text:
a supermini that
goes out of its way
not to be a hot hatch,
Suzukis new Swift is,
well... surprisingly hot!
Its also a competent
all-rounder with a price
thats as welcome as
its cute looks...
SUZUKI DESCRIBES its all-new Swift as a 'compact' car. While that may be perfectly true seen from the outside, it's somewhat misleading overall because if you open a door and sit inside, you'll see that it's anything but compact. In fact, there's practical room for our adults along with a boot that will take four medium-sized suit-cases. Add to that the Swift's neat supermini styling (I want to keep saying 'cute' but it could give the wrong impression), decent driving dynamics, good economy and prices from £7,499 and it's not hard to predict that the Swift is going to go places. And pretty quickly.
The range consists of an entry-level three-door 1.3-litre and two five-door models 1.3 and the 101bhp 1.5 tested here, both with five-speed manual gearboxes. A four-speed auto is optional on the 1.5-litre model and there's a recently-added range-topping 1.6-litre Sport.
Actually, I take back what I said about the Swift being cute. Cute it is, in the similar but unique way that the MINI is cute. In fact, the Swift's wraparound glasshouse and 'wheel at each corner' design has a touch of the sauciness of BMW's iconic supermini.
From the front, the Swift is distinctive. With bold headlights, strongly curved bonnet emphasised by a deep front apron topped with a mesh grille all flanked by broad-shouldered wheel arches. At the rear, there are distinctive boomerang-style tail lamps and a smartly styled tailgate with a built-in spoiler that as well as improving the aero-dynamics also saves the kilogramme a conventional bolt-on item would add.
Look again at the space between the muscular wheel arches and
you'll understand where the interior comfort comes from its width. Measuring 1,690mm wide, the Swift has one of the widest bodies
in its class.
And Suzuki has managed to pack quite a lot inside. The 1.5 GLX we tested came well equipped as standard with front, side and curtain airbags, a radio/CD, remote central locking and immobiliser, keyless entry and start, power steering, electric front windows, electric/
heated door mirrors, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, tinted glass, air conditioning and front fog lamps. Plus it comes fitted with a set of four smart 15-inch five-spoke alloy wheels shod with 185/60 rubber.
GLX models feature keyless entry for simple door unlocking, engine start-up and locking as long as you're carrying the key somewhere upon your person, the system detects its presence and unlocks the
car once you're close enough. The doors are opened simply by pressing a button on either front door handle and the engine is started by twisting the ignition key housing. As soon as you walk away from the car, the system detects the key's absence and the car is locked and immobilised.
And it gets better. The cabin is smartly laid out with a high-quality
and stylish dash that, together with the tight fit and finish and aluminium trim highlights, creates a pleasant and inviting ambience. Controls are intuitively sited and light and positive to use. The front seats, upholstered in cloth, are comfortably supportive with fine bolstering and offer class-leading fore and aft adjustment of 240mm, with the driver getting pump-up seat height adjustment.
An average driver should have a good four inches of space between the top of his head and the roof and, although the tilt-adjustable steering column only adjusts the steering wheel for rake, a good driving position is still easily attainable. There's good knee-room for the driver, too. Forward visibility is excellent despite the 'fall-away' bonnet line and positioning the Swift on the road or in a car park is no trouble whatsoever.
The instrument binnacle is set relatively low for clear visibility and adds to the open feel of the cabin. The triple-gauge instrument cluster grouped around a central 130mph speedometer features a rev-counter with a needle that, reflecting sports bike convention, rests in the six o'clock position. Dials are easy to read and a digital information display that shows time, instant fuel consumption and outside temperature is mounted centrally atop a fascia.
The radio/CD unit is neatly integrated into the central fascia and can be operated using either the straightforward, one-touch push button controls or by those on the three-spoke steering wheel. Sited below the radio/CD are large, dial-type controls for the very efficient air conditioning that more good news for the winter months comes with a very quick and hot heater. Another plus is that the A/C controls are also easy to use by 'feel' while on the move.
Spread about the cabin are a number of storage cubbies including a handy compartment in the instrument panel, a cylindrical ashtray that can be moved around or placed in any of the three cupholders and which offers other uses for non-smokers along with a 'hidden' tray under the front passenger seat. The glovebox is a good size and the slim front door pockets are usefully deep. Other nice touches include the outer air vents that swivel and adjust through a full 360 degrees with a genuine, engineered feel.
The rear seat is comfortable and easily accessed through doors that open wide. A number of longer journeys we made were with two
adults riding up back, without a murmur of complaint from any of them. No doubt due to the good head, leg and shoulder room back there and the nicely raked angle of the rear backrest. The rear side windows might not be electric, but they do wind all the way down into the doors and rear passengers enjoy good views out.
The rear headrests, designed to drop down over the rear backrest to maximise the driver's rearward visibility when not in use although the rear parking sensors did come in handy! came high on the comfort scale when in use. Collapse the 60:40 split, tumble-folding rear seat (with three headrests in place), and the 213-litre boot becomes a use-ful 562-litre flat-floored load bay. Easy-to-use retaining straps keep the folded seats firmly in place and making the supermarket shop even easier is an electric tailgate catch that just needs a light touch to release it.
The Swift scores highly in the safety stakes, too. Even the base model has twin front, side and full length curtain airbags, leg-injury mitigating brake and clutch pedals, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters and child seat ISOFIX attachments on the rear seat. Anti-
lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and a brake assist function are also standard. The Swift comes with a 4-star NCAP occupant protection rating and three stars for pedestrian safety.
Power comes from a gutsy 1.5-litre four-cylinder 16-valve twin-cam unit that thanks to its variable valve timing generates 101bhp and 98lb ft of torque at 4,100 rpm. Enough to deliver 0-62mph acceleration in 10 seconds and a top speed of 115mph that is superior to many of its more costly rivals.
Work the engine hard and the Swift really zips along. Around town the 1.5-litre injected petrol engine serves up good low and mid-range power. Keep the accelerator pressed to the floor and the eager twin-cam unit will rev right around the clock to its 6,400rpm red-line for you. And you'll need to keep a watchful eye on the speedo when you're overtaking slower-moving motorway traffic, or even joining from a slip road, as the Swift has a mischievous tendency to race up to 95mph without making enough fuss to have you lifting off.
On motorways the high top gear keeps you to a stable and law-abiding 70mph at an agreeably low 3,000rpm good news for both refinement and economy. The snappy, accurate gear change action (and five well-stacked ratios) means keeping the engine cooking happily is a no-fuss affair. Nicely weighted pedals and a clean-acting clutch do their bit to take the strain out of driving in heavy traffic, as does the Swift's responsive and agile front-drive chassis.
Suspension-wise, the Swift makes good use of MacPherson struts and coil springs at the front end with a torsion beam and coil spring at
the back. Ride quality is another unexpected surprise, with the Swift effectively smoothing out even pretty poor blacktop.
However, like most cars it doesn't especially like potholes and sharp-edged speed bumps which can sometimes be felt particularly by back seat passengers. That said, most of the time it's more than supple enough and even when it does encounter a particularly nasty jolt it reassuringly holds the driver's chosen line.
At this stage, we must remind you that the Swift makes no claims to being a hot hatch, and driver entertainment is not generally the headline characteristic that persuades people to opt for a supermini. Even so, the Swift feels nimble and grips enthusiastically and yes, you can really sling it around.
Another advantage here is its wide track 1,470mm front; 1,480mm rear which, combined with a 2,380mm wheelbase, delivers notable handling stability. Throw in a 3.2 turn lock-to-lock rack and pinion steering set-up with a tight 9.4-metre turning circle and threading the manoeuvrable Swift through traffic and along twisty B-roads becomes surprisingly enjoyable. And when it comes to stopping we had no cause to find fault. The Swift's brakes ventilated discs up front; drums to the rear provide progressive feel and strong, drama-free retardation.
Naturally, driving hard like this doesn't exactly help the economy. Official fuel consumption figures are 32.8, 43.5 and 53.3mpg respect-ively for the city, combined and touring cycles. Our overall test figure came out at 41.2mpg, recorded over a good mix of motorways and town driving. Those keen to maximise the distance between forecourt visits will, we feel sure, be able to match Suzuki's figures.
Overall, the Swift scores on price, accommodation and performance. In addition, not only is it impressively well equipped for the money, but it is as enjoyable to drive as it is to drive around in. And all packaged in a rather fetching body that looks a lot more expensive than it actually is.
If peace of mind hits the spot for you, then you'll appreciate the
Swift all the more for its 3 years/60,000-mile and 12-year perforation warranties that also includes 24-hour UK and European roadside assistance, recovery and associated services for 36 months.
It has been some time since we test drove a Suzuki and it augurs
well for the manufacturers that we can honestly say it has not only improved in leaps and bounds but it is now a true contender in its class. Got it made, haven't you!
Suzuki Swift 1.5 GLX 5-door | £8,999
Maximum speed: 115mph | 0-62mph: 10 seconds
Overall test MPG: 41.2mpg | Power: 101bhp | Torque: 98lb ft
Visit Suzuki's website


