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Portal 2
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Software Details
|Brand: Valve
|Media: DVD-ROM
|Hardware Platform: PC
|Operating System: Mac OS X
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Portal 2 is a unique first-person Action-Puzzle-Platforming game that tests player's ability to think and act creatively as they use the game's ingenious wormhole creating portal gun to produce their own paths through otherwise sealed surfaces and across the open spaces of the game. Sequel to the original Portal game -- the surprise add-on hit included in Valve Corporation's 2007 release The Orange Box -- Portal 2 continues the storyline from the first game, featuring both new and returning characters, and poses a range of new challenges making for a much deeper game. Additional features include a new two player co-op mode and an original soundtrack.
In Portal 2 players awake in the Aperture Science Labs as Chell, the heroine of the original game. A great expanse of time has passed since the conclusion of the first game and the gameworld has fallen into visible disrepair, but placed in suspended animation, Chell has survived intact and is revived. With the help of a robotic entity the concluding events of the past game are revealed and you escape your initial confinement, but in doing so GLaDOS, the the AI computer antagonist from the previous game is also reawakened. Just as fickle as ever, GLaDOS' motives are unknown. Insisting on testing you, it may assist you but may also be planning something more sinister.
Like the original game, Portal 2 is a first-person Platform-Puzzle game. In the single player campaign players assume the role of Chell, a former test subject trying to gain her freedom from the Aperture Science facility and GLaDOS, the AI controller of the facility. Set in the test chambers of the facility your goal is to make your way through the game levels using your portal gun (the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device). The portal gun creates temporary passages through solid surfaces, allowing for creative platforming and multiple possible means of clearing a level. The game also requires the player to solve puzzles at times to clear sections of levels. In addition to point-to-point movement through portals, players can also utilize other means of movement of themselves and various objects. These include: using the momentum of portal movement to make jumps to open positions like ledges; tractor beams; and special propulsion/repulsion gels that can be carried or stored.
Portal 2 contains a multiplayer option in the form of a two-player co-op mode. This is playable both locally and online, with split-screen functionality available in local play and in select places during online play. Players assume the role of one of two robotic characters, Atlas or P-body, both new to the franchise. These two have separated from the control of GLaDOS and so must survive its anger, divvied out in the form puzzles, obstacles and misdirection. Each player has control of their own portal gun, which they use to platform through the game levels, avoiding its dangers and relying on each other.
New gameplay challenges.
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Creative Puzzle Platforming.
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All-new 2-player co-op mode.
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Exciting first-person action.
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More Details
|Publisher: Valve
|Category: Games
|Binding: DVD-ROM
|Language: English
Similar Products
|The Orange Box
|Crysis 2
|Portal 2: The Official Guide
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When Jordan Youd met his future wife, Matti, in 2002, he knew he'd found his perfect match.
The pair met just weeks into their first term at Trinity Western University. He offered her a ride home from a bowling event and they clicked.
"I told my folks that I was done," the 29-year-old recalled while lying in a bed at St. Paul's awaiting surgery. "I had found the girl I was going to marry."
He couldn't know then he'd be a perfect match for his wife in other ways: 10 years later, he would be tested as a compatible organ donor and undergo surgery to donate a kidney to save her life.
After their marriage in 2006, Matti was healthy and active, training for a half-marathon while teaching autistic children. Then everything changed.
"I remember stepping on a scale one morning and realizing I was 15 pounds heavier. I was like 'whoa, we are eating salad for a week,'" Matti recalled, sitting in a waiting room at St. Paul's as her husband prepped for surgery.
"I started getting really bad headaches and noticed I could make dents in my legs. I thought 'OK, something is really weird."'
Something was very wrong. Her kidneys were shutting down, due to an auto-immune disorder called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, which scars kidney filters.
She declined rapidly, hit with fatigue, nausea and insomnia. Her tissues swelled with 60 pounds of water. Some mornings, she couldn't open her eyelids. Getting up after sitting was agony.
"It hurt so bad, it was brutal," she recalled. "I could barely walk."
"We joked she started to look like the Michelin Man," Jordan said.
But her condition was far from funny. For a few years, while they lived in Toronto, Matti's kidney function held at 30 per cent with medication and restricting salt intake to under 500 mg a day.
"It's one thing to say don't eat salt, but to not actually eat salt for five years, I mean, there is salt in everything. There is salt in milk," Matti said of her restrictive diet.
Despite her efforts, the disease progressed and by the time they returned to B.C. and Matti's care was transferred to St. Paul's in 2012, her kidney function dropped into the teens.
St. Paul's nephrologist Dr. Monica Beaulieu suggested a transplant. The news came as a relief.
"A transplant represents an end to this whole thing," Jordan said.
He had no doubt he would offer to donate. "I have two kidneys, she needs one."
His wife sees his gift differently.
"Jordan is giving me a kidney and that is incredible," Matti said, tears welling in her eyes, "but for me the biggest gift was how he treated me the entire five years I was sick."
Now, she said, "I just look forward to living life again. This is my second chance."
She's grateful to St. Paul's for that chance.
"The team at St. Paul's has been fantastic. My nurse and doctors have made me feel I am more than just a name on a chart. When they said 'we need to get you started for a transplant,' those words were such a relief ... all of a sudden there was an end in sight ... the struggle was going to be over one day, and that day is today."
• • •
Across Canada, many patients with kidney disease are waiting for their own second chance.
Nearly 40,000 people are being treated for kidney failure and more than 4,000 are waiting for an organ transplant — 80 per cent for a kidney. But the average wait time in Canada is three-and-a-half years.
In B.C., some 14,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease, and 400 are on donor wait-lists. They will wait, on average, over five years.
More than 4,700 transplants have been performed in B.C. since the first operation in 1968 at Vancouver General Hospital. St. Paul's had its first in 1986.
Increasingly, living donors are behind those stats, said St. Paul's urologist and kidney transplant surgeon Dr. Bill Gourlay.
"We probably have per capita the most living donors [in B.C.]," said Dr. Gourlay, who has done a thousand kidney transplants since joining the hospital in 1997.
One factor spurring living donations is that "B.C. has been one of the worst provinces for deceased donors, and we've had one of the longest wait times."
But living donation offers hope. Last year at St. Paul's, for instance, 60 per cent of its record-setting 101 kidney transplants involved a living donor.
• • •
By 9 a.m., Matti's living donor is under anesthetic in O.R. No. 4 and St. Paul's urologist and kidney transplant surgeon Dr. Michael Eng and resident Dr. Michelle Longpre make the first incision.
The surgeons create small cuts using laparoscopic cameras and ultrasonic surgical tools to delicately free his left kidney from surrounding tissues.
As they work, Jordan's abdominal cavity is projected onto three screens.
The doctors work fast.
By 9:15 a.m. the kidney is exposed and they separate the adrenal gland, then isolate the vein, artery and the ureter connecting it to the bladder.
By 10 a.m. the surgeons start a low abdominal incision through which to remove the kidney.
A nurse from BC Transplant stands by with a red organ transplant bag that looks like a lunch cooler, but is labelled: Human organ for transplant. Handle with care. Keep cool. Do not freeze.
Time is of the essence now — to preserve the organ, transplants are swift. They clamp and cut the vessels and Dr. Eng pulls out the organ at 10:36 a.m. He places it in a tray, and he and the nurse flush the pale pink fist-sized organ — so small, but so important.
"It's completely selfless, to undergo the risk of surgery for someone else," Dr. Eng muses as surgery winds down. "It's one of the most stressful surgeries, because you're operating on a healthy person."
But it's gone well. Dr. Gourlay and a resident move in to prepare the organ, slicing away excess tissue with scalpels and tweezers.
Just after 11 a.m. Jordan's kidney is dropped into a plastic tub, packed in ice and locked in a transplant bag until Matti's surgery.
It doesn't stay on ice long.
By 12:45 p.m., Matti is sedated in O.R. No. 5 and Dr. Longpre, under Dr. Gourlay's supervision, makes a seven-inch cut on her right side.
The surgeons retract the skin and muscle and detach connective tissues. They isolate the artery and vein that supply the right leg so the vessels of the new kidney can be grafted on. The team leave Matti's failing kidneys in her body, avoiding extra surgery. Soon, she'll have three.
At 1:30 p.m., they are ready for the organ. "Where's the bean?" Dr. Gourlay jokes. Nurses place it into a metal pan in an icy bath. After a few minutes of prep, the kidney is lowered into Matti's body. First, the vein is attached, then the artery — but they are clamped so no blood flows. By 2:13 p.m. they remove the clamps. Blood flows and the kidney pinks.
The surgeons move to attach the ureter, but before they do, a dribble of liquid comes out: urine. Matti's new kidney has started working in just under three minutes.
"That's a great sign," Dr. Gourlay says.
By 2:50 p.m., it's all over.
"How does it look? Dr. Gourlay asks. "Beautiful," Dr. Longpre replies.
Jordan's kidney is now Matti's.
• • •
Upstairs, on ward 6B, Jordan is already awake and recovering.
"I hurt," he said, wincing. "It feels like I got run over by a truck."
But both are hopeful the worst is over and are making plans to enjoy a new start.
They plan to camp in the Olympic Peninsula, walk Spain's Camino de Santiago, travel, hike and do everything they've put on hold.
"Then," Jordan added with a grin, "we want to eat salt. She hasn't been able to have salt in five years. She has a list of food."
First on the list, Matti said, is a stack of pancakes with pulled pork and a side of pork belly.
