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Monthly Archives: January 2014
I am going to begin this post by making it crystal clear that I have the utmost respect for Antonio Gates and I do not, by any means, think that he is done. It is my belief that he has at least two more solid seasons left in him. And by the time his reign as one of the best tight ends to ever play the game ends, the Chargers have just the man in place to take over and make Gates proud to relinquish his throne.
His name is Ladarius Green. He just so happens to be 6'6″ and, as Philip Rivers once proclaimed, is the fastest player on the team. In 2014, Green will be entering his third season in the NFL. His rookie year didn't afford him many opportunities to establish himself in the Charger offense. Some of that was due to a steep learning curve as Green was a fourth round draft pick out of Louisiana-Lafayette. His sophomore season in the NFL provided more chances but there is still a lot left to be seen. The former Ragin' Cajun was a bit of an unknown as a collegian but made a statement on the national scene with a solid performance in the New Orleans bowl versus the San Diego State Aztecs in 2011. Take a look.
My apologies to the Aztec fans that had to relive those highlights.
As you can see from the video, Green has great speed and height for the position. Ladarius has put on some much-needed weight since his college days to thicken up for his blocking duties at the next level.
Although the bowl game highlights provide a bit of foreshadowing for the future, the Chargers and their fans really have just begun to see what the ultimate potential is for Green.
Before I drop a few stats and facts about Green's performances during his short-lived Chargers career, here is another video but this one has plays from his NFL career.
Now that you've taken a look at a couple of videos, I'm going to throw out some tidbits about Ladarius Green.
– Of all the players in the NFL that had at least 17 receptions, he averaged more yards per catch – 22.1 – than everyone else.
– While recording catches in 9 different games, he managed to have a catch of at least 20 yards in 8 of those 9 contests.
– His 60 yard touchdown catch in week 12 versus Kansas City was the longest reception of the season by a Charger.
– Despite only 17 receptions during the regular season, 3 went for touchdowns.
– His first career catch was a 31 yarder versus the Titans as a rookie.
– In the first playoff game of his career he had 3 catches. One of which was an impressive jump ball TD from Rivers.
Knowing that Green has been learning his craft under future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, Charger fans have a lot to be excited about. Though he is still incredibly raw in many facets of the game, he certainly has the right teacher in Gates. When adding in the mental part of the game with Green's athleticism and playmaking ability, you have the makings of something special.
As I mentioned above, Ladarius will be heading into his third year this offseason. But due to allowing him time to develop, Green has yet to accumulate enough regular season starts to make up a full 16 game season. As long as Green is a patient man, he'll certainly benefit from this. The sky is the limit for this future superstar. He has a lot to work on in the blocking department, but his predecessor has had his struggles with that as well. That guy seemed to turn out ok.
Note to the rest of the NFL:
Ladarius Green hasn't even come close to reaching his ceiling. The best is yet to come and I'm glad that I'll be there for the entire ride. So jump on the Ladarius Green bandwagon now while there's still room. Because, come next season, there might not be anywhere to sit.
Booga Peters
I think everyone would agree that the 2013 season was a success. Very few people truly anticipated our Bolts would finish 10-8, grab the #6 seed or advance to the AFC Divisional Round before finally having injuries catch up with them.
Philip Rivers is now deemed "fixed". Rather, Philip adapted and thrived in the changes to the offensive scheme implemented by Mike McCoy, Ken Whisenhunt and Frank Reich. Ryan Mathews ran harder and with more confidence than any other time in his brief career. More importantly, he overcame his label of being fragile and fumble prone. He played his best football with a high ankle sprain and he only fumbled twice, losing only one of those to the opposition.
Chargers #1 pick, D.J. Fluker got better as his rookie campaign progressed. He has a mean streak that I love and that has been lacking since the old days of Mike Goff, Kris Dielman and Nick Hardwick playing side by side. #2 pick, Manti Te'o also improved as the season went on, learning on the job after missing most of training camp with a foot injury. #3 pick Keenan Allen came out of nowhere and impressed the most jaded of fans and prognosticators. Last year's #1 pick, Melvin Ingram made his presence felt when he returned from knee surgery in Week 13.
So, where do the Chargers go from here? NT is sorely needed to protect Te'o and Donald Butler. They need a space-eating NT to keep the opposing offensive linemen off our inside linebackers. Second in line is CB. We need someone who can cover effectively. Eric Weddell and Jahleel Addae can only protect weak corners to a point. Derek Cox certainly wasn't the answer, and I'm not convinced Richard Marshall is either. They'll get Johnny Patrick and Steve Williams back, but will that be the answer?
After that, pass rush depth is needed. They need to cut ties with Larry English. Will Dwight Freeney be able to come back from his injury? Will the Chargers bring him back? The best way to help your secondary is with a strong pass rush and consistent pressure on opposing QBs. Depth along the OL is needed. We don't know yet if Nick Hardwick will be back. Can King Dunlap hold up for an entire season? Can Rich Ohrnberger play 16 games at C if Hardwick does hang up the cleats? Who plays behind Ryan Mathews? Ronnie Brown isn't the answer, they need to get younger here. WR depth is another concern. If Danario Alexander and Malcolm Floyd don't return, who plays opposite Allen and who will command Rivers' attention?
Tom Telesco and McCoy have their work cut out for them this spring and summer. I'm confident in what they will do in 2014 considering how they worked with what they had in 2013.
I know I've raised more questions than answers. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
With the Chargers season being over, Tom Telesco gets to oversee his second offseason in San Diego. Overall, it's safe to say that he captained an organization that was in desperate need of a confidence boost. He made a great initial impression last year mainly due to a great draft and commitment to an overhaul in culture in San Diego. Due to those to things, there are fewer off-season worries than usual even with such a small sample size of what the new front office is capable of.
Obviously it is far too soon to grade Telesco. No matter how good or bad he is doing, right now it is still clear that there is definitely a fresh new breeze roaming the San Diego air which gives fans heightened sense of hope for the future of the organization. Not only has the GM come in and done well, but so has fellow first timer head coach Mike McCoy who led the team to a commendable 9-7 record and 10-8 overall including the playoffs.
Continuing the trend of "first-timers", Keenan Allen cannot be ignored as a key part of the Chargers success this season. His 71 catches for over 1,000 receiving and 8 touchdowns had him as one of the top candidates for NFL's Rookie of the Year. Additionally, 1st round draft pick DJ Fluker proved to be well worth the pick and was, perhaps, the best offensive linemen in the entire 2013 draft class.
In all, this season was a tremendous step forward for this team as it sets in place a different culture in the league. Many pieces who were "rookies" within the organization stepped up to the plate and answered when their respective moments came. There is definitely more room for improvement as others will have their time to shine while those who did this year strive to make it a habit.
Jarvis Royall
After somewhat of a writing hiatus, I am now back to the grindstone after the Chargers were ousted from the playoffs by the Denver Broncos. This season provided many ups and downs. Considering what Tom Telesco, Mike McCoy and company had to work with the 2013 season can definitely be considered a success.
As you all know, the Bolts advanced past the first round of the playoffs and eventually fell to Denver. During that game, and many others throughout the year, San Diego's flaws became quite obvious. In this post I'll breakdown the team's needs all over the defensive side of the roster.
Despite improved play in the secondary, it is clear that the cornerback position must be addressed during the offseason. The Chargers finished with the 29th ranked passing defense. That is not going to get it done. Shareece Wright played hard and was tough during certain stretches of the year. But he was a bit inconsistent. Richard Marshall played admirably but was not a guy that you want starting in your defensive backfield. I am very interested to see what this year's fifth round pick, Steve Williams can do next season after tearing a pectoral muscle prior to the season. The Chargers may look to address this need in both free agency and the draft depending on how the feel the play of Wright progressed as a starter on the outside. Wright had his share of plays and he was also exploited by some of the better quarterbacks in the league.
Sticking with the cornerback spot, the addition of Derek Cox was, without a doubt, a serious disappointment to say the least. After multiple benchings due to poor play, Cox was relegated to special teams play or occasionally coming in when another corner was injured. It has been said by Telesco that the team will try to work with Cox. But it would not be a surprise at all to see him cut in an effort to save a little bit of cash toward the salary cap.
On a high note regarding the secondary, the emergence of strong safety Jahleel Addae just might have eliminated the need to fill that spot in the upcoming draft or free agency. It is also seemed that Darrell Stuckey, who began to see the most defensive snaps of his entire career, is a solid backup. Oh, and there's that one guy Eric Weddle. He's pretty damn good. Adding a little depth to the safety spots wouldn't hurt but the future there seems to be bright.
Sticking with the defensive side of the ball, we'll work our way to the linebacking spots. Beginning with the inside backers, it is paramount that the team re-sign Donald Butler. He is a leader on this team and, despite a dip in play this year, he is a top 7 inside linebacker in this league.
Next to Butler is the highly talked about Manti Te'o; who it turns out has a real girlfriend, by the way. After missing the first three games due to injury, Te'o had a rough beginning to his rookie campaign. He had some issues adjusting to the speed of the NFL game and his inability to shed blocks was still the same issue he had in college. All of that being said, his play did improve over the season.
The Bolts have Reggie Walker, who plays both the inside and outside spots, Andrew Gachkar – special teams standout – and Bront Bird for depth at the inside linebacker position. Walker had a good year making plays when called upon. It might be necessary to upgrade over either Gachkar, Bird or both.
The outside linebacker position was hoped to be one of the strengths of the defense with Melvin Ingram entering his sophomore season and the addition of Dwight Freeney in free agency. The team already had a dominant edge-setter in Jarret Johnson as well. Then on May 2nd, the team's second day of OTAs, Ingram tore his ACL.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Freeney was lost for the year during the week 4 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The Chargers were then starting Johnson and rookie sixth round draft pick Tourek Williams. As mentioned above, Johnson is solid against the run and constantly disrupting running lanes to the edge, but he is not what one would consider to be a threat as a pass rusher. Despite the high-motor play of Williams, he was a rookie making the transition for collegiate defensive end in a 4-3 to an NFL outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. The learning curve appeared to be steep at times for the former Florida International product.
Without being certain what the future will hold for Freeney, the Chargers could look to add a future stud to the outside linebacking corps. Although Freeney is under contract through the 2014 season, there is no guarantee that he won't retire or the team could even decide to part ways with him due to age and injury concerns.
Now on to the final portion of the Charger defense. Going into the 2013 season the defensive line was thought to be the strongest segment of the entire team. Although this would be the first year that Cam Thomas would be used as a starting nose tackle, he had the benefit of being flanked by both Corey Liuget and Kendall Reyes.
The defensive line was a bit of a let down, as a whole, for a good portion of the year. Liuget had a good year and seemed to be playing through injury in the first few games of the season. He did begin to turn out it on and wreak havoc in the opposing team's backfields as the season wore on. He put up respectable numbers for a 3-4 defensive end but 2013 showed that he needs better support from his linemates.
Thomas had a tough time making his mark and was bullied at the point of attack at times. The 2013 season could have been the last year that Thomas will be in lightning bolts. Michael Gehlken of UT San Diego has already been on record saying that he doesn't anticipate Thomas will be re-signed by the Chargers.
The importance of a dominant nose tackle in a 3-4 cannot be overstated enough. For the 3-4 to be successful, you must have a space-eater that can take on double teams and win while collapsing the pocket. At this point, San Diego does not have anyone on the roster capable of doing a sufficient job at the position.
Then comes the play of Kendall Reyes. After seeing his outstanding play in 2012, this season was a let down of sorts for Reyes. He didn't seem nearly as explosive and I didn't see the same tenacity when engaging at the point of attack. He was able to make some plays but much more was expected of him. Again, this could be the lack of an impact made by Thomas in the middle. The hope is that we'll see a rejuvenated Reyes in 2014.
In conclusion, the needs on the defensive side of the football seem to be obvious and the most prominent of those are at nose tackle and cornerback. There are some depth needs at inside and outside linebacker. The team may also need to look at adding another safety to the mix for depth purposes as well.
Thanks a lot for reading and in the next day or so I'll be breaking down the needs for the Charger offense going into the 2014 offseason. This team overachieved in 2013 but it has a solid foundation to build upon for the future. I have complete faith in Telesco to do what it takes to bring the Chargers back into the upper echelon of the NFL. Hopefully he can get the Chargers back to the promised land and San Diego may bolt into the Super bowl and bring back the Vince Lombardi trophy to America's finest city.
Only time will tell.
Booga Peters
Touch screen nacho delivery? An app for ordering your beer? An app to find the closest parking spot?
It may sound crazy, but technology is infiltrating the NFL. The Eagles and the Patriots have already set up in-stadium Wi-Fi systems so that fans can connect their mobile devices to the network to Snapchat, tweet and Instagram as they're watching the games.
The CIO for the NFL, Michelle McKenna-Doyle, told CiteWorld that Wi-Fi vendor Extreme Networks will now be able to gather analytics from NFL fans while they're plugged-in at their favorite team's games. Technology is developing so quickly today; that the possibilities for getting fans connected is nearly endless.
"Certainly a full stadium is the best fan and game experience so we do need to focus on making sure that happens," said McKenna-Doyle. "Keeping it compelling and special will help us sell tickets."
Of course, there is something to be said for sharing your experience with your social networks– you can always find me on Twitter or Instagram during Charger games. But what about actually taking the time to watch the game with your own eyes, instead of watching it through the lens of your iPhone? Some could argue (and I would) THAT is what creates the compelling experience.
We live in a world where we can give and receive information in an instant with just the click of a button (even buttons are becoming obsolete due to touch screens), and the NFL is trying to keep up with our ever-changing world.
McKenna Doyle also discusses the possibility of bringing technology to the sidelines, with hand-held tablets displaying the various play options for coaches. It seems to me that could lead down a slippery technological slope for what is and what is not allowed on the sidelines!
Whether it be sharing photos with your social networks, or ordering an ice-cold beer with a new app, technology is constantly evolving into new ways to get plugged in.
Tweet at me: @Mahryeuh
The Chargers lost their Divisional Round game in Denver as we all know. They were out played and out coached in all aspects of the game, losing 24-17. The game wasn't as close as the score might imply.
I'm not going to get into the game here, and why I think they lost.
Even though the season is now over for our Chargers, let's not forget they exceeded most expectations. I know a lot of people, myself included, who never expected to see Charger football continue into January. From that standpoint, let's consider this season, the first under Tom Telesco and Mike McCoy a success.
Telesco and McCoy took over a royal mess from A.J. Smith and Norv Turner. They turned over half the roster and got younger at most positions. They made tough decisions like cutting ties with Jared Gaither. They had very little salary cap space to work within.
Overall, their top three draft choices paid dividends, especially Keenan Allen whom they STOLE in the THIRD ROUND. He broke John Jefferson's record for most receiving yards by a rookie at 1,046. He spent the better part of the first two games on the sidelines until Malcolm Floyd got hurt. For the most part, D.J. Fluker and Mantei Te'o held their own, steadily improving week after week.
Philip Rivers looked like the Rivers of old, throwing for 4,478 yards, 32 touchdowns against only 11 interceptions. Ryan Mathews came into his own this year as well. Mathews ran for 1,255 yards, topping his previous high of 1,091 yards in 2011. More importantly, he fumbled only twice and only one resulted in a change of possession. He also toughed out an ankle injury that didn't sideline him until the Cincinnati and Denver playoff games.
Given the success the team had this year, with all the holes they had, this offseason is going to be exciting. I look for Telesco and McCoy to be far more aggressive in free agency this winter and spring. I look for our Bolts to rebound from the disappointing loss in Denver and come back in 2014 contending for the division title and a deep run into the post season.
As most of you know, I scour the internet to find the best of the best when it comes to adding to the most significant of #BoltFam members. Well, lo and behold, I was fortunate enough to find a fan that might, just might, rival even MY love for your San Diego Chargers. Sit back, relax and take a second to soak up what this extreme diehard has to say about our team.
