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WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- Freeing more Iranian-oil importers from U.S. sanctions shows how broadly nations want Iran not to have nuclear weapons, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
Exempting seven economies from the stringent sanctions set to go into effect June 28 "underscores the success of our sanctions implementation," Clinton said in a statement.
India, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Turkey received the exemptions Monday.
Financial institutions in those countries faced being cut off from the U.S. banking system if the countries do not reduce their imports enough before June 28 to be given a six-month exemption from the sanctions.
The countries weaned themselves enough to meet U.S. requirements, Clinton said.
"By reducing Iran's oil sales, we are sending a decisive message to Iran's leaders: Until they take concrete actions to satisfy the concerns of the international community, they will continue to face increasing isolation and pressure," Clinton's statement said.
The countries join Japan and 10 European nations -- Belgium, Britain, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain -- in being exempted.
Washington determined in March the initial group had "significantly reduced" Iranian oil purchases, qualifying them for the renewable 180-day exemption under a sanctions law President Barack Obama signed in December.
Cutting back on Iranian oil imports should not hurt these countries, the White House said.
"There currently appears to be sufficient supply of non-Iranian oil to permit foreign countries to significantly reduce their imports of Iranian oil," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.
Many of Iran's customers that cut back on Iranian crude "are in productive discussions with alternative suppliers," his statement said.
Iranian oil imports have dropped to 1.2 million to 1.8 million barrels a day from about 2.5 million barrels a day last year, the International Energy Agency estimates.
Clinton's exemption announcement came a week ahead of a third round of negotiations -- this time in Moscow -- between six world powers and Iran over its nuclear program.
The powers -- the United States, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany, known by the shorthand P5-plus-1 because they're the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany -- seek to persuade Iran to cut back on its nuclear program out of concerns it seeks to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran says its activities are for peaceful civilian energy and medical purposes.
China -- historically Iran's biggest buyer of oil -- was not included in Clinton's exemption announcement, making it the only major Iranian oil importer not exempted from the U.S. sanctions.
Not exempting China doesn't mean Washington and Beijing are on a collision course, U.S. administration officials said.
Beijing has "been committed to working with us to help Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," a senior administration official said Monday. "It has shown that it's committed to a dual-track approach of both engagement and pressure, including sanctions."
China is "a very important partner in the P5-plus-1 process. It's been committed to working with us to help Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," the official said.
China voted for U.N. sanctions against Iran, even as it expressed reservations about the sanctions' effectiveness, said the official, one of two senior administration officials speaking with reporters on condition of anonymity.
Washington remains engaged in a "good-faith dialogue" with Beijing "to work toward a solution" to "reduce the volume of purchases of Iranian crude oil," one of the officials said, adding it would be "premature to comment further on where those discussions might lead."
Obama is authorized to issue a waiver to China before June 28 based on national security considerations, administration officials said.
China sharply reduced its oil imports from Iran in the first three months of 2012, but this was due to a price dispute, The New York Times reported.
Beijing's purchases spiked again in April, and the upswing carried over into June, the newspaper said.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ailing Marcum's return date still in question
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- As Aaron Laffey slid into the rotation Sunday for his first start of the season, the Mets remained unsure of when Shaun Marcum, the man Laffey is replacing, might return.
"We don't know," manager Terry Collins said. "It's hard to say. If Shaun comes back pretty fast, I would think it's going to be a couple weeks. You're looking at maybe two to three starts."
Marcum has not completed even a bullpen session in more than two weeks, so he will need time to build up his arm strength after the nerve inflammation in his neck subsides. Collins' estimate -- a best-case scenario -- has Marcum returning sometime in mid- to late-April; a slower progression could keep him out until May.
Marcum has not resumed baseball activity since receiving injections in his neck this week to calm his inflammation. Until he does -- and, more importantly, proves that he can pitch without pain -- the Mets will not be able to set an accurate timetable for his return.
Collins' mix-and-match outfield produces early
NEW YORK -- The Mets entered this season with a blurred outfield picture, and it has not cleared considerably over the first week of the season. Yet manager Terry Collins has found a way to make it gel, mixing and matching all six of his outfielders into a melting pot of playing time.
Of the half-dozen outfielders on New York's active roster, only left fielder Lucas Duda has started each of New York's first six games. Collin Cowgill and Marlon Byrd have both started four times, Mike Baxter twice, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Jordany Valdespin once.
Despite so much discontinuity, the motley crew has produced. Including pinch-hit opportunities, Mets outfielders entered Sunday's play hitting .250 with three home runs, three doubles, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored, also stealing three bases and walking 12 times. It may not be elite production, but it is hardly the black hole that the Mets feared heading into this season.
"In a perfect world, you'd like to have your three guys out there," Collins said, noting that he would prefer a more traditional outfield alignment. "But right now, we're going to mix and match. It keeps everybody sharp. It keeps everybody ready."
Given the luxury of a designated hitter for three games next weekend in Minnesota, Collins will be able to give his six-headed outfield even more playing time, slotting one of them at DH each day. The goal is to keep each individual outfielder sharp enough to contribute on a near-daily basis, either in a starting role or off the bench.
Those outfielders have also combined to solve New York's leadoff problem, with Cowgill batting atop the lineup four times, Valdespin once and Baxter once. Sunday, Baxter was back in the lineup batting fifth, a spot he had previously manned just five times in the Majors.
"I get excited when I get a chance to play, whether it's off the bench or starting," Baxter said. "I think with the group we have, we all bring unique skill sets to the table. I think T.C. does a good job mixing-and-matching that."
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.


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Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9)
by Charlaine Harris
Review by Paul Haggerty
Ace Hardcover ISBN/ITEM#: 9780441017157
Date: 05 May 2009 List Price $25.95 Amazon US / Amazon UK
Links: Chapter One / Show Official Info /
Sookie has made a number of good friends in the supernatural world. And not a few enemies at the same time. And as much as she's tried to keep them at arms length, the strangeness has followed her home. Her boss is another form of shapeshifter. She's become blood bound to the Eric, the vampire leader of the local area. Her brother is a were-panther, the result of a bite. And while she and her brother, Jason, haven't been getting along very well of late, Sookie still is shocked and dismayed when Jason's estranged werepanther wife is found crucified just outside the bar where Sookie works.
Crystal was not the most beloved member of the community, but Sookie doesn't figure that's a good enough reason to kill her. Of course she was also a werepanther, and humanity has never reacted well to sudden surprises ... like finding out your next door neighbor bays at the moon. For her brother's sake, Sookie wants to find out who did it and why, and being a telepath does give her a unique perspective. Unfortunately, knowing what the people around you are really thinking isn't as neat an ability as one might expect. Nor do people sit down for a meal and contemplate all the crimes they've committed and where they hid the bodies. Telepathy is a help, but it's no cure-all.
To make matters even more complicated, the new Vampire King of Louisiana has designs on Sookie's abilities, and her friend and sometimes lover Eric is doing what he can to protect her, without bothering to let Sookie in on the details. Add in a war amongst the fae and a visit from the FBI, and Sookie barely has room to turn around without hitting a complication. She can only hope that she'll be able to cut through all the noise and bother and figure out what's going on before one of the interested parties adds her to the body count.
Dead and Gone is the ninth novel in the Sookie Stackhouse series. And Charlaine Harris's world is groaning a bit under the weight of all the friends, enemies, and acquaintances that Sookie has acquired, not to mention all the deep dark secrets she's keeping of things she's seen and done. Dead and Gone is wrapped up in plot layers bleeding over from previous books and Harris takes this opportunity to prune a few away. And, unfortunately, many of these resolutions are not going to turn out the way Sookie would prefer.
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GDOT's filing, made last month, was advanced so that "the West End Property would be used in developing the Atlanta BeltLine, an economic development effort that combines transit, green space, trails and new commercial, residential, and public facility development along a 22-mile ring of historic rail segments encircling Atlanta's urban core," STB said. (See related story on MARTA.)
"Specifically, according to GDOT, the West End Property would be used to develop a transit corridor to accommodate light rail or buses in a fixed guideway, along with a trail and adjacent uses designed to support and be supported by the variety of available transportation modes. These requests will be addressed in a later decision.
"GDOT states that, based on information in its possession, the West End Property does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any documentation in GDOT's possession will be made available promptly to those requesting it," STB said.
STB noted "GDOT acquired the line in December 2001 but did not seek the requisite regulatory authority for this acquisition until February 2012." It added, "GDOT has requested expedited consideration of its petition."


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Hello everyone.....
My summer riding buddies are planning this year's ride to British Columbia and Alberta in late July. None of us has ever ridden in Canada. We have a route planned for 3-days in Canada riding about 300 miles a day. The route includes in Canada Hwy 95, 93 to Banff, then Hwy 1 to Jasper, Hwy 16 to Hwy 5 south, Hwy 5A, Hwy 3, entering the U. S. again near Oroville, Washington. Here is a link to our whole route if anyone would like to look at it [URL="http://goo.gl/maps/lmTVq"]
The roads tentatively selected are considered scenic according to Rand McNally and Google Earth confirms that the country is beautiful. Does anyone have suggestions for alternate highways that might be less traveled and more scenic. Looking for those special motorcycle roads that we might otherwise miss. We want to do all our ride on pavement.
Now the real need for help. Where to stop at night. We like to stay in town within walking distance to good restaurants and maybe for some fun places to quench a thirst after a long day of riding. I would appreciate any suggestions about places for our evening stops from those of you that know this part of the country.
We are excited about our trip and visiting Canada. Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.


