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This table shows what you should do for each classday; all work should be completed before the start of class on the date for which it's listed. To put it another way, tests are listed on the day they will be given and assignments on the day they are due.
|tarea para semana uno
|lunes, 2 de diciembre
|Introducción a la clase. No hay tarea… ¡ven a clase!
|martes, 3 de diciembre
|leer y estudiar 196–200
hacer 200 A
preparar 200 B
preparar 200 C
preparar 200 D
preparar 200 E
|jueves, 5 de diciembre
|leer y estudiar 202–208
hacer 202 práctica
preparar 203 autoprueba
hacer 204 práctica
hacer 205 autoprueba
preparar 208 práctica
hacer 209 autoprueba
preparar 209 A
|viernes, 6 de diciembre
|hoy nos reunimos en grupos pequeños en mi oficina, A-204 de Moench.
preparar 204 B
preparar 205 necesito compañero
escribir 210 D
All assignments are from the Pasajes book unless otherwise stated. The numbers indicate page numbers, the letters indicate the activity on that page. Remember that sometimes an activity starts on one page and continues onto the next page, but I will only indicate the page it starts on. Also, sometimes activities have names, like autoprueba for example.
Leer y estudiar means to read and study the indicated pages. If there is vocabulary on those pages, read it, practice pronouncing it, and begin studying and learning it according to methods we will discuss in class. If the pages explain points of grammar or cultural information, read and think about them. Try to understand them and be ready to ask in class about things that are not clear.
Preparar means to prepare the activity. Read the directions and be ready to do the exercise or activity in class. You should think about how to answer the questions before class, so that in class you can do so without much hesitation.
Hacer means to do the activity. I'm not going to collect it, so you can do it in you book or on paper, as you wish. You should be able to respond to the exercises assigned as hacer without much hesitation.
Escribir means to write the assignment out, on a sheet of paper and bring it to class ready to turn in. Be sure to include your name, class and section or class hour, and an indication of what the assignment is (the page numbers and exercise letter or name.) Either write clearly or use a computer and print the assignment out.
Entregar means to turn in. I usually use this category for things you've been working on for a while. Make sure your name, class and section or class hour, and the name of the assignment are on all work turned in.


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Superstar limited to one assist in 5-2 victory over Canadiens, but wins 92 per cent of his faceoffs.
Stu Cowan: Sidney Crosby keeps finding ways to win
PITTSBURGH — Imagine what it would be like to be Sidney Crosby for a day.
For starters, you would get $23,835 — the daily pay Crosby earns from his 12-year, US$104-million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins that runs through the 2024-25 season with an average annual salary of $8.7 million to match his No. 87 jersey.
But for Crosby, hockey has never really been about money. There is no other player in the NHL who loves the game more than Crosby, who still has his boyhood passion at age 30.
Crosby has lived in a hockey fishbowl since scoring 159 goals during his third year of novice as a young boy in Nova Scotia. In all the years since then, he has continued to be a role model on and off the ice.
Crosby's day Saturday started with a 10:30 a.m. morning skate at PPG Paints Arena before facing the Canadiens that night. After the skate, Crosby had to work his way through the media mob waiting in front of his stall in the Penguins' locker room before putting on his ball cap and sitting down to answer questions. He answered every one of them for more than 20 minutes.
Sitting a few stalls to Crosby's left was Kris Letang, who has been Crosby's teammate for 12 years. Letang also had a lot of media at his stall, but this was a one-off for the defenceman because he's a Montreal native and visiting French-language reporters wanted to talk to him.
The media mob in front of Crosby's locker is something Letang is used to watching.
"It's nothing new for us or for him," Letang said. "It's just him … what he's been able to do and go through. It just tells you how good of a person he is, how dedicated he is to the game and his team. It's just amazing."
Crosby's performance against the Canadiens in the Penguins' 5-2 win Saturday night might not have been amazing as he only picked up one assist and was even in plus/minus. But Crosby always finds a way to help his team win and on this night that included going 22-2 in the faceoff circle for an incredible 92-per-cent success rate.
With Saturday's victory, the Penguins clinched a playoff spot for the 12th straight season, a franchise record, and Crosby will be looking to hoist the Stanley Cup for the third straight year and the fourth time in his 13-year career.
An NHL scout once told me the difference between Crosby and the Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin is Crosby wins championships and Ovechkin wins individual awards. Apart from the Stanley Cups, Crosby has won gold with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, the IIHF World Championship and the Olympics.
Canadiens coach Claude Julien was part of the Team Canada staff at the 2006 world championship in Latvia and Crosby was part of that team after the Penguins missed the playoffs in his rookie season. Canada finished fourth, but the 18-year-old Crosby became the youngest player ever to lead the tournament in scoring.
"Every practice he just stood out … he worked so hard," Julien recalled. "How he handled himself as a young player, you could see there was determination in him wanting to be the best. And I know with the Olympics and all that stuff, that's why he wears the C. He's very serious about his job, he's serious about leading and he's serious about everything. He's a very professional player. What he does on the ice is pretty impressive, but how he prepares and handles himself is just as impressive."
Nobody knows that better than Letang, who is one of Crosby's best friends. During the Penguins' bye week in the schedule in early January, Crosby and Letang travelled together to Mont-Tremblant. Crosby asked Letang if he was going to pack his hockey gear.
"I said: 'No, I'm taking a break,' " Letang said with a smile.
Crosby did pack his gear and spent a morning skating on an outdoor rink with a shocked Guillaume Ouimet, the 19-year-old captain of the Junior Double-A Mont-Tremblant Diables, who now has an unbelievable story he can tell his kids and grandkids one day.
"His generosity, his care factor for his teammates and friends in unbelievable," Letang said about Crosby. "He always wants to make sure everybody is taken care of. He likes to have everyone around … he's from a close family and I think he wants to do the same when he's here in Pittsburgh with his teammates. He wants everybody to be close … he invites guys over to his house and takes care of all the guys.''
More than an hour after the Penguins' morning skate ended Saturday and the Canadiens had also wrapped up their skate, Crosby was still at PPG Paints Arena, standing in a corridor talking with Sportsnet's Paul Romanuk, Garry Galley and Christine Simpson.
There is nobody who likes playing — and talking — hockey more than Sidney Crosby.

subset: commoncrawl


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HETF History
The Hawaiian Islands are a uniquely diverse place on earth. Hawaii is the world's most isolated island archipelago and was one of the last places on earth to be discovered and colonized by humans. The extreme isolation of the islands produced, through evolution and speciation, a remarkable diversity of species that are found nowhere else on the planet. Approximately 1,033 plant species, 10,000 invertebrates, and 140 birds are native to the Hawaiian Islands of which 87% of the plants, 95% of the invertebrates and 100% of the forest birds are endemic (found nowhere else on earth). These natural treasures are integral elements of the biological and cultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands and their people.
Hawaii has also seen extraordinary rates of extinction and endangerment. Over 265 species of the Hawaii biota have gone extinct. Tragically, extinctions continue at a rate of at least one species per year. In the last three decades alone, half of Hawaii's endangered forest bird species have disappeared, in all likelihood, lost forever to extinction. Currently there are 317 species federally listed as threatened or endangered. An additional 109 are listed as candidate species and species of concern. The need for research targeted towards solving resource management issues is tremendous. It is this recognition that led the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the USDA Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to establish the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF).
Until now, Hawaiian forests were the only forests in the United States where no experimental forest existed. This deprived Hawaii and the Pacific Islands of the benefits of research, education, and demonstration products that would arise from experimental forests. Establishment of an experimental forest will greatly increase opportunities for Hawaiian scientists as well as students of all ages to conduct projects on lands dedicated for that purpose. The HETF is the 80th experimental forest of the Forest Service's experimental forest network.
The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest was officially established on March 23, 2007.


text: Sweeping the foothills of the eastern sierras the ribbon of road known as Foothill weaves through custom homes typically on 1 acre lots with their own private well and septic systems. Several hillside communities with homes near the treeline include Alpine View estates to the north which feature some of the most magnificent mountain views. In and south of Genoa sits Job's Peak Ranch; a gated community with luxurious homes and sites within the wooded hillside and Eagle Ridge, a newer community with vacant home sites available. These properties are among the highest in price point in the valley. Gas, water and sewer systems vary according to neighborhood.


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Keeping your website up to date with fresh content such as news, blog articles, projects and case studies is crucial to succeeding online. Yet many businesses and organisations often find themselves unable to dedicate the time or resource to managing their website.
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What We Do
Our support and maintenance packages are created individually to your requirements, but below are just a few common tasks we are asked to help with, which provide a flexible, time and cost effective alternative to training or employing staff.
- Proactive support, advice and recommendations from digital experts
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Fill out the form below to request a quote or for more information. One of our team will get back to you within 24 hours. Alternatively call us now on 01569 763300.


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As part of Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme, club volunteers who already have match tickets for the Guinness Six Nations England v Italy on 9 March 2019 are able to register for up to four tickets for pre-match hospitality in the British Airways Fan Village.
Hot food and a variety of beverages will be served before the match, opening two hours before kick-off and closing when the first whistle blows.
If you have a ticket for the match and would like to attend, please let us know indicating your club, the names of your guests and if any are under 18.
Closing date for registrations is 1 March and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
In order to reach as many volunteers as possible, please only register for one of the Guinness Six Nations International matches and do not register if you have attended one of these events before. Tickets are limited and will be cancelled if not accompanied by a name, if you attended any of the Quilter International 2018 Series or in the case of registration of more than one match.
Please note, registration does not guarantee a place and you will need to bring a device with you on the day to evidence your ticket.


