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This dataset is maintained and distributed by the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD), the criminal justice archive within ICPSR. NACJD is primarily sponsored by three agencies within the U.S. Department of Justice: the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Census of State and Federal Adult Correctional Facilities, 1995 (ICPSR 6953)
Principal Investigator(s): United States Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs. Bureau of Justice Statistics
This census is the fifth enumeration of state adult correctional institutions and the second of federal institutions sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and conducted by the Bureau of the Census. Earlier censuses were completed in 1974 (ICPSR 7811), 1979 (ICPSR 7852), 1984 (ICPSR 8444), and 1990 (ICPSR 9908). Unlike the previous censuses, all respondents in 1995 were sent the same survey form. For each facility, information was provided on physical security, age, functions, capacity, court orders for specific conditions, one-day counts and average populations, race/ethnicity of inmates, inmate work assignments, inmate deaths, special inmate counts, assaults, and incidents caused by inmates.
Series: Census of State and Federal Adult Correctional Facilities Series
Access Notes
The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.
ASCII + SAS Setup SPSS Setup
Study Description
U.S. Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. CENSUS OF STATE AND FEDERAL ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, 1995. Conducted by U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. ICPSR ed. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [producer and distributor], 1998. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR06953.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR06953.v1
Export Citation:
- RIS (generic format for RefWorks, EndNote, etc.)
- EndNote XML (EndNote X4.0.1 or higher)
This study was funded by:
- United States Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs. Bureau of Justice Statistics
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: census data, correctional facilities (adults), corrections, corrections management, inmate deaths, inmate populations, inmate programs, inmates, jails, prison administration, prison conditions, prison construction, prison overcrowding
Geographic Coverage: United States
- 1995
- 1995
Universe: The facility universe was developed from the Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities. The list was revised using the 1995 American Correctional Association Directory and information obtained from state correctional administrators and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The census included the following types of state and federal adult correctional facilities: prisons, prison farms, reception, diagnostic and classification centers, road camps, forestry and conservation camps, youthful offender facilities (except in California), vocational training facilities, drug and alcohol treatment facilities, and state-operated local detention facilities in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Facilities were included in the census if they: (1) were staffed with federal, state, local, or private employees, (2) housed primarily state or federal prisoners, (3) were physically, functionally, and administratively separate from other facilities, and (4) were in operation on June 30, 1995. The census also included 110 private facilities under exclusive contract to state governments and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to house prisoners. In addition, the census included 16 facilities under joint authority, including those owned and staffed by state employees providing services to multiple counties for a fee, facilities co-owned by the state and counties that shared in their operation, and facilities staffed by county employees who were state-certified for correctional administration. Specifically excluded from the census were: (1) privately operated facilities that were not exclusively for state or federal inmates, (2) military facilities, (3) Immigration and Naturalization Service facilities, (4) Bureau of Indian Affairs facilities, (5) facilities operated and administered by local governments, including those housing state prisoners, (6) facilities operated by the U.S. Marshals Service, and (7) hospital wings and wards reserved for state prisoners.
The codebook is provided as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. The PDF file format was developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated and can be accessed using PDF reader software, such as the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Information on how to obtain a copy of the Acrobat Reader is provided on the ICPSR Web site.
Sample: Data were collected from 125 federally-authorized prisons and 1,375 state-authorized facilities operating on June 30, 1995.
self-enumerated questionnaires
Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Created online analysis version with question text.
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
Original ICPSR Release: 1998-04-20
- 2003-03-21 Syntactic changes were made in the header of the SPSS data definition statements.
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Magners League - Season Preview
Play-offs add spark to Magners League battle
Huw Baines
September 1, 2009
Can Paul O'Connell inspire Munster to back-to-back Magners League titles? © Getty Images
Jerry Collins Jean de Villiers Leigh Halfpenny Gavin Henson Nathan Hines Paul O'Connell Ronan O'Gara Eoin Reddan Jamie Roberts Paul Warwick
With Ireland's Six Nations Grand Slam glory still fresh in the memory and a host of Celtic players still basking in the limelight of the British & Irish Lions, there can be little doubt that rugby in the region is in rude health.
The Magners League is hoping to build on those achievements with a new play-off system set to finally capture the imagination of fans as the cream of Irish, Scottish and Welsh rugby ready themselves for battle.
As admirable as it was to declare the winner to be the team that tops the table in May, the play-off system employed in the Guinness Premiership, Top 14 and Super 14 provided too big a spectacle and pay-day to be ignored any longer.
Last season's champions Munster will fancy their chances should they make the knock-out stages, having consistently excelled in the Heineken Cup in recent years. Fresh from captaining the Lions, Paul O'Connell will hope to add another title to the trophy cabinet before the introduction of two Italian sides, Aironi and Praetorians, brings further challenges in 2010.
Springbok centre Jean de Villiers will bolster their ranks at the end of the Tri-Nations, while the retention of superb fly-half/fullback Paul Warwick may be their best investment as they are set to lose Ronan O'Gara to international commitments for much of the season.
Leinster, fresh from Heineken Cup glory, have lost talismanic flanker Rocky Elsom to the Brumbies but will be confident of their squad's ability to secure a play-off berth. Jonny Sexton, the young fly-half, proved his worth in their Heineken Cup final win over Leicester while scrum-half Eoin Reddan and Scotland and Lions lock Nathan Hines are fine additions to the squad.
Ulster have seen a change of management over the summer, with Brian McLaughlin replacing Matt Williams, and will struggle to impose themselves without inspirational skipper Rory Best who is out for the season with a neck injury. Likewise, Connacht are again staring down the barrel of a last-place finish.
Last season it was the Dragons who competed with Connacht for the last Heineken Cup place and despite adding Wales centre Matthew Watkins and flanker Gavin Thomas to their squad the Newport-based side will likely struggle again this season. Turmoil at the Scarlets also looks set to continue, with further departures this summer, but new signings Sean Lamont and Wales prop Rhys Thomas have the capacity to improve the ailing region's hopes.
The Welsh effort will be spearheaded by Anglo-Welsh Cup champions Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys, who have twice lifted the Magners crown.
The Blues have been active over the summer, bringing in Waratahs utility Sam Norton-Knight to cover the departure of Nick Robinson to Gloucester and former All Black Casey Laulala to replace Robinson's brother Jamie, now at Toulon. Dai Young has also gambled on Wales veterans Dafydd James and Darren Morris, along with experienced Scarlets centre Gavin Thomas.
All eyes at the Blues will be on their Wales contingent following the Lions tour, with prop Gethin Jenkins and openside Martyn Williams out after shoulder surgery. Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts and Andy Powell will have to back-up their breakout seasons.
Pre-season for the Ospreys has been disrupted by the ongoing saga of Gavin Henson's injury, the Wales centre given indefinite leave by the club. The 'Galacticos' of Welsh rugby, the Ospreys still have great strength in depth and will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.
Lee Byrne, Shane Williams, James Hook, Mike Phillips, Tommy Bowe and Alun-Wyn Jones are all back from Lions duty but prop Adam Jones is out for the first half of the season due to his dislocated shoulder. Former Wales and Australia skills coach Scott Johnson has take the reins at the Liberty Stadium, and has All Black flanker Jerry Collins raring to go after a summer switch from Toulon.
Edinburgh were runners-up last season, but go in to the new campaign without the steadying hand of Andy Robinson, who has taken the reins of the Scotland national team.
New head coach Rob Moffatt has inherited a well-drilled side who have proven pedigree at Magners League level and will not want to waste their late momentum from the last campaign.
Glasgow's young side, coached again by Sean Lineen, showed flashes of attacking brilliance last season and will be a dangerous prospect this year. The international community was well-versed in the threat posed by the Evans brothers, Max and Thom, by the end of the Six Nations and the flying duo will be backed up by Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter for this campaign.
Cusiter will work behind an underrated pack, including the excellent John Barclay, who will hope to inspire an outside shot at a play-off place.
© Scrum.com
Communication error please reload the page.

subset: commoncrawl


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By Blerona
We all love accessories, the bold pieces, the moonstone rings, the diamonds!, the chunky bracelets, the unusal pendants, I really could go on all day. The thing about this trends is that they come and go and comeback again, but one accessory that will never go is Pearls! They can be dressed up, dressed down, something to slip on to add a little life to your outfit or it can be your winning piece. Either way pearls are a girls best friend, now I don't know about you but I can't fit the real things in my budget right now so I use what I got. And what I got are some beautiful M&J Pearls on a Strand in multiple sizes, and why stop there buy every size and combine them for a fun and flirty look.
Some of My Favorites Wearing Pearls
Carrie Bradshaw, Sarah Jessica Parker
How The Young Ones Wear Them- Rihanna, Ashlee Simpson


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Written by John schuhmann saying the raptors are better than their record. Good press from the yanks.
1. Toronto (3-13)
This is an obvious one, given the Raptors failures in close games. Theyre 1-8 in games determined by eight points or less. They have the second-worst record in the league, but have only the seventh-worst point differential, even after getting blown out in Houston and Memphis this week.
The Raps have also played the second-toughest schedule in the league. Theyve played a league-high six back-to-backs already and have faced only one opponent on the second night of a back-to-back.
That doesnt necessarily mean that the Raps are a playoff team, but theyre certainly a better team than their record suggests. And they can be expected to turn their season around somewhat, perhaps in the second half of December and early January, when eight of their games in a nine-game stretch are against the Rockets, Cavs, Pistons, Magic, Hornets, Blazers and Kings.