"I'm pumped, let me get a blindshot on Brady!" -Preston
Booga- For starters, when and why did you become a Charger diehard?
Preston: It all began in the 80's. Where I lived, in Charlotte, NC, we didn't have a team. That playoff game versus the Miami Dolphins where Kellen Winslow was carried off the field cemented my love and appreciation for the Chargers. I was only 7 years old and what child does not appreciate or dig the presence of a lightning bolt?
Booga: What has helped you sustain your love for the Chargers considering that you're on the opposite coast of your favorite NFL team?
Preston: Hmmm. I have never looked back. Before the internet, I didn't have much to go off of besides the boxscore in the newspaper. I was fortunate enough to have a Sports Illustrated subscription. So I was able to follow the Chargers from afar, but I refused to allow that distance to hinder my ability to support the team that I truly loved.
Booga: Who is your favorite Charger of all-time and why?
Preston: In North Carolina, there is a full-circle notion. When in North Carolina, what could be finer than to live in Carolina. My twist on that has become what could be finer than a Charger from Carolina. The finest example of such, is none other than Natrone Means.
Booga: If you were to have been able to attend any game in Charger history, what game would it have been and why?
Preston: That would have to be the AFC Championship at Three Rivers Stadium versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is simple, that was the one game that sent our San Diego Chargers to our first, and only, at this point, Super bowl.
Booga: What was your initial reaction to that game and our first Super bowl berth?
Preston: Oh man, like I won the lottery. Like all was right in the world. It felt like I was dreaming.
Booga: What was your feeling behind the firings of both Norv Turner and AJ Smith?
Preston: To be honest, it was the SECOND greatest day, for me, when it comes to being a Charger fan. I realized that it was time for Norv to go when it was easily predictable what the next play was going to be. I lost my full confidence in his ability to call plays successfully. As far as AJ is concerned, minus the allowance of Buster Davis being drafted, seeing him battle with Vincent Jackson for a long-term contract left a lot to be desired.
Booga: What is it that you expect out of the 2013-14 Chargers going forward?
Preston: I would tell you this…. we've experienced good, we've experienced great, but we have yet to experience that special, elusive trophy. It feels as though THIS is the time for the fans of OUR San Diego Chargers to feel the necessary love and redemption of that final piece of the puzzle. That trophy named after VINCE LOMBARDI!
Booga: Regardless of your diehard status, what is your final prediction for tomorrow's game?
Preston: Danny Woodhead has his biggest game of his NFL career and the Chargers handle their business with a 31-20 victory.
P.S. Melvin Ingram will knock Peyton Manning out of the game in the third quarter. Some call it an injury; I call it THUNDERSTRUCK! Pay close attention to my predictions. If they aren't accurate, blame Booga.
Ladies and gentlemen, there you have it! This man was as serious about his love for the Chargers as anyone that I've ever met. His passion and love for the Bolts is not only to be admired, it is to be replicated by those of you that might have any doubt regarding this team.
I'd like to thank Preston for taking the time to do this interview. I have no doubt that the #BoltFam will truly appreciate and love the opportunity to read about this diehard from the other coast! Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter, @pdiddu!
Booga Peters
To the ladies of the world that love our great sport of football, on the behalf of the men of the world, we salute YOU! Ask any sports loving, red-blooded American male and we will all tell you, there are not nearly enough of you. After what seems like a lifetime of dating, pretty close to eight out of ten women rolled their eyes at me when the subject of conversation turned to football or sports in general. At one point about a decade ago, I even forsook the entire regular season for a woman. She wanted us to be together on Sundays and her idea of a fun Sunday was craft fairs, going antiquing or playing with her cat.
My fanaticism with the Chargers began when I was 7, so I was a full blown Chargers addict by this time. At the time of this romance, the Chargers were in year four of the Ladainian Tomlinson era. I fooled myself into thinking she was more important than football. It took those regular season months and the growing withdrawals I was suffering to realize the importance of common interests. We liked very different things. I realized that no degree of hotness makes up for a year without football. A year without football leaves a void inside that must be filled. Antiques are just old stuff. And I hate cats. By the end of December this experiment was over but I rejoined the party too late. The Chargers won the AFC West by going 12-4, (of all the seasons to sit out) then Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding forgot how to kick and missed three field goals in a 20-17 loss to the Jets in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The football gods had smote me for my insolence and taken my team out of the Super Bowl mix for good measure.
It was at that point I decided I would never let a woman keep me from my Chargers again. Football was added to the dealbreaker list. Thankfully, I will never have to deal with that problem again.
My beautiful wife Dawn is as fanatic a football fan as I am. She knows the entire team roster. She knows each player by just their number. Her commentary on the game is better than the announcers on the broadcasts. She can give you her team's history going back to her childhood. That alone was enough to make me fall in love with her. The only problem is, her favorite team is the Denver Broncos. Great… Division rival. Opposite ends of the couch twice during the regular season. The Broncos are the toast of the league this season and now to make matters even more interesting our teams are on a collision course Sunday for the right to advance to the AFC Championship.
There will not be opposite ends of the couch for this one. Separate buildings on the opposite ends of town is the plan for this trilogy game.
Many have asked me, 'What's it like to have a wife that's a Broncos fan?' She is the mirror image of me. She roots as hard for them and yells at the TV more and louder than I do! (That's saying something…) She is ready to defend her team with facts and stats at the drop of a hat. Same as I do. She endures my Chargers fanaticism as I do her Broncos fanaticism but there's no doubt looking at each others' colors burns our eyes.
We are insufferable when it comes to our teams, which is the way it should be. We both hate the Raiders with the fire of a thousand hells. Again, as it should be. I will say this. As beautiful, charming and awesome as she is all around, if she was a Raiders fan there is no chance we would have even dated! Talk about dealbreakers, that caveat was at the top from day one! If you're a Raiders fan its just proof you don't make good life decisions! She takes losses harder than I do but the Broncos haven't lost much this year, just three times.
As a long suffering Chargers fan, we've become accustomed with the Chargers finding new, excruciating and imaginative ways to lose over the last four years. She scours Twitter (@dawnwilliams83) to find injury reports and news. Ask anything about any Broncos player and she knows. She's like a female John Clayton. I admire that.
I can only imagine what it must be like for her having to endure this rivalry from the opposite side. Instead of me speculating, I am going to turn over the keyboard to her and let her tell her side of the story on what it means to be married to a herald of the rival team. Enjoy.
First off, I can't believe my husband gave up a football season, for a woman. I dated a European guy once, who knew and cared nothing for American football. Well that was just too damn bad, cause I watch football on Sunday. He endured the bars with me a couple times, and he once, even tried to cuddle up to me during a game. Are. You. Kidding. Me? The conversation went, in a nutshell: "Don't fucking touch me while I'm watching the game." I guess you see why that relationship failed!
Greg is correct, I do know my roster almost top to bottom, and I refer to them by their first names, and sometimes by nicknames of my own imagining IE Derek Wolfe is "Big Sexy." What? I'm AM a woman! I am definitely louder than my husband while watching a game, and I can be exceedingly vulgar. During the Patriots game, I was at work, and I can't believe I didn't get in trouble for screaming that Tom Brady was a "Sissy fucking whiner." Good thing I work at a sports bar 🙂
I am from Oregon, and people ask me CONSTANTLY why I am a Bronco and not a Seahawks fan. People who believe you can only be a fan of your local team drive me bananas. It's simple, my dad was born and raised in Denver, he's a been a die hard fan since childhood. I was raised in a house where you were a Bronco fan, or you could go live somewhere else. The son of a family friend once tried to walk in our door with a Raider hat on, my dad snatched it off his head and lit it on fire. Does that explain it well enough? And just for the record, my mom was a Chargers fan before she met my dad, albeit mostly because she had gone to school with Eric Castle, but I will forever find it funny that my dad converted her, but Greg will never turn me. I got my Bronco tattoo in 2003, and I will forever wear it proudly.
My husband and I share the same sentiment about Raider fans, and while we're at it, the Chiefs. But since the Chargers are the lesser of the evils, I made an exception when I met Greg, and I'll never regret it. This Sunday, it was MY idea to be separate. Mostly because I want to strangle Greg while watching our teams play, in a regular game. I'm not into starting a marriage challenging fight during the playoffs. I'll be at my bar, where there is a large contingent of Bronco fans, probably with my phone off. And if, IF my boys fall through, I may consider staying with a friend, for a couple days. You think I'm joking. I am rabid, faithful and beyond passionate.
That being said, I am also not blindly faithful. I know Denver's defense leaves a LOT to be desired. The run D has been seriously lacking since we lost Big Sexy, and it doesn't look like he'll be on the field Sunday. Whatever neurological ailment befell him, seems to be stumping doctors. And NOBODY has a clue as to why Wes Woodyard hasn't been seeing a lot of snaps. It's a mystery of epic proportions. I can only hope that the world becomes right on it's axis again, and he starts tomorrow. Everybody knows what it takes to beat the Broncos. Don't let them have the ball. Which is why the Chargers were able to beat them in December, the above mentioned horrendous run defense. That being said, losing to the Chargers might be the best thing that could have happened to the Broncos. Now there will be no bravado (you hear me Ihenacho?), there will be no underestimation, there will be no slack. There will, however, be focus, determination and, I imagine, a whole lot of fire. Bring it, San Diego, we're waiting.
So, what's it like to be married to the enemy? Well, I am hot tempered when it comes to my team, so it sucks. But usually only twice a year. Obviously this is uncharted territory, and nobody knows what the outcome will be. Also, sleeping with the enemy is pretty awesome 😉
Afterthought: I hereby swear that I won't rub the loss into my husbands face, too much, for the first 48 hours.
There you have it friends and neighbors, the most awesome football loving wife on the planet! This game is definitely going to be a test of faith. Our emotions are affected by our teams. Neither one of us will be able to look at the other without thinking of this game because these are the playoffs! One of us will be happy next week. The other will be swearing under their breath because we know the other person's team caused our favorite team's exile from the playoffs. It may take all offseason to get over the result of this game. Lest we not forget, the winner will have bragging rights until the first head-to-head matchup next season. There is a LOT riding on this game and neither one of us wants to lose!
So to answer the question it is tough, challenging, intense, competitive and passionate being married to the archrival of your favorite team. I am and always will be a Chargers fan. She is and always be a Broncos fan (unless I find a way to convert her. Impossible or not, I will try!) In the end, I can always brag to other guys (psst…my wife knows who the mike linebacker is…) How many guys can say that?! My wife's eyes light up when I mention going to games which is a uncommon response among the general populous of women. Don't believe me ladies? Ask the guy next to you. I lucked out finding her and I will forever love her for that.
If we lose I will hate her for a few days because all I will be able to see is that damn Broncos head in my mind's eye and she will understand. As will I. It's gameday.
Til death do us part.
Can any of you smell that? That's the smell of playoff football in the air. Having our San Diego Chargers be a part of that postseason-aroma is incredibly satisfying. But is it enough? Is just being in the playoffs enough after missing the dance the previous three seasons?
To answer that question quite simply, no. Sure, I did not view this team as a playoff-caliber squad back in May. Despite predicting a 7-9 team with the capability of sneaking out a victory or two on top of that and sneaking into the postseason, I was certainly leaning toward the 7-9 mark.
What a difference a season makes.
The Chargers just so happen to be the team that many experts are proclaiming as the team no one wants to play. Although they came in as the sixth seed, the Bolts are perhaps the hottest team still going, save San Francisco. As we all know, the Chargers travel to Denver for their third contest of the 2013 season. The teams split victories in the regular season. But it wouldn't have mattered to me if the Broncos had swept San Diego in the regular season had the Chargers still made the playoffs. This is the game that counts. This is the game where the Bolts can get one step closer to that ever so elusive Super bowl appearance.
Despite having been to the big game once before, this Charger squad seems to me to have a much better chance at advancing, and perhaps, bringing home the hardware that everyone in the league works so hard for throughout the year. If you haven't guessed it yet, my expectation for our Chargers is for them to make us the most proud that they ever have in all of their years as a football organization. It is an expectation that carries on this week to Mile High. Like the venue for the game, my expectation is, indeed, a mile-high.
If this team is the team of destiny that we all keep hearing about, then perhaps that trophy with the gleam will be hoisted in New York by the boys from San Diego. And what a feeling that would be. I am not sure I can even imagine it. Maybe, just maybe, I won't have to imagine it. Perhaps we will all get to be a part of history. But that all starts by getting this win in Denver on Sunday.
Booga Peters
When the Bolts selected Manti Te'o with the 36th overall pick in the second round of last year's draft, the Notre Dame linebacker came into the league with a dark cloud hovering above his head. Widely considered a top-5 draft prospect heading into his last season with the Irish, strange off-the-field happenings took place during that season that undermined his draft stock. Te'o turned out to be a victim of a relatively new social media scam called "catfishing". This occurs when a scammer assumes a persona, creates an entire false identity and then uses it to swindle unsuspecting victims. Manti believed he had met a special young lady online in 2009 and, in turn, fostered a relationship with her though internet posts, texting and phone conversations. In September 2012, Te'o was informed that this "girlfriend" had passed away suddenly. He then used this "tragedy" as fuel during his final collegiate campaign. When the truth of the scam became public, many began to question whether Te'o was in on the scam all along. Some thought he had used the fake death as a way of garnering nationwide sympathy and support in his push for Heisman Trophy votes. (For a detailed timeline of all of these events, follow this link: http://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-manti-teo-girlfriend-hoax-story/story?id=18268647) Te'o has continually denied any involvement in the bizarre tale, but there are plenty of people out there who still hold the whole debacle against him. Te'o says that he uses that distrust as motivation to excel in the NFL. As far as I'm concerned, I feel bad for the guy and want to see him succeed on the field…period! He's a San Diego Charger now and that means he's one of us.
When asked about his impressions of Manti after drafting him, Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco replied, "We did a lot of work on Te'o and I've seen him for a number of years. He loves football. He's passionate about it. He loves to practice. He loves to play." It was clear that the organization was excited to be adding Te'o to the mix. The preseason, unfortunately, was unkind to Te'o. He suffered a foot injury just a few plays into the first game, sidelining him for the rest of preseason. No games and, more importantly, no practices. There is a lot to learn as a rookie linebacker and Manti did his homework mentally, but nothing prepares a player better than being out on the practice field going through the motions- physically- with his teammates. This would set his development back significantly. Once the foot healed and Te'o was cleared to play, expectations were sky-high in San Diego. Fans expected to see him jump in and make an immediate impact. That didn't happen. Te'o was routinely out of position, unable to disengage from blockers and looked lost in pass coverage. The lack of preseason work had taken its toll. Four or five weeks into the regular season, it was commonplace to read tweets from disgruntled fans proclaiming Te'o a "bust" and a wasted draft pick. As a coach myself, I know how important training camp is in any sport- but especially football. I held out hope that Te'o could, and would, pull it together. Secretly, however, I began to wonder if the adversity he was facing was simply going to be too much for him to overcome. Time would tell.
During the final four weeks of the regular season, throughout the Bolts' improbable playoff push, I began to notice Manti disengaging from blockers much better. In some cases, he would put a little side-step on the incoming blocker allowing himself the ability to slide right past the block entirely. He was attacking more now and seemed in better position more of the time. Sure, there are still plays when it is obvious that he's still a rookie out there getting his feet under him. In Sunday's playoff win against the Bengals, however, I saw Te'o taking on 322 pound lead blocker Domata Peko with no fear! I witnessed him take the big hit from Peko, slide underneath and grab the ankle of BenJarvis Green-Ellis. Add a tackle-assist to his game log. More importantly, add a ton of respect from an excited Chargers fan base…
The future is never certain and things can change in a heartbeat, but right now- I am very excited to watch Manti Te'o continue to grow and mature into the All-Pro linebacker that Tom Telesco envisioned him to be last April!
Keep Believin'!
– Coach