But before they can celebrate, there is a long process of recovery: two months for him, three for her, packed with tests and clinic visits. Matti will need anti-rejection drugs for the rest of her life. Her condition comes with a high rate of recurrence — there are no guarantees the transplant will last.
Their parents — Jim and Fran Youd from California and Luce and Ron Preston from Ontario — flew in to care for them.
"I think they've handled it remarkably well," Jordan's mother Fran said, moved by her son's decision to donate to his wife.
"She just amazes me," Matti's mother Luce said of her cheerful perseverance through her illness. "And he is always there for her."
Two weeks after the transplant, Jordan is up and about but still has a poor appetite and tires easily. Matti had a rejection scare after subpar test results and a rapid 20-pound water weight gain, but she's back on track, realizing she has to remain strict with salt.
Throughout, the couple have kept spirits up with humour. To mark the surgery, friends gave them funny T-shirts. His says: Ask me about my missing organs." Hers: "I have male parts."
Jordan vows not to let his wife forget it. Some people might be wary of a spouse using "I gave you my kidney!" as a retort in future arguments. Not Jordan.
"Oh, no, I'm probably going to do that," he said, only half in jest. "That's totally in bounds. Whenever we get in a fight I'm just going to touch the place it was and say, 'Oh, man.'"
How to become an organ donor
BC Transplant surveys show while 85 per cent of BC residents support organ donation and intend to register, only about 18 per cent have done so, about 847,400 residents.
These organs are at a premium: On average, there are 25,000 deaths in B.C. a year and less than one per cent will die in a way that can permit organ donation.
To register as an organ donor in BC, visit https://transplant.bc.ca/OnlineReg/bcts.asp.
Donor registration cards are also available at motor vehicle licensing branches, doctors' offices, ICBC and London Drugs locations, and other pharmacies.
Download a form at www.transplant.bc.ca/RegCard06.pdf or contact BC Transplant at www.transplant.bc.ca/organ_form.asp to request one by mail.
Source: The Kidney Foundation of Canada
Donate Status Update
As of September, Canadians can share their status as an organ donor on Facebook.
The social networking service launched a tool to allow users to display their donor status on their timelines (they must still sign up with their provincial organ registry) and share their reasoning with family and friends.
The goal is to spread awareness of the need to register for organ donation. Visit: http://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=338196302902319#How-do-I-share-that-I%E2%80%99m-an-organ-donor-on-Facebook?
Source: The Kidney Foundation of Canada.

subset: commoncrawl


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How do you depict a woman you have never seen? Not only has no one alive today seen her, no physical description of her exists.
News stories and atheist bloggers have been writing about a rumor that the construction of the Ark project may somehow be in jeopardy!
How many animals were on Noah's Ark? Your answer depends on whether you prefer "lumping" or "splitting."
God is preparing each of us today for work He may not show us until years from now.
Much to the consternation of many secularists, the full-size Noah's Ark is going up up!
After years of prayer, numerous battles, and lots of hard work, we are now starting construction of the evangelistic Ark Encounter project!
Many secularists seek to undermine the Ark project by spreading myths about the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. The truth is contrary to their claims.
The first wave of massive earth-moving equipment is descending on the location of the future Ark Encounter in northern Kentucky.
AU is being quite intentional when it fails to explain the true nature of the sales tax refund for the Ark Encounter.
When the Ark Project sails, everybody will benefit—even those who are stubbornly trying to sink it.
The myth that the Ark will be constructed with funds taken from the Kentucky budget (and presumably away from needed state programs) is rampant.
Lawrence O'Donnell and MSNBC seem to think they have license to lie about the Ark Encounter for the sake of carrying out their anti-Christian agenda.
As the wooden pegs were hammered into beams on May 1, I saw the event as part of a continuing reformation to restore biblical authority that started in 1961.
We are thrilled that Dr. Whitcomb will be on hand for the Hammer and Peg Ceremony, which will kick-start the construction of the Ark Encounter.
Many media outlets continue to spread false information about AiG.
A few weeks ago, we were feeling a bit like the Israelites as they were leaving Egypt. We needed the Lord to "part the Red Sea"—and miraculously, He did!
The president/CEO of Answers in Genesis announced that enough money had been raised through a bond offering to start construction of the Ark Encounter project.
We are pleased to announce that enough money has been raised for the bond offering to allow the release of the funds to start construction of the Ark Encounter project in Williamstown, Kentucky.
Future of the Ark project to be revealed.
Looking back, as Answers in Genesis has stepped out in faith, we have seen God's hand all along the way.
The Ark's one and only voyage took place over 4,300 years ago, yet this magnificent vessel still captures the imaginations of believers and unbelievers alike.
Passing another significant milestone, the Ark Encounter, LLC, closed today on the last and largest piece of land for its planned development.
If the Ark Encounter is to be a sign to the world, would that violate Matthew 12:39? Mark Looy, AiG—U.S., explains.
Answers in Genesis has been accused of being too evangelistic and too focused on the gospel of Christ Jesus. Could we be using our resources for something better?
No results found in Ark Encounter News.
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.


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Illinois has so many problems with how it governs and taxes its populace, we couldn't possibly write about each in the space we have here.
Today, we'll focus on the assessment process – how governing bodies assess how much your home and property is worth and then determine what your annual property tax will be.
If there's any evidence that Illinois' system is flawed for assessing property values and determining how much in taxes are owed, it's in the growing number of assessment challenges the past few years and the overwhelming success of those challenges.
Supervisor of Assessments Robert Ross told the Northwest Herald for a story published last week that he estimates that more than 10,000 county property owners have filed appeals this year. That's up from the 8,893 appeals filed the past year. And the past year's number was a 51 percent increase over the 5,885 appeals in 2010, which was 40 percent higher than 2009, according to senior reporter Kevin Craver's story. And homeowners are winning the overwhelming number of appeals being filed.
The year-over-year increases in appeals is a statewide trend, and has been ongoing since the housing bubble burst and homeowners started seeing steady declines in the value of their homes.
Despite the drastic decline in property values, property taxes have continued to steadily increase.
Among the problems with Illinois' flawed system is that townships – of which there are 17 in McHenry County – are responsible for assessing properties within their boundaries. Each of the townships' 17 assessors have their own procedures, creating an uneven system for determining who pays what.
There should be a single, countywide assessment office with a team of assessors who all are working from the same playbook. This should lead to a declining number of costly and time-consuming appeals.
Another problem with the system is the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, or tax cap. PTELL largely is the reason your property taxes continue to rise as your home values decline. It allows taxing bodies such as school districts and municipalities to seek more in property tax revenue each year, despite the poor economy and falling home values.
State Rep. Jack Franks sought to fix PTELL with legislation that would keep tax levies flat when property values decline, but that bill failed to pass, in part because school districts and other taxing bodies lobbied against it.
Fixing Illinois' faulty property tax and assessment system might not be priority No. 1 for state lawmakers in 2013 – that distinction goes to public pension reform – but it has to be close to the top.
Taxpayers deserve it.


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Thursday, August 8, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Guest Post: Top Audiobooks for Children
Many friends ask: Debbie, how do you read so much? Audiobooks have helped me become quite versed in children's literature through the years. I'm quite passionate about various novels and appreciate that I grew in my knowledge about young adult literature initially through audiobooks. I also jumped back into my childhood by listening to familiar favorites and classics. Additionally, as a mother, I adore using audiobooks with my son. I love that my son loves to read with others. He adores read-alouds and has grown as a reader with his vocabulary and comprehension due in part to being immersed in children's literature since he was an infant. Last year, my son and I carpooled together back and forth from school and we listened to books such as BFG by Roald Dahl and Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. Then we listened to Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. We have both missed carpooling this year with our transition to a new job and location. Recently, I noticed that he has been reluctant to transition to the chapter books he is capable of reading, so I began providing him with quality audiobooks on an iTouch. He has loved this transition and enjoyed listening to Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne, Holes (twice) by Louis Sachar, Love that Dog by Sharon Creech, Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer, Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke, and many more books that I mentioned in the above lists. So far, he loves the independence and I enjoyed seeing an eagerness in his book selection again. Personally, I purposefully plan my audiobook selections with young adult and adult literature in mind since I prefer a balance of genres when I'm reading multiple books at once. I also try to listen to books which won the Odyssey award and I am never disappointed by the selections.
Here are some favorite children's and young adult audiobooks: please note, these have purposefully been placed in alphabetical order and organized by a suggested grade level range in addition to genre and quick book talk provided for each title. Your child may be fully capable of enjoying and comprehending books at lower or higher levels than organized below, these are simply suggestions:
Kindergarten-2nd Grade; Years 1-3:
The World According to Humphrey (Humphrey Series) by Betty G. Birney, Animal Fiction
- Humphrey, the class hamster, learns a lot about the human species through observation.
- Humphrey, the class hamster, learns a lot about the human species through observation.
Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins Collections by Beverly Cleary, Realistic Fiction
- Prepare yourself for loads of laughs! Henry Huggins is narrated by Neil Patrick Harris.
- Prepare yourself for loads of laughs! Henry Huggins is narrated by Neil Patrick Harris.
BFG by Roald Dahl, Fantasy
-What do you think BFG stands for? What adventure would you expect if a giant reached into your window and carried you away? Enjoy the adventures of a little orphan girl Sophie and her BFG.
-What do you think BFG stands for? What adventure would you expect if a giant reached into your window and carried you away? Enjoy the adventures of a little orphan girl Sophie and her BFG.
Louise, Adventures of a Chicken by Kate diCamillo, Animal Fiction
- Louise is a chicken on a mission, to go out and experience the world. Winner of the Odyssey Book Award in 2010, amazing production to enjoy in addition to the bonus opportunity to read along with this picture book.