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By Tom Orsborn
ARLINGTON – Tony Romo partied on the plane ride home after last week's season-saving win over the New York Giants.
After the Dallas Cowboys' 31-24 come-from-behind win over upset-minded Oakland on Thursday, he went home to bed after overcoming a case of the stomach flu to lead his team into sole possession of first place in the NFC East.
"This is the NFL," Romo said. "Guys have played with worse."
Although Romo said there was never any doubt about his participation in the game, Jerry Jones said the quarterback was "very sick" Wednesday night with "real terrible stomach issues" that required "special attention" that included intravenous fluids.
Jason Garrett was more graphic.
"He was throwing up and didn't have a great look on his face," the coach said. "He looked a little drawn to me. We talked about the great Joe Montana story in the Cotton Bowl. We didn't actually get him the chicken soup, but we tried to get a little drama going so maybe he would respond to it."
The "drama" was the Cowboys (7-5) tumbling into a 21-7 second quarter hole that began with the Raiders scoring 12 seconds into the game when Greg Jenkins returned Terrance Williams' fumbled kickoff 23 yards for a touchdown.
But Dallas responded by scoring 24 unanswered points, including three straight TD-producing drives of 73, 87 and 65 yards.
"We did start slow," said cornerback Brandon Carr, whose interception in the end zone of a pass thrown by Raiders rookie Matt McGloin led to Dan Bailey's game-clinching 19-yard field goal with 1:56 left.
"But this team is starting to get to the point where there is no panic anymore. A slow start doesn't necessarily mean that's the way the game should go."
Down by 14, things looked bleak for Dallas after Dez Bryant fumbled at the Raiders' 27 late in the first half. But left tackle Tyron Smith recovered the ball, shining the spotlight on a low-key player Romo believes is enjoying a Pro Bowl season.
"That was a huge play," Romo said. "He's playing really good football. I hope people recognize how good he's playing right now."
Four-plays after Smith's recovery, DeMarco Murray scored on a 4-yard run with 10 seconds left, completing an eight-play, 73-yard march that lasted 1:46 and re-energized the Cowboys.
Romo, who was 23 of 32 for 225 yards with one TD and no turnovers, hit 5-of-7 passes for 71 yards during the drive.
"It was very important," Romo said of the two-minute drill before halftime. "We were in a hole there, down 14, and we really needed that, especially with them starting the second half with the ball. That was as important as anything in the football game."
Bryant said he was "very thankful" to see Smith recover his fumble and described a confident halftime locker room.
"We were feeling great like, 'We got this,' " Bryant said. "Our whole demeanor changed. We were ready to go in that second half."
Had the Cowboys lost, all the good feelings generated from last week's 24-21 win over the Giants would have vanished. But instead of leaving AT&T Stadium downtrodden, Dallas heads into its final four games with momentum.
"This just shows what kind of character we have on this football team," defensive tackle Jason Hatcher said. "Guys kept scratching."
Murray became the first Cowboys running back to rush for three TDs since Julius Jones did it in 2004, backup running back Lance Dunbar rushed for a career-high 82 yards on 12 carries and Bryant caught seven passes for 61 yards and a TD as Dallas hiked its Thanksgiving record to 29-16-1.
"Boy, he hit those holes quick," Jones said of Dunbar, who left the game in the fourth quarter with a sprained left knee. "I'm proud of him."
Jones said the same of Romo, who finished with a 101.7 passer rating while raising his Thanksgiving Day record to 6-1 and his November mark to 24-5.
"Tony did a great job with that drive before halftime," Jones said. "That was inspirational."

subset: commoncrawl


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NRL Researchers Pattern Magnetic Graphene
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Graphene, an atomically thin sheet of carbon, has been intensively studied for the last decade to reveal exceptional mechanical, electrical, and optical properties. Recently, researchers have started to explore an even more surprising property—magnetism. Theories and experiments have suggested that either defects in graphene or chemical groups bound to graphene can cause it to exhibit magnetism; however, to date there was no way to create large-area magnetic graphene which could be easily patterned. Now, scientists from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have found a simple and robust means to magnetize graphene using hydrogen. This research has been published in Advanced Materials, January 20, 2015.Magnetic force microscopy image of a section of a large array that Naval Research Laboratory scientists generated by electron-beam lithography. This map of the magnetic strength shows the ferromagnetic, hydrogenated graphene lattice and the 500 nm wide, nonmagnetic, graphene squares.
(Photo: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory)
The NRL scientists placed the graphene on a silicon wafer and then dipped it for about a minute into cryogenic ammonia with a bit of lithium. The group had recently shown that this is a quick and gentle method to add hydrogen atoms. They now see that the added hydrogen make the surface ferromagnetic. Because this method is so effective at adding hydrogen, one has to be careful about the length of exposure. Dr. Keith Whitener, NRL's Chemistry Division, explained: "This method of hydrogenation gives us access to a much wider range of hydrogen coverage than previous methods allowed, and too much hydrogen actually destroys the magnetism." However, once made, the magnetic graphene was of exceptional quality. Dr. Paul Sheehan, NRL's Chemistry Division, noted that "I was surprised that the partially hydrogenated graphene prepared by our method was so uniform in its magnetism and apparently didn't have any magnetic grain boundaries."
Interestingly, the NRL group showed that the magnetic strength could be tuned by removing hydrogen atoms with an electron beam. The impact of the electrons can break the chemical bond between the graphene and the hydrogen, removing the hydrogen from the surface. Without the hydrogen, the graphene is no longer magnetic. As a result, by carefully controlling the path of the electron beam one can write magnetic patterns into the graphene (Figure). "Since massive patterning with commercial electron beam lithography system is possible, we believe that our technique can be readily applicable for current microelectronics fabrication," says Dr. Woo-Kyung Lee, materials research scientist in the Chemistry Division at NRL and project lead. Large arrays of magnetic features were quickly made, which would be particularly useful in applications from information technology to spintronics.
The questions now facing the researchers are how fine the patterning of hydrogen can be and for how long the ferromagnetism can be stable. If those questions are answered, this technique could lead to a storage medium with a single hydrogenated-carbon pair storing a single magnetic bit of data, a roughly greater than million-fold improvement over current hard drives.
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory provides the advanced scientific capabilities required to bolster our country's position of global naval leadership. The Laboratory, with a total complement of approximately 2,500 personnel, is located in southwest Washington, D.C., with other major sites at the Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Monterey, Calif. NRL has served the Navy and the nation for over 90 years and continues to advance research further than you can imagine. For more information, visit the NRL website or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Comment policy: We hope to receive submissions from all viewpoints, but we ask that all participants agree to the Department of Defense Social Media User Agreement. All comments are reviewed before being posted.


