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The Federal Government will Become America's Model Employer for the 21st Century.
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Find out more about Federal compensation throughout your career and around the world.
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Washington, DC - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kay Coles James and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today launched the HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge, the first governmentwide effort to encourage all 2.7 million Federal employees to get moving for health. The six-week campaign, which is part of President George W. Bush's HealthierUS initiative, will help inform the Federal workforce on how to make physical activity a daily habit.
More than half of American adults do not get enough physical activity to gain health benefits. The HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge provides all Federal employees the tools and motivation to take steps to improve their health and well-being.
"President Bush is committed to providing the Federal team with the policies, benefits, and tools necessary for them to take control of their own healthcare needs," said Director James. "Federal employees will have 249 options under the Federal health plan in 2005, they will have access to both Flexible Savings Accounts and Health Savings Accounts, and today, they have a powerful web tool to monitor their fitness progress. Secretary Thompson and I trust Federal employees to make the right decisions necessary to improve their fitness and choose the best healthcare for themselves and their family."
As part of OPM's overall efforts to educate Federal employees on health issues, OPM created a new website on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), www.opm.gov/hsa, highlighting this new tax-advantaged option introduced as part of the 2005 Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. HSAs empower Federal employees with greater choice and control over how they use their hard-earned dollars to meet the health care needs of themselves and their families. Illustrating the high level of interest in HSAs, and the willingness of employees to actively educate themselves on health issues, just two weeks after the new site was posted, over 40,000 individuals have visited the site to learn more.
Secretary Thompson also highlighted the importance of physical health on a personal level saying, "I challenge the Federal workforce to make physical activity a daily part of their lives...our Federal employees particularly in HealthierFeds will set an example for others across the nation."
The 2004 HealthierFeds campaign is comprised of three components: 1) education and awareness, 2) personal progress and responsibility, and 3) benchmarking/best practices. The website, www.healthierfeds.gov, includes health information for employees and agencies, including information on the new tax-advantaged Health Savings Accounts, FEHB carriers' information, and downloadable posters and other materials.
Additionally, the HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge will utilize the President's Challenge, a program of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which calls for adults to be active for at least 30 minutes a day on five or more days each week.
"Besides reducing demand on the health care system and its associated costs, the HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge can inspire many of our employees to make lifestyle changes that will make them healthier and more productive public servants," James added. "We intend HealthierFeds to be a model for agencies as well as for private employers."
For more information on HealthierFeds and to sign up for the challenge, visit www.healthierfeds.gov.
Our mission is to Recruit, Retain and Honor a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.


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Start Slideshow
- Pop Down Mushroom Farm by Fletcher PriestAfter seeing the huge success of NYC's wildly anticipated High Line park, the Mayor of London decided that his city's open spaces could use a little sprucing up as well - so he teamed up with The Landscape Institute and the Garden Museum to launch the Green Infrastructure Ideas Competition. The contest asked designers to re-imagine underused or derelict areas as green public spaces - and the grand prize winner is an underground mushroom farm designed by Fletcher Priest! Called "Pop Down", the farm would be planted in 'mail rail' tunnels which were previously used to allow post office workers to deliver their parcels without having to navigate the crowded street above. Read on to learn more!1
- London High Line CompetitionThe competition was hosted by The Landscape Institute, the Mayor of London and the Garden Museum, and judged by a panel of experts that included the founders of the High Line. Over 170 designs were entered, and we were suprised to learn that, unlike the High Line, which lifts New Yorkers away from the urban hustle and bustle, London chose a winning design that will require some digging.2
- London LIdo Line by Y/N StudioThe runner-up award went to Y/N Studio's Lido Line, which would revamp a portion of the Regent's Canal, transforming it into an outdoor lap pool for those who were inspired by this year's summer Olympics. The retrofitted channel would make it possible to swim the 'Lido Line' from Little Venice all the way to Limehouse.3
- London Bridge-It by HTABridge-It by HTA seeks to unlock inaccessible transport corridors around the existing transport network with green linear parks built over, under and beside railway lines that open up cycling and walking networks.4
- Barge Walk by Erika Richmond and Peggy Pei-Chi ChiBarge Walk by Erika Richmond and Peggy Pei-Chi Chi is a design to re-connect people with water via the creation of a linear park, a farm and wetland on floating barges at the edge of Canary Wharf.5
- Bus Roots by Wynne JamesBus Roots by Wynne James makes use of the many empty roof spaces of bus shelters to create raised gardens with sparrow colonies, insect hotels and miniature wildflower meadows. Each bus shelter garden would be looked after by its local community, school or street.6
- [Re]Structure by Scott Badham and Ian Fisher[Re]Structure by Scott Badham and Ian Fisher is a system of biocentric 'mats' and 'sleeves' that can be layered onto buses, trams and trains to create mobile gardens.7
- Green Arteries by Bell Phillips Architects, Spacehub and AECOMGreen Arteries by Bell Phillips Architects, Spacehub and AECOM is a scheme to transform London's flyovers into productive and beautiful green arteries to reduce the urban heat island effect and traffic noise and encourage biodiversity.8

subset: commoncrawl


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"We are on the brink of making history," said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "An end to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' cannot happen soon enough. This arcane and costly policy has destroyed thousands of careers, wasted much-needed dollars, and failed to enhance our nation's security."
The Senate passed the repeal bill by a vote of 65 to 31 earlier today. TPM reports, "It's all quite anticlimactic to the drama fans, but for the proponents of DADT repeal, this afternoon's vote is one that really matters."
TPM also reported that Sen. Joe Manchin, the only Democrat to join with Republicans last week to defeat an effort to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," remained opposed to ending the law. He skipped the vote altogether, TPM reports, to attend a Christmas Party.
The bill now goes to President Obama, who urged the Senate to pass the repeal measure, and has promised to sign it. TPM says that's likely to happen next week.
Obama applauded the vote, saying in a press statement, "the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend."
The Atlantic blogger Andrew Sullivan, a longtime opponent of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which was signed into law by former President Bill Clinton, lauded Obama's deliberate efforts to ensure that the repeal came out of Congress.
"Without the Pentagon study, it wouldn't have passed," Sullivan, wrote. "Without keeping Lieberman [Sen. Joe Lieberman] inside the tent, it wouldn't have passed. Without the critical relationship between Bob Gates and Obama, it wouldn't have happened. It worked our last nerve; we faced at one point a true nightmare of nothing ... for years. And then we pulled behind this president, making it his victory and the country's victory, as well as ours."


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Does anyone know how to make the Dresden Plate pattern by paper piecing with coffee filters? It was in the June 08 Quilter's World. I have always loved the pattern but not sure if I like the process of making it. Thought maybe this would make it easier.
Thanks to anyone who can help.


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Summer in the city … and it's hot, hot, hot
SUMMER is back with a vengeance. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the mercury in Sydney will reach 36 degrees on Saturday - the fourth hottest summer opening on record and more than 10 degrees above the monthly average.
A low-pressure trough began visiting muggy air on Sydney on Friday, when temperatures hit 31 degrees.
At CBD railway stations, CityRail quieted queuing passengers by spraying them with a fine mist. The enterprising people at Woolworths online cut the price of Zooper Doopers in half.
At Western Plains Zoo, rhinoceroses wallowed in mud baths and keepers fed overheated otters prawncicles.
The hot air moving through Sydney has been baking central and western NSW for the past week and much of the state has recorded temperatures 10-12 degrees above average.
''There's very hot and humid air brought ahead of that trough,'' said Andrew Treloar, of the Bureau of Meteorology.
Those winds are expected to crowd out the sea breeze that typically mitigates heat in the city. Temperatures in Richmond are still forecast to hit 41 degrees on Saturday - about 12 degrees higher than the December average.
Charles Cotton, the director of lifesaving at Bondi Beach, said he expected crowds to peak in the mid-afternoon. Pools are also expected to be busy. At Andrew Charlton Pool 100 swimmers arrived in 15 minutes near the peak of Friday's heat.
At the Sydney Fish Markets they expect to use about 36 tonnes of extra ice today.
NSW Health is promoting a ''Beat the Heat'' message, which advises people to drink plenty of water and stay out of the sun.
State emergency operations controller, Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Murdoch, warned people not to leave their children or pets in cars, even for a short time.
But relief is not far off. ''We're expecting the change overnight,'' Mr Treloar said. The bureau says there's a chance of showers and a summer storm in Sydney.
And the front passing up the NSW coast will leave milder weather in its wake. Temperatures are expected to drop to 24 degrees on Sunday and stay in the mid-20s all week.
James Robertson is a Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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I have used this strategy for years. It's very effective with struggling readers.
Choral reading is reading aloud in unison with a whole class or group of students. Choral reading helps build students' fluency, self-confidence, and motivation. Because students are reading aloud together, students who may ordinarily feel self-conscious or nervous about reading aloud have built-in support.