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Shuck stands ready in reserve role
By William Boor / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- When outfielder J.B. Shuck made the Angels' Opening Day roster, he knew exactly what his role as a backup outfielder consisted of.
What he couldn't have know was that center fielder Peter Bourjos would strain a hamstring, essentially turning Shuck into an everyday outfielder.
Shuck started the majority of the Angels' games -- including a stretch where he started 20 of 21 -- during Bourjos' absence, but has started just five games -- including Saturday's contest against the Pirates -- in the two weeks since Bourjos returned.
"In the beginning of the year, this is where I was, it's no different." Shuck said. "Being a fourth or fifth outfielder, you know that when somebody goes down you are going to be asked to play, so you've got to be ready for it.
"Then when they come back, you know you're going to go back to your role and you have to be ready for late inning defense, pinch running and pinch hitting."
And Shuck certainly has been good at that.
Shuck is 5-for-10 when entering the game as a late-inning replacement and is 6-for-17 (.353) as a pinch-hitter.
While Shuck -- and any other professional athlete -- would prefer to play every day, he accepts and understands his role. The 26-year old has seen his playing time fluctuate throughout the first half of the season, but his preparation and approach has remained a constant.
"You show up to the field ready to play," Shuck said. "If you're in the lineup, you get ready early. If not, you still get into the game. You watch what the pitcher is doing, watch what's going on and then later on, when it starts getting a little bit later, you really start to focus on getting loose, getting ready to hit."
Angels' leadoff carousel continues
ANAHEIM -- Earlier in the week, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said the team may platoon the leadoff spot for the the time being.
The Angels have had five players -- Erick Aybar, Mike Trout, Peter Bourjos, Alberto Callaspo and J.B. Shuck -- hit first this season, and after Aybar spent Thursday and Friday as the leadoff hitter, Scioscia gave the nod to Bourjos on Saturday.
"Right now, we're going to mix and match a little bit," Scioscia said. "Peter's definitely making a case to get more time as a leadoff hitter. He's doing a great job since he's come off the disabled list."
Since returning from the DL on June 10, Bourjos is hitting .385.
Saturday's start was Bourjos' 18th batting leadoff, but the center fielder has also begun 14 games as the ninth hitter, one as the seventh and one as the eighth.
Although Scioscia said it is preferable to have a set lineup, Bourjos has no preference.
"It doesn't matter," Bourjos said. "Going into the game, it's going to be the same approach. Obviously once the game starts, it's a normal game. It rolls over and you're hitting wherever you're hitting after that first at-bat."
While Scioscia has said several times he believes Trout will ultimately be a middle-of-the-order hitter, the manager did not rule out the 21-year-old returning to the leadoff spot.
"There's some things with our core group that we are waiting to see," Scioscia said. "When Josh Hamilton gets into his game, it's going to give us a lot more looks, which might put Mike back in the leadoff spot, we'll just see how it goes. We have some guys that are putting themselves as options at that position and that's good."
Worth noting
• Josh Hamilton played catch prior to Saturday's game and said he feels he is on target to return Tuesday.
The right fielder said he can swing the bat right now, but is not doing so over the next couple days simply to give his ailing right wrist a break.
• Ernesto Frieri has retired each of the last 22 batters he's faced -- 12 via strikeout -- over a span of eight outings.
William Boor 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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Every so often, I get asked something to the effect of "What's the fastest way to get 10,000 gold?" It's usually asked by someone who is perpetually poor in game and is looking to get a BoE or some other sort of reward that costs gold. The fastest way for me to get 10,000 gold is to log in and check my mail. My daily haul is many times that and scales based on how much time I have to craft, list, and relist. This isn't a useful answer to someone who lives paycheck to paycheck, though. So what advice would be helpful?
First off, if you're below level 85, get to level 85. This nets you quite a bit of gold simply from quest rewards and vendoring gear you acquire. If you're already level 85, the first thing you need to do is identify how much money you can make per hour running 5-mans for valor points that you can use to sell BoEs. On my realm, I could sell a BoE costing 1,650 VPs for about 10,000 gold. That means every valor point I earn could be worth 6 gold, which makes the 150 points I get from a 5-man worth 900g. I can do seven per week per character with the requisite gear. Also, every trash kill and boss kill has a chance of awarding you with valuables, including enchanting mats (if someone can DE) and BoEs.


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Ben Stiller teams up with writer director Noah Baumbach to present the story of a navel-gazing forty-something who gets a too-good look at himself and his life while house sitting for his younger, happier, more successful brother.
We don't waste our time on anything not worth your time. We celebrate the best of what's coming on film and TV. We cheer when our expectations are met and criticize when we're let down.


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O'Carroll loves working with family
Brendan O'Carroll has said the bond of trust between him and all his family members who work on Mrs Brown's Boys help make the comedy the success it has become.
The Irish comedian stars as matriarch Agnes Brown in the hit show - which started as a stage show, became an award-winning TV series and is now heading to the big screen in Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie.
Brendan's second wife, Jennifer Gibney, plays Mrs Brown's daughter Cathy in the show, while his son Danny, daughter Fiona, sister Elish and grandson Jamie all work on the comedy.
Brendan said: "There's a great shorthand between [the family] and without getting too gushy about it, there's a great love. We really do love each other.
"When you're working together on something like this, when you're in Australia to do a show in front of seven and a half thousand people in an arena, you're completely dependent on the people around you to turn up.
"That interdependency just adds a little extra edge of love when they come through, and they come through time after time."
But the actor insists the casting of the show wasn't about nepotism - it all happened by accident.
He explained: "It didn't happen that we as a family started working together. It happened very much step-by-step. First it was just me, working in the show. Jenny was working in the show but we weren't having anything to do with each other - I didn't even like her! But we fell for each other and we got married.
"And then Fiona was taking a year out and stepped in and fell for my producer and married him. So now all of a sudden I'm having my wife, my daughter and my son-in-law in the show, but that's not the way it was planned!
"Danny then stepped in as Buster and made the part his own. He fell for one of the actresses and they married, so now I've got six of them on the road, and they all start breeding like rabbits, and the next thing there's little babbies everywhere.
"It's very hard to throw a stone without hitting a relative!"
:: Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie is in cinemas now.
Press Association


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Children & Youth: Building tomorrow today
As young people mature, the decisions they make have an enormous impact on their families, their communities and our world. But growing up surrounded by poverty, war or in the aftermath of disaster increases their risks and limits their choices.
That's why giving children and youth the right support at this most critical time is essential to building tomorrow's strong, productive communities.
When disaster strikes, young children are especially vulnerable to developing emotional and social problems that can jeopardize their futures. Mercy Corps worked with experts to design our signature Comfort for Kids program that helps children process their trauma and recover through play, sports and art activities. See our expert's recommendations for how parents and caregivers can help children through times of crisis ▸
For adolescents faced with violence, early marriage and interruptions to schooling, we provide opportunities for community involvement, vocational training and life skills development. Our goal is to empower youth in the toughest places to make smart life choices and invest their energy in developing solutions to their countries' biggest challenges.
All stories about Children & Youth
Afghanistan: Helmand-born, university-bound
I was at the Mercy Corps Vocational Training Centre this morning checking in with the team and catching up with some of the students and teachers.
Ethiopia, Kenya: Responding to historic drought
West Bank and Gaza: Getting Google to Gaza
Through an innovative Mercy Corps' partnership with Google and the Source of Hope Foundation, young Palestinian web developers receive firsthand training and mentoring from engineers and business people from cutting-edge technology companies – as well as potential seed capital funding.
Libya: Comforting kids in Misrata
When unrest began in Libya earlier this year, Misrata was at the very center of the conflict. Today, as I look around this city, signs of prolonged fighting are visible everywhere: destroyed buildings, abandoned shops, streets littered with garbage.
Ethiopia: A mother's appeal
We're outside the Mercy Corps office in Gashamo, Ethiopia – a bone-crunching nine hour drive from Jijiga, the regional capital. It's early in the morning, and the noisy generator is cranking out its last few minutes of power before we shut it down for the day.
Ethiopia: 'You gave my baby a second life'
When Istohil Sheik Ahmed Abdi brought her 9-month-old son Sahane to the Mercy Corps mobile clinic in her area, she hoped to learn why he was so weak. The baby cried constantly, was vomiting and refused to nurse. He had a high fever.
Ethiopia: When no tears come
There was already a crowd at the mobile health site when we arrived. The veranda was a colorful swirl of fabric. Most of the women had a bulge at their side, belly or back that turned out, when unwrapped, to be a baby.
Libya: Youth on the frontlines
Young people here in Libya are looking to promote positive change and have been significant in Mercy Corps' efforts.
Kenya: Cash grant, food provide relief to family
I met Sangaba Abdi Gullet at Barmil during our cash distribution activities. She looked more distressed than the rest of the beneficiaries. From her face, we could tell she'd been through very tough times.
West Bank and Gaza: Empowering the techno-geeks of Palestine
This summer, I attended an event in the Gaza Strip with 100 computer-science students and budding entrepreneurs about the latest open-source software and development tools, showcased by engineers visiting from Google.