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Visiting a school recently I was really disappointed to wait in a school Reception area and see some rather dull key word graphics scattered around. It was not a particularly welcoming experience and not enhanced by some very disappointing signage. Putting the rather predicable phrase 'High Expectations' directly above the toilets was not the best piece of design ever. As some colleagues with me mentioned, at least they did not put the word 'Achievement' there - they saved that to put above what appeared to be storage and premises offices further along the wall. I'm not sure that that is any better really.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
High Expectations - signage
I frequently bang on about appropriate, high quality signage and graphics in schools. It is so important and, when good, can really enhance the entire learning environment.
Posted by Gareth Long at 21:40
Labels: Detail. welcoming reception, graphics, Northampton, poor design, signage
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Rare Cruises on Three Princesses
AN opportunity to save more than $10,000 on a rare combination of three Princess ships for 40 days of cruising the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas is now available from ecruising.travel if you book by June 30.
The combination of three voyages starts in Rome on April 20, 2017, and now costs from $12,839 per person twin share, having earlier been priced at $23,779.
First leg of the cruising itinerary is seven nights on the Majestic Princess from Rome to Athens which is followed by a flight to Berlin to join Regal Princess for 11 nights cruising the Baltic ports before returning to Rome to join Royal Princess for 10 further nights cruising the eastern Mediterranean. All meals and entertainment is included on board the ships and there's a $200 on board spending credit as well.
The price includes return air fares from Sydney to Europe, air fares in Europe, four nights accommodation in Rome, three nights in Berlin, three nights in Barcelona and two nights at the magnificent Grand Bretagne in Athens, as well as Hop-on-off bus tour passes in Berlin, Rome, Athens and Barcelona.
The two voyages in the Mediterranean make calls at ports like Naples, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Corsica, Toulon, Valetta and Messina whilst the Regal Princess round-trip from Berlin calls on St Petersburg, Tallinn, Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen.


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It's the Sunday after the big anti-war rally and march, when a nonviolent civil disobedience day is planned. About 500 people convene at Farragut Park for a shivering hour of speeches and songs. We are Jews, pagans, Catholic Workers, neighborhood groups, and the utterly unaffiliated. The plan: March to the White House fence at Lafayette Park and refuse to leave. One hundred intend to risk arrest.
Then there's a hitch--at H Street we find that police have sealed off Lafayette Park. Cops surround us on foot, horseback, motorcycle and bike. Art Laffin, a Catholic Worker from D.C. and a member of the facilitating team, asks affinity groups to meet and take stock.
The pagans break out bucket drums and begin the spiral dance ("We are a circle--within a circle"). Someone reads one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s anti-war speeches over a bullhorn. There's an abortive attempt at "This Little Light of Mine."
Suddenly, amid all this non-structured peacemaking comes a tremendous roar. It comes from 9th Street, around the corner. More cops?? Counter protesters?? No, by golly, it's the Youth March! Sponsored by International A.N.S.W.E.R., the youth are 1,000 strong, racially diverse and they are pissed. Some teens on a truck lead one rip-roaring chant after another: "Bush says MORE war? We say NO war! Bush says ATTACK? We say FUCK THAT!"
As they near, the civil disobedience organizers watch, scratching their heads. What to do? It's like the scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian where the Campaign for Free Galilee and the People's Front of Judaea show up at the palace on the same night: "What's your group doing here?" "We're going to kidnap Pilate's wife, take her back, issue demands." "So are we!" "What?" "That's our plan!"
Our leaders postpone further decisions until the youth pass. This takes time, as the youth have much to say to the White House and will not be rushed. With police spread more thinly along the now larger assembly, 16 folks take the opportunity to hop the fence. They're arrested immediately. One woman tries to fence-hop just as the youth show up; a cop shoves her back with such force that she lands on her head. She is shaken, but not seriously hurt. (Later I learn of two protesters injured after being pushed by police--an 81-year-old woman is hospitalized with head injuries and a Catholic Worker from Boston has a fractured foot.)
Meanwhile the pagans sit in the middle of the street and toss balls of yarn back and forth until the circle within a circle becomes one big jolly tangle. A bunch of little kids don plastic George Bush masks with "The true face of global terrorism" printed on them. Some of these miniature Dubyas pander to the crowd by pretending to pick their noses and then their teeth--at least that's my adult impression until I realize the teeth-picking is actually a dramatization of presidential booger-eating. This is peacemaking, up close and personal.


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Career Opportunities
Most of OCF's employees are from New York City. However, we are keen to employ from a regional, national and international pool of talent. The success of the OCF's business and the quality of care provided to our customers are tied to our great pool of employees. Each new employee should reflect the following traits:
The CPSE determines eligibility and authorization of special education services.
A love of children, and understanding of children with learning and developmental disability
A strong team player with the desire to win and to always share the recognition
An assertive employee, one not afraid to make suggestions and ask questions
A perpetual learner, one that will be open to discovering new knowledge
An honest employee, as the OCF team is a family
Compensation and Benefits
Our Children First offers a competitive salary along with benefits including but not limited to; Medical Insurance, Life Insurance, 401K and Personal time off. We pride ourselves on nurturing professional development so that your employment with us is a positive and long-lasting one.
Apply for a Job at OCF
Send your resume to us, click here


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In today's world, we as sport fans love to compare and rank players, I would even say the media loves to do it more than the fans do. For a while now ESPN has been ranking each player in the NBA, from 200 all the way to number one and although they haven't reached the number one ranking yet, people are already going crazy.
MUST READ: Oprah Pulls Out The Big Guns For Lamar Odom Interview
Why? Because ESPN ranked Kobe Bryant as the 25th best player in the NBA right now. Now last year he was ranked as the 6th best player in the NBA, which had plenty of people going crazy but you can imagine even more people are going crazy now over his latest ranking.
In my opinion ranking and comparing players can be fun but I'm personally not a fan of it. Why? Because we as individuals all have our own opinions on who we think is the best and why. I wrote an article not to long ago about stopping player comparisons, especially players from a different era, for example Michael Jordan vs LeBron James. I feel it's a pointless comparison because they come from two different eras, played with different teammates and opponents and even have different game styles. I am more for saying the best player for every decade or era but that just my opinion. I feel there is no reason to compare or rank players unless you are just doing it for fun. Comparing and ranking players, no matter what sport will always be looked down upon by me because it's based on opinions and it seems people just don't know how to agree to disagree. Some see it as a sign of defeat when it's not, when you agree to disagree, your basically agreeing to respect each other's opinions but agreeing to disagree on that particular topic, comparison or ranking.
If I think Kobe Bryant is better than LeBron James, more than likely you're not gong to change my mind. If I think Tom Brady is better than Aaron Rodgers, that's my opinion based on my knowledge and facts. I may debate for fun that Kobe Bryant is not the 25th best player in the NBA right now even though that's what ESPN ranked him but I am not going to lose my mind over it and try to change people's mind about it when they have their opinions and I have mine.
Then you have those like Kevin Durant who feels players should rank players not analysts, see his tweet below:
I like Kevin Durant but I must say I disagree with this tweet. While I understand his point of view and wouldn't have a problem seeing NBA players rank their peers just like the NFL does every year with their players, I don't think analysts , writers or even fans should stop ranking or comparing players. Analysts are exactly what their name says, "analysts", they analyze based on their experience and knowledge. We as people have the right to make up our own opinions based on what we know and experience. It shouldn't matter if you played the sport or not or if you played at a particular level. It's something to take into consideration when listening to a person's opinion but that's about it. Then there are some that say analysts and writers are biased and don't offer an unbiased point of view, I'm sure I could say the same thing about players and I can definitely say it about fans of the game.
In conclusion, as I said earlier, I am not fan of comparisons and rankings, because we as individuals have different opinion on things and sometimes we just don't know how to accept someone else's opinion, instead we get mad and argue over it. Most people aren't going to change their minds just because someone disagrees. We all put different things into consideration when rankings or comparing players. I think we should do them for fun but we shouldn't go crazy or lose sleep over them or make a point to argue all day over them. State your thoughts, listen to other person's opinion and if you can't come to an agreement, just agree to disagree. While I was shocked that ESPN ranked Kobe Bryant as the 25th best player in the NBA, I didn't go on a Twitter rant trying to state why he shouldn't be there. I didn't go out of my way trying to explain my opinion to people who said he sucks or should be ranked 25th. I reported the news, spoke my piece on my radio show with my fans about how I disagreed with ESPN ranking him 25th and moved on to the next topic. Like I said before, nothing wrong with rankings or comparing players but no need to get angry or upset when someone disagrees. It just an opinion.
Written by LBeasley, Sports Contributor for Radio One Detroit
Listen to LBeasley's Radio Show, "Sports Talk with L-Beasley" every Mon, Wed & Fri from 6-8pm (ET) on LBeasley.com
Shooting Stars: 20 Biggest NBA Scoring Performances
Shooting Stars: 20 Biggest NBA Scoring Performances
1. Gilbert ArenasSource: 1 of 20
2. Allen IversonSource: 2 of 20
3. Tom ChambersSource: 3 of 20
4. Larry BirdSource: 4 of 20
5. Bernard KingSource: 5 of 20
6. Shaquille O'NealSource: 6 of 20
7. Karl MaloneSource: 7 of 20
8. George MikanSource: 8 of 20
9. Tracy McGradySource: 9 of 20
10. George GervinSource: 10 of 20
11. Jerry WestSource: 11 of 20
12. Joe FulksSource: 12 of 20
13. Rick BarrySource: 13 of 20
14. "Pistol" PeteSource: 14 of 20
15. Michael JordanSource: 15 of 20
16. David RobinsonSource: 16 of 20
17. Elgin BaylorSource: 17 of 20
18. David ThompsonSource: 18 of 20
19. Kobe BryantSource: 19 of 20
20. Wilt ChamberlainSource: 20 of 20
ESPN Ranks Kobe Bryant #25, Not that Big of a Deal [Opinion] was originally published on wchbnewsdetroit.com


