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This is part two of the draft grades article. It teases and pleases you with the Cowboys and Giants, climaxes with the 49ers and cuddles with the Seahawks. If you want to read about the AFC, or need an explanation of the wonky pedagogy-challenged categories, read yesterday's article!
Dallas Cowboys
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. Zack Martin will be a great guard and could slide over to become a very good right tackle. I am not sold on Demarcus Lawrence as a system fit -- he's the kind of underweight, elongated defensive end who could get steamrolled in an old-school 4-3. Ben Gardner is stouter but less dynamic. The seventh-round pick brigade is full of guys like linebacker Will Smith of Texas Tech: major-program starters with high motors and just enough to offer athletically to make them viable prospects.
Meets Needs: Satisfactory. The Cowboys got the guard they needed, then just hammered on the defense, grabbing Devin Street in the fifth round because you would be crazy to ignore wide receiver in this draft. (Hear that, Raiders and Chiefs: crazy!)
Uses Resources: Satisfactory. The Cowboys clearly love Lawrence, but they are a little too needy to be trading out of the third round. Stockpiling seventh-round picks may not seem like a wise Cowboys move -- Jerry Jones is on his second Bombay Sapphire martini by the seventh round -- but the team chose with care and got potentially useful players.
Final Assessment: Proficient. The fingerprints of Rod Marinelli can be seen on much of this draft. The new defensive coordinator stresses aggressiveness above most other traits, and prospects like Lawrence, Smith, Gardner and Ahmad Dixon play like they are leading a cavalry charge. At the same time, Marinelli will sometimes sacrifice too much for a gung-ho attitude. The Cowboys defensive line will be pretty small if Lawrence climbs atop the depth chart, and Anthony Hitchens is more of a try-hard than a can-do. There are few players here who point the way to a brighter future, but the defense has been duct taped up as much as possible, there will be no calling Rayfield Wright out of retirement for a guard emergency, and the decision to avoid a Manziel circus in favor of quiet defensive rebuilding is its own small triumph.
New York Giants
Finds Talent: Excellent. Odell Beckham is such a gifted deep threat -- with the potential to be a 90-catch every-down threat as well -- that he could reshape Eli Manning's late career. Weston Richburg is the center who earns a starting job by the end of his rookie year, then let's you forget about the center position for the rest of the decade. Andre Williams would have been a top-20 pick in the 1980s or early 1990s as an exceptional thumper between the tackles who will give the Giants offense a Frank Gore vibe. (Or to put it in Giants terms, an old-school Ottis Anderson vibe. Devon Kennard can be a sleeper hit at outside linebacker if he stays healthy.
Meets Needs: Satisfactory. Richburg was a natural need pick, as were Beckham and Williams. Jay Bromley will be an important part of the defensive line rebuild: He's a big beefball who is tenacious and has surprising, subtle little block-slipping techniques.
Uses Resources: Satisfactory. The Giants stayed in their lane for the whole draft, with no crazy reaches or sudden shifts.
Final Assessment: Advanced. The Giants get a high score for the overall shape of their draft. Beckham and Williams are personality changers for a team that needed an adjustment at the skill positions. A Williams-Rashard Jennings running back tandem gives the Giants ball-pounding capability after several seasons of sending rushers off-tackle to get injured and fumble. Beckham and Victor Cruz give the receiver corps back some 2011 dynamism. The rest of the draft brought infrastructure guys for a team with crumbling infrastructure. The Giants may not be back to Super Bowl form (and we would not be able to tell, anyway, since their Super Bowl teams look no different than their wild-card teams), but we won't be watching Peyton Hillis in a major role again, so hooray.
Philadelphia Eagles
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. Jordan Mathews would have been a first-round pick in a draft without epic wide receiver talent. Jaylen Watkins has a future as a starting cornerback. Marcus Smith will never be a 10-sack guy, but he will be a six-sack guy who stuffs some runs and does more in coverage than stand there and serve as a deterrent. Josh Huff and Taylor Hart were not indulgent "Oregon pipeline" picks in the third and fifth round: Huff is a smooth all-purpose depth receiver, Hart a strong and ornery wave lineman.
Meets Needs: Satisfactory. There was no NEXT BRIAN DAWKINS in this draft class, which is a shame, because Eagles fans desperately need to anoint a NEXT BRIAN DAWKINS and tend to see the face of the NEXT BRIAN DAWKINS in the burn marks on the side of a burrito. Ed Reynolds is more of a low-mistake, sure-tackling cleanup safety, so he at least passes the ANYONE IS BETTER THAN PATRICK CHUNG test. The receivers ease DeSean Jackson anxiety, and swapping out Bryce Brown for Darren Sproles increases backfield diversity.
Uses Resources: Needs Improvement. The Eagles stood still in the first round and waited for either Ha Ha Clinton-Dix or Brandin Cooks to fall. The Saints leap-frogged for Cooks, the Packers pulled a Nelson Muntz with Clinton-Dix and the Eagles traded down to ease the sting of selecting Smith, a fine player but clear consolation prize.
Final Assessment: Proficient. The quiet key to this class may be Watkins. He could develop rapidly into a quality starting cornerback, making him an exceptional fourth-round value. Otherwise, Smith and Matthews are safe selections, Sproles provides a short-term boost and the Eagles did roughly what they had to do to prevent a Chip Kelly "the league has figured me out" sophomore swoon.
Washington Redskins
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. Trent Murphy, Morgan Moses and Lache Seastrunk represent a pretty fine haul for a team with no first-round pick. Murphy is a polarizing prospect, but when he replaces Brian Orakpo next year he will likely be the "other" outside linebacker to Ryan Kerrigan, so a little less pass-rush ability and a little more versatility will not hurt. Moses has starting-tackle upside, as his technique has continuously smoothed out over the years. Seastunk is a big-play guy in line for a 10-touch role in support of Alfred Morris.
Meets Needs: Satisfactory. Seastrunk adds offensive explosiveness in just the right place. Murphy shows the Redskins planning for the future (shudder). Spencer Long may move from guard to center; the team needs to be planning ahead at both positions. And I don't mind kicker Zach Hocker in the seventh round. He has a touchback leg, which will help a team rebounding from a special teams crisis. Just sending a noisy message about being serious about fixing the darn special teams is worth a seventh-round pick.
Uses Resources: Excellent. Trading down twice to get extra picks -- including an extra third-rounder that became Long == was a wise move, and a bold one. It's not easy to wait through Day One, stare at the top of the Day Two draft board all day Friday, and then commit to plunging even further, but the Redskins made it work. And for the record, Demarcus Lawrence (who the Cowboys drafted with the Redskins' second-round pick) may grade out as a better athlete, but he was a 4-3 defensive end, whereas Murphy played a similar role at Stanford to the one he will play with the Redskins.
Final Assessment: Proficient. Trading three years' worth of draft picks for Robert Griffin was a huge mistake. I said it when it happened, long before Griffinfall. If Redskins fans imagine a Redskins team with Kirk Cousins or Ryan Tannehill at quarterback and Desmond Trufant (taken with one of the picks the Redskins traded) and Janoris Jenkins (taken with another) at cornerback, and with Sammy Watkins, Greg Robinson or Khalil Mack coming aboard this year, they might sigh heavily. And don't go all Delicate Sound of Thunder on me: I know the draft orders and needs would all be different. The point is that Griffin is here and still an outstanding prospect, the Redskins have to make the best of the lemons they gave themselves and this draft class is pretty drinkable lemonade.
Chicago Bears
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. Kyle Fuller arrives ready to play. Ka'Deem Carey can take pressure off Matt Forte immediately, and if you understand running back aging patterns, you know the Bears will need a new featured back sooner than later. There was not a lot of specialness in the late draft class.
Meets Needs: Excellent. Three straight picks on defense to start the draft tell the tale. Ego "The Living Planet" Ferguson and Will Sutton are future starters at defensive tackle. Ego is the nose guy, Sutton the three-tech, and both can ease into their roles because the Bears retained some of their geezer gang (like Jay Ratliff) for an extra year. As mentioned above, Carey closes a hole that may soon open. David Fales is a quick-witted short passer; he is strictly a backup, but he will allow Marc Trestman to explore his West Coast roots.
Uses Resources: Satisfactory. Some think of Ego as a reach, but if you flip him and Sutton, the Bears draft board looks more like my little draftnik doodle pad.
Final Assessment: Proficient. This was a very good effort, bordering on a great one. A post-Urlacher, post-Peanut defensive core is taking shape: You can see a Fuller-Ego-Sutton-Lamarr Houston-Jon Bostic defense gelling into something great in a year or two. In the short term, these rookies can help Peanut Tillman, Lance Briggs, Jared Allen and the other graybeards climb to the top of the NFC North. Remember, folks: The Bears offense is now pretty good, so the defense does not have to go into Super Bowl Shuffle mode for a playoff run. They just have to cut out the 200-yard rushing days for opponents. They have done that, and then some.
Detroit Lions
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. Eric Ebron and Kyle Van Noy get your attention. Ebron is that coveted Jimmy Graham type, while Van Noy provides a pass-rush threat (plus versatility) at outside linebacker, meaning that the days of never blitzing and using exactly one defensive front are over in Detroit. Caraun Reid is a tough, high-energy dependability guy to provide depth and wave production behind the Lions' marauding Visigoth tackles.
Meets Needs: Satisfactory. Ebron was not exactly a need pick: The Lions re-signed Brandon Pettigrew to a lucrative deal and have Joseph Fauria dancing in the wings. Then again, Travis Swanson arrived as the center of the near future in the third round, Nevin Lawson is ready to play an immediate role at cornerback and if you have no experienced kickers on the roster, splurging on Nate Freese in the seventh round is not a terrible idea.