- Louise is a chicken on a mission, to go out and experience the world. Winner of the Odyssey Book Award in 2010, amazing production to enjoy in addition to the bonus opportunity to read along with this picture book.
Mercy Watson Series by Kate diCamillo, Animal Fiction
- Who sleeps with their pig and feeds her buttered toast?
- Who sleeps with their pig and feeds her buttered toast?
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett, Fantasy
- Would you believe a wild alley cat who tells you about dragons and a wild island?
Free audiobook here: http://librivox.org/my-fathers-dragon-by-ruth-stiles-gannett/
- Would you believe a wild alley cat who tells you about dragons and a wild island?
Free audiobook here: http://librivox.org/my-fathers-dragon-by-ruth-stiles-gannett/
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel, Animal Fiction
- Can a frog and toad be friends? Can their adventures with swimming together and telling one another stories keep you laughing?
- Can a frog and toad be friends? Can their adventures with swimming together and telling one another stories keep you laughing?
Gooney Bird Collection by Lois Lowry, Realistic Fiction
- Would you show up with underwear on your head?
- Would you show up with underwear on your head?
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty McDonald, Fantasy
- Have you ever been trapped in your room by your toys?
- Have you ever been trapped in your room by your toys?
Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne, Fantasy
- Would you go on magical missions if you got the chance?
- Would you go on magical missions if you got the chance?
Junie B. Jones Series by Barbara Park, Realistic Fiction
- Would you worry about riding on a bus if your best friend tells you that chocolate milk will be poured on your head?
- Would you worry about riding on a bus if your best friend tells you that chocolate milk will be poured on your head?
Clementine Series by Sarah Pennypacker, Realistic Fiction
- Ever read a book with a main character who insists on calling her little brother a vegetable name instead of his regular name?
- Ever read a book with a main character who insists on calling her little brother a vegetable name instead of his regular name?
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, Animal Fiction
- A pig and a spider become the best of friends, what can happen with that combination?
- A pig and a spider become the best of friends, what can happen with that combination?
Stuart Little by E.B. White, Animal Fiction
- Imagine parents adopting a mouse as your sibling.
- Imagine parents adopting a mouse as your sibling.
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, Animal Fiction
- Did you hear about the trumpeter swan who can't honk? Give him a trumpet of course!
- Did you hear about the trumpeter swan who can't honk? Give him a trumpet of course!
3rd-4th Grade; Years 4-5:
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, Fantasy
- An assistant pig-keeper embarks on a huge fantasy journey.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger, Realistic Fiction/Fantasy
- Would you trust the advice of a piece of origami to guide your life?
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Animal Fiction
-Growing up in a mall, what kind of lifestyle would you expect? Find out how Ivan, the gorilla, survives!
Hold Fast by Blue Balliett, Historical Fiction
- Mysterious pieces are unraveled after a father disappears on his way home from work one day.
OZ Series by Frank L. Baum, Fantasy
- Get lost in a land where there might be glass people, talking animals, and magical flowers.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume, Realistic Fiction
- How would you deal with a little brother getting into all of your special belongings? Find out how Peter deals with his little brother Fudge.
Allie Finkle's Series by Meg Cabot, Realistic Fiction
- "Don't stick a spatula down your best friend's throat." - Now who could go wrong with learning rules like that?
Floors by Patrick Carman, Fantasy
- If you could design a room in a magical hotel, what kind of room would it be? Underwater? Life-size computer game room?
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer, Fantasy
- Can fairy tales be connected with our reality?
Love that Dog by Sharon Creech, Realistic Fiction/Novel in Verse
- "Nope, can't do it, brain's empty."
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, Historical Fiction
- Can you find someone with only a music poster to guide you?
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/The Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl, Fantasy
- Go on a magical journey into a delicious world with Charlie Bucket!
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies, Realistic Fiction
- Which is more important, being able to talk with people or being a math genius? Find great tips on running your own business while hearing how a brother and sister begin a war.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate diCamillo, Realistic Fiction
- Who names their dog after a grocery store?
Tale of Despereaux by Kate diCamillo, Fantasy
- Can a mouse be a hero?
Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, Fantasy
- How would you react if your house was smashed and your favorite things were thrown away? Would you retaliate by tying someone's hair to their bedposts?
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke, Fantasy
- Can friends complete a mission and get to a safe haven for dragons?
Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke, Fantasy
- Would you help solve a murder for a ghost knight?
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman, Fantasy
- What would your life be like if your name was Odd?
Our Only May Amelia and The Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm, Historical Fiction
- How would you feel if you had seven brothers and you were the only girl? How about if your father says that girls are useless?
The Pepins and their Problems by Polly Horvath, Humorous Fiction/Fantasy
- Have you heard of a family that has a cow that only produces lemonade? That's only one part of this hilarious tale.
Bunnicula Series by James Howe, Fantasy/Animal Fiction
- Vampire bunny. Dog and cat pets work to solve the mystery.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, Fantasy
- What would you do if you were cursed to always do what someone told you to do?
Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis, Fantasy
- Talking Lion. Magical Wardrobe. Evil witches. Siblings adventure.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, Fantasy
- A quest to help parents leads Minli to be joined by a dragon.
Alvin Ho Series by Lenore Look, Realistic Fiction
- Can't talk at school, except with his eyes. Terrified of many things but LOVES firecrackers!
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass, Fantasy
- What would you do if you started to live a day over and over again?
Judy Moody Series by Megan McDonald, Realistic Fiction
- Have you ever started a new school year in a bad mood?
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Realistic Fiction
- How would you solve a problem when your parents tell you to do something but you want to do the opposite?
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien, Fantasy/Science Fiction
- Solve this: house about to be plowed down, but you can't move your child who is sick with pneumonia. What does a little mouse do to save her family? How can rats help solve the situation?
Winterling by Sarah Prineas, Fantasy
- When Fer travels to a magical land, she begins to find out who she really is.
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling, Fantasy
- Young wizards. Fantastic wizard school. Young boy who finally fits in somewhere.
Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan, Historical Fiction
- Would you disguise yourself in order to ride a horse?
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden, Animal Fiction
- A little cricket accidentally travels by picnic basket to New York. How will this new location change him?
Tiger- Five Ancestors Series by Jeff Stone, Historical Fiction
- When their temple burns down, five young warrior monks struggle to survive.
5th-6th Grade; Years 6-7
Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson, Science Fiction
- What could go wrong when whales hire scientists to invent stilts and lasers to fit over their eyes?
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Fantasy
- How does Peter Pan become magical? Make his friends? Read to find out!
Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach, Realistic Fiction/Mystery
- How would you enjoy solving a mystery connected with a huge diamond hidden somewhere in your home?
Atherton Series, Book One- The House of Power by Patrick Carman, Science Fiction
- A mad scientist creates a three tiered world that orbits above earth. Mysterious activities on the world are discovered by a young climber...
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko, Historical Fiction
- Go live on Alcatraz island and find out how to connect with world-known criminals!
Extra Credit by Andrew Clements, Realistic Fiction
- Abby is about to fail the sixth grade, unless she does her homework, does well on exams and completes an extra credit assignment: to write letters to someone from another country and culture... what might happen when her pen pal turns out to be a boy from Afghanistan?
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins, Fantasy
- What lies underground, gigantic bats? spiders? Mysterious magical people? Gregor and his little sister begin to find out when they accidentally slide down a laundry chute to a new underworld.
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, Realistic Fiction
- The most brilliant girl in school is trapped within her body without any chance to let anyone know how smart she is. What happens when she gets a device that allows her to finally communicate?
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, Science Fiction
- There is a city which is completely dark with no moon, no sun, no stars. The only light comes from electricity, which is failing.
Rangers Apprentice Series by John Flanagan, Fantasy
- Will is selected to be a Rangers Apprentice but doubts whether he should be such since he's scared of the Rangers who wear dark cloaks and seem to act in shadowy ways.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Fantasy
- When you have the magical power to read people into and out of books, what can go wrong?
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos, Realistic Fiction
- Joey is a boy who has a challenge. He's a good kid but he can't follow the rules or pay attention. Can he ever get things right?
Once by Morris Gleitzman, Historical Fiction
- Felix is a Jewish boy hiding from the Nazis in a Catholic orphanage. Unfortunately, he doesn't know anything about the war and runs off from his safe hiding place right into the Nazi occupied areas of Poland.
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Science Fiction
- Imagine being a forbidden child, hidden by population police living without being allowed to make friends or even go outside.
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, Historical Fiction
- Dust storms drastically change life in Billy Jo's Oklahoma community.
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen, Realistic Fiction
- How would you rescue burrowing owls from a bulldozer?
Time Stops for No Mouse by Michael Hoeye, Animal Fiction/Mystery
- A watchmaker receives a watch to repair from a mysterious character, repairs the watch and then goes on a dangerous mission to return the watch to its owner.
Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Jacobsen, Realistic Fiction
- A young boy is abandoned by his mother in the middle of a national park. How will he survive?
Redwall by Brian Jacques, Fantasy/Animal Fiction
- Enter the fantasy mouse world of Redwall where peace loving mice's lives are disrupted by an evil rat warlord.
See You At Harry's by Jo Knowles, Realistic Fiction
- Find out how one character deals with being the middle child in a loving family dealing with a terrible accident.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, Fantasy
- Three children journey through space and time in order to save their father.
Rules by Cynthia Lord, Realistic Fiction
- Would you accept life as a 13 year old with a little brother with autism who rules your family?
Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass, Realistic Fiction
- If you learned there would be a total eclipse of the sun, would you be drawn to the best place on earth to view it? Three all connected in that special location.
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, Fantasy
- To unify a divided people, four boys are selected to compete to be the "false" prince.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Realistic Fiction
- Watch the transition of life through different perspectives when a boy with a facial deformity enters a mainstream school for the first time in this beautiful, fantastic story.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Adventure/Survival
- After a plane crash, Brian survives in the wilderness for 54 days.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini, Fantasy
- When Eragon finds a blue stone, he doesn't realize that he is going to have a dragon hatchling to care for.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, Mystery
- Be prepared for an amazing reading of a will with 16 people.
Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan, Fantasy
- Percy didn't know that being kicked out of a boarding school was the least of his concerns. He soon discovered Greek myths coming to life around him... what could happen?
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, Historical Fiction
- Esperanza lived like a princess for years until her family had to flee to California and settle at a camp for Mexican farm workers.
Holes by Louis Sachar, Realistic Fiction/Fantasy
- Stanley Yelnats is sent to serve a sentence for theft at Camp Green Lake and the first job he had was: to dig holes.
Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson, Science Fiction
- Alcatraz is an unlikely hero with a talent for breaking things... his mission? To rescue a bag of sand from the hands of evil librarians.
First Light by Rebecca Stead, Science Fiction/Adventure
- Peter goes to live in Greenland with his parents on a special research mission to learn about global warming. Thea has never seen the sun and lives deep inside the arctic ice with her community. What happens when the two of them meet?
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens, Fantasy
- Three siblings have been in orphanages for the past ten years. What adventures do they have with magic and time travel ahead of them?
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, Mystery/Adventure
- "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" This ad led to many children taking numerous mind bending tests and four children succeeding in getting approval to go on secret missions.
The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John, Adventure
- Mystery centers around Martine's life after she encounters Jemma the white giraffe at her grandmother's wildlife game preserve.
7th-8th Grade; Years 8-9
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, Historical Fiction
- Fight to stay alive during a fever epidemic in 1793.
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares, Realistic Fiction
- A pair of pants mysteriously perfectly fit a group of best friends. The friends agree to share the pants during their summer adventures.
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, Realistic Fiction
- Follow a girl through her discovery of being a princess to high expectations and princess lessons from her grandmother.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Fantasy
- A millionaire, genius 12 year old kidnaps a fairy and soon learns that fairies can be quite fierce!
The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer, Fantasy
- A boy and his sister were kidnapped by a fierce berserkers and forced to survive on a ship.
Wee Free Men by Terry Hatchett, Fantasy
- What would you do if your little brother was kidnapped? Would you align yourself with fierce six-inch little blue men to rescue him?
Scat by Carl Hiaasen, Realistic Fiction
- When a teacher goes missing, two students get drawn into a swampy mystery.
The Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill, Fantasy
- A fierce princess warrior must protect herself and her kingdom from an invasion. Would she succeed after allying herself with vampires, wolf people, and snow leopards?
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby, Fantasy
- Mystery shrouds an iced-in kingdom.
Pendragon, Book 1, The Merchant of Death by D.J. MacHale, Fantasy/Adventure
- Bobby discovers he must be the hero after being swept into an alternate dimension during this non-stop action, page turning book.
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson, Adventure/Realistic Fiction
- A punishment for a terrible crime: to survive one year banished on an island in Alaska.
Keys to the Kingdom Series by Garth Nix, Fantasy
- An asthmatic boy is swept up into another world on a mission to locate seven powerful keys.
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, Science Fiction
- A girl writes an essay explaining how aliens came to earth and kidnapped her mother. What an adventure!
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, Historical Fiction
- Two unlikely friends both grow over a year in this touching, upsetting story.
Switchers by Kate Thomas, Fantasy
- Tess is a switcher, she can change her shape into any animal form she wishes, and believes, incorrectly, that she is alone. Little does she know that she must join forces with another switcher and work to save the Northern hemisphere!
9th-12th Grade; Years 10-13:
- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Realistic Fiction
- What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell, Historical Fiction
-Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, Adventure/Survival/Satire
-Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Adventure/Science Fiction/Dystopian
-The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Adventure/Science Fiction
-Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, Historical Fiction
-Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, Historical Fiction/Science Fiction
-A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, Historical Fiction
-Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis, Multicultural/Survival
-Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, Science Fiction/Dystopian
-Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman, Fantasy
-Looking for Alaska by John Green, Realistic Fiction
-The Fault in our Stars by John Green, Realistic Fiction
-Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, Realistic Fiction
-Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Adventure
-The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson, Science Fiction
-Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Science Fiction/Dystopian
-Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy, Survival/Realistic Fiction
-The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater, Fantasy
-Daughter of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor, Fantasy
-Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, Steampunk (alternative history)
-Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff, Realistic Fiction
There are excellent young adult audiobooks lists here: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/amazing-audiobooks
Here are some good online resources for locating audiobooks:
Great Pinterest Collections on audiobooks:
another two:
Great audiobook post- "The Power of Audiobooks":
Wonderful post on supporting readers' growth from audiobooks:
Interesting article on audiobook narrators: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/30/business/media/actors-today-dont-just-read-for-the-part-reading-is-the-part.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Few other articles on favorite audiobook narrators:
Here are a few miscellaneous audiobook blog posts connecting readers to audiobooks:
Guest Blogger Info
Debbie Alvarez is a Teacher Librarian in Hong Kong. She enjoys sharing her literacy, technology, and research skill ideas through the blog: http://thestylinglibrarian.com in addition to communicating on Twitter as @stylinlibrarian. Please visit her at Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1941055-the-styling-librarian
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Outside of farm country, many people don't realize the importance of American agriculture to our overall economy. One in 12 American jobs is connected to agriculture, in all sorts of industries from picking and processing, to packing and shipping, to shelving at your local market. And despite hardships and setbacks this year due to extreme weather, America's farm economy remains one of the brightest spots in our nation's economy.
This year and next, U.S. agricultural exports are on track to reach a new high of $137 billion, with a record trade surplus. Farm income is up while farm debt is falling, indicating that American agriculture is on sound footing. And farm exports support more than 1 million jobs here at home.
With the President's signature on the ratified South Korea, Colombia and Panama trade agreements, American agriculture will see an additional $2.3 billion in trade activity, supporting nearly 20,000 American jobs. In fact, economic output is estimated to grow more under the Korea agreement than from our country's last nine trade agreements combined.
Tens-of-thousands of American jobs will be created now that Congress has ratified the trade agreements, along with a package of job assistance for workers impacted by trade. Immediately upon implementation of these agreements, the majority of American products exported to Korea, Colombia and Panama will become duty-free. Swift action by Congress also helped us to maintain an advantage on competitors striking their own trade deals with these nations.
I've crisscrossed the United States in 2011 hearing about the benefits these agreements would deliver for America's farmers and ranchers. Here are just a few examples:
Sixty percent of the items that we currently trade to Korea will be duty free immediately, including corn and soybeans for crush. Other commodities – such as meat, poultry and dairy – will see tariffs and duties reduced over a period of time, creating tremendous opportunity for us to grow our export opportunities.
On day one of implementation of the Colombia agreement, U.S. exporters will receive duty-free treatment on products accounting for almost 70 percent of current trade. When implementation is complete, we expect it to increase our agricultural exports by 44 percent — an additional $370 million per year. The Colombia agreement is comprehensive, covering all agricultural products.
In Panama, U.S. agricultural exports have been on the rise, growing to over $450 million in 2010. Our agreement with Panama will continue this progress — with an additional $46 million in annual sales upon full implementation. The Panama agreement is also comprehensive.
At their heart, the trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama represent an important step forward in realizing President Obama's jobs agenda, and his goals of doubling American exports and keeping our nation competitive in the 21st century. In each of the three agreements, the President fought for a better deal for American workers, and got one, underscoring a balanced trade agenda that opens new markets for our exporters and new opportunities for America's working families.
For America's farmers and ranchers, the trade agreements help to build upon what has already been a great year.
Fact sheets on how all three trade agreements will benefit U.S. agriculture are available here: Korea, Colombia and Panama.


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I've assiduously avoided writing about the politics of health care reform for the past couple of months, for a number of reasons. First of all, it has been such a fluid situation that my the time I could put any sensible commentary together it was already out of date. Also, with excellent analysts like Ezra and Jon Cohn and others on the job, I didn't feel that I had a lot of substance to offer beyond linking to them. And finally, since the whole thing was being played out on the big stage in DC, so very far away, it's not like like my voice was going to have any impact on the debate. So I've watched carefully and I've kept mum. Mostly.
I'll make a few observations on the status of things now, in the wake of the MA debacle, then resume radio silence till there's any substantive developments to comment on once more.
Is it time to write Health Reform's post mortem?
Sure seemed like it this morning. Congressional Democrats, in one of their most disgusting displays of political cowardice, started a full-on freak-out, with liberal stalwarts joining jittery centrists in declaring the whole game over. The Senate leadership preemptively declared defeat. Conservadems in the senate like Bayh and Nelson who never wanted reform in the first place also took the opportunity to head for the door and declare the whole thing done. Then Obama implied that the reform bill should be dropped and maybe something smaller could be passed instead. This is the sort of galling weakness that makes it insanely frustrating to be a democrat. These people are contemptible. Talk about a worst-case scenario.
