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Bianca:I must be a starter, but sadly, not a finisher.
Bianca, you sound like alot of us, you are in good company!
I hear we will be having another UFO challenge the beginning of the year, that helps us get focused at least for a short while on getting some of those projects finished.
I am new to this UFO forum, but I'm so glad to find you!
I have a stack of boxes (the kind paper comes in) 5 high full of once-enticing, but still promising projects. I was looking through them last week trying to find some cowboy fabric for a friend in our guild. Oh, I am looking forward to completing them! I have just finished a baby quilt from the late 90's--still cute, and a scrap donation quilt from last year. All while trying to avoid an annoyingly large wedding quilt.
Do you each have a list of all UFO's and then share when one is completed? How do you use this forum to keep focused on the UFOs?
Talk to you all soon!
Milton, Massachusetts
I am in the process of quilting a quilt for dil, which I said I would try to finish before Christmas. When that is finished I am going to go through my closet and list all of my UFOs. I have a dry erase board with 9 UFOs listed on it. I am a little suspicious that I have more than that. I am really ready to get some things finished. Last year I said I wasn't going to start anything new until I finished some things, guess you know what happened, ROFLOL!
Kace, some of us are afraid of listing our UFOs. It would take up too much time when we could be sewing. I finished a few last year, some that really needed go get done. Like the farewell signature quilt for the youth pastor that left 3 years ago!
Chiliwist Valley
well i hope by the time the challenge starts that I will have completed two quilts hopefully by the new year they were supposed to be xmas gifts last year lol but didn't happen. I will be working on my boyfriends, and my adopted father's (whose really just a close friend and old co-worker) hehe. Since lately this week my hours have been reduced dramatically tg he got a job in nick of time to take up the slack now instead of me working 50-65 hours a week to pay all bills and food etc.
I'll answer here, so the picture thread stays clean.
This quilt was supposed to be Jodi's MQ. I didn't like something in the pattern, it was so long ago I can't even remember what. So I deviated and ended up with this. I wasn't making it for anyone, just sewing. But, I've decided to give it to my Aunt. And I really do need to hurry up and "Get r done"!
Thanks for the compliment. So nice of you.
Patty Mc
A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars.
Patty Mc
Oregon & Arizona
Ginny L:
This is a new backing I bought, so maybe I'll get this one quilted soon, if I come up with a motif.
This is a new backing I bought, so maybe I'll get this one quilted soon, if I come up with a motif.
I like it Ginny. Can't wait to see how you quilt it.
Millbury, MA
sorry, forgot to follow up with this one.Thanks for the interest Marie
Ginny L:
sorry, forgot to follow up with this one.Thanks for the interest Marie
Ginny, Lovely, thanks.
Happy New Year everyone. Well it's Jan 1st and I started working on my first UFO that won't really count, but I need to get done anyway. I am quilting the small pink and pastel pinwheel quilt, it should not take too long. Any quilting I do is either done by hand or on my Bernina, I do not have a long arm, room for a long arm, or money for a long arm machine. Wish I did. My Bernina has a 7 inch throat and I have trouble getting the bigger quilts squeezed through. This little one is a nice change.
So, who else has started on their UFO's?
Happy quilting!
I also started quilting my Jan UFO but not sure if it will get done by end of Jan. as I just got chest cold for the new years sigh.
I am still trying to finish up a king sized quilt for my niece that is her Christmas present. We had our Christmas dinner a week after Christmas, and she did get to open it as I had finished the quilting by then, but I still gotta get the binding done. I hope to finish it this week, then it's on to the January UFO.
I don't believe this quilt is really a UFO under the rules. But, like Sabrina I need to get it done. And this thread is the proper motivator.
I got the binding cut, pieced, and sewn on. Now to hand stitch it down. All 33 feet of it. Now why the heck did I measure it? LOL
Hello and HNY to everyone. I've been sewing up a storm and there are bits and pieces of three quilts floating around my quilting area. But only one is a UFO. This is how far I've gotten on my son's b-day present. This is NOT pieced yet and is missing one block and 4 rows plus the borders. Each block is 5 x 5 finished and there are 99 blocks to be made. I guess I didn't want to think about going back to work so I kept doing more and more sewing. But tomorrow is the day so my free time is not as free. Be back when I can.
Mimi, that is beautiful! Today I looked in my room for batting for mine. Didn't have a piece big enough, so will have to get that when I am in town on Friday. So today I am going to catch up on a block of the month. Current project, but hope to keep that from becoming a UFO.


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Twins don SU2C shirts to show support for Ryan
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- To show their support for general manager Terry Ryan, who recently underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his neck, all 110 Twins players and staff members wore matching black Stand Up To Cancer T-shirts on Saturday for their first full-squad workout.
Ryan, 60, was diagnosed with squamous-cell carcinoma earlier this month after a lump was found in a lymph node in his neck. He underwent surgery on Feb. 11 at the Mayo Clinic and was released from the hospital three days later.
Ryan also received a positive report from doctors at the Mayo Clinic on Thursday, and is currently resting at home in Minnesota.
Twins director of baseball communications Dustin Morse came up with the idea for everyone to wear the SU2C shirts, and manager Ron Gardenhire thought it was a great gesture.
"It was good idea by Dustin, I thought, for Terry and anybody else who is going through this," Gardenhire said. "I've always said the Twins try to do the right things. ... Another circumstance presented itself, and Dustin rose to the occasion. He's our mighty media man. So I thought it was pretty cool."
Left-hander Brian Duensing, who is one of the longest-tenured Twins in the clubhouse, said he was proud to show support for Ryan and others who have been affected by cancer.
"We always think of ourselves as a family, and he's one of the members of our family," Duensing said. "He's run into a little bit of a tough time here, and we wanted to do something to support him. We thought this was a good way to do it."
Gardenhire satisfied with first full-squad workout
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Twins held their first full day of full-squad workouts on Saturday, and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was pleased with what he saw.
The day started with infielders taking fielding practice on Tom Kelly Field while outfielders worked on catching fly balls at Hammond Stadium. The pitchers started the day with fielding practice before transitioning to live batting practice.
A total of 13 pitchers threw live batting practice, including Vance Worley, Kyle Gibson, Scott Diamond, Mike Pelfrey, Kevin Correia, Trevor May and Anthony Swarzak.
"It went good today," Gardenhire said. "We talked about the timing of everything. It went exactly as planned. The drills were good. The infield was good over there. Everybody was working. We had PFPs and bunt plays. We had a few snafus here and there, but that's why we do it. They got their swings in and caught some groundballs. We got everybody on the field with live BP, so it was good to see."
Gardenhire was also happy that everyone made it through the first full day without any injuries. Second baseman Brian Dozier, who was limited by a sore back before Friday's official report date, was able to participate in all of the workouts.
"Dozier was out there and did his thing, so it was pretty much the whole program," Gardenhire said. "But tomorrow will be a better day. All these infielders were doing it for the first time, so we'll see how many are sore. But everything seemed to go good."
Presley working to secure starting center-field job
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Alex Presley knows how important it is to make a good impression in his first Spring Training with the Twins, as he's competing for the starting job in center field with Aaron Hicks.
Presley, who was acquired in the trade that sent Justin Morneau to the Pirates late last season, said he's preparing himself to be the starter in center field, but isn't taking anything for granted. Hicks struggled last year as a rookie, but is still held in high regard by the organization. He had an impressive Spring Training last year, so he's still in the mix with Presley, who is out of Minor League options.
"I'm just trying to get better this spring and try to do what I need to do for the spring to be ready. I need to be ready to be the starter," Presley said. "But there are some improvements that need to be made. I'm looking to get better on certain things like stealing and stuff like that. I think we're moving in the right direction."
Presley, 28, played in 28 games with the Twins after the trade, hitting .283/.336/.363 with a homer, four doubles and a triple. But Presley, who has good speed, only stole one base in three tries and has just 20 stolen bases in 35 attempts in parts of four seasons in the big leagues.
"We got a good look at him last year," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "The kid can hit. He's got a nice short swing and stays in on lefties. But one thing we talked about with him this winter was being more aggressive on the basepaths because he has speed."
The Twins are expected to have Hall of Famer Paul Molitor work with Presley on his baserunning this spring, as Molitor was added to the coaching staff this offseason. Presley said he's looking forward to learning from Molitor; improving his baserunning is one of his main goals this season.
"I imagine he'll have some good things to say, so I'll have my ears open," Presley said. "I'll listen to anything he tells me. He's definitely a welcome addition."
Worth noting
• Catcher Josmil Pinto was held out of action for a second straight day with a stiff back on Saturday. Gardenhire said Pinto is day to day.
• Third baseman Miguel Sano, who sprained his ulnar collateral ligament in the offseason, was able to get through the first day of workouts without any issues. He took fielding practice and threw without any discomfort. The Twins are still expected to monitor Sano, who is wearing a protective sleeve on his throwing arm, but he hasn't had any problems throwing from third base so far in camp.
• Left-hander Edgar Ibarra, who was diagnosed with Hepatitis B last month, is expected to throw his first bullpen session on Sunday. The Twins were taking it easy with Ibarra early in camp, but he'll start ramping up his activities on Sunday.
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fix-a-Leak Week
According to WaterSense, an Environmental Protection Agency Partnership Program, household leaks waste more than a trillion gallons of water annually. Our urgency to conserve often depends upon what part of the country we live. But officials predict that at least 36 states that will experience some sort of water shortage.
WaterSense therefore has issued a challenge to each homeowner to save 10,000 gallons of water, the equivalent of 270 loads of laundry, in just ten minutes by finding and fixing a leak. The first step in the process is to check for leaks. Common types of leaks are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and leaking valves. Many are easily corrected and can be done without hiring a professional.
Use this easy four-step checklist to determine if you have leaks.
Review the water bill for one of the colder months when you are unlikely to be using water outside. A typical family of four should not exceed 12,000 gallons of water monthly. Serious leaks are likely if usage exceeds this.
Check the water meter before and after a 2-hour time period during which no water is being used. A change in the meter indicates leakage.
Find toilet leaks by dropping food coloring into the toilet's tank; let it sit without flushing for 15 minutes. Color in the toilet bowl indicates a leak. With the experiment complete, flush the toilet to avoid toilet staining.
Check for water on outside surfaces of all plumbing fixtures, pipe fittings and faucets, inside and outside, including gaskets. Leaky faucets dripping at a rate of one drip per second wastes 3,000 gallons annually, equivalent to 180 showers! Showerheads leaking 10 drips per minute waste 500 gallons annually or 60 loads of dishes in the dishwasher!
Check irrigation systems and outdoor spigots each spring for leaks developed over the winter. Leaking irrigation systems waste 6,300 gallons of water monthly.
With the household leak assessment complete, it's time to fix the leaks or call a professional for the more complicated projects. Replace the toilet's flapper, old and worn faucet washers and gaskets, tighten connections between the showerhead and the pipe stem using Teflon pipe tape, replace rubber washers on outdoor hoses and assure a tight fitting at the spigot. Online help is available for DIY assistance.
If, after fixing these leaks water usage is still high, consider replacing old and leaking fixtures. Look for the WaterSense label to assure water efficiency. Replacing older toilets could save 13,000 gallons of water annually. Retrofitting an entire house with WaterSense certified products could save nearly $2,400 in water costs over the product's lifetime.
Read more at EPA.gov.
Fix a leak image via Shutterstock.


