson
Education Coordinator
JoAnne Uthe-Gibson joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2010 as the Education Coordinator for the team. JoAnne received a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She taught at Dubuque Senior High School from 1975-2008 and is currently an adjunct faculty member at the Northeast Iowa Community College. Her job is to assist the players in preparing for the next level in their educational careers. Players are in high school, taking online classes or attending college while here in Dubuque so school is important. She enjoys working with the Saints players to be academically ready when they leave Dubuque. JoAnne resides with her husband, Don in rural Hazel Green, Wisconsin.
Hockey Operations
Business Operations
Job Opportunities


text:
Photographs may show modified designs. All images are copyrighted.
Plan 444-37
- 2119 sq ft
- 3 beds
- 2 baths
- 88' wide
- 82' deep
View similar style house plans
Craftsman House Plans
Small House Plans
Regional Favorites
Plan Description
The Mountain Cottage with Side-entry Garage is for those who enjoy luxury in an affordable size. Why settle for ordinary when you can have extraordinary. The exterior of this well-designed home has great texture and architectural detailing that adds character in true Craftsman style. The stone, decorative brackets, tapered supports, shed dormer and wide overhangs stand out and, at the same time, blend in with the surrounding natural environment. The rustic exterior is surpassed only by its functional and flexible floor plan which is obvious from the minute you walk through the front door. Double French doors open into a room that can serve as a home office, private retreat or bedroom. The foyer has double coat closets and looks into the open kitchen, dining and living room. Window walls look out onto a pergola, covered porch and open patio linking indoor and outdoor space for family fun and entertaining guests. The fireplace, built-in window seat and shelving in the Great Room provide many opportunities to add warmth and character to the common areas. The kitchen is functional but also beautiful and worthy to receive constant views from the dining and living rooms. The guest suite offers a wonderful respite for visitors or a private wing of the house for an aging parent or adult child still living at home. The guest suite has direct access to a bath, the garage, the laundry room and a door to the outside. The owner's suite offers a quiet retreat and great storage in the walk-in closet as well as access to the patio. Mountain Cottage can be expanded in the future as needs change and additional resources become available adding value and luxury spaces in the lower level like a home gym or surround sound theater. There is also bonus space above the garage with access to the laundry room and outside. Mountain Cottage has it all--size, style and simplicity.
Kitchen Features
Outdoor Spaces
Basic Features
Exterior Wall Framing
Bedroom Features
Additional Rooms
Lot Characteristics
Plan Set Price
Foundation Price
Additional Construction Sets $50.00/each
The Single Set and PDF Study Set are typically stamped "Not for Construction" and are to be used for studying / obtaining bids only. We do offer a 90% credit when you upgrade from a Single Set to a 5-Copy set (or greater).
Additional copies can be ordered at the time of purchase and within 90 days after your original purchase date.
Plan Content
All plans are drawn at ¼" scale or larger and include :
- Foundation Plan: Drawn to 1/4" scale, this page shows all necessary notations and dimensions including support columns, walls and excavated and unexcavated areas.
- Exterior Elevations: A blueprint picture of all four sides showing exterior materials and measurements.
- Floor Plan(s): Detailed plans, drawn to 1/4" scale for each level showing room dimensions, wall partitions, windows, etc. as well as the location of electrical outlets and switches.
- Cross Section: A vertical cutaway view of the house from roof to foundation showing details of framing, construction, flooring and roofing.
- Interior Elevations: Detailed drawings of kitchen cabinet elevations and other elements as required.
To help you determine if this plan will fit within your budget, our Cost-to-Build™ report will provide you a location specific Cost-to-Build™, which is based on your zip code. Order a Cost-to-Build™ Report today to get an accurate, location specific construction cost for any house plan on Houseplans.com. It's a great way to budget your project and compare different plans. It's an easy process and one of our expert plan advisors will take you through a comprehensive interview to determine the materials, finishes, fixtures and more to help you know in advance the likely cost to build a new home from Houseplans.com's blueprints.Cost-to-Build Report
Best Price Policy
Some of our plans are also available on other websites and in printed catalogs. We are committed to selling these plans at or below the lowest price available elsewhere. If you find a regularly priced plan (not "on-sale") for a lower price, we'll beat the advertised price by 5%. We will match the price for any on-sale plans.More details »
Important Information
All sales on house plans and customization/modifications are final. No refunds or exchanges can be given once your order has started the fulfillment process.
All house plans from Houseplans are designed to conform to the local codes when and where the original house was constructed.
In addition to the house plans you order, you may also need a site plan that shows where the house is going to be located on the property. You might also need beams sized to accommodate roof loads specific to your region. Your home builder can usually help you with this. You may also need a septic design unless your lot is served by a sanitary sewer system. Many areas now have area-specific energy codes that also have to be followed. This normally involves filling out a simple form providing documentation that your house plans are in compliance.
To find out what documents you should expect with your house plans, see what's included?
In some regions, there is a second step you will need to take to insure your house plans are in compliance with local codes. Some areas of North America have very strict engineering requirements. Examples of this would be, but not limited to, earthquake-prone areas of California and the Pacific Coast, hurricane risk areas of the Florida, Gulf & Carolina Coasts. New York, New Jersey, Nevada, and parts of Illinois require review by a local professional as well. If you are building in these areas, it is most likely you will need to hire a state licensed structural engineer to analyze the design and provide additional drawings and calculations required by your building department. If you aren't sure, building departments typically have a handout they will give you listing all of the items they require to submit for and obtain a building permit.
Additionally, stock plans do not have a professional stamp attached. If your building department requires one, they will only accept a stamp from a professional licensed in the state where you plan to build. In this case, you will need to take your house plans to a local engineer or architect for review and stamping. In addition, plans which are used to construct homes in Nevada are required to be drawn by a licensed Nevada architect.
How much will this cost to build?
This plan can be modified!
Also by This Designer
|1977 sq ft
|3 bed
|3 bath
|2 story
|52' wide
|57' deep
|1199 sq ft
|3 bed
|2 bath
|1 story
|50' wide
|51' deep
|3197 sq ft
|4 bed
|3.5 bath
|2 story
|60' wide
|91' deep
|2150 sq ft
|3 bed
|3 bath
|2 story
|75' wide
|61' deep
|1990 sq ft
|2 bed
|2 bath
|1 story
|97' wide
|75' deep
|2221 sq ft
|3 bed
|2 bath
|1 story
|88' wide
|86' deep
|1340 sq ft
|3 bed
|2 bath
|1 story
|56' wide
|37' deep
|2986 sq ft
|3 bed
|2 bath
|2 story
|97' wide
|75' deep
|1994 sq ft
|3 bed
|2.5 bath
|2 story
|54' wide
|58' deep

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Seachoice® VHF Connector with Adapter
Item # WX2-170998
- Google+
This item cannot ship via any of our Next Day or Second Day express delivery methods.
- Details & Specs
Seachoice® VHF Connector with Adapter.
Keep your craft in ship-shape with top-notch replacement parts for bottom dollar!
Make installing new VHF cable easier than ever before with a chrome-plated brass Connector and Adapter from Seachoice®.
- Reviews
Customer ReviewsNo reviews exist for this item....
You May Also Like
Seachoice® VHF Male ConnectorBuyer's Club $3.59 Non-Members $3.99
Seachoice® VHF Cable Double AdapterBuyer's Club $4.49 Non-Members $4.99
Seachoice® VHF Coaxial Antenna Cable with FittingsBuyer's Club $8.99 Non-Members $9.99


text:
Maison Martin Margiela releases this beautiful low-top leather sneaker that features small pyramid-like studs throughout in black. The 22 Replica black studded low-top also features a black lace up closure, tonal logo patch at the tongue, cut-out collar, and off-white lining. Additionally, textured black rubber foxing along with tonal stitching, a textile/leather upper, and a rubber sole complete the release. Available now from for $595 USD.
Get Updates Daily.
Follow our Twitter feed
We'll update you as we publish on our site. You'll get an update instantly!Follow @highsnobiety
Get Updates on Facebook
We'll bring our best stories and photos direct into your newsfeed.
Follow us on Instagram


text:
The Game Golf system utilises a combination of the latest sensor technology such as GPS, NFC, compass, accelerometer, and a gyrometer to capture all the important data from your game which can be uploaded to the Game Golf platform for analysis. See how far you hit each shot with the Club Performance analytics engine and compare your game stats against PGA pros or your weekend golf buddies.
Game Golf is the perfect companion for any golfer who wants to know where they can improve their game.
Play. During your round, simply tap the tags you installed into the grips of your clubs against a wearable device before each shot. That's it. Everything else is done automatically.
See. Observe your entire golf game on our web and mobile interfaces, which display your game like never before using a map view of the golf course that shows your shot locations and distances.
Share. Share your rounds, stats, records and more with the Game community and your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Now your game can leave the course.
Compare. All statistical parts of your game are recorded, calculated and displayed as trends over time, so learning about and improving your game is based on facts.
Benefits for Instructors. As well as being a great device to share and compare on a social level, Game Golf is also an invaluable tool for aspiring professionals as it allows instructors to have an in-depth insight to their student's round.
- In-depth info of your student's rounds without having to be on the course with them
- Target areas for improvement and track progress
- USGA & R&A Approved - conforms to rules of golf for tournament use


