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These celebrities faced a difficult situation where someone needed their assistant, and they helped without hesitation. These famous men and women rescued other people and even saved lives. Keep reading to see which celebrities proved they were truly worth our admiration, and not just for their talents.
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling is always thought of as not only a great actor, but as a genuinely nice guy. He lived up to that reputation when in 2012, he rescued a woman from stepping right into the oncoming traffic. The journalist, named Laurie, didn't look to her right side before she intended to cross, and Ryan immediately stepped in and stopped her before she was hit by a car.
Lauren tweeted that Ryan Gosling literally saved her from a car, and the response to that tweet was overwhelming. So much so, that she then wrote an article called "Ryan Gosling saved me from a speeding car but there's war in the Middle East so everyone calm down."
Benedict Cumberbatch
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Strange actor Benedict Cumberbatch was recently riding in an Uber through London, when he spotted four men assaulting a deliveryman as they attempted to mug him. Benedict – as well as his Uber driver – reportedly jumped out of the car to help the man, pulling the muggers off of him and yelling at them to leave him be.
He apparently even dodged a few punches in the process, before the attackers ran away without stealing anything, and the police was then called in. The delivery company – called Deliveroo – thanked the actor for his brave intervention, but Benedict humbly replied, "I did it out of, well, I had to, you know."
Brad Pitt
While filming the post-apocalyptic action film World War Z, actor and director Brad Pitt came to a woman's rescue, as they were filming a stampede scene. It was reported that production used 700 extras, who played zombies and frightened people alike – but that amount of people is difficult to control.
As they were making their way down a street, Brad apparently noticed a woman who fell into the crowd, and immediately ran to her, pulling her away from the stampede before she could get seriously hurt. Now that's a hero!
Jamie Foxx
Actor Jamie Foxx was driving in California when he suddenly saw a startling sight. A car had spun off the road and rolled over a few times right into a ditch. The car was in flames, but Jamie acted quickly.
He and an EMT who was off-duty cut his seatbelt and helped the driver out of the car. The driver, named Brett Kyle, already had burns all over his body, but he survived. Thanks to Jamie and that EMT, he'd been pulled out just in time.
Tom Cruise
When Tom Cruise spotted a hit-and-run in Santa Monica, back in 1996, he went above and beyond to help. Budding actress Heloisa Vinhas was hit by a car, and the Top Gun actor hurried to her aid.
Not only did he call 911 and wait by her side for the paramedics to arrive, but when he discovered she had no insurance, he picked up the $7,000 medical bill himself. He even checked up on her after she was released from the hospital. How sweet!
Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood is known for being a tough guy. He's the kind of man you'd want on your side when things get hairy. And apparently, he's also who you'd want around when you happen to choke on a piece of food.
In 2014, the legendary actor noticed CEO Steve John choking on some cheese, during a golf tournament. Clint quickly used the Heimlich maneuver on the man, lifting him no less than three times before the food came out. John had said that Clint saved his life when he did.
John Malkovich
John Malkovich was in Toronto when he saved a man's life. Jim Walpole was visiting the city with his wife, when he suddenly fell right into scaffolding. His throat was severely injured, but luckily the actor rushed over to pressure the wound and stop the bleeding, which was reaching dangerous levels.
When first responders arrived and handled the wound, the man asked who his savior was, but he only gave his first name. It was only later the man discovered that the man who saved his life was John Malkovich.
Gerard Butler
Scottish action star Gerard Butler proved he was a real hero in real life too, when he saved a boy from drowning. He was at a picnic in Scotland when he heard someone screaming for help, as reported by The Herald.
He ran to the water to find a 14-year-old boy drowning in the water. Without hesitation, the actor bravely jumped into the water and helped the boy out. "When I brought him out he was lifeless. I'm just glad he's all right now," he said.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence is another actress who helped a person in need. When a young woman had collapsed outside of her apartment building, the Hunger Games star called the paramedics and stayed at her side until they arrived.
An eyewitness said Jennifer was genuinely scared for the woman. Even as the EMT got there, she wanted to stay and make sure the woman was okay. It later turned out that the woman was intoxicated, and she was treated and taken home.
Patrick Dempsey
Teenager Weston Masset lost control of his car, and it crashed after it was flipped three times in the air. Reportedly, it was Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey, who used a crowbar to open the door and pull Weston away from the crash.
It's rumored that the boy asked if he was famous – to which Patrick replied, "Yeah, I'm a doctor," referring to his role as Dr. Derek Shepherd. Thanks to McDreamy, the teen walked away mostly unharmed by the accident.
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford got to play the hero in many films, including Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, and the Star Wars franchise. But the famed actor didn't only pilot the Millennium Falcon – he's also a licensed helicopter pilot in real life, and has made several rescues thanks to that.
He saved two hikers who got lost in the woods, with one of them already severely dehydrated. The following year, Ford helped track down a 13-year-old boy scout who was separated from his group in Yellowstone National Park.
John Krasinski
Before he was star of The Office, John spent a few months after high school teaching English in Costa Rica. He was at the beach when he noticed a woman being swept away by a riptide. There was no one around to help, so he went into the water after her.
For moments there, he thought this choice might cost him his life, as he was caught in the current with her. Thankfully, he managed to get the woman out, and was later quoted saying the experience has changed his life.
Kate Winslet
Richard Branson's family were staying in their Carribean home, along with Kate Winslet's family back in 2011. There were 20 people inside the house when it was suddenly struck by lightning and began to catch fire. Everyone on the scene managed to escape the house without injury.
And apparently, Kate carried billionaire businessman Richard Branson's 90-year-old mother down the slippery stairs as they were escaping the burning house in the middle of a hurricane. While Kate says she would've probably made it on her own, we still think it's pretty amazing.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry, now the Duke of Sussex, knows just how to handle an emergency due to his military training. He's also literally a "prince on a white horse". During a polo match, his fellow player Bash Kazin was thrown off a horse – his head was hit so hard, he passed out.
The Royal Family member was apparently the first to get off his horse and rush to his aid. He turned him to to the side to help him regain his consciousness and make sure he breaths properly.
Steve Buscemi
Before he was the ruthless Nucky Thompson on HBO's hit show Boardwalk Empire, Steve Buscemi actually served as a New York firefighter between 1980 and 1984. And it was reported that after the events of 9/11, he returned to his old firehouse in order to help.
True to a real-life hero, Buscemi spent days searching for survivors under the rubble. And the actor said it had been a privilege to be able to help out along with his old crew.
Zoe Saldana
Guardians of the Galaxy actress Zoe Saldana proved she wasn't only a fierce heroine on-screen, when she came across a car accident. Zoe helped an elderly woman, injured in the incident, out of the car and immediately called 911.
She didn't leave when they arrived at the scene, either. She stayed with her all throughout and eye-witnesses said she was incredibly sweet and caring towards her, even getting her personal belongings from the car as she was getting help.
Demi Moore
In 2009, Demi Moore stepped in when she saw a frightening tweet on her Twitter feed. A woman had written that she intends to take her own life, and Demi responded immediately. She reposted the tweet and wrote, "Hope you are joking."
She also took no chances and alerted the police about the matter. The San Jose Police then located the tweeter of the post, a 48-year-old woman, and provided her with the necessary help that she needed.
Tom Hardy
Tom is a phenomenal action star, and apparently he's just as tough in real life as he seems on the big screen. When two thieves crashed into a car with a stolen moped, they were unlucky enough to have the actor on the scene.
One of these guys tried to run, but Tom chased him, caught him, and handed him over to the cops – not before patting him down for weapons. Witnesses told it was crazy to see the actor switching into superhero mode, bringing the bad guys to justice.
Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. – better known as the rapper T.I. – helped talk a man off the ledge of a 22-floor office building. The man was threatening to jump, and the police tried to talk him down. The rapper, who was passing by, offered his help.
And after the man agreed to meet him (who wouldn't, right?), he was convinced to finally come down and receive the help he needed. He was brought in for a psychological evaluation, and what could've been a tragic disaster was averted thanks to T.I.
Amy Winehouse
In 2009, the late Amy Winehouse had reportedly saved someone from drowning. While having a sailing lesson in St. Lucia, a woman named Louise Williams was suddenly thrown off the boat and was injured by a rock she hit.
Amy, who saw the incident, apparently ran to her from the beach and helped her as she was almost swept sway by the waves. Williams had said she was amazed by the Rehab singer's kindness towards her. Without a doubt, it was lucky she happened to be there.
Leonardo DiCaprio
On December 30, 2019, Leonardo DiCaprio was vacationing in the Caribbean when he added "real-life hero" to his long list of accolades – he rescued a 24-year-old Frenchman who had fallen off a yacht and had spent 11 hours lost in the water.
DiCaprio and his boat were near the island of St. Barts when the emergency call went out. He went for the search, and miraculously found the man at dusk, as a storm closed in. After saving his life, the Oscar-winning actor provided the man with drink, food, and clothes, before delivering him to coastguards.


