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Last week, I mentioned that my paper with my PhD cohort Chris was accepted for the poster session at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. I'll give the summary and some pictures today (you can find the full paper on my academic website). The project looks at the age old subject of tanking for position in the NBA draft lottery. We answer two questions:
- Should teams tank for a better draft position?
- How much do teams actually tank?
For the first question, we head right to the lottery. We are interested in the causal effect of obtaining the top pick in the draft. If the first pick is truly valuable, then teams should be willing to lose intentionally to get it. LeBron James, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O'Neal were all first picks, but so were Greg Oden and Michael Olowokandi. We want the average value of all the first picks since the draft lottery took its current form in 1990.
Since there is some randomness in who wins the lottery, it's tempting to just compare lottery winners and losers. However, the lottery isn't a simple coin flip. The worst teams have a stronger chance of winning. If we compare winners and losers with no adjustments, winners may come out looking worse than they should, since they were worse to begin with. This will generate estimates of first pick value that are too small.
To eliminate this bias, we use a statistical trick to adjust for team quality. We regress future attendance and winning percentage on a dummy variable equal to one if the lottery team won the first pick. In the regressions, we control for each team's probability of winning the lottery — this is called their "propensity score" in statistics. Intuitively, this holds the chance of winning the lottery constant, which fixes our problem that worse teams are more likely to win; it's as if the lottery winners were chosen from an even odds lottery.
We run regressions for attendance and winning percentage for each of the five years after the draft lotteries. Here are the effects of winning the first pick on future attendance:
Winning the lottery (the blue line) increases attendance in each of the following five years. We plot attendance in logs — winning the lottery is worth about 1,200 extra fans per game the first year and even more in later years. That's a lot of money, providing a strong incentive to tank.
What about winning percentage?
In most years following a lottery win, getting the first pick increases winning percentage about 3 or 4 percentage points (this increase is not statistically significant). The exception is the fourth year after the first pick, when winning percentage is about 10 points higher. Still, it's fair to say that, rather than team improvement, general excitement and high expectations for the first pick drive attendance gains.
For teams interested in the bottom line, tanking is worthwhile. Do teams actually tank? This has been studied before; most researchers have compared winning percentages for playoff eliminated teams and playoff eligible teams. Some studies compare the same teams pre/post elimination. The idea is that teams don't think about tanking before they are eliminated from the playoffs but do respond to draft incentives as soon as the playoffs are out of reach. While possibly true for fringe playoff teams, this argument seems wrong for teams like the Bobcats, Wizards, and Hornets this year. These teams knew quite early that they would not make the playoffs. Their incentive to tank is unfettered and ever present. Even when fringe teams are eliminated from the playoffs, they lose the incentive to work for a championship. Comparing their performance before and after will capture this change as well as a possibly new focus on tanking.
Instead, we decided to look at a smaller window of games where we can isolate the effect of tanking incentives. In the last few games of each season, some playoff eliminated teams reach a position where they can no longer change their lottery rank. In playoff seeding lingo, they have clinched all they can clinch, so they have nothing left to play for. In particular, they have no incentive to tank, while other lottery teams still do. We can compare these two sets of teams to figure out whether teams truly respond to draft incentives.
Here's the comparison of winning percentages for lottery teams that can change their lottery position and teams that can't (restricted to home teams, to avoid double counting games):
We adjusted these numbers for team quality by controlling for team by season fixed effects in a regression. We also included fixed effects for the number of games remaining in the season in case teams generally tried harder in the last couple games. This means that our estimates capture a "difference in differences." In plain terms, we compare how performance changes when teams "clinch" their lottery spot with how performance changes for teams that haven't yet clinched as the season winds down.
Before the 1985 draft (when there was just a coin flip between the worst two teams for the top pick), winning percentage barely changed when teams clinched their lottery spot. From 1985 to 1989, all teams had even odds of winning the lottery, so no one had an incentive to tank. After 1989, under the current (or similar) lottery system, tanking is rampant. Teams have a lower winning percentage by about 25 points when they can change their lottery spot (red bars) versus when they can't (blue bars). If we restrict the sample to games where the opposing team still has a chance at the playoffs (and hence will not tank themselves), the difference is even larger.
Tanking is primarily driven by teams in the first or second lottery position:
The size of the bubbles corresponds to the number of games in each category. Teams ranked first and second clinch their spot more often than other positions (biggest blue bubble), and they must feel like they have the most to gain from losing, though in fact the return to improving your lottery rank is only slightly higher at the highest ranks (6% versus 3% improvement in first pick odds). Perhaps fans are more understanding for these teams as well, since they are quite bad.
We can also see that our tanking measurements are taken primarily from the last two games:
The small size of the blue bubbles for three, four, and five games remaining means that teams generally don't clinch their lottery position until the last two games. Surprisingly, after much losing, clinched lottery teams win over half their home games in the last two games of the year.
The results for the current time period (since 1990) are quite robust. Whether we control for team fixed effects, the number of games remaining in the season, or nothing at all, clinched teams win much more than teams whose position can still change. Despite even stronger incentives to tank in the early period (pre-1985), teams didn't do it. Fans don't blame teams for doing it now — they reward them with higher attendance if they win the first pick and seem to understand why they tank. And, we're not accusing teams of putting in low effort on the court. "Tanking" could mean experimenting with different lineups or shutting down an injured star player. Still, it's not your dad's NBA anymore.


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Posts Tagged 'Darren Hardy'
Douglas Vermeeren added to the cast of Words of Art Movie!
I have been asked to appear in an exciting movie by Evan Money along side Joel Osteen, Dennis Waitley, Darren Hardy, Tom Ziglar and others. Here's the first trailer with some of my new segments. This film is going to be awesome! How power are your words? Watch this film to find out. DO NOT MISS WORDS OF ART! http://vimeo.com/72228227
Written by douglasvermeeren
August 14, 2013 at 9:46 am
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged with Accelerated Achievement, Achievement Accelerated, achievement expert, authors, become a coach, Best goal setting course, better results, Brain science for sales, brain science for success, business growth strategies, business leaders, business opportunities, business success, business support, Canadian Association of Professional speakers, candid celebrity shots, celebrity appearances, celebrity shots, change negative thinking, coaching franchises, corporate training, Darren Hardy, Dennis Waitley, doug vermeeren, douglas vermeeren, Evan Movie, exclusive coaching programs, franchising opportunities, get into business with Douglas Vermeeren, get motivated, goal setting experts, goal setting strategies, goal setting training, goal strategy, goals, Guerrilla Achiever, ideas for getting rich, increase productivity, inspirational quotations, inspirational quotes, Jay Conrad Levinson, Joel Osteen, Las Vegas, law of attraction, leadership, Maximum results, Maximum results coaching, Maximum Results for business, Maximum results training, Millionaire mentor, mind power for professional success., mind power for success, Modern day Napoleon hill, Napoleon Hill, NAtional Speakers association, network marketing, network marketing tools, optimism and results, powerful insights, Powerful Thinking Powerful Results, professional speakers, quotes, results coach, results training, sales inspiration, sales trainers, secrets to achieving more, speak professionally, speakers on abundance, speakers on achievement, speakers on goal setting, speakers on leadership, success, Success factor, success quotes, Success seminars, The Monthly Millionaire mentor, the opus, the opus movie, The Secret, Think and grow rich, Tom Ziglar, top business leaders, top motivational speakers, top motivational speakers in the world, top network marketing strategies, top speakers in calgary, TV Celebrities, wealth quotes, Word of Art, zig ziglar
Douglas Vermeeren added to cast of The Word of Art Movie
Just finished shooting my trailer segments for the brand new Evan Money movie Words of Art! This is definitely a movie you will want to see! http://wordsofartmovie.com/movie-trailer/
Written by douglasvermeeren
August 1, 2013 at 3:30 am

subset: commoncrawl


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In this paper we propose a novel approach for 3D video/photo visualization using an ordinary digital camera. The idea is to turn any 2D camera into 3D based on the data derived from a collection of captured photos or a recorded video. For a given monocular input, the retrieved information from the overlapping photos can be used to provide required information for performing 3D output. Robust feature detection and matching between images is hired to find the transformation between overlapping frames. The transformation matrix will map images to the same horizontal baseline. Afterwards, the projected images will be adjusted to the stereoscopic model. Finally, stereo views will be coded into 3D channels for visualization. This approach enables us making 3D output using randomly taken photos of a scene or a recorded video. Our system receives 2D monocular input and provides double layer coded 3D output. Depending on the coding technology different low cost 3D glasses will be used for viewers.
The rapid development of mobile devices during the recent decade has been greatly driven by interaction and visualization technologies. Although touchscreens have signicantly enhanced the interaction technology, it is predictable that with the future mobile devices, e.g., augmentedreality glasses and smart watches, users will demand more intuitive in-puts such as free-hand interaction in 3D space. Specically, for manipulation of the digital content in augmented environments, 3D hand/body gestures will be extremely required. Therefore, 3D gesture recognition and tracking are highly desired features for interaction design in future smart environments. Due to the complexity of the hand/body motions, and limitations of mobile devices in expensive computations, 3D gesture analysis is still an extremely diffcult problem to solve.
This thesis aims to introduce new concepts, theories and technologies for natural and intuitive interaction in future augmented environments. Contributions of this thesis support the concept of bare-hand 3D gestural interaction and interactive visualization on future smart devices. The introduced technical solutions enable an e ective interaction in the 3D space around the smart device. High accuracy and robust 3D motion analysis of the hand/body gestures is performed to facilitate the 3D interaction in various application scenarios. The proposed technologies enable users to control, manipulate, and organize the digital content in 3D space.