text:
Charges have been laid against the owners of a shepherd-cross named Molly, who was found emaciated and near death last November on Vancouver Island.
Rupert Wilson and Crystal Bee of the Kwakiutl First Nation reserve near Port Hardy are facing animal cruelty charges under the Criminal Code, following a B.C. SPCA investigation. If convicted, the pair could face thousands of dollars in fines, up to five years in jail, and a lifetime ban on owning animals.
RCMP in Port Hardy discovered the 18-month-old dog tied up outside on the couple's porch on Nov. 25.
"She was in critical condition, non-responsive and shivering, with a collar deeply embedded in her neck," said Marcie Moriarty, the B.C. SPCA's chief prevention and enforcement officer, in a statement.
Molly was rushed to a nearby veterinary hospital for life-saving medical treatment, before being transported to a SPCA foster home in Nanaimo.
Since then, the dog's condition and nutritional needs have been closely monitored by its caretakers.
"She is still too thin, but she is recovering and her weight has increased from 12.2 kilograms to 18.8 kilograms," said Moriarty.
"The fact that Molly has survived is a true miracle."
The dog will be placed in a permanent home when it is strong enough to make the transition.
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Infancy: Family and Social Context
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Slutskaya in J.O.
well her jumps are better than Sotnikovas for sure
I hope Julia gets the second spot not Sotnikova
Orser is going with Hanyu, not Fernandez....
is what I intended to say.
The second European lady is probably Sotnikova
the highest finisher at worlds and connections through Tarasova.
Kostner never participated JO. She must have declined when she had an offer before.
Slutskaya in J.O.
well her jumps are better than Sotnikovas for sure
I hope Julia gets the second spot not Sotnikova
I'm sure Julia Lipnitskaya is not a type of skater who gets popularity in Japan. Among Russians, Slutskaya and Leonova are the most popular in Japan, because of their amiable image and smiles. Lipnitskaya has no facial expression and moves like a robot. Sotnikova could be popular to the Japanese audiences.
You can see who is popular in Japan by looking through who gets frequent invites to NHK trophy.
Adelina seems to be quite popular in Japan; she's skated in The Ice for the past two years and has a sizable following in that country. It would make sense to send her, but I also understand how Julia would be a good choice, as she hasn't competed internationally as a senior since TEB last year.
in Russia alone, Julia is the most popular she is most followed by children
and very much liked in vk, has the most followers of any Russian skater
and why not ? Julia needs to get more international experience
and she is better than single flipping Sotnikova
Will there be a Medal Winner's Open with the veteran champions again?
In Japan, popularity belongs to those skaters with
friendly personality (at least, such images)
balletic moves (gymnast types are not well-received)
jumping genius (in case of ladies, 3A or 3-3Lo are favored)
It's my personal understanding but not that far off the mark.


text:
Japan shaken: survivors look for missing kin, n-meltdown feared (Second Lead)March 12th, 2011 - 3:46 pm ICT by IANS
Tokyo, March 12 (IANS) Ravaged Japan Saturday moved to pull itself together from a devastating quake and tsunami that killed a 1,000 people and left its northeastern coast in ruin as the country was rattled by a number of severe after shocks amid fears of a meltdown at a nuclear reactor.
Friday afternoon's massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake set off huge tsunami waves, some as high as 10 metres, that rushed ashore for kilometres along the northeastern coast, sweeping off everything in its path - buildings, cars, ships, fields and people. Thousands were missing and the bodies of over 400 people have been recovered so far.
On Saturday, the region was shaken by around 20 aftershocks. Quake survivors Saturday desperately sought information about their loved ones in areas mainly hit by the tsunami - Miyagi, Fukushima, Iwate and Chiba prefectures (provinces) and Hokkaido and Honshu islands.
Radioactive cesium has been detected at Japan's quake-damaged Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, 250 km from Tokyo, indicating an occurrence of a reactor meltdown, Xinhua reported Saturday.
The leak was detected after authorities successfully evacuated people from around 10 km around the vicinity of the plant, after the radiation reached 1,000 times the regular level in the operating room, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said Saturday.
The government also issued an evacuation order for residents in the vicinity of Fukushima No. 2 nuclear plant.
The nuclear safety agency said residents were not in immediate danger from radioactive leaks, but some leak of radioactive substances could take place when pressure is released in containers housing the nuclear reactors.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan visited the facility Saturday.
Miyagi prefecture, 300 km from Tokyo, bore the brunt of the tsunami.
Desperate relatives were trying to contact their kin who were in Miyagi, Fukushima, Iwate and other places lashed by the tsunami, and with phone lines down, their helplessness became acute.
Lucy Craft, a mother based in Tokyo, was worried about her son who studies in a school in Sendai city, in Miyagi prefecture.
"The phone lines are still down … I haven't been able to get in touch with him by cell phone, I haven't been able to contact anybody there. I have his teacher's phone number … the phones aren't working," Craft told CNN in Tokyo.
"It's a very upsetting situation, as you can imagine."
The quake left huge buildings, all made to withstand massive earthquakes, swaying dangerously. Over 200 fires broke out across the area Friday as tens of thousands of people were displaced.
Several bridges collapsed, bus and train services were shut down and many roads were closed. Mobile phone networks and landline phone services were affected by the quake.
Many residents in earthquake-affected areas Saturday left to search for basic essentials. People shopped for food, water and fuel, causing stores to run out of supplies and pumps to run dry.
Electricity supply was restored Saturday morning in Sendai city, one of the worst hit in the tragedy.
Sendai resident Christopher Craig told BBC: "Electrical power was restored this morning and the government has announced that some grocery stores will be opened to provide food and water."
"Aftershocks hit regularly, with almost continuous tremors since the first quake, but nothing has approached the strength of the initial shock," he said.
Michael Tonge, a teacher from Sendai, told the British broadcaster: "Still experiencing strong aftershocks."
Tonge said no trains were running. A heavy snow storm that hit Sendai made things worse, he said. "So many people stuck and sleeping rough in freezing conditions as had heavy snow storm just after quake when people running to go to evacuation points in parks," Tonge said.
Recalling the earthquake horror, a Briton residing in Tokyo said she had gone to collect her children from a school here when the quake struck.
Naomi Van Holbutt-Kirk told BBC: "I could actually see my seven-year-old daughter crouched under a desk with her classmates… the building was swinging like a giant pendulum and I was just waiting for the sound of a crash from the adjacent building where my five-year-old son was still in his classroom.
"It did not collapse and the quake eventually stopped."
The toll would probably be well over 1,000, said Yukio Edano, chief cabinet secretary.
The Meteorological Agency issued further tsunami warnings for many coastal regions in the country. Some of the aftershocks were over seven in magnitude.
The Nikkei business daily said some 210,000 people had been evacuated in northeastern Japan, while thousands were stranded in Miyagi, waiting for assistance, public broadcaster NHK said.
Rescuers have been searching for survivors amid collapsed buildings in many flooded cities.
Japan's Self Defence Force (SDF) troops and other rescue teams were being rushed to northeastern parts of the country, officials said.
International assistance was on its way, as the US dispatched more than 140 personnel Friday, and New Zealand said Saturday it would send a 48-member search-and-rescue team.
The Japanese government has mobilised 50,000 search and rescue workers, and sent 190 aircraft and 25 vessels to areas affected by the quake and tsunami.
The SDF has been working with the US military stationed in Japan to transport about 900 Japanese troops and some 250 vehicles by US ships, Japanese government officials said.
- Japan hit by massive quake, tsunami, 200-300 killed (Roundup) - Mar 11, 2011
- Hundreds dead as devastating quake, tsunami hit Japan (Second Intro Roundup) - Mar 12, 2011
- Japan tsunami toll likely to rise over 1,600 - Mar 12, 2011
- Power supply restored in quake-hit Japan city - Mar 12, 2011
- Japan quake toll may cross 10,000, no nuclear meltdown (Second Intro Roundup) - Mar 14, 2011
- 14 aftershocks hit Japan - Mar 12, 2011
- Hundreds of bodies found after massive quake in Japan - Mar 11, 2011
- 2000 bodies found on Japan prefecture sea shore - Mar 14, 2011
- Japan faces nuclear fallout, quake toll may be 10,000 (Intro Roundup) - Mar 13, 2011
- Japan quake toll rises to 61 - Mar 11, 2011
- Fresh blast in Japan n-plant; 2,000 more bodies found (Third Lead) - Mar 14, 2011
- Over 20 aftershocks hit Japan (Lead) - Mar 12, 2011
- Powerful quake strikes off northeastern Japan, tsunami warning issued - Apr 07, 2011
- Japan toll may cross tens of thousands, fears of nuclear disaster remain (Intro Roundup) - Mar 15, 2011
- Japan disaster toll 1,600, nuclear meltdown feared (Evening Lead) - Mar 12, 2011
Tags: chiba prefectures, desperate relatives, fukushima, honshu, industrial safety, iwate, magnitude earthquake, miyagi prefecture, naoto kan, northeastern coast, nuclear plant, nuclear power plant, nuclear reactor, nuclear reactors, nuclear safety agency, quake survivors, radioactive cesium, radioactive substances, tokyo march, tsunami waves


