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Astros owner Crane worries about CSNH's financial pinch
As Comcast SportsNet Houston approaches its ninth month without full distribution, the Astros/Rockets/NBC Sports Group partnership is low on funds and faces "tough decisions" about its future, Astros owner Jim Crane said Friday.
Crane said the network does not face irreparable financial damage and will remain on the air, but the partners might have to make financial decisions if NBC is unable to increase revenue by closing carriage deals with national carriers such as DirecTV, Dish Network and AT&T U-verse or regional carriers such as Suddenlink and Time Warner Cable.
"Without coverage, the network is not making money and so without the other (carriers) signing up and paying, there are things that can happen as the entity draws down on its credit," Crane said. "As that goes on, we run out of money, and we are going to have to make some tough decisions.
"There are mechanisms for that in the plan. We're not going to go bust or anything, but basically it becomes more difficult for everybody to operate if we don't get coverage."
He said all options are on the table for the network owned by the Astros (46.4 percent), Rockets (30.9 percent) and NBC (22.7 percent).
"There are rights fees involved, there is equity involved, there is long-term viability, overhead costs, and all of those things are in play," Crane said. "It is what it is. It's a business deal, and we've got to get it to a point where it makes good sense for everybody and move forward."
Meeting with mayor
Crane and Rockets CEO Tad Brown are scheduled to meet Monday with Mayor Annise Parker and with representatives of Suddenlink, which services Kingwood, Humble and several cable systems across Texas and the five-state area serviced by CSN Houston, on carriage talks for the network.
CSN Houston is available in about 40 percent of Houston's 2.2 million TV households, and an offer to providers for a free-view period through the end of May was picked up by only a few local carriers in the Houston area.
Crane will assume the Astros' position on the four-member CSN Houston board that was held by George Postolos, who resigned Monday as Astros president and CEO.
Crane acknowledged that carriage pickup rates for CSN Houston, which launched in October, "certainly hasn't gone like we wanted it to."
"We want to get fans to see the games," he said. "What they have to understand is there's big economics here, and it's not only for this year or next year. It's a long-term deal.
"If we cut a bad deal moving forward, it will have significant impact for us competing against the Rangers and Angels and Mariners. So we are really focused to get the games on as soon as we can, but we also are focused on the long-term credibility and viability financially against our competitors, and the TV deal is a big part of that."
West tough in TV, too
The American League West could be one of the most competitive divisions in baseball in that regard. The Rangers and Angels have deals with Fox Sports Net that include equity interests in their respective regional sports networks - Fox Sports Southwest and Fox Sports West - and the Mariners announced plans to form an RSN partnership with their carrier Root Sports, owned by DirecTV.
Rights fees are in play, as are future equity exchanges.
Brown had no comment on Crane's remarks but added the Rockets "completely agree with Jim that the single most important issue we both face is and remains securing network carriage for our fans."
Matt Hutchings, CSN Houston's president and general manager, referred questions to NBC Sports Group officials. Officials had no comment, but all signs point toward NBC's long-term support for CSN Houston's success.


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Note the 'critique' writing the storyline
One does wonder whether the bippolar that Fry has
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/hay- ... -body.html
Then again those that green-lit for him 20 years ago would never tell, being on the same shit to nowhere, either dead or in asylums up and down the country.
Surprise, Fry's penchant for snorting commences just before he fucks up lives of others
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/fears ... 74362.html
Go see the film, it pays for an addiction to the smooth porcelain surface in the gents convenience.
Credit cards for preparing lines have rarely been in his name, in keeping with his base nature.

subset: commoncrawl


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Results 1 to 1 of 1
Thread: Hi Guys, from a Musician
12-04-2016, 05:34 AM #1is A MusicianI am:
- Join Date
- Sep 2016
- Posts
- 1
Hi Guys, from a Musician
Hey Guys,
I'm Mark, I'm a Musician. Just wanted to Introduce myself. New here. So, wondering, if someone can guide me how this site works.
I'm a Musician & a Freelancer. Though I don't have much to say about me.
You might would like to listen a few recent Music Pieces of mine. Please listen to them here: http://www.dailymotion.com/musicmj
Or please feel free to visit my Music Blog here: http://msjmusic.blogspot.com
I sincerely hope to find good friends here. And please if someone can guide me a little about this site, I'll highly appreciate that.
Thanks & Regards,


text:
Next: ax_check_strftime, Previous: ax_check_sign, Up: The Macros
Not all systems have strcspn(3). See if we need to substitute. To make this work, you have to do horrible things. In one of your Makefile.am files, you must make an explicit rule to make this object. It should look like this:
strcspn.lo : $(top_srcdir)/compat/strcspn.c $(LTCOMPILE) -o $@ -c $(top_srcdir)/compat/strcspn.c
and you must include "@COMPATOBJ@" in a LIBADD somewhere and, finally, you must add another artificial dependency, something like:
makeshell.lo : genshell.c @COMPATOBJ@
It is all pretty horrific, but I have found nothing else that works.
Download the latest version of ax_check_strcspn.m4 or browse the macro's revision history.
Copyright © 2008 Bruce Korb email@example.com
Copying and distribution of this file, with or without modification, are permitted in any medium without royalty provided the copyright notice and this notice are preserved. This file is offered as-is, without any warranty.


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Judge says red-light camera ban is unconstitutional
A red-light camera ban approved by Murrieta residents in November was overturned Friday by a Riverside judge who concluded voters didn't have authority in the issue.
Riverside Superior Court Judge Daniel Ottolia, who handed down the decision, also ruled last August that the ballot initiative proposing the ban was unconstitutional. But an appellate court overturned that decision in September, deciding that Measure N should remain on the ballot and the issue of constitutionality could be taken up after the election.
In November, the measure banning the red-light cameras was approved by 57 percent of the city's voters.
Charles Bell of the law firm Bell, McAndrews and Hiltachk -- which represented Safe Streets for Murrieta, No on Measure N, the campaign committee backed by traffic-camera companies -- said the issue was whether voters could trump the City Council's power in the matter of traffic regulation.
"We felt confident that our position was correct about where the authority to do this kind of thing lay," Bell said. "The subsequent decision of the court ... just indicated that."
The four red-light enforcement cameras at three intersections in Murrieta were turned off in December, after the election results were certified, but the cameras never came down. Assistant City Attorney Jeffrey Morris said for now the cameras will remain off, and the council will determine a future course of action.
"It'll be for the City Council to decide what they're going to do," Morris said.
It's sure to be a thorny issue, with members of the current council who supported red-light cameras having to formulate the city's next move knowing that a clear majority of the city's voters who turned out in November oppose them.
On Friday, Councilman Randon Lane did not indicate what direction the council might take.
"I can say confidently that we will look at this, look at all of our different options, and then make a decision on what we're going to do and move forward," he said.
Lane did say he would like to see the council deal with the matter sooner rather than later.
"We've made it very clear that we believe that the courts needed to make a decision and give some direction on this," Lane said.
Murrieta resident Diana Serafin strongly opposes the red-light cameras and was one of organizers who helped put Measure N on the ballot.
"The people said we don't want them," Serafin said. "They (council members) won't listen. City Councils do what they want."
Serafin said she has heard talk of a council recall by residents roiled up over zoning issues and other decisions, and has even been asked to help with the effort, but so far has declined.
"I keep saying, 'No,'" she said. "But now, if they put these cameras on, I might get involved."