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We are a small, highly specialized litigation firm and maritime law practice based in San Diego, California.
From large corporations to smaller, privately held businesses, we concentrate our practice on all areas of business and maritime law. We pride ourselves on the exceptional service we deliver to our clients, and have earned a highly regarded reputation for providing vigorous, thoughtful representation. We look forward to learning more about your needs, and how we can best serve you.


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Browse Big Torch Key condos, Big Torch Key condos for sale, Big Torch Key condominiums, condo buildings real estate information on the Big Torch Key condo market. Find Big Torch Key condo properties search the Florida Keys MLS and real estate in Big Torch Key. contact us if you are interested in our Big Torch Key condo buying or Big Torch Key condo selling services.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Florida Keys Board of Realtors Florida Keys MLS, Inc. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than (Shoreline Properties) are marked with the MLS Log and detailed information about them included the name of the listing brokers office.


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The museums around Cincinnati offer everything from
seasonal fun to educational trips "" and sometimes both. This summer,
consider the Gorman Heritage Farm and Heritage Village in Sharon Woods
for a day of outdoor activities touring the local working farm or
experiencing a 19th-century town.
Gorman Heritage Farm, a 120-acre working farm, is in
Evendale. Its mission is to provide people with the opportunity to
explore and learn the history, values and methods of a family farm in a
natural setting.
Wednesday through Saturday, Gorman Farm is open to
visitors, who can stroll through the property, see barnyard animals and
watch the staff hard at work. "People can come and visit the animals,"
says Vicki Foster, events and marketing manager. "We'll have piglets and
lambs, and the mule team works out in the field on weekends."
Every other Saturday, experienced farmhands give a
guided tour, teaching visitors about the inner workings of the farm.
"Don't miss our flower cutting garden," says Foster. "People can come
all through the season to pick their own flowers, and the colors,
textures and smells change all through the season."
Adults can check out cooking classes, which have
proven very popular. "All cooking classes are farm to table," Foster
says. "We go out into the garden to gather the vegetables before
preparing a meal instead of giving people all the ingredients."
This summer the classes are focused on hot tamales (June 12), pasta (July 9) and Chinese cuisine (August 26).
This year Gorman's farmer's market is growing and
expanding. It's a great place for people to buy produce, fresh greens,
sweet corn and other locally grown food. The Row by Row fundraiser in
July features this local, organic food as well.
For kids, Gorman offers summer camps that promise to give participants a hands-on experience with plants and animals.
"Our summer camps are always a lot of fun," says
Foster. For ages 4-12, many of the weeklong camps are themed. For young
children (ages 4-6), there are the "Seedlings" and "Sprouts" camps,
which give the tiny tots a chance to experience the sights, sounds,
smells and tastes of the farmyard with their parents.
For older kids, offerings like "Science Camp,"
"Wilderness Camp," "Vet Camp," and "Art Camp" make summer fun as well as
The refurbished Heritage Village Museum in Sharon Woods re-creates the atmosphere and workings of an Ohio town from the 1800s.
Gorman Heritage Farm
10052 Reading Road
Evendale, OH 45241
(513) 563-6663
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is
partnering with National Geographic to offer "Treasures of the Earth"
beginning June 11. In the new permanent exhibit, you'll be transported
to world-renowned archaeological sites for hands-on adventures.
Re-creations include the tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh, the burial site of
China's Terra Cotta Warriors and the Caribbean shipwreck of the Cara
Merchant. Or journey back 65 million years to the Cretaceous Period when
dinosaurs ruled the earth in the exhibit: "Now You're in Their World."
Experience dinosaur fossils, a hands-on dig and interactive activities.
Children's Museum, 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis. (317) 334-3322 or
The Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville is a
must-see for any boxing fan, and an opportunity to learn about the life
and legacy of an iconic figures, regardless of your favorite sport.
Interactive exhibits give guests the chance to shadowbox with Ali
himself or hit the training bags, watch his fights and walk through a
hands-on detailed timeline of his life and deeds outside the ring.
Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N. Sixth St., Louisville. (502) 584-9254 or
to view the digital magazine


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World's Most Amazing Dog
All through her childhood, my youngest daughter wanted a dog. I finally said yes when she was 15 & she wasted no time finding a pup on Kijiji. The owner was asking $100, so my daughter & her friend pooled their cash & went to meet the dog. It was love at first sight.
The owner told the teenagers to keep their money, saying he only advertised that amount so he wouldn't get irresponsible people picking up a free dog for who knows what purpose. That first night in her new home, we made every effort to make the confused pooch feel comfortable. Pretty soon she was wagging her tail & settling in. Her name is Nixie.
On the couch in our sunroom, Nixie used to sit like a person gazing out the window. As far as we're concerned she is a person! But in the dog park, she's all dog, playing with a ball or other dogs & running as fast as possible. Her favourite game has been to lead other dogs on an obstacle race, charging around logs & under picnic tables, performing quick turnarounds & tricky deeks. In all seasons, the fun never stops for her in the park.
Until recently, that is. A couple of months ago she started refusing to go up stairs, which was challenging, as we live in a 2nd floor apartment. Then she'd yelp with pain when jumping up on the couch or bed. She is only 5 years old. She's been homebound now for almost 2 months and stays almost all the time on her blanket on the floor. We hoped the rest would lead to healing. But it hasn't. She's seen two vets but they can't diagnose without an MRI.
MRIs are expensive. And so, a fundraiser! I am so grateful for all who have donated to & shared our campaign to help Nixie thus far. To us she is truly the World's Most Amazing Dog. Let's keep this funder going and get Nixie a diagnosis & on her way to better health! https://www.youcaring.com/mariewilson-885356
- City Saplings, Urban Ancients
- Among the Stars


