philipsamse: May 2012

Thursday, 31 May 2012

Rev. Roger Wolsey: 'Freedom Ride 2012'

It's been said that "the micro is the macro." If you look at something in particular, you are looking at a microcosm of things that are strikingly similar on a larger scale. The state of North Carolina is a specific state that may be said to portray the United States as a whole. I could of course point out examples of that state's gorgeous and diverse geographic beauty, its gorgeous and diverse flora and fauna; and its gorgeous and diverse people -- and then go on to show how this is a reflection of our gorgeous and diverse nation.

That, however, is not what I feel called to do at this time. I'd like to think that we could take all of what I just stated for granted, but tragically, we cannot. When it comes to the third of those three elements, "gorgeous and diverse people," neither all of the citizens of North Carolina, nor of our great nation, would describe the diversity of our population as "gorgeous." Some are scared of diversity. Some call it sinful. And some act on their fear and hate.

What I am called to do is to hold a mirror up to both the specific state of North Carolina, as well as to our entire nation, to show us the wrinkles and blemishes that we don't wish to see. I'm referring to the acne of racism and the warts of homophobia. To the extent that the recent news that has come out of North Carolina stem from racism and anti-gay bigotry, we are a racist and homophobic country. We have some "metaphorical spinach" stuck to our teeth and true friends point that out to each other.

First, a Christian pastor by the name of Sam Harris told his flock to "punch effeminate-looking or -acting boys in their families." That a pastor would advocate, let alone condone, child abuse is most disturbing.

Not long after this, the majority of the citizens of North Carolina who showed up to vote in the most recent election passed an amendment to their state's Constitution that prohibits gay weddings. Their actions violate the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment and may very well eventually be ruled unconstitutional. But then again, given that "the micro is the macro," there's a very real possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court may bless that state's new unjust status quo.

Then Charles Worley, another North Carolinian pastor, apparently sought to out-crazy the other fellow by telling his flock that "gay people should be placed into concentration camps and made to starve to death."

And then, to complete a terrible trifecta, the local KKK clan in a community north of Greensboro, NC, sent out notices inviting their white residents to come to a public cross burning event. You read that right. A cross burning -- in 2012. Unbelievable right? Believe it. It happened.

Clearly, it would be unfair for the rest of America to judge North Carolina by the actions of a few of their citizens. But the thing is, we can't help it. In the same way that it's unfair to judge black people or gay people by the actions of isolated black and/or gay people, in our humanness, we do exactly that. Let's admit this.

With this in mind, many Americans who are concerned about racial and sexual orientation justice are considering how to respond. Some are considering boycotting North Carolina. I've considered it too. Frankly, as I write this, I'm still in the process of considering it. While I ponder this some more, I'd like to offer the following responses of a few other concerned citizens:

The first is an insightful statement from the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance.

The second is an equally wise statement and sensible response by the Rev. Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, who contacted the IRS about some of these goings-on. See also this Huffington Post article.

And the third is from a very articulate gay man who uses "his pulpit," YouTube, to help offer a healing, compassionate, prophetic, and encouraging word to his fellow LGBTQ citizens around the nation.

Okay, I've pondered this some more and am concluding that calling for a boycott is not the best way to proceed. Sure, we're angry and feel like punishing those who would allow such discrimination to happen in their state, but vengeance is never healthy. And the carrot is far more helpful than the stick. Besides, it'd be unfair -- and engaging in an unfair response would be hypocritical when we're seeking to promote and encourage fairness. As Gandhi put it, "There is no way to peace, peace is the way" -- meaning, the message and the medium to convey it need to be in harmony.

The matter of marriage equality for homosexual persons -- and gay rights in general -- is the civil rights crisis of our day. What's needed is a new Civil Rights Movement in the non-violent tradition that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., helped to lead in the 1960's. Instead of a boycott of North Carolina, I'm calling for a Freedom Ride -- "Freedom Ride 2012."

For the benefit of our younger readers, the Freedom Riders were a movement of concerned citizens (black and white) from northern states who took buses down to various southern states in the 1960s to help motivate the citizens of those states to end immoral policies of segregation and legally sanctioned discrimination against people of color.

As it happens, many hundreds (if not thousands) of citizens from outside of North Carolina will be descending upon that fair state to participate in the 2nd annual Wild Goose Festival from June 21-24. The Wild Goose Fest is a "Woodstock" type gathering for progressive and emerging Christians to join in fellowship, compare notes, and learn from and inspire each other. I am a speaker at this year's festival and will be calling for many of the festival's attendees to attend a rally in North Carolina's capital of Raleigh on Monday, June 25th from noon-1:00 p.m.

The rally will include speakers and music -- much in the spirit of the original Freedom Riders. I am seeking to have my former professor, Dr. Vincent Harding, (one of King's speech writers and biographers) and other veterans of the original Civil Rights movement participate. North Carolina's Rev. Mark Sandlin will be a speaker and Greensboro singer-songwriter Bryan McFarland will assist with the music. Details to follow.

This is a call for my fellow citizens to mark your calendars for Monday, June 25th and come to Raleigh to participate in Freedom Ride 2012.

There are many states (both northern and southern) that should be visited by citizens of other states who seek to hold up the mirrors of truth that need to be gazed into. Perhaps you may feel moved to continue this wave of Freedom Rides by creating rallies in other locations. We are all "our brother's keepers" and we need each other to be the best that we can be. Some will be inspired by their progressive Christian values and others will be motivated by their love of the Constitution and desire for all of our states to honor it. Many of us will be prompted by both.

I'm applying for a permit to hold the rally at the grounds of the Capitol; should it not be granted, another location will be secured at the same time on that day.

If you are passionate about this issue, please come and consider actually taking a bus. Yep, a Greyhound. Now is the time. Let's covenant to be on our best behavior, act respectfully, and spend some of our hard-earned cash in their state to support their economy. Perhaps also consider bringing signs, Bibles, copies of the U.S. Constitution; and actual mirrors to hold up to invite North Carolina, and all of us, to gaze into. This isn't an adversarial action. It's not "us" against "them." This is micro you and micro me seeking to bring forth in ourselves that which we dream our collective macro to be.

