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For Premier Experiences, Experience Premier
(843) 237-9903 /
Discover the impressive Iberian Peninsula with Premier Tours & Travel. From Santiago de Compostela through Porto and Lisbon, Portugal, experience the cultural, culinary, and vitacultural riches of Northwest Spain and Portugal on our small group tour.
June 15-24, 2023 (departing June 14, 2023)
June 29-July 8, 2023 (departing June 28, 2023)
August 17-26, 2023 (departing August 16, 2023)
September 14-23, 2023 (September 13, 2023)
From $7,299 Per Person (DBL); Single Supplement $1,800; Limited to 20 passengers
Details of Your Stay in Spain (3 Nights)
Your journey begins with overnight flight to Madrid from the United States, connecting with your flight to Santiago de Compostela.
Premier Tours & Travel will be on hand to meet and greet you at the airport in Santiago de Compostela — the capital of the Galicia region, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the shrine of Saint James the Great (the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela), and a crucial stop on the infamous Camino de Santiago.
Transfer to your accommodations, A Quinta da Auga (or similar) to settle in for the next four nights. A Quinta da Auga is a Relais & Chateaux property in Santiago de Compostela and is an homage to the heritage of the capital city of Galicia. Formerly an 18th-century paper mill, A Quinta da Auga surrounds you with its unique industrial architecture set on a picturesque farm surrounded by water canals leading to the Sars River. After a full day of travel, enjoy the balance of your day at leisure.
This evening, join us for a cocktail while being serenaded by local folklore music, including traditional bagpipes, in the beautiful hotel gardens. A Welcome Dinner follows at Filigrana, the renowned Galician gastronomy restaurant on property (or similar).
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Following breakfast, enjoy a private, guided walking tour in Santiago de Compostela. Santiago de Compostela, with its Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque buildings, is one of the world's most beautiful urban areas. In the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, find the oldest monuments grouped around the tomb of St James and visit the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, which contains the remarkable Pórtico de la Gloria — a Spanish masterpiece commissioned in 1168 by King Ferdinand II and created by Master Mateo. Wander the Praza do Obradoiro to learn about the other three imposing structures lining the square along with the Cathedral: Hostal dos Reis Católicos, Pazo de Raxoi, and the Colexio de San Xerome. Following your guided tour, the balance of your day will be at your disposal to stroll this beautiful city.
Set off for a full-day tour of Cambados, capital of the Pontevedra region of Spain most famous for its Albariño wines. Cambados is a fusion of three medieval villages -- Fefiñáns at the north end of town (centered on beautiful, broad Praza de Fefiñáns), Cambados proper in the middle, and the fishing quarter Santo Tomé in the south. Following the tour, enjoy the first wine tasting of the day at the winery Adegas do Pazo de Fefiñáns (or similar) on the plaza. Adegas do Pazo de Fefiñáns was recently nominated to Wine Enthusiast magazine's 2020 Wine Star Awards as Best European Winery of the Year.
The Albariño adventure continues with a winery tour, tasting, and lunch at one of the most extensive wine estates in Galicia, Bodegas Fillaboa (or similar). Fillaboa, which means "good daughter," is a 17th-century estate whose name comes from a local legend with many parallels with the tale of Cinderella by Charles Perrault in which two daughters of a Count envied their younger sister to whom her father left the best lands as an inheritance. Enjoy the fairytale surroundings while tasting the exceptional, small production wines of the estate — some of which won the prestigious Best in Show award at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019.
Details of Your Stay in Porto (3 Nights)
Say farewell Santiago de Compostela, Spain and depart for Portugal. Enjoy the magnificent landscape en route, with a stop at Vigo, Spain. Vigo is the westernmost city in Iberian Spain situated on the Atlantic Ocean with captivating views of the Cíes Islands and mountains all around. Stroll Casco Vello, the city's old town, which is set on a slope that leads to the old port with enticing alleys that lead to arcaded squares, such as Praza da Constitución. Vigo is a seafood lover's dream, so be sure to visit the oyster market to enjoy the freshest local oysters from Vigo Bay during lunch at leisure. Continue to Oporto (Porto), second largest city in Portugal, to settle into the heart of the city for the next four nights at the 5-star Maison Albar Le Monumental Palace — a member of the Leading Hotels of the World (or similar). A dinner a nearby restaurant will end the day.
Enjoy a guided walking tour of Porto this morning, including the historic center that was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring sites such as the Porto Cathedral, Dom Luís Bridge, São Bento station, Lello Bookstore, and Clérigos Church. Lunch and the afternoon will be at leisure for you to explore "Cidade Invicta," the Invincible City. Late afternoon, sail across the Douro River on the infamous "Barcos Rabelos" (wooden boats) from Cais do Ouro to Afurada. It is here in Vila Nova de Gaia to learn firsthand why the city is world famous for its fortified Portuguese wine — port. Following a walking tour on the narrow lanes and up and down the zigzagging staircases, visit Taylor Fladgate Port cellar to learn about and enjoy a tasting of their exceptional ports. A special dinner of Petiscos — like Spanish tapas — will follow at a nearby, traditional Taberninha.
Today, experience the sun-drenched vineyards, captivating villages, and historical landmarks of the Douro River Valley on a full-day tour. A tour to Portugal would be incomplete without meandering through some of the world's most beautiful landscapes of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and experiencing some of the finest vineyards in the world. Starting with one of the oldest and most famous estates in the Douro Valley, Quinta do Vallado, enjoy the breathtaking views of the Corgo River from the vineyard while tasting its award-winning wines and ports. Next, visit Quinta do Bomfim — owner of such leading port houses as Graham's, Dow's, Ware's, and Cockburn's, as well as a portfolio of Douro wines. Enjoy a wine tasting and a private picnic in the vineyards to bask in the fruits of this exceptional vineyard. Following lunch, set off on a private, small group two-hour sail on vintage "Gentleman's boat" on the Douro River to relax in the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. While the balance of the group is sailing, partake in a tour and tasting at Quinta da Roeda, the oldest port wine houses still in operation and described as the jewel of port wine estates. Return to Porto for evening at leisure.
Details of Your Stay in Lisbon (3 Nights)
Today, the journey continues from Porto to Lisbon by way of Santa Maria de Lamas and Coimbra. Santa Maria de Lamas is home to one of the world's most technologically advanced producers of cork. Learn about cork oak forests (Montado in Portuguese) native to Portugal and the harvesting, processing, use and sustainability of cork. Next, visit the amazing city of Coimbra with its preserved medieval old town and the famous University of Coimbra —one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world. Stroll the magical streets and gaze upon the multitude of architectural styles, from Romanesque Old Cathedral to the Baroque University Tower. Enjoy time at leisure for lunch before departing for Lisbon. Upon your arrival in the capital of Portugal, enjoy time to settle into your centrally located, 5-star accommodations, Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Hotel (or similar). A dinner awaits this evening to welcome you to Lisbon.
Set out after breakfast on a guided city tour to discover Lisbon and experience why it is nicknamed the "White City' as you bask in the sunshine reflected onto the city from the Tagus River. Explore iconic sites such as Praça Marquês of Pombal, Eduardo VII Park, Belém Tower, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, and the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Continue across the Tagus River on the magnificent Ponte 25 April (bridge) to Almada to view Cristo Rei — the imposing Statue of Christ the King and enjoy spectacular views of Lisbon. Return to the hotel for the balance of the day and evening at leisure. Be sure to visit the spectacular rooftop bar, Skybar, to experience some of the most amazing views of the city while sipping on their exceptional cocktails.
Experience a full day meandering through some of the most mystical, romantic mountain and seaside towns a short ride away from the hustle and bustle of Lisbon. Feel like royalty in Sintra — a longtime royal sanctuary with its forested landscapes studded with pastel-colored villas and palaces. Explore Palácio Nacional da Pena and see why the king of fairytales, Hans Christian Anderson called Sintra "the most beautiful place in Portugal." Meander the cobbled streets through the historical center of town, visit shops, take pictures of Palácio Nacional de Sintra, and enjoy a stop at the Periquita Pastry Shop to taste the famous "Travesseiro de Sintra." Visit the Cabo da Roca, "where the land ends and sea begins." and stop for a visit to Cascais, a coastal beach town known for its sandy beaches and busy marina. Enjoy a traditional seafood lunch at leisure. Return to Lisbon for any final exploration before a Farewell Dinner at a traditional restaurant.
Following breakfast, transfers will be provided to the airport. We hope you enjoyed Spectacular Spain & Portugal! ¡Buen viaje! Boa viagem!
Optional: Pre- and Post-Tour Extensions in Madrid, Lisbon, and Throughout the Iberian Peninsula. Call today to learn more.
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Itinerary subject to change. Premier Tours & Travel reserves the right to modify programs and itineraries (including arranged sightseeing, accommodations, dining experiences, aircraft, trains, vessels, and so forth) at any time due to unforeseen circumstances or circumstances beyond Premier Tours & Travel's control, including force majeures. In the instance our Expert host cancels due to unforeseen circumstances, Premier Tours & Travel has the right to substitute another Expert host, such as a chef, in such an emergency (timing allowed) and/or the tour will continue in its entirety. Every effort is made to operate our itineraries as planned but alterations may need to be made after the final itinerary has been issued. Airfare is not included. Deposits are utilized to secure services on your behalf and are nonrefundable. Deposits are transferrable to a future Expertly Done Culinary & Wine Travel tour. One glass of wine is included unless otherwise noted. Additional alcoholic beverages are the responsibility of each adult guest. Guests are limited to one carry on and one checked baggage and will be responsible for any additional fees charged for additional luggage. Please see Key Items to Know Before You Leave Home in Terms & Conditions. One glass of wine is provided with the Welcome and Farewell dinners; additional beverages will be the responsibility of each passenger at the time of service. Airfare is not included. Transportation is provided if your flight arrives during the designated time for group transfers; if not, transportation from the airport will be your responsibility.
Premier Experiences, Premier Advantages
About Chef Bob Waggoner
Chef Bob Waggoner received his formal training with Michael Roberts at Trumps in Los Angeles from 1981 to 1983, and later in France at a constellation of Michelin-rated restaurants with chefs Jacques Lameloise, Charles Barrier, Pierre Gagnaire, Gerard Boyer and Mark Meneau. At 23, he took on his first chef position at the private club "Members" in Caracas, Venezuela. Chef Bob Waggoner returned to France at age 24 to become chef of the Hotel de la Poste in Avallon for three years. Then, in 1988 at age 26, in the town of Moneteau in Burgundy, he became the first American chef to own his own restaurant in France, the much acclaimed Le Monte Cristo. He is one of the few Americans to be Knighted with the "l'Odre du Mérite Agricole" from the Government of France. In 1991, Waggoner was offered the opportunity of Chef de Cuisine with Chef Jean-Pierre Silva, the two-star Michelin, at Le Vieux Moulin in Beaune, France. After 11 years in France, he returned to the States in 1993 to cook at the award-winning Turnberry Isle in Florida, before joining The Wild Boar in Nashville, where he earned the restaurant a coveted AAA Five-Diamond Award and the Grand Award from Wine Spectator.
He finally found his way to Charleston where he was Executive Chef of Charleston Grill at Charleston Place for a dozen years. Every year, Chef Bob Waggoner was at the Charleston Grill, it was awarded AAA Four-Diamond and the Mobile Four-Star award, and in 2001-2005 he was nominated four times for The Beard Foundation "Best Chef Southeast" award. He is the author of Charleston Grill at Charleston Place: French Influenced Lowcountry Cuisine. Always well regarded as a media-savvy chef, he has won an Emmy for his television show, Off the Menu with Turner South. He also hosted 2 cooking shows with PBS, U Cook with Chef Bob and Sing for Your Supper with Chef Bob. Currently, he is the owner of "In the Kitchen with Chef Bob Waggoner" where he hosts cooking classes in a relaxed, casual, and sophisticated atmosphere. With his easygoing nature, he can teach anyone the culinary tips and techniques for "how it's done" in the finest restaurants.
Call 843.237.9903 to learn more or to book!
About Chef Maria Jimenez Latorre
Premier Tours & Travel is proud to introduce our tours with Chef Maria Jimenez Latorre, a native Spanish celebrity chef. Chef Maria Jimenez Latorre is a renowned chef in Spain with a following throughout the country for her magnetic personality and culinary style. She is a radio and television personality, as well as the leading chef at Alambique Escuela de Cocina cooking school, founder of We Present catering company, and the face of Orujo de Aceite de Oliva in Spain.
Languages: Spanish (native speaker), English (fluent) , French (fluent)
Highlights of Recent Work Experience
2009 to present - Alambique Escuela de Cocina cooking school
Chef leading cooking events at Alambique.: hands-on gastronomic events, team-buildings and corporate events, specialising in traditional Spanish cuisine. Also teaching hand-on beginners courses and cooking with confidence classes, as well as cookery classes for children including classes which combine cooking and magic
2013– present – Founder and partner in catering company We Present
Serving weddings, christenings, first communions , birthday parties, dinners and corporate events with chef Sergio Fernandez.
2018 to Present - Ambassador For ORIVA
Cooking demonstrations and helping professionals and hotelerie schools learn how to use Orujo de Aceite de Oliva in particular in frying techniques. Included trainning for the "perfect fritter " challenge. Over 2020 this took the form of remote classes and videos for social media.


