text:
Hiking Mount Mansfield, Vermont's Highest Peak
Hiking Mount Mansfield, Vermont's Highest Peak
By Esha Samajpati
"Isn't Vermont the place to go when you want to ski or see the fall colors?" I asked my husband incredulously. He seemed to think it to be a great place for a hike on a summer weekend.
When I picture Vermont, I see farmhouses, ice cream, maple syrup, cheese, coffee and B&Bs. Anything but hiking, that too in the middle of summer.
But a subtle reminder of the traffic snarls near most beach resorts was enough to make me vote for the hike, little knowing how pleasantly I was about to be surprised.
Summer in Stowe
From Connecticut, it took us almost five hours to reach Stowe, a classic Vermont village. Driving through Vermont, the irony hit me.
Vermont's fall foliage and ski-slopes have overshadowed its summer; its quaint towns have stolen the spotlight from its rugged summits.
I was glad that my husband's passion for hiking helped me discover a side of Vermont not known to many.
We had booked a room for Saturday night at Fiddler's Green Inn in Stowe. We got special summer rates and the fun of choosing our room. We picked one with a crooked ceiling overlooking a babbling brook.
But it's the kind of place where you just sleep after a day of hiking, 'cause if you are looking for television, air-conditioning, wi-fi or anything more than a "bed & bath," don't even think of staying there.
Gondola Skyride
Right after checking in at the Inn, we drove off to the Stowe Mountain Resort, from where we took a luxury Gondola to the Cliff House Restaurant, set against the backdrop of Mount Mansfield at an elevation of 3,625 feet.
Yes, we were ready for some Vermont fare. Lunch for me consisted of a diet soda and a Twice Baked Chevre Soufflé delicately placed alongside a cress salad drizzled with maple vinaigrette.
My husband opted for steamed mussels, again something you don't readily associate with the town or the restaurant which essentially claims to use Vermont products and ingredients as much as possible.
By two in the afternoon, we were done with lunch and ready for some climbing. There are signs pointing to the Cliff Trail by the restaurant so we found the trail easily. But that's about the last thing that could be called easy about the trail.
The morning showers had made the rocks slippery. We had to crawl through gaps, walk on ledges and climb up boulders. The trail refused to level out for even an inch.
The 0.7 miles to the ridgeline of Mount Mansfield seemed to take forever. We knew that the ridgeline is accessible from either this challenging Cliff Trail or the Auto Toll Road.
Obviously, we had thought this trail to be far more fun than the Toll Road but apparently it wasn't. The air continued to get thinner and the trail trickier.
Finally, I gave up. Graded "DDD" or "very difficult" by the Mount Mansfield Visitor's Guide, this trail was not a good idea on a rainy day.
Magic of Montpelier
Disappointed at our failed attempt to reach Mansfield's ridgeline, we drove down to Vermont's capital city, Montpelier. Parking opposite the State House, we walked down the streets looking for a place to get some coffee.
Built of Vermont granite and marble, the gold dome of the State building shone merrily in the sun.
The brick federal style mansions lining the streets made for a uniform architectural style with locally owned businesses, art galleries and cafés ruling the roost.
Don't think you will spot a McDonald's or a Taco Bell here.
A European style bakery called La Brioche caught our eye. Spotting free wi-fi and Green Mountain coffee, we walked in.
Many croissants and lattes later, we were done planning our hike for the next day. Feeling considerably better, we headed back to the Inn.
Maybe it's the magic of Montpelier but we felt ready to take on the next day with renewed enthusiasm.
Driving Uphill
The next morning we got up early to the sound of a gurgling brook and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Politely declining breakfast, we bid adieu to our host, Bud, who wanted me to say "hello" to all the girls in Connecticut on his behalf.
Back on the road, we decided to take the easy way out this time. We drove 7 miles up Rt. 108 from the village of Stowe and turned into the Auto Toll Road.
But yet again, I was proved wrong. It may have been the easy way out for us but not for our Honda. The Toll Road was unpaved, steep and had sharp turns. Not exactly my idea of a "road."
The ticket cost us $24, including an informative audio CD and a sticker for our car. The toll road is open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., mid-May to mid-October, weather permitting.
The Face of Mount Mansfield
After 4.5 miles of driving uphill, we came upon the Visitor Center parking at an elevation of 3,850 feet. Mount Mansfield's summit is Vermont's highest peak at 4,395 feet above sea-level.
It resembles the reclining profile of a rather gnarly man which explains why the parts of the mountain are named Forehead, Nose, Chin and Adam's Apple.
Close by the Visitor Center, we found a sign pointing towards the Long Trail which traverses the Mount Mansfield ridgeline. The Long Trail runs 272 miles from the Canadian border to the Massachusetts line.
Carefully keeping to the trail, we came upon the Frenchman's Pile, a cairn marking a spot for a great view of the ridgeline hike which lay ahead of us.
We strictly followed the white blazes and did not disturb any of the rocks on the trail as we came to know that the trail vegetation is rare and quite fragile.
Further research (by research I mean listening to the audio CD) revealed that the Mount Mansfield ridgeline is a unique alpine eco-system, a remnant of the last glacial ice-sheets that retreated from the Northeast about 13,000 years ago.
It is an Arctic-Alpine Tundra environment, the largest of three in Vermont.
The Summit of Mount Mansfield
We began trudging uphill, surrounded by views of Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks, the White Mountains and the Green Mountains. The rays of the sun had begun piercing the morning mist which is why we were blessed with all-round amazing views.
Breathing in the crisp mountain air, I looked down at the steep drop beside me. Well, some parts of the trail are not suitable for anyone with fear of heights.
Minutes before reaching the Chin, we saw a sign marked as Cliff Trail dropping headlong into the valley below and were reminded of yesterday's failed attempt.
Today, we had begun near the Nose and after hiking for about 1.5 miles, we reached the Chin, the highest point.
Standing at the summit, taking in the panoramic view of mountains and valleys and lakes for as far as we could see, we felt closer to nature.
Blissfully quiet, the peak imparted an unparalleled feeling of joy and contentment, making everyday problems seem so very insignificant. We could have stayed there all afternoon but with a five-hour drive ahead of us, we had to retrace our steps to the parking lot.
As I said, I was pleasantly surprised. I had always imagined Vermont as laid-back and charming, perfect for a fall or winter trip. Now I know better. Hiking Vermont's mountains in summer can be just as rewarding.
If you liked this article, you may like these as well:
Esha Samajpati worked in advertising in India, before moving to Connecticut and becoming a travel writer. "Even now, when I visit a city, the billboards draw my attention," she says. "How a city advertises tells me a lot about the place and the people."


text:
Panimaniacs: Pimp My Ride Panama City
Have you ever wondered what happens to all those buses that nobody uses or are considered too old and unsafe for school use? Wonder no more. Apparently they all go to Panama! Unused and unwanted buses end up in Panama and are then converted into public transportation vehicles for urban areas. If that were the end of the story, one might say "That's nice. They help out the less fortunate." This is much more than that. This is riding in style. Call it: Pimp My Ride: Panama City Edition. These neglected and worn down vehicles are " fantastically refashioned" with designs and imagery painted on all available surfaces by veteran artists and newbies alike. Horns, thumping music, [ Continue Reading ]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
West Adams
About West Adams
West Adams is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Though much of its history is forgotten, it was once an area of grand homes and bustling development. The great land boom that turned Los Angeles from a Pueblo to a metropolis came during the period of 1887 through 1915.


text:
I've always knitted - well, since I was 11 or so; and that's been a constant for the last 34 years. I'm not sure I remember a time when there wasn't a knitting project of some sort on the go - it just wouldn't be right.
Again, since I was 11 or so, I've been making my own clothes on a semi-regular basis. These days, it's mainly pyjama trousers (because there's more nice fabric out there than there are people producing affordable cute PJ bottoms) and knitting bags, but I've made more elaborate things in the past including my wedding dress. As I've blogged before, I love my sewing machine.
About 18 years ago I joined rec.crafts.textiles.needlecraft - and that was an eye-opener; there was So Much Stuff out there. I found myself able to order threads and fabric from the US I'd never even dreamed of, and patterns, too. This is Summer Sampler, by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum (a woman whose rightful enforcement of copyright makes Alice Starmore look like a total slacker).
I also love the Hardanger embroidery which has developed from traditional Norwegian embroidery. Scandinavian Americans have taken it from skirt and apron edgings into a more decorative sphere and included modern materials like space-dyed threads. This piece won Best in Show at my village show in 2005 or so - the first non-food exhibit to have done so, so yes, I was chuffed about that...
In the mid-90s, I was getting completely hacked off with my job, and signed up for a City and Guilds qualification in Creative Embroidery, which was an eye-opener on many levels. At the time, the tutor was recovering from a couple of serious illnesses; but the design substitute was very inspiring. We learned to dye, to make felt (this was made at Wingham with their felting machine),
...to stitch, to design... It gave me confidence in so many ways.
This is part of a 180cm by 60cm opera stole I made; based on the work of Gustav Klimt.
This is a close-up of a box-top I made while part of the Fibrefusion group. Work mine, photo (c) Kevin Mead. For info on Kevin's lovely textile photography, contact Art Van Go.
Most recently, I've got into weaving, which I love. Before that, I also started spinning.... but maybe more of both of those later...
And yup; there's something missing here. I think we were meant to be talking about a balance between knitting and crochet... I love what you get out of crochet. Looking around my living room, I have two pillow-sized (as in UK bed-type-pillows) cushions on the sofa, and a throw over both chairs, all made by Wibbo who literally wrote the book when it comes to crochet. I also love what someone like Amanda from the Natural Dye Studio can do with crochet patterns. - you can't get that effect with knitting.
Me, personally ... well, I've made a couple of pot-holders and frilly scarves; but fundamentally, I can't quite work out what to do with a crochet hook. I'm left-handed but do a lot of things right-handed (including knitting, using scissors and manipulating a computer mouse), and am in a perpetual state of indecision as to which hand to use to hold a hook... I've had teaching from the best (along with a huge degree of hilarity as to my clumsiness)... One of these days, maybe. Until then, I just live in awe.
This is me, signing off from the blog week. It's been fun.


