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The Biggest Flops Of The 2009-10 NFL SeasonJanuary 4, 2010 – 8:19 pm by Ryan Phillips
Now that the 2009-10 regular season is in the books it's time for us to reflect on just what the heck happened over the past few months in the NFL. This fall and winter had some great stories and some major controversies. But frankly, none of that interests us here at R & R. What we're into, what really gets our juices flowing, are those teams, players and situations that didn't live up to the ridiculous hype surrounding them before and during the 2009-10 season.
So without further ridiculous hype and preamble, I present to you the biggest flops of the 2009-10 NFL season.
5. The New York Giants' Defense
When Plaxico Burress tried to ice himself last year and got thrown in the clink, everyone thought the Giants' could struggle on offense, especially as teams were likely to load the box to stop running back Brandon Jacobs. No one, and I mean no one, thought the Giants' defense would be the team's weakness for the entire season. Despite a 5-0 start, the Giants wrapped up the season with an 8-8 record after dropping a 44-7 Week 17 blowout at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings.
While offensively the G-Men averaged 366 yards (8th in the league) and scored a respectable 25.1 points per game (also 8th) they surrendered 324.9 yards (13th) and 26.7 points per game (30th in the league). To give you an idea where there points allowed ranked, only the St. Louis Rams (27.3) and the Detroit Lions (30.9) gave up more. The 427 points the Giants surrendered were the most by the franchise since 1966.
So where did things go wrong for the only tenet of the Meadowlands not headed to the playoffs? It's hard to say. They ranked in the middle of the pack in both rushing and passing yards allowed – 15th and 14th respectively. Then again, the defense only took the ball away 24 times all season though, contributing its lousy share of the team's -7 giveaway/takeaway margin.
Despite a defensive line that boasts Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka, the Giants totaled just 32 sacks all season, tying them for 18th in the league. When you're a team that thrives on pressuring the quarterback, that just isn't getting it done. The team's 13 interceptions ranked 22nd in the NFL, while its 11 fumble recoveries finished tied for 14th.
4. JaMarcus Russell
After being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft, JaMarcus Russell got a contract worth $32 million in guaranteed money. He looked the part, was a humble, quiet kid with incredible potential and made the Raiders look like they'd finally made a smart move via the draft. Some checked to see if hell had finally frozen over, while others prepared themselves for Armageddon.
Then Russell actually took the field and we all realized the world was safe from the wrath of the Son of Perdition for now.
Entering the 2009 season, analysts were split on what to make of Russell and what kind of season was in store for he and the Oakland Raiders. After flashing some signs of brilliance in December of 2008 – he threw two touchdown passes is each of his final three games and finished each contest completing better than 50 percent of his passes – some thought Russell could finally come into his own in 2009. They were wrong. Not only did the LSU product not improve, he actually regressed.
After playing in 15 games during the 2008 season, Russell's numbers looked like this: 198-of-368 (53.8 completion percentage), for 2,423 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions, with a 77.1 quarterback rating.
He finished 2009 with the following numbers in 12 games: 120-of-246 (48.8 completion percentage), 1,287 yards, three touchdowns and 11 interceptions, with a 50.0 quarterback rating.
Not surprisingly Russell is dead last in quarterback rating in the NFL among the 32 signal-callers who qualify. His 5.23 yards per attempt is also tied for last in the NFL with the Browns' Brady Quinn.
At this point it's safe to say that JaMarcus Russell is shaping up to be the NFL's biggest bust since Ryan Leaf.
3. The Pittsburgh Steelers
When you're the defending Super Bowl champions, return virtually everyone and are unanimously picked as the top team in ESPN's season-opening power rankings, you really shouldn't miss the playoffs. But that's just what the Steelers did.
Despite not having horrible statistics for the year on either side of the ball, Pittsburgh improbably dropped games to some of the worst teams in the league. After a 6-2 start, they went on a five-game losing streak, falling to the Bengals 18-12, 27-24 to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime, 17-14 to the Baltimore Ravens in overtime, 27-24 to the Oakland Raiders and 13-6 to the Cleveland Browns. The Browns, Chiefs and Raiders combined for just 14 wins this season, had the Steelers won any of those three games, they'd be in the playoffs right now. Instead they're at home, looking up at both the Bengals and Ravens in a division they were supposed to own.
