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Thursday 2 Oct 2014
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Paxos Suites - Emmanuella & Skipper Luxury Villas
Gaios - Paxos - P.c 49082 - Greece
Both newly built luxury villas Emmanuella and Skipper are set at an idyllic spot next to the sea on the east coast of Paxos 800m from the small graphic port of Gaios.Set in their own private grounds among terraced gardens and patios.
The ground floor verandas lead you to the private swimming pool, with a large terrace for relaxing and sunbathing. From the firsts floors verandas there is a breathtaking view of east coast and Panagias Isle.
These stone buildings both represent the classic architecture of the eptanisic mansions. Finished to a vey high standard by the onwers.
Each villa spans on two floors with two independents spacious suites providing accommodation for both four and two persons accordingly. Spacious accommodation with taken care to the smallest detail to enchace your stay.
Both Emmanuella and Skipper Villas overlook the garden and pool area and have beautiful views of the sea as well as easy access to the coast just a step away. A perfect choice for those wishing to holiday with friends or families.
For further information please call at :
(+30) 2662 0 32137
(+30) 697 821 7365
or you can send an email at:
Paxos Suites - Emmanuella & Skipper Luxury Villas
Gaios - Paxos - P.c 49082 - Greece
Contact phone numbers: (+30) 2662 0 32137 - Mob. (+30) 697 821 7365
Room Services
TV set.
Cable Tv - Satellite.
Internet Wi-fi.
Iron & ironing board.
Hair dryer.
Beach towels.
First Aid Kit.
General Facilities
Change of bed-linen every 3 days.
Daily maid service.
Information about Paxos.
Share washing mashine/tumble dryer.
Welcome Pack.
Fully furnished Kitchen.
Private swimming Pool 45 sq.m with sunbeds & umbrellas.
Outside Showers.
Private garden with BBQ.
500sq.m garden for each villa.
Private parking space.
Transfer from and to the port.
500 m.
Center of island:
1 km.
Nearest beach:
500 m.
Town Hall:
1 km.
Post office:
1 km.
Police station:
1 km.
1 km.
Paxos Suites - Paxos Island Gaios - Paxos - P.c 49082 - Greece Contact phone numbers: (+30) 2662 0 32137 - Mob. (+30) 697 821 7365
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- All rights reserved, 2014 Powered & Hosted by
Call now at: (+30) 2662 0 32137 - (+30) 697 821 7365 or you can send an email at:


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ScreenConnect is a self-hosted remote support, meeting, and access solution. ScreenConnect is priced substantially lower than BOMGAR® and offers similar performance, functionality and features. Let's dive in and see how they compare.
BOMGAR® doesn't advertise their price for a reason! Expect to pay around $7,000 to get started with a B200™ and a couple of licenses. Compare that to $600, the cost of two ScreenConnect licenses. 1, 2, 3
There used to be a saying in IT, "you don't get fired for buying Microsoft". While opinions may vary on the quote, the idea is to stay with the more well known names to limit risk. ScreenConnect is cheaper, but there is no trade-off in quality. ScreenConnect provides the features, performance, and compatibility you need!
BOMGAR® has taken the B100™ end of life. If you are a small company stuck with one of these devices, let us know we would be happy to help.
While we pick on Bomgar® about their pricing a bit, the actuality is that these products are in many ways quite similar. Below is a high-level comparisons of the two products:
HIPAA / PCI Compliance
Sales Hardware
Unlimited License Option
Toolbox Feature
Persistent Clients
Company Name: Elsinore Technologies
Established: 1997
Product: ScreenConnect
Summary: ScreenConnect is a self-hosted remote support solution. Our goal is to develop a simple tool that just works and provides maximum compatibility on a variety of operating systems.
Remote Support
Remote Access
Remote Meeting
BOMGAR® provides on-premises remote support positioned around two key assets, the BOMGAR BOX® and their remote desktop control software. The BOMGAR BOX® comes in several flavors ranging from the B200™ to the B400™ (the B100™ suffered an "EOL" (end of life) in 2013), as well as, a virtual appliance.
The differing appliances are designed to support companies of various sizes. The remote support software itself is quite feature-rich, with everything from a long list of manager options to some nifty drawing utilities.
We don't dispute that BOMGAR® is making a good product; but we do challenge the ROI for small and midsized businesses. The BOMGAR® overall cost are 10-12 times an equivalent ScreenConnect license1, 2, 3. If you are considering BOMGAR® or renewing your support, try our free trial of ScreenConnect first. Even if you don't choose us it will give you a good negotiating tactic to ask for a discount!
The self-hosting aspect and concurrent licensing options are identical. The BOMGAR® solution does (currently) have a more features than ScreenConnect. But we believe many professionals will be paying for a lot of features they never use. ScreenConnect embodies all the features of a reputable remote support product and we do them well.
Update! Some of the biggest requests we have had from customers that have switched products have been added to our product with our 4.0 release. Including command line access, Wake-On-LAN, improved organization of unattended clients, and more granular session logging.
BOMGAR® JUMP™ Clients are essentially a nice marketing name for remote access or persistent clients. Remote access allows technicians to access a computer without end-user assistance. Unattended remote sessions with ScreenConnect allows for unlimited unattended connections while BOMGAR® limits the number of JUMP Clients dependent upon on your appliance.
No, ScreenConnect is software only and sorry, we don't have any overpriced computers laying around we want to sell. This allows you the freedom to choose how and where you want to install. This eliminates any yearly fees for hardware related maintenance4 and more versatility, users can install in their network, DMZ, or via a VPS service.
Unsolicited product reviews in forums are a great way to gauge the sentiment of its users. Here are a few ScreenConnect and Bomgar® reviews:
I am delighted with your product as well as with your support and the friendliness of your staff. I am planning on adding a second session soon and I have completely disconnected my BOMGAR BOX® and I am planning on donating it to Florida's artificial reef program. You have a faster, better product!
— Miguel Fra @ ScreenConnect Testimonials
... There are much more expensive options that are simply less effective than ScreenConnect. Trust me, we have tried them ALL!
— Chris Burnum @ ScreenConnect Testimonials
I've used Citrix GoToAssisst/GoToManage, BOMGAR®, AMMYY, Team Viewer and this is the most cost effective remote support tool out there.
— delirium @ ScreenConnect Forum
I use BOMGAR® everyday from 8 to 5 and I'm absolutely awe-struck with what ScreenConnect offers and how easily I was able to integrate it into my website.
— E. Hernandez @ ScreenConnect Testimonials
I dare anyone out there to find a similar self hosted remote software with the same feature set for a lower cost!
— bigdessert @ ScreenConnect Forum
I challenge you to find another product with the same feature set for anywhere close to that cost. Before I purchased, I tried every one out there. You just can't find another product like this for anywhere close to this price.
— scottmcd9999 @ ScreenConnect Forum
Every other tool is a PIA to use. A client can call me when I'm driving around town and I can flip it up on my ipad or phone in seconds, SECONDS, that means everything to a customer, that within a minute of them calling you're on their machine.
— ComputerHero @ ScreenConnect Forum
It seems, that after this year, if we are to remain customers of BOMGAR®, we need to upgrade to the B200™ which currently has a minimum of 2 user licenses. While they have "discounted" the migration through providing the hardware for free - they are forcing the "little guy" to purchase another license (when it is not needed). To me...it's a crazy way to maintain faithful customers.
— Jason Boke @ BOMGAR® Forums
Our EULA does not permit reselling, and Support is not able to build out software for non-original purchasers. BOMGAR® hardware and licenses are licensed only for their original end purchaser and cannot be transferred.
— Bomgar Employee @ BOMGAR® Forums
I'm a one man I.T. shop here, supporting 40 employees. I have no need for multiple BOMGAR® licenses, again, I'm the only I.T. person...BOMGAR® has been a great product, but how can you justify having me pay more, for the exact same service? Not only paying more, but almost double what I'm paying now?
— Phil Borcherding @ BOMGAR® Forums
I am a 1 man IT company, so I just wanted to say I too am extremely unhappy and frustrated with this [BOMGAR® B100™ EOL announcement]. This will force me to look at other alternatives, like ScreenConnect.
— Rob Ralston @ BOMGAR® Forums
I'm a BOMGAR® B100™ appliance owner that's feeling kind of cranky still about the EOL announcement of that product. So far I am not real thrilled about the options BOMGAR® is giving me as a customer - so I am looking for alternative products.
— db @ ScreenConnect Forum
1 Some comparisons:
2x SC $600 vs 1x B200™ with 2 Licenses $7,182 = 12x (B200™ requires 2 concurrent licenses)
1x SC 5 pack $1,375 vs 1x B200™ with 5 Licenses $14,364 = 10.4x
1x SC 10 pack $2,500 vs 1x B200™ with 10 Licenses $26,334 = 10.5x
1x SC Unlimited $4,500 vs 1x B200™ with 20 Licenses $50,274 = 11.2x
2 Quote for a B200™ Box™ with 2 Concurrent Licenses. B200™ has to have at least 2 Concurrent Licenses.
3 Our data is based on quotes, but we have heard of discounts of anywhere from 10% to 20% applied to accounts at time of sale.
4 Yearly maintenance fees are ~20% of the original purchase price.
* BOMGAR, BOMGAR BOX, JUMP, B200, and B400 are trademarks belonging to the Bomgar Corporation, which is not affiliated with Elsinore Technologies, Inc

subset: commoncrawl


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See this pretty girl? Her name is Shelby. It's her birthday. You should go tell her happy birthday.
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Happy Birthday. I'm done loving now.
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- shelbypierces said: Dammit Adam! :) Haha.
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I "get it," though: grammar is confusing. There are rules to follow and rules to break. I've been hearing more and more about how it's okay to end a sentence with a preposition now...how are we supposed to keep up with these ever-evolving rules?!
On my "tips for superb writing" article (that I wrote for the Grammarly blogathon), I mentioned that I wrote a Facebook note on my personal profile page titled, "8 Simple Rules...to Proper Grammar." I liked it so much that I re-posted it on my tutoring blog...and now I'm re-posting it here.