text:
Michael Bublé and his wife, Luisana Lopilato, are "thrilled" to be having a baby boy.
"We are so excited. We have just come from the hospital, and the sonogram was pretty clear — it's a boy!" the singer told Page Six.
The couple found out their child's gender the same day the Catholic Church elected its new patriarch, Pope Francis from Lopilato's native Argentina.
PHOTOS: The Hollywood baby boom
"She said, 'It is a sign!'" Bublé added. "But there's no way we are going to call him Frank, even if it did work well for Frank Sinatra."
The Canadian crooner is gearing up to release his album "To Be Loved" on April 23, which includes a tribute to his TV actress wife. The 37-year-old said that his wife's pregnancy has given him a new outlook on his career and family.
"I used to worry about how the single would do and how the record would sell," he told the Associated Press. "And the truth is, I love this record. I'm so proud of it. But at the end of the day, if it sells 10 million or 10 copies, I've got bigger fish to fry. I've got a wife and a kid I love very much."
PHOTOS: The Hollywood baby boom
Bublé and Lopilato, 25, tied the knot in 2011. They announced they were expecting a baby in January via an adorable YouTube video. The tiny tot is due in August. Things couldn't be further from heartbreak for this guy.
But as he was shooting the music video for his breakup song called "It's a Beautiful Day," he joked that the inspiration for the track came from One Direction band member Harry Styles, who made headlines when he and Taylor Swift notoriously dated and called it quits.
"He left me for Taylor," he said, faking distress. "I'll be writing about her too, soon."
Lamar and Khloe's puppy has Kardashians in puppy love
Celebrity drivers named for Toyota Grand Prix charity race
Miranda Kerr car crash: Victoria's Secret angel is 'on the mend'
Follow Ministry of Gossip @LATcelebs.
PHOTOS: Celebrity portraits by The Times
PHOTOS: Royal visit to New Zealand and Australia
PHOTOS: 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show


text:
or 4 payments of AUD $15.00 with
4 interest-free payments of AUD $15.00 with
Pay later, no interest
Fabric: Cotton 98% / Elastane 2%
Care Instructions: Machine washable
Product code: 1032014
Beme is a plus sized brand that specifically tailors the latest fashions to flatter the silhouette of curvy women, with styles available in sizes 14 and up. Beme sizing is generous and quite different to W.Lane. Please refer to the Beme size guide for specific fit information.
Shipping and Delivery
If you spend over $80, delivery is free!
We offer $15 AUD flat rate shipping to New Zealand


text:
Garbanzo (Chickpea) Salad with Olives and Herbs
Garbanzo Salad with Olives and Herbs
2 cans garbanzo beans (or use 1 cup soaked and cooked dried beans)
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 T fresh lemon juice
5 T olive oil
1 tsp. minced garlic (or garlic puree from a jar)
1 T chopped mint
1 T chopped basil
1 T chopped thyme
1 T chopped rosemary
1 T chopped Greek oregano
sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 tsp. Spike seasoning (optional but highly recommended)
1/2 cup chopped Kalamata olives (or use 1/4 cup Kalamata olives and 1/4 cup green olives)
1/4 cup chopped green onion
Drain garbanzo beans into colander placed over the sink, then rinse with cold water until no more foam appears. Let beans drain at least 30 minutes, and if they still look quite wet, blot dry with paper towels.
In large plastic bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and olive oil. Add chopped herbs, salt, pepper, and Spike seasoning. Blend in drained beans, then gently stir in chopped olives and green onion. This is a salad that would benefit from making a few hours ahead so flavors can blend. It will keep well for a day or two in the refrigerator. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Printer Friendly Recipe
South Beach Suggestions:
More Great Tasting Salads with Garbanzo Beans:
(Recipes from other blogs may or may not be South Beach Diet friendly, check ingredients.)
Tomato and Garbanzo Salad
Garbanzo, Tomato, And Cilantro Salad with Lime and Chile Dressing
Black Bean and Pepper Salad with Cilantro and Lime
Carrot, Parsley, and Garbanzo (Chickpea) Salad with Cumin
Garbanzo and Tuna Salad with Parsley and Red Pepper
Chickpea and Tomato Salad from Simply Recipes
Chipotle Chickpea Salad from A Veggie Venture
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad from Too Many Chefs
Mediterranean Salad from The Culinary Chase
Chickpea Salad with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Feta, and Herbs from Seven Spoons


text:
Olympus Corporation of the Americas (OCA) and all of our businesses are subject to the laws, regulations and ethical standards in each industry we serve, some of which are unique to the health care and life sciences areas of our business.
We are committed to complying with the laws, regulations and highest ethical standards, and adhering to our own Codes of Conduct which guide our business processes, decisions and behavior.
For Olympus Group companies worldwide, compliance with the law does not only mean following the letter of the law. It also means operating within a culture of compliance, and conducting our business in the spirit of corporate social responsibility. Earning and keeping the respect of our employees, business partners and our communities is of paramount importance.
To assist in maintaining the highest ethical standards, and to ensure that our core ethical values are embraced and understood at all levels of the Olympus organization and throughout our global operations, Olympus Corporation of the Americas has established a Code of Ethics ("Code"). Upon employment, each OCA employee is required to certify that he or she has read the Code, understands it and agrees to comply with it. Furthermore, on an annual basis, all OCA employees are required to successfully complete on-line Ethics training and recertify their understanding and agreement to comply with the Code.
The core principles of our Code focus on:
Click the following link to view or download a copy of the Olympus Corporation of the Americas' Code of Ethics.
The Olympus Health Care Compliance Code of Conduct ("Compliance Code") governs our interactions with our customers and health care professionals ("HCPs"). It also helps define our commitment as a corporation and as individuals to abide by the laws and industry standards that apply to our day-to-day interactions with our customers and HCPs.
Our Compliance Code is based on three fundamental principles:
The Compliance Code for Olympus Corporation of the Americas is summarized in a guide entitled Keeping our Focus: Compliance Summary for Customers and Health Care Professionals (Focus Guide). View or download a copy of Olympus' Focus Guide.
The Integrity Hotline is maintained by a third-party, Ethics Point. Employees, customers, business partners and other third parties may make reports to the Integrity Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, by telephone or by using the internet. Ethics Point provides issue reporters with multi-lingual Hotline support and translation services.
When using the Integrity Hotline, issue reporters may elect to remain anonymous. In all cases, reports are treated with the utmost discretion. To maintain anonymity, issue reporters are assigned a unique code, called a "report key" within the Ethics Point system after reports are submitted, which is intended for the reporter's eyes only.
The Integrity Hotline is accessed in the following manner:
U.S., Canada & Puerto Rico: 1-844-277-1698
Canada-French: 1-855-350-9393
Costa Rica: 0800-011-1248
Mexico: 001-855-232-1301
Brazil: 0800-892-0649
Encrypted website: http://olympusamerica.ethicspoint.com
In addition to the Integrity Hotline, OCA welcomes any reporting of concerns about unethical or unlawful conduct directly to management, Human Resources, the OCA Ethics Compliance Officer, the OCA Legal Department and/or the OCA Compliance Department. The OCA Compliance Department can be reached directly via phone at 484-896-4472 or via email at firstname.lastname@example.com. Company policy prohibits retaliation against any individual for reporting concerns to the Integrity Hotline or directly to management in good faith.
This site uses cookies to enhance performance, analyze traffic, and for ads measurement purposes. If you do not change your web settings, cookies will continue to be used on this website. To learn more about how we use cookies on this website, and how you can restrict our use of cookies, please review our Cookie Policy.


