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The incredible shrinking audience
DVR use isn't the only reason that advertisers have been willing to take risks on new formats. While overall media consumption is up, broadcast television viewership is declining, and has been for years. The loss of viewers is especially acute in the coveted 18-34 year old old male demographic. With so many more media options, young men are increasingly opting to go elsewhere in search of entertainment. "18-34 year old males are turning away from broadcast television in droves," Quinn says. "They're playing video games, they're on the Internet, they're doing things other than traditional media."
This audience fragmentation has caused advertisers to look more closely at their traditional models. With the rates for 30-second spots continuing to rise even as the audience fell, advertisers were looking for new and creative ways to get the word out. When it became clear that placement could be effective on television, marketers were ready to buy. Between 1999 and 2004, product placement on television grew at an average rate of more than 2- percentdouble that of placements in film. Though growth is expected to settle down in the coming years, PQ Media believes that the market will still be expanding by 9 percent a year in 2009.
So, fewer commercials, right?
So what does the future hold? Advertising money follows eyeballs, so wherever young people go, marketers are in hot pursuit. In the near future, that will mean an increase in all sorts of nontraditional advertising, such as webisodes, advergaming, cinema advertising, digital outdoor advertising, video game placements, and podcast ads.
There's still plenty of eyeballs glued to the TV, though, and the old broadcast television model isn't dead yet. But will the rise of product placement eventually kill off commercials altogether? Don't count on it. Though it may seem like double-dipping by the networks, most people in the business look at commercials and placement as complementary.
"So far we don't see it as killing the traditional 30-second spot," says Patrick Quinn. "In fact, right now it's more of a supplement. A good example would be the Pontiac Solstice a lot people talked about last year on The Apprentice, where Pontiac bought spots on either end of each segment, they sponsored the show, the major challenge was based around creating an ad campaign worthy for the Pontiac Solstice, and then in commericals people were encouraged to go online to get certificates for the first 1,000 Solstices. They sold out in forty minutes. It's more of a package deal right now. Will people see more branded entertainment? Yes. Is the thirty second spot going to completely die? Not in the foreseeable future."
What the foreseeable future does have in store is an increasingly blurry line between advertising and editorial content—and it's not an issue just for the TV world. As Deborah Wahl Meyer, a marketing VP at Lexus, puts it, "ideas can cross between advertising and editorial. It doesn't always need to have the 'advertorial' note on top." Jonathan Adelstein, one of the FCC Commissioners, warned against the dangers of just this approach in a speech last year. He used the example of a television chef who explained that the best kind of shrimp were frozen—a statement that the chef had been paid US$550,000 to make by a frozen shrimp company.
The industry is still working out where to draw the lines, but it's clear that much more is up for sale now than it was a decade ago. Just remember, though, that while advertising may feel pervasive, it's still possible to shut off the TV, head into the great outdoors, and take in something simplerlike a baseball game. After all, there's nothing quite like the smell of fresh-clipped grass and the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd to remind you of the days before marketing messages squeezed themselves into every nook and cranny of our brains, and that's why I'll be first in line when the new season begins at US Cellular Field. Oh, wait...


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Here is the recap of the Cubs minor league system from 5/16/12, enjoy.
Tennessee and Iowa were off.
Peoria fell just short of winning their sixth straight game on Wednesday night as they built a 3-0 lead only to lose 5-4 to Clinton. Ryan Cuneo was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and three RBI's. The other standout at the plate for the Chiefs was Wes Darvill who was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Michael Jensen pitched well but didn't get any help from his defense as he went five innings giving up four runs, but none of those were earned.
Daytona can't seem avoid the rain drops as they were rained out on Tuesday which resulted in a double-header Wednesday. Well, it was supposed to be a double-header but the rain got Daytona again as they settled for just one game. They made the most of it as they beat Brevard County 6-2 in 8 innings. Matt Szczur stayed hot as he went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. Nelson Perez was 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored, he is now hitting .313 on the season. Matt Loosen pitched great but had to settle for a no decision, he went 5 and 2/3rds of an inning while only allowing one run on one hit.
This is why Daytona was rained out. RUN AWAY!
Thanks for reading,
– George

subset: commoncrawl


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Just days away from the club inducting him as the seventh member of the Ring of Fire, Jeff Crandall welcomed Fire legend C.J. Brown back to the All-In Podcast on Monday. Jeff and C.J. talk his reaction to the news that he'd be inducted into the Ring of Fire, what the honor means to him, how he still keeps up with the club and what his emotions are going into Wednesday's ceremony and match.
Be sure to subscribe to the All-In Podcast via iTunes, on the Stitcher Radio mobile app or listen below!


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1992 GMC Sierra - Built To Cruise
Beating Up The Boulevards
Nobody needs a better reason than pure desire when it comes to customizing a truck designed for one purpose, and one purpose only-cruising. Luis Villarreal, from Houston, tore into his '92 GMC Sierra with a little help from his father, Luis Sr., with the sole intent to piece together a completely custom vehicle to whip around town in. Over a three-year period, team Villarreal turned a not-so-sharp, early '90s fullsize truck into a legitimate street creature.
The first step in building an asphalt-abusing hauler is first modifying the suspension, and in the case of Luis' Sierra, the only direction to head was south. In order to do so successfully, the truck was dropped off at Mando's Drop Shop in Houston, where it was equipped with McGaughy's drop spindles up front, and a custom two-link setup in the rear. Firestone 'bags were planted at each corner, and to complete the low-slung suspension, a set of slick, 20x8.5-inch Centerline Smoothie wheels covered in 265/40R20 Hankook skins were bolted up to battle the mean streets.
With most of the main components of a true street truck well taken care of, Luis checked his truck in at TC Auto Works in Donna, Texas, where it was stripped clean of the antenna, tailgate handles, and the third brake light. The front bumper was custom-fabricated to sit as flush as possible, and the rear bumper was replaced with a Sir Michael's roll pan for added cleanliness. To really get the truck noticed, a few coats of PPG Daytona Blue were applied to its surface, and a hearty helping of skulls, pinstriping, silver leaf, and true fire flames were layered on to ensure that Luis' ride makes a lasting impression wherever it goes.
The Sierra's cabin received the same attention to detail as its exterior with painted interior plastic, and a dash and center console that was sprayed to match the killer paint scheme. Arjona's Upholstery, in Pasadena, Texas, covered the bucket seats with blue leather and used alligator inserts to add an exotic finishing touch.
Of course, no custom cruiser would be complete without a loud, booming sound system and Luis' is complete with an Alpine CDA-9886 head unit, two 10-inch Kicker CVR subs, TMA 61/2-inch components located in the center console, and a pair of 61/2-inch Rockford Fosgate components in the door panels. To power the abundance of audio components, two Memphis 1000-watt amps were wired up, and do an excellent job of feeding the power hungry speakers.
With the truck completed, Luis found himself truly happy with how his born again GMC turned out. He commented about how his dad wasn't too thrilled with the air-ride suspension at first, but that he finally came around to the idea. Being the nice guy that he is, Luis makes sure to pack up his sisters almost every weekend for a necessary cruising session. As you can tell, this truck definitely spends a great deal of time on the road, which is exactly what we like to see of our featured rides. Custom trucks should be built to drive, and that's what Luis does with his day in and day out.


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Our Commitment to Community Benefit
Meeting the health care needs of our communities is the cornerstone of Sutter Health's not-for-profit mission. This includes directly serving those who cannot afford to pay for health care and supporting programs and services that help those in financial need.
In 2012, our network of physician organizations, hospitals and other health care providers invested $795 million in health care programs, services and benefits for the poor and underserved. This includes:
- The cost of providing charity care
- The unpaid costs of participating in Medi-Cal
- Investments in medical research, health education and community-based public benefit programs such as school-based clinics and prenatal care for patients.
Sutter Health's commitment to delivering charity care to patients continued to grow, reaching another all-time high of $153 million in 2012 – or an average of nearly $3 million per week.
How the money is spent
In addition to Sutter Tracy Community Hospital's contribution to Charity Care Programs there are many other community benefit programs provided annually. All of which are focused in strengthening existing resources, filling in gaps where services are lacking, and ultimately addressing the needs of those most vulnerable in the community.
Supporting the Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin (CPFSJ) Healthy Connections Resource Center is one way that Sutter Tracy can help ensure that local residents have access to resources and referrals to help them live a healthy and self-sufficient lifestyle. This center offers complimentary services and provides the community information on a wide range of health and social services. To learn more, call 209-229-4922 or visit at 35 E. 10th Street, Suite A in downtown Tracy.
Additional community benefit programs and services are tailored to help address the priority needs as identified through the San Joaquin County Health Needs Assessment. Please click on the link below to view the most recent report.
For more information on our community benefit programs, please call 209-832-6511.