text:
The start of a New Year is in many respects the perfect time to look for new and exciting DIY home decorating ideas. After the decadence and expense of the holidays, many homeowners will no doubt be looking to make a fresh start to the year. Elegant decor doesn't have to break the bank. Consider adding a unique DIY design to your home. Not only will these great design projects keep the family busy during the cold winter months, but they will also help to keep expenses to a minimum.
For Beginners
Keep the Kids Happy Many kids will find it difficult to revert back to every day life after the excitement of the Christmas season. Find some fun and practical DIY home decorating projects that they can benefit from – it's a fantastic way to keep the January blues at bay. If your home prides itself on the use of vibrant colors throughout, or if you're simply looking to add a bit more, try an easy DIY and build a display using colored pencils. Find the video tutorial from YouTuber Polymer Artist here.
For Intermediate DIYers
A Focus for the Dry Season A lot of adults like to take a break following the festivities of Christmas and New Year. That's no reason for not producing a decorative wine rack to store your favorite spirits. Whether it's a more conventional self-assembly kit, an elaborate welded metal structure, or a rustic-looking wooden rack for that feel of the old country, building a wine rack is a great DIY project. Click here for the instructions from the Knoxville Holts. Whether it's a more conventional self-assembly kit, an more elaborate welded metal structure, or a rustic-looking wooden rack for that feel of the old wine country, building a wine rack with a little help from the Anglia Tool Centre is a great way to see out the first weeks of the new year.
For the Pros
This original project will brighten up any room. Of course, it depends whether or not your art is for every day use as well as decoration, so the playroom might be a safe bet. Upgrade your favorite room with a cool feature by customizing a ceiling fan with scrapbook paper or utilize skateboard decks as fan blades. Get the How-To Guide from Modge Podge Rocks! here for paper fans, and NOTlabs tutorial here for the skateboard look.
Share your DIY decor ideas in the comments!


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December 5th, 2013
The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints will be a great game to watch this Sunday. The team that I think will win is the Saints for a couple of reasons.
First, the Saints are amazing at home, going undefeated this season.
Second, the Saints have a much better offense with Drew Brees and he has the ability to tear apart the Panther's defense. The only way the Panthers have a chance at winning are Cam Newton and their defense. If Cam Newton can step it up against the fifth ranked defense in the league then the Panthers have a chance. If the defense of the Panthers can shut down Drew Brees then I think that will be the game decider. Drew Brees is almost the whole Saints offense, so if the Panthers put pressure on him, he could have a tough time passing. Sadly I think the New Orleans Saints are going to end the Carolina Panthers' amazing streak. I can't wait to see how it plays out.


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AMD has released yet another beta Linux beta driver for the Catalyst 12.11 series.
While there isn't any official change-log for Catalyst 12.11 Beta 11 compared to the earlier 12.11 Linux betas, it's now available for download from AMD.com.
The Catalyst 12.11 Linux graphics driver has been in beta going back to late October. In mid-November was a Catalyst 12.11 Linux beta driver that improved the OpenGL driver performance namely for Valve's Source Engine games coming to Linux.
The x86/x86_64 Linux Catalyst 12.11 Beta is nearly 110MB in size while the current stable release is Catalyst 12.10 from late October.


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Is the 'Hero' and A Man for All Seasons one in the same in Robert Bolt's play A Man for All Seasons?
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The short answer is 'yes'. "[Thomas] More, "wrote Robert Whittinton in 1520, "is a man of an angel's wit and singular learning. I know not his fellow. For where is the man of that gentleness, lowliness and affability? And, as time requireth, a man of marvelous mirth and pastimes, and sometime of as sad gravity. A man for all seasons" (My emphasis). The quotation is from the "ad lectorem" of the Vulgaria. See Beatrice White (ed.), The Vulgaria of John Stonbridge and the Vulgaria of Robert Whittinton, Early English Text Society (London, 1932), p. xxviii. Robert Bolt found in Whittinton's apt phrase a title for his play. It sums up in a few words the "man with an adamantine sense of his own self, [who] knew where he began and left off, what area of himself he could yield to the encroachments of his enemies, and what to the encroachments of those he loved." (Robert Bolt, A Man for All Seasons (New York, 1962), p. xii.) By this perfect title Bolt wanted to highlight not the hero of a tragedy, but one who elucidates the triumph of conscience. Precisely because More struggles with what he owes to human power, and what he owes to God, can he be a hero to every person in every time who does the same.


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: The Puzzling Prattlings of a Pulchritudinous Potions Professor by JuicyJuice
Hilarious banner by follow_the_butterflies!
Severus Snape, UNWRAPPED.
(If you don't laugh when you read this story, you probably don't know how to.)
Final chapter up! But look out for a sequel...
Genres: Humor Era: Hogwarts Characters: Dumbledore, Harry, McGonagall, Snape
Advisory: Mild Language
Published: 2006.10.20 Latest Chapter: 2018.01.30 Updated: 2018.01.30 Status: COMPLETED (29588 words)
: How to tame a Marauder by melian
As Sirius led me around the room, I took a deep breath. "So, was it a bet or a dare?"
"What do you mean?" he asked. When his eyes drifted to James I grinned.
"Don't play dumb. You'd never ask me to dance in a million years. Besides, Potter just gave you the thumbs up."
He groaned. "Are we really that obvious? OK yes, it was a dare."
banner: .Candy @TDA
Genres: Drama, Humor, Romance Era: Marauders Characters: James, Lily, Lupin, OC, OtherCanon , Pettigrew, Sirius Pairings: Sirius/OC, James/Lily, OC/OC
Advisory: Strong Language, Strong Violence, Scenes of a Sexual Nature, Substance Use or Abuse, Sensitive Topic/Issue/Theme, Contains Spoilers
Published: 2009.02.10 Latest Chapter: 2013.01.12 Updated: 2013.01.12 Status: COMPLETED (300758 words)
: The Fifth Marauder by WhistleInYourEar
Crystal Wandlit and the Marauders are close friends, they do pranks together, study together and get detention together too. But in their 5th year, everything is going to change.
One witch, and four wizards go through pranks, drama, dances, danger, and unexpectedly, love.
11,700 Reads? How is that even possible??? - WhistleInYourEar
Genres: General, Romance, Young Adult Era: Marauders Characters: James, Lily, Lupin, OC , Sirius Pairings: James/Lily, Remus/OC, Sirius/OC, Other Pairing
Advisory: Strong Language, Mild Violence, Scenes of a Mild Sexual Nature, Sensitive Topic/Issue/Theme
Published: 2010.04.27 Latest Chapter: 2012.07.13 Updated: 2012.07.13 Status: COMPLETED (54031 words)
: Of Wolves and Wizards by spangles
banner Sarah_Bee107 @TDA | 9500+ reads | Kecker winner best villain/Runner up next best-gen
Secrets, everyone has them. For some, the exposure could change their lives forever. Could cause kidnappings, betrayal, heartbreaks, death, and that's just the beginning.
We will always find your secrets.
Genres: Horror/Dark, Romance, Action/Adventure Era: Next Generation Characters: Bill, Fleur, Harry, McGonagall, OC , Teddy, Victoire Pairings: Teddy/Victoire, OC/OC
Advisory: Strong Language, Strong Violence, Scenes of a Mild Sexual Nature
Published: 2009.05.14 Latest Chapter: 2011.07.28 Updated: 2011.07.28 Status: WIP (110063 words)
: Sugar, Spice, and a hint of Pepper Imps by Woollongong Shimmy
What happens when you mix sugar and spice with a hint of Pepper Imps? Nothing really, until you throw in some over-zealous friends, three pounds of pranks, and a heaping tablespoon of boring classes with just twenty-eight dashes of Quidditch and you have yourself the perfect concoction for the chaos that is seven years at Hogwarts.
Genres: Humor, Romance, Action/Adventure Era: Hogwarts Characters: Arthur, Cedric, Fred, George, Molly, OC, Oliver, OtherCanon , Percy, Ron Pairings: Other Pairing
Advisory: Mild Language, Mild Violence
Published: 2009.11.13 Latest Chapter: 2010.08.16 Updated: 2010.08.16 Status: WIP (28538 words)
: The Third Year. by spangles
Banner- BATELEBY @TDA 800+ Reads
His little brother's a Death-Eater wanna be, he can't send letters to his friends and worst of all, The Dark Lord keeps coming to his house. When Sirius returns home after his third year at Hogwarts, things are worse than he could have imagined. Grimmauld Place has become Death Eater headquarters, and Sirius is finding himself sucked into the mess. But is he being sucked in, or is he going wil
Genres: Horror/Dark Era: Marauders Characters: Bellatrix, James, Lucius, Lupin, Narcissa, Pettigrew, R. Lestrange, Regulus, Sirius, Voldemort
Advisory: Strong Language, Strong Violence, Substance Use or Abuse, Sensitive Topic/Issue/Theme
Published: 2010.03.03 Latest Chapter: 2010.04.14 Updated: 2010.12.14 Status: WIP (12888 words)
: Harry Potter and the Enemy Within by Theowyn
As Harry enters his 6th year at Hogwarts, Voldemort's lengthening shadow stretches across the wizarding world & Harry is tormented by the knowledge that he alone can end this reign of terror. Worse, his mysterious mental link to Voldemort is stronger than ever & threatens to overwhelm him. Only Snape can teach him to control the nightmarish visions, but can Harry & Snape learn to trust one another, or will an old grudge that refuses to die destroy the wizarding world's only hope of defeating the Dark Lord? ----- No sex or bad language. Mature rating based on DH type violence.
Genres: Drama, General, AU Era: Hogwarts Characters: Harry, Snape
Advisory: Strong Violence
Published: 2009.03.09 Latest Chapter: 2009.09.30 Updated: 2009.09.30 Status: COMPLETED (168516 words)
: Severely, Severus by JuicyJuice
banner by follow_the_butterflies!
Sequel to P^5. You will enjoy it like a spirited romp through the meadows. With Severus Snape. (This is Harry's second year at Hogwarts, according to Severus. Be prepared to giggle like McGonagall and chortle like Filch.) Enjoy.
Genres: Humor Era: Hogwarts Characters: Dumbledore, Harry, McGonagall, Snape
Advisory: Mild Language
Published: 2008.07.31 Latest Chapter: 2009.09.30 Updated: 2009.09.30 Status: WIP (3035 words)


