text:
The purpose of this thread is not at all to raise a flame war, I just wanted people to know what is happening around the world, and how messed up humans can get. As the title suggests, the topic is Palestine. One of the issue in the world that still remains unresolved and justice has not been done to it. The explicit topic is Gaza War, a war that started in Late December of 2008, as a defensive measures to stop Gaza's rocket fires on Israel. The issue has a very old background but we will keep it to the context of what is newest.
"The Gaza War, in Israel known as Operation Cast Lead (מבצע עופרת יצוקה) and in Gaza and by Hamas known as the Gaza Massacre (مجزرة غزة) or the Battle of al-Furqan [the criterion] (معركة الفرقان)", there is always two sides to every conflict and many people tend to look at them in the hope of finding who is right and who is wrong. If you corner a representative of one side and listen to his/her story you will find utter truth and sincerity, then you do the same with the opposing side and you will find yourself in the melancholic condition in which you are asked to judge. What we don't see is what that thing has been imposing in the present state, what is it effecting NOW?
Gaza war is one of them, people go on talking about who is right and who is wrong but how I see it is the present that is being explicitly put forth to us. I was forced to make this thread just to tell people of the conditions in Gaza strip, what forced me was my emotions. I literally cried when I did some research to learn more about what was really happening their and many other places across the world. This is a tid bit of what I am about to show you;
"The conflict resulted in between 1,166 and 1,417 Palestinian and 13 Israeli deaths (4 from friendly fire). According to the Shin Bet, subsequent to the conflict, there was a decrease of Palestinian rocket attacks. In September 2009, a UN special mission, headed by the South African Justice Richard Goldstone, produced a controversial report accusing both Palestinian militants and Israeli Defense Forces of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, and recommended bringing those responsible to justice. In January 2010, the Israeli government released a response criticizing the Goldstone Report and disputing its findings. In 2011, Goldstone wrote that he no longer believed that Israel intentionally targeted civilians in Gaza. The other authors of the report, Hina Jilani, Christine Chinkin and Desmond Travers, rejected Goldstone's reassessment. However, the United Nations Human Rights Council did not agree and ordered Israel to conduct various repairs of the damages. On September 21, 2012, the United Nations Human Rights Council concluded that 75% of civilian homes destroyed in the attack were not rebuilt."
I don't know about you, but when I read it, I asked myself what if that was where I lived, what if I went through that? The feeling that I suffered from just an assumption was not healthy at all, it hurt me to the most. If that is not enough, I managed to witness some of the pictures posted on various news articles in which people were holding their dead children, some did not even learn to walk yet were victims of such an inhuman act.
And yes, these are all desperate acts to show people what is happening in some unfortunate places of the world. Facts from; Gaza War


text:
Prices, promotions, styles, and availability may vary. Our local stores do not honor online pricing. Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. Errors will be corrected where discovered, and Lowe's reserves the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions including after an order has been submitted.
DreamLine Unidoor Plus 59-in to 59.5-in W Frameless Oil Rubbed Bronze Hinged Shower Door
Item # 736777 Model # SHDR-245907210-HF-06
Shower base is not included; in use/lifestyle images - accessories not included
Product Information
The UNIDOOR PLUS shower door from DreamLine is perfectly designed to accommodate today's trends. It has a classic frameless design with three hardware finish options helping it enhance any bathroom style on any budget. With equal appeal and versatility as the original UNIDOOR, the UNIDOOR PLUS shower door adds an extra splash of class with an anodized aluminum U-channel. The UNIDOOR PLUS shower door combines premium 3/8-in thick ANSI certified tempered glass with a sleek frameless design for the look of custom glass at an unparalleled value. With clean lines, modern accents, an upscale look and a choice of clear or frosted (band) privacy glass, the UNIDOOR PLUS shower door adds a touch of timeless style to any bathroom space. DreamLine has the ultimate solution for your shower project. Glass is treated with DreamLine exclusive ClearMax water repellant and stain resistant coating for superior protection and easy maintenance.
- 59 to 59-1/2 in W x 72 in H; oil rubbed bronze finish hardware; door walk-in: 28 in; stationary panel(s): 30 to 30-1/2 in
- Anodized aluminum u-channel provides up to 1/2 in width (horizontal) or out-of-plumb (vertical) adjustment within the model size
- Frameless glass design; model consists of single hinged door and 1 stationary inline panel
- Reversible for a right or left door opening installation; 3/8 in (10 mm) thick ANSI certified tempered glass with opaque fingerprint free frosted privacy band
- DreamLine exclusive ClearMax protective glass coating; solid brass self-closing hinges (with a 5 degree offset); flooring threshold depth should be a minimum of 5/8 in
- Wall studs or other reinforcement behind finished walls required for hinge installation
- Product warranty: limited lifetime manufacturer warranty; warranty for any hardware in oil rubbed bronze finish is limited to 1 (one) year
- Professional installation recommended; shower base is not included; note: to minimize leakage, install shower head opposite of door opening aimed at tiled walls, fixed shower panel or floor
- Important: all measurements should be taken only after walls are finished (tile, back walls, etc)
|Collection Name
|Unidoor Plus
|Hinged shower door
|Installation Type
|Shower Panels
|Single panel
|Glass Style
|Patterned glass
|Glass Pattern Name
|Frosted Band
|Framed or Frameless
|Actual Height (Inches)
|Glass Thickness
|Actual Minimum Width (Inches)
|Actual Maximum Width (Inches)
|Fits Minimum Width Opening
|Fits Maximum Width Opening
|Fits Minimum Depth Opening
|Fits Maximum Depth Opening
|Plumb Adjustability
|Hardware Color Family
|Hardware Finish
|Manufacturer Color/Finish
|Oil Rubbed Bronze
|Fits Shower Base Model Number
|1-year limited
|Lowe's Exclusive

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Growing CUSO Expands Its HQ
Xtend Inc. said it has made a move, under the same roof but into roomier quarters.
The CUSO and its call center now occupies 6,300 square feet on the second floor of the building in Grand Rapids, Mich., it shares with fellow CUSO CU*Answers.
Now in its 11th year, Xtend is owned by 69 credit unions and said it provides more than 150 with bookkeeping, member contact services, back-office mortgage services, partnered liquidity opportunities, shared branching, compliance monitoring and insurance services.
The build-out of the new space took less than three months and the move-in took place over the past weekend, the company said.
"This is another milestone event in the history of our company. The significant growth that our company experienced over the past several years meant that we were pushing the limits of our existing floor plan sooner than we had expected," said Xtend President Scott Collins
The new space includes space to grow, Collins said, adding, "When you prepare to move an entire call center non-disruptively, you want to make sure to dot all of the i's and cross all of the t's so that credit unions and their members were not affected. The fact that we experienced no down time and hit the ground running in our new digs is a testament to all of the teams involved."


text: In a little more than ten years after its first baby steps into the digital age, Nikon's efforts have nearly put the final nail in the coffin for its film cameras. The company has decided to abandon its roots in the film camera industry and move full steam ahead with its ever expanding lineup of digital camera products. The company is also seeing rising demand for digital SLR cameras as traditional film and P&S digital camera owners decide to upgrade. Digital cameras now make up for 95% of Nikon's total camera sales. However, all is not lost for the hardcore Nikon film camera fans out there. According to Nikon, they will still manufacture the F6 (professiona) and FM10 (amateur) as well as the manual focus 85mm f/2.8D PC Micro-Nikkor lenses. Support for these products will continue for ten years after Nikon's last date of sale.


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Jared Sullinger - tweener any idiot of and NBA GM knows this guys game will not prosper in the PF filled NBA.
Sean May, Marcus Fizer, Jordan Hill, Tyrus Thomas, Ike Diogu, shelden williams
the list goes on forever - nice NCAA players in the paint but they can not get their game off in NBA due to size.
First rounder yes. Lottery pick no way. I like Jared's game he is a great kid. But lottery?
he is first on my list for a reason because OMG if raps get a PF in a draft like this it would be non-reconcilable worse than drafting Hoffa.
Steve Nash - I love Steve Nash -but as a player no. By the time Raps are respectable Nash will be in wheelchair alongside Professor Xavier.
As a front office type sure I may be open to that after his playing career.
Leandro Barbosa - fun to watch. creative. deadly when he gets on a roll. but does not defend 2's well. does not fit in with the culture of D Casey moving forward IMO. Lets face it he and his contract are a welcome replacement for Hedork Turk-o-glue. But, on the real, teams that he has been on don't go deep. Never will. Must have size and desire to defend perimeter if you are 2a.
Rasual Butler - Rasual Butler thank you for staying shape and remaining a decent defender. This is not hate you did what millions of other could not... but c ya
did I miss any?


