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A Shiny New Website
It's been over 8 years since I last switched web platforms for ckdake.com, and it was time for a change. We are putting Gallery into hibernation, Drupal 6 is not going to get any more security updates once Drupal 8 is out (which should be soon), and the ongoing server/backup costs of keeping 130GB of photos on my site is not cheap.
At work, we recently launched a new bignerdranch.com, and my team did a fantastic job of building it as a 'static' site using jekyll. This included migrating a bunch of legacy Python, PHP, and Ruby code and an old Wordpress site.
With fantastic services like Flickr for photos and Vimeo for video, I set out to migrate my photos to Flickr and build a simple and fast 'static' site for ckdake.com. Here it is! The theme still needs a lot of work which is fine, and nanoc has been a lot of fun to get up and running.
Migrating Photos to Flickr
Flickr has a pretty straightforward API, and the Flickraw gem makes writing ruby code to talk to Flickr pretty easily. A few weeks ago I started on this and published the script that migrated my ~25,000 photos to Flickr here: gallery2flickr.rb.
This took about a week to run, and afterwards I spent a good bit of time properly naming sets, changing privacy settings, and copying over captions from my 'stream' abums. More time on the script could have automated some of this, but it's done.
Getting Flickr Photos displayed here was a pretty straightforward block of Ruby code:
Pulling in Vimeo
Vimeo was really easy to pull in to, and the end result looks much better than the JavaScript widget I was using. It's Ruby:
Preserving content and URLs
Getting content out of Drupal was a little bit more involved, and I didn't spend the time to match up the 'format' of blog posts with file extensions or a content formatter. That might be nice, but I'm ok just fixing HTML files by hand when I notice something wonky. This script pulled out my content:
And here is the full 'Rules' file for nanoc that keeps around my old blog and page URLs. Note that nanoc by default does things like '/folder/page/index.html' so I've configured it to do '/folder/page.html' instead.
There is a mess of a UI to clean up, a pile of files to sort through, broken links to fix, etc. There are some PHP things that I need to figure out what to do with, and some shiny JavaScript libraries I want to play with. The 'Projects' section here is going to get some link-breaking cleanup as well, so stay tuned.


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Michigan State Spartans NCAA AC 59FIFTY
Made of 100% Nylon, Woven
This 59FIFTY® fitted cap features an embroidered (raised) Michigan State Spartans team logo on the front, stitched New Era® flag at wearer's left side, and embroidered secondary logo on the rear. Interior includes branded taping and a moisture absorbing sweatband.
Color: ForestGreen
Retail Price: $31.99

subset: commoncrawl


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Video chatting has never been easier. There's Skype, Facetime, Google Hangouts, even most IM clients support video chat at this point. If you want something a bit better than the camera that's probably built into your laptop or desktop though, you'll need a new webcam. Last week, we asked you which webcams you thought were worth buying. Then we took a a look at the five best webcams, based on your nominations. We put them to a vote, and now we're back to highlight the overall winner.
The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 stole the show with over 51% of the overall vote, taking the top spot by a broad margin. Even though it's pricey, you all praised its true 1080p video and call quality, exceptional still photos, autofocus, and built-in stereo noise-isolation microphone. Money well spent.
In second place with close to 17% of the vote was the Logitech HD Webcam C270, an affordable option that gets the job done and makes for a great Hackintosh camera. Just behind it in third with close to 16% of the vote was the Microsoft LifeCam Studio, Microsoft's high-end webcam that's notable for its glass front and adjustable neck. Behind it in fourth place was Microsoft's LifeCam Cinema with 9% of the vote, a slight step down from the Studio in features and price, and in fifth place was Microsoft's entry-level webcam, the Microsoft LifeCam HD-5000, bringing in close to 8% of the votes cast.
The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it's not because we hate it—it's because it didn't get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it's a bit of a popularity contest, but if you have a favorite, we want to hear about it. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at [email protected]!


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Escaping the Deadly Financial Rip-Tide of Debt and Speculation
Only those know to swim parallel to the shore can escape the destructive rip-tide of debt and speculative risk pulling everyone to insecurity and impoverishment.
Longtime correspondent Kevin K. recently shared an extremely insightful analogy of our financial peril. Those of you who swim or body-surf in the ocean are familiar with rip-tides--strong currents shaped by the contours of inlets and bays that pull unwary swimmers rapidly out to sea.
Get a Job, Build a Real Career and Defy a Bewildering Economy(Kindle, $9.95)(print, $20)
Are you like me? Ever since my first summer job decades ago, I've been chasing financial security. Not win-the-lottery, Bill Gates riches (although it would be nice!), but simply a feeling of financial control. I want my financial worries to if not disappear at least be manageable and comprehensible.
And like most of you, the way I've moved toward my goal has always hinged not just on having a job but a career.
You don't have to be a financial blogger to know that "having a job" and "having a career" do not mean the same thing today as they did when I first started swinging a hammer for a paycheck.
Even the basic concept "getting a job" has changed so radically that jobs--getting and keeping them, and the perceived lack of them--is the number one financial topic among friends, family and for that matter, complete strangers.
So I sat down and wrote this book: Get a Job, Build a Real Career and Defy a Bewildering Economy.
It details everything I've verified about employment and the economy, and lays out an action plan to get you employed.
I am proud of this book. It is the culmination of both my practical work experiences and my financial analysis, and it is a useful, practical, and clarifying read.
Test drive the first section and see for yourself. Kindle, $9.95 print, $20
"I want to thank you for creating your book Get a Job, Build a Real Career and Defy a Bewildering Economy. It is rare to find a person with a mind like yours, who can take a holistic systems view of things without being captured by specific perspectives or agendas. Your contribution to humanity is much appreciated."
Laura Y.
Gordon Long and I discuss The New Nature of Work: Jobs, Occupations & Careers(25 minutes, YouTube)
The Old Models of Work Are Broken
NOTE: Contributions/subscriptions are acknowledged in the order received. Your name and email remain confidential and will not be given to any other individual, company or agency.
Thank you, Stephen J. ($50), for yet another stupendously generous contribution to this site-- I am greatly honored by your steadfast support and readership. |