Uses Resources: Satisfactory. The Lions traded up a few slots for Van Noy but still had picks in every round, with two in the fourth. The team whiffed on its alleged effort to move up for Sammy Watkins, but using "only so many footballs to go around" logic, upgrading at tight end -- while still having picks available to clean up other messes -- makes more sense than lunging for a #2 receiver.
Final Assessment: Proficient. This draft could have been flashier (Watkins!) or more obvious (more cornerbacks!), but it still accomplished a lot. Opponents will have a brutal time covering all of the Lions offensive weapons. Van Noy adds a new dimension to the pass rush. And players like Larson, Swanson, Reid and pass-rush prospect Larry Webster point the way to a not-so-distant future when the Lions will be too cap-strapped to keep second-tier stars like Nick Fairley. Like the Bears, the Lions made themselves viable playoff contenders in the short term while still keeping an eye on the horizon.
Green Bay Packers
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is not a future superstar. He is, however, an almost immediate quality starter who will get the job done for years to come. Jared Abbrederis is a fine addition to four- and five-wideout packages because he works short areas well, catches everything and blocks. I just received a memo informing me to refer to Jeff Janis as THE NEXT JORDY NELSON (it must be similar to THE NEXT BRIAN DAWKINS) but I don't see it: Janis looked like a big, tough possession guy to me at the Senior Bowl. I am not a Carl Bradford fan: He looks to me like a guy whose maximum effort results in getting pancaked and whiffing on open-field tackles. But he could become that elusive complementary linebacker to Clay Matthews, theoretically.
Meets Needs: Excellent. Saturation drafting the receiving corps made sense. Davante Adams is the top pick of the bunch, but I can see Abbrederis and Janis staging a depth-chart coup. Either way, the competition will help offset recent losses. Richard Rodgers is the type of tight end the Packers prefer: a slightly larger wide receiver. Corey Linsley is a center for a team that needs a center; it seems obvious, but the Packers have that Patriots problem of using differential calculus to count change at times. There was no disaster relief quarterback (Boston College's Chase Rettig, a free agent, is a camp arm), but Scott Tolzien is a passable No. 3, and Matt Flynn in Green Bay is like Aquaman in seawater.
Uses Resources: Satisfactory. The Packers had extra third- and fifth-round compensatory picks, and they had several roster needs, so they used the picks to address the needs. Again, sometimes you have to tell Einstein which drawer the socks are in.
Final Assessment: Proficient. The Packers were the little Italian restaurant on the corner this year. The quality is just OK, but the portion is huge, and you get exactly what you expected. Ted Thompson has served a lot of fusion cuisine in the past, leaving us intermittently inspired, confused and hungry, so this feels right. The rest of the division may have gained a little ground, but the Packers did what they could to allow Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews to keep setting the pace.
Minnesota Vikings
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. I am a Teddy Bridgeliever, though the fit is troublesome. The Vikings have a poor track record with pesky short passers. Anthony Barr gives Mike Zimmer the kind of chess piece he needs to revamp the defense. David Yankey is a great fifth-round value at guard. Jerick McKinnon is a physical runner who will make a smooth transition from college quarterback to change-up running back. If McKinnon is taking snaps in December, Joe Webb-style, with Bridgewater on the bench or IR, I am quitting the draft business forever.
Meets Needs: Excellent. Three developmental cornerbacks are better than one. Seventh-rounder Jabari Price could climb above toolsy Antone Exum and small-school project Kendall James because he is disciplined and competitive. Barr and Scott Crichton will make the front seven more Zimmer-like. Quarterback was an obvious need.
Uses Resources: Excellent. The Vikings won the draft trade battle. They got the Yankey pick by sliding down one spot so the Browns could acquire Justin Gilbert. Moving up for Bridgewater cost little. Several late-round slides brought extra picks in the sixth and seventh round. Extra picks are important for the Vikings because …
Final Assessment: Advanced. … one of the things a new coaching regime must do is reshape a roster in its own image. That can be tricky. Some coaches become autocratic and make changes for change's sake; others arrive with too many needs or cap constraints to do the little things, like make sure everyone on the depth chart fits the new system. Sixth- and seventh-round picks are a great way for a new staff to allow competition to dictate how roster transition will be handled: If Price and Brandon Watts are better fits at cornerback and outside linebacker than the incumbent Vikings, then they stick. While the late-rounders flesh out the roster, Bridgewater and Barr chart a new course on offense and defense. The Vikings have selected five players in the first rounds of the last two drafts, so Zimmer now has everything he needs to form a young nucleus, including a superstar running back to keep the team competitive while the puzzle pieces fall into place.
Atlanta Falcons
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. Jake Matthews gets overshadowed by everybody. Teammate Johnny Manziel was more fun, former teammate Luke Joeckel was drafted higher, Greg Robinson is bigger and stronger and the Matthews family is full of great football players. Judged on his own terms, he is a better player than Joeckel, more prepared to start than Robinson and a likely starter for a decade. Ra'Shede Hageman was a first-round talent in the second round. Devonta Freeman is a tough, versatile change-up back.
Meets Needs: Excellent. Defensive toughness was a major need (besides left tackle, a more specific and obvious need). Hageman is a brawler, cornerback Ricardo Allen is ornery and physical and Marquis Spruill is another undersized "striker" type. Adding seven defenders sent a message that none of the kids who became default-choice starters last year can rest easy.
Uses Resources: Satisfactory. The Falcons used their early draft position to maximum advantage. They are less needy than most teams that pick sixth overall, so they were able to target very good players to solve specific problems.
Final Assessment: Proficient. The Falcons splurged with a 20-free-agent spree after the draft, grabbing both Wisconsin tight ends (Jacob Pederson and Brian Wozniak) and a receiver named Julian Jones who is bound to cause some confusion. Factor in all of last year's rookies, and the Falcons have a full-scale rebuild going on beneath the façade of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. There will be growing pains, and some picks will not pan out, but this is the right call. The NFC South is a tough division, and the Falcons will not get good again overnight. By doing some dirty work this year, they can be ready to attack again when Ryan is still in his prime and Drew Brees is in a broadcast booth.
Carolina Panthers
Finds Talent: Needs Improvement. In terms of pure talent, Kelvin Benjamin has the goods. He is also about as ready as a frozen turkey. Think of him as a top-10 talent in the 2015 draft if you like, but the Panthers need two starting receivers for Week One and still have zero at this moment. Kony Ealy's selection makes sense in light of Greg Hardy's legal issues, but the Panthers front seven will still be solid if Hardy is unavailable, while their secondary and receiving corps will be ugly no matter what. As for the rest of the draft: It was a bunch of guys named Trai, Tre and Bene, but it was not tres tres bien. (Sorry).
Meets Needs: Needs Improvement. Ugh. Benjamin is the receiver you draft after you retain Steve Smith to be your go-to guy for one more year. The Panthers waved at their need in the secondary by selecting safety Tre Boston and cornerback Bene Benwikere in the fourth and fifth rounds; this is a team that needed second- and third-round talent at those positions. Extra wide receivers? We don't need no stinking extra wide receivers!
Uses Resources: Needs Improvement. Double ugh. Remember how the Falcons selected 20 rookie free agents in the last segment? The Panthers signed nine as of Tuesday, when all the best ones were taken. Nine. Two of them were wide receivers, one was a defensive back. The Panthers also traded out of the seventh round. You know how great teams keep their rosters strong by fostering competition -- "steel sharpens steel," and all that? The Panthers don't seem to grasp that concept.
Final Assessment: Remediation. Kudos to Panthers general manager David Gettleman for putting family first and attending his son's graduation on Day Three of the draft. Next time, he should put family really first by spending draft weekend at home making pancakes and watching the sunset, leaving someone in charge who will pick players the Panthers can actually use in 2014. This was an ugly draft, capping one of the worst offseasons I have ever seen a playoff team inflict upon itself. When the Panthers are 5-11 next year, people will straight-facedly blame it on Cam Newton's regression, ignoring the fact that Peyton Manning could not make this receiving corps serviceable. If Gettleman is one of those Cam-blamers, Panthers fans, be terrified.
New Orleans Saints
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. Sean Payton and Drew Brees will love Brandin Cooks, inserting him quickly into a Devery Henderson role, with a side of Darrin Sproles shallow crosses. Rob Ryan has a new toy chest in Stanley Jean-Baptiste (another of the Richard Sherman Babies), Khairi Fortt (linebacker multi-tool) and Ronald Powell (a gamble-on-greatness pass rusher with a rough ACL history). Special teams coach Greg McMahon gets Vinnie Sunseri, a coach's kid whose skill set screams "special teams captain."
Meets Needs: Satisfactory. Some tight end insurance would have been nice, but let's face it: Jimmy Graham will be back for at least one more year, and he is not the kind of guy you replace in the second round. Cooks replenishes the Saints' deep-threat capability, and Jean-Baptiste will get bump-and-run tutelage from Champ Bailey.
Uses Resources: Excellent. Trading up for Cooks was a masterstroke. The Saints beat two other playoff teams (Chiefs and Eagles) to a player all three needed; the cost of a late third-round pick was a bargain. Powell comes as compensation for Sproles. He is a battler with great instincts, but he did not look that explosive last season after a year of ACL rehab. ACL rehab is often a two-year road, so Powell could be a sleeper.