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The Bayfield High School girls basketball team, according to head coach Ronnie Posey, took a huge step forward Saturday.
The Wolverines, playing the championship game of the Aztec Invitational, battled New Mexico big-school power Artesia from start to finish.
The first half was one of the best halves of Bayfield girls basketball Ive ever seen, Posey said after the Wolverines trailed only 31-25 at halftime.
We stepped up and slapped them right in the chops, Posey said. But we just couldnt keep up with their big girls.
Artesia eventually won 63-39.
But that was the best effort from one of my teams ever, Posey said.
Destiny McGhehey led the balanced attack with 11 points for the Wolverines. Jaida Ross and Haley Clarke added 10 points each.
Bayfield senior Micaela Knickerbocker was voted to the all-tournament team, Posey said.
We actually had five girls get votes (for the all-tournament team), Posey said. That shows the full team we are.
He said the Wolverines gained a lot of experience with a 2-1 showing in Aztec to start 2013.
The Wolverines (5-4 overall) will host Montezuma-Cortez at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.


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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.
Troy-Bilt 208cc 24-in Front-Tine Tiller
Item # 375077 Model # 21A-34M5011
This item is no longer available on Lowes.com.


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Policing through pedestrian's eyes
By Adam Franks
I recently started attending the Citizen's Police Academy sponsored by the Russellville Police Department for several reasons. As a crime reporter, I work daily with local law enforcement agencies, and understanding the intricacies of a police department seemed like a reasonable endeavor for someone who tries to report on the "criminal element" in the community.
I often try to imagine police officers conducting traffic stops and responding to calls when I listen to their scratchy communication with the dispatchers on our scanner in the newsroom. I think back to my interaction with police; suffice it to say, I've been on the wrong end of a handful of traffic stops and noise complaints, but I never tried to see the streets of Russellville through a policeman's eyes.
I'm hoping this academy will give me a chance to learn what makes a police officer tick.
For three hours during six upcoming Tuesday evenings, I and several other members of our community will listen to Russellville police officers describe their operations, routines, policies, procedures and why they do what they do. They will discuss everything from crime prevention to Internet predators to traffic regulations to crisis negotiation. They will train us with firearms and defensive tactics, and we will learn about the most prickly issue every police department faces: the use of force.
From the first two meetings I've attended, the officers seem determined to expel all myths we, as the public, may believe about police. The current Russellville Police Department appears to be dedicated to setting a positive example for our city. Police scandals and mishaps make for good news stories, but a police force that citizens can believe in makes for a good community.
In my time working with the Russellville Police Department, I've come to appreciate our policing force less as "donut-eating skirt chasers" (their words, not mine) camped out at PDQ, and more as servants of the city of Russellville committed to protecting our schools, churches, offices, streets, neighborhoods and homes. I emplore anyone interested in learning more about policing to enroll in the next academy session. I'm confident you will see the boys in blue in a new light.


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I'm currently loking for a 2nd-hand laptop.
And i stumbled on this page. They are asking 350 EUR for it. And another one is this , and this one costs 300 EUR.
Now what would you guys do? (dont say buy a new one coz i aint got the cash for it.), is a Toshiba laptop of good quality, or should i rather go with the dell one?


text:
Call to RemembranceJoseph Martin - Shawnee Press
Call to RemembranceJoseph Martin - Shawnee Press
The full emotion of the Last Supper is on display in this dramatic anthem. A featured solo theatrically portrays the voice of the Savior celebrating the Passover with his chosen disciples. Sonorous choral writing provides foundation and support, giving the work a sense of scope and power.
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UAM left Tucker Coliseum with a 51-50 win over ATU, its first home league loss of the season, on Thursday night. The Wonder Boys (14-9, 11-6 GAC) had their four-game win streak snapped, but are tied with Harding University for first place in the league standings with three regular-season games to go. The Bisons topped Southern Arkansas 93-87 in overtime on Thursday night. Arkansas Tech travels to SAU today.
The Boll Weevils (15-8 overall, 10-7) took the lead for good at 44-43 on a Josh Gibson (16 points) free throw with 5:21 remaining, part of a 7-0 scoring run that gave them a 48-43 edge with two minutes to go.
The Wonder Boys pulled within a point three Willie Kirkland free throws with five seconds left. UAM missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw with 2.8 seconds remaining to give Arkansas Tech one last chance, but its last-second heave from mid-court was no good. The Boll Weevils completed a regular season sweep of the Wonder Boys.
Jared Williamson of Russellville led ATU with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Kirkland had 13 points.
Arkansas-Monticello took a quick 6-0 lead on back-to-back 3-pointers by Gibson, but ATU led 7-6 with 15 minutes to go in the first half. A jumper from Dayton Mickens tied the game at 11-11 at the midway point, then Brandon Sims cut the Wonder Boys' lead to 19-18 with 5:04 left in the half.
Nobody scored again for five minutes, until Kirkland's free throws gave ATU a 21-18 lead at intermission. The Wonder Boys led 25-18 two minutes into the second half and led by a slim margin until the Weevils tied it 39-39 with 8:44 showing.
Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (17-6, 14-3 GAC) vs. Southern Arkansas Lady Muleriders (0-22, 0-17 GAC)
When: Today, 2 p.m.
Where: W.T. Watson Athletic Center, Magnolia
Radio/Internet: KWKK 100.9 FM/athletics.atu.edu
About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech has won five consecutive games and 10 of its last 11. The Golden Suns are in first place in the Great American Conference standings with three regular season games remaining. Senior guard Rosie Silva has reached double figures in scoring in eight consecutive games and is averaging 19 points per game over that span. Silva has 123 steals this season. She needs four more steals to break the single-season school record that she established in 2011-12 with 126 steals. The Golden Suns defeated Southern Arkansas 99-46 at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Jan. 19.
About the Lady Muleriders: Southern Arkansas remained winless on the season with a 97-42 loss at Harding University on Thursday. SAU sophomore guard Katherine McBride has averaged 17.6 points per game in eight contests since returning from injury on Jan. 24. She did not play in the first meeting between the Lady Muleriders and the Golden Suns this season. SAU has a cumulative overall record of 27-124 over its last six women's basketball seasons.
Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (14-9, 11-6 GAC) at Southern Arkansas Muleriders (9-14, 5-12 GAC)
When: Today, 4 p.m.
Where: W.T. Watson Athletic Center, Magnolia
Radio/Internet: KWKK 100.9 FM/athletics.atu.edu
About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech saw its four-game winning streak come to an end with a 51-50 home loss to Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday night. The Wonder Boys were just 1-of-11 from 3-point range in the loss. They are now tied with Harding for first place in the GAC standings with three regular season games remaining. Tech defeated Southern Arkansas 64-54 in Russellville on Jan. 19. Willie Kirkland had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Jay Murphy, who is now injured, added 11 points. The Wonder Boys will head to Magnolia with just eight experienced, healthy players.
About the Muleriders: Six has been an unlucky number for Southern Arkansas lately. The Muleriders have lost three consecutive games, and in each of those defeats the margin was six points. Their most recent setback was a 93-87 overtime loss at Harding University on Thursday. Chris Davis had 21 points and eight rebounds and Rodney Hill scored 18 points in a losing effort for Southern Arkansas. The Muleriders hit 11-of-24 (46 percent) shots from 3-point range, but just 10-of-21 (48 percent) from the free throw line. SAU leads the GAC in rebounding margin (+6.7 rebounds per game) and steals (9.0 per game).


text: On edit: I should have said "Perception of Credibility" in the title.. Sorry... Interesting study by the Pew Center... Study Link Not surprisingly, the partly lines are pretty well defined with more Republicans favoring Fox News and dismissing MSNBC along with the reverse being true for Democrats. I do find it a bit surprising that NPR, long held to be a bastion of liberalism in the view of Republicans, had a higher favorability among them. Good radio is good radio, I guess (I'm biased, having worked for an NPR affiliate as news director). Anyway, I just thought I'd throw it out there.


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Hey, I think most of you have read my fanfictions.
But if not: http://www.fanfiction.net/~afallenblackrose
I could always use feed back.
And for those who are dying for new chapters...I swear to you they're coming! I've just been really busy... like right now I'm still at my school in the newspaper room getting my front page story finished.


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SANDY, Utah — Real Salt Lake might just be the most frustrated undefeated team in soccer right now.
Sure, they have yet to lose a match in the 2014 regular season, but they've tied more than they've won and stand at 3-0-5. And some of those ties — including Saturday's 2-2 deadlock with Vancouver — feel like anything but wins.
"This one definitely feels like a loss," RSL defender Chris Wingert told reporters. "We feel like we dropped two tonight, so that's a bit of a bummer. We need to get better at finishing games off."
That would be an understatement. Not only does Salt Lake have five ties this season, three of those have come when the Claret-and-Cobalt have blown late leads.
Against San Jose on March 15, RSL was up 3-1 at halftime and gave up goals in the 77th and 94th minutes to drop two points. On April 12 in Philadelphia, RSL had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 only to give up a 90th-minute goal and go home with another tie.
And against Vancouver, RSL not only jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a second-minute goal by Joao Plata and a ninth-minute goal by Alvaro Saborio, but Salt Lake dominated the game. The Whitecaps couldn't do anything for nearly the entire match, and RSL had chance after chance to extend its lead.
"In the first half, that was close to as good as we can play," Wingert said. "The energy was awesome. The guys were working really hard for each other. In the second half, unfortunately, we let them put us on our heels a little bit."
Even though the Whitecaps didn't have a whole lot of dangerous chances for the first 85 minutes of the game, Nicolas Mezquida brought Vancouver within one on an 86th-minute goal — and replays indicated was offside — and then Sebastian Fernandez brought the visitors even with a 35-yard rocket deep into stoppage time.
As the Whitecaps celebrated on the sidelines, the Claret-and-Cobalt dejectedly walked off the field.
"Yeah, I think any tie at home is like a loss," RSL defender Nat Borchers told reporters. "Especially when we have that kind of energy and domination in the first half, we expect that we're going to get maybe two or three more goals after that. And we just couldn't muster it.
"We just kept them in the game and the next thing you know they get that goal at the last minute. We just didn't close the game out right.
"It's a cruel game," Borchers added, pointing out that RSL nearly scored a third goal shortly before Vancouver scored its second to tie it. "And then it's 3-1 and we go home a little bit happier. But that's the cruel bounces of the game."
So what does RSL do about their seeming propensity to give up points late in games?
"I think it starts with video and talking about it and showing the players what could have been done, what choice could have possibly been made," RSL Coach Jeff Cassar told reporters. "Obviously, the staff's got to look at themselves, I've got to look at what I could have done better."
But ahead of next Saturday's game in Chicago, Cassar plans to "just keep stressing it and putting them in situations in practice where they have to defend a lead."