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CFP Board survey shows Americans remain optimistic despite mounting financial pressures
March 14, 2012 – With the economy still shifting under their feet, Americans recognize that they have more responsibility than ever for their own financial security, including retirement, according to new research findings from Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. But they still expect the government to provide a social safety net, the survey found.
"Consumers are assuming a significant amount of responsibility in nearly every element of their personal financial lives – retirement, health care, education – but they still look to government to provide support and protections," said CFP Board Chief Executive Officer Kevin R. Keller, CAE. "Our nation's economic growth will be even greater if people are better armed to make smart financial decisions and plan for their financial future, which Americans are generally more optimistic about than negative."
Three key insights from the survey show that Americans struggle to balance short- and long-term concerns, and are aware of a changing economy:
Keller noted that as Americans find themselves carrying more of a financial burden than ever before, they overwhelmingly recognize (82 percent) the urgency of creating a financial plan. In addition, nearly 60 percent of the survey's respondents said they would benefit from the counsel of a financial planner or advisor.
The survey's findings also show that age, income, ideology and race play an important role in shaping Americans' views on their own personal economic situation:
The survey was released in conjunction with The Atlantic's Economy Summit 2012, which examined how to address creating a stronger U.S. economy. CFP Board was an underwriter of the event. The telephone survey of 1,015 Americans ages 18 and older was conducted by KRC Research between March 1 and 4. It has a margin error of plus/minus 3.1 points at the 95 percent confidence level.
View the full report for the Shifting Economy Survey.
ABOUT CFP BOARD: The mission of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is to benefit the public by granting the CFP® certification and upholding it as the recognized standard of excellence for competent and ethical personal financial planning. The Board of Directors, in furthering CFP Board's mission, acts on behalf of the public, CFP® certificants and other stakeholders. CFP Board owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. CFP Board currently authorizes more than 65,000 individuals to use these marks in the United States.
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text:
Star Wars And Film Music
The place to discuss the Star Wars film music, as well as other film and television scores. From Duel of the Fates to March of the Ewoks, from John Williams to Howard Shore, if it's a film or television score, this is the place to discuss it.
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Arts · News · Nyack Sketch Log
Nyack Sketch Log: Helen Hayes MacArthur
by Bill Batson
Legend has it that when Helen Hayes MacArthur first saw this fine example of Italianate architecture on North Broadway, her husband, playwright Charles MacArthur told her it would cost them a Pretty Penny. The name stuck. From 1934 until 1990, the actress who was known to the world as the First Lady of American Theater lived here in the Village of Nyack as a mother, wife, neighbor and civic leader –not as a celebrity. This week's sketch log is composed almost entirely from remarks made by Mrs. MacArthur in a private home in Nyack sometime in the 1980's.


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Norma,I would stay with 1.85% for the salt.I agree with you on not changing too many variables at one time. I was trying to leapfrog some of the other possible changes in order to minimize the number of experiments you conduct with the dough. I am thinking first about the textural and structural parts of the dough. If we can get those right, then maybe we can work on the flavor aspects. Peter
That looks pretty good Norma. Do you think you will be using the 24hr cold ferment weekly? Do you like the taste? When i have to use a 24hr ferment i think it tastes ok.
I sure dont know, but as far back as I can remember the pie makers have always been able to throw the dough. I know so far I wouldnt have been able to throw the dough I just tried.
What effect is hydration higher then 60%?
Norma,In the old days, NYC pizza makers made dough that was mostly same-day dough. I believe that is largely true to this day. Same-day dough meant that you had to achieve the proper balance between the flour used (mostly all-purpose flour but later followed by bread flour), the hydration value used, and the amounts of yeast (usually fresh) and salt so that the dough balls would be ready to use to make pizzas for the first customers after the doors were opened but would still make it through to dinner and possibly beyond. Of course, that usually meant that the best tasting pizzas were the ones toward the end of the day. No doubt adjustments were also made to yeast quantity and/or water temperature to compensate for normal seasonal variations in temperature.I do not recall offhand whether the old style NY dough balls based on high hydration values (e.g., 65%) were amenable to tossing, especially when you got to large pizza sizes (e.g., 18"). Maybe the early skins could be but I would imagine that tossing the skins made toward the end of the day would have been more problematic. I also recall reading posts by Terry Deane, who made 18" NY style doughs with hydration values of around 65%, even with weaker Canadian flours, and he said that it was hard to toss skins at that hydration value, and he doubted that other pizza operators did that also. He said he relied a lot on gravity. If tossing dough skins is a requirement, that is easily solved. You just use a much lower hydration value. In your case, you will note that I did not suggest changing the yeast quantity (0.55% IDY) or hydration value (63%). As to the yeast quantity, I wanted to see if your refrigerator temperature adjustment would allow you to use 0.55% IDY and 63% hydration without the dough overfermenting after about one day of cold fermentation and making it difficult to work with the dough. I also feel that that combination of yeast quantity and hydration value might lend itself to better oven spring. In your case, if you decide to increase the amount of oil to say, 3%, that amount of oil will also have a "wetting" effect and make your dough seem even more hydrated. If that becomes a problem, but you still like the contributions of the oil to texture, tenderness and flavor, we can always scale back the hydration value. There is almost always a "two steps forward, one step back" aspect to experiments like these. Peter
Jeff,You are correct. Nostalgia is always a powerful force in the way we view things. People also often tend to forget the technological advancements over decades that have resulted in significant advances in so many areas that relate to pizza, especially with new wheat cultivars that make our flours among the best in the world. Yet, on the other hand, from what scott123 and pizzablogger have recently reported, it appears that there has been a serious decline in the quality of NY style pizza sold these days in the metro NYC area. That has led to the phenomenon of $1 pizza slices and threats of going to $0.75. I'd love to see what goes into such pizzas. Peter
Norma,I think you will find a diversity of opinion on whether the old style NY pizzas were better than they are now. But I think that I can make out a case that since a long room temperature fermentation is equivalent to a considerably longer cold fermentation, the finished crusts can have more flavor because of the increased amounts of byproducts of fermentation. Also, when using a bromated flour, the mix/knead times can usually be shortened. This, along with the salt, which is an antioxidant, serves to reduce oxidation of the dough and thus preserves carotenoids and other elements in the flour that contribute to the color, aroma and taste of the finished crust. These aspects were at the heart of the methods Professor Calvel espoused to make bread in his book The Taste of Bread. Another point to keep in mind is that a lot of the early pizza operators did not have the physical space for coolers and other refrigeration equipment when such equipment became commercially feasible. So, everthing they did in terms of selection of ingredients and quantities and production methods was dictated by their circumstances. Everything had to work within a defined period of time measured in hours, not days. On the flip side of the coin, cold fermentation offers conveniences that were not available in the early days, and lends itself better to inventory management and control. But cold fermentation has its own challenges, such as the one you are now confronted with in your effort to make a very good one-day cold fermented dough. I have been trying to cram as many things as I can think of into a one-day cold fermented dough that might help you make a credible and marketable pizza. The use of ADY was one such idea, as small as it is. At some point you might consider using ADY instead of IDY but I would defer that decision until we see if it is something worth trying. The very early pizza operators did not have ADY to try since it didn't exist. It was invented after World War II. IDY came onto the scene in the 1970s. I will do some searching of the forum for the specifics of the doughs that Terry Deane used, however I recall that he tried a lot of things and that he spent a fair amount of time using sourdough starters, and he was also an advocate of using preferments. I also recall that he did not see a lot of advantages of using a prolonged cold fermentation where such starters were available. However, I did find some interesting posts on recreating a NY style pizza starting with the post at Reply 14 at http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,7931.msg68168/topicseen.html#msg68168. Actually, in retrospect, that was an interesting thread. Peter
Norma - I tend to think it's the whole absence makes the heart grow fonder thing. As time passes we forget the bad, and exaggerate the good.
In the formulation you used at Reply 21 http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,7931.msg68379.html#msg68379 you used 2.5% salt and 3% oil for your NY style. Wasnt the salt at that high amount too much for your palate?
Norma,If you look at Reply 14 at http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,7931.msg68159.html#msg68159, you will see in the penultimate paragraph that I mentioned 1.75% for the salt. If you then look at the following Reply 15 at http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,7931.msg68165.html#msg68165, you will see that Terry Deane suggested that the salt value be increased to 2.5%. Since I considered Terry to be an expert on the NY style, as well as a professional specializing in that style, I deferred to his suggestion that the salt be increased to 2.5%. That value was reflected in the dough formulation I created for Mike (Essen1) in Reply 21 that you referenced. For myself, I would perhaps have gone back to 1.75% since I have been conscious for years about sodium levels in pizzas. I found it interesting that what I proposed to you is pretty much in line with what I set forth in Replies 14 and 21 but for the salt level that I explained above with respect to Reply 21. I think that is because I tend to think in principles and then attach numbers to them once I know what the objectives are. It looks like the principles I applied over three years ago are the same as I applied to your case. Peter
Must have been the new refridgerator last week that might have been too warm that caused the fast fermenting.


