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Results tagged ' Miguel Cabrera '
My Vote for American League Most Valuable Player
Choosing the Most Valuable Player from each league is the most difficult decision of all the major baseball awards handed out at the conclusion of each season. With Rookie of the Year and Cy Young, you can look solely at which player had the better stats, however, Most Valuable Player involves a bit more than just stats. While it's important that a MVP winner had a great statistical year, the best offensive player doesn't automatically become the most valuable, in my opinion.
As far as I view things, MVP has to come from a team that had a decent year, but that doesn't necessarily mean their team had to make the playoffs. Contrary to what many believe, I feel the Most Valuable Player award needs to go to a player on a team that helped their team win the most, regardless of a postseason appearance. Remove them from the lineup and the team would be nowhere near the same.
Therefore, after considering the stats and going over a few other of my "requirements", I narrowed down my top candidates for American League MVP to Mike Trout, Adrian Beltre, Chris Davis and Miguel Cabrera.
The shockers of those names are probably Beltre and Trout, but I feel they should at the very least be in the conversation. I acknowledge that they didn't have seasons anywhere near that of Davis or Cabrera, but they had an impact on their respective teams nonetheless. However, although I wrote them in as considerations for the award, I didn't go with either of them in the end.
After taking several days to think about who most deserves the award for Most Valuable Player, I had to go with Chris Davis.
Though not the popular choice, especially over Miguel Cabrera, Davis had an incredible year. And although the Orioles didn't make the postseason, he was the Most Valuable Player from the American League as far as I'm concerned — providing the greatest impact of any American League player for their team on any given night.
Chris Davis set the Orioles' single-season home run record, as well as extra base hits record, this past season, blasting 53 homers and recording 96 extra base knocks. In addition, Davis drove in 138 runs to go along with a .286 batting average, and ultimately gave the Orioles a chance to win every single game, no matter who they were facing. He was an extremely valuable piece to their puzzle.
His competition, Miguel Cabrera, had another incredible year, batting .348 with 44 homers and 137 RBI's. Had Cabrera been able to stay healthy throughout the entire season, subsequently giving him slightly better stats, he would probably be my choice for MVP. But while he had another Triple Crown worthy year — just getting beat out by Davis in HR's and RBI's — and played for a team that made the playoffs, he wasn't the most valuable player from the American League.
That accolade goes to Chris Davis.
Davis Launches 51st Homer, Makes Orioles' History
Chris Davis blasted his 51st home run of the season off of Ryan Dempster during Tuesday night's game against the Red Sox, making him the new Orioles' record holder for most homers in a single season; breaking the old record of 50, posted by Brady Anderson in 1996.
With that game-tying, solo-shot home run, Davis also tied Anderson's franchise record for extra-base hits in a year with 92 — both Davis' HR and extra-base numbers lead the Majors, to go along with a .293 batting average — and joins Babe Ruth and Albert Belle as the only players in MLB history with 50 home runs and 40 doubles in a season.
Needless to say, Davis is having an incredible year.
And he's not alone.
In addition to Davis, the Orioles have their young phenom, Manny Machado, — currently tied for most doubles this season with 51 — playing tremendously, as well as Adam Jones, who is having another great season. Combine it all together, and you have a very potent lineup.
But despite the great team the Orioles have, they're still fighting to make the playoffs, as they currently sit two games back of the second Wild Card spot, held by the Rangers, with just twelve games remaining.
Part of that has to do with the Orioles' pitching, which hasn't been extremely great all season long. For me, if they miss the playoffs it's going to be because of their pitching staff.
Therefore, while not impossible, it's going to take a lot of production, and a bit of luck, from everyone on the squad. Davis is certainly giving it his best shot, as he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
That's bad news if you're Miguel Cabrera — or if you're just rooting for him. Although he leads the Majors in batting average and RBI's — just one more RBI than Davis — Davis is leading Cabrera by eight home runs. With so few games left, it's going to take a power surge from Cabrera, and a power outage from Davis, for things to work out — not likely to happen.
But while you're probably not going to witness history, in Cabrera becoming the first player to ever win back-to-back Triple Crown awards, you're getting the privilege of seeing one of the game's best sluggers put on an amazing performance.
No matter the outcome of the season, 2013 will go down as a memorable year for Chris Davis and the Orioles. A year which included an exciting playoff chase, as well as one that could end with Davis receiving a major award: The American League M.V.P.
Story Lines Worth Watching In the Final Month
It's hard to believe but the 2013 MLB regular season is almost over. (Today marks exactly one month until the final games of the season, on September 29th.) Teams are making their final push for the post season, and every player is doing their best to finish out the season strong. With all of this going on, I thought I'd post an entry on the five main story lines I plan to keep an eye on throughout the final stretch.
American League Home Run Race
It's a two-man race, between the Orioles' Chris Davis and the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, for who will receive the title of 2013 home run champion. But more importantly for Cabrera, he's not just chasing down Davis for that title alone; Cabrera is trying to do what no one in the history of the game has ever been able to do: Win back-to-back Triple Crowns.
Davis currently holds a four home run lead over Cabrera (who is day-to-day, after suffering an injury in Thursday's game) — Cabrera leads all of baseball in batting average and RBI's — and with a mere month left of the season, it's going to take a real display of power for Cabrera to overtake Davis. But if anyone can do it, Miguel Cabrera can.
Candidates for Rookie of the Year Award
The Rookie of the Year award is going to be a difficult award to decide, for both the American League and National League. Both leagues have several players that have strong cases, so it's going to be interesting to see which player will have a great final month to move themselves above the rest.
Currently, top candidates from the American League, for the R.O.Y. award, include Wil Myers, Chris Archer and David Lough, while the National League has quite a few more top candidates, in Yasiel Puig, Matt Adams, Nolan Arenado, Jedd Gyorko, Evan Gattis, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Jose Fernandez and Shelby Miller, among others. Making this a story line well worth watching.
National League Central Division
The National League Central is currently the closest of all the divisions in Major League Baseball. Less than four games separate the top three teams, being the Cardinals, Pirates and Reds. (This is the first season in 21 years that the Pirates will finish with a winning record.) With the Diamondback's slowly falling out of the race to catch up — though there's still a slight chance they could — it would appear to be between these three teams for who will win the division.
No matter which team is able to hold on in the final month of the season, to win the division, all three are likely to make the post season, with the extra Wild Card spot, that was added last season.
Max Scherzer's Cy Young Quest
Of all of the great pitchers in the American League none have been as dominant throughout the entire season as Max Scherzer. Having gone 19-1 — only the third pitcher to ever start a season winning 19 out of their first 20 decisions — with a 2.90 ERA, Scherzer is well on his way to winning the Cy Young award, if he can keep up the great performance.
Though I think Yu Darvish will get a lot of consideration for the award — rightfully so, currently sitting at 12-5, with a 2.68 ERA, leading all of baseball in strikeouts — the award is currently Scherzer's to lose, in the minds of many around the baseball world.
Houston Astros' Loss Record
With 30 games left to play, the Houston Astros hold a win-loss record of 44-88 — the worst record in all of baseball. They currently sit 33.5 games out of first place in their division, and look to have a losing record for the fifth straight season. Having lost 107 games in 2012, and 106 in 2011, it will be interesting to see if the Astros can finish with fewer than 100 losses this season.
They'll have to go 19-11, in their final 30 games, which isn't impossible, but with it being the Astros, it's not all that likely. It should be interesting to see if the Astros can at least finish out the year on a high note, after yet another disappointing season.
What're you looking forward to? Leave a comment below.
Miguel Cabrera On Pace for Triple Crown….Again
Homering three times in Sunday night's game versus the Texas Rangers–increasing his season stats to 11 homers and 47 RBI's, to go along with a .387 batting average–there's no denying that Miguel Cabrera is currently the best hitter in all of baseball. Having won the Triple Crown last season–the first player to do so since Carl Yastrezemski, in 1967–Cabrera is currently on a good pace to do so again, as he's already ahead of his stats from last year; some by a fairly good margin.
Through 43 games played, Cabrera is batting 83 points higher, with three more home runs and thirteen more RBI's than he had through the same number of games last season, in which he won the Triple Crown. If Cabrera can continue his hot pace, he stands a good chance of becoming just the third player in the history of Major League Baseball to win two Triple Crown awards in their career–Ted Williams and Rogers Hornsby being the other players. (No player has ever accomplished the feat in back-to-back seasons.)
As is to be expected with a player as good as Cabrera, many are beginning to form comparisons of his stats to other players', such as HOFer Hank Aaron, as well as star players, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez. ESPN even went as far as to say that Miguel Cabrera is the Babe Ruth of our generation, in a tweet after Cabrera's three home run performance Sunday night. While I strongly disagree with that statement, I do agree that Cabrera is one of the best hitters the game has ever seen.
Therefore, although there's still a lot of the season left, in which anything can happen, Miguel Cabrera is a player you need to be keeping an eye on. Regardless of if he wins his second straight Triple Crown award, you're watching a player that will inevitably go down as one of the games all-time greats, once all is said and done. That alone is reason enough to take the time to appreciate just how good Miguel Cabrera is while he's still around.
Best Players Going Into 2013–By Age
The first players reported to Spring Training nearly two weeks ago, however, the first official games are taking place today. The Tigers are set to take on the Braves at 1:05 EST, with the Reds-Indians, Royals-Rangers and Padres-Mariners games all beginning at 3:05 EST. The remaining teams are all playing their first game on Saturday.
With the first official baseball games of the season starting up, I wanted to take the time to post a "top players" list, of sorts, but instead of making my own version of a top 10 list, or whatever, I decided to make a list of the top player for each year of age throughout Major League Baseball. Meaning, of the 20 year olds in MLB, I'll list the player I feel is the overall best of them all. With the same holding true for the players age 21, 22, 23, 24, and so on.
The range of ages runs from 20 years old, with Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, etc., all the way up to age 43, with Mariano Rivera. Just so you know, I'm going by the age each player will be to start the season. Therefore, a few players will be listed a year older than they currently are, due to them having a birthday between now and April 1st.
With there being SO many names, I'm not going to be listing my reasoning behind each pick; just a general list with players' names. The player I feel is the best for their age category can be either a position player, or a pitcher:
20 years old: Bryce Harper
21 years old: Mike Trout
22 years old: Shelby Miller
23 years old: Giancarlo Stanton
24 years old: Stephen Strasburg
25 years old: Clayton Kershaw
26 years old: Felix Hernandez
27 years old: Evan Longoria
28 years old: Prince Fielder
29 years old: Miguel Cabrera
30 years old: Justin Verlander
31 years old: Josh Hamilton
32 years old: C.C. Sabathia
33 years old: Albert Pujols
34 years old: Cliff Lee
35 years old: Roy Halladay
36 years old: Michael Young
37 years old: David Ortiz
38 years old: Derek Jeter
39 years old: Ichiro Suzuki
40 years old: Andy Pettitte
41 years old: Henry Blanco
42 years old: Jason Giambi
43 years old: Mariano Rivera
So, there you have it. The best players by age, in my opinion, from 20 through 43, going into the 2013 season. Do you agree with my picks? If not, who would you pick to replace the name(s) you disagree with? Let me know in the comments section below.
Cabrera and Posey Win Most Valuable Player Award
I was extremely surprised with this year's MVP voting. Not just with the winners of the award from the American League and National League, but also with the blowout fashion in which they won. I don't feel it should've been such a major difference between first and second place in each league, but it is what it is.
In the end, it was Miguel Cabrera taking home the MVP award for the American League, with Buster Posey receiving the MVP award for the National Leauge; as voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA).
This was both Miguel Cabrera's and Buster Posey's first Most Valuable Player award.
Original Pick: Mike Trout
Pick after finalists were revealed: Mike Trout
Thoughts On Miguel Cabrera Winning
I can't believe how much of a landslide the vote for American League Most Valuable Player was. Although I was pulling for Mike Trout, I pretty much expected Miguel Cabrera to win. But to receive 22 of the 28 first place votes is absolutely ridiculous. Even if you think Cabrera was the more valuable player, you can't honestly tell me that he was THAT much more valuable than Trout. It's just not true.
So really, I'm not as upset about Miguel Cabrera winning the MVP award as much as I'm upset at how much of a blowout it was. In total, Cabrera beat out Trout by 81 points.
Truly incredible for an award that was supposedly going to be close.
The main reason Cabrera won the MVP award is the fact that he won the Triple Crown–posting a .330 average with 44 homeruns and 139 RBI's.
While it's amazing that he was able to accomplish something that hasn't been done since 1967, I find it necessary to point out that Trout was able to accomplish things no player in the history of baseball has EVER been able to do. Besides, when it comes down to it, just because you posted better stats doesn't mean you were the more valuable player to your team–which is what the award is all about.