Final Assessment: Proficient. Now that Ryan has enough pieces in place on defense, the Saints' best chance to win another Super Bowl in the Brees era is to make the offense as much like the 2009 model as possible, forcing the big-D NFC defenders to play on their heels. Cooks can make that happen, assuming a happy Graham reports for duty as well.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins are not just great, high-upside prospects, but players who will shape the Buccaneers offense. Evans and Vincent Jackson are quarterback's helpers who not only create mismatches but haul in contested and off-target passes. Seferian-Jenkins can block for all of Tampa's power runners while contributing as a safety valve. The rest of the draft was uneventful, though Robert Herron was a great sixth-round value at wide receiver. He provides great pure speed but little else -- not the guy to build a draft around, but an excellent low-price acquisition as a fourth wideout.
Meets Needs: Satisfactory. Wide receiver was a major need, tight end a secondary one. Running back was a non-need, so Charles Sims was an odd choice: He is a power runner on a roster flooded with them. Kadeem Edwards and Kevin Pamphile are both size/strength prospects on the interior line, where the Bucs might need more immediate help because of Carl Nicks' health issues. There is no quarterback of the future, though it may turn out that there is: a fellow named Mike Glennon. Free agency brought Brett Smith, who will be a Jeff Tedford tinkertoy.
Uses Resources: Satisfactory. The Bucs lost their fourth-round pick in the Revis deal, but it did not really matter. They were so active in free agency that there was not much to accomplish in the draft.
Final Assessment: Proficient. Lovie Smith handled much of his overhaul via free agency, and he did not have much work to do on a defense loaded with young talent. Evans and Seferian-Jenkins join a new-look offense that's intriguing on paper and could make the Bucs instantly competitive again while the Falcons rebuild and Panthers shoot themselves in the foot. It looks like Josh McCown in the short term and Glennon in the long term at quarterback, but that's not a bad thing. Stack Glennon's baptism under fire against anything the Jimmy Garoppolo or Aaron Murray types in the pool have to offer, and it makes sense to give him a second look.
Arizona Cardinals
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. The theme of the Cardinals draft is "big and toolsy." Troy Niklas is not as athletic or versatile as other recent Notre Dame tight ends, but he is huge, which counts for something. Logan Thomas looks and sounds like a Jedi but has the aim of a Stormtrooper. Kareem Martin looks like an eight-time All-Pro in a T-shirt and has strength and speed to burn, though it somehow doesn't add up. Ed Stinson is another Muscle and Fitness cover model in need of some better game tape. Like the Steelers class, this one is full of hopes and projections, though Deone Bucannon is more of a sure-thing as the capstone.
Meets Needs: Satisfactory. Safety was a big concern, and Bucannon is another tone setter for Todd Bowles, whose tone is "fly around, hit hard, accept consequences later." Bruce Arians loves tight end depth, and Niklas will have multiple journeyman mentors, including Notre Dame prototype John Carlson. Thomas counts as a developmental quarterback of the future, as long as you underline "developmental" and "future."
Uses Resources: Satisfactory. The Cardinals were facilitators of the Saints deal to get Brandin Cooks, netting Pittsburg State's John Brown with the extra pick. I have never seen Brown, but I am surprised to see that he is a little guy (5-foot-10, 180) based on the rest of the Cardinals draft: I thought you had to be built like a Jack Kirby drawing to make their draft board.
Final Assessment: Proficient. The Cardinals drafted players that Arians and Bowles like to work with, even if they look like beefy odds and ends to the rest of us. The Cardinals are doing things their way, and since it is novel for there to even be a "Cardinals way" of doing things, let's go with it for a year.
St. Louis Rams
Finds Talent: Excellent. Greg Robinson and Aaron Donald were the best players on the boards at their positions, assuming you classify Robinson's position as right tackle or guard. Lamarcus Joyner is one of those cornerbacks whose height is a big deal throughout the draft process; then, he suddenly grows two symbolic inches by his third season. E.J. Gaines was a heck of a cornerback prospect to stumble into in the sixth round. Tre Mason carried eight times for 35 yards while you were reading this paragraph, even though it is mid-May.
Meets Needs: Satisfactory. It's hard to imagine how much better Donald can make the Rams defense. At some point, the difference between giving opposing quarterbacks 0.55 and 0.53 seconds to throw does not amount to much. Robinson and Mason give the Rams so much inside-running beef that we might not notice the lack of downfield passing, but some of us were looking for a more emphatic quarterback statement than SMU's Garrett Gilbert.
Uses Resources: Excellent. The second overall pick in the draft is a lovely thing to have gift-wrapped two years in advance, of course. But the Rams knew what to do with it -- not only taking a potential great in Robinson, but using the surplus to trade up without incident to get Joyner. Extra bottom-round picks allowed the Rams to do more than make history with Michael Sam: Gaines will stick as a nickel player, and Mitchell Van Dyk looked like a dad playing in a Pop Warner game in the Portland State-Southern Utah game I watched. (Yes, I watch PSU-SUU tape on beautiful spring days. Please recommend a good therapist in the 856 area code and a Blue Cross network. Many thanks.)
Final Assessment: Advanced. The Rams would be my pick to win the AFC South hands down, and they would at least merit serious wild-card consideration in several other divisions. As it is, they are stuck in a battle for third place, but assuming the team's Sam Bradford faith is even semi-warranted, it is hard to see what more a team can do over three days to improve itself. Unless, of course, you read the next four paragraphs.
San Francisco 49ers
Finds Talent: Excellent. Drool. Here, read Russ Lande's breakdown.
Meets Needs: Excellent. The 49ers barely have needs, so they respond by drafting injured players to stash on IR like guard-tackle Brandon Thomas. That way, they will never have needs.
Uses Resources: Excellent. The best part was getting Steve Johnson for nothing. Or hanging around on the third day, when it seemed impossible that they would find a player they could use, and getting pesky slot receiver Bruce Ellington and Kaleb Ramsey, another injury case who could help some future defensive line.
Final Assessment: Curve Blown. If the current configuration of 49ers does not win a Super Bowl, it will likely not be the fault of Jim Harbaugh, his Lennon-McCartney relationship with the front office or Colin Kaepernick, but simply the cruel vagaries of chance, plus the Seahawks. This roster looks ready to win in 2014 through about 2019.
Seattle Seahawks
Finds Talent: Satisfactory. There's a temptation to give the Seahawks leniency based on their ability to find late-round gold. Without assuming that Schneider-Carroll can turn Eric Pinkins into Kam Chancellor with a magic wand, the Seahawks added a dose of speed to the receiving corps in Paul Richardson and yet another pass rusher in Cassius Marsh.
Meets Needs: Satisfactory. The Seahawks receiving corps lacks elite speed when Percy Harvin is hurt, so Richardson is a plus. Justin Britt will be called upon sooner than later on the offensive line. The Seahawks are not particularly needy.
Uses Resources: Satisfactory. The Seahawks traded down twice to stockpile picks, something you can do when you have some of the NFL's best players locked under contract and don't see anyone on the draft board that thrills.
Final Assessment: Proficient. The Seahawks get an "Advanced" when the Richard Sherman extension is thrown in. But in isolation, this draft does not do much to help the 2014 team, and the Niners gained ground. You can see Schneider's cap management ideas at work, however: He wants multiple swings at a mid-round home run, and he wants plenty of low-priced options as the Seahawks brace for the next round of major cap decisions. In other words, the best move of this draft may occur in 2017, when one or two of these players gets extended.


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Door-to-Door Magazine Solicitor Fraud
PULLMAN – Pullman residents should beware of door-to-door magazine solicitors who may attempt to defraud potential customers.
On Saturday, May 25, Pullman Police received three reports of magazine solicitors who are illegally soliciting in Pullman. Between 1:50 pm and 6:30 pm, magazine solicitors were reported in the 1600 block of SE Bleasner Dr. and 500 block of Quail Ridge Dr.
The solicitors have been described as college aged males and are representatives from "Blue Diamond Subscriptions". The business and solicitors do not possess an itinerant vendor permit from Pullman, which is required to conduct door-to-door solicitations. This business has an 'F' grade from the Better Business Bureau and is the same group who attempted to defraud an elderly Pullman resident in March of 2012.
In addition to illegally soliciting for magazine subscriptions, solicitors are also using a ruse of accepting "charitable donations" to purchase books for underprivileged children. The company has not provided any proof that "contributions" actually benefit any charity or underprivileged children. Residents report that the solicitors also ask to come inside their home.
We recommend that you do not let solicitors inside your home, do not discuss any personal issues, and demand to see a City of Pullman Itinerant Vendor Permit. If they cannot provide a permit, or they tell you that their "supervisor" has the permit, do not do business with them and call the Pullman Police Department immediately. The Pullman Police Department has not issued permits to any door-to-door magazine solicitors.
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Down Wash™
The easy to use, safe, high performance cleaner for down filled clothing and gear.
The safe way to thoroughly clean and revitalize insulation, water repellency and breathability.
Why down items lose their insulating properties when they get dirty...
Down filled items are used to provide lightweight insulation to keep you warm. The structure of down allows air to be trapped between its filaments and warmed by body heat to provide insulation for the user.
Through use, dirt and body oils build up on down items. This affects both the fabric and the down fill. Dirt attracts water; if the fabric absorbs water, rain and condensation can easily transfer into the down. If down gets wet it clumps together. This causes it to lose loft and insulation as it can't trap air effectively. When wet, down loses all of its insulating properties, as water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air. It will also gain weight and its breathability will be significantly reduced; leaving you feeling cold, wet and uncomfortable.
Down filled items are most likely to get sweaty and wet inside when used in damp or wet conditions. Therefore it is important to stop down filled gear from getting wet by maintaining Durable Water Repellency (DWR). The outer fabric of your down filled item, as well as the down inside, must be maintained to ensure comfort. Nikwax Down Wash™ will revitalize the insulation, DWR and breathability of your garment.
