text:
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I like to dabble in the fine art of picture taking, having a go with the video functions too, so when I'm out and about I generally use my mobile phone if I want to take a picture or video of something that catches my eye. (and no, I don't wait outside the ladies only Gym with a smile on my face... although I think I've seen that guy there sometimes).
Sometimes though, if I have purposely aimed to go somewhere, shall we say, scenic, such as a National Trust property, as I am a member and I like to get the full value of the annual fee, then I tend to take a camera to get some better pictures of the beautiful scenery that surrounds me.
A few month back though I was given a strange looking rectangular device which, on closer inspection, turned out to be a camcorder, which I decided to give it a go and head out to take some moving pictures, or as it's called in this modern times, video footage.
The camcorder that I was given didn't look like your normal camcorder, looking like a shoe box with buttons, it was a slim design with the lens on one corner. This one was in fact from a very well known company called Toshiba, with this camcorder going under the name of the Camileo s30, (which is not to be confused with other versions of the camileo range).
Firstly, I'll get my tape measure out and let you know how big the actual body of this camcorder is and why I said it did not look like your normal camcorder...
It's only about 120mm high by 60mm wide and 15mm thick, weighing in at a mere 120grams, (kitchen scales used there).
Now what I'd like to do before I go on is to take a look at the basic specs before I go into the camcorder itself... (let me look at the box and the booklet that seems to have fallen onto the floor..., arrr, here we go, I've found a few bits about it, ).
It is an 8MP camcorder
It has a 3inch LCD touch screen.
Digital zoom x4/x16
Full HD video capture with wide screen capabilities
1920 x 1080 maximum resolution.
It offers Electronic Image Stabiliser, which sounds technical.
There's the usual things that most camcorders offer, such as automatic everything, white balance, exposure, focus, although all the automatic functions can be over ridden and used manually, if your heart so desires.
As for what this one record in, well, video capture is M-PEG-4 and stills capture is J-PEG, which means that what ever you record can be moved onto a laptop/PC in an instant.
It does have a small internal memory, only 128MB, which is enough for a few seconds of decent footage really, but as it has an SDCard slot, which can take your standard size SD/SDHC card, you can slot in an extra 32GB of memory which can then record an entire movie when you're sat at the back of the cinema hoping that the bushy haired fat man who's sat in the seat directly in front of you doesn't suddenly stand up, (if that's what you want to do that is... I don't use mine for that purpose).
Other specs which may be of interest are...
Self timer for those vain people amongst us who like to take pictures of themselves
There's also a built in light for those darker places, although when using the light the battery will drain a lot quicker.
And a microphone so that you can catch your singing voice in full glory as you dance around the bedroom pretending you're auditioning for the Britain got no talent show.
It also offers USB connectivity so that you can connect it to your PC, although you do have to install the CD that comes with the camcorder in order to access the full functions of this one.
To use the CD ROMs direct on your PC your PC will have to have certain minimum requirements, such as...
Windows XP and above, (I'm not sure about Windows 8 as yet but it works fine on Windows 7). Also, your PC will need at least a 2.4GHz CPU running with at least 512MB RAM and have a spare 700MB of HDD space.
And of course a USB port to connect it all together.
But if you just want to transfer your pictures from this onto your PC then simple use the old fashioned SD card method where you take the card out of the camcorder and slot it into the PC, then transfer the data and replace the card... simples.
Apart from the camera and the two CD Roms, you also get a pouch, a cleaning cloth, a strap and a small but quite useful tripod, together with a few cables such as USB, AV, HDMI and the good old power adapter.
To be honest, it's not that many camcorders or camera, or anything of the like, that gives you all these leads, especially the HDMI cable, and the tripod is a bonus too, even if it's not the best on the market, it is still good enough to steady this unit.
The software you get with this unit is your basic drivers, together with a few extras on the CD, like Arcsoft MediaConverer, media impression and a trial version of something called MAGIX video deluxe.
* So shall we look at its design. What do you mean No..! What am I doing here then..?
I'm going to tell you anyway as I have this urge to let you know...call me selfish, call me what you want really.
Anyway, it is shaped like a slim rectangle. To be honest it's no bigger than an external hard drive. Along the front, or side, depending on which way you hold it, but I'll say along the side that the lens is on is the lens, obviously, which is at the top, with the light directly underneath it.
On the top there is the microphone, the memory card slot, which is protected by a sliding cover that is held in place with a thin piece of rubber. Then there's the Macro switch, which, for those that don't know what a macro switch does it makes taking very close up pictures come out as clear as day. This does take a bit of practice but once mastered it's amazing how good some close up pictures can really look, such as flowers with a bee buzzing about inside it.
Back to the looks of this camcorder. On the side/end, the larger flatter section, there is the rotating screen which, when twisted around, gently eases itself into the body of the camcorder and protects it from knocks. Then, when twisted out the other way, you can see exactly what your lens is pointing at.
When the screen is opened out it reveals a couple of buttons on one end, those being the mode button and the internet button, and the power button on the other end.
Above the screen, when it is back in place, there is the single speaker so you can hear what you have recorded during your time.
Finally, on the back end, the end opposite the lens, there are several buttons and ports, from the top, we have a couple of little lights that light up depending on whether you have the video or the still shots on. Then, as we go down, there's the record button, with the zoom buttons below that, the pause button comes next with the light button below. It then has the ports so that you can connect directly to either you PC or straight to a television, there's the HDMI, TV and finally the Mini USB port. All these ports are neatly hidden behind a lovely cover that slides open and closed.
Also, right at the bottom, there is a couple of little holes that are for sliding a piece of string through so that you can add a wrist strap to the unit in case you lose your grip when using it.
I nearly forgot, on the bottom, if you turn the camcorder upside down, there is the tripod thread socket which is standard size so there's no hassles if you don't want to use the tripod that comes with this unit.
* Is it easy to use...?
Simple as that really, next question..?
Kidding. No seriously, it is easier to use than turning a key in a lock. Unless the key snaps or the lock is older than my lucky underpants and is in no fit shape at all, (the lock not my lucky pants... although...!!! No).
All you have to do is make sure you charge up the battery, slot it into place, flip out the screen and then wait until the camera turns on automatically. If it doesn't turn on the you can simply press the power button.
Then it's a matter of opting for the stills or video option, which is done by either pressing the mode button or pressing the appropriate symbol on the screen, and seeing which light at the top illuminates.
The touch screen allows you to go into many settings, changing things to how you want the camcorder to run, giving you options such as motion detection, which puts the camcorder into a sort of sleep mode until someone, or something passes the lens and then the camcorder goes into action and begins to record. It also has a slow motion option which can be used to watch your footage slower, if that's what tickles you fancy.
There are many more options which are easily accessed by the press of a button or two on the touch screen.
As I said, simple to use.
And turning it off is even easier. You either shut the screen back into the closed position or press the power button again.
Then you put the camcorder away.
* Is the screen easy to see..?
Yes. It's on the side of the unit, you can't miss it once your pulled it away from the main body.
Ow, right, you mean the clarity... got you now.
The images are as clear as looking through a freshly cleaned window on a lovely sunny day and, to add extra bonus to it, there's plenty of little icons and the like that appear on the screen, around the edges, in order for you to know exactly what is happening inside the camcorder itself. Such things as the battery power, recording time, amount of images/video taken and amount of images/video that can be taken before the memory is full, timer icon, MP size, mode playing in and a few more things too.
All letting you get the best out of this flat camcorder that can fit into a shirt pocket, almost.
My Opinion...
This really does look the part and is almost as easy to carry around with me as my mobile phone is, almost, and fits into certain pockets, such as my jacket.
It is a delight to hold, (blimey, I sound quite intelligent there... a delight..) and can so easily be held in one hand for a good length of time.
The buttons are all easy to access without even having to think to hard about where they are and how to get to them
The zoom button is more a slider which is easily pushed by my thumb so that zooming in and out from a shot is so quick and simple to do.
The record button is placed in a nice position making it easy to press yet it can't be accidentally knocked when you're about to get that most important bit of footage of that mouse running up some ladies leg in the forest of screaming monkeys, (Yorkshire, I think).
To be perfectly honest, if I may, it does look better closed, although when it's closed it's not really being used. The black body is nice and shiny, with the Toshiba logo and HD info the only real insults to the sleek look.
It's when you open out the screen that the silver of the interior section then seems to spoil the black colouring. Not enough to warrant turning away from it in disgust, but they could have stayed with the black colour throughout of maybe brightened the silver up a little. (although that could just be personal preference on my part).
The top part, where the lens is embedded in, can be seen as chunky, although it is only chunky as the lower section of the camcorder is slim.
The light is bright enough to make taking footage in the dark very easy indeed, giving clear enough pictures in the end. Although as I said, the light does take its toll on the battery after a while.
The touch screen isn't the most responsive and can drag a little, but not too much. In fact I've used laptop and phones with a worse touch screen that this. But when it does respond it shows you quickly and clearly just exactly what is there to be accessed and what this camcorder can do for you.
As for what is really the most important thing that a person want to know about a camcorder, will it sell well on E-Bay if I decide to get rid of it..????
Well, I should think so, without a doubt, just make sure you delete all your footage off before you send it to the buyer as you don't want that secret video of you and that lady from Amsterdam going global when it gets uploaded to youtube. I mean, what would your mother say?
No seriously, the most important thing about any camcorder, or camera, is the quality of the footage that it takes, and this one does a cracking job in doing both stills and video, although this does depend a lot on the steady hand of the person holding the thing.