text: Never let anyone tell you that poodles are sissies. Anybody with any experience with the breed can assure you that they are much more than frilly hairdos and painted toenails. They are formidable and can be vicious when it comes to protecting their own, as they are very loyal to anyone in their pack (family). We had two poodles when I was a kid. Not that we up and decided one day to go out and get two poodles. My grandmother bred poodles, and she was very proud of the two male pups she gave us kids for Christmas one year. "Those are 'Miniature Champagne' poodles." She kept saying. Okay. To us they were just two cute little pups that ran my mother crazy until she banished them to the backyard. It's a dang good thing that my grandmother never came to visit those two Miniature Champagne poodles after she gave them to us, as she would have been appalled. While they ate like kings and had a very nice sturdy doghouse, Dad didn't hold with any poodle grooming nonsense. "I will not have two sissified looking dogs nancing around the backyard for all the world to see!" End of discussion. I think it was old Mrs. Matau's standard poodles across the street that gave Dad the heeby jeebies, and I could understand why, considering the way they flounced around with those two big puffs of fur on their behinds. You could tell they were mean by the way they prowled the fenceline, and just looking at them made my blood run cold. Anyway, Daddy wasn't having any of that at our house. So over time, those two Miniature Champagne poodles began to resemble a pair of shaggy slippers that bigfoot had been prowling around in the woods in. When they were groomed, which was two or three times a year, they were shaved plumb naked, and some of the things that were found in the matted fur that they had been toting around with them defied logic. Sucker sticks, barrettes, (my little sister Dianne's work, no doubt) assorted foliages, and on one occasion that I am aware of, a brand new black Crayola crayon that still had the factory tip. Mom was always relieved after they were groomed. "Don't you just know that they feel so much better?" She would say with a sigh. "Yeah? Then why are they hiding behind the bushes?" Daddy would ask. Anyway, ugly or not, shaggy or nude, they were voracious little yard dogs. We always suspected that they would kill for any one of us, but we had no idea what they were capable of until they attacked Donald Streck. Donald was my brother's best friend from sixth grade through high school graduation. They were like Laurel and Hardy, my brother being the stick figure of the two. Donald had permanently pink cheeks, a perpetual sheen of sweat on his forehead, summer and winter alike, and a grip like a vice. There was nothing he liked to do better than wrestle, and oddly enough, despite the weight difference, he and my brother were nicely matched, as where Donald was heavy and strong, my brother was wily and rubbery and could slither out of almost any hold like a snake. One summer afternoon found all four of us kids and Donald lazing about the back porch, the two bigfoot slippers panting in the shade nearby. "Let's 'rassle." Donald suggested. "Nuh uh. Not back here." Larry replied. "Why not?" "Cuz those two dogs over there will eat your lunch if you lay a hand on me. They don't know it's for fun." Donald snorted, and we all looked at each other. "Yeah, right." He said, after a glance at the two matted balls of fluff. "I really think they will." Larry insisted, and we all looked at each other again. Like I said before, we suspected that they would kill for us, but since nobody had any real proof, now was as good a time as any to test the theory. "Well...I don't!" Donald said quickly, and before anybody could stop him, he had Larry in a headlock. Nobody remembers actually seeing the dogs move. All anybody remembers is Donald's shrill shrieking, a startling amount of blood, and Mom beating the dogs off of Donald with her broom. "I told you!" Larry yelled, clearly trying not to feel bad about the fact that Donald appeared to be trying to paste his right ear back onto the side of his head. Mom cleaned him up and drizzled some monkey blood (Mercurochrome) on his cuts and scratches and sent him home. We never heard from his mother. There was no ten day quarantine for rabies, no sheriff appeared at the door. This was the seventies, such things were unheard of. Besides, Donald had been duly warned. So if anyone ever tries to tell you that poodles can't hold their own in the gnash and tear department, don't you believe them. Even if they do look like bigfoot slippers.


text: Hey everyone, Curious to hear if anyone has experienced the new C3 PRO helmet, as it sounds like Schuberth have tried to listen to customers feedback in designing the new lid and it sounds like a pretty well resolved piece of gear. http://www.schuberth.com/en/motorcycle/c3-pro.html Bits I noted : * All new liner (a common gripe among C3 owners from what I've read) made from Coolmax® and micro-fibre, all parts can be removed and washed. * 60% greater supply of fresh air through the vents than the C3. * 82db at 100km/h (quietest helmet they've ever made). * New spoiler - helmet remains totally pendulum neutral in the air-flow even while riding at high speed, has no buffeting and generates zero lift. * Matches their S2 integrated helmet by adding two built-in antennas for improved Bluetooth (the antennas are pre-set for use with their SRC communication system).


text:
By Kevin Rutherford
The Walking Dead is slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with when it comes to its soundtracks, with a new edition of songs coming as part of the pre-order of the show's fourth season DVD and Blu-Ray.
One of the tracks off the bonus Songs of Survival, Vol. 2 is "Visions of China," recorded by folk rockers the Lumineers.
Related: The Lumineers Slapped with Lawsuit from Former Member Looking for Royalties
Yes, it's the "Ho Hey" guys, but don't think that hit song has "Visions of China" pegged in the band's usual genre. Frontman Wesley Schultz's voice has a Thom Yorke quality to it, and the song itself is a slow, droning track that's shed much of the band's happy-go-lucky, Mumford-esque folk.
Instead, there's little more than acoustic guitar, Schultz's voice and some other underlying instruments, like a booming cello.


text: Hi. I just reformatted my hard drive, installed Windows XP Home and yesterday I installed ZA Extreme. Once I rebooted my desktop, ZA Extreme appears to have killed my internet connection. I can't access the internet at all and each internet connection icon has now a "lock" and a red X icon next to it and in the description it says "network cable unplugged, firewalled". I uninstalled ZAE and still it says firewalled. I have tried everything to get my internet connection back. I called Charter and they said that's a Microsoft problem or Zone Alarm problem. Everything was running fine until I installed Zone Alarm Extreme and rebooted. I think this product is too EXTREME. I didn't set custom settings, just the plain installation defaults. By the way I'm using the 30 day trial which started on 10-19-2010.


text:
The Best One-Piece Swimsuits To Stock Up On Now
Thanks to the 24 one-piece wonders you're about to see, your swimsuit game is about to take a giant leap forward. Because let's be honest: sometimes bikinis are boring.
Lolli Tada One Piece Swimsuit ($110)
?It's a bikini! No, it's a one-piece! The suspense is killing us.
Miu Miu Rose-Print Bandeau Swimsuit ($395)
?Everything will be coming up roses once you slip into this ladylike one-piece.
Madewell Bustier Tanksuit ($118)
?Snag this swimsuit and wear with your favourite friendship bracelets for a cool-girl, poolside look.
Alexander Wang Mesh Combo Racerback One Piece Swimsuit ($350)
?We love a sporty iteration of just about anything, including swimwear.
Araks Elmar One Piece Pimlico Combo Swimsuit ($350)
?Just because it's a one-piece, doesn't mean it can't be sexy.
Olaya Venus Swimsuit ($290)
?A Mondrian-inspired one-piece is just what your closet's been searching for.
Jason Wu Printed Swimsuit ($660)
?These darkened side panels will have a delightful slimming effect.
Lilibon Rebecca Swimsuit ($230)
?A crochet bikini top is all good fun until you get in the water. Try this underwired-swimsuit instead for a flattering look.
Lisa Marie Fernandez Poppy Bandeau One Piece ($549)
?This swimsuit, plus a straw hat and pina colada, is perfection.
Roksanda Ilincic Antares Blue Stripe One piece ($509)
?We're swooning over the bold colour contrast on this swimsuit.
Undrest Rio Caged Maillot ($60)
?There's virtually no way this one-piece won't make you look thinner.
6 Shore Road Deep-V Halter One Piece Swimsuit ($ ($138)
?Get this swimsuit, and wear it to Palm Springs.
We Are Handsome The Anniversary Scoop One Piece ($161)
?A swimsuit in a postcard print? What will they think of next?
Zimmermann Scout Looped Back One Piece ($250)
?This floral-print swimsuit is reason enough to book a vacation to Hawaii.


text: Of course, there continues to be widespread abuse of the food assitance program. In all areas of the country as reported on several media outlets (including CNN) EBT card are being used for liquor, cigarettes, cash exchance and strip clubs and probably drugs and prostitutes. . Hardly their intent. Although they are being used for commerce. LOL.