Down is ideal for very cold and dry conditions…
Down has exceptional insulating properties, trapping air between its filaments to keep you warm. No other product offers so much insulation for so little weight and bulk. It's ideal for sleeping bags, jackets, vests, and down clothing in general.
Water, whether it is rain or condensation from sweat, compromises the insulating properties of down. If down gets wet it loses all of its insulating capacity and also causes weight gain. This reduces the comfort of the user, causing them to feel cold and wet, but more importantly the reduction in insulation is dangerous and in severe cases can lead to hypothermia. When wet, down loses all of its insulating properties, as water conducts heat away from the body up to 25 times faster than air.
Nikwax Down Wash™ revitalizes insulation and the Durable Water Repellency (DWR) of both the outer fabric and down fill. This prevents water absorption and maintains breathability, keeping you warm, dry and comfortable.
Down items are ideal for people who are outside in very cold conditions…
Anyone who is outside in very cold weather will benefit from down items. Whether you're a mountaineer, skier or snowboarder or you're regularly outside in cold conditions, you will benefit from the lightweight insulation of down.
Use Nikwax Down Wash™ when your down items soak up water…
Your down items could be soaking up water because the Durable Water Repellency (DWR) has been compromised by dirt, or because it has been cleaned with a conventional laundry detergent. Dirt attracts water and household detergents leave water attracting (hydrophilic) residues, leading to fabric and down 'wetting out' in wet or damp conditions.
If your down items are relatively new, or have been recently treated with Nikwax Down Proof™, then cleaning with Nikwax Down Wash™ will not only remove contaminants, such as dirt and residues left behind by household detergents, but also revitalize insulation, breathability and DWR.
However, once the gear has been thoroughly used, you will need to add DWR, using Nikwax Down Proof™, after cleaning first with Nikwax Down Wash™. This will add DWR to the outer fabric of the gear and also the down fill.
Down needs Nikwax Down Wash™; a specialist cleaner…
Conventional laundry detergents leave behind a water attractive (hydrophilic) residue on both the outer fabric and the down fill which masks Durable Water Repellency (DWR). This causes the fabric and down to absorb water and 'wet out' in damp or wet conditions, leading to loss of insulation.
Cleaning products that are not designed specifically for the treatment of down items may also compromise the loft properties of down. If you choose the wrong cleaner, you might cause the dirt from the outer fabric to be re-deposited onto the down, which would reduce its loft and insulation. Therefore, they need to be avoided when cleaning down items.
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How you treat your down is as important as the products you use…
Wet down is heavy, so it is important to use the right wash cycle to ensure no damage occurs to your machine or your down items. A gentle cycle with a slow spin is recommended.
After washing it is important that down items are thoroughly rinsed and very thoroughly dried. Even if you treat your items by hand, spin drying is recommended using a slow spin to get the maximum amount of water out of your down. It's best to spin dry multiple times, each time incrementally increasing the speed of the spin cycle. If items are spun too quickly while still holding a large amount of water it is possible that internal baffles may be broken.
Tumble drying is recommended to ensure that the down is dried thoroughly and as quickly as possible. Leaving down wet or damp can ruin it completely.
Ensure that there is sufficient room in the tumble drier to house the item once dry, as items will return to their original size during the drying process. Teasing apart clumps repeatedly during the drying process will help restore loft to the down.
It is recommended that larger items are cleaned & waterproofed professionally.
How Nikwax Down Wash™ maintains your down items...
Nikwax Down Wash™ has been specifically designed and optimized for down filled gear. It is a highly effective cleaner which removes body oils and dirt from both the fabric and the down fill. It also revitalizes the existing Durable Water Repellency (DWR) of both the outer fabric and the down. This protects against rain and condensation, preventing the item from wetting out and maintaining the natural insulating properties of down. Additionally it revives breathability, allowing moisture vapor to pass through the item, optimizing performance in cold and damp conditions.
Nikwax Down Wash™ prolongs the effective life of your down gear. It is the safe way to thoroughly clean your down clothing and equipment. Application in a washing machine is quick, easy, and ensures that the whole item is thoroughly cleaned.
Like all Nikwax products, Nikwax Down Wash™ is safe to use …
Nikwax takes great care to minimize the effect of Nikwax products on the environment and on you, the consumer. Nikwax avoids materials in its cleaners like palm oil, which may be sourced from unsustainable plantations.
Nikwax Down Wash™ is environmentally friendly; it is non-hazardous, WaterBased and biodegradable.
People who use Nikwax Down Wash™ say that it does the job …
Nikwax Down Wash™ is the product of choice of professional Outdoor trainers.
To find out more about people who are using Nikwax Down Wash™, and other Nikwax products, take a look at our testimonials page.
Use Nikwax Down Wash™ in a washing machine...
Use undiluted Down Wash™ and a sponge, or soft nylon brush, to treat stubborn stains before washing. Remove all non-washable parts. Shake bottle well before use. Follow care label instructions. Do not use detergents.
- Remove all detergent build-up from the detergent dispenser.
- Place item(s) in washing machine.
- Home washing machine*: Use 100ml for 1-3 items
- Commercial Machine: Use 3fl oz (100ml) for 1-3 items/ 1 season sleeping bag, 5fl oz (150ml) for 4-6 items/2-4 season bag
- Wash according to care label.
*Use a front-loading washing machine only. For sleeping bags, use a commercial machine.
Nikwax Down Wash™ can also be applied by hand...
Use gloves.
- Immerse item(s) in hand-hot water in bowl or bathtub.
- Use 3fl oz (100ml) per item.
- For sleeping bags: Use 5fl oz (150ml) in 1.5 inch deep water in a bathtub.
- Agitate to mix.
- Rinse 3 times in clean water. For sleeping bags repeat rinsing process, drain and gently press bag to expel water.
- To remove excess water transfer item(s) to a washing machine and run multiple spin cycles, each time incrementally increasing the spin speed.
Make sure to thoroughly dry your down filled gear...
If you intend to re-waterproof the washed item there is no need to dry it first.
To get the maximum amount of water out of your down it's best to spin dry multiple times, each time incrementally increasing the speed of the spin cycle. Wet down is heavy, so if items are spun too quickly while still holding a large amount of water it is possible that internal baffles may be broken.
Tumble-drying is recommended (if care label allows) to ensure that the down is dried thoroughly and as quickly as possible. Leaving down wet or damp can ruin it completely. Tumble dry according to manufacturer's instructions on a low setting until clumps have disappeared. Ensure that there is sufficient room in the tumble drier to house the item once dry, as items will return to their original size during the drying process.
Teasing apart clumps repeatedly during drying process will help restore loft to the down.
After tumble drying it is recommended to air item(s) for at least a day in a warm and dry space, prior to packing away.


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Sonoma County
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types ...
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Grape varieties are carefully selected to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley's consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.
- Sonoma County1
- Wine Spectator2
- Wilfred Wong of Wine.com1
- Wine & Spirits1
- Vinous1
- Wine Enthusiast1
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate1
Scherrer Winery Scherrer Vineyard Old and Mature Vines Zinfandel 2013Zinfandel from Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California


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What's Happening
The International Boolba Festival happens Saturday August 7th near Fenton Lake
The Boolba Festival is the creation of street artists from Belarus, Ukraine and Russia who are passing through 16 countries to spread a message of freedom, love and sincere communication. And they're having it up in the Jemez, out in the woods near Fenton Lake. The Boolba Festival will feature:
• Belarusian, Ukrainian and Russian folk songs
• Boolba, Borstch and other traditional foods
• Ceramics workshops
• Traditional Games
• Camping
Admission is free but they warn that the road to the festival is rough and narrow and may require a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Just take a right on Forest Road 378 after the Fenton Lake entrance and keep left. There will be someone at the entrance to help with directions. For more information email: litota.belarus@gmail


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If you have a fashion or other business, a great way to grow it is by licensing. You see Daymond and Kevin offer to license all the time. Find out how lucrative licensing can be in 4 easy sessions.
Guest speakers from industry will compliment the lessons.
Class begins April 20th!
Sandra Holtzman teaches CEO 035: Licensing.
She is the author of Lies Startups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing.


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Clue: Yamaha seat, perhaps
We have 1 answer for the clue Yamaha seat, perhaps. See the results below.
Possible Answers:
Related Clues:
Last Seen In:
- LA Times - June 30, 2013
Found an answer for the clue Yamaha seat, perhaps that we don't have? Then please submit it to us so we can make the clue database even better!


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text:
So the other day I had just come home from the store and was dead tired from walking there and back; along with carrying my groceries.
I had work in little over an hour so I decided to surf the channels until I found something good. Of course it was one of those days where nothing is on.
Then I saw something with Meaghan Jette Martin in it. I was intrigued as I only knew Meaghan from the completely sucky TV series 10 Things I Hate About You. (The show was so awful! They ruined the movie! I could write a huge post on everything wrong with that show, but I'll save that for another time. To read more on what I think of the actual film, click here.)
The film was Mean Girls 2 which sucked so bad. I mean the original film was awesome as it was so real at how it expressed how girls are in high school. Every girl could relate to it! Everyone could relate to it! I loved it! Why must they constantly remake or create sucky sequels of great films?
I was just about to flip the channel and try to find something else when who should walk across the screen and change everything?
The Very Handsome…The Very HOT…The Very Talented…
Diego Boneta!!!
I love this guy! Ever since his guest role in Pretty Little Liars and Drew in Rock of Ages! I couldn't believe he was in this movie! I mean he deserves so much better. But now that I saw him in there I couldn't stop watching. I mean look at this guy how could you say no?
