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* Prices may differ from that shown
I love the Clean & Clear cleansing lotion and think that for the money it is one of the most effective cleansers on the market for spots and blackheads and just for giving your skin a really deep down clean but the daily blackhead clearing scrub is nowhere near as good in my opinion.
Like the cleansing lotion it is pretty cheap to buy at about £3.60 for a tube but that is where the similarities end. The scrub claims to lift away dirt and oil and give you fewer blackheads from day one.
This has such a weird texture that I just didn't like. It feels like a greasy cream with little bits in it. It doesn't foam at all which is fine but it is actually really difficult to tell if you have managed to apply it entirely to your face as you can barely tell it is there after trying to massage it on your skin.
I found that I needed a huge amount of this to clean my face as it just sort of dissolves on contact with damp skin and disappears.
As it is a daily scrub I expected it to be more gentle than scrubs which are only supposed to be used a couple of times a week but the scrub bits in this are just ineffective. I didn't feel like it was exfoliating my skin in the slightest and as for them unblocking pores and getting rid of blackheads I didn't notice any difference in my blackheads after using this.
Even just for cleaning my skin I thought this was very average. My skin didn't feel dirty after using it but it also didn't feel particularly clean either. I certainly didn't feel like it was cleaning my skin deep down like the cleansing lotion does. The only real benefit that it has is that it is really gentle so won't irritate your skin.
For me this was just not effective and I wouldn't purchase it again not when there are so many better options to use.
I have been using this product for a number of years now and I have to say my blackheads have only slightly reduced in visibility. I still get them badly on my nose and chin and nothing will make them go away. I continue to repurchase this product for the simple reason that it does help keep my spots at bay and it makes my skin clean for a reasonable price.
The product comes in a translucent plastic bottle which means you can see inside and it is easy to get the majority of the product out as the plastic is very flexible. However the product does stick to the inside of the bottle so it is normally a shock when it runs out as it still looks like its half full which is a bit annoying.
The flip lid is very easy to open so no complaints there and it is very easy to keep clean.
The product I find to be quite harsh on my skin so I don't think it would be suitable for sensitive types. However my skin is not sensitive and it is around the oily - normal type and it does a good job of cleaning my skin. I feel fresh and ready for the day after using this product in the morning. I wouldn't use it more than once a day and I think this would ruin your natural skin oils and it can cause you, if you remove too much of your skins natural oils, to produce more causing more skin troubles for yourself. I do have troublesome skin so a product that is slightly harsh does it good as ones that are more gentle tend to do nothing for my skin.
Therefore overall, I am pleased that this product does the job of cleaning my skin and preventing breakouts (obviously and sadly not all of them). However as for the blackheads which it claims to remove, I can't say it has done much to improve mine which is a shame.
I will continue to buy it when on offer with its other products but I would not recommend buying this if you are on a hunt for purely getting rid of your blackheads.
Despite my daily skincare routine, I'm still prone to getting blackheads on my nose and chin which are really ugly & unattractive!
I usually use blackhead strips & a special blackhead removing tool to get rid of them, but decided to try this blackhead clearing scrub when I saw it on offer in Superdrug. To be honest I wish I hadn't bothered - it's rubbish! It retails at around £4.00 per 145ml bottle but I got mine for £2.50ish which seemed like a bargain at the time but seeing as it's useless because it's too painful to use it was a total waste of money.
The scrub comes in a squeezy tube type bottle which stands on its lid. The colour scheme is unisex, so this will appeal to men as well as women - it's blue and white and there's the brand and product name etc written on the front as well as the claim that you will 'see fewer blackheads from day one.' The back of the bottle has information on it such as how to use the product/what it does as well as a lengthy list of very chemical sounding ingredients.
The scrub itself is a white, reasonably thick lotion with lots of small, blue beads in it which exfoliate the skin. The first disadvantage is the weird consistency, which rather than smoothly going onto the skin tends to blob up and go sticky. I only used this on the areas that I get blackheads (nose and chin) and needed quite a big blob to get good coverage despite how small those areas are. I applied it when my skin was damp and rubbed it in cicular motions over my skin.
The exfoliating beads are quite harsh which I didn't mind. What did bother me though was the strong stinging/burning sensation which was so painful that I was actually concerned that it had badly damaged my skin. Luckily it hadn't - it was just a little red but due to the discomfort that it caused I will not be using it again. I saw no reduction of blackheads, either and give this one out of five stars.
I suffer from oily skin and have struggled to find a gentle, effective and affordable scrub.
I came across this in Tesco at the weekend - it was £3.50 for 150ml which is reasonable compared to some scrubs on the market.
The scrub has "special exfoliating micro beads" to peel away dead cells and unclog pores and claims to give you fewer blackheads in just one wash!
This is a pretty strong claim to make and on this basis I decided to test out the product!
The scrub itself is reasonably thick and clay like with lots of little exfoliating beads. Its easy to spread on your skin - once applied to the face you gently massage and then rinse off. The scrub feels good on the skin - it gives a nice exfoliating and clean feel without feeling too harsh on the skin (some scrubs leave me feeling dry and like my face has been scraped off - this does neither!).
Once rinsed off I noticed an immediate difference - my skin felt a lot less oily and properly clean with any residual skin build up around spots reduced. I have been using this for about one week and I have noticed a difference in my skin - its much less oily and blackheads have definately reduced.
The good thing about the scrub is that its gentle enough to use every day without drying out your skin and it keeps spots at bay!
Having upgraded my moisturiser several months ago, when the time came to replace my tube of face scrub recently, I decided it was maybe time to upgrade it as well. I've been using the Boots Cucumber Facial Scrub for years, probably around 16 years, and it has served my well, but I wanted to try something different.
While browsing in Boots, I spotted the Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Daily Scrub, and decided to try it. I think I paid £3.99, but it might have been less. I chose this because I had been feeling more conscious of blackheads on my face, particularly on my forehead, nose and chin.
The scrub comes in a larger tube than the cucumber one I had been using, so although it was over double the price, it actually worked out at very good value, as I think the tube was more than double the size.
The scrub itself is a pale blue in colour, with bright blue scrub beads through it. It is a creamy scrub, and quite thick, so it doesn't run out of your hand when you squeeze it out of the tube. I found the smell of it odd the first time I used it, and in fact I never completely got used to it, and continued to notice the odd smell. It is almost medicinal or household in smell, although there is also a hint of something else, maybe something slightly fruity, which seems more normal for a facial product. That said, the scent of the scrub isn't unpleasant, just a bit odd.
I use the scrub over my whole face, concentrating on one part at a time - cheeks, chin, nose, etc. It isn't a delicate scrub, which suits me - I don't see the point in a scrub you can barely feel. As you massage it onto your skin, it does feel like it will be working. The scrub is easy to rinse off, and doesn't leave any sort of residue on your skin.
From the very first time that I used the scrub, I felt that my skin was smoother. It left my skin feeling soft, smooth and moisturised. When I ran my hand over my forehead, it felt like the little bumps from blackheads were gone. However, although the scrub left my skin in a nice condition, it didn't actually seem to have any effect on my blackheads. My forehead may have felt like it was improved, but there was no visible difference in the blackheads there or anywhere else.
I liked the Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Daily Scrub, but I was disappointed that it didn't deliver on its main promise. However, I think I will buy it again: I tried a blackhead scrub from another brand after the tube of this was finished, but it has been drying my skin out, which the Clean & Clear scrub didn't do.
My skin on my face has never been wonderful but now working as a carer I find that the hotter I get running around work the more blackheads keep appearing on my face despite washing my face many times through the day.
I pick this up a couple of months ago when I saw it on offer and you can buy it from Boots, Superdrug, chemists and most supermarkets. A tube of the product costs around £3.50 depending on where you buy it.
The product comes packaged in a soft plastic tube which has a flip top lid on it which the tube stands on. The tube is nice and soft so it is easy to get the product out although when I came to the end of the tube I find it easier to cut the end off about a third of the way down and there is still loads of product inside and then you can manage to slip the cut piece over the end so you can still seal it as the tube is tapered. I like the colouring of the tube too as it is a deep purple and fades down into a lighter blue to purple colour which I think is pretty.
The product inside the tube is administer through a small hole underneath the flip top lid, the scrub is a creamy looking product with small bits in it to exfoliate although the bits are quite small and not too harsh on your skin which is great. The product doesn't really have a smell I can describe, it is a light smell and doesn't really leave any fragrance on your skin, it's better than the liquid astringent in this range as that smelt quite chemical to me.
After using this product I find that my skin is left feeling nice and soft which is lovely and I feel I have fresh skin too. I think that after use my skin looks brighter however it doesn't seem to have any effect on the amount of blackheads I get and I am coming to the conclusion now that nothing I use is going to make any difference to them.
I use this product two to three times a week and I have had no adverse reactions to it, I would say it is a really good scrub and leaves my skin feeling really nice however it doesn't work on my blackheads so it loses a star for that.
I have used this scrub for well over a year now and thought I would share my experiences of it with you lovely dooyooers.
