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I love potatoes, so changing from a high-carb plan to a low-carb one wasn't easy. Discovering cauliflower as a chunky, amenable solution to creamy soups and for other purposes, coupled with the ease of use the crock pot provides as months grow … [Read more...]
Savory Potatoless Chowder
Cream Cheese Wontons
Pictured: Serve with this delicious Sesame chicken! Wontons are delicious. Now, with a low-carb wonton wrap, adding the rest of the ingredients is easy. These fry up beautifully to accompany any Chinese dish, from stir fry to Szechuan beef! … [Read more...]
Tex-Mex Scramble
I haven't always been an ardent fan of vegetables, and, in fact, found that if I wasn't careful, it was easy to eat none whatsoever. Finally deciding for health to try and sneak the bad boys of the fresh-grown world in whenever possible, I … [Read more...]
Loaded Cowboy Pizza
Papa Murphy's is a famous take and bake pizzaria, and while their pies are out of this world, so are the carb counts. Following is a gluten-free, low-carb pizza recipe sure to have people asking for seconds, and without straining an already tight … [Read more...]
Cauliflower Bread Sticks
Oh no I di'unt! Oh yes. I did. This recipe is a hit at my house with even the picky kids. gluten-free and buttery-delicious, fill up on cauliflower and enjoy it for more than its nutritional value. … [Read more...]
Talk Like a Pirate Day. Fried pickle planks
Enjoy with this bacon shake. Arrr! Ahoy, mateys! Thar be deliciousness encompassed in pickles! A favorite appetizer from steak houses like Texas Land(lubbers) and Cattle(prods), this is low caaaaaaaaaarrrrb grub even yer trusty parrot will … [Read more...]
Fruit Kebabs
Pictured: Another fun, colorful way to use fruit: The fruit pizza. These bright, fun, healthy kebabs are all about the presentation. Served with cottage cheese or yogurt, you can assure yourself something as fresh and fun as you are, you adorable … [Read more...]
Cream of Jalapeno Soup
Pictured: Another favorite soup: Cream of Mushroom BaconFall is the perfect time to break out the pots, pans and crock pots. Still, with some summer left, a little spice kicks this hearty soup up a notch. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese for … [Read more...]
Broccoli Cheese Soup
On Wisconsin! You delicious state of being... with cheese As the chill of fall plucks at spinal chords across the nation, it's almost acceptable to suggest that it is time to release those crock pots from their nesting places and put them to work. … [Read more...]
Jicama Latkes
L'Chaim! … [Read more...]
Roasted Turkey
Pictured: Served with this terrific Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake, Roasted Turkey is the birdie belle of the ball. … [Read more...]
Gravy from Broth
Easy and flavorful. There can never be too many shoes--or gravy recipes for that matter. This recipe is the one of the easiest ways to make gravy, and is healthy, too! The use of organic chicken broth adds flavor without possible MSG … [Read more...]
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Pictured: A fun way to use leftover cranberry sauce: Cranberry Frappuccino. Countless Thanksgiving tables have witnessed the schlop of the nuclear tower, bright red cranberry gelled canned product annually. This amalgam of crimson deliciousness … [Read more...]
Quick Chocolate Syrup
Perfect with this bacon shake! Need a chocolate syrup or drizzle in a snap for your iced coffees, lates, or for chocolate milk? If the syrup sits at room temp, it may harden. If this happens, add a titch more water, reheat, stir, and pour. … [Read more...]
Savory Turkey Stuffing
It's the most wonderful time of the year--for a low-carber. Thanksgiving, with its promises of tender turkeys, gracious gravies and varied vegetables, is a wild wonderland of flavor and fun for anyone watching their girthing while celebrating our … [Read more...]


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The DCFS's annual toy drive will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Russellville K-Mart. All donations stay local to support Pope County foster kids and families in need. Anyone interested in making a donation or wanting to sponsor a child but cannot make it to Kmart may call Kelly Braton at (479) 968-5596 ext 160.
Retired Teachers to meet Thursday
The Pope County Retried Teachers will meet at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Wildflower, 240 S. Inglewood Ave., Russellville for refreshments. The business session will begin at 10. Steve Singleton, executive director of ARTA, will present the program. All retired educators are invited to attend.
Local business to host Senior Holiday Tree
Hair Tech Studios located at 211 N. Detroit Ave. in Russellville welcomes everyone to participate in their annual Senior Holiday Tree. They will provide for Legacy Heights, Stella Manor, Atkins Nursing and Russellville Nursing Center. Those interested in adopting a senior may stop by Hair Tech Studios during business hours. For more information, call 968-2240.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Apache Cayenne is a persistence framework that provides object-relational mapping (ORM) and remoting services. It has a wealth of unique and powerful features and can address a wide range of persistence needs. Cayenne seamlessly binds one or more database schemas directly to Java objects, managing atomic commit and rollbacks, SQL generation, joins, sequences, and more. With Cayenne's Remote Object Persistence, those Java objects can even be persisted out to clients via Web Services. With native XML serialization, objects can be even further persisted to non-Java clients.
fastutil extends the Java Collections Framework by providing type-specific maps, sets, lists, and queues for Java with a small memory footprint and fast access and insertion. It also provides big (64-bit) arrays, sets and lists, and fast, practical I/O classes for binary and text files.
OpenEJB is a simple, lightweight Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) container and server. You can embed OpenEJB in your own applications, or in a Web application server like Tomcat, or run it as a standalone EJB server. It supports EJB 3.0, 2.1, 2.0, and 1.1, and has partial support for EJB 3.1.
Apollo is an open-source developer test skeleton toolkit for Java Web Start/JNLP. It lets you turbo-charge Web Start apps without Web Start to speed up your compile/run/test/debug/goof-off cycle, avoiding the hassle of stuffing, signing, uploading, or downloading your jars every time you rearrange a comma in your source code.
XELand generates night landscapes as stereo pairs for cross-eye viewing. Currently it uses two map generation methods (plus some variations). Generated height maps are seamless and can be saved as PNG images. The program requires only JDK 1.5 or above, and is very easy to use. To take full advantage of XEland you should learn cross-eye viewing.
DOM Tooltip allows developers to add customized tooltips to Web pages. The tooltips are controlled through style class definitions and respond to events such as "mouseover", and avoids possible collisions with form elements such as select boxes and screen edges. While originally designed to create context tooltips, it is also possible to create a wide variety of dynamic layers, such as embedded windows, context menus, and hidden blocks. Additional features include sticky tips, tooltip fading, lifetime, relative positioning, class assignments, width adjustments, mouse dragging, captions, directionality, offset adjustments, adjustable activate/deactivate delay times, snapping to grid, fate adjustment (hide or destroy), and references to created tips. It supports Mozilla/Netscape6+, IE 5.5+, IE on Mac, Safari, Konqueror, and Opera 7.
Salsa is a collection of Swing add-ons. It includes new widgets such as auto-complete textboxes or tree tables, new data models such as XML tree models, UI tree models, or Java Bean table models, new common dialogs such as a font chooser, new convenience methods such as center frame on screen, and much more.
Cypress is an open-source Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) parser that lets you add well-documented, standardized name/value pairs (a.k.a. CSS style properties) to your own XML markup languages. It supports inline styles so you can add style properties to individual XML tags using the style attribute or external style sheets so that you can store style rules for reuse in separate, XML-free text documents. Cypress supports three forms of selectors to match your XML tags and style rules, that is, element selectors, class selectors, and id selectors.
A Webmail system based on IMAP.
A PHP class to authorize and access APIs using OAuth 1.0, 1.0a, and OAuth 2.0.


text: The Secret of Peppermint Herbal Tea Elena Popec (0) As more Americans become interested in a more natural and holistic lifestyle, many are turning to herbal tea remedies instead of pharmaceutical options for treating minor ailments. With its aromatic and health properties, as well as a pleasing flavor, peppermint is a popular and readily available herb. One of the most common preparations is peppermint tea, although peppermint tea isn't a true tea. This herbaceous plant is completely separate from camellia sinensis, the plant that produces all varieties of true tea. The more accurate name for peppermint tea would be peppermint infusion, or peppermint tisane. A peppermint infusion is made by steeping the dried leaves of the peppermint plant in boiling water. The essential oils in peppermint leaves provide a wealth of health benefits; for the strongest concentration of these oils in your peppermint infusion, cover the cup while it steeps. A cover traps more of the essential oils in the cup, creating a healthier and tastier infusion. These essential oils are packed with compounds that have a relaxing effect on the digestive system; the peppermint tisane is effective in, and perhaps best known for, its ability to calm an upset stomach. Regular consumption of peppermint tisane has been shown to reduce the symptoms of certain chronic digestive conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome. The analgesic properties of peppermint aid the associated discomfort, while the relaxing effect is calming and soothing. Peppermint also has some anesthetic properties that may be effective against a number of other conditions and disorders.Menthol, a main component of peppermint, is a powerful compound with multiple benefits. Its strong and refreshing aroma has an invigorating and energizing effect; it can help to increase mental alertness and fight fatigue. The physiological impact of menthol can bring welcome relief from the symptoms of allergies and the common cold. The menthol in peppermint thins mucus; the steam from a hot peppermint tisane can be inhaled to clear the nasal passages, and ingested to break up congestion in the throat. It also acts as an expectorant, and can soothe the pain of a sore throat. In fact, frequent consumption of peppermint infusions may be more effective at easing the suffering of a cold or allergies than pharmaceutical remedies. It's also safer, gentler, and presents with far fewer side effects.A peppermint tisane is also a great source of antioxidants, which can keep you healthy. It's hot and comforting in cold weather, and can be served over ice for a refreshing summer drink. If the flavor and aroma of a pure peppermint infusion is too strong for you, there are plenty of options out there. Peppermint is nicely complemented by a variety of other herbal flavors; berries, vanilla, cacao, and earthy herbs like jasmine taste great when blended with peppermint. It's easy to find a blend from the many brands on the market, or to create your own favorite combination with loose dried herbals. Treat yourself to great flavor, energizing aroma, and countless health benefits with a refreshing and invigorating peppermint tisane. facebook twitter google+ email