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I provide trainings for national, state, and local community based organizations. These trainings are geared toward providing organizations and community members with the necessary information and skills to better understand the dynamics of Domestic/Dating Violence. Breathing Space Sexual Assault, domestic violence, systematic oppression and other forms of trauma can take a toll on the body, mind and spirit. Additionally, navigating the courts, criminal justice system and even the medical profession can leave survivors, advocates and other healing professionals feeling stressed out and revictimized. Survivors and advocates alike need time to breathe, relax and re-orient themselves with theThis interactive workshop is designed to provide participants with techniques to slow down and reconnect to the their strength, creativity and spirit.
List (a) goals and objectives of your program and (b) expected outcomes for participants.
To provide participants with information about the effects of vicarious trauma and the various healing modalities used to reduce its impact.
Major content areas:
Intentional breathing, visualization, drumming, acting techniques and journaling are some of the modalities used to increase awareness, reduce stress, promote relaxation and creativity in this session. Resources for preventing burnout and creating a personal burnout plan will be provided at the end of this workshop.
Intended Audience:
Domestic Violence 101 This workshop will explore the complex issues of domestic violence. This discussion will include dispelling myths, and exploring the tactics used by men who choose to use violence.
Domestic Violence in the African American Community This workshop will explore the issues of dv and African Americans. We will also highlight barriers faced by African American trying to stay safe, the role of the church and historic the influence in the community.
FX of DV on Children This workshop will provide attendees with information on the effects witnessing violence.
Providing Culturally Relevant Services What are the components of a culturally relevant program??? This workshop will explore with your organization ways to create supportive environments that foster mutual education and understanding as we move toward creating programs that are both inclusive and meaningful.
Sankofa "Sankofa" is an Akan word that means, "We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; in order to enable us to understand why and how we came to be who we are today. This workshop focuses on the Herstory of the Battered Women's Movement.
Screening In This training looks at what it means to serve all all survivors. Included in this workshop are strategies for working with women who are living with substance abuse, mental illness etc.

subset: commoncrawl


text: For the longest time I had been playing with a rhythm on the guitar using harmonics (see Wikipedia for explanation)and a clock like tempo. I really loved the sound but had yet to develop a song or put words to it. Imagine my surprise when I first heard Lunch Money's song Translator and and it had the same rhythmic sound I had been working on (not anymore). The rhythm perfectly matched with its lyrics conveying a bittersweet message about a small child whom no one understand but the parent who translates for the child. Bittersweet because the child will one day grow up and not need their translator/parent. It conveys the frustration of the child and the love of the parent at the same time. The fact the first line of the song –You ask "where is the bathroom" and they hand you a balloon– Was taken from a supermarket incident with Molly's own child makes it even more special. So many parents can relate. Molly says most songs come to her in bits and pieces. She sings them into her phone (gotta love 21'st century tech) or they are lost forever. Kind of like when you wake up from a dream and try to remember as the memory starts to fade. Then she takes the recorded pieces and works on them later. In this case when she awoke one morning at 8am the whole song pretty much wrote itself. Inspiration had struck and had given her a nearly completed song. Usually there's a lot more work involved. Going back to the recording and working through the many ideas she has put in their various completed states looking for a home. She then develops the words and melodies into songs. But this time she got it all. So she has the words and melody but has to now translate it (bit of irony) for the studio to record. Originally it's a jolly happy song. With the growth of the tune comes a bit of sadness. She's thinking of using cello player Heidi Brown Carey as she has already played on the song Awake but doesn't want the same sound. Heidi introduces plucking the cello notes in rhythmic/clock time and it's the perfect vehicle for the lyrics. Then her husband/engineer (they record at home) Jay lays down some atmospheric Moog (played by Stevie Wonder and may others) in the background and they're done. Finished. They will later take their songs to Old House Studio in Charlotte, NC to have them mixed by Cliff Garges. I'd say he did a fine job as the whole Spicy Kid album sounds great. Molly has a few more projects lined up in her near future. She's teaming up with Billy Kelly for songs about trees. The just announced this on Facebook the other day. She is also involved in an all girl band (non-kindie) and has been collaborating with a puppet show to write the soundtrack not to mention another CD about animals at the local shelter. Wow! She is not one to stand still for long. Do yourself a favor and check out Lunch Money's last release Spicy Kid and especially Translator. Written from a parents perspective it's a high quality CD with really superior lyrics that you should give a listen too today!


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BOSTON — Boston rookie Clay Buchholz won't pitch for the rest of the year and will miss the postseason because of shoulder fatigue.
BOSTON — Boston rookie Clay Buchholz won't pitch for the rest of the year and will miss the postseason because of shoulder fatigue.
The 23-year-old right-hander pitched a no-hitter against Baltimore on Sept. 1 in his second major league start, then was sent to the bullpen and made a relief appearance on Sept. 6. He had just one outing after that, starting and losing at Toronto on Sept. 19.
"Obviously this was not our first choice or our second. It was our last option," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said yesterday. "With the discussions with our medical staff, it was something we have to do."
Epstein said the club had learned to be cautious following an injury to closer Jonathan Papelbon last year.
"We're very careful and structured," manager Terry Francona said before last night's game against Minnesota. "I don't think any of us are very comfortable sending him out there. There's been some fatigue. With fatigue comes a lack of strength. I know it's a little disappointing with what we've seen."
Buchholz pitched 125¤ innings in the minor leagues thus year, going 7-2 with a 1.77 ERA for Double-A Portland and 1-3 with a 3.96 ERA at Triple-A Pawtucket. He is 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 22ª innings for Boston.
"Unfortunately, he can't pitch safely right now" Epstein said. "He's at the point similar to where Papelbon got last year."
Papelbon didn't pitch after feeling discomfort in his right shoulder against Toronto on Sept. 1 last season. The Red Sox brought him to spring training as a starter, thinking pitching every fifth day would lessen stress on his shoulder. He returned to the closer role late in spring training, and the team has been careful not to overwork him.
"I think going through Pap we have a good understanding." Epstein said.
"Pap was simply overused (last year)," Francona said. "When you get overused, there's fatigue and a chance for injury. That was my mistake."
Buchholz threw 115 pitches in his no-hitter, 21 more than he threw in any Triple-A game this year.
"Innings-wise, he was OK," Francona said, but "we don't put a pitcher out there if we have some concerns. We actually did not have him throwing the last five or six days."


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Medical Weight Loss Management
Obesity is on the rise and Americans are heavier than ever. So many people are doing everything they can to battle the bulge. Fad diets, crazy work out videos, discount gym memberships and commercial weight loss programs are all the rage, as everyone frantically scrambles to find a way to get fit. Unfortunately, most who have attempted weight loss fall short of their goal to lose the weight and keep it off. weight-loss-easy.com is not just a matter of how one looks. Vanity may be what motivates most people to lose weight, but the more important issue at hand is our health. There are many serious health related diseases associated with obesity. High blood pressure, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer and joint pain can all be directly related to obesity. All these condition can be improved or eliminated by just losing weight. At Vivify Medical we understand that obesity is a multi-factorial disorder, environmental influences, hormonal imbalances, and emotional state must also be addressed. Failing to address all the factors is why many fail to get the weight off or keep it off. Each and every patient we treat will sit with one of our doctors, who will develop an individualized weight management plan that offers the best approach to achieving their personal goals. Most medical weight loss centers do not have a doctor see the patient. Their doctors are just a name and picture on the advertisement brochure. The difference at Vivify Medical is the focused attention you receive from our doctors. With locations in Philadelphia and Norristown, Vivify Medical offers a true Physician supervised weight loss program. Partnering with a physician can finally be the answer to achieving your weight loss goals and living a healthier life.
If you are looking for a help to lose weight and get healthy please give us a call and set up a free consultation.
Vivify Medical in Norristown, PA specializes in Weight Loss Management , Bio–identical Hormone Replacement ( Anti Aging Medicine ), Non-invasive Body Contouring, Laser liposuction, cryolipolysis and Medical Grade Aesthetics : Botox , Dermal Fillers ( Juvederm and Restylane ), Mesotherapy ( Liquid Lipo ), Chemical Peels , and Microdermabrasion . We are also approved to prescribe the addiction medicine Suboxone and Subutex.
Since 2002 we have been improving the quilaty of life for our patients throughout Montgomery county ( Abington , Blue Bell , Bridgeport , Conshohocken , Fort Washington , Hatboro , Horsham , King of Prussia , Lansdale , Limerick , Main Line , Merion , Narberth , North Wales , Plymouth Meeting , Pottstown , Schwenksville , Skippack , Villanova , Wayne , Whitpain , Willow Grove , Wyndmoor , and Wynnewood ), the greater Philadelphia metro area, and Delaware. Rapid Weight Loss Diets and Meal Replacement Programs.


