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It is spring time and that means the temperatures are warmer. Flowers are blossoming and there are 16 teams that have battled through the 82-game grind of the regular season and only one of them will win 16 more games and claim the Larry O'Brien Trophy as the 2013 NBA Champions. Here is a breakdown as well as predictions of the eight playoff series in the Eastern and Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Abbreviation Key: ppg-points per game; rpg-rebounds per game; apg assists per game; bpg-block shots per game. spg-steals per game; FG%-Field Goal percentage; 3-Pt.%-three-point percentage.
Eastern Conference
(1) Miami Heat (66-16) versus (8) Milwaukee Bucks; Miami won three of the four regular season meetings.
On June 21, 2012, the Miami Heat won their second championship in franchise history by defeating the defending Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 to win The NBA Finals 4-1.
It was the first title for the "Big 3" of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
This season, they showed that they have no plans of relinquishing their NBA crown as they won a franchise best 66 games. They won a franchise best 37 games at home, going 37-4 at the American Airlines Arena. Their 29-12 record on the road was the best in the league. They won 18 of their last 19 games on the road after splitting their first 22 games.
The team really hit their stride by winning 27 games in succession from Feb. 3 to Mar. 27, which is the 2nd best winning streak in NBA history. Only the 1971-72 World Champion Los Angeles Lakers had a longer winning streak of 33 games in a row.
James, who is on the verge of winning his fourth Most Valuable Player Award, had a stellar season averaging 26.8 ppg (4th NBA), eight rebounds-career best and 7.3 assists.
On top of that, he had career-highs in field goal percentage (56.5-5th NBA) and three-point percentage (40.6%).
He was especially impressive against the Bucks this season averaging 27.5 points, 8.3 boards and 7.3 assists on 55.6 percent from the field in the four games in the regular season.
Wade and Bosh were very stellar themselves against the Bucks scoring 24.0 and 21.3 points on 50.9 and 59.1 percent from the floor respectably. Bosh also averaged 13.7 boards against the Bucks in the regular season.
With all of that working against them, the question is how do the Bucks be competitive, let alone have a chance in this series?
For starters, they must rebound the ball well, which they have done all season long ranking 5th in the league at 44.0 caroms per contest.
The starting backcourt of Brandon Jennings (23.8 ppg, 5.8 apg, 2.5 spg vs. Heat) and Monta Ellis (19.2, 6.0 apg, 2.1 spg) must play efficiently. Shooting 41.6 and 39.9 percent, which Jennings and Ellis did during the regular season ware not cut it against Miami.
The supporting cast of Ersan Ilyasova (13.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 46.2 FG%, 44.4 3-Pt.%), Mike Dunleavy (10.5 ppg, 44.2 FG%, 42.8 3-Pt.%), J.J. Redick (12.3 ppg) and Larry Sanders (9.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.8 bpg-2nd NBA) must play big on both ends.
On paper, this series looks like a mismatch. Mainly because along with the "Big 3," the Heat role players of Shane Battier, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Rashard Lewis, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem are better.
More than anything, the Heat knows its championship or bust. None of their regular season accomplishments will matter if they do not capture their second consecutive title.
What gives the Bucks hope thought that they can compete is that they defeated Miami on Dec. 29 104-85 at home.
The Bucks outscored the Heat 35-14 in the fourth quarter. They outscored the Heat 21-14 in fast break points. They had 29 assists compared to Miami's 18 and they scored 25 points off of 21 Miami turnovers.
Jennings had a team-high 25 points along with seven assists and four steals in the victory. Sanders had 16 points, 11 boards and four blocks.
The Bucks came close to defeating the Heat in their first meeting, a 113-106 setback in overtime in Miami on Nov. 21. The Bucks overcame a 2915 first quarter to win the second and third quarters 58-42 combined, but were outscored 15-8 in the extra stanza.
The Bucks were led by Jennings, who had 19 points, seven boards, six assists and five steals, but he connected on 9 of his 25 shots, including going 1 for 8 from three-point range.
Rookie forward John Henson had 17 points and 18 boards off the bench.
Prediction: Heat wins series 4-0.
(2) New York Knicks (54-28) versus (7) Boston Celtics (41-40); Knicks won three of the four regulars seasons meetings.
This is a series that features two teams that are in very different places than they were two seasons ago.
In the 2011 postseason quarterfinal match-up, it was the Celtics who had home court advantage and it was the Knicks with a whole lot of question marks. The Celtics swept the Knicks 4-0.
Fast forward to this season's quarterfinal series it is the Knicks who have the home court advantage and all the momentum.
They won 54 games in the regular season, their most in 16 years. They won their first Atlantic Division title since 1993-94, where they made it to the Finals, falling to the Houston Rockets in seven games.
Forward Carmelo Anthony led the NBA in scoring at 28.7 points per contest, over taking Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, who had led the NBA the past three seasons in that department.
For the C's, it has been a season of inconsistency and overcoming injuries. The acquisitions via free agency of guards Jason Terry (10.1 ppg, 43.4 FG%, 37.2 3-Pt.%), Courtney Lee (7.8 ppg) have not panned out the way the team hoped.
They lost their floor general Rajon Rondo (13.7 ppg, 11.1 apg-led NBA, 5.6 rpg) to a torn ACL on Jan. 25, a 123-111 double overtime loss at the Atlanta Hawks. They also lost rookie forward Jared Sullinger (6.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 49.3 FG%) who had season-ending back surgery earlier this season.
With all the injuries, the Celtics went 21-17 and a big reason why is the play of forward Jeff Green (12.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 46.4 FG%, 38.5 3-Pt.%), who has averaged 16.6 points a game since the loss of Rondo.
While the Knicks are the higher seed and in some ways are the better team, the Celtics have experience and the toughness to win it.
While Anthony averaged 25.3 points in the four-game regular season series, he shot just 35 percent from the field.
On top of that, the Celtics are 17-7, including the playoffs since acquiring Kevin Garnett five seasons ago.
In looking at this series, it comes down to three main things.
First, can the Knicks shoot the ball well from three-point range? In the four games against the Celtics, they made 22 more trifectas than Boston. That difference amounted to the Knicks averaging 98.3 in the four games, while the Celtics averaged just 90.5.
In the regular season, the Knicks were 37-8 when they made 11 three-point shots or more and just 17-20 when they connected on 10 shots or less from behind the arc.
Second, which front line will outdo the other?
The Knicks have been pretty banged in the frontcourt late in the season. Starting center Tyson Chandler (9.0 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 62.5 FG% in two games against Celtics) has missed 16 of the last 20 to close the season with a bulging disc in his neck. The Knicks were 12-4 in the months of March and April without their man in the middle.
Forward Kenyon Martin, who the Knicks signed back in February, has played well, but he missed seven of the final eight games of the regular season because of a sprained ankle and sore knee.
Rookie guard Pablo Prigioni, who has been starting late in the season injured an ankle in the regular season finale versus the Hawks last Wednesday and is listed as day-to-day.
Forward Rasheed Wallace, who had not played since December because of a foot injury announced early last week that he was retiring.
On top of that, the Knicks waived forward/center Kurt Thomas and there is no timetable for the return of forward Amar'e Stoudemire, who has played in just 29 games this season because of a knee injury.
Before their finale on Apr. 17 versus the Hawks, the Knicks signed center Earl Barron, who had 11 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in the 98-92 win. They also signed for his second stint with the team forward/guard Quentin Richardson, who had five points and 10 boards in the aforementioned contest.
For the Celtics, an important key to them making some noise this series is the health of Garnett (14.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg), who missed 12 of the final 17 games of the season with inflammation in his left ankle and forward Paul Pierce (18.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.8 apg) missed three of the final eight games with sore ankles.
The third key is which role players will come to the fore front to tip the series in their team's favor. Will it be Sixth Man of the Year candidate guards J.R. Smith (18.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Iman Shumpert (6.8 ppg), rookie forward Chris Copeland (8.7 ppg, 47.9 FG%, 42.1 3-Pt.%) of the Knicks or guards Avery Bradley (9.2 ppg), Jordan Crawford (9.1 ppg) and forward Brandon Bass (8.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg) for the Celtics.
This has the makings of a seven games and another one in this rivalry of Northeast coast teams, who have met in the postseason 13 prior times. The Celtics are 34-24 all-time in the postseason against the Knicks.
For the Celtics, this might be their last run with Garnett and Pierce. For the Knicks it's now or never. They have won just one playoff game in the last 12 years and they have not won a first round series since 2000.
Prediction: Knicks in six games.
(3) Indiana Pacers (49-32) versus (6) Atlanta Hawks (44-38): Series tied 2-2
After their amazing season a year ago where they beat the Orlando Magic in the first round 4-1 and took the eventual NBA Champion Miami Heat to the edge, but falling 4-2 in the Conference Semis, the Indiana Pacers looked like a team on the rise in the East.
At the start of this season though, those dreams of greatness seemed derailed when last year's leading scorer Danny Granger was out because of knee surgery. Despite coming back after the all-star break, he only managed to play in five games this season.
The issue of his absence was put to rest though by the incredible play of first-time all-star swingman Paul George. The Most Improved Player candidate had career-highs of 17.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.1 apg and 1.8 spg.
Another big reason why the Pacers captured their first Central Division title since 2003-04 was their stellar defense. They finished second points allowed at 90.7 per game. They were No. 1 in rebounds per game at 45.9, in opponent's field goal percentage at 42.0 percent and in opponent's three-point percentage at 32.7. They were tied for fourth in block shots per contest at 6.3.
In their two victories over the Hawks this season, the Pacers were a plus 10 on the boards. They were a minus nine in the two losses.
That dismal on the boards in their two setbacks against the Hawks along with their inconsistent play at the defensive end, where they gave up 100 points on three occasions are why the Pacers lost five of their final six games to close the regular season.
The Hawks did not have a stellar finish to their season either dropping their final two games and seven of their last 10 to fall from the No. 5 spot in the East to No. 6.
The Hawks despite all of that and what has happened to them going back to the off-season; they have played well all things considered.
Back in the off-season, Hawks' general manager Danny Ferry traded perennial all-star Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets and forward Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz to clear cap space for this summer where two-thirds of the roster will be unrestricted free agents.
One big cloud hanging over the team has been the uncertain future of forward Josh Smith (17.5 ppg-leads team, 8.4 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.8 bpg-leads team), who will be a free agent when the Hawks season ends. The team tried to trade their talented forward before the trade deadline back in February, but there were no suitors.
The team lost their Sixth Man Lou Williams (14.1 ppg, 36.6 3-Pt.%) for the rest of the season on Jan. 18 at the Nets where he suffered a torn ACL. The team went 22-21 in his absence.
The Hawks also lost back-up center Zaza Pachulia (5.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg) who had season-ending surgery on his right Achilles back in March.
This series will come down to the power physicality of the Pacers versus the speed and finesse of the Hawks.
A season ago, Pacers starting center Roy Hibbert posted career-highs of 12.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, two blocks on 49.7 percent from the field. This season he is scoring just 11.9 points with 8.3 boards and blocking 2.6 shots per game.
He must play a whole lot better in this series as compared to the regular season where he averaged just 9.5 points, 7.3 rebounds on 46.2 percent against the Hawks.
Starting forward David West has led the Pacers with 21.3 points against the Hawks this season. He must average more than 5.7 boards, which he did against the Hawks this season. He must grab at least the 7.7 that he did during the regular season.
For the Hawks, the tandem of Smith and starting center Al Horford must play well if the Hawks are going to compete in this series.
Smith cannot put up 13.3 points and six boards like he did against the Pacers in the four matchups if the Hawks are going to have a chance.
Horford led the Hawks in scoring against the Pacers this season averaging 16.0 points per contest. Overall the former Florida Gator averaged 17.4 points and 10.2 rebounds on a team leading 54.3 percent from the floor during the regular season.
Another big match-up is at the lead guard spot between the Pacers George Hill and the Hawks Jeff Teague.
While Hill (14.2 ppg, 4.7 apg, 44.3 FG%, 36.8 3-Pt.%) is the steady calm that runs the Pacers offense, which at times can be shaky.
Teague in his third season out of Wake Forest has had a career-year averaging 14.6 points, 7.2 assists, 1.5 steals on 45.1 percent from the floor. The question is can he take his game to another level in the postseason?
A big X-factor that may swing this series one way or the other is the role players for both teams.
Will it be guard Lance Stephenson (8.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg), forward Tyler Hansbrough (7.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and center Ian Mahinmi (5.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg) that will make the difference or will it be Devin Harris (9.9 ppg), forward/guard Kyle Korver (10.9 ppg, 46.1 FG%, 45.7 3-Pt.%) or forward Ivan Johnson (6.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg)?
Prediction: Pacers in five games.
(4) Brooklyn Nets (49-33) versus (5) Chicago Bulls (45-37): Bulls won three of the four regular season meetings.
When this season began, one team was moving into a new town and new arena bringing with them a great deal of expectations, while the other team outside of their confines had the lowest of expectations.
The Brooklyn Nets after so many season of playing in the swamps of New Jersey moved to the fancy state of the art Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
In the off-season, they re-signed lead guard Deron Williams (18.9 ppg, 7.7 apg). They acquired guard Joe Johnson (16.3 ppg) from the Hawks, re-signed starting center Brook Lopez (19.4 ppg-leads team, 6.9 rpg) as well as starting small forward Gerald Wallace (7.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and back-up forward Kris Humphries.
In free agency, the team signed center Andray Blatche (10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg), forward Reggie Evans (4.5 ppg, 11.1 rpg) and guard C.J. Watson.
They began this season like gang busters with an 11-4 record and then head coach Avery Johnson was named NBA Head Coach of the Month for November 2012.
They suffered 10 losses in 13 games in the December and Johnson was gone and he was replaced by assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo.
The Nets proceeded to win nine of their next 10 under their interim head coach, which included a seven-game winning streak. They finished the season 35-19 and claimed home court advantage in the first round.
Their 49 victories are their most since 2005-06 as well as their first playoff appearance since 2006-07 where they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Semifinals 4-2.
A big reason for the Nets resurgence especially after the all-star break is the play of Williams, who had been suffering from wrist and ankle problems.
After the break, Williams averaged 22.9 ppg, eight assists on 48 percent from the floor and 42 percent from three-point land.
Then there's the Chicago Bulls, who seemed poised a season ago to challenge the Heat for the East crown. Those dreams went down the drain in Game 1 of the Quarterfinals against the Philadelphia 76ers when 2011 MVP Derrick Rose suffered a torn ACL.
Aside from a few work out sessions before games and speculations behind the scenes, Rose has not been on the court this season. There has been no timetable for his return, contrary to the prior timetable for his return in late February or March.
Rose's injury has not been the only problem for the boys from the "Windy City." Head coach Tom Thibodeau's team has used 15 different starting lineups this season and they had 126 games missed due to injury between forwards Luol Deng (16.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Carlos Boozer (16.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and Taj Gibson (8.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg) centers Joakim Noah (11.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.1 bpg) and Nazr Mohammed, guards Richard "Rip" Hamilton (9.8 ppg), Marco Bellineli (9.6 ppg) and Kirk Hinrich (7.7 ppg, 5.2 apg).
This is a series that will come down to the play of Williams versus the Bulls point guards by committee. The starting centers for the two teams Noah and Lopez and which team can manage enough consistent offense to win.
The Nets, who averaged 96.9 points per contest, 17th NBA managed just 87.5 points in the four regular season meetings against the Bulls. They shot just 45 percent from the floor, scored just 40.5 points in the paint and turn the ball over on average 18.3 times.
Their lone victory over the Bulls came on Feb. 1 at Barclays Center 93-89. The Nets shot 52 percent from the floor and out-rebounded Chicago 40-29. Lopez had a game-high 20 points.
The Nets held on to the victory that night by outscoring the Bulls 30-22 in the fourth quarter after getting outscored 28-17 and 25-22 in the middle two quarters respectably.
In their Apr. 4 contest versus the Bulls, the Nets got off to a great start leading 26-13 after the first period. The Nets won each of the next three quarters, 23-21, 29-20 and 27-23 and they held on for a 92-90 win.
The Bulls were led by the 29 points and 18 boards from Boozer. Williams had a game-high 30 points to go along with 10 assists. Lopez had 28 points, but he committed a costly turnover and had two key misses in the closing moments that doomed the Nets.
This series can be classified as a knock out, drag out, get after it, take no prisoners.
These are two of the top rebounding teams in the business with the Bulls ranking 10th at 42.8 a game and the Nets rank 8th at 43.2. When it comes to points allowed, the Nets are 3rd giving up just 92.9 per contest (3rd NBA) and the Bulls surrender just 95.1 points a game (6th NBA).
While the Nets opposition shoots better from the floor at 46.4 percent (22nd NBA) Bulls' opponents hit just 44.3 percent of their shots (8th NBA).
Conventional wisdom says the Nets should win this series, but for both teams, this season has not been conventional. The Bulls have a chance above all else, their ability to win on the road, where they were 21-20 away from the United Center.