Fortunately, as time passed, cooler heads started to prevail. The White House walked back the implication that they were giving up on the Senate Bill. Barney Frank got over his moment of hysteria. House leadership and labor leaders said they could live with a "fixed" senate bill, passed through reconciliation. Senate leaders expressed openness to using reconciliation. To everybody's surprise, it appears the sun will, in fact, still rise tomorrow.
Whose fault is this mess anyway?
Boy there's plenty of blame to go around. The old saying is that success has a thousand fathers but failure is an orphan; not in this case. It's Martha Chokely's, fault, for blowing a gimme special election. It's Ted Kennedy's, for dying at such an inopportune time (sad joke, not funny). It's the MA Democratic party's fault, for screwing with election laws over and over. It's Harry Reid's and Max Baucus', for wasting months of time in a fruitless quest for GOP cooperation. It's Lieberman's and Nelson's, for being preening egotists and holding the bill hostage. It's Obama's, for not using the bully pulpit to continue to make the moral case for universal coverage. It's FOX's, for cynically and repeatedly lying about the proposed bill and demagoguing the issue relentlessly. It's the feckless Democrats' fault in general, for failing to keep their caucus together and legislate effectively. It's the GOP's, for their nihilistic approach of obstruction and refusal to compromise.
The list could go on for pages. I guess it doesn't matter. We are where we are, and if it works out in the end, all sins will be forgiven -- but not necessarily forgotten.
What comes next?
Best I can tell, the Senate has decided not to do anything till Brown is seated. (Funny how the Senate didn't wait for Al Franken or Roland Burris, though, innit?) Which means that the original strategy of the ping-pong of the Senate bill back to the House and then back to the Senate is dead. There's some suggestion of getting Snowe (or even Brown? He does have to run again in MA in 2012) back on board with some policy compromise, but I suspect that is a fool's hope.
Apparently, the plan is that the Senate bill, which has been passed, will be approved verbatim by the House, then signed into law by the President. House liberals will not agree to this, however, unless the Senate bill is improved, and improved it can be, through the reconciliation process, which as we all now know takes only 51 votes. The good news is that the major items of contention for "fixing" are appropriate for the reconciliation process, because in some way they affect the deficit -- the excise tax, the expansion of Medicaid, the Nelson Nebraska buy-off, etc. The bad news is that this process could take a while, which could be fatal. The opponents of reform smell blood, and the popularity of reform will probably continue to plummet in the face of increased attacks.
Will it work?
I think it will. Not because I'm deranged, or an incurable optimist. But because the electoral calculus for the dems is very clear: pass this thing or it's 1994 again. If this fails, the narrative will be that the Dems tried to do this awful thing and isn't it great that the people gave the GOP back enough power to stop them. That's a formula for electoral disaster. Pass it, and you can take a victory lap, talk about all the goodies in the bill, and gain some time to let the backlash die down before facing the voters. Winning matters in politics. I think in the end, simple self-preservation will compel the democrats to finish what they started. But really, at this point, who the hell knows?
Why is this effort still worth supporting?
This is the case that the supporters of reform need to start making (again) and more forcefully. To this point, we've been so embroiled in policy fights (public option) and internecine warfare (Baucus, Nelson) that Dems have inflicted their worst injuries on themselves. They've not played offense at all. Now there's little possibility of changing the bill -- the cement is poured -- so Dems can and must put aside the squabbling and remind Americans that despite the ugliness of the process, what we have is a relatively centrist, good bill. We can stop apologizing for it and promote it: It's a guarantee that nobody will ever need to worry about losing their health care coverage ever again. It's a promise that exploding health care costs will (start to) be contained. It's an end to some of the worst abuses of the insurance industry. It's the closing of the Medicare Part D donut hole. It gives individual consumers more choice, and fairer choices. It's more funding for primary care and prevention. It extends the solvency of the Medicare program by nine years. It's fully paid for and reduces the deficit. It's a good start, a historic start, that future congresses can build on and improve.
It's time to take a deep breath, get back on the proverbial horse, and get out there and make our case to the American people that this health reform bill is still, after all, what America needs now. And then let the chips fall where they may.


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If there's one thing I've learned in all my years in the wine industry in the US, it's that White Zinfandel is, for better or for worse, one of the wines that holds our industry together. If you've been reading along with my previous posts, you'll know I discuss its impact on the industry fairly often. Or rather, I dance around the issue of White Zinfandel without actually discussing it because of the negative connotations that wine elicits in wine lovers.
But let's take a moment and really discuss the wine. Do you, faithful reader and wine lover, know how White Zinfandel is produced? Do you, perhaps, know the impact White Zinfandel has had on the wine industry, or the debts we owe to Gallo, Sutter Home and Beringer?
Let's start with a little Zinfandel talk. Name your favorite Zin. Mine comes from Seghesio and can be found pretty much anywhere (check the bottom of the page for a few links to where you can get the wine). It comes from Dry Creek Valley, a sub-AVA of Sonoma County AVA in California. Dry Creek Valley, as it happens, is home to some of the very best Zinfandels in all of California, as well as some of the oldest. When Italian settlers first came out to California, a large number of them settled in Dry Creek Valley, bringing their native Primitivo variety with them. Not naturally Phylloxera-resistant, Primitivo was grafted to native American vines in the 1860s to prevent the vines from falling prey to the scourge that Phylloxera represented. The grape reached new heights of popularity during the gold rush, where it supplanted the native Mission variety (much to the pleasure of miners who associated the Mission grape with its use in Sunday Church services).
In the 1970s, Sutter Home began producing a dry rosé made from excess free run from their crushed Zinfandel. These wines became very popular, but ultimately ended up suffering from an affliction called "stuck fermentation", in which fermentation stops before the yeast in the wine can consume all the sugar and convert it to alcohol. Wines afflicted with stuck fermentation become very sweet and, while it is traditionally considered a fault, Sutter Home decided that it actually did them a favor: the wine was delicious and sales increased to a tremendous degree. Suddenly, Zinfandel was finding favor again after a rather lackluster sales history. The success of White Zinfandel was such that it prevented Zinfandel vines from being uprooted and replaced with more successful varieties.
Today, White Zinfandel is often an introduction to the wine industry, popular amongst people at the age extremes 21 (and probably younger; this writer claims a solid "no comment") and 65+, and people of limited income due to the wine's availability in large formats for relatively low prices. Anyone who works in the industry or enjoys Zinfandel owes a tremendous debt to White Zinfandel producers, for keeping up the popularity of wine amongst all age groups and for allowing California to keep its Zinfandel vines.


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Sunday, May 3, 2009
Too Far, Too Fast
People keep asking if I'll be doing Western States. My answer: no. First because I am not prepared to take on a 100 mile race, I just started running ultras a little over two months ago. Miwok taught me a great deal. I was not physically or emotionally prepared for that race. Yes I did it and I am proud of myself, but I felt a little disconnected from the joy I get from running. With all that said, the actual race was overall good even with the nausea and ups and downs. It was the aftermath that has me reconsidering longer races without preparation. I was up on and off the whole night after sick. I hobbled out of bed the next morning and I could barely get on my bike to ride to work (I know bad idea to work the next day, but like I said, I am horrible at saying no). In fact, I literally had to pick my leg up to place it on the peddle. I only taught for a couple hours, but the entire time I felt terrible. I didn't have an appetite until about 3 in the afternoon. I spent most the day laying in bed, other than a brief cleaning frenzy moment. I don't like feeling blah and I don't know how I expected to feel after 62 miles, but I guess I was hoping for more than just blah. As for today, I am doing much better. I walked to work and my body feels almost 100%, but emotionally, I am not as great. Feeling a little depressed and I know it is related to everything my body has been through in the last 48 hours. I had not expected the emotional piece, which makes it that much harder.
My second reason for not jumping into States is my heart is not in that particular race. My heart is in running. I just love to run whether it is a race or not, I don't care. Being out in the woods, in the mud, hearing my breath makes me incredibly happy. In fact that is why I hate even missing a day of it. I never want to fall out of love with running and I do fear jumping into a race like WS could do it. Maybe, I'll be sharing too much, but I think it deserves sharing. In my late teens/early 20's, I struggled with anorexia. I denied my body nutrients and denied my heart joy. It was my mom who told me that my body is the one thing I will have my entire life, so I've got to love it like crazy. Those words, my love of running, and my art changed my perspectives and in the years following my recovery, my body and heart became something that I listened to, cared for, and appreciated.
Lastly, I am one of those people that always wants to do well at something. I don't want to go out there and just wing it. I want to do really well. This is not a race where I can just wing it and do well, it takes planning and preparation. I just started ultras. In some ways I've barely had time to absorb the last couple months. It has been kind of a whirlwind. I never expected to be doing so well. I just love to run. When I run Western States, I want to be able to soak up the experience, know my heart is in it, be prepared, and do the best I possibly can. So yup, no WS for me this year, maybe next year, maybe not. As long as I am running, I am happy.
(I took this photo about two years ago. I was having a crummy day and I went up to Lake Chabot. Ran for a couple hours and took my shitty camera with me. About 3/4 of the way into the run, I decided to just plain jump in the mud puddles. One of the best runs of my life.)
16 comments:
- Luis Velasquez said...
Love your post today.. some of us do run for the hell of it... Most of us are not as gifted as you are so there are not big expectations. Glad you are keeping yourself grounded, you are a RockStar Caitlin.. :)
- May 5, 2009 at 1:22 AM
- Buzz said...
I think this post should be required reading for would-be ultra runners ... maybe for long-time ultrarunners too!
The old Puritan ethic pervades ultrarunning:
Suffering = nobility.
Pain = growth.
Misery = character.