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Before & After
One Room Challenge | Bedroom – Week Six - The RevealNovember 06, 2014
It's finally here! Six weeks ago I decided to participate in the One Room Challenge which was started by Linda at Calling it Home. I hoped that participating would prod me into finally decorating my bedroom, and I'm happy to say that despite some hurdles which I thought might prevent me from finishing I'm ready to share what I've created. (If you missed any of the weekly posts for the challenge you can read them here: week 1, week 2, week3, week 4, and week 5)
When I started this challenge my room was pretty boring, but I hoped to be able to change that with some wallpaper, art, fabric and new bedside tables.
Here's my bedroom before:And here it is now:
I shared the before of the bedside tables a couple of weeks ago, and I'm very pleased with what I was able to do with them. They were painted in a high gloss using Para Paints Hybrid technology paint, and I love the look of them – almost like they were lacquered.
If you remember my inspiration board from week one I was inspired for the room by the Neo Toile fabric in navy from Tonic Living. I used it for a pillow on the bed along with a couple of fabrics from Designer Fabrics here in Toronto. They were my first ever attempt at sewing pillows with piping and a zipper (I used this tutorial) – there were some minor goofs, but overall I'm pleased with the result of my late night sewing adventures.
The wall that was bulging and cracked has been repaired and I don't think anyone would know that a few short weeks ago there was a massive hole between where my dresser and where the Zoe Pawlak print I won now hangs. For a novice drywaller and plasterer I think I did a great job. That said I really don't want to ever have to do it again.
In addition to the Zoe Pawlak piece I've hung the antique Hearth and Home magazine which I had professionally framed, and a print by Mara Minuzzo on either side of the room.
I recovered my headboard in navy velvet, which unfortunately isn't coming across well in the pictures given the lack of natural light (stupid daylight savings). I also applied brass nailhead detail around the edge to balance the brass of the pulls on the bedside tables.
There you have it – challenge completed, and I'm thrilled with the result. What do you think?
Want some more One Room Challenge final reveals? Make sure you check out the 20 bloggers doing the one room challenge, and the other One Room Challenge Linking Participants.
As a member of the Para Blog Crew I was provided paint for this project.


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MIX is a gathering of developers, designers, UX experts and business professionals creating the most innovative and profitable consumer sites on the web. Sessions range from technical, code-based topics to expert advice on content strategy, usability and design. Explore the future of the standards-based web – join the conversation at MIX11.
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A number of privacy groups have spoken out against the adoption of a proposed opt-out plan for behavioral advertising in the US and Europe. The groups are referring to the Advertising Option Icon introduced by the Interactive Advertising Bureau almost one year ago, which purports to make it easy for users to opt out of ad tracking on participating websites with the help of an easily recognizable icon. The system was proposed by the advertising industry as a way to avoid stricter legislation on how they can use information obtained from behavioral tracking, but the privacy groups call it a "flimsy self-regulatory system" that will end up "insufficient and ineffective" at protecting consumer privacy on the Internet.
The Advertising Option Icon is based on an industry report from July 2009 that focuses on education, transparency, and consumer control when it comes to targeted ads. The participating trade groups represent some 5,000 other companies when it comes to advertising on the Web, giving the proposal a higher profile than most when it comes to voluntary opt-out measures. The icon itself is meant to let users know which sites are participating in behavioral tracking and to "enhance the efforts of the growing number of companies that are already using similar mechanisms to deliver enhanced notice to millions of consumers."
When users click on the icon, they are able to read a "clear" disclosure statement about the company's data collection practices. They also have the ability to opt out of being behaviorally tracked by that company, though opting out doesn't necessarily mean they won't see ads anymore. The focus is on targeted ads based on your Internet usage—if advertisers can't target you, they'll just serve up more generalized versions instead. And, of course, the system is voluntary, meaning that there could be thousands of sites that continue track you across the Internet without showing the icon.
The collective organization that is now speaking out against the icon is called the TransAtlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD), which is made up of groups like the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Public Citizen, and the Center for Digital Democracy, as well as others on both sides of the Atlantic. The TACD wrote an open letter to top officials in both governments on Thursday, asking them "to reject the current [online behavioral advertising] self-regulatory regime as inadequate, and work with industry and consumer and privacy groups to ensure that significant revisions are made to protect consumer privacy."
The complaints include the effectiveness of an icon-based system, which TACD says is an insufficient means of tipping users to the "wide range of data collection that they routinely face." The group also cites research showing that very few users ever click on icons of this nature, and even fewer manage to opt out. Not that it matters if they did, as TACD says sensitive data like the user's health information or finances can still be collected under the proposal, not to mention that the opt-out tool is based on browser cookies, making them (at best) temporary and subject to user error.
The TACD feels so strongly about the kinks in the voluntary system that it argues the industry is actually setting itself up to collect more data from users.
"The Digital Advertising Alliance in the US and IAB Europe/EASA, we believe, have created systems principally designed to enable the expansion of OBA- related data practices," TACD wrote in its letter. "[C]onsumer and privacy NGOs are not opposed to digital marketing. Our concern is the same as yours; to ensure that consumers can effectively protect their privacy in today's digital media environment."
The groups are asking the US and EU governments to perform investigations into the real-time tracking and sales of personal information online, commit to developing a global common standard for protecting privacy, make sure there's proper enforcement and implementation of the rules, and adopt measures that go beyond the cookie-based system pushed by advertisers. The goal is to force both governments to wake up and take further action than what the advertising industry has proposed, largely because the groups believe that the industry simply cannot be trusted to look out for consumers.
"With the White House soon to release a new privacy 'white paper' that likely will rely on this flimsy self-regulatory system as a way to protect consumer privacy, today's unique joint action by US and EU consumer and privacy groups sends a powerful message that such a plan will be insufficient and ineffective," Center for Digital Democracy executive director Jeff Chester wrote in an e-mail to Ars.


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This 2008 vintage is an exclusive blend from eight classic Grands Crus: Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzy and Verzenay for the Pinot Noir (53%); Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger for the Chardonnay (47%).
The winter was particularly cold and long. The spring was mixed, but with good conditions for budding. The flowers opened in late June, in what was unseasonally hot weather. The summer was chaotic, with an August worthy of late autumn. Fortunately, the vines were able to draw on their reserves, to produce an abundant yield of superb quality. Therefore, between 14 and 29 September, we harvested a very fine crop of grapes. At the very end of picking, Botrytis struck, though it had no impact on the quality of the harvest. An effective sorting operation was carried out. The Pinot Noir wines are fruity and full-bodied; the Chardonnay wines are of considerable distinction.


