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Punch-Out Rap - Watch more Other Funny Stuff
With the release of the new Punch-Out on Wii next week, heres a tribute to King Hippo, Super Macho Man, Little Mac, and the rest of the old school… Continue
Added by The Boss on May 14, 2009 at 11:28am —
I got the chance to work with an Arist that is not only known for her vocals but also for her dance moves.. I recently worked with her on her video for Love Sex and Magic featuring Justin Timberlake and now yu can see me as I performed with her on Good Morning America and Regis and kelly. I had a blast and it was great working with her. She is sooo kool and down to earth. Look out for her Album in stores Today.. Ya'll are not ready for the Fantsy Ride baby… Continue
Here is a pic of T.I. and Shawty Lo backstage at Young Jeezy's concert at the Philips Arena in the ATL last night. Shawty Lo looks thrilled to be friends with T.I. again and almost has this, "Ok he likes me now...I better be careful" look on his face. For some reason, this photo reminds me of the one… Continue
Added by TheNew50Cent on April 7, 2009 at 7:38am —
As we previously reported, Blender Mag shuts down...it is now confirmed..after six years and 50 issues .. KING magazine is done too. Blame it on the tough economic times. The final issue will hit newsstands April 21 and will feature Joe Budden's wifey,… Continue
A rapper associated with Harlem, New York rap group The Diplomats shot and killed him
self during a dramatic stand-off with police in upstate New York yesterday (March 17).
Hackensack, New Jersey police had been searching for 23-year-old Darnell “King Tut” Brittingham, for allegedly stabbing and assaulting a female companion, just 48 hours after he was released from jail on drug charges.
ILL B POSTIN WHATS NEW & WHATS GOIN ON N FROST WORLD YA KNOW!!LOL!!FEEL FREE 2 HOLLA AT CHA BOY WHENEVER IM A KOO N**** SO ITS NUTTIN!!GET AT ME!!WISH EVERYBODY DA BEST!!STAY UP,ON DA GRIND,& F*** DA… Continue
Added by KingFrosT on February 5, 2009 at 4:54pm —
After making a mistake in his life that opened his eyes to a bigger picture, rapper TI looks to continue his positive success record with the forwarding of Akoo clothing line. Launching his Akoo clothing brand this past August at the MAGIC fashion convention in Las Vegas, the rapper continues to promote his limited production Hip-Hop clothing brand .
"And yet hardly anybody cares. Unless he's dropping music for people to listen to only a few bloggers give a damn. The general public hasn't even heard of those movies. None of them even made a dent in the movie theater"

domain: celebrity


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This is a discussion on Autumn Geese within the Animals (mammals, birds, insects etc.) forums, part of the Show your photo (Color) - Landscape & Nature (flowers, mountains, storms etc.) category; Ok....first time trying this from Flickr, so hope this works..... The thing I like about this time of year is ...
Love it Randy. The pastel colours of the sky with the silhouettes is beautiful, and just oozes Fall in the air.
(too bad it is only a link)
If you see something beautiful, "Shoot it with a Canon"
Reality is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there!
It is a real nice photograph. I'll bet they're headed my way.
Photobucket makes it so easy. Mouse over the thumbnail, left click on the third option in the drop down menu which automatically copies the link, and then turnaround and paste here. Done deal.
"'The trouble with most quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they are genuine or not." - Abraham Lincoln
Fantastic lighting and colours. Love the silhouettes.
To post from Flickr, select share, select BBCode,clixk in the box and copy(ctrl-c), then past here. You can select different sizes from the drop dowan box.
Me on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtb_antz
Well done. Lovely colours.
~~ Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder ~~

domain: artistic


The ISCCC calls it as it is. Last month we congratulated the ACT Government on a couple of initiatives that showed Ministers had been listening to community concerns about some important planning issues.
This month, we roundly condemn the Chief Minister’s announcement that the Lease Variation Charge (LVC) is likely again to be watered down, ostensibly to encourage economic activity in today’s difficult economic times.
The LVC is an important feature of Canberra’s leasehold system. It aims to ensure the community benefits from changes in lease purposes, rather than providing leaseholders windfall gains that benefit few.
The value of the LVC has already been whittled away. In our own backyard we saw the charge waived with respect to the Brumbies development in Griffith. Again, if individual organisations are to benefit from a community asset, there should be a clear, defensible and transparent process which force Governments to explain and defend proposed uses of these scarce funds.
There are many ways to bolster the ACT economy. Rather than being waived, the ISCCC believes that the LVC should be paid into the ACT Treasury and that decisions are then made about the best way to spend that money in the interests of the Canberra community. Reductions in property taxes, more roads, or something else might be better ways to use these funds.
The ISCCC is extremely angry that this review appears to be proceeding without any apparent community consultation. The property and building industries have every right to put their view, but so do the rest of us.
The ISCCC is hosting next weekend’s meeting of Canberra’s Combined Community Councils and this issue will be high on the agenda. We call upon the Government to consult the community properlyon this very important issue which will have long-lasting implications for ACT finances and planning.
Gary Kent, Chair


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Not sure about everyone else, but this weather has got us dreaming of dining al fresco in the sunshine with vino flowing!
With restaurants and bars to hopefully reopen in London from Monday 12th April, here are our top 15 ideal solutions to the capital's glorious terraces.
YOPO at The Mandrake Hotel
A laid-back cabana affair surrounded by a lush, evergreen sanctuary with a wooden shack-style bar and feel-good summer-time cocktails. The Mandrake’s outdoor terrace is one of the largest of any hotel in London and the Cabanas are set up to welcome guests and the return to the intimacy of friends, in line with government guidelines.
Seabird at The Hoxton Hotel
Enjoy an impressive raw bar and panoramic views in the heart of Southwark. Featuring an array of sea-to-table offerings with Portuguese and Spanish influences. Seabird rooftop gets booked up very quickly, therefore be sure to plan ahead. These chic and cool terrace is super cosy with all the sofas, blankets and heaters.
The River Café in Hammersmith
This charming restaurant is positioned on the riverside in Hammersmith and is one of our favourite London Italian restaurants. This Michelin-starred gem offers signature dishes, with a gorgeous outdoor terrace with river Thames views. A high-quality experience with prices to match.
Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone
A unique conversion of a fire station into a restaurant and bar, this place is worth a visit. Chiltern Firehouse has a gorgeous terrace, ideal for afternoon cocktails. The restaurant celebrates contemporary, ingredient-focused cooking, with an underlying American accent.
The Nest at Treehouse
One of our faves! This rooftop bar and terrace comes with spectacular 360-degree skyline views. The Nest's Terrace is covered and heated, providing warm blankets working to suit the latest government guidelines. The vibes at this place are brilliant with great music in a beautiful location.
Nestled between Richmond Green and Richmond High St, this super-chic pub isn’t your typical London pub. The high ceilings and marble bar make it a lively all-day hangout and the courtyard has pretty fairy lights making it the perfect West London spot for alfresco dining.
The Roof Terrace at Ham Yard Hotel
On the fourth floor of the hotel, there is a large, leafy roof top garden with sweeping views over the London skyline. There is a lounge area scattered with Whitman benches, upholstered seating and a bar. The Roof Terrace is exclusively available to in-house guests and can also be hired for private events, including company celebrations, birthday parties and more.
Circolo Popolare in Oxford St
A great atmosphere is promised at Circolo Popolare, with fabulous wine and perfectly chilled food with brilliant service. Find Circolo Popolare just off Oxford Street and step inside this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that comes with plenty of character. The restaurant contains a sweet sunny Sicilian terrace, with 60 seats and in a peaceful location.
Bokan in Canary Wharf Lounge in the sky all year round at Bokan's rooftop bar and terrace. Experience impressive views of London at the highest rooftop bar on the 39th floor at Bōkan. Explore a tempting selection of cocktails made by a talented team of London's top mixologists, the perfect place for a sundowner.
Coq D'Argent in Bank
Whatever the weather, you can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and panoramic views of Coq D'Argent's covered and heated rooftop terraces while indulging in a fine selection of wines, spirits and classic French dishes.
The Summer Garden Terrace at The Berkeley
A very clever use of space at The Berkeley creating this outdoor terrace and fantastic to combine this space with an old style of luxury hotel. From a vintage champagne tucked away in a French cellar to the single malt secrets poured down through generations, every drink at The Berkeley Bar & Terrace has a tale to tell. Just a lovely spot and a real gem of a restaurant!
Dalloway Terrace at The Bloomsbury Hotel
This terrace is full of charm and located in a very picturesque spot. With patio heaters, decent food and pretty surroundings make this a very special experience. We can describe the Dalloway Terrace as cosy and romantic, perfect for long, boozy lunches in the summer.
Rick Stein in Barnes
Located on the banks of the River Thames in the London Borough of Richmond, Rick Stein's Barnes restaurant delivers a sanctuary from fast-paced London life with fantastic views and a nod to their Cornish heritage. The menu celebrates the finest fish and seafood from Cornwall and some of the most iconic Seafood Restaurant dishes such as Dover sole, Indonesian seafood curry and lobster thermidor.
Outside at Trinity - Launching soon!
Chef Adam Byatt is launching an al fresco dining to his Michelin-starred restaurant Trinity in Clapham in partnership with Ruinart Champagne. The outside at Trinity will have space for 35 covers, with a BBQ and mobile bar serving up champers and grilled fish, meat and summer salads.
Flora Restaurant at Joy in Portobello
This beautiful flower-filler terrace at Stevie Parle’s JOY at Portobello is the prefect restaurant to soak up the sun and the waterside views whilst feasting on produce from The Goods Shed.

