text:
Expanded rotation creates tough roster decision
By Teddy Cahill / MLB.com
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he would like to keep the bullpen intact, but knows the Braves' four-game series against the Padres could determine what roster move the team needs to make.
"That may take care of itself," Gonzalez said. "You think you've got everything planned out and all of a sudden somebody gets hurt and it goes out the window."
The Braves don't have to make a final decision until Friday when right-hander Tommy Hanson is activated from the 15-day disabled list to start against the Dodgers.
Braves going to temporary six-man rotation
ATLANTA -- For a 13-day stretch beginning Friday against the Dodgers, the Braves plan to employ a six-man rotation, manager Fredi Gonzalez said Monday.
The Braves are three games into a stretch of 20 straight days without an off-day and want to give their starters an extra day of rest as the stretch run approaches. Veteran right-handers Tim Hudson and Ben Sheets both have a long history of injuries and Tommy Hanson is returning from the 15-day disabled list to start Friday's game.
"We did it because there were some concerns about taking care of some of the guys and we only have two off-days in August," Gonzalez said. "We need to be able to go into September with all the cylinders hitting and everybody healthy. And this is one way to keep those guys healthy."
Hudson said he appreciates getting an extra day of rest at this time of the season.
"Obviously, when there's a time where there's not a lot of off-days, it gives us some rest," Hudson said. "Especially this time of year, this is the dog days of the season. Anytime you can get some rest is welcome for sure."
The Braves suddenly have a surplus of starting pitchers after moving right-hander Kris Medlen from the bullpen to the rotation July 30 to replace Jair Jurrjens, who was struggling and is now on the 15-day disabled list with a groin strain. Hanson went on the disabled list the next day with a lower back strain. His spot was taken by left-hander Paul Maholm, who was acquired in a Trade Deadline deal with the Cubs.
After two turns through the expanded rotation, Gonzalez said the Braves would pick their best five starters and return to a five-man rotation for September. Gonzalez said seniority would not be a factor when deciding September's rotation.
While Medlen is the only member of the six-man rotation with significant bullpen experience, Gonzalez said that doesn't mean he will be the odd man out in September. He has pitched well in three starts -- going 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA -- and if he continues to do so, Gonzalez said he would keep him in the rotation.
"If Medlen's pitching the way he's pitching, for me, he stays in the rotation," Gonzalez said. "We'll figure it out."
Simmons hopes to begin baseball activities soon
ATLANTA -- Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons was one of four injured Braves scheduled to meet with Dr. Gary Lourie on Monday at Turner Field.
Simmons has been on the 15-day disabled list since breaking his right pinkie finger July 8 in the Braves' 4-3 victory in Philadelphia on the final day before the All-Star break. He has begun therapy and is hopeful he will soon be cleared to begin baseball activities.
Simmons said his hand feels fine.
"I can pretty much do everything with it," Simmons said. "It's still a bit sore. I have to stretch it out a bit still, but it feels great."
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said shortstop Jack Wilson, outfielder Matt Diaz and catching prospect Christian Bethancourt were all scheduled to see Lourie as well.
Wilson is back in Atlanta after suffering another setback in his rehab with Triple-A Gwinnett. Wilson has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 14 with a dislocated right pinkie finger.
Diaz has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 21 with a right thumb bruise. Betancourt, who entered the season ranked as the Braves' No. 3 prospect and has been at Double-A Mississippi all season, broke his left hand Aug. 9 when he was hit by a pitch and is out for the year.
Teddy Cahill is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Catering union Saccawu on Thursday called for support for farmworkers in the Western Cape, to strengthen the "fight for better wages".
"Same as the miners, farmworkers earn low wages, work under horrendous atmosphere (sic) and live in appalling conditions," the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers' Union said in a statement.
Grape harvesters in the Hex River Valley had been protesting for more than a week about their wages, demanding R150 a day. Most earned between R69 and R75 a day, with R80 being the highest and only offer from farmers so far.
Sixteen towns in the province had been affected by the protests, which included blocking roads and burning tyres.
On Wednesday the labour department announced a two-week suspension of the strike. Workers agreed to this on condition that the Employment Condition Commission look at the bargaining council for agriculture.
This meant the R70 daily minimum wage for farmworkers would be renegotiated.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) assured the department that workers had been consulted on the agreement and would abide by it, and not resort to violence and vandalism.
Western Cape premier Helen Zille's call for the military to be brought in to protect farmers, and not workers, was meant merely to protect the rich and disregarded workers, the union federation said.
"It is the system of commercial and capitalist agriculture that is anarchic, and continually seeks to drive wages down and erode living standards."
The strike confirmed the need for a legislated national minimum wage to address poverty and inequality, Cosatu said. - Sapa

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Cobbossee Colony Golf885 Cobbossee Colony Ave
Monmouth, ME 04351
Phone: (207)268-4182
This course was built on rolling hills and features deep sand bunkers on three holes. The greens are sloped and very fast.
|Holes: 9
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* 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.