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SEATTLE/NEW YORK: Boeing's machinists on Friday narrowly approved a crucial labor contract that secured thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity for Washington state but will cost workers their pensions.
The vote of 51 percent to 49 percent to accept the deal means Boeing Co will build its new 777X jetliner and wings in the Seattle area, where Boeing has built aircraft for more than 90 years.
Had the workers rejected the offer, Boeing would have considered making the successor to its popular 777 widebody jet elsewhere, and had received offers from 22 states interested in hosting the new factory.
"This decision means Boeing hopefully will stop pursuit of another site for its 777X program," said a somber Jim Bearden, administrative assistant to machinist District 751 President Tom Wroblewski.
"They held a gun to our head and our people were afraid," said Lester Mullen, a District 751 council delegate who works on the current 777 wing production line.
Boeing's reaction was in stark contrast to the mood in the Seattle union hall where the results were announced.
"The future of Boeing in the Puget Sound region has never looked brighter," Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Ray Conner said in a statement. "This will put our workforce on the cutting edge of composite technology, while sustaining thousands of local jobs for years to come."
In clinching the agreement, Boeing secured the location favored by analysts and investors, who saw far lower risk in using the factory and workers who now build the 777.
Boeing also ensured that the machinists won't have an opportunity to strike until 2024, when the new contract expires.
The decision drew praise from political leaders who had brought pressure to bear on the union to approve the deal.
"I'm very pleased that the best place in the world to build jet airliners for decades will continue for decades to come," said Governor Jay Inslee in a brief media conference in the state capital Olympia. "This has been a long road, and I respect everyone who has worked on it, but now's the time to come together, go build this airplane. I'm happy about that."
Addressing a concern raised by union members, Inslee said there were safeguards in recently passed state legislation giving $8.7 billion in incentives to Boeing and the industry to ensure the plane maker keeps 777X jobs in Washington state and doesn't open a second line in another state, as it did in South Carolina with the 787 Dreamliner.
After winning the incentives and the contract vote, "it is time for Boeing to hold up its end of the bargain," said Rep. Rick Larsen, whose congressional district includes the 777 factory. "Washington has shown that we stand behind a strong aerospace industry. Boeing should make the same commitment to our state."
Workers had argued that with Boeing earning healthy profits, and its share price at a record high, it should not be demanding that its workers give up past contract gains.
The choice Boeing offered had opened deep rifts between the local International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which opposed the contract, and its Washington, D.C.-based leadership, which forced a vote on the proposal.
It had also revealed cleavages between younger workers open to the deal and older workers dead set against it. Some 49 percent of the machinists are 50 or older, the union said.
In November, two-thirds of machinists voted against Boeing's first offer, which would have replaced their traditional defined-benefit pension with a defined-contribution savings plan, one of two retirement plans the workers receive.
The union's national leadership negotiated that deal. But local leaders opposed it, saying the take-aways were too great.
In the vote on Friday, members approved an eight-year contract extension that the union said provided $1 billion in additional benefits beyond the prior offer, but that will halt pension contributions in 2016.
About 600 votes separated yes from no, union officials said. Some members wanted a recount, but the national leaders would not allow it, said Wilson Ferguson, vice president of District 751.
Ferguson said about 8,000 members did not vote, up from 5,000 in the prior ballot in November. The union has about 31,000 eligible members.
Before the vote, a member filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board taking issue with the timing, just after Boeing's traditional closure between Christmas and the New Year, when many workers were away, the union said. The union allowed online absentee voting.
The divide between the local leaders and their national counterparts is mirrored by divisions over the contract that appear to cleave along age lines.
Younger machinists had voiced strong concern that failing to vote for the contract would cost them their jobs as Boeing moves the work elsewhere. The 777X is the last major development on Boeing's books for the next 15 years. If the plane was built elsewhere, it would have slowly eroded aerospace jobs in Washington. The average wage is $29 an hour.
Many older workers, however, had said the pension was sacred and was worth risking job loss.
"There's plenty of aviation work in the world," said Kevin Flynn, an aviation maintenance technician inspector, who has filed a separate complaint against the national union leaders with the National Labor Relations Board for holding the vote against the wishes of a majority of members.
"I'll just have to move to where the work is."
Tom Captain, head of the global aerospace and defense practice at Deloitte, said the difficult decision the union faced reflected the fact that aerospace work can be moved to new locations and that price competition between Boeing and rival plane maker Airbus is fierce.
"Although painful tense and emotional, it is clear that there is a sober recognition of the new reality in commercial aerospace manufacturing," he said. - Reuters
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Béton - Workability and consistency of fresh concrete: Vebè consistometer
This test method is used to measure the consistency of stiff to extremely dry concrete. Consistency is measured as the time required for a given mass of concrete to be consolidated by vibrating in a cylindrically shaped mould. The small vibrating table operates at a fixed amplitude and frequency. Versions...Continuer


text: Deciphering Duct Cleaning Posted March 19, 2015 When the you begin talking about cleaning your ducts, there is some uncertainty and little known about the process and what it can offer. For most homeowners, duct cleaning doesn't cross their minds unless they are already feeling some sort of respiratory discomfort. Whether there's dirt and dust in your ducts from a recent remodeling project or you just moved in to an older home, professional duct cleaning should make it on your to-do list to ensure you're not circulating dirty air throughout your home. So how will you know when the time is right to arrange duct cleaning? There are a few telling signs that can give you a better clue of the ideal time to get your ducts cleaned. If your ducts contain any of these signs, be sure to talk with Turner Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning in Saint Marys about getting your ducts cleaned. Obvious mold inside your HVAC components or ductwork An abundance of dust or dirt, from age or recent work on your house Insects and/or rodents are taking up residence in your ductwork Not only is duct cleaning good for offering you peace of mind that your home's air is cleaner, but it also can help boost the efficiency of your HVAC system, according to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). Ensuring your ducts are clear of all debris allows your HVAC system to operate easier, giving you with the comfort you expect and better efficiency. Of course, greater efficiency can also lead to an increase in savings, making your house feel that much more comfortable. Maintaining a comfortable home isn't something that many people consider their role in, but when you think about how easy it is to improve your indoor air quality as well as your energy efficiency, you'll quickly realize the impact you can make. So when the time is right and you're in the market for duct cleaning, be sure to give the team at Turner Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning in Saint Marys a call at 912-208-2470. Back To Blog


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Israel police clash with Palestinians in Jerusalem
Israeli police say several Palestinians threw rocks at officers and Jewish worshippers after Muslim prayers in Jerusalem's Old City and 15 have been arrested.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says clashes began when several hundred Palestinians emerged from Friday prayers at a sensitive hilltop compound revered by both Jews and Muslims.
He says masked men threw rocks at police and Jews praying at the nearby Western Wall on the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana. Two officers were hurt and 15 Palestinians arrested, he said.
The compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is the holiest site in Judaism. Known to Muslims as the "Noble Sanctuary," it is Islam's third-holiest site.
The Western Wall, a remnant of the biblical Jewish Temple compound, is the holiest site where Jews can pray.


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Spa Valley Railway
All CustomersWe politely request that all users of our 'Contact Us' page only contact us if the answer to your query cannot be found below or you need re-booking on a future service. We rely on three volunteers to monitor our enquries account who also have other full time work, it may take sometime to reply to your enquiry.
We ask, please, that you do not contact the railway by telephone. Volunteers are working from home and the main Tunbridge Wells West public number is therefore not staffed so cannot be answered.
Virgin Experience Days CustomersAt the present time we are only able to accept SVST2, SVR1N, SVSAT, SVS2C 'Cream Tea' vouchers on our services. These can be booked in the normal way on this website.
Virgin Travel for Two:We can now accept travel for two on our 10:30 train from Tunbridge Wells West on most Saturday's and Sunday's from August Bank Holiday.
Saturday Evening and Sunday Luncheon:The Saturday Evening Dining (SVS2D or SVS4D) and Sunday Lunch (SVVS2 or SVVS4) trains will NOT return for the foreseeable future due to the Social Distancing measures. We are able to return some of our dining experiences as the products can be placed on the tables prior to boarding or table service is extremely limited by the nature of the service.
Unfortunately, despite various methods being discussed we have concluded, at the present time it is not possible (on a heritage train) for a 3 or 5-course meal to be provided nor it is possible to do using the usual crockery, cutlery and glassware which would detract from the product that we offer.
We are however able to offer an alternative in the form of an enhanced, three course Ploughman's Lunch on Saturday 12th September. Please click here for details and then contact us directly if you wish to book (only valid for those holding an SVSD2, SVSD4, SVVS2 or SVVS4 voucher), you may otherwise wish to wait until these services re-start, a date for which cannot be given at the present time. We are however continuing to investigate methods of re-introducing these services.
For all those with a voucher that you cannot book all we can advise you do is contact your voucher provider to discuss your options, we have sent them information advising them of the present situation. We ourselves cannot extend vouchers or book you in for a service (other than a Cream Tea which you can now book via the usual method) at the moment. If you do decide to contact the Spa Valley Railway all we are able to do is provide you with the information shown above, this is the latest update we are able to provide.
We thank you for your understanding at this extremely difficult time for our heritage railway.
COVID-19Please see here for the latest updates.
Group Bookings - for 20 or more persons when booked in advance onlyFor those contacting us regarding Group Bookings, the Spa Valley Railway offers the following discounts on Green Timetable Days only.
If you are making an enquiry for a group booking we need to know the following information to quote accurately: Date you wish to travel, the time of train you wish to travel on, the number of persons you wish to book for.
Fundraising/Raffle PrizesDue to the high volume of fundraising requests that we receive, and the fact that we are a registered charity ourselves, the Spa Valley Railway is unable to support raffles or assist with fundraising requests. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you luck with all your fundraising events. We politely request that persons do not send enquiries regarding fundraising or raffle prizes.
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Booking with vTicket