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The Department of American Studies at Brown University was founded in 1945 as a collaborative as well as interdisciplinary enterprise. The first catalog statement explained that it provided "the student with a more comprehensive and better unified knowledge of American Studies . . . than would be possible within the limits of a single department." This rigorous interdisciplinary approach still informs the program's goal of reaching a better understanding of the diverse cultures, groups, and experiences that make up American Studies. Today, we work principally in three areas: American Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Public Humanities.
The Department encourages students to take courses not only with our own faculty, but with faculty throughout the University and internationally. In addition to traditional research and publishing, faculty and students work in the community, in popular journals, and online to provide their research findings and skills to the public. Drawing deeply from the traditions of the liberal arts, American Studies at Brown is predicated on the ideal of a scholarly engagement with the public that enables its graduates to, as Brown's 1764 University Charter demands, "discharge the offices of life with usefulness and reputation."


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Nadeem Aslam
Photo: © Eamonn McCabe
About the Author
NADEEM ASLAM was born in Pakistan and now lives in England. He is the author of four previous novels, most recently The Blind Man's Garden. His work has been long-listed for the Man Booker Prize, short-listed for the IMPAC prize and the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature, and won the Kiriyama Prize, the Encore Award, the Windham-Campbell Literature Prize, and a Lannan Literary Fellowship. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.


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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0113
PI: Bethany Cobb, UC Berkeley, firstname.lastname@example.com
Address: Astronomy Department, 601 Campbell Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
CoI: Charles Bailyn, Yale University
CoI: Joshua Bloom, UC Berkeley
Title: Optical/IR Follow-Up of Gamma-Ray Bursts from SMARTS
Abstract: We request time to continue the successful SMARTS GRB program currently being carried out with the 1.3m SMARTS telescope equipped with the ANDICAM imager. Our request is 4 nights of target of opportunity observing time during semester 2010A. Our primary science goals are: 1) to detect GRB afterglows and analyze their SEDs and temporal behaviors and 2) to search for the supernovae associated with low-redshift GRBs. The 1.3m at CTIO is well- suited for this program because it is equipped with the ANDICAM instrument, a dual-channel optical/IR imager. Our targets of opportunity can be easily accommodated on the telescope because it operates in a queue-based observing mode.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0113


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Mabry happy to be coaching gifted St. Louis hitters
By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Despite the change in title, John Mabry insists that it has been just business as usual for him this spring.
After serving as an assistant coach for one season, Mabry became the Cardinals' head hitting coach upon Mark McGwire's departure during the offseason. McGwire is now the Dodgers' hitting coach. The transition, Mabry said, has been made easier by the fact that McGwire incorporated him into all the work he did last year.
Mabry also opted not to make too many alterations to the spring plan that McGwire had previously instituted.
"We're not reinventing any wheels," Mabry said. "These guys are good hitters. They know what they're doing. We have a lot of veteran guys who understand the game. We have some guys who are right on the verge of taking the next step to become among the elites in the game. Hopefully, they continue on that path."
And who would Mabry consider to be on that list?
"The whole core of young guys," he answered. "[David] Freese, [Jon] Jay, [Daniel] Descalso, [Allen] Craig. Those guys are ready to go to the next level. You have Matt [Holliday] and Carlos [Beltran] and Yadi [Molina] who are already superstars, and you have the next level coming who are going to be. What a great example they have to see in the guys ahead of them."
Mabry was fortunate in the players he inherited, of course, as McGwire left him with almost all the pieces from an offense that was near the top of the National League in most statistical categories last year.
McGee imparts basestealing wisdom on Cards
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- After spending two weeks serving as a guest instructor, former Cardinal Willie McGee departed Jupiter on Friday with an invitation from manager Mike Matheny to return anytime he wants.
McGee offered advice and instruction in a number of areas, but he was particularly instrumental in the Cardinals' efforts to improve their baserunning. McGee, who spent 13 of his 18 Major League seasons with St. Louis, had daily post-workout baserunning tutorials before the Cardinals started Grapefruit League play.
The attention shown by a player who had 352 career steals made an impression on several of McGee's baserunning pupils.
"Willie says it's all about confidence," outfielder Adron Chambers noted. "He was talking about how times have changed where coaches use stopwatches now to time pitchers. He said when he was playing, he didn't have things like that. He just believed that he would steal a base."
The Cardinals are not fooled into believing they will be a prolific basestealing club this year. The club swiped 91 bases in 2012, a total that ranked 13th among the 16 National League teams, and returns almost all of the same position players. But the Cardinals do have a handful of players -- including Chambers, Shane Robinson, Jon Jay and Oscar Taveras -- who have been told to take chances on the basepaths this spring.
"I think as a team, we feel like we should be stealing more bags," Robinson said. "We've chatted about it this spring amongst players and coaches, just kind of trying to come up with an idea about testing the waters to see what our maximum potential could be when it comes to stealing. It will help us. I feel like we're known as a team that doesn't run a lot. That can make us more dangerous."
The work will continue without McGee for the final month of spring. But the Cardinals need not worry: Lou Brock, who ranks second on baseball's all-time stolen base leaderboard, landed in Jupiter on Thursday.
Worth noting
• Bench coach Mike Aldrete served as the Cardinals' acting manager on Friday after Matheny had to remain in Jupiter because of an illness.
• Mitchell Boggs and Fernando Salas are among the pitchers scheduled to throw in Saturday's game against the Nationals. It will be the last Grapefruit League appearance for each before they head off to their respective World Baseball Classic teams. Boggs will pitch for Team USA, while Salas will be part of Mexico's roster.
• Saturday's game against the Nationals will mark the first meeting between Washington and St. Louis since the Cardinals stunned the Nats in Game 5 of the NL Division Series last October. As the schedule would have it, the two starters from that game -- Adam Wainwright and Gio Gonzalez -- will face each other on Saturday.
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, By Gosh, It's Langosch, and follow her on Twitter @LangoschMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Good points, but every time the author mentions the GPL, he says something about it being against capitalism. It's not, and never has been. Eric Raymond, the free-market libertarian, was using the GPL a long time ago. Free-software/open-source folks aren't commies. At least, not all of us.
In fact, I like the GPL. I'm a laissez-faire capitalist. I believe in strong property rights and weak intellectual property rights (because IP is sort of an artificially created construct, an artifact of governm
"Me too" to everything you said.