Stay tuned. Get on the Bus!

If you cannot attend the rally, please consider signing this petition.

'); jQuery('#c_text_121').append(""); if (Campaign_121.campaign_info.campaign.picture_url !=null && Campaign_121.campaign_info.campaign.picture_url !=""){ jQuery('#moment_right_121').append(""); }else{ jQuery('#moment_right_121').append(""); } jQuery('#moment_right_121').append(""); jQuery('#c_text_121').append(""); jQuery('#moment_left_121').append('

'+Campaign_121.campaign_info.campaign.campaign_name+'

'); jQuery('#campaign_name_121').addClass('moment_campaign_title'); jQuery('#moment_left_121').append('

'+Campaign_121.campaign_info.campaign.about_text+'

'); jQuery('#campaign_text_121').addClass('m_campaign_text'); }, otb_design:function(data){ jQuery('#campaign_participate_btn_container_121').remove(); jQuery('#campaign_name_121').addClass('otb_campaign_title'); jQuery('#campaign_text_121').addClass('otb_campaign_text'); jQuery('#campaign_121').addClass('otb_campaign_container'); jQuery('#campaign_title_container_121').append(" "); jQuery('#campaign_title_container_121').append(""); }, defaul_design:function(){ jQuery('#campaign_name_121').addClass('campaign_title'); jQuery('#campaign_title_121').html(Campaign_121.campaign_info.campaign.campaign_title); jQuery('#campaign_bottom_121').remove(); jQuery('#campaign_121').addClass('campaign_container'); }, CampaignJoin : function (join_control, campaign_id) { join_control.style.display = 'none'; jQuery('#btn_take_part_in_survey_121').css("display", ''); jQuery('#campaign_name_121').html(Campaign_121.campaign_info.campaign.thank_you_email_subject); jQuery('#campaign_text_121').html(Campaign_121.campaign_info.campaign.thank_you_email_body); Campaign_121.CallPostJoinAction(); }, GetFormFail:function(){ alert('Sorry, unable to procees your request'); HuffConnect.hideModal(); }, CallPostJoinAction:function(){ jQuery.ajax({ url: Campaign_121.post_join_actions_url , success: function(data){ huff.use('modal', function(m){ m.show({ content: data, width: 750, height: 550 }) }); //HPUtil.EvalScript(data); } , cache: false }); } };

eat to live ron paul money bomb ron paul money bomb bon vivant zynga ipo zynga ipo sam hurd arrested

Vertebrates share ancient neural circuitry for complex social behaviors, biologists find

ScienceDaily (May 31, 2012) ? Humans, fish and frogs share neural circuits responsible for a diversity of social behavior, from flashy mating displays to aggression and monogamy, that have existed for more than 450 million years, biologists at The University of Texas at Austin found.

"There is an ancient circuitry that appears to be involved in social behavior across all vertebrates," said Hans Hofmann, associate professor of integrative biology. "On a basic level, this tells us something about where we came from. A lot of the neural circuits that our brain uses for social behavior are actually quite old."

Hofmann and graduate student Lauren O'Connell published their research in this week's Science.

The biologists analyzed 12 regions of the brain responsible for social behavior and decision-making in 88 species of vertebrates including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

They specifically looked at gene activity in two neural networks, one responsible for evaluating the relative importance of stimuli (the mesolimbic reward system), and one responsible for social behavior (the social behavior network). The former is important in drug addiction and romantic love, which manifests in the brain surprisingly like drug addiction.

"In these key brain regions, we found remarkable conservation of gene activity across species," said Hofmann.

Despite the discovery of such consistency in gene activity, it's easy to see that vertebrates have evolved a large diversity of behaviors during the past 450 million years.

That diversity can be partly explained, said Hofmann, as small variations on a theme. The basic neural circuits evolved long ago, providing a genetic and molecular framework for the evolution of new behavior. Small tweaks over time in those neural circuits then give rise to new behavior.

Monogamy, for example, has evolved multiple times independently in various vertebrate species. Monogamous behavior can be more advantageous for reproduction and survival under certain environmental conditions, and the research suggests that the evolution of this behavior is probably the result of small tweaks in a conserved neural network rather than evolving an entirely new one.

"Vertebrate brains are incredibly diverse, but we are finding the commonalities, even at the level of gene activity," said Hofmann. "Now we have a framework with which we can ask whether there are molecular universals associated with social behaviors."

Hofmann described "molecular universals" as common genes and molecules shared across species that form the bases of behavior, and he is on the hunt for them. This research highlights the areas of the vertebrate brain where he can now look for molecular universals in these shared neural circuits.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Texas at Austin.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

L. A. O'Connell, H. A. Hofmann. Evolution of a Vertebrate Social Decision-Making Network. Science, 2012; 336 (6085): 1154 DOI: 10.1126/science.1218889

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

one world trade center bks new dark knight rises trailer khloe and lamar oklahoma city thunder act rajon rondo

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Consultant - Kuwait

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Consultant

Job description:

Job Description:

The disaster recovery and business continuity analyst assist in supervising the disaster recovery process and develop plans for the disaster recovery functions of the main activities of the organization. In addition, during a disaster the analyst is involved in the continued operation of the business?s infrastructure. The analyst is also assigned for long-range disaster recovery planning to provide the highest level of protection possible for the organization in an efficient and effective manner. The disaster recovery plan must be reviewed and updated on regular basis.