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Thanks for helping us sort this video!
Thanks for helping us associate the correct Pornstars to this video!
Помогите нам: эти порнозвезды присутствуют в этом видео?
Pornstar Name:
She's a beauty, but when are these American women going to learn to keep their mouths shut.
Overdubbed whining sounds ruin what would be a good scene. Obscure camera angles are shitty, too. Beautiful gal, though, and a hairy pussy in a must! Hers was top shelf!
Marie Mccray
what's her name?
it is verry hot and beautiful
Who is this gorgeous chick?
Love the hairy snatch!
Thats what I call playing to the camera, love the kittenish "yoy yoy yoy"!
not keen on redheads but nice bush and lovely body
Marie Mcray is SMOKING HOT I'D LOVE TO EAT THAT HAIRY SNATCH:)
Not enough Air Hockey
Would lick the cum from that nice bush
i am with you Mark.........
nice tits. love the hairy muff. so good to eat. tickles your lips.
Put a sock in it!
Trim or shave that hot pussy. Cute girl with hot body.
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SoccerTimesfront page
List of Americans Abroad
Youth is served as U.S. kids combine to beat Switzerland.
Bradley's first goal comes late, defeats Switzerland 1-0.
Superiority evident, Brazil still is tested in defeating Americans.
Loss to Sweden displays weakness with World Cup qualifying on horizon.
U.S. reserves fall short, lose to Colombia in Copa América finale.
Young Americans fall 1-0 to Colombia, finish last in Copa América.
Copa América hopes die day before Colombia match.
U.S. about finished in Copa America for lack of scoring touch.
U.S. hung tough in Argentina loss, until late collapse.
Late revival allows U.S. to shock Mexico, defend Gold Cup.
U.S. survives late Canadian onslaught with help of faulty offside call.
U.S. survives poor finishing, edges Panama in Gold Cup quarterfinals.
Beasley strikes twice, U.S. beats El Salvador 4-0 for Group B sweep.
Ching, Johnson goals down T&T 2-0, earn quarterfinal berth.
(Saturday, November 17, 2007) -- In their final match of 2007, the United States men defeated South Africa 1-0, capturing the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup at Johannesburg's Ellis Park Stadium despite a performance that probably would be best described as lackadaisical.
During training, the U.S. had some difficulty acclimating to Johannesburg's altitude of 5,751 feet, further above sea level than Denver, but not as high as Mexico City. So it looked through the first half that the Americans were pacing themselves so they would not run out of gas in the second half.
Much to the obvious dismay of South Africa's well traveled coach, Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, the host did not push the issue very hard during the opening 45 minutes. The result was much of the action was confined to the midfield with neither side doing much pressuring. South Africa giving the U.S. plenty of space, but the Americans failed to take full advantage.
Still, the U.S. took a 1-0 lead into intermission when defender Steve Cherundolo, overlapping on the right side, scored. He ran onto a nice pass from midfielder Maurice Edu and put a sharply angled shot high into the net over the head of goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez.
Things changed a bit in the second half. Both Carlos Bocanegra and Cherundolo, who was the victim of a bad tackle, were replaced and the U.S. back-line fell into moments of confusion. At the same time, South Africa began to push the match and had the better of the play territorially through much of the final 45 minutes.
Yet, South Africa was not able to create much in the way of quality chances and the Americans were able to protect their advantage without a great deal of difficulty.
As has been the case in recent matches, the U.S. showed almost no offense. With a pair of natural midfielders -- Clint Dempsey and Freddy Adu -- on top, the Americans were outshot 12-3 and managed only two shots on goal. Cherundolo's goal was one of few times the U.S. created danger for the South African back-line.
U.S. coach Bob Bradley did not have his full complement of players available. Landon Donovan was absent because of a hamstring strain, Derby County asked that Eddie Lewis not be called in, while Taylor Twellman, Brian Ching and possibly others had a previous engagement with tomorrow's MLS Cup final.
Without Twellman, Adu started and showed improvement in his play. Edu has looked good in his first two starts. Otherwise, the squad was about what Bradley has started recently.
South Africa is building toward the African Nations Cup, which starts in January, so it had its full side available. It has several good European-based players, including Blackburn Rovers' Benni McCarthy and Aaron Mokoena, and Everton's Steven Pienaar. From the German Bundesliga come Delron Buckley (Borussia Dortmund), and Sibusiso Zuma and goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez from Arminia Bielefeld. Nasief Morris plays in Greece for Panathinaikos.
However, for whatever reason, the team is not playing as a unit. McCarthy, supposedly the best South African, had an off-day against the U.S. and was seldom a factor. Parreira has his work cut out if his team is to have much of a showing as the World Cup host in 2010.
The U.S. is now off until it meets Sweden January 19 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and Mexico February 6 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard - 6: Did not have much to do. Controlled his box well and stopped the only decent South African shot of the day.
Defender Steve Cherundolo - 6: A solid game on the right side of the defense, allowing little to get around him and was rewarded with a goal on a nicely taken shot after he smartly overlapped.
Defender Oguchi Onyewu - 5.5: Played well for the entire 90 minutes, but clearly missed the presence of Bocanegra in the second half, finding himself exposed on several occasions.
Defender Carlos Bocanegra - 6.5: Is the heart of the U.S. defense. That was never more apparent then when he was not there in the second half.
Defender Heath Pearce - 5.5: Went the distance and while he did little wrong, was unsettled at times. Needs more playing time to work better with this group.
Midfielder Benny Feilhaber - 5: He has not been getting playing minutes in England and it is starting to show. He did little today and at times he seemed a bit lost.
Midfielder Maurice Edu - 5.5: The Major League Soccer "Rookie of the Year" shows a big upside. Played solidly today and at times better than that.
Midfielder Michael Bradley - 5.5: At times today was very good, making one good defensive play after another, but did little to help the attack and was sloppy at times.
Midfielder DaMarcus Beasley - 5: Given the amount of room in which he had to work, he might have been expected to do more. Not a big game.
Forward Freddy Adu - 5.5: Is showing development since he signed in Portugal. He pushed the ball well on offense, but did not get much help from his teammates. Showing better on defense and did have a high work rate.
Forward Clint Dempsey - 5: Didn't get much service so his offensive role was not much. Did often drop into the midfield to make good defensive stops.
Defender Dan Califf (46th minute for Cherundolo ) - 4.5: Made several good recoveries and clearances, but clearly was struggling at times and not of the quality of player he replaced.
Defender Jonathan Spector (46th minute for Bocanegra) - 5: Likewise, he did not do nearly as well as Bocanegra, especially when he was put under pressure. Allowed players to get behind him as he would too often drift to the middle, leaving the right flank exposed.
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan (46th minute for Howard) - 5.5: Did fine, though he was not really called on to do much.
Forward Josmer Altidore (65th minute for Dempsey) - 4.5: This could have been a big chance for him to show what he can do, but he displayed almost no offensive instincts and essentially became another defensive midfielder helping to kill off the match
Midfielder Sacha Kljestan (74th minute for Adu) - 5: Made no impression on the match
Defender Jonathan Bornstein (86th minute for Feilhaber) - no rating: A few minutes to earn a cap and a match check after a long trip.
SoccerTimes U.S. Player of the Match: Carlos Bocanegra.
Robert Wagman is SoccerTimes senior correspondent.
Do you have a comment on this story or something to say about soccer in general? Send us a letter.


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I hope it's okay to post this here. If not, feel free to delete it.
English is not my first language, and I know that there are other authors here who are only second language English speakers, or even third. To these people, I know it can be very dificult to be sure of which spelling to use when writing in American, British or any other form of English. I know there are differences when it comes to Canadian and Australian as well, but I'm not very familliar with these differences and so will not go into them.
I figured this thread could act as a reference to people who are uncertain of which sort of spelling to use. I know MNFF allows both American and British (and any other official form you can think of) as long as it's consistent. No mixing them up, in other words.
Being a language geek, and particularly an English geek, I have studied these differences rather thuroughly during my reading and writing "career". I'll start this thread off with some basic differences:
S vs. Z
A lot of places where the letter Z is used in American English, the British form uses S. This includes words like realize/realise, characterize/characterise, etc. Basically any word that ends in -ize/-ise.
The Letter U
In British English one uses the letter U in a lot of words where this letter is usually left out in American. These are words such as colour/color and favour/favor. Colour and favour are British forms, whereas color and favor are American.
-er or -re
In American English one has, for rather understandable reasons, switched around the last two letters of certain words, more specifically some words that end in -re in British English. The British theatre, metre and centre become theater, meter and center.
These are the most immediate differences I could think of. I was thinking that if people have questions regarding words they're uncertain about the spelling of in American or British English, they could ask here. Hope I'm not out of line in creating this thread.