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|Two Gazelle Engines for Sale
|Written by Administrator
|Monday, 27 October 2008
Cole Glasson's 2 Gazelle 60cc engines are for sale. They finished in the top 3 in both SWRC and KART Regionals in points this year, had wins in both series, placed on Podium at Tag World Finals and won the Kart National Championship. I am asking $1,800 each OBO.
They include full engine package, electronics, mounts, air boxes, electrical, pipes, carb kits etc.
Call DJ Ortiz at 214.215.7704 for more information.


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View the stars at Carleton's Goodsell Observatory on Friday, June 5 if clear
Submitted by joel weisberg on Wed, 12/25/2013 - 10:04am
Jun 5 2015 10:00 pm
Jun 5 2015 11:59 pm
Location:Goodsell Observatory
Carleton College's Department of Physics and Astronomy welcomes the public to a Goodsell Observatory open house on Friday, June 5, from 10 pm to midnight, if it is clear.
The open house will be cancelled if it is cloudy.
Open houses are held the first Friday of each month, with the schedule posted on the web at go.carleton.edu/observatory.
The next open house after that one will be July 3 at 10:00 PM.
Cindy Blaha and Joel Weisberg are Professors of Physics and Astronomy at Carleton College.


text:
Arsenal end trophy drought with FA Cup win
Arsenal ended its nine-year trophy drought on Saturday, coming from two goals...
San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) – Ryan Vogelsong pitched eight shutout
innings to help the San Francisco Giants take a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh
Pirates to wrap up a three-game series.
Vogelsong (3-4) gave up just two hits and a walk with five strikeouts, while
Sandy Rosario left a man on second in the ninth to complete the shutout for
the Giants, who took the final two games of this set after dropping five of
Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run triple while Buster Posey and Joaquin Arias each
drove in a run in the win.
A.J. Burnett (6-9) gave up four runs on eight hits in 7 1/3 innings for the
Pirates, who stayed a game ahead of St. Louis for first place in the NL
Central as the Cardinals lost to the Braves on Sunday.


text: Played our clubs end of summer season mens doubles tournament this week. Just one set with tiebreaker at 6 all, so it could be run off on a couple nights per week over 3 weeks. Just a club tournament with not even a trophy on the line. I was serving at 5-4, 40-30 match point. My first serve appeared to catch the center service line, and the receiver approached the net to shake hands. His partner after what must have been a 10 second delay, calls 'out'! The receiver who was now at the net says 'I thought it was good', but then goes silent, while his partner, who was more than twice his age firmly insisted 'out'. The receiver offered first service to replay the point, but his partner said no....I could have put my second serve in play much quicker had I not protested the call. I served a second, we went on to loose that game. We eventually went to a tiebreaker, which we won 7-4, so justice prevailed. Was I entitled to a first service to replay the contested point? The delay between first and second service was largely my doing as I was protesting a vey late and questionable 'out' call on match point. But even if I had taken an immediate second service, the delayed call still would have prevented play being 'reasonably continuous' However, my opponent was correct in asserting I was responsible for the delay of about 2 minutes between first and second serve. What's the call....should the point have been replayed?


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text: Looking at one of these to replace my Arai Profile which I really like, but is 6 years old. Any one have one , and does it fit like like the old Profile or Signet? I've had a coulple Shoies but always ended up with a sore forhead. Is Arai the only folks that make long oval helmet?


text:
No longer on the map: discovering places that never were
Viking Press, Aug 15, 1972 - Body, Mind & Spirit - 276 pages
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The Lighter Side of Thanksgiving: Dishes Inspired by MyPlate
Knowing how to properly use your knives can save a significant amount of preparation time, improve the presentation of your food, and reduce waste. Good knives do cost a lot, but they are are worth the investment.
Here we offer the basics to help you create a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.
Recipe Pictured: Roast Turkey with Chestnut-Apple Stuffing
This all-purpose knife is also the most commonly used. It is ideal for slicing, chopping, dicing, and mincing. With its broad blade, symmetrical sides, and pointed tip it is your best bet for large chopping jobs. The shape of the blade allows for quicker, more efficient movement and a less tired hand. Use a rocking motion that follows the shape of the blade for easy, effective cuts.
This Thanksgiving use your chef's knife to chop vegetables for soups, stuffings, salads, and these great recipes:
Butternut Squash Soup with Sage
Chestnut-Sausage Stuffing
Kale and Apple Salad with Pancetta and Candied Pecans
Thanksgivukkah! Recipes for the Hybrid Holiday


text:
All User Comments for: Literature: Challenges,Opportunities & Strategies for Rural LHDs Seeking Accreditation
Results 1 - 2 of 2 records. Page 1
|Title ▲
|Submitted By ▶
|Comments ▶
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|Accreditation and Quality Improvement
|William Pilkington
|An excellent tool for rural health departments seeking accreditation.
|Rural Accreditation
|Alan Kalos
|This study presents a well organized presentation of the advantages and difficulties that rural local health departments will need to consider in making a decision to seek voluntary accreditation. The small focus group approach captures an indepth analysis of the issues. However, I expect most rural public health officers are well aware of the challenges presented in this paper.
Results 1 - 2 of 2 records. Page 1


