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How To Make Diorama Sugar Eggs
We had a request from a Kitchn reader for a tutorial on making sugar eggs like family members had made in the past. We're always ready for a challenge and checked into assorted tutorials online. After multiple failed attempts (the tutorials lied) we have the method down pat and are here to share our simple secrets with you!
What You Need
3 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 egg white
Food coloring (liquid or gel)
Royal Icing
Small Bowl
Large Mixing Bowl
Egg Mold
Pastry Bag + Tip
1 tablespoon measuring spoon
Parchment Paper/Silpat
1. Mix Sugars: Combine both sugars in a large mixing bowl, combine with fork.
2. Separate Egg White: Mix in food coloring of choice to egg white, add more than you think you need (either 1/8 teaspoon gel or 20 drops liquid). Once combined with the sugar it will lighten to a pastel. Whip until combined with fork and slightly frothy (but not whipped).
3. Add Egg To Mix: Stir until combined. Use fork to press out small clumps of egg/coloring until color is completely even. Once you think you've stirred enough, stir a little more. The patchy-ness of the color will be sneaky!
4. Press Into Molds: We used a large plastic egg that originally held Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, it's roughly 6 inches tall and already came with a flat back and bottom. You can find other molds at the craft stores (though we came up empty handed when we went looking… but we know they exist somewhere!). Pack sugar in tight so there's no cracks or holes.
5. Scoop Out Middle: Now this is where it gets a little tricky. It's not because it actually is, but because it's something that has to be done when you're calm and with a steady hand. Other tutorials said to let the mixture par-set and then come back to scoop, but each time we tried this method the structure crumbled in our hand (there were tears).
So… with the mixture packed into the egg, you want to scoop out using a small spoon or measuring spoon, just like you were scooping ice cream. After each scoop remove the sugar. Your goal is to make a hole in the back that continues down to what will be the front of the egg. Hollow things out and allow it to sit for 1 hour. Flip it out onto parchment or a Silpat and allow to harden overnight. Repeat the same process for the opposite side of the egg, but only make a hollowed area without going all the way through to the back of the egg (this side will be the back). Repeat same drying process.
Any additional sugar can be kept for 3 hours with a damp towel placed on top. Any longer and it gets a little smelly, but if you have a crack or a break, it makes it easy to just remold if you still have mix on hand.
6. Clean Edges: Once each egg is dry, you can rub the two halves together to smooth the flat sides so they'll fit together easier. You can also use your finger to rub away small spikey bits of sugar to smooth out your opening.
7. Attach Halves: Using Royal Icing, we "glued" the two halves together and then piped a border around the seam and opening. Hopefully your line will be a little straighter than ours. If you have multiple small items to go inside your dioramas you can attach them with royal icing before you glue the halves together, though we found it easier to do this after.
8. Add In Figures: Using small toys, paper cut outs or whatever you want really… make yourself a little scene. We glued ours down with Royal Icing and added green coconut along the bottom (also attached with icing).
Additional Notes:
With care, these eggs will last many, many years and are a fun thing to make with kids. Although they probably can't make them on their own, there's several parts they would have a blast helping out with! Store with tissue paper and a silica packet if you have one in a sturdy box so your icing doesn't get crushed. Make sure to send us pictures!
• Related: Spring Treat: How To Make Golden Chocolate Easter Eggs
(Images: Sarah Rae Trover)


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FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit during Week 8
Week 8 doesn't offer too many "can't miss" fantasy starts, but astute owners who have worked the waiver wires or patiently waited for a slow starter to finally gain steam will be rewarded, as the slate provides a handful of under-the-radar performers who will deliver quality numbers.
On the flip side, those players who struggled during the first seven weeks won't see much of a respite. As the midway point of the season — and the NFL trade deadline next week — approaches, most of this season's disappointing fantasy players are likely to continue showing their true, frustrating colors.
START: Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers: Yes, the turnovers (seven in three games) is cause for concern, but Winston has also thrown for 760 yards and four touchdowns in his first two starts and gets a Bengals defense that is 28th in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing quarterbacks. What puts Winston high atop the must-start mountain is a renewed effort to run, as he has rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown in the last two games. It's hard to envision Winston, who has attempted 93 passes in his two starts, not finding the end zone multiple times in what should be a high-scoring affair.
SIT: T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jaguars: His pass-catching skills have made him a darling in PPR leagues, but Yeldon has yet to eclipse 60 rushing yards in a single game, a feat that becomes even less likely with the addition of Carlos Hyde to the Jacksonville backfield. The trip to London becomes less fruitful for Yeldon as he contends with an Eagles defense that is second in fewest fantasy points per game allowed to opposing running backs and seventh overall against the rush. There will be some flex appeal to Yeldon in PPR formats, but the prospect of Hyde cutting into his touches diminishes his value in other types of leagues.
START: Marlon Mack, RB, Colts: Mack has averaged nearly 7 yards per carry in his last two games and will face an Oakland defense that is 27th in yards per carry allowed (4.7) and 22nd overall. He's shown potential as a pass catcher out of the backfield, and while rookie Nyheim Hines will get the bulk of snaps in passing situations, expect Mack to be targeted a few times. Mack is an RB2 with a chance to produce RB1 numbers.
SIT: Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles: Part of the reason why the champs have struggled offensively, Agholor has just one touchdown this season and has been held under 30 receiving yards four times, including last week's feeble 20-yard effort in the loss to the Panthers. Don't expect Agholor to find his 2017 form in London against a Jaguars defense that leads the league with 195.4 passing yards per game. Although he's averaging nearly eight targets per game, Agholor has done little to justify Carson Wentz throwing in his direction.
START: Josh Gordon, WR, Patriots: The prospect of his first monster game in a New England uniform is rising. Gordon caught four passes for 100 yards in last week's win over the Bears and he has seen his targets rise from six in his first two games to 16 over the past two outings. The Bills are fourth in receiving yards allowed, but they have given up 13 passing touchdowns, tying them for 20th overall. While Gordon has only one touchdown in New England, that is likely to increase on Monday night.
SIT: Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions: Detroit's gunslinger has thrown at least two touchdowns in five straight games, a streak that will be tested by a Seattle pass defense that is tied for second with only eight scoring passes allowed. No longer the "Legion of Boom," the Seahawks still lead the league in fewest net passing yards allowed and are in the top 10 in interceptions. An improved ground game has led Stafford to throw a combined 48 passes in the last two games, and if the Lions are able to remain balanced offensively, then Stafford's prolific yardage totals will also take a sizable hit.
START: Raheem Mostert, RB, 49ers: If Matt Breida (ankle, hamstring) can't go, then Mostert gets a great matchup against the Cardinals, who have the worst run defense in the league. Arizona also is dead last with 12 rushing touchdowns allowed, further bolstering Mostert's value. He has averaged 7.6 yards per carry over the past two weeks and is a solid receiver out of the backfield; even if Breida happens to play, Mostert should still get enough touches to get RB2 status in PPR formats.
SIT: Isaiah Crowell, RB, Jets: With Bilal Powell (neck) facing potential retirement, Crowell will get his share of the 13 touches per game that Powell totaled. However, Crowell must face a Bears defense that is third against the run and is the only team that has yet to allow a touchdown on the ground. Crowell has rushed for a combined 69 yards on 24 carries in the two games since he ran through the Broncos for 219 yards, making him a longshot of an RB2. He still won't be heavily involved in the passing game, further dampening his value in PPR formats.
START: Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Bears: He's proven the six-TD outburst he had against the Buccaneers wasn't a fluke, as Trubisky has thrown for 649 yards and five touchdowns in his last two games. The Jets are 25th in receiving yards allowed and have given up 13 touchdown passes, and with coach Matt Nagy taking the gloves off Trubisky, this makes for a great opportunity to run with the budding fantasy standout.
SIT: Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns: The Steelers are 29th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and while that makes starting Mayfield intriguing, he's best off on the fantasy bench. He's averaged just 226.5 passing yards per game in the last two weeks and could remain near that total if the Browns make a commitment to getting running back Nick Chubb an extensive workload.
For more Week 8 lineup advice and tips, visit RotoExperts: https://rotoexperts.com/
Report: NFL could move AFC title game from Chargers' stadium
Report: NFL could move AFC title game from Chargers' stadium Report: NFL could move AFC title game from Chargers' stadium
If the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend, and the Indianapolis Colts top the New England Patriots, the NFL will have a decision to make.
Will the Chargers be allowed to host the AFC championship game at their temporary home, the 30,000-seat Dignity Health Sports Park in suburban Carson, Calif., or will it be played elsewhere in a stadium with larger capacity?
CBS Sports reported Friday that the NFL league office will be discussing contingency plans should the fifth-seeded Chargers and sixth-seeded Colts advance. That would give the Chargers home-field advantage in the championship game.
The league discussed the possibility of where the Chargers would host a potential title game when they were vying with the Chiefs for the No. 1 seed, but that talk died down when the Chargers landed as a wild-card team, CBS' Jason LaCanfora reported.
He said that last month, officials had discussed the potential of moving the game to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, home of the Rams. That could still be a Plan B, LaCanfora said, but if the Rams host the championship game, both games could not be played on Sunday. Instead, one of the conference championship games could be played on Monday night under that scenario, he said.
–Field Level Media
What To Look For – Divisional Playoffs
LOWER SEED SUCCESS: The INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (11-6) and PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-7) both earned victories on Wild Card Weekend as the No. 6 seed in their respective conferences.
The Colts, who travel to Kansas City on Saturday (4:35 PM ET, NBC), and the Eagles, who
LOWER SEED SUCCESS: The INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (11-6) and PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-7) both earned victories on Wild Card Weekend as the No. 6 seed in their respective conferences.
The Colts, who travel to Kansas City on Saturday (4:35 PM ET, NBC), and the Eagles, who play at New Orleans on Sunday (4:40 PM ET, FOX), look to become the first No. 6 seeds to reach the Conference Championship since 2010, when both the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets accomplished the feat.