domain: geography


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Welcome to our new web site!
To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.
During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.
Criminal Trespass, Resisting Arrest — Keshun Deeonte Smith, 20, Lexington Tenn., was arrested for Criminal Trespass and Resisting Arrest following an incident at McKenzie City Park on September 21.
Sergeant Cody Coleman filed the report stating that a group of persons were gathered at McKenzie City Park after it was closed for the day. The officers asked the subjects to leave the park, however, Smith walked back into the park and eluded officers, who made contact with him later and arrested him.
Domestic Assault — Beau Brown, 36, Diamond Drive, McKenzie was charged with Domestic Assault after an incident on September 20.
Officer Darren Davis reported Brown was involved in a domestic argument, which involved a physical altercation.
Warrant Service — Matthew W. Bell, 30, Walnut Circle, McKenzie was arrested on an active warrant out of Gibson County.
Officer Darren Davis observed Bell walking on Elm Street and knew an active warrant for Failure to Pay Child Support. Bell was arrested and transported to Carroll County Jail.
Theft — Matthew Standridge, Montgomery Street, McKenzie reported the theft of three bicycles from his residence on September 18.

domain: law


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Women who use antidepressants during pregnancy are often unnecessarily concerned about the possible dangers posed to their unborn children. They may even stop using their medication without consulting their doctor. Researchers, policy makers, doctors and pharmacists must therefore pay more attention to translating research results that are often difficult to interpret for patients and caregivers. That is the conclusion of Doctoral Candidate Adrienne Einarson’s dissertation on 8 April. The 69 year-old Einarson is considered to be an expert in the field of the use of medication during pregnancy.
Interviews that Einarson conducted with 96 women who used antidepressants during pregnancy showed that many women are concerned due to negative information provided by physicians, the media and their family and friends. Negative research results regarding the use of antidepressants during pregnancy are more likely to be reported by the media than research that does not uncover possible risks. Moreover, it is not always possible or desirable to stop using antidepressants. In the most serious cases, this could even lead to an increased risk of suicide.
Einarson studied the risks of the use of antidepressants during pregnancy by combining previous research results and by collecting new data from the Motherisk programme that she helped set up in Canada. This databank contains data on almost 1,250 women who used antidepressants during their pregnancy. This research shows that the use of antidepressants during pregnancy poses only a slightly increased risk in a very small number of cases, and should be balanced against the potential benefits
Complex epidemiological research
“The difficulty is to differentiate between a risk due to the use of antidepressants and the risk posed by the underlying disease, depression”, explains co-promotor Dr. Rob Heerdink from Utrecht University. “This means that doctors must rely on complex epidemiological research, although they may not always have the specialist knowledge necessary to interpret it.”
Undesired side effects
Einarson therefore concludes that more attention must be paid to translating research results that are difficult to interpret; first from the researchers to the physicians and pharmacists, and then from them to the pregnant woman. “The clinical significance of the research results must be unambiguous, so that they do not lead to undesired side effects such as stopping essential therapy”, emphasises Einarson.
Einarson began her career as a nurse before helping to set up the Motherisk programme in Canada, an information system for pregnant women with questions about the use of pharmaceuticals. Since then, she has published more than 200 scientific articles and is considered one of the world’s leading experts in the field. After retiring, she decided to go ahead and earn her PhD. Researchers at Utrecht University have worked with her before, and she has supervised students from Utrecht during their internships in Toronto.
'Antidepressant use in pregnancy: knowledge transfer and translation of findings’
Pomotor: Prof. Toine Egberts, co-promotor Dr. Rob Heerdink.
The research was funded in part by the Canadian government.

domain: biology


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NBL Key Stats
|Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth)||38.71%|
|EPS Diluted (TTM)||3.028|
|EPS Diluted (Quarterly YoY Growth)||-8.20%|
|Net Income (TTM)||1.094B|
|Gross Profit Margin (Quarterly)||84.15%|
|Profit Margin (Quarterly)||14.71%|
|Dividend Yield (TTM)||0.83%|
|Payout Ratio (TTM) Pro||Go Pro|
- Jim Cramer: The Real Tale of Oil Tape The Street Dec 11
- The Real Tale of the Oil Tape The Street Dec 11
- CONSOL Energy Bulks up on Gas Fool Dec 10
- Oil-Related Stocks Surge as Crude Nears $100 Fox Business Dec 10
- Noble Energy Inc (NBL): Today's Featured Basic Materials Winner The Street Dec 10
- Notable Mergers and Acquisitions of the Day 12/10: (FNP) (CNX)/(D) (TBOW) (NVS)/(MRK) Street Insider Dec 10
- Noble Energy Management To Present At Its Analyst Conference PR Newswire Dec 9
- Analyst Moves: Dean Foods, Noble Energy Dec 9
- Deutsche Bank Downgrades Noble Energy (NBL) to Hold Street Insider Dec 9
- Noble Energy eyes fresh appraisal for natgas off Cyprus Dec 9
NBL Total Returns Comparison
This total returns chart shows the returns to an investor from both price appreciation and dividends (dividends are assumed to be reinvested). Noble Energy is up 37.02% over the last year vs S&P 500 Total Return up 28.99%, Anadarko Petroleum up 10.97%, and EOG Resources up 33.47%.
Fundamental analysis of a business involves analyzing its financial statements and health, its management and competitive advantages. The key financial statements of a company are the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement.
Income Statement View Statement
Balance Sheet View Statement
Pro Ratings for NBL
Pro Report PDF for NBL
Download Pro Ratings, Key Stats, Performance Charts, Valuations, and Financials in an easy to print format.Download NBL Pro Report PDF
Pro Strategies Featuring NBL
Did Noble Energy make it into our Pro Portfolio Strategies?
Start your YCharts Pro membership now to find out.
Noble Energy, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 1969, and began doing business in 1932. It has been publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 1980. Noble Energy and its subsidiaries are an energy company involved in the acquisition, exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Its operations are divided between U.S. and international operations, with different regions of operation and reporting in each. The company has almost US$3 billion in revenue at #660 on the 2007 Fortune 1000 list of the largest American companies.

domain: finance


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Hamptons Slim Stylus Ballpen (Promotional Pens)
Partner your brand or logo with this stylish and slim ballpoint stylus pen perfect for any touchscreen devise. It features a metal barrel, and contains black German-manufactured ink.
- Laser Engraving
- Pad Printing
Based on the selection of product size and additional option attributes, you can view and download the help template for the product.

domain: design


A drug driver ran from the scene of a crash which saw Lincoln grind to a halt as he had taken his friend's car the night before and then crashed it.
Lee Bramwell was in a three-vehicle crash on the University Bridge on February 20 this year which caused gridlock across the city.
He had been at a friends the night before but took their Seat Leon car without their permission.
Officers finally caught up with him in July in Laughton Way in the city where he was found driving with two drugs in his system and possessing cocaine.
Prosecuting Marie Stace said: "At 8.15pm Mr Bramwell was at a friend's property where they had some alcohol, at 11pm she went upstairs to bed.
"She heard the front door close and looked out the window to see her Seat Leon was gone, the vehicles keys had been taken out of her handbag.
"Mr Bramwell's van was still parked outside so she texted him to say to return the car, otherwise she would call the police."
Police were then called to a three vehicle crash on the university bridge involving a Seat, BMW and Kia.
The court heard that two men had run from the Seat car and a police hunt was underway.
In the accident two cars were written off.
DNA found within the car matched the profile of Mr Bramwell and he was later spotted in Laughton Way and arrested.
Miss Stace continued: "Drugs were found on him and he was arrested. He also tested positive on a drugs swipe and gave no comment in interview.
"He was found to have Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (derivative of cannabis) in his system in a level of 3.1mcg in 100ml of blood, which is above the limit of 2.
"Tests also revealed benzoylecgonine (derivative of cocaine) of 116mcg in 100ml of blood, which is above the limit of 50."
Bramwell of Laughton Way in Lincoln pleaded guilty to two counts of driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of drug above the specified limit, aggravated vehicle taking and possession of a class A drug when he appeared at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on Thursday, December 5.
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Mitigating Tony Freitas asked for the case to be stood down so that a pre-sentence report could be completed.
Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 12 months and imposed a community order where he has to be a curfew for three months between the hours of 6am and 6pm.
He was also ordered to pay compensation of £520.