text:
General Manager: John Mozeliak
Farm Director: John Vuch
Scouting Director: Dan Kantrovitz
AAA: Memphis Redbirds (Pacific Coast League) 77-66
AA: Springfield Cardinals (Texas League) 62-78
Hi A: Palm Beach Cardinals (Florida State League) 68-70
Low A: Quad Cities Bandits (Midwest League) 81-56 MWL Champions
Rookie: Batavia Muckdogs (New York-Penn League) 37-38
Rookie: Johnson City Cardinals (Appalachian League) 45-23 APP Champions
Rookie: GCL Cardinals (Gulf Coast League) 31-24
Dominican: DSL Cardinals (Dominican Summer League) 27-44
System Overview
Coming off their 11th World Series title, the Cardinals find themselves in something of a transition period. Manager Tony LaRussa retired, Scouting Director Jeff Luhnow moved on to become General Manager of the division rival Houston Astros and franchise cornerstone Albert Pujols departed via free agency.
In spite of the heavy losses the team should remain strong in the short term, as veteran Lance Berkman can shift back to his natural position of first base and veteran free agent signee Carlos Beltran will take over his spot in the outfield. The return of Adam Wainwright, who missed 2011 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, improves the Cardinals 2012 outlook significantly.
Former Cardinal catcher Mike Matheny takes over as La Russa's successor in the dugout and will have some big shoes to fill as a rookie manager. Whether or not 2011 World Series MVP David Freese's torrid postseason hitting is sustainable will go a long way in determining whether the Cardinals can return to October baseball in 2012.
Freese is a .298/.354/.429 career hitter, so his sudden surge wasn't completely out of left field. But he hadn't shown the same level of power in the past that he flashed in October. During the 2011 playoffs Freese hit .397/.465/.794 with 5 Home Runs and 21 RBIs in 18 games. That type of production over a full season would make him a slam dunk for the NL MVP.
Allen Craig was another unlikely postseason hero for the Cardinals, hammering three Home Runs in the World Series, including the game seven clincher while playing with a broken knee cap. He will likely miss the start of the season recovering from the injury and will have to earn playing time once he does return.
While the Cardinals big league roster is still strong, it is also old and expensive. Fortunately, their farm system is very strong, headlined by RHP Shelby Miller, one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball along with good depth behind him.
Veteran Chris Carpenter will turn 37 in April and likely is nearing the end of his career, but with Wainwright under control for the next two years and high upside pitching prospects in Miller, RHP Carlos Martinez and RHP Tyrell Jenkins in the system, they should be able to maintain a strong rotation well into the future.
Matt Holliday is signed through 2016, with a club option for 2017, but unless Freese or Craig develops into a viable long term power source, he is the only middle of the order run producer that the Cardinals can count on. 1B Matt Adams is an interesting prospect who hit 32 Home Runs in AA Springfield in 2011, though many scouts believe he lacks much additional upside.
OF Oscar Taveras and 2B Kolten Wong appear to be safe bets to be significant regulars for the Cardinals, suggesting that Cardinals offense should at least remain adequate without having to dole out high dollar contracts to free agent help.
The wild card of the system is 3B Zack Cox, who has the upside to be that impact bat to complement Holliday in the middle of the order and drive in the table setters (Taveras, Wong). But whether he will develop enough power to be a true impact bat is currently a subject of debate.
While the source of the potential impact bat in the future is not certain, there are enough viable candidates that the Cardinals appear to be in good shape going forward. With an abundance of pitching prospects, several players on the 25-man roster with the potential to become stars and a couple of high floor position prospects, GM John Mozeliak likely won't have to do a lot of tinkering to keep the Cardinals competitive in the future.
2011 Draft
Efficient upside is the best way to describe the Cardinals 2011 draft. In total they spent $4.55 Million on 37 players, signing each of their first 13 selections and 18 of their first 19.
The Cardinals handed out an average signing bonus of $123,081 ($142,410.68 average), which was seventh lowest overall, and third lowest amongst teams that were not missing a first or second round pick.
While St. Louis didn't dole out large bonuses, they still managed to acquire a good deal of upside. Their top pick, 2B Kolten Wong (22nd overall) clearly falls into the highly polished college player category. But he is rare amongst the Cardinals early 2011 draftees in that regard, as the general theme of the Cardinals draft, especially in the first few rounds, was raw and athletic high school position prospects and pitchability college arms.
The early returns on Wong are very positive after he hit .335/.401/.510 at Low-A Quad Cities in 47 games after signing quickly for slot money.
Second rounder Charlie Tilson, an outfielder from New Trier High School (IL), was seen as a potential first round talent. Tilson is a plus runner (as evidenced by his 6.54 60-yard dash time at the 2010 Area Code Games) with a highly projectable bat and good power potential.
Third rounder CJ McElroy, a three sport star (football, track, baseball) from Clear Creek High School (TX), was signed away from a dual scholarship to play outfield and wide receiver at Texas A&M and, like Tilson, is a highly impressive athlete. McElroy doesn't possess the same power potential as Tilson but the Cardinals hope that he can develop into a solid tablesetter whose speed and defense would make him a significant big league contributor.
The raw athletic position players theme continued in earnest with fourth round with SS Ken Peoples-Walls (Westchester HS, CA), seventh round OF Nick Martini (Kansas State), and tenth round OF Lance Jeffries (McCleur HS, MO). 17th round SS Dutch Deol (Aliso Niguel HS, CA) is perhaps the most extreme case of the raw athlete that the Cardinals hope to develop into a ballplayer.
Should any of the players from this group develop into a solid hitter, the Cardinals have likely landed at least an above average everyday big leaguer outside of the top few rounds.
The pitching tends to come from the high pitchability, good performance college pitcher variety, with an emphasis on strikeout to walk ratios.
The first pitcher the Cardinals selected was fifth round RHP Sam Gaviglio (Oregon State), a control artist who typically worked in the upper 80s, topping out in the low 90s during college. Eighth round LHP Danny Miranda (UMiami) was an effective closer for the Hurricanes pitching from a deceptive low 3/4 arm slot and rarely issuing a free pass.
The Cardinals didn't sign a single high school pitcher in the entire draft, signing 18 pitchers from the college or junior college ranks. The most promising early return came from LHP Kyle Hald (18th round) a senior signee out of Old Dominion who went 7-0 with a 1.84 ERA with 63 K to just 12 BB over 53 2/3 innings at Johnson City of the hitter friendly Appalachian League.
The exception to the overall emphasis on college strikeout to walk ratios came in the 31st round when they selected 6' 6" flamethrower Kevin Jacob, a three true outcomes reliever out of Georgia Tech. Jacob continued to post gaudy strikeout and walk totals in proball. Jacob resembles the high school players selected near the top of the draft in that is he ever reaches his lofty upside he could become a steal.
Later round position players tended to come from the college ranks, and they played a key role in leading Johnson City to a second consecutive Appalachian League title. Liberty SS Matt Williams (15th round) had a strong debut, hitting .293/.382/.463 with 6 Home Runs and 20 SBs in 59 games. Physically imposing OF Gary Apelian (27th round) out of Santa Ana JC raked in his Johnson City debut, hitting .298/.343/.502 with 29 extra base hits (8 HR) in 55 games. But former UCLA star 2B Tyler Rahmatulla (34th round) was the biggest bright spot for the Appalachian League champions, hitting .314/.390/.545 6 Home Runs, 3 triples and 27 doubles in 58 games.
The Appalachian League is a notorious hitter's paradise, so the strong offensive debuts there are a bit misleading, though each of those three players have the potential to continue outperforming their draft position to varying degrees going forward.
Top 10 Prospects
1. RHP Shelby Miller - Baseball-reference player profile
One of the top arm in a strong crop of 2009 high school hurlers, Miller's lofty signing bonus demands caused him to remain on the board when the Cardinals selection came around at 19th overall. St. Louis made Miller their first high school pitcher selected in the first round since 1991, signing him to a lofty $2.87 Million bonus (more than double the slot recommendation).
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Miller carries himself and pitches as though he were even more physically imposing. His aggressive pitching approach, overpowering arsenal and intense mound demeanor all play into his overall dominant skillset. Miller sits in the mid 90s with his fastball, commanding it well from a smooth delivery that features good rhythm. He creates severe downhill leverage with his delivery, allowing him to generate hard sink to his already heavy fastball, which climbs into the upper 90s at times. His curveball features hard biting action and 12-6 break with good depth. At its best his curveball is a legitimate out pitch, though his feel for it comes and goes. He also has an above average changeup with the potential to become a third plus pitch, featuring good deception and fading action with a good velocity differential that plays well off of his overpowering fastball.
Realistically, Miller could hold his own in the big leagues already, but his long term potential would benefit from more time in the minors. Miller pitched very well in AA as a 20 year old a year ago, proving he is ready to open 2012 at AAA Memphis. Where he goes from there will depend on his development and the Cardinals needs at the big league level. He has legitimate ace potential and is one of the best pitching prospects in the game.
2. RHP Carlos Martinez – Baseball-reference player profile
The Cardinals nearly missed out on Martinez, who had his $160,000 deal with the Red Sox voided due to questions about his true identity (known as Carlos Matias at the time) in 2009. The Cardinals swooped in and signed him for $1.5 Million the following April. Since arriving stateside Martinez has blown away hitters, averaging 11 strikeouts per nine innings and reached the High-A Florida State League in his first full season.
As a diminutive Dominican flamethrower, Carlos frequently draws the requisite comparisons to Pedro Martinez, and there are some similarities. Carlos has a larger frame, and while his arm is also fast and whippy, it doesn't quite belong in the same echelon of lightning quickness as Pedro's. The results are similar though, as Carlos works in the mid 90s with his fastball, and is capable of running it up into the upper 90s. Carlos' delivery is a bit more violent, though when he's at his best he remains efficient with taking his momentum to the plate. Carlos' upper 70s curveball is already a legitimate weapon when stays on top of it, and he's shown tremendous strides in developing his consistency with it. His changeup also shows promise, though it's a pitch that lacks much polish at present.
It's still early in his development, Calros will turn 21 in September, likely after having reached AA. If the secondary stuff continues to develop rapidly he has borderline ace level upside, though everything will have to work out in order for him to reach it. More realistically he profiles as a strong No. 2 starter.
3. OF Oscar Taveras – Baseball-reference player profile
A potential steal, the Cardinals signed him for $145,000 out of the Dominican Republic in as a 16 year old. Taveras has performed impressively since coming over to the US minor leagues and had a breakout year in his first full season in 2011.
As evidenced by his highly impressive .386 batting average in the pitching dominated Midwest League, Taveras can flat out hit. He projects to hit for average or better power in the long term, and did blast eight Home Runs in 2011. But his ability to make consistent, hard contact on any pitch and in any count is what stands out most about Taveras. In order to hit for more power Taveras will need to let the ball travel deeper, as he has an aggressive approach with a tendency to attack pitches with line drive contact out front. While its difficult to nitpick about a hitter who posted a line of .386/.444/.584, he projects as a corner outfielder in the long term. As such, hitting for a high average without making at least a solid contribution in the power totals would limit his long term big league value. Taveras has a high level bat and will need to work on refining his secondary skills to supplement it, at worst he projects as a solid big league regular.
He won't turn 20 years old until June, and if he doesn't open the season in AA he should finish there. It will be tempting to promote Taveras aggressively and he could realistically be ready for the big leagues by 2013, but could benefit from extra development time. It will be interesting to see how he progresses from here.
4. 2B Kolten Wong – Baseball-reference player profile
A product of the island of Hawaii, Wong is a stocky built, second baseman who was converted from catcher. After turning down the Twins as a 16th round pick out of high school, Wong went on to become a first team All-American as a junior at the University of Hawaii before being selected 22nd overall by the Cardinals in 2011.
Wong entered the draft as a highly polished hitter, perceived to have a high floor and low ceiling. His gritty and aggressive style of play allows him to perform at a level beyond his solid-above average tools. His short compact swing generates good bat speed and consistent hard line drive contact to all fields with good body control throughout his swing. Wong lived up to his label as a pro-ready hitter by tearing up the Low-A Midwest League immediately after signing. Wong played an integral part in leading the Quad Cities River Bandits to a Midwest League championship. Defensively, he is an above average second baseman with solid range and enough arm strength to make tough throws on double plays.
After what he accomplished in Low-A he may be able to jump straight to AA to open 2012. A September callup is not out of the question and it seems likely that he'll be in the big leagues for good in some point in 2013.
5. RHP Tyrell Jenkins – Baseball-reference player profile
Right in line with the Cardinals' recent preference for drafting highly athletic high school players, Jenkins was a multi-sport star (baseball, basketball, football and track) at Henderson High School (TX). Because of his background, Jenkins was a raw talent entering the 2010 draft. His lack of polish combined with his signing bonus demands and dual sport (football, baseball) scholarship to Baylor, allowed the Cardinals to snag him in the compensation round.
As he begins to fill into his tall lanky build and gets better use of his lower half in his delivery it is likely that Jenkins could begin to increase his already impressive velocity. He generally worked comfortably at 91-93 last season, bumping it up into the mid 90s on occasion. His curveball flashed plus potential, at its best it showed big depth and sharp break. Though his command for the pitch is not there yet, when he misses with it, he usually misses low. Progress with the changeup has been slow to this point but is certainly not a concern yet. There has already been notable all-around progress despite the fact that Jenkins has not yet made his full season debut.
Jenkins has a lot of upside, but is also years away from reaching it. He should be ready for the pitching friendly Midwest League in 2012. He has enough talent that he could move quickly now that he has begun to focus entirely on baseball for the first time in his life.
6. 1B Matt Adams – Baseball-reference player profile
Adams was a 23rd round steal in 2009 coming out of Slippery Rock University (Div. II), where he hit .495/.566/.853 as a junior. In 2011, Adams hit "just" .300/.357/.566 with 32 Home Runs en route to earning AA Texas League MVP honors and setting the Johnson City franchise's single season Home Run record.
His power is what makes him an interesting prospect, and could potentially make him Adams an asset to the Cardinals in the near future. Adams combines plus bat speed, a sound swing and a lot of physical strength to drive the ball with authority. He is a solid pure hitter as well, and while he is not averse to taking a walk it has not yet been a big part of his game. Improving his walk rate is the area of his offense that still needs the most development at the upper levels of the minors. The best way to describe his defense at first base is "adequate." His bat should produce adequate power numbers even for first base and 30+ Home Runs a year in the big leagues appears to be a realistic expectation given his skillset.
36 year old Lance Berkman stands between Adams and the everyday first base job in St. Louis. Adams will bide his time in AAA Memphis until he gets an opportunity to prove himself at the big league level. Berkman has one year left on his contract and Adams' performance in 2011 will be crucial in determining when and where that opportunity will come.
7. 3B Zack Cox – Baseball-reference player profile
Like several of the players in this list, Cox was still on the board when the Cardinals picked late in the first round because of his large signing bonus demands. An All-American at Arkansas, Cox landed a big league contract for $3.2 Million as the 25th overall pick in 2010.
Cox attacks the ball with a swing that keeps his barrel in the hitting zone for a long time, generating good bat whip. His line drive swing plane is geared for hard line drives rather than towering fly balls. With an adjustment Cox could hit for more power, though it could come at the expense of his pure hitting ability. Cox is a high caliber pure hitter who should post a high average and solid power totals at the big league level. A left handed hitter, Cox rakes against right handers but struggled mightily against southpaws in the Texas League (hit .247/.351/.289 vs LHP) last year. His soft hands and strong arm are an asset at third base and he has the tools to be an above average defender there.
It is too early to know whether or not third base in St. Louis will be blocked by David Freese, but if his late season surge is sustainable then Cox may need to find a new defensive home (possibly second base). Cox could be ready for the big leagues in 2013 if there is an opening.
8. RHP Lance Lynn – Baseball-reference player profile
A sixth round pick of the Mariners coming out of Brownsburg High School (IN) in 2005, Lynn turned them down and went on to set the single season and career records for strikeouts at Ole Miss. He was drafted 39th overall in 2010 and had a strong minor league track record as a starter.
Lynn made his big league debut on June 2nd and made a second start on June 9th. After those two starts Lynn moved to the bullpen, where he flourished. He went on to earn the Win in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series and worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning in Game 7. Lynn worked off of his 89-91 mph two-seamer as a starter, but pitching in shorter spurts as a reliever has allowed him to unleash his mid 90s four-seamer that features good riding life. After reaching the big leagues his mechanics also improved, a credit to Pitching Coach Dave Duncan. As a result his curveball gained some additional bite and his overall command improved as well.
After a strong season in the St. Louis bullpen last year Lynn appears ready to return there in 2012, possibly in a prominent late-inning role.
9. RHP Eduardo Sanchez – Baseball-reference player profile
A shoulder injury derailed what had been shaping up to be a very strong rookie season for Sanchez. While he missed most of the season with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, most of it was due to the Cardinals cautious handling of his injury. He returned at the end of the season, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings in the second to last game of the regular season.
Sanchez generates mid 90s velocity from a deceptive, low effort delivery. His short stature prevents him from generating sink to his pitches. Sanchez is a two-pitch reliever and can get into trouble when he doesn't have his best stuff. But that didn't happen often during his 30 inning debut in 2011. Both of his pitches (fastball, slider) are both plus present offerings, the slider features hard horizontal break and his fastball has riding life. Sanchez pitches aggressively, and is not afraid to elevate his fastball or throw his slider when behind in the count. That fearless approach allowed him to mow down 35 batters in his 30 innings.
Barring injury setbacks Sanchez should return to the Cardinals bullpen again in 2012.
10. RHP Trevor Rosenthal – Baseball-reference profile
Rosenthal has pitched very well since the Cardinals made him a 21st round selection out of Cowley CC (KS). Rosenthal was undrafted out of high school and topped out at 85 at the 2007 WWBA National Championship, and while he didn't light up radar guns back then he showed good pitchability. His notes from that tournament read:
"Complete game Shutout, 8 K's. Broad shouldered build, aggressive pitcher, mostly fastballs, challenges, jumps at hitters, heavy fastballs, room for improvement. Projects well, present strength."
More than just a good story, Rosenthal has legitimate ability on the mound. His fastball now sits in the low to mid 90s while occasionally reaching as high as 96. He combines it with a solid mid 80s changeup and upper 70s curveball that flashes above average potential. His effortless delivery with simple mechanics allow him to pound the strike zone with his fastball, but he will need to continue developing his secondary stuff to continue to be effective as he moves up the ladder.
He'll move up to High-A Palm Beach to start 2012 and is still several years away from the big leagues. He has the potential to be a mid rotation starter.
Others in the Conversation (listed alphabetically): RHP Seth Blair, OF Adron Chambers, LHP John Gast, OF Charlie Tilson, C Cody Stanley, RHP Jordan Swagerty