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Shenandoah National Park, a long park in the Blue Ridge Mountains along Skyline Drive, displays East Coast foliage at its best. With over 2/5 of the park considered wilderness, Shenandoah provides many opportunities for outdoor recreation and wildlife viewing. Within the park, visitors can sleep in a historic cabin, relax at a resort with breathtaking vistas or escape the hustle and bustle of the city in a rustic cabin.
In 1939, the Civilian Conservation Corps built Big Meadows Lodge from stones of nearby Massanutten Mountain and wood from the now-endangered native chestnut trees of the area. The lodge has 29 rooms spread across five cabins and six multiunit buildings on 10 acres of land. Big Meadows also has a restaurant, cafe and a craft shop. Skyland Resort has 28 buildings spread out across a 36-acre plot of land. The resort, at 3,680-feet elevation, overlooks the Shenandoah Valley. The resort has a range of room options, from traditional hotel rooms and suites to well-appointed cabins with kitchenettes, gas fireplaces, and patios and balconies. The resort also has a restaurant and gift shop.
The Lewis Mountain Cabins are one of the most popular lodging options in Shenandoah. The rustic cabins offer private bathrooms and an outdoor grill. The series of cabins sit side-by-side in a secluded area of the park. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club operates the most primitive lodging in the park. The six cabins only offer mattresses and blankets, cookware and pit toilets. Visitors can get water from a spring located nearby. All of the cabins operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
When to Go
By far, the busiest month at Shenandoah is October, when foliage turns to bright shades of red and orange. Make reservations at the lodge or cabin of your choice early, as accommodations can fill up a year in advance. During the spring, wildflowers are blooming and waterfalls are flowing. Summers bring hotter weather, sudden showers and more crowds, as families from Washington D.C. and Baltimore come to visit on school breaks. Winter blankets the park with snow and ice, sometimes causing road closures, but the skies are often clear, making for scenic views of the valley and surrounding peaks.
Getting There
The two closest airports to the park are Shenandoah Valley Regional and Charlottesville-Albemarle. Washington Dulles International Airport is less than an hour from the Front Royal Entrance to Shenandoah. Motorists can reach the park via Highway 211 to the Thornton Gap Entrance or Interstate 66 to Route 340, which leads to the North Entrance. Interstate 64 leads to the South Entrance or you can take Interstate 64 to Highway 29 to Highway 33 to get to the Swift Run Gap Entrance.
Shenandoah has four campgrounds and allows backcountry camping. The four campgrounds, Mathews Arm, Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain and Loft Mountain, are located along Skyline Drive, at 22.1, 51.2, 57.5 and 79.5 miles, respectively. All campgrounds, except Lewis Mountain, accept RVs. The campgrounds are open at various times from spring to fall. You must acquire a permit before setting out on any backcountry camping trips. The permit is free and is available by mail or at a visitor contact station.
Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
Photo Credits
- Skyline Drive View image by da'muggs from Fotolia.com
- Attribution: Djlayton4 at English Wikipedia, Daniel J. Layton; License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license
- Attribution: Image copyright 2005 by user Lorax and released under the terms of the GFDL; License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
- Attribution: Moxfyre; License: GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
- Attribution: Ser Amantio di Nicolao at English Wikipedia; License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license


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Photo-a-day 259: Northumberlandia
Today, I've been to visit Northumberlandia, a colossal sculpture of a woman, 100ft high and a quarter of a mile long. It's made from the excavated material of the open-cast coal mine next door, leading to its more common colloquial name: Slag Alice.
This is a closer view of the face from atop Alice's right breast. There's a sentence I never thought I'd write!
As the sculpture is new, and still bedding in, it is only open to the public on selected days and at selected times. It's expected to be fully open later in the year.
This is, erm, Alice's left nipple, with Shotton surface coal mine in the background, demonstrating where the material of her form was gathered. It is still very much operational. The coal mine, I mean, not the nipple.
The sculpture cost around £3m, and it was entirely privately funded. It was designed by Charles Jencks. As well as making lots of landscaped art, he co-founded Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres, of which there are now fourteen across the UK. They provide evidence-based psychological, emotional and informational support to anyone affected by cancer – whether a patient, relative or friend.
This is a slightly whimsical picture of Alice's right hand, which points roughly in the direction of the exit…!
Admission to Northumberlandia is free. And here's a mildly amusing unusual sign:
This 1,811th post was filed under: Photo-a-day 2012, Art, Northumberland.


text: Please join our Sevierville Office September 30th at the Jefferson County Fall Health Fair. We will have a booth set up between 8am-11am at the Community Center located at 1247 TN-92, Jefferson City, TN 37760. Stop by and get your name entered for a chance to win a door prize! We hope to see you there!