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The economy and jobs may be what voters say they're most concerned about.
But any voters out there who enjoy smash-mouth presidential campaigns are certainly getting one right now — and it's not even Labor Day yet.
If the ads are any guide, the race between the two men has gotten increasingly personal and angry.
On Friday, Republican Mitt Romney's campaign released a TV ad titled "America Deserves Better" that casts doubts about President Obama's character. It links those doubts to a controversial anti-Romney ad from a superPAC run by a former White House aide.
The Priorities USA ad frames Romney as a Scrooge-like figure, uncaring about human suffering, with the story of widower Joe Soptic, who worked at a manufacturing plant closed by Bain Capital. The ad leaves the impression that Soptic's wife, who died of cancer, may have discovered her cancer sooner if the factory closing hadn't caused the family to lose its insurance.
Fact-checkers galore have questioned that impression. PolitiFact concluded "there's no proof directly linking the death to Bain," and rated the ad false.
Meanwhile, the Romney campaign and others have accused the Obama campaign of trying to wash its hands of the superPAC's attack, even though Soptic also participated in an Obama campaign conference call and ad.
In the new Romney ad, the narrator says:
"What does it say about a president's character when his campaign tries to use the tragedy of a woman's death for political gain? ... His top aides were caught lying about it. Doesn't America deserve better than a president who will say or do anything to stay in power?"
The ad goes directly at what has been an area of strength for Obama with voters. Polls have consistently indicated that voters see the president as more likable than Romney.
A recent Gallup poll also shows the president with a significant edge on the question of which candidate is more honest and trustworthy. The new Romney ad can be seen as an effort to weaken the president's advantage on that score.
What Eric Fehrnstrom, a top Romney adviser, told reporters Friday underscored this. The Washington Post reports:
"I don't think a world champion limbo dancer could get any lower than the Obama campaign right now," Fehrnstrom said. "In the process, Obama has squandered what has always been one of his key attributes — that he was a different kind of politician who was going to take us to a better place."
Meanwhile, the president's campaign released an ad taking on Romney's recent line of attack — that Obama has weakened the work requirements in the welfare overhaul law. That charge has been skewered by fact-checkers as well. PolitiFact called it " not accurate."
Titled "Blatant," the Obama ad doesn't exactly accuse Romney of being a liar — though it gets about as close as it can without using the word.
"See this? Mitt Romney claiming the president would end welfare's work requirements? The New York Times calls it 'blatantly false.' "
The ad's makers made sure to flash a picture of Romney as the words "blatantly false" from the Times editorial appear enlarged on the screen.
In addition to trying to discredit Romney's claim, the Obama ad also — like Romney's spot — attempts to raise further doubts about character.
And the "Blatant" ad comes a day after another Obama campaign ad that points to Romney's reluctance to release more of his tax records, and mentions some complicated tax avoidance maneuvers by Marriott Corp. that Romney signed off on as a director. It asks at the end: "Isn't it time for Romney to come clean?" A voter watching that ad would be safe to assume Obama's campaign was accusing the Republican of hiding something.
It's all a far cry from discussing the economy, which is what both campaigns say they would prefer to be doing right now.
In an interview with NBC News' Chuck Todd, which the journalist provides snippets of in a post on the First Read blog, Romney sounded like he was offering Obama a truce on attack ads. The parenthetical comments are Todd's:
"Romney also said in the interview he would like a pledge (of sorts) with Obama that there be no 'personal' attack ads. '[O]ur campaign would be — helped immensely if we had an agreement between both campaigns that we were only going to talk about issues and that attacks based upon — business or family or taxes or things of that nature.' (Question: Is Romney really saying that scrutinizing his business record — which he has held up as one of his chief qualifications to be president — is personal? But we digress ...) He continued: '[W]e only talk about issues. And we can talk about the differences between our positions and our opponent's position.' Romney said of his own campaign: '[O]ur ads haven't gone after the president personally. ... [W]e haven't dredged up the old stuff that people talked about last time around. We haven't gone after the personal things.' That doesn't mean surrogates or Super PACs have, as was brought up to him..."
Jen Psaki, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, told reporters Thursday that the Obama campaign is only doing what it needs to do to untwist facts about Obama's record.
"We know that there's a debate that's going on out there between ads on the airwaves. But I'll say there's been — if you bear with me while I use a fruit analogy — but there's been a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison here, when we're comparing an ad that has not even run, by an outside group we have nothing to do with, with an ad that is the basis of Mitt Romney's campaign right now, that is a bold-face lie about the President's record on welfare. And I think that's frustrating to us because they're being compared at the same level.
"So I will say that the President is out there — you'll hear him talk again this afternoon about what the American people care about. We'd love to be focused on that. But at the same time, we know when there are ads on the air that are distorting his record, we do have to clarify and put out the accurate information about what's the truth."
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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LG Tribute Factory Reset
How to factory reset on your LG Tribute ? If you need to wipe your phone's data for any reason, you can perform a factory reset from the settings menu. This feature will completely erase your personal information and data from your device and make it 100% clean.


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How To Watch The Biggest High School Football Jackson Prep vs Parklane Academy 2021 Playoffs. How to Watch Jackson Prep vs Parklane Academy Live Stream High School Football Live Online, start time, TV Guide, artists, line-up, location, Where and How can I Watch 2021 Jackson Prep vs Parklane Academy Live? Everything is here about High School Football.
Event Details
High School Football 2021
Dates: Friday, November 5, 2021
Time: 7.00p.
Stream: Jackson Prep vs Parklane Academy Stream On Demand (Free Trial)
Watch the action at the High School Football! The State football final 2021 will be held in August. Where the "Best of the Best†teams will meet and fans from around the US and Canada will come together to witness champions competing for the High School Football 2021! Here are the details before we explore that question again. So far the tournament has certainly lived up to the hype and you can watch all the action, no matter where you are, by following our High School Football live stream guide…
Watch State Football Live Online
If you are not able to watch High school football 2021, you can go live and watch football via online streaming on the channels given below:
- Sling TV
- Hulu TV
- FuboTV
- DirecTV Now
- YouTube TV
We are excited to be in our 15th year that covers High School Football! Check out our new recruiting page. The 2021 season is coming up this fall! We hope that you make this a regular visit to HsFootballHUB.Com We will give you current information on upcoming games in all Regions in the state of High on a weekly basis. So stay tuned!
The High may be a member National Federation of State high school Associations since 1924.
The High School Football season streaming. Our goal is to chronicle the complete streaming of high school football in the state of High. We also provide other important information including coaching records, state-wide polls, state championship match summaries, region and area records, and much more.
If you can provide accurate scores or any other information related to our efforts we encourage you to contact us.
ATTENTION: We only continue the information about the upcoming event from the streaming platform, we hope this can be a solution for you to keep enjoying your stream without leaving it at home.


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After a thoroughly unsatisfying quarter-finals round (sorry, guys; I thought that would be more fun than it turned out to be), we move on anyway to the semi-finals. Neeebs, Mr. Customer, Spank, and Josh S. are still alive, both by registering "false" as well as having Josh S. slip in with "grunt" right before the final bell tolled.
Good luck in tonight's matchup: proposition post (which I promise is game-related) will go up some time after 5pm, and all bets are closed at 7p sharp.