text:
- Product Overview
Holland Bar Stool Company is proud to offer this Officially Licensed logo Shuffleboard table. Wood cabinet with CNC and laser cut logos is custom finished. 16" wide playfield lays in a carpeted cradle and has climatic adjusters for consistent play. Multiple coats of lacquer provide a durable play surface with your choice of logo prominently displayed on each side. Finish your man cave with this furniture quality game table and enjoy for years to come. Game comes with an accessories kit that includes 8 pucks (4 red and 4 blue), Silicone, Cleaner, Polish, and Wax. Image is artist's representation and image finish may vary from actual production based on screen settings, etc.
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A Guide To Current And Emerging NPWT Modalities
In addition to assessing the mechanisms and impact of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in lower extremity wound care, these authors discuss the advent of fluid installation therapy in thwarting complications, recent literature on the use of the modality for closed incision sites and wounds secondary to traumatic fractures, and the potential of portable NPWT for small wounds.
In 2011, an estimated 366 million people worldwide had diabetes and this number is expected to increase to 552 million by 2030.1 In the United States, diabetes affects 25.8 million people (8.3 percent of the population) with more than 60 percent of non-traumatic lower limb amputations occurring in patients with diabetes.2
Of these amputations, 85 percent are preceded by a foot ulcer and the risk of developing a foot ulcer during the lifetime of a person with diabetes can be as high as 25 percent.3 The management of these foot wounds, with the ultimate goal of amputation prevention, remains one of the great challenges faced by the multidisciplinary foot care team today.
Over the past 20 years, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has proven to be a safe, effective modality for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Most commonly delivered by a Vacuum Assisted Closure device (VAC therapy, KCI), the NPWT system consists of a reticulated, open cell foam, covered with a semi-permeable adhesive drape, and connected to a negative pressure therapy unit via evacuation tubing.
The foam, engineered to apply a uniform pressure throughout the entire wound bed, comes in several varieties including: polyurethane ether; polyurethane ether with microbonded metallic silver impregnated into the foam; and white, pre-moistened, hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol foam. The negative pressure unit is typically at 125 mmHg on a continuous or intermittent setting.4,5
In 1997, Morykwas and colleagues reported a fourfold increase in blood flow to the subcutaneous tissue and muscle of Chester pigs when applying VAC therapy at 125 mmHg over 15-minute intervals.6 During the same interval, however, the blood flow values decreased to below baseline at pressures greater than 400 mmHg. The authors also found that the increase in local blood flow subsided after a period of five to seven minutes but an "off" interval of two minutes was sufficient for re-establishing the increase in blood flow. This represents the concept behind intermittent pressure.
Timmers and co-authors applied VAC therapy to the healthy, intact forearm skin of 10 healthy volunteers and measured the response of cutaneous blood flow to different values of negative pressure between 25 and 500 mmHg.7 The authors reported a significant increase in cutaneous blood flow at a negative pressure of 300 mmHg, more than double the pressure used in previous studies. In fact, even at negative pressures approaching 500 mmHg, they found no decrease in the baseline blood flow.
In 2005, Armstrong and Lavery reported on the results of a multicenter, randomized clinical trial comparing the proportion and rate of wound healing in 162 patients with diabetic wounds secondary to partial foot amputation and evidence of adequate perfusion.8 The patients were randomly assigned to two groups, one of which received NPWT while the other group had standard moist wound therapy. The study, which took place over a period of 16 weeks in 18 study sites, found that treatment with NPWT resulted in a higher number of healed wounds (56 percent versus 39 percent) as well as a faster rate of wound healing. Furthermore, the group receiving NPWT demonstrated an increase in the rate of granulation tissue formation as well as a potential trend toward a reduced risk of re-amputation.
Blume and colleagues reported similar results in an even larger study published in 2008.9 Over a period of 16 weeks, the authors demonstrated that a greater proportion of diabetic foot ulcers achieved complete closure with NPWT (43.2 percent versus 28.9 percent) and that patients receiving NPWT required fewer amputations.
Weighing The Pros And Cons Of NPWT
While there are several factors that may explain the success of NPWT, there is no consensus regarding the dominant mechanism. Rather, the combination of a moist wound healing environment, active removal of exudate and infectious materials, maintenance of adequate wound temperature, and physical stimulation of cells created by NPWT along with increased tissue perfusion all contribute to improved wound healing.10 When a wound bed is moist, this maintains the lateral voltage gradient and there is a greater potential for wound healing.10
Furthermore, researchers have shown that wounds with excessive exudate contain an increased number of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which degrade the adhesion proteins necessary for wound repair while an increase in interstitial pressure may occlude the surrounding microvasculature and lymphatics, thus depriving the tissue of vital nutrients and oxygen.10,11
For some time, it has been widely accepted that infection may be detrimental to wound healing. In their study, Morykwas and co-workers were able to demonstrate a significant reduction in the number of organisms between days four (108) and five (105) in wounds receiving treatment with NPWT.6 However, Weed and colleagues, in a retrospective review of 25 patients, actually found an increase in the bacterial bioburden of 43 percent of wounds treated with NPWT over an average of 12.8 weeks.12
While quantitative bacteriology may not be the ideal method to measure a patient's response to colonization, it is worth noting and discussing. Future works might delve deeper into both the specific microbiome and virulence factors secreted by that microbiome.
Besides the potential for wound colonization during prolonged periods of NPWT, there may be maceration of the wound, which could necessitate the temporary or permanent discontinuation of NPWT. In a 2002 case report, Chester and Waters reported that the closed, air-free environment created by NPWT led to a progressively worsening anaerobic wound infection in a 76-year-old man who developed sepsis following a groin wound dehiscence while undergoing treatment with NPWT.13
Although similar cases in the literature are unreported, it serves as a stark reminder that clinicians must carefully monitor all patients receiving NPWT for systemic changes as well as changes to the overall presentation of the wound.
Can Fluid Installation Therapy Have An Impact In Preventing NPWT Complications?
Fluid instillation therapy, as delivered by NPWT, has shown a great deal of promise in avoiding many of these potential complications. Otherwise known as "wound chemotherapy," a couple of different systems currently facilitate this process. The VAC Instill Therapy Unit (KCI) allows for separate infusion and vacuum periods via two different ports. The SVED negative pressure device (Innovative Therapies) provides simultaneous infusion and NPWT.14-16
While the VAC Instill Therapy Unit is more accessible than the SVED system in most clinical settings, its "hold" cycle — during which fluid infuses into the foam and NPWT pauses — may result in maceration and a loss of seal.14 Recent modifications to the updated KCI instillation system may have improved the seal.
Researchers have studied fluids such as Dakin's solution (sodium hypochlorite), insulin, doxycycline, Dilantin (phenytoin), diluted Betadine, lactoferrin and biguanide antiseptics for their potential application to fluid instillation NPWT.14-16 The instillation of Dakin's solution may prevent wound maceration and colonization, and researchers have shown that insulin-like growth factor increases the rate of wound healing.14,16 Furthermore, doxycycline is antimicrobial and is a competitive inhibitor of MMPs as well as tissue necrosis factor-a.15 This tetracycline antibiotic may also reduce inflammation in the wound by decreasing nitric oxide synthesis.15
What You Should Know About NPWT And Tension Stress
Another way in which NPWT works to improve wound healing can be explained by the law of tension stress. As the clinician applies NPWT, the wound bed experiences a negative, deforming force, which stretches individual cells and results in increased cell proliferation and angiogenesis.10,17
In 2004, Saxena and colleagues reported that finite element modeling of VAC therapy was able to produce strains consistent with the levels needed for promoting cellular proliferation in vitro.17 Researchers have investigated the notion that micromechanical forces are able to induce cell proliferation and division with respect to the use of tissue expanders for reconstructive plastic surgery, and distraction osteogenesis for bone lengthening.10,17,18
Expanding The Use Of NPWT Beyond DFUs: What The Literature Reveals
More recently, the use of NPWT has expanded beyond the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Negative pressure wound therapy improves the take of split-thickness skin grafts by acting as a bolster and preventing an accumulation of fluid beneath the graft site.10 In 2004, Moisidis and co-workers found that the take for split-thickness skin grafts subjected to NPWT was qualitatively improved in 50 percent of the cases they studied.19
Researchers have also studied the benefits of NPWT with respect to the healing of wounds secondary to traumatic, open fractures. In 2009, Stannard and colleagues reported on the results of a prospective, randomized study in which 58 patients with 62 open fractures received either standard wet-to-dry dressings or NPWT.20 The authors found that the group treated with NPWT was one-fifth as likely to develop an infection as the control group, suggesting that NPWT may be an effective adjunct in the treatment of severe, open fractures.
Another trend that has been gaining popularity in recent years is the use of NPWT over closed incision sites. As previously discussed, NPWT reportedly increases local tissue perfusion, reduces edema, increases the rate of granulation tissue formation and promotes cellular proliferation through micromechanical forces. When one applies NPWT over a clean, closed incision, the modality acts to protect the wound bed and creates a splinting effect on the surrounding soft tissue.21 Furthermore, this eliminates the need for frequent dressing changes on high-risk incision sites and authors have shown that the incidences of dehiscence and infection are lower.22,23
Various authors have reported the use of NPWT over closed incision sites in cases of coronary artery bypass grafting, abdominal hysterectomy, revisional hip arthroplasty, transmetatarsal amputation and high-risk fractures of the lower extremity.21-23 Researchers have reported using a pressure setting of 75 to 125 mmHg, typically applying a non-adherent dressing between the incision site and foam layer. The Prevena™ Incision Management System (KCI) is a device specifically designed for applying NPWT over closed incision sites. The compact system has a 45 mL canister and includes a semi-permeable incision dressing impregnated with ionic silver.24
In a prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial published in 2012, Stannard and co-authors were able to demonstrate a decreased incidence of wound dehiscence and infection in postoperative tibial plateau, pilon and calcaneal fractures treated with closed incision NPWT.23 In this study based on 249 patients, with an even distribution of 263 tibial plateau, pilon and calcaneal fractures, the authors found that the relative risk of developing an infection was 1.9 times higher in patients treated with standard postoperative dressings in comparison to those receiving closed incision NPWT.
Does Portable NPWT Offer Healing Promise For Smaller Wounds?
Another recent breakthrough in NPWT has been the development of the Smart Negative Pressure (SNaP®) Wound Care System (Spiracur), a novel portable device that utilizes specialized springs to deliver NPWT without the need for an electrically powered pump. In contrast to the electrically powered NPWT systems, the SNaP System is designed for smaller wounds and is fully disposable. The system is silent throughout its operation and is readily available for "off-the-shelf" use, obviating the need for costly and time-consuming rental agreement. The patient may wear the device, roughly the size and weight of a cell phone, beneath his or her clothing. The SNaP system consists of a cartridge, a hydrocolloid dressing layer with an integrated nozzle and tubing, and a wound interface layer made of either foam or gauze. The cartridge, which doubles as the storage canister (60 mL capacity), can deliver negative pressures of 75, 100 and 125 mmHg.25-27
In a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled study, Armstrong and colleagues compared the SNaP Wound Care System to the VAC therapy system for the treatment of chronic lower extremity wounds.28 Over a period of 16 weeks and in 17 study centers, 115 patients with non-infected, non-ischemic, non-plantar lower extremity diabetic and venous wounds received treatment with either the SNaP System or the VAC therapy system. The results showed that at four, eight, 12 and 16 weeks, with respect to percent decrease in wound area, the patients treated with the SNaP system demonstrated non-inferiority to the patients treated with VAC therapy.
Furthermore, the study authors reported that the effect of the SNaP system in promoting complete wound closure was not significantly different than VAC therapy. The mean application time for the SNaP system was significantly shorter than that for VAC therapy, and patients treated with the SNaP system reported improved activities of daily living, less interruption in sleep and better comfort in social situations.
A battery-powered version of the KCI device (VAC Via) is also available with the intention of providing a smaller form factor like the non-electrically-powered SNaP device.
Final Notes
Despite advances in research and ongoing clinical trials, the worldwide diabetes epidemic shows little sign of slowing down. Through a combination of increased tissue perfusion, removal of exudate and infectious materials, and physical stimulation of cells, NPWT reportedly increases granulation tissue formation and accelerates healing in patients with diabetic foot wounds.8,9 Negative pressure wound therapy may also improve the quality of life of patients with diabetic foot ulcers and may reduce the overall cost of treating these patients.10
Researchers have demonstrated that the instillation of fluids such as Dakin's solution, insulin and doxycycline, which reportedly promote wound healing, may provide an added benefit of NPWT by reducing maceration via infusion of these solutions directly into the wound bed.14-16 Through the application of NPWT to post-traumatic wounds, skin grafts and, more recently, over closed incision sites, the current indications for the modality are greater than ever, and the results are promising. While the electrically powered NPWT systems most commonly used today can be difficult to procure in the outpatient setting and provide limited mobility due to their size and power source, a novel, portable system such as the SNaP system may help to remedy these issues.
Over the past 20 years, NPWT has emerged as a critical tool for foot and wound care specialists throughout the world. Over the next 20 years, the impact it will have for patients is immeasurable.
Dr. Armstrong is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, Az. He is the Director of the Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA).
Dr. Isaac is the Chief Resident in the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency (PM&S-36) at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J. He is also an incoming Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and Fellow at SALSA.
1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 5th edn. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation, 2011. http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes fact sheet: national estimates and general information on diabetes and prediabetes in the United States, 2011. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011.
3. Singh N, Armstrong DG, Lipsky BA. Preventing foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. JAMA. 2005;293(2):217-28.
4. Jeffries LC, Rodriguez RH, Belczyk R, Zgonis T. Negative pressure wound therapy for the complicated diabetic foot wounds. In: Zgonis T, ed. Surgical reconstruction of the diabetic foot and ankle. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009: 119-128.
5. Blitz NM. Vacuum assisted closure in lower extremity reconstruction. In: Dockery GL, Crawford ME, eds. Lower extremity soft tissue and cutaneous plastic surgery. Edinburgh, UK: Saunders; 2006: 343-358.
6. Morykwas MJ, Argenta LC, Shelton-Brown EI, McGuirt W. Vacuum-assisted closure: a new method for wound control and treatment: animal studies and basic foundation. Ann Plast Surg. 1997;38(6):553-62.
7. Timmers MS, Le Cessie S, Banwell P, Jukema GN. The effects of varying degrees of pressure delivered by negative-pressure wound therapy on skin perfusion. Ann Plast Surg. 2005;55(6):665-71.
8. Armstrong DG, Lavery LA; Diabetic Foot Study Consortium. Negative pressure wound therapy after partial diabetic foot amputation: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2005;366(9498):1704-10.
9. Blume PA, Walters J, Payne W, Ayala J, Lantis J. Comparison of negative pressure wound therapy using vacuum-assisted closure with advanced moist wound therapy in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care. 2008;31(4):631-6.
10. Andros G, Armstrong DG, Attinger CE, Boulton AJ, Frykberg RG, Joseph WS, Lavery LA, Morbach S, Niezgoda JA, Toursarkissian B; Tucson Expert Consensus Conference. Consensus statement on negative pressure wound therapy (V.A.C. Therapy) for the management of diabetic foot wounds. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2006 Jun;Suppl:1-32.
11. Wysocki AB, Staiano-Coico L, Grinnell F. Wound fluid from chronic leg ulcers contains elevated levels of metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9. J Invest Dermatol. 1993;101(1):64-8.
12. Weed T, Ratliff C, Drake DB. Quantifying bacterial bioburden during negative pressure wound therapy: does the wound VAC enhance bacterial clearance? Ann Plast Surg. 2004;52(3):276-9; discussion 279-80.
13. Chester DL, Waters R. Adverse alteration of wound flora with topical negative-pressure therapy: a case report. Br J Plast Surg. 2002;55(6):510-1.
14. Giovinco NA, Bui TD, Fisher T, Mills JL, Armstrong DG. Wound chemotherapy by the use of negative pressure wound therapy and infusion. Eplasty. 2010 Jan 8;10:e9.
15. Scimeca CL, Bharara M, Fisher TK, Giovinco N, Armstrong DG. Novel use of doxycycline in continuous-instillation negative pressure wound therapy as "wound chemotherapy." Foot Ankle Spec. 2010;3(4):190-3.
16. Scimeca CL, Bharara M, Fisher TK, Kimbriel H, Mills JL, Armstrong DG. Novel use of insulin in continuous-instillation negative pressure wound therapy as "wound chemotherapy." J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2010;4(4):820-4.
17. Saxena V, Hwang CW, Huang S, Eichbaum Q, Ingber D, Orgill DP. Vacuum-assisted closure: microdeformations of wounds and cell proliferation. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004;114(5):1086-96; discussion 1097-8.
18. Olenius M, Dalsgaard CJ, Wickman M. Mitotic activity in expanded human skin. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1993;91(2):213-6.
19. Moisidis E, Heath T, Boorer C, Ho K, Deva AK. A prospective, blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial of topical negative pressure use in skin grafting. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004;114(4):917-22.
20. Stannard JP, Volgas DA, Stewart R, McGwin G Jr, Alonso JE. Negative pressure wound therapy after severe open fractures: a prospective randomized study. J Orthop Trauma. 2009;23(8):552-7.
21. Stannard JP, Atkins BZ, O'Malley D, Singh H, Bernstein B, Fahey M, Masden D, Attinger CE. Use of negative pressure therapy on closed surgical incisions: a case series. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2009;55(8):58-66.
22. Gomoll AH, Lin A, Harris MB. Incisional vacuum-assisted closure therapy. J Orthop Trauma. 2006;20(10):705-9.
23. Stannard JP, Volgas DA, McGwin G 3rd, Stewart RL, Obremskey W, Moore T, Anglen JO. Incisional negative pressure wound therapy after high-risk lower extremity fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 2012;26(1):37-42.
24. Prevena™ Incision Management System Clinician Guide. KCI USA, Inc., San Antonio, TX. 2010.
25. Fong KD, Hu D, Eichstadt S, Gupta DM, Pinto M, Gurtner GC, Longaker MT, Lorenz HP. The SNaP system: biomechanical and animal model testing of a novel ultraportable negative-pressure wound therapy system. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010;125(5):1362-71.
26. Lerman B, Oldenbrook L, Eichstadt SL, Ryu J, Fong KD, Schubart PJ. Evaluation of chronic wound treatment with the SNaP wound care system versus modern dressing protocols. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010;126(4):1253-61.
27. Lerman B, Oldenbrook L, Ryu J, Fong KD, Schubart PJ. The SNaP Wound Care System: a case series using a novel ultraportable negative pressure wound therapy device for the treatment of diabetic lower extremity wounds. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2010;4(4):825-30.
28. Armstrong DG, Marston WA, Reyzelman AM, Kirsner RS. Comparative effectiveness of mechanically and electrically powered negative pressure wound therapy devices: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Wound Repair Regen. 2012;20(3):332-41.
For further reading, see "Inside Insights On Negative Pressure Wound Therapy" in the May 2007 issue of Podiatry Today, "Examining The Role Of NPWT In Limb Salvage" in the December 2009 issue or "Point-Counterpoint: Is Foam More Effective Than Gauze With Negative Pressure Wound Therapy?" in the July 2009 issue.
Also check out the DPM Blog "Building A Better 'Mousetrap' For NPWT" at http://goo.gl/Z7Lk2 .


