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Latest news
Biden on gun control: Public wants us to act
Moving quickly, Vice President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he'll urge President Barack Obama to pursue new gun controls as the first, best way to curb gun violence.
Biden said his White House task force will submit its recommendations to Obama by Tuesday, a list that will include improving background checks on gun buyers, promoting gun safety and limiting high-capacity magazines.
He said that his efforts are not an attempt to be comprehensive but that he wants to act quickly in the wake of a national outcry following a mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut last month that left 28 people dead.
"I have a real very tight window to do this," Biden said. "It doesn't mean that this will be the end of the discussion, but the public wants us to act."
Obama charged Biden, a former senator and trusted adviser on a number of high-profile issues, to lead a task force that would examine gun control, mental health services and violence in the media and video games.
The administration will consider executive actions, which do not require congressional approval, as well as legislation that most likely would be difficult to pass through a divided Congress.
Biden's back-to-back meetings with gun rights groups Thursday underscored the strong opposition facing the Obama administration. He met with the powerful gun lobby, including the National Rifle Association, as well as sporting groups, wildlife interest groups and representatives from the entertainment industry.
In a statement Thursday, the NRA, which has suggested posting armed guards in every school, said it was "disappointed" with a meeting that it says was designed to attack the Second Amendment.
"While claiming that no policy proposals would be 'prejudged,' this task force spent most of its time on proposed restrictions on lawful firearms owners – honest, taxpaying, hardworking Americans," the group said. "It is unfortunate that this administration continues to insist on pushing failed solutions to our nation's most pressing problems. We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen."
Biden, who described himself as "an owner of shotguns," disputed the accusation.
"I'm not sure we can guarantee this will never happen again, but as the president said, even if we can only save one life it would make sense," he said. "And I think we can do a great deal without in any way imposing on and impinging on the rights of the Second Amendment."
Over three weeks, Biden and other administration officials spoke to crime victims, gun control groups, religious leaders, law enforcement organizations, the medical community and child advocacy groups. He said he still wants to speak to gun manufacturers.
"There is a powerful consensus building in this country which is reflected in the meetings of this task force," said Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, who met with Biden Wednesday. "We are having the conversation the American public wants us to have."
Though some Democrats who support gun rights, including Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Mark Warner of Virginia, have called for changes after the Connecticut shooting, strong opposition still exists on Capitol Hill and in governor's mansions.
Biden phoned Republican and Democratic governors Wednesday, including those from states where some high-profile mass shooting have occurred – Connecticut, Colorado and Arizona. Other members of the Obama administration met with Capitol Hill staffers Thursday morning.
The vice president did not mention proposals Thursday that addresses violent images or expanding mental health services, though they may be included in his final list of recommendations.
Michael J. Fitzpatrick, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said he urged the Obama administration this week to develop early identification and intervention strategies and access to treatment and support at schools and communities
"The task force's recommendation must include mental health care," Fitzpatrick said. "No one solution can eliminate violence in America, but saving lives includes saving the lives of individuals and family members who struggle with mental illness every day."
Obama already has called for Congress to ban assault weapons. Biden said his meetings had produced an "emerging set of recommendations:" They include:
– Creating a more complete universal background check system for all private gun sales.
– Easing restrictions on sharing information to allow agencies to conduct research on gun violence.
– Promoting gun safety by owners.
– Banning high-capacity magazines.
"There has got to be some common ground to not solve every problem but diminish the probability that what we have seen in these mass shootings will occur, and diminish the probability that our children are at risk in our schools, and diminish the probability that weapons will be used and firearms will be used in dealing with aberrant behavior that takes place in our society," Biden said.
Lesley Clark contributed to this report.


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Marquette, Mich., Dec 17, 2013 / 12:42 pm ().- Pope Francis has named Father John F. Doerfler of the Diocese of Green Bay as the next bishop of Marquette, Mich.
Bishop-designate Doerfler, who has cross-country skied in the area before, said he was first attracted to Michigan's Upper Peninsula by "its natural beauty."
"I now have the opportunity to experience the beauty of the people of faith in this diocese," he said Dec. 17.
Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay praised the appointment.
"I could not be more delighted that the Holy Father has chosen to elevate Father John Doerfler to the episcopacy," he said Dec. 17, explaining that the bishop-designate has "excelled in his service" to the Green Bay diocese and has been "a trusted adviser on moral and canonical issues."
"His presence, ministry and expertise will be sorely missed here, but he will bring many gifts to the Diocese of Marquette," Bishop Ricken said.
Bishop-designate Doerfler has been the vicar general of the Diocese of Green Bay since 2005.
Born Nov. 2, 1964 in Appleton, Wisc., to Henry and Germaine Doerfler, he graduated from Appleton West High School in 1983 and received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and classics from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.
The bishop-to-be was a seminarian at the Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned a bachelor's degree in sacred theology. He holds a licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America and both a licentiate and a doctorate in sacred theology from the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family in Washington, D.C.
Bishop-designate Doerfler was ordained a priest on July 13, 1991.
He has served as parochial vicar and administrator at several parishes of the Green Bay diocese, including St. John Nepomucene Parish in Little Chute, Holy Trinity Parish in Casco, St. John the Evangelist Parish in Green Bay, St. Joseph Parish in Sturgeon Bay, and St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. He has also been rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wis.
Bishop-designate Doerfler has served in diocesan positions as chancellor and judge for the tribunal. He has taught at the Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner and has published several articles on medical ethics.
He is the chaplain to the northeast Wisconsin chapter of Legatus, an organization for Catholic businessmen, and has served in Hispanic ministry. He has worked with Catholic organizations including Teens Encounter Christ, Courage, Widows of Prayer and Retrouivaille.
In an interview published by Legatus Magazine in June 2010, Bishop-designated Doerfler said he was "highly involved" in his high school youth programs as a teenager.
His parents had a "very vibrant faith" and he "grew up in church in one way or another."
He said he decided to pursue a vocation to the priesthood when he realized he couldn't picture himself doing anything "other than working with the Church."
The bishop-to-be will become the Marquette diocese's thirteenth bishop. The diocese has more than 68,000 Catholics out of a population of 321,000. It has 90 priests, 44 permanent deacons and 51 vowed religious, covering an area of over 16,200 square miles.
Bishop-designate Doerfler's ordination is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2014 at Marquette's St. Peter Cathedral.
The diocese's previous bishop, Alexander Sample, now heads the Archdiocese of Portland, Ore.
Tags: Bishop
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subset: commoncrawl


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SAN ANTONIO - Where do the Lakers turn from here?
Maybe Kobe Bryant can provide some answers whenever he decides to tweet gain, but with the Black Mamba holed up somewhere in Newport Beach and silenced by his self-imposed gag order, the Lakers were on their own Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs, literally and figuratively.
Game 2 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Spurs bore little resemblance to Game 1, but the outcome was a spitting image in the Lakers' 102-91 loss.
And it leaves the Lakers in a quandary much more complicated than just the 0-2 hole they find themselves in as they limp home to Los Angeles.
They hobbled onto their charter flight Wednesday unsure who their biggest foe is: The Spurs, or an unforgiving run of luck that continues to wreak havoc on their minds and body.
Not having Bryant was bad enough against the deep, talented Spurs.
But then Jodie Meeks went down in Game 1 with an ankle sprain, Steve Blake suffered a strained hamstring Wednesday and Steve Nash was so banged up after playing Games 1 and 2 he'll undergo another epidural Friday.
'It hurts to see guys go down,' Lakers center Dwight Howard conceded.
And the way they were hobbling around the locker room, you wonder if they'll have enough players to field a full team in Game 3.
'It feels that way,' Nash said. 'I don't want to jump the gun because you never know how we respond to treatments and stuff on Friday. It certainly hasn't been good and hasn't bode well for us with the way things have worked out for us.'
Is anyone healthy enough to slow down Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker and the runaway train the supposedly vulnerable Spurs looked like as they flattened the Lakers the first two games?
'We either overcome it or go home,' Howard said. 'And we don't want to go home.'
They may not have much choice. It's not like the Lakers played bad Wednesday.
And it's not like they didn't make some positive adjustments between Games 1 and 2.
They just couldn't make the biggest tweak of all - flip the final score in their favor.
Or stay out of harm's way. Not with Ginobili resuming his role as a Lakers nemesis, coming off the bench to throw 3-point daggers and thread pinpoint passes and show everyone just what the Spurs were missing while he was out with a leg injury.
Or with Tony Parker playing like Tony Parker again, scoring 24 of his 28 points in the second half as the Spurs pulled away.
And certainly not with the Spurs throwing player after player at the Lakers, each of them running the Spurs' system to perfection as they methodically ground away at the Lakers.
'It's always Parker, Ginobili and Tim Duncan, but then somebody else picks up the slack,' Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said.
And they attacked the Lakers from various angles and entry points, the steady punches of Gary Neal and Danny Green and Tiago Splitter and Cory Neal and Matt Bonner and Kawhi Leonard pounding into the Lakers midsection until - BOOM - Parker or Duncan or Ginobili sent them sprawling with a left cross.
It's a collective effort in which role players born and bred in Gregg Popovich's way of doing things can beat you just as easily as the stars.
'It's great continuity,' Metta World Peace said.
Wednesday it was Leonard with 16 points and Bonner getting under Howard's skin with 10 points a rugged style of play that visibly frustrated the Lakers center.
By Game 3, who knows who will step up?
'They're no-name guys play their system with a confidence,' said World Peace.
And with each passing game, Ginobili gets a little better, Parker looks a little more like his old self and the Spurs raise their level of play.
'And right now, they more efficient than us,' D'Antoni said.
Now the series shifts back to Los Angeles, the Lakers can only hope playing at home provides the necessary lift needed to ensure they make it back to San Antonio for Game 5.
That might be wishful thinking, especially with a depleted Lakers roster shrinking by the day.
But it's all the Lakers got. Unless Kobe Bryant decides to lift the gag order and provide some answers.
Or better yet, suit up.


