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How do I maintain my 150 Cam-Matic® so it works like new?Cam cleats are easy to maintain, usually cleaning is all they need. Apply a little liquid dish soap to the cleat and work around. Flush clean with water. If that does not improve the cleat's operation you can replace many of the parts or rebuild it.
Can my 150 & 365 cam cleats be rebuilt or repaired? What parts do I need? Balls, springs, caps, base and ball spacers can all be replaced. These parts can be purchased at many Harken Dealers or in the Spare Parts section of our website. For those items not available please call Harken Customer Service at (262) 691-3320.
Can any pole be used with the Harken spinnaker car? Any pole can be used with a Harken spinnaker car as long as the end fittings are correct. The Harken car will accommodate piston ends (ring car) and three toggle style fittings. The three toggle cars will work with Harken, Forespar, and Sparcraft fittings.
Can a whisker pole be stowed hanging off the car with the pole parallel to the mast?No. The geometry is wrong. If the pole hangs down, it will act as a large lever arm and pry the fittings off the car. However, Forespar makes a special pole end designed for stowing the pole off the mast so it will not damage the car. The Forespar end is compatible with the appropriate Harken spinnaker car.
What size pole will fit with the Harken pole ends?Harken pole ends require a metric pole. The sizes range from 50 mm to 100 mm diameters.
Does Harken have any type of mechanical backstay tensioner?Yes. We offer two styles of mechanical backstay tensioners. The size will depend on the clevis pin diameter. One has folding handles that can be used to turn the tensioning device, while the other uses a winch handle for tensioning.
Should I use a stand-up spring or boot?Both stand-up springs and boots are used to keep blocks from hitting the deck. Stand-up springs are stronger and stiffer than boots, but boots can be used in a number of situations. For example: If the line might foul in a stand-up spring's rings, you can substitute a boot.
What is the simplest way to install a stand-up spring or PVC stand-up boot?Take two zip ties and loop them through each side of the spring (or PVC boot). Pull the zip ties taut until the spring (boot) compresses. Now you can easily attach the block to the eyestrap, padeye, etc. After you attach the block, cut the zip ties and the spring will pop back into place.
Boot Installation Tip: Instead of wrestling the block onto a stiff piece of PVC, soften the boot with a hair dryer (don't burn it), or soak it in warm water. This makes the boot much more pliable and easier to manipulate. When the boot cools, its shape returns to normal.
Why would I want to use a loop instead of a shackle?Soft attachments are one of the many new technologies being used on today's hot race boats. From globe-circling powerhouses, to local course racers, one thing ALL race boats have in common is that everything is always about weight, or about the attempt to reduce weight in any way possible. But as in most things in sailing, there is really nothing new, just a better way of doing things, and loops are no exception.
A LOUP™ is simply a piece of high-tech Dyneema® line spliced in to itself making....well....a loop. A 12 mm LOUP has a breaking load of 6,454 kg (14,200 lb). Strong enough to lift a Farr 40, with each crew member holding a can of beer.
The real loop advantage is in the weight savings. Loops are used to replace heavy shackles and padeye block attachments. For example, a 65 g loop translates into a weight savings of 204.5 g when replacing a shackle and padeye. So if a boat uses 10 blocks, that adds up to 2.04 kg (4.5 lbs) less weight on the boat. This may not sound like a lot to you or me, but to a racer who has spent a small fortune on a fast boat, shedding 2.04 kg (4.5 lbs)—in addition to other weight savings—is key to winning.
Loops can be attached in a variety of ways. They can hang vertically, with a choker, by adding a dogbone, or by using the basket method. With a little imagination, the versatile loop can go a long way toward lightening your boat.
This high-tech solution really is nothing new to sailing. Back in the days of wooden schooners, sailors did not really care about saving weight. What they were actually concerned about was saving money. Their hardware attachments didn't have a catchy little name like LOUPS™, but were made of wire or rope and called grommets! Making grommets was painfully hard and extremely time consuming because each one was made by hand. Grommets were a common way to attach hardware, but the convenience of modern metal fittings like shackles and padeyes made grommets obsolete. Eventually, eliminating the weight of these fittings became one of the many ways to save weight and loops were invented. As are many things in sailing technology, most new ideas are just loops of old ideas that have gone by the wayside.
Are all shackles of equal size the same?At first glance most shackles of equal size look the same, but they definitely are NOT! A standard 8 mm forged "D" shackle has a breaking load of 2757 kg (6,080 lb) while a High Resistance 8 mm shackle has a breaking load of 4,652 kg (10,260 lb). The number (for example an 8) on the side of both shackles denotes the diameter of the screw pin—8 mm. If the shackle is High Resistance, it will also have HR stamped into the side. If you are replacing a shackle for a highly-loaded block, make sure that in addition to the pin diameter, the shackle has HR stamped into it.
If you are unsure if the shackle is HR or not, in most cases the prices will reflect the difference.
In most cases a standard shackle will work just fine for you, but if the block is highly loaded, make sure the shackle matches the breaking load of the block.
158 Beaumont StreetOrams Marine CentreWesthavenP.O. Box 90689Victoria Street WestAuckland 1142, New Zealand Tel: (64) 9-303-3744 | Fax: (64) 9-307-7987 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com our other locations


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- Description
- Updates
- Comments
- Backers
Project Description
ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Our work focuses exclusively on truly important stories, stories with "moral force." We do this by producing journalism that shines a light on exploitation of the weak by the strong and on the failures of those with power to vindicate the trust placed in them.
Investigative journalism is at risk. Many news organizations have increasingly come to see it as a luxury. Today's investigative reporters lack resources: Time and budget constraints are curbing the ability of journalists not specifically designated "investigative" to do this kind of reporting in addition to their regular beats. New models are, therefore, necessary to carry forward some of the great work of journalism in the public interest that is such an integral part of self-government, and thus an important bulwark of our democracy.
ProPublica was founded by Paul Steiger, the former managing editor of The Wall Street Journal. It is now led by Stephen Engelberg, a former managing editor of The Oregonian and former investigative editor of The New York Times, and Richard Tofel, the former assistant publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
ProPublica is headquartered in Manhattan. Its establishment was announced in October 2007. Operations commenced in January 2008, and publishing began in June 2008.
Why Now?
It is true that the number and variety of publishing platforms are exploding in the Internet age. But very few of these entities are engaged in original reporting. In short, we face a situation in which sources of opinion are proliferating, but sources of facts on which those opinions are based are shrinking. The former phenomenon is almost certainly, on balance, a societal good; the latter is surely a problem.
More than any other journalistic form, investigative journalism can require a great deal of time and labor to do well—and because the "prospecting" necessary for such stories inevitably yields a substantial number of "dry holes," i.e. stories that seem promising at first, but ultimately prove either less interesting or important than first thought, or even simply untrue and thus unpublishable.
Given these realities, many news organizations have increasingly come to see investigative journalism as a luxury that can be put aside in tough economic times. Moreover, at many media institutions, time and budget constraints are curbing the once significant ability of journalists not specifically designated "investigative" to do this kind of reporting in addition to handling their regular beats.
What We Do
We have created an independent newsroom, located in Manhattan and led by some of the nation's most distinguished editors, and staffed at levels unprecedented for a nonprofit organization.
In the best traditions of American journalism in the public service, we seek to stimulate positive change. We uncover unsavory practices in order to stimulate reform. We do this in an entirely non-partisan and non-ideological manner, adhering to the strictest standards of journalistic impartiality. We won't lobby. We won't ally with politicians or advocacy groups. We look hard at the critical functions of business and of government, the two biggest centers of power, in areas ranging from product safety to securities fraud, from flaws in our system of criminal justice to practices that undermine fair elections. But we also focus on such institutions as unions, universities, hospitals, foundations and on the media when they constitute the strong exploiting or oppressing the weak, or when they are abusing the public trust.
We address one of the occasional past failings of investigative journalism by being persistent, by shining a light on inappropriate practices, by holding them up to public opprobrium and by continuing to do so until change comes about. In short, we stay with issues so long as there is more to be told, or there are more people to reach.
We strive to be fair. We give people and institutions that our reporting casts in an unfavorable light an opportunity to respond and make sincere and serious efforts to provide that opportunity before we publish. We listen to the response and adjust our reporting when appropriate. We aggressively edit every story we plan to publish, to assure its accuracy and fairness. If errors of fact or interpretation occur, we correct them quickly and clearly. We aim for a working culture that embraces all of these principles, and insist that they infuse all that we do.
How We Do It
We have a newsroom of about 50 working journalists, all of them dedicated to investigative reporting on stories with significant potential for major impact.
Each story we publish is distributed in a manner designed to maximize its impact. Many of our "deep dive" stories are offered exclusively to a traditional news organization, free of charge, for publication or broadcast. We have had 139 publishing partners since 2008. Many are augmented with data-rich "news applications" which, in turn, permit the localization of stories on the same subject by other news organizations. Almost all our stories are available for reprint under a Creative Commons license. A series of our stories won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting, the first such prize ever for stories not published in print. One of our stories was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2010, the first such award to an online news organization. In 2016, in partnership with The Marshall Project, we won a third Pulitzer Prize, for Explanatory Reporting. Another story, broadcast in partnership with This American Life, won a Peabody Award in 2013. In 2014, ProPublica received a MacArthur Award for Creative & Effective Institutions. Every story is published on this site. In 2015, ProPublica received two Emmy Awards for work done with Frontline. We support each story we publish with an active and aggressive communications effort of our own, including regularly contacting reporters, editors and bloggers, encouraging them to follow-up on our reporting, and to link to our site and our work.
How It Is Funded
The Sandler Foundation made a major, multi-year commitment to fund ProPublica at launch. Other philanthropic contributions have been received as well, and more are needed. Click here to donate.
We spend more than 75 cents out of every dollar on news – in stark contrast with traditional print news organizations, even very good ones, that devote about 15 cents of each dollar spent to news. From a philanthropic perspective it is also worth noting that our model assures an unusually high level of accountability for a nonprofit. Our major stories have to be sufficiently compelling to convince editors and producers to accord them space or time. As they do so consistently, donors will be able to be confident that professional standards are being met and maintained, and that important work is being undertaken. That said, our donors support the independence of our work, and do not influence our editorial processes.
ProPublica also accepts advertising. And we are constantly exploring possible new revenue streams, including the sale of data, although philanthropy, in large gifts and small, will continue to be our principal source of income for the foreseeable future.
ProPublica is a nonprofit corporation, and is exempt from taxes under Section 501(c)(3). It has its own Governing Board, of which Paul Sagan is chair and Mr. Steiger is executive chairman. A Journalism Advisory Board of leaders in the field and a Business Advisory Council have also been assembled.
*This is only a listing. This project has not yet enabled their contribution feature
I am a husband, father, truth-seeker, critical thinker, patriot, and concerned citizen. I'm a strong proponent of individual liberty and free speech. My goal is to present information that expands our awareness of crucial issues and exposes the manufactured illusion of freedom that we are sold in America. Question everything because nothing is what it seems.