The post features 8 simple grammar rules that I feel everyone should know -- no exceptions! :) Here's the post I've shared with friends, family, and tutoring clients:
I can really understand why a lot of students dread English class: we have to spend some time on grammar. And there are so many rules to grammar...almost all of which are made to be broken. Confusing! I can certainly see why English is the hardest language to learn.
In high school, I was always considered a good writer. I always had my nose in a book -- this is where I attribute my "good ear" for English. (Kids don't believe me when I tell them that reading has so many benefits...but I digress.) So, even though most of my family and friends were engaging in some "good ol' Southern talk," my ear seems to recognize most good English because of all the reading I've done. (Oh, and thanks to Mrs. Brown, my high school English teacher who always spoke properly!) However, I'm definitely not perfect, and I certainly make my own language mistakes from time to time!
Of course, I taught English and its related subjects when I taught elementary school. But I really focused on it when I became a secondary English teacher in 2010. That's when I began to notice lots of common mistakes, and I decided to write this blog!
While I do not claim to be a grammar expert, there are a few hard and fast rules that I hope each and every one of my students can master before they leave my presence. In fact, I think EVERYone should know these things about grammar. These are so simple to integrate into your writing, so why not do it?
- Use punctuation. Read your sentence to yourself. Wherever you naturally pause is where most punctuation marks go. You don't have to use anything fancy; skip the semicolons if you want! But please at least use periods and commas!
- Use apostrophes appropriately. Insert an apostrophe when something is possessive, or when a letter is being left out. Also, When talking about a plural name, do not add an apostrophe to the end. Think about those mats you see in front of doors that say, "The Jones's" or "The Jone's Family." They are wrong. The Jones family does not own anything there -- it is simply a statement that says there is more than one person with the last name "Jones" who lives at that house. That mat or mailbox you see should read "The Joneses." Notice the lack of apostrophe.
- Know the difference between there, their, and they're. It's actually very easy. There: a place. As in, here or there. My book is over there. Their: shows possession to a group of people. Their house is on fire. They're: the contraction for "they are." They're going to the sandwich shop. Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy!
- Know the difference between its and it's. It's: the contraction for "it is." It's snowing. Its: shows possession to a thing. The dog scratched its head.
- Know the difference between your and you're. You're: the contraction for "you are." You're late. Your: shows possession. I have your Sonic drink in my car.
- Know the difference between two, too, and to. Two: a number. Her daughter is two years old. Too: "also" or "in addition." I ate too much ice cream last night. To: action. I went to the grocery store.
- Know how to spell "a lot." It is two separate words.
- "I seen" should never be spoken or written. The word "saw" is the past tense of "see," while "seen" needs a helping verb in front of it. ...Did that sentence make your head spin in circles like the girl from The Exorcist? Well, just know this:
- Incorrect: I seen your parents at the store yesterday. Or I seen that movie before.
- Correct: I saw your parents at the store yesterday. Or I have seen that movie before.
P.S. If you're looking for more information on English/grammar, check out Woe is I, by Patricia T. O'Conner. This book contains 204 pages filled with grammar rules!


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A Pennsylvania committee has forwarded legislation that would make it illegal to bully or harass a child through email and social media.
House Bill 1163 would make it a third-degree misdemeanor to use electronic communications to repeatedly make statements about a child's sexuality or sexual activity, or make statements that significantly ridicule, demean or cause serious embarrassment to a child.
The bill unanimously cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. It was authored by Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), who said cyber bullying has become all too prevalent on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
"The consequences can be devastating to a child," Marsico said in a news release. "There have been numerous cases across the country where the harassment has become so acute that a child has taken his or her own life as a result."
The House Judiciary Committee also gave unanimous approval to House Bill 764, a measure that would create a new offense of online impersonation.
The bill would make it illegal to use another person's identity to create a web page, post messages on social media, text or e-mail for the purpose of harassment, terroristic threats, stalking, retaliation or intimidation.
Marsico said the bill was drafted in response to an incident where two Pennsylvania students used an email account in a teacher's name to harass another student, and prosecutors could not file charges under the state's identity theft statute because the teacher had not suffered a monetary loss.
A third measure passed by the committee Tuesday, House Bill 714, would increase the penalty for identity theft committed against children.
The bills will now go to the House floor for further consideration.


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Workshops provide off-campus housing info
Recently, Student Legal Services has provided workshops for students who wish to learn about off-campus housing, and the legal rights and responsibilities that come with it.
Fight for your rights
A UMPD officer and an attorney from Student Legal Services spoke on Thursday of the rights of individuals during face-to-face encounters with police officers.
"Where's the Love": UM panel talks sex
A diverse panel of speakers gathered at the campus center for an
event titled: "Where's the Love 101? Let's Talk About Sex!"
Renting first apartments can be a real hassle
Many students can find out information about how to avoid trouble when they rent their first apartment by attending UMass' "Renting 101″ seminars.


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Baptist Press Stories for Apr. 21 2014
LC's Aguillard gets president emeritus role
Pastor's vision leads church planter to Vermont
WaterBrook Multnomah readies pro-gay book
Adoption 'difficult, but rewarding,' couple says
Today's BP Ledger, April 21 2014
FIRST-PERSON: The value of church history
LC's Aguillard gets president emeritus role
By Staff
Apr. 21 2014
PINEVILLE, La. (BP) -- Louisiana College trustees have ended the often-controversial presidency of Joe Aguillard.
Trustees voted in an April 15 meeting not to renew Aguillard's contract, which expires July 31.
But Aguillard, LC's president since 2005, was accorded the title of president emeritus and a tenured faculty position after a year's sabbatical.
The board named Argile Smith as interim president effective Aug. 1. Smith currently is executive vice president for integration of faith and learning at the college.
The trustee action, as described by the Baptist Message state newspaper, followed "weeks of news reports that questioned Aguillard's leadership," including allegations of forged signatures on documents provided to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS); secret recordings of Aguillard by a former vice president; and a lawsuit filed against the president and the college. (See [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?id=42277]Baptist Press story[/URL] posted March 31.)
LC trustee chairman Tommy French released a statement to the media following the meeting, stating in part, "Today, the Louisiana College Board of Trustees voted to bestow upon Dr. Aguillard the honor of continuing his contributions to Louisiana College in the role of President Emeritus.... God has blessed Louisiana College through the service of this President and we are grateful to God for that."
No vote total on the trustee action has been announced or reported in the media.
Aguillard's primary role will be to provide continuity during a time of transition, French told the Baptist Message in a phone conversation. He will not have any administrative duties, French said, but will serve as a consultant whenever called upon by the interim president and the new president when selected by trustees. Aguillard also will help raise funds for the college.
Aguillard is scheduled to begin a one-year paid sabbatical/leave of absence on June 1, with Smith serving in the role of president pro tempore and, on Aug. 1, as interim president.
Upon returning to the Pineville campus, Aguillard will be a tenured professor in the college's graduate teacher education program.
The local newspaper in nearby Alexandria, The Town Talk, reported that "multiple sources connected to the LC board" said the agreement calls for Aguillard to be paid his $202,007 base salary during the sabbatical, 50 percent of the base salary during his first year as a professor and 30 percent for any subsequent years he teaches at the college.
Not everyone was pleased with the trustees' decision. Larry Hubbard, a trustee who left early in the meeting and then resigned, told The Town Talk, "I think it's a very poor decision, wrong decision. Joe Aguillard needed to be removed.... I was hoping for a national search to look for a college president with competence, integrity and honesty." Hubbard is pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Watson.
The Baptist Message, on Monday (April 21) in continuing its reporting on the trustee meeting, was seeking to speak with trustees who affirmed the package provided to Aguillard.
During the meeting, trustees voted 18-14 to sign confidentiality agreements, the Message reported. The Message asked two trustees about the matter who said the confidentiality agreements would not allow them to comment on any specifics. The two trustees did say, however, that reports were not accurate that the confidentiality agreements had been requested by SACS under threat of probation.
Hubbard, however, was quoted by a TV station in Alexandria, News Channel 5, as saying that "a gag order [was] initiated and if you did not agree then you had to leave." It "would have gone against my conscience," Hubbard told the station. He also said trustees were told a letter had been received from SACS but "we never saw a copy of it."
The Baptist Message spoke with Michael Johnson, SACS senior vice president and chief of staff, who wrote in a follow-up email: "To repeat, I am not aware of a letter where we made such a statement, and only our Board has the authority to place an institution on probation. While we have several standards requiring specific policies pertaining to boards, we have no standard requiring board confidentiality policies. I hope there was some miscommunication or misunderstanding."
Belle S. Wheelan, president of SACS, responded to an email request from the Message about whether confidentiality statements must be in place or an institution would be placed on probation. "We did not, nor would we (since we have no standard that addresses that), tell them that," Wheelan wrote.
Argile Smith, who will serve as Louisiana College's interim president, serves not only as executive vice president for integration of faith and learning but also is associate dean of Christian Ministry in the Caskey School of Divinity and chair of the division of Christian studies. He holds the Lyndon E. Dawson Professorship in Religion at the Pineville campus.
Smith completed Ph.D. and master of divinity degrees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and an undergraduate degree from William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Miss. He and his wife Connie, who have been married 38 years, have three married sons and one granddaughter.
Adapted from reporting by Kelly Boggs, editor of the Baptist Message, newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
-- End of story --
Pastor's vision leads church planter to Vermont
By Melanie Smith/The Alabama Baptist
Apr. 21 2014
DECATUR, Ala. (BP) -- A conversation with Scotty Hogan left Randy Burns "amazed" and convinced that God was about to do something special.
[IMG=37424@left@400]Burns, a pastor for eight years, had felt God leading him to pursue church planting as a career. He began looking at the nation's most unchurched areas -- the Northeast and the Northwest -- as possible destinations. He didn't know that his connection with Hogan would soon lead him to Vermont.
Meanwhile Hogan, pastor of Westmeade Baptist Church in Decatur, Ala., had gone to Vermont to help in the startup of a new Baptist college in Bennington. He saw firsthand the need for more churches. He also visited Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., where the Haystack Prayer Meeting occurred in 1806, fostering a foreign missionary movement.