text:
SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. (AP) — Authorities say two men died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a Spotsylvania County home.
Their bodies were found Monday after one of the men did not report to work and co-workers went to his house to check on him.
The Free Lance-Star (http://bit.ly/1uy46h0 ) says the men were identified as 55-year-old John T. Johnson and 45-year-old Carlton T. Smith.
Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Capt. Troy Skebo says an investigation found that power to the house had been turned off and the men were using two generators. They were not properly vented.
It's not known why the power had been turned off.
The medical examiner's office said the deaths were accidental, with a cause of asphyxia.


text:
Cal Ripken is in Michael Young's corner
Hall-of-Fames says Ranger can make defensive transition
Hall-of-Famer Cal Ripken, who made the move from shortstop to third base late in his career, believes Michael Young will make a successful transition to the hot corner.
"He has really good hands and has all the skills," Ripken told the Dallas Morning News. "He'll be fine. But it is an adjustment, and there are things you have to get used to."
Ripken said Young will probably have to get used to playing with a bigger glove because there is no longer that need to flip it quickly to second base when turning a double play. Young will also have to be ready to field the ball a little quicker than he has in the past.
"You have a better view of the whole play at shortstop," Ripken said. "At third, you have to break it down into catching first and worrying about the rest after that. The speed of the ball on you is different and only goes up when you play in on certain hitters."
The Mayor won't seek new term: After 12 years, Sean Casey has decided to retire, despite hitting .322 in 69 games for Boston last season.
One of the most popular players among fellow Major Leaguers, Casey earned the nickname "The Mayor" because of his penchant to talk to everyone at first base. Casey is joining the MLB Network as a studio analyst.
"It means a lot to me if I'm looked at as a good guy in the game and a pretty good player," Casey told the Boston Herald. "It's a nice combination."
Benoit could be shelved for season after surgery: The Texas Rangers could be without a second pitcher for the entire 2009 season.
Joaquin Benoit underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Last week, Eric Hurley had the same surgery and will miss the season.
"In both cases, multiple doctors recommended rehab over surgery late last season," general manager Jon Daniels told the Dallas Morning News. "Unfortunately, they didn't respond to the rehab process as we'd hoped. That's a risk anytime you rehab a shoulder."
Abreu could be headed to Mariners: The Mariners are trying to re-work their budget to fit in free agent Bobby Abreu and the right fielder's agent said his client is willing to consider Seattle.
"Right from the start, he told me he had no limitations [on a prospective team]," agent Peter Greenberg told the Seattle Times. "He'll go wherever there's a fit and a fair deal. If the Mariners made the right offer, Bobby would have no problem at all going to Seattle."
Jimenez to spend next four years with Rockies: The Colorado Rockies reached agreement with Ubaldo Jimenez on a four-year deal with club options for 2013 and 2014.
"That's something that's going to make me work harder every day to try to be better," said Jimenez told the Rocky Mountain News from his home in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. "To be there for my team, because they trust me."
Chris Perez plans to build off solid rookie year: Toward the end of the 2008 season, Chris Perez became the de-facto closer in the St. Louis bullpen. During that time, he went 3-3 with a 3.46 ERA, 22 walks and 42 strikeouts to go along with seven saves. Now, as Spring Training nears, he hopes to have the chance to compete for that job again.
"I learned a lot [as a rookie]," Perez told MLB.com. "Especially having to spot my fastball a little bit better. In the lower levels, if I fell behind 2-0 or 3-1, I'd be able to kind of get it by the guy. Up here, it doesn't work. I'm learning the importance of getting ahead of the hitters and being aggressive. My stuff is good enough to get them out. I just have to execute."
Kinney banking on return to health: Back in 2006, Josh Kinney was instrumental in his bullpen role for the eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. He has hopes of returning to that role in 2009 with a healthy season.
"[Closing] is too far ahead for me to think about right now," Kinney told MLB.comm. "I just want to prepare myself to be ready for spring. If I'm healthy, then I know I can pitch. That's the key for me. I don't care about a role right now. It would be nice, but I think that's down the road. If it's closing, it's closing. If it's pitching the seventh, it's the seventh. I don't care. As long as I'm healthy, I'll be all right."
Heilman lands with hometown team: Having grown up a Cubs fan, newly acquired Aaron Heilman is excited about joining the Cubs after being dealt to the Windy City this week by the Seattle Mariners.
"It's a dream come true," Heilman, who was born in Logansport, Ind., about 140 miles from Wrigley Field, told MLB.com. "I always rooted for the Cubs growing up, and now to be a part of that organization, it's going to be pretty special for me."