text: my well-meaning family keeps sending me terrible job leads by Alison Green on June 25, 2020 A reader writes: Because of the COVID-19 crisis, my job has temporarily furloughed me, and I'm not sure when (if?) it will ever come back to its normal capacity. So, I've been job hunting (actually, I was doing this even before the coronavirus crisis, but that's another letter), and told my parents and sister that I would appreciate any help they might have to offer in these troubled times. Unfortunately, my parents and sister are both terrible at job-hunting on my behalf and continue to send me some of the most awful leads possible. I work in a few different industries, as a freelance writer and editor, but they insist on sending me technical writing jobs that are EXTREMELY technical (think literal rocket science), and I am clearly unqualified to even consider applying for them – besides the fact that I am definitely uninterested in this type of writing work. How do I get my well-meaning family to stop sending me these terrible leads and focus on the things I am actually good at, if they want to really help me find a new job? Most people are going to be pretty bad at finding job leads that fit you well. Even recruiters, who do this for a living, are often very bad at it! People just won't understand the nuances of your field and your interests the way you do — especially if they're in a different field, but sometimes even if they're in the same one. In this case, you asked your family for help, so I can't blame them for trying to find leads for you, even though they're getting it wrong. But it's even more annoying when people do this unsolicited, and send you jobs way above or below your professional level, or in fields that have nothing to do with the one you're in. You can try sending them a short, bulleted list of exactly what you're looking for and a short list of what you're definitely not looking for. It might work! But it would also be really normal and unsurprising if it didn't. If that doesn't work, then at that point you'd need to decide whether you would rather call them off completely ("thanks so much for trying to help, but I've realized the nuance of what I'm looking for is hard to convey") or deal with the slew of unhelpful leads in the hopes that they'll include a few good ones too. Most of the time, friends and family are better suited to help you in other ways — like proofreading application materials if they're good editors, practicing interviews with you, connecting you with people in their networks, or providing general moral support. You may also like:people keep sending me job postings that are way below my skill levelhow do I get my friends and family to butt out of my job search?the things job seekers are tired of hearing from family and friends { 158 comments }

subset: commoncrawl


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Trump Brags About His Deregulation—And He May Be Right
Pruning back regulation doesn't have to be a partisan issue.
President Trump, in a "brief telephone call" with The New York Times earlier this month listed "what he saw as his biggest accomplishments, including a focus on deregulation." The Times relegated the mention of deregulation to a paragraph low down in the story, which itself ran inside the newspaper rather than on the front page.
It wouldn't be the first time that the elite press or its readership made the mistake of failing to pay attention to, and to actually hear, what Trump is saying.
More sophisticated observers are starting to take note. The Economist, in a piece published last month, reported, "the impact of the Trump administration has been dramatic. The flow of new rules is suddenly a dribble. Since Mr Trump was inaugurated the number of regulatory restrictions has grown at about two-fifths of the usual speed."
The British newsmagazine, which is not generally a Trump cheerleader, praised the administration's approach to financial deregulation as "thoughtful…detailed and rigorous." It reported, "the new approach in Washington does seem to have boosted business confidence."
In rolling back regulation, Trump is focusing on a real problem. The Mercatus Center at George Mason University captures the growth of federal red tape with a thought experiment explaining the difficulty of even reading, let alone complying with, the government imposed rules.
"The US Code of Federal Regulations—the annually published set of books containing all federal regulations currently in effect—contained 35.4 million words in 1970. A person could read the entire code in just a few days short of a year, assuming he or she read 250 words per minute, 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year," the Mercatus scholars wrote.
"Fast-forward to 2016, the last year for which we have data, and the task becomes more than three times as difficult," the Mercatus scholars say. "By 2016, there were 104.6 million words of federal regulation on the books, about 195 percent growth over 1970, with a corresponding increase in reading time of almost two years. "
IBM has been running full-page newspaper ads boasting that its Watson artificial intelligence capability can help compliance officers "keep up with 20,000 new or modified regulations a year and 200 revisions a day." An IBM executive and former bank regulator warns, "humans alone are not going to be able to meet these challenges. Advanced technology tools are essential."
There are so many rules, and they change so fast, that you need a supercomputer to keep track of them. Either that or more and more people. The number of people with the job "compliance officer" has more than doubled, to 273,910 in 2016 from 126,840 in 2000, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. More regulations mean more people whose job is making sure companies follow the regulations.
Mercatus warns about "unintended consequences, including slower economic growth, reduced employment opportunities, and disproportionate harm to low-income households."
There's also a risk of selective enforcement. When rules multiply, impartial enforcement becomes challenging, and the temptation increases for prosecutors, or regulators, to pick an unpopular individual or industry, and then look for an offense.
Pruning back regulation doesn't have to be a partisan issue. President Carter, Senator Edward Kennedy, and Kennedy's then-aide Stephen Breyer, now a Supreme Court justice, all Democrats, got this going when they tackled airline deregulation in the 1970s. Even Hillary Clinton campaigned in New Hampshire in 2015 saying, "I want to do everything I can to help make it easier for people to start businesses, cut that red tape….and really take a hard look at licensing requirements from state to state."
The idea is also catching on globally. Excessive European Union regulation was one of the factors that motivated the British Brexit vote. In France, President Emmanuel Macron has movedto make labor laws more flexible and less restrictive on businesses. In Israel, the leader of the opposition Labor Party, Avi Gabbay, tells Bloomberg News that he wants to, as Bloomberg put it, "streamline bureaucracy and regulation."
If Trump can succeed not just in slowing the rate of growth but in actually reducing some of the rules, it's a real opportunity for addition by subtraction. If Trump himself is identifying it as one of his key accomplishments, it just might be worth listening.


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Our paper describing the conformational dynamics of AdcR in the context of the MarR family of repressors is accepted for publication in eLife.
A paper co-authored by Daiana, Fidel, Katie, My Le and Hongwei Wu entitled "Tuning site-specific dynamics to drive allosteric activation in a pneumococcal zinc uptake regulator" is accepted for publication in eLife. Congratulations to all!!