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I purchased this pad to do my wedding book and it is perfect. I had tried to purchase at a local store and it was sold out and could never get it. I absolutely recommend to someone working on wedding, anniversary, or anything precious!
Martha Stewart has the best and most beautiful products.
nice lace details


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Use one of our calculators to determine how Intel SSDs can save you money while increasing productivity.
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Find firmware, warranty, and technical support for Intel Solid-State Drive products.


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Hairston Jr. went the distance for ring
Infielder traveled from San Diego to NY to attend ceremony
When the National League's 2010 schedule was published last winter, Jerry Hairston Jr. looked it over with particular interest in his new team, the San Diego Padres, and his old team, the New York Yankees.
The Padres' home opener was a day game against Atlanta. They were off the next day, the day the Yankees would receive their World Series rings in New York. San Diego's next game was at night.
"Hmm," Hairston thought. "The timing works."
What if he got on an airplane after the day game, flew to New York, got his ring and then flew back to San Diego in time for the next night's game? A little crazy, huh?
"I thought about not doing it," Hairston said. "It's a long trip."
Then he got into a conversation with ex-Major Leaguer Dave Roberts, who works in the Padres' front office. In 2005, Roberts was playing for the Padres a year after he helped the Boston Red Sox win the World Series. When the Sox got their rings in Fenway Park, Roberts was there.
"He convinced me to do it," Hairston said. "He said, 'If you don't do it, you'll regret it the rest of your life.' I didn't want to be on my couch when they were getting the rings. I didn't want to be 75 some day and regret not going when I had a chance."
And so, after the Padres' home opener, Hairston got on a red-eye flight from San Diego to New York, arrived at 6 a.m., checked into a hotel for a couple of hours and was on the field at Yankee Stadium for the ring ceremony. That night, he was back on a plane headed in the other direction, to rejoin the Padres, returning to San Diego by 10 p.m.
It was a 6,000-mile round trip in less than 24 hours and well worth the effort, he said.
"You can get your World Series ring in a FedEx envelope or standing on the field at Yankee Stadium, alongside the guys you won it with," he said. "Which would you choose?"
His old teammates were stunned to see Hairston -- stunned and happy because the utility man played an important role in their success last year. "There were a lot of hugs," he said.
After coming over from Cincinnati in a midseason trade, Hairston appeared in 45 games with the Yankees and contributed some key hits. When New York reached the playoffs, it was his first chance at the postseason in his 12th season. He was one of 14 active Major Leaguers who had played 1,000 games without reaching the postseason. His first postseason hit, a 13th-inning single in Game 2 of the ALCS, touched off a winning rally against Anaheim.
So, that World Series victory was hardly routine for him.
"There a lot of guys who never won one," Hairston said. "I am a third generation Major Leaguer, and I'm the first in my family to win one. It was special. I know how hard it is to win one. I appreciate it. I am thankful I had the opportunity. I hope it's not once in a lifetime.
"You talk to guys like Derek [Jeter] and Jorge [Posada]. Once they won their first, once they had that taste, they want to win it over and over again."
Knowing that the Yankees have won more World Series than any other team, Hairston considered rejoining them this season. "We talked," he said. "But I wanted to play the infield again. They already have a pretty good shortstop named Jeter, you know."
So Hairston signed with the Padres, reunited with his brother, Scott, an outfielder. Together, they've helped San Diego unexpectedly put itself into contention in the NL West. He likes this team and its chances and every so often, he reminds his teammates of the possibilities by showing them his World Series ring.
"I want to win one of them here," he said.
Hal Bock is a freelance writer based in New York.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Posts Tagged 'why men deeply look into women eyes'
If you're interested in loving relationships, you'll enjoy this. I am frequently searching for videos, news and other useful information which assists people to have more satisfying relationships. Be sure to have a good look at it all. Don't forget to provide your advice so the rest of us can learn from your opinions:
True Signs He Loves You
Have you noticed any slight changes in your man's behavior? Does he say things he has never said before? Well, maybe it's because he loves you!
Men are very action motivated, they don't express their feelings verbally. They'd rather make you figure it out on your own. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as he tells you how he feels at the right time.
Do you ever get butterflies in your stomach when you think about his new motives? You probably feel the same way about him. I know you've heard others say that it takes time for men to love their women. That's true to an extent. Love doesn't hold any boundaries, it comes when you least expect it to. This strong emotion normally comes about 1 year of dating. If you've been with him for only 5 months, then he's infatuated with you.
The difference between love and infatuation is that love is a more intense feeling. When you're infatuated with someone, your feelings are a bit different. He may feel like he loves you, but he only cares deeply for you. When a man really loves a woman, he'll do anything for her. The main hints he'll throw are very easy to catch.
1. His body language
If you haven't noticed his body language, pay more attention to it. He'll begin to walk with poise and wrap his arms around you. I know men do this when they don't love a woman, but he'll do it more often if the feelings are there.
2. His grin
He'll look at you with a big smile and the look in his eyes will change. The eyes do all the communicating for you. His facial expression won't go away quickly. Gaze into his eyes and you'll know what I'm talking about.
3. Hyperness
If he's the calm type, he'll become more hyperactive around you. I've noticed this in my boyfriend. You'll see this sign if you look closely. Men aren't hard to read, you have to take the time to read them.
4. The questions he asks you
This is the first sign you should see! If he started asking a lot of questions about you, he loves you. A man won't ask a woman questions about her if he didn't love her. His level of interest in you is increasing and he can't get enough of you. Doesn't it feel good to be with a man who loves you? The types of questions he asks aren't important. What's important is the topic of his questions.
Bonus Tip: If you really want to get a guy to commit to you, make him love you, or just ask him on a date, there is a free guide for you: => http://www.GetYourGuy.net If you seriously want to create a long lasting, loving relationship, please take a free copy of "Get Your Guy". Inside, you will find insights into the male mind and how to use his psychological makeup to your advantage. Click here to claim your copy today!


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Horses Abandoned on Mountain Find Homes
- Dec 24, 2009
- Topics:
Two horses that were abandoned on the side of a mountain in British Columbia last Christmas have found permanent homes.
Just before Christmas last year, snowmobilers discovered the pair of horses trapped in chest-high snow in the mountains near McBride, B.C. For the next week, snowmobilers dug the horses a path to freedom in temperatures that dipped as low as -22 F. (Read: Group Effort to Rescue Horses Trapped in Snow Ongoing)
Sundance (top) and Belle have recovered and found new homes.
When rescued, Belle, a 4-year-old mare, and Sundance, a 15-year-old gelding, were ranked as 2s on the Henneke body condition scale, had lice, and were missing hair and part of their tails.
This Christmas, life is much better for the pair. A fully recovered Sundance will be celebrating with adoptive owner Catie Ward, in Monte Lake, B.C.
Ward was drawn to Sundance after hearing of his ordeal. "My heart goes out to the horses that have had a really rough time," she said. "He's just a gentle giant."
Meanwhile, Belle has found a new home in Prince George, B.C., with owner Kim Gilbeau. Last year Gilbeau was at the equine rescue center looking at horses to foster when Belle arrived. She was instantly drawn to the mare and in February applied to adopt her.
"She's doing great, has put all her weight back on and is really friendly considering what she's been through," said Gilbeau, who plans to use Belle as a pleasure riding horse.
Earlier this month, Sundance and Belle's former owner, lawyer Frank MacKay of Edmonton, Alberta, plead guilty to causing distress to an animal. He abandoned Sundance and Belle in the mountains in September 2008, following a hunting trip. According to MacKay, he left the horses because they could not make it through the difficult terrain.
He was fined $1,000, placed on 12 months' probation and ordered to pay $5,910 to the B.C. SPCA to help cover care costs.
About the Author
Liz Brown
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POLL: Checking for Gastric Ulcers


