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As Yuvraj Singh and Stuart Broad come face to face in the 2012 T20 World Cup on Sunday, the mind goes back to the inaugural championship five years ago when the flamboyant Indian took the towering Englishman to the cleaners in what was an unforgettable six-ball blitz.
Yuvraj plundered Broad for six sixes in an over that drew parallels with a similar feat by three other batsmen – Gary Sobers vs Malcolm Nash (Nottinghamshire vs Glamorgan in 1968), Ravi Shastri against Tilak Raj (Mumbai vs Baorda in 1985) and Herschelle Gibbs became the first batsman to scores six sixes in One-Day International (ODI) when he savaged Netherlands' Dan Van Bunge in the World Cup earlier in 2007.
Yuvraj's feat came a few months after Gibbs's plunder – on September 19, 2007 in a day-nighter at Kingsmead, Durban. Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat. Gautam Gambhir (58) and Virender Sehwag (68) provided the platform with a 136-run opening wicket stand. Both openers fell within a space of seven runs and then one-drop Robin Uthappa (6) fell quickly as India were reduced to 155 for 3. It was in this scenario that Yuvraj walked out to join his captain in the middle with a minimum of 20 balls left in the Indian innings.
Yuvraj's unleashed his phenomenal firepower in the 19th over, bowled by Broad. And this is how the massacre happened:
18.1 overs: The first ball went over the cow corner and out of the ground!
18.2 overs: A flick of the legs, and the ball sailed over square-leg and into the crowd.
18.3 overs: Yuvraj gave himself room and bludgeoned it over extra-cover.
18.4 overs: A full toss, and Yuvraj creamed it over backward point.
18.5 overs: Yuvraj went on one knee to hoist it over midwicket.
18.6 overs: The last ball was thumped over wide mid-on. Sixth six of the over – Mission accomplished! It also brought the fastest-ever 50 in T20 cricket – off 12 balls!
More than half of the Indian team that played in the match in which Yuvraj made T20 history will be in action on Sunday. In sharp contrast, only Broad and Luke Wright are the two sole survivors from the English team that played in the match. One thing is for sure: the atmosphere will be electric should Yuvraj get the opportunity to bat against the English captain.
(H Natarajan, formerly All India Deputy Sports Editor of the Indian Express and Senior Editor with Cricinfo/Wisden, is the Executive Editor of CricketCountry.com. A prolific writer, he has written for many of the biggest newspapers, magazines and websites all over the world. A great believer in the power of social media, he can be followed on Facebook at facebook.com/H.Natarajan and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/hnatarajan)


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The Perfect Outfit! What to Wear to a Rooftop Party
This fun spring look is built around Levi's Bold Curve skinny jeans–perfect for going out with friends!
-PJ Gach
This series is brought to you by Levi's® Curve ID. Find your custom fit at Levi's® stores or Levi.com. |
Once the weather gets warmer, outdoor parties kick into high gear! Whether your time under the stars is a rooftop, deck or backyard, here's a super cute outfit that we created around a pair of dark Levi's® Classic Slight Curve Slim Jean. The outfit is colorful, flirty and fun…just like you!
Levi's classic slight curve slim jeans ($50, levi.com)
Roberto Cavalli printed silk caftan top ($695, net-a-porter.com)
Daya turquoise earrings ($29, sendthetrend.com)
Golden open bangle set ($22, baublebar.com)
Read The Perfect Outfit! Meeting His Parents for the First Time
Patent envelope clutch ($19.80, forever21.com)
Pleated bow sling back heel ($40, charlotterusse.com)
Pixi Fairy Glow face palette ($34, target.com)
PJ Gach is Senior Editor: Style + Beauty at BettyConfidential.

subset: commoncrawl


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Juggling my two teams
I've been on a hiatus from my National Women's Soccer League team for the last couple of weeks, but this time it's not because of an injury (thank goodness!). Abby Wambach, my teammate on the Western New York Flash, and I have been at training camp with the U.S. national team, and then playing a two-game series against Korea Republic in Foxborough, Mass., and Harrison, N.J.
It's always good to be in with the national team, but it can be nerve-wracking as well. Every time you step out on the field you're getting evaluated, as our coach Tom Sermanni tries to figure out who he wants to keep on the roster and where everybody should play on the field. It's a process, but the more times we're together competing the better we're going to be as a team for the World Cup in 2015.
Abby and I missed two games with the Flash, but our team did really well without us. The first game against the Washington Spirit was at the same time as our national team game against Korea, so we weren't able to watch it live. Instead, we finished our game, and as we walked into the locker room, we checked our Twitter feeds to find out who won. (Ours did, 2-0.) For the second Flash game, this time against the Chicago Red Stars, Abby and I were able to watch and root for them. It's hard to miss games, but now we'll be with the team for the remainder of the NWSL season, which finishes in August.
We had some exciting games with the national team, too. I was so honored to be on the field as Abby broke Mia Hamm's all-time goal-scoring record last Thursday. We all knew she was chasing Mia, and it was getting close. I think she wanted to beat it during this series so she could get it over with, since we aren't going to play again as a national team until September.
We all laughed with her about it because she's an all-or-nothing kind of woman. When she wants to do something, she'll do 10 times the amount. I remember telling her after she scored her first goal to score "two more," and she laughed and scored three more in the first half. It was pretty incredible -- you could see it in her eyes that she was going to do it.
I was also psyched to get to play in front of my home crowd in New Jersey for that game, as well. I had a large crew of fans -- close to 100 people from the Medford Strikers Soccer Club whom I am affiliated with at home, as well as Universal Soccer Academy where my trainer James Galanis is the director of soccer operations. I also had a large group between my family and my boyfriend's family and friends.
All in all, I'm feeling really good. There's still some minor residual pain in my shoulder from the injury I had in March but like anything, that's going to take some time to go away completely. I just have to keep up with treatment and strength exercises for the rest of the season.
Playing with the NWSL is a totally different pace from the national team because we often have one game and then don't play again for a month. With the league, we have a game or two a week! It's a really good opportunity to try different things on the field, see what works, improve my game and increase my game fitness.
Luckily I love my ice baths so I am doing those on a daily basis to make sure I'm getting the recovery I need. Our next game is against Washington on Friday, so I'll be resting up until then. We've beaten them once and tied once, so we're hoping for another "W" on Friday!


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Capitals Players' Wives and Girlfriends Shop for 63 Kids for the holidays throughThe Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program
by Staff Writer / Washington CapitalsARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals players' wives and girlfriends went holiday shopping for 63 children they adopted through The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Target. This was the first of two shopping trips the Capitals will make for the holidays. Capitals players will go shopping on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Toys R Us to purchase $10,000 worth of toys to donate to the U.S. Marine Corps. Toys for Tots Foundation.
Washington Capitals Charities and the Caps adopted 25 families for the holidays. The children will receive clothing and toys, while the parents and guardians will receive Target and local grocery store gift certificates. By the end of the day the wives and girlfriends filled up 40 shopping carts and five SUVs with toys, clothes and presents.
Kim Clark, Rachel Fehr, Mackenzie Keeley and Diondra Steckel shopped for bikes, books, clothes, electronics and toys, spending $275 on each child.
"Christmas is a special time for kids, and we hope these presents bring them joy," said Rachel Fehr, wife of Capitals forward Eric Fehr.
"We are shopping for the kids hoping to bring some smiles to their faces on Christmas morning," said Diondra Steckel, wife of Capitals forward David Steckel.
On Dec. 27, the Caps will host the 25 families to a skating and pizza party at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, where the players and their wives will get a chance to meet the kids they shopped for.
The Angel Tree Program
The success of The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program depends on volunteers who agree to adopt and purchase gifts for an angel. For many of the families who turn to The Salvation Army for help, the toys and clothes they receive through the Angel Tree Program are the only gifts their children will have to open on Christmas morning. Last year, more than 20,724 individuals received emergency holiday assistance through the Angel Tree Program throughout the National Capital Area. Of that number, 5,266 children from 2,226 families were in the District. This year, The Salvation Army's goal is to help a total of more than 25,000 individuals throughout the National Capital Area and they anticipate providing holiday assistance to more than 6,000 children through The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program within the District.


text: Browse by Tags - InfoPath Dev Sign in | Join | Help in Current Tags (Entire Site) InfoPath Dev InfoPath Dev is dedicated to bringing you the information and tools you need to be successful in your Microsoft Office InfoPath development projects. Home Blogs Forums Photos Downloads All Tags » Error » xml file (RSS) Office365 Alert - Sandbox has been deprecated in SharePoint Online. Read more here. Having trouble finding a blog or post that answers your question? Check out our Custom Search Page Browse by Tags 2007 moss enterprise. browser enabled browser form data connection data connection file infopath 2007 SharePoint udcx An error occurred accessing a data source So...after my first post several days ago I figured the auto-populate, no the problem is...get this and so many people have it but i have not found the answer Ok... I published my form to a form library with a data connection to an XML file withing a data connection library on the same site. Everything... Posted to Data Connections (Forum) by Rahil on 07-22-2010 Page 1 of 1 (1 items) Copyright © 2003-2017 Qdabra Software. All rights reserved.View our Terms of Use.