The No. 6 seeds to reach the Conference Championship since the 12-team playoff format began in 1990:
Green Bay
Won Super Bowl XLV
New York Jets
Conference Championship
Conference Championship
Conference Championship
Won Super Bowl XL
In the AFC, the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (13-4, No. 5 seed), who face New England on Sunday (1:05 PM ET, CBS), and the sixth-seeded Colts are both still alive. With victories by both teams in the Divisional Playoffs, it would mark the first Conference Championship game featuring a No. 5 and No. 6 seed since the 12-team playoff format began in 1990.
WINNING WAYS: The DALLAS COWBOYS, who defeated Seattle 24-22 on Wild Card Weekend, and the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, who had a bye last week, will each be playing in the Divisional Playoffs.
Dallas, who plays at the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night (8:15 PM ET, FOX), has 35 playoff wins and can tie the PITTSBURGH STEELERS (36) for the most postseason victories all-time. New England, who hosts the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday (1:05 PM ET, CBS), has 34 postseason victories and can surpass the GREEN BAY PACKERS (34) for the third-most playoff wins all-time.
The teams with the most postseason wins in NFL history:
Green Bay
New England
San Francisco
TOUCHDOWN LEADERS: Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES and the Chiefs are set to face off against Indianapolis quarterback ANDREW LUCK and the Colts in the Divisional Playoffs on Saturday (4:35 PM ET, NBC).
Mahomes, who led the NFL with 50 touchdown passes, and Luck, who ranked second with 39 touchdown passes in 2018, have the most combined regular-season passing touchdowns (89) among any opposing quarterbacks in a playoff game in the Super Bowl era.
With Mahomes and Luck ranking first and second in regular-season touchdown passes, Saturday will mark the fifth time since 2002 that the top two passing touchdown leaders from the regular season will face off in the postseason.
The postseason games between the top two regular-season passing touchdown leaders since 2002:
Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Matt Ryan (Atl.)
NFC Championship
Andrew Luck (Ind.)
Peyton Manning (Den.)
AFC Divisional
Drew Brees (NO)
Peyton Manning (Ind.)
Super Bowl XLIV
Drew Brees (NO)
Brett Favre^ (Min.)
NFC Championship
Patrick Mahomes (KC)
Andrew Luck (Ind.)
AFC Divisional
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
*Tied for 2nd
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER: New England quarterback TOM BRADY and the Patriots welcome quarterback PHILIP RIVERS and the Los Angeles Chargers to Gillette Stadium on Sunday (1:05 PM ET, CBS).
Brady, who will be 41 years and 163 days old on Sunday, and Rivers, at 37 years and 36 days old, combine for a total of 28,688 days old, the oldest combined age by opposing starting quarterbacks in a postseason game in NFL history.
The oldest combined age by opposing starting quarterbacks in a postseason game in NFL history:
Tom Brady
New England
Philip Rivers
Los Angeles Chargers
Peyton Manning
Tom Brady
New England
John Elway^
Dan Marino^
Warren Moon^
Houston Oilers
Joe Montana^
Kansas City
Tom Brady
New England
Ben Roethlisberger
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
*Total days as of Sunday, January 13
RATED WELL: Philadelphia quarterback NICK FOLES and the Eagles head to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday (4:40 PM ET, FOX) to face New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES and the Saints.
Foles, who has the highest postseason passer rating (105.2) in NFL history, and Brees, who ranks fifth with a 100.7 passer rating, are two of five quarterbacks to have a passer rating of 100 or higher in the postseason (minimum 150 attempts).
The quarterbacks with the highest career postseason passer rating (minimum 150 attempts):
Nick Foles
Bart Starr^
Kurt Warner^
Matt Ryan
Drew Brees
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
Foles (69.8 percent) has the highest postseason completion percentage in league annals (minimum 150 attempts) and Brees (65.9 percent) ranks fifth.
The quarterbacks with the highest career postseason completion percentage (minimum 150 attempts):
Nick Foles
Matt Ryan
Kurt Warner^
Ken Anderson
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
SHOWDOWN IN SO CAL: Dallas running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT and the Cowboys head to Southern California to take on defensive tackle AARON DONALD and the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night (8:15 PM ET, FOX).
Elliott, who led the NFL with 1,434 rushing yards in 2018, rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown in Dallas' Wild Card Weekend victory over Seattle. Elliott has recorded at least 125 rushing yards in each of his first two playoff appearances and can become the fourth player in NFL history to record three consecutive postseason games with at least 125 rushing yards.
The players with the most consecutive postseason games with at least 125 rushing yards in NFL history:
Terrell Davis^
Arian Foster
John Riggins^
Ezekiel Elliott
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
*Active Streak
Donald, who led the league with 20.5 sacks and earned the 2018 Deacon Jones Award as the NFL's sack leader, became the 11th different player since 1982 to record at least 20 sacks in a single season.
With a Rams win on Saturday, Donald would join Pro Football Hall of Famer LAWRENCE TAYLOR (1986) as the only players to record at least 20 sacks and advance to the Conference Championship in the same season since 1982.
The players to record at least 20 sacks and advance to the Conference Championship in the same season since 1982:
Lawrence Taylor^
New York Giants
Won Super Bowl XXI
Aaron Donald
Los Angeles Rams
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
Reports: Bengals hope to hire Rams QB coach Taylor
Reports: Bengals hope to hire Rams QB coach Taylor
The Cincinnati Bengals would like to
Reports: Bengals hope to hire Rams QB coach Taylor
The Cincinnati Bengals would like to hire Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor to be their next head coach, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.
No team can hire Taylor until the Rams' season is over, but Taylor reportedly is the Bengals' top choice. ESPN reported that Taylor also wants to be in Cincinnati, where he coached as the Cincinnati Bearcats' offensive coordinator in 2016.
Taylor, 35, would become the second-youngest active head coach in the NFL, behind only his current boss, Rams head coach Sean McVay, who turns 33 on Jan. 24. He interviewed for the Denver Broncos' and Arizona Cardinals' head-coaching vacancies before those teams hired Vic Fangio and Kliff Kingsbury, respectively.
A former Nebraska quarterback, Taylor is in his first year as QBs coach with the Rams after spending 2017 as assistant wide receivers coach. He also coached for the Miami Dolphins, one year as assistant quarterbacks coach (2012), three as quarterbacks coach (2013-15) and part of the 2015 season as interim offensive coordinator.
NFL Network earlier Thursday that the Bengals told several assistant coaches they would not be returning, as the team's next head coach has other assistants in mind to replace them. That indicated the hire would come from outside the organization.
Other candidates for Cincinnati job include Hue Jackson — who joined the Bengals midseason after being fired as the Cleveland Browns' head coach — former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Taylor would be the third head coach hired during this cycle who has ties to McVay.
New Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur spent 2017 as the Rams' offensive coordinator under McVay.
Meanwhile, McVay offered Kingsbury a job on L.A.'s staff for the remainder of the 2018 season after the latter was fired by Texas Tech. Kingsbury instead joined the University of Southern California as offensive coordinator before getting the Cardinals' job a month later.
Taylor's brother, Press Taylor, is in his first season as the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterbacks coach.
–Field Level Media
Jets QB Darnold strongly supports hiring of Gase
Jets QB Darnold strongly supports hiring of Gase Jets QB Darnold strongly supports hiring of Gase
The New York Jets' hiring of Adam Gase as head coach has received a major vote of approval from at least one important voice on the team — starting quarterback Sam Darnold.
"It was a tough decision, but I think Gase and the things he's able to do, the way he's able to lead, I think is the best thing for our team," Darnold told ESPN during a phone interview on Thursday.
Darnold had an up-and-down 2018 rookie season (17 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions) with the Jets, who finished 4-12 and ranked 29th in total offense. He also supported former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken, but said he thought the team made the right choice with Gase, the former Miami Dolphins head coach who was fired on Dec. 31 after they finished 7-9 and ranked 31st in total offense.
"I'm really, really excited about this opportunity and all the things Adam can bring this team," said Darnold, who spoke with Gase on FaceTime for 10 minutes on Monday. "For us, it's about winning. How do you do that? You score more points than the other team. I'm really excited about the opportunity to get to work with him, and score a load of points. I think it's going to be really fun."
If there was a backlash by fans about the Jets' decision to hire Gase, Darnold expects it to subside, saying, "I don't think they'll be upset when we start winning games."
Eight known candidates interviewed for the position, including former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy. It came down to a final four: Gase, Monken, McCarthy and Baylor coach Matt Rhule.
"Adam is an awesome dude. First of all, a really trustworthy guy," Darnold said of Gase, who previously worked with Peyton Manning, Jay Cutler and Ryan Tannehill. "He just knows ball. He knows football. He's very, very passionate about it. I think that's what's going to be awesome about this whole thing."
Manning reached out to Jets CEO Christopher Johnson on Tuesday night to throw his support Gase's way.
"His passion is going to be super, super contagious," Darnold added about his new coach. "Guys are going to want to go out there and play the game all the time. I think that's kind of his leadership style, and I think that's really where he's going to thrive. I think our guys are going to take on that kind of attitude."
–Field Level Media
NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend: Over and Under Best Bets
This NFL season, with sports betting expected to be a more common and accepted practice, we're making a point to look beyond point spreads and analyze often-neglected totals. As part of that approach, we're offering up our favorite bet over and favorite under each week.
Over and Under Best Bets
Over of
This NFL season, with sports betting expected to be a more common and accepted practice, we're making a point to look beyond point spreads and analyze often-neglected totals. As part of that approach, we're offering up our favorite bet over and favorite under each week.
Over and Under Best Bets
Over of the week: Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams
Total: 49
The Cowboys offense has come alive. Dak Prescott is playing well, Ezekiel Elliott has picked up steam and the offensive line is healthier than it was during much of the regular season. As a result, Dallas has averaged 32.3 points per game the last three weeks.
