text:
The Monday Round-Up: A Busy Weekend of Racing
Results from Brazil, Spain, and Austria, a new race in Greece, news from TriClubs and WomenFor Tri and a lot more.
Weekend at a Glance
IRONMAN Brazil
Jesper Svensson (SUI) was untouchable in Florianopolis on Sunday. The lanky Swede lead the field out of the water and proceeded to pad his advantage throughout the bike carrying a five-and-a-half minute advantage on Igor Amorelli (BRA) and close to a 10-minute gap to third as the bike portion of the race concluded.
Once the race hit the run, Amorelli narrowed his deficit to the leader by a minute in the opening kms, but was never successful in getting any closer than 4:30 to Svensson. By the end of the run, Svensson claimed the win in South America by a 6:23-minute winning margin.
In the women's race, Haley Chura (USA) put her stamp on the race in the swim hitting the beach a full five minutes earlier than her closest rival. Kirsty Jahn (CAN) out-biked Chura throughout the 180 kms and dismounted her bike enjoying a seven-minute lead on the American. Jahn would lay down a solid run to claim the win in 8:54:58 over Piampiano whose race-best run rocketed her into second in the second half of the run.
Top 5 Pro Men
|Svensson, Jesper
|Amorelli, Igor
|Vinhal, Thiago
|Silvestrin, Frank
|Manocchio, Guilherme
Top 5 Pro Women
|Jahn, Kirsty
|Piampiano, Sarah
|Mahan, Bruna
|Chura, Haley
|Tastets, Pamela
IRONMAN Lanzarote
Alessandro Degasperi usually is a man for the second half of an IRONMAN race. This time, everything was different at the Club La Santa IRONMAN Lanzarote. Whenever the race announcers talked about the lead group in the men's pro field during the swim, they were wondering if they should really say what the spotters told them from the swim course. Degasperi, famous for weaker swims and superb bike-and-run performances, was among the best in the water. Thanks to the swim of his life as a professional triathlete, the 2015 champion was part of the leading swim group and already in the mix when the tough bike race started.
Degasperi hammered onto the hardest bike course on the planet together with 2014 winner Romain Guillaume, but he was in his own zone soon, because Frenchman Guillaume started to struggle about halfway. When Degasperi hit the highest point of the course at the breathtaking scenic point Mirador del Rio, the 37-year-old knew about his great position. Spaniard Ivan Rana worked hard to get close to the Italian leader, but Degasperi kept going and didn't show any weakness throughout the marathon. Although Rana was nailing a good run as Cyril Viennot and a storming Danish in fourth, Jens Petersen-Bach, Degasperi never let anyone come closer than 5 minutes in the run.
A former champion also performed well in the women's race. Lucy Gossage was one of the big names on the start list, but the 2015 champion knew about the talent of athletes like the multiple IRONMAN champions Yvonne van Vlerken or Michelle Vesterby next to her. Gossage didn't care and pushed herself early to the front, just like Degasperi. Vesterby could benefit from her strong swim on the first half of the bike, but after that the 38-year-old from Great Britain took control. Gossage was already in the lead,before she passed the top of the course at the Mirador del Rio. Ranking third last year, she nailed a fast bike split and had an advantage of more than four minutes when she started the marathon. Just as in men's race, the strong runner was off and away early.
Top 5 Pro Men
|de Gasperi, Alessandro
|Raña, Ivan
|Viennot, Cyril
|Petersen-Bach, Jens
|Vistica, Andrej
Top 5 Pro Women
|Gossage, Lucy
|Vesterby, Michelle
|Bartlett, Nikki
|Castro Nogueira, Saleta
|Bernardi, Marta
IRONMAN 70.3 St. Polten
At the 12th edition of the IRONMAN 70.3 St. Pölten the 1.9 km swim – combining 2 lakes with a 200m running passage – was dominated by Lukasz Wojt (GER) in 00:23:29. On the bike course, held on a highway for the first 18km, the Italian Giulio Molinari took over the leading position quickly followed by Ruedi Wild (SUI) and the two Germans Florian Angermann and Michael Raelert. Austrian Michi Weiss came from the back and made it to T2 in 10th position. The leading trio with Molinari, Wild, and Raelert stayed stable until km 16 when Michi Weiss took over the lead. He kept his fast running pace and won his home race with a new race course record in 03:51:36. Wild finished second in 03:53:20, Molinari completed the podium in 03:54:03.
Helle Frederiksen (DEN) was first out of the water on the women's side in 00:26:39. Three-time winner Laura Philipp (GER) came out fourth, but quickly took over the lead on the bike. She kept her position and started the half marathon shoulder to shoulder with Frederiksen who soon fell back. Anja Beranek (GER) in third chased the two but Philipp couldn't be reached and won the IRONMAN 70.3 St. Pölten for the fourth time in a row in 04:14:25. Frederiksen tooka second in 04:17:25, nd Beranek finished third in 04:21:59.
Top 5 Pro Men
|Weiss, Michael
|Wild, Ruedi
|Molinari, Giulio
|Angert, Florian
|Steger, Thomas
Top 5 Pro Women
|Phillip, Laura
|Frederiksen, Helle
|Beranek, Anja
|Huetthaler, Lisa
|Steurer, Bianca
The Buzz: What We're Reading, Gossiping About, and Loving in the Endurance Sports World
This week's Buzz is all about athletes—A-list celebs and age groupers alike—and their take on tackling endurance challenges.
Ramsay's Way to Relax
Gordon Ramsay, our favorite foodie and celebrity chef—in his characteristic unfiltered style—says that competing in IRONMAN helps keep him centered. "Attempting to do an IRONMAN on the toughest course in the world in Kona, Hawaii, made me claw back time, to help keep my mind focused. So how do I relax? I do a f***ing IRONMAN."
Roses vs. Swim, Bike, Run
In a recent interview with Men's Health, Shawn Booth says surviving the Bachelorette was tougher than racing IRONMAN. "They [the show's producers] kind of try to break you," Booth said.
74 Years Young
Grandfather, marathoner, and IRONMAN athlete Gu Dawo of China has long had a love for endurance sport. "I always ran to work when I was young," says the now 74-year-old. He's on a mission to share his passion with China's youth and change their perceptions of their elders. "I want to show them that age will not stop the heart and the feet from running ahead."
Proving It
Brian and Monica Folts embrace the sessions that most IRONMAN athletes dread: treadmill runs. In fact, that's how the Denver couple logs all their run training miles. They have plenty of reasons for running indoors, including performance gains. Ultimately, says Monica, the drive to train and ultimately compete—even in what many consider an uncomfortable setting—comes down to this: "You didn't think it was possible, and then you prove yourself wrong. Those are the moments I live for."
Instagram of the Week
Rinny and Tim to Race IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia, Poland
Triathlon's power couple, Mirinda Carfrae and Tim O'Donnell, will be racing this Eastern European event featuring a one-loop bike course around the city and through the beautiful Kashubia region. The run course will feature 5 stages along the 7k-long course playing non-stop live music, with a total of 15 bands! Join them in what fans call the "Polish Mallorca" in August! Register now.
IRONMAN 70.3 Comes to Greece, The Birthplace of the Olympic Spirit
The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Greece will take place in Costa Navarino on April 14, 2019; General registration opens May 28, 2018
A modern sporting icon takes root in the region that gave rise to the Olympic spirit as Costa Navarino hosts Greece's first ever IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon. The race will take place in Costa Navarino of the Messinia region, one of the most unspoiled and breathtaking seaside Mediterranean landscapes.
Costa Navarino welcomes athletes from around the world to Greece's first ever IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon and to experience the renowned Messinian hospitality, or 'filoxenia' in Greek – a word that's origins stem from Homer's Odyssey.
Located within the southwest Peloponnese, Costa Navarino is easily accessible with direct flights to Kalamata International Airport from most European cities and only a short drive from Kalamata International Airport to Navarino Dunes. From Athens, Costa Navarino is approximately a three-hour drive (270 km) and from the international port of Patras, which has daily ferry services to and from Italy, a two-hour drive (200 km).
Triclub Champions Crowned at European, Middle East and Africa Triclub Championship
92 clubs, from 21 countries, representing 800 athletes, battled it out in near perfect conditions at the Europe, Middle East and Africa TriClub Championship Final.
Throughout 2017, over 1,500 clubs competed across 17 qualifier races in Europe, Africa and the Middle East to secure their qualifying spot for the EMEA TriClub Championship Final on May 20, 2018 in the stunning sea side town of Calella at IRONMAN 70.3 Barcelona.
The IRONMAN EMEA TriClub Championship Final considers a club's top five individual athlete results, based on IRONMAN's Age Group Ranking (AGR) system. The club with the most points in each division is crowned EMEA TriClub Champion.
Against the backdrop of the stunning Mediterranean Sea, IRONMAN 70.3 Barcelona, Calella, played host to a weekend of TriClub fanfare, comradery and celebrations. A dedicated TriClub parade, priority race benefits and special athlete gifts were just a few of the great benefits on offer for qualified TriClub athletes racing at the Championship.
Following a jubilant Awards ceremony, the newly crowned EMEA TriClub Champions shared their thoughts.
Division I Champion: /tri club denmark
"It's a big thing for us, we are a big club in Denmark, with lots of athletes traveling around the world, so it's really amazing to receive this trophy. Definitely, we will be back to try and win it again, for sure."
Division II Champion: Stockholm City Triathlon
"It's fantastic. We qualified at IRONMAN 70.3 Jonkoping, and then we put it out to our members to see who'd want to come and we got overwhelming support to get out here to Barcelona, over 25 people and some of our best athletes. It's just been such a great week. We've all had great time, it's just been really, really good. We thought that this might be our last race here, but actually we'll be back."
Division III Champion: Full-on tri
"It's a great surprise. Half a dozen of us signed up for the race on a whim, and to come and win, it is just a dream. All of us have had such a good time, so yes, we'll be back to defend the title!"
Division IV Champion: Jersey Tri Club
"It's been a long haul, we qualified back at IRONMAN 70.3 Pays d'Aix in France last year, there was about fifteen of us there. And somehow, we've managed to get about 51 of us to come over from Jersey to the Championship Final, it's been mega. The weather really, really helped, what an event, absolutely brilliant. A definite that we'll be back next year."
Division V Champion: Team Argon 18 France
(FRE) "C'est principlaement le resultat d'un travail collectif. Pour nous outre les resultats sportifs qui sont tres importants, c'est aussi l'esprit d'equie qui compte. C'est vrai que ca a beaucoup joue sur cette course parce qu'on etait nombreux. Les garcons sortent tous ensemble de l'eau, ils se suivent en velo, ils se suivent en course a pied et c'etait tres important de pouvoir compter les uns sur les autres. L'annee prochaine on revient et on gagne le titre!"
(ENG) "It's mainly the result of a collective team effort. Beyond the result, for us, it's all about team spirit. At the Championship this has been really important for us as we are a big team. The men in our club came out of the water all together and were able to cheer each other on the bike and on the run, and push each other. Next year for sure we will come back and defend the title."
Women For Tri Provides Grants for Triathlon Clubs In U.S., Australia, New Zealand and China
More than $248,000 to date awarded to support female participation initiatives
Women For Tri, a program of the IRONMAN Foundation®, today announced the distribution of grants to 28 triathlon clubs in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and China. This year, Women For Tri will again offer multiple grants of up to $2,500 per grant for triathlon clubs that will utilize the funds to support women's engagement initiatives, including bringing first-timers into the sport. Since the program's inception in 2016 more than $248,000 has been awarded.
The Triathlon Club Grant Program was established to support local triathlon clubs as they develop programming and activities to increase female participation in triathlon. Benefiting clubs will utilize funds to provide: specific training for female triathletes with a focus on removing barriers to participation; educational programs for female triathletes; and networking and social gatherings with a focus on recruiting and engaging women to participate in triathlon. A second round of funding will be awarded later this season. The grant recipients are:
- BAM Endurance Club, Sandy, UT, USA
- Bathurst Wallabies Triathlon Club, Bathurst, Australia
- Boca Raton Triathletes, Boca Raton, FL, USA
- Canterbury Triathlon, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Central Jersey Tri Club, Scotch Plains, NJ, USA
- Dashing Iron Team, Hong Kong, China
- Endurance Multisport, Coopersburg, PA, USA
- Fort Lauderdale Triathletes, Coral Springs, FL, USA
- Foundation Physical Therapy and Endurance Coach, Chandler, AZ, USA
- FW Tri Club, Fort Worth, TX, USA
- G3 - Gainesville Triathlon Club, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Golden Gate Tri Club, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gulf Coast Multi-Sport, Slidell, LA, USA
- iracelikeagirl, Easton, MA, USA
- JustTriWomen for TRI, Turnwater, WA, USA
- LA Tri Club, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- Mullica Hill Women's Triathlon Club, Mullica Hill, NJ, USA
- Pittsburgh Triathlon Club, Pittsburg, PA, USA
- Playmakers Triathlon Team, Okemos, MI, USA
- Poppy Sports, Denver, CO, USA
- Ride Triathlon Team, Encinitas, CA, USA
- Ridgewood Tri Athlete (Team RTA), Ridgewood, NJ, USA
- Rocklin Endurance Sports Triathlon Club, Rocklin, CA, USA
- San Francisco Tri Club, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Santa Cruz Triathlon Association, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- Tri It For Life, Charlotte, NC, USA
- Tri Scottsdale Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- VIVE, Denver, CO, USA
Registration Radar
IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh: Get more than you bargained for at one of Europe's most unique and captivating races. In a world exclusive, IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh will offer 50 slots to the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa as well as 50 slots to the 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice, France. With the opportunity to claim both slots simultaneously it's the triple delight – embark on a Scottish adventure in Edinburgh, secure your spot for South Africa this year and be on the start line with the world's best in France in 2019.
Enea 5150 Warsaw: A giant M-dot shaped clock on the Vistulan Boulevards means it's the final countdown to the Enea 5150 Warsaw. With a record 1250-plus athletes already registered (unique for a standalone 5150 event!), Warsaw is expecting an unforgettable race on June 10. If you're looking for a tune-up event before racing a longer event this summer, the City of the Mermaid is the perfect choice. Read why here.
Partner News
Princess Cruises to Provide "A New You" Experience for Triathletes
Princess Cruises announced today a partnership with IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holdings company as an Official Sponsor of IRONMAN. This North American partnership between IRONMAN and Princess Cruises gives triathletes the opportunity to take advantage of exclusive offers on the Princess Cruises line to assist with the recovery process after extensive training and competition, allowing them to return reenergized and ready for the next event.
With more than 50 years of experience, Princess Cruises is a recognized leader in worldwide cruising, carrying two million guests each year to 360 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts has created more than 150 award-winning itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises has been continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries."
Princess will provide six cruises to select IRONMAN athletes with offers that allow them to take time away, leaving them feeling refreshed and motivated at their next start line. Princess Cruise ships are renowned for their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities all provided with the experience of exceptional customer service.
Some of the cruise line's offerings the athletes are sure to enjoy including the award-winning Princess Cruises Luxury Bed, developed in collaboration with board-certified sleep expert, Dr. Michael Breus and renowned HGTV designer Candice Olsen. The bed offers the ultimate night of sleep at sea combining the science of sleep with the pinnacle of design.
From the staterooms to the ship deck, the Sanctuary provides a unique oasis of tranquility. The exclusive adults-only retreat offers a relaxing alternative to the myriad outdoor activities and entertainment available elsewhere throughout the ship. Solitude seekers can escape to this plush, outdoor spa-inspired setting with signature beverages, light meals, massages, attentive service and relaxing personal entertainment.
- To learn more and enter for your chance to win, click here.
IRONMAN U.S. Series Volunteer Program to be presented by UnitedHealthcare in 2018
UnitedHealthcare is now the Official Volunteer Partner of IRONMAN in the United States for 2018. UnitedHealthcare continues its support of IRONMAN and will be represented at races throughout the United States.
"We are excited to continue our partnership with UnitedHealthcare and appreciate their support of the volunteer program this year," said Stuart Selig, IRONMAN's Executive Vice President, Global Partnerships – North America. "UnitedHealthcare is a respected organization and we are grateful for their support of the tens of thousands of volunteers that make our events possible."
UnitedHealthcare is a longtime supporter of IRONMAN and, as the official volunteer sponsor, will be seen on all 2018 volunteer shirts, the volunteer check-in areas, volunteer videos and via IRONMAN social channels.
AltRed joins IRONMAN as the Official Beet Performance Supplement of the IRONMAN U.S. Series
AltRed, which was launched in July 2017, is a plant-based supplement that has been clinically proven to enhance endurance athletes' performance, speed, and recovery. AltRed is created through a patented process, which extracts and concentrates Betalains from beets. Betalains are a phytonutrient naturally found in beets and are the only active ingredient in AltRed. In two double-blind "gold standard" studies conducted by the Sports Performance Laboratory at the University of California Davis, AltRed was scientifically shown to improve oxygen delivery, mitigate lactic acid, and reduce certain markers of muscle damage during activity. No other sport supplement provides extracted Betalains like those that are available in AltRed.
The athletes that use AltRed are its true ambassadors. The AltRed PhytoRebel Ambassador community has over 100 athletes who share the core principles of training and competing with clean, plant-based supplements. AltRed also partners with and supplies Timex Multisport Team, which has nearly 50 professional athletes, elite age-groupers, and influential triathlon figures. Sur is committed to providing those athletes with clean products; that is why AltRed is third-party tested and certified through both Informed-Choice Trusted by Sport and NSF.
You can find the Sur PhytoPerformance team and their distinctive red AltRed Airstream trailer as they travel the country activating at IRONMAN, IRONMAN 70.3, and other endurance events across the country throughout the year.
AltRed is available for purchase at https://sur.co and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. For more information about Altred, visit https://sur.co/altred/
Races on Tap
IRONMAN Philippines, Subic Bay
- Pro Start List
- Pro Points: 2000
- Prize Purse: $25,000
Follow the IRONMAN Philippines pro action here on IRONMAN.com and on Twitter at @IRONMANLive. Join the conversation using the hashtag #IMPhilippines for both Twitter and Instagram.
Follow your age group athlete's progress throughout the race on the IRONMAN Athlete Tracker.
Race start time: Sunday: 6:20 a.m. PHT
IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau
- Pro Start List
- Pro Points: 750
- Prize Purse: $25,000
Follow the IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau pro race action here on IRONMAN.com and on Twitter at @IRONMANLive. Join the conversation using the hashtag #IM703Kraichgau for both Twitter and Instagram.
Follow your age group athlete's progress throughout the race on the IRONMAN Athlete Tracker.
Race start time: Sunday: 9:00 a.m. CEST
IRONMAN 70.3 Raleigh
- Pro Start List
- Pro Points: 750
- Prize Purse: $50,000
Follow the IRONMAN 70.3 Raleigh pro race action here on IRONMAN.com and on Twitter at @IRONMANLive. Join the conversation using the hashtag #IM703Raleigh for both Twitter and Instagram.
Follow your age group athlete's progress throughout the race on the IRONMAN Athlete Tracker.
Race start time: Sunday: 7:00 a.m. EDT
IRONMAN 70.3 Victoria
- Pro Start List
- Pro Points: 500
- Prize Purse: $25,000
Follow the IRONMAN 70.3 Victoria pro race action here on IRONMAN.com and on Twitter at @IRONMANLive. Join the conversation using the hashtag #IM703Victoria for both Twitter and Instagram.
Follow your age group athlete's progress throughout the race on the IRONMAN Athlete Tracker.
Race start time: Sunday: 6:00 a.m. PDT
Age Group Races
IRONMAN 70.3 Hawaii
Please note that the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 Hawaii is an age-group only race.
Join the conversation and follow the events and the race day action at using the hashtag #IM703GulfCoast for both Twitter and Instagram.
Follow your athlete's progress throughout the race on the IRONMAN Athlete Tracker.
Race start time: Saturday: 6:30 a.m. HST
IRONMAN 70.3 Durban
Please note that the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 Durban is an age-group only race.
Join the conversation and follow the events and the race day action at using the hashtag #IM703Durban for both Twitter and Instagram.
Follow your athlete's progress throughout the race on the IRONMAN Athlete Tracker.
Race start time: Sunday: 7:10 a.m. SAST
IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines
Please note that the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines is an age-group only race.
Join the conversation and follow the events and the race day action at using the hashtag #IM703Philippines for both Twitter and Instagram.
Follow your athlete's progress throughout the race on the IRONMAN Athlete Tracker.
Race start time: Sunday: 6:50 a.m. PHT