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Take Action
Man cited after bringing meth pipe to council
Jackson County Cronicle, March 23, 2016
A Black River Falls man was cited after bringing methamphetamine paraphernalia into last week's city council meeting.
Brady J. Palmer put a bag with a glass pipe and gem baggies into Police Chief Scot Eisenhauer's lap at the end of the police department's monthly report.
Palmer said the items weren't his and that he can't turn in paraphernalia he finds without police believing he is a meth user.
"Um, sir, I've got some business with the police department report," Palmer, 42, said to Mayor Ron Danielson before approaching Eisenhauer. "I've got some crystal meth paraphernalia in here. You just can't give it to officers because they present it like they think I'm on meth."
Palmer told those in attendance he picked up the pipe, gem baggies and two storage containers "across the street" and in the 11th Street area. Eisenhauer said he saw Palmer hours before the March 16 council meeting but that the Black River Falls resident wouldn't come down to the station to meet with him to discuss his concerns.
Eisenhauer said police issued the possession of drug paraphernalia citation because of his behavior earlier in the afternoon, at the council meeting and his failure to cooperate.
Eisenhauer believed Palmer was under the influence of a stimulant or drug because he was difficult to understand and was moving quickly around city council chambers. Danielson also attempted to stop Palmer's comments and told him to contact Eisenhauer the next morning.
"No, no, that's not going to be good enough," Palmer told Danielson. "I have a right to talk about this.
"You don't care that there's meth going on above this dance hall and on 11th Street?"
Danielson countered police are handling the issues.
"We understand what's going on and the chief is on top of it," he told Palmer. "Thanks for bringing the information. We'll go from there – take it from there. We don't forget ya."
Eisenhauer spoke to Palmer at 2 p.m. on Main Street when he was shirtless in 30-degree weather, "very excitable" and mentioned drug paraphernalia and lack of law enforcement response, according to the police department report.
"It's just bizarre behavior, that's all," Eisenhauer said after the meeting. "We don't want to discourage people from bringing in items, but tell us so we can find out who they belong to.
"We encourage people to bring us things, but do it in the proper manner."
Palmer firmly disputes he uses drugs, noting he is an avid runner who puts in 50 miles a week. He said he brought the items to the council meeting to get them off the street and bring his concerns about law enforcement's handling of drug issues.
"I think they're doing a terrible job," Palmer said after the meeting. "(Saying I use drugs) is absolutely ludicrous. The best people in town can vouch for me."
Palmer also spoke during City Administrator Brad Chown's report where he criticized Chown's handling of other city-related issues. Palmer also made a comment during the fire department report in which he complimented Fire Chief Steve Schreiber's caretaking of the Jane Doe grave at Riverside Cemetery during the 25-year span the woman 's body remained unidentified.