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The mids and highs on my M-80 are crystal clear. I find them to be more balanced than my M50 and I don't feel like the bass is overwhelming at all, probably the same amount as the M50 but better quality to my ears. Punchy and definitely a slight bass hump but not overwhelming. This is coming from someone who owns a KRK KNS 8400, which everyone calls bass-light, but I happen to think they have a good amount of impact and body. A big part of getting the best SQ with the M-80 is when you break the pads in over time and have them mold to your ears. The seal has a big impact on SQ with the M-80.
Edited by roma101 - 9/21/12 at 6:41am


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- Pro Sports Blogging - http://www.prosportsblogging.com -
Souray sent to Hershey (TSN); Captain Shawn
Posted By Scott Pattison On Oct 6 2010 @ 3:34 pm In Edmonton Oilers | 2 Comments
TSN is reporting the Edmonton Oilers have swung a deal to sent Sheldon Souray to the Hershey Bears, the Washington Capitals' farm team.
The Oilers have yet to publicly confirm or deny today's events, but is seems quite possible given the club had until 1 p.m. today to trim their roster to the league requirement prior to kicking off the season at home Thursday vs. their southern Alberta nemesis, the Calgary Flames.
In other Edmonton news today, team GM, Steve Tambellini, also named 10-year veteran Oiler forward Shawn Horcoff as the team's 13th captain.
No surprises there, as Horcoff had been rumoured, and to some extent was the logical choice, to become the team's newest captain. Of all the Oilers' I've interviewed in recent memory, Horc' goes about his daily business, whether the team was playing in the Stanley Cup finals or sitting in the league's cellar, with unparalleled professionalism.
Very level-headed player who strives to bring his best to the table, on and off the ice, each and every day. His impact on rookies Eberle and Hall has been tangible since the beginning of training camp, and likely a lot longer than that.
A solid choice, of a man who wears the Oiler logo on his a..
Edmonton continues to carry three goaltenders on its roster; Khabibulin, Deslaurier and Dubnyk – a scenario Tambellini has failed to address as of yet.
In the meantime Oiler fans, chins up…sticks down!
About the Author
Article printed from Pro Sports Blogging: http://www.prosportsblogging.com
URL to article: http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/10/06/souray-sent-to-hershey-tsn-captain-shawn/
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The Gustavus women's hockey team will face Bethel for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Playoff Championship on Saturday at 2:00 pm at Don Roberts Ice Rink in St. Peter. The Gusties enter with a record of 20-3-3 overall, while the Royals enter with a mark of 15-9-2. The game will be broadcast live through the Gustavus Athletics web site with JJ Akin on the play-by-play and Tim Kennedy handling the color commentary.
Gustavus advanced to the championship game with a 5-2 win over Concordia at Don Roberts Ice Rink on Thursday night. The Gusties scored four power play goals in six opportunities to knock off the Cobbers in a hard-fought affair. Amanda Cartony continued her hot streak with two goals to lead the Gusties. Cartony has scored 11 goals in the last eight games for Gustavus. Others scoring against the Cobbers were Maddie Bergh, Whitney Schaff and Mollie Carroll. Danielle Justice made 21 saves and picked up the win in goal for the Gusties.
Bethel picked up its historic 4-2 win over St. Thomas thanks in large part to a pair of goals by Biz Huss and strong goaltending from Jess Newstrom. The Royals led 2-0 after two periods on goals by Huss and Allison Papko. The Tommies cut the lead to 2-1 in the third period, but the Royals responded with two goals in nine seconds to secure the victory over the Tommies. Huss scored at the 8:05 mark and then Sarah Kartak scored her fourth goal of the season at the 8:14 mark. St. Thomas added a late goal to cut the lead to 4-2, but it was too little, too late at the Royals made their first MIAC Playoff win an important one punching their ticket to today's title game against Gustavus.
The Gusties and Royals have not seen each other in over three months having played their regular season series on Nov. 19-20. Gustavus swept the series in two hard-fought matchups winning 4-1 in St. Peter and 2-0 at Bethel's Rink in Blaine.
This will be the first ever meeting between Gustavus and Bethel in the MIAC Playoffs. The Gusties, who will be making their 12th consecutive appearance in the MIAC Post-Season Tournament, have compiled an all-time playoff mark of 21-4-2, while the Royals, who are making their fourth appearance in the MIAC Playoffs, and third in the last four years have an all-time playoff mark of 1-3. Gustavus is 7-2 in its nine MIAC Playoff Championship game appearances and will be attempting to claim its eighth consecutive MIAC Playoff Title. The Royals, who are in the midst of the finest season in the program's history, registered their first MIAC Playoff win on Thursday night against St. Thomas and will attempt to win their first MIAC Playoff Title in their first ever MIAC Title game appearance today against the Gusties.
The winner of today's game will receive an automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Championship which will begin with first round games next weekend. The tournament field will be announced with a live broadcast on NCAA.com on Monday morning at 9:00 am (Central Time).
Women's Hockey Set To Host Bethel For MIAC Playoff Championship
Posted on March 5th, 2011 by Tim Kennedy
One Comment
Thanks Tim for the good work you and your crew do in bringing us the girls hockey games here in southwest Florida, Bonita Springs.


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A Scam Email with the Subject "Urgent Response" was received in one of Scamdex's honeypot email accounts on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:11:23 -0400 and has been classified as a Generic Scam. The sender was "Mr. Peter Sands" <email@example.com>, although it may have been spoofed.
Standard Chartered Bank PLC, 1 Aldermanbury Square London EC2V 7SB private Line:+447024045595 Private Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Greetings... I got your contact email address through a personal search and decided to let you know about this packaged financial transaction that will benefit us. I am Mr Peter Sands, the Group Executive Director of the Standard Chartered Bank PLC Central London Branch On the course of the 2007 end of the year's report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the Chief Auditor had Thirty five Million Five Hundred Thousand G B Pounds (35,500.000.00 GBP) of which my head Office is not aware of and will never be aware of, I have also PLACED this fund on ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT without a beneficiary. As the As the Chief Auditor in the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am compelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. I will compensate you with 40% as gratification while 60% will be for me. Please If you accept my offer, kindly contact me on my private cell phone number:+447024045595 or my private email contact firstname.lastname@example.com for more details. In course of this transaction, there are practically no risk involve because It will be a bank-to-bank transfer. please this is very confidential transaction please. I will appreciate your timely response. With Regards, Mr.Peter Sands. NOTE: Please if however, you are not disposed to assist, kindly delete this email in view of the confidentiality and let me know as soon as possible to enable me look for Capable one.


text: OMFG There's A New Girl Scout Cookie!Margaret Hartmann1/05/12 10:20amFiled to: Girl Scoutsgirl scout cookiesSavannah SmilesCookiesFoodtweetFb191EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkGirl Scout Cookie season is nearly upon us, and this year there's a new cookie being introduced to celebrate the organization's 100th anniversary: Savannah Smiles. The "cool and crisp lemon wedge cookie" is named for Girl Scout Founder Juliette Gordon Low's home town. The flavor doesn't sound all that exciting, but the Girl Scouts have yet to lead us astray.Reply191 repliesLeave a reply


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Cubs to move Wrigley wall, add seats
The Chicago Cubs have received permission to add seats at Wrigley Field.
Just days after the Cubs completed one of the worst seasons in team history, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks gave the team permission Thursday to add more seats. The commission said Cubs officials can move a brick wall at Wrigley Field three feet closer to home plate so 56 more seats can be installed.
By shrinking foul territory by three feet, fans will have a better chance of catching foul balls behind the plate.
The approval means the team will move the wall behind the plate at the 98-year-old ballpark for the second time in recent years. Seven years ago three rows of seats were installed, a move that trimmed foul territory by 10 feet.
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Back to Search Results
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Created: 2011-11-10 19:30:27 Modified: 2011-11-10 19:30:27
2008 Saturn Aura
Year: | 2008 |
Make: | Saturn |
Model: | Aura |
Owner: | Christine Skeen |
Location: | Belize City, Bz |
Source Unit: | Alpine IVA-W203 |
Installed By: | Self installed with my bro |
This is a 2008 Saturn Aura Xe 3.5 ltr with 6000k hid headlights soon to have custom TSX projectors. The system has an apline iva-w203 headunit with lic plate revrse camera,sirius radio ,two pairs polk audio db6501 components speakers,one jl audio 450/4, jl audio 1000/1,two jl audio 8w7 in a custom flared ported box tune to 35hz, all 0 gauge stinger wires and soon to be D3400 XS power battery with all jl audio battery terminals along with the big 3 upgrade.The car will soon be getting a 1.3 drop in the front and 1.7 drop in the rear along with a razzi body kit with dual exhaust.The gray leather seat will be in about 2 weeks time so stay tune more to come and i need to say thanks jl audio you guys are the best and i'll never use any other JL AUDIO 4 LIFE.
Equipment List
Quantity Used | Product (click for product details) |
1 | 450/4 |
1 | 1000/1 |