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DEERFIELD, IL -- Mondelez International Inc. has launched seven new mobile pilots for some of its leading gum, candy and cookies brands in 90 days, and plans to kick off two more in the next month. In the first phase of its Mobile Futures program, Mondelez paired nine startup tech companies with its brand teams to accelerate and scale existing mobile innovations. Launching a pilot within 90 days was the objective for all teams.
The pilots use mobile-at-retail, social TV and SoLoMo (social/location/mobile) technology to enhance consumer experiences and drive impulse purchases.
Stride gum and crowd-sourced traffic and navigation app Waze were the first to launch a pilot in February, bringing users coupons for Stride gum at nearby retailers while on the go.
Chips Ahoy! and Shelby.tv launched chipsahoy.tv, which allowed college students to see March Madness through the eyes of Chips Ahoy! Mondelez's Nabisco's Wheat Thins, Ritz, Chips Ahoy! and Oreo brands partnered with Endorse, an iOS and Android application that brings consumers a daily flow of offers of cash back on their favorite products.
Trident gum is leveraging Roximity's place-based proximity-notification technology and database to drive impulse purchases of Trident. When consumers approach certain stores, they receive a notification of a Trident offer through SMS or an alert from a mobile application.
Oreo is working with Banjo, a SoLoMo app that curates social feeds based on location to create streams of real-time, social content at events. Sour Patch Kids and Kiip, a mobile network that enables brands to reward in-app achievements, are bringing rewards to consumers in places unique to the brands.
BelVita Breakfast Biscuits, which recently rolled out in vending, partnered with inMarket for its pilot. Through its CheckPoints mobile application, inMarket will allow belVita to incentivize shoppers to find and interact with the product, and learn whether the interactions ultimately drive to a sale.
During phase two of the Mobile Futures program, the brand teams and their startup partners will work together again to brainstorm on broader business challenges. Mondelez will then select the best ideas for incubation by the teams, with the hope of securing seed funding from angel investors and venture capitalists after 90 days.
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Announcing another contest!
For the past six months, I've been very stealth about something big.
I've been thinking about how to tell you this for a long while. It's a surprise!
If you can guess what I'm getting ready to share, you're a winner. (I've already opened my big mouth to a few of you. You know who you are, I'm sorry, but you're automatically excluded.)
First clue: it's not a second book (yet).
Second clue: I'm not getting married (yet).
Any ideas?
I'll be giving away goodies from Babeland for this contest — plus a copy of Single Mom Seeking.
I might need to get creative on this one because I could have more than one winner.
For starters, here are a few of the prizes:
A pink vibrating Paris ducky for your bath
Would any of my male readers use a pink vibrating duck? (That's what I thought.)
Would any of my male readers make "cock cakes"? (That's what I thought.)
Say what?
Thanks to all of you who shared your good news in Aleve's contest to win $100 dinner at PF Chang's.
The winner — picked randomly out of a hat — is Mom2Maddie99, who said:
"I met an A+ single dad today at a soccer party & I'm hoping he calls."
And do tell us: Did he call?
"A vegan alternative to leather restraints…. a pair of neoprene cuffs with nylon straps." (Guys? Yes? I'm running out of ideas here!)
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How JusticeXchange helps departments instantly find suspects and witnesses nationwide
Break the frustrating cycle of unsuccessfully searching for suspects while racing against the clock
By Greg Bogosian
PoliceOne Contributor
The following is paid content from Appriss
How many times have you heard this story? A law enforcement agency goes looking for an offender, suspect, witness, parolee, or sex offender, and conducts a time-intensive nationwide search, only to find out that yes, the individual they want to talk to was in custody somewhere else, but by the time the information comes back, they've been released into the wind once again. It's a cycle which has been repeated time and time again, to the frustration of investigating officers, since the earliest days of law enforcement. Even worse, perhaps, are those instances where you're looking for a missing or kidnapped child (especially in cases of custodial kidnapping), and you find out that you could have located or recovered the child if only you'd had information sooner.
It may surprise some of you, however, to learn that there is a nationwide solution in place which not only eliminates the problems above, but gives you access to critical information on a real-time basis (within 7-12 minutes of an individual being booked into a jail, for example), including allowing you to set alerts for individuals whose whereabouts, and incarceration status, you need to know. That system, from Appriss®, is called JusticeXchange, and is currently in use by over 50,000 law enforcement users nationwide, including 7 states with global adoption for all of their agencies. This web, batch and API based product, which allows for tightly-controlled access managed by state law enforcement entities or their designees, is simple, intuitive, and flexible, and can be accessed anywhere internet service is available, including by officers in the field on MDT's or smartphones – saving time when time is of the essence in bringing justice to victims.
Today's era of reduced budgets and staffing, and the resultant "more with less" circumstances which many agencies are facing, has led quite a few of them to be forced to reassign personnel to routine operations at the cost of investigative and other resources. One of the things that JusticeXchange does is bring back some of that capacity, with a lot more automation, meaning that not only can your agency once again effectively find suspects and others that they are looking for, but you can do it at a lower cost and with much less time required by personnel whose time could be better used elsewhere.
The targeted alert feature of the solution means that you can set up a widely-variable search notification (based on not only such standard search parameters as name, date of birth, social security number, etc., but also by such things as scars, marks, and tattoos – which is a great help when you have serious recidivists with multiple aliases, some of which you may not even know) and be alerted immediately when that person is incarcerated, no matter where they are geographically. The alerts can also be used to identify a change in geographic location for an offender, important when you're tracking a parolee or registered (or non-compliant) sex offender. That's pretty exciting stuff, as anyone in law enforcement can tell you – the possibilities for apprehending and tracking a suspect/offender grow dramatically, and criminal offenders who frequently reoffend, as is the case for many, are likely to be arrested on minor charges even when wanted for more major crimes.
Perhaps the best part of JusticeXchange comes about through something which is at the core of Appriss' mission, according to CEO Mike Davis: the cost to government agencies is relatively low, or in some cases, carries no cost at all. States can purchase enterprise licenses, agencies can purchase by-user or –department licenses, and now, it's even possible to acquire JusticeXchange for free when your agency or state puts into place the free, nationalized and streamlining Collision Reporting Solutions from Appriss (contact Appriss for more information).
For more information, contact Appriss at firstname.lastname@example.com today.


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It's obviously rather easy to be cynical about the filmmaking industry. Your common cinema fare does little to benefit anyone, beyond providing an opportunity to buy some expensive snacks and spend a couple of hours in air conditioning. Thankfully, another function of Hollywood is to bring to life certain historically important events, which otherwise would be nothing more than a headline on an old newspaper. Of course that doesn't always mean that these films are well made, but they can at least bring a little awareness to something that might otherwise be overlooked in our social consciousness. The Butler (officially titled Lee Daniels' The Butler, for a very silly legal reason) may be a flawed film, but it provides a vivid slideshow of our nation's recent history through the eyes of a silent insider.
It is embarrassing to admit, but for someone my age, the civil rights movement can sometimes seem like something of the distant past. Growing up in Greensboro, home of one of the first sit-in demonstrations and now the International Civil Rights Museum, it's hard to believe that it was during my parents' lifetimes that it was illegal for white people and black people to sit together for a meal. The triumph of The Butler is in reminding us that it was not so long ago that real men, women, and children were forced to deal with segregation, and countless other forms of racial discrimination, in order to live what we consider to be a basic standard of living. Forest Whitaker, as the titular butler, shows that the civil rights movement did not just involve those at the forefront of action, but everyday fathers, mothers, friends, and coworkers. Working in the White House of course afforded him access to the highest level of discussion, but when he went home, there was still a family to provide for, and the struggles of being a spouse and a parent. This everyman viewpoint, contrasted with the inside workings of the highest level of government, as well as the brave and occasionally radical civil rights leaders, gives an incredibly powerful vision of just what it takes to bring about meaningful change.
While The Butler excels in bringing these historical moments to life, they can unfortunately occasionally feel more like a slideshow than a fully cohesive film. Director Lee Daniels, best know for 2009's Precious, seems to focus more on gravity than pacing, giving us waves of excellence, separated by periods of awkward exposition and character development. However, these flaws are simply bumps in the road, not dead ends. The Butler may not be a lesson in filmmaking, but much more importantly is a lesson in the human struggle and our history.
The Butler covers a breadth of important events and situations, never pausing too long on any one topic. There were various points in the film where I'd wished that they had made an entire movie focusing on one subject or another. However, at the end of the day, this film isn't about these historical events themselves, but rather the impact they have on a man's life as a whole. The Butler shows that one's character is not defined by a single experience, but from a lifetime of struggles and victories.
My Rating: 3 Stars


text: Just what i was wondering. Federer is Praised by Many and his playying style is one of THE reasons for his popularity. He plays agressive, takes balls early and is both smooth and elegant and has all the shots. His current main rivals are often Praised as well but also often criticized for being defensive and physical and spinny rather than purely technical with An offensive mindset. My question is whether people have criticism of purely watching feds game And what you truly hate about it. Not antics or personality, but does Any tennisfan hate his game and why?