Span no longer under the radar: Just a year or so ago, Denard Span was a virtual unknown in Minnesota. But after batting .294 with 70 runs scored in just 93 games in his rookie season, Span is now in position to compete for a starting job with the 2009 Twins.
"I remember the last couple years I was signing at the Minor League table [at TwinsFest] and when it was time to get up and leave, nobody recognized me," Span told MLB.com. "I walked around like they probably thought I was an employee who worked at the stadium. But this year I couldn't get from A to B without someone saying, 'That's Denard.'" It's really kind of unreal. It's definitely flattering to me."
Motte hopes to bring more of the same to Cardinals: Though his time in St. Louis was brief during the 2008 season, Jason Motte made a strong impression coming out of the bullpen.
He posted a 0.82 ERA to go with 16 strikeouts against just three walks last fall. With Spring Training just around the corner, Motte now hopes to compete for a late-inning job with the Cardinals-possible even as their closer.
"I came up here and just tried to do what I did down there," Motte told MLB.com. "That's what Tony and [Dave] Duncan told me. Don't go and change anything. Don't do anything different. If it worked down there [in the Minors], just keep doing it. So, I came up here and pretty much did what I did down there all year. I just tried to go right at guys, and that's about it."
Uribe to get a look from Giants: The Giants signed veteran Juan Uribe to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
"This is an opportunity for him and an opportunity for us," director of player personnel Bobby Evans told the San Francisco Chronicle. "It's a good fit for both of us. He can play multiple positions and play them well, short and third in particular."
Fowler a contender for starting spot: When Spring Training begins, Dexter Fowler will make some noise in a bid for a starting job in the Rockies' outfield. Since September, he has added around 10 pounds of muscle and appears ready for his chance.
"I wouldn't count out the kid. When you have young players [like] Dexter, you never know when they are going to pop," general manager Dan O'Dowd told the Denver Post.
Springer to get another look at AL batters: The A's and veteran Steve Springer agreed to a one-year deal. This will be the first time Springer has played in the American League since 1995.
"A lot of people say they don't want to go back to the AL, but I told my wife I was tired of eating in the same restaurants all the time -- it will be nice to take another lap around the American League on my way out," Springer told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Sweeney to take passion to Seattle: The Mariners signed five-time All-Star Mike Sweeney to a Minor League deal. Sweeney will get a chance to win a job in Spring Training and will fight for at-bats at both first base and DH.
"I have that mental passion and fire burning in my heart to come to camp and hopefully have an impact on the team, whether it's for six weeks of Spring Training or the whole '09 season," Sweeney told the Seattle Times.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text: On Sun, 05 Aug 2001, Eric T. Miller wrote: > Man! I am so close! Changing from the 3Com to the Dlink NIC solved all the > driver issues. Now, the slaves complete phase one and phase two boot, > unpartitioned drive on slaves causes error status, just like documentation > said it would. Creating default partition tables and writing those to the > slaves goes off with out a hitch. But, when I envoke : > > beoboot-install -a /dev/hda > > to write the boot image to the slave hard drive, the script executes > normally, but ends with an error: > > ext2fs check_if_mount no such file or directory while determining whether > /dev/hda1 is mounted > > followed by some other errors that relate to the same. Is the hard drive in your slave node an IDE drive that is the master on the primary IDE chain? If not, then 'hda' is not correct for your drive and would explain why you are getting this error. Also, did you reboot the slave nodes after you modified the partition tables? Sometimes you have to reboot the machine so that the kernel can read the new partition table. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 232 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://www.beowulf.org/pipermail/beowulf/attachments/20010806/b96921d7/attachment.sig>


text:
My wife managed to somehow bend the hell out of her Transformer Prime. It still works fine as far as we can tell. Anybody have any tips for bending it back into shape? Should I even try? I've never seen anything like this.
Pictures! (Ignore the Pokemon and Invader Zim figures. Found them while helping my parents clean their garage recently.)
This is the top. On a dim setting you can see light bleeding a little where the glass and frame separate a bit.
Even with the port broken the cable still fits without forcing. Charges fine. Also gives a really good view of just how bent it is.
One thing you can't really tell in the pictures is that the glass also bent. No cracking at all. That's my primary concern as far as trying to bend it back.


text:
New policy on lobbyists could spur shake-up for advisory panel
This story was updated at 1:15 p.m. EST.
A sweeping new White House policy aimed at ousting special interests from federal advisory panels might sweep registered lobbyists off some U.S. EPA advisory panels.
The policy could affect more than 20 EPA committees, which include representatives of environmental groups, industry and trade associations, and public health and academic institutions. The committees offer advice on issues ranging from air pollution and drinking water to children's health and environmental justice.
It remains unclear exactly how the White House directive will apply to EPA and which committees will be affected, but many of the registered lobbyists on agency boards may see their memberships terminated once their current appointments end.