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ON3P Billy Goat Ski Review
|Approx. Weight
|Feels Heavy
|Skier Level
|Advanced - Expert
|Ski Style
|Ski Width
|Ski Shape
|Directional Twin
|Camber Profile
|Core Material
|Bamboo, Carbon, Fiberglass
|Turning Radius
|28.4m @ 186cm
|Manufactured in
|Portland, OR
|On Snow Feel
|Turn Initiation
|Edge Hold
Where To Buy
No obligation, but these links & ads support the site
ON3P Billy Goat 2016 - 2015 Review by A Better Ski
The ON3P Billy Goat has undergone some minor tweaks for the 2016 season. New this year is a slightly shorter tail (same contact points), that are designed to make it slightly more nimble and maneuverable. We didn't find it made a very noticeable difference from last season, and the Billy Goat is still the same ski that we know and love. The biggest reason we love the Billy Goat is because it is both playful and hard a charger. Its soft snow and crud busting capabilities are almost as good as the ON3P Wrenegade, but when the snow really starts to pile up, the Billy Goat is so much more playful. It has great float for a 116 (186cm) waist, and the Reverse Elliptical Sidecut ensures a surfy ride. It's also the RES that ensures enough edge hold on the days the snow isn't as deep.
2016 ON3P Billy Goat On Mountain Video Ski Review
Size: 186
Days: 2
Riders: Matt
Conditions: Powder, Soft Crud (5"), Groomers, Hard Pack
Boots: Rossignol Alias Sensor 120
Bindings: Tyrolia AAAttack 13
On the Snow Feel: The ON3P Billy Goat is a heavy ski, weighing in at over 5 lbs a pair on the 186cm, but it's that weight that lends to such a stable and damp ride. However, the Billy Goat really is the best of both worlds, and for such a stable ski, it has a lot of surfy playfulness.
Powder: The ON3P Billy Goat is one of the most fun directional powder skis we have ridden. Sure the Cease and Desist (ON3P's 127mm powder specialist) has better float, and is a ski that powder fiends will love to have for the deepest days of the year, but the Billy Goat is so much fun in the soft snow, and a lot more manageable than the C+D. The pintail design helps to ensure the tails sink into the soft snow, giving you more control, and maneuverability, but the real star is the Reverse Elliptical Sidecut (check out the ON3P website if you want more details). When RES is combined with the long (43cm), high profile rocker tip, it provides some of the best float we have had in a 116mm ski. The ON3P Billy Goat is also really versatile in these conditions, and I found it easy to make surfy turns from side to side, or point it a bit straighter and lean forward for a few more face shots. Turns of all shapes were pretty easy to initiate, and even at slower speeds I found I could maneuver the ski pretty well (although it does take a bit more work). Definitely not as surfy as reverse camber, but still super fun in the soft snow.
Turn Initiation and Carving: I think the biggest surprise is the maneuverability. I wouldn't necessarily say that the ON3P Billy Goat is dead easy, nor is it a super nimble ski. It's still a stiff, heavy, hard charging ski, but it was much easier to pivot than expected (although it's still a bit of work at slower speeds). The Elliptical Rocker Profile helps to smooth out edge engagement, but it still takes a bit of speed to get the ski on edge. Once on edge, the shape of the Res seems to help the skis edge to engage quickly and provide you with stability you don't normally find on wide powder skis. The biggest surprise, however, is the responsiveness and ability to adjust turn shape. This is in part due to do with the Reverse Elliptical Sidecut in the tip of the ski, but a more traditional sidecut in the tail. This allows the ski to carve fast, long radius turns (28.4m radius), but also make quicker short and medium radius turns as well. I definitely wouldn't want to ski the Goat if I'm planning on spending a lot of time on the frontside, but it's still plenty capable of carving deep trenches, especially when the snow is soft. Once things harden up, it's definitely a different game.
Speed: If you really like a fast directional powder ski, the ON3P Billy Goat should be on your radar. The Billy Goat has a long radius (28.4 @ 186cm), and it's quite happy blasting down the mountain at high speeds. The bamboo core provides a damp character, and when combined with carbon stringers, and vibration dampening strips, you have a ski that remains stable at any speed.
Uneven Terrain: The ON3P Billy Goat is almost as good in the crud and chop as it is in the powder. The large tips and high profile rocker really do a nice job of smoothing out the terrain. The RES helps to keep things maneuverable, and it was still quite easy to make any kind of turn in the soft chop. These skies are powerful, and when you lean into the tips you're able to slice through the crud with ease. I wouldn't say that the Billy Goat has the same blast through anything at any speed dampness as a ski with more metal, but I was able to push the Billy Goat pretty hard without getting bounced around. In the soft chop (5"-10") you usually find after a resort powder day, the Billy Goats really shine.
Moguls: The ON3P Billy Goat is a bit too much for a good mogul ski. It's maneuverable, but not necessarily super quick. The Billy Goat makes a fine tree ski, so long as you have a bit of room between turns (ei…not super tight).
Edge Hold: You won't be laying deep trenches on the hard snow, but the Billy Goat will provide a stable, predictable, and consistent edge hold. It's most at home in the soft snow and crud.
Flex: The Billy Goat has a nice medium/stiff to stiff flex.
Switch: The ON3P Billy Goat is a directional powder ski, and not the best switch.
Jumps and Park: While this definitely isn't a park ski, it's great for landing big jumps or backcountry drops.
The ON3P Billy Goat is a great ski. It's a little hard to understand at first, but once you get some time on the ski it's easy to see its character. The Billy Goat is a directional powder ski, which is both playful and stable. It's at home in the powder, but it's also quite happy making long radius turns at high speed in the soft snow, or blasting through the crud and chop. Edge hold is decent, but it definitely likes the soft snow best. It may not be the best in category for any one criteria, but it has a great blend of easy going maneuverability, and hard charging stability. It's this blend that really makes the Billy Goat so much fun. It's definitely not a dead easy ski, and so beginners and intermediates should shy away, but for the advanced or expert skier that's willing to work a bit, the ON3P Billy Goat should be on your list. Float the powder, blast through the crud, or speed down the mountain at high speed. The Billy Goat has your back.
ON3P Billy Goat Specs
ON3P Billy Goat Images
ON3P Company Information
ON3P Billy Goat User Reviews


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Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw believes the experience of "massive legend" Bastian Schweinsteiger will be key in helping the Premier League giants "push for some trophies this season". The 31-year-old decided to put an end to his long and successful career at Bayern Munich earlier this summer to reunite with manager Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford in a deal worth around £14.4m ($22.4m).
Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola recently sent a warning to United after saying that even though the midfielder is a great player, the Germany international has not been fully fit in three years.
"He is a top, top player. Unfortunately, the last three years he was never in good condition. When he is in very good condition I am convinced he will be a good player for them. I really hope that is going to happen," Guardiola was quoted as saying by the Mirror.
But having won eight Bundesliga titles, one Champions League and the 2014 World Cup, Shaw believes Schweinsteiger's arrival is a big boost in the race to win titles at Manchester United.
"He's a massive legend. For someone with that much experience to come into the team will be vital to help us push for some trophies this season," Shaw said to Sky Sports. "He's one of the most humble guys I've come across. He's not not too loud and he's quite funny at the same time. It's nice to have a German around in the dressing room."
Meanwhile, the defender has also hailed the arrival of promising attacker Memphis Depay after admitting his surprise about how the confident the young winger is in his own abilities.
The former PSV forward moved to Old Trafford earlier in the summer after proving to be a sensation in the Eredivisie and despite being just 21, he has already proved his determination to be a star during the club's pre-season. Shaw said: "I've got on well with Memphis Depay. He's a different character. It's good for the changing room and he's confident about his own ability. It's something new to have but it's very good to have."


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Project Explore
Join the journey!
Language Level: Starter to Level 4 (A1-B1)
Discover the new world of Project Explore with colourful characters and exciting stories.
Every lesson is underpinned by the familiar Project methodology and its tried and tested approach to grammar and vocabulary. With Project Explore your students will become confident communicators ready for the world beyond the classroom.
Oxford Discover Futures
Creating independent thinkers with great futures
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text:
The Miracle Of Parenthood
Post 1365
Babies are always more trouble than you thought – and more wonderful.
Charles Osgood
My heart is bursting with joy! There are two couples that I know quite well who welcomes two little baby boys into their hearts and homes! And both of these miracles of life are growing like the precious flowers they are, under the loving care of their parents. Both od these little ones have just celebrated their 3rd birthdays, and having delivered a child during this blessed season myself, albeit 37 years ago this very day, I truly know the very special feeling that washes over someone as they hold this new life in their arms, especially when remembering another young mother and father who did just the very same thing more than 2000 years ago. But there is something that makes both of these babies miracles in their own right.
Now the first baby, born November 30th, 2011, was not carried within his mother's body but most certainly was carried within her heart. You see, this little baby was a miracle for a couple in their 30's who needed to adopt because his mommy was a Breast Cancer survivor who would not be able to conceive or carry a baby within her own womb. Additionally, this couple considers that the fact that they were approved for the adoption of this child in the first place was most certainly a miracle. But their prayers were heard and answered!
The second little baby boy, born on December 3rd, 2011, was conceived and carried for 9 months but only because his remarkable mommy came to terms with the fact that she had some issues relating to substance abuse. But she bravely took control of her life, and worked and worked to get and stay clean. She re-built her life, in the process meeting her own Prince Charming, and the rest is history. She and her husband are both also in their 30's and they are celebrating not just this miracle of life that they created, but also the life of another little one that they were blessed to have just two years later!
I am so very proud of both of these couples who, in overcoming tremendous adversities, have been blessed with the ultimate gift that God, the Father, can give to mankind. I know that the world and all its possibilities are there just waiting for these two little miracles. I know that these little boys will always have the love and devotion of parents whose love for them is as absolute as is the love that God has for them! These families have been truly blessed, just as I was in 1977! Yes, indeed, parenthood is a miracle!
Happy 37th Birthday to my own December miracle, my daughter Sabrina Hilliard. Brie, you are my joy and your dad and I are so very proud of the wonderful woman you have become! We love you very much!
Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.
Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands.
Psalm 127: 1-4 NLT
Copyright © 2011-2014 "MandysPath" Ministry