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Associated Press writer
LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Gov. Mike Huckabee issued a formal proclamation Friday for a special session to pass a state budget for the next two years.
Huckabee's proclamation for the extra session, to begin at 11 a.m. Monday, was drawn narrowly to consider 53 bills for 45 state agencies, including 30 that did not get budgets passed during the regular session that ended April 16.
The call authorizes consideration of various tax increases to cover a better than $200 million shortfall anticipated in each of the next two budget years.
It also would allow legislators to consider appropriations for county jail reimbursements, a new veterans home in Fayetteville, aquaculture research at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and other projects from the General Improvement Fund, but would not open the door for a contentious argument over the flow of state money to local construction projects in tough economic times, the governor said.
Lawmakers would have to gather a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate to expand the call to include distribution of barely $20 million in future revenues to construction projects from sidewalks to senior citizens centers, a stumbling block to a budget agreement during the regular session.
The special session is scheduled to begin 19 days after the 94-day regular session ended abruptly without the House and Senate agreeing on a $12 billion budget for the two-year period that begins July 1.
Though legislators since then have reached no consensus on a tax increase to cover the shortfall, Huckabee said they had no choice but to pass a budget next week or decide that they couldn't.
Without a budget, the administration would have to begin shutting down human services programs and prison units whose funding would be cut and begin notifying college students their scholarships would not be honored, he said.
"There are a lot of issues out there that will be answered by their actions," the governor said. "The pressure is on."
Huckabee said he had been invited to address a joint session of the House and Senate on Monday, and said his remarks would set the tone for the special session.
The governor's proclamation specifically refers to sales taxes, wholesale cigarette and tobacco taxes and income tax surcharges as possible ways to raise up to $100 million in additional revenues to help cover the budget shortfall, but said the possible solutions would not be limited to those measures.
Huckabee said he would accept any single measure or combination of tax increases that fully make up needed revenue to fund the budget.
House and Senate leaders already have agreed to use $25 million from the state's property tax relief fund and $14 million from unclaimed property held by the state, along with a projected $120 million in revenue growth to fund the budget.
Huckabee said he would accept a proposal by House conservatives to combine a 30-cent a pack wholesale cigarette tax and a 3 percent state income tax surcharge that would expire in two years if he had to to get the measures passed, though he said he philosophically opposed putting a sunset on revenue streams for ongoing state projects.
The governor has also spoken of a 1-cent sales tax increase, part of which would go toward shoring up the budget and the rest put in escrow for future education improvements.
Senate leaders say they have a consensus for a 16 percent wholesale sales tax on tobacco products, but with no assurances that the House will accept it.


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Top 10 Projects from the March Green Crafts Showcase!
April 6th, 2012 | by Bonnie Getchell
I absolutely loved going through all of the wonderful projects that were linked up to our Green Crafts Showcase this month! Remember, we will be hosting the Green Crafts Showcase every month, so be sure to link up your projects! With all of that said, here are the top 10 projects we've chosen for the month of March!


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Previously published in The
Violet Gazette Spring 2000, V1-2, P2
Written by: Arthur O. Tucker, Ph.D.
© 1995, 2000 All Rights Reserved.
Viola odorata L. is native to
Europe but naturalized in North America. Viola ignobilis Rupr. from the Caucasus and Iran is similar to
V. odorata. I don't think that enough natural variation of these two species has been used in breeding,
and the botanist-geneticist could introduce some novel variations.
Unlike most of the sweet violets, the Parma
violets are not hardy above USDA Zone 8 and withstand more sun: these differences suggest a more southern origin.
R. D. Meikle in 1963 was probably the first to suggest that the Parma violets are V. alba Besser from
central and southern Europe, particularly Italy. Thus, 'Marie Louise,' 'Swanley White,' 'Lady Hume Campbell,' and
'Parma' are all derived from V. alba not V. odorata. The parma violets were the principal
violets raised near Rhinebeck (New York), which once boasted 400 greenhouses filled with violets. More breeding should
be done on this species and its natural variation including subsp. Alba, subsp. Scotophylla
(Jordan) Nyman, and subsp. dehnhardtii (Ten.) W. Becke.
The so-called yellow sweet violet, 'Sulfurea,'
is not scented and may not be V. odorata. This has sometimes been classified as V. Vilmoriniana,
a name without botanical standing.
The native Confederate violet of North America,
V. sororia Willd.(V. papilionacea Pursh), has often been pawned off as V. odorata,
but differs in its scentless flowers, lack of runners, and abundant cleistogamous (unopened, self-fertile) flowers that shed
enough seeds to classify this species as a weed. Breeding of V. sororia with V. odorata yielded
the scentless 'Governor Herrick' and the misnamed 'Frey's Fragrant'.
The sweet violet has also been bred with the Russian
violet, V. suavis Bieb., which is native from Russia to northwestern France. The Russian violet is a hardy violet
very similar to the North American Confederate violet but sweetly scented. The Russian violet was introduced into England c.1820;
an early, improved form was 'Russian superb.' 'The Czar' appeared as an improved form in 1863 in Middlesex, and about the same
time another form of V. suavis, 'Wilson,' was introduced from Algeria and Turkey into Provence, France.
Viola catalonica Becker from northeastern Spain, V. jagellonica Zapal. From Poland, and
V. adriatica from the northwestern section of the former Yugoslavia are probably natural hybrids of
V. suavis and V. alba and should be sought for cultivation. At least artificial hybridization
of V. suavis x V. alba should be possible.
The genus Viola includes about 450 species. Exactly how
many are scented is unknown, but some other species might also be listed here and should be sought for further horticultural
development. Viola cornuta, the horned violet, has highly scented flowers lacking the sweetness of
V. odorata. Other species indicated to be fragrant in the botanical literature include:


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Charlie Sheen lost his virginity to a prostitute at 15 years old.
The 46-year-old actor stole his dad's credit card to pay for the experience and had the "greatest night" of his life with flame-haired Candy in a Las Vegas hotel room while his father Martin Sheen was sleeping in the room next door, and he also paid for his 15-year-old cousin Joey to have a night of passion with her when he'd finished.
He said: "I told Joey, 'Look, this is my dad's credit card, you're going second. He was thrilled. He didn't give a s**t. I remember having the greatest night of my life."
But two weeks later Charlie's father was curious to know what his mystery credit card transaction was for, and when the former 'Two and a Half Men' actor confessed, his dad said he was only concerned that he hadn't mistaken his night of passion "for love".
He explained: "Then two weeks later, my father wanted to know about his Friendly Introductions LLC , Las Vegas, bill on his statement. I explained it.
"His whole concern was that I didn't mistake that for love. I'm still trying to process that one."
Charlie - who was sacked from 'Two and a Half Men' last March for partying with prostitutes and slamming the show's creator Chuck Lorre - is still addicted to women, but doesn't think he's a "lothario".
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, the actor - who has five children and has been married three times - added: "People think I'm a bit of a rogue, of a cad, a lothario, a guy who's in a lot of s**t that would lead to a constellation of kink and oddities, and I'm not. I just love women. I love them." - Bang Showbiz


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Come join Roxy Doll & DJ Lightray aka Rachael Valenti. Huge dance floor Drama Free space all your 80's-Goth-Industrial-EBM needs. We are open from 9:30-2 Tuesday nights bring your Vogue VIP Card or Talent VIP card both are good for a discount at the door.
Russell Sammut
El Hamami Naoufal
fawzi aljohani
Aleksander Kramberger
Oscar Aguilar
Nadav Aharon Bonen