text:
Now the "skeptic" from McElmo Canyon, Larry Tradlener, reveals that his skepticism lies "in the management of the country." Can he provide the level of his doubt when the Bush-Cheney-"mushroom cloud" Rice-Feith-Rumsfeld group of warmongers fabricated intelligence to lead us into the disaster in Iraq? Could the "management" of our country be questioned at that time? Has he forgotten the sacrifices of more than 4,000 Americans who died over a well-orchestrated threat of weapons of mass destruction suggesting imminent doom on our nation? Hoping you can provide some doubt, Mr. Tradlener. Or did you find those WMD?
David Primrose
Omaha, Neb.
Via CortezJournal.com


text:
This study was originally processed, archived, and disseminated by Data Sharing for Demographic Research (DSDR), a project funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
Immigration and Intergenerational Mobility in Metropolitan Los Angeles (IIMMLA), 2004 (ICPSR 22627)
Principal Investigator(s): Rumbaut, Rubén G., University of California-Irvine; Bean, Frank D., University of California-Irvine; Chávez, Leo R., University of California-Irvine; Lee, Jennifer, University of California-Irvine; Brown, Susan K., University of California-Irvine; DeSipio, Louis, University of California-Irvine; Zhou, Min, University of California-Los Angeles
Access Notes
The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.
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Study Description
Rumbaut, Rubén G., Frank D. Bean, Leo R. Chávez, Jennifer Lee, Susan K. Brown, Louis DeSipio, and Min Zhou. Immigration and Intergenerational Mobility in Metropolitan Los Angeles (IIMMLA), 2004. ICPSR22627-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2008-07-01. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR22627.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR22627.v1
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This study was funded by:
- Russell Sage Foundation
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: bilingualism, citizenship, community involvement, community participation, cultural identity, education, educational background, employment, ethnic identity, family background, family history, family size, family structure, generations, household composition, household income, immigration, immigration status, income, job history, marital status, neighborhood characteristics, neighborhood conditions, occupational status, personal income, political attitudes, political awareness, public assistance programs, social services, socioeconomic status
Geographic Coverage: California, Los Angeles, United States
- 2002--2008
- 2004-04--2004-10 (telephone survey)
Unit of Observation: individual
Universe: Young adults aged 20-39 from six foreign-born and foreign-parentage groups: Mexican, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean, Chinese, and Central American (Guatemalan and Salvadoran), as well as native-born and native-parentage Mexican-Americans, and non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Data collection for IIMMLA was subcontracted to and carried out by the Field Research Corporation, San Francisco, CA.
Sample: Multistage random sampling.
Mode of Data Collection: telephone interview
Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Performed consistency checks.
- Standardized missing values.
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
Original ICPSR Release: 2008-06-19
- 2008-07-01 Edits were made to the metadata record.
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text:
The evil Shakespearean character Macbeth is no match for veteran actor Joshua Martin. The longest-standing member of the Montezuma-Cortez High School theater department has proven to be one volatile force.
Outgoing and well-spoken, this senior has been involved with the theater department since his freshman year. As the lead player of Macbeth, Martin embodies one of Shakespeare's most heinous characters. And he is totally OK with that. He is used to being the villian.
"This is my first lead role, but my third role as a villain," Martin says." And it depends on what you define as lead. I've been the lead villain twice."
He says that with a smirk. It seems he enjoys the typecast. Or maybe he's been holding out for the perfect lead.
Having read a few Shakespeare plays on his own time, Martin, 18, was thrilled when auditions for Macbeth came around. He speaks Shakespeare fluently. The film noir essence that the department embraced for the play was also extremely appealing to Martin. He's a fan of the 1940s gangster films and wrote a history paper on Al Capone's final year.
Shakespeare and gangsters. This Macbeth was right up his alley.
The character Macbeth, is portrayed as a private investigator in the M-CHS version. Mobsters and gangsters are at war, and Macbeth is climbing the political ladder by focusing on the title of mayor, promised to him by the bewitching nightclub seductresses. Their tommy guns are their swords. Mayors are kings. Noblemen are police officers.
Martin stepped into the role effortlessly. At his side, best friend Caden O'Brien plays opposite the young actor as Banquo, the best friend to Macbeth. He sees Martin as the perfect fit.
"He's wanted to be in a Shakespeare play for awhile," O'Brien says. "He's comfortable with the character. He's really good at being evil. He likes it."
Martin won't argue with that. But it's more than the devilish, gruesome vibe of Macbeth that drew him to this play. The themes of Macbeth were hard-hitting for Martin. He recognizes the importance of the play for audiences, outside of the acting and stage props.
"It's a great thing that we are doing this show," Martin says. "It may be gruesome, but it has lots of good themes, like greed, that inhabits our modern day society. And it goes deep enough to show what people would do to get what they want."
O'Brien agrees, saying the main reason he hopped on board the Shakespeare wagon, was because of the deeper layers the story contains.
Martin and O'Brien will take the stage together. The two best friends were giddy with excitement when the auditions came around. Nicholaus Sandner, the theater department director, says this play drew more students to auditions than any other play he has directed. The boys were the first to take action.
O'Brien's character, Banquo, is a also private eye. Together these friends grapple with their inner voices, as Banquo watches Macbeth dive into his temptations. Offstage, the two actors cut-up with one another, go over lines then take to their scenes with pure professionalism.
"It's comfortable to be on stage with him (Martin)," O'Brien says. "We like to think we are the same person but we are really complete opposites, just like our characters. It's great that we get to show our friendship in the beginning because our characters are friends, but we don't let that get in the way of where the play actually ends up."
Martin doesn't let anything get in his way. The biggest challenge he came across was getting into character. The emotional train that Macbeth is riding takes him into worlds of happiness, anger and sadness, all within one scene. Martin's previous roles were clearly defined. His characters never strayed from one emotion.
"It's really difficult to go from happy to depressed to being very angry," Martin says. "The best way for me to deal with that was to go through all the emotions one by one in the same cycle."
Usually, to gear up for an angry scene, Martin says he would just punch something. Old props were generally the target, but never anything frequently used. And he isn't superstitious. The old Macbeth curse, that has plagued other performances for centuries, didn't haunt this stage and he doesn't hide anything in his sock for good luck.
No good luck charms are in place, but all the characters are. Both Martin and O'Brien are nervous as opening night approaches, mostly because Shakespeare can be intimidating for some. They've seen a few others stumble over their lines, but the actors help out their fellow players if they can.
"I've helped a few new actors out with tips on what to do with your body while on stage so they aren't just standing there. What they do helps my line look better. But that's just me being selfish," Martin jokes. "It's just to make me look good."
Right now, it's all about opening night. Martin is very comfortable on stage. He doesn't get embarrassed easily and is very energetic. He doesn't get nervous before a performance. Martin is only being himself.
"If I get nervous about being myself in front of a bunch of people then that's a bigger problem," Martin says. Leaving little to the imagination, Macbeth delivers death, murder, guilt and moroseness to audiences starting Friday night at the M-CHS Auditorium.


text:
INTERPOL issues global alert for missing Swiss mother and child
LYON, France – INTERPOL has issued an international Yellow Notice, or missing persons alert for 35-year-old Mizué Bachelard and her seven-year-old daughter Hanaé from Chexbres near Lausanne, Switzerland who have not been seen since the evening of Thursday 26 January.
Mrs Bachelard and her daughter stopped to fill their car, a blue Nissan Micra registration number VD 551'987 at a service station in Bursins near the French border at around 7pm on Thursday 26 January. Mrs Bachelard withdrew money from a cash machine in Versoix the same day and also made a withdrawal from a bank in the 6th arrondissement area of Paris at around 9am on Friday 27 January. Information provided to investigators has led to concerns for Mrs Bachelard's well-being.
Mrs Bachelard is described as 160cm, of thin build, with brown eyes and long brown hair which is often tied back. She was last seen wearing a pink jumper, checked trousers or pyjama bottoms and a light brown coat.
Hanaé is 120cm, of thin build, with blue eyes and mid-length brown hair and was last seen wearing a white and red striped jumper, dark trousers and a blue hooded jacket.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the missing mother and child are urged to contact the investigating Swiss authorities on +41 (0)21 644 44 44 or their local police station.
INTERPOL's Command and Coordination Centre at its General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France is liaising closely with the National Central Bureaus in Berne and Paris, with any messages relating to this case being treated as a priority.
INTERPOL Yellow Notices are circulated to help locate missing persons, especially minors, or to help identify persons who are not able to identify themselves.