So, while the Triple Crown is an amazing accomplishment for Cabrera, it's not something you should base your vote on, in my opinion. Especially when Trout was able to one up Cabrera as far as historical occurences go.
Moving on to the second key aspect of Cabrera's MVP win, I feel the voters' pushed Trout out of the picture for the sole reason that he and his Angels didn't make it to the playoffs, while Cabrera and the Tigers made it all the way to the World Series. I truly don't understand why you would even consider using that as a reason for picking the most valuable player.
If you look at the facts, Cabrera's Tigers actually had a worse record than the Angels. The reason they made it to the playoffs, while the Angels fell short, is because they played in an easier division. Should Trout be penalized because he played in the difficult AL West, and wasn't able lead his team to the playoffs? Absolutely not. Making it to the playoffs takes a team effort; Trout could only do so much.
He was still extremely valuable to his team, even though it didn't result in a playoff run.
So, while Miguel Cabrera received the award, and will go down in the record books as the 2012 AL MVP, when I look back on this season decades from now I'll always find myself thinking about what should've been.
The BBWAA's vote had Mike Trout finishing second, with Adrian Beltre coming in third.
Original Pick: Ryan Braun
Pick after finalists were revealed: Ryan Braun
Thoughts On Buster Posey Winning
While I don't feel as strongly about the National League portion of the MVP award as I do about the American League side, I still think Ryan Braun should've won the award; but at the same time, I'm not upset that Buster Posey won.
What it comes down to for me is what the voters' (once again) decided to base their decision on. I feel like just as with the AL award, the National League MVP didn't go to the "most valuable" player, but rather the player that was on the more successful team.
Just because Braun's Brewers didn't make the playoffs, he was pretty much pushed aside by the voters' who historically love to see players from playoff teams win the award. (Since 1995, only 6 MVP winners have come from teams that didn't make the post season.)
So I feel Braun wasn't given a fair chance in that regard.
The only real complaint I have with the National League MVP award is the fact that Posey beat out Braun by an astounding 137 points. I don't feel the voting results truly show how close it really was statistically between Braun and Posey. Yet another example of how much stock the BBWAA takes in whether or not a player's team made the playoffs.
I'm really getting tired of it.
The BBWAA's vote had Ryan Braun finishing second, with Andrew McCutchen coming in third.
My Vote for American League M.V.P.
When it comes to the 2012 Most Valuable Player award it seems as if many people could care less about who wins it from the National League. Ryan Braun…Buster Posey…Andrew McCutchen…give it to any of them, and no one would really complain.
The main focus falls on the American League portion, where baseball fans have sided with either Miguel Cabrera or Mike Trout. Everyone (no matter which player they side with) has a dozen reasons behind why their pick is the best, and they're all adamant as to who they think should win the award. I'm no different.
My vote for MVP of the American League would have to go to Mike Trout.
Before you ask, no, I haven't been living under a rock for the past week. I'm fully aware that Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown (the first player to do so since 1967), and while that's extremely impressive–and nothing to sneeze at–if you take the time to examine both player's effect on their respective team, you start to see there's really no contest. You quickly find yourself leaning a bit more towards Mike Trout; or at least that's the case with me.
When making a pick for Most Valuable Player, I feel it's extremely important to remember what the award is truly for: The player who had the greatest positive impact on their team, and thus was the "most valuable". While it's easy to look at the stats and declare Miguel Cabrera the winner, MVP is not necessarily an award for the better player, but rather an award for the player that held a bigger role in helping their team succeed.
That's what I feel gets lost in translation. People see the incredible stats that Cabrera was able to post and they find themselves thinking, "with numbers like that, he's got to win." While that may be true in some situations, this particular instance, it's just not the case in my opinion.
As far as statistics go, Trout and Cabrera were under completely different circumstances while at the plate, which makes it a bit difficult to compare the two. For example:
Trout bats leadoff, thus (in at least one at-bat) has no chance at having anyone on base to knock in; yet he accumulated 83 RBI's. Cabrera on the other hand batted in the three-hole, giving him a higher chance of an RBI situation every time he stepped into the batters box.
Another thing Trout had going against him by batting leadoff was the fact that he had no one behind him in the lineup for protection. In an RBI pressure situation Trout didn't have a guy like Prince Fielder to fall back on. If Trout didn't come through, who knew if the next guy could get the job done. (As Prince Fielder does the majority of the time.)
In Cabrera's case–and Ryan Braun's, last season–he had Fielder behind him in the order to take some of the pressure off, which could be argued allowed Cabrera to come through more often than he normally would have in big spots. That's something I personally take into consideration.
Something that really bothers me when it comes to MVP voting is the voter's tendency to use whether or not a candidate's team made it to the playoffs when making their decision of who to vote for. You can be an extremely valuable asset to your team and still end up falling short as a whole.
Take last year's National League MVP voting for example.
Matt Kemp had arguably better stats than Ryan Braun, yet Braun ended up taking home the MVP award, greatly due to the fact that Braun's Brewers made it to the post season, and Kemp's Dodgers did not. That's just not the right thing to base your decision on. It wasn't right in 2011, it's not right now, and it won't be right in 2013 and beyond, either.
Mike Trout posted stats that no rookie has ever been able to in MLB history–the only rookie to ever have a 30/40 season. Trout came in and completely turned the Angels around; and while this is purely speculative, could've very well led his team to the playoffs had he of been called up sooner. (But that's another debate, for another time.)
Trout put up insane numbers for a team that had an embarrassing record of 6-14 (worse than the Houston Astros at the time) before his callup on April 28th. A mere month after Trout's addition to the roster, the Angels' had a .500 record, and were on a seven game winning streak; greatly due to Mike Trout and his ability to impact the ball club.
If that doesn't make for an MVP, I don't know what does.
Now, if you're one of those people that love sabermetrics–and purely rely on statistics alone when looking at MVP–then it's clear that Miguel Cabrera beat out Mike Trout by a landslide. While the batting average was fairly close, Cabrera posted 14 more home runs than Trout, as well as 56 more RBI's.
But looking at stats–and stats alone–only tells part of the story.
Trout came up in late April and went on a tear, and as a result was able to reenergize a struggling Angels team. He got them back on track enabling them to make an incredible run, which unfortunately ended with the Angels coming up just short of a Wild Card spot.
Without Trout, who knows whether or not the Angels' would've finished with a record anywhere near theirs of 89-73. (A better record, mind you, than that of the Tigers, who finished 88-74 on the year.)
That's what makes a player worthy of a Most Valuable Player award. It's not always the best player in a given league, but instead, the player that had the biggest impact on their team, and therefore was most valuable.
And that would undoubtedly be Mike Trout.
Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown Chances
Miguel Cabrera is currently leading the American League in RBI's (133) and batting average (.329), while sitting just one back of Josh Hamilton in the home run category. (Hamilton has 43 dingers on the year.)
Obviously, for Cabrera to win the Triple Crown he'll have to be leading the A.L. in home runs at the end of the season. In order to do so he'll need to muscle together some power in the coming days to pass Hamilton in the home run category, and I just don't see that happening. Sure, Cabrera is a power hitter and could certainly pull it off, but going against Hamilton I'd say it's an uphill battle at best.
It seems like Hamilton hits a homer every other night, and it doesn't help that Cabrera has been struggling somewhat at the plate lately. Home runs asside, if he doesn't start hitting better, Cabrera's at risk of falling into second place on the batting average list behind Joe Mauer, who (as I'm writing this) has a current batting average of .324.
While there's a good chance that Cabrera will lead the league in RBI's and batting average at the end of the season, the odds that he'll crank out enough homers to pass Hamilton–who'll more that likely hit a few more in the final stretch of the regular season–aren't good, in my opinion.
So in conclusion, while I'm rooting for Miguel Cabrera to pull it out and become the first player to win the Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski, in 1967, I feel he'll fall just short. Which will be a real shame, as Cabrera has had one heck of a year.
As always, feel free to leave a comment below.
Fastest and Slowest Starts to the 2012 MLB Season
I realize that we're JUST over a week into the 2012 MLB season, but I just thought I'd post an entry with the teams and players that are off to the best and worst starts in all of baseball. Some of the names on the lists are no surpise, however there a few that really stand out to me. I never expected the year to begin the way it has for certain players, and certain teams.
1) Dodgers: 7-1
2) Nationals: 6-2
3) Rangers: 6-2
4) Diamondbacks: 5-2
5) Mets: 5-2
6) Tigers: 5-2
The Dodgers are a team that is better than advertised. They have a great lineup, including guys like Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and speedy Dee Gordon, as well as an underated starting rotation. While it's well known that Clayton Kershaw is the Dodger's Ace, other guys are beginning to step it up, none more than Aaron Harang, who struck out 9 in a row (a new Dodgers record) in last night's game against the Padres.
The only other teams on the list that are a surprise to me are the Nationals and the Mets. While the National's are a team that I feel is going to be extremely good in a couple of years, I never saw them having this kind of start to the season. As far as the Mets go, they continue to amaze me.
Individual players:
1) Paul Konerko: .435 average
2) Ryan Sweeney: .429 average
3) Matt Kemp: .419 average
4) Josh Willingham: .417 average
5) Miguel Cabrera: .414 average
Paul Konerko is off to an unbelievable start. He's really swinging the bat well, and while it's still early, I think he can keep it up. Now I'm not saying he's going to end the year with a batting average exceeding .400, but I am saying that I think he'll continue to rack up hits. Ryan Sweeney is another guy who's really impressed me so far this season. It will be interesting to see if he can keep it up, or if it's a little bit of early luck. Matt Kemp, Josh Willingham and Miguel Cabrera are all guys that I fully expected to do well this season. So there's no real shock for the number 3 through 5 guys on the list.
1) Padres: 2-6
2) Red Sox: 2-5
3) Twins: 2-5
4) Angels: 2-5
5) Pirates: 2-5
The San Diego Padres are a team that I was hoping/thinking would have a decent season this year, but so far, they're proving to be the same team from last year. The thing that gets me with the Padres is that they have a fantastic starting lineup, including guys like Cameron Maybin, Orlando Hudson and newcomer Yonder Alonso, as well as a decent pitching rotation, but it seems like they can only get one or the other to perform well on any given night. If they can figure out a way to have both their pitching and hitting come through at the same time they can be a really good team.
The Red Sox are another team that I thought would have a better year than they're having. After starting out 0-6 last year, I thought they'd have a bounce back year, but their current record of 2-5 isn't living up to expectations, and I don't see things getting any better for them. Jacoby Ellsbury was injured in yesterday's game while sliding into second base. He is expected to miss a minimum of 6 weeks. Not good news for Red Sox fans.
Of the remaining teams on the list, the Angels are the only team that surprises me. With the addition of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, the Angels were predicted by many to dominate their division. So far the only dominant aspect of their games has been the other team. I look for things to turn around for them, however, once King Albert starts getting hot.
Individual players:
1) Ike Davis: .043
2) Neil Walker: .048
3) Marlon Byrd: .083
4) J.P. Arencibia: .083
5) Ryan Raburn: .091
*Minimum of 20 at bats.
There's really no one on this list that stands out in my mind. All of them are players that perform differently from year to year. While I don't see them getting hot and working their average up to the .300 mark any time soon, I also don't see their streak of bad luck continuing. They'll all bounce back.
Like I said several times, I realize that it's still VERY early in the season. Over 150 games still remain, and things will no doubt look a lot different for both the teams and players on the above lists. Teams and players that are off to fast starts now could hit a wall and end up having a terrible year, and just the opposite for those off to a slow start. That's why they play 162 games.
Going To My First "Game" of The Year
I am going to be attending my first game of the year tomorrow. Notice I put game in quotes, in the title. That's because although it's an actual baseball game, with real players and real baseballs, it's only a minor league game. (A Double-A game, to be exact.)
The game is at 7:15, and has the Carolina Mudcats taking on the Tennessee Smokies. The gates open an hour before game time, and I'm going to be the FIRST one in line. I'm going to try my hand at snagging baseballs. (Although it's just a Minor league game, it'll give me practice for a Major League game.)
I'm attending this game with my dad. And we're sitting in the best seats in the house. (House=Five County Stadium) Section 106-Row A-Seats 4 and 5. AKA, first row behind home plate. Oh yeeeaaaahh!!! (Okay. Okay. Maybe that would be more impressive of seats if it were a Yankee game and it cost around 8.3 million dollars per seat.(These tickets are just 11 dollars.) But hey. Major or Minor…..it's still FIRST row.)
The home team, of the Carolina Mudcats, are the Double-A affiliates of the Cincinnati Reds. So who knows…. I might be seeing a FUTURE hall of famer in action.
Several players have played for the Mudcats and gone on to succeed in the Majors. (Tim Wakefield, Miguel Cabrera, etc.)
My first Major League game is on June 21st, with the Reds taking on the Yankees for the first time in 8 years. (Only 62 days away!!)
My second and third Major League games are in Tampa on August 5th and 6th, with the Rays taking on the A's. (Only 107 and 108 days away!!)
I'll do a recap of if I get any baseballs during BP and a basic recap of the game sometime next week with pictures. (Next week because my computer won't let me upload pictures.)