Prediction: Nets in seven games.
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder (60-22) versus (8) Houston Rockets (45-37): Thunder won two of the three regular season meetings
In the NBA, sometimes just one single move can change the fortunes of one team.
That is what happened before the start of this season when guard James Harden was traded from the Thunder to the Rockets for guard Kevin Martin.
Harden (25.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.8 apg), who became a first time all-star this season, turned the Rockets from a questionable team into a playoff team.
This will be the team's first playoff appearance in four seasons.
Harden along with the signings of new backcourt mate Jeremy Lin (13.4 ppg, 6.1 apg, 1.6 spg), starting center Omer Asik (10.1 ppg, 11.7 rpg-3rd NBA), swingman Carlos Delfino (10.6 ppg, 37.5 3-Pt.%) and starting small forward Chandler Parsons (15.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg 48.6 FG%, 38.5 3-Pt.%) are the reasons the Rockets ranked 2nd in the league in scoring at 106.0 per game, 6th in assists at 23.2, 9th in field goal percentage at 46.1 percent and tied for 8th in three-point percentage at 36.6 percent, making 106 per contest, ranking second only to the Knicks.
As good as they are at the offensive end they are that bad at the defensive end. While they rank 7th in rebounding at 43.4 caroms per game, they are 28th in points allowed at 102.5, tied for 15th in field goal percentage allowed at 45.4, 24th in block shots per contest at 4.4 and they turn the ball over 16.4 times per game, dead last in the NBA.
That is not the recipe to defeat the Thunder, who averaged 121 points per game in the three regular season meetings.
Kevin Durant, the NBA's second leading scorer at 28.1 a game averaged 26.3, seven boards on 47.2 from the floor and 40 percent from three-point territory.
To put Durant's season in perspective, he is just the second player in NBA history to average 28 points on 50-plus percent from the floor, 40-plus percent from three-point range and 90-plus percent from the free-throw line. Durant averaged the aforementioned 28.1 points per game, 7.9 boards, and 4.6 assists on 51.0 percent from the floor, 41.6 percent from three-point land and 90.5 percent from the charity stripe. Hall of Famer of the Boston Celtics Larry Bird is the only other player to accomplish that and he did it in 1986-87 (28.1 ppg, 52.5 FG%, 40.0 3-Pt.%, 91.0 FT%) and 1987-88 (29.9 ppg, 52.7 FG%, 41.4 3-Pt.%, 91.6 FT%).
His all-star running mate guard Russell Westbrook has been spectacular himself this season against the Rockets averaging 23.3 points, 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds on 43.9 percent shooting.
The first two games of the season series went to the Thunder by wide margins of 120-98 on Nov. 28, 2012 and 124-94 on Dec. 29, 2012 at the Thunder.
The third match-up at Houston's Toyota Center on Feb. 20, the Rockets rose up as Harden, who averaged 29.3 points against his former team during the regular season had a career-high of 46 points on 14 for 19 shooting, including 7 for 8 from three-point range and 11 for 12 from the free-throw line as the Rockets won 122-119.
Lin had 29 points in that contest to go along with seven assists, six boards on 12 for 22 from the field. Parsons had 17 points.
While this series features two of the highest scoring teams in the business, the Thunder are the more efficient team scoring 105.7 points a game (3rd NBA). They rebound the ball slightly better at 43.6 (6th NBA) and they take care of business at the defensive end surrendering just 96.5 points per game (9th NBA). They lead the league in points off turnovers at 18.1 and in fast break points at 16.7.
Prediction: Thunder in five games.
(2) San Antonio Spurs (58-24) versus (7) Los Angeles Lakers (45-37): Spurs won two of the three regular season meetings.
When this season began, many had these two teams in the top three in the West, especially with the talent on both sides and their past history in the last 15 seasons meeting in the playoffs at some point in the Semis or the Conference Finals.
The Spurs have lived up to their high expectations finishing second in the West standings.
The "Big 3" of forward Tim Duncan (17.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg-leads team, 2.7 bpg-leads team), guard Tony Parker (20.3 ppg-leads team, 7.6 apg-leads team, 52.3 FG%) and Manu Ginobili (11.8 ppg, 4.6 apg) were once again at the top of their games coming into the postseason hoping to guide the Spurs to their fifth title in franchise history.
The team has been leaking oil as this season concluded dropping three straight contests, seven setbacks in their last 10 games and a 12-10 finish to their season, which included seven consecutive losses on the road.
A lot of that has to do with the injuries to Parker, who has battled ankle injury that he suffered on Mar. 1 and Ginobili, who returned in the season finale versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Apr. 17.
The Spurs will begin the playoffs without back-up forward/center Boris Diaw who had back surgery to remove a cyst in his spine and they waived swingman Stephen Jackson and signed in his place veteran swingman Tracy McGrady.
As for the Spurs opponent the Lakers, they have had so many twists and turns this season that it would have made for a great television soap opera.
At one point this season, the team was seven games under .500 (18-25) and on the outside of the playoffs picture.
The starting five of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace and Pau Gasol have missed a combined 82 games this season because of injury. Even key reserves Steve Blake and Jordan Hill have missed 90 games because of injury.
What made matters even worse is that two weeks ago versus the Golden State Warriors, Bryant who had a stellar game with 34 points, injured his foot late in the fourth quarter of the 118-116 win.
It was revealed the next day that the NBA's third leading scorer at 27.3 per game ruptured his left Achilles.
He is lost for the rest of the season and maybe for the start of next season. There is question of whether he could come back from this, however if there is anyone that can though it is him.
Going forward, if the Lakers have any chance of competing in this series with the Spurs, the front court tandem of Howard and Gasol must play great.
How is that possible you say considering they both have had subpar seasons to this point.
In their third and final meeting against the Spurs on Apr. 14, Howard, who was second in the NBA in double-doubles (points and rebounds) with 48 had 26 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks in the 91-86 victory. Gasol, who had just seven points on 3 for 17 shooting, did have 16 rebounds and three blocks.
In the regular season finale versus the Rockets on Apr. 17, Gasol had his seventh career triple-double of 17 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists to go along with two blocks in the 99-95 overtime win. Howard had 16 points, 18 boards, three steals and four blocks.
Blake led the way with 24 points, seven boards and seven assists. Forward Antawn Jamison had 16 off the bench and World Peace added 12.
If Howard (17.1 ppg, 12.4 rpg-led NBA, 2.5 bpg) and Gasol (13.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 46.6 FG%) can play to the level they have to close the regular season the Lakers have a chance.
Having Nash contribute like we have seen the two-time MVP do for a great deal of his career would increase the Lakers chances.
If the Spurs play to the level we have become accustomed to seeing them play, it will be that much harder for the Lakers.
Prediction: Spurs in six games
(3) Denver Nuggets (57-25) versus (6) Golden State Warriors (47-35): Nuggets won three of the four regular season meetings.
Fast, explosive, potent are the words that describe the offenses of the two teams in this first round match-up.
The Nuggets, who led the NBA at 106.1 points per game, are 5th in field goal percentage at 47.8 and third in assists at 24.4.
Their offensive attack is predicated on scoring in the paint which they lead the league at 58 points per contest, getting second chance points on offensive rebounds, scoring in the open court as well as balance scoring.
Nine players during the regular season averaged between eight and 16.7 points per contest.
In the season series against the Warriors, the Nuggets had a plus differential at the foul line.
The Warriors, who are 7trh in the league in scoring at 101.2 per game, rank 11 in the league in field goal percentage at 45.8 and 15th in assists at 22.5.
Their offense is perimeter oriented where they are No. 1 in the NBA in three-point percentage at 40.3 percent and are 8th in makes at eight per contest.
How potent is the Warriors three-point attack? Starting point guard Stephen Curry (22.9 ppg, 6.9 apg, 1.6 steals-all lead team) made an NBA regular season record 272 threes, breaking Heat guard Ray Allen's record of 269 treys that he made back in 2005-06 as a member of the then Seattle Supersonics.
For both of these teams, this destination of this postseason represents a journey that began two seasons ago.
The Nuggets back then made the difficult decision to trade all-star forward Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks and in return received forward Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mosgov and Raymond Felton, who is back now with the Knicks.
In the playoffs that season, they lost in the first round to the Western Conference runner-up the Thunder in five games.
The next season, the Nuggets on 38 games in the condensed 66-game campaign and lost to the Lakers in the first round in seven games.
In that season, they traded starting center Nene to the Wizards in exchange for center JaVale McGee. They also drafted in the summer forward Kenneth Faried, out of Morehead State (11.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg-leads team, 55.2 FG%) The 22nd pick of the 2011 draft has been a jewel for them in his first two seasons.
This past off-season, the Nuggets added another key piece in acquiring in a three-team deal swingman Andre Iguodala (13.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.7 spg-leads team), who led the team in scoring against the Warriors this regular season at 20 in the four games.
For the Warriors, their rise to making their first playoff appearance since 2007 began with the hire of former NBA on ESPN/ABC & Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network Nets analyst and 17-year veteran point guard Mark Jackson as head coach on June 16, 2011.
Last season, the Warriors traded one of their most popular players in guard Monta Ellis to the Bucks for Andrew Bogut, who missed the rest of that season because of injury.
The traded rose Curry and forward David Lee and forward David Lee to the role as team co-captains and increased the role of the 11th overall pick of the draft that off-season in guard Klay Thompson out of Washington State University.
This past off-season, the Warriors acquired guard Jarrett Jack from the New Orleans Hornets and he has been solid off the bench this season. The Sixth Man of the Year candidate averaged 12.9 points, 5.6 assists on 45.2 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three-point range.
On Aug. 1 the team signed forward Carl Landry (10.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg). In the draft they selected with the 7th overall pick forward Harrison Barnes (9.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg) out of North Carolina, center Festus Ezeli out of Vanderbilt University and forward Draymond Green out of Michigan State with the 35th pick.
Behind a career season from Curry, who is finally healthy, the consistency of Lee (18.5 ppg, 11.2 rpg-5th NBA), who led the NBA with 56 double-doubles (points and rebounds) in the regular season, steady progression from Thompson (16.6 ppg. 40.1 3-Pt.%), who made 211 three-pointers in the regular season, the Warriors clearly have a bright future in front of them.
As far as the present, mainly this first round series, the one team that will step to the fore front on the defensive end will give themselves the best chance of advancing.
The Warriors, while they are tied for second in the league in rebounding this season at 45.0 per game, they are 19th in points allowed at 100.3. The Nuggets who are tied with their first round opponent in rebounds per game surrender 101.1 points per contest, which is 23rd in the NBA.
The other key is the health of both teams.
The Nuggets lost their second leading scorer and their top marksman from three-point range in Gallinari (16.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 37.3 3-Pt.%), to a torn left ACL back on Apr. 4 versus the Dallas Mavericks. The team may also not have Faried for Game 1 of this series because of a sprained ankle he sustained in a 118-109 victory on Apr. 14 versus the Portland Trail Blazers.
That would be a big loss considering he averaged 11.5 points and 11.3 rebounds on 48.7 from the floor in the four games against the Warriors in the regular season.
For the Warriors, they hope that Bogut, who played just 32 games this season because of injury, can be a defensive presence in the paint. He managed to play 17 minutes in season finale on Apr. 17 at the Trail Blazers.
The other key factor in this series is the home record of the Nuggets, who coming into this series won 23 times at the Pepsi Center, a franchise NBA/ABA record. They are an NBA best 38-3 on their home court this season. The Warriors went 28-13 at ORACLE Arena. Both teams went 19-22 on the road in the regular season.
Prediction: Nuggets in seven.
(4) Los Angeles Clippers (56-26) versus the (5) Memphis Grizzlies (56-26): Clippers won three of the four regular season meetings.
They finished with the same record in the regular season going 32-9 on their respective home courts and 24-17 on the road, with each setting new franchise records for road victories.
The Clippers won one more game in conference going 35-17, while the Grizzlies went 34-18 versus the West.
They each had strong finishes to the regular season as the Clippers won their final seven games while the Grizzlies won eight of their final 10 games, which includes two straight wins.
The reason the Clippers will open this series at the Staples Center is because back on Apr. 13 they won at the Grizzlies 91-87 winning the season series and clinching the No. 4 Seed and home court in this playoff match-up.
When the Clippers take the court in Game 1 of this series at the Staples Center, it will be just the second time in franchise history they will begin with home court advantage.
A big reason why the Clippers have confidence going up against Memphis is that they defeated them in seven games a season ago. They stole home court of the first round series a year ago by coming back from a 27-point deficit in the second half to capture a 99-98 win. They also won Game 7 at the FedEx Forum to win the series 4-3.
The Clippers also enter these playoffs with the understanding that their season has just begun. Yes they won a franchise record 56 games in the regular season. Yes they captured their first Pacific Division title in franchise history. Yes they swept their inter town rivals the Lakers 4-0 this season and the games were not even close. They know that their season will be judged by what they do in this series and beyond if they advanced.
They will go as far as their dynamic all-star duo of guard Chris Paul (16.9 ppg, 9.7 apg-2nd NBA, 2.4 spg-leads NBA) and forward Blake Griffin (18.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg-leads team) can take them.
Paul in the regular season against the Grizzlies dominated his lead guard counterpart Mike Conley averaging 16.3 points, 8.7 assists, 2.3 steals on 47.2 percent from the field. Conley averaged only 10.3 points and 5.8 assists, which is far below his season averages of 14.6 and 6.1 assists per game.
At power forward spot, Griffin had a tough time in the season series against the Grizzlies scoring just 13 points and grabbing seven boards on 44.4 percent from the floor. His counterpart Zach Randolph (15.4 ppg, 11.2 rpg-4th NBA, 46.0 FG%), who is healthy entering the postseason this time from a year ago averaged 14.8 points, 12.3 rebounds against the Clippers during the regular season. If the Grizzlies are going to win this series though, he cannot shoot 37.3 percent from the field, which he did against the Clippers in the regular season.
In a series that features two of the top defensive teams in the business, this series could come down to a number of X-factors.
For the Clippers can guard Chauncey Billups, who played in just 21 games this season because of injuries, return to the form that helped the Detroit Pistons and the Nuggets reach the Conference Finals for seven straight seasons combined when he played for those teams?
Will starting center DeAndre Jordan, who had career-highs of 8.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg and field goal percentage of 64.3 percent, which led the league, be a presence on in the paint on both ends or just a spectator?
If he is a spectator, Defensive Player of the Year candidate, younger brother of Pau Gasol and starting center Marc Gasol (14.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.7 bpg-leads team) of the Grizzlies will have a field day. Against the Clippers in the regular season, he averaged 16.8 points.
The other factor is the bench of the Clippers. Can Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jamal Crawford (16.5 ppg, 43.8 FG%, 37.6 3-Pt%) rise to the occasion along with swingman Matt Barnes (10.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 46.2 FG%, 34.2 3-Pt.%), forwards Caron Butler (10.4 ppg, 38.3 3-Pt.%), Lamar Odom (4.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Grant Hill and guards Eric Bledsoe (8.5 ppg) and Willie Green (6.3 ppg).
The Clippers reserves this season led the league in minutes, steals and blocks. They were second in rebounds, fourth in points and fourth in assists.
For the Grizzlies the question is can they generate enough offense for a consistent period in each game to capture this series?
In the four games against the Clippers in the regular season, they averaged just 87 points on 40 percent from the field. Conley, who shot 44 percent this season, shot just 30.2 percent from the floor and just 29.4 percent from three-point range against the Clippers.
In terms of perimeter shooting that will be left up to forward Tayshaun Prince (8.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and guards Jerryd Bayless (8.7 ppg, 35.3 3-Pt.%) and Keyon Dooling, who they signed before the postseason.
On the season, the Grizzlies averaged just 93.2 points (T-28th NBA). They were 21st in shooting from the floor at 44.4 percent and 24th in three-point percentage at 34.5 percent.
The Clippers have one of the most efficient offenses in the business averaging 101.1 points (T-9th NBA) on 47.8 percent from the field (4th NBA).
What might be an Achilles for them in this series is that their three-point shooting is average at 35.8 percent, tied for 15th in the league and they are 27th in free throw shooting at 71.1 percent.
In 33 seasons of L.A. Clippers basketball, they have lost 70 games in a season once; 60 or more games four times (1987-88, 1994-95, 1999-00, 2008-09) and or more games 21 times. That is the kind of history that they are trying to put in their rear view mirror and a solid playoff run this season could do that.
For the Grizzlies, they had their coming out party two years ago when they took down, the mighty Spurs in the first round in six games. They lost in the Conference Semis to the West runner-up the Thunder in seven games.
Prior to this season, the Grizzlies won 50 games or more in the regular season just once. That happened nine seasons ago and they were swept by the Spurs in four games.
For one of these teams, they will have their promising season come to a close.
Prediction: Clippers in seven games.
Information and statistics are courtesy of www.nba.com; www.espnl.go.com/nba/statistics/teams; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_Nuggets; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Knicks; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Grizzlies;Sporting News 2006-07 Official NBA Guide.