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Ken, with respect, it has been pointed out to me in another thread that the transformers used, along with topology employed in the Studio Six is perhaps not quite on par with amplifiers at the same/similar price point. I am not saying that this is a fact - merely an impression of another member - but I think it will be fair if you can shed some light on the matter - specially of component sourcing and may be some design decisions involved in creating the Studio Six in this thread.
Thank you,
Hi @x838nwy -
I'm not sure about about the meaning of "on par" in this context, because I haven't seen these other comments you're speaking about. I also can't speak to the actual sourcing of components and such in the ALO Studio Six, as I'm a writer/reviewer - and, most importantly, a confessed music addict! But I will say this, and I say it after 20 years in both high end audio and the music business:
Being the proud owner of an E.A.R HP4 (what I consider to be amongst the very best reference-level tube headphone amps), and currently running the Studio Six, Burson Conductor, and Ray Samuels The Darkstar - I am obligated to say that I would buy the Studio Six in a HEARTBEAT.
Forget what others are saying. Try it for yourself. Me, I've been listening to music on a high end two-channel system for 20 years (including gear by Classe Audio, E.A.R, dCs, Zu Audio, Nordost, and more), I've listened while mixing at the desk in a ton of studios, and I've worked backline at live shows: The Studio Six is a splendid sonic achievement. Nothing less. It's connects me to the music emotionally, physically, psychologically, and spiritually, which is what I seek in a high quality amplifier.
It's something Ken and his team have reason to be proud of,


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App Description
Listen, speak and play - the quick and intuitive way to learn and recall everyday vocabulary in Spanish. It includes audio pronunciations by native Spanish speakers. Whether for leisure, school or business, this key vocabulary application covers a range of subjects from home and people to food and time. With scenes and items from everyday life clearly labelled, it's easy to find the words you want in this application.
35 topics and over 600 words/phrases
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Front Burner: Spotlight on wining and dining in Driftwood
Updated 10:55 pm, Friday, November 16, 2012
Driftwood is getting some national attention in the November issue of Southern Living magazine. In an article written by Paula Disbrowe, Salt Lick BBQ owner Scott Roberts shares some of his favorite local spots in Driftwood, nicknamed "the Napa of Texas," including his own Salt Lick Cellars, Duchman Family Winery, Trattoria Lisina and Driftwood Estate Winery.
Speaking of attention, the Phoenix Saloon in New Braunfels was recently featured on the Travel Channel's "Food Paradise."
Beyond turkey
Want to get those Thanksgiving guests out of your house for a breather? The San Antonio Museum of Art is offering free admission Friday and the café is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. For those who will have had their fill of turkey by then, the Friday special is Hanger Steak with Portobello Mushrooms and Goat Cheese Polenta.
Artwork needed
The Junior League of San Antonio is looking for artwork for the cover of its new cookbook, "Fresh Flavors," to be published in 2013. Artists may submit one or more pieces in any medium for consideration.
Artwork should "represent the unique flavors of San Antonio and/or the Junior League of San Antonio," according to a press release. "Food does not necessarily need to be the main focus of the piece." Entries must be electronically submitted in a JPEG file by Jan. 1 to Maria Downes at
email@example.com. Artists must include the work's title, medium and dimensions; the Junior League will retain ownership and copyright of the winning artwork and reproductions.
Top selections will be displayed at the Bright Shawl Gallery Jan. 15-March 1.


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BP Comment Quick Links
December 30, 2010 SeidnotesWARP SpeedLast week, I wrote an article titled "The Rodrigo Lopez All-Stars" to uncover how many pitchers have thrown 200 or more innings at or below the replacement level after pitching as poorly over the prior three seasons. Lopez pitched exactly 200 innings and finished the 2010 season with a 0.0 WARP; the figure should have been expected given his track record, but the innings total proved surprising. While researching for that article I found the worst WARP totals for pitchers who similarly logged 200 or more frames. Most of the pitchers came from past eras, as it is now far less common for a bad pitcher to record that high of an innings total. Actually, it is far less common for any pitcher to record that high of an innings total these days, which made Lopez's stats so perplexing. One of the names on the list of pitchers with the worst WARPs in 200 or more innings was Denny McLain, who produced 1.5 wins below replacement in 1967, a year before famously winning 31 games for the Tigers and adding 8.9 wins above replacement. In the comments of my article, the question was raised as to where that spike in WARP would rank on an all-time scale. After all, it cannot be too common for a pitcher to fluctuate that wildly. Improving from one or two wins to five or six might make sense in the right context, but to go from costing a team over a win and a half to adding approximately nine? That would be like being Pauly Shore's sidekick in a movie and then landing a starring role in a Scorsese film. Going strictly from one year to the next—I'll explain more after the table—here are the biggest positive improvements in WARP for pitchers dating back to when teams were named the Beanaters and every fourth player was named Red or Lefty. Note that I removed pitchers whose jumps were directly attributable to vast playing time increases:
These were the only five pitchers that improved by more than nine wins from one year to the next while accruing similarly high amounts of playing time in both seasons. Not so surprisingly, McLain's ascension tops the list. Examining the list, Perry's improvement looks strange on the surface given that he had a 2.76 ERA in 1971, but league ERAs were also much lower in his heyday. In that 1972 season, Perry posted a 1.92 ERA and struck out 234 batters in 342 McNally pitched less in 1967 than in 1968, but threw so poorly in that first year that the improvement still merits inclusion. He improved from a 4.54 ERA to a 1.95 mark and saw his peripherals drastically improve: 70 K and 38 BB in 1967, 202 K, and 54 BB in 1968. Carlton, much like McLain and Gibson, had an historic second season in the span. He spent 1971 with the Cardinals, producing a 3.56 ERA with mediocre peripherals. The next season, he won 27 games for the Phillies with a 310/97 K/BB ratio and a 1.97 ERA. That these seasons were historically good shouldn't be surprising, as the WARP figures in those years would need to be notably high to garner such a big improvement. Carlton's 1972 ranks as the sixth-highest WARP for a pitcher; Gibson's 1968 season ranks 10th; and Perry's 1972 ranks 18th. McLain and McNally experienced such drastic improvements not only because they pitched well in the second year but because they pitched so poorly in that first season. How about the opposite query? Here are the biggest declines in WARP from one year to the next:
Interesting that Carlton shows up on both lists, as he went from a mediocre season to one of the 10 best of all-time, and then back down to slightly above average. Of course, everyone would see their numbers decrease as compared to a 13 WARP season, but it stood to reason that Carlton may have been able to remain elite in 1973 after such a tremendous 1972 campaign. Turnbow came out of nowhere to take over the Brewers closer role in 2005 after toiling in obscurity with the Angels for a few seasons, adding 5.8 wins above replacement, which led all senior circuit relievers and ranked second only to Mariano Rivera. The next season, he posted the worst WARP in the entire league. Oh, how extremes are fun! But going from one year to the next probably is not the most optimal way to answer a question like this. Fluctuations across two seasons are one animal, but it is less likely that a pitcher will improve or decline substantially in a season compared to his production over the level established during the prior three seasons. Framing the question in that manner, where does McLain's WARP spike rank? I turned to the database, added the WARP totals over a three year span, computed the average wins above replacement during that span, and then compared that average to the fourth year of each span. Here are the five biggest improvements:
Eric Seidman is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 6 comments have been left for this article.


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Talk:Headless Hunt
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Why would the horsemen seen in PoA/f be the Headless Hunt? Although the ghosts have heads on their hands, their heads are over their shoulders. -- Seth Cooper owl post! 21:45, October 8, 2009 (UTC)
- I don't follow what you're saying. "Although the ghosts have hads on their hands, their heads are over their shoulders"? --Parodist 13:54, October 10, 2009 (UTC)
- Sorry, I meant that although they are carrying severed heads, their heads are not severed. -- Seth Cooper owl post! 23:37, October 17, 2009 (UTC)
- Oh. I thought that it looked as if one ghost had a his head on, but was carrying around the head of the ghost he was being chased around the hall by. --Parodist 00:12, October 18, 2009 (UTC)