"EPA of course intends to implement President Obama's Executive Order 13490 to limit the influence of federally registered lobbyists in his administration," an agency spokesman said. "We are updating our current policy and we anticipate releasing this new guidance in the coming weeks."
The agency failed to respond to inquiries about which committees would be affected.
The initiative is not expected to immediately require lobbyists to step down from their posts. The White House advised agencies to not reappoint anyone who is registered as a lobbyist when their current appointments expire.
Senate rules define a lobbyist as anyone paid to advocate on behalf of a client to lawmakers, certain administration officials or their aides if the person makes more than one total lobbying contact and the efforts make up 20 percent or more of his or her work time during any three-month period. Lobbying reports are filed four times a year and cover three-month periods.
While the vast majority of EPA's advisers are not registered lobbyists and many panels are not likely to be affected, EPA's clean air and pesticide programs are among those that could see the effects of the new policy.
On EPA's Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, seven of 41 members were registered lobbyists, according to the most recent lobbying reports. Others, who were registered lobbyists within the past several years, may also be affected by the new policy. The committee offers advice and counsel to EPA on a variety of air quality issues.
"I would think it would cause quite a shake-up on the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee," said Frank O'Donnell, president of the advocacy group Clean Air Watch, because several of the committee's members are registered lobbyists.
"This seems to be an unprecedented attempt to put some restrictions on the influence of lobbyists in D.C., and it's long overdue," O'Donnell said.
Some members of the committee criticized the policy, which they say will remove some air experts from both environmental and industry organizations.
"I generally find that the air pollution experts with the most knowledge and arguably the most expertise have lobbied Congress, and it doesn't seem to have interfered, at least that we can tell, with their participation," said Bill Becker, a member of the committee and executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies. He is not a registered lobbyist.
"This was probably a broader policy guidance that was directed at many other agencies," Becker said. "I don't think they've had terrible problems at EPA."
Jeff Holmstead, a member of the committee and a registered lobbyist, agreed. "You're going to be completely undermining the process of advisory boards in many cases because, even though I think the administration has tried to make some political hay out of attacking lobbyists, most lobbyists are people who are just experts in a certain field." Holmstead, who served as EPA's clean air chief during the George W. Bush administration, is now an industry attorney at Bracewell & Giuliani. But Susan Kegley, a senior scientist at the Pesticide Action Network, who is a member of EPA's Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee, applauded the new initiative.
"Lobbyists bring with them the advantage of being able to do behind-closed-door discussions, and many times, they don't have much to say in public meetings," said Kegley, who is not a registered lobbyist. "You have to wonder, have they already worked this out behind closed doors?"
The agency's Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee has 45 members; up to seven people in the group could be affected by the new recommendations, mostly from industry groups but also including environmentalists. They meet up to three times a year to discuss pesticide regulatory, policy and program implementation issues such as registration review, spray drift, non-animal testing, antimicrobial pesticides and endangered species.
Kegley said in theory the policy is a good idea, but she does not believe the guidelines are likely to have a significant impact on the committee's work, because "lobbyists would still be meeting with representatives."
Mixed reviews
Keeping advisory boards free of lobbyists builds off the administration's expressed commitment to limiting the influence of special interests in Washington, White House special counsel Norm Eisen wrote when releasing the policy in September. Shortly after his inauguration, President Obama issued an executive order prohibiting federal appointees from handling any issues that they lobbied on within the past two years.
Mary Boyle, a spokeswoman for Washington-based nonprofit Common Cause, welcomed the new initiative. "In many cases, lobbyists who are on these boards have basically a paid point of view, and we see this as an opportunity to bring in new opportunities, new points of view, new expertise," she said.
Other observers say this latest effort will do little to curb K Street's influence and could expel some of the government's most knowledgeable experts.
"I think that it's done for rhetorical flourish and electoral politics, not for substantive participation because the monied interests can always afford to bring power to participate," said Paul Billings, vice president of national policy and advocacy at the American Lung Association and a registered lobbyist.
Norm Ornstein, an expert on Congress with the American Enterprise Institute said there is good reason to try to change the ways of business and the tone in Washington. "There has been a lot of logrolling and back-scratching that's gone on, and there's so much money floating around," he said.
Still, Ornstein said he expects the overhaul will ultimately have little effect on how lobbyists influence agencies. "You're probably going to end up with other people who have a similar set of interests being appointed to the panels," he said.
Rena Steinzor, president of the Center for Progressive Reform, said the policy will have a disproportionate impact on environmental and public interest groups.
"It is in theory a good idea, but as a practical matter, it's going to have a very bad impact on public-interest groups, because the number of industry people in this town who work on all these issues is so much larger than the number of public-interest representatives," Steinzor said.
Steinzor said industry groups have a wealth of non-lobbyist staff to send to advisory committees, whereas public-interest groups have fewer people and less flexibility.