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|Logo of the Home School Legal Defense Association. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The case of eight-year-old Domenic Johansson, separated from his family by Swedish authorities last year over his parents' decision to legally home school him, has prompted an international outcry from human rights groups, American home schooling organizations, and activists on the World Wide Web.
Last summer, armed police seized the boy from an airplane without a warrant just as the family was about to move to the mother's home country of India. Court documents show the original reason for taking Domenic was home schooling, which currently remains legal in Sweden.
Later, the court that upheld the government's decision cited some unfilled cavities the family was planning to treat in India, and the fact that the boy had not received all of his "recommended" vaccines, which are technically optional under Swedish law.
Domenic has been separated from his parents ever since - with one-hour supervised visits permitted every five weeks. He is being subjected to various "psychiatric treatments," which four separate sources independently described as "brainwashing." According to the boy's father, Christer Johansson, Domenic is not the same as before he was taken.
He had never in his life been sick, his Dad said - until he was seized by the government. Now, he has trouble remembering the names of his pets, family friends, and even his favorite hat. He's also very depressed.
The boy's mother, Annie, has been in shock since the day when police took her son. She barely gets out of bed and has been in the Emergency Room five times since then, according to Mr. Johansson.
"I'm still so shocked that I have trouble speaking about these things," Mr. Johansson told The New American in a telephone interview. "To go through this in 2010 is outrageous - unbelievable really."
He said the social services had been haranguing him for years about vaccines and kindergarten. "When I told them about home schooling and human rights, that's when they started to get really nasty," he said. Finally, the family decided to leave. But the government would not allow it. And now, the state is doing everything in its power to keep the family apart.
"They're trying to make us look bad at every court hearing, they're manipulating facts, and they're using socialist ideals saying that 'we don't believe this is good for Domenic, this is better for Domenic.' They're really breaking us down," Mr. Johansson said.
But the massive international outcry generated over this case has been a blessing, he added. "I thank God, actually, because without it, I don't think I would be alive today," he said, recounting the trauma of battling the government for his child while attempting to care for his wife.
"The support we have, I don't even have time to reply to all of the mail," he explained, adding that his allies come from literally all over the globe.
"There is nothing else that I think about except that we're going to get Domenic back," he said.
"Annie has proved that she's not going to continue to live unless Domenic comes back. We wanted to move from here because we don't like this country anymore, and Annie needs to see her family - she hasn't seen them in nine years … I won't accept anything else except that he's going to come back," Mr. Johansson said, noting that they would probably leave for India as soon as Domenic is returned. "This is kidnapping, actually - if you don't have any good reasons to take a child, it's kidnapping."
And international allies of the family agree - it's state-sponsored kidnapping. The case has attracted a firestorm of international criticism, and some very heavy hitters have joined the family's fight.
"We got involved because the home-schooling issue was implicated here and this was just such an outrageous violation of the family's rights," explained Michael Donnelly, the director for international relations and a staff attorney with the U.S.-based non-profit Home School Legal Defense Association.
In an interview with The New American, he explained that his organization has done a lot of work publicizing the case. They have also been in contact with Swedish officials, and are researching various options to move forward with a legal strategy.
"This case is so egregious … the way the social services in Gotland have treated this poor family is so shocking to the conscience of any human being," Donnelly said.
"[The government employees] just don't want to admit that they were wrong. If they return the boy they'd have to admit that they did a terrible, terrible thing - a terrible thing." But despite the reluctance of social workers to acknowledge their mistake, "we hold out hope that justice will be done," Donnelly added.
To read further, go to: http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/education/item/204-state-%E2%80%98kidnapping%E2%80%99-of-swedish-home-schooler-prompts-international-outcry