This clean and clear scrub comes in a fairly standard squeezy bottle/tube. The main body of the tube is made of flexible plastic which makes it really easy to squeeze out everything you need. The lid is make from a harder plastic and flips open to reveal a small application hole through which you can push out the contents. The colour scheme is a deep blue and purple which fades to a lighter blue. I find this colour selection a little incongruous with a face scrub as I would usually associate either fruity smells and colours or something very light and fresh. The darker tones in this packaging seem more akin to a male scrub than one for women but if the product works then I have to say I don't really care about the look of it all that much. The design is very functional, the size is handy for travel and also for holding easily when in the bath or shower. Overall, aside from the colour scheme I like the design of this bottle and find it really easy to use and apply.
The scrub itself has quite a creamy consistency and smell to it. It has medium sized scrub granules in it which are moderately dispersed throughout the cream. This isn't an especially coarse scrub, nothing like St. Ives for example, and is therefore best for a gentle exfoliation. I don't tend to use mine every day but because this scrub is relatively gentle you definitely you without any adverse results. I think the consistency is nice as it makes a change from some of my harsher scrubs, but when I really want to wash away dead skin I tend to opt for something other than this because it isn't especially powerful.
The effects it has on my skin is really nice. It always feel smooth afterwards and very refreshed, with much of the dead or dry skin being washed away. My skin never feels irritated by it and though I don't use it everyday if I wanted a daily scrub this would be a great choice because it is gentle but works well. In terms of getting rid of blackheads I probably don't use it regularly enough for it work on combating all my blackheads, but I do notice is has a positive effect on any blemishes I have when I use it. It tends to reduce the redness and irritation of these areas, and I think they probably dissipate more quickly.
This scrub costs £3.69 from boots and is well worth the investment is you wanted a gentle scrub that does the job. It has lasted me over a year with semi-regular use, and if you used it as a daily scrub would probably last you for 3-4 months I would have though.
A gentle scrub which smooths my skin.
I usually have two facewash/scrubs on the go at anyone time, one of which has tended to be St Ives scrub, however I am finding it increasingly difficult to get this in any of my local chemists or supermarkets, and so have started looking at alternatives, although I tend to have sensitive skin and need to be very careful with products.
I had been given a Boots voucher during the summer and decided to use it to stock up on some essentials that I was low on, one of which was facewash at the time, and since Boots had this facewash 'Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Daily Scrub' on offer I thought I would give it a go.
This product usually retails at just under £3.50 for a 150ml tube, which is pretty average for a facewash, although more expensive than the Tesco own facial scrub which I use regularly and really like.
This blackhead daily scrub claims to be effective at fighting Blackheads from Day 1 of use, as it contains a 'quick break up complex' which works on the blackheads as it purifies the pores of your skin, after the exfoliating beads in the scrub take away any dead skin and unclog the pores. Not only does it claim to work on blackheads, but also to help prevent them from forming in the first place.
I have a lot of blackheads on my nose, so I was interested to see whether this would have any effect. The scrub itself it white with little blue exfoliating beads, however it doesn't feel at all harsh on my skin when I rub it in, and in fact, after washing off, it leaves my skin feeling bright and soft. Although you can feel the little beads they are gentle on your skin.
I use this scrub on alternate days, and so far I have had no reaction to it despite having quite sensitive skin, but also I have noticed a difference in the number of blackheads on my nose since using this product. I have also found that my skin has been very clear and spot free recently, which is a bonus since my skin tends to be oily and so spots can form regularly even with me doing everything to avoid it.
All in all, I like this product.... I like the way it leaves my skin bright, clean as well as soft and smooth. I like the fact that it has made a difference to the number of blackheads on my nose, and I like the fact that I have not ad any spots since using this product, which could be a coincidence but I do think this product has a lot to do with it. A great product and one I will definitely buy again, especially when on offer.
I have very sensitive skin and I find it quite hard to find a face wash that isnt too harsh for my skin. I do suffer from mild acne and acne scaring on my cheeks and forehead which can knock my self esteem quite a bit. I also have huge pores! I have been trying to 'cure' or get rid of my acne for ages now and I havent been that successful until I discoved the Clean and Clear range.
I have used Clean and Clear products before so it is a brand I know and trust. They are experts in sensitive skin which is good and that is what I need! My little sister got this from Superdrug for me. At first I asked her for the Neutrogena face wash but she got this instead which I was fine with. I think it retails for around £3.50 which is a good price for how much product you are getting in this tube.
I like the design of the packaging as you can easily see how much product you have left because the bottle is fairly see through. It is a nice blue colour and has the average flip top lid. Nothing really that special.
Clean and Clear claim that this facewash....
Contains a unique active Quick Break Complex to help fight blackheads from day one. The special exfoliating micro beads immediately peel awa dead cells to unclog pores. The blackhead fighting ingrediant penetrates the pores to help clear them from impurities and prevent blackheads from forming. With soothing actives, this scrub is gentle enough to use evryday to help keep your skin clean and clearer of blackheads without irritating or over drying. I really wanted to see if it worked after reading that as it sounded very persuasive!
I squeesed out a fair amount (about a 50p dollop) on wet hands to create a lather then I immediatley scrubed it onto my face. Concentrating on my nose and cheeks the most as that is where the black heads are the biggest and most obvious. The facewash is white and very thick and contains blue micro beads. I believe these are used to remove the dirt? It kind of looks like a bacteria colony! Whilst scrubbing my face with this it did feel slightly abbrasive on my skin and had a funny feeling to it.
Now the most important question did it work?
Yes it did make my skin feel softer and look cleaner but I really dont think it did that much for my acne or blackheads. Clean and Clear claim that you will see results from day 1 which I find totally untrue. Yes I did see results but not major ones. My blackheads didnt disappear but they were not as obvious as before as for acne well it didnt do that much. It take make some of them appear less obvious.
Overall I was hoping for better results but my skin did feel very soft and clean afterwards.
Clean & Clear Daily Scrub is designed to fight black heads and exfoliate your skin.
The packaging is similiar to the rest of the range keeping that they want to keep all their products co-ordinated. A nice blue plastic bottle with the lid at the bottom where it stands (good to get every last bit of it out!)
I was initially looking for an exfoliator to keep my dry skin under control but this is advertised to clear your face of blackheads.
I've been using this product for about 2 years now and I have absolutely no complaints. My skin feels refreshed everytime I use this scrub and my dry skin has been kept under control with the help of this followed by moisturizer. I also have noticed I have less blackheads than before. They aren't 100% gone and I doubt that there will ever be a miracle exfoliater that will do that but the difference is a lot. The blackheads that I do have still are kept under control and barely noticeable.
I would definitely recommend this product to anyone with blackhead problems or dry skin. Even if you don't I believe its great at clearing your pores and would be a good facial cleanser in general.
Everyone's skin needs a good scrub every do often. I have sensitive skin and I was pleased to discover the Clean & Clear range. Whilst other brands can destroy my skin, Clean & Clear genuinely was gentle enough for me to use every day.
The scrub generally retails for about £3.00 - £3.50, which I think is good value for the 150ml size.
The bottle claims that you can 'see results from day 1' if used both morning and evening. This isn't necessarily true. What you will probably find is that it will nuetralise the colour of the skin; making the skin you've scrubbed slightly darker and any imperfections lighter. This gives the impression of results but if you look again after half an hour, once your skin has resettled, you probably won't notice any difference after two uses.
So does it work? Well, I started to noticed a positive difference after about 3 days, with slow and steady gains after this, but ultimately leading to pretty clear skin. I've been able to switch back to the standard Clean & Clear facewash whilst maintaining clarity, whilst only using the scrub two or three times a week.
I only have one real complaint about this scrub; the blue 'micro beads' tend to stick to the side of the sink and generally get everywhere It's annoying having to wipe the sink down after every use.
I like the whole Clean & Clear range, as i find it to be better quality and a lot better value for money than it's competitors. I get this for around £2 in Superdrug or Boots, usually going through a tube in about 2 months.
The design of the bottle means that you can see how much product you have left, and the squeezy top lets you dispense as much as you like out. The only downside to this design is that when the product gets to the bottom, it is difficult to get the last uses from it and i always end up cutting the end off the tube!
The 'natural jojoba' beads that are mixed in with the cream really exfoliate your skin as you rub, so you can decide how gentle or rough you want to be. This product really does help to reduce spots as well as blackheads, although it only seems to claim the blackhead title. Since using this product nearly every day, my skin has been a lot softer and i get less spots and blackheads. It's worth a buy!
This has become my more affordable alternative to Clinique 7 day scrub and I have been using it for the past few months and my skin hasn't become used to it and it stills seems as effective from day 1.
The scrub comes in a translucent blue plastic tube, where you can see the scrub and bursting blue beads inside. The flip cap is on the bottom, which makes it easy to squeeze the scrub out. My only annoyance is that most tubes are only 80% full, which seems a bit of a waste and you have to search through the shelves to find a nearly full tube
The scrub is quite a thick white cream with large blue micro beads, which explode when you massage them in.
I tend to use this scrub at night and it is quite smooth compared to normal scrubs. The creamy texture makes the scrub kind to skin and suitable to use everyday, which I do. You can feel the beads on your skin, when you massage it in but they aren't harsh and they don't scratch your face.
I don't think I am the only person who finds blue beads in the hair throughout the day, they aren't obvious but unless you thoroughly wash your hair through afterwards, they are unavoidable.