I have taken several shots using this, both stills and video, distance shot and very close up shots, using the macro function. I've also used it when I myself was moving about and recording moving things as this is where a lot of 'blurring' comes into its own on many camcorders, but this one did fine in everything I threw at it.
In some shots it wasn't perfect but 99% of the time the finished products were as clear as the proverbial bell?
The sound quality is not that bad either, with the single speaker managing to give out enough noise so that you can hear what is on the footage easily enough. But this speaker has nothing to do with how the sound quality is when you transfer these to you PC as that is when you find out just how good the microphone is. Which again is second to none as it picks up everything, even things that you don't really want picking up. There are settings to change the way that the microphone works, such as adjusting it so it picks up less wind noise so that your voice is heard in stead of that gushing sound as the wind rips you toupee off and sends it rolling along the sandy beach.
What more can I say about this pocket size camcorder?
Well, not a lot really as it is one of those things that the more you use the more you realise how simple it is to use and how much it has to offer.
The internet button is not something I tend to use but it means that you can upload files, be those images or videos, to the internet using your PC and an internet connection.
To use this facility you do have to install ArcSoft media impression onto your PC but once done you can upload to Youtube, picaso and face book in the press of a button or two, or maybe three.
So how much would one have to pay for this Toshiba camcorder that can be hidden in a persons coat pocket...?
This little camcorder sells on the open market for about £70, or thereabouts, which is not to bad really for what you get and what it can do
Would I recommend this unit..?
Yes, most definitely I would. I have been using it for a bit now and have enjoyed the simplicity of it, not to mention the cracking footage that I have captured.
It is easy to carry around with me when I want to and is quick to get going when I see something that I'd like to get a picture of.
What more can you ask of a device like this..?
©Blissman70 2013
I was bought this product for my birthday as a suprise and have used it since having it.
Starting with the positives, the camera is small and fits in your pocket which is good and takes fantastic full quality HD videos which is a significant improvement on my last camcorder which used tape. The camera is quite stylish and has a large screen.
There are however a few negatives which means that I probably wouldn't recommend this product to someone. Firstly the lens is fixed which means that it is digital zoom only which is fine in some circumstances but means that if you want to zoom in on something you are going to loose a lot of the quality. Secondly there is no protective cover on the lens which means that if you aren't careful you could scratch it. Thirdly other products can do a similar job if you have an iPhone 4 or above or many other mobile phones they can take full HD video at a similar quality so if I were you I would probably try and collate several features into one. You can also buy cameras (Panasonic Lumix for instance) which have optical zoom and will take HD video for a similar price.
Overall if you wanted to buy a purely video recording camera this would not be a bad choice but I would recommend that you look elsewhere perhaps at the Panasonic Lumix


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Storm Crow
Starter 1999 — Common
Creature — Bird
Storm Crow is legal in the following formats:
French Commander
Tiny Leaders Commander
Modern Duel Commander
Recently viewed cards:
Starter 1999 — Common
Creature — Bird
Storm Crow is legal in the following formats:
French Commander
Tiny Leaders Commander
Modern Duel Commander
TCGPlayer avg. price:
Creature — Human Pirate (2/1)
Whenever Skyship Plunderer deals combat damage to a player, for each kind of counter on target permanent or player, give that permanent or player another counter of that kind.
Creature — Spirit (2/1)
Tattered Haunter can block only creatures with flying.
Creature — Spirit (2/1)
When Rattlechains enters the battlefield, target Spirit gains hexproof until end of turn.
You may cast Spirit spells as though they had flash.
Creature — Vedalken Artificer (1/2)
When Aether Swooper enters the battlefield, you get (two energy counters).
Whenever Aether Swooper attacks, you may pay . If you do, create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.
Creature — Bird (1/3)
When Glint-Nest Crane enters the battlefield, look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal an artifact card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Creature — Human Pirate (1/2)
Raid — Storm Fleet Aerialist enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it if you attacked with a creature this turn.
Creature — Spirit (1/3)
Whenever you investigate for the first time each turn, investigate an additional time.
Creature — Merfolk Wizard (2/1)
Shaper Apprentice has flying as long as you control another Merfolk.
Creature — Spirit (1/3)
Skulk (This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
When Fogwalker enters the battlefield, target creature an opponent controls doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
Creature — Merfolk Scout Ally (2/1)
: Target creature can't be blocked this turn.
Creature — Zombie Naga Wizard (2/1)
Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Afflict 2 (Whenever this creature becomes blocked, defending player loses 2 life.)
Creature — Human Rogue (2/1)
When you sacrifice a Clue, transform Daring Sleuth.
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (1/3)
Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost less to cast.
Whenever a spell or ability you control counters a spell, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card.
Creature — Human Warrior (1/3)
Whenever you cycle or discard a card, Cunning Survivor gets +1/+0 until end of turn and can't be blocked this turn.
Creature — Homunculus (2/1)
Skulk (This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
Creature — Horror (0/4)
Thing in the Ice enters the battlefield with four ice counters on it.
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, remove an ice counter from Thing in the Ice. Then if it has no ice counters on it, transform it.
Creature — Human Wizard (0/3)
When Manic Scribe enters the battlefield, each opponent puts the top three cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Delirium — At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, if there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard, that player puts the top three cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Creature — Human Pirate (2/1)
Raid — When Shipwreck Looter enters the battlefield, if you attacked with a creature this turn, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card.
Creature — Homunculus (1/1)
: Add to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast an instant or sorcery spell.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are three or more instant and/or sorcery cards in your graveyard, transform Curious Homunculus.
Creature — Merfolk Warrior (1/1)
River Sneak can't be blocked.
Whenever another Merfolk enters the battlefield under your control, River Sneak gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Amnesty International Annual Report 2012 - Somalia
|Amnesty International
|Publication Date
|24 May 2012
|Cite as
|Amnesty International, Amnesty International Annual Report 2012 - Somalia, 24 May 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4fbe39106e.html [accessed 22 January 2018]
|This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
Head of state of Transitional Federal Government: Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed
Head of government of Transitional Federal Government: Abdiweli Mohamed Ali (replaced Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo in June)
Head of Somaliland Republic: Ahmed Mohamed Mahamoud Silanyo
Death penalty: retentionist
Population: 9.6 million
Life expectancy: 51.2 years
Armed conflict between pro-government forces and the Islamist armed group al-Shabab continued in southern and central Somalia. Thousands of civilians were killed or injured as a result of armed conflict and generalized violence, and hundreds of thousands were displaced. In July and August, the UN declared famine in six areas of southern Somalia. Access by aid agencies to civilians remained constrained by fighting, insecurity and restrictions by parties to the conflict. Humanitarian workers, journalists and human rights activists remained targeted for abuses. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and allied militias extended their control over the capital Mogadishu and some areas in southern Somalia. In October, Kenya's armed forces intervened in Somalia against al-Shabab. Armed groups increasingly carried out forced recruitment, including of children, and continued abducting, torturing and unlawfully killing people in areas under their control. Serious human rights abuses, including war crimes, remained unpunished. In semi-autonomous Puntland, security deteriorated with attacks against officials, judges and journalists and local clashes in Galkayo. In Somaliland, refugees and migrants faced increased hostility.
In February, the TFG and the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) launched a military offensive against al-Shabab in Mogadishu. In August, al-Shabab announced its withdrawal from the capital, leaving the TFG and AMISOM in control of most of Mogadishu at the end of the year, although clashes continued on the outskirts of the capital.
In southern Somalia, TFG-aligned militia supported by Kenya and Ethiopia took control of territory previously held by al-Shabab, including Dobley, a town on the Kenyan border. In October, following kidnappings in border areas, Kenya intervened militarily on the side of the TFG in southern Somalia, stating it was taking action against al-Shabab. In December, Kenya decided that its troops in Somalia would join AMISOM. On 31 December, pro-TFG and Ethiopian forces captured the border town of Beletweyne.
In June, the Kampala Accord – brokered by Uganda and the UN to resolve tensions between the TFG President and the Speaker of Parliament – resulted in Prime Minister Farmajo resigning. A road map was adopted to end the transitional period in August 2012. Agreed by the TFG, the Puntland and Galmudug regional authorities and the Alhu Sunna Waal Jama militia in September, the road map prioritized restoring security, adopting a constitution, holding elections, political outreach and good governance.
AMISOM, mandated to protect TFG institutions with an authorized strength of 12,000 troops, increased its troops to some 9,800 Ugandan and Burundian soldiers, joined by 100 Djiboutian soldiers in December. AMISOM addressed accusations of indiscriminate shelling and shooting by its troops. In March, three Ugandan soldiers were found guilty of carelessness by a disciplinary court in two incidents during which civilians were shot at. AMISOM also endorsed an "indirect fire policy" to better control the use of mortars and artillery.
In July, the UN declared that more than 750,000 people were at risk of starvation, mainly in southern and central Somalia. In November, the UN stated that three out of six areas in these regions were no longer in a state of famine; however, 250,000 people remained at risk of starvation and 4 million in need of assistance.
International support continued for TFG security forces and allied militia, despite their lack of accountability for ongoing, serious human rights abuses. The UN Monitoring Group highlighted continuous violations of Somalia's arms embargo. In July, the UN Security Council expanded the sanctions regime to include individuals responsible for recruiting and using child soldiers, and for violations of international law. However, the UN Monitoring Group was not given additional resources to carry out this expanded mandate.
The human rights situation was mentioned by the UN Secretary-General, the UN Independent Expert on Somalia and during Somalia's Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council. However, no mechanism was established to investigate crimes committed under international law and address long-standing impunity.