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Good Morning, Daisies! Happy Reveal Day! Are you as excited as I am about the reveal today? Make sure you keep your eye on social media. The Daisies will be blowing up your Instagram, Facebook and Twitter feeds with some gorgeous stuff!
Speaking of the new kits, how many of you always get something that you look at it and say, "What do I do with this?" Sometimes I do. I can admit it. 🙂 I always make it a challenge. A challenge to create something fun with something I never knew what to do with in the first place.
Today I've got a couple ideas for the gorgeous sequin pack in the main kit.
I dropped a few on the cover of my chunky tag mini book and glued them down where they landed. So easy and so, so pretty. You can do this on cards, layouts and mini books pages, too.
My next idea was to make some shaker pages with a few of the glassine bags that are always in our kits. Drop in a pinch or two of the sequin pack and then tape or staple it shut and you're good to go. So fun and so pretty! I always love the pieces that have a little movement.
Here's another shaker page in my mini.
On this page I taped the bag shut and adhered one of the exclusive wood veneer pieces to the front. So easy. So fun. So pretty.
Now it's your turn. What ideas for the sequins do you have? I'd love to hear. I've got at least half of them still leftover and I'd love to hear what you plan to do with them.
Have an awesome day and don't forget to use the hashtag #CocoaDaisyNovember2016Reveal on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to find all of our reveal goodies today! You don't want to miss out!


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New York Portrait Photographer
Native New Yorker, Vanessa Guzzo, is a leading portrait and lifestyle photographer with a prestigious list of industry partners and a devoted and loyal clientele.
Well known for her enthusiastic personality and natural ability to put people at ease, Vanessa's stunning portfolio captures love, laughter, and joy, through an artist's eye with a keen attention to detail that only she can provide. Consistently going beyond creating images to making memories that last, it's no wonder so many families turn to her again and again for the most important moments in their lives.
Whether it's an ordinary day or an extraordinary event, Vanessa is bound to provide a warm, yet professional experience, world-class customer service, and authentic photography that will touch your heart now and forever.
Contact Vanessa for your maternity, newborn, baptism, communion, and family photography in New York and beyond, and get ready to smile!
"Vanessa is unbelievable. Her pictures speak for themselves about her quality of work. What you do not see is her patience, kindness, and amazing professionalism."
- ANTHONY C. | Father, Long Island
Giving Back
Charity Events
Our Lady of Grace Church
Howard Beach, NY
Howard Beach, NY
Friedberg JCC
Merrick/Bellmore Branch
Xavarian High School
Brooklyn, NY
Fashion Home Run Fundraiser
Annual Fundraising Gala
Special Photoshoot Donation to Individual Family
Snowball Dance Fundraiser
Howard Beach, NY
Holy Trinity Catholic Academy
Whitestone, NY
Mark Twain School for the Gifted & Talented, Brooklyn, NY
Massapequa, NY


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Heat pendant
The lamp appears fiery one minute, then tranquil the next, creating eye-catching features in either mode. Whatever mode you choose, Heat is a dynamic lamp that fills the interior with creativity and imagination.
How do I bend iron mesh into smooth curves?
Sed sumo aliquip voluptatum ea, ne quo vide reque omnesque. Ea alii iuvaret duo, alterum maluisset adolescens his eu. No eum numquam mandamus, cu nobis utroque debitis usu. This is how it's done ->


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It's pretty clear that having a bigger head on your irons will help with forgiveness and distance. That might not be the case with your driver and in this post, I'm going to be sharing my experience on whether or not a bigger driver head is better.
The only thing I found different in having a bigger driver head was the average distance. The face is bigger and has a larger sweet spot so the distance on mishits was better. I didn't feel like I had more control over the ball and I didn't find myself hitting more fairways. The only noticeable distance was the few extra yards on average for me.
I did my testing with three different clubs. The first was a Callaway Big Bertha Warbird which is an older and much smaller driver compared to what's on the market now. The second was a Ping G400 and the third was the G400 Max. They each had their pros and cons but let's jump into how they compared.
The majority of people will tell you that a bigger driver will give you more distance and that was the case in my experience. The smallest driver (Callaway) gave me the least distance while the biggest driver (G400 Max) gave me the most. You can see my favorite drivers at the bottom of the page.
The Callaway was definitely shorter than the newer drivers on the market but it did surprise me a bit with how well it performed overall. The G400 was around 15 yards on average longer for me and the G400 Max was a few yards longer than that.
The reason a bigger driver would be longer is that the profile is deeper and it has a lower center of gravity. The face is probably twice the size as the Warbird and that's why it was so much longer in the test.
Distance isn't the only thing I look at in a driver but if you want the most distance possible and you don't care about anything else then going big will probably be the right solution for you.
You'd probably think that having a bigger head will give you more distance and more forgiveness but I actually didn't feel that myself. Distances yes but I didn't feel like my mishits were any better with the Max driver compared to the Callaway.
If I hit the ball a few centimeters to the left or right of center I still had the same amount of hook and slice (but the distance was more). The G400 and Max were essentially the same for me in terms of forgiveness.
I'm not saying the size of the head doesn't matter for forgiveness because it might for you but in my experience, I didn't see enough of a difference to say for sure.
Ease Of Use
I think it's pretty easy to say that a bigger head will be easier to hit. I'd have to agree with that but in terms of results, I didn't end up hitting more fairways with the bigger club. It was actually the opposite.
Out of the three drivers, I actually hit more fairways with the Callaway. The distance was nowhere close to the other two but for me, it was a fairway finder. I don't really know the reason behind it.
With the other two drivers, they were pretty much the same again. The slightly bigger Max driver wasn't any easier to hit in my opinion and gave me pretty similar results.
I do think that most people will have an easier time hitting a bigger head because it'll be easier to make solid contact and get a good amount of height on the ball. If you do practice a bit with the smaller head then I'm pretty confident in saying you'll see very little difference between the clubs.
The Verdict
I know the info was a bit all over the place but in my experience, having a bigger head will only help with distance. I really liked the smaller Callaway driver but the only downside to it was that it was quite a bit shorter than the rest.
I didn't find the Callaway to be any less forgiving and I didn't think it was harder to hit (after some practice). I had the same amount of hook/slice on mishits and again, they just didn't go as far.
The G400 Max was slightly longer than the standard G400 but other than that, they were pretty similar. The Max is quite a bit more money and that's why I'd recommend sticking with the standard. I didn't see enough of a difference to say it's worth getting.
I think it all comes down to what you prefer. Some people like the smaller clubs (like myself) and will get very similar results after practicing for a bit. The Callaway was somewhere around 15 bucks so why not give something like it a try?
If you know you prefer the newer style of driver and are debating between the standard and the Max, the best thing you can do is give them both a try but in my experience, they are too similar and not worth the extra money.
Let me know your thoughts and any questions you have. Like this article? Feel free to give it a share!
Looking to get some new golf gear? Click here to check out our recommended gear page to see the stuff we're recommending and the cheapest place to get them.


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VNU-UET welcomed and worked with DAAD Office in Hanoi
On the morning of September 30, 2020, VNU University of Engineering and Technology welcomed and worked with Mr. Stefan Hase-Bergen – Head of Representative Office of German Academic Exchange Agency – DAAD in Hanoi.
Attending at the reception, on the side of the VNU-UET, there was also Prof.Dr. Chu Duc Trinh – Vice-Rector, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Hoai Son – Deputy Head, Department of Science, Technology and International Relations and some representatives from faculties and departments. On the DAAD side, there were also Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung – Officer of the Scholarship Department, DAAD Representative Office in Hanoi.
At the meeting, the two sides exchanged and discussed sponsorship programs, scholarships and support to connect VNU-UET with German universities and research institutes and focused on faculty and students exchange programs; program to support German professors and experts to teach at the VNU-UET. Prof.Dr. Chu Duc Trinh emphasized the VNU-UET's expectation in international student exchange cooperation between VNU-UET and universities in Germany.
After the meeting with the Vice President of the VNU-UET, the DAAD representative had a consultation session on German learning opportunities and scholarships for lecturers and students of VNU-UET, especially scholarship programs for fellows.
Thanks to the welcome from the University, Stefan Hase-Bergen said the DAAD was very pleased to visit the VNU-UET and wished to disseminate useful scholarship information to students and staffs. Mr. Stefan Hase-Bergen hoped the scholarship presentation would receive the attention and cooperation from the VNU-UET.
The discussion took place excitingly because of the special attention of staff and lecturers for study abroad programs in Germany. Many questions about studying, working and living in Germany have been answered thoroughly by the DAAD Representative.
The program was successfully organized and received high praise from the staff and lecturers. Former student Ngo Minh Hoang has just graduated from Computer Science major (Faculty of Information Technology) and is currently a perspective official at the faculty shared: immediately after graduating from university, I want to follow the science research path, so you are looking for scholarships and opportunities that are right for you. Scholarship seminars organized by the University provided important and useful information about scholarships and studying abroad in Germany. Based on this information, I can orientate about studying abroad in the future.


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Mom's House strives to break the cycles of poverty and welfare. It is our mission to guide at-risk single parents through the process of achieving educational goals and provide tools and resources needed to become effective parents.
Christina Rodriguez
Executive Director
Julie Haas
Program Director
Annika Awls
Finance Coordinator
Kristen Lennex
Donor Relations Coordinator
Derayna Webb
Wellness Coordinator
Ms. Kim
Ms. Lilli
Ms. Cindy
Ms. Emily
Ms. Alicia
Mike Kruse
Bill Sheehan
I find the mission of Mom's House to be a refreshing and enlightened response to a community problem and a moral dilemma that enriches and empowers the our most vulnerable.
Darren Garvin
Brian Zientek
Board Member
I am totally committed to the mission of Mom's House "breaking the cycle of poverty and welfare," as it aligns completely with my personal and spiritual beliefs.
Crystal Jordan
Board Member
Jessica Miller
Board Member
Deb Ciecka
Board Member
Amanda Graven
Board Member
I'm inspired by the work we do and the families in our program – especially the kids! Everyone deserves a chance to finish school, find success, and set a good example for their children.