Overall, I find that this cleans quite deeply and removes dead skin cells whilst creating a bright smooth base. I usually use foundation after using this and it makes my makeup go on well and gives me a good complexion.
I use this product daily in the morning and a different product in the evening as it isn't harsh but effective and does what it says on the label. My skin appears clearer since I started using it and I am very happy with the effects.
I think it normally retails for £3.99 in Boots but only recently I got 2 for £5 on the Clean & Clear range, which I thought was great value. I find a tube lasts ages and I am only halfway through my first tube. I would recommend it but the beads are flaming annoying!
At about £3.50 depending on where you buy it, this scrub better work otherwise you've wasted quite a lot of money. O.k it's not in the dermatologica price bracket but its not cheap.
The claim: 'see fewer blackheads from day one' is false. Also when you read the back it says that you must use it twice in one day in order to see improvement. This is definitely false advertising on the front. But they cleverly mask it by putting it in small print. If only they were as good at making scrubs as writing small print.
After a few days use improvement is noticeable but you have to keep it up and a few days without the scrub and you're back to square one. I would suggest giving this product a try and seeing how it works with your skin because all skin types are different.
The cream looks good with little blue exfoliaters in it and it does leave skin feeling refreshed and healthy. But I wish it did what it said on the tin.
I have used this product numerous times, and am onto the third tube now, as it is a good product which delivers time after time, and you can keep using it.
~~~Tube Design~~~
The scrub comes in a generic translucent blue plastic tube, where you can see the actual scrub inside, and the micro beads. The cap is on the bottom for easy storage, as well as ease of squeezing the scrub out.
I always find that most tubes are only about 80-85% full... but if you are a bit pickier, you can get a 90-95% full tube. They really should make them all the same, and not waste space- FILL IT TO THE TOP!!
The scrub is a nice white cream with large blue micro beads. They are considerably larger than what you would find in most scrubs. The cream is nice and smooth, almost shaving gel consistency.
The product is really smooth considering the large size of the micro beads. This is mainly due to the texture of the cream part of the scrub; it is kind to the skin. The beads are obvious to the skin, you can feel them all, and the ratio of cream to beads in the scrub is just right, as it doesn't feel harsh, and is quite light compared to OXY or Clearasil.
One annoyance I find is that the blue beads easily get stuck in hair whilst rinsing out.
Overall, it gives a very good clean, and does the job it is supposed to- removing dead cells, cleaning the face, and an overall smoother, brighter complexion. As I said before, this in fact feels smoother and gentler to the skin than other scrubs, which is nice as it can be used more often and NOT damage skin.
I use this product about 2-3 times a week, a slightly harsher scrub once a week, and for the other days a stronger face wash, which will constantly change the routine for a bit more excitement and to remove dirt and keep skin clear. My skin seems to be able to adapt to a product, and is less effective the longer I use it, but with this particular one, it seems to work however long I've been using it!
I think it is £3.99 at Boots.
I think this scrub is great, as it is intermediate between soft and harsh scrubs. It can be used daily which is great, but can be regulated according to your personal routine. The scrub cleanses and feels soothing to the skin, and does its job well.
Pricewise, it is not the cheapest thing, but I would personally recommend this. It has not failed me. The annoyance with the beads stuck in the hair might just be me. :P
Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Daily Scrub works in two ways to unclog pores and clear blackheads / With natural jojoba beads to lift away dirt and oil and help clear blackheads / Use daily /


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Farnsworth to sign new Minors deal with Mets
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A day after the Mets granted him his release to avoid a $100,000 roster retention bonus, Kyle Farnsworth said he was on the verge of re-signing with the organization.
Farnsworth plans to sign a new Minor League deal with the Mets on Tuesday, allowing him to continue working out at the club's Spring Training facility and competing for a job. Though Farnsworth is an extreme longshot to make the Opening Day bullpen, his new deal will allow him to continue pitching once the season starts at Triple-A Las Vegas.
Struggling with his velocity all spring, Farnsworth posted a 5.63 ERA in eight Grapefruit League innings. The Mets originally signed him to a Minor League deal that would have required them to pay him $100,000 to assign him to the Minors.
Reports: Harvey to rehab elbow at Citi Field
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- An injured elbow alone is not going to keep Matt Harvey out of New York City.
Harvey and the Mets have come to an agreement allowing the right-hander to rehab from Tommy John surgery at Citi Field, according to multiple reports. The Mets will allow Harvey to remain with the team until he is ready to ramp up his rehab program later this summer, according to the reports, at which point he will travel back down to Port St. Lucie.
Through a team spokesman, general manager Sandy Alderson declined comment. The Mets have not confirmed the location of Harvey's rehab.
Alderson made it clear earlier this spring that he preferred to have Harvey work out in Port St. Lucie, where most of the organization's rehab infrastructure is located. Nearly every rehabbing Met, including fellow Tommy John patient Jeremy Hefner, works at the team's Spring Training complex in Florida.
But Harvey lives full-time in Manhattan and said that he relishes the opportunity to be with and learn from his big league teammates. He also has Major League Baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement on his side, stipulating that the Mets cannot force him to rehab in Florida for more than 20 days without his written permission.
Harvey hopes to return to the Mets in September, though Opening Day 2015 is a more realistic estimate.
Mets having Flores work at short in Minors
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets may have demoted Wilmer Flores from big league camp, but they are not ending the Flores-to-shortstop experiment just yet.
The team on Monday optioned Flores and three others to Minor League camp, ultimately setting his path toward Triple-A Las Vegas. There, Flores will play shortstop and second base after splitting time between second and third last season.
Flores, 22, is a natural shortstop who converted to third base earlier in his career, after the Mets determined he could not handle the physical demands of the position. But given their organizational weakness at short -- Ruben Tejada, the starter, has struggled mightily without any real threat to his job -- the Mets began redeploying Flores at shortstop earlier this month.
Though he showed some limitations at the position, Flores did not make an error in 42 innings there. He batted only .238, however, with two home runs in 42 at-bats. Tejada is batting .229 in 35 at-bats.
The Mets on Monday also optioned infielder Zach Lutz and outfielders Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Matt den Dekker to Minor League camp.
Lutz, 27, had no place on the roster with Josh Satin entrenched as the Mets' backup corner infielder. den Dekker, likewise, had no opening with Juan Lagares and Chris Young both ahead of him on the center-field depth chart.
Nieuwenhuis had an outside chance to make the team given starting pitcher Jon Niese's injury, which will allow the Mets to carry an extra bench player for the first five games of the season. But his demotion signals that Andrew Brown will likely make the Opening Day roster.
Niese on track after successful 'pen session
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- With raindrops falling around him, Jon Niese completed a successful bullpen session on Monday morning at Mets camp, keeping him on track to pitch April 6 against the Reds. The 45-pitch session marked Niese's first mound work since undergoing an MRI on his sore left elbow last Monday in New York.
"It felt great," Niese said. "It feels good to throw pitches without any pain or soreness, but we'll see how it reacts tomorrow."
Attempting to simulate game action as much as possible, Niese threw 25 pitches, rested for several minutes, then threw 20 more in the session. He is next scheduled to throw 55-60 pitches on Thursday in a Minor League game, putting him on track to make his debut on April 6.
Niese will begin the season on the disabled list, allowing the Mets to carry an extra bench player -- almost certainly outfielder Andrew Brown -- for the first five games of the schedule.
With Niese sidelined, the Mets plan to start Dillon Gee on March 31 against the Nationals, followed by Bartolo Colon, Zack Wheeler, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Gee and Niese in that order. The team has not officially named Matsuzaka its fifth starter or set its rotation order behind Gee, but club officials have been hinting at that alignment for weeks.
As for Niese, who missed two months last year with a partially torn left rotator cuff before struggling through left shoulder and elbow soreness this spring, he hopes simply that his arm woes are behind him.
"I'm hoping it won't [flare back up]," Niese said. "There are so many things that have happened to me that I can't really say. I've just got to take it day by day, one pitch at a time, and hopefully stay healthy."
Mets name Natera as assistant to Hudgens
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets on Monday joined the growing ranks of big league teams employing assistant hitting coaches, naming Luis Natera to that position under fourth-year hitting coach Dave Hudgens.
Natera, who spent the past seven years as the hitting coach at Double-A Binghamton, is in his 24th season in the Mets' organization. He has served as a hitting coach at every level of the organization -- from Rookie ball to Triple-A -- and has also worked as the coordinator of the Mets' Dominican Academy and managed their Dominican Summer League team.
Mets manager Terry Collins said that with almost every big league ballpark now boasting an indoor batting cage, he wanted a coach available to tutor hitters during games, when Hudgens is busy on the bench.
"With all that action going on in there, I thought it was important to have someone who can actually perhaps get somebody better prepared to come into a game to hit," Collins said. "If there's things that guys are working on -- there are guys that even during a game will have an at-bat and the next inning will go into the cage, take some swings, and we need somebody in there to help them."
Worth noting
• The Mets released nine players from Minor League camp: first basemen Chris Garcia and James Roche, outfielders Joe Bonfe and Eris Peguero, right-handed pitchers Cristian Chivilli, Chris Schwinden and Ernesto Yanez, and left-handed pitchers Mark Cohoon and Jhonathan Torres.