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Clipped From The News Journal
Nellie G. (Miller) Cave Age 96, a resident of Windsor Place, Hockessin, DE, passed on into heaven on October 10, 2010. Nellie was born on a farm in southern West Virginia, but spent her adult life in Wilmington, DE. She was a homemaker and also a babysitter for the children of many women's organizations during the 1970's. Nellie enjoyed gardening, especially house plants, and attending Community Fellowship Church in Brook-land Terrace. Her husband, Isaac Lester Cave passed away in 1985. She is survived by her four children; Richard Lester (Loretta) of Henderson, TN, Vernon E. (Tish) of Newark, DE, Linda Darlene Steele (Frank), and Cheryl Ann Moyer (Dennis); 11 grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff at Windsor Place for the wonderful care Nellie received while she was a resident. A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 15, at 9:30 am at the MCCRERY MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 3710 Kirkwood Highway at Duncan Road where friends may call after 8:30 am. Interment will be in Gracelawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Community Fellowship Church, 200 Armstrong Ave., Wilm., DE 19805. To send condolences please visit: www.mccrery-funeralhome.com. ,


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Vegetable Biryani
340g/12oz/1½ cups basmati rice
50g/2oz ghee or oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp grated fresh root ginger
1 tbsp black mustard seeds
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp hot curry paste
2 carrots, thinly sliced
225g/8oz green beans, trimmed
225g/8oz cauliflower florets
125g/4oz shelled fresh peas
juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp roasted cashew nuts
1 Cook the rice according to the pack instructions.
2 Meanwhile, heat the ghee or oil in a large pan and cook the onion, ginger, mustard seeds and garlic over a low heat for 5 minutes until softened. Add the curry paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
3 Add 600ml/1 pint/2½ cups water and season with salt and pepper. Stir well and bring to the boil. Add the carrots and beans, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
4 Add the cauliflower and peas and simmer for 10 minutes. Fold in the rice gently and heat through.
5 Stir in the lemon juice and simmer gently for a few minutes. Serve immediately sprinkled with roasted cashew nuts.