Meanwhile, the Rams might not be projected to load up on points considering the way they finished the regular season — they averaged "just" 27.0 points per game during the final four weeks of the year — but they still averaged a league-high 37.1 points per game at home this season, and star running back Todd Gurley is now healthier than he's been in weeks.
Both defenses have stellar playmakers, but the Rams have the league's worst run D in terms of rushing yards allowed per attempt. That bodes well for Elliott. The Dallas D is excellent against the run but remains vulnerable through the air and struggled when defending running backs in the passing game. And that, of course, bodes well for Gurley and the rest of L.A.'s high-powered, innovative offense.
It'd be a huge surprise if the Cowboys and Rams didn't combine for 50-plus points Saturday night in front of a split crowd at the L.A. Coliseum.
Predicted score: Cowboys 30, Rams 27
Under of the week: Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs
Total: 57.5
OK, the Chiefs have one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and that unit was at its worst when it gave up 35.6 points per game between Week 11 and Week 16 before recovering in finale against Raiders. But let's not forget that Indy's shockingly strong defense has surrendered a league-low 15.5 points per game dating back to Week 7.
Both offenses will undoubtedly move the ball and find the end zone, but I get the feeling oddsmakers have given too much credit to NFL touchdown pass leaders Patrick Mahomes and Andrew Luck and not enough credit to Indy's all-around stellar D and Kansas City's under-the-radar pass-rush.
The Chiefs can be had on the ground and in the secondary, but don't be surprised if Bob Sutton dials up some stops with his sneaky-good pass-rush, and be less surprised if the still-mistake-prone Mahomes experiences some growing pains in his first career playoff start.
After all, the same thing happened to Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky last week, as well as Jared Goff in his maiden playoff voyage last January.
This game won't be low-scoring by any stretch, but I doubt these teams combine for more than 50 points.
Predicted score: Colts 27, Chiefs 24
Good luck, we're all counting on you.
Previous results
Last week: 2-0
2018 season: 21-14-1
Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL since 2007 and is a member of the Professional Football Writers of America, despite the fact he actually lives in Canada. The Toronto-based sports journalist's work can also be seen at Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Awful Announcing and The Guardian. He can be found on Twitter @brad_gagnon
Super Bowl 53 Future Book Odds: Start To Finish
Wildcard weekend is out of the way and Super Bowl 53 coming up fast. Here are the current odds for teams in the playoffs. We've also put together a visualization of the odds for teams throughout the season below. The Saints have been the consistent favorite throughout 2018, with the Chiefs following close behind.
Wildcard weekend is out of the way and Super Bowl 53 coming up fast. Here are the current odds for teams in the playoffs. We've also put together a visualization of the odds for teams throughout the season below. The Saints have been the consistent favorite throughout 2018, with the Chiefs following close behind.
NFL Odds
Super Bowl LIII Line
Who will win Super Bowl LIII?
AFC Team +130 (13/10)
NFC Team -150 (2/3)
Odds to Win Super Bowl 53
New Orleans Saints 5/2
Kansas City Chiefs 4/1
Los Angeles Rams 9/2
New England Patriots 6/1
Los Angeles Chargers 9/1
Indianapolis Colts 10/1
Dallas Cowboys 12/1
Philadelphia Eagles 12/1
Exact Super Bowl Matchups (Most likely to least likely)
New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs 4/1
New Orleans Saints vs. New England Patriots 5/1
Los Angeles Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs 6/1
Los Angeles Rams vs. New England Patriots 8/1
New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Chargers 8/1
New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts 10/1
Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers 12/1
Los Angeles Rams vs. Indianapolis Colts 14/1
Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs 16/1
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs 16/1
Dallas Cowboys vs. New England Patriots 20/1
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots 20/1
Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Chargers 28/1
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Chargers 28/1
Dallas Cowboys vs. Indianapolis Colts 33/1
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts 33/1
Here you can select a team and see what the probability of them winning the Super Bowl was throughout each week of the season.
Martin is a data analyst that has been applauded for his ability to make the complex simple. He grew up on a farm in northern Vermont and spent his summers helping his mom lead llama treks at Smugglers' Notch Resort.
Martin graduated from University of Vermont with a degree in Mathematics. After graduation he left Vermont to work for an educational nonprofit called City Year for two years, and followed that up by attending the data science immersive program at Galvanize in Denver. He is an avid Green Bay Packer fan, and spends his free time playing football and soccer.
Chargers RB Gordon sits out, TE Henry practices
Chargers RB Gordon sits out, TE Henry practices
Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon sat
Chargers RB Gordon sits out, TE Henry practices
Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon sat out practice Wednesday due to a knee injury, giving him extra rest as he hopes to play Sunday against the New England Patriots.
NFL Network reported Tuesday that Gordon is expected to play through a mild left knee sprain, which is similar to the injury on his right knee that kept him out of three games in the regular season.
"There's not a lot of backs in the league right now that are 100 percent, to be honest with you," Chargers coach Anthony Lynn told reporters before practice Wednesday. "He's one of those guys that he's not 100 percent, but sometimes you don't feel like it because of the way he competes."
Meanwhile, tight end Hunter Henry was a full participant in his first practice since being activated off the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Monday.
Henry has practiced with the team for three weeks, but the Chargers were not obligated to list him on an injury report until he was placed on the 53-man roster. The designation suggests Henry is on track to play against the Patriots, just 7 1/2 months since he tore his anterior cruciate ligament during organized team activities.
Joining Gordon on the sideline Wednesday was center Mike Pouncey, who is battling a thumb issue. Fullback Derek Watt (shoulder) was limited, as were linebacker Kyle Wilson (concussion) and cornerback Brandon Facyson (concussion).
Lynn was not available for comment after the injury report was issued.
–Field Level Media
Arians: Leftwich will call Bucs' plays
Arians: Leftwich will call Bucs' plays
New Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians will not
Arians: Leftwich will call Bucs' plays
New Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians will not call offensive plays for the team, instead handing that responsibility to offensive coordinator/pass-game coordinator Byron Leftwich.
"Obviously I'll have a big hand in it," Arians added Wednesday on the Rich Eisen Show, in his first public appearance since being named the Bucs' head coach on Tuesday. He said he feels "very, very comfortable" with Leftwich calling plays.
Arians has called plays in 14 NFL seasons, including all five years of his tenure as the Arizona Cardinals' head coach, but he clearly has faith in Leftwich, who turns 39 on Monday. In June 2017 — just a few months after Arians made Leftwich the Cardinals' quarterbacks coach — Arians said Leftwich will be a head coach "early and fast."
A former top-10 pick as a quarterback, Leftwich was promoted to interim offensive coordinator in Arizona midway through this season after the firing of Mike McCoy, but the Cardinals released him after the season. This year will be his third as an NFL coach, in addition to one year as a coaching intern.
Meanwhile, Arians also sounded sure that former New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles will be his defensive coordinator, despite reports Wednesday saying the addition is not a done deal yet, with the Chicago Bears also seeking Bowles' services to run their defense after Vic Fangio's departure to join the Denver Broncos.
"He's like a son to me," Arians said of Bowles. "He thought hard about [being the Bucs' defensive coordinator]. I was doing my best sell job and this happened. We're really excited to be back together."
Bowles was Arizona's defensive coordinator under Arians from 2013-14 before landing the Jets' lead job. The Cardinals finished those years ranked seventh and fifth, respectively, in points allowed.
Arians also voiced full support in quarterback Jameis Winston, saying, "this thing will be built around him."
"I think he can win it all," Arians continued of Winston. "He has the intelligence, the toughness and obviously the arm ability to lead a team. Now we've gotta put the right pieces around him, we've gotta do some things defensively, but if anybody can do things defensively, Todd Bowles can do it."
The Buccaneers officially will introduce Arians on Thursday.
–Field Level Media
Report: AAF to follow NFL eligibility rules
After Clemson's dominant
After Clemson's dominant victory over Alabama on Monday night in the College Football Playoff championship game, social media was flooded with fans wishing Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence could play pro football right away.
They'll need to wait until 2021. Probably.
NBC Sports reported Tuesday that a spokesman for the upstart Alliance of American Football said the league will use the same eligibility rules as the NFL. That means a player can't join the league until at least three years have passed since his high school class graduated.
So under that scenario, Lawrence and other players who were true freshmen in the 2018 season can't be selected by the NFL until the 2021 draft, or join the AAF until then.
The AAF opens play in its inaugural season on Feb. 9.
The XFL, however, hasn't committed to such a timeline. The eight-team XFL is scheduled to begin in 2020.
In an interview with podcast host Brian Berger of the Sports Business Radio Road Show in December, XFL commissioner Oliver Luck said, "We're not subject to that."
"Theoretically we could take a player right out of high school. I doubt we'll do that," Luck said, taking note of the physical differences between teenagers and players in their mid-20s.
"But I wouldn't rule it out," he said. "Nor would I rule out taking a player who played a year of college football and let's say isn't eligible academically, which happens. Or a player who is two years out of college, and is transferring, and would have to sit out a year. A lot of guys don't want to."
–Field Level Media
Report: 'Good chance' Kitchens will be Browns' head coach
Report: 'Good chance' Kitchens will be Browns' head coach
Report: 'Good chance' Kitchens will be Browns' head coach
Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens may be looking at his second promotion in less than three months, according to a report Tuesday by Cleveland.com, which says Kitchens has "a good chance" of being named head coach of the Browns.
The report adds that several assistant coaches already have been asked to stay aboard, a sign that the Browns will stay inside the organization for the hire. NFL Network reports it doesn't appear Cleveland has made a decision yet, but Kitchens is getting "strong consideration."
Kitchens, 44, interviewed with the Browns on Monday, and interim head coach Gregg Williams also interviewed for the job last week.
Last week, multiple outlets reported that the Browns blocked several NFL teams from interviewing Kitchens for their offensive coordinator positions so they could keep him, either as head coach or offensive coordinator.