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Is the mainstream media biased against gun owners? You bet it is.
Are gun owners aware of this fact? Yes. Do we care? I suspect most of us don't. At this point, it's pretty much expected.
With that said, we do get irked from time to time at the media's portrayal of gun owners, which frequently hews to the narrative that we're all a bunch of paranoid zealots, blood-thirsty and pernicious, who horde supplies and hideout in subterranean bunkers awaiting a zombie apocalypse.
Naw, that might be overstating it. It's probably more accurate to say that the media propagates or reinforces some version of President Obama's notorious depiction of Middle America when talking about gun owners:
"It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." – President Obama, 2008.
The implication one often sees in various media outlets is that there's an unhealthy bond between gun owners and their firearms, that we're flawed or have some type of character defect for believing that individuals are personally responsible for their safety, that the Constitution protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms, that guns — when placed in the right hands — can save lives.
Below are seven examples that show media bias against gun owners.
Note: I don't know if they're the 'top seven' per se, but they're pretty flagrant examples. Moreover, some are examples of media personalities and journalists who, arguably, go too far with their editorial treatment of gun owners.
Also, I'm sure I'm forgetting some instances of media bias against gun owners, so if you have anything to add, please share it below in the comment section.
1. Piers Morgan: "You're unbelievably stupid man, aren't you?"
Piers Morgan is pro-gun control. We get that.
But I think many people believe he crossed the line when said to Larry Pratt, the Executive Director of Gun Owners of America, "You're unbelievably stupid man, aren't you?" during an interview on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, while the two were debating the merits of gun control and crime rates in the U.S. and abroad.
Morgan, who at times claims to have some semblance of a journalistic pedigree, certainly showed his true colors during the exchange.
On a side note, one could argue that Morgan's continuous unfair treatment of gun owners is part of the reason he's dead last in the cable news ratings.
2. New Yorker's Adam Gopnik: Gun rights acitivsts "are complicit in the murder of those [Sandy Hook] children."
New Yorker contributor Adam Gopnik is a great writer and essayist. There's no doubt about that. His prose is elegant and clear and he makes writing look easy. I really enjoy(ed) reading his work. But, I lost a lot of respect for the man when he said, in a New Yorker article, "The people who fight and lobby and legislate to make guns regularly available are complicit in the murder of those children."
For someone so smart and so expressive to say something so inane was troubling. It underscores the fact that the debate over gun control isn't grounded in common sense and reason, but rather, it's rooted in ideology, an irrational fear of firearms and agenda-driven politics. Facts don't matter to gun control advocates.
Gopnik doubled down on his specious accusations a week later:
As I wrote last week, those who oppose it have made a moral choice: that they would rather have gun massacres of children continue rather than surrender whatever idea of freedom or pleasure they find wrapped up in owning guns or seeing guns owned — just as the faith healers would rather watch the children die than accept the reality of scientific medicine.
Those who fight against gun control, actively or passively, with a shrug of helplessness, are dooming more kids to horrible deaths and more parents to unspeakable grief just as surely as are those who fight against pediatric medicine or childhood vaccination. It's really, and inarguably, just as simple as that.
In Gopnik's view, gun owners are tantamount to child killers. How does this go unchecked and unchallenged by New Yorker editors?
3. David Mamet backlash
When renowned playwright and Pulitzer-Prize winning author David Mamet wrote a powerful essay defending the Second Amendment, the mainstream media universally chided him, dismissing his rather insightful observations and resorted to cheap insults. Some examples:
"Sure David Mamet is incredibly ignorant," said Geoff Berg of the Houston Chronicle, "but what a hero he is for condemning government racism that doesn't exist."
And Michael Tomasky of the The Daily Beast called it a "bizarre rant," and concluded, that "It's basically kind of boring; another rich white man yelping about his taxes and so on."
However, I don't find anything "bizarre" or "ignorant" about the central conclusion in Mamet's piece:
The individual is not only best qualified to provide his own personal defense, he is the only one qualified to do so: and his right to do so is guaranteed by the Constitution.
President Obama seems to understand the Constitution as a "set of suggestions." I cannot endorse his performance in office, but he wins my respect for taking those steps he deems necessary to ensure the safety of his family. Why would he want to prohibit me from doing the same?
Also, it's worth reporting that the majority of The Daily Beast readers felt the same way:
4. Biased reporting on the big 3: ABC, CBS, NBC
I'll leave this to the experts at the Media Research Center, who track media reporting on an aggregate scale.
According to a study they conducted, in the wake of the Newtown tragedy, the three major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) skewed their coverage in favor of President Obama's push for tougher gun laws, airing pro-gun control stories at an alarming rate when compared with pro-gun stories.
■ Stories advocating more gun control outnumbered stories opposing gun control by 99 to 12, or a ratio of 8 to 1.
■ Anti-gun soundbites were aired almost twice as frequently than pro-gun ones (228 to 134).
■ Gun control advocates appeared as guests on 26 occasions, compared to 7 times for gun rights advocates.
As noted by the author Geoffrey Dickens, that's a "staggering imbalance." Gun owners and gun rights advocates are underrepresented on the major TV networks. Again, big surprise – huh?
5. Sandy Hook 'heckler'
When Neil Heslin, the father of a slain Sandy Hook student, testified before a gun violence task force in the Connecticut legislature, he asked the audience during his testimony "why anybody in this room needs to have one of these assault-style weapons or military weapons or high-capacity clips."
At first, no one in the crowd replied. Heslin followed up by asking the question one more time, appearing to solicit a response, "Not one person can answer that question," which prompted a member of the audience to say, "The right to bear arms shall not be infringed."
The distraught father then said, "We're all entitled to our own opinion, and I respect their opinions and their thoughts."
According to the Associated Press, the audience member (or members, it's unclear how many people where speaking) was a "heckler." According to MSNBC, the audience member was a "gun nut." Not only that, MSNBC edited out a critical portion of the video when covering the incident to make it appear that Heslin was heckled.
Again, the professionals at the Media Research Center did a wonderful job pointing out MSNBC's biased reporting:
After receiving a bunch of flak for the edited video, MSNBC did not apologize, but had guest-host Ari Melber, who was sitting in for Martin Bashir, say the following:
On Monday on our program, we aired a portion of a hearing where we heard from Neil Heslin, whose 6-year-old son Jesse was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. We have received a number of comments over the past two days, so we are going to play the relevant portion of that testimony in full.
6. What exactly is an 'assault' weapon?
Here are some questions to ponder: How many journalists and media pundits who cover the gun control debate actually know what an 'assault' weapon is? How many know the difference between a fully auto and a semiautomatic firearm? How many know what a pistol grip is or a telescoping stock or a barrel shroud?
Judging by the coverage, not that many.
In January we saw a great example of traditional media outlets struggling to answer those questions. The Chicago Tribune attempted to define for its readership what an 'assault' weapon was and in the process made at least one big error, i.e. they mistakenly labeled an AR sling loop as a "Mount for a bayonet, grenade launcher."
To their credit, once the error was brought to their attention they corrected it and issued the following apology:
Guns are a sensitive topic, especially now, and a graphic we ran on Page 18 of the Friday, Jan. 18, paper failed to account properly for that sensitivity.
That's the thing about errors — making an obvious one, as we did here, automatically raises questions about our credibility.
First, we made a blatant and inexcusable labeling error. In an attempt to explain what makes a gun an "assault weapon," we mistakenly labeled the gun's sling attachment as a mount for a bayonet or grenade launcher. We apologize for the error and have published a correction.
As all gun owners know, these mistakes happen all too often. And not everyone is as forthright and as honest as The Chicago Tribune when they make a mistake. Sure, while these errors are not always deliberate, they do have an effect on the non-gun owning public. That is, they confuse the hell out of people, which of course doesn't bode well for gun rights.
Along these lines there is also the fact that the media unilaterally embraces (and uses) terms that are created by the gun control movement, e.g. 'military-style assault weapons' as opposed to 'modern sporting rifle,' 'high-capacity magazine' as opposed to 'standard-capacity magazine,' 'illegal gun' as opposed to 'gun,' etc.
If you ask me, it's a valid question: Why does the media always side with gun control advocates and how they choose to label firearms?
7. Anti-Semitism is the reason why gun owners dislike Bloomberg
Gun owners dislike like New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg because he's Jewish, not because he created the most aggressive pro-gun control organization in the country, Mayors Against Illegal Guns and not because he dumps millions of dollars of his own money into elections in key battleground states around the country to support pro-gun control candidates and definitely not because he wants to severely infringe upon the rights of law-abiding gun owners. No. Gun owners don't like Bloomberg because he lights the menorah.
Well, all that's true if you believe MSNBC contributors Mike Barnicle and Al Sharpton, who discussed the matter on MSNBC's Morning Joe the other day.
"Let's get down to it, Mike Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, there's a level of anti-Semitism in this thing directed towards Bloomberg," Barnicle argued.
"No doubt about that," Sharpton added. "If he was not a big-city Jewish man and was from another ethnic group, in some parts, I think it would be different."
Yes. I know, I don't even need to say it, but what a bunch of B.S.
As I said above, this list is incomplete. I know I'm overlooking or forgetting something, so please chime in with your recommendations below.
I'd like to add an honorable mention, which irks me and the rest of the Guns.com team. That is, the lazy journalistic standards of websites like Media Matters. What they do is pirate our content and then neglect to provide a link back to the original Guns.com article so that the reader can easily reference the source material. In essence, it makes it more difficult for the readers to engage with opposing perspectives.
No, it's not a huge deal. But we extend that courtesy to all media outlets, even our competitors and what some may even describe as our adversaries. We may be pro-gun (we are Guns.com after all), but we firmly believe that you should listen to all sides and voices and come to your own conclusions about the issues. In the end, censorship benefits no one.


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"US unseals charge against Jordanian woman in 2001 Jerusalem Sbarro bombing" by Spencer S. Hsu The Washington Post News Service March 16, 2017
WASHINGTON — US authorities have added a Jordanian woman to the FBI's list of most wanted terrorists and unsealed charges against her in a 2001 suicide bombing attack at a crowded Jerusalem pizzeria that killed 15 people, including two Americans.
An American official indicated that the Justice Department on Tuesday unsealed a July 2013 complaint against Ahlam Aref Ahmad Al-Tamimi because law enforcement officials no longer thought that keeping it secret would aid US efforts to obtain her custody.
Tamimi pleaded guilty in Israel in 2003 and was sentenced to 16 life terms for assisting the bomber in the Aug. 9, 2001, attack on a Sbarro restaurant, according to charging documents.
Among the 15 dead were a pregnant American, Judith Shoshana Greenbaum, 31, and US citizen Malka Roth, 15. Four US citizens were among more than 120 injured.
A former student working part time as a television journalist, Tamimi met with and drove the bomber to the target after pledging to carry out attacks on behalf of the military wing of the Palestinian organization Hamas, according to an FBI affidavit included with the complaint.
She served eight years before being released in October 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, and returned to Jordan, which forbids extradition of its nationals, Justice Department officials said.
Related: Jihad in Jordan?


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GATINEAU, Que. - The gunman behind a fatal shooting at a daycare in Gatineau, Que., told staff to take the 53 children there to safety before he opened fire, police said Monday.
The shooter, now identified as Robert Charron, was armed with a registered hunting rifle when he entered the daycare Friday morning, police said in a news conference three days after the incident.
He fired several shots but the children weren't his target and none were hurt, though some may have witnessed the violence, they said.
One of the staff members, 38-year-old Neil Galliou, was killed in the attack before Charron took his own life.
Charron was the estranged husband of the daycare director, who had ended their relationship only days before, police said.
Investigators said he doused his ex and her office with flammable liquid but didn't manage to set either on fire.
Police have not determined a motive but said Monday there is no evidence to suggest the existence of a love triangle.
They said a note found in Charron's home may shed some light on his state of mind.
Charron's link to the daycare's director made him "a familiar face" at the facility, Police Chief Mario Harel said.
He was also a handyman and would have had easy access to the building.
It's still unclear what happened between Charron and Galliou, an art teacher looking to gain work experience.
A French citizen, Galliou had been in Canada for roughly a year and planned to return to his homeland, where his parents still live, so that he could put his skills to use, Harel said.
Galliou's parents told police "their son loved to work with children and would have done anything to protect them had he been able to," Harel said.
Ballistic tests are underway to determine whether the shotgun is linked to both deaths, which police now say are considered a murder-suicide.
Also on HuffPost


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Star India's sports broadcast arm Star Sports has signed up a slew of brands as partners for the broadcast of the BWF Badminton World Championships, where India's ace shuttlers are vying with other top players from around the globe for the title of World Champion.
Bajaj Electricals is the presenting sponsor for the broadcast of the tournament, while Maruti and Ask Me are associate sponsors. Kellogg's has signed on as the 'solid start' partner alongside weight-management company and nutritional products maker Herbalife, which is the nutrition partner. The tournament, which kicked off on August 10th in Jakarta will run until August 16th. All matches are being broadcast live on Star Sports.
Anant Bajaj, joint managing director, Bajaj Electricals said: "The BWF World Championships is Badminton's most prestigious tournament. It provides a brilliant platform for the continuously improving and promising Indian badminton squad to show their skills. Bajaj Electricals is proud to partner with Star Sports in this association and wish success and glory to Team India."
World No. 2 Saina Nehwal headlines the Indian contingent to the Championship, with players like K Srikanth, H S Prannoy and P V Sindhu, who are among the top 20 badminton players in the world.
Ajay Khanna, Vice President and Country Head, Herbalife International India Pvt Ltd said: "Herbalife is glad to be associated with Star Sports India for the telecast of the Badminton World Championship to Fuel Champions. Our endeavour is to strengthen awareness on the importance of nutrition in sports, which epitomize the healthy active lifestyle that we promote.We are glad to represent that through our competing athlete Saina Nehwal."
A Star Sports spokesperson said: "Badminton in India enjoys high participation rates, world-class training academies, and several star players, making the country a force to reckon with in the world of badminton. Star is proud to present the BWF World Championships which highlights our commitment to fostering a multi-sport culture in India. The support from brands like Bajaj Electricals, Kellogg's, Nisegel, Herbalife, Maruti and AskMe only proves that our efforts to grow a multi-sport culture in India are paying off."
First held in 1985, the BWF World Championships were played every two years until 2005. In 2006 the tournament became an annual fixture and is played every year except in the years when the Olympic Games are held.