text:
From Comment to Column
I haven't watched MSNBC in awhile. I used to watch Chris Matthews but quickly grew tired of his wretched ignorance and stumbling, bumbling question style. I guess I excuse MSNBC this way: it's a counter weight to Fox. I'm sure you'd say the opposite: Fox is a counter weight to MSNBC! So it goes.
The way I look at the debate over the media is this: people who bother to watch the news, any news, these days, let alone actually read a physical newspaper or news website, are not mindless automatons being programmed for despair and defeatism by a pessimistic media. People who follow the news these days can think for themselves and decide for themselves what is fair and right
and accurate.
I am always astonished how Conservatives like Limbaugh and Hannity complain about us liberals and our supposed condescension to the American public. It seems far more condescending, to me, to assume that people who follow the news in a free, open society are so mindless that they can be easily controlled and manipulated by the media. On the contrary, I'd say. I know that mindless person isn't you, or me, or your readers or anyone else I know who is informed of the day's events. So who is he/she? I think that person is a straw man.
My response to the above "straw man" concept is that a person who is getting news from many sources is probably, as he said, not being manipulated by the media. However, if I'm a one source person, either left or right, I may well be. The example I used was the NY Times. If you read just them as your only newspaper, you would think that the public is disgusted by the GOP's corruption problem. However, if you read the Wall Street Journal also, you find out the public thinks both parties have a corruption issue.
What do you think about the media and it's influence?
Technorati Tags: politics and opinion, media


text:
Summer Season
Happy Swapping!
Click "here" to join
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." —Maya Angelou
Forgot to take a picture of the ones I sent; sorry. Can't wait to get mine!ReplyDelete
sent mine off cant wait to get mine as well
Yay, received my cards from Kayla today along with some beautiful ribbons! Don't know how to post the pictures here or I would.ReplyDelete
Glad you received your cards. I posted the picture you shared with me to my blog.Delete
how do i see the pic you posted
Hi Raine, Here is the link to view the pictures http://simplystefaniestuff.blogspot.com/2017/07/summer-card-swap.html
These are the only pictures that have been shared with me so far. I had 16 people participate in this event.
Where do I post pictures of the cards are received?ReplyDelete
Visit new swap page here: http://simplystefaniestuff.blogspot.com/2018/05/may-june-swap.htmlReplyDelete
Cook time 15 minutes. Yield: 4 Ingredients: 1 package corn tortillas 1 can pinto beans drained 1 cup Mexican blend cheese Toppings- salsa...


text: Breadcrumb Home > Dictionary Cite Meaning of Oudh Find definitions for: Oudh Pronunciation: (oud), [key] — n. a former part of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh in N India: now part of Uttar Pradesh. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. oud Oudtshoorn Related Content Daily Word Quiz: apparatchik Analogy of the Day: Today's Analogy Spelling Bee: Today's Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language