text:
I've finally got Thievery back on this computer and now I'm having a weird loadout problem. For a few weeks now I've been playing on Brodys server with no problems. Now I can't get in without my gear being invisible. I can draw water arrows and broadhead arrows and see those, but they don't have the attached viewfinder. I can hear the blackjack draw, and can knock out guards, but I can't see anything. All the potions and lockpicks that should be seen on the right are gone.
I'm running the D3D 10 video driver and if I run a solo game everything shows.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
European Markets in Post-Fed Spin
News that the Fed will start reducing liquidity later this year rattled markets, with U.S. Treasury and other bond yields rising, stock markets and commodity prices tumbling and the dollar heading sharply higher. Martin Essex looks at the wave of risk aversion. Photo: AP
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... the the ... as they ... fed me that it's ... stopped ... going liquidity from global markets ... stocks plummeted to the dollar rallied and now commodity prices of the kids wanted us to stay with me ... to the fallout munching on ... one of the really big move was ... the first big impact was on the U S Treasury bond yields which move very sharply higher ... um what we've seen is everything else stemming from that safe you know can Europe for example could go much higher yields on bones and guilds another ... whole European bond markets ... and banks have an impact on the Senate on all the Alamo isn't specifically on the dollar which has now risen very sharply against all the of the current says but most specifically against the machine off peak times this ... raises but it was the case of the risk of dozens of naughtiness BP in the wake of the the the ... yes um it very simply and at some point ... the Fed is going to take away its Mana tree stimulus at its all that money pouring into the market ... has led asset prices generally decline ... was this thing has actually the Fed has hinted that this before so we Why the Markets SOEs cyclists ... that's a very good question I mean the Muppets always liked it to analyze things and perhaps over analyze things and now what they've always ... open the lights decided ... is that is that this could be much less money ... much sooner than expected that's not really true because we were expecting the stimulus to end sometime later this year into next year ... and that's being confronted is the confirmation I think that the market ... was also seen as well as losses is ... that with the Fed and the USA to get you some idea that causes him I was pretty disappointing nonetheless I knew that he has gone into aam ... deconstruction tied to once again ... and people were what's happening in China to ... guess at almost the opposite story because I'm in America what's happening is that the stimulus is being taken away as the economy recovers what was saying in China is a slowdown in the economy ... and bought it in demand for commodities enroll materials and so forth ... so we've actually seen gold today I'm full to its lowest level in almost three years we've seen lots of money pouring out all the emerging markets money was invested in emerging market ... car and says and bones ... and stall than the rule materials in some all that money is beginning to come out now ... this is the is equipped with the other central banks to deal with the news of the ... European social but these awful ... people are expecting it to add some more cooking hasn't happened ... by Japan likewise ... when you could all keep it is the American economy this leading the way in its recovery ... the U K economy is is perhaps improving too but Olivia Wilde is you can see from the China data other economies are recovering at the same pace ... so what we say is the Fed moving for us to just run with towards the minutes you can expect in most other countries of us to minister made in place for longer ... so this is the buffet line at Austin is that database get the proverbial punch bowl ... of liquidity is being taken away and don't like it and it's about money that the increasing asset prices if the punchbowl is taken away you can expect asset prices to fall further ... it