text:
ESPN's Steve Phillips implicated in Romance
It is rather funny sometimes that people in the entertainment and sports worlds do not learn from their colleagues prior mistakes. I am not one to launch a bevy of stones towards a man for falling for a woman, but I guess my guidelines tend to be a bit more defined both since I am single and compared to some of the recent escapades of the folks in the broadcast industry. It is okay David Letterman, "Mr. Worldwide Pants" I am not aiming at you with this blog.
No I am aiming my wrath at someone who has already had a publicized bout in the sexual harassment arena and fought his way back to fight another day. But again he might have been brought down to size by own ego and arrogance that "this time" it was going to be different. You might have read by now that ESPN "Baseball Tonight" commentator Steve Phillips really messed up this time. Didn't his firing in 1998 from the General Managers position with the New York Mets not teach him to leave the young one alone?
I mean that tragedy had a huge bite of a sexual scandal to it. But the one thing I have learned in my 3 extra years on this planet than the 46-year old Phillips is that a scorned woman is a deadly woman both mentally and physically to a married man. So Phillips did not learn his lesson in 1998 when you made an out of court settlement on the sexual harassment case where you and another Mets employee were having a tryst on the side. Didn't that first stint with your "no-no" behavior teach you anything?
Maybe I had better send you a DVD copy of the Glen Close classic "Fatal Attraction", because based on the recent police reports filed in Wilton, Conn, you will have to watch your back for a long, long time. Please tell me your kids do not have a rabbit, because I can not bear to think of the pot boiling over again and seeing another scene like that one. It would be deja vu 1998 career pot boiling over for you.
This time at least you did not pick a MLB baseball club employee, but you made a mistake of picking someone from your own backyard, a female assistant from ESPN to have a "out of sight, out of mind" hush hush affair. The only problem was when you wanted her "out of sight", she showed up at your home in Wilton speak to your wife and leave a detailed note on your family door for your wife to read upon returning to the house.
Problem was that your psychotic 22-year old gal pal Brooke Hundley was trying to proclaiming that you and your present wife Marni "both could not have him" back during an array of phone calls to your present wife starting on August 5,2009. the trigger for the entire bizarre event was the "right" decision by Phillips to break off their tryst and sever all ties to Hundley. Oh Stevie boy, I do not think she took it well because there she was just 2 weeks later in your home driveway doing her best Glen Close impression.
Worst yet, the woman of your wet dreams did not plan to go quietly into the night and not fit your personal definition of "out of mind". You see she freaked out as your wife came home and parked behind her car in the driveway after she posted her "proclamation letter of Love" your front door, and tried to escape by driving up on your well-manicured lawn and busting a cement column in front of your home. What a shame you were not in front of her car at that moment, it would have made a great episode of "Cops".
Because not matter what happens next Phillips, this sin to going to end pretty much badly for anyone involved in this "affair." But what is even worse is the later revelation that your young mistress was befriending your son and learning all sorts of personal family business by posing as one of his High School classmates through numerous Instant Messages about what was going on at your home. That is right Phillips, I hear that theme music from "Fatal Attraction" in the background right now. Hundley was also so bold as to pretend to be another of your sons friends and chat with your son on his Facebook page to get more Phillips dirt.
I have to give this woman a little credit, she did her research, and got the goodies before going all wacky. And your released Press statement to the Wilton Police will be remembered at Academy Award time maybe for a Best Unsupporting Husband Oscar nomination, I could feel the pain in your words (cough, cough).
"This woman has clearly displayed erratic behavior and delusional tendencies," Phillips said in a statement to Police. " She has shown up at our house. She has taken on the identity of at least two people (minors) to violate our son (a minor). I have extreme concerns about the health and safety of my kids and myself."But here is the kicker people….wait for it………wait for it…….You know you want to wait for it!
After issuing that solemn statement to the Wilton Police Department you stated that you did not want to press charges. Sounds like you are trying to put a bit of closure on all of this, but I always say nothing says "It's over" more than a protection order/Trespassing writ where she has to admire you from 500 feet away. Just saying Phillips.
Of course presently, Ms. Hundley is on vacation and will chat with local police detectives next week. Wonder if Phillips or ESPN paid for that little trip? But there is a bright side to all of this for Marni Phillips. She filed for divorce on September 14th. So now Phillips will have an empty house and a lot of time to contemplate his next move (hopefully without Hundley).
But you can be sure even if Hundley stays employed at ESPN, this whole ball of wax is not over by a long shot. Sure people like broadcaster Marv Albert have gotten back into his broadcasting gigs after finally admitting and doing his social penalties for his biting crimes, but Phillips might not be as lucky. Just remember Jimmy "The Greek" as they tear up your contract after consideration.
Even though ESPN has had this type of romance fraternization problems rear its ugly head. Back in 2006, ESPN baseball analyst Harold Reynolds was let go after an internal investigation because a female intern objected to Reynolds advancements and blew the whistle on him. I am not calling for a clean towel when I watch ESPN right now, but they need to clean up the smudges fast.
Maybe there needs to be a mandatory refresher course in sexual harassment pronto. And not the weekend workshops, they tend to make people think they have an entire weekend to stop the garbage. What really has me blistering is the fact that these two men in authority over younger women disregarded their moral responsibility to train and mentor their assistants and interns, and not wander into the dark areas of activities like this that could ruin more lives than just their own.
You can bet there is going to be some type of career repercussions from this for Phillips. He might have used his last trump card to cover MLB baseball on air. Sure it might not be the usual MLB situation where he used a banned substance, or even a corked bat, but the integrity of his expertise will now seem tainted and everything he says will come into question when he opens his mouth.
The broadcasting game right now needs the people reporting and training their underlings to be as clean as the driven snow. We can not have episodes like this coming out and tarnishing the guys who sit at the desks and tell us "the way it is out on the field." It is time for everyone who covers the sport to check themselves before they wreck themselves. I want to believe what they are telling me is true by their own actions, on and off the air.
Some might say that Phillips did not drive drunk and hurt someone, and that forgiveness is the first step to progress for him. Granted, I believe that is true, but the fact is that Phillips did not learn his lesson the first time. He might have thought he had the clear cut answer this time, but he picked the wrong person who was not ready for that heartache. So not only is he away from the cameras during the MLB Playoffs, Phillips might have made his last segments on Television for a long time, or at least until those of us with ADD forget all about this affair. Let's hope there is not a chance for a third called strike for Phillips.
6 Comments
Well, if all this results in Steve Phillips getting fired, then we are all winners here. Now, if Joe Morgan would just get all handsy with an intern…-Erinhttp://plunking-gomez.blogspot.com
I guess we now know which head Mr. Phillips does his thinking with, and it's apparently not the one that contains his brain.
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
We can only hope some kind of skeletons falls out of Joe's closet, but what I hear about him…………He is all baseball even at home.
I loved Morgan as a player, kind of only stand him as a baseball authority, hate him as a commentator.
Go back to my All Star Game HR derby post for other ideas.
Rays Renegade
I have been mixed up in a few of these situations in my life, but I am not married. She jusy forgot she was………..not an excuse, but it does happen to the best of us.
But the pure fact he did it before and got smacked should have sent a bellow of warning bells and alarms in his head.
People have have authority over others should be thrashed if they abuse that right…….
30 lashes with a wet noodle for Stevo. (that might be the only punishment we see).
Rays Renegade
What an embarrassing situation! Culpa goes to both parties.
Steve: Use your cabeza man!
maybe there are no brain in that cabeza.
It is really sad.
Not just because he could see his career finally take a few turns around the drain, but his young son got a dose of reality and might not have the trust in people right now.
An affair always has multiple accidents/injuries.
His wife is taking steps to move on with her life, let's hope the kid can regain that faith that some people are actually who they say they are……….both in real life and online.
Rays Renegade