"Industry groups can just take them off of the registration and send them to advisory groups without sacrificing anything," she said.
Having lobbyists on advisory committees is not problematic if there is a balanced set of interests represented among committee members, Georgetown University government professor Clyde Wilcox said.
"The people who lobby are not evil," Wilcox said. "They're often people who are lobbying for a cause. They care about an issue. They've worked on it for a long time." Advisory committees do not tend to draw "hired gun" lobbyists but those who have worked consistently with one company or interest group, he said.
Reporter Anne C. Mulkern contributed.


text:
I agree, fantasy is a fantastic way to get people more knowledgeable and up-to-date on happenings around the league.
You honestly think I care of what some guy on a Knicks message board has to say about me? Trust me, all you are doing is making yourself look more low class. You know I'm right because you still haven't answered any of my critiques of the system you've established. You honestly think I care if you've known that I posted? Oh no some random low life on Knicksonline.com doesn't know who I am, crap...I have no character? Just because I don't go around bashing people and talking in spanish doesn't mean I have no character you low class piece of mierda.
I have no credibility? After my first post on this board ever people were begging me to post more, nominating me for post of the month. I was invited here from someone on hoopshype.com because someone noticed the high quality of my posts, and my well thought out intelligent arguments.
I'm not scared of you metrocard, newsflash. Nothing you say about my "performance" or my character affects me in any way, shape or form. You don't know, you don't know anything about me besides a screen name. Get over it, you're wrong. I'm right. Sorry.


text:
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text:
21 Mar 13
Hello I'm Sasha Bell - I'm from England.
I love photography and forever improving my technique etc, I've done several photography projects. I'm currently doing 100 Quotes Project. I work with my 2 sisters online selling Lightroom Presets, Photoshop Actions & Photography eBooks on www.thebellsisters.com
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text:
Insurance Cases To Watch In 2013
Additionally, lawyers are eagerly awaiting a California Supreme Court ruling on whether policyholders can use the state's broad unfair competition law to accuse carriers of bad faith. And they are anxious to see results from Pennsylvania State University's fight with insurers over the Jerry Sandusky sexual assault cases and an...
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text:
For three seasons, the Seattle Sounders played attractive, winning soccer. But it wasn't championship soccer, and last year's quarterfinal exit from the MLS Cup playoffs—the club's third straight—along with a 6-1 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal thumping at the hands of Santos Laguna two months ago, convinced coach Sigi Schmid and his players that a bit more defensive grit was necessary.
"Sigi made it a point at the beginning of the season that he wants us to be more aggressive in getting after teams and putting a lot more pressure on guys," Sounders defender Jeff Parke told Sporting News. "As the games have gone on, we've taken pride in it, just realizing that the more you do that, the better chance you have to stay in games and win games. It's not always pretty."
But it has been effective.
Through nine MLS games, Seattle has yielded a paltry three goals—two of which were somewhat fluky. They've managed that league-leading number despite a new goalkeeper, Michael Gspurning, and a revolving lineup that has featured six different starting combinations among the back four.
It has taken a few weeks for forwards Fredy Montero and Eddie Johnson to find their form, but they've had that leeway thanks to a defensive commitment that has resulted in four shutouts during Seattle's five-game win streak.
"Guys are understanding that games aren't always going to flow they way we want them to. We're not always going to score 3-4 goals. If we can keep a team at zero, we're always going to have a chance to win," Parke said. "It's become a pride thing. It's not spoken about a lot, but it's something just inside you that's become, 'Wow, this is something I want to do well.' "
Parke, who earned his first U.S. national team cap in January, was on the field in October when Seattle was beaten by Real Salt Lake, 3-0, in the first leg of their quarterfinal series. It was a deficit that proved too deep to overcome and a result that left a "bitter taste," Parke said.
"It definitely takes some hard losses, some games where a team just shells you, to get you to do a lot of the dirty work and step to the ball and make things more difficult for teams we play," he said. "We weren't as good as we thought we were, and it takes some teams to kick you around to make you realize you have a lot of room to grow and to figure out your weaknesses."
On Saturday night, Seattle (7-1-1) will get the chance to test their new-found defensive resolve against visiting RSL (7-3-2) in a high-profile meeting of two of the top three teams in the MLS standings. Although Salt Lake playmaker Javier Morales (quadriceps) will miss the match, RSL will welcome back several key players that missed Wednesday's 0-0 draw at the Chicago Fire.
Not much is at stake in the long term. Both teams surely will make the playoffs and might very well run into each other again on the road to the MLS Cup final. But for Parke and the Sounders, Salt Lake will provide an important opportunity to test the team's improved defensive resolve.
"You see (RSL) on the schedule, and that's definitely one you work for, you put a check or a star next to it," Parke said. "It's a measuring stick to see how you compare to the rest of the league and a team you want to beat to prove to everyone that we're for real, and that we'll do whatever it takes to fight and win games."