Tasks & Responsibilities:
?????????Plan and chart the direction of the disaster recovery process.
?????????Establishes procedures and properties for the disaster recovery process.
?????????Complies with the record management policy.
?????????Assist in managing all activities during the disaster recovery process, and during semi-annual disaster recovery testing.
?????????Works with critical systems base in Mainframe, Sun and Unix.
?????????Works closely with all related departments in developing and managing the creation of business continuity plan for all function that interfaces with the technology infrastructure.
?????????Coordinates and supervises all the special projects relating to disaster recovery process and capacity.
?????????Recognize and identifies potential areas where existing disaster recovery policies and procedures require change, or where new ones need to be developed, especially regarding future business expansion.
?????????Capable to understand the job functions of the disaster recovery and business continuity team with whom the analyst interacts and assume its functions if needed.
?????????Interacts at a senior level with all user departments within the enterprise.
?????????Perform at above the enterprise?s information technology performance standard.
?????????Develops and maintain disaster recovery procedures with the performance standards.
?????????Develop, maintain and implement, if necessary, the disaster recovery plan as well as assist managing the entire recovery process.
?????????Practice in managing all special disaster recovery projects within the enterprise IT area.

Academic Requirements:
?????????Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Engineering or Information Systems.

Skills:

Technical skills, Capabilities and Experience:

Not less than (17) years of experience in systems and information technology in different work environments (5) years, at least in the field of consultancy work, study and planning for integrated projects in the field of information systems and technology and lead teams, supervision and follow up their implementation, evaluation and review their performance. In addition, must have the incumbent expertise and skills need to carry out the following duties:

?????????Provide technical advice relevant to the functions of planning, management and implementation of projects of the Department.
?????????Participate in the development plans near and long-term tasks and activities.
?????????Participate in the development of training plans and work on the development of performance to the required level, and follow up the development of technical personnel. The choice of teaching methods and courses for the trainees, as appropriate, and advise the supervisor of the developments in the field of electronic data processing-related and pre-planning for the trainees. Also participate in the evaluation of software, hardware and consolidate the operation of departments under the requirements of training and development.
?????????Follow-up and guide the team in the management of tasks covered by the plans near and far range, and was following the interim and final results using the methods of proper control and to ensure complete implementation and achievements in the specified time, and matching the output of interim and final policy, standards and framework.
?????????Be responsible for developing the workforce, especially administrative, preparation and monitoring of projects, departments and equipment, and standards and work procedures and training activities, etc., and setting the standards for quality assurance and programmers training, budget preparation and control, etc.
?????????To ensure ?the efficiency and effectiveness of operations. Involved in planning long-term objectives of management development in general. Follow up defective systems and users.
?????????Ensure the quality of automated systems and technologies apply the standards of quantity and quality to ensure a high level of overall quality of the service.
??????????Inform the senior management of the results and achievements of the stages of the work tasks and systems covered by the plan through periodic reports indicating the results and outputs of the implementation side of the main problems identifying the purpose of identifying the necessary guidance during implementation.
?????????Carry out relevant work assigned to the layout and career development for technical staff, and evaluating their performance through the implementation of tasks and projects, and ensure the optimal use of tools and equipment available.
??????????Preparation of technical reports, studies, administrative and technical notes (in both Arabic and English) and the related topics of particular elements of the technical and manpower in the field of systems and information technology, and the preparation of technical proposals.
?????????Advising the specialized committees, meetings and seminars in the field of information technology on the level of information centers, or national level to the State of Kuwait.
?????????Conduct studies and research related to the field of information society and its own benchmarks.
?????????Preparation and follow-up annual plans and progress of tasks and projects at the level of information.
?????????Participate in strategic planning in the field of information systems and technology for the implementation of national projects and projects of government agencies included in the Five-Year Plan of the State of Kuwait.
?????????Study and evaluate the technical requirements needed to implement the annual plans of government agencies in Kuwait and to propose appropriate financial allocations for implementation by components and elements of art.
?????????Develop methodologies for the development and implementation of application systems, operation and maintenance methods and documented at the level of information centers in government entities.
?????????Participate in the preparation of studies of organizational structures and functions of administrative units in the field of information technology, and characterization of the different functions to perform the work.

Required Certification and Training:

?????????Operation Supervision
?????????Mainframe
?????????SUN
?????????Disaster Recovery Planning
?????????Operation Management
????????? ManG CHANGE ? D.P. OPERATIONS
?????????Capacity Management
?????????Certified Business Continuity Planner (CBCP) or Associate Disaster Recovery Planner accreditation (preferred)

Personal & Administrative Skills:

?????????Skills in communication with the staff, the art of manufacturing objectives, planning, team building, the discovery of priorities, increase productivity, time management, presentation skills, the art of dialogue, dealing with others.

Job Category:	IT?[?View All IT Jobs?]
Language requirements:
Employment type:	Full Time
Salary:	Unspecified
Degree:	Unspecified
Experience (year):	17
Job Location:	Kuwait
Address:	P.O. Box 66849 Dubai , UAE

Company Type	Employer
Post Date:	30/05/2012 / Viewed 58 times

Apply Online

Add a comment to this job:

cm punk cm punk lint justin theroux buenos aires train crash presidential debate pga tour

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Asia's biggest wine expo opens in Hong Kong

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

april fools pranks livan hernandez soledad o brien mega ball lottery winner lottery numbers mega millions lottery

Kickboxing, Kids, Adult, And Mixed Martial Arts All Here At Our ...

Norton, MA Kids Martial Arts Classes Develop Inner-Focus & Confidence

Aside from boy & girl scouts - there aren't many programs out there that intentionally teach children responsibility, goal setting, and confidence. And not every child is cut out to be a scout. Team sports help with these, but not every child is cut out for or enjoys these either.

The truth is, there just isn't much out there. However, you might be surprised to learn that martial arts is an extremely powerful tool for helping children develop these important traits. In fact, it's designed to.

For starters, martial arts involves a ranking system of belts. As you learn, practice, and focus, and advance - your belt color changes. You begin at a white belt, advance to yellow, and finally - after years of discipline and effort - arrive at black.

Children immerse themselves in this process of growth and progress. They practice with all their might to advance and get better. They become passionate for this cause. Many parents are gladly surprised by this. Most young children aren't this driven or passionate about anything except for video games or toys. But by setting their sights on advancing through the belts - and working to get there - kids are learning how to set goals and accomplish them in their everyday lives too.

Grades improve, teachers notice maturity and politeness, and kids feel accomplished and confident, too.