text:
Skaggs leads farm system stocked with arms
Baseball's top lefty prospect joined by several other budding pitchers
By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com
The future success of every Major League team lies largely in its Minor League pipeline. With that in mind, MLB.com is looking at each team's farm system, from the Top 20 Prospects to under-the-radar types.
Sure, the D-backs may have shipped Trevor Bauer to Cleveland in a three-way deal, but the farm system remains stacked with top pitching talent.
Plus, the D-backs netted shortstop Didi Gregorius in that deal, adding balance to a Minor League system that could see quite a few players make an impact at the next level in 2013.
First, the pitching. Tyler Skaggs is as good a pitching prospect as any in baseball (ranked No. 1 among southpaws). Said farm director Mike Bell of what skills Skaggs needs to hone to make an impact at the Major League level: "I can't think of many -- he's got a lot of things going pretty good for him right now."
Skaggs struggled when he made six starts with the big league club in 2012, going 1-3 with a 5.83 ERA. Behind Skaggs on the prospect rankings is Archie Bradley -- a 20-year-old power arm, who is ranked No. 8 among all right-handers.
Bradley held batters to a .181 average in 2012, the second-best mark among all Minor League pitchers, and his 152 strikeouts were second in the Class A Midwest League. The club is very pleased with his work ethic, and it believes he'll rein in his walk totals.
As for Bradley's progression, Bell thinks he has the tools to move quickly through the system.
"We want to do the right thing with him, so that when he gets to the big leagues, he can stay there," Bell said.
Lefties David Holmberg and Andrew Chafin and righties Zeke Spruill and Anthony Meo could all be poised for big years in 2013 as well.
Offensively, Matt Davidson projects as one of the best prospects at third base and potentially the D-backs' third baseman of the future. He can drive the ball to the gaps and hits for plenty of power. Davidson's defense was once a concern, but in the last year or so, he's come a long way with his footwork and mobility.
"He's a big strong guy with a powerful swing," Bell said, noting that he wasn't overly concerned with Davidson's high strikeout totals. "Sometimes those guys have a little bit of a tendency to strike out. He drives in runs, he gets big hits. He's progressing at the right pace."
Gregorius gives the D-backs another solid infield prospect who is very close to being ready for the big leagues. He projects as a plus defender with speed. If he can improve his patience at the plate, Gregorius should be a solid hitter and an on-base threat.
Top 20 prospects
Directly behind Davidson and Gregorius, who are No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, on the club's list of Top 20 Prospects, is another prospect who could make a big league impact in 2013: Outfielder Adam Eaton.
"Adam is a really exciting player," Bell said of Eaton, who posted a .381/.456/.538 slash line with Triple-A Reno last season. "Everywhere he's been, he's put up huge offensive numbers. He plays solid defensively, he steals bases, he gets on base. If he plays the way he's been playing, I think he's going to be a tremendous player for us."
Atop the rankings are Skaggs and Bradley, in that order, but after the two hurlers come six position players. Shortstops Chris Owings and Nick Ahmed follow Eaton, and outfielder A.J. Pollock, who got his first callup last season, sits eighth.
Pollock struggled a bit in his first stint with the D-backs last season, but the club isn't too concerned with that. He turned it on in Triple-A at season's end, winning MVP of the Pacific Coast League playoffs.
Bell said he believes Pollock's early struggles may have been a result of the "up-and-down," adding that he'll be fine because, "fundamentally, he does it like you coach it."
There are several young, raw talents that also fit into the rankings. Stryker Trahan, last year's top pick, could be poised for a big year. There was some talk that he isn't capable of handling a full-time catching job, but after some major defensive improvements in his first year, the D-backs have no plans to move the backstop anywhere else.
"When we first got him, his defense was behind his offense, and it probably still is right now," Bell said of the 18-year-old. "But I'll tell you, from day one to the end of the season, it was night and day. It was really neat to see that strides that he made behind the plate."
Like Trahan, shortstop Joe Munoz projects as a guy who could make a big impact down the road once he gets a few more games under his belt.
d-backs' top prospects
|Tyler Skaggs
|Archie Bradley
|Didi Gregorius
|Matt Davidson
|Adam Eaton
Under the radar
Jose Martinez is 18, touches the mid-90s with his fastball and possesses a true blue curveball to complement the heat. There isn't much not to like.
On top of that, the club is very pleased with his mental makeup. The D-backs threw him directly into the fire with short-season Yakima last August, where he held his own while pitching in the United States for the first time.
Also worth keeping an eye on is Breland Almadova, a tall, lean outfielder with very good speed.
Hitter of the Year: Trahan
Trahan's first full professional season will offer a chance for him to do what he does best: hit. He can do it for both power and average, and he has the potential to be one of the best offensive talents to come out of last June's Draft.
Pitcher of the Year: Bradley
Keep an eye on Holmberg, a lefty with four solid pitches who came over to Arizona in the Edwin Jackson trade. But assuming Skaggs is off to Arizona by season's end, Bradley is the logical choice here. He has the potential to dominate once again with his mid-90s fastball, especially if he develops a better grasp of the strike zone.
AJ Cassavell is a reporter for MLB.com Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
NASA missions on Mars have been used to conduct a wide variety of scientific experiments. Much of the scientific scrutiny from NASA and other space agencies centers on Mars.
NASA launched Mars Phoenix lander in August of 2007 and sent it speeding towards Mars. In May of 2008, the Phoenix touched down and began its mission on the red planet. One of the tasks that Phoenix was sent to Mars to accomplish was to find out if water ice was present in the Martian soil.
Phoenix did find evidence that ice was in the Martian soil and after its three-month mission ended, NASA decided to keep Phoenix working. In November of 2008, NASA officially closed the mission Phoenix was conducting when it lost communications with the lander after it lost power and could no longer sustain itself.
NASA had expected Phoenix to lose power during the harsh Martian winter, though it continued to try to get the rover to respond to commands sent from satellites orbiting Mars to no avail. This week NASA reported that controllers have stopped trying to use the pair of probes orbiting Mars to communicate with Phoenix.
NASA says that Phoenix last communicated with the Mars Odyssey orbiter on November 2. Controllers tried on November 29 to raise Phoenix one final time. The advancing Martian winter is depriving the lander of the solar energy it needs to maintain working power levels.
NASA says that there is a remote chance that Phoenix could survive the -150 degree Martian winter and will try in the Martian springtime to re-establish contact with the lander.


text:
Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC, (CNE), a wholly owned tribal company of the Cherokee Nation, is seeking qualified bids for TWO Eclipse II 10' Standard Top Shade Shelter Packages. *BLACK Shade Shelter Package =10x10; Eclipse II 10' frame HSS; 10' Standard Top with 4 color Digital imprint FULL TOP; Sidewall Professional with 4 color Digital imprint SINGLE SIDED; 2 Rail Skirts with 4 color Digital imprint SINGLE SIDED, hardware, and storage bag; Weight Bag (40lbs); Stake Kit; AND Black Deluxe Roller Bag.
**WHITE Shade Shelter Package = ((All specs are the same as the black shade shelter package except that the material is WHITE))
****BIDS DUE NO LATER THAN 4:00 PM ON MONDAY, MAY 7, 2013****Submit bids to email@example.com OR mail to the attention of Amy Bailey at 777 West Cherokee St. Catoosa, OK 74015. Proposals MUST include a copy of your TERO Certification, front and back, to qualify for TERO preference.
It is the intention of Owner that if an acceptable proposal is received, the selected firm will be notified in writing within 10 business days of bid opening. Any bid received after the time set for opening of Bids, shall not be considered and will be returned. It is the intention of CNE that if an acceptable bid is received, the Contract will be awarded by within 30 days of bid opening. Please note that winning bid(s) will be published. CNE reserves the right to issue one award, multiple awards, or reject all bids. All bids are subject to negotiation prior to award. Awards may be issued without discussion of bid received, and bids should initially be submitted on the most favorable terms from price and technical standpoint. Any award resulting from this Bid/Proposal will be subject to CNE Terms and Conditions. Your bid should indicate hourly ($) rate (when applicable), individual work effort, delivery schedule or time of completion. Any item(s) with exceptions, substitutions, exclusions, additions or qualifications must be noted and clearly indicated on return bid.
TRIBAL EMPLOYMENTS RIGHTS OFFICE (TERO) - This procurement is subject to Cherokee Nation Tribal Employment Rights Office ("TERO") regulations that include a fee of ½ of 1% of total contract award and, if applicable, the completion of a TERO Labor Agreement and payment of associated fees. The successful bidder's award will be published on the Cherokee Nation's procurement website and their performance will also be measured, recorded, and reported to the Cherokee Nation. The complete Act is available by contacting the TERO OFFICE at Tahlequah 918-453-5000. TERO bidders are required to provide a copy, front and back, of their TERO certificate with return bid(s) and failure to do so will result in such bidders not receiving the TERO preferences afforded TERO bidders under the CNE procurement and contracting policies and procedures.
CHEROKEE NATION GAMING COMMISSION (CNGC) - This requirement may be subject to CNGC policies and procedures. Licensing requirements may be required of the successful vendor(s) to be coordinated with the CNGC. These requirements may include licensing fees as well security and background checks of vendor(s) employees. Current policies and procedures can be found on the Cherokee Nation website or by contacting the CNGC office at 918-431-4116.
BONDING NOTICE - CNE generally requires payment and performance bonds for all construction contracts in excess of $100,000. However, qualified TERO-certified firms are encouraged to bid, regardless of bonding capability.
Buyer Contact: AMY BAILEY
Buyer Phone: 9183847922
Buyer Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Open: 5/1/2013 3:46:21 PM
Closes: 5/6/2013 4:00:00 PM


text:
these days are living
big, though not necessarily in a good way. Even as some people in
America turn to healthier lifestyles, obesity rates continue to soar
upwards. That's frustrating news not only for doctors, but for
transportation engineers as well.We already covered how
obesity was costing the U.S. airline industry $275M
USD more a year in fuel use. But according to Consumer
Reports, it's
not the only transportation industry to buckle under the America's
growing mass.The publication cites a 2006 study which
indicates that for every pound added to the national average
passenger weight, 39 million more gallons of fuel are used. In
total, over 1 billion gallons of fuel a year (about 0.7 percent of
the nation's total use) can be attributed to fat.Other
studies show that the effect, while small, may be larger than those
previous estimates. Non-profit company Resources for the Future
in 2009 showed that between 1999 to 2005 a 10-percent increase in
overweight and obese drivers reduced fuel economy of new vehicle
demand by 2.5 percent.The report also comes to the more
controversial conclusion that obesity is driving SUV, van, and pickup
truck purchases. It attributes much of the rise in this sector
from 16 percent of total sales in the 1970s to over 40 percent today
as being the result of passengers seeking cars to deal with their
growing size.Another study, which we previously covered,
comes to the conclusion that obese drivers are more
likely to be injured during car wrecks despite their extra
mass apparently overcoming whatever padding their flab
provided.The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in
America obesity rose 1.1 percent from 2007 to 2009 -- meaning that
roughly 2.4 million people entered the category for the first time.
Plus the number of states with over 30 percent obesity rates jumped
from three to nine.Consumer
Reports suggests
both that Americans need to lose weight and that plus-sized crash
test dummies need to be implemented to better protect those who
haven't lost weight yet.There's not always an easy answer for
obese drivers. An Edmonton, Alberta Kia dealer last year was
forced to inform a woman who purchased a Kia Rio that she might
be too heavy for it. The sedan was pulling towards the
left. The dealership tried to correct it, to no avail, but
eventually gave up, realizing the laws of physics were stacked
against them; the driver had too much mass.