subset: commoncrawl


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Heirloom Tomato Salad
1 Small Loaf Crusty French Bread
2/3 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt, divided
1/2 Cup Cider Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Fresh Oregano, chopped
3 Tablespoons Fresh Basil, chopped
2 Large Heirloom Tomatoes
3 Regular Red Tomatoes
1 Pound Small Mozzarella Cheese Balls
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees. Cut the crust off the bread and tear the remaining loaf into 1-inch pieces. Toss with 1/3 cup of the olive oil, squeezing the bread to help absorb the oil. Sprinkle lightly with a bit of salt, and place on a baking sheet. Toast stirring a few times until the croutons are golden brown, about 15 minutes, let cool.
Using a wooden spoon or muddler, pound the oregano and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl to release the oils from the herb. Add the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil, salt, vinegar and basil and whisk to combine.
Stem and chop tomatoes into large pieces and add to the vinegar mixture. Cut the cheese into bite-sized pieces, if necessary, and add to the tomato mixture, stir well to combine. Let rest for about 15 minutes to let flavors meld together, stir again. Serve in a bowl with the fresh croutons.


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Sony and LG Unveil Next Generation TV Technology at Abt Electronics
December 14, 2012
Customers Can Get a First Look at 4K Ultra HD TV's exclusively at this Chicago Retailer
GLENVIEW, ILL. — The ever-changing technology landscape just got a whole lot bigger thanks to the introduction of 4K Ultra High-Definition televisions. The display on these giant-screen TVs are more than eight million pixels of resolution - four times the resolution of today's conventional high-definition televisions! This makes for an incredibly immersive viewing experience with an outstanding new level of picture quality you have to see to believe.
Chicago area customers looking to witness an image unlike anything else out there will be pleased to learn Abt Electronics, one of the nation's largest independent retailers and leading nationwide presence through its e-commerce site Abt.com, is an exclusive carrier of these next generation televisions. "We are very excited to be one of the elite group of retailers lucky enough to carry the 4K Ultra HD TVs" said Abt's co-president Jon Abt. "Consumers are always looking for the next new way to upgrade their television viewing experience and will be blown away when they see the display of these TVs."
As a way to introduce these new TVs to the public, Sony and LG have both scheduled events at Abt where they will proudly unveil their 4K Ultra HD TVs. On December 20th from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m., attend Sony's event where they will have their new 84" 4K television on display for the public and have brand experts on hand to explain more about this cutting-edge technology. Attendees will also have a chance to win Sony products such as a 46" HDTV, headphones and more. LG will also reveal their 4K television at Abt later this month with a public event happening in January 2013.
About Abt Electronics
Abt Electronics, founded in 1936, is one of the largest independent, single-store appliance and electronics retailers in the country. The third-generation family run Abt Electronics provides unparalleled customer service with its team of 1,100 expert staff members at its Glenview, Ill.-based store, which boasts a 100,000 square-foot showroom on 37 acres. The company has been recognized by the Chicago Tribune as the "Top Large Workplace in Chicago" for two consecutive years (2012, 2011). Abt services customers nationwide through Abt.com, where customers can receive advice and customer support through the site's live chat feature, email and toll-free phone number. Abt has its own 12,000 square-foot recycling center and features an atrium where customers gain access to its boutique stores-within-a-store such as The Apple Boutique.
Copyright © 2012 Rock Hill Herald Online
What Our Customers Say About UsSee All Customer Testimonials
Excellent company all around. Total Efficiency from start to finish. Highly recommend!May 10, 2020 - Margie Williams


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Contact Supplier
Mr. LukLeave a message
|Payment Type:
|Min. Order:
|1 Set/Sets
|Delivery Time:
|20 Days
Basic Info
Model No.: 1206
Certification: CE, ISO9001: 2000
Condition: New
Driven Type: Pneumatic
Function: Filling Pillow
After-sales Service: Local Agent And Engineers
Additional Info
Packaging: Plywood Box
Brand: BEALEAD
Transportation: Ocean,Air
Place of Origin: CHINA
Supply Ability: 200 SETS/MONTH
Certificate: CE/ISO 9001
Port: Shanghai
Product Description
1206 Pillow Filling Machine is used for filling Pillow, cushion and other home textile. With double filling stations and 2 scales by filling pipe, its precision can reach to 0.1g.
Brand: Bealead
Model: 1206
Filling Pipes: 2
Scales by filling pipe: 2
Application: Textiles
Material Application: 50%- 90% down
Weight: 2000kg
Filling Storage: 80kg
Weighing Range: 1g- 40g
Accuracy: 0.1g
Feeding Unit Size: 3.1* 1.8* 3.5m
Weighing Unit Size: 4* 0.63* 1.5m
Overall Size: 10* 6* 3.5m
Min. Site Area: 12m* 8m
| Voltage
|Air Tank
| ≥2m³
|Air Pressure
| 0.6- 0.8MPa
|Air Compressor Power
|Min. Air Pressure
| 0.5MPa
| Air Compressor Exhaust
| ≥1.6m³/min
|Max. Power
|Air Monitoring System
| √
|PPR Pipe
| 1.5 inch
|Down Returning System
| -
|Pipe Distance
| ≤20m
|Humidity Control System
ChangShu Bealead Automatic Machine Co.,LTD, located in changshu, jiangsu ,china. Close to ShangHai Port, driving for 1.5hours, transportation convenient.
Our company is R&D manufacturer of intelligent device for clothing production. We are in leading
position in Down feather filling area, covered most of Chinese market, Bosideng, Luo Lai, UNI QLO, are our customers.
We also have agents overseas, and more than 20 technecians for after sales service. They could answer you and service you at the first time you need.
Our Factory
Product Categories : Home Textiles
Hot Products


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Hope senior first baseman Kelli Duimstra of Hudsonville, Mich. has been voted the most valuable position player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). It marks the third time in four years that the MIAA MVP has come from Hope and all have been graduates of the same high school -- Hudsonville High School.
A two-time All-MIAA first team honoree, Duimstra this spring set an MIAA record for home runs (7) as she batted .442. For the season she batted .434, tied the school record for home runs (10) and set a new Hope mark for total bases (97). She was also outstanding defensively with a .992 fielding average.
Junior outfielder Erica Smith of Muskegon, Mich. (Reeths-Puffer HS) was voted to the All-MIAA second team.