Norton, MA Children's Martial Arts Classes Improve Coordination, Flexibility & Strength

This Norton, MA martial arts program doesn't just help children on the mental-emotional level. It also helps their bodies develop in highly coordinated, strong, flexible ways. After all, the Norton, MA kids martial arts program involves a tremendous amount of exercise and stretching.

Kids learn and practice techniques like kicks, punches, throws and blocks. They drill them over and over to learn them perfectly. They do exercises to help get them in better shape so they can perform the moves more adequately.

The result? They sleep like babies!

After all, with all of the indoor activities that kids are hooked on these days - from video games to the computer to toys - it can be hard to get your child to exercise. Martial arts, combined with a good diet, is very preventative of childhood obesity, diabetes, and other conditions caused by a lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet.

Kids also learn the importance of stretching in this Norton, MA martial arts program. Studies show that regular stretching leads to better posture, and may prevent arthritis, muscle aches and pains, as well as bone-related conditions. Plus, it helps kids just feel more relaxed and tranquil. When your muscles are tightly wound from not stretching, it can negatively affect your mood. By stretching, and staying limber, your energy levels and mood can rise exponentially.

Norton, MA Kids Martial Arts Classes Teach Powerful Self-Defense - Helping Children Deal With Bullies in a Responsible Way

For many children in Norton, MA and everywhere else - bullies are a serious issue. They can make school a traumatizing place for children of all ages. However, bullies only prey on children who lack confidence. Bullies are simply cowardly children who scare other kids so they can feel powerful. They lack inner-security, and are full of doubts and negative emotions toward themselves.

While this is sad for the bully, it doesn't make it right that they torture other innocent children. This martial arts program is a powerful bully-repellant for kids - but not because kids defend themselves with their fist and feet. See, once kids get acclimated with martial arts, their confidence rises. Bullies sense this, and stay away. For kids who are already being bullied, they gain the courage to confront their bullies. 9 times out of 10 this is all it takes for the bully to stay away for good. Occasionally, a child has to defend him/herself. But when this happens, they have all the tools they need to protect themselves, and seek help from an adult.

However, kids in martial arts don't seek out fights. Rather, they do the opposite. They try to talk things out and settle things peacefully. Violence is a last resort. This Norton, MA martial arts program teaches kids to treat everyone with respect and courtesy. It teaches kids to use diplomacy first, to get help from an adult if that won't work, and finally, as a last resort, to use their self-defense skills to protect themselves.

Norton, MA Kids Martial Arts Program Provides Children With an Amazingly Fun, Caring Environment

All serious things aside - like respect, focus & discipline - this martial arts program is a ton of fun for kids. They laugh and smile the whole way through. There are lots of games and activities designed just for children, so their attention doesn't drift and they don't get bored.

After all, these are children we're dealing with here! And kids love to have fun. Every class is a balanced mixture of fun & games, and learning & focus. As a result, kids often drag their parents to these martial arts classes - not the other way around!

About the Author:
Discover this Norton, MA Martial Arts facility's secrets for developing self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-defense.

lottery winner lottery numbers mega millions lottery jackpot winning numbers mega millions megamillions drawing olbermann

Russia rebukes "undiplomatic" U.S. envoy

seven days in utopia seven days in utopia big 10 championship game big 10 championship game state of play the national defense authorization act the national defense authorization act

The Snow White and the Huntsman hunk dishes to iVillage about his costar?s powerful punch and becoming a new dad

oscar red carpet daytona 500 start time ryan zimmerman oscars red carpet jennifer lopez wardrobe malfunction emma stone hugo

NKorean farmers cite grave drought; aid unlikely

In this May 25, 2012 photo, a North Korean farmer sifts soil through his fingers in a dry corn field at a the Tokhae cooperative farm on the outskirts of Nampho, North Korea. North Korea is reporting a serious drought that could worsen already critical food shortages, but help is unlikely to come from the United States and South Korea following Pyongyang's widely criticized rocket launch. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

In this May 25, 2012 photo, a North Korean farmer gathers water as he tries to irrigate a field at the Tokhae cooperative farm on the outskirts of Nampho, North Korea. North Korea is reporting a serious drought that could worsen already critical food shortages, but help is unlikely to come from the United States and South Korea following Pyongyang's widely criticized rocket launch. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

NAMPHO, North Korea (AP) ? North Korea is reporting a serious drought that could worsen already critical food shortages, but help is unlikely to come from the United States and South Korea following Pyongyang's widely criticized rocket launch.

North Korea has had little rain since April 27, with the country's western coastal areas particularly hard hit, according to a government weather agency in Pyongyang. The dry spell threatened to damage crops, officials said, as the country enters a critical planting season and as food supplies from the last harvest dwindle.

In at least one area of South Phyongan Province where journalists from The Associated Press were allowed to visit, the sun-baked fields appeared parched and cracked, and farmers complained of extreme drought conditions. Deeply tanned men, and women in sun bonnets, worked over cabbages and corn seedlings. Farmers cupped individual seedlings as they poured water from blue buckets onto the parched red soil.

"I've been working at the farm for more than 30 years, but I have never experienced this kind of severe drought," An Song Min, a farmer at the Tokhae Cooperative Farm in the Nampho area, told the AP.

It was not clear whether the conditions around Nampho were representative of a wider region. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said it had not yet visited the affected regions to confirm the extent and severity of the reported drought.

North Korea has suffered chronic food shortages for the past two decades because of economic and agricultural mismanagement as well as natural disasters. A famine in the 1990s killed an estimated hundreds of thousands of people.

North Korea state media has publicized the drought but hasn't asked for international handouts. The country's past appeals for food aid have been met with some skepticism, however, amid worries that aid would be diverted to the military and Pyongyang elite without reaching the hungry.

The U.S. government suspended food handouts to North Korea in 2009 after Pyongyang expelled foreign food distribution monitors.

In February, the U.S. reversed course and agreed to provide 240,000 metric tons of food aid in exchange for a freeze in nuclear and missile activities.

However, the deal collapsed after North Korea launched a long-range rocket last month in what it called a failed attempt to send a satellite into space to study the weather.