text:
Live: France v Australia
Fulltime: I would not accuse this Wallaby team of not trying. However, what they produced this morning was clueless rugby. Such a mental state creates hesitancy and lack of confidence; it's an impression of passionless play, but ultimately it's a panic-induced state from not controlling your own destiny. The French controlled it for them.
Les Bleus determined the Wallabies would not have room to move, would not have clean breakdown ball and might as well not exist once the referee said "crouch, touch, set".
Berrick Barnes must start against England next week. The Pat McCabe experiment at No.12 is too easy to defend against. Digby Ioane will be back but Nick Cummins was one of Australia's better players. Michael Hooper must stay in the pack but where will David Pocock play? Sitaleki Timani should get a run too.
Nick Phipps is not Test class (yet).
All of which does nothing to solve the massive, festering sore which is the Wallabies scrum.
The England media will have a field day this week.
80th min: The breakdown is no longer a contest. The Wallabies are not keeping possession as the French fans give the Wallabies a lesson in passion with another stirring rendition of La Marseillaise. Some good news at last, the fulltime whistle, what a mess this team is in.
75th min:
Florian Morgan Parra steps up to add pile another three points of misery on the scoreboard, FRANCE 33 AUSTRALIA 6.
74th min: The Wallabies are becoming a shambles. They are being brutalised at the breakdown, traumatised at the scrum and left for dead on the scoreboard. When the French forward pack ran out on to Stade de France, they saw the road sign "Wallabies, next 80 mins". They hit the accelerator and have mowed them down - it's Wallabies road kill. Yet another penalty against that flimsy wall of gold masquerading as a scrum.
70th min: Barnes, Hooper and Gill combine to make a break down field. Hooper has a clever way of shrugging off defenders but Paddy Ryan knocks on. The Wallabies chance their arm again and Tapuai makes the bust but France pilfer possesion again.
69th min: Paddy Ryan is on the field and the scrum penalty goes to France. The hosts are off the hook. Liam Gill is on.
68th min: No! Five-metre scrum.
68th min: Stephen Moore and Radike Samo both make surges. The Wallabies eventually turn it over but the French fullback Dulan makes a hash of it and Michael Hooper turns it over and the video official has been called. Adam Ashley-Cooper is over the line but the video does not show the ball be grounded and history suggests it will not be awarded. The behind play shot gives a hint it was grounded but will that be enough?
65th min: Simmons has just come on for Nathan Sharpe and he might well be on his way after a tip tackle on Fulgence Ouedraogo. But a lucky break for the Wallabies. Nigel Owens thought it was Michael Hooper but confessing to the French captain that he cannot send any player off as he does not have the number. I can tell you it was Rob Simmons. Not worthy of a suspension but perhaps a sin bin, but one never knows when you play citing commissioner roulette in rugby.
64th min: No first warning for the Wallabies as Nigel Owens goes straight for the penalty try as Australia cannot cope with the French pressure at the five metre scrum. England will be relishing the prospect of facing Australia next Saturday at Twickenham. Michalak converts FRANCE 30 AUSTRALIA 6.
62nd min: Barnes finds touch with a useful kick. He has added a bit of spark to the Wallabies, but at fullback he can do very little about the shoddy up-fron defence as France pile through. Picamoles stopped just short of the try line. Front-rower Thomas Domingo is held up.
60th min: No Gill yet, but Stephen Moore and Radike Samo are on with former fro bros Polota-Nau and Paul off. Another scrum penalty to France, Slipper is struggling.
58th min: Deans goes to his bench and Berrick Barnes is on. I'd get Liam Gill out there too.
57th min: How will this match play out for the Wallabies now. Will it be Pretoria-like blowout or can they somehow find their way back in the contest.
54th min: It was coming, it was coming and it is a TRY for France. Freddie Michalak does the damage from a poor kick down field, he sidesteps his way through a staggered defensive line and unlike in Cardiff five years ago, the pass is not forward and Wesley Fofana streaks away. Michalak converts. FRANCE 23 AUSTRALIA 6.
52nd min: Australia can still win this game, but not worth putting your money on at the way play is progressing. Slipper just knocks on.
50th min: The Wallabies have the ball and field position, but are struggling to cross the advantage line. Nigel Owens calls up a play and awards the scrum feed. I can't keep up with this prop rotation. James Slipper is back on again. This time it's Kepu who's off as Robinson returned to the field in the first half.
47th min: But the Wallabies concede the scrum penalty. It looked solid after the initial hit, but the Wallabies collapsed and Florian Fritz will step up for the long-range shot. His attempt is somewhat off target.
44th min: The Wallabies have had the ball for 10 seconds this half as Australia slip off another tackle and Yannick Nyanga pores through in the quarter. Nigel Owens allows the Wallabies with murder at the breakdown and Kurtley Beale counterattackes with a chip kick and France knock on just five metres in Wallabies territory.
42nd min: The French have had the ball coninously for 2 mins but are now only five metres ahead of where they restarted play. But Picamoles does the damage again with an offload and Fofana and Fulgence Ouedraogo surge into the 22. A knock-on saves the Wallabies.
41st min: Pin point restart by the French and they regather possession and are on the attack.
SECOND HALF: France get play underway. Fox Sports have just said the Wallabies missed 18 tackles in the first half.
HALFTIME: The Wallabies are struggling to gain momentum against France in a 40 minutes of rugby that failed to reach any heights. Les Bleus have been fierce at the breakdown, disturbing Wallabies ball while cramping Kurtley Beale and his options out wide.
The French have been more efficient points scorers and are playing with the Gallic passion that every rugby nation fears. While there are concerns about the legitimacy of Louis Picamoles' try, there is no doubt the scoreline is a reflection of the home team's dominance.
40th min: The Honey Badger, Nick Cummins, comes to life and bursts through the French defence. However an accidental offside ends the play and that is halftime.
39th min: No try for France but Michalak keeps a cool head and slots over a drop goal. FRANCE 16 AUSTRALIA 6.
37th min: France are surging to the halftime break and the crowd roars its approval as they roll ever so closer to the Wallabies line. Can the men in gold hold out until the break?
35th min: The French pack piles on the scrum pressure again but the Wallabies hold. However, two phases later the Wallabies concede the penalty. Sekope Kepu unable to roll away. Michalak kicks the penalty. FRANCE 13 AUSTRALIA 6.
34th min: Wallabies scrum was steady and the ball is hoofed down field but Dulan does something the Wallabies have not achieved all year - a successful chip and chase - and the French are back on the attack.
33rd min: Louis Picamoles is having a blinder. He pores through the breakdown after the lineout win and steamrolls his way 20 metres down field. The French botch it and drop the ball but unlikely the Wallabies, they have nothing to fear from scrum time.
31st min: France score the scrum penalty with James Slipper on for Benn Robinson.
30th min: The Wallabies are dominating field position now, but a dropped ball at the breakdown eases the pressure on France. But the recent dominance has kept the crowd quiet and taken the sting out of the French defence.
26th min: Harris makes a half break down the flank after a brilliant pass by Kurtley Beale. The French man up in the defence. And now Tapuai stands in the tackle and Palu is away. The Wallabies finding some fluency and space. They're in the quarter on the attack.
24th min: Wallabies get another penalty and have a lineout throw in the quarter, but the Polota-Nau curse strikes - crooked throw.
23rd min: Wallabies score the penalty from the re-start. In more important news. Georgina Robinson reports from the Stade de France press boxc that the kebab, chips and warm coke provided was something else.
22nd min: Do you hear that Waratah fans. The French crowd sing the national anthem La Marseillaise. Harris kicks the goal regardless. FRANCE 10 AUSTRALIA 6.
21st min: Penalty to the Wallabies. France captain Pascal Pape slows the ball down at the breakdown. Wallabies to take a shot at goal.
20th min: France counter with shoddy play of their own. They pass it two wide in their own quarter but Bruce Dulan boots the ball out on the full. The ball was carried back in the quarter. The Wallabies have the ball four metres out.
19th min: Poor play by the Wallabies sees the ball turned over. The French rush up in defence and Dave Dennis spills under the pressure of a terrible pass by Phipps.
16th min: The Wallabies regain some compuse as Wycliff Palu spoils the ball at the breakdown and Ben Tapuai kicks down field and finds touch in the French quarter. Mistake at the lineout gives the Wallabies a scrum feed 22 metres out.
15th min: The Wallabies are losing the collisions at the moment. Where is Danny Buderus when they need him?
14th min: Poor kick-off by Kurtley Beale. It's goes into the in-goal and it is a scrum on halfway.
13th min: Better hit by the Wallabies but to no avail as it is a TRY to France. Louis Picamoles picks the ball up at the base of the scrum and strolls over. Some hint that the Wallabies were obstructed, particuarly Dave Dennis who was held by the jumper. Michalak converts. FRANCE 10 AUSTRALIA 3.
12th min: France demolish Australia's scrum and score the penalty. They opt for another scrum. Problems for the Wallabies.
11th min: A Nick Phipps incorrect scrum feed forces a free kick and the French opt for an attacking scrumn.
9th min: The Wallabies secure the ball from the re-start but oddly they lose the ball at the breakdown. Wallabies appeal for a penalty but only a France knock-on saves them from a desperate goalline struggle.
8th min: Steve Hansen's favourite footballer makes no mistake. FRANCE 3 AUSTRALIA 3.
7th min: Halfbreak by the Wallabies as Beale opens a small opening for McCabe. The Wallabies are 30 metres out but Adam Ashley-Cooper is hammered by Lesley Fofana. The play comes back for a penalty at the preceding breakdown and Harris will look to equalise the scoreline.
The Wallabies will need to keep up on the scoreboard as the French are playing with passion and will be hard to run down.
5th min: He kicks it. FRANCE 3 AUSTRALIA 0.
4th min: Penalty to France and again the Wallabies fail under the high ball. Mike Harris dropped it and Wycliff Palu picks it up from an offside position. Michalak to line up for goal.
3rd min: France piling on the pressure after forcing a turn over in their own 22. The French crowd is roaring, they want this losing streak to end. The play breaks down with a shoddy attempt of field goal.
Kick-off: Wallabies have the early possession and a clever kick into touch is countered by a France quick throw in. Les Bleus are up for this clash and Stade de France is noisy.
Australia will bid to stretch their winning run over a youthful France side to a record-equalling six successive matches since 2008 on Saturday.
But the hosts have a particular interest in bucking that trend and claiming victory in an effort to assure themselves of a better IRB ranking for next month's 2015 World Cup draw.
History is certainly running against Les Bleus.
Five of Australia's eight wins in France have come from the last six appearances in Paris, with the 14-27 loss in 2004 the Wallabies' sole defeat in the French capital going back to 1993.
Success for the tourists on Saturday would match Australia's best winning sequence (of six) against France, which was achieved between 1993 and 2000 and included the 1999 Rugby World Cup final.
The last meeting in Paris saw the Wallabies run out crushing 59-16 victors, and nine of the match night squad named for Saturday featured in the corresponding match two years ago.
For France, coach Philippe Saint-Andre has plumped for mercurial Frederic Michalak at fly-half and a number of young, inexperienced players, saying his team was now embarking on a "new era".
"There are senior players like William Servat, Lionel Nallet, Julien Bonnaire and Sebastien Chabal who have retired," the former France captain and winger said.
"Then there are Imanol Harinordoquy, Dimitri Yachvili, Thierry Dusautoir and Aurelien Rougerie out injured.
"These are guys who were used to being on the starting sheet for eight, 10 years. We must find a new generation and it's up to this generation to assert themselves."
France managed to get to the final of last year's World Cup despite being the oldest side there, with an average age above 30.
That has come down to 26, with Saint-Andre insisting that it was "necessary to bring youth in not just for now but also to head to the next World Cup".
There is an added incentive for this year's November Tests, with victories vital in a bid to get the best possible seeding for the Rugby World Cup 2015 pool allocation draw on December 3.
The IRB world rankings will be used to rank the 12 directly qualified teams for England 2015 into three bands for that draw with the sides ranked one to four in band one - and crucially avoiding each other until the knockout stages - those five to eight in band two and the remaining four in band three.
Should the draw be made today, France would be first in band two, while Australia sit second behind the All Blacks in band one.
Crucially, a win would see fifth ranked France swap with England above them, regardless of their rivals' result against Fiji at Twickenham earlier in the day.
But for Australia coach Robbie Deans, the rankings battle was not an issue.
"It's not a focal point. We understand it's in the background, the relevance and importance of it," said Deans, making out he was unaware of the consequences be it a would be should his team win.
Deans has handed Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu and lock Kane Douglas their first starting spots after both featured from the bench in last month's drawn Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand that halted the All Blacks' 16-Test winning run.
Other changes from the line-up that night see Rob Simmons join the bench in place of the injured Sitaleki Timani, while Berrick Barnes returns from injury to take over from Drew Mitchell as one of two backline replacements.
"The playing group are excited and they are looking forward to the game this weekend," Deans said.
"The atmosphere at the Stade de France is always fantastic and the crowd vociferous: it's a great place to play the game, and a magnificent experience that none of the players who are fortunate enough to put on a jersey on the weekend will ever forget."
France: Brice Dulin; Wesley Fofana, Florian Fritz, Maxime Mermoz, Vincent Clerc; Frederik Michalak, Maxime Machenaud; Louis Picamoles, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Yannick Nyanga; Jocelino Suta, Pascal Pape (capt); Nicolas Mas, Dimitri Szarzewski, Yannick Forestier Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Thomas Domingo, Vincent Debaty, Jocelino Suta, Damien Chouly, Morgan Parra, Francois Trinh-Duc, Yoann Huget
Australia: Mike Harris; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Tapuai, Pat McCabe, Nick Cummins; Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps; Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis; Nathan Sharpe (capt), Kane Douglas; Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Paddy Ryan, Rob Simmons, Radike Samo, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Berrick Barnes
Referee: Nigel Owens (WAL)
Stephen Samuelson is the Sports Editor for smh.com.au, and Editor of League HQ and Rugbyheaven
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text:
I agree with most of the other posters, Ginny is judgemental, and probably rather possessive too. Even during the battle she's unwilling to let the (obviously capable) Cho take Harry to the Ravenclaw common room. I can certainly see Ginny making digs about Cho, more than Harry would about Michael or Dean.
I've always assumed that she's good looking, because it's other people, not Harry, who say that she is, but she's not prefect material, and she's probably proud of that fact. She's less likely to ignore general insults than Harry. (The Smith incident, which Harry was prepared to ignore, she wasn't).