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Kathleen Parker
WASHINGTON – In spite of everything – the GOP's internal scrimmages, the government shutdown, the party's transparent attempts to derail Obamacare – Republicans keep getting second chances. The question is, can they handle prosperity? Do they even know what to do with it? With the myriad problems besieging Obamacare, from the non-rollout to the minuscule number of enrollees in the health insurance exchanges, this is no time for gloating. Rather, it is time for Republicans to get very, very busy with their own ideas for across-the-board reforms. The party of "no" must become the party of "we can, too!" This doesn't mean sacrificing core principles, though some could use a little shelf time. It does mean picking battles Republicans can win and avoiding skirmishes that further alienate centrists and minorities. Forget building a larger tent, which increasingly looks like a pup for two white guys and a flashlight. Ditch the tent and build a coliseum. Install Doric columns, if you like, and grab an obelisk on your way to redemption. At no extra cost, here's an inscription for the keystone: Waste not, want less. Waste not this moment; want less than perfection and aim for the possible. This was always House Speaker John Boehner's battle plan, but he finally concluded that leading his conference where it wanted to go was preferable to inciting a civil war. In a recent interview, Boehner told me he thinks at least some of the better-death-than-compromise caucus had come around to understanding that attaching Obamacare to the continuing resolution, resulting in the government shutdown, was the wrong tactic. Even so, "at least some" may not be enough. And who knows what Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has up his sleeve as new deadlines loom for budget and debt-ceiling negotiations early next year? In the meantime, House and Senate Republicans have a small window, while Obamacare is hugging the shoals, to show why their ideas are best. Americans frustrated with Congress and disappointed by the president are primed for someone to pick up the bullhorn and say, "We hear you." It's too bad "compassionate conservatism" has become tarnished because compassion is what is needed in today's GOP playbook: Compassion for the hungry whose food stamps House Republicans excised from the farm bill; compassion for 11 million immigrants who are prisoners in illegal limbo; compassion for gays, lesbians and others seeking protection against workplace discrimination. These are not such difficult choices in the scheme of things. How to guarantee that Iran can't weaponize its nuclear capability? That's tough. Not so tough: Helping the poor feed their families, finding a path for citizenship along with other immigration reforms, extending equal protections to individuals whose sexual orientation should not be a firing offense. The Senate also has passed a comprehensive immigration bill with the help of 14 Republicans that contains a relatively strenuous path to citizenship that includes paying back taxes and fines, and getting in line behind others seeking citizenship. Hardly a giveaway. Even so, some Republicans aren't on board with the path to citizenship. Although Boehner told me he hopes to get an immigration bill to the House floor next year, others say 2014's midterm elections make this unlikely. What's really not likely to happen is a Republican White House – ever – without Latino voters. There's only so much Republicans can accomplish when they control only half of one-third of government. Consider that the biggest states with the largest concentrations of Hispanics – Florida, California, Texas and New York – also convey 151 of the 270 electoral votes needed to be elected president. Appealing to Latinos doesn't mean Republicans have to pander or bow to President Obama's wishes. It means doing the right thing. Even though a slim majority of Americans (53 percent) think most immigrants here illegally should be deported, according to a Reuters/Ipsos online survey last February, a more recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that 65 percent favor a path to citizenship if it requires essentially what the Senate bill proposes. The draconian option of deportation would be an unlovely sight. Not only would families be torn asunder, but America's crops would wither on the vine, as they did in Alabama after that state's crackdown prompted a sudden, mass exodus. Yet again, unyielding principle prevailed over common sense and survival. Time is of the essence if Republicans hope to refresh their image in the public square. Picking battles wisely, acting compassionately, creating rather than negating is the only way forward. Jar the hardwoods, campers, there's daylight in the swamp. Kathleen Parker's column is distributed by The Washington Post Writers Group.


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What are the causes and effects of pain?
Pain management is an important concern for a child with cancer or other pain-causing diseases. When a child has cancer, one of his or her greatest fears, and the fear of parents, is pain. Every effort should be made to ease the pain during the treatment process.
Because pain is unique to each individual, a child's pain cannot be measured with a lab test or imaging study. Health care providers can evaluate a child's pain by observing him or her and asking about it. The family can also help describe a child's pain. There are a number of tools and techniques available to help assess pain in children.
Pain may be acute or chronic. Acute pain is severe and lasts a relatively short time. It is usually a signal that body tissue is being injured in some way, and the pain generally disappears when the injury heals. Chronic pain may range from mild to severe, and is present to some degree for long periods of time.
Many people believe that if an individual has been diagnosed with cancer, they must be in pain. This is not necessarily the case, and even when cancer pain is present, it can be reduced or even prevented. Pain management is an important area to discuss with your child's doctor as soon as a cancer diagnosis is made or suspected.
Pain may occur as a result of the cancer or for other reasons. Children can normally have headaches, general discomfort, pains, and muscle strains as part of being a child. Not every pain a child expresses is from the cancer, or is being caused by the cancer.
Cancer pain may depend on the type of cancer, the stage (extent) of the disease, and your child's pain threshold (or tolerance for pain). Cancer pain that lasts several days or longer may result from:
- Pain from a tumor that is enlarging, or pain from a tumor that is pressing on body organs, nerves, or bones.
- Poor blood circulation because the cancer has blocked blood vessels.
- Blockage of an organ or tube in the body.
- Metastasis. Cancer cells that have spread to other sites in the body.
- Infection or inflammation.
- Side effects from chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery.
- Stiffness from inactivity.
- Psychological responses to illness, such as tension, depression, or anxiety.
Specific treatment for pain will be determined by your child's doctor based on:
- Your child's age, overall health, and medical history
- Type of cancer
- Extent of disease
- Your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- Your opinion or preference
The two categories of pain management are pharmacological and nonpharmacological.
What is pharmacological pain management?
Pharmacological pain management for cancer refers to the use of medications. Pediatric oncology clinics usually offer several pain management options for any procedure that may be painful, such as a bone marrow aspiration or lumbar puncture. There are many types of medications and several methods used in administering them, from very temporary (10 minute) mild sedation, to full general anesthesia in the operating room. Pain medication is usually given in one of the following ways:
- Orally (by swallowing)
- Intravenously (IV), through a vein
- By a special catheter in the back
- Through a patch on the skin
Examples of pharmacological pain relief include the following:
- Mild pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen
- Opioid analgesics, such as morphine and oxycodone
- Sedation (usually given by IV)
- General anesthesia
- Topical anesthetics (cream or patches put on the skin to numb the area)
Some children build up a tolerance to sedatives and pain relievers. Over time, doses may need to increase or the choice of medications may need to change. Fear of addiction to narcotics is common among families. It is important to understand that the ultimate goals are comfort, function, and overall quality of life, which means taking appropriate measures to assure the child is free from pain. There is no evidence of addiction to pain medications in children being treated for cancer.
What is nonpharmacological pain management?
Nonpharmacological pain management is the management of pain without medications. This method utilizes ways to alter thinking and focus to decrease pain. Methods include
Psychological. The unexpected is always worse because of what one imagines. If the child is prepared and can anticipate what will happen to him or her, his or her stress level will be much lower. Ways to accomplish this include:
- Explain each step of a procedure in detail, utilizing simple pictures or diagrams when available.
- Meet with the person who will perform the procedure and allow your child to ask questions ahead of time.
- Tour the room where the procedure will take place.
- Adolescents may observe a videotape, which describes the procedure, while small children can "play" the procedure on a doll, or observe a "demonstration" on a doll.
Hypnosis. With hypnosis, a professional (such as a psychologist or doctor) guides the child into an altered state of consciousness that helps him or her to focus or narrow his or her attention, in order to reduce discomfort.
Imagery. Guiding a child through an imaginary mental image of sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and feelings can often help shift attention away from the pain.
Distraction. Distraction can be helpful particularly for babies by using colorful, moving objects. Singing songs, telling stories, or looking at books or videos can distract preschoolers. Older children find watching TV or listening to music helpful. Distraction should not be a substitute for explaining what to expect.
Relaxation. Children can be guided through relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing and stretching, to reduce discomfort.
Other nonpharmacological pain management may utilize alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, or biofeedback, to eliminate discomfort.
Each child experiences pain differently. It is important to tailor a pain treatment plan based on each child's needs. Finding the best plan often requires trying a variety of treatments to see what works best.