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Phil's 'fro
Here at The Bad Hair Blog I believe that NJ taxes are enough to make your hair stand on end, but TBHB is not indifferent to other bad hair news. Behold, Phil Spector's attorneys might be starting a new trend in criminal defense — the bad hair strategy:
Update The Manolo says it best!
Phil's 'fro


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Moonlighter's 'More Stock' update adds extra loot and angry floors
Taking stock of the situation.
Fantasy shopkeeping adventure Moonlighter has had a busy couple months since its launch in May. Not content to just let stock sit on the shelves, developers Digital Sun have been quick to bring in new goods and renovate its dungeons, and today's update has been its largest yet. Among other things, the 'More Stock' update bulks up environment variety and offers additional rewards for those returning to already-cleared dungeons, expanding further on a formula which John greatly enjoyed.
You can read the full patch notes for the More Stock update here, but the biggest thing is 100 new room templates added to the random dungeon generator, featuring a new hazard type: puddles. Poison in the forest maps, lava in the desert (it's VERY hot) and electric in tech-themed dungeons. If it's bubbling, crackling or otherwise looking less than inviting, just don't go standing in it.
The other big feature is a special new challenge room. If you re-enter a boss's chamber after clearing a dungeon, you'll get to fight a big swarm of monsters. Depending on how fast you clear them out, you'll be rewarded with up to three large treasure chests of increasing rarity. There's some nice graphical improvements this update too, like visible armour upgrades and particle effects for enchanted weapons. Lastly, the update adds some in-game tutorials on the finer points of shop management, and for early Kickstarter backers, a bow that levels up with you.
There's plenty more yet to come, according to the developer's roadmap. Coming next is the Adventure Update, adding a New Game+ mode, a new "Dimensional" weapon-set, plus an entirely new item type: amulets. The Companion update will be adding familiars to make dungeons a bit less lonely, plus the option to create your own custom game-modes. Lastly, the Trouble update will be adding mini-bosses, more item effects and a set of Halloween decorations, which makes it a very likely candidate for a late October release.
Moonlighter is out now on Windows and Mac, for £15.50/$20/20€, via Steam, GOG and Humble.


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Targeting Germany has become a Trump delight as he complains about too many German cars on US streets; the cost of US troops based there; making false claims that crime is spiking in Germany because of immigration and relishes seeing "the people of Germany … turning against their leadership." Now he's turned his divide-and-rule tactics onto the German-Russian gas pipeline, as well as NATO spending.
Germany derives under 20% of its energy from gas of which 60-70% comes from Russia, the rest from Norway; their use of gas will go up in future as they reduce dependence on coal and cut out nuclear altogether. Poland and other eastern European countries strongly object to the Russia pipeline since they see it as running the risk of destabilising their region and giving Russia too much influence. Stage two of the pipeline project would allow Russia to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine and disrupt many east European countries, while preserving Germany's energy supply.
Part of Trump's German bugbear may be Merkel's obvious distaste for his policies plus his mother issues being triggered by a stalwart Mutti. Though, heaven knows, he should be grateful to Deutsche Bank who hauled him out of financial trouble when he was blacklisted on Wall Street in the 1990s. Which may or may not become part of the Mueller investigation since Russian money laundering landed the bank in the soup with the US Justice Department.
What will make a significant difference is Trump's Pluto Midheaven running directly through Germany, which will bring out his desire to dominate, sneer, put down and equally will run him into resistance and resentment. That's true for most of Europe and the UK but Germany is on the bullseye, especially Frankfurt where Deutsche Bank is situated. The Pluto MC line is usually regarded as risky either physically or in terms of undermining reputation – interesting to see if the money angle (more below) is his downfall (should it occur).
There's also hugely difficult chemistry between himself and Merkel personally with her 8th house Sun Uranus in Cancer conjunct his Saturn Venus; and her determined Pluto conjunct his Mars.
His relationship chart with her is no better than his with Germany (1871) with strongly aspected Uranus (= no compromise) in both. November/December this year look like lowering the temperature still further.
Trump's Pluto Descendant runs through China making for a hostile relationship and struggle for the upper hand; and his successful Jupiter midheaven line runs through – no surprise – Russia, to the east of Moscow. Below isn't astrological but gives context.
There have been a couple of media pieces this week (URLs below) on his past business links with Russians over several decades. From Politico: "The litany of direct and indirect contacts with the Kremlin exceeds all possible exculpatory explanations. It is impossible to see the total picture and reach the conclusion that there is an innocent explanation behind it all. There's simply too much to explain away."
A Financial Times investigation into the Trump Toronto quotes a former Trump Organisation executive as saying "Donald doesn't do due diligence." So no checks would have been done in the post-Soviet rush to stash money abroad. Where Russia is concerned oligarchs, mobsters and the Kremlin are all intertwined and the likelihood of Putin having compromising information means he won't even have to issue orders. Trump will proactively be doing whatever he believes will keep him in Putin's good graces.
The general view is that Putin didn't directly plan to put Trump in the White House, nor did Trump expect to win which is why there's been such a panic to cover tracks. And one day his DC vacation will end and he'll want to keep his family's business model intact for the what-comes-after. Follow the money.


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NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — A fire broke out overnight near a local marina, according to Nassau County Fire Rescue.
The fire destroyed the Ocean Outboard Marine building, near the Tiger Point Marina in Fernandina Beach.
Neighbors told Action News Jax the building that burned was a boat repair building.
Multiple units were called out to the scene.
Several fire marshals were at the scene investigating the official cause of the fire, as the Department of Environmental Protection and Coast Guard are monitoring any potential chemical exposures according to firefighters.
In the meantime, the owner of the business is already looking to get his shop up and running again.
"I'm going to push (the debris) in the corner and have someone work on a dumpster, and put a tent up and go back to work," shop owner Eric Oliver said.
The building is still smoldering. Fire marshal is going through the scene now. pic.twitter.com/KyO1Ngfzuk— Cole Heath (@ColeHeathMSP) July 17, 2018
Fire marshal on scene now after fire breaks out and guts building around Tiger Point Marina in Fernandina Beach. #anjaxbreaking @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/4T5uHUIMpH— Cole Heath (@ColeHeathMSP) July 17, 2018
Cox Media Group


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Homework Assessment
Homework Assessment
For this Assignment, you will document information about a patient that you examined during the last three weeks, using the Focused SOAP Note Template provided. You will then use this note to develop and record a case presentation for this patient.
- Subjective: What details did the patient provide regarding their chief complaint and symptomology to derive your differential diagnosis? What is the duration and severity of their symptoms? How are their symptoms impacting their functioning in life?
- Objective: What observations did you make during the psychiatric assessment?
- Assessment: Discuss their mental status examination results. What were your differential diagnoses? Provide a minimum of three possible diagnoses and why you chose them. List them from highest priority to lowest priority. What was your primary diagnosis and why? Describe how your primary diagnosis aligns with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and supported by the patient's symptoms.
- Plan: In your assignment, describe your treatment plan using clinical practice guidelines supported by evidence-based practice. Include a discussion on your chosen FDA-approved psychopharmacologic agents and include alternative treatments available and supported by valid research. All treatment choices must have a discussion of your rationale for the choice supported by valid research. What were your follow-up plan and parameters? What referrals would you make or recommend as a result of this treatment session?
- In your written plan include all the above as well as include one social determinant of health according to the HealthyPeople 2030 (you will need to research) as applied to this case in the realm of psychiatry and mental health. As a future advanced provider, what are one health promotion activity and one patient education consideration for this patient for improving health disparities and inequities in the realm of psychiatry and mental health? Demonstrate your critical thinking.
- Reflection notes: What would you do differently with this patient if you could conduct the session again? If you are able to follow up with your patient, explain whether these interventions were successful and why or why not. If you were not able to conduct a follow up, discuss what your next intervention would be.
- Include at least five scholarly resources to support your assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
Homework Assessment
Create an order via https://peakassignments.com/order if you need work on such topic and many more from different disciplines.