text: Livros Horizonte Archive Literary Boroughs #23: Lisbon, Portugal Author: | Oct182012 Categories: Uncategorized No comments The Literary Boroughs series will explore little-known and well-known literary communities across the country and world and show that while literary culture can exist online without regard to geographic location, it also continues to thrive locally. Posts are by no means exhaustive and we encourage our readers to contribute in the comment section. <Continue Reading


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Testimonials from Wang Vision 3D Cataract and LASIK Center, Nashville, TN
Jacqueline Crutchfield-Hurst
Ok, I wasn't gonna say anything but I have to now. Dr. Ming helped me when I thought all was lost. I have Kerataconus and I got to the point that my cornea was just shot. I first went to Vanderbilt after I had emailed Wang Vision and only because they had not responded and I could not see I went to Vanderbilt and they treated me as if I was crazy or was nothing important. I was told to come to a later appt on that day and while waiting I got a call from Dr. Wang's office. I explained what was going on and he told me to come on to the office. When I got there I as treated like a scared person should be treated. I saw Dr. Wang and he listened to me, let me cry and then put his hand on my shoulder and said WE were gonna get through this. He made me feel good and not hopeless like Vanderbilt for. He took care of one eye to help it be stronger and then he did a cornea transplant on the other. I just cried thinking I may never see my grand kids. Well, my first grandbaby was born in 2015 and I saw her just fine!!!. Because of Dr Wang and now Dr. Jeffrey Sonsino I am seeing out of Kerataconus eyes at 20/30 with lenses. Even without my lenses I can see better than i can remember. So, THANK YOU DR. WANG for caring enough about me to help me see.
Mike Parker
Dr. Ming Wang
Re: Heather Parker/Mike Parker
Dr. Wang,
It is now 2:00PM 6/27/17. Twenty Three hours ago my daughter Heather was, and had been since birth as far as we know, legally blind without optical help. Today, after your 3D Lasik Laser surgery, she seems to have near perfect vision. You Sir are undoubtedly one the most amazing individuals that I have ever met. Your life story is incredible. God seems to put a few of you guys here on earth from time to time to help humanity along. You have the most wonderful job. You are able to help people in the most graphic of ways. To clearly see the world around them, even sight from total darkness. Virtually supernatural only a very few years ago.
As my daughter and I were talking with your front desk receptionists a voice was heard to cry out in your surgical room. We all looked at each other and wondered what that was all about. Was someone in severe pain? I looked at my daughter to see her reaction to the scream. She looked frightened as she was already apprehensive about having the Lasik surgery. Suddenly your office door opened and this lady came bursting, screaming with joy, into the reception area looking for her loved ones to tell them the news that her prayers had been answered, that God had restored her sight. She was beside herself!!! Again I looked at my daughter and this time she was crying… Tears of joy for this lady who also had the blessing of meeting Dr. Ming Wang and was healed of the affliction of blindness. She claimed it to be a miracle and after thinking about that situation for almost twenty four hours I agree with the lady. It is, you are creating miracles everyday affecting millions of lives in a wonderfully positive lasting way. You have seemingly tried to be your very best in life, in God's eyes, and your are a blessed man. As my favorite pastor, Allen Jackson, loves to say " God is Great ALL The Time", I agree………
Heather and I looked into other offices that performed lasik. We looked you up on the internet. Heather asked her friends and Mother about who would be the best Doctor. Heather's Mother even works for an Optometrist that performs Lasik procedures in another city where we could get a greatly discounted price, but we both felt that you Dr. Wang were the Doctor we wanted. I was introduced to you originally back in 2005 by my good friend Barry Dotson. Little did I know what that meeting with you would turn into for me later in life. You & God restored my daughters sight and I will not be bashful to let anyone know how wonderful this is. You have my greatest respect.
Heather and I had a wonderful experience with your entire staff. It could not have been better. Totally professional in every way. Your offices are beautiful, neat and clean.
I will be on vacation with Heather for the next few days visiting our family in Texas. I am so confident in your skills now that I would like to have you correct my only good eye, as I lost about 90% vision field in my fellow eye 11 years ago, removing a cataract and performing your miracle on me as well. I can't wait.
You Sir are a Work of Art and I Thank God for a Man like You.
Mike Parker


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I mean of course those pieces of clothing relegated to the darkest corners of the wardrobe - the sartorial misfits guilty of crimes and misdemeanors regarding fit or finish or, alternatively, pieces that have been auctioned, thrifted or abandoned for some reason.
A few resolute individuals have preferred to mete out draconian punishment to such miscreants and outcasts, grimly putting them under the executioner's blade (or scissors in this case). I refer exhibit A to the jury: Manton's medieval drawing and quartering of a suit jacket made by NYC tailor Nicolosi. I've met Manton and he's a nice fellow but these post-quartering pictures of a bespoke jacket are a bit gruesome if you are the sensitive type.
Others, under the aegis of scientific research, have offered up their sartorial orphans, outcasts and donated specimens to established tailors for step-by-step clinical dissection. I refer exhibit B to the jury: Jeffery D's dissection of a jacket by Savile Row tailor Maurice Sedwell. If you believe in the betterment of mankind through basic research, this is an option worth putting on the operating table, so to speak.
On the other hand, I think there is also a third option, namely, progressive rehabilitation of a garment under the hands of an able tailor. The goal is gradual re-introduction into society and one's wardrobe.
I offer up exhibit C: a Brioni single-breasted, two-piece suit in a lovely chalkstripe flannel. It features a straight Roman shoulder but soft canvas in the chest and light padding on top. Unfortunately as seen below, I purchased this RTW suit at the beginning of my sartorial journey and committed the rookie mistake of buying the suit sight unseen. I ended up with a suit whose proportions are excessively elongated for my build.
The photos are a bit blurry but they convey the seriousness of the sartorial infractions - excessive jacket length, seriously oversized chest, shoulder and back dimensions and of course the trouser length which is the only thing that is easily fixable.
|Original Brioni - front view
|Original Brioni - back view
But I knew one tailor who might be open to the challenge - Los Angeles tailor Enzo Caruso. So I dropped by one day this summer and casually brought it up. Interestingly, he was up to the task, mainly I think due to the lovely flannel fabric which was languishing away in storage.
Below are the initial fitting photos after the re-cut of the jacket (with the trousers still untouched):
|Fitting stage for re-cut Brioni
|Fitting stage for re-cut Brioni
|Finished Brioni (sleeves lengthened from fitting stage)
|Finished Brioni (shortened and trimmed back and shoulders)
For your viewing pleasure, I include intermediate, fitting photos of a different MTM sports jacket from a well-known brand which also needed to be re-cut:
|Fitting stage for re-cut MTM jacket
|Fitting stage for re-cut MTM jacket
Finally, from a material standpoint any ill-fitting suits will need to have excess cloth (i.e. be oversized) in order for this to work. So save this option for the most worthy cases. I'm happy I did.