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Your pregnancy and baby guide
Stomach pain in pregnancy
Open all pages about Your pregnancy and baby guide
Main navigation
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- Secrets to success
- Am I pregnant?
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- Early days
- Week by week
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- Work out your due date
- Tests scans and checks
- Your pregnancy (antenatal) care
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- Common pregnancy ailments
- Pregnancy-induced conditions
Labour and birth
- The start of labour
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- How to breastfeed
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- Weaning and solid foods
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- Spotting signs of serious illness
- Reflux in babies
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- Coughs, colds and ear infections
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Stomach (abdominal) pains or cramps are common in pregnancy. They're usually nothing to worry about, but they can sometimes be a sign of something more serious that needs to be checked.
It's probably nothing to worry about if the pain is mild and goes away when you change position, have a rest, do a poo or pass wind. But if you have stomach pains and are worried, call your midwife or maternity hospital.
Harmless stomach pains, which can be dull or sharp, may be caused by:
- ligament pain (often called "growing pains" as the ligaments stretch to support your growing bump) – this can feel like a sharp cramp on one side of your lower tummy
- constipation – which is common in pregnancy (find out how to avoid constipation)
- trapped wind
Urgent advice: Call your midwife immediately if you have stomach pain and:
- bleeding or spotting
- regular cramping or tightenings
- vaginal discharge that's unusual for you
- lower back pain
- pain or burning when you pee
- the pain is severe or doesn't go away after you've rested for 30 to 60 minutes
Any of these could be the symptoms of something that needs to be checked or treated urgently.
Conditions that can cause stomach pain and need to be checked urgently include:
Ectopic pregnancy
This is when a fertilised egg implants outside the womb, for example in a fallopian tube. The pregnancy can't survive and needs to be removed with medicine or surgery.
Symptoms typically appear between 4 and 12 weeks of pregnancy and can include:
- tummy pain and bleeding
- pain in the tip of your shoulder
- discomfort when pooing or peeing
Find out more about ectopic pregnancy.
Cramping pains and bleeding before 24 weeks of pregnancy can sometimes be a sign of miscarriage or threatened miscarriage (when you bleed but the pregnancy normally continues).
Pain just under the ribs is common in later pregnancy due to the growing baby and uterus pushing up under the ribs.
But if this pain is bad or persistent, particularly on the right side, it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy) which affects some pregnant women. It usually starts after 20 weeks or just after the baby is born.
Other symptoms of pre-eclampsia include:
- severe headache
- vision problems
- swollen feet, hands and face
You'll need to be monitored in hospital.
Find out more about pre-eclampsia.
Premature labour
If you're less than 37 weeks pregnant and are having regular abdominal cramps or tightenings, call your midwife.
This could be a sign of premature labour, and you'll need to be monitored in hospital.
Placental abruption
This is when the placenta starts to come away from the wall of the womb, usually causing bleeding and constant severe pain that doesn't come and go like a contraction pain.
It's sometimes an emergency because it means the placenta may not be able to support your baby properly.
You should go to the hospital so you and your baby can be checked.
Find out more about placental abruption
UTI (urinary tract infection)
UTIs are common in pregnant woman and can usually be easily treated. They can cause tummy pain and sometimes, but not always, pain when you pee.
Find out more about UTIs.
Page last reviewed: 04/10/2019
Next review due: 04/10/2022


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You could feel like a sad face emoji if comments found on your own social media accounts bolster a plaintiff's premises liability claim.
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Tom Ford's Makeup and Beauty Collection 2011-08-25 11:18:46
Take a Closer Look at Tom Ford's New Beauty Collection
Take a Closer Look at Tom Ford's New Beauty Collection
We already got a sneak peek of Tom Ford's upcoming Color Collection, and now here's a closer look. The 132-piece line features intensely pigmented makeup, skin care, and two new scents. And in keeping with Tom Ford's envelope-pushing personality, you can expect some eyebrow-raising names within the line, such as a bold red lipstick called Lost Cherry and a dark polish called Bitter B*tch. See more of his first official beauty collection before it lands on counters this November.