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Whether you are looking to book a spa appointment, find a plumber for that leaky sink, or find a babysitter for date night, you can can do it all from the Bermy'slist App! As the first of its kind, Bermy'slist has been dubbed Bermuda's 'one stop shop marketplace." It allows investors, tourists, and locals to have access to all that Bermuda has to offer with a few clicks on their mobile phone. In addition to giving each vendor their very own web page in our network, we provide all of the businesses and freelancers listed on our website 24/7 receptionist service. Customers looking to purchase products and book services with Bermuda's vendors can do so 24/7 via our customer service hotline as well. So what are you waiting for, Sign up as a Vendor or Shop online today!! Our model is premised upon the notion that the key to creating sustainable wealth for Bermuda's communities is through entrepreneurship and enterprising. That's why we created an Authentically Bermudian platform where locals and visitors can exchange products and services with one another in a fun , interactive, and value driven way.
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Ice Cream FAQ
Have a question about Cold Stone Creamery ice cream? You'll find your answer here.
- Sizes/Ordering Options
- Cold Stone Creations
- Cold Stone Signature Creations
- Nutritional/Allergen Information
- Shipping Ice Cream
Can I order large quantities of Cold Stone ice cream to go?
Absolutely! You can grab our world-famous, smooth and creamy, super-premium ice cream to go. Just drop by a Cold Stone Creamery near you. We take one of our new stylin' containers, fill it to the brim with our delicious ice cream combined with your favorite mix-ins on our trademark frozen granite stone, and you're ready to go. Our ice cream is available in "Mine", "Ours" and "Everybody's" sizes (that's small, medium, and large for the coolness-impaired). Visit our To Go page for more details.
How can I ship Cold Stone Creamery ice cream?
We don't ship ice cream from our Headquarter office. However, please contact a Cold Creamery location near you (or near the lucky recipient) to speak to the owner or manager about shipping options.
Please be aware that shipping ice cream can be an expensive process. It requires special insulated packaging (with dry ice), must be sent via overnight shipping, and the person receiving it must be available to sign for it. All of this is required to ensure that it's received in good condition and as quickly as possible.
What are Cold Stone portion sizes?
Before a mix-in is added, our individual portion sizes are referred to as:
Like It™ – approximately 4 oz. ?Love It™ – approximately 6 oz. ?Gotta Have It™ – approximately 8 oz.
We also offer world-famous, smooth and creamy, super-premium ice cream in larger quantities to go. Ice cream "To Go" is available in "Mine", "Ours" and "Everybody's" sizes (that's small, medium, and large for the coolness-impaired).
What is a Cold Stone Creation?
A Cold Stone Creation™ is a smooth and creamy ice cream treat that combines super-premium ice cream with a variety of fruit, nuts, chocolate and other goodies customized for each customer, creating a mouthwatering dessert. Creations come in many forms: cups, waffle bowls and cones, shakes, smoothies and cakes. Choose from our favorite Cold Stone Signature Creations or create your own favorite. Visit our Cold Stone Creations page for details.
What is a Cold Stone Signature Creation?
A Cold Stone Signature Creation™ is a favorite Creation recipe that features a special combination of ice cream and Mix-ins. Some Signature Creations are tried and true favorites with a new Cold Stone® twist such as Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip®. Many are our own unique ice cream innovations, such as Birthday Cake Remix™. Visit our Cold Stone Signature Creations page for descriptions for our complete list of Cold Stone Signature Creations.
Where can I find the Nutritional Information for your products?
Please visit our Nutritional Information/Ingredient page for detailed information.
Does Cold Stone Creamery make a lactose-free ice cream?
Our only lactose-free product is sorbet. Although we take precautions by frequently cleaning the mixing stone, we cannot guarantee that residual products containing lactose will not accidentally be mixed into your Ice Cream Creation. Additional nutritional information and ingredient statements can be found here.
Is Cold Stone Creamery a nut-free environment?
No, Cold Stone Creamery is not a nut-free environment. While we do our best to accommodate our customers' special requests, we cannot guarantee with 100% confidence that your product will be nut free. Please be aware that Cold Stone Creamery products may contain traces of peanuts and tree nuts, either from a manufacturing facility or from preparation on site. For additional allergen information, click here.
Do Cold Stone Creamery products contain gluten?
Cake Batter, Cinnamon Bun, Cookie Dough, and Oatmeal Cookie Batter ice creams contain gluten. In addition, any candies that have a flour component to them also contain gluten. Although we take precautions by cleaning the mixing stone often, we cannot guarantee that residual products containing gluten will not accidentally be mixed into your ice cream. A complete list of products containing gluten can be found here.
Does Cold Stone Creamery offer a "sugar-free" ice cream?
No, we do not offer any sugar-free products. The Sinless Sans Fat™ Sweet Cream is a nonfat and no-sugar-added ice cream. Please note that this product is not low in carbohydrates and does contain lactose which is a naturally occurring sugar in milk. Although we take precautions by cleaning the mixing stone often, we cannot guarantee that residual products containing sugar will not accidentally be mixed into your Ice Cream Creation.
Please visit our Nutritional Information/Ingredient page for more information.
Do you offer light or low-fat ice cream?
We offer a variety of tasty treats specially created with our health-conscious customers in mind (we call them "Healthy Indulgences"). As you may know, ice cream, smoothies, shakes, cakes and drinks don't have to be bad for you. More importantly, they don't have to taste bad either. And they certainly don't at Cold Stone Creamery. Visit our Healthy Indulgences page for details.
Does Cold Stone Creamery ice cream contain eggs?
Currently, French Vanilla ice cream contains eggs, as do bakery items such as cookie dough, waffle products, and brownies. In addition, all of our signature cakes contain eggs. While we are always happy to accommodate special requests, we cannot guarantee our product to be 100% allergen free. A complete list of products containing eggs can be found here.