text:
Information on this person has been purged as he or she MAY still be living. A person is considered as living if he/she was born after 1920 and has NO death date.
RootsWeb.com is NOT responsible for the content of the GEDCOMs uploaded through the WorldConnect Program. The creator of each GEDCOM is solely responsible for its content.


text:
Charlie Hunnam Talks 'Fifty Shades of Grey' for First Time!
Charlie Hunnam makes his first official appearance since his casting in Fifty Shades of Grey while walking the red carpet at the premiere of Sons of Anarchy's sixth season on Saturday night (September 7) at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The 33-year-old actor spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the upcoming film. Find out what he had to say:
On his first meeting with Dakota Johnson: "As soon as we got in the room and started reading with Dakota, I knew that I definitely wanted to do it, because there was a tangible chemistry between us. It felt kind of exciting and fun and weird and compelling, and so that was it."
On if he has worries about the sex scenes: "My first job was on a Channel 4 miniseries called Queer as Folk. It was incredibly explicit sexual scenes with a man. I mean I'm 16 and 17 years wiser now. So if I could do it when I was 18 with a guy, I can certainly do it at 33 with a lady."
On how his girlfriend Morgana McNelis helped him make his decision: "It's very hard to be with an actor. She's required to share parts of me that she wouldn't really want to share. With the nature of this role, that's going to be times 10… She read them and loved them and was really excited about the potential of the opportunity for me. If anything, I think it will make us closer. "


text:
A record 76 movies will vie for the 2014 foreign-language Oscar, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday, and the race looks to be wide open. Yet even as the narrowing-down to five final nominees has barely begun, the seemingly annual controversy over the process is already in full swing.
Unlike last season, when Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke's French-language "Amour" rolled up prize after prize en route to the Academy Awards and eventually took home the statuette for best foreign-language film, there's no foregone front-runner this time around.
"The good news for everybody this year is that there is no 'Amour' this year," said Jeff Lipsky of Adopt Films, which is releasing two of the movies in contention: Israel's "Bethlehem" and Palestine's "Omar."
For the first time, final voting in the category will be open to all members of the academy without restrictions. Previously any academy member wishing to vote in the category had to see all five nominees in a theater; this year, screeners of the five nominees will be sent to all members, who will be allowed to vote as in most other categories.
As in the past, potential contenders are initially chosen not by the academy but by committees in each country; only one submission from each nation is allowed and the process in each country can be rife with internal politics. This year, at least two prominent films from the festival circuit, India's "The Lunchbox" and Japan's "Like Father, Like Son," were not chosen by the committees of their respective countries.
The director of "The Lunchbox," Ritesh Batra, set off some controversy when he publicly complained about being passed over in favor of the lesser-known "The Good Road" and was subsequently forced to apologize.
Other high-profile titles are not in the race because they did not meet certain academy rules. For instance, the French film "Blue Is the Warmest Color" — which won the Cannes Film Festival's top prize this year (just as "Amour" did last year) — missed the academy's cutoff for eligibility because it did not open in French theaters before the end of September.
The film will be eligible next year. Yet even if "Blue" had been released in time, whether it would have been chosen by the French delegation, which ultimately submitted "Renoir," is another matter. Such vagaries can be frustrating for U.S. distributors who handle foreign titles and hope their inclusion in the Oscar race can lure in audiences.
"This happens every year. This is how ridiculous the system is and how flawed it is," said Jonathan Sehring, president of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, who is releasing both "Blue" and "Like Father, Like Son."
"There is something wrong with it," added Sehring, "and it's almost an embarrassment to the academy that the Golden Globes this year, I guarantee you that their lineup of what qualifies for best foreign-language film is going to be much more representative than the academy."
Even with a few notable omissions, there will still be plenty of movies to watch out for. Sony Pictures Classics has released the winner the last four years running and this year has two competitive titles. One is "Wadjda," which is the first movie submitted by Saudi Arabia (which has no commercial theaters) and whose campaign could benefit from its powerful back story of how female director Haifaa Mansour came to make the film. It also has the Iranian submission "The Past," a French-set, mostly French-language story made by Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, whose previous film, "A Separation," won the foreign-language Oscar in 2012.
"I think the process of selection for the foreign-language film category, it has gotten better and better," said Michael Barker, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics. "But still something happens at every stage, whether it's the country selection or the shortlist or the final five where you go, 'How did that happen?'"
Besides Saudi Arabia, Moldova submitted for the first time, and Montenegro, formerly part of Yugoslavia, entered for the first time as an independent country.
The submitted films will next be screened by members of the academy's foreign language committee, broken into a number of smaller groups. The top vote-getters, along with a few films added by an executive committee, will then be announced as a shortlist of nine films in early January. That shortlist will be whittled down in a second phase of screenings by a smaller group of members to the final list of five nominees.
Canada looks to continue its recent streak of nominations with "Gabrielle," while other top contenders include Belgium's "The Broken Circle Breakdown," Brazil's "Neighboring Sounds," Chile's "Gloria," Denmark's "The Hunt," Hong Kong's "The Grandmaster," Italy's "The Great Beauty," Mexico's "Heli," Romania's "Child's Pose," Singapore's "Ilo Ilo," and Spain's "15 Years Plus A Day."
Three non-English films were submitted by English-speaking countries, with the United Kingdom's "Metro Manila" in Filipino and Tagalog, Australia's "The Rocket" in Lao and New Zealand's "White Lies" in Maori.
Mark Johnson, head of the academy's foreign language committee, which includes around 300 members, cautioned against those who might complain about a given country picking one film over another before all the films in question have been seen stateside. Each nation's committee, he said, has its reasons for its choices — in some cases, it's simply that the committees believe a given film is genuinely better, in others, they might believe their selection will play better to academy viewers than another, perhaps more popular, title.
"I just want to be sure we don't rush to judgment and say, 'how could they do this?' Because we don't know," Johnson said. "Once we recognize the committee [in a given country], it would be very hard for us to interfere in their process. If they think one film is better than another and we disagree, it's their call, it's not ours."
Individual committees are allowed to set their own standards. Release requirements and even the size of the panel itself differ from country to country. Some believe more standardization would be better.
"The film business is a global business. Not just our movies, but internationally it's a global business," said Sehring. "It would be nice if the rules were more uniform as opposed to being left up to a committee in each country with their own standards. In my mind there is a much simpler way to go about it."
"The rules of the category, all the rules, they're clearly insane," said Lipsky.
This season the pre-submission period became so fraught with tension that Cameron Bailey — artistic director of the Toronto International Film Festival, an important stop for many foreign-language films — laid out a multi-point plan on how to revamp the category, suggesting to scrap the one-film, one-country rule, perhaps include additional films from major festivals or institute a U.S. release requirement.
The most frequently criticized aspect of the process is that each country is only allowed to submit one film for consideration, regardless of how many films that nation produces or releases in the U.S. in a given year.
"It's a valid observation and I'd love to find a way to address it," said Johnson. "It's not the first time we've thought about it. I think we've made some improvements in the past 15 years, but it's a far from perfect system and we want to find ways to improve it."
Johnson added that from this year to next, he wants "to do some pretty radical thinking regarding the whole process," while also stating that there may be only so many changes that can be made. "There is a problem that comes down quite frankly to workload," he said. "We can't physically see many more movies than we now have submitted."