subset: commoncrawl


text: BUSINESS Sky Deutschland Ends Feud With Deutsche Telekom 3:03 AM PST 1/4/2013 by Scott Roxborough FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Alexander Beir/Getty Images News Corp.'s German pay TV giant returns to the company's IPTV service after outbidding Telekom for top soccer rights. COLOGNE, Germany – German pay TV group Sky Deutschland, in which Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. owns about 50 percent, capped what has been a turnaround year with a deal to begin carriage on its main rival - Deutsche Telekom's IPTV service Entertain. The agreement, announced Friday, will see Sky Deutschland's entire pay-TV offering made available to Telekom's Entertain subscribers starting this summer. It is the first time Entertain, Germany's leading IPTV operation, will carry Sky, Germany's premier pay-TV service. Telekom had tried to position Entertain, which is piped directly to Telekom's broadband customers, as an alternative to Sky and had siphoned off some of Sky's pay-TV subscribers. The teleco giant was a deep-pocketed bidder for rights to Germany's Bundesliga soccer, Sky's premiere programming asset. But Sky, in which Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. holds a 49.9 percent stake, shut out Telekom with a bold $2.5 billion (€1.94 billion) deal last April to take all pay, web-TV and IPTV rights to Bundesliga games for the 2013-2017 seasons. The deal left Telekom with little choice but to deal with Sky, or give up its soccer-mad subscribers accustomed to streaming Bundesliga matches on Entertain. The final agreement will see Sky and Telekom cooperate for the length of the Bundesliga deal – from mid-2013 through mid-2017. Both companies will coordinate their marketing for Sky's services on Entertain. It's another feather in the cap of Sky Deutschland CEO Brian Sullivan, who has proved doubters wrong by showing that it is possible to make money in German pay-TV. Sullivan ended 2012 with two straight profitable quarters after years of losses. Investors have embraced the long-suffering broadcaster. Sky Deutschland was the top gainer among European entertainment stocks last year as its shares nearly tripled to $5.45 (€4.13). FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Scott Roxborough email@example.com sroxborough


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I know, I know, I'm lagging. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: April 2009
The Live Blog, Squared
I've done this before. Sort of.
For Masters Sunday, I'm doing it again. Continue reading
Filed under Golf, Live Blogs
The Picksperiment: April 10th, 2009
So I'm a little late in doing this. Sorry, loyal reader(s). Continue reading
Filed under The Picksperiment
Entrails: April 10th, 2009
Fantastic top four reads in this Entrails, in spite of how the material came to be.
Rest in peace, Nick Adenhart, Henry Pearson, and Courtney Stewart. My heart and best wishes go out to your families and friends.
A beautiful tribute to a friend. (Sharapova's Thigh)
Sobering thoughts on the tragedy. (Dave Lozo)
Vin Scully's simple remembrance. (Will Leitch)
The story surrounding Adenhart's start. (LA Times)
And my two cents: The three people in the Mitsubishi were innocents felled by fate, outrageous fortune colliding with stupidity and calamity. It's a natural tendency to want the person who drove drunk, ran a red light, and ended three lives to be brought the most justice possible.
But punishing one person does not solve the problem, just as putting murderers to death has not curbed killing. There is a fundamental difficulty in America with alcohol being a social lubricant and a idiocy accelerant.
Perhaps, while venting our spleen at someone whose colossal mistake took promise from us, we should make promises to prevent that from happening to those we love in whatever way possible. Remembrance through action is a powerful thing. Continue reading
Filed under Entrails
The Picksperiment: April 10th, 2009
I can't possibly actually be good at this, right? Yesterday indicated as much. Continue reading
Filed under The Picksperiment
Entrails: April 9th, 2009
Send me tips. Twitter works.
UF's Preston Tucker goes off against UCF: Three homers, two grand slams, and 11 RBI in the course of three innnings. (4th and Fail)
Kanye West and fish sticks. (South Park)
WNBAer writes about sports and sex appeal. (Yardbarker)
More on Simmons' insane 9/11 remark. (Hey Jenny Slater)
Rest in peace, Nick Adenhart. (ESPN) Continue reading
Filed under Live Blogs
The Picksperiment: April 9th, 2009
Yesterday was a good day. Continue reading
Filed under The Picksperiment