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These clamping hubs are a great and cost-effective choice when attaching hub mount gears or wheels to shafts or tubes and can be a better option than set screw hubs if you don't want to risk damaging whatever you need clamped. These clamping hubs have a 6mm bore, four 6-32 tapped holes, one 6-32 machine screw for tightening, and utilizes the 0.77" hub pattern.
Actobotics is a robotics building system based around extruded aluminum channels, gears, precision shafts, and ball bearings. Thanks to the two standardized hole patterns, nearly all Actobotics components can be intuitively connected together. The wide range of components makes building complex electromechanical prototypes or finished projects a reality.
This skill concerns mechanical and robotics knowledge. You may need to know how mechanical parts interact, how motors work, or how to use motor drivers and controllers.
Skill Level: Noob - You will be required to put together a robotics kit. Necessary parts are included and steps will be easy to follow. You also might encounter basic robotics components like bearings, mounts, or other hardware and need a general idea of how it goes together.
See all skill levels
Whether it's for assembling a kit, hacking an enclosure, or creating your own parts; the DIY skill is all about knowing how to use tools and the techniques associated with them.
Skill Level: Noob - Basic assembly is required. You may need to provide your own basic tools like a screwdriver, hammer or scissors. Power tools or custom parts are not required. Instructions will be included and easy to follow. Sewing may be required, but only with included patterns.
See all skill levels
We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.
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Many tissues can generate low back pain. Unfortunately, research shows that the exact tissues causing low back pain cannot be specifically identified in up to 80% of individuals. In other words, we cannot single out the tissue(s) responsible for the pain. These patients are said to suffer from "nonspecific low back pain"; the specific cause of the pain cannot be determined.
Although the specific tissues causing low back pain are difficult to identify, chiropractic doctors have found a number of factors consistently present in low back pain patients. These factors include vertebral subluxations, faulty spinal biomechanics, deconditioned spinal musculature and the practice of poor postural habits and techniques. By addressing these factors – the actual causes of the tissue injury – chiropractic doctors are able to obtain extraordinary results in low back pain sufferers.
Common events leading or contributing to the development of lower back pain include:
- incomplete rehabilitation of past injuries
- lack of proper and periodic lumbar spinal alignments
- presence of lumbar spine subluxations
- improper lifting techniques
- auto accidents
- improper workstation setup
- poor posture
- prolonged sitting
- prolonged use of non-ergonomically designed equipment
- excessive repetitive torsal motions
- exposure to vibratory forces (truck drivers, jack hammer operators)
- scoliosis (lateral deviation of the spine)
- fallen foot arches and other foot abnormalities
- physical inactivity
- poor diet and nutritional practices
- smoking
Structures which are often the source of lower back pain include:
- lumbar intervertebral discs
- lumbar facet joints and joint capsules
- lumbar and pelvic muscles and ligaments
- lumbar and sacral spinal nerves
- sacroiliac joints


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We offer a Free quote and UK design service, get in touch today.
We are Key Stage Two Playground Markings, we specialise in the design and install of thermoplastic play surface markings which meet Key Stage 2 requirements for educational activities and outdoor play. If you'd like more help and advice on key stage two playground markings, our friendly and experienced team are here to help.
Key stage two playground markings are very common because they allow children to be active on specialist fitness trail designs, be educational on numbered hopscotches and generally improve their learning during playtime, plus improve their social skills and team building within a community group. KS2 are pupils aged between 7 and up to 11 years old which is also known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6.
These classes are called junior schools, although in some cases part of this stage may fall in a middle school or in a primary school. Sometimes sports premium teachers http://playgroundgames.org.uk/training/sport-premium-support-pe-teacher/ will go into schools to teach children how to make the best use of their outdoor space and equipment they have.
The traditional key-stage two play area games, installed with thermoplastic graphics are normally snakes and ladders, hopscotches and clocks. The designs can be both fun and educational, which is why they are very important for schools to have.
The outdoor markings can even improve Ofsted reports this is because Ofsted believes that learning outside is beneficial for children, as it can increase the amount of interest that the children have, and it is a different type of learning environment which some pupils will prefer.
Thermoplastic line marking is the process of installing graphics and designs onto a surface to improve the look of the area. They can be installed on roadways to keep drivers and other road users safe as well as playgrounds to provide more opportunities for children playing in an area. Thermoplastic lines may be installed in a number of colours to suit the clients' preferences.
The bright vibrant colours are great for play areas as they appeal to young children, encouraging them to get involved in various activities. Thermoplastic line marking for playgrounds are often installed using preformed graphics that are heated onto the surfacing until they melt and stick. The thermoplastic graphics are durable and will last a long time after being installed.
When installing thermoplastic markings for KS2 schools or kindergartens http://playgroundgames.org.uk/facility/kindergarten/, we are able to provide the best results possible at a great price. When doing this, our team follow these simple steps;
As specialists, we can carry out this process for you to ensure you get exactly what you are looking for. Speak to our team today if you would like to find out more information and receive further details.
The KS2 playground marking graphics which we install are approved to BS EN 1436 standard, this is the British standard for play area thermoplastic graphics.
The national curriculum for key stage two is that the children should be learning and studying about -
We try and make our prefabricated thermoplastic designs relevant and suitable for the educational programme which they study. The choice of graphic designs that you can have is endless and we are always open to hearing new ideas and bespoke designs that we could apply to your macadam surface.
If you require more information on KS playground marking, please fill in our enquiry form. An expert will answer any questions that you have in a professional manner and will tell you more about the installation process along with the different key-stage two activity designs we've got available to install at your school.
The multi activity KS2 play-area markings that we have previously installed, other than the traditional games which we have spoken about, have included compasses, friendship stops and mood bubbles. Recreational markings such as the friendship stops can bring the pupils in the community together and it can make a certain part of the play area a quieter place and for pupils to be included into groups and games.
As well as the tarmac designs being educational, recreational and also bringing the community together, they can also improve the fitness and health of the students. This is because the fitness tracks which we apply to the surfaces are normally brightly coloured and fun for the kids. This can make PE an enjoyable activity and something which the pupils want to take part in and look forward to; the designs can be unique and customised to whatever appearance and purpose you want.
Having playground graphics installed can quickly restore your facility's play area surface and make it look like a refurbished area for your school and the children who attend there. We are specialist playground markings installers http://playgroundgames.org.uk/ and have completed many projects with a variety of designs.
Please let us know if you're interested in having Key-Stage Two play area games markings applied to your outdoor playground surface and we'd be happy to offer you some more details on the design, specification and costs of installation. Send us over your details using our contact form and one of our helpful team members will get back to you with some advice on key stage two playground markings and a quote.