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Matthew E. Mooney
University of Utah
Continuing and Online Education
Marriot Library
Slat Lake City, UT 84108
Ph.D. - 2007
Purdue University
Curriculum & Instruction: Educational Technology
Dissertation Title: Computer Anxiety and Web-based Course Management Systems: Does Design Matter?
Central Michigan University
Interpersonal Communication
Central Michigan University
Organizational Communication & Family Life and Human Sexuality
Administrative & Technical Experience
Continuing and Online Education - University of Utah
June 2021 - Present
Director of Digital Learning Services
Smeal College of Business - Penn State University
January 2015 - May 2021
Assistant Dean for Teaching, Learning, and Technology
Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO) (2017)
Director of Instructional Design, eLearning Design and Innovation Group (eLDIG) (2015 - 2017)
Provided leadership and vision for the technology and instrutional needs of the College. Represent the College across the University commmunity
Arizona Area Health Educational Centers (AHEC) Program, University of Arizona
January 2002 - May 2005
Assistant Director
Managed contracts with external evaluation agencies. Assisted in grant writing. Supervised technology and program implementation staff. Coordinated evaluation efforts throughout the statewide program. Maintained and improved current web-based applications for program evaluation and implementation.
Program Director, Information Management and Technology-Assisted Innovations
Created a web-based application for oversight and compliance for federal and state funding sources that integrated multiple program activities into meaningful and useful output. Supervised technology staff. Developed on-line evaluation tools to provide more efficient data collection and program planning.
Distance Learning Specialist
Developed and deployed distance learning initiatives and two-way interactive video conferencing system; administrated web, database; and streaming media servers, prepared for emerging technologies.
Agricultural Economics, Purdue University
May 2000 - April 2002
WWW Specialist
Duties included the creation and maintenance of the departmental website, administration of web and media servers and course management system, multimedia development, staff training, supervision of graduate students. Developer of CMme (Course Management made easy)©.
Teaching Experience
School of Sciences, Humanities, & Visual Communications - Pennsylvania College of Technology
January 2012 - January 2015
Assistant Professor of Web & Interactive Media
BIM100 – Interactive Media in the Digital Age. Study of social media as a tool for personal, professional, and business communication, advertising, and marketing. Students utilize various social media tools; creating and sharing content and collaborating on group campaigns using social media for social change.
BWM150 – Introduction to Web Page Development. Introductory coverage of the Internet and online Web technologies. Skills learned include how to plan, create, and maintain static Web pages with a focus on the use of CSS and HTML5.
BWM160 – Introduction to Scripting and Databases. Introduction to scripting languages necessary to build a client-server application. Emphasis on procedural programming concepts and data manipulation concepts.
BWM252 – Mastering Web Design Tools and Technologies. Theory and application in current industry-standard technologies required by Web design professionals, including creating wireframes and mock-ups, and the use of content management systems.
BWM254 – Advanced Web Design Practices. Advanced study of the practices and standards used in the Mobile First perspective of Web design. Students develop responsive websites focusing on delivery of content to multiple devices.
BWM456 – Device Development. Exploration of recent development strategies for mobile devices. Course work includes analysis of traditional vs. handheld interfaces, user interface design, and touch interfaces.
BWM498 – Senior Capstone. Capstone experience that provides an opportunity to develop an independent project, with faculty direction, including research, analysis, discussion, execution, and presentation of a final project. The faculty member served as both the project client and capstone supervisor.
CSC124 – Information, Technology, and Society. Topics include access, evaluation, and use of digital information, ethical and security implications of information use and storage; human-computer interactions.
School of Education - Indiana University South Bend
August 2005 - December 2011
Lecturer of Educational Technology
EDUC-F100 – Introduction to Teaching. Provided a general introduction to the teaching profession and to various styles of learning. Students explored educational careers, teacher preparation and professional expectations as well as requirements for teacher certification.
EDUC-F201 – Exploring the Personal Demands of Teaching. Focused on learning interpersonal communication skills in a small group setting. Students demonstrated observation, active listening, self-disclosure, and feedback skills in relation to teaching.
EDUC-R503 – Instructional Media Applications. Topics included: Integration of technology within the K-12 classroom, concept mapping, word processing, spreadsheets, web development, databases, multimedia development, pedagogical knowledge, and critical thinking required to appropriately utilize the power of computers and related technologies to enhance the K-12 learning environment.
EDUC-W200 – Using Computers in Education. Topics include: Integration of technology within the K-12 classroom, concept mapping, word processing, spreadsheets, web development, databases, multimedia development, digital photography, and the use of Web 2.0 tools.
Educational Technology - Purdue University
August 1998 - May 2000
EDCI 271 – Classroom Applications of Educational Technology. Instructed multiple sections of the course. Topics included: Integration of educational technology within K-12 classrooms, examining web-based resources and video case studies. The course was designed to provide a discussion setting for students to examine current and future issues surrounding technology integration.
EDCI 270 Lecture – Introduction to Educational Technology and Computing. Topics included: Foundations of educational technology, integration of instructional design, media, computers and related technologies within the classroom setting. Team taught with Jim Lehman, Ph.D.
EDCI 560 – Microcomputer Application for Education and Training. This course was taught to in-service teachers at Crawfordsville High School and Happy Hollow Elementary School. Topics included: Instructional design, implementation and management of technology in instructional environments, use of hypermedia. Team taught with Tim Newby, Ph.D.
Lab Coordinator
Responsible for server administration and maintenance for web and file servers, hardware and software installation and maintenance, website creation and maintenance, training and supervision of graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
EDCI 270 – Introduction to Educational Technology and Computing. Instructed the lab component of the course. Topics included: Instructional design, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, hypermedia, HTML, use of the World Wide Web, and preplanning.
EDCI 560 – Microcomputer Application for Education and Training. Instructed the lab component of the course. Topics included: Instructional design, implementation and management of technology in instructional environments, use of the World Wide Web, and hypermedia.
Mid-Michigan Community College - Harrison, Michigan
March 1993 - August 1995
SPE 101 – Fundamentals of Communication. Topics included: Interpersonal communication, public speaking, interviewing, small group communication, leadership, interpersonal relationships, family roles, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, self esteem, perceptions, and self disclosure.
SPE 115 – Small Group. Topics included: Small group communication, systems theory, leadership, organizational communication, rules theory, problem solving, group cohesion, and information management.
Central Michigan University - Mount Pleasant, Michigan
August 1991 - December 1994
Graduate Teaching Assistant
SDA 101 – Introduction to Interpersonal Communication. Topics included: Communication process, communication competency, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, processing, self esteem, listening, audience adaptation, public speaking, interpersonal relationships, family structure, family communication, systems theory, rules theory, and social penetration theory.


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Obituary: Roger W. Weibel
Roger W. Weibel, age 76, of Fort Worth, Texas and Rhinelander, died Jan. 13, 2018 in Cedar City, Utah. He was born Sept. 7, 1941 in Milwaukee, to Paul and Lillian (Rolland) Weibel.
Roger is survived by his wife, Rosanne Weibel; children, Dawn (Gary) Ottman, Robin Weibel, and Tom (Charity) Weibel; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Darlene Klemm, Donna (Robert) Ireland, Diane (Robert "Kube") Kube, Doreen (Jeff) Buntrock, Dorothy (Brian) Solveson, Ronald (Cyndi) Weibel, Robert (Cynthia) Weibel, Richard "Heavy" (Denise) Weibel, and Randolph "Max" (Joylyn) Weibel; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Roger will be held Jan. 23, at 11 a.m., at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church-St. Joseph's site. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Jan. 22, at the Carlson Funeral Home and 10 a.m. until just prior to the services, on Tuesday at the church.
In lieu of other expressions, a memorial is being established in Roger's name and may be directed to his family. (Carlson Funeral Home)
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I noticed that it's been too long since I posted here, so here goes....
I reached out to 30+ agents and publishers with query letters, interested in trying out a more traditional publishing route for my latest mystery novel, The World Beneath The World, the first book in a series about a pair of detectives hiding out in New Hampshire with a greenhouse full of rescue tortoises. I've heard back with numerous polite "no thank you" emails, a non-committal (yet) expression of some degree of interest, and lots of silence.
I've been noodling with writing a children's book about my tortoises for a while, trying to find the right story and words and pictures to do such a book, and the tortoises, justice. I finished a draft of the book, Chili, the Grumpy Tortoise, today, and ordered a copy so that I can see how the artwork translates... I used my own photos almost entirely, running them through a "photo to painting" app to dial down the photo-realistic feel of the pictures.
I'm also working on a collection of short stories and novellas, Criminal Elements, that will gather some new stories as well as some renovated ones from the cellar, all of them looking at good and bad guys on both sides of the blue line. The impetus for this collection grew from a number of stories I'd written, or wanted to write, that hadn't made it into earlier collections or got shelved before they got written because of other priorities.
I'm excited about working on all three of these projects and hope to have more news about each in the coming weeks.
Thanks - Jamie