Kitchens was promoted from Cleveland's running backs coach to offensive coordinator — his first time holding a coordinator position — in Week 9 of the regular season, and rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield thrived after the change. In eight games with Kitchens as OC, Mayfield threw for 2,254 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions and was sacked just five times.
–Field Level Media
McDaniels: 'Book is closed' on interviews, staying with Patriots
McDaniels: 'Book is closed' on interviews, staying with Patriots
New England Patriots
McDaniels: 'Book is closed' on interviews, staying with Patriots
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said Tuesday that the "book is closed" on doing any more head coaching interviews, adding, "I'll be here moving forward."
McDaniels made the comments during a conference call with reporters, multiple outlets reported.
It comes a day after the Green Bay Packers reached a deal with Matt LaFleur to be their next head coach, replacing Mike McCarthy. McDaniels was among several candidates interviewed by the Packers, and it was the one job McDaniels was reportedly very interested in during the current coaching cycle.
"It's always a humbling experience," McDaniels said Tuesday. "I've said before, I think I have one of the best jobs in the world."
McDaniels previously turned down an invitation to interview with the Cincinnati Bengals, and said Tuesday that he has had "no contact" with the Cleveland Browns, contradicting reports that he had shown interest in their vacancy.
McDaniels told reporters he's "completely focused" on the Patriots' game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Patriots play host to the Chargers in a divisional round playoff game Sunday at 1 p.m.
McDaniels, 42, was 11-17 as the head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2009-10, and he spurned the Indianapolis Colts at the 11th hour last year after reaching an agreement with the team to replace Chuck Pagano.
McDaniels returned to the Patriots after getting fired by the Broncos. He first joined the Patriots in 2001.
–Field Level Media
Ballin' on a Budget Wild Card Weekend Results, Super Bowl Value Picks
We didn't exactly go out with a bang. If we were an NFL team, we would have been eliminated from the playoffs this weekend. It turns out as the games get tougher for the players, they get tougher for bettors too. We went 1-4 this week, our worst week of the season, but
We didn't exactly go out with a bang. If we were an NFL team, we would have been eliminated from the playoffs this weekend. It turns out as the games get tougher for the players, they get tougher for bettors too. We went 1-4 this week, our worst week of the season, but let's not let that distract us from the fact we picked at a 58 percent clip during the rest of the year. We're going to recap what went wrong this week and as we put a bow on the 2018 season of this column, we'll look at who presents the best Super Bowl value.
LOSS: Texans -1.5 vs. Colts (-105): Colts 21, Texans 7.
This was a true beatdown. I'll be the first to admit that we underestimated just how hot the Colts were. Their offensive line looks impenetrable and Andrew Luck, as a result, looks like an elite quarterback once again. They took Houston out of the game from the jump by rushing out to a big lead. Deshaun Watson and Co. were simply never able to recover.
Watch out for Indy against the Chiefs in the Divisional Round, they match up really well against Kansas City. If K.C. isn't able to generate a pass rush on that tough offensive line, they could be in for a long day, whether they have the league MVP playing at his best or not. Teams surprise us in the playoffs and our first surprise came thanks to Indy.
LOSS: Seahawks to beat Cowboys (-105): Cowboys 24, Seahawks 22.
If only we would have taken the spread, which was Seahawks +2.5, we would've had the greatest backdoor cover of all time. Boy, kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting injured in the first half really threw this game through a loop with Seattle having to go for two and having to go for it on fourth down deep inside Dallas territory. Of course, having to go for two (and succeeding) at the end of the game, pushed the final score to a two-point margin instead of four.
However, we took Seattle to win straight up, because that was the better value and Pete Carroll's unwillingness to pass the ball in the first half bit us right where it hurts. It really doesn't make sense to be running the ball so much when you have one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the league, but what do I know? This was a tough game to watch and an even tougher game to lose a bet on.
WIN: Chargers-Ravens UNDER 41.5 points: Chargers 23, Ravens 17.
For a while there, it seemed like we were solidly in the clear, but scoring picked up in the fourth quarter. Had Lamar Jackson led an improbable comeback drive in the final minute, it would have pushed the over. Let's be honest, though, that would've been pretty cool regardless. Los Angeles held on as they continue to look like a team of destiny and they saved the over by a couple points.
This is the only game we picked correctly this week, which makes it our last correct game pick of the season on this column. Don't be surprised if the Chargers end up knocking off the Patriots on the road next week. L.A. is now 8-1 on the road this season and is coming for a New England team, which was the only team in the league to go a perfect 8-0 at home in the regular season.
LOSS: Bears -5.5 vs. Eagles (-110): Eagles 16, Bears 15.
Writing this recap makes me physically ill, because I'm a Bears fan. I was in a fit of blind rage for about an hour after Cody Parkey's game-winning 43-yard field goal attempt clanked off two different posts. While that field goal wouldn't have won us this bet anyway, it doesn't make it any easier a pill to swallow.
What we should blame this on is Matt Nagy's vanilla play calling in the first half. It seemed like he was playing not to lose and didn't let QB Mitch Trubisky push the ball down the field. That may have been a mistake given the fact he torched the Eagles in the second half, giving him the most overall passing yards of any QB playing on wild card weekend. It still should have been enough as he led the team down for a very makeable game-winning field goal, but a fingertip re-directed Parkey's attempt and the play that will forever live in Chicago sports infamy was born.
LOSS: Texans-Colts OVER 48.5 (-110): Colts 21, Texans 7.
This game is really the gift that keeps on giving, huh? When one team scores just seven points, you can be pretty certain you aren't hitting the over. I expected this to be a much closer game in the mid-20's hence the pick. I couldn't have anticipated Houston's offense stalling out for most of the game. Credit to Indy for jumping out to an early lead and not giving it up, but that game flow really put us in a bind.
Since Indy went up so big so soon, Houston had to go into predictable play calls and that hindered them on offense. Up big, Indy just ran the ball and continued running out the clock. It was the perfect storm to lose us the over pretty quickly.
Okay, this bad betting week behind us, let's jump to some Super Bowl picks. I'll give you two Super Bowl values I really like and two I don't like so much as you look to make a longer term bet in the coming weeks. These are all based on teams' odds of winning the Super Bowl going into the Divisional Round.
Like: Chargers +1000. Yes, I get that the Chargers now have to take on the Patriots on the road to even advance to the AFC Championship, but this is really good value. A 10-to-1 that I really could see going all the way. Since they were a wild card team, it's easy to forget they were tied for the best record in the AFC this season.
Saints +250. It's weird to call the Saints a "value" pick, because they are the favorites to win it all. However, even a 2.5-to-1 payout is great for them and here's why: they have the path of least resistance to get there. With the Bears eliminated, the NFC is now theirs for the taking and that alone, makes them a good value.
Dislike: Chiefs +400. The Chiefs are the most overrated team in football and it's because they have the league MVP and the league's most dynamic offense. However, in the playoffs, when games get tighter, you need a defense to win you games and K.C. has the worst defense remaining in the playoffs. They simply can't slow down opponents in the passing game and they have a less-than-stellar match up this week with the Colts coming to town. They're tied for the second-best odds to win it all and that's just bad value.
Rams +400. I dislike this for many of the same reasons I dislike the value of taking the Chiefs. First of all, the team hit a rough patch in the final quarter of the season. They should beat the Cowboys at home, but that's not a given. One thing they have over the Chiefs is a game wrecker like Aaron Donald. Even with a subpar overall defense, Donald can change a game with a big strip sack at any time. Overall, though, you just can't convince me they're going to march into New Orleans and beat the Saints. They, along with Kansas City, are the second-best odds behind the Saints and I just don't see value in that.
Jacob Kornhauser is a sports reporter in Southern Oregon covering all sports, including Oregon and Oregon State athletics. He has been a national baseball writer for Bleacher Report and Rant Sports and has written two baseball books. He also specializes in sports betting analysis. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri Journalism School.
New Raiders GM Mayock: Gruden has 'final say' on personnel
New Raiders GM Mayock: Gruden has 'final say' on personnel
For anyone who
New Raiders GM Mayock: Gruden has 'final say' on personnel
For anyone who feared the Oakland Raiders' hiring of Mike Mayock to be the general manager would create some sort of power struggle between the new guy and head coach Jon Gruden, Mayock is doing his best to alleviate that fear.
When push comes to shove, the GM is deferring to the coach.
"In all honesty, Jon's got final say, if it ever comes to that, and I've got zero problems with that," Mayock told ESPN's Steve Levy on Monday afternoon at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Mayock was attending the College Football Playoff championship game, scouting perennial NFL pipelines Alabama and Clemson.
"Now, having said that, I think we're going to come to a consensus and I like a little yelling, a little screaming, a little fighting for what players you believe in," Mayock continued. "But at the end of the day, I guarantee you, Jon Gruden and I are going to know what a Raider looks like and smells like. I don't think we're going to have any issues."
After a brief playing career in the early 1980s, Mayock shifted his focus to the media. He has never held any sort of NFL management or coaching position, and he has worked as an analyst and draft expert for the NFL Network since 2004.
After shadowing Gruden for parts of the offseason, Mayock was named the replacement for the fired Reggie McKenzie on New Year's Eve.
The Raiders finished the 2018 season with a 4-12 record, collecting a cadre of draft picks along the way.
Oakland had a 39-70 record, including a playoff loss, under McKenzie. He helped orchestrate trades that shipped out former first-round picks and Pro Bowl performers Khalil Mack (Bears) and Amari Cooper (Cowboys) during Gruden's first season back on the sidelines since his "Monday Night Football" run.
In addition to the franchise's own first-round pick, the Raiders will have first-round picks from Chicago and Dallas. The order of those selections will be determined by playoff results.
The Raiders are slated to begin playing in Las Vegas in 2020, but with their lease at the Oakland Coliseum up following the 2018 season and their new stadium in Sin City not ready until 2020, their home for the 2019 season remains uncertain.