Ben Roethlisberger had a fantastic season, but the Steelers and their normally punishing rushing attack placed 19th in the NFL (112.1 ypg), and the usually opportunistic Pittsburgh defense only forced 22 turnovers. The Steelers also finished with a -3 turnover margin. When you're struggling to run the ball, you can't turn it over and you need your defense to make plays. The Steelers also allowed opponents to convert 42 percent of third down opportunities, fifth worst in the league, while on offense they converted just 39 percent, 17th in the NFL.
2. The Denver Broncos
Not much was expected of the Broncos this season, but entering Week 8 Denver was 6-0, coming off a bye and held the tie-breaker in the AFC West. Nine weeks later they finished the season 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Wow.
After the red-hot start, first-year coach Josh McDaniels was universally hailed as a genius, quarterback Kyle Orton was an MVP candidate and Denver's defense was a monster that could not be tamed. Since then, McDaniels has pissed off his best player, Orton has become Kyle Orton again and the Broncos have given up 128.7 rushing yards a game (26th in the NFL). The franchise's second consecutive disastrous finish is both hilarious and well, more hilarious.
As mentioned above, Denver opened the season with six straight wins, then dropped its next four games. After blowout wins over the Giants and Chiefs, things looked to be back on track. Then they lost to the Colts, Raiders, Eagles and Chiefs to finish the season. How schizophrenic is this squad?
The Broncos finished the 2009-10 season right where they ended it last year, at 8-8, out of the playoffs, looking up at the San Diego Chargers and questioning whether their quarterback and coach are the right men for their respective jobs.
1. Jay Cutler in Chicago
While some Bears fans (most notably TheBaker) refuse to call Cutler's performance this season a flop, I wholeheartedly disagree. When Cutler arrived in the Windy City, it was with much hoopla and fanfare. The frumpy former Pro Bowler arrived in Chicago praised as a savior, the franchise quarterback the Bears had always been missing and a guy who could lead his new team, if not to the Super Bowl (thanks for that Peter King), then at the very least to the playoffs. The former Bronco was spoken of so reverentially in Chicago sports circles, you'd have thought he had cleaned up the Chicago River and promised the city a 20-degree warming of winter temperatures. And this was all before playing a single game, and despite "football scientist" KC Joyner's warnings.
As we now look back on the season, Cutler did exactly what we should have expected him to do. He went to Chicago and played like a guy with a huge arm, terrible decision-making skills and an awful set of receivers should played. He also had the worst season of his four-year career. The Bears finished the season 7-9 and missed the playoffs. Cutler has still never taken a team to the postseason. His record as a starter in his career is 24-29.
Sure, the Bears' defense was a shambles this season, but Cutler did virtually nothing that would make you believe he could have taken the team to the postseason with an average defense. He finished the 2009-10 season with these numbers: 336-of-555 (60.5 completion percentage), 3,666 yards, 6.61 yards per attempt, 27 touchdowns, 26 interceptions and a 76.8 quarterback rating.
Cutler's completion percentage was 17th in the NFL, he was 13th in yards, 20th in yards per attempt, tied for 8th in touchdowns, had the most interceptions in the league (second place was rookie Mark Sanchez with six fewer picks), and his quarterback rating put him 21st in the league.
The following players finished with better quarterback ratings than Cutler: Alex Smith (81.5), Vince Young (82.8), David Garrard (83.5), Jason Campbell (86.4), Joe Flacco (88.9) and (gulp) Kyle Orton (86.8).
Just to drive the nail in a little further, Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman combined to finish last season with a quarterback rating of 77.1 for the Bears. This year, Cutler finished at 76.8.
Obviously, I'm not saying the Orton/Grossman combo was better than Cutler, but the Bears also didn't have to part with two first round picks and a third-rounder to get either of those guys, cost the team $10 million in 2009 and then sign them to a $30 million extension.
On top of all that, we were led to believe that Cutler had matured this offseason. He was out of Denver and the situation with the Broncos was what had made him so sullen and unhappy. But Cutler's on-field demeanor hasn't changed, he's still immature enough to tell a reporter just what he can do with himself, he still drinks a lot, makes horrible decisions with the ball and blames others for his mistakes.
The bottom line is this, Cutler entered his term with the Bears being heralded as the second-coming of an-in-his-prime Brett Favre and ended up delivering like Jeff George. That's not what Bears fans had in mind. That is why he's the top flop of the 2009-10 season.
Just missing the cut: Terrell Owens in Buffalo, the Tennessee Titans, the Houston Texans, Albert Haynesworth in Washington.