"It broke my heart that where the Gospel came to America -- the Northeast -- is 4 percent Christian now," Hogan said.
Hogan said he came home feeling "this was the place and this was the time" to lead Westmeade Baptist to fulfill his longtime vision of planting a church.
God had been preparing 36-year-old Burns too. While at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he took classes in church planting and met several times with his professor. Before that he had started new ministries -- a youth group at Hillsboro (Ala.) Baptist Church in 2000 and a junior high ministry at Celebration Church in New Orleans.
"God knew I was going to be a church planter long before I had a clue," Burns said.
Burns went on to pastor three churches in Louisiana and Alabama. He was at Harmony Baptist Church in Hillsboro, Ala., when he had his life-changing conversation with Hogan in 2012.
"I was amazed when [Hogan] started sharing with me about his vision for Westmeade to be a sending church for a new church plant in an unchurched area," Burns said. "As we talked and prayed for some time, we both sensed the Lord leading us to work together on this endeavor."
Westmeade voted to bring Burns on staff in June 2013 as a paid church planting intern for five years. Since then, Burns has been going through training, developing relationships in Vermont, raising additional support and recruiting a team.
His new church, Summit Church in Bennington, Vt., will officially launch Sept. 7.
The North American Mission Board will provide some additional support to the church plant.
Lyandon Warren, Vermont's NAMB church planting catalyst, said, "[The arrival of the Burns family] will be a visible sign to all of southern Vermont that God is up to some great things, spiritually speaking, and that brings with it great excitement.
"People in our context are extremely encouraged when solid Christian couples move into Vermont to help build the Kingdom."
Warren said he hopes to see Capstone Baptist Church in North Bennington, Vt. -- a church partnering with and helping start Summit -- encouraged and challenged by the church plant, and that Capstone will continue forward in its evangelistic and disciple-making efforts. Summit will be Capstone Baptist's second church plant in seven years.
Burns and his wife Kelli and daughters Sarah Grace, 9, and Elizabeth Faith, 3, are not the only ones relocating to help found Summit.
Also going are Jake and Laura Ashley Stone, Jonathan Thigpen and Rachel Crow, all members of Point Mallard Parkway Baptist Church in Decatur, Ala.
Burns' vision of small group connections and his aim to reach the 20-something demographic in Bennington made a deep impression, said Jake Stone, 26, who will be associate pastor and small group leader.
Thigpen will be worship pastor and Crow will be Summit's children's minister.
Jordan Grisham of Westmeade Baptist is a college student who will transfer to the new Northeastern Baptist College in Bennington and serve as student intern at Summit.
Another team member will be Lauren Cartwright of Tyler, Texas, a volunteer through NAMB who will focus on college student ministry.
The Burns family began moving March 31 and the Stones will move in May. Others will follow in the coming months.
Westmeade members will take part in major events at Summit as well as provide continuous prayer support from Decatur.
"Having a sending church like Westmeade and having this time to raise support, recruit a team and receive training has allowed us to have a great start," Burns said.
Melanie Smith is a correspondent for The Alabama Baptist (www.thealabamabaptist.org), newsjournal of the Alabama Baptist Convention. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress[/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp]baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]).
-- End of story --
WaterBrook Multnomah readies pro-gay book
By Staff
Apr. 21 2014
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BP) -- A publishing group known until now for its evangelical worldview will release a book arguing for gay-Christian compatibility under a new imprint intended to avoid alienating its evangelical market.
Convergent Books, a publishing imprint under the same corporate umbrella and leadership as the evangelical WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, is scheduled to release "God and the Gay Christian" by Matthew Vines on Tuesday (April 22). Vines, a 24-year-old former Harvard student, attempts in the book to refute biblical passages that declare homosexuality a sin.
WaterBrook Multnomah, known for its best-selling Christian titles such as John Piper's "Desiring God" and books by evangelical authors David Jeremiah and Kay Arthur, began as the printing arm of Multnomah Bible College in Portland, Ore. But mainstream secular publisher Penguin Random House now owns the imprint and groups it under the same corporate umbrella, Crown Publishing Group, as Convergent.
Stephen W. Cobb, who heads up both WaterBrook Multnomah and Convergent from the publishing group's Colorado Springs offices, said Convergent's audience is "actively exploring and practicing faith and framing that faith in Christian terms, but they're very open in their approach to issues that face the church today, and they really defy conventional labels."
The most visible link between WaterBrook Multnomah and Convergent is Cobb himself, who said he makes the final decision to publish each imprint's books, including God and the Gay Christian.
"Books will publish in the Convergent imprint that I could not have considered for publication prior to [the new imprint's] creation because [the books] would just not have been appropriate for the established audience of Multnomah or WaterBrook," Cobb said.
Cobb attempted to put an imaginary cushion between evangelical Christians -- including some of WaterBrook Multnomah's authors -- and others who would give credence to Vines' justification of homosexuality.
"Generally speaking, I wouldn't expect a Multnomah reader to be drawn to a Convergent title," Cobb said, pointing out that books published under the WaterBrook Multnomah imprint, such as "Out of a Far Country" by Christopher and Angela Yuan, offer contrary "points of view" that defend a straightforward interpretation of the Bible's teaching against homosexuality.
Cobb acknowledged that God and the Gay Christian contradicts the teachings of WaterBrook Multnomah books published in the past. To his knowledge, he said, Vines' book will be the first published by the four imprints he oversees that arrives at the conclusion that a person can practice homosexuality with the acceptance and approval of God.
"Matthew [Vines] believes in the inerrancy and the divinity and the correctness of Scripture," Cobb said. "He believes it is God's inspired Word. … [P]roposals have crossed my desk that the author does not have that core belief. … I want to believe that every book that publishes on my watch, whichever imprint it publishes in, is biblically based and developed credibly."
Though Cobb insisted he has no agenda to change the way the church views homosexuality, his outlook harkens to World Vision U.S. President Richard Stearns' argument when he announced a change in his company's hiring policy to include employees in same-sex marriages. Stearns insisted World Vision was not taking a stand for or against gay marriage, but rather striving for unity on a divisive issue. Evangelical leaders didn't accept his position, and World Vision's board of directors rescinded the change.
"Don't say, 'Hath God said?' and then tell us you're doing it to advance the gospel and the unity of the church," wrote Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, in response to World Vision's change.
An extended review of Matthew Vines' book "God and the Gay Christian" has been posted at the Canon and Culture website of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. The review by Andrew Walker, managing editor of Canon and Culture and director of policy studies for the ERLC, can be accessed [URL=http://www.canonandculture.com/reformation-or-revolution-a-review-of-god-and-the-gay-christian]here[/URL].
Adapted from WORLD News Service, a division of WORLD Magazine (www.worldmag.com). Baptist Press editor Art Toalston also contributed to this article.
-- End of story --
Adoption 'difficult, but rewarding,' couple says
By Shawn Hendricks
Apr. 21 2014
NASHVILLE (BP) -- My wife and I had heard that international adoption would be one of the most difficult and rewarding things we'd ever do. We found that to be true when we adopted our daughter Laura from Colombia. We can't believe it's been more than five years since we first saw our baby girl, who was 6 months old at the time. She's grown up so much since then.
Though there were days we wondered if we'd ever become parents, we found that Laura was definitely worth the wait. We can't imagine our lives without her.
She has truly brought joy to our lives.
Many challenges tested us during our adoption journey. Whoever said adoption isn't for the faint of heart wasn't joking.
The process taught us a lot about perseverance, handling disappointment, relationships and depending on God. Here are five lessons we learned along the way:
Lesson 1: Adoption takes passion -- and a little obsession.
When we first returned to the United States, our daughter received a lot of attention. Most people commented on her black spiky hair and big brown eyes.
There have been some who have casually mentioned to us that they may like to adopt someday. When we hear this, we wonder if they are serious or just caught up in the idea.
One thing we've learned through our experience is that there isn't anything casual about adoption.
The adoption process takes a 100-percent commitment -- and then some. Without a passion and a do-whatever-it-takes attitude, we never would have gotten through the hours of paperwork, unanswered phone messages, weeks of no new information, personality tests and interviews -- not to mention the expense.
An adoptive couple needs to have their heart in the process. Without that, they're wasting their time.
There is definitely a romanticized view of adoption. People often seem to see it as a higher calling that only the "chosen few" accept or as a project or opportunity to save the world one child at a time. But that wasn't what it was about for Stephanie and me. People will comment on how wonderful Stephanie and I are for adopting or how blessed Laura is for being adopted. When I hear this I can't help but think, "Hey, we're the blessed ones. We're just an ordinary couple who wanted to have a child like most people." For a couple unable to have a biological child, adoption gave us that opportunity.
Lesson 2: Accept the fact that you are not in control.
Nothing went the way Stephanie and I expected during our adoption process.
There were many times during this journey when we threw up our hands and said, "God, we don't know what's going on, but we hope something positive is going to come from all of this."
There were times we felt God had let us down.
We occasionally wondered if we were on our own.
We wondered why it was so difficult for us to start a family or if we'd ever have one at all.
We thought, "God, what purpose could you possibly have for us not being able to have a child?"
During the adoption process, we had to complete a home study and one-on-one interviews with our social worker. We were asked many personal questions about our marriage and family. Naturally, there were times we wanted to answer, "This is really none of your business."
It seemed so unfair. "Most couples don't have to go to a counselor's office and fill out paperwork to start a family," we thought. "Why doesn't their house have to be inspected for safety locks on the cabinets and a fire extinguisher?"
We had to accept the fact that God has a plan for our lives and Laura's life -- even if it didn't make sense to us at the moment.
Lesson 3: Just smile and answer the questions.
When you decide to adopt, you'll hear it all.
People are going to say and ask things that encourage, surprise, frustrate and disappoint you. They'll make funny comments. They'll ask odd questions. And occasionally they'll ask or say something that seems insensitive at the time.
Try to remember that most people are just curious, interested and want to help in their own ways.
It's important to stay composed and answer these questions the best way you can. Getting upset, being rude and storming away won't help matters. At the end of the day, just go home and talk about it with your spouse. You'll feel much better and probably be able to laugh about it later.