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Clayton Kershaw (2-4, 4.11) vs. John Lannan (7-12, 3.95).
COMMENTS: Sometimes ya just gotta laugh. What, did we say that already? Well, you know who else is laughing? Diamondbacks fans. Sure, the Dodgers are in position to get swept by the league-worst Nationals, but the Diamondbacks just got swept by the third-worst Padres. Suckitude for all!


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NBA and Sprint tip off 2013 NBA All-Star Balloting
HOUSTON – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Sprint tipped off 2013 NBA All-Star Balloting today during a special event in Houston, the Official Host City of NBA All-Star 2013. NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint will begin today at 3:30 p.m. ET.
2013 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint gives fans around the world the opportunity to vote daily for their favorite players as starters for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston. For the first time ever, NBA fans can vote via social media networks, including Facebook and Twitter, and Sina Weibo and Tencent QQ in China.
Twitter voting will allow fans to tweet a vote for one player each day throughout the All-Star balloting period. The tweet must include a player's first and last name, along with hash tag #NBABALLOT. Facebook voting will allow fans to fill out one full ballot (three frontcourt and two guards from each conference) per day, through a custom application on Facebook.
Fans can also access the ballot and vote through the NBA Game Time and NBA Game Time from Sprint applications, available on Android and iOS. NBA fans can fill out one full ballot (three frontcourt and two guards from each conference) per day, through the NBA Game Time and NBA Game Time from Sprint application, the most comprehensive app in the marketplace for NBA fans.
There are several other ways fans can cast their votes as part of this season's all-digital program including: in 11 languages on NBA.com/ASB, through SMS voting by texting the player's last name to 6-9-6-2-2 ("MYNBA") or by visiting NBA.com/ASB on any wireless device. Fans can vote for 10 different players per day, per phone number, via SMS voting by sending 10 separate SMS messages, each one with a different player's last name. Message and data rates may apply.
After submitting their All-Star selections, fans will have the ability to share them with their friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter, and encourage others to cast their ballots.
Balloting will conclude on Jan. 14, and starters will be announced live on TNT on Jan. 17, during a special one-hour pregame show at 7 p.m. ET featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith. The special will air prior to TNT's exclusive doubleheader featuring the Los Angeles Clippers at the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET) and the Miami Heat at the Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET).
The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences – with 36 frontcourt and 24 guards from each conference comprising the list. Voters select three frontcourt and two guards from each conference. Previously, the ballot featured three positions with fans picking two guards, two forwards and a center.
The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA:
Steve Aschburner (NBA.com), Jonathan Feigen (Houston Chronicle), Doug Smith (Toronto Star/PBWA), and Kenny Smith (TNT).
The 62nd NBA All-Star Game will be exclusively televised on TNT from Toyota Center on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. The All-Star Game, also broadcast live on ESPN Radio, will collectively reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages. NBA All-Star 2013 in Houston will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league's history for a global celebration of the game. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for an 11th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports' 29th year of All-Star coverage. State Farm NBA All-Star Saturday Night will feature the NBA All-Star Shooting Stars, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, and Sprite Slam Dunk. Other events at NBA All-Star 2013 will include the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and NBA All-Star Jam Session. The 2013 game will mark the third NBA All-Star celebration in Houston. The city also hosted the event in 1989 and in 2006.