For three years, the Sounders have been regarded as one of MLS' most attractive teams. This year, they'll gladly settle for successful.
Stuttering Sporting
A few weeks ago, Sporting Kansas City appeared unstoppable. Coach Peter Vermes' team was lauded for its style and athleticism and was pegged as the team to beat for the Supporters' Shield. Now, after back-to-back shutout losses to clubs near the bottom of the standings, SKC must get back on track.
On Saturday, Kansas City (7-2-0) will visit the Chicago Fire (3-2-3) in the first of three tough games this month. A trip to Colorado and a home date vs. the high-flying San Jose Earthquakes follow.
The Fire should pose a tougher defensive challenge than either the Portland Timbers or Montreal Impact, who held SKC scoreless the past two games. Kansas City has been deadly this season because of its ability to capitalize on turnovers and because of its prowess on set pieces. Against Chicago, they'll have to create a bit more to be successful.
SKC must find its fight again as well.
"We were trying, but we had the feeling that we didn't leave the heart on the field, and that's the worst," goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen said following last weekend's shocking home loss to Montreal. "Sometimes you lose, but that's when I feel the hunger on this team. We cannot let that happen again."
Grand opening
The setting will be the star Saturday afternoon as the Houston Dynamo (2-3-2) play host to D.C. United (5-3-3) in the first match at BBVA Compass Stadium (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network), the stunning 22,000-seat venue built by the club in downtown Houston.
But in its promos this week, NBC has been featuring Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall, not the new stadium. Think of that as a hint that Houston might have its hands full against a United side emerging as one of the league's most intimidating offensive forces. Only the Earthquakes have scored more goals than D.C., which has found the net 12 times in its past four games.
Pulling the strings for D.C. and leading the league in assists with seven is 2011 MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario, who was a fixture on the Dynamo teams that won consecutive league championships in '06 and '07. De Rosario remains so revered in Houston that there's a large banner featuring him inside the new stadium.
"I can't like when I saw it on TV I kind of got a little emotional," he said regarding the tribute. "But I'm going there to get three points this weekend."
Crunch-time abroad
The English Premier League season will conclude this weekend, and two U.S. national team players hope their stay in the EPL won't end as well. Tim Ream will be on the field and Stuart Holden (knee) in the stands as Bolton Wanderers fight for their EPL future Sunday morning at Stoke City (10 a.m. ET, Fox Soccer Plus).
Bolton (10-22-5) trails Queens Park Rangers by two points in the race for survival. It should benefit, however, from the fact QPR faces Manchester City, which will secure its first league championship since '68 with a win (10 a.m. ET, ESPN2).
But Bolton still needs a win and Ream, who joined the club over the winter, is feeling the pressure.
"I don't know if anybody who follows American sports like basketball, baseball or American football would even understand what (relegation) is like," Ream told Fox as he described watching Blackburn Rovers' drop to the second division sealed on Monday. "The pit that I had in my stomach watching them be relegated was something I've never experienced.
"I can't compare it to anything. It's a horrible feeling. Sitting there watching the game and you think about your own team and the games that you've had in the past two or three weeks that were ties but could have been better results. It was heartbreaking to watch and I wasn't even playing in the game."
Bolton has been in the EPL since '01.


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WE must show solidaity with our shaft brothers, the Guzzi Riders.
Located near Mineral Point Wisconsin (which is by New Glarus)
in August, there is not much better (other than the Wisconsin BMW rallies, but there are not any in August)
The fee is 45 (I think)at the gate but food Friday and Saturday and beer all weekend is included. That should save some people a lot of money.
Should be a lot of fun, expect groups from many clubs to be there.


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No Hidden Fees - No Credit Card Surcharges - Low Shipping Rates
Images shown may not be an exact representation of the actual product.You may contact us if you have questions about the exact specifications of this item.
Fluted, extra heavy varmint barrel. Competition trigger. V Match tubular forend. Custom rubberized pistol grip. Modular accessories system mini-risers. Controlled ejection path. Lockable hard case with egg crate foam padding.
24" Fluted Extra Heavy Varmint Barrel - .223 Rem. caliber / 4150 chrome moly steel / full 1" diameter under the handguard / 11 competition crowned muzzle / 1 in 9" twist for optimum performance with most varmint cartridges / full length fluting for increased cooling and reduced weight / machined to same specifications as our DCM Competition Barrel with tolerances twice as tight as regular barrels.