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Fighting stigma and discrimination against MSM and sex workers in Douala
Private and public experts in Douala, Cameroon, are putting their heads together to seek an effective new strategy for combating HIV/AIDS among key populations, including LGBT people, men who have sex with men (MSM), and sex workers.
Those populations need such a new strategy, because HIV prevalence is an estimated 24.2 percent among men who have sex with men and 36.0 percent among female sex workers in Douala — compared to about 4 percent in the general population, according to a study conducted for CARE Cameroon.
On Feb. 6, a workshop aimed at developing the new approach got under way, including representatives of Douala public officials, the private sector, and the country's civil society organizations. The initiative is sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the authority of Dr. Fritz Ntone Ntone.
Its goals are to:
- Develop strategies to prevent the transmission of HIV and STIs among key populations;
- Improve access to services, treatment and care for key populations;
- Improve respect for human rights;
- Reduce stigma and discrimination affecting key populations' access to basic services; and
- Strengthen local leadership in Douala in order to support and sustain interventions for key populations.
Marcel Mbela, representing the permanent secretary of the National Committee on the Fight against AIDS in Cameroon, emphasized that the project is in sync with the country's priorities:
"One of the axes of the National Strategic Plan is universal access to prevention for priority target groups. When we speak of universal access, we believe that everyone should have access to services, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race etc."
The fight against HIV/AIDS in Cameroon faces major challenges, including the criminalization of homosexual practices and sex work, which is a barrier to universal access.
As noted by Rose Tchwenko, deputy executive director of CARE Cameroon:
"We should not continue to play ostrich with our head in the sand. In the project that I coordinate, we have not been able to deliver leaflets with the image of two men because that would endanger the beneficiaries, who could end up in jail. To the extent that we do not address issues related to the law, we will end up with a high prevalence [of HIV/AIDS]. "
Opinions are divided on this sensitive issue. Dr. Dina Nfon Priso, second vice-president of the National Coordination Body, argues:
"Environmental interventions must address substantive issues. One cannot consider setting up services that will not be used because the environment does not allow them."
But Dr. Noel Essomba, coordinator of the technical group for the Littoral region, restates the position of the nation's health officials:
"We do not have the skills to work on issues of law. Our discussion should be strictly limited to the medical field."
Suffice it to say that the debate will be heated between representatives of civil society, mayors and health authorities, but all need to know that in the three working days allotted to the workshop, they must develop an action plan that meets the needs of key populations of the City of Douala and that incorporates international recommendations in the fight against AIDS. All this, while remaining in strict compliance with the laws in force in Cameroon!
Success is not a foregone conclusion. However, in the words of Bashir N'Daw of Dakar, UNDP regional adviser on human rights and law:
"This project represents an opportunity for the City of Douala to create a legal environment that allows a blow to be struck against HIV and show that the fight against HIV can be won at the local level. The action plan of the project must, first, improve access to HIV services for everyone, without discrimination and based on legal authority, and secondly, respond to the the specific needs of key populations, especially people living with HIV, men who have sex with men, and sex workers."
Related articles
- Pressure on Cameroon to halt human rights abuses (76crimes.com)
- Blackmail and ambushes in Cameroon's LGBTI community (76crimes.com)
- Fighting HIV among male/trans sex workers in Cameroon (76crimes.com)
- Cameroon jail looms for Roger Mbede; death threats for lawyers (76crimes.com)


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Nursery Decor
March 28, 2013
by E. Ashley Rooney and Jo Ann Alston
This well-illustrated book makes it easy: it features works by 25 design professionals who show a variety of looks for fun, age-appropriate rooms that can be easily updated as your baby grows. Included are nurseries, toddler rooms, and play rooms that feature a range of sizes, colors, and styles. With more than 200 color images, inspiration boards, and sketches, this colorful book is ideal for expecting parents and growing families looking for some fun décor inspiration.
The book includes four children's bedroom projects and descriptions totaling 17 pages of Perianth projects.


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Billy Bush Isn't Going To Let NBC Get Away With Firing His Ass!
No need to send me a thank you e-mail for hitting your eyeballs with the sight of Billy Bush's feets, snow-covered chest fur forest and hairy pits. The sound of that panty pudding wave crashing has already told me that you're thankful.
Everybody has reported that Billy Bush's suspension has already been made permanent and that Matt Lauer has reclaimed his title as the Biggest Douche of the Today Show. Billy was removed as co-host of Today's 3rd hour after that tape of him grossly giggling over Donald Trump bragging about sexual assault came out. Billy is pretty much done at NBC and an announcement is coming, but Page Six says that he's not going down without trying to punch out the Peacock.
Page Six says that Billy is looking for his own Olivia Pope to help him mop up the shit puddle that came out of his own ass, but in the meantime, it looks like his people are already playing this out in the court of TMZ. Sources tell TMZ that Billy doesn't think it's right that he's being fired for "guy talk" when many of his dude bosses constantly talk about women while on the job, and some of it was caught on tape. Billy and the other dudes would talk about Gigi Hadid's legs, and Taylor Swift's legs and go on about hot chicks etc…. Billy has also been known to bring the creepiness during interview with women. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver put together a supercut of Billy's creepy "hits":
So Billy's logic is that he's been creepy on the job for years and nobody ever said anything so why does NBC suddenly have a problem with it now?!!
As I posted before, the tape that cost Billy his job was discovered by staffers at NBC after his dumb ass bragged about it at a party during the Olympics in Rio. The story goes that when the tape was found, Access Hollywood wanted to protect Billy so they cut out a few parts that made him look bad. They reportedly cut out the part where Billy the Perv tells actress Arianne Zucker to give Trump a hug. TMZ adds that Access Hollywood was planning to air the edited tape on Monday, the day after the second presidential debate. A few staffers at NBC didn't like that move and wanted the tape out before the presidential debate, so one of them leaked it to The Washington Post who posted it two days before the debate.
Sources also tell TMZ that NBC is lying about when they found the tape. NBC allegedly got a hold of it many months ago, but decided to wait until later on in the election to make it public. Many NBC executives hate Trump and wanted the tape to cause maximum damage to his campaign, so they waited for the perfect moment to drop it.
Page Six says that Billy is blaming NBC for the tape getting leaked to The Washington Post and he may sue their asses for it:
"He told people at NBC about this tape. What if there was a transcript of the tape, and high-level discussions about when to release it? Which executives were involved, and why did they decide to suppress the tape until October, when they could have aired it in August? Was it an oversight or a strategic decision by NBC to affect the race? Billy was far from the only person at NBC who was talking about the contents of this tape. On-air talent does not make the decision when to air stories like this."
The way I see it, Billy is probably going to get a stack of cash from NBC no matter what. Either NBC is going to put an extra pile of cash in his goodbye basket after he promises not to sue them, or they will settle with him after he sues them. And Billy is truly stupid, because if he wanted to get paid for saying inappropriate, creepy and dumb shit, he should've gone into blogging. I guess Dubya is the Bush cousin who got all the brains.
Here's old pictures from 2012 of Billy sunning his nipples in Miami, which is probably what he's going to be doing after NBC officially drops him. Billy now gets to spend his days sunning his nips in Miami and I no longer have to see his face while watching Today in the morning. So this is a win/win for us all!
Pics: Wenn.com


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Get an insight into the latest Sun technology with free downloads of the TOP most requested White Papers, Videos, Blueprints, Webinars and more…
Servers, Storage, Software, Solaris… It's all there in an invaluable collection of resources pointing the way towards solutions you should know more about.
» Access the instant download page here.
Thank you,
Sun Microsystems


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Are you acquiring all set to go tenting? In arranging for it, have you fully well prepared yourself for what may possibly come up although you are out in the wild? Camping outings can be fairly basic in phrases of anticipations, but never overlook the relevance of thinking through your excursion prior to leaving on it. Hold reading for some wonderful suggestions.
Make sure to locate your shelter before it receives darkish. When evening falls, producing food, discovering wood, and pitching your tent can be quite challenging. This is especially the situation for town slickers who are unaccustomed to darkness. Keep away from this hazard totally, by finding satisfactory shelter long before the sunshine goes down.
Include the family members in the choice of the campsite. Discuss about in which you want to camp. The choices are plenty, so do your investigation! It may possibly be simpler to decide on a few front runners and have family associates vote.
When you buy a new tent, set it up completely at house ahead of you take it camping. By doing this you will be capable to make sure that your tent does not have any missing parts. Moreover, these kinds of a process will assist to reassure you that you know how to errect your tenting tent effectively. Also, this can support to lessen the difficulty that you have when out in the wilderness.
Make certain your tent is of enough dimensions. This will make certain comfort while inside of the tent.
Understand appropriate initial support. If an incident takes place, you'll require to know what you require to greater the situation till you can receive health-related focus. Be confident to study the location you are checking out. Find out if the spot has toxic snakes, what kind of wildlife life in the woods, and so on.
As you can see, there are a few factors past the essentials that are needed for a productive tenting journey. Camping signifies a no-frills vacation, and it is essential to be prepared for the surprising to arise. This write-up will go over what you require to know about camping.