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November 6, 2012
Politics, religion, and sex are the three most taboo topics in the world. That might explain some of the weird searches people use to get to this site…
I'd be lying if I said I felt really terrible for not posting as much the last two months, but the truth is that the website has really take its toll on me. Yes, it kept me writing. Yes, it's been a blast hearing from all my readers, your wonderful comments on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, everywhere. At the same time, it's exhausting. The research, the cross-checking, everything.
I was in Washington during the last presidential election. I remember receiving the first batch of "Obama is from Kenya" emails at the office. I remember walking into the chief of staff's office and asking if he'd seen this. The "WTF" look on his face as he realized these people were serious is something I'll never forget. I asked, half-in-jest, if it was acceptable to write an email to send back to these concerned citizens and call them the frakin' morons they rightfully should be called.
I was told to be as polite as possible. And I was.
But I never forgot how I had to sit there and write a letter that was the equivalent of telling a charging rhino to sit. The whole time, I just sat there and thought of what I really wanted and needed to say:
I'm sorry, I agree that you have concerns, but I can't really say that you're the biggest fucking idiot I've ever met since my job depends upon my boss making everyone happy at the expense of not showing any spine or actual conviction. However, I understand you like to believe reality is a big conspiracy against you and the scary black man is going to take away Jesus and apple pie, and while such a scenario is about as likely as me gaining the powers of the Q Continuum just because I'm bored, I have to hold your hand and tell you that you're right. Why? Because while liberals may have mistakenly latched on to the idea of relativism, the Right took it even further and declared that reality itself is so subjective that tangible, verifiable facts do not matter if you believe strongly enough. They believe that they can change reality by simply stating a bald-faced lie. Sure, I've been working in this office for only a few months, but even I know that both sides stretch the truth, exaggerate, and so on. However, I would present to you the following analogy.
Both of us are asked how to better move a couch up the stairs. My side suggests getting a bunch of people together to lift it, move it over the railings, and getting a few people inside to maneuver it through the door. Unwieldy, sure, and perhaps inefficient, but at least it worked. Your solution? Empty a gun into the sofa and hope God pulls it up.
I'm sorry. I'm supposed to be tactful, right? Positive? Okay.
Dear sir and/or madam, I am quite positive you have a massive learning disability, possibly self-inflicted from years of watching Fox and listening to Limbaugh. But just because you're offended, you're not right. Just because ten thousand people say it, it doesn't make it true. Dismissing science, logic, and maturity does not make you quaint and homey. It makes you a child.
But I'll be nice to you. Because it's mean to be mean to children. Unless they're idiots and refuse to learn from their mistakes. You know what? Forget it. You're an idiot.
I'm pretty sure that was the moment I decided to try to reach out and educate people, maybe get a discussion going. I know some people will never be swayed by facts and experience, but I'm thankful for the things I've taught and for the things I myself have learned.
But frankly, the last year has been exhausting. I'll be glad when the election is over. I'll be more glad when I can finally tell myself I've edited Charcoal Streets as much as it's going to get edited.
Good night. See you tomorrow, and remember…
Stories don't tell children dragons exist. Stories tell children the dragon can be beaten.


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Here's the preview prior to the postponement.
The Clarets are looking to build upon two impressive victories – picked up against Whitehawk and Concord Rangers respectively – when bottom-of-the-table Dorchester Town visit Melbourne Stadium on Saturday (3:00pm KO).
Mark Hawkes' Chelmsford City side recorded a crucial win away at Whitehawk last weekend before goals from Luke Callander, Michael Cheek and Rob Edmans sealed a 3-1 victory over Danny Cowley's Concord.
That win at the Aspect Arena made it just one defeat in nine games for the Clarets since Mark Hawkes and Steve Smith took over the reins of the Melbourne-based club last November.
Chelmsford City will be wary, however, as City returned from the Magpies' Avenue Stadium with zero points after being on the receiving end of a 2-0 score-line back in September. This Saturday's hosts are currently riding high however after finding themselves in thirteenth position in the Skrill South table, which now tells a completely different story to that of four months ago as the Clarets have begun to pick up some pace and steer themselves away from the relegation zone, and another three points will certainly go a long way in achieving that feat.
Dorchester Town, meanwhile, were on the wrong end of a 4-0 result against Dover Athletic after a hat-trick from ex-Claret Jeff Goulding sealed the win. The Magpies' match last Tuesday against Hayes and Yeading United was abandoned.
On the same day, Dorchester Town were buoyed by the news that they secured the signature of Nathan Walker on a month's loan from Weymouth. He re-joins after spending last season at the Avenue Stadium and will go straight into Saturday's squad.
Dorchester Town: Address: Avenue Stadium, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2RY. Phone: (01305) 262451. Position Last Season: 8th in the Blue Square South. Miles from Chelmsford: 182. Approx. Journey Time: 3 hours, 50 minutes. Nickname: The Magpies. Team Colours: Black & White. Ground Capacity: 5,009 (2,846 Covered Terracing). Seats: 697. Official Website: www.dorchestertownfc.co.uk.
Admission Prices: Adults £13; Concessions £9 (over 65s and students with an NUS Card); Youths (17 to 18 years) £9; Children (12 to 16 years) £5; Under 11s £1. Main Stand: £1 addition to the prices above.
Weather Forecast: Light Cloud. 9 degrees Celsius. Wind 16 mph.
Follow the Clarets on Twitter! Stay up-to-date with the latest Clarets news, results and information through the club's official Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/OfficialClarets or search for, and follow, '@OfficialClarets'. This service provides live match updates, so if you can't make the game, make sure you don't miss a kick!
QR Reader now on the programme! Following a successful trial, you can now scan the QR-Code on your smartphone (with a QR Reader app) on the back of your match day programme to view the live team sheet from 30 minutes prior to kick-off! Programmes are available at £2.50 in the ground.
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
1. | Maidenhead United | 35 | 80 |
2. | Ebbsfleet United | 34 | 76 |
3. | Dartford | 34 | 68 |
4. | Chelmsford City | 34 | 63 |
5. | Hungerford Town | 34 | 60 |
6. | Poole Town | 33 | 60 |
7. | Hampton & Richmond Borough | 35 | 58 |
8. | Wealdstone | 35 | 54 |


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Marvin Frank Schumacher
Submitted by crecord2010 on
Marvin Frank Schumacher, 82, of Cuero passed away Tuesday, June 3, 2014.
He was born November 21, 1931, in Yoakum to the late Arthur and Elsie Maresch Schumacher. He married the love of his life, Peggie Castellow, on November 24, 1955 in Petersville. Marvin was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. He owned and operated Schumacher & Sons Water Well Service and Schumacher Brothers Gravel Company for many years. Marvin was also a co-founder of Energy Waste Rentals & Services.
He is survived by his children, Kenneth Schumacher (Jacque) and Sandra Anders (Pat); brother, Harry Schumacher (Lillie); and grandchildren, Andrew Katzmark (Glennis), Matthew Schumacher (Sarah Beth), Parker Schumacher, Kendra Schumacher, and Alexis Anders.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Mark Thomas Schumacher; and brother, Harvey Schumacher.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 4, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 7 p.m. at Freund Funeral Home. Services will be held Thursday, June 5, 2014, 10 a.m., at St. Michael's Catholic Church with Deacon Leo Sharron. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Pallbearers include Andrew Katzmark, Matthew Schumacher, Parker Schumacher, Brady Anders, Brent Schumacher, Thomas DeLaurier, James Rath, Anthony Rath, and Brien DeLaurier. Honorary pallbearers will be Kendra Schumacher, Alexis Anders, Audrey Anders Stone, and his loving caregivers.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael's Catholic Church or St. Michael's Catholic School.
You may sign the guest book or send condolences at www.freundfuneralhome.com.
Freund Funeral Home, 361-275-2343.
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text: South Korea To Ban Those Gold Farming BotsBrian Ashcraft6/15/12 5:00amFiled to: PCLegalSouth KoreaGettypicKotakueast23EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkAccording to the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, roughly sixty percent of game items for sale were acquired via bots. In online games, these programs allow players to hunt and collect items without controlling them directly. And soon, these programs will be outlawed. Advertisement The Korea Times reports that the country has decided to ban the commercial trade of game items. The law, which will go into affect later this year, will also prohibit players from using bots. The Korean government believes that these programs are responsible for online gaming's negative reputation.Those players who violate the law can face up to five years in prison and a 50 million won (US$43,000).Advertisement"The main purpose of the games is for entertainment and should be used for academic and other good purposes," said Kim Kap-soo, head of the ministry's content policy division. The government also feels that the virtual item trade has caused problems in Korea and that a solution is therefore necessary.More details about the new law are expected next month.Korea prohibits trade of online game items [The Korea Times]Sponsored(Top photo: Chung Sung-Jun | Getty)Reply23 repliesLeave a reply


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Barnes Group (NYSE:B): Closing price $28.10
MSC Industrial (NYSE:MSM) will acquire the Barnes Group at a price of $550 million, with the asset purchase structure resulting in significant future tax benefits with a net present value estimated to be more than $100 million. Run-rate cost synergies should reach between $15 million and $20 million by fisacl year 2015. The transaction should close during the firm's third quarter and will be financed using available cash and borrowings under an anticipated new credit facility and term loan structure. The purchase should be accretive to cash flow and earnings, including synergies and excluding transaction and integration costs, by contributing an anticipated incremental earning per share of between 15 and 20 cents and 30 to 40 cents in fiscal years 2014 and 2015, respectively, with the majority of transaction and integration costs being incurred in fiscal years 2013 and 2014. Shares closed up 3.63 percent on the day at $28.10, and have been have traded in a 52-week range of $19.71 to $28.63.