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I certainly hope so (but more importantly, why the hell is there a picture of Paris Hilton on this blog?)
The central question I have here is, "why has no one inspected these stations before?" I suppose everyone takes for granted that, at the very least, the instrumentation used to measure global temperatures would exist in a sort of vacuum–sensibly placed, with intelligent forethought into the environments wherein they were to abide while undergoing regular and reasonable maintenance.
According to a recently launched study by Anthony Watts at his site Surface Stations (currently offline understandably due to excessive traffic), anthropogenic global warming may in large part simply be due to human error, and possibly stupidity, when placing weather stations, and specifically global temperature measuring thermometers.
Mr. Watts is still in the beginning stages of his study (50 stations out of around 1200 in the United States) and drawing serious conclusions at this point might be a tad hasty. If his early inspections are anything to go by though, the pro-anthropogenic global warming camp may have to dream up a new way to bamboozle the public into believing that man is primarily responsible for the inevitable world-wide catastrophe due to our meddlings in the ways of mother nature (for crying out loud, the United Nations has just claimed that global warming is responsible for the genocide in Darfur–it looks as if U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is turning out a greater kook than was Kofi Annan.
Who knows? Perhaps the inconvenient truth is that Paris Hilton is more pertinent than global warming.
By Bill Steigerwald
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Remember in January when the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its good friends in media trumpeted that 2006 was the warmest year on record for the contiguous United States? NOAA based that finding – which allegedly capped a nine-year warming streak "unprecedented in the historical record" – on the daily temperature data that its National Climatic Data Center gathers from about 1,221 mostly rural weather observation stations around the country.
Few people have ever seen or even heard of these small, simple-but-reliable weather stations, which quietly make up what NOAA calls its United States Historical Climatology Network (USHCN).
But the stations play an important role in detecting and analyzing regional climate change. More ominously, they provide the official baseline historical temperature data that politically motivated global-warming alarmists like James Hansen of NASA plug into their computer climate models to predict various apocalypses.
NOAA says it uses these 1,221 weather stations — which like the ones in Uniontown and New Castle are overseen by local National Weather Service offices and usually tended to by volunteers — because they have been providing reliable temperature data since at least 1900.
But Anthony Watts of Chico, Calif., suspects NOAA temperature readings are not all they're cracked up to be. As the former TV meteorologist explains on his sophisticated, newly hatched Web site surfacestations.org, he has set out to do what big-time armchair-climate modelers like Hansen and no one else has ever done – physically quality-check each weather station to see if it's being operated properly.
To assure accuracy, stations (essentially older thermometers in little four-legged wooden sheds or digital thermometers mounted on poles) should be 100 feet from buildings, not placed on hot concrete, etc. But as photos on Watts' site show, the station in Forest Grove, Ore., stands 10 feet from an air-conditioning exhaust vent. In Roseburg, Ore., it's on a rooftop near an AC unit. In Tahoe, Calif., it's next to a drum where trash is burned.
Watts, who says he's a man of facts and science, isn't jumping to any rash conclusions based on the 40-some weather stations his volunteers have checked so far. But he said Tuesday that what he's finding raises doubts about NOAA's past and current temperature reports.
"I believe we will be able to demonstrate that some of the global warming increase is not from CO2 but from localized changes in the temperature-measurement environment."
Meanwhile, you probably missed the latest about 2006. As NOAA reported on May 1 – with minimum mainstream-media fanfare – 2006 actually was the second- warmest year ever recorded in America, not the first. At an annual average of 54.9 degrees F, it was a whopping 0.08 degrees cooler than 1998, still the hottest year.
NOAA explained that it had updated its 2006 report "to reflect revised statistics" and "better address uncertainties in the instrumental record." This tinkering is standard procedure. NOAA always scientifically tweaks temperature readings for various reasons — weather stations are moved to different locations, modernized, affected by increased urbanization, etc.
NOAA didn't say whether it had adjusted for uncertainties caused by nearby burn barrels.
Here's a notable excerpt from Anthony Watts, Surface Stations website, courtesy of Newsbusters…
Will Media Ever Investigate Accuracy of Weather Stations?
Posted by Noel Sheppard on June 18, 2007 – 15:30.
Assume for a moment there was evidence some weather stations around the country were underestimating mean temperatures. Would a media fixated on expanding climate change alarmism investigate and report this phenomenon to demonstrate that the planet was actually warmer than people think?
"60 Minutes," "20/20," and "Dateline" would have all done rather lengthy exposés into the matter, correct?
Well, a former meteorologist for the CBS-TV affiliate KHSL in Redding, California, by the name of Anthony Watts has examined 48 of the 1221 weather stations in the 48 lower states, and found irregularities that could be skewing the data upward.
Watts reported his first startling finding on this subject at his "Watts Up With That?" website on May 9, 2007 (emphasis added throughout):
To get an idea of the measurement environment that exists today at stations used to gather climate data, I visited the Chico State University Fram on Hegan Lane, south of the city, to do a site survey in the format done by Dr. Roger Pielke of Colorado State University. This station is part of the US Historical Climate Network of weather stations that have been used as the source for surface temperature data in many climate models and studies. There were some interesting discoveries.
1. There are missing louvers on the north side of the [Cotton Region Shelter] containing the automated data logger and temp/dp sensor
2. There is clear evidence that both shelters have been repainted with latex paint, including brush marks and drip marks.
3. There is an asphalt road that curves around the site, from the southwest to the southeast
4. The surface at the site is mixture of gravel, soil, and debris. There is no grass.
5. There is a water filled evapo-transpiration pan within 10 feet of each CRS, its lineage seems to indicate it goes back to the establishment of the site in 1963
6. The fiberglass composite NEMA electronics enclosure containing the data logger, radio modem, and solar battery charger are placed inside the CRS within 6-8 inches of the temperature/dp sensor. The 12 volt gel cel battery is also inside the CRS. These items may introduce a heat bias from the operating electronics.
Watts was kind enough to include pictures of the site surveyed.
Since this point, Watts has visited many other weather stations (please visit www.surfacestations.org for all of his observations) with findings such as the following in Marysville, California:
Today I visited Marysville's Fire Station, just off Hwy 70 at 9th and B Street, where they have the station of record for the city using the MMTS electronic sensor installed by the National Weather Service. The data from this station is part of the USHCN (US Historical Climatological Network) and is used in the computer modeling used to predict climate change.
The Marysville station is located behind the fire department building on a patio and is probably the worst site visited so far. In addition to the sensor being surrounded by asphalt and concrete, its also within 10 feet of buildings, and within 8 feet of a large metal cell tower that could be felt reflecting sunlight/heat. And worst of all, air conditioning units on the cell tower electronics buildings vent warm air within 10 feet of the sensor. Oh and lets not forget the portable BBQ the firefighters use a "couple times a week." The area has been constantly added to, what was once a grass rear yard was turned to a parking lot, then more buildings added, then a cell tower with one, then two electronics buildings and the air conditioners…no report on how long the firefighters were BBQ'ing back there, when they figured out why I was asking all the questions they clammed up.
I can tell you with certainty, the temperature data from this station is useless.
To give you an idea of just how useless, take a look at the picture of this weather station:
Here are the mean temperature recorded by the Marysville station since the early 1900s:
Yet, as Watts pointed out, there's another station 50 miles away in Orland, California, which is not surrounded by buildings, air conditioners, asphalt, a parking lot, or a cell tower. Take a look at a picture of how a weather station should be set up, and the insert of mean temperatures reported from said station which are quite different than from the Marysville station just 50 miles away:
As Watts correctly pointed out, "Its [sic] obvious that Marysville is measuring UHI (Urban Heat Island) effects."
What this means is that the Marysville station is defeating the purpose of placing a temperature recorder outside of a major metropolitan area by creating an environment that looks nothing like a rural one. As a result, it is quite likely that the temperature readings at Marysville are being upwardly skewed by the environs.
As you might imagine, these are but two examples of sites visited by Watts, and the reader is encouraged to go here and here for more of his research.
Yet, the bigger question is why haven't journalists looked into this matter? Isn't this considered newsworthy?
Bill Steigerwald of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review certainly believes so given his Sunday article on this subject (emphasis added):
To assure accuracy, stations (essentially older thermometers in little four-legged wooden sheds or digital thermometers mounted on poles) should be 100 feet from buildings, not placed on hot concrete, etc. But as photos on Watts' site show, the station in Forest Grove, Ore., stands 10 feet from an air-conditioning exhaust vent. In Roseburg, Ore., it's on a rooftop near an AC unit. In Tahoe, Calif., it's next to a drum where trash is burned.
Watts, who says he's a man of facts and science, isn't jumping to any rash conclusions based on the 40-some weather stations his volunteers have checked so far. But he said Tuesday that what he's finding raises doubts about NOAA's past and current temperature reports.
"I believe we will be able to demonstrate that some of the global warming increase is not from CO2 but from localized changes in the temperature-measurement environment."
Any questions as to why major media outlets are not at all concerned with the accuracy of America's weather stations?
Chris Horner Identifies More Weather Station Problems
Posted by Noel Sheppard on June 19, 2007 – 14:29.
On Monday, NewsBusters exposed some serious problems at a number of temperature data-collection facilities around the country.
On Tuesday, Christopher C. Horner, Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and author of the New York Times bestseller "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming and Environmentalism," shared information with NewsBusters concerning two additional problematic weather stations:
Jim Manzi [of National Review's Planet Gore] recently posted on the problems encountered when experts undertook even a cursory examination of the U.S.'s surface temperature measuring stations, which are the world's most reliable…a sobering thought for reasons we all shall soon see.
Horner continued:
Consider the below exemplar of those wonders of science and technology in the field of obtaining surface temperature measurements, from Hopkinsville, KY, where the instrument: a) abuts a brick house: b) actually abuts the chimney of a brick house; c) hovers just above a black asphalt pad, and; d) what's that directly underneath it, but a Weber grill!
Absolutely brilliant.
There is a large green garbage receptacle just off to the left, in the photo, which is where I suggest the instrument might better lie.
Next time you hear of a heat wave in Hopkinsville, KY, you might wander over to grab a burger. More likely than not the boys are just having a cookout.
This is not yet up on SurfaceStations, but based on other station photos which I've seen this isn't all that aberrant, or rather is so only as a matter of degree
Horner wasn't done, for the following picture is of a weather station somewhere in Colorado:
Horner pointed out:
Here, the weather station was placed 2 feet off of a building, but conveniently next to a large air conditioning unit. Any thoughts on the localized ambient temperature when that baby kicks on?
Horner concluded:
The folks at ClimateAudit have detected that our alarmist friends are aware, and already preparing for this story to get some legs. Our schools may be in pretty rough shape, but not that rough that this corruption of the surface data will go unnoticed.
Of course, the question still remains: When will the mainstream media investigate and report this, or will this issue continue to be one only examined in the blogosphere?
Stay tuned.
High price for load of hot air
June 18, 2007 12:00am
WITH understandable reluctance, Prime Minister John Howard recently donned the political hair-shirt of a carbon trading system.
On the same day, NASA chief Michael Griffin commented in a US radio interview that "I am not sure that it is fair to say that (global warming) is a problem that we must wrestle with".
NASA is an agency that knows a thing or two about climate change. As Griffin added: "We study global climate change, that is in our authorisation, we think we do it rather well.
"I'm proud of that, but NASA is not an agency chartered to, quote, battle climate change."
Such a clear statement that science accomplishment should carry primacy over policy advice is both welcome and overdue.
Nonetheless, there is something worrying about one of Griffin's other statements, which said that "I have no doubt . . . that a trend of global warming exists".
Griffin seems to be referring to human-caused global warming, but irrespective of that his opinion is unsupported by the evidence.
The salient facts are these. First, the accepted global average temperature statistics used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that no ground-based warming has occurred since 1998. Oddly, this eight-year-long temperature stasis has occurred despite an increase over the same period of 15 parts per million (or 4 per cent) in atmospheric CO2.
Second, lower atmosphere satellite-based temperature measurements, if corrected for non-greenhouse influences such as El Nino events and large volcanic eruptions, show little if any global warming since 1979, a period over which atmospheric CO2 has increased by 55 ppm (17 per cent).
Third, there are strong indications from solar studies that Earth's current temperature stasis will be followed by climatic cooling over the next few decades.
How then is it possible for Griffin to assert so boldly that human-caused global warming is happening?
Well, he is in good company for similar statements have been made recently by several Western heads of state at the G8 summit meeting. For instance, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asserts climate change (i.e. global warming) "is also essentially caused by humankind".
In fact, there is every doubt whether any global warming at all is occurring at the moment, let alone human-caused warming.
For leading politicians to be asserting to the contrary indicates something is very wrong with their chain of scientific advice, for they are clearly being deceived. That this should be the case is an international political scandal of high order which, in turn, raises the question of where their advice is coming from.
In Australia, the advice trail leads from government agencies such as the CSIRO and the Australian Greenhouse Office through to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations.
As leading economist David Henderson has pointed out, it is extremely dangerous for an unelected and unaccountable body like the IPCC to have a monopoly on climate policy advice to governments. And even more so because, at heart, the IPCC is a political and not a scientific agency.
Australia does not ask the World Bank to set its annual budget and neither should it allow the notoriously alarmist IPCC to set its climate policy.
It is past time for those who have deceived governments and misled the public regarding dangerous human-caused global warming to be called to account. Aided by hysterical posturing by green NGOs, their actions have led to the cornering of government on the issue and the likely implementation of futile emission policies that will impose direct extra costs on every household and enterprise in Australia to no identifiable benefit.
Not only do humans not dominate Earth's current temperature trend but the likelihood is that further large sums of public money are shortly going to be committed to, theoretically, combat warming when cooling is the more likely short-term climatic eventuality.
In one of the more expensive ironies of history, the expenditure of more than $US50 billion ($60 billion) on research into global warming since 1990 has failed to demonstrate any human-caused climate trend, let alone a dangerous one.
Yet that expenditure will pale into insignificance compared with the squandering of money that is going to accompany the introduction of a carbon trading or taxation system.
The costs of thus expiating comfortable middle class angst are, of course, going to be imposed preferentially upon the poor and underprivileged.
- Professor Bob Carter is an environmental scientist at James Cook University who studies ancient climate change