The launch was widely criticized by the United States and others as a thinly disguised attempt to test missile technology in violation of both the U.S. food deal and U.N. bans on North Korean ballistic tests. The launch drew U.N. Security Council condemnation.

"The United States would like to get to a place where we could once again contemplate providing nutritional assistance to North Korea," Glyn Davies, the top U.S. envoy for North Korea, said last week. "Sadly, that is not the case right now, in the wake of their decision, in March, to announce" the rocket launch.

Pyongyang is heavily reliant on its only major ally, China, for diplomatic protection in the United Nations and for much of its food, trade and oil.

After taking office in 2008, South Korea's conservative government cut off the large-scale direct food aid that North Korea received from previous liberal governments, saying Pyongyang should first take steps toward nuclear disarmament.

North Korea's dry spell is expected to last until the end of the month, the country's State Hydrometeorological Administration said.

Bureaucrats and workers have been mobilized to irrigate farms, repair wells and keep water-pumping equipment operating, state media reported.

Seedlings are being moved from seed beds to the fields, where they need enough moisture to form strong roots, Percy Misika, the Food and Agriculture Organization's representative for China, North Korea and Mongolia, said Monday from Beijing.

"Any dry spell at this critical time means the seedlings are definitely going to wilt away, and there will be no harvest at the end of the day," he said.

Misika said FAO officials are trying to visit areas suffering from a lack of rain. "If it's going to last for one or two weeks more, it's going to be critical, but if it's a shorter period of time there could be hope," he said.

Droughts are common in spring, winter and autumn in North Korea, the FAO said in a special report late last year. Climate change has led to more extreme weather, making winters colder, summers packed with more intense rain and typhoons, and droughts more frequent and prolonged, it said.

South Korea's Korea Meteorological Administration said it could not confirm the dry spell without on-the-ground equipment, though satellite photos have shown no big rain clouds over North Korea since late April. North Korean dispatches sent to an international weather center also show the country has had little rain over the past month, spokesman Jang Hyun-sik said in Seoul.

Associated Press

william daley truffles truffles alabama vs lsu alabama vs lsu bcs championship game beyonce baby

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

Tongaat Hulett says FY earnings, output higher

Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Yahoo!, try visiting the Yahoo! homepage or look through a list of Yahoo!'s online services.

Please try Yahoo Help Central if you need more assistance.

cbi the shins atomic clock daylight savings time john mccain game changer selection sunday

Make Your Diy Projects Simpler With These Methods!

There are many reasons to justify home improvement. Attempting to complete the work on your property improvement can be very challenging for some people. The assistance offered here will help you make your home a far better home, whether you simply want to improve your living space or if you have an eye on your home?s eventual resale worth.

If you are performing any work in the bathroom or kitchen, turn the water off. Ensure you know exactly where the shut off valve is before operating close to the plumbing system. Carrying out this will ensure that you don?t accidentally flood your home.

An easy home improvement job is getting a new mailbox. A new mailbox will add enhanced curb appeal for your home. Ensure to comply with any city or homeowner?s regulations before you install your new mailbox. In only several hours, you are able to give your property a new look.

Use a sealant to stop the asphalt from cracking. Sun and rain can harm the driveway. Water that seeps into cracks and freezes, expands and increases the size from the crack. A sealant forms a protective coating more than your driveway that may make it last longer.

Perform your water usage into your plans for home improvement. Low-flow toilets, shower heads and tank-less heaters are all readily available. These low-flow additions boost your property worth and may cut down on your monthly water bills.

If you would like to place a new surface on your property, stucco is really a great selection. Stucco is easy to place up, but you may want to employ a professional just to be secure. Also be conscious that some forms of siding require paperwork to be filled out before it can be applied for your home. Either way, right after it is carried out, you?ll locate oneself content and it is a product that typically lasts for a lengthy time.

If you are contemplating a future home remodel or other improvement, begin a folder now with different ideas, paint swatches, achievable service providers and other information. If you right away begin exploring all your options, you?ll have the ability to develop up a wider and more carefully selected array of possibilities. You won?t have to clamor to choose a color at the very last minute.

In home improvement, your first priority needs to be the great reputation and dependability of the contractor. Do not be lured by a low estimate from a contractor whose reputation is much less than stellar. It is only an excellent deal if the work is carried out well and on time. Someone who is not well respected, but is affordable, will usually do sub par work with inexpensive materials. When they are carried out you might locate some issues that nonetheless need fixed! If it is carried out poorly adequate, the work may really make your property harmful. Trust is very important when choosing a contractor.

Concentrate on your entryway or porch for a little when generating improvements for your home. Your porch is your home?s first impression on visitors. Ensure it is all neatly organized and, if achievable, add a little style with outdoor decorations, for example flowers, varnish, lights, or furnishings. These issues add worth to a home.

Examine your roof for evidence of harm each and every spring. Look for blistering or curling from the shingles, and replace those that are damaged. Resolving minor issues as they happen will stop your from having any major issues later.

If you would like to attempt a inexpensive and fast way to change the look of a area, attempt paneling. The advantage of this alteration is the fact that the panels can simply be removed with little harm if the look that they produce is not for your liking. You will have lost little when it comes to time or expense either way.

Enhancing a home should not be an overwhelming task. Whether or not you?re the kind to complete it oneself or you?d rather employ a professional contractor, these suggestions and tricks will help you get on your way to successfully completing any and all your home improvement projects.

Nowadays some of the most popular DIY projects include various wood working projects and plenty of people are searching for wood working plans and projects on the net.

If you?re interested in woodworking projects and you wish to make your woodworking projects significantly easier, and also more enjoyable, then have a look at the following post about the Woodworking4Home Projects and find how to get 1000?s of great designs and plans for your projects.

Designed for complementary evidence, you need to visit their site at Car Insurance ILL.

shameless kwame brown martin luther king day blue ivy devil inside dash diet how to make moonshine

CoinConnect: Have fun with Online Gaming at www.freeworldgroup ...

