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There was news in France yesterday that Alan Pardew will let 25 year-old center-back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa leave the club this summer, after he's been less than impressive in the almost eighteen months he's been at Newcastle.
Massadio Haidara – for sale this summer?
But the reports in France are that Newcastle will effectively be unloading other senior French players, and that they will include Sylvain Marveaux, Hatem Ben Arfa, Gabriel Obertan, and even Massadio Haidara, as well as Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.
The one that surprises us a little bit there is 21 year-old Massadio Haidara, and he's looked decent enough when he's been in the Newcastle first team, and maybe he deserves another season to prove himself at the club.
If the news is true that means that two of the five Frenchmen we brought in eighteen months ago, to help save us from relegation, will leave in the summer – assuming other clubs come in for them.
And it's almost certain that Newcastle will also offload 24 year-old Frenchman Romain Amalfitano, who could well sign permanently for French second division side Dijon, where he's been on loan this season.
That's six Frenchmen leaving, and if you add in Loic Remy and Yohan Cabaye, it means that eight French players could be leaving the club this year, before September rolls around.
Of those eight we would have liked to have seen Loic Remy, Ben Arfa and Massadio Haidara stay at the club, but that's not going to happen.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
70 comments so far
There's no way the club will shift MYM on, I'm surprised Pardew wasn't told to play him more to boost his investment!
This story has only come about since Colo has said he is staying, personally think Colo is a poor captain, not vocal enough and falls apart under pressure
MYM is still young and yes he was inconsistent but probably because he kept getting dropped when ever colo was fit again and played in 2-3 different positions which was ridiculous
Having said that and as desperate as we are for a CF/CAM surely our defence needs a massive over haul?
Two seasons in a row we have continually shipped goals far too easily and regularly so to start another season with Colo Wilo and and Santon making up 3/4 of the back line will be disastrous
What's the betting we go in for De Jong simply because we can't get in anyone else?
I don't understand the Haidara situation at all, twice the quality of Dummett and always looked promising when played. For me he should start. I don't rate Dummett in the slightest, he's rash, has no composure, hoofs it up with his left constantly and has little to no attacking threat.
Haidara – like what I saw needs to be kept another year could progress into a very good player given the chance.
Mbiwa – would keep him needs to put on a bit of weight strength to easily bullied but good on the ball and can pass.
Benny – don't know bit of a enigma don't know what you are going to get can be brilliant – can be a waste of space – who knows????
Rest on list get rid
think this story is absolute garbage tbh ! i keep my eye on all news surrounding our club and apparently this was rumour started in france.
i agree in priciple that marv/ober/amal should be moved on as quick as poss and even arfa as he seems to be upsetting the first team but mbiwa/hairdryer are very usefull to us atm unless we get a replacement for mbiwa i would see it as a very bad move ! and like has said before hairdryer is on par with santon and dummett so why get little money when you can get a lot more from santon ?
There is nothing concrete to say MYM or Hiadara are on their way out. Total speculation. Both are potential French Internationals, one already sniffing around the French team as it is in MYM. It just does not make sense at all. Strikers and wingers and a creative midfielder is a must and hopefully one or two defenders.
Sidwell went to Chelsea to sit on the bench for the pay cheque. He knew he was going to be sitting on the bench as he was a like for like for Parker. Decent player but it would be a no for me. Would prefer a younger player such as Delph to compete for centre midfield.
I guess Fulham will have let him go due to his wages being on the high side for the Championship.
On the lists of players leaving, it is getting a bit ridiculous now. Just as at most clubs in Europe all the players would be available if the right offer comes in.
The fact is that so far there is a lot of talk of us wanting to offload players, but very little of clubs actually wanting to buy most of them. Therefore they will stay.
Seriously, who is going to pay NUFC and match Obertan's salary here? Same could be said for Marveaux.
paper talk paper talk paper talk
that's all it is every1 knows were having a a mini clear out
I have no problem with goofy but I see he didn't make the leaving list if he was a real winger he would be first on the list tbh 3 assists for a winger not good
I can see debuchy being sold had a good season some good teams will look at him.
the only Frenchmen were looking to get rid off benny marv almifitno obatan
Maybe, maybe not. The point is that just cause he signed Obertan doesn't mean he can't sign good players. That isn't what makes him a bad manager. It is the fact that he is clueless tactically, and can't get the best out of players that makes him a useless manager.
Like with Ashley, I don't get the need to invent and fabricate stuff to knock him or Pardew. There are plenty of genuine things that you can stick to without that.
Know a lot of Sidwells mate and play footy with a couple of them, he genuinely thought he could make it at Chelsea 100%
When it was clear he wasn't going to get a chance he was out the door mate
Not saying he's a great player and yeah we need some young players in like Delph too but where's the experience in the squad atm?
Very true on Llalana.
Pardew may not be the best at managing but like all of us here can pick a decent player to come in, just the owner doesn't back him.
As from what I've seen if Carr he is a good scout, but also not doing great at finding some players. It's all well and good recommending good players like cabella and grenier but whys he not scouting more players within our budget also.
I can tell you plenty of good players if I don't need to operate in a budget, I think too much is made of Carr. No doubt a good scout and picking out talent and potential, but arsenals scouts have done much better for much longer.
Not wanting to knock the guy as it's difficult to do your job when the club doesn't sign anyone at all for a year.
Fair enough if he thought he could make it, it makes him a bit deluded instead of a money grabber. 🙂
In terms of experience, what classes as experience? Can only old players be experienced? Tiote has a few seasons under his belt here, as does Colo. I'd say they offer that bit of experience. I wouldn't mind a 27/28 year old proven Prem player, but one who could push Tiote or Sissoko for a central berth. Sidwell isn't good enough for that, so I'd prefer young talent to come in to grow into the first team.
Just my personal preference mind, I do get why you put Sidwell forward though.
rubbish press rumour.
yes there will be some of the france players leave such as obertan, marv and amilifatano and remy (he was never ours to keep).
however, debuchy sissoko gouffran yanga and haidarra will all be here for start of season.
ben arfa should stay. if only our manager had the same mindset as blanc when he was tapping up hazard via press. he said a player who can drift pass 3-4 opposition and create are special and its great not knowing what they will do next when allowed to play. no comment at all about putting the shackles on and tracking back.
if a few english are wanted i would consider curtis davies and richards to bolster defence. ince and aaron hunt in the midfield plus de jong and gomis in attack.
plenty quality is out there. club does not need to spend vast sums.
i would also take the proposed ac milan swap deal and cash for santon.