–Field Level Media
Steelers' Smith-Schuster replacing Brown as Pro Bowl WR
Steelers' Smith-Schuster replacing Brown as Pro Bowl WR Steelers' Smith-Schuster replacing Brown as Pro Bowl WR
Now the Pro Bowl knows what the Pittsburgh Steelers feel like.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown, who missed Pittsburgh's regular-season finale for what was listed as a knee injury, is also out of the postseason all-star contest for apparently the same reason. The Steelers announced Monday that teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster will replace Brown on the roster for the game, set for Jan. 27 in Orlando, Fla.
Smith-Schuster was voted as the Steelers' Most Valuable Player by his teammates after making 111 catches for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He ranked fifth in the AFC and 12th in the NFL with 1,439 yards from scrimmage.
Brown was out with a knee injury for the Steelers' Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, per the injury report. However, it was later revealed that Brown missed the final walkthrough and was benched by head coach Mike Tomlin for missing other meetings and practices leading up to the game.
While the Steelers beat the Bengals 16-13 to finish 9-6-1, they were knocked out of playoff contention when the Baltimore Ravens held off the Cleveland Browns. Last week, NFL Network reported teammates doubted Brown's knee injury claims.
Tomlin, who admitted there was no MRI or X-ray on the knee, said he had no reason to doubt the wide receiver was hurt. He followed that up with a completely different feeling, saying at an end-of-year news conference, "We're talking about our darkest hour. The guy not communicating is a very real element of discussion."
Tomlin denied Brown requested a trade, as CBS Sports reported last week.
"I talked to him prior to the game on Sunday," Tomlin said. "I have not talked to him since then. … I'm not going to frame any expectation or conversation. I'm having conversations with a lot of people in terms of assessing what transpired. I will certainly talk to him."
Brown led the NFL with 15 touchdown catches this season, and had 104 receptions for 1,297 yards.
Other Steelers scheduled to play in the Pro Bowl are running back James Conner, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and offensive linemen Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro and Alejandro Villanueva.
–Field Level Media
Bears K Parkey: 'Thought I hit a good ball'
Bears K Parkey: 'Thought I hit a good ball' Bears K Parkey: 'Thought I hit a good ball'
A distraught Cody Parkey was at a loss to explain his miss of a potential game-winning field goal at the end of Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, which knocked the Chicago Bears from the playoffs.
"I feel terrible," Parkey told reporters after the 16-15 loss. "There's really no answer to it. I thought I hit a good ball."
Parkey's 43-yard attempt hit the left upright, caromed down, went off the crossbar and then back into the end zone, preventing Chicago from reaching the divisional playoffs. Slow-motion replays appeared to show Eagles defensive tackle Treyvon Hester getting a finger on the ball with his left hand, and Eagles teammates confirmed afterward that Hester tipped it.
It was Parkey's sixth kick this season that hit an upright and missed.
Fans booed the kicker heavily as he left the field.
"It's one of the worst feelings in the world to let your team down," Parkey said. "I feel terrible. Continue to put things into perspective, continue to just put my best foot forward and just sleep at night knowing that I did everything in my power this week to make that kick, and for whatever reason it hit the crossbar and the upright."
Moments before the miss, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson had used a timeout to ice Parkey just before the Bears snapped the ball, and Parkey made the meaningless attempt as whistles blew. He had also hit each of his first three field-goal attempts of the game, though none was from further than 36 yards.
Parkey, who turns 26 in February, spent the first two years of his career with the Eagles, reaching the Pro Bowl in 2014 as a rookie.
Former teammate and Eagles left tackle Jason Peters told NFL Network after the game he knew Parkey's second attempt — after Pederson called a timeout — would miss.
"I told him thank you after the game," Peters said.
Parkey joined the Bears on a four-year, $15 million deal in free agency in March, but he made just 23 of 30 field-goal attempts (76.7 percent) and missed three extra points in the regular season.
–Field Level Media
Eagles survive Bears on bizarre missed FG
Eagles survive Bears on bizarre missed FG Eagles survive Bears on bizarre missed FG
Nick Foles found Golden Tate for a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal with 56 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Philadelphia Eagles held on for a 16-15 win over the host Chicago Bears on Sunday in the NFC divisional playoffs.
The Eagles were stuffed on three plays from the 2-yard line before Tate hauled in the pass just beyond the goal line with the season at stake. The defending Super Bowl champions will travel south to face the top-seeded New Orleans Saints next week.
Bears kicker Cody Parkey missed a 43-yard field goal in the final seconds for Chicago as teammates watched in disbelief from the sideline. Parkey's kick hit the left upright and then hit the crossbar before bouncing back into the end zone. It was the sixth time he hit the upright this season.
Foles completed 25 of 40 passes for 266 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Tate and Dallas Goedert each had a touchdown catch.
Mitchell Trubisky completed 26 of 43 passes for 303 yards and one touchdown in his playoff debut. His top target was Allen Robinson, who finished with 10 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Robinson hauled in a 22-yard score along the right sideline to give Chicago a 15-10 lead with 9:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. Taylor Gabriel was stuffed in front of the goal line on a rushing attempt for a failed two-point conversion.
The Eagles grabbed a 10-6 lead with 5:20 to go in the third quarter. Foles looked to his left and connected with Goedert on a slant route toward the end zone for a 10-yard score. The completion — which came with only 10 Bears on the field — capped a seven-play, 83-yard scoring drive.
Chicago pulled within 10-9 with 14:13 remaining in the fourth quarter. Parkey made a 34-yard field goal for his third strike of the game.
Philadelphia opened the scoring on the first possession of the game with a 43-yard field goal from Jake Elliott.
The Bears' offense had back-to-back punts before Parkey evened the score at 3 with a 36-yard field goal with 9:38 to play in the second quarter. An interception by Bears linebacker Roquan Smith on the previous drive helped to set up the score.
Chicago took a 6-3 lead as time expired in the half on Parkey's 29-yarder.
–Field Level Media
Report: Steelers want to trade Brown despite cap hit
Report: Steelers want to trade Brown despite cap hit Report: Steelers want to trade Brown despite cap hit
The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to trade Antonio Brown in the next several weeks, despite the salary cap hit the team would take, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Sunday morning.
That comes after Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged Wednesday that a time could be near when Brown is more of a distraction than he's worth in Pittsburgh after a week of discord in advance of their regular-season finale.
"The reason why it's a high — I call it a high probability, and we have until March 13 new league year to see this come to fruition, he's due a $2.5 million roster bonus five days after that date," Mortensen said. "The Steelers, certainly because of what happened this week but what's been festering behind the scenes even a couple of years beyond that, they will move him in a trade."
If they deal Brown, the Steelers will face $21 million in dead salary cap space — about 8 to 10 percent of their total cap space. Mortensen said the Steelers expect to have $14 million in salary credit from running back Le'Veon Bell and plan to restructure quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's contract to clear cap space.
NFL Network reported the asking price for Brown likely would be a first-round draft pick or multiple high picks.
Brown had 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and scored 15 touchdowns in 2018. The 30-year-old is a four-time, First Team All-Pro.
–Field Level Media
49ers S Exum fined $53K for hit on Robert Woods
49ers S Exum fined $53K for hit on Robert Woods 49ers S Exum fined $53K for hit on Robert Woods
The NFL on Saturday fined San Francisco 49ers safety Antone Exum Jr. $53,482 for a hit he put on Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods last Sunday.
This fine marks the third time Exum has been penalized this season for a hit.
Exum was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play against Woods, which took place in the third quarter of the Rams' 48-32 victory over the 49ers. Exum hit Woods in the midsection after breaking up a long pass attempt.
Exum was also fined $53,472 for a hit on Denver WR DaeSean Hamilton in Week 14 and $26,739 for one on Kansas City WR Sammy Watkins in Week 3, though that one was reduced to $5,000 after an appeal.
Other players who were hit with fines from Week 17 games:
The Rams' Samson Ebukam $26,739 for unnecessary roughness.
Miami's Kiko Alonso and Robert Quinn $10,026 for unnecessary roughness.
Buffalo's Jordan Mills $13,369 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick $10,026 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Chicago punter Pat O'Donnell $15,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after the side judge tripped over him.
Bears safety Deon Bush $10,026 for a face mask penalty against Minnesota.
Cincinnati's Alex Redmond $26,739 for unnecessary roughness.
Indianapolis' George Odum $20,054 for unnecessary roughness.
Pittsburgh's Ramon Foster $10,026 for unnecessary roughness.
Kansas City's Tyreek Hill and Demarcus Robinson $10,026 for taunting.
Dallas' Antwaun Woods $10,026 for taunting.
–Field Level Media
Chiefs QB Mahomes, four rookies named All-Pro
Chiefs QB Mahomes, four rookies named All-Pro Chiefs QB Mahomes, four rookies named All-Pro
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald headline the 2018 NFL All-Pro team announced Friday.
Mahomes entered the season as a first-time starter and helped Kansas City secure the No. 1 spot in the AFC playoffs with 5,097 yards and 50 touchdown passses.
Donald was the only unanimous selection by the 50-member Associated Press panel. The fifth-year pro had 20.5 sacks after signing the largest contract in NFL history for a defensive player.
Four rookies — including Colts teammates in guard Quenton Nelson and linebacker Darius Leonard — were first-team All-Pro picks. Chargers safety Derwin James and Seahawks punter Michael Dickson are the others.
Kansas City, with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz and tight end Travis Kelce — whose brother, Eagles center Jason Kelce, was also picked — joining Mahomes, and the Chicago Bears had four players named All-Pro. The picks for the Bears are linebacker Khalil Mack, cornerback Kyle Fuller, safety Eddie Jackson and punt returner Tarik Cohen.
Donald was joined by running back Todd Gurley in representing the Rams.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was second-team All-Pro and received just five first-team votes while his top target, wide receiver Michael Thomas, was a first-team pick along with DeAndre Hopkins of the Texans.
Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Running Back: Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams
Flex: Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
Tight End: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Wide Receivers: Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints; DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans
Left Tackle: David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers
Right Tackle: Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City Chiefs
Left Guard: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
Right Guard: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
Center: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles
Edge Rushers: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans; Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears
Interior Linemen: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles
Linebackers: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers; Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks; Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
Cornerbacks: Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears; Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots
Safeties: Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears; Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
Defensive Back: Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers
Placekicker: Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
Punter: Michael Dickson, Seattle Seahawks
Kick Returner: Andre Roberts, New York Jets
Punt Returner: Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears
Special Teamer: Adrian Phillips, Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Running Back: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Flex: Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
Tight End: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Wide Receivers: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons; Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
Left Tackle: Duane Brown, Seattle Seahawks, and Terron Armstead, New Orleans Saints
Right Tackle: Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints
Left Guard: Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns
Right Guard: Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens
Center: Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers
Edge Rushers: Von Miller, Denver Broncos; Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints; Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns; Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings
Interior Linemen: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs; J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
Linebackers: Von Miller, Denver Broncos; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens; Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas Cowboys
Cornerbacks: Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys; Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins
Safeties: Jamal Adams, New York Jets; Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Defensive Back: Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
Placekicker: Aldrick Rosas, New York Giants
Punter: Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams
Kick Returner: Cordarrelle Patterson, New England Patriots
Punt Returner: Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers
Special Teamer: Cory Littlejohn, Los Angeles Rams
–Field Level Media
NFL Wild Card Weekend: Over and Under Best Bets
This NFL season, with sports betting expected to be a more common and accepted practice, we're making a point to look beyond point spreads and analyze often-neglected totals. As part of that approach, we're offering up our favorite bet over and favorite under each week.
Over and Under Best Bets
Over of
This NFL season, with sports betting expected to be a more common and accepted practice, we're making a point to look beyond point spreads and analyze often-neglected totals. As part of that approach, we're offering up our favorite bet over and favorite under each week.
Over and Under Best Bets
Over of the week: Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys
Total: 42.5
Just 34 percent of games involving the Seahawks or Cowboys fell short of the total this season, and Saturday's over/under of 42.5 indicates we're still under-estimating both teams' ability to score points.
The Cowboys put up 63 points in their final two games of the regular season and averaged 25.0 points per game at home this season, while Seattle scored 65 points in its last two games and averaged 26.8 points per game overall.
That made the Seahawks offense the sixth-highest-scoring unit in football, thanks partly to the league's highest-ranked running game and a suddenly-respectable offensive line. Plus, Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett have been crushing it in that receiving corps,
Meanwhile Amari Cooper has teamed up with Ezekiel Elliott to give Dallas one of the most dangerous offenses in the game. The Cowboys scored at least 27 points in five of their last eight games with Cooper, and Elliott once again gained steam during the second half of the season.
That doesn't bode well for a Seahawks run defense that surrendered 4.9 yards per carry during the regular season, especially as the Dallas offensive line gets healthier.
Predicted score: Cowboys 26, Seahawks 23
Under of the week: Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens
Total: 42
I can't comprehend why this total is above 40. After all, the Los Angeles Chargers offense has gone a little cold, scoring just 33 points in their last two regular-season games. Just 10 of those points came in Week 16 against these Ravens, who scored just 16 offensive points of their own in that prime-time matchup.
Baltimore's top-rated defense surrendered just 17.9 points per game during the regular season, while the Chargers ranked in the top 10 with just 20.6 points per game allowed.
Look for Baltimore's D — which has been known to rise to occasions in the playoffs — to be just as strong at home as it was in that road victory over the Chargers. And look for L.A. to do an even better job at limiting the Ravens' unique rushing attack, now that it has more tape and experience to work from.
It's a lot easier to trust these defenses than these offenses, especially considering the Chargers' history with big-game duds and L.A.'s turnover-filled final few games of the 2018 regular season.
Predicted score: Ravens 20, Chargers 17
Good luck, we're all counting on you.
Previous results
Last week: 0-2
2018 season: 19-14-1
Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL since 2007 and is a member of the Professional Football Writers of America, despite the fact he actually lives in Canada. The Toronto-based sports journalist's work can also be seen at Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Awful Announcing and The Guardian. He can be found on Twitter @brad_gagnon

subset: commoncrawl


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Home > News & Events > Wayland Press Release Archives > 2005 News Releases > March 2005 > Senior piano student to present recital
Senior piano student to present recital
Phillip Cunningham, piano student of Jeannine Greene at the Academy of Fine Arts at Wayland Baptist University, will present a senior piano recital on Sunday, April 10 at 2 p.m. in the Miller Recital Hall.
The son of Dr. Tom and Janet Cunningham of Plainview, Phillip will be playing compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Josef Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Josef Myslivecek, Ludwig von Beethoven, David W. Guion, Scott Joplin, Michael W. Smith, Stuart K. Hine, Cuthbert Harris and Hugo Reinhold.
Cunningham has played a National ten-piece program in Piano Guild Auditions for ten years and will receive a Paderewski Gold Medal. He has been a first-place winner in the Lubbock Music Teachers Sonatina Contest twice and received a superior rating eight years in the Pastorale Festival, sponsored by the National Federated Music Clubs.
Besides his musical studies, Cunningham is active in the youth group at First Baptist Church, where he also plays trumpet in the church orchestra. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 253 and is president of the Student Council at Plainview High School.
He is a four-year member of the PHS band, a trumpet player who earned all-region four years and all-area one year. He has been a member of the PHS cross country team for four years, is secretary for the Junior American Cancer Society and is photo editor for the PHS Yearbook. He served as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004 and is employed by Miller Flying Service.
Cunningham has earned a four-year ROTC Scholarship of $60,000 to the college of his choice, as well as a $24,000 Presidential Scholarship from Colorado School of Mines.
The recital is free and open to the public.


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California Lawmaker Votes To Kill Uber... Then Caught Driving Drunk Just Hours Later
from the karma dept
Hueso voted in favor of it, and then a few hours later was spotted driving the wrong way down a one way street at 2:24 in the morning.
Powell said officers identified the driver as Hueso and said he was alone in the car. Hueso showed "objective signs and symptoms" of being under the influence of alcohol and was given a field sobriety test.Hueso has apologized for the drunk driving, but perhaps he should apologize for his vote... and for not calling an Uber to take him home (or wherever he was headed) that night...
He was arrested shortly after, taken in without incident and booked into Sacramento County jail at 3:27 a.m, she said. Jail records show he was booked with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher at 3:27 a.m. Powell said the CHP would not release the precise blood alcohol reading. He was released from jail late Friday morning.


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SHARON, Pa.—A high school football player preparing for a playoff game lost control of his sports utility vehicle, leading to a head-on collision that left him, a teammate and the driver of the other car dead, and two of their teammates injured.
Sharon Police Chief Michael J. Menster said in a news release that Sharon High School player Corey Swartz, 18, was driving with three teammates when he crossed the median on a highway in Sharon and hit a truck head-on.
Also killed were Swartz's passenger, Evan Gill, 17, of Sharon, and the pickup driver, John Zdelar Jr., 50, of Brookfield, Ohio.
The Sharon City School District's acting superintendent, Michael Calla, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that speed may have been a factor. Sharon police said that investigators do not suspect that alcohol, drugs or texting were a factor in the crash.
"They feel that speed was probably a factor and the car that Corey was driving, he lost control and he may have overcompensated and ended up in the lane with the other vehicle," Calla told the paper.
Swartz and the other players had been watching another playoff game before the wreck occurred at about 10 p.m. on Friday. Twin brothers Craig and Greg Osmon, 17, of Sharon, were injured and required surgery, Menster's release said.
Zdelar's passenger Evan Wallace, 10, was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital. His other passenger, Blake Yenderak, 12, was released after getting medical treatment, police said.
Police and the Mercer County coroner did not return messages seeking comment.
Calla told the paper the players were senior leaders on the team and in the school, which has about 860 students in grades 7-12.
"It'll be a loss felt for a long, long time in Sharon," he told the Post-Gazette.
The playoff game that had been scheduled for Saturday in Erie against Girard High School was postponed until Monday. Calla said the school plans to consult the families about whether or how the school might memorialize Swartz and Gill.


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ESCONDIDO >> Aging apartment buildings and small, closely spaced houses crowd the downtown streets where Escondido's Hispanic population is concentrated. Whites have long since moved to the outskirts, where upscale subdivisions and wide, well-paved streets have replaced avocado and orange groves.
The downtown area might be the city's showpiece in other places, but not here. It's called the "doughnut hole," defined by the absence of something. For the Hispanics who live there and comprise nearly half of the city's 148,000 residents, what's missing is political clout.
As Hispanics surpass whites as California's largest racial or ethnic group early next year, more are getting elected to public office, including the mayors of Los Angeles and Sacramento, members of Congress, lieutenant governors and leaders of the state Legislature.
Not so in Escondido — Spanish for "Hidden." It is among a smattering of cities with large Hispanic populations that have eluded their grasp.
The north San Diego suburb elected its first Hispanic to its City Council in its 125-year history in 2008, not counting a one-term member in the 1990s, Elmer Cameron, who played down his Mexican ancestry. Councilwoman Olga Diaz, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who learned English as a second language, is running for mayor next year in the first elections with district, instead of at-large, voting to the council.
Escondido adopted district voting after getting sued under the California Voting Rights Act for its poor record of electing Hispanics. Other cities — Modesto, Anaheim, Compton, Palmdale, Whittier — have faced similar challenges. Escondido's doughnut hole, also called "the urban core," makes up District 1, whose citizen voting-age population is slightly more than 50 percent Hispanic and is seen as more likely to elect one of its own.
Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Elected Latino Officials, rattled off the names of California cities that have elected Hispanics to local office and noted that Hispanics occupy 27 of 120 seats in the state Legislature, up from seven in 1984.