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I want ur agent number who will give job to ur company
R.P. Construction, a company in Manama
- City/Town:
- Manama
- PO Box:
- 21892
- Telephone number:
- 1-7215122
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One month down. We're into November, which means we can stop saying "it's still early" and start forming some conclusions about players and teams around the league.
Saturday brings a busy schedule, with 13 games around the league, including a half-dozen with identical 7:00 ET starts. Let's take a look at what to expect, starting with a classic Norris Division matchup.
HNIC Game of the Night: Toronto Maple Leafs at St. Louis Blues
The Maple Leafs arrive in St. Louis after a tough California trip that saw them win one of three. They've now lost four of their last five and five of their last seven, and the excitement of 6-1-0 start has faded significantly. All that talk of being Stanley Cup favourites feels like it was a long time ago.
The strange thing here is that it's not like the recent stretch has necessarily taught us anything new about the Maple Leafs, or exposed some previously unknown flaw; they still look a lot like who we thought they were. They can score in bunches. They can also give up goals in bunches. The forward group is deep and talented, but the goaltending is a question mark and the defence is inconsistent. On a good night, the pluses outweigh the minuses and they end up winning by scores of 8-5 or 6-3. On a bad night, well, you get what we've seen over the last few weeks.
Mike Babcock would probably rather have a team that played more 2-1 games. Most NHL coaches would. But that's not the group he has right now, and it will be interesting to see whether he can change them before they force him to embrace a new approach. That battle might end up being 20 guys against one, but when that one is a stubborn NHL coach with a Cup ring and two gold medals, let's call it an even fight.
Either way, things don't get any easier for the slumping Leafs Saturday night, as they'll face a team headed in the opposite direction. Thursday's loss to the Flyers ended a seven-game point streak for the Blues, who still sit comfortably on top of the Central and are just one point back of the Lightning for top spot overall. The Blues have done it while playing something a lot closer to that 2-1 style the Maple Leafs can't find. They've seen 75 goals scored in their 14 games so far, 27 fewer than in Toronto games, and have only given up four or more goals twice on the season. You'd have to go back to Oct. 21, five games ago, to even find the last time they gave up three.
So if the Blues have their way, expect a low-scoring affair. Babcock might prefer that too, but the more important thing is that his struggling Leafs get a win. The Bruins are lurking just three points back with three games in hand, and a playoff spot is no longer a lock in Toronto if they can't get things straightened out. Let's see if they show up Saturday night looking like the team they want to be someday, or just the team they need to be right now.
Player in the spotlight: Patrik Laine
The Jets winger made news this week with an unusually frank assessment of his play so far this season. "I feel like I can't do many positive things on the ice," Laine told reporters, adding that "just overall I can't produce many good things on the ice, it doesn't matter if it's offensively or defensively."
That sounds harsh, especially since Laine isn't exactly firing blanks this year. The four goals and six points through 11 games he'd managed at the time left him well below last year's pace, but the numbers weren't terrible. He's still getting pucks on net at virtually the same rate as last year, and there are certainly some big-name players around the league who are off to worse starts.
That made you wonder if Thursday's comments weren't more about a young player who's used to scoring at will who's struggling through a slump for one of the first times in his pro career and trying to make sense of it. Maybe it's just a kid saying what he figures people want to hear. Or maybe we were really seeing a genuine crisis in confidence for a player who hasn't lacked in that department over the years.
Whatever it was, Laine didn't take long to get back to his old ways, scoring in the first period on Thursday against Dallas. While one goal doesn't necessarily spell the end of a slump, Laine seems to have a sense of what he needs to do. Keep working, keep improving, and hope the puck starts going in. The odds are that they will, and probably soon.
Saturday night's matchup with the Canadiens represents a good opportunity for Laine to keep rolling. Come to think of it, Carey Price continues to struggle through an uncharacteristic slump of his own. Maybe he just needs a quick locker room confessional with the media. I hear those are working wonders these days.
Key subplot: No respect, I tell you
Are you tired of hearing about the Golden Knights yet? Probably not, since it's hard to get sick of something that's only been around for a month or so. But stories about the Knights' hot start – and whether it does or doesn't mean that George McPhee and friends built a contender in Year 1 – have been a staple of the season's first few weeks.
You know the drill by now. Yes, they're having some success. Yes, their record is better than we thought it would be. But let's not get excited yet. There's still plenty of season left for them to come back to earth, at which point all the experts will be able to say they were right all along.
Welcome to our world, the Ottawa Senators might tell them.
After all, the Senators have pretty much been the poster child of the no-respect club over the last year or so. They weren't supposed to be good last year, and even when they put up 98 points and earned home-ice to open the playoffs, nobody took them seriously as a Cup contender. That was true through the first round, and then into the second, and the third, right up until they were one goal away from knocking off the Penguins and heading to the Stanley Cup Final. Chris Kunitz's overtime goal ended that run, and everyone went back to writing them off pretty much immediately.
So far this season, it's been a similar story. Sure, they're right back in second spot in the Atlantic. But they've lost more games than they've won, and we all know it can't last, and hey let's talk about the Maple Leafs instead, am I right?
Saturday afternoon, the two teams that nobody seems to want to give much credit to will meet in Ottawa, and one of them will probably have to win. The Knights come in having hit their first speed bump, with three straight losses so far this week. That's understandable, given all their injury problems in goal, and with home ice you'd expect the Senators to win this one.
Then again, who knows. These two teams love to take our expectations and prove everyone wrong.
Marquee matchup: Stamkos + Kucherov vs. Bobrovsky
The Blue Jackets remain a tricky team to figure out. They're sitting at 9-4-0, good enough to have them right in the mix of a tough Metro Division. But they haven't exactly beaten anyone yet, with none of those wins coming against teams you'd consider all that good. The best teams they've faced so far have been the Blues, Blackhawks, Kings and Lightning, and they lost all four of those games by a combined score of 17-6.
Still, they're coming off a 108-point season, the fourth-best record in all of hockey last year. And if that was just some sort of one-off fluke, one based on a miracle mid-season win streak and not much more, then we're not seeing much evidence for it so far this season. These guys are good.
The question is how good. And maybe more specifically, the question is why they're good. Is this a good team top-to-bottom, one that features balanced scoring and a solid young defence, all led by a coach who doesn't get the respect he deserves because he's sometimes cranky with the media? Or is it merely an average collection of talent in front of an all-world goaltender, and the rest of it is just us finding narratives so that we don't have to call them a one-player team?
The truth, as always, probably lies somewhere in the middle. But in the meantime, we'll get a chance to see Sergei Bobrovsky in action against the league's top offensive team, as the Blue Jackets visit the Lightning. Tampa's already at 10 wins on the year and lead the NHL with 54 goals.
They've been led by their top line of Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, who've been close to unstoppable. Stamkos and Kucherov rank one-two in the league in scoring, and have only been held off the scoresheet twice all season. They often look downright unstoppable. (Side note: Don't we need a nickname for the duo? It feels like we should be calling them Stamkuch or something by now. I'm open to ideas.)
Maybe more impressively, each player has already posted eight multi-point games on the year, and the Lightning have earned at least a point in all but one of those games. That includes the first meeting between these two teams back on Oct. 19; the Blue Jackets outshot the Lightning 43-21 that night but lost 2-0 thanks to a pair of goals by Mikhail Sergachev, with Stamkos assisting on both.
So while you never want to over-simplify a complex game like hockey, sometimes it's not all that hard to set some expectations. Saturday night we'll see one of the best goalies in the league go up against the hottest duo on the planet, and whichever side wins the battle will probably also earn a win for their team. Not many goalies have been able to stop the Lightning this year, but Bobrovsky probably needs to if the Blue Jackets are finally going to earn a win against a top team.
From the archives
You're expecting me to use Buffalo-Dallas here, aren't you? Come on. As if Sabres fans haven't suffered enough this year. I'm not a monster.
So instead, let's use Saturday night's Penguins-Canucks matchup to look back at one of the stranger trades in NHL history. That would be the infamous 1996 deadline deal that saw the Canucks send big winger Alek Stojanov to the Penguins for Markus Naslund. Spoiler alert: it didn't turn out well for the Penguins.
You know that by now, of course. The trade is often cited as one of the most lopsided ever. Naslund went on record 756 points in Vancouver, where his number was (awkwardly) retired in 2010. Stojanov fell just short of those numbers, ending his stint in Pittsburgh with, uh, six points.
[snippet id=3638287]
In fairness, Stojanov wasn't acquired for his scoring. He was a tough guy, and the 1996 deadline was all about toughness. The day came and went without any true blockbusters; instead, it saw plenty of deals for enforcers, including Ken Baumgartner, Joey Kocur and Enrico Ciccone. The Penguins wanted in on some of that toughness, and it's fair to say their roster already featured some decent skill. So trading Naslund for some muscle made some sense, right?
Well, maybe. But the interesting thing about the trade is that even at the time it was made, nobody really seemed to like it for Pittsburgh. The Penguins had been expected to add toughness along the blue line, not up front. Adding Stojanov felt like a Plan B or C. And reporters in Pittsburgh seemed confused by the deal as they searched for something positive to say. "Stojanov's game doesn't vary much…" wrote Dave Molinari in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the next day, "but that's not necessarily a plus." He went on to cite Stojanov's one point in 57 games that year as "a pretty accurate reflection of his talent and role."
But there's an interesting what-if to play with here. Penguins GM Craig Patrick make it fairly clear that his focus had been on the defence, where the recent loss of Ulf Samuelsson had left a gaping hole. It was suggested that he'd targeted Edmonton defenceman Bryan Marchment, and while Patrick wouldn't confirm or deny (citing tampering rules), he did tell reporters that "we certainly exhausted every avenue we could to improve our hockey club."
That leads to the question: did the Penguins ever offer Markus Naslund to the Oilers? And if so, how does the next decade or so play out in the Pacific Division if Naslund is lining up with Doug Weight and Bill Guerin instead of Brendan Morrison and Todd Bertuzzi?
We'll never know, and Canucks fans are happy for that.
Oddly specific prediction
As a tribute to Stojanov, Pens' tough guy Ryan Reaves scores a goal Saturday night.
Oddly specific prediction record: 0-for-4, although the Coyotes made it interesting last week.


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Tech podcast: training, recovery, and flasks with Alison Tetrick
Alison Tetrick joins tech editor Dan Cavallari to chat about training during Covid-19, recovering well, and carrying positivity in a whiskey flask.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
On a cold, soaking wet day somewhere in southern Missouri, Alison Tetrick pulled out a whiskey flask and took a small nip, then rightfully chided me for forgetting mine back in my luggage.
We were on a course preview ride of the Big Sugar — NWA Gravel race that starts in Bentonville, Arkansas back in October, and it had poured rain since the first pedal stroke of the day. We were soaked and shivering, huddled around a wood stove as we tried to dry out our hopelessly drenched gloves, socks, shoes, and jackets.
On difficult days like that, it's sometimes hard to remember we're out there to enjoy ourselves. Hence the flask: mental health and positivity always come first. For Tetrick, that's a rule to live by, and it's one she's always willing to share with those she's riding with.
We are living in strange times, and Tetrick, like other professional athletes, is stuck in a holding pattern to see if and when the season might begin. So she's training as though the season will start at any time. In this episode of the Tech Podcast, Tetrick gives us a sense of what her rides are like, what gear is important to her both indoors and outdoors, and what she does to recover on the road and at home.
Tetrick also reveals herself as a total data dork, guilty of backing up her power files for years. As a former road racer, Tetrick has a pretty intimate relationship with her power numbers, and she shares some insight as to how she uses that information to become a better racer, even on the gravel.
And finally, Tetrick — a California native — shares the hilarious reason her phone number has a Colorado area code. (Spoiler: It's a pretty epic dad power move.)
What do you carry with you to maintain your sanity during long, grueling hours on the bike? A photo of your kids on the top tube? A candy bar in the back pocket? Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter, Instagram, or via email to share your riding rituals.


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Tampak Siring – Tirta Empul holy spring temple
The holy spring in the inner courtyard of the Tirta Empul in Tampak Siring is said to have magical curative powers. There are special bathing pools where clear cool water spouts from mossy walls. Legend was that the spring by piercing the ground in search of holy water to revive his dying army.