text:
Mayoral race
Menino camp: We do not condone sign vandalizing
Asked by the Lit Drop about a Sam Yoon for Mayor sign that got vandalized in Roslindale, Mayor Thomas Menino's campaign issued a statement: Read more
CommonWealth: Menino's long ride
The fine folks at CommonWealth magazine serve up this profile of Mayor Thomas Menino in their Summer 2009 issue. Read more
Flaherty launches new website: "Dollars and $ense"
City Councillor At-Large and mayoral candidate Michael Flaherty launched a new website on Saturday that hit Mayor Thomas Menino over city spending. Read more
If you saw Mayor Thomas Menino on Quincy St. this morning
…You can thank one local homeowner who called into TOUCH 106.1 FM to complain about the unkemptness of the Quincy Street area in Dorchester, close to the proposed Columbia Road commuter rail station.
Describing herself as a "big fan†of the mayor and a new homeowner, the woman said she had complained about the trash to City Hall officials but nobody would get back to her. Read more
UPDATED | McCrea: City should do away with police details
Mayoral hopeful Kevin McCrea on Tuesday said the city should dump police details at road construction sites.
"I want to concentrate the police on doing police work," he told the Reporter.
Construction site oversight should be left to civilian flaggers, he said.
Gov. Deval Patrick's administration created rules last year that placed flaggers at construction sites run by the state. Cities and towns can decide on their own. Read more
Adrian Walker asks the question
In his Globe column today:
When I talked with Miller a couple of weeks ago, as he was shutting the paper down, he declared that either of the mayor's primary challengers would be preferable to Menino.
Will the Menino-financed Banner say that in its pages? Will it endorse Sam Yoon or Michael Flaherty for mayor on the city's dime?
Yoon says if elected, no 'Mayor Yoon' signs all over the place
Taking a shot at Mayor Thomas Menino, mayoral candidate Sam Yoon said Monday night that he would keep his name off city signs that denote projects and neighborhoods. Read more
Bernstein gets results
The Boston Phoenix's David Bernstein wrote this morning that the Yoon campaign should capitalize on Gov. Deval Patrick filing legislation on charter schools that is similar to the mayoral hopeful's. Read more
The Economist weighs in on Menino, charter schools
As U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan drops by Boston to bolster Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal to lift the charter school cap in underperforming school districts, The Economist -- the news magazine that people on the train like to use to cover their copy of the latest Us Weekly -- looks at the charter school situation in Massachusetts, and weighs in on Mayor Thomas Menino's plan: Read more
Do we have a debate?
Mayoral candidate Kevin McCrea posts an apparent invitation from WBZ's Jon Keller for an hour-long Aug. 26 debate. Read more


text:
TUESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- A mindfulness meditation
training program can trigger measurable changes in brain areas
associated with awareness, empathy and sense of self within eight
weeks, a new study has found.
Mindfulness meditation focuses on nonjudgmental awareness of
one's feelings, sensations and state of mind, which often results
in greater peacefulness and relaxation, the researchers
They used MRI to assess the brain structure of 16 volunteers two
weeks before and after they took the eight-week Mindfulness-Based
Stress Reduction program at the University of Massachusetts Center
for Mindfulness. The program included weekly meetings to practice
mindfulness meditation and audio recordings for guided meditation
practice. The participants were asked to keep track of how much
time they practiced each day.
The researchers also analyzed MRI scans of a control group of
people who did not meditate for comparison.
The meditation group participants spent an average of 27 minutes
a day doing mindfulness meditation exercises. The MRI scans taken
after the eight-week program revealed increased gray matter density
in the hippocampus (important for learning and memory) and in
structures associated with compassion and self-awareness.
The investigators also found that participant-reported
reductions in stress were associated with decreased gray matter
density in the amygdala, which plays a role in anxiety and
None of these brain structure changes were seen in the control
"It is fascinating to see the brain's plasticity and that, by practicing meditation, we can play an active role in changing the brain and can increase our well-being and quality of life," first author Britta Holzel, a research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston and Giessen University in Germany, said in an MGH news release.
"Other studies in different patient populations have shown that meditation can make significant improvements in a variety of symptoms, and we are now investigating the underlying mechanisms in the brain that facilitate this change."
The study will be published in the Jan. 30 issue of the journal
Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.
More information
The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine has more about
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Latest News
Crouse Hospital Appoints Chief Information Officer
more >
MedEx Bedside Prescription Delivery Service
Free service offers convenience, patient education at discharge.more >
Weight Loss Surgery
Is it right for you? Attend a free information seminar held twice monthly.more >
Quality at Crouse
See how Crouse Hospital strives to provide the best in patient care.more >
Cheer Up That Special Someone
Say get well or welcome a new arrival with a gift purchased right at Crouse.
more >
Make an Online Donation Now
Your donation of any amount helps support Crouse services & programs in a meaningful way.more >
Shop Online Now
Say get well, thinking of you or welcome new baby with a unique gift from the Crouse Gift Shop.
© 2014 Crouse Hospital / 736 Irving Avenue / Syracuse, NY 13210 / 315-470-7111


text:
Follow Us: Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest | Quick Links: Join Blogger Programs | Join our partner Mommy's Club
Although it may be the holiday season, as far as presents go that doesn't mean a whole lot to Millennials. Like so many other issues, they have their own ideas about gift giving. Apparently what they want is cash, mostly to pay down college costs and other debt.
So much for the negative stereotype that those born between 1980 and 2000 are lazy and have a sense of entitlement. Millennials are laboring under a collective $1 trillion in debt from student loans and still…Continue
Added by Sandwiched Boomers on December 22, 2013 at 6:39pm — No Comments
Today we began what I hope will be ritual and tradition. A day to spend giving and thinking about Light- in every sense of the word...
Added by Kelly on December 21, 2013 at 11:24pm — No Comments
With many families still struggling and even those who are not, this is an appropriate time of year to teach an attitude of gratitude. It may be easy for kids to focus on what they don't have or won't get, especially compared to those of their peers. Regardless of a families' financial situation it is helpful to use the holidays as a time to teach family values. Any gift, whether big or small, can come from the heart keeping the recipient in mind. So what values are important to you and…Continue
Added by Stacy Hladek on December 7, 2012 at 4:00pm — No Comments
The Gift Giving Advisory Board (GGAB for short) is announcing our top holiday gift recommendations of 2011! Our board members have been working hard the entire year to seek out the most meaningful, unique and one-of-a-kind gift ideas and have compiled them into our sponsored, but oh-so-highly-curated, 2011 Holiday Gift Guide.…Continue
Added by The Succulent Wife on November 18, 2011 at 5:06pm — No Comments
Posh Infant Style is pleased to join the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's Thanks and Giving Campaign! Please visit my new blog post to learn more. My goal is a modest $500 to support continued research and treatment for our littlest cancer patients. Help make them survivors!
Thanks for your…
Added by Bethany Pawlak on November 4, 2011 at 12:21pm — No Comments
We have all heard about UNICEF, an acronym for the United Nations Children's Fund (the I for International and the E for Emergency were dropped in 1953).UNICEF has been around since the 1940′s and was initially created to provide for children in countries that had been devastated by WWII. Today, UNICEF operates in more than 150 countries and provide humanitarian relief to focus on saving children's…Continue
Added by The Succulent Wife on October 28, 2011 at 6:59pm — No Comments
My post yesterday (Day 180) ended up pulling my heart strings. The post led to how a Vancouver company…Continue
Added by Jacqueline Way on March 30, 2011 at 6:07pm — No Comments
Nothing beats a gift card for the perfect Birthday, or Wedding gift – it's always the right size, the right color, and it won't be returned!
But gift cards aren't just for gift giving. Gift cards are the perfect way to manage your budget and keep your spending…Continue
Added by Charissa Cowart on March 23, 2011 at 5:19pm — No Comments
Use it all at once or split it up! The good feelings will be worth more than the $50, I promise!
Added by Angie Atchley on March 23, 2011 at 3:42am — No Comments
Added by LeadHership on December 26, 2010 at 10:34pm — No Comments
|Where do you start with these folks? They already have everything, they don't want anything, they're difficult and picky… We have some in our family too. What to do? Ignoring them is not a sensible option, whether the "impossible" person in question is the mother-in-law or the boss. So, then, we thought that these types should probably be receiving virtual gifts. No, not a virtual Facebook cupcake, but rather something that…
Added by The Succulent Wife on December 16, 2010 at 1:00pm — No Comments
Yes, I'm dreaming of a green Christmas... not the type of Christmas with no snow but the type of Christmas that has minimal impact on the environment. I've put together a list of ways in which to put some green into the upcoming Christmas season....
To read more click…Continue
Added by Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom on November 13, 2010 at 1:43pm — 1 Comment
Read a Book Lately? linky is up and running - http://ning.it/bE7qfq All Family Friendly book reviews/giveaways
Added by Tina Peterson on November 6, 2010 at 12:00am — No Comments
Added by Charissa Cowart on October 21, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments
Added by MaryAnne Olson on August 20, 2010 at 11:15pm — No Comments
Earlier this year, Chase Bank created an entirely new approach to corporate philanthropy. The program, Chase Community Giving, let people help decide where Chase donated $5 million. So far, millions of votes have…Continue
Added by Dina on June 30, 2010 at 12:47pm — No Comments
Added by Sarah Maizes on November 6, 2009 at 1:34am — No Comments
Added by Ann Tillage on February 9, 2009 at 4:04pm — No Comments
Added by Maggie on November 20, 2008 at 6:14pm — No Comments