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gec necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 20 diseños de 10 diseñadores freelance.
Need logo / page layout for the site (several pages) in english and german. Design should be light-weight, snappy, and 'fun'.
oracle.olymp.org / orakel.olymp.org
The Internet Oracle (formerly The Usenet Oracle) is gaining a 'real' internet presence. While there are two existing sites (http://cgi.cs.indiana.edu/~oracle/index.cgi and http://olymp.org/~orakel/ ) both of those are of very basic design and offer no or limited functionality. The new site (development version visible on oracle-dev.appspot.com) will provide the Oracle with a solid web presence, and needs a new look. The look will have to work in multiple languages (german and english for this contest, text will be provided), multiple browsers, and be easily maintainable.
The service itself is geared towards the general population (ages 10 to 80), and allows the creation of 'funny' anonymous question-answer pairs (as exemplified on the dev site, or on http://cgi.cs.indiana.edu/~oracle/digests.cgi ).
The site needs to be light in tone and accessible, possible themes are greek temples, all things related to oracles, or whatevery you can come up with that I like. Hint: I like http://www.google.com ;-)
- Needs to load fast.
- Needs to be maintainable by amateur
- Needs to work in multiple languages
- Don't clutter. No wall of text.


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After 20 years, the last webcast & chat will be held Tuesday April 26th, 2016 - but new things are coming!
Click on Sponsor below
Are Here: Home >> Negril Webcast and Chat Information
April 26th, 2016 - 5pm to 7pm
SUNSET PARTY at 3 DIVES
Click Here to start the live RealNegril.com Webcast
Click Here to start the Negril Chat Room
LIVE Negril Jamaica webcasts and chats! Join us online or in person at our webcasts when in Negril! Live, up to date Negril information only on RealNegril.com, the Negril Webcasting Video Network! This is real Negril information, so feel free to ask any questions about Negril and Jamaica in our live chat during the live webcasts!
How to watch and chat: as the Jamaican time approaches (time above), click on the Live Webcast link to watch and listen, and the Live Chat to chat with us! When you sign in the chat, you will have the option to use Java, Flash or Mobile. The Mobile option works on all devices, phones, tablets or computers!
System Requirements: You will need the latest version of the Windows Media Player to watch the video live from Negril. If you need it - follow the link below.
To download from Microsoft Windows Media Player click here
For Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android users: to watch the webcast on your device, please download the free VLC Player.
PLANNING A WEDDING or PARTY? If you or a friend are planning an event in Negril such as a wedding, reunion, party, webcast your party LIVE to friends and family back home on RealNegril, the Negril Webcasting Network! Please email us at email@example.com.
Email Reminders: If you would like us to email you as a reminder each webcast, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com!
The 17th Annual Boardie Bash at Travellers on the Beach on Friday in Negril, Jamaica on April 24th, 2015
*** Be sure to check out the other live half size sample webcast clips from Negril Jamaica on the Sponsors, Events and Links Pages on RealNegril.com! ***
Current Schedule (weather permitting)
We will be adding more Negril information as the site continues to grow, if you have any questions or comments feel free to email us at the Contact link to the left! Thanks man!
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© Copyright 2016. RealNegril.com. All International Rights Reserved.


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Dear Reader: Do you think you are related to the individuals listed in this post? Please drop me a note! I love hearing from cousins and others researching my family!
Della (Crow[e]) Hayes was my great-grandmother. All of the materials below are in the possession of one of my aunts:
I have a couple things to follow up on here. There is a minister involved in the funeral of the last name 'Hayes.' Possibly a relative? Same with pall bearer Wayne Gourley (note the difference in spellings of Gourley/Gorley throughout the materials). I should also check with the church mentioned in the obituary to see if they have any family records.


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Get DVD Talk Feeds
The Movie:
I have always appreciated indie films and try to give every one that I see a fair shake. Many of the most riveting and heartfelt tales come from movies without Hollywood size budgets. That's mostly due to the love of storytelling and moviemaking and is not really attributed with ambitions of financial success or commercial value. With that in mind I sat down to watch East of Sunset but I walk away from the picture with mixed feelings.
This angst-ridden tale about love, drug addiction and coping with loss is very heavy handed with a realistic feel to it. The story may be set in Los Angeles, but the movie itself is only shot in a handful of locations. This set of environments give the film a closed world feeling and comes off as an embodiment of the characters feelings about being trapped. It kind of makes you wonder if this was a deliberate attempt at setting the mood or due to budget constraints (or maybe a little of both).
Another mood setter is the music written by Tom Waits which is used nearly as effectively as the scenery. At many moments in the film dialogue is kept to a minimum so that the soundtrack can convey the emotion of the scene. It's used very artistically and even though the style of music isn't really my taste, I found that it helped capture the feel of the film perfectly. It's very subdued and somber at most points and in its own right feels like part of the cast.
The characters are gritty and realistic though that doesn't necessarily mean that they are wholly likeable. The film centers on a young woman named Carley (Emily Stiles) who is reeling from the death of her father and slipping into a life of addiction and despair. She grows as a person throughout the movie and we get to learn more about her character but even so I never felt myself connecting with her or really liking her all that much. She constantly finds herself in a downward spiral and is defeated emotionally at every turn. This would make anyone cynical I suppose but it's interesting to see how someone who seemingly had a normal life falls to such a degree.
When she's not hanging out at dive bars, popping pills and having sex with random guys that she runs into, Carley is actually a teacher. She finds herself in one rocky relationship after another but one day while out for drinks with a friend she meets a scrawny bartender named Jim (Jimmy Wayne Farley). Despite the actors not having any real chemistry, the two characters hit it off and fall head over heels for each other. In usual Carley fare she jumps in headfirst and doesn't think about the consequences of her actions, this ultimately is going to lead to even more heartbreak.
Apart from the whole bartending gig, Jim is an artist who is struggling to find his muse. That is a void that Carley fills and he soon finds new inspiration for his creative side. He also slips back into his old heroin habit that he was trying to kick and winds up crashing even harder. To say that this is a depressing film with few uplifting moments would be an understatement. It's a very harsh look at the desperate lives of some wayward souls in L.A. and will be appreciated by anyone who went (or knows of someone who went) through a similar situation.
The acting isn't all that great in the movie and much of the dialogue comes across as stiff and unnatural. The story it tells isn't all that interesting and in the end East of Sunset is an artistic film that unfortunately does little to reel in the viewer. I never found myself connecting to (or liking) any of the characters or really getting into the movie. It's not that I think it's a bad picture, it just didn't do a lot to peak my interest or hold it.
The DVD:
East of Sunset is presented with a non-anamorphic widescreen transfer and features some decent quality for a low-budget film. The image can be very sharp at times with some great definition with little edge enhancement. The video isn't completely clean though and at many times the picture is riddled with grain. It's possible that was an effect used to capture the grittiness of the story and world the characters live in. It may have been a product of my copy of the disc but I encountered several moments where the image would become distorted and extremely pixilated.
The only audio option that is available on this disc is an English 5.1 mix. The sound is split between the channels fairly well though most everything comes from the front stage. There is a subdued amount of directionality to the dialogue and the rear speakers make good use of Waits musical scores. There are no subtitles available on the disc and I noticed that the vocal sync was a little off. It was an effect that I recreated on more than one DVD player and was pretty annoying.
I was pretty impressed that an indie release such as this actually included some bonus material worth mentioning. One nice feature was the inclusion of the film's soundtrack as a bonus disc in the case. This style of music isn't my favorite but there are a couple of tunes that caught my attention and I'm sure fans of Tom Waits will be pleased.
As far as actual extras there is a music video for the song "Old Shoes" with clips from the movie. Apart from that the only other addition on the disc is a commentary with Director Brian McNelis and Executive Producer Evan Cohen. I found the commentary to be a little dry at times but it is very informative regarding the choices made while filming the movie. They talk about several technical aspects and much of the decision process that went into the picture.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate East of Sunset. It's just that the film spends a lot of time focusing on atmosphere and mood instead of really developing the characters or story. I felt that the acting was a little stiff and even though the tale itself conveys a strong message, I just couldn't find myself connecting to any of the characters or caring what happened to them.
As far as the DVD is concerned the image contains quite a bit of grain and I encountered a few transitional flaws with a highly pixilated image. On multiple DVD players I also came across some annoying vocal sync issues. It was almost like the voices were half to a full second behind where they should have been. This could have been a problem that was attributed to my copy but since there is no second source to compare it to I'm going to reflect it into my review. Skip It
Check out more of my reviews here. Head on over to my anime blog as well for random musings and reviews of anime, manga, and stuff from Japan!