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FFIEC Says Examiners Won't Criticize Prudent Ag Loan Modifications
Lending institutions that serve farmers affected by the 2012 drought are being encouraged by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council to work with borrowers to modify loans, ease credit terms and expedite credit decisions.
The FFIEC said in a release Tuesday that it will "support efforts to originate and prudently modify loans" for affected farmers. In exchange for their efforts, lending institutions will receive consideration from examiners regarding the unusual circumstances in affected areas, the FFIEC said.
"Financial institutions that implement prudent loan workout arrangements will not be subject to criticism for engaging in these efforts even if the restructured loans have weaknesses that result in adverse classification or credit risk grade," the FFIEC said.
Typically, agricultural credit lines are paid in full after summer and fall harvests, and before farmers borrow money for seed, fuel and other supplies necessary to plant the next year's crop. However, because the drought has reduced yields significantly, and in some areas, destroyed crops completely, the FFIEC acknowledged that "some agricultural borrowers may need to carry over a portion of operating lines of credit that cannot be retired because of lower crop yields. Financial institutions should perform a comprehensive review of an affected borrower's financial condition in an effort to implement prudent loan workout arrangements."
Because the effects of natural disasters on the agricultural sector are often transitory, the council said prudent loan modification efforts can help stabilize borrowers, benefit the long-term interests of financial institutions and their stakeholders, and contribute to the health of local economies. Acceptable solutions suggested by the FFIEC include:
- expediting lending decisions when possible, consistent with safe-and-sound credit practices;
- extending or restructuring borrower debt obligations, consistent with prudent loan workout standards;
- easing credit terms or fees for loans, consistent with prudent loan workout standards; and
- considering loan programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency or the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Lenders evaluate modifications to determine whether they require financial reporting as troubled debt restructurings, because not all modifications are TDRs, the FFIEC said.
Credit unions should refer to 5300 Call Report instructions and other supervisory guidance for the accounting and reporting of TDRs, the council concluded.


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Chat is one of the many ways you can contact members of the DevExpress Team.We are available Monday-Friday between 7:30am and 4:30pm Pacific Time.
If you need additional product information, write to us at firstname.lastname@example.com or call us at +1 (818) 844-3383
DevExpress engineers feature-complete Presentation Controls, IDE Productivity Tools, Business Application Frameworks, and Reporting Systems for Visual Studio, along with high-performance HTML JS Mobile Frameworks for developers targeting iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Whether using WPF, ASP.NET, WinForms, HTML5 or Windows 10, DevExpress tools help you build and deliver your best in the shortest time possible.


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This study is maintained and distributed by the National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA), the aging program within ICPSR. NACDA is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Heath (NIH).
Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH II), 2001-2004 (ICPSR 4354)
Alternate Title: REACH II, 2001-2004
Principal Investigator(s): Schulz, Richard, University of Pittsburgh. University Center for Social and Urban Research; Burgio, Louis, University of Alabama. Applied Gerontology Program; Stevens, Alan B., Texas A&M University. Health Science Center. College of Medicine; Burns, Robert, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Czaja, Sara, University of Miami. Miller School of Medicine. Center on Aging; Gallagher Thompson, Dolores, Stanford University. Stanford School of Medicine. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Gitlin, Laura N., Thomas Jefferson University. School of Health Professions. Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health; Belle, Steven, University of Pittsburgh. Graduate School of Public Health. Department of Epidemiology; Nichols, Linda, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Built upon the findings of RESOURCES FOR ENHANCING ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVER HEALTH, 1996-2001, BASELINE AND FOLLOW-UP DATA [ICPSR 3678], REACH II designed and tested a single multi-component intervention among family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders. The overall objectives were (1) to identify and reduce modifiable risk factors among diverse family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's Disease or a related disorder, (2) to enhance the quality of care provided to the care recipients, and (3) to enhance the well-being of the caregivers. REACH II is the first project to simultaneously test a comprehensive caregiver intervention in three distinct racial/ethnic groups: Hispanic/Latino, Black/African-American, and White/Caucasian. The intervention was based on a risk-appraisal approach in which five areas of risk--depression, burden, self-care, social support, and patient problem behaviors--that are central to caregiver well-being and quality of life were matched to corresponding intervention components. These components included education, skills to manage troublesome care-recipient behaviors, social support, cognitive strategies for reframing negative emotional responses, and strategies for enhancing healthy behaviors and managing stress. Consistent with this approach, the primary outcome was a multivariate quality of life indicator that assessed caregiver depression, burden, self-care, social support, and patient problem behaviors. Two hallmarks of caregiver intervention studies--caregiver clinical depression and patient institutionalization--were assessed as secondary outcomes. The dataset names listed in this collection include the shortened name of the form administered.
Access Notes
The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.
WARNING: Because this study has many datasets, the download all files option has been suppressed, and you will need to download one dataset at a time.
Study Description
Schulz, Richard, Louis Burgio, Alan B. Stevens, Robert Burns, Sara Czaja, Dolores Gallagher Thompson, Laura N. Gitlin, Steven Belle, and Linda Nichols. Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH II), 2001-2004. ICPSR04354-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2006-10-27. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR04354.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR04354.v1
Export Citation:
- RIS (generic format for RefWorks, EndNote, etc.)
- EndNote XML (EndNote X4.0.1 or higher)
This study was funded by:
- United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Aging (AG13265)
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: Alzheimers disease, caregiver burden, caregivers, dementia, emotional states, families, health services utilization, health status, home health care, intervention, mental disorders, mental health, minorities, older adults, outreach programs, psychological wellbeing, stress
Geographic Coverage: Alabama, Birmingham, California, Florida, Memphis, Miami, Palo Alto, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Tennessee, United States
- 2001--2004
- 2001--2004
Unit of Observation: caregiver, care-recipient, caregiver/care-recipient dyad
Universe: Family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia who reside in noninstitutional settings.
All datasets can be linked using the variable: ID. Dataset 1 (AE: Caregiver/Care Recipient Acute Baseline Alerts/Adverse Events) can be linked to Dataset 2 (AF: Acute Baseline Alerts/Adverse Events Follow-Up Report) using variables: ID, EVENT, and EVEDAT.
Mode of Data Collection: personal interview
Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Created online analysis version with question text.
Original ICPSR Release: 2006-10-27
Related Publications
Export Options: RIS/EndNote
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- Citations exports are provided above.
Export Study-level metadata (does not include variable-level metadata)
If you're looking for collection-level metadata rather than an individual metadata record, please visit our Metadata Records page.


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Almost 0% chance he gets amnestied if BC is back. I think it's a bad idea anyway.
I don't know about getting anything back of value though. The only thing they should think about is getting rid of him without adding years of salary. Something like Ty Thomas, Ben Gordon, or Steve Nash (yeah I went there).


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MySpace has banned 90,000 sexual predators from its social networking web site, and has turned the names over to two different attorneys general offices, company officials recently announced.
The total number of 90,000 is twice as many as MySpace officials believed it had removed in 2008, with North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal leading the charge.
"Almost 100,000 convicted sex offenders mixing with children on MySpace -- shown by our subpoena -- is absolutely appalling and totally unacceptable," Blumenthal said in a statement issued to the press. "For every one of them, there may be hundreds of others using false names and ages."
MySpace competitor Facebook, which is the No. 1 social networking web site in the world, have a combined 280 million users -- and the U.S. government wants both sites to do a better job of protecting children and teenagers from sexual predators.
Last year, both companies agreed to work with lawmakers to create security standards to help protect young people from online predators, after parents and politicians said the sites weren't doing enough.
"We've been working productively with Attorney General Blumenthal's office for more than three years on these issues," Facebook chief privacy officer Chris Kelly said in a published statement. "They recently let us know that they are planning to send an updated subpoena."
Now that MySpace is done kicking 90,000 sexual predators off the internet, Facebook is expected to announce how many people it has removed sometime in the near future.
After the KIDS Act of 2007 was signed into law in 2008, all registered sex offenders must now submit real e-mail and instant messaging account information to the national sex offender registry. This is done so sites such as MySpace and Facebook are able to better track sexual offenders.
It's unknown how many registered sex offenders use social networking web sites with false identities, so this ultimately is just the tip of the iceberg.


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Oxfam 'Exposure' Photography Prize for Women: Winners Announced
October 2, 2013
(image courtesy Emily Macinnes)
Magnum Photos, Oxfam and IdeasTap today announced the winners of Exposure: The Oxfam Photography Prize for Women 2013.
This unique prize offers three female photographers the opportunity to complete a commission for Oxfam's spring fundraising campaign, including a trip to either Armenia, Chad or Sri Lanka, mentoring from a Magnum photographer and £1,000, funded by IdeasTap.
The winners - selected by a panel of Magnum representatives, Oxfam commissioners, and independent photographer judge Abbie Trayler-Smith -- are Bes Young, Ella Dickinson and Emily Macinnes.
"We were really impressed with the number and quality of entries, the applicants' understanding of Oxfam's issues, and their commitment to the subject," said Eleanor Farmer, Multimedia Project Manager for Oxfam. "We were looking for good technical skills, but most importantly the ability to make and edit a series of images which tell a story. The winning entrants demonstrated a strong desire to say something about their subject through photography and we think they will greatly benefit from this opportunity to work with Oxfam and a Magnum photographer and develop their skills further."
Bes Young (24, Northern Ireland) will be working in Sri Lanka to document Oxfam's work to improve livelihoods by establishing and supporting dairy co-operatives. She will be mentored by Magnum photographer Olivia Arthur.
Ella Dickinson (23, London) will be travelling to Chad to cover Oxfam's programme work which aims to improve food security for communities affected by successive droughts. She will be mentored by Magnum photographer Bieke Depoorter.
Emily Macinnes (24, Scotland) will be travelling with Oxfam to Armenia to document the regeneration of a jam factory which will help improve the livelihoods of women in Tavush. The trip will coincide with the fruit and berry harvest. She will be mentored by Magnum photographer Cristina Garcia Rodero.
The images will be used by Oxfam in their fundraising communications in Spring 2014 and beyond, with potential for an exhibition alongside the work of the Magnum commissions.