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A JOLT for Jobs and the Economy
This month, BPC highlights Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Joe Heck (R-NV) for their bipartisan effort to improve the U.S. economy and create jobs by making it easier for foreign visitors to travel to the U.S. The Congressmen have worked together to introduce H.R. 1354, the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act.
The JOLT Act includes a number of provisions designed to attract international travelers, many of whom spend significant amounts of money during their travels, to the United States. The money these international visitors spend while in the U.S. – on transportation, hotel accommodations, food and entertainment, sightseeing, and shopping, greatly benefits all sectors of the travel and tourism industry throughout the United States, improving the economy and increasing job opportunities for Americans.
The JOLT Act seeks to make to easier for international travelers to visit the United States. Specifically, H.R. 1354 seeks to modernize and expand the Visa Waiver Program to allow more travelers from allied countries visa-free entry to the U.S., to facilitate the use of and expand the current Global Entry Program to allow pre-approved travelers expedited Customs clearance upon arrival in the U.S., and make use of new technologies such as videoconferencing when conducting visa interviews.
H.R. 1354 has more than 150 co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle and is currently awaiting consideration before the House Committee on the Judiciary. BPC salutes Rep. Quigley and Rep. Heck for their bipartisan efforts to attract international travelers to the U.S. and give our travel and tourism businesses an important boost.
From the Americans with Disabilities Act to Campaign Finance Reform to No Child Left Behind and more, many significant legislative achievements have been successful due to cross-party collaboration. Rather than lamenting cooperation as a relic of days gone by, the Bipartisan Champions series will highlight current lawmakers who are working across the aisle and getting things done. By showcasing those who are putting partisan differences aside in order to put national interests first, BPC hopes to encourage more of this activity among our elected leaders in Washington, DC.
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subset: commoncrawl


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May 31, 2012
Zaji, Omoi and Sai attack Zabuza and Haku from midair. Haku counterattacks Sai's group and brings them to the ground. As Zabuza, Haku, Pakura and Gari make their attack, Kakashi's division arrives and saves them. Kabuto becomes irritated by Zabuza and Haku's defiant emotions so he turns them into killing machines. Zabuza, Haku, Pakura and Gari start their attacks against Kakashi's division. To reinforce Zabuza's group, Kabuto summons the former members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.


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Do you like to travel off-the-beaten-path, doing things that no one else is doing?
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If there is but a single moment
this one is not the one, and so
we shall each of us continue to wait
and wonder if the next one is the one,
or even the one after that, or one next week.
But the real question is, if there is such a moment,
whether we'll know it before it's gone.
If there is but a single moment


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Jack Lew may have persuaded Barack Obama that he is the man for the very serious top job at the US treasury, but his handwriting has become the butt of more than a few jokes.
If Lew is confirmed by Congress as Treasury Secretary, his signature will be printed on US Dollar banknotes. And what a signature it is! Resembling a slightly stretched telephone cable or something you might doodle to see if a byro still has ink in it, it is a series of loops from left to right.
Obama couldn't resist poking fun at Lew's sign-off, saying jokingly after officially nominating him that it might even devalue the Dollar.
"I had never noticed Jack's signature," he said, "and when this was highlighted yesterday in the press, I considered rescinding my offer to appoint him…Jack assures me that he is going to work to make at least one letter legible in order not to debase our currency, should he be confirmed as secretary of the Treasury,"
Simulation of what a Lew era US Dollar note would look like – source: New York Magazine
As for hand-writing experts at graphologyconsulting.com , they have claimed that it is "among the most mysteriously weird (with goofy overtones) that we have seen in a quarter century of graphology. It looks like an unraveled Slinky, and like most signatures is not necessarily indicative of the person who wrote it, but more likely the crafted image they want others to perceive. The overall loopiness generally signals hyper-secrecy. He will carry secrets to his grave."
Out-going Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner changed his own signature when he was given the job in order to make it more lisible, as he himself explains in an interview on the Marketplace website .
And if you want to see what your name looks like 'Lew-style' you can try the Jack Lew signature generator made available by Yahoo!


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Colin Lillie
It's been a long and bumpy road for Colin Lille to get where he is now. After years of battling with drugs and alcohol he migrated to the centre of Australia, picked up a guitar, became sober and devoted his life to music. Through cross collaboration with the Northern Territory arts scene Colin was able to begin a journey to create music that has helped him to grow. He has worked along side some of Australia's best artisits and producers including Dave Crowe (Resin Moon) Ben Allan (Broadwing producer of Gawurras acclamed album) in collaboration of Shadows on Blue. In 2013 he won the NT heat for Telstra Road to Discovary which helped him create a stronger national profile. It is with his 2016 debut album Glass Homes that he has been able share his stories about genuine struggles through songs that cut straight to the bone. Recorded at producer Mark Myers studio in Cairns the two began work on an incredibly honest album.
Colin's first single "Give Thanks" won him NT song of the year (Blues and Roots) and saw the self proclaimed gypsy Scotsman tour the East Coast impressing crowds with his intense live performances. His last offering "Within" was a slow burning epic that saw Lillie wear his heart on his sleeve once again. "At some point I had to leave fear and open up to the idea that sharing can bring change. That we may still have pain fear and anxiety that burn within but it is better to free the truth than to keep it inside." Lillie's debut album has gained critical acclaim from some of Australia's top music reviewers
"With his debut record, Lillie has reached within himself and brought forth something truly special; a glass house is one thing, open for the world to see, but a Glass Home is another entirely." - The Guardian 4/5stars .
The Australian said "a compelling debut album, packed with vocal power, poetry, passion and palpable honesty" - 4.5/5 stars The Australian
With continual performances around the country Lillie has managed to prove himself as one of the Northern Territorie and Australia' best performers gaining himself the first ever National Live Music Award NT live voice of the year. Larry Heath from the AU Review said of his performance at Bigsound 2016 "I'd go so far as to call him the voice of the festival – and as good as his voice was, it was only made stronger by his musicianship and songwriting" -. RollingStone commented that "The Alice Springs singer-songwriter gives a gritty and emotional vocal performance, evoking pure strength and defiance". Lille has ended 2016 on a high after reciving the AU Review Award public voted "Australian Artist of 2016", an award that proves that people are craving what he has to offer being sustenance over style.
2017 does not seem to be slowing down for Lillie, with performances confirmed for WA, Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and abroad. Colin is becoming a must see at festivals and cities around the country. He has already began writing the follow up to Glass Home's with the support of Graham (Asho) Ashton from Footstomp Music whom he continues to build a strong working relationship with. Yet his passion is to show that no matter how remote you are you can build a successful career in music and continue to perform live, in front of audiences all around Australia and beyond. To ultimately share that, which he believes to be a gift for everyone to hear.


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President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday prohibiting nongovernmental agencies abroad which receive U.S. funding from promoting abortion or discussing it as an option in family planning.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is already prohibited from giving U.S. funds to provide abortions in any country. However, this policy would freeze U.S. funding from the organizations that advocate for abortion rights or promote it as a family planning option, even if those organizations do not use U.S. funds for those specific purposes.
Called the 'Mexico City Policy,' the policy was first introduced and enforced during former President Ronald Reagan's term, after which subsequent presidents have enacted executive orders to either repeal it, or reinstate it.
"We applaud President Trump for putting an end to taxpayer funding of groups that promote the killing of unborn children in developing nations," said Carol Tobias, the president of the National Right to Life Committee.
Critics of the policy argue that it puts women in developing countries more at risk of unplanned pregnancies and that it would cause more abortions.
"Attempts to stop abortion through restrictive laws — or by withholding family planning aid — will never work, because they do not eliminate women's need for abortion," Marjorie Newman-Williams, the vice president and director of international operations at Marie Stopes International, was quoted by CNN as saying. "This policy only exacerbates the already significant challenge of ensuring that people in the developing world who want to time and space their children can obtain the contraception they need to do so."
Meanwhile, President Trump has had changing views on abortion over the years, but has expressed a largely pro-life stance during his election campaign.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said during the first daily press briefing that Trump "wants to stand up for all Americans, including the unborn," and added that "the reinstatement of this policy is not just something that echoes that value, but respects taxpayer funding as well."
"President Trump's immediate action to promote respect for all human life, including vulnerable unborn children abroad, as well as conscience rights, sends a strong signal about his administration's pro-life priorities," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List.