text:
Ditch Your Plans, Follow Your Heart
When I met John, he was 32 years old, in debt and living 600 miles away, in Detroit. With his parents. (Sexy, right?) He'd recently finished law school but had failed the bar exam and was back to his predegree job as a software consultant, which as far as I could see meant spending afternoons by a friend's pool waiting for an assignment. He didn't seem to have any real plans for the future beyond what to eat for dinner.
I, on the other hand, had just embarked on The Plan. I was 28 and living in New York City, ready to start a new chapter after having spent my 20s working hard as a magazine editor. I was enjoying life in NYC, but I didn't have any big goals and had basically been going with the flow, seeing where things would lead me. I'd also been in a three-year on-again, off-again relationship with a guy I didn't have much in common with and who I wasn't sure cared that much about me, which caused me to invest a ton of brain space in petty-seeming worries. ("Did he not come to the party because he actually was tired, or because he hates my friends?!")
So with my 30th birthday looming, I decided to get serious: Things were off for good with the guy, I realized I really wanted to become a freelance writer, and I felt a desperate need to travel and see the world. The Plan started to form: First and foremost, it was time to focus on me, so dating would not be part of The Plan. As for everything else, I worked with my bosses to take a 10-week leave; I'd spend three weeks traveling with a friend in South America, come back to the States for a week and visit my parents in Detroit for a weekend, then head to Southeast Asia for six weeks. After that, I'd return to NYC and work for two more years on staff, then start a freelancing business. Perfect, and planned down almost to the day.
But The Plan seemed to go awry as quickly as it had started. The day I got back to NYC from South America, my mom called and told me she'd been diagnosed with cancer. It was highly treatable, so she was likely to come through it OK, but she'd need major surgery and possibly radiation. My dad, almost 70, had his own health problems, and my mom needed a nurse. So instead of taking a weekend trip to Detroit before heading to Asia, I moved back in with my parents.
And then there was John, the happy-go-lucky, Paul Bunyan–looking guy from Detroit I'd met a few months before my trip at a bar in Brooklyn while he was visiting mutual friends. In the midst of my mom's illness, in the thick of my angst about having to postpone The Plan and move home, I found myself spending a lot of time with John, who also lived at home, was free to see a weekday matinee, and drew me in with his wit, warmth and boyish grin.
As upset and anxious as I was—about my mom's cancer, about lost Asian adventures, about my growing feelings for John (guys, remember, were not part of The Plan)—I had to laugh at the irony. Here was one of the few times I had actually charted a course for myself, and I'd hit roadblocks on all fronts: the short-term (my trip) and long-term (going back to NYC unencumbered to focus on my career). It felt as though the universe were saying, Ha! Gotcha!
But my disappointment about veering off The Plan soon faded. It felt good knowing that the one time I was truly needed by my mom—a woman who had made countless sacrifices for my sister and me—I could be there for her. She also, thankfully, recovered quickly, so I got to go on a shortened version of my Asian adventure. As far as the travel part of The Plan was concerned, my mom's situation was more speed bump than roadblock.
My relationship with John, however, was turning into a full-blown detour. I had seen him nearly every day for three weeks, and as excited as I was to leave for my trip, I was worried about what would happen to us after I left. I was falling in love—and, let's face it, kind of obsessing—when that was just the opposite of what The Plan dictated, and my paramour was at once perfect for me and all wrong. He had the qualities that a decade of bad dates and not-quite-right boyfriends had told me I wanted in a partner—he was romantic and kind, crazy smart but never arrogant, both sexy and goofy and with an off-the-charts sense of humor—but also some traits I had considered deal breakers. Besides living somewhere geographically undesirable (and with his parents), he seemed ambivalent about his future. Red flag—or, rather, flags.
But I couldn't stop thinking about him. In Cambodia, I wished he were with me watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat, and I couldn't wait to tell him about the sketchy-but-delicious street food in Phnom Penh and the bag of snakes on the commuter boat from Battambang. After I got back to NYC, I didn't see him for several more weeks but still thought of him constantly. Except now those thoughts were less dreamy. We talked almost daily, yet I stressed over whether I really wanted to keep things going. And furthermore, what was he doing with his life, anyway?
It's funny: The Plan was meant to protect me from all that stuff—complicated situations, obsessing, conflicted feelings—so I could focus on my future. Yet when I considered a future without John, my heart hurt. It felt wrong. It dawned on me that my heart or gut or intuition or whatever you want to call it hadn't failed me before. Why would now be different? The Plan needed editing, and the revision should include John.
So I wrote him in. And over the next several months, he showed me that not only was he not an impediment to my adulthood, he was a shining example of how to be a grown-up. On his first trip to see me in NYC, we had lobster rolls at Pearl Oyster Bar, and he explained the mistakes that had gotten him into debt but also outlined what he was doing to get back on track, including moving back home. It was embarrassing, he said, but also necessary. His frankness, and that he trusted me enough to tell me all the bad stuff, was shocking in the best way possible. He recognized that scrapping his plans and doing what he had to was the smartest way to go. I'd misjudged his maturity.
After that visit, I knew my future wouldn't go as I'd plotted. It'd be better. Dating long-distance was hard, but it gave me what I wanted all along: the freedom to concentrate on myself and my career. It sounds clichéd, but John helped bring out the best in me, and he said I did the same for him. He was more motivated about work, and soon he rented a house with a friend and was close to being debt-free. Then, after eight months of weekend visits and countless texts, emails and calls, John was assigned a two-year consulting project in Manhattan (apartment included)—right as we were about to take steps to finally be together. When his project ended, we moved to Chicago, and a few months later, he surprised me with homemade lobster rolls, told me that it was during our dinner at Pearl Oyster Bar that he realized he wanted to spend his life with me, and then he asked me to marry him.
I intend to be John's wife forever, but I've otherwise given up making plans. I don't like the process (planning our wedding was not fun for me—unlike the wedding itself), and I get stressed and uneasy when plans don't pan out. I'm happiest when I don't feel hemmed in by preconceived ideas of what's supposed to happen.
Case in point: Two years ago, John and I decided to adopt a young dog from a shelter, figuring we'd avoid the crazy-puppy phase but have a friend who'd grow up with our family. We fell in love with Coco, who the shelter said was about 2 years old, but when we took her to the vet, he told us she was at least 10. She has cataracts and arthritis, and we're pretty sure she's deaf. But after our initial disappointment, we realized it was the best mistake. She's so sweet and mellow and wants only to snooze, look out the window and bask in our love, and we know not to take her for granted. Coco's one more reminder that my life can turn out even better than I could have imagined—or planned.
Photo Credit: Monica Murphy/Getty Images


text:
Ten Impressive iPhone Sports Apps
iPhone sports apps are among the thousands of mobile device applications available in the iTunes App Store. Whether you get in the game with a free app, or you pay to play, the following apps are bound to score well with iPhone fans.
|Sports app
|Cost of app
|App's best features
|App-related things to think about
|ESPN ScoreCenter
|Free (ad supported)
|Comprehensive coverage of scores for just about any sport and
team; awesome, intuitive interface
|Getting back to top of long lists is a challenge.
|Fox Sports Mobile
|Free (ad supported)
|Deep sports coverage (not as comprehensive as ESPN ScoreCenter)
that includes news, videos, stats, standings, and team
|Moving from sport to sports requires tapping a button in the
top-right corner — not particularly unintuitive.
|JIRBO Paper Football Signature Edition
|$4.99 (free, ad-supported version is time limited) US
|It's fun, and flicking a paper football across the table will
harken you back to days of play in the school cafeteria.
|Limited physics make such moves as the spinning football all
but impossible.
|MLB.com at Bat
|$9.99 US during season; free off-season
|Live streaming video, real-time box scores, game stats, and
more during season; news, video, team info, and previous season
stats out-of-season
|Unpredictable video quality; some games are unavailable or
blacked out in certain areas.
|Sportacular Pro
|Football, baseball, soccer, golf coverage includes current and
past scores of leagues, along with upcoming schedules.
Feature-rich, good design and interface
|Could cover more sports
|CBS Sports Mobile
|Free (ad supported)
|Colorful graphics, video clips from CBS's extensive coverage,
and access to current college polls
|Clunky, slow interface
|Fantasy Football Cheatsheet '09
|"Up-to-the-minute" player news and injury reports for some 500
ranked players, enabling multiple draft pick lists
|Each new season gets a new app, so shop accordingly.
|GolfLogix Golf GPS
|Free limited download
|Detailed info — such as distances to layups; hazards; and
front, center, back of every green — on 24,000 golf courses
around the world
|Requires in-app purchase of $39.95/year after 24 hours
|Measure and store drag racing performance of your vehicle,
including real-time Gs, speed, and distance, 0 to 60 MPH (or
100km/h) time, estimated wheel horsepower, and trap speed.
|Don't try this on the street, kids.
|Ski and Snow Report from SkiReport.com
|Frequently updated reports on resort status, including snow
base for open resorts, new snow, and how many lifts and trails are
|If you're a skier or snowboarder, feeds your obsession for
checking ski and snow reports.