There will always be those who won't understand why you are adopting. Adoption isn't for everyone, and that's OK.
Lesson 4: Support your spouse.
There were times Stephanie and I weren't at our best with each other. We definitely let the stress of the process get to us at times.
There were times I should have been more supportive of her and listened and done more to help.
My wife is the organizer and chief of logistics in our household. She has a way of coordinating things so much easier than I do. I often decided to let her tackle most of the details and the bulk of the adoption paperwork. I feared I'd just mess it up and that she'd do a better job.
But I know now that wasn't right. This often left her feeling overwhelmed, alone and frustrated.
It wasn't until later into the process that I realized she needed more support; usually she just needed me to be by her side.
Looking back, we couldn't have gotten through it without each other.
Lesson 5: It's worth every crazy moment!
When we finally welcomed Laura into our home, all of the headaches, tears and frustrations we experienced no longer mattered.
As parents, we cherish every moment with Laura -- story time, playing at the park, meals and saying prayers every night with her. We look back and are thankful everything worked out exactly the way it did.
As I've said many times before, we wouldn't have it any other way.
Shawn Hendricks is managing editor of Baptist Press. This story originally appeared in the spring/summer issue of Arkansas Christian Parent magazine. See [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29680]related story[/URL] that Baptist Press ran in 2009.
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Today's BP Ledger, April 21 2014
By Staff
Apr. 21 2014
EDITOR'S NOTE: BP Ledger carries items for reader information each week from various Southern Baptist-related entities, and news releases of interest from other sources. The items are published as received.
Today's BP Ledger contains items from:
WORLD News Service
Cedarville University
The Association of Christian Schools International
Christian rocker Larry Norman recognized
as an American musical treasure
By Jeff Koch
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WORLD News Service) -- The Library of Congress recently added the work of Christian rock innovator Larry Norman to the National Recording Registry, an elite collection of recordings marked for special preservation as "cultural, artistic, or historical treasures." Norman is the first Christian rock artist to be chosen, making the list with his groundbreaking 1972 folk-rock album "Only Visiting This Planet." Of the 25 artists selected this year, Norman keeps company with the likes of Stephen Sondheim, Bing Crosby and the Everly Brothers.
Many Christians today have never heard of Norman, though his influence on Christian music is vast: More than 300 artists from Rebecca St. James to DC Talk have covered his songs. CCM Magazine assessed, "it is certainly no overstatement to say that Larry Norman is to Christian music what John Lennon is to rock-and-roll or Bob Dylan is to folk music."
The Library of Congress noted Norman's somewhat "controversial" tenure. Indeed, he was a veritable lightning rod in his day, for a couple of reasons. First was the rock music itself, which excited profound suspicion among people of faith. It was through rock-and-roll, after all, that the social and sexual revolution of the 60s thrived and found expression.
Enter Norman, with an unabashed love for rock's driving beat, which he hilariously defended in his well-known boogie-woogie, "Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music?" With hippie hair down his back, Norman stymied many with his cry, "I want the people to know/that he saved my soul/but I still like to listen to the radio!" Norman recounted how often church folks insisted he was wrong: God and rock music didn't go together. But Norman grew up in an African-American neighborhood in San Francisco and remembered how when he first heard rock-n-roll it seemed to him that "Elvis was trying to steal the music of the black churches in his songs. So, I decided to steal it back."
Norman was also controversial for his biting social critique. Crafted in the midst of the Vietnam War, his Dylanesque folk ballad "The Great American Novel" provoked many with questions like, "Do you really think the only way to bring the peace/is to sacrifice your children and kill all your enemies?" In later years, however, he focused more on spiritual reflection than political provocation. He explained to Strait Magazine that true social commentary was talking about lust, greed, and bitterness because "that's what wars are. Sin is sin. There is no sophisticated, high tech sin … it's all just silly, greedy, selfish, snotty sin."
Near the end of his life, Norman would become controversial for different reasons, as stories of infidelity and harsh business practices came to light. Nevertheless, Norman was without question one of the very first (and best) musicians to combine a bold, electric-rock sound with an equally bold presentation of gospel truths. He avoided the copycat syndrome with inventive bluesy arrangements that still sound fresh and forceful today, while his sharp-witted lyrics covered a wide range of topics. Norman wrestled at various stages with political and personal demons, but he fiercely maintained that ultimate hope could only be found in one place: "Don't ask me for the answer I've only got one/that a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son."
Cedarville's Partnership with SBACS
"bridges gap" in Christian Education
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (Cedarville University) -- Cedarville University's School of Education and the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools (SBACS) are partnering to bridge the gap between Christian education in K-12 schools and higher education. As a result of the partnership, two qualified students will receive full tuition scholarships from Cedarville University.
Jeremy Ervin, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education, said there is often a disconnect between completing a Christian education in K-12 schools and continuing to a Christian university. "Transitions from elementary education into upper level schooling are strategically prepared by education systems," said Ervin. "But the transition to a continuation of Christian higher education is not traditionally included in those plans."
According to Ervin, part of the purpose of the new SBACS scholarship is to make a connection for qualified high school graduates to earn a college degree from an academically rigorous institution that is Christ-focused in its curriculum and teaching.
Offered for the first time this year, the scholarships' awardees are Rachel Williams from High Point Christian Academy in High Point, N.C., and Victoria Stearns from First Baptist Academy in Naples, Fla.
The scholarships are available to high school seniors graduating from SBACS schools who enroll at Cedarville University in the fall. Applicants were required to answer essay questions about the benefits of their Christian education over secular education and the effects further Christian education would have on their future careers.
"We wanted them to see how a Christian education will impact them in their future occupations," Ervin said. "It's important for each student to see how a biblical worldview will impact academic study and future career and ministry opportunities."
Cedarville University and the SBACS expect to continue this partnership, offering the scholarships to students every year.
"The School of Education is delighted to have the opportunity to select key high school graduates to come to Cedarville," said Ervin. "To bring high-quality students who are seeking to follow God's direction in their career and seeking to have a biblical perspective on life is exciting."
Cedarville University, located east of Dayton, Ohio, has 3,459 students in more than 100 areas of study. A Baptist university of arts, sciences, professional and graduate programs, Cedarville is recognized nationally for rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. Visit the University online at www.cedarville.edu.
ACSI launches National
Christian Educators Day
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (The Association of Christian Schools International) -- The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is excited to announce the launch of National Christian Educators Day (NCED) on May 5. This will be an annual event to celebrate, honor and pray for Christian educators in both public and private schools worldwide.
The goal of this day is to support the Christian educators who work hard to positively influence the next generation, especially by praying for them.
"ACSI is inviting parents, students, pastors, educators, businesses and nonprofits to participate in National Christian Educators Day," said ACSI Vice President Taylor Smith. "We want to bless Christian educators—wherever they serve—on this day."
One key part of the event is an essay contest, "I Love My Teacher Because…." Entrants are to write about an influential teacher for a chance to win a $250 gift card for the school of their choice and a $25 iTunes gift card for themselves.
Other aspects of the event include free, downloadable thank-you cards for teachers; a memory wall and a prayer wall. NCED will take place the first Monday in May every year. Learn more about the event at www.NationalChristianEducatorsDay.com.
ACSI, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., encompasses nearly 24,000 member Christian schools in more than 100 nations, providing services through a network of 28 regional offices. The organization accredits Protestant pre-K–12 schools. Learn more at www.acsi.org.
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FIRST-PERSON: The value of church history
By David Roach
Apr. 21 2014
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Who was Athanasius? In what century did the Protestant Reformation occur? Why was Jonathan Edwards important? What was the Second Great Awakening? In most churches, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who could answer these questions. Indeed, the study of church history has fallen on hard times. But here are 10 reasons why the average believer's walk with Christ would be enriched by learning a bit of church history.
1. Church history confirms the promises of Scripture. For example, George Muller of England demonstrated time and again the truth of James 5:16 ("The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect") as God answered his prayers and provided miraculously for the needs of the 2,000 orphans in his care. And the church's growth from a marginalized, persecuted Jewish sect in AD 40, to the Roman Empire's official religion in AD 325, to the world's largest religion in 2014 powerfully confirms the truth of Matthew 16:18 -- the gates of hell will not prevail against Christ's church.
2. Church history comforts believers in their struggles. Jonathan Edwards was fired from his pastorate after many years of fruitful ministry. Martin Luther was plagued by fear. Elisabeth Elliot endured the death of two husbands—one at the hands of violent natives on the mission field, the other by cancer. Yet none of their lives were ruined by these hardships. They all went on to fruitfulness in Kingdom service. Knowing this encourages perseverance amid our own afflictions.
3. Church history broadens our choice of devotional literature. There's nothing wrong with reading devotional guides by popular radio preachers. But knowing a bit of history helps believers realize that there are also enriching choices from ages past, including the early church fathers, the Puritans, Charles Spurgeon, F.B. Meyer, E.M. Bounds and C. S. Lewis.
4. Church history helps Christians counter heresies and cults. Most theological errors are recapitulations from previous generations and have already been refuted by faithful Bible students. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses and Muslims, who deny the deity of Christ, and the so-called "Jesus only" movement, which denies the coequality of the Godhead's three persons, can all be answered with arguments from the Christological and Trinitarian controversies of the third and fourth centuries.
5. Church history helps believers interpret the Bible. Knowing how Christians in ages past viewed various passages can shed tremendous light on Scripture. The commentaries of J.B. Lightfoot, John Eadie, John Calvin, Matthew Henry, Alvah Hovey, G. Campbell Morgan and others are all helpful resources in addition to today's Bible aids.
6. Church history bolsters faith. Think about the vast number of people who have followed Christ over the ages and their staggering contributions to human flourishing. Christians helped spawn hospitals, orphanages, democracy, human rights, art, widespread literacy, and much more. Indeed, "we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us" (Hebrews 12:1).
7. Church history provides terms to use in describing difficult doctrines. The Trinity is "one essence and three persons." Jesus has "two natures in one person." The Bible is "inerrant and infallible." Believers who don't know a bit of church history probably won't have these phrases in their theological tool belts.