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A former sponsored child and decorated athlete turns heads, changes minds, and breaks stereotypes
Juan David, 22, is all smiles as he takes the podium to receive his second gold medal.
Winning isn't new to Juan, a decorated athlete. He is the proud recipient of four Olympic medals: two gold, one silver, and one bronze.
Sure, he might not be the most decorated athlete of all time. His medal count doesn't come close to that of Michael Phelps. And his 100-meter time doesn't match that of Usain Bolt, the current Olympic record-holder from Jamaica.
But life isn't just about the finish line.
To truly appreciate crossing the finish line, you must understand where the race started -- and what obstacles were faced along the way.
* * *
On your marks…
You could say that Juan David's race in life got off to a rocky start, right off the blocks.
By the time he was 2, his father had died, and he had been forced to flee his home with his single mother and his older brother, due to threats of violence by armed groups in Colombia.
Being displaced made life even more difficult for Juan David's mother. She was already struggling. Then, she was a single mother, in a strange city with no connections, no belongings, and no one to help her care for her children.
Even though he was displaced and living in poverty -- a situation too common in Colombia, which has one of the highest displaced populations in the world -- Juan David was, by all definitions, a "normal" kid.
But his circumstances eventually caught up to him. Lack of basic preventive medicine and access to quality health care would change his life, and that of his family, forever.
The fall…
At age 7, he got meningitis, which led to cerebral tuberculosis, which, in turn, left him paralyzed from the neck down.
Thanks to generous doctors at a local hospital who agreed to perform surgery, an occupational therapist, and lots of prayers, Juan David slowly began to recover his ability to speak and move.
Getting back up…
Life became even more of a day-to-day struggle. Although Juan David was alive, he didn't see much reason to live. His mind worked fine, but his body couldn't keep up.
He was often made fun of and treated poorly by other people in his community. His self-esteem was almost non-existent, and he had as little interaction as possible with other people.
Learning to run again…
When he was 9, Juan David was invited to be part of the World Vision sponsorship program in his community.
Through sponsorship, not only was he able to continue the rehabilitation activities and special medical treatments he needed to continue to improve; he was also able to participate in different programs that gave him a chance to excel -- including programs for music, arts, and sports.
Sponsorship helped with Juan David's ongoing physical rehabilitation. But it also helped with this emotional and spiritual recovery.
The finish line
For me, the fact that Juan David's medals are from the Special Olympics and not the London Olympics makes them no less valuable. Sometimes, it is the journey -- not the finish line -- that matters most.
I am proud to be part of World Vision, an international community development organization that values all people -- but especially those to whom society assigns little or no value.
Juan David's story of struggle, overcoming, trial, and greatness is no less inspirational to me than the many, many heartwarming stories I have seen during the Olympic coverage.
Just like the Nike commercials, he shows that greatness is not a gift for a chosen few -- it is for everyone. But we all need support from others.
Juan David was cared for spiritually, emotionally, and physically through World Vision sponsorship. Want to help provide similar care for another child?
Consider sponsoring a child in Colombia or another country of your choice. You'll help provide basics like nutritious food, clean water, medical care, education, safe shelter, and spiritual nurture -- all of which form the building blocks of a bright future, and all of which help a child to know that he or she is loved.
At what points during your life -- or the life of a loved one -- has the journey been as important as the finish line, or perhaps even more so? Share your stories with us!