text:
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The primary is over, all eyes are on November's general election.
And just 10 hours after winning the Democratic primary for attorney general, Eric Schneiderman challenged his Republican opponent -- Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan -- to a debate regarding the issue of policing Wall Street.
"While you've suggested in recent interviews that you would seek to relax the focus of the attorney general's office when it comes to cracking down on these crimes, vowing not to 'disturb the garden,' I intend to make protecting homeowners and consumers from bad actors on Wall Street a key concern, as it has been for Andrew Cuomo.," Schneiderman wrote in a letter to Donovan.
"Given our honest difference of opinion on this issue, I would like to invite you to join me in a debate specifically on our approaches to Wall Street, to be hosted by an independent moderator.
"It is my hope that we may engage in an honest back-and-forth on this vital issue, so that voters will know where we stand. "
Schneiderman's remarks were in reference to an interview Donovan gave Reuters where he said he wasn't looking to become the next "sheriff of Wall Street" -- a pointed remark aimed at Eliot Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo.
During a press conference at City Hall today -- where he received the endorsement of former Mayor Ed Koch -- Donovan vowed to "fight corruption wherever it is" - and said he would debate Schneidermann on "any issue."
"My position is you don't have to destroy an entire industry in order to route out its corruption. You can pull out the weeds without destroying the fruit and the vegetables," Donovan said. "The financial services industry is a great source of jobs and taxes for New York, we don't want to chase it out of our state, but we do want to route out the corruption there."
"But the main corruption that needs to be focused, and what people in New York state are looking for is the corruption in government," he said. "And that is what I am going to focus my administration on."