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BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 – Javier F. Aguilar says he feels blessed to be a scholarship recipient.
Aguilar is working on his Bachelor of Applied Technology in Workforce Leadership and Training. He said scholarships have allowed him to support a family of four while pursuing his bachelor's degree.
"I am blessed by receiving this financial assistance, allowing me to take additional classes when my family budget allows for only one class per semester," said Aguilar, a Brownsville Independent School District employee.
Students such as Aguilar met with endowment donors at a dinner in the Student Union Gran Salón Tuesday, Sept. 13.
During the dinner, Dr. Juliet V. García, President of The University of Texas at Brownsville, shared she was a scholarship recipient when she was a young married graduate student with two children. She said that financial support helped her and her husband manage what would otherwise have been an impossible financial situation.
"We all remember a time in our life when we needed a helping hand," García said. "The donors in this room tonight did not just wake up one day to discover that they had been appointed a bank president, a business owner or university professor. Many here received a helping hand along the way – that's what philanthropy is all about."
Sandra Sweeney Wilson, who came from Austin to attend the dinner, told the story of her mother, Eloise Sweeney, and six of her friends who helped establish the Lower Rio Grande Valley Nursing Scholarship Fund in 1989.
"My mother encountered a young nursing student who was unable to continue her studies due to financial hardship on her family," Wilson said. "Mother invited some of her friends over to tea to discuss the needs of this student and others in the community, and that is how the scholarship was born."
Several of the original group of ladies who were able to attend received applause as Wilson asked them to stand for recognition.
President and CEO of Keppel AmFELS G.S. Tan spoke about growing up in a poor family in Singapore.
"I was fortunate to receive scholarships throughout my schooling to achieve a university degree and become an engineer," Tan said. "Even though I dreamed of becoming an engineer, never could I have imagined achieving a position such as I now have with Keppel AmFELS. I repeat an old Korean proverb that says to never let lack of finances give you an excuse to stop working toward your goal."
Tan presented García with a check for $25,000 from Keppel AmFELS LLC to create the Keppel AmFELS LLC Scholarship Endowment. This is in addition to two other already existing Keppel AmFELS scholarship endowments.
Since UTB was established 20 years ago, 995 scholarships have been awarded to students. Today, 107 endowments have been established totaling $8.86 million.
For more information about giving or to establish an endowment, contact the Office of Development at 956-882-4324. For an opportunity to contribute online, please visit the impact of giving page.

subset: commoncrawl


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Divers pulled five more bodies from the stricken Costa Concordia cruise liner yesterday after blasting holes in the upturned hull, as pothole rescue experts entered the wreck for the first time.
The recovery of the four men and one woman - all wearing lifejackets - brought the confirmed death toll to 11. Italian authorities, under pressure from foreign governments, raised the number of missing to 24.
Five explosions, visible from the shore, rocked the wreck this morning as military frogmen blew out reinforced glass windows to allow access to submerged decks.
"We did controlled explosions on the hull. Thanks to those openings


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Today's at www.ivillage.com, a 9 question quiz appears for readers to fill out to see whether or not they fall into the "Emotional Hoarding" category. Emotional Hoarding is defined as:"Emotional hoarders collect grudges and have trouble letting go of negative emotions. The resulting emotional clutter may not be outwardly visible, but it can also have a detrimental effect on their lives.While it's not unusual to lose your temper from time to time and have disagreements with others, if you hold onto those negative feelings for too long, it can cause long-term problems. Take this simple quiz to find out if you have emotional hoarding tendencies and, if so, how to curb them so you can live a happier life."(Source:http://www.ivillage.com/are-you-emotional-hoarder/4-q-256202).
I resonated on this definition several times before thinking that resentments can also fall under this category. Resentments are also holding negative feelings against another individual where it can have adverse effects one's body as well. According to the new wave of spiritual enlightment in handling grudges and resentments, it is recommended that individuals learn to forgive and to let go through prayer and meditation. Since the event(s) already happened, it is not feasible to keep holding onto something that is in the past. It is important to hold onto the present moment and to take time to heal within. I told an individual during one session that holding onto grudges and resentments prevents the positive energy from flowing in our bodies and mind and spirit.
When we let in positive energy, we can create a new beginning and understanding for ourselves to move forward. Of course, relapse is possible, when a past memory or trigger will drudge up old stuff and become a broken record again. If individuals can learn to be mindfully aware of this moment without becoming attached to it with their breath, it is possible to let it go again and to self-compassionate with oneself. Scientific evidence shows that refocusing on positive thoughts becomes the new default mode in our brain. It takes practice and patience to learn the new way handling negative emotions.