8. Church history frees us from the illusion that modern, secular psychology is the only solution for emotional and behavioral problems. Though psychology brings helpful insights, Thomas ŕ Kempis, Martin Luther, J. Wilbur Chapman and others developed keen pastoral insights long before anyone heard of Ritalin or behavioral therapy. The student of church history enjoys a wealth of counseling resources.
9. Church history contains cautionary tales to remind us that Christians can dishonor their Lord. The crusades, the Salem Witch Trials, the Inquisition and even some of the Reformers' squelching of religious freedom all engender humility and caution for believers. Zeal is not enough to justify our words or deeds. We must take care that actions we label "Christian" truly reflect Jesus.
10. Church history provides believers with a spiritual genealogy. We know who our physical ancestors are. Why not learn about our spiritual forebears too?
So get to know church history. You will probably find it more edifying than you ever considered.
David Roach is Baptist Press' chief national correspondent. This column first appeared at the blog of BibleMesh, a website that teaches the Bible as a unified story pointing to Christ (online at www.biblemesh.com/blog). Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress[/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp]baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL])
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Now that the Halloween costumes have been put away and all of the candy has been eaten, Thanksgiving is the next big holiday on tap, as well as the shopping frenzies that accompany the long weekend on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. How should brands on Facebook be preparing for the holiday?
Marketing with Facebook Insights
How Brands Spooked Instagram On Halloween
Several brands marked Halloween Thursday with holiday-related photos and videos on Instagram, including the image to the left of a dark, shadowy BMW, and the photo atop the post from State Bicycle Co. of a witch riding one of its bikes into the night.
Facebook Weekly Highlights Brings You Hurricane Sandy One Year Later, Sheryl Crow Signing Guitars
Facebook Weekly Highlights features photos posted to the social network by celebrities and athletes. This week's edition featured the photo on the homepage by Phil D'Auria Photography, in which "Jersey Shore" cast member Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino recognized the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy with a photo of the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J. ; as well as the photo above of musician Sheryl Crow signing Gibson guitars in her driveway.
INFOGRAPHIC: Facebook Halloween Contest Ideas
Facebook application developer Antavo issued a reminder to page administrators that Halloween is the perfect time to scare up some engagement with contests on the social network.
INFOGRAPHIC: Facebook's Role In Holiday Shopping
Yes, we know: It's not even Halloween yet. But social marketing platform Offerpop is gearing up for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.
Trick Or Treat: Five Successful Halloween-Themed Facebook Photo Contests From Woobox
If there's a holiday that lends itself to vibrant photos, it's Halloween, and Facebook application developer Woobox offered five examples of photo contests created on Facebook with its Photo Contests app by brands that Facebook users wouldn't necessarily associate with Halloween.
Caribou Coffee Brews Up #CaribouKnits Facebook, Twitter Campaign To Benefit CancerCare
Caribou Coffee is brewing up a social campaign to help benefit CancerCare, a national organization that provides professional services for people managing the emotional and financial challenges of cancer.
Facebook: 200 Percent More Relationships Added On Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day, coming up Thursday, is a day for love — both in real life and on Facebook. Newly released statistics from the social network show that there are 200 percent more relationships added Feb. 14 compared with any other day of the year.
Facebook Testing Detailed Emoticons In The Status Update Box
In the past few months, Facebook has been using the status update box to ask about users' favorite Halloween candy and to inquire about their holiday plans. Now it's taking that process to the next step, as TechCrunch reports that Facebook is testing emoticons within the status update prompt. Now when users say that they're feeling happy or chowing down on pasta, they can have smiley faces or forks accompanying their posts, and detail more specifically what they're doing.
Facebook Asks What You're Doing For The Holidays
Much like Facebook did for Halloween and Thanksgiving, some users (and page administrators) are seeing a holiday-related prompt where the usual, "What's on your mind?" message is.


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St. Louis, Updated June 17, 2010 - In response to a voluntary product recall by Procter & Gamble, Dierbergs Markets has removed the following Iams Canned Cat Food products from its shelves due to insuffient levels of thiamine:
Iams Proactive Health Canned Cat Food - Fish, 6ozUPC#: 19014-29616LOTS: Date on bottom of can: 9/2011 to 6/2012
Iams Proactive Health Canned Cat Food - Chicken, 6ozUPC#: 19014-29636LOTS: Date on bottom of can: 9/2011 to 6/2012
Also, as of June 16, 2010, the following items have been pulled as they contain a free can of the recalled product:Iams Original Dry Cat Food, 8lbUPC#: 19014-10508LOTS: Only product that is labeled with a "FREE CAN INSIDE" stickerIams Hairball Care Dry Cat Food, 8lbUPC#: 19014-23007LOTS: Only product that is labeled with a "FREE CAN INSIDE" stickerThiamine (Vitamin B1) is essential for cats, and those who fed these canned products as their only food are at greater risk for developing signs of thiamine deficiency. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include loss of appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. In advanced cases, signs may include ventroflexion (downward curving) of the neck, wobbly gait, falling, circling and seizures. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat is displaying any of these signs. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.
Customers may return the affected product to any Dierbergs for a full refund.
Consumers with questions or concerns can call P&G at 877-340-8826 on Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST.


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Fall 2014 Guide to Registration
Final Examination Schedule Fall 2014
Reminder: For a quick link to the General Education Requirements, click here.
Ultimately, it is the student's responsibility to see that all degree requirements have been met. Students, particularly those with pending graduation in the current or next term, should generate a new Degree Evaluation each time changes are made to the schedule and each time grades have been applied. It is also important to check your Earned Credits on the Academic Transcript; the transcript reflects all credits used, whereas, the Degree Evaluation only reflects the credits used to meet requirements. Any questions concerning your progress should be discussed with your faculty advisor.
For information relating to important current activities, please select one of the links below:
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Monthly Archive for April, 2010
United + Continental: Impact on Bay Area travelers
United tail as Continental jet departs. (Photo: Sea Turtle / Flickr) (This item first appeared on The BAT blog for Bay Area frequent travelers.) It appears as if the United Airlines – Continental Airlines deal is going to happen, barring a meltdown when their corporate boards meet to approve it this weekend. An official announcement […] [Read More]
Ambien caused yesterday's Delta flight diversion?
(Photo: Zacharmstrong / Flicker) Details are emerging from Bangor, Maine where a Delta flight from Paris bound for Atlanta was diverted yesterday due to a security threat. Wire stories state that Derek Stansberry, a 27 year-old Air Force veteran, told federal air marshalls onboard the plane that he had bombs in his boots and laptop, […] [Read More]
Asia: Best airports in the world (video)
High speed ferries depart Cathay Pacific's "Superhub" at HKIA With the recent opening of Hong Kong airport's new state-of-the-art SkyPier, arriving passengers can now step off their plane, take a four-minute ride on an "automated people mover" to a the eastern side of the airport where they board hovercraft or high speed ferries for 30-90 […] [Read More]
Woo-Hoo! Flight from SFO touches down at Heathrow
(1:15 p.m. Pacific) Woo-Hoo! One of the first British Airways flights to touch down in London was BA 284 which took off from SFO in the wee hours of this morning (2:25 a.m.) Follow the action here: http://www.flightradar24.com/ Follow me on Facebook [Read More]
Europe flights cranking up (flight map)
UPDATE: Tues, 1:20 p.m. Pacific. CNN reports: "British officials: UK airspace to reopen at 10 p.m. (5 p.m. ET) after nearly a week of closure due to ash from a volcano." (Tues., 10:45 a.m. Pacific) For now, the volcanic ash cloud hanging over Europe seems to be dissipating. Nearly every country except the U.K. is […] [Read More]
New airline at SFO and 7 other things you need to know
LAN Airlines Boeing 767 (Photo: James J. Jenkins/Flickr) (This item first appeared on The BAT blog for Bay Area Travelers) 1> NEW NONSTOPS TO SOUTH AMERICA. LAN Airlines will launch 4x per week nonstop flights between San Francisco and Lima, Peru on July 1. The new Boeing 767 flights will be the ONLY nonstops between […] [Read More]


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According to Phonenews, Sprint Instinct's pricing was revealed internally today. The Samsung Instinct's full retail price will be $449.99. If you sign a new two year contract you'll receive a $150 instant rebate and get a $100 mail-in-rebate. Final Sprint Instinct price: $199.99 after rebates. Note that current customers, who don't wish to sign a new two year contract, can opt for the full price Instinct, but Sprint will still require you to choose the expensive unlimited plan. Ya, it's all pretty weak when it comes to mandatory data plans, but that's where the revenue is for the cellular providers.
Related Articles:
Sprint Instinct Availability Date Announced
Sprint Instinct Haptic Touch Screen Phone


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Gibson, Hibbert and Anichebe all out of Black Cats clash.
Tony Hibbert
Darron Gibson
Victor Anichebe
Darron Gibson is edging closer to an Everton return but will again be absent for Saturday's visit of Sunderland.
Blues boss David Moyes will also have to make do without right-back Tony Hibbert after he suffered a recurrence of his calf strain, while Victor Anichebe will miss the game due to a hamstring problem.
Gibson hasn't seen a minute of action since a thigh problem forced him off during Everton's 2-0 defeat at West Brom in early September.
The initial prognosis was that the Irishman would miss up to five weeks but added complications have led to an extended spell on the sidelines.
Speaking on Friday, Moyes insisted the former Manchester United man is on the mend but ruled out any chance of an imminent comeback.
"Darron is closer to returning but not for this game," said the Scot. "Victor Anichebe is also out, as is Tony Hibbert. Tony has got a recurrence of a calf strain."
A training injury, Hibbert's problem initially kept him out for five games before he returned to the bench for last month's Merseyside derby against Liverpool.
The 31-year-old did not travel to London for last week's 2-2 draw with Fulham, however, and will again be forced to watch from the sidelines.
Anichebe was stretchered off during last Sunday's Under-21 win over West Brom having sat out the first-team fixture at Craven Cottage.
The Nigerian has made eight appearances this season, scoring three goals.
- Previous Article Pienaar Plans Sunderland Shut-Out
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Closers thrive on neat finishes. Three up, three down game over. So it was awkward Monday night when Billy Wagner's career ended with the Braves' ouster from the division series because it came with jagged edges.