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Today's consumers are demanding more from companies. Customers expect products, services, and information that are timely and catered to their specific needs and desires. Traditionally, companies develop and market products based on market segmentation and demographics, assuming that the features, functionality and messaging will meet the needs of all of the customers in that demographic—a "one size fits all" mentality. However, as the marketplace shifts from a mass manufacturing to a mass customization model, customers needs and desires are more accurately identified through the development of personas rather than through demographic data.
"What Is a Persona?
A persona represents a cluster of users who exhibit similar behavioral patterns in their purchasing decisions, use of technology or products, customer service preferences, lifestyle choices, and the like. Behaviors, attitudes, and motivations are common to a "type" regardless of age, gender, education, and other typical demographics. In fact, personas vastly span demographics.
How Are Personas Built?
Personas are built by first conducting one-on-one interviews with a wide demographic of the targeted audience(s). Patterns in the data gathered from the interviews begin to emerge after approximately 30 interviews for a typical project focused on one brand or product. These interviews work best when conducted in-context, such as the respondent's home or place of work. This way, ethnographic research techniques may be employed to gather information about the users' environments, providing insight into their behaviors, motivations, and attitudes that may not otherwise be uncovered in a survey, focus group, or one-on-one interview in a market research facility. Typically, the researcher begins with a broad conversation that ultimately narrows in on the use of specific products or services.
Analysis is then conducted on the research data over the course of one to two weeks. The researchers identify extremes in user behavior and group similar respondents together. Patterns of behavior define each user type and provide a clear understanding of how they relate to each other within the extremes.
From here, it's essential to launch another round of research. This time, the recruiting is done according to the behavior and motivation criteria that represent each user type, rather than by the demographic criteria used in the first round. Recruiting five to seven respondents per persona is sufficient to see patterns of behavior. Recruiting additional users may offer some additional insights, but rarely enough to justify the cost. It's possible to conduct these interviews in a market research facility, or even online; however, qualitative data and observations are always more robust when gathered in context.
This round of research validates the persona characteristics and fills in any gaps from the first round of research. More importantly, this is an opportunity to ask specific behavioral questions to better understand how the personas relate to products and messaging. This yields valuable information on how to customize the user experience to specific types of people based on their attitudes, behaviors, and motivations, regardless of demographic information.
Where Does Persona Development Begin?
The first step is to define the customer lifecycle and understand all of the corresponding touchpoints. Each touchpoint will have a corresponding key department that must understand the personas in order to provide an optimal customer experience. Getting buy-in from leadership within each department early in the persona process is key to socializing the personas—spreading the knowledge of the company's customers throughout the organization.
It is a common mistake to wait until the personas are finalized before beginning the socialization process. Socialization attempts within an organization without buy-in are often met with resistance. Getting all of the key stakeholders involved early in the process involves them in informing the initial understanding of the customer and, therefore, helps define the research. Informing these stakeholders of the project's progress will keep them interested, provide opportunities for feedback, ensure a higher quality persona deliverable, and generate greater buy-in throughout the organization.
If there isn't buy-in or, at the very least, usage of the personas across multiple divisions of an organization, the success and longevity of the personas will be limited. The company may create great products based on the personas but lose customers on poor acquisition, unresponsive customer support, or other problematic areas of the customer lifecycle. A consistent and customizable user experience across the entire customer lifecycle is the key to adoption, usage and loyalty, increasing ROI exponentially.
What Is a Typical Persona Investment?
There is no shortcut to creating personas; they are an investment. Strategic, forward-thinking organizations can build personas as a subset of other research, but when conducted properly as a standalone project, the investment in persona development is somewhere between $80,000 to $120,000.
Full-fledged personas must go beyond the demographic data. Demographics are temptingly easy to collect from various sources in an organization, but persona work yields a much deeper understanding of why customers do the things they do and what they expect from an organization within any given context. This knowledge about customers' motivations (the why) makes it possible to create innovative solutions, products, ad campaigns, and customer support (the what) that cater to customers on a personal level.
Some advertising and design agencies offer inexpensive, shortcut methods of defining personas, but these marketing profiles lack the specificity and substance of true personas. An inability to plot the personas in relation to each other and heavy reliance on demographic data for the interpretation can be indicative of personas done on the cheap.
Good personas make the difference between doing the upfront work to get it right the first time rather than spending the same money or more with multiple redesigns, increased customer support costs, etc.
How Can Companies Optimize Their Investments in Personas?
Personas can and should be shared and utilized across the entire organization, and within various product development, marketing, customer support, and sales departments. Each department can use this persona information; for example, product managers can use the information to design a product that better meets the needs or desires of a particular persona, and marketing can use them to craft messaging that resonates. Holding such rich customer information within just one business unit because of political struggles and posturing within the organization is the quickest way to lose the investment in a persona project. Sharing and maximizing the persona work across divisions increases the realization of an ROI and the initial research costs can be shared across different budgets.
Personas should also be updated frequently. Innovation and competition may significantly shift the attitudes and behaviors of a company's customers. In order to keep personas current, companies should maintain a consistent dialogue with customers and commit to maintaining the personas as living and breathing documents. A centralized process for communicating new user research and updating the personas accordingly is critical.
What Can Companies Do If They Don't Have the Budget for Full-Fledged Personas?
If a company is collecting behavioral or qualitative data on its customers, it can spend some time and money mining that data to get a strong understanding of who its customers are and why they do what they do. Such data can help to inform the persona research and can reduce the costs.
Companies that conduct regular research on their products can piggyback that research with specific questions about behaviors and attitudes. While it will take longer to get answers this way, it's at least possible to leverage other research dollars to eventually get to a base understanding of the personas.
If there hasn't been any meaningful initiative to collect qualitative data on customers, it will be necessary to begin a persona project by conducting 24 to 36 contextual interviews with customers. This can be done over the course of three to six months rather inexpensively using a consultant for about $35,000. This will not yield full-fledged personas, but it will start to reveal clustering and patterns of behaviors that will inform user types.
These user types can, in turn, be leveraged in every type of customer feedback initiative going forward. The company can build upon this knowledge until, finally, enough information has been compiled to cluster the customers into personas.


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Husband Shirt
Modern, elegant, and chic - our Husband Shirt is not your average button-up. Stand out at board meetings with it tucked into a pencil skirt, or style it with jeans on your day off, the Husband Shirt is a universally flattering power piece that will have you wondering how you ever lived without it. Available in multiple colorways and an option to personalize with a custom monogram, there's a reason why it's our best seller - husband not included.
The Husband Shirt is an oversized white cotton button-up shirt with tuxedo-style studs. It features elongated cuffs, a classic stitched tuxedo pleat, and the signature MN logo embroidered on the back of the neck.
Personalized pieces will require 14 business days for production. We promise it's worth the wait. All personalized items are considered Final Sale and not eligible for return.
Due to COVID-related border and shipping delays, some items may take an additional 2-3 days to arrive.