text:
(via fuckyeahpinupgirls)
(via fuckyeahpinupgirls)
Modern day babe! Check out that pout. This is fucking awesome.
(via fuckyeahpinupgirls)
Woooo! Smoking hot.
(via fuckyeahpinupgirls)
Hot! Look at that tummy!
Haha if only this were a real magazine!
(Source: artzumbitch)
A man should definitely be helping here :)
Cheeky and cute. Getting ready for a night on the town??
(Source: smouldered)
The lovely ladies of Kanye West's Gold Digger video part 1
Sultry stare and a sexy outfit.
(Source: artzumbitch)
Betty "Blue Eyes" Howard-Burlesque artist
Goodness - those curves are simply beautiful. Her skin look so soft.


text:
For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of the Olympics,
both the summer and winter games. I sat and watched wishing I could switch
places with Dominique Moceanu and Tara Lipinski as I cheered them on,
developing strong infatuations for Apolo Anton Ohno and Michael Phelps as they
won medal after medal.
However, this year, it feels different.
I've been covering the Anaheim Ducks for Inside Hockey for more
than six months now. The Ducks have nine athletes representing four countries
in the Olympics: Jonas Hiller and Luca Sbisa are representing Switzerland, Teemu Selanne and
Saku Koivu are playing for Finland, Bobby Ryan and Ryan Whitney on USA and Scott
Niedermayer, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf are representing the host country of Canada.
This year, it feels different.
It's different because this time around I've had one-on-one
conversations with multiple Olympians, and though I'm relatively new to sports
journalism, some Olympians even know my name.
This year, it's personal.
This year, I bookmarked the Men's Olympic hockey schedule as soon
as the teams were announced; this is a first for me. And if I'm being honest, I
don't really remember watching much Olympic hockey. However, I do know the
story of the 1980 Miracle on Ice, and though I've never been able to track down
a copy of the USA vs Soviets game, I do know the movie "Miracle" almost
word-for-word (Yeah, I've watched it that much).
That won't be the case this year. I plan on watching as much
Olympic hockey as possible, and while I'm slightly leaning towards Team Canada
to win it all, I'd be happy watching any of the Ducks athletes win any level of
As hockey will be starting this afternoon, I couldn't be more
excited. I'll be keeping you updated on my thoughts as the tournament
progresses over the next couple weeks.
No matter which country you happen to be rooting for, enjoy the games!


text:
Simon Cowell Wants Adam Lambert-Danny Gokey Finalby Free Britney at . Comments
Back in March, the American Idol spoilers on the street were that the fix was in and the show's producers were doing what they could to ensure Danny Gokey and Alexis Grace as the top two, with Lil Rounds and Adam Lambert right behind them.
But with Rounds ousted last week and Grace not even making the top 10, that isn't happening. Guess you can't believe every spoiler you read.
It's still no surprise, though, that Simon Cowell named Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert as his hopeful top pair at a press conference this week.
"I would put my money on Adam and Danny," the judge said. "It is going to be Adam and somebody. I would like to see Adam and Danny because I think they are the best two singers, and at the end of the day that is what should happen."
Adam Lambert has to be the favorite at this point, but perhaps Danny can make a run yet. Or will someone else spoil this party? Vote in the poll below ...
The next American Idol should be ...
I don't believe that Adam lost because of the stories of his possible sexual orientation (at least I seriously hope not). I think he "lost" because Chris is the American Idol ideal. He is cute, middle America and sings well enough. Is Chris in Adam's league as a singer/entertainer - absolutely not. Adam's flexibility in what he can sing (rock through ballads), his vocal range, his ability to alter his arrangements to suit the song and his style are all far superior to Chris. But Chris is the boy next door, the one you might want your daughter to bring home - he's safer - Adam is dark and dangerous, but what a talented young man. I suspect that of the two, Adam will make a bigger splash on the entertainment scene than will Chris.
Im 16 years old from Milwaukee. Danny is an amazing person. Every time he sings you can tell and feel the power and emotion he has. I definately think danny is going to win the whole thing. He is a strong Christian man and has a great attitude and confidence that he could win the whole thing. Its soo nice to see a Christian on American Idol. Being a Christian my self and seing danny makes me happy and stronger my self. Danny is a perfect idol for the Christian people here in the United States. danny keep singing strong man. Milwaukee is soo proud of you! Love you danny! =)
As it should be-i agree with Simon. Adam and Danny are by far the best singers in the competition.


text:
Book your room at Cambria Suites Maple Grove
Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofabed, Non SmokingMax Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 3 children, 3 infants)
Suite, Non SmokingMax Occupancy: 6 guests (up to 5 children, 5 infants)
Maple Grove hotel with an indoor pool
Situated in the city center, this hotel is in the same area as Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, Begin Oaks Golf Club, and Ellingson Car Museum. Area attractions also include Eagle Lake Golf Center.
Hotel Features
In addition to a restaurant, Cambria Suites Maple Grove features an indoor pool. Other amenities include a bar/lounge and a coffee shop/café.
Room Amenities
Flat-screen televisions include cable channels. Guestrooms also feature beds with Tempur-Pedic mattresses, complimentary wireless Internet access, and complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Cambria Suites Maple Grove
At your hotel
In addition to an indoor pool, Cambria Suites Maple Grove provides a spa tub and a 24-hour fitness center. Dining options at the hotel include a restaurant and a coffee shop/café. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. A complimentary breakfast is offered each morning. Public areas are equipped with complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access.
Business-related amenities at this 3-star property consist of a 24-hour business center and meeting rooms. Event facilities measure 1200 square feet (108 square meters). This Maple Grove hotel also offers gift shops/newsstands, coffee/tea in the lobby, and concierge services. Complimentary self parking is available on site.
Cambria Suites Maple Grove is a smoke-free property.
- Free RV, bus, truck parking
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- 24-hour business center
- Conference space size (feet) - 1200
- Meeting rooms
- Room service (limited hours)
- Elevator/lift
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Conference space size (meters) - 108
- Number of meeting rooms - 3
- 24-hour front desk
- Total number of rooms - 129
- Number of floors - 4
- Bar/lounge
- Coffee/tea in lobby
- Coffee shop or café
- Free breakfast
- Concierge services
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- Restaurant
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Free self parking
- Smoke-free property
- Spa tub
- Indoor pool
Stay connected
Available in all rooms: Free Wi-Fi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Available in some public areas: Free Wi-Fi
Park your car
Free self parking, Free RV, bus, truck parking
In your room
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
- Desk
- Cable TV service
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Climate control
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Free local calls
- Refrigerator
- Coffee/tea maker
- Microwave
- Private bathroom
- Complimentary toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Shower/tub combination
- Flat-panel TV
- Iron/ironing board
- Sofa bed
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Tempur-Pedic mattress
- Sofa bed size
Eat and drink
A complimentary breakfast is served each morning between 6 AM and 10 AM.
REFLECT - This restaurant specializes in American cuisine and serves breakfast and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
An indoor pool and a spa tub are on site. Other recreational amenities include a 24-hour fitness center.
Children under 16 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool, fitness facility, or spa tub without adult supervision.
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
- Accessible parking
- Braille or raised signage
- Accessible path of travel
- In-room accessibility
The fine print for Cambria Suites Maple Grove
When you arrive
Minimum check-in age is 21
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
When you leave
Check-out time is 11 AM
How you can pay
Accepted at this hotel: MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Breakfast fee: USD 9.95 per person (approximately)
- Rollaway bed fee: USD 10 per night
We should mention
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.


text:
DeAlmeida was a solid contributor in the Bobcats' midfield, tallying five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 2010. He also picked up 12 ground balls.
Leahy has been a constant on the Bobcats' defense for the last four years, picking up nearly 50 ground balls. This past year, Leahy caused 12 turnovers.