text:
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to connect a Lucent WaveLAN/IEEE sliver pcmcia card to my Access Point. Running iwconfig, I can see my Access Point and its associated MAC address. However, the Access Point will not lease out an IP address either statically or via DHCP.
The Lucent and Access Point are in the same IP range 192.168.5.1 (AP) 192.168.5.8 (Lucent WaveLAN) netmask 255.255.255.0
On the Access Point side, I can see the MAC address of the of the Lucent card. Any help would be great.
By the way, I'm using the wvlan_cs driver with the card.
P.S. I also have an Orinoco base that I'd like to connect to. Any suggestions would be great.


text:
first victim: suns
houston had 26 pts, thomas 24 and spree 17
after this win i think we'll finish the trip with 4 wins
first victim: suns
houston had 26 pts, thomas 24 and spree 17
after this win i think we'll finish the trip with 4 wins
Chaney said:" When we'll come back in NY until 2 weeks, i want that we are at 50%!!"
i hope too but i think it will be very difficult because we have to play against lakers , kings..
but still believe!!
East coast West coast run wild.....
lol, dream on chaney...
well, that's kind of difficult since we only got 5 games left to play, and now we're 22-28
i think we'll lose the lakers and the t-blazers games, and win the other ones
do what you gotta do!
53 points allan houston
man o man it feels good, not only because we beat the lakers but i feel for allan's record as being the fifth player in franchise history to score more than 50 points in a game
i've been waiting too long time for a victory like this!!
No signature
oh yeah..
good thing shaq didn't played, we wouldn't have been that happy
party onnnnnn!!!! :drunk: :drunk:
:drunk: :drunk:
jesus christ!!
still can't believe what happened out there
but i have a bad feeling about the blazers game
ghostnyk is right, maybe if shaq had played we wouldn't have win
doesn't matter, good thing we won
knicks 107 - warriors 111
the price of beating the lakers was just to big!
No signature
normally, a player who's playing against his ex-team gives everything out, but last night , sprewell had one of his worst nights!
the same happened when we last played with golden state. what's going on?
conclusion: won 1 out of 6 games, pathetic...
that win was just to much for us, we didn't deserve it, we couldn't beat not even the warriors...
that's it, say goodbye to 8th playoff spot, we're going to the lottery
well, at least i'm glad frank williams got some time.., he really needs it


text:
wouldnt mind stumblin into that toad!
Nice!!! Hopefully your next picture is one of him in the ground!
Been huntin every night since I got home and no sign of him yet. I hope to find him before rifle season which is Saturday. My stand is about 10 yards to the right of him in picture.
Last edited by lp2506; 11-12-2013 at 04:06 PM.
Uncle Ted for President!!!
Dang rite!
... because every picture tells a story
Did you ever see him again?


text:
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text:
My C3 was tight in the cheeks also, laid helmet on its side put a 20lb bag of shot inside left it their overnight repeated for other side. No more tight cheeks
My C3 was tight in the cheeks also, laid helmet on its side put a 20lb bag of shot inside left it their overnight repeated for other side. No more tight cheeks
Gotta go...They're coming for me
I decided against the Schuberth C3 after looking at the Sharp ratings from the UK.
The C3 did poorly on side impacts. I went with the Shoei Neotech and I am very happy
The following F1 pilots wear Schuberth: Schumacher, Alonso, Rossberg.
Danica Patrick wears Schuberth.
Kent Christensen
Anyone experience the sun visor dropping down on their C3, when it's not supposed to?
My wife wants to get me one for Christmas.
"When you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."
I have had mine for a year. No sun visor drop.
Thanks for the input. We went to the dealer today and I got a ...
Shoei Neotec.
It was more comfortable than the C3, and I was impressed with the ventilation system. The air scoop looks like the intake on a Snark.
Oh yeah, and I got the high viz flat black. But all of these helmets (including the RPHA Max, which I also tried on) are light.
"When you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."
And now it's made the cover of the December News!
Last edited by Rinty; 12-21-2012 at 02:43 AM.
"When you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."
The final solution for me was changing out the C-3 liner with an S-2 liner and the problem was solved.
I told them that I thought it was unreasonable for them to expect me to pay $50 for an alternative liner
after investing over $1,000 in their helmet and SRC system only to have the original liner making red
marks on my forehead and causing me discomfort. I told them that I made every reasonable effort to
resolve this myself over a year's time period before coming back to them. They gave me the S-2 liner for free and got
it to me very quickly. The helmet fits like a glove and is quite comfortable, the SRC system functions really
well and I'm quite pleased with the helmet. True, it took some patience and effort to get here, but I'm a
satisfied customer and I feel that Schuberth did everything they could to make me happy. I hope this information
is helpful for anyone else dealing with this problem.
After decades of riding, I now have my FIRST Schuberth, a C3. I have found it to be incredible and I want no other helmet. Now my son is going to get one for Christmas as well. Awesome craftsmanship, quiet, loaded with features and comfort. "That's all I have to say about that." ...Forest Gump
I have tried a C3 on several different times and I just don't get it, must not be for me. When I put my Arai on, its' comfortable from day 1 but I've tried multiple C3s in a few different sizes and they aren't ever comfortable. I'd love to own one, I just can't take the leap when it's not comfortable just sitting on my head.
The representative at Schuberth explained that the problem with their helmet is based on the shape of your head. He said that
people with round shaped heads (Charlie Brown Head) seem to have more problems with the C-3 than people with oval shaped heads. I
know I have a round shaped head and therefore I had problems. The rep said that the S-2 liner addresses this problem for most people and
the beauty of the C-3 and S-2 helmets is that the liners are interchangeable and can be used to adjust the fit for just about anyone. Arai helmets
are generally recommended for people with round shaped heads like me as well, which may explain the earlier poster's success. I know
it sounds like a load of manure, but the change of liners worked and mine fits like a glove now. Different head shapes, Different helmet fit,
whoda thunkit?


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LeBron James may have hogged all the glory on the court in last night's Heat-Knicks game, but it was Amar'e Stoudemire who stole the spotlight from King James at his own party the night before.
Stoudemire and his bodacious new gal pal, Amber Rose, walked hand-in-hand to Chelsea club 1Oak and remained inseparable all night, as his NBA rival who stood stoically in the background with friends at the bash held in his honor.
As James and Stoudemire -- who didn't talk or approach each other -- held court at private booths at opposite ends of the club, the heat belonged to the Knick forward and Rose, Kanye West's curvaceous ex. Both players avoided alcohol but stayed late, with James leaving at 2:30 a.m.
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Amar'e Stoudemire and Amber Rose
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Dressed in red, shiny leggings and a white tank top, Rose, a model and former exotic dancer, looked satisfied to be with Stoudemire, and both of them didn't mind being seen together. At one point, he pulled Amber toward him with his hands tightly around her waist and ample bottom.
Stoudemire and Rose left 1Oak holding hands at 1:30 a.m., but when a young fan outside begged to take a photo with the couple, "Amber posed with the fan while [Stoudemire] stood off to the side," said a witness.
Back inside, James partied with teammate Dwyane Wade, Wade's girlfriend, Gabrielle Union, and a dozen others -- including a curvy, nearly bald woman in a tight dress who looked like a less pretty Rose.
The club was decorated with large balloons that spelled "LeBron" on one wall and "James" on another. By night's end, though, they were all deflated. One cheeky partygoer popped the balloons behind James' booth.
On their way out, James and his entourage muscled past clubgoers with such force, they squished "Jersey Shore" cast member Ronnie Ortiz-Magro against a wall. When asked outside the club whom he would pick for MVP, James said, "Amar'e Stoudemire is one of the best . . . individuals in the league."
It was James who looked like the MVP later that evening, as he led the Heat to a 113-91 win over the Knicks
And with Amber rose..He has a right to party but the night before..against heat ? Hopefully he wasn't hunged over..even though he wasn't the problem last night.


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Florida Georgia Line has a hit debut single about cruising the roads in a pickup truck, but how are their own driving skills? According to the duo behind "Cruise," they have very different styles when it comes to sliding behind the wheel. Tyler Hubbard claims to be a good driver – at least now.
"When I first got my license I got pulled over, I think it was like eight times in the first year," he said. "I actually ended up losing my license. So now I just enjoy driving really slow in my truck and saving diesel fuel and just being an old man when it comes to driving."
Brian Kelley is a little more aggressive. "I get on it pretty good," he admitted. "I did go to the Ed Kelley School of Driving, so I'm the defensive driver. But I try to be smart on the road."
Tyler agrees. "They don't call him Earnhardt Jr. for nothing!" he added.
Watch Florida Georgia Line's debut video for "Cruise" here!


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(AP)—At the main campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dozens of people are working day and night to bring a meningitis outbreak under control.
Dr. John Jernigan is a medical epidemiologist at the CDC leading the clinical investigation team for the outbreak response. He says this infection, which is caused by a fungus, is very unusual.
Meningitis is typically caused by a virus or bacteria. The fungus linked to this outbreak is common in dirt and grasses, but it is making people sick because it found its way into a steroid injected into people with back pain.
That steroid was distributed by a Massachusetts pharmacy that is currently under investigation. Nearly 200 people in more than a dozen states have been sickened, including 15 who have died.
Explore further: Meningitis outbreak toll: 119 cases, 11 deaths


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[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]:Jamal Crawford hasn't won all that many basketball games. He played two years in high school, part of one season at Michigan, and with a lousy Bulls team for his first four years in the NBA.
Despite that inexperience, the newest Knick said the team has a chance to win a championship soon.
"Last year, everyone said the Lakers were going to win and they didn't," Crawford said yesterday at the Knicks' training facility in Greenburgh, where he was introduced with fellow former Bull Jerome Williams. "We have enough talent on this team to compete with anyone, and once the playoffs start, anything can happen."
Even a Knicks title?
"I don't want to put a timetable on it," said Crawford.
"But nobody expected the Pistons to do what they did, and I hope we can do something like that, too."
Crawford is expected to be a very highly-paid bench player (seven years, $56 million). He's coming off of his most productive season, during which he scored 17.3 ppg.
"I'm very excited to be here," said Crawford, 24, "whether that's coming off the bench or starting. I just wanted this because of everything Isiah [Thomas] is doing."
He said he wouldn't have a problem playing behind Stephon Marbury and Allan Houston.
"Those are two Hall of Famers," Crawford, a 6-5 guard, said. "And it's not like I wouldn't be on the court. I'll be getting better every day in practice."
Thomas was reveling in the success of getting Crawford in yet another move to reshape the once-stagnant Knicks. Thomas said he wasn't concerned about playing time becoming a problem.
"He definitely has All-Star potential," Thomas said of Crawford. "If he, Steph and Allan all are healthy, I can see us using a three-guard offense, too."
Lenny Wilkens said he would consider that option.
"I've never had a problem with that," Wilkens said.
He also said he was confident that Crawford would adapt well to whatever role he was given.
"Jamal is just finding out now what he has to do to become successful in this league," Wilkens said. "That's a great time to get a player."
Wilkens coached Williams, a 6-9 forward who averaged 6.2 points and 7.0 rebounds last season, in Toronto.
"He's very versatile and he doesn't worry about scoring," Wilkens said.
Instead, Williams, 31, said he was interested in making the Knicks a contender.
"Right now, we're a top-5 team in the East," Williams said. "If we add players, like a Dampier, that will send us over the top."
Crawford agreed.
"Without a doubt, we can make a run in the playoffs," Crawford said. "We have so many great guys on this team."