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This study is provided by ICPSR. ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for a diverse and expanding social science research community.
America's Radical Right, 1962 (ICPSR 7273)
Principal Investigator(s): Wolfinger, Raymond, et al.
This study investigated the attitudes, political behavior, and demographic characteristics of 307 supporters of the "radical right", selected among the approximately 2,000 attendants of the "San Francisco Bay Region School of Anti-Communism" held by the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade in Oakland, California, from January 29- February 2, 1962. Information was collected by personal interviews (94) and mail questionnaires (214), with most questions taken from the American National Election Studies (see AMERICAN NATIONAL ELECTION STUDIES CUMULATIVE DATA FILE, 1948-1998 [ICPSR 8475]), Samuel Stouffer's COMMUNISM, CONFORMITY, AND CIVIL LIBERTIES STUDY, 1954 (ICPSR 7202), and Martin Trow's study of attitudes toward Senator Joseph McCarthy in Bennington, Vermont. The study also contains a number of derived variables assessing political activity, "internal communism", intolerance, socioeconomic and foreign policy conservatism, and occupational mobility. Demographic data include age, sex, level of education, religious denomination, place of birth, and gross family income.
Access Notes
Data in this collection are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions. Please log in so we can determine if you are with a member institution and have access to these data files.
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Study Description
Wolfinger, Raymond, et al. AMERICA'S RADICAL RIGHT, 1962. Conducted by Raymond Wolfinger et al., Stanford University. ICPSR ed. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [producer and distributor], 1974. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR07273.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR07273.v1
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Scope of Study
Subject Terms: communism, communist threat, conservatism, demographic characteristics, extremism, intolerance, McCarthy, Joseph, occupational mobility, political attitudes, political behavior, political movements, religious fundamentalism, religious right, social attitudes
Geographic Coverage: California, San Francisco, United States
- 1962
- 1962
Universe: Supporters of the American "radical right" who attended the "San Francisco Bay Region School of Anti-Communism" between January 29 and February 2, 1962.
Sample: Convenience sample. Only supporters of the Christian Anti-Communist Crusade were included in the study.
personal interviews and mailback questionnaires
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:
- Standardized missing values.
- Performed recodes and/or calculated derived variables.
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
Original ICPSR Release: 1984-06-27
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Tuesday, January 15, 2013
On Monday, January 14, 2013 at approximately 10:43 am, Dominic Davis was shot and killed in the 500 block of 57th Street, NE. The Metropolitan Police Department seeks the public's assistance in gathering information regarding this incident.
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Brioni purple tie from Million Dollar Arm seen with Aasif Mandvi (Aash)
As Seen on Aash (Aasif Mandvi) in Million Dollar Arm
The Partner: When J.B. (Jon Hamm) fails to close a major deal, his sports agency runs out of money and jeopardizes his opulent lifestyle—sleek suits, model-only girlfriends, and all. So he decides to recruit the first Major League Baseball player from India and brings back three kids to train for a tryout. In the midst of teaching them about baseball and American novelties like pizza delivery boys, J.B. learns to care for the kids and to respect the traditions that matter so much to them. He may have started out as a glossy, fast-talking sports agent but J.B. ends up being so much more and gains some yoga moves and even a non-model love interest along the way
Aash (Aasif Mandvi) is J.B.'s business partner. More skeptical about J.B.'s recruiting plans, Aash keeps things professional in gray and light beige suits, and like J.B. (Jon Hamm), shows a preference for blue hued ties and shirts. Blue might as well be the official color of the agency.
Scroll down to see more clothes, outfits and products identified from Million Dollar Arm.
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Tom Cruise Does 'The Worm' at a Wedding
[There was a video here]
Filthy rich Hollywood power players, they're just like us: totally embarrassing dancers at weddings.
TMZ has a video of Tom Cruise doing the worm during a "dance battle" at the wedding of billionaire heir and Mission Impossible producer David Ellison.
Tom does the worm, the splits, multiple spins, and sideways-air-slice-karate-chop dance. Don't pretend you don't know what sideways-air-slice-karate-chop dance is. You totally do, and you have gotten really drunk and done it in public once or twice, too. [TMZ]


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Study: EPM's Causative Agents More Widespread than Expected
- Oct 16, 2013
- Intermediate
- Topics:
Geographic Distribution of Horses with Antibodies Against EPM-causing Parasites
Photo: University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine
A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), School of Veterinary Medicine confirmed that equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), caused by two different parasites, is widespread throughout the United States. The single-celled protozoal parasite Sarcocystis neurona, which is shed in the feces of opossums, is the most commonly recognized cause of this neurologic disease in horses. However, this study found evidence that Neospora hughesi, the other EPM-causing agent first identified in California, is now being identified in horses across the United States.
After obtaining a total of 3,123 diagnostic submissions from 49 states, UC Davis researchers determined that horses from 42 states were affected by parasites causing EPM (see map above left). Horses in 24 states tested positive for antibodies against both N. hughesi and S. neurona. Horses from 17 states tested positive for antibodies against S. neurona only, while horses in one state—Idaho—tested positive for antibodies against N. hughesi only. As these results show a widespread distribution of the parasites causing EPM, horse owners and practitioners should test EPM-suspect horses for antibodies against both parasites.
"This study returned positive results from more states than we originally thought," said Nicola Pusterla, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of equine internal medicine at UC Davis and lead researcher on the study. "As the recognized geographic spread of Neospora hughesi infections expands, we are encouraging horse owners about the benefits of the advanced tests available at UC Davis to more accurately diagnose the disease. Overall, we had not been satisfied with the standard testing available, so we have spent the past decade developing and successfully validating an improved diagnostic tool for EPM."
The new SarcoFluor and NeoFluor tests created by UC Davis are immunofluorescent antibody tests for both of the known causative agents of EPM. These tests provide a quantitative indication of EPM infection and, and the researchers say the tests provide greater sensitivity and specificity than the Western immunoblot test on serum samples. UC Davis' tests also reduce the necessity to obtain cerebrospinal fluid in order to screen for antibodies against the two protozoal agents, the researchers say.
Horses affected by either of the parasites that causes EPM often appear neurologic.
Photo Courtesy UC Davis
"UC Davis has a rich history and culture of combining rigorous peer-reviewed research with cutting edge medicine," said Patricia Conrad, DVM, PhD, professor and head of the laboratory at UC Davis that developed the tests. "The resources and EPM team of clinicians and scientists available at UC Davis have allowed us to validate these more effective tests. We are committed to improving the reliability of EPM testing, and are pleased to offer this service to our clients at a reasonable cost."
"Since its discovery in horses, EPM has posed a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge," said Claudia Sonder, DVM, director of the Center for Equine Health at UC Davis. "These new diagnostic tools are a product of the team science that changes clinical outcomes for horses treated at UC Davis."
The new tests are available through the laboratory services at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). To learn how to submit samples, contact VMTH laboratory services at 530/752-VMTH or visit the UC Davis website.
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POLL: Checking for Gastric Ulcers