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I'm super excited to continue our partnership with Pringles to do a series of awesome giveaways as part of "The Force for Fun" Campaign.
This week's featured video is "The Delectable Weapon" (by Ryan O'Rourke & John Griese)
All Luke needed to do at his confrontation of Vader during ESB was give his dad one of his Pringles.
True Story.
This week, we're giving away a really cool Star Wars R2-D2 Folding Armchair!
(plus some Pringles!)
All you have to do is follow the instructions in the widget below!Powered by Sidelines


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I more often then not play the Mortal Kombat theme song and find **** to throw, like books and what not when someone hits a big shot.
Nothings too embarrassing when you're going hard for your team lol.
How bout y'all?
I more often then not play the Mortal Kombat theme song and find **** to throw, like books and what not when someone hits a big shot.
Nothings too embarrassing when you're going hard for your team lol.
How bout y'all?
Prepare a glass of water and pour out two asprin because I know imma need it down the stretch.
Tonight i was listening to Ghostface Killahs Ghostdeini Wizard of Poetry album while watching the 4th quarter
On Fridays i drink a 40, smoke some weed and newports while watching the game
i def love to smoke before a knicks game it just makes it so much more entertaining, especially after the halftime break and its down to the clutch. the big shots have me yelling and screaming
sucks that I need to get high to enjoy life nowadays >_<
Smoke a bowl, bite my nails, try not to have a heart attack as it comes down to the wire
kick everyone out my room because I cant deal with obnoxious noise when I'm watching a close Knicks game, pace back in forth and close my eyes whenever the opposing teams shoots a 3, they usually miss
Im 55, been smoking weed (Kiya) all my life, its the best Rheumatism medicine on the market with daily exercise....the price of Newports will make u old n senile in N.Y.
Our 3rd and 4th quarter substitution-plan is why I put 80% of our success or failure on the headcoach.
Jorts, Jefferies, Novak...should be doing extra overtime before & after practice so they could start the 4th quarter....there is no reason why those 3-frontcourt players are not gellin by now with all the long absence of Stat.
The small 3-guard lineup starting the 4th quarter is good when they have fresh run-run legs....not when the 3-guard lineup is expected to play all of the minutes in the 3rd & 4th quarter...
I curse like some of the best black comedians and then transfer my rage onto the game thread. Or...
I yell and scream like a little scottish school boy when we are kicking ass and transfer my Knick gayness onto the game thread.
Real Talk
Standing. I watch the game sitting down for the most part but in the 4th i'm usually on my feet. I'm also usually trying to tell the missus to quiet down. She loves to talk during the game but in the 4th of a close game, i'm not in the mood to chit chat.
I just grab my pillow....and squeeeeze
i get really hyped and start yelling at the wife and tell her to gimme that 'what ever food she has in her hand at the moment'. Sometimes she just gives me a blank stare , other times, is a loud 'NO' yell back!


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Firebird Enviromax Heatpac C20 Oil - Boiler Efficiency Ratings
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You can find out the energy efficiency of your boiler by checking its energy rating; you can do this now by selecting the make and model below.
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#6 Baseball Holds On To Edge #16 Oregon State 4-3
May 18, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. - A magnificent pitching performance by Mike Leake and a few timely ground balls helped lead the Sun Devils to a 4-3 victory over the Oregon State Beavers on Friday night in Corvallis. Leake went 8.2 innings to pick up the win, upping Arizona State's record to 39-12, 15-4 in the Pac-10.
Leake allowed only five hits and two earned runs, striking out seven to improve to 11-1 on the season. Jason Jarvis picked up his seventh save, recording the final out in the ninth.
Eric Sogard got things going for the Sun Devil offense in the first, singling home Tim Smith in the top of the first to make it 1-0 ASU early. The lead did not last long however, as Mitch Canham took Mike Leake deep to right with two outs in the bottom of the first to even things at one.
Matt Spencer put ASU back on top in the third, doubling to left center to score Eric Sogard. An RBI groundout by Petey Paramore scored Ike Davis, making it 3-1 Sun Devils. The Beavers struck again with two outs in the third, pushing one across to cut the lead to 3-2. Ryan Sontag extended that lead to 4-2 in the sixth, bringing home a run on a pinch-hit ground out.
It appeared that Mike Leake would get a complete game victory, after quickly recording two outs in the top of the ninth. But a Matt Hall error extended the OSU inning, and then a walk ended the night for Leake. Jason Jarvis allowed a hit that scored an unearned run before a sparkling defensive play for Romine ended the game.
Eric Sogard was 3-5 with an RBI, while Ike Davis added two hits of his own.
The Devils and Beavers will do it again tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. from Goss Stadium at Coleman Field.
Basketball Pre-Game ShowTODAY | 4:30pm PTLive
TODAY | 5:00pm PTLive
TODAY | 7:00pm PTLive


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If you love using your iPhone 4 to take photos but sorely miss the look and feel of a vintage camera then this is the case for you. This old school cover will protect your iPhone 4 from bumps and scratches whilst looking just like the classic G4 camera, complete with realistic details. There are cutouts for all the necessary buttons, ports and the camera lens on your iPhone 4. - A.D.
Please remember to add postal time (2-3 working days) to obtain a complete estimate of delivery to your door.
You will receive an email to confirm when your item has been sent.
You can also check the status of your order and individual items by accessing My Account details and following the prompts.
Please allow 10 working days from dispatch of your order before notifying us of any late deliveries.
It may be advisable to check with your neighbours to see if a parcel has been left with them, check any outhouses you might have where it may be left if it cannot fit through your letterbox and contact your local sorting office to see if the item has been returned to the depot as undelivered and awaiting collection.
Please see our returns policy.
Where reviews refer to foods or cosmetic products, results may vary from person to person. Customer reviews are independent and do not represent the views of The Hut Group.
(6 Reviews)
This is a good phone case, fits the iPhone well, and looks good. It hasn't scratched since I've been using it. Protects the side and corners of the phone too.
A perfect gift for a photography enthusiast. My friend loves this gift i got her, very detailed and looks much like a camera.
Excellent G4 Camera Styled Cover for iPhone 4, fits perfectly. As an avid photographer it is a very cool addition to my kit!
The G4 Camera Styled Cover for iPhone 4 is a great case for the iPhone and looks cool when on.
I bought this G4 Camera Styled Cover for iPhone 4, being a photography addict I thought that this would be the perfect style. The case is lightweight but will look after the phone well and it's perfect for people that don't want big, and bulky cases.
Nice cover for your iPhone. It's retro and looks just like it does on the site.


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UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
JULY, 2009 River Falls Journal —Boyd Huppert's broadcasting days continued at the campus radio station at UW-River Falls in the early 1980s.
How does the son of a well-known River Falls dairy farmer go on to become one of the most recognized TV reporters in the Twin Cities? KARE-11 TV general assignment reporter Boyd Huppert said that upbringing is more important than one might imagine.
Yet he admits he was never cut out to be a farmer like his dad, Andy, or even his brother, Jay.
"It needs to be in your blood," said the 47-year-old Huppert, a 1980 River Falls High School graduate. "There was never any pressure to farm or follow in their footsteps, though my brother Jay and his wife Lisa have done a remarkable job with the farm since my folks retired. We were all encouraged to strike out on our own."
A journalism class taught by Don Richards (current River Falls mayor) sparked his interest back in the late 1970s. The teacher later helped Huppert land a part-time job at local radio station WEVR.
Today Huppert has been at KARE-11 for 13 years. He's won numerous awards, including 33 regional Emmys and five national Edward R. Murrows.
The most recent -- another prestigious national Murrow award -- was for a feature called "Duck in a Truck." Huppert and photojournalist Jonathan Malat, a co-recipient, will go to New York this September for the honors.
Huppert said he loves the storytelling aspect of his job, considering it both a privilege and creative outlet. He also enjoys collaborating with all the other people who help make the stories happen.
"Yes, I do get ribbed about the amount of stories I do for Pierce and St. Croix counties that I bring back," Huppert said. "The videotape editor will say, 'Let me guess, you were in River Falls today.'"
The reporter and former UW-River Falls student says family influences helped him learn a strong work ethic and good listening skills. He worked at a TV station in Wausau, met his wife, Sheri, at the Pierce County Fair and went on to work at Omaha and Milwaukee TV stations before starting at KARE-11 in 1996.
Read more about Huppert's career and connections to local life in the July 30, 2009 print edition of the River Falls Journal.