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Votto ties Reds walk records for game, season
By Jeremy Warnemuende / MLB.com
CINCINNATI -- Despite playing all 10 innings of Monday's 3-2 win over the Mets, Joey Votto didn't register a single at-bat.
That's because the Reds' first baseman tied a club record with five walks -- one of which was intentional -- even managing to drive in a run along the way. Monday marked just the third time a Reds player recorded five walks in a single game, and the first time since Johnny Bench did it on July 22, 1979, against the Cubs.
Votto has been a master of getting on base all season, reaching safely 310 times, which is tied for the second most in club history. And with five games to play, he'll almost certainly break the record of 311 set by Pete Rose in 1969.
Before it's all said and done, Votto will likely take sole possession of at least one more franchise record this year, as he's now tied with Joe Morgan for the most walks in a single season with 132. That mark leads the Majors by a wide margin, with teammate Shin-Soo Choo currently in second with 109 free passes.
Choo returns in a big way to help Reds clinch
CINCINNATI -- The sore left thumb that kept Reds center fielder Shin-Soo Choo out of action for two straight games appeared just fine on Monday against the Mets.
The Cincinnati leadoff hitter went 3-for-6 on the night, and none of his hits were bigger than his walk-off single in the 10th inning that gave the Reds a 3-2 win and a spot in the postseason. Facing left-hander Sean Henn, Choo took a 1-0 slider and nearly put it in the seats in left field for the game-winning hit, capping his return in a big way.
"We had a lot of opportunity tonight," Choo said. "A left-handed pitcher on the mound, I just had a little different approach than the right-hander. I followed my approach and that's why something good happened."
For Choo, it was difficult to sit on the bench watching on Saturday and Sunday against the Pirates, and he was excited to be back in action on Monday.
"Especially in this situation, last three games playing one of the best teams in the National League [in the Pirates]," Choo said. "I can't help the team sitting in the dugout."
Choo injured his thumb sliding into first in the ninth inning of Friday night's dramatic 6-5 win over the Pirates. He was available to pinch-hit on Sunday but didn't play. Before making his return on Monday, Choo said the thumb felt fine, and he didn't expect it to be an issue going forward.
"[I'm] not like 100 percent," Choo said. "But already in the last two days I was hitting in the cage and tried throwing the ball in the cage. There were no problems, so why not [play]?"
In 149 games this season, Choo is now batting .285 with a .423 on-base percentage and 54 RBIs. His 109 walks lead all Major League leadoff hitters, and his 21 home runs rank second behind only Oakland's Coco Crisp (22).
Cingrani's back feels good after bullpen session
CINCINNATI -- Tony Cingrani took a major step forward in his recovery from lower back soreness on Monday, when he threw a 25-pitch bullpen session without pain or incident. Although that's good news for Cingrani and the club, the Reds are still left with more questions than answers regarding the next step for the 24-year-old left-hander.
Pitching coach Bryan Price said Cingrani will play catch on Tuesday and see how his back feels. Beyond that, the plan is much more uncertain. Price said Cingrani will either throw a longer bullpen session, toss a simulated game or pitch in relief in one of the final six games of the regular season at Great American Ball Park this week. He could also go to Cincinnati's Spring Training facility in Goodyear, Ariz., to pitch in the instructional league.
Because the Reds don't want to use Cingrani in a high-stakes situation without knowing if he's fully ready to go, Price said it's difficult to promise an opportunity for him in an actual Major League game.
"Those other things, we're going to have to look at those options," Price said. "Does a simulated game tell us enough? Does pitching in Goodyear for a game or two tell us anything? And then what role does he fill for us? We've got a lot of questions, about the same questions you do."
What Price and the Reds do know is that Cingrani, who has gone 7-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 18 starts during his rookie season, did well in Monday's bullpen session.
"He was around the plate with good effort," Price said. "He wasn't favoring anything, there was no discomfort, so we're real happy with how it went. Now we're just looking for the consistency -- day in, day out pain-free type of environment for Tony."
Cingrani's back first became an issue when he left an Aug. 20 start after just 3 2/3 innings. He missed two turns in the rotation and came back on Sept. 5. On Sept. 10, he made it just 1 2/3 innings before his back acted up again, and he hasn't pitched in a game since.
Prior to Monday, Cingrani had done most of his work off flat ground, as head trainer Paul Lessard said Friday that there was still tenderness when he tried throwing off a mound. Price said it never felt like Cingrani returned to square one in his rehab, though, and the Reds want to make sure that doesn't happen.
Although Price and manager Dusty Baker would love to have Cingrani back as soon as possible, they won't push him, even with the playoffs quickly approaching.
"Tony has had a terrific season for us," Price said. "I think we feel now with [starter Johnny Cueto] and [reliever Sean Marshall] coming back and a bunch of other guys throwing the ball well, I don't think we feel as naked as we may have if Johnny wasn't currently healthy. That being said, having another guy that could potentially start and really have some success late in the season or in the postseason would definitely make us feel a little better."
Worth noting
• Reds pitchers set a franchise record on Sunday when they reached 1,249 strikeouts for the season, surpassing the mark set last season (1,248). Six Cincinnati pitchers have recorded 100 or more punchouts this season, marking the first time any team in Major League history has accomplished that feat in back-to-back years.
"I love the strikeout, but it does take more pitches out of you," Baker said. "The pitches per inning tend to be higher when you're striking out people, but I'll take it."
• Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips is excited for the postseason.
"I've been very proud of the team," Phillips said. "I didn't really think we would get where we are right now, to be honest with you, with the injuries we've been having. [Left fielder Ryan Ludwick] being out, [Cueto] being out, [Marshall], [reliever Jonathan Broxton], all those guys. I'm very proud of the way we've been playing, but no excuses now. We have a job to do."
Jeremy Warnemuende 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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Missoula climbers safe after accident on Mount Rainier
MISSOULA, Mont. - Three Missoula climbers are safe after falling hundreds of feet down an ice cliff on Mount Rainier.
NBC Montana talked with one climber, 23-year-old Tim Smith who is in a Missoula area Hospital. Smith told us he, his brother Cory and a third climber, Sydney Seyfert, are lucky to be alive.
The three were working their way up the summit on May 17 when Cory and Seyfert tumbled off the cliff, followed by an avalanche.
A helicopter and park rangers assisted in a rescue May 19.
The following is a press release from Mount Rainier Park officials:
On the afternoon of Saturday, May 18, a party of three climbers was ascending Liberty Ridge near the Mount Rainier summit when a small avalanche swept away the lead climber and fall protection failed.
Self-arrest efforts by the group's third member halted the descent of the entire group.
Despite the lead climber's sustaining an angulated left lower leg fracture, the three climbers were able to reach the top of Liberty Cap.
On the morning of May 19, they contacted a climbing guide-led party on the summit. Members of that group reported the incident to park dispatch via radio, assisted two of the injured climbers down to Camp Muir, and remained on-site at Liberty Cap with the climber suffering the leg fracture.
He was extricated via an aviation-based rescue involving park mountaineering rangers and a Chinook helicopter from the U.S. Army Reserve 214th General Services Aviation Battalion and then air transported to Madigan Military Hospital at Joint Base Lewis McChord.
A simultaneous ground-based rescue of the two other members of the party was also necessary. This portion of the operation involved four Mount Rainier rangers sledding one of the patients with significant frostbite injuries down from Camp Muir to the Paradise parking area in an Ajkia litter. This patient was then transported by National Park Service ambulance from Paradise, transferred outside the park to a mutual aid Pierce County ambulance, and ultimately taken to Harbor View Hospital in Seattle.
The third member of the party, who had only minor exposure-related complaints, was ambulatory and successfully walked out with the ground litter team and ultimately was released against medical advice.
The incident was managed under a Type 4 ICS structure.


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Counselors today are working with increasingly diverse populations that have diverse sets of needs. Honing a solid set of essential skills makes for an effective, successful mental health practitioner.
1. Genuine Interest in Others
This one isn't technically a skill—but it is an essential component of a counseling career.
When you wake up in the morning, do you have the drive and energy to sit with people through their best and worst? Can you be fully present for your clients' stories, however difficult or long? Will you still be ten years down the road?
A sustained commitment to facilitating positive transformation and human-to-human connection is key to a successful and fulfilling career in mental health.
2. Self-Reflection
An effective therapist knows that it's just as important to look within themselves as it is to carefully observe others.
The idea of "Self as Instrument" is central to a successful education and career in mental health. A counseling student is taught to feel well, think well, and act well. By feeling well, a therapist can relate well and empathize with clients.
Thinking well means to think critically, to conceptualize the client in theoretical terms, and to demonstrate good academic skills. To act well means to conduct oneself in the service of the client, community, and the professional field.
Through the use of Self as Instrument, counselors are able to better relate to clients and facilitate positive change.
Learn more about our undergraduate and graduate Counseling and Psychology programs.
3. Ability to Listen – On Multiple Levels
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but effective listening as a counselor is a nuanced skill.
A counselor needs not only to listen to what is being said, but how it's said, why it's being said, and what it means in the context of that particular client. Think content, delivery, and context.
A counselor also needs to be able to listen "between the lines," so to speak, for those things that aren't being said. What a client omits from a session can speak just as clearly as what is communicated out loud.
Perhaps most importantly, a counselor should know how to listen without judgment or evaluation. Clients are going to come to you with difficult and complicated issues, and they'll need to feel as though they have the space to say everything they feel they need to, without fear of shame or feeling as though their counselor has jumped to a conclusion.
As a counselor, cultivating a non-reactive stance and learning the difference between observation and evaluation will help in making accurate assessments, and developing a relational connection with the client.
4. Accessibility & Authenticity
A counselor must be accessible to clients in order to gain their trust, but perhaps more importantly, a counselor needs to be genuine and empathetic—in his or her communication, listening, and professional persona.
Developing an empathetic connection with each client is key to moving forward in the therapeutic process, and is the core of an effective counselor-client relationship.
5. Flexibility
A good counselor has flexibility in world views and a strong understanding of multicultural issues in clinical practice.
Each client is going to be different in his or her background, experience, and engagement in the therapeutic relationship, so to be able to transition from one perspective to another based on each client is a skill that should be developed early on.
However, recognizing when a counselor and client may not be a good fit with each other is another important facet of flexibility. Being able to communicate when things aren't working, and then offering to refer the client to another professional who may be able to better aid them is one hallmark of a good counselor.
A good counselor cannot—and should not—be all things to all clients.
6. Sense of Humor
Counselors sit through some uncomfortable, difficult, and often traumatic stories. That said, it's alright for both counselors and clients to laugh along the way.
Timing is, of course, everything when it comes to this type of thing, but knowing how to form a relational connection with someone to the point of developing a shared sense of humor is a skill that shouldn't be overlooked.
Humor and a nuanced understanding of its uses in the therapeutic environment is a valuable tool.