text:
Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/17/wii_wedding/
Man proposes to prospective partner with games console
Wii'll you marry me?
Posted in Personal Tech, 17th April 2008 09:14 GMT
Many women secretly dream of their hubby-to-be proposing on a secluded island as the sun goes down. But gaming buff Brain Klima went a step further and popped the question with a little help from Mario and Luigi.
According to a report by gaming website Kotaku, Brian created his own custom level within Super Smash Bros Brawl while his betrothed was out at her "grad school classes". He first tried to use the blocks in the game to spell out "Will You Marry Me?" but it wouldn't fit, so he had to settle for "Marry Me?" instead.
Brian arranged the blocks to spell "Marry Me?"
Image courtesy Kotaku
Brian's girlfriend, Allison, didn't actually get to play the game, because it was only set to zoom in on the text at random – but she said yes to him anyway.
We don't know what type of ring Brian had hidden away, but for that authentic geek wedding he would have been wise to pick the USB wedding ring, which has a USB flash slot under the rock.
Register Hardware just hopes that King Koopa doesn't have any objections when they get to the church…


text:
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text:
AOC Course Information
The Board of Directors is working with Australian Industry, ADF and the AOC Headquarters to organise specialist Electronic and Information Warfare courses. We are aiming to invite specialists from Australia and overseas to present current Electronic and Information Warfare topics to Australian members.
The Board of the Australian Chapter is interested in feedback from members and companies requiring EW, IO or Cyber training. Please advise us if you are interested in running any of the AOC HQ Training Courses here in Australia and we will liaise with HQ with a view to running the courses locally.
AOC HQ Training Courses


text:
But cut to May, and McCord will not be appearing in the film. It turns out that in the process of negotiating a part in the film, she eventually made the decision to drop out. "There was scheduling conflicts and I really just needed a break," she told MTV News on Thursday. "I worked two years, I came straight off 'Nip/Tuck' and on to '90210' and it's wonderful to work, but I needed some R&R."I would be pissed. Who wouldn't want to star in a guaranteed blockbuster? Whatev.
McCord, who described herself as a "hardcore" fan of the series, said that although she decided to pass on "New Moon," that doesn't mean she didn't want to do the film.
"I was [upset] 'cause I really love the film, all of them, the books and everything and I have a lot of friends on the movies," she said. "But in the end, I got to go to Europe for two months ... so I can't say that I'm too pissed."
Read the rest at MTV.


text:
* Investors await U.S. Fed meeting results on Wednesday
* Iraq says will bolster crude output
* US consumer prices rise, pointing to growing demand
* Market keeps an eye on Syria conflict
* US commercial crude oil stocks seen down last week - poll
By Jeanine Prezioso
NEW YORK, June 18 (Reuters) - Oil prices ended slightly higher on Tuesday in sluggish trading as the market awaited the Federal Reserve's policy statement on Wednesday that is expected to show whether it will reduce its monetary stimulus.
The program has been largely supportive of oil prices.
Brent oil was off an 11-week high set in the previous session and U.S. crude oil had dropped from a nine-month high.
Until the Fed's policy decision, oil trading will be largely muted, said Addison Armstrong, director of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.
"I'd expect we are going to see quiet trading between now and 23 and a half hours from now," he said.
Global financial markets have been on edge since Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested the central bank would be looking to pull back its stimulus program.
The Fed started its two-day Federal Open Market Committee policy meeting on Tuesday. Its three quantitative-easing schemes have buoyed prices of commodities as they pumped liquidity into the market and lowered the value of the dollar, making greenback-traded commodities cheaper for investors in foreign currencies.
Brent crude oil futures for August delivery settled 55 cents higher at $106.02 per barrel after trading as high as $106.24. Front-month U.S. crude oil futures finished the day 67 cents higher at $98.44 per barrel, after trading as high as $98.61. U.S. oil prices fell short of $98.74, a nine-month high, reached on Monday.
The market was rangebound on Tuesday, testing resistance and support levels after reaching new highs, Armstrong said, having hit those new highs due to possible U.S. involvement in Syria's civil war.
"The potential for the U.S. and its allies to begin arming Syrian rebels is what pushed us into this new trading range," Armstrong said.
The Syrian conflict has become a proxy for warring Middle Eastern factions. Investors fear oil supply disruptions if other Middle Eastern nations are drawn into the conflict. The region, in total, pumps more than a third of the world's oil.
A weaker dollar lent some support to oil prices on Tuesday as did a rise in consumer prices and an upbeat outlook for the housing sector.
The dollar index, a measure of the dollar's strength against a basket of currencies, was 0.21 percent lower.
U.S. commercial crude oil stocks likely fell last week due to lower imports, according to a Reuters poll.
Statoil said some production fields connected to the Oseberg oil field, which in total produce nearly 120,000 barrels per day (bpd), has resumed after an outage on Monday.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc said it initiated a planned shutdown at its 600,000 bpd Motiva refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, on Friday.
New York Mercantile Exchange gasoline futures settled at $2.87 per gallon, ending slightly higher from Monday's $2.85 settlement.
Iraq plans to ramp up oil production by nearly 45 percent by the end of 2014 to 4.5 million bpd without input from Kurdistan.


text:
d'Arnaud strives for greatness in all things
Top Mets prospect was centerpiece of deal that sent Dickey to Toronto
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Sometimes Travis d'Arnaud plays guitar, a remnant of teenage afternoons as a string virtuoso. "I was first chair," the catcher says proudly of his middle school career, reflecting on a hobby he still indulges every so often.
Music, for d'Arnaud, is like baseball in a way. Even these days, when he plays simply to pass the hours, he wants to be great.
"But for, like, a less amount of time," he laughed, his speech exposing a certain measure of California cool. "For five minutes I'll really try, and then my mind will start wandering and I'll just do something else."
It was that skittish attention span that led d'Arnaud to volunteer for catching when he was 14 years old, quickly falling in love with the position because it allowed him to engage in every play. Behind the plate he developed into a high school star, a top 40 Draft pick, trade bait for a Cy Young Award winner, a top-10 prospect, trade bait for another Cy Young Award winner, and now, at age 24, the next great hope for a Mets franchise panning the infield dirt for any sort of optimism.
d'Arnaud still wants to be great.
"This has been his goal forever," d'Arnaud's high school coach, Spud O'Neil, said. "He always knew that he wanted to be a professional baseball player."
Sometimes d'Arnaud plays videogames, the only activity that keeps him still. He sits in his Port St. Lucie apartment with his favorite game, challenging random opponents online.
Those opponents have no idea they are playing against, and often losing to, the No. 6 prospect in baseball.
"He's very competitive," said teammate Robert Carson, whose blossoming friendship included a recent trip to see d'Arnaud's beloved NBA Lakers lose to the Heat in Miami. "He beat me once, but I'm up on him right now. But he's actually real good."
d'Arnaud may not say much in general, but he grows expressive, even impish, when the situation allows it.
Here's an example: when a former teammate began yelling "Oppo Taco" every time d'Arnaud hit an opposite-field home run, he embraced the chant. He and his teammates emblazoned T-shirts with the phrase, and d'Arnaud began "prancing" -- his word -- around the dugout come Oppo Taco time.
He remembers a different game around the same time period, squatting behind the plate in 2011 for Double-A New Hampshire, when a New Britain hitter smashed what appeared to be a late game-tying single. Two years earlier, the Phillies had traded d'Arnaud, their former supplemental-round Draft pick, to the Jays as part of a package for all-everything pitcher Roy Halladay.
d'Arnaud's name was an afterthought in that four-team deal, which included pitchers Cliff Lee and Kyle Drabek -- the latter a better-regarded prospect than d'Arnaud at the time. But he was on every scout's radar by the time he reached New Britain, where right fielder Moises Sierra fielded the ball and fired to d'Arnaud. In one motion, he received it and fell on the runner just before he crossed home plate.
"I was fired up," d'Arnaud said, revealing a glimpse of that brimstone as he recounted the story. "It was good. The crowd was really loud, because I was probably saying some stuff I shouldn't have been saying."
Sometimes d'Arnaud studies. That's not uncommon for catchers, whose position demands more time in the video room than any other.
But it is somewhat rare for a 24-year-old catcher, who could easily skate by on his offense alone, to immerse himself so fully in the file cabinets of Major League scouts. When bench coach Bob Geren showed d'Arnaud the Mets' video room for the first time this spring, he was, in Geren's words, "kind of blown away."
"He soaked that in and he was asking questions as we were going," Geren said. "I said, 'This is good. This is a good sign.'"
Geren, who doubles as the team's catching instructor, showed d'Arnaud video of Johan Santana pitching to a particular veteran big league hitter. When Geren displayed the hitter's tendencies on inside fastballs, d'Arnaud wanted to know about low-and-inside heaters. When Geren called up tendencies on low-and-inside fastballs, d'Arnaud asked about offspeed pitches.
At Lakewood High in Southern California, O'Neil tells his players that "defense wins championships," a quote that d'Arnaud likes to recite. It's not just politics. O'Neil recalls d'Arnaud beating him to the mound during routine in-game visits.
"He wasn't always a catcher, and when I'd go out to the mound, he'd be out there, right in on it and learning," O'Neil said. "We didn't have to do much with him as far as the teaching process."
Most often d'Arnaud plays baseball, which is why the Mets traded away one of the most likeable, relatable, successful pitchers in franchise history to acquire him. His reputation proceeded him to Flushing. In online polls, thousands of local fans lauded the deal, even though it stripped the Mets of their first Cy Young Award winner in more than a quarter-century.
d'Arnaud hit 16 home runs last year at Triple-A Las Vegas with a .380 on-base percentage in 67 games, numbers that should have vaulted him to the big leagues by the All-Star break. As it was, d'Arnaud tore a ligament in his left knee in June, prematurely ending his season.
He worked and rehabbed and was fine by the holidays, hiking around Lake Tahoe with his girlfriend, Britney, in November. Less than a month later, the Jays made him the centerpiece of a deal to bring R.A. Dickey to Toronto, ending one era in New York while establishing another.
The Mets also acquired a top-flight pitching prospect in the seven-player deal, a veteran catcher and one other prospect. But it was d'Arnaud whom they coveted, d'Arnaud who represented the key to everything.
The Mets wanted this guitar-playing, video-game-beating, defense-loving catcher in blue and orange, knowing he was the type of "difference-maker" that general manager Sandy Alderson sought. The last time the Mets employed a superstar behind the plate, Mike Piazza led them to the World Series. Most teams that travel deep into the postseason these days boast a conspicuous catcher of their own.
"Recognize, we could have kept R.A. here," Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon said Wednesday. "We could have signed him or we could have kept him here -- he was under contract -- or we could have gotten exactly what we wanted.
Like d'Arnaud, Wilpon grew animated as he spoke.
"We got a fit that is exactly what we wanted."
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
MONTEBELLO – Members of the Montebello Performing Arts center win big at major dance event.
They competed against dozens of dance studios from around the state at Showstopper, the largest dance competition in the country on the weekend of Feb 15-17, at The Disneyland Hotel.
The wins qualifies them to compete in the national finals this summer.
The dancers received one double platinum award, one platinum award and two gold awards.
MPAC is dedicated to enriching children's lives through a variety of dance, as well as focusing on building self-esteem and encouraging one's expression through movement, according to its facebook page.
Instructors teach ballet, tap, hip hop, lyrical, jazz, and acrobatics.
For information on classes and competition, call 323-727-6030 or visit www.youtube.com/mpacdance.
Staff Reports