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Superior sound, control, and playability optimized for the performer.
The Yamaha S90 XS Music Synthesizer is an exceptional keyboard for performing and creating. It's a realistic, naturally expressive synth with a true piano sound. Its highlights include convenient, realtime controls for adjusting the sound as you play, the ability to record audio to USB memory, extensive computer music features, ease of use, and compact size and portability. The Yamaha S90 XS is designed specifically for players who want high-quality piano sounds and expressions; casual players and hobby musicians will appreciate the synthesizer's exquisite sounds, advanced features, and superb playability just as much as professional artists.
Sounds that satisfy
The S Series features all the voices, performances, arpeggios, and virtual circuit modeling effects found on Yamaha's flagship Motif XS Music Production Synthesizer. The S90 XS adds a huge 142 megabytes dedicated exclusively to high-quality piano waveforms, for a total of 456 megabytes of instrument samples. Foremost among these piano sounds are the samples taken from Yamaha's world-renowned S6 concert grand piano. This synthesizer fully captures the richly textured sound of the wonderfully expressive S6, and provides a warm, concert grand piano sound.
In the past, conventional keyboards had sounds designed primarily for the listener. The S90 XS, however, was designed to satisfy the player. Yamaha reasoned that when a performer hears and experiences the best possible sound, their performance would be the best possible too. The result is the S90 XS, a genuine musician's instrument that truly inspires the live performer as well as the music creator and arranger.
Streamline your performance
The S90 XS electronic keyboard lets you quickly and conveniently create your own custom performances with the amazingly fast and easy Performance Creator feature. Select a voice, then quickly program layers and splits-even assign a drum voice complete with arpeggios to create your perfect performance. Let's say that you're playing a piano voice and you want to layer a string sound on top of it. Simply press the layer button, then select the desired voice category and voice, and store your new performance with the press of a button.
The panel controls of the Yamaha S90 XS have been designed and positioned for optimum, intuitive operation, especially for live performances. For example, with the top-panel controls you can quickly select a part, turn it on and off, set arpeggios and turn them on and off, and switch on arpeggio hold, in addition to instantly tweaking important synthesizer parameters using the knobs and sliders.
Ideal for live performers
The S90 XS keyboard synth has a host of other features that live performers will appreciate, such as the combo input jack that accepts mic input. Just plug in a microphone, adjust the input gain knob (while checking the convenient peak lamp),
and you're set. You can also use the control knobs to finely adjust the volume and directly apply reverb or chorus to the sound.
Recording direct to USB/internal memory
If you've got a USB memory device or thumb drive, you can plug it into the S90 XS and record your performance as audio data. This remarkable feature lets you instantly capture what you play on the keyboard (including arpeggio playback) to your USB device. If you've connected a microphone or guitar, you can record your singing or playing as well. You can also record audio directly to the internal flash memory (192 megabytes) built into the instrument without the need of a memory device. Keep in mind that anything you've recorded to the memory device (even audio files created on your computer) can be played back on the Yamaha S90 XS, which means you can create your own custom audio backing tracks and perform along with them. For example, you can create a basic song track beforehand, then sing and solo over it during your performance or add guitar parts and vocal harmonies to be played back during your live performance. There's also a useful song chain function that lets you string together separate recordings and create a convenient backing track "set list" for your gigs.
88-key balanced keyboard
The S90 XS has balanced hammer-effect on its 88 keys for those players who need a full-range, full-scale keyboard. It's exceptionally portable and absolutely perfect for live performers and gigging musicians.
Software integration
The Yamaha S90 XS is also a perfect companion for your computer music production system, serving both as a master keyboard and a full-function, multitimbral tone generator. With the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) remote function and its 50 different control templates, you get amazingly easy, intuitive control over your main DAW software and Virtual Studio Technology (VST) instruments directly from the panel controls. Moreover, the Voice Editor and Remote Editor software gives you convenient, comprehensive computer control over all the sounds, settings, and functions of the S90 XS keyboard synth.
88-keys on a balanced, hammer-effect, full-range, full-scale keyboard
A warm, concert grand piano sound
4 knobs, 16 backlit LEDs, and lots of buttons for direct hands on control
All of the voices, performances, arpeggios, and virtual circuit modeling effects of the Yamaha MOTIF XS Music Production Synthesizer
456 megabytes of instrument samples
Performance Creator feature for instant splits, layers, and drum performances
Convenient controls to create your own custom performances
Optimum ease-of-operation with top-panel controls
Combo input jack that accepts mic input
Control knobs for fine volume adjustment
Control knobs to directly apply reverb or chorus
Accepts USB memory devices
Direct-to-USB stereo audio record & playback
192 megabytes of internal flash-drive memory (18 minutes)
Provides the ability to create your own custom audio backing tracks and perform along with them
Allows player to string together separate recordings and create a convenient set list using the song chain function
Functions as a master keyboard and a full-function, multitimbral tone generator
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) remote function and 50 different control templates
Voice Editor and Remote Editor software provides convenient, comprehensive computer control over all sounds, settings, and functions
1/4" XLR combo jack A/D input (with front panel controls) for adding vocals and guitars
Exceptionally portable
An amazing keyboard that gives you everything you'd expect from Yamaha and much more.
S90XS 88-Key Balanced Weighted Hammer Action Synthesizer Specifications:
Dimensions: 6-3/4"H x 58"W x 15-1/4"D
Weight: 49.6 lb.
Control Interface:
Number of Keys: 88
Type: Balanced Hammer Effect Keyboard
Initial Touch: Yes
Aftertouch: Yes
Other Controllers:
Pitch Blend: Yes
Modulation: Yes
Control Slider: Assignable Control sliders x 4
Control Knobs: Assignable Control sliders x 4
Others: Data Dial
Type: graphic backlit LCD
Size: 160 x 64 dot
Backlight: Yes
Contrast: Yes
Tone Generation:
Tone Generating Technology: AWM2 with Expanded Articulation
Multitimbral Capacity: 16 Internal Parts + Mic Input Part
Ware ROM Capacity: 456 MB (when converted to 16-bit linear format), 2,772 waveforms
Number of Polyphony (Max.): 128
Number of Voices: Preset: 1,024 normal voices + 64 drum kits, GM: 128 normal voices + 1 drum kits, User: 128 x 4 (Bank 1-3: selected and copied from Preset bank), Normal Voice + 32 drum kits
Reverb: 9 types
Chorus: 22 types
Insertion: 53 types x 8 blocks
Master Effect: 9 types
Master EQ: 5 bands
Part EQ: 3 bands, stereo
Number of Arpeggio: Preset x 6,779 types
User x 256 types (when loading the User Arpeggio data of MOTIF XS)
Compatible Data Format:
Playback: SMF Format 0/1 (playback only)
Storage and Connectivity:
Storage: Internal Memory: 192MB
AC In: Yes
Headphones: Phones (standard stereo phone jack)
Foot Control: Foot Controller 1, 2
Foot Switch: Foot Switch 2 (Sustain, assignable)
Microphone: Mic Input (combo jack)
MIDI: MIDI In/Out/Thru
Assignable Out: Assignable Output L, R (standard phone jack)
Line Out: Output L/Mono, R (standard phone jack)
USB To Device: USB (To Device)
USB To Host: USB (To Host)
Power Supply
Power Consumption: 25W
Bundled Software
CD-ROM: Cubase Al Disc 1
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 1 customer
Comments about Yamaha S90XS 88-Key Balanced Weighted Hammer Action Synthesizer:
The S90XS keyboard plays well in performances. The piano tones are quite good with excellent, natural keyboard action and feel. This keyboard is my primary set of keys that I play on stage using several of the sounds to accompany the band. The keyboard offers good piano, organ, and strings. The horns are kind of weak though. I'd like to hear a better full brass sound when the band plays without our brass section leaving me to fill in their parts.
It is easy to change sounds on the fly making it nice during a song. Nothing worse then grooving along and you have to think about a part coming up that requires an instant change and then back again. I don't do a lot of programing even though the S90XS has those functions. I use it as a straight keyboard with another keyboard stacked on top for performances. I have set to midi out for some recording in my studio though and it was very easy to use. The percussion tracks worked out well along with some of the other sounds to layer in.
I do wish they'd find a way to weight the keys without all the weight of the keyboard. It is so heavy. The Yamaha S90XS is a good all around keyboard and would recommend it as an excellent choice for studio to concert use.


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Lee gets state OK to move ahead with Willow Street bridge repair
LEE -- Town officials have the green light for an estimated $500,000 to $600,000 bridge rehabilitation project that's crucial to keeping Lee's only remaining paper mill in business.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently gave the town permission to move forward to repair the Willow Street bridge, according to Christopher Pompi, the town's public works superintendent.
The project calls for replacing the bridge's sidewalk and its decking, along with other improvements.
Pompi expects the project to get under way in June, with the bulk of the work completed a year from now. He says the town's Chapter 90 state highway funds will pay for refurbishing the bridge that will remain open during construction.
The span over the Housatonic River is the only direct link between Onyx Specialty Papers and Route 102 in South Lee, town and company officials said.
"There's no other realistic way for them to access the mill," Pompi said. "Closing the bridge would put them out of work."
Pompi noted an alternate route between Onyx and Route 102 via Meadow and Pine streets wouldn't be able to safely accommodate the truck traffic to the plant.
Currently, Onyx employs 140 people who operate the plant around-the-clock Monday through Friday and occasionally on Saturdays, according to the company president, Patricia Begrowicz.
"The bridge is absolutely essential to our business," she said.
Without it, Begrowicz said, "We couldn't even run our mill."
MassDOT has ordering the bridge sidewalk closed over structural deficiencies, but Pompi said the span remains open to all vehicular traffic.
"The roadway is fine, there's no weight limit, but we're not taking any chances and moving forward with shoring up the entire bridge," he said.
Meanwhile, town officials expect a temporary bridge will replace another troubled crossing in South Lee by mid-December. Pompi said the interim span on Meadow Street over Powder Mill Brook is still on scheduled to be install before Dec. 15.
The existing bridge had been closed since March due to structural damage that included a two-foot hole in its decking.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


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New replay system to be tested next week
Radar, cameras installed at Yankee Stadium, Citi Field
By Mike Fiammetta and Zack Meisel / MLB.com
Yahoo Sports first reported that MLB will use two different systems -- one using radar and the other using cameras -- to judge balls down each foul line. MLB implemented the technology in Yankee Stadium and Citi Field and will commence the trials next week when the Mets play host to the Rockies and Astros, and the following week, when the Yankees play host to the Blue Jays and Orioles.
"For years and years and years, the answer was, 'No.' I wasn't in favor of it," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "I thought that this was a game played by human beings who make mistakes. But now, the technology is so good, it can happen so fast, you might as well use it. Get the calls right, because with what's happening now, we're seeing tough calls that can change the course of a pennant race."
For now, the systems will not influence the games. According to Yahoo, MLB wants to establish that the system is accurate and worthwhile before using it in other Major League ballparks.
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, who put together a 14-person committee to discuss replay initiatives, intimated during his town hall meeting at July's All-Star Game that this would be the next step in expanding instant replay.
"We're going to expand it," Selig said, "when we get all the proper cameras on bullets hit down the left- and right-field line plus trap plays in the outfield."
A common criticism of instant replay in baseball has been the time it would add onto games, though Collins insisted that shouldn't be a concern.
"It's miniscule," Collins said. "It would take a lot less time to go look at a replay than to go out and argue a call. So why not get it right?"
Mike Fiammetta is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Zack Meisel is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @zackmeisel. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Quote: Originally posted by groundfighter: They were not combatants, they were killers who were just as satisfied poisoning as they were sneaking in in the night and slitting your throat. Open combat was to be avoided at all costs. Spies and backstabbers, poisoning, sneaking, lying and infiltrating though decaption. Never warriors.
Quote: Originally posted by groundfighter: Ninja were first and foremost assassins. They were not warriors in an open battlefield, but killers from the dark. Those who would poison, stab in the back, destroy reputations and perform clandestine murders. The only real code was that of secrecy and popular suspension of disbelief in their existance. Many instructors try to paint them with a warriors brush (ninja of old) when the last thing they wanted to do was face a warrior in open combat.
Quote: Tzu was chinese. Ninja were in Japan.
Quote:And where's your sources?
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+ Libby Claire banner points to the power of prayer
Dear Editor:
Almost everyday I drive down Broadway. One day, I saw a sign asking for prayers for an adorable little girl, Libby Claire. I didn't know why, but I believe in the power of prayer, so I prayed for her every time I passed the sign. Then I read the article in the July 23 Longboat Observer.
In my opinion, the town of Longboat Key Code Enforcement has sunk to its lowest! Where is the sense of community, compassion, and caring? This town is becoming more and more like a police state. It's ridiculous.
Monica Durand
Longboat Key
+ Code enforcement sign ordinance is a big issue
Dear Editor:
I moved to Anna Maria Island fulltime in 1999. I used to drive people to Sarasota via Longboat Key and make conversation about the mailbox in the shape of a fish — very neat — and then one day, it was gone.
We also had discussions about the Lynches Pub sign and how it was almost the shape of a shamrock except for someone taking a chainsaw and cutting off the edge of the sign that slightly encroached on the town's right of way. That must have been a really big sign to make such a big encroachment and cause such a hazard to the town. I guess that is why the Lynch sisters whacked off a leaf and later moved to St. Armand's Circle.
So, recently, I had to drive by Libby Claire's sign to check the danger to the community.
This issue is like the one I had with a homeowners association in Pennsylvania that had 600 residents.
Someone complained because it stated in the bylaws that flags were not allowed to be displayed in the community. Well, I know one thing — rules are meant to give a little under certain circumstances. Who in their right mind was going to mention anything to a veteran displaying the American flag even, if it was not the Fourth of July or Veterans Day? Don't you think that you need to lighten up a bit with the Libby Claire banner?
I cannot see what harm it will bring to allow the Presslys time to heal. This is a community, right?
You might think it was a big issue, like someone taking 401K money from retirement accounts.
Well, let me tell you that keeping the sign up is a big issue! It is big enough that if you visit Libby Claire's site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/libbyclairemcgarity you will see she means enough to 23,602 people who log in daily to check her progress.
I would hate for that number of people to think that Longboat Key was not a caring community.
Please consider this request and let these people heal and do not deprive those children of their own healing method.
Kathy Caserta
Ann Maria Island