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Players endorse Weiner as new director
Vote ensures smooth succession from retiring Fehr
Players have overwhelming approved the appointment of Michael Weiner to become the Major League Baseball Players Association's new executive director.
Players on each club held votes in clubhouse meetings across both leagues in recent weeks and voted 1,055-4 to endorse the Executive Board's recommendation of Weiner, which was announced on July 7, in conjunction with Don Fehr's decision to retire from the post he has held for 25 years.
"I congratulate Michael on securing this extraordinary vote of confidence," Fehr said in a prepared statement that was distributed to players on Friday.
The Executive Board plans a formal vote to finalize the succession in union leadership during its annual board meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 3 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Prior to the voting, Weiner met with players from each club -- as well as managers, coaches and trainers who are covered by some aspects of the Basic Agreement -- to explain his vision, outline the MLBPA's current opportunities and challenges and respond to questions.
Weiner, 47, joined the MLBPA is 1988 as counsel and was named general counsel in 2004. He has participated in virtually every negotiating session with the clubs in the last several rounds of bargaining. For more than 10 years, he has held primary responsibility for the administration of the Basic Agreement.
Nolasco just misses tying Seaver's mark: Ricky Nolasco established a regular-season franchise record for the Marlins when he struck out 16 batters on Wednesday in a 5-4 win over the Braves. Nolasco fanned nine consecutive batters at one point, falling one short of Hall-of-Famer Tom Seaver's Major League record of 10 straight.
"I don't know how to explain that," Nolasco told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "I haven't had that feeling since high school, where you pretty much have a good idea what's going to happen. I would never think I'd strike out this many hitters against this lineup."
Carpenter's bat second only to his arm: In his final tune-up for the postseason, Chris Carpenter allowed no runs on just three hits in five innings against the Reds, lowering his National League-best ERA to 2.24 and improving his record to 17-4 on the year.
But it was his performance at the plate, though, that got him most of the attention. Carpenter not only hit his first career home run -- a grand slam, no less -- but he also had a two-run double, setting a franchise record for RBIs by a pitcher in a game with six.
"I said to a few of the guys, this isn't what I was thinking about or what I scripted when I woke up this morning to take a shower," Carpenter told MLB.com. "It was definitely a fun day. I hadn't done that before or been a part of something like that. So it was definitely one of the funnest days that I've had."
Weaver honored with inaugural Adenhart award: The Angels have made Jered Weaver the first recipient of an award that will be given annually to the club's top pitcher in the name of former pitcher Nick Adenhart, who died tragically in an automobile accident this spring.
"As close as we were, and that we were going to be roommates this year, I think that he kind of helped me out, looking down on me," Weaver told the Los Angeles Times.
Martinez provides late flourish: Pedro Martinez has a 5-1 record and a 3.63 ERA over nine solid starts since signing with the Phillies.
"It's exactly what I wanted to see when I came back to the big leagues," Martinez told MLB.com. "This is my reward for all that I've been through over the last three years."
Maxwell chalks up memorable home finale: Justin Maxwell made sure the Nationals ended their 2009 home season on a high note. The rookie outfielder connected for a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Washington to a 7-4 win over the Mets on Wednesday night.
"I think a walk-off is like the best thing in sports, personally," Maxwell told the Washington Post. "One at-bat, one memory, one win -- so many emotions going through you. It was surreal, it was awesome."
Votto's doubles land him in record book: Joey Votto set a Reds record with 16 doubles in a calendar month -- September, specifically -- breaking the record that was previously held by Harry Heilmann, set in July 1930.
"To be honest with you, that's something I'm pretty proud of," Votto told MLB.com. "I try to be more of a line-drive hitter, and you can't get much better than hitting doubles."
Prado plays key role in surge: Since June 30, Martin Prado has hit .314 with 40 RBIs and 48 runs scored in 73 games for the Braves to help fuel their late-season charge.
"He's always been highly thought of; he's just never had the opportunity to get in there every single day," manager Bobby Cox told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He's been a catalyst for us."
"I'm not surprised at all," hitting coach Terry Pendleton said. "Seriously, not at all. I always knew he could hit. I think he can get better and will get better. He's a pretty darn good offensive player."
Ramirez giving the fans what they want: A sense of professionalism trumped a sore shoulder for Aramis Ramirez, who decided to stay in the lineup even though the Cubs have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
"Everybody else is playing, so why not?" Ramirez told MLB.com. "I'm not going to make it worse, so I'll go out there and play tonight."
Ojeda has high hopes of returning to Arizona: Augie Ojeda understands he has little control over whether he returns to Arizona in 2010.
"It's in the Diamondbacks' hands," he told the Arizona Republic. "I would like to come back here. The fans have been tremendous. My teammates have been great. We have a good bunch of core players. I'd like to be part of it.
"I don't know what's going to happen. If I come back, I'll be excited. If I don't, I had a blast."
Carmona wants to build off strong finish: Fausto Carmona, a 19-game winner just two seasons ago, feels better about how things went late in the year.
"I feel I can be the same guy who pitched in 2007," Carmona told MLB.com. "Believe it or not, I'm trying to be that guy every time out. Things haven't worked out, but I feel I can be that guy. ... I can't say I had a good season, but I'll learn from the experiences, good and bad. I finished strong, and I'm looking forward to next year."
Crawford ready to call Tampa Bay home: Carl Crawford, who has a club option for next season, is open to discussions on a long-term deal with the Rays.
"I'd be open to whatever they're open to," Crawford told the Tampa Tribune. "They know that; it's not a secret. I just really hope something happens."
Dempster prepared to battle until the end: Ryan Dempster would rather be playing for a spot in the postseason but isn't going to let the Cubs' disappointing season keep him from playing his best down the stretch.
"Just because you're out of it, it doesn't mean you give up," Dempster told MLB.com. "Like we've kind of all said since things kind of turned for the worse, we're still playing with a lot of pride, and we go out there and compete, no matter what the situation is all the way until the last day of the year. I think that's real important. I think it's important for our fans to see how much we want to compete and do well and go forward into next year."
Morrow now has offseason viewing material: Brandon Morrow tossed eight shutout innings on Wednesday night to lead Seattle to a 7-0 win over the Oakland A's. The victory guaranteed the Mariners a winning record this year, and the team became just the 13th squad in Major League history to follow up a 100-loss season with a winning season.
"I'm going to get that game on DVD and watch it about 20 times," Morrow told the Seattle Times. "It's a great way to finish after what I thought was a rough year, especially the first half."
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Friday, Feb. 26, Portola Valley, Calif. -- The "Warriors" -- 3rd and 4th grade boys from Portola Valley, Atherton, Redwood City, San Carlos, Milbrae and Menlo Park -- recently concluded their regular basketball season at 8-0, culminating as champions of the Redwood City Boys Division 3 National Junior Basketball League.
They beat 11 other teams in the Redwood City league. Even more impressive is their post-season play-offs record, 5-0, and last Sunday, February 18, defeating a San Jose team by more than 20 points for the Silicon Valley "North" championship. They compete March 3 or 4 against the champion of the "South" division.
The undefeated Warriors finished as the No. 1 Division 3 team out of 40 North Silicon Valley division teams, including teams from Palo Alto, Los Altos and Mountain View. The North and South Silicon Valley divisions combined total approximately 80 teams, averaging 10 kids per team, about 800 boys. There are only three teams out of the almost 80 Silicon Valley teams that were undefeated in Boys Division 3.
Head Coach Jeff Tripaldi said: "In my 5 years coaching competitive youth basketball, I have yet to coach a group of boys that have come together as a team like the Warriors have. What separates them from the pack is that they respect each other and their coaches, and play smart, team basketball. Every kid contributes in some way . . . we don't have any weak links. It has been a joy to coach these young kids. They are smart, respectful and very hard working."
Coaches Jeff Tripaldi of Atherton and Derek Hobbs of San Carlos have a combined youth basketball coaching experience of 10 years.
CAPTION for photo: Redwood NJB Warriors Division 3 Champions. Back row: Coaches Jeff Tripaldi and Derek Hobbs. Middle row, left to right: Charlie Roth, Daniel Hill, Christian Ruano, Carson DeMiroz, Matt Odell. Front row, left to right: Nicholas Seidl, Michael Child, John Hobbs, Matt Tripaldi, Kory Matsuno


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OCEAN CITY – The City Council reluctantly took measures to ensure that the Ocean City Fire Department could take their "next step" in yet another split 4-3 vote Tuesday.
Chief Chris Larmore and City Engineer Terry McGean brought back the idea of using $54,000 in bond money to design an expansion of the uptown Station 4 firehouse, commonly known as the "Montego Bay" firestation, which would enable the department to provide "live-in" quarters for its volunteer and career firemen.
The idea was temporarily shelved in November, but Larmore urged the council to reassess the need for at least the first part of the process.
"The north end of Ocean City as we all know has grown significantly in the last 30 years, but the fire houses have not," said Larmore. "There hasn't been a major expansion or renovation of any fire house north of 15th Street for over 30 years. As the needs have changed on the north end of town, so has the need for staffing and equipment."
According to Larmore, "live-in programs" have been successful in the past and have thrived recently in Bethany Beach for both retention and recruitment of personnel. He said currently the department is "busting at the seams" in terms of livable space for the firemen.
"This is a priority for us so we can take the next step in our department. The concept that Terry [McGean] is presenting is so we can have this ready for when funding becomes available," said Larmore.
The concept, as Larmore said, was simply to ask the City Council to use bonded money to pay for the first two phases of design for the expansion, which would provide a "good cost estimate and good drawings", according to McGean, whose main selling point was that no money would come out of the general fund.
"There is 12,000 in previous bond money sitting there from a prior study that we did, and I am well under budget for the Northside Park concession stand project," said McGean, "so I'm asking council to allow me to contract Design Atlantic (based in Salisbury) for phase one and two of the firehouse design for $54,000."
The expansion of the Montego Bay firehouse is approximated at $2 million, and the hope, according to McGean, is that the designs will be completed so that it is deemed "shovel ready" if and when the new administration in Washington follows through on a pledge to fund "shovel ready" projects.
"My feeling is that this is a high priority project and we'd like to have this ready if funding becomes available. The idea is to get ahead of the game, so we know what we are going to do when the time comes that we could do it," said McGean.
The council, on the other hand, was not as easily swayed on the subject, first letting a motion die that would have essentially rubberstamped the idea, and then arguing that the project should be sent out to bid to get another price other than the $54,000 from Design Atlantic.
"I have a problem with arbitrarily handing out this kind of money without going to bid, even though I do agree that the building is in need of renovation," said Doug Cymek.
Councilman Jim Hall agreed and hoped to get, at the very least, a second opinion.
"If anything ever screamed for a Request For Proposal [RFP], this is it. I don't see you building this structure for a few years, and who knows if these drawings will grow old or stale by then. We don't even really know what we want there yet, but it's not going to take a genius to figure out that building. I think we certainly have a month to wait on this and we might save a lot of money," he said.
Mayor Rick Meehan, on the other hand, thought that the issue of an RFP was a mute point as Design Atlantic had been hired by way of the RFP process in 2001.
"There was an RFP done and that should substantiate the arguments here. Design Atlantic has continued to work with us throughout this whole process. It should be who the right person is for the job and not just the cost," said Meehan.
Council President Joe Mitrecic noted that there would be essentially no chance the project would receive any money from the proposed stimulus package if it is not designed first, adding the price was well worth the cost.
"Fifty-four thousand dollars is light for this project, and I don't think we'd find anyone that would do this project for less. I support this, and it's the next step for public safety and the department," he said.
Meehan also spoke about how similar enhancements helped the Bethany Beach fire department.
"When Bethany Beach supplied these amenities and remodeled their fire station, it was a real boost for their volunteer organization and helped grow the department, said Meehan. "The majority of our calls do take place in the north end of town, and many of our volunteers travel long distances, so anything we can do to place more firefighters in that area is providing additional safety for our residents, our properties, and our visitors, is the right thing to do. It's time to move forward with this, as it's the next logical step."