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This week
What is new?
Most Recent
HSBC says it may face criminal charges for transactions
HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA.L) said on Monday it will likely face criminal or civil charges from an expanding investigation into its ties to allegedly illegal money transactions, including some tied to Iran. The disclosure in a regulatory filing shows the increasingly serious nature of inquiries into the London-based bank's business.read whole story


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LOS ANGELES — There was no question. The man standing before Rick Heltebrake on a rural mountain road was Christopher Dorner.
Clad in camouflage from head to toe and wearing a bulletproof vest packed with ammunition, the most wanted man in America was just a few feet away, having emerged from a grove of trees holding a large, assault-style rifle.
As teams of officers who had sought the fugitive ex-Los Angeles police officer for a week were closing in, Dorner pointed the gun at Heltebrake and ordered him to get out of his truck.
"I don't want to hurt you. Start walking and take your dog," Heltebrake recalled Dorner saying during the carjacking Tuesday, Feb. 12.
The man, who wasn't lugging any gear, got into the truck and drove away. Heltebrake, with his 3-year-old Dalmatian, Suni, in tow, called police when he heard a volley of gunfire erupt soon after, and then hid behind a tree.
A short time later, police caught up with the man they believe was Dorner, surrounding a cabin where he'd taken refuge after crashing Heltebrake's truck in the San Bernardino Mountains 80 miles east of Los Angeles.
A gunfight ensued in which one sheriff's deputy was killed and another wounded. After the firefight ended, a SWAT team using an armored vehicle broke out the cabin's windows and began knocking down walls. A fire broke out and later charred remains believed to be Dorner's were found.
San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said Wednesday that the fire was not set on purpose.
"We did not intentionally burn down that cabin to get Mr. Dorner out," he said.
His deputies lobbed pyrotechnic tear gas into the cabin, and it erupted in flames, he said. McMahon did not say directly that the tear gas started the blaze, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
The sheriff said authorities have not positively identified the remains. However, all evidence points to it being Dorner, he said, and the manhunt is considered over.
A wallet and personal items, including a California driver's license with the name Christopher Dorner, were found in the cabin debris, an official briefed on the investigation told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing probe.
The tourist community of Big Bear Lake that was the focus of the intensive manhunt was returning to normalcy Wednesday and residents were sharing stories of the last weeks' events. None was more dramatic than Heltebrake's.
He said he wasn't panicked in his meeting with Dorner because he didn't feel the fugitive wanted to hurt him. "He wasn't wild-eyed, just almost professional," he said. "He was on a mission.
"It was clear I wasn't part of his agenda and there were other people down the road that were part of his agenda," he said.
Dorner, 33, had said in a rant that authorities believe he posted on Facebook last week that he expected to die, with the police chasing him, as he embarked on a campaign of revenge against the Los Angeles Police Department for firing him.
The apparent end came in the same mountain range where Dorner's trail went cold six days earlier, after his pickup truck — with guns and camping gear inside — was found abandoned and on fire near Big Bear Lake.
His footprints led away from the truck and vanished on frozen soil.
Deputies searched hundreds of cabins in the area and then, in a blinding snowstorm, SWAT teams with bloodhounds and high-tech equipment in tow widened their search.
Authorities for the most part looked at cabins boarded up for the winter, said Dan Sforza, assistant chief of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and often didn't enter occupied homes where nothing appeared amiss.
San Bernardino County Deputy Chief Steve Kovensky said Wednesday that he did not believe anyone was in another cabin near the command post when search team began going door-to-door after Dorner's truck was discovered. He also did not say how long Dorner might have been in that cabin or whether deputies had entered it during the dayslong search.
That could have been how Dorner went overlooked. He was there Tuesday, however, when two women arrived to clean it, said Lt. Patrick Foy of the state Fish and Wildlife Department.
With three killings behind him and law enforcement still on the hunt, Dorner didn't shoot them. Instead, he tied up the women and took their purple Nissan as he fled. Sparing the housekeepers ultimately would start the chain of events that would lead to his undoing.
One of the women broke free and called 911, Foy said, and the chase was on.
Two game wardens quickly spotted the car on a meandering road along a scenic lake, and deputies planned to throw down spike strips to puncture the vehicle's tires, authorities said.
The driver of the vehicle seemed to anticipate the move, pulling close behind school buses to give officers no space to drop the strips, Foy said. Dorner had warned — even boasted — in the rant that he knew their tactics and techniques as well as the officers pursuing him.
The purple Nissan then disappeared.
Heltebrake, a ranger who takes care of a Boy Scout camp nearby, said he just had lunch and was checking the perimeter of the camp for anything out of the ordinary when he saw someone emerge from the trees, and instantly recognized Dorner as the man on the news.
Officers trying to find the fugitive quickly realized he must have turned onto a side road, but for a few minutes nobody involved in the chase knew he had changed vehicles.
That was when officers saw Heltebrake's truck, and Dorner appeared to be behind the wheel. And then the shooting started.
Out of options after crashing the pickup, the driver made a break for a cabin and barricaded himself inside.