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Stage listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Performance times may change; call venues to confirm. Reviewers are Robert Avila, Rita Felciano, and Nicole Gluckstern. Submit items for the listings at email@example.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Picks.
Dear Harvey New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness, SF; www.nctcsf.org. $25-45. Previews Fri/18-Sat/19 and Jan 23-25, 8pm. Opens Jan 26, 8pm. Runs Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through Feb 24. New Conservatory Theatre Center performs Patricia Loughrey's play about Harvey Milk, drawn from over 30 interviews.
The Little Foxes Tides Theatre, 533 Sutter, SF; www.tidestheatre.org. $20-38. Opens Fri/18, 8pm. Runs Wed-Sat, 8pm. Through Feb 23. Tides Theatre Company performs a modern take on the Lillian Hellman classic.
Manic Pixie Dream Girl ACT Costume Shop Theater, 1117 Market, SF; www.manicpixiedreamgirl.org. $25-35. Opens Thu/17, 8pm. Runs Thu-Sun, 8pm. Through Feb 10. A stock character takes the power back in PlayGround's world premiere of Katie May's play, based on her graphic novel.
Sex and the City: LIVE! Rebel, 1760 Market, SF; trannyshack.com/sexandthecity. $25. Opens Wed/16, 7 and 9pm. Runs Wed, 7 and 9pm. Open-ended. Lady Bear, Trixie Carr, Heklina, and D'Arcy Drollinger star in this drag tribute to the long-running HBO show.
Somewhere Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro, Mtn View; www.theatreworks.org. $23-73. Previews Wed/16-Fri/18, 8pm. Opens Sat/19, 8pm. Runs Tue-Wed, 7:30pm; Thu-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through Feb 10. TheatreWorks performs Matthew Lopez's play about a 1960s Puerto Rican family caught up in the filming of West Side Story.
Bell, Book and Candle SF Playhouse, 450 Post, SF; www.sfplayhouse.org. $30-60. Wed/16-Thu/17, 7pm; Fri/18-Sat/19, 8pm (also Sat/19, 3pm). John van Druten's 1950 Broadway comedy (later a film with Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak) is the fluff that woozy holiday evenings are made on, striking an appealing balance between wacky storyline, witty banter, and lightly lathered romance. Gillian Holroyd (Lauren English), the powerful young witch and landlady of a swank Manhattan apartment building, has the hots for a disgruntled neighbor, the recently engaged publisher Shepherd Henderson (William Connell), who's lately come home to find Gillian's mischievous sister (Zehra Berkman) in his locked apartment. Gillian may be a witch, but she's far too ethical to actually work a little magic on the object of her desire, seeing as he's already spoken for at least until she learns the woman in question is an old nemesis from college. All's fair in love and war, counsels loving warlock and brother Nicky (Scott Cox), who soon brings into the mix a hapless author (Louis Parnell) researching witches in New York City. Gillian, meanwhile, flirts with kryptonite, since witches who fall in love lose their powers. Director Bill English's sure treatment for SF Playhouse features enjoyable performances across the cast, but Connell's classically tailored comic leading man and Lauren English's alternately proud, kittenish, and vulnerable heroine are the indispensable spellbinders. (Avila)
Foodies! The Musical Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter, SF; www.foodiesthemusical.com. $30-34. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Open-ended. AWAT Productions presents Morris Bobrow's musical comedy revue all about food.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch Boxcar Playhouse, 505 Natoma, SF; www.boxcartheatre.org. $25-35. Wed-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 5pm). Through Jan 26. Boxcar's popular production of John Cameron Mitchell's glam-rock musical returns, starring a rotating cast of Hedwigs.
Hippy Icon, Flower Geezer and Temple of Accumulated Error Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston, Berk; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Fri, 8pm; Sat, 5pm; Sun, 2pm. Through Feb 10. Wavy Gravy holds forth on his legendary life and times.
The Listener: Short Stories on Stage, A Cycle of Original Comic Stories Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia, SF; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Sat, 8pm; Sun, 5pm (Jan 27, shows at 3 and 7pm). Through Jan 27. Charlie Varon reads five comic short stories, presented in two parts. Part two: Sat/19-Sun/20 and Jan 26; parts one and two in succession: Jan 27.
"Risk Is This…The Cutting Ball New Experimental Plays Festival" Exit on Taylor, 277 Taylor, SF; www.cuttingball.com. Free ($20 for reserved seating; $50 for five-play reserved seating festival pass). Through Feb 9. Three new works (by Sean San José, Dipika Guha, and Basil Kreimendahl) and two new "Risk Translations."
Something Cloudy, Something Clear Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson, SF; www.therhino.org. $15-30. Wed/16-Sat/19, 8pm; Sun/20, 7pm. Building from last year's production of The Two-Character Play, Theatre Rhinoceros brings another lesser-known Tennessee Williams play to the Eureka Theatre. Set in late-summer Provincetown, the overtly autobiographical work focuses on an ultimately doomed love triangle between a struggling young playwright, August (Aaron Wilton) his reluctant would-be-paramour Kip (Kayal Khanna), and Kip's frenzied faux-girlfriend, Clare (Gwen Kingston). A languidly paced memory-piece, resonant of Southern rhythms despite its Yankee setting, Something Cloudy attempts to explore the desires of both the flesh and spirit, with flesh admittedly taking the central role. Wilton's libidinous yet quirkily refined portrayal of August contrasts neatly with the painful shyness and sculpted abs of Khanna's Kip, and Kingston's manic unbalance which is at turns amusing and unsettling, while Jeffrey Biddle and Maryssa Wanlass take turns inhabiting an army of bit parts and fragments of the past, including a humorous turn as August's financial backer and a renowned actress who drop by his seaside shack to talk rewrites. Based on a one-act that Williams first wrote at the age of 29, certain scenes and cameos in Something Cloudy feel very shoehorned in particularly with director John Fisher's unhurried pacing proving the old adage that sometimes less really is more, but there's enough figurative nakedness left in to reveal plenty of Williams' backstory, if not that of each individual character. (Gluckstern)
The Waiting Period Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia, SF; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Fri, 8pm; Sat, 5pm. Extended through Jan 26. Brian Copeland (comedian, TV and radio personality, and creator-performer of the long-running solo play Not a Genuine Black Man) returns to the Marsh with a new solo, this one based on more recent and messier events` in Copeland's life. The play concerns an episode of severe depression in which he considered suicide, going so far as to purchase a handgun the title coming from the legally mandatory 10-day period between purchasing and picking up the weapon, which leaves time for reflections and circumstances that ultimately prevent Copeland from pulling the trigger. A grim subject, but Copeland (with co-developer and director David Ford) ensures there's plenty of humor as well as frank sentiment along the way. The actor peoples the opening scene in the gun store with a comically if somewhat stereotypically rugged representative of the Second Amendment, for instance, as well as an equally familiar "doood" dude at the service counter. Afterward, we follow Copeland, a just barely coping dad, home to the house recently abandoned by his wife, and through the ordinary routines that become unbearable to the clinically depressed. Copeland also recreates interviews he's made with other survivors of suicidal depression. Telling someone about such things is vital to preventing their worst outcomes, says Copeland, and telling his own story is meant to encourage others. It's a worthy aim but only a fitfully engaging piece, since as drama it remains thin, standing at perhaps too respectful a distance from the convoluted torment and alienation at its center. (Avila)
The World's Funniest Bubble Show Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia, SF; www.themarsh.org. $8-50. Sun, 11am. Extended through March 17. The Amazing Bubble Man (a.k.a. Louis Pearl) continues his family-friendly bubble extravaganza.
Acid Test: The Many Incarnations of Ram Dass Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston, Berk; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Sat, 8pm; Sun, 5pm. Extended through Feb 17. Lynne Kaufman's new play stars Warren David Keith as the noted spiritual figure.
Intimate Apparel Pear Avenue Theatre, 1220 Pear, Mtn View; www.thepear.org. $10-30. Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through Jan 27. Pear Avenue Theatre performs Lynn Nottage's drama about a seamstress in 1905 New York City.
Troublemaker, or the Freakin Kick-A Adventures of Bradley Boatwright Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison, Berk; www.berkeleyrep.org. $29-77. Tue and Thu-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Wed and Sun, 7pm (also Sun, 2pm). Through Feb 3. Berkeley Rep presents the world premiere of a play about a 12-year-old wannabe superhero it commissioned from writer Dan LeFranc.
Woyzeck Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby, Berk; www.shotgunplayers.org. $23-35. Wed/16-Thu/17, 7pm; Fri/18-Sat/19, 8pm (also Sat/19, 5pm); Sun/20, 5pm. Shotgun Players presents Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan, and Robert Wilson's tragic musical, based on an unfinished 1837 play by Georg Büchner.
"The Comikaze Lounge" Café Royale, 800 Post, SF; www.caferoyale-sf.com. Wed/16, 8pm. Free. Comedy with Kellen Erskine, Lydia Papovich, OJ Patterson, and more.
"ConVerge" Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Grand Lobby, 701 Mission, SF; www.ybca.org. Thu/17, 4-8pm. Free. Firehouse Art Collective directors Tom Franco and Julia Lazar host a free public gathering bringing together people, art, music, and food for an inspirational experience. Betsy Franco reads poetry.
"Dance Rush" Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon, SF; www.dance-rush.com. Fri/18-Sat/19, 7pm (also Sat/19, 2pm); Sun/20, 2pm. $58.50-110. A "mega production" featuring Yada's Dance Company, comprised of 40 dancers (performing jazz, ballet, folk, and contemporary styles) on tour from Malta.
"One Night Only Cabaret" Bay Theater, Pier 39, SF; www.richmondermet.org. Mon/21, 7:30pm. $40-60. This performance featuring LaToya London, Lindsay Pearce, Tim Hockenberry, cast members from Anything Goes, and others raises money for the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation.
"Poets Theater" CounterPULSE, 1310 Mission, SF; www.counterpulse.org. Fri/18-Sat/19, 7pm. $20. Small Press Traffic celebrates the 12th annual event with two evenings of brand-new plays, representing collaborations between writers, filmmakers, and visual artists.
"San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival Auditions" Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard, SF; www.wordartswest.org. Sat/19, 2-9pm; Sun/20, 11am-7pm. $10. The public is invited to watch dance companies representing traditions from around the world audition to be included in the annual festival in June.
"San Francisco Magic Parlor" Chancellor Hotel Union Square, 433 Powell, SF; www.sfmagicparlor.com. Thu-Sat, 8pm. Ongoing. $40. Magic vignettes with conjurer and storyteller Walt Anthony.
"Solo Sundays" Stage Werx Theatre, 446 Valencia, SF; www.brownpapertickets.com. Sun/20, 7pm. $12-25. Sara Felder ("Melancholy, a Comedy") and Maria Affinito ("Eating Pasta Off the Floor") present workshop performances of their latest solo works.
"The Witch House" Garage, 715 Bryant, SF; facebook.com/thewitchhouseplay. Wed/16-Thu/17 and Jan 25-26, 8pm. $15. Morgan Bassichis' new play offers a queer take on the legacy of Salem's witch trials.
Company C Contemporary Ballet Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic, Walnut Creek; www.companycballet.org. Thu/17 and Sat/19, 8pm (also Sat/19, 3pm). $23-45. Also Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard, SF. Feb 7-8, 8pm; Feb 9, 6pm; Feb 10, 3pm. $23-45. The company performs its winter program, including three world premieres.