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With 10 rounds down, the Euroleague regular season is officially 1/3 completed. While there are still 20 rounds to go until the playoffs, and teams still have pending roster/coaching moves to make to either maintain, improve, or turn-around their postseason hopes, the landscape in European professional basketball's premier league is starting to get clearer.
So, to recap these first 10 games of the "new and improved" (and it really is improved; I dig this 30-round, 16-team format way more than the old "24-team Regular Season" and "Top 16" split season format), I will be handing out awards and honors from the first 10 games of this season. Yes, I know it's early, and I imagine that many of these awards/honors will change over the course of the next 20 games. That being said, it is still important to recognize the Euroleague teams and individual players and coaches who have succeeded (and disappointed) thus far.
Best Team: CSKA Moscow
As always, the premier Russian club has handled high expectations almost flawlessly. Nando de Colo was having another "MVP-esque" season, averaging 21 ppg and a PIR of 23.2 until his thigh injury sidelined him after seven games. However, even though they lost the reigning Euroleague MVP, they haven't missed a beat, as Milos Teodosic has taken the sole mantle of leadership in de Colo's absence. The Serbian is averaging 18.7 ppg, 8.2 apg and a PIR of 19.6.
While CSKA however has been the best team thus far over the first 10 games of the Euroleague campaign, their title will be threatened quickly over the next 20 games. Not only is de Colo out for a good period of time (he was expected to miss "several weeks"), CSKA's depth is not nearly as dangerous as their title squad a year ago. After de Colo and Teodosic, nobody else has a PIR average over 10 except for Jeff Ayres, who has only played four games. Furthermore, the defense has looked shaky as of late in de Colo's absence, as CSKA needed a buzzer beater to bail them out against last-place Brose Baskets Bamberg in a 90-88 win. CSKA ranks 11th in the league in points allowed, and though that's not necessarily the best indicator of defensive effectiveness, it still shows that they aren't quite elite in that category in comparison to offense (they lead the league in points scored).
With de Colo's health, and CSKA's supporting cast around Milos and Nando shakier than in seasons past, it could open the door for Real Madrid, who actually has a better points differential (+95 to CSKA's +91) despite a worse record (7-3 to CSKA's 9-1). Real has incredible depth, especially in the post, as Gustavo Ayon, Felipe Reyes, Othello Hunter and Anthony Randolph all offer different yet impactful skills to the table. Furthermore Sergio Llull is putting up a MVP-worthy campaign as the primary point guard with Sergio Rodriguez now in Philly, and Luka Doncic is turning into a budding point-wing superstar (and remember he's only 17 years old). CSKA may be the best team now after 10 games, but Real could steal that title after Round 20, perhaps even sooner.
Runner up: Real Madrid.
MVP: Milos Teodosic, CSKA
These past three games with Nando out of the lineup proves how important and effective Teodosic is to this CSKA team. Yes, de Colo is an essential part to this CSKA squad, and as stated before, an MVP-caliber player. However, I don't know if they finish 9-1 after 10 games if Teodosic and de Color reverse roles. Teodosic is simply the unquestioned leader of this team, and at the point, he has been able to maximize his teammates' effectiveness on the floor in ways that I don't think any other Euroleague player today could, de Colo included. His combination of floor vision and offensive ability make him one of Europe's most valuable commodities, and a key reason why CSKA will be gunning for another Final Four spot, and perhaps a successful defense of their crown.
That being said, Sergio Llull has been surging as of late, being the kind of playmaking guard that could make Los Blancos a "super-team" by season's end. Llull is second in the league in PPG at 18.9 and also has 6 apg and a PIR average of 18.1. And he did this despite starting off the year atrociously from beyond the arc (he has gotten it up as of late, but it is still lackluster at 29.4 percent). The Teodosic-Llull MVP race will be interesting to follow throughout the Regular Season, as whichever team finishes the season with a better record could swing the MVP award for their respective point guard superstar.
Runner up: Sergio Llull
Most Entertaining Player: Keith Langford, UNICS Kazan
Russian club UNICS Kazan is probably going to finish near the bottom of the Euroleague by season's end, (and their 3-7 start doesn't help many people think differently). However, despite their lackluster outlook and record, as well as home court attendance (watching UNICS home games are depressing considering the amount of empty seats; it resembles a women's community college basketball game crowd), they sport one of the Euroleague's most entertaining players in Keith Langford. The former Kansas Jayhawk leads the league in scoring average (23.2) and PIR average (24.2). And he is far from a one-trick pony, as he is also averaging 4.1 rebounds per game and 4.2 assists per game.
Plain and simple: the lefty scorer can do it all, and is not just key, but really the reason for any success UNICS has experienced and will experience this season. There won't be a lot of highs this year for UNICS. Their appearance this season has all the signs of a "one and done" Euroleague team. That being said, the spectacular Langford makes this team somewhat competitive and worth watching on a week-by-week basis.
Runners up: Milos Teodosic, CSKA; Nicolo Melli, Brose Baskets Bamberg.
Best Coach: Sito Alonso, Baskonia
Yes, Dimitris Itoudis and Pablo Lasso deserve credit for making CSKA and Real Madrid, respectively, the best two teams in Europe. And yes, after the top-three teams (Fenerbahce being the third), it's a crapshoot four-through-nine. However, while they are 6-4 and are still a bit unpredictable, Baskonia has been a pleasant surprise this season. And new head coach Sito Alonso deserves a lot of credit for making Baskonia a playoff contender thus far.
Remember what happened to the Final Four squad this offseason: They lost Darius Adams to China; Davis Bertans to the NBA; and Mike James and Euroleague MVP-runner up Ioannis Bourousis to Panathinaikos. Though they were able to keep Adam Hanga from the NBA (the Spurs own his rights) and ACB rival Barcelona, they replaced their core 2015-2016 roster with a lot of question marks, including former NBA players such as Andrea Bargnani and Shane Larkin, and Johannes Voigtmann, who was playing for Fraport in the FIBA Europe Cup, a third-tier club competition, a year ago.
However, Voigtmann and Larkin have been revelations, and though his minutes and impact is limited to preserve his health, Bargnani has also been effective as well. A lot of credit should go to Alonso, who has been able to create an offensive and defensive system that has not only gotten the most out of Baskonia's new acquisitions, but also the mainstays from previous seasons. This is a different team from last year's squad, but they have been effective because Alonso hasn't tried to mold them into last year's team either, which is a pitfall of many teams who experience success the previous season. Alonso has long been considered one of the brightest young coaches in the European club scene considering his junior national team success with Spain as well as head coaching experience with Dominion Bilbao and Joventut. However, if he continues to build upon the strong Euroleague start, his stock will be even higher than before by year's end.
Honorable mention goes to Rami Hadar, who has done a sterling job after Erez Edelstein was fired after two games. Maccabi Fox is a flawed roster, with a lot of egos and not a lot of depth in the frontcourt. However, Hadar has adopted a full-court, push-the-tempo, small-ball philosophy that has helped Maccabi go 5-3 under his tenure thus far. However, as strong as Hadar's start has been, it still is just a shade below in impressiveness in comparison to Alonso, who has outperformed expectations with this roster thus far.
Runner up: Rami Hadar, Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv
Most Surprising Player: Johannes Voigtmann, Baskonia
To stay on the Baskonia bandwagon, Voigtmann probably has been the biggest surprise thus far in the Euroleague. Voigtmann played last season for the Fraport Skyliners, and his signing earned a lot less publicity than fellow center Bargnani, a former No. 1 NBA Draft pick who played for the Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, and most recently the Brooklyn Nets. However, Voigtmann has proven to be the more effective replacement to Bourousis this season.
In nearly 25 mpg, Voigtmann is averaging 12.3 ppg and 7.3 ppg with a PIR of 17.8 (his total PIR is seventh-best in the Euroleague). He is shooting 68.8 percent on 2-pt FG, 42.3 percent on threes, and 78.8 percent from the line. Plain and simple: not many bigs this year have been as effective and efficient on the floor as Voigtmann this year. The pick and roll combo of him and Larkin (who is 13th in the league in PIR) will continue to give opposing Euroleague (and ACB) squads trouble over the next 20 games (as long as they stay healthy of course).
Some other surprise names for consideration are Nicolo Melli of Brose Baskets, who is third in PIR, and Derrick Brown of Anadolu Efes, who is fourth in PIR. However, both teams are not as good as Baskonia (though Efes is surging), and both weren't as under-the-radar as Voigtmann (both played for their current squads a year ago).
Runners up: Melli and Brown.
Most Surprising Team: Anadolu Efes
After starting 0-3, Efes is suddenly 5-5, coming off a big win on the road in Tel Aviv against Maccabi Fox. What makes this so surprising is Efes went kind-of-under the radar this offseason. Yes, they did hire Velimir Perasovic as head coach, who was coming off a final four appearance with Baskonia. But roster-wise what they did was tame in comparison to their Turkish rivals. Fenerbahce returned pretty much their whole squad from their Championship runner-up season, and Darussafaka and Galatasaray both signed many American players (Brad Wanamaker and James Anderson for Darussafaka; Russ Smith, Austin Daye, Jon Diebler, Alex Tyus, and Justin Dentmon for Galatasaray) who were expected to have a major impact on their respective teams. Add that with the loss of Dario Saric to the 76ers of the NBA, who had been Efes' star player the past couple of years, and it appeared that Efes was on their way to being the fourth-best Turkish club in the Euroleague.
However, Efes, despite their winless start, has been surging. Derrick Brown has been one of the Euroleague's best players (4th in PIR), and they also have gotten incredible impact from Tyler Honeycutt (11th in PIR), Bryant Dunston (16th in PIR), Thomas Huertel (53rd in PIR) and Cedi Osman (54th in PIR). There is some serious depth on this Efes roster, and Perasovic has proven that he may be one of Europe's best coaches. Many people credited Baskonia's success more to Bourousis rather than Perasovic a year ago. However, a year later, Perasovic has this Efes roster coming together, while Bourousis is struggling to have any kind of impact with Panathinaikos.
Yes, Efes is in the middle of the pack now, but Efes, with their combination of length and athleticism and offensive and defensive effectiveness, could be rising to the top not just by the end of the year, but by the end of round 20, the 2/3 mark of the season. And it wouldn't be surprising to see Efes be challenging Fenerbahce for the title of the best "Turkish" club in the Euroleague by that point either, especially considering Bogdan Bogdanovic's injury issues.
Most Disappointing Coach: Georgios Bartzokas, Barcelona
I figured Bartzokas to be an interesting pick, considering he coached a mid-tier team in Lokomotiv Kuban (though he did take them to the Final Four) and didn't have any experience coaching in Spain. However, I thought his recent Euroleague success, and the additions of Victor Claver from Loko and Tyrese Rice from Khimki Moscow, and the re-signing of Joey Dorsey would give Bartzokas a solid foundation to build a successful team in his debut year.
Well, Barcelona is still competitive, as they are 5-5 and coming off a much-needed win at home over Panathinaikos. However, Bartzokas has really struggled to find any kind of consistency and chemistry with this Barcelona squad thus far. Yes, Barcelona has been effective defensively, as they have allowed the least amount of points in the Euroleague this year. That being said, defense was always Bartzokas' strong suit (his Loko team last year was one of the most effective defensive teams in the Euroleague). Offense was the question mark with him, and unfortunately, that question remains unanswered. Despite their low points allowed total, their point differential is -31, a sign that the defense may be a product of a slow pace to go along with their glaring issues when it comes to scoring the basketball. Considering that mark is the third-worst in the Euroleague, Bartzokas needs to make some adjustments if he wants Barcelona to be seen as a serious Final Four contender.
Granted, Barcelona has experienced a lot of bad breaks. Juan Carlos Navarro, Pau Ribas, Claver, and Justin Doellman have all missed significant time due to injury, and considering Bartzokas gives a lot of freedom to his players to create on the offensive end (he relied heavily on isolation plays and the pick and roll from Malcolm Delaney and post players Chris Singleton and Anthony Randolph), the lack of major talent on the floor s been a hurdle. That being said, Tyrese Rice has been solid this year (15.81 PIR), and he is the kind of dynamic guard that Bartzokas utilizes well (as he did with Delaney and Dontaye Draper a year ago). It will be interesting to see if Bartzokas will rely even more on Rice going forward, especially if he starts to feel the hot seat more as the season progresses.
Runner up: Ergin Ataman, Galatasaray
Most Disappointing Player and Team: Ioannis Bourousis and Panathinaikos
I understood that Bourousis would probably regress and not duplicate the kind of MVP-season that he had last year with Baskonia. After all, that team really found lightning in a bottle, especially in Euroleague play.
Nonetheless, Bourousis has seriously regressed. In 2015-2016, Bourousis averaged 14.5 ppg and 8.7 rpg on 55 percent shooting from 2-pt FG, 38.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.1 percent from the line. This year? 8.9 ppg, 5 rpg, 42 percent 2pt FG percentage, 25 percent from beyond the arc, and 72.7 percent from the line. Last year, Bourouis was second in the league in total index rating. This year, Bourousis is tied for 54th in total index rating.
And honestly, Bourousis' regression has been a bit of a microcosm of Panathinaikos' team this year. Other than Nick Calathes, who has really bounced back after an off-year last season, (he is 8th in the league in index rating), and Chris Singleton (who has proved that he was as every bit important to that Loko team last year as Randolph), Panathinaikos has just struggled to mesh on the court, especially on the offensive end. Mike James, also from Baskonia, has struggled with injury as well as ineffectiveness, and KC Rivers hasn't offered much else on the floor beyond points. Add that with injury to James Gist and inconsistency from James Feldeine and Demetrius Nichols (as well as others), Panathinaikos has been the personified mediocre. Considering the amount of money this organization spent this summer, that kind of title is not necessarily a badge of honor.
Yes, Pana may be on the upswing after making a coaching change early in the year (Argyris Pedoulakis and his lack of ability to coach an offense finally caught up to him). But, I am not sure if Xavi Pascual, the former Barcelona coach, is necessarily the right fit for this team. They have players who do well in free-flowing offenses (such as Calathes, Singleton and Bourousis), and Pascual is known for a heavily-structured attack, featuring lots of set plays. Already, we can see the struggles initially, as Pana and Pascual are trying to find the right balance and where to compromise on the offensive end (especially in Pascual's case). Furthermore, much like Bartzokas in Spain, Pascual has little to no experience in professional basketball in Greece, let alone outside of Spain. Yes, Pascual is a big name with a lot of victories, but can he make the adjustment to the culture of not only the organization, but the faithful Athens fans? Bartzokas is going through his growing pains, and it's showing that Pascual is going through his own as well.
The big question is if Pana will be patient enough to see it out with Pascual. Considering the expectations placed on this squad at the start of the year, and rival Olympiacos' recent successes over them in Euroleague and domestic play, I guarantee that Pana management won't have thick skin with Pascual or this team if serious progress isn't shown in the next 10-15 games.
The fact that Pana is at this point of desperation and panic is disappointing, because I figured Pana to be one of the more enjoyable teams in the Euroleague this year, especially after they acquired a rejuvenated Bourousis. Instead, they have seemed to be one of the more dysfunctional ones both roster and coaching wise.
Runner up: James Anderson, Darussafaka (player); Galatasaray (team).