Since we live in difficult economic times, it can be challenging for the therapist to teach their clients this new way of reacting to their negative thoughts. We also have to consider how one's culture handles grudges and resentments in their communities and in their families. It is hoped that small progress can be made when dealing with these issues.
Robbin Miller is a counselor who specializes in mindfulness meditation; Positive Psychology; and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies; and is also a volunteer cable access producer and co-host of her show, "Miller Chat" in Massachusetts.


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HACKETTSTOWN — Hackettstown High School senior and town resident Ryan Cameron, 17, died yesterday, but officials aren't commenting on the circumstances of his death.
Ryan was a very recognizable personality at the high school, said Principal John Sarcone.
Ryan, a member of the National Honor Society, was a very outgoing student and well known for his ad-libbing, Sarcone said, adding, "He was very personable." He still remembers the impersonation of Elvis that Ryan did in the fourth grade while at Willow Grove School.
Ryan was also known throughout town as "the voice of ShopRite," Sarcone said. He did live announcements on the public announcement system selling products at the store and also at the high school.
Involved in school politics, Ryan was class president for three years and held a variety of political positions while at the school. "We would tease him all the time because we thought he would definitely be President of the United States," Sarcone said. "He loved to give speeches and was a great orator."
Sarcone said Ryan had just been accepted at Drexel University.
There will be a celebration of Ryan's life tonight at Hackettstown High School in the new gym at 7 p.m. The event will be run with the help of the Trinity Methodist Church. The event is still being organized, but Sarcone said that there will be sharing about Ryan and possibly a candle lighting. "We want to make it as comforting as possible," he said.
Warren County Prosecutor Scott Ferguson wouldn't comment on the circumstances, time or location of Ryan's death.
Stay with nj.com for updates to this story.
Contact Todd Petty at 908-948-1279 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Liberty of the Seas Cruise Review by SarasotaPro: Great 5 Day Itin on Liberty
Overall Member Rating
Great 5 Day Itin on Liberty
Destination: Western Caribbean
Embarkation: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
My wife and I cruised for our first time on Liberty of the Seas. We are Diamond with Royal so very familiar however this was are first time on the Liberty.
Service was above average. Great offering of dining options including multiple lunch venues (Johnny Rockets). We love cruising so did not even get off the ship this cruise as we have been to the ports many times.
Main dining room service was above average. Vincenzo our head waiter made us feel very welcome and attended to every need. Food quality was good. We were my time dining and had no trouble every night.
Stayed in a grand suite. was not too much extra but was nice to have the extra space. Ship staterooms are in very good repair and we had no issues.
Entertainment on this ship is above average with the grand finale being the Saturday Night Live production. was top quality and very enjoyable.
We played the casino quite a bit and service was above average. All in all another great More Royal Car experience - probably the best bang for the buck among cruise lines at this point. We have two more RC cruises booked later in 2014.
Embarkation was a bit rocky in FL due to 6 ships going out in the same day - allow extra time for traffic and construction. Less
Published 02/07/14
Read more Liberty of the Seas cruise reviews >>
Read Cruise Critic's Liberty of the Seas Review >>
Cabin review: D1 Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
very roomy, well layed out. Plenty of bathroom space - nice veranda.Read All Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony (D1) Reviews >>
Never again!
Good but customer service need...
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A Fun Family Cruise
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Great Cruise experience. Defi...
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Really enjoyable - give it a g...
Great Price - Great Time
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post #1 of 9 Old 09-17-2012, 10:22 AM - Thread Starter
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The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Audio/3D Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
Studio and Year: Anchor Bay - 2012
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 93 minutes
Genre: Horror
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC/MVC
Video Aspect: 1.78:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Phoebe Tonkin, Sharni Vinson, Xavier Samuel, Julian McMahon, Alex Russell, Cariba Heine
Directed by: Kimble Rendell
Music by: Joe Ng & Alex Oh
Written by: Russell Mulcahy & John Kim
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: September 18, 2012
"Cleanup on aisle 7!"