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Get your parcel delivered to Zambia by our reputable couriers at a price you can afford.
The commercial and social ties between Britain and The Republic of Zambia are strong. They have been nurtured ever since Zambia became independent from Britain in 1964. It includes many shared family ties and there are also companies in this African country that recruit British expats.
This means it is not usual for someone in the UK to need to send gifts or personal items to family or friends in Zambia. Alternatively, many people feel the need to send a parcel to Zambia which contains commercial goods.
Whether you are a business or individual, how do you send a parcel to Zambia at an affordable price?
This step-by-step guide shows how straightforward finding cheap courier services to Zambia can be, but also what you need to do to make absolutely sure that your parcel arrives swiftly and undamaged.
As with any other country in the world, arranging cheap shipping to Zambia from UK means finding a courier that you trust. However, what you need to be careful of is thinking that the most obvious parcel delivery service will offer you the best value for money.
There are many companies that can take your parcel from the UK to this part of southern Africa, but how to do find cheap delivery to Zambia?
Well, you certainly don't have to spend hours researching options and comparing prices and service levels for parcel delivery to Zambia from UK. At Parcel Delivery, our intuitive technology does that for you – instantly.
So, all you need to do to find cheap parcel delivery to Zambia (using 100% reliable couriers) is to use our straightforward enquiry form.
Key in the details of your parcel and your preference on factors such as delivery speed, then click for instant feedback. You will have a choice of carefully selected partners, who can offer affordable prices for high levels of customer service when you send a parcel to Zambia.
In some cases, to reduce the cost even more, you may be offered the chance to drop your parcel at a handy point somewhere near where you live or work in the UK.
However, many couriers who offer cheap parcel delivery to Zambia now include a door-to-door service in their clear pricing.
This means that your parcel – whether it's personal or commercial, large or small – can be collected directly from your home or workplace.
With your parcel handed over to a trusted courier, with the assurance of cheap courier to Zambia available, what's next?
Cheap courier services to Zambia also require the services of a company with the knowledge, contacts and systems to be reliable and careful. You want it to arrive in Zambia without delay or confusion.
The parcel delivery companies suggested by our quick quote tool will be those with business systems that have been tried and tested, and are couriers who handle parcel delivery to Zambia every day, all year round.
This means not only are there "economies of scale" helping to keep prices low, there is also the peace of mind that they have offices and partners on the African continent with the same high standards as their UK counterparts.
Though technology will support your cheap shipping to Zambia from UK at every step, there is still a lot to be said for in-country experience.
After all, Zambia is a challenging country when it comes to making prompt and cost-effective parcel deliveries. It is entirely landlocked by the the Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and more, Zambia is home to a diverse environment which includes many plateaus, hills, mountains and river valleys. Zambia also features huge bodies of water including the iconic Victoria Falls.
Taking a parcel to Zambia could well involve a delivery to British expats and companies who are largely based in Lusaka. However, you need a courier just as capable if your parcel is going to a mineral mining company along the Copperbelt, or to one of Zambia's abundant agricultural businesses.
British goods are also sent regularly to support Zambia's growing tourism trade – as this country has some of the world's best wildlife and game reserves.
So why trust your gift, personal effects or commercial goods to fate? Instead, they need to be in the hands of people who know the fastest routes, and the best ways to deal with Zambia's unique and sparsely populated terrain while still ensuring you get a cheap courier to Zambia.
Parcel delivery UK to Zambia – using our carefully selected couriers – can be adapted to suit your own particular needs too. All by simply varying the fields on our easy-to-use cost comparison form.
Cheap courier services depend on the weight and size of your Zambian parcel. As will the speed at which you want your item or items to travel.
The price quoted includes a good level of content cover as standard. However, if you are sending valuable items to Zambia, you will want to opt to boost the insurance for your parcel.
There is also an option to acquire a trackable signature for your Zambia parcel delivery, to ensure it reaches the intended recipient.
Thanks to the technology our couriers use, you can often trace your parcel delivery UK to Zambia. Plus, you can sometimes receive digital proof of receipt within minutes of its safe arrival.
Using our quick and convenient online parcel comparison technology, you can have your Zambia parcel delivery sorted swiftly.
But how can you be sure that your item or items will set off ready for the journey, with the best chance of arriving without delay or damage?
You will have selected a responsible and responsive courier but even they can't do much if your parcel is prepared incorrectly.
What is the best way to send things to Zambia?
Well, you certainly need to protect them ready for the movement and handling they will inevitably face during parcel delivery UK to Zambia.
Don't be tempted to cut costs by squashing your items into an overly restrictive box though. You don't want your carton, cardboard tube or box to split in transit.
When you find the right sized cardboard packaging – that's strong enough to cope – fill any gaps around your item or items with lightweight packaging materials. Shredded newspaper is great for this if you want to avoid the expense of buying bubble wrap or foam shapes.
Pack well down the sides of your box, as this adds an extra degree of integrity to the cardboard.
Are you sending clothes to Zambia? Or some other soft, pliable items? Then it is possible to prepare them for Zambia parcel delivery by wrapping them in several layers of strong plastic – something more substantial than a carrier bag or bin bag though.
Seal your parcel delivery for Zambia well, with good quality packaging tape. Keep this as neat as possible to avoid tearing or sticky patches.
Now you need to add the address to your parcel delivery going from the UK to Zambia. The following information is vital. Make sure the address is affixed to your parcel in a way that will ensure that your parcel doesn't become damaged during the journey. Write it clearly and check any complex or unusual spellings.
You must include the Zambia postcode for parcel deliveries. This is a five-digit series that appears after the name of the town – for example, KABWE 12456.
With your specialist courier selected through Parcel Delivery – and your items or item carefully prepared and addressed – your cheap delivery to Zambia is "all wrapped up".


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Endless Truck- click to play online for free at friv 2021.
This is not a parking game! It's a racing game! Fasten your seatbelt in this skill racer and race your Monster Truck as far as you can, collecting money, pulling off the biggest jumps, doing insane flips, avoiding gigantic bombs and make sure you don't run out of fuel. If you do, you go back to the start and use the collected cash to upgrade your truck with new tyres, a bigger engine or a bigger tank and try again. Go on an endless truck ride in this fun driving game! Complete missions in each level. Collect money to buy upgrades. You can earn extra money by performing cool stunts. If you get a perfect landing you get a huge speed boost so aim for those as well. Keep going as long as you don't run out of fuel! You can improve your vehicle in five areas. The better your truck, the farther you will be able to go. And since this endless racer features an online leaderboard you will want to be on top of that, don't you? Find out how good you are with the brand new free Endless Truck
Impressive 3D graphics with side scrolling 2D gameplay
Easy-to-control Driving Game
Online Leaderboard
Upgradable Monster Truck with various tuning options
Completely Free Endless Racer
Do you want to play a few more? Then check out some games like Fallout Racer & Monster Truck Forest Delivery at http://friv4school2021.net/. Enjoy!
Instruction to play:
So how can you play this game? Make the truck jump with the space bar, speed up and create a front flip with your arrow key.


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Hey! How is the weather?
Webcam on Khaosan Road, Bangkok, Thailand (Bangkok, Thailand)
Current time in Bangkok12:00
Weather in Bangkok
Webcam in Bangkok, Thailand
Live PTZ webcam shows Khaosan Road in real time. Khaosan Road is located in Banglampu city district, in the center of Bangkok city, in Thailand. Here are located souvenir shops, shops, guest houses, massage parlors, bars, restaurants and cafes. Khao San Road never sleeps. At night there are a lot of people on the street. This can be seen by watching the live broadcast from the webcam. Most of the strollers are tourists from all over the world.
The livecam is located in the middle of Khaosan Road and periodically rotates 180 degrees, in turn showing the street in different directions. Video broadcasting from a webcam comes around the clock in FullHD high definition.
In the lower right corner of the broadcast you can see information about what the weather is like in Bangkok city.
Khao San
A webcam of the Webcam on Khaosan Road, Bangkok, Thailand with changing views.
This webcam is located in Bangkok was added on 28 November, 2022. It has got 477 visitors since then. If you own or manage a webcam in Thailand you can add it to WebcamsDirectory.
Hey! Take another minute to take a look at spain!


text: Author and director Julia Ostertag takes an autobiographical journey through the little discovered world of female ejaculation. On her trip, she meets six characters from five different countries who have dedicated their work to this topic – in film, literature, performance, activism and sex education. The film offers new perspectives on female sexuality and a sex-positive political HERstory of female pleasure through a diverse collection of found-footage, interviews and documentary material from around the world. Viva la Vulva!