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SEHTA, Psephos Biomedica & Mosaic Surgical would like to invite you to attend our EU Medical Device & IVD Regulations – Strategy & Requirements Workshop.
Date: Wednesday 12 December 2018
Venue: Hempsons, 100 Wood Street, London EC2V 7AN
Times: 10:30 – 16:00
Cost: SEHTA Members £199 + VAT / Non-Members £225 + VAT per delegate. You will be invoiced by SEHTA via PayPal after you have registered.
(it's free to join SEHTA – just click here)
Why attend
The new EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) is in its implementation phase and will be effective from May 2020. All medical devices will need to comply with this new legislation. Similarly, the IVD Regulation (IVDR) will be in force from May 2022. Many companies are not yet ready for the journey let alone have a roadmap of how to get to compliance.
This one-day event will:-
Provide you with an overview of the key areas likely to need upgrading to comply with the MDR/IVDR
Assist you in assessing your company's current preparedness for the transition
Give you a clear, practical guide to the next steps that you and your company need to take to gain CE Marking under the MDR/IVDR
Gain an overview of the new EU Medical Device and IVD Regulations
Understand the key areas of compliance required
Understand the technical documentation that should be in place for each device
Gain a plan of action for implementation and CE Marking under the new legislation
The organisers reserve the right to decline registrations based on review. All applicants will be notified by email if they have been accepted for a place no later than Monday 10th December.
10:30 – 10:45 Registration & Refreshments
10:45 – 10:55 Welcome, Jacques Du Preez, MD, Mosaic Surgical & Neil Roberts, COO, SEHTA
10:55 – 11:35 MDR/IVDR Overview & Q&A, Robin Stephens, CEO, Psephos Biomedica
11:35 – 12:15 Technical Documentation & Q&A, Jacques Du Preez, MD, Mosaic Surgical
12:15 – 13:00 Networking Lunch Break
13:00 – 13:40 Post-Market Activities (Inc PSUR) Q&A, Robin Stephens, CEO, Psephos Biomedica
13:40 – 14:10 EUDAMed and UDI & Q&A, Jacques Du Preez, MD, Mosaic Surgical
14:10 – 14:40 Clinical Evidence & Q&A, Robin Stephens, CEO, Psephos Biomedica
14:40 – 15:00 Refreshment Break
15:00 – 16:00 Roundtable discussion on Implementation Strategies (inc Q&A)


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KultHaus II
June 7th – 10th 2019, Torhaus Dölitz, Heidnisches Dorf, Leipzig.
"For the second time artist Laetitia Mantis evokes powerful dark manifestations with her work and will transform Torhaus Dölitz into the KultHaus. The visitor is invited to pass the threshold to look behind the veil of reality. Forms, creatures, flickering lights and smells lead into another world beyond space and time, the known is woven into new visions, sending the visitor on a journey into his/her self. The exhibition will also be the backdrop for the ritual program of the event series KultHaus and will be open daily from 11am to midnight, only being closed during rituals (see program!). Admission for the exhibition is via Heidnisches Dorf with a wgt-bracelet or a day ticket. Original artworks, prints and craftworks can be puchased directly from the artist within the exhibition."
Exhibition accompanying the Rise of the Cosmic Fire Tour by Quantheon Touring, featuring Naglfar, Schammasch & Anomalie
24.11.18 – Prague, Klub Nová Chmelnice
25.11.18 – Hamburg, Kulturpalast Hamburg
26.11.18 – Erfurt, Club From Hell
27.11.18 – Flensburg, Roxy Flensburg
28.11.18 – Copenhagen, Pumpehuset
29.11.18 – Oberhausen, Helvete Pub – Club – Live Stage
30.11.18 – Arnhem, Willemeen
01.12.18 – Aalst, Cinema
02.12.18 – Paris, LE GIBUS
03.12.18 – Colmar, Le Grillen
04.12.18 – Lyon, Le Blogg
05.12.18 – Mannheim, MS Connexion Complex
06.12.18 – Aarburg, Musigburg
07.12.18 – Milan, Slaughter Club
08.12.18 – San Dona Di Piave, Revolver
09.12.18 – Vienna, Viper Room Vienna
Exhibition accompanying the Reflective Dimensions Tour by Quantheon Touring featuring Agrypnie, Totalselfhatred, Arroganz & Aspagor. Tourdates: Erfurt (16.10.2018), Vienna (17.10.), Innsbruck (18.10.), Stuttgart (19.10) and Olten, Switzerland (20.10.).
Installation & Exhibition. May 18th – 21st 2018, Torhaus Dölitz, Heidnisches Dorf, Leipzig. + Installation May 19th, starting at 3pm.
Group show (Arij Moka, Sten Gutglück, Christian Klute, Laetitia Mantis, Marie Lynn Speckert, Foxi Wunderkammer & Lisa Vinsterwan Schubert). Art & photography. Special guest: Nikolas Schreck. Vernissage June 2nd, Galerie Bipolar | Monopol Leipzig.
Rites of Eleusis
Solo exhibition (art & photography). Music: Deutsch Nepal, Magadan & Psicofonias. April 15th 2017. Kassberg Gewölbe Chemnitz.
In The Woods
Solo exhibition & atelier opening (art & photography). Amtsmühle, Sachsen-Anhalt. August 2015.
Last Exit For The Lost
Group show (Butow Maler, Its A Gas, Jenly, Seventh Sin, Laetitia Mantis, Kata Maler). Art & photography. June – September 2014. Atelier Abraxas, Leipzig.
Bloody Roots & The Arrival
Solo exhibition (photo installation). May – September 2014. Helheim. Leipzig.
Open Studio
Georg-Schwarz-Strassenfest. Atelier Abraxas, Leipzig. May 2014.
Atelier Abraxas Opening Show
Solo exhibition (art prints). Special guests: Der Blutharsch & The Infinite Church of the Leading Hand, Deutsch Nepal, Jastreb, DJ Eric TheRed (Tower Transmissions Dresden). Atelier Abraxas Leipzig. September 2013.
Solo exhibition (art prints). August – September 2012, Galerie OutOfMyMind, Bremen.
Solo exhibition (photography). A Retrospective. All year, 2012. Schloss Knauthain. Leipzig.
It's a beautiful country
Group show (NSK-Staat-Kollektiv, Holger Karas, Jonathan Evans, Veronica Moto, Laetitia Mantis, Barbara Lamoot & Bettina Tita). Photography. May – July 2011. Kulturny Dom Born 31 (Ex-Ur-Eigen+Art). Leipzig.
Group show with Holger Karas & Laetitia Mantis / Seventh Sin. Art & photography. Music: DJs SeventhSin & Nymix. March 26th 2011. Club 1880. Leipzig.
Hall Of Fame
Group show (C.eS., Thorsten Gebhardt, Christian Lebrecht, Laetitia Mantis & Vitali Geyer). April – May 2009. Galerie theARTer. Berlin.
Notes From A Dying Culture
Solo exhibition (photography). Special vernissage guest: Foresta di Ferro (line-up: Marco Wertham, John Murphy). March – April 2009. Galerie theARTer. Berlin.
Kulturterror & Teufelswerk
Solo exhibition (collages, paintings & art prints). Special vernissage guest: svril/Foresta di Ferro feat. John Murphy. February – March 2009. Galerie theARTer. Berlin.
Open The Gates
Group show (Jack Malebranche, Laetitia Mantis, Stephanie Crabe, Daniel & Melissa Byrd, Jason Leach et al. Hosted by: David E. Williams). October – November 2008. Germ Gallery. Philadelphia. PA. USA.