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Which Film Should Win the Oscar for Best Picture?
This is a particularly competitive year for Oscar nominations, with Hollywood insiders and Academy voters noting the number of high-quality films. On social media, we asked Wall Street Journal readers which of the nine Best Picture nominees deserved to take home the top award. We received more than 500 responses through Twitter, Facebook and Google Form.
"Gravity" was by far the most popular 2013 film among readers. It received more than 30% of the total votes. Here's a look at selected comments about readers' favorite films.


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What makes Gaston County third-graders proud? Plenty! The Gaston County Education Foundation sponsors the Proudest Kids in Gaston County Essay Contest. After visits to some noteworthy places in Gaston County, the children have the opportunity to reflect on what makes them proud about living here. These three students and their winning essays were recognized at Gaston Together�s Community Leadership Awards event on March 26.
Gaston County is a great place to live
By Patrick Lamp McAdenville Elementary
I am the proudest kid in Gaston County. I live in Gaston County so I know that it is a great place to live. I got a chance to go on two field trips and I learned even more about Gaston County. Some of the great places in Gaston County are Holy Angels, Gaston College, and the Schiele Museum.
Gaston College is a great college in Gaston County. Gaston College trains about 20,000 firefighters every year. They also have the biggest burn building in the country. Now I know that if I ever want to be a firefighter I should go there.
Holy Angels is another great place in Gaston County. It is a place for children and adults with medical problems to live. It was founded in 1956 by the Sisters of Mercy.
One last great place in Gaston County is the Schiele Museum. I think the Schiele Museum is great. It was founded in 1950 by Mr. Bud Schiele. I went there on one of my field trips and learned about the pioneers and Indians that lived here before us. It has other cool exhibits like cowboys. I think that the Schiele Musem is a great place.
I am the proudest kid in Gaston County. There are many great places in Gaston County. I have told you some of my favorite places. All of them make Gaston County a great place. I think Gaston County is a great place to live. If you live in Gaston County you should be proud like me, the proudest kid in Gaston County.
Gaston County is the BEST place to live!
(Honorable Mention)
By Leydi Guardado/ Woodhill Elementary
First, Gaston County is the best place to live because you can go to the Schiele Museum and see how big it is. You can also see their great exhibits. You can even learn about caves, animals, and insects. The Schiele Museum is a wonderful place to visit. It would be wonderful if you go visit there!
Second, Tony�s Ice Cream is a wonderful place to visit too. You can eat ice cream there. You can have fun with your family, of course. Tony�s Ice Cream is famous for its ice cream. Sometimes it can be crowded, but it is still good!
Last, Holy Angels is for people and kids that need special care. Their parents can�t take care of them properly. You might think just because they don�t have a leg or something else, they can�t have fun. Everything can be possible!
Live in Gaston County because it a wonderful place!
I�m proud to live in Gaston County
(Honorable Mention)
By Emme Lewandowski Belmont Central Elementary
I�m proud to live in Gaston County because of all the wonderful places that we have here. There�s Holy Angels that I�m proud of because they help people in need of help. They don�t fix them but they help them. The kids there go to school too. The Schiele Museum is a great place because it has amazing sites and amazing learning experiences for kids and grown-ups. You can learn about Indians, pioneeers , and space. People there make learning fun! The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden has a bunch of beautiful gardens. It�s an amazing place to visit in the spring and fall. The flowers are so beautiful. They have roses, tulips, and sunflowers and so much more. Gaston College and Belmont Abbey College are such great schools and they provide job experiences and choices for college students. Those are a few places I�m proud of.


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SMITH & WESSON INC Model 22A
S&W 107412 22A Classic 22 LR 5.5 in 10+1 Adj Sight Rubber Grip Black/Gray
For plinking, practice, competitive target shooting or other recreational purposes, there's no better choice than Smith & Wesson's 22A Classic rimfire pistols. Known for their superior performance, whether it is your first handgun or a tool to hone your skills, these extremely accurate target pistols are perfect for shooters at all skill levels.
SPECIFICATIONS:Mfg Item Num: 107412 Category: PISTOLS Type :PistolAction :SingleCaliber :22 Long RifleBarrel Length :5.5 in Capacity :10+1Safety :ThumbGrips :Soft TouchSights :Patridge Front, Adjustable RearWeight :34.4 ozFrame Finish :StainlessFrame Material :Aluminum AlloyBarrel Type :Slide Description :Black Stainless SteelCase Type :Hard PlasticBarrel Finish :Barrel Length Range :5.00 in to 5.99 in Weight Range :32.00 oz to 47.99 oz


text: Geekery at the Mega-Mall - Part 3 Maryland/Delaware Border The Fashion Club stopped at a gas station immediately on the Delaware side of the border. "Why are we stopping here?" Sandi asked. "We need gas!" Guy, the Fashion Club's driver, said. "Didn't you fill it up back in Lawndale, like, before you picked us up?" Sandi asked. "No, you were insistant on leaving so quickly!" "Right! I'll fill it then!" Sandi said. She went to the bowser herself. Guy drove the car away from the gas station. "You didn't have to fill the car up," Guy said. Sandi turned to him "I want to get to the Mall of the Millennium as soon as possible, like with a minium of delay. We have already been in rush hour traffic, like back in Baltimore!" "Right," Guy said, his eyes on the road. Crossbro, Delaware Rob drove carefully as they approached the edge of the Mall of the Millennium's outer parking lots. "It's going to take a while to find a park and to walk in," he said. "Of course," Wolfgang said. "I know," Quinn said. "I will park in the first one I find," Rob said. "That would be best," Quinn said. "I agree," Wolfgang said. Xavier looked at the clock on the dashboard. It was 10:45. 'I has to be all that traffic in Baltimore. The radio didn't really help,' he thought. It took a while for Koichi to find a space. At 11:00 Sandi stalked ahead of the Fashion Club into the Mall of the Millennium's main entrance. 'If you hadn't been late, Stacy, we would not have been, like, caught in Rush Hour traffic on the way through Baltimore!" "I said I was sorry!" Stacy said. Sandi glared at Stacy. Guy sighed. "And if we hadn't needed more gas!" Sandi said to Guy. "I did say I'm sorry!" he said. Sandi just gave him a look of disapproval. At 11:15 the Economics class had just entered the Mall and were already lost... "We're in area B, section Pink, and we need to get to area C, section Orange. So, if we just bear right at area L, section Blue... oh, wait, sorry. Wrong level," Mrs. Bennett said, trying to get the class out of the predicament. Kevin noticed an interesting store. "Look, Mack Daddy! The Sports Shorts! A whole store full of shorts for sports!" "Uh-huh," Mack said, too tired to try to tell Kevin to not call him by that nickname. 'Why doesn't he get it through his thick head already!' "Everyone, we'll walk down R Moss, and turn right at Q Canary. Please keep the flow, people, please keep the flow," Mrs. Bennett said. "I could find the way if she let me have the map," Jennifer whispered to Jane. "Maybe," Jane said with a shrug. "Who would ever guess there'd be so many colors? The person who thought them all up must be a genius," Brittany said. "Yeah, and we haven't even gotten to puke green yet," Jane said. She glanced at Daria, who still looked queasy from the bus trip. "Oh, yeah." "I hope we find the executives soon," Jennifer said. "Why?" Daria asked. "So we can get out of this boredom," Jennifer said. 'That makes sense,' Daria thought. "Left at N Cranberry. Wait, is that cranberry or magenta? Jane, you're an artist," Mrs. Bennett asked, unsure of the colors. "It's cranapple," Jane said. 'Very difficult to tell,' Mack thought. Charles Rutthimer III, otherwise known as Upchuck, noticed a store that piqued his purient interest. "Mrs. B? Can we please stop for a minute at Bikini Island? I'd like to buy a few trifles for the ladies, and perhaps you'd care to pick out something for yourself?" "Not now, Charles. We'll be late for our meeting with the mall executives. I had to work very hard to arrange this. These are very important, very busy..." Mrs. Bennett trailed off as she was distracted by something that piqued her own interest. "What is it, Mrs. B?" Upchuck asked. Mrs. Bennet ran over to a store and looked in. "The Fuzzy Wuzzy Wee-Bit Shop! Herbert and I collect Fuzzy Wuzzy Wee Bits! Aren't they adorable? Look, a Fuzzy Wuzzy Wee Bits cactus! And look at that little bunny rabbit with its own Fuzzy Wuzzy carrot!" "Great!" Daria said. They soon found themselves in a conference room. "... And of course, when you go to the mall, you look for what?" One of the Mall Executives asked the class. "Bikinis! Make that lovely, luscious, ladies in bikinis!" Upchuck said. 'Of course he would say that!' Jennifer thought with a slight shake of her head. "I always look for security guards leading away someone in handcuffs. Shoplifters are the best judges of merchandise," Jane said. "I agree. If it's so good that people want to steal it, I want it," Jennifer said, quietly after exchanging a look with Jane. "I meant more along the line of the qualities you look for? The stores? What should they be like?" the Executive asked, trying to get the conversation away from the topic of shoplifting. 'Easy to browse,' Jennifer thought. "I have a question. Do you think our demographic can really be addressed by middle-aged middle managers telling us what's fun to buy?" Jodie asked. The executives looked at each other. It was clear that they didn't expect a student with critical thinking skills to be on the field trip. One of them turned to Daria. "How about you? How many times a year do you go to the mall?" Daria looked annoyed. "That's none of your business. By the way, don't people usually get paid for participating in market research?" "Research?" the executive askd in a strangled voice. "Now, Daria, these busy executives have been nice enough to give their time to help educate us on mall economics," Mrs. Bennett said. "Tell us about flow, would you?" Daria leaned between her two friends and pointed to where Brittany was still prancing and making cheer moves. "I bet that's a two-way mirror." "Possibly," Jennifer said. "You mean, if you turn out the lights you can see through it?" Jane asked as she reached back towards a light switch. Jennifer shrugged slightly. "Oh, you don't want to do that!" one of the executives said. Jane turned off the lights. The students could then see three observers through the glass wall. They murmered amongst themselves. "This is wrong!" Mack said. "The focus group is, um, a very important tool in mall management. We thought that with this live demonstration..." One of the executives began. He was interuppted by Jodie. "I feel used. I feel abused. I feel that this is not a fun mall after all and the media should be made aware of it!" The executive changed tack. "All right, little lady." He reached into his pocket. "Here's a coupon for a free frozen yogurt." "Don't insult me," Jodie said with her arms crossed. The executive reached into his pocket again. "Make it a ten dollar merchandise coupon?" 'You're doing it wrong,' Jennifer thought. "You're still insulting her," Jane said. One of the other executives held out two handfuls or coupons. "Okay, a twenty dollar merchandise coupon for everyone in the class." "You don't get it. There's a principle involved," Daria said. "No, there isn't," Jodie said as she joined most of the other students. "So much for idealistic youth," Jennifer said. "Yes, there is, damn it!" Daria said. She clenched her fists and moved towards the executives. She quickly found herself being held back by her two friends. "Whoa there, Daria, cool down!" Jane said. "Getting into a 'tussle' with the Mall Executives would not prove anything," Jennifer said. 'It certainly wouldn't!' Daria calmed down and sat. "How about a fifty dollar coupon for you, little lady?" "Don't insult me," Daria said, repeating Jodie's line from earlier. The executive held out another coupon. "One hundred dollars, final offer." "I'll take it," Daria said. "What got into you?" Mrs. Bennett asked. "Integrity," Daria said. "Good answer," Jennifer said. After having looked through other stores, Quinn and her entourage finally found the Cuter Computer store. "Finally," she said. "There is a lot of stuff here," Wolfgang said as he looked in. "Of course," Quinn said. "What are you getting first?" Xavier asked. Quinn started walking to the software aisles. "Apparently they have Photoshop Elements 4 on sale," she said. "But didn't that just come out this month?" Wolfgang asked. "Yes," Quinn said. "Interesting," Koichi said. Quinn soon found it. "Here it is, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4." She saw that it was 10% off. She picked it up and handed the package to Wolfgang. "You are going to make us carry all the stuff?" he asked. "Of course not! I will be carrying some of it," Quinn said. The sophomore economics students looked at the coupons that they had received. "Cuter Computer, for all things to do with Computers. Aw, man!" Kevin said after looking at his coupon. "Books by the Ton. Interesting, maybe they could have business related stuff there," Mack said after looking at his. Upchuck looked at his coupon "Incensory, for all your incense and related pagan worship needs! I don't have any use for this!" "Drat!" Andrea Hecuba said as she overheard Upchuck. "The Doo Dad Shop? What's a Doo Dad anyway?" Jane said. "Sports Shorts! I don't have any use for shorts for sports!" Daria said. "Sissor Wizard?" Jennifer said purplexed. "Probably a store full of sissors," Jane said. "Such a store would be quite useless," Jennifer said. "Daria, Jen and Jane, you'll observe traffic patterns at the food concessions, and Kevin and Brittany, you will study and report back on shrinkage," Mrs. Bennett directed. "What's shrinkage?" Kevin asked. "Shrinkage is the retailing term for shoplifting. I'd like you to analyze its economic impact. Does everyone else understand their assignments?" The class murmered in assent. "Now, we'll meet back here at quarter to three. Remember, area F, section Moss, level three. Got it? F Moss Three." Daria, Jane and Jennifer walked away as Mrs. Bennett and Kevin talked about a mnemonic device that he was going to use. "Where to we start?" Jennifer asked. "Sissor Wizard, I can actually use a new pair of scissors," Jane said. "Of course," Jennifer said.