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Humans and animals have evolved to consume energy very efficiently for movement. Bones, muscles and tendons work together for propulsion using as little energy as possible. If robotic actuation can be made to approach the efficiency of human and animal actuation, the range of practical robotic applications will greatly increase and robot design will be less limited by power plant considerations.
M3 Actuation is an effort within DARPA's Maximum Mobility and Manipulation (M3) robotics program, and adds a new dimension to DARPA's suite of robotics research and development work.
"By exploring multiple aspects of robot design, capabilities, control and production, we hope to converge on an adaptable core of robot technologies that can be applied across mission areas," said Gill Pratt, DARPA program manager. "Success in the M3 Actuation effort would benefit not just robotics programs, but all engineered, actuated systems, including advanced prosthetic limbs."
Proposals are sought in response to a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). DARPA expects that solutions will require input from a broad array of scientific and engineering specialties to understand, develop and apply actuation mechanisms inspired in part by humans and animals. Technical areas of interest include, but are not limited to: low-loss power modulation, variable recruitment of parallel transducer elements, high-bandwidth variable impedance matching, adaptive inertial and gravitational load cancellation, and high-efficiency power transmission between joints.
Research and development will cover two tracks of work:
* Track 1 asks performer teams to develop and demonstrate high-efficiency actuation technology that will allow robots similar to the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) platform to have twenty times longer endurance than the DRC GFE when running on untethered battery power (currently only 10-20 minutes). Using Government Furnished Information about the GFE, M3 Actuation performers will have to build a robot that incorporates the new actuation technology. These robots will be demonstrated at, but not compete in, the second DRC live competition scheduled for December 2014.
* Track 2 will be tailored to performers who want to explore ways of improving the efficiency of actuators, but at scales both larger and smaller than applicable to the DRC GFE platform, and at technical readiness levels insufficient for incorporation into a platform during this program. Essentially, Track 2 seeks to advance the science and engineering behind actuation without the requirement to apply it at this point.
While separate efforts, M3 Actuation will run in parallel with the DRC. In both programs DARPA seeks to develop the enabling technologies required for expanded practical use of robots in defense missions. Thus, performers on M3 Actuation will share their design approaches at the first DRC live competition scheduled for December 2013, and demonstrate their final systems at the second DRC live competition scheduled for December 2014.
If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on ycombinator or StumbleUpon. Thanks


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In recent years, the interplay between the methods of functional analysis and complex analysis has led to some remarkable results in a wide variety of topics. It turned out that the structure of spaces of holomorphic functions is fundamentally linked to certain invariants initially defined on abstract Fréchet spaces as well as to the developments in pluripotential theory.
The aim of this volume is to document some of the original contributions to this topic presented at a conference held at Sabancı University in İstanbul, in September 2007. This volume also contains some surveys that give an overview of the state of the art and initiate further research in the interplay between functional and complex analysis.
Graduate students and research mathematicians interested in functional analysis, complex analysis, and linear partial differential equations.


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We LOVE Mexican food at our house and I am always looking for a yummy side dish. I love refried beans, but when you buy them in a can, dump them out, and the beans retain the shape of the can . . . ew. It grosses me out. I then found this recipe and I am never going back!! Took 15 minutes to throw it together and THEY WERE AMAZING! My husband said that they were as good as the beans you get at a restaurant . . . and the recipe is so easy that you can't go wrong!
**This recipe makes a lot, but you can also use it to make bean burritos, bean dip, topping for a salad, etc . . . you will definitely want to use a large 5-6 quart slow cooker for this recipe.
This recipe is part of our Weekly Healthy Menu Plan – if you need help planning out healthy meals for your family, be sure to check it out! CLICK HERE to learn more.
Serves: 12
Took 15 minutes to throw it together and THEY WERE AMAZING! My husband said that they were as good as the beans you get at a restaurant . . . and the recipe is so easy that you can't go wrong!
10 minPrep Time
8 hrCook Time
8 hr, 10 Total Time
- 1 onion, peeled and halved
- 3 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed
- 1/4-1/2 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (I used about 1/4 because I wanted my kids to eat it and not think it was too hot)
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 1 3/4 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
- 5 cups water
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups salsa
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 2 cups shredded pepperjack cheese
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 16 oz. sour cream
- 2 Tbls chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
- Mix in with the beans and let cook a couple hours longer so flavors can blend. Makes a huge batch so just freeze leftovers!
- Place the onion, rinsed beans, jalapeno, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin into a slow cooker. Pour in the water and chicken broth and stir to combine. Cook on High for 8 hours, adding more water as needed. Note: if more than 1 cup of water has evaporated during cooking, then the temperature is too high.
- Once the beans have cooked, strain them, and reserve the liquid. Mash the beans with a potato masher, adding the reserved water as needed to attain desired consistency.
Equipment Needed For This Recipe:
Here are more of our favorite side dishes:
Cheesy Refried Bean Bake
Baked Zucchini Bites
Slow Cooker Warm Chili Cheese Dip
Fresh Mexicorn
Fresh Spinach Dip
We're so excited to announce that our 4th cookbook is available for SALE!!!
Sweets and Treats with Six Sisters' Stuff
This cookbook is all our very favorite recipes: DESSERTS!
Get it HERE.


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Most geneticists agree that Native Americans are descended from Siberians who crossed into America 26,000 to 18,000 years ago via a land bridge over the Bering Strait. But while genetic analysis of modern Native Americans lends support to this idea, strong fossil evidence has been lacking.
Now a nearly complete skeleton of a prehistoric teenage girl, newly discovered in an underwater cave in the Yucatán Peninsula, establishes a clear link between the ancient and modern peoples, scientists say.
If your child feels compelled to dig things up and delicately dust them off, then they have a serious problem.
First of their kind scans of preserved infant woolly mammoths have made the insight into the early stages of development for the 40,000 year-old prehistoric animals less fuzzy.
According to a report published July 8 in the Journal of Paleontology, researchers performed a full body CT scan of two mammoth newborns, named Lyuba and Khroma, who died at the ages of 1 and 2 months respectively. The skeletal structures of the infants, which researchers consider to be the most well-preserved baby mammoth specimens found to date, gave the scientists the chance to document the various changes that occurred to the body as the ancient pachyderms grew. They also helped determine whether the mammoth gestation periods may have been shorter than that of modern elephants.


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Dave White Profile Dave White Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...Read full profile
Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex
Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...Read full profile
funnier than Munich. Read full review
Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.
out of 100
Metascore®Generally unfavorable reviewsbased on a weighted average of allcritic review scores.
This is one of those movies where you stay rooted in your seat just to see how bad it can really get.
Read Full Review
Does a very thorough job of reducing every recognizable member of the cast to probable career lows.
The film doesn't have much in the way of genuine laughs despite a plethora of attempted gags, but it does have a geniality that makes it hard to entirely dislike.
See all Grandma's Boy reviews at Metacritic.com
not for kids
Absolutely dreadful and offensive comedy.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this movie glorifies drugs and prostitution, as well as immature, antisocial behavior. Characters frequently talk about sex and hookers. In one scene, the main character masturbates to orgasm in front of a Laura Craft doll and is caught by another character's mother. In another, a guy sucks on the breast of a half-naked woman for hours. There is also a big party where everyone, including the grandmother, gets drunk. Some characters are portrayed in an ethnically-insensitive manner.
Messages: Most women in the movie are treated as sex objects, though one of the main characters is a strong woman. Drugs are used openly.
Role models: There's no one here you want your child to emulate.
Violence: All violence is in the video games the characters create.
Sex: A lot of talk of "getting laid," a guy fondles and kisses a woman's bare breast, explicit discussion of sexual positions.
Language: Explicit discussions about sex, "gay" is used as a derogatory word, the "p" word is used to refer to an elderly woman's vagina.
Consumerism: Ten different brands are displayed prominently in the movie.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Constant pot smoking and frequent drinking.


text: Celebrate the destruction of New York City with this crazy giant monster artAnnalee Newitz3/08/13 4:44pmFiled to: ArtIllustrationRaid7127EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalink What could be more beautiful Advertisement Artist Raid71 has a show coming up next week at Bottleneck Gallery in Brooklyn where you can see these illustrations of New York City being destroyed by monsters. The theme of the show is "the popular face of New York," and will also include other pop culture icons that are not covered in tentacles or breathing fire. Here's Godzilla, who is actually not represented quite accurately here — the Gozilla who destroyed New York was in the Roland Emmerich movie and looked like this (much to everybody's annoyance) — so I think Raid71 has improved on cinematic history here. And here's a little Independence Day action. King Kong, of course. Cloverfield! This is from a Roger Corman cult classic called Q from the 1980s, where Ray Harryhausen did the effects. Can you name this one? It's the monster that should have been in a certain comic book movie but wasn't.Reply27 repliesLeave a reply