text:
Fan L, Zhao Z, Orr PT, Chambers CH, Lewis MC, Frick KM. Estradiol-induced object memory consolidation in middle-aged female mice requires dorsal hippocampal extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation. J Neurosci. 2010 Mar 24;30(12):4390-400. PubMed.
Please login to recommend the paper.
The current findings from the Frick laboratory are exciting results for those of us in the field who determined the PI3K / ERK biochemical signaling and genomic pathway induced by activating a membrane site of estrogen in the hippocampus. These findings along with earlier reports from this group constitute a strong specific link between the membrane estrogen site of action and a cognitive behavioral outcome. Further, this particular study demonstrates the critical role these membrane-associated estrogen receptors play in the cognitive phenotype in the aging female brain.


text:
Friday, July 31, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Chicago Bears
(2nd in NFC North)
HEAD COACH: Lovie Smith
Key Additions: QB Jay Cutler (trade/Broncos) OT Orlando Pace (FA/ Rams) OT Frank Omiyale (FA/Panthers) TE Michael Gaines (FA/Lions) QB Brett Basanez (FA)
Key Losses: QB Kyle Orton (trade/Broncos) QB Rex Grossman (FA/Texans) OT John St. Clair (FA/Browns) OT John Tait (retired) WR Brandon Lloyd (FA) WR Marty Booker (FA) S Mike Brown (FA)
Offense: Just one name matters here... JAY CUTLER!
The Bears made a huge move trading for Cutler with the Broncos and they are banking on the fourth year quarterback to pay big dividends NOW.
Cutler finished sixth in the AFC in passing a year ago (86.0 rating) when he threw for 4,526 yards with 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He really had a breakthrough year for Denver in '08 and the Bears need him to continue his personal success.
The only problem might be a lack of wide receivers to throw to. The Bears have kick returner extraordinaire Devin Hester in the mix at wideout along with Rashied Davis (35 catches and two TDs), Earl Bennett and Juaquin Iglesias. The Tight Ends are Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark (41 catches for 367 yards and a touchdown).
Olsen (54 catches for 574 yards and five TDs) and Hester (51 grabs for 665 yards and three TDs) both did respectable a year ago while running back Matt Forte led the team with 63 catches and four scores.
Forte, a rookie last season, not only caught 63 balls but also rushed for 1,238 yards and scored eight touchdowns on the ground and 12 overall.
Jason McKie is the fullback and the Bears also have Kevin Jones, Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe available in the backfield.
The Offensive Line will have Olin Kreutz at center, Frank Omiyale and Roberto Garza at guard and Orlando Pace (left tackle) and Chris Williams protecting Cutler and opening the lanes for Forte to run through.
Defense: The defense slipped to 21st overall in the NFL a year ago and the Bears know that has to improve in 2009.
The Bears had the fifth best run defense in 2008, allowing just 93.5 yards per game. But the pass defense was another story. Chicago allowed a woeful 241 yards per game and ranked 30th overall against opposing quarterbacks. They had just 28 sacks but did intercept 22 passes, which ranked tied for third in the NFL.
Up front, the Bears will feature Tommie Harris and Anthony Adams at the tackle positions and Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown at defensive end.
The linebackers are Brian Urlacher in the middle and Lance Briggs and Nick Roach on the outside. Hunter Hillenmeyer and Marcus Freeman are also ready to step up in '09.
Corey Graham, Nathan Vasher, Zack Bowman, Trumaine McBride and Charles Tillman are the cornerbacks. Tillman will begin the 2009 season it appears, on the injured list.
The safeties are Kevin Payne and Josh Bullocks with Craig Steltz and Glenn Earl ready to play as well.
One thing for sure, the secondary has to be better in 2009 for the team to improve and get back to the playoffs.
OUTLOOK: For the Bears to contend and possibly win the NFC North and a post-season playoff berth, they need better defense overall (especially against the pass) than they had in 2008. The offense, led by Cutler, also needs to step up and show the NFL they mean business.
Playing in the "black and blue" division known as the NFC North, the Bears have to battle the Vikings and Packers for the division crown and also be somewhat cautious with the Lions, a team that nearly beat them in Chicago last November.
If Cutler puts up similar numbers to a year ago, watch out. If not, and that's a real possibility with the untested receivers he has compared to Denver, the Bears will have to battle for everything they can get on offense.
Cutler's rifle arm will open up the offense and keep opponents honest on defense. Most teams simply line up "eight in the box" when playing the Bears, but with a QB of Cutler's ability, that won't be the case in '09.
Bears' fans will be wowed by Cutler's abilities and they also may get frustrated as well when he throws inopportune picks, which has been his short coming early in his career.
Forte was a great rookie running back last season and barring injury, should continue with more of the same.
The defense will also need to improve against the pass and get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season for things to go the Bears' way.
The playoffs are a possibility as the team schedule really is favorable for the Bears. A division title depends on the head-to-head games against Minnesota and Green Bay.
A 10-6 finish is not out of the question, which would get the Bears into the playoffs.
Week 1- at Green Bay (Sept. 13)
Week 2- vs. Pittsburgh (Sept. 20)
Week 3- at Seattle (Sept. 27)
Week 4- vs. Detroit (Oct. 4)
Week 5- BYE WEEK
Week 6- at Atlanta (Oct. 18)
Week 7- at Cincinnati (Oct. 25)
Week 8- vs. Cleveland (Nov. 1)
Week 9- vs. Arizona (Nov. 8)
Week 10- at San Francisco (Nov. 12)
Week 11- vs. Philadelphia (Nov. 22)
Week 12- at Minnesota (Nov. 29)
Week 13- vs. St. Louis (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. Green Bay (Dec. 13)
Week 15- at Baltimore (Dec. 20)
Week 16- vs. Minnesota (Dec. 28)
Week 17- at Detroit (Jan. 3)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- New York Jets
(3rd in AFC East)
HEAD COACH: Rex Ryan
Key Additions: LB Bart Scott (FA/Ravens) CB Lito Sheppard (trade/Eagles) LB Larry Izzo (FA/Patriots)
Key Losses: QB Brett Favre (retired) TE Chris Baker (FA/Patriots) CB Hank Poteat (FA/Browns) WR Laveraneus Coles (FA/Bengals) PK Mike Nugent (FA/Buccaneers) CB Ty Law (FA)
Offense: Thomas Jones, the AFC's leading rusher from a year ago, returns after rumbling for 1,312 yards and a 4.5 average with 13 touchdowns to lead the way for the Jets in 2009.
Jones, along with Leon Washington (448 yards, 5.9 ypc average and six TDs) spearhead the New York attack on the ground. Fullback Tony Richardson still is an excellent blocker and gets his occasional carries as well.
The quarterback will likely be top draft pick Mark Sanchez from USC. The rookie had better be ready for the glare that comes with playing in New York City. Kellen Clemens will be the backup and is always ready to step in and take the snaps when needed.
The wide receivers are led by Jerricho Cotchery (71 catches in '08 with five TDs) and second year man Chansi Stuckey (32 catches and three TDs). Washington (47 grabs and two TDs) is a apt receiver out of the backfield and the Tight End will be Dustin Keller, who caught 48 passes as a rookie to go with his 11.1 yards per catch average and three touchdowns.
The Offensive Line is anchored by center Nick Mangold and the tackles are Damien Woody and D'Brickashaw Ferguson while the guards will be Alan Faneca and Brandon Moore. The Jets also have Wayne Hunter, Robert Turner, Stan Daniels and rookie Matt Slauson as backups.
Defense: The Jets ranked in middle of the pack (16th in total defense) last season. They were seventh against the run and 29th against the pass. Obviously, they are working on the paltry secondary as training camp begins in 2009.
The secondary was terrible last season, allowing an average of 235 yards per game while intercepting just 14 passes all season. The defense did register 41 sacks a year ago, so that just compounds the problems for the secondary.
Lito Sheppard (right cornerback) has been brought over from the Philadelphia Eagles and is known for his ball hawking abilities. The left corner will be Darrelle Revis with Kerry Rhodes and Jim Leonhard playing the safety positions.
The Jets play primarily the 3-4 defense, and Head Coach Rex Ryan would like to see the pressure on the quarterback continue in 2009. The defensive front will have Kris Jenkins at Nose tackle with Shaun Ellis and Kenyon Coleman at the ends.
The linebackers will be Calvin Pace (strong side LB), Bryan Thomas (weak side LB) and inside linebackers Bart Scott (with Baltimore in 2008) and David Harris. Larry Izzo comes over from the Patriots and is a solid backup.
OUTLOOK: J-E-T-S ... Jets! Jets! Jets!
The New York (or if you will) the New Look Jets will be revamped in many ways as the 2009 season kicks off.
Eric Mangini is out as Head Coach and is now in Cleveland while Rex Ryan, coming over from Baltimore as their Defensive Coordinator, is the new Head Coach.
Rookie Mark Sanchez, drafted with the first pick out of USC, is being touted as the starting quarterback after an up and down season from future Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre, who retired following the 2008 season. Favre also announced recently he is STAYING RETIRED this time around.
The secondary definitely needs to improve in 2009 if the Jets are going to compete for a playoff spot. Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine has his work cut out there.
The AFC East was up for grabs last year and the Jets dropped it after bolting to a 8-3 start before collapsing down the stretch and finishing 9-7 and out of the playoffs.
The offense is solid at running back and wide receiver as well as up front on the O-line. The quarterback position will be the big question mark in 2009. If Sanchez can work through the rookie mistakes that are bound to happen, the Jets may be okay this season. If not...