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Khalif Wyatt, Temple Hang on to Beat N.C. State
Leading 38-22 at the half, East Region 9-seed Temple looked poised to put 8-seed N.C. State away with relative ease and pick up the program’s second NCAA tournament victory since reaching the Sweet 16 in 2001 (they beat Penn State in the 2011 tournament).
What is the duplicate article?
Why is this article offensive?
Where is this article plagiarized from?
Why is this article poorly edited?

domain: news


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Today I’m exploring some winter self-care ideas that have been helpful for me.
Winter has arrived, and I struggle every year.
So this year, I’m following these steps to help my mental and physical health throughout the freezing season.
Winter can be very hard. It’s cold, and there is less sunlight. So it’s normal to feel more irritable, sad, and even sleepy.
If you struggle during winter this year, I urge you to create a Winter self-care repertoire.
Make tools that work for you easy to access so that you’re more likely to use them.
Recognize things that work for you and things that help you feel good. And know that taking care of yourself does not make you selfish.
So let’s dive in! Here are 10 things to help combat the negative impact that winter can have on mental health.
10 Winter Self-Care Ideas To Try This Year
1. Explore your favorite scents.
Place candles and essential oils in all the rooms that you spend time in and make sure that they’re easily accessible. Scent can be so comforting and help to improve your mood quickly.
I love candles, so naturally, I have some extra blog posts for you to check out.
2. Play relaxing music.
I find this one very helpful. I ask Google to play some relaxing background music, and it helps to keep me calm. I find it soothing, and it takes my mind off of whatever anxiety I am facing.
3. Explore creative self-expression.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a creative person, creative expression is beneficial. So explore coloring, drawing, painting, whatever floats your boat! It is fun and calming at the same time.
4. Incorporate movement into your daily routine.
It doesn’t matter what kind of movement. Just keep your body moving. Try new things or stick with what you know and love. Some of my favorites are:
- Simple stretching
- Weight lifting
- Barre workouts
- Going for a walk
5. Maintain a good sleep schedule.
Rest when you need to. It’s not selfish; it’s necessary. I’ve written a few helpful posts about sleep and how it is SO important. I’d love if you checked them out!
6. Maintain hydration. (A winter self-care idea that works!)
Drink a lot of water. It’s so good for you, and you can feel a difference when you’re adequately hydrated compared to when you’re not. Check out this blog post for surprising facts about cucumbers and how they help you stay hydrated!
7. Set boundaries.
No means no. Don’t feel like you HAVE to do things. Listen to your body. Listen to your mental health. If something doesn’t feel good to you, then it’s a no.
8. Monitor the content you’re consuming.
Notice how often you read the news or what kind of accounts you’re following. If they don’t make you feel great, then it might e time to click unfollow.
9. Stay connected.
Try your best not to isolate yourself. Instead, talk, or even just get on IG and connect with your people there. Stay connected with people.
10. Start a gratitude journal.
I’ve written about gratitude before, and it’s worth incorporating. Please read the following blog post for information about gratitude and my favorite gratitude journal.
Winter is hard. It’s cold and, where I live, it’s dreary A LOT. It’s always cloudy and cold. Day after day. These self-care ideas are ones that I actually am using and find helpful. What do you do during winter for your self-care?
Love Always, Enn

domain: health


Local Roadways Receive Maintenance
Road Construction crews will start on Monday sealing the pavement of local roads and that will cause some traffic delays in the area. Most jobs will take about two or three days, permanent pavement jobs will take place this summer in June or July.
Local roads that are being worked on include Highway 65 north of Cambridge, in Isanti and Kanabec counties, Highway 107 from Braham to Highway 65 to the Isanti and Kanabec County Line in Isanti County.
This year will be the biggest and most expensive year ever to fix, resurface and build new roads in Minnesota. Local roads that are being worked on are a small part of the big picture. The cost of the 283 state projects is $1.3 billion.


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An article in The Human Life Review quotes judge Lewis Powell describing a woman’s right to an abortion this way:
“The abortion patient has a right not only to be rid of the growth, called a fetus…but also has a right to a dead fetus.”
Hadley Arkes “Slouching Towards Infanticide” The Human Life Review Summer 1998
Calling a fetus, which is an unborn baby, a “growth” shows a remarkable ignorance of biology. An unborn baby is not a growth – here she is a living organism with a heartbeat and circulatory system and DNA that is distinct from the mother. Below is a picture of a sonogram of a “fetus” in the first trimester. Does it look like a growth?
Go here to see a picture of what a “fetus” looks like after an abortion in the first trimester (at 10 weeks)Share on Facebook


text: The Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed are sponsoring a briefing in cooperation with Representative Carney (DE-At Large) and the House Delaware River Basin Task Force on the importance of coordinated restoration and conservation efforts in the Delaware River Basin. Representative Carney will personally announce the re-introduction of critical legislation to provide a coordinated conservation strategy: the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act. The briefing will occur on Wednesday, February 13 from 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. in the Cannon House Office Building (122 CHOB). Speakers will include representatives of the business and environmental communities. The briefing will be open to the public and press. Light breakfast will be provided, thanks to the generosity of the National Wildlife Federation and DuPont.


BARCELONA, Spain - About 40 world leaders plan to go to Copenhagen next month to boost the chances of clinching a U.N. climate deal, the United Nations said Friday as preparatory talks wound down with scant progress.
Developing nations in Barcelona accused rich countries of seeking to lower ambitions for an 190-nation deal in Copenhagen with suggestions that up to an extra year may be needed to tie up details of a legally binding treaty.
Inviting world leaders to the end of the Copenhagen meeting on December 7-18 could help overcome disputes, said Yvo de Boer, head of the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat, on the final day of the week-long Barcelona talks.
My understanding is that 40 heads of state have indicated their intention to be present, he said. They include British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy as well as leaders of African and Caribbean nations.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering attending, a spokesman said in Berlin. U.S. President Barack Obama is among those undecided.
Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has not formally invited leaders to the talks, currently due to be limited to environment ministers. There is no official figure of how many leaders will come, a Danish spokesman said.
The 175-nation Barcelona meeting made little progress toward a deal but narrowed options on helping the poor to adapt to climate change, sharing technology and cutting emissions from deforestation, delegates said.
The meeting exposed a deep rich-poor divide about sharing out the burden of curbs on greenhouse gas emissions meant as part of a worldwide assault to avert droughts, wildfires, extinctions and rising seas.
Developed countries are acting as a brake toward any meaningful progress said Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping of Sudan, chair of the Group of 77 and China, representing poor nations. African nations boycotted some talks Tuesday in protest.
We do not have the option of delay, said Dessima Williams of Grenada, representing small island states which say they risk being swamped by rising sea levels. She said a Copenhagen deal had to be legally binding and rejected talk of a delay.
De Boer said Copenhagen can and must be the turning point in the international fight against climate change but said time was too short to seal a full legal treaty in 2009.
He said Copenhagen should at least set 2020 greenhouse gas emissions goals for all rich nations, agree actions by the poor to slow their rising emissions and agree ways to raise billions in funding and mechanisms to oversee funds.
I believe that the U.S. can commit to a number in Copenhagen, de Boer said.
A U.S. climate change bill cleared its first hurdle in the U.S. Senate Thursday, but Democrats are likely to fall far short of their goal of passing legislation in the full Senate before Copenhagen.
That would make it difficult for the United States, the number two emitter after China, to offer an internationally binding emissions reduction target in Copenhagen. That in turn makes it hard for other nations to make commitments.
That's a decision yet to be made, Jonathan Pershing, head of the U.S. delegation, said when asked if Obama would give a number before the Senate agreed legislation.
Activists criticized a lack of leadership in the run-up to Copenhagen, including from Obama. Two protesters wandered the conference hall dressed as aliens with green faces Friday asking: Where are your climate leaders? in robotic voices.
Where is the great Rudd?, one of them asked a group of Australian delegates, referring to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
In St Andrews, Scotland, British finance minister Alistair Darling said he would seek progress to raise cash to fight climate change at a group of 20 finance ministers' meeting.
I want to use this weekend to engage finance ministers in the task of making sure we can get money on the table. We have been very clear we think $100 billion will be required, he said.
(With extra reporting by Anna Ringstrom in Copenhagen, Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)


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And she's so scared to get close to anyone because everyone who said- I'll be there. Left.
Smile, it's easier than trying to explain why you're sad.
Alone. And scared.
She finally gave up, she dropped the fake smile as a tear ran down her cheek, and she whisperd- I can't do this anymore.
I'm forced to fake a smile and a laugh everyday of my life.
The girl who was unbreakable...broke.
The girl who never stopped trying...finally gave up.
The girl who laughed it all off...cried.
The girl who seemed so strong...crumbled.
Behind this smile is everything you'll never understand.

domain: literature


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- Mornin '15
- RUMOR: Mass Effect 4 Will Release in 2016
- Ubisoft Deactivating Fraudulent ACU and FC4 Keys
- Dying Light PS4 Giveaway
- PREVIEW: Homeworld Remastered PAX South
- MS Sells 6.6 Million Xbox Ones in Q4 2014
- Dragon's Dogman Online Announced
- RUMOR: Joystiq Shutting Down
- The Witcher 3 14-mins Gameplay Footage
- Join Borderlands 3 Devs
The latest round of screenshots from the MMORPG, Neverwinter, shows Orcs in action. Have a look:
Jesus, our Neverwinter screenshot gallery now boasts almost 200 images from Cryptic's upcoming game. Now, I ask you: do we really need that much? I mean, c'mon Cryptic, don't you guys think you're overdoing it just a tad?
On the other hand, the game holds much promise, considering what was shown so far. Expect the game to hit stores later in 2013.
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There are heaps of places to eat in the Viaduct - all lovely. It is such a nice spot to wander round and look at all the boats as well. Just across the bridge is the Wynyard Quarter as well with heaps more eateries and a kids playground. Awesome place to go.
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