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I am very excited to be apart of the blog tour for Every Shattered Thing, a sexy New Adult book by Elora Ramirez and today I bring you an exclusive excerpt AND a giveaway. Really, what could be better?
Every Shattered Thing synopsis:
Stephanie fights reality every day. The voices inside, the ones declaring her worth, deem her broken, used and dirty. She is an object. A toy. Something to be tossed aside when bored. Who will believe her if she whispers the truth about her wrecking ball of a family? Eventually, her secret explodes and the person who means the most to her knows just how shattered she is and why she's so afraid. But rescue is closer than she realizes. Hidden in plain sight, her horror hasn't been ignored by everyone. Racing against the truth of what she faces, forces are joining together and developing a plan to free her from the hell in her own backyard. And while she's at her lowest point, she's hit with the beauty of love at any cost - redemption in the face of ruin. Will it be enough?
*Warning: Contains mature content that may not be suitable for younger audiences*
And now, without further ado...
Every Shattered Thing excerpt:
The hint of a smile forms on his lips and he catches me staring. The smile spreads across his face and he moves his hand right under my face, pulling me closer.
"You know you can kiss me any time you want to, right?"
I swallow.
He steps even closer and brushes his lips with mine, and I swear. The wind picks up around us and blows my hair up and out and I pulls me in even closer and I can't breathe but he's kissing my neck, my throat, and oh god those lips.
I've kissed people before. This is something different. This is a cold rush of wind and the warmth of summer. This is the crash of an ocean wave. I gasp when he nibbles my lower lip. My hands run through his hair, tugging on strands before moving down his arms and around his waist. I want him closer. I've never wanted anyone close but damn. I want him close. I want to feel every inch of him.
Pathetic fallacy. Mrs. Peabody told us about it in literature. Sometimes, the atmosphere mirrors that of the characters. It's the gloomy weather and pointed description of the castle in Wuthering Heights. It's picnics on sunny days with someone you love.
It's the electric feel of Kevin's hands reaching places they've never explored while the storm inches closer and closer.
It's more than I can handle. I pull away, slowly, and rest my head against his chest. The tears are flowing and I'm trying to keep them as silent as possible but it doesn't work. He tucks his finger underneath my chin and lifts my head gently.
I place my hands on his chest where my head rested and avoid his gaze. "I just..I just need a minute."
He wraps his arms around me and my head falls right underneath his chin.
"It's just so different," I whisper.
He says nothing, just kisses the top of my head and briefly tightens his hold before releasing me. "Come on. We still have a little while before the storm hits." He helps me walk up the soggy embankment to the tracks. "This is something else I use to do when I was younger and needed to get away from everything." He focuses on the ground beneath us, looking for possible grooves which would cause me to trip. "But, when I was younger it was less of me getting away from a serious crisis and more me just wanting to get away from my overbearing parents."
"At least you have parents who worry about you."
He nods. "Yeah. Before, I saw it as something I hated. They just 'didn't get me' and only wanted to ruin my fun." He picks up a stick and examines it before tossing it aside. "Before the party, before everything got weird, they were simply trying to protect me."
"Do they know about me?"
Kevin smiles and continues to walk, measuring his words before he speaks. "Yeah." He looks at me and puts his hand up as a promise. "They don't know anything else other than you being my girlfriend. I haven't said anything about...your situation."
"Do you think your mom would like me?"
He's quiet again, this time for a longer period of time. When he does begin talking, his words are quiet. "I don't know. My mom has this tendency to take everything at face value. Because of this, she's already pinpointed girls she wants me to date. Girls who know how to put on a pretty face for the adults and usually turn around and party harder than anyone I know. Girls I would never dream of dating."
I notice the darkening clouds and their similarity to the growing storm inside me. Apparently I had been holding my breath, because I exhale slowly and press my lips together. His parents know about me. For some reason, this excites and terrifies me at the same time. What if I screw something up? What if he realizes my situation is too much to handle?
He stops walking and pulls me toward him again. His voice breaks through my downward spiral and I notice the emotion just beneath the surface of his eyes.
"Stephanie...I don't want you to worry about my mom. She doesn't matter. I've spent way too many moments worried about what they think and I forgot about what was important, what I needed to rely on wasn't them but something bigger, something more stable. It doesn't matter to me if she likes you or not. This won't change my feelings for you." His voice moves to a whisper and he comes closer. "I know what I want."
He leans forward and kisses me again, this time slow and gentle, before turning again toward the trail.
I stretch my shoulders and walk beside him a little more until we find ourselves getting ready to cross the bridge. I stop for a split second and Kevin looks at me.
"Everything okay?"
I stare down at the drop—nothing more than twenty feet—but my palms start to sweat and my knees start to shake. I croak out. "I'm afraid of heights."
No, afraid isn't the word. It's more like terrified. Scared shitless. Horrified.
He laughs. "Stephanie. I got you. Come on, you'll feel better once you cross this. Besides, it's quicker going this way than turning back and walking all the way through the meadow again." He shrugs his shoulders and motions again toward the clouds. "Think of it as a shortcut."
I shoot accusatory glances his way. "Did you know this was here? Did you know we'd have to walk on this bridge? What if a train comes?"
"Impossible. This track is dead at night. I use to walk it all the time, remember?"
I take a deep breath and grab his outstretched hand. "Okay. Let's do this. But I swear, Matouse. If I die..."
He leans over and kisses my cheek. "That's my girl."
Add the book on Goodreads here.
About the Author:
Elora Ramirez lives in Austin, Texas with her chef-husband. At the age of four, she taught herself how to read and write, cutting her teeth on books like Dr. Suess and writing anywhere she could find the space—including her Fisher Price kitchen set, the pages of picture books and Highlights Magazine. Since then, she's grown to love the way words feel as they swell within her bones. Writing holy and broken is her calling, and pushing back the darkness and pursuing beauty through story is her purpose. She loves hip-hop, wishes she lived by the beach and cannot write without copious amounts of coffee, chocolate, and her husband's lavender liqueur.
| Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |
Now that you are totally intrigued, I have another gift for you! You can enter to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Kicking off for one week starting tomorrow, Sony is offering up special deals on "Ultimate Editions" of a variety of PS3 games.
From Tuesday, May 29th until June 4th, you're be able to get Ultimate Editions of select PS3 titles for special prices—version of the game that come included with all of their offered DLC. Here are the games, what you'll get, and the prices:
Red Dead Redemption with Legends and Killers, Liars and Cheats and Undead Nightmare
Rockstar's open-world Western with DLC offering nine new multiplayer maps, over 25 new multiplayer characters, additional new multiplayer weapons and new trophies. Oh, zombies, too!
$27.99 ($19.59 for PlayStation Plus Members!)InFAMOUS 2 Complete Edition
Cole MacGrath returns in SuckerPunch's action adventure hit. Help save New Marais from the Beast, and itself.
$33.99 ($23.79 for PlayStation Plus Members!)BioShock 2 with Exclusive Character Pack, Minerva's Den, The Protector Trials, Rapture Metro and Sinclair Solutions
This survival horror shooter from 2K Games picks up eight years after the ending of the first BioShock. The DLC brings you an increased multiplayer rank (up to 50), 4 new multiplayer characters, 6 new multiplayer maps, 6 new trials maps, new weapons, trophies and trials.
$27.99 ($19.59 for PlayStation Plus Members!)MotorStorm Apocalypse
This intense racing game from Evolution Studios gives you over 40 tracks based in The City, on the west coast of the United States. Play through the Festival solo, in couch co-op, or online multiplayer.
$50.49 ($35.34 for PlayStation Plus Members!)Call of Duty: Black Ops with First Strike, Escalation, Annihilation and Rezurrection Packs
Treyarch's latest CoD installment speaks for itself. We've added all four Map Packs to this Ultimate Edition, bringing you over 20 new maps and new playable characters.
$66.49 ($46.54 for PlayStation Plus Members!)L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition
Help Cole Phelps clean up 1947 Los Angeles in this captivating open-world crime adventure from Rockstar. This Ultimate Edition includes plenty of additional cases for you to solve.
$27.99 ($19.59 for PlayStation Plus Members!)Mafia II with Betrayal of Jimmy, Greaser Pack, Jimmy's Vendetta, Joe's Adventure, Renegade Pack, Vegas Pack and Hero Pack
2K's third-person action-adventure sequel offers a gritty mid-century gangster experience you're sure to enjoy. DLC adds new missions, new clothes and new cars.
$20.99 ($14.69 for PlayStation Plus Members!)Just Cause 2 Ultimate Edition
This Avalanche Studios title places you in the fictional Pacific island of Panau, giving you an open-world adventure experience you're sure to remember. This Ultimate Edition includes new weapons and vehicles for you to enjoy.
$20.99 ($14.69 for PlayStation Plus Members!)Mortal Kombat with the Warrior Bundle and Klassic Skins Pack 1
Get the latest version of this 2D fighter classic along with Klassic Costumes for Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Reptile, Mileena, Kitana, Ermac and Jade. Add in new warriors Skarlet, Kenshi, Rain and Freddy Krueger and you have this unbeatable Ultimate Edition.
$34.99 ($24.49 for PlayStation Plus Members!)