The defense was solid against the run last year and will be relied on again to stuff opposing running backs. How much the secondary can improve will say much about the Jets' chances for the upcoming season.
The likelihood for 2009, with so many changes from last year, is a 7-9 finish and a good attitude toward the future as the new regime gets started.
Week 1-at Houston (Sept. 13)
Week 2- vs. New England (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. Tennessee (Sept.27)
Week 4- at New Orleans (Oct. 4)
Week 5- at Miami (Oct. 12)
Week 6- vs. Buffalo (Oct. 18)
Week 7- at Oakland (Oct. 25)
Week 8- vs. Miami (Nov. 1)
Week 9- BYE WEEK
Week 10- vs. Jacksonville (Nov. 15)
Week 11- at New England (Nov. 22)
Week 12- vs. Carolina (Nov. 29)
Week 13- at Buffalo (Dec. 3)
Week 14- at Tampa Bay (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. Atlanta (Dec. 20)
Week 16- at Indianapolis (Dec. 27)
Week 17- vs. Cincinnati (Jan. 3)
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- New England Patriots
(2nd in AFC East)
HEAD COACH: Bill Belichick
Key Additions: RB Fred Taylor (FA/Jaguars) TE Chris Baker (FA/Jets) WR Greg Lewis (trade/Eagles) CB Shawn Springs (FA/Redskins) WR Joey Galloway (FA/Buccaneers) TE Alex Smith (trade/Buccaneers)
Key Losses: QB Matt Cassel (trade/Chiefs) LB Mike Vrabel (trade/Chiefs) RB LaMont Jordan (FA/Broncos) FB Heath Evans (FA/Saints) WR Jabar Gafney (FA/Broncos) LB Larry Izzo (FA/Jets) LB Rosevelt Colvin (FA) S Rodney Harrison (FA) LB Junior Seau (FA) CB Ellis Hobbs (trade/Eagles)
Offense: He's baaaaack!
Quarterback Tom Brady missed (in reality) the entire 2008 season after suffering a severe knee injury in the season opener. Brady has been banged up the last two seasons going back to the post-season of 2007-08 however, never under estimate the heart of a champion.
Brady is the leader of the Patriots and even though Matt Cassel (traded to Kansas City in off-season) did a decent job last year, there is no question the Patriots are a completely different team with Brady taking the snaps.
He will have a bevy of wide receivers to choose from in Randy Moss (69 catches in '08 with 11 touchdowns), Wes Welker (111 catches for a 10.5 average and three touchdowns) and the newly acquired Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis.
Galloway was hurt last year and had just 13 catches and Lewis (with Philadelphia) made 19 catches in limited playing time. Benjamin Watson (Tight End) made 22 grabs and had two TDs as well. Alex Smith and Chris Baker provide depth at this position.
The running game will again feature Laurence Maroney (injured most of last season as well) as the starting halfback. Maroney had only 28 touches last year and managed just 93 yards, but has shown good stuff when healthy. Fred Taylor, a veteran pickup from Jacksonville, may still have something to prove after a stellar performance for the Jaguars.
Taylor gained 556 yards on 143 carries in 2008 and the Patriots probably are hoping that he can resemble his former self (Jags' all-time leading rushing leader) much the same way Corey Dillon did when he was picked up from Cincinnati several years ago. Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk will also provide added depth for New England's running game.
The Offensive Line, and it still is a good one, features center Dan Koppen, guards Logan Mankins and Stephen Neal and tackles Matt Light and Nick Kaczur. They must do a better job protecting Brady than they did pass blocking for Cassel a year ago, when they allowed 48 sacks for the season.
Defense: The Patriots drafted three defensive players with all of their second round picks in the 2009 NFL Draft. That says something because the defense is starting to get old.
New England finished 10th overall on defense while allowing 107 yards rushing per game and 201 yards through the air. In addition, the Patriots intercepted the ball just 14 times and had 31 sacks.
The secondary has undergone major changes in recent seasons after losing Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs, Rodney Harrison, etc. But New England, led by Head Coach Bill Belichick, knows how to make the adjustments and not miss a beat.
Safeties will be James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather and the cornerbacks will be Jonathan Wilhite and Leigh Bodden.
The Defensive Line will see Vince Wilfork at Nose Tackle and the Ends will be Richard Seymour (eight sacks to lead the team in '08) and Ty Warren. Jarvis Green played well last season when give the chance and rookie Ron Brace can fill in at tackle as well.
The linebacking unit will have 14-year veteran Tedy Bruschi and Jerod Mayo at Inside LB and Pierre Woods (weak side) and Adelius Thomas (strong side LB) rounding out the 3-4 defense the team employs.
OUTLOOK: The Patriots are used to winning and they do not take lightly coming in second place in their own division.
Having Brady back is huge, but should he go down again for any extended length of time, the team will be in real trouble because they do not have an experienced quarterback waiting in the wings. Cassel was tagged the franchise player and then shipped to Kansas City along with LB Mike Vrabel.
New England has a penchant for making the moves to change the roster and still keep the winning formula in place. They have again made numerous roster changes, but the mainstays of Brady, Moss, Welker, Maroney, Faulk, Bruschi, the O-Line, and of course Bill Belichick keep the Patriots in the thick of things year after year.
This season should be no exception as the Patriots look to regain the AFC East crown with a 13-3 record and go deep into the playoffs. Another Super Bowl appearance hinges on the health of Brady.
Week 1- vs. Buffalo (Sept. 14)
Week 2-at NY Jets (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. Atlanta (Sept. 27)
Week 4- vs. Baltimore (Oct. 4)
Week 5- at Denver (Oct. 11)
Week 6- vs. Tennessee (Oct. 18)
Week 7- at Tampa Bay (Oct. 25)
Week 8- BYE WEEK
Week 9- vs. Miami (Nov. 8)
Week 10- at Indianapolis (Nov. 15)
Week 11- vs. NY Jets (Nov. 22)
Week 12- at New Orleans (Nov. 30)
Week 13- at Miami (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. Carolina (Dec. 13)
Week 15- at Buffalo (Dec. 20)
Week 16- vs. Jacksonville (Dec. 27)
Week 17- at Houston (Jan. 3)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
It's not only Senate Republicans stalling and attempting to kill Health Care Reform in this country, there are also "Blue Dog" Democrats (a.k.a. BLUE CROSS Democrats) and of course Chuck Grassley (Republican Senator from Iowa) and the dubious Max Baucus, a Democratic Senator from Montana.
They are the ones responsible for continuing the following in this country regarding Health Care...
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Miami Dolphins
(1st in AFC East)
HEAD COACH: Tony Sparano
Key Additions: S Gibril Wilson (FA/Raiders) OL Jake Grove (FA/Raiders) CB Eric Green (FA/Cardinals) LB Jason Taylor (FA/Redskins)
Key Losses: CB Renaldo Hill (FA/Broncos) CB Andre Goodman (FA/Broncos) QB John Beck (FA/Ravens) DE Vonnie Holliday (FA)
Offense: Chad Pennington sure made the Jets look foolish for giving up on him as he led the Dolphins offense a year ago while Miami turned around from a 1-15 season in 2007 to go 11-5 last season.
Pennington racked up 19 touchdown passes with just seven interceptions while throwing for 3,653 yards and compiled a 97.4 passer rating, which was good for second in the NFL.
Ronnie Brown (916 yards rushing and 10 TDs) and Rickey Williams (659 yards and four TDs) combined to give the Dolphins a solid running game in 2008. That helped to keep the pressure off Pennington.
The wide receivers are many featuring leading receiver from a year ago Ted Ginn, Jr. (56 catches for 790 yards and two touchdowns), Greg Camarillo (55 grabs and two scores) and Davone Bess (54 catches for 554 yards and a touchdown). Tight End Anthony Fasano, who came over from Dallas, caught 34 passes (13.4 ypc average) and scored seven touchdowns. He became a favorite target in the red zone for Pennington.
And let us not forget the"Wildcat" offense, which had wild success a year ago and the Dolphins also added QB Pat White (West Virginia) to the mix with their second-round pick. White may be a perfect fit for the gimmick offense as he ran a lot of option-type plays while in college.
The offensive line was solid and features center Jake Grove (free agent signee from Oakland), guards Justin Smiley and Donald Thomas and tackles Vernon Carey and Jake Long.
Long was last season's top draft pick and had a solid rookie year, securing a spot on the Pro Bowl team as a backup at left tackle.
Defense: The Miami defense ranked in the middle of the pack a year ago (15th overall) and did much better against the run as opposed to the pass.
The Dolphins were lit up a few times through the air in 2008, allowing 228 yards per game by their opponents. The defense allowed 101 yards per game on the ground, which was good for 10th place overall in the league.
Miami plays the 3-4 defense, featuring Jason Ferguson at NT and Kendall Langford and Phillips Merling at the End positions.
The linebacking corps is led by none other than Joey Porter (weakside LB). Porter led the way for Miami with 17.5 QB sacks a year ago. As a unit, the Dolphins totaled 40 sacks. Not too bad Joey.
Jason Taylor, after spending a year in Washington, returns to Miami and will play the strong side LB spot. The inside LBs will be Akin Ayodele and Channing Crowder.
In the secondary, the Dolphins took some chances and intercepted 18 passes while giving up some big plays as well. The unit needs to step it up a bit in 2009 after ranking 25th against the pass last year.
The starting corners will likely be Will Allen and rookie Vontae Davis (1st Rd. pick from Illinois) and the safeties will be Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson, who comes over as a free agent from the Raiders. Eric Green and Jason Allen will back up at cornerback while Courtney Bryan and Tyrone Culver add depth as well in the secondary.