text: tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14387510024143628212018-07-11T13:47:39.389-04:00Going YardHome and gardening adventures on two tenths of an acre.icebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-64051614154804598242018-07-11T13:47:00.001-04:002018-07-11T13:47:39.263-04:00Hardly a garden.It has not been a great year so far. The weather has been amazing but I've been so busy. All I started for seeds were some ancho peppers, mangangi sweet peppers, some king of the north bell peppers and some mitoyo and shooting stars eggplants. Of course I did manage to get the tomatoes started too. But I was really bad at labeling so I only think I planted chocolate miracle, and sugar white of Heather Coxhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-10302726197149534782018-05-04T13:04:00.001-04:002018-05-04T17:07:12.024-04:00So long Stanley. Seven years of failing. Black knot, aphids, mold from aphid pee and other assorted associated trouble. Hardly any edible fruit to speak of. I think we got a few the first year, it was very good so I tried just about everything I could to limp this tree along but it is too susceptible and was a losing battle. I can hear Bea Arthur's voice as Dorothy saying good bye to Stanley. In Heather Coxhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-23505730616889110502017-05-09T17:56:00.001-04:002017-05-09T17:56:49.153-04:00Fort VeggieI got the metal fencing put up around the garden today. Hopefully round 2 of the plastic will be fine. Saw a woodchuck today while i was installing the fence. Got him 2 times with the pellet gun. He's big and his den hole is big, but i know where it is. Might be able to smoke him out. Still no pics because i have not had time to work out how i'll get a consistent method of synching and icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-34459707489268676482017-04-26T14:12:00.001-04:002017-04-26T14:12:45.195-04:00The Spring that hasn't.Yet. Well, no snow lately at least. Chilly and rainy almost constantly. Easter Sunday was gorgeous, it got to about 80 degrees and was bright but it hasn't happened since. Its almost worse than midwinter.icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-40212698264802419092017-04-10T22:14:00.000-04:002017-04-10T22:14:04.008-04:00Cleanup day Before After Still more to go but the plastic is in great shape for this experiment of not tilling this year.icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-362599446379657122017-04-09T21:42:00.001-04:002017-04-09T21:42:29.081-04:00List of started seeds and irritations with tech.I wanted to post some pics of current and recent things but i can't seem to get my blog - email - photo saving - phone gallery and etcetera to sync up. I've had this problem before and had found a workaround for it but that no longer .... works. So, yep. Gotta find something else to get through that. So annoying. I did get my dates and seed names to list here: On January 29, 2017 Peppers: icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-36584081348905822242017-04-03T14:25:00.000-04:002017-04-03T14:25:30.259-04:00Seeds 2017I'm already very disorganized this year. That is why i enjoyed blogging so much. It helped me stay organised by forcing myself to preserve my fragments and lay them out in some semblance of order. On some notebook that hopefully is still in the house but exact location is unknown... i wrote down the seeds i started... i think.... in February. It was mainly tomatoes and peppers. i'm not icebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-85982490185877668942017-04-01T20:41:00.001-04:002017-04-01T20:41:38.196-04:00Remembering (some of) last SummerIt was a really good summer for the garden. There were some pretty hot days here and there but not any unending heat waves. We were definitely on the dry side most of the season, the small area of lawn took it hard but having laid down soaker hose beneath the plastic mulch in the garden, watering was easy and efficient there. The combination of soaker hose and plastic sheeting was perfect. icebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-70709611858424709342017-01-30T14:05:00.001-05:002017-01-30T14:05:20.769-05:00*echo*I really can't believe how little i posted last summer. I stopped in here the other day to start making notes on plans for this year. I guess i thought i had written more since i posted some on Facebook and must have assumed that i had also shared the same here. So, i'll go through my FB and collect what i can and be back in a bit!icebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-8233843984852504572016-07-01T10:38:00.002-04:002016-07-01T10:38:55.795-04:00A month later Earlier this spring i bought a praying mantis ootheca and set it out near the garden to hatch. It took quite a few weeks to hatch and the tiny mantids were all out by the time i got home from work one day. There were 100's of them and we saw them around for a few days. I have not seen any since i took this picture. They may still be a number of them around but they are good hiders. I'll get icebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-49925850477302188642016-06-08T19:46:00.000-04:002016-06-08T19:46:47.050-04:00drive by postingbeen busy last few weeks re-cap fruit trees were attacked by aphids sprayed 'em got most veg plant in, okra, tomato, cukes sunflowers and leonotis also few days ago, planted beans a few of about 5 types of bush beans new to me: fava beans did throw in some yard longs the are all germinating now today i spent all day reclaiming the back part behind the shed what a mess! got my icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-11293288351383457662016-05-20T22:11:00.000-04:002016-05-20T22:11:08.148-04:00Last seeds started and planting has begunI had the 17th off so i got the mints, cukes, melons, sunflowers and other herbs started. I had two days off in a row earlier last week so i got the fencing started: Finished that today. I planted the Okra, hot and sweet peppers and many of the tomatoes. The larger Carmine Jewel cherry tree is doing well It was in full bloom today with at least 5 types of bees plunderingicebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-32692162407115420462016-05-13T00:04:00.000-04:002016-05-13T00:04:16.695-04:00All the good stuff, growing, budding, digging... Blueberries, still small after so many years Beach plum budding Blurry picture of Carmine Jewel buds (small child who dresses herself in the background). Carmine Jewel cherry again. It is growing and thriving! A few days later, blooming nicely! I planted some English peas in here about 10 days ago. They are coming along. My dad came over and tilled 5 icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-62122098570419768282016-05-06T21:33:00.001-04:002016-05-06T21:33:03.498-04:00Trees SprayedHad some luck a few weeks ago and picked up 4 one gallon pump sprayers at work for under $3 each- they normally go for at least $12 each at the absolute least. Now i have a sprayer for pretty much anything i need to use without having to thoroughly clean each before use. So, i have one (different one besides the 4 clearance deal sprayers) for the fung-o-nil, one for the bonide fruit spray, icebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-14897503662615664432016-04-28T22:52:00.000-04:002016-04-28T22:52:03.106-04:00This was unexpected...4-26-16 About 3 inches of snow. But it won't last long. I was feeling pretty ill that day and had to call out from work, which i really didn't want to do. I really didn't know it was snowing until that evening. Two days later it is 98% melted away. Some remains in the deeper shady parts of the treeline and against the dim sided of fences and shadows of houses. Today--- This icebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-50835883470062390182016-04-19T22:03:00.000-04:002016-04-19T22:03:10.857-04:00FrawgsLeopard frogs are out, they have been for a few days. The spring peepers have also been awake for about a week but we don't have any of the vernal pools they prefer close by enough to hear them from the house. Leopard frogs seem happy with the trickles in the gully across the way. Its nice to hear them. I've meant to try and get audio recordings of the peepers for a few years but haven't takenicebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-43145968354870560422016-04-13T15:16:00.000-04:002016-04-13T15:16:19.315-04:00Seeds of the dayTwo more flats done, mostly herbs: Zinger Hibiscus Holy Basil Cilantro Santolina Tomentosa (in plastic baggie chilling in the fridge) Henna herb (also chilling out in a baggie in the fridge) Bouquet Dill Rosemary Sweet Marjoram Curled Chervil Winter Savory Greek Oregano Green Shiso Red Shiso Lettuce Leaf Basil French Thyme Flat Leaf Parsley Garden Sage Strawberry Spinach Lunaria ("Money Plant, "icebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-11880897745531224712016-04-06T14:30:00.000-04:002016-04-06T14:30:52.046-04:00Started Seeds LogStarted the following Saturday, April 2: Toothache Plant (Spilanthus Acmella) -more on that later Nepitella herb Ancho hot pepper Lemongrass A few more Ghost Peppers so i can have some plants to share Shooting Star eggplant Black Beauty eggplant Martin's Carrot hot pepper Doorknob sweet pepper Catnip Today will be Tomato Day I just need to make my final choices on what types to plant and icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-37789878476460477442016-03-29T13:06:00.001-04:002016-03-29T13:06:17.016-04:00Year of the Eggplant?I forgot how many eggplant seeds i bought.First off, i bought "Meatball" online from Burpee earlier then at work i got "Shooting Stars" and "Black Beauty" i think i also ordered some "Black Beauty" from a coworker at my other job through a fundraiser at her kids' school - the fundraiser was with Fedco Seeds. I also ordered more of what i refer to as "pumpkin on a stick" eggplant seeds from icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-15199705648392263602016-03-08T20:17:00.002-05:002016-03-11T20:35:41.795-05:00Seed starting has begun.I started two varieties of okra, Clemson Spineless and another type with the words "early" and or "green" in the name. I already forgot. I also got most of the peppers started. 6 King of the North sweet 6 Ghost pepper - last of those seeds 3 Ancient Sweet- my last 3 seeds 6 A sweet pepper called Door Knob 6 a hot one called Martin's Carrot 6 Purple Marconi -sweet- also my last seeds And with theicebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-49233054517028806542016-03-06T15:35:00.002-05:002016-03-06T15:35:52.448-05:00Its almost that time of year againAnd based on this winter, i have no idea what to expect. It was an odd winter. From the hail storm last summer to now. There was no snow until after Christmas and before Christmas it was very warm. We had a few medium snow storms which were followed soon after by rain which melted it away, then more warm spells. We did have a cold snap or two which wasn't very kind to the plants where icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-87054158097735659182015-08-06T13:12:00.004-04:002015-08-06T13:12:54.579-04:00Been so busy and having a hard time remembering where i left off. Time seems to fly and i realise how much has gone by since my last entry. The cherries were just beginning to turn pink last time and things were looking ok, the woodchuck had only just started to cause trouble.... these first pics are from early July: This is how the cherries ended up. There weren't a lot for the first icebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-65416526220445516152015-07-13T10:16:00.000-04:002015-07-13T10:16:04.616-04:00 6-22-15 another post i forgot to finishThe grapes are being ridiculous, just showing off. The cherries are beginning to blush a bit. I'm going to have to come up with something to use to cover them before the birds notice. I just happened to notice this branch full of growing Sea berries. That was as far as i got blogging that day!icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-50147433661839304482015-06-24T10:31:00.001-04:002015-06-24T10:31:44.182-04:00War drums...Oh, yeah. The woodchuck is definitely back. Ate the rest of the soybeans and went for the daikon radishes. I'm not seeing damage on anything further. I have today and tomorrow off and its beautiful out except for the wind. Normally on nice days like this we spend pretty much the whole day outside. This will discourage raids on the garden. This evening when we go in i will reapply the hot icebearhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1438751002414362821.post-16984750106758191102015-06-20T20:42:00.000-04:002015-06-20T20:42:18.249-04:00Woodchuck, part 33 1/3Saw a woodchuck in the left side neighbor's backyard this morning before i headed off to work. It is a big one. I went and checked the garden. It ate all but 2 of my soybeans and nipped off 3 of my sunflowers. I got out the habanero pepper spray i made last summer and gave everything a light spritz. Arrived home after work this evening (after a few additional errands) and saw it (him? based on icebearhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com


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Very disappointing. My prayer had not been granted yet Allah gave me answers. Perhaps. I will never give up, praying so that Allah opens his heart. He, Mr R is still the same. He ruined one girl. Exception if that girl doesn't care at all. I don't know if he bluffed. If I believe the very 100%, I am fool. Those messages looked like sarcasm too. If he really made quiet a joke, stories he weaved really works but not on me.
This is a really serious matter. Confused enough either to get guilty, angry or sad. I repeat, he never change. Of course, it's been only one year. One year can't guarantee everything. The saddest thing is that he thinks I am like any other girls I hate most. That is, if you readers can understand but let it be just silent. No assumptions can guess the truth.
That ego...He never give it up. Always trying to accomplish his devious seductions. That girl he mentioned may be fool enough, but not me. (As if the girl really exists... Huh. What a 'joke'. I am still thinking he tried to make stories out of his rubbish mind).
Pasts keep reminding me to behave. I WAS DESPERATELY PATHETIC TO KNOW HIM. My regret.
Dear Mr R... GET A LIFE!
p/s: apalah dugaan nak sambut Eid ni... haihh