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'Saturday Night Live' Sends Up Hurricane Sandy
Last night's "Saturday Night Live" looked for laughs in an unlikely place–the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Too soon? Not for "SNL," which offered up skits about Mitt Romney's statements about FEMA, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg holding a hurricane press conference (along with his meme-making sign-language interpreter and a hilarious Chris Christie), and "Fox and Friends" airing a show about the storm. Last night's program featured comic Louis C.K. as host, and Fun as musical guest. We have also officially fallen for the brilliant "Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party." Watch the best clips from the show after jump.


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Office 2003 has been around for nearly four years and
Microsoft feels that it's time to send the old mare off to the glue factory.
According to Microsoft, OEM versions of Office 2003 will no longer be available
from Microsoft after June 30.
For those that still wish to use Office 2003, Eric Ligman --
Microsoft US Senior Manager for Small Business Community Engagement -- offers
this bit of advice: "Remember that for your clients wishing to run Office
2003 still today, by taking advantage of the downgrade rights included in the
Volume Licensing versions of Microsoft Office 2007, they can utilize Office
2003 today and then move to Office 2007 when they are ready without having to
re-buy their Office license like they would with OEM. Remember that OEM Microsoft Office does not
have downgrade rights."
Microsoft is now encouraging its OEMs to make the transition
to Office 2007. Microsoft released Office 2007 for volume licensing on November 30 and made
retail versions of the productivity suite available to customers on January 30.
for retail copies of Office 2007 range from $149 for Office Home and
Student 2007 to $499 for Office Professional 2007.


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The beds are super comfortable! The staff were friendly and helpful. The rooms were average on cleanliness. The shower leaked and was frustrating. Hotel needs basic upgrades, but experience was decent!
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- NEW! Flat-panel TVs with 30 channels of HD programming. Easy-access Plug-and-Play feature makes it simple to connect electronics.Located across the street from Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre and Expo Park (home of the Florida State Fair), the La Quinta Inn & Suites Tampa Fairgrounds-Casino is the place to stay for fun in the sun. Our convenient location is perfect when visiting such area attractions as Busch Gardens, the Flo...see morerida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, and the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). We are only one mile from Hard Rock Seminole Casino and Walt Disney World is just over an hour. Enjoy many great area restaurants, and shopping at nearby Westfield Mall. Attending events at Raymond James Stadium and St. Pete Forum? Book your room here! For spacious, comfortable interior corridor rooms, stay at the La Quinta Inn & Suites Tampa Fairgrounds-Casino, where amenities include free high-speed Internet access, a hair dryer, coffee maker, iron /board, free local calls, and more. We have a guest laundry facility plus fax/copy services available at the front desk. Enjoy a tasty Free Bright Side BreakfastTM along with a USA Today in the lobby each morning. The hotel also offers a sparkling outdoor pool for your enjoyment. Businesses such as Roadmaster, and the University of South Florida and Tampa College are only 10 miles. We are eight miles north of downtown with easy access to I-4. Express checkout available ... more less
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- Also Known As:
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- Tampa La Quinta
- La Quinta Tampa


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We all know that the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers are going to battle for Super Bowl supremacy on Sunday night, but advertisers have already been battling for "likes" and YouTube views for weeks now. Here's a rundown of (almost) all of the automotive ads you'll see during the big game:
Audi's "Prom" video–which features a quiet high schooler who gets a boost of confidence from his dad's S6–was a hit with YouTube viewers: it's already at 4.4 million views in eight days. And why wouldn't people love this ad? It's a David and Goliath story with a likable protagonist and a 420-horse, all-wheel drive Audi playing sidekick.
Nobody really knows where BMW is headed with its Super Bowl ad. All we know so far is that the ad will feature two 6 Series cars, one with xDrive all-wheel drive. And we gleaned that much info from BMW's 23-second teaser posted earlier today.
How Hyundai isn't broke after buying this much Super Bowl ad time is beyond us–the automaker will talk to us during the big game for a total of three minutes at a cost somewhere north of $20 million. That $20 million bought Hyundai the chance to shill the Sonata Turbo by reminding us all the terrible things we could be stuck driving behind, some time to hawk the Genesis R-Spec with help from Gus Johnson, and three chances to show us the new Santa Fe. That includes "Don't Tell," which shows all the mischevious things your parents can do with one; "Team," which shows how the Santa Fe can help good triumph over evil; and "Epic PlayDate," which imagines what the best day ever would look like…if that day included a Hyundai Santa Fe and The Flaming Lips.
Kia has two ads, and both of them are a little bit perplexing. The first one features an auto show-goer doing what most show-goers do–getting the car dirty–and then being punished by a female robot booth professional. Kia calls them "Hotbots," although you might prefer to call them "fembots," after the Austin Powers characters. The second ad is "Babylandia," the ad where a dad driving a 2014 Sorento describes where babies come from using fantastical imagery and lots (LOTS) of innuendo. To be honest Kia lost us at the phrase "penetrate the atmosphere."
Lincoln's 60 seconds of advertising time will be split into two very different spots. The first is the long-awaited "Steer the Script" commercial, with a story line culled from thousands of tweets by Jimmy Fallon fans. The second is a more typical Lincoln ad, with plenty of talk about how the brand values individuality and creativity…and a shot of a '90s Town Car on fire.
Mercedes-Benz has only one ad, and it's quickly become one of our favorites. It's a simple premise: a man watches some workers putting up a billboard for the 2014 CLA, and then turns back to find the devil (played by Willem Dafoe) offering him the car, fame, and fortune, all for signing over the rights to his soul. Fame and fortune, by the way, are played by Kate Upton and Usher.
Is it possible to make a bad advertisement that features Kaley Cuoco of "The Big Bang Theory" and the music of Skee-Lo? We hope not. Ms. Cuoco (rocking the purple-on-purple look) is the Toyota RAV4 wish genie, here to serve all sorts of strange requests. She will make you work for it, though.
Does anyone else remember the greatness that was "Cool Runnings?" You know, "feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme," so on and so forth? Well, take the Jamaican vibe from that movie, update it a few years, and replace all of the bobsleds with a Volkswagen Beetle Turbo. We see pride, we see power…we see some white guy in middle management doing his best Sanka impersonation. It's worth a smirk if nothing else.
As a bonus, Volkswagen released a video in which it brought all sorts of YouTube stars famous for being angry or sad on camera…and made them "get happy." Again…worth a smirk if nothing else.
What Else?
Chrysler is notable in that it's not on this list. The company that brought us the greatness of "Imported from Detroit" and "Halftime in America" is going for a hat-trick this year, but we haven't seen a single frame yet. Just like in years' past, Chrysler is keeping its cards very close to its chest. That, or the company is scrambling to finish the ad: its 2012 ad was reportedly planned, shot, and finalized in just three weeks.
As for General Motors, the company announced that it won't pay the roughly $3.8 million/30 seconds for an advertisement. Too bad: last year's Barry Manilow-swooning "2012" ad was pretty funny.
Bonus: Subaru Does the Puppy Bowl
We know that the Puppy Bowl is far cry from the actual Super Bowl, but we can't skip the opportunity to show dog videos. So enjoy some clips of dogs buying cars:


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Nats skipper Johnson big fan of club's bench
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
So far, this year's bench is a different story, with the likes of Chad Tracy, Xavier Nady and Mark DeRosa all contributing. Entering Saturday's action, pinch-hitters were hitting .231 [3-for-13] with a home run and four RBIs. One of those RBIs was a game-winner by Tracy against the Cubs last Saturday.
"It's not a secret that I love my bench this year compared to last year," Johnson said. "It kind of mimics the whole ballclub. The potential is there. It's just a matter of time. [Already], I think I had more production [from the bench] than in the three months I was here last year.
"Tracy got some good hits for us coming off the bench. [Friday] was a big hit. A lot of the guys, even [Stephen Lombardozzi], have gotten hits to help us win ballgames. Last year, groundout, ball four, hit batter. I think [this year's team] feels that we have some ammunition sitting on the bench. [If I make double switches], my offense won't miss a beat."
Asked why this year's bench is superior to last year's bench, Nady said, "We have some guys who have been around for a while. They have done everything. DeRosa has played the infield, outfield. Tracy has done everything himself. He has been to Japan. You play this game long enough, you experience a lot, you go through a lot.
"There are a lot of ups and downs. In all, you hope it makes you a better player down the road. You get thrown into situations like this, you feel like you are more prepared."
Nats infielders draw high praise from Johnson
WASHINGTON -- Nationals manager Davey Johnson made a bold statement on Saturday. He said the infield of Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Adam LaRoche is the best infield -- defensively -- he has ever been around, and Johnson has been around some great infields during his 50 years in professional baseball. It seems like the Nats' infield is making acrobatic plays on a regular basis.
In the early 1970s, Johnson was part of an infield that included Brooks Robinson, Mark Belanger and Boog Powell while with the Orioles. Johnson also managed a Mets team in 1986 that included Ray Knight, Rafael Santana, Wally Backman and Keith Hernandez. Those teams each won a World Series title.
"I never had an infield this talented. It's that simple," Johnson said about Nationals' infield. "I've had Hall of Famers at different positions, but as a group, I never had an infield that had four guys that could do the things that these guys could do, and that is saying a lot."
When asked about the infields that he was a part of as a player from 1961 to 1978, Johnson said, "In my playing days ... I've been around a lot of good infields. There is no question in my mind [about how the Nats' infield compares]. You can even throw in the whole package. It makes it more special when you include the offense and defensive capabilities."
Backup catcher Flores off to solid start for Nats
WASHINGTON -- Nationals catcher Jesus Flores had one of the best games of his career in a 4-1 victory over the Reds on Saturday.
Flores went 3-for-3, and is now 6-for-10 (.600) with two RBIs on the year. He also called a great game behind the plate, helping right-hander Edwin Jackson pitch his first complete game of the season.
"Flo and myself, we were able to get into the groove throughout the game. The Reds were aggressive and they were swinging," Jackson said.
Flores received a scare in the third inning. He was on third base when Ian Desmond hit a ground ball to Reds shortstop Zack Cozart, who threw the ball home and nailed Flores at the plate. After the play ended, Flores was in pain and stayed on a ground for a couple of minutes before returning to the dugout. It turned out that Flores' right knee collided with catcher Devin Mesoraco's knee.
"I went knee to knee. I hit the shin guard. It kind of hurt my right knee. I should have slid a different way, but it was too late when I did it," Flores said.
Flores said he is OK and will be available to play on Sunday against the Reds.
LaRoche likes what he sees in Nats' clubhouse
WASHINGTON -- The Nationals are 7-2 entering Sunday's action, and first baseman Adam LaRoche is already comparing this team to some of the Braves teams that went to the postseason while he was there. LaRoche played October baseball in 2005 and the following season.
Asked how the two clubs compared, LaRoche said, "Really good, but again, it's real early. It's tough to say, but more importantly, everybody in [the Nationals] locker room feel it's a good, special team. We keep that up, we are going to have a lot of wins.
"Again, the pitching has been phenomenal. They picked us up, and that is key. I've been on some other teams that had some really good offenses, but we didn't get a lot of wins. The pitching wasn't there. You have to have good pitching, you have to stay healthy and keep us in these games. It takes pressure off everybody."
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the time. He also could be found on Twitter @WashingNats. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Chores therapeutic for TV's Kirstie
Multi-millionaire property guru Kirstie Allsopp has said basic household chores help "keep her sane" amid the demanding roles of being a successful entrepreneur and motherhood.
The businesswoman and mother-of-two, who fronts Location, Location, Location and handicraft show Kirstie's Homemade Christmas, said she revels in the opportunity to undertake mundane tasks around her home.
The television presenter said: " I'm not doing the ironing because I have to, but if I get a chance, I find it immensely therapeutic.
"I'm absolutely convinced that those repetitive tasks that one does every day, organising and regularising one's home, and keeping it tidy, is enormously therapeutic.
"I know it is for me, and I have many, many working-mum friends who feel the same. That to know that their child is going to school with clean hair, clean teeth, clean uniforms, and their house is clean is what keeps her sane."
Allsopp said the task of running her home was made easier by hired help, but she also made time to take her children to school at least twice a week.
She added: ""There's nothing I madly desire that I don't have. I think I'm incredibly lucky.
"With all that I have, to wish for anything beyond this, you'd just think 'She's mad'."
The 42-year-old sparked controversy last month after suggesting that victims of the Christmas storms lacked "Blitz spirit" and were ''spoilt'' for getting compensation for going without power for days.
Allsopp tweeted that she was ''in rant mode'' and told her 331,000 followers: ''What on Earth has happened to Blitz spirit? Billions of people get by with very limited electricity #SpoiltUK.''
She added: ''Storm winds blow, trees come down, electricity goes off, it's not much fun, need to make contingency plans, why does this mean compensation?''


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Ashland Oil & Refining Company
List of Deals
J. Fred Miles founded the Swiss Drilling Company in Oklahoma in 1910. Swiss Drilling's original purpose was to explore and operate new wells. In 1916 Miles moved his company to new fields in Kentucky, where competition from the then-giant Standard Oil was not as fierce. The Swiss Oil Company was incorporated in 1918. Swiss Oil became one of the leading oil concerns in Kentucky. Swiss suffered in the 1920s due to the exhaustion of oil wells and post-war depression.
In 1923 Miles hired Paul Blazer to select, buy, and operate a new refinery in the area. Blazer was named head of the new Ashland Refining Company, a division of Swiss Oil, in 1924. The refinery facility was established in Cattlesburg, Kentucky. Ashland thrived, as its proximity to the crude oil supplied from Swiss made it possible to sell its refined petroleum products more cheaply than competitors who were forced to transport their crude or finished products from farther away. By 1926 Ashland's annual gross sales were $3 million.
Ashland continued to grow through acquisitions. In 1930 the company purchased Tri-State Refining Company. Tri-State had a sizable refinery and its own team of gas stations and trucks, which gave Ashland the makings of an integrated refining and marketing organization. In 1931 Ashland bought the Cumberland Pipeline Company, which facilitated the shipment of crude oil from the ocean, as well as from the fields. As Ashland continued to do well, Swiss Oil was failing. Swiss could no longer sustain the two companies; thus in 1936 they were merged into the Ashland Oil & Refining Company. The company then joined Standard Oil Company in a pipeline from southern Illinois. By 1941 Ashland's sales were $8 million. During World War II Ashland used government assistance to build a new refining facility at Cattlesburg and increased its revenues to $35 million in 1945. In 1948 Ashland merged with Allied Oil Company, a fuel-oil broker; the merger extended Ashland's marketing area to Cleveland and as far west as Chicago. The company acquired several more companies, and by 1950 it was the nineteenth-largest oil company in the nation. Ashland was first listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1950 as well.
Ashland entered the field of petrochemicals in 1956, when it purchased the R. J. Brown Company. Ashland acquired other petrochemical holdings, including the United Carbon Company and Archer-Daniels-Midland Chemicals Company. In 1962 Ashland purchased the Central Louisiana pipeline system, a major pipeline that gathered most of the oil produced in greater Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico fields. The net effect of such expansions was that Ashland's sales increased from $490 million in 1963 to $723 million in 1966. The company's 1966 acquisition of Warren Brothers Company introduced Ashland to the contracting business, the majority of which was the manufacture and installation of asphaltic and portable cement concrete surfacing. In the late 1960s, Ashland placed increasing emphasis on research and development. The company's acquisition of United Carbon Company, Catalin Corporation, and Archer-Daniels-Midland Chemicals provided for better research facilities and increased technical abilities.