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* Prices may differ from that shown
I purchased this Cookworks breadmaker as a treat to myself about two years ago, and I must say I love it. It comes with a small measuring cup and spoon, and all the working parts come apart very easily for cleaning. I have heard many people say that they buy a breadmaker and never actually use it, but I use mine all the time. I just throw in the ingredients and leave it to work its magic. Most loaves take between 2.5 to 3 hours. The recipe book that comes with it is rather limited, but I tend to use the basic ingredients then add my own twist, such as nuts or sultanas in sweet recipes, and cheese, herbs or spices in the savoury recipes. I also go on the internet to search for other ideas to try. I wouldn't be without this little gem, and after two years continuous use, I encountered no problems at all.
I like to make bread a couple of times per week, preferring that to buying supermarket bread. It fits with my healthy lifestyle and I know what's going into the product, so buying this bread maker for me, meant I needed to be of high quality. I bought this from Argos and for £40 am really happy with the product.
There are 12 different programmes to pick from, with 3 different crust settings, which really does offer great choice even to the fussiest of eaters! It's even possible to use it overnight so that there is fresh bread in the morning. Or bread can be made on a quick mode in 100 minutes, which I think is a really good time.
The handle on the side is really useful and remind me of a water bucket, but it's an elegant design when you see it and easy to carry around the kitchen. Although storing it in a cupboard can be a little tricky owing to its size.
Overall, I really liked it and it's affordable too.
I make at least 3 times a week my own bread. I tend to live healthy and i just love the smell in the morning ( sometimes i quickly make a bread in the evening :-) but 2 days ago my breadmaker got dropped on the floor and broke. I so love the fresh made bread i just had to get a new breadmaker. The one that i had wasnt available so this one was the next best thing for me. I bought this one at ARgos for £40.
It reminds me of a bucket because of the handle which is really handy to carry around from table to bench, you wont drop it easy now. The maker is white and silver of colour and i find it quite big.
The maker has 12 different programmes inclusing french bread, white bread, sweet bread, dough.
It also has 3 different crust settings which is class as you can decided how hard or soft you want the crust to be.
This one can also make jam which i still havent tried yet but i have put raisins and cinnamon in a bread and i can surely recommend this as its gorgeous.
This one has a 13hr delay programme so you can use it overnight and have fresh bread in the morning.
The bread maker has a 100min fast bake time which to me is longer than my old bread maker machine but its better than none.
Overall a good breadmaker and not to expensive
I go through phases of wanting to try new things so it was only a matter of time before I needed to try out a read maker. I loved the thought of having the house smell of fresh bread!
I bought this online a few months ago This model is quite basic but I didn't want to spend loads of money on it before making sure it was something that I could and would use. I paid £25 for it which I thought was really reasonable and thought I would soon make my money back once I started cooking!
I made my first loaf with my 6 year old daughter. The instructions that came with the machine made it very easy to understand and follow. The machine is really easy to use I actually cant believe how difficult it was.
You simply have to add flour, yeast and water to the machine. You then leave it to cook for 3 and a half hours. It really is that simple the bread was ready and smelling gorgeous at the end of that time.
My husband joked that it would be another thing that I would buy and never use again but I have used this a lot. So much so that I am thinking of getting another model that does even more, My daughter absolutely loves helping me to do this and the bread that it makes is delicious!
This model does quite a few of different breads and I think we have tried almost all of them now. My favourite has to be the muffins. I try and make some so we can have them for our breakfast. The great thing about this is that you can set it so that it cooks the bread so it is ready for a certain time. I have set it so that it is just ready in time for breakfast the bread is still warm and the house smells lovely when you first wake up - nothing better than that.
I would and already have recommended this to several people as it really is a great addition to any family home.
I purchased this bread maker about 2 years ago, and it still works, which is a bonus, considering most cheap electricals break in less than 12 months..
I found this bread maker relatively easy to use, just throwing in all the ingredients and selecting the settings using the front buttons, easy as pie, as there is also a booklet that comes with it, explaining how to do it. If I remember correctly, it also contains a few recipes as well.
It takes approximately an hour to make bread (depending on the settings you use), and there is also a delay timer, so you can set it to an hour before you get up. It also has settings for making Jam, which i never use, so I cant tell you much about that really.
My overall opinion of this machine is 7/10. It can be a bit noisy and does tend to "wobble" about a bit. The bread it makes is not the best in the world, and it can be a bit hard to get the metal mixer tool out of the bread once it is actually made. But what do you want for a cheap machine?
I bought a cookworks breadmaker from Argos about 2 years ago.
It comes in white with all the controls easily accessable .
The model I own is in white and silver and is still available on the Argos website, the current purchase price is £37.99 .
This breadmaker is one of my best ever buys ,I can make a loaf of bread in about 100 minutes ,and the aroma when this is cooked ,is fantastic. The smell really fills the kitchen with that just baked aroma ,I'm feeling hungry just thinking of this .
I have only ever made the quick white loaf , as my Husband wont eat brown bread in any shape or form.He doesn't know what he's missing.
This breadmaker can make different loaves ,it arrives with a recipe booklet with all ingredients listed for each different loaf.
The different loaves you can make include , white bread ,french bread , currant loaf ,quick bread [the one I use most often] It will also just make the dough ,so you can then shape and cook your rolls or other shaped loaves in your oven.
You can adjust your crust to the one you prefer,I like mine on thr highest setting.
There is also an option of a 13 hour timer , so you can set your breadmaker to give you freshly cooked bread in the morning. The largest loaf you can bake weighs 1.5 lbs
The only drawback with this machine is that when the cooked loaf is taken from the breadmaker ,you have to release the mixing paddle, as this has been cooked into the loaf of bread.
You will have to wiggle this around to release it , quite difficult as this paddle will be very hot, I use a tea towel wrapped around it to get at it.
Taking this paddle out leaves quite a hole in your loaf ,I get around this by serving the first few slices to myself.
The bread maker is very easy to clean ,both the paddle and the metal container can be washed in hot soapy water . The outside can be wiped with a wet cloth.
I would recommend Cookworks breadmaker as it makes a great tasting loaf.
The blurb for this breadmaker told me to wake up to the delicious aromas of freshly baked bread and the idea of this was too hard to resist. We were in Argos so on impulse we came home with the Cookworks breadmaker.
For once I actually read the instructions. I wanted to bake some wholemeal bread and so I set to work. If you follow the recipe and the instructions it is quite an easy thing to use. I made the largest size of loaf which was 1.5kg. It takes quite a long time as the dough still needs to prove. The fast bake time is 100 minutes so you won't get a loaf of bread in a hurry.
When I'd put the ingredients in the machine and it started the kneading process it did tend to move around on the worktop a bit. I had to make sure I'd put it towards the back of the worktop otherwise it would have been in danger of falling off. Once all the kneading and proving was done the breadmaker started to cook the bread and it did smell delicious. Like all new appliances you tend to keep checking to make sure everything is OK. We couldn't wait to taste the bread.
At last the bread was ready and we had our first taste of home made bread. To be honest it was rubbish. The bread was too crusty and it was heavy. The texture was too close for a good bread. I did persevere with the breadmaker for some time but I never achieved the perfect loaf.
The machine itself was easy to use and it gives a beep when you switch it on to let you know that the power is on. There is an LCD screen and controls on the top of the breadmaker and providing you read the instructions you should find it quite straightforward. There are 12 programmes including: white bread, french bread, whole-wheat, quick bread, sweet bread and dough and there are three different crust settings. You are supposed to be able to make jam and cakes in the breadmaker but I didn't try this. Once you've made your bread the cleaning process is very easy. It really didn't take long to clean up and put it away.
After a few weeks I stopped making bread in the breadmaker and eventually I gave it away to someone who needed a gluten free diet. Apparently making your own gluten free bread and cakes is much cheaper than buying it so this is a consideration.
For me it was an interesting experience but I wouldn't recommend the breadmaker as a way of life. I can make my own bread and although this is hard work and you need strong arms for the kneading process the results are far better than you'd get from a machine. The secret is all in the kneading and following a recipe exactly. It's also about the love and care you put into it and I'm not sure if any machine can replicate this.
=Cookworks Breadmaker=
I sure like everyone else we have all noticed that the price of bread has literally rocketed and breadmakers are now becoming the normal item in kitchens.
=The breadmaker=
The breadmaker I have is the Argos Cookworks breadmaker, it is white in colour, and included with the bread maker, was the bread pan, measuring spoon, measuring cup, kneading blade, instruction manual and recipe book
The controls are on the top of the bread maker, and there is a LCD screen with allows for clear vision of the information of the settings you have chosen. There is also a small see through window so you see how the bread is coming on and what stage the bread is at.
=How to Use=
Once you switch the bread maker on, there is a small beep noise, this indicates that the power has gone through to the machine. You open up the lid of the machine and away we go. You do need to follow the instructions of the recipe to the dot, otherwise the bread does not turn out as it should, as his lordship once asked was he to eat the bread or use it as a doorstop.
=Let the magic begin=
Once all the ingredients are in, set the machine according, and let it do all the hard work for you, when the machine is kneading you just hear a small noise, like a background noise. Anytime during the process you can look through the clear window and see what stage the bread is it.
The bread maker can make up to a 2lb size loaf, and has 3 crust settings for you to choose from, range from soft to crusty.
It can take an hour to make a simple loaf of bread, through to 3 hours for more advanced breads. (these guidelines are taken from the instruction book).
=Additional Recipes=
The recipe book show you how to make your basic white and brown bread, muffins, hot cross buns, Chelsea buns, even doughnuts.
I will confess so far I have only made the basic bread, keep saying I will try something different.
=To Clean=
The bread maker is really easy to clean, you just soak the bread pan, and wipe clean, then if you have flour or anything around the lid or on the front of the machine, I just used a damp cloth.
Cook works is an Argos own brand product and I picked this machine up under £30 in the sale, there are more advanced bread makers, but for the beginner like me this is absolutely perfect.
=Would I recommend=
I would highly recommend this bread maker, it is a perfect introduction into the world of bread making, you may have the odd mistake, but life is trial and error, and cooking can be like that, my top tip is follow the ingredients and the method, someone has done all the hard work for us.
This is a review of the Cookworks Breadmaker.
A neat but not hugely inspiring design, but as long as it cooks bread well, who cares.
I have found this very easy to use. The recipe book gives clear recipes which produce wonderfully tasty bread. Of course, you have the option to experiment with recipes once you have exhausted it. It includes a measure which makes getting quantities correct a doddle.
Simply add your ingredients, select the mode- the controls are clearly visible and easy to use- and allow it to do the rest for you. It is lovely to have the smell of fresh bread in the house, and if you get impatient you can actually view the progress through the lid!
If you don't wish it to bake, you can make dough. This is great if you want make pizza's etc.
Pros -
So far, it has produced great loaves. I have experimented with recipes and it has coped well with them all.
It is fairly quite, the controls are straight forward and accessible, and give a satisfying range of options.
Cons - What's bad about it? (a few words)
On many occasions, the "paddle" has come out inside the loaf. I have missed this, only to find it with the bread knife. However, I have owned other breadmakers - much more expensive models- where this has also happened, so don't think its down to the make.
I would recommend to any budding bakers. Much nicer than shop- bought bread and very easy to use. Soon becomes a habit!
You wont be disappointed
In the past I have always been a little bit apprehensive when it came to making fresh bread by hand, I wasn't a bad cook by no means, In fact I was quite adventurous in the kitchen trying out new recipes with new different types of ingredients, which at times turned out great. However more often than not, the end product didn't always come out the way I expected it too; that's why I chose to branch out and try using a bread maker; which I hoped would save time, effort and produce a more palatable dish.
The other reason for opting to purchase a bread maker was the increasing price of bread loafs in the supermarkets and the quality of the breads not always being great, as I often found supposedly labelled fresh breads to be fairly stale and not fresh tasting.
The Cookworks Breadmaker I have is white in colour and is shaped in a rectangular design, and comes with bread pan, measuring spoon, kneading blade, measuring cup and instruction manual and recipe book. The mixture of ingredients are added to the machine via the top lid which is easy to open up. It has a small see-through plastic window which is great as it allowed me to continuously see and check the progress of the bread and far along it was.
The controls are located on the top of the bread maker where there are many different settings to choose from; such as crust options. It has nice clear LCD display screen allowing for clear informative viewing of the settings chosen.
There is a beep noise that sounds once the bread maker is switched on. The non stick bread pan is then removed to which I add the ingredients. Once the ingredients are made into a mixture, a setting should be chosen to instruct the machine the type of bread that you would like to make. It is worth noting that the ingredients should be put in into machine in the right order as instructed in the recipe book. I found myself occasionally getting the order of ingredients wrong, which resulted in a sticky, unshaped bread with incorrect consistency.
I loved how the machine did pretty much everything for you, once ingredients are added you basically just sit back and watch the machine do all the hard work, leaving no mess behind to clean up. The bread machine hardly makes any sound during the cooking and kneading process.
I found the measuring tools that came with the machine to be useful, it allowed me to easily measure the Tsp and Tbsp proportions correctly, the measuring cup however was a little small; making it difficult at times to get the right measure of water for the recipes that required higher levels of fluid. The bread maker can make bread sizes of 2Ib's and has three crust setting to choose from depending on how well you like your bread done.
The recipe book was a great contribution, making, basic bread (white and brown), muffins, Chelsea buns, doughnuts, hot cross buns fairly easy. It can take 1 hour to make simple bread, and up to 3 hours for more advanced larger recipes.
I great advantage to this machine was that it was very easy to Clean and wash; just a short time soaking it hot water and soft wiping with sponge did the job for me.
There are advanced models available, but as a beginner and a bread making novice I think this is ideal.
I got mine from Argos during a sale and was priced at around £26.99, which is very cheap compared to other more expensive brands and makes very good tasting bread.
I went through a phase of wanting to make my own bread as it is quite expensive from the supermarket or bakery per loaf; the trouble is no matter how tightly I follow the recipes and instructions my bread is hard and stodgy. So with my soup needing some lovely fresh bread for that extra touch I decided to invest in a bread maker as I remembered my dad using one when I was younger. I remember his was great and we would try making butter and jam in it (this was entertainment in the 90's).
I immediately looked in Argos for a machine as I have bought kettles, microwave and washing machine from here before and feel I can trust the quality. I found the Cookworks breadmaker for £37.99 which I immediately thought was a bargain so decided to reserve and buy it the next day. The machine is white and silver, white not being a colour I usually buy for my kitchen but I convinced myself it matched the fridge freezer so I went with it.
When I had got the breadmaker home I was like a kid at christmas wanting to open the box straight away and look inside (I also wanted to check I'd not got a returned machine that was used or broken!). There was the machine, a measuring cup (for flour etc), spoon (for smaller ingredients such as yeast) plus instructions. The machine was well packaged and was in perfect condition.
The bread machine has a good capacity and can make a loaf up to 0.9kg in size and is powered by 600 watts. There are three crust settings which means that you can alter the crust colour to suit your own tastes; further to this are the 12 individual settings allowing for quick bread, french bread, wholewheat, sweet doughs and the jams. I love the amount of variety available in one machine which makes the price and counter space worth the while.
The machine has an LCD display to count down the time left until the bread is prepared and a selection of buttons to control time, menu, colour, loaf size and to start or stop the machine. There is a function to allow a 13 hour overnight delay for baking, ingredients signal to instruct when extras need to be added and a window allowing for the progress of your loaf to be watched. I find the window is useful when baking with children as they get very excited and enjoy watching the product of their work rise.
Overall my experience with the machine has been positive, however upon first use I noticed that you need to position the bread maker very close to a plug socket as the cord is approx. 1m long. I think the cord is quite short due to the bread maker having the cord storage facility within it so a long cord would take up too much room in the machine.
The adding of ingredients is very simple - just remember liquids first! To remove the bread pan it is easy to twist 45 degrees then remove to add ingredients, to replace the same is done and if incorrectly placed the machine will let you know as it will not start. Once the ingredients are in place the loaf size, type and colour must be selected and then the process begins. Once the bread is finished the machine will bleep; now it is cool to the touch on the outside but wear oven gloved to remove the internal pan as it is hot. The bread also has paddle holes in the bottom as the bread bakes in the same space is is mixed. The bread is obviously quite a rigid spare type shape but do not let this put you off, I have found my loaves to be light, soft and a pleasure to eat. They can be stored in the freezer (I pre cut it when I do this so I can remove a slice at a time) or about 4-5 days in the bread bin. The machine is also quite quiet which is suprising for what it does, the kneading process is the loudest but it has never been an issue day or night.
To clean the machine can be a little bit awkward as the pan has a gap around it for removal and this gap can cause ingredients to fall inside making cleaning a little awkward. However, the pan is non stick and the outer machine requires wiping down after each use.
My favourite method of flavouring my dough is to use pasta sauces or other packet sauces from the supermarket to make quick and easy interesting breads!
This machine is fab for any of us who want to reduce store costs or know exactly what goes into our foods for a healthier lifestyle. I have not tried to make jam yet in this machine but when I do I will be sure to add to the review.
When we got a breadmaker I thought it was a waste of kitchen space. For a starters we don't even use that much bread and I didn't think anyone would have anytime to make some. I was right. However we don't just use the breadmaker for bread - you can use it to make cakes, make curry, allsorts really!
It is really quite fast as well. We made a birthday cake in one of these, and it was quite large, and we managed to make in just a few hours. It tasted beautiful and we have made many cake based items with it.
We have had it for about 6 months and we don't use it as much as we used to. However its not been unplugged and chucked in the shed like I thought it would be - it gets used at least once a week.
All in all, you don't need to be a bread lover to want a bread maker!
A compact bread maker which is great for fresh and crusty bread.
I love to bake and the smell of freshly made bread that wofts through my home, however dont always have the time to make it, but this gadget allows me to carry on my daily routine whilst baking the freshest and most crusty bread I've ever had from a machine. Okay, so it's not going to create masterpieces, but it makes a great loaf of bread which is both crusty yet spongey and well aired, an everyday bread that everyone will enjoy. The added bonus is the little recipe booklet which comes with it, making the process of baking much easier. Furthermore it is one of the most compact bread makers out there, meaning it fits quite snuggly in the corner of my little kitchen, making more room for more bread (:
Overall a great addition to any kitchen, but don't expect a masterpiece to arise from it, just great everyday bread.
I love my bread especially if you get to the supermarket first thing in the morning and it's still nice and warm. There's nothing like a nice bit of warm bread slathered in butter. I decided to get myslef a breadmaker after seeing all the packets of flavoured bread mixes you can buy in the supermarket. I didn't wanna spend too much so chose the Cookworks Breadmaker in Argos for £39.97 which was their cheapest breadmaker at the time.
This breadmaker is simple and easy to use it has 12 programmes including white bread, French bread, whole-wheat, quick bread, sweet bread and dough and 3 crust settings, light, medium and dark. It can bake bread up to 0.9kg and you can even make jam and cakes in it!!! I haven't attempted these yet. The fasstest setting to bake your bread is 58 minutes from start to finish and the slowest is 100 minutes. It has an LCD display and a little viewing window so you can see your bread being made if you like. It has a really handy 13 hour delay timer which allows you to pop all your ingredients in at night, set it and wake up to freshly baked bread in the morning!! There's a keep warm function too which is handy if you're not gonna take your bread out and use it straight away.
The breadmaker comes with a really good little recipe book, it's amazing all the different things you can do with it. I've used it to make pizza dough and then taken it out and frozen it for later use. I tend to buy the flavoured packets of bread mix from supermarkets but you can use the bread recipe provided and add your own fresh ingredients to flavour it. The breadmaker actually beeps to signal when to add those ingredients. You can add tomatoe and basil, cheese, onions, garlic. There are so many different flavours you can try.
It has a little pull out loaf shaped pan, this is where you pop in your ingredients, then you simply select your setting, the colour of crust you want and away you go!!! When it's done all you do is pull out the bread pan, take out the little paddle in the bottom of the bread and tip it out. I find that the bread comes out rather doughy and heavy which is very disappointing. It's not light like you expect from freshly baked bread. It does taste lovely don't get me wrong but it is heavy and dense.
It's an ok breadmaker for the price despite the fact the bread is a little heavy. It's great for things other than just a loaf of bread because it mixes, kneads and proofs. If you want rolls all you have to do is take it out, shape and bake in your oven. The same with pizza dough. You can also freeze you dough and use it another time.
An all round good breadmaker for the price
My love affair with baking & cooking started at an early age. Coming from a family of excellent male home cooks, it was only a matter of time before I developed the 'cooking bug' & a natural flare was expressed.
I could not be described as one of these crazed 'foodies' that encapsulate themselves in all things food like an artichokes leafs to it's heart but I enjoy nothing more, on a Sunday morning, than donning the apron & surrounding myself in culinary paraphernalia.
A favourite of mine is bread making & this is where the Cookware bread maker comes into play. I do enjoy working myself into a sweaty frenzy mess, incessantly kneading bread but when time is short & the craving of fresh bread beckons, this machine is a God send. Beginners & more adept bakers will use & love this.
If you're feeling adventurous you can create any of the 'exotic' breads that the recipe book contains (as well as other non-bread recipes), OR you could just add the necessary ingredients & use the dough setting. This takes all of the effort of kneading & the first prove and leaves you with the perfect bread dough that can be shaped, easily, into rolls or thrown into any shaped bread-tin you desire & baked in the oven. This allows for a variety of different finishes, shapes/styles (sorry, went a bit foodie) AND a welcomed baking smell filled house.
Maybe I'm being shallow saying this but the only downside of this machine is aesthetics of the product: the loaf is a little small, but it's that simple to make, you could use it a few times a week (for those bread enthusiasts). This is easy to clean, dishwasher safe(well the parts that come directly in contact - not the whole machine ha ha) & ingredients are relatively cheap, so its just as convenient as going to the supermarket but it tastes better & is likely better for you.
If you're considering buying this item & still reading this, I'm puzzled as to why you haven't leaped - mid-review - from your seat and ventured to your nearest establishment that sells Cookworks bread maker. Great value for money & I'd definitely recommend.