• The Mets on Monday announced a two-year extension through 2018 of their marketing and promotional agreement with Caesars Entertainment Corporation. Caesars has an extensive presence at Citi Field, particularly in the Caesars Club, Citi Field's largest hospitality space. The Mets have similar marketing deals in place with Anheuser-Busch, Citi, Delta Air Lines, GEICO, PepsiCo and Verizon.
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jon Gosselin is firing back.
The ex-reality TV dad is slapping estranged wife Kate with allegations that the mother of eight tried to "cover up" her own withdrawals from their joint account before she filed for divorce in June.
Kate claimed last week that Jon had drained their joint bank account of $230,000 and left her unable to pay the bills and provide for their brood.
Jon denied the allegation and said through his attorney that his ex filed an emergency petition last week "to cover up the fact that she removed hundreds of thousands of dollars from the marital estate" before filing for divorce.
"Jon seeks to hold Kate responsible for what he believes to be her contemptuous conduct," Jon's lawyer, Mark Heller, told "The Insider."
The attorney for the octodad said Jon, who made the rounds on the talk show circuit last week, was mum on the confidential information because he didn't want to "embarrass Kate with the allegations." It was when Kate's legal representation kept speaking out that Jon decided to go public, his lawyer claimed.
"Accordingly, in order for Jon's side to be known and the picture to be complete, we feel we have no choice but to release Jon's Answer and Counterclaim," Heller told the site.
The news comes as reports emerge that Kate filed for alimony from her estranged husband after he put a stop to production of her new reality series that features their eight children, according to Usmagazine.com.
"As this is active litigation, things move quickly," Mark Momjian, a rep for Kate's attorney, told E! News. "What I can say at this point is that a special relief application seeking injunctive relief was filed on behalf of Kate Gosselin on Oct. 5. Additionally, there is an arbitrator's conference -- essentially a status conference -- on Tuesday for counsel regarding economic issues."
The gossip website TMZ reported Kate was seeking child and spousal support from her estranged husband, who she claimed drained their joint bank account of $230,000 last week and left her unable to pay the bills.
"I do know that no matter what, I know within myself, that if I have to work at McDonald's, I will do what it takes to provide for my kids, period," Kate said on the "Today" show last week.
Jon reportedly has filed his own papers in court alleging that Kate filed an emergency petition last week "to cover up the fact that she removed hundreds of thousands of dollars from the marital estate" before filing for divorce in June, Jon's attorney told "The Insider."
"I'm not the bad guy here," Jon told "Entertainment Tonight." "I'm the one trying to protect my children. That's called being a parent, protecting my children."


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Nothing is more frustrating than trying to enjoy your favorite programs on TV when the picture is noisy or full of static. We at KPRC Channel 2 want all of our viewers to enjoy our programming to the fullest, so we've created this guide to help you get better TV reception. So, if you're having reception problems, take a moment to read this guide before running out to buy a new set.
Often, TV viewers spend large amounts of money on the latest TV models, bring home the sets, and connect them to the same old antenna system or cable connection that they have been using for years. These folks wonder why the picture on their new TV isn't any better than before. Most people don't know that the antenna system or cable TV wire that you use to feed your television set is just as important to getting good reception as the TV set itself. Very frequently, reception problems can be cured by simply tightening the connections to your TV set, or by replacing a frayed or damaged cable.
Let's look at the different kinds of antennas and cables that are used to connect the programming to your TV.
All modern television sets have an input connector labeled "Antenna," usually a single round coaxial fitting, about 3/8" in diameter. This connector (known as an "F Connector" to TV professionals) brings in all of the viewable TV channels from an external antenna or cable TV system. Your set may have other connectors, often labeled "Video" or "S-Video," which are used to bring in pictures from VCRs or DVD players. Connectors marked "Audio" bring in sound from these types of devices. In this case, we will only be concerned with the Antenna connection.
In the earliest days of TV, the only sources of programming were the local TV stations. These broadcasters set up transmitters on tall towers or skyscrapers, and sent their signals through the air to your TV set. Many viewers continue to receive their TV signals in this way. KPRC Channel 2 operates a transmitter facility located in Missouri City for both analog and digital TV.
Nowadays, there are other options for receiving TV programming. Cable and Satellite TV services have given viewers more program options and made it possible for clearer and less noisy pictures to be delivered to viewers, especially those folks who live far from downtown Houston.
Again, Cable TV systems are often connected to home TV sets through the Antenna jack on the back of the set. Getting the best pictures from a Cable system will be discussed later on. First, let's talk about antennas.
Surprisingly, some people will invest thousands of dollars on TV equipment, and totally ignore the antenna. However, if the antenna is unable to capture a good signal and deliver it to the receiver, the best TV in the world cannot produce a picture that you will be happy with.
Suitable TV antennas are available at home improvement and electronics stores, along with the cable and other accessories you will need to complete the installation. It is recommended that viewers have their antennas professionally installed, if you are uncomfortable with the prospect of working on your roof. A competent installer can recommend an antenna suitable for use at your particular location, and ensure that the unit is properly pointed and connected to the TV set.
The best type of TV antenna is one mounted outdoors, as high as possible. Most times, this means having the antenna mounted on the roof or chimney. A typical TV outdoor antenna looks like a long boom, with a number of elements mounted crosswise, with element lengths varying from longer to shorter. The farther away from a TV station transmitter you are, the more elements your antenna must have to work effectively. The antenna needs to be pointed at the TV tower/transmitter, for best results. To best receive KPRC Channel 2, the end with the shortest elements should be pointed toward Missouri City. Misalignment of the antenna will result in greatly degraded pictures.
Some neighborhoods have restrictions on having TV antennas mounted on the roof or chimney. In these cases, an outdoor antenna mounted inside your attic can deliver acceptable performance. It is very important to mount the antenna in such a way as to allow the elements to be fully extended and to have the antenna properly pointed at the station transmitter. Again, a professional installer can help those who are uncomfortable with working in the attic.
The least preferable choice for a TV antenna is an indoor set-top type, commonly known as rabbit ears, or the monopole antennas sometimes mounted into the TV itself. This type of antenna never works well in receiving Channel 2, as the "ears" are too short to be electrically effective on our frequency. Rabbit ears would need to be in excess of 8 feet long to work well on Channel 2, too long to be practical. Also, the bowtie and round loop-style antennas are designed for UHF reception and will not work at all with VHF stations like Channel 2. Most people are disappointed with the performance of inexpensive indoor antennas.
If you have an outdoor antenna that has been up for many years, you should consider replacing it. A typical TV antenna mounted outside in the Houston area is subjected to a wide range of weather conditions, including wind, rain, hail and ice. This means that the average outdoor antenna begins to show the effects of the weather after about 2 to 3 years. Certainly by two years after the original installation, the antenna should be inspected for broken elements and bad connections. The loss of ANY element from an outdoor antenna WILL have a significant effect on the performance of the antenna, and the antenna should be replaced.
The majority of TV reception problems are not caused by the TV station, but by the actual receiving antenna or antenna cable that brings the signal from the antenna to the TV set. Checking the integrity of the connections to the antenna and the TV is the first thing that a viewer can do to insure that he is getting the best possible signal.
Older antenna installations used a flat antenna cable, commonly known as twin-lead. In general, this cable is more trouble than it is worth, and should be replaced with the round coaxial cable found in newer installations. Twin lead line is probably the source of more reception complaints than any other cause. It just plain doesn't work very well. Coaxial cable and appropriate connectors are also available at home improvement and electronic stores. Again, professional installers can help in the replacement of old antenna cable. Any cable that has been out in the weather for 2 -5 years or longer should be suspect; as rainwater has a habit of getting into connections and deteriorating them.
When installing antenna cable, make the cable run as short and direct as possible. Long cable runs result in signal loss and noisier pictures. The line should be kept away from electrical equipment, if possible, and a single direct cable is preferred to one with many splices. Make sure that all connections are tight. F-Connectors should be gently snugged with a small wrench, as loose connectors are often the source of many reception problems.
And while we're on the subject of cables, look at the ones you are now using. Are the connectors firmly crimped or attached to the cable itself? Are there any frayed ends or broken wires? These are all conditions that can lead to bad reception of Channel 2.
A snowy picture usually indicates a weak signal. A preamplifier mounted near the antenna can eliminate or reduce the snow. Signal strength deteriorates as it travels down the antenna line to the TV. A weak signal will be non-existent when it reaches the television unless it receives amplification before the trip. The pre-amp boosts the signal to offset any loss from the antenna line.
Viewers often share a single antenna among many sets, using splitters to divide the signal. This is OK, as long as there aren't too many sets connected to the system. Remember, each splitter divides up the available signal, so you may need an amplifier to bring the levels up the amount that makes your TV work well.
An amplifier only prevents additional signal deterioration. If the signal is noisy leaving the antenna, the amplifier will amplify the noise along with the signal. The best type of amplifier is one that connects right near the antenna, in line with the coaxial cable, with a separate power supply that is located indoors. You can get this type of amplifier at the same outlets where antennas and coaxial cables are sold.
Amplifiers can and do fail. Electrical storms can easily destroy the components in an antenna amplifier. If you have noticed an abrupt change in signal quality, you should suspect your amplifier.