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Friday, January 27, 2017
And pay attention to all warning signs!
This is neat--watch the lights change!!
If these made you nervous, it might be a good idea
to just leave your car here.
Maybe these sign makers should go back to school.
Or maybe not.
Some cities require that you learn English:
This is too much!!
I need to relax & go have some fun:
That didn't help.I think I'll get something to eat:
Now I have to go potty.
I wish someone had told me I didn't
have to go through labor:
It's a good thing doctors never make mistakes!
I've discovered the cause of typing errors:
AND what to do about them:
He should have had a parrot:
This is NOT a typo--just stupidity:
To get ahead in life, you have to be very careful not
too to have any mispelled misspelled words in what you rite right write----fishducky
14 comments:
Diana was alive before she died? Something she had in common with Elvis. And a few other people too.ReplyDelete
Another great post Fran. Thank you.
What a screm:)ReplyDelete
Ahhhh! :) :) :)ReplyDelete
I don't want to try that anus burger.ReplyDelete
These are great. The one that made me groan the loudest was the sign "congradulating" the winners of a spelling bee. Irony at its best.ReplyDelete
Oh, fornevermore! The RAMEN?ReplyDelete
I also liked the lipo lips/collag hips lady.
ack! Those fingers sprouting little hands! I hope I don't dream about them, they're creepy.ReplyDelete
Love the guy no longer hearing voices :)
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It's not unheard of for players who begin their professional career as a position player to be switched to pitching, as the result of a strong arm, a weak bat or both. Relief pitcher Joe Nathan comes to mind; others I can think of off the top of my head are Troy Percival and Mike Marshall.(Marshall played four full seasons at shortstop, making 68 errors one season in the California League and playing a full year at Class AA before being sent to the mound.) But they all made the transition to the mound before they reached the majors, when they were relatively young. Ron Mahay reached the majors as an outfielder, then went back to the minors to become a pitcher. Mel Queen never pitched an inning in the minors before reaching the majors as an outfielder, then was moved to the mound in the bigs. Skip Lockwood got a taste of the big leagues as a third baseman, then went back to the minors and played two more years before being converted to pitching.
In days of yore, Bucky Walters was converted from a third baseman to a pitcher at the major league level and went on to be an outstanding hurler, although he had pitched 80 innings in addition to playing the infield as a first-year minor leaguer at the age of 19. Bob Smith reached the majors with the Boston Braves as an infielder, then was turned into a pitcher during his third season in Boston at the age of 30; he went on to win more than 100 games in the majors. Bob Lemon came to the major leagues as a third baseman and also played center field before moving to the mound. Tom Sturdivant spent three years as a minor league infielder before becoming a pitcher. Jack Harshman got to the majors as a first baseman, went back to the minors and put up a 40-homer season, then decided his route back to the bigs was on the hill. Johnny Lindell had some good seasons as an outfielder, then went down to the minors to pitch for two years and came back to the majors as a full-time hurler at age 35, leading the National League in walks in 1953. But he had reached the majors as a pitcher and was turned into an outfielder at the big league level.
What's much more unusual is for a player to make the conversion to the mound after his major league career. I've come across four men who didn't become pitchers until they left the majors to become minor league managers. And two of them actually pitched their way back into the majors. Here are their stories…and please, if you know of anyone else who fits this description, let me know.
Ben Chapman was an outstanding outfielder in the 1930s. He led the major leagues in stolen bases four times and played in four All-Star Games; it would have been more except the All-Star Game didn't begin until 1933, when he was the first batter ever to go to the plate for the American League. He was traded by the Yankees to make room for rookie Joe DiMaggio in 1936, then traded by the Red Sox to make room for rookie Ted Williams in 1939. But to the extent he's remembered today it's usually for his racist verbal abuse of Jackie Robinson in Jackie's first major league season. 1947, when Chapman was managing the Phillies.
All but forgotten is Chapman's return to the major leagues as a pitcher after going to the minor leagues to manage. At that time he was believed to be the first former infielder or outfielder to have gone from the majors to the minors, then come back to the majors as a hurler.
Chapman was released twice in 1941, finishing the season with a .237 batting average, and at the age of 32 he went to the minor leagues to make a living. That winter he signed as a player-manager with the Richmond (Va.) Colts of the Class B Piedmont League. He was the Colts' regular third baseman in 1942, finishing third in the league in batting average at .324 (teammate Luis Olmo won the league's triple crown), and for some reason tied for the league lead in sacrifice hits, which seems odd for a former major league all-star playing in B ball.
And Chapman took the mound for the first time in his professional career. Here's how Jeff Moshier told the story in the August 8, 1944, edition of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Evening Independent:
[Chapman's] club was taking a 10-1 beating and since a Class B league club only carries six pitchers, Chapman saw no sense in wasting another, decided to pitch himself.
Although he hadn't pitched since 1927, when as an 18-year-old semi-pro the first eight men who faced him hit safely, the veteran ex-big leaguer surprised even himself by holding the opposing team to one hit, a home run, and the Colts rallied to tie the score at 11-11.
That started Chapman on his new career…
Well, apparently that was close to being the truth. I dug up an account of Chapman's mound debut by Laurence Leonard in the June 11, 1942, issue of The Sporting News:
Ben's pitching debut [on Friday, June 5] came against the Portsmouth Cubs, managed by his former New York Yankee teammate, Tony Lazzeri [who, like Chapman, also played for his team]. And the Richmond Colt manager was successful in the six innings he worked, holding the Cubs to two hits, one a homer by Cecil Garriott, for the only run, and striking out five.
When Chapman went to the mound his Colts, in the throes of a batting slump and suffering various injuries, trailed, 9 to 3. But when the game was called at the end of the ninth to allow Richmond's players to catch a bus for Asheville, the score was tied at 10-all, thanks to the manager's relief work…
ADDED 8/23/15: The game story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch says Chapman moved himself from third base to the mound at the start of the fourth inning. "The manager was just wild enough to be good and effective," wrote Laurence Leonard, "and, after hitting [Bill] Kramer, the first batter to face him, he fanned five and walked four." Leonard didn't make any kind of a big deal about Chapman using himself as a pitcher.
Two years later, when Chapman was due to make his major league pitching debut, he was quoted in an AP story: "Little did I think, when I started to pitch one day in 1942 because my Richmond club had five double-headers in six days, that I would succeed in making a career of it." [ADDED 8/24/15: On checking the Times-Dispatch, this turns out to be a bit of an exaggeration. Richmond had played doubleheaders on three of the six days prior to Chapman's pitching debut; they were rained out on another of those days, and in another the game was postponed by rain in the fourth inning.]
Chapman's son Bob was interviewed for a story on the minor league Nashville Sounds web site in 2006. (Chapman is the only man born in Nashville ever to manage in the majors.) Asked about his father's move to the mound, he said, "All the young men were drafted into the war. He was managing in Richmond and they ran out of pitchers and he said he'd pitch."
Chapman went on to pitch 95 innings for the Colts in 1942, posting a 6-3 record with a 1.71 ERA. But he didn't pitch at all in 1943, because he was suspended for the entire season.
I have not found a news account with complete details of the incident, but in a playoff game at Portsmouth, Va., on September 16, 1942, Chapman punched umpire I.H. Case in the face several times. Two weeks later, minor league president W.G. Bramham suspended Chapman "from all professional baseball activities" for a full year. This was the account of the incident in The Sporting News issue of October 8:
The trouble started when the Colt manager was called out on a play at first base…Verbal exchanges followed, which resulted in Chapman being ordered out of the game, whereupon, it is alleged, "he informed Umpire Case that he would sock him, if ejected. Advised that he was out, Chapman struck Case several times in the face," testimony showed.
Here's the way Bob Chapman told the story:
Basically, he [Ben Chapman] told the umpire that if he did something, he was going to hit him. The umpire did it, and he hit him. He did have a temper on the ball field. He was very competitive. Everything he did he was competitive. He could not stand to lose.
ADDED 8/23/15: The Richmond Times-Dispatch did not have a staff reporter at the game, but it did have a story from a reporter at the scene ("Special to The Times-Dispatch"). Chapman came to bat in a tie game in the top of the fourth with a runner on second and was called out on a ground ball to the second baseman. "The Richmond pilot didn't like Umpire Case's decision," according to the Times-Dispatch report, "and when he continued to voice disapproval with [Portsmouth] at the bat, Case ordered him out of the game. The hot-tempered Richmond manager then tore into Case with both hands swinging. The umpire received several good blows to the face before the players pulled Chapman away. It took several policemen to escort Chapman off the field." Piedmont League president Ralph H. Daughton, who was at the game, fined Chapman $100 and suspended him for 30 days on the spot while referring the matter to Bramham, who announced the one-year suspension two weeks later.
After Chapman's suspension ended, he regained his position as Richmond's manager for 1944. He was lucky to be in a baseball uniform, as only ten minor leagues operated that season. (I have found that Chapman was classified 4-F for the military, but I haven't found why. [ADDED 8/24/15: Bill Nowlin explains in his biography of Chapman for the SABR Baseball Biography Project: "Chapman was classified 1-A for the World War II draft, and was called for a physical…But the war was coming to an end, and he had a trick knee. Ultimately, he was declared 4-F and was never inducted into military service."] This time he played only a little bit of third base, still hitting a healthy .303. But he was the Colts' top hurler, with 17 complete games, a 13-6 record, two shutouts, a 2.21 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 163 innings. From the Jeff Moshier story:
Chapman is a smart pitcher. One observer remarked after watching him work a Piedmont League game that he is likely to throw the ball underhand, sidearm or overhand and knows how to keep batters off balance. He'll get the hitter in a hole with a sidearm pitch and then get rid of him with an overhand fireball.
Wilbur Jennings wrote a feature about Chapman that was printed in the June 8, 1944, issue of The Sporting News, under the headline "Chapman Hitches Colts to Van, Hopes for New Ride to Majors:"
Ben still remembers his major league days and he's still young at 35. He can't figure why some Big Time club hasn't made an offer for his services. "I'd take a cut in salary, or do just about anything to get a chance to play up there again," he said. "[Richmond owner] Eddie [Mooers] has been grand to me, but he knows how I feel."…
It irks Ben to see players hitting .200 with major league clubs today. "Why, I could bunt that much," he declared. "My fielding is far better than that of most of the fellows up there and I could hold my own at pitching, at nights anyway. If I get a chance, I will show them I'm far from done and that I'm a changed man when it comes to respecting the other fellow on the field."
With quality pitching at a premium due to the manpower shortage, Chapman indeed began to draw interest from major league teams. This from the Evening Independent on July 19, 1944: "The Richmond club of the Piedmont league recently turned down an offer of $8,000 for its manager-pitcher-infielder Ben Chapman, erstwhile American league star. . . . the Philadelphia Athletics offered $8,000 for the one-time based stealing champion of the American league." A story published the next day in The Maple Leaf, a newspaper published in Italy for members of the Canadian armed forces, said Richmond "has rejected an 'attractive offer' from Athletics for Manager Ben Chapman . . . Owner Eddie Moerrs said he believed selling Chapman would be an injustice to Richmond fans."
Or maybe Moerrs meant settling for $8,000 would be an injustice to his bank account. When Brooklyn general manager Branch Rickey came up with $12,000, Moerrs sold Chapman to the Dodgers on August 1, meaning Chapman would be making his major league pitching debut at the age of 35. "I don't know whether I can fool 'em up here as I did in the Piedmont league," Chapman said on the eve of his first Dodger start, "but one thing you can bet on–old Ben is going to give 'em both barrels."(Chapman is on the left in this photo, Dodger manager Leo Durocher in the center. On the right is another player who joined the Dodgers at about the same time: Tommy Brown, who made his big league debut on August 3 as one of the handful of 16-year-olds ever to play in a major league game. Below is a photo and cutline from the August 10, 1944 edition of The Sporting News.)
Chapman made his Dodger debut on August 4 at Ebbets Field and was a smashing success. He went the distance, striking out five, as Brooklyn beat the Braves 9-4. Batting ninth (even though he had a career average of better than .300 in his earlier big league career), Chapman singled, doubled, scored three runs and drove in three. From Roscoe McGowen's game story in the New York Times:
Chapman was a marked success for the first four innings, shutting out the Braves with one hit, while the fans got a kick out of his varied deliveries, especially the slow ball, somewhat like Rip Sewell's famous "ephus" pitch, that he tossed up occasionally.
Chapman went on to perform very well for the rest of the season, completing six of his nine starts and finishing with a 5-3 record (for a team that finished 63-91) and a 3.42 ERA, slightly better than the league average. He also hit .368 in 38 at-bats, and while he didn't play any other positions, he did some pinch-hitting.
Chapman returned to the Dodgers in 1945 but didn't fare as well, starting seven times, making three relief appearances, and going 3-3 with a 5.53 ERA. On June 15 he was traded to the Phillies…who two weeks later named him manager, succeeding Freddie Fitzsimmons. Over the rest of the season with Philadelphia Chapman played ten games in the outfield and four at third base while making only three appearances on the mound, all in relief. He made one final pitching appearance with the Phillies in 1946 and remained the team's manager until being relieved in mid-season in 1948.
He was back in the minor leagues managing in 1949, with Gadsden (Ala.) of the Class B Southeastern League. At age 40 he made his final appearances as a pitcher, going 0-1 with a 4.92 ERA in nine games.
Myril Hoag, just a few months older than Chapman, was a teammate of Ben's with the Yankees in 1931-32 and again from 1934 until Chapman was traded to Washington in June 1936. (I should point out that Hoag remains the only player born in Davis, California–where I lived when I wrote this post–ever to reach the majors.) Like Chapman, Hoag was an outfielder but played a backup role with the Yankees; he was traded to the Browns after the 1938 season and, given a chance to play regularly, earned a spot in the All-Star Game in 1939.
After the 1942 season the 34-year-old Hoag entered the Army Air Force. He was stationed at Mather Field, just east of Sacramento, and played baseball there. (Among his teammates was Tony Freitas, who had just pitched Sacramento to the Pacific Coast League championship on his way to winning 342 games in his minor league career.) According to a profile of Hoag on the Baseball In Wartime web site, he often pitched and played shortstop because of his powerful arm. Hoag never played shortstop in the majors and to that point had pitched just one inning in a mop-up appearance for the Browns in '39.
Hoag was discharged from the military in November 1943 because he was suffering from recurring headaches and dizzy spells. Those stemmed from a head injury after a 1936 outfield collision with Yankee teammate Joe DiMaggio in Detroit. Hoag finished the inning, then played the complete game the next day, saying he felt fine. But he couldn't sleep the night after that game and was hospitalized after losing consciousness. It turned out he had a blood clot on the brain that required surgery. While the surgery was successful, he missed the rest of the season before returning to action in 1937.
Hoag had been with the White Sox when he entered the military; he returned to them to play the 1944 season at age 36, then was bought Cleveland in June of that year and finished his major league career with the Indians in 1945. He got a little more pitching experience with the Indians that year, pitching a total of three shutout innings in two appearances. His major league career ERA was 0.00 in four innings.