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#RSL Tweets of the Day (@RealSaltLake)
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Luis Gil should be at least training with the full team.
RealSaltLake.com: Video Preview: RSL v. Seattle Sounders FC
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ESPN 700: Tony Beltran on The Bill & Hans Show
ABC 4: RSL eager to get back after long layoff
MLSsoccer.com: Tim Cahill, Robbie Rogers, the Sons of Ben | MLS Insider Episode 1
Real Salt Lake News & Notes
RealSaltLake.com: Preview: RSL v. Seattle Sounders FC
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MLSsoccer.com: Real Salt Lake go young, and find a new blueprint in the process | THE WORD
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The Salt Lake Tribune: RSL confident in Carlos Salcedo at center back
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For the Fans, By the Fans
RSL Soapbox: Three questions with Sounder at Heart: Seattle squad could suffer
From the Upper Deck: Statistically Speaking – Spotlight on Ned Grabavoy
MLS, Other News & Notes
MLSsoccer.com: USA 1, Spain 4 | U-20 World Cup Match Recap
MLSsoccer.com: U-20 World Cup: Despite loss to Spain, US coach Tab Ramos satisfied with aggressive strategy
MLSsoccer.com: U-20 World Cup: "Monumental" effort, lopsided loss have US looking for answers with France looming
MLSsoccer.com: Starting XI: What's happening in Houston? Are the Timbers actually underachieving? Who will claim the SuperClasico?
MLSsoccer.com: Rumor Central: Taylor Twellman hints Carlos Bocanegra to MLS | The Sideline
Pro Soccer Talk: USA U-20's picked apart by Spain, but coach satisfied
Pro Soccer Talk: Orlando City SC manager believes MLS status could likely mean Kaka's signature in 2015
Soccer By Ives: Terrible defending dooms U.S. Under-20's in blowout loss to Spain in World Cup opener
Soccer By Ives: MLS Week 17: A look ahead