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Location: 16 mi (25 km) South of Cusco, Quispicanchis province Map
Open 7am- 6pm daily
Tipon is ancient archeological site situated 16 miles (25 km) south of Cuzco in Quispicanchis province of Peru. It stands near Oropesa in the village of Choquepeda. This magnificent Inca ruin is a picturesque complex with staircases, terraces and complex irrigation system. The original name of the Tipon settlement is lost. Its modern name of Tipon or Timpuj is a local Quechua word that means "boiling" as a reference to the boiling water springs that fed the city. Masonry in Tipon is so well preserved that even today centuries later water rushes through the channels.
According to Inca traditions this was home to Wiracocha, the eight Inca ruler who built this for his father. Other sources claim that it was the official residence of Royal House of Yahuar Huaca. This Inca ruler started a war with another contender to the throne, Chancas. Chancas army defeated the troops of Yahuar Huaca, forcing him to flee to Tipon. Hi son Huiracocha gathered remaining forces and faced the advisory of his father. Eventually he defeated Chancas and took the title of Inca and a throne of the whole empire instead of his father. However he was gracious enough to spare the life of his parent and constructed a beautiful royal garden along with a garden as a private residence for him. Thick impressive walls defended the court of Yahuar Huaca as well as the whole settlement that served the palace.
Complex system of underground system of Tipon shows broad understanding of the hydraulics that suggest that this was the site for agricultural research in addition to being a royal residence. It lies at an elevation of 3,560 to 3,800 meters above sea level which allowed indigenous tribes to raise crops at different microclimates. High elevation of the settlement should be taken in consideration if you choose to visit the site. Drink plenty of water, take medications if you have hard time adjusting to the mountains. Additionally it is important to note that the climate around Tipon is fairly capricious. It rains fairly commonly so a jacket or a poncho can be quiet useful. Other useful items would be good hiking boots, plenty of water and basic personal items. Tipon archeological site is a fairly basic and lacks many amenities.
Wiracocha or Viracocha is unique character in the mythology of ancient tribes of Western South America. Some tribes called him Apu Qun Tiqsi Wiraqutra, and Con Tici or Kon Tiki. Inca believed this god appeared from the waters of Titicaca. He supposedly created the World and taught humans architecture, agriculture and other important aspect of lives. His description is somewhat similar to legends of Kukulkan, Quetzalcoatl, Gucumatz, Votan, Izamal, Bochica and others deities around Mesoamerica and Latin America. He was white, bearded and had incredible knowledge that he shared with the first Inca. Some archeologists speculate that this legend is actually based on the true fact. Survivors from some unknown civilization might have been the real teachers of the local people. The legends about this legendary leader are very different. Additionally some versions of the story there were several people under the same description. However their technology and general description is the same in many myths. Inca believed that Wiracocha left them traveling the raft of snakes (shown on the bottom) only to return when it is needed.


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The San Francisco 49ers and Symetra Financial recognized history teacher Robert Freeman today, November 15, as one of the Bay Area's outstanding teachers of the year. This is the first time Freeman has been nominated and has been presented with this award, one that history teacher Pete Bjorklund won last year. Freeman received a check for $1,000 on behalf of the school in a ceremony during brunch.
The San Francisco 49ers recently partnered with Symetra Financial and announced a multi-year partnership. The two organizations initiated a program to recognize teachers with outstanding dedication, leadership and instructional skills in the classroom.
"We honor 16 teachers throughout the year that have been nominated and this is our second year at Los Altos," 49ers corporate sales executive Tyson Lamp said. "We get student, parent and teacher nominations. We get a number of nominations that we go through and decide who will be picked."
This year junior John Naumovski nominated Freeman as one of the exceptional teachers at the Los Altos campus. Freeman won the award as a result of John's nomination.
[Photos by Ciera Pasturel]


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It's NBA Draft week, and the buzz around the league's next crop of stars is growing by the minute. We'll know soon enough how teams view each player when they walk across the draft stage, but our NBA analysts Brandon Anderson and Michael Walton have broken down where the top player and lottery teams could be focusing their attention come Thursday.
NBA.com has compiled nine mock drafts around the NBA landscape and gave a consensus score for the top 14 players based on how high they were taken in each mock draft. Below, we've combined those consensus mock draft scores and the current draft position odds for each player using odds from BetMGM.
Here's where the odds for the consensus top 14 stand leading up to the draft:
2021 NBA Draft Odds
|Mock Draft Consensus
|Cade Cunningham
|-5000 (No. 1)
|Jalen Green
|-400 (No. 2)
|Evan Mobley
|-225 (No. 3)
|Jalen Suggs
|-160 (No. 4)
|Scottie Barnes
|-225 (No. 5)
|Jonathan Kuminga
|+250 (No. 5)
|James Bouknight
|7.5 (+155/-190)
|Davion Mitchell
|12.5 (+100/-125)
|Franz Wagner
|9.5 (+140/-175)
|Keon Johnson
|12.5 (-135/+110)
|Josh Giddey
|10.5 (+150/-190)
|Moses Moody
|11.5 (+115/-145)
|Jalen Johnson
|14.5 (-130/+105)
|Kai Jones
|15.5 (+150/-185)
|Odds as of Wednesday morning and via BetMGM.
Cade Cunningham
Now, with another No. 1 pick, you can count on the Pistons keeping and making that selection. And by all accounts, that should mean Oklahoma State point guard Cade Cunningham is headed to the Motor City.
Jalen Green
However, Green's upside, development and projection are what make him a clear top-five pick, even if his archetype and longer development curve slightly limit him.
Evan Mobley
Mobley is not a perfect prospect, but no 20-year-old is a completed project. He needs to add strength, work on his shot, and polish a lot of raw talent.
But NBA teams are drafting a toolset, not a finished product, and Evan Mobley is about as complete a toolset as you can hope for in a modern big man.
Jalen Suggs
The concern with Suggs is whether he matches the ceiling of the other top prospects in this draft, like Cunningham, Mobley, or Green.
Scottie Barnes
In the end, Barnes looks like a high-variance draft pick who could end up being boom or bust. His defense is too good to bust, but if he can't find a shot or develop an offensive game, he might not be on the court long enough to defend.
Jonathan Kuminga
If things develop and Kuminga gets a better feel for the game, he could one day become what he already looks like — the next great NBA wing.
Team Needs & Analysis
Pistons (No. 1)
Needs: Lead Ball Handler | Rim Protector
The Pistons hadn't received the No. 1 pick in 51 years, with Bob Lanier being their last top pick — and they need plenty of help.
It would be shocking to see Detroit take anyone at No. 1 besides big Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham, though USC center Evan Mobley could get a well-deserved look.
Rockets (No. 2, 23, 24)
Needs: Offensive Engine | All-Around Big Man
The Rockets began the season with a superstar and ending looking up in the standings and hoping for a new beginning. They turned in a porous performance on both sides of the ball, though their defense did show some fight late in the regular season.
At this point in their rebuild, the Rockets front office should be looking for the best player available regardless of position.
Cavaliers (No. 3)
Needs: Scoring Wing | Frontcourt Depth
The Cavaliers have a lot of decisions to make with their roster. Kevin Love, Jarrett Allen and Collin Sexton are all players who could be gone depending on how Cleveland assesses its roster moving forward.
It's likely the Cavaliers will take the best available player at this spot and continue to rebuild for the future.
Raptors (No. 4)
Needs: Scoring Wing | Big Man
It's entirely possible Toronto doesn't keep this pick. There are tons of rumors surrounding Kyle Lowry, who is likely looking to compete for another NBA Championship as his career enters its twilight years. As detailed by our Matt Moore, there are plenty of suitors for Lowry's services.
Whichever direction Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and the front office go in, they have plenty of trade assets and draft capital to pull off a big move.
Magic (Nos. 5, 8)
Needs: Shot Creator | Passing Guard
After being ravaged by injuries, the Magic decided to let go of a core that never made it past the first round of the playoffs and start rebuilding. Orlando's mid-season trade with the Chicago Bulls yielded the No. 8 pick in the draft.
New head coach Jamahl Mosley and the Magic front office can go in a number of directions with their two top-10 picks, but those pieces will likely fit around Jonathan Issac and Markelle Fultz who signed long deals before getting injured last season.
Thunder (Nos. 6, 16, 18)
Needs: Scoring Wing | Stretch Big
Thunder general manager Sam Presti has been stockpiling picks for the past few seasons, and he has three in the first round of this draft. OKC is leaning into its youth with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Darius Bazley showing promise for the future of the team.
Still, the Thunder need legitimate help to return to their days of being a postseason regular.
Warriors (Nos. 7, 14)
Needs: Scorer | Ball-Handler
The Warriors have been linked to trade rumors involving their two top-15 picks, and considering how close they were to making the NBA Playoffs, it's easy to see why they would attempt to flip their assets for an established veteran.
In a draft with significant depth, the Warriors have a number of options to improve their top-heavy roster.
Kings (No. 9)
Needs: Versatile Defensive Wing | Rim Protector
The Kings now own the longest active postseason drought in the NBA, which dates back to the 2006-07 season. They nailed their 2020 draft pick by selecting Tyrese Haliburton, and De'Aaron Fox continues to improve. But the Kings are still vulnerable on defense and don't have an identity.
If the Kings manage to get another steal like they did last season, we could potentially see their fortunes turn.
Grizzlies (No. 10)
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pelicans are trading this pick to the Memphis Grizzlies.
New Orleans creates salary cap space for August that allows them to either match an offer sheet on Lonzo Ball, or have the cap space to pursue a significant free agent point guard, including Kyle Lowry and others. Pels liked Valanciunas as floor spacer at center over Adams, too. https://t.co/3YRyBTEg1S
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 26, 2021
Hornets (No. 11)
Needs: Center | 3-and-D Wing
Despite missing 2020 Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward for long stretches of the season, the Hornets fell just two wins short of a playoff spot and showed tremendous growth.
The Hornets were reportedly looking to add a center via trade at the deadline and could try to address that need in the draft.
Spurs (No. 12)
Needs: 3-Point Shooting | Rim Protector
The Spurs' season ended in a down-to-the-wire matchup with the Grizzlies in the NBA Play-In Tournament that highlighted San Antonio's fatal flaws. Gregg Popovich relied heavily on Dejounte Murray, DeMar DeRozan, and Derrick White this past season, but the Spurs were dead-last in the league in 3-point attempts and 24th (out of 30 teams) in 3-point percentage.
Adding another deep shooter will be key to opening up their sometimes stagnant offense.
Pacers (No. 13)
The Pacers started last season with promise, but after injuries and in-fighting, they ended the season falling short of the playoffs for just the second time in 10 seasons.
New head coach Rick Carlisle could decide to overhaul this roster or run it back with a team that features a talented core with Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert, Myles Turner and TJ Warren.


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Home improvements and permits
Are you planning a home improvement this summer or installing a pool to escape the summer heat? Don't forget to apply for a Building Permit. Not sure if you need a permit? Call the village hall at 630-584-6700, M-F 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Permit applications can be found here