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My Nonprofit Reviews
Review for Goodwill Industries of Central Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
I have only recently become acquainted with Goodwill Of Central Arizona, and that acquaintance has left a very foul taste in my mouth. Someone who I am very close to is employed by this 'non'-profit organization. The very idea that they deem themselves as a non-profit organization, and are RECOGNIZED BY THE IRS AS SUCH, makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!
They pride themselves in stating that "Goodwill of Central Arizona has one, single mission. To fund programs that give local job-seekers the skills they need to find careers and happiness." HAPPINESS??? Everything that I have been made aware of has nothing to do with happiness. My friend, who will remain anonymous, has had what I would call an eye opening experience with "Badwill".
From day one of her employment she has been harassed by at least one fellow employee and one manager. We are not sure if it has to do with her sexual orientation or not. There is nothing we can prove. About a month ago, she was injured on the job. The injury was such that she was unable to perform her regular duties. Her doctor ordered that she not return to that position, but be given accommodation. His orders were that she be seated 90% of the time.
The store manager decided to have her price jewelry, but she worked through that very quickly and soon there was nothing to do. He then decided to train her as a cashier, which she adapted to and excelled in very quickly. Her sales have been phenomenal, and the donations at her register have taken first place in the store for the past two weeks.
She is not looking to remain a cashier, and is only doing this per doctors orders until her injury heals completely. But, while she is performing this duty, she wants to do it well and be recognized for it. She did lose one receipt, for which she received a 'write up' by the manager. If you know anything about 'Badwill', you' know that they have a three strike rule. Three and you're OUT!!!
Last evening, my friend came down with a sudden illness. It was so profound that she passed out on the patio and had to be helped back into the house and her bed. She was sick all night, and when she awoke her head was pounding and she was extremely nauseated. I told her that I would phone her manager so that she could try to see a doctor, but she refused, stating that it was ,'Badwills' policy to write up any employee who missed work, regardless of the reason. So, she went to work very ill.
Upon arriving at work, she was asked to go to the office, before she had even clocked in. In the office were two managers, one of whom is the manager who does not like her. The managers told her that they had received complaints from some of the other cashiers that she was 'bossy, rude, and had poor customer service', none of which even sounds like her, and is totally unbelievable. She asked who had made those untrue statements, and the managers told her they couldn't tell her, that all they wanted to do was take care of the problem. The manager who does not like her stated that she had heard my friend being rude to a customer on the phone, which is also unbelievable.
This organization needs to be exposed for what they really are. Labor Department records show that some Goodwill workers in Pennsylvania earned wages as low as 22, 38 and 41 cents per hour in 2009, and that is not the only state where workers have suffered such terrible abuse.
Here is a link to an article that some of you may find interesting:
More Feedback
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Close the doors and admit that they have taken advantage of their 501(c)(3) status. Admit that they pay their CEO's hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries every year. Admit that their management is poorly trained, and that they are not equipped to or suitable to be employers. Admit that the farce that they are is ready to throw in the towel! I am going to call for a boycott of this store, and most likely the rest of this god forsaken organization!
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A little
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?


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General Question
Bull riding vest?
Asked by clairedete (331) October 2nd, 2008
I am looking for a cool, used bull riding vest. This isn't going to be used for any kind of actual activity or to ever actually be worn but, just as a cool present for someone. I'm looking for one with a lot of cool decals on it. I have checked e-bay but they mainly have plain ones & and I can't find anything on craigslist.
Any idea where else I should be looking?
Any personal experience with this type of item? I don't really know what I should be looking for so, any insight is welcome.
thank you.
Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0
1 Answer
Answer this question
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Wow! You've got 847 knowledge matches!Want to see them? Join Fluther!


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For the next two weeks, VH1.com is bringing you Keeping It 100, a look back at the major moments from VH1's biggest shows this past year, as told by the people who lived them.
In an exclusive conversation with VH1, Natalie Guercio opens up about the moment she left Renee Graziano's baptism party and walked away from a fight with Natalie DiDonato and Mob Wives.
What really happened at Renee's baptism party was that I invited my friends to go. You have to understand that my fight between Karen and Storm was not a dead issue at that point. It was still very much alive and then this girl [Natalie DiDonato] came in who I never met. I really don't know her. I'd never seen her in my life. So, Natalie is at the party too and I now know that there are three people there who wanna fight with me. On top of that, I knew all of Renee's friends were there, and I didn't want to be jumped in the middle of the restaurant.
So, yes, I invited my friends but my friends were there two hours before I even showed up to film. They were drinking, they had a ball there, and they were talking to everyone at the party. All of a sudden, the moment when I arrived, my friends were asked to leave. I had literally been there for ten minutes. I didn't want to be jumped and then my friends were kicked out? Nope, we were are all leaving. You're not gonna kick out my friends and leave them in the middle of Staten Island after they ate, and drank, and signed their release forms.
I wasn't going to leave them so I did what anyone would have done, I left with my friends. I didn't want to fight. I am not stupid. I wasn't born yesterday. I was not born in the streets but I am from the streets so I know how things go down but with this whole Natalie D thing, I never met her. She wasn't even an issue at that time because I really didn't care to film with her and I wouldn't film with her because she wasn't an official cast member. I am not going to film with just anyone, especially for a lot of things that weren't true. I couldn't talk about anything that was being brought up that had to do with my ex-boyfriend because of court issues. That was a topic that I didn't feel comfortable talking about because of my life at home outside of Mob Wives.
People can say what they want about me, I am who I am. My family is who they are and I don't come on a TV show telling who my family is. I tell everyone in the world who my family is. The women on the show all know who I am and they knew that I couldn't say anything about who my family was. They tried to hold that over me but I don't care cause it didn't work.
I left the show with my head held high and I am not going to stand around and have women, who are closer to their 50s and 60s, trying to come at me. It felt very high school. I am beyond that in my life.


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Need to find a dress for a wedding, stat? Looking for the perfect shoes for your next cocktail party? Send your shopping dilemmas our way! Our new, weekly Personal Shopper section will do the legwork for you, offering up a slew of options to solve your fashion woes. Simply send your questions to email@example.com.
This week: I am looking for some stylish sweaters that I can wear during the transitional months—both during spring and fall? – Alexia
Hi Alexia. The weather during these transitional seasons can be fickle, so we suggest you look for lightweight sweaters and cardigans. Anything too bulky will prevent you from layering it with other pieces. With that said, start by picking up pieces in neutral colors like Soft Joie's Yasmine Lightweight Sweater ($118) and American Apparel's Lightweight Sweater ($57). These will work well with nearly everything in your closet. Of course, if you want something that brings life to your outfit, check out Splendid's Striped Open-Knit Ramie-Blend Sweater ($150) and J Crew's Cashmere Waffle Colorblock Sweater ($268). When paired with jeans, they will instantly elevate your look from simple to stand-out. Good luck!


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Sizing is generous to cater for different body shapes, so if you are unsure which of two sizes you may need, we suggest selecting the smaller size. We have generally found that selecting the same size you would wear for leggings gives a good fit.
There are a limited number of Sizes 8 & 10 garments for sale at half price.


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Christ College is one of the oldest and most successful schools in Wales. Founded in 1541 by Henry VIII, it occupies an enviable site on the outskirts of Brecon, in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The school buildings reflect its ancient past as well as its determination to provide the best modern facilities possible for its pupils. There are 400 pupils at Christ College Brecon, a size which enables it to offer a wide range of A-level and GCSE subjects and extra-curricular activities, whilst giving everyone the chance to form close friendships and to develop a real sense of belonging.
Sixth Form pupils have access to a Leadership Course enabling them to develop additional team-building, communication and problem-solving skills. Parents and guardians value the outstanding staff:pupil ratio as well as the unique care and concern that pupils receive at Christ College – support from highly qualified and experienced staff which extends beyond the classroom to every aspect of daily life and leads to a high level of achievement in both academic and non-academic areas.


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The court's order itself is "surprisingly scant," thus we know little of the facts surrounding this case. What we do know is that once again it involves Ripoffreport.com. Jinkees! The Sec. 230 caselaw for this one defendant is surprisingly robust. Ripoffreport.com must have some well paid attorney on retainer that does little more than mash the print button for the proforma Sec. 230 Motion to Dismiss form... merely taking a bit of time to scrawl in the name of the latest plaintiff.
Of course, if the court's law clerks are too busy researching water rights cases, we are glad to refer them to our "surprisingly scant" list of Sec. 230 cases.
Anyway, we here at Cybertelecom are likewise into automation and have developed our proforma blog post for these Ripoffreport.com cases. Here it is:
Some plaintiff [FILL IN BLANK] got irked by what some disgruntled third party wrote about them at Ripoffreport.com. Ripoffreport.com "is a worldwide consumer reporting Web site and publication, by consumers, for consumers, to file and document complaints about companies or individuals." Ripoffreport.com did not write the disgruntled comment. Ripoffreport.com filed a Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss pursuant to 47 USC § 230. The Court granted the motion and dismissed the complaint as against defendant Ripoffreport.com.Of course it never goes proforma, does it.
Plaintiff apparently alleged that Ripoffreport.com either edited or authored the headline of the disgruntled comment - and that headline could be actionable. The court has to take the facts as alleged by plaintiff as true for a motion to dismiss (the court is merely deciding whether there is a potential claim for which relief can be granted -- it is not deciding the merits of the case as to whether in fact relief should be granted - it's like if I sued you in court for being short - while this may be true, it is not a cause of action for which relief can be granted). Therefore the court dismisses the complaint against Ripoffreport for the disgruntled third party comment, but denies the motion to dismiss with regard to the headline. But the Court made clear, if plaintiff cant prove that Ripoffreport authored the disgruntled headline, then plaintiff will face pretty much the same outcome as the rest of the complaint.
So what's cool about all this. I go looking at Ripoffreport.com for a bit of deep research in preparation for this post, and I find a page entitled Want to Sue Ripoff Report? The page states:
If you are considering suing Ripoff Report because of a report which you claim is defamatory, you should be aware that to date, Ripoff Report has never lost such a case. This is because of a federal law called the Communications Decency Act or "CDA", 47 U.S.C. § 230. Because this important law is not well known, we want to take a moment to explain the law, and to also explain that the filing of frivolous lawsuits can have serious consequences for those who file them, both parties and their attorneys. The CDA is part of our federal laws.An excellent Wikipedia article discussing the history of the law can be found here. In short, the CDA provides that when a user writes and posts material on a website such as Ripoff Report, the site itself cannot, in most cases, be held legally responsible for the posted material.Do the plaintiff's in these cases get to file RipoffReport.com disgruntled comments about their attorneys who advised them to file these pointless complaints?