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There are going to be games like this one, odds are there are going to be a lot of games like this one, and I'm okay with that. The Cubs have now lost three of their first four games on the season, and probably couldn't lose three more difficult ways if they tried. Monday night's episode included two successful squeeze bunts by the Brewers, and a furious ninth inning rally only to end in horrible, mind numbing defeat.
Continue reading "Cubs Go Down Fighting Against Brewers"


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Topix is the 'Gawker of the Ozarks'
The NYT has an interesting piece on Topix, an online news aggregator and bulletin board that has been kicking around for a decade, but never really caught on in urban centers. But in rural, small town America — where casting aspersions is a way of life — it's flourishing as the hot place to post shit about your friends and neighbors. Like the ones you run into at Dee's Place, for example, a diner in Mountain Grove, Missouri.
A waitress, Pheobe Best, said that the site had provoked fights and caused divorces. The diner's owner, Jim Deverell, called Topix a "cesspool of character assassination." And hearing the conversation, Shane James, the cook, wandered out of the kitchen tense with anger. His wife, Jennifer, had been the target in a post titled "freak," he said, which described the mother of two as, among other things, "a methed-out, doped-out whore with AIDS."
Topix CEO Chris Tolles says the site has a dedicated and growing following within the "feud states" — which you can familiarize yourselves with in the final installments of our Worst States Poll — and notes that one of the most heavily trafficked Topix forums is the Pikeville, Ky., home of the Hatfield and McCoys.
"We're running the Gawker for every little town in America," Mr. Tolles said.
Excuse us? We hardly think that kind of comparison was called for.
Next up on Gawker: Our latest coverage of methed-out, doped-out whore with AIDS, Lindsay Lohan! Stay tuned! [NYT, image via starberryshyne's Flickr]


text:
[Intro: Lil B]
I'mma tell you who I know, I know Lil B
I know the Based God, Ima tell you couple moe people
That I know that's not very important
If it ain't Lil B, if it ain't the Based God I don't care no moe
I don't wanna know, fuck em ima tell you something
[Verse 1: Lil B]
Bitch, this is myspace (FUCK OFF!)
Tell you bout my place (SUCK MY DICK!)
The ho suck my dick cause I had a fuckin migraine
56 bitches suck my dick cause im John Wayne
Went to the party left out in the maybak
25 stacks for the engine can you pay that
Everybody know that the Glock push ya fade back
My names Lil B you can call me Pat Sajak
Suckas stole my money stupid bitch, you can take that
I'mma fuckin scrape that
Catch me at the race track
Bettin on a horse in a New Oakland A's hat
Live by the code and I never will break that
Nigga wanna rob me ima have to shake that
Ima show you who the fuckin' bitch I dont play that
Under 25 and I'm flexin new Maybach
Bitch kiss my ass and I know you suckas hate that
Young BasedGod My bitches suck my Dick
[Outro: Lil B]
I'm good im great
Fuck em! Fuck me!(I'm Excellent)
This is good, ima tell you whats real
This is real, this raw


text:
Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn and Denver Broncos miracle worker Tim Tebow would be a match made in Heaven.
Alas, Vonn said Internet rumors that the two have a Rocky Mountain romance are not true. She's taken a page from the second-year quarterback and son of missionaries, striking his prayerful pose after winning the World Cup Super-G on Wednesday. But don't take the rumors as gospel, she says.
"I am single. I'm not with anyone," Vonn, 27, said. "I've heard a lot of rumors and a lot of reports."
Girlfriend, no. But fan? Oh, yes! Yesterday, after Tebow led his team to yet another dramatic comeback, Vonn gushed about the 24-year-old star.
"He's proving them all wrong," Vonn said. "In a way, that's what I'm trying to do as well — to be able to compete under any circumstance and keep fighting and doing my best every day. Just because I `Tebow,' doesn't mean I'm dating him. I said that if I won in Colorado, I would `Tebow' because I admire what he's doing."
The pair also appeared together in July at the ESPYs, where Vonn extended an invitation to Tebow to "come up to Vail and ski," according to her blog. Last weekend, she met Tebow's brother, Robby, at the Super G race in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
"I pretty much know their whole family now," Vonn wrote in a column for the Denver Post. "They're great people. It's pretty awesome to be able to hang out with them — and to be able to witness the amazing things Tim and the Broncos can do."
Vonn is from Minnesota, but lives and trains in Colorado, where Tebow has led the Broncos to a 7-1 record since taking over as the starting quarterback. Vonn won the downhill gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics and has won three straight World Cup championships.


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The upgrade to "dual-pol" technology that will provide enhanced information about the size, shape, density and intensity of the precipitation in clouds.
"Flooding has always been our most dangerous and costly weather hazard in the state," said Renee Fair, meteorologist-in-charge of the Little Rock forecast office.
"The information we gather from the new dual polarization radar will allow forecasters to issue more accurate and timely warnings of flooding and flash flooding across the state."
Click here to read the full story from Arkansas News.


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Mystery 'hermit' woman lived lonely life in Sydney cave
Just how the woman lived her last hours, and indeed her life, remains a mystery.
Six months after her body was found lying in a cave on Sydney's lower north shore, police are no closer to unravelling the life of a woman who lived a hermit-like existence in the shadows of some of Sydney's affluent suburbs.
A local resident who was walking in Willis Park in Middle Cove one Saturday morning in February this year discovered the woman's body lying in the cave in dense bushland.
The curly haired woman, thought to be aged in her 40s, was believed to have been dead for between one and two weeks at the time, and died as a result of being homeless. A pillow, a blanket, and three plastic containers were found scattered near her.
The main clue investigators have about her identity is an old photograph, which was taken 12 years ago by police in Queensland when the mystery woman had a minor brush with the law.
Fairfax Media understands that offence related to retail theft. But the name the woman gave at the time, Jemima Ann King, was false.
Now, police are calling on the public to look at that old photograph in the hope that it will trigger someone's memory.
"It's a sad case, and unfortunately she has died a lonely death," Detective Inspector Simon Jones said.
"Underneath it all, we're pretty sure somewhere there would be someone who is missing her or knows something about her. It may be someone who hasn't seen her for a number of years or possibly even reported her under some different name or different looks or appearance, possibly even as a missing person a long time ago."
Inspector Jones said the woman was believed to have been living in the Middle Cove area for some time, possibly for a number of years.
She was "living a hermit-type existence and keeping to herself and not engaging too much with anyone", he said.
Several north shore residents told Fairfax Media they believed they had seen her in the area in recent years.
"This woman was regularly seen in the Crows Nest shopping area in the years 2008 to 2011," one person said.
"[She was] always unkempt, kept to herself, I never witnessed her talking to another person or begging."
A former resident, Kheng Chew, remembered seeing someone who resembled the woman living in the stormwater pipe near Primrose Park. He recalled that she also wore glasses, but he never had any dealings with her.
Other residents said she routinely walked down Eastern Valley Way.
Detective Inspector Jones confirmed that the woman had a police record in Queensland for a "very minor" offence.
"She was living a hermit-like existence, which obviously makes the job more difficult when you have these inquiries that lead us back into Queensland some 12 years ago, when she was potentially living under a false name in that state as well," Inspector Jones said.
"It's a sad existence, a sad life, and we're endeavouring to do everything we can to identify someone who may know her and who could answer a lot of questions."
NSW Police have posted an image of the woman on social media, in the hope that it will jog someone's memory.
The image was being shared extensively on Facebook, where many lamented the tragic nature of the woman's life.
"You poor soul. I feel so sad that someone can go missing and not be missed. Rest in peace," wrote one person.
Anyone with information about the woman has been urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.
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text:
thegirllikeme – here
C_A_Campbell – on the archives
Just call me
Chanté (with an accent)
Author's Page:
Accreditation Number:
I will take just about everything, except Poetry. There are many other betas who have more experience and could help you much better than I could. Also, tread carefully with Marauders fics. I won't take them if they are centered around the Marauders (or OCs there for the sole purpose of falling in lurve with the Marauders), but other characters (such as Severus!) are perfectly fine. Everything else you can send right my way! (And I love Dark/Angst!)
I will do anything except Slash, Student/Teacher, and James/Lily. I especially love non-canon or unusual ships and ships (or just stories) involving my boys, Severus, George, Theodore, and Salazar. (Particularly, Sev/Lily, George/Angelina, and Salazar/Rowena). But as I said, I'll take everything (except those three).
Ratings and Warnings:
1st-7th Year: Just my thing!
Professors: Please take it to another beta. I am not always comfortable with some of the material in these fics, so another beta would be better for you.
Sexual Situations: I won't take anything extremely graphic. It's hard to explain where my line is with what I'm comfortable with and what I'm not, but if you have doubts, you might want to PM me an excerpt and I can say "yeah" or "nay". If you don't want to do that, you might want to find another beta.
Non-Consensual Sex and Dubious Consent: See the above. I will take it if it isn't described too graphically, and if it is well-written. Please don't use these as plot devices JUST to make it more dramatic. I do not like melodrama.
Slash and Student/Teacher: I would appreciate if you took these to another beta.
Alternate Universe: Why are you using this warning? Is it an interesting 'what if' scenario? Then send it my way! Is it an excuse to make characters act in ways they normally wouldn't (OOC), in a situation OTHER than Humour? You probably shouldn't send it to me. I'm likely to beat you over the head with a frying pan.
Abuse, Suicide, Mental Disorders, Self-Injury, and Substance-Abuse: I actually would love to beta stuff like this. I like stories that deal with mature themes, BUT (and this is a big but) it has to be well-written. Again, I do not like melodrama or just added into the characters past to make 'characters more interesting'. Please do your research and describe things realistically. So send them my way, but expect me to be critical.
Anything else: It's just my cup of tea!
One-shot or Chaptered:
All of the above!
Turn Around Time:
I *should* be able to get it back within a week (I generally get it back even sooner than that). But if I'm going to be longer, I will be sure to let you know.
Permanent Y/N:
If I take a chaptered fic, I would like to stay with it. I don't like beta-ing single chapters (unless it is the first chapter), because I can't really help plot-wise or comment-wise. But I will take single chapters, if you only want someone to look over grammar and spelling mistakes. Just let me know what you need. I don't mind being a second or third beta either.
I like to consider myself pretty good at spelling and grammar. However, I think I'm best at sentence structure and flow. If something just doesn't sound quite right, I will point it out to you with suggested fixing. Characterization of (most) canon characters and OCs. For more info, see comments on my beta-ing style.
Briticisms. I can check for spelling and I know a few words, but I am American so I can't help that much.
Beta Experience:
I was in the Beta Guild a year or two back, but I went on hiatus. However, I am back and (hopefully) better than ever. I beta-ed many fics when I was here and even got nominated for Best Beta in the QSQs a couple of times.
Beta-ing Style:
I am an extremely picky reader and it comes forward in my beta-ing. I tend to leave lots of comments, pointing out the good, the bad, and the things I think might need to be tweaked. However, I try to give as much praise as I give critique, and a lot of them are more like 'suggestions' anyway. That being said, if you are looking for a really nice beta who will sugarcoat things, that's probably not me. I am honest (even brutally so) and open with critique, and that sometimes makes me sound harsh. So, if that's not something you want, maybe I'm not the beta for you. Also, I am a great beta if you want to bounce ideas off of or ask opinions or brainstorm. Just shoot me a PM/e-mail.
I like to see the fic a couple of times. The first time will be full of comments and corrections. The next time will be just to make sure I didn't miss any errors or that errors weren't created when changes were made (there's a difference between revision and editing, and editing always comes last, as my English 102 teacher made us learn). I respect your wishes if you don't want to send it back the second time, but I would really love it if you did.
Oh, and I use track changes on OpenOffice or color changes on Word (I used to do track changes on Word, but have a new laptop and a version of Word that doesn't let me do it...so, yeah).
Method of Contact:
After you post here, I will PM you my email address. I've made one specifically for beta-ing (since things have a tendency to be lost in my main account), so you might want to PM me back to tell me it's been sent.
Other Information:
I like chocolate. Not that you care. :P
Beta Works:
The Flawless Caper by Liandrin
Dark Was the Night by welshdevondragon
More Than a Divided Country by OliveOil_Med Chapter 2 and onward
Saving Dominique by U-No-Poo
Promises by Golden_snitch91
To Calm The Conscience by welshdevondragon
Haunted House: Dead by Northumbrian
Dark Was the Night by welshdevondragon
(List includes what I have beta-ed since returning to beta-ing, not my entire history. That would be much too lengthy)
If I've beta-ed for you, and your story is now up, PLEASE send me a link. I want to try to keep this updated.
PHP Code:
[b]User Name:[/b] Your name on MNFF (and on the Beta Forums if they're different)
[b]Story:[/b] Story title, linked if you already have a chapter published
[b]Genre:[/b] Is it a romance? a mystery? dark/angst? (etc.)
[b]Ships:[/b] This is short for "relationships." If there is a romantic pairing in the story, tell us who you've linked up.
[b]Rating and Warnings:[/b]
[b]Word Count:[/b] Remember that the minimum word count for chapters on MNFF is 800-1000 words!
[b]One Shot or Chaptered:[/b]
[b]Expected Beta Time:[/b] How soon you wish to have a reply (1 day, 2 or 3 days, a week, etc)
[b]What do you need to most help with?[/b] Grammar? Characterization? A hand to hold while you take the 'leap of faith' with a brand-new story? (just don't squeeze too hard. I have arthritis!)
[b]Permanent Y/N:[/b] If you're looking for a permanent beta (Yes or No)
[b]Summary:[/b] Short summary of the story.