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In its basic application, it functions first as a cant hook, making easier
work of rolling logs from 6" to 20" in diameter into position.
Then, using the 45" handle for leverage, you can simply pivot the
log over so it rests on the two support legs, which keep the log raised
You can also mount the jack onto a vehicle's trailer hitch (requires
a receiver hitch post, sold separately) or to a stout tree, then lift
the log into the self-adjusting jaws; logs from 2" to 8" in
diameter and up to 20' long are held securely, cantilevered at a comfortable
height so you can quickly make a series of crosscuts without having to
stoop or reposition the log.
Finally, it also functions as a post-lifter, allowing you to apply considerable
leverage when prying a post from the ground. Weighing 12 lb, it is ruggedly
made from aircraft aluminum and stainless steel with a hard-wearing powder-coat
finish to resist rust and damage. A real back saver.
Made in USA, it comes with a lifetime guarantee.


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U.S. Eyes Wider Action on Islamic State
Killing of Journalist Fuels Push for International Campaign; Officials Say Syria Vital to Defeating Islamic State
The beheading of journalist James Foley has prompted American officials to begin working to knit together a broader international campaign to combat the extremists of the Islamic State, an effort that the Pentagon warned will require taking the fight beyond Iraq and into neighboring Syria.
The Obama administration has indicated it is prepared to continue selective airstrikes against the extremists inside Iraq, where they have seized significant swaths of territory. But Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs...


text: Adorable inter-species adoption strikes again: Jane Etheridge, an Englishwoman from Middleton, says that the lone surviving chick from her hen's recent batch of 14 babes (a fox and untimely death claimed the other 13) was recently adopted by her cat, Snowy. Etheridge says that Snowy cleans and cares for the chick, now named Gladys, and that Gladys loves to play with her adopted dad: "[Gladys] comes in and bounces up and down in front of Snowy and he just stands there and takes it and puts his arm around her," says Etheridge, adding: "They are the best of friends, very much so." We couldn't find photographic evidence of Gladys and Snowy's friendship, but we hope this other cat-chick adoption will suffice. [UPI]


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Are you ready for this year's Fall and Winter make-up trends? DOT DOT presents you the latest, not-to-be-missed runway make-up trends!
Discover smart and efficient make-up techniques, as well as suitable colours for your face and skin tone! These unique and innovative soft cream colours are formulated so that the pearl eyeshadow is evenly and completely oil-coated, lending it a creamy soft touch, for excellent hold and coverage.
Added with lustrous light-reflecting particles to give the eyeshadow a glossy sheen.
The Smoky Queen series incorporates the use of light and shadow effects, to help you create an eye profile with the illusion of depth.
Key points:
1. Use eyeliner together with eyeshadow for natural gradation of colour.
2. To add depth to your eyes, apply eyeshadow to the eyelid.
3. For a 3-D eye make-up look, use the cream white colour to highlight the most prominent area, like the brow bone.
Cream white colour exudes splendid luminosity + 3 eyeshadow shades:
Cream White, Golden Bronze, Forest Green, Antique Gold
Enjoy effortless shading and blending with this skin-friendly formula that provides long-lasting, vivid colour with shimmer, but without any smudging!
Capacity: 4.8 g
Key Ingredients:
Mica, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Magnesium Stearate, Boron Nitride, Nylon-12, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica, Jojoba Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxide, Titanium Dioxide.
How to Use:
Using a shadow brush, gently apply the base colour on the entire lid from the inner to the outer corner of your eye and from the base of eyelashes to the eyelid crease.
1. Avoid applying on damaged or injured skin.
2. If any skin redness or sensitivity problem occurs after use, please stop using immediately and consult a doctor if necessary.
3. Should you suffer from skin allergies, we recommend you to perform a skin patch test before use. Apply a small amount on the skin behind your ears and wait 10–15 min to see if there is any allergic reaction.
4. Store product in a well-ventilated place away from direct heat and sunlight.
Consumer Advice
Beauty Bistro is the official distributor for DOT DOT products sold in Singapore. Products have been registered with HSA to ensure their safety and compliance with the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive. We strongly advise our customers to purchase only from our list of approved retailers, as we will not undertake any responsibility for products purchased from unauthorized retailers.


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"I've been a customer for 10 years and Sysko's continues to deliver."
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"..your company is a class act and greatly appreciated. Thanks again."
"Thanks for your help in choosing videos. I appreciate your candor and knowledge regarding your products."
"After a successful season last year, I'm coming back to Sysko's to get better."
Sysko's Download Store offers a wide variety of videos for download.
You can purchase an entire DVD for download and burn one copy for full price or, on selected videos, you get purchase them "on demand" for 48 hours at a discounted price.
We are currently adding new videos for download on a daily basis.
If you can't find a specific video you are looking for please e-mail me at firstname.lastname@example.com and I'll update you on the status of the video you are looking to download.
Thanks and happy downloading,
Jim Donnelly Owner/Syskos Sports Productions LLC


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Read About Vitamin Tests in Kensington CT
Reviewed By: Dr. Kurt Kloss, MD
Last Reviewed Date: Feb 06, 2019
Vitamin Deficiency and Nutrition Blood Tests in Kensington, CT
Are you focused on health and wellness?>/p>
If so, you're probably also focused on good nutrition, since healthy diets are the foundation of healthy bodies. But how can you be sure, with all the confusing research and news reports that the foods you're eating are giving you the right balance of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients you need to promote optimal health? Scheduling a vitamin test near Kensington, CT can help.
A vitamin test can measure levels of vitamins that are essential to life and health, including vitamins A, C, E, K, as well as important B-complex vitamins, like B-12, B-6, B-1 and folate to screen for vitamin deficiency. Blood tests can also evaluate your levels of nutritionally important minerals, like potassium, calcium and magnesium, check your blood sugar levels, and detect diet related health issues, such as lactose intolerance, celiac disease or sensitivity to wheat or other grains.
Why is keeping track of your nutritional status important?
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can take a heavy toll on your level of health and wellness. For example, low levels of B12 can lead to a blood disorder called anemia. Low levels of calcium and vitamin D can cause bone loss, and magnesium or potassium deficiencies can impact cardiovascular health. Getting nutritional testing, including a vitamin test near Kensington, CT can help ensure against deficiencies and their potential impact on your health. In short, it is a quick, easy way to ensure that your diet is working for you as you strive for optimal health and wellness.
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I am hoping that once school starts, that I'll be posting more often. This summer has been busy and fun. It makes me sad to think that this is my last summer with Zakk as a high schooler. Next year, he'll be off to Reno, starting his own life. Man, I hope this year goes by slowly.
My weight loss is now 40 lbs! I am super happy about that. I've been walking up at the track every morning with my friends Ron, Janet, and Christine. I pushed myself too hard, and hurt my knee, so now I walk along the football field. It's still 1/4 mile and it still feels great. I started doing yoga and I love it. Ron has me doing some stretching exercises every day, and I am up to four times a day, but am planning on going up to six times a day.
Zakk started football practice this week. He's been coming home exhausted every night. The practices are three hours and they do 1 1/2 hours of conditioning. So, needless to say, Zakk is really tired when he gets home at 8:30. He is going to be playing on the defensive line and he was told that he'll be a starter, which is good! I can't believe he's a senior this year.
Hannah is going to be a junior this year. I can't believe my babies are growing up so fast. It's really made me sad to think that in a few short years, my children will all be on their own and starting their own lives. Time sure flies by quickly. It seems like yesterday they were my babies.
Beka is set to get her patriarchal blessing on the 21st in Spanish Fork. It is such a blessing to have my father-in-law be a patriarch and I think it will be very special for her to get it from her grandpa. She is super excited for seminary to start on the 30th.
I've been scrapbooking like crazy. I realized that I was buying a lot of junk. So, I purged my computer of all the stuff that I know I won't use, and have been scrapping with the stuff that I really like and that fits my style. I am now only on three CTs, and guesting for a designer whose CT I'd love to be on full time. But, we'll see how that goes.
I have also finally broken through one of my brick walls in my genealogy. I've been trying to locate my great great grandmother's family for 25 years and by sheer accident, I found a lead, which definitely panned out!! It's so nice to finally be able to see my great great grandmother with parents. I also was able to locate her first husband and her other two children. So, the genealogy quest has been quite hot lately!
I guess I should get going! I have a lot to do today! The kids and I are going to go school clothes shopping online and I want to continue working on that genealogy lead while it's still hot.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Lots going on
Posted by Paula at 10:21 AM 0 comments
Labels: genealogy, kids, scrapping, weight loss
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Review and Giveaway: Eden Fantasys
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
**Please note, this post is not suitable for children or for work. This post is Rated Adult.**
Alright ladies! Here comes the fun!!
Remember my post about Eden Fantasys back in April?
Eden Fantasys is now my go-to site for sex toys! They have a huge selection of sex toys for couples, sex toys for women, and Adult DVDs.
I recently was presented with an opportunity to review another toy and boy, did I jump on that! I've been with the same guy for a little over two years, and you know you have to add some spice to keep that flamed burning!
I chose this little humdinger right here:
Ladies, meet the Hummingbird Arouser, made by California Exotic! The Hummingbird Arouser is a powerful triple stimulation vibrator. What's great is that for all of this power, it only requires 2 AAs!
About the Hummingbird Arouser (from the site):
Let this little hummingbird tickle your fancy with four speeds of pleasurable vibration. An insertable penis, clitoris caressing beak, labia arousing wings and an anal stimulator tail all combine to keep you humming too.
A press of the button on the remote lets you select from four light-indicated speeds to suit your pleasure. The bullet-style motor is nestled in the center of the body, delivering strong sensations to beak, tail, and shaft with equal effectiveness. Three ridges in the shaft add gentle texture to the soft, phthalate free material of this toy. Quiet operation ensures your pleasure is discreet.
Please note: while the Hummingbird Arouser is advertised as being waterproof, it is possible for water to enter the toy through the opening around the wire entry. Care should be taken not to let water near this area to prevent the device from being damaged.
My thoughts:
This was a fun little toy! Even though it did seem to suck up a lot of power, I guess that's to be expected with the four degrees of power. All in all, it does do what it says it can! I didn't try it in the water, and I probably won't, for obvious reasons, but I know this will be one toy in my collection that I pick up pretty often.
Would you like to win a fun toy to spice up your sex life?! Eden Fantasys has graciously offered one A Simple Kinda Life reader a $40 gift certificate!
To win, go to Eden Fantasys and have a look around. Then come back here and tell me which Sex Toy you would most prefer.
Remember, if this rule is not followed, no other entries will count!
Extra entries can be earned by doing the following:
*Subscribe to my blog feed (Look for the orange Feedblitz icon) 1 entry
*Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link 3 entries
*Follow my blog 1 entry
*Follow me on Twitter and leave me your username 1 entry
*Fave my blog at Technorati 1 entry
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*Tweet about this giveaway and leave me a direct link 1 entry
*If you are not a blogger, email 3 friends and cc me 3 entries
*Grab my button (located on left sidebar) 2 entries
*Vote for my website at MomFaves.com 2 entries
This giveaway will end on 6/9/09 at midnight EST. The winner will be picked using random.org and will be emailed.They will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will have to be chosen.
Good luck!