domain: travel


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Rugby League News – keeping you up to date with the latest news from the world of rugby league.
Here are some of the headline-grabbing stories from the last 24 hours.
Wigan lose starlet
Wigan Warriors have lost one of their starlets to a Championship side where he has signed a one-year deal, the Wigan website confirmed. Read more here.
Hull FC swoop for Wire man
Hull FC have confirmed the coup of an integral part of the Warrington Wolves set-up, the club website has revealed. Read more on the coup here.
Sam Burgess’ ex-wife has broken her silence over the incident that occurred last weekend when Sam was threatened with arrest after turning up at her parents’ house, the Daily Mail has reported. Read more here.
In for Walmsley
‘Multiple’ clubs are said to have been in for St Helens prop Alex Walmsley, according to the Saints Podcast. The forward will be heading into his testimonial year in 2022. Read more on the clubs here.
Wigan’s superb move
Wigan Warriors have made a superb move to establish a partnership with Rugby League Ireland in a bid to spread the game across the sea. Read more here.
Serious About Rugby League can reveal the latest on Paul Sculthorpe’s career and what he is currently getting up to after retiring from rugby league.
Vatuvei’s new career
Despite being set to be jailed for life, former Super League and NRL winger Manu Vatuvei has taken on a new career twist. Read more here.
Serious About Rugby League has revealed that Catalans Dragons’ star winger Tom Davies has been subject to a number of offers from rival Super League clubs. Read more here.
Ex-Wire and Bradford man on assault
A former Warrington Wolves and Bradford Bulls star has spoken to the Physio Spill about his sacking from Warrington following an assault charge and the repercussions. Read more here.
Tweet to Kev
The Royal Family has tweeted Kevin Sinfield following the celebration of his OBE for his services to rugby league and charitable fundraising. Read the tweet here.
Serious About Rugby League has revealed the future of Wakefield Trinity star Tom Johnstone after the winger was rumoured with a Super League rival.
Cas injury update
New Castleford Tigers head coach Lee Radford has given an injury update on his side as three men face missing the start of the season. Others like Liam Watts are expected to be fit for round one. Read more here.
Serious About Rugby League has revealed who Paul Sculthorpe believes will the Super League Grand Final in 2022.
Knights lose star
Wests Tigers have made a statement signing with winger Starford To’a from NRL rivals Newcastle Knights. Read more here.
Head coaches under pressure
Serious About Rugby League has revealed the three Super League head coaches who they think are most under pressure in 2022 to perform.
Hull KR sign two
Hull KR have snapped a young duo after they impressed whilst on trial at the club, the Robins’ website has revealed. Read more here.
Egodo’s new club
Former Castleford Tigers winger Tuoyo Egodo has found a new club after leaving the London Broncos. It is quite a surprising move, however! Read more here.
Home for Yorkshire
A Yorkshire club has finally signed on the dotted line for their new stadium to go ahead. It’s fantastic news for the area in general, too. Read more here.
Bradford Bulls head coach John Kear has named his 22-man squad ahead of Danny Brough’s testimonial game at the weekend against Hull FC, the Telegraph & Argus has revealed.
Toby King and Peter Mata’utia are set to be Daryl Powell’s new Warrington Wolves centres for 2022, according to the Warrington Guardian, with Connor Wrench waiting patiently in the wings.


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Sun damage in childhood is one of the most important causes of skin cancer in adults. Not only is children's skin more vulnerable to damage by the sun's rays, but people on average get 80% of our lifetime sun exposure by age 18. Bad sunburns in childhood risk the later development of malignant melanoma (the most dangerous type of skin cancer). The less dangerous forms of skin cancer are due to long term, regular sun exposure. People who work or play outdoors and overexpose themselves to the sun will develop wrinkled, freckled dry skin and eventually skin cancers. People who vacation at the shore, or lay out on weekends will risk melanoma.
A tan is the body's defense against sun damage. A dark tan means a more effective defense. But if you have to work at your tan, or burn first, then tan, you do not have a strong defense against skin cancer. We now know that sunscreens do not completely protect you from getting melanoma if you use them to go out in the sun longer. If your children do not easily and quickly darken, you should avoid excess sun.
The following simple tips will help to enable your child to enjoy the summer safely:
Keep children out of the sun when it is at its most dangerous - between 11 am and 3 pm. If you care for young children you should make every effort to schedule their outdoor activities to avoid this time of day.
Make maximum use of shade. The Australians have learnt the value of shade and have run campaigns to plant trees in school playgrounds, and the children must wear hats outdoors. Maybe we in the United States should follow their example.
Dress your children in long sleeves and pants whenever possible. Tightly woven fabric that you can't see through easily offers the best sun protection. Oversized T-shirts are OK. Avoid skimpy clothes sundresses and sleeveless T-shirts that leave the most vulnerable areas like the shoulders exposed. The shoulders and back of the neck receive a good deal of sun exposure when children are playing and this is the commonest area for severe sunburn. A hat with a wide brim that shades the face and preferably the back and sides of the head should also be worn.
Cover exposed parts of your child's skin with moderately strong sunscreen of at least a SPF of 15. It should have UVA and UVB screens in it. Waterproof sunscreens should be used for sports and swimming. A waxy sun block stick can be used around the eyes to keep the sunscreen from burning when they sweat. Parts of the body that need extra protection are the nose, cheeks, shoulder tops and feet. Eyes can also be damaged by excessive sun exposure and should be protected. Sunglasses should have a UV (ultra violet) coating.
The labels of sunscreens recommend it not be used on children under 6 months. That is not because there is a known harm to young children, but rather the products have not been tested on infants. Besides, since they can't yet crawl, what would they be doing in the sun anyway?
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The medical information provided in this site is for educational purposes only and is the property of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice and shall not create a physician - patient relationship. If you have a specific question or concern about a skin lesion or disease, please consult a dermatologist. Any use, re-creation, dissemination, forwarding or copying of this information is strictly prohibited unless expressed written permission is given by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.

domain: medical


A food regulator needs to be established “immediately” to prevent a price war between retailers, the Irish Farmers’ Association has said.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, supply chains were disrupted and the price of energy surged - sending the price of food production soaring.
Inflation is beginning to creep down and four supermarket chains have announced reductions in the price of butter and milk by 40 cents.
That might be good news for those on low incomes - but farmers are concerned about the impact it will have on their finances.
“What we are leading to here is a price war,” President of the Irish Farmers Association Tim Cullinan told The Hard Shoulder.
“At the end of the day, first of all, we can’t see sight of the retailers’ margins here in Ireland but we know that they’re not going to take the hit themselves.”
Mr Cullinan said farmers’ costs remain high and urged the Minister for Agriculture to take action.
“The cost of production is still much inflated from a farmer’s point of view,” he said.
“Now we’re seeing retailers getting involved in a price war again and I ask the question, at the end of the day, who is going to pay for this?
“I think the minister has to come on the pitch here as well; we need to know where the margin is going here and an offer of fairness and transparency is critical at this point in time.
“We’ve been hearing about a minister putting a food regulator in place and I’m saying again this evening, this needs to happen immediately before we do end up in an outright war between retailers.”
The Department for Agriculture has been contacted for comment.
Main image: Cows feeding.