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ADCOM 201 Black & Red
ADCOM 201_Blk&Red
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- Operating System : Featured Os
- Sim Option : Dual Sim
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Product Details of ADCOM 201 Black & Red
Key Features
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ADCOM 201 Black & Red ADCOM 201_Blk&Red
Price in India: 1,200999 + 99 Shipping
Specifications of: ADCOM 201 Black & Red
- Max. Expandable Memory It indicates the maximum limit of the Extendable Memory supported by the mobile phone. Some mobile phones support upto 4GB and more extendable memory.
- upto 8GB
- Internal Memory
- Brand
- Model
- Aqua201
Main Feature
- Messaging
- Music Player
- Music Format
- Handsfree Speaker
- FM Radio
- Camera Resolution Resolution is made up of building blocks called pixels. A million pixels together are called a mega pixel. Its on the resolution, which is composed of elements sensitive to sunlight, that the image is created. Each of these elements registers one of the points (called pixel) that create the picture.
- Audio jack (3.5mm) A common connector for plugging in a standard pair of music headphones such as the ones found on music players, computers and most other electronic devices with audio outputs.It can support stereo and/or microphone, depending on the number of separate connector rings on the jack.Some phones offer only a 2.5 mm jack
- 3.5 mm
- Network Type
- 900/1800 MHz
- Network Supported
- Sim Option
- Dual Sim
- Battery
- 1050 mAh Lithium-ion
- Battery Backup
Talk Time : 8-10 hours
Standby Time : 120 hours - RAM
- Weight
- 120 g
- Dimensions
- 12.4 x 3.5 x 1.2cm
- USB Connector A small connector on the mobile phone where a USB cable can be connected to transfer the data or images is known as USB connector.
- Bluetooth Bluetooth is a short range wireless technology that connects electronic devices, including cell phones, printers, digital cameras or palm top computers. It is designed to exchange data at speeds up to 720 kbit/s and at ranges up to 10 metres.
- Display The display is better known as the screen. It shows icons, messages & instructions and functions.
- 2.4 Inch
- Display Resolution Resolution measures the sharpness of the display or screen. Mobiles Phones are available in the following display resolution 128x128, 128x160, 176x220, 240x320. Resolution represents the smallest piece of the screen that can be controlled individually. Each one can be set to a different color and intensity (brightness).
- 240 x 320 pixels
- Form Factor
- Bar
- Input Method Mobile Phones are operated using QWERTY Keyboard (like Blackberry), Touchscreen (like the PDAs) and Keypad.
- Non Qwerty Keypad
- Torch
Additional Details
- Accessories Included
- 1 Handset,1 Charger,1 Battery,1 Earphone
Additional Features
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Langley pair help Renegades win national title
A pair of Langley ball players helped their team come up with the perfect ending to an up and down season.
"It was just a very big deal for us to win nationals," said Abbey Fortin, one of two Langley girls on the team. The other was Ainsley Guzzo.
"We had a couple of bumps along the way."
The bumps the 16-year-old was referring to were tough losses during the season for her team, the White Rock Renegades 98 girls fastpitch squad.
Multiple times the team would reach the championship final, only to come up short in the gold medal game.
Even worse, the losses came to the same team, the Renegades 99, their sister team one year their junior.
But the team persevered and was rewarded with victory at the Canadian U16 national fastpitch championships last week in Brampton, Ont.
The tournament ran Aug. 13 to 17 and White Rock went 8-0.
In the gold medal game, the team trailed 1-0 heading into the fifth inning, but the Renegades cobbled together a pair of runs to defeat the Quebec Rebelles 2-1.
Prior to reaching that championship game, the Renegades also took care of some unfinished business, knocking the Renegades 99 out of title contention with a 6-3 victory.
"They always seemed to beat us when it counted, but we finally got it," Guzzo said about her team finally beating their nemesis.
The key was the game plan the coaches set out and following it, she said.
"We worked hard for each other and wanted it more in the end," added Fortin.
"And I think that is what got us the title."
The majority of the group — including Guzzo — was on the Renegades team which won the U14 national title in 2012. But for Fortin, this was her second year on the team and first taste of a national championship.
"It was amazing," she said. "As soon as Katie (Humhej) struck the last batter out, it was a relief and then just so much adrenalin."
For the tournament, Fortin, a centre-fielder, batted .435 and four of her 10 hits went for extra bases. She also had six RBIs.
Guzzo, the team's catcher, hit .222 with a pair of RBIs and five runs scored.
The pair are both entering Grade 11 at Walnut Grove Secondary.
submitted picture
Langley's Abbey Fortin (left) and Ainsley Guzzo helped the White Rock Renegades 98 fastpitch team win the U16 national championship.


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90 hotels enroll for Dubai classification planA total of 90 properties have enrolled for the new hotel classification scheme introduced by Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) during the recent Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai. Majid Al Marri, DTCM director of More… |
DTCM launches new hotel classification checklistDubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has announced the soft launch of its new hotel classification checklists for all categories. Majid Al Marri, DTCM director of classification, said: "Dubai has experienced phenomen More… |
Abu Dhabi to expand hotel classification systemAbu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which oversees the development of the emirate's tourism industry, plans to expand its hotel classification system to recognise properties judged to exceed five-star requirements. Sheikh Sultan Bin Ta More… |
Bahrain to study tourism impactBahrain will soon be able to evaluate the impact of tourism on the economy following the implementation of a world-class tracking system. The Information Ministry's Tourism Affairs will implement the United Nations World Tourism Organisati More… |


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Assassin's Creed
Opens 12/21/2016
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, thematic elements and brief strong language
Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.
Find Showtimes & Buy Tickets
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While BC programs (BCPs) offer immense value to organizations they are not always leveraged to give the organization an edge over competitors. Andy Vanderhoff, President of Quantivate, discusses the ways you can publicize your BCP and use it to achieve cost savings, as well as the lean manufacturing conundrum: necessary redundancy versus lean principles.
Continuity Insights: How can organizations better publicize their BC practices to both customers and the broader community?
Andy Vanderhoff: Organizations can better publicize their BCPs by working with departments such as public relations or marketing. When working with public relations, use a press release to publish the achievements of your BCP. Marketing departments who utilize effective email campaigns are always looking for content to publish. Write up an article explaining the resources, effort and focus of your BCP. Finally, publish a BCP statement on your website.
CI: Lean manufacturing is widely used to improve efficiency, but its principals are at odds with BC planning. How can BC professionals strike a balance between lean operations and necessary redundancy?
AV: Lean manufacturing focuses on eliminating redundancy to lower costs. BC focuses on eliminating single points of failure to improve resiliency. These two programs may seem at odds, but if the right approach is taken they can act as equal weights on a scale. An effective business impact analysis (BIA), where senior management agrees on the impact weighting, can act as a unifying force. It can help quantify the amount of risk an organization is willing to take in its operations. The risk appetite identified in the BIA can provide framework to discuss risk reduction solutions. In some cases redundancy is simply too expensive. All hope is not lost as you can still write a business continuity plan for these areas by documenting a plan to rebuild the business processes/business systems from scratch.
CI: Can BCPs be used to achieve cost savings for an organization?
AV: I have found two primary ways to use business continuity to achieve cost savings. The first is by identifying redundancy. When BC planning goes down the dependency level (mapping business processes to their needed vendors, locations, applications, systems, staff and equipment) you can see where there may be duplicate operations. The second way to achieve cost savings is to identify true recovery time and recovery point objectives (RTOs and RPOs).
Business changes rapidly and in some cases what was a critical priority in the past may no longer be on that level. This means there may be some systems that have a better RTO/RPO than is actually needed. Granted, this second way of finding cost savings is less common but it is still worth keeping in mind.
CI: Why is it important that all managers across an organization understand the value they provide to customers and how can BC plans be used to demonstrate this?
AV: Sometimes working in a larger organization is challenging when you don't understand how your job fits into the overall company mission. In a large organization, you may feel like a cog in the wheel. It is vital to your ongoing career path to understand how your job/department ultimately serves your customers. BC can help clarify this role during the BIA by creating dependency maps for your organization. That way a particular department can see how they ultimately serve the customer.
CI: How can BC professionals demonstrate to senior management the benefit their BCP offers the organization as a whole?
AV: The obvious ways BC provides benefit to the whole organization is by protecting life, ensuring compliance, reducing risk, eliminating single points of failure and keeping staff trained. One often overlooked benefit is the ability to leverage data gathered in the BCP for other governance, risk and compliance efforts: Vendor lists can be shared with Vendor Management; Business processes can be shared with Enterprise Risk Management; Disaster recovery times for technology can be shared with Information Security to help with the "A" in CIA (confidentiality, integrity and availability). The IT system to business process mapping can also assist with privacy programs such as GLBA or HIPAA.
For more information on Quantivate's continuity, risk and compliance solutions please visit http://www.quantivate.com