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Married Lori
State Senator
Carl L. and Shirley Gordner
Dickinson College, B.A. 1983, Dickinson School of Law, J.D. 1987
Past president Berwick Jaycees; past vice-chairman Greater Berwick Chapter-Red Cross; past fund drive chairman Berwick Area United Way; mem. board of directors Boy Scouts of America, board member Columbia-Montour Council; Berwick Rotary Club and Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Economics Pennsylvania, and Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority; Board of Deacons First Baptist Church of Berwick; Member of House of Representatives 1993 to Nov. 24, 2003; Member of Senate Nov. 24, 2003 to date; Appointed Majority Caucus Administrator 2011.


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Lyrics:First verseI want to be a comfort to my husband dear, But he must never roam, Always stay at home, With none of his diversions shall I interfere, That is, you see, unless I think I should. He'll be allowed the freedom of his single days, But while he's gay and free, He must be with me I won't attempt to alter all his youthful way, That is, you see, unless it's for his good; RefrainI wonder whom I'll marry! Will he be dark or fair? I wonder what's the name I'll take in place of Philibert! Though doubtful whom I'll marry I'm very sure I'll be Particularly careful of the man who marries me! I wonder whom I'll marry! Will he be good and true? I wonder if he'll always do as I expected him to, If he'll be very careful Then I will also be Particularly careful of the man who marries me!Second versepeople he was fond of 'ere he lik'd me best, He still may have them call, I shan't care at all, His former friends I'll never teach him to detest, That is, you see, unless they're feminine. If in his coat I ever find a lady's glove, Or handkerchief of lace, I'll not scratch his face Not even though I find there letters fill'd with love, That is, you see, unless they are not mine,
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Johnson & Johnson led White Sox
Starter Erik, speedster Micah headline South Side All-Stars
By John Parker / MiLB.com | October 11, 2013 6:00 AM
This offseason, MiLB.com will be honoring the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in their organizations. We're taking a look at each team to determine the outstanding seasons in Minor League baseball. Select a team from the dropdown below.
The White Sox system is short on high-profile prospects. While the Astros boast eight of MLB.com's Top 100 prospects and the Marlins five (those were the only two teams with worse Major League records than the Sox), Chicago has just one: 19-year-old outfielder Courtney Hawkins at No. 63. That doesn't necessarily bode ill for the future -- top prospect or not, everyone has to perform on the field and the White Sox got some strong performances in 2013, most notably from Southern League MVP Marcus Semien and Double-A Birmingham, which won its first Southern League title since 2002.
Elsewhere, the results were mixed. Triple-A Charlotte, in its final season before moving into the new BB&T Ballpark, finished 21 1/2 games behind first-place Durham in the International League South Division. At 71-69, Class A Advanced Winston-Salem missed the Carolina League playoffs for just the second time in six years. Despite a strong second half, Class A Kannapolis finished 15 games under .500 and Bristol was last in the Appalachian League at 20-45. Great Falls posted the Pioneer League's best record (48-28) but was swept by Helena in the first round of the playoffs.
White Sox Organization All-Stars
Catcher -- Kevan Smith, Winston-Salem (101 games): A 2011 seventh-round pick out of the University of Pittsburgh, Smith was the system's top backstop for the second year in a row after putting together a season much like -- but better than -- his 2012 campaign. He hit .286 and posted career highs with 12 homers, 38 walks and a .370 on-base percentage.
Smith threw out 33 of 133 would-be basestealers for a career-low 25 percent (the Carolina League average was 30 percent). At 25, he was old for the level, but there's always a role for a catcher who can hit.
Honorable mention: Zach Fisher, Josh Phegley
First base -- Dan Black, Birmingham (133 games): Another repeat performer from 2012, when he was named Carolina League MVP, Black had a similarly strong season for the Barons. The 26-year-old Purdue product saw his batting average dip to .290, his on-base percentage rise to .411 -- second-best in the Southern League -- and his homer output remain the same (he hit 18 in 2011, 17 in 2012 and 17 this year).
Along with his impressive on-base percentage, Black led the league with 91 walks, ranked second with 83 RBIs and an .881 OPS and was fifth with a .470 slugging percentage. The switch-hitter flashed a little more power from the right side but reached base at the same impressive clip no matter the hurler. He also batted .360/.492/.554 with runners in scoring position.
Honorable mention: Rangel Ravelo
Second base -- Micah Johnson, Kannapolis (77 games), Winston-Salem (49 games), Birmingham (five games): After a solid debut with Rookie-level Great Falls last summer, Johnson tore up the South Atlantic League in his full-season debut. The 22-year-old hit .342/.422/.530 with Kannapolis, stealing 61 bases and scoring 76 runs in 77 games and earning MVP honors at the Sally League All-Star Game before a promotion to Winston-Salem.
The Johnson juggernaut hit a snag in the Carolina League, where his numbers dropped to .275/.309/.360. Promoted to Birmingham near the end of the season, he was a key contributor to the Barons' championship run, delivering 14 hits, 12 runs scored, seven RBIs and seven steals (without getting caught) in 10 playoff games. In the decisive fifth game of the Finals against two-time champion Mobile, Johnson hit his first Double-A homer as the Barons overcame a two-run deficit to win, 4-2.
"He's full of energy," Birmingham manager Julio Vinas said. "He led off for us and he got on all the time and was stealing bases. He did so many things to give so many guys the energy and boost we needed."
White Sox director of player development Nick Capra added, "We knew he could be an exciting player, a real game-changer at the front of a lineup. He was a little hot-and-cold when he got to Winston-Salem, but he learned to make adjustments and was stellar with Birmingham at the end of the year."
Johnson led the Minor Leagues with 84 stolen bases and tied for fifth with 106 runs scored in 131 games -- all very impressive for a ninth-round pick in his first full season.
Third base -- Chris Curley, Winston-Salem (136 games): This is cheating slightly -- Curley spent most of his time at shortstop this season, but he played 44 games at third and has played more at the hot corner in his career. In any case, it was his bat that stood out in 2013 as the 26-year-old Kentucky native led the system with 24 homers and 92 RBIs. Though his numbers tailed off a bit in the second half, Curley hit .280/.350/.471 overall and became the third consecutive Dash slugger to be named Carolina League MVP.
Shortstop -- Marcus Semien, Birmingham (105 games), Charlotte (32 games), Chicago (16 games): Semien had a breakout season, hitting .284/.401/.479 and earning Southern League MVP honors before getting a call to the Majors in September.
The 23-year-old did it all on offense -- his 19 homers ranked second in the system, his 32 doubles placed him fifth and his 24 steals were good enough for sixth. He led the Minor Leagues with 110 runs scored, thanks in part to 98 walks.
Semien spent time at short, third and second for the Barons and Knights, and got a chance to play all three spots for the White Sox.
"We haven't really defined him at one position," Capra said. "We think he can play all three positions in the Majors and it never hurts to have that kind of versatility in your lineup. He's a very polished young hitter -- he does the little things well and understands situational hitting."
"He was good," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said after Semien made his first big league start at shortstop on Sept. 21. "Even late in the game, he had some tough plays. He looked fine. He looked comfortable enough that you trust him being out there."
Utility -- Steve Tolleson, Charlotte (116 games): A 2005 fifth-round pick by the Twins, Tolleson was a true utility player for the Knights in his first season in the White Sox system. The South Carolina native, who grew up about 80 miles from Charlotte, played 37 games at second, 33 at short, 23 at third, 22 in left field, one in right and two as DH.
Tolleson didn't generate much power -- he hit eight homers this season and has never reached double digits in his career -- but his .288 batting average ranked fourth among White Sox full-season farmhand and he reached base at a solid .381 clip.
Jason Coats, Kannapolis (133 games): A four-year standout at TCU, Coats tore his ACL in the final game of his senior season in 2012, fell to the 29th round of that year's Draft and was out for nine months before beginning his pro career with Kannapolis in April.
Despite the late start, Coats was the Intimidators' primary offensive force, leading the club in games, hits, homers, doubles, RBIs and total bases. The 23-year-old Texan batted .337/.379/.432 in April, cooled off as the season went along but was a South Atlantic League midseason All-Star and led the organization with 38 doubles while ranking second with 84 RBIs.
Nolan Earley, Bristol (61 games): Though Bristol finished last in the Appy League and had the lowest team OPS in the circuit, Earley was a bright spot. A 22nd-round pick out of South Alabama in this year's Draft, he ranked fifth in the league in batting (.310) and on-base percentage (.410) and struck out only 26 times while drawing 32 walks.
The 22-year-old is the younger brother of White Sox prospect Michael Earley, who split the season between Birmingham and Charlotte. Nolan hit only two homers for Bristol but has an advanced approach at the plate that will serve him well as he graduates to full-season ball.
"It's always tough to predict how entry-level players will perform as they move up. At that stage, we pretty much let them play and see what we've got," Capra said. "Earley is a real baseball rat -- he comes from a baseball family and has the advantage of picking his brother's brain. He knows how to play the game."
Adam Heisler, Kannapolis (36 games), Winston-Salem (59 games), Charlotte (six games): Like Earley, Heisler is a South Alabama product. The 25-year-old began and ended the season in Kannapolis, with stints with Winston-Salem and Charlotte in between. Signed as a free agent in 2011, he hit .324 and reached base in all 19 of his games with the Intimidators in April.
Heisler found ways to get on base, posting a .378 OBP and scoring 62 times in 101 games. At 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, he totaled only 28 extra-base hits, including five homers. But his OBP was seventh-best among full-season qualifying White Sox farmhands and only 10 -- all of whom had more plate appearances -- scored more runs.
Right-handed starting pitcher -- Erik Johnson, Birmingham (14 games), Charlotte (10 games), Chicago (four games): Johnson came into the season with only 17 professional starts under his belt -- none of them above Class A Advanced. He ended it with the big club after a Minor League season that could hardly have gone better.
A 2011 second-round pick, Johnson made two brief appearances for Rookie-level Great Falls that summer as the organization worked to rebuild his mechanics. Last year, he was sidelined until June by shoulder soreness before posting a 2.53 ERA over 92 1/3 innings for Kannapolis and Winston-Salem.
Sporting a new changeup as he began the 2013 campaign with Birmingham, Johnson was lights-out in the Southern League (8-2, 2.23) and even better after a promotion to Charlotte. Johnson went 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 10 International League starts, allowing one home run and holding Triple-A hitters to a .209 average. The 23-year-old also was solid in five big league starts (3-2, 3.25), although he surrendered five homers over 27 2/3 innings. Johnson closed the season with three straight wins, including one over Detroit on Sept. 22.
"He made tremendous progress this year," Capra said. "I wouldn't say we 'revamped' his mechanics so much as helped him clean up his direction. He had the stuff when we drafted him -- great fastball, curve, slider -- and adding a changeup makes him so dangerous."
Left-handed starting pitcher -- Spencer Arroyo, Birmingham (26 games), Charlotte (one game): Arroyo was a workhorse for the Barons, throwing a team-high 144 2/3 innings in 26 starts. Though his campaign had its ups and downs -- he was particularly sharp in May and July but struggled in June and August -- the 25-year-old lowered his ERA to 3.50 on the season, nearly a full run better than his 2012 mark.
Arroyo doesn't put up big strikeout numbers -- he fanned 96 over 149 1/3 innings to rank 12th in the system -- but he's proven increasingly adept at keeping the ball in the park. After allowing 18 homers in 2011 and 13 last year, he yielded nine this season and held foes to a .251 average, the second-lowest mark of his six-year career.
Relief pitcher -- Daniel Webb, Winston-Salem (eight games), Birmingham (13 games), Charlotte (21 games), Chicago (seven games): Whatever it was that Webb did during the offseason, other pitchers would do well to copy it. In 2012, the right-hander went 1-8 with a 5.81 ERA over 62 innings with Class A Kannapolis. In 2013, he compiled a 1.87 ERA in tearing through three Minor League levels and finished the season in the big leagues.
Webb was particularly effective against right-handed hitters, who batted just .185 against him (including 3-for-18 in the Majors). After allowing Minor Leaguers to hit .293 in 2012, he held them to a .194 mark this year.
Honorable mention: Brad Goldberg
John Parker is an editor for MiLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.View More