Yet Hispanics are disproportionately ineligible to vote because they are either too young or are not U.S. citizens, Vargas said. Cities with large and growing Hispanic populations often have another majority group that is uncomfortable with changing demographics, he said.
Hispanics make up 33 percent of the state's adult population but only 17 percent of likely voters, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. They tend to be young, less educated, less affluent and lean Democratic. Whites comprise 44 percent of the adult population but 62 percent of likely voters.
Jose Fragozo, who moved to the San Diego area from the Mexican border city of Mexicali when he was 12, credited the Escondido Union School District's change to district voting for winning a seat on the school board in 2012 after two losses. He raised only $3,000 and knocked on every door in his downtown district, where signs at strip malls and churches mix English and Spanish and some quiet residential streets lack sidewalks and street lights.
"I could finally afford to send a mailer and go door-to-door," said Fragozo, 48, echoing a common argument for supporters of district elections.
Councilwoman Diaz, 37, first ran for her seat in 2006, outraged by an ordinance that required landlords to check the immigration status of their tenants. She stepped to the microphone during a heated council meeting to tell leaders they were "nuts" and "either incompetent or malicious."
A federal judge later blocked the ordinance before it took effect.
Diaz, a Democrat in a solidly Republican city, lost but won two years later, aided by higher name recognition, enthusiasm for Barack Obama's presidential run and a visible presence as owner of two coffee shops.
"They knew me well enough to know that I'm not a scary person," said Diaz, who is married to a white Escondido police lieutenant but kept her maiden name.
Diaz, who was easily re-elected last year, is often on the losing end of 4-1 votes and has failed to get any support for proposals such as sprucing up a barren flood control basin that crosses Hispanic neighborhoods and waiving home-remodeling permit fees for veterans.
Hispanics made up 48.9 percent of Escondido's population in 2012 but relations remain strained with city leaders. The city has impounded thousands of vehicles at checkpoints, many of them from people who don't qualify for a driver license because they are in the country illegally.
In 2010, the city forged an unusually close alliance with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has agents at police headquarters to check the immigration status of people questioned at checkpoints or elsewhere. In 2011, it began requiring city contractors to use an online federal database to verify that employees are eligible to work in the U.S.
Mayor Sam Abed, a Lebanese immigrant who is seeking a second term against Diaz, embraces the city's efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. A 2010 campaign mailer showed a photo of people running across a freeway — apparently after entering the country illegally — and proclaimed he was the only candidate who could uphold the rule of law.
"It's about quality of life. It's about prosperity. It's about public safety for everybody," said Abed, 62, a retired manager at IBM.
Abed said Escondido hasn't elected more Hispanics because those that have run are too liberal for the city, where Republicans hold a 14-point edge over Democrats in voter registration.
Julio Diaz, who works at an Escondido nursery and is not related to the councilwoman, can't vote because he is in the country illegally. He settled in Escondido 10 years ago to join his parents, who were deported after being stopped at a city checkpoint in 2010.
Diaz, 33, has tried to convince three friends who can vote to elect a City Council that would end checkpoints and other policies he considers harmful to immigrants. Their response disappoints him.
"What good will it to do?" they tell him. "Nothing."


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Friday, February 19, 2010
Pakistani Fashion Photographer
Posted by Irfan Ahson at 1:37 PM
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About Me
Irfan Ahson
- Award winning USA Wedding & Life style photographer/Engineer now settled in Lahore since Sep 2010. Over a span of barely 8 months, he has become one of the most sought after wedding photographer in Pakistan, covering grandest events from coast to coast. He holds a Masters in Civil Engineering from The Univ. of Texas, Austin but now also accepting very select photography assignments besides engineering consultancy work. You can reach him at email@example.com - 0323 4795100 to discuss your big day. By Appointment only.


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Pitbull and Hot Chelle Rae to Join Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber Live From New York on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012"
Pitbull and Hot Chelle Rae to Join Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber Live From New York on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012"
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pitbull and Hot Chelle Rae will join previously announced Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber as performers, live from New York, on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012." Jenny McCarthy will once again join the celebration by reporting live from Times Square with hosts Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest celebrating 40 years of "Rockin' Eve" history on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31 on the ABC Television Network. Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas will return to host the Los Angeles-based portions of the specials.
The bi-coastal celebration will include over 5 1/2 hours of special performances and reports on New Year's celebrations from around the globe, as well as the American tradition of Dick Clark counting down to midnight from Times Square in New York City.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the cherished New Year's Eve celebration, the festivities will begin at 8:00 p.m., ET with a special two-hour event hosted by Jenny McCarthy and Fergie entitled "New Year's Rockin' Eve: The 40th Anniversary Party."
The complete lineup beginning Saturday night, December 31 on ABC is:
"New Year's Rockin' Eve: The 40th Anniversary Party" (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET)
"Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012" (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET)
"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012, Part 1" (11:30 p.m. - 1:08 a.m., ET)
"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012, Part 2" (1:08-2:11 a.m., ET)
"Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012" is a presentation of dick clark productions, inc with Dick Clark, Ryan Seacrest and Orly Adelson serving as executive producers. Larry Klein produces.
About Jenny McCarthy
Jenny McCarthy is an actress, host, best-selling author, activist and entrepreneur. She recently reprised her recurring role on "Two and a Half Men" and her next book, "Sinner: Confessions of a Recovering Catholic," will be published in Fall 2012.
About Pitbull
Pitbull's sixth studio album, Planet Pit, features a host of pop music luminaries including Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, Jamie Foxx, Chris Brown, T-Pain and Kelly Rowland as well as star-studded producers Dr. Luke, Max Martin, David Guetta and Benny Blanco. The knockout smash "Give Me Everything" featuring Ne-Yo marks Pitbull's first #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 and Pop charts and is also a top ten hit in 15 countries. Pitbull's latest single, "International Love" featuring Chris Brown, is already making its way up the charts. Pitbull has also collaborated with some of music's biggest stars including Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Usher and Shakira, to name a few. Even with the new album, Pitbull still found time to introduce Voli, his own line of premium, low-calorie vodka and a partnership with Sheets, the dissolvable energy strip. These entrepreneurial ventures are the latest for Pitbull, who has inked major sponsorship deals with blue-chip brands like Kodak, Dr Pepper and Bud Light.
About Hot Chelle Rae
Riding high with the announcement of their win as "Sprint Best New Artist" at the American Music Awards last week and the massive success of their two irresistible pop hit singles "Tonight Tonight" and "I Like It Like That," Hot Chelle Rae released their brand new album WHATEVER in stores yesterday, November 29th on RCA Records. Declared "one of the catchiest pop-rock anthems of the summer" by USA Today, "Tonight Tonight" crashed into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July, shot to No. 1 at Hot AC radio in September, and was certified double-platinum in the U.S., and platinum in Canada and Australia. The band's brand new single "I Like It Like That," which Entertainment Weekly called "bubbly elasti-funk" and an "official fall-resisting battle cry," is climbing the Top 40 radio and Hot AC charts, while the song's documentary-style video racked up over 1 million views in its first 3 days on VEVO.
Media Contacts:
ABC Media Relations: Patrick Preblick (212.456.7819), firstname.lastname@example.com
dick clark productions: Lynda Dorf (310) 255-4600, email@example.com
Brian Rubin (310) 255-4600, firstname.lastname@example.com
SOURCE dick clark productions
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Dr. A.Celestine Raj Manohar M.D.,
Dr. A.Celestine Raj Manohar M.D., Poems
|Sonnet: On School-Life
|Sonnet: Change You Can But…
|Sonnet: The Magic Of Poverty
|On Retirement
|Sonnet: Respect
|Romantic Love
|Sonnet: A Lost Friendship
Comments about Dr. A.Celestine Raj Manohar M.D.,
Janet Mary Zylstra
As a Christian writer myself, I stand by Dr Celes' choice to expose himself and his faith in beautiful poetry to a world which today, as much as in Jesus' time, despises anything good, clean and pure. If you don't use your 'natural' name, it's
probably because he has a certain consideration for the majority of us Westerners
who cannot pronounce lengthy words in other languages. I too am a polyglot, but
Indian languages did not make up part of my education. There is so much smut
around that I do not believe anybody can write too many Christian, God praising
poems. Keep up the good work. I'm praying for you.
Poetry Hound
Why on earth would you want to be recognized for how many poems you write? Why not instead seek recognition from others regarding the quality of your output? But alas, you'll not get that from me.
Rajaram Ramachandran
Dr. A. Celestine Raj Manohar, M.D. is a prolific writer, particularly wonderful Sonnets. He is a Doctor by day and a Poet by night, which is a rare quality of a doctor in the present day world. He is a born poet and poetry is hidden in his blood. That is why he burns mid night oil to come out with his feelings on the website screen over variety of subjects. It is no wonder if his name comes up one day in the history of famous poets and as an excellent sonnet writer.
Dr John Celes
About the Poet
Dr.A.Celestine Raj Manohar M.D., PEN-NAME: dr john celes was born on Valentine's Day of 1957 at Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, INDIA, the eighth child of a well-educated, Roman Catholic family. His father Shri A.T.Antoniswami M.A.L.T., was an excellent school-teacher and a man of great learning, disciplinarian, principles and fortitude. His mother Stella was fairly educated and was able to do both the house-hold chores as well as help the children in their studies.
Dr john celes received the best English medium education at Carmel Garden Matriculation School, Coimbatore, where he was born and became a Doctor, finishing his M.B., B.S., at Coimbatore Medical College, Coimbatore in 1979 and a Physician by passing M.D.(General Medicine) in 1989 in the same college. His most cherished dream being a Medical Teacher, the poet joined PSGIMS&R, CBE where he worked for nearly seven years. Presently, he is a Professor of Medicine and Chief, Medical Unit II and Physician in IRT Perundurai Medical College and Research Center and Hospital, Perundurai, ERODE-638053, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.