text:
St. George, Utah (Oct. 29, 2013) – Robert Thorne, of Littleton, Colo., was the last driver standing after winning Sunday's Evolution Super Shootout at the Ridge Top Airport in St. George, Utah. The event put a period on the 2013 Tire Rack® SCCA Solo Match Tour season.
The Evolution Super Shootout presented by BFGoodrich Tires used class runs from Saturday to identify the first 32 qualifiers in the brackets. The fastest and second fastest times were awarded the top seed in Brackets A and B. Following a rule change for the last event, the remaining top-30 drivers were entered into a drawing which set the first round matchups those brackets. A 16-driver Last Chance Qualifier bracket was set based on indexed times from an additional four runs, determining Bracket C. Finally, the last 16 positions were filled with the top eight Ladies Class finishers, plus an additional eight drivers pulled from a random drawing – the one remaining opportunity to get into the field.
Favorable weather conditions, including temperatures in the mid-70s with sunny skies, made the final SCCA National Solo event of the year enjoyable for the 100 entrants in attendance. Nine drivers had entered for their final opportunity to secure a Solo Triad Award in 2013, with eight getting the job done by being the quickest driver in their class during Saturday's competition including Thorne, Jeff Kiesel, David Whitener, Kim Whitener, Brian Peters, Geoff Clark, Aaron Miller and Fred Zust. This year, the award was given to those drivers who took home wins at an SCCA Solo Championship Tour event, an SCCA Solo Match Tour event and finished in the top spot in their class at the SCCA Solo National Championships.
Aside from good weather, the Ridge Top Airport site provided some breathtaking views rivaling those Hampton Mills in Packwood, Wash., and Pikes Peak International Raceway, in Fountain, Colo. The course itself was fast with a few corners that required patience and others that demanded bravery in order to record a fast time. Clean runs were at a premium as many drivers hit at least one cone while trying to put down a quick time.
Thorne (B Street Prepared, 3RAuto.com/CorsportUSA.com Honda S2000) became the first Match Tour winner to come from a starting position lower than the top seed in the knockout-style bracket competition, as he was the fourth seed coming from the Bracket B. More importantly, Thorn secured the Solo Triad Award following his SCCA Championship Tour title and SCCA Solo National Championship earlier in the year.
While the eventual winner did not come from the top bracket, Kiesel (E Modified, Avon Tire/Roger Kraus Racing KFR Turbo Sprite) defeated Eric Stoltz (Street Touring Sport, Advanced Suspension Design Mazda Miata) in the Bracket A semifinal. Zust (X Prepared, Blackwatch Racing Lotus Elise) was the winner from the other side of the bracket after he defeated Aaron Miller (A Street Prepared, Mitsubishi Evo 8). Kiesel downed Zust in the final, earning a spot in the final four.
Thorne, the eventual winner, took out Craig Naylor (Road Tire RWD, QUICKdocs Mobile Notary Mazda Miata) and Alexandra Zust (X Prepared, Blackwatch Racing Lotus Elise) en route to the final four. Before her defeat at the hands of Thorne, Zust reached the Bracket B finals after defeating Ryan Johnson (Road Tire RWD, Ryno Management Inc./Blackwatch Racing Mazda Miata) in the semis.
In the LCQ bracket, Max Hayter (Street Touring Xtreme, Whiteline/Vorshlag/Moto-East Subaru BRZ) beat Barbara Leroy-Boehme (Road Tire FWD, C2 Motorsports Mini Cooper) in the semis, as he advanced to the bracket's final paring. Michael Carpent (Street Touring R, BC RACING/Lateral G Racing Nissan 370Z) got to the bracket final after he took down George Curtis (Street Touring Xtreme, CTR BMW 325IS) in the semis. In the bracket's final pairing Hayter emerged victorious, earning his spot in the final four.
In Bracket D, 2013 Solo Triad Award Winner Shelly Monfort (Ladies 2, RIP: Sergeant Ferranti, N Chevrolet Corvette) was the eventual finalist after she beat out Kim Whitener (Ladies 3, Texas Track Works/Motion Control Honda CRX) in the semis and Stephen Curtis (Street Touring Xtreme, CTR BMW 325IS) in the bracket final. To get to the finals, Curtis took out Matthew Villescas (Road Tire RWD, Cadillac CTS-V).
In the final four bracket, Thorne beat Monfort while Kiesel scored a win over Hayter. Thorne then dispatched with Kiesel by a 1.6-second margin, taking the win. Hayter took home third-place honors after winning the consolation battle with Monfort.
More information on The Tire Rack SCCA St. George Solo Match Tour, including results, can be found at http://www.scca.com/events/index.cfm?eid=6550. General information on the SCCA Solo program can be found at www.scca.com.
Follow SCCA on Twitter @SCCAOfficial, or like SCCA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SCCAOfficial.
Image: From left to right, Shelly Monfort, Jeff Kiesel, Robert Thorne and Max Hayter were the four finalists at St. George.


text:
Sort & filter your data
You can sort and filter data in Google Sheets to organize and analyze it.
Note: Filter views are only available on a computer. See the FILTER article for info about the function.
Sheets | Sort and filter data (1:00)
Sort your data
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- Highlight the group of cells you'd like to sort. To select the entire sheet, click the top left corner of the sheet.
- Click Data Sort range.
- If your columns have titles, click Data has header row.
- Select the column you'd like to be sorted first and whether you would like that column sorted in ascending or descending order. This also sorts numbers.
- Click +Add another sort column to add another sorting rule. Sorting will be done according to the order of your rules.
- To delete a rule, click Close .
- Click Sort. Your range will be sorted.
Filter your data
To see and analyze data in a spreadsheet, use filters. Filters let you hide data that you don't want to see. You'll still be able to see all your data when you turn the filter off.
Filters vs. filter views
Both filters and filter views help you analyze a set of data in a spreadsheet.
Filters can be useful if:
- You want everyone viewing your spreadsheet to see a specific filter when they open it.
- You want your data to stay sorted after using the filter.
Filter views can be useful if:
- You want to save multiple views.
- You want to name your view.
- You want others to be able to view the data differently. Since filter views need to be turned on by each person viewing a spreadsheet, each person can view a different filter view at the same time.
- You want to share different filters with people. You can send different filter view links to different people so everyone will see the most relevant information for them.
- You want to make a copy or create another view with similar rules.
- You don't have edit access to a spreadsheet and still want to filter or sort. In this case, a temporary filter view will be created.
Note: You can import and export filters, but not filter views.
Use filters in a spreadsheet
To temporarily hide data in a spreadsheet, add a filter.
Note: When you add a filter, anyone with access to your spreadsheet will see the filter too. Anyone with permission to edit your spreadsheet will be able to change the filter.
To filter your data:
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- Select a range of cells.
- Click Data Create a filter.
- To see filter options, go to the top of the range and click Filter .
- Filter by condition: Choose from a list of conditions or write your own. For example, if the cell is empty, if data is less than a certain number, or if the text contains a certain letter or phrase.
- Filter by values: Uncheck any data points that you want to hide and click OK. If you want to choose all data points, click Select all. You can also uncheck all data points, by clicking Clear.
- Search: Search for data points by typing in the search box. For example, typing "P" will shorten your list to just the names that start with P.
- To turn the filter off, click Data Turn off filter.
- You can sort data with a filter turned on.
- When you sort your data, only the data in the filtered range will be sorted.
- You'll see a green border around the cells in the filtered range.
Create, name, and save a filter view
Use a filter view when:
- You want to save your filter and use it later.
- You don't want to disrupt others' view of the data.
- You want to share a link to a specific filter with others.
- You can't edit a spreadsheet, but you want to filter or sort data.
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- Click Data Filter views Create new filter view.
- Sort and filter the data.
- To close your filter view, go to the top right and click Close .
- Your filter view is saved automatically.
To delete or duplicate a filter view go to the top right and click Settings Delete or Duplicate.
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- Click Data Filter views.
- Select a filter view.
- Click the filter view name in the top left of the black bar and type the new name.
- Press Enter.
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- Click Data Filter views.
- Select a filter view.
- Your filter will be applied to the spreadsheet.
- To close your filter view, go to the top right and click Close .
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- Apply a filter.
- Click Data Filter views Save as filter view.
If you have permission to view a spreadsheet but not edit it, you can still use filter views:
- To apply existing filter views, click Data Filter views.
- You can create a temporary filter view that only you can use. Because you don't have "edit" access to the spreadsheet, the filter view won't be saved.
- Only users with permission to edit a spreadsheet can create filter views that anyone viewing the spreadsheet can use.