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Beyond Spots & Dots Names Andreas Beck CEO
Pittsburgh, PA, January 18, 2014 --(
)-- Beyond Spots & Dots today announced that Andreas Beck, previously Chief Financial Officer, has taken on the role as the company's new CEO. With this announcement, Beck's duties as CEO will begin immediately.
"Andreas has been with us since the start of Beyond Spots & Dots and his years of service have resulted in outstanding performance. As our company continues to evolve, it is important that we have the right people in the right positions so that we can continue to see results for our clients. I have complete confidence that Andreas is the right person for the position of CEO," said Melanie Querry, President & Founder.
"With this position, I am prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead. While we have been fortunate to be an Inc. 5000 company for the past two years, maintaining sustainable long term growth will be the foundation of the company's success. This will mean consistently evaluating the company, implementing new processes, pivoting when necessary and focusing on what matters, all while staying true to our vision and core values," said Beck.
As CFO, Beck was previously responsible for company financials, accounting and forecasting as well as overall company strategy which included end-to-end management in all markets. He also headed the company's creative and interactive departments. Most recently, Andreas has been recognized as a Pittsburgh Business Times CFO of the Year Finalist for 2011, 2012 and 2013.
About Beyond Spots & Dots
Beyond Spots & Dots is a full-service advertising agency dedicated to creating, planning and managing advertising, marketing, public relations, branding and digital efforts for its clients. Founded in 2006, Beyond Spots & Dots is operated out of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has a global reach.
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JACKSON — To prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, hundreds of Entergy employees across the company's utility service territory recently took part in an intensive storm drill. The drill tracked a fictional hurricane and its potential impact on Entergy's service territory.
Following Hurricane Katrina, Entergy adopted the federal and state Incident Command Structure for disasters that clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of the entire storm team. The drill began with a message announcing that a Category 3 hurricane was expected to make landfall that week potentially impacting Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Participants immediately began responding to the message as if it were a real weather threat.
"We approach every drill as a real event," said Mike Crowder, Entergy Mississippi deputy storm incident commander. "We gather people at all command centers to practice our response to a hurricane, even in those areas not in the storm's path as they may serve as critical support to the event. We use this as an opportunity to strengthen restoration protocols and to improve communications with our customers. As always, even in a drill, safety is our top priority."
Over the last few years, Entergy has been refining and testing new communication processes, particularly those designed to address demands of real-time digital and social media. Customer service teams work with field crews and communications staff to get restoration information from the field into the customer's hands as quickly as possible.
The storm path outlined in the scenario also required Entergy's nuclear plants in Louisiana and Mississippi to implement severe weather procedures. These procedures involve securing the site and making arrangements for staffing at the plant during and after the storm.
"Continually testing our emergency response and communication plans is a key component to our 'prepare for the worst and hope for the best' approach to storm restoration. Our customers can be assured we will be doing everything we can to restore their power as safely and quickly as possible," said Crowder. "Entergy is recognized in the industry as having one of the best storm restoration teams in the country."
… we'd like to ask for your support. More people are reading the Mississippi Business Journal than ever before, but advertising revenues for all conventional media are falling fast. Unlike many, we do not use a pay wall, because we want to continue providing Mississippi's most comprehensive business news each and every day. But that takes time, money and hard work. We do it because it is important to us … and equally important to you, if you value the flow of trustworthy news and information which have always kept America strong and free for more than 200 years.
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Note - This is transparent background stickers. (wont look good on black bike or helmet)
If you prefer to stick it on black surfaces, buy white bg stickers here - http://imojo.in/bw76w1
Swag it on your motorcycle or your Laptop.
This sticker means you watch "The HeartBrokenBiker" on YouTube and you ride safe, sensible and you are amazing!
You can also be proud that you've helped some charity, because part of sticker money will be donated alongside my usual charity donations.
NOTE- Please mention your address, phone number and email correctly while buying stickers. You can email me on firstname.lastname@example.com if there is a problem on instamojo while buying. Thank you.


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President Trump's newly appointed ambassador to Canada believes in "both sides" of the debate surrounding climate change.
U.S. ambassador Kelly Craft, who assumed her new duties on Monday, told the CBC that she believes there is merit to both arguments in favor of the existence of climate change and those countering the belief that the phenomenon is fueled by human beings.
"I think that both sides have their own results, from their studies, and I appreciate and I respect both sides of the science," Craft said, adding that she feels each side has presented "accurate" data. She declined to say whether or not she herself was inclined towards one side or another.
Craft, the first woman to serve in her position, is a businesswoman, philanthropist and major donor to the Republican Party. She is also married to Kentucky coal magnate Joe Craft, who actively criticized the climate policies of the Obama administration. He is the president and CEO of Alliance Resource Partners LP — one of the largest coal producers in the eastern United States.
As a couple, the Crafts donated to the 2016 presidential campaigns of Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Chris Christie, along with President Trump. Joe Craft is reportedly a climate change skeptic and "may be Kentucky's most powerful non-elected individual," according to the Lexington Herald-Ledger. His love for coal goes deep — among other things, he reportedly commissioned a "Friends of Coal" stamp for his SUV license plate.
While it's unclear how closely aligned Craft's politics are to those of her husband, the new ambassador seems aligned with the White House on climate policy. In addition to her remarks on climate change, Craft defended Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement in May, arguing that the decision in no way signified a lack of commitment to the environment.
"I feel like our administration has been on top of this [environmental concerns] regardless of whether or not they would be pulling out," Craft said.
Trump earned international condemnation when he announced that the United States would leave the Paris agreement. The accord, which brought together nearly every single country in the world, committed all signatories to keeping global temperatures from rising more than 2°C, in addition to implementing sustainable climate practices and investing in green technology. At the time of its signing in 2015, only two countries abstained — Nicaragua, which worried the agreement did not go far enough, and Syria, which is embroiled in a civil war. Nicaragua joined the agreement on Monday.
In announcing the U.S. exit, Trump argued that the move would preserve U.S. interests. The president argued that the United States had disproportionately shouldered the bulk of the agreement's demands, allowing other countries to avoid their responsibilities.
"I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris," Trump declared at the time.
Leaders across the world slammed the decision, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
"We are deeply disappointed that the United States federal government has decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement," Trudeau wrote on Twitter at the time. "Canada is unwavering in our commitment to fight climate change and support clean economic growth."
That division has taken a toll on U.S.-Canada relations, as have other points of contention. While relations are usually warm, the Trump administration has shifted that legacy dramatically.
Craft's appointment comes at a key time: NAFTA renegotiations are currently stalled over striding U.S. demands. Both Canada and Mexico are unhappy with their neighbor and the talks are now expected to stretch into March 2018, longer than negotiators had originally hoped. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland has been especially critical of U.S. NAFTA requests, accusing the Trump administration of being unnecessarily difficult.
"We have seen a series of unconventional proposals in critical areas that make our work much more challenging," Freeland said. "We have seen proposals that would turn back the clock on 23 years of predictability, openness, and collaboration. In some cases, these proposals run counter to World Trade Organization rules. This is troubling."
Clashes over NAFTA and the environment won't make Craft's job any easier. Roland Paris, Trudeau's first foreign policy adviser, told the Toronto Star that Trump's unpopularity over the border isn't going to help Craft's odds of success.
"Among other things, she will be asked to explain why President Trump seems inclined to treat Canada, America's closest ally and friend, as an economic adversary rather than as a partner," Paris said. He also noted it might be hard for Craft to do her job "given the confused state of the Trump administration."
Craft is not the first member of the Trump administration to face questions about climate change. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, was asked whether Trump believed in the phenomenon. "The president believes the climate is changing," Haley told CBS, "and he does know that pollutants are a part of that equation."
Trump himself has dodged the issue multiple times, questioning scientific evidence and dismissing the link between greenhouse gases and climate change. As a presidential candidate, Trump claimed climate change was created by China in order to thwart U.S. manufacturing.