text:
Islet cells are located in the pancreas and make hormones, including
insulin, glucagon, somatomammotropin, and pancreatic polypeptide. In some
people, the immune system produces islet cell antibodies, which attack and
destroy the islet cells as though they were foreign substances. This can lead
to serious health conditions, such as type 1 diabetes.
Last Revised:
September 20, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Jennifer Hone, MD - Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


text:
Today we have a wonderful success story to share with you, from Bekki and Tom out in Michigan. They are absolutely adorable. Congrats to Bekki and Tom!
When I joined Zoosk, I was not sure what to expect. After having a few guys wink at me, and winking at some others, I came across Tom's profile. I was quite impressed by it, and I winked at him.
We began emailing back and forth that same day!
We kept the emailing up for about a month, getting to know one another. A month after we started chatting on Zoosk, we went on our first date.
Before the end of the first date, we both knew that we had found the person we were meant to be with. Everything we both valued, and our goals lined up perfectly. We spent 4 hours just talking about life, and we felt that we had known one another forever.
Since then we have enjoyed every moment we spend together and are looking forward to spending the rest of our lives with one another. We feel as though we are in a modern day fairy tale — falling in love so quickly and being so incredibly happy. Thank you Zoosk!!!
What I love about this story is that Bekki was the one who made the first move. She was the one who messaged Tom first! Ladies, the guys on Zoosk love it when you make the first move. In our millennium, there's no need to be demure as if we were in days of Queen Victoria.
Bekki and Tom were smart to get to know each other online, chatting on Zoosk for an entire month, before going on their first date. When online dating, it's wise to really get a sense of someone before rushing to meet face-to-face. While the real test of a relationship is how well two people click in real life, it's advisable not rush things too quickly so that when you do meet your mysterious internet friend in person, you feel safe and comfortable. Spending time to really learn about each other online also eases the awkwardness of a first meeting. Because you know more about each other, you have more things to talk about; you know the other person's areas of interest, you have a history of communication, and you've already established some groundwork for interaction. If things get nerve-wracking, you can always talk about the topics you brought up online.
Congrats to Bekki and Tom for finding each other on Zoosk! We wish them all the best.
If you have your own Zoosk success story to share, send it to us with a photo of you and your loved one to success [at] zoosk [dot] com and if we showcase your story we'll send you an online gift card as a token of our congratulations. Happy Zoosking!


text:
We are looking forward to the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun in one of the most beautiful regions in Austria. To ensure safe travels and a great stay in Austria we have acquired two major partners for a perfect experience before and after the race. We recommend you check out their great offers tailor-made for athlete's needs.
TAUERN SPA Zell am See – Kaprun
The official race hotel of the IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun is your basecamp for body and soul. You can expect an extra special SPA experience at the TAUERN SPA with its baths, saunas and fitness features spread across more than 20,000 square meters and a four-star-ressort-hotel with unique Panorama SPA with its Skyline Pool. The TAUERN SPA Hotel has also got its own Spa & Wellness area that is reserved exclusively for guests at the TAUERN SPA Hotel. For the perfect stay in a beautiful setting look no further. More>>
Nirvana Europe is the Official Travel Agency
If you are looking for perfect packages that will take you right from your doorstep to IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun and back—including flight arrangements, transfers and shipping of your equipment—Nirvana Europe is your place to book. Nirvana Europe has been in business since 2002 ensuring a great travel experience for thousands of Ironman athletes ever since. Free cancellation included in their packages. More>>
Google Maps: How to get to the Ironman 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun
Zell am See/Kaprun
Glacier, mountain, lake: Austria's most beautiful scenery surrounds the holiday region Zell am See-Kaprun. From the shores of idyllic Lake Zell it is easy to get to the green meadows of Schmittenhöhe and Kaprun's local mountain Kitzsteinhorn, which tops out at 3,000 m. Its perpetually white glacier guarantees skiing fun even in the summer months! Relaxation from the valley to the summit: that's Austria! Accommodations & more>>
Maishofen is a village that welcomes families, cyclists and hikers with open arms. It has so much to offer: hikes amid mighty 3,000-meter peaks, cycling along low-traffic roads, "bike'n hike" golf tours of the region's most interesting places, tennis, rollerskating, mountain biking, swimming in the water of Lake Zell – there's nowhere better than Maishofen for an active vacation surrounded by splendid Alpine landscapes. Accommodations & more>>
Piesendorf and Niedernsill are two picturesque holiday villages in the heart of the Austrian Alps, neighbours to the world famous resorts of Zell am See-Kaprun, Saalbach and Kitzbühel. Piesendorf and Niedernsill offer, both in summer and winter, a wonderful holiday location with breathtaking views of the Hohen Tauern mountain range and the Kitzbüheler. Accommodations & more>>
Our holiday towns of Bruck and Fusch lie in the middle of the state of Salzburg between the highest mountains in Austria with the Grossglockner and Zeller Lake, a bathing lake with the seal of quality for excellent drinking water. Enjoy the nature of the Hohe Tauern National Park, take an active holiday or participate in one of our many events. Our holiday region offers numerous holiday possibilities for all four seasons. Accommodations & more>>
Saalbach Hinterglemm – The Valley of Games
An overnight stay at 1,000 metres above sea level – the ideal climate for triathletes! Perfect accommodation can be found in all categories - from top 'wellness' offers in high-class hotels to cosy B & B's – for a full list of all accommodation and more in-depth information about the region, (20 minute drive from Zell am See), visit the website>>
Saalfelden-Leogang is the most varied holiday region in the Alps. Between Stone Mountains and Green Valleys, between rusticity and urbanity, between tradition and innovation: the unique combination of the town of Saalfelden and the village of Leogang provides a very special range of holidays which are rich in contrast. Accommodations & more>>
Region Hochkönig - The peak of your emotions
In the Hochkönig region with it´s three villages Maria Alm, Dienten and Mühlbach we know no such thing as boredom- because here you will experience contrasts that will stimulate your senses 365 days a year- from summer hikes amid impressive landscapes to a skiers paradise in winter- from authentic traditions and events to culinary cuisine. Appreciate a journey into unspoiled nature- the wildflowers in spring, the sweet smell of freshly mowed meadows in summer, the impressive colours of autumn and the snow crystals in winter along with its alpine breeze. Accommodations & more>>
The village 1000 m above sea level is known not only for relaxation in a unique scenery, but also for an breathtaking active holiday for nature-loving sports enthusiasts. The mountain plateau amid the Hohe Tauern National Park near Zell am See features unspoiled countryside and an endless mountain panorama.
Regardless of whether you choose trail running, mountain biking or climbing – the alpine area is particularly suitable for sporting adventures away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Accommodations & more>>
Taxenbach - a little dreamy but with a fantastic view of the mountains of the National Park Hohe Tauern, because of its central location Taxenbach is the ideal starting point for many excursions in the surrounding area; Try the new Kitzlochklamm Klettersteig for climbing or rafting on the Salzach river.
The route of the IRONMAN 70.3 leads directly through our village and the starting and finishing point can be easily reached in short time where you can be part of the action and participate in all of the special events. Accommodations & more>>


text:
|Chet O'Brien
Mr. Macintosh was the itinerant fruit peddler on Sesame Street. The character appeared periodically between 1971 and 1992, to some extent linking the street to the world outside. Mr. Macintosh would occasionally take the opportunity to do a little soft shoe while on his route.
Book appearances
- Big Bird's Red Book (1977)
- Open Sesame Picture Dictionary (1982)
- Big Bird Brings Spring to Sesame Street (1985)
- It's Not Fair! (1986)
- Ernie's Neighborhood (1987)
- Big Bird's Square Meal (1988)
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