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Dear Spring 08 Students,
I really enjoyed Mrs. Rogers class. She is a great teacher and gives you the opportunity to express your knowledge and creativity in the things you will do in her class. She is very willing to work around everyone's schedule and even though things may seem tuff they can be really fun. The Website is a lot of hard work, but it pays off in the end. We did a Website for Habitat for Humanity and it really gave me a sense of accomplishment when we finished it. Even though my group did not win we still got to participate in the final design. The class is small and you really get to know the people in your class and that is always nice. Then, when you make your individual presentations you will not be so scared! Good luck in her class! Do your work and you will be fine! Have a great Spring Semester!
Your Fellow Student,
Anna Kalinovich
Friday, December 7, 2007
Hard Work Pays Off
Posted by Anna_K at 6:43 AM 1 comment:
Wow, I can not believe this semester is already over! I have learned so much this past semester I really do not know how my brain retained all the information. I got into my major classes this semester and realized finance was not for me! I changed my major to business management. I went to the career center and took the discover test and it let me in the direction of management. Hopefully, i will enjoy it better. I have three finals to go and I am ready to dominate. It is a must that I pass all of my finals! I currently recieve the lifescholarship and I have to maintain a 3.0, therefore, I have to pass all my classes. Out of all my classes, I really did enjoy my English 304 class the best, not only have I done the best in the class , but we learned how to build a website! That was soo cool, and not only did we just build a Website but we are helping people. I felt good about finishing the Website. Overall, I am glad that this semester is over and I can not wait for Christmas break! I love Christmas it is a nice time to spend with family and regain my brain power haha! I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas! God bless!
Posted by Anna_K at 6:33 AM No comments:
Monday, November 12, 2007
They call it the "plays well with others" factor.
After reading the article "Employees Study Applicants Personalities," I almost thought it was a joke. I did not think you could give tests that can discriminate against individuals in the workforce. I feel that the companies that are giving these personality tests are missing out on the ablility that these "bad" people have. Sometimes we have bad days. For example, If I was in a rush heading to my interview and got caught in traffic. It could possiblly affect my personality for that interview but it still does not change my skills that I have. So, I do not believe that these companies should give out personality test because they may miss out on something or someone great!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
I was pretty nervous about going into the mock interview. I have an interest in becoming a real estate agent, but I have not currently been involved with much real estate. I hope that this summer I can get an internship within a real estate company. Even though I was nervous I feel that the interview went very well. I believe I came across pretty confident and willing to the job. The interview was not very long, but I have been in a real interview that only took a few minutes. This was interesting to me because I would have always assumed that most interviews would take a long time. Overall, I learned a lot about interviews. I need to dress appropriately, be on time, and have all my materials. I am glad that we had a mock interview, I believe it will prepare me better for future interviews!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
I am really excited about this weekend. Not only is there a football game on Saturday but my mom and I are going shopping! I am a shopaholic. It is one of my favorite things to do and I would definitely call it a hobby. It will be nice to spend a day with my mom, too. We do not get to see each other that much because I have been so busy with school. It will be nice bonding time and time to catch up with each others lives. We are going jean shopping. I usually buy my jeans at Buckle in the greenville mall, but I talked my mom into going to some cute boutiques around this area. Jeans at boutiques are usually more expensive so I probably wont be able to get very many if any at all, but it will enjoy shopping in different shops. I have worked hard and lost ten pounds this summer. I am almost back to my highschool weight and I am very excited to drop a size in my jeans. I guess it is a girl thing. Overall, this weekend is going to be busy and fun. I think it will be a nice break to get my mind off of school.
Posted by Anna_K at 11:26 AM No comments:
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
I really enjoyed the last two classes. I feel like I got to know my class mates a lot better. All of the presentations were great, but I really enjoyed Megan's presentation on colors and how they affect your mood. I found it very interesting that red makes you hungry and blue has the opposite effect. I felt that her slides were well designed and flowed well with her presentation. I liked that she used examples to back up her slides such as all the food signs being in red. She also seemed to know a lot about colors and the presentation was well prepared. Even though I do not know that much about colors I felt that her presentation related to me. I realized that there were no natural blue foods and that orange is a good color to have my room painted. This presentation kept my attention the whole time. I think Megan did a great job and I hope everyone likes my presentation as much as I enjoyed hers.
Posted by Anna_K at 12:45 PM 1 comment:
Sunday, October 7, 2007
What a week!
This week has been so crazy! I have had several tests and it is extremely frustrating when you do not feel like you are prepared for any of them! It is about mid way through the semester and it is crunch time! It is like now or never. I am finally in my actual finance classes and have begun to realize how hard finance actually is. I guess thats why they say "If college was easy... everyone would do it". I was trying to recoup this weekend and enjoy the football game, but then we lost. It just pretty much sums up on how my week went. It probably should have been expected. I am hoping that I can pull myself together for this week. I am looking forward to the end of the month. Halloween is right around the corner as well as my birthday. My 21st birthday none the less. So hopefully things will be looking up from here.
Posted by Anna_K at 8:48 PM No comments:
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text: So I have a JPN 3DS on 9.1 I have downloaded the Alpha Sapphire CIA. However when I boot it it boots in Japanese (which is to be expected) Is there anyway to change that so instead of it playing in Japanese it can play in English? The CIA is region free and I know it supports the English language.


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You should be able to retrieve at least portions of the document, if not the entire thing, if you take time to carefully identify what's causing the problems and using these You can repair it by a repair install of MS Office from the CD, but it's easier to follow the normal procedure for re-doing a file association. Of course, a clean reinstall of Windows will help, but if you know the problem there might be a less radical way. Kees Flag Permalink This was helpful (0) Collapse - If you are still interested... More about the author
by Kees Bakker / February 25, 2006 6:50 AM PST In reply to: How much clearer can I make it nor do you report on the success (or failure) of everything by Kees Bakker / February 24, 2006 3:35 AM PST In reply to: Asscociation is fine there's no harm at all in refreshing it, in one of the two ways I SHOW ME NOW CNET © CBS Interactive Inc. / All Rights Reserved. The Editing Action dialog box.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rSai1qgOfI 20_2_Many, Sep 2, 2013 #3 howardbarnes Thread Starter Joined: May 5, 2013 Messages: 5 Unfortunately it did not change the situation. But to recover information from a Word document that doesn't open, follow these steps.Why the doc might not openIn a networked environment, documents may fail to open due to permission problems Advertisement howardbarnes Thread Starter Joined: May 5, 2013 Messages: 5 I am using office 2007.
Kees Flag Permalink This was helpful (0) Back to Office & Productivity Software forum 44 total posts (Page 1 of 2) 01 02 Next Popular Forums icon Computer Help 51,912 discussions Tell exactly what happens: what program starts, what message does it give? more hot questions question feed about us tour help blog chat data legal privacy policy work here advertising info mobile contact us feedback Technology Life / Arts Culture / Recreation Science Word Documents Won't Open When Double Clicked When the Open dialog box appears, select the troublesome Word document.
When the Insert File dialog box opens, select the troublesome Word document and click OK. Word Document Will Not Open When Double Clicked All functions were working ok. Kees Flag Permalink This was helpful (0) Collapse - And ... Select the first link and click Change Source.
In fact, there is probably a lot of very important corporate information tied up inside Word documents in your organization. Cannot Open Word Document Because There Are Problems With Content I don't really know how much clearer I can make it. Went to the Office10 folder (to make life easier) and had a document named test with space.doc in the root folder.winword /n "test with space.doc" was accepted and opened the documentwinword I have to second Bill Smith's question.
Proffitt Forum moderator / February 26, 2006 2:44 AM PST In reply to: File types Since there is no open action or the open action is not in bold plus you Now when you say replace the action with %1. Can't Open Word Documents Windows 7 He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Can't Open Word Document Windows 10 Up to three images may be included in a comment.
Flag Permalink This was helpful (0) Collapse - Opps ! http://upxpress.net/word-document/word-can-t-open-file.php Discussion is locked Flag Permalink You are posting a reply to: Clilcking won't open Word document The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. Make sure you don't delete the wrong bit or you could wreck your machine. You can sometimes recover information in a Word document by inserting the file into another Word document. Microsoft Word Not Opening Files
If the member would supply the association's action on open and if the open is in bold, we may find what's up.Bob Flag Permalink This was helpful (0) Collapse - Action When you click OK, the information you copied from the first dummy document appears.After that, click Edit | Links. Thank you! 2013-04-24 16:30:25 Raymond However I have found this manual and it is working!! click site There might be something wrong with the workstation or the version of Word on the workstation.
Subscribe FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Double Click On .doc Opens Word But Not The Document Accept the default settings (only Restore My Shortcuts While Repairing is selected), then click OK. Created by Anand Khanse.
If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface. But it could also be that you don't quote the message as correctly as we like to see it done.Anyway, it brings me to the question if the document you try RECOMMENDED: Click here to browse anonymously, encrypt your connection & stay safe on the web Related Posts: History & Evolution Of Microsoft Office Software Microsoft Office 2013 | Office 365 editions Can't Open Word Document Windows 8 MORE FROM ALLEN Using an Input Mask When you are entering information in a worksheet, it sure would be handy to have a way to "mask" the information being...
Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted. Select the text and then click Edit | Copy.Next, create another dummy Word document. Tech Support Guy is completely free -- paid for by advertisers and donations. http://upxpress.net/word-document/word-will-not-open-docs-or-rtf.php I have been through all of these things, but since you seem to want to be pendantic...1. .doc2.
by R. To help protect your computer, files from these potentially unsafe locations are opened in Protected View. Scroll through the list of Registered File Types until you find the option for DOC files. If I knew what update was causing it, I'd update and delete the culprit.
By John Sheesley | July 14, 2003, 12:00 AM PST RSS Comments Facebook Linkedin Twitter More Email Print Reddit Delicious Digg Pinterest Stumbleupon Google Plus If there's one application that's used He can still open the documents using File | Open (within Word), but cannot double-click to open a document. OK. No, create an account now.
I had to get a new laptop and could only get Windows 8. I fixed it by right clicking on the file you want to open and going to properties. Up until a week ago, I could click, open and create, what happen? 2015-04-29 07:44:32 awyatt Ezeife: Anything with a ".exe" extension is going to be an executable program, not a Kees Flag Permalink This was helpful (0) Collapse - What I hav done by RobLee / February 24, 2006 5:23 AM PST In reply to: And even the association seems OK
Done5. by Kees Bakker / February 27, 2006 3:54 PM PST In reply to: And when you've got the action ... As a matter of fact, it's possible that a user created or modified the document using a non-Microsoft product in the first place; saving the file with a .doc extension that Join them; it only takes a minute: Sign up Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question Anybody can answer The best answers are voted up and rise to the


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Term Paper Proposal
Budget $10-30 USD
I need to write a term paper proposal - The proposal is simply a summary stating what topic it is I will be covering in my term paper and why.
I have attached below the description of the proposal, a few tips, and a sample proposal as a guide. Whoever writes this will have the possibility of writing the final term paper.
4 freelancere byder i gennemsnit $50 på dette job
A+ ACADEMIC WRITER HERE --------- Ready to start this work, expect HIGH QUALITY from me. Looking Forward......Thank you!
Can I send you my samples? No third parties involved. I deliver high quality work on time!!! please contact me to discuss more on the project, waiting for your kind response. Thank you...
VDear Sir/Maam, Kindly give an opportunity to work with you. I would like to extend my association with you in delivering your requirements. Being from a dynamic customer service and support background, i feel Flere