Bushmaster Competition Trigger - a smooth, two stage, 4 1/2 lb. pull focuses the shooter's attention on the target
V Match Tubular Forend - "free-floats" the barrel from the action all the way forward / special cooling vents for increased barrel heat dissipation / bipod stud installed for easy mounting of most bipods
Custom Rubberized Pistol grip - comfortable textured surface / ambidextrous design / finger grooved for correct trigger finger placement
Bushmaster Modular Accessories System Mini-Risers - add 1/2" height to scope mounting on the flat-top receiver for correct sight picture and comfortable "cheek-weld" on the stock
Controlled Ejection Path - receiver shell ejection has been modified to drop them all in the same place - a convenience for the reloader!
5 Round Magazine - legal for hunting in most states
Shipped in Bushmaster's Lockable Hard Case - with "egg crate" foam padding for protection
Express orders for items available to ship the same business day must be placed by 1 PM MST. Express orders received
after 1PM ready for immediate shipment will not be shipped until the following business day.
Note: Delivery times are approximate and although generally accurate are not guaranteed. FFL transfer issues may affect
delivery times.
Express shipping is only available in the continental US to non-PO Box addresses. AP/FPO addresses may add to the
delivery time.
Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. We offer a wide selection of firearms, including: handguns, shotguns, rifles, ammunition, rifle scopes and optics, as well as collectible machine guns and other NFA/Class 3 guns. Impact also services the needs of law enforcement and military with our wide variety of tactical weapons and accessories. Shop online through our 256-bit Secure Sockets Layer encrypted online gun store 24 hours a day!


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U.S. markets bounced around early in the day, digesting mixed economic news and shaking off a computer trading glitch that caused trading in several stocks to be halted after circuit breakers were triggered. But in reality, markets were just waiting to hear from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, and after he spoke in the early afternoon, markets finally moved, but not very much.
After all the worrying and thinking by investors, in the end the Fed's Open Market Committee statement was essentially the same as the one it released after its June meeting: It's likely to hold interest rates at low levels at least through 2014, with no mention of additional stimulus measures.
Investors can now worry about another meeting, starting tomorrow in Germany where European Central Bank officials will discuss Europe's ongoing problems. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, the Nasdaq took the worst of the day's losses, falling 0.66% to finish at 2,920, while the Dow slipped below the 13,000 mark by finishing 0.25% lower at 12,796, and the S&P lost 0.29% to close at 1,375.
On the economic front, car sales fell as GM (NYSE:GM), Ford (NYSE:F) and Chrysler (PINK:FIATY) all posted sales that missed analyst forecasts. Shares of Tesla Motors (NYSE:TSLA) took the worst of the segment's fall, dropping over 4%, while Ford was down 1.6%, and GM dropped marginally.
The ISM manufacturing survey came in at a disappointing level of 49.8, a marginal improvement over June, but still below analyst expectations of 50.2. That's the second consecutive below-50 reading that shows contraction in this key sector. Shares of manufacturers Cummins (NYSE:CMI), Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) and Terex (NYSE:TEX) were all down on the news for the day.
One piece of good news came from ADP (NYSE:ADP), which announced that U.S. private-sector employers added 163,000 jobs in July, well above the 125,000 figure anticipated by economists.
On the earnings front, Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) shares rallied on solid revenue and earnings gains as the company signed up more Internet and phone customer after unveiling a new high-speed offering in June. Comcast shares rose 3% on the news.
Also moving on earnings news were Avon (NYSE:AVP) and Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG). Both fell on revenue and earnings disappointments. Harley-Davidson dropped 3.6%, while Avon fell 1.25%.
In after-hours trading, First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) is up 13% after second-quarter earnings of $1.27 per share came in 80% better than the year-ago period and crushed estimates for 90 cents.
Finally, despite a marginal loss on Wednesday, shares of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) are up nearly 4% so far this week amid market speculation about a possible stock split and potential for its inclusion in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which could lose Kraft (NYSE:KFT) later this year.
Tomorrow's earnings include InvestorPlace Dependable Dividend Stocks Clorox (NYSE:CLX), Real America Index component General Motors and Sunoco (NYSE:SUN).
Three Up
- Frontier Communications (NYSE:FTR): Up 10.71% (42 cents) to $4.34
- Electronic Arts (NYSE:EA): Up 6% (66 cents) to $11.68
- Huntsman (NYSE:HUN): Up 4.9% (62 cents) to $13.27
Three Down
- Tredegar (NYSE:TG): Down 7.43% ($1.10) to $13.71
- Spirit Airlines (NASDAQ:SAVE): Down 6.93% ($1.49) to $20.02
- J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP): Down 6.62% ($1.49) to $21.02
Marc Bastow is an Assistant Editor at InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing he was long AAPL.


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Expedia Verified Reviews
Don't miss out on a lower price on this hotel
Get an overview of this hotelChic waterfront hotel on Baltimore's Inner Harbor
Popular property highlights
Right on the waterfront
On Baltimore's Inner Harbor, Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore, Curio Collection by Hilton is a waterfront hotel a 1-minute walk from Pier Six Concert Pavilion. The National Aquarium is a 5-minute walk, while attractions including the Maryland Science Center and American Visionary Art Museum are less an a mile away.