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Because all of you beautiful blogging women inspire me to get out of my sweats and into a dress this one is just for all of you. I don't own a ton of vintage but this is one of my absolute favorite dresses. I hope you like it.
Thanks so much for all your sweet encouragement, I wish I could have you all over for an evening of dress up and cosmos.


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Obama's Mortgage Relief Plan Is Immediately Attacked By The Right-Wing Media
President Obama recently outlined his proposal that would give millions of homeowners a chance to save thousands of dollars annually by refinancing their mortgages at a lower interest rate even if their homes are currently underwater. The right-wing media immediately went on the attack, claiming that Obama's mortgage relief plan is a political stunt being used to "pander" to voters during an election year.
Obama Announces Mortgage Relief Plan To Deal With "Massive" Housing Problem
AP: Obama Proposal Would Create "An Annual Savings Of About $3,000 For The Average Borrower." From a February 1 Associated Press article:
President Barack Obama called on Congress Wednesday to make it easier for millions of additional homeowners to refinance their mortgages at lower interest rates even if they owe more than their homes are worth. He conceded that his administration's housing plans so far have not lived up to their promise.
Calling the housing problem "massive in size and in scope," Obama detailed a proposal he outlined in his State of the Union speech last week, tackling an issue of vital concern in states key to his re-election.
"This housing crisis struck right at the heart of what it means to be middle class in America: our homes," Obama said, speaking at a northern Virginia community center.
Obama's proposal would give homeowners with privately held mortgages a shot at record low rates though a new government program, for an annual savings of about $3,000 for the average borrower.
The program is the latest administration effort to help homeowners in the face of a massive number of foreclosures and plunging house values that have left millions of borrowers owing more than their homes are worth. The administration plan aims to ease the way toward refinancing for borrowers, who despite good credit have been unable to take advantage of lower rates because they are underwater on their loans or because banks fear they will be left taking losses.
The administration estimates that 3.5 million borrowers with privately-held mortgages have high enough interest rates that they would have incentive to refinance under the new plan. That's in addition to 11 million borrowers who have Fannie- or Freddie-guaranteed loans who could be eligible for refinancing under the administration's proposed changes.
About 11 million Americans -- roughly 1 in 4 with a mortgage -- are underwater, according to CoreLogic, a real estate data firm.
Half of all U.S. mortgages -- about 30 million home loans -- are owned by nongovernment lenders.
The new administration plan would permit homeowners to refinance their mortgages into loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration. To qualify, borrowers with privately held mortgages would have to have no more than one delinquency in the six months preceding refinancing. Their loans would have to fall within the mortgage limits set by the FHA in their home counties. [Associated Press, 2/1/12]
Obama's Proposal Would Also Give Relief To Renters And Homeowners Looking For Work. From a White House fact sheet on Obama's plan:
• First Pilot Sale to Transition Foreclosed Property into Rental Housing to Help Stabilize Neighborhoods and Improve Home Prices: The FHFA, in conjunction with Treasury and HUD, is announcing a pilot sale of foreclosed properties to be transitioned into rental housing.
• Moving the Market to Provide a Full Year of Forbearance for Borrowers Looking for Work: Following the Administration's lead, major banks and the GSEs are now providing up to 12 months of forbearance to unemployed borrowers.
• Pursuing a Joint Investigation into Mortgage Origination and Servicing Abuses: This effort marshals new resources to investigate misconduct that contributed to the financial crisis under the leadership of federal and state co-chairs.
• Rehabilitating Neighborhoods and Reducing Foreclosures: In addition to the steps outlined above, the Administration is expanding eligibility for HAMP to reduce additional foreclosures, increasing incentives for modifications that help borrowers rebuild equity, and is proposing to put people back to work rehabilitating neighborhoods through Project Rebuild. [WhiteHouse.gov, 2/1/12]
Right-Wing Media Suggest Obama's Plan Is A Charade Designed To Gain Votes
Malkin: Obama Is Re-Inflating The Housing Bubble To "Pander In An Election Year." In a February 1 post on her blog, Michelle Malkin criticized President Obama for outlining his mortgage relief plan saying he was "re-inflating the housing bubble to pander in an election year." From the post:
Ugh. We're back to this again. Yes, President Obama's re-inflating the housing bubble to pander in an election year. Foreclosure avoidance is now a civil right. Long-term consequences be damned.
Obama is outlining a proposal to allow millions more homeowners to refinance their mortgages at lower interest rates even if they owe more than their homes are worth. The White House says the average borrower could save about $3,000 annually.
His first mortgage-mod program was fraud-ridden and failed. So, of course, he's doubling down.
Obama has also promised today to send a homeowner "bill of rights" to Congress.
Maybe he should try abiding by the original one first.
Over the past several years, I've written extensively about the bipartisan housing entitlement culture and the death of the stigma of default. I repeat:
Property-value preservation is not a civil right.
The truth is: Nobody wants to swallow tough truths. They just want their candy. [Michelle Malkin, 2/1/12]
Limbaugh Falsely Claims Obama Will Refinance Everybody's Loans. "All You Have To Do Is Promise To Vote For Him." From the February 1 edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show:
RUSH LIMBAUGH: So what do we do now, folks? That's the question. Everybody wants to know what do we do now? And what we do now is what we should be doing all along. I'll give you an example.
Obama's on TV this morning. He was in Falls Church, Virginia, doing a campaign speech. And in this appearance he announced yet another plan to bail out people who are underwater in their houses. This -- I don't know what this is, HARP 2, HARP 3. We alluded to this a few weeks ago where Obama was going to take people that were underwater and basically refinance their mortgages and have a monthly payment max out at something like six or seven hundred dollars. It's essentially, not quite forgive everybody's mortgage, but the effort was to make them think that was going to happen. That's the reason, one of the many reasons, Obama's out there saying, "Vote for me" today.
We predicted this a few weeks ago, and I think -- I'm sure I was the first to predict it. He's promising the government will refinance everybody's loans. No credit checks. No credit checks, no proof of anything. All you have to do is promise to vote for him. And that's implied. That is understood. I mean that's the whole point of it. So how do you fight this? What do we do? The only thing that has ever had a chance from the first days of this election, this campaign, has been to make it about Obama. Every day, in every which way possible, on issues, on Obama's record, on the things he can't defend. That's what needs to happen. That's what our chance is. Our team: not all that good. You know it, and I know it. They're just not. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 2/1/12]
- In Fact, Obama's Plan Is Aimed At Helping "Responsible Borrowers." The White House fact-sheet on Obama's plan states that to be eligible for the refinancing program, homeowners must be "current on their mortgage," "meet a minimum credit score," "have a loan that is no larger than the current FHA [Federal Housing Administration] conforming loan limits in their area," and be seeking to refinance "a single family, owner-occupied principal residence." [WhiteHouse.gov, 2/1/12]
Hot Air's Morrissey: Obama Is "Vote Mining Among Underwater Middle-Class Homeowners." From a February 1 post on the right-wing blog Hot Air by Ed Morrissey:
Jim Pethokoukis argued last week that this is Obama's attempt to buy some middle-class support. Republicans may stop it for its new fees on lenders, which will supposedly fund the costs, but certainly not the risks involved in this shell game, but that would also be useful for Obama in vote mining among underwater middle-class homeowners -- in fact, it might be more useful than passage. (Republicans could pass it with a provision approving the Keystone XL pipeline and dare Obama to veto it, too.) Its passage will only extend the problem for most of these homeowners, transfer risk from private lenders to taxpayers in many cases, and do nothing to create conditions in which demand rises for housing that would solve the valuation issue. [Hot Air, 2/1/12]
National Review Online: Obama's Mortgage Relief Plan Is To "Serve The Progressive Election-Year Narrative." From a February 1 blog post by Sam Staley at National Review Online:
Sorting out the housing market will indeed be a long-term process. But the long-term solution is bringing the market back into balance after it was thrown out of whack in a not insignificant way by an "ownership society" myth, propagated and subsidized by both Republican and Democratic administrations. And the new housing-finance bureaucracy will struggle against its contradictory missions of making sure households don't buy houses they can't afford (reducing demand) and by making it easier and more straightforward to secure loans (increasing demand). Creating stability in the housing market won't be aided by the new bureaucracy created to rule over the mortgage industry, although it serves the progressive election-year narrative that it's the government that must ride in on a shining white horse to save the common person from the evil bankers. [National Review Online, 2/1/12]
Morrissey: Obama Is Trying "To Buy A Few Votes At The Expense Of Taxpayers And Banks." From Morrissey's post on Hot Air on January 25:
Being underwater on a mortgage is a tough economic position, but no tougher than people who invest in other assets and end up having less value than what they invested. If homeowners find themselves in this position, they can keep paying the mortgage and eventually get above water on equity while continuing to live in their homes, which isn't ideal but certainly isn't an emergency that warrants picking the pockets of other taxpayers. It also won't do anything to prevent or minimize foreclosures, which is one of the actual problems in the housing market. This is nothing more than a bald attempt to buy a few votes at the expense of taxpayers and banks, and it will exacerbate the very problems it purports to address. Game-changer? More like an overtime period. [Hot Air, 1/25/12]
However, Economists Say Streamlined Mortgage Refinancing Would Benefit The Economy
Economist Mark Zandi: "There Is No Better Way To Quickly Buoy Hard-Pressed Homeowners Than Helping Them" Refinance At Current Rates. In a January 24 blog post on the Washington Post website, Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, explained the economic benefits of President Obama's refinancing plan:
The president proposed to allow "every responsible homeowners" the chance to more easily refinance, a savings of about $3,000 annually.
There is no better way to quickly buoy hard-pressed homeowners than helping them take advantage of the currently record low fixed mortgage rates and significantly reduce their monthly mortgage payments.
Over 30 million homeowners are current on their mortgages and could profitably refinance at the current mortgage rate, which now average less than 4 percent for a 30-year fixed rate. The macroeconomic benefit could be significant. If, say, half refinance in the next six months, then this would save homeowners over $20 billion in mortgage payments this year and double that next year. Homeowners' extra cash will quickly find its way into the economy.
It is important to note that while homeowners will have more cash to spend, investors in these mortgages will receive less interest income. This dilutes the economic benefit of facilitating more refinancing, but only modestly. The biggest mortgage investors include the Federal Reserve (through quantitative easing), Fannie and Freddie, and foreign investors. All mortgage investors are probably a bit surprised they haven't already been refinanced out of their investments. [Washington Post, 1/24/12]
Economist Dean Baker: Obama's Mortgage Refinancing Plan Will "Benefit Communities And The Economy By Limiting The Blight Of Foreclosure And Giving Consumers More Money To Spend." In an email to Media Matters, Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, stated:
[T]he main thrust of the Obama housing plan is just common sense. It is trying to set up a structure so that underwater homeowners will be able to refinance at low interest rates just like anyone else. This is the sort of support for the housing market that the government has always provided. This can mean the difference for millions of homeowners between keeping and losing their homes. It will also benefit communities and the economy by limiting the blight of foreclosure and giving consumers more money to spend. And, it will be done at very little cost to the government.
The system will not be perfect, but if perfection is the standard for an acceptable policy, then we would never do anything. [Email to Media Matters, 2/1/12]
Former Bush Economic Adviser: Streamlining Mortgage Refinancing "May Benefit Up To 30 Million Borrowers" And "Possible Savings Of $70 Billion Per Year In Lower Mortgage Payments." Glenn Hubbard, former chairman of President George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisors, outlined the current problems for borrowers under the status quo and explained the economic benefits of increased access to mortgage refinancing in a report titled "Streamlined Refinancings for up to 30 Million Borrowers" :
Frictions in the mortgage market have restricted the ability of tens of millions of borrowers from refinancing their mortgages, hampering monetary policy, slowing the economic recovery, and leading to excessive numbers of foreclosures. We propose a streamlined refinancing program that may benefit up to 30 million borrowers with government-backed mortgages, leading to possible savings of $70 billion per year in lower mortgage payments. [GlennHubbard.net, 9/1/11]
Executive Director Of UNC-Chapel Hill's Center For Community Capital: Obama Plan Would "Reduc[e] Losses For Investors ... And Increase Consumer Spending." In an email to Media Matters, Janneke Ratcliffe, the executive director of the Center for Community Capital at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, wrote:
There is growing evidence that these measures -- reduced monthly payments and relief from negative equity -- are effective at reducing foreclosures. Unfortunately, many responsible borrowers can't take advantage of today's low rates, and others can't qualify for relief from eroded house values, simply because their loan is owned by the wrong investor or serviced by the wrong servicer.
This plan would offer a refinancing option to millions of underwater homeowners who are current on privately-held mortgages but cannot refinance because of negative equity. The new program would make it easier for the one to two-and-a-half million homeowners that don't have Fannie or Freddie loans but are otherwise eligible for HARP refinancing to lower their monthly housing payments. The proposed changes to the HARP rules would increase competition among services and help more borrowers with Fannie- and Freddie-backed loans to take advantage of lower rates. And the revamped incentives for principal reduction through HAMP should help more of the 12 million underwater borrowers in the U.S. today, more than a quarter of which are already falling behind on their mortgage payments, restructure their loans to reflect current market values.
If implemented, with adequate takeup, these restructurings would yield substantial ripple effects in the form of easing downward pressure on house values, reducing losses for investors and taxpayer-backed mortgage entities, and increased consumer spending. [Email to Media Matters, 2/2/12]
CAP's Associate Director For Financial Markets Policy: Obama's Housing Plan Would "Put More Money In The Hands Of The Average Household." David Min, the associate director for financial markets policy at the Center for American Progress, told Media Matters that if Obama's housing plan were to pass Congress, it "would definitely help the housing market." Min also stated that the plan would "put more money in the hands of the average household by allowing them to refinance their mortgage rate into the lower rates available today" and "help struggling homeowners by providing them with principal reductions." [Email to Media Matters, 2/2/12]
Yglesias: "Obama's Mass Refinancing Plan Could Boost The Economy." In an article headlined "Obama's Mass Refinancing Plan Could Boost the Economy," Matthew Yglesias, Slate's business and economics correspondent, explained how Obama's mortgage refinancing plan would benefit the economy if implemented:
Has the Obama administration finally hit on a job-creation idea that could be a game-changer? It's not clear how big an overall impact it would have, but the new proposal on mortgage refinancing could -- if implemented -- break a long-standing deadlock in the housing finance market and provide a significant boost to a "recovery winter" scenario.
One major channel through which the kind of low interest rates prevailing today normally help spur economic recovery is that people refinance their mortgages which increases the amount of money they have free to direct toward other things. Indeed, I myself am currently going through the process of refinancing my mortgage. It should end up saving me a few hundred bucks a month plus reducing the life of the loan by a year. Unfortunately, many people currently can't refinance their loans because their mortgage is "underwater." What they owe is more than what the house is worth. This becomes a bit of a recursive issue. Unless economic activity (and therefore incomes) revive, it's difficult for house prices to do anything other than go down. But the low house prices are impeding refinancing--one of the main tools we rely on to boost economic activity. [Slate, 2/1/12]
Obama's Previous Mortgage Relief Plans Have Been Attacked By The Right-Wing Media In The Past
Fox's Tantaros: Obama's Mortgage Plan Is "Purely A Political Stunt." In October 2011, Obama put forward a plan to assist homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages. The right-wing media went on the attack. For instance, during the October 25 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom, co-host Bill Hemmer asked Fox News contributor Andrea Tantaros, "How vulnerable is this president on the issue of housing going into an election year?" Tantaros replied that Obama is "very vulnerable" and later said that "his plan is purely a political stunt." [Fox News, America's Newsroom, 10/25/11, via Media Matters]
Fox Regular Morici: Obama's Plan Is "A Re-Election Ploy." On the October 25 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Steve Doocy interviewed economist and professor Peter Morici about Obama's mortgage relief plan. Doocy said, "You know, the president is trying to not only keep people in their houses, but to try to keep him in the White House as well with this." Morici agreed, saying, "This is really a re-election ploy, because it's going to create new problems down the road." [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 10/25/11, via Media Matters]
Krauthammer: "[Obama] Knows That This Is A Farce." On the October 24 edition of Fox News' Special Report, Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer said of Obama's plan, "But Obama is not here about fixing stuff. This is all about framing the debate. This is an appearance of motion. ... He knows that this is a farce." Fox Nation later hyped Krauthammer's commentary in an October 24 post. [Fox News, Special Report, 10/24/11, via Fox Nation]
Dobbs: Obama's New Plan To Help Homeowners Is "Offering Up ... Bribes" So He Can "Get Re-Elected." On the October 24 edition of Fox News' America Live, host Megyn Kelly discussed Obama's plan with Fox Business host Lou Dobbs. Dobbs attacked Obama's plan, saying it was "one of the most irresponsible initiatives [Obama] could take" and later claiming that Obama is "offering up billions -- hundreds of billions of dollars in bribes" so that he can "get re-elected." [Fox News, America Live, 10/24/11, via Media Matters]