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Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by Dream, Dec 19, 2012.
If not him, Nestor Carbonell would suit nicely as well.
The most famous TZ episode in the 80s was the Danny Kaye one, which was one of if not his actual last role, written by Harlan Ellison.
So don't write off the revivals. It's all about who they get to write for it.
In fact, in the first season of the original show, Serling only did voiceovers intros and closings in the episode proper, only appearing on-camera at the end to deliver the preview for the next week's episode. The first time he appeared in the body of an episode was in a closing gag appended to the first-season finale, usually missing in syndication. The episode, "A World of His Own,"
Spoiler: A World of His Own
featured Keenan Wynn as a writer whose characters came to life and vanished when he destroyed the dictaphone recordings that described them. At the end, Serling came on and apologized for the "ridiculous nonsense" of the story, and Wynn's character reacts in outrage, pulling out an envelope marked "Rod Serling" and tossing it in the fire, whereupon Serling shrugged, said "Well, that's the way it goes," and vanished.
Twilight Zone: The Movie also had voiceovers only, delivered by frequent TZ player Burgess Meredith.
Except that the OL revival was still more SF-oriented rather than fantasy. Basically the driving idea behind the Showtime OL, besides putting in lots of sexual content for pay cable, was a rather ferocious Luddism -- most of the stories were about the eeeevills of technology and the punishment of people who dared to Dabble in Things Man Was Not Meant to Know. Basically its philosophy was that we should never, ever try to learn anything new or improve our lives or do anything scientific at all because it will damn us. I hated that about it.
Not really, because it's still trivializing a horrific act. In general, it's an obnoxious hypberbole to talk about being disappointed in a work of fiction as if it were in any way comparable to a life-changing violent crime.
And I'm on record as saying that the following syndicated season did recapture that original vibe pretty well. Just because I didn't care for one or two specific attempts to revive it, that doesn't mean I think it's valid to say that it should never be tried again. Sure, by Sturgeon's Law, most attempts to revive an old series, like most attempts to do anything else in entertainment, will be disappointing -- but sooner or later there will be one that works. So if one or two attempts are disappointing, that's a reason to keep trying, not to stop trying.
There were actually quite a few OL episodes that weren't Luddite, although there were quite too many. I can see getting turned off by that. There was a period of time when the ostentatious antitechnology messages in some Star Trek episodes got on my nerves, until I realized that the show was covertly identifying "technology" with, not just new inventions and knowledge, but social repression. It would have been better writing if they'd realized this of course.
The first season of the second Outer Limits series had a capstone finale that referenced most of the seemingly standalone episodes as part of an overall arc. Alien invasion I think it was. The punch line is that the hardnosed guy that seemed to be the alien mole suppressing the information was in fact the guy who, upon being convinced, was necessarily eliminated by the aliens (or whatever.) I don't think season two has been put out as a set, (at least it's not on Netflix,) but I have no desire to follow this arc. I do wish the whole series was available though.
Anthologies have a profound structural advantage over series. Namely, the story told can be the most important story (leading to the biggest changes) of the protagonist's life. Regular series, which tend to keep the characters the same, may depict the slow changes of real life more faithfullly. But that tends to be less dramatic.
Serialized stories are generally stuck with open-ended lack of structure, cheating the stories of dramatic resolution. Worse, since they still focus on a limited set of protagonists they tend to either repeat the same story for each character (Apollo keeps reconciling with his father, for instance,) Or they end up undoing what plot resolutions they manage to achieve just to continue the plot (the Scarrans are still a giant threat even though Crichton & Co. destroyed the space flowers that made them intelligent, for instance.)
The drawback of course is that the viewer must invest in new characters every week. Movies of course tend to try to overcome this by casting stars, leading audiences to invest in the characters because they're invested in the actor. From a production standpoint, new sets and new stars (loosely speaking, TV stars don't have the massive popularity of movie stars usually,) for less reliable ratings is a losing proposition. Hence, the lower proportion of anthology series, despite the on average artistic superiority.
Maybe, but half-hour anthologies also have vastly smaller shares of their running time to devote to setting scenes/establishing characters. That doesn't leave much room for plot, but if one jumps straight into the plot in media res, it can be hard to make the characters feel authentic. Also, a focus on a particular theme/tone/mood can stifle creativity as much as encourage it. I'm not discounting the points you do make about anthologies, but I don't think they're wildly comparatively blessed against standard series, either.
Both anthologies and ongoing series have their own advantages and virtues, as well as their own limitations. Which is why it's good to have both. It shouldn't be a competition.
I hope this is gonna be Star Trek on Earth, like fringe unwittingly tried to be, leading the way to Singer ushering in a starship based space opera. it doesn't have to be expensive. It's never gonna look like JJ's Trek anyway but the stories will be much better and more memorable and important and relevant which is really what Trek is all about.
That's not what I was responding to. You said, "What concept? What is there for a purist to get up in arms about?" The answer is, as you said, there is a vibe (among other things) to a concept that, if it isn't captured, displeases us purists. That's why 80s network TZ and Scooby Doo with real ghosts don't work for you and Twilight Zone: The Movie and nuTrek don't work for me.
^You're missing the point by taking those sentences out of context. I was objecting to the other poster's statement that the entire concept should be "left alone" just because one or two attempts at it didn't work. I've already explained that in the post you just quoted.
The short running time today on half-hour anthologies is a good point. All current broadcast and basic cable television has been severely damaged by the time lost to ads. Premium cable hasn't really used its freer format. It seems to me they are keeping the broadcast act structure.This seems to be for two reasons. First, they seem to be writing with broadcast syndication in mind anyhow. Second, it's easier to fake innovative writing by taking advantage of the freer standards for sex and violence.
However it most certainly is a competition. An anthology show can't just have an audience of millions, it has to have an audience more millions larger than ongoing series and serials that might have their spot. Currently we have no anthology series. I am baffled as to how someone could say we have both with a straight face, even in an impersonal internet format.
Michael Emerson would probably be a good host but the person I thought of when I first saw this thread was Robert Carlyle.
Let's see, possible hosts for TZ. Lindsay Wagner, Joe Morton, Christopher Heyerdahl and Amanda Tapping spring to mind. I don't know about Michael Emerson. He'd be good to appear in TZ, but not to host it. Part of the appeal of Rod Serling was that his straight-laced appearance and demeanor were in contrast to the exotic story material.
Well, that's not what you said, but never mind.
For host, I'm picturing Jon Hamm with a cigarette.
Not surprising I love this idea!
It might be possible. Hosting this would not take as much time as a regular series commitment.
Loved the original, liked the 80's reboot a lot, the UPN reboot meandered between mediocre and suck. This does not bode well for a doing it again thing. But, if they get good writing, well OK. Don't forget that it wasn't just Serling, but Matheson and Beaumont that made the original.
There's so much good SF material that's been written it's kinda amazing that so much of the dramatic SF (film and TV) has been pure crap. Sturgeons law strikes again.
Okay, here's the thing: Serling wasn't just some frontman they hired to read the lines. He was the show's creator and head writer, the one presenting it to the audience as his own work. Much like John Newland being both host and director of Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, or Hitchcock being the creator, executive producer, and occasional director of Alfred Hitchcock Presents as well as its presenter. It made it somewhat special that one of the actual people responsible for the work was presenting it to us, not just saying "Here's a story they're paying me to pitch to you" but "Here's a story I had a hand in making." And the fact that Serling wasn't a polished actor, that he was awkward and stiff on camera, was part of his charm.
So I say the host should be... Bryan Singer. He's going to be one of the key creative minds behind the show, as Serling was. He's as much a celebrity creator today as Serling was in his day. He's photogenic and reasonably well-spoken. He's even done a bit of acting in X2 and Star Trek Nemesis, so he presumably has a SAG card. To my eye, he even bears a slight (okay, very slight) physical resemblance to Serling. (And his name is almost an anagram of Serling! Okay, that's reaching.)
You're kind of missing the point of Sturgeon's Law there. The whole idea is that the ratio of good to bad is no worse in television than it is in prose or anywhere else. It came about when one of Theodore Sturgeon's literary colleagues questioned why he'd write for Star Trek given that 90 percent of television was garbage. Sturgeon replied that 90 percent of everything is garbage. For every great work of SF in prose, there are plenty of bad or mediocre works, the same as in film and television.
I would absolutely love and prefer for Singer to host this. It seems like that is rare these days. I am not sure why. Back than you also had Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock hosting their own series. I really know nothing about Alfred Hitchcock Presents. But I know that Walt Disney was clearly the driving force behind his weekly television series. Even if he did not personally write or direct the actual content. Disney felt uncomfortable filming his hosting segments. But did it because he knew he was the only one who could do it. I remember reading someone speculate that Amazing Stories was hurt by Steven Spielberg not hosting that show. Without him up front it had no identity. Just another producer credit for him.
I imagine Singer would be criticized and judged for trying to replace Rod Serling if he hosted this new show. He is already getting it for simply producing a new one. Hosting it would greatly amplify that criticism. I guess its depends whether Singer is willing to face all that.
Why not just get Ed Wasser to host?
What Do You Want?
I admit I do like the idea of Jon Hamm as host.
Separate names with a comma.