A versatile person interested in academic and many extra-curricular activities like music, games, elocution, essay-writing and short-story-writing etc, the Poet took to writing English Poetry serendipitously and suddenly since May eleventh,1998, exactly coinciding with the Pokhran II Blasts of India. He started off with his 'Auto-biography' in an epic form of heroic couplets first that ran into a few thousand lines(Incomplete) . He loved to write on any topic under the Sun and many genres.
His maiden anthology of just seventeen good poems was released on Valentine's Day,2-14-1999 in the Medical College where he worked while a second booklet was released again on 5-11-1999, the First Anniversary of India's Pokhran II Blasts(India's Resurgent Day) .Though poetry was only his avocation, he has been writing it rather rapidly and voluminously as he found all the essential factors for goading a Muse to enter a writing spree, continually operative in the place where he worked.
He has been rendering his poems and even singing some of them to elite audience whenever he could. He wrote the Alma mater Song for the Medical College where he works. Not a function was held that never had the Poetry of dr john celes in it. He even instituted a small Rolling Trophy for English Poetry by Medical Students of the same college. He has participated in a number of Poetry competitions till date and went on-line to submit his many poems at the following websites: www.poemhunter.com; www.poettext.com ; www.ndtv.com poetry corner and also at www.poetry.com. He has published the world's highest number of Sonnets on-line of the Shakespearean type and hopes to enter the Guinness Book of World Records soon and eventually receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. His Poetry could one day become a 'Turning point in his career'!
According to dr john celes: God inspires, The Poet perspires, And the poem transpires.
The more a poet scribbles, the better the poems out come.
Poets can make this world a little Heaven!
Poetry is a gift from God, given to a chosen few souls on earth rarely!
written by the poet himself as the world does not know him enough as yet but his poetry already has reached colossal and remarkable levels!
Sonnet: A Lost Friendship
You were my friend then: now almost stranger!
Our friendship appeared once very glorious;
What happened meantime, gives me great anger;
Our friendship no longer remains serious.
Fool you were, to be misled by others,
Who drove a giant wedge 'midst our friendship;
Cut off is our friendship, which me bothers;
A nadir has come in our relationship.
What years of intimacy have been lost?
You've been foolish, very much on your part;
Our friendship today is just but a ghost;
Won't your eyes see the true love in my heart?
Dear friend however,...
Sonnet: On Modern Wars
Oh, modern warfare is ruthlessly fought,
With men buried alive in trenches deep;
And blown to smithereens, in crossfire caught,
While kith and kin, wives, mothers, loved ones weep!
'Tis fight to death- bodies you can't retrieve;
Or maimed so grotesquely, none can discern;
Some lost; some taken prisoners, morn and eve;
Blood-shed like river- yet not world's concern.


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Jeff, my initial thought would be to mix some caputo 00 pizzeria flour with the KABF. I have gone 50/50 with nice results.Mark
The recipe I've been using has a 12 hr poolish and a 18 hour bulk ferment in the fridge followed by 4-6 on the counter before balling. The dough is 70% hydration.
Jeff,What are you doing with it once the dough is balled?
Why not 100% KAAP?
You know, of all the flours and pizzas I've tried I don't remember ever doing 100% AP. Have you?
KAAP is the only flour I used until I got the WFO and went to Caputo.
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "tender." Do you mean you want it less crispy? You say that you don't want to add oil, so aside from trying a different flour, my only suggestion would be reduce the fermentation time (maybe omit the poolish?). But that might affect the flavor too much.
Maybe less chewy or tough is a better way to say it.
Anyone have experience adding malt powder to an already malted flour?
Have you ever tried a higher protein flour than BF?
Jeff,I did try dry malt in a couple of formulations for pizza dough. If you are interested you can see what Tom Lehmann said at Reply 20 http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,18281.msg177389.html#msg177389 and then what I posted in the next post after Tom.I also used malt in the Fairmont Bagel Pizza. http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,12463.msg118694.html#msg118694I know I used malt in other pizza doughs, but cant recall right now what they were or even if I used malted flours with malt powder.Norma
I hadn't used or seen that tool.


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In the first article in this series (The Psychologists Viewpoint) I outlined the different types of research using personal advertisements, generally printed advertisements published on the 'lonely hearts' pages of newspapers and magazines.
You will recall that over the last few years psychologists have collected and analysed thousands of these personal descriptions, and have found patterns and sex differences in what people want from a partner, how people advertise themselves to a prospective partner, and how well they pick up on the sort of things the other sex is looking for. This article looks at this from the perspective of male desires and female self-descriptions; looking at what men have actually said they are looking for in a partner, and how good women are at saying the right things to attract a man. Although this is about male wants it is probably of more use to women, particularly when you are considering the sort of thing to say in the 'in your own words' box of your online dating profile.
Firstly we will discuss the features that men particularly seek when describing their ideal partner and how women use their knowledge of this when describing themselves. Secondly we will consider how good women are at this – are there some things that women could say that would make a big difference? Finally we will consider how women can best use this information to hook the interest and get a proper look from men who are browsing through pages and pages of online profiles.
Before you read any further, pause for a moment and ask yourself what men are typically looking for in a female partner. Think of maybe four things and note them down … now read on.
What does the research say?
One of the strongest results to emerge from examining personal advertisements is the sex difference in the importance of attractiveness. Apart from age and sex, attractiveness (beauty, good looks etc.) is the most frequently described characteristic in personal advertisements written by both men and women but a whole range of studies have found that women are much more likely to describe themselves as attractive or using similar terms (handsome, beautiful, good looking etc.) than men are, and men are far more likely to say they are looking for someone who is attractive than women are.
This suggests that not only are men more interested in a partner's physical attractiveness than women but that women already know and use this information. This is also backed up when you look at other physical descriptions such as hair and eye colour. Women are far more likely to mention their own hair and eye colour than men and men are far more likely to say they are looking for a 'brown eyed brunette' (or whatever) than women are. The other physical attribute that stands out is build or weight, often expressed as dress size. Granted there is no simple male equivalent to a woman describing herself as a 'size 10' (pretty slim in UK dress sizes) but there are plenty of other words (trim, slender, muscular) that could be used. Even so, men are more likely to describe the size/weight range of the person they are looking for than women, and women are more likely to describe their own size, build or weight than men.
Another important factor that emerges from the research is age. Age is almost always mentioned in advertisements written by both men and women. Usually both the age of the writer and the age range of their preferred partner are specified. There is little difference in whether or not age is mentioned so it looks like it is similarly important to both sexes. However there is a difference when you start looking at the actual numbers. In general, women are looking for someone of similar age to themselves or someone who is older by a few years. It is rare to come across a woman who states she is looking for someone younger. Men are usually looking for someone of a similar age or younger, in some cases considerably younger. This suggests youth is something that is valued by men, and perhaps this ties in with ideas about what is attractive.
Apart from stating their physiological age in years, many women who are (perhaps) re-entering the dating scene a little later in life give a more subjective evaluation of their age, usually saying something that implies youth such as young at heart, youthful, or looks younger. Older men also do this but it is much more common in women's self-descriptions and women begin to use claims of youthfulness at earlier ages than men.
Overall, then, looking at personal advertisements the biggest difference between men and women is over description of physical characteristics including attractiveness and body size or shape, and specific physical features that may be considered attractive such as eye colour and hair colour. Age ties in with this if we assume a link between youth and attractiveness. Men tend to want younger, sometimes much younger partners while women, particularly older women, tend to describe themselves as being youthful in outlook or directly tie this in with looks by claiming to be young looking for their age.
On a wider level, a number of researchers have remarked that when women describe themselves they tend to emphasise their male-valued, physical traits rather than the traits that they, as women, place value on. It would be easy to argue that women do this because they hold stereotypical, even prejudiced views of men but the strong evidence of a match between how women describe themselves and what men actually say they want indicates women have got it about right. It appears that when women write an advertisement or dating profile, they often do a good job of writing for a male audience and seem to have a pretty clear idea of how best to promote themselves and attract male attention.
How can we use this?
Most of this is unsurprising and you may be thinking that you already knew this. However you now know for sure that this is not just prejudice but is backed up by scientific research. More importantly, this is knowledge you can use to improve your own profile.
Although there is little you can do to change your age, attractiveness and physical features, there is plenty of scope to decide what you emphasise and the kind of language you use. I am not suggesting that you lie, particularly since the whole idea is that you will eventually meet up and overt lying about physical features would do you no good at all. Without lying it is perfectly possible to focus on your best features and try to use the kind of keywords that men are likely to pick up on.
With online dating profiles, photographs are generally a prerequisite to getting responses and given the sex differences in the importance of attractiveness, it's probably fair to say a good quality photo showing you in your best light is particularly important for women.
Apart from this there are the 'in your own words' sections of your profile. If you or others consider you attractive then mention this, don't worry about the fact that it is already in the form-like section of your profile. If you are slim then mention this. If you are not comfortable with claiming either of these then mention your most attractive features such as your beautiful eyes, lovely auburn hair, attractive personality and/or young outlook. Notice the language I am using: it may seem trivial but adjectives like attractive, beautiful, lovely and young will catch the attention of the men who (on average) are more interested in this sort of thing than women. Men are predisposed towards spotting this kind of thing and even those who claim to be more interested in personality than looks will notice these words. If you feel you can refer to yourself as young and stunningly beautiful with a great figure then do so. If you don't feel that confident then use more moderate language or qualify these statements (young at heart, considered beautiful by some, attractive figure) and refer to specific features like your hair and eyes. Using key words such as these and mentioning your physical features makes it more likely you will grab his attention and your profile will get more than a brief scan and then move on.
To wrap things up, this article has outlined the results of psychological research into what men say they want in a partner and how women describe themselves. This information has then been used to provide insight into the sort of language that might help a woman's personal description catch a man's eye.
The next article in this series, She wants and he is, turns the tables and considers what women say they want from men, how men describe themselves, and how good (or bad) men are at picking up on what women are actually looking for in a partner.