I don't think so! And I'm glad you don't either.
Some people get sucked into doing things, not because the experience itself brings joy, openness, or growth, but because it's an "accomplishment" - an external motivation rather than internal. Not sustainable.
Thanks for sharing.
- May 5, 2009 at 7:01 AM
- Devon said...
I had to smile when I read your post since I totally can relate to everything that you said and totally understand how you are feeling right now. Also, I think you are incredibly wise to wait before jumping into the 100.
As for the emotional drop off after a race, I feel that hard too. It is a very steep emotional drop off from the endorphins and euphoria we experience during the race. Afterwards, there is a crash. I think the best thing for me was realizing it would happen and mentally know it was coming. I try to allow myself a good week in which I give myself alot of space to just feel whatever I feel.
I think it is also great to recognize that you want to maintain the love and purity of why you do what you do. I am there with you. While WS gets alot of hype, I too felt like my heart wasn't in it. I think you need to follow your heart and never (not even down the line) feel pressured to do a race you don't love. That just misses the point.
Finally, I think it is great that you are keeping yourself grounded as your ultrarunning "career" takes off and already have realized how easy it is to get swept up in things that aren't healthy or counter to the reasons we run. You have it totally right from the get go!
Continue to recover well! Take care of yourself this week and indulge whatever your body, soul, spirit needs. Congrats again! You are awesome!
- May 5, 2009 at 7:43 AM
- Dave - Atlanta Trails said...
too many people forget about the joy of running once they get caught up in all this ultra stuff. I'm glad you're not.
I always say that I want to still run 50k's when I'm 70. Why rush everything now?
I hope your recovery period continues to improve.
-Your friend one town to the north
- May 5, 2009 at 10:21 AM
- olga said...
That is absolutely insightful. Thank you.
- May 5, 2009 at 11:18 AM
- David Ray said...
Yep, lots of wisdom from such a youngster. :) Way to keep your head on straight. I like that picture.
- May 5, 2009 at 11:48 AM
- Scott Dunlap said...
Given the conditions, you did extremely well. I get the impression Western States will be there for you whenever you are ready.
I could barely walk the next day too. I think all that mud/balancing just wrecks you.
- May 5, 2009 at 2:57 PM
- Victoria said...
I highly recommend borrowing a dog and running for a while. (You can borrow mine if you want-- she'd be happy to accompany you on any trail!) Seriously though, she reminds me that the world is a really amazing place, and the minute I'm in right now is pretty much the best thing ever.
Congratulations on a great race, but even more congratulations and admiration for focusing on what really matters to YOU.
- May 5, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Wise beyond your years. That was one of the best posts I've read from ultra runners. Great decision on keeping it pure.
- May 5, 2009 at 5:38 PM
- kate said...
Yep, good decision, Caitlin, you have years and years ahead to run......
- May 5, 2009 at 5:43 PM
- Sarah (PCTR) said...
Good for you, Caitlin, for doing what's good for you.
- May 5, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Great post. Thanks for directing me to it. I think the sport is filled with us overzealous types who always say yes, and it can often get us in trouble or put undue pressure on ourselves. In the end, it all comes down to the heart being in it. Keep following your passion and take plenty of time to run for the sheer joy. Recover well.
- May 5, 2009 at 8:01 PM
- Jordan said...
At last, I finally found the email with the link to your blog, so now I have back-reading to do! Caitlin it was amazing being part of your journey at Miwok and talking it through in the week following. Thanks for this morning, talking with you always helps me get into my heart space and feel more grounded! You are a wonderful friend and I appreciate you so much! I love this entry and all the growth I hear in it. Stay strong and follow your B's--Breath, Brains, Body, and Bliss!
- May 8, 2009 at 2:02 PM
- FastED said...
Amen! I said "NO" to WS because my heart is just not in that race as well. People think I'm crazy but Hard Rock has my heart right now.
Good read. See you on the trail somewhere.
Scott Jaime
- May 8, 2009 at 2:37 PM
- Rick Gaston said...
Whatever keeps you "you". Seems like you are strong enough to stand up/fight for that. See you soon on the trails.
- May 8, 2009 at 10:26 PM
- Marco Denson said...
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You've been kicking ass on the trails and you did an awesome run at Miwok. Personally when I'm in the middle of a long race I always tell myself that I will never run 50 miles or more again. "I'll stick to the 50ks" I say. But then, two weeks later, after the pain is gone, I sign up for another one. I'm not as wise as you are. Then again, I'm not as fast either. Take your time, WS100 will be there when you are ready for it. We'll be there to cheer you on.
Marco Denson
- May 9, 2009 at 10:06 PM


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President Obama has waded again into America's uncomfortable race debate, this time taking on a persistent view of the Civil War: that slavery was not what primarily caused it.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) invited an uproar after deciding to reinstate Confederate History Month without mentioning "slavery." That word had been included in previous Confederate heritage proclamations. (Governor McDonnell later apologized and added language that painted slavery as a cause of the war and as a "hateful" institution.)
"I don't think you can understand the Confederacy and the Civil War unless you understand slavery,'' said Mr. Obama, who sent a wreath, as presidents have done since Woodrow Wilson, to the Confederate Monument at Arlington National Cemetery last Memorial Day. (Moreover, first lady Michelle Obama is a descendant of Southern slaves.)
McDonnell's initial omission of slavery in his proclamation was "unacceptable," Obama said.
The president's statements, made to ABC News correspondent George Stephanopoulos, were an unusually harsh rebuke – reminiscent of his first comments on the controversial arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. last summer at his home in Cambridge, Mass.
Obama's entry into the debate about the Confederate legacy shows that the president, though careful, speaks his mind about race when he feels it's warranted. Indeed, says one expert on race in America, the subject of race becomes ripe for discussion after certain events.
"Race has been just beneath the surface of recent politics. So I think it's healthy to every once in a while get [someone like McDonnell] to set something up so it can be made explicit in a very safe context," says Thomas Pettigrew, a social psychologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz. "In other words, [race] is sort of the elephant in the room: No one wants to mention it, but every once in a while something comes along to make it possible to mention it."
But the damage has already been done, apparently: Blowback from Confederate History Month could affect McDonnell's national political aspirations, writes The Washington Post. And many black Americans took offense – not at the overall historical debate, but at McDonnell's original proclamation. As Mr. Pettigrew says, "The original statement by the governor sounded like, oh, what a terrible thing it was that the South lost and the implication that we couldn't still have slavery."
That's what Obama appeared to take away, too.
"It's just a reminder that when we talk about issues like slavery that are so fraught with pain and emotion, that, you know, we'd better do some thinking through how this is going to affect a lot of people," Obama said.
The presidential rebuke comes at an uneasy political time in America, only weeks after two black members of Congress accused 'tea party' protesters of launching a racial epithet on the Capitol steps. (Tea partyers deny the charge, saying there's no evidence from the well-documented event to suggest an epithet was used.)
To be sure, the rebuke could carry some political risks for Obama, especially among white independents in the South – some of whom helped him take Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida in the 2008 election. It probably doesn't help Obama that his cabinet is notably short on Southerners.
Then again, most of Virginia – and the South for that matter – probably disagreed with McDonnell's initial framing of Confederate History Month, says Pettigrew, himself a native Virginian. Virginia became the first state, in 2007, to apologize for the institution of slavery. Back in 1830, Virginia nearly became the first Southern state to abolish slavery – the law failing by only a handful of votes.
"The statement by the governor of Virginia was so extreme that this is a pretty easy shot for the president, and there's not much risk in it among the people who voted for him," says Pettigrew.


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CRESTVIEW � With her arms filled with a ripe cantaloupe and bags of peas and tomatoes, Mary Goldring said her stop at the Brooks Farm produce stand in Baker Thursday morning was a success.
CRESTVIEW � With her arms filled with a ripe cantaloupe and bags of peas and tomatoes, Mary Goldring said her stop at the Brooks Farm produce stand in Baker Thursday morning was a success.
"Everything's fresher when it's right off the farm," she said. "I could almost eat these tomatoes on the drive home."
The late spring and summer vegetables have been piling in from the fields, stand worker Betty Courtney said. Peaches and tomatoes are at their peak right now, she said.
"Corn, peas and watermelons are selling real well," Courtney said. "The corn sells really good. And we've been selling peanuts faster than we can boil them."
Farmers markets throughout the area are bustling as produce ripens after weeks of Northwest Florida's nourishing rain and sunshine.
"I've got some giant watermelons this year," Larry Welch said from his family's stand near Blueberry Curve, at which they sell produce grown on his Crestview plot and his Laurel Hill farm.
However, excessive rain has hurt some crops. Welch said his cantaloupe crop hasn't been as bountiful this year as in the past.
"All this rain has hurt us," he said. "Too much rain is like too little rain."
South of Laurel Hill, Farm and Garden World hosts its monthly Third Saturday Market this morning, starting at 8 a.m.
"It's been pretty successful," the store's Tina Alford said. "It's picked up people every month we've done it."
Now in its third month, the market, held in the store's parking lot, attracts upward of 20 farmers and private gardeners, Alford said.
Friday�s Downtown Farmers Market, on the Main Street and Woodruff Avenue site of Crestview's old Curb Market, was bustling, with all available spots booked in advance.
On weekends, the impromptu market that sprouts on the lot across North Ferdon Boulevard from Goodwill features fresh peaches, produce, and sometimes seafood.
"We've got it pretty good up here," Goldring said. "The people in the south end, they just grow sand."
Want farm-fresh produce?