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The Viking Experience
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Photographer's Note
The bonus at this Costa Rica butterfly garden near Avenal Volcanic National Park were the very attractive homo sapiens.
Part of a 10 day all inclusive tour of Costa Rica by www.Caravan.com
Nobody has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
worldcitizen (10306) 2013-07-01 15:45
Cute photo, Ray. :-)
I also have giant butterfly wings, so I can appreciate the scene even more. (I wear them once a year for a personal celebration) :-) The ladies have nice smiles, and their costumes are so colorful. The little frog on the bottom with the giant head is especially cute.
bona (13739) 2013-07-01 17:37
Hi Ray,
lovely capture of this ladies with the costumes. I like the vibrant colors. Was it a kind of festival?
Indrasish (2943) 2013-07-01 20:07
Hi Ray,
Lovely shot of these butterfly girls.. Colorful costumes
made this photo very eye catchy.. Also superb image quality.. You did a great job..
Good morning from India..
Warm regards,
mcmtanyel (36951) 2013-07-01 20:16
Hi Ray,
The colors are beautiful, the sharpness and exposure are spot on! You have managed to frame it quite well. Did I mention that the colors are beautiful?
emka (116965) 2013-07-01 23:26
Hi Ray, These homo sapiens are very attractive! What a strange butterflies. I like this red one. Funny picture and note, nice composition, very good colours and sharpness.
Warm regrads
jhm (169682) 2013-07-02 3:49
Hello Ray,
This is a nice extra when visiting at the butterfly garden.
These three young ladies are wonderful models for the photographer.
Sharpness and clarity be superb.
Excellent composition, nice presentation, TFS.
Best regards,
No_One (4) 2013-07-02 4:57
Hi Ray,
A nice surprise to find this extra treat at the display, the costumes are brilliant and make for a really good photo. The bright colors of the lady in red is cool, and like mentioned above, I cant but smile at the frog lady too :) Her smile is contagious.
Great scene, well captured. Cheers
mesutilgim (99338) 2013-07-02 11:58
Hello Ray,
Nice and colorfull capture, full of life and energy !
TFS and best regards
Miguel82 (27750) 2013-07-03 9:33
Excellent portrait of these animators Ray,
Mariposa, rana y ave
I like the costumes and their smiles, great report from Costa Rica, a country paying attention to environment protection and with the highest % of protected land in the world with Botswana
Photo Information
- Copyright: Ray Anderson (photoray) (13981)
- Genre: People
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2013-04-00
- Categories: Festivals
- Camera: Canon 5D Mark III
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2013-07-01 14:49
- Favorites: 1 [view]