text:
The best CS:GO custom maps
Museum is GO's most gorgeous map. Outside, stone arches overlook a street entrance lined with gardens. Inside, golden light filters through an atrium onto carpeted stairs, a T-rex skeleton, and scaffolding. Creator Shawn "FMPONE" Snelling called upon fellow modders to build custom assets for the map, and the extra help is evident in every corner.
In the nearly 50 rounds I've played so far, Museum has favored the Terrorists. Raised windows, scaffolding, and an elevator shaft give the Ts some great vantage points for getting the drop on the CT assaulters who spawn outdoors.
Snelling wrote a terrific explanation of his design decisions on Museum (and the research that informed them) for Mapcore.org.
Tags: Featured, FPS, Valve, Counter-Strike, maps, Counter-Strike Source, Multiplayer, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Hidden Path Entertainment, Counter Strike maps,


text:
Also, anyone ever get that thing where one ear loses all hearing for about five seconds, aside from a loud high pitch sound? I get this every once in a while, but for some reason never really though much about it.That's the ringing I was talking about. Next time it happens, get a friend to put their ear next to yours and see if they hear anything. I've done this and they heard it too.
That's because for some people, it's kind of quiet and in the background. That's me - most of the time, but sometimes IT GETS REALLY FUCKING LOUD and it's hard to ignore something like that. I assume that's what it's like for the people who seek medical or newage help.
Doctors traditionally have distinguished between objective or "real" tinnitus and subjective or "false" tinnitus. In objective tinnitus an actual sound can be detected with a stethoscope or, in the odd case, simply by standing near the patient. The noise may arise from some deformation of the blood vessels, in which case it may signal a tumor or aneurysm; twitching of the muscles of the middle ear; a eustachian tube that remains open when it shouldn't; and so on.An actually audible (by others) ringing sound rarely occurs, but it's really a different ailment with detectable causes as listed above. The problem most people have and complain about is subjective tinnitus, which, as the linked article says, is "the false perception of sound in the absence of an acoustic stimulus, a phantom noise" and not an actual sound.
Subjective tinnitus, which is far more common, is tougher to pin down. Clinicians caution that tinnitus should be considered a symptom of some larger problem, and in fact it's often associated with other symptoms like hearing loss or dizziness. But in many cases no definite cause can be established. "Subjective tinnitus . . . is presumed to originate from some type of electrophysiologic derangement in the cochlea, cranial nerve VIII, or central nervous system," one Mayo Clinic review notes, but beyond that the subject remains mysterious.
I guess I wasn't being clear. When I say REALLY LOUD, I mean loud enough to drown out normal conversation. That's not a psychological, it-just-seems-louder-because-I'm-paying-attention effect. It really is a lot louder.
« Older "It doubtless seems highly paradoxical to assert t... | Surprising stories behind 20 M... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments


text:
General Information
• Contest Rules
• Resizing Tips
• Choosing Your Entry
• Submit an Entry
• Summer Contest Entries
• Summer Contest Winners
• Spring Contest Entries
• Spring Contest Winners
• Orchid Show Entries
• Orchid Show Winners
Our spring contest is April 4 – May 23, 2014
Winners announced May 30, 2014
Thank you to all of the photographers who entered our fall photo contest, sharing treasures from all corners of the Garden! As with our previous contests, each grand prize winner will receive a complimentary one-year membership to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Congratulations to our winning photographers, and to everyone who entered the contest.
We hope you will join us November 2 at 9 a.m. for our next free photo walk. Free monthly photo walks are held as part of the Garden's seasonal Digital Photography Contests. Please note the meeting location for this month's walk will be the Boyer Room in the Visitor Center (formerly the Garden View Room).
Grand Prize Winner
Carolynn Leiding
Grand Prize Winner
Dennis Arendt
Runner Up
Fred Share
Runner Up
Karen McClard
Runner Up
Leslie McLain
Runner Up
Joanne P McCollim
Runner Up
Kerry McLenahan
Social Media and eNewsletter
Sign up for our eNewsletter to ensure you receive information about future photo contests with the Garden. To see more Garden images, visit our Flickr photo group.


text:
Wishing is my drug.
I'm drawn to it; addicted.
Everyday I suffer some more because I know it'll never come true.
You're gone forever,
there's nothing I can do.
But Heaven is a safe place,
so I know you're okay.
I also know you haven't left me,
because I can feel when you're here.
I feel your prescence,
and I speak to you.
You know things nocody else does,
and I want it to stay that way.
I know you listen to me.
I can feel that too.
I'm writing this for you bubby.
I love you.
And your lovely bones will forever rest on Earth,
as will the memory of you.
-Trenton James R.I.P. LOVE YOU!
Views: 2
© 2014 Created by Hachette Book Group.
Report an Issue | Guidelines | Report an Issue | Terms of Service


text:
What makes texting and advocacy the perfect pair?
As technology and the way we communicate continue to evolve, so do our channels for disseminating messages within advocacy. To be effective, we must adjust how we send and receive communications.
With our help, our clients can use a cross-platform text messaging approach to educate their advocate base and mobilize them to take action.
Incorporating a texting program into a communications strategy not only increases the reach and frequency of a message. It delivers that message to an advocate's mobile device, empowering immediate action.
The quickness of texting, the response of loyal advocates and the ability to make a difference solidifies texting and advocacy as the perfect pair.Tags: Inspire


text:
Two Mid-Cap Life Insurance Stocks That Could Double in Two Years
Kyle is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
The life insurance industry has been facing a tough combination of extreme pressure on product pricing as well as low interest rates. This industry pressure has been exasperating insurers over the past few years and weighing on stock prices.
Today, the market provides two compelling opportunities to purchase robust life & health insurers at less than half of their equity book value. At currently reduced prices, both recapitalized businesses with improving return on asset metrics could reasonably double in valuation over the next few years.
CNO Financial
CNO Financial ) is a life, health, and long term care insurance business focusing on middle class and retired Americans. CNO recently invigorated their recapitalization by issuing low cost long term debt and paying back shorter term debt and convertible shares while reducing outstanding shares by 12%.
CNO is currently trading at 0.43x book value. Given the aforementioned industry issues, CNO Financial's return on equity ("ROE") was 3.9% for the 12 month period ending 9/30/12. Yet the product pricing environment continues to improve and a return to high single digit ROE metrics is reasonable over the next few years.
CNO Financial Business Units
Banker's Life & Casualty sells life insurance, long term care, annuities, Medicare Supplement / Part D / Advantage plans to middle income Boomers and retirees. Banker's Life is easily the largest division of CNO worth 2/3rds of CNO's value.
Banker's Life has been recently shifting away from annuity sales. Third quarter total sales declined 5% from the second quarter, reflecting an annuity sales decline of 35% while life insurance sales rose 5%, medical supplemental insurance rose 9%, and short term care sales rose 8%. Banker's Life is targeting a 14% IRR for its expanding long term care segment.
Like Banker's Life, Washington National sells a similar suite of products to working Americans. Washing National's core segment sales were up 9% in the third quarter. CNO's third segment, Colonial Penn, sells simple, low cost life insurance to lower & middle income retirees in urban/metro areas.
At 9/30/12, CNO had $310 million of liquidity including $150 million of deployable capital at the holding company. Segment EBIT grew from $309.4 million in 2010 to $344.3 million in 2011 and is on pace through 9/30/12 to deliver north of $375 million in 2012.
CNO has $893 million of net operating loss carry-forwards which are worth roughly $610 million when discounted over forward years at 10%.
With a recapitalized balance sheet and improving cash flow and ROE metrics, CNO Financial's stock price has the potential to dramatically increase in the coming years. CNO generated $250 million during the first 9 months of 2012 and could be producing $400 to $500 in free cash annually over the next few years.
In 2015, management believes they can be an investment grade company producing 9% ROE paying 20% of earnings as a dividend. If this happens, CNO could easily trade for book value which would imply a value of $25 per share which would represent a 150% gain from today's stock price.
Genworth Financial )
Like CNO Financial, Genworth's main economic unit is its US life & health business. However, Genworth also owns a mortgage insurance business in the US, Canada, and Australia as well as a US wealth management business and an international protection insurance arm.
As you may expect, Genworth's balance sheet was significantly impaired by losses in the US mortgage insurance business over the past 5 years. This affected Genworth's debt ratings and reduced the equity price as liquidity concerns arose. Yet, in late October, the company's board implemented a strategy which will provide the company ample liquidity to operate over the next couple years until the mortgage insurance business returns to profitability.
Genworth recently announced their intentions of divesting the non-core businesses of (1) international protection and (2) wealth management. This announcement follows the January 2011 exit of the variable annuity business and the October 2011 exit from selling supplemental Medicare insurance products.
Upon completion of these divestitures, Genworth will have two main business lines (1) U.S. life & long term care insurance and (2) global mortgage insurance with the majority of business in the US, Canada, and Australia. (Note: Genworth is planning to partially IPO the Australian mortgage insurance business in late 2013.)
Let's assume the International Insurance segment sells for $450 million (70% of book value) and the US Wealth Management segment sells for $300 million (70% of book value). This $750 million plus the roughly $1 billion Genworth currently has on the balance sheet would place the insurer in an enviable balance sheet position.
Remaining Segment Valuation
Under the aforementioned conservative scenario, Genworth would be worth $11 billion dollars which represents only 68% of book value and 1.16x tangible book value. Adding back cash and removing debt to calculate share price, at this reasonable valuation Genworth shares would trade at $16.00 and represent a double from today's offering.
Compared to CNO, Genworth is unlikely to trade at equity book value over the next few years due to the extreme historical losses from the mortgage insurance business. However, given Genworth's initial price of 0.22x book value, the stock could double and still not trade at book value.
GrizzlyRock is long Genworth Financial. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


text:
Last week, team members at the MHM Corporate Office celebrated Fiesta with the first annual MHM In Old San Antonio (MIOSA). Thanks to team member contributions, an assortment of Fiesta-inspired dishes were available to choose from. Winners were selected for Best Fiesta Hat, Best Fiesta Medal Collection, and Most Fiesta Spirit, with recognition going to:
- Maggie Vasquez (Human Resources) - Best Fiesta Hat
- Linda Lopez (Administration) - Best Fiesta Medal Collection
- Marilyn Stanton-White (Clinic and Behavioral Health Services) - Most Fiesta Spirit
Thank you to Maggie Vasquez, for organizing this festivity. We look forward to building the tradition of MIOSA!