The UN Security Council continued to strengthen anti-piracy measures. It called on states to participate in the fight against piracy, investigate and prosecute suspected pirates and strengthen the Somali authorities' capacity to bring pirates to justice.
Indiscriminate attacks
Thousands of civilians were killed or injured in the fighting, including in unlawful attacks. Parties to the conflict continued to use mortars and artillery in areas densely populated or frequented by civilians in Mogadishu, killing or injuring thousands of people in what were often indiscriminate attacks. Civilians were also killed and injured in shooting incidents between different TFG units in Mogadishu, and by improvised explosive devices and grenades increasingly set off by al-Shabab or their sympathizers since August. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for suicide attacks which killed or injured hundreds of people. Civilians were killed or injured in fighting between TFG allies and al-Shabab in or near towns and in air strikes, some conducted by Kenya, in southern and central Somalia.
In May, 1,590 people were treated for weapons-related injuries in three Mogadishu hospitals according to the WHO. Of these, 735 were children aged below five who had burns, chest injuries and internal haemorrhage caused by blasts, shrapnel and bullets. This coincided with intense fighting, including with heavy weapons, between AMISOM and the TFG against al-Shabab around Bakara market, despite a high concentration of civilians in that area.
On 4 October, a truck exploded at Km4, a busy road intersection by a TFG compound in Mogadishu, killing more than 70 people and injuring more than 100. Among those killed were some 50 students and their parents, who were checking the results of scholarship applications to study abroad at the Ministry of Education. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack.
On 30 October, an air strike hit a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Jilib, Lower Juba, killing at least five people, including three children. At least 52 others were injured, including 31 children. The Kenyan army stated that it had targeted an al-Shabab military camp in an air raid on that day in the same area, but denied killing civilians. No results of a Kenyan government investigation were available by the end of the year.
Internally displaced people, refugees and migrants
Fighting, insecurity and acute malnutrition displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Some 1.36 million Somalis were internally displaced at the end of 2011, mostly in southern and central Somalia, according to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.
In July, around 35,000 people fleeing drought in southern Somalia arrived in Mogadishu. Reports of sexual violence against women and girls in IDP camps in the capital increased from July onwards.
In October, some 41,000 people were displaced within and around Mogadishu and Lower Juba due to fighting or fear of fighting.
In August, the Puntland authorities forcibly returned some internally displaced men back to southern and central Somalia and detained others.
The flow of civilians to neighbouring countries increased. During 2011, 164,375 Somalis fled to Kenya and 101,333 to Ethiopia. Some countries, including Saudi Arabia, deported Somalis back to southern and central Somalia despite the risks they would face there.
In June, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in the lead-case of Sufi and Elmi v. the United Kingdom that enforcing removals to southern and central Somalia would be lawful only in exceptional circumstances, in light of the dire human rights and humanitarian situation there (see UK entry and Europe and Central Asia overview).
Restrictions on humanitarian aid
Some 4 million people needed humanitarian support by the end of 2011 because of armed conflict and drought. International assistance increased after famine was declared in July. Humanitarian operations remained impeded by fighting, insecurity, restrictions on access and intimidation of aid workers. Humanitarian workers were abducted and at least six were killed. Concerns about aid being diverted continued.
On 20 October, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was forced to suspend a measles vaccination campaign for 35,000 children in Daynile outside Mogadishu after fighting broke out between AMISOM and the TFG against al-Shabab.
In July, an al-Shabab spokesman stated that aid organizations could assist people affected by drought in southern Somalia, but later clarified that agencies banned by the group in January 2010 would not be allowed back. On 28 November, six UN agencies and 10 aid organizations were banned by al-Shabab from operating in areas under its control. Al-Shabab groups closed some of these agencies' compounds and looted some humanitarian equipment.
Humanitarian assistance in IDP camps in Mogadishu was impeded by shooting incidents between TFG units and people looting food aid. On 5 August, at least five people were reportedly killed in the Badhabo IDP camp, as trucks transporting food aid were looted by TFG militias. The TFG warned that looters would be punished. However, in November, the Karan District Commissioner was reportedly pardoned after being sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment by a military court for looting aid.
On 25 October, three Danish Refugee Council workers were kidnapped in Galkayo South. Two of them remained held at the end of the year.
On 18 November, Ahmed Jama Mohamed, a Norwegian Refugee Council worker, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Galkayo.
On 23 December, Muhyedin Yarrow and Mohamed Salad, two World Food Programme workers, and Abdulahi Ali, a Somali NGO worker, were killed in Mataban town, Hiran province.
On 30 December, Philippe Havet and Andrias Karel Keiluhu, two MSF workers, were shot and killed in Mogadishu.
Child soldiers
Al-Shabab continued to forcibly recruit boys, some as young as eight, into their forces before and during military operations. Many were sent to the front line. Girls were also recruited to cook and clean for al-Shabab forces or forced to marry its members.
The TFG reaffirmed its commitment to prevent the use of child soldiers. However, at least 46 TFG recruits aged below 18 were selected for military training abroad. The TFG detained ex-child combatants with adults in poor conditions and failed to provide effective reintegration opportunities after their release.
Abuses by armed groups
Al-Shabab factions continued to torture and unlawfully kill people they accused of spying or not conforming to their own interpretation of Islamic law. They killed people in public, including by stoning them to death, and carried out amputations and floggings. They also imposed restrictive dress codes on women and men.
On 4 January, a man named as Nur Mohamed Nur, aged about 19, had his foot and hand amputated in Baidoa after al-Shabab accused him of theft. Al-Shabab reportedly forced Baidoa residents to watch the amputation.
On 6 March, two men, named as Abdullahi Hajji Mohammed and Abdinasir Hussein Ali, were shot and killed in public by al-Shabab members in the Maslah military camp in Mogadishu. The first man was reportedly accused of spying for the TFG, the second of killing al-Shabab members.
On 16 June, Shamarke Abdullahi Mohamoud, reportedly aged 18 and accused of raping a girl, was stoned to death in the Hiran region by al-Shabab members.
In late August, the decapitated bodies of two young men were found in northern Mogadishu. Several other decapitated bodies were found in the same period, during which al-Shabab had reportedly warned that those co-operating with the TFG and AMISOM would be beheaded.
Freedom of expression
Somali journalists and civil society organizations continued to be intimidated by parties to the conflict. At least three media workers were killed. In Puntland, the authorities arbitrarily arrested journalists and restricted media freedom.
On 4 August, Farah Hassan Sahal, a Radio Simba worker, was shot in Bakara market, Mogadishu during a TFG and AMISOM offensive against al-Shabab, and later died.
On 2 September, Noramfaizul Mohd, a Malaysian cameraman for Bernama TV, was killed by gunfire and his colleague Aji Saregar injured while covering a relief mission in Mogadishu. On 26 September, AMISOM announced that four Burundian soldiers were responsible and should be tried in their own country.
On 18 December, Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan, a journalist for Horn Cable TV and Radio Hamar, was shot in the head by a man in military uniform while being driven through Mogadishu, according to witnesses. He died shortly after. The TFG promised to investigate.
On 2 July, Faysal Mohamed Hassan, a journalist for Hiiraan Online, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment by a court in Puntland for "publishing false news". He was pardoned on 31 July.
In November, the Puntland authorities banned the Universal TV and Somali Channel TV stations, accusing them of working against peace and security. The ban on Universal TV was lifted on 3 December.
Death penalty
In Mogadishu, at least 32 death sentences and six executions were reported following TFG military court trials which lacked basic guarantees for fairness. A presidential decree in August gave the TFG military court jurisdiction over civilians in some Mogadishu areas vacated by al-Shabab. The TFG later gave assurances that civilians tried by the military court would not be executed, and that civilians would be tried by ordinary courts in future.
TFG-allied militia in southern Somalia reportedly executed at least two soldiers. In Puntland, at least four men were sentenced to death and three were executed. The Galmudug authorities executed one man for murder in Galkayo town.
On 22 August, two men were executed by firing squad in Mogadishu after being convicted of murder by the TFG military court.
Thousands of people were reportedly displaced by clashes between the Somaliland security forces and an armed group in the disputed Sool and Sanag regions. In June, a peace activist was shot and wounded in the Sool region.
Journalists were reportedly harassed by the Somaliland authorities.
In May, a new law was passed to regulate civil society organizations. There were concerns that it could increase government control over international and national organizations in Somaliland and restrict their work.
Refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants faced increasing hostility. In September, all "illegal immigrants" were given one month to leave the country by the authorities. Around 80,000 people were affected by this declaration, most of them Ethiopians.
In June, Abdusalam Haji Mukhtar, an Ethiopian refugee, was forcibly returned to Ethiopia, where he risked torture.


text:
" Brand: Mookie Toys / Type: Kids Sport Equipment "
* Prices may differ from that shown
A skipping rope for children.
I like this skipping rope because it looks very traditional and is not very bright coloured like a lot of skipping ropes are. The handles are wooden and are quite short and fat so that children can hold them properly, they look like they should be able to come apart but they do not and I am happy about that because I would not like for my children to be able to take the skipping rope apart. The rope is made of nylon that has been twisted into a thick rope, it is white with threads in that are blue and red so there is a little bit of colour. It is about 1.2 metres long.
I like this skipping rope very much but because of the handles being so hard and heavy I spoke very stern to my daughters before I let them use their skipping rope to make sure that they knew not to hit with the rope. I think it would hurt if you got hit on the head with the handle.
The rope is heavy and that is good because when my children are skipping the rope flys smooth through the air and that helps for them to skip properly and stops them from getting their feet tangled up when they are jumping over the rope.