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Related articles
- Get Your Popcorn Toffee Drizzled Mishloach Manot from The Jewish Hostess (thejewishhostess.com)
- Egg, Nut, and Dairy Free (Vegan) Hammentashen for Purim (thejewishhostess.com)
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Greetings and salutations, TTW'ers! There are some awfully big things happening around our little role-playing site and the ownership team figured it was high time to share some of that news with all of you.
First of all, whether youre a brand new member here or an old-timer who measures your time at TTW in years and decades, you should know that a brand-spankin new version of this website is currently being developed. The new version will utilize the latest edition of VBulletin (V5), which will not only improve the sites functionality but will also enable us to offer a true mobile-friendly version of TTW to users at last. We know that thats something users have hoped for around here for a long time now.
Additionally, other for-your-convenience improvements will include (1) the ability to tag specific players and add private tags, (2) editable posts regardless of whether dice have already been rolled, and (3) a new dice roller with both expanded functionality and streamlined simplicity.
Finally, for the first time in our sites history, we will be offering our very own fully functional character sheets for the most popular current game systems being played around here (DnD 5e and Pathfinder editions 1 and 2). The team is already hard at work on these upgrades with a completion date of February 28th, 2021 set as the current goal to unveil the new and improved TTW to you all.
With that all being said, because of these major upgrades and changes, there are two more things that you - our loyal and dedicated users - ought to be aware of.
One, because we are creating a new character sheet system, we will be saying goodbye to our old sheets in the process. Admittedly, it isnt a secret that most of you, as current members of TTW, use a variety of other sites for your character sheet needs at the moment, but for those that still have and still use character sheets created right here at The Tangled Web, you will need to transfer the information from those sheets before the big transition in February. All old character sheets here from TTW will be lost and unavailable after the sites upgrade so please make transferring whatever you need from sheets here a priority sooner rather than later.
And two - because this site was, is, and always will be a community for its members to relax, game, and have fun in, we want your voices to be heard as a part of this process! Do you have character sheet suggestions?
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Let us know
Do you just have some thoughts you want to share about how to make TTW a better place to game together? Dont be shy. Thats what were here for!
There is a dedicated team of owners and administrators here - Drew, Blackfox42, Tiger, Raistlinmc, Elan, SoberIrishman, and Wyrframe - who want to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns, so please dont hesitate to reach out to us. Were hoping to collect all feedback from users by November 15th or so, so please take the time over the next few weeks to let us know what you think about all of this.
Remember that, no matter what changes are made, TTW is a place for YOU, dear reader, and that means that your voice and opinion matters here. We look forward to hearing from you! As always, thanks go out to each and every one of you who plays here and makes this community the special place it is. Cheers and happy gaming, everyone!
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The FIFA world cup 2014 is round the corner, and people are desperately searching for good online world cup promotions. Bettors need a source where they can find all the info needed such as football match predictions, news related to the tournaments and insights that can help them make winning bets on desired teams.
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NEWARK—Losing is half of boxing. The more interesting half. Some losers are tragic, searching for something they'll never find. Some are noble. But only one loser can do it quite like Zab.
In Newark on Saturday night, a whole team of boxing promoters had lined up a card of spectacular mismatches. Ten fights, all the favorites in the red corner, all the predetermined losers in the blue corner. Ardrick Butler brought a 5-2 record from Philly, along with an odd habit of pumping his gloves up and down by his waist every time he jumped backward, a little Donkey Kong imitation in the ring. Ardrick had a handful of supporters who'd come up from Philly to watch him, and their cries grew more plaintive as he was systematically pounded by Mikael Zewski, a patient, promising 4-0 French Canadian who deserved the gold trim on his trunks. "You gotta put em together, Rick!" they cried, as Butler dripped bloody drool at the end of the second round. His corner joined in the urging: "If you wanna go to the next level, dog..."
The next level will not happen for Ardrick Butler. In the fourth Zewski bullied him, backed him all the way up to the ropes with hard short left hooks, body, head, body, head. Butler bounced off the ropes and made his charge forward, at which point Zewski just stepped back, ducked, and tripped Butler as he stepped past, for good measure. After Zewski'd been awarded the unanimous decision, Butler, thoroughly beaten, descended the stairs of the ring ahead of his cornermen and began to walk out, unnoticed. He stopped when he realized he was alone and glanced back for a moment, just to be sure his guys were coming, and hadn't forgotten about him.
Hevinson Herrera came all the way from Miami, but entered the ring in a t-shirt, his cornrows fuzzy. He clearly hadn't bothered to dress up for the occasion of his demise at the hands of Mike Perez, a Newark townie. Herrera's corner team was notable in that one of its members was a Snooki-esque woman with long hair, high black boots, and very tight, ass-accentuating jeans. Not that there's anything wrong with that—it's just not the usual sight at ringside. The Cuban Herrera quickly revealed a tendency, when he threw his left jab, to let his right hand fly off the side of his head, as if it had somewhere else to go, rather than staying put and protecting him from left hooks. It's the sort of thing one would think he would have fixed in the course of 21 professional fights. Perez must have noticed this, too, because he knocked Herrera out with a left hook halfway through the first round. I saw the Snooki-esque woman at the bar 15 minutes after the fight, gesticulating.
Alex Montes looked very small, even for a 126-pounder. His opponent, Tyrone Luckey, looked very big. And indeed he was, much taller. Montes proved he should be there, though, by rushing up and knocking Luckey down with a hard left hook to the head in the first round. This had the dual effect of preserving Montes's pride, but also of energizing Luckey, the clear favorite. Montes was staggered with a right hand in the first, then knocked down twice in the second while off balance from his brave but unproductive charges toward his taller opponent. In the third Luckey knocked him down again with a right hook, then rushed ahead and pounded Montes until the ref called the fight. Afterward, Tyrone stood in the center of the ring and raised his taped hands in the classic picture-posing stance; Montes, walking by him, stopped and looked at the row of photographers to see if he, too, was needed. He wasn't.
The ring announcer said that Kywayne Hill of Philadephia was "competing in his seventh professional bout," which meant he was 1-5. He entered the ring in a plain white t-shirt that didn't appear to be very new or clean. He lost a unanimous decision to an unpolished Long Islander. For all I know, neither you nor I will ever think of Kywayne Hill again.
Someone who didn't care much about Maurice Amaro's health had convinced Maurice Amaro to become a professional boxer. He was a light heavyweight, fighting guys big enough to really fuck you up good. Maurice came out nervous, jerky, his punches far too wide, at one point missing everything with an overhand right thrown with his palm down, like a swimmer slapping the surface of a lake. Two minutes through the first round, Maurice's leopard trunks had fallen down so far—below the bottom of his butt, exposing his blue-and-white striped boxer shorts to the entire arena—that the ref stopped the fight to pull them up himself, a real life bad dream of embarrassment come true. Maurice Amaro was like a man playing a boxer in a movie, poorly. He'd run up against a real boxer, Angel Concepcion, who beat him up but didn't knock him out, which only portends more brain damage for Amaro in his future, should he be foolish enough to carry on with his boxing fantasy. After the fight Maurice was very solicitous of the man who'd beaten him, going over and giving him a hug, patting him on his shoulders. Concepcion, though, barely wanted to touch him. Afraid some of Maurice Amaro might rub off?