text:
Story: Sep 26, 2014
CIA's Community Works series focuses on socially engaged art...
CIA Exhibition: Aug 28, 2014
2014 Faculty Exhibition
Story: Sep 22, 2014
Television and film writer teaching narrative writing at CIA
Events: Oct 03, 2014
Lunch On Fridays: Haishan Deng
Social: about 19 hours ago via Facebook
The Cleveland Institute of Art's academic series, Community Works, shifts into high gear next week with the arrival of Stephen Vetter, a renowned international ...
Story: Sep 16, 2014
CIA Professor Tina Cassara inspires Sculpture Center exhibit...
Events: Oct 11, 2014
CIA Portfolio Day
Story: Aug 27, 2014
New residence hall welcomes first-year students in comfort, ...
Events: Oct 18, 2014 @ William Busta Gallery in Cleveland, OH
A Creative Life featuring Paul Yanko
Blog: Oct 01, 2014
10/2-5: Bertolucci's new film Me And You, A Fistful of Dollars, Bound by Flesh & more!
Story: Aug 18, 2014
CIA again named to "Best in the Midwest" list
Events: Nov 06, 2014 @ Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, OH
Unruly Engagements Conference
Academics . Liberal Arts . Courses
Advertising + Consumer Culture
Course No. ACD 448 Credits: 3.0
Faculty Rita Goodman
This course will examine advertisements in the print media with respect to various elements, including: economic and social class; race; ethnic identity; age; gender; and sexuality. The course begins with an introduction to the method of analysis called semiotics, the techniques of which will be used to determine how advertisements convey their messages and how they address themselves to particular consumers. In addition to the elements outlined above, we will discuss several recent controversial issues. While this course will not center on a history of advertising, it will treat the historical place of print advertising in a capitalist consumer culture. Interventionist tactics by various artists that attempt to subvert the economic and ideological function of ads will also be examined. Visual Culture Emphasis course.
José Carlos Teixeira
Champney Family Professor of Art
José Carlos Teixeira is currently the Champney Family Visiting Professor at Case Western Reserve Univer...more
While at CIA, you'll learn from the masters through our rigorous, world-class curriculum and connect with working professionals to begin your career.


text:
This is FANTASTIC!
The most striking thing about these recordings is the synthetic-sounding descending tones caused by the phenomenon of the dispersion of sound waves. The high frequencies of the popping and cracking noises are transmitted faster by the ice than the deeper frequencies, which reach the listener with a time lag as glissandi sinking to almost bottomless depths. (via the amazing silent listening)
Listen to this beauty here.
(from: themagiclantern:crashinglybeautiful:)
Eating Animals, Jonathan Safran Foer, p.39.
(I interviewed him last Monday and unfortunately forgot to ask for comment on sea horses. Dammit.)
(via abangupjob)
These are great suggestions (See below)! Thanks adeandabet!
Another great thing to do, is to give a gift in honor of someone else by making a donation to an organization/cause they care about instead of buying them something.
This could be to an arts organization, or the local park, or an animal shelter, or the public radio station. Trust me, there are non-profits for all most anything you can think of and they all would love a donation!
Here is a great place to find a list of non-profits here in NYC who could really benefit from any size gift this year: New York City Non-profits Project
Find a place to volunteer that match your interests here: idealist.org
"Many of you have contacted me asking how you can get involved with charity/volunteer work this holiday season, so here are some of my recommendations:
New York Cares Coat Drive (December 1-31): Consider hosting a coat drive by setting up a donation site in your lobby, office, church, school cafeteria (I did this last year), or just stop by a donation site near you with your gently used coats (no other items are accepted, so leave the sweaters, hats, etc at home).
Toys for Tots (thanks to readers Amy and Kimberly for writing in about this): You can donate online or drop off toys at a campaign site near you.
Operation Santa Claus (I wrote about this wonderful organization earlier): You can donate or pick up a letter and answer it yourself; either way, you'll make a needy child's holiday season that much brighter.
The Bowery Mission: Lots of wonderful opportunities; check out the Programs for Men, the Programs for Women, and Kids with a Promise.
City Meals on Wheels: Provide nutritious meals and much-needed company to your homebound elderly neighbors (references and application required).
And if you're looking for a longer-term commitment, consider one of the following wonderful organizations:
Big Brothers Big Sisters (I was a Big Sister when I lived in LA, and it was a wonderful experience)
Covenant House: Help homeless children by donating or becoming a volunteer.
GMHC: Take on the fight against HIV/AIDS by donating or volunteering your time.
ASPCA: Donate or join the fight against animal cruelty.
Or you can make a gift to the A.C.L.U. who recently took a 25% loss to their operating budget. My coworker (former employee of the ACLU) assures me they are a fantastic organization, in her opinion one of the best nonprofits out there.