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Is a head coach not responsible for anything anymore??? Isn't it Antoni's job to make this talented team work on all levels? The coach has the duty of knowing his roster and making the pieces fit for maximum success. He has his PG now, so all indications based on the Antoni lovers is that his "system" will work.
There are plenty of coaches would love to have this roster. If you can't make Melo and Amare work then you don't deserve to be the coach.


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Snoop Dogg: Miley Cyrus Is One of the Music Greats (VIDEO)
Rapper, Snoop Dog has described Miley Cyrus as one of the "greatest musicians and personalities of all time" in a recent interview with MTV, heaping praise on the young former-Disney singer.
Cyrus seems to have gained a big fan in Snoop, after recently performing a duet with the rapper on their release, "Ashtrays and Heartbreaks."
The 20 year old singer-actress has had many similar experiences in her life to the rap star, Snoop explained.
"We're both going through transformation, we both love making music and doing what we do and speaking from our hearts, and it's just a great collaboration," Snoop Dogg (also more recently known as Snoop Lion) told MTV.
About his name change, Snoop Dogg has said that he was renamed Snoop Lion by a reggae priest.
The rapper praised the young singer, more than two decades younger than him, using words such as "bold," "courageous," and "love," as well as "the greatest."
Earlier this month Cyrus was also in the news for her relationship with fiancé Liam Hemsworth.
Cyrus and Hemsworth were reported to have put their wedding on hold to work on their relationship.
The Hollywood couple were reportedly planning on walking down the aisle in Palm Springs, Calif., but a recent cheating scandal put strain on their relationship.
Hemsworth, 23, has yet to publicly address claims suggesting he had a secret tryst with actress January Jones, 35.
"They were supposed to get married in June but there have been so many problems with them, they thought it was best to work out their issues before making such a big commitment," a source told Life & Style magazine.
"They aren't ready. Their families are both concerned. They don't want to see Miley and Liam get married and then get divorced," the source continued, adding, "they're very young to be getting married."
Here is a video news report on Snoop:


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Ok dammit WTF dammit
Shump got injured
Signature created by AmareforPresident
This game is starting to show all the hallmarks of last season against the Celtics, strong first half, poor second half with little runs.
It almost looks like the half broke the momentum. Shots are random and inconsistent doesn't begin to describe their offensive gameplan right now. Rondo is open during almost every possession, even when the celtics don't get him the ball he is open.
And Douglas is trying to pull the Nate Robinson.
damn Shumpert's injury looks really bad...this is not good
Why is Dantoni refusing to give Balkman playingtime in the 2nd half.....we are
being beat in the paint and passing lane.
We're going to suck at point guard...
I'm so on edge right now. This is tense stuff.
Come on Knicks!
Melo for MVP
Signature created by AmareforPresident


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Project Show-and-Tell: Vegan Sugar Skulls for el Dia de los Muertos
October 29th, 2012 | by Julie Finn
It turns out that vegan sugar skulls are even easier to make than the conventional kind, since you can use the cornstarch from your cupboard instead of searching for that hard-to-find meringue powder. Exactly HOW easy are they? If I can make these perfect sugar skulls for my kiddos to decorate on my very first attempt, then so can you!


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Browse by Committee Member
Group by: Degree Date (Year Only) | Authors | No Grouping
Number of items: 1.
Woods, Bradley B. (1994) Regional surface wave magnitude and moment determination methods applied to nuclear explosions at the Nevada test site : implications for yield estimation and seismic discrimination. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-04212006-165925


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The company said income from operations was $101 million, a record, while earnings per diluted share also set a record at $1.33, compared with 75 cents per diluted share in the second quarter of 2011. That beat Wall Street consensus estimates of $1.23 per share.
(Excluding special items recorded in the 2011 second quarter, earnings per diluted share were 94 cents (non-GAAP) in the 2011 second quarter.)
Second-quarter sales also set a record, at $610 million, 27% higher than a year ago, and attributed primarily to strong growth in the Freight Group.
On June 30, Wabtec had cash of $234 million and debt of $443 million. During the second quarter, Wabtec repurchased 298,800 shares of company stock for about $22 million. The company has about $100 million remaining on a $150 million authorization.
Based on those results, Wabtec increased its full-year 2012 guidance for earnings per diluted share to between $5.10- and $5.15, with revenues expected to be up about 20%, compared with earlier guidance of 15%.
Said Wabtec Presdient and CEO Albert J. Neupaver, "We had another strong quarter and are positioned to perform well in the second half of the year. The company continues to benefit from rigorous application of the Wabtec Performance System, its diverse business model and ongoing investments in strategic growth initiatives. Recently, we completed two acquisitions in support of our growth strategies: Mors Smitt, which expanded our geographic footprint; and Tec Tran, which added hydraulic braking technology."
In a note to investors, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. analysts Steve Barger and Alexannder Walsh said, "Overall, we believe WAB is delivering solid results as it benefits from strong OEM freight railcar deliveries."


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photo gallery
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Mother Nature is no match for real football talent. At least not in the Deep South. That was clear in Tuesday's two practice sessions for the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl at Wofford College.
Despite freezing temperatures in the high 20s and nasty winds, more than 100 coaches showed up, including many of the top Division I assistants in the nation. Many arrived to protect highly-ranked commitments while most were there to scout and lure away recruits who haven't chosen a school yet.
Nearly 90 players – including over 30 Division I commits – suited up in full pads for a pair of two-hour practices on adjacent fields. Coaches continued to implement new plays, break up into drills by position and supervise light scrimmages – which featured match-ups between many of the top-ranked recruits in the nation.
The Tar Heel State has a noticeable advantage at the skill positions, especially when it comes to the offensive backfield.
Quarterbacks Jonathan Crompton (Tennessee) and Joe Cox (Georgia) were both impressive, each firing deadly accurate passes all day long. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound Crompton quickly showed why he is ranked the No. 2 pro-style signal caller in the nation.
During one sequence of 11-on-11 drills, he rolled right and connected with a receiver, rolled right again and fired a completion to a fullback, stepped back in the shotgun and showed his touch with a well-placed screen pass and then unleashed a bullet to future teammate and receiver Josh Briscoe (Tennessee) on a slant.
Running backs Toney Baker (5-11, 220) and Montario Hardesty (6-0, 195) also stood out. Both have bigger and more muscular frames than some starting D-I tailbacks and each shared carries, showing off the power and speed that makes them among the nation's most sought after recruits. Baker's pass-catching ability – he consistently hauled in passes out of the backfield – may separate him from other top-ranked ball carriers.
The intimidating duo of Baker and Hardesty is one of the main reasons that James Arnold (North Carolina) is getting a chance to display his versatility. The three-star recruit lined up at running back, quarterback, wide receiver and also returned punts.
Mohamed Massaquoi (Georgia) looked like the best receiver on either team. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has a muscular build and the speed to blow past just about any defensive back.
Some of the more mild surprises included the positioning of monstrous offensive lineman Chris DeGeare (Wake Forest). The 6-foot-4, 335-pounder, the biggest player in the game, was positioned at offensive guard instead of tackle.
Four-star recruit Everette Brown (6-4, 238) lined up at hybrid position of defensive end and linebacker. Instead of getting in a three-point stance, he stood up at one end of the D-line.
Defensively, cornerbacks Brian Dixon (North Carolina), Marquis Melvin (Duke) and Antonio Wardlow (Tennessee) nearly intercepted Crompton, each breaking up deep throws in the process.
Four-star linebacker Derek Nicholson (6-0, 225) disrupted a handful of plays, chasing down Hardesty in the backfield on one play. Linebacker Eric Ludwig (6-1, 245) was one of the most intimidating players on the defensive side of the ball.
Most of the coaches were crowded around this team, which has nearly two dozen uncommitted D-I prospects. Their biggest strength appears to be at receiver, where Jesse Jackson, Eric Huggins (Oklahoma), Reynaldo Hunter and Terrance Smith each took turns making impressive catches during 7-on-7 drills.
Smith out leapt two defenders, including highly-touted safety C.J. Byrd (Georgia) to reel in a pass on a deep post pattern.
In less than a two-minute span, Huggins made a tough catch over the middle, held onto a bomb with a defender draped all over his lower body and then burnt a cornerback to snag another deep throw.
Huggins' hands and speed aren't questioned, but he will need to improve physically in the weight room before he's ready to dominate in the always physical Big 12. But the tools are definitely there for him to make a big splash.
Four-star funning back Mike Davis (5-11, 212) is built low to the ground and his quick cuts caused a handful of defenders to stumble and miss tackles. Josh Miller (6-1, 218) hasn't garnered the amount of attention Davis has, but more schools are showing interest.
Jordan Sorrells (6-2, 200) appears to be the favorite for the starting quarterback job. The left-hander got into rhythm in the second session and fired a series of accurate throws.
Defensive end Nathan Pepper (South Carolina) was one of the most impressive D-lineman on either team. The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder appears to have grown in recent months and his athleticism makes him a force.
Defensive backs Jamie Robinson (6-2, 185) and Hadrian Lewis (6-0, 180) also had strong performances and continue to prove they are two of the top players in the Palmetto State.
Schools that sent multiple coaches to Tuesday's practices included: Clemson, East Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wake Forest.
Schools that sent one coach include – Akron, Alabama, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.
This also doesn't account for the teams that had coaches there at Monday's drills, which included national powers like Michigan, Ohio State and Oklahoma.
The North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl is an annual all-star game that pits the top seniors from both states. The game will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday. Rivals.com will continue to bring you coverage of practices and events leading up to the game.