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Gmail and Google Apps customers will have a severely-downgraded experience on Windows 8 thanks to a protocol spat between Microsoft and Google.
This past December Google announced the sunset of support for a variety of interfaces to its email and other services, including Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (EAS). Google plans to continue support for existing connections established over EAS, but would no longer support new ones, unless the Google account was a paying Google Apps account, rather than a free Gmail account.
The new version of Windows Mail released earlier this week supports only IMAP for Google accounts. The Calendar and Contacts apps do not support CalDAV or CardDAV, the open standards supported by Google for calendar and contacts synchronization. Therefore, the Windows 8 apps have no way of synching with Google. Microsoft hasn't said so, but I would expect similar updates for Windows Phone soon.
Just to be clear about this, the new apps are locking out even the Google users for whom Google will still support EAS, as I discovered this week when I tried to set up a new Windows 8 tablet using my paid Google Apps domain: The new apps won't even try to set up EAS if the server domain is google.com.
When I tried to set up my system for EAS I got an error: "This account can't be connected using ActiveSync," even when I knew I was using the correct values. I suspected that Microsoft was blacklisting google.com from all EAS and asked Microsoft. A Microsoft spokesperson replied:
In light of Google's decision to change its support for EAS, we are now using IMAP for those customers that wish to connect their Gmail accounts. More information on how to synchronize Google services on your Windows or Windows RT device is available here.
Of course, going this far was not necessary. It should have been fairly easy for Microsoft to try the EAS connection and, if it failed, report an error. Perhaps they could even report an error that noted that Google had removed support for EAS for some of its accounts and directed the users to instructions.
But doubtless many paying Google customers, free or otherwise, will want to use Windows 8. Google has made clear that it has no plans to write apps for Windows 8 (or Windows Phone), so Google users will be stuck using browser access to Google services.
It's hard to read this as anything other than payback for Google's withdrawal of EAS support. Google's options are now to:
What will Google do? What should it do? You tell me. My money says Google rides it out for a while and then "discovers" customer interest for Windows 8 versions of its apps.


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Ever since the 9.0-magnitude earthquake damaged
the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan on March 11, nuclear power has been
a popular topic. The tragic event has caused U.S.
senators and French
President Nicolas Sarkozy to question it, while avid
nuclear supporters defended its clean, reliable, and cheap benefits.
In addition, the Browns
Ferry nuclear power plant in Alabama failed an inspection earlier this month,
Fukushima Daiichi suffered
a nuclear meltdown and studies related to nuclear
radiation's effect on humans are popping up everywhere.
But the negative nuclear reviews don't stop there.
Germany announced recently that it is "scrapping" nuclear power due
to the problems in Japan, and plans to begin phasing
out nuclear power by 2022.
Nuclear power has received a bad reputation after
the disaster in Japan, but regulators and nuclear plants are working to make
systems more safe and reliable, and one plant in particular is doing so by
becoming the first to go digital.
The Oconee Nuclear Station reactor, which is
located on Lake Keowee near Seneca, South Carolina, will be the first of 104
reactors in the U.S. to go digital. The plant has an energy output capacity of
over 2,500 megawatts, and will be kicking old analog technology to the curb in
an effort to save money and increase reliability.
Most power plant systems today consist of monitors
with four sensors, and if two of the sensors start to have crazy readings, the
plant has to be shut down until the sensors are fixed. This process can
sometimes last a day or longer, which can cost a utility company over $2
million. With a digital system, these issues can be fixed more quickly, saving
time and money.
A digital system can measure thousands of readings
at any time, and will provide operators with more data about plants operations.
Its measurements will be more precise than those of an analog system, and can
alert operators when something is wrong quickly.
"One of the goals is to make the operator's
life, I won't say easy, but to make operator's more focused on the primary
aspects of the job," said Jeff Hekking, a senior reactor operator.
"Just like an airline pilot, you want him to focus on flying the airplane
-- you don't want him spending all day trying to get the cabin pressure right."
systems have already been implemented in Europe and Asia; it has been slow
going in the U.S. mainly because of the fear of hackers breaking into the
system. But in Oconee's case, the software was designed with no external
network connections, and any communication between the system and reactor
operators is "heavily restricted."
Jere Jenkins, director of Radiation Labs at Purdue
University, also noted that over half of the United States' power plants are at
least 30 years old, and that "it's to the point where you can't replace
that equipment anymore," which means a digital conversion is the safest
bet for updating old systems.
Oconee's new system, which will be implemented at
Reactor 1 and is part of a $2 billion upgrade effort by Duke Energy, was tested
recently to see if it was a good fit. Hekking participated in a simulation
where there was an issue with the water
that cools the reactor. In the simulation, bells began to ring, signaling
that something is wrong within the plant, and operators allowed the situation
to worsen before taking action. At this time, warning sirens went off and the
control rods of nuclear material were removed from the reactor core, and as
this process was accomplished, the system turned several tiny red rectangle
lights green. Then the engineers stepped in to help control the situation, and
make sure that everything is back on track.
The new digital control panels will be put in
place at Oconee's Reactor 1 within the next few weeks, while Reactor 2 will
receive the same upgrades during next year's refueling and Reactor 3 will get
the digital conversion in 2013. The new panels for all three reactors will cost
$250 million, and is expected to keep the reactors running safely for another
30 years.


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Friday, July 20, 2012 - Lukas and Jirka - FULL CONTACT
Latest Sets at WilliamHiggins.com
I have posted 3 teasers on the blog, about Breaking Lukas Pribyl, so I am pleased to see that today we post the full scene with him and the lovely newcomer, Jirka Maly. He is a very cute blond guy, with a nice build. We see him walking along, carrying his football. He finds Lukas and invites him to play. Lukas, though wants to show Jirka a great view of Prague and takes him up the steps to the viewing point. Jirka, though, has a different view in mind and places his hand on Lukas' and smiles as him. Lukas takes the hint and immediately give Jirka a long, lingering kiss. Then they walk off to find a spot to play a little. They begin a little kick-about until Jirka flicks the ball up for Lukas to head. Lukas does it, but seems to have hurt himself in the process. Jirka quickly goes to check him. It isn't a serious injury and ends up with the guys kissing again. All thoughts of football are forgotten as the guys walk down the hill and get inside so they can play a different kind of game. Lukas lays on the bed and the kissing begins again. Jirka helps Lukas off with his jeans and we see that he is already rock hard and ready for action. As they kiss again Jirka strokes Lukas' big, hard dick. Then he works his way down to that cock and begins to suck it. His hot mouth savors the taste of Lukas' big cock and his hand is inside his own shorts feeling himself. Then he moves up to kiss Lukas again, who reaches out and feels Jirka's dick in his shorts. Jirka's shorts come off and his massive dick flops into view. He positions his ass just over Lukas' head. Lukas grabs that big cock and begins to wank it and then quickly starts to rim Jirka's tight little hole. Jirka's massive tool his hanging down as Lukas tongues his hole. He moves his ass over that tongue and then changes posistion so Lukas has better access for rimming. Lukas loves it and is wanking himself while his tongue laps at Jirka's hole. He really loves that tight ass and soon starts to finger it as well as rimming. Two fingers stretch the hole as Jirka moans, Jirka is soon ready for more and gets up and sits his ass right down on Lukas' throbbing dick. He rides up and down on that pole, really working his hole well, while Lukas' hand is wrapped around that massive dick, wanking it. Jirka's cock has grown bigger and thicker as his ass is being fucked and Lukas' dick is working in and out of his hole. They move to a spoon position so Lukas can fuck that ass and kiss Jirka at the same time. Jirka's cock is nicely trapped between his legs as his ass is being pounded. He obviously loves that cock in his ass as his own stays rock hard while he is being fucked. Jirka wants to show Lukas just how nice some ass play can feel and begins to rim him and wank him. Lukas has his legs up giving easy access as Jirka tongues his hole. Then the moment arrives, Jirka slides his rock hard cock into that virgin ass and slowly begins to fuck. He picks up speed, fucking with nice long strokes and wanks Lukas as the same time. Lukas is really feeling it, but doesn't want to stop and soon shoots a lovely creamy load of cum all over himself, as Jirka continues to fuck him. Then Jirka pulls out and sits astride Lukas' chest wanking himself so he can shoot his load over Lukas' chest and face. He does just that and when he can completely drained the cock he leans over for a final kiss from a newly initiated Lukas. What a great scene with two really good looking guys who really got into each other.
Lukas Tvaroh is aged 21 and lives in Teplice. He works as a motor mechanic and enjoys car racing and football. He is a very nice looking guy who gets to work as soon as his interview is finished. Kneeling on the bed, in just his undies Lukas begins to run his hands over his body, and rubs his crotch. Soon enough his cock is out, and hard in his hand as he rubs. It is a good sized cock and looks great as he plays with it. Then it is off with the undies and we get an even better view, with that cock standing proud as he caresses himself. Lukas slowly strokes that rock hard cock, the foreskin wrapping tightly around the cock head each time. Having given a great view of his cock Lukas leans back and lifts his ass so we get to see it, as he does a slow fucking motion. He then lays down and plays a bit more and a helping hand arrives. Oil is dropped onto Lukas' body and the hands begin to massage it in. They work all over his chest and on his thighs and then take hold of that cock wanking it. The cock gets hard again and glistens with oil. Then the hands oil Lukas' legs and feet as well. Back up to the cock for more wanking and Lukas' legs are lifted in the air so we can see that hot hole. The hands rub oil all over that sexy ass and then a finger slips into Lukas' hole. It fucks in and out and a second goes in as well. A vibrator appears and it slides, effortlessly into the hole, fucking it nicely. Lukas takes it without complaint and then he drops his legs and the hands wank that big cock again, this time until it shoots a nice big load for us. That cum squirts all over the place and the hands milk the cock until no more is left. Lukas is ready for a shower and goes off to clean up. What a cute guy, and a very nice video he gives us. I hope he will do more.
Radek Kupsky is aged 19 and lives in Davle. He is currently unemployed and enjoys girls and football. He is a really good looking guy, with an almost constant smile on his face. A natural blond, Radek looks very good as he strips his clothes off. We see that his body is very good and his flaccid cock, nestling against his heavy balls, looks very good. Before getting his cock hard Radek shows us a lovely bubble butt. Then he gets his cock hard and it is a big, fat one that stands fully to attention. Most impressive indeed. Radek also gives us some great views of his hot ass, with the cheeks spread. We have already posted a very good massage with Radek and next week will post his erotic video.