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Dave Buckhout .
Publication Date: 2005
There is a historic parallel between the African-American athletes of the early 20th century’s Negro Baseball Leagues and black jazz musicians performing during the same era. They share a common, regrettable bond. Both were loose-knit confederations that gave us some of the greatest talent this country has ever produced. Yet most all of that talent was forced to showcase their skills in second-class environments beneath the cultural plateau they deserved. These individuals comprise an indeterminate, largely anonymous list. One such man was hitting phenomenon Josh Gibson. If Gibson had the good fortune to be born fifty years later, he’d have a place alongside well known modern-day power-hitters who also hit for average. Those who do know his story have already placed him in the exclusive company of Hall of Famers: Frank Thomas, Mike Schmidt, Reggie Jackson, Hammerin’ Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson, Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Joe Dimaggio, Lou Gehrig and the Bambino himself: “Babe” Ruth. Josh Gibson is without question one of the best all-around hitters to ever play the game. And yet, so few do know his story.
Part I: The Rise of the Legend
Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame
In the story of Josh Gibson’s life it’s often difficult to tell where reality ends and legend begins. Along with his exceptional talent, a good deal of personal tragedy and his eventual self-induced destruction are very real. But the legend often overshadows all of this. The public exaggeration of “Gibson, legend,” by Negro League club owners, black and white sportswriters, even fellow players, began almost as soon as he began playing organized ball (“organized” a relative term when describing the notoriously loose structure of the Negro Leagues). But Gibson never seemed to give his celebrity status much air-time. He simply loved to play baseball. Off the field, his demeanor was almost reclusive. On it, his presence was intimidating. It is quite possible that Gibson himself just liked the “on field Josh” that he read about in the papers more than what he knew to be real. Either way, his notable indifference to the whirling publicity that followed him goes to suggest that his reality was an all-consuming one. Baseball proved to be his sanctuary. In The Power and the Darkness, author Mark Ribowsky writes: “. . . baseball, with its promise of emotional shelter, may have been Josh Gibson’s most obsessive, most rewarding, and most bedeviling narcotic.” His vices would eventually pull him down; but he made the most of his appetite for baseball. He was one of the fiercest power hitters of his era, black or white.
Josh Gibson was born in Buena Vista, Georgia, on December 21, 1911. In the early 1920s, Gibson’s father Mark moved to Pittsburgh in search of work in the steel mills. A few years later, he brought up the rest of the family and they settled on the north side of the city. By all accounts Josh was raised in a stable, but less than ideal environment. His mother drank, a disposition that would manifest itself in Josh soon enough. Gibson’s love of baseball kicked in during his teens. Aside from vocational schooling—which led to his first jobs as an electrician and factory hand—he was always playing pick-up “sandlot” ball; and playing it well. By the time he was 16, Josh had landed a slot playing with the amateur Pleasant Valley Red Sox. He also played for a team sponsored by the Gimbel’s Department Store. Gibson’s talent was obvious early. He treated pitchers rudely wherever he played. And this was being noticed.
In 1928 he met one of the two men who, for better or worse, would be central to his career. That year professional hustler, Gus Greenlee, put together the first of his Pittsburgh “Crawford” teams (named for a north side bathhouse). Greenlee scouted and pulled in local talent from the bustling amateur scene in greater Pittsburgh. . . . . Amateur baseball was an active feature of American life in the first half of the 20th century. Industrial / company leagues existed wherever they could field teams. These teams were a popular source of recreation and entertainment, even serving as a source of company and local pride. On occasion, they also served as an unofficial minor league farm system. (Possibly the most famous such recruit was “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, discovered while playing for a mill team in South Carolina). Greenlee utilized amateur teams throughout Pittsburgh to his advantage, filling the Crawfords’ roster by nabbing a lot of their best talent. Josh Gibson was one of his pick-ups.
By 1930 the Crawford “Giants” (their first team name) was a semipro fixture in Pittsburgh and the region, scratching by on meager donations taken in from “passing the hat” amongst fans. It remains a feat of endurance that the early years of the Depression didn’t wipe out “blackball” entirely—semipro and professional—considering the rationed financial state that all segregated teams were forced to endure prior to 1929. Many teams did fold. Few if any thrived, but a good deal at least survived the tightest years. The Crawfords were one, the team living a fitful life that saw them rise into the professional ranks of the Negro Leagues (this prior to a rapid collapse). The “Craws” competition would always be the Homestead Grays. Run by the slick, yet no less cunning Cumberland “Cum” Posey, the Craws and Grays would compete for the loyalty of Steel Town’s blackball faithful throughout the 1930s. And to that end, Cum Posey was already at work by 1930. No sooner had Greenlee assembled his impressive roster than Posey swooped in to play his own brand of hardball. Of course, one of the players Posey had targeted was Josh Gibson. The second owner that would be central to Gibson’s career—in the end proving more influential—Posey, not only found a willing young Gibson, but several blackball stars-to-be set to make the jump to the professional level. Common among the buccaneer-style racketeering atmosphere in which professional blackball owners operated, swiping or “raiding” players from rival clubs was almost a sport unto itself. And in 1930 Posey had the upper-hand, signing players virtually at will. 1930 would also be the first year of Josh Gibson’s professional career; and he would join one of the most formidable line-ups the loose-knit Negro Leagues would ever produce.
As mentioned, Gibson was a modest type off the field. The demeanor of his youth has been described as mellow and hard-working. In early 1930, he married his then pregnant girlfriend Helen Mason. He and his new wife, modestly, moved in with Josh’s parents—a necessity more than selfless choice. 1930 would bring the highest highs and lowest lows for Gibson. It would also view the beginning of the legend-making exaggerations that would always follow his career, starting with his first “pro” game. The legend has it that regular Gray’s catcher Buck Ewing hurt himself, and Gibson was called out of the stands to fill-in, thereby cementing his future behind-the-plate in the Negro “bigs.” Buck Ewing did split a finger in the first game of a doubleheader on July 25, 1930; but Gibson—aside from not being in the stands, enthusiastically jumping to the field and suiting up on the spot—was actually brought over from the Crawford Giants to catch the second Gray’s game that night. Though a deal was reached, Posey’s sway at the time was enough to publicly steal one of the top prospects from the known “numbers man,” Greenlee. With Gibson in his sphere, Posey would not let him go. Gibson performed well that first night, playing against the Kansas City Monarchs under the lights of Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field—certainly a thrill to the rising star. There were many more such games to come.
That was one of the highs. August 11, 1930, marked one of the lowest points in Gibson’s entire life. His wife Helen had endured a very difficult pregnancy, her life often in the balance. On that day in August she succumbed to a chronic kidney condition and died. Twins—Josh Jr. and Helen—would be born prematurely and live. But his young wife’s death was a devastating blow and clearly influenced his future problems. Helen would be Gibson’s only true love, though he would have other relationships. The remainder of Gibson’s life would view him as distant and removed from the life of his children (who were raised [even named] by their aunt, Helen’s sister). Most who have written about Gibson attribute this estrangement as much to the twins’ serving as reminders of Helen’s tragic death as to a personal irresponsibility that would manifest itself and ultimately consume the man. Providing financial support was one thing, but providing actual support in life to his children was not a part of the immense talent of Josh Gibson. Further, it is safe to say that this was the point when Gibson realized baseball could be his sanctuary; because he went right on playing through the tragedy and wound up having a very impressive “rookie” year for Pittsburgh’s Homestead Grays.
Gibson became an official Gray late that summer and was instrumental in helping them finish the year among the Negro Leagues’ best. World Series style championships had been at best spotty throughout the existence of blackball, often a result more of deals brokered between owners than a natural playoff system. Despite their place as two of the best teams, the end of the 1930 season saw not a championship but promotional series between the Grays and New York’s “Lincoln Giants.” A good deal of the 10-game series was held in Yankee Stadium. His talent on display in one of baseball’s hallowed halls, Gibson lit up the Lincoln Giant’s pitching staff. One homerun hit in the Stadium was measured at nearly 500 feet. It was the longest homerun recorded there that year, in any league. Later dubbed the “blackball shot heard round the world,” that one hit did more than any other accomplishment in launching the legend. There would many more “moonshot” homeruns to come too.
To students of the game, descriptions of Gibson’s play reflect a natural fundamental soundness—as if there was little thought involved. It does seem he played the game on an instinctual level, as if it was what he was put on this earth to do. At his prime, Gibson was 6’ 2” 190 lbs. Crawford player-manager Hooks Tinker compared him to “sheet metal.” He was a muscular mountain of a guy behind home-plate and was so strong that he swung a 40 oz. + bat (the standard today is in the low 30s). Two different takes on his stance and swing give us an idea of what it must have been like to watch him. In his biography of Gibson, William Brashler describes him as standing upright, flat-footed, relying on upper body strength, a short stride, a compact swing. Being so compact and quick Gibson was rarely fooled, for he could wait on a pitch longer than most. Ribowsky records the second description of Gibson, given by Tinker: “He was like a reflex, a nerve jumpin’ all at once.” He was smart about “going with a pitch” away and “inside-out” on a pitch inside. In other words he could adjust, a sign of an intelligent hitter. One reason was the strength of his wrists. He could simply muscle a ball without relying on leg momentum and stride. He had an accurate eye (represented in his outstanding on-base percentages); and as mentioned could hit singles and doubles, as well as monstrous tape-measure homeruns. What is often overlooked is the fact that he was a pretty good catcher, as well—which is without argument the toughest position to play day-to-day. Gibson worked hard to improve as a “receiver.” It shouldn’t be a surprise that he took to the basic skills required to catch rather instinctively: developing a rifle arm for throwing out runners and a shrewd understanding of how to strategize pitch selections—keeping hitters guessing, thereby keeping the advantage with his pitcher. He had All-Star qualities across the board. Inside of a year of joining Homestead, Josh Gibson was one of the most recognizable Negro baseball stars.