Film Synopsis:
When a monstrous freak tsunami hits a sleepy beach community, a group of survivors from different walks of life find themselves trapped inside a submerged grocery store. As they try to escape to safety, they soon discover that there is a predator among them more deadly than the threat of drowning—vicious great white sharks lurking in the water, starved for fresh meat. As the bloodthirsty sharks begin to pick the survivors off one by one, the group realizes that they must work together to find a way out without being eaten alive.
My Take:
Bait 3D is essentially a straight forward B movie carnage flick that combines typical horror hokum with 3D effects that play along to the genre beat. The plot is more far fetched than usual and centers around a group of people trapped in a food market by tsunami floodwaters containing great white sharks. As you might expect the setup is brief with the primary focus on a couple that suffers a tragic loss as the result of a shark attack at the beginning of the film. They, along with two other groups of primary/secondary characters find themselves in the store the moment when the tsunami hits. Everyone is trapped with one group/storyline being located in parking garage below the store. It's an all out struggle for survival as the man eaters troll the aisles picking them off by order of relevance within the story.
Aside from the primary couple there are two small subplots involving a father/daughter and an armed robber amongst those trapped in the store. There is the "everyone pulling together" element mated with some relationship melodrama to coincide with the bloodletting/gore. While there is nothing especially original about the screenplay it wasn't simply tossed together purely for the sake of getting from one shark attack to the next, although there is a bit of that. There isn't much depth to the characters but I did find myself rooting for them which says something. The action is predictable and there isn't any real suspense but this isn't the worst "bad" movie I have seen. What made it more tolerable was the fact that it was in 3D. Not every effect works but those that do are fun. Bottom line is that if you tend to enjoy this genre then more than likely you'll appreciate Bait for what it is.
Parental Guide:
The rating is for bloody violence, grisly images and language.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
Audio: 90
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
3D Presentation: 86
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Depth (Onscreen):
- Dimension (Beyond the screen):
- Realism:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Color reproduction:
Bait 3D comes to Blu-ray Disc from Anchor Bay Home Entertainment featuring 1080p MVC encoded video and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 channel sound that has an average bitrate of 2.8 Mbps.
This film was shot in high definition 3D and the results are very good. Detail is well preserved as the image retains its high level of clarity as objects within the frame are delineated and sharp. Depth is excellent as evidenced by the notable separation of objects or people layered in the foreground/background which depending on the scene can visually draw you in by creating a discernable sense of virtual space. The photography makes definitive use of the 3D platform with a noticeable emphasis on screen popping effects that are designed to elicit audience reaction. While there are many elements that seem to be coming at you many of them don't venture far beyond the screen's borders. This cuts down on the flinch factor but in general I thought the effects presentation was done well enough to keep me engaged. Contrast is slightly elevated and colors are vividly reproduced. Blacks aren't inky but are noise free and fairly deep which provides a good foundation during darker sequences. Ghosting/crosstalk wasn't a problem.
The 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD soundtrack is a winner. This film has an active sound design that maintains good balance so the multitude of sound effects, music and dialogue can be clearly and easily interpreted by the audience. Dialogue is clearly articulated with excellent room penetration. Sound effects are accurately placed within the sound field which established a tight correlation between the onscreen information and what was being heard within the room. This applied to the additional rear channels as well. This created an immersive and engaging soundscape that wasn't overly aggressive but was abundantly rich in detail. Low frequency detail mixed to the subwoofer delivers rich, well extended bass response that provided tactilely dynamic impact that was occasionally room filling. I thought that this was an excellent and involving surround sound mix that enhanced to the three dimensional aspects of this film.
2D Video Quality:
Video: 84
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Bait comes to Blu-ray Disc from Anchor Bay Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 26 Mbps.
Overall I found this to be a satisfying yet somewhat inconsistent high definition video presentation. Ostensibly detail is abundant as close ups and mid level camera shots offer excellent delineation and crisp definition. Occasionally the perception of detail wavers leaving those same shots lacking fine articulation and clearly defined edges. The color range varies with some scenes having an intentionally muted/cooler palette while others feature vivid, over saturated primaries and rich hues that tend to catch the eye. Depending on the lighting fleshtones can be fairly natural or lean toward bronzy variations that offer little complexional delineation. Contrast is elevated which results in crisp whites that are mildly washed out. This doesn't negatively impact black levels as they appear a deep shade with discernible gradational quality. Scenes containing uneven or dim lighting revealed plenty of detail in shadowy backgrounds and darkened areas. While I prefer the 3D presentation this one still makes for a decent high definition viewing experience.