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With the lighting of the first candle on Saturday, Chanukah celebrations were held around Toronto this week. Here are a few of the many gatherings held around the city.
A Chanukah party for seniors last weekend at 6250 Bathurst St. was attended by more than 140 seniors. Pictured, from left, are Rabbi Yurmi Cohen, his son Mendy Cohen, MPP Monte Kwinter, Rabbi Chai Cohen, Chaya Cohen and Toronto Councillor James Pasternak.
Associated Hebrew Schools' students Ezra, left, and Eva light the first candle for Chanukah during a special ceremony Dec. 7 at Baycrest's Reuben Cipin Healthy Living Community, an independent seniors' residence. The five-year-olds were part of a group of 96 senior kindergarten students visiting the community for the candlelighting, which was followed by the children singing and dancing to traditional Chanukah songs with the residents. [Jessica Lee/Baycrest photo]
Congregation Beth Ora grades 3 – 5 girls light the 4th Chanukah candle
together. [Amiel Bender photo]


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Howard, Brown help Phillies outslug Blue Jays
By Adam Berry / MLB.com
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Jose Bautista crushed his second homer of the spring, but the Phillies countered with plenty of their own power, beating the Blue Jays, 13-5, at Bright House Field on Sunday afternoon.
Toronto jumped out to score four runs within the first three innings, and Bautista punctuated the early scoring by ripping a solo shot to left field straight through a stiff breeze and the unseasonably chilly Florida air.
But Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown cranked a solo shot to right field in the fourth inning, cutting Toronto's lead to one. Then first baseman Ryan Howard, continuing his hot start, got a hold of a 1-0 pitch from Brett Cecil and sent a three-run homer well over the right-field fence and past the black chain-link fence that marks the boundary of Bright House Field.
Howard's third Grapefruit League homer put the Phillies ahead by two in the fifth, and the rest of Philadelphia's bats came to life in the sixth inning, tacking on four more runs to build a commanding lead over Toronto.
Adam Lind's sacrifice fly in the first inning put the Blue Jays on the board, but the Phillies tied it up in the bottom of the inning, when Kevin Frandsen blasted a triple to the right-field wall and slid home to score on a wild pitch by left-hander Ricky Romero. Romero bounced back with a perfect second inning.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays tacked on two more runs in the second against Phillies starter Aaron Cook. Emilio Bonifacio singled, stole second and third base, then scored as Phillies catcher Erik Kratz launched his throw to third into the outfield. Henry Blanco then doubled and scored on a throwing error by shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt.
Bautista's blast came in the third, when he cranked what Cook joked was a "center-center" fastball "600 feet" into the left-field seats for a solo homer. But that was the last run Cook would allow, as he left after four innings with four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a strikeout.
"I felt like I was making some pretty good pitches, and they were finding some holes," said Cook, aiming for a job somewhere on Philadelphia's pitching staff. "Made a couple bad ones, and they got hit pretty hard."
Blue Jays third baseman Mark DeRosa hit his first homer of the spring, a solo shot to left field, in the sixth to bring Toronto within one run.
Up next: Left-hander John Lannan will make his second start of the spring Monday, leading the Phillies against the Pirates at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla., at 1:05 p.m. ET. He'll be followed on the mound by lefties Adam Morgan and Raul Valdes, as well as right-handed setup man Mike Adams.
Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Planning for a stay in the hospital is not always an easy thing. What should you bring? What shouldn't you bring? It's hard to know how to prepare. Listed below are some things that will help make your hospital stay a bit more comfortable.
Things to Bring
To make you feel more comfortable while in the hospital, bring the following items:
- Nightclothes, including slippers and a loose-fitting robe
- Comfortable clothes to wear home when you are discharged
- Toiletries—such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo, comb, deodorant, and razor
- A list of all the medications you take, including dosages and frequency. Be sure to include any over-the-counter medications as well. If you are taking a very specific or uncommon medication, it may be good to bring the medication with you and show it to the staff. Do not take it though, unless specifically given to you by your nurse.
- Details of past illnesses, surgeries, test results, and any allergies
- Health insurance card and identification card
- Address book or list of names and phone numbers of people to reach in case of an emergency (if they are not on your cell phone)
- A small amount of cash for newspapers, magazines, or gift shop items
- Reading glasses, books, magazines
- Cell phone, tablet, electronic or audio book, or MP3 player; be careful about where you leave them so they don't get lost or stolen
Things to Leave at Home
There are things you don't need in the hospital. Bringing some items may even cause you to worry about their safety. These include:
- Large amounts of cash, credit cards, and checkbook
- Jewelry
- Electric razors, hair dryers, and curling irons
- Keys
- Cigarettes
- Food
Checking In
Many hospitals will mail you information in advance of your stay. Read the information and fill out any forms before you leave home. It will give you more time to think about your answers and save you time when you get to admissions.
When you arrive at the hospital, your first stop is admissions. Here, you or a family member will need to complete other forms allowing the hospital to provide treatment, and release medical information to your insurance company. The admissions staff will tell you where to go next.
If you have any questions about your upcoming visit, call the hospital ahead of time to get the answers you need.
Safety Tips
Once you are in the hospital room, you will need to exercise more caution when moving around. Here are some tips to help you prevent accidents:
- Use the call bell when you need help.
- Use the controls to lower the bed before getting in or out. Always move slowly.
- Be careful not to trip over the wires and tubes that may be attached to you or near your bed.
- Try to keep things within easy reach.
- Don't take any medications, including over-the-counter medications, unless instructed to do so.
- Be careful getting in and out of the bath or shower. Use the grab bar for support.
- Use handrails in hallways and stairways.
- Use any assisted devices, such as a walker, crutches, or a wheelchair as instructed or if you need to.
If you have any questions about your care, don't hesitate to ask your doctor or nurse. If you don't understand something or are confused about your care, don't be afraid to speak up. You have a say in your care and it is important that you understand what is happening and why. You may want to have a notepad by your bed so that you can write down questions as you think of them. Get a copy of your discharge instructions from the doctor or nurse.
Make arrangements in advance for a ride to take you home once you are released from the hospital. It's likely you will need to have someone drive you home after a hospital stay due to the effects of surgery and medications.
Being prepared ahead of time will help you make the transition to a hospital room easier.
- Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD
- Review Date: 04/2016 -
- Update Date: 06/04/2014 -


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a gorgeous loose fit woven linen and cotton open jacket by Eileen Fisher. Side pockets! unlined. we LOVE this for Fall - a great modern layering piece.
*please double bust, waist and hips*
to get the total measurement around the garment
bust: 22" | length: 25"
label size: Medium
fabrication: linen and cotton
brand: Eileen Fisher
condition: very nice
âś© Every item we sell is pre-loved authentic vintage, ONE-OF-A-KIND, and anywhere from 20 to 60+ years old! You will receive the exact item and size shown in the photos and measurements. Please let us know if you have any questions.âś©
âś© Newly stocked vintage items daily. Worldwide shipping. Returns for store credit - scroll down to our polices for more details.
♡ Let's be friends ♡
OUR WEBSITE: www.shopdirtybirdiesvintage.com
FULL ETSY SHOP: www.etsy.com/shop/dirtybirdiesvintage
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BLOG: www.dirtybirdiesvintage.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/dirtybirdiesvintage
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/dirtybirdies
âś© Make sure your ADDRESS is up to date - if it's not email us ASAP! âś© Some orders may come in 2 separate shipments since we are a shared shop - you will receive 2 tracking numbers if that is the case.
âś© You are responsible to keep up to date on your tracking information! You can easily click the tracking number given in your Etsy purchase form to see this information. This greatly cuts down on missing packages or packages getting sent back to us. :)
âś© USA packages are shipped within 2-4 days Once shipped, packages only take about 2-3 days to arrive. Every package includes tracking. If you have a special request please let us know.
âś© International packages are usually shipped within 2-4 days. All packages are usually shipped USPS First Class International with a tracking/customs number (the tracking will only track packages up until they leave the country and then when they get to your country). Sometimes we do ship PRIORITY when it comes to heavier items (over 4 lbs). Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery--however, packages can sometimes take up to 2 months depending on holidays and customs--so please don't be worried if they are taking awhile, they 99.9% always show up! We, nor is any Etsy shop, responsible for any CUSTOM FEES - if you have a question regarding this please let us know and we'll try to help.
âś©Combined Shipping: Etsy automatically combines shipping prices when you order 2 or more items at a time... The more you buy the less you spend on shipping!
Just contact me within: 3 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 7 days of delivery
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
âś© For USA orders we offer STORE CREDIT for any item you would like to return. Please email us ASAP and let us know you would like to return the item, as we must receive the item back within 7 days of the delivery date. Once we receive the returned item in original condition, you will be given in store credit for the amount of the item only - you are responsible for all shipping costs. That credit is good for one year. Credit can NOT be applied on sale items.
âś© We ONLY give refunds if there is a problem with your item. (broken, mislabeled, mistake). You MUST contact us within 3 days of receiving the item about a refund. We do not give refunds for slight color variations in fabric, sorry! We always try to describe our items to the best of our ability, but we may miss something, sometimes. In most cases we are be happy to refund the item. If you plan on returning an item, you MUST email us ASAP and have the package postmarked to be returned to us within 7 days of delivery of sale.
âś© For international orders we do not allow refunds/returns because the shipping is too expensive and takes too long. All sales are final for international orders UNLESS something is broken or lost in the mail.
âś© If you live in Iowa city and/or Maquoketa Iowa please email us and you can pick up your item instead of paying shipping fees. We will gladly refund you the shipping cost.
Please follow our shop on these sites for coupon codes, flash sales and up to date new listings in the shop. Be the first to know!
1: WEBSITE: http://www.shopdirtybirdiesvintage.com
2: WANELO: http://wanelo.com/dirtybirdiesvintage
3: TUMBLR: http://dirtybirdiesvintage.tumblr.com
4: BLOG: www.dirtybirdiesvintage.com
5: FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/dirtybirdiesvintage
6: TWITTER: http://twitter.com/dirtybirdies
7: INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/dirtybirdiesvintage
Yes, we can ship expedited.
At no extra cost, we normally ship Priority which takes 2-3 days to arrive. If the item is super light we will ship First Class which takes 2-4 days to arrive. Please allow 2 to 3 days for us to get your package ready for shipping. If you need it faster -
Please contact us to confirm we can meet your time frame.
How do you exchange an item that didn't work out?
We accept returns for store credit.
→ Please email us before you plan to return the item.
→ The item must be returned in the same condition.
→ The item must be delivered to us within 10 days of delivered date.
→ Shipping charges are non-refundable.
→ Credit will expire in 1 year.
An item may be placed on reserve/hold for 3 days. If a longer time is needed, please contact us to discuss. A non-refundable deposit may be required for reserves/holds longer than 3 days.
All orders will receive a tracking number once the package has shipped. It is your responsibility to keep up to date on your tracking information and know when your package has/will arrived. You can easily click the tracking number on your order form to see this information.
Most international counties charge a customs fee. It is your responsibly to pay this otherwise the package will be returned to us!
All of our items are sold as "vintage condition." Since they have been previously used, items will have some degree of wear. We do our best to represent this through photos and descriptions.
Please read and view the description and photos carefully before purchase. To ensure your item fits, please double-check & compare the listing and/or estimated size listed in the description and your own size to get the best fit. If you are unsure and have a question about the size or appearance (i.e color, shape, length) of an item, contact us and we will gladly send you more pictures and/or possibly model them for you or take additional measurements. We do not give refunds for items that do not fit or for slight color variations.