OUTLOOK: The Dolphins stunned the entire league in 2008 by going 11-5 and winning the AFC East after going 1-15 in 2007. Wow!
But that was last year and now they have a first place schedule to deal with. It won't be easy, but second-year Head Coach Tony Sparano knows how to win and showed it big time least season.
Pennington enjoyed a great season and did not have the injuries either that seemed to plague him with the Jets.
Porter was a mad man for the defense evidenced by his sack total, which was second overall in the NFL.
The team also ranked number one in turnover differential, enjoying a +17 in this category.
For the Dolphins to enjoy the same success in 2009, that needs to continue. They will not be taken lightly and sneak up on people this year, like they did a year ago. Also, Baltimore exposed how to stop the vaunted "Wildcat" offense last season. The gadget offense seemed to stun some opposing defenses when first introduced.
Bottom line is that Miami will not be taken lightly in 2009 and they face one real tough opponent in their division... New England, which has QB Tom Brady returning from a serious knee injury.
Look for Miami, with the surprise factor now out in the open and a much tougher schedule this year, to finish 8-8, which will get them second place in the AFC East.
Week 1- at Atlanta (Sept. 13)
Week 2- vs. Indianapolis (Sept. 21)
Week 3- at San Diego (Sept. 27)
Week 4- vs. Buffalo (Oct. 4)
Week 5- vs. NY Jets (Oct. 12)
Week 6- BYE WEEK
Week 7- vs. New Orleans (Oct. 25)
Week 8- at NY Jets (Nov. 1)
Week 9- at New England (Nov. 8)
Week 10- vs. Tampa Bay (Nov. 15)
Week 11- at Carolina (Nov. 19)
Week 12- at Buffalo (Nov. 29)
Week 13- vs. New England (Dec. 6)
Week 14- at Jacksonville (Dec. 13)
Week 15- at Tennessee (Dec. 20)
Week 16- vs. Houston (Dec. 27)
Week 17- vs. Pittsburgh (Jan. 3)
Blogger Award
Rae at Weather Vane presented me with The Superior Scribbler Award.
Thank you very much for this Award and honor.
There are rules for this Award and they are as follows:
1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass the Award on to five most-deserving blogger friends.
2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and name of the blog from whom he/she received the Award.
3. Each Superior Scribbler must display the Award on his/her blog and link to This Post, which explains the Award.
4. Each blogger who wins the Award must visit This Post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. This way, we can keep up on who wins this prestigious honor.
5. Each recipient of the Award must post these rules on his/her blog.
Thank you again Rae and congratulations to all recipients of the Superior Scribbler Award.
Monday, July 27, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Buffalo Bills
(4th in AFC East)
HEAD COACH: Dick Jauron
Key Additions: WR Terrell Owens (FA/Cowboys) QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (FA/Bengals) CB Drayton Florence (FA/Jaguars) RB Dominic Rhodes (FA/Colts)
Key Losses: TE Robert Royal (FA/Browns) QB J.P. Losman (FA)
Offense: The Bills made the boldest move perhaps in the off-season by grabbing Terrell Owens from the Cowboys roster via free agency.
T.O. will line up with Lee Evans and Josh Reed to give quarterback Trent Edwards a compelling trio of wide receivers this season.
Edwards took over the play calling from the departed J.P. Losman and threw for 2,699 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Ryan Fitzpatrick will be the backup quarterback in 2009.
Marshawn Lynch rushed for 1,031 yards and averaged 4.1 yards per carry and scored eight TDs. Fred Jackson provides good backup at running back and piled up 571 yards last year while scoring three TDs and averaging 4.4 yards per carry. In addition to Jackson, Dominic Rhodes comes over from Indianapolis to add depth here. Rhodes ran for 302 yards (6.7 yards per carry avg.) and scored three touchdowns in limited action in 2008.
The O-Line will feature Geoff Hangartner at center with Andy Levitre and Eric Wood at guard and Langston Walker and Brad Butler at the tackles.
But the focus for Buffalo this season will be on T.O. and company as the Bills passing attack receives a much needed upgrade.
Owens grabbed 69 catches with Dallas in '08 and scored 10 TDs while averaging 15.2 yards per catch. Evans had 63 catches for 1,017 yards (16.1 YPC average) with three TDs and Josh Reed, the possession receiver, made 56 catches for 597 yards.
Defense: The Bills ranked in the middle of the pack (14th in NFL) in total defense while allowing 326 yards per game. The run defense was weak, ranking 22nd in the league and allowing 122 yards per game on the ground.
The pass defense fared better, allowing 204 yards per game to finish 13th overall. But the Bills had just 24 sacks and 10 picks for the entire season.
They use primarly a 4-3 defense and will feature Kyle Williams and Marcus Stoud at DT and Chris Kelsay and Aaron Schobel at the ends. First round draft pick Aaron Maybin (Penn State) will get a chance to spell the starters.
The linebackers will be Kawika Mitchell, Keith Ellison and Paul Posluszny. This is a talented group of linebackers and the strength of this defense. Should anyone get hurt or need to be spelled, the team has above average backups in Alvin Bowen and John DiGiorgio.
The secondary will look to improve on the interception total in 2009 while featuring Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin at cornerback and Bryan Scott and Donte Whitner at safety. Drayton Florence came over from Jacksonville and will provide some depth in the secondary along with rookie Jarius Byrd and Ashton Youboty.
OUTLOOK: The Bills did not live up to expectations a year ago and Head Coach Dick Jauron could find himself on the hot seat if the team struggles again this season.
After getting off to a 5-1 start in 2008, the Bills stumbled home with a losing record for the fourth consecutive season. Add T.O. and all the drama that goes with his talent into the mix and it could be a recipe for another tough season.
However, Owens does inspire those around him to play better as his resume will show in his 13 seasons in the NFL. A lot of what happens for the Bills will depend on Edwards as he enters his second full season lining up behind center. He showed some bright moments a year ago while also showing tendencies that Jauron would not like to see repeated.
Pass protection is a must up front as Edwards will have a talented group of receivers to throw the ball to. Lynch must step up as well for the Bills to provide added punch.
If the team can stay healthy and the defense improves against the run, the Bills should be competitive. If not, well then expect more of the same in '09.
The Bills play in the rugged AFC East, where Miami shocked the NFL by improving by 10 games from the year prior to win the division and the Patriots have a man named Brady returning after missing virtually all of last season with a knee injury.
The Bills may be able to avoid the basement again as the Jets seem to be going through changes after Brett Favre retired again. The call here is for Buffalo to finish at 6-10 this season.
Week 1- at New England (Sept. 14)
Week 2- vs. Tampa Bay (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. New Orleans (Sept. 27)
Week 4- at Miami (Oct. 4)
Week 5- vs. Cleveland (Oct. 11)
Week 6- at NY Jets (Oct. 18)
Week 7- at Carolina (Oct. 25)
Week 8- vs. Houston (Nov. 1)
Week 9- BYE WEEK
Week 10- at Tennessee (Nov. 15)
Week 11- at Jacksonville (Nov. 22)
Week 12- vs. Miami (Nov. 29)
Week 13- vs. NY Jets (Dec. 3)
Week 14- at Kansas City (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. New England (Dec. 20)
Week 16- at Atlanta (Dec. 27)
Week 17- vs. Indianapolis (Jan. 3)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Washington Redskins
(4th in NFC East)
HEAD COACH: Jim Zorn
Key Additions: DT Albert Haynesworth (FA/Titans) DE Renaldo Wynn (FA/Giants) WR Roydell Williams (FA)
Key Losses: DE Jason Taylor (FA/Dolphins) DE Ryan Boschetti (FA/Raiders) OL Justin Geisinger (FA/Panthers)
Offense: Quarterback Jason Campbell is an adequate fit for what the Redskins do. Campbell threw for 3,245 yards in 2008 and had 13 TD passes with just six interceptions, but the team needs the production to rise to compete in the NFC East.
Running back Clinton Portis is the mainstay on offense for Washington, evidenced by his numbers last year when he carried 342 times for 1,487 yards and nine TDs. Ladell Betts (206 yards rushing in limited playing time) is a decent backup and Campbell also ran for 258 yards and averaged 5.5 yards per carry.
Tight End Chris Cooley led the 'Skins in '08 with 83 catches for 849 yards, but had just one score. Santana Moss grabbed 79 passes for 1,044 yards and six TDs while Antwaan Randle-El had 53 catches and four touchdowns. The team needs a legitimate deep threat however, evidenced by the fact Moss led the team with a 13.2 yards per catch average.
The offensive line features center Casey Rabach, guards Derrick Dockery and Randy Thomas and tackles Chris Samuels and Stephon Heyer.
Defense: The team was fourth in total defense last season, allowing 289 yards per game with only 95 yards rushing per game allowed. The sack total was just 24 (which ranked 28th overall) and the Redskins compiled just 13 picks all season long as a result of the lack of pressure up front on opposing quarterbacks.
Enter Albert Haynesworth (free agent signee from Tennessee Titans) on the Defensive Line to help out in 2009.
The team can stop the run effectively, but they tend to get lit up through the air and that's where Haynesworth will help. Along with fellow DT Cornelius Griffith and defensive ends Phillip Daniels and Andre Carter, the Redskins should continue to shine up front against the run. Haynesworth had 8.5 sacks with Tennessee and that should help the pass rush in D.C. in '09.
The linebackers are London Fletcher, a cagey veteran who still has a lot of fire in him. Rocky McIntosh and Brian Orakpo also will start for the Redskins.
Carlos Rogers and DeAngelo Hall are the cornerbacks and the safeites will be Chris Horton and LaRon Landry. Veteran Fred Smoot is always ready to step in should anyone falter.