The 39-year-old has been saying he'd retire all season. But he pictured it ending like the regular season did, with both his arms extended high on the mound, having just saved a clinching game.
Wagner fell short of his goal when he signed with the Braves last winter of reaching the World Series. He came three saves shy of passing John Franco for the most all-time by a left-hander. And he walked off the field for the last time Friday night in Game 2, hunched over with a strained oblique muscle.
But good closers also know how to move on.
"I've done everything that I can do," said Wagner, who went 7-2 with a career-best 1.43 ERA and 37 saves this season. "I've got my kids at home that I need to raise more than I need to look at records and championships. That stuff will melt, but my kids are important."
Wagner finished with 422 saves, which is fifth all-time. Not that he's basking in it. A World Series ring is what he wanted most.
"You only achieve something when your team achieves it," Wagner said. "Unfortunately I played 14 years of accomplishing nothing because I had nothing to wear home. It's tough. But I just thank God I got to meet so many great people and experience this fantasy world."
It wasn't the way he wanted to finish, but it was with the right team.
"This year has been nothing but great for me, meeting the guys and getting to retire as a Brave," said Wagner, who grew up in rural Virginia. "It's the greatest honor I could ever have is to be on my childhood favorite team. About the only other thing is if I could have sneaked Dale (Murphy's) number on; that would have been about it."
For his teammates, Wagner's departure feels abrupt. They've been trying to dissuade him for months.
"He's never wavered a second," Derek Lowe said. "…I just couldn't imagine having my best year and saying, 'That's it.' There's something to be said, I guess, about going out on top and not hanging on. But a left-hander that throws 97?"
October 12th, 2010
4:48 pm
I'm glad Wags ended his career with the Braves. He was crucial to us ending up in the post season. Congrats to Wags!
October 12th, 2010
4:50 pm
Thanks Billy, you were awesome and we will miss you!!!!!!!!!!
October 12th, 2010
4:54 pm
Classy guy Billy was, I wish we could have enjoyed more than just one year. Good luck in family life Billy, you will always be a Brave in my eyes. Godspeed to one of greatest closers of all time.
October 12th, 2010
4:55 pm
Would love to have him back, but gotta say I think Kimbrel or Venters would do awesome in closers role, maybe use both, depending on righty / lefty matchups. Great year of baseball, already looking forward to next season. Go Bravos!
October 12th, 2010
4:57 pm
Thanks Billy. Hope to see ya around in VA.
October 12th, 2010
4:58 pm
I admire someone who leaves and everyone says "Why is he?" as opposed to not leaving and everyone saying "Why won't he?"
October 12th, 2010
4:58 pm
Wags is going to be bored to tears by Christmas. He's too proud to admit it, but he's going to want to come back and try to get that world series ring. And if we can somehow get the ownership to spend some money, we can put together a championship caliber ballclub.
October 12th, 2010
5:00 pm
I used to pretty much hate that guy, you know…being a Met, an Astro and a Philly…3 teams i just can't stand.
Now I have the utmost respect for him, true class guy with the very bad luck to play for 3 crappy, stupid teams.
October 12th, 2010
5:03 pm
Great year, Billy. Thanks for giving us (the fans) all that you had. Please remember to instruct your
heir(s) apparent to put those 0-2 and 1-2 pitches "in the dirt" (or at least out of the zone), where the batter can't get wood on it. Particularly, when they go with something "off-speed."
Thanks, again for bringing "Hell" to the ninth at Turner for at least one season!
October 12th, 2010
5:07 pm
Any more Braves post mortem blogging to come, DOB? There's a lot of ground to cover, without even touching the various holes in the lineup that must be filled between now and next April.
Hope you have saved your perspective on the ending of 6's career last night for a soon-to-be-finished blog.
October 12th, 2010
5:10 pm
Billy, you'll probably never read this, which is okay. You define the word closer in my mind. Others did it differently, but you always were a power pitcher, and you finished as a power pitcher. I appreciate not only your on the field contributions to the Braves but also what you taught and instilled in the bull pen this year. In a way it is totally fitting that one of the greatest Closers and one of the greatest Managers ride off into the sunset at the same time. The game is better because you were part of it, you define grit and class seldom words put together. Simply said THANK YOU for your year with the Braves, and your contribution to Baseball. Enjoy your retirement.
October 12th, 2010
5:10 pm
WAGS! I hated him too, mostly 'cause he wasn't playing for us. It's a shame it took so long to get him here, but I'm glad I was able to see him pitch at The Ted and retire as a Brave.
If he changes his mind, door's open.
October 12th, 2010
5:13 pm
He is what a baseball player should be. He is the best.
October 12th, 2010
5:13 pm
I'm with everyone else … thanks, Billy … wish we could have had you around longer!
October 12th, 2010
5:29 pm
How about this, Billy… Come back to spring training as a bullpen coach. I'm not asking you to play. Just coach the youngsters. If they retain just a piece of your work ethic and attitude, it would be awesome.
October 12th, 2010
5:30 pm
Billy Wagner and John Smoltz were the two most dominating closers the Atlanta Braves ever had. Thanks for a great season, Mr. Wagner. Here's wishing you every happiness with your family.
October 12th, 2010
5:31 pm
You have to respect a man like that. You don't see that perspective much anymore:
"That stuff will melt, but my kids are important."
October 12th, 2010
5:32 pm
To go out when you're doing well takes a lot more guts than going the Roger Clemens/Brett Favre route. Congrats on a good season, Billy.
October 12th, 2010
5:44 pm
Great season Wags.
Its going to be hard to see possibly 3 hall of famers (Cox, Chipper, Wagner) going out on the same year and the same team. I'm really hoping Chipper sticks with coming back next year, he will be a huge influence on the new manager.
Great season Braves!!
October 12th, 2010
5:49 pm
He didn't go out with a championship but as Lowe said "a left-hander who throws 97″ with the bulldog closer mentality to match. He may have hit 40 saves if he had a little more help in the field, I seem to recall a few of those blown saves were helped along with some errors. Good Luck Billy.
October 12th, 2010
5:55 pm
Billy God bless you and your family and thanks for spending your final year of a great career with us here in Atlanta. We will never forget you. Sorry you missed out on the goal but the fans here in Atlanta cherish these past 162 games and for the stablizing force you became in that bullpen. Your influence I hope lives on in these young guns we got coming back next year. God's speed
October 12th, 2010
6:20 pm
Go Wagner! And take Chipper with you!
October 12th, 2010
6:21 pm
I admire someone who leaves and everyone says "Why is he?" as opposed to not leaving and everyone saying "Why won't he?"
But yet you worship Booby…
October 12th, 2010
6:34 pm
at his age, he's an injury waiting to happen. we could have kept Soriano for about the same money.
instead, we lost a #1 draft pick for Wagner.
he's not the type to change his mind -like a football player everyone jokes about now.
even with him, we still need offense. I'm surprised we had so many leads to turn over to him
October 12th, 2010
6:37 pm
Can't question this guy… he's got nothing to prove, really. If he wanted a ring THAT badly, he wouldn't be retiring. Good luck Wags in all your endeavors!
October 12th, 2010
6:40 pm
If he really wanted a ring he'd end his career elsewhere – in 2011
October 12th, 2010
6:44 pm
Billy, thank you for all that you did for us here in Atlanta, it was awesome having you on the team!
October 12th, 2010
7:02 pm
It's really amazing when you see someone in another uniform and think
that person has an attitude problem. Getting to read about Billy Wagner,
especially the last few weeks, I saw a very classy individual praising the
heir apparent (Kimbrel) that he's ready to take on the closer's role.
All the best to Billy Wagner and his family. What a great year!!!!
October 12th, 2010
7:13 pm
I love Billy. He's a class act like no other. I takes balls to walk away after the year he's had. Time to be a dad? I dig it.
October 12th, 2010
7:20 pm
October 12th, 2010
7:25 pm
going out on while you're on top. i like it. he's a fine American–glad he went out with America's team.
the kudos he heaps upon kimbrel mean almost as much as that 97,98 mph fastball the kid keeps hurling. almost.
October 12th, 2010
7:37 pm
Good luck Billy. Thanks for all the thrills of watching you pitch. God Bless.
October 12th, 2010
7:53 pm
I wont lie, Wagner, at first, wasnt my number one choice for a closer when i heard of the deal this offseason. But Im going to miss hearing Enter Sandman and seeing him warm up. Gave me chills.
October 12th, 2010
8:35 pm
Enjoy your family and your farm, Wags. Thanks for coming, it was great to see you wear the tomahawk. Kudos for going out on top.
October 12th, 2010
8:42 pm
Oh, Billy, we hardly knew ye! Wish you could have played for the Brave's earlier in your career. You will be missed in the ATL. Go enjoy watching your kids grow up. It was a pleasure watching you.
October 12th, 2010
8:44 pm
"It's the greatest honor I could ever have is to be on my childhood favorite team. About the only other thing is if I could have sneaked Dale (Murphy's) number on; that would have been about it."
Only one year but what an impact.
It was absolutely a pleasure.
Let him enter The Hall as a Brave!
October 12th, 2010
8:55 pm
Billy Wagner – You were the best!
Best thing you did – prove all of these negative commenter's
who said you were old, washed up, past your prime – WRONG!
Frank Wren – thank you for this acquisition – one of your best!
Bobby Cox – thank you for taking the trip to VA. to get Wags on board!
October 12th, 2010
9:01 pm
Damnit Wags come back for next year!!!
October 12th, 2010
9:03 pm
Love you Wags<3
Best of luck in the future:)
October 12th, 2010
9:09 pm
Thanks for playing for us this year. I really enjoyed watching you perform and getting to know you through our announcers. I wish you the best in your retirement. And if you get bored, just remember how to get to Turner Field.
October 12th, 2010
9:40 pm
He could change his mind and no one would care. This isn't Brett Favre. I will miss playing "Ride of the Valkyries" on the piano before every appearance.