Steak, seafood, or a swim
Guests can enjoy American cuisine at the onsite steak and seafood restaurants, and relax with a swim or workout in the athletic center. The hotel offers concierge and local shuttle services, and the lobby hosts cocktail hours and activities such as a Crabby Hour crab-cake cooking demonstration.
Free WiFi, luxe perks
Brightly decorated, smoke-free rooms offer free WiFi and flat-screen HDTVs with cable and satellite channels. All have luxurious touches including robes, pillowtop mattresses, and down pillows, and coffee is free. Some rooms feature sweeping harbor views.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us! Opens in a new window.
Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore, Curio Collection by Hilton
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore, Curio Collection by Hilton features a marina. Dining is available at one of the hotel's 2 restaurants and guests can grab coffee at the coffee shop/café. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. High-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary.
Event facilities include conference space and meeting rooms. This Baltimore hotel also offers a business center, multilingual staff, a picnic area, and concierge services. Onsite parking is available (surcharge).
Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore, Curio Collection by Hilton is a smoke-free property.
- Free use of nearby fitness center
- Picnic area
- Bar/lounge
- Elevator/lift
- 24-hour front desk
- Marina on site
- Conference space
- Business center
- Porter/bellhop
- Meeting rooms
- Express check-out
- Year Built 1936
- Coffee shop or café
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Free WiFi
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Smoke-free property
- RV, bus, truck parking
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Free area shuttle
- Luggage storage
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Number of restaurants - 2
- Concierge services
- Total number of rooms - 66
- Number of floors - 3
- Wedding services
- Multilingual staff
- Free newspapers in lobby
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Area shuttle (complimentary)
- Refrigerator (on request)
- Microwave (on request)
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Self parking (surcharge), Valet parking (surcharge), RV, bus, truck parking
Room Amenities
- Premium bedding
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Room service (limited hours)
- Free newspaper
- Air conditioning
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Phone
- Coffee/tea maker
- Free bottled water
- Microwave (on request)
- Refrigerator (on request)
- Turndown service
- Designer toiletries
- Private bathroom
- Bathrobes
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Shower/tub combination
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- Cable TV service
- Flat-panel TV
- Free WiFi
- Daily housekeeping
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- In-room safe
Where to Eat
Ruths Chris Steakhouse - This restaurant serves dinner only. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
McCormick and Schmicks - This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests can order drinks at the bar and enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting).
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Sailing nearby
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 4 PM
Check-in time ends at midnight
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Children 18 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets stay free
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- Tourism fee: USD 9.95 per accommodation, per night
Optional extras
- Breakfast fee: USD 15.95 per person (approximately)
- Self parking fee: USD 22 per day
- Valet parking fee: USD 38.40 per day (in/out privileges)
- Rollaway beds are available for an additional fee
Hotel Name
- Pier 5
- Pier 5 Baltimore
- Pier 5 Hotel
- Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore
- Pier 5 Hotel Baltimore Curio Collection Hilton
- Pier 5 Hotel Curio Collection Hilton
- Pier 5 Baltimore Curio Collection Hilton
- Pier 5 Curio Collection Hilton
We should mention
Children 18 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Food and Wine Escape
Book a stay in a Food and Wine Escape rate category and receive the following:
- Split of Robert Mondavi Private Selection chardonnay and cabernet
- Two special edition stemless wine glasses
- Robert Mondavi signature corkscrew
- Breakfast buffet for two per day
- Food and Wine Best Bets guide to the area
Must book the Food and Wine Escape rate category to qualify. Wine and glasses are in room upon arrival. Breakfast is served daily in the hotel's restaurant; includes taxes but not gratuities. Breakfast cannot be taken as room service. Blackout dates may apply.
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I have 2 of these boards and they are great boards. One is running a
6400BE, 4 gig of ram at 3.360mhz air cooled. The other board has Phenom
9500 running at 2.5mhz on my bench. air cooled....
Other Thoughts:
Bios file A09 works great with dual core.B06 works with quad core and
6400BE and may or may not work with other dual cores.A09 is what I use
for 6400BE. These are listed on Biostar web page for the TF560 A2+ ...
Cons: biostar does not
explain how to update dmi using onboard flash program.Copy bios file to
floppy.When you are ready to flash using flash program,you will see in
red (highlighted)your bios file on the floppy.Use TAB key one time will
highlight DMI.Page up or down to change to yes. Tab one time to return
to bios file. Then enter to start flash program.If using Dos to flash
you have to use switches to make it work right.I hope this will help
you guys running a dual core and are ready for a quad. This should help
Newegg and you, not having to rma because of bios problems.Just
remember to update DMI when flashing or you will have problems with not
booting or getting into windows...