This skipping rope is not long enough for more than one skipper so it cannot be used with a child at each end and another one jumping, it is better for one child only to use it for solo skipping. I like that the rope wraps easy around the handles for when my children put their garden toys away, wrapping it up makes it easier to store the skipping rope in their school bags also for play time.
I always buy these skipping ropes and I bought them last time 3 months ago. They are both still looking like they are new and only the white parts of the ropes are a little bit dirty now but you cannot help that when they are being played with outside, it doesn't make them look very old or bad anyway.
I pay £2 or £3 only for my daughters Mookie skipping ropes and that is value because they last for a long time and give them a lot of fun exercise in the garden or the park.
5 Dooyoo Stars.
This was my first skipping rope when I was a young girl and I still have it now, although it lives at my mum's house. It is a really good quality, classic jump rope. As a young girl we used to play with it all the time, singing little jumping rhymes and having fun. Athletes use skipping ropes to train with and especially boxers use them. It is a great cardio work out that that can burn up to 1000 calories and also tones and builds up strength at the same time. It is a great way for kids to get active and I used play with it a lot when I was little.
The rope is 270 cm long and is made from white rope with specks of blue and red in it. It is about a 1 cm thick and this makes the rope rather durable and it does not sting as much if you catch your ankle with it. The handles are made from wood and come in two pieces that screw together. You can change the length of the rope by unscrewing the two sections of wood and then tying the knot in a different place. To check the rope is the right length then stand on the rope in the middle and pull the handles up to your chest. The rope should come to around 6 inches below your collar bone. The wood handles are comfortable to hold but it hurts if your partner drops the other end and it hits you. I like the classic design of the toy.
To skip singularly, you need to stand with your legs slightly apart and the rope loose on the ground in front of you. Hold a handle in each hand and swing the rope over your head and then jump or skip so the rope can pass under your feet and back around in a circular motion. Your arms should hardly move as all the action comes from the wrist. You can also play with two people by swinging the rope over your head and your partner as they are stood in front of you facing you. Alternatively you can have three people, two holding the rope about a meter apart and swing the rope is large circular motion and have someone in between jumping.
There is a lot of scope for playing and having fun and it is certainly not just a one person toy. It was so much fun to play with and so well made that it has lasted 15 years and still going strong. There are all sorts of jump ropes these days, ones that flash, glow in the dark or even make a noise as they are used. However a jump rope made from wood and rope is just as good and you can have just as much fun.
==price and availability==
Most toy shops sell this skipping rope and you can buy it for around £2.99.
==Jump rope songs==
We used to sing alsorts of songs when we were skipping, here is one of my favourites:
"Miss Susie had a baby,
She named him Tiny Tim
She put him in the bathtub,
To see if he could swim
He drank up all the water,
He ate up all the soap,
He tried to eat the bathtub
But it wouldn't go down his throat. "
As you say each line, someone jumps in and out. Very girlie but very fun!
Whilst walking through a shopping store last summer I spotted a wooden skipping rope, not quite what I would usually buy but nonetheless I decided to buy it to fit into my new found exercise plan. The skipping rope cost around £4 in price and this I considered a bargain given the hours of exercise it could potentially give me.
==The Product==
This skipping rope is in my opinion quite traditional in construction with wooden handles and a long rope which is white in colour with flecks of black and red. This skipping rope is not the prettiest in design, compared to some of its more colourful competitors but nevertheless is fit for purpose. The rope itself is 7 feet long and is very sturdy in feel meaning that I did not think it would be broken easily in my sometimes clumsy hands. The wooden handles make the rope easy to grip and the length more than adequately suited my long frame. I believe that this product is fitted with ball bearings in either handle meaning that movement of the rope is quite fluid wherever it is tossed around and certainly I have had no issues with swinging it.
==Price and Availability==
I bought my skipping rope from an odds and sods sort of store and as previously mentioned paid around £4 for it. However it can currently be bought online from Amazon for around £3 - £5 making it a bargain given the hours of amusement it potentially can give.
This rope is designed for both outdoor and indoor use however I guess that the usage of the rope completely relies upon the user. I like to use my rope in the traditional way by simply rotating it; throwing it over my head and jumping over the rope. The speed of this activity can be made faster or slower depending on the fitness of the user. However, this rope can also be used for children over the age of three in much the same way, although I think the length of the rope might limit this somewhat. Another way I like to use my skipping rope is to have fun outdoors with my little niece. With two adults holding a wooden handle each my niece can jump over the rope in short little hops, something she finds quite amusing.
==Caring for the Rope==
This rope is great as a fitness tool as at the end of the day you simply wrap the rope around the wooden handles making it small to store out of way. I must admit to having previously stored mine in the shed over the winter and as a result it was looking a little dusty and frayed when I took it out over the weekend. I will therefore be storing it indoors in the future.
==Summary and My Opinion==
In summary this is a good little exercise tool which also doubles as a toy when my niece comes to visit. It is relatively cheap to purchase and has lasted me for nearly a year now with relatively little fraying. The length of the rope means that it is slightly too long for my niece if she wants to use it unaided however in playing with it between two adults she enjoys hopping around. The construction of this rope is good as it has withstood the occasional trip without any damage to the rope or handles however it is rather boring in looks.
I would recommend this product, if not to get fit than to just have some old fashioned fun in the garden. This product scores four stars out of five from me.
Thanks for reading! x
This review is also posted on Ciao under the same user name.
My eldest daughter was bought these skips last year a as a present when we had our youngests christening which i thought was rather sweet. I always remember playing with skips when I was little and remember having lots of fun with them and playing games with friends at school with them although they are not allowed to take things to school now.
The skips have wooden handles which are shaped to make them comfortable to hold and the top of the handle unscrews from the bottom of the handle which I think is good as if the knot comes out inside and the rope happens to come loose from the handle you are able to fix it easily.
When my daughter was given the skips the rope was all wound around itself but it was very easy to release, the rope is woven tightly so there isn't much give in it and it is mainly white in colour with flecks of red and blue along it. The rope does get pretty dirty although this could be something to do with the fact my daughter isn't able to skip yet.
My daughter wasn't quite sure about the skips when she got them and I had to show her what to do needless to say this wasn't exactly easy as the skips are too small for an adult to use especially since I am tall, my daughter like the idea and of course liked laughing at me. When my daughter tried skipping we found that the skips were too long for her to use very well and she kept getting in a tangle with them. To give you anm idea my daughter is 5 in a couple of weeks and quite tall for her age so I never expected her to have a problem.
We fixed the problem by taking the handles off the ends and releasing the rope which she wraps around her hands to get the required length and then she is able to skip a little better although her coordination isn't great so more often than not she missing jumping the rope but she still thinks it's good fun and I think that's what rreally matters.
The ropes seem pretty strong, even though we have took the handles off the rope hasn't frayed and I am hoping she will soon be tall enough to put the handles back on. The rope is pretty grubby and I have tried giving it a wipe over but it doesn't do much since it is woven so the dirt is ingrained in the rope. These ropes are great fun and my daughter loves them.
Since watching a professional (ahem) 'skipper' in action Hollie has become somewhat obsessed with skipping. She had a sweet, but useless, Hello Kitty musical skipping rope but it was ridiculously long and balanced so that you simply couldn't get a smooth arc - she eventually got so frustrated with it that it was discarded in the grass and not seen again until Mark shredded it with the lawnmower yesterday. Around a month ago however I was standing in a particularly slow moving queue in the Post Office and spotted this Mookie skipping rope - at £2.89 I thought it was a bit of a bargain so picked it up for Hollie.
It hasn't been a bad skipping rope, it hasn't lasted for a particularly long period of time but for the price I'm not moaning considering Hollie has used it practically every day since I bought it! The handles are fitted neatly to the rope, these haven't come loose at all and still look in reasonable condition - a bit scratched, with a few dents from being thrown on the floor and dragged around but on the whole they're not looking too bad.
It's the rope itself that's failing; while it feels quite sturdy and has a nice weight for twirling, but the part that touches the ground as Hollie skips started fraying within a few days and now is so badly damaged that it's actually catching on the ground and preventing her from skipping properly. The length doesn't help as it's ever so slightly too long for her, the rope is apparently suitable for children aged three and above but I struggle to think of any three year old who would be tall enough to use it - Hollie could only just use it comfortably and I think she'd personally have benefitted from it being a couple of inches shorter. I suppose they can't keep everyone happy length-wise though!
I've watched Hollie skipping with this rope so many times, she's mastered a simple forward jumpy-hoppy skip (give her chance, she's only been skipping since March!) and once her arms learned to compensate for the extra length she was twirling the rope smoothly and comfortably. It completes a smooth arc with no kinking or weirdness to the rope, the handles are comfortable to hold while you're skipping with a thin layer of varnish to give them a smooth feel in your hands.
Overall I'm happy with the rope, I'll definitely replace this frayed-to-death one with an identical Mookie rope although I'm sure eventually Hollie will want something a little more aesthetically exciting. This makes a nice starter rope though and I don't hesitate to recommend it with the caveat that it hasn't had the longest lifespan I've ever known for a skipping rope. Just watch out for heads being cracked if your child swings the rope around - we had a near miss the other day, luckily it was only Mark's head (ha!) but it could just as easily have been David's so I had to have a few stern words with Hollie about it. After Mark had shouted at her!
I remember when I was younger that there was much fun to be had with a skipping rope and so last year I invested in a mookie skipping rope for my son which was much the same design as the one I had many years ago.