text:
Game #128: Jays at Angels pregame
Toronto (64-63) at Los Angeles (74-53)
at 10:05 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium
Today's lineups:
Reed Johnson, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Troy Glaus, 3B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Gregg Zaun, C
John McDonald, SS
PITCHING: RHP Roy Halladay (14-5, 3.89 ERA)
Reggie Willits, DH
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Vlad Guerrero, RF
Garret Anderson, LF
Gary Matthews Jr., CF
Maicer Izturis, 3B
Kendry Morales, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Jeff Mathis, C
PITCHING: RHP Jered Weaver (8-6, 4.16 ERA)
NOTES: The lineup returned to its normal state. For a while this season, manager John Gibbons was mixing and matching his players on a daily basis. Now, with the cast healthy again, it appears he's settled on the above lineup. … Maybe the Jays are playing their way out of the playoff picture, but at least they'll always have that awesome doubles streak. If Toronto records a double tonight, it'll mark 31 straight games with at least one two-bagger to equal a club record set in 2004. … More doubles data: Wells (36), Rios (35) and Hill (35) are each on pace to finish with at least 40 doubles this year. The Jays have only had three players tally at least 40 doubles in a season once — 1991, when Joe Carter (42), Roberto Alomar (41) and Devon White (40) accomplished the feat.
HE SAID IT: "That might be the biggest win of the season for us right there. After getting swept at home and having a losing homestand, I admit, I peaked at the scoreboard a couple times today and saw that the clubs ahead of us had already won. A double-digit deficit this late in the season is kind of hard to come back from, so it was a big lift for us to get a win." — Zaun, after Thursday's 5-4 win over the Angels
entering Friday
1. Seattle 72-53 (–)
2. New York 71-56 (2)
3. Detroit 68-59 (5)
4. Toronto 64-63 (9)
5. Minnesota 64-63 (9)
6. Oakland 65-64 (9)
TICK, TOCK…Since 1995, the runner-up in the AL Wild Card race has finished with an average of 89 victories. The Blue Jays would need to go 26-9 over their final 35 games to reach 90 wins.
24 Comments
Man, that IS a lot of doubles. If 'doubles-machine Overbay' hadn't been injured, they could have had four. Pretty impressive.
Doubles do one thing they drive in runs,Jordan do you know what the MLB record is for doubles in a row by one team.
re tick,tock
No matter how hopeful one may be, there can be no more illusion of the playoffs for the '07 Jays at this point, can there?
Well, Doc has settled down.
Time for some offence.
Apparently it's only 5 straight … "The Washington Senators hit five (5) consecutive doubles on June 9, 1934, against the Boston Red Sox in the eighth inning"
– from Baseball Almanac
I heard gibbons has put up a reward for Torontos offence.
You have to wonder why these guys can't hit,It must be the water.
Sorry Todd I meant games in a row I know the jays have 31 but they don't have the record.
Bad move by jhonny mac.
Zaun arms like buggy whips lol.
Oops, my bad
This team makes me sick,We are not going to be any better next year with the same players.
JP gave up on this team in july,We had a poor offence and he did nothing.If I was the owner I would have him investigated for kick backs.lol.
It looks like our season is done before sept.again,next year is the 8th year on the 5 year plan,Those numbers don't seem to add up.
I'll bet JP keeps his puppet gibbons around for next year,I know one thing if both of them are around next year I wont be.
Yeah, our pitchers really deserve better.
It's funny how we have a notes column on Stairs' contribution to the team and Gibbons' desire to have him back next year on a night when he's not in the lineup, despite a righty starter (and it's not like he's been bad against lefties). Why do you want him back if you're not willing to bench him in favour of players who are hitting worse? For the record, the Jays are 35-28 when Stairs is in the starting lineup.
I think Overbay will definitely be better next year, since he was so consistent the past 4 years and he was coming out of his funk when his hand was broken. Johnson is proof that speed can go on a slump. Glaus will probably be in less pain, which means better than this year, but I'm not sure I'd expect a near-40HR season from him again. Thomas seemingly got really old really fast, but surely it didn't help him having Hill and now Glaus as his protection in the lineup. Every time Rios bats third, God kills a kitten. If Wells' 3 year cycle continues, he'll be great again in '09. At least we won't start next year with Ohka or the bad Zambrano or Towers in the rotation.
Er, that should be "…if you're willing to bench him in favour of players who are hitting worse?"
We will start next year with the same players we had today and this week 1-4 what have we to look forward to,Glaus cant get any better he had the same problem last year but it's much worse this year and it will be worse next year.
Your right the lineup is the pits but I don't see anything changing next year,JP lives in a dream world,You can't hope it will be okay next year you have to make it so he never will.
There is only one way to help this team win, and that is to stay away from the Roger's Center. Baseball is a business, and we, the consumers, need to let Ted Rogers know that we are not interested in buying what he and JP are trying to sell. JP's biggest mistake was forgetting that we fans know how a winner is built, and what a winner looks like. We saw Pat Gillick draft/trade for some of the best players to play the game. JP has been a complete failure in comparison. It is time that he goes.
Tell the Maple Leaf fans that.
First move fire gibbons
Second: sign a good manager with experience and positive record.
Third: Trade or release or do something about players that we don't need and get some salary back. (includes glaus, towers, tallet, thomas and zaun) i believe that thigpen and diaz are ready for the job with fasano there just in case.
Fourth: Sign/trade for another 3rd baseman with good offensive production and a DH that is a consistent producer.
Fifth: Sign stairs back
Sixth or above: If JP doesn't do anything then fire him too
mcdonald is good enough at short for now. He gives us a gold gove at short with some offensive ability.
7th: Have some backups ready just in case
DO you guys agree?
oh yeah i'm talking bout offseason cause Jays are done for this season for sure unless we suddenly win 10 straight
I agree with firing Gibbons.
I agree with either trading or not resigning Towers and Thomas; although about all I see getting done here is the release of Towers.
I think it's premature to consider trading Zaun-since Thigpen hasn't enough experience at the MLB level and Diaz has none. I'd like to see both of them here in September and sharing time here in 2008. I think they'll both be ready in 2009 not 2008.
I'd sent Tallet back to AAA when Davis Romero is back. I disagree with trading Glaus since it'll cost more to sign someone capable of his production and he'll likely recover from his ailment over the winter as Giambi has in New York with some time on the DL.
I thought Ted Rogers bought the Jays because he liked baseball then I find out he never even watched baseball before,he has no clue what Godfrey or JP is is up to only what they tell him,besides I dont think he cares all this team is to him is a tax write off.
Gibbons is JPs friend so he wont fire him unless he is forced to,JP is Pauls friend so there you have it,Same deal next year.
The big question here is why cant this team hit with runners is scoring postion,My theory is the lineup,I have never seen a manager change it as much as gibbons does,When he finds something that works he changes it,why because JP wants his choice to be used.
How do you justify your franchise man with the big contract hitting leadoff,now they wont even hit him third,
get it through your thick head Gibbons for crying out loud before you have us crying,TRY STANDING UP TO JP for once in your life BE A MAN not a wimp.
You're wrong about Ted Rogers. He has posted here-just so you know. Personally, I think Ted loves the game and wants to bring a winner here. There were, in my view, two reasons for the budget increase. First, I think Ted wants to bring a winner here, subsequently the increase in budget.
Secondly, remember Rogers get the Jays content and sell commercials-they don't do this for free. So the more people watch, the more they sell the commercials for. It makes sense to put a good team on the field in order to attrack a larger TV audience.
Remember what the value of the Yanks TV network was-3.5 billion. This is valuable content. Not to mention the increased value in the Roger's center. Like it or not The Jays are building value and Ted, better than anyone else understands that.
I think you're wrong about the connections as well. Godfrey's contract is up at the end of this year and word is, it won't be renewed.
Also, don't misunderstand JP. If Gibby keeps failing between now and the end of the year-JP will fire him and bring in someone else.
JP does not run the team-Gibby does. And on that point I agree with you, Gibby should be fired.
Jp's job, on the other hand is safe and will continue to be so, because at the end of the day values are up. The tv audience is likely 3-4 times what it was before JP came here; the web hits, last year alone went up some unbelieveable number-like 700%.
There is not a team in the majors that would have put Gibbons in as manager or tosca but JP did that should tell you something about JP I think he is a looser,Also I bet if Godfrey is gone the new guy will clean house most of them do and bring in their own people,Things are looking up.
Are you sure Godfreys contract is up this year.
We are going to finish below 500 that is so sad.
I don't know about the rest of you but I'm tired of our season finishing in Sept.
no oct. ball for 14 years,everyone said Gord Ash was no good but he was no worse than JP in fact JP has had more time than Ash did.
What do the rest of you think about JP.
There are a lot of posters out there lets hear from all of you,Remember this Blog is for all of us fans so give her heck guys and gals alike


text:
The big differences between the economies of Ireland and Portugal illustrate how the eurozone's design just doesn't fit with modern economic realities.
The Environment
Thanks to markets, living standards continue to go up globally, although many predicted that the earth was going to run out of resources decades ago.
Other Schools of ThoughtPhilosophy and Methodology
Without Lenin's political successes, Marx's writings would have been forgotten long ago.
Big GovernmentEducationHealth
Big GovernmentCorporate Welfare


text:
We love seeing the amazing moments and memories our online community captures during their visits to the Aquarium! So, every week we're sharing some of our favorite photos from YOU right here on our blog!
Here are this week's picks:
Want to be included in one our next features? Be sure to share you photos with us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram and Tumblr!