text:
YORBA LINDA – Early in Donald Rumseld's talk Monday at the Nixon library, a couple of critics in the audience offered some feedback.
"The ends don't justify the means," shouted a man with a ponytail, possibly referring to the Iraq War, waterboarding or the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
Read Wisckol's interview with Rumsfeld about the world at war.
"Bush lied; people died," added a woman as the ushers quickly moved in to escort the pair outside.
Rumsfeld, defense secretary at the time of the Iraq War, jumped right in, taking the opportunity to defend George W. Bush's decision to invade.
"Bush didn't lie," he said, rebutting accusations that evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was trumped up as a pretext for launching the war.
He ticked off support from CIA chief George Tenet and the speech to the United Nations by Secretary of State Colin Powell arguing the case for such weapons' existence.
"Hillary Clinton and John Kerry voted for" the bill authorizing the war, Rumsfeld said, before making the case that it was a good decision. "We know that the butcher of Baghdad, Saddam Hussein, is gone."
Rumsfeld, 80, was in town as part of his book tour for "Rumsfeld's Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life." The volume contains nearly 400 aphorisms including, "Lawyers are like beavers. They get in the middle of the stream and dam it up."
He was greeted by a standing ovation and clearly enjoyed his repartee with the crowd of about 500, especially once his critics had left. He offered some brief opening comments but spent most of his hour at the lectern fielding questions by bantering with the audience, discussing issues of the day and serving up a steady diet of witticisms.
"As a man once said, I stand by what I meant to say," went one. "Washington is 60 square miles surrounded by reality," went another.
He discussed the Benghazi, Libya, controversy, the IRS and the future of China. And he bemoaned the shrinking defense budget.
"The biggest problem I worry about when I go to bed at night … is America's weakness," he said, referring to defense cuts and Europe as a model for slimmed-down defense spending. "The signal we're sending the world is that we won't be a country that contributes to a peaceful world."
But he also expressed optimism for the United States, noting the country had survived "a lot worse than today."
"Is it possible there's a tipping point?" he said. "Have we reached it? I doubt it. The American people have a lot of fiber.
"The idea that any one citizen cannot make a difference is not true. Each individual can do a lot."
Contact the writer: 714-796-6753 or firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
On Monday, Alex Webb recorded six strikeouts in five innings and gave up one hit, one walk and one hit by a pitch in Atkins' 4-0 win. Jordan Wilson pitched two innings, as the Lady Red Devils committed five errors.
Offensively, Wilson was 2-for-3 with one run scored. Kaylen Martin was 1-for-3 with one RBI. Emily Ward was 2-for-4 with one double, one run scored and one RBI.
Atkins (14-5 overall, 9-1 league) defeated the Lady Warriors 5-3 in game one of Tuesday's doubleheader. Webb recorded nine strikeouts and gave up four hits, and the Lady Devils' defense committed just one error.
Webb was 1-for-2 at the plate with one RBI. Ward was 1-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Wilson was 1-for-2 with one run scored and two RBI. Senior Jagger Hendrix went 1-for-3. Senior Terilynn Wade went 1-for-1. Chey Reel went 1-for-3 and scored a run. Bailey Thomas went 1-for-3 and scored one run.
Atkins beat Lamar 14-11 in game two. The Lady Red Devils were down 7-2 after the second inning, then a pitching change gave Atkins the comeback it needed.
Wilson pitched one full inning, but threw to four batters in the second and gave up seven runs, four walks and one hit. Webb came in and gave up four runs, three hits and walked two but struck out seven in five innings of work. The Lady Devils committed five errors.
Wilson didn't have the best pitching night, but had a great night offensively. She went 3-for-3 with four RBI, a double and two singles, one sacrifice and scored two runs. Ward went 1-for-5 and scored two runs; Martin went 1-for-4 with three RBI, scored two runs scored and got one walk. Webb went 2-for-5 with three RBI, scored two runs, blasted a home run over the fence and added one single. Reel was 1-for-3 with two RBI and one sacrifice. Wade went 4-for-4 and scored three runs. Thomas went 2-for-3 and scored three runs.
Atkins was scheduled to host Charleston in a conference doubleheader at 4:30 p.m. today at McLaren Park.
Mathis triples in decisive 7th-inning
CONWAY — For the second straight time this season, the Lady Eagles earned a split against Hendrix College in nonconference softball play.
Behind three hits and a key RBI triple from Ali Mathis, Ozarks (12-22) edged the Warriors (19-11) 2-1 in game one. Hendrix took the nightcap 10-1 in five innings.
In game one, Arel Ferguson singled up the middle to drive in the game's first run in the second inning. Ozarks would maintain its 1-0 lead until the seventh inning as Hendrix mounted a late rally. Ozarks did add an insurance run in the seventh when Mathis tripled down the right-field line. Hendrix recorded back-to-back hits to trim the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh. With no outs and one runner in scoring position, Amber Rollins forced a pop out and then proceeded to strike another Hendrix batter out. Rollins finished off the Warriors with an infield groundout.
Mathis finished 3-for-4. Rollins improved to 9-7.
In game two, Hendrix built a 7-1 lead after two complete innings. Molly Bowman singled in a run in the first, but that would be all Ozarks could generate. Bowman and Sheridan Bajaras each went 2-for-2. Whitney Price (1-7) took the loss.
Ozarks will host Ecclesia College on Tuesday.
Track: ATU runners at Bison Invitational
SEARCY — Arkansas Tech cross country runners Amanda Bradbury and Cheryl Fleming posted individual times at the outdoor Harding Bison Invitational on April 6 at Harding University.
Bradbury finished third in the 800-meter event where she posted a time of 2:29.85, just 19 seconds behind winner Ewa Zaborowska of Harding. Fleming also set a personal best time of 2:49.91 to finish ninth.
Fleming also competed in the 1,500 and posted another personal best time of 5:43.83. She finished in sixth place, 54 seconds behind first place finisher, Dallis Bailey of Harding.
For more information on Golden Suns cross country, visit athletics.atu.edu.
Baseball: Ozarks 7, Austin College 6
MCALESTER, Okla. — Mitchell Powers drove in the game-winning run with a single in the 10th inning to push the University of the Ozarks Eagles past Austin College 7-6 in non-conference play Tuesday afternoon.
Powers clutch hit came with two outs, but his wasn't the only hit in a pressure situation. Taylor Parker hit a home run in the ninth to tie the game at 6-6.
Peyton Johnigan scored the game-winning run in the tenth after reaching base on a double.
Ozarks (14-19) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three complete innings, but Austin College (10-25) generated a run in the fourth and then took the lead in the fifth. Trailing 6-3, Parker blasted his first home run of the game in the seventh. Powers had a sacrifice RBI in the eighth as well, cutting the deficit to 6-5.
Bo Thomas (2-0) received the win, tossing the final two innings. Parker finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Sam Shook, Freddy Prince, Dean Igert and Johnigan each had two hits.
Ozarks will host Louisiana College this weekend in a three-game conference set. Five Eagles seniors will be honored Saturday.