text:
OCEAN CITY – A little more than seven years after convicted killers Benjamin and Erika Sifrit brutally murdered and dismembered a Virginia couple vacationing in the resort on Memorial Day weekend in 2002, a new book detailing perhaps the most heinous crime in Ocean City history was released this week.
On Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in 2002, the Sifrits lured their eventual victims, Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley, back to their resort condominium after spending the evening with them in a nightclub before brutally murdering them in a bathroom and dismembering their bodies, parts of which were found in a Delaware landfill nine days later. The Sifrits were caught during a botched attempt at a burglary nearly a week later and the trail of evidence led investigators to the scene of the murders.
In April 2003, Benjamin Sifrit was convicted of second-degree murder, first-degree assault and accessory after the fact for his part in the killing of Crutchley and was sentenced to 38 years in jail. Erika Sifrit was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Ford and second-degree murder in the death of Crutchley in a separate trial that same year and was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years. Each has filed numerous appeals at different levels and for different reasons, none of which has come to fruition.
Seven years later, well-known crime expert, lecturer, investigative journalist and best-selling author M. William Phelps this week released his latest work, "Cruel Death," which meticulously documents the days leading up to the horrific murders in Ocean City and the days that followed. The non-fiction work provides vivid details not before made public as well as an insight into the psychology of the crimes following years of research by the author.
"Cruel Death" was released on Tuesday and has already made its way up the charts. On the day the book was officially released, The Dispatch interviewed Phelps about the book, how he became interested in the story and what he found out along the way.
Q. How did you come across the story?
A. A friend of mine at Jupiter Productions, Donna Dudek, a producer on the Snap series on Oxygen, brought it to my attention. They were doing some interviews for the story. She alerts me to stories she thinks I'll be interested in some times and while they were filming, she told me about it. I started to look into it and started to make some calls. First of all, I need to find out who's going to talk to me, you know. Without enough people, I usually just pass on the story.
I generally don't get mixed up in stories as gruesome as this. It's not usually my thing. My thing is usually female serial killers, or female murderers. It's kind of bizarre to put an index, a 1-10 on violence, but I tend to be at the lower end of the scale. It fascinated me because you have two people from such strong backgrounds. How do you go from the All-American basketball player and business owner and daughter of a wealthy construction guy, and an honor man and Navy SEAL? How do you go from there to dismembering two people? And later, what I found out they do to these people after death? How do you go from one to the other? There has to be something in between, so that started to pique my interest.
Q. I read somewhere you tend to stay away from the more gruesome stories. What drove you to write about this case?
A. My goal is to try to- I'm not interested in the trial. The trial is obviously part of the story, but if you watch a Lifetime movie about a crime, the trial is always the five minutes at the end. I try not to focus on the trial. I try to focus on what happened leading up to that point.
I like to write about fascinating police detectives and investigators who I think are above and beyond. In this case, you had two detectives who went above and beyond and one in particular who really ruined his entire career over it, I mean, who was just devastated by it, and that's Scott Bernal.
He had never spoken to anybody and when I approached him, when I approached people around him, I got the same thing. He's not going to talk to you. Then one day, I got a call from him, saying, 'Hey, come down to Ocean City and I'll be glad to talk to you. We ended up talking for about eight hours and it changed my entire career as a writer. The stuff that's not in the book is stuff that's not ever going to be known. This is a horror show that no one ever – I do outline some of it in the book – but it's just beyond belief. It really is.
For the complete interview, see The Dispatch tomorrow morning.


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© 2007 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Dodgers, Jones continue to talk
LA only willing to offer short-term deal to free-agent outfielder
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Talks between the Dodgers and Andruw Jones, suspended on Monday, were revived on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings, but there's still no deal and no sign from general manager Ned Colletti that one will result. "Nothing's changed but the day on the calendar," said Colletti, who added that the demands of years and money are still too great for his appetite. Nonetheless, the Dodgers met with Jones' agent, Scott Boras, on Tuesday with both sides aware that the Dodgers are willing to offer a short-term contract to the 30-year-old center fielder, who is coming off the worst season (.222 average, 26 homers, 94 RBIs) of his career. Chances are they will meet again this week, because there's a fit between the two and mutual interest. Jones would provide the Dodgers with a 10-time Gold Glove winner in center field and a feared bat in the middle of the order, while the short term of the deal would allow Jones to revisit free agency while still relatiavely young (he's 30) with greater negotiating leverage if his offensive production returns to previous levels (he slugged 92 homers with 257 RBIs the previous two seasons). Jones likely would seek a structure more along the lines of the one that former Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta gave J.D. Drew for a longer term with an opt-out. Drew exercised that escape clause last winter, leading to all kinds of offseason intrigue. Acquiring an outfielder of Jones' stature would allow the Dodgers more flexibility for trades, perhaps even to consider moving Matt Kemp as the cornerstone of a package to obtain one of the few prime trade targets on the market like Johan Santana, Erik Bedard or Dan Haren. Miguel Cabrera, dealt to Detroit in Tuesday's blockbuster, was at the top of the Dodgers' target list. But Colletti refused to part with three premium players (believed to be Jonathan Broxton, Kemp and Clayton Kershaw) plus prospect Andy LaRoche. Colletti said he is not of the mind to break up the core of the youth movement and that three-for-one or four-for-one was too much to deal for any single player. "You fill a one-year need with a tremendous player and look around and have three more needs to fill," he said. "I'm not sure how you gain on the process." Apparently, the Marlins never backed off from their original demands. Colletti said the ability of Detroit to acquire players of the caliber of Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis because of a surplus of young pitching illustrates the value of protecting young pitchers.
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.