text:
Most school-age children feel driven to "make it" in the world away
from home. Making friends and being accepted become top priorities.
School is a testing ground where children evaluate, accept, and
reject each other daily. At times, parents cringe at the degree to which
children try to fit in and are often saddened by their children's many ups and
downs. Parents often see children's interactions as cruel, and they can be. But
through these encounters, children learn some of the basic social skills needed
to be competent adults. Be prepared for the tumultuous nature of friendships in
this age group, and do not exaggerate the importance of the rough periods.
There is no one easy formula for teaching social skills. People learn
through watching parents, friends, and others interact over a lifetime.
Although bullying or abusive behavior should be addressed, parents should be
sensitive about when to get involved and try to let children work out issues on
their own.
Here are some crucial skills that will help your child become more
socially competent:
Around age 9, many children successfully form close friendships.
Forming these relationships helps children develop sensitivity to the feelings
of others.
Next Section:
Previous Section:
Last Revised:
May 16, 2011
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
John Pope, MD - Pediatrics & Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


text:
Axa PPP for Business
AXA PPP International is part of the AXA Group, one of the world's leading insurance companies with a strong presence in 61 countries – so you can feel reassured that whatever happens, they have the global and local knowledge to help in Dominican Republic.
International health insurance for employees
If you're sending your employees to Dominican Republic then you'll want to provide them with quality international medical insurance, giving them and their family peace of mind when they're away from home:
- Overseas evacuation or repatriation service as standard.
- Foreign language Interpretation services available.
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text: The Associated Press PEABODY - A southeast Kansas farmer whose video parody "What Does the Farmer Say" went viral last month has a new hit with his take on a Miley Cyrus song that features twerking cows. Derek Klingenberg's spoof of "What Does the Fox Say?" got more than 4 million views online. The Peabody resident's new video dubbed "Feeding Cattle in the USA" - a parody of the Cyrus hit, "Party in the USA" - also is gaining traction, with nearly 13,000 views by Friday morning. The video features the overall-wearing farmer singing into an ear of corn and doing light tricks with his iPhone. It also includes cows doing their own version of the provocative dance move called "twerking." Klingenberg majored in agriculture at Kansas State University.