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|2010-04-09, 14:36
|Link #7821
Join Date: May 2009
No rational, moral person would commit murder just because their employer orders them to do it. Unless you're going to argue the servants are indoctrinated, which seems directly contradicted by Shannon and Kanon's struggle toward being human.
|2010-04-09, 14:38
|Link #7822
Mystery buff
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Gone Fishin!
|2010-04-09, 14:40
|Link #7823
Blick Winkel
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Gobbled up by Promathia
This is true, but I haven't really seen any instances where the servants are ordered to do anything like murder for any of the other guests.
Let's say that Kinzo said, "Shannon, if you kill these six people on the night of the conference, I will let you become the family head"... giving her the ability to do so.
Or (perhaps more likely), "Shannon, I will allow you to marry George if you kill these people."
So Natsuhi having Shannon serve tea to the guests does not at all conflict with her goal.
What I am saying is that while she is "furniture," she can have an agenda of her own.
So long as nothing the guests ask gets in her way.
More far-fetched theories, but I guess it's possible that Kinzo bribed someone (maybe not even his furniture) to kill his own children.
Those ungrateful children that only wanted his money.
Those ungrateful children that got in his way of resurrecting his lost love.
Maybe. Maybe not.
|2010-04-09, 14:41
|Link #7824
Dea ex Kakera
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Sea of Fragments
|2010-04-09, 14:43
|Link #7825
Join Date: May 2009
|2010-04-09, 14:49
|Link #7826
Mystery buff
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Gone Fishin!
Well I don't think that the only reason he taught him that.
And really at least I have a motive for the servants to kill people. You guys can't even accept bribery as a motive. It might be immoral, but really murder is an immoral thing. Just saying that they're immoral for doing that doesn't say that I'm wrong.
|2010-04-09, 15:02
|Link #7827
Join Date: May 2009
There's a difference. Bribery, threats, excuses, even if morally unjustifiable, are reasons. "I am your boss and I order you to brutally kill these people, even though I may not even still be alive" is just insane. Who would obey an order like that without some kind of inducement to do it? And it'd have to either be a really good reason, or the person who did it would have to be really messed up, crazy, or poorly morally grounded (they could be sane, just bad at understanding why things are wrong).
|2010-04-09, 15:09
|Link #7828
Mystery buff
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Gone Fishin!
I'm just tired of you bringing morals up every time I bring up a motive when murder is inherently an immoral thing to do. There is no good reason to commit murder. I used to bring up bribery all the time, but because of that stupid argument that no moral person would take money to kill someone. I keep on dropping it.
Last edited by Judoh; 2010-04-09 at 15:49.
|2010-04-09, 15:28
|Link #7829
Back off, I'm a scientist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In a badly written story.
My friend, a culturologist, wrote a paper on the particular meaning of the word 'tsumi' in Japanese culture, and according to him, the match between it and 'sin' is not complete -- saying "Ushiromiya Battler has a sin." does not necessarily mean that Battler himself is guilty of anything. Someone with an open festering wound also has a sin, as does someone who got stained by a random bird flying overhead. 'tsumi' is a state of uncleanliness for ritual purposes which may or may not result from the individual's own actions.
So the 'sin' in question might not actually even be Battler's fault.
|2010-04-09, 15:41
|Link #7830
Blick Winkel
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Gobbled up by Promathia
Well, all of this could be a red herring. But, about Battler's sin, there is something important there.
I guess that's one of the things about language barriers; Witch Hunt did a great job translating, but some words don't necessarily translate between languages.
But it was said in red that SOMETHING that Battler does (or happens to him) results in people dying.
We can't ignore this.
By the way, bribery is a motive. It's no less moral than killing for the inheritance.
If Eva kills everyone for the gold (which is implied), it is not that much different than Shannon receiving a bribe from Kinzo to receive the inheritance if she kills everyone.
The motive is the same: they want the gold.
...Plus, if someone is crazy enough to even CONSIDER killing any group of 17 people for any reason, it's doubtful that they are going to let petty things like "morals" stop them.
|2010-04-09, 15:53
|Link #7831
Back off, I'm a scientist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In a badly written story.
|2010-04-09, 16:00
|Link #7832
Blick Winkel
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Gobbled up by Promathia
And it's problematic that there's mystery behind the word "sin."
And I also know that there are really no hard pieces of evidence supporting anything I've speculated about; I'm just trying to encourage the thinking of theories that are not really thought of that much.
After all, we could be falling for a major trap by trying to incorporate all the clues that have been presented.
"Drowing in a sea of keys" as Ryukishi07 calls it.
Of course, this isn't a reason to disregard the evidence.
Let's just not let our imaginations be bound by stuff that hasn't been totally confirmed yet.
|2010-04-09, 16:11
|Link #7833
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: In the Meta- World... on Virgillia's bed.
I agree with this. If we are to point to a specific person as a culprit, then it would be hard to fathom the reason why he/she would kill a loved one. You might think that they would do anything to reach their goal, but that's doubtable.
|2010-04-09, 16:13
|Link #7834
Mystery buff
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Gone Fishin!
Sin is considered a "dirty thing" anyway. If that word was meant to have that type of double meaning well it doesn't help us figure it out any better considering most of the sin theories are vague promises. Some people think Battler leaving the family is his sin. Some people think his sin was a promise to come back on a white horse or a promise to play with Maria every year. Some people think his sin was denying magic in front of Shannon.The sin in Higurashi was something the protagonist caused though. He gave a doll to Rena because he didn't think Mion liked girly things and that ended up making Shion jealous of Mion.
But really his sin is so vague. It could be anything. Some people in some christian groups see lying as a sin. In fact there's a verse that says that all liars deserve to go to hell. So are we dealing with moral people if they're willing to lie about any person's death? I really don't think so. Ryukishi likes to use sins as a theme in his games. The difference is in Umineko it's not given to us. We have to figure it out.
|2010-04-09, 16:31
|Link #7836
Blick Winkel
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Gobbled up by Promathia
If Higurashi is anything like this, Ryukishi07 is trying to trick us with something.
The second Higurashi story arc led me to believe that Shion was the criminal. As we know now, this is wrong.
So, given all of these "hints" that were presented to us, only a certain number of them (and their interpretations) can actually be truthful.
So trying to incorporate all of them may not (or it very well may, we'll see) be the best course of action.
As said best by Admiral Ackbar, "It's a trap!"
I'm starting to think that Ryukishi thinks very highly of us (well, you guys really.)
IF the deceptive "hints" are intentional, he really anticipates us discovering them and using them in our theories. I never would have picked up on a lot of things.
If they are not intentional, we may be overanalyzing everything which in itself is a trap.
I'm not trying to diss everyone else's theories. We can have multiple theories floating around until we can eventually narrow them down to one "final" truth.
Hell, for all we know, Battler's sin could be him impregnating Kyrie and being Ange's father.
I still consider this a possibility... albeit an unlikely one.
|2010-04-09, 16:41
|Link #7837
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Buffer overflow
Don't forget that EP6 gives us a hint about Battler's sin. Or rather, it explains a hint that EP5 gave us. Whatever that sin was, it must have been something significant enough that he felt like apologizing to Beato after he remembered it, even though Beato supposedly killed his entire family. Of course, we have no proof that Beatrice was responsible for his family's death, but somehow, his "sin" against her was. That seems vitally important to me.
|2010-04-09, 16:50
|Link #7839
Join Date: May 2009
Let me see if I can explain the moral/rational actor difference. I know this will sound way too involved for Umineko, and I agree to an extent, but I think we consider these things without necessarily thinking about them.
First: Morality of murder. I am absolutely in agreement with you that murder is never morally justifiable. However, moral justification alone doesn't inform every action.
An action is moral if it conforms to a person's system of right and wrong. For most people, murder is viewed as wrong because of the irreversible harm it causes and the immediate suffering and pain. It's possible for a person to have a moral system in which murder isn't immoral, but I don't believe anyone in Umineko has a system where this is the case. So I agree that whoever is killing is doing evil in their own mind, and I agree that this alone does not stop them from doing it (obviously so).
Second: Rational justification of murder. This is where I think we disconnect. You are quite upset with me for objecting to your motive suggestions because if a person is going to do moral wrong, why does it matter? But I think there's a rationality angle as well that informs actors.
In other words, while no one may believe it is moral to commit murder, there are (or could be) people who believe it is rational to consider doing it even knowing it is wrong.
I would argue that any justification must conform to one of the following combinations:
Moral & Rational: The killer knows murder is wrong, but thinks he or she has a perfectly rational reason to "need" to do it anyway. For instance, if Krauss believed that saving his own skin, or the family's reputation, was more of an imperative act than not committing the moral wrong of murder, he might be inclined to do it. He knows it's wrong, but he feels like he has to.
Immoral & Rational: The killer doesn't know murder is wrong or doesn't believe it's wrong, and thus his or her actions are entirely rational because murder is an appropriate act to take in furtherance of their ends. For instance, imagine that someone honestly believed she was Beatrice the Golden Witch and had all her powers, including the Endless Magic that revives the dead. Murder might be necessary to fulfill some greater aim, with the moral caveat that they have to "make it right." I don't like this one, but it's valid.
I am wary of the following:
Moral & Irrational: The killer knows murder is wrong, and is willing to commit it nevertheless for a reason which is not reasonable or rationally sound. The servants blindly obeying a murder order because "we're furniture" is irrational. They're still capable of recognizing that you need a better reason than that.
Immoral & Irrational: Just plain crazy. Doesn't know right from wrong, doesn't know what they're doing. I'm sure no one would be satisfied by this.
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Probiotics and Prebiotics
- May 1, 2009
- Basic
- Topics:
Photo: iStock
Lately, we have seen commercials that promote striking the balance of "good bugs" in our own gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. Our local grocery likely has a variety of colorfully packaged yogurts boasting "live and active cultures." These products are designed to keep the good microflora happy and reduce the amount of detrimental bugs in our guts, but the jury is largely still out on their efficacy. Similarly, horses' GI tracts also need to reach this balance, but since these animals have a unique digestive system that enables them to process and utilize forages, different types of bugs are required.
Microbes in the hindgut (the large intestine and cecum) of the horse break down and ferment fibrous portions of roughages, producing volatile fatty acids that serve as a significant energy source. These microbes also create B vitamins and other nutrients essential to the health and well-being of the animal, and they help reduce the risk of overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Clostridium difficile. The microbial population (which includes bacteria, protozoa, yeasts, and fungi) of the hindgut must be healthy, and its numbers must be at appropriate levels for proper digestion. Bacteria make up the largest group, but the other good bugs play an important role.