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Superstorm Sandy slammed into the New Jersey coastline with 80 mph winds and hurled a record-breaking 13-foot surge of seawater at New York City on Monday, roaring ashore after washing away part of the Atlantic City boardwalk and putting the presidential campaign on hold.
Just before its center reached land, the storm was stripped of hurricane status, but the distinction was purely technical, based on its shape and internal temperature. It still packed hurricane-force wind, and forecasters were careful to say it remained every bit as dangerous to the 50 million people in its path.
The National Hurricane Center announced at 8 p.m. that Sandy had come ashore about five miles from Atlantic City. The sea surged a record of nearly 13 feet at the Battery, at the foot of Manhattan.
In an attempt to lessen damage from the storm, New York City's main utility cut power to about 6,500 customers in lower Manhattan, which includes Wall Street. Authorities worried that seawater would seep into the subway and cripple it, along with the electrical and communications systems vital to the nation's financial center.
As it closed in, Sandy knocked out power to more than 1.5 million people and smacked the boarded-up big cities of the Northeast corridor — Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, with stinging rain and gusts of more than 85 mph.
At least four deaths were blamed on the storm in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York. Among them were two people killed by falling trees.
As Sandy made its way toward land, it converged with a cold-weather system out of the west that turned into a fearsome superstorm, a monstrous hybrid consisting not only of rain and high wind but of snow. Forecasters warned of 20-foot waves bashing into the Chicago lakefront and up to 3 feet of snow in West Virginia.
Airlines canceled more than 12,000 flights, disrupting the plans of travelers all over the world, and storm damage was projected at $10 billion to $20 billion, meaning it could prove to be one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.
President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney canceled their campaign appearances at the very height of the race, with just over a week to go before Election Day. The president pledged the government's help and made a direct plea from the White House to those in the storm's path.
Sandy, which killed 69 people in the Caribbean before making its way up the Atlantic, began to hook left at midday toward the New Jersey coast.
The storm lost its status as hurricane because it no longer had a warm core center nor the convection — the upward air movement in the eye — that traditional hurricanes have, but it was still as dangerous as it was when it was considered a hurricane, according to National Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen.
Pete Wilson, who owns an antiques shop in Cape May, N.J., at the state's southern tip and directly in Sandy's path, said the water was 6 inches above the bottom edge of the door. He had already taken a truckload of antiques out but was certain he would take a big hit.
"My jewelry cases are going to be toast," he said. "I am not too happy. I am just going to have to wait, and hopefully clean up."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said people were stranded in Atlantic City, which sits on a barrier island and was mostly under water late Monday. He accused the mayor of allowing them to stay there.
With the hurricane fast approaching, Christie warned it was no longer safe for rescuers, and advised people who didn't evacuate the barrier islands to "hunker down" until morning.
"I hope, I pray, that there won't be any loss of life because of it," he said.
While the hurricane's winds registered as only a Category 1 on a scale of five, it packed "astoundingly low" barometric pressure, giving it terrific energy to push water inland, said Kerry Emanuel, a professor of meteorology at MIT.
"We are looking at the highest storm surges ever recorded" in the Northeast, said Jeff Masters, meteorology director for Weather Underground, a private forecasting service. "The energy of the storm surge is off the charts, basically."
In New York City, authorities worried that salt water would seep through the boarded-up street grates and through the sandbags placed at subway entrances, damaging the electrical connections needed to operate the subway.
Hours before landfall, there was graphic evidence of the storm's power.
A construction crane atop a luxury high-rise in New York City collapsed in the wind and dangled precariously 74 floors above the street. Forecasters said the wind at the top the building may have been close to 95 mph.
Off North Carolina, a replica of the 18th-century sailing ship HMS Bounty that was built for the 1962 Marlon Brando movie "Mutiny on the Bounty" went down in the storm, and 14 crew members were rescued by helicopter from rubber lifeboats bobbing in 18-foot seas. Another crew member was found hours later but was unresponsive. The captain was missing.
At Cape May, water sloshed over the seawall, and it punched through dunes in other seaside communities. Sandy also tore away an old section of Atlantic City's historic boardwalk.
"When I think about how much water is already in the streets, and how much more is going to come with high tide tonight, this is going to be devastating," said Bob McDevitt, president of the main Atlantic City casino workers union. "I think this is going to be a really bad situation tonight."
In Maryland, at least 100 feet of a fishing pier at the beach resort of Ocean City was destroyed, and Gov. Martin O'Malley said there would be devastating flooding from the swollen Chesapeake Bay.
"There will be people who die and are killed in this storm," he said.
At least half a million people had been ordered to evacuate, including 375,000 from low-lying parts of New York City, and by the afternoon authorities were warning that it could be too late for people who had not left already.
Millions of people stayed home from work. Sheila Gladden evacuated her home in Philadelphia's flood-prone Eastwick neighborhood, which took on 5½ feet of water during Hurricane Floyd in 1999, and headed for a hotel.
"I'm not going through this again," she said.
Those who stayed behind had few ways to get out. New York's subways, which serve 5 million people a day, were shut down. The Holland Tunnel connecting New York to New Jersey was closed, as was a tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan, and the city planned to shut down the Brooklyn Bridge, the George Washington, the Verrazano-Narrows and several other spans because of high winds.
Stock and bond markets were closed Monday and Tuesday, the first shutdown since the days after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 and the first two-day closing of the stock market because of weather since a blizzard in 1888. The New York Stock Exchange is inside the mandatory evacuation zone in lower Manhattan, blocks from New York Harbor.
If the storm reaches the higher estimate of $20 billion in damage, that would put it ahead of Hurricane Irene, which raked the Northeast in August 2011 and caused $16 billion in damage. Hurricane Katrina, which killed 1,200 people, cost $108 billion.


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Idiots With Guns #48
Here's lookin' at you, Buford.
The purpose of Idiots with Guns is not to humiliate, but to educate. Over the years we have seen photos of people who, upon picking up a gun, just cannot resist pointing it at something they should not, with their finger on the trigger. This is usually the camera, another person, or themselves. These photos are often difficult to google up, because of the pages they are shown on. If you have archived any of these photos, feel free to send them in to bayouroversATjamDOTrrDOTcom
The Four Rules
1. All firearms are always loaded
2. Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it
Labels: Idiots With Guns