Online game playing is fun and at the moment, theonline gaming portals are experiencing heavy traffics from various areas of this globe on their website. This proves the trend for internet gaming in these days. Online gaming is a little distinct from the computer gaming. This is the reason for which people choose such type of game playing more than the conventional computer gaming or video games. There was a period, when computer games were quite well-known. But today, online gaming is among the most leader in gaming sector. Internet gaming is all about communication and networking. Using these two exceptional features, online gaming has successfully made an impact on the society. You possibly can chat or talk into the multi-player mode. This offers a sort real life game playing experience, where team leadership is necessary a great deal.

FreeWorldGroup

It is not that the online gaming is for the youngsters. Instead, men and women can also be chasing after for them. As being the trend is on a rise for online games, numerous online gaming sites are also entering their existence. Freeworldgroup is certainly an online gaming portal, which will enable you to have fun with a bunch of games online. The good thing about this site is it has a great game database. The majority of the games are stored on their very own server and for a few, you'll be sent straight to another portal. Cool enough! Isn't it? This site primarily features strategy games or mind games. Graphics is nice, however you cannot compare the graphics with high definition action games. Most of the online games are flash games, with decent graphics.

FreeWorldGroup

Freeworldgroup.com is a great gaming site. Although at your first look, you could possibly feel the user interface of the site is a bit messy. That's fairly true, nevertheless the site is very user-friendly. Navigation options as well as categories are properly highlighted, in order that individuals can find them with no problems. Additionally, features like ?most played games?, ?top games of the week/month?, etc. will certainly enable you to find your favorite games with just a click of the mouse. One of the common query that individuals enquire about any kind of gaming portal is - will the games load properly? Well, the games not simply load the right way, but in addition do that in a really little time.

In case you are concerned with the configuration of your computer, then you do not have to be. The online games are simple flash games, which are very easy to load and exciting to play. Just the installation of the current version of flash player would solve your purpose. Click Here to know much more about www.freeworldgroup.com.

patrick willis team america snow day snow day neti pot iron chef bath and body works coupons

Monday, 28 May 2012

real economics: Conversion to a sustainable society will be difficult ...

When politicians are forced to clean up after the banksters, they are left with few resources to address the problems of the real economy.

Knocking the Wind Out of U.S. Energy Options
05/25/2012
Elliott Negin,?Director of News & Commentary, Union of Concerned Scientists
Unless Congress acts soon, the wind industry will have to trim its sails--and its workforce.
An essential federal tax break for the fledgling industry, scheduled to expire at the end of the year, has become a victim of Washington gridlock. President Obama was in Newton, Iowa, yesterday at TPI Composites, a leading wind blade manufacturer, to again ask Congress to extend the production tax credit, which provides a credit of 2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced by wind turbines--as well as geothermal, biomass and underwater turbines--for the first 10 years of production.
The president also urged Congress to expand a 30 percent tax credit instituted in 2009 for investments in companies manufacturing renewable energy components. The package, called the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit, provided $2.3 billion in credits for solar panel parts, "smart" electric meters, fuel cell components and wind turbines.
Over the last decade, wind power has become one of the fastest growing energy sources around the world. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in the United States alone wind generated 120 billion kilowatt hours last year, 20 times more than in 2000 and enough to light up more than 20 million households. That 32 percent average annual growth rate is due to a number of factors, mainly improved technology, state standards requiring utilities to ramp up their reliance on renewables--and the federal production tax credit.
The production tax credit, which debuted in 1992, helps level the playing field between wind and coal and natural gas and is critical for financing new projects. Although most wind power developers don't pay taxes because they're not yet turning a profit, they can raise capital by selling the credits to companies that do.
Unlike a number of fossil-fuel and nuclear-power subsidies that are permanent, the production tax credit has to be renewed by Congress every few years. That puts the relatively new wind industry at a distinct disadvantage, making it difficult to attract investors and plan years in advance. And if Congress doesn't extend the production tax credit this year, the industry will take a significant hit. A December 2011 study by Navigant Consulting estimated that investment in wind projects will drop 65 percent, from $15.6 billion in 2012 to $5.5 billion in 2013; the industry will have to lay off nearly half of its workforce--some 37,000 people--next year; and wind developers will install only 2 gigawatts of wind power in 2013, less than a quarter of what is expected this year. more

And even in Germany where there is a unifying concern around environmental issues, projects are stalling because of the costs necessary to address the insanity surround the problems of the Euro.

Energy Revolution Interruptus
Germany Stalled on the Expressway to a Green Future
By Frank Dohmen, Alexander Jung, Michael Sauga and Andreas Wassermann ?05/23/2012
Germany's energy revolution has hardly begun, but it's already running out of steam. There is a lack of political decisiveness and companies are complaining of a dearth of incentives to invest billions in necessary infrastructure. Progress or no progress, taxpayers continue footing the bill.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), will see federal diversity on display this Wednesday when she hosts Germany's governors for an energy summit in Berlin. She can expect to see 16 governors and hear 16 different opinions -- at the very least.
Each delegation has a different notion of what Germany's energy revolution should look like. The delegation from the northwestern state of Lower Saxony wants to promote offshore wind farms, while the representatives of the southwestern state of Baden-W?rttemberg favor projects that make more sense farther inland. The Bavarians are calling for new gas-fired power plants in the south, while politicians from the northeastern state of Brandenburg are championing the unfettered expansion of the solar industry, which is ailing in the east.
The cacophony reflects the current state of affairs. Things are all over the place in the energy turnaround at the moment, and nothing seems to be working. The key project of the coalition government of Merkel's CDU, its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) is stalling before it has truly begun.
A year ago, the chancellor was still able to fire people's imaginations with her energy plans. "We can be the world's first industrialized country to successfully navigate the transition to the electricity of the future," Merkel said at the time. When she summarilyfired Environment Minister Norbert R?ttgen last Wednesday, she had returned to the harsh light of reality. In a considerable understatement, Merkel admitted that "the implementation of the energy turnaround still requires substantial efforts."
Brandenburg Governor Matthias Platzeck, a member of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), deplores the "intolerable jumble of authority" the federal government is creating during the energy turnaround. His fellow Social Democrat Matthias Machnig, economics minister of the eastern state of Thuringia, compares the "biggest infrastructure project of the postwar era" to a marathon, adding that Germany is "only 50 centimeters past the starting line." And that, says Kurt Beck, the SPD governor of the southwestern state of Rhineland-Palatinate, is the federal government's fault. "To this day, there is no clear policy in Berlin," he says. more

j lo j lo sacha baron cohen ryan seacrest octavia spencer meryl streep oscars school shooting ohio billy crystal

splunk dark shadows iau msft etan patz obama dog doug hutchison

Sunday, 27 May 2012

Obamacare pre-decision commentary: the left at its most juvenile (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends:

| Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

joe johnson lamarcus aldridge jeremy renner justin timberlake engaged bluefin tuna jonestown john dillinger