Many Houstonians receive Channel 2 via their local cable TV system. Some systems put Channel 2 on a different cable channel, but regardless, Cable TV is generally a great way to get a good picture on Channel 2. However, if the cable installation is not done properly, it is possible to get bad pictures from Cable TV. Unfortunately, many problems typical of cable systems affect the lowest channels on the dial most severely, while higher channels are unaffected.
If your picture on Channel 2 is noisy or degraded and you have cable, first make sure that all of the connectors on your TV set and the cable box (if you have one) are tight, and the cable ends are not frayed or loose. Follow the cable lead back to the point where the cable enters your home and examine all of the connections there. Almost all cable TV reception problems stem from loose or damaged connectors. If you still have problems, contact your cable TV provider for more help.
Copyright 2011 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Ailing neck healed, Pollock returns to lineup
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
PHOENIX -- A.J. Pollock was back in the D-backs' starting lineup batting sixth and playing center field on Friday night for the opening of a three-game series against the Phillies at Chase Field.
He was removed from a game Sunday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles because of tightness on the left side of his neck and hasn't started since then.
"Yeah, I've been itching the last few games to get in there," Pollack said in the clubhouse prior to batting practice. "I was ready to go [Thursday], but it's probably wise that I didn't play. So the extra day, with the flight, just wanted to come in today and make sure everything was good. And it is."
With Mark Trumbo on the 15-day disabled list because of a stress fracture in his left foot and Cody Ross being given a game off in his comeback from last year's severe hip injury and surgery, the D-backs had a shortage of top-line outfielders on Friday.
The starters from left to right were Tony Campana, Pollock and Gerardo Parra with newcomer Roger Kieschnick on the bench. Kieschnick replaced Trumbo on the 25-man roster on Thursday in Chicago.
Pollock is batting .235 with a homer and two RBIs in 21 games. Trumbo leads the club with seven homers and 19 RBIs.
"I want to get in there," Pollock said. "I want to contribute to the team and help win. The injury was kind of a shocker. It happened just taking a swing against [Josh] Beckett. It was a curveball and I was out in front. Right when it happened, it was a jolt in the upper back area. It was one of those things I was hoping was going to loosen up as the game went on.
"It just got worse and worse to a point where I had trouble picking my head up in the field. Some guys who had it said it usually took around four or five days. It's four days now so I'm good."
Trumbo expects to be sidelined at least six weeks
PHOENIX -- Though the results of the CAT scan on Mark Trumbo's injured left foot weren't released by the D-backs before their game against the Phillies on Friday, the Arizona slugger told the assembled media in the clubhouse that he expects to be out at least six weeks with what he described as a stress fracture of the metatarsal bone.
"The best case is that it goes by quickly and we win a lot of games," said Trumbo, wearing a black walking cast with a sonar device that sends steady healing signals into the injured area. "The best medicine for anything is that the team's doing well, you progress on time, and you're ready to go when you're supposed to."
The D-backs placed the left fielder, who leads the team with seven homers and 19 RBIs, on the 15-day disabled list Thursday before the final game of a four-game series against the Cubs in Chicago.
"We know regardless it's going to lengthy," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said on Friday. "I don't know exactly what else to tell you at this time."
Trumbo began feeling the effects of the injury during Monday night's game at Wrigley Field and an MRI revealed the extent of the damage. He saw D-backs orthopedic specialist Dr. Michael Lee, who administered the CAT scan on Friday, and he expects to see a couple of other specialists in the upcoming days.
"But I don't think there's much room for error in the diagnosis," he said.
Trumbo joins the walking wounded in the room that includes pitchers Patrick Corbin, Daniel Hudson, Matt Reynolds and David Hernandez, all in different phases of recovery from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement therapy. Cody Ross, coming back from last season's severe hip injury and surgery, was held out of the lineup against the Phillies at Chase Field.
Trumbo was obtained this past offseason in a deal with the Angels that sent pitcher Tyler Skaggs to Los Angeles. It was anticipated that he would bolster the lineup and augment power displayed by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Despite hitting .210 with a .264 on-base percentage in 21 games, Trumbo was already doing just that.
Asked how the D-Backs would replace Trumbo's presence in the lineup, backup infielder Eric Chavez said: "You don't."
"We just need contributions from others," Gibson said. "We have some depth out there. We have other guys who need to play more than if [Trumbo] was in the rotation."
Gibson grateful for support, but is focused on winning
PHOENIX -- A day after Miguel Montero came to the defense of manager Kirk Gibson and general manager Kevin Towers, the D-backs catcher reiterated his point and was backed up by utility infielder Eric Chavez.
Gibson said thanks, but no thanks.
"When you get into the kind of situation we're in, you're going to have comments from different people and different perspectives," Gibson said before his 7-18 club opened a three-game series against the Phillies at Chase Field on Friday night. "I'm focused on trying to prepare these guys to be successful. From the media, there are guys on both sides of the aisle.
"We're pretty open right now. We're pretty susceptible. Take your shots. I've supported Miggy all along. You know how I feel about him and it seems the feeling is mutual. Obviously, it's greatly appreciated. Yet, that doesn't get us a win. We have to be prepared to win the game."
Gibson said he has spoken regularly to managing partner Ken Kendrick and team president Derrick Hall and "they've been great since the day I got here and they continue to be that way."
"I'm just going to tell you guys don't ask me about it every day because I won't respond to it," Gibson said. "I go out there and bust my [butt]. I'm a believer that we can fix the position that we are in and I'll push that way one way or the other."
Montero didn't back down from his statements made Thursday after the game at Wrigley Field.
"The bottom line, like I said [Thursday], is we should go out there and play better baseball," Montero said. "We're in here every day trying to get better. Those guys are out there doing the best they can for us, trying to make it easier for us to go out there and perform. They prepare every day. Maybe we need to prepare ourselves better as players. The coaches have done everything they can to help us win a ballgame.
"The bottom line is we've got to play good baseball. We've got to pitch good, we have to hit good, and we have to play good defense, period. We haven't done none of those three."
Because of all that, Montero added, he's uncomfortable hearing all the comments about the tenuous footing Gibson and Towers may be on at the moment. Chavez agreed.
"It's our fault, 100 percent," he said. "If everybody doesn't look at what ownership did and the money they spent bringing in players to try and better this team to put us in position … Granted, we lose our No. 1 starter and one of our top guys out of the 'pen, that's going to hurt anybody. Good teams overcome injuries. But the kind of start we got off to, I don't know how you can explain that. I don't think you can blame that on anything except that we've just played horribly and the numbers don't lie."
Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Boomskie on Baseball. Follow @boomskie on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Hi all, I've found about 30 of these critters over the last month or so. Usually on the kitchen worktop but now also the occasional appearance upstairs in the bathroom. Would really appreciate identification and advice as to where they are coming from. I thought they might be woodworm but can't find any holes. Many thanks, Paul ps their approx 3mm long.
Yes, I think you are right. The insect looks like a Euophryum confine, a weevil. Take a look at this page about the species.
Thanks Florin - very helpful.
I treated for another type of wood borer today (I'm a pest controller). In my case it was the wharf borer. The wharf borer had been coming out of a skirting board behind a couch in a living room. On investigation the borers were found to be eating through wet and mouldy wood in the staircase, which was behind the wall with the couch against it. Basically you need to identify the areas you've seen the insects and try and work out where the wet and damaged wood is.
I don't know where the stairs in your house are but I'd suggest having a look at the underneath of them. I had to cut a small hole in plasterboard (in an under the stairs cupboard) and put an inspection camera through to find where the damaged wood was. Then from there I had to cut a larger hole to treat the wood with insecticide. Now its a job for the carpenters to replace the bottom 3 stairs. A big job!
It maybe somewhere else in your house though like floorboard etc. So have a good look round before demolishing your house.
This photo shows the damage to the right side of the board on the bottom 3 stairs. The left side is how it should look. If you look on the right again you can see the eaten timber remains on the floor. The stairs have become structually unsound because of this pest.
Oh my god! Thanks very much Remo - it looks like these things have to be taken seriously. Would you know how far they can walk from wherever they emerge? Thanks again, Paul.
Im not to sure on how far they could walk as such but they emerge from being the larva (the eating phase in the wood) to be the adult (the mating phase thats on your work surface). So they maybe looking to mate and lay eggs back in the wet timber their eating. You need to carefully look around for the damp wood (it may be in the wall or under the floor). Treating the surface of the wood with insecticide should do the trick unless the wood is absolutely riddled and needs replacing.
It must be somewhere connected with the kitchen surface and whats above, behind or under it. Concentrate your search there and if thats not successful maybe consider getting someone in who deals with property care and wood boring insects.
The call I dealt with today was very advanced and the customer had been seeing them for a long time so don't panic your problem won't be as severe.


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Margarita Glasses
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Nothing kicks off a party faster than a good margarita. no one knows exactly when the margarita was invented, but some stories suggest the popular beverage was named after the daughter of a German ambassador. Though its origins are up for debate, the popular cocktail has been served in the iconic "inverted sombrero" glass for decades. Perfect for blended and on the rocks varieties, revellers will enjoy a drink (or two) in a classic wide-brimmed glass and salted rim.