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Red Sox - 000 000 000 000 000 1 - 1 5 0 Rays - 000 000 000 000 000 0 - 0 3 0Dustin Pedroia's line drive single to right field scored Josh Reddick with the only run of the game as the Red Sox outlasted the Rays in a marathon pitching duel that ended at 1:54 AM. Pedroia (aka the "Muddy Chicken") finished the night 3-for-7, while his Red Sox teammates went 2-for-45 (.044).
I just wanted to go home. I think everyone did. We were trying our best pretty much the whole night to score some runs. ... It was a great game; we're just happy we won.The Rays became the first team (dating back to at least 1919) to be held to three hits or fewer in a game of 16+ innings.
B.J. Upton:
I don't know what to say. ... I'd probably say this is the toughest loss of the year. To know that we played as well as we did and our pitching kept us in it the whole game. ... I think a lot of us in the clubhouse right now are pretty much not happy.Tampa Bay pitchers allowed only five hits, but they issued 12 walks, including seven in a span of 12 batters in the 9th-11th innings. Boston left the bases loaded in the ninth and eleventh, and two on in the tenth. In the eleventh, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, and Darnell McDonald walked, only to watch Josh Reddick (K), Jason Varitek (K), and Marco Scutaro (PF2) squander the golden chance for run(s). Thirty-three pitches in that inning -- and not one fair ball.
The first half of the game was an excellent pitchers duel between Beckett (8-1-0-0-6, 106) and Neimann (8-2-0-2-10, 118). Beckett allowed a two-out infield single to Evan Longoria in the first inning; it was the only base runner he allowed, as he set down 22 in a row. In Beckett's last two starts in Tampa (tonight and June 15), he has pitched 17 shutout innings and allowed two infield hits.
There were several excellent catches on both sides of fly balls hit deep to the warnings track or to the base of the wall. The best one was hauled it by Josh Reddick, leaping in left-center and snaring Justin Ruggiano's drive with two outs in the bottom of the tenth. (It reminded me of Manny Ramirez's HR-robbing grab against Miguel Cairo in September 2004. Ruggiano did not circle the bases and point towards heaven before realizing he'd been pwned, but B.J. Upton, trying to get a head start on a possible celebration at the plate, attempted to hop over the dugout railing and stumbled ... and then went sheepishly back into the dugout!)
This was the longest game the Red Sox had been held scoreless since a 17-inning scoreless tie against the St. Louis Browns almost exactly 95 years ago (July 14, 1916)!
It was also the longest game by time (5:44) in Rays history. The previous longest regular-season game was a 10-9 loss to the Orioles on August 4, 2000, that lasted 5:16. On October 11, 2008, the Rays beat the Red Sox 9-8 in 11 innings in Game 2 of the ALCS, in 5:27.
This was also the longest scoreless game in Rays history. On June 18, 2003, the Devil Rays and Yankees were scoreless through 11 innings, before New York won 1-0 in 12 (that game lasted only 3:17).Josh Beckett / Jeff Niemann
Beckett hyper-extended his left knee on July 8 against the Orioles. He warmed up last Tuesday night at the All-Star Game, expecting to pitch, but the knee felt sore and he decided to not risk it.
I played long toss [on] some flat ground [on Friday]. Everything is good, just like I said it was.Dustin Pedroia has hit seven home runs during his current 14-game hitting streak. ... Since June 9, when Pedroia got his right knee examined, he has the highest OPS in baseball (.375/.469/.714/1.183).
"Hello" Niemann spent time on the DL this year with a lower back strain, but has a 2.82 ERA in four starts since returning on June 20 (runs allowed: 0, 5, 1, 1). In his last start, on July 7, he allowed one run and six hits to the Yankees in 7.1 innings.
Good Old Days, July 17 Dept.: 1903 - Rube Waddell of the Athletics is arrested for assaulting a fan who criticized his pitching. Connie Mack bails Waddell out of jail.
AL East: Yankees/Blue Jays at 1 PM.


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The World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., has become a flashpoint as the partial government shutdown continues.
First there was the attention paid on Tuesday when a group of WWII veterans (with some help from Republican members of Congress and their staffs) ignored barricades and went through with their long-planned visit to the site.
Now there's video from Wednesday of Texas Republican Rep. Randy Neugebauer telling a Park Service ranger that she and her bosses should be ashamed for carrying out the order that the memorial, like other national parks and monuments, should be closed because there's no money available to keep them open.
Neugebauer was there as more WWII veterans were allowed to visit the memorial because the Park Service has decided the vets are exercising their First Amendment rights. But he wasn't pleased that other members of the public weren't being allowed on to the memorial site. He told the ranger that the Park Service should be ashamed. She said it's difficult to turn people away, but that she wasn't ashamed. "You should be," Neugebauer responded.
It's then that a man in a bicycle helmet told the congressman that "this woman [the ranger] is doing her job, just like me. I'm a 30-year federal veteran — I'm out of work."
Neugebauer responded that it's Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who has "decided to shut down the government."
"No, it's because the government won't do its job and pass a budget," the cyclist countered.
In the background, another voice can be heard taking Neugebauer's side: "The House did their job, they passed appropriations. The Senate hasn't."
Washington's NBC4 had its cameras rolling during the confrontation and spoke with both Neugebauer and the cyclist afterward.
Neugebauer was last mentioned in The Two-Way back in March 2010, when he apologized for shouting "baby killer!" as Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., was speaking on the floor of the House. As we wrote at the time:
"Stupak, a 'pro-life' Democrat, was explaining why he was satisfied by an executive order President Barack Obama had signed that affirmed current law banning federal funding for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Feministing's response to the video was interesting. They looked at both Beyonce's video and the (far inferior, in my opinion) new video by Sade for "Baby Father." Their thoughts on the two:
At first both videos seemed pretty straightforward-retro to me. Some cute vintage styling choices, that's all. But given that these are two women of color are playing roles commonly associated with upper-middle-class white women (Betty Draper being the most recent reference point), I wondered: What makes me call this "retro"? I know there were certainly upper-middle-class women of color in the '50s and '60s, but this image of the happy-but-secretly-unhappy housewife is stereotypically white. By virtue of race, Beyonce and Sade are twisting that stereotype. (Granted, Beyonce is a more pin-up than straightforward homemaker -- but hey, that's transgressive, too, as pin-up girls were almost all white.)Hmm. I found this whole idea vaguely disturbing. Is it really so transgressive for a woman of color to do retro? It's quite true that the retro and vintage subculture is predominately white. But why? It's not like women of color didn't live through the eras we celebrate. And, you know, they wore clothes and did their hair. As LaToya Peterson writes on Jezebel, it's more likely that images of these women have been somehow erased from the history books. A snippet:
It is occasions like this that remind me how complete and total segregation was, and how white washed history can be. If these images are associated solely with whiteness, it's because the history of women of color has been systematically erased, deemed unworthy of inclusion in the general framework of "the way we were."Indeed, vintage fashion images of women of color in can be hard to come by. (Look at the B. Vikki Vintage blog for some great photographs.) I'll admit that it is momentarily disorienting to look at these images. I personally didn't realize how closely I associated whiteness with retro. And that's a disturbing realization for me, just as it should be for all of us who are feminist vintage-lovers.
We've talked here about the fact that the misogyny at heart of the mid-century era can be an uncomfortable paradox for the modern day feminist retro-seamstress to face. And this discomfort with the era is deepened considerably when race is brought into the discussion. The pain of the Jim Crow era coupled with the sexism at its core makes it easy to understand why the contemporary woman of color wouldn't necessarily see this as a time to be celebrated.
Can we separate the styles from the time? Lots of feminist retro-enthusiasts (myself included) seem content to be well-informed dissenters to the idea that wearing clothing of the era is equivalent with condoning the misogyny of the period. Can we say the same of race? Often the idea of choice is brought up to defend the decision to wear retro fashion: "I don't have to wear a girdle now. I have the choice, so it's feminist of me to take advantage of that choice either way." But that argument falls on its head when you consider race. Has there ever been a choice to participate in a racist culture or not? (Update: by this last comment, I only meant that women of color did not - and still don't - have the choice of whether to live in a racist society of not; they had to navigate those waters no matter what.)
So, what do you think?
Also, as a reminder: I'm looking for readers to contribute to my Op/Ed column, and I'd be especially interested in further perspectives on race and retro fashion. Please e-mail me if you're interested! Write to gertie [at] blogforbettersewing [dot] com.
Also, the whole video!