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Royals host Special Olympics teams
By Vinnie Duber / MLB.com
Teams from Special Olympics Missouri and Special Olympics Kansas played a baseball game in left field Wednesday afternoon, and a couple of big league pitchers -- the Royals' Bruce Chen and Everett Teaford -- lent their talents to the matchup.
"It's a blast to come out here and get to play with these kids," Teaford said. "I remember how I was as a kid and how much fun baseball was, and it wasn't quite a job yet. Being able to give back to the community, I'm so thankful that I'm in the position I am. I don't think there's enough stuff I could do like this to repay the gratitude I have of being in my position."
Kids and adults alike participated in the game, and had it been an official Major League game, Teaford and Chen would've seen a significant boost to their ERAs. But it was all in good fun, as was the bean ball Teaford threw.
"A guy had a Pujols jersey on, and he was telling me all about how good the Cardinals are. And then he hit a foul ball really far, so I had to brush him back and I just got a little out of control," Teaford joked. "Hopefully I don't get suspended by the league."
Also on hand was Royals legend Willie Wilson.
"It was fun for me," Wilson said. "I don't look at anything or anybody differently. To me, they're normal kids ... so I just try to hang with them and just have as much fun as they're having. They continue to have fun, and I'm going to have fun with them. I got hugged a lot and got talked to a lot, so for me it wasn't anything bad. It was just doing something good for myself and for them."
It wasn't the only Royals community event on Wednesday afternoon. Jeff Francoeur and his wife, Catie, hosted a toy donation event benefiting patients at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. Francoeur said the event went really well and he was joined by a slew of teammates including Alex Gordon, Billy Butler and Luke Hochevar, among others.
Royals recall Jeffress to fill Broxton's spot
KANSAS CITY -- The Royals recalled right-handed reliever Jeremy Jeffress from Triple-A Omaha ahead of Wednesday's game against the Indians. Jeffress fills the roster spot left vacant when Jonathan Broxton was traded to Cincinnati on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Jeffress appeared in two games for the Royals in late April. He pitched a total of one inning and allowed four hits but no runs. Last season, Jeffress pitched in 14 games with the Royals, posting an ERA of 4.70.
In 37 games with Omaha this season, Jeffress is 5-4 with a 4.97 ERA. He has struck out 61 batters in 58 innings.
Manager Ned Yost said Jeffress would slide into the bullpen and pitch in a middle-relief role. He said the decision to recall Jeffress stemmed from increased consistency from the righty.
"Command has been an issue, but consistency in command has been an issue. He's been a lot more consistent," Yost said. "He'll still have his hiccup here and there, but for the most part, he's been very consistent in one- or two-inning stints, coming in throwing strikes with his fastball and with his breaking ball. We want to give him a look."
Cain's legs showing improvement on the field
KANSAS CITY -- The fact that Lorenzo Cain's legs aren't at 100 percent has been well documented. But it looks like Cain might be making some progress.
Cain has been playing right field in the last three games with hopes of taking some pressure off his recovering legs. But in the game's other aspects, Cain is using his legs to their full extent.
Once on the team's recent West Coast trip and again Tuesday night against the Indians, Cain swiped a bag. The steals are the first two of the season for Cain, who spent almost the entirety of the season's first half on the disabled list.
Manager Ned Yost, who evaluated Cain's legs at 85 percent in recent weeks, said he's also seeing improvements.
"They're getting there slowly but surely," Yost said. "He's feeling better, getting down the line really well. He stole a base on the road, stole a base here. We're doing better in that respect."
Royals announce top Minor Leaguers in July
KANSAS CITY -- The Royals organization announced its Minor League award-winners for the month of July on Wednesday.
At Triple-A Omaha, infielder Johnny Giavotella was named the Player of the Month after hitting .368 in July, and left-hander Will Smith was named Pitcher of the Month following a 2-0 record and 1.80 ERA before getting called up to the big leagues.
Other award-winners for the Royals affiliates:
Northwest Arkansas (Double-A) -- Infielder/outfielder Brian Fletcher, right-hander Michael Mariot
Wilmington (High Class A) -- Infielder Matt Fields, right-hander Elisaul Pimental
Kane County (Class A) -- Outfielder Tim Ferguson, right-hander Aaron Brooks
Idaho Falls (Rookie) -- Shortstop Adalberto Mondesi, left-hander Sam Selman
Burlington (Rookie) -- Outfielder Fred Ford, left-hander Colin Rodgers
Surprise (Rookie) -- Outfielder Alexis Rivera, right-hander Aroni Nina
Dominican (Rookie) -- Outfielder Brawlun Gomez, right-hander Miguel Almonte
Butler, Holland named top Royals in July
KANSAS CITY -- Designated hitter Billy Butler and right-handed reliever Greg Holland were named the Royals' Player of the Month and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, on Wednesday.
Butler led the team with four home runs in July with 16 RBIs. He hit .327 with a club-leading .404 on-base percentage, as well, and hit a memorable walk-off home run to beat the Mariners on July 18.
Holland, the team's newly named closer, posted a 2.70 ERA in 12 July games, which was the lowest among Royals pitchers with multiple appearances in the month. He struck out 17 hitters and limited them to a .213 batting average over 13 1/3 innings.
Members of the Kansas City media made the selections.
Vinnie Duber is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.