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Multi-award winning Woods Travel's coaches are based in near-by Ford. The family run concern owns 17 modern coaches with sizes of between 16 and 53 seats. Vehicles are available for private hire by private individuals, groups, clubs & societies, businesses, and educational establishments. Whether you require a coach for a single journey or a group holiday, Woods can provide you with a top quality tailor made service. Feel free to contact our team for a no obligation quotation.
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Former Palmetto Senior High School teacher Jason Edward Meyers was arrested in February 2016 on a sexual battery charge involving one of his students. A lawsuit was filed this week in federal court on behalf of a student against the Miami-Dade School Board that claims the school district did nothing to stop Meyers' behavior.
"As alleged, the School Board knew that Mr. Meyers posed a serious risk of sexual abuse against our community's children. Yet it did virtually nothing to stop him," Miami attorney Mark Schweikert told The Miami Herald. "Instead, the School Board merely relocated the risk posed by his predatory behavior from one school to another."
According to the suit, there have been concerns about Meyers' inappropriate behavior for years now. Someone sent an email in 2008 to the principal at Dr. Michael M. Krop High School in North Miami-Dade alleging that Meyers, who taught creative writing, was engaging in sexual activity with his female students. It is unclear if the claim was investigated, but Meyers was transferred to Palmetto Senior High in 2011, where he reportedly continued to sexually harass his students.
The suit alleges that Meyers was involved in sexual relationships with eight of his students at two different schools in his 14-year tenure as a teacher in Miami-Dade County. He reportedly encouraged his creative writing students to write erotic content. He told one student to read novels with sexually explicit content like "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov, with a special emphasis on sections about an older man seducing an underage girl.
Other allegations in the lawsuit include: giving a student provocative clothing to wear to his class, attempting to force another student to leave her boyfriend and telling her to title a poem she had written, "Come Inside Me." He singled out these students to such a public degree that they became known as "Jason's girls," the suit claims.
In some instances, the allegations against Meyers go beyond sexual harassment. He is accused of groping and forcibly kissing the plaintiff and reportedly had sex with another student inside his classroom. The suit also mentions an argument between Meyers and his wife, who also teaches at Palmetto High, that reportedly took place at the school in 2015. The confrontation was purportedly about his relationship with at least one student. Meyers lost his post at the school after the 2016 arrest.
Palmetto High School has a history of sex scandals. Two months ago a Palmetto High student who came to the U.S. on an exchange program was arrested along with her former host father and current husband on sexual abuse and child pornography charges. Marta San Jose, 21, and Dale Leary of Cutler Bay, 50, allegedly worked together to convince San Jose's then 14-year-old sister to come live with them so they could sexually abuse her.
San Jose was a Spanish foreign-exchange student who was hosted by Leary and his former wife Claudia Leary when she was 16. Before she finished her senior year at Palmetto High, Leary divorced his wife and married San Jose weeks after she turned 18. The pair reportedly convinced San Jose's underage sister from Spain to live with them Florida and sexually abused her for two years. San Jose is reportedly still in jail; Leary committed suicide after he was released on bond.
Source: 3.8.17 Palmetto High Teacher Jason Edward Meyers Accused of Sexually Charged Relationship With Students.pdf


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Your dog is your BFF. He sleeps with you. Eats with you. Maybe even bathes with you. We don't judge.
So when you're forced to leave town without Fido in tow, just any old dog kennel won't do.
Enter D.O.G., Miami's first luxury canine hotel. They've got everything from doggie yoga to acupuncture to Skype services. No, seriously. Damn, these dogs have got it good.
See also:
- Stop Buying Easter Bunnies, Ducklings, and Chicks, You Monsters
- Coconut Grove Goes to the Dogs at Spankyfest Pub Crawl
Located in Wynwood, just down the street from the Shops at Midtown, D.O.G. is the effort of longtime dog trainer Linda Smith and partner Hector Antunez. And the spot is swank.
From "Wynwood loft-style" boarding suites to doggie treadmills, the spot has everything imaginable for your dog's comfort and convenience. Seriously, imagine a human luxury, and these folks have a version of it for your pooch. Their menu of services includes relaxation massages, therapy dog training, bedtime tummy rubs, "bone" calls (speaking with your dog via phone/Skype while you're away), even aromatherapy. This is a one-stop canine shop for anyone who's into pampering their furbabies.
This is some Paris Hilton chihuahua-level service right here (for better or for worse). But it's not as expensive as you might imagine. Overnights range from $30 to $120 depending on suite size and number of dogs, and daycare runs from $14 to $30. Services run the gamut as far as cost, depending on what you opt into.
Check out this photo tour of the haute hotel for pups:
The small dog play area. Cute overload.
If you can't run with the big dogs ... this room ain't for you.
The luxe lobby. And yes, dogs are allowed on the couch.
The hotel and suites. The lights are kept dim so it's easy on doggies' eyes.
Yes, that's a treadmill for dogs.
What's a fancy resort without a boutique?
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The facility is all about its Wynwood roots, with art adorning the outside and inside of the space.
In addition to their for-profit efforts, the D.O.G. folks have found homes for several needy pups, keeping them free-of-charge at the facility until they were adopted. These gorgeous girls are in need of a loving family -- hint, hint!
You can check out all the details on D.O.G. on their website.
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Letter to the Editor: Proposed changes to the Condor 1 & 2 military operations area
You are about to face the most important decision of your life – to allow the military to destroy a pristine wilderness area and your quality of life or come together and fight for your rights, your health and your life style. You are not alone. Citizens in Virginia Beach, VA, Washington County, NC, Valparaiso, FL, and Key West, FL are all opposing the military's destruction of their environment and quality of life.
I am a former resident of Phillips, Maine. My children are products of the local school system and are doing quite well. My wife and I did our best to support our local community throughout the decade of our residency. Our minds and heart still stroll the banks of the Sandy River and wander through the aisles of Phillips Hardware. Little did I know, that you would be facing this military terror that we face daily in our present home - we now live in Key West, Florida.
In 2007, the Naval air facility NAS Key West changed the AICUZ (Air Installation Compatible Use Zone) flyover maps without notice to the communities that surround the facility. They moved the flyover paths away from a wealthy development over to a poorer working class area to satisfy a real estate developer. They also introduced our community and environment to the latest in jet aircraft.
For two and half years we have been asking questions of the Navy and filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for research to counter the Navy's claims of NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. Our document requests, specific to the health and environmental damage caused by these monsters, were denied. Recently, our latest document request was attached to a payment request for $10,000 prior to delivering the requested documents. Cash up front or no documents -- Welcome to the United States of America!
Within the past two years, after controlled Navy meetings and finally uncovering numerous, falsified Navy research documents, our community was subjected to textbook, military supported battering on members of our community. You see, here in Key West, we have a large seasonal population of military retirees.
We also are home to many pseudo military organizations that are active in promoting "anything" Navy. Retribution is alive and well and practiced regularly by the Navy, corrupt politicians, employers and misguided neighbors. But the latest slogan has me concerned: "It's the Sound of Freedom". It bothers me to hear these words as weapons used against concerned neighbors by the latest generation of military "bullies."
Wake Up! The military believes that you have no rights because you do not use them.
Enough of that, let's get down to basic facts about what you are about to experience in beautiful Franklin County.
Your present environment will be destroyed.
Most of you can imagine what our environment looks like in Key West. Well here is the reality check -- Caribbean blue water that is so polluted with chemicals that our local beaches are closed almost daily. Petroleum slime from unburned jet fuel covers your vehicles, your homes and vegetation. The largest coral reef in North America is dying a slow death. We are frequently subjected to "Shock and Awe"
flyovers, less than 500 feet above our homes that rattle our minds, pets and bones.
Your hearing and health will deteriorate at an alarming rate.
An unreleased Naval Audit NOISE STUDY, dated 10/ 2008, focused on military jet aircraft and the hazardous noise issue associated with human contact.
The military admitted that they did not investigate the hazardous noise and health effects associated with the flying of high-powered jets over our homes. All previous noise level values are false but were still utilized in numerous military research documents.
The military eliminated any mention or research relating to the debilitating health effects of the jets on the civilian population. Yet the military, continuously supported government documents riddled with unsupportive evidence.
The military's AICUZ Day/ Night assumptions are false for the reason that they are based upon input from noise research that never existed.
All environmental and encroachment documents, referencing the high powered jets and their fly patterns, have been altered to support their environmental and health claims that we now know are false.
This Naval Audit confirms average noise levels created by these jets to be 135 –160 decibels. OSHA considers noise above 84 decibels to be debilitating and a cause of permanent hearing loss.
Since 2005, the military has spent over $700 million dollars on veteran and enlisted personnel loss of hearing claims associated with loud jet aircraft. You would think that they would have at least included us, American citizens, in their hearing loss research and medical funding. But that, I am told, would open the "floodgates" to class action status for their illegal and unethical indiscretions. And according to military protocol, that's unpatriotic.
Your Real Estate Values will plummet.
A July 2007, internal Air Force document confirmed that real estate prices of homes located within the minimum, 65 dB, sound contours of AICUZ boundaries showed a significant negative impact (on resale value) due to the presence of high aircraft noise. Furthermore, a disclosure statement or notice should be included on the deed for the subject property and recorded by the county. It should also be included on any parcel map, tentative map, or final map for the subdivision approval. That's only the beginning. HUD will not guarantee home loans on properties subjected to high noise levels. Now… who is going to buy your real estate?
The Animals: Wild and Domesticated.
When we first moved here in Key West, we were thrilled to see exotic birds and wildlife. The nesting sites of eagles, herons and egrets were an everyday pleasure. Since the arrival of the Navy's latest generation of jets, our area is void of indigenous species and seasonal arrivals. The noise is deafening even for them. Our pets suffer incredible pain from the noise and beg for relief. We are not talking about a loud radio but noise that can force mountain fighters to surrender under the "shock and awe" tactical maneuvers that you will experience each and every day.
Of course there is more to this story and I will be glad to support any local effort to oppose such a violation of the US Constitution. And by the way, someone is making lots of bucks on this attempt to force this situation upon you. Come together as a group and check everyone out that is associated with every document supplied by the military. And I mean EVERYONE. Fight, Fight, Fight!
I would like to leave you with this inspiring quote by Thomas Jefferson -- "A True Patriot must always be ready to defend his country against its government."
Wishing You the Best,
Paul S. Caruso
Key West, FL
7 Responses »
I've read this letter twice, but something has been left out. Maybe it was in some article that I missed? Please, who is planning to do what in Franklin County? Some military organization, you imply; but you forgot to tell us where you got the information, which organization, and just what they are planning to do, where and when. Not to mention where, when and how, we are being given the opportunity to make a decision about whatever-it-is?
Well, they would have a lot less impact then the windmills that are going up and destroying a pristine wilderness area.
Wow. Thanks for all the information, Paul. It's a lot to think about. I certainly haven't heard a compelling argument for allowing the flyovers, and you bring up a lot of causes for serious concern.
Okay, I see that there have been earlier articles that I missed. What still isn't clear to me is, who ultimately makes this decision? What criteria do they have to meet, and who enforces the criteria?
Dear Licia Kuenning:
Thank you for reading the letters to the editor--Other than the headlines, they are the first thing I read each day. Why? Because they usually are heartfelt and sincere--some sincerely wrong, some sincerely right.
In the current situation, in a nutshell (and this is difficult to do because our eyes tend to glaze over as we sit reading or listening to the Massachusetts Air National Guard talk about how they plan to proceed.) Basic Facts: The Mass. ANG wants to lower the operational "floor" for the approximately 5,000,000 acres of Western Main known as Condor I and Condor II from 7,000 feet to 500 feet. In addition, they want to add the capability of doing "diving intercepts" and "dog fight" simulations from all points on the compass. Currently they have to fly straight through their "corridors". Their craft, F-15 E jets are exceptionally noisy and are scheduled to be replaced before long with "new generation" jets which are twice as noisy. They have presented No justification for wanting to make this change which was rejected by the Governor of Maine in 1992. I live a mile from Route 5 in Lovell and even we are "treated" to the sounds of our military practicing low level approaches as they head up to Bethel, etc. to "let it all out".
Check "Western Maine Matters" website if you want more information.
Dear Licia,
Western Maine Matters has been monitoring this situation since 2007. We protested a sloppy Environmental Assessment (EA) and received support from the Governor and the Congressional Delegation when we insisted on a complete Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
However, when the EIS was published it was nothing more than a rehashing of the previous inadequate EA.
The process now awaits another EIS ordered by the Governor.
For more information about this important issue, please go to http://www.westernmainematters.org
Everyone who reads the letter from Mr. Caruso should forward it to Governor Baldacci, our Senators, and our Representatives. We must not let this happen to us, and with the power of the military it will take enormous effort on our part to prevent it from happening. Once in place it will be impossible to get rid of and the damage will have been done.