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You will be referred to a specialist called a nephrologist, who is dedicated to managing kidney diseases. The goals of chronic kidney disease treatment are to:
- Prevent or delay progression of kidney damage
- Prevent and treat complications
Treatment of chronic kidney disease depends on its stage. Severe chronic kidney disease must be treated with dialysis or kidney transplantation .
Treatment of less advanced stages may include:
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD
- Review Date: 05/2015 -
- Update Date: 05/20/2015 -


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Weiss: Helton to miss 'first handful' of spring games
Lachemann hopes third time the charm at Classic
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Rockies Manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday that veteran first baseman Todd Helton will not play in Saturday's Spring Training opener against the D-backs, and he will check with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki before committing to using him.
Both players are coming off season-ending surgeries -- Helton's in August on his right hip to repair a torn labrum and Tulowitzk's in June on his left groin to remove scar tissue. Weiss said Helton prefers to ease his way into playing shape and might not be used in early games. Tulowitzki has done baserunning drills with no problems. Weiss said he believes Tulowitzki will play, but he wants to make sure playing doesn't create a setback.
Weiss said veterans such as Helton and Tulowitzki, as well as closer Rafael Betancourt, who is facing hitters but asked not to be put on the pitching schedule the first week of games, have earned the right to approach Spring Training with an eye toward preserving themselves for the regular season.
"This Spring Training is five or six days longer than it usually is [because of the World Baseball Classic]," Weiss said. "Todd wants to time it right, so that when it's time to go -- he's at his peak. He's probably not going to be in there for that first handful of games. I don't know the exact number. For a guy like him, there's no reason to put your foot on the pedal. He's got a good feel.
"I'm trying to do that with all our guys. What gets you right? I don't care what that looks like, that's what we're going to do."
LeMahieu determined to compete, contribute
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Thanks to an improved swing that took months to hone, Rockies infielder DJ LeMahieu went from forgotten man to starting second baseman by the end of last season. Now he simply has to make sure he isn't forgotten again.
The conventional wisdom in camp is the Rockies are looking at Josh Rutledge, who played shortstop last season after Troy Tulowitzki was hurt, as their second baseman. Rutledge displayed more power last season than LeMahieu.
If Rutledge holds the starting spot, LeMahieu will be part of a crowd of players seeking backup infield jobs. LeMahieu simply is out to show new manager Walt Weiss that he is prepared to help the team.
"There's going to be another opportunity, whether it's right away this year, later this year, next year or whatever," LeMahieu said. "There's going to be another opportunity and I'm going to be ready for it.
"I'm coming in here and competing. You could look at it both ways, but I think I'd be cutting myself short to be just trying to make the team."
The improvement LeMahieu showed last season suggests he can't be counted out. A Cubs second-round pick out of LSU in 2009, LeMahieu was acquired by the Rockies before last season. Then-manager Jim Tracy and former hitting coach Carney Lansford saw an area where LeMahieu could quicken his swing, and they began working with him before Spring Training.
LeMahieu began the year at Triple-A Colorado Springs and earned a promotion in May, but hit just .205 in 19 games before being returned to Triple-A.
But after returning to the Majors on July 16, LeMahieu sizzled at a .316 clip for the rest of the season to bring his final number to .297.
"With the Cubs, I'd always hit, so no one wanted to bother me too much," LeMahieu said. "But Tracy took it upon himself to say, 'He's hit, but he can be better. ... A lot better.' I agreed with him, bought into what he was saying -- he and Carney, both -- and benefitted a lot."
LeMahieu finished with just two home runs and 18 extra-base hits in 81 games (65 starts), but he believes there is more power in his bat.
"I don't think anyone goes up here and says, 'I'm going to go up there and hit a home run in this at-bat' -- well, maybe 'CarGo' [All-Star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez]," LeMahieu said. "But it's taking the right approach, hitting the ball harder, hitting the ball a little more out front. I grasped that concept last year and it's working well so far this year."
Pomeranz to kick off rotation derby vs. D-backs
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Left-hander Drew Pomeranz, one of the competitors for the final spot in the Rockies' rotation, will have the first chance to show his wares in Cactus League play.
Pomeranz will start against the D-backs in Saturday's opener at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (1:10 p.m. MT). Righty Tyler Chatwood, also competing for the rotation, is scheduled to follow Pomeranz.
Two of the four solid rotation members will throw Sunday against the D-backs (1:10 p.m. MT). Lefty Jeff Francis will start and righty Juan Nicasio will follow him.
Former Marlins and Cubs right-hander Chris Volstad will start on Monday, and lefty Danny Rosenbaum, whom the Rockies selected from the Nationals in the Rule 5 Draft, will follow. Rosenbaum, a starter in the Nationals chain, will be looked at for both duties during the spring. Under Rule 5, once the season starts Rosenbaum must either remain on the Major League roster for the entire season or be offered back to the Nationals for $50,000.
The other two solid rotation members will work Tuesday against the Cubs (1:05 p.m. MT), with righty Jhoulys Chacin starting and lefty Jorge De La Rosa coming in after him.
On Wednesday against the Padres (1:05 p.m. MT), Chatwood will start, Pomeranz will follow and lefty Josh Outman, listed for one to two innings of relief in the first two games of the schedule, will follow. Outman also is considered a competitor for the rotation.
Left-hander Nick Schmidt, who went 12-6 with a 4.35 ERA in 26 games (25 starts), at Double-A Tulsa last season, and righty prospect Chad Bettis, who missed last season because of a shoulder injury but is still considered one of the team's top prospects, are among the pitchers for Friday's intrasquad game.
Prospect Rosenbaum looking to get back in form
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Left-hander Danny Rosenbaum hopes to show the Rockies the stellar form he displayed for the Nationals during the first half of last season.
The Rockies selected Rosenbaum, 25, in the Rule 5 Draft. Once the season begins, the Rockies must either carry him on their Major League roster the entire year or offer him back to the Nationals for $50,000. At the time of the Rule 5 Draft, the Rockies said they were looking at Rosenbaum for their bullpen, but he is being stretched out like a starter and could swing to either role.
Rosenbaum established himself as a budding prospect by beginning last season at 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 15 starts Double-A Harrisburg. However, by season's end he was 8-10, with a 3.94 ERA in 26 starts. A 22nd-round pick out of Xavier (Ohio) University in 2009, Rosenbaum had not finished any of his previous seasons with an ERA above 2.59.
"The first half, everything was working, so I tried to just slow the game down and have a lot of confidence in my abilities, and that's why I was so successful," Rosenbaum said. "Toward the second half, I went away from what I was successful with. That's kind of why the season started to go downhill for me. I tried to find things, rather than sticking with what worked.
"These guys have seen a lot of video of me and want to get me back to where I was in the first half and the first years of my career. The minor mechanical flaws have been fixed, and it's starting to feel good again."
There also was an unusual injury. Rosenbaum was hit in a sensitive area by a line drive.
"It was something I wish no one to have to experience," he said. "I learned my lesson, [since I] didn't wear a cup that day."
Betancourt to ease into spring pitching schedule
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt said Wednesday he is taking his time getting ready for the regular season, so his not being included on the early Spring Training pitching schedule is no cause for concern.
The Rockies posted their schedule for their intrasquad game Friday and the first six Cactus League contests without their closer being listed. Betancourt, who turns 38 on April 29, earned 31 saves last season -- his first full season as a fulltime closer.
"There's no reason for me to pitch on Saturday or Sunday, and [still am] going to be here for five weeks after that," Betancourt said. "I'm going to try to get in 10-12 innings down here in Spring Training, and there's plenty of time for that. I just want to get ready for the season."
Chacin to pitch for Venezuela in Classic
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies right-handed pitcher Jhoulys Chacin announced Wednesday via Twitter that he will represent Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. Earlier in the day, he said he was awaiting the results of a physical that he had taken for Classic officials.
This will mean time away from Rockies camp, but the tournament keeps pitchers on their schedule so the event doesn't disrupt teams' regular-season plans.
Chacin, who was scheduled to make an official announcement during a conference call with Venezuelan media Wednesday afternoon, was out for much of last season with a strained nerve in the right side of his chest. But he finished the season healthy and pitched winter ball. When the Mariners' Felix Hernandez bowed out of the tournament to protect himself after signing a six-year, $175 million contract, Chacin -- who had expressed interest in participating during the winter -- actively sought a roster spot.
Rockies manager Walt Weiss said the intensity of the event, at a time when most players are merely tuning up for the season, could help Chacin.
"You can look at it any way you want to," Weiss said. "You like to have your guys around in Spring Training so you've got them in front of you. But the guys who are in the WBC are going to be in some high-pressure situation, having to win games. They're going to get a lot out of that. It's a great honor for these guys to be selected for that."
This year's Classic also will give Chacin more time with Venezuela pitching coach Wilton Lopez. In January, Chacin visited Lopez in Sarasota, Fla., to adjust his conditioning and correct a mechanical flaw that could help his fastball. Chacin has consistently kept his fingers on top of the ball while throwing his changeup and slider, which are considered his best pitches, but had fallen into a habit of letting the fingers slip beneath the ball on the fastball. Lopez spotted the habit on video and addressed it with Chacin.
Left fielder Carlos Gonzalez and catcher Ramon Hernandez also will represent Venezuela.
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Hardball in the Rockies, and follow him on Twitter @harding_at_mlb. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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The KWC 20.250.060.006 has additional Required/Recommended options. To configure, add to your cart.
*Image displayed for product may differ from actual product appearance, especially in finish. Due to the differences in monitors, technical factors, and characteristics of some finishes, the colors shown here cannot be represented with all their true qualities. The images and color tiles should only be considered a guide. eFaucets.com is unable to guarantee that finishes between manufacturers will match.
*Orders placed before 3:00 pm (CST) Mon - Fri are usually shipped out the same business day when availability is displayed as 5 or greater. All orders subject to stock on hand.