Gary Bergeron of New Orleans entered the ring in a Jeremy Shockey jersey, with Saints colors on his trunks and a fleur-de-lis back tattoo. The whole Cajun boy bit. He fought with his hands held absurdly high, higher than I'd ever seen outside a Muay Thai fight, the fingertips of his gloves poking above the top of his head. Boxers must choose where to hold their arms to best protect themselves, since the average human arm is not long enough to cover both your face and your body, when bent in half. Generally boxers will compromise, holding their fists up by their chin, close enough to raise them up quickly to cover the face, but not so high that they can't drop their elbows just as quickly to shield their body. Bergeron reckoned that by leaning far forward, he could take his midsection out of the equation, leaving only his head to protect.
The perfect system? Not at all. He was fighting Sadam Ali, a wonderful former Olympian, an accurate puncher and a hard one, too. Ali appeared momentarily dumbstruck by the sheer battiness of Bergeron's defense; then, just as you'd expect, he waded in and punished Bergeron's unprotected body, thunking him over and over with underhands. No man's abs are that strong. After a couple rounds of that Ali was able to start splitting Bergeron's guard with uppercuts to the face, and it wasn't long before he scored a TKO, with the subsequent replay making the crowd say "OH! OHH! OH!" in unison. A minute later I caught a glimpse of Gary standing outside the ring in his Shockey jersey, alone, trying to undo the laces of his gloves with his teeth.
Vicente Escobedo has real skinny legs. There are lots of possible reasons for this: too much distance running, a poorly designed training split, or just genetics. But skinny legs mean a lack of power in boxing, where punches start in your toes. Not that you can't knock guys out— Escobedo was 22-2 with 14 KOs— but boxers with legs that skinny are almost never real-deal, one-hitter-quitter punchers. Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, Escobedo's opponent, did not have skinny legs. And he did have power. The two fighters were almost identical, in fact, except that Guerrero could knock down Escobedo with one punch. Vicente Escobedo was an amazing counterpuncher, one of the best I've seen in a long while, able to consistently and with no hesitation tag Guerrero with left hooks over the top of every straight right, then next time pop that same left hook to his gut, with great accuracy. He could see opportunities coming before they came, and he could pop counterpunches through holes in Guerrero's defense that required him to start throwing his punch before those holes even existed, to put his fist through a space that would only be vacant for a quarter of a second.
Of course, Escobedo lost. It wasn't close, technically, since for all his great counterpunching, and for all his warrior spirit, his punches, crisp as they were, didn't have as much behind them as Guerrero's did. So Guerrero cut Escobedo's ear badly in the first and dropped him with a straight left in the third, and again in the fifth, and again in the sixth, and cut his right eye in the seventh. And every time Escobedo got back up and fought back like a motherfucker. A smart motherfucker, always watching and anticipating, unfazed, cracking Guerrero with looping straight rights over the top when he let his back hand sag too low. In the final round you could fairly say that Escobedo managed to beat Guerrero all over the ring, never knocking him down but coming forward and throwing fiercely, like a cat scratching up a bewildered bulldog. Guerrero, thanks to all the knockdowns, got the win. Escobedo got my respect, and after the fight, he proposed to his girlfriend right there in the ring. Sometimes losers win.
* * *
And sometimes winners lose. This night was all leading up to the second comeback bout for Zab Judah, the most Brooklyn of Brooklyn fighters since Mike Tyson. A world-class former badass, now reformed by God, Zab entered the ring to gospel music: "I'd never make it without youuuu [Jesus]." In his first comeback fight, a few months ago, Zab had looked good. He still has incredible hand speed and the knockout power that comes with it, and he still has his little baby left uppercut, which he throws right out of his southpaw stance, fast and close, able to knock unconscious anyone who decides to try to fight Zab on the inside. All it takes is a little turn of the hip and that left shoots straight up, and if it catches you on the chin, you're done. Zab moves extremely well, too, and he's generally able to spend a few rounds popping double jabs and then slamming straight lefts to the body to soften his opponent up before going in for the kill.
Tonight Zab was up against Lucas Matthysse, a 27-0 Argentinian with a rat tail. The vast majority of those wins, though, came in Argentina, and you can never really tell how those Undefeated in Random South American Country records will hold up in the wider world. Matthysse turned out to be a fair fighter, but nothing tricky— straight ahead, left-right, decent but not overwhelming power, not a fast mover. He was OK, but not the type of guy who should be beating Zab "Super" Judah, especially not in the second Zab comeback fight, across the river from Zab's Brooklyn base.
And yet. Something was wrong with Zab tonight. In the first, he mostly circled and jabbed, just feeling out, which was normal. In the second, the same thing: jab-jab, then circle, duck, and move. After the second several people in the crowd booed, which I thought was outrageous. Have they never heard of strategy, these people, of waiting for the other man to tire, to make a mistake? In the third, though, more of the same. Zab was jabbing, but instead of letting his hard straight left to the body sail in behind those blinding jabs, he was just tapping and pulling back, no power shots to be found. All fuse and no firecracker. Matthysse, after three rounds of this, was growing bolder, his initial fear of Zab's reputation wearing off. The fourth, the fifth, the same story. The crowd was "restless," to be polite. By the sixth large groups were streaming out of the arena, leaving, never mind the fact that we were only halfway through the main event of the night. Zab would just flick that jab all round, maybe dropping one fair power shot 10 seconds before the bell, but never even trying to put any decent combos together. By the ninth Matthysse was on the attack, having lost all fear, swinging hard, not landing all that accurately but piling up punches, hook after hook after hook. In the 10th a straight right dropped Zab down on one knee, announcing to any nonbelievers left that Zab Judah, who was co-promoting this fight, by the way, was getting beaten the fuck up by this mediocre-plus Argentine who'd clearly been intimidated early on. By the 11th round Zab looked hurt, running, breaking at the waist and clenching, holding on, trying to make time pass. He looked like he'd gone gun shy, or like he wasn't trying. It was weird. It was disturbing. It was the end of a great fighter's career, right before our eyes.
After the final bell rang in the 12th, Zab raised his hands victoriously. The remaining crowd booed him with passion. He'd won two, maybe three rounds, max. And he won those on reputation alone. The crowd was leaving en masse. There was really no reason to stick around for the formal decision, except to wave goodbye to Zab Judah, once-great boxer.
And then Michael Buffer read the three judges' scores. 114-113, Judah. 114-113, Matthysse. 114-113, Judah. A split decision in favor of Zab.
It was the most corrupt thing I'd ever had the privilege of witnessing in person. Before the decision was read I'd thought Zab had lost rather pitifully, a poor showing even for an over-the-hill ex-champ. But of course losing would have been much more dignified than "winning" like that. I never would have watched another Zab Judah fight either way, but at least if he'd lost fair and square the fans could have retained some fond memories of him. It was a disgrace.
I couldn't bring myself to stay and hear the lies at the post-fight press conference. Walking down Market Street in Newark, headed back to the train station in the cold, I came upon two middle-aged men wearing matching gray sweatsuits, one of them carrying a pair of focus mitts over his shoulder. "Whose corner did you work?" I asked. "Vicente Escobedo," replied one of the men. Vicente Escobedo, the newly engaged breathtaking counterpuncher and true warrior. The loser.
I complimented their fighter and walked on. One of the trainers, slogging on back to the train with the rest of us, tapped me on my way by. "Hey," he said, "what did you think of that last fight?"
Hamilton Nolan writes for Gawker and writes about boxing for places besides Gawker.
Top photo by Tom Hogan