In 1946 Hoag began the next phase of his career, as player-manager for the Palatka Azaleas of the Class D Florida State League. The team finished sixth in an eight-team league, but Hoag showed he still had some life as a player at age 38. He led the league in batting average with a .342 mark and tied for the league lead in homers with eight. His 37 doubles were one off the league lead, and he stole 21 bases to boot. But while he typically played the outfield or first base, he also gave himself some mound duty, going 6-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 87 innings. He pitched four complete games.
The next year he moved to the Gainesville G-Men in the same league, again as player-manager, and had one of the most remarkable seasons in minor league history. Not only did he lead the league in batting average again, at .350 (and again stealing 21 bases), he also led the league with a 1.82 ERA in 173 innings and posted a 17-3 record. Not even Jack Bentley, who had some incredible seasons both at the plate and on the mound in his minor league career, ever pulled off a batting championship and an ERA title in the same season. (Bentley had two mind-boggling seasons with the International League's Baltimore Orioles. In 1920, he led the league in ERA at 2.11, with a 16-3 record. He also led the league in RBI with 161 (!) while hitting .371. The next year he led the loop in batting average (.412), doubles (47) and homers (24) while going 12-1 on the mound with a 2.35 ERA. Teammate Joe Reddy won the ERA crown at 1.98.)
Hoag played the outfield only occasionally after 1947, but his pitching got even better. Back at Gainesville in 1948, Hoag went 24-4 with a league-leading 1.32 ERA. Included in that was a remarkable stretch…on August 7, he pitched a one-hitter against Leesburg. Then on August 12 he hurled a no-hitter against St. Augustine, and THE NEXT NIGHT pitched a shutout against DeLand. Myril Hoag was believed to be 39 years old at the time, but according to his birth date now listed in the records he was actually 40.
That pitching streak led to an item in The Sporting News, from which the photo at right is taken. Writer Whitey McMullen provided a little insight into Hoag's new career.
"I was a schoolboy pitcher and always wanted a shot at the mound," Myril explained . . . Hoag, who always has possessed a strong throwing arm, is a control pitcher, mixing a fast ball and sidearm curve with a sinker. "I pitch to spots," he says.
Michael Rychlik wrote a novel, "Journeymen," in which the 1948 Gainesville G-Men provide the backdrop and Hoag is a central figure. Mychlik talked to a Gainesville teammate and close friend of Hoag's, Red Dulaney, who said Hoag had hopes of getting back to the majors as a pitcher.
In 1949 Hoag moved up to the Class B Florida International League, again as a player-manager with St. Petersburg. But after the Saints started the season with a 2-11 record (one account I've read said the team had Class D talent), Hoag resigned. According to a report in the St. Petersburg Times, Saints business manager Howard Wrentmore "said that Hoag had received a better offer." Hoag had pitched just 12 innings for the Saints, with an 0-1 record.
The better offer sent Hoag back to Gainesville, this time as a player only, and he helped the G-Men win the Florida State League pennant (although they were knocked out in the first round of the league playoffs). Hoag went 24-9 with a 2.92 ERA and led the league with 280 strikeouts in 271 innings.
Hoag moved to the Class D Georgia-Alabama League in 1950, again as a player-manager, at Valley. On July 17 he was transferred to the Rome franchise, which finished in the league cellar; he was also a player-manager there. Pitching 206 innings, the 42-year-old Hoag went 15-11 overall with a 2.60 ERA, fourth-best in the league. Then in 1951, back in Gainesville, Hoag ended his professional career with a 5-10 record and a 4.14 ERA. He started the season as a player only but replaced Chuck Brewster as manager on July 21.
William "Whitey" Wietelmann was a regular for the Boston Braves for three seasons (1943-45) during World War II. He was classified 4-F "because of a nervous affliction," according to a 1944 Sporting News story by Fred Lieb. Wietelmann was born in Zanesville, Ohio, where his father had owned the local baseball team. Young Billy grew up as the team's batboy. Billy's father lost his sight, and when the family home caught fire in 1938 the 18-year-old Billy broke away from firefighters to run into the house and save him. From the Lieb story:
"Dad was in that burning house; he was blind, and I simply had to try to get him out," said Billy. "My hair and eyebrows were burned off, and I was badly burned on the face and hands. Fortunately, just around that time the medical profession discovered a remarkable remedy for burns. I was covered with it, and though I was hospitalized for some time as the result of the burns, the treatment was so effective that I do not have scars today."
Wietelmann was already a professional ballplayer at the time of the fire, having signed with Zanesville of the Class C Middle Atlantic League as an 18-year-old in 1937. After signing him, Zanesville sent him to Beaver Falls of the Class D Penn State Association. By the end of the 1939 season Wietelmann had reached the majors as a 20-year-old with the Braves after leading Class A Eastern League shortstops in putouts, assists and errors. Whitey didn't break into the regular lineup until 1943, when he played every game for the Braves and led the National League with 581 assists (and 40 errors).
Wietelmann played 125 games in 1944 but was plagued with eye problems. At the time Lieb's article was published in late June he had undergone four operations already that year to remove a total of 11 cysts. (The operations were performed by Dr. William Wrangler, who had recently become a part-owner of the Braves.)
"It seems to be a germ in my system, and the doctors are trying to eradicate it," said Whitey, "But, it has been darned annoying, and I try not to be discouraged. As the condition comes on, my vision in the right eye seems to become affected. A certain dimness comes up in front of the eye."
Wietelmann took to wearing eyeglasses during the 1944 season. After the war he hung on as a backup with the Braves and Pirates through the 1947 season, then spent five years in the Pacific Coast League with Sacramento and San Diego. Then came his first job as a manager, in 1953, with Wichita Falls (Tex.) of the Class B Big State League.
Wietelmann had a little bit of professional pitching experience: 16 innings in three appearances with Hartford in 1941, an inning with the Braves in 1945 (in which he allowed six runs), 6-2/3 innings in three appearances with the Braves in 1946, then a total of 16 innings in a handful of games with San Diego in 1951-52. But once Whitey started calling the shots, he started pitching more often.
The Spudders won the Big State pennant in 1953 under their 34-year-old rookie manager. Wietelmann helped the cause by playing 33 games at shortstop, 27 at first base and 14 at second. But he also took the mound 20 times, completing seven of his ten starts, going 8-3 with a 3.47 ERA. (He also led the league in balks, with two.) An item in the August 26, 1953, Sporting News said Whitey "turned to pitching when his mound staff collapsed in July."
In 1954 Whitey moved up to Lincoln (Neb.) of the Class A Western League. It didn't work out so well; he was replaced as manager on August 6 with the team in sixth place, and he was strafed on the mound, going 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in 37 innings. But in 1955 Wietelmann got another chance, in a city that was getting another chance in professional baseball.
Yuma, Arizona, had a team in the Class C Sunset League in 1950, then after the Sunset merged with the Arizona-Texas League to form the Southwest International League, Yuma was in that league for two more seasons. But there was no professional baseball in the city in 1953 or 1954…and it didn't look like there would be a team there in 1955 either, but nine days before the start of the season the directors of the new Arizona-Mexico League awarded its eighth franchise to Yuma. Needing to put together an entire roster in a hurry, the team's owners contacted former major leaguer Bob Elliott, manager of the PCL's San Diego Padres. Elliott recommended his new assistant, Wietelmann, to be Yuma's manager.
Wietelmann accepted, but according to the July 27, 1955, issue of The Sporting News, he walked into a bare-bones situation.
[T]hey had no equipment and local sporting goods stores could not supply their needs. An appeal was made to the local citizenry. Three bats were located. Retired players residing in the area loaned them additional equipment and [team co-owner Dick] King came across a youngster who had saved 28 baseballs, of various types. He bought the lot for five bucks.
Wietelmann himself borrowed a set of gray uniforms from the Padres for the Sun Sox to wear in their opening game in Mexicali, Mexico.(Humberto Barbon, pictured above, led the Arizona-Mexico League in home runs in 1955 with 38, while driving in 153 runs with a .349 batting average.)
Yuma went on to have a good season, finishing a close second in the standings as well as second in the league in attendance. Wietelmann played 22 games at second base, but his major contribution on the field was as a pitcher. He led the league with 55 pitching appearances, completed 16 of his 28 starts, and was third in the league in wins (21), strikeouts (195) and innings (258). His record was 21-13, and his 4.86 ERA doesn't look so bad when you learn teams in the Arizona-Mexico League scored an average of almost 6.7 runs per game. That July 27 Sporting News article said Wietelmann "has just come up with a knuckleball and controls it so well that he wins his share of games."
Wietelmann returned to Yuma in 1956, only to be released when the Sun Sox got off to an 8-18 start. But the team brought him back when the second half of the splits season started in July, and Whitey led Yuma to the second half championship with a 37-18 mark before being swept in the playoffs. He wasn't as effective a pitcher as he had been in 1955, posting a 5.74 ERA in 138 innings, but he did finish with a winning record at 9-7.
Yuma dropped out of organized ball after the 1956 season, and Wietelmann never managed again. He spent the next two years out of baseball but returned in 1959 and was in the game for more than 30 years, most of it with the San Diego Padres, first in the Pacific Coast League and later in the National League.
The last of the players-turned-minor-league-pitcher/managers was Granny Hamner, a three-time All-Star with the Phillies who played a key role on Philadelphia's "Whiz Kids" 1950 National league pennant winners. Granny (his given name was Granville) grew up in Richmond, where his paths crossed with Ben Chapman. Granny's older brother Garvin played for Chapman with the 1944 Richmond Colts, and Granny spent time working out with the team. Chapman tried to get several major league teams to sign Granny, and the Phillies wound up signing the 17-year-old that summer. Hamner wound up playing for Chapman after Chapman took over as Phillies manager.
Hamner made his pitching debut on July 22, 1956 at Milwaukee. With the Phillies trailing, 16-5, manager Mayo Smith moved Granny from shortstop to the mound in the bottom of the eighth, and Hamner retired the Braves in order, striking out pitcher Taylor Phillips and Danny O'Connell. A month later, with the Phils trailing 10-4 at Cincinnati, Smith brought Hamner off the bench to pitch three shutout innings, in which he allowed just one hit and struck out Smokey Burgess.
Five days after that, on August 31, Smith listed Harvey Haddix on his lineup card to pitch at Pittsburgh. But when Haddix was unable to take the mound due to back spasms, Smith turned to Hamner as an emergency fill-in, and Granny held the Pirates to just one run over the first four innings. (Because Haddix was actually on the lineup card, he and not Hamner was considered the starting pitcher, even though Haddix never took the mound.) Hamner tired in the fifth, allowing hits to four of the five batters he faced before being lifted, and wound up taking the loss. But Smith was impressed. "I wouldn't hesitate to use him again in such an emergency," Mayo said. "Certainly I'll use him as a relief pitcher if the occasion arises." But the occasion did not arise again in 1956.
Hamner had undergone surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder before the 1956 season and the shoulder acted up after the season started. He felt that was a factor in his .224 batting average. So when the pain was still there as he prepared for spring training in 1957, Hamner decided to try to become a full-time pitcher. Dan Daniel wrote about it in his column in the February 22, 1957, Sporting News:
Working with the early-bird kids of the Phillies is Granville Hamner, who has embarked on a serious adventure which he hopes will result in finishing his career as a pitcher. There was a time when it appeared certain Hamner would be one of the all-time greats at short. . . . Now, says Mayo Smith, Hamner's career as a big league shortstop is finished, and his career as a pitcher has been launched in all seriousness, and with determined intention. . . . Now the die is cast. One career lies behind him, a new one beckons.
Hamner expressed confidence in the switch. "I know I've got a lot to learn," he said in that same issue of The Sporting News, "but I can get the fast ball over the plate. The other stuff might give me trouble." Catcher Stan Lopata was encouraging: "Hamner has control, speed and a fair curve. He also has thrown me a good knuckler."
Hamner made the team, but pitched only once, pinch-hitting for the pitcher on April 27 and then taking the mound for a shutout inning with the Phillies trailing the Giants 10-1.
In a story in the May 22, 1957, issue of The Sporting News, Allen Lewis said Hamner "had only moderate success [as a pitcher in spring training] and the inactivity was unbearable, so he decided to give the infield one more try." The team trainer worked on him daily starting in late March, and Granny finally returned to the lineup at second base on May 7. He went on to finish 23rd in the National League MVP voting, despite hitting just .227 and leading the league in grounding into double plays.
Hamner was traded to Cleveland in May 1959 and was released by the Indians after the season. He then caught on with the Yankees' top farm team in his hometown of Richmond, signing as a player-coach for 1960. He hit .270 as a reserve third baseman and got back on the mound, but pitched without distinction, putting up a 5.68 ERA in 19 innings with 14 walks.
In 1961 Hamner got his first managing job, with the Athletics' Portsmouth-Norfolk (Va.) team in the Class A South Atlantic League. He still played some infield and batted .294, and he did a good job on the mound. Appearing in 30 games, with three starts, he went 5-4 with a 3.43 ERA in 99-2/3 innings.
The next year the A's made Hamner the manager of their Binghamton (N.Y.) farm club in the Class A Eastern League. He no longer played the infield, but his pitching career took off. Granny completed all 14 of his starts and posted a record of 10-4; his team was shut out in three of his losses and scored just one run in the other, while Hamner allowed nine runs in the four games combined. And his 2.08 ERA led the league. In a feature in the August 11, 1962, issue of The Sporting News, John Steadman described how Hamner became the ace of his staff:
The team's pitching was thin in the spring and when injuries further handicapped Manager Hamner's outfit, he volunteered. Manager Hamner decided to give Pitcher Hamner what he asked, mainly out of desparation. . . .
Hamner always had a strong arm when he was shortstopping for the Phils. When he'd throw on the sidelines before a game, he'd often toss knuckleballs. So it was the knuckler he went to as his main stock-in-trade when he handed himself the ball and wrote his name on the lineup card as the starting pitcher.
As the season wore on, the parent A's started to think they might have use for a 35-year-old knuckleballer who could get people out. On July 27 team officials had him join the A's in Baltimore for a tryout. They liked what they saw and signed him the next day, with Hamner making his American League pitching debut that same night.Hamner entered the game in the sixth inning with the A's trailing 3-0 and held the Orioles scoreless for two innings, allowing just one hit. At that point his career major league ERA was 3.18.
Three days later came the big test. The A's were leading 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth in Detroit, and after Danny McDevitt retired the first two Tigers the A's were just one out away from the win. But McDevitt then issued a pair of walks to bring the winning run to the plate, and Kansas City manager Hank Bauer — who played against Hamner in the 1950 World Series — called on his new pitcher to wrap up the win.
Granny couldn't get the third out. Wild pitch, walk to Al Kaline, game-tying single by Rocky Colavito, intentional walk to Norm Cash, game-winning single by Dick McAuliffe. Blown save, losing pitcher, Hamner.
Bauer gave Hamner another shot in the second game and it was ugly as well. The A's were trailing 4-1 when Granny entered in the seventh inning; he went the rest of the way, allowing five runs, seven hits and two walks in two innings. It would be Granny Hamner's last appearance in a professional game.
Hamner did not go back to Kansas City with the A's at the end of the road trip, telling team officials he was voluntarily retired. He didn't return to Binghamton either and never managed again. "Granny Hamner has decided he can't make the grade as a major league pitcher," according to an item in the August 18 Sporting News.
If you know anyone I've overlooked as a major leaguer who became a pitcher-manager in the minors, please leave a comment below.