Bonus Features:
- (HD) Storyboard Gallery
- Bonus DVD
Final Thoughts:
Bait is a B movie gore fest that essentially follows the same formula as most horror flicks in its class. I didn't mind it nearly as much as I expected which is due in part to its entertaining 7.1 Dolby TrueHD surround sound/3D experience on Blu-ray. Bait isn't an especially memorable film but if you typically enjoy the type of "bad" horror it employs it's certainly worth the cost of a rental.
Ralph Potts
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post #2 of 9 Old 09-18-2012, 08:53 AM
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Oh,dear, I don't think I'll bother with this one, Ralph.
post #3 of 9 Old 09-19-2012, 06:19 AM
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looks like a fun film. Will rent
Frank (直率的)(فرانك)(franc)(lantad)
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There there may not have been a lot of depth to them, you do get to know the characters. This was one of the better shark flicks I've seen in many years. Don't want to over-praise it, as it is, as Ralph said, a B-movie...but it's a pretty entertaining one.
post #5 of 9 Old 09-27-2012, 10:04 AM
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What do you guys who saw it think of the 3D?
post #6 of 9 Old 03-28-2013, 06:26 PM
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This thread is getting some age on it now but I found this movie for $8.10 a few days ago and felt it too good a deal to pass up for a package containing 2D/3D Blu-ray and DVD versions. Other than some minor ghosting in a couple of shots, the 3D looked very good to me. The story itself was probably the weakest part of the film, but the real 3D along with some good 7.1 audio makes this one definitely worthing having if found for right price.
Thanks for the review, Ralph!
post #7 of 9 Old 03-29-2013, 08:24 AM
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I thought this was a pretty good, fun flick. I enjoyed it more than any of the JAWS sequels. Don't be put off by its "B-status". It's not a mega-budget movie, but it ain't Grade-Z either. If you enjoyed DEEP BLUE SEA, you'll enjoy this as well. Effects were not-bad and the tidal wave was effective. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one...it's more POSEIDON ADVENTURE than PIRANHA.
post #8 of 9 Old 05-24-2013, 05:11 PM
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I don't mind B grade movies but this movie was horrible. 0/10 for me.
The Reef was a good shark movie.
The Reef was a good shark movie.
Frank (直率的)(فرانك)(franc)(lantad)
post #9 of 9 Old 05-26-2013, 07:17 AM
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I went into this film with low expectations and Iiked it. The acting wasn't great but story was good with some suspense. It was a good rent for me.
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Dave Grohl's 'Sound City' rocks into Oriental Jan. 31
"Sound City," a new documentary about a legendary California recording studio and the rock music made there, gets a one-night-only showing at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave.
Dave Grohl gets out from behind the drum kit (and guitar) to direct the film, which had its world premiere Jan. 18 at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. »Read Full Article
'Malcolm and Teresa' has trouble finding heart of pair's connection
In early 1968, conservative British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge was asked to conduct a televised interview of an Albanian nun. He had never heard of her. The world did not yet know her. It soon would: Her name was Mother Teresa.
That's the setup in Cathal Gallagher's "Malcolm and Teresa," which is receiving its regional premiere at Christian-based Acacia Theatre Company in Mequon, in a production that opened Friday night under Elaine Rewolinski's direction. »Read Full Article
Neko Case's voice shines in an elegant, melancholy set
The human voice can be the most singularly beautiful musical instrument there is, but it's not hard to think of well-compensated pop singers who treat their instruments, or allow them to be treated, as if they were beside the point.
Neko Case is not among them. »Read Full Article(1)


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Open Gym
Open Gym is available for basketball courts , indoor soccer fields and baseball batting cages. Please call (847) 367-1502 for updated times and court availability.
Climbing Mountain
Our Climbing Mountain is open to the public on selected dates and times. Call (847) 367-1502 for info and Group Rates.
Fitness Center
Annual Memberships are available for only $365. Daily and Multi-Visit Passes are available.


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PMI… Those three letters strike fear into most project teams. I do not fault you for imagining an environment that's heavy on process, rigid and poorly prepared to adapt to the changes common in software development projects. Times are changing, and PMI is adapting with them.
With the public release of the PMI-ACP (agile certified practitioner) certification we have our first agnostic agile credential. CSM and PSM exams are scrum centric; the PMI-ACP exam draws from XP, FDD, DSDM, Crystal, Lean, Kanban, Scrum and more. This holistic view of agile development makes the PMI-ACP a rising contender to be the premier agile project management credential.