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Quick Citrus Spinach Salad Recipe
This simple green salad is the perfect partner for meals throughout the year. Every bite is bursting with spinach, raisins and oranges.
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or cider vinegar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
- 1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Dash pepper
- Dash ground nutmeg
- 6 cups torn fresh spinach
- 3 medium naval oranges, peeled and sectioned
- 1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup julienned red onion
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
- 1. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, sugar, orange peel, tarragon, salt, pepper and nutmeg. In a serving bowl, combine the spinach, oranges, avocado, raisins, and onion. Sprinkle with almonds and sesame seeds. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Serve immediately. Yield: 6-8 servings.
Reviews for Quick Citrus Spinach Salad
Average Rating
Reviewed Dec. 29, 2008
"I made this salad for the first time, but I wasnt impressed with the dressing...it was too tangy and vinegary, so I added more sugar and then it tasted much better and the tarragon gives it a nice flavor."
© 2018 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC


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November 29, 2012 in iAnnouncements (E)
[prMac.com] Leamington Spa, United Kingdom - With four games currently in development for release in the new year, Kwalee's Art Department are working more than flat out lovingly crafting art for our eager audience. The standard is set to a very high level as the Farm Fighters teaser art amply demonstrates. As a result of the sheer volume of work and the quality demanded, Kwalee are actively looking to expand their production capabilities with the addition of contract artists.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, gone are the days of companies having to retain all their employees within one building. The Art Department are looking to outsource work to talented artists to work from home on Kwalee's current projects and others that are in the pipeline. The core skill-sets we're looking for are in 3D modelling and texturing, ideally in Maya, animation and some illustration and vector art. We've also got a space in our hearts reserved for an exceptional UI artist if there's one out there!
Kwalee's head of art James Horn explains: "As a creative studio we have many exciting games in development at once. To allow us to support our talented code teams with all the assets they require we're looking to build a flexible network of freelance providers who can help provide top quality, game optimised artwork for use in our games."
It certainly is exciting times at Kwalee HQ right now; at a time when many companies are winding down for the holiday season, Kwalee have gone into overdrive, again showing their dedication and consistency in this ever changing market. Any artists out there across the globe reading this and wanting to get involved can contact us and submit their portfolio. Please note that applicants for the advertised job role will also be considered for this freelance work.
Kwalee is a company based in Leamington Spa that develop and publish social multiplayer games for iPhone and other mobile devices. Founded by David Darling CBE, co-founder of Codemasters, with decades of experience at the top level of the video game industry and contributions to many #1 games on numerous platforms in his CV. Kwalee is different. We seek to excite and entertain our customers with innovative new products that provide special experiences. Our ethos is based around a set of core values that put the customer first and which harness the creative skills of our staff to the maximum in order to do so. Kwalee is always very actively looking for those special people who want to join us in our exciting journey. Copyright (C) 2012 Kwalee. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.


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Post 68 opens Legion playoffs today
PITTSFIELD -- Fresh off a brief regular season, Berkshire County American Legion champion Post 68 will face Greenfield in a District 1 first-round tournament game today at 4:30 p.m. at Clapp Park.
Post 68 (13-3) is the second seed in the District 1 playoffs. Wilbraham Post 286 (14-2) is the top seed, while Greenfield Post 81 (12-3-1) is the No. 3 seed in the three-team field.
If Pittsfield wins tonight, it will head out to Wilbraham for the District 1 championship on Monday night at 4 p.m.
All the games at this level are single-elimination, said coach Jim Mazzer, who added that Post 68 played 16 games in about a month.
"Yeah, we usually played four, sometimes five games in a week," he said. "If we had had a lot of rainouts, I think we would have been in trouble."
The good news is this: The truncated schedule helped Mazzer build a pretty good pitching staff. The not-so-good news: Two of his best pitchers, Liam Nolan and Peter Gregory, won't be available tonight.
Nolan is a member of the West scholastic team in the Bay State Games. On Tuesday night, he pitched four innings of relief as the West shut out Central, 2-0.
Gregory will be attending a college orientation session tonight.
However, Mazzer does have other options. Mike Mancivalano, a right-hander who pitched this year for MCLA, will be the starter.
"We've used four or five guys on the mound this year," said Mazzer. "We'll make do with what we have."
Tonight's contest will be a nine-inning game, as opposed to the county regular-season contests, which lasted seven innings.
Mazzer said he didn't have a lot of information on the Greenfield team.
"But our strength this year has been scoring runs," he said. "We've been hitting the ball well. If we win [tonight], we'll have our whole pitching staff ready to go on Monday."
Gregory, Andrew Ringie, Zach Neary, Cory Decker and Rory Slattery have been Mazzer's most consistent hitters this year. But, he added, the team has gotten contributions form several players.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


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Support Technique
Vous rencontrez un problème ? Bienvenue dans notre rubrique support technique, vous y trouverez des information utiles concernant votre Canyon. Sélectionnez simplement la rubrique correspondante pour trouver une solution à votre problème.
Correct use of brake fluids
Brake fluid is the medium which conveys the pressure from the brake lever to the brake pad and is attached to the frame or the fork. The master cylinder presses the brake pads on the disc towards each other and the bicycle brakes. There are two kinds of brake fluids currently in use: DOT or mineral oil.
Mineral oil has the advantage of being non-toxic and it does not absorb water so quickly. DOT, however, guarantees a more powerful contact point and also has a higher boiling point. In addition, the seals on DOT brakes wear down less quickly than on others.
DOT stands for the American Department of Transportation, which classifies brake fluids as follows:
DOT 3: Boiling point at around 205 °C, dyed yellow
DOT 4: Boiling point at around 230 °C, dyed yellow
DOT 5.1: Boiling point at around 260 °C, dyed yellow
Mineral oil: Boiling point at around 190° C
The brake fluid should be replaced once a year.


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Is it just me or has DeMar been incredibly automatic from the free throw line as of late?
More money, more production
Was worth the money last season, so repeat that
Is it just me or has DeMar been incredibly automatic from the free throw line as of late?
That's impressive. He looks really comfortable at the line and his shot looks really smooth. He's clearly been putting in a lot of work.
His decision making is really good this year, and him being able to hit midrange jumpers is huge! I love hearing the commentators saying "Keep him out o the aint and he is useless for his team" *DD drains jumper "O.......he hit it"
DeMar's next line of work is working on his defensive abilities he should be a nightmare for opposing 2s and if DeRozan can become a guy that plays both ends well watch out hes going to be so dangerous! He can also get better at moving off the ball.
I'd love to see him work on his handles more. Right now he has a hard time breaking down guys in iso situations like how Rudy is able to do. That and also his defense like you mentioned is what I hope he works on this off season.
Yeah, I have to agree. He's like Landry Fields when he gets the ball sometimes where he seems to panic and tries to get rid of it as soon as possible. It's one dribble and shoot or one dribble and pass when he gets it in the perimeter. Hopefully he can come back next season with more confidence in his dribble.
I agree, he's been taking way too many shots from just inside the 3 point line. To his credit he was hitting his shots in yesterdays game against NY, but that is not an efficient shot to be taking.
I don't know what it is with Rudy but, he seems to miss the easiest shot at time. When his right at the rim. I hope this changes. He takes a lot of jumpers so he needs does easy ones to fall.
DeMar is still young, but I wonder how much he can really improve his handle at this point.
Instead, I would like to see him develop a real 3 point shot. If Gay is being doubled, Lowry (among the starting 5) is the only guy to hit the three ball, so having DeRozen add range would further provide spacing and additional offensive options.
And, of course, better D is something I want ALL players to improve upon.
Walking like I'm already there.
Demar doesn't take great shots, and this happens maybe a 45% of the time. Near half of his shots are long twos when there are open lanes, seams, etc. He needs to realize when to drive, and when to take those shots. He has improved, but needs to get better, but when the shots are going down, and he's getting to the free throw line, you can't complain.
Twitter: @ReubenJRD NBA, Raptors writer for Daily Hive Vancouver, Toronto.
Tighten the handle, Improve footwork, Improve shot
Can't emphasis enough on the first 2.
I dont create controversies. Theyre there long before I open my mouth. I just bring them to your attention.
-- Charles Barkley
The pullup jumper is a sound, fundamental move that I wish every player could incorporate. With DeRozan, I just wish he'd take an extra dribble or two, and pullup in the 10-15 foot range. With his leaping ability, DeRozan should be able to get that shot off whenever he wants.
Just be happy about him, Demar at his price and with current options is a good enough player which apparently fits our offense. He is still young, 24? Guy shows improvement every year in different areas, give him a small break. I bet he will blossom after few years if he continues to improve as steadily as he is now.
Practice beats talent if talent doesn't practice!
And when he does have the ball, he's easily defended by giving him space and daring him to shoot. If his shot is dropping, great (but let's remember he's only shooting 38% beyond 10 feet). And because of his weak handles, DeRozan can't slice through the defense consistently....which is why we see the pumpfake-pumpfake-pumpfake-kickout-with-5-seconds-left so often. It happens at least twice per quarter (that's 8 wasted possessions per game because of DeMar's inability to create off the dribble).