text:
World premiere recording
Symphonie No. 4
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Live Recording
Sensational 80-Year Old Operatic Prologue Brought to Life
Prologue to »Orango«
World premiere recording
Symphonie No. 4
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Int. Release 02 Jun. 2012
0289 479 0249 2
Live Recording
Exclusive World Premiere Recording:
Sensational 80-Year Old Operatic Prologue Brought to Life
Track List
CD 1: Shostakovich: Prologue To 'Orango'
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975)
Prologue to Orango
Orchestrated by Gerard McBurney
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen
Jordan Bisch, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon
Ryan McKinny, Daniel Chaney, Todd Strange, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen
Ryan McKinny, Daniel Chaney, Todd Strange, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon
Michael Fabiano, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen
Michael Fabiano, Eugene Brancoveanu, Yulia van Doren, Daniel Chaney, Todd Strange, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen
Eugene Brancoveanu, Yulia van Doren, Jordan Bisch, Ryan McKinny, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon
Abdiel Gonzalez, Ryan McKinny, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon
Total Playing Time 31:58
CD 2: Shostakovich: Symphony No.4
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975)
Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 43
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen
Total Playing Time 1:04:32
. . . [it proved] fitting that Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic were chosen to present "Orango" to the world. The precision, the theatricality and the deep feeling for the music displayed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall suggested a real understanding of [the score] . . . In Salonen's hands, these 40 minutes felt not like an afterthought or fragment, but like the opening salvo of something significant . . . a short, gripping curtain-raiser . . . The tenors Michael Fabiano and Timur Bekbosunov were outstanding among a strong ensemble cast, and Eugene Brancoveanu was amusing in the truncated title role . . . [a] thrilling performance . . .
. . . an exciting work, in his best jazzy style. Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic bring equal commitment to the Fourth Symphony.
. . . ["Orango"]: Esa-Pekka Salonen's LA forces give it five-star treatment -- the rising American tenor Michael Fabiano is outstanding . . . [a] stupendous account of the bewildering Fourth [Symphony] . . .
. . . ["Orango"]: Esa-Pekka Salonen and the LA Philharmonic have great fun with it, and there are fine performances from Eugene Brancoveanu as Orango, Ryan McKinny as the Entertainer who shows him off, and Michael Fabiano as the dubious Zoologist who lectures about him . . . [Symphony no. 4]: Salonen conducts it with cool lucidity and a sense of remorseless logic . . . Salonen's fondness for clear textures is very much in evidence, and often admirable.
. . . it's flavorful, enjoyable stuff, and Esa-Pekka Salonen leads a zesty performance . . . a full-throated and deeply convincing rendition of the composer's Fourth Symphony.
The symphony and the "Orango" prologue make a revealing pair in conjunction with deeply insightful notes from director Peter Sellars . . . The symphony is given a beautifully paced performance that achieves, more than most, a strong sense of through line despite a deeply fractured musical narrative . . . every episode fully makes its points in this performance . . . ["Orango"]: Esa-Pekka Salonen and his Los Angeles cast perform the piece with a confidence that suggests they could have written it.
. . . indeed, one of Shostakovichżs wildest mélanges of folk tunes, marches, terrifying outbursts and an orchestration that includes car horns and whistles among other things . . . It is ż in all aspects ż the composerżs audacious and largely successful depiction of a world gone mad . . . [Symphony No. 4]: Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen chose the bleak and terrifying Fourth as almost the logical extension of the mood established in "Orango" . . . I think this is Grammy award stuff! The Los Angeles Philharmonic emerged under Salonen as, arguably, the best orchestra in the country and I personally think that, during his tenure, they were an amazing and formidable ensemble. The recording is amazing . . . All the vocalists in Orango and every single instrumentalist in both pieces are splendid. This is an essential recording for admirers of Shostakovich as well as for fans of Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Strongly recommended!
. . . [This recording is further evidence of Shostakovich's] versatility and amazing capacity for hard work . . . ["Orango"]: Salonen and the cast catch every stylistic twist, and leave us wanting more . . . [Symphony no. 4 is] conducted and recorded here with unsparing clarity . . .
. . . [a] significant release . . . The level of the vocalism is high . . . the lovely-voiced Russian-American soprano Yulia van Doren and trenchant, versatile Kazakh new-music tenor Timur Bekbosunov prove comfortable with and convincing in the phonetics -- a key factor, surely, in rendering Shostakovich's stage works authentically . . . Ryan McKinny's narrating Entertainer handles the lion's share of the music with a strong bass-baritone . . . Michael Fabiano's fine, clear tenor sounds healthy in the Zoologist's little operetta-flavored arioso . . . The Los Angeles Philharmonic plays with precision and daring, giving the ballet movements full, apt flair . . . a grippingly fine performance of the complexly structured Fourth Symphony . . . Salonen's reading -- and the crackerjack L.A. Phil percussion section -- are right on target here.
. . . ["Orango"]: The musical gags are just about nourishing enough to succeed without visuals, and the final hysteria whips the audience into a frenzy . . . The "Prologue" makes a curious yet first-rate companion to the mighty Shostakovich Four. Salonen's approach to this half-human, half-monster Symphony is well-calculated. He makes clear connections between material that can so often seem random in the adventure of the first movement, and makes sure everything can be heard in cataclysmic climaxes. The clarity of bass lines and percussion is aided by the sound team's excellent management of LA's Walt Disney Concert Hall . . . the LA recording adds much to our understanding of an extraordinarily complex giant.
. . . [Salonen] turns his penetrating musical intellect on the extraordinary Fourth Symphony, achieving the kind of skewed logic that some merely hint at. It's a "composerly" account in which every thematic connection, however oblique, has something to say. Clarity is forensic, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic achieving levels of precision that can . . . totally suspend disbelief. And rarely has the enormous final chapter of the piece achieved a more harrowing inevitability.
. . . die Werke [weisen] eine kühne Stilvielfalt auf, was Salonen differenziert herausarbeitet . . . Salonen [verliert] nie den Gehalt aus dem Blick, was nicht zuletzt das weltentrückte Morendo der Celesta am Ende der Vierten zeigt . . .
Schostakowitsch kontrastierte revueartige Abschnitte mit tiefmelancholischen Szenen, Protestmusik mit Opernpomp. Sein bewährter Witz und Spott blitzt immer wieder auf in dem rund 30-minütigen Prolog . . . [die Uraufführung dirigiert von Esa-Pekka Salonen fand] unter großem öffentlichen Interesse mit dem Los Angeles Philharmonic statt. So konnte für diese Ersteinspielung die überzeugende Premierenbesetzung genutzt werden, vorneweg der Bass Ryan McKinny als wuchtig-kolossaler Entertainer. Der agile Tenor Michael Fabiano mimt den aalglatten Zoologen. Plastisch zeichnet Dirigent Salonen die schablonenartigen Szenen nach, subtil gelingen den Sängern und Orchester ironische Sollbrüche, flankiert von beeindruckender kraftvoller Klangopulenz. Insgesamt ergibt sich ein sehr geschmeidiges Bild dieses imponierenden Livemitschnitts . . . [4. Symphonie]: Auch hier führt Salonen ruhigen Mutes durch die aufrüttelnde Partitur und formuliert Unaussprechliches.
. . . [der Schostakowitsch-Könner Esa-Pekka Salonen hält] sein ehemaliges Orchester zu einer so bruitistisch knalligen wie elegant flexiblen, dabei wie gemeißelten Interpretation an . . . [eine] programmatisch sinnvoll wie auch scharf klangziselierte [4. Sinfonie] . . . [Esa-Pekka Salonen] hat jetzt "Orango" mustergültig vitalisiert und befeuert.
. . . ["Orango"]: Ein echter Fund und eine gelungene Ersteinspielung . . .
Eine explosive Mischung ist dieser Live-Mitschnitt . . . das erhaltene "Orango"-Material ist ein Knaller . . . Das Los Angeles-Philharmonic unter Esa-Pekka Salonen musiziert kraftvoll und mit spürbarer Lust an der Neuentdeckung . . . Hervorragend ist das Sängerensemble . . . allen voran der stimmgewaltige Ryan McKinny . . . [Symphony no. 4]: Dirigent und Orchester werden beiden Seiten der Komposition gerecht, ohne je in wehleidiges Pathos zu verfallen. Ein Konzertmitschnitt, der kaum einen Hörer kalt lassen dürfte!
. . . [Symphonie no. 4]: Salonen souligne avec un réel sens de la couleur cette coulée incandescente aux grands gestes oratoires, aux subites transformations de texture, d'orchestration et de rythme.
About the Album
InsightsDmitri Shostakovich:
Orango · Fourth Symphony
The 1930s in the USSR were a decade of seething upheaval. Stalinism, often wrongly thought of as solid and monolithic, was in fact in ceaseless motion. Simply to live their daily lives, Soviet citizens had constantly to navigate a sea of changing rules and contradictory ideological demands. For artists, this created special problems. A writer, composer or film-maker might respond one day with energy and imagination to the world as they saw it all around them, only to find the official interpretation of that world suddenly so altered that their work of art was now deemed unacceptable, offensive or even in dangerous opposition to the purposes of the newest revolutionary reality.
The two works in this recording vividly reflect how such upheavals directly affected the life and music of Dmitri Shostakovich. The first, the opening to an ambitious and entertaining opera, was undertaken as a grandiose contribution to a nationwide official celebration in the early 1930s, but was then unceremoniously broken off, abandoned, and never returned to. The second, a mighty symphony, was conceived in the heroically abrasive and adventurous spirit of the mid-1930s but then suddenly overwhelmed by the regime's deliberately repressive lurch early in 1936 towards nationalism, conservatism, traditionalism and romanticism. Although the score of the symphony was completed at that time, it was only able to be performed a quarter of a century later.
In the 1920s and early 1930s, theatre was one of the most inventive and dynamic parts of Soviet culture and the young Shostakovich threw himself into dramatic adventures, producing, between 1927 and 1937, two operas, three ballets, ten film scores, one music-hall show and seven sets of incidental music, as well as other similar projects which remained unfinished but survive as sketches among the manuscripts left behind at his death in 1975. Among the most fascinating of these unfinished sketches is the prologue to Orango, composed in 1932 as the opening to a full-length satirical opera. Apart from its title, almost nothing was known about this work until 2004, when the Shostakovich scholar Olga Digonskaya unearthed a thirteen-page piano score of this prologue in the Glinka Museum in Moscow.
From Digonskaya, we now know a good deal. The idea for this opera came from Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre, which was looking for a striking contribution to the upcoming celebrations of the 15th anniversary of the October Revolution in the autumn of 1932. Their first task was to find a librettist ‒ or rather two: the well-known historical and science-fiction novelist Alexei Tolstoy (a distant relative of the author of War and Peace); and his regular collaborator, Alexander Starchakov. Tolstoy and Starchakov quickly came up with a startling idea for an uproariously irreverent squib, a satirical farce taking potshots at all kinds of aspects of contemporary culture: the much-discussed rebuilding of post-revolutionary Moscow, the latest fads in popular entertainment, the ludicrous exaggerations of mass-market journalism, the preposterous claims of modern science and much else besides. This helter-skelter medley was to be held together by an improbable story of an experiment in cross-beeding apes with humans to produce a "hybrid" – the Orango of the title – who achieves a dizzying career in Western Europe as a soldier in the First World War, then as a wheeler-dealer in Paris and finally as a powerful international press-baron promoting the rightwing interests of the capitalist world, before being betrayed and sold to a Soviet circus and taken to Moscow, to be exhibited for the amusement of the masses.
The librettists began by drafting an outline of the whole opera: a three-act drama recounting Orango's life, preceded by a scene-setting prologue taking place in contemporary Moscow. They then produced a detailed libretto of the prologue, which they handed over to Shostakovich: on the steps of the absurdly gargantuan (and never constructed) Palace of Soviets, a vast celebration of the 15th anniversary of the October Revolution is under way. Entertainments are provided but the restless crowd demands to see the famous Orango. When Orango is brought out, however, not all goes according to plan. The "ape" gets out of control. To calm the resulting uproar, the Master of Ceremonies ("vesel'čak" – "the entertainer") brings on musicians and actors to tell Orango's story (the next three acts would thus have taken the form of an extended flashback, or an opera within an opera).
Shostakovich, who had just completed his preliminary draft of the third act of his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, immediately set down a piano sketch for this prologue to Orango, borrowing the overture and other fragments from his earlier ballet The Bolt op. 27 (1931) and from his musical-hall show Declared Dead (Hypothetically Murdered) op. 31 (also 1931). He also amused himself weaving in a slew of witty and satirical references to other music, including Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov and the Russian popular song "Chizhik-Pyzhik".
Alas, for reasons still unclear but almost certainly linked to wider changes in political and cultural policy in the autumn of 1932, Tolstoy and Starchakov never proceeded further with their libretto and the Bolshoi abandoned the project. In 2006 the composer's widow, Irina Antonovna Shostakovich, invited the present writer to orchestrate what survives, keeping the composer's original scoring for the fragments from The Bolt and elsewhere using models from his other theatrical pieces of the same period, including Lady Macbeth.
If Shostakovich's Orango has until now been almost completely unknown, his Fourth Symphony by contrast is one of his best-known and greatest symphonic utterances. At the same time, this music too comes with an extraordinary story reflecting the painful uncertainties of the time when it was written. In fact, for years this symphony's true fate was obscured by rumor and misinformation and it was only in 1993, when Isaak Glikman published his correspondence from the composer, that a different tale emerged.
It is known from anecdotes and press announcements that Shostakovich first began thinking about a major symphony on a Mahlerian scale in the early 1930s, and an unfinished fragment of an opening remains from that time. It was in the autumn of 1935, however, that he finally found his way, and by the end of that year he had drafted the first two movements, in a boldly original style that takes to new heights the distinctive combination of the epic and the modernistic which was so characteristic not only of Soviet music but of Soviet films and novels of the mid 1930s.
Then in January 1936 began the notorious campaign of public attacks on Shostakovich, opening with the Pravda article "Muddle instead of music". These attacks were themselves opening shots in a far wider official campaign to change the whole atmosphere and tenor of Stalinist culture and society. This was the beginning of the period now infamously remembered as the Great Terror, and the final movement of this symphony was thus completed in an atmosphere of the greatest danger. Perhaps that is one reason why this movement's intensely enigmatic music, weirdly combining dark tragedy with dreamlike sequences of music-hall and silent-film music, should be so shot through with echoes of the composer's earlier works, including a strange quotation from the 1931 music-hall show Declared Dead (in the original show, the passage quoted accompanies a "Dance of the Cherubim" from an atheist cabaret in Heaven) and, as Olga Digonskaya has recently shown, a fragment from an abandoned opera on the 19th-century revolutionary movement, Narodnaya Volya (The People's Will). There are also quotations from music by other composers, including Papageno's panpipe motif from Mozart's The Magic Flute.
Despite the horrifying circumstances surrounding its composition, Shostakovich's Fourth Symphony was successfully completed and scheduled for performance by the Leningrad Philharmonic under the distinguished Austrian conductor Fritz Stiedry. What happened next, however, was fiercely debated until Glikman published his story. According to his account, he was present with the composer at a rehearsal when an official from the Smolny (the headquarters of the Communist Party in Leningrad) appeared, work was stopped, and Shostakovich was forced to withdraw his symphony.
Glikman was also present 25 years later in December 1961, when the Fourth was finally given its long-delayed first performance, in Moscow under Kyril Kondrashin. On that occasion, Glikman claimed, the composer turned to him and said: "I think in many ways the Fourth is better than my later symphonies."
Gerard McBurney
"An astute master of indirection"