The skipping rope itself is a white rope with a blue and red pattern going all the way along it. The rope has pale coloured wooden handles which are varnished to give them a shiny look. The skipping rope cost me around four pounds from a local independent toy store but having looked online I can advise that you can pick them up from amazon for just short of five pounds. There are many alternatives which look similar and cost a few pounds less so it is worth looking out for those too in my opinion.
The skipping rope itself is a decent size meaning that I could show my son how to skip using it however he needed to wrap the rope slightly around the handles to be in with any chance of skipping and not tripping up. It is only this past few months that my son has managed to jump the rope and he did this after a lot of practice of us skipping together with me turning the rope and us both jumping together. He enjoys the activity regardless of the fact that he often miss times his jump and I like the fact that he is being active as well.
Before he could skip with the rope my son would use the skipping rope to tie things together such as my washing lines which was rather annoying but he has always had a bit of a thing for tying things! He used it in his imaginative play and as long as he was being supervised I was happy for him to do this.
The skipping rope has lasted quite well but we have made sure that we always bring it indoors after play because I remember when I had a skipping rope like this as a child that the handles went a bit green and manky after being left out in the rain over a period of time as they are made of wood. There are a few chips in the wooden handles where my son has dropped the skipping rope on the paved slabs and I would think that given a few more drops the handles will actually split open as they do look like they may do so before too long. Despite this fact the rope has lasted my son over twelve months of occasional play with it coming out more often over the past few months and so for just a few pounds I have to say it is decent value really. When this rope does break I do think I will replace it with one with plastic handles as I think they will probably be more durable in the long run.
In summary this is a decent buy I feel and one that will ensure that your child either gets active skipping or has a good go trying and so I think it is well worth just a few pounds!
Thank you for reading my review!
I've been doing a lot of exercise recently, whether it be off my own back or as a client for a friend's personal trainer course. One of the things he's had me doing as part of a warm up is skipping, and although at first it was frustrating, it's something that you can pick up and get used to quite quickly. Choosing the right skipping rope isn't something I had considered as being important, but having used a few different ones now, I've realised that it does indeed make a difference.
Quite a few sports related skipping ropes these days are all plastic, the 'rope' as well as the handles. Traditionally, though, expect one like this Mookie skipping rope, which has think wooden handles and a real rope. As a man, I found the handles quite small to grip, although they are rather smooth due to the varnished finish. I was worried that as I started to sweat it would get harder to hold on to them, but this wasn't the case at all. The attachment of the handle to the rope is quite flexible and there's plenty of motion, with the connection also allowing the rope to swing smoothly as you skip, preventing any restriction to make you have to swing harder to get the right pace.
The quality of the rope, initially at least, is also good, and I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking it looks a bit like the cord for an iron, with its predominantly white colour with a few small coloured marks along its length. I found the rope easy to unwind and to keep straight, something this has as an advantage over most cheap plastic skipping ropes, which tangle up and are a nightmare to get straight.
When skipping, there's no real worry, and I spent quite a few occasions really liking how this felt. If anything, I'd have to say that I'd have preferred to have bigger handles, although the rope was plenty long enough for my purposes. You can get different variations in skipping rope length, and this was just about right for me.
The problem with this is reflected in the price. You can get hold of it for as little as £2, and once you've used it for quite a long time, then you notice a difference in the quality of the rope. I found that the handles started to warp ever so slightly, particularly if they're left outside for any period of time, and the connection between the handles and the rope started to feel a bit less secure than before. Not only this, but the rope itself soon began to fray. When I skip, the rope often hits the floor at each revolution, something which is rather common with most people, especially once you get a rhythm going and find that groove for minimal jumping. The problem is that the rope frays rather easily, and I've started to worry that it won't last much longer. I've used other ropes, particularly at the gym, which are used on a very regular basis and have been there for ages without showing any signs of wear and tear that affect the performance.
I'm not so fussed about how dirty it can get - I don't expect a white rope to stay white if it keeps getting used for skipping when it touches the ground, nor do I expect to be able to clean it very well. What I do expect though is for it to stay strong for a decent amount of time, and it has already started to give less of a smooth skipping experience. It costs £2, and that's exactly what you get - your money's worth. For the price, it does a decent job and doesn't tangle up, giving a smooth skip, but over a period of time, if you're thinking about for a long time, then it may be better spending a bit more and getting something that will last better.
One thing that my daughter has always played with is a skipping rope, not just any old skipping rope (though she has had an assortment over the years), but one that purchased for her a good few years ago, and has enjoyed many hours of use.
My daughters skipping rope is a bog standard design, long thick corded rope, a good metre and a half in length, with sturdy wooden varnished handles on the ends, so sturdy that this particular rope has lasted her a good few years, since her first year in school, (she is now 9 and ¾'s, the ¾ is very important!).
The rope did start off as a white/red and blue colour, with all the colours threaded together, though has over the years become a much grubbier grey colour, but the handles have stayed reasonably good looking, with only a little damage caused by my kids playing "Britain's got talent" last summer, and my son used it as a tightrope, and tripped over it!
To use you obviously hold a handle in each hand, and jump flipping the rope either forwards or backwards over the head, with the rope never getting twisted up as the handles let the rope fully rotate with the head of the handle.
The rope is long enough to simply skip either alone or as a pair (I love doing the double friend jump as a child, me and my friend could get to 50 without getting caught up), and is long enough to perform any other tricks you like, the cross over arm jump was also a speciality of mine, and though the rope is still actually long enough for me to still have a go with it, I am afraid since growing boobs this option has been taken away from me (I can't skip and hold my chest at the same time, I am good but not that good!).
Price wise these are very cost effective, retailing at around the £4.00 mark, and available from www.amazon.co.uk.
This is a cheap and effective toy to encourage exercise and outdoor playing, so a big thumbs up from me!
Thanks for reading x
Mookie skipping ropes were especially popular in the 1990s, and certainly when I was in primary school they could be found in pretty much any discount store in our local area. These days I believe that schools are much more strict about what you can (or should that be can't) play with in the playground, but skipping ropes were a popular choice with us.
This brand of skipping rope is extremely cheap and can be bought for under £2 online, or less if you look in discount high street stores like Poundland or Quality Save/Home Bargains. Because they are so cheap, they aren't the best quality. If you're rough with them, they will split and break, so I'd recommend keeping them away from boisterous kids and pets if you want them to last.
The Mookie rope has traditional wooden handles, which are the right size for kids to use, and also for women and the smaller-handed men amongst us. You can obviously still use it if you have big hands - just expect to get grooves in them! The rope itself reminds me of an iron's electrical cord as it has a dotted pattern running through it, and feels like it's made of artificial material. It's white and not the easiest to clean if you get it muddy, and it does look a bit cheap and artificial which is a shame because the wooden handles are traditional and you don't see many skipping ropes with wooden handles these days. I've seen Mookie ropes with different coloured 'blobs' on the design, but not different coloured ropes themselves, so you are quite limited in choice but then again if you're buying for kids it's likely to prevent arguments over colours.
I quite enjoy skipping as it doesn't take up much space, there are no ongoing costs and it's a good workout. Unfortunately this Mookie skipping rope is for outside use only for me because my ceilings are too low. You'll need well over 6 foot clearance to use this rope indoors. However, the advantage is that the skipping rope is a good length and can be used by taller adults without too much trouble. Kids may also use it for 'multiplayer' games with two people swinging the handles and a third (and even fourth) jumping over.
As I don't use this rope every day and store it in a drawer, it's lasted very well with no visible marks. However, I do find that it's not the best skipping rope in the world for exercise - and I wouldn't expect it to be as it's so cheap - so I'm currently looking at buying a skipping rope with a built-in counter. However, these skipping ropes have plenty of other uses and would be good for a sports day, party bags, party games, holidays and various other things. As they're so cheap it's not really a problem if they get lost, broken or dirty.
I don't really think there are any real disadvantages to Mookie skipping ropes, other than the fact that they are basic; you can't easily adjust the length of them, and there are no bells and whistles like jump counters or calorie counters - but I wouldn't expect that for the price. The biggest issue you're likely to experience is finding decent weather to skip in - but that's an issue for all outdoor games in the UK!
This wooden skipping rope from Mookie is something my sister used to own and play with on a regular basis. I guess girls are more 'into' skipping than boys - I were more interested in ball games and cars! If you were looking for a more modern and better designed skipping rope then you would be looking at paying upwards of £5. As you can buy the Mookie wooden skipping rope for around the £2-3 mark I can see why some people do buy them, although
they don't seem anywhere near as popular now.
The problem with this wooden skipping rope is that although it is intended for children, it can (and does) break quite easily. You see, children's' toys are prone to getting dropped, stood on - general abuse. Adults may be more careful with such a product, but for children it needs to be able to stand up to the daily wear and tear that kids will inevitably give it.
The problem was with the wooden handles of the skipping rope. Although the rope did become a little tatty and frayed (from being left outside in the cold and damp weather) one of the wooden handles split down the middle. The rope then detached itself from the handle and what was left was one handle with a length of rope attached. I do think that this was due to being left outside in the wet and probably what happened was damp made the wood expand and split.
The wooden handles are finished in varnish to prevent splinters. I think that the overall product isn't very well thought out. I can't see why wooden handles are better than plastic, and plastic handles would be more robust and give a better surface to grip if they had a rubber grip strip on them. Those £5+ gym skipping ropes are looking more and more tempting by the sentence, don't you think? For what is the difference between a few pounds i would definitely say save your money and go for a proper gym skipping rope. The overall quality can easily be described as poor, but as it is so cheap I will give it two stars as it does fall within the pocket money category for kids.