When the levels of the good bugs wane--as in cases of stress, travel, or antibiotic administration--there are ways to replenish them with the help of probiotics and prebiotics. And while not available in your supermarket aisle, these equine products are readily available elsewhere. It's important to note there is limited scientific evidence in peer-reviewed journals on probiotics and prebiotics, so ask your veterinarian to advise you on the use of these products and where to find them.
Many horse owners use supplements or commercial feeds containing some of these essential microbes. These living products, called probiotics, are microorganisms that when administered in certain doses exert a positive health effect beyond that of their inherent nutritional value. Amy Gill, PhD, an equine nutritionist based in Lexington, Ky., says the purpose of feeding these is to keep the hindgut stabilized.
"It is very easy to disrupt the horse's hindgut," explains Gill. "An abrupt change in feed, or any kind of stress--even the stress of putting a horse in a trailer and taking him somewhere, a visit by the veterinarian or farrier, a strenuous showing or work schedule--can disrupt the gut. A high-grain, high-concentrate, low-fiber diet is also hard on microbes in the hindgut. This type of diet has a more negative impact than anything else."
Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College, has spent time examining probiotics, their contents, and their effects. He says it's unknown how much stress it would take to disrupt microflora, stressing that we have a crude understanding of gastrointestinal flora. "Molecular studies in dogs, cats, and humans have shown that a large percentage of the bacteria that are present are organisms that we don't even have a name for and that we can't culture using normal methods," he says.
Some nutritionists, including Gill, have suggested that adding probiotics on a daily basis can be helpful to horses, "We now call them direct-fed microbials (DFM)," she says. "You are directly feeding the horse the microbes it needs to sustain normal gut function. These include bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus faecium, and Lactobacillus lactis. High-end feed manufacturers put these in most of their products, listed on the feed label."
Other researchers, however, are unconvinced that these direct-fed probiotics are useful. Several studies have shown that probiotic manufacturer labeling practices are lacking, and some products had detrimental effects when used as a diarrhea preventive measure in neonatal foals.
Direct-fed microbials are relatively new in equine nutrition circles. "They've become more routinely added during the last 10 years," says Gill. "Some are packaged as supplements."
Stephen Duren, PhD, is an equine nutritionist and founder of Performance Horse Nutrition, based in Weiser, Idaho, and he says this field of nutrition is rapidly growing. Special feeds for performance horses and older horses typically contain probiotics. "A performance horse that's traveling is always under stress, and older horses tend to lose some of their ability to digest and utilize nutrients," he says.
"I feel it's very beneficial to have a small amount of these important microbes added to the diet on a daily basis because we don't know all the things that can stress horses," says Gill. "The life cycle of these microbes within the gut is around 15 minutes. It's very easy to change the population very quickly. Thus, it's a good idea to include them in the ration. It's an inexpensive insurance policy. I feel it is better to have the microbes available in each feeding, as opposed to waiting until something bad happens and then trying to fix it."
Since these are living organisms, some people ask about shelf life of products, and whether the microbes can withstand the digestive process through the first part of the tract and actually make it to the hindgut. According to Gill, feed companies have tested the microbes' ability to withstand heat and pelleting in the manufacturing process and to get to the portion of the GI tract where they are needed. She cites studies completed by scientists at Alltech showing the viability of yeast through pelleting and digestion.
"They will last quite a while in a bag of feed as long as it is stored according to directions, and kept dry, and doesn't become moldy or spoil," states Gill. "Pelleted feeds have a longer shelf life than sweet feeds, partly because they are dry. But as long as the product is fed within the manufacturers' recommended amount of time, you should be fine as far as viability of these microbes is concerned."
However, at least one study has shown that probiotic pet foods had very low levels of probiotics and usually didn't contain what their labels stated. Weese, who performed the study, says he doubts there would be that much difference from general veterinary products to equine products. "It should be the onus of the company to prove that probiotic organisms are in their diets, using independent laboratories," he notes.
Prebiotics are a newer concept than probiotics/direct-fed microbials. These are not microbes, but inert ingredients that help microbial populations in the hindgut remain stable and healthy. Scientists who coined the term define prebiotics as nondigestible food ingredients (sugars) that beneficially affect the horse by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon (Gibson and Roberfroid, 1995). More recently, Gibson et al. proposed a new definition: selectively fermented ingredients that allow specific changes, both in composition and activity in the gastrointestinal microbiota, that confer benefits upon host well-being and health (2004). Put simply, prebiotics are a food source for good bacteria. "Some help feed and sustain the life of the microbes," explains Gill. "Prebiotics that assist beneficial bacteria mostly come from carbohydrate fiber called oligosaccarides. They include fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and Bio-Mos by Alltech, which is a mannan oligosaccharide (MOS)."
Duren further explains that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations held a meeting in 2007 and suggested that the following definition be adopted: A prebiotic is a nonviable food component that confers a health benefit on a horse associated with modulation of the microbiota. He adds, "In this meeting it was specifically pointed out that 'prebiotics are being examined for antipathogenic effects' (such as inhibiting adhesion of pathogenic organisms to the gut mucosa)."
Kyle Newman, PhD, a microbiologist and lab director at Venture Laboratories in Lexington, Ky., says an example of a prebiotic for humans would be the fructo-oligosaccharides present in some supplements or health foods, such as Ensure. Fructo-oligosaccharides feed beneficial bacteria in the GI tract.
"Yogurt made with a certain type of bacteria contains oligosaccharides," says Gill. "Bio-Mos contains part of the carbohydrate that's in the wall of a yeast cell. This is what is most commonly fed to horses, because we don't feed them fruits.
"MOS actually tricks bad bacteria into binding to it, rather than binding to the wall of the intestine," she explains. "It never colonizes there, and it is excreted in the manure."
This can be helpful in keeping the gut healthy, and some manufacturers who produce higher-quality products are adding MOS to their feeds.
"If people wonder why one bag of feed costs $14 versus one that costs $9, it is because of all the technology and research that has gone into making the better product do a lot more for your horse," Gill says.
Use of Prebiotics and Probiotics
Horse owners whose animals have strenuous careers often use these products in feed. "This way it's always there when the horse needs it," says Gill. "This can help make a difference in keeping a high-end performance horse functioning at his best."
She says another use for these products is re-establishing proper gut function after the horse has been ill, off feed, or treated with oral antibiotics that killed some of the beneficial microbes in the hindgut along with killing the pathogenic bacteria they were administered to target. If the gut has been compromised by stress, illness, or antibiotic treatment, or the horse is not eating, a dose of essential microbes could theoretically get proper digestion working more quickly. This was the first use of equine microbial products--dosing the horse in paste or gel form to re-establish a viable microbe population.
"You need to feed these in greater quantities to a sick horse," says Gill, who notes that horse owners should discuss use of these products with their veterinarians, even though feeding the products is "harmless at worst."
Researchers on one study, however, note that while it's likely a low risk to no risk in most populations, compromised horses or neonates might be a different story. That study showed administering a probiotic (Lactobacillus pentosus WE7) preventively to neonates was harmful, causing diarrhea "plus additional clinical abnormalities and the need for veterinary intervention" (Weese, et al., 2005). "Results rase concern about the variety of untested probiotic products that are commercially available," wrote the researchers. "Safety and efficacy testing needs to be performed for all potential equine probiotics."
Duren points out there are drawbacks to using antibiotics (they kill the "good guys" as well as the "bad guys") and that pathogens might develop resistance. "Now we can use probiotics and prebiotics to not only stabilize the good microbes, but also guard against harmful pathogens," he says, which could be helpful in the face of stress.
"Probiotic use started with adding strains of various bacteria to the GI tract, then progressed to adding live yeast cultures to feeds," Duren continues. "Yeasts help select against the bacteria that produce lactic acid and also stimulate use of lactic acid and fiber."
This can help prevent the pH drop in the hindgut that can lead to colic or laminitis. Newman points out that the bacteria in the extremely diverse microbial population in the GI tract far outnumber the actual mammalian cells that make up that animal. "So making sure the microbes (that remain) are good ones makes sense," he says.
Take-Home Message
The beneficial flora in the horse's hindgut are important to digestive tract health, as well as to the animal's overall well-being. Stress or illness can disrupt the normal population of these beneficial microbes, leading to digestive tract upset and even systemic illness (such as colic or laminitis). Giving these beneficial microbes or something that helps the "good bugs" beat out the "bad bugs" in the GI tract can potentially help stressed, ill, or older horses.
Weese, however, cautions, "No commercial probiotic or prebiotic has been shown in a proper research trial to have any beneficial effect in horses. That's a very important aspect that people need to be aware of."
The jury is still largely out on some of these products, as it is with many new treatments or therapies that come down the pike. Duren says, "If anything we're ahead of the curve on this issue."
As always, discuss any changes in diet or supplements with your veterinarian or nutritionist.
About the Author
Heather Smith Thomas
Heather Smith Thomas ranches with her husband near Salmon, Idaho, raising cattle and a few horses. She has a B.A. in English and history from University of Puget Sound (1966). She has raised and trained horses for 50 years, and has been writing freelance articles and books nearly that long, publishing 20 books and more than 9,000 articles for horse and livestock publications. Some of her books include Understanding Equine Hoof Care, The Horse Conformation Handbook, Care and Management of Horses, Storey's Guide to Raising Horses and Storey's Guide to Training Horses. Besides having her own blog, www.heathersmiththomas.blogspot.com, she writes a biweekly blog at http://insidestorey.blogspot.com that comes out on Tuesdays.
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December 24, 2013 By Jerry R
I've been reading with interest many of the great discussions in this forum on club fitting. I'll be 69 years old in January, and am in the process (again) of making swing changes by taking lessons from a local pro. My swing has already changed a lot since I started the lessons in early November. It's a good time to make a change since it is winter here in Ohio, so no worry about intermediate results of ball flight!
I'm reading and looking at options to change out my irons that I've been playing for a number of years to either 714 model AP1's or AP2's (leaning toward AP2's due to the thinner top line). But, I want to know WHEN I should get fitted for new clubs given that I'm in the midst of a swing change? I've been picking up a demo AP2 6-iron to practice with, and it appears to be a LOT more forgiving on off-center hits compared to my current miz MP32's.
I currently have a 9.5 index, coming off my worst year of ball-striking in a long time. So, swing changes will tighten up the swing to make it better and more consistent, which is really needed. Still, the worst part of my game is my chipping, which I am also working on nearly every day to make changes in as well.
I currently play a set of miz MP32 irons with RIfle Flighted 5.5 FCM shafts in regular length and lie. I currently hit my 6-iron about 165 yards (carry) with a decent ball flight.
So, WHEN should I get fitted for new clubs and shafts? After my instructor says my swing has settled down? After the start of the new golf season when I have had a chance to play outside? Some other time? Some insight from someone in the know would be helpful. Thanks in advance for your replies!