Saturday, 26 May 2012

Seychelles strengthens ties with South Africa

53 minutes ago

Minister Xasa was greeted at the Seychelles stand by Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture.

Minister Xasa was accompanied by the Chairman of SA Tourism and other high-level South African tourism officials. At the Seychelles stand, it was an opportunity for Minister St.Ange to remind the South African dignitaries of the exceptional beauty of the tropical islands of the Seychelles now fast becoming the new destination for South African holidaymakers. Minister Alain St.Ange also took the opportunity to update Minister Tokozile Xasa and her delegation that Air Seychelles had now confirmed to increase its weekly service to Johannesburg to 4 flights as from January 2013.

?Seychelles has always been the dream holiday tropical island for South Africans,? Minister St.Ange said to press in South Africa after the visit to the Seychelles stand at INDABA. ?We remain a top destination for big game and fly-fishing enthusiasts from South Africa. In Seychelles, when you go fishing, you catch fish, and this the South African fishermen just love,? the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture said.

Earlier the same day, the Seychelles Minister St.Ange had met with the South African Minister responsible for Tourism, Mr. Marthinus Van Schalkwyk. The two Ministers discussed cooperation between their two countries and the coming Routes Africa conference due to be held in Seychelles in July. Minister Van Schalkwyk is one of the ministers from Africa who has been invited to address Routes AFrica alongside the Seychelles Minister responsible for Internal Affairs&Transport, the Zimbabwe Minister for Tourism, the President of La Reunion, and the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines among other industry leaders and professionals.

The South Africa TV and written press are also expected to be traveling to Seychelles to cover Routes Africa 2012 and the presentation by their Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk.

?The visit by the South African Minister to Seychelles will be an opportunity to consolidate the friendly ties that exist between Seychelles and South Africa. This will be the first visit by Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, and we remain convinced that he will leave our shores as an Ambassador for our islands,? the Seychelles Minister told the press in Durban, South Africa.

Sweden's Loreen wins Eurovision song contest

Swedish Loreen performs during the final show of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest at the Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Sunday, May 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)

The Baku Crystal Hall is lit by lights prior to the final show of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest at the Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Saturday, May 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) ? Sweden's Loreen has clinched the top spot at this year's Eurovision Song Contest with her dance hit "Euphoria," pushing aside competition from a sextet of Russian grannies and a Serbian balladeer.

Juries and television viewers from across Europe awarded Loreen a total of 372 points, handing her an easy win in an event that ended in the early hours Sunday in host country Azerbaijan. Sweden will take over hosting duties next year.

Russia's Buranovskiye Babushki, a group of six elderly ladies, garnered much public affection for their cute onstage presence, but couldn't quite match Sweden's more contemporary offering.

Zeljko Joksimovic, a Eurovision regular from Serbia, came in a distant third with his slow and stripped-down "Nije Ljubav Stvar."

Associated Press

the bourne legacy roland martin suspended lake vostok montgomery county public schools the river dr dog ke$ha

Budgeting And Other Personal Finance Management Techniques

When people first get out on their own and are learning to be independent, they tend to make a lot of mistakes. From where to live, to how to spend and save their money correctly. This article will help you take control of your personal finances, and find that you too can have success with money.Try to take advantage of all types of discounts and free items during the holidays. These bargains can really add up and can serve as a great way to build up extra income for the fixed expenses that you have. Find deals or coupons online or learn about them from your friends and family.Do some research online before making a major purchase. Even if you plan to buy the item at a local retailer, check the store?s website for web-only coupons or special offers. If you?re already a customer, don?t forget to check your inbox because some retailers send sales announcements or coupons via e-mail.A great personal finance tip is to start using coupons toward your purchases. If you?ve been overlooking coupons, you?re missing out on an opportunity to save money. No matter how insignificant you think the coupon is, the little amount that you?re able to save can save you a lot of money in the long run.Use coupons and discounts. Before you make a purchase, take time to search for coupons and discounts that you can use. This can be time consuming, but you can often find excellent deals and good-sized discounts that make the time worth it. Save money by looking for discounts and you?ll be happier with the purchase, too.You know that personal finances can be a hard thing to really grasp. Use this article to build your understanding of the best ways to spend and save your money. Think of this as a jump start, and plan to do more research when you have time to figure out which tips really work for you.

Now a low calorie meal can be low cost as well, with?p&g coupons online and?p & g brand saver .

google play franchise tag lesotho a wrinkle in time benjamin netanyahu storm shelters nick lachey

US refrains from branding China a currency manipulator

the third man 2012 nfl draft order mohamed sanu chris polk chicago bulls dallas cowboys st louis blues

DeMarco: Some surprises among MLB's early award winners

Atlanta's Beachy a Cy Young contender, while Wright's bat carrying Mets

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

Mets slugger David Wright is flirting with .400 during the first third of the season.

ANALYSIS

By Tony DeMarco

NBCSports.com contributor

updated 6:19 p.m. ET May 24, 2012

Tony DeMarco

Memorial Day weekend means the season's rapidly rolling along ? the one-third mark rapidly is approaching. In other words, general managers have had enough time to know what they have on their rosters, and more importantly, what they still need in what surely will be wide-open playoff chases.