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Among the myriad of accomplished, polished and hungry guitarists on the west coast lies a music industry battling to stay relevant in a computer age. Remaining competitive while watching opportunities slowly diminish, musicians have had to broaden their scope and become more than just unidirectional in pursuing their dreams. Savvy in his understanding of the business, Brazilian-born Rafael Moreira has defined the road to what it takes to remain on top of the game. A glimpse into his long list of self-created musical accomplishments has no doubt secured him a position at the top of rock's 'most wanted list. From countless television appearances on The Voice, American Idol, Rock Star: INXS and Rock Star: Supernova to successful tours working alongside such musical giants as Christina Aguilera, Pink, Paul Stanley (KISS) and Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) to name a few, Moreira has an incredible resumė. His latest musical release and second album with power trio Magnetico, follows the very successful "Songs About the World" from 2009. Reigniting the band with two new members, Magnetico is now fueled up and looking at 2017 as their year to shine. Earlier this month the guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer shared with us his unique look into the industry in this exclusive interview conducted from his home in NoHo California.
SMW: Your first solo album "Acid Guitar" was released in 2005 followed by your sophomore album with your rock trio Magnetico in 2009 entitled "Songs About the World". Why did it take you until 2016 to release "Death Race"?
Rafael: Well, from when we recorded the original live session of that album to when we completed it, there was a lot going on in my life both musically and personally. Musically, I was on tour with The Backstreet Boys and New Kids On the Block which lasted three months. I got a call to do The Voice and did two seasons with them. I was also on American Idol for the last three seasons of the show and among other things, I performed in front of 65,000 people at the final match of The America's Cup. Personally, I lost my father in that time and had to travel back to Brazil many times to be with my family. It was a tough time and it was difficult to find holes in my schedule to devote my full attention to it.
SMW: What was the inspiration behind wanting to do another album?
Rafael: There were two things that really inspired me to put it out. First off, I had a brand new rhythm section (Ben White on bass and Jerry Roe on drums) that had an incredible sound. We were so tight together and our chemistry along with that sound propelled me to release some new material with them. Secondly, Magnetico's first album was so well-received that I felt I needed to continue going down that road to see where it would lead.
SMW: Are you ever looking for commercial success when you release new material?
Rafael: You know, I'd be lying to you if I said that I didn't care what happened. Everyone wants success in life, but that is really secondary to me. If people didn't like the album or it didn't achieve success though, it wouldn't change anything. I just love making and creating new music and I think it's important for people like myself to continue creating and experimenting. It's just what I need to do. Also, if we were just fed musically with only what we heard everyday on the radio, I feel it would be a sterile environment. There is a whole underground market out there that the public should really tap into.
SMW: As an artist how do you feel about the idea that revenue lies more in touring than in creating new albums these days?
Rafael: Ya, I feel that it's just a sign of the times. Things have changed so much since I was a kid and followed the artists that I admired. Those bands have had lengthy careers and now can tour only on their old material if they choose, but new bands today need to create new music. Remember, those classic bands had to have released new material back when they were up-and-coming. I think again that artists simply need to create and keep on creating to remain relevant.
SMW: What is it like to be a working musician while pursuing your own goals at the same time?
Rafael: It's very conflicting sometimes. I always enjoy lending my expertise to those outstanding artists and I like to be respected for getting the job done for people. I look at every opportunity as being able to make a contribution to that project and having an open mind allows me to do that. The conflicting part is that I, myself enjoy putting out and performing my own music. There is no better feeling than having people appreciate the music that comes from inside yourself.
SMW: Do you find that with what the music industry is promoting and what they consider pop culture today that there is less work for guitar players?
Rafael: Yes, absolutely. That's the reality of things. Musicians who have studied their instruments their whole lives and play authentically don't seem to be out there in the capacity that they were before. It is a shame that we are losing real players to sterile music. You know, when we buy a ticket to a show we should see greatness. We should see true talent up there. Again, the music that is being fed to the masses today through pop culture is usually horrifying, but there are always a few exceptions.
SMW: Do you feel that the genre of rock music is being represented well today?
Rafael: I don't think that what is considered rock music has the great players that it used to have. It's not just about the playing though. It's also about the personalities. Each member before used to have a distinct sound that they offered to the group. That's what made a band and that's what made us love it. Again, people need to be aware that when they pay to go see a show they shouldn't be naive to what they are paying to see. Most are just there to enjoy themselves and it often has little to do with the music. Rock isn't dead, it's just misrepresented.
SMW: What do you think are the true characteristics to your approach to playing lead guitar?
Rafael: You know, in Portuguese we use the term 'pegada' which means to have a strong grip. I think I have that. I think it's my vibrato, my bends and my note-choices. I really try to bring melody to my solos along with rhythmic ideas that are exciting. I would like to think that when someone hears something that I've done that they would recognize it as being me. I think that is every players ultimate goal.
SMW: You seem to have a cool working relationship with Paul Stanley from KISS. How has that helped your own career?
Rafael: Ya, Paul is great. He watched both seasons of Rock Star: INXS and Rock Star: Supernova and he invited the whole house band from the show to perform with him on his "Live to Win" tour. That opportunity lead me to play with him again more recently in his Soul Station project where I get to perform with some great musicians and friends. I was invited to perform with my band Magnetico on the KISS Kruise V along with KISS, Steel Panther, Lita Ford and The Dead Daisies. Shortly after that we were asked to open for Steel Panther on a mini tour across the west coast. Last summer my band Magnetico did its biggest gig yet. We opened up for KISS on the 4th of July at the AVA Amphitheater in Tuscon, Arizona. It was actually the hardest show I've ever had to do because my father had passed away about a week before that. At the end of 2016 we were invited back on the KISS Kruise VI. This time we were joined by Kings X, Skid Row and Enuff Z'Nuff. The cool thing is all of these opportunities came to me organically.
SMW: You have accomplished so much in your career and performed alongside many huge artists. How do you remain humble with those kinds of credentials?
Rafael: (Laughs) You know man, life keeps you humble. There could be someone right next to you who is after the very thing that you're after and if you're not grateful and make sure that you give value to what is given to you, you're going to lose it. I am really just a regular guy who grew up with big dreams and now that I have it I don't want to take it for granted. I am incredibly grateful for where I am in my life today.
For more information on Rafael Moreira and Magnetico click on the following links:
Photo Credits: Gilad Koriski and Vofka Solovey


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After revealing that H.O.T and Sechskies might be making their comeback, now Kim Tae Woo of g.o.d. stated, that there is 100% chance for the group's reuniting.
The singer appeared as a guest on MBC 'Concert Queen' and asked about the possibility that g.o.d. could reunite, he answered without hesitation: "100%."
He explained: "A little while back all five of us gathered for the first time in 8 years on a program by Yoon Kye Sang. All of us missed our g.o.d. days. I am not sure when exactly it will happen but we agreed with one another that before we leave the entertainment scene we will return at least once and and record a g.o.d. album."
Would you like to see all the members of g.o.d. together on stage once again?
Source: allkpop
Article by: Karolina & Mariam
- Excited
- Fascinated
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- Sad
- Angry


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Vacation Bible School 2018 will take place July 23 – 27, Monday through Friday, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. The program is open to children Preschool – Grade 6. Super active and super fun, children will experience arts and crafts, games, music, Bible stories, dance, science, and more!
Only $25/child for the week! T-shirts and healthy snacks provided!


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For the people living in Australia, there are brands, manufacturers and various options that they can find and avail through online resources. The online stores and sellers offer high quality brands and products for their customers so that they can avail trust and lasting connection with the buyers.
Online buyers have access to high quality designers and manufacturers and at the same time they are posed to the various risk factors that affect their purchase.
There are many things that may be compromised and when we look at the various risk factors, we can see that it affects the quality and all other aspects quite massively.
When purchasing Mens Watches and Womens Watches, if people are unable to find a trustworthy seller o store, they may buy a watch that is no original and may not give the quality you have expected from them.
There are other factors that affect these purchases. One of the common issue is the damaged products arriving at the doorstep. So you may not be able to get things you ordered, safely.
You may get a different product like if you have ordered Mens Rose Gold Watch or other color, you may get different Watch Straps or the color that you never wanted.
In case of the Leather Purse and Leather Work Bag people may get leather that is not original because they have not asked for a guaranteed pure leather before their purchase.
Similarly, when buying Leather Card Holder, or Leather Crossbody Bag, they usually need to get Monogram Leather for assure quality but through online purchase this may be compromised and the quality of the leather may not be very good.
Damaged or low quality product, fake materials and lower quality finishing re few common risk factors that affect purchases a lot.


text: suc_jad_jad491 jad491 jad suc yes Report, 1946 Nov. 28, [St. Matthew, S.C.], Report on Education, Joseph A. DeLaine, Sr., to the Bishop, visiting guests, Presiding Elders, Ministers and Friends DeLaine, Joseph A. (Joseph Armstrong), 1898-1974 African Methodist Episcopal Church--Clergy African Methodist Episcopal Church Public Schools--South Carolina--Summerton African American universities and colleges--South Carolina Universities and colleges--South Carolina African American schools--South Carolina State universities and colleges--South Carolina Allen University African Americans--Education--South Carolina DeLaine, Joseph A. (Joseph Armstrong), 1898-1974 Report from November 28, 1946 prepared by Joseph A. DeLaine, Sr., of St. Matthew, South Carolina, regarding the status of African American schools, details of the Land Grant Colleges, teacher recertification and salaries, African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Colleges, and Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the aggregation and enhancement of partner metadata. University of South Carolina. Libraries. Digital Collections South Caroliniana Library eng Reports Text http://digital.tcl.sc.edu/u?/jad,491 image/jpg Manuscripts Legal size - 13439 - (Folder 20), Joseph Armstrong DeLaine papers, ca. 1918-2000, South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbus, South Carolina. Forms part of online collection: Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine papers, ca. 1918-2000. 1946-11-28 United States, South Carolina, Calhoun County, Saint Matthews, 33.664876, -80.7778681 United States, South Carolina, Clarendon County http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ Digital image copyright 2008, The University of South Carolina. All rights reserved. For more information contact The South Caroliniana Library, USC, Columbia, SC 29208.