December 26, 2013 at 9:11am
Jerry, you bring up a lot of good points -- First of all, congrats on continuing to improve your swing. That influences ball flight more than anything else. The best thing would be if your instructor is a good fitter. He will know best if your swing is at the point of getting you a good fit. If he is not look up a good fitter on the Titleist locator service. Possibly have him and your instructor talk so that everyone is on the same page. Your swing does not have to be perfect in order to get a good fit. This fitter should have a launch monitor, use Pro V golf balls and do all his fittings outdoors from real grass. With these conditions he will be able to tell whether the Ap 1 or 2 works best for you simply by measuring your ball flght with the monitor. Either model will be more forgiving than the MP32's. Just a guess -- if youve been used to looking at the top line of the MP's you are probably going to like the look of the Ap2's the best. And, being a 9.5 you are probably plenty good enough to play them.
steve ball, PGA Master ProfessionalTop 100 Fitter, Golf Digest
ps - you might also look up a Certified TPI ( Titleist Perf Institute) instructor in your area. MYTPI.com….. The information they have for flexibility and the fitness side of golf is some of the best stuff you can use. You are probably in top 1% of 69 year old golfers being a 9.5 -- and you'res till working on it !!!! But the TPI curricula will keep you going longer without injuries…..
December 29, 2013 at 12:00pm
Thanks so much for your reply. I agree with you. I also went and talked with an expert fitter (Class A) nearby me who was recommended by the head of the Golf School at the Ohio State University (my wife worked in the same building with him). He recommended this fitter, so I can be pretty sure he is really good.
I stopped by to talk with the fitter (Jeff Jackson) in Granville, Ohio. He carries all the major brands (Titleist, png, miz, TM) and a lot of different shafts for each. He also has a Trackman setup that he can use outdoors on the golf range that is also associated with it. Jeff recommended that I wait until my golf swing has settled down and becomes consistent; whenever that is. I also might wait until I get a chance to take my new swing outdoors; either on my home course, or on a range with grass, so I can see what my ball flight looks and really feels like. Then I'd go for the fitting.
I also talked with him about whether to get the newest model golf clubs out there, or go for the previous year's model to save a bit of money, and he said he would always go for one of the newest models, as there usually is a reason that manufacturers come out with new models because they have better features. Since I tend to hang onto clubs for a number of years, I think he is right. Over the life of my use, the difference in cost won't matter.
Thanks again for your advice and insight,
January 2, 2014 at 9:54pm
Your work ethic and common sense approach to your current situation serves as a role model to all of us. You are definitely on the right track. IMO, Titleist equipment is the best. I also think it's best to stick with one company for the majority of your bag. The variations in loft and length between manufacturers can cause problems with the yardage gapping between clubs, especially with hybrids and wedges. Good luck and let us know the rest of your journey.
January 5, 2014 at 8:52pm
Thanks Tom, I'll write back when I finally get my fitting done and let everyone know how it goes and what I feel about the new clubs I'll get.
January 8, 2014 at 9:58am
Jerry, congrats on your quest! It sounds like you are on your way to the Senior PGA Tour!
I enjoyed reading the comments so far and agree, I would add one thought...confidence is a big factor in golf as we all know, that being said if you find the new AP2's are that comfortable and forgiving relative to what you are using now it sounds like it is time to upgrade and get fitted again!
In response to getting fitted for clubs, due to technology changing, and I may be extreme, but I like to get fitted once a year (normally at the end of the year when Titleist is bringing out changes to their product line) to see how shaft technology and club technology may or may not be making a difference to my set. Just a thought...the Titleist rep you have in northern ohio is first class and for Columbus I would not hesitate to attend a demo day with him (or in conjunction with a Titleist fitter you like) when he is nearby. I am in southern ohio and our rep is great with comparing and contrasting to see if changes are needed.
Good luck!
January 8, 2014 at 1:30pm
January 2, 2014 at 9:54pm
Your work ethic and common sense approach to your current situation serves as a role model to all of us. You are definitely on the right track. IMO, Titleist equipment is the best. I also think it's best to stick with one company for the majority of your bag. The variations in loft and length between manufacturers can cause problems with the yardage gapping between clubs, especially with hybrids and wedges. Good luck and let us know the rest of your journey.
That is the beauty of Titleist for woods and hybrids...... If you are used to TM clubs, you set them max upright lie angle and if you are used to Callie or Png, you set them at the flattest lie angle. TM drivers, fairways and hybrids are horribly long and have very upright lie angles; I've had to cut them 1" and put on a lite grip to get them to hit properly. Callie and Png keep their shaft lengths somewhat sane but the lie angles are so flat they feel uncomfortable to hit.
Without a doubt. the best irons I have ever hit are Titleist (had some DCIs a couple years ago and have been playing AP1s for 2 years now). Png has a 3/4* spacing between irons and you are stuck with the lie angles you are fitted on with a 7 iron because most fitters won't touch them with a 10 foot pole (also, the Mitchell machines they use for lie angle adjustment are 2* off from what Png uses).
I've been using Vokey wedges for 7 years now - best ever! Plus you have a wide selection of lofts, bounces and grinds. I don't play the standard 52-08, 56-11, 60-07 setup; mine is 54-11 and 60-10 (bent 1* strong) and 64-07.
January 8, 2014 at 3:10pm
Also a part of regular maintenance is having your lie angles checked periodically on your irons (particularly if you notice that one specific iron seems to be off target while the others are on; also important if a club you normally are consistent with becomes difficult to hit and the others are OK). There's a thing called "metal memory" where a lie angle may slip a half a degree or degree either way after use.
If you have changed your swing, allow time for it to work before being fit again.
January 9, 2014 at 4:16pm
Congrats on your progress! Keep up the great work!
I got fitted the first time in Oceanside at the test facility. I would say this is MUST for anyone seriously interested in golf, especially TITLEIST GOLF!
I got fitted a year later by a local guy, but I wish I did it again at TP1.
I got all new equipment after only a year. I love it!
I'm going to make this a yearly trek to Oceanside and get a complete fitting every year.
I usually do it in early December so I can have my new sticks in a new bag with new shoes, gloves, hats, balls, ect. every January.
Not only is it a great feeling. It's the best motivator in the world! A great way to ring in a new year!
Keep us posted and make an appt in Oceanside!
Happy 2014!
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text:
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, April 29, 2013, 12:16 PM
Town Square
Stanford grad, NBA veteran comes out as gay
Original post made on Apr 29, 2013
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, April 29, 2013, 12:16 PM
Comments (6)
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 29, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Pro Sports -how will they handle this? I heard on the radio this guy is likely to retire, so no risk to him to disclose this info. Someone in prime of pro sports career will be more notable.
Not being male and not caring that much about peoples' sexuality, I can't relate to the bigtime pro sports culture.
That said...one's sexuality is a private matter, and it is getting tiring of the constant revelations - almost exhibitionalism in certain cases - about "famous" peoples' sexuality. I really don't care. There are rumors that Tom Cruise is gay - who knows - who cares.
Now, if in the case of pro sports it is going to have a material difference in one's employability, that is different and we don't want discrimination. But - some gay people choose to stay in the closet, and that is their choice, and I don't think it is anyone else's business whether one is gay, straight, or bi.
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Apr 29, 2013 at 1:11 pm
"That said...one's sexuality is a private matter..."
conflicts directly with
"There are rumors that Tom Cruise is gay..."
Anything else you seek to cast judgement upon?
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Apr 29, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Of course the reason that gay athletes hide their sexuality is that they are afraid of employment discrimination. Same goes for gay actors, gay politicians, gay business executives, etc. Times are changing there is less discrimination now than in the past, but I'm sure that many who have come out are seeing fewer job opportunities or promotion opportunities. We will see if Jason can still find a job next season.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 30, 2013 at 9:23 am
I don't have the slightest interest in Tom Cruise, my point is there has been a lot of speculation publicly about him AND who cares. It has nothing to do with the pot calling the kettle black.
I think we could all spend our time better focusing on other matters, and who cares about Jason Collins' private life, either.
a resident of South of Midtown
on Apr 30, 2013 at 11:38 am
I have never bothered to look up rumors about Tom Cruise on the interwebs, nor whatever is being printed about him in the National Enquirer or People.
I guess those magazines are made for someone, someone has to be NOT interested enough in Tommy to buy them.
Anyway, after the next ten major sport athletes come out, it's over and done with as news.
a resident of Greendell/Walnut Grove
on Jun 5, 2017 at 12:25 pm
Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?
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And while I'd be more than happy to pay most any ticket price to go back and watch one game in the old Stroupe Gymnasium, the truth is we are living through another golden era of Arkansas Tech basketball right now.
Consider what we have been fortunate to observe since the beginning of the 2009-10 basketball season. The Wonder Boys and the Golden Suns have a combined record of 164-24 over the past three seasons. That is an unthinkable .872 winning percentage.
ATU has been ranked No. 1 in both the NCAA Division II men's and women's basketball national polls during that time. The Wonder Boys' streak of NCAA Division II Tournament appearances stands at four in a row, and the Golden Suns have made two NCAA Elite Eight appearances in the last three years. Tech's men made their first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance last season.
Add in men's Gulf South Conference West Division titles in 2010 and 2011, men's GSC Tournament titles in 2009 and 2010, regular season and postseason men's Great American Conference championships in 2012, women's regular season Gulf South Conference West Division and GSC Tournament crowns in 2010 and 2011 and a women's GAC regular season title in 2012, and the trophy case at Tucker Coliseum is full of shiny new hardware.
A new season of Arkansas Tech basketball will be launched Monday night when both the Golden Suns and the Wonder Boys entertain fans with a Monday Madness event, starting at 6 p.m. in Tucker Coliseum. Admission will be free.
The teams will be introduced, team captains will speak and we will hear from both Wonder Boys head coach Doug Karleskint and Golden Suns head coach Dave Wilbers.
The Office of Student Services has arranged for a contest that might allow one ATU student to win $10,000.
The Golden Girls dance team and Arkansas Tech cheerleaders will perform. Voice of the Wonder Boys Emeritus Dan Nicholson will come out of retirement for one night to serve as public address announcer.
There's even talk of a 3-point shooting contest between my Tech Athletics broadcast partner Kelly Davis and me. For the sake of those in attendance and for the sake of the game of basketball, I hope that does not come to pass. Maybe the first one to make a shot before he passes out from exhaustion wins. We'll see.
I hope you will join us for what promises to be a fun event. It's only scheduled to last an hour, and when it's over fans will be invited to come down on the floor and meet the Wonder Boys, the Golden Suns and their coaches.
Another basketball season at ATU is near. Full schedules are available at athletics.atu.edu.
Be a part of it. That way, 50 years from now when people talk about these Wonder Boys and Golden Suns (which they will), you'll be able to say you were there to witness a golden era of Arkansas Tech basketball.
Sam Strasner is director of university relations and athletics radio play-by-play announcer at Arkansas Tech University.