subset: commoncrawl


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Dear Mike & Liza,
My wife will turn 40 in two years and she's already freaking out. Every day she looks in the mirror, sighs and says something self deprecating about her crows feet or smile lines or freckles. Of course I think she's beautiful and I tell her that every day.
I'm getting frustrated with her bad attitude about aging and it's making it harder to boost her spirits.
Can you come up with some things that are good about aging so maybe she can start to look on the bright side? Isn't 40 the new 30 or something like that?
Mike, Idaho Falls


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Cavaliers vs. Mavericks
- Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Q
TV/radio: Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.
Notable: Dirk Nowitzki (knee surgery) is out for the Mavericks. . . . Shawn Marion (sprained left MCL) traveled with Dallas, but his status is unknown. . .. The Cavaliers play at home for the first time in two weeks. They concluded a six-game, 11-day road trip Tuesday. . . . Dion Waiters' 14.5 points per game ranks third among NBA rookies.
-- Jodie Valade
CLEVELAND, Ohio - It's not that Tristan Thompson isn't scoring. The Cavaliers' 6-9 power forward actually has been hitting baskets fairly regularly in averaging 9.1 points on 46.6 percent shooting in this young season.
It's not that Thompson isn't rebounding, either. He's averaging a mostly respectable 7.5 rebounds per game through eight games.
It's just that Thompson, at times, seems to disappear. The player who worked so hard in the off-season that the Cavaliers praised his work ethic and boasted of improvement to come this season, hasn't appeared in the way that Cleveland expected.
That is to say, he's not playing like Anderson Varejao.
"One of the reasons we drafted him was for his energy," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said of the second-year player. "Somebody we could put alongside Andy and play almost like Andy. Andy never gets lost."
But Thompson?
"I think at times he does," Scott said. "He just needs to be more active."
It's hard, though, to be competing for active praise alongside a perpetual-motion machine like Varejao. On every shot attempted, Varejao's springy curls bounce as he bounds toward the ball. On every physical play, Varejao is right there, scrapping for the ball, playing with reckless disregard for his body.
Thompson is learning the balance of trying to play just like Varejao, but trying to find a way to complement him, too.
"I don't want to defer or take a step back just because he's in the game," Thompson said. "We've got to both be active. You never know what if that one play, he might not be able to get it? I've got to be able to get that rebound, just by being active on the glass. If we're fighting over rebounds, it's better for our team."
Most of all, Thompson has yet to find a way to integrate his improved outside shooting into the Cavaliers' offense. Thompson spent much of the off-season taking jumper after jumper, trying to improve upon his first-year 43.9-percent shooting.
However, both Thompson and Scott are quick to point out that the Cavaliers have yet to run a single offensive play for Varejao through eight games. The starting center is second on the team in averaging 15.9 points per game, and Tuesday at Brooklyn netted a career-high 35 points.
"That just shows you that if you play hard, the ball comes to you," Thompson said.
Scott agreed.
"That's the biggest thing for Tristan -- quit thinking about the offensive end," Scott said. "We know he did a lot of work this summer to get his offensive game better. But still, the way he can make his hay in this league is by playing a lot like Andy. With that energy and aggressiveness every single time down the floor, he would be amazed at how things just start to fall into place."
Thompson realizes there is room for improvement and still time to show exactly how he has changed.
"There's always room for improvement," he said. "Rebounding better, block more shots, be better on the defensive end, being proactive and reactive. But that's why we have film. We have a long season, 82 games, so the key is to get better every day."
Said Scott: "I still have those high expectations for him, and I still think he's going to be a heck of a basketball player."
Help? The Cavaliers' bench is averaging 36.7 points per game -- or 37.4 percent of Cleveland's total offensive output. That news isn't breaking for Scott.
"I think if I said I had the right pieces there, I'd be lying," Scott said of his bench.
But that also doesn't mean the Cavaliers are panicking and looking for a free-agent signing to immediately help. Rookie center Tyler Zeller, who missed the past four games with a concussion and fractured orbital bone, officially was cleared to play tonight against Dallas, and his return should provide a boost for the reserves.
Also among reserves, Luke Harangody had right knee surgery Friday and is expected to miss about six weeks. Harangody has not been active for a Cavaliers game this season.
Casspi concerned: Cavaliers reserve swingman Omri Casspi might have spent Friday practicing in Cleveland, but his mind was halfway around the world. In Israel. Specifically, in his hometown of Holon, which was hit by missiles launched from the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Casspi's family still lives in the suburb of Tel Aviv and was unharmed. He is concerned, still, about his family and his younger sister, who serves in the Israeli Army ,and many of his friends in the Army reserve who have been called up. Renewed violence erupted this week in Israel and Gaza.
"It's like a war going on," Casspi said. "It's sad. It shouldn't be like this. It's out of our control."


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Reimbursement For Molecular Pathology Assays
By Jeffrey A. Kant, MD, PhD
Reimbursement of molecular testing offers special opportunities for frustration. CPT* coding is inherently complex for assays other than infectious agents, often slow to anticipate or keep up with new technologies and poorly understood by payers. Fair evaluation of new (and even older) technologies in the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) has been difficult to achieve.
Here, "molecular" refers to laboratory tests directed at DNA or RNA targets but not proteins, the molecular products of genes. Fundamental techniques employed (e.g., polymerase chain reaction [PCR] amplification) are common to assays for a host of molecular applications across many areas of the clinical laboratory. Depending on the size and complexity of a clinical laboratory, it can make sense to consolidate molecular equipment and expertise into a "technical center of excellence" that works closely with individual laboratory sections. As a result, clinical expertise and liaisons can integrate a molecular result with other laboratory or clinical considerations.
Infectious Agents
Codes for molecular detection of microorganisms are found only on the CLFS; reimbursement for professional interpretation of routine or difficult samples is said to be a component of part A payment to the laboratory or hospital. Since microbiology-oriented assays may comprise a major component of molecular tests offered by a clinical laboratory, administrators and physicians may wish to stress this fact when negotiating a management contract for the laboratory.
Molecular microbiology codes resemble general clinical laboratory codes: Most are analyte-specific, even though within individual analytes there is typically further technical breakdown into three detection modes (direct probe, amplified probe, quantitative) that offer successively higher levels of reimbursement. Codes are also available for selected viral genotypes and phenotypes, antibiotic resistant organisms and multiplex testing.
CLFS reimbursement may or may not cover the cost of performing FDA-cleared or commercial analyte-specific reagent (ASR)-based, laboratory-developed assays, whereas true laboratory-developed tests typically provide a clear profit margin. Efforts to get uniform reimbursement for quantitative viral assays (HIV-1 is favorable, HCV and others less so) have been unsuccessful. An area of uncertainty is coding for multiplex assay panels, e.g. respiratory viruses.
Oncology and Inherited Diseases
This is the complex area of coding for molecular assays. Twenty-one codes in the 83890 - 83914 series describe distinct procedural steps in the preparation and assay of a single sample to yield a molecular result. For example, a simple assay using a PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) approach for the factor V Leiden mutation would involve DNA preparation (83890), PCR amplification (83898), digestion of the amplification product with a restriction enzyme that recognizes the mutant sequence (83892), separation and visualization of digested product by gel electrophoresis (83894) followed by interpretation of the resulting pattern and preparation of a report (83912). When interpretation is performed by a licensed physician, 83912 is billed with a -26 modifier and paid from the Physician Fee schedule. The reimbursable amount is the sum of fee schedule values for each code. If a procedural step must be performed more than once, e.g., amplification of more than one region of a gene for analysis, it is appropriate to bill multiples of a CPT code.
Procedural codes allow for accurate coding over a wide range of molecular genetic and oncology assays of varying complexity, as well as reasonably seamless incorporation of new codes for new technologies. However, payers struggle with procedural codes because they are:
a) accustomed to single CPT codes for a given analyte,
b) don't have an easy way to identify the analyte(s) tested and
c) frequently do not understand the requirements of molecular testing as demonstrated by coverage policies that are incomplete or don't make sense medically or scientifically.
A PCR-based assay to detect lymphoma via T-cell gamma chain gene receptor rearrangement typically requires amplification of four target regions (83898 x 4 if each region is done independently) versus a single amplification to evaluate the presence or absence of the Val617Phe variant associated with myeloproliferative disorders. Imagine payer suspicion or disbelief when single CPT codes may be billed >100 times for a patient undergoing full gene sequence analysis for several genes in the work-up of a connective tissue disorder. A further complication arises because the same analyte measured on different platforms requires coding specific to the method employed, e.g., factor V Leiden by melt curve analysis (LightCycler® or Invader®technology. At the request of payers, a system of alphanumeric modifiers (genetic testing code modifiersappendix I in the CPT manual) was developed several years ago to allow for the identification of the particular gene being tested using procedural codes. To date, no payers have adopted the modifier system.
Molecular Cytogenetic Codes
Molecular cytogenetic codes for FISH studies are reasonably straightforward88365-88368 for studies on tissue sections and 88271-88275 for cell smears or touch preparations. Because of economic considerations, relatively new microarray codes (88384-88386), intended for tiered coding of platforms of successive density, are being used in multiples by laboratories even though those codes lack the word "each" in their description. Molecular tests are frequently the source of consultative requests from users to laboratory directors, so remember that codes 80500 and 80502 can be used for limited and more comprehensive clinical pathology consults, respectively. These require a separate clinician request for the pathologist's consultation regarding an abnormal laboratory result that requires medical judgment conveyed in a separate written consultative report.
Reimbursement Levels
Not surprisingly, molecular pathology CPT codes have not escaped the attention of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) National Correct Coding Initiative edits, some of which make sense and others not. Whether there will be issues with Medically Unlikely Edits remains to be seen. Reimbursement levels vary broadly by carrier and coverage policies, and payers are beginning to start considering clinical utility and medical necessity justification for testing. Do not hesitate to challenge payer denials if these do not make sense for patient care. Remember that CMS, by statute, does not pay for screening tests.
Dr. Kant is professor of Pathology and Human Genetics and director, Division of Molecular Diagnostics at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
*CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association (AMA).
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CINCINNATI -- Kroger Co. here is reportedly seeking buyers for 20 of its 48 Northern California stores, with another five reportedly set to close because of short-term leases. Kroger officials declined comment last week. Several industry sources, however, told SN Kroger is accepting bids for 20 stores in the Bay area -- operating under the Ralphs, Bell and Cala banners. One of the 20 stores has already been closed, and five other stores with short-term leases will reportedly be closed ...
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Geddes, NY -- Phil Natoli started working at the state fair in 1967. He was in charge of the band competition, and was two years into his teaching career at Marcellus Senior High School.
Fast forward 44 years and Natoli, the superintendent of the state fair's talent showcase for the past 22 years, is getting ready to step down.
Natoli, of Marcellus, retired as Marcellus' director of fine arts in 2000. He also taught senior high instrumental music at the school.
After retiring, Natoli continued to work with youth at the fair.
Former State Fair Director Bernard Potter hired Natoli in 1967 when Natoli was a teacher and band director at Marcellus schools. He said he was looking for something to keep him busy during the summers, and thought it would be a perfect fit because the fair position involved instrumental music and students.
He started overseeing the talent showcase during the summer of 1989. Since then he's worked with thousands of students from all over New York state.
Natoli said he has many fond memories from the fair, and has watched many talented children compete at the fair's talent showcase, then go on to dance and sing professionally.
"There was a vocal contestant who was only 4 years old -- which may have been the youngest contestant we ever had -- whose mother held her hand and walked her out to the microphone," Natoli recalled. "She then sang like an angel. Just came alive."
Natoli said he's continued to follow that contestant, who went on to star in the Broadway musical, "Annie."
"All of the experiences were kind of exciting," he said. "I was working with young people so it went along with my career."
Natoli, 73, said he plans to spend the winter in Florida like he and his wife, Marilyn, have done for the last nine years. But he'll be back at the fair next summer, but as one of the hundreds of thousands of fairgoers. Natoli also said he'd be willing to help his successor if needed, but this time he is said he is "really retiring."
"The state fair will always be part of my life in one way or another," Natoli said.