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6 of Chiles finest lodges and hotels
Chile is one of those countries that cannot be identified with a single touristic icon. Its geography is so diverse, and its culture so rich, that the images passing through the traveler's mind are like those of a movie sequence ranging from the mysterious Moai statues of Easter Island and the imposing glaciers of Patagonia, to the arid Atacama Desert and cosmopolitan Santiago.
Chile offers you the possibility to experience this Latin American nation while enjoying compelling landscapes and the most delicious cuisine (accompanied by exquisite wines), along with the maximum comfort that the country has to offer in terms of hotel services. Indeed, Chile is an extraordinary experience for every visitor, as evidenced by the six boutique hotels highlighted below.
Explora Rapa Nui, Easter Island
Seen from the air, this resort's whimsical architecture of circular lines and earth-tone colors seem to merge with the natural enclave of Easter Island. Once your feet touch solid ground, you will discover that same sensation at Explora Rapa Nui Hotel's selected as the "Best in Latin America" by Travel + Leisure magazine in 2011.
The architecture of the hotel, built with sea views and surrounded by impressive moai statues, was designed to fit harmoniously in the surroundings, using unevenness, circular lines, open spaces, semi-covered, shadows and native materials such as volcanic stone and wood.
Yet, the hotel's architecture is only one expression of the basic concept of Explora Rapa Nui: Life in Easter Island. In such an idea, the word "luxury" is not associated with ostentation, but with respect for the environment, proximity to nature, and of course a unique experience for the visitor in this remote South American destination.
A carefully designed excursion program is another source of pride for the hotel. On foot, by bicycle or by boat, you have several options for exploring the mysterious and entrancing Easter Island. The word "contemplation," in short, is what you will experience in all of the more than 20 excursions that can take you to some corners of the island that even locals seldom reach. Always in the company of an expert guide, you will be introduced to the history and culture of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), which are palpable in the island's landscapes and archaeological ruins.
Snorkelers benefit from some of the world's most crystal clear waters. The rustic yet elegant guest rooms possess stunning ocean views. Gourmet cuisine is prepared with local products. The resort's spa features a Spanish colonial style. The unforgettable landscapes of Easter Island abound. Indeed, space is short to speak of everything this boutique hotel has to offer. But better than reading about it, come and experience Explora Rapa Nui for yourself. We invite you to join the few adventurers who have visited this remote and secluded gem!
Hotel Remota, Puerto Natales
Transparency: this could be the first image that comes to the mind of whoever initially sets foot in Hotel Remota, in the city of Puerto Natales. Why hide beauty with partitions or walls? Especially if you are surrounded by the spectacular beauty of the Chilean Patagonia.
Conceived as an open space, with an intimate homey touch, Hotel Remota puts the fullness of the Patagonian landscape at your feet through large windows that substitute for walls. Another of the hotel's advantages is its strategic location on the route to one of the most important sites in South America: Torres del Paine National Park, with its fjords, glaciers, rivers, forests and steppes.
And, as you might imagine, the hotel's program of excursions is a second great plus of this fantastic hotel. Fly fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, birdwatching, star-gazing and sailing are just a few of the activities that hotel guests can enjoy. Added to this is this is Hotel Remota's excellent service and friendly staff who are available 24/7 to make your trip a memorable one.
Awasi Atacama, Atacama
In the middle of the most arid desert on Earth, the Atacama Desert, a beautiful oasis combines discreet and rustic elegance along with the comforts and the exciting possibilities for exploring one of the most striking regions in the world.
Behind a 100-year-old wall stands Awasi Atacama, constructed with river stones and adobe bricks in line with techniques and the ancient style of this region's first settlers. The small lodge has only 10 rooms for its guests, whose occupants are provided with a private guide and the use of a 4×4 vehicle. Plus, guests enjoy their own private patio, an outdoor shower, large armchairs and alpaca blankets. But there's also the lodge's restaurant, whose goal is "the best of the desert, served on our guests' plates." This is not a simple challenge, but one whose result is a unique menu, prepared essentially with local products that you can enjoy while admiring one of the starriest skies in the world.
If this sounds like the perfect place to rest after daily excursions to geysers, canyons, valleys, petroglyphs, archaeological sites and giant cacti -it's because it is. With your favorite drink in hand by the pool, the fireplace or in your cozy pre-Inca style circular room, you can relax while thinking of all the beauty seen throughout the day.
Le Reve Boutique, Santiago
Called "the most charming hotel in Santiago," this is not an exaggerated slogan. From its ivy-clad facade and wooden shutters, to its sophisticated homely style that's reminiscent of Paris' small hotels, every inch of the Le Reve Boutique has been carefully designed down to the last detail.
Located in the historic La Providencia neighborhood, and strategically situated near the city's civic center, the hotel breaks with the traditional molds of rigid hours or standoffish service. For example: Le Reve's charming little kitchen is open at night for serving snacks, coffee and juices to guests. Similarly, in the "Honesty Bar," guests can serve themselves the drinks or snacks they want, enjoying the tranquility of the lobby or the terrace. There's even a button-stitching and sewing service with daytime and evening hours!
The hotel fulfills its promise to make its guests feel at home, even though it has four floors, 31 rooms, a souvenir shop and several other service areas. Moreover, its personalized service is in no contradiction to its excellent service. The combination of both, plus the experience of a trip to the cosmopolitan and cultured city of Santiago de Chile, will make your stay at Le Reve Boutique Hotel a unique experience.
Explora Patagonia Lodge, Patagonia
The image of a boat anchored on the shores of Lake Pehos one that's retained by most guests who have stayed at the Explore Patagonia Lodge. Its location within the famous Torres del Paine National Park, between mountains, glaciers and lakes, makes the hotel a showcase of the exotic and immense beauty of Patagonia.
The hotel offers you the best ways to take advantage of this setting. Its 50 "exploration routes," with differing levels of difficulty, can be taken on foot or by horseback to take you deep into this remote region of the world. And speaking of the hotel itself, it was built and designed to achieve the greatest harmony and proximity of the human being to the natural environment.
Panoramic views of the Cordillera Paine mountain range and the granite "Towers of Paine" (three spectacular summits) are the backdrop of this hotel that combines luxury with what is essential and minimalist. And the food, being exquisite, doesn't break with that concept; the uniquely flavored dishes , accompanied by a good selection of wines , are designed to make the traveler feel agile and light for exploration excursions. A very complete spa, a 100 meter swimming pool, a souvenir shop, horse stables and the Explorers' Bar are several other features that can be enjoyed at the hotel.
Gervasoni Hotel Boutique Patrimonial, Valparaiso
Long and meticulous restoration work turned one of Valparaiso's imposing heritage homes, built by European immigrants in 1870, into a charming boutique hotel that fuses tradition with modernity and revives the lifestyle of the nineteenth century.
The hotel is located on the famous pedestrian walkway of Gervasoni, one of the main viewpoints of Valparaiso, and offers privileged views of this city, one of the most beautiful and touristic in all of Chile. In an area declared a UNESCO "World Cultural Heritage Site," Gervasoni Hotel Boutique is only five minutes from the commercial area; close to cafes, shops, tourist attractions and museums; while just 15 minutes from the "Garden City" of Vina del Mar.
The hotel has 15 rooms, four of them with their own hydro-massage tub, while the views of the hills of Valparaiso and the sea unify these guest quarters, though each one has a unique personality and different decor. If breakfast is for you, as it is for many travelers, the favorite of your stay might be the "breakfast room," whose large terrace will be your favorite corner for enjoying the morning buffet or a snack later on. In short, this is a traditional hotel, but at the same time an intimate one that will give you the feeling of being in a Valparaiso mansion of a earlier epoch.
Alfonso Tandazo is President and CEO at Surtrek Tour Operator.
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