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[caption id="attachment_9869" align="aligncenter" width="509" caption="Film poster for Chronicle"][/caption]
Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription, When three teens discover that they have developed superhuman capabilities, the sky appears to be the limit for them. However, is it all as glorious as it seems or are there dire consequences that come with the territory of gaining superpowers. Join me as I review the spectacular sci-fi thriller film Chronicle after the jump...
Chronicle (2012)
Starring: Dane DeHaan, Amoxicillin schedule, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Ashley Hinshaw
Written by: Max Landis
Story by: Max Landis and Josh Trank
Cinematography by: Matthew Jensen
Editing by: Elliot Greenberg
Directed by: Josh Trank
Release Date - February 3, Amoxicillin dose, 2012
Movies based on super-powered humans, superheroes, supervillains, Amoxicillin images, and the like are getting to be such a drag to go to; primarily because Hollywood has milked that cow dry. With the exception of things like Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy (which will end this summer), most of these kinds of films are either mediocre (X-Men: First Class) or absolutely awful (Green Lantern). When I heard about another movie that dealt with superpowers that went by the name of Chronicle, I was not interested in the slightest due to the fatigue of going to so many comic book and superhuman movies over the years, Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription. That all changed in last December when I was going through various trailers of many different movies on IMDB to decide what I would see in 2012. I saw the trailer for this movie and it got my rapt attention, discount Amoxicillin. A found-footage style movie that dealt with teenagers who obtain superpowers and a psychological examination on what they do with these powers; what a novel concept. Not only that, but the main writer of the film is someone that immediately made want to see it: Max Landis. Max is the son of famed film director John Landis (best known for his films The Blues Brothers Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription, , National Lampoon's Animal House, and An American Werewolf in London).
However, I did not get my hopes up too much because I recognized that this movie could go either way; i.e. Low dose Amoxicillin, the final outcome either being a failure or a victory. This is especially pertinent because the found footage genre of film is becoming very tired, mostly due to the fact that indie filmmakers use this kind of genre as a crutch to, oftentimes, make completely boring or unoriginal horror films, Amoxicillin forum. Fortunately, Chronicle succeeded and rightfully shot right to #1 in the box office the weekend it came out. This makes the director, Buy Amoxicillin without a prescription, Josh Trank, the youngest director (since Stephen Spielberg with Jaws when he was 28) to direct a movie that is #1at the box office; and all when he is both 27 years old and working on his first feature film no less. Now that all the meta is out of the way, let us begin the review proper.
[caption id="attachment_9870" align="aligncenter" width="482" caption="From left to right: Andrew (DeHaan), Steve (Jordan), and Matt (Russell) causing some mischief with their new found abilities"][/caption]
The story of Chronicle (snigger) is rather hard to review/describe because in order for me to properly review it, I'm going to have spoil the very beginning of it, Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription. The reason being, because it is integral to get a full understanding of how this film will operate for the rest of its running time. Anyway, rx free Amoxicillin, it begins with a violently unhappy Washington state based high school student named Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan) buying a camera to record his rather unhappy life. To be more specific, his father (Michael Kelly is an abusive drunk and his relatively sweet mother is both dying of cancer and is bedridden; fun times all around. Amoxicillin wiki, To add the cherry on the icing on the cake, he is very unpopular at school and a frequent target for bullies. Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription, The only person that Andrew considers to be a friend (or at the very least someone who does not give him a hard time) is his cousin, Matt (Alex Russell) who drives him to school every day. One night, he is invited by Matt to go to a rave he is attending; to which he reluctantly agrees. After various scenes of teenage angst and shyness on Andrew's part, is Amoxicillin addictive, he is found outside in tears by the high school's most popular kid and star quarterback, Steve Montgomery to come with him and Matt because they found something unusual in the woods. Steve's reasoning is that Andrew has a camera and they want to get some footage of this weird thing they found (presumably to upload it to YouTube). What is Amoxicillin, When Andrew pursues Steve, he finds both him and Matt standing next to a steep hole that leads to a strange cave of some kind. Eventually all three go down the whole and go spelunking in it, Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription. Very far into the cave, they discover this very strange, blue glowing crystalline object, purchase Amoxicillin. When they get close enough, it begins to glow red and they are apparently bombarded by some kind of sonic or audio force. So strong is it, Is Amoxicillin safe, that it completely destroys the camera and we don't find out what exactly transpired.
Weeks (possibly months) later, Andrew has a new HD camcorder and uses it to document something that they have gained after the incident in the hole: their newly developed superpowers. Thankfully, they aren't as flashy or silly as most comic book super powered humans turn out to be. Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription, All of three of them gain the abilities of telekinesis, flight, and limited telepathy capabilities (signaled by profuse nosebleeds). At first they begin to use these abilities to be jackasses (as teenagers often are wont to be) and eventually win recognition and popularity beyond the wildest dreams of most teenagers, order Amoxicillin from United States pharmacy. However, it inevitably goes out of control and crazy, fucked up shit occurs as the stakes are raised and the mayhem dial is raised all the way to eleven.
[caption id="attachment_9871" align="aligncenter" width="648" caption="Andrew using telekinesis to dangle his camera in the air whilst 500+ feet "][/caption]
I'll admit that the story itself sounds somewhat formulaic and very familiar to most people as it is the plot of almost every origin story (movie or comics-wise), Comprar en línea Amoxicillin, comprar Amoxicillin baratos, but what transforms this otherwise unoriginal plot is both the incredible cinematography and camerawork. As I mentioned before, this is indeed a found footage film and it neither disappoints nor deviates from this status. About 75% of the film is shot entirely on Andrew's camera; the other 25% is shot on security cameras in corresponding areas and external cameras carried either by the police or nearby bystanders. During the cave scene I mentioned earlier, the filmmakers brilliantly showed the camera glitching out (both video and audio-wise) due to the presumably alien nature of the object, Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription. Another thing to mention are the jaw-droppingly suspenseful action scenes and scenes that display the kids using their superpowers, Amoxicillin for sale. The latter are rather ingeniously shot and well-planned out to the point where you feel like you are actually with them. The most representative parts in this case are the flying sequences, which really make you feel like you are up in the air flying with them (even despite the fact that it is green screened). Japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal, As an aside, the special effects are top-notch and it is clear that the filmmakers really put a lot of time and effort into making the audiences' experience as real and authentic as possible. Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription, In regards to the action scenes, I am happy to report that they are neither gratuitous nor do they bog the film down; they are always in service of the story and the characters. When you see a character get hurt, it feels like it really hurts. With all these aspects in mind, kjøpe Amoxicillin på nett, köpa Amoxicillin online, I think I can honestly say, that this film, along with Cloverfield, Online buying Amoxicillin hcl, The Last Broadcast, and the first Paranormal Activity film, stands as one of the absolute best (or at the very least most competent) in the found footage genre.One thing that consistently struck me throughout my viewing of this movie the most, is both how well-written and how well-thought out the real-life superhero concept was. Real-life superheroes are nothing new in the world of movies; many movies have been made on the subject, ordering Amoxicillin online. Personally, I always welcome this concept because it almost always is both intriguing to think about and lots of fun t0 watch. Unfortunately however, I've found that more often than not, most of these movies don't really succeed when they attempt the concept, Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription. In my personal view, Buying Amoxicillin online over the counter, a variety of reasons are to blame, such as not taking the concept to its fullest potential or adding something unnecessary to the formula that causes the rest of the film to fall apart. The two primary examples I associate with this statement are Hancock and Unbreakable. Hancock had the potential to be something great and it was pushing all the right buttons...until the final act...when a big revelation is made about Hancock. This twist alone completely destroyed the momentum this movie set up and caused it to derail so much, Amoxicillin cost, that the end result was that it became a big pile of shit. Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription, In the case of Unbreakable, I must admit that I thought it had a very interesting idea and was good most of the time. Once again however, the ending kinda makes it unsatisfying because it is a "To Be Continued" ending. Effects of Amoxicillin, Unfortunately, M. Night didn't finish the planned series because of how people kept comparing it to The Sixth Sense (which came out a year earlier) and unfairly panned it. Chronicle however, does not have any of these problems whatsoever, Amoxicillin pictures. The film grabs this concept by its nose hairs and runs with it all the way to the finish line, Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription. It does not hold anything back, portrays the characters in a very realistic manner despite their otherworldly gifts, and ends at a decidedly logical closing point that makes it satisfying by the end. Amoxicillin pharmacy, [caption id="attachment_9881" align="aligncenter" width="639" caption="Publicity photo of Matt, Steve, and Andrew exploring the strange cave"][/caption]
Another great aspect about this film that I feel bad about not giving enough credit to are the visceral performances of the three main actors. Dane DeHaan is heart wrenching and pitiably wonderful as troubled teen Andrew Detmer. As angsty and insular as he is from the rest of the world, buy cheap Amoxicillin no rx, you really do pity him and feel bad when anything unfortunate happens to him. Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription, As wowed as I was by his performance, I fear that he might be typecast as an angry nerdy kid in the future. However, the night is still young and only time will tell. Buy Amoxicillin without prescription, My personal favorite performance in the film is that of Alex Russell as Andrew's cousin: Matt (which is also my name; so go figure). He is the Yin to Andrew's raging Yang and is easy to root for because of how diametrically opposed he is to both Andrew's actions and philosophy on how and what their powers should be used for. Based on his performance, I will be very curious to see where Mr. Russell goes with his career, because he looks like the kind of actor who might be capable of many different kinds of roles; however it is too early to say, Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription. Michael B, my Amoxicillin experience. Jordan's performance as the comic relief of the film was a welcome addition to the cast due to the fact that a heavy movies needs something to lighten the mood at times; and Jordan does not disappoint in that regard. The only other performance of note is the one performed by Michael Kelly as Andrew's father; he plays both a great bastard & asshole I must say. The rest of the performances either don't get enough screen time or are just not interesting enough to mention.
As for flaws, Amoxicillin samples, there aren't many but I'll spend a little time talking about the few that exist. Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription, There were a couple of scenes that did not really need to be in the film and kind of slowed the pace; most of them being unnecessary character development scenes. That isn't to say they are bad, but I would have much rather seen them as deleted scenes as opposed to ones in the final cut. One other thing that I do acknowledge, but neither bothered me or deterred my experience in any way is the overall atmosphere of the film, Amoxicillin australia, uk, us, usa. This is not a light hearted or comedic film, even though both kinds of moments exist in it. In all honesty, this is a very very dark film (though nowhere near as dark as Super) that takes itself completely seriously and will more than likely disturb many people. One does indeed have to be in the mood to watch this movie in order to properly enjoy it, which was the outcome in my Dad's case (who went to see it with me).
In closing, I highly, highly recommend Chronicle to anyone who is either a fan of science fiction, wants to see a movie that will really test your nerves, or wants to have a good time in general (if you are the kind of person who enjoys movies with negative dramatic moments/disturbing content), Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription. Should you, by some miracle, read this, Mr. Trank, I have to say bravo and that my hat is off to you on your success in your debut film. I think the future may hold good things for you, so keep it up and make more movies. It might be too early to say, but Chronicle might end up on my Top 10 list of the year because of how much it both surprised me and how much enjoyment I got out of it by the end. If you enjoyed this article or have feedback on what things you like or dislike about it, leave some comments in the comments section or send me an e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com; I'm all ears.
Thanks for reading and take care!.
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Book details highs, lows of Francona's tenure
BOSTON -- For anyone who followed the Red Sox closely from 2004-11, Terry Francona's new book is not only a must read, but it is a fascinating and entertaining look into the daily life on Yawkey Way during that memorable time period.
The 343-page book -- titled "Francona: The Red Sox Years" -- was written by Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, with full access from co-author Francona, and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The book is full of nuggets that Sox fans -- and even media members who follow the team on an everyday basis -- weren't privy to during perhaps the most memorable eight-year run in team history.
While there was plenty of publicity from the Sports Illustrated excerpt that highlighted some of Francona's gripes with Red Sox owner John Henry, president/CEO Larry Lucchino and chairman Tom Werner, the book involves so much more for avid Sox fans to chew on.
When Werner was asked about the excerpt via email last week, he responded, "We had unbelievable success together for many years, and now our focus is on 2013." Henry and Lucchino have not yet commented on the book.
In essence, it is a chronicle of all the highs and lows Francona -- who now manages the Cleveland Indians -- experienced during his time as manager of the Red Sox. There are glimpses of his relationships with the players -- good and bad. And in most cases, Shaughnessy's thorough reporting includes perspective from the players, executives or owners Francona was speaking about.
While Francona always went out of his way to protect mercurial slugger Manny Ramirez during their time together, he sheds raw light on their dealings at various points of the book.
During Francona's initial days as manager of the Red Sox in 2004, one of his biggest challenges was trying to get Ramirez on board. The left fielder was disenchanted at that time with the club, which had placed him on waivers the previous winter and then tried to trade him to the Rangers for Alex Rodriguez.
"I went up to him and introduced myself, and it wasn't good," Francona said. "He wouldn't talk to me and he wouldn't shake my hand. I tried to talk to him, and he said, 'You just want me to like you.' … It's not what I expected."
When Francona held his first team meeting, he panicked when Ramirez wasn't in the room. The manager asked David Ortiz -- who he was just getting to know -- to assist in convincing the outfielder to attend the meeting.
Not only did Ramirez attend the meeting, but his mood had turned dramatically by the next day. Ramirez sidled up to Francona during a drill and draped his arm around his new manager and said, 'Papi, I'll hit third, I'll hit fourth, I don't care. I'll do whatever you want.'"
The moods of Ramirez toward the team and his manager would change several more times in the ensuing seasons.
As the Red Sox made their historic comeback in the American League Championship Series against the Yankees, a ritual developed in which Kevin Millar led his teammates to do a symbolic shot of Jack Daniel's whiskey before every game.
Francona confirms in the book that he didn't learn of it until he walked into the clubhouse before Game 3 of the World Series in St. Louis.
"I was laughing, thinking it was funny, and they were like, 'Hey, you've got to have one.' Well, I didn't ever think it was real," said Francona.
That was until he took a sip. Then he went into his office and spotted general manager Theo Epstein and said, 'Theo, I wasn't here.'"
Tales of alcohol in the clubhouse weren't so charming to Francona during 2011, when pitchers would take to drinking beer in the clubhouse instead of cheering on their teammates as the season slipped away.
But 2004, which the book spends plenty of time on, was a euphoric time for Francona and the Red Sox.
The Red Sox won 95 games during their unsuccessful title defense in 2005, but it was a season that came with enormous challenges and frustration, particularly when Ramirez's behavior again turned for the worst in late July.
Francona had originally promised Ramirez a day off in the finale of a three-game series against the Rays, but he hoped the left fielder would reschedule when Trot Nixon and some other players were injured. Ramirez stubbornly told Mills he wasn't interested in playing. Francona was honest about the situation with the media.
When the team returned home to Boston, the front office had a meeting about Ramirez. Francona was incensed that Henry wanted him to make a public apology to Ramirez.
"No, John," Francona told the owner. "I thought this was going to be the other way around. Are you [kidding] me?"
Francona later told Epstein, "I'm going home. And I don't mean back to my house. I mean back to Pennsylvania."
Epstein eventually fixed the situation, informing Henry that it wasn't appropriate for Francona to have to make an apology when Ramirez was the one in the wrong.
"I was livid that day," Francona said. "I couldn't believe it. Apologizing would have buried me with the other 24 guys. I couldn't do that. I had had enough."
One of the other treats of the book is the insight from Epstein, who did an in-depth interview with Shaughnessy in the summer of 2012.
Though Sports Illustrated was first to report the Red Sox's use and reliance on a computer software program called "Carmine," Epstein gives a humorous account in the book of how that name was chosen.
"We had a contest to name it," Epstein said. "I nominated Carmine because it would be a play on Carmine Hose (an ancient Red Sox nickname) and it sounded like a tough guy and a hot woman, just what we want from our software. Carmine won not only because it was the best nomination, but also because I was the judge."
There are indeed some accounts during the book when Francona gets a little annoyed by all the new-age stats and suggestions that filtered down from the baseball operations office. But the manager also expressed enthusiasm at times for such help.
"Carmine took on a life of its own with the media," Francona said. "But it was a tool in our system that [someone] like me could go to, to get information right now. And it was good. It had everything in one place. It was a really concise way of looking up information."
The World Series title of 2007 was another high point for Francona and the Red Sox, but the '08 season was every bit as stressful as '05.
By late June, Ramirez had caused another crisis for Francona -- probably the worst of his time in Boston.
Though the story of Ramirez pushing traveling secretary Jack McCormick to the ground before a game in Houston is well-known, it never contained the detail provided by Francona and Shaughnessy.
"It took me a few seconds to realize that this wasn't in fun," Francona said. "There were not a lot of guys around when I got out there, and I saw Jack leaning against a table, kind of dazed. I grabbed Manny and said, 'What … are you doing?' I was hoping he wasn't going to hit me."
Epstein wasn't on the trip, but Francona called him and said, "Theo, we've got a bad problem. We've got to do something. We've got to send Manny home."
But the organization elected not to dismiss Ramirez from the road trip and didn't suspend him.
"I knew what was going on was wrong," Francona said. "It didn't sit well with me. I should have held my ground."
Francona ultimately got his wish when Ramirez was traded at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline for Jason Bay.
Francona was at the airport waiting to pick up one of his kids when he got the call from Epstein that Ramirez had been traded.
Francona, in his words, "Got emotional. It hit me so hard. I lost my composure sitting there in the car, and a cop came up and asked me if I was OK, and it was embarrassing. I guess until that moment I hadn't realized that a toll the whole thing was taking on me, just going through all that."
Without Ramirez, Francona nearly guided the Red Sox to another World Series in 2008, but they were stopped in Game 7 of the ALCS in St. Petersburg.
Nobody knew it just yet, but the Red Sox were about to go in decline for the rest of Francona's time with the team. The Sox again won 95 games in 2009 and made the postseason as the AL Wild Card, but they were swept by the Angels in the AL Division Series.
In 2010, Francona began having problems with veterans who had always been his top allies. Ortiz was upset that Mike Lowell was pinch-hitting for him against lefties. Lowell was upset he was no longer playing every day.
When Ortiz got pinch-hit for in Toronto, he tore apart the runway. Ultimately, the slugger would start to repair his relationship with his manager, but it was a sign of mounting tension for Francona.
The idea heading into the 2011 season was that the Red Sox could possibly have their best season during the Francona years. Epstein, mindful of ownership's desire for improved television ratings and more star power, traded for Adrian Gonzalez and signed Carl Crawford.
"As good as people thought we were going to be, I thought we were going to be better," Francona said.
But an 0-6 start was an omen for that season. Francona thinks that the loss of veteran coaches like Mills -- who had departed to manage the Astros -- and John Farrell (the pitching coach who left after the 2010 season to manage the Blue Jays) played a role in the team failing to live up to expectations.
Even though the 2011 Red Sox got blistering hot in the middle of that season -- going 82-41 during a four-month stretch -- Francona could tell all along that things didn't feel right.
"I was worried about it all year," Francona said. "Somebody would strike out and go look at video instead of staying on the bench. We had a lot of guys who wanted to play every day. David was in a contract year. [Kevin Youkilis] got hurt. There was just a lot of frustration with a lot of things. Without the voices of the coaches and veteran players, I was doing a lot more of that work, and the players were like, 'Man, where is this coming from?' It catches up with you."
Even when Francona had the team rent out a function room for a fantasy football draft in early September in Toronto, he could tell his team wasn't right.
"[Bench coach] DeMarlo [Hale] and I were looking around the room and I thought, 'These guys just don't like each other like they used to.' It was a different atmosphere. You could tell the guys weren't as close as the teams we'd had in the past," Francona said.
"Guys were starting to think about themselves. It was a concern. I took a lot of pride in having teams that got mad if we lost, not if they went 0-for-4."
The manager's worst fears were realized the night of Sept. 28, when the Red Sox imploded in their season finale at Baltimore to complete a 7-20 September. Boston became the first team in history to hold a nine-game lead in September and not make it to the postseason.
Though Francona's job security was hardly mentioned during the 2011 season, he swiftly parted ways with the club on Sept. 30, two days after the painful loss at Camden Yards. Francona sensed the owners didn't want him back. The owners wanted Francona to take the weekend to think about what he wanted to do. Epstein felt that if Francona did come back, he needed to commit to having a "new voice."
Francona sensed the owners didn't want him back, and ultimately, Francona opted to take the decision out of their hands, though he is convinced he would have been relieved of his duties anyway. He also suggests that Epstein told him as much. The owners remained adamant in the book that no decision had been made.
The night Francona left the Red Sox, he took some members of the team's clubhouse staff out for a night on the town. It was there that Francona received a surprising voicemail.
"Papi, this is Manny [Ramirez]. I just wanted to give you a call. You were an okay manager. Call me back."
That was just another in a series of surprising and fun anecdotes in Francona and Shaughnessy's book.