text:
Detroit may be under siege by high crime, a lousy climate and the decimation of the auto industry, but one other U.S. metro is less desirable for relocation than the Motor City: New York.
The two metro areas are the least moved-to of any in the country. Residents that moved to those cities last year account for only 1.5% and 1.1% of the population, respectively, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, released last week.
In Depth: U.S. Cities On The Rise
In Depth: Places With The Fewest Newcomers
Much more attractive, however, are college towns where students and education professionals help welcome outsiders. Among the places in America that have welcomed the most newcomers in 2008, three are home to major colleges and universities: Raleigh, N.C., Provo, Utah, (home to Brigham Young University, one of the country's largest private colleges), and Austin, Texas, home to the University of Texas at Austin.
"If there are lots of newcomers, it's easy to make friends; there's a sense of vibrancy there," says William Frey, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "Places that don't have a lot of new migrants tend to be older and more stagnant. They're also more close-knit."
Intellectual centers like the above-mentioned college towns, however, reliably attract new residents because universities are large, relatively stable employers--and a steady flow of students keeps the population young.
"You have an educated population, and you have a large youthful population," says Alexander von Hoffman, senior fellow at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. "These places retain people after they've graduated, and attract like-minded people."
Behind the Numbers
The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey updates select subjects from the decennial U.S. Census annually, using a smaller sample of the population. It measures characteristics of the population for the year 2008. Forbes looked at the percentage of residents, one year or older, that moved into the 100 most populous Metropolitan Statistical Areas (geographic entities that the U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines and uses in collecting statistics).
Florida metros Cape Coral, Lakeland, Palm Bay and Bradenton saw some of the highest percentages of incoming residents in the country last year. But Florida's population trends are more complex than these numbers can show. Seen over time, Florida's is a story of population drain, not gain. After a boom that began in the '70s, Florida growth slowed considerably.
"In the 1970s, Florida had a population growth of 3% or 4% a year. Bodies kept pouring into the state," says Sean Snaith, director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida. "I called it economic development for dummies: Let them come in and sit back and watch the economy grow."
But, he says, as older Americans have put off retirement, the cost of living has grown and the economy and job market have deflated, the state's growth is finally slowing down. Because these numbers only reflect the past year, they don't illustrate long-term trends. But they do show that Florida's appeal remains strong.
"Newcomers there are still a substantial part of the population," says Frey.
If you liked this story, read:
Where Median Incomes Are Highest
Industry and Population
As a general rule, where there are growth industries, newcomers arrive in a steady stream. The military and high-tech industries beckon workers in Colorado Springs, Colo., which is the area with the highest rate of new arrivals in the country. Education and health care jobs are prevalent there as well, which keep people coming. In Bakersfield, Calif., third on our list, it's the oil-based economy that constantly brings in newcomers.
Conversely, formerly thriving manufacturing centers in the Midwest and nearby regions have seen dismal immigration in recent years; 2008 was no exception. Milwaukee, Wis. Youngstown, Ohio, St. Louis, Buffalo, N.Y., Minneapolis and Detroit all ranked near the bottom of the list for new immigrants.
Big cities also struggle to attract newcomers due to the high cost of living. As with previous years, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago had the lowest percentages of new residents in the country.
Ironically, however, the pummeled economies in these cities made it difficult for many to move. Thus, in 2008 net migration--the number of those that migrate in minus those who leave--was a slimmer margin than in recent years, according to Frey. For the time being, that's a plus for New York's economy. But locals are likely to move out in greater numbers when the economy rebounds.
While it's safe to say today that big cities are relatively stable and Florida's seeing fewer new arrivals than in the past, populations are always shifting. It's all but certain that that the tides will change again.
"All communities, and urban ones in particular, are in a state of population flux all the time," says Hoffman. "Americans, historically and recently, are always on the move."
In Depth: U.S. Cities On The Rise
In Depth: Places With The Fewest Newcomers


text:
Print these free templates for the Switzerland Public Holidays 2019 and their JPG files here. This year is 2019 and we have shared a very beautiful holiday printable calendar template in JPG and PDF format for your personal or official purpose. Download free almost all templates for the 2019 Year Calendar with Holidays, Observances, Festival lists and other types of holidays.
Switzerland Public Holidays 2019
That's why people know about the bank holidays, national and school holidays for your country, because here we have a list of festival and holidays for almost every country. Major countries are United States, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, NZ, South Africa and India. Here we have created Holidays Calendar 2019 in Excel, Word, PNG and PDF format which is easy to download and Print. Thus you can easily plan and schedule your upcoming projects, events, fixtures and birthdays. Furthermore these Printable Calendars are available in all formats with Holidays.
Also check out Blank Yearly Calendar Templates here.
Printable 2019 Holidays Calendar
These Templates will help you to make your yearly, monthly as well as weekly schedule do complete your daily tasks. For high quality printable templates and their PDF files, you have to drop an email or you can Contact US for more queries!


text:
After returning from Paris, Kim Kardashian took to Insta to debut the second picture of baby North West, with the caption: "I missed waking up with my little [angel emoji]."
As you can see, she is still a human baby with Kanye cheeks and a pure, innocent heart. Swaddled in a white blanket, on a white fur rug, in space.
Want more from Anna? Follow her on Twitter.
Image via Instagram


text:
Increased LGBT Presence at National Political Conventions
Judaism puts a lot of stake in celebration. There are days when we are explicitly commanded to be happy (are you ready for Sukkot yet?), mountains periodically skip like rams, and you cannot leave a Jewish wedding without the song running endlessly in your head, "kol sasson, v'kol simcha, kol chatan, v'kol kallah" (A voice of laughter, a voice of joy, every groom, and every bride). Jewish tradition doesn't explicitly name political conventions as a simcha, but one could almost feel that kind of joy emanating out of Tampa and Charlotte these past two weeks. In Charlotte this week the LGBT delegates have been singled out as the happiest at the Democratic National Convention. And indeed the LGBT community has a lot to celebrate this week.
Coming off the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the decision to stop defending Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the President's announcement that he personally supports same-sex marriage, the Democrats have put LGBT equality front and center at this year's convention. The Democratic Platform officially endorsed same-sex marriage for the first time this year. States were encouraged to bring LGBT delegates and, according to CBS, a total of 486 came from all 50 states. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, the first openly Lesbian congresswoman, spoke in prime time on the last night of the convention. Michelle Obama declared in her speech, "if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love…then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream." Although the Republican National Committee adopted a platform this year that supports a federal amendment banning same-sex marriage, there were strides toward greater inclusion of the LGBT community the convention in Tampa. The Log Cabin Republicans (a Republican LGBT group) was invited to participate as a group for the first time this year, and LGBT focused events at the Convention drew their largest crowds yet. But Judaism demands that at every celebration, while we sing with voices of laughter and joy, we remember times of hardship and struggle. Even as we welcome the Democratic Party's inclusion of LGBT voices and issues at their national convention, we must remember the pain and struggle of so many LGBT people in the United States today. Moreover we must demand action from the Obama administration and Congress on such important pieces of legislation as The Employment Non-discrimination Act, The Student Non-Discrimination Act, and The Safe Schools Improvement Act. And we must renew our commitment to marriage equality in every state and mobilize for the latest round of ballot initiatives this November: working toward equality in Maine, Maryland, and Washington, and fighting to stop a marriage ban in Minnesota. Only then can we truly talk about kol sasson v'kol simcha, kol kallah, v'kol kallah.
Benny Witkovsky is an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant for 2012-2013 (image courtesy of Getty Images)