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Season 9, Episode 4 All That
First Aired: January 24, 2004
Britney Spears, Nick Cannon.
Guest Cast
Cast & Details See all »
- Rating: TV-Y7
- Premise: An improvisational sketch-comedy series performed by an all-kid cast (ages 12-18), including appearances by singers and other celebrities who also take part in the nutty skits. The series yielded a spinoff show, `Kenan & Kel,' and a teen flick, `Good Burge… (more)
Trending TonightSee all »
Real Husbands of Hollywood9:00 pm | BETI'll Watch312 Watching
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Watch This
The Walking Dead: Did you correctly guess Negan's victim?
TVGuide.com editors break down theories about what's coming up on The Walking Dead
The Eagles FAQ: All Thats Left to Know About Classic Rocks Superstars (FAQ Series)
By Backbeat BooksBuy New: $20.12
The 1990s Coloring Book: All That and a Box of Crayons (Psych! Crayons Not Included.)
By Ulysses PressBuy New: $9.03
The Healing Power of Humor: Techniques for Getting Through Loss, Setbacks, Upsets, Disappointments, Difficulties, Trials, Tribulations, and All That...
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Popular Shows
Popular Movies
- 1. War Dogs
- 2. Pete's Dragon
- 3. Sausage Party
- 4. Suicide Squad
- 5. Star Trek Beyond
- 6. Jason Bourne
- 7. Captain America: Civil War
Popular Celebrities
- 1. Rami Malek
- 2. Taylor Schilling
- 3. Constance Zimmer
- 4. Emilia Clarke
- 5. Tom Hiddleston
- 6. Kit Harington
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For full recap and box score visit GVSULakers.com.
ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Grand Valley State women's basketball team led from start to finish as the Lakers defeated GLIAC foe Walsh, 84-52, on Thursday evening at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.
With the win, GVSU improves to 9-2 on the season and 5-2 in GLIAC action, while conference newcomer Walsh falls to 4-6 overall and 1-5 in league play. The Lakers host another new GLIAC member as Malone visits Allendale on Saturday at 3 p.m.
It was a team effort in the season-high-tying point total for the Lakers as five players notched double-digit totals. GVSU also dished out a season-high 23 assists on its 29 baskets led by junior Kellie Watson (Ionia, Mich.) with a career-high six helpers.
Senior Briauna Taylor (Livonia, Mich.) topped the team for the sixth time this season with 18 points going 6-of-12 from the floor. The forward also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 31 minutes of work.
Classmate Alex Stelfox (Bowie, Md.) and sophomore Daina Grazulis (Marquette, Mich.) joined Taylor in double figures with 12 points each. Grazulis notched her season-high on 3-of-8 shooting and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Stelfox went 6-for-8 from the floor, while tallying five rebounds, two blocks and three steals. Sophomore Kat LaPrairie (Rockford, Mich.) had 11 points, including three buckets from behind the arc, while Watson recorded 10 points.


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Our View: A vote and a veto
Save for the midterm elections of 2010, the last five years have offered conservatives precious little to cheer about politically. This past Thursday, though, provided two opportunities to stand up…
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SAGINAW, MI — A space heater likely to blame for a house fire on Saginaw's East Side, authorities said.
Saginaw city firefighters were dispatched about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 1000 S. Fourth near Whittier. Saginaw Battalion Chief Dan Willoughby said the fire appeared to be accidental.
"The occupants were in the process of moving," Willoughby said. "It appears a space heater was too close to a box spring."
Firefighters extinguished a mattress in the front yard.
Jeneva Barnes has lived in the house for almost a year. She said her dog and seven people were inside — including her two grandchildren — when the blaze began. Barnes, 41, said some of those present were there helping her move out.
"I had been having problems with the electricity in the house for a while," she said. "We were in the process of moving when this happened."
Willoughby did not have an estimate of damage caused by the fire.
Bob Johnson is a public safety reporter for MLive/The Saginaw News. Contact him at 989-395-3295, by email at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.


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Former Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn was named the NBA Rookie of the Month, after playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Summer League. Flynn and the Timberwolves lost to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday and finished with just one win in five games in Las Vegas.
More sports news:
College Football: A news conference is scheduled for 4 p.m. today at the new Yankee Stadium regarding an announcement that the Army football team will play Notre Dame in 2010. Syracuse and Rutgers are possible future opponents for Army at Yankee Stadium.
Chiefs Baseball: The Syracuse Chiefs stopped a late rally by Columbus and were able to hold on to a 5-2 victory Sunday.
Motorsports: Fulton's Ryan Phelps won the All-Star 100 at Cayuga County Fair Speedway on Sunday night. It was his second victory in two nights at the track.
Golf: Stewart Cink beat Tom Watson after a four-hole playoff Sunday during the British Open. Cink won by six shots.


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"It seems as though it took tragedy to bring us together, to see how silly this thing called segregation was," Price said during a memorial service in the church attended by more than 100 people. Afterward, dozens gathered outside the church to see the wreath-laying at a new marker placed at the spot where the bomb exploded.
The church bells tolled at 10:22 a.m., the time of the bombing. The marker lists the names of the the four girls killed in the church: Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley.
"Carole was precise, mannerly, she earned all her Girl Scout badges," said Carolyn McKinstry, a survivor of the bombing andfriend of the girls who were killed. "I think she would have been a national leader. She had that kind of vision."
McKinstry, standing by the new marker, recalled her friendship with the girls and how their promise of a bright future was denied by a violent act of racial hatred.
"Denise, I think she would have been a teacher, a social and economic justice activist," McKinstry said. "I think Cynthia would have been a teacher. Addie was a very kind person, always kind and soft-spoken. Her future was yet to be written."
Maxine McNair, mother of Denise, attended the service in a wheelchair. Her daughter Kim Brock wheeled her mother up to the new marker for a close look after the service.
Woods, president of the Birmingham chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, prayed over them. "We have been called to stand up against bigotry, hatred and injustice," he said.


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Haunting in the Hills Student Art Contest Reception on Saturday November 10th
Contact: Henrietta DeGroot, 209-617-5558
The National Park Service is sponsoring the Haunting in the Hills Student Art Contest to celebrate the creative spirit of the youth in our gateway communities and the inspiration and legacy of the Big South Fork. Student artwork will be featured in an exhibit at the Bandy Creek Education Center, and there will be a special reception on Saturday, November 10, 2012, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). The art contest is open to all 5th grade students attending any school associated with one of the gateway community school districts near Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The grand prize winner's artwork will also be featured on the cover of a CD showcasing stories from this past year's Storytelling Festival.