And, we've had enough time to make the following observations that have gone beyond the it's-still-early category:

AWARD LEADERS

AL MVP: When you're a couple of batting average points from having a Triple Crown winner, this one is obvious. Josh Hamilton is the best player on what clearly has been baseball's best team. Not to ignore the great starts for Paul Konerko and Adam Jones, though. Konerko actually led Hamilton in batting average and on-base percentage through Wednesday.

NL MVP: It was unanimously Matt Kemp in April. Then he slumped, went on the disabled list and the Dodgers won six in a row without him. So at this point, we'll go with David Wright, who through Wednesday had the remarkable slash line of .399/.497/.601 in leading the surprising Mets.

AL Cy Young: Nothing mysterious here ? Justin Verlander is first or second in the AL in innings, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP and wins. Much more surprising are the great first two months of Jake Peavy, Derek Lowe, Brandon Morrow and Chris Sale.

NL Cy Young: The statistical difference between favorite Clayton Kershaw and still-unknown Atlanta pitcher Brandon Beachy boils down to Kershaw's better strikeout-walk ratio (4-1 to 3-1). Which makes Beachy's story all the better: Undrafted free agent out of Indiana Wesleyan University, signed for $20,000, started his minor-league career in the bullpen, and four years later, a Cy Young-caliber starter.

AL Manager of the Year: It can only be Buck Showalter, as the Orioles were a near-unanimous spring choice for another last-place finish in the AL East. Nobody knows how long they can hang around, but there are enough positive signs throughout the organization for legitimate optimism. This also could be the year Manny Acta gets his due, while Joe Maddon remains the most interesting manager in the world.

NL Manager of the Year: Nobody was paying attention when the Dodgers turned the corner last August and went 34-20 down the stretch. But everybody is aware of Don Mattingly's team now, as it sat 30 games over .500 at 64-34 in its last 98 games through Wednesday.

It's who Mattingly is winning with that makes his case. Kemp, Mark Ellis, Juan Rivera, Juan Uribe, Jerry Hairston Jr. currently are on the disabled list, Dee Gordon was benched then dropped to eighth in the order, and James Loney's power struggles continue. Yet the wins keep mounting with lineups including Jerry Sands, Justin Sellers, Elian Herrara, Scott Van Slyke and Ivan DeJesus.

AL Rookie of the Year: He's no rookie, of course -- not when it took over $100 million to get him out of Japan. But Yu Darvish is eligible for the award and gets it at this point. But Mike Trout is making it interesting, isn't he?

NL Rookie of the Year: We know where this likely is leading as the season unfolds -- Bryce Harper. Especially when this isn't a particularly strong year for NL rookies. Wade Miley, Yonder Alonso, Zack Cozart and Kirk Nieuwenhuis are off to nice starts.

Best surprise team: Given what's written above in the NL Manager of Year category, the Dodgers shouldn't be a huge surprise. But they have built a solid lead in both the division and wild-card races, and new ownership will add at the trade deadline.

Also, the Nationals have risen to the top of the NL East behind great starting pitching ? and without Michael Morse (expected back in June), Drew Storen (expected back in July) and Brad Lidge (expected back in June).

Most disappointing team: Tie: Angels and Tigers. Albert Pujols has been far from alone, as Erick Aybar, Ervin Santana, Dan Haren and Peter Bourjos also have underachieved. Injuries/losses of Chris Iannetta, Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells have been costly. The bullpen had to undergo a reconstruction and appears to be settling. The infusion of Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo in the every-day lineup has lit some recent offensive sparks.

As it's turning out in Detroit, Miguel Cabrera playing third base has been less of an issue than Prince Fielder playing first base. The offense's problems lie with the supporting cast ? with the obvious exception of Austin Jackson. The bullpen could be bolstered by the trade deadline, but there is hope for the rotation with Doug Fister's return and the expectation that Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello will lower current 5-plus ERAs.

The two-month All-Stars
AL? 1B: Paul Konerko, 2B: Robinson Cano, SS: Derek Jeter, 3B: Adrian Beltre, OF: Josh Hamilton, Austin Jackson, Adam Jones, C: Joe Mauer, SP: Justin Verlander, Closer: Jim Johnson.

NL ? C: Carlos Ruiz, 1B: Brian LaHair, 2B: Omar Infante, SS: Rafael Furcal, 3B: David Wright, OF: Matt Kemp, Melky Cabrera, Ryan Braun; SP: Clayton Kershaw, Closer: Jonathan Papelbon.

Biggest disappointments: 1B: Albert Pujols; 2B: Rickie Weeks; SS: Erick Aybar; 3B: Pedro Alvarez; OF: Jeff Francouer, Logan Morrison, Peter Bourjos; C: Nick Hundley; SP: Tim Lincecum, Clay Buchholz, Francisco Liriano; RP: Carlos Marmol, Francisco Cordero.

By the numbers: How much better are the Rangers than the rest of the AL?: Through Wednesday, they led the majors with a +79 run differential. The next-highest AL team was Toronto at +35, and no other team was better than +17.

How much worse are the Twins than the rest of the AL? Through Wednesday, they sported a -69 run differential. Next worse in the AL were the Royals at -22.

Which surprise team is least likely to sustain its current winning percentage? Taking nothing away from the job Terry Collins has done in a very tough situation, the Mets had a 24-20 record despite a -29 run differential through Wednesday.

With the exact same run differential, the Brewers were 18-26. And the Rockies were 16-27 with a -27 run differential. How have the Mets gotten there? They're 9-5 in one-run games, but have lost by scores of 8-2, 14-6, 9-3, 6-1, 7-2, 18-9, 8-1, 8-0 and 14-5.

? 2012 NBC Sports.com? Reprints

More news

Playoff bound? Maybe not

??SportsTalk: Big-spending teams like the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, Angels, and Tigers are struggling. Which teams are in danger of missing the playoffs? We break it down.

dodgeball 2012 pro bowl postsecret ufc on fox 2 supercross christina aguilera etta james funeral sundance film festival