So the film was very dumb and predictable. The main girl, Jo, bands with the "losers" to take down the head girls. Problems arise as the secret Jo has been hiding is found out and she loses her friends; her love interest, and her power. In the end everything works out and everyone gets back together.
Besides sucking because of its predictability, it had HUGE plot holes and many, many, many things wrong with it! How did the writers and producers pass this on through?
1) North Shore High in Ohio
Why are they in Ohio? They weren't in Ohio in the first film. I thought they were in California. So now why place them in Ohio? Do they feel that having it in Ohio makes it more racecar friendly as that is the job her dad has? And if it is a different school from the first one, why have the same principle? Does he just like to oversee schools named North Shore? Since the plot was nowhere near the first film, and in a completely different area; why even use the same actor to be the principle and use the same name? Don't establish links of continuity if there is none!
2) People would not think Jo was the hottest girl ever because she is new
Contrary to cinema belief, when a girl moves to a new school, people don't think she's automatically hot. New does not equal hot. It's more on par with John Tucker Must Die as people don't know the new girl and don't care to. I mean in this film they treat her as if she is Aphrodite gracing Earth with a visit.
Now I am not saying that this is what a personally believe, nor am I saying that this is what people should assume; what I am saying is that if a girl dressed grungy, took shop class, knew how to work on cars, made feminist remarks, knew all about sports, almost breaks a guy's arm for touching her, and doesn't wear a bra all the time; most people would assume she was a man-hating feminist; also decreasing her hotness factor with most of the guys in the school to 0. And therefore Jo would be friendzoned for life.
3) NO dogs in school
Okay dogs are not allowed in school. My friend trained guide dogs and brought the pup into school until it graduated and the teachers plus the principle always hated it. Principal Miller had a cow the day that one of the yellow labs pooped in the outside hallway. I remember our English teacher Ms. Martyn hated the dogs. She was always complaining about tripping over it and "play" threatening to get rid of it. One year the dog's name was Mackenzie, Ms. Martyn's first name and she would become upset whenever someone would call the dog.
Anyways, yeah dogs are not allowed in school. City ordinances state that domestic animals are not allowed in public education places.
4) Dating the School "Hottie" to get a modeling career
So Mandi is dating the school "Hottie", I put it in quotations because he is clearly a nottie. Tyler (Diego Boneta) is the hottest, but as we have just been told that he and Mandi are siblings that means he is off limits. Anyways, Mandi's convoluted plan is to date this immature jerk, Nick, so that when he gets his football scholarship to UCLA she can visit him and become a model.
Mandi's supposed to be rich and the prettiest girl around. Why doesn't she just have her parents pay for a portfolio, model there in Ohio and then move out to California. I'm pretty positive that there are many modeling agencies in Ohio. Oh look there are! And why California over New York? New York is closer to Ohio than California and it has been the fashion capital of the United States for a lot longer. LA will always be second.
I mean it makes sense that she would date the school "hottie" to keep her position of power, but for a modeling career? That just seems weird. And why even go to CA just to visit him? If she wants to be a model that bad, why not just move out there on her own? Why does she need him to be a model? That doesn't make any sense at all.
5) Guess what…we're poor
So Jo has always wanted to go to Carniege Mellon since that is where her mom went. Unfortunately, dear old dad lost all the money they had and they can't afford to send her there, she'll have to apply to in-state. Now I may be wrong here, but Jo made it sound as if her dad had all the money tucked away set on her tuition. Tuition for Carniege Mellon in 2011 when this film came out was $44,450, (that's just tuition alone). That means it was $177,800 (before tuition increased) for four years. How did the dad lose all that money? You think that even if he was playing the stock market, like the film uses as an explanation for lack of funds, he would still have been plugging some away. You don't just put money on stocks and hope that sixteen years later you would have over $177,800. I mean he should have at least most of the first year squirreled away. I mean she is an only child and it seems like he was always planning on sending her to college. And with Jo applying to financial aid she should get some support. The next year she would have completed a year's residency and can apply for in-state tuition.
It would be more believable if her dad lost it gambling or due to a past addiction; but I think this was on abcfamily so they wouldn't have that.
6) French Revolution Meltdown
So we hear of why the Queen Bee Mandi hates super nice girl Abby. Back in middle school Mandi had a French Revolution party and Abby outshone her in a Marie Antoinette oufit.
First of all what 11-year old has a French Revolution themed Halloween party? What kid (besides me and other nerds) even knew about the French Revolution? (I had read he children's version of A Tale of Two Cities already and the Marie Antoinette Diary from the Royal Diary Series.) What popular kid who is not into school or history would do that? And what kid would ever do that for a Halloween party? Not much imagination allowed for costumes. Usually you do "At the Movies", "Disney", "Monster Films", or a "Decade" party. But hey, I guess it makes buying the food easy, as you can serve them nothing. That would get those kids really into the spirit. It would make more sense for her to have a Phantom of the Opera party as the film just came out. The Marie Antoinette film which would have sparked interest in the French Revolution wouldn't be coming out for another two years.
And why would someone throwing a French Revolution party, and not dress up as Marie Antoinette? It's her party of course she is going to be Queen, especially if she is Queen Bee of the school. No way would the host dress up as a peasant girl.
And on that note, what parent would dare send their child to someone else's party dressed up as the Queen? That is just rude and distasteful. Dear Abby would disapprove! You know, at this point I can't say I blame Mandi for hating Abby, I would have been pissed too.
7) I Want the Disabled Spot!!!
Okay so Mandi gets a boot up her butt because she has the number two spot, the number one is the disabled parking, which Abby ends up snagging. Come on now, no one would be jealous over that. Besides, Mandi would hate to wear a walking cast, as it would clash with all her outfits. Not buying it.
8) Pimping Out Your Friends…That's Real Friendship
So Mandi enlists the help of school web designer and nerd Elliot in order to embarrass Abby. In fact to make sure he does it, she pimps out her friend Chastity. The only problem with this is that she never had to pimp out her friend in the first place. Mandi asks Elliot for a favor and he agrees right away. Then she sics Chastity on him to make sure he does it. But if he already agreed than why do that? Why pay for something when you can get it for free? That makes no sense at all!
9) "Most Girls Would Have Laughed, Texted, or Posted a Status Update"
Okay writers I don't know what Hell you've been having Tyler live in, (oh wait that's right Mandi's house), but every girl he knows would have reacted that way? I find that a bit odd that Jo is the first girl he's ever met that would actually show compassion. Seriously? Even if he has been sequestered in a home with a she-devil, I do expect him to go outside sometime and if he did he should meet way more than one girl who would not have been cruel to others for laughs. As a delegate of my sex I take it upon myself to be the one to teach Diego, uh I mean Tyler, that there are caring and compassionate women in this world. 😉
10) Guns in School? Is this Writer on Crack?
So embarrassing Abby by spilling beans and sour cream on her, taking a pic, uploading that to the school website and texting it out to everyone wasn't good enough for Mandi. She had a guy paintball Abby's car! PAINTBALL!
How the heck did they get a paintball gun in the school? Man the security guards, the principal, the cops, SWAT team would be all over this thing.
And why on Earth would the black kid be the one doing it. Hello! Abby's parents are super rich, and Mandi is not going to stick up for you! There is no way that this black guy would have been doing the shooting.
And lets get back to the gun issue. How the heck do you get a paintball gun in school, and why are there no cops crawling all over or taking you down? Paintball guns are not that quiet, a teacher would have heard and seen you and called 9-1-1. I mean a 7 year old got suspended for bringing a water gun to school, an Ohio first grader got suspended for bringing an airsoft gun to school (maybe it happens in Ohio more than I thought), oh and looky here Kansas student expelled for bringing a paintball gun to school. I mean after the Columbine shootings and Virgina Tech, schools don't mess around. This kid would have been taken down or shot.
11) "It Wasn't an Accident, Just Some Girls at School"
This is more than just teasing, this is serious assault. They hired a guy to shoot up Abby's car with a paintball gun. That's messed up, that requires notifying the parents, that means taking action. Don't pull a Baby-sitter's club and try and handle this problem all on your own.
12) Prostitution…I Mean Escorting or Supplying a Service
So Abby's Billy Mays-esque father offers to pay Jo to be Abby's best friend. When Jo declines, stating that this is wrong; he offers to pay her college tuition.
Okay, I don't care how much anyone wants their kid to have friends, there is no way he is paying $177,800 to some kid he doesn't even know. If he is such a smart businessman, he could hire an actor and have them fake be enrolled in the school. I mean a guy who is always has a wad of bills on hand and "has more money than he can spend" would make that happen in a second.
And why would he pay her in cash? That seems really weird and under the table. I would think he was secretly in the mafia or a drug lord. The Kingpin, Henry Hills, etc.
If I was Jo I would ask the dad to create a scholarship (in which I would be the one already set up to win) that I would apply to. Therefore causing me to not feel like a prostitute, and Abby would never find out that I was being paid to be her friend. (Which you know is going to happen, these films always follow a pattern.)
I wonder what her dad would say once he saw the money. I mean you could pull a 21 and tuck it away, but it is probably safer in a bank. But how would you explain were you got the dough from. Can't say a casino as she isn't 21 yet. If she tried to pay her tuition in cash the IRS would swoop on 'em. Problems galore.
13) B.A. Biker Chick?
Helloooooo she rides a Vespa! A frickin' Vespa!! I don't know what B.A. may be in Ohio but here in CA I have never heard people who ride Vespas called B.A. And Biker chick? Bikers would eat her for breakfast. I'm sure the Hell's Angels would kill Mandi for even supposing that Vespa riding Jo is in the same level as them.
Ray Liotta would take Mandi, Jo, and the rest of the crew out just like in Wild Hogs.