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One of my favorite things that my grandmother used to make was her meatloaf. It was leaps and bounds better than any other meatloaf I have ever had, and still is. I've made a few adjustments to her original recipe in order to avoid heavily processed things, but it's still almost the same. I hope that you enjoy it as much as my family does!!
Grandma's Meatloaf
Meat Mix
- 2 lbs Ground Beef or Turkey (preferably grass-fed beef)
- 1 cup organic quick oats
- 1 medium onion- chopped
- 2 celery stalks- chopped
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 cup organic ketchup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 tbsp. vinegar (I use apple cider, but plain white vinegar works as well)
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 2 tbsp. yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp. Worcestershire
- 1 tsp. horseradish
Preheat oven to 325*. Begin by mixing the oats, onion, egg, celery, salt, and pepper.
Make the sauce. Add 1/2 the sauce (approximately 3/4 cup) and the meat to the oat mixture and mix thoroughly.
Grease a bread pan and form the meat mixture into a loaf. Bake at 325* for 45 minutes. Remove and top with remainder of the sauce. Bake for another 45 minutes at 325* or until a meat thermometer reads 160 (beef) or 165 (turkey).
Moving Mommy


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PlaySphere, a round PlayStation 2. Looks like a bowling ball.
Reader comments
Mar 10, 2004 at 6:28PM
Well, that was more aesthetic than I thought it would be. Reminds me more of those comedy cannonballs you see Yosamite Sam running around with. I wonder whether this is the new age of aesthetic consoles…
Mar 10, 2004 at 10:45PM
wow. thats horrible O.o
Mar 12, 2004 at 11:32PM
…and people laughed at my idea for the GameTriangle…
This thread is closed to new comments. Thanks to everyone who responded.


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SEA ISLAND, Georgia (Feb. 4, 2011) -- Other than the collegiate players who are missing from the field, just about every USA Walker Cup team hopeful (and many from GB&I) are among the top-notch field at the Jones Cup Invitational. The event started on Friday morning at Ocean Forest Golf Club, a coastal Georgia venue that hosted the Walker Cup in 2001. Augusta State star Patrick Reed of Augusta Georgia is looking to defend his title or finish high enough to further cement his hold on one of the coveted spots on the 2011 USA Walker Cup team.
The top-ranked player in the field is 2010 U.S. Amateur Champion Peter Uihlein, currently ranked No. 1 in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com World Rankings.
Players to watch this week include Anthony Paolucci, the No. 1 ranked junior player in the U.S. who is fresh off a T29 victory (ahead of Tiger Woods) at the Farmers Insurance Classic on the PGA Tour. Also in the field are young guns like Cory Whitsett and Jordan Spieth of Texas (T16 in last year's PGA Tour Byron Nelson) and more mature amateurs like Nathan Smith, with two U.S. Mid-Ams and Masters invites under his belt. Smith finished T6 in the Jones Cup last year.
Other favorites include Russell Henley (Golfweek/amateurgolf.com World Ranking No. 6) and his Georgia teammate Hudson Swafford, both of whom played in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and are surely on the short-list for the USA Walker Cup team. 2010 NCAA individual champion Scott Langley, the left-hander who also finished T16 with Henley at the U.S. open last year (one shot away from an automatic exemption to this year's Open at Congressional) is another sure-pick for the U.S. Walker Cup team and competing this week.
Let's not forget the international players. 2009 GB&I Walker Cup team member Rhys Enoch of Wales is in the field -- he was a member of the GB&I Walker Cup team.
A little bit of history of the tournament and course information follows.
The Jones Cup was born from the A.W. Jones family and its commitment to amateur golf. The Jones family has owned and operated the Cloister Hotel and Sea Island Golf Club since 1928. The Sea Island Golf Club has played host to six USGA championships and will be the site of the 2004 U.S. Mid-Amateur in October. The Jones Cup is yet another extension of the family's strong involvement in amateur golf.
The Jones Cup Invitational was first contested in 2001. The original tournament rotation was biennial (on the years the U.S. hosted the Walker Cup) but it is now held ever year.
This individual stroke play event is contested at Ocean Forest Golf Club. The Rees Jones design opened in 1995 and has hosted the 1998 Georgia State Amateur Championship, the 1999 Southern Amateur Championship and the 2001 Walker Cup Match.
The Jones Cup brings together many of the finest amateurs from the United States and abroad for this three-day competition. While the golf course proves to be a great venue for this unique event, -- at over 7300 yards in February weather it can be a stern test -- the Jones Cup's success and popularity can be attributed to the strength of the players who comprise its field and to the gracious southern hospitality for which Sea Island is known.
Designed by Rees Jones, Ocean Forest opened in 1995 and quickly gained notoriety as one of the finest modern links courses in the world. Framed by the Hampton River and the Atlantic Ocean, the course weaves through a myriad of oaks, pines and wetlands. Its natural rolling terrain and stunning beauty is as distracting to the golfer as it is pleasing to the eye. It is truly a great test of concentration and shot making ability.
View full results for Jones Cup
View Complete Tournament Information
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Stimulate the Economy – Collect Your Free Gifts
So, following on from my interview with Brad Smith last night, I thought I would tell you about his latest giveaway event – The Economic Stimulus Giveaway. Brad has teamed with David Canham to bring 100′s of high quality, free products to you. The idea behind the Economic Stimulus is to coincide with the annual [...]Read more


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Christmas in July 2016
We're halfway through the year and it doesn't get any better than this! Here at Zalora Philippines, we want to give an early Christmas gift by treating you and your wardrobe with the best deals in town. Curated from the top local and international brands, allow yourself to wander through the impeccable collection of your favorite fashion essentials marked with your favorite holiday prices! Not only do you save your bank, you also spice up your wardrobe in the most effortless way. So chuck your yesteryear style away and feast on this fashion miracle as we make July your best month yet.
Limited Time Only
Unfortunately, not all good things last forever. It may be Christmas in July but the last week of this month shouldn't be a drag as Zalora still has more exciting stuff in store for you! Being Asia's top online fashion destination, we make sure that we stretch your fashion choices at any time of the year without breaking your bank. However, Christmas is still a great season to celebrate and who doesn't like getting holiday-priced items at the start of the mid-year? So grab your wallet and get your gadget ready as stylish items and amazing discounts await you!
Only The Best at ZALORA
Christmas in July is just the start and we want you to keep sitting at the edge of your seats. With Zalora, your favorite fashion essentials will all be yours in just one click! From stunning sales to gasp-worthy discounts, impeccable apparel and eccentric accessories, elevating your wardrobe this July will definitely feel like a Christmas morning. So treat yourself with Zalora's gift to you through cash-on delivery, 30 days free return, and free shipping for your favorite sartorial items. Surely, you'll be coming back for more.


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The VH1 Save The Music Concert, which benefits VH1's Save The Music Foundation, made use of Audio-Technica Artist Elite® 5000 Series UHF wireless system on lead vocals for artists including Alicia Keys and Rob Thomas. VH1 also employed A-T wireless and wired mikes in numerous other applications.
A-T Artist Elite 5000 Series Wireless additionally facilitated presentations by Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen, Christina Applegate, and LL Cool J. The large selection of hardwired A-T microphones on hand included the AE2500 for bass guitar amps, ATM35 and AT4054 on horns, AT4051a for hi-hat and ride cymbal, AT4054 on background vocals, and AE5100 for audience.
Audio production mixer Al Centrella, whose credits include A&E Live By Request and The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame awards, chose a wide array of Audio-Technica microphones based on their stringent production values. "I started using Audio-Technica on Live By Request because most of the time the artist is in front of the PA and I need a natural-sounding mike with tremendous gain before feedback. That's exactly what A-T delivers," explains Centrella.
XM Productions/Effanel music lead engineer Joel Singer concurs with Centrella's criteria for microphone selection. "For critical applications such as high-profile award shows and location recording, I know we can count on A-T mics to deliver the consistency and great sound quality that we need," Singer remarked.
The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring music programs in cities across the country, and raising public awareness about the importance of music participation for our nation's youth. Since its inception in 1997, VH1 Save The Music has donated nearly $30 million worth of musical instruments to 1,200 public schools in 80 cities, improving the lives of more than 500,000 children.
Staged at Manhattan's legendary Beacon Theater, the Save The Music Concert was held April 11, with VH1's first airing of the broadcast Sunday, April 17. Audio Technica mikes were also used at the recent 47th Annual GRAMMY® Awards and the 2005 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.