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Here comes .NET Framework 3.0
With Windows Vista now officially in sight, Ed Tittel takes a look at the major components of .NET 3.0.
News hit the wire earlier this month that the new official release date for Windows Vista is now Jan. 30, 2007(desktop versions only, for this time frame; server versions to follow much later in 2007). Besides the possible impact on the holiday buying season and the best-laid plans of system vendors and integrators, developers have a stake in this artful dodging as well. There are four new components related to .NET Framework 3.0 already available for download just one click away from the Visual Studio home page.
It's so early in the game that I've not yet had time to dig into this stuff, but those who are building for Vista, or who want to look forward to the next generation of Windows development tools, are strongly urged to grab, inspect and play, if they haven't done so already. And it's just in time for the holidays!
Ed Tittel is a writer and trainer whose interests include XML and development topics, along with IT Certification and information security. E-mail email@example.com with comments, questions, or suggested topics or tools to review. Cool tools rule!


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Hey everyone! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Here I have one more shade of Covergirl Outlast Nail Polish, Rough Red to share with you. I was stunned by Sulfur Blaze shade and this color too looked very attractive and I ended up buying it. Rouge red is a fierce copper red color with tiny gold flecks. If you looking for a bold fall color, then this is it! This polish alone will make your manicure stand out, no professional assistance needed. As, we are in transition from fall to winter, have it on as a treat to yourself.
- Pigmentation: Pigmentation of this Covergirl shade is great. On a single layer it gives nice color. But I would suggest to have two coats on your nails just to get the flawless application.
- Formula: It is equally great formula wise too. Applies smooth on nails, no streaky application at all.
- Finish: Gorgeous metallic foil finish. feels super smooth to touch and dries real quick.
- Staying Power: It stayed well for five days on my nails with out any wear off. I want to mention that I didn't apply any Base or Top Coat.
- Where to Buy: Covergirl polishes available in all the drugstores, Walmart and Target. You can get it online too with good deals from Amazon or eBay.
How do you like this shade! Don't you feel it's a perfect color for fall? Share your thoughts in the comment box below. I would be happy to hear from you 🙂
Check out my Nail Polish Swatches for more colorful polishes.