text:
ad: 300x250_1_MLB
Top Stories
- Mets To Extend Sandy Alderson, Retain Terry Collins
- Yankees Claim Eury Perez
- Braves Fire Frank Wren
- Chris Davis Suspended 25 Games
- Reds, Brewers Complete Broxton Trade
- Ron Washington Resigns As Rangers Manager
- Angels Exercise 2015 Option On Jerry Dipoto
- Diamondbacks Fire Kevin Towers
- Rockies Extend Jorge De La Rosa
- Dodgers Promote Joc Pederson
- Astros Fire Bo Porter
- Brewers Acquire Jonathan Broxton
- Athletics Acquire Adam Dunn
Search MLBTR
MLBTR Features
- Hoops Rumors
- Pro Football Rumors
- Reverse Standings
- 2015 MLB Free Agent List
- 2015 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings
- 2016 MLB Free Agent List
- Transaction Tracker
- DFA Tracker
- Agency Database
- MLBTR iPad/iPhone App
- MLBTR Android App
- Interviews
- Hot Stove Glossary
- MLBTR On Facebook
- MLBTR On Twitter
- MLBTR Mobile
- MLBTR On Kindle
- Team Twitter/RSS Feeds
- Team Facebook Pages
Recent posts
- Volquez Hopes To Re-Sign With Pirates, Seeks Multi-Year Deal
- Dan Haren's 2015 Option Vests
- AL Notes: Yankees, Joyce, Twins, Astros
- Alcides Escobar Joins The Legacy Agency
- Diamondbacks To Announce New GM On Thursday
- Reactions To & Fallout From The Braves' GM Change
- Yankees Designate Josh Outman For Assignment
- Mets To Extend Sandy Alderson, Retain Terry Collins
- Yankees Claim Eury Perez
- Trade Candidate(s): The Reds' Starting Pitchers
- Braves Fire Frank Wren
- NL East Notes: LaRoche, Papelbon, Tomas
- Braves Front Office Move Coming "Very Soon," Frank Wren Likely Out As GM
- Quick Hits: Red Sox, Martin, Cardinals
- Frank Wren's Job Possibly In Jeopardy
MLBTR Mailing List
Featured Posts
Rumors by team
- Angels Rumors
- Astros Rumors
- Athletics Rumors
- Blue Jays Rumors
- Braves Rumors
- Brewers Rumors
- Cardinals Rumors
- Cubs Rumors
- Diamondbacks Rumors
- Dodgers Rumors
- Giants Rumors
- Indians Rumors
- Mariners Rumors
- Marlins Rumors
- Mets Rumors
- Nationals Rumors
- Orioles Rumors
- Padres Rumors
- Phillies Rumors
- Pirates Rumors
- Rangers Rumors
- Rays Rumors
- Red Sox Rumors
- Reds Rumors
- Rockies Rumors
- Royals Rumors
- Tigers Rumors
- Twins Rumors
- White Sox Rumors
- Yankees Rumors
ad: 160x600_MLB
Ruben Amaro Jr. Rumors
NL East Notes: Phillies, Amaro, Hamels, Murphy, Medlen
Newly-anointed interim Phillies president Pat Gillick spoke with reporters today, including CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury. Gillick said there has been "no thought whatsoever" to firing GM Ruben Amaro Jr. or manager Ryne Sandberg, saying that his protege Amaro "didn't get dumb overnight" after playing an important role in the construction of the team's latest run of success. But Gillick will be focused on baseball operations, and says that he would have final say if there were any disagreements on personnel issues (while emphasizing that he and Amaro are generally on the same page). As a general matter, Gillick said that he would both function as an "interim caretaker" and an agent of change for the organization. The complete interview is well worth a full read.
Here's more from the NL East:
- Phillies ace Cole Hamels is likely to be dealt in the offseason, opines Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. Turning him into young talent is virtually the only realistic way that the club can convert present assets into future ones, Passan says.
- The Mets ought to deploy Daniel Murphy as a Ben Zobrist-like super-utility player rather than trade him, argues Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Utilizing youngsters Wilmer Flores and/or Dilson Herrera at second and moving Murphy around the diamond — among other moves, of course — could be the best way to maximize value and potentially create a contender, Sherman suggests.
- Braves righty Kris Medlen, nearly six months removed from his second Tommy John procedure, has begun throwing a baseball, Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Though his recovery is still just beginning, Medlen will be quite an interesting player to keep an eye on over the coming offseason. (He is still arb-eligible for a final time.)
Share 7 Retweet 25 Send via email0
Full Story | Comments | Categories: Atlanta Braves | Cole Hamels | Daniel Murphy | Kris Medlen | New York Mets | Philadelphia Phillies | Ruben Amaro Jr.
East Notes: Beckett, Franco, Moore, Santana
Josh Beckett, who has undergone surgeries for thoracic outlet syndrome and a torn meniscus in his left knee within the past 10 months, tossed his first career no-hitter and MLB's first of the season as he and the Dodgers shutout the Phillies 6-0. Beckett struck out Chase Utley looking on his career-high 128th pitch for the 24th no-hitter in Dodgers' history and the first for the franchise since Hideo Nomo 18 years ago. This is also the first time the Phillies have been no-hit since the Cardinals' Bob Forsch turned the trick in 1978 and the first time they have been held hitless in Philadelphia since the Montreal Expos' Bill Stoneman did so at Connie Mack Stadium in 1969. MLB.com's Todd Zolecki noted on Twitter the Phillies have now been shutout five times in their last ten home games and six times in their last 18 games overall.
In other news and notes involving the Phillies and baseball's East divisions:
- Could offensive help be on the way for the Phillies in the form of top prospect third baseman Maikel Franco? GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters, including Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer, it is a possibility. "We'll see whether it's the right thing for us and the right thing for him," said Amaro. "We'll kick it around." Franco, ranked as the game's 17th best prospect by Baseball America and 23rd by MLB.com, is hitting .301 in May with an OPS of .871.
- In the wake of Prince Fielder's season-ending neck injury, the Rangers have inquired about Nationals first baseman Tyler Moore, a baseball source tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson. The source indicated to Ladson nothing is serious and Moore is one of many first baseman in which the Rangers have an interest.
- Johan Santana has a June 1 opt-out in his minor league deal with the Orioles, but Executive Vice President Dan Duquette says that date is not a concern, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. "That's open for discussion," Duquette said. "It's a fluid situation." Santana remains in extended Spring Training and has not pitched more than four innings in an outing, but Duquette says the 35-year-old left-hander "is making good progress, he is throwing his pitches."
Share 3 Retweet 24 Send via email1
Full Story | Comments | Categories: Baltimore Orioles | Dan Duquette | Johan Santana | Josh Beckett | Maikel Franco | Philadelphia Phillies | Ruben Amaro Jr. | Texas Rangers | Tyler Moore | Washington Nationals
NL Notes: Reds, Heyward, Gonzalez, Rockies
MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark doesn't expect the Collective Bargaining Agreement to be reopened before its 2016 expiration to address issues with the qualifying offer system, writes Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle. "It's very difficult to open up a CBA," said Clark. "Suffice it to say, if there are issues during the course of any agreement, we continue to have discussions that may not require the CBA be to opened up, making sure that whatever the concerns are, whatever the issues are, and if they can be discussed in some more formal fashion, so be it, but more often than not, come 2016 when we have an opportunity to sit down is when we'll do so." Last night, Aaron Steen asked MLBTR readers about the qualifying offer and nearly 47% want to tweak the QO while 25% want to eliminate it entirely.
In National League news and notes on Oscar Sunday:
- With the ink barely dry on Homer Bailey's six-year, $105MM contract extension, the Reds will be in the same situation with starters Mat Latos, Mike Leake, and Johnny Cueto next year. Owner Bob Castellini told the Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay the team wants to retain all three. "We're going to try to sign all these guys," Castellini said. "Whether we can or not, I don't know. I don't have a crystal ball."
- Castellini also told Fay he is not pleased with the media's coverage of the Reds' offseason because it has had an adverse affect on the team's revenues. "That season-ticket number is the most important number we can generate," said Castellini. "We knew we wanted to sign Homer. We knew we were going to make some other commitments. It's not that we didn't look. It gets written in such a way – 'Well, the Reds aren't doing anything' – that really does affect people buying season tickets." Castellini provided Fay with details of the club's revenue generated through ticket sales, sponsorships, and the national TV contract adding neither he nor any of the other principal owners or investors have ever taken money out of the franchise.
- Last month, the Braves gave Jason Heyward a two-year, $13.3MM contract. In two years, the perfect storm of baseball's economics, Heyward's age, and actions taken by the Braves will set the 24-year-old up for a huge payday on a likely barren free agent market, according to Mike Petriello of ESPN.com in an Insider-only piece (subscription required).
- With mixed reviews to date, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez made his Spring Training debut yesterday. Phillies GM Ruban Amaro Jr. was upbeat about what he saw, reports MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. "He probably threw better with his stuff as far as his velocity and breaking ball since he's been in camp," Amaro said. "I was encouraged that his stuff was better than it had been in his sides. And hopefully it will continue to progress in a positive way." Pitching coach Bob McClure added (as quoted by Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Inquirer), "I saw a very competitive (guy), and that is what I was really hoping for. And he might be one of those guys that's not the best practice player, but you put him in a game and he competes." Reports surfaced last week Gonzalez could open the season in the minors.
- Solid pitching will be key to any improvement the Rockies hope to make this season. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick focuses on young starters Jonathan Gray and Eddie Butler while the Denver Post's Troy E. Renck examines the Rockies' adherence to pitch counts to protect their starting rotation and the corresponding reliance on their bullpen, which could be called upon to record 10 or 11 outs every game.
Share 0 Retweet 20 Send via email1
Full Story | Comments | Categories: Atlanta Braves | Cincinnati Reds | Colorado Rockies | Jason Heyward | Johnny Cueto | Jonathan Gray | Mat Latos | Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez | Mike Leake | Philadelphia Phillies | Ruben Amaro Jr.
The Michael Young Trade: Reaction & Analysis
The Dodgers made the final August trade of the season late last night acquiring Michael Young and cash from the Phillies for minor-league left-hander Rob Rasmussen. Here's the reaction and analysis from around baseball:
- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says Juan Uribe is still the team's starting third baseman and Young will see time at both corner infield positions, tweets Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told reporters, including ESPNLosAngeles.com's Mark Saxon, Young is willing to accept a lesser role, and the resulting diminished number of at-bats, because he wants another crack at a World Series ring.
- The Phillies would have been better served accepting the Yankees' offer of Double-A right-hander Tommy Kahnle and paying the remainder of Young's salary that was made prior to the July 31st Trade Deadline, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. disagreed with Heyman's assessment telling reporters, including CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury, "We like this guy (Rasmussen) more. The guys that we talked about with other teams had other issues. At the Trade Deadline we were not out of it completely. We were still trying to win games. Different circumstances. Now we're out of it, basically."
- The Dodgers paid too high of a price for a sub-replacement level player of no discernable value to a playoff team, opines Cliff Corcoran of Sports Illustrated.
- Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times has the opposite opinion writing there is no drawback, no downside when you add to a club's bench a veteran like Young, who is universally perceived as a great teammate.
- MLB.com's Lyle Spencer agrees with Dilbeck tweeting Young is a great addition for the Dodgers on so many levels: clutch, tough, versatile, smart, and a winner.
Share 2 Retweet 24 Send via email0
Full Story | Comments | Categories: Los Angeles Dodgers | Michael Young | Ned Colletti | New York Yankees | Philadelphia Phillies | Ruben Amaro Jr.
NL Notes: Phillies, Cardinals, Cubs
Phillies president David Montgomery showed support for GM Ruben Amaro Jr. on Wednesday, Bob Brookover of the Inquirer reports. "Ruben is not making independent decisions," Montgomery says. "He's going with a pretty good group of eyes who are looking out there at players and making determinations. God knows we're all trying to bat 1.000 on decision making. The reality is I think we do better than the .300 standard in baseball." The Phillies are 35-38 after going 81-81 last season. Here are more notes from the National League.
- The Phillies are among the teams that must rebuild, says ESPN's Jim Bowden (Insider-only). (Bowden also names the White Sox and the Brewers.) Bowden says the Phillies should try to trade veterans in order to reduce the payroll and add youth, but they shouldn't blow up the team completely, since the Phillies have a workable core. Trading Cliff Lee or Jonathan Papelbon would be the Phillies' best bet, Bowden says.
- Chris Carpenter, who is trying to come back from a nerve injury, will not factor in the Cardinals' trade deadline plans, GM John Mozeliak tells Derrick Gould and Brendan Meyer of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. " He hasn't pitched yet. It's still something that he could end up contributing, I think that's a bonus. But I don't think, going in to (July 31), (we will be) factoring him involved right now," says Mozeliak. Carpenter felt back tightness after throwing a bullpen session on Sunday.
- Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein says manager Dale Sveum isn't to blame for the team's poor record, ESPNChicago.com's Doug Padilla writes, citing an interview on ESPN 1000. The Cubs just don't have the talent to provide Sveum with good options right now, Epstein says. "I think Dale is taking a lot of heat for the fact that we don't have currently a roster that is talented enough to regularly win baseball games," says Epstein. "We just don't."
- Epstein also says the Cubs will not release Ian Stewart, Padilla notes. The Cubs suspended Stewart after he sent a series of tweets complaining that the club was unlikely to promote him. "He hasn't lived up to our expectations but he is a human being and his career is at stake," Epstein says. Stewart has hit .168/.286/.372 for Triple-A Iowa this season.
Full Story | Comments | Categories: Chicago Cubs | Chris Carpenter | Cliff Lee | Ian Stewart | Jonathan Papelbon | Philadelphia Phillies | Ruben Amaro Jr. | St. Louis Cardinals
Quick Hits: Cubs, Zambrano, Amaro, McDonald
Cubs manager Dale Sveum says his team has no intention of releasing struggling reliever Carlos Marmol and eating the rest of his $9.8MM salary, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports. "We've come to find out that he has trouble with the last three outs," says Sveum. "But somebody has to pitch the other innings, and he's done a pretty good job in that role." Marmol allowed four runs in the ninth as the Cubs lost to the Mets 4-3 on Sunday. Here are more notes from around the National League.
- The Cubs' bullpen has struggled this season, but in the aftermath of this summer's trading season, the team's rotation could end up being just as weak, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. Last season, the Cubs performed poorly down the stretch after the departures of two productive starters in Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm. This year, Wittenmyer says, Matt Garza and Scott Feldman could be those pitchers' 2013 equivalents.
- Phillies starter Jonathan Pettibone struggled Saturday, but GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says that Carlos Zambrano won't be replacing Pettibone right away, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com writes. "Not based on what I saw his last outing, not in my mind," says Amaro. "I'd like to see him pitch again [in the minors]. We'll keep a close eye on his starts and how effective he is. But he's not ready yet in my mind." Zambrano has an out clause July 1. He allowed two runs in five innings in his first outing for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, striking out five and walking four. His fastball did not exceed 88 MPH.
- Speaking of Amaro, Bob Brookover of the Inquirer argues that "the bad has outweighed the good" in Amaro's stint as GM, and that it's unclear whether Amaro is the right person for the job. Amaro's signing of Joe Blanton and trade for Hunter Pence rank among his worst moves, Brookover says.
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington says James McDonald's future with the team could be in jeopardy, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Karen Price writes in a pair of tweets. "As the clock ticks we'll have to make a determination as to where James best fits in this group, on this club, or does he fit," says Huntington. "That's a question to be answered ultimately by James McDonald." McDonald, once viewed as a potential franchise building block after promising seasons in 2010 and 2011 and a great first half in 2012, has fallen out of favor after collapsing down the stretch last year and posting a 5.76 ERA with 20 walks in six 2013 starts. He has also struggled in his rehab starts since landing on the disabled list with shoulder discomfort.
- If the Blue Jays had already acquired Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio from the Marlins, they wouldn't have signed Maicer Izturis, Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star argues. Izturis signed a three-year, $10MM deal in November, and the Jays acquired Reyes and Bonifacio days later. Izturis has hit .222/.258/.308 this season.
Full Story | Comments | Categories: Carlos Marmol | Carlos Zambrano | Chicago Cubs | James McDonald | Maicer Izturis | Philadelphia Phillies | Pittsburgh Pirates | Ruben Amaro Jr. | Toronto Blue Jays
NL Notes: Stauffer, Phillies, Cubs, Hairston
Let's take a look around the National League …
- Pitcher Tim Stauffer was called up by the Padres, meaning that the team will not risk losing him to a June 1 opt-out clause, notes Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Returning for the second time in his career from major arm surgery, Stauffer was thrown right into the fire and worked 1 2/3 effective innings last night against the Nationals.
- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. believes his club has the pieces in place to be much better offensively and is not looking for outside help at the moment, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports. "I don't see us making any trades any time soon," Amaro said. "There's too many teams that are in it, not enough teams that are out of it." Amaro is preaching patience with struggling hitters like Delmon Young and Ryan Howard: "Right now we have to be patient to see if Delmon starts swinging it. And Ryan [Howard] is going to have to start swinging it. If those guys do then we'll be OK. If they don't we'll have to figure out what we're going to do." As Salisbury notes, the Phillies rank near the bottom of baseball in most major offensive categories, including on-base percentage (.304, 25th); OPS (.683, 26th); and runs scored (3.61, 27th).
- Prospective free agent Matt Garza will make his season debut for the Cubs this Tuesday, tweets Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald. Garza, who last checked in at eighth on Tim Dierkes's 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings, will be an interesting player to watch over the coming weeks. Depending upon his performance and the intentions of the Cubs, he could be an extension candidate, prime mid-season trade bait, and/or a major 2014 free agent target.
- To make room in the rotation for Garza, Miles further notes, the Cubs will bump Carlos Villanueva to the bullpen. The right-hander, who is in the first half of a two-year, $10MM deal with the Cubs, has struggled since a promising start to the 2013 campaign. After allowing just five earned runs and logging 29 1/3 innings in his first four starts, Villanueva has conceded eighteen earned runs and lasted only 23 1/3 innings over his next four outings. Pitching from the pen, Villanueva is much less likely to profile as a potential trade candidate for the Cubs.
- In spite of a nice 2012 season in which he slashed .263/.299/.504 and hit 20 home runs over 398 plate appearances for the Mets, outfielder Scott Hairston says that the team never formally offered him a contract this offseason. As Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reports, Hairston felt that New York "wanted to go in a different direction," leading him to look elsewhere for a multi-year deal and regular playing time. He ultimately landed a two-year deal with the Cubs that guarantees him $5MM. Now, both player and team seem to be regretting how things turned out: the Mets outfield has been terrible, and Hairston has struggled in limited action for Chicago with a .125/.154/.354 line over just 52 plate appearances.
Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0
Full Story | Comments | Categories: Carlos Villanueva | Chicago Cubs | Matt Garza | New York Mets | Philadelphia Phillies | Ruben Amaro Jr. | San Diego Padres | Scott Hairston | Tim Stauffer
Quick Hits: Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs
Let's take a quick trip around four of baseball's five most valuable franchises, according to Forbes:
- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. discussed the team's offseason strategy and looked ahead to the new season in a wide-ranging question-and-answer session with Sam Donnellon of the Philadelphia Daily News. When asked about the decision to add yet more older players to his club, Amaro said that "age is a factor," but not the only factor. "I've said this before and [Yankees GM] Brian Cashman has said this before," said Amaro. "I don't worry so much about age as I do about production." Amaro did note that the team figures to get younger in the outfield with Ben Revere and Domonic Brown expected to occupy two starting spots.
- Meanwhile, the club has announced its Opening Day roster, which includes outfielder Ender Inciarte, according to a team tweet. As MLBTR previously noted, the 22-year-old Rule 5 draftee has yet to appear above High-A ball. Inciarte will remain Phillies property so long as he sticks on the club's 25-man roster (or is placed on the DL) for the duration of the season. Click here for an explanation of the Rule 5 Draft. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com tweets that he expects Inciarte to be returned to the Diamondbacks when Delmon Young is ready to join the club.
- Turning to Cashman's Yankees, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman pulled no punches when reviewing the club's offseason, writing that "no one had a worse spring training than baseball's most storied team, maybe ever." Heyman further reports that, in spite of their public proclamations and massive payroll, the Yanks' brass is very concerned internally about the club's prospects for 2013. Likewise, ESPN's Jim Bowden predicted that New York would finish last in the AL East, writing that the club could sport a losing record for the first time since 1992.
- Meanwhile, first baseman Lyle Overbay has made the Yankees Opening Day roster, Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger reported on Twitter. The 36-year-old was inked shortly after being released by the Red Sox. MLB.com's Bryan Hoch previously reported that Overbay signed what Cashman described as "a three-day, NBA-style contract" to allow the club to get "a quick peek" at the veteran. As McCullough wrote, Cashman has described his recent scramble to add players by evoking the famous Emma Lazarus line featured on the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to break [sic] free."
- While nothing is yet official, Red Sox prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. is heading with the club to New York, where the team opens against the Yankees on Monday, tweets Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe. The club will need to clear a 40-man roster spot before it can select the contract of the young outfielder, notes Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal (on Twitter).
- The Cubs' front office is working hard to make final additions to the roster, writes Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune (must register to access article). After adding players like Luis Valbuena and Shawn Camp around this time last year, Rogers says, the club could be active on the waiver wire.
Share 0 Retweet 18 Send via email0
Full Story | Comments | Categories: Boston Red Sox | Brian Cashman | Chicago Cubs | Ender Inciarte | Jackie Bradley Jr. | Lyle Overbay | New York Yankees | Philadelphia Phillies | Ruben Amaro Jr.
Phillies Notes: Outfield, Roster Moves, Betancourt
Tim Dierkes covered the Phillies' winter moves yesterday in the latest installment of MLBTR's Offseason In Review series. If today's news is any indication, however, the Phils may yet make another tweak or two to their roster before Opening Day. Here's the latest from the City of Brotherly Love…
- The Phillies have been talking to other teams about adding depth in the outfield, bullpen and behind the plate, ESPN's Jayson Stark reports (Twitter link).
- Also from Stark (Twitter links), Phillies GM Ruben Amaro said the outfield situation isn't quite settled. "We could make a trade (or) sign somebody," Amaro said. "We'll see. If there are ways to improve our team, we'll try to do it."
- Alex Esteban, Yuniesky Betancourt's agent, tells Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer that his client will opt out of his minor league deal with the Phillies if he isn't added to their Major League roster by Sunday. "Our preference would be to stay with the Phillies but it's out of our control," Esteban said. "We would definitely be opting out and seeing what's out there." Gelb speculates that the Cardinals, Marlins and Astros could be possible fits for Betancourt if he becomes a free agent.
- If Betancourt makes the Phillies and reaches his contract incentives, his deal would pay him $1.4MM, Gelb reports.
- From earlier today, the Phillies released Rodrigo Lopez.
Share 0 Retweet 13 Send via email0
Full Story | Comments | Categories: Philadelphia Phillies | Ruben Amaro Jr. | Yuniesky Betancourt
NL Notes: Phillies, Reds, Rockies, Figgins
As players, coaches, and front office personnel begin to arrive in Florida and Arizona for Spring Training 2013, let's take a look at the news and notes from the National League:
- The Phillies were surprised Ben Revere was available and, in fact, it was the Twins who brought his name up in trade talks after dealing Denard Span to the Nationals, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer's Bob Brookover.
- Within the same article, Brookover writes the struggles of Domonic Brown were one reason the Phillies were forced to alter their offseason blueprint. "We were hopeful that Domonic would lock down one of those corner outfield spots," GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "He did not do that. He still may do that…but we can't necessarily count on that to happen. Because of that, then we were kind of filling all three outfield positions."
- MLB.com's Mark Sheldon provided additional contract details for some of the players the Reds have signed within the last month including right-hander Logan Ondrusek, who has more than two dozen different escalators, incentives, and bonuses written into the two-year deal he signed last month.
- Jorge De La Rosa, Jhoulys Chacin, Juan Nicasio, and Jeff Francis are near locks for the first four slots in the Rockies' starting rotation leaving Drew Pomeranz, Christian Friedrich, Tyler Chatwood and Chris Volstad jockeying for the fifth spot, according to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.
- MLB.com's Thomas Harding tweets the candidates for the Rockies' rotation change daily, but the final two spots could come down to Nicasio, Pomeranz, and Chatwood.
- Larry Beinfest, the Marlins' president of baseball operations, envisions the recently signed Chone Figgins in a Alfredo Amezaga-type role, tweets Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel. Amezaga played every position, except pitcher and catcher, during his four-year stint in Miami.
Share 0 Retweet 10 Send via email0
Full Story | Comments | Categories: Ben Revere | Chone Figgins | Chris Volstad | Christian Friedrich | Cincinnati Reds | Colorado Rockies | Domonic Brown | Drew Pomeranz | Jeff Francis | Jhoulys Chacin | Jorge de la Rosa | Juan Nicasio | Logan Ondrusek | Miami Marlins | Philadelphia Phillies | Ruben Amaro Jr. | Tyler Chatwood