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One of the most experienced competitors to join "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil," Rodrigo Damm rightfully was a tournament favorite as the show began filming.
While his performances didn't include the flashy finishes of some of his contestants, he earned a spot in the semifinals with wins in the elimination round and quarterfinals.
Fate then intervened.
Damm was forced to withdraw from the show when he suffered kidney damage cutting weight for a bout with now-finalist Godofredo "Pepey" de Oliveira. On the eve of his first fight since the misfortune, he's determined to pick up where he left off.
"I believe I would have won (the show)," Damm told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I was supposed to face 'Pepey.' It would have been a favorable fight for me. He is good on the ground, but he isn't a striker."
Oliveira meets Rony "Jason" Mariano Bezerra in the reality-show tournament's featherweight final, which takes place Saturday at UFC 147. Damm (9-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), meanwhile, takes on Anistavio "Gasparzinho" Medeiros (15-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on the event's FX-televised preview, which precedes the pay-per-view main card.
Like many of his fellow "TUF" competitors, Damm has clashed with the often-pompous Medeiros and isn't particularly thrilled about being paired with the fighter.
"The UFC made that decision," he said. "I didn't ask to fight him. There was no reason for us to fight since he lost his last fight (in the house) and I didn't lose any of mine.
"But now he's my opponent, and it's a good fight for me. It's interesting. Plus we had our differences in the house. It's a good fight for me."
While Medeiros has more experience and a better record, he doesn't have the international experience of Damm, who's fought for major promotions such as Strikeforce and World Victory Road/Sengoku during his eight years as a pro. Not surprisingly, Damm thinks that will make all the difference during the fight.
"He's a young kid," Damm said of his outspoken opponent. "He lacks experience. I don't believe he's ever fought internationally. I have several fights overseas. And I've been training extensively to improve my striking. I'm ready to stand or go to the ground."
Stakes are high for the fight. Damm said his future with the UFC depends on whether he can best Medeiros on Saturday. If successful, he plans to move from Espirito Santo to Rio de Janeiro to better his training (despite the fact that his training partners at his current gym include Anderson Silva, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante).
Damm's weight-cutting incident wasn't the first setback to his goal of becoming a world-renowned fighter. But with Saturday's opportunity, he hopes it might be the last.
"My career led up to this," he said. "Now I have a chance to get a contract with the largest promotion in the world. It can change my life and that of my family."
For more on UFC 147, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.


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ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia has kept Bulldogs' fans on the edge of their seats in this season of high hopes, tight finishes and an injury list that seems to grow longer with each passing week.
They have no time to rest just yet.
The 15th-ranked Bulldogs visit Vanderbilt on Saturday before an open date to rest before the annual showdown with Florida. Georgia routed Vanderbilt 48-3 in Athens last year, but the Commodores always play tougher at home. Georgia escaped with a 33-28 win in their last visit to Nashville in 2011.
Georgia coach Mark Richt says playing at Nashville is always tough and historically been a tough venue featuring a battle royale to the end. So Richt says he expects another one just like that and says Georgia fans should get ready.
Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Favorite Closed Attraction
Posted 29 August 2011 - 11:07 AM
Posted 29 August 2011 - 12:31 PM
Staying at Pop Century
Previous Trips: March 2010, 2011
1999: June, Aug, Oct, Dec
2000: April, Oct, Dec
Webmaster of Illuminating Epcot
Posted 29 August 2011 - 03:23 PM
Posted 29 August 2011 - 04:06 PM
Posted 29 August 2011 - 04:08 PM
Posted 30 August 2011 - 09:29 AM
sarahzy, on 29 August 2011 - 04:08 PM, said:
I miss when they actually filmed at the Studios. I remember doing the Backlot Tour and seeing the soundstages (I remember them filming the Mortal Kombat TV show when we were on the tour), the giant bee you got to "fly on". I'm sure Matt totally gets where I'm coming from on this one
Staying at Pop Century
Previous Trips: March 2010, 2011
1999: June, Aug, Oct, Dec
2000: April, Oct, Dec
Webmaster of Illuminating Epcot
Posted 30 August 2011 - 10:00 AM
Posted 30 August 2011 - 10:57 AM
Posted 31 August 2011 - 10:32 PM
Celebrating Disney's Animal Kingdom
Posted 02 September 2011 - 08:44 PM
DVC Old Key West 9/27- 10/5/2013 for Food & Wine w/ friends from NJ
Board of Directors Member & Treasurer, The ConGaloosh Society, Inc., a 501(3)c not-for-profit
ConGaloosh 2013 - September 27 - 29, 2013
Posted 03 September 2011 - 07:29 AM
And more recently I miss the theater area where Mickey and the Princesses are now at MK. Just sit there watch old Mickey cartoons in A/C and the photo ops there.
Posted 16 January 2012 - 12:06 AM
If we're talking WDW as a whole, then I miss the original Journey into Imagination and Horizons the most. EPCOT Center had some truly great attractions, despite having some boring eduction based ones, and I'm REALLY sad that they're gone. Horizons was creative, imaginative and inspirational, it represent Futureworld. It's replacement is basically an unimaginative simulator you'd expect to find at the Kennedy Space Center, not EPCOT (well, maybe you'd find it in Innoventions but it's just soo damn big). Same with Imagination, the replacement belongs on a fair grounds, not Disney. I also miss Wonders of Life, which is basically a wine tasting center now. Once again, WTF is happening at EPCOT, none of this is painting a positive vision of the future.
Luckily, these were incredibly popular attractions and fans are virtually recreating these in interactive simulations:
Horizons: Resurrected
Journey Back into Imagination
I suggest any fan of these lost gems check out these links. Very cool!
yulilin, I also miss Tarzan Rocks! at AK. I wish they would've inclosed the theater and added air-conditioning but kept the show the same. My only complaint with Tarzan was with how hot the theater got.
Posted 16 January 2012 - 08:06 PM
Posted 17 January 2012 - 11:46 AM
loveWDW5, on 16 January 2012 - 08:06 PM, said:
I just miss when the Studios had read production work. That made Backlot Tour and Magic of Disney Animation so much more interesting
Posted 17 January 2012 - 01:07 PM
Posted 17 January 2012 - 05:38 PM
frontiersman87, on 17 January 2012 - 01:07 PM, said:
Not bloody likely.
Posted 17 January 2012 - 07:14 PM
Just watch this video from about 18min in:
This one has a good shot of the original entrance:
Click the image below to find out more about the attraction:
Honestly, opening New York Street was a waste. Instead of destroying the tour (and consequently the whole theme of the park, I'll get to that in a bit) for new attractions, they should've concentrated all of their efforts on completing Muppet Studios, Maroon Studios, Sunset Blvd, Tower of Terror, Fantasmic, and Theater of the Stars. You can't tell me those attraction wouldn't have satisfied park guests and they definitely had the room to build all this without touching the tour.
As for the theme, it was perfect when the park opened. When Disney-MGM Studios opened, it was themed after an idealized Hollywood - set in the 30s/40s. The Great Movie Ride was themed to you entering a movie theater in that idealized Hollywood and then entering the movies through it. Hollywood movie magic, made sense. Sunset Blvd. was a perfect extension of the idealized Hollywood theme, it just made sense. The original Backstage Studio Tour entrance, where Animation Courtyard now resides, was themed after an old movie studio - set in that 30s/40s idealized Hollywood. You entered off the streets of Hollywood through the arch, like you would any movie studio during that era, and a took a studio tour, which was very common at the time. This studio just happened to be called the Disney-MGM Studios (a fantasy mash-up of two of the largest studios from that era, the Backstage Studio Tour representing MGM - who happened to have the largest backlot at the time - and the Magic Of Disney Animation Tour representing Disney - who happened to have the largest animation studio at the time). So yeah, the arch, the tour, everything used to make perfect sense and complimented the theme of the park. Even opening Mickey Ave. made sense, as it was based on an actual backlot street, keeping with the theme of being in a studio within the park. Muppet Studios, Maroon Studios, once again, made sense that you'd be entering these fantasy movie studios from that Hollywood era. The Backlot Annex area is pretty self explanatory but you're basically on a portion of the Disney-MGM Studios backlot (a studio we've already established as existing in this idealized Hollywood), only you're not taking the front entrance that tourists do (the security gate is all that's left of this theme). Then around the late 90s, Imagineers just quite worrying about keeping a coherent theme (aka around the time all the animated characters were getting attractions in every section of Magic Kingdom).
So I guess what also bothers me about Disney's direction with this park, is that it's directionless in that they no longer have a coherent theme (like WTF does the hat represent?). I miss how well everything went together, it was as if you entered the Hollywood that never was, not whatever we have now.
Posted 18 January 2012 - 08:35 AM
I miss the late 80's/Early 90's disney very much. I only wish I had been old enough to enjoy the adventurers club properly back then!
Posted 18 January 2012 - 11:49 AM
Posted 18 January 2012 - 02:01 PM