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Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Dear Noah:
Also...not sure what is going on with you...but you are going through a THROWING stage. EVERYTHING you want to pick up and throw or toss into the air and FILM it with the camera. OR KNOCK things over and film it. THEN when you get into trouble you FILM that and when you replay it and watch it you almost laugh! This is where more social skills would really help you out! Meanwhile, sounds, noises, tossing things into the air, jumping on the bed or pillows and falling down endlessly till your face turns red, filming filming and more filming, makes up most of your days! I LOVE YOU!
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Fridays are always more fun if there's a trip planned! The Friday(14th, Oct 2016) night started off by boarding a Volvo to Dehradun. We reached there at 5 in the morning and got our backpacks loaded in the minibus which would take us to the base village of Barsu. The drive from Dehradun to Barsu … Continue reading Dayara Bugyal-Part1
Dayara Bugyal-Part1


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From time to time somebody comes up with a message that says he/she has just discovered an ominous prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled.
Psalm 83 is one of the favorites used by Christian Zionists and other false prophets who want to portray modern day "Israel" as the nation being in danger.
The first mistake is the assumption that the present day state called Israel is occupied by the children of Israel (Jacob). The present day occupants calling themselves "Jews" are in fact not descendants of the Israelites but are Khazars who addopted the Judaic religion +- 740AD. They have in fact stolen the cloak of the children of Israel and is posing as Juda.
The rightful owners of the territory have been living in Palestine and Jordan for longer than the past two thousand years. They are the true seed of Shem and Abraham .
The second misconception is that the prophecy is unfulfilled. Nearly all Bible Scholars agree that 2Chronicles 20 describes the fulfillment of the prophecy during the time of Jehoshaphat.
The Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, invade Judah, 2Ch_20:1, 2Ch_20:2. Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast, and gathers the people together to seek the Lord, 2Ch_20:3, 2Ch_20:4.
See Jehoshaphat's prayer to God, 2Ch_20:5-12. Great and small, male and female, seek the Lord, 2Ch_20:13. Jahaziel (a prophet) delivers God's message to Jehoshaphat regarding the downfall of their enemies, 2Ch_20:14-17.
The king, the Levites, and the people take courage; praise and magnify God; and go forth to meet their enemies, 2Ch_20:18-21. The enemies are confounded, and destroy each other, 2Ch_20:22-24.
The men of Judah take the spoil, praise the Lord, and return with joy to Jerusalem, 2Ch_20:25-28.
The fear of the Lord falls upon all their enemies round about; and the land
has rest, 2Ch_20:29, 2Ch_20:30


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Isn't it embarrassing to mingle with the crowd if you knew that your hair doesn't look good at all? Our hair is one of the main assets that contribute loveliness to our physical appearance. Try to imagine yourself having a dull and dry hair, this makes you feel like a torment all your life, isn't it? So, maybe it's for make over!
To have a healthy and silky hair is surely your dream. Well, that's not a problem any longer –and take note: you do not need to spend a lot of cash to turn your hair the way you wish it to be. You can try egg treatment to revive the beauty of your hair. This has been proven and effective remedy that won't cost you much.


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I'm a big fan of PAYING IT FORWARD. I mean TRULY paying it forward! The kind of paying it forward when you help someone without expecting anything back!
Here are some tips from an AUTHOR'S point of view:
Go to your friend's novel and click the like button. The more 'likes' they have, the more visual they become for more readers to find them. Don't ask me how algorithms work...they just do.
If you have read their book and agree with their tags, go ahead and tag them too.
As a reader, you can create a LISTMANIA LIST. Add your favorite authors to it. This helps new readers find new authors, your friend's book! Be sure to TAG and LIKE books that you do like by your author friends.
Give your friends a shout-out or two on the day of their release and be sure to link to their book so it will be easy for your tweets to find.
On the day of your friend's release, be sure to give them a shout-out on your Facebook pages.
If your writer friends have blogs, be sure to follow their blog. It's always fun to share their blogs with their target audience.
Tell me, how do you pay it forward?


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I absolutely loved being a stay-at-home-mom. I know it's not for everyone, but it's always been a perfect fit for our family. I cherished those baby days and really enjoyed preschool drop- off and pick-up all within the two-hour time frame {who makes those times up anyway?}. As my children grew, I embraced and honored each minute of every season. I even cried on their first days of school, knowing that their time with me was becoming limited.
Too Much Alone Time
When my "baby" went to kindergarten I was at the school several times a week. I was volunteering, running copies, helping in the library and involved with the PTO. Not because I was concerned with my daughter, but because I felt so lost with a full day of "alone time" on my hands. Towards the end of the year, I found myself arriving at pick-up earlier and earlier, solely because I didn't know what to do with myself {and the endless list of chores didn't apply here}! When I looked in the mirror, the woman staring back said that she needed more. The word job crossed my mind more times than I can count, but my heart wasn't ready to take on anything else outside of our home. Of course, summer was approaching and negative thoughts pushed the idea of working away. I mean, who was going to watch three kids all summer?
To Work or Not to Work?
It was a time of self-reflection for me and I knew what I needed, but I was using excuse after excuse to not focus on myself. Getting a job sounded great…I would have projects, meet new people, and be responsible for something other than making lunches! But if I worked, who would watch my girls and would it be financially worth it? How would I still make dinner every night and drive the girls to activities each week? My husband works long hours so I could continue to make the sacrifice to stay home and take care of that "stuff". There were so many factors to figure out, it was overwhelming to think about.
But, I knew that I needed more personally. And, I knew that ultimately {gulp}, I could ask for help when I needed it.
Taking a Risk
I talked myself out of the guilt that I began feeling for
leaving {Um, hey brain, you're still their mom} my girls and let go of the reigns.
I'd been holding out for years to find SOMETHING for me. And when I finally started working, a void was being fulfilled.
I was feeling more confident each day, and having adult conversations frequently was an added bonus. Was it hectic some mornings? Yes. Was it worth it for my mental stability? Hell yes.
Perks of Being a Working Mom
After a little push back, my girls actually enjoy that mommy goes to work now. They see that I am helping provide for them and as cliche as it can sound, they're seeing that women are strong and can do whatever they put their mind to! They have also gained more independence resulting from me working. They love packing lunches and knowing that if they forget something at home, I'm not going to be able to run it up to them at school. Working outside of the home has also been great for my husband and I too. It has opened up yet another area of common ground and I finally understand how he feels when he tells me crazy work-related stories.
As my girls get older {read: more expensive}, I realize that there are many positives about me working that will impact my family. But overall, it's a great thing for me! One day my babies will be grown and I want a little something for myself too. I'm not suggesting that every stay-at-home-mom should return to work… But maybe I am just suggesting to always listen to yourself. If you are thinking about something and it's pulling at your heart, take action. Don't let those negative voices in your head tell you that you can't do it because you can! I have learned that one of the most important aspects of being a good mom is taking care of yourself first.


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Staff WriterEarlier this month, the White House announced that a new method involving no medication was being developed by the National Institute of Health as a way to treat HIV. Judged as safe for those afflicted, the technique involves isolating key cells in HIV patients, removing and genetically modifying them, before returning them to their host. The initial research was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases (NIAID - a part of the National Institutes of Health) while the first (Phase I) clinical trial for this new treatment plan was funded by Sangamo BioSciences. The trial was lead by NIAID grantee Carl. H June, M.D., as well as Bruce L. Levine, Ph.D. and Pablo Tebas, M.D.. All trial leaders are of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Of the 12 patients that took part, one was revealed to have lost all detectable traces of the HIV virus post-treatment. Per Carl H. June, M.D. (who also acted as senior author of the study): "This study shows that we can safely and effectively engineer an HIV patient's own T cells to mimic a naturally occurring resistance to the virus, infuse those engineered cells, have them persist in the body, and potentially keep viral loads at bay without the use of drugs." Certain individuals are born with a genetic mutation (known as the CCR5 mutation) that makes them effectively immune to the HIV virus. This newly-developed treatment involves replicating that same resistance in HIV-positive patients via alterations to the structure of their T-cells, which allows their bodies to effectively fight against HIV without the aid of daily medications. Sharon Lewin of Monash University had this to say regarding the intended goal of the study and its findings: "What most people are aiming for in HIV is a way you take treatment for a short period of time and that keeps the virus under control," In 2006, Timothy Ray Brown, now known colloquially as the 'Berlin Patient', was on his 11th year of anti-retroviral therapy for HIV, which helped to keep the virus at bay. After being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and undergoing chemotherapy, which had a severely negative impact on his immune system (eventually resulting in a bout of pneumonia followed by sepsis during treatment), oncologist Dr. Gero Hutter of the Charite Hospital in Berlin chose to give Brown a stem cell transplant in order to treat his leukemia. Instead of using a matching donor, Hutter specifically chose to use stem cells gathered from a donor that had the CCR5 mutation. The result: Brown became leukemia free, and is also now considered the first person who has been "cured" of the HIV virus. He no longer receives medication and is reportedly doing well. As this form of treatment is still undergoing early clinical trials, it is likely "still a long way off" from becoming a routine option for all patients afflicted by HIV, as stated by the University of Monash. But the results it has shown and the implications it raises are a great sign for sufferers of the disease. Other recent developments regarding the treatment of HIV, coupled with this new form of treatment, may prove to be a serious game-changer in the medical world.
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