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Short Tail Vs. Long Tail: Which Type of Keyword is Best for Your Website?
Advertising legend David Ogilvy summed up his philosophy about product marketing with the much quoted adage, "The more you tell, the more you sell." While Ogilvy was probably referring to print media advertising, the idea behind his words still resonates with today's SEO practitioner: "Use head keywords to generate volume and long tail keywords to generate profit."
Or as Ogilvy himself might have put it, "The more your long tail keywords tell, the more you will sell."
The question of which type of keyword your web pages should be optimized for simply has no clear-cut answer that applies in all situations; short tail and long tail keywords both have a role to play in driving traffic to your site. Your choice of short tail or long tail keywords largely depends on your marketing goals.
Short Tail, Long Tail: What's the Difference?
- A short tail keyword, also known as a head term, is a broad root keyword that represents a single idea. "Auto repair," "dentist," and "French restaurants" are all examples of short tail keywords.
- Short tail keywords generally have more search traffic potential than longer phrases, but are also harder to rank for.
- Long tail keywords are extensions of the shorter single-idea phrases. They come closer to matching the way search engine users frame their search queries. Examples of long tail keywords include "mobile auto repair in Denver," "Santa Fe pediatric dentist," and "French restaurants in Beverly Hills."
- While long tail keywords deliver less traffic than short tail head terms, they are usually considerably easier to rank for than short tail keywords.
In addition to being easier to rank for, long tail keywords deliver a better conversion rate. When users type in longer and more specific search phrases, they are generally closer to making a purchase decision. Users who are still in the product research phase tend to use shorter and less specific search terms.
Advertisers running pay per click ad campaigns can also benefit from long tail keywords. When you bid on long tail terms, there is usually much less competition than for shorter head terms. Less competition means that your cost per click is going to be considerably lower.
The Drawbacks of Using Long Tail Keywords
While the long tail keyword has a lot going for it, it may not be the best choice for everyone. Shorter head terms may be more effective than long tail terms in some niches. One significant problem is the reduced volume of traffic. The search volume for some long tail keywords may be so low that visitor traffic to your website drops off considerably. You may be able to compensate for the difference in search volume by optimizing for multiple long tail keywords.
If your website is relatively new, focusing on long tail keywords may cost you the opportunity to test popular shorter head terms that might convert just as well as the longer ones.
Optimize for a Combination of Short and Long Tail Keywords
Most websites will benefit from optimizing for both short and long tail terms. Short head terms are great for driving volumes of visitors to your site who could potentially be added to your email list as well as for establishing brand awareness.