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Global automakers have two battery choices for their electric vehicles – lithium-ion or nickel metal hydride
As the auto industry race twists and turns over which metal to use in electric cars, the first lithium-powered sports car has hit the streets of Europe.
Start-up Tesla Motors opened a London showroom late last month to coincide with the European launch of its lithium-ion powered sports car – a first of its kind.
The Tesla electric roadster uses lithium-ion batteries from Japanese suppliers but is mainly built in the east of Britain.
"Governments in the United States, UK and European Union are supporting the electric initiative heavily," said London store co-ordinator Audra Oliver. "Tesla has just received $465 million in low interest loans from the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate the production of affordable all electric vehicles."
On Monday Nissan said it will invest more than $328.6 million in a new UK plant to build lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.
Demand for lithium-ion batteries, used in mobile phones, digital cameras and laptop PCs, is set to rise but as global automakers explore plans for mass-electric car production.
But lithium's road to glory could be far from easy.
Nissan's investment came less than a week after Toyota said it will produce its first European-built hybrid car in Britain from 2010.
Toyota, the world's biggest car maker, began using and securing supplies for its nickel metal hydride vehicles over a decade ago.
"Nickel hybrids are just more common at the moment but they don't have the same power density as lithium batteries," said Carl Firman, analyst at Virtual Metals. "Nickel technology has been around longer … lithium has its own issues with over-heating."
"Ultimately, lithium is probably the future of the battery industry," he added.
The amount of lithium used in vehicles varies depending on the technology, but a plug-in electric hybrid may contain 15-20 kg of lithium and typical eight-cell laptop battery is made out of about 5 grams of lithium.
And despite doubts about lithium costs and reliability, the auto industry sees potential in such a light, energy-efficient metal, with demand predicted to compete with other battery metals such as lead, nickel and cobalt.
"Hydrogen alternatives are proving to not really come to fruition and the U.S. government has decided to cut funding," said Tesla's Oliver.
Tesla declined to comment over how much lithium is used in each car.
The Tesla roadster costs $4.93-$6.57 to fully charge, which takes over three hours, and has a range of 200 miles.
Owners can charge the vehicle, available for some time in the U.S., at home or at specific recharging points in any city.


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Police say a young woman faces felony charges after trying to smother her son at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh -- just the latest in a series of more than 12 attempts against her baby.
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Legendary Kool G RapWednesday, 08 June 2011 19:15
As part of the golden age MC-and-DJ tandem Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, the "Kool Genius of Rap" enjoyed a successful and, above all, influential run during the late '80s and early '90s before embarking on a fitful solo career.
Live In The Cipher Artist Review: Marco PoloWednesday, 20 November 2013 11:09
Artist Review: Marco Polo
An earnest student of the early-'90s boom-bap technique, underground rap producer Marco Bruno, aka Marco Polo, was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. Bit hard by the hip-hop bug, he enrolled into an audio engineering school in 1999, purchasing his first MPC with his student loans. Once he finished up school, he moved from Canada down to New York and lived in his friend's basement in Queens to get his career started. He began paying his dues as an unpaid intern at the Cutting Room recording studios in Manhattan, which eventually turned into an on-staff management position.
He used to play his beats in the office while clientele like Talib Kweli, Fat Joe, and Inspectah Deck came through for recording sessions. One of those passersby, Masta Ace, liked what he heard and added one of Polo's productions ("Do It Man") to his 2004 effort A Long Hot Summer. The song opened up many more opportunities for him, and soon he became an in-house producer for N.Y. indie Soulspazm. He was landing beats for several noteworthy hip-hop artists, including Supernatural, Jean Grae, Immortal Technique, the Boot Camp Clik, and California MC Rasco, who released Polo's first beat CD, Canned Goods, on his Pockets Linted imprint in 2005.
When Soulspazm had a falling out with its distributor, the company lined up another joint venture with Rawkus Records. Rawkus championed the ambitious beat-maker and his 2007 production album, Port Authority. With his smooth textures and back-to-basics approach, Polo aptly chose veteran MCs like Kool G Rap, Large Professor, O.C., and Masta Ace to grace various tracks for the LP.
Read more Marco Polo bio: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/marco-polo-mn0000248207/biography
Live In The Cipher Artist Review: Kool G Rap & Necro (The Godfathers) - Once Upon A CrimeWednesday, 27 November 2013 18:14
Artist Review: Kool G Rap and Necro ( The Godfathers)
The Godfathers is a collaboration group between rappers Kool G Rap and Necro. Their debut album "Once Upon A Crime" is scheduled to be released on November 19th, 2013.
On November, 30th, 2011, The Godfathers released a digital mix CD, titled, The Pre-Kill. The digital mix consists of fifty previously released songs of Kool G Rap & Necro going back and forth song for song.
Read more about The Godfathers: www.wikipedia.org/TheGodfathers_(rap_duo)
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Wale, Black Cobain, Tone P, & Stalley – "The Cookup" [Video]
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Independence Day Celebration
Independence Day Celebration - Parade, Concert, and Fireworks
Mark your calendars the City will celebrate Independence Day, on Saturday, July 2nd, with the 93rd Annual Parade which starts at 10 am.
A concert will follow later in the evening in Cedarbrook Park beginning at 5:00 pm, followed by fireworks at dusk. Please be sure to "Save the Date!"
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BRATTLEBORO -- The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, history's longest and largest torch relay, will be in Brattleboro on Friday, Aug. 8, at approximately 2 p.m., at Living Memorial Park, as part of its 10,000-mile, four-month journey. The team, with runners from more than 100 countries, will be traveling along Route 9 from Bennington on its way to Keene, N.H.
The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run (formerly World Harmony Run), an international torch relay, is meant to encourage goodwill, harmony and friendship at the local level. Relay runs have occurred in over 140 nations throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
An estimated 50,000 children in more than 1,000 cities and towns on the North American route are expected to participate when the Peace Run visits schools and youth organizations. Runners will offer educational presentations that promote self-esteem and friendship.
The team left New York City mid-April passing the torch along the over 10,000-mile route. For the first time, the continuous relay will link Canada, Mexico and the U.S. during its four-month journey covering more than 10,000 miles before arriving back in New York mid-August.
The Peace Run was inspired by the visionary Sri Chinmoy as a way to give citizens a dynamic way to express their own hopes and dreams for a more harmonious world.
For more information, visit peacerun.org.


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Who´s faster on 15knots?
View Single Post
9th January 2009, 04:44 PM
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SC
Posts: 61
Who´s faster on 15knots?
Hi all,
This next sunday we are having the II Fast-val , sort of speed contest.
32 competitors with heats of 4 each time, 500m only one leg on beam reach.
The forecast is about 15k, a bit stronger of what windguru says
. It´s a lake, some chop, but it is flat water.
Any gear is allowed, and probably about 10-12 are gonna be formula guys who don´t have slalom to chose. Some are good sailors, and there are very good slalom guys who don´t have formula either...
Other thing is Fevesc (Santa Catarina Sailing Federation) and a TV channel are prizing the first ones with some cash... The first one is getting BR$1500!!!!
What are your bets, if we had hypothetically two sailors with same skill and competitive gear, formula against slalom, with that forescast on flat water ??
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Angel Food helped over 200 families at it's latest distribution on October 13th in Owego.
Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief to communities throughout the United States. Angel Food Ministries works through churches and community organizations in over 32 states, providing food to over 500,000 families. Angel Food Ministries is based in Monroe, Georgia and has been in operation since 1994. Everyone qualifies. There are no applications or qualifications to order Angel Food. If you eat, you qualify.
Angel Food is distributed locally by Abide in the Vine Fellowship Church in Owego. For more information visit our website: www.abide.org.


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Sweden offers disaster assistance to US
The Local · 2 Sep 2005, 11:15
Published: 02 Sep 2005 11:15 GMT+02:00
The Swedish Rescue Services Agency has offered disaster assistance to the US as it grapples with the task of rescuing thousands still trapped in New Orleans by flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina.
On Friday morning the agency said it was still waiting for a reply and details about what sort of contribution Sweden could make in the disaster area. In the meantime, Swedish officials are identifying available resources and planning how to get them across the Atlantic.
The US sent out a request for international assistance on Thursday, and Sweden's response was delivered via the embassy in Washington.
It is understood that Sweden's offer included help with water purification, medical equipment, prefabricated temporary accommodation and repairing telecommunications.
"We know that they want these things but it doesn't seem to be completely clear what exactly is needed," said the Swedish Rescue Services Agency's press officer Mats Oscarsson.
"The affected states probably have the information but we haven't approached them yet."
The Swedish Rescue Services Agency is also in contact with similar European organisations as well as the American Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance.
"When other countries are hit by crisis there is usually some sort of very official request about what's needed and so on, but we haven't had that yet from the US," added Oscarsson.
Meanwhile, the Swedish Foreign Ministry confirmed that three Swedes who were thought to have been in the area at the time of the hurricane have still not been contacted.
"We emphasise that we are not categorising them as missing - they just haven't got in touch," said Nina Ersman, at the ministry's press office.
According to the Foreign Ministry, hundreds of Swedes live in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama but the damaged telephone network has made it hard to contact everyone.
Sources: Dagens Nyheter, TT, Aftonbladet


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The Centura Health Pharmacy at St. Anthony Hospital is now conveniently located in the main hospital lobby. We invite you to choose us as your local pharmacy for filling your prescriptions. The full service pharmacy is open to the public and also offers a variety of over the counter products and get-well gifts. Patients leaving Medical Office Plaza appointments, as well as those being discharged from St. Anthony Hospital or OrthoColorado Hospital will also find us a convenient option when filling their discharge medications. If you have a question regarding a special order medication, please
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Please contact Centura Health Pharmacy at St. Anthony Hospital at 720-321-8290 or ask your nurse to arrange for your prescriptions to be filled and delivered to your room.
Our search tools require a zip code to match the location nearest you.