14) Paparazzi? Really TMZ Wannabe has that much time?
I don't care how popular, how cool, or how much of a Queen Bee she is; there is no way that this girl is going to approach her every morning for a quote on something to place in her paper.
15) Mandi is a Sociopath
Clearly we have seen that Mandi has some issues, but she is also a raging sociopath. She is attractive and always decked out, she believes herself to be best, has no respect for rules and responsibilities (I think bringing a dog to school and hiring someone to shoot up a girl's car clearly answers this as check), she is a pathological liar, she is a parasite that feeds on you, comes from a broken family, and she does you wrong "because you asked for it". Not only does she fit those traits but has exhibited cruelty to animals (threw her dog in the trash), hired someone to assault a girl's car with a gun (symbolizing what she wants to do to the girl in real life), gave someone with an allergy to strawberries the fruit that could kill her; clearly someone needs to turn her in before she becomes the next Patrick Bateman.
Patrick Bateman: I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.
Further proof: Later she pimps out Chastity to get Jo's file and has Hope stalk Jo. This girl needs help, pronto. And her friends need to find someone saner to hangout with.
16) Random Tyler Moment
Okay not that I'm complaining that we get a look at Diego Boneta, but this is just strange. Jo's walking down the hallway and we see Tyler behind her about to approach her, but never does. Like what the heck writers! Is he too scared to ask her out? Did he get waylaid by a friend? Like why place him in a scene if he's not going to do anything? Did you think we would forget about him?
As if we could ever forget him.
17) Crushed Drink in Anger, Yet no Spills
First of all it would be really hard to just crush it like that, but even more so not to spill on herself. The drink would have gone flying all over her, and she would have been full of stains. Just saying.
18) Not Breaking but Entering
So Mandi and the crew just run into the Mitchell's garage in hopes of finding a way to embarrass Jo. Now, maybe this is just me, but wouldn't you have locked your garage if you aren't outside? Especially if you have an expensive racecar in it? Now I know that both Jo and her dad are home but that thing must have cost a fortune. Cars can be $1-3 million per team and engines alone can cause up to $8 million. If it were me, I'd be keeping that baby locked up tight.
19) Sticky Situation
So Mandi & Co decide that to really embarrass Jo and get her to march to their tune; they will put industrial glue on her vespa causing her to get stuck. The only problem is, it should have lost it's stickiness long before then. Jo meets up with Abby around 3:00, went to the auto parts store and probably got home around 4:00-4:30. Abby went home about 4:30-5:20 when the girls showed up. They douse her Vespa with glue about 5:30-6. Now judging by most schools, she has class at 8 which means that she will be leaving anywhere from 7-7:30 So that glue that has been on the chair has been aired out for over 12 hours, it should be very dry now and not sticky. And wouldn't Jo have noticed when she fixed up her Vespa? I mean most industrial glue stinks. There is no way that the glue would be working by the time Jo place her rump on the bike.
20) Riding Vespa through the School
All I could think of when watching this is how much trouble she would get in. And you notice they always do something like this in movies, but it would never work in real life. There are too many people in the halls for you to get around or make wide enough turns. Plus how would she get it through the bathroom door? They always open out. The principal would be on her case, she'd probably be expelled, yeah muy mal.
21) Art Smock Skirt
Seriously? The art smock is just going to magically stay on her without any safety pins, ties, or buttons; and still look good? Yeah right! This is what Abby hands her.
There is no way you are turning this into an actual skirt. I know, I've tried. I had a barbie shirt that was red and white, and really wanted a red skirt to go with it. Barbie didn't have a red skirt, but she had a red apron. I tried to make a skirt, but a portion of Barbie's hiney was always showing. You can't do it by tying. I'm actually going to try myself to see if it works. I'll let you know.
Yep tried it. Doesn't work.
22) Golden Gate Bridge
Jo is telling Abby about some her favorite buildings and is super surprised Abby has heard of the Golden Gate Bridge. Hellooo, maybe my California is showing but I would think that most people in the US have heard of the Golden Gate Bridge. After all it is one of the seven man made wonders of the U.S. Jo you need to crawl out from under that rock you have been living in and get in the real world.
23) Grounds for Termination
So Jo is pretending to be Abby's friend because Abby's dad is paying her. Then Abby offers to draw buildings for Jo since she sucks as an artist but wants to be an architect, (wow-I hope you are good at math). Abby tells Jo not to tell Abby's father because he doesn't approve.
I don't know about you all, but this just screams BAD IDEA. Her dad isn't going to be too happy to hear that you are encouraging something he disapproves of. If he finds out he will probably out you and fire you.
24) I'm Applying to Columbia…Just Kidding it's really NYU
Uh, hello Abby but unless you are planning on paying for college yourself, your dad is going to figure out that you are going to NYU and not Columbia. In fact I don't know how you even imagined getting that past him.
Ugh, and I hate these storylines. Oh no-poor little rich girl who has a ton of money and could go to any college anywhere-but shoot, Dad won't support my artistic dreams.
I also feel the whole wealthy kid wanting to go to art school and dad not approving, and therefore the girl having to use her skills to make it on her own is a little too much of a ripoff of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, primarily the third book Girls in Pants. The same thing happens to Lena. I don't understand how these rich kids can always get money and win scholarships, but here I am someone who's parents can't afford college and never seems to get the breaks. Oh yeah, that's right, these are works of fiction and I'm in the real world. Seriously though, please STOP these storylines.
25) Jo's Daydream/Memory (Not too sure which it is)
Actually there is nothing wrong with this scene. This was the best part of the film, (the only part). I just felt like including it. 😉
26) The Big Egg Drop Project
So in order to be one of the finalist for this architecture scholarship, Jo has to pass this egg drop project that is extremely hard. Now I've had to do this in my physics class, it is not that hard so don't understand the big deal. In my class we had to create a basket made of paper and drop a raw egg in it. If the egg didn't crack, we'd go on to the next level were we would have to drop an egg from a higher point. I remember just throwing a bunch of paper together and testing it out by tossing Dum Dums in it. Got it completed in less than 20 mins. Now they are having to make a parachute, but seriously why this be the big project? I was expecting something more like the projects they do in Ren's woodshop class in Even Stevens. The one where she has makes a stool. I mean come on, the writers could have come up with something better.
27)Borrowed Car
I get that Nick has a nice car, and hey it would impress practically any girl but why doesn't Tyler have his own sweet ride? Mandi has a cool car and she is only his stepsister, why isn't his father buying his son a set of wheels?
I mean in Pretty Little Liars when he was the "poor kid" dating rich Spencer he had an amazing set of wheels. Why doesn't he have any when he is a rich kid?
It is true that we aren't supposed to know that Mandi and Tyler are stepsibs yet, but still how come he doesn't have a hot ride?
And granted, his friend could have a better car than him, but if he is planning on making out with Jo that night, wouldn't it be strange to do it in your friends car? I mean I think that is sooo weird.
28) Photo Finish Date
Okay I get that the writers want to show this awesome date that Jo and Tyler are having but in a serious of snapshots? Are you kidding me? I understand that they might be tired of writing text, but that is one of the worst things you could do in the middle of the film. It just distances the viewer from the plot and to be perfectly honest, bores them. "Photographs" of scenes should only be done in the beginning or end, like The Parent Trap (1998). I mean who is taking these photos on their date? Did they bring a third person just for this? Is it a ghost?
29) Too Touchy-Feely
Okay this is Tyler and Jo's first date, and Jo's first date ever, there is no way they'd be THAT comfortable climbing all over and feeding each other. On the first date, you are still reserved as you are trying to figure out what is acceptable by the other person. There ain't no way that Jo'd be that okay seeing as she's never been on a date with any guy before and would definitely be way nervous and awkward.
30)Asking About Past Loves
Okay there is no way anyone would ask the question of "how many have you been with?" on the first date! It's the FIRST DATE! Those are things you wait to ask until you have been dating for a while. No one wants to hear on the first date every single person their crush has been with. That comes later when the two have become more invested in each other and are not so quick to run out. Tyler I love ya, but that was a bad move.
31) Tyler and Mandi? Hooking Up? GROSS!
Okay, why does everyone say this? I mean yes they grew up together, but they are step siblings. NOT BLOOD RELATED, therefore it is perfectly legal for them to have a relationship. I mean hasn't any of these kids seen Cruel Intentions? (I don't recommend it) They have that total vibe going on as Mandi seems waay into Tyler. Except Mandi is both the Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar characters, Tyler is just awesome.
Jo could definitely be Reese Witherspoon's part.
32) I'm Sorry I Posted that Awful Video of You
Okay Elliot apologizes for posting the video on the web, and says he no longer can be webmaster. All I can say is I'm feeling no sympathy for you here and I want some real groveling. YOU POSTED A VIDEO OF ME ON THE INTERNET, its going to be around FOREVER! You humiliated me in front of EVERYONE I deserve all kinds of things for you to prove your sorry. I'd be screaming at him like Karen when Henry stands her up in Goodfellas.
If I was Abby I'd be yelling at Elliot "whatever you are doing to earn my forgiveness, it better be good". And it better be as high up there as Henry Hill's "I'm sorry".
33) The Wrong Eggs
So Mandi switches the eggs and Jo & Tyler end up with an unboiled egg instead of a boiled one. Their parachute crashes and they receive a 0.
First of all, when I did this in my physics class you had to use raw eggs because that better proved how strong your egg catcher thingy was. And we didn't have a ruler we just had to try and toss it in our baskets. So I really am not understanding the level of difficulty this is supposed to be.
Secondly, besides that though, how could they not tell the egg was raw? I mean a raw egg has a completely different feel to it regarding weight. It just seems so much lighter and you can tell there is liquid in it.