October 12th, 2010
9:47 pm
Picked me up a nice #13 autographed ball at the Braves' Foundation room. One of my best memories and keepsakes of this phenomenal season. Best Wishes One-Three, there is more to being a champion than a ring. Ride into Cooperstown with a Braves hat on, after all they were your favorite childhood team, what better way to round out a career in a game you began as a child.
October 12th, 2010
10:37 pm
the consumate professional glad to have him as a brave for one year wish it coulda been more
October 12th, 2010
10:37 pm
LOVE YOU B ILLY!!! Best wishes to you and your family in the future! They must be so proud to have a man so well-respected and admired as the head of the family~
October 12th, 2010
10:42 pm
Thanks Billy. You were one of those rare closers like Smoltz was, scary good, and cool as a cucumber under pressure.
Thanks, it was such a pleasure watching you. We will miss you but I bet you taught the young guys a lot while you could. Have a great retirement and life with your kids. If you ever get bored, well, we'll be here for you.
October 12th, 2010
10:58 pm
DOB, I guess something like that needed another set of eyes to go over, no, before hitting the Interweb (to steal directly from Jim James of My Morning Jacket in "Librarian")?
And I as sit here in office watching feed of ALDS, will be it MFIKY (former Brave) vs. Neftali Feliz (former future Brave) in the ninth? MFIKY is on. And Frenchy is on deck.
October 12th, 2010
11:50 pm
Billy, you were on the right team, both you and the Braves are classy! Sure going to miss you, good luck and we wish you the best.
October 13th, 2010
12:02 am
I was highly skeptical on the signing, too many concerns about age & what not. I was dead wrong. Thank Billy, for both your efforts on the mound & the absolute class & character you displayed while a member of the Braves for too short a time.
October 13th, 2010
12:03 am
Congratulations Billy! I hope retirement is everything you hope for. Someone mentioned what he admired about Billy. I admire his conviction to be with his family. We all greatly enjoy baseball. But, baseball can't hold a candle to one's family. Billy said he's done everything in baseball (except win a World Series) and that doesn't mean *anything* compared to his family. So, I salute Billy Wagner. I'll miss him next year, but I'm glad he'll be where he's the happiest.
October 13th, 2010
12:27 am
Billy was as dominant a lefty reliever as I've seen since following baseball starting in the late 40s. He was a big factor in getting the Braves to the wild card and left it all on the field. Hope he has an enjoyable retirement and will look forward to his HOF induction.
October 13th, 2010
12:30 am
Loved your work this year Billy. Wish you were coming back, but you do have your priorities in the correct order. Hope you gave lots of good advice and instruction to Kimbrell and Venters.
October 13th, 2010
12:50 am
Absolutely loved having Billy with us this year. Can't believe he's retiring after arguably the most dominant year of his career (as DOB mentioned, the lowest season ERA of his 15 year career). He helped make this season a really special one, and he'll always be an Atlanta Brave in my eyes.
October 13th, 2010
2:19 am
Billy- we have all seen "Field of Dreams". The best compliment all baseball players can recieve from their peers is "You were good, kid". I know no.6 feels that way, and all true baseball fans know that also. You will be missed by your teammates, your coaches, and your fans. You came, you competed, and you are a winner!
October 13th, 2010
5:37 am
Best wishes to Billy Wagner in his retirement. He's always been a great player playing on teams I hated. I am so happy that he got to pitch in Atlanta for his final season. He was a perfect fit with the team. It's just too bad his season ended the way it did. He was a huge part of Atlanta being in the playoffs at all, and it was sad to see it end with an injury.
I hope Billy is blessed with time for his wife, his children, and his farming life. He's a good guy and deserves the best in retirement, just like Bobby.
October 13th, 2010
7:45 am
How terrific would a Sept signing be next year? If the Braves are in the heat of it all next year, Whats 2 months? If he stays in good pitching shape while on the farm, whats to say that he doesn't come out of retirement next Sept. I'd be good with that.
October 13th, 2010
7:55 am
Hope Roger McDowell goes with him and Booby.Need a pitching coach that is pro-active.
October 13th, 2010
8:04 am
I wish Billy all the best in retirement. If we didn't have young, developing arms like Kimbrel and Venters waiting in the wings to be looked at for the closer's role, maybe — just maybe — Billy could have been convinced to hang on one more season. But his reasons (e.g., raising his kids) for retirement are honorable. I'm sorry he didn't get a WS Ring. But then again, a LOT of MLB players go their entire careers without getting one. I hope once he is away from the game awhile and has time to think back over his career from a different perspective, he'll find that he didn't pitch for "nothing". Thanks, Billy. Happy Retirement!
October 13th, 2010
8:08 am
Thank you, Billy Wagner! You will be missed by all of baseball! Enjoy your kids.
October 13th, 2010
8:17 am
Even though Wags was only with us for a year, it is amazing the impact he had on the Braves. I was hoping all year that he would change his mind and come back for one last season but I suppose that will not happen. Thanks for a great year Wags and for always being a great example of what a baseball player should be.
October 13th, 2010
9:02 am
Hey, Booby and Brooksy….I have been involved in baseball for about 40 years, but for the life of me,don't know what a "proactive pitching coach" is. Why don't you share your pitching coach expertise with us?
October 13th, 2010
9:14 am
It's a great gift to fans to have a closer who fills you with hope, not worry, when he walks to the mound. I just hope Fredi can find another one like Wagner, because no one on the current staff inspires that hopeful feeling!
October 13th, 2010
9:19 am
Class act, all the way. Enjoy your retirement, Billy. Hated seeing you pitch against. Loved having you on our mound.
October 13th, 2010
9:22 am
Thanks Billy and enjoy those kids they grow so fast, best of luck !
October 13th, 2010
9:25 am
There's a man with a good head on his shoulders. Going to miss "Enter Sandman" and the Tombstone video whenever he'd enter the game, but wish him all the best in his retirement.
October 13th, 2010
9:27 am
I salute you Billy. You were a great closer and I'm glad I got to watch you this season. Thanks.
October 13th, 2010
9:45 am
I'm with Vinny D. September (and October) are a GREAT time to pitch. Stay in shape, and collect a couple of mil for a few months work. Hope the Braves are in a position to pick Wags up for a late season run for the pennant in 2011!
October 13th, 2010
10:10 am
Billy Wagner has his priorities in the right order. It was great to see him in a Braves uniform for the final year of his career. Best wishes, Wags. We could use more like you, and I'm not talking about how you throw a baseball.
October 13th, 2010
10:28 am
I just want to say one thing.. Wags is one of the best I've ever seen at his position. The best closer for the Braves while he was doing it was Smoltz. Maybe if the Braves make a serious run in the beginning of next season, which is possible with all of the talent and will power we have on this team.. Just maybe we can talk him into coming back for the 2nd half of next season for one final run at a world championship. Godspeed Wags! We love you in Braves Country!!! I would like to see nothing more than you put on a championship ring with the Braves! Go Braves!
October 13th, 2010
12:18 pm
Thanks, Billy. Watching you pitch in the ninth was one of the best things about this season, and I'm so glad you were mentor in the bullpen. I hope you'll come around and see how your successors perform. Even more, thanks for knowing what's important and sticking with your decision to retire. It takes a smart man with the right priorities to walk out on top.
October 13th, 2010
12:18 pm
Great. No longer have to put up with the thin-skinned hill-Billy. Couldn't cut it in Philly or Queens — could only thrive in low-pressure burgs like Atlanta or Houston. Could have had a ring, Billy, if only you weren't such a self-absorbed, low-class hick!
October 13th, 2010
12:29 pm
But props to the rest of the over-achieving Braves — you'll be back. And to Bobby Cox. World-class skipper.
October 13th, 2010
12:36 pm
Hey Billy, I can only hope that Kimbrel, and Venters, have learned a lot about being a closer. Also, I can only hope that they(Kimbreel/Venters), also learned how to be a classy person and true to himself!!! Enough said. Congates Billy, and enjoy your retiement and spend a lot of qualkity time with your kids….Even though you didn't get your W/S ring, you are a true champion!!!!!!
October 13th, 2010
12:40 pm
Enter your comments here
October 13th, 2010
12:47 pm
Wagner is a class act no doubt. I hope he enjoys retirement. No doubt the series would have been different if he was around. The season would have drastically different if Soriano was still on the roster. At the time, Soriano was a question mark and the front office went out for the best.
I do respect how Wagner made his decision and allowed himself to enjoy the season. It would have nice to see Smoltz and Glavine go out that way./
October 13th, 2010
12:56 pm
Having Billy Wagner on this team was one of the highlight of a great year. Sure, he and the Braves got beat up and limped into the playoffs. But they were one or two plays away from continuing to the next round. I'm really saddened to see Wagner go. Wish he could be associated with the team even if he's not playing. He's the definition of a Stand-Up Guy, based on everything I've seen and read about him this year. Hard-core competitor, fabulous and supportive teammate, and a very astute student of the game. The Braves have a great future, but I think they need Carl Crawford. Hope they go after him, or someone like him, aggressively. I also think they need a new hitting coach. Their offensive anemia needs instructional treatment, as in, don't always let that first-pitch gutshot go by. Braves looked at waaaaay to many of the most hittable pitches.
October 13th, 2010
2:01 pm
I think Pat Burrell said it best…Billy Wagner is a rat!! He should of retired as a Met…that's what he deserved!! So long, Wagner…now you can take your ringless fingers back to Bugtussle…where you can spend your retirement shooting varmints and swimming in the "cement pond".
October 13th, 2010
2:26 pm
I always thought Pat Burrell was an idiot….thanks for reminding me, Don Vito…you sound like a true Philly.
I've wanted Wags since Smoltz stopped closing. So glad he was a part of this great year. Good luck, Billy.
October 13th, 2010
3:12 pm
Dav…i'm sure "Wags" wants you too…ever see "Deliverance"??
October 13th, 2010
3:18 pm
Wags – your family is so lucky and so blessed to have you as a dad and husband. You're putting them first at this time in your career, and you've kept the promise you made to them at the start of this season…..no matter who or how long you were begged to do it one more season.
Thanks so much for giving your all – and your oblique – for the Bravos this year. We loved it when you took the mound late in the game – game over at almost every appearance!!!