text:
Hero SS tee white
Hero SS tee white
Short sleeve raw-edged round neck tee with embroidered accents
100% organic cotton
Artwork printed using azo free ink
Packed in cotton voile pouch
Sizing runs small - we recommend ordering one size larger
Yes Oui Care is an eco-conscious social enterprise design brand dedicated to supporting NGOS through creative development. This collection was created in collaboration with Father Angel School, an orphanage based in Greater-Noida. Most of these designs have evolved from drawings by the children inspired by nature, environment, peace...
10% of YOC's profits go to their partners to help provide much needed materials in the school and support scholarship programs.
Yes Oui Care is all about wearing good, doing good and feeling good.
Add To Cart


text:
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Grilled Peaches with Mint
I started grilling fruit a couple years ago, and must say that I've been addicted ever since. It's quite a healthy addiction really - and has often given me the urge to grab a fresh peach instead of that slice of chocolate cake.
Fruit, which are full of natural sugars, become incredibly sweet and candy-like when grilled. The outside becomes caramelized (especially with the addition of a dash of sugar) and the interior softens and almost melts in your mouth. I've presented it here very a simple mint garnish and a little brown sugar, but it also tastes wonderful with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, or thick lemony yogurt.
Grilled Peaches with Mint (serves 4)
4 peaches, cut in quarters and discarding the pit
2 teaspoons of light brown sugar
A small handful of mint, coarsely chopped
Place your grill on medium heat. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the cut peaches. Grill the peaches (1-2 minutes on each side). Don't move the peaches around during that time to make sure to get nice grill marks on each side of the fruit. Remove from the heat and let cool for a couple minutes. Place in your serving bowl and add the coarsely chopped mint.
28 comments:
- The Food Librarian said...
Oh my goodness. You just elevated my favorite fruit to another level. Looks great!
- March 12, 2009 at 8:28 PM
- Passionate About Baking said...
Its awesome & I love my fruit this way. What a simple & beautiful dessert!
- March 12, 2009 at 8:35 PM
- ConversationsWithACupcake said...
I learned about you via Tastespotting's email, and I'm so tickled to find your blog. The pictures are remarkable! The ideas inspiring!
Will be grilling fruit ASAP, thanks to you. Aren't those peaches divine?!
- March 12, 2009 at 9:33 PM
- anna said...
Oh wow, I can't wait for peach season! I haven't tried them grilled because I have a hard time making them last long enough to get to a grill!
- March 12, 2009 at 9:39 PM
I've grilled a pineapple before and now I'm looking forward to grilling peaches - what a great idea!
- March 12, 2009 at 10:48 PM
- Elyse said...
I'm so glad you decided to pay homage to grilled fruit! It is truly one of nature's delicacies!! I especially love grilled peaches (although grilled pineapple is a close second). These look just fabulous!
- March 12, 2009 at 10:57 PM
- Coco Bean said...
I don't get it, aren't you in Montreal? Where are you finding quality peaches (please I am dying for anything other than oranges right now).... or is this from the past and you are reminding us that better weather is coming?
- March 13, 2009 at 12:47 AM
- Peter M said...
Beautiful grill marks, a simple dessert. I would love a dollop of whipped cream - that is all.
- March 13, 2009 at 4:06 AM
- Junglefrog said...
That sounds like a wonderful way to prepare fruit indeed!! Can I ask if you used a grillpan?
- March 13, 2009 at 6:21 AM
- Donna-FFW said...
This fruit looks amazing. I have go tto try it this way! Just found your blog and I am so enjoying it! Have got to spend some time going through your archives:)
- March 13, 2009 at 6:27 AM
- lisa (dandysugar) said...
I love the flavor of grilled fruit and how the natural sugars just carmelize. These peaches look fresh and delicious!
- March 13, 2009 at 10:58 AM
- pigpigscorner said...
I just starting grilling my veg and now I can't wait to gril my first fruit! Looks delicious..Love the charred bits!
- March 13, 2009 at 1:45 PM
- VeggieGirl said...
Lovely grilled fruit treat!!
- March 13, 2009 at 8:14 PM
- kellypea said...
Completely agree with you. Such a wonderful flavor in salad, with grilled meat, or like you've presented it. Nice.
- March 13, 2009 at 8:49 PM
- unconfidentialcook said...
I'm just getting my husband (a great griller) started on fruit--and this is perfect! Thank you!
- March 14, 2009 at 1:15 PM
- CookiePie said...
Oooooh - that looks fantastic - I can't wait for summer!!
- March 15, 2009 at 3:12 PM
- Chocolate Shavings said...
Coco Bean: I was lucky to get really good peaches here the other day, but was mostly testing out recipes for spring/summer... oh the irony of working in the food business and coming up with grilling recipes when snow is still on the ground!
- March 15, 2009 at 4:17 PM
- Coco Bean said...
Do you work for yourself or for a company? I bet it is hard to find certain food in season eh!
- March 15, 2009 at 5:40 PM
- Y said...
What a gorgeous photo! This would be absolutely divine with the aforementioned yogurt! YUm!
- March 16, 2009 at 1:28 AM
- Ash said...
This looks amazing!!! The colours are perfect and the photo too! I must try more grilled fruit this summer!
- March 16, 2009 at 4:08 PM
- Cakebrain said...
Where'd you get those gorgeous peaches! Mine here are all wimpy looking! Gorgeous pic!
- March 17, 2009 at 1:23 AM
- Nicisme said...
What a fabulous photo! Delicious.
- March 19, 2009 at 7:28 PM
- Kevin said...
Great photo of the grilled peach!! I grilled some peaches up last year for the first time and really enjoyed them.
- March 21, 2009 at 11:34 AM
- Jackie @PhamFatale.com said...
Wow... I'm in awe. You grilled the fruit to perfection. Can't wait for summer season to start using my barbecue.
- April 8, 2009 at 8:55 PM
mmmm. i'm all about grilled fruit these days. also, have you tried blow-torching fruit?? i've been trying it on mangoes with mixed results.
- April 8, 2009 at 9:47 PM
- Jen ~ Localette said...
Saw this in the DMBLGIT gallery and I think it's my fave!! (Well, ok besides mine, hee hee ;D
Definitely a recipe I'll be trying!
- April 22, 2009 at 4:43 PM
- oneordinaryday said...
I was looking around for something wonderful to do with peaches and found you at tastespotting. Just wanted to tell you what a gorgeous photo you've got!
- August 21, 2010 at 3:11 PM
- Ilan @ IronWhisk.com said...
That looks so good.
Brilliant photo too.
- May 25, 2012 at 1:42 PM


text:
All GoWest Hosting Accounts are backed by our
30 Day Money Back Guarantee
ColdFusion 11 Hosting
- Fully Managed Shared Hosting
- E-commerce / CMS Ready
- No Setup Fees or Hidden Charges
- 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Up to Five Mura sites 27.95/month $*
- FREE Mura CMS Setup
- Fully Managed & Supported
- All Mura Features Available
- No ColdFusion Restrictions
Reseller Hosting
Ten Account starter pack 144.95/month $*
- Create Your Own Plans & Prices
- Customize Your Control Panel
- Secure Customer Login
- Fully Managed & Supported
*Yearly Special: Get one month FREE when you select Annual Billing at checkout!
Returning Customers: log in here or
contact us for assistance.
At GoWest Hosting, your peace of mind is our priority. You entrust your business and your customers to us, and we take that responsibility to heart. We pride ourselves on personalized care with servers that are never overcrowded. Our fully-managed ColdFusion Hosting plans include ample resources for any dynamic CMS or E-commerce website, and our suite of white label Reseller Hosting Plans empowers any designer or developer with an interest in caring for their customers' sites.
Whether hosting a single site or an entire reseller-based hosting business, we have just what you need to provide top-notch customized service to your website users. We also offer customized programming services to assist with the expanding needs of your business.
From cPanel to ColdFusion, Email to E-commerce, we have you covered.