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North Africa Oil & Gas Summit 2013
WhenOct 22, 2013 08:00 AM to
Oct 24, 2013 06:30 PM
The 8th edition of the North Africa Oil and Gas Summit will gather together 300+ high level representatives from key stakeholders that include the Ministry of Industry Tunisia, ETAP and ENIT (National Engineering School of Tunis), BG Group, Shell, Total, Repsol, Sonatrach, NOC Libya, OMV, Schlumberger, Petrofac DNV OMV and many more.
The North Africa Oil & Gas Summit under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry, Tunisian Republic and supported by ETAP is the true premier regional event where IOCs will differentiate themselves from one another and to host governments by proving their technology capabilities and their efficiency at managing complex projects.
This summit enables governments within the region to showcase their energy strategy and expose their needs to international investors who will understand what added values they have to bring to the table to win them over.
More information about this event…


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|For the inside, I stamped a sentiment of the same stamp set and used some scrap pieces from the same paper pack.
|The patterned papers are from HOTP's Soft Nostalgia 12x12 pack. I decided to use the blue and yellow for the card and for accent, I went with just the raspberry. I coloured the bow in image in raspberry (sort of) and similar coloured eyelets and ribbon for the sentiment tag.
|The image and sentiment are from WMS "Spring Basket" set, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black. I used Spellbinders dies - Classic Circles and Eyelet Circles - to cut ou the image and matt piece. And to cut out the sentiment I used Spellbinders Grommet die. I coloured the image with Promarkers.
|Have you noticed that the basket is NOT brown. There's a story to that. The challenge requires the use of certain colours and other colours should be neutral. Is brown neutral? Should my basket be blue harbour or honey mustard? Can't imagine owning a raspberry egg basket. Should I leave it plain? Have I mentioned I over-think stuff? As you can see here, I left it uncoloured for a while. But it just did not look right to me. After I took this photo, I went ahead and coloured it brown, neutral brown, I hope! I did some inking with TH's Antique Linen, neutral linen of course!
|For the inside, I stamped a sentiment of the same stamp set and used some scrap pieces from the same paper pack.
Well done......please join me again at 52 Card Pickup!
I love this card about faith
congratulations is very NICE!!
I folow you noaw
thanks for visit me
I love your work
from Chile I´m your fan!!
I´m begginin Scrapand I need tips and help
(sorry for my bad english)
Oh Carolina, you are too kind! Thank you so much for your support. If you like faith based cards, I think you might like a card I'm working on now... watch this space, my friend! And about scrapbooking ... I'm not there yet, and with good reason. One of these days, I'll post a lil' something chronicling my adventures with scrapbooking ... watch this space, again!
this is gorgoeus-I saw it on 52 card pick up. The sentiment is just perfect and the little basket so cute. I also need to make some Easter cards and you have inspired me! I am now one of your followers!ReplyDelete
Asha I love that sentiment in front of the card! Where I grew up Easter was not about eggs nor bunnies.ReplyDelete
I really like the way you finished off the card inside, so perfect! Thanks for joining us at The Play Date Cafe.ReplyDelete
Excellent card, love the design. Thanks for playing along with us at The Play Date Cafe!ReplyDelete