Area farmers' markets and produce stands include:
�Brooks Farm Market, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, State Road 4, Baker, just after entering town
�Downtown Farmers Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fridays, corner of Woodruff Avenue and Main Street, Crestview. 546-6274. Evening Farmers, Artisans & Music Market, 6-8 p.m. Fridays
� Produce stands, State Road 85, corner of Seventh Street, opposite Goodwill; most weekends, hours vary, but setup is usually by 8 a.m.
�Third Saturday Garden Market, monthly, 8 a.m. till closing, Farm and Garden World, 7488 State Road 85, south of Laurel Hill, 652-2999
� Welch's Garden Fresh Produce, 5771 State Road 85 N, right before Blueberry Curve, 603-2234
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.


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text:
Saint Ivo of Huntingdonshire
- Ivo of Ramsey
- Ive of….
- Ives of….
- Ivia of….
- Yves of….
- Yvo of….
Bishop. Hermit at Huntingdonshire, England. The city of Saint Ives (formerly Slepe), Huntingdonshire (modern Cambridgeshire), England is named for him. His gravesite was lost for years, but in 1001 four bodies were uncovered in an unmarked grave; one bore a bishop's insignia. A local layman had a vision that this was the body of Ivo, and all four were translated to the Ramsey Abbey. A spring soon appeared near the site of their interment, its waters known for healing miracles. A later vision convinced the brothers at Ramsey to keep the relics with the bishop's seal, and return the bodies of the three companions to Slepe.
- Huntingdonshire, England of natural causes
- Saint Ives, Cambridgeshire, England
- "Saint Ivo of Huntingdonshire". CatholicSaints.Info. 24 November 2008. Web. 25 March 2019. <>


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Repairing Your Stained Glass Window
Repairing Your Stained Glass Window Sash Window Repairs North London
So, when I heard that the developer Ian Schrager of trendy boutique hotel fame had chosen the English architect John Pawson, a maestro of minimalist style, to transform the 18-story building at 50 Gramercy Park North into a 23-residence condominium, I could not wait to see how the worlds of cutting-edge design and Old World charm could be joined.
I have also always loved the idea of living on Gramercy Park, an enclave reminiscent of the small-scaled and civilized squares I craved from my student days in London so many years ago. Not surprisingly, I am not alone, and Mr. Schrager knows that. His marketing copy ("A precious and rare opportunity with additional services and amenities created exclusively for a family") links bucolic scenes of the park with digital images of the proposed interiors in a deliciously illustrated brochure (a little girl in a flowered dress, small boys in upvc repairs berets, sun-dappled trees) window specialist that is as seductive as an ice cream cone on a hot summer day.
Having made an appointment for a visit on a cold, clear morning, I meet Mr. Schrager in front of the building, where construction is in full swing. We don hard hats and ride an exterior elevator up to what will be Apartment 5B, where one can look out the floor-to-ceiling window in the future living room at a mouth-watering view of the park. The clear expanse of glass and a bird's-eye view of the park are mesmerizing even with the naked trees and empty benches.
Mr. Schrager explains that we are standing in what was once part of the gap between the 181-room Gramercy Park Hotel (also Mr. Schrager's and being totally redesigned by the artist Julian Schnabel in what the developer called "a quirky bohemian style and Renaissance colors") and its original annex. The new glass "minitower," which Mr. Pawson calls "the new bit," is now connected to that annex, which has had its windows enlarged to unify it with the new building.
In a telephone interview from London, Mr. Pawson said that Mr. Schrager wanted 12-foot ceilings. "But as that was not possible to have on every floor, we figured out how to add a high-ceilinged extra space to apartments on every other floor," he said. "I see it as a kind of compression and release."
I'm impressed with the architect's clever way of adding glass boxes to the prewar building. It's a respectful solution that does not fight with the Old World feeling of the area, sort of like a facelift that works.
There are four apartments still available, and all have views of the park: 5A (2,149 square feet for $6.250 million); 9B (2,873 square feet for $9.35 million); 7A (3,477 square feet for $8.975 million), and 14A (2,988 square feet for $10.250 million) as well as a 4,235-square-foot penthouse with a 1,306-square-foot terrace that is $16 million. (Monthly maintenance ranges from $5,472 to an astonishing $17,721.)
The sheer size of most of the apartments is what seems to particularly excite Mr. Schrager. One master bedroom measures 945 square feet.
"Most developers don't like to build big apartments," Mr. Schrager said. "They are often harder to sell than smaller, more flexible units where the market is deeper."
Mr. Schrager said the apartments come with the type of services that only the very privileged enjoy. Here, it is called executive lifestyle management and includes room service, babysitting, painting and repair services, and like the hotel around the corner, turn-down service.
Mr. Schrager suggests we visit the full-size mock-ups of a kitchen and bathroom. On the way, I try to reconcile the concept of these large family apartments with Mr. Pawson's particular brand of minimalism -- the nearly spiritual kind where a box of Kleenex on the bathroom counter, a dirty frying pan in the sink, a plastic toy truck on the rug, or a pile of old magazines can be major intrusions. Never mind that the English architect (known in New York for the serenely neat Calvin Klein store) is a father himself (his sons Caius and Benedict are 20 and 16, his stepdaughter, Phoebe, is 27) and that he has had plenty of experience raising children in his oft-photographed and sublimely uncluttered home.
"Kids feel free in these kinds of spaces," Mr. Pawson said. "Having a clear run seems nicer for them. We were the most popular parents on the block."
As our children are of similar ages, and as a fan of Mr. Pawson's plain open spaces, I've always toyed with the idea that my family could not only live in such uncluttered splendor but that 50 Gramercy Park North might very well be the fulfillment of this design junkie's dream. I also buy into the current design ethos: the pale-hued bathroom as a sanctuary, the sleek kitchen, wide open to the living space, as a family gathering spot.
Running my finger across translucent glass tile and smooth travertine, or beautifully finished cherrywood materials that are as soothing and tactile as they are sophisticated, I believe that if I lived there I would be able to breathe more deeply and have loftier thoughts, unimpeded by piles of paper or a jumble of mismatched pillows. I am drawn not only to the quality of the materials he chose but to the feeling of lightness and calm that his spaces exude.
Even in the model apartment, the clean lines of the fireplace and the openness of the kitchen are calming. Somehow, Mr. Pawson's minimalism does not feel limiting, but strangely liberating and soothing. Maybe it's the soft palette, the view over the park, the generously sized rooms that make the spaces feel clean and yes, comfortable -- even for a pack rat.
I'm simply not worried here about where to put all our stuff. I say a silent prayer: Yes, if I could afford to live here, I promise I would get rid of everything -- and I mean everything -- that would disrupt the serenity of this environment.
Mr. Pawson's words come to mind. "I never said people should live without stuff, although I personally don't like to have more than I need around," he said.
I'm enraptured, even though I can't help feeling that I could never live up to this aesthetic. And I'm just not sure I want my home to be better than I am.
If you have some experience in stained glass handi-crafts repairing your old or damaged stained glass window is a project you may consider doing yourself. This article assumes you have at least some experience in this craft. If your window is very valuable, if you do not have any experience in stained glass window making or if you lack confidence in your abilities this is a task you may want to leave to the professionals. Otherwise, the process is very much like creating a new stained glass window and even a little easier in the sense that you do not have to do much, if any, glass cutting.
Problem #1: The leaded stained glass window cames are around seventy years old (or older) and have become brittle causing bulging or breaking.
This usually begins to happen in a stained glass window over seventy years old. Lead does not rot or rust, but it does lose its elasticity and become brittle over time. If left unattended it may cause the stained glass pieces to fall out or break as well.
The Solution:
Re-leading the window. This is time consuming, but very worthwhile to restore your stained glass window to its original beauty and integrity. The following steps must be taken:
1. Take a photograph of the window and measure lead cames to help with reconstructing it later.
2. Take the panel out of the window frame and remove panel framing.
3. Next, you will need to take the entire panel apart using the soldering iron to loosen solder and gently pry the old cames from the glass pieces.
4. Dispose of old lead in an environmentally friendly way, you should probably take it to a metal recycling facility.
5. Next each piece of glass should be thoroughly cleaned and dried. Lay the pieces in place so as not to become confused later.
6. Reassemble panel using with new lead cames in the same width as the original.
7. Broken stained glass pieces should be traced and matched as closely as possible to a new piece of glass cut with the pattern you create. Another option if you have all the broken pieces and either cannot match the stained glass closely enough or do not want to put new pieces in, is to use thin lead cames to hold the broken pieces together. This option will likely make it obvious that the window has been repaired, so use with care.
8. New cement should be applied to both sides
9. New reinforcement bars should now be attached.
10. The stained glass panel is now ready to be re-framed and re-hung.
This process should be done when the window is nearing seventy years old. Following the steps above should result in a complete restoration of your stained glass window and it should be as structurally sound as a brand new one.
Problem #2: One stained glass panel in a window less than 70-years-old is broken.
The Solution:
This will bespoke window depend on the location of the broken piece. If it is near the outer edge, you may be able to get away with carefully breaking the damaged piece out of the frame and using the soldering iron to loosen the lead cames and then re-soldering the new piece in place as in #7 above. If the broken piece is in a difficult location or if there are several broken pieces, you may want to re-lead the entire window following the above instructions. If there is a small crack, you might consider using a glass repair kit from the automotive shop. These are used to fix small chips and cracks in windshields and if the damage is slight, may be a suitable way to repair the crack and prevent further damage.