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HIV/AIDS News
Short Course of AZT Given Late in Pregnancy and During Delivery Contributes to Reducing Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission
Final data from a collaborative study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mahidol University, Bangkok, and the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand (MOPH) indicate that a short course of AZT given late in pregnancy and during delivery reduced the rate of HIV transmission to infants of infected mothers by half and is safe for use in the developing world. This therapy offers hope for the first practical solution for reducing mother-to-infant (perinatal) HIV transmission in developing nations.
CDC researcher Nathan Shaffer, M.D., presented the data at the 12th World AIDS Conference today in Geneva. Shaffer also spoke of the ongoing global efforts to make this prevention opportunity a reality in as many nations as possible. Efforts are still underway to determine what impact this therapy may have in nations with no feasible alternative to breast-feeding.
Prior to these findings, the only AZT regimen proven effective for perinatal HIV prevention was essentially out of reach for the countries in which over 90% of perinatal HIV infections occur. The AZT regimen used in the U.S. and other industrialized nations is costly and requires several months of treatment for the mother and the infant and an intravenous dose that is not feasible in many developing countries. In order for policy makers in developing nations to provide HIV-infected women a preventive therapy, they urgently needed conclusive scientific evidence that a practical treatment regimen was safe and effective.
By using a much shorter course during pregnancy, an oral dose rather than an intravenous dose during delivery, and no infant dose, CDC and Thai researchers evaluated a regimen that could be more realistically implemented. The regimen consisted of 300 mg of oral AZT twice daily from 36 weeks gestation until labor and every three hours from the onset of labor until delivery.
Of the 392 women enrolled, 194 received the short-course AZT regimen and 198 were in the control group. The short-course AZT regimen reduced transmission by 50%, from a rate of 18.9% in the control group to 9.4% with treatment. Since the preliminary results in February, CDC has worked in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and public health agencies worldwide to help translate these findings into health policy and practice. Numerous steps have been taken.
CDC immediately began working with collaborators to implement the short-course regimen at the Bangkok study hospitals. In addition, CDC is exploring with the MOPH how best to implement the regimen more widely in Thailand.
In March, UNAIDS convened an international meeting in which CDC participated to discuss the far-reaching scientific and policy implications of the findings.
In May, CDC brought together researchers, practitioners, and policy makers from across the globe to discuss ways to move forward with implementation and address remaining challenges.
As the health ministries of each country work to determine what these findings mean for them, numerous challenges remain ahead. While this short-course AZT regimen will contribute to reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in some developing nations, there is still a need for even simpler and less expensive solutions in areas where even this short-course regimen remains out of reach.
Additionally, in countries with no safe alternative to breast-feeding, the impact of transmission through breast-feeding after birth will still have to be considered. Estimates suggest that at least 273,000 infants worldwide are infected through breast-feeding each year. As public health agencies work to expand availability of the short-course regimen, efforts must also focus on developing new solutions to reduce transmission to infants after birth. CDC is committed to ongoing collaboration to help reduce the toll of HIV among children worldwide.


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I have to admit, I got nostalgic as our crowded, sandy Jetta sped (figuratively speaking, of course) along once familiar highways. Road signs pointing to places like Jamestown, Williamsburg. Closer to DC, the signs read Woodbridge, Quantico, Potomac Mills.
Things kinda ground to a halt where they always have done: Tyson's Corner.
There, it seemed the Beltway, Washington's legendary ring road, was being revamped. An endless line of traffic stretched from suburban Virgina, across the Potomac, and well into Maryland. Day-um.
I know the Beltway. It doesn't scare me or intimidate me but like everyone else who drives it, the damn thing frustrates me. Clearly, nothing had changed in that regard. What has changed since I left my hometown in 1993 is the sheer volume of traffic.
Jesusmaryandjoseph, the TRAFFIC. First I supposed it was construction. Then I mused that it was the downpour combined with the construction. Then, over one hour later, having not gone more than two miles, I considered the fact that there were too many cars on too little highway. Looking around as we sat – what else could we do – I looked at the new lanes under construction and knew instantly they would not be enough.
Welcome home, Banshee.
Talking to friends during our visit, the consensus is that too many people drive in DC. There is constant gridlock – on every freeway, parkway, avenue, and side street. If a goose so much as poops on Connecticut Avenue within an hour of rush hour, it will cost motorists hours of delay. They will sit and sit and fume and fume (as we did) and they will never see any evidence of a problem – just the endless glow of tail lights ahead of them. The goose will have made it back to Canada before commuters in DC get to their homes.
'Nuff about traffic. Once we made it to our hotel, The Madison on 15th Avenue NW, we were almost too pooped to notice our luxe surroundings. The Madison is a posh hotel where power brokers come to schmooze each other. The game hasn't changed in this town. The outdoor cafe was full even as we dragged our road-weary selves in around 11 pm; everybody in it oozed something – money? Power? Importance? We oozed burger grease and sand.
The linens on the bed were the finest we'd felt yet. The decor was the epitome of understated elegance. Thank you, Visa rewards points for this hotel I murmured as I passed out on at least 101 bed pillows.
The next morning I awoke to find my husband gone. This is not at all unusual. He likes to wake early and get a lay of the land before he herds us sleepy folk around. I knew roughly where we were – the Washington Post Building was two doors down and the White House was right around the corner – but the husband likes to explore. Plus, he's well-trained to scope out the nearest Starbucks for me as I don't go very far at all without a latte.
Sure enough, he had it all worked out by the time we got up. The plan on this very, very hot day was to see:
- The Smithsonian's Natural History and Air & Space Museums
- The White House (from the outside)
- The Spy Museum
- any other art gallery or museum that was free
The Smithsonian complex crams no less than ten museums within a mile and they're all FREE. The Potomac River along the Tidal Basin is also chock full of things to see – also free. That said, it's nearly impossible to see everything in one day – the museums are huge and crammed full of fascinating (ever-changing too) exhibits. By the time you get to the memorials on the river, you're at risk of falling into the water due to exhaustion.
On this day, I left the museum trekking to the family; I paid my respects to the Gems section (Hello, Hope Diamond!) and then I split. I had a lunch date with my dearest friend from DC who is like a sister. If I ever get famous and if she ever decides to write a book – WHEW! I'm in trouble. That kind of friend.
I walked up Constitution Ave to 12th St. NW and hopped on the Metro at Federal Triangle. I scurried by the IRS Building with my head down (yeah, I owe them some money). During the short walk, I noticed how clean everything was. DC looked like it was all spiffed up for a party. I also noticed how lovely the buildings, the trees, and the wide streets were. It's a beautiful city, my city. It's funny how we can live in the midst of beauty (for over thirty years) and fail to see it. Was it always this nice?
Once I figured out the Metro ticket machine (thank you little old man from the info. kiosk!), I was on my way. On DC's Metro system, riders pay by distance; the further you go on the line, the more it costs. Unlike Toronto where you pay $3 whether you go one stop or 20. Fares increase during peak hours. Based on the traffic I'd seen, it was clear more people needed to ride it.
After a lovely lunch, my friend and I battled midday gridlock to get to her house in a close-in suburb. Around six pm her husband joined us for the rush-hour gridlock back to the Metro station nearest their house. Here's the thing about the transit system in DC: once you get to your stop, you might still have a long commute to your house (if you live in the suburbs). Yikes. If I ever live there again, it will be downtown.
Over dinner that night at Irish pub in the heart of the city, the family recounted their day. The kids' favourite place had been The Spy Museum. It sounded awesome – very interactive. The kids were fascinated by the prevalence of spy games during the Cold War. Offices, hotels, and restaurants were all bugged back then. DC was on the front lines; there was a spy on every corner.
DC is the epicenter of great power. The architecture reflects this. As we walked by the Old Executive Office Building my husband commented, "This whole place was designed to impress." Absolutely. Maybe Washington has always had to prove itself, to "dress for success"; that's why there is so much grandiose architecture downtown. Back in the beginning, the U.S. had to fake it til it made it. Nothing like a lot of marble and gold leaf to accomplish the effect.
So much there wasn't time for: the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials – I know that even my somewhat jaded teens would've been moved and impressed. The Capitol Building, surely one of the most wondrous sights. Then there's Georgetown – a perennially hip district once full of boutiques and funky shops. A side trip to Mt. Vernon would've been cool too (the kids are always asking me about George Washington).
Nonetheless, Washington, birthplace of Banshee, got a huge thumbs up from everyone. We will surely go back and see much more. Thanks grande dame by the Potomac, hopefully we will see you again soon! I am proud to call you home.
The traffic, though. Get that sorted. It reminded me a lot of Congress: perpetual gridlock.


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I Love Baltimore Personal Tours
Click this text to start editing. This block is a basic combination of a title and a paragraph. Use it to welcome visitors to your website, or explain a product or service without using an image. Try keeping the paragraph short and breaking off the text-only areas of your page to keep your website interesting to visitors.
Mural Tour
Mural Tour
We are excited to bring you to all the amazing art talent in our great city. Choose our Mural tour to see how our regional artist can bring a large space to life. This is a mobile and walking tour.
COST$150. (flat cost up to 10 people)
Art Tour
Art Tour
These are self guided tours through the Walters art gallery which holds art from around the globe, from mummies to extensive 19th century French art collections. The Baltimore Museum of Art, which houses contemporary art work. An art lover would not want to leave and our neighborhood artsy in Graffiti alley. This is one Baltimore's favorite photo spots!!!


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Good morning CDD fans! Lisa B. here today to host the daily post on the CDD blog. I was so tired of the cold weather I wanted to change the pace and have something to look forward to!! lol
To make the background I stamped the whole background with the circle stamp from the Across the Border stamp set and used clear embossing powder on it. Then I used two tones of Tim Holtz blue inks and 2 of green to make the colors on the background. I ended up putting glossy accents on all the circles to make it pop up with a pretty glossy look.
I colored up several of the large daisy flowers from the HOME SWEET HOME stamp set then cut them out and layered them across the bottom. I added some glossy accents as well as some Wink of Stella markers to make them sparkle.
Next I colored up a butterfly from the JUST BUG-CAUSE stamp set and popped it up above the flowers. I used the banner die from the MIX IT UP DIE set to stamp the sentiment from the GARDEN CUTIES set. To finish the card off I added some of the new Matte Doodlebug GIRL ASSORTMENT sprinkles.
Thank you for stopping by today!
Have a great day & HAPPY CRAFTING!


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Our highly skilled engineering company offers a range of expert piling, underpinning and foundations services for residential and commercial construction projects. We specialise in comprehensive ground engineering solutions such as pile testing, CFA piling, pile foundations, reinforced concrete foundations and mini-piled underpinning.
Using the most advanced techniques available, we can bring you fast, efficient and high-quality project completion. UK companies such as Checkatrade and FSB support us and we are also on the list of trusted piling foundation contractors in Exeter. Independently audited, we are recognised industry specialists and have worked with some of the United Kingdom's largest construction companies.