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Does Letting Anti-Gay Bible Thumpers Invade Twin Cities Pride Violate the Supreme Court's Ruling?
"The park board's decision is akin to allowing the Klu Klux Klan to openly convey their racist and anti-immigration views at the Cinco de Mayo festival," says Minnesota Pride Festival attorney Eileen Scallen, denouncing the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's decision to permit Brian and Lois Johnson's distribution of Bibles and waving of signs at this weekend's event. Pride organizers are the ones who paid the tens of thousands of dollars in permit fees, and thus they should be able to control the message; the parks board says it's just defending the Johnsons' rights to free speech. Not surprisingly, the Johnsons have enlisted the help of the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund, which describes the event as a "festival devoted to the toleration of homosexual conduct."
If the parks board doesn't let the Johnsons in, ADF says it'll sue. Which is fine. The U.S. Supreme Court, in Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group of Boston, already decided the matter: Events organizers using public space can discriminate against participants. The two scenarios between the cases would be so similar, a judge should throw out the lawsuit at first glance. In the meantime, a judge should grant organizers their request to block the Johnsons' rhetoric.
[image via]
The Hurley decision clearly has already address this issue. For those who do not remember this was the issue of not allowing gay organization to march in Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade. If a group is conveying a message that the organizing group does not want displayed they do not have to include said group in their parade. The Supreme Court voted 9-0 to uphold the right to exclude groups that express opinions that the organizing group doesn't agree with even if the parade is on city streets and is using city funds.
Would we want to have anti-gay groups in our parade? This just shows again how some groups are trying to use our event for their political agenda.
For anyone that's interested, the Hurley case isn't entirely on point. And I think there is some merit to having a conversation on whether speech like this should (not must) be tolerated. What if it was PFLAG trying to get into an event for "ex-gays" to try and disseminate a message of tolerance?
I blogged about the Twin Cities Pride issue a bit here:
Hey, please let us know the outcome of this, and whether or not these Christofascists were barred from taking part and causing a stir!
Right on #1 Plays well – we gave them free publicity. The organizers should have let them participate and then given them a table behind two huge dumpsters or under a tree where the birds poop or whatever. This just gives them free publicity.
And #1 – how do you italicize your phrases?
Open to anyone – since Classic Queerty doesn't seem to be available anymore, how does one navigate to previous days/weeks/months from the default page? I've emailed Q but I've emailed them several times – I only got a response when it was about a story in my (little) town.
Why don't people walk around with other signs from the bible… like – "Working on the Sabbath is punishable by death (Exodus 35:10); have you been paying your religious leaders?! Then you have to kill yourself for breaking the Sabbath. Hypocrites!"
There are lots of wierd but true quotes from the bible that can be used on signs to counterprotest.
The Johnson's have a history of disturbing the peace and numerous arrests at GLBT functions. Their purpose is to disturb and promote their type of anit-gay persecution. Their literature and speech is inflammatory, meant to incite, to encourage discrimination and harm. This fosters like-minded folks to discriminate, be violent and worse. The Minneapolis Park Board routinely refuses all sorts of requests that harm the parks or it's visitors. This is a stunning display of poor judgement.
or worse, "husband and wife shall become one and the same flesh" i wonder what the fck this means,probably some sort of amalgamation in which the male feel that his wife's organs are attached to him as well,so he can feel them, better? i don't know,it is probably some weird way of christian transgenderism? or hermaphroditism? who knows….
Wanna let Brian & Doris Johnson know how you feel about them raining on our parade? Call or write them!
Brian & Doris Johnson
13250 W State Rd #77
Hayward, WI 54843
(715) 634-6006
"The park board's decision is akin to allowing the Klu Klux Klan to openly convey their racist and anti-immigration views at the Cinco de Mayo festival,"
Let's let the KKK "openly convey their racist and anti-immigration views" to the Sureño and Norteño gangs, which will undoubtedly respond in their customary fashion.
What's the point in muzzling them, unless they advocate or commit violence, and then we should stop them. Bigotry, racism, sexism, immigrant bashing are all endemic to capitalist society and won't disappear until it does. That's why we have to be prepared for self-defense at all LGBT events and venue. We have to constantly demand that the courts and police uphold our rights.
The recently enacted Hate Crimes Act lacks teeth. It should specifically criminalize hate speech or actions that promote violence especially by cult leaders and politicians.
This is an example"
"I get amazed, I can't look at it but about 10 seconds, at these politicians dancing around this, dancing around this, I'm trying to find a correct name for it, this utter absolute, asinine, idiotic stupidity of men marrying men." (shouts from crowd)
"I've never seen a man in my life I wanted to marry." (shouts, applause) "And I'm gonna be blunt and plain, if one ever looks at me like that I'm gonna kill him and tell God he died." (laughter, applause) "In case anybody doesn't know, God calls it an abomnation (sic). It's an abomnation (sic)! It's an abomnation (sic)!" (applause)
Here's the video. http://www.spike.com/video/jimmy-swaggart-would/2650343 There's a commercial at the beginning.
Can't they just be quadroned off in the corner behind some fence like we do with the westboro baptist nutfucks?
It is worthy to note that this is how some self hating closeted gay people get to see the pride parade.
No. 2 · Dawson wrote, "The Hurley decision clearly has already address this issue. For those who do not remember this was the issue of not allowing gay organization to march in Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade." … but that decision may not apply as in this case because the anti-gay group does not want to march in the parade, making them more like spectators.
A few years ago, there were a few religious nuts with their "you're all going to Hell" signs standing next to each other (one with a loud megaphone) picketing the San Francisco pride parade. At one point, a "Star Trek" float went by with George Takei on it, dresses as "Mr. Sulu". Alas, he was too busy waving to people. People kind of hoped he'd point a "phaser" at the religious nuts and joked about having them "beamed up" (and into the psychiatric ward).
Some enterprising folks need to back a pickup truck with a paper shredding machine and re-process the paper into something useful. Recycle. Reuse.
Have folks get their free copy of the bible on one streetcorner, and then recycle it on the next.
Won't be too many bible-thumpers who would use their money to repeat the experience next year.


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Police officer trades in red surge to become man of the cloth
AMHERST – A career change from the RCMP to the ministry might seem unusual to some, but for Shawn Wheaton it was just a matter of listening to Him instead of himself.
After 22 years of police work, the new minister at Crossroads Gospel Temple left the force in 2009 after he felt he was called to another path.
© Andrew Wagstaff - cumberlandnewsnow
Shawn Wheaton is the new pastor at Crossroads Gospel Temple in Amherst. The Newfoundlander spent a 22-year career in the RCMP in Alberta before leaving to join the ministry in 2009.
"I went through a deep valley in my life, and it really brought me to look at how I was living my life before God," he said. "Was I truly following God's plan for my life? I knew at that time that I was not."
Born in Botwood, N.L., Wheaton was raised on "The Rock," spending his early childhood in Fredericton, N.L., and then living in different communities in areas such as Fogo Island and Bonavista Bay after his father joined the ministry.
Despite that background, he was determined to follow his father's footsteps. From an early age he wanted to be a Mountie.
"I remember when I was just a kid, 5-6 years old, my grandfather had a friend who was an RCMP officer in Carmanville," he recalled. "I was visiting them, and the friend would be there, and I wanted to be a Mountie like him when I grew up. I always had it in mind."
At the age of 22, he signed up at St. John's, and headed off to Regina for his training in 1987. From there he was posted to Edmonton, and would spend his entire policing career in Alberta, including five years in Fort McMurray, 12 years in Sherwood Park.
He loved his job, despite its challenges.
"You see a lot when the lights go down that the majority of people never see, and most policemen would not desire people to see," said Wheaton. "You serve, you go out and do your job and deal with issues. When you get called, it's because something has gone wrong."
He investigated cases ranging from shoplifting to homicide, but also experienced the more enjoyable aspects of the job, such as giving talks at schools, and having camaraderie with his fellow officers. Along the way, he married wife Kim, and they had four children.
But around 2003-04, Wheaton realized there was something missing. He decided to recommit himself to Jesus Christ.
"You can stand back as a fan and cheer, but a follower is on the field," he said. "I went from being a guy who was non-committal, to being very involved with my local church."
He soon found himself leading the church's men's group, and then helping Kim after she took on the role as children's pastor. In 2007, he was invited by his pastor to become the church's part-time associate pastor, which he accepted.
Life became very busy in and around the church, while he was still maintaining his full-time job with the RCMP, which was going very well. In 2008 he was given his "dream job" in the commercial crime unit, and two weeks later was promoted to corporal.
Yet he still felt God pulling him in the direction of leaving police work and entering the ministry. In 2009 he did just that.
"I said I would give it up, as difficult as it was for me and my family, knowing God would open doors for me on this side," said Wheaton.
The door that opened was at Briercrest Seminary in Caronport, Sask., where he enrolled in the Masters program at the age of 44. On Sept. 1, the family packed up and left their beautiful home in Edmonton and five days later pulled up at their new mobile home in Caronport.
Three years later, he received his Masters degree in Leadership Management, graduating in June of 2012. He then worked for a year as an interim pastor at a nearby church in Caron, Sask., while their oldest daughter completed high school in Caronport. They moved to Amherst this summer and became part of the Crossroads church. His first service as pastor was on Aug. 25.
The first three months have been a busy period, with changes both in the form of building renovations and in programming.
Despite what some might see as a huge difference in careers, Wheaton has drawn many parallels between being a pastor and being a police officer, and has found that his police training and experience has helped him in his new role.
"You're dealing with problems people walk through and face," he said. "When the police are called, it's usually got the point where it's hostile, violent or really gone askew. In the ministry you're also dealing with the good, the bad and the indifferent, but it's all done under the umbrella of Jesus Christ."
Twitter: @ADNandrew