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This tax credit helps individual taxpayers pay for qualified residential alternative energy equipment, such as solar hot water heaters, solar electricity equipment and wind turbines. The credit, which runs through 2016, is 30 percent of the cost of qualified property. There is no cap on the amount of credit available, except for fuel cell property. Generally, you may include labor costs when figuring the credit and you can carry forward any unused portions of this credit. Qualifying equipment must have been installed on or in connection with your home located in the United States, please contact the IRS for tax form 5695, by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
Building-integrated photovoltaics, or BIPV Solar Shingles, are a proven solar option that utilizes the same photovoltaic (PV) technology as solar panels and blend into traditional roofing materials for a more seamless look than that afforded by mounted panels. A single shingle only produces enough electricity to power an electric fan, but several feet of them together garner the energy to power an entire house!
Information provided by River City Roofing


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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION Case No. 55-2008-CA-000487 COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS, INC., Plaintiff, vs. ROGER RUSTICUS, et al., Defendants. NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Summary Final Judgment of Foreclosure Including Award of Attorneys' Fees and Costs dated October 30, 2008, entered in Case No. 55-2008-CA-000487 of the Circuit Court of the 7th Judicial Circuit in and for St. Johns County, Florida wherein COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS, INC., is the Plaintiff and ROGER RUSTICUS; TERESA RUSTICUS, husband and wife; CITIFINANCIAL EQUITY SERVICES, INC.; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; JOHN DOE and JANE DOE is/are Defendants, I will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, at front steps of the St. Johns County Courthouse; sales 12:00 Noon in the City of St. Augustine, Florida, on March 17, 2009, the following described property, as set forth in said Summary Final Judgment of Foreclosure Including Award of Attorneys' Fees and Costs, to-wit: Lot 25, SOUTHWEST WOODS, according to the Plat thereof as recorded in MAP Book 13, Page 106 AND 107, of the Public Records of St. Johns County, Florida together with that certain 1982 Cran Mobile home with ID# GDLCFL19825804A & B. ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER THE SALE. DATED this 13th day of February, 2009. Cheryl Strickland, Clerk By Linda G. Barton Deputy Clerk In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), if you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Court Administration Office at (904) 827-5617, 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, Florida 32084. If you are voice impaired, call 1-800-955-8770. L499-9 Feb. 19, 26, 2009
Posted from 19-Feb-09 to 26-Feb-09
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Hanley's hot bat forces opponents to avoid him
By Austin Laymance / MLB.com
LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez is locked in at the plate, and opponents are well aware.
The Rockies intentionally walked Ramirez twice in Thursday's 6-1 win, and the Dodgers believe the trend will continue. Colorado avoided Ramirez in the opener in favor of rookie Scott Van Slyke, who bounced into a double play in the third inning and struck out in the eighth. Andre Ethier hit behind Ramirez on Friday.
"As long as he's swinging the bat like this, it's not going to stop," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We're going to have to be productive around him. He's that kind of guy. He's really tough to get out."
Among players with at least 100 at-bats entering Friday, Ramirez leads the Major Leagues with a .402 average, .458 on-base percentage and a .726 slugging percentage. He's hitting .467 with runners in scoring position and .451 against right-handed pitching. Ramirez has 47 hits in 36 games, including 20 for extra bases.
"When he's hot like he is right now, it's scary," said newly acquired starter Ricky Nolasco, who played with Ramirez for the Marlins. "He's a game changer. When he's going like he is now, it's impressive to watch. I've seen it before."
Puig tries to play through hip pain, but exits after four
LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig tried to play through a sore left hip Friday against the Rockies, but was removed after four innings.
"It was bothering me a little bit," Puig said through a translator after the Dodgers lost, 3-0.
Puig did enough before the game to convince management that he could play, but jogged to first base with a noticeable limp after grounding out in each of his two at-bats.
"I'd rather have him off the bench for an at-bat than have him for a few innings," said manager Don Mattingly. "We've got to make sure our communication gets better. If you can't play, you can't play. There's no shame in that."
Puig also left Thursday's 6-1 win against the Rockies after the seventh inning. The rookie said the injury has lingered since he slammed his left leg into the right-field fence at Coors Field on July 3. Puig has started each game since, though.
"It feels a lot better today," he said. "I'll rest, get some treatment and see how it feels tomorrow."
Does Puig think a day off would be beneficial?
"It could be, but I really want to get on the field and play, because we're close to first place [in the National League West]," he said.
Scott Van Slyke replaced Puig in right field in the top of the fifth and went 0-for-2.
Meanwhile, Carl Crawford was scratched from Friday's lineup because of a stiff lower back.
Crawford felt stiffness in his lower back after taking early batting practice Friday, but it's been lingering since Thursday, Mattingly said. Crawford has not started the past two games and is 2-for-25 since returning from a strained hamstring last Friday.
"He tried to hit a little bit today, but it seems like it's still not quite where he wants it," Mattingly said. "So we'll just be a little careful and see as he warms up during the course of the game what he'll be able to do."
Skip Schumaker replaced Crawford in left field and at the top of the lineup and had one of the Dodgers' four hits.
Deadline passes with top 12 Draft picks signed
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers signed their top 12 picks from the First-Year Player Draft and 28 of their 40 selections by the time the 2 p.m. PT deadline for signing picks passed on Friday.
The Dodgers' top two picks, right-hander Chris Anderson and left-hander Tom Windle have already begun their careers with Class A Great Lakes. Both pitchers signed within a week of the Draft for the designated slot amount -- $2,109,900 for Anderson and $986,500 for Windle.
Anderson has made four starts for the Loons, striking out 16 over 12 innings with a 3.75 ERA. Windle has appeared in three games, including two starts, with a 2.08 ERA over 8 2/3 innings.
The Dodgers signed 18 of their top 20 Draft picks, with left-hander Ty Damron (13th round) and right-hander Peter Miller (16th round) remaining unsigned. Damron, from Krum High School (Texas), has a partial scholarship to play at Texas Tech.
The Dodgers also signed two non-drafted free agent catchers in Dimitrios Papantonopoulos from Cal State Dominguez Hills and David Reid-Foley from Mercer University (Ga.).
Worth noting
• Dodgers left-hander Ted Lilly, on the disabled list with a neck issue, threw a simulated game Friday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. Lilly faced Dodgers rookies Scott Van Slyke and Tim Federowicz, as well as Skip Schumaker and Nick Punto.
"He was pretty good, so we'll see how he bounces back out of this and then just kind of keep trying to form a plan for him to be ready," Mattingly said.
Lilly has been sidelined since June 5, and the club is considering the veteran as an option to move to the bullpen when he's activated.
• The Dodgers will the screen the hit film "42" after Saturday's game at Dodger Stadium. Academy Award winning director Brian Helgeland, actors Chadwick Boseman and John C. McGinley and Dodgers great Don Newcombe, a teammate of Jackie Robinson, will participate in a question-and-answer session prior to the screening. Fans seated in the outfield pavilions will be allowed down on the field to watch the movie.
• Saturday is On-Field Photo Day. Fans can enter through center field for a chance to take photos of Dodgers players. Center field gates open at 1 p.m. PT.
Austin Laymance is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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After a year of preparations, Fountain Valley schools are adjusting their lesson plans to reflect the Common Core State Standards.
The new assessments, adopted by 45 states, emphasize close readings of texts in language arts and explanations of answers in math.
Gone are the days of multiple-choice tests in which students could rely on the process of elimination to help them pass.
Now it's all about the educational journey, not the bubbled-in answer.
Starting in 2014-15, students will have to take new standardized tests on computers, which mean teachers are modifying what they teach and how they're teaching it.
Luckily, they're getting help from Common Core consultants – and from Google, Apple and Twitter.
The biggest fear surrounding Common Core is with the unknown – specifically, not knowing how students are going to be evaluated, administrators say.
For more than a decade, schools have geared teaching toward preparing students for the California Standardized Tests, or CSTs. This year, schools have to strike a balance between preparing students for the CSTs and making the transition to Common Core before 2015.
Even though schools have yet to see the final exams, they do have guidelines.
Students will be expected to support their arguments with textual evidence. Math classes will be grounded in more real-world contexts. Subjects will be fewer but more in-depth.
"The long and short of it is kids are going to have to explain their thinking, not just give an answer," said Andrew Heughins, principal at Ethan Allen Elementary.
The way that students explain their thinking is also changing, Heughins added, because the Common Core exams will be administered on a computer.
The specter of computerized testing has caused a big push for more technology, both from teachers and at the district level.
The Fountain Valley school board is on the verge of hiring a public information officer to help get the message out that schools need iPads, new computers and the money to buy them. In the past two years, the Fountain Valley Educational Fund has cut its performing arts funding in half in favor of increased funding for new technology.
"Technology doesn't replace education, but it does allow us to access information," Superintendent Marc Ecker said. "If you're going to need to prove a point, make an argument and support it, the access you have to information is critical."
The technological shift that has occurred in Fountain Valley classrooms is staggering.
"It's changing overnight," Courreges Elementary Principal Chris Christensen said.
Every classroom at Courreges has an iPad that can be projected onto the wall via an Apple TV transmitter. Many of the teachers have a half-dozen iPads, thanks to grants they have written to organizations such as the Assistance League of Huntington Beach.