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2011 Nfl Mock Draft: Two Round NFL Mock Draft with a Few Post-Combine SurprisesMarch 11, 2011
Well, the dust has finally settled on the 2011 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, leaving College prospects with just their Pro-Day to impress scouts. With some players overachieving and some underachieving, many draft boards have been altered with some rising above expectations and some falling due to poor results. So, without further ado, I present a round-by-round NFL Mock Draft.
Please feel free to slate my picks and comment on how much of an idiot I am for the following picks.
First Pick—Carolina Panthers—Cam Newton—Quarterback—Auburn Boom, right off the bat with a surprise pick. Every fresh start with a new head coach needs a new franchise quarterback. Newton might not be the best now, but he has the biggest upside.
Second Pick—Denver Broncos—Da'Quan Bowers—Defensive End—Clemson The lack of a defence last year really hindered any progress they could make. The mouth-watering prospect of Bowers and Dumervil across each other is too hard to resist for new coach John Fox
Third Pick—Buffalo Bills—Marcell Dareus—Defensive End—Alabama The reason Dareus goes ahead of Fairley? Scheme. Dareus is perfect for the Bills as a DE, whilst Fairley is not considered big enough for that role.
Fourth Pick—Cincinnati Bengals—A.J. Green—Wide Receiver—Georgia The departure of Batman and Robin leave this WR corp very thin, giving whoever is quarterback next year few targets to aim for. A.J is a target man automatically upgrades it.
Fifth Pick—Arizona Cardinals—Von Miller—Outside Linebacker—Texas A&M Arizona is in need of an edge rusher. Miller might be the most complete player in this years draft. Quarterback could be an option here also.
Sixth Pick—Cleveland Browns—Julio Jones—Wide Receiver—Alabama Surprise pick here. They finished 29th in passing offence and their leading Wide Receiver had 40 catches last year. They need Jones to stretch the field against the likes of Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Also, just look at his combine results...with a broken foot.
Seventh Pick—San Francisco 49ers—Patrick Peterson—Cornerback—LSU Nate Clements is old and isn't the same player anymore. Peterson adds some needed young blood and speed to the 49ers secondary
Eigth Pick—Tennessee Titans—Nick Fairley—Defensive Tackle—Auburn The Titans are finally able to fill the void Albert Haynesworth left. Fairley falls this far due to only having one season of productivity. NFL teams would rather see three quality years than risk it a potential one-year wonder. Don't get me wrong, I think Fairley will be a good player, but it's concerning how he only had one productive year at Auburn
Ninth Pick—Dallas Cowboys—Prince Amukamara—Cornerback—Nebraska Dallas finally gets the lock-down corner they have after for a long time. Now, if Romo can stay healthy, a playoff berth may be in sight for Big D.
10th Pick—Washington Redskins—Blaine Gabbert—Quarterback—Missouri Shanahan has worked with and developed some great Quarterbacks in his coaching career. Gabbert could be his next project, who will be groomed behind Rex Grossman
11th Pick—Houston Texans—Robert Quinn—Defensive End—North Carolina Any defensive pick is a good pick for the Texans. Robert Quinn can play as the 3-4 edge rusher in Wade Phillips' new scheme
12th Pick–Minnesota Vikings—Jake Locker—Quarterback—Washington Maybe a wee bit too high, but Locker is better than both quarterbacks on the Vikings' roster last year, being Jackson and Webb...
13th Pick—Detroit Lions—Nate Solder—Offensive Tackle—Colorado Though Jeff Backus had a good year last year, he is 33-years-old. Solder is the man who can protect Stafford from Peppers, Matthews and Jared Allen twice a year
14th Pick—St. Louis Rams—Cameron Jordan—Defensive End—California With no wide receiver worthy of the 14th Pick, the Rams take the best player available in Jordan, who can do the job rushing the passer opposite Chris Long
15th Pick—Miami Dolphins—Mark Ingram—Running Back—Alabama With both Brown and Williams scheduled to be free agents, Miami needs a running back. Mark Ingram is a running back and the best one in the draft. Any Questions?
16th Pick—Jacksonville Jaguars—Ryan Kerrigan—Defensive End—Purdue The Jags finished dead last in the league in sacks last year, so it is clear where this picks needs to go. Kerrigan has a great motor with a variety of moves to get to the Quarterback
17th Pick—New England Patriots (from Oakland Raiders)—Akeem Ayers Outside linebacker—UCLA—This pick will most likely be traded by the Pats. However, if they don't, Ayers is a great selection and the Patriots take advantage of his disappointing combine
18th Pick—San Diego Chargers—Stephen Paea—Defensive Tackle—Oregon State Another surprise pick. Paea is a beast who demonstrated his strength at the combine. With Ayers snatched one spot ahead of them, the Chargers turn to another need, defensive line. Paea is a Tonga native, which is all you need to know about his physical build.
19th Pick—New York Giants–Tyron Smith—Offensive Tackle—USC The Giants' offensive line is ageing and has many injury prone players. Smith is versatile, agile and can protect Eli for years to come.
20th Pick—Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Adrian Clayborn—Defensive End—Iowa Another team who desperately need to upgrade their pass rush. Clayborn can slot right in next to McCoy and Price, which could be a defensive force for many years
21st Pick—Kansas City Chiefs—Aldon Smith—Outside Linebacker—Missouri Kansas City needs a player to rush opposite Tamba Hali and get pressure on the quarterback. Aldon Smith can fill that 3-4 outside linebacker role nicely.
22nd Pick—Indianapolis Colts—Anthony Castonzo—Offensive Tackle—Boston College A simple case of picking the best offensive lineman available for the Colts. Peyton isn't getting any younger, and the offensive line needs to create more holes for the running back.
23rd Pick—Philadelphia Eagles—Gabe Carimi—Offensive Tackle—Wisconsin Again, another case of best offensive lineman available. This pick could be spent on a cornerback, but Vick took a beating once teams found out how to get to him.
24th Pick—New Orleans Saints—J.J Watt—Defensive End—Wisconsin The Saints need to upgrade their defensive line, and this pick could easily be Corey Liuget. However, Watt is bargain at number 24. He is a player you can slot in from day 1 and can play defensive end in the 3-4 or 4-3
25th Pick—Seattle Seahawks—Corey Liuget—Defensive Tackle—Illinois Many suggest that this pick will be a quarterback. However, Matt Hasselbeck still has at least another year in him, and who can forget Clipboard Jesus... Though their run defence wasn't horrendous, it still needs improving—hence Corey Liuget.
26th Pick—Baltimore Ravens—Brandon Harris—Cornerback—Miami(FL) Another Miami defensive player for the Ravens, Harris gives them a legit cornerback opposite Webb. Expect Harris to start from day one and help the Ravens challenge for the AFC North.
27th Pick—Atlanta Falcons—Justin Houston—Outside Linebacker—Georgia Justin Houston is a local guy from Georgia who will step right in and replace Mike Peterson—giving the Falcons a young, frightening linebacker corp.
28th Pick—New England Patriots—Mike Pouncey—Offensive Guard—Florida With Mike Neal reportedly due to retire, there is a hole at guard for the Patriots. And with Belichick's affection for Florida players developed under Urban Meyer, this pick makes a lot of sense.
29th Pick—Chicago Bears—Derek Sherrod—Offensive Tackle—Mississippi State Any time a team gives up the most amount of sacks in a season, you better spend your first pick on an offensive lineman. Sherrod might not be the best tackle in the draft, but he is better than anything the Bears currently have.
30th Pick—New York Jets—Phil Taylor—Defensive Tackle—Baylor Kris Jenkins will not be returning which leaves a (literally) big hole for the Jets. Taylor is very big man at 6'4", 340 lbs. and will clog up many holes
31st Pick—Pittsburgh Steelers—Jimmy Smith—Cornerback—Colorado Mike Pouncey to the Steelers is too fairytale to happen, and with Pouncey going to New England, the Steelers turn to their second biggest need - cornerback. Smith is a lock-down corner in every sense, only giving up 1 Touchdown all year and was thrown at a mere 20 times
32nd Pick—Green Bay Packers—Cameron Heyward—Defensive End—Ohio State Cullen Jenkins is due to become a free agent. The Packers have the luxury of having few needs in the draft, so they take Heyward, who can compete with Mike Neal for a starting spot.
33rd Pick—New England Patriots (from Carolina Panthers)—Mikel LeShoure—Running Back—Illinois A lot of comparisons to Rashard Mendenhall, which should be a good sign. BenJarvus Green-Ellis was given a second round tender so there is a chance he could be gone. Even if he doesn't go, the Patriots could do with another back to carry the load, as Danny Woodhead is more of a novelty back
34th Pick—Buffalo Bills—Benjamin Ijalana—Offensive Tackle—Villanova The Bills' offensive line did a better than expected job of keeping Ryan Fitzpatrick on his feet last year, but that doesn't mean they don't have to improve it. Ijalana can play at tackle or guard, though he will likely slot in at Tackle.
35th Pick—Cincinnati Bengals—Ryan Mallet—Quarterback—Arkansas And this will be the man throwing A.J. Green the ball. Whilst Carson Palmer is acting like a child, the Bengals find the man to replace him. The Bengals are just the right team for Mallet as, recently, they have given chances to players with off field issues, such as Cedric Benson and Tank Johnson
36th Pick—Denver Broncos—Aaron Williams—Cornerback—Texas The eventual replacement for Champ Bailey and could even replace Andre Goodman, who himself is 32. Williams will be able to play nickel which he had played at Texas and learn under a future Hall of Famer until it is time to step into the starting role
37th Pick—Cleveland Browns—Muhammad Wilkerson—Defensive Tackle—Temple The Browns released Shaun Rogers recently, so they need to upgrade their defensive line. Wilkerson is very athletic for someone of his size, and can help rejuvenate the Browns defence
38th Pick—Arizona Cardinals—Colin Kaepernick—Quarterback—Nevada A surprise pick? Maybe. But the Cardinals need a quarterback. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Cardinals traded up for Ryan Mallet or Jake Locker if they fell deep enough. However, Kaepernick is arguably the best Quarterback available and is a dual threat. I do believe that the Cardinals should look to trade for a quarterback, maybe a Donovan McNabb, then work Kaepernick in slowly.
39th Pick—Tennessee Titans—Christian Ponder—Quarterback—Florida State The Titans couldn't pass up on Fairley in the first round, meaning they still need a quarterback. Ponder has a second round grade and is considered one of the most complete quarterbacks going into the draft. But don't be expecting anything spectacular from him
40th Pick—Dallas Cowboys—Marcus Cannon—Offensive Tackle—TCU Dallas need to find another way to protect Tony Romo. Marcus Cannon did a very good job of protecting Andy Dalton last year at TCU, and didn't give up a sack in 2009, and could easily slot in at left or right tackle.
41st Pick—Washington Redskins—Torrey Smith—Wide Receiver—Maryland Shanahan needs to find a weapon for Blaine Gabbert. Torrey Smith is a receiver who could go in the first round and will be able to replace an aging Santana Moss and can step in from day one
42nd Pick—Houston Texans—Rahim Moore—Safety—UCLA The Texans defence couldn't stop a nosebleed last year and their pass defence was atrocious. Rahim Moore is the best of a bad class of safeties, but that doesn't mean he won't be able to help improve the new look Texans defence
43rd Pick—Minnesota Vikings—Marvin Austin—Defensive Tackle—North Carolina Another North Carolina player who's draft stock fell as a result of the year long suspension. Pat Williams is 39. Thirty-Nine! Some young blood is added to the Vikings defensive line
44th Pick—Detroit Lions—Ras-I Dowling—Cornerback—Virginia Very much a boom or bust prospect. If Dowling can stay healthy, he can be a 10-year starter for the Lions. However, staying healthy is very key. He has struggled with injuries during his time at Virginia, but when he was on the field, he was a first round talent.
45th Pick—San Francisco 49ers—Brooks Reed—Outside Linebacker—Arizona With no quarterback left who is worth a second round pick, the Niners upgrade their pass rush. Brooks reed ran the first ten yards of his 40 in 1.54 seconds, which was faster than players like A.J. Green, Von Miller and even Dontay Moch. He finished with a 4.65 time over the full distance. Reed has been compared to Clay Matthews as the both have the agility and explosion. If he can be half the player Matthews is, the 49ers will get a nugget in the second.
46th Pick—Denver Broncos (from Miami Dolphins)—Ryan Williams—Running Back—Virginia Tech The Broncos could do with another running back alongside Knowshon Moreno who can be a change-of-pace back. Ryan Williams can do just that, and is a threat to take it all to the house on every play.
47th Pick—St. Louis Rams—Jon Baldwin—Wide Receiver—Pittsburgh The Rams get the receiver they desperately need. A quick look through the current receiving corp shows no number one wide receiver. Baldwin can be a big target man for Sam Bradford and could be an excellent player in the new pass-happy Josh McDaniels-offence
48th Pick—Oakland Raiders—Brandon Burton—Cornerback—Utah With Nnamdi Asomugha potentially leaving this off season, the Raiders need to find a replacement. Burton is a safe pick who can work from day one. At 6', he has the long arms to re-route receivers and the height to break up a jump ball, something which will be very handy against the potential match ups against Dwayne Bowe and Vincent Jackson twice a year
49th Pick—Jacksonville Jaguars—DeAndre McMichael—Safety—Clemson The Jags' attempt and failure at signing Bob Sanders shows they want a strong safety. McMichael may be gone by the next time they pick, so they reach a little bit for that desired safety
50th Pick—San Diego Chargers—Leonard Hankerson—Wide Receiver—Miami Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd contracts are both up this year, so San Diego takes a replacement for whoever they don't keep. Though Hankerson doesn't have the same height as Floyd or Jackson, he has speed and a nose for the end-zone
51st Pick—Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Bruce Carter—Outside Linebacker—North Carolina The young Bucs continue their additions to the defence. Though injuries set in last year, there was still a glaring need for an outside linebacker. Carter can also emerge over time as a leader for this young, developing team.
52nd Pick—New York Giants—Martez Wilson—Inside Linebacker—Illinois The Giants get a steal with Wilson, who put up impressive numbers at Illinois. A neck injury is a cause for concern for NFL Teams, but Wilson has the talent of a first round pick, so the G-Men jump on him.
53rd Pick—Indianapolis Colts—Kenrick Ellis - Defensive Tackle - Hampton The Colts gave up the ninth -most rushing yards last year and gave up the 10th-most points last year. Just to put that in perspective, the other five AFC play-off teams all finished in the top-10 of least points allowed.
54th Pick—Philadelphia Eagles—Davon House—Cornerback—New Mexico State The Eagles passed up on Brandon Harris and Jimmy Smith in the first round to solidify their offensive line. Now they turn to their defence, mainly their secondary. Davon House comes from a college which gave up 40+ points seven times last year, but that is no reflection on House's ability.
55th Pick—Kansas City Chiefs—Randall Cobb—Wide Receiver—Kentucky The Chiefs lack another target man outside of Dwayne Bowe. Randall Cobb is the opposite of Bowe. Cobb is less of a target man and more of a speedy receiver. He will compliment Bowe very well.
56th Pick – New Orleans Saints – Drake Nevis – Defensive Tackle – LSU – The Saints continue to revamp their defensive line with a local lad from LSU. Nevis is great against the run and will go all day long. Though they just added Shaun Rogers, he is getting old and lets be honest, it wouldn't be a surprise if he got a suspension some time in the season.
57th Pick—Seattle Seahawks—Stefen Wisniewski—Offensive Center Wisniewski is an old-fashioned line up and block lineman. You won't get anything fancy with him, but you also won't get anything spectacular. He needs to bulk up to play Guard, but could easily be starter by day one with Chris Spencer heading for Free Agency.
58th Pick—Baltimore Ravens—Titus Young—Wide Receiver—Boise State The Ravens lacked speed at wide receiver last year, and Coach Harbaugh has recently stated he is not sure whether T.J Whosyourmomma or Donte Stallworth Will be back this year. Young has been compared to DeSean Jackson. Not a bad comparison.
59th Pick—Atlanta Falcons—Kyle Rudolph—Tight End—Notre Dame Tony Gonzalez can still walk the walk, but for how long? Rudolph is the best tight end in the draft and for the Falcons to get him for a late second round pick is a steal. Rudolph isn't just a receiving tight end. He doesn't might doing the dirty work in the run game as well.
60th Pick—New England Patriots—Dontay Moch—Outside Linebacker—Nevada Bill Belichick gets a toy for his defence. Moch can run as fast as most defensive backs, but heavier and stronger. Don't expect Moch to be a three-down linebacker, but more of a situational pass rusher, to bring that extra speed off the edge.
61st Pick—San Diego Chargers (from New York Jets)—Christian Ballard—Defensive End—Iowa The Chargers get three starters with their first three picks in the draft. Ballard is a typical 3-4 defensive end. He may need to bulk up to match the strength of the NFL offensive lines, but he has a good burst and finds a way to the ball
62nd Pick—Chicago Bears—Curtis Brown—Cornerback—Texas Despite needing help on both lines, there is still a glaring need in the Bears' secondary. And for the first time in a while, it isn't at safety. Tim Jennings isn't big enough to hold down the job and would be more suited to nickel back. Though Texas didn't produce this year, Brown has the size and speed to help this Bears defensive get back to the play-offs
63rd Pick—Pittsburgh Steelers—Orlando Franklin—Offensive Guard—Miami The Steelers need to upgrade their offensive line having passed on it in the first round. Orlando Franklin can play guard or tackle; however, there are concerns as to whether he is quick enough to play tackle. So the Steelers find themselves with another young interior lineman for the future.
64th Pick—Green Bay Packers—Danny Watkins—Offensive Guard—Baylor Danny Watkins didn't play football until 2007. Since then, he has transformed himself into a player with great upside and great potential. However, one major downside to Watkins is his age. He will start his NFL career at 26, which is a fair few years older than most other rookies.