text:
Top Items:
Washington Post:
In NSA-intercepted data, those not targeted far outnumber the foreigners who are — Files provided by Snowden show extent to which ordinary Web users are caught in the net — Ordinary Internet users, American and non-American alike, far outnumber legally targeted foreigners …
Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Telegraph, Mashable, Hullabaloo, The Verge, Hit & Run, Prairie Weather, Business Insider, ThinkProgress, Boing Boing, Liberaland and Eschaton
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai / Mashable: 90% of People the NSA Spies on Are Not Real Targets, Report Says
Dante D'Orazio / The Verge: Vast majority of docs collected by NSA come from ordinary internet users, not legal targets
Paul Szoldra / Business Insider: Speaking A Foreign Language Is All It Could Take To Become An NSA Target
Lauren C. Williams / ThinkProgress: Nearly All The Emails Collected By The NSA Came From Regular Citizens, Not Terrorists
Cory Doctorow / Boing Boing: The review was undertaken by Barton Gellman, Julie Tate …
Cheston Catalano / Liberaland: Ordinary Internet Users Far Outnumber Targeted Foreigners In NSA-Intercepted Data
Atrios / Eschaton: Just What Do They Do All Day
Little Green Footballs:
Civil Liberties Hero Edward Snowden Commits Massive Civil Liberties Violation — Hands over 160,000 private emails to journalists and Glenn Greenwald — Charles Johnson — I can't help noticing that the most important and troubling aspect of Barton Gellman's new NSA story for the Washington Post …
Discussion: Business Insider and Balloon Juice
Edward Klein / New York Post:
This means Warren: Obama backs challenger to Hillary — President Obama has bypassed Hillary Clinton, offering his support to Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren if she runs for president. — President Obama has quietly promised Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren complete support if she runs …
Hart Williams / his vorpal sword: Why Are Rupert's GOPropaganda Corps. pretending the 2014 election doesn't exist?
Scared Monkeys: Is Barack Obama Really Privately Promising Elizabeth Warren His Support Against Hillary Clinton In 2016?
Janet Shan / Hinterland Gazette: Hogwash: Is Obama Planning to Snub Hillary Clinton, Back Elizabeth Warren in 2016?
Nickarama / Weasel Zippers: Report: Obama Has Promised Elizabeth Warren His Support Against Hillary Clinton In 2016
William A. Jacobson / Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion: If Obama isn't secretly urging Elizabeth Warren to run, he should be
Larry O'Connor / Truth Revolt: CNN: Dems Complain Warren Helping Party, Clinton Helping Herself
John Boehner / CNN:
Why we must now sue the President — Editor's note: Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, is speaker of the House of Representatives. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. — (CNN) — Every member of Congress swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Discussion: Talking Points Memo, JONATHAN TURLEY, ImmigrationProf Blog and Washington Monthly
Caitlin MacNeal / Talking Points Memo: Boehner Elaborates On His Lawsuit Against Obama
Immigration Prof / ImmigrationProf Blog: Boehner: Why we must now sue the President
Martin Longman / Washington Monthly: Inhaling Their Own Disinformation
Brian Bennett / Los Angeles Times:
Deportation data won't dispel rumors drawing migrant minors to U.S. — President Obama and his aides have repeatedly sought to dispel the rumors driving thousands of children and teens from Central America to cross the U.S. border each month with the expectation they will be given a permiso and allowed to stay.
Discussion: protein wisdom, Hot Air, American Power and Doug Ross
Darleen Click / protein wisdom: IWonPenPhone unable to dispel reports of His incentivizing illegal migration; pivots to Blame Bush™
Allahpundit / Hot Air: Quotes of the day — President Obama and his aides …
Donald Douglas / American Power: Democrats Won't Seal Border as Traffickers Exploit Left's Permiso System of Backdoor Amnesty
Directorblue / Doug Ross: LA Times: Drug Cartels and Obama Administration Actively Collaborating to Profit from Illegal Immigration
Greg Clary / CNN:
Homeland Security chief: 'We're going to stem this tide' of illegal immigration
Homeland Security chief: 'We're going to stem this tide' of illegal immigration
Discussion: Politico
Kevin Robillard / Politico: Perry charges Obama administration is 'inept' or has 'ulterior motive'
Neil Munro / The Daily Caller:
Border Meltdown: Obama Delivering 290,000 Illegals To U.S. Homes
Border Meltdown: Obama Delivering 290,000 Illegals To U.S. Homes
Discussion: National Review, Power Line, Weasel Zippers, Independent Journal Review, Washington Free Beacon, KNSD-TV, CNN, Hot Air and The Gateway Pundit
Kevin D. Williamson / National Review: Born on the Fifth of July
Scott Johnson / Power Line: Faithless execution: Border edition
Kevin Boyd / Independent Journal Review: Obama Administration Dispersing Thousands Of Illegal Immigrant Children To Homes Throughout The U.S.
Ellison Barber / Washington Free Beacon: Sunday Show Round Up: Immigration Crisis
Why liberals are abandoning the Obamacare employer mandate — Robert Gibbs' prediction that Obamacare's employer mandate would — and perhaps should — be jettisoned shocked Democrats back in April. — By July, the former aide and longtime confidant of President Barack Obama had a lot more company.
Discussion: The Other McCain and protein wisdom
Robert Stacy McCain / The Other McCain: Good-Bye, Employer Mandate?
Darleen Click / protein wisdom: Leftists quietly consider how to tinker with disaster known as ObamaCare
George F. Will / Washington Post:
The Supreme Court reins in government bullies
The Supreme Court reins in government bullies
Discussion: his vorpal sword, Conservatives4Palin, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and New York Times
Hart Williams / his vorpal sword: George Will Exhibit Slick Sophistry (if paid)
Aleister / Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion: Hobby Lobby beats the Bullies
New York Times:
The Real Internal Revenue Scandal — There is a scandal going on at the Internal Revenue Service, but it has nothing to do with Lois Lerner or her missing emails. House Republicans have not given up on their noisy crusade to tie Ms. Lerner to what they imagine to be widespread political corruption within …
Discussion: Liberaland
Alan / Liberaland: The Real IRS Scandal
Kristin Tate / BREITBART.COM:
SOURCE: FEDS TO BRING IN RIOT SQUAD AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION PROTESTERS — HOUSTON, Texas—As illegal immigrants continue to spill across the U.S.-Mexico border, federal authorities are attempting to relocate the migrants from South Texas to housing facilities in states across the nation.
Discussion: The Daily Caller, The Gateway Pundit, American Power and Weasel Zippers
Katie Frates / The Daily Caller: Federal Agents With Riot Gear Arriving In Murrieta To Subdue Immigration Protesters
Jim Hoft / The Gateway Pundit: Report: Feds to Bring Out Riot Squads Against Illegal Immigrant Protesters
Donald Douglas / American Power: Murrieta Tinderbox! Feds to Deploy Riot Police Against Patriots Protesting Obama's Illegal Alien Invasion!
Israel arrests several suspects in killing of Palestinian teen — Jerusalem (CNN) — Several Israeli Jewish suspects were arrested Sunday in connection with the killing of a Palestinian teen, Israeli police said. — "Investigation continuing, strong indication a nationalistic incident …
Discussion: New York Times and Guardian
Isabel Kershner / New York Times: Suspects Arrested in Death of Palestinian Youth, Israeli Police Say
Andre Senior / WTSP.com:
Tampa teen beaten, jailed in Jerusalem
Tampa teen beaten, jailed in Jerusalem
Dave Goldiner / The Jewish Daily Forward: Beaten Florida Cousin Called 'Fun-Loving' All-American Teen
Daniel K. Eisenbud / Jerusalem Post: 6 Jewish nationalists arrested in Jerusalem revenge killing of Arab teen
Matt Duss / ThinkProgress: What The U.S. Should Learn From The Beating Of An American Citizen In Jerusalem
Dorian De Wind / The Moderate Voice: American Teenager Caught Up in Israel Violence
Beaten Palestinian youth is U.S. citizen, cousin of murdered kidnap victim
Beaten Palestinian youth is U.S. citizen, cousin of murdered kidnap victim
Discussion: The Raw Story, Israel Matzav, Hinterland Gazette, Mediaite and Balloon Juice
Tom Boggioni / The Raw Story: Video: U.S. lodges protest over American teen 'severely beaten' by Israeli Border Police
Janet Shan / Hinterland Gazette: Tariq Khdeir, American Cousin of Murdered Palestinian Teen, Beaten by Israeli Border Patrol
Tina Nguyen / Mediaite: American Cousin of Murdered Palestinian Boy Allegedly Beaten by Israeli Border Patrol
Palestinian teen burned alive, autopsy shows
Palestinian teen burned alive, autopsy shows
Discussion: CANNONFIRE, Guardian and The Moderate Voice
Peter Beaumont / Guardian: Palestinian boy Mohammed Abu Khdeir was burned alive, says official
Mike Blasky / Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Rancher Cliven Bundy must be held accountable, Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie said Thursday. — But, the sheriff added, the federal agency trying to do it must reconsider its methods in order to prevent the bloodshed that was so narrowly avoided in April.
Discussion: The Raw Story and Liberaland
Enhanced security measures at certain airports overseas — Last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson directed TSA to implement enhanced security measures at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United States. — As the traveling public knows, all electronic devices are screened by security officers.
Vicki Needham / The Hill: TSA checking cellphones on international flights
Adario Strange / Mashable: TSA to U.S.-Bound Flyers: Turn On Your Cellphones Before Boarding
Kwame Opam / The Verge: TSA blocking uncharged mobile devices from flights at some international airports
Jim Nolan / The Roanoke Times:
Carytown open carry demonstration draws little interest — More than 300 people were invited on Facebook to walk down Cary Street on July Fourth with handguns, rifles and other so-called "long guns" proudly displayed. — Two showed up — and they were the organizers of the midday event …
Discussion: Talking Points Memo and Liberaland
Mara Klecker / Lincoln Journal Star:
Obama float at Norfolk parade sparks controversy — It was the parade float that elicited the loudest cheers Friday at Norfolk's Fourth of July parade. The crowd lining the streets clapped and laughed as the flatbed truck went by. — But one loud voice rose above the rest: "This is not OK," Glory Kathurima said.
Discussion: CBS News, Gazette, The Gateway Pundit, Talking Points Memo, Omaha World-Herald, Independent Journal Review and ABC News
Jim Hoft / The Gateway Pundit: ANGRY DEMOCRATS Say Obama Outhouse Float at 4th of July Parade Was 'Racist'
Caitlin MacNeal / Talking Points Memo: Dems Decry Nebraska Parade's 'Obama Presidential Library' Outhouse Float
Emily Hulsey / Independent Journal Review: Funny Or Racist? 'Obama Presidential Library' Float Featured In Nebraska Parade Has Some Up In Arms


text:
Established in 1994, Phoenix Mapping was formed offering an independent cartographic service to the publishing industry, private companies, local authorities and individuals alike.
Over the years we have built up a reputation for quality and the very highest standards in cartography. Our wealth of experience is based on traditional cartographic methods, this gives us a perfect foundation to transfer those methods to modern day digital production.