Of about 90 Fountain Valley teachers who were awarded $500 grants from the League on Monday, more than a third spent the money on iPads or laptops, according to a spreadsheet provided by the school district.
Courreges also has two third-grade classrooms where every student has a Google laptop on which a digital penguin named Jiji teaches them math.
By the end of this school year, Christensen estimates, Courreges will have close to 10 iPads per classroom. By the end of next year, he hopes that every student will have some sort of digital device.
Part of the reason for the shift from No. 2 pencils to computers is because that's where students will be taking their standardized tests next year.
Learning how to compose a narrative on a computer is an important skill for young people, Principal Heughins noted. But for older students, technology can be more of a distraction than a learning tool.
Most schools have bans on smartphones in the classroom. But Fountain Valley High School has implemented a policy that leaves phone use up to the discretion of teachers.
While some teachers have kept the ban in place, others are using mobile devices and social media as a way to connect with young people and enrich classroom discussions.
Sean Ziebarth, who teaches AP English and journalism, uses Twitter as a virtual discussion forum. During a recent class discussion on "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," Ziebarth tweeted a question that each student had to respond to in 140 characters or less.
Ziebarth said the advantage of these virtual discussions is that it encourages less outspoken students to participate in the discussion.
"On Twitter, everybody is engaged, and there's much less cognitive downtime," Ziebarth said. "You can't be as long-winded, but that's another good skill: to distill your thoughts into the smallest space possible."
Ziebarth's students recognized their teacher's efforts to make class more enjoyable by communicating with them in the same way they communicate with each other.
"As teenagers, we are really connected to our mobile devices," said senior Beverly Pham, who took Ziebarth's class last year. "I really like the way teachers are incorporating social media into instruction. It makes learning more fun and enjoyable, which makes us more likely to remember the lessons."
Twitter also helps Ziebarth align his lesson plans more closely with the Common Core philosophy of applying what students learn in the classroom to the outside world.
"We're moving past 'write an essay so your teacher can read it,'" Ziebarth said. "We want them to be writing and creating things that have a real-world audience."
Twitter and blogs are an excellent way to find target audiences, Ziebarth said.
In an effort to make AP English less about the ivory tower and more about real-world problem-solving, Ziebarth dedicates 20 percent of class time to students' ideas. Every Friday, students are allowed to work on a personal, long-term project that will affect positive change in the world.
This concept, called 20 Percent Time, is borrowed from Google, which used to have a policy of encouraging its employees to spend 20 percent of their time tinkering on their own projects. The idea is that people are most productive when they are working on something they are passionate about.
For the tech giant, the 20 Percent Time policy led to products such as Gmail and Google News. For Ziebarth's students, the free periods on Fridays have allowed students to write a children's book, raise money for disadvantaged athletes and organize a choir concert to benefit medical research.
Pauline Nguyen took Ziebarth's class last year as a junior. She compiled personal essays from students and teachers and self-published a book she likened to a kind of "Chicken Soup" for the high schooler's soul.
Nguyen said she and her classmates initially were daunted by the task of creating their own project, as it "pushed us out of our comfort zone."
At the same, she felt empowered by the idea that she could control her own education.
"It was great because in all my other classes, we didn't really get to plan what we wanted to do," she said.
"We learned that we were more capable than we thought we were."
The Common Core State Standards officially take effect during the 2014-15 school year, when students will be required to take a new series of standardized tests, and they'll have to take them on computers, not Scantrons. Fountain Valley has started to make the switch this year by asking teachers to start tailoring their lessons to prepare students for the new assessments. Superintendent Marc Ecker spoke with the View about what students and parents can expect this year.
Q. How will Common Core requirements affect instruction?
A.The new assessments will require much more thought and independent knowledge. We're going to, hopefully, see a linkage between what students are taught and what they experience in real life. They'll own the learning. We want them to have a deeper understanding of what they are learning rather than being able to recall facts. I can tell you all the states' capitals, but that doesn't necessarily help me with real-world problems.
Q. Why is the district so keen on pushing technology in the classroom?
A.Our schools are at a tipping point where we don't even have enough computers for the teachers. Technology doesn't replace education, but it does allow us to access information and to communicate and collaborate to a much greater degree. If you're going to need to prove a point, make an argument and support it, the access you have to information is critical. Many of our students leave a multitude of devices at home that they use all the time. Not using them is like going to war without the proper armament.
Q. What kind of new technology is the district looking at?
A.I think there are two concepts. One is devices and the infrastructure to support them. The other concept we need to bridge is the connectivity necessary between these devices and the concept of teaching and learning. We've piloted the Bring Your Own Device program, but we don't have the full answer right now.
Q. What kind of devices would you personally like to see in classrooms?
A.Probably some form of a tablet. Smart devices on the walls, where you're looking at the blackboard, which is actually a computer that can remember things, can pull up information and kids can write directly on the board. And those smart boards can connect with the tablets in real time. In primary grades, we've looked at smart tables where students sit around the same table, which is really a miniature smart board. We also need to arm our teachers with computers that are mobile and armed with the necessary programs.
Q. You said the Fountain Valley Educational Foundation is shifting its support from the arts to technology. Is technology replacing the arts?
A.What we had before was a very toned-down version of a full arts program in the schools. The foundation supported that to a limited degree. They supported a music program that was like a singalong or a music camp. It was fun and nice, but it cost a lot of money to pay those folks. The foundation has decided to focus on technology and in so doing give the arts to the district. We are transitioning to hiring a private firm to run the before- and after-school arts programs. The parents would pay the private company.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7055 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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|Related Sections:
|Richmond County
|Columbia County
Augusta National Golf Club - The Nine Hole Course2604 Washington Rd
Augusta, GA 30904
Phone: (706)667-6000Fax: (706)667-6200
This famous club offers one championship eighteen hole course and one nine hole course. The club annually hosts The Masters, the most highly coveted tournament in professional golf, and one of the four "Grand Slam" professional tournaments. The course is as famous as Pebble Beach and has a unique history related to its famous designer, Bobby Jones. The signature hole is #16, a 170-yard, par 3, which has water coming into play from tee to green. Three of the toughest and most famous holes in golf are the #11, #12, and #13 holes, known as "Amen Corner." Many famous designers, such as Perry Maxwell, Robert Trent Jones and Jack Nicklaus, have taken turns making changes on the course, the latest being a Nicklaus' redesign in 1985. Tom Fazio added two new holes on the Nine Hole Course and redesigned the others in 1986. The club is very exclusive and guests can only play with members. Green fees are not available for publication. It is said that a membership list is not even published in order to protect the exclusive aspect of the club. Some of the best shotmakers in the world have played Augusta and have labeled it "the finest course in the whole world." This is evident in the form of many Japanese courses attempting to duplicate its design. "Golf Digest" rated this 2nd best out of "America's 100 Greatest Courses" for the years 1995 through 1998, and also rated it the #1 "Best in State" course for the same time frame. In addition, "GOLF Magazine" ranked it 4th among the "Top 100 Courses in the U.S." for 1995, 1997 and 1999, and "GOLFWEEK" selected it 3rd in the category of "America's 100 Best Classical Courses" for 1997, 1998 and 1999.
|Holes: 9
|Greens: Bent Grass
|Fairways: Bermuda Grass
|Greens Fees:
|(subject to change)
|Course Type:
|Dress Code:
|No denim, collared shirt required
|May 1 to Oct 31
|Guest Policy:
* Update this Course: Update/modify the details for this golf course's listing.
*All Greens Fees provided are subject to change. Please call the golf course to confirm the current fees.


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BERLIN – As the battle on slots continues in Annapolis this morning, a move late yesterday could take Ocean Downs and Worcester County out of the equation and replace it with a different venue in Western Maryland.
A House subcommittee late yesterday approved an amended version of Governor Martin O'Malley's slots bill, which calls for 15,000 gaming machines at five locations across Maryland including Ocean Downs in Worcester County not far from Ocean City. However, the amended version approved by the House subcommittee late yesterday removed Ocean Downs from the equation and replaced it with a proposed site in Frederick in Western Maryland.
Howard County Delegate Frank Turner, who chairs the House gaming subcommittee, said a location in Frederick could generate more revenue than Ocean Downs because of its proximity to the popular Charles Town slots venue in West Virginia and its proximity to a larger segment of Maryland's population. Turner said Ocean Downs might be a less attractive site because of a limited support base other than the four or five months at the height of the tourist season in the resort area.
While the news the House gaming subcommittee voted to remove Ocean Downs from its slots bill and replace it with a venue in Frederick will certainly be hailed as a victory among those in the area opposed to slots at the Berlin racetrack, the battle is far from over. The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to take up the debate this morning and it could be forwarded to the full House of Delegates later this afternoon.
Even if the amended version gets through Ways and Means unscathed and is approved by the full House, the bill would still be have to be reconciled with the slots bill passed by the full Senate last week, which includes Ocean Downs. The situation appears to change by the minute as the General Assembly special session nears the finish line.
See tomorrow's print edition of The Dispatch for the most up-to-date information.