I've got a proper exercise skipping rope but I couldn't find it, I'm not very organised when it comes to putting stuff away and because my skipping rope is black and gray it's obviously blended in somewhere and I just can't see it! I brought this Mookie skipping rope because it was only £1.50 and I didn't want to fork out on a new exercise skipping rope because I KNEW as soon as I did I'd find mine!
This one has been brilliant though, I can see why it's so expensive in some shops and think I had a bargain because I've seen this exact skipping rope for £5.00. When you buy it the rope will be all twisted up like you can see in the photo Dooyoo have got up, when you unwind it it will be a bit kinked up but I just sprayed it with water and hung it over the line for the kinks to drop out.
The handles are made of real wood and they feel proper sturdy and nice to hold. My sister had a skipping rope recently that looked like it had wooden handles but they was really plastic and the end piece snapped off after a bit. These ones are so smooth that they feel lovely and comfortable in my hands, also the shape of them makes it easy for the handles to move around as you spin the rope round.
The rope is strong and it's quite heavy so it actually flies through the air a lot smoother than the other rope I usually use. One thing though is if you're using this for exercise instead of playing then you probably won't be able to get your speed up as good because this rope is so chunky that it's hard to get it spinning very fast.
I'm surprised that the rope isn't FILTHY by now because of it being white but it actually looks in brill condition considering it's been used at least 2 times a day by me.... plus both my sisters have used it too, and that includes my 3 year old sister dragging it round the garden with an cuddly dog tied to the end!
So it's been used AND abused and there isn't any problems at all with it. None of the threads in the rope have frayed or anything like that and the handles are still solid. I'll definately carry on using it even when I find my proper skipping rope, I'm not bothered about speed when I'm skipping so this is fine for me.
The only weird thing is that on the packet it says the skipping rope is suitable for kids from 3 years and over but that's not right. My sister is 3 and the long 2 metre rope is miles too big for her, she can't spin the rope and even if she does manage it then she just gets all tangled up in it. That's a bit dangerous actually, I never thought before because if it flicked round her neck when nobody was about then she could have a serious accident.
Recommended..... but not for 3 year olds, it's dangerous and they won't be able to use it properly anyway!!!
I have been frustrated recently with the lack of quality in skipping ropes. My daughter loves to take a skipping rope to school. We have gone through on average one every couple of weeks. They have either snapped, come apart, or been far too flimsy to be of any use. Granted, I do not pay much for these skipping ropes, but I have been known to fork out over £6 for a branded skipping rope that plays music and counts. (which turned out to be more rubbish than all the others put together.)
I saw this wooden skipping rope advertised on Amazon. As I had some vouchers to spend. I decided to add this to my shopping list. The skipping rope appeared to be more sturdy in design than others. I immediatley liked this rope as it had a much more traditional appearance. Which reminded me of the skipping rope I used to have. What was even more attractive, was the £1.70 price tag.
When the mookie toys wooden skipping rope arrived. I was most pleased with it's quality. I wasn't holding out much hope as it had such a cheap price tag. It had two wooden handles which were smooth and shiny. They seemed to be perfect in size for my daughter to grip. On first use, my daughter commented that the handles were light and felt comfortable and secure.
The rope in the middle, again appeared to be of a very good quality. It was not only strong but also seemed to have a good width. Neither too thin or thick. The rope was white with red and navy flecks. I was rather disappointed with this colour though as I was sure the rope would look dirty and shabby.
The rope had an adequate length to it. Im sure my daughter would have preferred the rope to have been slightly longer. As she complained that she struggled to play step up skipping with this rope. But In all fairness, I wasn't expecting an olympic team of Double Dutch skippers to be born from purchasing this rope.
The rope did last a lot longer than others I had bought. It was stronger and much more durable. However there were many flaws which let this rope down. Firstly the handles, which at first looked so attractive, were prone to scratches and when they hit the floor they would chip, with great white chunks appearing where the smart varnished wood had been.
Another thing that let the skipping rope down was when the actual rope got wet it became heavy and dirty. Within a short while the rope began to fray, making it look grubby and cheap.
For the price I payed for this skipping rope, I feel it provided a good job. I wasn't expecting a high quality skipping rope, which is just as well because I didn't get one. What I did get though, was a rope that lasted for a good deal longer than other skipping ropes on the cheaper end of the market. Which in turn, makes me feel that this rope was indeed well worth it's bargain price tag.
We bought a Mookie Toys Wooden Skipping Rope from a local shop that sells low cost and often bargain items, similar to those found in Pound Land. The rope was purchased because we had received a letter home about a special skipping demo that was taking place that week at school.
All the kids wanted to get in a bit of practice as they were told there would be a chance to join in and learn some skipping tricks at the end of the demonstration. The demo was set up via the school, who wanted to promote active play during break time and lunch time periods.
The Wooden Skipping Rope came in a simple clear plastic pack with a cardboard panel at the top. It was adequate for keeping the Mookie Toys Wooden Skipping Rope protected before purchase and was also easy to open.
We paid just £1.49 for the rope, which we felt was about the right price for it at the time and still do, as the quality of the product is average and so its purchase price should and did reflect that. So we felt we got value for money.
The rope handles are a smooth to the touch light coloured wood. They have been slightly coated with a clear coat, to protect them and enhance their look and feel. Having handled them I can say that they are smooth enough to rule out the possibility of small hands getting any splinters when using the rope to play with.
They look rather like a small set of mini maracas with their longer handles and slightly bulbous top section. They can be unscrewed between the handle and the top section. This is useful if you need to reach the ends of the jump rope that are enclosed within.
Our rope was an off white colour and had small blue and red highlights along the length of it. I must say that after even just a short use the centre of the rope did quite quickly become a washed out grey colour at the point where it made contact with the ground. I feel this is to be expected due to the pale coloured rope. It may have looked more attractive for a longer time if a brighter, stronger more vivid colour had been used.
The skipping rope went off happily to the skills demonstration but came back feeling rather sorry for itself. The group who visited had special skill ropes that were very light and durable, made with slim easy grip plastic handles and slim plastic coated flex instead of the thicker rope that the Mookie rope had.
The demonstrators at the event told the children that if they wanted to be able to do some of the tricks they had seen, then they would all need to purchase one of the jump ropes that they were promoting. Of course all the children were blown away by the tricks they saw used and all wanted to be able to copy them.
Most of the parents fell for their childrens pleading that the fancy ropes were 100% vital to getting the best out of the skipping tricks. So we duly had to fork out for one of these so called professional type ropes as an encouragement to carry on skipping during school breaks and lunch time play.
On reflection the sales talk given out to us proved quite accurate. The Mookie Toys Skipping Rope did not perform as well as the lighter more modern rope. The Mookie rope seemed to return too slowly after a trick and was easily tangled and wrapped across the body and was only really useful for very basic skipping. It could not live up to the requirements needed to be able to do swift action skipping tricks and is best suited to very simple skipping only. Considering the price of the item, I feel this was perhaps to be expected.
On the whole you do get what you pay for with this product. Its part of a traditional style value range and offers some playability which is best suited to basic skipping moves. However its isn't suitable for completing more complex slipping tricks and is very basic when compared to the semi professional type ropes. With all this in mind, my rating for the rope for both value and quality is an average 3 star rate.
When I started the Slimfast diet about 6 weeks ago I decided there was no point in watching what I ate unless I was going to start exercising as well so I tried to think of ways I could exercise which are also quite fun and alternate those with things like running and classes at the gym. I only came up with two things and they were swimming and skipping. Id read somewhere once that if you sit down to watch TV and skip using a proper skipping rope for the length of each advert you will tone up in no time so I bought this "Mookie Wooden Skipping Rope for exactly that purpose.
It says that this skipping rope will set you back around £3 on amazon but I found mine in Poundland (I dont know whether the Mookie name i very good as Ive never had any items from it before) for shock horror £1 so if you keep your eyes open you can definately get a bargain here. Now for £1 your not going to get a top of the range, brightly coloured best ever skipping rope you are going to get something very basic like this. This is simply a white rope with stripes on and two wooden handles at either end - nothing special about the design but I didnt but it for that reason so it didnt bother me. If you are buying this for a chile though I think they would prefer something a bit more colourful and funky - I would have when I was younger anyway.
As I just said nothing special about the design but it does everything I wanted it to. The rope is long enough and skinny enough for me to jump easily without being so big it knocks things over - as I am using this in the house and it isnt so big a child wont be able to use it either. The handles are quite large and chunky making them easy to grip and they wont go flying out of your hands again good for me as Im using this in the house. If nothing else you'll never have any accidents with this.
Ive been using this skipping rope now nearly everyday for about a month and so far Ive lost half a stone now obviously Im not just using this alone but Id like to think it has definately helped as my legs especially are now much more toned than they used to be so they certainly fit their purpose for me. Also kids love them as my cousins go for the rope constantly when they come over and it keeps them entertained for hours so that just shows it doesnt need to be super-duper it just does what is says on the tin really and Ive got no complaints. I highly recommend these are both a great toy for keeping kids occupied and a great way of getting back into shape and toned up!
Thanks For Reading
x0 Salz 0x
Mookie - Wooden skipping rope
We have recently moved home, from a flat in the city to a lovely house in the country and finally having a garden I have been buying some outdoor toys to keep friends and families children amused when they come round to visit. It really has been a lovely summer so far so outdoor toys were my first thoughts. When I was younger my granda used to make me and my friends all our skipping ropes. Sadly, I cannot do the same and I have had to buy some instead. Searching on Amazon I decided to give Mookie's wooden handle skipping rope a try, so I bought two.