Third, what teacher is really that much of a dipstick they won't let you go again using the proper egg? He totally would have. Or they could bring their parents in and start a huge fuss how it wasn't fair that they weren't able to have an equal try.
And once again what does the egg drop have to do with architecture? NOTHING!
But hey at least one good thing came out of this. Raw egg is really good for your hair.
34) Doctor Supplying Drugs
Okay I don't care how rich Hope may be, but there is no way that a doctor is going to provide her with laughing gas just because she asks for it. Oh look:
"Ohio: Selling nitrous oxide to a person under 21 years of age is illegal. Selling nitrous oxide (to a person over 21 years of age) is illegal if also devices used to inhale nitrous oxide are sold, or if the seller has reason to believe that the nitrous oxide will be inhaled. All sales have to be recorded. All cartridges containing nitrous oxide have to be printed with a note which includes intended use and warning about the presence of 'dangerous health effects'. "
Yeah, there is no way that Hope could have gotten a supply as her doctor would not want to risk losing his license.
35) Now You're Just Asking for It (Not Breaking but Entering Part 2)
Okay man you have an expensive racecar in your garage! LOCK IT! This baby is $1-3 million per team and engines alone can cause up to $8 million!! Keep that car locked up tight. You are just asking for someone to steal from you. No sympathy right now. I mean I have nothing valuable in my garage but I keep that puppy sealed up stronger than a Pharaoh's tomb. This reminds me of the Bling Ring. These kids stole from a ton of stars because they never locked up their belongings. Come on you have valuables! Protect Them!
And this is further proof that Mandi is a psychopath.
36) "Not enough time, not enough money"
Okay so Jo's dad is crying like a baby because his engine is ruined, and states that only if they had time and money to fix it. Now Jo has money that could probably help, but doesn't offer it to her dad. What a jerk!
Now I know it would be hard to, because her father would want to know where it came from, and would probably make her give it back, but look at this man! How could you not even offer it?
37) Girl Hormones
Okay, I don't like the fact that this movie is making it seem as if feeling upset and wanting to crush someone for hurting you is "girly" and something that "tomboy" Jo never did. Those are things everyone goes through, no matter what their sex. Bad form, bad form.
38) "But it was so much fun"
When Jo confronts Mandi she flat out admits she did it. Come on, there is no way that she would say it in a crowded area like that. I mean TMZ girl is not that far away and this is the scoop of the year. She'd pull a Campus Confidental and expose Mandi for the psycho she is. Mandi seems pretty smart, she'd probably say she didn't know what Jo was talking about, while smiling the whole time to let Jo she knew exactly what she was talking about. The whole false innocent thing is totally Mandi's MO. Plus she would know that would piss off Jo even more.
39) Almost tells her, but chickens out at the last minute.
Classic movie cliché, right up there with the POG. I mean right here you seal the friendships death warrant. There is no surprise ending in this film, we know how it will be. I know that it is something you can never seem to cut out of the equation, but I really wish they would come up with a new plot line than "I'm lying abut really being your friend/boyfriend/girlfriend, but I really fell for you in the end. Our relationship may have been built on a lie but the rest has been true" thing.
40) Getting ready for the party scene
Okay I understand that the writers created this scene so that we could see the brother/sister dynamics and that we could hear all the reasons why Tyler dislikes Mandi (that way when Jo starts acting like Mandi we will understand why the two break up. I mean we know they are going to be Super Ob.) But this scene is just too intimate. It just seems weird to me that he is talking to her while she is getting ready in her room that close to her.
I know the film is trying to dissuade a whole stepbrother/stepsister relationship, but this scene kept giving me flashbacks to Cruel Intentions. I mean the tension between the two was really similar.
They should have had the scene in the kitchen or living room or at least not have them speak that close to each other. I mean it looks like they are going to kiss.
41)"Who wants to go to a party where they have to wear cocktail dresses?"
Uh, Jo I know you are supposed to be a super tomboy, but do you really have so little imagination that you can't fathom why some girls would want to dress up? Lots of girls enjoy it, I mean look at prom. You like to dress up and feel like a beautiful creature ever now and then.
And don't you dare get on your tomboy high horse again, because you wear a nice dress to your own party. So…just shut up. So there. (Granted Abby's mom insists that she dress up, but if Jo was really as principled as she is always insisting, she would have just ignored her)
They may be trying to portray Abby's mom as silly but she's right. If your the host/hostess you need to dress your best. It's YOUR party. And the mom is totally right, YOYO (You're Only Young Once) Live it up, when your old and gray you can look back on those memories of when you could wear those sexy dresses.
42) There is no way that Abby's dress could fit Jo.
Abby's mom insists the girls dress up and pulls out a skin tight green tank dress for Jo to wear. There is no way that the two girls could wear the same size as Abby is much more fuller figured. The dress would be way too big for Jo and falling off her. Sorry guys, this isn't The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It would actually make more sense if the mom pulled something out of her closet as the two are a similar size.
43) TMZ girl is not a true friend
Okay TMZ wannabe girl has been hanging out with Abby and Jo all the time. She is supposed to be a "good" friend, yet she goes to Mandi's party first instead of Jo and Abby. What kind of friend would do that? Why write her that way? All I got to say about her now is CUT 'ER LOOSE!
44) Clip in colored hair
Okay NOBODY wears that anymore, it died out in the early 2000s. I remember, because I used to have some. What was really in 2011 was tinseling the hair or the pheasant hair extensions. Whoever was writing this wasn't with the times.
45) Tree Dancer, not hugger
Like dancing with a tree is really they way into a girl's heart? I know it is supposed to be sweet/silly, but it just is dumb to me. Like that is really going to impress me and have me forgive you? No way! I want GROVELING!
46) Drug Deal
So Mandi has Hope pay the pizza delivery guy to coat the pizzas in ipecac. And all I can think is how does Hope have that much money and would the pizza guy really jeopardize his job that way? I mean first of all, having all these kids throwing up is going to reflect very badly on whatever pizzareia he is employed at. The guy will lose money, and pizza boy here will be out of a job.
Plus with such a wide amount vomiting, I feel like these kids are going to be tested to make see what was exactly the cause. Their drug tests, I'm sure would show that these kids all took ipecac, which will be denied by everyone. When they test the pizzas, they will see that this is where it came from. Then, everyone will piece together where the ipecac came from which is for sure going to get Pizza boy in a ton of trouble. Hope, I'm not so sure, her family has money.
I mean giving someone laxatives without their knowledge is technically a murder attempt, I know because someone threatened me with this and got in big trouble. It's because you can die from too much diarrhea. I feel that the same would go for ipecac. I'm pretty sure Pizza boy does not want to go to jail.
47) Delivery Boy Must Have Wings
Okay so Hope pays Pizza boy to coat the pizzas with ipecac, runs back to get the rest of the group at Mandi's, gets her mask and gloves and the quartet run back over to Abby's. Now this couldn't have taken more than 10-15 mins, 20 if we're really pushing it. So how the heck were they able to, in that short of time get enough Chinese food for everyone?
There is no way they could do that with so many people at Abby's place. I mean they had like 6-8 boxes of pizza, and now they have to buy a carton for everyone? There has to be over a 100 people there. There is no delivery place on Earth that could make that much food, that quickly, then have someone take it over and deliver it, and everyone grab a carton and finish all before Mandi & Co make the less then 10 min walk to Abby's.
48) I'm Blind to Everything
Okay, so I understand that Nick is not the brightest crayon in the box and can be pretty oblivious to everything, but when Jo grabs the ipecac-laden pizza out of the trash, how does he not see it? It is right in front of him!
He should have totally seen it and been like, "I don't want it…" Plus that is just gross and mean to give someone something out of the trash. And mean to use Nick, who hasn't done anything to you.
And so that's as far as I got in the film. I then had to go and get ready for work. Let me know what you think of this post, and comment below if you want me to finish reviewing the film. I had a ton of fun writing this, as I hated it, and I hope you enjoyed reading it.
For more (and better) sequels, go to I Want Friend Like Me: The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
For more on Diego Boneta, go to Nothing But A Good Time


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A revolutionary, real-world solution to the problem of unpaid, invisible work that women have shouldered for too long.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Proposal comes a dazzling new novel about a spontaneous holiday vacation that turns into an unforgettable romance.
A fascinating look at rescue dogs–where they come from, why every dog lover should consider adopting one, and how to make them part of your family.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last, a bold framework for leadership in today's ever-changing world.
A dazzling collection of short fiction that combines Smith's power of observation with her inimitable voice to illustrate the fraught, complex experience of life in the modern world.
A New York Times Bestseller and devastating, immersive memoir about Chanel Miller, previously known as Emily Doe, and her reclamation of identity.
For the first time, Andrew Ridgeley—one half of one of the most famous bands in the world—tells the inside story of Wham!, his lifelong friendship with George Michael, and the formation of a band that changed the shape of the music scene in the early eighties.
An Israeli cookbook as personal as it is global, Adeena Sussman celebrates the tableau of flavors the region has to offer.
A historic guide to the world of Penguin Classics from its UK origin, covering a span from the ancient world to World War I, in a luxurious orange clothbound package with colored endpapers, full-color pages, and illustrations


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MY RIDE- Ian Mitchell- Yamaha 1100 VSTAR Custom
Ian Mitchell's Yamaha has changed a bit since he purchased it last May.
"I started customizing it immediately," he explains. Among the alterations: "The suspension has been lowered two inches, the back fender has been 'chopped and dropped' so it hugs the wheel closer, and I added some radius drag bars so your legs get to stretch out a little bit more."