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Healthy Eating During the Holidays
As we all know, many traditional foods served at holiday meals can be loaded with unwanted fat and calories. Many of us look forward to eating these special foods, but eating liberal portions makes it easy to pack on the pounds. So what's a health-conscious person to do?
One option is to more often choose those traditional foods that are lower in fat and calories. Examples include: sweet potatoes, winter squash, broccoli, carrots, green beans, apples and pears. Eating salad at the start of a meal is also a good idea. Research shows that eating a small vegetable salad before your meal helps you to consume fewer calories overall. And there is nothing wrong with offering (or offering to bring) healthy appetizers like veggie trays or light desserts for your family and friends to enjoy at holiday gatherings.
Another way to make healthier holiday choices is to lower the fat and calories in traditional holiday recipes. For example, you can use two egg whites in place of one egg to reduce cholesterol, yet produce the same cooking result. Or use low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth instead of milk in your mashed potatoes to add flavor and lighten the fat. Sliced almonds also make a delicious alternative to fried onion rings as a casserole topping. As far as desserts go, substitute applesauce for oil, margarine or butter in muffins and quick breads like banana bread. For dips, sauces and pie toppings, use non-fat yogurt, sour cream or whipped topping instead of their full-fat counterparts.
If you're unable or unwilling to make substitutions for a particularly indulgent holiday food, go ahead and enjoy it, but be mindful of your portions. Use smaller plates, if available.
Finally, remember that beverages — alcohol, eggnogs, ciders and punches, for example — contain calories that can add up quickly. Choose low- or no-calorie beverages when possible to satisfy your thirst, and consume other beverages in moderation.
For more tips on eating right and maintaining a healthy weight during the holiday season, visit mountnittany.org, or go to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website at eatright.org.
Michele D. Rager is a clinical dietitian at Mount Nittany Health.
More articles by Michele D. Rager →