At a recent BBQ these skipping ropes went down a treat. Skipping ropes are really a simple toy but a classic, I remember playing with and loving mine as does my mum and as does my granny. It's lovely watching children play with these and how simple rhymes , that change so much through the years are incorporated into the fun.
I've now bought two of these from Amazon, they are currently selling for £2.45. For just under a fiver I had amused children all afternoon, which meant that the grownups were free to enjoy some lovely pimms cocktails and food. These aren't fancy skipping ropes but they are functional and they are long enough for some of the adults to join in on the kids fun.
Overall, if you are looking for some outdoor toys this simple yet classic skipping ropes that really makes for a fun toy. After the children had finished skipping they used the ropes as part of other fun made up games. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these to anyone looking for something like this.
They aren't the best quality skipping rope out there but then they aren't all that expensive. I am going to give these a good but pretty average three out of three. These did entertain the children all afternoon but they are cheap and as such if I need to purchase other ones in the future I might pay a bit more and get a slightly better quality skipping rope.


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Gorgeous and Glamourous Wedding Invitations
Gorgeous and Glamourous Wedding Invitations
After selecting the location and date of your wedding, the next most important decision is the design of your invitation. The invite should clearly illustrate the mood, atmosphere, and overall theme of your wedding. Before deciding on a look for your wedding's invitation, be sure to browse plenty of invites to figure out what kind is right for you and your fiancé. To inspire you, I've rounded up a bunch of my favorite invites. To check them out please click on the "Start" button.
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North Pole StarSally Albrecht & Jay Althouse - Alfred Music Publishing
Reality TV fans will be amused and entertained as each of Santa's eight reindeer auditions for a panel of important judges including Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus, and (special guest at the North Pole) Steven/Susan Cruelle, played by a student, a local celebrity, or a school administrator. Host Nicky Snowcrest keeps the show rolling, and the "Star Singers" back up each of the featured performers as they sing and dance their way toward the ultimate title of North Pole Star. For a truly surprise ending, allow your audience to cast votes during the song We All are Winners Here, or plan and prepare a winner in advance. Guaranteed fun as you search for the most talented reindeer of them all. Staging ideas are included in the director's score. 40 minutes.
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DETROIT - Torii Hunter, a right fielder for the Detroit Tigers, is making headlines for comments he made to a reporter for the Los Angeles Times by saying he believes knowing a teammate was gay would make him "uncomfortable".
"For me, as a Christian…I will be uncomfortable because in all my teachings and all my learning, biblically, it's not right," the former Angels outfielder told the publication. "It will be difficult and uncomfortable."
On Monday, Hunter responded with a tweet saying:
I'm very disappointed in Kevin Baxter's article in which my quotes and feelings have been misrepresented. He took two completely separate quotes and made them into one quote that does not express how I feel as a Christian or a human being . I have love and respect for all human beings regardless of race, color or sexual orientation. I am not perfect and try hard to live the best life I can and treat all people with respect. If you know me you know that I am not anti anything and to be portrayed as anti-gay in this article is hurtful and just not true.
In 2010 Hunter sparked controversy when he reportedly referred to dark-skinned Latino baseball players as "impostors" while discussing the changing demographics in baseball during an interview with USA Today.
"People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors," he told Bob Nightengale. He went on to note, "As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us...It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?'"
Hunter signed a two-year, $26-million deal with the Detroit Tigers in November.
Hunter will be replacing Delmon Young in the starting lineup.
Hunter, 37, has spent the past five years with the Los Angeles Angels.
He was also in talks with the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves before choosing to sign with the Tigers.
More baseball headlines HERE
Copyright 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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The Arkansas backup quarterback, who has also seen action in two seasons with the Razorbacks basketball team, decided to try something new during the summer — even for him.
Mitchell, stuck behind incumbent starting quarterback Tyler Wilson, asked Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino to split his practice time between quarterback and wide receiver. The junior had never played receiver before at any level of his football career, but he was willing to try just about anything to see game action.
The experiment has had immediate and much-needed results early on in camp for the Razorbacks, who lost three receivers to the NFL draft from last season. And if Mitchell's accelerated learning curve continues, there's a strong chance he'll see more action out wide than under center this season.
"He's one of our best receivers right now," Petrino said.
Mitchell's transition began shortly after the end of spring practice in April. He was talking one night with Wilson, who knew one of the reasons Mitchell played basketball last spring was because of his lack of playing time with the football team.
After sensing Mitchell's frustration, Wilson had a question for his good friend.
"What other positions can you play," Wilson asked.
Mitchell played free safety while in high school in Louisiana, but he quickly scratched that idea because he knew a move to defense would signal the end of his career as a quarterback. It wasn't a career he was ready to give up completely on after completing 22 of 32 passes for 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns in limited action last season.
It was Wilson who suggested receiver because of Mitchell's soft hands in practice, an idea that caused Mitchell to give the Heisman Trophy hopeful some good-natured grief.
"I don't know, Tyler," Mitchell joked. "You don't really throw the ball in the right place sometimes and I don't feel like diving for you."
Wilson asked Petrino about the move and once green lighted, Wilson and Mitchell worked all summer on their routes and timing. The work was a welcomed relief for Mitchell.
"I haven't been able to compete in a while since I've been here," Mitchell said. "You come from high school, where you're used to being the starter and always being out there on the field and being able to compete and lead your team to victory."
Mitchell's presence has also come at exactly the right time for a thin Arkansas receiving corps following the departures to the NFL of former receivers Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright. The Razorbacks also suffered another blow in May when receiver Marquel Wade, who was a top threat in the spring, was arrested for burglary and eventually dismissed for the team for at least this season.
Mitchell has quickly become a reliable underneath option for Wilson in practice. He still spends his meeting time with the quarterbacks, but his practice time has increasingly been spent with the receivers while freshman quarterback Brandon Allen has taken more snaps behind Wilson.
"I trust him," Wilson said. "He's a guy I sit in that meeting room with every day and I know that he's competitive as heck and wants to win just as bad as I do. He's a tremendous athlete.
"... That's just another quarterback eye that you have out there on the field for you, and it really helps you out."
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Mitchell has also helped bring what Petrino called "a toughness" to the receiver position because of his size and blocking ability.
"He's going to make our outside running game better because he's going to hold point out there, almost like playing with two tight ends sometimes," Petrino said.
Mitchell hasn't given up on his quarterback hopes. However, he hasn't completely stopped thinking about his future — on or off the football field.
"I have no idea how it plays out," Mitchell said. "I hope I get my number called a lot, I know that. For me, it's just been a good experience even if I don't play a lot of receiver this year. Say I want to be a coach later in life, maybe I can be a better all-around coach later in my career and a better person because of what I've learned from this."


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Is that why people like the Bosch so much....it doesn't add heat to the dough?
I started with 200g of flour which was 64.2F124 g of water at 69.3 F...After mixing the flour and water etc until the flour was almost hydrated the temp of the dough was 70.9FAt 2 min of mixing the dough temp was 69.9FAt 4 min of kneading the dough temp was 69.7FAt 6 min of kneading the dough temp was 70.0 FAt 8 min of kneading the dough temp was 70.0FAt 10 min of kneading the dough temp was 70.6FAt 12 min of kneading the dough temp was 70.6F...At any rate, this test has shown me what my mixer does to the temp of my dough. If like some, you want your dough temp to be x when finished kneading, it is helpful to know what your particular mixer does.
You're the second person in the past couple weeks to confuse me with Scott. What gives? As for the dough temperature - flour and water probably have different heat capacities (the amount of heat required to raise a certain mass one degree) - i.e. one contains more heat at the same mass and temperature. Therefore, it's likely not a simple weighted average of the two. You write "My dough after mixing was obviously higher than the average of the two components." However, you also said after mixing and hydrating (and I presume before the 12 minutes of mixing), the temp was 70.9F yet after 12 minutes of mixing and kneading in the machine, the temp was only 70.6F - a drop of 0.3F after mixing - which doesn't seem to make sense.


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© 2014 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Rays claim lefty reliever Figueroa from A's
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays announced Tuesday that they have claimed left-handed reliever Pedro Figueroa off unconditional release waivers from the A's.
To make room on the 40-man roster, outfielder Jerry Sands was designated for assignment.
Figueroa pitched in 24 games for Oakland over the past two seasons, making five appearances in 2013.
The 28-year-old spent most of the past two years with Triple-A Sacramento, going 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA in 46 appearances last year after posting a 2.62 ERA in 32 games in 2012.
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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He was born on July 9, 1987, in Ozark to Steve and Susie Summit Bales. His occupation was working on gas wells. He was a member of the Ola First Baptist Church. He loved his family, especially his baby girl, Maddi and loved to joke, laugh and to go crappie fishing.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Freman and Laura Bales, Leon
Summit and Paul Robison; one uncle, Wayman Bales; and a cousin, Andy Bales.
Survivors include his parents, Steve and Susie Bales of Ola; grandmother, Ann Summitt of Ola; daughter, Maddi Bales of Little Rock; one sister, Stephanie Kendrick and husband, Jack of Ola; a brother, Dustin Storey of Ola; three nephews, Mason, Auston and Karson Kendrick of Ola; and many other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at Cornwell Funeral Home in Danville.
Arrangements are by Cornwell Funeral Home in Danville.
Online guestbook and condolence at www.cornwellfuneralhomes.com.