This is his third motorcycle, and the 26-year-old Mitchell says it's his favorite so far.
"It's the one that I've made the way I wanted," he says.
Friends often compliment the custom paint job black flames on maroon but Mitchell says the bike hasn't attracted a certain type of attention.
"It's not like girls jump in front of me asking me to stop so they can jump on the back," he laughs.
And if one did, would he let her on?
"Maybe," he muses. "But it's a one-seater."
A one-seater that won't be his for long.
Since he's leaving Charlottesville in May to attend automotive technician school in Rancho Cucamonga, California, Mitchell has decided to sell the bike and start customizing a new motorcycle once he makes it out west.
"I'll do it with every bike I ever own," he says.
Ian Mitchell


text:
Iowa Continuing Education Requirements:
|Total Hours
|Elective Hours
|You Need:
|We Offer:
|28 (only 24 hrs. can be online)
|License Renewal Period: 3 years
Iowa Continuing Education Packages
|Total Hours
|Elective Hours
|Mandatory Hours
|Add To Cart
12-Hr. IA CE Package #1 (with Ethics course)
12-Hr. IA CE Package #2
24-Hr. IA Electives CE Package
24-Hr. IA Partial CE Package (with Ethics course)
Iowa Requirement Details for Real Estate Continuing Education
The CE Shop is an approved real estate CE School in Iowa; license number 244
Continuing Education and License Renewal Date: 12/31 every three years
All individual real estate licenses are issued for three-year terms, counting the remaining portion of the year of issue as a full year. All individual licenses expire on December 31 of the third year of the license term. As a requirement of license renewal in an active status, each real estate licensee shall complete a minimum of 36 hours of approved programs, courses or activities. The continuing education must be completed during the three calendar years of the license term and cannot be carried over to another license. During each three-year renewal period a course may be taken for credit only once. A course may be repeated for credit only if the course numbers and instructors are different. Approved courses in the following subjects shall be completed to renew a license to active status.
Hours Required By The State: 36 hours
- 12 mandatory hours
- 8 hours law update
- 4 hours ethics
- 24 elective hours
The CE Shop's Offering: 28 hours*
- 4 mandatory hours in ethics
- 24 elective hours
*Per Iowa state regulations, only 24 CE hours can be completed online.
Seat time: The Iowa Real Estate Commission requires that all students spend a minimum amount of seat time engaged in the course content. Our online system manages this requirement for you.
Reporting: The state does not require schools to report CE hours.
Expiration Date of Course: Courses expire 6 months from the date of purchase per Iowa rules. Each course expiration date will be listed in your account.
Final Exams: Final exams must be passed with at least a 80% and may be taken as many times as necessary in order to pass.
Certificates: Upon completion of the course, The CE Shop will provide students with an electronic Certificate of Completion. Certificates will remain in your account for a minimum of five years, should you need additional copies. Please refer to your license renewal application to determine if you need to submit your Certificate of Completion with your license renewal request. Course completion dates are recorded using Central Standard Time. Please note that the date of your Certificate of Completion will reflect this.
Additional Licensing Information:
License Renewal Process: The process to renew in this state is to log in to the licensing system online and follow the prompts to renew.
The Iowa Real Estate Commission only allows licensees to complete 24 hours of the total 36-hour requirement in an online environment. It is the licensees' responsibility to ensure they do not complete over 24 hours in an online environment.
Iowa Real Estate Commission
Street Address: 200 E Grand, Ste 350, Des Moines, IA 50309
Telephone: 515.725.9022
Fax: 515.725.9032


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International friendly: France ease to a 2-0 win over Holland in Paris
Karim Benzema and Blaise Matuidi were on target as France claimed a 2-0 friendly victory over Holland in Paris.
Last Updated: 06/03/14 8:25am
Real Madrid striker Benzema put the home side ahead just after the half-hour mark with Matuidi adding a second less than 10 minutes later as players from both teams had a last chance to impress their respective managers ahead of this summer's World Cup finals in Brazil.
Both nations looked strong in the first half, but as the match wore on and substitutions were a plenty, things got a lot slower in the latter part of the match.
And there was some bad news for Holland as they lost 30-year-old midfielder Stijn Schaars to injury five minutes before the break.
The home side started well and Patrice Evra came close to opening the scoring after just three minutes but his effort from the left of the penalty box was comfortably caught by Holland goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
Antoine Griezmann was the next France player to have a go and almost put his side ahead before his header from 12 yards out sailed over the crossbar.
The visitors had a chance of their own minutes later but France captain Hugo Lloris kept out Wesley Sneijder's outswinging corner in what was their first real effort on target.
Les Bleus were beginning to dominate now and could have take the lead midway through the first half but Bruno Martins Indi was quick to block Benzema's close-range header.
And the Real Madrid striker had another chance with a free-kick minutes later, but only managed to hit the Holland wall as France pushed to break the deadlock.
Sneijder made the home side work hard to keep out three successive corners after 28 minutes, the third finding captain Robin van Persie on the edge of the 18-yard box and the Oranje could have taken the lead, but his volley was punched clear by Lloris.
Just after the half-hour mark Benzema put France ahead as he collected Paul Pogba's cross from the left and made no mistake as he fired the ball into the back of the net from the right of the penalty area to make it 1-0.
Moments later Sneijder set up Ron Vlaar with a great chance to equalise but his header went over the bar before the visitors lost PSV Eindhoven midfielder Schaars to injury. He was replaced by Kevin Strootman.
France doubled their lead five minutes before the break as Mathieu Valbuena found Matuidi in the penalty box and the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder made his opportunity count as he volleyed the ball home into the top left corner.
Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps brought on Lucas Digne for Evra in a tactical move at half-time.
While, five minutes later, his Dutch counterpart Louis van Gaal substituted Daley Blind as 19-year-old defender Karim Rekik took to the pitch for his senior debut.
Both sides took a while to get going in the second half with Raphael Varane denied the chance to make it three for France as his header dipped over the bar.
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery was handed his 81st cap - replacing Valbuena - as Deschamps continued to make changes to his team with half an hour to go and the 30-year-old could have got on the scoresheet deep into the half but his long-range effort was safe in the hands of Cillessen.
With 10 minutes to go, Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud came on to make a late impression for France as both coaches took the chance to watch as many of their players in action as possible before naming their 23-man World Cup squad in May.
PSG midfield man Yohan Cabaye had the last half-chance of the match but his free-kick from just outside the box late on floated past the post as the match finished 2-0 to France.


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Chicken Breeds : 'Australorps'
Australorps Chicken Breed
Australorps originated in Australia in the late 1800s. The first Australorps were bred from Black Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds. The resulting chickens (at the time known as Black Utility Orpingtons) were then further bred out with other breeds reportedly including Minorca, white leghorn, langshan, and plymouth rocks. The full name became Australian Black Utility Orpingtons and then by the 1920s had been shortened to Australorps.
Australorps are a dual purpose breed, smaller and trimmer than the Orpington they originated from. Although there have been records of australorps laying 300 or more light brown eggs a year, around 250 is more usual.
Top to bottom: Sussex, Australorp, Orpington eggs


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San Diego Symphony offers a 'Carnegie Hall Preview' in Copley Symphony Hall
San Diego Symphony
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 5; 2 p.m. Oct. 6
Where: Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., downtown
Admission: $20-$96
Phone: (619) 235-0804
When the San Diego Symphony's CEO Ward Gill got up on stage Friday before the orchestra's season-opening concert to tout the extensive renovation of Symphony Hall's lobbies, and someone up in the balcony booed, you knew something was a little off.
Did they object to the lighter color palette? Or perhaps it was a teetotaler offended by the local microbrews on tap in the hall's four new bars. The response was markedly different from last year's season opener, when Gill announced the expansion of the hall's rest rooms, which drew a hearty round of applause.
Fortunately, the response was to the orchestra's music was considerably more enthusiastic, even if the performances also sounded just a bit off.
The program included Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5 and the premiere of David Bruce's "Night Parade," both pieces the orchestra will play in Carnegie Hall on Oct. 29.
It also performed Barber's Violin Concerto with violinist Augustin Hadelich, a work it will play on its China tour with Hadelich in early November. (Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with Lang Lang as soloist will anchor the Carnegie program.)
Music director Jahja Ling and the orchestra are to be commended for commissioning a new work for Carnegie (courtesy of Sam Ersan and Gordon Brodfuehrer) and for the program's focus on 20th century works.).
But there's work to be done. The new piece by Bruce is an appealing, propulsive orchestral showcase that at time sounds like Philip Glass meets Quincy Jones in its repetitive figurations and its occasional jazz licks.
The composer likens it to a thrill ride at an amusement park, where there's always a sense of danger but nobody gets hurt. That aura of excitement, of pushing things to the edge, was largely absent in this first performance, as was the absolute precision this music needs to come across. Everything sounded a bit soft and fuzzy, kind of like taking a thrill ride in a bean-bag chair. It needed a little more edge, a little more danger.
Barber's Violin Concerto also failed to ignite, except for the final movement. The balance between Hadelich and the orchestra was too much in favor of the orchestra, and soloist and conductor weren't always in agreement. The interpretation sounded forced.
The Prokofiev symphony fared better, and the general outlines of this exuberant work were convincing. But there were plenty of interpretive and technical details that need to be addressed, including a greater sense of contrast between the sections of relative repose and the more demonstrative passages.
It's those quiet moments that allow the more forceful ones to have a greater impact. Ling, however, tended to favor the big moments. A more balanced approach might have given the piece greater depth and dimension.
Still, the orchestra is just back from break. All this program needs is practice, practice, practice (or, playing, playing, playing) to be ready for Carnegie Hall.