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2017 RAM Promaster Houston TX
2017 RAM ProMaster at Northwest Dodge for Houston, TX
If you need a dependable commercial van that will support you in creating a successful business, the 2017 RAM ProMaster is a terrific option. This van has been built to maximize power for hauling, towing, and cargo needs, as well as maximize efficiency to reduce fuel costs and maximize profit. The 2017 RAM ProMaster continues to offer many customization options, which will allow customers to easily create the perfect van for their daily needs. You can learn more about the great 2017 RAM ProMaster by reading below!
Under the ProMaster's Hood
RAM will offer two exceptional engines with their ProMaster van. The engine found standard on the van is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. It utilizes a front-wheel drive system and is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. This configuration works to produce 280 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. When the gas engine is properly equipped, it can offer a max towing rating of 5,100 pounds and a max payload of 3,990 pounds. Customers can also choose to equip a fantastic 3.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, and it features a six-speed single-clutch automatic transmission. The diesel engine delivers 174 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque, and a max payload of 3,730 pounds when properly equipped. The diesel engine has the same maximum towing rating as the gas engine when it is configured properly.
Design of RAM ProMaster
Like all RAM vehicles, the 2017 ProMaster is very easy for customers to configure. There are many optional upfits, packages, and wheelbase lengths offered, depending on whether you choose the 1500, 2500, or 3500 trim level. Customers can choose between a low- or high-roof with the 1500, while the 2500 and 3500 models both have a high-roof. Each trim is equipped with a range of features that will make any job easier, including 16-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, a passenger-side sliding door, and many power accessories. A four-speaker audio system is standard, and it is paired to auxiliary and USB inputs. For infotainment options, the ProMaster is offered with a Uconnect 5-inch touchscreen interface, and it can be equipped with internet connectivity and GPS navigation. Other options available with the ProMaster include a driver-side sliding door, a cargo partition, heated seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an alarm system for extra security. The available packages offered with this model include the Premium Appearance package, which has a chrome grille and foglights.
Is the ProMaster a safe commercial vehicle?
Absolutely! The 2017 RAM ProMaster is a very safe commercial van, and it offers more than 35 standard and optional safety features.
Do I need to schedule an appointment to have my oil changed?
No, you do not need an appointment. With our Mopar Express Lane you can drive up during our service hours and have your oil changed quickly and efficiently without scheduling beforehand. Mopar Express Lane
Is a diesel-powered engine available?
Yes, if you would prefer a diesel-powered engine RAM offers their 3.0-liter EcoDiesel I4 engine as an option.
Not only is the RAM ProMaster a powerful, economical, and intelligently designed van, but it is also a safe vehicle. Each ProMaster will come equipped with antilock disc brakes, stability control with trailer-sway control, and hill start assist. Additionally, the ProMaster has side, front, and side curtain airbags. Enhancing the driver's visibility is important to RAM, so they constructed the vehicle with large windows and multiple assistance technologies that can lend support. Two of those optional technologies include a rearview camera and rear parking sensors. If you would like to discuss the 2017 RAM ProMaster with our team or inquire about how it can be customized for your business needs, give us a call today at Northwest Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram!


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After conquering deserts, battling blizzards and being threatened by a furious bear, exhausted Kevin Carr last night became the fastest man to run around the world.Kevin was cheered by well-wishers as he completed his 16,300-mile run in 621 days.
Cocoon is genuinely excited to have sponsored Kevin Carr and is delighted with his achievements. The Hard Way Round challenge embodies the ambition, determination and innovation that is synonymous with Cocoon's culture. We wish him all the best for the future.
The real-life Forrest Gump finished the epic challenge when he made it back to his starting point on Dartmoor in Devon. For full press coverage click here.


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Advocating for Children with Disabilitiesô for Over 15 years
Special Education Advocate
As a special education advocate, Dawn has successfully obtained the appropriate support for children with a variety of disabilities.ô ô In addition to an extensive background as a special educator, she also has the insights gained from being a parent of a child with a disability.ô ô Knowing the system from the perspective of a parent and as an educator, she is well versed with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), its sometimes complicated procedures to be followed, and the other laws protecting people with disabilities.ô ô She is experienced in navigating the system with collaborative and resistive educators, as well as bureaucratic administrators. While each child is unique, Dawn, as a special educator,ô is knowledgeable about the services that are most often recommended and the options available in order to provide the appropriate, least restrictive environment.ô ô As a parent, she uses her knowledge of the laws protecting people with disabilities andô due process when needed to protect her childãs or her own civil liberties.
Educational Consultant
As an Educational Consultant, Dawn assessed children with a variety of educational difficulties.ô ô Once their difficulties were identified, Dawn developed the appropriate learning plan based on their strengths and weaknesses.ô Whether they qualified for special education support or whether it was determined that their needs could be met in the regular classroom, Dawn regularly consulted with the teachers and other school personnel to help insure that the childãs needs were being met.ô On the occasions that a childãs needs could not be met within the schoolãs setting, Dawn investigated and obtained the appropriate support,ô ô including a one-on-one paraprofessional, a more intensive program,ô an alternative schoolô and an extended school year.
(Jefferson County Public Schools 1998 -2004)
Special Education Teacher
Building on the studentãs individualized learning plan, Dawn used research based instructional methods to successfully teach students with a wide variety of difficulties and disabilities related to reading, writing, math, language, behavior and health.
(Jefferson County Public Schools 2004-2009)
Classroom Teacher
Dawn has worked in a variety of school districts in the Denver metropolitan area including:ô Jefferson County, Denver, Cherry Creek and Aurora.
M.Ed., Special Education, Moderate Needs (K-12) University of Northern Colorado
B.S. Elementaryô Education (K-6) and University of Colorado


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Baranavichy activist stands trial for picket in support of Karatkevich
Baranavichy activist Ryhor Hryk is standing trial for organizing a pre-election picket in support of Tatstsyana Karatkevich. The picket was held on September 27, head of Brest Province affiliate of the Belarusian Social-Democratic Party (Hramada) Ihar Maslouski said.
Maslouski was Tatstsyana Karatkevich's accredited representative during the election campaign. He reported the intention to hold eth picket to the city authorities. However, activist visit Hryk was accused of organizing an unauthorized event, Maslouski found out later.
Maslouski was a witness in Baranavichy District Court on October 27. Pickets in support of presidential candidates without their accredited representatives were held all over Brest Province, he said. However, Baranavichy is the only city where a picketer is standing trial now.
The trial will continue on October 28.
Photo: bobruisk.ru