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Restaurant Review – Soup's Grill
Finally, there's a restaurant for Cardinal fans in Los Angeles! At long last, Jeff Suppan has opened his restaurant/sports bar – Soup's Grill – in Woodland Hills. A new story on mlb.com describes the long road to this opening, but I can report it was definitely worth the wait.
I work with a good friend of Jeff's, and he told Jeff I would be coming in. Jeff came up to me as soon as he saw my Cardinal shirt and said hello. He was super-friendly and even gave me and my friends a personal tour of some of the memorabilia. You don't need a connection to talk to Jeff, as he is spending quite a bit of off-season time at the restaurant and chatted with many of the guests. He buzzed around the restaurant, keeping tabs on the kitchen, the bar area, and even wiping off some tables.
Jeff showed us the displays of the 2006 National Championship and World Series Rings. He said some folks were shocked to see them, thinking he had cut his rings up for the sake of displaying them in the restaurant. No need to worry, he said, as they had all been given these displays along with the rings.
Jeff pointed out the dugout section which he said he wanted to recreate the feeling of actually being in a dugout for fans. The wall of the dugout is lined with autographed photos, many with funny quotes. Scott Rolen wrote, "Your cheesesteaks are better than your curveball."
Cheesesteaks are a specialty at Soup's Grill, as Jeff's parents hail from Philly. I tried one and thought it was really tasty and as good as any I've tried in Philly. The menu features all the sports bar favorites, lots of choices of sandwiches and salads. We split a piece of dulce de leche cheesecake for dessert which was also yummy.
St. Louisans will be glad to know Bud Light is on draft, along with Harp, Stella, Sierra Nevada and a few others. There's also a wine list. The baseball wall behind the bar was definitely eye-catching.
The restaurant is packed with memorabilia from Jeff's career, including lots of Cardinals stuff. Even the back stairway is fully decorated. Here we discovered an autographed picture of Jim Edmonds' dramatic behind-the-back catch. Jim had inscribed, "Don't hang this in the back. It's probably my best ever." Haha, Jimmy, it is in the back, but the stairway should be more trafficked soon as plans call for a roof deck expansion.
Service was friendly and quick, even though the restaurant was at capacity when we arrived. If you have to wait for a table, you can sit on authentic seats from old Busch Stadium in front of the restaurant.
I definitely recommend Soup's Grill as a great spot to watch a game and enjoy a good meal, and be on alert because that busboy over there might be Jeff Suppan himself!
Visit Soup's Grill at 21028 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA.


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Discuss and stuff
Discuss and stuff
No Love and No Rubio, The Raptors need to take this.
Pekovic and Ak47 wiill give the Raptors some problems but unless there is a major brain cramp this should be a win for the Raptors.
I agree and T Ross needs to play tonight. I wanna see him nail some triples and throw down some 360 dunks
This should be a game where Lowry, and Derozan be dominant again.
I hope Kleiza will be back, Ross gets minutes, and JL3 plays. Those 3 should consistently get minutes, not to mention don't put 5 bench guys on at the same time, it's looking fairly disappointing.
Twitter: @ReubenJRD NBA, Raptors writer for Daily Hive Vancouver, Toronto.
Pek has looked beastly so far, but both JV and Bargs are the type of post defender that he has trouble scoring against--guys who don't leave their feet, that he has to shoot over.
The DeRozan-AK47 matchup should be interesting to watch, assuming that's who they put on him on D (they're gonna want to hide Roy on D, and where better to hide a bad defender than Landry Fields, at least until he proves he can make a shot). I'm also interested to see how Shved does. He seemed like a really solid under-the-radar pickup.
Last edited by tkfu; Sun Nov 4th, 2012 at 09:45 AM.
First must-win type game of the season IMO
Raptors, for the first game this year, will have the better team. Gotta win this one.
I have not understood the pessimism after 2 tough games vs. Brooklyn and Indiana, but if we lose this one, I will start to lose my optimism for sure.
Definitely. We need the win against an injured Wolves squad.
Another game broadcasting nationally in the U.S. And another tuesday if I'm not mistaken. Raps gotta represent!
anybody have a link?
I'm excited to see Pekovitch (sp?) play tonight.
We really need to win this one - so many tough games early on we can't afford to lose the ones we should win.
Ross getting minutes early
What the hell is the offence we are running? Seems like they are just half assing through the first option and then there is not secondary or tertiary options at all. Looking really bad.
Glad Ross took a shot. He has a stat now.
I'm not a huge Davis fan but I've been really impressed with him this season. He's made huge strides this offseason IMO.
Some really sloppy defending right now. Way too many reach in fouls.
Ross looks...wow, really bad. Normal rookie bad, but still. I'm just going to try and not even think about him for 3 months. I'll just close my eyes when he has the ball until then or something.
Demar, Anderson, and Lowry have been everything tonight.
Demar especially is playing well. Just took AK off the bounce.
Bargnani having another bad game.. not getting too many shots, and has just decided to disengage. Ugh.
If I was Casey, I'd move him to the second unit. I'd rather have Jose/Andrea in the second unit then Jose/Amir.
It's only been a few games, but Lowry is easily one of my favorite raptors of all time. We've never seen a steals guy like him on this team.
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Windows® 7. Your PC, simplified.
Simplifies everyday tasks
Windows® 7 makes the things you do every day faster and easier. With fewer clicks, faster searching, easier browsing, and simpler ways to connect, there's less between you and what you want to do.
- Simple to use: Get around and get things done faster with simpler, streamlined, navigation.
- Easy to browse the web: Browse the web faster and easier with Internet Explorer® 8.
- Easy to connect: Easily share printers and documents with multiple PCs on your home network and stay connected more easily when you're away from home.
- Easy to communicate and share: Communicating and sharing is easier with Windows 7 and Windows Live. Windows Live Essentials make e-mail, IM, and editing and sharing photos and videos easier (with Windows Live Mail, Messenger, and Photo Gallery).
Works the way you want
Windows® 7 is designed to improve the performance of your PC, so it's faster, more secure, and more reliable. PCs with Windows 7 simply work the way you want them to work.
- Faster and more reliable: Windows® 7 is designed to make PCs more reliable and responsive.
- More secure: Improved security helps safeguard your PC and your privacy.
- Compatible with you: Run many Windows® XP productivity programs and personalize your PC to be just the way you want it.
Makes new things possible
With Windows® 7, you'll discover easy and exciting new ways to have fun and get things done with your PC.
- Media on your terms: Use your PC as a TV or enjoy photos, music, and videos in more ways — at home and away from home.
- Work anywhere: With Windows® 7, you can see and connect to available networks, including Wi-Fi, broadband, dial-up, and VPN, in just a few clicks.
- New ways to engage: Windows® 7 makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.


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Becker to NCUA: Examiners Applying Opinion to IRR Management
NAFCU President/CEO Fred Becker has fired off a letter to the NCUA Board urging the regulator to take immediate action regarding examiners using their own opinions and methods when shock testing credit union balance sheets for interest rate risk.
"They're substituting their own opinions for those of the management of the credit union, as well as the expert advice they are getting from very well-qualified third parties," Becker said of the feedback NAFCU has received from its members. "The examiner is not responsible for running the credit union. That's for the board and management to do."
Becker said he's heard reports of examiners shock testing for interest rate risk under "absurd" scenarios, such as unrealistic increases in rates over a six-month period.
"We're taking about things that just aren't realistic," he told Credit Union Times. "One in a million chance testing."
Specifically, Becker said in the letter he sent Friday that members have reported examiners requiring credit unions to set policies according to rate shocks outlined in a 16-year-old core deposit study.
"The examiners then suggested the members initiate drastic balance sheet restructuring that would necessitate selling large portions of the long-term (three years or longer) investments and long-term (five years or longer) loans and shift those dollars into very short term and/or floating-rate loan and investment products without regard to current economic forecasts that expect rates to remain at current low levels for another one to three years," Becker said in the letter.
To do so, many credit unions would have to curtail their long term lending and much of their member business lending, he said. Shifting assets this way into very short term products would drastically reduce net interest margins, thereby reducing net income and the member's net worth, which Becker said would seem to be counter-productive to the overall goals of the NCUA.
Instead, he said, credit unions should have the flexibility to determine appropriate testing and modeling based on industry-accepted standards and expert advice from qualified third-party vendors.
And, NAFCU suggests the NCUA provide clearer interest rate risk guidance to examiners, emphasizing that each credit union's situation is unique, and the models, assumptions and testing it employs should be commensurate with its portfolio.