text: ZA did not have an answer as to this issue but i found out what was causing it! if you custom set dpi you will run into this problem! im posting this for others who may change dpi to be aware that forcefield will not work right!! check it out yourself change dpi then to 135% reboot then open IE!!!


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25.0160 Sanitary facilities-Hand washing.Cite as [A.S.A.C. § 25.0160]
Adequate and convenient dressing rooms, lockers, commodes, urinals, lavatories, and showers shall be provided. Provision shall be made to furnish hot and cold running water, soap, and approved, sanitary towels; the common towel is prohibited. No employee shall resume work after using the toilet facilities without first washing hands.History: Pub. Health Reg. 5, eff 23 Sep 64, § 11.


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Yanks hit pitcher eighth, but Weiss doesn't blink
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com
DENVER -- When the Yankees submitted a lineup with starting pitcher David Phelps batting eighth and catcher Austin Romine hitting ninth, it didn't exactly throw Rockies manager Walt Weiss for a loop.
Weiss played for the Rockies when Cardinals manager Tony La Russa would bat the pitcher eighth back in 1998, to move slugger Mark McGwire up a slot to third to enhance his chances for an extra at-bat later. La Russa would do the same later with Albert Pujols.
La Russa was Weiss' first Major League manager, with the Athletics, and since taking the Rockies job Weiss has talked strategy with La Russa.
As for the decision of Girardi -- once a teammate of Weiss with the Rockies -- Weiss figured it was not his business to comment or analyze.
"I have enough trouble managing my own team," Weiss said. "I'll let Joe manage those guys. It's the first time I've seen it as far as a manager, but I've seen it plenty of times in the past. Tony La Russa did it a lot."
Rutledge gaining traction in Majors
DENVER -- Rockies second baseman Josh Rutledge, after his first time beginning a year in the Majors, has needed a .400 tear the last seven games to lift his batting average from .200 to .252 going into Wednesday.
Even though Rutledge was struggling, manager Walt Weiss kept him in the lineup, and he believes the patience has paid dividends.
"One thing about Rut is he brings athleticism to the lineup, he runs really well, and he covers some ground at second base," Weiss said. "It's not just the bat. He brings other things to the team every day that he's in the lineup."
Tulowitzki sits again, as Rockies play it safe
DENVER -- Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was hoping the rain Wednesday would intensify. The Rockies decided not to start him against the Yankees, even though his ailing left groin had improved enough for him to feel he could play.
"I'm hoping for a rainout here," he said with a smile.
It was the second straight game against the Yankees and the third time in the last five games that manager Walt Weiss, with input from head athletic trainer Keith Dugger, sat Tulowitzki. On Tuesday, Weiss said the decision would be based more on how Tulowitzki felt than the weather, but he changed his mind as the late-afternoon rain fell.
Tulowitzki ended up pinch-hitting in the eighth inning of the 3-2 loss to the Yankees. He was hit by a pitch on the first pitch he saw, and was promptly pinch-run for.
The caution comes because Tulowitzki suffered a groin injury that limited him to 47 games last season. He underwent surgery in June to remove scar tissue and did not return.
"I felt good [running on Tuesday] but I met with Walt and Doogie, and as soon as I walked in there they knew I wasn't going to be very happy," said Tulowitzki. "But they said, 'Hey, the weather is too much. We don't want to throw you out there.'
" It's probably a smart decision, but when you wake up in the morning and you're like, 'I didn't get to play yesterday and today I'm excited to play,' and it doesn't happen, you're going to be disappointed. But sometimes you've got to listen. We're going to put a good team out there, still, and expect to win."
Weiss said he accepts input from Tulowitzki and appreciates the honesty of the shortstop, but "it's not easy to do. You want to have that guy out there in the middle of your lineup. It's going to be a wet night out there weather-wise. I think an extra day would make sense."
That being the case, it's not clear whether Weiss would feel comfortable using Tulowitzki in Thursday's finale of the three-game series with the Yankees. More rain is expected.
Tulowitzki missed two games last week with a slight left shoulder strain. He returned last Wednesday to go 2-for-4 in a 7-3 victory over the Dodgers. During that game, he felt tightness in the groin after beating out a throw to first base, then going from first to home on Michael Cuddyer's double. He was limited to a pinch-hit appearance Friday against the Rays -- he was walked intentionally and removed before having to run the bases -- then went 5-for-7 with a home run, a double and four RBIs the next two games against the Rays.
Chatwood gone, but not forgotten
DENVER -- Right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood was sent down to Triple-A Colorado Springs after two Major League starts -- one competitive, the other a sparkling six scoreless innings against the Dodgers. His response was eye-catching.
Chatwood struck out eight, walked none and needed 89 pitches on Tuesday night to complete the first nine-inning shutout by a Colorado Springs pitcher at home since 2003. Chatwood held Iowa to four hits in a 5-0 victory.
"It's definitely tough, but I think that's part of it," Chatwood, 23, told The Gazette newspaper in Colorado Springs. "You can't control it. You've just got to go out there and pitch and to keep the pressure on the team to make decisions."
The Rockies sent Chatwood down when the guy he replaced in the rotation, righty Jhoulys Chacin, returned from a back strain. Rockies right-hander Juan Nicasio, who started Wednesday night against the Yankees, and left-hander Jeff Francis, the scheduled starter Thursday afternoon, have struggled to give the Rockies length, so Chatwood hopes to keep forcing the issue.
Rockies manager Walt Weiss made it clear he was paying attention.
"'Chat' is really coming on," Weiss said. "I've always liked his competitiveness. I wasn't around in the past, but even this year in Spring Training it was evident this kid competes. He's got great stuff. It's just a matter of being more efficient and commanding that stuff. I like the way he handles himself."
The choice was between Nicasio and Chatwood when Chacin returned. Now it appears Nicasio is pitching for his spot.
"Regardless of your situation in the big leagues, there's always pressure to perform," Weiss said. "If there's not somebody in your organization that's looking to take your job, there's somebody someplace else. They'll go get somebody to take your job. It's a tough league and you have to perform.
"Juan knows what he's got to do and we've talked about it. He's very similar. There's a lot of good stuff. He's got to be a little more efficient with it."
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Hardball in the Rockies, and follow him on Twitter @harding_at_mlb. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Nets 20-10
Celtics 17-11
Raps 16-13
Knicks 13-14
Yea, a trade is needed asap.
Nets 20-10
Celtics 17-11
Raps 16-13
Knicks 13-14
Yea, a trade is needed asap.
Woody Woody Woody - Melo Melo Melo
What have the TWO done to my Knicks in the last 5 games (1-4) .. from 31-15 to 32-19 record.
Red Flag
The Indiana Pacers Embarrassed us last night by out rebounding us 39-54 to beat us 91-125
The worst loss of the season
Red Flag
Do we need a trade? or do we need a plan-system for a 12 man roster?
Our defense have no protection in the paint or perimeter, we have no role-players for defensive-rebounds?
Our offense is Iso-Melo, and perimeter 3-ball shooting .. which is a poor postseason strategy.
We need imediate change in so many areas ASAP
Kurt Thomas & JR.smith should be in the starting-lineup with Felton/Melo/Tyson
We need a bench-lineup that could be on the court for 8 straight minutes to end the first qtr. and start the 2nd qtr. what we dont need is a poor-shooting and poor decision-making JR.smith in this bench lineup.
I'm sure if Woody makes a bench-lineup players Camby & Sheed will be healthy to play.
Amare coming off the bench need a bench-lineup without Tyson/Melo/and JR.smith in it.
We Knicks-Fans have to accept the majority of our roster are not happy playing 48 minutes of a ISO-Melo system .. our players are not being played to their best strength in this ISO-Melo system.
Our Bench players should be:
PG-Kidd & Prig
SG-Brewer & Shump & White
SF-Novak & Copeland
PF-Amare & Sheed
Our coach woodson never selected 6 players out of the mention bench-players above to make a bench-lineup to use for defense or offense in 51 games this season (Red Flag on headcoach).
All Woody did with all our bench-players in 51 games were play them spot minutes with the "TRIO" lineup of Tyson/Melo/and JR.smith .. our 33+ minute per game trio, who 33 minute of poor-defense has us as one of the top poorest defensive teams in the league. The trio have NO chemistry / Gellin on the defensive-end of the court. Not putting Tyson out there, but Tyson won the Defensive Player of the year from the consistent outstanding defensive-effot of Jared Jefferies/Shump/and Linsanity trio lineup (remarkable defense).
When Amare & Camby return in the same week .. automatically Kurt or Novak shouldve been put in the starting lineup. not Camby dum dum
When Shump & Felton return in the same week .. automatically JR.smith shouldve been put in the starting lineup. not Felton & Shump dum dum
What will Woody do when both Camby & Sheed return in the same week????
Woody will ask Melo how should he play Camby & Sheed in the rotation...
A trade "ASAP"? The last letter in that acronym refers to the word "possible." As far as I am concerned, "as soon as possible" is two and a half years away. And then it will be access to free agents, not assets to trade, that might improve us.
We are not trading Melo or Chandler, and we should not. Stoudemire's skills are diminishing, his knees are vulnerable and his max contract is uninsured. We can't trade him. JR? He has a currently reasonable contract, but he is volatile. We could not get anything near his potential value to us. Shumpert is tradeable but we would be selling when his value is low. We should not give up on him. Prigioni would be valuable -- given his contract -- to some other teams, but he is a back-up. There are no difference makers for him. Novak might be better on another team, but he is a one trick pony.
Felton has his moments, but he is never much better than mediocre over any long term. His defense is terrible and his judgment often poor. Having said that, we nonetheless definitely need him.
Kidd, Camby, Sheed, and Thomas are well past their primes. White, Copeland and Brewer are end of bench players for any team In short, we have nothing to trade. We are essentially all in with what we have for this season and two more. And that is why games like last night's make me sick.
The Knicks have enough talent, versatility, and veteran leadership that a trade shouldn't be in order. It's ****ing WEIRD.
Sig made by Sons of Thunder
And Stat and Felton haven't made us any better than a .500 team since coming back. I can't believe the team is counting on Sheed and Gumby coming back to make a deep playoff run. Looks like a trade is not going down so Woody has to shake up this roster instead of depending on some type of move to turn this ship around.
i had hope for Felton=>Stat but Stat is loosing ball from anyone trying his crappy Olajuwon moves which most players can simply block this man is biggest frustrator if some ref calls wrong. For me Jax was correct MELO and STAT cant play together they can play separate only both of them same position Wade vs Stat both of them "loosing their atleticims" like Barkley said but Wade can still shot and Stat still but making To's.
only way is GET BACK SHEED


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My daughter and I went to our local Relay for Life event a few weeks ago as spectators. She is also a member of our local volunteer fire department so she had heard about the county's new PINK FIRETRUCK but I hadn't. Well here are some pictures of the new truck purchased by our county to use as a support vehicle to raise awareness to "fighting breast cancer". It will be used at many different events and was also in the parade laps at the NASCAR race this weekend in Charlotte.
It is not a working firetruck now but it once was. If you look on top of the truck you can see the
"potato type gun" to shoot out t-shirts like the pink one pictured at certain events.
I'm kinda proud our county FD has chosen to do this!