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(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog April 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)
There's an interview in this week's Inside Soap magazine with actress Jo-Anne Knowles, who plays crazy Chloe in Coronation Street.
She says that she was "Absolutely!" a fan of the show before she was asked to act in it. "I've grown up with Coronation Street," she says. "My mum is thrilled that I'm in it as it's a show that she has always loved and finnily enought, my husband was a big Corrie fan when we first met 10 years ago. We used to watch it every single episode and it became part of the beginning of our relationship. When we moved in together, it was teas on knees with Coronation Street!"
She says she loved the character of Chloe right from the first day she started playing her and that her husband doesn't mind her cosying up to Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow) on screen. Lucky lady!
She's big friends with Sally-Anne Matthews (Jenny Bradley). "We've known each other for years," she says. "It would be fantastic if Jenny and Chloe got a scene together. I enjoy my scenes with Bev Callard (Liz McDonald) and we have a real giggle. I am lucky to have scenes with Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) as he is divine and brilliant to work with."
Chloe is the FIFTH Coronation Street character that Jo-Anne Knowles has played. Find out about all of the others here.
Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter


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It's reported uncertainty over Brexit is behind the decision by Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary to sell 2 million of his shares in the airline.
According to the Financial Times, the carrier is said to be on the "pessimistic side of cautious" about the current financial year.
The reports say the lack of a deal on the aviation industry after Brexit is adding to the uncertainty.


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WRIGHT TWP. — Joseph Rasmus officially became acting superintendent, but Crestwood School District officials didn't say how long he will be filling in for a superintendent who remains on leave for disciplinary reasons.
The board met briefly Wednesday to confirm Rasmus as acting superintendent, a role he has unofficially filled since Oct. 30.
That's when the board placed Superintendent Joseph Gorham on paid leave following an oversight in paperwork for bus drivers that caused students to miss two days of school. Christopher Gegaris, Crestwood's chief of operations, also was placed on leave.
Crestwood solicitor John Dean said there is no firm date for the end of the leave for Gorham and Gegaris.
Bill Jones, the board president, said more answers might be given at the board's next scheduled meeting, at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15.
The administrators went on leave after state auditors found background clearances for some school bus drivers had expired.
Rather than risk sending students on buses with drivers who weren't cleared, district officials canceled classes Oct. 24 and 25 until the paperwork was complete.
Dean said all drivers have clearances now.
On Tuesday, the board held what he called a productive meeting with Rinehimer Bus Lines.
Continuing to contract with Rinehimer to provide bus service remains an option, Dean said.
On Tuesday, the board met in executive session, at which matters such as personnel issues and litigation can be discussed privately, before convening in public.
The board also held an executive session Friday.
Asked if action will be taken against other administrators, Jones said the investigation continues to turn up information, and the board will be "looking at everything."
Contact the writer:
firstname.lastname@example.com; 570-501-3587


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xFitlab is a portable performance testing company. We travel to your facility, set up our equipment and test your clients. Each client receives a print out of their results with an expert interpretation of what it means to them.
You've put in the work, you've gotten tested, now let our expert athletic programmers guide you to your goals. With short term and long term plans we are able to program for a wide range of athletes and teams.


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2019 Mudville Team Tryouts Complete! (Rev. 8/9/2018)
2019 Mudville Tryouts Are Complete!
Players Needed
1. We are in need of a underclassman (2020 or 2021 HS Grad year) catcher.
Indisputable Mudville Facts Since 2007; Mudville catchers have had 3 Area Code Selections, 17 have moved on to college baseball, and 2 have played pro ball.
2. We are in need of a pitcher-only (2019, 2020 or 2021 HS Grad year).
Indisputable Mudville Facts Since 2007; Mudville pitchers have had 3 Area Code Selections, 47 have moved on to college baseball and 5 are playing, or have played pro ball.
The 2019 campaign is Mudville Pinnacle's 20th season in its existence. As of August 6th, 2018, Mudville has finished the year with a 45-22-3 record, with two tournaments victories including the prestigious 43rd Annual Papa's Pizza Invitational in Eugene, and three 3rd Place finishes.
As with previous seasons, our club has developed numerous players who have played at the next level. We work endlessly to help place your student-athlete to an appropriate school with our coaching staff of 5. Our current club has players committed to schools from D1-D3, NAIA and JC, including the 2018 D1 National Champions Oregon State University, Washington State University, the US Naval Academy, Benedictine College and numerous NWACC schools. 13 Mudville players have been drafted in our 20-year history in MLB's 1st Year Player Draft. Check out our alumni slider feature that highlights our players who have moved to the next level on our 'Welcome Page' by clicking on the M9 logo at the top left corner of our site.
We are seeking outstanding student-athletes who are great teammates, accountable, coachable, driven to play at the next level, willing to learn and improve in the game of baseball. Mudville is a 501.c.3 not-for-profit organization developing young student-athletes through the game of baseball.
What Do You Need to Do
- Register on line at the top of the home page, http://mudville9.org/register/.
- After 8/9/18, please call GM/Manager Kurt Boyd at 206-660-7189 to arrange for a "By Appointment Only" tryout.