The single most recognizable name in Negro League history came to Pittsburgh in 1931, that being Satchel Paige. The careers of Paige and Gibson would be linked in their timing. The two would be teammates, but would more often lock horns as competitors over the next fifteen years. Paige was to blackball pitching what Gibson was to hitting, i.e. the best. But there the similarities end. A smooth-talking master of self-promotion, Paige was his own man—a condition clear to every owner who ever signed him to a contract only to see him skip out for a week or two at a time on barnstorming tours across the country. These trips were always lucrative, Paige showing up to don his contracted team’s uniform just in time for a highly anticipated meeting of two top clubs, or a big weekend series where the draw at the gate promised better revenue. This aside, Paige could pitch. Rare was the night that he didn’t roll through formidable Negro League line-ups. His uncompromising taunts and biting wit were often enough to rattle anyone inside the batter’s box, Gibson included. But Paige was full of praise for Gibson in recalling his one-time battery-mate, Brashler recording this comment by Paige on pitching to Gibson: “You look for his weakness and while you looking for it he liable to hit 45 homeruns.” Paige’s uncompromising autonomy was a common condition of the Negro Leagues that just did not occur in the rigid monopolistic all-white Major Leagues. Blackball advanced a notoriously loose structure, to the point where actual leagues ascended, faded, added and subtracted teams on a yearly basis. For many years during the 1920s, there was no official Negro League. No doubt the financial reality of Jim Crow America was the main factor, that and the institutional clampdown on any form of black autonomy and / or enterprise (Ribowsky referring to it as “. . . the plantation of segregated baseball”). This loose fly-by-night nature led to conditions that seemed hardly legitimate. But the one thing that does seem fair is that at least the players realized this too. One only had to look to Satchel Paige to be reminded: “to the entrepreneurial went the spoils.” As if the player raids of competitors weren’t bad enough, owners often watched signed talent disregard contracts and “jump” to another team that would offer more money. In comparison to the Major Leagues—in which players were ironically much more like slaves to their owners—blackball players had a certain amount of leverage in tune with their level of talent, Ribowsky summarizing it well: “all [Negro League] players were free agents.” A major issue would be the enticement and draw of African American ballplayers south-of-the-border, where decent pay in the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Central and South America was augmented by cultures that advanced no bias towards these talented black athletes. In fact, it was quite the opposite: they were treated like kings. Both scenarios were in the immediate future for Gibson, Satchel Paige no doubt introducing both contract autonomy and out-of-country opportunities to him and other blackball stars—if only by example. Gibson would grow more bold in pursuing said opportunities as his star ascended. But Josh Gibson found life as a pro in Pittsburgh comfortable enough during the early-mid 1930s. His homerun totals reflect as much.
Over the next few years Gibson confirmed the buzz, littering outfield stands with homeruns wherever he played. Most were on small stages, non-league games across Pennsylvania, the Midwest and the South. One such was in Moneseen, Pennsylvania, the ball exiting the stadium entirely, traveling well over 500 ft.—the distance confirmed by no less than the mayor of the town. In the mid 1930s, Gibson would begin to dabble with baseball south-of-the-border, playing in winter leagues. During one particular tour in Puerto Rico he crushed another 500 ft. stadium-busting homerun that landed in an adjacent prison yard. But there were some grand stages that brought much publicity to the legend. One in particular was a blast in Chicago’s Comiskey Park, at what would become an annual East vs. West Negro League All-Star Game. The homerun is rumored to have exited the field on a line drive and stuck in a loudspeaker, again some 500 ft. from home plate. It was no secret that Gibson loved to play at Yankee Stadium; and rare was the time that he didn’t give the segregated fans in attendance something to remember. . . . . Many of the blackball stars from the time wished to show their skills not only to a wider audience but to prove them to white Major Leaguers, the opportunities missed just part of the larger social failure that allowed prejudice to relegate athletic equals to second-class status because of skin tone. Yet under what were often humiliating conditions (Grays players were not allowed to use the Major League Pirates’ locker room at Forbes Field having to suit up down the road in a YMCA, the bigoted slights they experienced barnstorming the South too numerous to list) these individual talents plied their skill with admirable toughness. The rough-and-tumble dealings of Negro League team owners found its way onto the field. It was by all accounts a more physical, scrappy brand of baseball: base-stealing, spitballs, slight-of-hand, hit-and-run, overt taunting, etc. Power hitters like Josh Gibson were not as prevalent as the homerun laden Majors, which is perhaps why his star stood out. But then 500 ft. homeruns would certainly make a player stand out, Gibson reported to have once said: “A homer a day will boost my pay.”
Gibson first asserted the mentioned autonomy prior to the 1932 season. A day after signing to play for Cum Posey that year, he jumped to play for Gus Greenlee’s Crawfords. The pay increase would net Gibson $100 extra per month. Having acquired Paige the year before—on what was in reality a part-time basis—Greenlee now had the two most famous blackball stars on his team. His influence changed over night. One of the draws for Gibson was Greenlee’s construction of a stadium for the Craws. Greenlee Field would open in late April 1932, making the Crawfords one of the very few Negro League teams to ever have their own “home.” Rankled, but without legal clout, Posey had to watch Gibson go. And Gibson, feeling his new found freedom, had a break-out year. It almost didn’t happen at all. On the way to the Crawford’s spring training camp in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Gibson’s appendix burst. It was successfully removed, and Gibson recovered fast enough to accompany the Crawfords on a major barnstorming tour during the first half of the season. It was quite the tour, games played against every level of competition—a number of the biggest draws against Negro Southern League teams like Birmingham and Nashville. In all the team logged 17,000 miles, playing 94 games by July. This kind of schedule was not uncommon and required a great deal of personal toughness, black ballplayers most often forced to eat poorly and stay in segregated dives while on the road. But to Josh Gibson and most of his cohorts they would rather be doing nothing else. The year was good to Josh, if not blackball in general (the defunct Negro American League having been replaced by the Posey sponsored Eastern League, which likewise folded). The Craws had become a dominant team overnight, even dispatching of the Grays in multiple series that year; a bad year for Cum Posey, but a good year for Gibson—who aside from hammering pitchers all year added another 500 ft. + legendary blast to the grist of legend, this one coming against a semipro team in York, Pennsylvania. Josh Gibson would finish the year near the .380 mark, with 40 + / – homeruns. The Crawfords, having assumed the title of best Negro League team, finished with a remarkable—if unofficial—99-36 record. That winter, Gibson went to the Caribbean for the first time. It would be the first taste of a life that would eventually consume this monster talent.
Part II: The Fall of the Man
Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame
By the end of the 1932 “regular” season, Josh Gibson was an ascending star like few that had ever emerged from the Negro Leagues. The only thing that kept him from being a star in the all-white Majors was the color of his skin. There is no doubt that Gibson would have mauled white pitchers as he did those unfortunate African American / Latino pitchers who shared his second-class stage. It is well documented that Gibson dreamed of the day when baseball would come to its senses and measure individuals on the quality of talent, not their shade. But each year offered instead the promise unfulfilled. There was always next year; but then it would come and go. And aside from the occasionally bold op-ed of a sportswriter pushing for it, the notion of big league integration would evaporate. It is unfortunate but accurate to say that many of the Negro League stars had come to live with it. Whether Josh Gibson ever did remains questionable. But thanks to the reconnaissance of Satchel Paige and others, many of the Negro Leaguers had found an eager opportunity in the meantime. South-of-the-border businessmen, politicians and even small-time dictators were putting out the call to blackball stars. Starting with winterball, these players began to venture to the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. With the meager pay (in comparison to the Majors) earned on the fields of organized Negro League baseball, a year-round schedule and steady paycheck were requirements. But the added enticement of high-living and hero worship like no black man could attain in America, erased such functional considerations. As William Brashler writes in his bio of Gibson: “. . . [Negro League] players were idolized and shown none of the discriminatio they saw as a matter of course in the States . . .” During the winter of 1932, Josh Gibson suited up for winterball in Puerto Rico. It would be his first taste of a lauded partying lifestyle that would eventually consume him.
The mid 1930s were good to Gibson and Greenlee’s Crawfords. And despite the penury depths of the Depression, they were also good to blackball. The Negro National League (to which both the Craws and Grays belonged) found new life after collapsing. It became the dominant league, with teams from New York to Chicago. The Southern League (which included Nashville and Birmingham) eventually fed teams into both the NNL and Negro American League. (The NAL’s marquee team would always be Kansas City’s Monarchs, especially after adding Satchel Paige.) At a time when no one could have faulted the professional game for contracting, if not folding outright, professional baseball—and even more impressive—professional “blackball” thrived. The game was a distraction from the long bleak days, a national therapy for blacks and whites. It has been accurately documented that the Depression didn’t change economic conditions much at all for the majority of African Americans. Most had known nothing other than institutional poverty as a matter of course. This certainly played a role in keeping blackball alive during the Depression. But in the end, the credit has to go the players. These guys could play. The Gibson-Paige rivalry, the growth of professional leagues / teams and more regular end-of-season playoff series all added new life to the black game. It brought fans through the turnstiles. But perhaps the most significant feature of all was the East vs. West All-Star Game. Under Greenlee’s shrewd command, the NNL had been revived; but his legacy would always be embedded in organizing what would become the annual Negro League classic.
The first All-Star Game was held in Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1933. As mentioned, Gibson crushed a monster homerun that rumor has it stuck into a loudspeaker beyond the outfield fence. By this time truth and legend were often one in the same when it came to Gibson. A lot of this was due to the sportswriters of regional, and distant, black newspapers. Both Greenlee and Posey would virtually employ local writers, who in turn showered their respective players and teams with praise and legend, earned and exaggerated. Posey himself would often contribute a column to the Pittsburgh Courier, always ratcheting up the hype of his stars with salesman-like streams of adjectives. In this is the age-old tactic by which great talent ascends to immortality. What is often lost is the human at the centre of the tale. Yet in Gibson’s case one can hardly fault the sportswriters and various owners for elevating Gibson as something above human (despite the rapid manifestation of his off-field “humanity”). For his years with the Crawfords during the mid 1930s were just astounding, statistically. In James Riley’s impressive, definitive encyclopedia of the Negro Leagues, he lists Gibson’s “official” batting averages from 1933-36 with the Craws as .464, .384, .440, .457—these alongside “Ruthian” homerun totals: 69 in 1934 alone. Those are indeed superhuman numbers. For sure, Gibson faced some weak pitching during that time. But he also faced Major League caliber hurlers denied their place in the “bigs” for the same reason as Gibson. The pinnacle of the Negro Leagues was just as capable as the segregated Majors. And like the Majors: talent got your there and the repetitive showcase of that talent was required to keep you there. Even knocking fifty points off the mentioned batting averages would have put Gibson in the yearly batting title hunt; and there was rarely another player—white or black—that could put up his homerun totals. In the end, Josh Gibson would prove human through-and-through; but a great deal of the legend-making was justified.