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I LOVED BREAKING DAWN!! bill condon did an amazing job on this. I was alittle worried that it woundnt turn out the way i pictured i but it was great!!
The wedding was so beautiful, i loved how everything looked and i loved the speeches! emmetts was the best and renee singing hahaha
the honeymoon was to short i was like really your preggers already?? the sex scene waas amazing i love when bella wakes up in this pile of destruction :) i also love when she…Continue
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Kristen Stewart could be part of a fairy tale after wrapping the last "Twilight" movie.…Continue
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Dakota Fanning was seen looking fresh for the new year at lax Sunday January 2 heading to Baton Rouge to film Breaking…Continue
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Just a Spoof i made one day when i was watching Twilight and thought ' what if Edward was listening to a different song". Here it is and i hope you enjoy. ;)
Heres the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o09aaGFkp3Q#
Added by Ally Denali on July 22, 2010 at 5:53pm — No Comments


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Tax professionals say last minute tax filers are expected
BRISTOL, Tenn. - It's been two days since the deadline to file your taxes and some people are still scrambling, trying to avoid steep penalties.
We spoke to a local tax service who says they've had several late filers come in, some with extensions and some without.
Joey Smith with Liberty Tax Service says past due filers are normal and are expected every year. "We have that happen a lot, even a couple weeks, three weeks after. They just didn't get it done. We help them get it done and make it as easy as possible for them," said Smith.
We learned the IRS would consider reducing penalties if you can show a reasonable cause for being late.
For more facts on what to do if you're filling late, click here.


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- Home
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Poetry Foundation Library: Special Saturday Hours
Saturday, February 16th – Saturday, February 16th, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Poetry Foundation
61 West Superior Street
Free admission
New for 2013, the Poetry Foundation Library will be open to the public on select Saturdays. Take advantage of this opportunity to browse our collection of nearly 30,000 books of poetry, including 3,000 books especially for children. The Poetry Foundation Library will continue to serve the public during its regular weekday hours of 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Find updated information about Saturday openings here.
The library offers free field trips for schoolchildren as well as guided visits for adult groups. To schedule a field trip or group visit, please contact the librarian at email@example.com.
Other Information
Browse Poemsloading...
A group exhibition featuring work by Poetry magazine cover artists depicting the mythical creatures Pegasus and mermaids from poetry immemorial. Artists include Lise Haller Baggesen, Ana Benaroya, Lilli Carré, Alexander Cohen, Stephen Eichhorn, Carson Ellis, Clay Hickson, Tony Fitzpatrick, Krista Franklin, Julia Goodman, Jenny Kendler, Kate McQuillen, Jessie Mott, Julie Murphy, Diana Sudyka, and Shoshanna Weinberger.


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Do you have questions about Szeged? You might try asking in our active travel forums and see if anyone else has been there.
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County Council selects leaders
SEATTLE - A new bipartisan team is at the helm of the Metropolitan King County Council, faced with the daunting task of filling a multimillion-dollar hole in the 2003 county budget and beyond.
For the first time in the council's history, a Democrat and a Republican will hold the top two leadership jobs.
Seattle Democrat Cynthia Sullivan is the new council chairwoman, and Federal Way Republican Pete von Reichbauer is the new vice chairman.
Normally, the majority party, in this case the Democrats, holds on to the top leadership posts, although some of the council's major committee chairmanships are given to members of the minority party.
Monday's meeting was the first of the year and focused mainly on swearing in four new council members, the council's largest-ever freshman class. Among them were Julia Patterson of SeaTac, whose election last fall gave the Democrats control of the council, and Kathy Lambert of Redmond, whose District 3 includes the majority of the Snoqualmie Valley.
Lambert was elected last fall to replace Louise Miller of Woodinville on the council.
The council also appointed state Sen. Dow Constantine of Seattle to replace Greg Nickels in District 8. Nickels was formally sworn in Monday as Seattle mayor.
Jane Hague, a Bellevue Republican, will head the council's growth management committee. Seattle Democrat Larry Phillips was elected the council's budget chairman. Lambert will head the Regional Water Quality Committee.
Absent from the list of chairmanships are David Irons of Sammamish and Kent Pullen of Kent, two Republicans who represent much of rural southeast King County.
Irons said he's continuing to feel the heat for not supporting the deal that clinched passage of this year's county budget.
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Anne Rice Is Fed Up With Homophobic Facebook Commenters
Our post commending actress Ellen Page for her courage in coming out as gay attracted a lot of hostility and hate and hate speech — as well as positive and substantive comments. I have banned many from the page today. I will no longer tolerate hate speech in the guise of Christian belief with the usual irresponsible pick and choose bible quotes and talk of "sin" and hellfire. I have had enough of it, and I think the world has had enough of it too. Again, I commend Ellen Page for her bravery in coming out. I hope more celebrities and public figures will be inspired to do so. Anyone who thinks this does not matter is deceiving himself or herself. It matters very much. Gay people in all walks of life suffer from bigotry, bias, superstition, and ignorance. Hats off to Ellen Page! (And please do NOT come here to tell us publicly that you "don't care." If you don't care, don't expect us to care that you don't care!)."
— Beloved writer Anne Rice, whose novelist son Christopher is gay, expressing her disappointment with antigay comments on her Facebook page after she congratulated actress Ellen Page for coming out publicly this weekend
(And please do NOT come here to tell us publicly that you "don't care." If you don't care, don't expect us to care that you don't care!)."
That's the most important message. On George Takai's page about Ellen there were at one point over 11,000 comments from people forcefully and repeatedly declaring how little they care. smh
"I will no longer tolerate hate speech in the guise of Christian belief…"
Anne is confused on this point. Hate speech IS Christian belief.
@Provine: You can say that again. She went from being one of the premier writers of hyper-smutty horror fiction to a re-initiated Catholic drone, only to recover her damn senses when her son comes out. She needs to stick to writing about omnisexual creatures of the night and to go back to throwing her fantastic annual Halloween ball. Those things that she was good at.
"After coming into contact with a religious man I always feel I must wash my hands."
Friedrich Nietzsche
@Provine: Don't confuse right-wing, literalist, fundamentalist christianity with ALL christianity. some denominations are very liberal and accepting of all. my husband and I were married in a Christian church, by a Christian reverend. there was nothing about hate at all in anything she ever spoke about.
@MikeE: Thank you.
Homophobic Facebook Commenters? Is there any other kind?
Sorry – I'm naive and get most of my news from Queerty!
Right-wing media will complain about Anne Rice, confusing free speech with hate and bigotry.
Spot on. And congratulations!
I've seen a lot of the "who cares" response, too. Obviously if a coming out story enrages you so much you have to make a dick comment, you care.
Unfortunately every message board there is has those passive agreesive 'who cares' or 'who is this celebrity anway, like, is he/she someone I should know?' comments where douchebag posters place themeselves above all and declare everybody a loser for caring or knowing who the discussed celebrity is.
I doubt there would be an unemployed person left if message boards of this world hire extra help to deal with those messages (delete them, move them to a separate message board section, ban the posters and make sure those internet users remain banned, etc.).
sorry, passive agressive
Bravo for her! She said it so eloquently.
While I had been wavering over religion for some time now, all this "Christian love" that I've seen the past few years is what cinched it for me. I want no part of it. I am now a practicing Buddhist.
Welcome to the real world, Anne Rice. She should see the trash written daily by readers of the Yahoo.com sports pages. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of bozos that curse Yahoo for posting stories about gay athletes because they either hate gays or say they don't care but are sick of hearing about gays. Stop throwing you sexuality in my face, say the haters. And yet when a story is posted about an NBA player's fiance wanting a pre-nuptial agreement, these same bozos can't say enough, and fail to see how the NBA star's sexuality is being thrown in their faces.
I've never read any of Ann Rice's books, but now I feel I MUST. Bravo to her for speaking out so strongly against the hateful bigots.
Good for Rice,
And off topic, funny, I thought Putin said that visitors to Sochi wouldn't be arrested.
She's kidding right??…She follows the money too…
@MikeE: True Christians need to reclaim their religion. They have allowed the haters to turn their religion into a place of negativity and non-spirituality. I fault the good Christians for not fighting back publicly to refute the haters-in-the-name-of-Christ. When the good do nothing to oppose these nasty people, they themselves are responsible for the fall of their religion.
@Provine: That's so fucking ignorant. I'm gay and I'm a Christian. True Christians that follow Christ shudder at the things that are done in his name. You can fault us for not fighting as much as we should to combat it but it's a very ignorant stance to assume all Christians to hate gays, especially when many are gay.
Anne is a very nice person (having met her once, but her son quite a few times). And this is no different than what she says in person, she is an ally.
@MikeE: Except that the right wing christian belief is actually MAJORITY of christian belief and the church you got married in is only a small minority(very small in fact)
@charwegl: Of course not all Christians hate gays, but do you deny that those are the minority and the majority of Christians are actually the homophobic, judgey types? And I'm not referring to the US or Europe alone, but worldwide.