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Zynga workshop: creative work perk
ART Zynga workshop an outlet for artists to accountants
A recording of Pachelbel's Canon in D Major plays in the intimate, oblong room, which contains a mirrored wall and cranberry-colored drapes framing two large windows. The sound of charcoal sweeping across newsprint is heard in a figure-drawing workshop as two women and three men make angular, gestural and representational lines on sheets of their tablets.
Concentrating on the poses of model Sarafina Murphy-Gibson - dressed in a costume reminiscent of Marie Antoinette - they observe her powdered wig, accented with plumes of gold and plum-colored feathers, and bustier-style white dress, embellished with lace and pale pink ribbons.
The participants come and go - they aren't students taking a required course at an art school. Instead, they're colleagues - accountants, engineers, artists and animators - attending this drop-in workshop for personal and professional enrichment. They all work here at Zynga, a company known for its online social games, including "FarmVille" and "ChefVille."
From noon to 2 p.m. every Thursday, art director Benjamin Kerr leads the workshop he originated in 2010. He brings a background that includes working as a character animator on films such as "Alice in Wonderland" (2010) and "Bolt" (2008) for Walt Disney Animation Studios.
"I encourage people to bring in any medium that they want," says Kerr, who provides the charcoal and newsprint and enjoys mixing up the subjects attendees draw - a man putting on a superhero costume, each other, one of their dogs. "My goal is to make a creative outlet for every person in the company, even those in non-creative departments like accounting."
'Deeper breadth'
He also teaches animation at the Academy of Art University, where he earned his master's degree in 3-D animation after serving in the Marine Corps as a nuclear, biological and chemical weapons specialist.
"Even though it was not a creative environment, it allowed me to have a deeper breadth of my work," Kerr says of his time in the military. "The Marine Corps isn't who I am; it's part of who I am. I went in as an impressionable 20-year-old, and I came out a pacifist. I would relate it to Picasso's 'Guernica,' being in the Marine Corps and seeing that part of the world."
Ryan Hood, the lead animator on "FarmVille 2," finds the life drawing beneficial.
"One thing I try to get from it is the dynamic posing," he says. "The other thing I like to do is let my brain sort of go and let my hand-and-eye coordination just take over, and let the creativity flow," he says.
Concept drawing
At Zynga, the creation of characters to inhabit landscapes such as "FarmVille 2" begins with a concept drawing. But before Hood assigns it to one of the artists on his team, he confers with art director Daryl Anselmo to discuss the personality of the animal.
"We go off our initial intuition - what will this character be like? Will it be male or female? What is its personality? For example, with the horse we felt it would be a teenager like Taylor Lautner," Hood says. "We'll start with the initial idea, with whatever pops into our head, and start from there."
Sometimes, a muse isn't far away.
"Stuckey was the art inspiration for the goat," Hood says at his workstation inside the "FarmVille 2" studio. He's referring to co-worker Mark Hutchinson's adorable pug dog, Stuckey, who arrives on cue with a large tennis ball in his mouth, eager for someone to throw it. Hood and Anselmo integrated the dog's jovial personality into the goat's character as well.
Hood started his career at Lucas Arts, working on games including "Star Wars: Republic Commando" (2005). He shifted his focus to visual effects at Tippett Studio, working on films including "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1" (2011).
"What you get in games that you don't get in film is you get the constant feedback from the players, especially in live games," he says. "Whether they love it or hate it, I love the feedback."
With the Zynga Art Gallery, Kim Herbst, a principal artist for "Zynga Slots," wanted to tap into the artistic endeavors fellow employees pursue outside their job and provide an exhibition space for it. To acquire the initial submissions, she sent a companywide e-mail, and the gallery opened in June. Herbst changes the art every two weeks and has artists signed up through February. At this time, the gallery and workshop aren't open to the public.
Gallery art
Current gallery art includes work by senior 3-D "CityVille" animator Arvin Bautista: "Fisto" and "Jitsu," two Caran d'Ache wax oil crayons on Masonite depictions of animated characters from Mattel's "Masters of the Universe." Bautista, who watched the series as a youth in the Philippines, renders them in the same style of his self-published comic book series, the Bomb Squad. Bautista is such a fan of comics that he proposed to his wife, Lynette, with one he created.
"I casually said, 'Oh, hey, honey, check this out, you might like this comic,' " he recalls. "My wife is not a comic book reader, and at this time the ring was burning a hole in my pocket."
After she noticed the story was set in San Francisco, he says, "she also thought it was odd that the girl character looked like her and was wearing her clothes. By the time she got to the end of the first page and realized the name of the character was Ninjette, she had figured it out and was laughing and chuckling all the way to the last page, where my cartoon self asks her cartoon self the big question in a double-page-spread cliffhanger."
In the gallery, Bautista admires the energy his fellow employees devote to their creative passions.
"It always amazes me how people can still have that extra drive to produce art after a day at work. If anything, seeing other people's work encourages me to work on my own stuff too," Bautista says of the gallery. "Plus, there are a lot of talented individuals at Zynga, so it's nice that people have a place to show it like the gallery."
Zynga Art Gallery: Zynga, 699 Eighth St., S.F. Closed to the public. Preview pages and purchase digital or printed copies of Arvin Bautista's self-published comic books, the Bomb Squad, at comixrant.blogspot.com.
Stephanie Wright Hession is a freelance writer. E-mail: email@example.com


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Solution Spotlight: Re-Introduced: A Winning Motor Repair Process
EP Editorial Staff | July 2, 2009
Check out this energy-saving alternative to burnout methods.
Dreisilker Electric Motors is re-introducing its trademark Motor-Safe Repair System for rewinding electric motors as an alternative to other destructive methods using burnout ovens.
The company points out that this process results in finished motors that are more efficient, reliable and longer-lived than those subjected to burnout-oven rewinding methods.
How it works
Using the Motor-Safe process, a technician carefully removes the original windings using a controlled "warming" method and hydraulic device. This technique pulls the softened windings from the stator without damaging the stator and thus avoids the extreme, uneven temperatures of burnout ovens that distort the core and laminations. In addition to maintaining the structural integrity of the motor frame and components, the Motor-Safe process allows for a faster turnaround—typically a 1- to 2-hour process, compared to 8 to 10 hours using burnout ovens and other destructive stripping methods.
The vast majority of motor repair shops use burnout ovens to remove original windings by baking the motor to exceed 680 F. Those types of high, uneven temperatures compromise the integrity of the motor core with frame damage and iron distortion. High heat also damages the insulation of motor laminations, causing circulating currents, hot spots and uneven amperage draw. A motor coming out of such a process runs hotter, is less efficient and has a shortened half-life.
A nationwide reach
Dreisilker Electric Motors, Inc. is a leading provider of commercial and industrial motors, drives, controls and repair and field service expertise to a wide range of industries, including: machine tools, utilities, municipalities, water reclamation, heating-ventilation-air-conditioning (HVAC) and material processors. Founded in 1955, the company specializes in non-burnout motor rewind, field service and motor repair, engineered solutions and reliability-based solutions for rotating machine assets. Its corporate headquarters, located in Glen Ellyn, IL, is supported by an auxiliary sales and repair facility in McHenry, IL, as well as five other branch locations in the greater Chicago area and an additional location near Atlanta, GA. LMT
Dreisilker Electric Motors, Inc.
Glen Ellyn, IL


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When reps from the Consumer Electronics Association took the stage Tuesday in New York for a sneak-preview event for the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, they had one announcement that took nobody by surprise: tablets and smartphones sales were way up in 2012, and will continue to rise in 2013. But they also forecast a few surprises, not least of which being a remarkable amount of projected uptake for UltraHD (4K) televisions and automotive products.
CEA director of industry analysis Steve Koenig, and CEA chief economist and senior director of research Shawn DuBravac, described what they saw as being the major trends for consumer electronics for the rest of the year and next year. Smartphones and tablets were the most obvious winners both for the 2012 holiday season and 2013 overall. The generic category of "mobile connected devices," which includes smartphones, e-readers, and tablets, is collectively on the rise, along with connected household devices such as smart TVs.
The most obvious effect -- the explosion in tablet sales -- is backed by impressive numbers. Estimates for tablet sales in fourth-quarter 2012 are up a whopping 112% -- 32 million units for the season -- over the same period last year. Smartphones don't make as big a showing, but are still significant: 8% of the adults polled for their holiday wish lists asked for smartphones, versus 16% for tablets. A clear sign of how far tablets have come is in another statistic: By 2013, the total number of tablets shipped -- 100 million in just the U.S. -- almost will be on par with the number of smartphones shipped this year, 108 million.
As anyone who's replaced their Garmin with an iPhone can tell you, tablets and smartphones both have cannibalized markets for other consumer technology products. Point-and-shoot digital cameras, camcorders, and game consoles have also all had their market share eroded by other portable devices in different measures.
Not all of these shifts are exclusively because of the rise of mobile devices, though. Messrs. Koenig and DuBravac both noted how many of those erosions are also driven by other factors. With point-and-shoot cameras, for instance, at least some of its market share has been lost to people looking for more advanced camera types such as D-SLRs, or newly-emerging form factors, such as action/wearable cameras.
Another cited phenomenon is how tablets and smartphones are serving more often as "hub connection" devices -- nexuses for health and fitness, home management, or other connected-life peripherals. Without setting a timetable, the CEA folks expected many in-home health technology innovations to allow a good many tests we'd normally perform in a doctor's office to be done without leaving the house. One such test involved adding a breath-test sensor to one's phone, which could be used to diagnose liver or kidney function, or provide blood sugar measurements for a diabetic.
What everyone seems to agree on is the continued erosion of the desktop PC and notebook market. In the wish-list survey, 7% of adults asked for a notebook, but only 2% wanted a new desktop PC.
Another surprising prediction: TVs. Sales of large flat-panel TVs in general are stable -- 10.6 million shipped in the fourth quarter of 2011, beating estimates by 1.2 million. About 10.5 million are estimated to be shipped in the fourth quarter of 2012. What's on the rise is the sales proportion of jumbo-screen TVs -- 60 inches and up -- compared to sets 20 inches and smaller. The jumbos peaked at 400,000 units shipped in the last quarter of 2011; the smaller sets sank to 300,000 as of the second quarter of 2012.
Jumbo sets are booming despite their equally big prices. The Sony 84" XBR-84X900, for example, lists for a wallet-devouring $25,000. CES seems to believe those rising sales figures will translate into equally explosive sales for UltraHD 4K sets, which it estimates will start at 20,000 in 2013 but rise over the next four years to 2.5 million in 2016.
What remains unanswered is whether native 4K content, which will show off such sets at their best, will also come to market during that time. No home video form factor currently supports it, and over-the-air broadcast standards are only just now being considered for it. The most likely way to proffer 4K content for such sets is via digital delivery -- e.g., the Ultraviolet content-locker system that also figured into the CEA's talk about their entertainment industry relations. It's also not clear if these five-figure "consumer" devices actually are being sold to consumers or re-purposed for boardrooms, one possible explanation for accelerated future uptake.
CEA also noted a trend that even it found surprising: the rising presence of in-car technology as a marketing factor in the automotive industry. A screenshot from Ford's site depicted the 2013 Focus and 2013 Escape, with the in-car tech getting more aggressive billing than miles per gallon or the crash-test rating.