Gibson’s final two tours with the Craws in 1935 and 1936 proved two of his finest years. Mark Ribowsky documents one-after-another illustrious achievement, among them: a .500+ average for the month of July 1935, and a monster homerun in early 1936 against the Philadelphia Stars that entirely exited Philly’s spacious Parkside Stadium. As had become ritual, he and Paige were the star attractions at the East / West games during that time, leading a cast of exceptional talent who sported such character-laden names as: “Turkey” Stearns, “Mule” Suttles, “Cool Papa” Bell and the versatile Cuban right-hander, Martin Dihigo (who also regularly led the old Negro AL in homeruns during the late 1920s). Gibson’s bat went on to lead the formidable Pittsburgh team to the 1935 NNL pennant—beating out Dihigo’s New York Cubans in an end-of-season 7-game series—then repeating the feat in 1936 (on record, as a ’36 playoff series did not materialize). It is regularly stated that the Greenlee-assembled Crawford team of the mid 1930s was the greatest Negro League team of all time. With perennial all-star “Cool Papa” Bell, the occasional addition of Paige, Gibson, the solid centerfielder Sammy Bankhead (who would play an increasing role as Gibson’s drinking chum), a number of other star players and many claimed championships, the case is well made. They are at least entitled to share the honor with Rube Foster’s great early 20th century Chicago Giant teams. And as Foster was always the core of his teams (for which he both played and managed), Gibson was always the core of the Craws’ successful teams. Cum Posey would have certainly agreed. Having been forced to play second-fiddle to the shrewd Greenlee, Posey felt the time had come to make his move—which he would do prior to the 1937 season. No doubt laying the groundwork for a “raid” he hoped to make, Posey wrote this October 1936 column in the local Courier—which seems intended as more publicly flattering than factual:
“. . . Gibson is the only Negro player of the 1936 season whom we are certain could step right into the National or American [Major] league and make good as a regular without the usual procedure taken by white players through minor leagues.”
Certainly there were many blackball stars that could have “stepped right in.” But with Gibson this was a foregone conclusion. Not only could he have stepped in, he could have dominated. At least some proof of this was provided via the admirable and popular post-season traveling series St. Louis Cardinal great Dizzy Dean had helped organize, in which non-biased and willing white all-stars locked horns with blackball all-stars. More exhibition than anything, Gibson nonetheless shelled the white Major Leaguers he faced, including Dean himself (who was full of praise for Gibson and truly seemed to have enjoyed helping provide blackball’s most talented a stage). In retrospect, it seems impossible that Gibson’s legend-making talent could have been anything but dominating in the all-white Majors. And amongst the many nicknames that had been hung on the slugger (“fence buster,” for instance) one did and still does stand out given the history of race and its effects on this country—that nickname being “the black Babe Ruth.” By this point in an increasingly Hall-of-Fame-worthy career many had begun to wonder if Babe Ruth was not the “white Josh Gibson.”
A number of things played a role in setting Josh Gibson on the road to alcoholism. The tragic loss of his wife so early was most certainly a factor. Baseball and booze provided a ‘sanctuary’ from the pain of an event that would have devastated anyone. It doesn’t seem that Gibson ‘the man’ ever came to terms with that loss, the numbing nature of heavy drinking and his lifelong estrangement from his children being proof enough. It also seems evident that Gibson drank to escape the public eye, an escape for sake of an escape—ironic, in that stumbling drunks are more often at the centre of the public eye. Yet in this seems to reside the underlying factor that drove him to drown his life, and immense talent, in drink: genetic disposition. As mentioned his mother Nancy was a chronic alcoholic. Tragedy and a reclusive nature seemed enabling features in Josh Gibson’s life, dual triggers of a loaded gun. Yet the number one enabler seemed to be that which sent him over the edge: his freewheeling, largely unsupervised stints as a baseball king south-of-the-border. All accounts of his and the majority of other Negro League players’ winterball days can be summed up as ‘playing all day, partying all night, repeat.’ The number one concern of the owners / businessmen / politicians who enticed blackball’s greatest to come and play, from the Dominican Republic to Mexico to Venezuela, was the happiness of the players. Little expense was spared, from women to liquor, even illicit drugs. Curfews were common, but were openly flaunted, especially amongst the top talent. And Gibson was certainly considered tops.
During this time Gibson had begun to see another woman. Hattie Jones would seem to be his first serious commitment since Helen’s death. Josh and Hattie were together from 1934 on, eventually moving as a couple into a house Josh had bought. Hattie was said to be relatively cold and controlling. It’s hard to see what the relationship brought either of them, for it seemed rarely affectionate (it was often hostile) and just as rarely functional A reasonable explanation could be that in the back of Gibson’s clouding mind, he knew he needed a rudder—a tragic, yet common trait amongst chronic alcoholics who are literally powerless to their addiction. Still, it’s unclear that Hattie was willing to serve this role. It’s equally difficult to discern if Josh really did feel this way about Hattie, considering his having gained public recognition as a womanizer—a trait that gained momentum in step with his alcoholism. If Hattie was a stabilizing presence for Gibson that role went unfulfilled during winterball, as Hattie stayed put in Pittsburgh. Without anyone to steer him straight, his fellow Negro Leaguers often complicit in the non-stop partying, Gibson drank, played ball and drank some more. It seems safe to say that Gibson’s winterball stints in the Caribbean were quite often blurry ones.
Cum Posey had again set Gibson in his sights. Since Gibson had gone to the rival Crawfords, Posey’s Homestead Grays had been a fairly mediocre presence in the NNL. With Gibson they could regain their prominent position. As mentioned most Negro League contracts were year-to-year; and even then were quite reliant on the fidelity of the player. In early 1937, Pose made his move to lure Gibson. Despite the consistent success of his team, Greenlee was always wracked by debts. His underworld business enterprises seemed always about to catch up to him. He was most certainly involved in a thrown game the previous year against a team from Brooklyn, which when the payoffs and returns-on-bets were ‘outed’ became a big scandal (as well as underlining the gambling style of many Negro League owners, and players). It may have been those hovering debts that forced Greenlee into what amounted to a trade with Posey: two players and $2500.00 to Greenlee, Gibson to Posey’s Grays, was the deal. Posey, set to reclaim his title as owner of the Negro League ‘team to beat,’ had to be on top of the world. But Gibson had other plans. The autonomy of the blackball stars is probably best illustrated by the “raid” that led off the 1937 season. Rafael Trujillo was the small-time dictator of the Dominican Republic. That spring he subsidized creation of a world-class baseball club to represent him against all other Caribbean takers. Gibson was targeted, along with Paige, by agents sent north intent on bringing back Negro League talent for the dictator. No sooner had Gibson signed with Posey, than he jumped at princely 7-week long contract offered him by Trujillo’s agents. A number of NNL stars followed Gibson and Paige to the island for two months of tightly controlled, but highly lucrative play, leaving a string of red-faced owners in their wake. There was talk of lifetime bans and stiff fines and lawsuits amongst the NNL owners. But in the end—perhaps realizing the shady nature of their own dealings—there was little that the owners could do. After proving the greatness of Trujillo (via the greatness of his Negro League imports), blackball’s most talented returned stateside to join their former clubs. On the side, Posey insured Gibson’s return by guaranteeing no action would be taken against the slugger. And living up to expectations, Gibson came back and helped a solid Grays squad win the 1937 NNL pennant. He punctuated all of this by crushing a legend-making homerun in Baltimore’s “Oriole Park” that July. The irony bears repeating: that blackball stars had so much more freedom over where and when they played than their white counterparts in the Majors. And yet, it was the Majors where blackball’s best wanted to be.
The late 1930s / early ‘40s were full of speculation of an integrated Majors. True of Gibson’s entire career, the prospect hung over each season. It was especially close to the elite talent of the Negro Leagues, who knew racial mores to be the main factor keeping them from the big stage. In step, speculation that this was the chief reason behind Gibson’s alcoholism—which did seem worse with each passing year—is standard (and not unjustified) thinking amongst those who have written about Gibson. It was certainly a piece to the complex puzzle that worked inside his head. That the Majors seemed forever beyond his reach had to weigh heavily. By that point the Grays were actively splitting their time between Steel Town’s Forbes Field and D.C.’s Griffith Stadium, home to the Major League Washington Senators. These grand stages, along with the Gray’s many trips to and displays put on by Gibson at Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds (one of his favorites due to its “short porches”) in New York and other Major League stadiums from Philadelphia to Cleveland to Chicago, had to be equal parts thrill and let-down. This in light of the increasing amount of favorable press white Major Leaguers were providing blackball stars. Starting with Dizzy Dean in the mid ‘30s, many white players were coming to see social inequity as hurting the game. In 1939, New York Giant great Mel Ott was quoted as saying: “From what the other big leaguers tell me, they [blackball stars] must be good enough for the majors.” Tacit endorsement, yes; but for the time that was a big statement. Ultimately more deflating for Gibson was the quote of Senator’s star pitcher Walter Johnson, who was getting ample opportunity to watch “the black Ruth” showcase his immense talent. Johnson said: “There is a catcher that any big league club would like to buy for $200,000 . . . Too bad this Gibson is a colored fellow.” The 1939 season saw two Negro League all-star games, the second of which was played at Yankee Stadium. Gibson’s play was so impressive both at and behind the plate—on this: the grandest of baseball stages—that it drove N.Y. Daily News reporter Jimmy Powers to write: “I am positive that if Josh Gibson were white he’d be a major league star.” Mark Ribowsky makes the point that perhaps social standards weren’t the only items at play in maintaining segregated pro ball, that blackball owners—despite public exhortations favoring integration—were “knee deep in the business of baseball apartheid.” It’s hard to argue. Without their African American / Latino stars the owners would have been forced to find other work. And so, it really is to Gibson’s credit that with such routine disappointment, he nonetheless put together a Hall-of-Fame career. Indicative of his all-out effort was his continuing to play through an infected “strawberry” received from a slide in June of 1939. Baseball was simply his world. He wanted to play every day whether feeling sick, hungover, or great.