text: GW boys making adjustments on the fly By Tommy R. Atkinson October 30, 2012 Chip Ellis George Washington junior keeper Garrett Phillips (left) leads the state in shutouts with 14. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- George Washington is nothing if not resilient.The Patriots, the defending Class AAA state champions, started the season with huge holes all over the field after seven starters graduated. Then it took GW coach Tom Hopper 15 games to hit on the starting lineup. The Patriots then showed their mettle in winning their sectional and regional by identical 1-0 scores.GW (16-5-2) now finds itself on the cusp of playing for another title when it begins play Tuesday in the boys state soccer tournament semifinals at the YMCA Youth Sports Complex in Beckley. (See Page 2B for pairings and schedule.)"For a bit there it looked like it wasn't going to happen,'' Hopper said. "I think we found a way to score a goal or two, our defense is getting a lot stronger and that's helped tremendously. If you're going to be playing good soccer, this is the time to be playing it.'' The Patriots, who finished sixth in the final state coaches association rankings, won their first three games then encountered a rough patch, going 3-3-1 over the next seven games."It took us a while to figure out where we were going to put everybody,'' said Hopper, who guided the Patriots to their first title in 2007. "By the 10th game we thought we had it and didn't, and we had to keep making a few more changes."I think it was kind of a shock for us that it took so long. The season was almost over before we felt like we settled in. It was difficult because some of [the returning players] haven't had much playing time with the varsity and others none. It took our kids a little while to adjust, I think.''GW seemed to be on track with a seven-game unbeaten streak, but then dropped back-to-back games to No. 2 Huntington 3-0 and 3-1 toward the end of the season. Since then the Patriots have won four straight, including a 1-0 win over No. 7 South Charleston on penalty kicks in the sectional final and a 1-0 triumph against No. 20 Woodrow Wilson in the regionals. "We had a couple of tough games and I think the guys finally realized it's going to take more effort,'' said Hopper, who only has two senior starters. "There are other teams out there better than us and we better find a way if we're going to do it."I think they finally started to understand that we want them to play simple. The more they play simple - one touch and a pass, find the open man, don't try to force the ball - we seem to be a much better team.''Junior Noah Miller is GW's top scorer with 12 goals while senior Garrett Warner has 10 and junior Peter Nelson nine. Junior keeper Garrett Phillips has a state-best 14 shutouts.The Patriots have only scored four goals in three postseason games, but have found a way to stay alive. GW's postseason run has featured a different hero at each elimination level. Senior defender Caleb Barnette scored the winning goal during the second round of sudden-death penalty kicks against SC. Daniel Glines' tallied only his fourth goal of the year versus Woodrow."I'm proud of the way the kids are playing,'' said Hopper.Reach Tommy R. Atkinson at firstname.lastname@example.com or 304-348-4811.


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"Nikon's Coolpix 990, 3.34 megapixel, 3X Zoom-Nikkor lens digital camera has won the PC World "2000 World Class Award'' for Best Digital Camera. Awards were announced in the July 2000 issue of PC World and winners will be honored at an awards ceremony to be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2000, from 5-8 p.m. at the Manhattan Penthouse in New York City. "
"It's a great honor to have Nikon's Coolpix 990 awarded Best Digital Camera by such a well-respected publication,'' stated Bill Giordano, National Marketing Manager, Consumer Digital Products at Nikon. "This award is a testimony to Nikon's commitment to introducing exciting new products that set the standard for image quality.''
Throughout it's eighteen-year history, the World Class Award from PC World has honored the top hardware, software and Web products in the computer industry that show the best performance, value, consistency, and innovation. Nikon's Coolpix 950, 2.11 megapixel, 3X Zoom-Nikkor lens digital camera took home the PC World "World Class Award'' for Best Digital Camera in 1999.
Nikon's new Coolpix 990 is a 3.34 megapixel, 3X Zoom-Nikkor lens digital camera with incredible resolution and all the features that lets even amateurs take exceptionally crisp, clear images with the push of a button. The Coolpix 990 offers 4,896-step Multi-Area Autofocus with manual control; a choice of fully automatic, shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure control; a new USB interface for quick downloading of images; a built-in macro lens that allows focusing as close as 0.8 inches from the subject; fast 1.5 frames per second (fps) full-resolution image capture; 30 fps QVGA and 15fps movies for 40 seconds in Motion JPEG mode; and a stepless 4X digital zoom.
For more information on the Coolpix 990, stop by Nikon's PC Expo booth #4372, or write to Nikon Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747, or phone 800-NIKON-UX. Visit the Nikon website at http://www.nikonusa.com.


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Ask an Eye Doctor and Get an Answer ASAP
Hi. I'm online and happy to answer your question today.
I am a retina specialist and I have to agree with you: The comment that your history of thyroid ablation with radioactive iodine as a cause of this vague "you have fewer capillaries" makes absolutely no sense to me either.
If he wants to evaluate the statues of blood flow and capillary function in your retina then the test to do would be a fluorescein angiogram, not a visual field test.
That being said, if you do not have diabetes yourself, your family history of diabetes would not have any impact on your current issues.
Concerning your color vision changes I am not exactly clear on what is going on. You state that the colors are more bright but then also say they are washed out......
Can you tell me if the doctor found any evidence of refractive change, relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD), corneal abnormalities, lens changes/cataract, posterior vitreous detachment or macular abnormalities? If you could upload his notes, that would be great :)
I see that you are offline. I will switch to Q&A format. This format works a lot like 'text messaging' but an email is sent to each of us anytime something is posted to this thread. We can continue to work on your question there..... :)


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An Iowa Christmas
December 1957 | Volume 9, Issue 1
E very Christmas should begin with the sound of bells, and when I was a child mine always did. But they were sleigh bells, not church bells, for we lived in a part of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where there were no churches. My bells were on my father's team of horses as he drove up to our horse-headed hitching post with the bobsled that would take us to celebrate Christmas on the family farm ten miles out in the country. My father would bring the team down Fifth Avenue at a smart trot, (licking his whip over the horses' rumps and making the bells double their light, thin jangling over the snow, whose radiance threw back a brilliance like the sound of bells.
There are no such departures any more: the whole family piling into the bobsled with a foot of golden oat straw to lie in and heavy bullalo robes to lie under, the horses stamping the soft snow, and at every motion of their hoofs the bells jingling, jingling. My father sat there with the reins firmly held, wearing a long coat made from the hide of a favorite family horse, the deep chestnut color still glowing, his mittens also from ihe same hide. It always troubled me as a boy of eight that the horses had so indiderent a view of their late friend appearing as a warm overcoat on the back of the man who put the iron bit in their mouths.
There are no streets like those any more: the snow sensibly left on the road for the sake of sleighs and easy travel. We could hop oil and ride the heavy runners as they made their hissing, tearing sound over the packed snow. And along the streets we met other horses, so that we moved from one set of bells to another, from the tiny tinkle of the individual bells on the shafts to the silvery, leaping sound of the long strands hung over the harness. There would be an occasional brass-mounted automobile laboring on its narrow tires and as often as not pulled up the slippery hills by a horse, and we would pass it with a triumphant shout for an awkward nuisance which was obviously not here to stay.
The country road ran through a landscape of little hills and shallow valleys and heavy groves of timber, including one of great towering black walnut trees which were all cut down a year later to be made into gunstocks for the First World War. The great moment was when we left the road and turned up the long lane on the farm. It ran through fields where watermelons were always planted in the summer because of the fine sandy soil, and I could go out and break one open to see its Christmas colors of green skin and red inside. My grandfather had been given some of that farm as bounty land for service as a cavalryman in the Civil War.
Near the low house on the hill, with oaks on one side and apple trees on the other, my father would stand up, flourish his whip, and bring the bobsled right up to the door of the house with a burst of speed.
There are no such arrivals any more: the harness bells ringing and clashing like faraway steeples, the horses whinnying at the horses in the barn and receiving a great, trumpeting whinny in reply, the dogs leaping into the bobsled and burrowing under the buffalo robes, a squawking from the hen house, a yelling of "Whoa, whoa," at the excited horses, boy and girl cousins howling around the bobsled, and the descent into the snow with the Christmas basket carried by my mother.
While my mother and sisters went into the house, the team was unhitched and taken to the barn, to be covered with blankets and given a little grain. That winter odor of a barn is a wonderfully complex one, rich and warm and utterly unlike the smell of the same barn in summer: the body heat of many animals weighing a thousand pounds and more; pigs in one corner making their dark, brown-sounding grunts; milk cattle still nuzzling the manger for wisps of hay; horses eyeing the newcomers and rolling their deep, oval eyes white; oats, hay, and straw tangy still with the live August sunlight; the manure steaming; the sharp odor of leather harness rubbed with neat's-foot oil to keep it supple; the molasses-sweet odor of ensilage in the silo where the fodder was almost fermenting. It is a smell from strong and living things, and my father always said it was the secret of health, that it scoured out a man's lungs; and he would stand there, breathing deeply, one hand on a horse's rump, watching the steam come out from under the blankets as the team cooled down from their rapid trot up the lane. It gave him a better appetite, he argued, than plain fresh air, which was thin and had no body to it.
A barn with cattle and horses is the place to begin Christmas; after all, that's where the original event happened, and that same smell was the first air that the Christ Child breathed.


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It's never too early to learn about the goodness of BC Blueberries.From the time a baby enjoys their first taste of blueberries, through to a child still in school, blueberries can be fun yet altogether healthy.
We can show you recipes for great tasting baby food, and kid-proof recipes that are perfect for teaching your young one how to cook in the kitchen using BC Blueberries. Visit this great website for homemade baby-food-recipes, or go to our Recipe section and click on the "Kids" option to find recipes for all ages of children including babies. There are some fun recipes in this section to encourage your family's Little Chef as well!
Teachers, check out our fun educational resources in easy pdf format - just click the link below and enjoy printing copies whenever you need them.
Activity Sheet Colouring Sheet


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GCFDA Forum » Tournaments » Weekly Events » Thursday Night Doubles
We will be playing on Wednesday night at 4:30 Thanksgiving week.
We are cancelling today because of rain .
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