text:
The state of North Carolina is appealing a federal judge's ruling that it can't offer anti-abortion license plates unless it also makes plates available for people who support abortion rights.
The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina said Friday that North Carolina's decision to appeal a judge's ruling against a "Choose Life" license plate is "unfortunate."
"It's unfortunate that the state has chosen to prolong what is really a very clear-cut First Amendment issue," said Chris Brook, ACLU- North Carolina Legal Foundation Legal Director.
The state filed notice Friday that it's appealing the decision last month by U.S. District Court Judge James Fox, who said offering just the one license plate violates the First Amendment.
Last month, Judge Fox said the state cannot offer a plate with a viewpoint opposing abortion unless it provides drivers with the choice of picking a plate with the opposite opinion.
North Carolina has appealed Fox's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, VA.
"This case is ultimately about the right of North Carolinians of all political beliefs to have equal access to avenues for the free expression of ideas, and we look forward to making our arguments before the Court of Appeals," said Brook.
North Carolina began allowing drivers to sign up for the "Choose Life" plates last year, but did not issue any before the ACLU's lawsuit was filed.
The state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union sued over the plates in September 2011.
Drivers wanting them were to pay an extra $25, with $15 of that going to the Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship - a private organization which funds crisis pregnancy centers.
During the 2011 legislative session, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 289, which authorized the issuance of a "Choose Life" license plate.
"The legislature repeatedly refused to authorize a plate that supported the countervailing position in favor of reproductive freedom," the ACLU told WBTV.
Six amendments were proposed in the legislature to authorize an additional new plate that stated either, "Trust Women. Respect Choice," or simply "Respect Choice." The legislature rejected all six amendments.
Copyright 2013 WBTV. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
1 Julian Price Place
Charlotte, NC 28208
FCC Public File
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