Looking forward to seeing you at the ballfield in the future when time or occasion permits. Don't cut yourself off completely from the team and your fans. Good luck in the woods this season too!
October 13th, 2010
4:16 pm
Rat. Snake. Beady little rat-snake.
October 13th, 2010
4:26 pm
Wagner is and always will be a Brave…what a true ball player and I wish him the best.
October 13th, 2010
6:28 pm
I hope he reconsiders retirement for just one more year.
October 13th, 2010
7:31 pm
The older you get the faster time passes.you just can't turn it back.I can understand what billy is going through.when they were youg i worked out of town and talking to then on the phone at bedtime and the trip home on the 36 hour weekend went by so fast.However those Summers when they were out of school trips are all they talk about these days.The citys I work In always had sites to see and things to do.Those too are the stories i hear when we get together.NEVER have they said anything about how the other fathers were at the games and me on the road working.The oldest ask me If he should play football his last year of high school after ALL others said it would END HIS CHANCES TO PLAY BASEBASE IN THE NEXT LEVEL?All I could say is you cant go back and do it again!YOU ONLY GOT THIS CHANCE.Well he did play and had a good year took some good hits made some GREAT PASSES and has Listen to everything you have said to him?Bill I hope you do read this One morning watching to sun rise drinking a cup of Coffee waiting on the family to get up so the day can start and see one more year wont hurt and show up In spring training so I can have one with you this spring and watch the sunset In a goodway.MDK
October 13th, 2010
7:52 pm
Let's only hope that MEEKLY Cabrera goes with Cox and Wagner. I have maligned MEEKLY in this blog all year and in the cruelest of ironies, it had to be him that, as I have repeated many times, MEEKLY grounded out to end the season. He couldn't hit a ball over a high school softball fence much less a Turner Field. He is a joke and hopefully the Braves brass will realize this….HELLO!….DUH!!!!…that he must go. We need a power hitting OF, not a meekly hitting WUSS!!!!! All this being said, let's face it Braves fans….even if we had survived S, the Phils would have swept us so it was best to end the misery. Despite all the injuries, we did the best we could. And really, that's all one could ask for.
October 13th, 2010
10:27 pm
Billy was one of the main reasons the Braves were able to make it back to the post-season one last time for Bobby. Thank you for a great season Billy. You will be missed, and we are glad you were able to retire as a Brave. Although we wouldn't mind if you changed your mind to come back for one more season…
October 14th, 2010
12:02 am
[...] Phillie Billy Wagner, despite a career year, is officially calling it an [...]
October 14th, 2010
1:52 am
Only the Braves care about making the playoffs as some huge accomplishment. Anybody want WAGS trying to close the door for your team with your season on the line? No thanks
October 14th, 2010
6:54 am
I'm sure he intends to call it quits, and I give him credit for following it through. Yet check back in a year. A year alone with the family should all but ensure his return by 2012!
October 14th, 2010
8:40 am
Billy Wags has got his priorities right. Good for him.
But we will miss him. His slider reminded me of Smoltz, that sucker was wicked. Seldom do you see a pitcher retire at the top of his game, and seldom do you see a pitcher at the top of his game at his age.
Class act all the way, hope his style has rubbed off on the bullpen to follow.
October 14th, 2010
9:11 am
Thanks, Billy Wagner
It has been a blast watching you this year, finally in a Braves uniform
you are one of the best
Congratulations and good luck
October 14th, 2010
11:20 am
Goog luck billy….we luv us some Wag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 14th, 2010
12:03 pm
I always hated when we had to face Wagner when he was with other clubs, glad he was on our side this year and it was great to root for him instead of against him, he didn't disappoint! Thanks for the memories Billy!
October 14th, 2010
4:33 pm
I wish you'd reconsider Billy!
The way you approach the game and conduct yourself both on and off the field is indeed refreshing!
But you're entitled to at least one "Brett Favre"! Give us one more year with the Braves!
October 17th, 2010
6:28 am
Long weekend so getting in y words kind of late. Billy, if you did come back, I would love it. You were a rock this year and we have a ton of kids on this team that can learn from you. That being said, even if you retire it woouldn't put a scratch on what should be a HOF career.
I look back and wonder that if the Braves had you for a closer all those yars how things might have turned out (one of the things I do to kill time until Spring). Smotlzie would not have felt the need to try to close, and him starting, even at the risk of injury, might have put the Braes over the hump a couple of those years. Not to mention wewould not have gone thru the Wohlers breakdown, or the Rocker episodes that had to have caused some troubles in the dugout.
Even more importantly the trade for Gonzalez (costing us Adam LaRoche) would not have happened. With LaRoche in tow, we would likely not have traded for Tex. Though he played well for us, he cost us significants prospects that we could have used to get that big bat in the OF (say Matt Holliday maybe). Even better, we would have stayed far away from Kasey Kotchman, as we lost out on those deals as well. Of course, all this is based on Atlanta giving you and LaRoche contracts you would have appreciated .. but with a few more wins each year they might have had more money from playoff games to spend a little more. I sure would have loved to see all that, though it might have cost the Braves fans the chanceto cheer on Glaus, Hinske and the rest of the guys we added that played as hard as they could for us.
In any event, it was great finally getting to cheer for you instead of against. Best of luck in your future.


text:
Ready, Set, Goal: Win-It Strategies from Top Athletes
More Goal-Winning TacticsRead People
Athletes study video of their opponents to learn their ticks: the basketball forward who invariably dips his knee in the direction he's going, the quarterback who without fail lifts his leg just before he calls the snap. "Knowing an opponent's body-language tip-offs helps you shut down his game," explains Larry Lauer, PhD, a sport psychology consultant and director of coaching education and development at Michigan State University's Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, in East Lansing.
Life lesson: Off the court you're not necessarily trying to use anyone's body cues against them. Rather, the idea is to tune in to certain unspoken emotions your family, friends, and colleagues reveal with their movements or gestures so that you can improve your understanding of what they're feeling. "We can't help but send out signals through our body language, and because we do so subconsciously, these moments reveal our true feelings," says body-language expert Tonya Reiman, author of The Yes Factor. To identify a coworker's giveaways, first take stock of her usual movements: where she looks when she talks, how she holds her body, whether she crosses her legs. "When people are uncomfortable, nervous, or even lying, they change their behavior. For example, they may stroke their leg when they normally don't," Reiman explains. Some common nonverbal cues: People tend to lean toward you if they like what you're saying and away if they don't; someone who is interested in you romantically will look at your mouth and body as opposed to just your eyes and nose, and thumbs in plain sight are a sign of confidence.Talk a Big Game
No one ever wins by believing that she can't. That's why athletes pump themselves up with positive self-talk. "Repeating 'I can do this' to yourself is a way to replace the negative thoughts that pop up when you're under pressure," suggests James Bauman, PhD, a sport psychologist at the University of Washington in Seattle. "It helps you focus on what you can do rather than on what you fear you can't."
Life lesson: With practice, you can turn your inner Eeyore into your biggest supporter. Every time your internal voice goes rogue, counter it with a cue statement -- a brief phrase that shuts down the critic, such as "I'm strong and in control" or "It's not a problem." Single words like "Go" or "Relax" are also good. Experiment to find out what sticks, Bauman suggests, or arm yourself with several. Saying your cue aloud can help, as can writing it in visible spots. In time your affirmative thoughts will become automatic, heading off self-doubt before it appears.Get a Coach
Natural talent takes athletes only so far. To achieve greatness, they need someone to help them hone their skills, work on their weaknesses, and teach them strategy. To mentor them, in other words. "It's an invaluable relationship," Lauer says. "A coach tells you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear."
Life lesson: Careerwise, a mentor is useful for her advice and because she can recommend you for jobs. Choose someone in your company (but not your boss or boss's boss, which could create conflicts of interest) who knows you and your work. Ideally, she should have only a level or two of seniority over you: Research suggests that the most effective mentors aren't the living legends but the up-and-comers in the first third of their careers. To make your approach, send an e-mail (to allow for a response at her leisure) that says you are hoping to follow her career path and would like to seek her advice occasionally. Don't be shy: Most people are happy, if not flattered, to share their wisdom; it's a way for them to pay back the role models in their own lives.Rest
There's training hard, and then there's overtraining. The former moves you forward toward your goal; the latter sets you back and potentially sidelines you. The antidote: periodic breaks to help the body recover. "Athletes build rest into their schedules to avoid burnout and injury," Dahlkoetter says. Triathletes, for example, often train in blocks of time that include seven days of workouts and two days off.
Life lesson: You can't expect to live at your peak when you're exhausted. "Depletion is a real danger for women in particular, because they tend to put the needs of others before their own," says Ana Tucker, a psychotherapist and life coach in New York City. That doesn't mean you have to disappear for a weeklong yoga retreat in the woods (if only you had the time). Try working in micro breathers to do something mindless, like checking Facebook or playing a round of solitaire, throughout the day. "That five-to-seven-minute break allows you to come back to yourself and refreshes your perspective," Tucker explains. Bonus: Taking brief mental holidays during the day means you're less likely to turn to unhealthy activities (Cheetos and junk TV, anyone?) later.
As for me, my favorite mini escape is a trip around the block for an iced coffee. Or I'll spend five minutes surfing a recipe Web site for (most recently) a 19-step cheese souffle that I'll never, ever make. But it's awfully nice to visualize. So then again, maybe I will.
Originally published in FITNESS magazine, September 2010.
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Right now I am following the Diet Plan for You blog by nutrition specialist Kate Hill. Kate helped me lose weight in a healthy way in few weeks, without starving! If you want to lose weight, just visit Kate's blog at: http://dietplanforyou.blogspot.com11/5/2011 03:30:05 AM Report Abuse
Great tips!10/27/2010 10:11:56 AM Report Abuse
as a fitness instructor and goal provider to people, talking about rest and diet is crucial in addition to the actual 'workout'...finding out what people want is the way to avoid a monotonous routine and going 'numb' without seeing results or even knowing what could be results10/18/2010 10:57:39 AM Report Abuse
read10/18/2010 09:56:13 AM Report Abuse
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