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Arden Manor Real Estate
Arden Manor is a well-established desirable neighborhood just south of Arden Way at Watt Avenue. Its value makes it popular for first-time homeowners and young families. The area is home to a variety of parks, including Deterding Park, which features a lively community center and aquatics complex. There are picnic areas, a soccer field, multiple playgrounds and an outdoor stage. Other nearby parks include Crabtree, Jonas Larkspur, and Winterstein. The ball fields, playgrounds, tennis courts and walking paths are all popular attractions in the neighborhood.
Arden Manor is in the San Juan School district, and there are a variety of schools for people of all ages, including the Thomas Edison Language Institute. It also has convenient access to many professional offices, a public library, shopping, a variety of restaurants and Kaiser Medical Center. It is only minutes to Highway 50, Sacramento State University and public transportation.
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The solid brass nuts on our bench bolts slide into a pre-drilled hole in the stretcher, and distribute pressure to prevent breakout. A bench can be made very rigid (without complex joinery) by using a wide stretcher, since the stretcher is bolted into position.
The steel bolts are 6" long and 1/2" in diameter. The nuts are 25mm x 25mm and will fit perfectly in a 1" hole.
Made in Canada.


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Editor's note: This story contains graphic language.
"These patches of white, irritated flesh here and here," says the guy in front of us, waving a laser pen at PowerPoint slides, "that's Leukoplakia. Remember what that looks like. If you have it on your cheeks or gums, it can lead to mouth cancer. It's bad, and you don't want it."
"It can do this to you."
The next slide is the face of some poor bastard who had half his skull chopped out as a result of mouth cancer. It's a still shot, with all the grizzly bits lit up by an unnecessary flash from the camera that took it. The eyes are red and flat. Deep contrasting shadows in the hanging masses of cheek flesh. Scars on top of scars. A sheen off the tube at his throat. No hair. No eyebrows. No hope in the lens-flared eyes.
It's a mutant. Had to be. Frankenstein's monster. Something you'd see in a horror flick. An abomination born of man's flirtation with radioactivity come to punish us for our sins.
The room is gripped by silence as the monstrosity stares us down. Then, suddenly, the discreet, unmistakable hollow report of spit going into an empty plastic bottle echoes across the room.
"Jesus Christ, man! How you gonna dip right in front of this guy?" says a minor leaguer sitting next to the discreet dipper.
We'd all been wrangled into the lunch hall for the mandatory meeting on substance abuse, one of many we minor leaguers would go through before spring training's conclusion.
"What?" asks the dipper. "I'm a fucking addict, man. I dip. They show this stuff every year and we still dip. They show vaginas with herpes and gonorrhea every year, too, and we're still out there getting tail. Think of how many people play this game for a living and how many of them are dying from this stuff" -- spits in bottle -- "it is what it is, man. You're more likely to die on the trip to the clubhouse than from this shit."
The stats say the number of smokeless tobacco abusers in baseball is down. It probably is. But it's not going to go away. (And in case you're wondering, I never used the stuff.) Even if they exhumed Tony Gwynn's body and paraded it around as evidence for the horrors of abusing the substance, baseball players will still dip, and more young players will start dipping because of those players who remain dippers.
You can show them all the cooking brains on drugs, vacant jaw lines and dead heroes you want -- addictions don't make sense, and as long as the drugs are still available, expect people to use them -- especially if people in high power, high prestige occupations keep using the stuff.
Let's be honest, most of the rules Major League Baseball has about substance abuse are in place not to protect the player, but to protect the industry. It says it wants a clean reputation. It says it wants a cheater-free game. But what it really wants is the look and feel of an organic baseball experience that reflects the culture's values without actually having to reflect the culture's values.
Baseball has never really been about the greater good. If it were, those players who do copious amounts of performance-enhancing drugs would be out of the game forever. Juiced-up hitters wouldn't serve vacation sentences and then sign multimillion-dollar contracts. And you wouldn't see an ounce of smokeless tobacco anywhere near the playing field.
Instead, the two parties that make the game what it is -- Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Union -- are about their own best interests. Anyone outside that dynamic doesn't have a say in the matter until it becomes a brand liability. And often, when it does reach that level, when the game does need to save face, it pushed rules and sanctions on the one party that has no presence at the negotiating table, the minor leagues.
Presently the testing for illegal substances in the minors is more random, rigorous and damning than it is at the major league level. To the point that "the dip police" can come into the clubhouse and look through your lockers to see if you posses a smokeless product, and fine you and your manager accordingly. And in case you were wondering: "If they catch you with the stuff and fine me because of your stupid mistake, well, you can bet your ass you're paying my fine as well," -- said every minor league manager, ever.
But what is the point of these kind of increased prevention policies on smokeless tobacco if they're put in place to maintain an image of non-endorsement? Why enforce it on a population that has nothing to endorse, and virtually zero influence? Kids want to grow up to be big-league stars. That's who they watch: big leaguers -- not minor leaguers.
Furthermore, once a minor leaguer makes it to the bigs, he can pick the habit right back up again as long as he doesn't pull a can out in front of a television camera and pinch out a wad into his lower lip!
The first thing I did when I made it to the big leagues with the Padres in 2008 (after learning how to pack beer into garbage bags full of ice and carry it behind my fellow big leaguers like one of Monty Python's squires during team travel days) was learn how to pack the bullpen candy bag. First thing in that bag: Red Man Chew. And it had to be the Gold or Silver blend, none of that original shit.
The Padres -- yes, the same team that just gathered around the number of one of its legends, dead from smokeless-tobacco-related cancer -- had cases of Red Man. My job as high man on the bullpen totem pole was to make sure the candy bag's supply was fresh because, you know, that stuff dries out quick, and when you're making millions in the bigs, you want the freshest of the fresh. Oh, and before a road trip, make sure you pack a couple boxes so that you always have fresh for the road games, too.
That's just chew. Dip cans and smokes were also a part of the candy bag. Some you had to go out and buy yourself. God help you if you stood in the way of the older player who needed a shot of big Nic before he took the hill. If you didn't have his stuff, you weren't just standing in the way of a guy's fix, you were standing in the way of his career.
The guys in the pen would regularly go into the underground bunker in Petco Park's outfield and blow darts between innings. Because they could. Because who cares, it's part of their routine and that routine obviously works because, hey, I'm in the big leagues, now light me up motherfucker!
Another nice "we're helping them quit" play by the forces of MLB is how they actually try to provide assistance to those who want to quit: Teams all screen for Leukoplakia at spring training. They hold educational lectures that show grizzly worst-case scenario shots. They even offer products designed to help fend off the urge to consume smokeless tobacco.
Team training rooms have dispensers for things like BaccOff, KikIt, Smokey Mountain (fake) Snuff. Even Major League Coffee Dip -- it's shaped like a baseball to make it more baseball-player friendly. But while those products taste (somewhat) like the real thing and (kinda) look like the real thing, they don't grease your body with the chemicals like the real thing. They are not drugs. They are products sold as facsimiles to the real thing you need a license to buy and consume. They're a graduated form of Big League Chew, another product that gains its market penetration by hanging on the tail of baseball's long-standing association with tobacco.
Which bring us to the crux of this: Smokeless tobacco is part of baseball's culture. It has been for more than 100 years, ever since kids could get baseball cards in tobacco products. But for whatever reason, it's a part of its culture that baseball just doesn't want to shake -- even in the wake of one its most beloved player's deaths. That's odd considering that the argument to get rid of smokeless tobacco is eerily similar to so many of the other arguments about policies baseball has had already.
What if, say, using tobacco was cheating? Then would Baseball and the MLBPA act to change the system? If everyone felt that those consuming smokeless tobacco were gaining an unfair type of chemical advantage over those who didn't want to take the risk of putting it in their bodies? Would they outlaw it then?
What if, say, using smokeless tobacco was a moral and ethical issue? If it were painted as a dangerous substance, and letting stars consume it wantonly in front of our youth was, in a way, endorsing its consumption? Would they outlaw it then?
What if, say, using smokeless tobacco wasn't playing the game the right way? Would they outlaw it then?
As it stands now, using smokeless tobacco is playing the game the right way, and the message being broadcast is that smokeless tobacco, with its rich, creamy, cancer-inducing blend of toxins and poisons, is less dangerous to the baseball-consuming world than HGH, Adderall, pot, alcohol and gambling.
You may say you're only hurting yourself with your decision to use smokeless tobacco. And you're right. You're only hurting you, and even then, you may get lucky and never face the complications that can arise. You may also do steroids and never get caught, or deal with any of the residual health issues. You may gamble, drink and abuse prescription drugs and never see any adverse effects.
But, if you're going to make rules that say one group of people can't abuse a substance because it's about health, prevention and maintaining social integrity, but the other, more powerful, more influential group can, because it's about individual choice and respect, expect me to call you out on it.
It is utterly, indefensibly hypocritical for the players union and the players in it to, on the grounds of moral integrity, outlaw the consumption of, and association with a substance for one group of people but not follow through with the policies themselves. Please, if you're going agree to rules, make them count or don't make them at all.
I'd like to believe that when the next round of mandatory meetings about substance abuse happens, the pics they inevitably show of Tony Gywnn won't be ones connected to making the right personal choice thanks to a scare tactic, but to an initiative that helps the addicts that baseball's long-standing relationship with smokeless tobacco has helped create. I'd like to believe that it will be a message of accountability. Anything else would just be more of the same, don't-make-us-look-bad bullshit that so many of baseball's rules are already known to be.
A legend is dead. Honor him with accountability.