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Front brake works fine in the sense that it stops the bike but I like the lever to be tighter and no require so much movement to stop the bike. Right now it's so loose the lever is touching the grip in order to stop the bike. Anyway to just make it stiffer?
Bike is a 1988 R100rs mono shock
A second question I had is about the ridiculous stock side stand....any solutions for a 1988 r100rs mono shock. I would like a robust side stand.


text:
"You what?!?"
"Tauriel, have you taken leave of your senses?"
"Nay, kinsman. But if you continue to speak thus, I will believe that you have!"
Raised voices exploded from a ring of oak trees outside the walls of the city. Elves inside the city heard the shouting and wondered greatly at it.
Three figures stood inside the sheltered glade formed by the oaks. Two of the figures had dark hair; these were the Princess of Doriath, Tauriel Melianiel, and the lord of Eregion, Elrond Half-Elven. The third figure was a slender one, with shining golden hair; this was the Crown Prince of Greenwood, Legolas Thranduilion.
"But he is young!"
"And I am old?"
Elrond blushed.
"No, lady, of course not! But you are much older than him!"
"As was my sister much older than Beren!"
The lord of Eregion wrapped his hands around his head and began to pace. Tauriel watched him with a slight amount of bemusement.
"Elrond, we have been close since the day I come to this place. I may be your great aunt, but you are all the kin I have left in these lands and you are dear to me! I value your judgement highly, but if you naysay me in this, I fear I shall be forced to go against your wishes. I know my own heart and, deceitful as it may be, in this I know it is true. My love is young and with him near me, I feel young again also. Do not deny me this, my beloved kinsman! Do not fear that I will leave you, as long as I stay on these shores I shall help thee in any way I may. But, having said that, if you draw a line between us because of my love, I shall not cross that line. I shall depart and go to the Greenwood and dwell among the people of Thranduil."
"Thranduil?" Elrond exclaimed angrily, pausing in his pacing. "He is naught but a Sindarin upstart!"
The elleth drew herself up sternly. "You forget to whom you speak, Elrond Half-Elven! I am of the Sindar and I will suffer no evil to be spoken of them. If you continue to speak thus, I shall leave now and shall not return." Tauriel's eyes flashed as she spoke.
Legolas, watching from the shadows at the edge of the glade, was amazed at how angry she appeared.
"Ah, Lady Tauriel, forgive me. I spoke in anger." The Half-Elf paused for a moment, collecting himself. "You know that I would never speak thus of our people. I fear what will become you if you give your heart to this prince." He turned towards Tauriel. "Help me to understand, I want to believe that he is worthy of you, but my heart cannot." His voice became pleading. He wanted the best for his kinswoman.
Tauriel laid her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes.
"Dearest Elrond, I believe that he is worthy of me, can you not trust me as you have done so often before? And as for giving away my heart, that has already been done; it cannot be undone!"
Elrond bowed his head.
"Then let it be so," he murmured. "But I like it not."
Closing his eyes, he turned away and left the grove.
Tauriel watched him leave then turned to Legolas standing behind her.
The Prince had remained in silence as Tauriel and her kinsman spoke, now he wordlessly opened his arms to her. With a small cry, she ran to him, burying her face in the soft silk of his shirt. Legolas could do nothing but hold her gently as she wept quietly.
"I had hoped it would not come to this," she whispered.
Legolas raised her chin with his hand and looked deep into her eyes.
"Do you have any regrets?" he asked hesitantly. "My love, if you wish me to leave, never to return, I shall. I would not do anything which will cause you anguish."
Tauriel smiled through her tears. "No, my love," she said firmly. "I gave my heart to you freely and I have no regrets."
Legolas pulled her tight against him.
"So be it," he said. "Perhaps my father will be more understanding!"


text: Re: Typhon Pact: Zero Sum Game Review thread Tuesday? I got it a week ago from Amazon. And I live in Germany. btw: Transporterguy towards the end of the book: It's been done. In this reality? Awesome little homage, though. Sorry for being so cryptic, but I didn't want to spoiler anything. I'm sure Mr. Mack and all who've read the book know what I mean.


text: My line of reasoning is that we shouldn't take stuff like what was printed on study models seriously. You apparently think the exact opposite; that ILM had some kind of ulterior motive with all this when it's pretty clear (to me, anyway) that they didn't. But as I said before, you're welcome to believe whatever you want.


text:
The postponed free Montgomery Gentry concert on Ocala City Hall's back porch was reported back on again Monday.
The postponed free Montgomery Gentry concert on Ocala City Hall's back porch was reported back on again Monday.
K Country 93.7 FM, which pledged to reschedule the popular country duo after their March concert here was called off in late February due to a contractual hitch, on Monday began announcing on air and on its Facebook page that the resurrected session at Citizens' Circle will be 2 p.m. April 7.
"It's back on," said Mr. Bob, the station's morning show host. "It was only postponed before, you know. There are no contractual issues this time."
In late February, K Country announced it was bringing the supercharged country act to Ocala on March 10 for a Sunday afternoon concert at City Hall. It was delayed two days later, however, because of "contractual issues with Universal Studios." They were scheduled to perform at the theme park the night before.
Montgomery Gentry's booking agency, WME in Nashville, confirmed Monday the duo is scheduled to be in Ocala on April 7, but said they did not have any further details.
Ocala city officials referred inquiries about the rescheduled concert to K Country.
Fan reaction to the announcement was swift and excited.
"AWESOME!!!" wrote Shari Burkheiser Wilson in a Facebook post.
"My birthday weekend. I'm def going. Thanks for posting," noted Chancie Smith, also on the social networking site.
"My daughter and I will be there for my birthday. Yeah," added Angie Bedard on Facebook, along with at least two others who also said it would be their birthday weekend.
Maybe there will be a big cake for them all.
Among the songs Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry are likely to perform is their current hit "I'll Keep the Kids," which reportedly stems from Montgomery's divorce two years ago. It is currently ranked No. 45 on Billboard's country chart.
Going back to the late 1990s, the duo boasts a slew of No. 1 country hits, including "If You Ever Stop Loving Me," "Lucky Man," "Back When I Knew It All" and "Roll with Me." They were named the Country Music Association's Vocal Duo of the Year in 1999 and New Favorite Artists — Country by the American Musical Association.
"We're looking forward to it," said Mr. Bob. "Bring the family, the blankets, the chairs, the kids and have a good time. We're ready to rock."
Contact Rick Allen at 867-4154 or rick.allen.@starbanner.com.