OUTLOOK: The Redskins know they are in a strong division and to be competitive they must open the offense up and score more. Six of the teams eight wins in '08 saw them score 20 points or better. On the other hand, they had just one loss in eight total where they scored more than 20 points.
They also must improve in the "Red Zone" as they scored touchdowns just 48% of the time they were inside the opponents 20-yard line.
The defense is pretty solid against the run and Haynesworth (barring injury of course) will help bolster the defensive front four.
They need to shore up the secondary some as they allowed more than 200 yards per game last season and didn't get many takeaways either. Pressure on opposing quarterbacks in crucial in the NFL. If Washington can step it up in this area, they may surprise some people in '09.
Special teams are a concern as well for the team as kicker Shaun Suisham struggled last year with field goal accuracy, especially from beyond 40 yards. The Redskins also allowed two punt returns for touchdowns last year.
Look for the Redskins to take a step backwards and finish 6-10 in 2009.
Week 1- at NY Giants (Sept. 13)
Week 2- vs. St. Louis (Sept. 20)
Week 3- at Detroit (Sept. 27)
Week 4- vs. Tampa Bay (Oct. 4)
Week 5- at Carolina (Oct. 11)
Week 6- vs. Kansas City (Oct. 18)
Week 7- vs. Philadelphia (Oct.26)
Week 8- BYE WEEK
Week 9- at Atlanta (Nov. 8)
Week 10- vs. Denver (Nov. 15)
Week 11- at Dallas (Nov. 22)
Week 12- at Philadelphia (Nov. 29)
Week 13- vs. New Orleans (Dec. 6)
Week 14- at Oakland (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. NY Giants (Dec. 21)
Week 16- vs. Dallas (Dec. 27)
Week 17- at San Diego (Jan. 3)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- Philadelphia Eagles
(2nd in NFC East)
HEAD COACH: Andy Reid
Key Additions: OT Stacy Andrews (FA/Bengals) S Sean Jones (FA/Browns) FB Leonard Weaver (FA/Seahawks) CB Ellis Hobbs (trade/Patriots)
Key Losses: WR Greg Lewis (trade/Patriots) CB Lito Sheppard (trade/Jets) S Brian Dawkins (FA/Broncos) RB Correll Buckhalter TE L.J. Smith (FA/Ravens) OT Jon Runyan (FA)
Offense: When people think of the Eagles offense, two names come to mind and with good reason. Quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook spearhead the Eagles' offense. In 2008, McNabb threw for 23 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions and had 3,916 yards through the air. Westbrook led the Eagles with 936 yards rushing and scored 14 TDs (nine running and five receiving) and also grabbed 54 passes out of the backfield.
The pair combined for nearly two-thirds of the total offense last year, so the Eagles would like to see other options open up for the team in 2009.
Wide receiver DeSean Jackson led the team in '08 with 62 catches for 912 yards and scored two touchdowns. He will be joined by Kevin Curtis, Hank Baskett and Jason Avant. Rookie wideout Jeremy Maclin (Missouri) will also help the depth in the receiving corps. The Tight Ends are Brent Celek and Matt Schobel. Westbrook's backup will be second round draft pick (from Pitt) LeSean McCoy.
The offensive line underwent major off-season changes as veteran Jon Runyan left for free agency as did Tra Thomas. The team picked up tackles Stacy Andrews and Jason Peters and they will start along side guards Todd Herremans ans Shawn Andrews. The center is Jamaal Jackson.
Defense: This is the strength of the team and the Eagles proved that by finishing in the top five in defense in all categories in 2008.
They were third in the NFL in total defense, allowing only 274 yards per game (92 yards rushing per game good for fourth overall and 182 yards allowed against the pass to finish third) and allowed 289 points during the regular season to finish fourth in that category.
There are some shakeups here as well as Brian Dawkins, the heart and soul of the secondary, left for Denver via free agency. The cornerbacks will be Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel, who played a big role for the team after coming over from New England a year ago.
The safeties will be Quintin Mikell and Quintin Demps and Sean Jones will spell them while Ellis Hobbs and Joselio Hanson are the backups at the corners.
The linebackers include Akeem Jordan, Stewart Bradley and Chris Gocong.
The Eagles have an aggressive defense and they had 48 sacks a year ago while intercepting 15 passes. Even with the loss of Dawkins and Lito Sheppard, the secondary will be formidable while enforcing a hands-off policy against their opponents passing game.
OUTLOOK: The Eagles are poised to make a run deep into the post-season once again in 2009 and barring major injuries, they should do so.
The offense is solid and as the line has time to get accustomed to one another as a unit, it will only benefit McNabb and company. Look for the team to score points and for the defense to keep opponents at bay on a consistent basis.
After falling to upstart Arizona a year ago in the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles are looking to take the next step and get back to the Super Bowl for the first time in five years.
There are high expectations for this team as they proved they can beat the New York Giants a year ago, doing so twice, including a dominant performance on the road in the playoffs.
The Eagles should win the NFC East this year with a 11-5 record and go deep in the playoffs again. The Super Bowl is a real possibility for the Eagles. Don't be surprised if they make it there this season.
Week 1- at Carolina (Sept. 13)
Week 2- vs. New Orleans (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. Kansas City (Sept. 27)
Week 4- BYE WEEK
Week 5- vs. Tampa Bay (Oct. 11)
Week 6- at Oakland (Oct. 18)
Week 7- at Washington (Oct. 26)
Week 8- vs. NY Giants (Nov. 1)
Week 9- vs. Dallas (Nov. 8)
Week 10- at San Diego (Nov. 15)
Week 11- at Chicago (Nov. 22)
Week 12- vs. Washington (Nov. 29)
Week 13- at Atlanta (Dec. 6)
Week 14- at NY Giants (Dec. 13)
Week 15- vs. San Francisco (Dec. 20)
Week 16- vs. Denver (Dec. 27)
Week 17- at Dallas (Jan. 3)
Friday, July 24, 2009
2009 NFL PREVIEW- New York Giants
2008 Record: 12-4
(1st in NFC East)
HEAD COACH: Tom Coughlin
Key Additions: LB Michael Boley (FA/Falcons) DE Chris Canty (FA/Cowboys) LB Kelvin Smith (FA)
Key Losses: WR Plaxico Burress (FA) RB Derrick Ward (FA/Buccaneers) DE Renaldo Wynn (FA/Redskins) WR Amani Toomer (FA) CB R.W. McQuarters (FA) RB Reuben Droughns (FA) CB Sam Madison (FA)
Offense: The Giants approach to offense is run the ball, run the ball, run the ball... and run some more.
Running back Brandon Jacobs (1,089 yards rushing in '08 with 5.0 avg. and 15 TDs) combined with Derrick Ward to help the team pound the ball last year. But Ward has left and that means Jacobs will carry more of the load along with Ahmad Bradshaw, who ran for 355 yards while averaging 5.3 yards per carry in limited action last year.
Quarterback Eli Manning is back again after riding high in 2007 when the Giants were winning the Super Bowl.
Manning threw for 3,238 yards a year ago while passing for 21 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Not bad numbers for the "other" Manning. Of course, he does have a Super Bowl ring as well and that counts for something in the NFL.
He has shown he can win and after the team lost to the Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2008 playoffs, Manning took it hard and knows the team can bounce back in '09.
His targets at wide receiver will be Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith, along with Tight End Kevin Boss. Rookie Hakeem Nicks (1st Rd. pick from North Carolina) and Mario Manningham will be the backups.
Manning's favorite target (Plaxico Burress) is gone after being suspended for the last part of the season after legal problems last December. Amani Toomer, who bolted New York City for free agency, is also gone. So Manning will have to distribute the ball all over the field. He can also dish it to backs Bradshaw, Jacobs and fullback Madison Hedgecock.
The Giants led the league in rushing with 157 yards per game a year ago and that is always a plus for a ball control team that is the signature of Head Coach Tom Coughlin.
The Offensive Line will feature Shaun O' Hara at center, guards Rich Seubert and Chris Snee and tackles David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie.
Defense: This is the strength of the team as the Giants were fifth in total defense in 2008 while also finishing fifth in the NFL in points allowed.
However, turnovers and sacks were down from the Super Bowl winning season of 2007. The team had 42 sacks last year, down from 53 two years ago. Osi Umenyiora (Defensive End) missed the season with a knee injury and of course Michael Strahan retired following the championship season. Ouch!
Umenyiora is back and will line up with tackles Justin Tuck (12 sacks in '08), Chris Canty (free agent from Dallas) and End Mathias Kiwanuka to form a formidable front four.
The linebackers are Antonio Pierce, Danny Clark and Michael Boley. The front seven can stop the run as well as rush the passer and for New York to succeed in 2009, that will have to be the case for the defense.
The secondary, which got lit up at times last year down the stretch, includes safeties C.C. Brown and Ken Phillips and corners Aaron Ross and Corey Webster. The Giants thrived on takeaways in '07 and need to get back to that type of defense again after picking off just 17 passes a year ago.
OUTLOOK: The New York Giants can run the football and play defense, meaning they can control the clock. Sprinkle in Manning and the receivers doing their part and the recipe for success is there.
However, the Giants play in the rugged NFC East and it will not be easy to go 12-4 again. As long as they do their thing on offense and the defense keeps opposing teams out of the end zone consistently, the Giants will be a strong team.
They cannot have the injuries on either side of the ball (especially not on defense) again this year. Coughlin got the monkey off his back when the team won it all and last year did not have to put up with the added pressure from the New York media.