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The closing performance at BlizzCon 2011 by Level 90 Epic Tauren Chieftain has drawn fire from GLAAD for anti-gay slurs in a lead-in video from guest singer George 'Corpseater' Fisher from Cannibal Corpse, reports GayGamer. Word is: "The problem? His hate for the Alliance. Specifically, the anti-gay language used to describe them. Though bleeped-out, Fisher's diatribe calls Alliance players a number of anti-gay slurs, and declares that they should die." They say this "has prompted GLAAD to initiate an outreach to Blizzard." VG247 notes the following official comment on this from Blizzard:
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Okay, so a curtain rod may have fallen on them.
And a brown out may have tripped the air conditioner.
They're still 12 inches tall and chocolate.
I'm steeled for the zombie jokes.
Happy Sunday.
Happy Easter to you and yours.
What's the story/background on the little ceramic pieces?
No zombie rabbit jokes...you should see our Peeps.
Those orchids are gorgeous! Love the one with the snail on it! The bunnies? Well, they are a little scary looking but they are also still chocolate! Happy Easter!
You orchids are magnificent...just beautiful. Happy Easter.


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214 New Govt. Jobs are attached with SRPK Card, having 11589 vacancies, Updated on 31-07-2019
*Fee mention above is for General Category, For Other categories, click OPEN button to open complete detail
What Is AJOC (Apply Job On Call) Facility And How It Works ?
Now EMI Option Available At SRPK, Apply Government Jobs As Maximum As Possible Without Worrying About Fee.
Now, SRPK Is At Your Doorstep, The Postman from your nearer India Post Office will collect the JOB Application Fee from your home.
— Neha Sharma
Very Positive! Staffs are always helpful and obliging. Also they found me the exact job that I wanted in the location that I wanted. They also helped my friends to get some suitable jobs
— Abhishek
The service received has been very good.SRPK team has been in regular contact with me to provide information regarding my applied jobs, upcoming jobs, my orders etc
— Mukesh Kumar
I am a recent graduate of B.Tech. in ECE.Now after being unemployed for over two years, I'm scheduled to start my new career job in BSNL. A special thank you to SRPK for helping me get into this job.
— Priya Mahajan
I really appreciate this SRPK govt. employment promotion center. It allows us to provide a lot of useful information about govt. jobs, and make it easy for us to apply a number of jobs in single time.


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Historical Context
Table ofContents
The lesson is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file "Black Metropolis Thematic Nomination" and several other primary and secondary sources. It was written by Gerald A. Danzer, professor of history at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Adrian Capehart, Dee Woodtor and Harold Lucas kindly provided personal insight into Chicago's Black Metropolis. TwHP is sponsored, in part, by the Cultural Resources Training Initiative and Parks as Classrooms programs of the National Park Service. This lesson is one in a series that brings the important stories of historic places into the classrooms across the country.
Where it fits into the curriculum
Topics: This lesson could be used in units on early 20th-century urban history, especially the migration of African Americans to the city. The lesson will help students develop skills of historical thinking and reflect on the value of historic preservation.
Time period: 1900-1929
Relevant United States History Standards for Grades 5-12
Relevant Curriculum Standards for Social Studies
Find your state's social studies and history standards for grades Pre-K-12
Objectives for students
1) To place the historic Black Metropolis in the changing urban pattern of Chicago.
2) To identify key events in the history of the Black Metropolis.
3) To explain how the surviving buildings reflect the history of the Black Metropolis.
4) To apply the process of historical inquiry to their own community to identify special historic places that might merit official recognition.
Materials for students
The materials listed below either can be used directly on the computer or can be printed out, photocopied and distributed to students. The maps and photographs appear twice: in a low-resolution version with associated questions and alone in a larger, high-resolution version.
1) three maps of the U.S., Chicago, and the Black Metropolis;
2) one reading from the National Register of Historic Places nomination form for Black Metropolis; and
3) three photos and two drawings of the Black Metropolis.
Visiting the Site
The Black Metropolis Convention and Tourism Council operates a Bronzeville Visitor Information Center that acts as the interpretive center for the Black Metropolis. The information center is located in the Supreme Life Building, at 3500 S. King Drive, on the southeast corner of the intersection with 35th Street. For more information, contact the the City of Chicago's Office of Tourism, or the Black Metropolis Convention and Tourism Council.


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OAKLAND — The managing director of a Walnut Creek investment firm was arrested Thursday on charges that he was defrauding his company's lenders, prosecutors said Monday.
Stephen B. Lopez, 57, of Lafayette, was charged with mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering after he reportedly misrepresented his firm's ownership interests in various companies, properties and oil wells and used the fraudulent profits to pay off personal debt, according to Melinda Haag, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California.
Lopez solicited loans on behalf of Lighthorse Ventures LLC, a Walnut Creek-based private equity investment company for which he was managing director, Haag said. Lopez promised a return of 10 to 12 percent per year, and overvalued and misrepresented the entities owned by Lighthorse, she added.
Lopez did not tell prospective lenders that he had failed to return the principal and interest to the majority of his lenders, and that he would soon be required to make a final payment of $600,000 to Lonestar Trust as a result of a civil settlement agreement with his former clients, Haag said. The indictment also alleged that he used money paid to Lighthorse to pay a personal debt of $600,000 owed to clients, and to make a $50,000 payment to a consultant.
Lopez appeared Friday before a magistrate judge in San Francisco and was released on a $100,000 bond, Haag said. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for each count of mail and wire fraud, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for money laundering.
Contact Erin Ivie at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/erin_ivie.


text: Founder Joseph Gerber's son. Pete ran Gerber from 1951 until 1987, when he sold it to Fiskars. Under Pete's leadership the hunting line of knives grew, while the company continued to produce knives for the military. The Mark II is probably Gerber's most famous military knife. Pete is well-known in the industry and he continues support Gerber by attending events.


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This Tuesday I had the pleasure of touring architect/builder/remodeler Peter Vujovich's Idea Farm in Afton.
Peter built the Idea Farm — his home — to combine sophisticated architecture with global responsibility. He achieved the highest rating from green building standard and certification program MN Greenstar, but explained to me that he wanted to achieve that Gold Star rating in ways more accessible than just buying solar panels and a gray water recirculating system.
Can you believe that his energy bill is only $300 — for the entire YEAR? And I wish you could see the grounds, because although Peter and his wife, Jill, only finished the house some months ago, the landscape and the age of the trees — which were simply "moved" to accommodate the construction — would indicate that this house has been around forever.
I was absolutely blown away by the simple and smart design of the Idea Farm, but you have to see it to understand. So here's a video clip from the "Blueprint for Green" interview with Peter and Jill.
(BTW, on an appliance geek note: I was so excited to see that Peter had a Liebherr BioFresh refrigerator, because it's the perfect pick for him. Not only is it the leanest, greenest fridge, BioFresh stretches the life of his homegrown produce weeks past what a normal fridge could.
This is especially helpful to him because when a certain crop is ready to pick, there's just a massive influx. So, he is able to stretch that harvest unfrozen over about four weeks.)
Other highlights: petting the horses, hearing Peter recount his moments earlier 5-mile bike race against a horse — seriously, eating his homemade pickles, my co-worker taking home a pumpkin for Thanksgiving pie, finding out that Peter generally showers outdoors (probably through December, he guesses) or inside (with his plants, which sit on shelves in the shower), the laundry basket that slides through a hole in the wall from his bedroom to his laundry room. The last item, I'm seriously obsessed with — so smart.