text:
CINCINNATI (AP) Sean Kilpatrick scored 19 points and No. 24 Cincinnati intensified its defense in the second half, overcoming a 10-point deficit to beat Rutgers 62-54 on Wednesday night for a sweep of their season series.
Cincinnati (17-4, 5-3 Big East) blocked eight shots, forced 21 turnovers and held the Scarlet Knights to 24 points in the second half. The Bearcats also won at Rutgers 68-58 on Jan. 12.
Myles Mack scored 15 points to lead the Scarlet Knights (12-8, 3-6), who have lost four in a row with an offense that can't find any consistency.
The Bearcats trailed by 10 early in the second half and didn't lead until Kilpatrick's fastbreak layup put them ahead with 11 minutes left. Point guard Cashmere Wright hit a 3-pointer that put them ahead to stay.
Cincinnati had eight days off following its 57-55 loss at Syracuse, giving Wright more time to recover from a sprained right knee. Wright missed one game and returned at Syracuse even though the knee wasn't fully healed. He played 29 minutes and went only 2 of 13 from the field, missing seven of eight shots from behind the arc.
Wright started Wednesday but picked up his second foul at the 16:07 mark and headed to the bench. He was limited to 20 minutes and finished with six points and three assists on 1-of-6 shooting.
Justin Jackson had seven points, seven rebounds and six blocks for Cincinnati.
Kilpatrick has carried the offense while Wright was either sidelined or limited by the injury. He missed his first four shots on Wednesday, and the Bearcats' offense bogged down again. He finished 5 of 13 from the field and 3 of 8 behind the arc.
Cincinnati missed its first nine shots from long range and opened the game only 2 of 13 from the field, helping Rutgers pull ahead 13-5. The Scarlet Knights never trailed, leading by as many as nine in the half.
Mack leads Big East guards in shooting percentage and averages a team-high 12.8 points, but had been in a shooting slump during the Scarlet Knights' previous three losses. He was only 3 of 16 from 3-point range during the three games.
He didn't start Wednesday, coming off the bench at the 14:33 mark. He had a steal and layup, four free throws and a 3-pointer that helped Rutgers hold a 30-22 lead at halftime.
Wright picked up his third foul only 53 seconds into the second half but stayed in the game. Wally Judge's two free throws gave Rutgers its biggest lead, 32-22.
That's when Kilpatrick asserted himself. He made a driving basket and a pair of 3s, helping the Bearcats cut the lead to 36-35 with 14:49 left. Kilpatrick got a loose ball and drove for a layup that gave Cincinnati its first lead, 42-40, with 11:06 to go.
Wright missed his first four shots, but made a long 3-pointer from the top of the arc that gave Cincinnati a 49-46 lead. The Bearcats never trailed again, finishing it off with 11 free throws down the stretch.
Follow Joe Kay on Twitter:http://twitter.com/apjoekay


text:
My entry for the Autumn Society's Golden Age of Comics and Animation Show
I did a tribute to the 1938 "Porky in Wackyland" short and the carbon copy 1949 remake "Dough for the Do-Do". I also considered doing scenes from The Skeleton Dance or Hell's Bells but figured more people would recognize Porky and the Dodo, plus I always loved those shorts. I don't know why so many people knock Porky. I think he's hilarious. And the Dodo doesn't even look like how a real dodo should but thats why its funny to me, haha.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Posted by Zach Bellissimo at 10:00 AM 5 comments
Labels: autumn society, dodo bird, gallery, golden age, looney tunes, merry melodies, porky pig, wackyland
Friday, June 26, 2009
Ain't nothin wrong, Ain't nothing right...
Once again, people, it's blog time!
Caricatures I did of Howard Moon and Vince Noir from the British comedy show "The Mighty Boosh". If you don't know, its what that Old Greg thing on youtube is from. The rest of the show is way better.
A father's day pic for my dear ol' dad with a Tiki head. He built a tiki bar in our backyard so I thought it was only appropriate.
Aaaand a classic cartoon inspired anniversary gift for Tara I gave her last month. I know it seems like we're swingin' n jivin' but we actually can't dance at all...
And one more thing! My Where the Wild Cards Are were featured at the Terrible Yellow Eyes Blog! Awesome! Go see go see go see!
I got some more art I wanna post soon, so keep those looking balls right here!
Posted by Zach Bellissimo at 12:15 PM 7 comments
Labels: anniversary, caricature, fathers day, munny painting custom figure tara billinger, terrible yellow eyes, the mighty boosh, tiki, where the wild things are
Friday, June 19, 2009
Where the Wild Cards Are
The night Zach found his mini bristol drawing cards, he grabbed his markers and made mischeif of one kind...
9 Where the Wild Things Are Portrait Cards!
"Where the Wild Things Are" is most definatley one of my favorite books of all time. I just had a notion a couple days ago to do some practice drawings for a larger piece I'm planning on doin, and then these 9 beasties popped out! Each character is drawn from a certain pose and page in the book. Wanted to give tribute to it but keep it in my style. I had lots of fun on these little buggers.
Also check out this awesome blog! Terrible Yellow Eyes is a collection of tribute pieces for Maurice Sendak's wonderous book. Very inspirational.
And keep those yellow eyes glued here! I plan on creating some more Wild Things related pieces.
Until then, see ya later and thanks for peeping!
Posted by Zach Bellissimo at 1:59 PM 1 comments
Labels: cards, maurice sendak, max, terrible yellow eyes, where the wild things are
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Let me dump my art on ya...
Hey you! Got some things to show ya.
I don't think I've ever shown Deziree on this blog before. Anyway she's one of my favorite characters, had her since highschool. She's a confused half demon half angel pink haired black eyed 17 year old. Riveting!
I recently met Becky Dreistadt and Frank Gibson at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art and gave them this fanart of Hootenanny from Tiny Kitten Teeth as a gift. Definatley check that out, its a hand painted wacky comic adventure updated 5 days a week!!
A commission from my friend Mike Ruocco of Hycanith Hippo and Ben Ali Gator from Fantasia. One of my favorite scenes too!
Another commission from my friend Chris Zito of Kowalski from the classic Ren and Stimpy ep "Fake Dad". Baby loooove Daddy!
And last but not least a very special commission for Lindsay Lamont and her fiance Chris. She wanted Tara to draw her and me to draw Chris. Ain't that sweet? They also sent us some pretty amazing gifts in return. But that I'm gonna show in another post. So keep your eyes glued.
Until next time, stay classy.
Posted by Zach Bellissimo at 4:37 PM 1 comments
Labels: commissions, deziree, fantasia, kowalski, tiny kitten teeth
Monday, June 1, 2009
I Don't Wanna Be Held in Your London Dungeon...
Anyone out there a Misfits fan?
Weeeeell for anyone who doesn't know they're a legendary punk band known for their clever horror themed songs and styles.
This is a long awaited commission for friend Karl Stephens, who's currently working on a crazy cool comic called Sparko soon to be published by SLG. Lucky stiff.
Anyway he wanted a depiction of the classic Misfits song London Dungeon with singer Glenn Danzig in a dungeon. How could I resist doin Misfits art? I initially was gonna have it as a bird's eye view but that kept back firing on me, so I settled on this.
The brown paper gave it an awesome vintage texture.
Here's the song if anyone decides they want to feel the raw power that is the Misfits. The video's kinda crappy but you get the point.
Also here's some gremlin thing. I don't why I drew this but he's kinda kooky.
And some Dexter's Lab sketches. Found out they started including the Boomerang channel on my TV box. WHOO!
Thats it for now. Special thanks to everyone who commented on my last post and anyone just coming by the check me out!
It tickles my insides...hee hee...
Here's hoping your swell...
Posted by Zach Bellissimo at 2:11 PM 3 comments
Labels: commission, dexter's lab, gremlin, london dungeon, the misfits


text:
Post jobs, find pros, and collaborate commission-free in our professional marketplace.
Get your team aligned with all the tools you need on one secure, reliable video platform.
Browse and buy exceptional, royalty-free stock clips, handpicked by the best.
In June 2012 our crew from Wrenchmonkees went across Europe to test our own Nordic Work Wear tailored by Kansas. Driving, wrenching and sleeping in our own garments for 10 days proved for us what works and what doesn´t. This is how it went…
We build motorcycles and we ride them. Motorcycles shape our lives. Since 2008 we have been building custom motorcycles for committed souls in most parts of the world. We love the spirit of old Japanese, British, Italian and American motorcycles. We create simple but distinctive motorcycles with an attitude. As well as in
bikes we also believe in clothing based on simple fundamentals that relate to our work life in the garage, driving bikes and our everyday life in Copenhagen. For a long time we have felt an urge to create our own clothes. Clothing that fit our desires and needs in the garage and on the road.
The WM A.C Nordic Workwear edition is created in collaboration with KANSAS, who has been a long-standing Danish workwear manufacturer since 1952. We respect KANSAS as a genuine label that crafted the work clothes of our fathers with pride and superior garment quality. Today we collaborate with KANSAS to craft the
best long lasting garage wear for our generation.
Filmed by: Simon Weyhe & Mathias Nyholm Schmidt
Edit by: Simon Weyhe
Graphics by: Victor Lieberath Studio
Music by: Ormen - WSLS Records
Shot on: Canon C300, Sony FS100, Canon 5D marklll, Zeiss & Leica glass and Kessler crane
Riders: Nicholas Bech, Per Nielsen, Andreas Mørk Hansen, Lars Lykkegaard, Anders Holm, Ulrik Nielsen,
John Perrier, Martin Bøgelund Beck, Henrik Justesen, Jesper Nicolaisen, Christian Lebrecht and Søren Fink
Driver: Affe
Thansk to: GOPRO, Kansas, May-Britt Gram & Domaine Des Girasols Rasteau


text:
Quote: Agnes Baker Pilgrim
"We are all water babies. It's never too late to save the world. Wherever you are, take care of the water—if you really want to live."
About the Image
Rex Bizahaloni of the Diné (Navajo) Tribe stands in the river confluence of the Colorado and Havasupai Canyon. The Grand Canyon is a sacred place to many indigenous tribes yet water rights issues and uranium mining threaten the river corridor.
Photo © Raechel Running, 2010 RaechelRunning.com


text:
Hello, everyone! It's Ilana from Team LC. There's a lot of talk of love during the first half of February, but that doesn't mean the focus on the heart should fade away post-Valentine's Day. Instead of talking dating or romance today though, I wanted to share one of my favorite heart-healthy recipes. I made a resolution to kick my processed sugar habit this year, so I've been on the constant hunt for alternative ways to satisfy my sweet tooth. From my delectable Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding to plain Greek yogurt drizzled with agave and cinnamon, I now have quite a few guilt-free treats in my repertoire. These Healthy No-Bake Cookie Dough Bites (adapted from a recipe by Averie Cooks) are one of my very favorites. Not only are these tasty little morsels free from dairy and processed sugar, but they're also full of healthy whole grain oats to keep your ticker in tip-top shape. Here's the recipe if you want to give it a try…
Healthy No-Bake Cookie Dough Bites
Makes 12
- 2/3 cup raw cashews
- 1/3 cup oats
- 2 Tbsp agave syrup
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sweet cacoa nibs (you can sub dark chocolate chips if you're not staying away from sugar like I am)
- Combine oats and cashews in a food processor and grind into a flour-like consistency.
- Add agave, maple syrup, and vanilla, and blend again until smooth.
- Transfer your dough into a mixing bowl and stir in cacao nibs by hand.
- Roll the dough into approximately 12 chocolate truffle-sized balls. Enjoy immediately or store in the fridge for later.
{Step 1}
{Step 2}
{Step 3}
{Step 4}
It was pretty hard to resist popping these into my mouth before I photographed them. Luckily, the process for making them only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
Are you going to give this healthy recipe a try?
xo Ilana
Team LC