Paid obituary


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You know the old wives tale about the size of a man's feet? Well, science has uncovered evidence that his hands may hold a similar predictive power. According to a study published online yesterday (July 4) in the Asian Journal of Andrology, the length of a man's fingers is indicative of his stretched penile length—the shorter the second finger is relative to the fourth, the longer the penis. The 2D:4D ratio of the male hand has previously been linked to a variety of biological characteristics, including general attractiveness and the risk of developing certain diseases such as prostate cancer. These correlations are likely due to differences in prenatal testosterone levels and the sensitivity of the androgen receptor, both key factors in penis development. The authors propose that higher prenatal androgen causes both the lower digit ratio and the longer penile length.
The finding adds to a growing body of literature that suggests that digit ratio may serve as a valuable biomarker for clinical conditions related to the effects of androgens during development, Denise Brooks McQuade of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, wrote in an accompanying commentary.


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Tonight the 77th Heisman Trophy winner will be announced on ESPN with five finalists waiting in the audience. The five finalists are Wisconsin running back Montee Ball, Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, and Alabama running back Trent Richardson.
In anticipation of College Football's most prestigious award, we here at Leatherheads of the Gridiron took it upon ourselves to pick who we think should be the Heisman winner. Our voters followed the same format as the Heisman voters: 3 points for our number one choice, 2 for our second choice and 3 for our third choice.
We had ten voters allocate their votes to nine different players. Absent from receiving any votes is Tyrann Mathieu, the winner of this year's Bednarik Award. The Heisman has been given to a primarily offensive player each year except 1997 when Michigan cornerback and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson won. Sorry Tyrann, we do not believe you will win the award.
Our candidates in alphabetical order are as follows:
Montee Ball
Ball is a running back for the 11-2, Rose Bowl-bound University of Wisconsin Badgers. A junior, Ball has so far this season led the nation in total rushing yards with 1,759 and rushing touchdowns with 32. He has also caught 20 passes with 6 receiving touchdowns. His 230 points scored also leads the nation, 74 points more than the number two scorer Collin Klein of Kansas State.
Matt Barkley
Barkley is the quarterback for the USC Trojans. The junior has led them to a 10-2 record and currently ranks eighth in QB rating (161.2) with 3,528 yards, a 69.1 completion percentage and 39 touchdowns (third in the nation) versus just 7 interceptions. USC is bowl ineligible so his season is complete.
Robert Griffin III
Griffin, also known as RG3, is the quarterback for the 9-3 Baylor Bears. Griffin, a junior, leads the nation in QB rating with an impressive 192.3 rating. He is fifth in the nation with a 72.4 completion percentage, sixth in passing yards with 3,998, fourth in TD passes with 36 while just tossing 6 interceptions. He leads the nation in yards per passing attempt at 10.8 and has also rushed for 644 yards and 9 TDs.
LaMichael James
James is a running back for the 11-2, Rose Bowl-bound Oregon Ducks. The junior is currently fourth in the nation with 1,646 rushing yards and tied for ninth with 17 rushing touchdowns. He has also caught 17 balls for 210 yards with a TD and has returned 14 punts, including a 58-yard touchdown against Nevada.
Case Keenum
Keenum is the throwing machine for the 12-1, Ticket City Bowl-bound Houston Cougars. The redshirt senior QB leads the nation in passing yards with 5,099 and passing TDs with 45. He ranks sixth with a 71.7 completion percentage, third in yards per passing attempt with 9.5 and is third in QB rating at 177.9 while throwing just 5 interceptions.
Andrew Luck
Luck is the red-shirt junior quarterback for the 11-1, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl-bound Stanford Cardinal. Luck, the 2011 Camp, Maxwell and Unitas Awards winner, has thrown for 3,170 yards with the ninth best completion percentage (70.0), fifth most passing TDs (35) and the fifth best QB rating (167.5). He was the Heisman runner-up last season, losing out to Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.
Kellen Moore
Moore is the quarterback of the 11-1, MAACO Bowl-bound Boise State Broncos. The redshirt senior has thrown for 3,507 yards and is second in the nation with 41 TD passes. His 177.9 QB rating ranks third and has thrown just 7 interceptions. Moore was a Heisman finalist last season, finishing fourth in the voting.
Trent Richardson
Richardson is a junior running back for the 11-1, BCS Championship Bowl-bound Alabama Crimson Tide. The Doak Walker Award winner ranks sixth in rushing yards with 1,583 yards and fifth in rushing TDs with 20. He has caught 27 passes for 327 yards with 3 scores and is tied for fourth in overall scoring with 138 points.
Denard Robinson
Robinson, a junior quarterback for the 10-2, Allstate Sugar Bowl-bound Michigan Wolverines is one of the most exciting players in college football. He has passed for 2,056 yards and 18 TDs with a QB rating of 142.2 (38th) while throwing 14 interceptions. On the ground, he has rushed for 1,163 yards and 16 TDs.
So what did our Leatherhead brethren come up with?
Drum Roll Please…
First Second Third Total
Griffin 9 (3) 2 (1) 2 (2) 13
Richardson 3 (1) 8 (4) 2 (2) 13
Ball 9 (3) 2 (1) 0 (0) 11
Luck 3 (1) 6 (3) 1 (1) 10
Keenum 6 (2) 0 (0) 2 (2) 8
Robinson 0 (0) 2 (1) 0 (0) 2
Barkley 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (1) 1
James 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (1) 1
Moore 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (1) 1
So Griffin and Richardson tie with RG3 getting more first place votes (3 to 1) while Richardson having more people voting for him, including more second place votes (4 to 1). I feel that Griffin will win tonight with Richardson finishing second. Ball and Luck will be 3 and 4, although I can not predict which order. Mathieu should be fifth.
I personally voted for Ball to win the award with Richardson second. When I think of the Heisman, running backs rank higher to me than QBs and other positions. Why? Could it be that when growing up running backs won the award from 1973 to 1983? Flutie screwed everything up with his Hail Marry pass in 1984.
Anyway, Ball has had a monster statistical season with one game left to break past Heisman winner Barry Sander's single-season Football Bowl Subdivision touchdown record of 39 that he set during the 1988 season. Richardson is just a monster and can not wait to see him run in the NFL.
My third choice was Keenum. Why? I love those guys on perceived lessor teams that light it up with 9 TDs in a game. Timmy Chang anyone? If Houston had defeated Southern Mississippi, I probably would have had him number one. But he lost.
I could have easily voted for Griffin as my number 3. Afterall, his nickname is RG3.
Participating voters: David Boyce, Bo Carter, Ronnie Foreman, Terry Keshner, Bob Lazzari, Dan McCloskey, Tex Noel, Pete Sonski, Bob Swick, Joe Williams.


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Pioneers' offense sputters in final minutes of loss
In a tightly contested Lone Star Conference game between sixth-place Texas A&M-Commerce and eighth-place TWU on Wednesday, the Pioneers looked as if they were ready to pull away in the second half.
But with TWU leading 44-36, Danielle Dixon's hot shooting led the Lions back for a 54-50 victory at Kitty Magee Arena.
The Pioneers had used an 8-1 run of their own to take the eight-point lead, but La'Tisha Hearne hit three straight buckets to give the Lions the momentum.
TWU coach Beth Jillson said her team should have seized the moment and finished off the win.
"We were up by eight with eight minutes left, and we could have put the dagger in," Jillson said. "We were tasting blood. Then we just let them right back in the game. We killed ourselves tonight with offensive inefficiency.
"There were times tonight where we had people wide open and we were trying to make a tough pass. We would have a wide-open layup or shot, and we would have our head down."
The Lions were led by forward Breanna Harris' game-high 18 points and 12 rebounds. The junior from Mansfield posted 13 points and 16 rebounds in the first showdown between TWU and A&M-Commerce on Nov. 28.
While the Pioneers (6-12, 4-8 Lone Star) held Harris to just three second-half points, the Lions leaned on their outside shooting. Dixon knocked down three straight shots for eight points in the final three minutes of the game, including a jumper as the shot clock expired with 1:08 remaining to give the Lions a three-point lead.
Taylor Swift hit a baseline jumper with 47 seconds remaining to inch the Pioneers to within 51-50, but Dixon answered with a 3-pointer gave the Lions a two-possession lead with 30 seconds left.
"Honestly, that's what we were giving up," Jillson said of the outside looks A&M-Commerce was getting. "We were trying to pack it in so they didn't go to town on us inside. Harris had 15 points at halftime but only three points in the second half. I thought we did a better job on her."
After Tabbatha Thurmond's jumper gave the Pioneers their 44-36 lead, they struggled to just six points in the final 10:54 of the game. TWU shot 28 percent from the floor in the second half after shooting 35.5 percent in the first.
"They changed up their defense and we changed up our offense," Jillson said. "We struggled to get in our offense and execute. It would take us 20 seconds to get into our offense. That wasn't the whole game, but I thought the last eight minutes really, really hurt us. We have to mature as a team and execute offensively."
The Lions (7-9, 5-6) shot just over 48 percent from the floor in the first half but led just 30-29 at halftime after jumping out to a 13-5 lead.
After getting down early, the Pioneers responded with an 8-0 run by exploiting A&M-Commerce's interior defense while forcing the Lions to settle for outside jumpers.
Rebekah Cluley led the Pioneers with 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Kaitlyn Waller added six points and 10 rebounds.
"I thought [Cluley] did a good job being aggressive and getting to basket," Jillson said. "She did a good job against their zone. We had her at the high post, and she did a good job of flashing and making layups. She's just solid. She's going to do a lot of the little things right. A lot of times you don't notice what she does."
PATRICK HAYSLIP can be reached at 940-566-6873. His e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.com .