I like the kid as a person. He's humble, he's a hard worker, and he's coachable (all terrific qualities). But that doesn't erase how flawed of a player he is....without any mention of his sub-par defense.
I like Demar too but I just find that he lacks fundamentals. He can't weave through defenses because he doesn't have the handle. He uses too much legs on his shot and it affects accuracy especially on 3 point attempts. His lateral quickness is lacking, he doesn't have an explosive first step and certainly this affects his defensive potential. He is a gym rat and that's always good, but is it too late to learn fundamentals this late in his development? These should have been addressed when he was in high school.
Maybe his earlier years, he was hyped up as a highlight film and was not given the proper direction in terms of fundamentals. Ball handling is something you have or you don't when you enter the league. He certainly has the body and size and most categories you would classify as athleticism. But it is his fourth year and he simple has limitations because of lacking ball handling. I admire his work ethic and his character, but you can't deny he is lacking fundamentals.
That being said, Luol Deng is not the most fundamentally sound but he has found someway to bean all star. I see Demar following a similar path, where he can carve a good career due to hard work and taking advantage of what he has instead of trying to be what he isn't.
I've come to accept that Demar will never be a James Harden secondary ball handler type of guy but I believe his work ethic will carry him through some how. I'd love for him to learn how to cut and find open areas a la Landry Fields, work on his foot work and dont jump too high when shooting threes.
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2nd February each year is World Wetlands Day. It marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Dhaka, 07 February 2008 (IUCN) – 2nd February each year is World Wetlands Day. It marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Each year since 1997, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular. The Convention's suggested theme for World Wetlands Day, 2 February 2008, is Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People. The topics to be covered this year are: Wetland food, Clean water, Water pollution, Water-related diseases, Floods, Burning peatlands, Water availability, Wetland medicines and Mental well-being.
To commemorate the World Wetlands Day 2008, IUCN Bangladesh and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have organized a discussion programme at the CIRDAP Auditorium on 3rd February 2008 at 4:00 p.m. Special Assistant to Chief Adviser, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Mr. Raja Devesish Roy presided over the event as Chief Guest. In his speech, Mr. Roy talked about the intricate linkages between human well-being and ecosystems, as well as people's dependence on nature for livelihood sustenance.
Ainun Nishat, Country Representative of IUCN B., deliberated the introductory speech. He said that the World Wetlands Day had a special significance, since 2/3rd of the country consisted of wetlands in Bangladesh, including two internationally significant wetlands, namely the Sundarbans and Tanguar Haor.
Raquibul Amin, Programme Coordinator of IUCN B., delivered the keynote presentation. He provided a brief overview of the project that is being implemented by IUCN and SDC at Tanguar Haor – in order to demonstrate the co-management model of natural resource management.
A number of designated discussants were also called upon stage to voice their opinions, namely Mr. Porikkhit Chowdhury from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock; Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman from CNRS; Quamrul Islam Chowdhury from FEJB. Mr. Asif Munier also spoke on the occasion on behalf of SDC. A lively open discussion also took place amongst the participants.
The Chief Guest Barrister Raja Devesish Roy, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Ministry of Environment and Forests delivered an elucidating speech on this auspicious day. He said that all sectors should work towards a 'common goal', based on the approaches advocated at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and Rio Summit. Barrister Roy also spoke of the need for participation, especially the local communities, as they have the key to traditional indigenous knowledge and wisdom.
The Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests, A H M Rezaul Kabir, ndc remarked that environment needs to be mainstreamed with poverty and development projects. In his opinion, all stakeholders have a 'common but differentiated responsibility' to conserve natural resources.
M. Qamar Munir, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests delivered the vote of thanks and urged everyone to go for 'wise use' of the wetlands and their resources.


text:
Results tagged ' Minor Leagues '
Minor League Problems in 2009?
Minor League
baseball has always been the bread and butter of the major leagues. They help
support and replenish the league with players and coaches, and even bring about
change in promotions and in-game entertainment. So why is it in 2009, we might
see a huge reduction in minor league activities at our local ballparks? Is the
culprit the economy that is forcing the major league big clubs to scale back a
down flow of capital, or is it a sign of the time that when the economy is
slacking, so will the attendance at the lower levels of
If you take a
brisk walk from the lavish suites of the Las Vegas epicenter of baseball
centered at the famed Bellagio hotel, where major league baseball executives and
agents haggle and discuss multimillion-dollar contracts for players. You will
find another much more nervous group of baseball officials and job seekers
gathered around just looking for answers and promises for the upcoming 2009
minor league seasons.
At the Winter Meetings edition of the minor league job fair and trade
show, the topic on many minds is the floundering and unstable economy, which
will be expected to have a far more economical effect on baseball's lower
levels than on the major leagues. Many minor league teams are searching for
creative ways to save revenue and venue money but keep loyal fan bases'
heading out to their ballparks, and current baseball experienced job seekers
are finding few openings. Some of the cost-saving measures will affect the fans
in the long run, and others will reach out into the confines of the field.
Take for example, the St. Louis Cardinals' entire minor league system,
where many of the teams' players will be issued and will wear last year's
uniforms. Buddy Bates, the Cardinals minor league equipment manager, said it
was difficult to find items to cut on the field because the teams still needed
catcher's equipment, helmets and baseballs. But, he said, reusing uniforms was
something his organization could get away with. Uniform repairs cost will soar
in 2009, and with that fact, the teams' seamstress might be kept busier in
2009 repairing pants than in stitching on players names on their jerseys.
Patches might be the order of the day on pants and knee areas for the entire
minor league system.
Many other minor league organizations have come to the same conclusion,
said Mike Gentz, the team uniforms promotion manager for Wilson Sporting Goods.
But will the lean times and reduced money flowing downhill from the Parent clubs
be enough to evoke cost saving measure early in the season. Or will the club
just start the season on a cost-conscious budget and take a 'wait and see'
attitude into the early stages of the upcoming seasons. And why is the uniforms
being the first thing cut in a time of crisis?
Most teams have upgraded or even done huge replacements on their uniforms
yearly, but this year that number might be a bit scaled back until the true
number begin to hit the turnstiles of the stadiums. You can bet at the major
league level, the cost cutting will not be as visible as in the minors,but will
it is not nearly as much enforced early in the minor league programs. Getz said
he has a talked to 15 to 20 team
representatives, and most were going to try
to just fill in a few standard things, but most have expressed a need to try
and reuse their old uniforms."
Some teams
needing new ones, Gentz said, have decided against the traditional jerseys with
the logo sewn on the front. Instead, they have chosen a less expensive option in
which the team logo is pressed onto the jerseys, like a promotion T-shirt, or
jersey that used to be propelled into the stands with an air cannon in the
past. "You can't
notice it unless you are up close," Gentz said. "It saves anywhere from a third
to half the cost."
Teams are looking beyond uniforms for savings. One of the greatest
additions in recent years to the minor league experience, has been the upgrades
in in-game entertainment and stadium participation events. The Round Rock
Express, the Houston Astros' Class AAA affiliate, has often bought or produced
yearly in-game entertainment features for fans from one season to the next. In
2009, however, the team plans to run the same video entertainment on the
outfield screen between innings.
That might include the same cap shuffle video instead of changing the
whole thing, like they have done in years past. Most of these changes might
seem a bit subtle, but they do add up in the course of the season. Most teams
might not redo their entire in-game system, but will strategically change their
entertainment. Even the action of maybe renting more of their inflatable things
will move in the right direction to show a decrease in spending and save more
traditional things, like a fireworks event during the season.
Because many teams at the lower levels of minor league baseball
their last games in late summer, they had not yet experienced any type of brunt
from economic downturn. Since Sept. 1, the Dow
Jones industrial average has
dropped close to 25 percent, and the broader economic outlook for next year has
worsened by the day. Even with promises of economical upswings in the early
parts of 2009, it will take some time for any effects or upswings to hit the
minor league system, and any upward move in revenues might not be felt by the
smaller clubs until 2010.
At this years Minor League job fair, prospects seemed bleak for a
chance of landing a good job with full benefits. Most of the young turks
paid $225 to register for the fair, which helps them put their respective
résumés in front of minor and major league officials. It seemed that in 2007,
at the same meetings in Nashville, Tennessee there were a lot more jobs and
a fewer people seeking the positions. Even jobs in ticket sales have been scaled
back in anticipation of financial downward spirals.
Broadcasting has always been a cherry position to acquire in the minor
leagues. In recent years, the broadcasting industry had more money flowing
through it, and few applicants for the positions. But now, the jobs are
considered seasonal, and benefits are also being pulled back to ensure financial
stability. So in 2009, you might get a coveted gig on the mic at one of the
ballparks, but it will most likely be only a 7-month position, and you will need
to seek a job for the other 5 months of the year.
A weak
economy is harder the lower you go on the ladder in the minor leagues. Most
teams survive on yearly budgets ranging from $3 million to $10 million, and have
relied heavily on companies like car dealerships to buy advertising and
sponsorships. Because of
the uneasiness in the auto industry right now, such sponsorships will be hard to
come by in 2009. More creativity will be needed to close deals with sponsors,
and multi-sponsoring events might become a great trend in the coming year.