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Tech Bot by Don Jones
Born in Pittsburgh, I have always enjoyed creating art and sculptures. At age 9, my father introduced me to gas, arc welding, brazing, wood working, construction and shop principles. His training combined with a profound admiration for art, nature and science fiction, inspired me to create a large variety of sculptures throughout my childhood. Throughout my schooling, I would submit a sculpture when assignments allowed, and sometimes when they didn't. While attending The Art Institute of Pittsburgh I was invited to submit an entry in The Science Fiction and Film Festival which featured local as well as national artists. My 8-foot-long model spaceship, named the Zora Astra won a special judges award. Working in the advertising field for 20 years as an art director, I was 'responsible for designing displays, brochures, catalogs, instruction manuals, corporate identity material, packaging, billboards, ads and model making. In 1998, it was time to professionally promote the sculptures, which included corporate commissions, art furniture, contemporary, indoor/outdoor, stainless steel, aluminum, mild steel and robot assemblage sculptures.


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National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency via AP
A set of images released by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency show a scale model of the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden was killed, The Associated Press reports.
The model was built by the agency and used by military and intelligence leaders to plan the raid. The once-classified model is scaled at 1 inch to 7 feet and each object in the model existed at one time at the original compound.
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency via AP
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency via AP
Farooq Naeem / AFP - Getty Images
U.S. forces found and killed the al-Qaida leader in the affluent Pakistani town of Abbottabad, where he had been living in a large compound.
Related stories:
Abbottabad - One year after Osama bin Laden
Report: Bin Laden told followers to kill Obama, Petraeus
•Sign up for the msnbc.com Photos Newsletter
A year after Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces, President Barack Obama and his national security advisors recounted the meticulous planning and intense meetings held before the president made his final decision to go forward with the mission against bin Laden. NBC's Brian Williams reports.


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A delicious accompaniment to steak and fish dishes, tasty barbecues too!
Preparation Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Yield: 4 x tomatoes
Preheat oven to 400ºF.
Scoop pulp from tomatoes. In a large bowl combine tomato pulp, bread, garlic and cheese. With a mixer, combine the tomato mixture until well mixed. Spoon the blended tomato mixture into the tomato shells.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until tomatoes are cooked but still holding their shape.


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Who was/is Floyd Cramer ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more
Floyd Cramer
Country music makes major stars of numerous vocalists, from Hank Williams (Senior and to a lesser extent, his son, Hank Junior). Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette to current hitmakers Garth Brooks and Nanci Griffith, but few of country's instrumentalists ever hit the headlines in a similar manner — Chet Atkins (who is part of this story for other reasons), Charlie McCoy, Scotty Moore, and a few other names are internationally known, but these "pickers" (as they're called in Nashville, the world headquarters of country music) are rarely as widely revered as their dynamic talents deserve. With this album, we turn the spotlight on one of country music's most enduring musicians, who for many years has been one of Nashville's premier pickers, piano stylist Floyd Cramer (no, you don't pick a piano, but it is strung, like a guitar, which you certainly do pick). His outstanding talents contributed to numerous very familiar classics of popular music during the Fifties and Sixties, after which he decided to concentrate on live performance as a stage star rather than adding his unique keyboard style to hits which brought great fame to others.
Floyd Cramer was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in late October, 1933. Shreveport is close to the Texas border, and if the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville is the best-known country music radio show in the world, right behind it is the Louisiana Hayride, spreading the sound of country from Shreveport over a wide area some distance south-west of Tennessee. Elvis Presley meant much more on the Hayride than on the Opry, and Louisiana is as famous for jazz, blues, cajun and R&B as it is for country, so Cramer had been exposed to several musical styles when he started playing piano aged five. He was brought up in a small town in Arkansas where he was the only young musician around (before sax-playing President Clinton, also from Arkansas). Although he didn't enjoy piano lessons, Cramer liked playing the instrument "when I had nothing else to do." By the time he was a teenager, he was such a good player that he decided that music would be his career and when he left school, joined the Hayride.
He met Elvis at the Hayride, and played on several of The King's early classics, including 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Blue Suede Shoes,' and worked with him on movies like 'Blue Hawaii' and 'Girl Happy.' He also added piano to such classics as Don Gibson's 'Sea of Heartbreak,' Jimmy Dean's 'Big Bad John' and 'He'll Have To Go' by Jim Reeves, and having released his first record in 1952, scored his first hit on his own account in 1958, 'Flip Flop And Bop.' In 1960/61, he had three US Top 10 hits in nine months - 'Last Date' went Top 3, 'On The Rebound' not only made the US Top 5 but also topped the UK chart, and his sympathetic reading of the Bob Wills hit, 'San Antonio Rose,' was his final major hit. He was probably a victim of the twist, a dance craze of the same era which relied more on hypnotic rhythm than on subtlety in the form of Cramer's unique trademark, the so-called 'slip note.' This style, which is instantly recognisable, was refined by Cramer, and is the equivalent on piano of sliding up or down a fret on a guitar. Doing it smoothly on guitar is relatively simple, but doing it on piano requires a deftness of touch which only Cramer seems able to achieve at will. In Britain, 'On The Rebound' became a chart-topping smash because it didn't sound like any other record we had ever heard (and it was American, and therefore a lot more street credible than chart-topping British piano pumper Russ Conway).
Floyd never did as well again in the UK chart, and the arrival of Phil Spector's girl groups and then British Beat with The Beatles and The Stones made it very difficult for any instrumental act other than The Shadows to make big hits. However, it wasn't for lack of trying, and seven smaller US hits followed by the end of 1962, all produced by Chet Atkins. After that, Cramer concentrated on LPs, and had reached the US chart with seven albums by 1967 ... one encyclopedia lists over 25 Cramer LPs released during the Sixties! He was equally prolific during the first half of the Seventies, but since deciding to work onstage rather than in the studio, his recordings have been less frequent, so that a new Floyd Cramer album is an event. 'King Of Country Piano' includes new versions of those early big successes from the Sixties, plus a fine selection of familiar hits which get the Cramer slip note treatment, from standards like the Glenn
Miller evergreen, 'Chatanooga Choo Choo,' Hank Senior's 'Hey Good Lookin,' Hoagy Carmichael's soulful 'Georgia Oh My Mind,' the Presley Number One, 'Crying In The Chapel' and Don Gibson's 'Oh Lonesome Me,' to more recent masterpieces such as the Willie Nelson/Pet Shop Boys smash, 'Always On My Mind' and Kris Kristofferson's sublime 'For The Good Time.'
Even though he'll soon be eligible for his bus pass (or the American equivalent), Floyd Cramer retains his mastery of an instrument he started playing before the Second World War, and that instantly identifiable sound remains as unique as ever. This man is a legend, and his right to be regarded alongside Chet Atkins, Charlie McCoy and Scotty Moore is easy to justify — as you'll hear on this exceptional collection of familiar hits performed in the unique Cramer style.
John Phillips, 1994


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Apple Inc. will get to sell the iPhone in the world's biggest cell phone market now that it has reached a deal with a Chinese wireless carrier, China Unicom Ltd.
Under a multiyear deal announced Friday, the iPhone is expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter, China Unicom executives said in Hong Kong. They declined to give financial details or reveal how much the iPhone would cost, saying only that the price would be "competitive."
Unicom, one of three major state-owned carriers, would be the first Chinese phone company to formally support the iPhone, though unlocked iPhones brought in from other markets are in wide use in China.
China's mobile market trails the United States, Japan and some others in financial size but it has 650 million mobile phone accounts and is seen as a major prize for foreign firms. However, Edward Yu, chief executive at Analysys International, a Beijing-based technology research firm, said it remains to be seen whether the iPhone will appeal to "the mainstream China population."
Chinese media reported that Unicom had secured a three-year exclusive deal to carry the iPhone and had agreed to buy 5 million handsets for 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion), but Chang said those stories were false.
Analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch say the phone could sell for between $99 and $299 with two-year service contracts.
Many Chinese already own smuggled iPhones purchased on the country's thriving gray market. There are well over 1.5 million of the devices in China, according to estimates by BDA China Ltd., a Beijing technology research firm.
iPhone to Sell in China
Unlocked versions already widely-used in the country
Apple Inc. will get to sell the iPhone in the world's biggest cell phone market now that it has reached a deal with a Chinese wireless carrier, China Unicom Ltd.


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Jason Kidd's game-winning three-pointer put a massive exclamation mark on last night's Knicks-Nets game. Luckily, one enterprising fan with courside seats had his camera rolling when Kidd launched his shot, giving us the close-up view of the play you see above.
These kinds of videos are always fun, as they bring in a layer of atmosphere that gets lost in television broadcasts. This one has the added goodness of allowing us to watch Spike Lee's antics via something other than a five-second cutaway.