But only one thing matters in the city that never sleeps... and that is success on the football field. Anything short of a Super Bowl title will be a disappointment in the Big Apple in '09.
Disappointment it is then for the Giants as they go 11-5, but fall short of the Super Bowl once again this season.
Week 1- vs. Washington (Sept. 13)
Week 2- at Dallas (Sept. 20)
Week 3- at Tampa Bay (Sept. 27)
Week 4- at Kansas City (Oct. 4)
Week 5- vs. Oakland (Oct.11)
Week 6- at New Orleans (Oct. 18)
Week 7- vs. Arizona (Oct.25)
Week 8- at Philadelphia (Nov. 1)
Week 9- vs. San Diego (Nov. 8)
Week 10- BYE WEEK
Week 11- vs. Atlanta (Nov. 22)
Week 12- at Denver (Nov. 26)
Week 13- vs. Dallas (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. Philadelphia (Dec. 13)
Week 15- at Washington (Dec. 21)
Week 16- vs. Carolina (Dec. 27)
Week 17- at Minnesota (Jan. 3)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
2009 NFL Season Previews
As a former sports reporter, the blog site heftyinfo has a passion for sports, especially Pro Football.
Beginning today with this post, the NFL's 32 teams will be previewed in the coming weeks.
Today we will begin with the NFC East Division and the Dallas Cowboys will kick things off.
DALLAS COWBOYS 2008 Record: 9-7 (3rd in NFC East)
HEAD COACH: Wade Phillips
Key Additions: QB Jon Kitna (trade/Lions) LB Keith Brookings (FA/Falcons) DL Igor Olshansky (FA/Chargers)
Key Losses: WR Terrell Owens (FA/Bills) S Roy Williams (FA/Bengals) DB Pacman Jones (FA) QB Brad Johnson (FA)
Offense: The Cowboys return starting quarterback Tony Romo (3,448 passing yards and 26 TDs with 14 INT in '08) for the new season. Romo has yet to win a playoff game and Dallas did not make the playoffs last year. So Romo really has to prove something. Jon Kitna will be the backup for Head Coach Wade Phillips' team.
At running back Marion Barber III (885 yards rushing with a meager 3.7 ypc average in '08 and only seven TDs) has to show more this year and will have adequate backup help from Felix Jones (8.9 yards per carry last year) and surprising Tashard Choice, who ran for 472 yards and a 5.1 ypc average in limited action.
The wide receiver corps no longer have T.O. (Terrell Owens) to kick around. Owens shuffled off to Buffalo in the off-season and the Cowboys said good riddance for all practical purposes.
Tight End Jason Witten, one of the best in the NFL, led the team with 81 catches a year ago and averaged 11.2 yards per grab while scoring four touchdowns. Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Austin Miles and Sam Hurd will be the primary wideouts for the Pokes. Romo will definitely have his share of targets to throw to in 2009.
The offensive line is solid and provides Romo with decent pass protection while opening holes for the bevy of backs the Cowboys will feature.
Andre Gurode (center) anchors the line while Flozell Adams and Marc Columbo will play tackle. The guards are Kyle Fosier and Leonard Davis.
Defense: Dallas ranked 8th in total defense a year ago while allowing 294 yards per game. The run defense gave up 106.6 yards per game and the pass defense was impressive, allowing just 188 yards per game and ranking 5th in the league overall. The Cowboys defense also led the entire NFL with 59 sacks a year ago. The secondary lagged in turnovers with just 8 interceptions all season long.
The Cowboys primarily feature the 3-4 defense and Jay Ratliff is the nose man and will be flanked by Olshansky and Marcus Spears. The linebacking corps consists of DeMarcus Ware, Keith Brooking (newcomer from Atlanta), Bradie Jame and Greg Ellis. Ware recorded an impressive 20 sacks last season for the Cowboys.
The secondary has some changes as well with Williams and Jones gone. Terrence Newman and Mike Jenkins will be the corners and the safeties are Ken Hamlin and Gerald Sensabaugh.
OUTLOOK: The Cowboys missed the playoffs a year ago and owner Jerry Jones freaked out and sent Owens and Jones packing. That should be a benefit really, to the Cowboys as the baggage of those two plus Tank Johnson (also gone via free agency) should make things less hectic off the field for the team.
Romo hopefully will have a clear head sans the drama of his ex-girlfriend (for now) Jessica Simpson. The fourth year starter has plenty of ammo to work with, especially at running back. Dallas has a great TE in Witten and a lot of choices at wide receiver. So there are no more excuses for Romo and company not to get it done in Big D. The team is playing in a new stadium this season, so that should provide some extra incentive as well.
However, playing in football's best division will make it tough for Dallas once again. Look for the team to finish 9-7 again and miss the playoffs again.
Week 1- at Tampa Bay (Sept. 13)
Week 2- vs. NY Giants (Sept. 20)
Week 3- vs. Carolina (Sept. 28)
Week 4- at Denver (Oct. 4)
Week 5- at Kansas City (Oct. 11)
Week 6- BYE WEEK
Week 7- vs. Atlanta (Oct. 25)
Week 8- vs. Seattle (Nov. 1)
Week 9- at Philadelphia (Nov. 8)
Week 10- at Green Bay (Nov. 15)
Week 11- vs. Washington (Nov. 22)
Week 12- vs. Oakland (Nov. 26)
Week 13- at NY Giants (Dec. 6)
Week 14- vs. San Diego (Dec. 13)
Week 15- at New Orleans (Dec. 19)
Week 16- at Washington (Dec. 27)
Week 17- vs. Philadelphia (Jan. 3)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Fed Warns Congress: 'No Audit'!
By Christopher J. Petherick
(Note: This story was originally posted in the American Free Press)
During a hearing on Capitol Hill in early July, a top official at the Federal Reserve warned Congress to stay out of the bankers' business and not force the privately owned and operated central bank to submit to a public audit.
On July 9 The Financial Times reported on Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul's (pictured at right) landmark "Audit the Fed" legislation (H.R. 1207), which would remove any remaining proscriptions on federal authorities investigating the Federal Reserve Bank, which serves not only as the U.S. central bank but is increasingly acting as the top banker to the world. So far Paul's bill has picked up 261 co-sponsors, well over half the membership in the House.
Since the collapse of economies around the world in the summer of 2008- brought about by Wall Street greed- the Fed, through its various funding arms, has had the printing presses running day and night, churning out dollars. The Fed publicly claims that its balance sheet stands at just under $2 trillion, largely composed of loans to private banks, mortgage holdings and Treasury bills (U.S. taxpayer debt). But some honest economists believe the Fed is not telling the whole truth about its assets and liabilities, fudging the facts to keep U.S. taxpayers in the dark about the state of the central bank.
But the truth is few know just how much money is even in circulation today.
For the past three years, the Fed has only been reporting two out of three monetary aggregates. The first is M1, the narrowest measure of money supply, which includes currency held by consumers and private corporations, money held in checking accounts and travelers checks. The second is M2, the figure most commonly cited to describe the country's money supply. This includes M1 plus any savings that are in relatively liquid holdings like money market mutual funds. The third, which is no longer released to the public, is called M3. It is made up of M2 plus large liquid assets including some money market funds and certificates of deposit held by massive financial corporations and other large institutions.
In 2006, the Fed announced it would stop publishing statistics for M3, which is considered the broadest accounting of the country's money supply. The Fed claimed M3 did not provide any additional information on currency trends beyond what was contained in M2. But the reality is, M3 gives Americans the best of the dollar's value by revealing how much money is out there.
In the past year, the M1 has risen by an incredible 16.3 percent to $1.669 trillion. M2's growth has been less dramatic at 8.7 percent, for a total of $8.369 trillion. But the growth of M3- which the fed no longer discloses- over the past few years is especially troubling, according to figures compiled by economist John Williams of Shadow Government Statistics. Williams pieces together government reports to provide readers with what he contends is a more accurate accounting of key statistics for the country. Williams reports that M3's growth in 2009 was 18 percent. That means in the past decade M3 has more than doubled in from $5 trillion in 2000 to $14.5 trillion.
The dramatic growth of currency in circulation in the past few years lends ammunition to those seeking a full and open accounting of the practices of the central bank. That could explain why the Fed has been going on the offensive, using fear-mongering to scare legislators into backpedaling on these landmark measures in the House and Senate that would open up the Fed to public scrutiny.
At the hearing on July 9 before the House Financial Services Subcommittee, Donald Kohn, the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, told Congress that any interference in the affairs of bankers would "negatively affect markets." Said Kohn: "[E]rosion of the Federal Reserve's monetary independence would lead to higher long-term interest rates as investors begin to fear future inflation."
Translation: Our current system of debt would likely collapse should the world learn the truth about our money- and just how bad off the banking system really is.
The next day, in an interview with Reuter's, Rep. Ron Paul said: "The dollar is worth four cents [compared to] what it was worth in 1913 when the Fed was established... That tells you they're not very good at protecting the value of our money. They're the counterfeiters of the world, protected by this secrecy. That has to end."
Christopher Petherick is a journalist and publisher based in Maryland. For more information, see his website at www.brandywinehouse.us
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
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