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Tenere Cologne
By Paco Rabanne for Men
Tenere Cologne by Paco Rabanne, Introduced in 1988, tenere by paco rabanne is a refreshing masculine scent for men . This manly scent possesses a blend of fresh herbs, woods, and spicy notes to give it a masculine scent. Tenere is recommended for daytime wear. All products are original, authentic name brands. We do not sell knockoffs or imitations. ... Read More
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About Paco Rabanne
History and background of Paco Rabanne. Paco Rabanne was born in San Sebastian, in the Spanish Basque country. I pent my childhood under a hail of bombs in Spain, then in France where we took exile because my family was republican. Before that, my mother worked as a chief seamstress for Balenciaga. Read more about Paco Rabanne
More Paco Rabanne fragrancesfor Women: Olympea , Black Xs , Calandre , Lady Million , Ultraviolet , more
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Customer Comments
Product was excellent, price was incredible and shipping was fast!
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Reviewed by 3 customers
- Great Smell
- Great Value
- Long-Lasting
- Sensual
Best Uses
- Anytime
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Comments about Tenere By Paco Rabanne:
Daily and with every occasion.
- Fragrance Type:
- Woody/Earthy
- Distinctive
- Not Overpowering
- Sensual
Best Uses
- Anytime
- Signature Fragrance
Comments about Tenere By Paco Rabanne:
When you don't want to wear a scent EVERYONE else is give Tenere a try!
- Fragrance Type:
- Oriental/Spicy, Woody/Earthy
- Clean & Fresh
- Great Value
Best Uses
- Daily Use
Comments about Tenere By Paco Rabanne:
Used this 20 years ago.Thought I would try again.Suited me better 20 years ago.My partner who uses Paco Rabanne La Nuit (out of stock in the UK and most places)tried it and she really likes it on her.
- Gift:
- No
- Fragrance Type:
- Floral, Herbal


text:
"There was thunder in our air; nature, as we embodied it, became overcast -- for we had not yet found the way. The formula of our happiness: a Yes, a No, a straight line, a goal..." - Friedrich Nietzsche
Be wary of people who throw around Nietzsche quotes. His writing is so punchy that it's easy to find good quotes inside of paragraphs about almost anything. Notice: I can take a line from a book Nietzsche wrote called The Anti-Christ and make it about soccer.
But if I can take a quote about anything out of context and pass it off as fair, it's a quote about goals, right? Goals, too, have a way themselves of coming out of context. Ask the Fire about it recently.
Where do goals come from? In no sport is scoring as mystifying, and, as a result, as satisfying. Goals are rare enough to be special, but common enough to drive the sport completely, and their origin remains a mystery. What fickle furnace forges them? They come from the heavens, where so many players give credit in their celebrations, and from an entire team's psychic connections. They come from perfect timing, impeccable technique, and acts of brilliance. They also come from deflections, bad refereeing, and those mis-kicked crosses that loop into the back post.
Where do goals come from? Don't ask the Fire right now. A team that hasn't always had problems scoring, the Fire find themselves in goal purgatory. For whatever reason, goals hate the Fire right now. They played well enough to at least earn a point out of Saturday's game, and absolutely dominated the first matchup against Philly last week -- but the Fire couldn't score. The drought has become confounding, almost like a natural disaster, something to marvel at in awe and horror.
It hurts even more to play against Jack McInerney twice in a row. McInerney has more goals this season than the entire Fire squad. He's so hot that goals are showing up in his bed at night. He's waking up next to goals he doesn't remember meeting.
Okay, okay. The point is that goals are not to be trusted. They're misleading. Goal stats rarely tell the story of a game, especially when teams control a game without scoring, like the Fire did two weeks ago and in periods on Saturday.
After a few unlucky breaks and a scuffed chance or two, it can feel like everything is conspired against you. The ref hates you, the ball and the vagaries of its deflections hate you, the goals themselves, they look so small now, even with their giant looming posts and their soft, welcoming nets -- don't trust them, they definitely hate you. Meanwhile, set plays executed perfectly in training don't come off. You start to over-think simple five yard passes. Your shoelaces untie themselves. It's excruciating. You can work, you can run, you can do everything you can, but nothing works.
Where do goals come from? Can Klopas and Pause go on some sort of vision quest to find some? The Fire are getting shots (22 over the last two matches vs. Philly), managing games, and getting chances, but the payoff is late.
Well, maybe there's more in the Nietzsche about goal-droughts that I thought. Much of The Anti-Christ is in response to Arthur Schopenhauer's cycle of desire and dissatisfaction, the cycle that defines
goals humanity. But like the Fire, Nietzsche is concerned with how we overcome our contemporary (~1880s) problems. He says that despite the fact that we once found happiness, we lost it. "We grew dismal; they called us fatalists."
But once "there was thunder in our air" and surely we'll recover it. "A Yes, a No, a straight line, a goal..."
Ben Schuman-Stoler is a contributor to Chicago-Fire.com. Follow him on Twitter @bsto.


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Keith Niebuhr
Rivals.com Football Recruiting
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Cyrus Kouandjio is a five-star offensive lineman with a frame as impressive as his offer list. But when practice began at this week's Under Armour All-American Game, he admittedly felt a little out of place.
Of course, there's a pretty good explanation for why.
Throughout his high school career, Kouandjio played right tackle. This week, he's on the left side of the line, which is no small, or simple, move to make. Especially in such a short period of time and against top-notch competition.
"When I came here, I'd never played on the left side," Kouandjio said. "So it was kind of awkward the first day (of practice). I had to work on a couple things and I finally got it down. The coaches say I got it down real quickly."
The biggest challenges that came with the switch?
"Spacing, footwork -- everything, really," Kouandjio confessed. "It was kind of weird."
A native of Hyattsville, Md., Kouandjio, the country's No. 10 overall prospect and No. 2 offensive line recruit, is among the most heralded uncommitted players remaining in the Class of 2011. And judging by his comments after Tuesday's practice, the last tuneup before Wednesday night's game in St. Petersburg, he still has a way to go before a decision about his future destination is announced.
Thus far, Kouandjio has been only to Alabama and New Mexico. He's hoping to also visit Auburn, Iowa and USC, though trip dates have not yet been set.
Is there a leader?
"I can't really say because I haven't been to all of them," Kouandjio said.
According to Kouandjio, his pick will come from the group of aforementioned programs. At this point, he doesn't feel like letting anyone else in the race, though schools such as Miami have tried to get him to change his mind.
"I've been in the recruiting process for a long time," Kouandjio said. "I'm kind of worn out. I don't want to jump back into it. I'm just going to go with the schools I have right now. I'm happy; they've all got good stuff."
More than likely, Kouandjio will have a signing day announcement.
In Lake Buena Vista, getting used to playing left tackle, a spot at which he very well could end up in college, isn't his only challenge. There's also the matter of facing defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the country's No. 1 prospect and the person arguably having the best week of practice. The two five-star recruits have gone head to head quite a bit.
"We've pretty much went back and forth throughout the whole practice -- every single practice," Kouandjio said. "I won some, I lost some. And we both helped each other out. He's one of those guys you talk to. He's a real laid-back, cool guy. We have a good relationship. We hang out. We hung out last night so it's pretty much cool."
Facing Clowney, a physical freak and relentless pass rusher, has been difficult to say the least. But Kouandjio would like to think Clowney has a similar challenge by lining up against him.
"We've pretty much fed on each other all week.," Kouandjio said. "He teaches me some things; I teach him some things. He's more a quick guy. He brings a lot of momentum."
Keeping Clowney out of the backfield and away from the quarterback has been next to impossible for many offensive linemen this week. But Kouandjio not only has fared better than most, but on one play in particular Monday during 11-on-11 action he used perfect footwork combined with great upper-body strength to put Clowney in the dirt.
Although he remembered the play well the following day, Kouandjio didn't want to talk much about it out of respect for his friend.
"I'm not going to put (Clowney) out like that," he said.
That said, one could tell Kouandjio was pleased with the result of that memorable takedown.
When it was pointed out that he must have done something right on the play, Kouandjio smiled, then replied, "I guess."


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Funny thing is after all of the diet changing the totals cholesterol did not drop much until I began taking 2 gr niacin/day.
Total cholesterol is meaningless.
You are interested in LDL (if possible, pattern A and B), HDL and Tryglicerides.
You need to have low Trygs, high HDL, and low pattern B LDL. 3x lower HDL is 3x bigger risk then 3x higher LDL.
The fact that your total didn't change means nothing cause your LDL might went down and HDL up which is a good thing.
About glycemic foods, this one might get tricky.
Dr Davis from Heart Scan blog recommends everybody use sugar metters to check sugar pre-meal and one hour post meal. You should then not use foods that substantially rise your sugar.
The same thing is there in 4-h body book. Author used it for fastest fat loss, but the principles are the same - you want no sugar spikes. Depending on your genetic history, you might have inappropriate levels of amylase enzymes so some low glycemic food might spike the sugar in you more then other people.
BTW, do you take Coenzime Q10 (around 300mg, Ubiquinole form is the best)


text: Men's Doubles semi's are on tonight. Bryans vs. Boleli/Fognini Granollers/Lopez vs. Haase/Sijsling Interesting matchups with the Italian and Spanish duo's playing from the baseline. Never thought I would see the day when top doubles teams would win from the baseline. I guess Nadal was the trendsetter in this. My picks are the Bryans and the spanish duo. Bryans for the win! Who are you picks? Who are you supporting?