text:
I consider myself a skeptic (albeit a not-completely 'informed' one, as I've taken a winding road to get here). I was raised in a (very) 'moderate' Christian home...Anglican, where it doesn't really matter what you believe as long as you like the music and continue donating. It didn't do me a whole lot of harm at the time because I was older when I learned about the treatment of the Canada's [aboriginal people](http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/05/16/f-timeline-residential-schools.html)- I learned to sing, learned the Bible (which is a pretty good start for learning Western literature), and learned that other religions weren't evil (never mind my own). Became an agnostic about 35 years ago, still miss a few things about the church, but can't sit through a sermon without wanting to either jump up and debate or crawl off to a corner and throw up. Despite that, I can still see some good in the 'community' that can form in a moderately religiously forum, so I don't regret that time of my life. I've got autistic triplets, and have been through the whole autism wringer. I am very happy that [the appeal on the autism court ruling was rejected](http://www.reddit.com/r/skeptic/comments/d6jbg/appeals_court_rejects_autism_vaccine_link/)).
Skepticism fails, on some very visceral levels, for those people who need it most. I can't blame a lot of people for being skeptical of 'science' these days with all of the lawsuits against Big Pharma/Advertisers etc. I've seen the difference that anti-depressants can make for some people, I was trapped in my house for 4 months during a pertussis outbreak (I'm vaccine resistant), I'm not 100% sure that Bisphenol A is Satan, but I'll still take vaccination over chelation for my autistic kids any day, because I've still got a basic faith that peer-reviewed studies actually mean something as opposed to someone talking out of their ass. Even when our system of 'peer-reviewed studies' and following the scientific method is screwed up, it's still better than any alternative that we've seen yet. But, it's still not reaching the people who need it most.
We need better science education in our schools, so that people understand the difference between correlation and causation. We need better education on childhood development, so that parents know what to look for in the early years and months. We sure as hell need better information and education (and public friendly publications) on vaccines and what they actually do and don't do. We also need to be taught some basic scientific reasoning so that people don't need to listen to the [most vocal starlet](http://www.jennymccarthybodycount.com/Jenny_McCarthy_Body_Count/Home.html) on the news every day. Our society functions on sound bites, and Simon Baron-Cohen or Peter Szatmari sure don't compare to Jenny McCarthy with her boobs hanging out. My kids are actually pretty lucky, because yeah, they're autistic, but I haven't tried to detox them from mercury or feed them a weird diet or throw them in the water with dolphins (although really, who doesn't want to swim with dolphins).
I don't see this vaccine court decision as much as a failure of the courts as of our society that thrives on sensationalist sound bites. There should be a [Vaccine Court](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine_court) for people who are harmed by vaccines, but autism just doesn't fall under that category. I feel for the Cedillos, because I've been in that place where I've seen my kids struggling and hurting and would have grabbed on to almost anything to get us all out of there, or at least make someone pay for what they go through every day. I was 'lucky' in that none of my kids would have survived without 'science' (10 week preemies, 1 kid with a rare cancer), so I learned early and often that if every single doctor and second opinion that you get tells you that something is true, you'd better bone up on what studies are all about. Our family has been so lucky. I was also 'lucky' that I managed to go to University, have more than 2 years of post-high school science, and have enough friends who are doctors and researchers to have been exposed enough to science education to have even a vague clue what to believe. I'm hardly priveleged, but I'm heads and tails above a lot of people's education, and those are the people who are being ignored.
The skeptical community fails to get their message across to the people who are making day to day decisions in their own lives. Pointing a finger and laughing at people in crisis because they don't understand the scientific method or peer-reviewed studies isn't helpful to anything, especially the 'cause' of skepticism". I want to live in a world that reason rules, and even more so, I want my kids to live in that world. Finally, even the 'autism community' (which is really thousands of splinter communities) are starting to pay attention to the fact that some of us have been saying for years- vaccines do not cause autism. Skepticism **is** winning in some ways, but it could sure be made more accessible to the mainstream.
The skeptical community needs to step up and promote the things that **do** work. If autism/vaccination is your cause, advocate for increased early intervention to 'catch' autistic kids before they hit the news. Advocate for family support, for adult living plans and communities, for changes to inheritance taxes and 'special living' wills that enable us to advocate for our family members and provide for them. About the only thing that we do know for sure about 'treating' autism is that one-to-one intervention in the early years means a lot in terms of later abilities, and more importantly to governments, later tax-paying abilities. No one can 'solve' my children's struggles, and (even though I'm Canadian), I don't expect Joe and Jane taxpayer to fund the bill for my kids in any way beyond what my taxes cover, and what I pay for directly. I don't expect anyone else to help us, but when the only people who offer when you're in a bad situation are the religious or psycho people...it's damned tempting. When my daughter had cancer a church kindly volunteered two great wigs for her to wear- there sure weren't any secular people offering. (And yes, I took the church's wigs...I wouldn't let an 8 year old go bald to satisfy my philosophical objections).
Don't point and laugh at the people who swallow the antivax garbage, the people who use homeopathy, or the people who still think that (beyond reason) shark cartilage is going to cure cancer. Are they deserving of our scorn? Yeah, probably, but we're the ones who've managed to surmount our education and actually look for answers that are based in what we think of as scientific truth. That doesn't mean that their kids or relatives should be tossed on the trash. Maybe that's Darwinism, but I've met enough of my online cohort to think that it's pretty much usually sour grapes. Give them alternatives, and real things to believe in other than a vague concept of "science is the answer". The scientific/medical community (at least in the U.S.) doesn't really give you a lot to hold on to if you're in crisis and you don't have the money to pay for it.
I've been a bit luckier in Canada, but would it ever be awesome (as a parent of autistic kids) to have someone say - "Vaccines didn't cause it. We don't know for sure what does, but we've got some very good ideas. Here are some scientific principles that have been shown to work that will help your kids live healthier, happier lives. Because we believe in science, and because we really don't want to have your kids be a drain on the taxpayers for the 60 years after they become adults, we're going to put our money behind science and encourage you to pursue these therapies." We *have* that knowledge, but no one ever, ever hears that when their child is diagnosed.
It's not rocket science- it really isn't. Skeptics don't fill the void for religion, or snake-oil salesmen, and as much as we want them those things to disappear, it's not happening quickly enough.
I'm sure that you can tell, I'm not a scientist. I have bothered to research the science around the various conditions that my kids are faced with and in areas that I care about. I am a skeptic, about almost everything. Show me someone that promises a miracle cure and I'll be looking in their pockets to see what they get from it. Promise me some kind of existential answer and I'll laugh in your face. Any 'religion' that I've ever read about or been involved about either has a really powerless God, or one that doesn't give a shit, and I can't really say that 'science' is that far ahead (but I'm hoping).
"Skeptics" could do a lot better at actually trying to make a difference, instead of just pointing fingers. I find a bit of comfort in knowing that since my daughter survived her cancer she's only got a 6% chance of a recurrence, and that the struggles that two of my children are going through at the moment will likely be mostly resolved in a few years, because that's what all of the studies show about autistic people going through puberty say. Neither of those things mean a hell of a lot when you're a parent or a child or a concerned person watching someone that you love go through an ordeal, and that's where 'skepticism' falls down. Churches, snake oil salesmen, starlets, and morons promise at least some support, if not relief, while skeptics just laugh. There often is no actual relief, and a lot of us don't expect any, but the skeptical community could actually get off their ass and do something.
I don't think that a great number of people 'want' to be religious anymore, or even want to go to quacks. Very slowly, in most of our lives, rationality seems to be creeping in. I don't concentrate as much on the 'people losing their faith' demographic any more, because face it, I'm Canadian, and even our fundamentalists hesitate to shove it in anyone's face...Canada sucks at the moment, but we're not going to be taken over by religious morons any time soon. I've had more than a few people trying to shove 'GFCG diets/Chelation/OMG aren't you a horrible person because your kids were vaccinated and no wonder they're autism' crap down my throat, but realistically, it's gone down a lot since the 70s. In my experience at least, with 12 years experience in the 'autism world', people DO want to believe...they want to believe in science, but no one gives them any incentive at all to.
Skepticism/Atheism/Agnosticism should not be a religion, but there **are** things that you can do to make an actual difference aside from commenting online. Run for your school board trustee/superintendent if you really want to make a change. Unless you're in a hugely 'important' electoral district that's going to be contested by money from the big parties, you can help to ensure that the students in your area are getting a real education. And realistically, except in the big money districts, no one gives a shit which gives you a real chance to make a difference.
Volunteer. You really care about the autism/vaccine question? There are organizations in every area that will let you work with autistic or at-risk children (even if you're male, and I am well aware of the appalling discrimination against males in child-centred organizations), where you can make a difference. Let parents (some of whom are the people who can afford the chelation treatments and fund the woo nutbags) see that you're willing to put your time where your mouth is. Pissed off about the encroaching red splot on your state? Work with underprivileged children in your area. Tutor a high school kid who wants to go to college, donate your textbooks to your public library, grow an extra row of vegetables in your garden and donate it to a school breakfast program so that kids don't need to start their school day already hungry before they sit down to learn what an 'hypothesis' is. No one has the time or money to give any extra- we never, ever do. I've worked for non-profits and also (more often) brushed off people who have wanted me to donate, because we're all stretched. I can't think of one time in my life that I've said "great- I have 20 extra hours a week or $200/month, so I'm going to be useful". But I have, on different occasions, and likely you could do the same. And as skeptics, and people who want to be taken seriously because we truly believe that science and rationality are a basis for decision making in our lives and societies, it's time to step up to the plate and offer some real support (and even incomplete answers) to people who are looking so that they don't fall for the bullshit.
I think that skeptics are the one hope that we as the 'human race' have, and I say that as a thinking person, as a parent, and as a parent of disabled kids. I didn't expect kids, didn't particularly want kids, was completely blindsided by the whole disability/cancer thing. You never know what life expects. But again, science came to the fore, because if nothing else, science always surprises us. What we can do is to approach science and skepticism with a sense of 'let's deal with what we have according to the rules that we understand now'.
We have a lot of problems in the world- overpopulation, the whole mess that we've made of the environment, the laughingstock that is anything resembling a space program, the growing polarization between skepticism/science and population/fundamentalism. Skepticism and science can help with all of those, but only if we also understand some of the basic human impulses and needs. Right now, skepticism is not fulfilling those needs, at least according to my experience.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
A rant on skepticism, from a skeptic
I consider myself a skeptic (albeit a not-completely 'informed' one, as I've taken a winding road to get here). I was raised in a (very) 'moderate' Christian home...Anglican, where it doesn't really matter what you believe as long as you like the music and continue donating. It didn't do me a whole lot of harm at the time because I was older when I learned about the treatment of the Canada's [aboriginal people](http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/05/16/f-timeline-residential-schools.html)- I learned to sing, learned the Bible (which is a pretty good start for learning Western literature), and learned that other religions weren't evil (never mind my own). Became an agnostic about 35 years ago, still miss a few things about the church, but can't sit through a sermon without wanting to either jump up and debate or crawl off to a corner and throw up. Despite that, I can still see some good in the 'community' that can form in a moderately religiously forum, so I don't regret that time of my life. I've got autistic triplets, and have been through the whole autism wringer. I am very happy that [the appeal on the autism court ruling was rejected](http://www.reddit.com/r/skeptic/comments/d6jbg/appeals_court_rejects_autism_vaccine_link/)).
Friday, September 11, 2009
Saturday, April 04, 2009
An End to the Divide
NTs Are Weird � Blog Archive � An End to the Divide: "Online, there is often a very strong divide between some autistic adults and some parents (I recognize that there are people who are both autistic and parents, and this obviously doesn't apply to them).
I think I can sum up the divide simply. Autistic adults generally want their rights respected, both in the short-term and in the long-term. Parents want the best possible services and supports for their children.
Neither of these is bad. And these goals aren't at war with each other."
Monday, March 30, 2009
The struggle for care
The struggle for care | The Australian
After the "monster" article in Salon last week, and now this, I'm becoming more and more afraid to read anything about autism online. It just all hits too close to home.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sustainable Sushi
Sustainable Sushi
Where has this guy been all my life? I know what the next book on my list is going to be at the library, but better yet, he keeps his website up to date with the latest news about eating sushi responsibly. I'm in love (with sushi).
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Understanding the world of children with autism (for hospital medical professionals)
Understanding the world of children with autism - One day soon, in the ED or a pediatrics unit, you likely will care for a child with an autistic spectrum disorder. Here's what you should know to prov
I'm going to print this out and take it to our next ER/hospital visit...it's an excellent guide to autism for nurses, by a nurse, on how they can make hospital stays easier for people on the spectrum.