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DETROIT – Brad Stuart knew Thursday night was going to be a bit emotional at Joe Louis Arena.
The former Wings defenseman returned for the first time to Detroit to face his former this time as a member of the San Jose Sharks.
'It's nice to be back,' Stuart said. 'I've got a lot of good memories here, but it's a little strange at the same time coming into the other side of the locker room. It's going to be a little different, fun, but I'm looking forward to it. It'll be a fun experience and I'm sure it will be fun to come back and play here.'
Stuart spent a little over four seasons in Detroit before he was dealt this offseason to the Sharks.
Stuart was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent and wanted to sign with a team on the West Coast so he could be back with his family.
'I'll be a little nervous probably,' Stuart said. 'It'll be a little bit of a weird feeling for me. But I'm looking forward to it. It's just part of (the game). But I have a lot of good memories from playing in here and it should be fun, and it should be a good game with a lot on the line.'
Stuart was greeted with a mix of cheers and boos when the Sharks' starting lineup was announced.
Stuart had been living apart from his family due to a custody issue with his wife's teenage daughter from a previous marriage that prohibited her from relocating to Michigan during his time with the Wings.
That part was quite painful for Stuart.
'I don't think he's going to get booed or anything like that,' Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said. 'He did such a tremendous job for us. He was such a key player. We know he liked it here, but for the sake of him and his family he really couldn't stay and I understand that.'
Stuart played against his former teammates twice earlier this year in San Jose.
'I hope the fans know that he really liked it here, but he really didn't have a choice because he didn't want to be away from his family and kids,' Ericsson said. 'I really hope they don't boo him.'
Reunited Wings coach Mike Babcock on his decision to reunite Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on the same line.
'Well, I mean, I've always liked it when we had real depth to play them together,' Babcock said. 'Then I felt we weren't deep enough. Then we weren't scoring anyway so we're doing it regardless right now. We put (Johan Franzen) in the middle. We're trying to get (Valtteri) Filppula to help us out too, so we moved him to the three hole and maybe they can generate some offense there with (Damien) Brunner back.
'The answer you have when you look at it in the summer and the answer that you have when you've won five in a row versus when you've lost a couple in a row, they're different,' Babcock continued. 'But I think change is a good thing, and we're just looking to spark something to get our team to score more goals.'
Ins and outs Forward Mikael Samuelsson missed his fifth straight game due to a bruised left pectoral muscle.
'I still don't know when (I'm coming back),' Samuelsson said. 'I will get in there. It's just a matter of when.
'It takes some time,' Samuelsson added. 'It's bruised, but the bruise is starting to go down. That goes hand-in-hand. When the bruise is going down, you start to feel better, more mobile and you can move it around more.'
Samuelsson had just returned from a broken left index finger before suffering his latest injury.
'I don't even want to guess,' Samuelsson said when asked if he knew when he'd return. 'No guesses from me. At least it feels better every day.
Defenseman Brendan Smith replaced Ian White in the lineup. Brian Lashoff and Carlo Colaiacovo were the other scratches on the blue line and forward Jordin Tootoo didn't dress.
Send comments to email@example.com and visit his blog at redwingsfront.wordpress.com


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From UA Libraries Digital Services Planning and Documentation
Documentation, policies and procedures are divided by methods of capture. General references:
Image Specifications and Standards
Visual assessment of images guide
Capture Anomalies (how to deal with image quality issues encountered during capture)
- Desktop Overhead scanning (Small foot print, rapid image capture, low cost)
- Camera Lenses (Specs, optimal settings)
- Cameras (capabilities, idiosyncrasies)
- Flatbed scanning (small format, thin and flat)
- Batchfeed document scanner (fast, large volume, modern paper)
- Sheet feeder (unbound books, pages in good condition, appropriate size)
- Slide scanner (35mm slides or 35mm uncut roll negatives/positives)
Obsolete Equipment
- ScanBack overhead scanning (fragile, oversized, bound books)
- CaptureBack overhead scanning (fragile, oversized, bound books, rapid image capture)
- Bookdrive (bound books, rapid image capture)
Audio Capture
Audio Specifications and Standards
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
Audio: Project Specifications and Workflow -- see Collection-Specific Notes and Information
Other Types of Content
- Video (see references)
- Text
- Microfilm (see references)
Microfilm References: *[Microfilm Selection for Digitization (OCLC, NEH)]
Video References: *[Digital Migration Tools and Techniques (Stanford)] *[Audio/Video Capture and Management (NYU)] *[Recommended Minimum Standards for preservation sampling of moving image objects (Rutgers)] *[Guidelines, Manuals, Q&A's and Fact Sheets (Assoc. of Moving Image Archivists]


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Gator Bowl features pair of big-time running backs
Georgia and Nebraska are playing with backup quarterbacks – all
the more reason to focus on two of the top running backs in the
Georgia's Todd Gurley and Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah could make
the Gator Bowl a ground-and-pound celebration on New Year's
Gurley, a 6-foot-1, 232-pound sophomore, has 903 yards rushing
and 10 touchdowns despite missing three-plus games with an ankle
injury. He needs 93 yards on the ground against the Cornhuskers on
Wednesday to become the third player in school history with
consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Herschel Walker (1980-83) and
Knowshon Moreno (2007-08) also accomplished the feat.
Abdullah, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound junior, has 1,568 yards and
eight touchdowns. Only three Cornhuskers – Mike Rozier, Ahman Green
and Lawrence Phillips – have enjoyed better single seasons than
"There's no doubt they're both great backs," Nebraska coach Bo
Pelini said. "They're different. They have different styles,
obviously built differently. … But great players come in a lot of
different shapes and sizes and a lot of different skill sets."
The 23rd-ranked Bulldogs (8-4) and Cornhuskers (8-4) likely will
rely on both in the Gator Bowl, a rematch of last year's Capital
One Bowl in Orlando.
Georgia is playing its second consecutive game without four-year
starter Aaron Murray, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in
his left knee against Kentucky on Nov. 23. Nebraska's Taylor
Martinez, meanwhile, was limited to four games this season because
of a left foot injury.
Without Murray, Gurley ran 20 times for 122 yards and three
touchdowns in a 41-34 double-overtime victory against Georgia Tech.
He also caught four passes for 36 yards and a score.
"We have a lot of respect for Gurley," said Pelini, whose
defense allowed Gurley to run for 125 yards and a touchdown last
year. "He's a heck of a football player with his size and his
strength. He can do a lot of different things in the running game
and the passing game."
So can Abdullah, who has 51 career receptions for 421 yards and
four TDs.
"He's a solid dude, a real tough, physical runner," Georgia
defensive end Garrison Smith said. "The guy can really play
football, a hard-nosed guy, gets after it, has great vision, can
cut back. We've got our hands full. He's a problem `cause he's such
a talented back."
Aside from the star running backs, here are five things to know
about Georgia and Nebraska heading into the Gator Bowl.
KEY INJURIES: Not only did both teams lost QBs, the offenses
were devastated by injuries. Georgia lost running back Keith
Marshall as well as receivers Justin Scott-Wesley and Michael
Bennett. Nebraska played much of the year without All-Big Ten guard
Spencer Long and receiver Jamal Turner. "When you face things like
that – tough times as the season goes on – winning eight games
isn't easy," Pelini said. "I don't think people understand that
or realize that."
SUSPENSIONS: Georgia will be without safety Josh Harvey-Clemons
and cornerback Sheldon Dawson, both suspended for violating team
rules. It's the second suspension for the Harvey-Clemons, who also
sat out the season opener against Clemson for violating the
athletic program's marijuana-use policy.
MASON'S ENCORE: With Murray out, junior Hutson Mason will make
his second career start. Mason completed 22 of 36 passes for 299
yards, with two touchdowns and an interception, against Georgia
Tech. "That's why you come to Georgia: to play these types of
games," Mason said.
GREGORY STANDS OUT: When Georgia watched Nebraska on video,
defensive end Randy Gregory stood out – and not just because he's
6-6 and 255 pounds. Gregory leads the Big Ten with 9 1/2 sacks,
stops that earned him the team's defensive MVP award. "Gregory is
about as close as you can get to an SEC defensive end," Georgia
tight end Arthur Lynch said. "It will be a personal challenge for
BOBO FINALE? Richt declined to say whether offensive coordinator
Mike Bobo has spoken with Georgia Southern about its head coaching
opening. "The only thing I'll comment on that is I think it's a
compliment to Georgia, to Mike Bobo," Richt said. "When people do
excellent work, people notice it. … So I'm not shocked that
Mike's getting some attention in that regard." Under Bobo, Georgia
is on pace to set school records for scoring and total offense for
the second straight season.


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Denim Skirts Are Back - Wear Yours Without Any Fear of a '90s Flashback
See Gallery
With a slew of our favorite celebrities revisiting the once '90s staple, we're newly obsessed with our denim skirts again. While the trend first conjured images of Kelly Kapowski in an acid-wash mini, fresh iterations from the likes of A.P.C. (like the one we've styled right here), J.Crew, Current/Elliott, and more are putting a decidedly modern spin on the jean skirt. Couple that with the endless ways to outfit the look, courtesy of style setters like Olivia Palermo and Kirsten Dunst, and we've quickly embraced the resurgence of the denim skirt.
Are you convinced to re-add the piece to your own closet? Tune in - our five ways to wear the denim skirt might just make you a believer. From date night to a transitional look perfect for the end of Summer, a denim skirt may just be one of the most practical purchases you make all season.
Photo Credit: FabSugar