Each and every year, wherever he was, Gibson put up mammoth stats. The 1939 season viewed the legendary Monoseen blast, and saw the Gray’s just miss their third-straight pennant, losing an end-of-season championship series to Baltimore’s Elite Giants in seven. It would have been the Gray’s third straight pennant, and Gibson’s fifth (including his years with the Craws). 1939 also saw the end of the Pittsburgh Crawfords, Greenlee’s brother having sold the team (which relocated to Toledo and then Indianapolis before quietly folding in the ‘40s), with the one-time jewel of the Negro Leagues: independently owned / operated Greenlee Field, demolished before the season had even begun. The way that teams appeared and disappeared, and owners went from boom-to-bust—alongside the shifting loyalties displayed by many of the players—all seems indicative of the constrained economic conditions within which blackball was forced to operate. In this, one can hardly fault Gibson for again deserting the Grays—and perhaps his unrealized dreams of playing in the Majors—to play the 1940 season in Venezuela. The pay was lucrative and again he lived “high on the hog.” Fed up with south-of-the-border player raids, Posey and other owners had begun singling out Latino scouts and booting them from the games, often with a few other unpleasantries thrown in. But it did little to slow the “defection” of many blackball stars from the two functioning blackball leagues: the NNL and NAL. When Gibson and his now inseparable drinking partner Sammy Bankhead “jumped” to play in Mexico in 1941, Posey had finally had enough—threatening to sue and put a lien on Gibson and Hattie’s house in Pittsburgh unless the slugger came back. If the threat was ever more than that, Posey eventually backed off. And perhaps his Grays were better off that year without Gibson, for he and Bankhead were reported to be drinking themselves stupid down in Mexico.
The following year brought the U.S. into World War II. South-of-the-border ball was suddenly less appealing in a more hostile world and illegal if one was eligible for the draft. Gibson, on account of knees hobbled from catching for so many years, was labeled 4-F: not fit for military service. His return to the Grays in 1942 revealed the first signs of a rapid physical deterioration brought on by his alcoholism. (Rumors, which would prove true, also included increased drug use.) Nonetheless, 1942 proved an exciting year for both Gibson and the Negro Leagues. The higher wages to be had working in defense industries were open to African Americans; and the increase in disposable income became prevalent with record crowds turning out for big blackball events. Crowds in excess of 30,000 were tallied on a regular basis for the first time in the Negro Leagues’ existence, with over 40,000 attending that year’s East vs. West All-Star game. In step with the Leagues’ newfound popularity, the first Negro League World Series since the 1920s was held that year. The Grays, behind Gibson’s slower but still hearty enough swing, represented the NNL. They would go down to Satchel Paige’s upstart Kansas City Monarchs of the NAL, but not before massive crowds got to enjoy the renewed rivalry of Satch vs. Josh (Satch coming out on top in this round). It was a resurgent year for the black game. But there was a flip side: 1942 showcased the beginning of a slow decline that would end in Gibson’s untimely death.
The final piece to Gibson’s undoing was his involvement with Grace Fournier. By 1943, he was basically avoiding Hattie Jones, his kids, and all his ties in Pittsburgh—the Grays playing most all of their “home” schedule in D.C.’s Griffith Stadium. And that’s where Gibson met Fournier, the night-clubbing wife of a serviceman then overseas. Josh was instantly taken. He was most likely more seduced by the vices she brought with her. Mainly clandestine, the relationship was just what Josh Gibson did not need. It further enabled a licentious destructive lifestyle bent on addiction. Worse, it’s said that Grace brought heroin into the mix. To what extent the star went with heroin is unclear; but it takes very little to get hooked, and once hooked the drug destroys from the inside out. If Gibson’s return to the Negro Leagues in 1942 had showed the first signs of his lifestyle rendering a physical toll, 1943 only helped to increase the pace. Early that year, Gibson landed in the hospital with what was called exhaustion, most likely the results of alcohol. During evaluations of his condition, it was rumored they had found a brain tumor. This was kept silent. Aside from (possibly) the doctors, Josh was said to have shared this deflating news with only his sister; which does seems strange, considering how aloof he was with his biological family, and kids. As with many facets of Gibson’s life, this whole event is not entirely clear. But being enigmatic, if not reclusive, was a natural trait. Such mystery often allows for legend. But that would come later. The mid ‘40s were, sadly, all about the self-destruction of ‘the man.’
Teammates, rival players and all those close to Gibson openly remarked about the star’s bloated weight gain, how drained he always looked and how he just seemed to have ‘aged overnight.’ It was common knowledge that the standard team rules about drinking did not apply to Josh. He drank on the bus rides, was often hungover, was said to be a regular at ‘the sanitarium’ and was even caught drinking in the bullpen during a game in 1942. With the addition of Grace Fournier to his life, his erratic behavior became more pronounced. She would prove a lethal presence. And yet despite all of this, he hit over .400 during the 1943 season and continued depositing monster shots into outfield bleachers. 1943 also provided Gibson with a June “peppering” of Satchel Paige—in which the Grays knocked Paige out after only three innings—the Posey-inspired Josh Gibson Appreciation Night, held September 9th at Griffith Stadium, and even a marquee Time magazine article about the black star titled, “Josh the Basher.” By all other standards it would have been a banner year. And from the plate it certainly was. But perhaps the first area of his game where poor physical condition had begun to inhibit his play was behind-the-plate. For the remainder of his career he would go into more of a standing crouch when receiving than assuming the standard, physically demanding bent-knee position. Not much has been written of Gibson’s fielding late in his career. One has to figure it suffered mightily. But his fielding was of little concern as long as he could hit; and it is commonly written that “if he could stand he could hit.”
Josh Gibson’s story is a depressing one to conclude. He went downhill steadily through the mid ‘40s, but amazingly continued to put up big numbers at-the-plate. Gibson and fellow bomber, Buck Leonard (they were called the “Thunder Twins” and eventually given the more prestigious stamp: the Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig of the Negro Leagues) were integral to the Grays winning NNL pennants from 1942-1945. They also defeated the Birmingham Black Barons for the whole deal in ’43 and ’44 (Gibson putting up a .400 average in the ‘44 series). Gibson, who had begun to sit out games more regularly, still got up for the big ones. In 1944’s East / West game he hit a monster shot off Satchel Paige that struck a clocktower at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. His swing had slowed noticeably, but he still managed to lead the league in homers in 1945. The Cleveland Buckeyes surprised the Grays by sweeping that year’s N.L. World Series. But there was a bigger surprise on the horizon. In October 1945, it was announced that the young Kansas City Monarch star, Jackie Robinson, would step into the Brooklyn Dodger’s farm system in 1946 and into the white world of Major League baseball. He would be the first African American or Latino to play in the Majors since the 1880s. The news meant different things to different black players. To the younger players, such as Robinson and Baltimore Giant’s star catcher Roy Campanella, it was a new world of opportunity. To the older players, such as the fading Gibson (who was only 34), it meant integration about a decade too late. Whether the news of Robinson’s signing produced a significant change in Gibson’s attitude is debatable. Regardless, his physical decline was evident during the following season. The 1946 Negro League season was played in a kind of suspended animation. Players knew its days were likely numbered. Owners were left with the hope that, at best, they could transition into an independent farm system. It was reported that Clark Griffith, owner of the Washington Senators, had once approached the enthusiastic Gibson and Leonard about playing in the Majors; but nothing even came of it. It is quite likely that Griffith sought an inside track to the talented Homestead Grays, given the regular talk of integration. However, a pioneer Griffith was not and the two blackball sluggers never did make the Majors. 1946 would in fact prove the final tour for Josh Gibson. And despite looking like “death walking,” he made the most of it, leading the league with a .360+ average. Yet his vices—including Grace Fournier (who had unceremoniously dumped Gibson with the return of her husband at war’s end)—had destroyed his body and his mind. He was often incoherent and many began having trouble telling whether he was drunk or sober. Worse still, he had developed a kidney condition. He got worse during the off-season. Too sick to consider winterball, Gibson was forced to move back in with Hattie Jones. This would prove the only extended period of time (only a few months) that he ever spent with his children. But his deteriorating physical ailments, and the fact that his lifestyle had left him all but broke, forced him into even more desperate straits. He was forced to move back in with his mother. The next January a very drunk Gibson stumbled into an afternoon matinee at a local theatre. He was later found unconscious and taken to the hospital. Josh Gibson died quietly of a brain hemorrhage the next morning: January 20, 1947. He was only 35.
Josh Gibson is credited with around 900 + / – homeruns in both league and non-league play. He compiled a lifetime Negro League batting average over .350, with averages south-of-the-border considerably higher. He was a giant of the game. And yet he was sequestered to obscurity. As if symbolic Gibson was buried in a cemetery near the Pittsburgh neighborhood where he had lived most of his life, with only a numbered metal plaque supplied by the county to mark his grave. Though most often warm and personable, well-liked by his teammates, Gibson’s inner demons were plentiful and still are not entirely understood. Perhaps William Brashler put it best when he wrote: “[Gibson’s] death, though tragic, was not that of a fighter but of a victim.” . . . . In 1971, Major League Baseball began the process of reconciling its past. That year Satchel Paige became the first Negro Leaguer to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1972 Josh Gibson became the second, going into the hall with Yogi Berra and Sandy Koufax. Soon after a drive was organized to provide Gibson a proper headstone. The MLB commissioner’s office paid the bill. Though failing to honor his talents in life, the game did so in death. Alongside the cultural futility of one of the game’s legendary hitters, it almost seems fitting. But then allowing Josh Gibson his rightful stage would have been the only true justice.
Brashler, William. Josh Gibson, A Life in the Negro Leagues. Chicago, Ivan R. Dee: 1978.
Holway, John B. Blackball Stars, Negro League Pioneers. New York, Caroll & Graf Publishers: 1988.
Ribowsky, Mark. The Power and the Darkness. New York, Simon & Schuster: 1996.
Riley, James A. The Biographcial Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. New York, Carroll & Graf Publishers: 1994
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown, NY
The Negro Baseball Leagues Museum, Kansas City, MO

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|標題:||Optimal agreement in a scale-free network environment||作者:||Wang, S.C.
|關鍵字:||byzantine agreement;consensus;fault-tolerance;scale-free network;complex network and random network;byzantine agreement;consensus||Project:||Informatica||期刊/報告no：:||Informatica, Volume 17, Issue 1, Page(s) 137-150.||摘要:||
Generally, the task in a distributed system must achieve an agreement. It requires a set of processors to agree on a common value even if some components are corrupted. There are significant studies on this agreement problem in a regularized network environment, such as the Fully Connected, BroadCast and MultiCast Networks. Recently, many large complex networks have emerged and displayed a scale-free feature, which influences the system to reach a common value differently. Unfortunately, existing agreement protocols and results cannot cope with the new network environment and the agreement problem thus needs to be revisited. In this paper, we propose a new agreement protocol to adapt to the scale-free network environment and derive its bound of allowable faulty TMs with two rounds of message exchange. We have proved the correctness of this protocol and analyzed its complexity. It is observed that the scale-free network with the proposed agreement protocol can tolerate more faulty TMs than the networks based on previous studies.
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