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On september the 30th 2018, A hack attack from toastofundead occurred when he perm banned players, ranking them to criminals. But the iconic thing of this one was the hacking of Deadmau7est account and Marioxxxx2626. Mario is normal as well as deadmau7est.
The start
In the morning of 30th september 2018, Mario was just chilling out playing a bit of PBRP until, the sever crashed. A new sever came up players joined and then ToastofUndead joined, Deadmau7est joined eventually, Mario banned ToastofUndead twice until all of a sudden all the players in the Sever got perm banned except Deadmau7est and ToastofUndead, Apparently Deadmau7est said to mario on steam that his account was all of a sudden hacked and was locked out of it. Mario began saying to the hacker on deadmau7est to leave his account, he refused unless there would be some sort of deal. The first deal was mario to give all his robux to the hacker and then he would leave, it failed. The deal after that was mario to surrender his account to the hacker. It worked and mario account was taken over and deads was unlocked. But mario instantly regretted this.
Marioxxxx2626 and the hack attack
Mario was locked out of his account the hacker went offline so did mario, Deadmau7est was trying to convince the hacker to leave mario's account but he refused any sort of deal. Mario came back online 2 hours later and asked is my account freed? it was a no. Mario then made an alt account called Marioxxxx2626alt. He friended his own account and Toastofundead has done some bad damage to it already. groups he was in were no longer there and some of his friends were removed. except deadmau7est, Salih1, Bertan8 etc. The hacker refused to let mario have his account back and then unfriended him quickly.Monarch Lord, Mike, And Palm, decided to not let salih stay at HPL2 to hide.
Marioxxxx2626 and Deadmau7est Problems get worse
Mario then decided to try and change his password but failed too, instead he sent a contact support to roblox to try and fix it, Mario then got a message from Deadmau7est that his account was hacked again and he was once again locked out. Apparently Salih1 wasnt online during the incident so currently he is not informed on it.
The End
Salih1 had been informed on it. Marioxxxx2626 managed to get his account restored by roblox support. Currently he is a criminal on the group but salih1 will be rechanging his rank too reichtangle and mario will earn his administrator back. Dead problem has been solved.
Major and Minor Combatants
- Marioxxxx2626
- Deadmau7est
- Salih1
- ToastofUndead
- Bertan8
Unkown(meaning they might or might have not been involved but clearly is unkown):
- HatteRussia


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Some prefer to keep their work and home lives totally separate. Not Luciana Gómez. Her new shop, Cafe Victoria, features just the type of organic milk or French jam you would find in her own cupboard or refrigerator. It's just a stone's throw from her home, too.
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Gómez came up for the idea for Cafe Victoria while walking through Victory Park near her apartment. With the American Airlines Center near its core, the area is better known for tricky parking situations and tall buildings than a friendly, laid-back neighborhood. But, what many might not know is that more than 3,500 individuals live in the development's nine residential buildings, according to a Victory Park rep, and with new housing planned, that number continually rises.
For Gómez, that signaled an immediate need for an accessible, centralized spot that could help foster community.
"I have pressure to succeed because I have to live with these people," she says, joking.
There's something to it: Gómez chose the storefront at 2422 Victory Park Ln. to fill a need she felt personally. With a new Whole Foods Market about a half mile away, Victory Park was feeling increasingly less insular. Denizens no longer had to drive into Oak Lawn or far into Uptown for basic necessities. A smattering of new restaurants and businesses like Buda Juice, Classic Pilates, Cook Hall and Joanna Czech spa have joined more established spots like Naga Thai Kitchen and an offshoot of Olivella's Neo Pizza Napoletana. A Cinépolis USA movie theater is expected in 2017, according to a press release.
Gómez envisioned her shop would keep neighbors in a self-sustaining community and encourage visitors to stay a bit longer, pursing other small businesses. On her walk, she noticed an empty space and she says inspiration took hold. She went home immediately and worked out a business plan in about three hours.
But, simply opening a shop wasn't enough. It had to be a good shop, one that Gómez would want to visit herself. As luck would have it, she was taking a trip to Paris the following week, so she refocused her travel plans so that they became almost a fact-finding mission. She visited shop after shop in Paris and later during a trip to Berlin, and everything she saw -- from cafe atmospheres to the attention to craft and quality by professional baristas -- confirmed her own ideas. Though her background was in advertising, she decided to learn everything she could about high-end coffee.
"I believe the best thing to do is surround yourself with great people," she says. She sought out the person responsible for what she considered the best cups in Dallas, Oak Cliff Coffee Roaster's Shannon Neffendorf.
She says Neffendorf was skeptical, initially. Opening a business carries inherent risk, and that's only compounded when it's out of one's field of knowledge. But, Gómez was dogged and Neffendorf a willing teacher. She learned the ins and outs of quality coffee making so that she could, in turn, train and manage staff the right way.
That emphasis on doing things the "right way" forms the basis of Cafe Victoria. Gómez purchased a robin's egg blue La Marzocco espresso machine from Florence, Italy -- widely considered the gold standard among professional baristas -- and placed it forefront to reiterate that "coffee is the center of the shop."
Then, she partnered with other well-regarded local artisans that she loves: Empire Baking Company, Amazeballz and Bisous Bisous Patisserie in order to fill out the menu with items like breakfast sandwiches, scones, croissants, cake balls and macarons.
The shop officially opened on Jan. 16, and Gómez reports that she's been thrilled with interest, particularly by return customers and those who like to hang around at the cafe's tables and couches a bit, something that's happened more than she expected. That's one thing she loves most about Dallas, she says: People here are open to new things and appreciate good ones. It's less jaded, she thinks, than other big cities, and that's why she's hopeful she will be able to eventually bring other new concepts to the city.
But, not another Cafe Victoria. There will only be one.
"People often think my name is Victoria, but I'm not that egocentric," the owners says, with a laugh.
Cafe Victoria is "named for the neighborhood, and this concept was purposefully designed with Victory Park in mind. I wanted to make something really special for the people here."
Cafe Victoria is currently open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Gómez plans to extend those hours to 7 p.m. in February. Update: As of Feb. 15, Cafe Victoria is open 7 days per week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.


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Best Australian Casinos To Test Your Pokies Strategy 2020
What's the best pokies strategy?
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"Christmas should be an attitude toward life, not an endurance exercise. This Advent season, why not shop the scriptures rather than the malls to prepare." Joan D. Chittester, O.S.B.
"Christmas should be an attitude toward life, not an endurance exercise. This Advent season, why not shop the scriptures rather than the malls to prepare." Joan D. Chittester, O.S.B.
Shackleford, gritty and resolute, battles from gate to wire to win the 2011 Preakness at a big price
Yesterday I was aptly reminded in a timely conversation that we don't exist. We just think we do. We have a really good idea of who we are and how we fit into the world. We know our strengths and weaknesses, our likes and dislikes, and our relative place in the world. And because of that, we feel comfortable making similar assessments about others, and operating based on those assessments. This makes for a well-defined but confined system – the degrees of freedom are limited by the pecking order we impose largely on ourselves. We are who we are.
Johnny V and Animal Kingdom come flying past Nehro to ruin another perfect moment….
O horse racing! My love for you is unending. You fill my days with wonder, and haunt my dreams with tattered tales of what might have been, taunts of glory yet to come. But I have loved you with steady ardor and child-like hope, while you play with me like an upstaged toy, tossing me about from ecstasy to agony, promising me the perfect moment, and snatching it away with venomous glee. I love you, horse racing – why won't you love me back?
A wise friend recently told me this: Forgiveness, in its purest form, is abandoning all hope that you can have a different past. The importance of doing this cannot be understated – happiness, and purpose, have as their prerequisite a resolute commitment to looking forward at all times. But The Past, especially when She offered perfection and then twisted the script at the last moment, beckons us to sit with Her, and rehash the decisions, revisions, and omissions that could have changed everything.
What a wonderful world we live in! Calvin Borel rejoices aboard Super Saver after winning the 2010 Kentucky Derby. Calvin's last 4 Derbies: First, Third, First, First. But he has his work cut out for him this year aboard Twice the Appeal.
It has been said that the problem with life's most important, game-changing moments is that so often, we don't know that they are happening. We spend the rest of our lives lamenting our lack of vision, realizing that if only we had been awake at that magic juncture, we could have seized the day, and changed everything. Well let me tell you something, dear friends. That moment is coming on Saturday – two minutes of transcendent perfection, when 20 utterly mediocre 3-year-old thoroughbreds will lunge from the gate and send the fortunate few who are prepared into an impossible state of electric ecstasy. And I am taking a stand for you, right now, right this very moment. I will not let you walk into that nexus of perfection unprepared. You WILL be ready. You will "be there".
Honey, I'm home!
My campaign for Congress is officially over, and here's the wrap-up.
The campaign sabbatical continues. Here, with a hat tip to my brother Steve, is a dialogue on lawn care from a Christian perspective. It makes a lot of sense to me. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: Brevity is apparently not the soul of wit
|Fly Down
|First Dude
|$2.00 Exacta (7-5)
|$2.00 Trifecta (7-5-11)
|$2.00 Superfecta (7-5-11-8)
Summer Bird surges by the dueling Dunkirk and Mine That Bird to upset the 2009 Belmont Stakes (which I predicted, of course)
Apologies to all in advance for the following brief analysis of this year's race. I have actually been pathetically busy on many fronts, somehow, and have not been able to devote the kind of quality time this thing deserves. Read the rest of this entry »