To be able to
diversify sponsorship dollars among multiple sponsors might be able to bring
back some of the past years events, but might also limit other activities at the
ballparks. A great idea by one club in Minnesota is to pay $6,000 for an
inflatable jersey to use for in-game and promotional events, but to include a
velcro strip area on the jerseys front area to be able to use multiple logos, or
even seperate logos at events througout the year.
That would
save money, and also use creative measures to ensure sponsors are included at
their own events, and can be changed for every other events without huge cost to
the team. But will the economical downfall also be a time where sponsors who
might be making money hoard their resources and not even renew past contracts
with teams in spite of increased revenues. Will the influx of hard luck financial
stories be a catalyst for some sponsors as a excuse to pull
Or will the
increase in gas prices and costs be a move for more people to go to local
ballparks instead of spending more money attending major league events and game
during 2009. Could being affordable or even a local option increase the people
walking through the turnstiles at minor league parks in 2009. By and far, the
minor league product is cheaper and more economical than attending a game at the
major league level. From ticket prices to concessions, the public get a better
deal at the minor league parks.
But will that
lead to concessions having a reduced price menu, or even a selected priced
location to get deals or even a series of deals within the confines of the
ballpark. But in the end, the teams might just take the low road when it comes
to concessions ans offer a small portion, or even a smaller size to try and
eliminate the food costs and also help portion control issues. Could last years
french fries portion of 6 ounces be downsized to an economical 5 ounces this
year, or maybe the size of the stadium staple hot dog might be a little
smaller, but still priced fairly reasonable.
Teams will
have to cut corners somewhere. The food courts and the food concessions is an
easy area to fulfill economical upside without throwing a lot of attention to the
plight. All I know is that in 2009, my hot dog will still be hot, my beer will
still be cold, and the sun will feel warm on my face when I hit those afternoon
games at Brighthouse Networks Field to watch the Florida State League Clearwater


text:
Breakout band Imagine Dragons has released an emotional music video for new single "Demons." They dedicate the clip to 17-year-old fan Tyler Robinson, who recently succumbed to cancer.
The video depicts images of Imagine Dragons performing the song at a hometown show in Las Vegas. Their stage performance clips are juxtaposed with scenes of audience members thinking about their own personal demons; an American soldier recalls harrowing moments on the battlefield; another person deals with the secrets of domestic violence.
At the video's conclusion, director Isaac Halasima has added a snippet from a clip created by Tyler Robinson's brother Jesse, showing the band dedicating their hit "It's Time" to Tyler in concert. Frontman Dan Reynolds gives the microphone to the elated fan to sing along with him.


text:
|Home And Garden
|Farts And Giggles
Rookie Congressman Bullied on Captol Hill
Being elected to Congress was a dream come true for Representative Tom Rasmussen (R, GA), but so far his experience on Capitol Hill has been more like a nightmare.
Since arriving in Washington D.C., Tom's wife Christine says, Rasmussen has allegedly been bait for a pack of mean congressmen and women who have made the rookie representative of Georgia's 14th district a target of incessant attacks.
"Almost every day Tom calls me from one of the Capitol Building bathrooms in tears," Christine said, "He says a bunch of the other congress people are yelling at him and making fun of his policies."
Mrs. Rasmussen added: "He says things like he wants to come home and not be a congressman anymore. It just breaks my heart."
According to Rasmussen, one congressman made fun of a bill he introduced that would have criminalized miscarriages, calling it "draconian" and "stupid".
"That was my first piece of legislation," Rasmussen sniffled, "I never want to introduce another bill ever again."
On another occasion in the Capitol Building cafeteria, Rasmussen says he was eating a bowl of Senate bean soup when a group of legislators sat down at the table next to him and began making jokes about his hair.
"They were saying I wear a hairpiece, laughing that it looked like a dead animal and wondering if I'd shot it with one of the assault rifles I love so much," he said, "One of them called me 'possum head'."
Linda Sanchez (D, CA), a ranking member of the House Ethics Committee, indicated that she was aware of the situation involving Rasmussen, and that it would be addressed, "Because every member of Congress deserves to be treated with respect, even douche bags like Rasmussen".
|Read More
|Family Sends First, Final Xmas Card
|US Soldier Kills 7 in Elaborate Bid to Fake PTSD
|Man Protesting Death of Man Beaten to Death by Police Beaten to Death by Police


text:
This was originally written by Mayde and Kissa.
Let's say my banner link was http://i8.tinypic.com/4xpzrx1.jpg. Now, like normal banner procedure, put your link in between the tags [img] and [/img]. For example:
Let's say I want my banner to link to Google. The URL for Google is http://www.google.com. Now, like normal hyperlink procedure, you put the link text in between the tags [url] and [/url]. For example:
[url=http://www.google.com]link text[/url]
In order to make your image be a link, just replace the link text with the image coding, like this:


text:
The Danger of Solar "Super-Storms"
Watch out George Lucas fans, a Death Star may be in our horizons – and one would only have to look as far as our nearest stellar neighbor: the Sun.
According to Mr. Ashley Dale of the University of Bristol, solar "super-storms" pose an imminent threat to the earth by disabling electricity and communication systems – or worse.
Thus, the celestial body that illuminates the world may very well be responsible for sending it into darkness.
In this month's issue of PhysicsWorld, Mr. Dale writes: "Without power, people would struggle to fuel their cars at petrol stations, get money from cash dispensers or pay online. Water and sewage systems would be affected too, meaning that health epidemics in urbanized areas would quickly take a grip, with diseases behind centuries ago soon returning."
Solar storms are caused by violent eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields into space. Singlehandedly, these coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the most energetic events in our solar system and amount to 10^22 kJ of energy – or the equivalent of 10 billion Hiroshima-sized nuclear bombs exploding simultaneously. CMEs consisting of a trillion kilograms of charged particles are subsequently hurled at the earth at 3000 km/s and, if they display enough energy, rip through Earth's protective magnetic field. The event induces surges of electrical currents toward the ground, frying electrical components in its wake.
And if it sounds shocking that the object responsible for life can cause so much destruction, here is some history for you. It has happened in the past, and it will happen again.
In 1859, Richard Carrington recorded the largest "super-storm" after observing a solar flare – a definitive precursor to each event. Today, scientists expect an event to occur every 150 years – and we are overdue. Although our estimates are imprecise, the truth is the Sun is getting brighter. The Faint Young Sun Paradox means that the Sun's luminosity is increasing with age, and with that comes unpredictability.
Mr. Dale adds: "As a species, we have never been more vulnerable to the volatile mood of our nearest star, but it is well within our ability, skill and expertise as humans to protect ourselves."
Dale is part of a team dubbed SolarMAX, an international task force sent to study the storms and minimize their impacts. Together, SolarMAX has developed a defense strategy involving 16 lunchbox-sized cube satellites to detect solar storms and protect Earth's magnetic field. After all, Earth's magnetic field shields its inhabitants from these solar storms that carry within lethal amounts of radiation.
Without the development of Earth's magnetic field, life as we know it would not exist – and we are beginning to acquire the knowledge to protect our home.
Solar flare image via Shutterstock.
Continue reading at The University of Bristol.


text: Mark Hahn wrote: >>> writing to different sections of a file is probably wrong on any >>> networked FS, since there will inherently be obscure interactions >>> with the size and alignment of the writes vs client pagecache, >> >> I'm rather surprised to see that sentiment on a mailing list for high >> performance clusters :> > > smiley noted, but I would suggest that HPC is not about convenience > first - simply having each node write to a separate file eliminates > any such issue, > and is hardly an egregious complication to the code. Actually this can greatly complicate code. If I run a CFD run on n number of processes and they each write the solution to a separate file, then if I run 1.5*n processes, how do I read the n files? I can write some code to take the n files, and then write out a single file or 1.5*n files for instance. To me this is a wasteful use of cycles when something like MPI-IO is so much better and I can stick with a single file. While I don't want to speak for the entire CFD community, but I haven't seen anyone write out n files. That concept was proven to be a huge pain many years ago. Other disciplines may have other opinions of course. >> I would contend that writing to different sections of a file *must* be >> supported by any file system deployed on a cluster. How else would >> you get good performance from MPI-IO? > > who uses MPI-IO? straight question - I don't believe any of our 1500 > users do. I do. I also know that some ISV's are moving rapidly to use MPI-IO. >>> in my experience, people who expect it to "just work" have an >>> incredibly naive model of how a network FS works (ie, write() >>> produces an RPC direct to the server) >> >> I agree that the POSIX API and consistency semantics make it difficult >> to achieve high I/O rates for common scientific workloads, and that >> NFS is probably not the best solution for those truly parallel >> workloads. >> >> Fortunately, there are good alternatives out there. > > starting with the question: "do you have a good reason to be writing > in parallel to the same file?". I'm not saying the answer is never yes. As Rob mentioned writing in parallel to the same file gets you good performance. I think this is a fundamental underpinning of parallel IO. You can do this with or without MPI-IO. MPI-IO just makes it easier, standard, and portable. Of course you would not have different processes writing to the same region of a file. But if you can have each process write to a distinct region or section of the file without worrying about having another process stepping on that one, then why not write in parallel? It's easy to do using MPI-IO. Take a look at the tutorials on MPI-IO around the web and give them a try. Jeff