The requirements are not onerous, but you do need to apply and prepare for the exam:
- 3,500 hours of project experience:
- 2,000 hours of project work within the last 5 years
- 1,500 hours of agile project management work within the last 36 months
- 21 hours of agile-specific training (CSM class or a PMI-ACP prep class)
If you are reassessing your personals goals for the year as we embark on the second half of 2012, take a moment to consider the PMI-ACP exam. Wow your friends with the breadth and depth of your agile development knowledge, and be the first one on your block to earn this valuable credential.
Ready to take the next step? Sign up for the VersionOne PMI-ACP Prep Course: http://bit.ly/MdK97Q


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When you are as
talented as Malik Newman is on the basketball court, there don't seem to be enough
directions to get pulled in.
That's simply the life of a high-profile recruit in any sport, something a wave of football players finally put behind them Wednesday on National Signing Day.
Then again, when the fabric of your personality is made up of the kind of fiber that Newman's is, all those directions and all that pulling fades into the background.
Because all this silky-smooth 6-foot-4 player whose talents in basketball seem to flow so effortlessly is worried about now is the present. And winning. Again.
Newman is a junior at Callaway High in Jackson, Miss. He is also regarded as one of the top 2-3 recruits in the country from the Class of 2015.
Some time soon, perhaps as early as November or maybe as late as next April, Newman will sign a national letter of intent to signify the beginning of the next leg of a basketball journey that has encompassed most of his life."I try my best not to worry about all of that," he said recently. "I just play ball and if the offers are still there when it's time to make that decision, then I'll have plenty of time to think about it."
When that time arrives, the options at Newman's fingertips are as impressive as the talents he has flashed this season on the way to averaging 32 points, 7 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game for the 20-1 Chargers, who are ranked No. 1 in Mississippi's Class 5A.
Could be he winds up at Kentucky or Duke or Kansas -- one of the college basketball bluebloods that always seem to be in the mix for the best and brightest stars and are front-and-center with Newman.
Could be he chooses one of his home-state schools. After all, his father, Horatio Webster was a two-time All-SEC forward at Mississippi State, and his coach at Callaway, David Sanders, was a three-year starter at Ole Miss.
And it turns out LSU is also in the mix, a dark horse in Newman's recruitment because it has emerged as a program on the rise and there are two major factors in the Tigers' favor.
1. Newman has been close to current LSU junior Johnny O'Bryant.
2. The Tigers already have a commitment from another 2015 recruit pegged as a top 2-3 in 6-9 Australian Ben Simmons.
Toss in the success LSU has has already had in recruiting with Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey, and there seems to be at least some fire accompanying the smoke.
Nothing is more vital to the Tigers' hopes than the connection to O'Bryant.
That's a bond that was born when Webster was playing for the Mississippi Miracles in the now defunct American Basketball Association. The team practiced at different locations all over the Delta, including the middle school in Cleveland, Miss., where O'Bryant was a bigger-than-average 8th grader.
"After their practice, Horatio would come up and mess with me and play around with me," O'Bryant said. "He helped me out and told me I could be a great player.
NCAA rules prohibit O'Bryant from speaking about Newman because he is a potential recruit. But Newman isn't prevented from reminiscing.
"When I was younger, we'd go to Cleveland and Johnny took my under his arm as he got to be a high-profile player in high school," Newman said. "He's been kind of like a big brother to me."
Not surprisingly, Newman -- who was born and spent the first several years of his life in Shreveport -- came to LSU for an unofficial visit in November, he left with a strong positive impression.
The Tigers are still under the radar in Newman's recruitment, and in fact, don't even show up on most of the lists of teams he is considering.
"Considering LSU is very realistic for me," Newman said. "I'm real close to Johnny O'Bryant. He was telling me about the school and the program and the campus. Everything sounded good from what he told me. When I went up there they showed me a lot of love."
All of that seems great right now.
Thing is, there is a lot of time between now and the early signing period in November. The rest of this high school season, and more importantly, the summer - when Newman will again take a spin around the country and be observed by the top coaches in the country.
Newman will play for the USA Basketball U17 Men's Developmental National Team on a tour of Dubai next August as well.
"He's going through recruiting with an interesting approach," said Jerry Meyer, the Director of Basketball scouting for 247sports.com. "A lot of times, players of his caliber get enamored with the process, but he hasn't. He's always kept it at a distance. With him, it's ultimately about winning, whether it's his high school team, his AAU team or the national team. He's a kid who is willing to do whatever he can or has to do to help his team win.