text:
We want to ensure that making a return is as easy and hassle-free as possible! If for any reason you decide that your purchase just isn't for you, simply return the item within 30 days of receipt and we'll cover the return shipping when you choose our FREE Pre-Paid Return Shipping Label. Learn more about our return policy.
Shop now and get Free Value Shipping on most orders over $29.95 to contiguous 48 states, DC and to all U.S. Military APO/FPO/DPO addresses.
The Berkley Gulp! Alive! Killer Crawler Bait is just one small part of our vast selection of products from Berkley and other top name brands. We strive hard to be the best place online for name-brand products like the Berkley Gulp! Alive! Killer Crawler Bait as well as many other products from top name brands. We are your best bet for buying terrific gear like Berkley Gulp! Alive! Killer Crawler Bait.
This bait is designed with a hollow core to increased lifelike feel and incredible action. It is more durable than a live night crawler and is deadly when fished finesse style or wacky rigged. This bait performs exceptionally well on Mustad's slow death hook. Specifications: - Weight: 13.7oz. - Size: 3in. - Color: Natural
Connect with OpticsPlanet
Become our fan, follow us, & subscribe for the latest updates and deals
Subscribe to our email list
Sign up and receive $5 Off and get exclusive access to promotions, sales
events, pre-order sales & more!
Contact Information
Toll-Free: 800-504-5897
Intl.: 847-513-6201
Fax: 847-919-3003
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Hours of Operation
7AM-8PM CST Mon-Fri9AM-5PM CST Sat-Sun
Our Guarantees


text:
Boao (China) - Former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has described Jeremy Lin's success in the NBA as "a bit out of my expectation," when asked to comment on the buzz surrounding the New York Knicks American-born player of Chinese heritage.
"Lin faces challenges as an NBA basketball player -- he is not very tall, not very strong, and he was cut out by two clubs before finally joining the Knicks," The Sun quoted Yao, as telling reporters on the sidelines of a business forum held in south China's resort town of Boao.
"To be honest, I did not expect him to play so well. But in Lin's success I see hope about how descendants of Chinese immigrants to the States can become successful in mainstream society," Yao said.
Chinese like to compare Lin with Yao as the two are both world-class players of a game popular around the globe and they are extremely inspiring to young people.


text:
There are so many things wrong with this. Namely they're M8's. Not M80's. And its the New Haven line, not the Harlem-Stanford line. And it's Stamford dumbass.
Reblogged 2 years ago from feministtrainspotter by vilewatermelons
4 notes
Tags: MTA, dumbass, Metro-North, New Haven Line, LOLs,
©2011–2014. Postage by Greg Cooper. Icons by PixelResort. Thanks to Jamie Cassidy & Panic.
*Unlikely to find your lost post using this but you can try...