There are a number of other small repairs that you can do yourself such as re-painting areas that have flaked off, but these will need to be removed and re-kilned and you may want to consult with a professional for help with that. Restoring your stained glass window may be a painstaking process, but it is worth it to preserve its original beauty and make it last for future generations.


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Top Tenner: Transfer curses
Angel di Maria has become the most expensive player ever bought by a British club, but that isn't a guarantee of success. Nick Miller looks at 10 who have broken the transfer record but not proved outstanding successes.
10. Stan Collymore, Nottingham Forest to Liverpool, 1995: 8.5 million pounds
In truth, Stan Collymore was not a complete disaster at Liverpool. He scored 28 goals in two seasons, including the infamous winner against Newcastle near the end of the 1995-96 season and helped his side to an FA Cup final. However, this was a Liverpool side desperate for success, gambling on one of the brightest natural talents of his generation, the idea to replace the aging Ian Rush and help the youngsters who had established themselves in the first team wrest the title back from Manchester United. So in this respect the move was a failure. Collymore's, shall we say, "problematic" character was one of the primary reasons for his sale to Aston Villa a couple of years later for 7 million pounds, so Liverpool didn't even take much of a financial hit, but when one considers that his purchase broke the transfer record set a couple of weeks earlier by Dennis Bergkamp, it's hard to class it as anything other than a failure.
9. Bob Kelly, Burnley to Sunderland, 1925: 6,550 pounds
Back in the 1920s, Sunderland were the big spenders of English football. In 1922 they broke the British transfer record for the magnificently named Warney Cresswell, a fullback who was a big success at Roker Park, the record standing until they surpassed it with a deal for Burnley inside forward Bob Kelly a few years later. Kelly's time at the club was rather less fruitful, scoring a relatively paltry 11 goals over two seasons, before being punted on to Huddersfield after a couple of seasons. Interesting (if you like this sort of thing) fact about Kelly: He and David Jack (who Arsenal paid Bolton 10,890 pounds for in 1930) are the only men to be transferred for world-record fees while in their 30s.
8. David Mills, Middlesbrough to West Brom, 1979: 516,000 pounds
Of course, it's usually unfair to judge footballers too harshly on the fees other people decide they are worth. And indeed, the failure of many big moves is rarely the result of deliberate sabotage on the part of the player in question, although an objective assessment of Diego Maradona's spell at Barcelona might rubbish that theory. David Mills is perhaps the perfect example, a forward who excelled for Middlesbrough in the mid-1970s, so much so that Ron Atkinson was persuaded to break the British transfer record and pay 516,000 pounds to bring him to West Brom. However, injuries and a variety of other problems limited Mills to just 59 appearances in three years, in which time he scored only six times, eventually moving to Newcastle for just 30,000 pounds.
7. Bryn Jones, Wolves to Arsenal, 1938: 14,000 pounds
Modern football undoubtedly has many problems, but what's interesting about a large amount of the complaints you'll find today is that they're not new. Take transfer fees, for example. While we have perhaps become numb to the idea of paying many, many millions for a player, there will still be some who are understandably uncomfortable with the idea of paying 60 million pounds for a footballer, just as there were back in 1938, when Herbert Chapman paid 14,000 pounds to bring Welsh inside forward Bryn Jones to Arsenal as a replacement for the retired Alex James. The fee caused such a scandal that questions about its suitability were asked in the House of Commons, but more relevant to Arsenal fans was how the then-world-record signing played on the pitch, and the answer to that was "not terribly well." While Jones scored in his debut, he notched only another three goals in his opening season at Highbury, and just seven in 71 appearances for Arsenal, although the intervention of World War II would prevent Jones from having an extended chance to show his worth.
6. Andriy Shevchenko, AC Milan to Chelsea, 2006: 30.8 million pounds
When Chelsea, who had just won two Premier League titles in a row, spent 30.8 million pounds on Andriy Shevchenko in 2006, it hardly seemed fair. The best team in the country had just bought perhaps the best striker in the world at that time. Shevchenko had just scored 83 goals in his previous three seasons with Milan, in which time he had of course helped them to a Serie A title and a Champions League. It should've been perfect, but amid suggestions that manager Jose Mourinho didn't want Shevchenko and owner Roman Abramovich had fully taken over Chelsea's transfer policy, the Ukrainian didn't fit in and couldn't produce anything close to the form that made him so formidable in Italy. He scored just four league goals in his first season at Stamford Bridge, they lost out to Manchester United in the league and he was eventually ushered back on loan to Milan. Football is full of theories and plans, but sometimes even the best laid go wrong.
5. Andy Carroll, Newcastle to Liverpool, 2011: 35 million pounds
In decades to come, social historians will flick through the record books, find the progression of the British transfer record and say, "What? Andy Carroll? The big chap who looks like a tree and spent two-thirds of his time injured? They paid how much for him?" Of course, Carroll technically only held the record for a matter of minutes, after the deal on which his price was based, Fernando Torres' sale to Chelsea, was concluded. The story goes that Liverpool wanted to make a 15 million pound profit from buying Carroll and selling Torres, so as Newcastle put the former's price up, so the latter's increased as well. This has of course meant that some fans of a slightly wild persuasion will tell you that they basically didn't pay anything for Carroll, so therefore he shouldn't be judged too harshly, but it doesn't matter how they got the money -- they still paid a British record fee for Carroll. The big striker would of course bumble through a couple of years at Anfield, scoring not too many goals and generally looking out of his depth, before leaving to park himself on the West Ham treatment table.
4. Juan Sebastian Veron, Lazio to Man United, 2001: 28.1 million pounds
"Juan Veron was capable of exceptional football and was talented. But, at times, he found the Premiership a bit difficult," said Sir Alex Ferguson after unloading the leggy Argentinean to Chelsea in 2003. "He was a European player and that was where we got our best form from him." Something of a turnaround from his contention that a collection of the press were all "idiots -- he's a great player" when Veron's form was questioned while still at Old Trafford. Veron cost Manchester United a hefty 28.1 million pounds back in 2001, but from the start questions were raised about where he would fit in United's side, with assorted established players shunted around to accommodate him. United had bought an undeniably brilliant player, but one who wasn't right for them -- their fans would be forgiven for fearing a similar problem with the arrival of Di Maria.
3. Steve Daley, Wolves to Manchester City, 1979: 1,437,500 pounds
Transfer fees have of course ballooned in the last 15 years or so, but in terms of proportional growth, it's tough to beat the late 1970s. In February 1979 Nottingham Forest's purchase of Trevor Francis for 1.1 million pounds nearly doubled the previous record, set by David Mills' move just a month earlier. But in September of that year Manchester City seemed to lose their thread entirely, splashing nearly half again on Steve Daley. By common consensus, Daley was a perfectly solid but unspectacular player, a midfielder who had only a handful of England 'B' caps to his name, but that didn't stop City chairman Peter Swales from spending nearly 1.5 million pounds on his man, when a particularly mischievous rumour claimed Malcolm Allison wanted Daley but only for around 400,000 pounds. Even if Daley had cost that initial amount he still would've been a failure, barely making an impact and departing Maine Road just under two years later for the Seattle Sounders in the United States.
2. Robinho, Real Madrid to Manchester City, 2008: 32 million pounds
Transfer deadline day has now of course become an "event," a concoction of drama for the TV cameras as shivering reporters stand outside Stoke's training ground hoping not to be swallowed by the phalanx of boisterous schoolboys gathering behind them. It will take some going to beat deadline day in 2008, though, which was the day that Sheikh Mansour appeared as if from nowhere to buy Manchester City, and thus required a rather large transfer splash to announce himself. Hijacking Manchester United's move for Dimitar Berbatov looked on the cards at one stage, while Kaka was mentioned and the club made bids for David Villa and Mario Gomez. Robinho was the man they got eventually, after the Brazilian had been agitating for a move to Chelsea for most of that summer, and indeed this was something clearly on his mind during his first interview as a City player. "On the last day, Chelsea made a great proposal and I accepted," he said, before a reporter interjected with: "You mean Manchester, right?" "Yeah, Manchester, sorry!" came the bashful reply. Things wouldn't get much better for Robinho, despite scoring in his first game, as he would look increasingly uninterested with life at Eastlands, eventually sent on loan to his first club Santos before Milan bought him in 2010.
1. Fernando Torres, Liverpool to Chelsea, 2011: 50 million pounds
"It's certainly a phenomenon in all walks of life. At one point you've got it, and then you lose it. All walks of life." The theory of Sick Boy, from the movie "Trainspotting," was rather simplistic, as Mark Renton pointed out, but it certainly goes some way to explaining, in a nutshell, what happened to Fernando Torres. In truth the decline began before his record move to Chelsea, but at the time it merely looked like a blip, a period of bad form that couldn't wipe out the previous three seasons of goals, goals and more goals. After the transfer the blip became more serious; he registered his first goal after a whopping 903 minutes, and even then he was almost tackled by a puddle as he eventually notched against West Ham, and wouldn't score again that season. In subsequent seasons he hasn't broken double figures in the league, and despite a more than respectable all competitions total of 22 in 2012-13, he has often barely looked like a footballer, for all the world resembling a golfer with the yips, desperately wanting to be able to perform as he once could, his body sadly unwilling.
Nick Miller is a writer for ESPN FC, covering Premier League and European football. Follow him on Twitter @NickMiller79.
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We know that ratings and reviews are important to our families. That's why we use surveys by Press Ganey, a respected research firm, to see how we measure up.
Nemours Developmental Pediatrics Care Ranks in Top 20 percent
Compared with other pediatric health care providers, we rank highly in these key satisfaction areas:
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