So a lot could change. One of those bluebloods - especially Kentucky - could make a strong push and give Newman every reason to end the process without a lot of drama. Meyer said he'd be surprised if Newman ends up anywhere except with the Wildcats.
But Newman repeatedly said things are "wide open."
Which means LSU has a chance to stay in the running because of the on-court success and how Johnny Jones and his coaches, led by Patrick and Kory McCray have recruited the last few years.
"Johnny Jones has recruited at a pretty high level already," Scout.com national recruiting analyst Evan Daniels said. "He's got Ben Simmons locked up. He has a track record of recruiting high-level guys who have jumped on board. You never can tell, maybe Malik could be another major piece to this puzzle."
Added Meyer, "LSU and Johnny Jones have done a great job recruiting. They have gotten some highly ranked players to sign and commit. Coach Jones has really taken LSU back to another level in recruiting. The next step is to make sure they're getting results on the court."
What isn't up in the air is Newman's talent.
For Callaway, Newman vacillates between facilitator, primary scorer and a player who seems to consciously tries to stay in the background and allow his teammates some time in the spotlight.
An incident in the 5A state championship game last season led to Callaway being put on probation throughout the 2013-14 regular season, which meant to out-of-state tournaments and less exposure for Newman and his teammates, who are ranked 23rd nationally by USA Today.
His initial response was disappointment for teammates who college scouts might not get a chance to see.
"He's very much a team player," said Sanders, who took over the Chargers coach this season. "He knows when he has to take games over for us. There have been a few games when we've been behind 6-7 points in the last minute and he's put us on his back."
Just another part of the reason why most of the highest profile coaches from around the country have swung by Jackson at some point this season.
"Malik Newman can go anywhere he wants; he's that good," Daniels said. "He's a good decision-maker, so he could play some (point guard at the next level. But his biggest asset is that he can fill it up. He's in the conversation of best scorers in high school basketball, regardless of age, and when gets to college, he's going to be an elite-level scorer. He's a really good shot-maker who can create and he's very good off the dribble."
"The times I've watched Malik, I could see him on an NBA court and making an impact right now," Meyer said. "He has such a mature game. He's got a strong mental understanding of the game, he's physically built well, and he has the total package as a combo guard. It's difficult to pinpoint a weakness."
Likewise, it's tricky to pin Newman on where he might be leaning.
Meyer's crew at 247sports.com list his interest as 'warm' for Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, N.C. State and Southern Miss. On a page where his future team is predicted, it's a sweep for UK.
If that's the case, Newman isn't tipping his hand. Not when he has a third state crown to win this season and then No. 4 in 2015.
"He has been very focused on what we're trying to accomplish from the time we started practicing for this season," Sanders said. "That's the way he has always been."**************
Randy Rosetta can be reached at email@example.com or 225.610.5507.


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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – An unsecured creditors committee has been formed to represent the interests of those companies not guaranteed payment from Belle Foods as the grocer reorganizes under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The bankruptcy administrator has recommended 11 members for the committee, selected from Bell Foods' 20 largest unsecured creditors. The list includes three companies from the Birmingham area.
On the recommended list are:
- Bruce A. Parsons representing Birmingham's Buffalo Rock Co.
- Walter A. McArdle representing Birmingham's Golden Flake Snack Foods Inc.
- W. Steven Lindsey representing Springville's S&L Mechanical
- William Kay Sr., representing the Coca-Cola Co.
- M. Leisa Cagle representing McKee Foods Corp.
- Holland C. Kirbo representing Flowers Bakeries LLC
- John Douglas Langenbahn representing KeHe Distributors
- Michael Bevilacqua representing PepsiCo Inc.
- Peter Knox representing Nestle USA
- Robert L. Holladay Jr. representing Cal-Maine Foods Inc.
- Michael Leier representing Mondelez Global
The bankruptcy administrator filed the recommendations to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama today, one day after a hearing in which Belle Foods introduced a plan to change banks from Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank to Birmingham-based Cadence Bank.
Also since Tuesday morning's hearing, creditors have filed new claims against Belle Foods for checks Belle Foods paid for merchandise only to have the checks not be honored by SunTrust.
The unpaid checks totaled $191,005.18 and were paid to Barber's Dairy, Mayfield Dairy Farms, Purity Dairies, Brown's Dairy and Mrs. Stratton's Salads.