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HEALTHY LIVING: New technology makes surgery even less invasive
Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, September 25, 2011
Minimally invasive surgeries (MIS) for gynecological issues have already reduced hospital stays, pain, recovery times and infection risks. But there are limits to what even MIS can do.
Gynecologist and obstetrician Dr. Mario Gross is pleased to announce that he is trained in a new, even better MIS system, known as the da Vinci surgical system. The da Vinci system allows the surgeon greater range of motion, improved dexterity, enhanced visualization (he can see the procedure in much finer detail) and better access problems previously unrecognized.
The da Vinci system allows the surgeon to use robotic "hands" through incisions as small as 0.8 centimeters and perform a variety of surgeries with great precision. At the da Vinci console the surgeon is seated comfortably while viewing a magnified 3D image of the body's interior.
He uses controls that look like forceps and are both for hands and foot control.
The da Vinci responds to the surgeon's hand motions in real time, translating those movements into precise movements of the miniaturized instruments at the patient-side cart. A wide range of surgical instruments are available to assist Dr. Gross accomplish his tasks with precision and control.
Gynecological conditions for which the da Vinci is often suited include those involving cervical and uterine cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse and menorrhagia or excessive bleeding.
Surgeries for which the robotic system is often used include hysterectomy, endometriosis, vaginal prolapsed and reattachment of the fallopian tubes when blocked or tied with better precision, among many others.
Dr. Gross stresses that this is a robotic assist and that the machine will not replace human input. It is an extension of his hands. Even though it is robotic, the system is designed to give Dr. Gross some "force feedback." In other words, when the surgical instrument encounters resistance from, for example, a bone, he will feel that from the controls, as well as seeing it on the screen.
Because no one procedure is right for every condition, Dr. Gross carefully screens each patient before recommending surgery at all, and specifically surgery involving the da Vinci system.
The bottom line for all this is that patients generally experience shorter hospital stays and can get back to their lives much faster than with either traditional surgery or previous forms of minimally invasive surgery.
Developed in 1999, the da Vinci robotic assist system was approved by the FDA soon afterward and is currently in use in more than 1,500 hospitals in the United States and in other countries including the Far East, the Middle East and in much of Europe.
Some have asked if this system would allow telesurgery, or procedures where the physician and the control are in one location and the robotic arms and the patient are in another. While this is theoretically possible, the system's parent company, Intuitive Surgical Incorporated, is not focusing on that and does not offer that as an option.
Midland Memorial Hospital purchased the machine earlier this year and is just beginning to make it available to trained doctors like Dr. Gross.
Dr. Mario Gross's office is located at 4400 North Midland Drive, Suite 506-A. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The phone number is 684-9500.