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Home > For the Health of It > Here comes Peter Cottontail
Published on March 01, 2016
The classic song talks about bringing every girl and boy a basketful of Easter joy — jelly beans, colored eggs and chocolate bunnies. However, Easter baskets don't have to be filled with candy. Here are some ideas that are fun — without the sugar.
Garden tool box: Provide tools to play in the dirt!
Art satchel: Encourage creativity and imagination with art supplies.
Chef basket: Teach your child about cooking.
Duffle bag: Support your child's love of a sport or favorite team.
Simple pleasures bin: Unplug and go outside to play.
Beach tote: Get ready for summer or a spring break trip.
Health information accessed through www.centracare.com is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. We strive to present reliable, up-to-date health information on our web site and "For the Health of It" blog. However, this information is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Please contact your health care provider if you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health. Log in to MyChart to send a secure message to your provider.
Katie KrebsPediatric Registered DietitianSt. Cloud Hospital Women & Children's CenterLearn more about Katie Krebs


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Qualifying customers who are football fans can now sign up for a Verizon broadband bundle with DIRECTV® service that beats the best of cable's current offers.
Effective immediately, new Verizon and DIRECTV customers who sign up for a Verizon bundle of up-to-3 megabits-per-second High Speed Internet service*, Freedom Essentials unlimited local and long-distance calling plan, free SHOWTIME® (valued at $158.88) and DIRECTV's PLUS HD DVR™ for $119.99 per month (after rebate) for one year will also get 2009 NFL SUNDAY TICKET™ only on DIRECTV (valued at $299.95). New Verizon and DIRECTV customers who sign up for the same package with DIRECTV's PLUS DVR™ in standard definition for $109.99 per month (after rebate) for one year will also get 2009 NFL SUNDAY TICKET™ only on DIRECTV.
Additionally, customers who sign up for either bundle will receive a Compaq Mini netbook (valued at $299.99) or a Flip Ultra™ camcorder (valued at $149.99) through a promotion announced June 22 by Verizon. Customers must sign up by Aug. 15 and install service by Sept. 30. Those selecting the Mini netbook only need to pay shipping, handling and taxes.
"Verizon's best High Speed Internet bundles just got even better," said Susan Retta, Verizon vice president of consumer product management. "New Verizon customers can bundle our High Speed Internet service and unlimited local and long-distance phone service delivered on our 99.9 percent reliable network with DIRECTV internet service. Add on top of all that the choice of a Compaq Mini netbook or Flip Ultra camcorder and the value of this offer is unmatched by current cable offers."
DIRECTV's NFL SUNDAY TICKET provides access to the largest selection of NFL football games and offers fans up to 14 NFL games every Sunday - more than 200 games in the season - so they can follow their favorite team no matter where they live.
A one-year Verizon commitment and a two-year DIRECTV commitment with hardware lease are required with these bundles.
By purchasing either Verizon bundle, customers can save more than $600 during one year over the price of the services if sold separately.
Other terms, conditions and restrictions apply to this offer. Consumers can obtain more information about Verizon's High Speed Internet bundles and DIRECTV service by visiting www.verizon.com/bundles or by calling 1-800-483-4000.
* Internet speeds refer to the connection speed between the user's location and Verizon's central office. Actual surfing speeds will vary based on many factors and be lower than connection speed.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 87 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.


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Courtesy of eOne Entertainment
Dir: Ian Fitzgibbon (A Film with Me in It)
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Jim Broadbent, Jodie Whittaker, Brendan Gleeson, Gabriel Byrne, Liam Cunningham
Ireland/UK, 2010 (DVD Release)
Reason to see: I was absolutely floored by the brilliance of the dark comedy A Film with Me in It, and was up for more craziness from Ian Fitzgibbon
I've been known to say "comedies just aren't my thing". But when I see a film like Perrier's Bounty and I know that's too much of a blanket statement, because it's the kind of film that when the comedy hits you, your jaw literally drops because it's hard to believe what you just heard because it's shocking & hilarious all in one. Then, it turns that comedy on a dime and hits you with an insanely serious tone, and it just keeps continuing to shake you from left to right throughout the film.
Perrier's Bounty is a a dark comedy/crime film that follows Michael McCrea (Cillian Murphy), whom owes some money and is on the working on a line to pay it back. The funny thing is, it isn't a ton of money and Michael pretty much a decent guy who just doesn't have the best of luck. Mind you it's not the worst of luck either. That's one of the many things I loved about the film, it's outlandish in many ways, but not unbelievable. In every funny and every heartbreaking moment, we have the ridiculousness of the truth firmly centred in it, which is what makes it so spot on and a such an enjoyable film watch.
Another thing I loved about the film and one of it's strongest points is the dialogue. The dialogue is so good that that I just want to watch the film over and over again. Add to it the stellar performances with such a great cast and it notches the film up to brilliance. Cillian Murphy is great as the understated Michael, I loved Jodie Whittaker as his heartbroken neighbour Brenda and Jim Broadbent is fantastic as Michael's slightly eccentric father, who pulls off a story that is rather outlandish that I'm not sure anyone else could have done it. Plus, we get a fabulous slew of charismatic bad guys including Perrier himself (Brendan Gleeson), who are entertaining through and through.
Overall, I loved the film. I'm thrilled to see that it's on DVD now so more people can enjoy it. It's set in some harshness but my goodness it is one funny, charming and even tenderhearted film. I can't wait to watch it again.
DVD Extras:
- Making of "Perrier's Bountry Featurette" (14 minutes) includes interviews with producers Alan Moloney, Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley, writer Mark O'Rowe, director Ian Fitzgibbon and actors Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Jodie Whittaker, Jim Broadbent and Liam Cunningham with film clips - really great making of that seamlessly highlights the interview statements with clips from film, especially when chatting about characters, performances, dialogue and action.
- Trailer
Shannon's Overall View:
I loved it
I'll watch it again
I highly recommend
Return to Film Reviews or see more DVD Reviews
© Shannon Ridler, 2010


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Beckett Grading Service
We offer Beckett Grading Service!
Send us your cards or let us know which cards you want graded from the breaks! All submissions must be paid before they are sent to BGS. Please select the product Beckett Grading Service from our product page and complete payment via the website or PayPal. Thank you!
$20 per card for a 10-day Submission
Please note: TCB sends cards to Beckett on the 1st and the 15th of each month. Grade results are provided 10 business days after Beckett receives the cards from us. Total turnaround time may vary due to weekends, holidays and shipping delays outside of our control.
If you are sending us cards you already have, please pack your cards securely and mail to the following address:
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Peacock Bass Fishing Forum Forum Index
Fishing Tactics and Tackle
Fluoro Leaders
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Fluoro Leaders
Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 4:46 pm
Steve Townson
I know that many of you will say that PBs are not really line shy, no matter what the diameter your reel line is, but after years of not having ever thought about it much, over the last two year I have used fluoro leaders for my lure fishing, and believe me, I have done plenty all over the Amazon and in many different situations.
A friend and colleague sent me some to try in various lb strengths of looped wind-on leaders, and I have to say, I was stunned by the results. The amount of extra hook-ups I had (without that last second decision on striking from the fish) and also of course with the terrain that I have been fishing in, how the fluoro held up against rocks and sharp trees, branches etc. I have been very impressed.
I now use a loop in my braid tied to the built-in loop of the leader and with a strong clip at the business end, I am now good to go.
As we are extending our Amazon-Angler series of rods, reels, tackle, gear and lures, we will now also be stocking our new Hell Caster Razor Gang Fluoro leaders. I truly believe that with the lack of knots and a nearly 100% straight link to the leader and lure, we will all catch the more wary fish that we would otherwise miss out on.
Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 7:15 pm
John Ducksbury
Joined: 02 Jan 2014
Posts: 26
Location: Sydney, Australia
Honestly, this stands to reason for me. I wouldn't fish without fluro in any lure fishing application at home. (With the exception occasionally using regular mono when I want a floating leader)
One thing I am annoyed at myself for is being talked out of bringing some fluro last year.
I obviously can't comment on bite rates over but I know I lost fish from line rubbing within two feet (based on length of my double) of the lure several times. Good fluro is way more abrasion resistant than any doubled braid, and it would be worth it for that alone...
I'll have to suss out the wind on stuff when I see you.
Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 2:40 am
Steve Townson
Ready to go John:
Fluoro Leaders
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The 8th-century Byzantine church of Agia Kyriaki on Naxos island is one of the winners of the 2018 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards, the European Commission announced on Tuesday.
The church contains 8th- and 9th-century wall paintings that were reconstructed by a joint Greek and Swiss team, the announcement said.
Also awarded the Europa Nostra prize was a collaborative project to restore the mosaics of the Transfiguration in an arch of the St. Catherine of Sinai's basilica, and the reconstruction at Zographio, the Greek school in Istanbul.
The prizes will be presented at a ceremony in Berlin on June 22, during the first-ever European Cultural Heritage Summit, and will include EU high-level officials and leading heritage organisations. The ceremony will be co-hosted by European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Tibor Navracsics and renowned opera singer Placido Domingo, who is president of Europa Nostra.
Europa Nostra and the European Commission recognize 30 exemplary heritage accomplishments in the categories of Conservation, Research, Dedicated Service, and Education, Training and Awareness-Raising.
Organisations and individuals from 31 countries across Europe submitted a total of 163 applications for the 2018 edition of the Awards. The category of Conservation had the most entries (71), followed by Education, Training and Awareness-Raising (48), and Research and Dedicated Service to Heritage (22 each). Italy and Spain sent most entries (18 entries each), followed by Bulgaria and Germany (10 applications each), then by Greece and Serbia (9 entries each).
Source: thegreekobserver